Once a Time Lord, Now a Pony

by The Bricklayer

Rating: teen
Tags: Science Fiction, Comedy, Horror, Adventure, Crossover, Alternate Universe
Length: 46473

The Doctor, Twilight, and Shining Armor against Who's nastiest monsters and a few new ones too. What more can you ask for?

The Doctor's landed in Canterlot, and regenerated into a… pony? Strange thing is, things only get weirder for him from there. Together with Princess Celestia and a Captain of the Royal Guard who doesn't trust him, the Doctor rapidly finds himself fending off all kinds of threats, beginning with the Weeping Angels…

Takes place pre-Season One for MLP and just after "Voyage of the Damned" for the Doctor. Cover art property of Mn27 so credit to them. Credit to Murray Gold for the music pieces used.

Rated Teen for: Minor Language and violence. Nothing over Who's regular stuff. (Mostly…)

Additional genre tags: Drama

MLP: FIM is property of Hasbro and Lauren Faust while Doctor Who is property of the BBC. Daleks are property of Terry Nation. I make no money off of them. If I did, would I be here?

Now complete! Be warned, spoilers in the comments!

Reached over 1,000 views!

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-05-31 18:07:17 UTC

Day of the Angels Part 2 (The Wonderbolts Academy)

Shining Armor led the Doctor (Along with the Princess) to the Tardis, which had been kept in the lower bowels of the castle, inside a storage room packed with crates of every size and description, along with various other items of note like staves and even a giant crystal ball in one corner of the room. The Doctor gazed around the room in wonder.

"Wow, someone's a hoarder."

It was then he noticed Celestia's offended look.

"...Sorry, didn't mean it like that. My mouth isn't always connected to my brain. Quite a gob, I have. Say, what is this place anyway? That little area where you keep the stuff you don't want to lose? A vault, perhaps?"

Shining explained.

"This is the Black Archive, where only the most dangerous of artifacts would go. In short, don't touch anything. There's a reason half of this stuff is best left forgotten."

The Doctor very quickly retracted his hoof from a staff on hearing this. He headed toward the Tardis, and it's doors were swiftly opened and he and his two companions stepped inside. There were two gasps of shock.

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"It's... It's not possible!" Celestia exclaimed.

Shining quickly stepped right back out of the time machine and walked all the way around it. He then stepped back inside. He'd seen many magics, but none such as this. If it was even magic at all, which a small part in the back of his mind said but he refused to believe it at the time.

"It's smaller on the outside."

The Doctor heard him and frowned. He loved it when they said "Bigger on the inside." Shining then asked the immortal question. No, not that one. The other one.

"Why's it look like a Police Box?"

"It's not supposed to! There's a circuit, but it's broken!"

"And you're too lazy to fix it?" Shining teased.

"Y-NO! I like it this way."

"Very impressive magic Doctor." Celestia observed. Like Shining, a small part in the back of her mind said this could not be magic, but she too refused to believe it.

"Magic..." Haven't heard that one in a while..." The Doctor muttered as glanced towards the controls. How was he supposed to use them now? As he thought over this, he pulled Celestia aside, out of the range of a certain Captain's hearing.

"Sooo... What's with him? He seems awfully cold..."

The Princess sighed sadly.

"He's, let's just say he's had some bad experiences that's made it hard for him to trust others."

The Doctor grinned, much to Celestia's shock.

"Well, I'll have to fix that at some point, won't I?"

Celestia eyed the Doctor. Something was bothering him and she knew it. It was obvious, the way he glanced off into space at some points and his general body language.

"Something wrong?"

"No, nothing at all."

But Celestia was having none of it.

"Don't lie to me Doctor. As old as I am, I'm not stupid nor am I senile. I should be able to tell a truth from a lie. Now tell me yours."

The Doctor finally gave in. He supposed his newfound friend deserved to know.

"Alright, it's just that... I have friends okay? Or had. They die and yet I live on..."

"I know the feeling. Sometimes I think we immortals live for far too long." Celestia mused sadly. For far too long, she's watched dear friends and sometimes more pass, and without her sister she was alone to bear it all. Nearby, the Doctor then pressed a button and the Tardis began to hum as it searched all of this world for one very particular life form, hiding among thousands of others. But this life form was quite possibly the only of it's kind here, at least that was what the Doctor hoped. And if he was wrong... No, it was best for him not to think about that. He currently needed a plan to deal with just this one.

"Doctor, what are we dealing with?" Celestia asked. "I need to know, so tell me now."

And it was at this point the Doctor finally explained his fears.

"A Weeping Angel, oldest and most deadliest lifeform in this or any other universe, accepting no others. Must have fallen through the same crack I did, only arrived much earlier. Time's funny that way. Wherever you found it, you should have let it be. Let it die and rot away. Now it's on the loose, the potential timelines of everyone on the planet to feed and gorge itself on, like a pig!" The Doctor growled, as he searched through a nearby chest. His lost hand from the battle above Earth on Christmas Eve was in a jar nearby. He tossed various items out of the chest, like a banana and a part of the Eye of Harmony.

"Doctor, one of my best men may be dead, and I'm not happy." Shining said as he trotted over. "How do we stop it?"

"With this!" The Doctor cried gleefully as he held up a mirror. It was right then the Tardis finished locating the Angel, announcing this with a loud ding. Shining's eyes widened when he saw where the Angel was.

"T-that's the Wonderbolt's training school!"

The Doctor turned a wheel like device on the console.

"Hold on! This will get a bit bumpy!" The Doctor shouted and his two companions did so as the Tardis groaned it's signature sound. VWOOP! VWOOP! VWOOP! A few minutes later, all three ponies were outside the school. "Think you've seen it all? Think again, outside these doors we may seen anything." The Doctor said. He and Shining made it inside the school's front doors, but they shut right in front of Celestia.

"Damn it!" Shining swore.

"Entering this world must have given the Angel tremendous magical power if it could do that to her." The Doctor stated firmly, as he pulled out his sonic while the Captain did the same with his sword. Shining grinned.

"Mine's bigger."

"Oh, we're really doing this?" The Doctor sighed before continuing. "Look, I don't know what happened to you that made you loose your trust in others, but I don't care. You need to start trusting me now if we're going to live through this and save anyone in this school. Now, are you with me?"

"...Yes, now let's get to it."

The twosome searched the school at one point even running into Fleetfoot who was teaching her class.

"Hey, you haven't see a statue around here have you? Mad, possibly with fangs bared. Official statue inspectors. See, here's our card." The Doctor said as he pulled out what he hoped was his psychic paper. It wasn't.

"...That's a library card." Fleetfoot said dryly.

The Doctor looked at it and saw a picture of his first incarnation on it. He grinned in embarrassment, while Shining facehoofed.

"So it is. Oops. Uh, what is it you teach here?"

Everypony present stared at him in disbelief. Surely he couldn't be serious, right?

"How can you not know who the Wonderbolts are? Best stunt flyers in Canterlot, hello?" Fleetfoot said in shock.

"Sorry, I'm a member of Hobos United. All of us meet up every so often to talk about, uh, caves."

As soon as he said this, The Doctor remembered he'd used this excuse before. Old age... must be getting to him at last, he thought for him to forget things like this. It had to happen eventually, he supposed.

"I'm not with him." Shining said to nopony in particular. Celestia showed up about then, having broken through the Angel's lock at last. The whole class bowed and Fleetfoot asked "Milady, why are you here?"

"Just looking. You haven't seen any statues by perchance as of late?"

If that statement confused the class, the Doctor certainly didn't help the matter.

"Yeah, big, grey, moves on it's own and very deadly?"

Everypony present slowly shook their heads in a no gesture. Fleetfoot turned to Shining.

"Boy, your coltfriend's not well, is he?"

Shining's jaw dropped.

"I'm not... He's not... I'm not gay!" He sputtered. The Captain looked upwards at the ceiling and muttered "Why me?" as Celestia giggled. He very quickly changed the subject.

"So what's with that mirror you grabbed? You gaze in it every so often or something?"

The Doctor was only too happy to answer.

"Glad you asked! If the Angel takes a gander it won't move ever again. Simple! Simple insanity, that is."

"You're not having a very good day, are you?" Shining asked.

"Let's review the kind of day I'm having shall we? I got ponified, and now to hunt down a bloody Weeping Angel! So no, I'm not having a very good day! Not a good one at all..."

There was silence in the classroom for the next few minutes before Fleetfoot finally chose that moment to speak up again.

"...So, not a statue inspector after all?"

Day of the Angels Part 3 (The Angels Take Canterlot)

Then, the lights went out as the threesome stepped outside the classroom. The Doctor let out a low muttered of "They're here." before taking out his sonic and pressing a button on it which made it blink and make a sound like a car door locking. He turned to his two companions and smiled.

"There, that way the Angel doesn't get any bright ideas and try and nick my Tardis. Very rude of them to try that the first time, that."

Of course, as soon as he said that, each every door all over the school that could let them outside or be used as a escape route in other words locked down tight.

"And now we're trapped inside..." Shining murmured under his breath in fear. He didn't like to admit it, but yes he was very, very afraid and he didn't even know why yet. The Doctor meanwhile frowned to himself. He'd done exactly what the Angels wanted. He then broke the news.

"Oh dear... I seem to have made a terrible mistake and put you all in very grave danger indeed. Don't you see?"

"No... I really don't." Said Celestia. "You sure you're alright?"

"No. This thing is a trap for me. I'm the only thing that they deem and presume to be a threat to them. With me out of the way..."

"We'll have to show them otherwise then!" The Princess replied.

Then, there was a horrible, no a terrible hellish noise, like laughter from Tirek himself distorted beyond one's recognition. An Angel appeared in front of them as lights flickered and beared it's fangs.

"Well, I was right before and right now. It creeps me out."

"Good. I'd be worried if you weren't." The Doctor said before holding up the mirror. As the Angel's gaze drifted and looked into it, it was locked in place. Shining made his move and used a ice spell. A huge mirror of ice sprung up like a jack in the box between them.

"Cool."

"Ugh, really?" Shining sighed. "Best you could think up?"

"I was out of good ones!"

"Boys." Celestia warned. "Be nice."

The Weeping Angel, now looking at itself could never move again.

"How...?"

"Angels really hate their own reflection." The Doctor explained. Suddenly, the lights flickered and another Angel appeared. This one spoke, in a all too familiar voice to Shining.

"Well, look who it is... Captain." Said the Angel, speaking in Flash's voice. "Bit too late for saving the day now, least for my case."

"Oh... Oh. I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." The Doctor whispered. "They got to you."

"Snapped my neck they did and took out my brain. Placed it in here. Head of stone it may have, but my brain." The Flash Angel laughed. It was obvious it was enjoying itself far too much for anypony's liking. "Angel wants me to tell you something it wants you to know. You too Shining. I died in fear, and in loneliness."

The Doctor growled, he knew what it was trying to do. Get him angry. When he got angry, he got reckless and often did stupid reckless things like the ones running through his head right now. And the worst thing was, the Angel's plot was working.

"I swear, to whatever's left of you I'm sorry, but the ones who did this to you will be much sorrier. That I promise you." He snarled before turning to Celestia. "Make it quick."

"Righ-"

Shining stepped forwards.

"No, I'll do it. He's my soldier. I'll lay him to rest."

He fired a explosion spell, and the Flash Angel was quickly rubble. Shining whispered a soft "I'm sorry..." before something the Doctor said registered with him a moment later.

"Wait a moment, you said ones. Does that mean there are more?"

The Doctor looked sheepish.

"Ah, I did think there might be a slight chance more then one Angel might have landed here. I just didn't mention it before."

"And you failed to mention this to us before because...?"

"Didn't want to alarm you, that's all."

"Well congrats, you failed on that front." Shining snapped at him. "But what could they want...?"

Celestia looked nervous.

"I think I might know. Doctor, you said that the Angels deal in potential timelines...?"

"Correct, yes."

"Well, there's a scroll by Starswirl the Bearded in the Black Archive, if they get their hands on it they could travel to any point in time. And there'd be no stopping them then."

"They'd be all powerful." The Doctor realized with horror on his features. "They'd have all of time and space to themselves, and they wouldn't even need my Tardis to do it. We need to stop them."

"But we're trapped in here." Shining said, although he generally hated to point out the obvious on most occasions. "So how do we get to them, or out of here for that matter?"

The Doctor smirked, pointed his screwdriver upwards and it hummed as the light at the tip blinked. A groaning sound came from all around them. VWOOP! VWOOP! VWOOP! The Doctor's Tardis materialized all around them. The Doctor rapidly began flipping switches and the Tardis groaned once more.

"Had to turn off some of the safeties because of how low on time we are, so this could be a bit bumpy... Well, bumpier then normal I mean! HOLLLLLDDD ON!"

Sparks flew and the Tardis shook for a few moments before it finally stopped much to everypony's  great relief. Shining forced down what was rapidly coming back up and stood firm. "Let's get them. I have some payback coming."

"Agreed." The Doctor stated. "So do I."

All three strode out of the Tardis and into the Black Archive only to find two Angels very near a scroll of near uncountable age. The two statues were reaching, but then the lights went out before coming back on again to show them facing the threesome.

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"Is there a plan here?" Shining whispered to the Doctor.

"Trying to think of one. Just keep your eyes on them."

Celestia stood defiantly, her mane blowing in some fashion unexplained. The air began to grow warm, and the Doctor tugged at his tie on his suit.

"You think you can harm my little ponies? Do you? Well, you foul creatures you can think again! You think yourselves above us all, but from my perspective you look so small! I've lived a long old life, and lost things you'd never understand. Now do me a favor, and BURN!"

There was a bright flash of light forcing Shining and the Doctor to shield their eyes to avoid blindness and the next thing anypony knew, the twin statues were a pile of ash on the floor.

"Good riddance." Celestia snarled. About a half hour later, she stood outside her castle with the Doctor and Shining. She turned to them.

"I've got to find some way to explain this... And think up a proper funeral for Flash. He was a good guard, and his family deserves that much. Captain Shining, make sure you honor him somehow."

"I will. Don't worry."

Celestia took flight to the skies and vanished into the clouds.

"So.... Where to next?" The Doctor asked. "Whole new universe out there for me. I'd love to share it with somepony. Oh, look at that. I've adapted. Anyways, traveling's always much more fun with a friend."

Shining shook his head.

"I'm sorry Doctor, but I can't. You're dangerous Doctor, wonderful but dangerous. I need to stay here, guard Canterlot. You understand."

"Yeah, I do." The Time Lord replied sadly. He stepped into his Tardis as Shining waved goodbye. The Doctor flipped a few switches and turned a wheel. The Tardis groaned as the Doctor touched it's console.

"Well, old girl... Sexy. Whole new universe out there. Time to see it. Allons-Y!"

Down far deep below in the castle dungeons, a statue sat in chains with a mirror in front of it. It had been retrieved, and was destined to sat there forever more. In the shadows, Princess Celestia watched it in interest, two guards by her side.

"Well, let's see what you can tell me..."

THE END...?

Interlude: Letters to Celestia

Princess of the Sun, Lady Celestia, despite dealing with nobles who droned on and on about various things she frankly couldn't be bothered to listen to was not, despite all evidence to the contrary, bored out of her mind. Why, you ask? Well, you got to have a bit of backstory first to understand this. Despite not adventuring with the Doctor as she would have liked, she did keep up on his whereabouts, by messages from the Time Lord himself. Every month, on the exact same day and on the exact same hour she received a message. It had been like this for a year. Actually, it was about time for one now, if his schedule kept up. And so it did. A white cube, a Time Lord's communication cube flew in with a purpose and played it's message. Celestia listened in interest.

"Hello again, it's me! Had a interesting week. First thing first, I visited with some Crystal Ponies, on the Moon! Imagine that, ponies, on the moon! I learn something new everyday. Visited with Lu... Oh, wouldn't want to give away what's coming for you soon. Spoilers! Huh, why do I feel like I should have heard that sometime in my timestream? Never mind. Then, I met with this wonderful, no FANTASTIC mare named Vinyl Scratch and laid down some backing vocals. Oh dear, I seem to have crashed into Prance! Allons-Y! See you again in a month!"

Celestia chuckled.

"Never change Doctor, never change."

All seemed to be well with him. Though she did have to wonder what he didn't want to spoil. Time passed, until once again a message from the Doctor came and played itself out.

"You know, you really should tell me more about this student of yours, Twilight something or other. Was it Twinkle? See, don't even know her full name! Anyways, my knowledge and all that is limited. She sounds like a interesting mare, from what little you have told me. Really should get out more though. See the sights and all that. Speaking of interesting ponies, how's our favorite Captain of the Guard?"

Celestia sighed sadly. He wasn't doing well. Shining blamed himself for Flash's death, and it was obvious to anypony that knew him. Even his girlfriend wasn't helping. The Doctor needed to help him, as she figured it would be the only way to put him back to normal, if the Doctor told him it wasn't his fault. It was worth a shot anyway. But enough of the bad stuff. She couldn't wait for his next cube. At one point her dear and "Beloved" nephew Prince Blueblood asked her why she loved these letters so much.

"But Auntie, he's a foreigner for who knows where, and a strange one at that. He's not even nobility! Why do you look forwards to his messages so much?"

Celestia sighed, he'd never understand. Not her nephew.

"Because... He shows me what it's like out there, beyond the throne."

The Griffin Kingdom, Gilded Chest's Castle: Throne Room

A griffin walked through the halls of the castle and into the Griffin King's throne room with more then a hint of confusion. He didn't know why he'd come, as he was just a simple doctor not worthy of the honor of meeting his beloved king. Gilded Chest was the king's name, and he ruled the lands with a fair and just paw. The previous king, whose name was Steel Blade you couldn't say the same about as he was responsible for the war between Celestia's Kingdom and the Griffin Kingdom. Needless to say, after the war was over and it had nearly ruined the kingdom, he quickly was deposed by a rather nasty uprising of the populace which ended with Steel Blade dead by a sword through the chest.

"You called?" The griffin asked, he was much older compared to the king.

"Yes. I have a task for you that I think you'll like." Gilded said, his eyes flashing blood red for a moment. The older griffin didn't notice because of how brief the moment was.

"I need you... to, well let's just say do some things that will help expand our empire." Gilded growled, his normally kind features replaced by more intimidating ones.

The older griffin was shocked, never before had Gilded ever shown any interest in expanding the kingdom.

"And... And what if I don't want to?"

Gilded smiled, a almost evil one. Now his fellow griffin was getting very nervous indeed.

"Oh believe me, you will after I'm done."

And then Gilded lunged. In the shadows, a blond maned stallion chuckled before vanishing through a side door. His work was done, and if he was right the Doctor would come out of hiding... If that was who he really was.

And so it went, with Celestia eagerly awaiting his next message. And it came, right on time as always. On the right day, right time just when it was needed the most. Celestia was having a horrible day. The time of her sister's return was drawing near, and the Elements still hadn't be found. Maybe this would reassure her, or at least give her some happiness.

"Well well, is it that time again? Almost forgot, to be honest. Old age, maybe? Anyway, I went surfing on some ;ava falls, visited the Rainbow Factory. Nice place. Though I must wonder about the rumors. Think they're mental, those ones. Oh, what rumors? Trust me, you don't want to know. Anyway, gotta run. I just booked in a tour of the Griffin Empire. Should be fun!"

Little did she know it, but the Doctor wasn't actually planning on telling the real reason why he was going there. There had been rumors of something bad being cooked up there in the hospital, and he loved checking out rumors...

Hospital of Horrors Part 2 (The madness of Doctor Ironclaw)

As they walked the Doctor and Twilight got to know each other better.

"So Doctor, what is it that you do? Besides breaking into creepy old hospitals to investigate rumors that may not even be true?"

The Time Lord smirked back at her.

"Hey, you broke in here for the same reason." He replied with a grin.

"Dodging the question Doctor."

The Doctor muttered "Oh, she's good..." before sighing. "Well, if I told you wouldn't believe me. Let's just say I travel. See the sights and all that. It's quite fun, actually."

"I don't know, I believe a lot of things. Did you know for example, that in 760 of Celestia's rule a family was set to go out on a cruise round the world before a old family friend urged them not to go. A few days later, the ship they were to set sail on was attacked by pirate raiders and everypony aboard was killed. Oddly enough, the family friend looked quite a lot like you, Doctor." Twilight said, her gaze seemingly boring right in the Doctor.

He whispered "Oh I take it back. She's more then good. She's brilliant." before letting out another sigh.

"Okay, you got me. I'm a time traveler. I live in a box and see what all of space and time has to offer. Guess you really would believe that. Wow, most of the time there's denial. How'd you know I exist?" The Time Lord couldn't help but to inquire.

"Celestia. She keeps getting things from you. Once I walked in on her listening to one of your messages and I got... curious. Did a bit of light reading." Twilight smirked. The Doctor smirked back.

"More then a bit of light reading I suspect."

When Twilight flushed red enough to make Big Mac proud, the Doctor laughed. Twilight quickly changed the subject.

"So what are we looking for, anyway?" She asked.

"Well I did a bit of reading myself. There's a basement below here. But on some old blueprints locked up tight as a drum in the city records office there's a sub-level only on those. Now I wonder, why is it on those and those alone and what's down there?" He murmured aloud to nopony in particular.

"Kind of pointless if there's no way down there. I doubt they'd have stairs down there. They were probably bricked up long ago..." Twilight replied.

"Ah, you say that but not all of them. You just have to look hard enough." The Doctor aimed his sonic at a wall after pushing a gurney aside and with a groaning sound of age, the wall opened up like a door.

"Into the looking glass, Twilight." He said with another grin. Carefully, the lavender unicorn stepped inside the now revealed passageway with the Doctor following after her after shutting the now no longer secret entrance. Little did they know however a security camera watched them enter and in a room far below sat a one winged figure.

"Well well, looks like I've got visitors. Guess I should lay out the welcome mat. It'd be rude of me not to." He growled.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and his companion after treversing what seemed like miles of steps found themselves in a big open room filled with chambers. The Doctor opened one and quickly regretted it. In it was a doctor who was very, very dead. But that wasn't the strange part. His fur was a unnatural sea green color and had what looked to be zits, but not quite zits as they were bigger and brown colored along with covering the body.

"It's like New Earth all over again..." The Doctor whispered sadly. Twilight meanwhile was struggling to hold back the bile that was rapidly coming up her throat.

"What sickness is that? I've read up on many of them but I've never seen one like that before... Is is safe?"

"Yeah, the air's sterile. Just whatever you do, don't touch them."

A very familiar voice came from behind them.

"Do you like it? It's a variation of the Everfree Blackwater Sickness. Much faster on the onset and much more potent. Able to be transmitted by touch as well. It's ingenious, I say." Doctor Ironclaw said with a insane look in his eyes.

"Doctor Ironclaw." The Doctor growled. "And I was just beginning to like you. Do your bosses know what you've been doing down here, or do you just keep them in the dark?"

"What they don't know won't hurt them." Ironclaw laughed aloud.

"You're sick." Twilight snarled, her horn beginning to glow with her magic. Ironclaw only laughed once more.

"Oh no, I'm not sick. Everyone else in this city is just stupid. They enjoy the peace with the ponies. I don't. Ponies are heathens and deserve to die. And this is what I'm going to do it with."

"So you're a bigot." The Doctor stated. "Well, I'm not going to let you succeed at this. Not while I live."

"I can fix that. And who are you anyway? I doubt it's John Smith."

The Doctor grinned. So, he wanted to know did he? Well what Ironclaw wanted is what he'd get.

"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old, and I'm the man who's gonna stop you. You got a problem with that?"

Twilight, on hearing those words felt a distinct feeling of hope growing in her chest. The other being, the one whom the words were directed at, felt something different however. Pure amusement. Ironclaw burst out laughing again.

"So, you're a comedian then. Sadly, I'm not in the mood to be amused. Good-bye."

With that, he flipped a switch and all the chambers opened with their occupants stumbling out...

Hospital of Horrors Part 3 (The Undead Hoard)

"Doctor... I, uh think we should..." Twilight trailed off in fear as she looked at the advancing hoard in front of her. Ironclaw meanwhile had vanished, without any clue of where he'd gone thanks to Twilight and the Doctor being more focused on his creations, if they could be called that. Abominations to life itself, Twilight supposed would be a better phrase.

"Run?" The Doctor offered. The interesting thing was, he'd gotten a good look at Ironclaw's eyes. They were blood-red but when he met him this morning they'd been golden like most griffins had.

"Yes, that." Twilight finished.

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And so they did, back the way they came through a maze of tunnels all the while the hoard of undead in pursuit. As if that wasn't enough, Ironclaw's voice taunted them all the while.

"You think you can outrun them? You can't outrun death!"

"I don't know, been doing pretty good so far." The Doctor snarked at the voice. Twilight stared at him in shock.

"Is this really the time?" She yelled in fear as she looked behind her.

"Oh, it's always the time for witty banter!" The Doctor grinned as they continued climbing up stairs like Tartarus itself was after them. And in a way, the Doctor supposed, it kind of was what with the zombies and all.

"You're completely insane!" Twilight yelled in a mixture of shock and fear before taking another look at their pursuers. She wished she hadn't right after that.

"I swear, I'll never look at those late night movies Spike watches the same way ever again..." Twilight muttered as a screeching sound came from behind her and a zombie reached but Twilight blasted it backwards with her magic and it took a tumble downwards back into the hoard.

"Oh, very good! Very good!" Ironclaw taunted. "You two will make fine additions to my legion!"

"Yeah, I think we'll pass on that." The Doctor told him.

Eventually they reached the stark white corridors of the hospital which were barren of any life at all as everypony else was asleep in their beds, which was a good thing right now. It was better for him if the Doctor didn't have to deal with anyone panicking and getting in his way.

"We head for the entrance, then I'll think up something on the fly in my Tardis."

"Your what?" Twilight said in disbelief.

"My Tardis. Time and Relative Dimensions in Space." The Doctor said matter of factly and with a little bit of pride.

"Did you just think up that when you got bored?" Twilight gaped at him. "You're completely impossible!" She said, and guess who's voice chimed in at that very moment. Ironclaw had to have gotten control over the intercom system somehow.

"Oh, I don't think you'll be leaving anytime soon. I've just put the hospital in lockdown. Nopony gets in or out. That includes the patients. More for me, I say!" The mad doctor yelled, and clangs came soon after as panels came down over any doors or windows that could create a escape route.

"Alright then, change on plan." The Doctor sighed. "If we're going to be trapped in here with a madman I think it's time we learn a bit about him. This way!" He yelled, as he gestured up some stairs. Because he'd commited the blueprints of the building to memory he knew exactly where everything was including Ironclaw's office. But Twilight was having none of it.

"And what about the patients? They'll be killed! We've got to save them!" She snapped at him.

"And if we do that, we'll just be added to the hoard ourselves! We need to learn about our enemy. Maybe there's something in Ironclaw's personal files that he keeps that can tell us something." He said, and Twilight knew the Time Lord was right. They had to look at the bigger picture, and only then could they stop this outbreak before it got anymore out of control. Eventually, after even more running they made it to Ironclaw's personal office on the top floor. Twilight barricaded the door with a spell and for added protection it was locked with the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.

The Doctor opened up a cabinet and searched through the files inside. Everything he found added to his confusion. Before all this, Ironclaw seemed like a pretty nice griffin donating to charities and things like that even of those to ponies who lost family in the war. Now why would a bigot do that? He voiced his concerns to Twilight.

"It could be that he just wanted to put up a front, make everypony else trust him more." She stated, and the Doctor knew she had a good point.

"Fair enough, but surely he'd slip up someplace. So far as I can see, he hasn't. It's like he became like this... almost overnight." The Doctor trailed off, as his thoughts raced at the possibilities. But before he could ponder any further, the door broke wide open and the hoards began to pour in...

Meanwhile, back in Canterlot in her throne room at the castle Celestia was lost in thought. She'd been hearing rumors from a platoon of Royal Guards stationed near the Griffin Kingdom that something strange was afoot. The hospital had gone into lockdown for no reason. If there was a viral outbreak, a message would have been sent by the King. But none ever was. She turned to Shining, who was in the room along with some other guards.

"Captain Armor?" She asked, and Shining looked at her.

"Yes, milady?"

"Get to Griffinstone at once. Something's going on down there and I want to know what."

"G-griffinstone...? Twiley's there! She could be in trouble!" Shining stuttered. If anything happened to his little sister he'd never forgive himself. He wasn't going to lose anypony else, not tonight!

"Then all the more reason to get going. Take my chariot. It's the fastest way." She ordered, and Shining and his men ran out the throne room's doors which shut with a loud slam.

"Please, be safe... Oh Luna, I wish you were here right now..." Celestia whispered softly. "I need my sister's guidance back, and her."

Interlude: Trust in me

Shining, The Doctor, Twilight, Ironclaw and squads of both griffins and Royal Guards rushed to King Gilded Chest's royal palace, which towered over the kingdom reminding all of it's owners absolute power. But no more would that power be his. Despite what the king thought, nopony or no griffin wanted another war. Both sides were still rebuilding from the last one as it was. They could not afford another. So, Gilded's bedchamber doors were swiftly kicked open and guards rushed in, Shining at the lead.

"King Gilded Chest, you're under arrest for-By Celestia!"

But what they found was the last thing any of them was expecting.

"No no no no... NO!" The Doctor suddenly shouted.

What had happened at least a few moments before was Gilded Chest had killed himself. At least, that was the way it looked to the unobserving eye. But Shining knew better. He knew all the signs of a murder when he saw one. Question was, who had done the deed?

The Doctor however, had other things on his mind as he scanned the late king with his sonic.

"Mind controlled, just like..." The Time Lord trailed off. Ironclaw finished for him.

"Me."

And nopony said anything else to that.

Later, after Shining had given a story to the press about what had occurred that night just as Celestia's sun rose and replaced Luna's moon for another bright and glorious day the Captain of the Royal Guard talked to the Doctor. Nearby, his sister watched with a tired look on her face. She'd been up all night, and it showed.

"T-thank you Doctor. If you hadn't been there I don't know what might have happened to my little sis. I... I can't protect her anymore, just like I couldn't protect Flash." He said sadly.

"Stop, just stop right there. That was not your fault, and you know it." The Doctor told him.

"But-"

"Did you kill Flash, did you snap his neck? NO! That was the Angel's fault and the Angel's alone. All the blame rests on it. Not on you, so get that straight through your skull. And as for Twilight, she chose to help me of her own free will." The Doctor finished, and Shining knew he was right.

"I'm such a idiot... AN IDIOT!" He admonished himself.

"No... No, you're a normal pony. Just like my companions were normal humans." The Doctor reassured him, and Shining blinked at the strange and foreign word he'd used. Humans? What were those? But if the Doctor knew, he wasn't telling a thing.

"So, uh, I haven't had a companion in a while. That offer's still open, you know. To travel." The last of the Time Lords asked, but all he got was a shake of the head from Shining.

"I can't trust you Doctor. Who are you, really?"

The Doctor sighed, he had a idea albeit a stupid one.

"Alright this won't be pleasant but it'll help I promise you."

Then he headbutted Shining and with a yell of pain alongside it, the unicorn received some of the Doctor's memories. First he saw a strange elderly being on two legs with graying hair.

"Have you ever thought what it's like to be wanderers in the Fourth Dimension? Have you? To be exiles? Susan and I are cut off from our own planet - without friends or protection."

Then Shining saw another being similar to the first with curly white hair and a black and red suit with cape.

"...Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow."

Another man, who wore a long scarf or almost impossible length and had very curly hair.

"Never cared much for the word 'impregnable.' Sounds a bit too much like 'unsinkable.'"

Another man appeared next: One with a youthful face and blond hair.

"That's the trouble with regeneration. You never quite know what you're going to get."

Then another, this time a being with question marks all over his clothing and a hat. He also had a question mark on his umbrella.

"...Time Lords have an infinite capacity for pretension."

Now, another image appeared, a man facing a older woman in red robes inside a cavern.

"Good. Charley, C'rizz, Lucie, Tamsin, Molly: Friends, companions I've known, I salute you. And Cass, I apologise. Physician, heal thyself..."

The man turned into a another man with a flash of golden light. Little did he know it, but Shining was being trusted with one of the Doctor's darkest moments, when the Doctor for a time no longer considered himself the Doctor.

"Doctor no more."

Finally, a black haired being with a leather jacket alongside a female being with blond hair.

"Nice to meet you Rose. Run for your life!"

He got more memories too, but if I listed those we'd be here all night. Shining recoiled in shock and took a step back.

"You're a- I mean, that's..." Shining stuttered.

"Yes." The Doctor said with a grin.

"But you're-"

"By jove, I think he's got it! Molto Bene!" The Doctor cried. He gestured to his Tardis with his hoof.

"So, what do you say?"

Shining fainted with a thud while Twilight facehoofed in the background.

"Oh, well that's unfortunate...." The Doctor muttered.

Later, about a day before the Summer Sun Celebration as she poured over her books Twilight received a letter. It couldn't have been from the Doctor as he sent his letters by cube even as he and her brother traveled the stars together. She was quite envious of them to be honest. To be up there... But enough of that. She had a letter to read. It was from Princess Celestia.

"My dear and faithful student, I want you to discover a brand new form of magic. The magic of friendship. To do that you must journey to a little town called Ponyville..."

END

Interlude: The Moon's Return

"Do you really think you can stop me, Twilight Sparkle? You're just a simple unicorn, while I am a goddess! I am the night itself, and I WILL make it last forever!" A pure black pony with a mane of stars and wearing blue armor yelled at her foe. "And don't get me started on those friends of yours. Newsflash for you. Friendship is. A. LIE!"

Twilight glared harshly at her foe, while they stood in the ruins of a old and crumbling castle. Nearby, her newfound friends from Ponyville watched in shock and fear.

"No, that's not true. Friendship exists and you know, deep down Princess!" She pleaded, but the incarnation of nightmares and the shadows themselves were not willing to listen.

"DO NOT CALL ME THAT! I am not Princess Luna, there is only Nightmare Moon!" The being who was once Celestia's sister roared in rage. The shadows themselves seemed to grow colder and darker, as if they had minds of their own. But that wasn't possible, was it? Twilight ignored them even as they reached for her and charged at her opponent. Nightmare burst out laughing at the sight.

"You seriously think that'll work?"

Twilight came closer. Nightmare gaped for a second.

"...Wow, guess she is serious." She said, stunned.

She readied herself but Twilight didn't attack. Instead she slid right under the dark Alicorn goddess and to the chest beyond pulling out it's contents with her magic.

"Here, catch!"

With that, Twilight tossed the items known in legend as the Elements of Harmony to her friends.

"You want a demonstration of friendship, Nightmare? Here, I've got one JUST for you!" Twilight shouted as the Elements charged up and a golden crown with the final element, Magic appeared on her head. Then, six bright beams of light came out and fired, directing themselves towards the Nightmare spirit...

Princess Luna awoke with a start sweating from what she'd seen. For the past week, she'd had that dream. No, not a dream. Memories. That's how she'd been brought back to her true self, not that abomination created so long ago. As for the spirit of Nightmare Moon, she didn't know what happened to it nor did she care anyway. It had tormented her for far too long, made her turn against her sister. Sure, yeah she was jealous ponies loved the sun more then the moon but did she want to destroy her sister over it? NO! That was the Nightmare's fault and the Nightmare's alone. She was glad it was gone! Even now she remembered how this had all started, over one thousand years ago.

"So, they want the sun instead of the moon? Want to bask in it's bright light? WELL, DO THEY? Well, if that's what they want I'll take it from them!"

In their old castle, deep within the Everfree Forest stood a tainted Luna on her throne. On the other side of the room, stood Celestia with a pleading look on her face.

"No... No. Sister, please!" Celestia shouted, but it was to no success as "Luna" was not in a listening mood.

"Don't you call me that! I'm not your sister!" She roared in anger.

Dark energy swirled around the midnight blue Alicorn as she laughed and was transformed into the horrendous dark goddess known only as Nightmare Moon. Teeth sharpened, and fur blackened. The transformation was finished. Luna was no more.

"THERE IS ONLY ME NOW! AND I DECLARE THE NIGHT SHALL LAST FOREVERMORE!"

She grabbed her former sister with her magic and flung the Sun Princess into a wall. Dust flew from the sheer force of the blow.

Celestia whispered "I'm sorry, dear sister. I should have paid more attention." as tears formed in her eyes. "But there is one last duty I can preform for you, stopping you for the good of your subjects."

She stood firm before flying out the window, leading Nightmare to give chase. They battled all around the castle as they flew, magic spells and blasts flying everywhere with powerful intent behind them. At one point Celestia got the upper hand over her sister and blasted her from above sending her crashing through the roof of the throne room. The Sun Princess landed nearby and summoned the Elements of Harmony.

"Maybe after one thousand years, you'll have changed back into the one I remember..." She whispered, before letting Nightmare have it and banishing her into the moon. For the next thousand years, her shadow existed gazing down on the world and so the legend of the Mare in the Moon was born...

Luna gazed upwards from her balcony. The shadow of the Mare was no longer there. For most, it was quite a change not to see it, but Luna on the other hoof was thankful for it.

"So... what now we must ask...?"

Of course, she knew what she had to do now. Get back in the swing of things, as it were and see what had changed after her thousand year banishment. Start raising the moon again now that she was ready for the task. Well, almost ready anyway. But right now, before that could happen there was something she had to do first...

"T-Tia?"

She visited Celestia in their throne room, just about to get ready to raise the sun. Their throne room, Luna mused. She'd have to get used to that again.

"Luna, shouldn't you be getting ready for-"

"Does thou forgive us?" Luna asked softly.

Celestia smiled.

"There's nothing to forgive." Celestia replied, and the two now reunited sisters embraced. No words needed to be spoken between them. They were back, and their bond was reforged and nothing could break it. Not this time.

END.

Shock Rock Part 1 (Lightning Dust)

"HELLO PONYVILLE! Rainbow Dash of Cloudsdale here, bringing you the latest awesome tunes on the fly! Now, some of you may be asking, what's a pegasi doing manning the radio stations and their airwaves? Shouldn't you be out busting clouds or doing stunts or something like that? Well, lemme ask you something. How many of you know me? Seriously, I'm lazier then ole Tirek when he's drunk on magic!"

Next to a tree she'd just finished bucking of it's apples, along with a bunch of others she'd just did a hour before this one Applejack chuckled. Her friend/rival would never change. And she didn't want her to. At the schoolhouse, the CMC listened intently while their teacher Ms Cheerilee watched in annoyance in the background before coughing and taking the radio away from them while Scootaloo groaned at the loss of her idol's voice. Cheerilee just sighed. How they'd got that in without her noticing she didn't know, but she made a mental note to keep a eagle eye on them if they tried it again.

"...Plus, the food the station provides isn't bad either. Mmmmmm.... Oops, sorry got a bit distracted there. Now, enough chatter from me, got some great music for you, coming up right now!"

Suddenly, Rainbow's excited voice was replaced with the latest track from Judas Pony, blaring out of the speakers of anyone who listened at top volume. In the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight had lost herself in one of her old history texts when Spike came down the stairs holding a radio snapping his claws to the song's beat. Twilight groaned and desperately tried to block out the noise by stuffing her hooves in her ears. That didn't work.

"Spike, can you turn that thing down?" She shouted. But Spike couldn't hear her voice over the song.

"Sorry? I can't hear you, it's too loud!" He shouted, and ironically enough Twilight couldn't hear him very well either.

"What? I can't... I can't... What did you say?" Twilight shouted back. This time her target did hear her yell. Spike sighed and turned down the radio a bit, enough so that he could hear his adopted older sister.

"That's what I was just trying to ask you!" He said to her in annoyance.

Twilight groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I asked you to turn that thing down! It's too loud, and I'm trying to read this absolutely fascinating text about the forging of the Griffin-Pony Peace Treaty. Did you know, for example that two ambassadors had this relationship..." She trailed off, and blushed red as a tomato. Spike did not need to hear that at his age!

"Don't know, and don't care." Spike said in a snarky tone.

"Just... Just take that thing somewhere else will you? This is a library after all. Music is not allowed." Twilight sniffed. Spike rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Not unless it's Octavia's cello concertos." He said, and Twilight blushed red once more.

Eventually, Twilight did get Spike to leave. and she was able to go back to her book. Well, she would have gone back to it, had Pinkie not barged in.

"Twilight! Twilight! You'll never guess who just showed up. TODAY! Right here in Ponyville!" Pinkie said, all of this spoken at very high speed making it almost impossible for Twilight to understand it all. But somehow, she did. Her mind almost at once went to the worst case scenario she could think up in her mind at that moment.

"Please tell me it's not Trixie again." Twilight groaned out, remembering the arrogant unicorn mare, who'd shown up about a week or so back. She'd claimed she'd stopped a Ursa Major, and when a Ursa Minor did show up... Er, make that brought here on purpose by two of her fans, some young colts by the name of Snips and Snails she couldn't even handle that. Twilight had easily sent the creature packing, and Trixie had fled in embarrassment and shame.

"No... Why'd you go there? If it was Trixie, my Pinkie Sense would be going off like wildfire!" Pinkie exclaimed. Twilight nodded, remembering her friend's strange ability.

"Well, who is it?" Twilight asked, somewhat fearing the answer.

Pinkie got in real close to Twilight's face and whispered "It's a rock star!"

Twilight blinked before she registered what her friend and fellow Element of Harmony said. Then her head met her desk and she groaned. That was so not what she wanted to hear.

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Pinkie led her friend to the town square where a huge crowd had gathered. In the middle of it all was a cyan pegasi with yellow and orange streaked hair wearing a leather jacket with a red Magiccaster on her back signing autographs and at some points even blowing kisses to stallions who fainted at the action. Twiligght frowned, this mare seemed like Trixie all over again and to make matters worse said mare played her least favorite genre of music.

"Hey, Twilight! Didn't expect to see you here! Thought you'd be stuck up in your library when you heard." Rainbow said from behind her, as she trotted up.

"Shouldn't you be at your-"

"Eh, I'm on lunch break." Rainbow said dismissively. It was then Twilight noted she had hay fries in her mouth. "And puh-leeze, did you really think I would skip out on something like this? Lightning Dust over there is one of my favorite artists! Her and her band!" She said excitedly.

Lightning Dust, so that was her name Twilight noted and filed it away for later.

"Hey Twi, I thought you didn't like this kind of music?" Rainbow inquired.

"Oh, you noticed?" Twilight deadpanned. Lightning trotted up right about then.

"Hey hey, always glad to see more of my fans!" She said, and put a foreleg around Twilight and the pegasus was smiling arrogantly all the while.

"I'm not... Not a fan!" Twilight sputtered in disbelief but Lightning waved her off.

"Oh, don't worry you'll come around. Everypony does. Here, I'll give you and your friends here a ticket to my outdoor concert in the park tomorrow afternoon." Twilight groaned and hung her head. How'd she get dragged into this? Then she remembered something and voiced her concerns to Lightning.

"But that's when the pegasi have a storm planned! Are you INSANE?" Twilight shouted at her in shock.

"Rain or snow, pah! The show MUST go on!" Lightning could only smirk in response before flying off into the sky. Twilight thought to herself,  this could not end well. She didn't know how right she was. Out of concern for the musician, she did go to the planned concert and already clouds were gathering and thunder rumbled in the distance. The concert itself could only be described as one of Pinkie's parties gone bad, the crowd getting more and more raucious by the second.

"This is nuts!" Rainbow shouted over the din.

"You're telling me. I've seen street riots which had more control then this!" Twilight shouted back at her.

Nearby, Pinkie cheered and danced to the music played over a radio. And in the middle of all the chaos was Lightning herself, setting up on stage. She tapped the microphone to see if it was working.

"Hello hello, everypony! You ready to ROCK!?!" Lightning shouted, and the crowd roared. "I'll take that as a yes!"

It was about then, much to Twilight and Rainbow's relief the Ponyville branch of the Royal Guard showed up. Looks like the concert would not go on after all... right?

"Finally, some order." Twilight muttered.

"Well well well, looks like the guard want to shut this jam down! Not going to happen, I say! Not even Tartarus or Tidal Waves will stop this!" Lightning shouted to her adoring fans, who'd come from miles around to see this. But something else did have other plans. With a mighty CRACK! of thunder, a bolt of pure energy came down right at that very moment and hit Lightning at full force...

Shock Rock Part 2 (Thunderstruck)

The cheering crowd's roars turned to screams as the lightning struck in a instant and ponies began to scatter every which way with the Guards just barely keeping control over them. Rain poured down as Twilight pushed through the crowd towards the stage Rainbow running after her.

"Twi, are you nuts? In this weather, what's the chance you won't get struck too?" She shouted in concern for her friend but the lavender unicorn and Element of Magic looked back at her with a serious expression on her face.

"It doesn't matter. Not right now!"

Rainbow's jaw dropped in shock.

"D-doesn't matter?" She sputtered. "But the lightning-"

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE DAMN LIGHTNING!" Twilight shouted back, and Rainbow reeled backwards in shock. Twilight never cursed, not in her memory anyway. For her to do that, the situation must be bad. "Right now, our only concern is Lightning Dust. I may not like her, but she needs help!" She continued.

Pinkie popped up from behind Rainbow, making her jump.

"She's right right right! Dusty needs help!" She said excitedly, as if she'd had too much sugar. Rainbow grumbled to herself.

"Alright fine, but if I die you're getting haunted for this I swear..." She muttered.

When all three Elements got up there, they gasped in shock with Rainbow looking like she might be sick while Pinkie actually was. Laying in front of them was Lightning Dust, hair scorched and her body badly burned. Twilight felt her body, it was still breathing which was something at least so she was still alive but for how much longer no pony present knew. Twilight turned to Pinkie, who's hair had deflated from it's normal poofy style. Twilight's status as her position in the Elements and Celestia's personal student was on full display now, in all it's glory.

"Pinkie, call Canterlot General. Tell them they've got a patient incoming."

Pinkie saluted, said "On it!" before dashing off in a pink blur...

The rapidly fading Lightning Dust was quickly brought to the hospital, bandages wrapped around her wounds making her resemble a mummy. She'd been put on a stretcher and was currently being rushed to the ICU doctor and nurse ponies making observations about her conditions along the way.

"Pulse is dropping! Time's running out here, she's fading." One Doctor Horse said to his fellow caregiver, Nurse Redheart as they pushed the stretcher through the ICU doors.

"Quickly, get the equipment set up. We're not losing her." Redheart ordered to the doctors. Outside, in a waiting room sat Pinkie, Twilight and Rainbow.

"You think she'll be okay?" Pinkie whispered sadly, her voice quite unlike it's normal tone. Rainbow put a foreleg around her.

"She'll be fine. Lightning's a tough pegasi, I can tell. I say she could be Wonderbolt stock, if not for her attitude. She's worse then me, and that's saying something!" Rainbow said, in reassurance to her friend. It then Spike ran in with a frightened look on his face and when he saw Twilight he hugged her.

"Twilight! Thank Celestia you're oaky, when I heard somepony got struck by lightning I came looking for you!" He said, tears in his eyes. Twilight wiped them away.

"It's okay Spike, I'm here." She said, hugging him before her gaze turned to the ICU doors. "Her though, I'm not so sure about." She murmured.

"Who's her? What happened?" Spike asked in confusion.

"Well..." Twilight began.

Amazingly, with all the doctor's efforts and perhaps a miracle from Celestia Lightning Dust managed to pull through. Currently, she was sitting in her bed still covered in bandages gazing out at the Canterlot skyline, Luna's moon shining through. Lightning Dust growled as she remembered what the doctors told her. She'd forever have these burns, and with her wings so damaged be lucky to fly again. Oh sure, she could play guitar as good as ever but she'd never be able to show her face in public ever again not looking like... this.

Not that it mattered anyway, her band didn't want her because of her "Ego" as they put it. Letting out a scream of pure frustriation she grabbed a clock and was prepared to throw it when she noticed it was being charged with energy and going haywire the numbers switching at random every few seconds. Then she noticed a energy building up inside her and somehow released it in a lightning bolt shattering the window glass.

"Huh, cool." She said.

She dropped the clock to the floor in excitement.

"Look out world, Lightning Dust is back baby! Time to show the world my power!" She exclaimed before turning herself into a lightning bolt and flying right out the hole in the window...

Meanwhile, Twilight had gone to a concert at the Canterlot Opera House where none other then her favorite artist Octavia Melody was playing with her group. Currently they were going through Ludwig Von Hooftoven's "Fur Elise" and playing it brilliantly. As the song ended and the crowd clapped in approval she turned to Celestia beside her.

"It... It just doesn't feel right. Not while Lightning Dust is recovering I'm out here enjoying myself." She said softly.

"You did the right thing bringing her here to Canterlot, my faithful student. Besides, I hear Dust is expected to make a full recovery. She should be out..."

Suddenly in a flash of light and a loud explosion Lightning appeared on stage as ponies scattered in fear.

"Hello world, meet the new me!" She laughed.

"...Soon." Celestia finished in shock. This was definitely new, that was for sure.

"Time to go to work." Twilight muttered. "And I was having such a nice night."

Shock Rock Part 3 (The storm breaks)

"So, no comments on my new look? No catcalls or wolf whistles? Seriously, I was expecting at least one." Lightning Dust asked to nopony in particular. She was greeted by more screams. She flushed red under her wrappings.

"Oh, forgot to show it off, guess that's why." Lightning realized, before ripping off her bandages. I don't know if she expected her new powers to have fixed her look or gave her a new one outright but she had neither of those things sadly I am afraid. Under them, she was still as burned as ever which as you might expect resulted in some more screams, louder then before along with some gasps of horror. Lightning's face fell and for a brief moment there was sadness in her eyes before it turned and contorted with her face following it soon after to just outright rage.

"Oh, well if that's the way you feel about me now I guess I'll just have to make you love me by force!" She snarled before rising high into the air by some unseen force and her eyes began to flash with electricity inside them. Up in the VIP box high above everything else, even those up there could smell the ozone. Lightning bolts flew everywhere, some striking ponies down in their tracks.

"No... No, she can't do this..." Twilight repeated to herself sadly. She might not have liked Lightning, but she did want to see her recover and perhaps learn something from her experience. She had hoped her hubris might have gone down with the accident but instead what had occurred was it quite possibly driving the pegasus mad.

"Twilight, you've got to stop her. She could kill everyone here." Celestia said, and Twilight nodded sadly. She knew her teacher was right, although she hated to admit it. She knew what she had to do.

"Princess, get out of here. I don't want to see you harmed. I can handle this." Twilight said, and Celestia nodded.

"I have no doubt you can. I'll alert Luna's Night Guard to what's happening." Celestia replied before vanishing in a flash of white light. Little did Twilight know there was another purpose to the Sun Princess's actions and vanishing. She was going to do as she said she would, but also she was going to alert R.I.F.T. This was right up their alley, and a perfect field test of some of the devices they had been developing under Sunburst's leadership. But back to the action, where Twilight had teleported down to the stage and was currently staring down Lightning Dust, whose eye's had been filled with madness, along with what Twilight suspected were tears as well.

"Please, stop this! You're not well! You need help!" Twilight pleaded. Lightning's eyes widen as she saw the unicorn.

"I... I know you." Lightning whispered. "You, I invited you to my concert. You saved me, you brought me to the hospital, you and your friends."

Then her voice became filled with rage. A great, and yet terrible rage.

"You did this. You made me into a freak! A FREAK! You never should have given me over to the doctors, you should have just let me die!" Lightning snarled and Twilight blanched, if only for a moment. For a second, she considered Lightning's words. Should she really have saved her, was it better to just have let her die out of mercy? No, that wasn't true, Twilight thought to herself, I didn't know how Lightning would turn out. She just wanted to save her. As Twilight became lost in thought, Lightning threw a bolt of pure white hot energy at her and it was only at the last second she saw it coming and just barely dodged to the left.

"I'm going to make you pay for this!" Dust screamed in fury.

"I'm sorry for what's happened to you Lightning, but you must be stopped." Twilight said, before creating a bubble of pure magic around her foe. Lightning roared in rage, and banged on the bubble with her hooves.

"You can't hold me, I won't let you!" She bellowed.

Then, a explosion of pure energy enveloped the inside of the bubble and Twilight averted her eyes to avoide permanant blindness. When the light cleared, the bubble had shattered like glass and Lightning was gone. Twilight noted a small scorch mark on the stage floor in front of her. Was it possible Lightning had destroyed herself, out of self-hatred for her new life? Or was it to spite Twilight? Whatever the case, the Night Guard arrived just about then led by a Captain in purple armor with bat wings showing his identity as a thestral. Other members of the guard included this type of pony, but mostly they were just regular pegasi along with unicorns and on rare occasions Earth Ponies as well. But they weren't the most visible. No, that belonged to R.I.F.T who wore HAZMAT  suits and began scanning the area as the Night Guard got ponies to safety and conducted interviews.

"Hello, so sorry I'm late but you know how things are." Sunburst said in embarrassment. He was a orange maned unicorn with a bit of mane matching stubble on his face signaling the beginning of a beard and some yellow colored fur. He was wearing a suit and tie as well, instead of the HAZMAT suits of his fellows. Nearby, the captain of the Night Guard sniffed the area where Lightning once was before taking a step back and pulling out a bottle of air freshener and spraying the area around him.

"Did somepony die in here, or is it just me? Cause I can swear it's not just me!" He said nervously and Twilight's eyes couldn't quite meet anypony's.

"I... I tried to save her. I really did, I swear!" She sobbed and Celestia, who had reappeared put a wing around her in a comforting motion.

"You did the best you could. That's all anypony can ask." She said. Sunburst meanwhile, had his doubts as he scanned the area with his horn. Once he was done, he shook his head.

"Nope, I don't think so... In fact, I'd bet my magic on it." Sunburst murmured just loud enough for everypony to hear him and he earned a few looks of shock. The most visible was Twilight's, mixed with a bit of relief. She hadn't failed after all, not yet.

"What? What?" Twilight asked frantically.

"I'd say what we have right here... is a form of teleportation." Sunbirst answered, and Twilight's eyes widened.

Sunburst was more spot on then he knew. Lightning had teleported herself away to someone she knew very well. She figured if she couldn't be loved, she might as well get revenge on those who wronged her. Starting by those who kicked her out of her band.

"Who's... Who's there?" A brown furred dreadlocked stallion answered with a drum kit for a Cutie Mark. Lightning's voice answered from the dark corners of the home.

"Let's just say... a old friend."

"AAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!"

A explosion ripped through the home and fire burst out the windows. Had anyone been watching the sky, they would have seen a bolt of lightning fly away, seemingly without a parent cloud to create it...

Shock Rock Part 4 (Downpour)

The explosion was heard all throughout Canterlot. It woke ponies in their beds, and later one Blueblood would be heard complaining to his "Auntie" that he'd been woken from his beauty sleep and wanted the pony in question who was responsible for the arson beheaded by him personally if it all possible. But that was besides the point right now wasn't it? What was the point was that when Twilight heard the explosion she didn't know how it was done, but she knew who was responsible for it. So that was how she found herself in front of a manor on Wintergreen Street, actually not too far from her old home here with her parents, watching the fireponies desperately try to contain the blaze that threatened to engulf nearby homes.

"Well... No question at all who did this." Sunburst muttered as he watched the home burn.

"Yeah, if I was a betting stallion, which I am not, I'd be betting on Dust alright." Galaxy Swirls commented. "Man, tell me she wasn't always this nuts?"

"No, I dare say she's taken a real step up." Sunburst said dryly.

Twilight meanwhile frowned to herself as she lost herself in her thoughts. Sunburst's statement, deadpan as it was, had a point to it. Lightning seemed to be losing her grip on sanity more and more, and any chance  to help her was slipping from her grasp by the minute. They needed to hurry.

"Who lived here anyway?" She asked.

"One of Lightning's old band members I think, before she got kicked out of the group." Sunburst answered, before a voice came from behind them.

"Aye, I can confirm that lad." The voice said in a accent that identified it's owner as coming from the Trottish Highlands and Sunburst, Galaxy and Twilight all turned to see a green stallion with a guitar for a cutie mark on his flank.

"Wasn't exactly public knowledge, but ole Dust got kicked out of this here group for her... attitude. You saying she did this, lad?" The stallion questioned. His voice was in a tone of shock, and Twilight felt a bit sorry for him as he seemed to not want to believe Dust did what she had.

"Yeah, seems that way." Twilight said sadly. The stallion's face fell and became sorrowful.

"Oh dear Celestia... What's happened to you Dust? When I heard about your accident... I... I'm sorry, will you lot give me a moment please?" He asked, and all three turned away to give him some privacy to the shaken stallion's whose whole world as he knew it was turned upside down. Twilight's pity for him only increased.

"So... What do we do now?" She asked.

Galaxy piped up excitedly.

"That's easy! We find Lightning, and open up a can of whoop-flank!" He said grinning, a bit like a madman. Twilight suspected by this point he might be insane.

"Er... Shouldn't that be opening up a can of whoop-a-?" Sunburst asked in confusion before being cut off.

"I don't curse or do anything my mother told me never to do, cause that would be immoral and wrong." Galaxy responded, that grin of his still on his face. Sunburst sighed, he really should learn to keep his mouth shut at times. It would just be better for him that way. Meanwhile, Twilight groaned as she felt a headache coming on. Why was she always the one to attract the weird stallions?

The very next day as the sun rose, a well rested Twilight came up with a plan. Said plan was still a work in progress, and was a bit crazy but still a plan. Twilight just wasn't going to admit she was making half this stuff up as she went along. That bit, she supposed she'd learned from the Doctor. Anyways, the plan involved a giant mirror created by R.I.F.T and enchanted by Twilight, that if it worked, would redirect Lightning's abilities back at her (Hopefully) taking her down for the count. Problem was, they just had to find her and bring her to it.

"Sooo... uh, anyone want to draw straws to lure out Ms. Trigger Happy?" Galaxy asked sarcastically. "For the record, I just want to state NOT IT!" He yelled suddenly startling Twilight and making Sunburst nearly jump and nearly drop some parts, as he put on the finishing touches on the mirror which was shaped like a giant disk.

"Hey, watch it. This stuff isn't cheap, you know." Sunburst frowned. Galaxy laughed nervously.

"Oopsie..." He said. Twilight facehoofed.

"I'll do it." Twilight said. "Lightning really hates me, and on that basis I could easily draw her out of wherever she's hiding." She finished, making Sunburst frown in concern.

"So, you're just going to offer yourself up on a platter as live bait? Braver stalli-Er, mare then me." He admitted, his face flushing red. "Not that it's very difficult to be that." He said sadly.

"Hey, you're a lot braver then you think you are if you're going to try and help with this plan." Twilight told him, but he shook his head.

"No... I'm not brave at all, just doing what needs to be done." Sunburst said sadly before he pepped himself up a bit. "So, how you going to draw her out again?"

Twilight smirked.

"Like this." She said, before using the spell that the Princesses used for their Royal Canterlot Voice.

"LIGHTNING DUST! I CHALLENGE YOU! YOU WANT ME? WELL, COME AND GET ME!" Twilight yelled, forcing anypony nearby to cover their ears to avoid deafness from a pitch that would make Luna proud. But the plan worked in any case, as a streak of lightning without a cloud appeared before them and soon Lightning Dust stood in it's place.

"Here I am. Time to die." She snarled, and Twilight smelled ozone.

"Not today." She smirked before yelling "Sunburst, NOW!"

Twilight moved out of the way as the bolt flew past her and hit the mirror activated by Sunburst, which did exactly as it was intended and redirected it back towards it's owner. There was a loud explosion and dust flew everywhere making Twilight cough. But when it cleared, Lightning Dust lay in a crater unconscious, but alive.

Twilight stood over her and whispered "I'm sorry, I wish I could have done more..." to herself. It wasn't long before the Royal Guards arrived to take the Pegasus away to prison, but Twilight stopped them.

"No, prison's not for her. She needs help." She said.

Celestia came over.

"And I promise she'll get the best of care." The Sun Princess stated, and Twilight glanced at Dust.

"Pinkie Promise?"

"Pinkie Promise." Celestia smiled, before mimicking the timeless gestures for it. "Sunburst, if you please?" She asked, and the stallion in question nodded.

"Got it, milady." He answered, with a salute before gesturing to some of his fellow R.I.F.T scientists who picked up Lightning and put her on a stretcher before taking her away. Celestia and Twilight watched sadly as it happened.

"You think they'll be able to help her?" Twilight asked.

"We can only hope, my faithful student." Celestia replied sadness in her tone. "We can only hope."

Later, Twilight was at her home back in Ponyville reading a book as always when she received a knock on her door. She opened it, only to see the Doctor in front of her. He grinned.

"So, how was your day?"

END

The Griffin/Pony War Part 1 (Boltstrike)

"Seriously Doctor, where have you been?" Twilight asked, as she and the Doctor had some cups of tea.

"You really sure you want to know?" He inquired.

"Yes, I do. I'm... curious."

"Fine, I'll tell you what I've been up to if you tell me the same." He told her. "Deal?" He asked, sticking out his hoof.

"Deal." Twilight agreed, taking it.

16 years ago...

The Doctor and Shining stepped out of the Tardis only to find themselves in a great forest somewhere in Equestria. It was late at night, as the moon shown through the trees, with the Mare's shadow on it giving them the only clue as when they were and even that was vague. There were no notable landmarks to tell where they were either so both stallions were clueless as to where they'd landed, or when.

"Okay Doctor, just when are we?" Shining asked in confusion as a animal chirped in the background.

"I don't know. I don't like not knowing things, makes me nervous." He admitted nervously. Nearby, Shining threw a hoof up into the air in frustration.

"You don't... You don't know?" He said in disbelief.

"Not in the slightest." The Doctor responded with a manic grin before going back to check on his Tardis before running his hoof along the side of it and then scanning it with his sonic.

"What is it girl? What's wrong with you? Was it something you ate?" He asked, as if expecting a response. There was none, after all how could there be?

"Um... Doctor?" Shining asked nervously when a bunch of Royal Guards dressed head to hoof in armor appeared and pointed spears at them. The Doctor failed to notice, as he was still focused on his Tardis.

"What?" He asked before finally seeing his and Shining's problem. "Oh... Oh. Ah, well this is rather worrying isn't it?"

"Who are you?" The Captain, obviously, by his purple detailed armor that Shining knew all too well asked. He had blue fur and spoke with a baritone voice. He had no horn or wings, making him a Earth Pony. Shining swallowed nervously, he had a very good idea whom he was looking at.

"We're, uh, travelers. Merchants!" The Doctor stuttered while trying to think up a plan. The Captain got in his face and growled "You don't look like travelers. You're coming with us."

"Actually no, we'll have to pass. We're not going with you." The Doctor said before he was quickly "Convinced" to change his mind when more spears were pointed at his face. His mind maid up, he turned to his companion.

"Shining, we're going with them."

Youtube Video

The two were brought a village of many tents, in the center of them all was a large tent with Celestia's symbol on either side of it and guards stationed all around. But they weren't the only ones, oh no. Many others walked around the village, stockpiling weapons or training each other in mock fights. All of this gave Shining a clue to where, or more accurately WHEN they were.

"Doctor..." He said warningly.

"Yeah?" The Time Lord asked in response.

"I know exactly where we are. We're in the middle of the Griffin/Pony war. And we're being brought before Princess Celestia." He said, and now the Doctor knew something was up, just by Shining's worried tone. He also knew whom he'd be meeting soon, and it seemed for her the timelines had now changed so they would have met before. Or maybe they always had, but he'd never properly introduced himself the first time. Also, Celestia had lived at least over a thousand years, so maybe she'd seen lots of stallions like him. He took great offence to that, there was only one of him! He was sure of it!

"Yes, that's right. You're smarter then you look stranger." The Captain, whom they'd heard referred to as Boltstrike at one point by one of his men a short while ago. They were led into the tent where Celestia was looking over a map of a battlefield somewhere along with several guards. She looked up at them.

"Yes?" She asked tiredly. The war was starting to wear on her, that much was obvious at first glance.

"Found them skulking outside in the forest. Could be spies." Boltstrike answered and the Doctor sputtered out a answer.

"We're... We're not spies!" He yelled, even more offended.

"And who are you really then?" Celestia asked. Boltstrike shouted out his objections.

"Milady, surely you're not indulging them!" He yelled angrily.

"Least let them humor me." She told him and Boltstrike muttered something rude under his breath. She turned to the Doctor and Shining. "Well, I'm waiting."

"Fine then! I'm a doctor, and we've met before. Well, not yet. But we will, in the future! It's all very wibbley wobbly timey wimey." He said, and Shining facehoofed and said to a guard "I don't know him. Not one bit."

"You've got to be kidding. Or nuts." Boltstrike said flatly before gesturing to his men. "Take these spies away!"

Some guards saluted and stepped forwards but Celestia stopped them.

"I don't think they're spies. I know spies. Besides, I put that spell a while back that would incinerate them if they weren't truthful, remember Captain?" She asked, and Shining gulped while the Doctor tugged at his tie nervously and muttered "Ouch." Boltstrike meanwhile just looked a mix of embarrassed, furious and resigned all at once if that were possible. Finally he let out a sigh of "Fine... Let them go." he ordered and his orders were followed without question.

Then he added "But stay out of trouble, you understand!"

The Doctor replied "Oh don't worry, we will!" He said with a sincerity which didn't quite reach his eyes. Boltstrike groaned.

Shining, out of suspicion followed Boltstrike around for the rest of the day sticking to the shadows to avoid being seen. For most of the day, everything was fine but when the Captain trotted out of the camp and into a small town Shining found all too familiar things changed in the status quo.

"Captain! Captain!" A young excited voice exclaimed, and Shining gasped as he saw his pre-teen self, about seven or so running up to get his hair ruffled by Boltstrike.

"Hey kid." Boltstrike said, smiling for the first time today so far as Shining had seen.

"You kick any more butt today?" His younger self asked excitedly.

"Nope, but give or take a few days there'll be "Butt-kicking" as you call it aplenty." Boltstrike smirked. "In fact..." He said in a low tone while glancing around nervously to make sure nopony was watching "I'll tell you a secret."

"What, what?" Young Shining asked and Boltstrike leaned in closer. "In fact, I dare say in a few days this accursed war will be over in a victory for us. But don't tell anypony I told you."

"My lips are sealed!" Young Shining said with a few excited nods of his head. "I can't wait! Hey, after this is all over can you start helping me with becoming a Royal Guard?" He asked with puppy dog eyes.

"Bit young, aren't you?" Boltstrike asked with a arched eyebrow. "Wait a few more years, then maybe I will. Who knows, you might become a better Captain then me!"

"Wow, really?" Young Shining asked with wide eyes. "You think so?"

Boltstrike chuckled, ruffled his hair once more before trotting off, but not before glancing towards a alleyway in suspicion. He could have sworn he was being watched but shrugged it off as paranoia setting in. Older Shining meanwhile, in that very same alley vanished from sight. He'd lingered too long.

"So... It's nearing that day." He muttered in worry. Back with Boltstrike, later that night he made a visit to another tent where under a tarp something sat. He pulled off the tarp, and a metal being with a eyestalk and with a body resembling that of a salt-shaker painted pure white and gold was revealed.

"Soon, my Ironside can be put into play and this war will be over..."

The Griffin/Pony War Part 2 (The Ironside)

Meanwhile, as Boltstrike plotted in secret and ran a few final tests on his Ironside he thought he had created the Doctor remained unaware of what was going on behind the scenes. He had found Celestia and has struck up a conversation...

"This war... it's wearing on you isn't it? I can see it in your eyes." He said, and Celestia looked at him sadly with a mix of shock thrown in there as well.

"Is it really that obvious?" She asked, as the Time Lord nodded. "Who are you anyway?"

"Just a friend. Just someone who wants to see that sights." The Doctor replied, but Celestia didn't believe him, not for a moment. The war had turned her cynical, and it wouldn't be until after it was over that she would be back to her old self.

"Ponies don't "See the sights" as you say in the middle of a war between nations. What are you really doing? I don't like to be lied to, Doctor." She said, looking straight at him. Her gaze seemed to drill right into him, but the Doctor was unfazed.

"Who said I was lying? That's all I really want to do, just see what there is out there." He replied, and this time Celestia seemed to believe him but she had another question on her mind.

"You said we've met before, but I don't recall..." She started before being interrupted.

"Meeting me? Oh, you'll know what I mean eventually. Just wait a couple more years. There are changes coming in your future Princess, some good and some not. Spoilers." He added with a grin before mentally groaning. Why'd that term make him want to do that? It wasn't like it had before. "Sweetie" also seemed to make him want to groan as well. How odd.

"Best you get some sleep." Celestia told him. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

The very next day, the Doctor and Shining found themselves in the middle of chaos as ponies ran to and fro as orders were relayed to them. Apparently, the Griffin army was getting closer as they'd broken through the nearby defence line a mile away while everypony else had been sleeping.

"Alright everypony!" Boltstrike shouted over the din. "Looks like this is it, we beat the Griffin Army here or we die trying! Now, are you all with me?"

The soldiers roared their battle cries in response. The Doctor got out of sight, fighting was just not for him. Shining, on the other hoof got handed some armor by Boltstrike.

"Here, didn't catch your name, but take this. You'll need. Just try and wash the blood off when you're done eh? I so do hate armor looking so messy when the mares are around." He said, winking before looking at Shining with a critical eye. "You know, you look almost... familiar. Wonder why?"

"I... I guess I just have one of those faces." Shining said with a nervous grin. Boltstrike didn't look convinced but shrugged it off. He didn't have time to ponder on this, not when it was time to unleash his surprise.

"Alright, those birdbrains want to see death? Oh, they'll see it alright but it's not going to be use who are doing the dying. Them on the other hand..." Boltstrike chuckled gravely. He turned to the Doctor. "Come on out, I know you're there. You're going to want to see this."

He lead them outside, Shining's armor looking odd on him as it didn't quite fit. High in the sky, some approaching griffin warriors could be seen flying towards them. Boltstrike yelled "Fire round one!" before blue beams of light fired from behind some crates. Their source could not be seen. The Doctor's eyes widened at the sound. It couldn't be.

"Fire round two!" Boltstrike ordered and more shots fired and more griffins fell, dropping from the skies like leaves.

"No no no no..." He whispered in horror and denial. "Why them? Why here?" He panicked and Shining began to look concerned. The last time he'd seen the Doctor afraid, it was with the Weeping Angels. But that was nervousness. This was almost outright panic, mixed with denial.

"Doctor? What's wrong?" He asked, but received only a terrified look from the Time Lord and a whispered "No no no no... Can't be, not here." Shining's confusion was only heightened when a pepper pot shaped being rolled out from behind some crates. The Doctor began taking a few steps back. Boltstrike, if he noticed the Time Lord's terror, either didn't show it or just didn't care and smiled.

"Doctor, meet my Ironside and the key to winning this war."

As they went back inside the commander's tent now with the Ironside among them Boltstrike was greeted with cheers and claps of approval. He took it all in and smiled. He loved the victory after a battle, despite how much he told everypony else otherwise. You see, under that calm demeanor of his the Captain loved attention and to be acknowledged. He lived for it. He patted his Ironside on it's domed head.

"You see? Nothing to worry about now huh? Not with my Ir-"

He was interrupted from behind him by the Doctor.

"It's not called a Ironside." He whispered loud enough to be heard, and Boltstrike turned to look at him.

"What? Sorry, speak up I couldn't hear you." He asked sarcastically. The Doctor got in his face and growled out "It's not called a Ironside, it's called a Dalek. And right now it is the most dangerous thing in the room. I know you didn't create it, so where'd you find it?"

Boltstrike laughed nervously.

"F-find it... Surely you're-"

"Today is not a good day to lie to me, Captain." The Doctor growled. Celestia trotted forwards, but Shining stopped her and said "No, let him talk. Something's off here, and I can smell it."

Boltstrike finally gave up the ghost.

"Alright... ALRIGHT! I didn't create it." He admitted. "I found it in a crater. Brought it here, fixed it up. I wanted to win this war, give those damn birdbrains what they deserve." He yelled in rage, beginning to show his true colors for the first time. The Doctor had heard enough, gestured to the guards who restrained the Captain who yelled various curse words at him which can't be printed here.

The Doctor turned to the Dalek.

"Alright, why haven't you shown yourself yet?" He asked, staring down his arch-foe's eyestalk.

"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND." The Dalek answered in confusion. Least, that was it seemed to be in. But the Doctor knew better.

"Don't give me that. I know you understand perfectly well. I am the Doctor, and YOU are a Dalek." He snarled, and that was all it needed. It answered with one simple word.

"CORRECT."

And it fired...

The Griffin/Pony War Part 3 (Nightmare on Wintergreen Street)

The Doctor knew as soon as the Dalek stated "Correct", it had figured out both his and it's own true identity so when it fired it's laser he knew he had to move and was ready for it, dodging the beam just in time before it would have hit and forced him into his next regeneration. He didn't want to go, not yet anyway.

"EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE THE DOCTOR!" The Dalek cried in it's monotone voice.

The Dalek fired blasts wildly going every which way some even hitting guards making them drop dead on the spot. The Doctor knew, every second he spent in the room there was a chance another pony could die in the process. He had to lead his foe away from here, all the while figuring out how to stop it permanently.

"Hey Dalek! You want me?" The Doctor bellowed, and the Dalek turned to look at him. "Come and get me!" He cried, before running off with the Dalek following him out of the tent. In the meantime, Shining grabbed Boltstrike by the chestplate with his magic. It was very telling that nopony tried to stop him or pull him away.

"Do you know what you've done!?!" Shining snarled. Boltstrike didn't seem very fazed by his fury only making Shining madder.

"No, and I don't care as long as those featherbrains get what they deserve." The Captain told his future successor calmly, with a mad glint in his eyes Shining had only noticed once before, so long ago.

"Captain, please! Boltstrike!"

"SHUT UP! You'll get what you deserve!"

Celestia pulled him off Boltstrike before Shining could do something he probably wouldn't regret. Several royal guards restrained the mad Captain while Celestia stripped him of his badge.

"I knew you were dangerous, but I figured if I kept you close I could keep a eye on you and keep you from doing something drastic. I guess I was wrong." She told him, with a hint of betrayal in her voice before turning to the guards. "Take him away!"

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Meanwhile, the Doctor ran with the Dalek in pursuit even following him down to Wintergreen Street, the main part of the nearby village. Ponies tried to stop it, but only ended up exterminated for their efforts sadly. Nothing but the Doctor could stop the mad creature, and he knew it. He just had to figure out how...

"Alright, that the best you can do? Go on, try and aim will you? I'll bet you can't shoot me in the nose!" The Doctor taunted, only enraging the Dalek further.

Now normally, he'd consider this reckless and a good way to get himself regenerated but whenever he faced a Dalek, the killers of his people he generally ignored some of his own advice and only wanted to see the creature in question dead. Exterminated, if you will.

"EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!" The Dalek repeated. The Doctor rolled his eyes.

"Yeah yeah, we get it mate. That all you ever say?" He asked sarcastically. Guess what the answer was?

"EXTERMINATE!"

"Guess that answers my question." The Doctor shrugged.

Then he spotted something. Royal Guards moving some magical explosives for the war right in front of him. A idea began to form in his head. A crazy idea and a rather suicidal one at that, but an idea none the less.

"Well, I'm the Doctor and you can't kill me with lasers... So what are you going to do now huh?" He asked sarcastically. If this didn't work, well...

But the Dalek did exactly as he hoped it would. It engaged it's self destruct countdown. The Doctor smirked, perfect. Then he did something else he'd consider rather mental. The Doctor turned and ran back towards the Dalek, aimed the sonic at it before stopping it in it's tracks. He then opened up the Dalek's uppermost head casing, much to it's protesting.

"ALERT! ALERT! I HAVE BEEN BREACHED!"

"Relax mate, just looking for... Ah, there it is! The reverse gear! Say goodnight sweet prince!" He chorused before kicking back from behind towards the explosives. Then, a few seconds later it happened.

KABOOM!!!

The Doctor watched as the creature of nightmares went up like a rocket and soon was nothing more then memories. "Good riddance..." The Doctor muttered in distaste. "Now, what about Boltstrike...?" He wondered aloud to nobody in particular.

Well, for that answer we must join the stallion himself as he was thrown into a holding cell in the back of a chariot which was bound for Canterlot later that night. In the meantime, a guard had been posted to keep a eye on the Captain who could only seeth and wonder to himself. How, how did that stallion that just showed up with that Doctor character look so familiar. It was almost as if... Nah, it couldn't be could it? IT WAS!!! Boltstrike realized the truth at last. That new stallion was a older Shining Armor. Time travel, that's how he must have gotten here, to stop him no doubt. A inkling of a sick idea began to form. If he killed Shining Armor when he was just a kid, then the older one would never come around to stop him. But first, he had to get out of this cage.

"Guard! Guard, I think something's wrong with me. I might be dying!" He called, faking weakness in his voice.

The guard came over but just as he did so Boltstrike lunged and pulled the guard's sword out of his hilt. He thrusted it forwards before pulling back. The deed was done, and a ring of keys lay near a bloody pool in the grass.

The Griffin/Pony War Part 4 (Broken Trust)

1 year before the Doctor's arrival...

Deep within the Canterlot dungeons he sat, just like he always had for over a decade and a half if he counted correctly. It was impossible to tell, as nothing seemed to change here and time lost it's meaning. Oh sure, prisoners came and went, some in boxes and he heard gossip from the guards but he never really figured out everything that was going on in the outside world. Right now, his ears perked up in interest from the conversation going on outside his cell.

"Did ya hear? Hear the latest?" A young voice asked in excitement. It's owner probably couldn't sit still.

"No. I didn't. Been down here all night till you came around to take over for me." The other voice, slightly older and with a Transylmainan accent (He suspected it was a thestral because of this) answered in response. "Not that I really do care.. Or do I?"

Ah, now he knew who that was. Galaxy Swirls, part of the Royal Guard's night shift which was the successor of the Night Guard of the Two Sisters era one thousand years before. Speaking of successors, HE had been promoted to Captain of the Royal Guard not too long ago if the gossip was corrected. HE, who the stallion had failed to kill all those years ago.

"Anyway, what's the news? Tell me, has Celestia been rumored to be spending "special time" with her subjects again?" Galaxy asked with derision and boredom. Annoyance was there as well. "Cause, y'know, I really hate those rumors. They got old long before I got here. REALLY old."

"Nah, nothing like that..." The younger voice said, and probably was waving his hoof in dismissal. "Actually, I heard this big blue box crashed into a café with some weird stallion calling himself the Doctor inside it. Can you believe it?" The first one asked in disbelief. The prisoner's eyes widened. So... He was here now. Must have just arrived in the timeline. Well... now things were getting interesting. Very interesting indeed...

Back in the past...

"Damn... He's escaped. Should have expected something like this." The new and rather hastily appointed Captain of the Guard, Steel Sentry who was the father of Flash Sentry said sadly as he shook his head. He gazed down at the bloody mess in front of him and a open chariot door. "How could this have happened? What do I tell the family."

The Doctor stepped up.

"Tell him, his killer won't be on the loose for much longer. We'll catch him. For the record... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He said sadly, but Shining shook his head.

"No, I'll catch him. He's my responsibility." Shining snarled, and both Steel and the Doctor looked at him in a quizzical manner.

"How come?" Steel asked.

"I... have my reasons." Shining said, but Steel was still confused. He was a gray furred stallion, with matching mane. His Cutie Mark, a shield with rivets was hidden by his armor like all Royal Guards.

"Who are you anyway? Don't think I ever caught your name." He asked.

"Just a friend." Shining said simply, before running off down the street. If he was right, he knew exactly where Boltstrike was going and what he was attempting to do. He had to be stopped, one way or the other. Fatally, if need be. He just hoped he wasn't too late...

The home of the Sparkle Family...

Young Shining was just emerging from his hiding place under the bed. He'd heard the sounds of laser fire and screaming followed by a explosion. He didn't know where his parents were, they said they would return from their shopping trip but for all he knew they could be dead, killed by some enemy griffin. He let out a small sob of fear, before quickly silencing it. NO! He must be brave. Future Royal Guards never show fear, never. Then, he heard the sound of footsteps coming up the wooden staircase creaking as they did so. Were they back?

"H-hello...? Who's there?" He called.

He heard the door open.

"Kid? Where are you kid?" Boltstrike asked, and Shining crawled out from under the bed. "C-captain? Have you seen my mom and dad? Please, I need to know!" He yelled in fear. Boltstrike smirked in a almost evil manner. Insanity glinted in his eyes.

"Yeah, sure I saw them. Just coming home. Lucky, they were to avoid the chaos my Ironside caused. But they weren't so lucky to avoid me. Knocked them out, when they wake up they'll be in for a nasty surprise..." Boltstrike snarled, and Shining whimpered. He didn't know why, but he was afraid.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked nervously.

"I mean YOU dead, kid. Sorry, but no Royal Guardhood for you!" Boltstrike laughed, and advanced closer. Shining took steps back before he found himself up against the dresser able to move no further. He sobbed in fear as the mad stallion pulled out a knife.

"Captain, please! Boltstrike!" He pleaded, but to no avail.

"SHUT UP! You'll get what you deserve!" Boltstrike yelled before leaping forwards. But before he could kill his target, he was blindsided as the older Shining burst through a window and knocked him up against the bed.

"Get away from him." Shining muttered before whispering a spell under his breath that harmlessly knocked out his younger self. He didn't need to see this, plus it would avoid some uncomfortable questions.

"Ah, so you've come to save YOURSELF?" Boltstrike asked, and Shining blanched in shock. "Yes, I'm smart enough to figure things out. I am a Captain after all." Boltstrike said arrogantly.

"You're NO Captain. You don't deserve that title." Shining snarled, before using his magic to throw his enemy down the stairwell. Boltstrike recovered, and ran back towards Shining, and lunged at him with the knife drawing blood making the older Shining grimace in pain but he quickly shook it off before punching his foe in the face knocking him out. Shining said nothing as he looked at his foe silently. The damage was done, and it would be a while before his younger self could trust anypony fully ever again...

Soon, the Doctor and Steel arrived as Shining explained what happened. After he had, the Doctor pulled him aside as Boltstrike was taken away in chains.

"So, that's why...?" He trailed off sadly.

"Why I'm not trusting of anypony? Yeah, that's it. Funny thing though. I never really knew who saved me that day. I always assumed a Royal Guard showed up to stop Boltstrike." Shining replied. The Doctor could only smile to that.

"Well, you're not wrong." He joked, making his companion smile.

"No, I guess I wasn't..."

Present Time, Golden Oaks Library...

Twilight sat back in shock at the Doctor's tale.

"Wow, I never knew... I knew he had trust issues, but to be almost killed by his idol and mentor. I... I just can't imagine. What if it was me, and Princess Celestia?" She asked, but the Doctor put a hoof on her shoulder.

"It won't ever be. Trust me." He said with a smile.

"How... How do you know?" Twilight asked.

"Trust me. I'm the Doctor."

END

Interlude: Meanwhile in Canterlot...

Meanwhile, in Canterlot while the Doctor told his story Shining returned to the castle. As ever, it towered over the city and gleamed brightly showing a beacon of hope for ponies that came from miles around to gaze in awe and wonder at it's beauty. Shining had none of this on his mind however. He had something else, or rather somepony. A somepony named Captain Boltstrike. He'd learned this was where the Captain was still held a few months back, but never had worked up the courage to talk to him before now. After all, he faced the stallion when he was in his prime, and now over a decade and a half later he wouldn't be that way.

Celestia and Luna's Throne Room...

"I have to say, Captain." Celestia said after she'd greeted him alongside her sister. "I never actually expected you to face him before now. But... On the other hoof considering what he did to you..."

"Yeah..." Shining muttered. "For years, I never trusted anyone outside my own family besides you. I think it's time I faced my fears." Shining said, confidence in his tone and clear in his posture. From her throne, Luna watched with a mix of interest and confusion.

"But you've faced them already, haven't you? 16 years before." Celestia said. "When you stopped him from killing your younger self."

"How...?" Shining trailed off in shock. Celestia smiled like that of a mother.

"I know things." She replied mysteriously. Shining groaned, he knew exactly what happened.

"The Doctor told you, didn't he? Worst kept secret ever. The whole castle probably knows." He muttered. "Damn stallion..." Shining grumbled as he shook his head in disbelief. Luna, at this point finally spoke up.

"I'm lost here." The Princess of the Night began. "What exactly happened?"

Celestia laughed as she got up off her throne.

"Come this way, dear sister. I'll explain as we go..."

Celestia led her sister and Shining down to the dungeons via a spiral staircase lit only by torchlight. Luna had now learned the full story, and had a bit of a headache from doing so to be honest.

"Okay, I is sorry we asked. Ugh, I need what is called... Aspirin, is that it?" Luna muttered. "But on Boltstrike, that stallion is vile. He should be beheaded." She growled in disgust at his crimes. Attempting to kill a child, that was unforgivable in her book.

"Lulu, calm down. He is suffering for what he did, as you will soon see." Celestia replied in a attempt to placate her sister's often quick temper.

"He is still vile though." Luna muttered. Suddenly, a familiar thestral in Night Guard armor hung down from the ceiling startling Luna and her sister.

"Tell me about it... " Galaxy said gleefully. "Bit mad, as well. Oh, you should hear his rants. Like the guy's on repeat half the time though. Gets old real quick." He said, twirling his hoof near his head in the universal "He's nuttier then nuts" gesture. Luna personally thought Galaxy had no room to talk.

"Must you appear like that?" Celestia sighed. "There are normal ways of doing it. Like walking into a room."

Galaxy grinned as he flapped down next to her.

"Yes, but I like this one. More fun. Oh, by the way Shining heard about what happened between you and wacko down there. So sorry." He rambled much to Shining's annoyance.

"See, what did I tell you? The whole castle does know!" He yelled to nopony in particular. Galaxy shook his head.

"Nah, figured it out myself. Nutty as they are, those rants of Boltsy's are... informative." Galaxy said, before shuddering. Shining, just from the thestral's reaction alone decided it was best not to ask. Judging by their expressions and shared look, both of the Royal Sisters were thinking along the exact same lines.

"May I ask you a favor? Take me off guard duty for that loon, give it to another one of my men. Tartarus, put me on royal toilet scrubbing duty for all I care! PLEASE." Galaxy pleaded, getting on his knees.

"Shouldn't you be in bed by this time? You're a bat-pony. I thought they slept in the day." Shining inquired, and Luna rolled her eyes. Hadn't he figured out that Galaxy was odd by normal pony standards?

"Oh pllllleeeassse." Galaxy drawled. "That's just a rumor, complete and utter nonsense. Besides, look at milady over there. She's the Princess of the Night, and she's not sleeping in right now. And I follow her standards to the letter." He said proudly.

"Fair point..." Shining was forced to admit. "But that's still a little creepy though. You need a hobby."

"Got one. Guarding things." Galaxy chirped to his fellow Captain. "Anyways, here we are." He said, gesturing to a cell where inside a blue furred figure with a scruffy mane sat in a corner. Time had not been kind, and it showed. The cell door was opened, and as Shining walked in it was again closed behind him. Boltstrike, oddly enough showed no response whatsoever. Out of suspicion, Shining touched him, but only passed right through Boltstrike as if he was never there to begin with.

"Well, by now I supposed you've probably figured out I'm not here. Ta-dah! Oh, a magician would be proud of me I bet." Boltstrike laughed mockingly. This was a recording hologram, something that could be bought easily enough in any magic shop and used by any type of pony even if they did not have magic themselves. Question was, how did Boltstrike get his hooves on one?

"It's just message." Shining guessed.

"Then thou shall let it play." Luna ordered. "We want to hear this."

Boltstrike continued.

"As for how I escaped, let's just say you can do the same thing twice and nopony will notice eh? Guess Lightning really does strike twice." He laughed, before his recording hologram vanished into thin air...

Flesh and Steel Part 1 (A Filthy Gathering)

KABOOM!

The Doctor was running. Running as always. This time, it was from a angry group of lizard ponies he had rather... ticked off so to speak. It wasn't his fault that their princess fell in love with him! He was just being nice! Rassilon, he did hope he wasn't turning into Jack. Then he'd never hear the end of it from him.

"Get him! I want him found! Then married to the princess! He'll pay for leaving her at the altar!" A voice yelled, probably the king.

Okay, admittedly that one was his fault. But he didn't want to marry her! Heck, he didn't even want her to fall in love with him in the first place! But that was the way his luck worked. It almost seemed at times some deity had it out for him. And considering this universe had a chaos enity which absolutely loved to mess with ponies' lives it honestly wouldn't surprise him.

"There he is! Get him in chains!" A guard yelled as the Doctor turned a corner only to meet a whole bunch of troops. He swallowed, did a little wave good-bye and ran like Hell...

Golden Oaks Library, the present...

"So, the unnamed doctor was eventually never found, seemingly vanishing without a trace from the tunnels after jumping into a portal of some sort. I... I don't believe it. It's like he's gallivanting about through the pages of history acting like a fool!" Twilight ranted, as she put down her latest history text.

"I don't know darling..." Rarity said from next to her, as she did her hair and brushed it using her magic. "I'd like a stallion like him. He'd at least be amusing to say the least."

Twilight groaned and muttered "You got to be kidding me..." before turning to her friend. "Rarity, the stallion may be nice but he attracts danger wherever he goes half the time it seems. You'd be running for your life, probably on something which was supposed to be a nice vacation."

"Most vacations are boring Twilight. Least you'd keep your figure. If you ask me Twilight darling you should snatch this guy up before somepony else does. I'll bet the mares are just lining up outside his house." Rarity replied with a smirk. Twilight had to admit at least that, though she doubted any old mare could find said house if you could call it that. Still, she was amused by a mental image of a line of mares going into the Tardis which above it said "Handsome Mad Genius of a stallion inside!" She chuckled to herself.

"Half this stuff sounds pretty exciting if you ask me." Spike replied as he walked by. "Fighting monsters and all that."

That was the last straw for Twilight, and she screamed.

"AM I THE ONLY SANE PONY IN HERE!?!"

Then there was a knock on the door followed by another. Guess who it was?

"Hello Twilight! Care for a adventure?" The Doctor grinned. Twilight sputtered out her response. "I-I've got books to look over for the Princess! She'll completely flip if they turn out to be infested with dark magic! A-and then it's back to Magic Kindergarden for me! So no, I don't want to go on a adventure when I have plenty of things to do here!" Twilight ranted.

"Twilight darling, you do realize he's a TIME TRAVELER right?" Rarity deadpanned. "You could be back before you know it."

"Besides sis." Spike began. "A vacation might make you loosen up a little. There's more to life then just books." He said, with a blushing gaze at Rarity for a brief moment.

Twilight sputtered once more. "I-I do more then read! I went to the opera house once, remember! Mind you, I got attacked by a lightning bolt throwing Pegasus but still!" She said. "I am completely loosened, as you put it."

Rarity and Spike shared a look and raised a eyebrow. They then gave her a expression that said "Really?" Twilight blushed bright red.

"O-okay, I admit I may need a slight-"

"Slight?" Rarity deadpanned again. Another blush from Twilight.

"Okay, more then slight." She admitted before turning to the Doctor. "So, where do you want to go?"

He smiled a manic grin, the one she was used to.

"I thought I'd let you choose. All of time and space. Where do you want to start?" He asked, and Twilight thought about it for a moment before saying those fateful words.

"I want to see... The future."

Inside the Tardis, the Doctor pulled switches, turned a wheel and pressed a button all in a very specific sequence and with a manic speed through it all. The Tardis groaned and Twilight held on for dear life as it flew through time and space. Then, just as Twilight felt she was about to throw up, it stopped just as quickly as it began.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"About five years into your future, if I'm guessing. Now first, a few ground rules. Don't get involved, don't talk to anyone, and above all else do not and I repeat DO NOT meet yourself. I don't know what would happen, but I suspect the universe would implode so... Yeah, bad." He explained before going off somewhere else in the Tardis. When he returned a few moments later, he was clad in a black and white tuxedo.

"Hmm, don't know if I should be wearing this. Seems to attract trouble whenever I do." He muttered.

"Think that's just you." Twilight deadpanned as they went outside and found themselves in downtown Manehatten. Across the street, as chariots rumbled by to and fro was a gathering at a skyscraper owned by the Rich Corperation. The Doctor and Twilight shared a look of interest before walking over. They knew the best way to find out what was going on at any point was to be social. The Doctor pulled out his psychic paper and flashed it to a bouncer.

"The Doctor. This is Twilight, she's my plus one."

As he was let inside, he failed to notice the bouncer mutter "Okay, now I'm going crazy. I'm seeing double."

Inside, ponies of high social statues smoozed with each other and drunk and ate to their heart's content. Some were actors, others bankers and lawyers. The Doctor wasn't too fond of this last type, as shown when his face changed into one of distaste. In any case though, he knew he could find something out here.

Meanwhile in the Present, at the Royal Guard Barracks...

"Huh, looks like we've got a gift." Shining muttered as he walked over to the package that had just shown up outside the commander's barracks. "Probably better check, make sure it's not someone's angry lover or something."

He then preformed a spell that would clear out almost any hazard that could come via mail Note, I said almost any as there were some plagues that were so rare and almost extinct that they'd probably never show up anywhere outside of secure vaults. Sadly, what Shining didn't know was that was what this box contained and he coughed as he opened it and a white powder entered his breathing space. Then, he stumbled and fell over as two Royal Guards rushed over.

"Get him to Canterlot General, now. And someone alert the Princess. We may have a big problem on our hooves..." Steel Sentry, now second in command of the Guard barked.

In the shadows, a pony in a cloak smirked to itself. Now, this would draw the Doctor out of hiding it knew.

Back in Future Manehatten...

As Twilight watched the Doctor socialize, she failed to look where she was going and suddenly bumped right into somepony. Blushing and muttering apologies she looked upwards and her jaw dropped. The mare she'd bumped into was her. But not quite her. For one thing, she was taller and had wings. She was also dressed in the garb of a princess. Present-Twilight gulped.

"Oh dear Celestia." She whispered while her counterpart said...

"Well, this is certainly... unexpected."

Flesh and Steel Part 2 (A Father's Guilt)

Present Time, Canterlot General Hospital

"So, do we know what it is?" Steel Sentry asked in concern as he looked into the room in front of him which was part of the hospital's Isolation Ward. Beside him, Mi Amore Cadence, one of the three alicorns and the Princess of Love and most importantly at this point Shining Armor's girlfriend of a few years sat. Several tissues were beside her already used.

"It's... It's too early to tell." Nurse Redheart said. "Specialists are coming in from the Griffin Kingdom including Doctor Ironclaw but until they get here we won't know for sure. We just have to hope it's nothing we can't treat."

Inwardly, Steel had his doubts. Even from outside the room he could tell it was bad. Shining was bleeding, and bleeding bad. Blood was being given to him from the local Blood Bank but it just kept being used up.

"Have... Have his family been notified? In case... In case things take a turn for the worst?" Steel asked of Redheart who nodded.

"His parents have been told and are on their way now... but..."

"But what?" Steel asked, having no time for nonsense right now. "Spit it out woman!" Now normally he wouldn't be this rude but his temper was running high due to the stress he was under. Redheart understood that and therefore was not going to chide him for his rudeness.

"We can't get ahold of his sister. It's like she's... vanished." Redheart trailed off and Steel let out a soft 'Damnit." in frustration punching a wall making it crack a bit before he calmed himself. It wouldn't do to lose his temper, not right now.

"We all know what this is. Somepony's trying to cause chaos in preparation for an attack and a big one at that. It's the only thing that makes any sort of sense. So, what do we do now?"

It was Cadence who answered him.

"Find the pony who did this to Shiny, and kill him." She snarled. It was very telling that nopony bothered or dared to disagree with her. Why would they?

Rich Enterprises Headquarters: Ground Floor with the two Twilights...

"Okay, yeah it's official. I've lost my mind. Had to happen eventually I suppose." Present-Twilight said while staring at her counterpart whom she'd named "Twilicorn".

"Well, if you have I'd say I'd joined you there." Her future self replied. "You know, I'm pretty sure there are universal laws about this." She deadpanned. Present-Twilight smiled inwardly. Well, some things had stayed the same at least. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah, I'm half expecting the universe to implode." Present-Twilight said dryly. "Just something I heard from a friend. Well, I suppose if it had we'd have noticed."

"Twilicorn" laughed.

"Odd thing is, I don't have any memories of this meeting. One would think that..." She trailed off.

"If you really are my older self you would. That's odd alright." Her younger counterpart agreed. "This might require a bit of research."

Then she heard the Doctor calling her name...

30 minutes before, in Filthy Rich's office on the top floor...

"Well, my daughter... Would you disagree with what I'm doing here? Would you?" One Filthy Rich of Rich Enterprises, formerly Rich's Barnyard Bargains asked himself as he looked at a picture of his daughter Diamond Tiara on his desk. In the photo, she smiled. It had been a long time since she did that.

"I know what I'm doing most ponies would think is wrong but is it really? If it saves one life?" He asked, gazing out the window where somewhere out there was the hospital where his daughter was, living out what would be her last days if Filthy's plan didn't work. About three years ago, she'd been diagnosed with cancer. If they had caught it earlier, they might have been able to stop it and save her life. But alas, it was too late and the cancer had progressed too far. He thought back to when he'd first learned of his daughter's plight and how it had torn their family apart...

"So... So it's true? There's nothing that can be done?" Filthy asked Redheart when she gave him the news.

"Yes, it's true. Nothing can be done. I-I'm sorry..." Redheart said sadly, with a tear in her eyes. It grieved her to know there was nothing she could do for another patient. She should have lied, spared the family the pain.

"WELL YOU SHOULD HAVE TRIED HARDER!" Filthy roared at her before he collapsed into sobs. "I... I'm sorry I just..."

Diamond coughed from in her bed. Her mane was beginning to go from the treatments tried and she was very thin.

"D-dad..." She whispered and her father came over to her.

"Yes, sweetheart?" He whispered back. "What is it?"

"You know it's not her fault. It's nopony's." She began. "There was no way any of us could have known." She coughed but Filthy shook his head.

"We should have. Should have seen the signs."

"Dad?" Diamond asked.

"Yes?"

"Do me a favor?" Diamond continued, and Filthy nodded.

"Anything, sweetheart. Anything."

"Promise me you'll make my last days comfortable. If I can't be cured, at least do that." She coughed out.

"I promise my little Diamond. I promise."

"...I promise, you won't have to suffer. If this works..." Filthy whispered. If it did work, she wouldn't have to worry about her last days. In fact, she wouldn't have to worry about anything ever again. "Well, time to unveil my creation. As William Shakespony once said "On with the Motley."

With that, Filthy straightened his tie. Tonight, all of his plans had come to fruition. Now, if only they would work.

With the Doctor and Twilight...

Once Twilight found the Doctor, she was pulled aside by him out of sight where nopony could hear the conversation they was about to have.

"We need to get back to the Tardis." He said simply and without hesitation. Twilight knew by his tone something was up. But that didn't mean she wasn't still confused.

"What? Why?" Twilight inquired.

"I... I don't know actually." He admitted.

"You don't know?" Twilight repeated flatly.

"I just have this feeling. This feeling that back in your time, something's gone terribly wrong. Mauve alert level wrong really. Sorry we have to cut this short, but I just have to check..."

With that, he ran back outside to the Tardis and Twilight followed. But when he got there, the doors slammed shut in his face much to the Time Lord's surprise. When he tried the Tardis keys, they just got hot in his hooves forcing him to drop them out of surprise. While the Doctor didn't know why his old friend was having it's little fit, he deeply suspected that the Tardis was trying to tell him something. That something was about to happen in this time period as well that could effect future events if not dealt with right now.

"So, what now?" Twilight asked.

"Well, I think that if we're going to be stuck here for a little while we might as well investigate..." He trailed off as he gazed at Rich Enterprises. Whatever was about to happen, he was sure this place would be involved in it. Behind him, from the Tardis the Koister Bell bonged repeatedly.

Present Time, in the dining room of Canterlot Castle...

In this room, Celestia and Luna had lunch. While they ate, Celestia explained to her sister her and a certain rogue Captain's history some more. Luna was not pleased with what she had to hear.

"So, thou trusted this maniac and he turned out to be like he was? Why did thou trust him and appoint him to his Captaincy anyway sister of mine?" Luna inquired.

"Who says I trusted him? But at the time, the war was in full swing with ponies gobbled up on the battlefields day after day. I... I don't like to admit this but I was desperate and at the time I wanted somepony who was skilled in battle. Sadly, Boltstrike fit the bill." Celestia explained, while cursing herself mentally. "While I suspected he might have his own personal reasons for wanting the war over, I didn't think they'd be the ones they were. He was very good at hiding his emotions under a mask. Over 1000 years and I still make mistakes." Celestia growled but Luna put her hoof on her sister's shoulder.

"But I do sister. That's why we are not Goddesses. We're not perfect." She reassured.

"But don't you see? Our subjects think us that way, and yet we can't hold ourselves to the standards set for us. We're suppose to be ponies they look up to."

"And they still do, despite any mistakes we make." Luna replied. "They don't blame thou for appointing a maniac to Captain of the Guard, nor I for becoming tainted by the Nightmare."

A few moments later, Celestia received a package. She preformed the same spells as Shining did, and yet like before when she opened it she fell to the floor a few moments later. Luna ran over to her sister.

"Tia...? TIA!"

Flesh and Steel Part 3 (Damned if you do...)

Thankfully, with Celestia's Alicorn magic and the quick response time due to Luna's shout of shock and horror she really wasn't in the major danger zones for too long. At Canterlot General in the Isolation Ward she now sat. Currently, she and her sister talked about the situation which was rapidly going out of control.

"Luna, you'll have to take over for me right now." Celestia coughed. "I'm... Well, you can see what I'm like can't you?" She added dryly as her sister shook her head rapidly.

"No... No, thou does not understand sister. I am in no shape to rule.  Remember I am still getting used to thy modern world. Thou dost choose another."

"Luna, there aren't any others, remember? Well, there is Blueblood but he is..."

"Yes, we know of this Blueblood." Luna muttered, having had the displeasure of once (And that was more then enough) meeting him. While Luna did at once point meet his many times great grandmother, a minor noble from Platinum's line he seemed to share none of her DNA, or at least couldn't learn from his mistakes. He couldn't be allowed to take the throne as he was not qualified for the same reason Cadence was not.

And that train of thought brought another to Luna's mind. It was about their shared niece. Celestia knew what her sister was thinking at once, as she'd already considered the matter herself and knew how her sister thought.

"No. She hasn't been properly trained in everything.  There are things she's yet to learn that only you know. Plus, as we know the only way she could rule was if both of us are not around in some way." Celestia explained, and her sister knew she was right before cursing herself mentally, as she'd forgotten that old rule.

"What I don't understand is how this package could have gotten through. The guards should have-" Luna continued but was interrupted as Steel Sentry and Sunburst (In full R.I.F.T attire, lab coat and all) walked in. Sunburst, to be honest, looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but here and was about to bolt from the room.  Either it was from his natural shyness which seemed to be worst then normal, possibly by the fact that he was in the presence of not one, but two Princesses. Nopony could really be sure if they were to be honest.

"I can answer that. Turns out there were some payoffs. A little money in the pocket you might say." Steel put in and Luna nodded before replying in the full Canterlot Royal Voice.

"WE KNOW OF WHAT YOU MEANST BY PAYOFFS!" Luna shouted, and poor Sunburst was sent flying backwards while Steel regained his lost hearing. "THIS IS MOST UNFORTUNATE. NO, ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING AND COMPLETELY DISGRACEFUL! HAVE SAID GUARDS BEHEADED FOR TREASON! THAT IS THE ONLY PROPER PUNISHMENT!"

"We... Ah, don't do beheadings anymore." Steel replied sheepishly once Luna was done with her little rant.

"THEN THEY SHOULD BE DEALT SOME PUNISHMENT!"

"And I promise, that's on the agenda." Steel said, before muttering to himself "Why couldn't I have taken that early retirement?"

In the background, Sunburst stammered "...D-doesn't she have a inside voice?" and Luna heard him despite his small voice and any other attempts he was making to make himself unnoticeable.

"WHATEVER DO YOU MEAN? THIS IS ALWAYS THE VOICE AND VOLUME WE MUST USE WHEN ADDRESSING OUR LOYAL SUBJECTS!" Luna shouted and Steel muttered "Yeah... Yeah, I'm going to be deaf for a week now aren't I?" Sunburst? He just collapsed in a dead faint, hooves and legs pointing upwards.

"Can you turn it down, just for this instance?" Steel asked nervously and Luna nodded. In the background, another guard woke up Sunburst with smelling salts.

"Alright, we shall. What has thou found out?"

"Well... It's uh... The news is not good." Sunburst stammered nervously, afraid of the Night Princess and her voice. But he continued anyway. Her wraith if somepony died because of little information was much scarier to him.

"Apparently, the virus is a rare strain of the Nightwitch's Fever that somehow got out of the vaults." Sunburst explained. "A-And before you go all Nightmare Moon-Real Wraith of Tartarus type stuff on me, I just... Just want to explain that we kept said virus in case it ever returned. Glad we did, cause now we can work on a cure with what little we have left." Sunburst finished before murmuring to himself "...That is, if we can do it in time. Shining doesn't have that in spades right now."

Meanwhile, a certain rogue Captain of the Royal Guard had journeyed to where Lightning Dust was being cared for by top mental therapy specialists and doctors in R.I.F.T. He knew she'd be perfect to further his and his master's plans. Yes, this time Boltstrike wasn't working alone no sir. He didn't actually care that he was being used, all that mattered now was revenge against Celestia and Shining.

"Hello Dust. See somepony's been keeping you locked up like a mad dog. Which I suppose in some terms you are, depending how you look at it." He said softly before he laughed to himself at his own joke. Lightning wasn't quite so amused.

"What do you want? Here to gawk?" Dust snapped. Boltstrike chuckled again, before smashing her room's locked door open with his earth Pony strength.

"Not exactly. I'm busting you out."

"What's in it for me?" Lighting asked. She was no fool. She knew there was always a catch to this sort of thing.

"Well... How'd you like revenge against a certain unicorn... Named, oh now I remember. Twilight Sparkle, yeah. That's it." He smirked, as he knew his quarry was hooked when Lightning's eyes gained a manic glint in them. He had her.

Future Manehatten, Rich Enterprises...

As they walked back into the building, Twilight brought up what, or rather whom she'd seen.

"Doctor, earlier when we were here I ran into my future self." She said, and the Doctor stared at her in shock before murmuring "Well, no universal implosion... So that's good at least!"

"How much did she mention to you? Knowing too much about the future is dangerous stuff Twilight Sparkle." The Doctor replied in the most serious tone Twilight had ever heard him speak in.

"N-not much. But one thing still bothers me. She mentioned she didn't remember meeting me, her past self. Should I be worried or anything?" She asked.

"No, you see, time is always in flux. It's all very-"

"Wibbley wobbley timey wimey." Twilight finished. "Yeah, I know." She deadpanned and the Doctor grinned in response.

"Good, you're beginning to pick things up." The Time Lord said in response rather happily, and Twilight muttered to herself "Why me? Can't I know at least one normal stallion for once? Is that too much to ask?"

Present Time, Canterlot:

Back in Canterlot, Cadence and the Royal Guard led by Steel had tracked down the post office which had sent Shining the package that was now threatening his life. The Princess of Love and future ruler of the Crystal Empire was not happy suffice it to say, and was angry enough to do something reckless which was why Steel had come along personally instead of just sending someone else to lead the raid. He knew how this went. It wasn't like he hadn't done it before. He shouted in anger a "Open up, in the name of the Royal Sisters and the Canterlot Royal Guard!"

No answer came.

"Last warning! You've got five seconds before we get one angry Princess of Love to bust down this door for you! Let me put it this way, a broken door will be the least of your troubles if you don't open up!" Steel shouted through a megaphone while Cadence's horn glowed the most frightening shade of pink Steel had ever seen in his life with fury etched in her features. He began looking around for a bench to hide under to avoid whatever rubble that was about to fly his way.

Finally, the door opened and a gray furred mare with a blond name and two oddly set eyes peeked her head out nervously.

"Muffins?" She asked.

Flesh and Steel Part 4 (...damned if you don't)

Steel blinked at the sight he was presented with. Surely he was seeing things. Derpy sending the packages? Nah, it couldn't be. That would require him suspending his disbelief so far it wasn't even funny. Derpy just didn't have in her, she was one of the nicest if not clumsiest mares he knew. He looked at Cadence, and by her expression she was in the same sort of shock he was. Her horn slowly began to power down the magic blast that had been sure to come.

"Okay, I suppose we'll all just calm down and figure out what's going on here." Steel said, regaining his authority and standing firm. He idly wondered in his mind if Shining ever had a day this bad. He sure as Tartarus didn't when he was Captain.

"Now, Miss Hooves may we come in?" Steel asked, his tone polite but with a underlying seriousness to it. This was a tone he'd mastered long ago and was one of his signature traits alongside his distinctive grey fur. Derpy nodded and gestured for them to come in, which they did.

"So, uh what's going on?" She asked. "Everyone's been running around in circles all day. Gossip flying right and left! I heard someone got poisoned at the barracks!" Derpy said nervously while glancing around to make sure nopony had overheard. Steel muttered "We've got keep a better handle on the loose mouths. Somepony's going to be washing the dishes tonight, or peeling potatoes in the Royal Kitchens."

"Wait, please don't tell me you're here about that... Uh, magazine I accidently sent Shining? Y-you know the one, right?" Derpy stammered nervously as Cadence glared at her harshly as Steel facehoofed in the background. So that's where that thing came from! But he also figured it was fairly safe to say Derpy didn't send the "Nightwitch Package" as it was being referred to in his mind.

Suddenly, Steel heard some ponies laughing and saw some of the Guards under his command snickering at his embarrassment. He gave them the dirtiest look he could muster. Let me put it this way. If looks could kill, Celestia herself might have been lying dead on the floor. But then he stopped the glare, as both he and Cadence noted one of the mailstallions looking awfully nervous. Steel walked over to him.

"Hey, may we talk to you sir?"

Then the stallion ran for it out a side door. Steel mentally groaned as he muttered "Why do they always run?" before chasing after him...

Unknown Location in Canterlot...

"So, where are we?" Lightning Dust asked as a blindfold covered her eyes. It had been there for the past half hour if she counted the time correctly.

"Somewhere else from where you were before." Boltstrike answered simply. He'd have to be on his guard for this. Not just from his boss, but from his new partner in crime as well. Crazy as she was, if Lightning learned everything that they had planned, he doubted she'd stay loyal to them for much longer. She was incredibly loyal to the Princesses like most ponies were, after all. If Lightning did learn what Boltstrike had done, he would be in serious trouble with a lightning bolt to the face being the most probable outcome.

He ripped the blindfold off of Lightning's face and she saw for the first time they were in a empty and probably long abandoned warehouse if the state of it was any indicator.

"Jeez, what a dump." Lightning snarked.

"That may be, but for the time being it's our hideout." Boltstrike replied.

"Our? Who's our?" Lightning questioned. She knew Boltstrike couldn't be working alone, as she heard he was in prison under the Royal Guard's personal care and therefore somepony had to break him out. She also knew from him being watched personally by the Guard he was not to be trusted under any circumstances.

"Let's just say, a... friend of mine and me. And now you."

Future Manehatten, Rich Enterprises...

Twilight and the Doctor watched as Filthy Rich stepped up to the podium before checking the mic and clearing his throat. He wore a nice grey suit, and black tie. His hair was combed nicely as well.

"Ladies and Gentleponies of the press, you may be wondering why I've called you here tonight. Now, as you know my beloved daughter Diamond Dazzle Tiara was stricken with cancer a few years back."

Twilight gasped even as it was drowned out by ponies talking all around her. She'd met Diamond once or twice. Sure, she was a brat and a bully but not even she deserved that. Celestia above, she didn't even want to think about what was going on in her family once they'd discovered it.

"Had we caught it in time, we might have been able to save her via normal means and special treatments. Sadly..." Filthy continued as he shook his head and tear rolled down his face as he remembered before he regained his composure. "We did not. For the past three years, she's just been sitting in a hospital bed wasting away waiting for the end."

Another tear fell and several ponies in the audience Twilight among them blew their noses. The Doctor meanwhile listened intently. He was very curious as to where Filthy was going with this. Above all else, the last of the Time Lords hated to see children in danger from anything sickness included. Filthy wiped away his tears and straightened up with resolve in his eyes.

Youtube Video

"But no more. A cure has been found, by yours truly!"

Sobs turned to excited whispers and cameras flashed. But that wasn't all, as a big screen came down from the ceiling with Filthy holding a remote in his mouth. Images came on, of a mechanical suit the Doctor was sure he'd never have to see again, and he'd always hoped would never be created in this world.

"I'd like to introduce the Cyberpony Unit, the newest level in medical care." Filthy stated proudly. In the audience the Doctor was whispering under his breath repeatedly.

"No no no... Not here. Not again. This is how it always starts." He said in fear and denial.

Twilight looked at him in confusion. She'd never seen the Doctor this scared, not even when they had faced off against Ironclaw's zombie hoard. The press began taking even more pictures and clammering in excitement. One held up a mic to Filthy.

"But this is just concept. How do you know it'll work?" The reporter asked, and Filthy smiled.

"Who said it was just concept, my boy?" He asked, and then there was the sound of mechanical hoofsteps as a slender figure, easily recognizable as female even in it's metal suit stepped out. The Doctor's eyes widened and he only began to grow ever more afraid by the passing moments. It was happening again, and he hadn't been there to stop it in time.

"Ladies and Gentleponies, I'd like to meet my first Cyberpony and my newly cured daughter Diamond Tiara!"

(To be continued...)

Rise of the Cyberponies Part 1 (The Gathering Storm)

Canterlot, near the Royal Mail Post Office...

"Hold it right there!" Steel shouted as he pursued his quarry down a alleyway.

"Stop, in the name of the Solar and Lunar Regents!" He shouted again, but to no avail. His quarry continued his running, and Steel his pursuit. Neither was willing to give up.

The stallion he was after was a dark green with a even darker colored mane. As he ran, the stallion kicked a barrel over in a attempt to trip up Steel, but he saw it coming and leaped over it as the Stallion turned a corner. A few moments later, Steel was around that corner as well but the whole thing was a dead end with only a wooden fence in front of him. Now Steel knew the Stallion wouldn't have had any time to climb over the fence without Steel seeing him do it so he must be hiding somewhere around him unseen. Steel's suspicions turned out to be rather correct when his target leaped out from a dumpster and latched onto his back and put his forelegs around his neck attempting to deprive him of his precious air. Thankfully, Steel threw him off just in time and the Stallion landed right in front of him and earned Steel's sword pointed right in his face, with the tip just barely touching his nose drawing a bit of blood.

"Now, if I were you I'd not move. Why?" Steel asked sarcastically as the Stallion cowered before Steel got right in his face as the Captain of the Royal Guard grabbed him by the neck and shoved him against a brick wall.

"Because I'm in a very bad mood. Understand?" Steel growled as the Stallion whimpered a "Uh-huh."

Canterlot General, in the meantime...

"Well, can you do it?" Cadence asked to the two stallions in front of her. Well, a stallion and a older griffin anyway. "Can you save my Shiny?"

Ironclaw thought to himself for a moment. He'd arrived right before Cadence got back and was already well aware of the situation. It had been years since he'd read of the Nightwitch Fever, and had only seen a small sample of the thing once in his lifetime. He'd been lucky to see that back then but he knew if it was to be cured he and Sunburst were the right ones for the job.

"Well, it'll be tough that I do know..." Ironclaw growled out. "And I can't make any promises but I think it can be done. He's losing blood fasther then we can pump it back in though so we don't have time as a friend here." Ironclaw explained before grumbling to himself. "We have Solar and Lunar alicorns, why can't we have a one that can slow down time?"

"W-we'll have to move him to a secure facility though. Too dangerous to keep him here." Sunburst stuttered. 'Too... Too easy for him to be attacked." He explained before turning to Ironclaw and asking "Hey, wait weren't you retired?"

Ironclaw growled to himself. Nearby, Sunburst and Cadence were trying very hard not to stare at his missing wing. Ironclaw noticed this, but paid it no mind. Wouldn't have been the first time some creature stared.

"I was, but those damn buzzards dragged me out here once they heard what happened to Cupid here's coltfriend." He grumbled, and Sunburst and Cadence shared a meaningful look. Ironclaw may not act like it, but he really did want to help but he just didn't show it outwardly.

A half hour later, at the Canterlot Police Station

As soon as Steel had knocked out his quarry, he dragged him to the interrogation room for some answers he desperately needed. Once he got there, he pulled out some smelling salts and threw the Stallion in a chair behind a table with Steel getting in one facing him across the table before staring him down. From behind some one way glass Cadence watched.

"So, this is the one?" She asked and a nearby guard nodded. "I should be in there."

The Princess of Love's horn glowed pink, and the guard took a step back. It was a well known fact amongst the Guard and the Nobility of the city that Cadence out of all the Alicorns had the worst temper when riled. Normally she could keep it in check and under control but whoever was foolish enough to make her let it out was probably not long for this world if Cadence had anything to say about it.

"Woah ma'am." The guard said in a attempt to placate her, although it wasn't working very well. "Can't let you in there, or we'd risk losing any chance we have of getting anything out of the stallion in there. Besides, Steel's got this handled."

Cadence calmed down with a few short breaths emitted from her mouth. She knew the guard was right, but at the same time she quirked a eyebrow in confusion. From what she could see Steel was acting rather friendly towards his captive even offering him a glass of water. The guard knew what she was thinking.

"Just wait for it." He said simply. "Steel just needs to lure him in for the kill, as it were."

Inside the Interrogation Room...

"Now, Mr... Uh, sorry never caught your name." Steel asked, faking sheepishness. In reality he didn't care one jot who this guy was. Just why he did what he did.

"F-Fast Delivery sir." The now named stallion said nervously, a complete 180 from before. Steel guess he was faking for whatever reason. He suspected it might have been to throw him off guard, same as he was doing himself. So, two could play at this game but the only way he'd win was to change the rules. With a mighty heave, Steel flipped the table over.

"Alright, cut the crap. Why'd you send the package?" Steel snarled. Sensing the jig was up Delivery gave up the ghost as it were.

"Payment. Lots of payment in pure gold bits, that's why I did it." Delivery explained as Steel's anger rose by the minute. That's what it always came down to wasn't it? Money. Delivery continued. "Seems I lived up to my name, if your response is any indication." He chuckled.

"You're scum." Steel growled. "Do you even know who you sent those packages to?"

Delivery shook his head.

"Fine then, I'll tell you. Shining Armor, the Captain of the Royal Guard and Celestia HERSELF!" Steel roared. "Now, they're lying in beds and Shining's dying! And it's all thanks to you..." Steel growled, as he got in close to his captive's face.

"No... No it can't be." Delivery whispered in horror. "He... He said those packages wouldn't kill anyone!"

"Oh, don't worry. They're not dead yet. But I promise if Shining does die, and Celestia comes out of this in no shape to rule you will not like what comes next. Now who sent you the packages for you to send?"

Delivery whispered one word, one fearful word that Steel had been suspecting might have been behind all of this in the back of his mind since Shining was put in Canterlot General.

"Boltstrike."

Rise of the Cyberponies Part 2 (Age of Steel Part 2: Electric Boogaloo)

Rich Enterprises...

The Doctor and Twilight were in trouble, and they both knew it. A few moments ago, Filthy Rich had debuted his daughter, now transformed into a Cyberpony. But he didn't do it just do turn her into one. He had done it to save her from her incurable form of cancer which neither Twilight nor the Doctor could fault him for. But still, if the Doctor's previous luck with situations like this held things were about to go very bad, and very quickly at that.

"Filthy, don't you know what you've done?" The Doctor yelled in fear as he ran up to him. Filthy looked at the Doctor in confusion, surely he could see the benefits of this?

"Yes, I've saved her. She'll never leave me again." Filthy said happily, not noticing Cyber-Diamond going down into the crowd. Twilight tried to point this out and run up to both the Doctor and Filthy but two security guards stopped her and barred her away. She growled in frustration and glanced back towards Diamond who was making her way to the center of the crowd below.

"Saved her?" The Doctor yelled as he grabbed Filthy by his suit. "You haven't saved her! Sure, her cancer's been stopped, but at what cost?" He asked Filthy frantically who only chuckled and removed himself from his grip.

"You're being paranoid Doctor. And yes, I know who you are. I've heard the stories. Might I say, it's a honor to meet a living legend and hero to many but I think I know what I'm doing." Filthy told him and at this point Twilight let out a shout.

"DOCTOR!" She yelled, and his attention was grabbed at once. He followed his friend's gaze aand saw Diamond walk up to a pony.

"No no no no..." The Doctor whispered and it turned into a shout as Diamond touched a reporter, said "Delete" and electrocuted the poor pony as Filthy watched in horror.

"I... I don't understand. What's wrong? Diamond, she shouldn't be doing this!" He shouted in confusion and fear. The Doctor looked at him with a mix of pity and seriousness.

"No, you don't do you. By turning your daughter into that thing you've removed her emotions and unleased a monster onto Manehatten. She won't stop, not until everyone is dead or just like her." He snarled and Filthy's face grew ever more horrified as he whispered "No, by Celestia. What have I done? All I ever wanted to do was help. And now..."

Twilight put a caring hoof on his shoulder.

"It's okay, we understand. But you've got to put your emotions aside and tell us how to stop your daughter before she hurts anypony else." She said seriously before seeing Diamond head back towards them. "But uh, can you do it quickly please?"

Filthy and the Doctor saw her as well.

"Ms. Tiara, you've got to fight it!" The Doctor pleaded. "I've never met you before, but I know you're a strong will per-Sorry, pony and you won't let this suit control you! You fought off cancer for as long as you could for crying out loud! So would this thing stop you? NO! Now fight back!" He yelled but it was no use. Diamond was gone and she cemented this by letting out a monotone "Delete. Delete." as she reached for the Doctor who had to think fast.

"Well... If that's the case let me ask you something. Did you know for example early versions of the Cyberiad operating program had the oddest weaknesses? Take for example, gold. Chokes your respiratory systems. Now, you may be wondering this is all well and good but what does it have to do with you? Well, if I'm right and I am most of the time you should be running that same code and I also happen to have THIS on me!"

With that, he placed a piece of gold foil on Diamond's helmet and she fell to the floor stunned as her systems tried to fight back and give her some new air to breathe. As this happened, the Doctor turned to Twilight and Filthy.

"That won't stop her for long. We need to get going. RUN!" He shouted before they all did exactly that...

A warehouse somewhere in Canterlot...

Youtube Video

Back with Boltstrike and Lightning Dust, the rogue Captain of the Guard was preforming some introductions to his boss. This particular pony was the one who'd helped him break out of prison and had organized the whole plan to draw out the Doctor. You see, the Doctor was one of his oldest and most dear friends and any meetings between them were always good. And if there was death and fear along the way, that was a added bonus.

"So who is he?" Lightning Dust asked, while looking at the pony in front of her who was covered by a hooded robe and giggling at the TV in front of him. On it, was a bee flying through a forest. Boltstrike rolled his eyes, his boss was such a child. He coughed, and the pony turned to face them before getting up and throwing off his hood. The pony had a blond mane, tan fur and a black hour glass for a Cutie Mark. Suddenly, he was just flesh and organs before he snapped back to normal.

"Sorry bout that." The pony apologized mockingly. "Can't really control myself. Did that freak you out any?"

Lightning nodded nervously. Every instinct of hers was telling her to run for it.

"I'll take that as a yes. I really need to get out more, and drain a bit of some poor soul's life. Say, why don't you offer me yours? Everypony else seems to really mind giving me their life." The pony laughed and Lightning's eyes widened. The stallion in front of her was a psychopath. And she thought herself insane. Right now she was beginning to have second thoughts. Should she really have accepted Boltstrike's offer? She whimpered to herself as the stallion walked over to her and looked at her in interest.

"Something's very wrong with you... Here, maybe I could help." He asked and Boltstrike uttered "Uh, sir? Maybe you should reconsider. Her powers, the ones I told you about? What if-"

The stallion waved a hoof dismissively.

"Pish posh. I know what I'm doing. I'm just going to make her look good again."

With that, he released a small golden mist and little by little Lightning felt her burns and scars healing. She even felt her mane grow back and her wings fix themselves. Once it was all over, she tore off her wrappings and laughed to herself in spite of the danger she was in. Old Dusty was back and looking good.

"Oh, no need to thank me my dear." The stallion smiled. "And as for who I am, as I know you're going to ask you can call me... The Master."

Canterlot General...

Later that night in the present time, Cadence went to see Shining. As she entered the room, she choked back a sob and whispered "Oh, Shiny..." Her beloved was very thin and looking weaker then ever. She took her hoof in his.

"Shiny, if there's anything you need me to do..." She whispered but Shining shook his head.

"I already have my will in order. Took care of it long ago. Listen, if I don't make it-"

Cadence shook her head rapidly.

"No, you'll make it. Don't say things like that! I love you Shiny, I don't want to lose you. R.I.F.T is already working on a cure." She yelled in sadness and anger but again Shining shook his head and gave her a serious look.

"And what if they don't do it in time?" He began. "I love you too, but you and I both know there's every possibility that..." He said but Cadence cut him off. "And I also know there's every possibility that the cure will be found." She told him before whispering "Oh Doctor, where are you...?"

Before we answer that question, take note that unseen by anypony a small flicker of lightning flashed outside the window before it reformed into Lightning Dust in the grass below. She now knew the full truth about what was going on, and she was not happy.

"Boltstrike... You're going to pay for this." She growled in resolve with a fury in her eyes. She may have done some things she regretted before this, but now she had a chance to make up for them... By killing Captain Boltstrike.

Future Manehatten...

Back in Manehatten, Filthy, Twilight and the Doctor raced towards the Rich Enterprises Factory Complex where the Cyber-Suits were made. As they ran, Twilight asked a question out of curiousness.

"Okay, you want to explain to me why you have a whole factory dedicated to these things?" She snarled at Filthy who looked away.

"I... I figured if Diamond could be saved, I might be able to save other ponies lives as well. Not just from cancer, but from other untreatable illnesses as well." He said in personal disgust with himself. "I guess I was wrong."

Filthy said no more on the matter even as they reached a small side entrance which the Doctor unlocked with his screwdriver. Behind the entrance doors was a row of Cyber-Suits unmoving but they seemed to gaze through into their very souls as if judging them. Twilight took a step back but the Doctor stayed calm.

"Don't worry, they're just that. Suits. I don't think they've been filled up yet..." He began and Filthy finished for him.

"But if we don't stop Diamond and destroy them, they soon will be." He said, once again disgusted with himself as he whispered "I never should have made these things."

Inwardly, Twilight thought to herself. She had seen her future self, but yet she remembered nothing of her current self and neither of them knew why. Thinking of this, Twilight felt a headache coming on. Time travel was just confusing. The Doctor smiled in sympathy even as they trotted forwards. He knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Don't worry, you get used to it. Try not to think on it too much." He smiled, but that soon faded as the Cyber-Suits one by one began to move.

"I thought you said they weren't active!" Twilight yelled in fear.

"Well, I've been wrong before..." The Doctor muttered to himself. "RUN!"

Rise of the Cyberponies Part 3 (The Princess of Steel)

Canterlot General, Shining Armor's room...

It was past midnight in Canterlot, and Shining Armor was awake. Everypony else had gone to sleep, even his girlfriend who had watched him for hours never leaving his side. It comforted Shining that Cadence was willing to stick with him in his probable final hours. He knew he probably wasn't going to make it through the night. If only he had Alicorn level magic like Celestia, who Shining knew would probably pull through this if the cure were to be found. He didn't have that much time to wait for it. Honestly, he didn't have any real regrets, the only one being that his dear Twiley wouldn't learn of this until after she got back from wherever she was. He just hoped she wouldn't blame herself for not being here, though Shining knew that was probably a false hope.

"Oh, don't tell me that's all it takes to do you in. A form of fever and some bloodloss?" A very familiar voice teased. But it couldn't be who it sounded like, as it's owner had been dead for over a year. But there he was, Flash Sentry standing in front of him in full Royal Guard armor. "I know you boss, and you're tougher then that."

Shining blinked and rubbed his eyes. He heard ponies often saw hallucinations before they died of the Nightwitch but he'd never believed it. "Flash" chuckled as if he knew exactly what his Captain was thinking.

"Oh, you're not seeing things. I'm here."

"B-but you-" Shining stammered before he was cut off.

"Died? Yeah, I died. Got my neck snapped like a twig didn't I? You can correct me if I'm wrong or something here." Flash said in a possibly embarrassed tone. "Killed by a freaky statue. Yeah, that's pretty high up there on weird ways to go." He muttered before he faded away briefly and swore quietly under his breath before continuing.

"Listen, I don't have much time so I'm here to tell you this. Shining, don't give up hope. A cure will be found, it's not your time just yet."

"How do you know?" Shining asked in suspicion with his eyes narrowed. He still didn't quite believe what he was seeing.

"Let's just say I have a fast forwarded view of things from where I am." Flash smirked before he began to fade away again. Flash shouted off one last thing as he did so. "Listen, tell my dad that I lo-"

He never finished whatever he was about to say before he faded away completely leaving no trace he was ever there. With a touch of sadness and yet with a new hope in his voice Shining whispered "Don't worry Flash, I'm sure he knows."

R.I.F.T Labs

Meanwhile, at R.I.F.T Sunburst had been working through the night to create the cure that was desperately needed to save the Sun Princess and the Captain of the Royal Guard. It had been going well, but at the very last moment a little snag had been it. One of the last things needed, Orion Leaves was out of stock at the labs and although it had been ordered it wouldn't be here for a couple more days... Which they didn't have in Shining's case as stated before.

"Damn damn damn... Oh, I hope nopony heard that..." Sunburst muttered as he put his face in his hooves. "My mother would slap me over the head if she heard me cursing at all." He whispered nervously while glancing right and left to see if anyone was near. In the corner of the room, Galaxy Swirls who had been guarding him throughout the night chanted under his breath over and over. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao." it went. Sunburst raised a eyebrow in disbelief. Although he knew tons of spells, he never heard one quite like that.

"What are you doing?" He asked. Galaxy whirled around to face him, with a odd grin on his face. It was either his " I know something you don't" or his "I'm having a good time and nopony can bring me down" one. It was really hard to tell between the two more often then not.

"Glad you asked. It's a old Chineighse spell. Used to summon things. Hopefully I can summon that Doctor character and his machine." Galaxy chirped. Sunburst sighed.

"Y-you do realize that only u-unicorns can preform spells right?" He stammered. Galaxy hung his head and muttered "Oh, right. Well, worth a shot I suppose."

It was then both of them noticed a package that had been laid outside the lab doorway. They shared a look, as they both knew perfectly well the Orion Leaves couldn't have arrived THAT quickly.

"Sooooo..." Galaxy began as they approached it. "Who wants to open the package and die a rather horrible death?" He said mock-cheerfully.

"N-not me." Sunburst stammered.

"Well, you and I are the only ones in the room and it's not going to be me." Galaxy retorted. "Now, if you want to be the sacrifice I promise I'll give you a nice eulogy."

"Gee, cause that sounds so reassuring." Sunburst responded dryly. Galaxy's jaw dropped for a good minute or so. Looks like those self help books he heard Celestia sent Sunburst as a gift were working out. For the next half minute or so, Galaxy couldn't even sputter out a good response. Eventually though he managed to regain the power of speech.

"Well, in that case if neither of us wants to open it by hoof..."

Both of them retreated to the back of the room and with his magic Sunburst opened up the box from afar. Nothing happened, much to both of their surprises. Galaxy nervously went over to box and with a "You have to be kidding me" expression lifted out what was inside. What was inside was some Orion Leaves...

Rich Enterprises Cybersuit Factory, Future Manehatten...

Twilight, Filthy and the Doctor ran. Behind them, the rhythmic hoofsteps of a good ten to twenty Cybersuits followed. KA-THUNK! KA-THUNK! KA-THUNK! they went never loosing their pace. This only encouraged the threesome to run faster. They rounded a corner and the Doctor shut a door behind them before locking it with his sonic. To add to that, Twilight melted the door handle with a spell.

"There... There, that should hold them. At least for a while." The lavender unicorn panted, tired out from all the running she'd had to do throughout the night. Offhand, she wondered if her future Alicorn self ever got tired from running. That is, if she ever did that at all thanks to those powerful looking wings she saw she had. Actually, now that she thought about it, how'd she even gain her Alicorn status in the first place anyway? What had she done to deserve it? She looked at the Doctor questioningly. Surely in all his travels through time and space in the past year he would know. But the Doctor once again gave her a serious look, and once again he knew her thoughts.

"Trust me Twilight, asking too many questions about the future could change it in any way and it's not always for the better." He told her with a frown before muttering "No, this is too easy. Why haven't they started breaking down the door yet? I know the Cyberiad. They don't give up this easily."

"What I'm wondering is how my daughter got more of her up and running so fast. They actually need ponies inside them to power those suits." Filthy wondered aloud.

"Who says they don't?" Twilight guessed, and the room seemed to gain a distinct chill at her statement. Nobody bothered to refute her, as they all were thinking the exact same things in the back of their minds. It was only Twilight who had decided to voice it aloud. Suddenly she screamed as another Cyberpony suit came out of the darkness and pointed it's foreleg mounted cannon at them.

"DELETE! DELETE!" It repeated in it's monotone voice. The Doctor reacted fast and pointed his sonic at it and suddenly the Cyberpony's emotions changed. Or to be more accurate, they came back.

"What... What am I? How... Oh Celestia, who did this to me?" The mind once known as Suri Polomare exclaimed in horror as the Doctor whispered "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." as Twilight and Filthy watched in horror. Then, it happened. The cyberpony's head exploded with a shower of sparks and the body slumped to the floor.

"What... What did you do?" Filthy asked.

"Disabled the emotional inhibators. Let that poor pony see for itself what it truly was. Looks like your daughter's plans are moving faster then we thought if she's already taking living brains and putting them in those things." The Doctor explained.

"Do we really have a right to do that? Kill them I mean?" Filthy asked and Twilight shook her head sadly. From what she just heard, it sounded like a mercy to end those ponies suffering.

Eventually, and spurred on from what they just witnessed the threesome eventually made it to the Cyber Control Center. But Diamond was already there, hooked up to a special chair just like John Lumic had been back on Pete's World. But once again, there was a difference.

"Dad, help me... Please!" Diamond pleaded even as the Cybersuit she wore controlled every of it's counterparts that were exactly like it.

"Diamond, you did always want to be a princess." Filthy laughed sadly before he fought back a sob. "And now, thanks to me you are one, of a kingdom of steel. I'm sorry."

Twilight watched in confusion. Last time, Diamond seemed to have no emotions. And now she did. Then Twilight's eyes widened, as she figured out what had happened. When the Doctor made that cyberpony back in the corridor regain it's emotions, they must have somehow fed back to Diamond and freed her as well. The Doctor realized this as well, and began to get a idea.

"Diamond, you've got to fight this! It's not you, I know it." The Doctor yelled. "If you don't the pony race ends right here, right on this very night! And all the other races soon after that! All that'll be left is a metal Equus, and metal inhabitants. And then they'll spread out amongst the stars turning others into things just like you! Believe me, I've seen this happen before! So for the love of Rassilion, just stop!" He roared, and something clicked in Diamond's mind.

"You're right. I'm a princess now, a princess of steel. And a princess protects her people!"

Diamond screamed as she focused all her will through the Cyber Controller's chair and all it was connected to, every last Cybersuit and the brains inside them. Emotions were brought back, before their owners realized what they had become and felt the backlash before quickly being silenced. And then, in a instant it was over.

Diamond let out a small, barely audible "Thank you." before she slipped into unconsciousness.

Rise of the Cyberponies Part 4 (Boltstrike's Last Stand)

Ponyville, Rich Family Manor...

VWOOP! VWOOP! VWOOP!

With it's usual groaning, the Tardis landed outside the Rich Family Manor home. It was a few months before the events in the Griffin Kingdom where somepony took control over both the King and Ironclaw and made them create a army of zombies to try and overthrow Princess Celestia's rulership.

"Well, we're here." The Doctor said as he and Twilight stepped out of the Tardis doors. The Doctor now knew why, or at the very least had a good guess why Twilight's future self never remembered meeting her. It was because that particular timeline was never supposed to happen, and by that logic the Cyberponies weren't supposed to exist.

"So, what do we do now?" Twilight asked. The Doctor smiled at her before replying...

"Change the future of course."

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Inside the Manor, Filthy Rich and his family were going about their normal day to day routine. It was a early Sunday morning, with the air cool and crisp as a nice breeze blew through the trees as Celestia's sun shone high in the sky. For Filthy, nothing could ruin his day. Although, if the Doctor had any say in anything, nothing would ruin his year either. While Filthy was in the Manor's library and currently engrossed in his paper, Diamond's voice suddenly called out to him.

"DAAAAADDDD! There's some strange ponies at the door." Diamond called as she ran into the room.

"So? Let Winston deal with them. That's why he got hired wasn it?" Filthy asked, but Diamond shook her head rapidly.

"No, you don't understand. The stallion, he just showed some paper and Winston bowed and said something about "Yes sir, please come in sir." They must be important, and they're asking for you." Diamond replied, and Filthy sighed as he put down his paper and got up out of his chair. He adjusted his tie after he'd done so.

"Well, if they want to talk to me... Let's talk." Filthy sighed. With that, he went down to the Entrance Hall down the front stairs and met up with the Doctor and Twilight, who in the background was currently examining a very old painting of a historic battle from long ago.

"Alright, let's make this quick." Filthy said in a grumpy tone rather annoyed he was disturbed from his paper. "What do you want? And whatever it is, I'm not buying it."

The Doctor laughed and Twilight just looked offended that somepony assumed she was here to sell something. Did she even look like a salespony!?!

"Yes, well I suppose that would be the natural reaction to somepony coming up to your door, them being somepony trying to make a investimate." The Doctor smiled. "Buuuuttttt... That's not what I'm here for actually. It's about your daughter."

"My daughter? Wait, are you from that private school I signed up her up for a few days ago? Has she been accepted already?" Filthy asked happily only to get a shake of the head from the Doctor while Twilight mumbled "Well, that's a improvement at least."

"Nope, not a private school teacher though let me tell you I have taught before at one. Mind you I was hiding from some Family but that's neither here nor there."

"Who are you two?" Filthy asked.

"Just some... friends. Listen, as a friend I want to give you some advice. Take you daughter to the hospital, and soon." Twilight said "Trust me, you will thank me."

Filthy didn't know why, but he figured she was being quite serious and that he should trust Twilight.

"Don't worry. I... I will." He said.

After Filthy said this, the Doctor smiled before he turned and left with a "Come along, Sparkle!"

Canterlot, Present Day...

Shining groaned as the light from the sun shining through the room's windows reached his eyes. Shining then noticed he felt stronger then he ever had in the past two days. He blinked, he wasn't dead. Looks like if he really had seen Flash the previous night, his former guard knew what he was talking about. It was a fairly safe bet in Shining's mind that Celestia was okay as well. Shining then felt a presence standing nearby and looked to his right to see Celestia herself along with his father Night Light. His mother was fast asleep in a chair, and Shining smiled as she must have been watching over him all night long.

"So... We're alive." Shining murmured, and Celestia nodded.

"You can thank Ironclaw and R.I.F.T for that. They managed to create the cure in time. Odd though, they said they wouldn't get the last thing they needed for it for several more days..." Celestia mused.

"Well, whatever the case we'll have to thank them." Night Light smiled before looking back towards Shining. "How are you feeling son?"

"Like I'm ready to go and kick Boltstrike's-" Shining snarled as he sat up before falling back down to the bed groaning weakly. He still didn't have enough strength yet to go and deal with the rogue captain like he wanted to.

"Easy there, you need to rest." Night Light said in a compassionate tone.

"But what about...?" Shining trailed off.

"Don't worry." Celestia began. "Cadence and a good number of the Royal Guard is going after him now. Somepony gave them a tip off on where he was, in a warehouse from what I heard from Luna. Never gave their name though." Celestia wondered aloud. Little did she know it, but that pony who gave the tip off was one Lightning Dust and like the Princess of Love she too had a bone to pick with Boltstrike and was on the hunt for him right now...

6 hours before, outside Canterlot Castle...

BANG! BANG!

That was the sound of one angry Lightning Dust banging on the castle doors. After learning of exactly what happened thanks to overhearing Cadence's and Shining's conversation she came right here. Lightning was furious beyond measure. Sure, she wanted revenge against Twilight but not like this. Her brother was innocent in this whole thing and then there was the fact that Celestia was also sent to the ICU, Lighting never wanted to be involved in treason against the crown! Nowadays, Lightning would deny this if you asked but when she was younger she had a little bit of a crush on the Solar Princess. Pretty much everypony did at one point or another.

"Man, can't you guys unlock this door or something! What, do I have to blast it down to wake you all up or something?" Lighting ranted angrily after getting no response several times. "Come on, am I invisible to ya or something guys?"

Then there was a soft coughing sound from behind her. Lightning whirled around only to see Galaxy Swirls staring at her with a coffee cup in his hoof He'd just come back from R.I.F.T Headquarters as Sunburst worked on the cure with his fellow scientists.

"...Well, this is awkward." Lightning admitted.

The rooftops of Canterlot, now...

"Give it up Boltstrike! It's over for you!" Cadence shouted, her eyes blazing with fury as her horn glowed with pure magical power. "There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! Not anymore!"

Currently, after hours of getting a raid together along with some much needed sleep for a few ponies the warehouse Boltstrike and the Master had made as their hideout was sieged. Sadly, the Master had already fled as he knew his pawn's location would be discovered sooner or later. Either way, Boltstrike was currently running for his life across the Canterlot rooftops with one very angry Princess of Love on his tail alongside Lightning Dust who was flinging bolts fast and hard enough to make Zeus himself proud. One hit the roof shingles below Boltstrike sending him flying but he quickly landed on another rooftop of somepony's house and pulled out his sword just in time to block another bolt. What he wasn't so successful in was blocking a magic blast from Cadence which made him tumble off the rooftop down into the street below thanks to the resulting explosion.

"Does it really matter if you kill me?" Boltstrike snarled as Lightning and Cadence landed nearby with passersby clearing out as they knew this wasn't a safe spot to be. "Your boyfriend's pushing up the daisys ma'am. Sorry to say."

Cadence snarled.

"That's where you're wrong. I just got word, Shining AND Celestia are going to be fine. You however, that's a different story."

Boltstrike reeled back in shock. He hadn't even considered the possibility that the plan would fail so badly. He quickly recomposed himself and put on a serious face.

"Ah well, least we all know nothing's infallible anymore do we? Not even the Royal Guard."

This time Lightning was the one to snarl.

"Have you no loyalty left? You were respected in your position, and now you threw it all away and for what? Are you really this psycho?" She yelled in rage, and just for a moment if only for a brief one her words reached Boltstrike. Little did she know it, but Boltstrike did have some small amount of loyalty and respect for his princess left, but all of the rest of it had been torn away by those years in the dungeons. But that small amount of loyalty still wasn't enough. Whatever goodness Boltstrike may have once had, it was long gone. He snarled one small phrase as one last act of defiance.

"Go to Tartarus."

And then it was all over in a instant as Cadence charged forwards and her horn went right for it's target. Next thing anypony knew, Boltstrike lay dead at her hooves.

"The only one who's going there is you." The Princess of Love snarled before a very familiar sound filled the air.

VWOOP! VWOOP! VWOOP!

The Tardis appeared in the middle of the street right in front of Cadence and the Doctor stepped out and saw what was left of Boltstrike. He grimaced and muttered "Ooh, ouch." before he asked "So, what'd I miss?" but with no trace of his normal manic grin.

Cadence's only response?

"You have no idea..." She sighed.

END

Interlude: Bonds (Three different ones)

Canterlot Castle, a guest room

Twilight looked out at the setting sun which was slowly being replaced by Luna and her moonlight. The sun cast reddish orange light mixed in with a bit of yellow across the horizon lighting it up in a dazzling display of color and beauty. It was hard to think, despite how the day started it would end so normally. Had Sunburst and his team not worked through the night and early morning she would now be without a brother and probably wouldn't have even known until it was far too late to say goodbye. Out of anger and guilt she fired off a blast of magic at a potted plant shattering it and burning the plant to cinders.

"It's my fault... Had I not chosen to go on that trip with the Doctor I might have been able to stop Shining from getting poisoned in the first place!" Twilight whimpered. She was so focused on her musings she didn't hear the door open and two sets of hoofsteps come in behind her.

"I don't deserve to be Shining's brother. I DON'T!" Twilight sobbed before she felt a hoof on her shoulder and heard a male voice come from behind her.

"That's not true and you know it sis." Shining said and Twilight turned to see his smiling face. He seemed so normal now, almost no trace of his experiences from over the last few days.

"But I... I left you, all just to go on vacation with the Doctor!" Twilight yelled.

Another voice joined them, a female one.

"On my recommendation." Rarity said kindly. "Mine and Spike's. So if you're going to blame anyone, blame us darling."

"I... No, I won't. It's not your fault." Twilight murmured to herself sadly while shaking her head. "It's mine and mine alone. I made the choice, and look what happened. My own brother nearly died, and I might not have even had a chance to say goodbye!" Twilight sobbed again. But the sobbing wasn't for long, as it soon stopped when Shining placed his forelegs around her in a warm hug. Twilight melted into it, just like she had when she had nightmares from when she was a filly.

"Now let's get one thing straight in our heads." Shining said firmly. "It wasn't my fault, it wasn't yours and it certainly wasn't Rarity or Spike's fault for me getting poisoned. It was Boltstrike's and Boltstrike's alone. But he's gone now. Cadence killed him, and he won't be troubling our family any more." Shining continued.

Rarity levitated a tissue towards Twilight and used it to dab at her eyes.

"Now that's better, no more tears ruining your look. They're so unbecoming of a lady." Rarity smiled, and in spite of the situation Twilight laughed a bit and so did Shining. Rarity smiled at them.

"There, see? That's what I like to see. Brothers and sisters laughing together." Rarity said happily. "All of this sadness, it's just not good for anypony."

Tardis Control Room, Canterlot...

Meanwhile, Twilight wasn't the only one having a crisis of faith so to speak. Little did she know it, but the Doctor himself was having trouble coming to grips with what had happened in his absence and how he'd failed to stop it. In his mind, he blamed himself. If he had just stayed instead of going to the future and taking Twilight with him he might have prevented this whole thing. It didn't matter Boltstrike was dead now, it almost cost Shining his life and that was far too much of a price to pay to see one enemy of his dead. Why? Why did he not even see this coming? He was a time traveler for Rassilion's sake so he should have knowledge of everything that happened no matter how small!

"Well, this day was just ducky wasn't it?" The Doctor muttered. "I go to the future, and even if I did stop the emergence of this universe's version of the Cyberponies and kept them from cyberforming Equus I still left modern day Canterlot in peril from a terrorist and nearly separated a brother and sister forever. I don't deserve my title right now." The Time Lord growled to himself.

A voice came from behind him, as two sets of hoofsteps stepped into the Tardis with them clanking against the metal flooring and grating of the control room.

"Now that is just not true, we say!" Luna's angered voice said, and the Doctor turned to face it's owner. "Now we wish we could finally meet thou  and your fantastical machine under better circumstances, but right now we see you need a kick up the flank as the modern day ponies say!"

Celestia coughed as she gave her sister a look.

"Now despite the... Ah, way my sister puts it she does have a point here. You shouldn't blame yourself. I know you already know this, but time is always in flux. Remember that." Celestia told him. "There was no way you could have known what was going to happen to my Captain nor me."

The Doctor cursed himself. Celestia was right and he knew it. He chuckled to himself, oh the irony. He gave Celestia advice, and now she was giving it to him.

"What we cannot figure out is this." Luna asked. "What was the purpose of the Captain's attack? Was it to sow discord and chaos amongst us, or was it to prove a point, that we are not as invincible as we'd like to think we are?" Luna guessed and the Doctor thought about it for a moment before finally shaking his head.

"No, that wasn't it at all. Good guesses, I can say but neither of them were right. It was all about me, you understand." The Doctor explained. "It was all to drive me out. And it very nearly succeeded, had the Tardis not figured that out and prevented me from coming and possibly falling right into the trap." The Doctor growled before patting the Tardis's control console and whispering to it a "Thanks... Old Girl."

When he thought nopony could hear him, he whispered even in a lower and somewhat embarrassed tone "Thanks, Sexy." and the Tardis hummed in response. Then, a hologram of the Master appeared and the Doctor on instinct pulled out his sonic and aimed it while the two sisters readied their horns...

END

Interlude: Confrontation

The Doctor was shocked, no bewildered how his oldest friend, now one of his greatest and most dangerous enemies was in HIS Tardis. The Doctor, ever since the Master turned his girl into a Paradox Machine at one point was really paranoid about letting enemies into the Tardis. He'd put new secuirity measures in and everything. And yet, somehow there the Master was standing right in front of him with a look of someone who was about to commit the most terrible of acts. And then, the look changed to one of great amusement as the Master then broke down laughing.

"...Wow, you should have seen the look on your face Theta. Bet I had you really going there huh?" The Master giggled in his insanity. Behind the Doctor, Luna whispered "...Theta? Is that really his name?"

"How would I know?" Celestia hissed back.

"Well, seeing as how you seem to be in love with the stallion half the time I would think he-"

Celestia cut her sister off with a flushed look on her face.

"I'm not... We're not in love!" The Solar Princess retorted and Luna only laughed harder.

"But you'd like to be." She teased, before the Master coughed as he and the Doctor stared at them both. The Master commented "I'm sorry, are we interrupting something here? A little sisterly quarrel perhaps?" and the Doctor nodded along with them before whispering "You see, this is why I was glad to never have sisters." before the Master nodded in agreement before he quickly realized what he was doing and that they'd all gotten off topic before clearing his throat.

"Anyway... I just want to say HELLO!" The Master said before waving as the Doctor shook his head. No, that seriously couldn't be it. The Master smirked. "Yeah, knew that wouldn't fool you one bit. Actually, I want to give myself up. Congrats mate, you've won and you get the Golden Time Lord AKA ME!" The Master cried gleefully.

The Doctor stared in disbelief with Celestia's and Luna's expressions mirroring him.

"I see you don't believe me." The Master said sarcastically, with the Doctor having already figured a few seconds before this was just a hologram of him. "Sooooo... As a gesture of good faith I'm sending you my location. Buh-bye, and goooooddd luck!" The Master singsonged.

Sure enough, the Doctor's console received some coordinates as the hologram of the Master vanished. The Doctor growled before flipping a switch, punching in the coordinates given to him and turning a few dials and with those sequence of events done the Tardis began to travel though both time and space in pursuit of the Doctor's quarry.

"You're not getting away, not this time." The Doctor murmured.

Dodge Junction:

VWOOP! VWOOP! VWOOP!

The Tardis appeared in the desert town of Dodge Junction, a small place with a populace of less then one hundred ponies. It was almost deathly quiet on Main Street and a tumbleweed rolled by as the trio of ponies stepped out of the Doctor's vehicle. There was only one other pony outside, as everypony else had hid sensing the danger and were just barely visible peeking out doors in windows. The pony in question, standing on the other side of the street was the Master. He smirked, before just briefly flashing his bones and organs. The Doctor frowned in concern, something was very wrong here. Nothing about this latest incarnation of the Master felt natural for a Time Lord.

Luna's only reaction to this strange sight?

"Thou is even more ugly in person." She deadpanned.

The Master faked being visibly hit in response and mockingly said "Aw, you wound me missy." before he once again was only bones and organs. The Doctor frowned again, and scanned the Master with his Sonic. His suspicions were only verified by the results he got back.

"You're dying." The Doctor stated simply.

"Puh-Leeze, don't you think I know that old friend?" The Master retorted sarcastically. "This body, it was born of death. That's all it can do, die. But thankfully, I can keep living a bit longer thanks to my hunger. This world, it's full of raw meat ripe for the taking! Ponies, ready to have their flesh stripped from the bone and lifeforce drained." The Master said in a giggly tone.

"You're insane." Celestia said and the Master only laughed harder.

"Well, duh! Best you go on and take me down, but I've got a fiddle of gold against your souls that I'm still better then you lot." The Master challenged.

"I've met the Devil, and he was more challenging then you ever were." The Doctor mocked and the Master once again faked being hit by somethin before regaining his composure.

"Absolute rubbish. Nobody's more challenging then me. Nobody." The Master growled. "Personally, I think you should just go on and kill me right now. But I know you, you won't do that Theta. Mind you, if you did I'd certainly be surprised." The evil Time Lord replied before making a face of fake shock.

"Like that you see. But like I said before, I know you. You have that thing... Oh what was it? Oh yes. Morals." The Master growled in distaste. "You'd be better off without them. You could be very... Victorious shall we say."

The Doctor blanched at the Master's statement. It was almost like he knew something the Doctor didn't. Whenever that happened, it never spelt good news.

"Oh yes, I know things, heard legends. Victorious, the Valeyard." The Master said. "They're what you could become if you're not careful. Now, down to business. I'm here, causing trouble and you've got to stop me! You know that little incident in the Griffin Kingdom, my work. I've always been... a little hypnotic you might say" He stated proudfully and gleefully before laughing but nopony else joined in on it.

"Oh no, we are not "Getting down to business" as you say. How'd you even get here?" Celestia asked, with her horn ready to fire off some magic at a moment's notice. At this, her target gained a thoughtful look.

"Well, when I was revived, man on man it was with a BANG!" The Master shouted at the end, making everypony jump. "Big explosions of energy, befitting yours truly and it just so happened that they vibrated on a level that sent moi here."

"And now we are sending thou away." Luna snarled.

"Oh, I don't think so... See, you'll have something else to worry about for the time being, or rather somepony... Toodles!" The Master cried before he fired a blue beam of energy at the Doctor which blasted him into the dirt and at once stopped both of his hearts. Luna checked the Time Lord and sadly shook her head as the Master leaped off into the distance cackling.

"He's... I don't believe it." Luna said sadly, before the Doctor blasted them backwards with a explosion of golden energy before his whole form changed. No longer was there a brown furred stallion, but one with grey fur and a messy manestyle which matched.

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"Oh boy... Wowza! Okay... Okay, better check to make sure everything's all there." The newest Doctor said  in a new voice as he went over himself while the Royal Sisters watched too stunned to speak from seeing a dead stallion come back to life. "Eyes, teeth, nose... Mane! Oh, I don't believe it, I'm a mare!"

It was then the Doctor felt his Adam's Apple, and... something else as well. He quickly corrected himself.

"Oh, not a mare then." He said before finally noticing the Sisters. The Doctor waved, before he collapsed to the ground...

END

The Master Came Down to Canterlot Part 2 (Twilight Sparkle: Subsitute Time Lord)

Golden Oaks Library: Twilight's Bedroom

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Everypony in the room stared at the spot where the Windigo had tried to emerge as if expecting it to reappear and try again. After a few moments, nothing happened and everypony almost felt the temptation to relax and drop their guard. Key word, ALMOST. They knew it would only be a matter of time before another incident happened even if it wasn't to be here. The obvious question was, where would the next portal to the Windigo's realm be opening, and when?

Celestia looked at Twilight seriously before saying "We need to get back to Canterlot, keep a eye on things there. I don't know why, but I fear this is only the beginning."

Shining nodded in agreement. Things could get much worse before they got better, and he knew it.

"Miladies, I will come with you and inform the guard." He said, but Luna shook her head.

"NO! It is best thou stays here and helps with the Doctor's recovery. We suspect we will need him." Luna told Shining in a tone of voice that Shining decided it was best not to argue against. "We will inform both your guard and ours."

"I... I understand." Shining agreed, although he didn't have to like it. With that, both Luna and Celestia teleported away in flashes of light.

"Well, isn't this just dandy?" Rarity huffed. "Creatures from Equestria's founding are reappearing after centuries and the Doctor's decided to take a nap!"

It was then the Doctor sat right up.

"Oi!" He cried. "I take offence to that. So, age old monsters of snow and ice have returned to wreak havoc? Sounds like just another day on the job for you lot doesn't it?" The Doctor commented even as Twilight rushed to his side.

"You're not well, you should rest." Twilight told him in a motherly tone of voice. The Doctor could only scoff.

"Me? Rest? Not when there's things out there that need to be stopped!" He replied gleefully before he screamed in pain as he clutched his chest and fell back into the bed as he muttered "No, not time yet... It's too soon. Cycle's not complete."

Twilight began to go into a fit of panic.

"What... What is it? What do you need? Water, tea? A good book, yes that always works!" Twilight said frantically as she began to hyperventilate. The Doctor gripped her shoulders and looked at her seriously.

"I need you to calm down. Take some deep breaths."

Twilight did so and almost at once she began to calm down.

"There, that's better." The Doctor smiled. "Right now, I'm of no use to you. I need you and Shining to deal with these things until I'm ready." He said before turning to Rarity. "You can help too if you like."

"But... But I'm not prepared to deal with the stuff you do!" Twilight whispered as she shook her head. The Doctor smiled at her and handed her his Sonic Screwdriver.

"See this? That means I have faith in you. I wouldn't have picked you as a companion if I didn't." The Doctor told her seriously. "Come on, you're a Element of Harmony and your brother's a Captain of the Royal Guard. Together, you can handle anything."

After he'd said this, the Doctor slipped back into the realm of unconsciousness.

"I'll stay here and keep a eye on him, make sure nothing bad happens to the Doctor. You have my word." Rarity said kindly. "But what are you going to do?"

Twilight Sparkle's eyes narrowed as a confident expression came to her face. She was Princess Celestia's personal student and anypony who dared argue otherwise or wanted to destroy Equestria or anywhere else would have to take it up with her, make no mistake.

"I'm going to be the Doctor." She told Shining and Rarity before she put the Sonic Screwdriver in her mouth and stood firm. "Now, are you going to give me a hoof or not?"

The Streets of Ponyville, later that night...

It was midnight also known as the Witching Hour, and the streets of Ponyville were all but silent was shops closed up for the night and bars stayed open only to fill up the most nightlife loving of patrons. The night was cold, as the year drew closer to the yearly holiday of Nightmare Night and wind whipped through the hallows as it came up from the Everfree. There was only one pony on the street right now, the town's local drunk Berry Punch. She'd just been kicked out of another bar and wandered the town in search of another to wash away her life's sorrows. About a year ago, her husband had left her and took her beloved daughter Ruby with him and to be honest her drinking was all she had left in life.

"Whuzzat?" Berry murmured as the area around her grew cold and ice began to grow on windows.

"Have those damn pegasi not got the memo? Winter izn't for a few months yet!" Berry slurred as she swayed drunkingly barely able to stand much less run from what she didn't know was about to be upon her. Suddenly in her drunken mind and state, a idea came to her. "Wait, has Winter come early and I haven't... (Hiccup) ...Haven't been told?"

In a alleyway, there came a fine mist and a whinny as something came from behind and Berry whirled around to face it.

"Wait, don't tell me you're the Ghost of Hearth's Warming Future?" Berry slurred as the Windigo began galloping towards her...

Nearby, Twilight along with a very tired Shining wandered the streets just like they had been for the past few hours.

"Come on Twily, don't you think it's time to turn in? We've been at this for hours and no such luck." Shining said. "Maybe the Windigos aren't coming out tonight." He guessed and Twilight glared harshly at him.

"NO! We're not giving up, we'll search the whole night and until morning if we have to!" She snapped, before she took a good luck at Shining. He was tired, and barely able to stand. Twilight's expression became softer as she looked at her brother.

"I'm... I'm sorry. It's just... I want to make the Doctor proud." She admitted and Shining smiled back at her.

"But you're not the Doctor. Just you. Never forget that." He said, and Twilight hugged him as she whispered "Thanks... What would I do without you?"

The brother and sister bonding moment was cut short as they heard the Windigo's whinny, and Twilight and Shining shared a urgent look as they heard it before the twosome galloped towards the sound where they found Berry under attack and nearly frozen half to death thanks to the Ice Spirit.

"Get away from her!" Shining shouted as he fired off a fire spell from his horn at the creature and Twilight soon joined in by throwing a trash can at it. The Windigo screeched a horrifying ear splitting sound of pain before vanishing into a cloud of mist. Shining ran over to Berry and checked her.

"She's alive, but she needs urgent care." He said, before wrinkling his nose at the smell of the cider that Berry practically was covered in. "...And a stay in the drunk tank." Shining sighed.

Canterlot Mortuary, the very next morning...

"Ugh... Mommy what time is it?" Sunburst murmured as he came back to the land of the waking world. All night, he'd worked to determine what killed the poor stallion now resting right on the table exactly to the left of the one Sunburst slept on. Unfortunately, all of that work was for naught as Sunburst still had no idea of what killed his subject of study.

"WELCOME!" Galaxy shouted cheerfully as he appeared in front of Sunburst startling him greatly.

"M-must you do that?" Sunburst stammered as he tried to get his heart rate back to normal. Galaxy looked somewhat ashamed of himself even as he stretched his wings like he always did as part of his morning routine.

"Where'd you sleep anyhow?" Sunburst asked curiously and Galaxy chirped back "In a coffin, upstairs. Why did you ask?"

"N-no reason..." Sunburst responded nervously, mildly disturbed and wishing he hadn't even asked. Galaxy raised a eyebrow but shrugged it off and trotted over to the dead body still on it's table.

"So, you find out what did this poor fellow in?" Galaxy asked, only to get a shake of the head.

"No... Mind you, I do have some theories." Sunburst told him and Galaxy looked curious.

"Like what?" Galaxy asked, but Sunburst didn't seem to have heard him even as he muttered to himself and went back to consulting some old tomes strewn all around the room that the unicorn had brought in last night to help with his autopsy.

"It's almost as if... Nah it couldn't be..." Sunburst muttered even as the signs added up. He didn't want to believe it, but it was staring him right in the face. The Windigos were back, as Twilight and Shining and the Princesses had found out earlier.

And then Sunburst couldn't deny it any longer.

"Oh Sweet Solar Princesses, it is them!" Sunburst suddenly shouted, his eyes wide in fear. "Oh dear oh dear... We're in trouble now." He murmured as Galaxy began to look very concerned.

"What? What is it?" The thestral asked rapidly.

"The Winter Bringers..." Sunburst whispered, terrified beyond belief. "The Windigos."

"From that old Hearthswarming Legend? I though they were just to scare foals into being lovey dovey friends with one another!" Galaxy exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh, they're very real." Sunburst replied. "And there's a legend that says on the First Year of the Princess of the Moon's return they will be back to bring their revenge on the descendants of those who defeated them first time around."

"And who is that?" Galaxy asked, still not believing Sunburst's words.

"I... I don't know." Sunburst admitted. "But chances are, they're already among us."

"Great..." Galaxy muttered. "Just great."

In Ponyville, both Twilight and Shining felt a chill run down their spines, and they knew it wasn't from the possibility of the Windigos being around...

The Master Came Down to Canterlot Part 3 (Revelations AKA the exchanging of insults)

Golden Oaks Library, the next morning...

The next morning, Twilight and her brother were having breakfast. The Doctor's condition still hadn't changed and both unicorns were worried he may never wake up. Suddenly Shining's eyes widened as he felt a mental warning enter his head thanks to a special spell being triggered back in Canterlot Castle.

"What, what is it?" Twilight asked in concern as she noticed her brother's expression become one of alarm.

"Somepony's broken into the Black Archive back at the Castle." Shining said in a worried, almost bordering on panicked tone. I've got to get back there!"

"No, I'll go." Twilight said. "The Doctor appointed me as his temporary successor and I've got a feeling this is the Master. It's got to be."

"Twilight, you don't know how to handle things like this. I do, I was trained for situations like this!" Shining said, concerned for his sister's safety. But almost at once he knew he said the wrong thing.

"And I'm not able to handle myself?" Twilight snapped. "I'm a Element of Harmony, Celestia's personal student!" She yelled before her tone became softer.

"I'm not your little sister anymore, I can fend for myself you know that right?" Twilight asked and Shining sighed and he nodded but it was reluctantly.

"Alright." Shining said at last before he and Twilight walked outside. With a bright purple flash of light Twilight vanished leaving Shining standing alone in the street.

"Be safe..." He whispered.

The Black Archive, Canterlot Castle

"Hold it right there Master!" Twilight shouted as she appeared in a flash of purple light. In front of her, the Master had fished a book out of a chest and was looking through it before he looked up and saw Twilight before breaking out in a big grin.

"Ah, wondered when you'd show up." The Master said in false politeness.

"It's over for you." Twilight snarled and the Master could only laugh as one of his hooves tapped a four note beat on the stone floor.

"Oh, but it's only just begun." The Master countered as the torchlight lit up his face in a almost deathly way. "See this book I have?"

"Yes, I see the book." Twilight deadpanned.

"Oh, your sarcasm wounds me!" The Master cried, faking being struck with something. "But this book... This book right here it's very important to my plans. By now I think you and your little friends would've noticed a certain group of ice spirits trying to break through back into this world."

Twilight glared.

"Course you have." The Master said. "Anyways, good for them! And even better for me, as this gives me a opportunity. I stop these things with this spellbook here, and I get to rule Canterlot and after that... THE WORLD!" The Master laughed and Twilight stared at him in disbelief.

"That's it...?" She asked. "And here I was expecting something more along the lines of using them to kill the Doctor. Or something equally unimaginative." Twilight said dryly.

"Well, that too. Nothing like the old favorites I say." The Master admitted. "It's on my to do list. Pretty high up there, I imagine. But what can I say? I like to stick to playing it safe. Unlike the Daleks, they just want to exterminate everything. Now where's the fun in that I ask you?"

The Master suddenly looked rather embarrassed, if that were possible for him.

"Oh, look at me. I'm getting off topic and I'm telling you everything. Guess I have to kill you now. You don't mind that do you?" The Master asked sarcastically before he knocked Twilight out with a energy blast...

Golden Oaks Library

"Come on Doctor, wake up..." Shining pleaded while Rarity looked on in concern now joined by Spike who'd woke up a few moments earlier. "I don't know how, but I know my sister's in trouble. She needs you."

"Spikey-Boo, go get the Doctor some more water." Rarity asked kindly.

"On it!" Spike saluted.

But just as the young drake was about to leave, the Doctor's eyes shot wide open. His regeneration cycle was fully complete at last, and nothing could stop the Doctor now.

"You rang?" The Doctor asked, and Shining let out a huge sigh of relief he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Now..." The Doctor began. "What's this about you needing my help?"

Canterlot General

When Twilight awoke, she found herself strapped to a medical table somewhere in Canterlot General's ICU ward. Twilight sighed, she and her family seemed to end up here more often then she'd like. The Master was in the room with her.

"Sorry I had to do this my dear, but I can't have you interfering anymore in my... Uh, Master plan!" The Master said before he chuckled. "See, I made a funny!"

Twilight didn't laugh, and the Master rolled his eyes.

"See, someponies have no sense of humor. I bet you were the school's resident fun-killer and never even got kissed." The Master commented as Twilight glared at him unamused by the Master's jokes. If looks could kill, he'd be already regenerating.

"Anyways..." The Master continued brushing off Twilight's death glare as if it were nothing. "I'm done dealing with you. You've done far too much damage to my plan little as it is, and now I've got to get rid of you!"

With that, the mad Time Lord began to dance around the room as if he were on a sugar high.

"I can't believe I didn't see this before! Why take a Earth Pony's life when they've got nothing and instead take a unicorn's life and get some of their magic to replenish my own life force?" The Master cackled before he leaned in uncomfortably close to Twilight's face and grinned psychotically.

'"And you know the best part? I get to off the Doctor's companion in the bargain..."

Twilight had only one response to that.

"Go... To... Tartarus." She snarled and the Master only laughed harder. What either of them missed as they were so focused on the other was a distinct groaning, almost wheezing sound coming from somewhere nearby.

VWOOP! VWOOP! VWOOP!

"Your prattling voice will be silenced forever my dear..." The Master smirked as he readied a energy blast, before a familiar and yet not quite the same voice jumped in with it's reply.

"Oh, that'll be the day..." The Doctor's voice said in a sarcastic manner, and Twilight's eyes widened as the Master whirled his head around to see the newest incarnation of the Doctor leaning up against the doorway. He was still dressed in the same clothes he had worn as his previous self however.

"You always have to show up and ruin my fun don't you?" The Master snapped and the Doctor laughed.

"Fun? You and I have very different definitions of the word. But yeah, so I do. Sue me." The Doctor countered before he pointed another Sonic Screwdriver at Twilight's restraints unlocking them. It wasn't even a second later Twilight tried to tackle the Master but he quickly flickered and vanished.

"He... He was never really here!" Twilight gaped.

"This was just a diversion. He wants to distract us while he opens up the portal to the Windego realm." The Doctor muttered with a frown before he ran out of the room with a shout of "Come along Sparkle!"

"IT'S TWILIGHT FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE!" Twilight shouted in annoyance before she sighed. Why did she even bother? It wasn't like the Doctor was going to listen anyway Twilight told herself as she ran off after the Doctor. At one point they passed a room full of the clothes the doctors and nurses wore when they weren't on duty. The Doctor went in and almost imediantly began to try on just about anything and everything while Twilight stared at him in shock.

"You can't-Those belong to other ponies!" Twilight sputtered.

The Doctor looked back at her, while he wore multiple ties of varying colors.

"So? I don't see them using them right now. Besides, how do you expect me to go into battle without looking the part?" The Doctor asked, as if lecturing a child. Twilight found herself facehoofing and muttering "Oh Celestia give me strength..." while looking skywards as if expecting a response.

"How'd you even rescue me with a Sonic anyhow?" Twilight asked as this had been bothering her. "I have yours, you gave it to me."

"I have a spare. What, you don't think I lose these things every so often?" The Doctor asked sarcastically. Finally he found the clothes he was looking for, which was a tweed suit with a bowtie.

"Ah, that's much better." The Doctor smiled before he saw something else he wanted and put it on his head. That something was a fez. Twilight groaned before her eyes widened as she glanced out a window by pure chance.

"What? What is it?" The Doctor asked nervously before he came over to the window and looked out it. The Time Lord's eyes widened as well, for outside gathering in the sky above was a winter storm of great magnitude and power. The clouds swirled and lightning flashed in them as a Windego whinnied from somewhere outside.

"We're out of time... It's starting." Twilight said nervously while the Doctor let out a loud almost manic shout which said it all as a loud rumble of thunder boomed to follow the lightning.

"THEY'RE HERRRRRREEEE!"

The Master Came Down to Canterlot Part 4 (Red sky at morning...)

Canterlot Streets

Both Twilight and the Doctor soon rushed outside where already ponies were beginning to stare and point in shock and confusion at what was going on. A hard snow was beginning to fall and any nearby water sources were beginning to freeze solid. Rivers, ponds or even just water in a fountain it didn't matter as it was soon ice.

"You know, I really must register a complaint with your weather pegasi for this horrible weather." The Doctor said dryly while Twilight rolled her eyes at his bad joke.

"Hardee-har-har." She replied. "Any ideas on how to stop this thing before it gets any worse or are we just going to stand around talking about it?"

Suddenly the Royal Sisters both landed nearby with a few ponies bowing as they did so. Celestia took a glance around and frowned. Last she checked the sun was out and not covered by cloud.

"Twilight, what's going on? What's happened?" Celestia asked urgently as thunder cracked somewhere nearby breaking the sound barrier to catch up to the lightning that flashed in the sky.

"The Master happened, that's what." Twilight growled. "He's behind this, took one of the books from the Black Archives and is planning to use the Windegos to take over Equestria."

"And we must guess, the world after that?" Luna asked sarcastically.

"Yes, how'd you know?" The Doctor commented. Celestia's eyes widened when she finally noticed them. Luna on the other hand, hadn't quite registered who she was talking to because of how focused she was on the situation.

"We know how a villain thinks." Luna said sadly drawing on her own memories as Nightmare Moon. Both Twilight and Celestia knew where her thoughts were going and nodded in understanding and sadness. It was then Luna finally noticed who she was speaking to and if it was possible her eyes would have bugged out of their sockets thanks to Luna's shock.

"THOU IS FINALLY AWAKE!" Luna cried in joy and hugged the Doctor nearly crushing him to her Alicorn strength. As the Doctor struggled to free himself from the Princess of the Night's grip in rather comical fashion Celestia leaned over to her student and muttered "And she teases me about having a crush on the Doctor..."

Twilight put a hoof to her chin in thought and paced in place as she asked "My question is, why are the Windegos returning now? What do they want?"

Sunburst's nervous voice came from behind them. He'd been there the whole time and only now gained the courage to speak up.

"I... I believe I can answer that." He said shyly while clutching a book on the Windegos to his chest. Luna looked at him seriously as the Doctor was released from her grip at last and he fell over he muttered "Nearly knocked me into another regeneration..."

Sunburst meanwhile, flinched at Luna's gaze quite afraid of her and remembering what happened last time they met.

"You're... You're not going to use the Royal Canterlot Voice on me again are you?" Sunburst asked nervously.

"WHY SHOULD WE NOT, IT IS TRADITION TO SPEAK WITH THIS MUCH VOLUME!" Luna replied as Sunburst shrank into himself, Twilight sighed and shook her head as Celestia glared at her sister. The snow was falling even harder now.

"Maybe we could make a exception in this case?" Celestia asked dryly as she rubbed her temples. Luna still had a lot to learn about modern customs, that much was evident. Celestia then found herself turning to Sunburst.

"Please, explain your story." She asked and Sunburst nodded nervously before he began to speak.

Once the unicorn had explained what he'd found and everypony had taken it all in it wasn't long before Twilight sprang into action and quickly began thinking up a plan.

"Our best shot at this would be to face the Windegos head on with the Elements. If they want a battle, that's exactly what they're going to get." Twilight began as Sunburst nodded before he ran off to send a priority message to Ponyville to alert the rest of the Elements and Shining of what was going on. Twilight continued.

"Meanwhile, we've got to get everypony inside and away from danger. I don't think the Windegos care about collateral damage." Twilight said as Celestia nodded and gestured to the Royal Guard to begin getting everypony to safety. In the Solar Princess's mind, she was very impressed with Twilight right now. As she felt a swelling of pride for her faithful student rise in her chest, Celestia was already thinking even now she'd be perfect for the little plan she had in mind to bring another Alicorn to the throne. Only time would tell however if Twilight was truly the best choice, so Celestia would have to keep an eye on her...

"What about the Master?" Luna asked, no longer using her Royal Canterlot Voice. The Doctor grinned in his manic way and held up his Sonic in his hoof.

"I'll deal with him. As the saying goes... Geronimo!" The Doctor cried.

Golden Oaks Library:

Back in Ponyville, Spike was pacing around nervously back and forth as he went over all the horrible outcomes of what could have happened to his big sister. In his mind, he saw her dead in varying ways, each getting more horrible then the last.

"She's not going to come back, I just know it..." Spike whispered frantically as he continued wearing a hole in the floor. Finally Rarity had enough of it and put a hoof on his shoulder.

"I'm sure she's fine, Twilight can handle herself." The member of the Elements of Harmony reassured as she pulled the young drake into a comforting hug.

"B-But what if she's not?" Spike asked fearfully. "She's managed to get into scrapes that only with you or the Doctor's help she managed to get out of!"

Rarity looked at Spike seriously, her gaze boring into him.

"Now that's enough of that, Twilight will come back. I promise." Rarity told Spike, before suddenly the dragon doubled over and burped up a letter from Sunburst in a flash of green flame. Rarity grabbed it at once and gestured for Shining to come over. Here is what was on the letter:

Dear Elements and Shining Armor:

"Your presence is required in Canterlot at once. This... This is my first time writing a letter of this magnitude so it may suck but I'm trying very hard for it not to. Oh, look at me I've gotten off topic... Silly me. Anyways, the Windegos are about to return and bring their anger on the descendants of those who wronged them which as you know are: Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddinghead and Princess Platinum. If they find them, nothing will be able to stop them as the descendants are the only ones who supposedly know the key to the Windego's defeat. The Elements of Harmony and the Captain of the Royal Guard are needed so get here fast... Or... Or I don't know what we'll do!"

Absolutely panicking here, Sunburst

After they'd finished reading the letter, Shining looked at Rarity.

"So, what do we do?"

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Rarity smiled confidently. She wasn't just Ponyville's best and brightest fashionista and you'd better make no mistake about it,  she was a member of the group that defeated Nightmare Moon and it was showing right now.

"What we always do darling when the world is in trouble... Save it." Rarity said before turning to Spike as she and Shining rushed out the Library's front door.

"Spikey-Boo, do us a favor and keep a eye on things here. I don't know when we'll be back, but I doubt Twilight would want to see this place as a absolutely horrid mess so clean it up a little huh?" Rarity asked, with another smile before shutting the door after she'd run out it. Now alone, Spike grumbled to himself as he started to sweep.

"Yeah, that's about my lot in life isn't it huh?" Spike muttered. "At least it'll keep my mind off things... Which is what I suspect Rarity wants." He sighed wistfully. Anything for her he'd do quite faithfully, no matter how unpleasant.

Canterlot Castle

It was a few hours later after a train ride on the Friendship Express that the Elements of Harmony arrived at Canterlot where they met up with Twilight and the Princesses at the Castle on a balcony where already Shining had gathered his troops. The storm was even worse now, and looked as if the skies were about to bring Tartarus itself down to Equus which wasn't that far from the truth really.

"...Well, this all seems rather horrible doesn't it?" Rainbow asked dryly.

"Oh dear oh dear..." Fluttershy repeated nervously as she glanced upwards to the sky. Applejack walked over to her and laid a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

"Don't worry sugarcube, we can handle this." Applejack reassured. Pinkie bounced around happily nearby.

"After this is all over, we should throw a Saving the Day party!" Pinkie exclaimed. At one point, Shining came over to Twilight and looked at anywhere but her.

"Listen, about what I said earlier... Can you forgive me?" Shining asked with nervous tone in his voice. Twilight embraced him in a hug.

"There's nothing to forgive." She said and for a few moments after that there was a awkward silence before Rarity broke it up.

"Where's the Doctor?" She asked and Twilight could only give a shrug in response.

"I don't know, he's gone after the Master so who knows where he is." Twilight replied before a loud rumble of thunder cracked and Twilight frowned. Time was almost up, and the battle was about to begin. She hadn't felt this tense since Nightmare Moon and it was beginning to show no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

"Don't worry, this will be easy as pie now that I'm here." Rainbow reassured in her own way and Applejack quickly corrected her.

"Don't ya mean now that we're all here?" She drawled and Rainbow glared at her rival before her attention was drawn to something else. Or rather somepony.

"Hey, wait." Rainbow asked as she suddenly saw Galaxy Swirls in full Night Guard battle dress with a scythe slung over his back. "What are you even doing up? Shouldn't you be fast asleep in a coffin somewhere?"

Galaxy actually burst out laughing at Rainbow's question as he held up a canister containing some sort of sugary drink.

"Yes, well normally I'd be but I think the situation at hoof here calls for a exception to the rule don't you?" Galaxy chirped as he held the drink up to Rainbow's face and shook it before the Bat-Pony took a big gulp of it. "See this stuff? Man oh man, this stuff keeps your eyes OPEN!" He suddenly shouted as Shining looked a bit embarrassed by his fellow captain.

As Shining sharpened his sword, he turned his fellow Royal Guard and cleared his throat to begin a speech.

"Alright men. You know what's at stake here. The fate of all Equestria, not just Canterlot hangs in the balance. You all thought the Windegos were just fairy tales to scare foals, but thanks to some mad stallion they're back and he wants to use them to take over the world and destroy our way of life. Are we going to let that happen?" Shining asked.

The response he got was a loud chorus of "NO!" and Shining smirked as he continued.

"It's not a good day, it might possibly be the last day for any of us but we are going to go down fighting and show WHY we are Canterlot's Finest! We are the ROYAL GUARD!" Shining roared and got a chorus of cheers. Now, all eyes turned to Galaxy to see what he had to say. His answer?

"Er... What he said. I got nothing." Galaxy admitted with a blush as he gestured to Shining. Suddenly there were several loud whinnies as Windego spirits began to pour from the sky. Shining shouted "At arms!" and the Guard readied their weapons with bows being drawn back and swords pulled from their scabbards.

Twilight's eyes narrowed at the oncoming hoard as she smirked confidently. She had only one thing to say as she looked back at her five friends who were ready for battle and to save the day once more.

"Let's do this girls."

The Master Came Down to Canterlot Part 5 (The Clouds Burst)

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Coming down from the sky were more Windegos then anypony had ever seen, or knew existed even. Guards trembled as screams rose up from the streets of Canterlot below. Shining quickly took control over the situation and reminded his men on who they were.

"Keep calm and hold positions, that is the only way we will win here. Remember, you are defenders of Equestria so whatever comes your way you will stand your ground!" Shining commanded, his full prowess as a Captain of the Royal Guard on display. His command worked, and his troops were ready to fight once more with a new confidence in them.

As the Windegos approached, they were met with a flurry of arrows and spell blasts sent their way from the defenders of the castle. Some fell in the first barrage while a few other of the spirits made it through and got inside the Guard's ranks creating chaos. However they were quickly met by either other guards, the Princesses or the Element Bearers.

"Normally I abhor violence, but as I have no choice to defend myself I will do as I must." Rarity commented as she spelled a Windego out of existence with a magic blast from her horn.

"This is so awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed in joy and laughed as she bucked a Windego towards Twilight who destroyed it with a spell. "Though seriously, I thought these guys were supposed to be tough. What, did they grow weak since the founding of the nation or something?" Rainbow wondered aloud.

"Maybe it's the law of the conservation of ninjutsu." Pinkie guessed as she threw a pie in a Windego's face knocking it off the balcony of the Castle. Rainbow stared at her.

"The what?" Rainbow asked in disbelief. Pinkie shook her head as she giggled.

"Oh Dashie, go and read TV Tropes sometime." Pinkie replied cheerfully. This only managed to confuse Rainbow even further. Celestia however had a different explanation.

"These are only low ranking Windego. The more powerful ones will come later if we do not halt their advance." Celestia said wisely. Nearby, Fluttershy used the Stare on some Windego freezing them in their tracks with Pinkie then blasting them with her Party Cannon. Suddenly, a whole bunch of Windego splintered off from the main group and headed towards Canterlot below.

"Hey, they're going towards the city!" Galaxy yelled as he sliced down another of the ice spirits with his scythe.

"Elements, you're with me." Steel commanded. "We can take care of those."

"We can take care of things here, you just get to work on the others. Canterlot shall not fall on this day!" Shining yelled before he dispelled another Windego.

Canterlot

Meanwhile, the Doctor was searching high and low for the Master. Suddenly he saw something out of the ordinary, a unicorn mare who he would later learn was named Moondancer on a rooftop reciting from a certain spellbook to control the Windego's forces. The Doctor growled to himself, the Master had always been hypnotic, heck one of their childhood games together was for the Master to hypnotize people and the Doctor to reverse it.

"This ends now." The Doctor muttered before he made his way up to the rooftop and using his Sonic Screwdriver on the book, he ignited it and it burst into flame. Suddenly a voice came from behind the Time Lord.

"You know, I don't think Twilight would be very happy with you if she saw that. You, ruining a book. Of all the nerve!" The Master mocked.

"Release him, this is between you and me." The Doctor commanded, and the Master sighed but released Moondancer and she looked confused on where she was but quickly guessed that she should be anywhere but here and ran off.

"You're a real fun-killer, you know that right?" The Master asked sarcastically. "You're worse then my mother!"

"Yep, that's me. The big fun-killer." The Doctor said dryly. "And you haven't gotten the memo yet right? I'm the Doctor, so I'm worse then everypony's mother!"

High above Canterlot, Lighting Dust who'd joined the fight not too long ago after seeing what was going on, threw lightning bolts at any Windego who was unlucky enough to get in her sights. At one point, she saw Steel Sentry in the streets below fighting off a Windego and destroying it with a powerful swing of his sword, only to get ambushed from behind by another and trampled.

"NO!" Lightning shouted as she flew down and destroyed the Windego with a lightning bolt. She landed next to Sentry and stood by his side, with a defiant look on her face as more Windegos rushed down to greet her.

"Alright you freaks... You want him, COME AND GET HIM!" Lightning shouted as she readied her powers as the air began to smell of ozone...

"Why do you help these... ponies Theta?" The Master asked with the word "Ponies" spat out in derision and disgust.

"They're beneath you and I, and are not important in the grand scheme of things." The Master continued. The Doctor shook his head in pity for his old friend, he'd fallen very far indeed and barely resembled his best friend who'd ran with him in the fields of red grass that covered Gallifrey.

"Not important? Everypony's important in their own little way." The Doctor replied and the Master burst out laughing.

"Look at you, you've... acclimated. Yeah, that's the way you are. Even if you're not of any world, you sure put a lot of work into it don't you?" The Master said in disgust. However, he was so focused on the Doctor he never heard the loud whinny that came from behind him or noticed who it belonged to. The Doctor did however. It seemed that the Windegos didn't take too kindly to being controlled and now they were angry. Very angry indeed.

"Master, please! You've got to move from that spot now!" The Doctor called, only to be blasted backwards by a energy blast from his old friend. The Doctor then let out a loud cry of "NO!" as a Windego flash froze the Master on the spot. The Doctor, as he slipped into unconsciousness from the energy blast never saw what happened next. The Master released blasts of golden Regeneration energy and soon instead of a blond maned stallion there was a mare with a short black mane and purple fur.

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"Well, I'd say this venture has failed completely. I think it's time to take my leave." The Master said before a thought struck him. Shee very well couldn't call himself the Master now that she was female now could he? Missy sounded much better, she thought as she danced over to the Doctor and laid a kiss on his forehead.

"Sleep tight, my love." Missy smiled before she trotted off. It would be a long while before she would be seen again by anypony.

Meanwhile, Twilight and company were fighting in the streets below taking down Windego after Windego. Applejack and Rainbow had even started up a little game between themselves.

"Alright, that's ten to me!" Applejack called to Rainbow as she took down another Windego with her powerful legs.

"Puh-leeze! I'm on fifteen already!" Rainbow laughed and Applejack growled to herself.

"Ah'm not letting no pegasi beat me!" Applejack retorted. She was greeted with another laugh from Rainbow.

"Oh yeah? How's that working out for you so far?" Rainbow mocked. Twilight sighed to herself  and mumbled something under her breath even as she took down another Windego by using a flame spell on it. Suddenly there was a very loud whinny, louder then all the rest as a sight even the Princesses found daunting appeared. Poking it's head through the swirling storm clouds was a truly gigantic Windego head.

"The Windego King..." Twilight whispered in fear. She'd read about it, but even she thought the creature only a myth.

"So, you want that one or do I get it?" Rainbow whispered to Applejack who nervously whispered back "No, Ah'm good. Y'all can have it."

"Oh my..." Fluttershy whispered as she trembled in fear.

"Alright girls, this is it! Ready your Elements!" Twilight commanded. One by one, each Element of Harmony glowed with power and hummed The head was now revealed to have a body connected to it that became visible as it emerged from the thicket of cloud. Six beams of energy met up and combined into one large rainbow that struck the Windego King head on and there was a loud explosion of blinding light forcing everypony to turn their heads away. But when it faded at last, the skies were clear and calm as if nothing had ever been there in the first place.

"It's... It's over." Twilight said as she caught her breath.

Later...

Twilight smiled sadly as she surveyed the damage to Canterlot. The battle was over, but it would take a lot of hard work to repair the damage.

"So, do you really think Commander Hurricane, Princess Platinum or Chancellor Puddinghead really have descendants living somewhere in Equestria? " Twilight asked as she turned to Celestia. The Princess of the Sun could only smile mysteriously as she gazed upon the Elements of Harmony and Shining Armor.

"We may never know my Faithful Student." Celestia replied with a chuckle. Twilight frowned, as she guess Celestia wasn't telling her everything she knew but decided to let it go for another time. Twilight's thoughts were then interrupted as Lightning Dust's voice cut through the air.

"Hey, I need some help over here!" Lightning called and Celestia, Shining and Twilight rushed over to her, and found Lightning standing over a badly wounded Steel Sentry, who's armor had been shattered from the trampling it had recieved and was in pieces. Steel himself was in no better condition and was bleeding badly.

"Hey... did we win?" Steel coughed. Shining rushed over to him.

"Yeah, we won." Shining said and Steel smiled sadly, almost as if he was... Shining quickly cleared those thoughts from his head. He wasn't going to lose another Royal Guard in the line of duty, not today.

"Stay still, we'll get you to a hospital." Shining said only for Steel to give him a sad look.

"You and I both know that I wouldn't make it in time." Steel replied and Shining shook his head in denial as he fought back tears.

"No, don't say that. You can't give up now." Shining said as Steel coughed.

"I'm not giving up, I don't have to." Steel explained. "My wounds are too great, and even if by some miracle I did make to Canterlot General I wouldn't make it through surgery. At least... At least I'll get to see my son again..."

Those were the last words ever uttered by Steel as his eyes closed for the last time. Steel Sentry, second in command of the Canterlot Royal Guard was dead.

"He went down fighting." Lightning Dust said sadly, she wasn't too far from tears herself. "That's the best end any Royal Guard could ask for, to die in battle."

"He shall be remembered." Celestia said sadly. "He and all the others who gave their lives to defend Canterlot this day. I promise you that, Shining Armor."

"T-Thank you..." Shining whispered back.

The Master Came Down to Canterlot Part 6 (All stories end, but new ones begin...)

A mass funeral was quickly held for those guards who fell in the line of duty, and any unlucky ponies who got caught in the crossfire. Celestia gave a short eulogy as everypony listened.

"So, did you ever find the Master's remains?" Twilight asked the Doctor, who shook his head.

"No, I suspect we'll be seeing him again. He always comes back." The Doctor replied.

After the funeral was over, everypony gathered and talked about their memories of those who had been lost. However, not all of those who were there wanted to be there. Lightning Dust felt she should be anywhere but here, as she felt guilt for not being able to save Steel.

"So, uh I guess I'll be going then..." Lightning said awkwardly before unfurling her wings only to be met with two spears pointed at her by two guards.

"Hold up there. You did escape the psychiatric ward and helped a maniac you know. Two actually." Shining said and everypony gaped at him in shock. It was like he'd just forgotten that the pegasus had helped them. Lightning meanwhile hung her head, she knew Shining was right. However, she along with everypony else was in for a shock. A rather huge one.

"But..." Shining decided. "There is another option, after all you did help us fight off the Windegos. You could work off your misdeeds in community service and serve time with the Royal Guard under my command. You're pretty good, we need ponies like you. It's what Steel would want."

Lightning gave the first real smile she had ever given in a long time.

"I'd like that." She said before both she and Shining were swept up in a crushing hug by Pinkie.

"Aw, enough of this mopey sad stuff!" Pinkie exclaimed. "The day is saved, so now it's time for a PARTY!"

Canterlot Castle, later that night...

Pinkie didn't fail to hold up to her promise. It wasn't long before the Canterlot Castle's ballroom was filled with party decorations and ponies to enjoy them. But not everypony was interested in joining the festivities.

Outside on the Castle grounds, Celestia gazed up at the stars. She needed some time to be herself with her thoughts. Times had definitely changed. A little over a year ago, she wouldn't have even dreamed of what she'd seen and heard from the Doctor's tales. And now she knew the universe was so much bigger and more wonderful and dangerous then the Solar Princess could possibly have imagined.

Celestia's thoughts then turned back to the stars.  While she wasn't Luna, she could appreciate the beauty of the nighttime sky and all of it's many wonders. She could see the appeal of space and why the Doctor traveled up there. Suddenly Celestia blinked as she noticed something. She could have sworn several stars that were just there, had vanished as if something had removed them in one split-second motion.

"Maybe I'm just imagining things..." Celestia murmured as she turned to go back inside. But why did it still bother her so much? Celestia sighed to herself, Luna would probably tease her about being paranoid but then again the paranoid were always the ones who survived and Celestia hadn't lived this long by not being cautious.

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As Celestia walked back inside, she was greeted with a strange sight. The Doctor was dancing, rather horribly if she were to be honest. He had attracted quite a few stares as he wiggled around like some kind of drunk giraffe.

"Remember, do as I say not as I do!" The Doctor called. "Imitation is not cool, kids!"

Sadly, it seemed some ponies weren't listening. The most obvious was a blond maned Pegasus with oddly set eyes and she was doing the same dance as the Doctor, if not a bit more clumsily.

"Woo-hoo, isn't this fun?" The pegasus asked. "I can see why you like it, Doc!"

"Dance Doctor dance!" Luna called. "We say the fun has been doubled!"

Nearby, Shining and Twilight were watching with embarrassed looks until Shining was pulled away with a loud yelp by his marefriend into the crowd of dancing ponies. Twilight giggled at the sight of her brother's predicament and his call of "Save me!"

"Sorry BBBFF, I'm not going to get between you and Cadence!" Twilight laughed. The party continued long into the night, but eventually wound down like all parties do. At one point, the Doctor approached Celestia and Luna while shuffling his hooves nervously.

"Hey, uh... Listen, I have to get going. I'm not one for long goodbyes so I'll just say... Good-bye." The Doctor said, looking somewhat embarrassed. Luna came up to him and kissed his cheek making the Doctor flush red in surprise. Celestia gaped at her sister's rather forward action.

"If we ever see ye and your fantastic machine amongst the stars as we look up... We shall wave to thee." Luna said. The Doctor broke out in a huge grin.

"I'd like that." The Doctor replied.

Later, Twilight stood in front of the Tardis outside Canterlot Castle. It was just about to leave for another adventure and if all went well it would gain a new permanent passenger.

"So, you coming?" The Doctor asked as he and Shining stood in the doorway. Twilight smiled at them before she trotted forwards with a murmur of "Allons-y..."

The Doctor heard her as he chuckled and looked somewhat flattered at the young lavender unicorn's repeating his previous two regenerations' favorite French/Prench phrase.

"Well, I guess that's a good of a answer as any." The Doctor said before he reached for the door handles to pull them closed.

Then, just as the doors were about to be shut, there came a familiar female voice calling for them. Twilight looked at Shining as if to ask if he knew anything about it, but the unicorn could only shrug in response. So both sets of eyes turned to the Doctor, who shrugged as well. The shouts became louder still.

"Wait! Wait!" Rainbow called as she flew towards them and skidded to a halt in front of the Tardis doors creating a small dust cloud behind her.

"Rainbow?" Shining asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"What, you guys are going to go on a awesome adventure and see the sights and you expect to leave me out of it?" Rainbow asked in disbelief. "I don't think so!"

The Doctor seemed to consider Rainbow's statement for a few moments before he made up his mind at last.

"Well, there's always plenty of room in the Tardis for one more passenger..." He murmured. Rainbow looked absolutely elated and let out a loud cry of "YES! This is going to be so sweet!" before she joined the threesome inside the Tardis. Rainbow looked around in wonder at absolutely everything she could see.

"Yes yes, I know it's bigger on the inside. Get it out of your system." The Doctor said in mock-annoyance before he went over to the console and leaned up against it.

"Well then..." The Doctor began. "So, there's four of us and the whole of time and space lay at our hooves. Where does anypony want to go first?"

Rainbow thought about it for a moment, before she gave her answer.

"Eh... Surprise me." She said, and the Doctor seemed to take that as a challenge as he spun around and laughed to himself. Shining Armor and Twilight shared a smile even as the Doctor began the start up sequence. Knobs on the Tardis console were turned and buttons were pressed.

"Geronimo." The Doctor said, before the Time Lord threw the final switch...

THE END

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The Doctor and Twilight will return in *Frightmare Night*, coming this June...

The Master came down to Canterlot Part 1 (Goodbye Ten, Hello Eleven...)

An Unknown Location...

Twilight frowned at her predicament. Currently, she was strapped to a table while a very strange stallion who also happened to be very, very insane prancing around like the cat who had got the canary.

"I can't believe I didn't see this before! Why take a Earth Pony's life when they've got nothing and instead take a unicorn's life and get some of their magic to replenish my own life force?" The Master cackled before he leaned in uncomfortably close to Twilight's face and grinned psychotically.

'"And you know the best part? I get to off the Doctor's companion in the bargain..."

Twilight had only one response to that.

"Go... To... Tartarus." She snarled and the Master only laughed harder.

"Your prattling voice will be silenced forever my dear..." He smirked, before a familiar and yet not quite the same voice jumped in with it's reply.

"Oh, that'll be the day..." The Doctor's voice said in a sarcastic manner, and Twilight's eyes widened as the Master whirled his head around to see the newest incarnation of the Doctor leaning up against the doorway.

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One day before, in Dodge Junction...

It wasn't long before Celestia and her sister reacted. To recap, in front of them lay a unconscious Doctor who'd seemingly been reincarnated into a new body after being blasted with a energy attack by his fellow Time Lord the Master. It was only now other ponies were starting to come out of their homes and a crowd was gathering as it stared and pointed at the fallen Doctor. Luna was angry, here a friend lay in who knew how bad of a condition and he was being treated to what amounted to a sideshow.

"HALT OUR SUBJECTS! DO YOU NOT SEE OUR FRIEND IS IN NEED OF SOME DIRE ASSISTANCE?" Luna bellowed in the Royal Canterlot Voice making some ponies back up in fear.

Celestia too was angry, although she forced it down and kept her calm. Now was not the time to give into base emotions. It was then the sheriff of the town one Silver Star shoved some of his townspeople and walked up before bowing to the Princesses. His silver star gleamed, pinned to Silver's vest.

"My apologies ma'ams, just not something y'all see everyday. Is there anyway Ah can help?" Silver asked and Celestia nodded.

"We need to get this stallion, a special agent codenamed the Doctor along with his machine to Ponyville General, fast as we can. Is there anyway you can help with that?"

Braeburn rubbed his chin with his hoof, lost in thought momentarily.

"Well... Ah don't rightly know how much help I can give. Ponyville's pretty far away. Several days at least. But I think I can offer you a wagon... If that's not beneath y'all that is." Silver quickly added.

Celestia shook her head.

"Don't worry, it's not too much trouble. And as for the length of the trip... Don't you know anything can be done with magic?" Celestia smirked as her wings unfolded to their full length glistening white as snow and her horn glowed golden as the celestial body she lowered and raised. Make no mistake, for this was the Princess of the Sun!

Canterlot Castle, Twilight's Guest Room

In her room, Twilight paced back and forth over and over as her brother and Rarity watched nervously. Twilight didn't know why, but she had the distinct feeling something was very wrong. Something on the level of Nightmare Moon is returning bad. Okay, maybe that was going a bit far on levels of badness but she still felt very worried indeed.

"Careful darling. You might just wear a hole in that floor." Rarity joked, to lighten the mood. Twilight glared at her, only to go back to continue her pacing.

"Oh dear oh dear..." Twilight murmured. "I... No, Twilight you've got to calm down. Listen to yourself, you're acting like some worried schoolfilly. Listen to reason, if anything was wrong Celestia would come and get you. So you've got to... CALM DOWN!" Twilight suddenly shouted to herself.

It was then a guard burst in, with a frantic look on his face. Suddenly, Shining was all business as he stood firm with his Royal Guard training taking over.

"What is it?" He asked, in a tone that left no room for argument.

"It's Celestia... and Luna! They need you and Twilight to get to Ponyville. FAST! ...And yes, those were their exact words." The guard said, before fainting dead away. Rarity, Twilight and Shining all shared looks before running out of the room. Because of this, they failed to notice the guard get up and take off his helmet revealing the distinct blond mane of the Master...

"Now, I've got free run of the castle with them gone. Time to go on a walking tour." He cackled, before briefly flashing between flesh and organ...

Canterlot Mortuary...

"What happened...?" Sunburst asked as he looked on the building's latest "Guest" so to speak. Nearby, Galaxy Swirls gazed on the dead pony as well as he grimaced in disgust. He'd seen a lot of very ugly things as a guard, but this took the cake. The pony laying on the table in front of him almost looked like it had been mauled by some sort of animal. Not only that, it looked as if he'd been flash-frozen as well.

"So, who want to look at our friend here? Anypony up for tossing a coin?" Galaxy Swirls asked mock-cheerfully. Of course maybe he really was cheerful about the whole prospect of a autopsy. It was hard to tell with him really.

"I... I'm not looking at him." Sunburst said nervously as his face turned a green hue. "You do it."

"Me? I'm not even qualified! You are though, so you do it." Galaxy argued before he quickly grabbed a trash can and threw up in it a few times.

"Hear that? That was the sound of my dinner saying hello again." Galaxy said dryly. "So for the love of Luna YOU do it!"

Sunburst shook his head in a nervous "No" motion. Galaxy sighed to himself and rubbed his temples with his hoof.

"Listen, we can argue about this till the cows come home. So why don't we both agree to do this together?"

Ponyville, Golden Oaks Library...

With a crash, Twilight kicked open the doors to her library with a frantic expression on her face. As she ran inside, her brother and Rarity followed her inside. Celestia and Luna were already inside, with the Solar Princess just barely holding up the Doctor who'd awakened if not fully.

"W-what happened? Who's this, and why's he in my library?" Twilight asked in confusion while Shining raised a eyebrow and Rarity murmured to herself "Well, whoever he is he's certainly handsome that's for sure..."

"Twilight..." Celestia began slowly. "This is the Doctor."

Twilight shook her head in denial while Rarity and Shining gaped in shock. Last they'd all seen the Doctor was a brown furred stallion with a sticky-uppy mane. The only resemblance this stallion shared to the Doctor were the clothes. As Celestia began to explain what had happened, Twilight's disbelief only became more and more evident.

"No! That's completely impossible." Twilight stammered before she turned to the Doctor. "You're completely impossible, you can't be the Doctor. It flys against all face of logic!"

The Doctor grinned the way he always did.

"Have you met me? I laugh at impossible things pretty much twice a week. Before breakfast even!" The Doctor said before sticking out his hoof only to fall to the ground with Shining rushing over to help him up.

The Doctor looked embarrassed with himself as he muttered "Oh... Early days, haven't got these things quite working yet..." to himself. With that, his eyes rolled up into his head and he fainted. Twilight checked his pulse, before her eyes widened in remembrance. The Doctor had two hearts.

"Doctor..." Shining whispered before it turned into a great shout. "DOCTOR!"

"Get him to the bedroom. Put him on the bed." Twilight said, suddenly she was all business. Doctor or not, this stallion needed help that much was evident. Rarity would normally make a joke but she understood this was not the time right now. With her help, Twilight carried the Doctor up to her bedroom and put him on the bed and covered him up with the covers.

"Er, I hate to ask but shouldn't we get him to the hospital? You know, with ACTUAL Doctors?" Rarity asked as Shining nodded in agreement, stunned at what Twilight was doing even as her friend came back with a ton of books.

"Nonsense, I've got hundreds of spells in my books." Twilight laughed. "If anything can help him, it'll be in here. Besides, if any doctors or nurses get there hooves on him they'll turn him into a lab rat. He's got two hearts, a impossibility of science!"

Rarity took this in, before she asked aloud "...Anything else he's got two of?" causing Twilight to facehoof.

Suddenly, the air began to grow deathly still and a wild and frosty wind began to blow outside throwing the windows open as something unearthly neighed form nearby. Then it appeared, a white misty horse like being in a portal halfway stuck between one world and the next. Twilight's, Rarity's, and Shining's eyes all widened collectively. What they were seeing was impossible, and yet here it was. A real live Windigo right out of the legends in front of them. It lunged for them, but suddenly Celestia and Luna burst in hearing the commotion.

"...No, it can't be." Celestia murmured before she regained her composure as her eyes glowed pure white and her horn glowed gold.

"If you think you can threaten my student think again. Back into your world with you!" Celestia roared, before blasting the creature back into it's portal with Shining shouting a spell of his own to shut the doorway between worlds. Twilight stood stunned at what she had just seen, before her eyes narrowed.

"Looks like we have bigger problems..." She murmured.

Day of the Angels Part 1 (The Doctor is in)

The Doctor was lonely. He'd had this feeling before, and it was never a nice feeling. More like the feeling of despair, at least for him. it was really not a good thing for him to travel alone, as he lost sight of his morals, things becoming blended. His companions, they kept him on the right track. Kept him human, made sure he never got too full of himself. Not even a while ago, he thought he'd met someone who'd fix his problem, this woman aboard a ship, a flying clone of the infamous Titanic. But it was not to be. She sacrificed herself to help stop her boss from dropping the replica over London. It was a long story, not worth reliving. And then there were the others...

"Well Old Girl, where should we go next? Telos? I hear it's changed a bit. Or maybe Midnight, got great reviews that place. Or what about..."

The Doctor was so focused on his musings he failed to notice the alarm going off in the background. He did notice however, when it progressed and changed into the Cloister Bell.

"Hold on... Sensors are picking up... Wait a moment, that's not possible! It's like a crack in space and time itself! Like something exploded. And I'm being sucked into it! Gotta try something..."

He flipped a few switches on his console, but to no avail. His expression grew frantic.

"Nothing I can do to stop it! Not now... So, only one thing to say now. Allons-Y!"

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In her private quarters in Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia herself detected the arrival of the Doctor and his newfound presence in her kingdom. She looked up from her book.

"Somepony has arrived. Somepony very powerful, and very old indeed."

She didn't know who or what the being known as the Doctor was, but for now she could wait and content herself with watching for him. They'd reveal their purpose in time...

Elsewhere...

"That statue is giving me the creeps. You may think it's art but I think it should be locked up where nopony can see it. Call me paranoid, but that's what I think." Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard muttered while looking into the newly arrived statue before him. The Princess herself had ordered it for her personal garden. Nearby, Flash Sentry, his personal right hooves man shook his head in disagreement.

"I think it looks sad. See, it's weeping. Dunno why the boss lady wants it, but who are we to question her?" He said, before shrugging. Then he looked at his captain, who shook his head.

"Sad? I've seen sad. Sad's when my girlfriend can't get access to chocolate or when she reads Romeo and Juliet. That's not sad, that thing right there just looks disturbing."

"Suit yourself. I stand by my statement and that's that."

The two looked back at the statue before sharing a good solid shiver.

"C'mon, let's just get this thing inside. And the sooner the better." Shining ordered.

At a café in another part of Canterlot...

Coughing, the Doctor stepped out of his Tardis. As it had happened, it'd crashed though the window of the café. Needless to say, the cafe's patrons were beginning to stare at this strange sight in their midst.

"Well, what are you looking at?"

"You... You just crash landed through a cafe window!" Filthy Rich said in shock.

"So what? I crash land though a lot of café windows! There was this one time... Oh look, you're all horses. Isn't that nice? Well, I suppose ponies would be a better term. Oh look, I'm one now too! Isn't that nice?" The Doctor mused before fainting. Filthy shook his head.

"He's completely impossible..."

When the Doctor awoke,  he found himself in a grand throne room filled with stain glass windows with depictions of what he assumed were important events in this world's history. He then realized he was not alone. In the room was a pure white horse with wings and a multicolored mane. Also there was Shining Armor and a couple of his men. Flash wasn't with them.

"Who are you?"

"You really should introduce yourself first. Rude!"

"...So is crashing through a café window." Shining muttered. Celestia glared at him before speaking.

"Oh yes, where are my manners? My name is Princess Celestia. Now I ask again, what is your name and why are you here?"

The Doctor naturally, was estatic.

"OH! A noble! I knew a noble once, but mind you her name was Noble, not her kind of title. I'm the Doctor btw. Never using that phrase again. As for why I'm here, I crashed through a crack in time and space. Could have happened to anybody."

"You mean anypony?" Celestia corrected him while Shining mouthed "Doctor Who?" before saying "You're either mad or completely drunk on hard cider."

"Well I might be mad but drunk? I don't thi-"

Just then, another guard burst in. A expression of urgency was on his face.

"Princess! Captain! The new statue's been stolen!"

Celestia and Shining shared a look.

"Say that again. The Princess's new statue's been stolen, right under the noses of my best ponies!?!"

The guard nodded his confirmation nervously.

"Y-yes sir. That's it sir. That's the truth Shining Armor sir!"

"There should be a Captain in there..." Shining muttered before continuing. "Oh, now this I must see."

"I'm coming along too!" The Doctor piped up.

"I won't have a drunk slowing me down. Not right now."

Celestia, who had been keeping silent for the past few moments finally spoke up again.

"Let him go, Captain."

"Alright, fine. I'll take him with me."

The Doctor grinned like a madman.

"Alright then, let's go! Allons-Y!"

The Doctor and Shining Armor went to Celestia's private garden, where the statue, along with Flash who'd been left as a guard should have been but was not. Shining growled, someone was going to pay for this. Had to be vandals somehow, that was the only explanation. He reminded himself to better train his men if they could let something like THIS happen.

"Yeah, it's gone alright. So is Flash. Wonder what happened?"

The Doctor was willing to offer up his own explanation.

"Sure he didn't desert?"

Shining shook his head no.

"Not this guy. I dare say he's one of my best. Top of his class, although not good with mares. From the looks of things I think he might have been kidnapped..."

"But there's no sign of a struggle."

This was true. Everything seemed normal. Too normal, in fact. Aside from the missing guard and statue, nothing was out of place.

"Almost if... Nah, couldn't be... By the way, how's my new regeneration? Tell me, am... I ginger?"

"No, you're sort of brown." Shining said, somewhat confused. Okay, more then somewhat. The Doctor stamped his hoof in frustration and annoyance.

"Rats! I'm not ginger still? This new life, not off to a great start..." The last Time Lord said sadly before taking his sonic screwdriver out and trying to hold it in his hooves. He very quickly dropped it. "This... will take some getting used to. Hooves and not ginger!"

He picked up the sonic with his mouth and used it to scan the area. When he saw his results, the Doctor frowned. Not what he wanted, but what he expected ever since the word statue came up.

"I need to get back to the Tardis, confirm this. Did you by perchance pick up a blue wooden box marked Police? Not hard to miss."

Shining thought about it for a moment.

"Oh, that thing. yes, but why?"

"Cause I need it! Now where is it?"

"Right this way but you're going to explain what's going on very soon!"

Hospital of Horrors Part 1 (Smith and Sparkle)

In the Griffonstone Kingdom, there was a hospital. It was considered by many to be one of the finest hospitals in all of Equestria, with only those in Canterlot matching it's grandness. Constructed in the war between the Griffins and the Ponies, it quickly became famous for it's urgent care to those who came which at the time were only Griffins. But now that the war has ended, anypony could come. But little did anypony know this particular place of healing held a dark secret, one which was about to be exposed. Deep below the hospital sat chambers, filled to the brim with only what their maker knew. For years, he'd keep them secret from even the top brass all the while putting on a face of care and concern. In any case, we find that now some poor unlucky soul has wandered down there, by mistake.

"H-hello? Where am I? Can somepony give me directions?"

Doctor Healing Wound, a transfer from Canterlot was not having a good day. First he got stood up by that cute griffin from next door, had to deal with a nasty case of Petrifold Regression which he only cured just in time and now he'd gotten lost. On today of all days, his sister's birthday. Oh, she'd have his head for this, she just knew it.

"What are you doing down here? Don't you know this level is forbidden?"

A griffin, one Healing Wound knew to be his boss Ironclaw walked out of the shadows. He was a older griffin, with one wing missing on his right side. It was a well known fact among the staff that he really hated to be stared at. Anypony who did quickly got transferred to bedpan cleaning duty.

"I... I got lost. What is this place?"

"Here, lemme show you."

He led Healing to rows apon rows of chambers, with who knew what inside them.

"What are they?"

Ironclaw opened up a empty chamber and shoved Healing inside.

"Your tomb."

Water filled the now shut tight chamber and a scream forced it's way up. It soon burst out before quickly being silenced.

"SOMEPONY GET ME OUT OF HERE!"

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The very next day, quite unaware of what secrets the hospital held, Twilight Sparkle arrived. She wasn't here for some special treatment. No, she was here for knowledge, unsurprising to anyone who knew her. After entering through the front doors, she was met by another griffin, the receptionist..

"Uh, hi. I'm Twilight Sparkle of Canterlot. I reserved a tour here...? You may have to check your letters. I sent one a few days ago."

"Ah yes, here you are. Wait right there for one moment."

The griffin pressed a button under her desk and said "Doctor Ironclaw to the front desk. We've got a Mrs. Twilight Sparkle here for you."

"Actually, it's just Ms. I'm not married."

"Obviously." The griffin deadpanned, noting her appearance reading glasses and all. Twilight looked understandably annoyed. She wasn't that bad looking! Ironclaw walked up with a annoyed expression on his face.

"(Sigh) Right this way..."

Twilight clapped her hooves happily and let out a little squeal of glee as Ironclaw shook his head and muttered "Only a few days until retirement..." He led her throughout the hospital eventually stopping at one point when he saw a bunch of nurses gathered around one particular bed. Ironclaw sighed, as he happened to know exactly who was in this bed at this point. It always was HIM. It just was.

"Back again, Mr. Smith?"

Twilight glanced at the bed's occupant, which was a brown earth pony with sticky-uppy hair that could probably never stay flat no matter how hard one could try and a hourglass on his flank. The stallion wore a manic grin when he saw Ironclaw.

"Oh, hello! Nice to see you again Mr. Ironclaw! Always a pleasure! You know, I do have a suggestion for this place. Little shop, right at the entrance. Always love a little shop!"

"This is a place of healing Mr. Smith, not a place of purchase. What is it this time? Sore stomach, restlessness or some other such excuse for you to meet me?" Ironclaw growled in irritation.

Twilight couldn't help but inquire.

"Uh... Meet you?" She asked curiously.

"Yes, Mr. Smith here is always coming in with excuses just to meet me."

"Excuses? They're legitimate concerns!" "Mr. Smith" said in a offended tone of voice. "You know, I really am beginning to have complaints about the quality of your service her-"

"OUT!"

Soon, The Doctor found himself outside the hospital being "escorted" out by security griffins. Well, when I say escorted I should have put thrown out instead. After they'd left and slammed the front doors shut he sighed.

"Well, if that way won't work there's always Plan B. AKA: Housebreaking... Or should that be hospitalbreaking?"

So later that very same day, just as Celestia's sun was setting and the moon rising in it's place and everypony began to leave for their homes for the night and let the night shift take over the Doctor returned and kicked open the fire exit after disabling the alarm with his sonic.

"Well, Allons-Y..." He muttered and walked inside. He searched the main floors from top to bottom but found nothing. Well, actually did he find something when he ran right into Twilight Sparkle.

"Sorry, so sorry! Didn't see you there! Hey, wait didn't I see you with Ironclaw earlier? Are you his... companion?" The Doctor inquired, not actually knowing what companion implied here on this world.

"EXCUSE ME? Companion? We...We are not... We're not like that!" Twilight exclaimed angered by the Doctor's question. Ironclaw was much too old for her, and she wasn't into griffins anyway.

"Not like what...? Oh... OH! Oops, silly me. I'm still new with this world's terms. Didn't know that meant... well, THAT. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"Fair enough. I've heard... rumors and I like rumors so here I am!"

Twilight appeared to be lost in thought for a brief moment.

"Wow... I've heard those same rumors. Rumors about something the hospital isn't telling everypony. Something off the books if you will. So I decided to come and take a look around." She said proudly.

The Doctor gave her a grin.

"Wow. I like you... You know, I never caught your name, Ms..."

"Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."

"Well Ms. Sparkle, ready for a adventure?"

Hospital of Horrors Part 4 (Defeating the hoard and the true villain revealed)

The Doctor and Twilight were trapped, and they knew it. Or were they? The Doctor turned to Twilight grinning much to her shock and confusion.

"Hey Twilight, guess what I've got?" He asked.

"Is this REALLY the time, Doctor?" She gaped at him. He ignored her even as the hoards got dangerously close and began to reach for them.

"Pockets." He said simply, before pulling out a gun like device and aimed it. But not at the hoards, but at the floor strangely enough. It all became clear, however when a perfect square hole formed and the twosome dropped through it into a storage locker. The Doctor quickly switched the gun to it's reverse setting and filled in the hole right before any of the hoards could drop through.

"What the... I don't even..." Twilight sputtered. "Where'd you even get that?"

The Doctor looked decidedly nervous and a bit sheepish with himself.

"I er... "Liberated" it from one Captain Jack Harkness. Don't tell him, please. I'd never hear the end of it." The Doctor said in response.

"Who?" Twilight asked.

"Oh trust me, something tells me he'll get around to you lot eventually..." The Doctor muttered to himself. Twilight was still confused.

Meanwhile, while all this was going on Princess Celestia had other things on her mind. Even while Shining rushed towards the Griffin Kingdom and his sister he journeyed down to the vault where for the past year a certain stone angel awaited still unmoving even after all this time thanks it's reflection in front of it.

She walked up to it and stared it down. Now normally this would a stupid thing to do, but with the Angel disabled so were it's abilities to inject a copy of itself inside one's eyes.

"No change... Not a one. Can you even hear me...?"

Of course, there was no response.

"Yeah, thought as much." The Princess muttered. All around her, ponies in HAZMAT suits studied the Angel with various devices. This was R.I.F.T, created just for this purpose to defend Celestia's kingdom against all intergalactic threats if the Doctor was not around or for some reason could not lend his hooves. Think of the Kate Lethbridge-Stewart run version of U.N.I.T except only in the MLP world, if you need. The lead scientist, Sunburst turned to her, although it was fairly obivious that if he had a choice he'd not rather look at her thanks to his shyness.

"S-so far as we can see ma'am, it's been dormant. Actually, I d-dare say it might be dead at this point." He explained nervously.

Celestia shook her head.

"No, Sunburst. Make no mistake, this thing is not dead. Only dormant. It's biding it's time, and you and I both know it. If it weren't for it's reflection in front of it, this thing would go on the rampage and kill us all."

Sunburst, on hearing those words took a step or two back.

"I... I see. E-Even you, ma'am?" He stuttered.

"Yes, even me." Celestia finished. Sunburst swallowed. Even the pay he got wasn't worth this...

Back at the hospital, the Doctor and Twilight were on the run... again.

"RUN!" Twilight yelled in fear.

"I am, I am!" The Doctor snapped back. "In this position, I couldn't not run now could I?"

They ran through corridor after corridor, down stairwell after stairwell with You-Know-Who taunting them all the while much to their added annoyance.

"Yes! Yes! Run little bugs, run!"

"OH SHUT UP!" They both yelled at him, quite fed up with his voice for the time being. Eventually, they found themselves trapped in the hotel lobby. They both swallowed, this looked like where they'd make their stand.

"Well, if we're going to go out..." The Doctor said.

"Might as well go down fighting." Twilight finished.

"Oh well, it's been a good old life. Now you creatures, if you want these bodies come and get them. Allons-Y!" The Doctor shouted, before they both jumped into the fray. Twilight fired spell after spell, magic blast after magic blast. The Doctor just aimed his sonic around doing... something, hopefully.

"What are you doing?" Twilight said in disbelief, not for the first time today.

"Using my screwdriver...?" The Doctor asked.

"Well. how's that going to help? Go build a cabinet!" His companion responded. The Doctor muttered "Bossyhooves..." and ignored Twilight's offended look. Just when it looked like all was lost however there was a huge explosion and a wall burst open revealing Shining Armor and his platoon of royal guards along with some griffin warriors as well.

"Shining!" Twilight yelled, joy and hope filling her voice.

"Get... away... from my sister!" He growled as he and his men along with the griffins engaged the hoard. Meanwhile, the Doctor was mentally kicking himself. Sister! How'd he always miss something? Something that important!

After a brief battle, all of the undead were down lying in various states of defeat. Ironclaw had joined the battle at some point, but was defeated by a spell from Twilight and restrained by magical chains. Shining approached him and pointed his sword at the mad griffin.

"You're done here."

"No... please. Don't. Mercy!" Ironclaw pleaded, but to no avail.

"MERCY!?! You dare ask me for that, after what you've done here today? You've got some nerve."

Just as he was about to finish him off, Shining was stopped by the Doctor who pointed his screwdriver at Ironclaw and after a humming noise emitted from it the old and battle scarred griffin's eyes resumed their normal color.

"Yeah, just as I thought. Mind control or suggestion. Reading those files of his, I knew something was fishy. This just confirms it. Now, may I ask... Who did this to you?" The Doctor wondered aloud. He was provided a answer by none other then Ironclaw himself.

"It... It was the king. King Gilded Chest. That's who did this to me. He wanted to reignite the civil war between the two races, and take down Celestia. I didn't want to, believe me but I was forced! Honest!" He whispered, and he wasn't the only one. Whispers broke out between the griffin warriors and Shining's men. Could it be true?

"...So what do we do now?" Shining asked.

"We stop the King. Contact Celestia, she'll want to know about this." The Doctor said.

"Let me go with you, I've got some payback coming, and this old warrior wants to sharpen his claws one last time." Ironclaw growled out.

"Gladly."

END