The Timepony’s Journal

by Penny_Shavins109

Rating: everyone
Tags: Doctor Whooves, Drama, Original Character, Science Fiction, Adventure, Crossover, Twilight Sparkle, Doctor Who, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 149770

The Doctor is in trouble and it’s up to Twilight to help. Instructions on what to do are written in his Diary, but the text scrambles itself to hide it’s secrets. So with no other clear options, she decides to read from page one.

Through the inky void, the TARDIS escaped into the vortex on to a preset destination. The Doctor is in trouble and he's sent his trusty space-time machine out to one of his trusted friends from long ago in his life. The TARDIS lands on Twilight Sparkle's doorstep, years after he last left her to answer a call from his own race. The Doctor is calling for help but he had little time to prepare any kind of plan. The exact details of what happened are locked within his 900-year diary, which is encrypted with a scrambling spell so nopony may dwell upon its contents.

With no other way to find the instructions to help, she decides that she has to read the book all the way through in order to bypass the advanced spell. But the creatures of the void have followed behind, and an amnesiac mare with an alleged connection to the Doctor is the only thing to escape its grasp. The future fate of the Doctor lies in Twilight's hooves, a mare with an unknown past, and the 900 years of written words.

Thank you so much SweetolBob18 for making sure this isn’t trash.

Published 2019-05-18 00:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2025-01-17 20:28:11 UTC

Chapter 1 - Seasonal Limbo

Twilight Sparkle was once again, completely exhausted. Flopping down into her bed, she groaned as she’d spent all of her energy during the fight with Tirek. She hadn’t even had the energy to take a simple shower, her mane a complete mess that stuck out in several different directions.

"It's been a crazy day, Spike," she said through a yawn, rolling around to get more comfortable..

Spike followed behind her, equally as fatigued. It had also been a long day for him, even though he was just on the sidelines for most of the ordeal.

"That's the understatement of the century, but I'm gonna miss the old library."

Looking around at the sparkling room, something just felt off about the place. The Golden Oaks library was a home to him, small, cosy, and humble. This place was as far as you could get from that.

"I agree. But don't worry, I'm sure we'll get used to it eventually."

She turned out the lights as she cuddled up into her new bed, the fresh new blankets drifting over her, soft and warm as it should be.

"I hope I will..." she thought to herself before drifting into a peaceful slumber.

For hours everything was peaceful. The relaxing whistle of the midnight wind, accompanied by the gentle ticking of the alarm clock, created the perfect environment for pure comfort. Unfortunately, Twilight wasn't able to finish her ideal nap. As if the air were cut with a hot knife, the wheezing and groaning noise of a particular blue box left a long-winding stain of dread in the no longer perfect night. Twilight just groaned and turned over, dismissing the sound as some early risers starting some loud work. She looked over at Spike, still snoring loudly, before looking back at the clock.

"Three AM? Nopony in their right mind should be up this early. Wait, then why am I awake?"

If she were like everypony else, she'd put a pillow over her head to clog out the noise. But this is Twilight Sparkle; her curiosity always got the better of her. So she got up and went straight to the nearest window, peering out into the night. She was shocked by what she saw, striking so many old memories. She hadn't seen the TARDIS since the fiasco in the Canterlot Public School. That sound she heard earlier, it just didn't match up with how she remembered it. Something about the TARDIS just seemed so unhealthy, and that was never a good sign.

Looking back, she saw that Spike was thankfully still asleep, undisturbed by the commotion. He was always grumpy when it came to being disturbed during his naps. She tip-hoofed around him silently before galloping out of his earshot. She approached her boxes of miscellaneous items salvaged from the wreckage of her old home, stored in the main living area to be unpacked later. It had been there, packed away for so long, a small alien object looking as if it hadn't been touched by a single flame. Placing the key chain around her neck for the first time in ages, she went outside and approached the wooden capsule.

There was a glimmer of hope that he'd be in there with a warm welcome, but there was nothing but a dim old coral console room. The round dome that once beamed with life, giving off a warm orange and green glow, had been silenced. The tan pillars were coated with a light layer of dust and the grated flooring slightly creaked when her hooves touched it. There was an eerie vibe in the air that wasn't around the last time she'd stepped inside. The only source of light came from the crystalline component within The Time Rotor. When she placed a hoof on the console it felt cold to the touch, almost bringing a tear to her eye.

The room itself was a contrast to the original stark white room with the many roundels. So bright and beautiful, everything you could imagine out of a science fiction novel. Instead, it felt old, it looked old, like half of the controls were held on with sticky tape and a prayer. It wasn't long before she stumbled upon something small on the console room floor. Picking up the item and dusting it off, Twilight observed the mysterious object. It was an old brown book with the words 900 Year Diary embroidered onto the cover in gold thread. She staggered back in surprise as a holographic projection snapped into existence.

“Protocol 1B has been activated, TARDIS relocation to the next trusted and most qualified pilot. If this protocol has been activated it means that I’m in danger, big danger. This is something that even I might not be able to survive. The nature of the beast is beyond average comprehension, existing simultaneously across one microspan forwards and backwards within its own timestream. The beast is currently under quarantine, but quarantine has been compromised. I’ve recorded the information within my diary, so as to keep it safe from the wrong hooves. I’m counting on you, molto bene.”

Just like that, the hologram snapped back out of existence. There was a short pause as Twilight began to process all of the new information. He was in trouble again, which was just his typical behavior. Always getting in and out of scrapes was seemingly his forte after having it happen so many times. You could never find the Doctor without trouble looming not far behind. Though he sent for her help specifically so it must be too much for him to handle. This was serious, he hadn’t called out for help before.

She turned around quickly when a mallet fell on the ground from off the console. The hammer was either poorly placed or it was something else entirely. Either way, she didn't want to find out which option it was. She dashed straight back to her bedroom inside and opened the book to the last entry for any sort of clues or answers. It was almost all jumbled or nonsensical in any form or fashion, completely illegible. It was like a book that told a different story depending whether you turned the page from the top or bottom but with every single word. It had to be a purely simple enchantment, but this book was as alien as its author. There had to be more in-depth explanation to it than just a simple incantation, it was complete and utter madness. So many lists, names, and dates on every page, Peladon, Earth, Nimon, Ycranos, and so many more scattered across several pages.

All she knew for sure at the moment was that there had to be a possible way to bypass the scrambler and that the instructions were in there somewhere. There was no way of telling how, though. Trying the typical reorganisation spells didn’t work, so one after another she tried the classic to the slightly more advanced spells from her memory to decode it. Still no luck at all. She closed the book and just stared at the front cover in sorrow, letting out a final sigh. There wasn’t anything she could do at the moment, it’d have to wait until morning.

"I'll figure out a way to save you, Doctor... somehow."

Later in the day, Spike awoke to a small amount of Twilight induced commotion. He thought that he should be used to it by now, but could you really get used to Twilight? He sat up and looked at her, sighing with annoyance as she paced around the room. A distressed Twilight Sparkle was never a good sign, and from the look of it, she hadn’t gotten much more sleep eithert. Nothing but tossing and turning, the fear of something dreadful happening to the Doctor still fresh in her mind.

"Is everything alright?" he said while rubbing his eyes, preparing for another long rant.

"No, an old friend of ours is in serious trouble, and the information on what he’s facing is currently in this book. Unfortunately, it's all scrambled, and even my indexing spells are going crazy on it! It's crossed and knotted so many times there’s no consistency. No context, no control, I’m not even sure if it’s a spell anymore."

Twilight collapsed on the bed, growling in either frustration or a mild form of annoyance. Now may have not been the best time to be frustrated but it certainly made her feel better. That noise in the console room could’ve been it. The thing could’ve latched onto the TARDIS and hitched a ride along with the vortex. It was all too much to process even though there was so little to go off of. That may have been the most worrisome part of all, how little she knew.

Spike pulled himself up onto the bed and gave her a comforting pat on the back. It didn’t help much but it was good to know he was still by her side. He might not even understand any of it considering how little of the Doctor Spike had actually seen. He was still young when Twilight went on her first adventure, taking a report on the happenings in a certain military base her brother helped to oversee.

"It's alright, and I'm sure there's some magical friendship solution to this."

Twilight gave him a blank and sarcastic stare.

"That's not how it works, Spike."

"Well, forgive me for trying to lighten the mood. But still, if you can't flip to a certain part, then why not just read all of it? Y'know, start on page one and work upwards?"

"But that's his diary! I can't just read through every page like that. It could work. Using a basis of knowledge to establish psychic connections with the book’s index does have a high probability of succeeding."

"Okay, okay, start from the beginning and in actual Ponish. I need a little more to go on here without the science gobbledygook."

She then went on a ten-minute explanation about the old Doctor, the TARDIS, and numerous other things. It really was a lot to take in. Despite all the magical beasts they’d faced, adventures in time and space were clearly foreign to him. Thankfully, Spike was able to stop her before it went on any longer.

"Sorry, mostly, he left me instructions on what to do, and he just said 'I have faith in you.'"

"So he expected there to be a way to go around this blocking thingy. Do you have anything that could work for this? I dunno, some advanced Princess magic?"

"I'm trying my best but it's going in circles. It should be just basic magic, an old foals’ trick from back at school. But whoever made this thing sure wasn’t fooling around."

She weighed out the odds of finding an excellent spell compared to how long it'd take her to read the book. Both had equally treacherous risks that she had a hard time bearing. There was no way of knowing how long she had. Even with the TARDIS, a time and space machine, there were specific rules on how it could be used. For all she knew, the events the Doctor was in ran parallel to her own, meaning there was no possible way to travel less than the exact amount of time she experienced after receiving the note.

Nothing was solid and nothing was set in stone quite yet, but it soon could be. The seconds ticked by one after another and such decisions had to be made now. If there wasn't a quicker solution, then reading might be the best choice. Twilight then picked up the book in her hooves and turned to page one. It had been a long time since it had been open to that point as the pages had nearly yellowed with age. It was her easiest option in the long run. All the information she needed was right here somewhere, all she had to do was find it. With a short sigh, she began to read the ancient text from an era of time almost forgotten.

Chapter 3 - Home Sweet Home

Author's Note

If anything about the transitions between chapters seems off, it's because I've spent a long time writing up the two new chapters and am also in college classes. I'm working on improvements even almost five years later, though I'm still pretty busy. Either way, please enjoy the rest of TPJ and it's many chapters in the future!

- Penny 2022

Chapter 3 - Home Sweet Home

Twilight had been very busy over the past three hours, taking small notes in a notebook on the side for reference. There was very little about the beginning and the Doctor’s origin, which was to be expected considering how dangerous those secrets were. There was no mention of his name, both a minor irritation and a relief. Most of what she’d read so far seemed to be in the past tense, just a few highlights written in after the journal was obtained. Using what she had, Twilight was prepared to make a short timeline of what had happened—staying organised and doing such things helped to pass the time and relieve the stress of the situation. It didn’t help though, as none of it was related to the Doctor’s situation in the present, only what had happened long in the past.

Looking over at the clock, Twilight didn’t even realise how long she’d stayed up. She was still riding the buzz of excitement from last night upon seeing the blue box at her doorstep. She still wasn’t ready to sleep again, just like after escaping from a bad dream. However, she was tired of the dreary new castle and desperately wanted to get out. Not only did it not feel like home, but it almost felt like sleeping in a haunted house. She didn’t belong here, not yet at least. She’d only been an alicorn for a few short months, not even able to call herself a princess just yet. Being a princess was a title that she didn’t believe she’d earned just yet. To be as high and mighty as Celestia was a bit too much in her mind. With a sigh she wondered if she just needed to walk around and get used to the place, stretch her hooves and relax.

There was really nothing she could do for the time being, she was still tired, bored, and a number of other adjectives to more professionally describe meh. The long and crystalline halls , combined with the lack of other ponies, wasn't settling her nerves. Pushing in the chair, she decided that now would be a good time for a break. Hopefully, her friends were available to try and hang out with her soon. After all, it would be the first time she'd seen them since the battle with Tirek and getting the new castle.

On her short walk she passed by the room containing the TARDIS, still hearing its light vibration. Despite its large size and rather heavy weight, she'd hauled it into a separate room to keep it close and for safekeeping. If what had happened last night was any indication, there was no telling who or what wanted their gritty mitts on the time and space machine. She contemplated walking around there, maybe trying to fly it for once, but that would likely mean more work, reading, and attempting to learn something with little progress.

Her mind wandered back to the battle with Tirek, how much destruction was caused in the fight. In the end the fight alone proved fruitless, just giving up her power to save all of her friends. It was a stroke of luck that she’d received the final key to unlock the box next to the Tree of Harmony. She felt like she’d failed everypony, that even with the strength of four alicorns she couldn’t do anything on her own.

“Was it worth it, was there anything that could’ve been done?” Twilight thought to herself.

The obvious answer was that there wasn’t, but she could still dream. Trotting down the halls she almost found herself getting lost, a new common occurrence she wasn’t fond of. It felt like yesterday that she became a princess, and now she had a castle to boot.

“Is this how Celestia and Luna feel? It must be even worse, just the two of them. At least with how small the library was it felt like a home. Everything’s so… empty. Am I overthinking things again?”

Twilight’s thoughts were cut short as she bumped into a wall, not looking where she was going. She opened the nearest door, seeing the new library surrounding the crystalline table. The table had its own sort of warm glow, similar to the TARDIS, but not as alive. She didn’t really know what lies within the center of the tree, but it somehow made her feel a bit of happiness, a spec of warmth within the cold and empty hallways. She pulled out her Tardis key, observing it before placing it down on the table. Something changed, a reaction to the key’s alien nature, but Twilight was too busy observing some of the books on the new shelves. The castle wasn’t just any mere structure, it was a direct link to the Tree of Harmony back underneath the Castle of the Two Sisters. Wispy tendrils of gold snaked out from where the key sat, absorbing into the table. That similar nature of warmth and aliveness, it was as if the Tree of Harmony was talking to the TARDIS.

Meanwhile inside the TARDIS, the console was starting to glow a much more vibrant green. It couldn’t touch the entity that had hitched a ride through the vortex, but the Tree was different. The entity sensed the great amount of strong energy, friendship energy, something that it could feed off of. The doors unlocked themselves, letting what was inside out with a low creaking noise as they opened. A large castle with plenty of room for hiding in, absolute perfection for the remains of what tagged along. Hitching a ride in the vortex had done a hefty toll on this entity, this creature regaining its sentience, and it needed a good long rest before it could continue with its plans.

Its skin was like a vast galaxy of unknowns, shining in small places like stars, but it was mostly just a black and inky void. It was the absence of something given physical form, both a spatial and temporal anomaly. The 'creatures' of this world were primitive in comparison to the organism, they likely wouldn’t be able to see it, let alone comprehend it. It could hide in the shadows, and none of them would be the wiser. When it thought the coast was clear, the creature shifted down the hallways slowly and into the lower levels of the structure.

It may have been imperceptible, but there was no telling if it was a true guarantee. It had no knowledge of the creatures of this world, and to underestimate the enemy would be a deadly folly. So it stuck with sneaking off, weaving in and out from the shadows until at last, it had made it to its planned destination. The table within the center of the library, right above the heart of the castle itself. The TARDIS key’s energy was merely a beacon, not holding nearly as much energy as the TARDIS itself. However, the artron energy emitting from the key only made the table stand out to the creature more, drawing it in deeper and deeper. With its animalistic mind, it snuck its way into the cracks underneath the table, seeping into any minute crevice possible.

The raw energy burned through it and it tried to back off, trying to run away from the pure energy. It had gotten what it had wanted, but it’d bitten off more than it could chew. The inky dark mass began to sparkle more and more, what once was the absence of everything finally having too much to contain. There was no telling exactly how long the creature was underneath the table or what was happening to it, all that it knew was that its purely negative emptiness was no match for the raw positive power of the Tree of Harmony.

Twilight grabbed several books off of the shelf with her magic, reorganisation not doing much good. By now she’d admitted to herself that she was avoiding the problem. She was the supposed Princess of Friendship, castle and all, but who did she go to when she had problems? She felt so alone now, now that everything was returning back to normal. No grand mysteries to solve, no letters to write to Celestia, just herself in a large castle. It felt like a weird limbo where she didn’t have any kind of goal anymore.Twilight continued pondering while climbing down the tall ladder, step by step, still unsure of the answer. When she reached the bottom of the ladder something just suddenly felt off, the air itself feeling more somber. Some kind of internal instinct was screaming at her: she needed to go, get out of here, now. But she was safe, wasn’t she? This castle was supposed to be her new constant home, but she couldn’t even enjoy it.

Upon looking behind her she saw the TARDIS key dully glowing, the glow dissipating almost immediately after she snatched it up. She put her hoof to the table again,the glow dissipating just as fast as the key’s. She hadn’t fully studied the castle yet, just the box that had created it. This table in particular was strange, right at the center of the castle. Twilight hadn’t even noticed how this room felt before, how it sparkled with a strange kind of energy when she first stepped inside. It almost felt alive in a way, but the castle couldn’t be alive. Then again, she once said the exact same thing about the TARDIS. She needed to see her friends to clear her head, this whole Doctor business was messing with her just as much as everything else.

The floor beneath her began to feel colder, like the crystal was being drained of any warmth or happiness. Holding onto the key again, she backed away, speeding up into a full fearful gallop. This only raised more questions, but now wasn’t the time. Time to get out, step away from those cold, dark halls. For a moment time seemed to slow down, her thoughts feeling fuzzy and unclear. The grand golden doors to her castle opened swiftly, allowing her to take in that fresh morning air. Time to get outside of her safe little box and out into the unknown again.

Chapter 4 - 72 Trotters Lane

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 5 The Next Step

It was cold, dark, and damp with no hope in sight. The Doctor, Susan, Spark, and Berry were all trapped inside of a cave thousands of years from home and in the middle of a possible war. It was unlikely that they'd be able to escape this time. Berry trotted back and forth anxiously as they all sat dormant.

"I thought you were getting us out of this..." Berry sighed helplessly.

"Stay calm, there's a way out. I'll make sure of it." the Doctor replied in a calm tone.

"How can you be so calm? We're stuck here in an ancient cave in an ancient time, far, far away from home. I'm scared out of my wits and yet... you're still just sitting there completely complacent. I know you've been through a lot and you're from another world, but this can't be a normal day for you."

The Doctor both looked and felt ashamed. He wasn't entirely ready for this just yet. His judgment had been blinded before and he hadn't thought of what came next when receiving what he wanted. He was truly unprepared for the universe outside.

"I'm sorry, my foalish actions are what got us into this mess in the first place. The truth is, I'm afraid as well. Fear makes companions of all of us my dear Berry. Yet in the place of fear comes hope. I promised you and myself that I'll find us a way out."

No TARDIS, no scientific gadgets, only his wits and the problem at hoof. He observed the thick pile of packed snow, followed by his surroundings. Picking up two pieces of driftwood, the Doctor began to start a small fire that he held to the icy tundra.

"I won't be able to remove all of the snow, but I can melt it enough to get through. Spark, could you please give this wall a good kick?" he asked after waving a fiery torch around the snow.

The icy wall was already beginning to melt, small droplets of water leaking from the snow and onto the stone floor. With one swift buck, the barrier gave way, creating a gap large enough to crawl through. A grey light shone through as they celebrated their victory. With no time to spare, each of them crawled through the opening before it almost collapsed on the Doctor's tail. The snow was getting worse than before, a complete and blind white out. Pulling out the locater he checked for the ship's location. Unfortunately, the circuits were almost frozen from the elongated cold exposure.

It was too cold for it to function properly, which was rather troublesome in a moment like this. Using a foreleg to shield his view from the blinding cold, the Doctor stared out into the blizzard. A faint yet bright glow was being emitted from not so far away.

"This way!" the Doctor gestured before heading off.

As the TARDIS came into view Berry could've sworn she saw a light blue haze in the distance. Another mystery for another day. Luckily the doors weren't buried too deep so they were still accessible without much digging. The silent click of the TARDIS lock was sweet relief to their ears as they escaped this horrible nightmare.

"Careful, careful. It's still a little steep but you'll be fine." assured the Doctor.

Berry bolted inside, afraid that she'd seen something else of legends. Despite his warning, Berry bolted through the double doors and skidded across the floor. She shivered and clutched her wings like a blanket as they wrapped around her.

"Now dear, what was that all about hmm?"

Berry looked up still shivering and shaking. She began to take a few deep breaths to calm and compose herself before speaking. Once her heart finally slowed down she heavily stuttered out a response.

"I-I could've sworn I-I saw w-windigos. O-out t-there. But that's i-impossible, isn't it?"

"Oh nonsense. They're just a myth from an old foals’ tale." scoffed Spark.

"Wouldn't you be saying the same if I told you of our previous predicament, hmm?"

The Doctor grinned and they all burst out into laughter. With the doors closed and the TARDIS in flight, there was no longer any need to worry. Susan began to help by passing out the hot cocoa and warm blankets to everypony. Once settled, the Doctor began to try and set the coordinates for Foal Hill in 963 AD.

"I'm terribly sorry about the mess I caused. It may be hard to steer the Tardis since the navigation system doesn't work properly." he apologized from across the console.

"Oh don't worry, I suppose we'll get the chance to go home eventually. But in the meantime, keep us out of trouble will you, Doctor? I nearly froze my tail off last time." Spark snickered at his last remark.

Unfortunately, they wouldn't stay safe for long. The big glass cylinder, the time rotor, began to slow into its final descent. The two Time Ponies took last-minute flight checks before literally materializing into the unknown. The scanner presented a dead and charred forest, filled with petrified plants.

"Are you sure that it's safe out there?" Berry questioned when seeing the scanner.

Berry was fixated on the image, eyes glimpsing with slight fear. Spark trotted up to her side and nodded in agreement. True it was rather interesting to him in another place and another time, but there was so little to expect. They all knew their history last time but it barely helped at all, wandering into the unknown is even worse.

"Not to worry. Susan, could you please do the readings for me? They're on your side of the console and I'm not sure if I should take my eyes off the system over here."

"Will do, grandfather. Normal air by Equestrian standards but a little bit heavier in oxygen, gravity just about the same. Radiation is normal too, which is pretty good for a random location."

But once she took her eyes off of the console the radiation meter slowly rose into the dangerous area marked in red. Flicking the door switch, the Doctor stuck his muzzle out first. It was fairly quiet and a swift breeze was blowing through. No signs of life just yet, but it was possible. With reassurance, they each trotted out one by one onto the soft alien soil. The air had a thick and slightly metallic taste to it as the readings before indicated.

Small leaves of ash were strewn across the ground, carried away by the wind. All life had been sucked from the ground below and left no room for anything new to grow. Everything seemed like a dead echo, even the trees barely stood on their own withering roots. The whole forest had nothing but an eerie presence. It was as if something, someone, was watching them.

Then Susan spotted it, the last flower blooming on the ground. Its deep lavender hues highly contrasted with everything around it. It was the last bit of life being carefully brushed by Susan's hooves.

"Wow, I had no idea such a beautiful thing could grow here," Spark said, causing a small jump in surprise out of Susan.

"That's the thing about the universe, it's full of surprises." she marveled.

Suddenly Berry yelped in surprise, Spark accidentally stepping on the flower as he rushed to help. Susan soon followed behind now feeling sad about the flower's destruction. Berry was face to face with a large lizard-like creature. Its eyes bulged out of its face in alarm due to an old unknown catastrophe. Spark accidentally tripped on a log and came smashing directly into the actual stone beast.

"Dear colt, are you alright?" the Doctor asked, offering a helping hoof.

"No worries, that weird statue is more hollow than it looks."

"I'm afraid that's no statue. Whatever struck this forest so long ago petrified everything in its path. This pile of rubble was once a living creature, too."

In the corner of his eye, something sparkled towards the Doctor as if it was calling him. Turning and looking through the dead brush he could see shiny chrome buildings that stretched on for miles. A silver city that may contain wonders of which to be discovered. It struck a note on his curiosity, pushing him to explore.

"Would you look at that, a city made of metal!" he stated excitedly.

"Now Doctor, remember what you said about galloping off into danger? Besides, it doesn't look like anypony is in there. No alien creatures roaming the streets, not a sound anywhere."

The Doctor looked back at the city disappointed. He wasn't wrong, but why did it at least seem so empty? Had something wiped them out like the forest or did they merely have no reason to go outside? He had too many questions and too little answers, but he had a promise to keep. Sighing, he turned around and headed back towards the TARDIS.

After stepping inside he had a terrible idea. While his companions weren't looking he removed a side panned from the console from underneath the console and took out a small component. It was a cylindrical flask full of a silvery fluid, pure Mercury. Pressing the controls that would usually set the TARDIS in motion, the Doctor waited as the ship merely sputtered for a second before the fault indicator flashed.

"Is everything alright grandfather?"

"No my dear, it appears that the ship is out of Mercury. The fluid link needs to be replaced."

"Don't you have any spares kept away somewhere?" Berry asked in concern.

"I'm afraid we don't. The city might have some if we're lucky."

"Do we really have to?" Spark asked.

"I'm afraid we have no choice at the moment. It is our best option at this time."

The Doctor smiled behind their backs before opening the doors once again. The trek to the city felt long and treacherous, the perspective of time stretching as they struggled. In truth, the walk had only lasted about twenty minutes. Out of breath and slightly wheezing, the Doctor sat down on the city's edge and wiped some sweat with a hanky.

"Are you alright grandfather? You're looking a little pale and faint."

"Yes, I'm quite alright. I'm just a little tired, is all. I might not be as quick as I thought."

"Now that you mention it, I feel a little sick and winded too." Spark trailed on from behind.

Wiping a few beads of sweat from his forehead, Spark looked over at Berry who seemed to be sharing the feeling. There were three doors in front of them, one to the left, one to the right, and one in the center. Having no way to tell where they lead didn't help at all. As they had never seen a horror movie, they decided to split up to cover more ground. Berry took the left, Spark took the right, and the Doctor and Susan took the middle.

The long corridors all looked the same, only separated by silver sliding doorways and equally tall arches that divided the hall into several sections. Only occasionally did the doors lead to actual rooms. There were several half-empty storage rooms before they arrived in an advanced science lab. Spark met up with them after turning around and finding nothing useful. The idea of splitting up didn't seem so ideal anymore.

There were still no living creatures to be seen anywhere. It was all too eerie and it was best to get the mercury as fast as they could. But then Spark found a radiation meter, revealing what they'd miss.

"Doctor look at this meter. The radiation is all the way into the red zone!"

"Oh my... I'm truly sorry. For the whole time, we've been susceptible to radiation poisoning."

"Well then let's just grab the mercury, get Berry, and get out of here as quickly as possible!"

"I-I'm sorry but... I've been wronging you this whole time. The Tardis never needed more mercury in the first place.

Before anypony could respond, Berry's scream echoed down the halls. They galloped at full speed towards the source of the scream, only to find an ambush of strange metallic tanks awaiting in the room beyond the arch.

"Move forward." one of the tanks spouted.

As they talked little bulbs in their equine-like ears flashed. They were like lanterns, flickering with every syllable. Their tops looked as if they were a representation of a pony from the neck up. Attached to their bodies were what looked like a sink plunger and a whisk, looking more menacing than they should. Below was a skirt the same white as the rest of their bodies embedded with large aquamarine spheres.

The three ponies obeyed, scared out of their wits by the alien menaces. Spark lagged behind a bit, looking more nervous than the others. Suddenly he made a dash towards the nearest exit. A bright beam shot out of the whisk and struck him, paralyzing his legs.

"My legs, I can't feel my legs!" he cried out in horror.

The Doctor and Susan rushed to help, picking him off the ground. Spark's four limbs hung limp below him, not showing any reaction. It was terrifying to see him like this, but the sight was incomparable to the experience itself.

"Your legs are temporarily paralyzed. This effect is temporary unless you force us to fire again."

The machines' voices sounded distorted and slightly sarcastic with not a sliver of emotion but hate. The three of them were then forced into a smaller chamber containing a sick and nauseous Pegasus.

"Berry!" gasped Spark with delight.

If he could, Spark would've run right up to her and given her a hug. Like the rest of them, she too was pale and sweating from radiation sickness. She looked up at the others carefully so as to not strain her weak body too much. The Doctor's frown merely widened at her misery.

"My dear I'm so sorry... but this is all my fault."

Berry looked up at him confused. He had never put her in this cell or got her captured. That's when he confessed to his crime, explaining how he sabotaged his own ship out of curiosity about what turned out to be their current prison. He'd broken their trust almost the second he'd earned it. Slumping against the wall in shame the Doctor began to waver in and out of consciousness. Once again the mechanical beast returned, wearing an aura of distraction.

"One of you must leave the city. We suspect that there is an anti-radiation drug nearby your original location. It is required to keep you alive for interrogations, therefore one of you must retrieve it."

The four of them looked at each other before realizing there had been something lying around the TARDIS. It didn't seem interesting so none of them investigated. It was likely just a piece of junk that was left behind, but if these machines knew where it was that meant that they'd been watching them ever since they arrived. What else did they know?

Still, the TARDIS had to be miles away. It certainly felt that way on the way over, and that was when their condition was less severe. It could feel like an eternity at this point. Spark's legs were out of action, Berry couldn't use her wings at this point, and the Doctor was fading in and out of consciousness. Susan was the only option, and she knew what she had to do.

"I'll go! I'm the only one in a fit condition to do so."

"No Susan, you can't! There's no telling what's in that forest, I'll try to go instead."

After Spark made his plea he wobbled back onto his legs before immediately falling back down. His face met the floor with an unpleasant thump. He sighed and looked up at her, Berry attempting to tend to him. His eyes were full of hope and worry at the same time.

"Please, just be careful out there. There could be anything out there waiting to hurt you. Just gallop straight to the Tardis and back, every second counts."

She nodded back in confidence, showing that she wouldn't let him down. It was the most tedious time she'd experienced yet. Their condition was deteriorating even further as time dragged on. Each second was a second less of life. How long did they truly have left?

Chapter 6 - Skaro

Out of breath, Susan rushed into the cell her friends and grandfather were contained in. Trailing not far behind her was one of those metal things. They were escorting her, making sure that she had no dirty tricks up her sleeve. She'd met someone out there, but she wasn't sure how much she could say. They were watching and everypony knew it. The air was stale and tense with all the commotion that led up to these moments. Everyone was relieved after receiving the anti-radiation treatments they required and began to regain their wits. It was almost sheer luck that she'd been able to make it in time. She'd also received from the mysterious stranger a vinyl cloak to protect her from the now harsher climate outdoors. A storm was starting to cloud up around their area and the night felt as cold as ice against her coat.

One of the machines entered in again, requesting for Susan to come with it. It addressed itself eerily as a Dalek. They finally had a name for the wretched machines, striking fear into those around them. It was worrisome considering they had no need for her except when she retrieved the medication. She was asked to write a note of truce to their enemies the Thals. But why couldn't they just print one out themselves? She followed their orders seeing as there was no other choice except paralyzation from their dreaded guns. But the most alarming question was how had they known she'd had any interaction with beings other than ones similar to themselves? They had to have been watching from somewhere in the room, maybe there were even surveillance cameras throughout the whole Dalek city.

Spark with his head in his still numb hooves spotted a camera wedged in the corner without looking directly at it. It was merely in the corner of his eye, staring almost directly back at him. They didn't even try to hide it as there had never been anyone here in a long while. The Daleks obviously never suspected that the cameras would be damaged or even noticed. They hadn't noticed the camera through all of the fuss they'd been through in the past few hours. It was best not to do anything until Susan returned again. She was rather shaken up when she did though, a pool of deep fear and regret in her eyes.

She sat in the corner silently, looking at all of them in a near defeated state. Spark then motioned to the camera, trying to move inconspicuously into its blind spot. With a small lift from Berry, Spark tore the camera right out of its socket, nearly tumbling to the ground in the process. That was one thing taken care of, now they could finally have their conversation without the Daleks' watchful eye stalks.

"Susan, what's the matter? You seem rather frightened about something." Berry asked as she rested a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

"The note, i-it was a trap. The ponies they called Thals, they're going to use my note against them. They'll be lured into a false sense of security and it's all my fault..."

Berry gave her a comforting hug as Susan nearly started crying into her shoulder. There was a time for tears but now was not the time. The Doctor put a hoof to his lip in contemplation, trying to remember anything about the Daleks that could be used against them. Their guns didn't allow anypony to get into close range with them and they moved a bit too quickly for a sneak attack. They usually moved in groups so they couldn't be outnumbered. There had to be tens of thousands of Daleks roaming the city at this very second. Then their mode of transport came to mind, how they could move so quickly and efficiently but could never leave the city.

"Did you ever notice how the Daleks got around?"

"They just floated around, right? I suppose they could be little aliens in pushcarts with some fancy propellant inside. It feels like there's something I'm missing though." Spark responded back.

"Has you noticed that there was a distinct smell in the air whenever they moved?"

"Yeah, what is it? It's something I don't recognize."

"Static electricity. All the floors, ramps, elevator floors, they're all made out of a conductive metal. This city may be advanced but it's likely that they've been isolated with limited means of movement. Hopefully, these are the only ones left. There could be scouting parties or other colonies in different worlds."

"That's a disturbing thought, Daleks roaming around the universe trying to exterminate every non-Dalek lifeform they see. Still, how do we block off this static stuff if it's giving them mobility?"

The Doctor paused again and looked over Spark's shoulder. The translucent vinyl cloak was laying on the ground, the light reflecting off of the hexagonal latticework decorating the material. He picked it up and observed it, moving it back and forth. It was lucky for Susan to have interacted with the other party, possibly gaining some new allies. Maybe they knew something about the Daleks too and could help them out.

"We'll use this. It'll block the flow of electrical power and render one of them useless. It might not be able to take out a large amount of them but hopefully, it will be able to take out the guard."

"It sounds like a good idea, but how'll we get it onto the tarp? We can't use surprise or it'll attack all of us the second it sees us."

"I believe I may have an idea," Susan beamed.

Those words stuck in Susan's mind, sparking an idea of creativity. She started by scraping a bit of mud off of her hind legs from the rough trek in the dead woods and then mixing it with their drinking water. The amount of mud grew as the water became a mucky brown slurry. It was a waste of good water but she surely had something in mind.

It wasn't long before one of the drone Daleks came to check up on them and likely to fix the broken camera. Every pony acted normally when the Dalek arrived equipped with a multipurpose tool attached to one arm instead of the usual plunger. It beckoned with its gun for them to move aside so it could start the small construction. Just when the Dalek turned its back to them Susan came out from behind and jammed the mud into its eyestalk, efficiently blinding it. The machine cried out in panic with its monotone voice, thrashing and spinning around until it was pushed onto the tarp. The casing was heavy and it took all four of them to heave it onto the tarp where they needed it to be. The second the base of the Dalek made full contact with the tarp its cries dropped by decibels as it lost power and finally shut down. A brief moment of victory washed over the group as they were now free from the evil clutches of their malicious guard. Although there was still one problem that lied at hoof.

"What do we do now? I can't run away with pins and needles still in my legs, now can I? And I certainly can't keep having you guys drag me around as some ragdoll" Spark complained.

Considering the options, there was really only one to consider at the moment. They didn't have a lot of time and Spark was right, dragging him around while his legs were partially paralyzed would consume time that they simply just didn't have. They looked over at the powerless Dalek casing, just sitting there motionless with the eyestalk drooping towards the ground. If the Daleks hadn't treated them so poorly before or tried to use them they might have felt sad. But it wasn't like the Dalek would be going anywhere anytime soon. After all, they couldn't just let its casing go to waste, now could they?

"Say, do you think you could fit inside of this thing?" Susan said as she brushed the rim of the lid.

"Oh no, there's no way I'm getting in there!"

Long story short, he could fit and he was very unamused about the fact. Spark was never going to live this down if he survived to not tell the tale.

"Not only is this not the way I expected to go but if we really do die I'm never going to let you hear the end of this. And when I can get out of this thing you're all getting a serious scolding from me!"

The group merely laughed and ignored his sarcastic disdain. They were pushing him along since it wouldn't be worth the risk to have him try to use the controls himself. None of them could see the inside except for Spark and nopony had the know-how on how to control it. There wasn't a “how-to” manual just lying around for them to pick up and read. So their go-to excuse was that they were being transferred to another section until reaching an elevator. It wasn't much but it'd have to do for now.

They continued down the long winding corridors, looking for any way out. they stopped when they arrived at an elevator with two Dalek guards. They couldn't deal with them the same way as the last time considering that there were two now. They just hoped that their measly plan would work.

'Why are you here?" one of the Daleks croaked.

"I have been given orders to direct the prisoners to another cell closer to the control center." Spark declared in his best Dalek impression.

Luckily the casing came with its own vocal distortion built-in, making the impression much more convincing.

"When was this order dictated? I have not received any reports on such a matter." the other guard croaked back.

"No need for clarification, I will contact my superiors to confirm."

The Dalek guarding the elevator turned to the control panel to initiate the intercom. The seconds to their doom were ticking down slowly one after another. In a moment of panic and quick thinking, Susan suddenly got a bright idea and tried to escape. This got their attention and the Doctor quickly helped Berry maneuver Spark to make it seem like he'd captured her again.

"Assist me with the prisoners, none of them shall escape again."

They all entered the lift cautiously as the guard sanctioned for it to work. Once the doors closed and the interior began to rise the Doctor immediately disconnected the door control temporarily just in case. They may have avoided the fire but none of them were out of the oven yet. The elevator began to rise upwards towards the higher floors, one after another. While the elevator rose they tried to get Spark back out of the casing but it was magnetically bolted shut from the inside. It was clearly not meant to be opened and closed more than once seeing as how the Daleks never left their own casings. There'd never been a reason to do so in the first place. The elevator finally reached its destination when the connection began to loosen slightly from their efforts.

But the elevator stopped an inch short of its intended stopping point likely due to the discovery of their deception. Luckily the gap wasn't too high up for more than a slight incline but this also meant that the casing Spark was in couldn't properly exit. The Daleks were likely beginning to initiate the recall process to make the elevator return to them. Once they were all out they immediately combined their efforts to pull Spark out or get the lid unstuck. They tried pulling harder and harder but the ledge was just too steep for them to pull him out. Even though it seems like the situation couldn't possibly get worse the lift began to descend again as it was recalled.

Spark was still struggling to get out, attacking with brute force now that his limbs could finally function. Everyone was panicking above while an ambush of Daleks lay below. Floor three, a buck to the lid. Floor two, the Daleks were waiting. Ground floor, the codes were secured to unlock the door and reveal what was left inside.

Author's Note

Sorry for this being such a short chapter. It needed some rewriting in the middle and I’m trying my best not to make a ponified version of the first Dalek story. Although at this point it’s unavoidable. Next chapter will be a brief break from the Doctor and focus back on Twilight again.

Chapter 7 - The Glimpse Back

It had been about two weeks since day one, or one week three days and six hours to be more precise. In that time Twilight faced off against Starlight Glimmer with help, had her castle redesigned by her friends, and yet still had only made it to page twenty-six of the diary with just about no clues to this puzzling mystery. Admittedly she wished that there was another way, but looking for the spell would take an unknown amount of time. She'd already tried just about every indexing spell she could remember the second she got the book to safety, but no dice. Twilight also researched different, older, and newer spells with varying difficulty with only a small chip in the two-ton block of thaumatical force. The entire book was surrounded by a millimeter thick barrier of dead magic around every corner and page. It was flexible as well, meaning that even if a page were worn or torn the spell’s barrier would match the new shape. No spells could get in and none of the magical data could get out. There seemed like little to do other than to keep moving forward. It was easier to calculate reading speed than searching endlessly for another solution.

Sighing, Twilight trotted up to the weathered and old blue box and placed a hoof on its dusty wooden surface. It was still warm despite the cold weather that came after the Running Of The Leaves, no doubt some kind of heating mechanism that worked as a barrier against much harsher temperatures. Or maybe it was just like touching skin bundled up in multiple layers of clothing, warming itself through small hot pads.

It still hummed with life and without a doubt was in sync with the tune of the stars themselves. The noise of its materialization was just as symbolic, trailing across the vortex of time while traveling and echoing throughout eternity. Everything that went inside the box or came out was changed forever. It was a silly theory, but was anything like that silly anymore?

"What stories can you tell, old friend? I know you can understand me, somehow. At the very least you can hear what I'm saying. I wish you could talk to me and just tell me what happened, tell me how to help."

And with a surprising click, the door unlocked and opened, allowing her inside despite already having a key. Nonetheless, it was an invitation to come in. It had been four years in her time since she had last truly explored the TARDIS and roamed through its long corridors. It must’ve been so much longer since the Doctor last saw her too. She didn’t think that he had a different face now than the last time she saw him, but she wasn’t sure of anything.

Stepping inside she had a small rush of nostalgia, finally getting to take in just how vast the room was.

Long gone were the gleaming white surfaces and bright flashing controls, in its place, were old and slightly rusty bits and bobs on top of the sea-green organic surface. It was like a large chunk of glass or even some kind of grand crystal that contained the heart of the TARDIS. For an advanced craft, it looked like half of the controls were held together by duct tape. Gone were the large white roundels; in their place were the orange and rusty metal walls with large pillars made of coral that looked like they could likely grow in the deepest depths of the Equestrian Sea.

A tall glass column, the time rotor, stretched to the ceiling and connected everything together with the glowing green crystal at its core. It was truly a wondrous sight to behold. A certain side door creaked open, drawing her curiosity. There was a possibility that something had tagged along on the journey with the pre-scheduled flight, but the chance was once again too tempting. Trotting forward she entered the dimly lit corridor, much newer and similar to the coral design of the console room.

The walls weren’t as rusted and crusty, almost brand new. But as she went deeper and deeper the architecture changed several times over, likely due to the several changes made over the centuries.

The corridors changed color and design the more she traveled. From redwood mahogany accented with steel to more familiar white walls with yellowed roundels. After a few minutes she came to the rooms she was familiar with. The swimming pool, an overgrown garden, and the old cloister room made of marble and oak.

Each room was barely tinged with age, with nothing more than layers of dust and cobwebs in the different crooks and crannies. The last door she opened, the memories of times gone by flooding back to her as she stared into the room's contents.

In her memory, a much younger pre-coronation Twilight Sparkle laid out on her bed while reading an original and signed the first edition of Weeping Willow’s Frankenstallion. She was still in the early days of being a normal librarian with her friends. No big Equestrian saving assignments had been given to her by Celestia yet. More obsessive and nervous over most trivial things unlike how calm she is now.

She knew that The Doctor had his own personal collection of books in the TARDIS’s massive library but the arrangement of them was incredible. Numerous scrolls and texts dating back to before the rule of the two sisters to some more modern works and others not yet written by her period in time. It was expected that a time traveler of any kind might collect a soon to be lost souvenir or knick-knack from time to time, but this was on an entirely new level.
`
The amount of clutter and chaos might make even Discord proud, though she didn't doubt he'd met him at least once or twice. One day maybe she'd organize it all despite his protests of a "system beyond her comprehension", which was of course just an excuse, but today was not that day. It was meant to be one of their “days off” if there ever was such a thing. Technically, every day was meant to be their vacation but it just kept being postponed by unfortunate circumstances.

No monsters, no running, and especially nopony was shooting at their heads while they nearly escaped in the nick of time. She was promised a small party off the edge of Galacton FIve, followed by a tour around the crystal falls of Midnight. Of course, there'd be a detour here or there but they'd make it in the end. Or at least she hoped that they would.

It was just typical that the trip was a bit rougher and longer than it typically was. A small portion of the TARDIS had tripped up and the Doctor was determined to find it and fix it. Whether it was essential to their travel or not she couldn’t tell. The time ship was constantly in a state of work in progress followed by quite a bit of TLC. Twilight could feel the TARDIS’s satisfaction through the wall’s light vibration.

It was often referred to as alive like an actual being. It did feel like she was being spoken to, but more in emotions than complex thought. Maybe that’s just what the TARDIS wanted, to be felt. It was just a thought that typically passed her by in the long white halls.

That was just the norm these days with that stallion in the scarf and with the big toothy grin dancing around the silver-lined console. One moment he was absolutely absurd, talking in incomplete riddles and rhymes, the next being absolutely dark and serious. He wasn't always like that though, he used to be more like a teacher or college professor. Strictly business when working as a scientific advisor for the military base a few months prior.

She was almost always scared in those days, hoping that he'd just show up and save the day once again. Everything was still just so fresh, so new, that she didn’t understand it. Not understanding worried her. A silver mane and fancy frills worth of Canterlot society composure was what he was. But it was better to live in the present than to doodle in the past. A light tapping sounded on her bedroom door.

"Come in, I'm just finishing the book I found," said Twilight

"Weeping Willow’s book or the poet Black Raven?" asked the Doctor.

"Weeping Willow’s. Not much of a fan of horror but I'm happy to return to an old classic."

"Ah, old Weepy eh? Maybe I'll pay her a visit soon. Maybe I already have. It's all based on perspective."

He normally talked in riddles like this now, either that or mysterious rhymes that made no sense whatsoever. All part of the fun with this Doctor. It was surprisingly more confusing than anything she'd ever seen on her travels. But the obvious questions were poking at her threads of thought.

"So, are we there yet? And did we actually make it to Galacton Five, on time, with no issues whatsoever?"

"Well yes, I was just about to tell you that. And as for the other questions... eh, close enough."

"Must be a blue moon out there. Though we better not end up in a rock quarry again. It’s a mystery why that happens so often.” Twilight chuckled.

"To my current knowledge, it’s just another mystery. Let’s just go outside and see now shall we?"

After flashing one of his famous grins he dashed off, a long scarf in tow. Levitating a bookmark she made sure to mark her place. It'd certainly be a while before she could pick it up again. Days, weeks, who knows after all she'd been through. Time seemed to be much more flexible when traveling in the TARDIS.

Finally placing it on her recently added bookshelf, she quickly followed behind him as the adventure awaited her.

Back in the present day, Twilight approached the bookshelf that was now strewn in the dust. It certainly had been a long time since she last read that book. With a deep breath, she blew it all away with an added cough, giving her a much better view of the titles on the binding.

It was still there after all those years, barely touched. It was the book she'd borrowed from the library. It was a miracle that the room was still here considering how often the layout was changed. But she couldn't wander in the past for much longer, there was work to be done. Thankfully the TARDIS Beginners' Manual was still there too amongst all the others. Though when she opened it she could understand it as much as the first time she'd read it.

This time though it was translated from the nonlinear Gallupfreyan into readable Ponish text. She'd need to rely on more than just blind luck to fly the ship herself. It required some kind of skill or finesse. Although with how the Doctor flew it maybe it was just blind luck.

If she read this it'd be likely that her knowledge on TARDIS flight would be greater than the Doctor's considering he had probably never read this cover to cover either. This edition was found propped up against the opening to an air vent and kept the cover to it closed rather than actual screws. When exiting the room she swore that something had just moved, just in the corner of her eye. It was better to worry about the problem at hoof than whatever that was.

The TARDIS was always broken down, just like the way he had found it. That likely suited him back in the old days. Now it looked more like the TARDIS couldn’t be repaired properly. Still, it was a starting point and something is much better than nothing.

She looked back at her old room, untouched since the day she'd left it. Four years ago she'd left in the wrong place but at the right time. So many memories just left behind. Looking back one final time she took what she wanted, both the manual and the copy of Frankenstallion as well.

Chapter 8 - The Glimpse Forwards

The Castle Of Friendship always glowed with a particular kind of powerful radiance. It held an enormous source of mana within it, connected to the Tree of Harmony itself. The tree was a powerful entity in itself, watching over Equestria to balance the Magic of Friendship across the land. Friendship Magic was the most powerful energy known to all pony-kind until cold fusion and dark matter transfer would be discovered. Yet the creature that had writhed its way out of the Tardis console room was still denied that power; to yield the gargantuan strength that it needed so desperately. Only on Equus could Friendship Magic flow naturally and evenly across such a large span of land, linked to the very core of the planet itself. But the source could not be tainted, consumed, or corrupted by any other being.

This is why when the amorphous blob touched the crystal veins underneath the table it was electrocuted and forced back. It radiated negative energy, a sort of inverse to the Friendship magic. As with most forces in nature, the opposite forces of energy highly repulse each other like scared cats. The creature was blown back a bit as well, forcing it away from the power's main source. Licking its metaphorical wounds, the thing would need an alternative route. It crept around the veins of energy like hands surrounding a campfire to absorb the residual energy. Even though the radiation was a mere afterglow of the strong and burning light of friendship, it would have to do. The slimy blob of black mass was able to reform and restore parts of its own memory along with its strength. Only mere fragments of true sentience tugged at the old weary mind triggered by the whispers of memory.

Looking through these memories was like staring at ancient globes with faded images peering through. Voices and faces were still muddled but the ideas and concepts were still there. There were bits and pieces of a story that had once been easily read but now only a few chapters could be vaguely made out, a snapshot of the life the thing once lived without any context or meaning. But it saw him, the Doctor, and she saw him often. The creature couldn't understand why, but he held importance in the life and times of old. A time that was still blurry and unable to be remembered.

"Soon I'll return to you, my old friend." the beast thought as it began to hibernate once more.

Standing inside the console room with a book in her hoof, Twilight slowly moved over the controls. She had to have the utmost pure and absolute concentration for the task. The twelve-dimensional flight was certainly no walk in the park or a piece of cake after all. This was only a test run, a literal five-minute jump into the future, and into a specific room inside her castle. Every single movement had to be tested and executed with clean precision. A button here, a switch there, toggle the two cranks counter-clockwise. Eventually, she wouldn't need the book at all and be able to do this all on her own. She hoped. With hope and a prayer, she pressed down the ignition lever. The central column began to rise and fall repeatedly with a wheezing groaning noise that often accompanied take off.

The Police Barn exterior flickered in and out of existence before vanishing altogether, making that familiar wheezing and groaning noise that happened whenever it took off. The room rocked for a few seconds, which was to be expected since it was meant to be a six pony ship. It required more than just the Doctor or herself to keep it stabilized, a full crew of Time Ponies. It looked so much easier when The Doctor did it, even if he hardly knew what he was doing half of the time. The time ship was once again kind enough to put out the readings and statistics into a much more basic form for her to read.

"Perfect timing, same atmosphere, same gravity, and at the very least the same planet. The coordinates don't make perfect sense yet though, they likely refer to the plane of Equus or in some other frame of reference. I'll have to research some maps of Equestria just to be certain I'm correct."

Upon opening the door, Twilight was faced with a whirlwind of snow. It was Equus alright, but at what seemed to be one of its poles. She would’ve closed the door immediately and tried again, but something caught her eye. It was old, ancient even, yet somehow completely new at the same time. It was trapped, broken, and battered. The dark and marauding force from the past was threatening to swallow the future. Whatever it was it was corrupted evil in its purest form. The doors slammed shut and the TARDIS ran from the shadow. Coming back to her senses, Twilight got off of the ground not even realizing that she had fallen. She was frazzled, to say the least, but not as scared as she should’ve been. There was something more to it though, like it was shrouded around something like an animal guarding a precious flame to keep warm through a harsh winter.

Although there was no way to truly know what was out there, curiosity still lingered behind. No, there are many things in the universe that are best left alone and this was certainly one of them. Trotting down memory lane once more she questioned if she should really be doing this. Meddling in things that shouldn’t be tampered with may have been the Doctor’s specialty but even he knew there were lines that were not meant to be crossed. Did Twilight even have the right to do such a thing? The TARDIS finally landed at the correct destination. No more testing for a while. It was starting to get late anyway, and rest was certainly needed at the moment. Looking down the hall one last time, she could see the blue stable was stationary as usual. With a sigh of relief, she closed her bedroom door.

“Just what have I gotten myself into?”

By the next morning, the black mass had begun to take on a less amorphous shape. Still weak, still incomplete, still missing something. The darkness had begun to fade into a series of monochrome tones and shades. The formation was almost beginning to look like television static. It, no, she was becoming a pony. She started out as a rough outline but slowly gained stability as the seconds ticked by. She had to blend in and at the very least have the same biology as the inhabitants for cover. No more hiding, it was time to leave the crystal table, and enter the light. From the cloud of black mist, a grey unicorn emerged. Her whole body flicked in and out between a solid form like changing the channel on an old TV. One step, two steps, three steps, four. The realization has struck her that she wasn't the same as before, the magic not only giving her strength but removing that corruption. Her mind was still fuzzy but she knew that she was in the wrong place and the wrong time.

The equine rapidly dashed out of the castle and went into Ponyville’s town square,as yet without a name or purpose. A mess of a black mane and tail combined with the even worse lack of color made her look weak and frail. Her mind was slipping in and out of consciousness as more emotions rushed into her soul and built upon her inside. She hadn't existed purely on her own for ages, the darkness always controlling her like a puppet. But as a puppet, there was nothing left inside of her, for ages there was just a black emotionless void that sat in her mind. She was like a scared little foal, feeling lost without their mother. Others were staring worriedly about how she wobbled back and forth, finally collapsing with a thump. She breathed heavily, lying on the ground for an unknown amount of time. The mare needed rest, the mare needed... something. Something to fill the void, the emptiness that she'd grown accustomed to during her imprisonment. She awoke a long time later, or so the pony had thought. She could sense that time had passed somehow, like a sixth sense that was part of her being but long since unused.

“You alright there dear?” asked Nurse Redheart

“W-where am I?”

“Ponyville hospital, you took quite the tumble out there.”

Trying to get up was futile, every limb wasn't responding like they should’ve been. Another doctor and Redheart rushed to her side to make sure she didn’t get up and hurt herself any further. The pony breathed heavily, hearing a faint heartbeat thump within her chest. It didn't sound exactly like a heartbeat though, much more rapid than what the doctors considered to be normal. Her ears still slightly rang, her vision was blurry and skewed.

“You shouldn’t be walking around yet, your body is currently very malnourished and needs a day or two of recovery before we can send you back out.”

“And who are you? Sorry I haven’t introduced myself I’m...” she paused for an odd amount of time.

“Doctor Greymare, I’ve been assigned to be your practitioner for the duration of your stay. Please tell me, do you remember anything before you collapsed. Anything possibly leading up to it.”

“N-no. I really don’t. I barely remember anything but snow and metal a-and.”

“Now now sweetie, don’t stress yourself about it.” Redheart cooed.

The mare paused, trying to think of what to say or do in that situation. But she didn't even know what she looked like anymore, only that it wasn't right. None of this was right yet. She looked back up, taking a few deep breaths before answering.

“O-okay. I’m sure it’ll all be okay soon. Strange thing though, I can't seem to remember my name.”

Meanwhile, back in the TARDIS Twilight was once again struggling to get anywhere she wanted to go. It appeared that yesterday was only a stroke of luck. It was either that or the TARDIS was lending a helping whatever it used help with. The systems might’ve been growing weaker or what happened yesterday was deliberately doing something. The ship did what could only be defined as a tactical retreat or a safety precaution.

It was all like a dream that had never happened. In fact, Twilight had a nightmare of a similar fashion the previous night. Black energy enveloping the TARDIS console, sucking the life out of it. The lights dimmed and the cloister bell rang. The danger was imminent. The cloud swirled around her, shrouding her in complete darkness. Suddenly the cry of a young filly called out to her.

“Help me, help me, please! It wasn’t my fault!”

“Where are you, what wasn’t your fault?”

The darkness raced directly towards her and she woke up. Normally dreams didn’t stick around long for her, but this one did. It all felt too realistic, too frightening to forget. The time wasn’t too far off this time, only by about an hour and a half. The distance was spot on though, and it’d be pretty hard to nail a destination as close to the original like this again. Or at the very least it’d be hard to do it on purpose. It was better not to risk it seeing how unpredictable things could still be. But after opening the doors she discovered that she was about a mile off course in terms of distance. The readings on exact distance appeared to have been false, possibly another fault within the TARDIS's systems.

“Just perfect.” Twilight thought to herself.

Well at least it wasn’t too far, and it was certainly a nice day out. The pegasi had done a good job on cloud coverage and Celestia’s sun shone brightly down on her through the cracks in the cloudy skyline. It was close to the Running Of The Leaves, after all, so the weather was to be expected. A small walk through town was the least she had to pay for her journey.

Locking the door she set out for home. The TARDIS might need to be transported manually back to the castle seeing how unreliable it could be. Just as she turned her head a small crowd had begun to gather in the town square. A malnourished mare that lay on the ground was being treated by those nearby as a medical team was on its way. Twilight wanted to make sure that she'd be alright, ponies don't just faint in the middle of a populated area unless something was wrong. Although something was off about her, the monochrome mare laying before her seemed terribly ill and yet was still breathing perfectly. On the bright side, she was definitely going to be alright.

Chapter 9 - The Road Ahead

“You don’t remember anything? Not even your name?” Redheart asked.

“N-no, wait. Something’s coming to me. Brightness, something about a bright light.” the amnesiac mare in bed replied.

It was only mere hours ago that she’d unexpectedly collapsed in Ponyville Square. That purple mare helped her out, making sure that the medics made it and that she was fine during her sleep. She’d blacked out before most of what she knew occurred so it was all learned second hoof. Something was strangely familiar about that mare, like a missing or forgotten connection. Her body had finally regained the nutrients that it so desperately needed and mysteriously had lost. She probed deeply into the depths of her mind, trying to break the barrier of emptiness, and only one thing made it through. The beginning of how she lost her memories, but it was nothing more than very blurry still images.

“A bright light... Perhaps Radiance is a good substitute name? It sounds bright and vibrant. At least something to call you by until you remember the real thing.”

“Y-yeah, that sounds nice. I like the name Radiance.”

Radiance smiled gleefully, happy that she had something, anything to remember. Something to fill the void of emptiness within her own mind. She didn’t even know what she looked like at first. After regaining some strength she was finally able to freshen up and take a step back. Her mane was slightly curly, a mix of blacks and dark grays rather than just a solid black. It was like the color had been sucked out of her body, leaving nothing but grey tones. Though her eyes were still a cold sapphire blue in contrast to the rest of herself. They looked glassy like she wasn’t entirely there.

She was assigned to the mental recovery ward to help with any other possible issues that could arise. At least all her motor functions were working, a kind of muscle memory. But something about the mare from before, Twilight Sparkle, or so she was told, felt oh so familiar. Perhaps she should give her a visit to thank Twilight for what she’d done little though it was.

Finally reaching home, Twilight settled down for a short rest. It was an exhausting day with the previous occurring events. After a test run in the TARDIS that seemed to have gone awry, and the mare collapsing in the street, it all was nothing compared to what she’d faced. But a lingering evil from beyond space and time, that scared her. She saw something out there, in that black inky void. The TARDIS didn’t just change course, it ran away from it. This was something far more dangerous than she’d expected. If the Doctor was in there, if anypony was in there, they were in a whirlwind of trouble.

She deserved the rest, especially after that. Unfortunately, her peace was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. Upon opening it, Radiance stood shyly on the doorstep. Radiance brushed her slightly curly mane aside and looked up at her.

“You don’t mind if I come in, do you?” Radiance asked sheepishly.

“No, no, not at all. Can I get you anything?”

Twilight stepped aside to allow her into the living room. Both of them sat down into the simple upholstery, getting comfortable. There was a short moment of silence before Radiance spoke up, a bit of nervousness in her voice.

“I couldn’t ask anything more of you. I already owe you so much. Even though it wasn’t really much. I don’t exactly know anypony else.”

The room fell silent for a few moments, an awkward tension beginning to linger in the air. It was clear that Radiance didn’t know what to say and lacked most of the confidence needed for her to speak. Twilight didn’t know where she’d come from or where she planned on going, but she was still concerned about her wellbeing. Radiance seemed so lost, uncertain, and frightened. Before it could get any worse Twilight cleared her throat.

“So, anything I can help you with?”

“Oh, yeah! I need to look at some books or records or something to help jog my memory. You know, I kinda have amnesia.”

“Oh, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”

Radiance paused again, her mind feeling a bit foggy once more. She desperately needed something, to get away from something evil. She didn’t feel safe just yet as everything was still in the dark. Twilight got up and out of her seat and gestured for her to follow.

“It’s not your fault. Well, since I don’t have much to go on, maybe we can start with local history. The library’s just this way.”

The vast crystal corridors glimmered spectacularly, refracting even the smallest hint of light. The library was no different; silver-lined shelves with oak wood backings spanning the whole room. It had to be at least three hundred feet long underground, enough to fit in a hoofball field or two. Both Twilight and Radiance began to skim the shelves in search of the correct tome or scroll. They were mostly just trying to find a good starting point like where she might’ve lived or any record of who she’d been, but then something caught Radiance’s eye.

In the corner of a lounge area on a small coffee table sat a short yet thick book. Artificial leather and bound with black lace, it lay. The words 900 Year Diary stitched in gold silk on the cover. She began to hear whispers, echoes of the authentic voices caused by a distant memory. She was linked to this book somehow. Not all of her memories were within it, but she had a connection with the author at least. The leather-bound tome called out to her, cracking a small barrier within her mind. One step after another, she came closer and closer to the book. The voices became louder and louder by the second. Certain parts of the boundary were fragmenting, chunks falling away like a melting iceberg.

She desperately needed something to connect her to her past, but she was scared of this thing. Yet it was only a simple book, it could never hurt her. It was the contents that scared her. It felt like she was moving in slow motion, each step getting heavier and heavier. The whispers of old memories grew louder and louder the closer she got. Then, she touched it.

Radiance immediately found herself somewhere different, as someone else entirely. This was a distant world that she’d once forgotten. It was a different time and a different place from where she once stood in the library. This is what was behind the barrier, the light creeping through the cracks in the wall.

Ashes rained from the sky as children and adults alike cried out in fear. Terror was foreseen to come, and it was here. An era and a world were ending, and everything she thought she once knew was falling to dust at her very hooves. Radiance shed tears for those that had lost their fight, the will to fight, and fell into the pit of depravity. The whole of existence was screaming out to her right before her very eyes. The sky was like a glitched graphic where the nebula above fragmented in unnatural ways. The sky was falling before her and those that resided within it begging for help.

The scene rapidly shifted, almost making her dizzy. The walls were made of some chrome-like material mixed in with a more ancient decor. An outpost is hidden somewhere amongst the rubble where no one could find them. She’d been selected to do an unethical experiment that could become a weapon to save the universe once and for all.

“Please, we need your help. These experiments need to be carried out, and it’s for the safety of our race and countless others.” a new voice begged.

As the current war went forward and the casualties grew the members of this society were growing desperate. The experiments were to determine if a living entity could hold an aural connection to the Web of Time, maybe even controlling it enough to change the outcome or prevent everything in the first place. Using temporal mechanics in such a way was both risky and dangerous. It could kill her or erase her from history entirely. The organization was getting their hands dirty to find a way to make everything stop even for a second. A big bang, a noise so powerful that it made everyone on the galactic battlefield just stop, only to look in their direction.

The Radiance of the past thought things over, comparing what she had done along with the possibilities that she might discover if she didn’t take this route. Backed into a corner, she didn’t like her options, but this was for the best, right? Her life for billions upon trillions of other species.

“Alright... I’ll do it.”

Radiance was confused as this voice was her own. A memory, this was a memory. Something about that book must have triggered it, a relation to him. Everything blurred out as the scene changed. A silver and stark white room filled with controls. She was scared, attached by cables and wires to something.

“If my calculations are correct, you’ll be able to link your consciousness with the vortex. Everything is burning, and you can stop it with the bat of an eye!”

The fear enveloped her, transforming into electricity. The memory, everything was blurred around the edges. Her screams and nothing but light, a bright white light. It seemed to last for an eternity. The pain was nullified before everything was replaced with a black void. The void nearly consumed her, starting to control her like a puppet.

She could see them, the box spiraling around throughout the universe. He was there when it happened, his back turned on her while she screamed in pain. This was all his fault. She saw Twilight staring back at her through the TARDIS’s doors, stranded within a cold and icy plain. She had to get him at any cost. Get back an old friend, or an old enemy? That was the largest question on her mind.

“Radiance!”

Twilight shook her awake as hard as she could. Radiance gasped, awaking in a cold sweat. Her mind nearly rejected what she had seen. So much darkness, so much fear instilled into others. She was shaking, scared of what she’d seen.

“What happened, are you alright? Well of course you’re not alright after what happened! You screamed a-and..”

Twilight began to trail off at a loss for words.
Everyone toned out for a minute, Radiance looking down at her hooves the memories that the book had given her still fresh within her mind. So many questions and too few answers. She looked back up, seeing Twilight panicking knocking her out of her daze.

“I-it’s alright. I should be okay eventually. T-that book, what is it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, just something I’m holding for a friend.”

“I-it made me remember. They hurt me badly, pain was soaring through my body. Then the bright light consumed me, it burned me.”

Radiance began to cry, almost feeling the pain from her mind once again. She had to take deep breaths just to keep herself from falling unconscious again.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. If you need to stay in one of the guest rooms for a while then that’s okay. Just let it all out.”

Radiance wailed out her sorrows while receiving a pat on the back. Twilight didn’t know exactly what was going on, but she’d be there for the mysterious mare with no known past. She’d be there for Radiance and the Doctor.

“Everything’s gonna be alright.”

“You sure she’s gonna be okay?” asked Spike.

Twilight looked up from where the book laid, concerned about what had just happened with Radiance. It caused her to go into shock and reveal something that she’d forgotten.

“Hopefully so, but I’m not entirely sure. She touched the diary and remembered something. She may have had an experience so traumatic that her mind finally snapped. What happened worries me.”

Twilight began to pace in circles, wondering what to do. This was way beyond her expertise. Either return her to the medics or Zecora if Radiance has experienced something extraordinary. Typically she only went to Zecora for the cases professionals couldn’t handle. But if she was involved with the Doctor, there was no knowing what could happen.

It was better to go to bed and think about it in the morning with a clear head. The sun was setting and the sky was turning into an array of purples and oranges. She closed the curtains and went into her room, nearly restless at how much more she had to handle.

Chapter 11 - Destruction

The TARDIS was duly lit, its occupants lying unconscious on the floor. The console wheezed and groaned differently as if it were ill. Time was a blur within the TARDIS, especially given how time didn’t exist here. Yet despite that, time was very much running out. The Doctor’s eyes fluttered as Berry applied a special medical gauze from the TARDIS medical kit to his head. He’d hit his head on the console during the fall. What had happened? The Doctor assured that the flight was almost near-perfect. In fact he’d used the Fast Return switch to forgo the entry of coordinates in order to ensure they’d return to 963.

“Berry…where is Susan?”

“She’s in the little side room through those doors. Something’s wrong. I-I don’t know what’s going on.” Berry stuttered.

The Doctor tried to quiet her down, still somewhat delirious. He stood up, leaning heavily against the console while looking over the controls. It was hard to look at most of them, his head still throbbing. They hadn’t quite landed, yet they were also not fully in flight. It was a strange sort of temporal limbo that he hadn’t seen before. He rubbed his forehead, trying to steady his breathing and calm the pain/

“Did Susan give you these bandages?”

Berry nodded nervously. He assumed Susan did given she was the only one who knew his ship well enough. He tried to comfortably move forwards but only ended up falling. Berry caught him but he still tried to push her away. He felt angry, angry that anyone or thing would dare tamper with his ship.

“Go…go and fetch Spark for me. I need to know what’s happened to everypony.”

“Well, we crashed I think. Susan is suffering from some kind of headache but we can’t go near her.”

“Why?”

“She tried to attack me.” said Spark, wiping his forehead with a cloth.

The Doctor turned to him in disbelief. Susan, his Susan, had never had a violent thought or bone in her body. She’d never hurt a fly let alone ponies. It had to be a lie, a trick, a trap. Why though, that was the question.

“She didn’t seem to be herself, almost like some kind of zombie. Every time I got close to her she got defensive. We did nothing to harm her, I assure you.”

“Perhaps you were antagonising her then. She’s quite the sensible young mare, you know. I doubt it’d be without reason.”

“Now this is absurd. We’ve done nothing but try to be kind even after you kidnapped us to go Celestia knows where.”

“Both of you, enough! This is getting us nowhere.”

Both stallions looked at Berry in a slight sense of disbelief. The timid mare was usually in the background, now she was standing between the two of them. Almost immediately she backed down once their eyes were on her.

“A-anyway, we must’ve landed…somewhere.”

“Well, we don’t appear to be in flight yet we haven’t landed either.”

“Face it Doctor, you’re just as much in the dark as we are.”

The Doctor stood up straight, ready to unleash another tirade until Berry gave him a hard stare.

“Now is not the time for so many questions, I need to check the Fault Locator. Perhaps it’s just a simple circuit fault is all.”

The Doctor went to the back of the console room where an array of flashing lights, dials and readouts were in a room enclosed by a glass wall. He looked at the serial readouts, the TARDIS continuing to troubleshoot every single component at high speed. His vision began to blur in and out, not allowing him to concentrate.

“Sprite, could you come over here? Read out the letters and numbers once they’ve stopped changing.”

The ship felt as if it were getting hotter and stuffier every second. He was just tired, that was all. Nothing a short rest couldn’t fix. The Doctor dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief as Spark continued to watch the display.

“It’s not saying anything…” Spark said.

The Doctor didn’t fully believe him, attempting to focus on the readout himself. Sure enough, no serial number was returned. It couldn’t be functioning perfectly, could it? Come to think of it, what had been happening? Everypony was acting so strangely, perhaps it was some outside force acting upon them? It was possible that Berry and Spark had brought something in while leaving Skaro, though it didn’t feel likely. Quickly turning around the Doctor saw the TARDIS doors opening. He quickly went to the door control switch, receiving a slight shock as he attempted to touch the control. All that was outside of those doors was a bright burning light, too intense to look at for long. Just as suddenly as they’d opened, the doors had closed.

“Did you see what was out there? Where are we?” Spark asked.

The Doctor only stuttered, at a loss for words. He took a deep breath before composing himself.

“I need to see Susan…perhaps she made a mistake.”

The Doctor contemplated what was going on silently, entering the side room with Spark not far behind. Berry was by her side, gently dabbing Susan’s forehead with a damp cloth as she laid on a cot. Susan was unconscious, the heat becoming more and more prevalent.

“How is she?” asked the Doctor.

Berry looked up nervously, sweeping aside a part of her mane.

“I think she might have a fever, though I’m feeling rather warm myself. It might be a heatstroke. Is the air conditioning working?”

“Yes…in fact everything is functioning perfectly. The fault locator showed nothing, no faults in any of the TARDIS systems.”

“But the doors, they opened on their own! You can’t seriously think that this is all business as usual.” Spark retorted.

“You’re quite right, it’s possible that something else is causing the malfunction…perhaps you better fetch us some water from the food machine, eh?”

Spark joined Berry's side, looking concerned. They knew that he was suspicious of them, but even the Doctor wasn’t sure why. All he knew was that something was wrong. The Doctor held his head before moving to the food machine himself. It was a large silver box with two dials, a few buttons, and a row of lights on the front. After pushing the button labelled water a small glass on a silver tray slid out from a bottom compartment. He took a sip from the h;ass before wiping his brow again. Looking back at Susan she was back on her four hooves.

“Susan my dear… glad to see that you’re awake.”

The Doctor got another glass of water from the machine, slowly approaching his granddaughter. She didn’t move, didn’t blink, her eyes staring far beyond him. It was as if she were stuck in a trance. She quickly smacked the water out of his hoof, the glass shattering on the floor.

“Grandfather, listen! The ship is in pain, the controls. The controls are jammed, we need to leave!”

A loud alarm rang throughout the TARDIS like a low gong. Everything lurched to the side before righting itself again. Quickly returning to the console room the glass cylinder in the console’s center had risen drastically. It’d never risen this high before, such a thing shouldn’t be possible without extreme circumstances. The Doctor couldn’t touch any of the controls, not even the switch for the door. Every control he tried resulted in a light shock.

“What’s happening?” Berry asked, barely able to stand.

“The Time Rotor is lifting, only an immense inrush of energy could do such a thing.”

“And what if the rotor comes out completely?”

The Doctor paused, his throat dry as the temperature continued to rise.

“An intense inrush of energy that strong…could destroy or create stars. We’d be vaporised in an instant.”

“Can’t you do something? It’s your machine, you have to do something!” Spark begged.

“It’s too late…we’re on the edge of total destruction.”

“And we’re just supposed to sit here and do nothing?”

The Doctor turned around, putting his hoof on Susan’s shoulder. He glared at Spark disapprovingly, still somewhat irritated.

“There’s nothing we can do, the Tardis is destroying itself as we speak.”

“But there must be failsafes, something so advanced wouldn’t just let itself be destroyed.”

“And I’m telling you that every known failsafe has been bypassed. To my knowledge there is no fault, if it even truly exists.”

“You can’t seriously still be going on about sabotage. You really think that we did all of this?”

“You cannot deny that, that cannot deny that you eh knocked us unconscious!”

“ENOUGH! How many times do I really need to reign you two in? Look at you both, squabbling like a couple of foals. Now listen, we need to put our heads together and just think.”

That shut the both of them up rather quickly. Both Spark and the Doctor looked away from one another in shame. Berry sighed, rubbing the bridge of her muzzle. Clearly as a school teacher, this wasn’t her first time dealing with bickering adults. The two of them looked at one another, sharing a quick apology. Meanwhile Berry moved over to console, looking over it but not touching anything.

“So you said that every known failsafe had failed, but what if there were a failsafe that you didn’t know about?”

“Quite impossible, I know this machine in and out.”

“But it’s a possibility, what if the Tardis is trying to tell us something? We can’t touch the console, can’t even look at it properly. What if it’s trying to show us directly where the problem is? The Tardis knows what’s wrong and it’s been trying to tell us this entire time.”

“It’s…a plausible theory. The Tardis doesn’t know or think like you or I, though it does have a large bank of computers, and its energy could be considered a form of life based on some principles. Perhaps it does have some capability to convey thought outside of a purely mechanical sense.”

The Doctor walked around the console, thinking about what he’d done prior to the disturbance. He looked down at the Fast Return switch, actually able to focus on it compared to the rest of the controls. He tried pushing down on it, the switch having been stuck in place the entire time. It must’ve constantly been returning to prior locations in its history until it couldn’t do so anymore.

“I’ve got it! Quickly, get me a screwdriver. Should be in the workstation by the doors.”

Spark quickly did so, the Doctor unscrewing the panel the switch was attached to. The second the panel was removed the switch finally sprung out of place, the TARDIS finally able to escape its destruction. The time rotor quickly shifted back into its proper position before rising and falling normally. The console room shifted again, all of the anger and fear escaping from their minds. He’d heard of some old TARDISes having telepathic capabilities, but he’d never experienced them himself. All another symptom of the warnings, the sense of urgency finally gone.

“Doctor…what really happened?” Spark asked.

“Well, because the Fast Return Switch was functioning as it should, there was no fault in any of the Tardis components. We were at the beginning of a new star, where all Tardises are created.”

“I see, and we barely noticed just in time.”

“Yes…unfortunately due to the navigational system I cannot properly return you home just yet. Reusing the return switch would only send us back to where we were. I’m sorry.”

“I feel as though I should be sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“Oh no, no, I likely deserved it. I never should’ve taken you with me. You’re a strong mare, Berry, don’t take that for granted.”

Berry looked at him confused, the mysterious old stallion simply smiling back at her as he looked over the controls. She let out a muffled thank you, not having been complimented like that before. The Doctor felt as though he’d been too selfish without realising, treating them not as ponies but as some kind of attraction at a theme park. They had their own lives, their own hopes and dreams, and he had no idea what dangers he’d unintentionally thrown them into. Letting out a sigh, the Doctor twisted the knob that opened the doors, looking at whatever awaited them outside.

Chapter 12 - Interference

Long ago, once every sixty years nine unicorns were selected to raise the sun and lower the moon since no being of power yet existed that could do so. The action of raising the celestial bodies every day took an ultimate toll on the nine mages. As skilled as they were nothing could prevent their magic from being permanently drained by the sixtieth year of service.

Thus the Sancti Novem Trials were created to find the top of the class students for this task. The drainage of their prized elites was a blow to the land’s morale. That’s the reason why the Ball of Excelsia was created. Free of admission many came far and wide to attend the fabulous party.

After Celestia and Luna came to power the ball was almost deemed unnecessary. The princesses believed that the ball was a part of pony culture and kept it, renaming it the Grand Galloping Gala. Admissions had to be instituted as it was hard to fund such a party with only the crown’s budget. It wasn’t as grand as the Excelsia, a ball so grand that its name echoed through history.

The TARDIS softly materialized inside of the crystal cove. The walls were dank and musty, the only light being the torches that sat in their metal sconces. The door creaked open and Berry stepped out.

“Eesh, it’s rather cold in here. Nothing but old scrolls, tomes, and trinkets. Must be around or during the Metal Dynasty at the very least. What do you think of it, Susan?”

Susan closed the door behind her.

“I think it’s just a dusty old library. I never had much of an interest there. These funny scribbles look lovely though.”

“Those must be the runes of the Alicornian scribes. We’re in a temple of the Divine Race, which one I can’t tell.”

“You mean there’s more than one?”

“Yes, but I wish I knew where and when we were. So many of these things will be long gone by the time Celestia and Luna come to power. How do I look?”

Berry was wearing a bronze and gold necklace encrusted with several jewels.

“Divine, Your Majesty,” Susan said as she knelt.

“Oh stop, stop. I really shouldn’t be wearing this.”

The door opens and an elderly unicorn in a crimson robe stood there looking surprised. The three of them locked eyes with each other in a moment of both confusion and light panic.

“What’re you two doing here?”

The Doctor and Spark finally left the TARDIS, only a few minutes after the others left. The atmosphere was almost the same, but somewhat more disturbed.

”Now I wonder where they've gotten to, hmm? Always wondering around when it isn’t necessary.”

”It could be worse, could be the Daleks all over again."

"Please don't speak of them so lightly. Still, we need to figure out exactly where and when we are, eh. I'm sure Berry would know, she’s always bragging about her history."

"That was her job you know."

Spark chuckled and opened the iron gate door into the temple. After walking a bit further they were greeted by unicorns in similar robes to the one Berry saw.

"Ah, you must be Susan's other guardians. We were expecting you to arrive soon."

Spark and the doctor looked at each other in shock. The stallions couldn't possibly know her name unless something had happened to her. Led out of the temple and into a dining hall they stayed alert for any suspicious actions. The room contained three tables. Two side by side, one for the nine foals and the other for the adults to eat. The third, however, was above the rest. Nine unicorns sat tall and regally, overlooking the entire feast. Before the two of them could react Berry approached them from the unicorns' table, doing a polite bow for both courtesy and show.

"Don't worry, they think we're admitted for their ceremony. I was wearing a ceremonial bracelet when they found me and they accepted me right away. They think I'm a servant of the old Alicorn race with Susan as my pupil. I told them you were expected, so try and hold the act long enough so we can get back to the TARDIS. The Age of Strife is no period to hang around long in."

Berry gestured over to the table with more elegant chairs and cutlery than the rest of the room. They seated themselves and politely chatted over fine cut fruit and vegetables with golden goblets of crystal cider. The silverware was true silver as the table cloth was embroidered silk.

"Thank you for the wonderful meal, but we really must be going," said Berry

"Going? But I thought you'd be delighted to witness the ceremony of our successors. To not only see your own selected among the successors of the Sancti Novam Trials, but also your chosen warrior amongst our legions as well as the elderly stallion's wise counsel. I'm sorry if we have dishonored you in any way that may anger the goddesses."

"I-it's quite alright, I believe I've changed my mind. I would not want to do you such a dishonor."

She was backed into a corner; be free from them but bring great shame to the tribe or stay and witness what may be a horrible event. Spark cleared his throat and placed a hoof of Berry's shoulder.

"If I may speak freely, we do require some respite before the ceremony. Is there anywhere we may retire?"

"But of course, we'll have your quarters prepared right away. We also have some activities that you may be interested in. Though I won't bother you with the details yet. Come, we offer you any luxuries you desire oh divine ones."

Once reaching the room they began to discuss in privacy.

"So, a vacation in the most dangerous period in Equestrian history. Not quite my cup of tea if you know what I mean." Spark sighed, putting his face in his hooves.

"It's not like I had a choice. Would you rather I dishonor a small kingdom for the sake of our benefit?"

"Now, now, my foal, there's no need for such hostility. We simply go along until we get access to the temple again.'

"But that's just it, what if we never get the chance?"

"I hate to say it but she has a point. Where's Susan by the way?"

"In a separate room for the 'chosen ones'. She's been 'chosen' to help raise the sun and moon every day. If only those unicorns didn't have to lose their magic at all, even if it were for a great cause. It feels wrong for the elite to make such a sacrifice rather than helping the rest of the Equestria, assuming it's been founded by now.'

"I know my dear, but we mustn't interfere with history. These events lead to a greater future. Most importantly we absolutely cannot tread in areas we aren't supposed to be meddling in."

"Look who's talking," Spark muttered.

The next morning they all joined together at the Solar Church sometime before the ceremony for instructions on how it will commence. For everyone else, this was a time of respect and honor. But it could also spell a possible doom for the four of them.

"D-do I have to do this?" Susan stuttered in fear.

"Yes, it's a great honor for your family" the Priest replied.

"I'm sorry... but I'm not ready."

"As a goddess's disciple, you must be prepared for such a sacrifice."

"She has not been properly trained in your way of life. I am sorry if she has offended you." Berry stepped in.

"Then we must teach her. There is, after all, still time."

"Thank you, my master will grant thee great blessings for such an act."

Berry did a bow before the Priest, causing him to be ecstatic.

“Thank you, I’ll happily employ her to be one of our top mentors. And for the warrior, training and jousting tournaments are offered for those who are fit.”

“Training, eh? I’m a mighty bit rusty but I think I can work something out.”

“And for the elderly-“

“The Doctor is fine.”

“Ah yes, The Doctor can relax and rejuvenate his mind in the SunBerry fields. Others of great age discuss and explore new elements every day to keep their minds sharp. It is, after all, as important to look upon the future as it is to dwell and reminisce on the past.”

The Doctor smiled brightly. Finally, a way to learn and explore without the threat of danger lingering behind. He gladly accepted and everyone went their separate ways. The fields were more like a tertiary garden, trees covered in warm-colored berries providing shade above those who sat underneath. The sandy path curved to and fro throughout the whole garden, lit by old ornamental lanterns.

"Quite the view, isn't it?" a new mare asked from behind him.

"Oh, don't startle me like that. And yes, it truly is quite remarkable. I see why it's such a charming place."

"Is it true that you're an elder sent by the goddess?"

"Yes, yes. Everypony does seem to be flaunting my title around, don't they?"

"I merely ask, as I'm neither a skilled mage nor a master of weather, but merely a pony of the earth. What purpose could I serve to the gods above?"

The two sat down by the pond and watched the ducks swim while light purple flowers blowing in the breeze.

"Well, how you find the answer isn't necessarily the choice of any divine power. I think the best way is for you to explore a little more, do what makes you happy. I know it sounds like a typical answer but it isn't wrong."

"Thank you. You're very kind and generous, you know."

The Doctor picked up a flower, looking it over. Only the edges were purple, fading into a pure white around the center. In the middle was a yellow needle, very sharp upon closer inspection.

"What kind of flower is this?"

"We call it the Somnus, the needle aids those to rest during times of slumber. Be careful not to prick your hoof on it or you might fall asleep yourself."

The two laughed happily together.

"Well... thank you for your wise counsel. I hope we can talk more later."

"There's no need for you to leave, why not stay here and chat for a little while longer hmm?"

"The ceremony's in a few hours... I must prepare."

"Very well then, you may be on your way."

The Doctor watched as the middle-aged mare trotted off towards the church. The silence didn't last forever as another stallion approached. He silently sighed in annoyance before turning around.

"Yes, what is it, what do you want?"

He was covered in deep green face paint along with a purple insignia embedded on the side of the armor. He was heavily built, clearly of the warrior class.

"I am Grazing Oak, top fighter amongst my clan. As unfortunate as it may be, I desire your assistance."

"Ah, I don't have much knowledge in the ways of combat. I tend to take the more peaceful route, or at the very least try to."

"But sir, I am to fight a strong new opponent. I desire any assistance as he has a strange power that no unicorn has yet seen."

"Just give me a moment eh.."

Looking down the Doctor saw the Somnuses, planted in neat little rows. Picking up a needle carefully he poked it through a fallen leaf, then giving it to Grazing.

"Yes... this should work quite well. Prick him by the hoof, and make sure it draws blood."

"Will it kill him?"

"Heavens no, It'll only drain their power. In a few short minutes, they'll have collapsed from exhaustion."

"Thank you, for a stallion that can take down a warrior with only the tip of his hoof requires divine intervention."

As he walked away the Doctor wondered to himself. It was best to watch the fight just to make sure he had done more good than harm. Upon entering the small training grounds, a room only defined by the weapons mounted the walls, he came to a surprise. Spark was the warrior, adorning a similar set of armor to the one the other wore.

"Spark, I've been tricked! That stallion you're fighting, he's used to me to get an advantage on you. Don't let him scratch you!"

"Wait, what?"

The fight began anyway, a new unicorn against the strong and hard trained pegasus. Blades and shields clashed against each other again and again, Spark struggling to hold his stand. Luckily he was able to quickly gain mastery over his opponent, nearly pinning him to the ground. But upon escaping Spark’s grasp he used his secret weapon, a small wound appearing on Spark’s hoof. Only a small scratch like a papercut, but this would be far worse. The fight continued as they clashed. Wham, blade against blade. Wham, blade against the shield. It was a seemingly never-ending cycle. That was until Spark began to weaken, feeling dizzier and dizzier. He only had to hold out, stand his ground to keep fighting.

But he was now no match for Grazing Oak. With one swift blow to the shield, Spark Reaction fell down to the ground. He gasped for breath, unusually tired.

"The fight is over, I have finished off your selected warrior. As payment for your strong will and ability to defend yourself, I will make your death swift."

Grazing Oak lifted his blade and pointed it towards Spark's chest.

Berry came galloping down the corridor, hearing all the commotion. She saw what was about to happen and let out a cry of both fear and anger.

"NO!"

Chapter 13 - Radiance

Twilight closed the book as she heard Radiance walk down the stairs, rubbing her tired eyes.

“Oh, you’re awake. Are you feeling any better?” Twilight asked with a nervous smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Better but not exactly great. I’ve got a thumping big headache.”

"How about we go for a walk? Maybe that'll take your mind off of the stress."

The outdoors was just about the same as it was the day before with crisp autumn air and a slight chill in the breeze. It was peaceful but the city square often drowned out the silence. Twilight racked her mind for different areas of relaxation. The spa was a likely option but it was often overused, maybe something a little more unconventional? They were already heading in that direction so she might as well bring it up.

“So, have you ever been to Ponyville Spa before? That is if you can remember.”

“No... I don’t think I have. I’m not even entirely sure what a ‘spa’ is. They don’t have them where I’m... from.”

Radiance stumbled back nearly fainting again, the mental strain taking a toll on her body. Luckily Twilight had a shoulder to lean on.

“No worries, I’ll help you there,” Twilight said as they continued onwards.

“You sure she shouldn’t seek medical assistance?” asked Lotus, the co-owner of Ponyville Spa along with her sister Aloe.

“Well we’d have to schedule an appointment in advance for that, you’re usually more accepting of walk-ins like this.”

Radiance sat in a chair propped up against the wall, slowly trying to process the things that swamped her mind. There was no doubt that Twilight would be able to help her, but would it be enough? She rubbed her temples in circles to get rid of the dull yet aching pain that resided in her skull. Back at the front desk, Twilight looked over her options on the post board next to the counter.

"If you're looking more for mental relaxation, we have a special therapy open soon. The next opening is in ten minutes so it's a bit of a wait."

"Oh, that's nothing compared to some of the other things on the list. Some need reservations in advance."

"Yes, the sauna is rather booked these days. Ponies are just waiting in line for ages for half an hour. That usually happens with the high demand treatments."

After the wait, Radiance was taken into a dim room lit by lavender-scented candles. A red cushioned bed sat at the center of the room surrounded by lilacs and hydrangeas. Her hooves quietly clicked on the cold floor as she approached the bed, comfortably lying down on her back. Aloe put a record onto the player in the corner, the crank ticking as she wound up the springs inside to begin to spin the turntable. A soft and relaxing melody drifted out from its speaker while a bucket of cold water was splashed onto a pile of steaming rocks, making a soft hiss, crackle, and pop while the steam rose into the air. The room was set for a long rest of meditation, removing all other interference from the outside world.

None of the troublesome noise or thoughts of the outside world existed inside these four walls, just the music, delightful scents, and a pure aura of calm. Taking a deep breath in Radiance began to drift towards unconsciousness. Every second she was lulled closer and closer to sleep.

"Now just close your eyes and think of your happy place,” said Aloe before finally closing the door behind her.

Her senses dulled becoming calmer and calmer. It was a feeling like being detached from her body and just letting everything go. Time slowly drifted away as Radiance finally entered her first deep sleep in a long while.

When she woke up she was not in the same place that she had laid down upon. It felt like home to her, and it was. She was back on Gallophrey before all the commotion, all the destruction and terror had commenced. The air smelled like citrus and maple, the wind slowly blowing in her direction. A tall silver leafed tree stood above her, providing shade.

The sound of foals laughing while playing in the orange grass could be heard not so far away. It was a forest filled with many of the same silver-leafed trees. From the lack of brush and other variants of large plants within the space, she appeared to be in a small clearing.

Walking out of the forest and down a path, she had once traveled long ago she arrived at a shantytown. The buildings were made out of dusty old wood which failed to compare with the shining Citadel far away. No robes, no fancy glimmering halls, just the plain simplicity of life in the wastelands. The houses lined up in rows forming large blocks of battered housing units all held together with hope. Something pulled Radiance along, towards the direction of a certain unit that was a bit darker than the others. It was round with open windows since glass couldn't be cut with enough ease as well as the lack of resources. The roof was made of rigid sheet metal that angled down around the house's edge and jutted into a flat top.

It was built more for survival than to aesthetically please. The door creaked as she opened it, the place empty except for herself. The smell of a sweet mushroom stew wafted through the air as it cooked in a pot on the stove. There was only enough room for two beds. They creaked when sat upon, the bed frames a similar mix of wood and metal as the house. A small kitchen, a dining table surrounded by four chairs, and two beds for sleeping were all that filled the house. Radiance jumped as thunder clapped outside of the window while rain softly pitter-pattered against the roof. She closed the shutters to prevent any rain from getting inside. Laying her head back on the bed, she closed her eyes once more and continued to rest.

The thunder clapped again, but there was no rain to accompany it. Upon rushing outside she saw a light green foal with yellow and purple hair hugging her parents goodbye. Radiance looked down at her hooves to see that her hooves matched the same light green as the child in front of her. Something wasn't right, she was monochrome the last time she looked at herself in the mirror. Every time she blinked her fur switched between the colors light green, blue, and seafoam green. Her head hurt and everything began to slow down.

"Just breathe in... and out..." she said calmly to herself.

"D-do I have to go, momma?" the foal stuttered in and out between light sobs.

"Yes sweetie, it's a great honor for you to be chosen. I'll see you again someday. You're going to make one fine Time Lord."

The mother's, her mother's, words still rang throughout her head. She didn't want to go and leave everything she knew behind. Her favorite stew, the way her bed creaked and the rain tapped against the metal roof of her childhood home. It was all going to be going away. Radiance wiped a tear from her eye, not even noticing that she'd been crying. With another clap of thunder, the scene changed around her again. It was a deep green hallway lit with ancient candles. Incandescent lights were available but these were more for the aesthetic. Her robes nearly matched the walls with a similar green palette as the Arcalian chapter house. Slowly her hooves moved on their own down the hallway, softly tapping against the marble flooring. It was a new sound since she had never stepped on anything so smooth or cold as this before now.

A set of bronze doors with a circular seal embedded within it stood before her at the end of the hallway. It was full of funny curves and circles that formed a vertical figure eight. It was the seal of Rassilon, representing the original Lord President of Gallophrey, founder of the Time Lords, and architect of their current society. If a room was emblazoned with the seal above its entryway, it absolutely held significant importance. The doors opened slowly with a long creak, revealing a gateway to the outdoors. It was dark except for the brilliant machine before her. A circle opening inscribed with High Gallophreyan texts, forged with gold and steel to make a special arcane barrier. The machine did nothing but hold open what was already there.

The Untampered Schism, a rip in the fabric of the universe itself and a link with the time vortex. The hole opened up to the vortex with its ever-changing colors, shapes, and ripples. From vibrant blues to a slurry of stars and sparkles it shifted left and right. She could see straight into time itself, the knowledge of all possible past, present, and future right there in front of her very own eyes. It was so much to take in that she could feel it stretch within her very own mind. She was harmonizing with it, to the very tune of the universe. Spheres orbiting stars in unique yet distinctively similar ways. Cause and effect no longer had a certain meaning, the rules of time-bending left and right in a timey-wimey fashion.

Kingdoms rose and fell within the blink of an eye. Centuries turned into seconds and vice versa, straining her eyes as she watched. They flew gold with artron and arcane energy, types of forces that flowed through the hearts of every living being. Time Lords could harness that power, they were filled with that power, and now Radiance had been bestowed that power herself. This was the initiation of the Time Lords where foals would come to see their potential and change into who they might become if they survived. Radiance wobbled back and forth, her head still buzzing from the experience.

"Get her to one of the Zero Chambers, she'll be able to heal quicker there."

The room smelled like roses and lilacs, similar to the room she had left behind in the world of consciousness and physical reality. The Zero Chamber was nothing more than an old memory of the past. It was slowly coming back to her, parts of her past that she had witnessed and a feeling that there was more to come. Three other white figures approached her, each one seemingly different yet oh so familiar. They were nothing but outlines until only one came closer to her. It was the same light green mare with the yellow and purple mane from before. Her hair was cut shorter, sinking an inch below her ears. Her bright purple eyes beamed with innocence and youth, still unaware of what to come. She wore the same patterned robes as the day she was initiated but they were grander, showing maturity, strength, and rank.

"Hey..." she said shyly.

The voice was different than hers, a few pitches higher by the sound of it. She put a hoof out to Radiance, still lying on the ground. Radiance took it and was helped up into a standing position. Her surroundings were becoming more blurry and vague.

"Where am I?' Radiance asked, looking confused.

"Exactly where you are and were. You're both in the relaxation center of the Ponyville Spa and here in the Zero Chamber on Gallophrey a very long time ago. You may not entirely know who I am yet, but I should still introduce myself as a courtesy. My name is Hedliaellfrolithene or Hedley for short."

"You're me then... who I used to be?"

"Precisely, you've gained back part of the memories of the part of your life up to the point you first arrived here. This is why I'm much more clear than my fellow compatriots."

"So I know what I am and who I am, but I don't know where I've been or what I've done... If I stay longer will I be able to find out?"

"Possibly, but unfortunately you can't stay. I've learned that you can only reminisce on the past for a certain period of time. But not to worry, I have an inkling of hope that we'll meet again soon. Radiance, is that your name? So that's what I go by now?"

"Yeah... no offense but Hedley doesn't feel like me anymore."

"Understandable, but remember this fortunate occasion. You likely won't forget again unless made to forget by certain dire circumstances that lie within my own future."

"Yeah, I'll get back to you on that as soon as I can."

Her past self certainly had an air of regality surrounding her. A Time Lord, still high and mighty amongst her own kind. What had she done to move past that, to give a life living like that away? That was a question for another time as she began to fade in and out.

"It seems like you're regaining consciousness. It's been somewhat fun, meeting myself."

"It's been nice meeting me too. Until next time Hedley?"

"Until next time, dear Radiance. Farewell."

Both of them smiled softly as everything began fading to white. The smell of lilacs and hydrangeas returned along with the smoke pouring from the now colder rocks. It was time to wake up, time to continue searching for the missing pieces of herself. But there was certainly more to come. Thus she opened her eyes and awoke to the waking world of consciousness before her. BIG mistake.

Chapter 14 - Onwards and Upwards

Author's Note

Happy 1 year anniversary TPJ! I wanna say thank you to everyone who’s stayed here since the very beginning. It must’ve been interesting watching my writing progress and improve. Here’s to many more chapters in the future as we all start a new one ourselves.

Chapter 14 - Onwards and Upwards

Radiance rubbed her tired eyes and lifted herself off of the relaxation bed. Her whole body felt fuzzy, like when a leg falls asleep. She had a small part of herself back now, but only her early childhood. The clouds in her mind had parted to reveal her own origins but nothing more. Originally a low-class child playing in the orange landscape granted the luxury of becoming the highest class through random selection. Oddly, the air always smelled like sharp cheddar on Gallophrey when she thought about it. There were two other figures in that room, likely projections of her other selves blurred by the memory block. Whatever happened to her long ago had really taken a toll on her mind. She felt like was responsible for something horrible, but it was pointless to worry now. Her past was still incomplete and still behind her.

“But what happened after I left the Zero Room?” she wondered to herself.

The mental block had softened some but not by much. Presumably, the more Radiance learned the easier and easier it would get for her to learn without any mental persuasion like this time. Memories would leak through and one by one the barriers will fall. Her head still slightly ached whenever she tried to push past the darkness. Still, there was another step to take and she had to move forwards. She hadn’t even thought about how she’d explain all of this to Twilight. The journal she touched, it was emitting a field of temporal distortion. Maybe Twilight knew something that she didn’t. It was important to tell her considering she knew she’d read the book or even traveled in a TARDIS since a similar distortion surrounding her. Most time lords have them based on their impression on the worlds they traveled to. She could sense it like a feeling of intuition, only touching the back of her mind.

Radiance trotted forwards and opened the door. It was brighter out in the hall than it was in the room, slightly straining her eyes as they adapted to the light. Lotus was surprised as she opened the door, seeing as she was about to open it herself. Thankfully the door opened inwards so it didn’t hit anypony.

“Ah, Mrs. Radiance. I was just about to come to get you. Did you enjoy your time?” asked Lotus.

“Yeah, I feel much better now. More like myself than before.”

Twilight was tapping her hooves back out in the waiting room, idly waiting for her. She didn’t really have much to do and Radiance was a pony in need. The door lightly creaked as Radiance stepped out, her eyes much more vibrant than they originally were. She seemed less tired and more alive than before; definitely a good sign.

“Oh, you’re back. How did it go?” asked Twilight.

Radiance paused, unsure of what to say or do.

“Well... I think I’m much more of myself. Now that I have a small portion of my memory back, I think we need to talk.”

Another pause as she carefully considered what she was about to say. Doing so could either mean nothing or change everything.

“Do you... know what a TARDIS is?”

Twilight and Radiance were now back at the castle carefully discussing over tea. Twilight was surprised by her even knowing the word let alone it’s meaning. All that was explained to her was a lot to take in. Radiance knew that she was a different race from her, a lord of time, but Twilight wasn’t so sure. Of course, nopony but herself knew of the Doctor’s race aside from the Doctor himself to her knowledge.

She’d heard of the time lords but rarely ever saw one. They always followed their strict nonintervention policy so seeing one in the open was quite the rarity. She wondered why she ever left Gallophrey. Everything just felt so impossible.

Then again with all of the things she’d experienced “impossible” could almost be “an average Tuesday”. But this was much more different, quite literally otherworldly.

“I-I didn’t scare you... did I?”

Twilight looked back, snapping out of her mental rant. It’d been mere minutes yet it felt like an eternity. Radiance’s demeanor had fallen back into the default shyness from when they first met.

“No, no. I’m fine, just a little shocked is all. You’re from another planet, from Gallophrey. Do you know the Doctor by any chance? I know that your memory is still incomplete and all, but I just wanted to know.”

Radiance chuckled and set down the teacup on the table next to her.

“We were friends at the academy. A little’s coming back actually... I was one of his only friends at the time. Other than the little stallion from his home village that is. They were pretty much foalhood friends. We’d get assignments together and find new ways to bend or break the rules. Maybe we broke the rules a bit too much, but it was so much fun.

He was really out there. They called us the Devilish Three in those days. Now that I think about it I almost agree with our teachers.”

“So you were close to him?”

“Oh very. Sometimes I was the ‘voice of reason’ for those two but it kinda fell on deaf ears. Though we went our separate ways. I went into TARDIS mechanics and he went into politics. I have no idea why though, he probably thought he could loosen up those stiff upper necks. “

“So, you know how to fly a TARDIS.”

“I know I should. But it’s all still too fuzzy. I used to work on TARDISes, in the old workshops. I might as well have worked in a museum considering all the old models just lying around. I can actually remember it so clearly, the dusty old capsule I kept working day and night. I found it in the back, a type thirty-eight. I begged my supervisor to let me keep it.

Thank the stars he said yes. It became my personal pet project I worked on in between assignments. You should’ve seen her in action.

It was gold with the usual round things all over the walls. Every panel was perfectly smooth but colored like rusted iron. It wasn’t very big, the square scanner pushed into the wall with a few wires sticking out the side of that wall and chipped off and cracked. It had certainly seen better days, but oh how it shimmers and sparkles when in flight.

It was like being inside of an aquarium, the area behind those round things shifted more into the vortex due to the dimension's age. The console glittered like the stars themselves. Reds, yellows, greens, and the floor was made of marble which is a typical staple of all type thirties. They all used to be regal show pieces made for comfort and style!

Then the officials decided nooooo, we have to be all chrome and sleek. Too cookie cutter and factory-built for my taste. I remember the very first test run, powering on and ready to- sorry if I started rambling. You can tell I’m quite the fanatic.”

“No, no, it’s alright. You’re getting more memory back and I’m learning more about you.”

“I am? I hadn’t even, oh. Ooooh, that’s why I can’t remember anything, I’m trying too hard.”

Twilight looked a little confused before watching her continue.

“Whenever I push against it, it gets harder, I have to remember by not thinking about it.”

“Might be a bit harder to remember now that you are. When you first traveled, do you think you can take me there in the Doctor’s TARDIS?”

“You really think I should? I mean, I don’t want to risk going off all willy nilly and landing us Celestia knows where.”

“I think you’ll be alright. Besides, I think it’s good to take my mind off of things.”

Radiance whistled while she looked up at the impressive coral ceiling. The TARDIS welcomed her joyfully, likely having not seen one of her kind other than the Doctor in centuries. She glittered with joy, bouncing around the grated floor.

“I’ve never seen the coral desktop initialized before. It’s a much older design utilizing organic components grown by the TARDIS herself!”

Radiance hugged one of the massive pillars that curved and stretched into the ceiling. She was in absolute heaven, having not seen any of the time ships for so long deprived her of her element.

“Anywho, back to business.” Radiance said as she happily hopped over to the console.

She experimentally moved a few controls to get used to the configuration before taking off, easily setting the ship into motion.

“This’s typically meant to be piloted by six, which is a stupid decision if there’s only two on board. So hold on!”

Radiance regained the childish glitter in her eyes that she so shared with her first incarnation. The console room jolted to one side, flinging Twilight back into one of the tan chairs near the railing. She still stood her ground at the light green console, slowly stabilizing their flight into a more docile state. Within minutes they’d arrived, the TARDIS making its iconic wheezing and groaning noise.

She pulled over the scanner before pausing, concerned with what she was looking at.

“N-no... this shouldn’t be it,” Radiance muttered to herself.

“What’s wrong, is everything alright?”

Radiance barely registered Twilight as she rushed out the door. The landscape was a deep grey and brown, covered in millions of dead flowers. The once healthy vines and trees were nothing more than a mere husk of what they used to be.

“Radiance... what is this place?”

“I called it my garden. The entire world of Provia was coated in pink and purple flowers. It was a forest world, a purely untouched garden until I came around. Some other race built viewing stations and paths, likely for a tourist attraction. That crumpled planet up there is the body this moon orbits.

I guess it wasn’t really my garden, but I just had to step outside. I was breaking the rule of nonintervention by doing so, but I didn’t care. For the first time in my life... I truly stopped to smell the roses.”

A tear gently rolled down her cheek as she stared out into the abyss of lifelessness. Her head shot up, sensing something else. Twilight felt it too, the presence of the dark mass. Radiance nearly collapsed, facing a heavy temporal disturbance as another form of herself was approaching. Then she saw it, a small lavender gazebo covered in ancient vines. It was her TARDIS, left here by herself ages ago. Radiance looked back at Twilight and the Doctor’s TARDIS, Twilight was already inside. In one move Radiance flicked the fast return switch and handbrake before bolting out the door.

“I’ll see you very soon.” Radiance said as she smiled and the interior doors closed with her on the outside.

“Radiance wait!”

It was too late, the TARDIS was already dematerializing into the vortex, on its way back to the castle. Staring straight ahead at the lavender pagoda, she bolted for it at high speed. The mass knew what she was doing and fired several inky black tendrils in her direction. They slammed and pierced the ground around her, kicking up dirt and petrified wood. She was nearly out of breath when she reached the gazebo’s door. It was locked and she didn’t have any keys. The TARDIS recognized her from her mind, clearly in distress. The door lock clicked and it opened right up for her. She said a brief thank you before rushing inside and closing the door.

The double doors whirred with an electronic buzz whenever they opened or closed. She nearly cried with joy upon seeing the console room again. She immediately began flicking switches and buttons left and right to take off before the black mass could do anything. She sighed in relief and brushed her now frazzled mane aside from her face. Her hearts were racing in her chest, tired from all the stress that had been put upon her. She swayed back and forth, her vision becoming a bit more blurry with every second. A wave of fatigue slammed against her mind and body.

With one final step, she tumbled to the ground and landed on the marble floor. She blinked over and over, eyes getting heavier. Then on the floor, she collapsed into unconsciousness.

Chapter 15 - A New Home

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 16 - An Enchanting Venture

Twilight stumbled out of the TARDIS, almost falling flat on her face. She was shocked by the previous events that had happened: the attack from the beast of dark energy or magic, or whatever it was, and the departure of Radiance. She knew that Radiance was out there somewhere, hopefully completely fine, and still trying to find herself. She had barely started to know Radiance, but she wasn't malicious or unkind in any way in the time they'd known each other. She was honest and open about what she knew of her past, even when she was scared to say the truth. Twilight felt like she was being a bit too trusting, but wasn't it the job of the Princess of Friendship to be so? To be open before being judgmental and to give anybody a chance?

She was back in the castle, everything was exactly the same as when she left it, except for herself. That’s the way things worked with the TARDIS. You’re never the same once you’ve seen it all. Twilight was contemplating all of these thoughts while trotting down the crystal hallways and back to her room. The sun was setting on the horizon, the sky turning from a peaceful pink to a shimmering violet full of bright twinkling stars.

She wasn’t back to square one with the Doctor, but she was still further away than from rescuing him. It hurt a little to think that she might be using Radiance for her own needs, but she was willing to help.

The book laid on her nightstand where Spike moved it earlier in the day. It’d felt like a while since she talked to Spike, but he was already asleep in his new bedroom. He was often grouchy when woken up from an incredibly long nap by pony standards. (Dragons call a 100-year snooze “normal”.) . She picked it up and brushed the cover. The binding slightly cracked upon opening it, the pages yellowed with age.

She had plenty of time before bed, so she decided to keep reading. Continuing the journey from where they left off.

The fight began, a new unicorn against the strong and hard trained pegasus. Blades and shields clashed against each other again and again, Spark struggling to hold his stand. Luckily he was able to quickly gain an advantage over him, nearly pinning him to the ground. But upon escaping his grasp the unicorn used his secret weapon, a small wound appearing on Spark’s hoof. Only a small scratch like a papercut, but this would be far worse. The fight continued as they clashed. Wham, blade against blade. Wham, blade against the shield. It was a seemingly never-ending cycle. That was until Spark began to weaken, feeling dizzier and dizzier. He had to hold out, to stand his ground, to keep fighting.

But he was now no match for Grazing Oak. With one swift blow to the shield, Spark Reaction fell down to the ground. He gasped for breath, unusually tired.

"The fight is over, I have finished off your selected warrior. As payment for your strong will and ability to defend yourself, I will make your death swift."

Grazing Oak lifted his blade and pointed it towards Spark's chest.

Berry came galloping down the corridor, hearing all the commotion. She saw what was about to happen and let out a cry of both fear and anger.

"NO!"

She blocked the stallion from lowering his sword, taking on a protective manner.

“He may be the Alicorn’s chosen warrior, but he is still a guest. We wouldn’t want a high-class guest slaughtered before the trials, especially by another. I will decide his fate after the ceremony is completed in a discrete and formal manner. Please, leave us in peace.”

Grazing Oak could not deny that killing their champion here and now would bring him undesirable consequences, so he left the room silently after bowing before them with respect.

The group let out a collective sigh of relief from the bullet they dodged. They were treading a fine line and they knew it.

“I wish there was a way those unicorns didn’t have to lose their magic. Do you think we could possibly find a way?” asked Berry.

“I’m sorry my dear, history cannot be changed to such a degree.”

“But think. If there was a way, we could save hundreds of lives.”

“And risk millions of others, so I don’t think so. I’d let you run off and pointlessly try, but it’s already dangerous for us to be here.”

“But I want to save somepony, anypony!”

“You can’t rewrite history, not one line! It’s absolutely-“

He stopped when Susan approached from the right, putting a hoof on his side to calm him down. The Doctor let out a sigh of relief, looking back up at Berry.

“There are some things in time that can’t be changed. No matter how hard you try they’re so rooted into the fabric of reality that they cannot be undone without disastrous consequences.”

“But if you can’t save everyone then you should at least try to save someone!”

Berry then ran off crying, not sure of what to do. The Doctor looked back at Susan, equally unsure.

“Should I go after her?”

“Not yet, we’ve still got a ceremony to try and avoid.”

There had to be a certain amount of unicorns for the ritual so another one had to take their place as they made the full set. If they hadn’t shown up history would continue its course without them. They could leave but it’d cause a disturbance. They were honored guests, too many eyes were fixated upon them for them to slip away quietly. The Doctor thought to himself, contemplating all of their options.

It slowly began to become cloudy, a few stray clouds getting away from the Pegasi. As he looked out had a small idea, but he needed to find Berry first. He told Susan to stay behind and look after Spark when he woke up before leaving. Upon passing the living quarters he heard a little colt sobbing.

He stopped dead in his tracks and looked towards the source of the sadness. The colt was lime green with a brown mane, his cutie mark a bolt of lightning and a sun. He stopped crying and looked back at the Doctor, standing to attention before wiping his tears.

"I apologize for my display of weakness, Sir."

"No need for apologies, you're perfectly fine. Is it okay for me to ask exactly what's wrong?"

"I...I've been replaced. I was nervous about doing the ceremony before, but now I'm sure it wasn't meant to be. A royal deity has intervened so I must've not been the right one if the heavens have decided my fate. I guess I'm deemed to be worth nothing after all."

"Oh, dear child, there's no need to fret. Just because someone took your place doesn't mean that you're fated to accomplish nothing in your lifetime. You were accepted, were you not? Doesn’t that truly take a large amount of skill and magical ability to do, hmm?"

"Well, I suppose you're right. But what do I do now? I've wanted to do this my whole life\, but now that chance has been taken away from me."

"Well then, I am a respected figure. Maybe I can persuade the deities to do something for you."

"R-really!? With all due respect sir, that may well be impossible."

"Well eh, how rude of me, I never asked your name."

"It's Solar, Solar Flare sir."

"Please, please, call me the Doctor. None of this ‘mister’ or ‘sir’ stuff."

"Yes si- I mean, Doctor."

The Doctor smiled warmly to the colt before turning around and continuing his search for Berry. He found the light blue pegasus curled up into a ball next to a deluxe suite room set up for the four of them. The Doctor sat down next to her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. Berry briefly jumped, surprised by the sudden contact until realizing who it was. Her look of shock faded back into sadness, her head slumping back down to the floor.

"You know, I may be right about not being able to change history, but we can fix what we've interfered with. Change it in small ways to make things a little bit better."

"Y-you really think so?"

Berry sniffled and wiped her nose. The Doctor offered her hanky which she gladly accepted.

"I believe we've already started."

The Doctor walked up to the High Priest, presenting Solar Flare to him. They both had a brief conversation on how they hadn't realized that they'd unintentionally robbed such an exceptional young student of the chance to present themselves. It was a bit more complex considering that they were conceived to be ambassadors of the alicorn race, but the Doctor was able to get in the final word.

"We did not know that we were interfering so harshly with the future of someone else. If we had known we wouldn't have submitted Susan as a contender for the ceremony. I've talked to the subject personally and he is quite an exceptional disciple. We give him our personal seal of approval and a high recommendation. I hope that his magic will continue to do much more good in the future as I'm certain that he already is."

"I see. You have clearly convinced me that he is truly the greatest. I'm sorry that I ever doubted your word."

"There's no need, I know that you were only trying to pass on your great judgment and provide us with the proper respect."

The High Priest bowed and left, leaving just The Doctor, Berry, and Solar Flare alone. Berry had decided to come along earlier due to what the Doctor said. He told her about what they had done by accident and that they had to right their wrongs. It made Berry feel better, helping at least one pony. After all, helping one pony was better than failing to save the rest that came after him. Later Spark awoke weary in the bedroom, surrounded by his compatriots.

"Ugh, what happened?"

"I was tricked into setting you up for failure in the fight.”

“That warrior Grazing Oak might not be happy and might want a fair fight before we go, that is if we can go.”

"The Doctor talked the High Priest into letting us go, right Doctor?" asked Susan.

"Eh, they allowed you to go. I may be able to explain to the high priest about us leaving due to holy intervention being unnecessary."

"So it'd be like we were never here at all."

Berry looked down in sorrow, knowing that with all the misery to come in the future years absolutely nothing would change for neither the good nor worse. It was the Age of Strife, a time of pony suffering.

"Chin up my dear, we helped that one foal back into self-confidence. We never meant to hurt him by being here and we bettered his future by the lightest of interactions."

"Is that it then, we just up and leave like we were never here?"

"I'm afraid so, we're already treading on thin ice as it is by being in such a dangerous place. We could have a spear at our throats again if we bring any dishonor to the party."

"And what about the little recreational battle I had, huh? Are we back to square one?"

"Spark my dear, the interactions we have with others are not marked with points. It is true that there is a right and a wrong but how we act about it is on us. We've changed the future, but sometimes we just can't change the past even with the TARDIS. Now, I think it's time we should go before we change something important."

They came back up to the door where they had started, not as different from this experience compared to the last. But before they could open the door Grazing Oak came running down the corridor, stopping with a screeching halt when approaching Spark.

"Do you believe that you can get away without winning a real fight?" Oak huffed through gritted teeth.

"Funny coming from you, seeing that you cheated in the last one. But we don't have to fight, we can just go on with our lives as usual."

"But fighting is my life! Ever since I was a little colt I have wanted to come out the stronger, to be strong in front of others."

"Then you can walk away and still be strong.”

There was a pause between the two of them, Susan, The Doctor, and Berry only watching on standby. Grazing Oak scoffed and lifted his nose in the air.

“I can’t be strong without winning a fight!”

With a loud battle cry, he rushed at Spark and they tussled hoof to hoof. It was much harder than swords and shields as it was a closer range, but the fight went onward. Spark tried his best not to hurt Oak, but the opposing party did not share the same sentiment.

The two held each other in a stance equally keeping one from the other. They were both covered in dirt and grime from being thrown around the floor so much. Time seemed to slow down around them like they were traveling through molasses. With one last punch, Grazing Oak went down.

Spark went over to him and gently placed a hoof on his chest.

“There’s no need for you to fight any longer. You’re strong the way you are.”

Just like that, the four of them left, barely leaving a trace. The TARDIS hummed and started the ever so familiar wheezing groaning noise that happened whenever they dematerialized. As the Doctor said, small things had changed that didn’t affect much in the long run. Solar Flare went on to find easier and easier methods of raising the sun and moon, even helping the future princesses ease into power by starting a campaign to improve their popularity.

He’s now recognized as the twenty-third advisor to the throne on what used to be twenty-two. Grazing Oak kept on being a fighter, but he slowed down eventually. He went into tournaments and retired from being the town champion. He later helped organize the royal guard and became a general in his late sixties. His name is marked on the tomb containing the names of fifty-seven ponies that received the Red Heart of Harmony.

The trails the Doctor and his compatriots left in the past were still slim and he’d barely made an impact on the still vast and ever-changing universe. At this time in his life, very few knew where he'd end up next.

Chapter 17 - The Wreckage

A fire crackled across the stone-paved ground, the world coated in soot and ash. The city of Canterlot stood silent for longer than it ever had before. The shops were empty and the food running cold, nopony in sight for miles around. Where did they go and more importantly why? It'd been a hundred years since the coronation of Twilight Sparkle and something had clearly gone wrong. Underneath one of the many bridges where the iron piping drips, small droplets of the flowing water that was carried from the river nearby, contained a box that began to materialize out of thin air. As it finally became solid the ground below it slightly sank into the slurry of cracked stone and mud. Light shone through the cracks in the foundation above it casting a peculiar shadow on the new object. With a silent creak, the door opened and an elderly grey stallion trotted out, making sure to watch his step.

Three others followed behind him: a younger red unicorn stallion with a black mane, an adult blue pegasus mare, and a purple unicorn foal with a shortly cropped black mane. This was the Doctor, Spark Reaction, Berry Blossom, and Susan arriving at their next destination. They looked around at the decrepit scene that laid before them.

"Rather musty don't you think?" said Spark.

“Yes, yes. It appears to be Canterlot yet this place that surrounds us is completely in shambles.” the Doctor replied, straightening his coat.

“Well, maybe we’re near one of the back alleys. Or maybe in a maintenance area.”

“I’ll fly up ahead and get a good look at the scenery above.”

The conversation continued below as Berry flapped her wings and took flight. It wasn’t much of a mystery as to where they were but the when was more important. Spark and Berry were on Equestria but how long had they been gone? The TARDIS’s instruments were still “on the fritz” as Berry put it.

“You think we should go have a look around ourselves on the ground level?”

“No, no, we should wait for her ourselves. Splitting the party has never been good, hmm. But just look out there and around us.”

“There’s a large sign right here. ‘Don’t dump bodies in the river’. Why would anypony ever want to do that?”

“I don’t know Spark, but it seems like we’re in dire trouble.”

Susan let out a cry as she fell off of the wall that led up to the ground above. Berry quickly tried to catch her but didn’t make it in time. The others gathered around her to make sure she was okay. She was alright but her hind leg was slightly swollen from twisting it. Berry was the first of them to tend to her wounds, soaking her light scarf in the river water to wrap around the leg and dull the swelling.

"My dear child, what on Equestria were you thinking?"

"I-I'm sorry grandfather, I only wanted to see for myself what was going on."

"Very well, I can excuse your curiosity. It is, after all, something you likely got from me."

A dull rumble sounded as some of the brick and stone began to crumble around them.

"Everypony duck for cover!"

Luckily they got out of the way just in time as the bridge collapsed over the TARDIS. Covered in wooden beams and stone girders, it was completely blocked off. Spark tried to buck down some of the wood but it held to firm and strong. Despite the decay, it wasn't going to budge one little bit.

"Hmm, we'll probably need some tools for this. A crowbar or maybe a hammer will do." huffed Spark.

"There's a warehouse just up the lane, you and I should take a look around just in case. It is, after all, the most sensible place to look."

The Doctor took the lead and paused before looking back. As usual, she was wandering off without much of a second thought.

"Oh, I'm very sorry. Are you two going to be alright with us galavanting off?"

"We'll be alright for now Doctor. We're in a good hiding spot and should have a good amount of time for Susan's leg to heal."

"Very well then, come along Speck."

"It's Spark, Doctor." Spark sighed in exasperation before following quickly behind. For an old stallion, he sure was fast. The interior of the warehouse was, as expected, completely deserted and empty. Boxes and crates laid askew across the long and musty wooden floor, mostly empty from being scavenged for resources. They hadn't found much at all, especially not a single tool for them to pry their way through the rubble surrounding their ship. Spark nearly leaped in panic as he saw somepony's hoof lying on the ground.

"Who is it, and are they alive?"

The Doctor placed a hoof on the body's forehoof and then the neck.

"No, they're dead, unfortunately. I'm very sorry poor fellow, if only we knew what happened to you."

"What's that on their head, it looks like some kind of metal brace. Perhaps it was holding their skull together?"

"No, this is for a much more diabolical purpose. It seems to go into the skull, latching onto their cerebral cortex."

"In Ponish?"

"It's latched onto their brains and taken control over their every action. They've just been trotting dead for a long time, being forced to do things against their will. Even if they could take it off, even if they could escape, the device's removal would fry their mind entirely."

"So he's just a walking corpse. It really is sad."

The Doctor closed the stallion's eyes, letting him finally rest in peace. Looking on a floor a pocket calendar fell out of the stallion's coat. It read the date: November 2nd, 2164. They were a long time away from home, and now it was clear that they weren't the only ones here. A loud explosion sounded outside, causing them to rush back to the bridge where Berry and Susan were located. What greeted them was not friendly in the slightest. Berry and Susan were nowhere to be found, either taken hostage or escaped from the deadly menace. Right from the river itself raised the familiar horse-headed tank of a Dalek. It was almost the same as the one they'd encountered back on Skaro but with a slight alteration to their backs.

“Do not attempt to move inferior ponies.” the Dalek spouted in its usual monotone voice.

"How's this possible Doctor, I thought all the Daleks were wiped out on Skaro."

"I believe that we're in an earlier period in their history. Our arrival on Skaro has yet to happen to them, this is why they're here present before us."

"Silence, you will follow our orders as supreme rulers of Equus."

"Supreme rulers eh, but that's impossible. In order to conquer Equus you'd need to subdue every species alive, Griffons, Ponies, Dragons, and any other living creature alike. You cannot destroy everything in this world, not at all."

"Your words are inferior, you will be taken as prisoners for processing."

"Hmm, and only one Dalek eh? Surely it'll take more than just one."

Several Daleks crept out of varying places such as the bushes, behind walls, and even more out of the river.

"Seems you may have spoken too soon. Please make sure we don't end up as walking zombies."

"You still have my word my colt. I will truly get you back home someday soon."

The Dalek's ship was a large flying saucer sitting on the ground, a ramp open for them to slide upon. It seemed that their small alterations allowed them to glide across smooth surfaces without the need for static electricity. The air once again had that familiar sterile smell like in the city. It was like they'd begun to infect Equus with the grand vision of perfection that was Skaro. There were plenty of ponies around them of varying tribes, ages, and gender, most of them wearing the same metal gear on their heads with the dead look of horror frozen into their eyes. Those that weren't being controlled looked to be on the edge of death, starving and tired from being overworked. They all carried baskets of minerals and ores from a mine a not so far distance away, likely to power the ship or aid in their plans. These monsters had no mercy whatsoever for their enslaved workers. Everything was grim and hopeless, hopefully, that would all change soon. There was nothing they could do at the moment except be carried away by the Daleks to the same fate as those being forcefully controlled.

Then suddenly, several explosions occurred. Small black bombs exploded on the Dalek's metal casings and shattered it like glass. Only a few Daleks were destroyed, but a lot of their prisoners got away including Spark. The Doctor was not so lucky though. He could see Berry and Spark off in the distance, congratulating themselves before seeing him and looking horrified. They'd saved so many yet still lost him to the Daleks. The processing machine was a large set of three probes hovering over a small platform. He was forced down and strapped down to prevent him from any escape at all. He had to rely completely on the resolve of his friends to get him back to safety. A Dalek nearby stayed silent as it activated the machine, the probes pulsating with light that stretched across his mind. He became more delirious and tired, closing his eyes but trying not to sleep. He had to stay strong, he must stay strong, for what would his friends do without him?

His slumber did not last long as Spark and another stallion lifted him up off of the table. Had it been minutes, hours? There was no telling time with his weariness causing him to almost collapse upon standing back up. It felt like he’d failed them by allowing himself to be captured. It wasn’t in any way his fault but emotions weren’t always rational. It took a while before he was taken to the rebellion base hidden away in a deeper corner of Canterlot.

The natural streets hadn’t been used by rebels in years due to heavy surveillance of the primal areas in the city. Constantly Spark and some other stallion constantly evaded the Dalek’s watching eye , he knew he had to do something soon or else all of this would fall apart. The fabric of Equestria was a delicate thread that had yet to be cut. Even on an alien planet to his he felt a bit of connection here, an urge to protect what may be a new home.

He’d always kept to himself whether it be in school or the TARDIS when they were on Equestria. The camp wasn’t far now, and nothing was going to stop them.

The inside of the camp was bustling with worn down ponies of every variety just like the enslaved. It was amazing to see them put aside their differences for a certain cause, but if only it wasn’t so dire. Everypony had a part to play here like in a well oiled machine. Even the foals were working, washing dishes and counting rations. The Doctor was taken away from the main room and into the makeshift barracks. Here he could rest safely, but he could hear his friends talking in the other room planning out their next move.

“It’s good that we have more ponies in our group after freeing the prisoners at the Dalek ship but it still isn’t enough.” said Susan in a more serious tone than before.

“You said you’ve fought them before?” said the stallion who rescued him earlier.

He didn’t really get a proper introduction but the Doctor thought he had said he was Open Sky. He was olive green with a dark brown mane that dropped over his shoulder. He was clearly used to the life provided here and was certainly trying to do something about it.

“Yes, the Daleks don’t have their need for solid metal surfaces anymore but they still have the weakness of mobility. They’re slow and can be struck from behind. Now that we have a weapon that breaks the casing easily it should be a piece of cake once we get all the resources.”

It was truly amazing seeing what she could do on her own but it was also sad. She’d always clung to his side wanting to be like him, but now she’s changing like the planet. Equus always changes ponies in some strange way. Susan was growing up, and someday soon she’d go out into the world on her own and not need him anymore.

The Doctor slowly awoke from his nap, still tired and woozy from the mental processing the Daleks forced him into. Brushing his mane and straightening his coat he trotted out onto the main floor. He was in a unit separate from the main base set up for sleeping quarters just in case one sector was raided by those nasty creatures. Just the thought of them put a sour taste in his mouth. Today was just not his day it seemed. The group had been split up for so long that he felt a distance between them all. It was a first considering they'd been so tightly knit, even in times of trouble. So many new experiences and he was still so young by Time Lord standards. Gallophrey may have been long behind him but there was still more to come.

Berry and Spark were gathered around a pony with a hind wheel brace since his legs had stopped working, holding a hodge-podge metal sphere with a large button in it.

"I call this Dalekanium, since it's made from an acid containing a liquid version of the metal. You see the thing about Daleks is that their only vulnerabilities come from themselves. If we can use that method it could give us a high advantage at ridding this planet of those foul beasts. Quite poetic in a way actually."

He rotated the sphere in his hooves, letting them observe the mechanism. It was a simple explosive yet very effective. The only problem being was the lack of resources. Dalekanium had to be stripped off the shells of dead or nonfunctioning Daleks, which was a rarity in and of itself. The somber tone was in the air again, Susan looking around confused as if she sensed something. The Doctor could almost sense it too, like something inevitable was going to happen.

"Now, we have word that the Daleks are going to plant a bomb around here soon. We don't know how and we don't know when. That's our major issue so we may need to reloca-"

Just before the stallion could finish his sentence a loud rumble shook the entire building. Crumbs of dust dribbled down from the ceiling as the Dalek barrage from outside waged on. Gunfire could be heard, the first from a once peaceful race now forced to resort to cruel violence. He handed the Dalekanium bombs to some of the soldiers as another advantage point in the ever-growing war.

“We’ve got to escape, NOW! Go, go, GO!”

Ponies ran frantically to and fro towards the exit, yet somehow able to do so in an orderly fashion. A Dalek screamed, the Dalekanium acid drooling down their seamless casings. It melted them as it should, the perfect design. The Doctor was witnessing everything. It was the first time he’d ever seen a true battle, both sides in nearly equal forces. It was terrifying, and he never wanted it to ever happen again.

Luckily they were able to arrive at the secondary shelter where the surviving escapees from their previous location met up with them. Just another terrifying word to sum up the whole moment, survive. Not everypony had made it alive as known by the headcount. With a deep breath and a heavy heart, he fully got back onto his hooves and carried on forward.

“Doctor, are you alright?” asked Spark heavily concerned.

“Yes, yes. I think that I’ll be just fine. It’s this blasted war between pony and Dalek that sickens me. Get Berry and Susan back here, we’re going to stop this Dalek invasion on Equus once and for all.”

The Dalek base stationed in Canterlot laid on top of the mountain, connected to several mine shafts. The plan was to send two of their chief technicians, Berry, Spark, and one of the few Griffons for extra muscle. The older stallion, the grandfather of a stallion that Susan had been spending a lot of time with, continued to develop the Dalekanium acid and bombs that would soon be the main artillery.

The Doctor was off to the side near some bails of hay, taking stock of their resources. He saw Susan trot up from behind him and greeted her with a warm smile and a small hug.

“So grandfather, what’s the next course of action?”

“Well, why don’t you give me a suggestion, my dear. I haven’t really been talking to you as of lately.”

“I know grandfather, it’s hard to stay together in a dangerous place like this. But we always come back together don’t we?”

“Yes we do, my foal, but I’ve seen all of the great work you’ve done. You and I do have quite a lot in common.”

“Maybe when Berry and Spark get here we can finally sit down and relax again. It’s been so long and we’ve been through so much together.”

“Yes, yes. It rather does feel like an eternity from when we started out in the junkyard. We’re different ponies now though, and I’m proud of who you’ve become.”

“Oh grandfather.”

The two of them sat on a bail of hay, truly talking to each other for the first time in a long long while.

Later on, the Doctor and Susan regrouped with the other rebels to converse on their portion of the plan. It was their duty to split into parties of three and defuse as many Dalek bombs planted around Canterlot as possible. Canterlot was the highest point of the Dalek control, meaning that once they reconquered the capital they had the best chance of wiping the Daleks off of the rest of the planet. With the help of the Doctor and Susan, they were able to devise a tracker that could easily locate the explosive devices within a tenth of a mile at best. They weren't always reliable but they were the best bet with their long-range location. The Daleks would be swarming and guarding every corner of the city looking for the advancing rebels as they continued to grow in both strength and numbers.

Different rebel factions existed across the globe, awaiting any new developments on progress. They had an army and all they had to do was position it the right way and the battle was theirs. They were off, with the clock as much of an enemy as the Daleks.

The Doctor, the stallion called Frozen Forest, that Susan had been hanging around for so long and Susan herself were grouped together and camped out near an area where they tracked a bomb on the move. They cautiously prepared, the Doctor starting to feel dizzy again as time wore on. The effects of the Dalek mind control machine we’re still slightly affecting him in the background like a slight migraine. He was able to ignore it for now, but as the Daleks drew closer and closer he continued to feel nauseous, slowly fading in and out of consciousness.

“I-I have to...protect...Susan,” he muttered to himself before finally collapsing from the strain.

He could hear her cry out faintly, feeling like he was failing at the first thing he swore to do. He was putting her in more danger, and he blamed himself. Luckily he was hidden in the small camp behind the rubble of an old wall. The robotic voices of the Daleks were nearby, the Daleks planting the first of their ring of explosives that would surely destroy Canterlot if detonated. He tried fighting it, but he was still a weak and old stallion.

He thought of what he should do next, laying out the next plan of action to Susan Berry and Spark. They’d become more of a family than anyone on Gallophrey. How long had it been since they were all together like this, hours, days? The Doctor wasn’t sure. When he awoke the bomb had thankfully been defused by Frozen with Susan’s assistance.

“Are you going to be alright grandfather? I know you’ve been through quite a bit today.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll be alright for now. But you should go on without me, I’ll just return to the base and get some rest.”

“B-but grandfather-“

“I know the way, and I can handle myself. You know that, my foal.”

There was a moment of silence between the three of them, Forest not entirely sure what to say at the moment.

“What if we go with you? Just to make sure you’re safe and don’t run into anymore Daleks. If something triggered a reaction to make you collapse you’d be vulnerable.” said Frozen concerned.

“I know the risks and those are ones that I’m willing to take. Now, you two take care of each other. And especially don’t get into any trouble without me.”

They all had a bit of a laugh before packing up and parting ways. There was a report called in by the rest of the bomb squad, updating their position and success. No casualties yet, so that was a positive. The Doctor trudged on, doing his best to avoid the wandering eyestalks of Dalek patrol units. At the same time, he began to get lost in thought, contemplating on what to do now.

“I’m not holding anyone back... am I?” the Doctor thought to himself.

“Everypony’s drifting away from me. Spark, Berry, and Frozen had to rescue me from the Dalek ship. That led to Susan and Frozen needing to protect me due to those wretched machine’s influence on my mind. I feel like a fool... have I really done everything I can?”

Shortly after his wandering thought, he arrived at the current rebel base. Frozen’s grandfather sat at the table, continuing to perfect the already adequate Dalekanium weapon. He was working out how to synthetically create the Dalekanium acid rather than boiling down a chunk of a dead Dalek.

“Why hello there, nice of you to stop by. How’s the mission going?”

The Doctor paused, thinking over his words.

“Frankly, there are times when I feel like a burden to the others around me. Before we were the closest of friends and even family. Now Susan is off gallivanting with Forest with no need of staying behind to help a silly elder stallion such as myself. Not to mention Spark and Berry, I’ve barely seen their faces all day.”

“I know the feeling, being in this wheelchair since an accident fifteen years ago when Forest was still young. He cared for me every single day, but I had a feeling he couldn’t just look after me anymore, he had to grow up. It took a little push and an alien invasion but eventually, he left my side. Not for good of course, no never that.

Even when he’s gone I know he’s here in my heart and fuels my spirit every day. Do you think the same of your friends, Doctor?”

The Doctor’s mouth felt dry, knowing what he’d later have to do. The fight wasn’t over yet though. Again the Daleks interrupted him, practically chanting in that hideous robotic tone. They’d seen him, wandering across the desecrated buildings stealthily yet they had still tracked his every move. He’d led them right here to the rebel base, even though it was mostly empty.

“The enemy has been spotted. Exterminate and destroy, exterminate, and destroy!”

With a single fire of a Dalek gun, Forest’s grandfather went down. Another casualty in this everlasting war. The Doctor stood over the barely breathing body of the stallion he’d started to grow close to, somepony that seemed to understand him. But the stallion’s life had been snuffed out in the blink of an eye.

That was all it took to kill a pony, and many had fallen before him in this peaceful world. Guards rushed in and joined the fight, the sounds of the battle waging around them, but the Doctor could not hear it. It was all just a blur of random cacophonies to him.

“Please... tell Forest I always loved him. He can handle himself now... on his own.”

With that he passed, the final bit of life fading from his eyes. The Doctor picked up a large amount of the Dalekanium Bombs, angrily hurling them at the Daleks over and over until they were all vulnerable enough for his escape. Some exploded, others simply cracked and melted. He then grabbed the notes on the explosives and made a bolt for it. No doubt those monsters would burn them to save their metal hides.

Then he stopped, standing still in the center of Canterlot square. Typically the sounds of Dalek patrol units were easily heard around him. Everything was starting to spiral out of control, somepony even dying at his hooves. He had caused it, even with his cautiousness there was nothing that he could’ve done. He didn’t think that to himself though. Nothing but silence for what felt like ages. No violence, no Daleks, no death. Just absolute silence.

Then he could hear the uproar of hundreds of Daleks and ponies alike. Rushing over to a balcony overlooking the mines he saw every Dalek slave destroying their captors, freeing the masses after years of torturous labor. Berry and Spark’s mission to reprogram the Dalek slaves must’ve been a success as they were assisting the rebels in their plight to destroy the enslavers. The Doctor smiled, his work was done. But at what cost had it come from?

He took a deep breath, sighed, and headed back to the base where no doubt everypony would be celebrating their newfound freedom. It was a wonderful party, finally meeting up with the rest of the group from another successful toppling of a corrupt regime. But the Doctor couldn't ignore the pit in his stomach, how short everything had felt when he remembered it all. That was just the perspective of the memories, how time continued to march forward for himself yet he could go in any direction in time for anyone else. It was sad, he wanted to turn back time just a little. At least enough to prevent the Daleks from capturing him and to make sure he didn't lead the Daleks to a near-abandoned rebel base. He had a time machine but he couldn't change his own past, that was the number one rule that even he couldn't break.

"Is everything alright Doctor?" asked Berry, a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah, you've just been staring off away from the party for the past few minutes," Spark said.

"It's nothing, still just a tinge of drowsiness from the Daleks’ machines. It's really getting to me at the moment, especially since I haven't had the comfort of being with you all the time like before."

"It's alright grandfather, you'll always have us even if we're apart. Whether it be Daleks, ancient warriors, or anything of the like we'll always come back together in the end just like right now."

That made him smile. Susan and her own innocence had always brightened his day. She wasn't the same foal that ran away with him from Gallophrey only a few months prior, nor the young mare that had begged to stay in one place on Earth in a near ancient time compared to theirs.

"This is a party for us and our victory, I suppose a little cheering up would be in order."

The party lasted for hours on end, but the moment itself felt endless. He did share his grievances with Forest, mourning over the loss of his grandfather, somepony he'd cherished for years. Everything stays the same but changes little by little every second. It was nearly no effort to free the TARDIS from its forced containment in a cage of metal girders and wires. Berry and Spark had already entered the ship, starting to wind down from all of their fun over the past few hours.

"Is it alright if I say goodbye to Forest, grandfather? We've been through quite a lot together."

"Yes, yes. Take your time, my dear."

Susan sadly trotted over to her compatriot, the Doctor stepping through the doors and into the bright mint green console room. He looked over at the scanner before turning a dial, locking the doors. When Susan tried to re-enter she tugged on them, only to find that she was being denied reentry.

"Grandfather, what's going on?"

"Listen Susan please, I've double-locked the doors so you can't get in. Stand back my foal so I can see you on the scanner."

Susan took a few steps back, not certain of what was going on. This had never happened before, then again neither had many things they'd experienced on their travels.

"During all the years, I've been taking care of you, you in return have been taking care of me."

Susan began to cry, not believing any of the words she was hearing.

"But grandfather, I belong with you!"

"Not any longer, Susan. You're still my grandfoal and always will be, but now, you're a mare too. You've grown up, all without me. I want you to belong somewhere, to have roots of your own. With Forest, you'll be able to find those roots and live normally as any mare should do. Believe me, my dear, your future lies with Forest, and not with a silly old buffer like me."

The Doctor looked up from the console, barely able to even look at her face; he was still sad. He knew that she might not grow into the pony that she wants to be if she keeps tending to his side. Just like Forest did she had to move on, even if it took a bit of a push to do so. Even though this was a bit more than he wanted, he still wasn't good at emotional situations. He stared into the eyes of his grandfoal for the last time for a very long while.

"One day, when the TARDIS is fixed, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. Goodbye, Susan, goodbye, my dear."

With the shift of a switch, the TARDIS was gone. It dematerialized away with no certainty that it'd ever be able to return to this time or place. The TARDIS wasn't easy to control, but in time he'd return. One day he would truly see her again.

Chapter 18 - Winterfall

Twilight Sparkle looked up from the book, a tear dripping onto the aged pages filled with the sadness from long ago. The event may have been in the past, or the future depending on your perspective, but the pain was very much in the present. How many had come before her that had come and left? How many more friends and companions did he have to say goodbye to time and time again?

This was the first, his granddaughter, his own family was forced out to find a better way of life. Admittedly the Doctor’s lifestyle wasn’t ideal for her. Constantly running, chasing, and fighting off the monsters that constantly tried to bite off her tail. But saying goodbye was always the worst part. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked outside the window at the changing scenery. The pegasi were beginning to transition from the season of autumn to winter. The snow was lightly beginning to drift down. Before she knew it Hearth’s Warming would be right around the corner as happens with all major holidays. Putting on some winter wear Twilight went out into the lightly frosted world around her. She really needed some time to just clear her head. For months she'd been reading and spending time with her friends. A group of foals ran past her, school being out for the day.

She wished that the Doctor was here, he'd be a nice addition to the party. But he never stayed in one place for very long and that was a fact. Her wings still needed a bit of training and exercise before she could fly properly, but she could certainly handle short trips. She trotted to the edge of Ponyville before taking to the sky. The air was slightly chilly but the cold wasn’t something that bothered her too much. Specs of frost danced around her in the air like ballerinas in an intricate dance, each one different yet in sync. The Everfree Forest didn't look as scary from up above as she remembered it was in most of her experiences inside of it. Images of Nightmare Moon, Zecora, and the Tree of Harmony appeared in her mind as memories of her own adventures came to fruition. She had her own memories and wondered what her own future had in store for her.

She clumsily landed down on the front steps of the castle, looking up at the grand view before her. The Castle of the Two Sisters was far from its glory days yet it still held true to form. Grand spires, tapestries, and long carpeted halls that were worn more underneath the rather large holes in the ceiling from when Celestia battled Luna the day she transformed into the terror of the night. But there was more to this place, plenty of history behind it. The castle used to be open to subjects all the time yet an audience with the Princesses themselves were as rare as they were now. Looking up to the ceiling she recalled the days when the place was whole.

"Nonsense, the Princesses have yet to be born yet. It's quite alright to come out." said the Doctor beaming one of his famous toothy grins.

The Twilight from days past stepped out of the light blue Police Barn that stood at the end of the courtyard. She was wearing a galaxy themed dress that she kept in the TARDIS wardrobe that she thought fit the occasion. It was the 25th annual Hearth's Warming Ball in the Castle of the Two Sisters, currently known as the Galaxian Castle in this time period, and the Doctor had finally managed to land the TARDIS in the proper time and place without any hiccups. It was questionable which was fully functional, the TARDIS or the Doctor himself. If the time ship was broken then it suited his needs rather well, he enjoyed the spontaneity of landing in a new and exciting location yet having the high probability of trouble being just around the corner.

Twilight was rather surprised when he told her that he had a few invitations to the ball courtesy of Galaxia herself. It shouldn't have been surprising considering she and King Cosmos were some of the many names he dropped during random conversations. She wondered if half the ponies and creatures he mentioned were actually real or if he'd been bluffing again to impress her. The Doctor looked completely out of place though, with a short grey jacket and long winding scarf that wrapped around his neck several times. Walking towards the ponies guarding the gate he smiled and showed his pass before they let him through. They did have a strange glance at him but some ponies at these types of events could be rather eccentric. A purple mare in a frilled forest green dress with gold accents held the guest list, approaching the two of them before they entered.

"May I see your passes please?" she asked politely while straightening her glasses.

"I'm the Doctor, and this is my plus one."

The Doctor gave her the passes and she looked them over. She looked up from the to check the guest list, seeming a little confused.

"It says here that you have a plus two, a miss Redwood Oak and mister Highlands?"

"Ah, they couldn't come today so I brought a Miss Twilight Sparkle along with me instead."

"Very well, right this way."

The mare began to lead the two of them forward, soon stopping and turning around behind them. Upon entering the ballroom everything felt a bit cold as expected, but something just seemed... off. The chatter of the mares and stallions around the room could faintly be heard, but their mouths didn't seem to be moving at all.

"Doctor... is this all part of the plan?" asked Twilight while starting to shiver.

"No, time seems to have stopped around us. But we're looking through a glass wall. We can hear and see the things on the other side but the reflection isn't quite perfect."

The Doctor tightened his scarf before observing one of the frozen stallions in fancy dress, waving a hoof in front of his face. It wasn't completely clear at first but something in his eyes appeared to have noticed the gesture. The stallion's eyelids began to close at an incredibly slow rate as if he were about to blink.

"Not frozen, slowed. We're functioning on a different stream of time that seems to be limited to this ballroom."

"A different speed of time, limited to us in this ballroom, on this exact day? What're the odds?"

"Accidentally, quite slim. But intentionally..."

"Good job Doctor, it appears you've gotten a bit slower over time. But you've still got a harder challenge ahead of you." said a deep voice at the top of the ballroom's stairwell to the upper floors.

An older stallion dressed in the regalia of an old Galaxian priest of the time stood over them. White robes coated in blue and yellow flames, stars dotting them, and the headdress. He had the figure of a regal alicorn yet lacked the wings.

"Ah, the Celestial Toymaker. Been a while since I last saw you. Come to enjoy the festivities with us? "

"No. This time, we'll be playing another game."

"Oh as per usual, I love a good game but you're never a good sport. Why not just catch up for once, rest your hooves, would you like a Jelly Filly?"

The Doctor held out a paper bag filled with the sugary pony-shaped sweets. The Toymaker let out a sigh in annoyance before climbing down the stairs.

"Uh, Doctor. A little explanation, please? And why is it getting c-colder?"

"Ah, a new companion it seems. This is sure to spice things up. Somewhere in this ballroom is the key, if you will, to let the two of you out and back into your regular time. The room will continue to drop in temperature until you freeze and so on and so forth. Don't worry, you'll be safe. But you'll finally end up as playthings in my toy room for the rest of eternity. I already have the beds in the dollhouse waiting for you. And remember, may the Thousand Lights guide you. Tah tah!"

With a booming laugh, the Celestial Toymaker vanished, leaving the Doctor and Twilight alone in the room of slowly moving ponies going on with the festivities beneath the mountainous chandelier of many mana crystals. Twilight was completely frazzled and confused, looking up at the Doctor for any explanation of what was happening and who the Toymaker was.

"Ah, yes. He's a sort of uh... it's hard to explain. Oh! Think of Discord but more of a chess master, but a jack of all trades in the matters of games and toys. We first met a long while back when I was younger, or older as you might think if you saw me."

The Doctor smiled again as if he'd explained just about everything. That didn't exactly matter at the moment as there was a puzzle at hoof that needed to be solved. It seemed like the Doctor was playing along for now, but he always seemed to have an ace up his sleeve.

"So uh, this game. We're supposed to find some magical key to open this 'bubble of slow time' before we freeze to death."

Twilight shivered at both the thought and the lowering temperature around her.

"We won't die of hypothermia, the Toymaker would rather turn us into his living playthings for all of eternity. But otherwise, spot on."

"I always feel so much better after we've spoken." Twilight snarked in an annoyed tone.

"Why thank you Twilight. Now, he said to remember the thousand lights rather than a thousand lights. That means that there's a specific thing that he's referring to."

Twilight put a hoof up to her muzzle, rummaging through her mind for anything in or about this room that could relate to the phrase "a thousand lights". Looking up she had an idea, seeing the mural of the night sky above her. The stars were frenzied and in no sensible order like a normal night sky, but they all centered around the chandelier which was composed of a large number of crystals. Both were named the Thousand Lights of Dawn.

"What about that?" she said while pointing above her.

The Doctor looked up at the ceiling, then back at Twilight, then back and forth again before he smiled widely again.

"Exactly, Twilight, exactly. Only one question. Is my scarf long enough? "

Twilight looked at him puzzled as the Doctor started to throw his scarf up into the air harder and harder, trying to grab the chandelier with it. Twilight rolled her eyes before igniting her horn, trying to move any of the crystals in the chandelier. Only one piece at the very center was able to budge with ease. Luckily none of the other multi-colored crystals seemed to have been moved out of place, but she would worry about that later. Bringing the purple gem down she teasingly waggled it in his face. The Doctor made a pouty face at her.

"Not all of us have magic."

"Isn't that why you have me?"

The two of them laughed as the Toymaker appeared. He was also rather annoyed, seeing as his puzzle was solved so quickly. He angrily trotted down the stairs, approaching the Doctor.

"Oh very good Doctor, bravo. But don't think that's the only thing I have in store for you. For the next-"

"Please, it's Hearth’s Warming, why don't you enjoy the festivities? You probably want your little gadget back."

The Doctor quickly pulled out his sonic screwdriver, the silver rod with a round red piece on the end making a whirring noise that turned the purple gem into a more aquamarine color.

"Here, catch." the Doctor said, tossing the gem at the Toymaker.

"N-!"

With a flash, the party was restored to its natural order. Time was flowing perfectly around them again, but the Toymaker was nowhere to be seen.

"Alright, what did you do this time?"

"Simple, I shrank the range of the crystal to about eh, a few feet. He's probably angrily whizzing around us at the moment if he hasn't popped off to his home dimension. Well, the dimension he normally skulks off to when he decides to be a sore loser."

"So everything's fine, for now at least?"

One of the crystals from the chandelier landed on the carpeted stone next to them with a little clink. The Doctor whistled and hastily kicked it underneath a nearby table, acting like it was never there.
"Yes, now. What were we doing?"

"Going to the Hearth’s Warming Ball in its heyday, possibly meeting the Queen Galaxia herself?"

"Ah, yes. Did I ever mention I once met her a few years ago during the Triwing conference?"

"I'm sure you have."

The Twilight Sparkle of the present chuckled as she remembered the old traveling days. Twilight briefly laughed at the thought of the younger Doctor, wondering how he could be so strange and silly at the same time. He mysteriously reminded her of Pinkie Pie, maybe the two knew each other. He was much different back then than he was now, but he still had the same charm as before. She looked out upon the glistening white snow, so calm and peaceful. The Doctor was out there somewhere, in need of her help. She still hoped that he'd soon spend Hearth’s Warming with her again.

"Happy Hearth's Warming Doctor... wherever and whenever you are."

Author's Note

Merry Christmahannakwanza everyone!
I decided to take a small divergence from the main story to just have a bit of fun for the holidays. I hope you stay warm and cozy for the holidays no matter what you're celebrating. Have a Happy Holiday and an even more wonderful New Year.

Chapter 19 - Seclusion and Self Inclusion

Radiance looked up at the sunny blue sky, watching the clouds pass. She felt more at ease with herself and yet no more of her memories had returned. Only the memories of her first incarnation were with her and that wasn't boding as well as it used to a few days prior. She needed another form of relaxation, a place where she could dive into herself. Sure what she'd been doing in Castrovalva with the library was building her confidence in how much she knew about her current self, but yet it still wasn't enough. There were hundreds of blank pages in her mind, chapters to unlock, and she'd been biding her time with the busy work of exploring the vast library that the small brick town had to offer. It was time to leave the pearlie white gates once again and walk outside.

Walking up to the pink painted gazebo in the town garden Radiance put her head against the warm wooden surface that vibrated with life. Her TARDIS, her space and time craft that she'd made her own over the centuries, was now more alien to her than ever. Upon opening the doors and entering she came to the same old hexagonal console room full of marble roundels, warm candlelight, and a woodgrain console covered in various controls welcoming her in. She wasn't leaving, not just yet. There was still more inside for her to rediscover. Her hooves clopped on the sleek granite floor that had a slight coating of dust. The TARDIS knew her more than anyone else, she rescued her from that old workshop. Or at least that's what her older self thought of that moment.

"Well my friend, I'm back again. TARDISes don't speak but I know that you have, or had, a deep connecting bond with me. You know who I was, you can help me get back to where I was and need to be. I can only remember our first journey together, so I need you to show me more."

Radiance wasn't so sure about what to think when it came to talking to what was practically an inanimate object to many, but she knew that the ship had heard her. With a vibrating buzz, the side door opened up to a new corridor. She thanked her TARDIS for the guidance and went in blind once again. The halls were similar to the console room, soft pink roundels set into smooth slanted marble walls that were accented with deep mahogany. Approaching a nearby door she tried the handle and it opened. This room wasn't exactly where it should be, she somehow knew instinctually, but the TARDIS could reshape its architecture however it pleased. This was likely to make sure that she wouldn't come across anything that she wasn't ready for yet.

The Cloister Room. The room was full of stone pillars, walkways, and vegetation. If her TARDIS had a heart then this room was the veins closest to it. Taking a deep breath she felt her nerves destress and her mind becomes at ease. A small hammock hung between two trees, inviting her for a rest. Looking around she could almost hear the hoof steps of the friends she'd made and ponies she'd met. This was her stable home in a vastly changing universe. It wasn't a Zero Room, but this place felt more open. Radiance didn't feel alone here, the ghosts of days past keeping her company. Radiance now needed more than just a calm and relaxing environment to remember, she needed familiarity. She needed something to remind her of what was once lost. This is what was missing and what she would have to look for. As time ticked by she climbed into the small hammock and let her mind wander, loosening the boundary on which her mind had set upon itself.

Hedliaellfrolithene, or Hedley for short, grumbled as she observed her tools. She was holding a chronic regulator as well as the Helmic Drive of another type 59 time capsule. She desperately wanted to go back into the time ship she'd gone to Provia with, an older model that was a pet project for her, her pride and joy. Though she didn't interact with any locals on the planet she still committed the act of interaction, breaking the Time Pony law of non-interference. She got off with a light sentence and a scolding from her superior. For now, she was on watch by her supervisor, probation for lightly breaking a high Gallopfreyan law. No TARDIS interior repair without direct supervision. Though she didn't care about the other TARDISes that were kept in the lot, ranging from minor repairs needed to highly unserviceable and decommissioned. She only wanted the one that she worked on, her TARDIS. She nearly broke one of her tools when she heard that it was permanently decommissioned. That part of the punishment stung the most.

Somehow, someday, she knew that she'd reunite once again with her beloved craft and that exceptional day was today. Even her low-level status as a repair pony granted her access to the scrapyard. It was a devastating wasteland underneath the Citadel to her. Derelict and defunct capsules that had been worn, abused or battered by their owners lay here to die in peace. She made sure to keep the noise of her hoof steps to a minimum and avoiding as much camera appearance as possible.

"221 Alpha, 221 Beta, 221 Gamma, ah here we are! Mark 39 TT Capsule registered under decommission label 221 Delta. Mamma's home." Hedley thought to herself.

Checking one last time for cameras, she pulled out her hidden key that was on a necklace underneath her Time Mare robes. This was it, the moment of truth. She stopped before bringing the key up to the access port. Right here and now would change her life forever. She was essentially abandoning everything that she had once known throughout her current life. No more TARDIS repair, no more getting up in the morning to report to her superior, no more seeing her friends and family in the outskirts where her favorite soup was made for her. Just for her.

Suddenly she heard the movement of a guard and swiftly went inside. Her heart thumped inside of her chest, frightened at what she’d just done and the crimes she was about to commit. But it was exciting nonetheless. Slowly she trotted up to the console and saw the travel locks set into the console’s frame to prevent any travel.

“Look at you, you poor thing. Who did this to you, eh? Those nasty old brutes in upper management barely know what they’re doing sometimes. Let me just fix ya up and...”

Hedley hummed to herself, proceeding to remove all and any parts that prohibited her travel. The scanner suddenly switched on and the deep voice of the Chancellor almost echoed inside the room.

“ Hedliaellfrolithene, we know that you’re in there!”

She yelped as the surprise caused her to hit her head on the underside of the console. With a grunt she looked up in alarm at the screen. She was in big trouble now. She was already on thin ice but now it was crumbling underneath her. The regal facade she’d put on for so long was beginning to slip away as she fumbled with a few controls.

“Ah, Chancellor Rydothia, how nice to see you. Don’t mind me, just adjusting the volume.”

Rydothia frowned, knowing that she was already planning something.

“You cannot escape, the transduction barrier prevents all unauthorized time capsules from escaping.”

“Funny thing about that Chancellor, older models of time capsules were once disposed of off-world due to black hole containment not being as well structured and advanced as it is now. So fun fact: when in a decommissioned state all TARDISes of model 40 and below have an automatically installed emergency access pass through the barrier. It has been an honor serving you and the High Council my lord, but I must say one thing.”

“If you leave you and your TARDIS will officially be under court-martial law to be terminated or exiled!”

“True, but I just have to smell the roses every once in a while.”

The Chancellor was clearly writhing with anger and shouting at her, but Hedley didn’t hear a single word of it. She no longer cared about the world she once knew, she’d likely never see her family anyway inside of the capital. She switched off the scanner and pulled the lever, the choice made and done. She let out a breath of relief that she didn’t know that she was holding. It wasn’t exactly going to be smooth sailing from now on, and she was officially on the run for however long this would last. Thent the "turbulance" hit, nearly knocking her off of her hooves and back onto the floor.

"Oh sweet Rassilon, have mercy on my soul. Passing through the transduction barrier!"

Hedley dashed around the console, left and right. These certain models of TT Capsules weren't ment to be piloted by just one pony, but rather a group of six. She was trying her hardest to keep everything steady, using the one card up her sleeve to her advantage as much as possible. Then, everything went black. The console room darkened for a few seconds that felt like an eternity each. Finally a bright pink glow started to emit from the time colum that rose up and down in the center of the console. It was warm and inviting, the light spreading everywhere until it nearly blinded Hedley. Once again, everything went dark around her. She'd passed out on the console room floor with only a hope and a prair to keep her safe.

Radiance gasped and jolted upward, feeling herself breathing heavily. She felt stronger, a little more whole as well, but there was also the fear of what happened long ago. She still had more blank pages in her book of memories that laid dormant within her mind. She looked left and right for anypony, trying to regain her wits. Were the Time Ponies still after her, or had she been caught and served a horrible punishment? Suddenly a soft glow of pink edged around the cracks in a nearby door. Getting up Radiance caught a closer glance before opening the door. It was her old room that she felt was once lost, junked in an effort to get away from something or somepony that she knew.

"I see you've regained more of our memories, I can feel the same sensations that you are."

Radiance jolted around to see the apparation of her younger self once again, but now within the waking world. There was a similar pink glow around her, a manifestation of the TARDIS perhaps.

"Y-yes, I know more of who I am and yet..."

Radiance paused, combing over the recent memories that she'd both regained recently and within the past week.

"You're scared of who you think you are, might become, might've been, and other such related matters." said Hedley completing the thought.

"I know who I am, where I'm from, where all of this started. But what I don't know is what followed. Am I still in trouble, am I still atonning for what you, I mean we, did long ago."

Hedley chuckled and smiled, trotting over to the bed and patting it as a gesture for her to sit next to her. Radiance joined the vision of Hedley and she was enveloped in a warm enbrace. She felt much happier, safe, at home and one with herself. Radiance almost started to cry, feeling the verge of the cliff into the abyss of lost days long ago.

"It's alright, you've attoned for what I started and have faced those concequences. But that descision did not go without it's merit. Come with me through the vast corridors and I'll show you some of the adventures that we've been on along with the many things that you've missed."

Hedley smiled and offered her hoof after getting off of the bed. Just like before when she left Gallopfrey, a descision combined with a leap of faith. She'd yet to know what would be waiting for her along those vast halls but she knew that something exciting was waiting for her. So taking the vision of Hedley's hoof in her own she took the leap, and hoped that whatever was in store for her would be a wild and exciting ride. It was time to go to the garden outside and smell the roses once again.

Chapter 20 - Time to Smell the Roses

The phantom of Radiance’s past gracefully trotted ahead of her. It was a strange experience, yet a somewhat familiar one. The halls became older and older, her TARDIS no doubt twisting the architecture to their advantage. It all felt like a dream to her.

“You’re nervous and scared, I understand. But we must always continue to move forward” said Hedley.

Radiance looked down, different thoughts and questions swimming within her mind. Hedley definitely sounded different than from their first meeting, a lot less uptight and regal and much more whimsical and childish. This was likely due to not only the further progression in her memories but also her change in how she viewed her past self.

Hedley seemed to be guiding her down into a more organic area of her TARDIS, her own home. Something inside of her mind was trying to click, to reach out and latch on only for it to miss. The floors were made more of soil and grass than hardwood while the yellowed wall rounders were wrapped in vines. The closed and constructed hallway gave way to the inside of a large tree, causing Radiance’s jaw to drop as she stared out at the beauty before her.

A large field of the same luscious pink flowers that combed across the first world she visited stood before her, surrounded by a kind of tree that she also recognized yet couldn’t recall the name. The roof extended so high that it appeared to have its own clouds, above a room so big it had its own wind current.

“Feel familiar?” Hedley asked as she lightly danced across the field as to not trample the vegetation.

“I-I... it’s just like-“

“Just like the garden on Provia. All it’s missing is something special.”

Hedley lead her towards the center of the grove where a circular platform with ancient Gallophreyan symbols carved into and around it. It was her name made out of stone, spanning nearly twelve feet left and right. Placing her hoof on the center circle, the very middle of her signature, she began to cry. Hedley trotted up to Radiance and gave her a hug, beginning to sing a soft and sweet tune to the melody of the wind blowing through the trees.

“What’s once was lost may be found
The sailing sound of time.
The stories leather bound
In the library of my mind.

Sailing across the river into the forgotten known
I want you to know that you’ll never be alone.

You have yourself, and you have me.
You can still recover all your lost memory.”

Radiance wiped her tears and took the hoof that Hedley offered.

“B-but what does this all mean, why is this here? Why can’t I remember?”

Hedley only smiled and continued her song.

“This is the start, where our story began
But it’s not the end, there’s still more to be said.
Reach into your heart before your head, this was the place that you called home.”

“I... lived on Provia?”

“Yes, as Equuis was to the Doctor, Provia was to you. Time and time again between your own adventures, you’ve returned to this very place as your sanctuary.”

“I...I remember... I don’t know how I could ever forget this place. But there’s more here, more than just a place...”

Radiance’s eyes widened with shock as the image of not something but someone returned to her mind. How could she have forgotten even them, the first friend she had ever made during her travels.

“PRISM!”

A long long time ago Hedley was messing with the controls on the TARDIS console, setting the destination to Provia once again. Her hooves were dancing across the controls like a master pianist until she stopped, her hooves shaking. She’d been trying to distract herself from this for the past few hours, the memories of the home she left behind. Nothing good ever happens to those that leave Gallophrey behind, especially as she did. But there was nothing she could do now, the decision had been made.

The ship was now landing on Provia as planned with what seemed like no intervention from the Time Ponies. The fact that her TARDIS was “off the grid” and marked for decommissioning wouldn’t protect her for long. This place especially since it was the first place she’d ever visited. Even if she was just a sitting duck Hedley had to at least see this place one last time.

Suddenly the ship rocked back and forth as it landed. Something didn’t seem right, but all of the readings were showing that she was in the clear. Upon opening the scanner she saw just what had caused such a rough landing.

“Oh… woops”

Violet Scatter Prism was and is just an average pegasus in the city of Celadius. It was one of the many settlements created in the sixth wave of exoplanetary exploration, thus the micro city had been named after one of the moons from the sixth planet, Enceladus. Prism had a white coat with a curly rainbow mane full of pastel colors. She served ice cream in the local reserve for viewing species of wildlife and plants that existed before the colonization.

Today would’ve been an ordinary day, watching the other colonists pass by while the two moons rose into the sky. But suddenly while she had her back turned a small pink gazebo similar to the ones on the reserve grounds appeared out of nowhere and crushed her ice cream stand.

“W-what the hay!? My livelihood! Who even dumps these stupid things around here?”

A door on the front of the gazebo opened and another mare poked their head outside.

“Uhm, hello? I’m sorry about- ouch!”

Hedley fell to the ground as the inflatable rubber carnival bat hit her out of nowhere. Prism repeatedly bonked Hedley over the head , the bat making a squeaking noise every time.

“What’s the big idea, dropping your placebo on my stand?”

“Gazebo” Hedley replied, still dazed and confused.

“Hush, that stand was expensive!”

“If you’d just give me a second-“

Hedley grabbed the bat with her magic, making sure it was out of reach. That didn’t stop Prism from trying to nab it back.

“As I was saying, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do necessarily but I can try and fix it if you want. I can’t fully uh, control where I put my gazebo. Still an odd thing to say, but I didn’t intentionally want to crush your… stand.”

Hedley looked at Prism clinging to the inflatable bat like a foal clinging to their favorite stuffed animal.

“You’re a very strange mare.”

“And you’re even stranger, you look like you’re going to a Galactic Gala from a hundred years ago.”

Prism let out a little oof as she and the bat were dropped. Hedley wasn’t sure how to act. This strange pegasus mare was completely different from anypony on Gallophrey. No high up nose-in-the-air attitude or regal attire. For the first time in her current life, she had no clue on what to say or do.

“Uh… what’s a Galactic Gala?”

“Only the biggest celebration from ages ago, part of our ancient history. It’s kind of a big thing to not know about. Where are you from anyway?”

“Uhm uh, not here. Off world, though I’m pretty certain you haven’t heard of the place.”

“Right, I don’t even know your name. Maybe I’ll send the coppas on ya for squashing my stand.”

“N-no! No, that won’t be necessary. My name is Hedliaellfrolithene of the Arcadian chapter house, at your service madam.”

Hedley stumbled a little bit, realizing that she had once again fallen back into her formal ways. Prism was staring at her strangely again as she repostured herself out of the reflexive curtsy.

“That’s quite the mouthful, you don’t have any nicknames or for-shorts or anything?”

“No, w-where I’m from it’s tradition to call one by their full Gallophreyan name.”

“So you’re from Gallophrey? You’re pretty right when you said that I’d never have heard of it. I’mma call you Hedley for short. Is that okay?”

She hadn’t even caught the slip of her home planet’s name. She felt like a fish out of water, or a pony off of her planet for a better description. Hedlia thought about it for a second before smiling and nodding.

“Yeah, you can call me Hedley.”

“Coolio! Then you can call me Prism, everypony does.”

“Well then Miss Prism, it’s a pleasure to be meeting your acquaintance. I also believe that I owe you an ‘ice cream’ stand. Though I am good at mechanical construction, I may need some assistance on cultural and mechanical clarification.”

“It’d be my pleasure your majesty.”

The two of them laughed as Prism bowed, happy to meet each other for the very first time. Over the following days Prism helped Hedley get acquainted with the local society. She was able to fix the stand, but as it didn’t have a quantum flux drive the concept was a bit harder to grasp. In fact any form of leisure appeared to be quite new to Hedley.

Reminders of what it felt like to be home in her childhood, playing in the orange grass and getting all dusty. Back then everything felt so simple, but now her eyes had been opened to a whole new world of possibilities. As a sort of reward Prism decided to show the new mare around town. The two of them were sitting down at an outdoor patio that was part of the local cafe.

“So, what exactly are you doing here of all places? A winky dink planet in the middle of nowhere isn’t exactly the best tourist destination.” Prism asked, continuously sipping on a milkshake somehow without getting a brain freeze.

“A very good question. I’m not too sure honestly, I was here a long time ago. I’m not sure where and I’m not sure when, but it’s always seemed special to me. This is so far the first and only place I’ve traveled to. I don’t know why, but the flowers amazed me and dragged me in. So tall and vibrant, it’s a color I’ve never even seen before.”

“You don’t have purple on Galloway?”

“Gallophrey.” Hedley chuckled after correcting her.

“That’s what I said… Odd, I thought it was supposed to be sunny today.”

Upon looking up at the sky the two of them saw dark and looming clouds much unlike those on a stormy day. The difference was subtle but the clouds had a sort of sea foam green and lavender tint to them. Other denizens of the town crowded around outside , looking up at the sky before them. Hedley was panicking the most, falling out of her seat and trembling.

Was it the Timeponies? She wasn’t too sure as she’d never seen any methods of dealing with those that had escaped their grasp and their rules. But this was different, clearly not Timepony technology as a large electric beam shot down from the sky and split the ground in two. Hedley was almost paralyzed with fear, only Prism’s voice breaking her out of the mental prison of panic.

“H-Hedley! What’s going on, are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help, like sleep or soup or a hug or- woah!”

Prism was suddenly jerked forward as Hedley grabbed her by the foreleg and began galloping towards her TARDIS. Prism was blatantly confused and scared as a hostile force was ripping the ground beneath her apart. She stumbled and tripped as another crack opened behind her, causing her to almost fall into the cavern beneath her. Hedley cried Prism’s name out in alarm as she clutched her hooves as tight as possible.

“H-hold on Prism, I can pull you up!”

“N-no, just let me go I’ll be fine.”

“But you’re going to fall into this big pit, are you crazy!?”

“Hedley, just let go I have-“

The ground shook again and Hedley lost her grip on Prism, watching her fall into the crevice carved into the ground. Hedley just sat there speechless, ready to cry as she’d just lost the only friend she’d made outside of Gallophrey. That is, until Prism flew upwards and out of the ground, completely fine and unharmed. Hedley just looked up in shock and confusion.

“You can FLY!?”

“Well duh, I’m a pegasus. Have you… never seen a pegasus fly?”

Hedley just shook her head no as her mind was completely blown. For the first time something so simple was so complex and baffling to her instead of the other way around.

“Still, rude to try and kidnap me.” Prism said before sticking out her tongue and blowing a raspberry.

“I-I wasn’t- you know what? Never mind. I still need to get to my Tar- er, gazebo? Never actually seen one until now, just a settings option.”

“Uh, why? It’s just a casino.”

“Gazebo. And it’s a little more… ‘special’ than that.”

Hedley trotted over the remaining distance and entered her TARDIS, gesturing a hoof for her to follow behind. Prism cautiously entered through the gates of the pink gazebo, entering into the larger and much more spacious console room full of a similar regal charm that Hedley seemed to be ingrained with. The roundels glowed a soothing shade of pink as Hedley once again danced around the hexagonal console in the center of the room, checking readings and getting an analysis of the cloud above.

“Ah ha, now I’m getting somewhere.” Hedley said with a wide grin.

Prism wasn’t paying much attention, instead repeatedly sticking her head inside and outside the doors.

“Prism!”

“GAH!”

Prism fell to the floor in shock as Hedley yelled from right behind her. Hedley smiled and apologized before lending her a helping hoof.

“I just got the details on what’s going on up there. They’re called the Grenish Weapons Expo and seem to be touring around the galaxy for a week long showcase.”

“And what does that have to do with the sky lasers? I’d rather not have my tail pew-pewed off.”

“Well, Provia just so happens to be one of the ‘lucky’ selected planets on tour that they decided to test their nifty little gadgets on.”

“So my home is just one big test run?”

“Precisely, which is why I’m filing a teensy weensy complaint on behalf of the locals.”

“So you’re gonna fly right up there and complain for their manager?”

“In a sense, yes. Now hold onto your feathers, because I’m still new to short hops.”

“What do you- WOAH!”

The entire room lurched back and forth as her TARDIS dematerialized again. Prism was clutching onto a hatstand for dear life while Hedley was quickly correcting their corse mid-flight.

“D-don’t you know how to fly this thing!?”

“I just got my permit last week and had it revoked the day we met.”

“You’re lying.”

“I wish I was, now hang on!”

Slowly but steadily the room had stabilized, though half of the room’s contents were not in their original placement. Hedley helped Prism up as she was still shaking and sucking her hoof.

“N-never again! Next time…” Prism paused as she huffed and took a deep breath.

“I’m flying or taking the bus.”

Hedley just laughed and helped her towards the doors. She was shaking a lot less but it was nothing like any other ride she’d ever been on.

“Ready to voice your complaints?”

“To the planet destroyers or to my horrible driver?”

Hedley smiled and laughed causing Prism to do the same. The two doors before them slowly opened up and allowed them to step outside into the dangers before them.

Chapter 21 - Above and Below

Hedley danced around the console, appearing as if her actions were random when in actuality each move was quite concise and calculated. Traveling across the galaxy was easy for her, but a short hop upwards even a few miles required a bit of finesse. Even while the TARDIS was dematerializing she was shrouded in her mental bubble of determination and calculation. She’d hardly even noticed Prism just standing there slack jawed and bewildered.

“It’s bigger on the inside… like a whole house crammed into a tiny casino.”

“Gazebo, and there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. I’ll show you around once this is all done and sorted.”

Just like that the glass cylinder in the center of the console finally stopped moving, signally that they’d arrived. Right before she left Prism lightly grabbed her hoof, a bit of a nervous look in her eyes. It was clear that she was a little bit frightened despite holding up a jovial appearance until now.

“I want to come with you, this is my home too. Everything around me is completely new and beyond my understanding. But I want to understand, I want to understand you I… I don’t want to be alone just yet.”

Hedley’s face softened, showing the feelings that she’d also been secretly hiding. She was always afraid to be connected to others because they always left. As a TimePony she was tough that the her kind had always been above most races and those that were seen as equals were to be feared. This is why she left Gallophrey, not just to smell the roses and see sights, but for the people as well. Hedley smiled and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m not leaving you, you’re the only pony I’ve met that I truly cared so much about.”

“Even from your own kind?”

“I wouldn’t consider the TimePonies ponies, they’re much different than you and I. That’s why you’re here with me. Now come on, we have a complaint to file.”

Upon opening the doors they arrived in what was a large iron bulkhead , the ground a much darker steel than the walls around them. It was cold but the walls were so hot they were slightly steaming. Crates, containment units and computer banks were littered all around the areas in a neatly fashion.

“Must be a storage area, the actual control deck must be upstairs.”

Hedley grunted as she pulled the lever on the door to the side in order to open it. The bulkhead door loudly groaned as it was pulled open. Their hooves clicked and clacked across the cold metal, traveling down several old winding corridors. Finally they arrived at another bulkhead, this one luckily not as thick and hefty.

“Are we there yet?” Prism groaned sarcastically.

“Apparently so, if my sense of direction is correct.”

“I thought you only went off world for the first time last week.” Prism raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Well, it’s always best to… check.”

Hedley paused as the door slid open to the side. Luckily it was automatic and not someone on the other side. But on the other side was a room filled with a large amount of monitors and surveillance footage. Not just of the planet below but of several other worlds as well. Hedley quickly trotted up to the camera controls, switching around to see footage of the ship’s interior. There were so many different species walking around, pamphlets being handled out with several different stands on display.

“An expo… this is one big weapons expo! I can hardly believe it. Can you hardly believe it Prism?”

“Uh…”

“Well neither can I. I’ll just find the emergency warp drive, boot them a few light years away and they’ll be out of our manes.”

“Wait, wait, wait. You’re just shooing them away, kicking them to the far curb and that’s that?”

“Yup. They won’t be our problem.”

“But they’ll be someone else’s! You can’t think that they won’t move on to another pony colony, or another place just like this and start back up again? What if this makes them angry and they march right up to our doorstep all extra huffy.”

“W-well I…”

Hedley paused and thought for a moment, Prism’s gaze staring into her soul. Prism even looked a little hurt as she tried to avoid her gaze. She didn’t have the words anymore and Prism didn’t need them. The look in her eyes was enough. There was so much more behind those eyes, things that went unsaid. Hedley’s internal Timepony programming of nonintervention were colliding with her own new morals that Prism was giving her. It actually hurt her head a little.

Prism turned around and a large security guard clad in hefty obsidian black armor stared down at her with their lizard like yellow eyes. The guard was like a fusion between a diamond dog and a dragon, possessing strength even without the weapon in a holster at their side. Prism took a few steps back, almost falling over in fear. Hedley looked at her, the joyful white mare cowering in fear. She stuck a hoof out defensively in front of Prism.

“Guests are not permitted in these areas. State your name, rank and identification number.”

Hedley didn’t back down, not even thinking before replying. She stood in her place proudly, trying to assert some form of authority as if she belonged.

“My name is Hedley, agent of Provia and here to state that you’re in violation of galactic code. Provia is a level fou- five planet with sentient inhabitants developing their own community. Now please… leave?”

The guard stood still, processing the information through a crest on the left side of their chest. Prism felt impressed until she looked back at Hedley. She was absolutely making most, if not all of it, up on the spot. It was a tall order but it seemed to work as the guard nodded to follow, not calling out her bluff. On the surveillance footage the firing onto the planet’s surface appeared to have stopped, but the forces had not yet retreated.

Prism gulped as she went forwards, her planet being held hostage. The hallways began to give way from the dank and rusty corridors to somewhat of a intergalactic venue. They’d come out of the shadows but weren’t fully out in the open. A few gazes made their way upon them, but nothing beyond a passing glance. Eventually they came to the real heart of the ship. An old creature that look like a vulture on two legs stared down at them.

The room they were in was more akin to a corporate office than the more open public vendor halls. The vulture was covered in scars, clearly caused by being in this line of business. His voice was thick and raspy before he cleared his throat.

“My apologies, madam, but you say that you have a complaint?”

The atmosphere was thick, the head honcho’s voice calm and smooth yet set off several internal alarm bells. Prism looked over at her new friend, the only person she knew who could possibly handle the situation, whom was clearly out of her depth despite holding solid with determination.

“Yes, you’re testing your weaponry on a newly inhabited planet. I and my associate from the planet below are speaking on the inhabitants defense.”

“You claim to speak for a planet that has no current registry of sentient life according to the Galactic Bureau. We’ve determined that these creatures below are a mere infestation. So you could say that we’re doing this planet a favor.”

“As I’ve stated, they’re a newly inhabited colony with no current contact to yours or any other bureau. It’s not their fault that you’ve failed to double check your paperwork.”

The vulture leaned forwards, intrigued by such a challenge along with the hilarity that such a lowly species talk back to him.

“Are you suggesting that the Galactic Bureau of the entirety Sector 18C, part of the federation that catalogues nearly 7 billion sectors of the universe, has made a mistake?”

“No. You did.”

The room went completely cold and silent. Only a few words struck like a fired bullet, ringing across the room’s tension only to strengthen it, making it heavier and more suffocating. The shots had been fired, and there was no turning back now.

“In fact, it was quite deliberate if you ask me. I presume that testing such weapons with high mortality rates and even higher death counts is quite a hard chance to come by. I’m sure no legal system would allow such a slaughter to go unnoticed. I bet that all of this would be swept under the rug had nopony come to complain.

No way of knowing that this colony exists, no way of the colony calling for help. How many weapons have you been ‘testing’ under these conditions, hmm? I’m sure that the Galactic Bureau, federation, or what have you would like to have a strict word with you.”

The vulture merely laughed. She was right, she was absolutely right. The whole expo was a black market business with ties to many powerful people. They had all of the power, their web of control was too strong to break.

“Oh, how you’ve entertained me. I know that you’re no official, you’re not even of the same species as the colonists. You didn’t think that my guards didn’t do a bio scan, or even the most basic of background checks, did you? Your word has no merit whatsoever. Guards, dispose of them. I’ve had my fun and these pesky ponies have become rather dull to me. Ta ta, you’ve all been dismissed.”

The guards quickly picked the two of them up, much to their complaints and dismay. They were rather easily thrown into a waste storage facility. More appropriately, the air locked disposal unit. Only a large metal gate stood between the two of them and the cold confines of space.

“We’re dead…w-we’re actually going to die. And I literally just paid off my student loans yesterday! T-this is all your fault, I just wanted to live peacefully and-“

“Mechanic.”

Prism paused in the middle of her distressed rant. She looked at Hedley in a mix of confusion, anger, and sadness. She was already on the verge of tears.

“What?”

“First mistake of trying to dispose of a temporal mechanic and her best friend, put her in a junkyard.”

Hedley was already grabbing random bits of scrapped circuitry and steel, pulling random tools out of her seemingly endless pockets.

“This is very slapdash, primitive, and extremely dangerous but it’s our only option with about-“

“T-Minus 2 minutes until airlock release. Please clear all personal from the premise due to risk of ejection.”

The lights began to flash red while sirens wailed from every wall. The scraping and clicking of several different deadbolts were already present as time was running out.

“Ah, right. Luckily this only needs to be about one or two meters in diameter over a short distance, preferably far from the other side of that door.”

“W-what!?”

Everything was moving so rapidly and yet appeared to be in slow motion around them. Only a mix of fear and adrenaline kept them going as more deadbolts released, the air slowly being sucked out in the depressurization. The noises were only getting louder as they got closer to the end.

“TRANSMAT! SHORT RANGE! SUCK IT IN OR YOU’LL LOSE A KIDNEY!”

“WHAT!?”

“HANG ON!!”

In a matter of seconds, the final deadbolts started to release. All sound in the room was gone as everything was being ejected. Hedley pulled Prism in closely as a strange electrical field surrounded them. Time slowed to a stop, stuck in the moments between life and death. Prism closed her eyes as everything flashed with a blinding white light. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t breathe. There was nothing. All within that moment she was both alive and dead. She didn’t dare open them, until they opened themselves…

The ground was cold, which was good considering there was ground. Prism took in several deep breaths shakily, her body warming up once again. She was sore all over, but she was very much alive. She looked up with blurry vision to see Hedley already fiddling with the device that had saved their lives. She immediately stopped and looked back at her in relief. She was crying, and she’d never seen her cry before.

“You… are so lucky… that I can’t kill you right now…”

Hedley’s expression changed from overly joyful to an emotion that can only be described accurately, as “wow, thanks”.

“Good thing I have two hearts or I’d also be unconscious, and then where would we be?”

“Is there anything… else you have two of? Particularly… something that I painfully… remove?”

Hedley chuckled, not sure if liked this Prism or the angrily disappointed Prism any better. Either way, now wasn’t the time to be pondering such a question.

“Per your advice, I’m making sure that these people never harm anyone ever again. You were right, making them someone else’s problem. I’m sending a massive distress signal, something particularly nasty that can’t be ignored even by the stingiest of higher ups. I don’t know what it’ll do to the planet below, or even do period, but we’re weak and low on options.”

“Glad to see you’ve gained a conscience… while I’ve lost a few pounds… or gained some, I don’t know.”

“Heh, glad to see the old Prism mostly back. We’ll have to get to my ship as fast as possible. We’ll be safer there and be able to rest… I’m trying my best…”

Prism smiled warmly as the device started to pulse and buzz rapidly. Hedley carried her away on her back, leaving the little electrical pulse bomb to detonate an electrical wave that would fry the expo ship’s and likely any other electrical impulses on the same frequency within a couple of light years away. Due to the colony’s more primitive nature, all they would experience was a minor power outage for a day.

As she entered her Tardis and let Prism rest, all she could think of was not only the collateral damage that she could cause in nearby systems but also the TimePonies. She went into dematerialization and scanned the area of effect. Meanwhile the she decided to do a little architectural reconfiguration. A garden, just like the one on Provia, where both she and Prism could rest.

Radiance looked up at her non-corporeal past counterpart. Barely any time had past since she’d started crying in the garden. Yet it felt like weeks had gone by. She remembered more than she did before and that time was starting to weigh upon her. Radiance was more whole and stronger than ever before. But there was still a lot ahead of her. Four regenerations worth. How long until that darkness, until Iridescence, caught up with her.

Author's Note

Act 1 - Now Complete

Chapter 22 - The Next Act

Twilight Sparkle rummaged around the underside of the Tardis console, observing more of the console’s inner mechanisms. She thought that seeing the actual inside of it might give her a better understanding of how to work it. Even for her it was hard to comprehend. The Doctor had repaired the Tardis before her several times before during his exile. She’d been reminiscing a lot recently, especially since Radiance left her in her own Tardis behind.

She thought that the Fast Return Switch, what could easily return her to any previous locations from recent flights, seemed to be malfunctioning. The thing was that it worked perfectly fine on any other time or location, but it was as if even the slightest attempt to return to the Doctor’s original coordinates were surrounded by an indestructible bubble.

“I’d never have to read his entire life story if a little switch could solve all of my problems.” Twilight sighed in annoyance.

Flying the Tardis was already a hassle, but it seemed she’d been able to lock the destination down to within the flight logs. While the Doctor’s travels was not as infinite as time and space, it was still a lesser infinite. She’d landed on acid soaked beaches in both her world in the past and others in the future. She’d made it to fields of grass underneath large radars and to intergalactic circuses. But not once was the Doctor there. The list never appeared to end.

This was clearly the wrong approach, considering she’d been at this for months. The constant attempts, the theories and questions unanswered. She’d hoped to warn the Doctor before he’d entered danger but that would cause a paradox. She didn’t want to go anywhere near that evil place she’d been in where Radiance left. It was just some ordinary planet drifting through space, almost a complete mud ball now. What was so significant about this planet, about Provia?

There was one more thing she could test and try. Luckily with all of the failed attempts it was easier to pilot the old thing. She looked at the coordinates for Provia, where and when the barrier was. If the barrier were a bubble then it had to have an outer edge somewhere. With the flick of several levers, cranks, and keys, the Tardis took off once more. Off to the borders, off to the edge of where she could possibly be within range. The Tardis clearly tried to resist, knowing what she was trying to do.

This time the resistance was more like traveling through molasses than hitting a brick wall. Both Twilight and the Tardis drifted from the epicenter of the temporal and spatial barrier. Time seemed to slow down, almost begging her to stop. But then, she landed. Only about a few decades and a hundred miles off. That was all she was going to get.

“Now where am I… there’s got to be something.”

Twilight wished she’d taken Spike or somepony else along, but she couldn’t risk their endangerment. She’d known first hoof what it was like out there, but going it alone felt worse to her. The air was damp, artificial, sort of smelling like a lab or a hospital. There was a distinct smell of chemicals in the air. It was also very dark.

With the illumination of her horn the room appeared to be some sort of storage area. It was so small she almost walked right into the door upon exit. The door whined as it opened, two hinges already cracked and rusted away. Traveling down the hallways felt like a scene from a horror film. Years ago this may have been a state of the art facility for medical science or some strange agricultural advancements if the scattered documents and discarded experiments were any indication. The building creaked with age as Twilight took one step after another. This wing of the building had been condemned for being unstable long ago and could collapse at any second.

Eventually past all of the condemned signs and yellow tape the building returned closer to its original white and sterile tiled walls. However as bright and sterile as this new area may be, it was still an absolute mess. If anything the only difference between wings was that the power was still working. Looking through one door Twilight was horrified. So many sick ponies crammed into one small room in varying states of some unknown illness. In the split second she saw them she noticed that their skin was covered in lumps, that was before another hoof quickly pushed her own off of the door. It was one of the medical staff and she could see the fear deep behind her eyes, only shown in that second when she almost opened the door.

“I-I’m sorry, but visiting hours are over and are especially not without the proper protection.”

Looking down Twilight saw the nurse dressed in what might as well have been a hazmat suit. What happened here to have warranted such drastic measures?

“No, it’s my fault. What happened to every pony in there. It’s…”

She wanted to say something along the lines of absolutely terrifying but the words were caught in her throat.

“It doesn’t have an official name yet, but we’re calling it the Zeta Virus. It’s gone airborne in only the past few days. It was just a virus in the wheat, nothing serious at all but it spread so fast I… I’m terribly sorry. It’s been a stressful time for all of us so please sit in the waiting room and we’ll call for you.”

The nurse was clearly hanging on by a thread. Radiance said that Provia was a planet filled with flowers and life, but once she returned everything was wilted and dead for a long long while. Twilight tried to protest against being forced into the waiting room, however the nurse insisted. She had to get back to the TARDIS immediately or she’d further risk getting the infection herself. The TARDIS’s antigens could expel most of the virus alone but there was no telling how much damage it could do.

She looked up at one of the screens in the lobby, just a typical health program likely shown in most of their hospitals. The lobby here was already loaded with those desperate and trying to cling onto hope, how many more were experiencing the same fate? The walls of the hospital suddenly started trembling before the program switched to an emergency broadcast. The mare on the screen looked overjoyed as she gave her report.

“What was once thought to be a meteor is instead a large spacecraft, a small fleet of them in fact. Our scanners may have misidentified them before but now our saviors are here. We all know that Provia had been struggling for the past five years, constantly sending out distress signals to the far reaches of the galaxy but no pony had answered. The universe has been growing more and more silent by the day, but now our calls had been answered. Everyone please give a warm welcome for…”

Twilight was only shocked for a second as the so called “help” appeared on screen. Daleks, she should’ve known. She’d thought that they’d all been wiped out, though that was a different time and on her own world. These weren’t the Daleks she’d faced over the years, there had to be hundreds of thousands of them. The broadcast was then patched through to one of the commanding ships.

“We have heard your calls, we will provide assistance in your time of need. The universe is at war and you are all in danger. The Daleks will protect you and exterminate any threat that endangers your planet.”

There was a moment of silence before the entire waiting room erupted with pure joy. They were finally going to be free of this disease in their eyes. This was worse than she thought, these Daleks weren’t as battered and worn as those in more recent years. This was the Daleks at their prime and Twilight had just arrived at the doorstep of an armada. It was then that she realized that the Daleks would be able to locate the TARDIS with ease, especially if unguarded on a planet with technology much more primitive compared to it. The Daleks may have already found it, taken it to their ship and leaving her stranded. The clock was ticking, how much time did she have left?

Immediately she got up and ran, bursting through several doors to the protest of the hospital staff. The cloister bell rang in her ears as the Daleks filled the sky by the hundreds. This was the reason that the whole area was time locked, or at least one part of the puzzle. Only one thought was going through her mind as she went through the condemned area of the hospital. The structure creaked further as support beams fell around her.

The light of a Dalek squad peered through the windows, probably chanting something about the Doctor or the Tardis being spotted. Time almost slowed to a stop as she processed the directions in her head. One wrong turn could mean death. One left, two rights, another right. She was so close until she heard the shattering of glass before instinctively ducking. The Daleks had shattered the window at the other end of the hall, the cloister bell audibly echoing across the decrepit walls.

“Halt. You emit the energy pattern of a time traveler. You do not belong in this time period. You are Twilight Sparkle, an associate of the Doctor. We have located his TARDIS, therefore you have no use. You will be exterminated!”

There wasn’t anytime to reason with the metallic pepper pot. It happened so fast and she was so sure that this was the end for her. The Dalek fired, but it’s shot never hit. Instead the TARDIS materialized around her, alarms ringing left and right. She’d run out of time before the temporal shielding was encasing the entire temporal and spatial coordinates.

Just like before, the TARDIS was running away. It had saved her life mere seconds before death. Twilight laid on the mesh flooring, her heart beating at a thousand miles per hour. Right across from her, sitting in one of the tan chairs was the diary that started this all. Radiance, Provia, the TARDIS, all starting with the need to find the Doctor at the end of his last adventure.

She got up shaking, picking up the book and ready to chuck it across the console room. But she couldn’t, that might destroy it and her only chance of seeing the Doctor again. It was in that moment while the console room was lit an eerie red that she finally started to ask herself, why. Why was she doing this, why was she trying to save the Doctor alone, why did she have to save him alone?

The Doctor had entrusted her to save him, but this felt like too big of a task for anyone. To stand where the Doctor stood was a dangerous life and she was still attempting to tread in his hoof steps. Twilight started to cry for the first time in awhile, not since she thought about the destruction of her library what felt like so long ago. Maybe she needed a break or a vacation of some sort. Rarity did mention that she was going to Manehatten soon.

She’d originally felt so confident in herself that she could do this, but everything was gone. One wrong move no matter the precautions was all it took. Twilight didn’t have to steer the TARDIS this time, it knew that she needed the rest. So trotting down those halls once again, back to her old room, she laid down for the first time in awhile and just had a rest. There was still so much more left to do, and so many more places to see, but for now it was time to just sit back and relax.

Chapter 23 - S.O.S

Twilight Sparkle laid her head into her pillow, though slammed might be a more accurate description as she was completely and utterly exhausted. She’d just returned from her Manehatten trip with Rarity, which was certainly interesting to say the least. More or less Rarity had to design an entire new dress line on the fly and she and her others happily volunteered to help. However Rarity got a little too into her head and too their help for granted, but in the end she made it up to them by taking them to an exclusive performance of the play they’d missed in the hassle.

But as she looked to her side and saw the leather bound book on her nightstand, that was the last thing on her mind. How long had it been since the Daleks on Provia, days, weeks? It felt like an eternity for her mostly since she hated the memory so much. So close to death once again in an endeavor related to the Doctor. She wasn’t the same mare she was all those years ago when studying under Celestia and the Doctor was in a place far far away from here and now.

She could keep on reading, keep on going, but that same old question still lingered within her mind. Why? Why here of all ponies to be chosen to save him, did he really trust her that much? She knew that he trusted her as much as she trusted him, but now she no longer trusted herself. She let out a long sigh and picked the diary back up, a hoof brushing over the glistening golden embroidery on the cover. Still so much between where she was and even her own Doctor, maybe her own memories could assist in unlocking the diary’s end but that was an idea for when she had more energy. Time to move forward, time to continue the adventure.

The Doctor observed the controls and readouts on the mint green console. He was sulking, only recently letting his granddaughter Susan go. She was moving on without him, not needing him to go on adventures anymore. He was sulking, not saying anything to Spark or Berry Blossom. He didn’t have as much as a connection to them as he did through his granddaughter, he knew them through her. He sat down into one of the old wicker chairs lying about in the console room and took a little nap. He dreamed of his later days on Gallifrey with his two friends graduating the academy. He rose up in the ranks before being in the high counsel, though the decision as to why he left wasn’t a happy one.

He couldn’t avoid the memories of his granddaughter, she was everything to him. Her mother didn’t have the same twinkle in her eyes as she did, the same intrigue and desire to learn what was outside of the citadel. They were all under the same curse of a Time Pony, too high and mighty to even use their TARDISes half the time. Not her though, she wanted and craved the adventure too. That’s when he began to hear the voices of Spark and Berry again, muffled from his slumber.

“He’s never slept through a landing before.” said Spark with a bit of concern.

“Doctor, we’ve landed. Are you alright?” Berry asked with equal worry.

“Hmm? Oh nonsense, nonsense, I’m sure everything is alright. Could you please check the Temporal Regulators Susa-“

The Doctor stopped mid sentence, falling into old habits again. Berry and Spark looked at each other growing even more worried for him. He silently moved over to the other side of the console and flicked a switch, reading the diagnostics to himself. The room felt a little eerie as he turned the scanner on again. The planet had an eerie grayish-purple atmosphere with various spots of blue land and deep black water. The world was mostly ocean though there were strips of land here and there, hundreds of continent sized islands floating around like noodles in a soup bowl.

“There, the planet Didos somewhere in Copper’s Bowl. Interesting system, I went there once myself…”

Another memory with Susan, it was getting more and more difficult to ignore the feelings and carry on. Carry on as if things were normal and she were here, but she wasn’t and likely wouldn’t be for a long long time.

“Anywho, everything seems alright outside. Breathable mostly, however only in a small area of a few cubic kilometers. Must be another Equestrian colony, was absolutely flourishing the last time I was here.”

Upon exiting the doors of the indigo Police Box, the world around them was in fact, not absolutely flourishing. Just dust and ruins spread for miles. The world inside of this colony, held inside of a giant glass dome like figures in a snow globe, was left to rot long ago. The Doctor was too late for anything here, just the remainders that were left by some unknown cause hundreds, maybe thousands, of years ago. He was just about ready to turn back into the TARDIS, Spark talking about something he wasn’t fully listening to, to see a large plume of smoke rising into the sky.

“Doctor!” yelled Spark, having tried to get his attention with no use for nearly a minute.

Berry grunted as she pulled her hooves out of a rather deep divot in the dusty ground, brushing off the sand.

“Spark spotted some kind of smoke off in the distance, we think it’s some kind of signal or beacon for those passing by. We’ve been trying to tell you but you entered another one of your trances.”

The Doctor scoffed dismissively at Berry. He’d never had any trances, she just caught him in deep thought. There was certainly a lot to think about these days. After straightening his frock coat and retightening his ribbon tie, he went off in the direction of the smoke.

“Come along , Beryl and Spike, no time for dilly dallying.”

He didn’t even realize that he’d gotten their names completely wrong. Just a mere slip of the tongue, surely. A thick layer of clouds reigned above them in the dome, the threat of a storm looming on the horizon. Upon looking through the thick glass all they could see were sand dunes, stretching on endlessly for miles. Oddly the buildings seemed a little slanted and while most windows were broken, there wasn’t a shard of glass anywhere.

“I don’t like the look of this weather, it’s getting chilly rather fast.” Berry shivered, wrapping her wings closer to herself for warmth.

“We better move quickly then. Come on Doctor, we better go see who needs help.”

With a quick shake of his head, the Doctor immediately followed suit, trotting of into whatever lie ahead. It eventually began to snow, little crystalline shards gently floating down from above. The wind carried strange sounds all around them, like tapping on glass with a spoon. Climbing over the heaps of broken concrete and steel rebar, the trio found themselves at a shuttle bay. It obviously wasn’t meant for full on space travel, just quick trips from colony to colony.

Spark stopped as an old white tile fell and broke in front of him, it’s ceiling just as cracked as it was now. There was a fire crackling nearby, still hot with high flames and bellowing smoke. The Doctor put a hoof to his mouth, signaling for them to be quiet. Spark stood guard at the short entrance tunnel they came through while the others inspected the area. A distinct rustling could be heard from shuttle Delta, the only one with intact windows.

Berry and the Doctor approached carefully, one step, two steps. Then suddenly the door burst open, and a young purplish-gray mare with a blonde main and tail tumble out in front of them. Berry and the Doctor looked at each other in confusion. This was certainly not what, or rather who, they’d expected. The teenage mare brushed off her dark purple sweater, looking up at them with glee.

“Oh thank goodness you’re here! You said that the rescue party was still a month away, but you must’ve been sent ahead! Oh, thank you so much for coming. Please, come inside, it’s snug but it’s fine, oh I can’t wait to show my dad!”

The Doctor and Berry looked at the exhilarated stranger, then at one another with a saddened yet worried glance. She hadn’t seen anyone else other than her father in a long long while. Just with the look in her eyes she was given away.

“How… long have you been here?” Berry asked, stepping into the shuttle.

“About a few years I think, keeping track is a little hard.”

“That’s quite brave of you, my dear, but…” the Doctor paused, contemplating his response.

He didn’t know if he could break it to her that they weren’t a rescue party. Her eyes had so much hope hiding the deep despair.

“But… we aren’t quite ready to leave just yet. Our ship, eh, needs to refuel. However I’m quite glad we found you, we weren’t certain that you weren’t an attacker of some kind. It’s alright Spike, you can come out now.”

No response. Berry looked down the tunnel for Spark, no pony there anymore. Berry looked at the Doctor with concern. The Doctor internally chastised himself, of course splitting up never ends well. It didn’t bode well with neither the Daleks nor the old Council of Sages, so why would it ever work now? The young mare immediately went from her ecstatic attitude to one of shear horror.

“Not again, please we have to get to your ship, somewhere safer. They’ll hurt us again, dad isn’t here to protect me.”

Berry immediately went back into her protective teacher mode, rushing to her side. She draped a wing over the horrified teen in an attempt to soothe her.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, we’re here with you. I’m sure that whatever these things are, we’ll keep you safe. I’m Berry Blossom and he’s the Doctor, what’s your name?”

“Frequency, Frequency Wave, though my friends used to call me Free. And your friend is in a lot of trouble if the Koquillion got him.”

“The Koquillion? I don’t know who or what he is, but Spark has been strong before and I’m sure he will be again.” comforted Berry, pulling away from Free a little.

“But they’re the one that did all of this, they cracked the dome.”

Spark groaned, leaning his head up against the wall behind him. Just seconds ago he was keeping watch in the entrance tunnel, now laying on the ground while an older stallion was untying him.

“Ugh… who are you and where am I?”

“SSH, keep your voice down. I’m Radio Wave.”

“Who or what are we running from?”

As Spark’s ropes fell to the ground, the two of them took off. They were in another tunnel similar to that of the station, but darker and dingier. It was likely some kind of service tunnel but there was no clear exit or entrance, just a long tube that stretched into the darkness.

“The Koquillion, only one beast that toppled our entire civilization. There was nothing we could do… he was too powerful for us.”

“Are you the only one left, we have to go back for others.”

“Nonsense, the Koquillion has likely returned for you by now. If we go back we die.”

“But if we don’t then several others may die!”

The walls around them groaned with age and decay. Dust started to rain down as everything shook for several seconds that felt like an eternity. Thankfully it stopped and the two returned to a whisper.

“The tunnel’s so unstable that even noises could bring the place down on our heads, there’s no choice. We have to go now.”

Spark looked back before sighing, internally cursing himself for how little he could do. So they continued on, not even able to run without the tremors continuing. They were nearly at the tunnel’s end when another tremor occurred, causing the ceramic ceiling tiles to fall again. That sound he’d heard before when it snowed, it was glass. The glass dome was cracking and raining around them and none of them were the wiser. Suddenly Radio called out for him in alarm, the ceiling finally giving up the ghost after so long. Spark didn't even have the time to look up before it was too late.

Chapter 24 - Message Received

With the foreboding creak of rusted steel, the corners of several buildings collapsed. The winds howled and rang like wind chimes, fragments of glass clinking together during their dangerous descent. Free tried to look outside from the safety of the cavern, jumping back as the tram tunnel’s roof nearly collapsed on top of her. While there was a clear view of the carnage outside, any vestige of warmth was snuffed out by the harsh winds.

“The dome won’t last much longer now, I knew that it was collapsing but I didn’t know it was this bad. Everything will be okay, won’t it? You’re here to save us, to take us to your rescue ship!”

The Doctor didn’t know what was worse, the impending doom of the self-destructing dome, or having to break the young mare’s heart. The snow was already getting larger as the glass broke further. It was becoming too dangerous to travel outside, the glass piercing bark of the remnants of long dead trees. Looking at Berry Blossom again for reassurance he took Frequency aside.

“I’m sorry but, I’m afraid we’re not the rescue team that you were hoping for…”

The Doctor winced a little as Free’s expression drifted from hopeful to acceptance. He tried to calm himself and not make anything worse, but it was still throwing salt in his fresh wounds.

“I…” Free gulped before and attempted to maintain her composure. “I figured… the transmissions said that they were still a month's flight away. But I knew that with the rations and the dome it… I just…”

The Doctor immediately pulled her into a hug. It was just instinctual, wanting to comfort this now crying child all lost and alone. He hadn’t felt this way in a long while. Even with Susan it’d been months since he’d last hugged her. The glass snow continued to fall, the flakes growing larger and larger as the cold wind blew.

“We need to be swift and get back to the ship. Berry, you can take Free back while I go and hunt down Spark. He couldn’t have gotten far in these tunnels.”

Berry tried to object but the Doctor shut her down. He had a sad look in his eyes while putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“Now Berry, you’ve grown a lot since we first met. You’re a strong mare and I know that you’ll protect Free. Spark isn’t the only one who I depend on, you know. Now go on, I won’t be far behind.”

Berry smiled and gave a knowing nod, grabbing Free by the hoof. She was still a teacher, caring and loving, even after all the adventures she’d had.

“Do you know a quick way to the center of the dome? That’s where we need to go. The Tardis landed somewhere around there” Berry asked Free gently.

“Yes, though it might be dangerous now. All of the tunnels are unstable and it’s raining glass.”

Almost as if on cue, the entire dome shook as its foundations weakened. Winds outside roared violently, slashing at the infrastructure. These were only the tail ends of the storm, slapping against the glass like a child in a temper tantrum. In the distance a building finally collapsed after years of standing resolute. By the time the Doctor looked back Berry and Free were already gone. He wished them the best and could only hope that they made it to the TARDIS.

Walking down the vast tunnels was not easy. They seemed to stretch on for miles, darkness consuming each end despite the barely functioning light fixtures. Tiles cracked and fell from the ceiling as he ran. He was starting to lose hope, like a rat stuck in an endless maze. Neither Berry nor Free could fly the TARDIS, so if he were gone they were stranded. He chastised himself for even thinking of sending them away, but he only wanted them to be safe.

Leaning against a wall covered in faded tram posters, the Doctor was all alone. Looking up at the ceiling he shed a few tears. Maybe sending Susan away only put her into more danger, just like he did with Berry and Free. He was a lonely old stallion in the midst of a collapsing society, lamenting his troubles to himself and the collapsing walls. Just as he caught his breath, a tall shadow crept across the curved walls.

He quickly did his best to hide behind some old, cobweb coated crates. Whoever they were, they were clearly enraged, their words growing clearer as they drew nearer and nearer. Radio Frequency was constantly trying to get his comm system back online before angrily throwing it on the ground.

“Foul machines never work like they used to. I’ll never get off of this blasted rock at this rate. I miscalculated the dome’s stability, but I designed the place myself. Those stupid corporate big wigs never knew what they were doing. I-“

The Doctor accidentally knocked over a small stack of metal pipes, causing Radio to stop in his tracks. He began to slowly approach the stack of boxes, picking up a discarded wrench. Without hesitation he slammed the wrench into one of the crates, breaking it easily. The wrench grazed the Doctor’s ear, a quick yet lucky dodge. The Doctor didn’t know who this stallion was, but something about him just felt off. Radio’s look softened as he saw the Doctor, a mix of relief and sadness.

“Ah, terribly sorry there. I don’t know what came over me. I’ve been alone for so long, lost in these tunnels without seeing anyone. It drives even the strongest stallions a little mad.”

“Yes, yes, I can see why. These tunnels must go on for miles, hmm? You haven’t happened to run into a young stallion by chance? Red Earth Pony, a friend of mine.” The Doctor said, brushing the cobwebs off of his frock coat.

“No, I’m afraid not. I’ve been using the monitoring system to track any survivors. Do you happen to be a mechanic?”

“Of sorts, depends what you need a mechanic for.”

The stallion came closer, fidgeting nervously even though they were alone.

“I’ve figured out a way to reseal the dome.” Radio whispered.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow, having seen the carnage going on outside. He had to admit that he was curious, but he’d seen the carnage outside. He’d felt the infrastructure shaking beneath his hooves as proof, but the security cameras could reveal Spark’s last location if he truly wasn’t in the tunnels anymore.

“Lead the way.”

Down several more corridors the Doctor assumed that this was all a trap or a big waste of time, but they finally arrived at the computer room. The dome’s main database, maintenance, and now a storage area. Observing inside some of the crates were various samples of plants, data cores, and records of the dome. This was their ark, a time capsule of the dome’s history and civilization. Radio poured over the main terminal, running a sequence of queries and diagnostics through one of the less beaten up server banks.

“The biodome is made up of a mix of polycarbonates, steel, acrylic, and a special stabilising agent that coats all layers of the glass. It’s supposed to make the glass impenetrable and slightly flexible for winds like these. Though it seems that Conven Corp shorted out on us.”

Radio’s body visibly tended with anger, the Doctor using this as a chance to do a little bit of his own snooping. There were plenty of physical records lying around in the scattered crates, the Doctor carefully and quietly lifting up one of the crate lids to expose its contents.

“You seem to have a wide knowledge of the biodome’s structure.”

“Why of course, I was one of the lead designers in the whole project. It was our crowning achievement, one of the first successful localised terraforming units on the planet. Of course it was amazing, the entire city. We never expected things to turn out the way they did…”

The Doctor’s eyes widened as he looked at one of the records, hearing a gun being cocked behind his head. Turning around, Radio was pointing a primitive pistol behind his head. A Time nearly slowed to a stop as the Doctor began to analyse the situation. The weapon didn’t run on energy packs so it couldn’t recharge, meaning a limited amount of ammo. There was no telling how many shots it could fire from the looks of it but it likely couldn’t rapidly fire like a stazer. This could grant him some time between shots but definitely not enough. He knew he was old and couldn’t outrun a bullet. That also limited physical altercations as well, Radio likely being a good deal stronger than him too. Time began to resume its normal flow as the Doctor lightly exhaled.

“You know, I never got your name. Terribly impolite of me, I’m the Doctor. And please be careful where you’re pointing that thing, young stallion. Very dangerous.”

“I’d rather think that was the point. I’m Radio Frequency, pleasure knowing you.”

“And, and you said that you designed this dome, yes? Quite the marvellous amount of ingenuity, hmm?”

“Cut to the chase, you know what I’ve done Doctor…”

The Doctor looked down, attempting to keep his cool. He knew the damage, the grief, the thousands of lives lost. He just didn’t want to accept it, that all of this carnage was the fault of one stallion’s greed. The ponies were always a peaceful race to him, spreading their love and friendship. If one pony could do this, were they any better than some of the other monsters that he’d faced? There’d been outliers, yes, great dictators and tyrants trying to overtake Equestria and the world, but he was so ordinary. He had no real power other than his own devices, yet he was still able to do all of this.

“Why did you do it…? All of this destruction.”

The Doctor couldn’t even look Radio in the eyes anymore, ashamed, crushed even.

“I…I was set to be everything that I wanted to be. The Noble Prize, a crowning achievement! I expected to be promoted to manager of Conven Corp’s enterprise in all of Galactic District 8. But they cheated me, threw all of my efforts away for a cheap product! I couldn’t let them get in the way, couldn’t let them put everything in jeopardy. They had to pay the price…”

“So you sabotage them. You redirected several resource shipments to delay the project behind schedule, replacing the orders with even poorer quality materials. You even fudged quite a few numbers in hopes for an investigation.”

“They never even bothered to change the access codes, nor contact the shipment for confirmation on the change. I was even surprised…but I never planned for what happened.”

“You didn’t think that they’d keep going, did you? That they’d ask for your help instead of digging a deeper hole. But they finished it, and continued until opening day. The day of a category 9 sandstorm.”

“I still broke them from the inside, almost like frost cracking in a way. The project was doomed from the start, I only gave them the little push that forced them over the edge.”

“And Frequency, your daughter…?”

The air became more tense as Radio visibly winced. His foreleg began to quiver, his hold on the gun slipping. He could easily escape now, but Radio was still a pony in pain.

“She just wanted to wish you good luck, yet didn’t know what you’d done. This whole place was set for ruin before the ribbon was even cut. You told her that a monster had done it, the Koquillion. You’ve been telling everyone that, haven’t you? But it’s okay now…I can get you away from here and you can make everything better.”

The Doctor offered out his hoof to Radio, who was still holding the gun. He started to cry and shake angrily before gripping it tighter, lunging at the Doctor out of pure hopelessness and desperation. The Doctor didn’t know what was running through Radio’s mind at the moment, all he saw was his blind fury. A bruised and battered Spark came up behind him, hitting Radio on the back of the head and incapacitating him. The gun fell from his hooves and slid a distance away. Spark nearly collapsed, completely out of breath and quite injured.

“You know Doctor, I really don’t like doing this. Fighting other ponies for protection. Are you going to be alright?”

The Doctor looked over at Radio before nodding.

“I think I’ll be alright. I should ask the same of you my colt, where have you been?”

“He pushed me into a collapsing ceiling. Or maybe he didn’t, but now’s not the time. This place is collapsing in on itself!”

Dust rained from the ceiling as it cracked in several places. Everything vibrated as the floor split into several chunks, creating a large divide between the three of them. Spark tried to reach out for Radio but it was too late, he slipped down the newly formed ravine in the floor and into the bowels of his own creation. The Doctor stood there frozen, having witnessed death before his very eyes. Luckily Spark woke him from his dazed state, helping him through the crumbling tunnels as the dome dismantled itself around them.

They dodged and weaved through glass shards the size of train carriages. Everything once again felt hazy, the journey to the Tardis feeling more like watching the events on a screen. It didn’t feel real, even as he opened those dark blue doors. Immediately he began to take off once inside, closing the doors and abandoning the dome to its fate. The time rotor in the center of the console shifted up and down gracefully as they dematerialized.

“Where’s my father?”

The Doctor looked up from the console, a tear in his eyes. He approached her, Free wrapped in a blanket with Berry by her side. He had no words to say to her, just a hug as Free cried into his shoulder, mourning her father’s loss. The Doctor didn’t know if Radio was a good stallion or not. Every pony that he’d met had shown kindness. Sure the more primitive ponies of the pre-Celestial era were more rude and rash, but they hadn’t experienced friendship magic yet. Radio only wanted revenge, but he brought down his own destruction. The TARDIS continued to drift gracefully across the vortex to wherever and whenever it may land next. He didn’t know what to do with Free, but he knew that he’d keep her safe.

Author's Note

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

~ Pencil Scribble Shavings

Chapter 25 - Nightmare on Memory Lane

Twilight’s hooves shook as she read the page. She wanted to throw the book away as far as possible, to just run away to somewhere safe. She expected something different, something to settle her mind or to tell her that this journey was worth it. She’d been treating the Doctor’s diary as just another book, something out of science fiction. But these were or will be real ponies, the stories of the lives who interacted with him. She put the book down gently on her coffee table and looked at the clock.

It’d gotten fairly late, the sun already setting in the afternoon sky. She only hoped that wherever and whenever he was out there, she’d be able to reach him before it was too late. Sure, the TARDIS was a time machine but the rules were still unclear to her. Did time for the TARDIS pass differently than everyone else? She couldn’t say for sure as no matter what she did she just kept on hitting wall after wall. Now she was feeling sore from crashing so many times, from the repeated torment of being so close yet so far.

Trotting down the crystalline halls those worrying thoughts continued to swirl in her head. She climbed into bed, a good nights rest hopefully doing her the world of good. She needed a rest from all the stress. She needed relief.

Darkness. Twilight opened her eyes to reveal the landscape around her. She was in an eerie old hallway, tan and wooden walls with very little on them. The whole place looked grainy, like some kind of TV static was superimposed over every surface. She quickly turned around upon hearing a strange scuttling sound. Something was hiding, twitching, and scurrying around, only seen in the corner of her eye. She knew that this was just a dream, but the fear was still there. An oh so familiar feeling of the hairs standing on the back of her neck and a chill going down her spine.

She heard the sound again, only more frantic. She knew that it came from behind her, but she was afraid to face it. Slowly turning around, Twilight saw a great black mass at the end of the hall. Spiders, great gigantic spiders out for blood. Instinctually she ran, galloping down the hall at full speed. The hall seemed to be unending, shifting and twisting at will. Eventually it split off, allowing her to escape the spider mass’s path.

Twilight took in several deep breaths, but the atmosphere of the room she found herself in only unsettled her more. The wreckage of an ancient civilization, one of their military bases destroyed by an unfathomable war. She could hear the alarms sounding as a Dalek hovered its way towards her. It wasn’t a Dalek that belonged her though, it was the one on Provia.

She tried to run again but she couldn’t move. She winced in pain as a Cybermat bit her, its venom paralyzing her where she stood. Her wings were gone, she was the same unicorn that thought she could run with Doctor, that could face the frights of the universe. She was doubting herself now like she doubted herself then. The Dalek raised its weapons, charging to fire. Twilight closed her eyes as a flash of light appeared before her.

She assumed that it was the Dalek’s blast but instead the Princess of the Night stood before her. Tall and regal, while holding back the Daleks blast. In one quick motion she banished away all of the monsters, leaving them in an empty room. Twilight sat down while catching her breath, the world of her dream shifting again. She was back in the TARDIS, back when she traveled regularly through the universe.

“I’ve been in this place many times before, but none with this room’s rendition. Is the Doctor in any danger?”

Twilight blinked with confusion.

“How’d you know he’s in trouble?”

“I didn’t, but dreams of his past foes, and with the life he lives, one gets used to assuming he’s in danger.”

Twilight chuckled. She knew from experience that she wasn't wrong.

"But I'm still just one mare, I've been doing everything I can. I've done everything I can think of... I don't think that I can do this anymore."

Luna trotted around the console and put hoof on her shoulder.

"He entrusted you, but I understand why you're so hesitant. You're one mare being given a task beyond your own comprehension. I've been in your place many a time. The Doctor is a strange being creating both chaos and order wherever and whenever he goes. But sometimes he forgets. He forgets to be Equestrian, to stick to his morals of being the kind Timepony that everypony needs. He needs us just as much as he needs you."

"But this's more than that... I'm a princess now, but I still have no idea what to do. I'm supposed to know what to do, but I don't. You can so easily raise the moon and defend the night, just like Celestia can raise the moon. But what can I do? I just..."

"Feel so useless? I know the feeling all too well. When I first met the Doctor I was but a filly, going through something similar to what you are going through now. Though you may be older than I was then, we were both inexperienced even after all we’d been through.”

Twilight took a deep breath to calm herself. She hadn’t realized how long she’d been holding in her breath, how long she’d been shaking in fear.

“How… how did you meet him? It always just sort of happens, the right time, the right place. I'm guessing you've met him more times than I can imagine."

"Undoubtly so, but he wasn't as young as I was when we first met. Someone left him, and he was alone again. He was starting to go down a darker path... it's hard to forget that day."

The rain pitter-pattered down against the ground above the cave. It was the only shelter they had as the cold winds of potential war blew above. The Cockatrices were a fairly peaceful species, sure, but something had changed within them. To other ponies they were just primitive animals, occasionally vermin to be extinguished. Something about the surrounding area had changed, strange trees, plants, and animals having appeared overnight and was starting to overwhelm the local area.

Celestia and Luna didn’t have a choice to avoid it though, no home and no family other than each other. Celestia had prepared the fire this time while doing her best to keep the rampant vines and various viscous flora at bay. It was always cold no matter how hot the fire was. Celestia immediately got up, readying a spell as a strange sound eminated from nearby. The two of them swiftly dived into their hiding place behind the brush. It was a tall blue box, impossibly blue even.

The doors to the box opened, the ground caked in mud as the rain pitter pattered around them. The literal fires of the war zone were being extinguished, leaving the smoldering stink of death behind. Celestia put a protective hoof out in front of her sister as the strange stallion pulled out a flashing box. He was a small Earth pony, the color of the sky on a sunny day. He wore a dark brown jacket and a strange tan hat while carrying an umberella around.

"Sorry about the trouble, I know that these long trips are taking a toll on you, old girl, but I need to double check this before getting you serviced again."

Luna looked confused, nopony around him that he could be talking to. He must've been crazy if he was talking to the box.

"Let's see... it should've landed about twenty meters to the north."

Celestia stepped on a small twig, the stallion's ears twitching as he looked in their direction. He quickly stuffed the strange and noisy box back into his pocket before opening the umberella.

"Oh don't worry, I'm relatively harmless. It's just me... on my own."

There was a hint of sadness in his eyes as she the younger foal approached him against her elder sister's wishes. Celestia cried out for her, desperately trying to pull her away from him. Upon seeing her, the stallion's eyes changed, like he was seeing an old friend.

"Oh...would you happen to know what year it is? How terribly rude of me, I'm the Doctor."

Celestia looked at the Doctor stragely as he politely tipped his hat. He showed no malice, no weapons, not even any armor to shield himself.

"Are you absolutely mad? It's the 45th year of Lord Aquarious."

"I see, so this's the moment." The Doctor muttered to himself.

The two sisters were clearly frightened of him, taking a step back as he reached into his pocket again. He pulled out two silver spoons and began to shake and beat them against his hoof, making a quick rhythm. They started to laugh and smile, but Celestia didn't let her guard down.

"Why are you here? You trot into a warzone, pull out a magic box, and then start playing with spoons in front of us. Who...who are you?" Celestia asked.

"I told you, I'm the Doctor. I'm just passing through, here to collect something that doesn't belong."

"Did you come here to make the ponies not angry?" Luna asked adorably.

"Ponies are showing unusual signs of aggression? That's not good, I just hope I got here in time."

The Doctor started to wander off, looking down and poking at his little box from before. He seemed lost in a trance as he moved, narrowly stepping out of the way of a tree before he walked into it.

“Where are you going? You’re going to get yourself killed if you go in there.”

“Why?

"Everypony who goes there... they never come back the same. They say that their minds change and nopony knows why. Then after a few days... I told you what happens."

"It's worse than I thought then, whatever is in there I came to stop it once and for all." The Doctor said while rubbing his chin.

So he continued forwards, seemingly not concerned about the danger that he might be putting himself in. Throught the broken branches and brush there it stood, emmitting an almost angelic aura from it. The rock looked smooth and round, like a giant pillar, and it glowed like no fire either of the sisters had ever seen before. The Doctor's device was blaring and whirring before being shut off. Only then did they truly believe him, that this was what he was here for. He approached the stone, holding up the device to it before it quickly stuck to the smooth surface. Luna stared at the stone, tantalized by it, like it was calling to her. Before she knew it she reached out to touch it, the fur on her foreleg standing on it's end. The Doctor quickly pushed her back, preventing her from making contact. Celestia had hardly realized what had happened, she'd only taken her eyes off of her for a second. She held onto her younger sister tightly before looking back up at the short stallion.

"Don't touch it, that's what drives ponies mad. It's incredibly dangerous to be this close to it. It's residual energy alone caused any organic matter to become more wild and erratic. The effects on organic plant life might not dissipate for thousands of years, but anything sentient should be fine in a week or two."

"But why is it here? What is that-that... evil thing? How do we get rid of it?" Luna asked, while trying not to cry.

"It's a chunk of Varondinium. It's the waste material of Zeiton 7, very nasty. They were dumping them out of several different refineries across the galaxy. Thankfully the process has been outlawed and and this is disposed more carefully, but there's always some stragglers, cutting corners for the price of others. I'm just cleaning up a bit of the mess."

"I knew there were ponies out there in space! I told you Tia. Do you really travel to other stars?"

The Doctor chuckled and smiled at her warmly, brushing Luna's blue mane out of her face.

"Right indeed. It's a big universe, planets to save, places to go... ponies to meet."

"That sounds amazing. So you go around the galaxy blowing things up?"

Luna's eyes looked up at the Doctor while they sparkled with wonder and enjoyment. She always loved watching the beautiful wonders of the night, hoping that one day she'd get even closer to it.

"Oh no, this isn't my usual forte. Though I'm a little worried about the whole 'blowing it up' part."

"Why? It's just a giant rock isn't it?" Celestia asked as she got up.

"Unfortunately it's more than that. It'll release a massive psychic shockwave that'll likely force most ponies to go unconcious."

"But that's alright isn't it? The war will end and everyone can live in peace again, right... right?"

Celestia slowly went from hopeful to a sickening feeling of dread.

"No... the Cockatrices have weaker minds. It's rather likely... that they won't survive the blast wave. It's just another price to pay for the safety of the other ponies."

"But you can't! They're peaceful just like us, can't you do something? You've got a magic box, just throw it into space or something. Blow it up out there!"

"Then it'd only spread further to other planets. If it's destroyed here then it will eventually dissipate. But not anywhere else. I can't safely transport it either, even if I wanted to. I could take it somewhere safe but... I can't take it home. It has to stay here."

The Doctor's expression became more grim, the light and enjoying fading from his eyes. He turned back to his device, ignoring the cries of the two sisters. He pushed buttons and twisted knobs in silence, returning to the same trance as before. Celestia couldn't see it but Luna could, that he was avoiding telling them the truth.

"Doctor... what aren't you telling us? Are the stars evil? A-are the stars going to eat me!?" Luna quivered.

The Doctor finally broke from his trance and looked down at her. She was still just a young little foal, so innocent yet scared.

"No, it's just something else. I'm just a little lonely... a little tired. I've been putting off going home for awhile now."

"Why? Your home isn't a happy place? Is it really that bad that you would... you'd really do that to the copy-nieces?"

He turned around and got close to the two sisters, sitting down on the cold and barren Earth. He put is head into his hooves and looked at them sadly.

"Not quite... I've recently gotten a message about some... unfinished business. I've been putting it off for a long while, but my TARDIS, my ship, is getting old. I can keep travelling for a long while but eventually, I don't have a choice. If I go home, then I might not live to tell the tale. It's hard to understand, you're still young."

Luna left her sister's warm embrace and went to the Doctor, giving him a hug. His look softened, and that smile returned as he stroked Luna's back. His mind seemed so sure, so willing to sacrifice so much just so he would live. It would be a long time before Luna truly understood why he wanted to make such a decision. This wasn't the first time that this decidion had been made by him, he was so used to sacrificing others to save some. One life to save many, the species he saved to justify the one he might kill. It was in that moment that he realized that he was becoming no better than the monsters he was trying to face. With that he stood up, looking down at the young little Luna before him.

"I guess I had to face this eventually... Thank you for everything. You'll understand someday, when you see me again."

The Doctor trotted back to his box, the two sisters quickly following behind. With the tip of his hat, he said goodbye, and the box began to vanish. It made the exact same noise it did as it arrived, and only a few seconds later the sound came from the rock. The TARDIS materialized around the rock, only staying there for a minute before vanishing again. The rain began to subside and the sun finally shone down on them. Luna hoped that she'd see the strange stallion again, maybe one day.

"And of course I did. Living as long as I made that inevitable. He returned to his home planet, to transport an old friend. He never said why, but I had a feeling that he regenerated soon after. You see Twilight, that's why he entrusted you. Because he trusts you to know the right decisions, trusts us to make the right decisions. I understand your hesitancy, but I do have faith that you'll eventually succeed."

Twilight looked up at Princess Luna and smiled before giving her a hug too. She could feel that the dream would be ending soon, that it was time to return to the waking world and continue her work.

"Thank you... for everything. Do you think you could... tell me more stories of the Doctor after all of this is done?"

"Of course, I'm sure you'll have a lot to talk about soon. Good luck Twilight, I have faith in you."

"I'll do my best, and that's all that matters."

Chapter 27 - Vortis

Twilight Sparkle finally woke up, feeling somewhat refreshed and reinvigorated from her meeting with Luna during her dreams. The book was still where she last left it, but she could still somehow feel that innate fear from before. The stories couldn’t hurt her, they were simply words on a page, and yet she was afraid. She sighed and picked the book off of the desk, skimming through some of the pages. She could clearly see the words before the places she’d read, but not immediately afterwards. It was as if by the time she’d mentally processed a page the next would be so clear to her. She didn’t know why it worked this way, perhaps it only did so for her. She felt some kind of connection to the contents of the unread blurs of text. She knew she was a part of it, her previous days weaved into the Doctor’s history too after all. She wasn’t sure if she could handle that part yet, but there was only one way to find out.

The Doctor was constantly flicking switches again, rapidly doing his best to escape the crumbling biodome behind, at least that’s what the others thought. The TARDIS was meant to be on its way to a delightful museum, instead it was stuck somewhere halfway between both points in time and space. Spark got up from his chair and moved over to the elderly grey stallion, looking over his shoulder.

“Is everything alright Doctor, or is the TARDIS just acting up again?” he said with a smirk, trying to catch the Timepony off guard.

The Doctor was somewhat distracted, which was starting to become a new and worrying occurrence for him.

“Oh? No, no. Something just seems to be holding us here. It appears that we’re a little stuck for the moment.”

Free approached the console and tried to make out the readings. Berry had told her that this was an advanced time and space machine, and while the interior dimensions made it more believable she still had her doubts. She couldn’t make head or tail of any of the strange readings the various instruments on the console made.

“But can’t you get us unstuck?” she asked worriedly.

The Doctor began to frantically switch from panel to panel on the hexagonal console. It emitted several electronic whirrs, increasing in intensity as the TARDIS was dragged down to its unknown location.

“I’m trying, I’m trying!”

Everyone yelped in pain as the console room lurched at an awkward angle for several seconds. The console was slightly smouldering, though luckily nopony was hurt. The TARDIS roughly materialised on the surface of an oddly dead world. There was no wind, barely any sky, and hardly a sound other than the TARDIS itself. Not a tick, not a click of sound for miles across the surface. A murky indigo liquid trickled between the molten grey and purple crags that rose miles into the sky. Once regaining his bearings, the Doctor simultaneously tried to perform a status check on the outdoor environment as well as several attempts to dematerialize. He huffed before looking down at the console.

“Gone, all power is being syphoned off except the emergency lines. Something is holding us here, or someone.”

Spark groaned as he pulled himself up, helping the others to their hooves as well.

“We won’t starve or run out of oxygen, will we?” Spark asked while dusting himself off.

“Oh, no need to worry Speck, the emergency energy is generated separately from the main power. It powers all basic functions except for easy transportation. We cannot attempt any more hasty manoeuvres, the power levels are too low to resist this strange influence.”

“And what do you suggest we do, take a stroll in that wasteland?”

“What a splendid idea, young stallion. Berry, the emergency door control should be right next to you. Next to the medkit if you need it.”

Berry grumbled as she attempted to rummage through the Doctor’s workstation next to the side door. Eventually she was able to pull down a stiff lever, the double doors to the outside world whirring to life as they opened. She then grabbed the medkit and kneeled down to Free who was rubbing her head. She wasn’t looking well, feeling queasy from the rough landing.

“Are you feeling alright? You’re looking a little more pale than usual.”

“How can you tell when I’m grey?”

The two of them smiled and laughed together.

“You know what I meant. Now take this, it should help your stomach if you’re feeling queasy or sick.”

“Pills? It’s a bit primitive, isn’t it? I’ve never even heard of as-per-in.”

“Blame the Doctor, he’s probably collected a hundred years worth of junk. They aren’t that primitive, everyone takes them every once in a while.”

“How old are you? You might as well dance and chant around a fire. I thought you taught medicine.”

“No, I only teach history. Sometimes I wish we had more control over where we landed, there’s plenty of sights that I’d like to see before we’re home.”

Free made a face as she swallowed the pill, the uneasiness in her stomach already starting to subside.

“I still don’t fully believe that this is a time machine like you told me. There was talk of temporal experiments, but I didn’t think an old stallion and two elementary school teachers would be piloting it.”

“Elementary?! What were you learning as a foal?” Berry teased.

“Calculus, Physics, Basic Circuitry, all simple stuff really.”

“How old were you? You must’ve spent days in a classroom.”

“Oh I was only 9 years old just like everypony else. What’s a classroom?”

“Oh, well it’s where you go to learn with the other students.”

“That doesn’t make sense. We all had a machine in our homes that taught us based on our individual needs. It’s much more efficient that way.”

It took Berry most of her strength not to roll her eyes. The Doctor and Spark were nearby, finally finished putting on some special respiration suits to go outside. The TARDIS reported that they were on the planet Vortis, which had a much thinner atmosphere than that of Equus. The Doctor picked up a small device, twisting two knobs and setting it to trace what was holding the TARDIS in place.

“Now be careful, Spark. These suits are only able to be active for about an hour, so we need to be careful with our supply. Come along now, don’t dilly dally.”

As expected, the Doctor exited the ship without waiting for his companion. Spark likely wished the others farewell before returning to his side. Though the Doctor was too busy to notice, adjusting the frequency of his device to trace down the influence. He stared out into the inky black void that was the sky, thinly veiled but the stars were still able to be seen. It was hard to tell if it was truly night or day.

“Look at the landscape, Spark. What do you make of it, hm?”

Spark stared intently out into the mirraid of flat and jagged edged peaks.

“Looks like the result of a thousand earthquakes. You can’t get mountains and cliffs that flat without it. Even with erosion it would still have some degree of smoothness. What are you getting at?”

“We may be light equuses, light years away from Equus, but the fact remains that you can’t have earthquakes without tectonic activity. Vortis is tectonically inactive, Vortis doesn’t even have a moon to pull any nonexistent tides. So that begs the question, how is this place possible and why are we here? Clearly no life should continue to exist within these conditions.”

Spark sighed and continued forwards, observing one of the dark indigo pools. The landscape was littered with them, often surrounded by the fossilised remains of some kind of brush. Spark got close to the pool but The Doctor shoved him back before he could get any closer.

“These suits aren’t as watertight as you might like to think. Now give me your tie, I want to check something.”

“But I’m not wearing my tie!”

The Doctor rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Not around your neck, the one around your waist you fool. Why you insist on constantly wearing it wherever you go is beyond me. Now come here, give me your tie.”

Spark grumbled, refusing to comment as he removed the tie that somewhat held up the bottom half of his suit. Much to his horror, the Doctor dipped his tie into the murky fluid, the fabric lightly steaming as the end of it dissolves into a minute fraction of what it should be.

“I can’t believe it!” Spark said in shock.

“Yes, and you very nearly poked your hoof into it. You can’t be too close to anything on this planet.”

“I don’t mean the acid, I mean my tie! That was my limited edition Foal Hill Tie!”

“You would’ve been Foal Hill soup if I hadn’t stopped and tested the acid.”

“You could’ve just warned me instead of ruining my only good article of clothing.”

Before they could finish their argument the ground rumbled beneath their hooves. They tumbled over as the rock immediately jutted upwards in varying angles. The Doctor quickly tried to help Spark up and run to the TARDIS, but it was too late. Where the TARDIS was last was a large cavernous gorge that was deep enough that he couldn’t see the bottom. Worst of all, the sound of scuttling insects echoed around the Doctor while Spark finally caught up to him.

The two stallions looked down into the jagged abyss, a rock falling into it without making a single sound. It was too deep to jump into, and as they turned around they were greeted by a large swarm of the largest ants they’d ever seen. They were the size of an average pony and twice as long. They both stood perfectly still, unsure of what to do next.

“What do you think, Doctor? You’re the expert, is it possible to communicate with them?”

“They’re too animalistic. Unless you’re proficient in rubbing your hind legs together for a chirp, I doubt we can do any good.”

The insects pushed and guided them along towards whatever was desired to meet them. Something so strong that it could pull the TARDIS to the surface and summon a small army at its will. Neither Spark nor the Doctor had any clue what they were getting into.

The dead valley soon gave way to a sea of dead brambles and branches. They appeared to be the roots of several trees without anything to connect them. There stood one last leafless dome formed from the remains of the ancient woods. The Doctor observed the dome, closely surveying its structure.

“It’s purely organic, Spark. The whole dome, grown using the roots of all those trees. Quite ingenious isn’t it. No need for wasteful construction.” the Doctor said mostly to himself, also deep in thought.

“And I thought you said nothing could grow here.”

“I did, I did. No need to keep pointing out the obvious. It’s several hundred years old by the looks of it. Mind your head.”

Spark lightly bumped his head as he walked through the now opened doorway. Inside was a vast round chamber , opening up to a sky light above. The ground was hard and cold, some edges of the dome breaking and rotting away. The place was clearly once full of vibrant plant life, but only the smell of its decay lingered in the air. At the back from where they entered was a large cylindrical structure holding the ancient remains of a decaying fungus. It was massive and glowed dimly, twice as large as the ants that brought them here.

“Approach…” said the fungus, lights around it flashing as it spoke.

Spark could hardly believe his eyes. He’d witnessed aliens before with the Daleks, but he’d assumed that they’d once been ponies too. He’d never met a lifeform that wasn’t even distinctly equine. The Doctor took several steps forwards, entering a stone circle carved into the floor. It perfectly aligned with the skylight, allowing him to see a web of glowing silk acting as a shield above the different machines that allowed the fungus to live.

“You are strangers to this world. Why have you come here, has this world not been ravished enough?”

“We do not mean you any harm. I’m the Doctor, and my friend is Spark Reaction. My ship was pulled to this world for an unknown purpose. We simply wish to retrieve our ship and leave. It fell into a cavern opened by the earthquake.”

“Very well, perhaps I can be of assistance to you then. I am known as the Animus, the last of my kind in this world. If you only wish to leave, then I will assist. I will escort some of my Zarbi that sent you here to go find and retrieve it, however those caves are fairly dangerous.”

“How so? Perhaps we could provide some assistance in the matter.”

“The caves are infested by the remainders of an invading race, the Menoptera. They’re foul creatures, they burned the once thriving land in an attempt to exterminate my race. Perhaps you could deal with them somehow. My resources are quite limited as of now and I can’t pinpoint their exact location. They burrow and burrow down deeper, poisoning our land.”

“Very well, perhaps there’s something I can do once I reclaim my ship. We are most grateful for your assistance.”

The door opened once again, the Doctor and Spark leaving while several Zarbi trailed behind. They continued their trek westward, close to where the TARDIS sank into the ground. It somehow felt longer than before, Spark looking up at the Doctor concerned.

“Doctor… Do you believe what that thing, the Animus, told you?”

“I have no reason to believe otherwise. Just because the Animus doesn’t fit your frame doesn’t mean that it should be designated as evil automatically.”

“Yes, but we know nothing about these Menoptera. For all we know they’re either normal sentient beings or beasts that could tear us limb from limb. Do you at least have a plan before we possibly wipe out an endangered species on this planet?”

The Doctor stopped, not having thought of that possibility yet. He hoped to pacify them, prevent them from causing anymore harm to this world, but the thought of killing them? The thought had unfortunately crossed his mind for a fraction of a second, and even slightly considering the possibility horrified him. He looked back up at Spark and smiled, trying to hide the pain behind his eyes.

“We’ll only have to see Spark. I don’t take this matter lightly, mind you. My only hope is that whomever these Menoptera are can be persuaded easily, if they can be.”

Spark placed a hoof on the Doctor’s shoulder. He knew that there was only so much that the old stallion could do, and he was doing his best. A beeping noise emitted from the side of their suits, indicating that they were no longer functional.

“We’ll be able to survive in this atmosphere, won’t we? Maybe we should take these suits off to get used to the atmosphere.”

The Doctor simply nodded, somewhat dizzy while trying to adjust to the lack of support from the suits. After taking them off, they both started to take several deep breaths, trying to stay relaxed and conserve what breathable air they had. The atmosphere was safe to breathe, however there was not much of it. The Doctor was affected the most, unable to fully recover due to his old age.

“Let’s keep going. Maybe we can sort this all out when we’re all together again.” Spark said reassuringly.

Spark gave his elderly friend a pat on the back before helping him along their journey. They entered the caves through a newer entrance where the integrity was the strongest. The Doctor fetched an electric torch out of his pocket, a sort of replacement for his ring that he lost back in the pre-Equestrian Era. It was a much more stable model but its capacities were limited. They stopped as they heard frantic hoofsteps all around them, the sound echoing across the cavern walls. They both became defensive as the air grew tenser the closer the hoofsteps got. Berry and Free stopped in front of them, gasping for air.

“What are you doing here?” both Spark and Berry asked in unison.

Their reunion was unfortunately cut short as another creature came out of the shadows and into the light. They all had wings so thin that were glossy and transparent, their faces twisted to fit a more insectoid skull. They were vaguely pony shaped in structure, but their fur was matted and overgrown, the black and white stripes coated in a thick layer of dust. Their eyes were purely black, able to see in both the dark and the light. There had to be nearly a dozen of them, all surrounding the four as they looked upon their ghastly features. These were the Menoptera the Animus mentioned, and they were just as horrifying as they’d imagined. Before anyone could react to their appearance a swarm of Zarbi invaded the cave, attacking and trampling over the Menoptera.

The Doctor was still too woozy to do anything, all four of them were. They tried to stay together but as the fight continued they were drawn further and further apart. The cave began to shake and tremble, another earthquake splitting between the fight and causing a cave in. When the rubble cleared, the Doctor and Free were on one side with the Menoptera while Spark and Berry were on the other. The Doctor’s dropped torch illuminated the entire cave, revealing that one nine of the dozen Menoptera remained. The odds were more in their favour but it was still nine against two. One of the Menoptera positioned itself close to the Doctor, clenching his spear. The creature looked back at Free and nodded knowingly.

“You must be the Doctor that we’ve heard of. Frequency told us of you, how you had ventured on the surface. Have you conspired with the Animus, what has it told you?”

The Doctor looked confused, unsure what was happening. He looked back at Free who gave him a reassuring glance. He straightened and dusted off his jacket before clearing his throat, trying to regain some composure.

“There was a war that transpired here long ago, that you burned this world to destroy the Animus’s race. I have come to seek some form of peace, not continue roughhousing like animals.”

The Menoptera buzzed and chirped in an unintelligible manner amongst themselves. The one closest to the Doctor loosened his grip on his spear, as did the others.

“That much is true…but it is not the entire truth. This is not the first time the Animus has veiled the full truth from travellers to aid him in his plight. Please, let us tell you the full story of Vortis.”

Long ago, Vortis was a peaceful world consisting of only the Menoptera and the Zarbi. The Menoptera were a simple race of farmers, the Zarbi like docile animals before the Animus arrived. The Animus fleets saw the healthy planet, rich for spreading their spores and colonising. Upon arrival the Zarbi were ensnared into their traps and used as soldiers in their wars.

The Animus psychically controlled them and anyone who dared attempted to oppose them. The Menoptera were vulnerable, never having encountered any opposition. The Animus had far more advanced weaponry grown straight from Vortis’s soil. They could manipulate the ground at will, creating catastrophic earthquakes at will. The Menoptera fought back with fire and scorched the soil until the Animus could no longer grow.

The battles lasted centuries, the Menoptera slowly learning how the Animus functioned and lived. For generations they planned and constructed a device to finish the war and end the Animus. By then they’d retreated to the underground where they finished constructing the Isop Device, testing it only once. It worked efficiently, but that one test cost too many lives. Only one Animus remained, but it could still easily wipe them out with a single thought.

“We don’t expect you to trust us…Many outsiders have come here before, the Animus dragging them to the planet’s surface through force. The Animus cannot find us down here, so he finds others passing by to fight in their wars. Just please, take this device and activate it close to the Animus. Even if we don’t survive, you’re our only chance.”

The Doctor felt frightened as he saw the group of Menoptera present the device in front of him. It was small, round and metallic like a grenade, a simple knob to twist and activate it. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end just by looking at it. They were asking him to end a life, possibly a species if there were more Animus out there. He was conflicted, to either let one race die or to destroy another would be by his hooves either way. Free approached the Menoptera and took the device in her hooves, looking up at the Doctor with a sad smile.

“I believe them. They had the chance to hurt Berry and I when the Tardis crashed in the caves. We left to see if you were still outside and they caught us. I know it’s so much to ask but…we need to do something.” Free said while fighting back tears.

The Doctor looked Free in the eyes as he pocketed the device without a word. He silently gave her a hug, missing whatever this feeling was. He wasn’t as alone as he thought he was. He wondered what Susan would think of him in this situation, what she would say or do. He needed someone like her, but now he had Free.

“Berry and Spark have likely been captured by the Animus. If what you say really is true then the Animus may believe that the job is done. We must be quick, so no dilly dallying, hm? I’ll speak to the Animus personally and sort things out. Perhaps there is some good we can do. Come along, come along.”

Free rolled her eyes while wiping away a few of her tears. It was the Doctor, the kind old stallion that saved her, that tried to save her father. She could tell he was under a great strain, but she’d still follow behind. She had a feeling that she’d be following behind him for a long while. After nearly a half hour trek the two could see the wooden dome in the distance. The Doctor didn’t want any more Menoptera to be harmed, so he requested that most stay behind. One or two of them flew in the silky sky above them to keep guard. The Doctor was dreading this moment, the decision to destroy the Animus.

He thought that he’d be meeting the kind race that ponies were, offering the magic of friendship wherever they went. He admired them, envied them. This wasn’t what he wanted on his travels, to be so far from his realm of comfort. Several thoughts raced through his mind. The Animus was a parasite, manipulating others to fight its battles. The Animus had to be purely evil, didn’t it? Maybe the Menoptera were lying, maybe the Animus had changed, maybe, maybe, maybe. Though no matter how much he tried to justify his actions, he knew that he couldn’t do it. He lightly gasped as he felt Free hold his hoof tightly, breaking him out of his trance.

He smiled again reassuringly, approaching the door where he previously entered the dome. To his horror, Berry and Spark were tied together with a similar web that protected the Animus. He gulped and approached the center of the room again, knowing full well that the Animus intended to kill him and his friends. The Zarbi closed in as the Doctor approached the stone circle again.

“Ah, Doctor. I see that you made it back safely. I was not aware that you had any extra friends as well. Have the Menoptera been dealt with?”

The Doctor swallowed, and took in a short breath.

“Yes, yes. They will…no longer pose a threat to you.”

“Excellent, hopefully reconstruction can soon begin. This planet will be restored to its intended glory and your ship will be returned to you. However…I am no longer in need of your services.”

The Doctor approached the Animus, his motions feeling slower and sluggish than before. He quickly tried to pull the device and activate it, but he was frozen in horror. He couldn’t move, the Animus psychically holding him in place. The device fell out of his hoof and rolled across the floor. Everything in the room stood still, frozen as if it were in amber.

“Is something the matter, Doctor? Did you really think that you could attack me in my own chambers? Those silly Menoptera put you up to this, I figured. I had a feeling that you’d betray me, but I hoped that you’d be different.”

The branches of the dome started to come to life and hold the Doctor back. The bonds holding both Berry and Spark back snapped, broken by Free. Berry quickly dashed and picked up the device but she felt a white hot pain searing through her mind. She was incapacitated in mere seconds, Spark rushing to her aid. He activated the device, quickly succumbing to the same effects of the Animus’s influence. In one swift motion with what little time Free had, she hurled the Isop Device at the Animus’s holding pod. The device activated as she fell to the ground, the Animus beginning to disintegrate.

The wooden dome around them began to wither away, dying and flaking off into thin embers that blew away with the slightest breeze. There was nothing left except the stone floor that the chamber once encompassed. The Doctor fell to the ground, falling unconscious for an unknown amount of time. Once he awoke he saw his friends looking down at him, helping the battered grey stallion up. He knew that they were saying something to him, but all he could focus on were the few remains of where the Animus once was. He was helped to the TARDIS, the lack of atmosphere and stress causing him to occasionally in and out of consciousness.

He knew that his friends must have said some goodbyes, as they always did. He took several deep breaths once in the console room again. He simply restarted the TARDIS’s dematerialization circuit, the ship slowly vanishing off the planet as it continued on its previous course. He needed to get away, just needed some rest. All he needed was the right time and space to recover, just what the Doctor ordere.

Author's Note

Hey guys, Penny here. I’m trying out a new length for the next few Doctor chapters so I’m not spending the rest of my life finishing this massive story. I just wanted to say thank you so much for reading this big idea I had 10 years ago that I’ve been writing for the past 4. Over the course of this story I’ve grown as a writer and improved my skills so much. I hope you continue experiencing whatever I have to offer in years to come.

Your Pencil Pony,

Penny

Chapter 28 - Sideways in Time

The TARDIS whirred to a halt, the Doctor running their typical diagnostics. He looked up at the mint green console in concern, some of the results from the readouts either stalling or repeating in odd patterns. At least the TARDIS had presumably landed both safely and where they intended to land. Even the year was right, Taurus in the year 2450 on the CelestioLunar Calendar. He felt that he shouldn’t travel backwards in time just yet, moving forwards in time was always easier on the old girl’s systems. The TARDIS finally seemed to be functioning to some degree, though he knew what that meant to his friends.

Meanwhile Spark, Berry and Free came from the side door in their new outfits. Spark, of course, brandished a new tie while Berry and Free were wearing matching jackets. After all of their adventures, being scraped, torn and battered, the Doctor finally showed them the wardrobe. The TARDIS was a vast place full of more corridors than they realised, most of them untouched. Spark sighed when he looked at the old stallion pouring over his readouts. He was still somewhat mortified from the experience of Vortis, from the Animus. The first time he’d caused another being’s demise at his own hooves.

“Something the matter, Doctor? Or is everything out of order as usual?” Spark scoffed.

The Doctor peered at him over his shoulder, coming out of his trance.

“No, no. We’re exactly on route to our destination. It’s just that something seems peculiar about our landing.”

“Influence from the Animus, you mean?”

Spark felt a pang of guilt as he saw the Doctor wince at the name. It was still a sore subject.

“Hm? Oh, no need to worry. I checked myself and eh, that Isop Device was quite effective. Let’s see here…”

The Doctor flipped a switch on the console and the scanner showed a long lineup of various spacecraft both old and futuristic. Spark smirked and patted the Doctor on the back.

“Well, well, well. Looks like you finally managed to land us in the correct location this time. Does this mean you can take us back to Foal Hill 963?”

“Why you keep insisting, young stallion, is beyond me,” the Doctor said while rolling his eyes.

“You did kidnap us, after all. I know we’ve started to enjoy your company but we have to return home eventually,” Berry wittily replied.

“I wasn’t myself quite yet, young stallion. I still deeply apologise for my actions.”

Free looked at both Berry and then back to the Doctor. She thought that they went away with them willingly, not scooping them out of whatever place they’d come from.

“I…think I need a glass of water…” Free said, walking through the side door concerned.

The Doctor sighed, knowing that they had to return home eventually. They had lives to live, dreams to fulfill, just like him. He didn’t feel like the same rash old stallion that would condone such an action, he was even further removed from the one that left Gallophrey not so long ago. He pulled the lever for the door as Free rushed back to the group, white as a ghost while holding a glass of water.

“Free, what’s the matter?” Berry asked.

“M-my glass it just… I-I dropped it and then it broke and then it didn’t and… I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Free, take several deep breaths. In and out. It’s okay, you just broke a glass, we’ll clean the mess up later.”

“But I didn’t…” Free said as she frowned and joined the group outside the ship.

Spark shielded his eyes and brushed his dark brown mane back. It was a bright sunny day, the twin suns accentuating the elegance of the museum’s tall spired structure. The path beneath them was rough, coarse and sandy. For once they felt happy to be somewhere new with no murderous monsters trying to follow them behind. Spark looked down at his hooves confused.

“Strange, this sand is deep isn’t it, maybe an inch?”

“Yes, yes, your point being?” The Doctor sighed with strained annoyance.

“And yet we don’t leave a single hoof print.”

“Doesn’t seem very active, Doctor. Are you sure that they’re open for service?”

The Doctor looked up from the ground and over at Berry as she spoke, interrupting his train of thought.

“No pony’s perfect, Berry. I did do my best.”

Everything was silent except the cold wind, interrupting the otherwise eerie silence. Something in this place felt very wrong. The Doctor trotted up to Berry and knocked on the front doors to the museum, looking at the museum hours on the glass. The doors were automatic yet they didn’t open for him. The TARDIS was still under repair, perhaps the day or time was merely off.

“We seem to be at the correct time. Strange. Very strange indeed,” the Doctor half muttered to himself.

The Doctor backed away from the door as two ponies in futuristic uniforms walked out of the doors. They didn’t even register the four of them at all. Even stranger, they were talking to one another clearly, yet they couldn’t hear them at all. Berry noticed and tried to get their attention, but they just continued right past her towards a docking bay.

“Doctor…I’m starting to get a sinking feeling that we shouldn’t be here. It’s too quiet, all I can hear is the wind.”

“It’s more than that. You can hear the wind and feel a chill, but do you feel the wind at all? No. Perhaps we should do some investigating of our own?”

“I don’t know, perhaps we should just get in the Tardis and leave.”

Behind them Spark rattled the door to the TARDIS, trying to get it open. No matter how hard he tried, it was as if the door was made of concrete. They were stuck, trapped in the very place that they wanted to be. The nonexistent wind continued to howl but never blew even a breeze. A few more ponies exited and entered the museum, allowing them to follow behind inside.

“I don’t think we have a choice. I think we had better go inside before we’re locked out completely,” the Doctor said, feeling a chill up his spine.

The inside of the museum was grand, the floors tiled with fine marble. The lobby alone was impressive, but the exhibits were something even more to behold. The Doctor did his best to keep Berry and Spark out of certain areas, attempting to avoid spoilers in their own history. Ponies had travelled to the moon and back by now, settling on the two closest planets, Katrina and Rainbeauty, instead of just Equus.

They’d travelled beyond their star eight times as a part of the Equestrian Space Program that this museum was dedicated to. The planet had been repurposed from a colony dedicated to technological research to a museum displaying everything it accomplished. Spark looked above his head to see a large holographic display of the journey from Equus to this planet known as Thaurus. They were half a light year away and yet it would only take a week to travel between here and Equus. He could mail a letter to the other side of Equestria in that time back home, and yet now he could travel a thousand million times that distance himself in the exact same time frame.

“Quite spectacular, isn’t it? If something wasn’t so peculiar about this place, I’d consider it quite extraordinary myself,” the Doctor chuckled as he frightened Spark from behind.

“Don’t scare me like that, it’s already frightening enough with the entire place dead quiet. Still, I have to admit that it’s absolutely marvellous.”

Free suddenly called out to the others. They gathered around in confusion as they saw the TARDIS sitting on a large pedestal, labelled under alien artefacts. Berry tried to open the doors but her hoof went right through the blue wooden exterior. She couldn’t touch it, couldn’t be heard or seen by others, as if she were a ghost. Berry looked down at her hoof before looking behind her, trembling as she looked at the glass cases behind them. Four glass cases holding the four of them, preserved for eternity as specimens in the museum.

“Doctor…that’s us. But how can that be us?” Free asked, equally frightened.

“I had a slight feeling about this. The Tardis was giving me readings indicating as such but I was always sceptical. We’re not really here, we don’t belong in this realm. We’ve gone sideways in time. I’ve never fully understood the fourth dimension and yet here it is, staring us in the face.”

“But you can’t go sideways in time, only forwards or backwards,” Spark argued.

“I think I understand… The fourth dimension, like our own, has multiple axes. We’ve gone into a different timeline, a branch from our own. Isn’t that right?” Free asked, trying to explain.

“Indeed. The Tardis jumped a time track, pushing us temporarily out of our own. This timeline is where we exited the Tardis sometime earlier, simply a potential future. Thankfully the error will correct itself soon, however long it takes for us to truly arrive in our timeline. We’re not really here, explaining why we can’t affect anything.”

“So we just need to wait? Wait until we arrive in the Tardis in our timeline.”

“Yes, Spark. It should happen any moment now.”

The air began to warp and shimmer, reality rippling as the TARDIS and the cases began to vanish. A glass broke, the doors activated, hoof prints appeared in the sand, and their ship had been discovered. Everything they’d done up to this point, everything they couldn’t do, was now done. The four of them felt dizzy as time corrected itself, the things they saw no longer present. Instead they were in a partially empty room still under construction.

“So we’ve arrived,” the Doctor said, a hint of fear in his voice.

“But those cases, us being preserved forever, that’s still in our future. There’s got to be something we can do to prevent it,” Berry said desperately.

“I’m uncertain if we’ve already traversed that path yet or not. For all we know, that specific future is inevitable or impossible for us.”

“So what do we do, go back to the Tardis and leave? Perhaps we can just wait for the Tardis to be brought to us. We know its future if what we saw happens to us as well.”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps attempting to find the Tardis is part of what leads us to that future. For now we must stay in the museum and maintain our wits. We must be absolutely certain that this terrible probability never becomes a possibility.”

Berry jumped back in fright as she snooped around, pulling off one of the coverings for the new exhibit. Underneath the metallic sheet was the unmistakable shell of a Dalek. Luckily for them it was merely a prop, a plastic and metal facsimile. Berry took several deep breaths as she started laughing with Spark.

“So that’s what they looked like, I thought they’d be scarier,” Free said, looking at the prop curiously.

This only prompted Spark and Berry to laugh more. Free grumbled while the Doctor patted her on the back.

“If you’d seen them yourself, you wouldn’t be saying such a thing, my foal. Hmm, now what to do about this future business.”

“What can we do then, if anything could lead us to that future?”

The Doctor looked down at Free and smiled.

“We hide, we wander, and we do what we shouldn’t do. Investigate, and understand our present before handling the future.”

The Doctor and his friends travelled around and around the museum in near circles. They were attempting to at least find the TARDIS. At least inside it they could observe safely rather than risk any damage to themselves. They were lost, struggling to find any sort of direction display. Going back the way they came they spotted another pony, standing perfectly still. Whoever they were they didn’t blink, looking out with a thousand yard stare.

Berry slowly approached them, trying her best not to make a sound. Spark and Free silently urged her to come back, yet the pony continued staring. It didn’t acknowledge her despite Berry being mere feet from her. She gestured for the others to follow along, now noticing the antennae sticking out from the pony’s earpiece. The earpiece’s light blinked and faintly buzzed, receiving some kind of signal.

Everyone quickly rushed out of hiding as the pony tightly grabbed Berry, shoving something in her face. Her heart raced as she desperately tried to escape the deranged pony. She wanted to run and scream, but her voice was stuck in her throat.

“MAP. Map. Take a. Map.” the strange pony said.

Berry realised that what was shoved in her face was indeed offering her a map, if somewhat aggressively. She was immensely let go as she too it, taking several deep breaths to calm her nerves. The Doctor observed a panel on the back of the pony’s neck, barely visible to the naked eye. He opened it and tinkered a little before closing it back up. The pony slumped down slightly before readjusting itself.

“There we are, a simple malfunction. Should be fully functional again after a quick reboot.”

“But it looked just like a pony. A normal healthy pony.” Spark said, baffled.

Free looked at Berry and Spark, tilting her head in confusion.

“What’s so surprising? I’ve had less advanced models back home. They’re more of a danger to themselves unless you get too close during a malfunction.”

“Ah, yes. I’m afraid that the time where Spark and Berry come from hardly have any computational technology whatsoever.”

Berry raised an eyebrow, jokingly annoyed at the old stallion as usual. The android quickly scanned the four of them a, its eyes shifting like the aperture of a camera. It was processing, trying to find the best course of action.

“Your ID tags are [UNDEFINED]. Biology suggests [UNDEFINED] origins. Collection and cataloguing procedures. Commencing.”

The group slowly backed away from the realistic android pony, only to find similar droids behind them. More android staff approached from other directions, boxing them in. Spark tried to rush one of the bots only to have several more attempts to restrain him. Berry quickly snatched Free and flew over the unsettling barrier, calling out to her friends before being chased away down the various halls. The Doctor succeeded in his attempt to free Spark, only for him to take his place. He was too old and weak to fight, all alone as he was carried away.

He was being dragged towards the future he was desperately trying to avoid. The room he was placed in was dark and cold, the swivelling security cameras his only company. He was held down in a chair through some kind of magnetic restraints. A long robotic arm craned downwards and scanned him like the android did.

“Strange. I cannot place a temporal date upon you despite being a carbon based life form. Please state your name and place of origin.” said the camera.

The Doctor stayed silent, not revealing anything. He was deep in thought, running through possible subroutines for the machine may follow within his mind. He needed to choose his words carefully. Like the other androids this machine possessed pony-like qualities, but was much more difficult to reason with.

“Tell me the purpose of your request, and maybe I’ll consider fulfilling it.”

The machine paused, considering the request.

“The purpose of my inquiry is to obtain knowledge of any unknown specimens and preserve them. You are unknown, therefore you must become known and preserved.”

The Doctor paused again, deep in thought.

“Define your terms of ‘unknown’ to me.”

“Unknown: where some piece of information is not available within my system.”

“But you can’t know everything, you know. You don’t know everything about your visitors, do you?”

“Correction. There are no organic lifeforms designated ‘visitors’ on Thaurus. I have perfect knowledge of all things within the museum except yourselves, the object of your possession, and three organic life forms such as yourself. Now please, state your name and place of origin.”

“What if I don’t want to? What if I don’t desire to be a spectacle in your farce of a museum, eh? A museum is for visitors to learn and to preserve history.”

“Then forced procedures must be enacted. The information will be extracted from your brainwaves during the preparation process. Thank you for visiting the Museum of the Interstellar Equestrian Space Program, have a nice day.”

The room suddenly began to get colder and colder, the Doctor still unable to move. He did his best to try and undo the mechanisms for the chair but it was no use. His mind continued thinking yet he couldn’t move or act. He knew that the others were out there, but there was so little time. He’d had this feeling back on Equus before when the Daleks invaded, their attempts to invade his mind leaving him weary. He was still an old stallion, unable to withstand as much as he used to. He kept fighting inside, remembering his promise to Spark and Berry. Even if he survived this, he’d still end up alone. Free would be with him, but he knew she would leave too. To him she was like Susan, young, innocent, and wanting to learn and see the world. He was trying to fill the hole inside of him, but it just wasn’t the same.

“Doctor!” Spark yelled as he pulled the Doctor out of the chair.

The metallic restraints had been removed as he was far along the preservation process. He had no idea how long he’d been in that machine. Minutes, hours? He was just glad that Spark was there to save him. He still felt cold, stiff and tired, but he would recover. His body could withstand colder temperatures than ponies, far below freezing in any degree. Spark helped him out of the room he was put into and onto a chair.

“Young stallion, you have no idea how glad I am you came.”

“I’m glad too, especially with how many locked doors I had to work around. This place is an absolute maze, and I’ve completely lost Berry and Free. Hopefully they’re doing better than we are now.”

They appeared to be in some kind of storage facility full of items with no exhibits or displays. There were tables lined with all sorts of devices, clothing articles and other miscellaneous bits and bobs from different time periods in Equestrian history. The Doctor did his best to reach one of the tables, but his legs still wouldn’t cooperate.

“Spark, could you please hand me that large black box over there? I think I know a possible solution for our conundrum.”

“Alright. Did you meet what was controlling those robots?”

“Yes, yes, some rogue computer program designed to preserve any unknown items that come into this museum. You haven’t heard of artificial intelligence yet. It appears to have not been programmed to deal with living beings such as ourselves.”

“But the visitors-?”

“The ones we saw were all androids as well, avatars for real ponies on other worlds. Not everypony can afford a ticket offworld, you know.”

“I figured, same problem I have back on Equus. I wanted to take a trip to Manehatten, but the train fare was overpriced. I guess not everything has changed over time.”

“Yes, yes, now help me plug these two cables together.”

Spark looked down at the large black box in confusion, helping to plug some cables together. It was as large as a small suitcase and was powered by a large battery pack the Doctor attached to the back cable. It had multiple buttons and a large dial, though it didn’t look as advanced as everything else that he’d seen in the museum. The Doctor slotted some other kind of contraption into it before it was complete.

“How’s this going to stop a computer?”

“Patience, my colt. Patience. Did you happen to pass by some offices on the way down here? I may be able to access the main system through a computer terminal.”

“Yes, but it was blocked off. Some voice came out of nowhere and said ‘maintenance and deliveries only’, or something like that. I tried to force my way in but it knew I wasn’t a robot. It’s how I ended up here.”

“We should be in luck then, because I have just the perfect idea.”

Spark felt concerned as the Doctor chuckled to himself.

“Are they gone?” Spark asked.

“I think so. I believe we’ve actually done it, my colt. You could say that my plan was supreme. We are the rulers, exterminate.” the Doctor laughed, the prop Dalek he was in bobbing its eyestalk up and down.

Spark chuckled and rolled his eyes as he got out of the other plastic Dalek casing. They’d found some in the processing room, making sure that they were in sight of the worker bots. The bots had moved them to the cataloguing office where all items were logged into the museum’s systems. The Doctor did his best to plug the box into the back of the cataloguing terminal before getting to work. He did his best to pull two cables that connected the terminal to certain wireless receivers, leaving only the power and wireless connection for its basic functions. Though the terminal was completely locked, requiring a passcode and username, he didn’t need it. He could feel it, that this was the moment where they could change from one path to the next. If they failed, the future they saw would change from a probability to a possibility. The only thing for certain he knew was different was his knowledge of that future. He had to weaponize that knowledge to change his future.

“Spark…this is the moment where everything changes. This sounds terrible but…we have to do nothing.”

“Nothing!? After all that talk about changing the future and the fourth dimension, you just plan on giving up?”

“Think about it, all I have to do is cut the power to this room and my trap will be put into effect. However, that’s what we would do. In the timeline we saw we possibly didn’t have the knowledge of that future. Using that knowledge, we have to do what we would never do. Perhaps if we give up for this moment, it’s the exact change that we need.”

Spark paused, hardly understanding any of what the Doctor was saying. He wanted to change his future and escape, but his alternate counterpart likely wanted the same. Spark nodded knowingly as they both moved away from the computer terminal. Suddenly the power to the room went out before restarting again. Several monitors in the cataloguing room came to life, displaying nothing but static. It didn’t take long for the picture to clear and for Free’s face to appear on the screens.

“Doctor, is that you? I think I’ve done something but I don’t know if I was successful.”

The Doctor and Spark looked at one another, not sure what had happened.

“That box, did it work? What does it even do?”

The Doctor approached the black box and pressed an eject button on the front. The terminal it was plugged into returned to static as the other black module was ejected from it. The Doctor held it in his hooves, observing the item. It was a simple VHS tape, now coded with the encrypted data of the AI’s systems.

“It’s a video recorder, simple as that. Something that hasn’t been invented yet by your time. I was attempting to attract the program to this specific terminal by cutting the power to this room. I’d hoped that I could trap as much data on this tape as I could, though it seems that Free has forced the entire program into it. Quite unexpected, isn’t it?”

The Doctor moved over to one of the monitors with the video feed to Free and Berry.

“I believe that everything is safe, I can alter the contents of this code before sending it back out. Consider it a patch in the software, hm. Now, back to the Tardis I presume?”

“Doctor…are you really able to control the Tardis again?” Berry asked, a hint of sadness in her tone.

The Doctor looked down, already knowing what was going to happen. It was the journey's end for the three of them. It had been some time since Foal Hill, since they barged their way into his ship. He knew that what he’d done was wrong, that he was so selfish. He wanted to do so much more with them, see so many more things in this universe. He could control the TARDIS now, he could take them back in time to the moments they wanted to see. He could take them to distant planets in the future where it was safe to travel. No more monsters or deaths or destruction. In that moment he felt like a foal again, he felt like a spoiled child not wanting to let go of a toy that wasn’t his. He’d grown, he’d learned, and he’d had a small bit of fun with them even in danger. It was finally time for him to move on. Spark put a hoof at his shoulder and sighed.

“Doctor…could you please take us home?”

Chapter 29 - Journey’s End

The Doctor looked over at his instrument in his sideroom workshop. He’d finished processing and altering the tapes and was now hoping to convert it all into a viewable format. It’d be nice to view certain places instead of getting themselves enthralled in their danger for once. He held a good chunk of recorded and photographed Equestrian history in his hooves which he’d started to set up to view mere moments ago. He picked his journal up off an ornate chest, many of its pages still blank and barren. It made him sad to reminisce on old times, but it was starting to become harder to remember certain events. Not all of his adventures were there, but he’d started to write more and more as he began to grow weary from old age. How long had it been since he’d started travelling with Berry and Spark. One year, two? From ancient Equestrian rituals to planets with non-equine creatures, where had all that time gone?

“So…is everything set and ready, Doctor?” Spark asked with a tinge of guilt.

“Yes, yes. Some tests need to be done, but we’re ready for our departure.”

The console room was more cold and solemn than it had ever been before. The glass cylinder drifted up and down gracefully, the hexagonal light fixture illuminating the console. Berry was busy sitting in a chair, looking up at the slightly yellowed and dusty roundels in the wall. Free was on the other side of the console, doing her best to help but equally as quiet. For a time the four of them were a family, and nothing would be the same once they landed. An ornate wooden clock ticked away in the background, some of the only sound in the room. The console made an odd noise, a device he’d completely forgotten about finally operating. He’d installed it into the console when he first started travelling, indicating if any time vessels in the vortex were on the same time-space path as he was.

“Free, could you please read out the numerals on the flux network over there? It should be just to your left.”

The Doctor moved across the console, trying to hide his distress. Time ponies were the last thing he wanted to deal with now. Free looked down at the readout in confusion, trying to make it out.

“It says undefined, is it important?”

The Doctor started to panic even more internally. Every TARDIS had a designated serial code, and no known races had ever developed anything close to the TARDIS to the Doctor’s knowledge. A red light on the console lit up as everything began to shake. The Doctor and Free clung to the console while attempting to regain control.

“We’re being followed. By whom or what, I haven’t the faintest idea.”

Another quieter alert sounded, indicating an incoming transmission. The Doctor once again shifted from one control to the next, multitasking until he reached the button to accept the call. His blood ran cold as he heard the message play out. It was always them, wasn’t it? Why was it always them?

“Land your craft immediately or you will be annihilated. Surrender or be exterminated.”

Their robotic voices echoed across the room, striking fear with the realisation that the Daleks had the power of time and space travel. They couldn’t run or hide from the Daleks, they couldn’t even go home. The Doctor looked up at Berry and Spark, sharing a knowing glance as the Doctor rapidly changed course. They fled past 963, further into the past. The console started to smoke as the Dalek time ship continued to fire. Finally the wheezing and groaning stopped, the glass rotor descending one last time. Taking a deep breath, the Doctor began to inspect the damage to the TARDIS’s main systems.

“Be honest with us, how much trouble are we in?” Berry asked.

“Welll… the Daleks know exactly when and where we are. However I was able to give our course a slight nudge so we’re still ahead. In around 12 minutes the Daleks will arrive. Could you please read the Yearometer, Free? It should be next to your right.”

Free pulled herself off of the floor and wiped some stray hairs from her face.

“The year 980 of the 1st Diarchy Era. Is it safe to go out there?”

The Doctor rubbed his chin in thought before looking back up again. They were in the most dangerous period of Equestrian history, where war raged and the battlefields spread across the globe. They were in great danger simply by being here, but so were the Daleks.

“Perhaps… we can make use of our current location. It’s certainly unsafe for us, but this could be our greatest weapon. Fight the Daleks with history, sheer poetry.”

The Doctor paused before looking back down at the console. He realised that was rambling on as if it was business as usual. Spark trotted over, sighing as he put his hoof on the Doctor’s shoulder.

“I guess we won’t be leaving quietly then. One last hoorah before we go?”

The Doctor looked up at him and grinned , seeing Berry with her kind smile alongside him. Free nervously approached, giving the three of them a hug. If there was anything he’d miss the most, it’d be this. He didn’t want to let them go, but he had to. There was work to be done. He quickly looked over the instruments of the TARDIS console, not many of them making sense. It was complete chaos outside, and he knew what was waiting past those doors.

He flicked the door switch, the large double doors whirred as they opened and revealed the absurd landscape ahead of them. The hills were a mess of pink and purple checkerboards, the sky filled with cotton candy clouds and gravity defying architecture. None of them dared to venture out far from the TARDIS in fear of anything from inverted gravity to being crushed by gigantic pies. They had very little time to act.

The Doctor fished a couple of coins out of his pocket and tossed them in the air. A few of them landed naturally, but at a certain distance they started floating in the air. Both he and Berry looked up as the coins floated away.

“There goes five bits. They were well spent.” Berry said flatly.

“Very funny, but we do have an advantage over the Daleks if we can lure them here. Unfortunately there’s no telling if they’ve genuinely arrived ahead of us or if my estimate is correct. I assume that if their craft is similar to my own that’s how long it’d take for them to correct their course.”

Berry picked up a rock and tossed it into the field, though it didn’t float up in the same place as before. It was a constantly shifting minefield of gravity pockets, floating anything within it to the sky. The Daleks would either capture him or shoot him on site, he wasn’t sure how much the Daleks hated him after his previous encounters. But his companions were in real danger here, and even a group of Daleks could bring the entirety of Canterlot to its knees. The Doctor and Berry turned their heads in the direction of Free, hearing her calling out to them.

“Spark told me that the Daleks are weaker when blinded. How’ll a lake of quick-drying chocolate do?”

As they went to the top of the hill they landed next to a large lake of the sweet and half set liquid came into view. The lake constantly shifted from frozen over to boiling hot. It was dangerous for them to touch, but the Daleks would easily recover. Spark grunted as he pushed a gigantic block of peppermint candy to the edge of the cliff. They had an easy vantage point, the cliff hanging over the shifting chocolate lake. If that didn’t stop them, the anti gravity minefields certainly would.

“You know, I think this might just work.” The Doctor said as he chuckled to himself, straightening the lapels of his coat gleefully.

The Dalek Timeship was a large silver cylinder with an indentation for a sliding door. The TARDIS was built to blend in while their ship shared no such qualities. It was bright ,metallic, and quite audible when landing. The door slid open smoothly and eight Daleks glided into the multicoloured plane of madness.

“Locate the enemy time vessel. Exterminate the occupants.” a black domed Dalek commanded.

All of the others let out an equally monotonous “I obey” before separating into groups of two. Spark and Free watched from above on a now floating boulder, camouflaged amongst a cluster of chocolate bubbles. Upon seeing any form of light movement the Daleks quickly blasted, blowing away large chunks of rock wherever they hit. Free slightly slipped while trying to get a better grasp on the boulder, causing a sprinkling of dust to rain downwards. The Daleks looked up, noticing them in a chaotic cluster.

The two Daleks chanted, “Seek. Locate. Exterminate” before blasting the boulder to pieces. Spark quickly grabbed Free, using himself to try and brace her fall. Thankfully for the both of them, Spark landed and burst through one of the chocolate bubbles before hitting the ground. He felt sore all over, but nothing was broken. The Daleks took no time in pointing their guns directly at the two weakened ponies. Spark’s heart was beating in his chest as he looked on in horror with nothing he could do. Only as the block of peppermint crashed into them was he able to breath and bolt for safety.

The Daleks were severely damaged, but not defeated. Even after falling in the chocolate lake they still arose from their tumble to strike again. They were coated almost completely in chocolate, sparking as it seeped into their casings. They constantly yelled “My vision is impaired, I cannot see” while attempting to fire rapidly. Occasionally their wiry guns would fire, creating more smoke and uplifting dirt. Berry and the Doctor just barely managed to push the Daleks into position, watching them scream as they slowly floated away. Nopony had any time to breath as Spark and Free were rushed to the TARDIS.

He quickly made a hasty dematerialisation, fleeing further backwards in time. The Daleks would’ve swarmed around their location and found the ship. There was no telling if they could ever get in, but they would’ve dematerialized either way. Berry tended to Spark’s wounds, dabbing the cuts with a cloth covered in rubbing alcohol. He’d survived, but everything almost went wrong. They were supposed to lure them in by throwing rocks from a distance, yet they were still caught in the action. They’d destroyed two Daleks, but why did it feel like they’d lost? He couldn’t mope now, the best he could do was to help his friends regain their senses.

“How’s the young stallion coming along, eh? Strong as you usually are?” the Doctor asked.

Spark winced as he shifted to look up at him. It pained the both of them for Spark to be in such a state.

“I’m thoroughly battered and bruised, but I’m still alive. Can’t say the same for those Daleks though, good timing by the way.”

“Thank you, though you shouldn’t have been up so high. Oh, I told you that sitting on that boulder was a bad idea.” Berry sighed, putting a cold towel on some of Spark’s bruises.

The Doctor returned to the console again, monitoring for any other time ships in the vortex. Thankfully there was nothing so far, the Daleks were likely still back with Discord’s twisted landscape. He hoped that he could destroy a few Daleks for him, save him some of the trouble. It was unlikely, but one could only hope. The glass column slowed down to a stop again, another successful rematerialization. Unfortunately it seemed that the TARDIS’s navigation systems were under some immense strength. He wasn’t even sure if he could get Berry and Spark home anymore.

“Here we are, year 910 of the First Dynasty. The crystal empire is falling, soon to vanish for a thousand years, give or take a century.”

“The Crystal Empire returns?” Berry asked, giving the Doctor a quizzical look.

Free snickered quietly, looking at the Doctor as he spoiled a little bit of their future history. He quickly changed the subject, looking over the readouts on the console.

“There should be hoards of Sombran Soldiers out there, vastly outnumbering the Daleks.”

“I’d like to see how that turns out.” Spark winced as he chuckled dryly.

“Unfortunately, we have to. We need to be certain that more Daleks are defeated, destroyed for good.”

Spark quickly got up and faced the Doctor, both shocked and angry that he would even suggest such a thing. To put them in danger again after what they’d been through.

“You can’t be serious!”

“Ah, good to see that you’re alright young stallion. Now, come along, come along.”

The Doctor opened the doors again as Spark rolled his eyes. A new wasteland was before them, the Crystal Empire laid waste to the ruins of war. Everything was in shambles, the crystal castle cracked and fractured. Houses laid to waste and the ground beneath them cracked and in ruin. Dark black spires threatened to tear the empire in two, the deep red sky bringing endless blizzards and storms. The Crystal Empire was on its deathbed, but it wasn’t the end just yet.

The Doctor peered around the corner, seeing several soldiers in iron clad suits with red mist clouding their eyes. He gestured for his friends to come slowly, following quietly behind him. They trudged through the back alleys until the Dalek time ship loudly materialised. Several of the soldiers had already taken notice of it, but the Daleks made quick work of them. The Doctor quickly ducked back behind the building he was looking around, somewhat frozen in fear. The others looked at him, trying to figure out what was going on without making a sound. Everypony froze as they heard the Daleks approaching.

They held their breath as it grew nearer and nearer. The Dalek fired, blowing up a nearby trash bin. Berry covered her mouth with one of her hooves, doing her best not to yell in fear. The Dalek turned and continued down the street, searching for them. Finally they let out a deep sigh of relief, yet still remained quiet. They had to keep moving, getting closer to the heart of the empire. Even if the Crystal Heart wasn’t there a battalion of soldiers would be.

It pained them to watch as crystal ponies were carried off in chains, but there was nothing they could do. They couldn’t save any pony here, history had to carry out its course. Berry and Free had to cover their noses and eyes as ashes rained down upon them. It stank of death and decay. It wasn’t long before they reached the center, King Sombra himself looking out upon his kingdom from an upper balcony.

He was worse than the stories, the pure evil of dark magic radiating from the castle. The Doctor could feel it deep inside him, drawing upon his worst impulses. It strained the others even more, continuing to march on despite the immense feeling of dread. Another search party of Daleks patrolled around the base of the castle, appearing as if they were more empowered than before. Whatever effect Sombra’s spells and crystals had here only provided them with more power than before.

If the odds weren’t against them already, King Sombra approached them from behind. He smirked at them as they fired, their lasers shooting right back into their gun sticks. He coldly cleared his throat before addressing them.

“Now then, you don't need to make such a fuss. You dare come to my kingdom, break several of my toys, and fire your pitiful weapons at me without even asking my name? Shame on you, don’t you know any better?”

Sombra’s voice oozed with pride, sending shivers down even the Doctor’s spine. He was cocky, prideful, but still dangerous. In the face of the Daleks, he laughed. To him, they were just another unknown creature beneath him.

“Now, do you want to assist in my conquest, or are you only going to get in my way?”

“Daleks do not ally themselves with inferior-“

In the blink of an eye the Dalek imploded, folding into itself and vanishing completely. The two Daleks looked at one another, calculating their next move. One Dalek being destroyed may have been an advantage, but them allying with Sombra spelt disaster.

“There are three Daleks not in our party. We will discuss your terms once they’ve arrived.”

The Daleks left as Sombra returned to his place, no doubt watching over the land. They hurried their way back towards the guards, seeing several Daleks approaching. There were still only two of them, the others likely lurking around somewhere. Looking on the ground was a long cable inset with large white spheres several feet apart. The Doctor picked up a cable gently, observing one of the spheres.

“Oh dear… temporal extinction devices, wipes anything within it out of time for several miles. The Daleks didn’t take kindly to no longer being the ones in command.”

“Then we have to get out of here.” Free whispered as she tugged on the Doctor’s foreleg.

“We have very little time, but I may be able to use this to our advantage. I never thought I’d see the mystery solved.”

“Doctor, what are you talking about? This place is evil and should be destroyed.” Spark said in retaliation.

“You remember what I said about this place, young stallion? It disappeared for one thousand years. If I’m quick enough I can easily rewire a module to simply freeze the empire time.”

Removing the top of the sphere , the Doctor began removing small circuits. He chucked several bits and pieces to the side before placing the top back on haphazardly. Placing the sphere down gently, he heard a guard yelling “Halt” behind him. He slowly turned around, seeing several guards pointing electrified spears at them. They were ushered out of the shadows and into the view of the crowd.

“You’ve been caught placing explosive thaumatic weapons. Jeopardising our operations is a crime worthy to the likes of treason.”

“These are our enemies, they shall be exterminated by us only.”

The Daleks had finally found them, either they’d die at the hooves of Sombra’s legion or by the weapon of a Dalek. Luckily for them it seemed that neither party could decide who should kill them.

“I don’t care what you are, we caught them, and we’ll execute them.”

“Daleks do not take orders from lesser beings.”

“Tell that to our king and then see what happens.”

The four of them closed their eyes and ducked as both Daleks opened fire. They bolted for it, just barely missing getting shot by a Dalek. The guard fell to the ground, dozens of others taking his place. They may have been Daleks, machines created for war, but they were vastly outnumbered. Nopony looked back as the Daleks were torn apart bolt by bolt, but they knew it happened. The cables started to glow a vibrant blue as they charged their power.
The TARDIS was just in sight, the Doctor quickly unlocking the door as everypony rushed inside.

They dematerialized just in time, the entirety of the Crystal Empire vanishing as it was displaced into a time bubble. Sombra may have been more powerful, but the Daleks won in a way as he was stuck in his kingdom, never to leave for a thousand years. Only three of them remained, escaping into the vortex like the TARDIS crew did. Spark collapsed in a chair while Berry and Free sat on the floor, gasping for air. They’d lost whatever time advantage they may have had before and they only just barely escaped. Even if only a handful of Daleks remained the Doctor wasn’t certain that they could handle another beating. He had an idea of where to go next, but it was a long shot as the TARDIS travelled further into the future.

“Doctor…we’ve had enough. We can’t keep going through with this anymore.” said Spark, weary as he approached the old stallion.

“And what do you expect me to do? I can’t return you home, not with the Daleks constantly on our tails. We have to keep confronting them, fighting back.”

“And we could’ve been killed out there! You’re throwing all of us straight into the flames of history just because the Daleks could be burnt too. Well I’m sick and tired of it and this machine of yours. Did you ever even think about how we felt?”

“Of course I did! Every single day, every second since I first put you in the Dalek’s way. I’ve tried to show you the wonders of the universe, to take you somewhere safe and sound.”

“Well we never got the choice that you did. I want to live a normal life in one place and time, to have certainty of where I’m going to be rather than this chaotic nonsense!”

“THAT’S ENOUGH “ Berry yelled at the two of them.

The Doctor and Spark stopped, looking over at her without saying a word. Immediately their expressions softened, feeling ashamed.

“This is the last thing we need right now. I’ve learned so much in my time travelling, to be more confident in myself and my abilities. I’ve grown just as you have. We may not have gotten a choice to leave, but we do have the choice to stay. Neither of us will regret our time here. So please…let’s settle our differences and stay together. We made a great team, but it’s time for us to go home.”

The Doctor sighed as he wiped his brow and fiddled with his coat lapels.

“Thank you. I’m not sure how much longer the TARDIS navigator will last with all of these quick manoeuvres, but I will always keep my word with you two.”

With the flick of a few switches the TARDIS landed again. One last confrontation and they were all free, free to finally continue down their paths. Outside those doors was a great white hall full of arched glass windows to view the forest below. Even at such an odd angle they could easily see the bright white city before them. It stood on stilts, raised miles above the treetops. It was quiet, eerily quiet. It felt like a ghost town, the only sounds being the wind blowing through the halls and the faint buzz of electricity.

“Where and when are we?” Free asked as she tiptoed from behind.

“Further in time than we’ve been before. It’s certainly a pony colony, though I’m not quite sure of its fate. We should be safe for now.”

Moving further down the hall a large droid came into view. It was a silver dodecahedron with thin and flexible arms that extended around its center. The way they glided was like a spider, shifting back and forth endlessly, cold and calculating as if it were stalking its prey. They rolled along the ceiling, each of its sides magnetically clamping onto the surface with ease. Something felt wrong, very very wrong. The three large droids enclosed around them, shifting slowly, guiding them further into the city.

“Uhm, where is everpony?” Free asked nervously.

The machines turned to her, their arms jittering as they analysed her speech. They paused before they responded in a slow and mechanical voice.

“Ponish…recognized…forward. Follow. Move.” the droid responded, synchronously turning around with the it’s other two followers afterwards.

No matter what they said, they only responded in the same three words: “Forward. Follow. Move.” They were corralled down through tighter hallways until they were led into a mostly empty room filled with old construction supplies and an odd stairway made of various metal and wooden beams. It only just dawned on them how much this place was still in construction. All over the city were various materials and half finished structures, barely hidden out of sight.

There was a bed with a small stuffed Panda in the corner, well kept with the sheets properly tucked in. Somepony was still here, and they weren’t alone. When Spark observed the makeshift structure, it creaked as somepony started to come down it. The four of them backed away as a cobalt blue Pegasus with a scruffy indigo mane and beard walked down the stairs. He was just in as much shock as they were.

“This is impossible…I’ve thought of the chances, two million to one. And yet you’re here…uhm, hello. I’m uh, I’m Cosmic Storm.” he said, trying to hold back his delight.

“How do you do, this’s the Doctor, Free, Berry, and I’m Spark. It's…nice to meet you? We’re a little bit behind, could you tell us what’s going on?”

“That’s fair enough, the Mechanoids took over when I crash landed. First pilot of Mission Posey, the 9th mission of the Equestrian Space Program, all big and official. I even brought my little mascot Hi-Fi for company.”

Cosmic smiled as he showed off his tattered badge before picking up the stuffed panda. It depicted Celestia and Luna running around Equus in silver and gold, though most of the lettering had been tarnished.

“Oh dear…have you been able to contact the other colonies?” The Doctor asked.

“Unfortunately not, my transmission system was destroyed on impact. I survived like you, but no radio home I’m afraid.”

“How long have you been here? Surely somepony would’ve come along and checked by now.” Berry asked.

“I’m afraid not. I’ve been stuck here for the past two years, not a single peep but from the Mechanoids. They were sent here to build this place, but when they stopped receiving instructions they didn’t know what to do. Next thing I know they’re making an entire civilization, keeping you and I trapped like specimens in a jar.”

The wall behind them shifted, revealing that they were really just large blinds for a glass window. Multiple Mechanoids came to observe them, leaving after only a minute. Spark quickly looked up at the staircase, going up a few steps.

“Where does this lead?” he asked angrily.

“Up to the roof, I built it myself after a while of staying here.”

“So it leads out of here?”

“Well yeah, but where are we gonna go? It’s a several mile drop and that forest is full of deadly things.”

“We’ve got a ship out on the long entryway to the city. We just need to get to it.”

“A functioning ship?! I thought you crash landed here just like me!”

Cosmic nearly jumped for joy, clutching the plush panda as he quickly rushed up to the rooftop. Berry looked over at Free and chuckled.

“I wouldn’t always call it functional.” Berry quipped.

“I have ears too

The roof wasn’t perfectly flat and there wasn’t an easy access to the entryway, but it was possible. Just when Berry and Cosmic started to lift some of their friends over a wall, smoke arose from the opening they came from. The Dalek’s voices could be faintly heard, approaching faster and faster. Free started to breathe heavily, doing her best not to look down. Her eyes were shut tight, Berry holding onto her tightly as they moved from rooftop to rooftop. The colony was being set ablaze, and the remaining Daleks were in over their chrome domes.

The Mechanoids may have been weak but they were strong in numbers. For every Mechanoid that was destroyed another two took its place. They could only watch as the Daleks were cut and crushed by various advanced construction tools.Then, the silence returned. No more time travelling Daleks, the city even more of a husk than it had ever been before. While the Daleks may be gone the Mechanoids still roamed the colony, clearing up the rubble and ruins of the fallen droids. The hallway was empty and the maintenance hatch from the roof had collapsed in. Just the TARDIS and the Dalek timeship stood as the cold wind blew through the shattered glass windows.

“Well, back home then? No more alien monsters or battles of ancient history.” Spark asked, staying close to Berry.

“Well…our little journey burnt out the Tardis navigation circuit. It could take me years to fix it again without any parts or navigation.” the Doctor said, feeling ashamed that he couldn’t take them home himself.

“But what about the Dalek Time Machine? Surely it should be good for one trip.” asked Berry.

“It is, but it’s too dangerous. I could set an automatic course but it’s too risky. Even if I were to pilot it myself there’s no certainty that you’ll get home.”

“Please Doctor…you know it’s hard for us to constantly run and fight our way out of trouble.”

“I want to go home, live my life, order a proper meal and walk on the beach. We’ve breathed the air of alien worlds and touched their land. But we want to belong, belong in one place and one time. It’s time to let us go…”

The Doctor paused, sighing as he entered the Dalek ship, presetting the course for the year 963 of the first monarchy and close to Foal Hill. Upon exiting he looked at the smiling faces before him. The last connection to his life from when he started travelling. It pained him greatly to see them grow, but he knew that he made a difference in them as they had done to him.

“It’s ready to go, just close the doors and you’ll be off. I can’t thank you two enough for everything you’ve done for me.”

The Doctor watched as they smiled at him, entered the timeship and exited his life. Though he still had one nagging question left in his mind.

“I suppose you two would like to return home as well,hm? This is your only chance with the Tardis in such a state.”

Free and Cosmic looked at one another, smiling as they already knew their answers.

“I’m not leaving just yet. Adventures to have and worlds to explore, besides I have nothing to return to.” Free replied.

“And I’m positive that you’ll need a pilot if your ship is as run down as I think it is.” Cosmic said jokingly.

Before the Doctor could reply the Dalek timeship made a long piercing sound as it vanished into nothing. He only hoped that they made it home safely.

“Very well then, come along you two. No use staying here.”

Upon entering the TARDIS he looked back over at the tape he meant to give to Berry and Spark. He took out the chip that recorded a good amount of Equestrian history, it would’ve messed with history anyway in 963. He didn’t use the actual film to download that corrupt AI of course. Upon looking at the ancient film he smiled, turning over the tape to reveal the faded words: Donated to the Equestrian Museum of Technology by Berry Blossom and Spark Reaction c.995. The film was barely still intact, but he put it into the borrowed VCR anyway. They were older, grayer, but still happy even decades later.

“You probably won’t be seeing this Doctor, but we made it. We made it to Canterlot 965. Two years and a hundred miles away, but we made it. Hopefully we’ll see you again someday soon, just to sit down in our world for once. Have a cup of tea or coffee, talk about old times. But I know you can’t keep that silly contraption under control. We’ll miss you.” Spark said with a smile.

“Oh and Doctor, don’t forget to be kind. On whatever alien world you’re on or the period of time you’re in, just be kind. I know you’re going to be lonely without us, and that sometimes you forget when you’re lonely. But just remember that one thing, just for us.” said Berry, sitting down next to Spark and giving him a hug.”

The tape ejected, still intact. A gift for them turned into a gift for him. With the flick of a switch and turn of a dial, the TARDIS dematerialized, off on another adventure in space and time.

Chapter 30 - Volcano Day

Twilight Sparkle did her best to maintain a steady flight in the TARDIS. She’d only piloted it a handful of times but she was slowly finding her rhythm, all those strange controls making sense to her. It only took a few minutes but the trip felt like an eternity. She was on the planet Provia again, decades before she last landed here. It was supposed to be safe, a peaceful Equestrian civilization expanding from its colonization roots. The image of the Dalek ready to fire was burned into her mind, the wound still fresh.

Outside those doors was the capital city Titanius, the largest city in all of Provia. She had traced the origins of the famine and disease back to this point. The streets were still clean and silver spires pierced the sky. With the warm orange glow of the afternoon sun, everything seemed happy and fine. She wore a thin jacket to conceal her wings, being an alicorn in a normal public setting would certainly make her stand out. Looking around she could see banners and screens displaying the planet’s 200th anniversary since colonisation.

She wondered if this was how the Doctor often felt, walking on worlds in their days of glory despite knowing their destruction. Continuing through town something caught her eye. Far from the city centre was a megaplex, a hospital as large as Ponyville and tall enough to even reach Cloudsdale. Their logo was a large ornate clock set to 4 o’clock, the name Hope Haven spread across in deep green letters. If it was the source of a disease she wanted then a hospital was the best bet. She shivered as she entered the lobby, recognizing it from her last visit. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

All of the large flatscreens in the lobby suddenly switched to the same channel, displaying the same announcement. It was an old satellite, even for her time. The first probe sent out beyond their own solar system. She’d remembered it from when she was a foal, seeing the rocket fly past the clouds from her home in Canterlot.

“Amazing, isn’t it? Just in time for our anniversary too! A relic of our Equestrian heritage.”

Twilight jumped a little, not noticing the mare next to her.

“Oh, sorry about that. My name’s Daisy, pleasure to meet you.”

Twilight shook her hoof kindly. She did her best to smile, but that sinking feeling still remained in the pit of her stomach.

“Is there anything I can help you with? I’m just an assistant nurse but I can still do a rudimentary checkup” Daisy asked.

“Oh no, no, I’m not sick. I’m just a bit lost around here. This city is absolutely beautiful, how were you able to build something so large?”

“It’s a newish sort of building technique, lattice something I think? My grandmare could probably tell you more about it, you can learn more about that at the Borealis Library. Did you come here for the festival?”

Twilight’s eyes twinkled with glee until she remembered her mission. She didn’t have the time to continue sightseeing, not when it might be this city’s volcano day.

“Uhm, yes. Where can I go to learn more about that space probe? I heard that there was a ceremony of some kind?”

“Yes, just south of Delta Square. The old space center has a large visitors lounge where they’re broadcasting the satellite being opened. Go down Custard Street, take a left on Igneous Drive and it should be on the right. Here’s my map, just in case you get lost.”

“Thank you so much, you’ve been very helpful.”

Twilight didn’t want to look back, but she did anyway. She waved goodbye, seeing Daisy smiling and returning to assist others stung like poison. She’d read about the smallest actions having large consequences in novels, maybe having Daisy’s map could save her somehow. It was unlikely, but the hope helped her cope. Following Daisy’s directions she approached the Provian Space Center’s visitor facility.

Something about the satellite just felt off. The perfect timing with the 200th anniversary celebration, the chances of it even reaching a pony inhabited colony, it all felt too coincidental and calculated. She wasn’t certain of where Provia was relative to Equestria but she was certain that it wasn’t in drifting distance. She’d calculated its path hundreds of times as a foal, it reinvigorated her love of science alongside magic. Her parents took her to the highest tower in Canterlot they could get into just to see the rockets flying beyond the clouds and into the stars.

Knowing what the Daleks were going to do to this planet in its future, this had to be their doing. Why would the Daleks do such a thing? They may be ruthless and evil but they never killed without a purpose. She’d never forgotten her goal to rescue the Doctor, but that was more complicated than she initially realized. There were so many different moving pieces that were undoubtedly connected. The Doctor was obviously on Provia, but getting to the right point in time was an issue.

Upon approaching the visitor area she immediately saw the large paparazzi. She couldn’t fully see through but she knew there was a stallion standing up by a podium, wearing a sparkly silver suit. He was giving the opening speech for the ceremony, the Head of the Provian Space Research Center as the large screens behind him displayed.

“I’m delighted to announce the return of an old artefact of our early exploration age. We’re currently preparing to open the capsule to observe its contents. It’s said that recordings of real ponies of Old Equestria were transmitted across the stars, calling out to find civilised planets. One word, transmitted in every language of Old Equestria, a simple Hello. We’re proud to present you again, returning from its two century journey, the Luna I Space Probe.”

The image on the screens changed to a sterile white environment, several scientists in suits and rubber gloves surrounding the capsule. Observing closely Twilight could see a strange symbol faintly burnt into part of the metal. It was like an eye being pierced by a lightning bolt, the bolted panel looking less corroded than the rest of the probe. She recognized it from somewhere before, something in the back of her mind. She felt an instinctive sense of fear upon seeing it, already galloping down the street. She bolted around corners and alleyways towards where she thought the TARDIS was.

The same broadcast was being displayed on nearly every screen in the city, everypony watching in awe. For a second she stopped to catch her breath, panting as her heart felt as if it was in her throat. Suddenly she was thrown back by some kind of explosion, her ears ringing. Glass rained down as thousands of windows shattered from the blast. Coughing as she got up, Twilight shielded her eyes from the light on the horizon. It was a tall plume of smoke bigger than anything she’d ever seen.

Ash began to rain from above while the smoke spread across the entire sky, blotting out the sun. She didn’t know how much longer she could survive here as the city grew colder. So many ponies, so many lives, snuffed out in seconds. She turned her head as a melted steel beam fell to the ground, shattering the concrete and revealing the TARDIS. The light of the police barn’s lamp beckoned to her, calling to come closer. She wasn’t sure if it rematerialized to save her life or if she was just that lucky.

She didn’t question further as she pushed past those blue doors and slammed them shut behind her. She slid down onto the floor, her back still against the doors of the police barn. She let out a deep sigh of relief, not sure what to do now. Twilight silently picked herself up and carried on to the console, not daring to look at the scanner. She slowly dematerialized the TARDIS, setting the ship adrift in the vortex and leaving the ruins of the Provian Capital behind. Moving down the old corridors she arrived at her old room again, something about those white roundeled walls calming her nerves.

Upon lying in bed she began to cry, feeling so alone. Now she knew why the Doctor never travelled alone for long. Twilight was supposed to be an Alicorn, a princess like Celestia and Luna. She felt that she was supposed to be strong, confident and powerful, everything her mentor was. How did Celestia and Luna ever face things like this, complete and total destruction. They didn’t do it alone, and maybe she didn’t have to either.

She knew that there was one mare who could help her, who understood what she was going through. Radiance had her TARDIS, and she was a Timepony after all, Timemare? It didn’t matter, but she should be able to find her somehow. Nothing was stopping her except herself. Twilight let go of the bed covers, not even realising how tightly she was clutching them. Taking a deep breath she got up, returning back to the console room.

She didn’t fully understand what she was doing, but she had a feeling that the TARDIS was guiding her to where and when she needed to be. Upon opening the doors she found herself in some kind of hanger. Several different ships were parked all around her, all of them white and gold with a Red Cross logo on the side. A hospital in space, and a large one at that. Twilight knew that Radiance was around here somewhere but she didn’t know why. To be fair, she wasn’t in the best state of mind the last time she saw her.

That look of fear in her eyes as she ran to her TARDIS and abandoned her, it didn’t seem like her to do such a thing. Then again she had no idea what Radiance was supposed to be like. She had amnesia so maybe she was here for medical assistance. Any medical facilities in Equestria probably wouldn’t be able to care for her anyway. Hearing frantic hoofsteps, Twilight hid behind one of steel pillars while readying a shield spell. A heavily bandaged gray mare covered in changing pink and purple spots stopped to catch her breath.

Twilight nearly jumped twenty feet when she saw her, bandaged and weak. Yet somehow despite her current state she was still stronger than she last saw her. Radiance smiled, clutching her chest in pain as she fell over. Twilight caught her with her magic, the lavender aura helping Radiance to stand. She chuckled and smiled before looking back up at Twilight, more than happy to see her again.

“Heh, hello again Twilight. Sorry we couldn’t meet under better circumstances. It’s nice to meet you again.”

Radiance quickly passed out, hoof outstretched towards one of the ambulances. Carrying her inside of it was a pink gazebo, her TARDIS. Somehow Twilight felt a strange sense of glee and nervousness. As she pulled back the pink curtained door Twilight felt as if she was entering a TARDIS for the first time all over again. Those golden roundels and light pink glow surrounding the console felt homely.

It smelled faintly of roses, Twilight finally at ease since leaving for Provia. Laying Radiance down in a nearby chair she observed the sleeker gold lined console. It reminded her of the old TARDIS, the mint green console and bright roundels from all those years ago. Somehow she couldn’t understand the various flashing controls, as if it were a completely different machine. She had no control over this TARDIS, she didn’t fully belong here.

“Do you like it? It’s older than the Doctor’s, but it’s mine.”

Turning around Twilight saw Radiance standing, perfectly healthy and stabilized. Her coat was grey again, but her mane had new streaks of purple in it. Radiance approached the console and flicked the door switch. The large thick doors whirred as they closed behind her, Radiance turning to face Twilight behind her.

“Welcome to the Tardis, Twilight. My Tardis.”

Chapter 31 - The Edge

Radiance continued to rest, fluttering in and out of consciousness. That was enough remembering for now, her mind burning with white hot pain. She needed to rest, but she didn’t want to give up on finding Prism. She was so much closer than before, she had to find her. Laying still on a stretcher in the ambulance, Radiance stared up at the roof of the ship as it flew towards the nearest hospital station. She didn’t feel that she strictly needed an ambulance given that she wasn’t physically injured, at least to her knowledge. It hurt for her to think, but there were so many burning and lingering questions that she just wanted the answers to. She’d mentioned her TARDIS to the crew, tried to tell them how vital it was to her, but she could barely mutter out the words.

Her breathing became heavier as she felt a dull ache welling up in her chest. Looking down she was shocked to see a small pink patch growing and shifting on her chest. Then another appeared, and another, and another. It was her coat, every hair attempting to change from their usual grey to a soft hue of pink. She suddenly felt so incomplete, just when she’d finally gotten such a large part of herself from. It was only one of the many lives she’d lived, but she knew so much. She wasn’t incomplete, she was unfinished. Her hooves had a faint golden glow as she finally blacked out from the pain. Radiance felt as if she were drifting, like floating in a lazy river. Everything around her was slightly cold, sending a chill up her spine. When opening her eyes all she saw was herself and the inky void. She shouldn’t have been able to see anything in this darkness, and yet she could see so clearly.

Wincing, Radiance bumped her head on some kind of raised platform. It felt like she was getting out of a pool of molasses as she stood up. Her limbs were heavy and her mind still somewhat foggy. She was still shifting coat colors, but it no longer hurt. In front of her were five round platforms, each with her ornate clock cutie mark engrained with the hands pointing to different hours. Behind them was a golden archway with a black fenced gate. She couldn’t see past the mist behind it,she couldn’t hear anypony or anything. Upon approaching the platforms the fifth one glowed softly, as did her cutie mark.

“You’re not supposed to be here yet.”

Radiance nearly jumped out of her skin, turning around to see Hedley behind her on the first platform. She stepped down, the glow beneath her hooves dissipating. Hedley wasn’t as regal as she last saw the apparition. Perhaps this was the true Hedley, complete with every memory of her regeneration. She was wearing the sherbert colored scarf too, that made Radiance smile.

“Where am I? I was just in the ambulance. Am I asleep?”

Hedley walked past her, towards the golden arch.

“You’re at the gateway to the edge. Where all of us go in the end.”

“Edge…what edge?”

Merely turning around she was in a completely different place. It was a barren wasteland, an orange desert that almost looked like a painting. Barren hills swooped up and down like the strokes of a brush, dead bushes littered around like a wild west film. Radiance hardly even noticed the edge of the cliff until she nearly fell off of it. A chunk of the dirty red stone broke from the cliff, falling eternally into the abyss below. Radiance quickly backed away, her hearts pounding in her chest.

“That edge.” said a new voice.

Turning around, Radiance saw a small indigo pegasus sitting in a wicker chair. Her mane and tail were short and transitioned from a light blue, to seafoam green and to a warm yellow. Both were tied up in a neat little ponytail and every feather in her wings was a different shade of pink or orange. She knew that this was another one of her past selves, yet she was still a stranger to her.

“This is where the mind goes when at the end of a regeneration, but you shouldn’t be here yet. You’re unstable, you’ve overworked your mind trying to remember us.”

“But that shouldn’t kill me! Why am I regenerating, why am I changing?”

Suddenly the mare morphed into a seafoam green unicorn with a forest green mane, the next one in the line of many.

“That’s why you’re here, you haven’t stopped regenerating. You’re not fully complete yet. Something’s happened during your regeneration process, preventing it from fully completing.”

“But why? What’s happened to me and why can’t I remember?!”

The mare shifted one last time, causing Radience’s hearts to sink. Those dark and soulless eyes, her inky black mane and tail, she’d seen that face before. It felt so long ago, leaving Ponyville in search of somewhere to ease her mind. For the first time in her recent memory, she felt pure and unbridled hatred.

“I happened…” said Iridescence.

“The Doctor, Prism, Provia, all of it. Why did you do it? Why have you and are you hurting so many ponies?!”

Radiance was on the verge of tears, causing Iridescence to look down in shame. There were so many terrible and unforgivable things she’d done, she could feel it despite not remembering it. Somehow that made her feel more guilty, the shame of doing so much wrong and not even remembering it ever happened. It wasn’t her that did those things, it was Iridescence, it was her to blame. Yet she was her, and there was nothing Radiance could do about it. So much anger welled up inside of her that she wanted to scream, to explode, to make her feel the same pain that she’d caused on others. She didn’t even know why she was so angry.

“Because of the War. Because of what I lost. And because it hurt too much to care. I’m still out there, equally as incomplete as you are. I was sealed away for something I couldn’t control…I honestly didn’t think you’d exist. A future for me.”

Iridescence shifted back into Hedley, already starting to cry. Radiance softened, but she was still in so much pain. Approaching her, Radiance gave her past self a long and needed hug. They cried together until Radiance’s pain returned. She was returning to the real world, not this false one conjured up by her subconscious.

“You’ll wake up soon, and you’ll probably never see me again. So as a parting gift, let me help you as much as I can.” smiled Hedley.

Both Hedley and Radiance closed their eyes in unison, their minds touching. Contact was made and Radiance began to steadily relax. She smiled, drifting into a steady trance as some of those barriers softened. Prism and her had had so much fun together, exploring the wonders of Provia and later the universe. They were more carefree back then, from 930 Manehatten to the ice caves of Shabalodon V. They told each other the truth, how they felt, and they steadily became best friends. There was still a little more of her first life to remember, those last pages still missing from the chapter. Though this was more than enough, more than she could ask for. Hedley was back in her head, almost completely.

Upon opening her eyes Radiance found herself in a hospital bed. The spots were still there, still shifting at a slower pace than before. A nurse by her side called in another doctor, their words still muffled. They applied some kind of medicinal spray to the spots, covering them in bandages to help them heal. They were only trying to help, but this was far beyond their understanding. She could sense her TARDIS somewhere nearby, she could heal properly there. Radiance couldn’t even tell when she started running, just that she was. Operating on pure instinct, she dodged left and right through various halls into the docking bay where all the ambulance ships were held. She stopped to catch her breath, looking around to see two or three purple alicorns sliding back and forth.

“Hello again, Twilight.”

In a matter of seconds she fell forwards, caught in the lavender aura of Twilight’s magic. The feeling of her home was strong here, her TARDIS was calling out to her. Radiance slowly raised her hoof, reaching out to wherever her senses guided her. She closed her eyes as she was carried inside, the warmth of the console room stabilising her condition. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep for but it felt like an eternity. Getting up out of a wicker chair, Radiance saw Twilight looking over the console confused. Radiance knew Twilight wasn’t as attuned to her TARDIS as the Doctor’s but she was still a skilled pilot.

“Do you like it? It’s a little older model than the Doctor’s, but it’s still mine.”

Twilight jumped slightly as she turned around to see her. Radiance chuckled as she looked over the controls. She was still a little hazy, but her mind had become even clearer than before.

“Welcome to the Tardis, Twilight. My Tardis.”

Twilight stood there speechless for a few moments, her mouth wide open as she struggled to find the right words.

“Who…are you really? You hardly told me anything, you just ran away.”

Radiance felt a slight twinge of guilt for her past actions, though she wasn’t quite herself just yet.

“Let me explain…I’m an old friend of the Doctor. I studied with him in the academy on Gallophrey. I used to repair Tardises for fun until I arrived on Provia in this one. She’s a refurbished model, but she’s still reliable. I arrived on Provia a long time ago, made a friend, travelled a little, and the rest…the rest is still hazy to me. I’m not sure what happened to me, but my memories are still jumbled. This regeneration is still incomplete.”

“So, you know where he is?”

“I have a general idea, and I could probably get you back there. I’m still too weak though, too weak to try and fight anypony let alone a past version of myself. Not to mention breaking the first law of time, it’s still too risky.”

“But I can fly the Doctor’s Tardis, I can get to him. I’m an alicorn now, an element of magic, I’m sure that there’s something I can do!”

Radiance pulled Twilight into a hug, patting her on the back. Twilight felt so powerless, so useless. She was supposed to be an alicorn, the Princess of Friendship, but she didn’t know what to do. Ever since her fight with Tirek, she’d been afraid. She started to cry in her arms, her brave face melting away.

“It’s alright…you’re doing your best, and you’ve done a good job. While I’ve been resting and recuperating you’ve been doing all the hard work. You learned to pilot a Tardis on your own, you were even able to find me. I think it’s time you head home for now, have some rest of your own.”

“What’s the point of my work, though? I don’t need to keep looking for the Doctor, to keep reading and decrypting his diary. You can do it, can’t you?”

“We both know that you don’t want to. If the Doctor left you any instructions, then it's best to keep trying to find them. But for now, I think you’ve earned a long rest.”

Radiance removed one of the roundels, pulling out a small silver box that looked like an advanced radio. She gladly placed it in Twilight’s hoof, adjusting some of the knobs on it.

“It’s a space-time telegraph, allows you to contact my Tardis wherever and whenever I am. Should still be relatively functional…I hope. I’ll try and come back as soon as I can.”

Twilight nodded knowingly, exiting Radiance’s TARDIS and returning to the Doctor’s. Radiance sighed, smiling tiredly. She wasn’t sure if this was the best course of action, but it was going to be worth it.

“Well…I guess I have some work of my own to do.”

Author's Note

End of Act 2

We’re in the home stretch. I want to thank again everyone who’s stuck around or read this far. You’re all the reason I continue writing this story.

~ Penny

Chapter 32 - Written in Stone

Sat at the foot of a dormant volcano was an old village. The year was 11 years Before Celestia, the age of the Equestrian Pillar’s rise to power. The village was protected by an elite group of guardsponies known as the Mighty Helm. Rockhoof wanted nothing more than to be a part of the Mighty Helm, but he was often dismissed as being too weak to protect his home. Nonetheless that never deterred him, day in and day out he dug the foundations of new homes, farms and roads. Then one fateful day the volcano finally erupted, the flow of lava heading directly towards the village.

Try as they might, the Mighty Helm couldn’t find a way they could save their village. So they attempted to evacuate, but nopony wanted to leave. It was all they had ever known and they had nowhere else to go. The wild and open sea was just as dangerous as if they were to stay. With the Mighty Helm beaten, Rockhoof did the only thing he knew how to do best. He thought that he could divert the flow of the lava by digging a long trench around the village. It’d be impossible for one pony to do it alone, but Rockhoof didn’t believe in the impossible.

He continued to work, determined to push through. With every shift of the earth beneath him he could feel a new sense of strength surging through his hooves. He began to dig faster, becoming stronger than ever before. Through sheer determination and power of will, Rockhoof saved the village and more than earned his place in the Mighty Helm. It was a momentous feat that established him in the Pillars of Equestria and the pages of the history books. However, what if all of that changed? What if the lines of history could be rewritten?

The TARDIS rematerialized on the side of a cliff. Thankfully there was more than enough stable ground, but it did obstruct the path for anyone wanting to go down to the beach below. The waves crashed and rolled against the cold rocks, the air filled with the salty scent of the sea. Inside the TARDIS the Doctor moved around the console, observing the external instruments.

“I’ll miss them, you know,” said Free.

The Doctor paused, looking up from the console. He still hadn’t fully processed Berry and Spark’s departure. He felt more at peace with it than when Susan left, though he wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the certainty that they were safe, maybe it was the knowledge that they were happy. He smiled, approaching Free.

“Yes, yes, as will I. I knew they’d take the chance the first moment it presented itself. I know for certain that they’re safe and well. Now… you’re sure that you’re willing to continue travelling with me? I’d hate for you to simply stick around for a silly old buffle like me.”

Free smiled warmly in return.

“Of course, Doctor. I don’t have anything to go back to anyway. I enjoy travelling in the Tardis, as strange and unreliable as it may be.”

The Doctor’s expression faltered slightly. He’d not yet told her about what he’d discovered about her father that day, nor had he asked her opinion on travelling before. He wanted to tell her how selfish her father had been and the terrible things he’d done, but he couldn’t. He himself, who had viewed Equestrian ponies so highly, still had doubts about how a pony could be so selfish and vile. What would that do to Free? He opened his mouth to speak, but Cosmic cut him off when clearing his throat.

“So…interesting ship you’ve got here, Doc. Might be a bit unconventional, but whatever works works.”

The Doctor held back the urge to roll his eyes and scoff. Free was actually surprised that the Doctor hadn’t made some snide remark at him yet.

“Unconventional, you say?”

“Well Doc, the front doors being a blue box for a start.”

“Now young stallion, you just sit down in that chair and catch your breath. Firstly, this is my ship. The blue box you speak of was my ship. Secondly, don’t call me Doc, do I make myself clear?”

Cosmic sat down in a wicker chair, nervously fidgeting as he contemplated whether to complain or comply.

“Whatever you say Doc..tor!”

The Doctor lost his battle of wills, rolling his eyes before returning to the console. The air was breathable, the ground was solid and the weather was lovely. The yearometer indicated it was some time close to the start of Celestia and Luna’s first diarchy, though it was often on the blink these days. Berry would’ve loved to be here, a period rich with history. Turning his head he saw Cosmic staring over his shoulder. He huffed, Cosmic was certainly more irritating than Berry and Spark.

“So, which of these do what?” Cosmic asked curiously.

“Well Cosmic, this is the Helmic Regulator and that’s the Horizontal Hold. Up there’s the scanner, those are the doors, and over there’s a chair with your stuffed panda. Sheer poetry, now please stop bothering me. We’ve landed on Equus, so go freshen yourself up a bit. I’m sure Free can show you the way.”

The Doctor opened the doors, Free holding back laughter as she looked at Cosmic’s awestruck face. He took in the fresh air, picking up a rock and dropping it into the water below. The waves were rough so no ships were coming in tonight. On the ground was a rusty old helmet, worn from years of battle. Picking it up the Doctor brushed the dirt off of it, observing that it wasn’t quite as ancient as it seemed. Observing the markings he determined it was forged for the Mighty Helm’s guard. The air smelled earthy, a faint smell of sulfur lingering. Volcanic activity, though it wasn’t strong enough for it to be volcano day yet. That left one conclusion, that it was the year 11 Before Celestia, no doubt close to Rockhoof’s mighty feat. If they were lucky they could view the event from a distance safely for once.

“Come look at this, it’s a genuine artefact of the Mighty Helm.”

Cosmic stepped out of the TARDIS with Free, freshly showered, shaven and wearing a new shirt rather than his dirty Equestrian Space Program overalls. He still had a look of doubt, subtly sneaking glances behind the TARDIS. He hardly believed the ship was transdimensional, let alone a time machine.

“Well I suppose so.” he shrugged off.

“You suppose so? What do you think this is, a space helmet for a cow? No, no.”

“Ugh, smell that air though. It smells like rotten eggs and dead fish. I thought the sea was supposed to smell lovely!” said Free, closing the door behind her.

“We can’t really get to the beach though. Which way should we go, climb down the rocks or walk up the path?” Cosmic asked, peering down the rocks.

“Certainly not. I’m not a mountain goat, and I prefer walking to anyday. And I hate climbing.”

The Doctor continued onwards up the bath, looking behind him when he realised that his travelling companions hadn’t followed.

“We’re going to try climbing down, I want to walk along the beach.” Free called to the Doctor, already starting the climb down the rocks.

“Very well, very well. I’ll meet with you further up the path.”

He continued forwards into the village, taking in all the sights and scenery. It was calm and rustic, a traditional town for this time and place. The town square was bustling with activity, merchants selling bread and fruit while blacksmiths toiled away at their iron. The whole village was filled with the hymns of the monastery up on the hill, completing the perfect picture. If anything it was ordinary. It was the perfect change of pace to his previous journeys, though he was still disappointed that Berry and Spark never got to witness such serenity. Everything was as it should be, until the hymn slowed down unnaturally. It repeated the same line twice before returning to normal.

The village paid it no mind, they couldn’t comprehend what they were hearing. The Doctor approached a mare at one of the fruit stands.

“Excuse me. Forgive an old stallion, but could you tell me about the monastery?”

“Oh, another monk, yeh? We’ve been gettin a lot of 'em in the past few months. Just go up the path and past the grand oak tree, can’t miss it.”

“Yes, yes, has the monastery been occupied for long?”

“Oh no, the monastery’s been abandoned for ages. We just assumed a couple monks moved in and they started a new congregation or somethin.”

“Thank you, you’ve been most helpful.”

The Doctor left, contemplating what this meant. The worship of Galaxia, the mother of the two sisters, hadn’t been carried out for nearly a century. He’d assumed that this was merely a splinter group, but the hymns. They slowed, skipped and stopped like a broken record. Approaching the front door, he gripped the iron handle and knocked it on the door. No answer. The door wasn’t locked, the hymns weren’t even disturbed by his loud presence. He entered the candlelit hall of the grand monastery.

The hall was warm, unusual for the autumn air. In fact it was too warm for a brick and mortar building of this day and age. He could smell butter and eggs, following the smell he found buttered toast and scrambled eggs on a very ornate platter. Even stranger was the mockup kitchen complete with toaster, minifridge and portable stove top. Pulling back the curtain to the room across the hall was even more anachronistic. The source of the heat was a portable space heater.

He was certain that the TARDIS had landed in 11 BC. This wasn’t the only anachronism. There was a solar generator, a new 970s floral recliner, a flatscreen TV and several books ranging from the 880s to the 22nd century. It was all wrong, so many items mismatched in time that it couldn’t be a coincidence. Feeling a slight shiver he realised that he wasn’t alone here, he wasn’t the only time traveller. The hymns were the loudest in the back of the hall, behind the last curtain was a gramophone playing a record of old Equestrian hymns. The record was stuck on a scratch, looping to varying degrees of success.

He picked up the needle and took it off the record. The monastery was consumed in an eerie silence, the hum of the heater being the only sound in the hall. Suddenly the Doctor felt a sword at his throat, leading him away from the gramophone. It was a middle aged stallion with a short black mane and deep grey coat. He was dressed as a monk, no doubt a disguise to fool the locals. He questioned if the Timeponies had finally caught up with them, but they’d never be so reckless. This was a blatant disregard for the laws of time, a rogue.

“Hello again, Doctor.”

He recognized the voice from his days in the academy. He knew he was pompous and arrogant, but never stupid. The sword moved to his chest as the Doctor slowly turned to face him.

“Ah, so you’re a monk now, hmm?”

“Oh yes, simply another ruse. You of all ponies should know that.”

“Disobeying the laws of time so blatantly, eh? What are you planning this time? Go on, get it over with, get it over with.”

“Oh I’ve simply been enacting my grand design. I thought you of all ponies would approve, doing something for the better of the universe and all that.”

“To help, yes, but to alter the entire course of history on such a catastrophic scale? Never!”

The Monk shoved the Doctor into a storage cupboard, one of the few rooms with an actual door. Suitably it was the only one that he could be locked in. The Doctor got back onto his hooves and pounded on the door, demanding to be let out. The Monk simply laughed as he walked away.

“Sorry, Doctor, I can’t have you interfering with my work as you always do. Tah-tah!”

The Doctor gave the door one last kick before giving it a rest. He sat down on the dirt and hay, not given much of a choice in seating. Free and Cosmic were likely still out there waiting for him. They were smart, diligent and resourceful, at least Free was. Though it’d take time for him to be rescued while the Monk carried out his plans. He was stuck, contemplating what that plan could possibly be. Reaching deep into his memory to his days in the academy the Monk had almost been a friendly rival.

They’d lost touch after about 50 years, the Monk’s zealous ideals becoming too much for him. He’d started preaching some grand plan to help the universe beyond Gallophrey. Eternal peace and prosperity across every known galaxy, he’d rant about. The Monk wanted to take the reins of time and guide it towards the greatest possibility. The Doctor thought he’d gone mad in the last days they knew one another. It turns out that nothing had changed after all.

To steal a TARDIS and interfere in the fates of countless civilizations so recklessly, this didn’t feel like his style. Closing his eyes, the Doctor began to drift between sleep and deep thought. Was what the Monk was doing any different than what he was doing? He wasn’t as extreme as the Monk in the primitive ages of Equestria, but his actions did have more consequences than he likely imagined. Back to the task at hoof, the Monk likely had some form of good intentions, as deranged they may be. Without a doubt he was here for Rockhoof, one of the most influential figures in Equestrian history, but why?

For now that had to wait, he couldn’t sit idly in hopes that Free and Cosmic would find him. Time was of the absolute essence. Thinking back this reminded him of Commander Hurricane’s castle, what was it that Berry said? There’s always an emergency exit, an escape tunnel in case of a cave or accident during construction. Combing the walls he found a loose brick against part of the wall’s wooden framing. Wedging in his hooves he pried the panel away from the wall, the bricks just part of a false backing.

Behind the wall was a much smaller tunnel, barely enough room for one pony. He sighed and began to crawl, the tunnel at least being short. An escape route was an escape route after all. Brushing off his coat, the Doctor made his way back to the village down below. He couldn’t directly approach Rockhoof in fear of altering the timeline more, but he could observe and prevent it from a distance. Walking down the street he saw the same mare packing up her fruit stand for the day. He approached her, picking up an apple that she dropped.

“Oh, thank you. You’re back from the monastery then, did ya find what you’re looking for?”

“Eh, in a way, yes. Could you perhaps direct me towards some excavators? I plan to settle down and need a strong foundation for my abode.”

“I think I can help you, sir.”

Turning around the Doctor nearly jumped in fright, the young Rockhoof right behind him. He stuttered for a moment before regaining his composure. So much for observing from a distance.

“Eh, yes. A pleasure to meet you, eh…”

“Rockhoof, sir. Do you need any help there, mum?”

Of course out of all the fruit stands in the market, he just had to choose the only fruit stand that just so happened to have Rockhoof’s mother running it.

“Oh don’t worry, dear. I’ve got it handled.”

As Rockhoof’s mother carried several baskets of fruit on her back he noticed something strange around Rockhoof’s neck. It was some kind of alicorn amulet, though it wasn’t enchanted just for unicorns. Even the original alicorn amulet wouldn’t be forged for at least another century.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where’d you acquire such an unusual amulet?”

“Oh, the father of the monastery gave it to me. He said that it was a blessing of the goddess herself, something to bring strength and good fortune. I didn’t believe him though I didn’t want to be rude, sir.”

“I see. Do you mind if I see it?”

“You can have it if you want. I don’t have any need for jewellery such as that. Gives me an uneasy feeling, anyway.”

Rockhoof tossed him the amulet off of his neck. The Doctor just stared at it in his hoof, surprised that it was so easy. It was a powerful fire amulet, allowing the wearer to control any form of heat and molten material at will. With it Rockhoof likely could’ve moved the inflow of magma without even needing to dig a trench.

“Thank you, you’re most kind.”

“Just doing my best for the village, sir. Have a nice night.”

Just like that, Rockhoof was off, back on the natural course of history. Though that still left the meddling Monk, no doubt having at least one or more backup plans up his sleeve. The sun was setting as he looked back up at the monastery, the volcano mere hours away from erupting. He walked up the path once again, likely straight into a trap. He picked up a large stick along the way, normally against any form of violence but he needed some upper hand in the situation. Approaching the door he used the knocker again, quickly ducking behind some brush as it opened. He didn’t expect the Monk to actually answer the door. He looked around, perplexed that nopony was there. The Monk stayed too close to the door for him to sneak in, remaining cautious as he went back inside. The Doctor used the knocker again, banging louder and faster before returning to the brush.

This time the Monk came far enough outside, allowing him to sneak inside without being noticed. When the Monk went back inside he was facing away from him, allowing him to hold the stick directly against the center of the back of the Monk’s neck.

“Stand very still, I have this pressed directly against your spinal cord so no sudden movements.”

The Monk complied, though he still verbally protested. The Doctor quickly shut him up with a light poke before he could call his bluff.

“Now, take me directly to your Tardis. Your meddling ends here and now.”

The Monk tried to protest again but the Doctor jabbed him lightly again. The two of them walked to the back of the church, approaching the altar. The Monk slowly croached to open a door in the side, the Doctor observing carefully to make sure he didn’t pull any tricks. His Tardis was almost the same as his, a similar model of course. There were various historical artefacts littered everywhere from numerous different time periods. Both Cosmic and Free were standing in the middle of the room, looking at a small book and some scrolls. They both jumped in surprise until they saw their friend again.

“Doctor!” Free exclaimed as she gave him a hug.

The Doctor dropped the stick, the Monk slightly wandering off. He knew that the Monk had more power here, he probably even wanted them in here. That was precisely what the Doctor wanted, just a long enough moment within the Monk’s ship to do what must be done. To stop his meddling once and for all.

“Couldn’t wait for me in the city, hmm? I’m not surprised you didn’t head back to the Tardis.”

“We tried, but the tide came in. Doctor…the Tardis is gone.”

“Oh, not to worry my foal, a mere tidal current is hardly enough to move the ship. Back to the matter at hoof, this’s a mark four range time capsule, isn’t it?”

The Doctor was playing for time, hoping to get him talking long enough to gain the upper hand. He needed to get him away from the console, this had to be the Monk’s last chance to meddle in history.

“Yes, and it even has automatic spatial drift drives.”

“Oh, really? So you can perfectly suspend yourself in space then. However it’s useless without the fibrotic actualizer.”

The Doctor moved around the console, however the Monk still kept getting closer and closer.

“What make and type is your Tardis then? Can’t be that serviceable if the Chameleon Circuit is on the blink.”

“Well, well, I'll make do. It brought us here, now didn’t it, eh?”

The Monk stared at the Doctor, both standing next to each other face to face. It was just like the olden days, the two of them facing off in their typical rivalry. They stood silently, Cosmic and Free not sure what to do. They were in the Monk’s TARDIS, his playing field.

“You know that this is for the best. Increasing the strength and magical ability of Rockhoof, one of Equestria’s Pillars, would create an invaluable asset for their forces. Imagine if the Pillars never needed to vanish for 1,000 years. Magic could be free and accessible to all from Rockhoof’s power. No need for the Elements of Harmony, Luna might never become Nightmare Moon.”

“And in doing this they’ll create bigger weapons before they’re mature enough to use them. Unlock magics that should never be tampered with, hundreds upon millions of lives ceasing to exist! Is that what you want?”

“No…Equestria will find its peace. Eventually beyond, this is merely another stepping stone for a greater future.”

“So I see…you really haven’t changed.”

The Monk leaned against the console, the Doctor starting to feel dizzy seemingly out of nowhere. The Monk put on a gas mask, triggering something underneath the console. When they awoke they were tied up in the hall of the monastery. The smell of sulphur was stronger than it’d been before, the air was warmer and the ground faintly trembled. They had anywhere from hours to minutes, but so did the Monk.

“I think…we’re actually in 11 BC.” said Cosmic.

If she weren’t currently tied up at the moment, Free would’ve face hoofed as hard as she could.

“Seriously…you’re just realising that now?”

‘Well, give me a break. If you’d told me a week ago that I’d be off-world, let alone Equus of all places, I’d still think you were around the bend. I’m taking this all in my own strides.”

“Go on then.”

“Well…since we’re in the past, then there’s nothing we should worry about, right? The past is the past. We know that Rockhoof had no help, no powers other than super strength and that’s that. The history books said so.”

“Well, from where we are now, the history books haven’t been written yet. Who’s to say that the Monk didn’t help Rockhoof? You read his notes in his Tardis, this isn’t his first time doing whatever he wants to history. He can do whatever he wants and the new books will be written in place of the old.”

“Aptly put, my foal. Now, have you freed yourself from your restraints yet?”

Free held up both hooves, a pocket knife in one of them. The Doctor smiled, proud of her. She was already working on cutting Cosmic’s restraints.

“I’m surprised the Monk didn’t check for anything while we were out.”

“We’re too close to the final hour. He hasn’t the time for us, just as we have none for him. He’s deduced that I’ve foiled his initial plans and now he’s onto the next one. Have you discovered something in my absence?”

“Quite a lot actually, the Monk had some notes in his Tardis. We already found the rocket launcher by the rocks, he planned to prevent the ships from leaving the harbour. It was supposed to be a long con, but we pushed it into the ocean. Figured it was something nasty either way.”

“Very good, very good. Now, come along Cosmic, there’s something I need in the Monk’s ship.”

The Doctor dusted off his waistcoat before motioning to follow him. He ducked through the altar’s door before crouching beneath the console. Cosmic joined him, helping him pry off a panel that exposed the components beneath. He began to loosen one of them,being very careful as to not sever the connection to the main drive. It was a clear box containing three silver tubes, all attached to a sparkling circuit board made of some advanced alloy. At his request, Cosmic handed the Doctor a long cable, which he tied to the box’s outgoing connection.

Pulling a small notepad out of his pocket, he scribbled a quick note for the Monk. Once everypony was outside of the altar he yanked on the cable, pulling the component free. He picked the box up, carrying it underneath his shoulder. He placed the several small pages of paper on top of the altar for the Monk, satisfied with his work.

“What was all that for?” Cosmic asked with his typical puzzled look.

“All in due time, all in due time. Now quickly, back to the ship.”

The three of them made their way back to the cliffside, watching the lava flow down the side of the mountain. Thankfully the tide had gone back out and the TARDIS was accessible. They hardly had the time to evade the lava, even with Rockhoof’s help. They all watched happily from a distance, the flowing magma oddly beautiful.

“So that’s the end of the Monk’s plans?” asked Cosmic.

“I assume so, now history is allowed to continue its rightful course.” Free said, smiling along with the Doctor.

“You know, I think I’m taking a liking to being a crewmember on your space and time machine.”

“Crew member? You’d be lucky. He’s the crew, we’re just the passengers.” Free chuckled, pointing at the Doctor.

“Yes, and both very welcome ones. Off we go then, before we’re bothered with the cleanup. Come along, come on.”

The old Police Telephone Barn dematerialized away from the cliff face, the waves crashing against the newly formed rocks as they cooled. The Monk, however, could not do so himself. It would be a long while before the Monk had a chance to do any more of his futile time meddling.

My dear fellow,

I’m sure you will excuse me, but I didn’t want to say goodbye as you are obviously going to be very busy for some time. Just in case you still have ideas about your master plan, I’ve taken precautions to stop your time meddling. Possibly one day in the future, when you’ve learned your lesson, I shall return to release you.

Signed, The Doctor

Looking into the altar the Monk would find his TARDIS, the exact same size inside as it was outside. The Doctor had taken his dimensional control, leaving his ship inoperable unless the exterior dimensions were the same as the interior. For now he was marooned, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chapter 33 - Desolation

The surface of the planet was dusty and desolate, sparse brush and flowers dusting the surface. The rusty orange mountains rose high against the sandy red background, three suns hanging high in the sky. The world was uncharted on most star maps and didn’t even have a name. For the TARDIS crew it was a rest stop, another chance to avoid the need to save worlds and instead explore them. Free was doing her best to give Cosmic a haircut, somehow still scraggly from his time being imprisoned by the Mechanoids. They’d been travelling for some time since they left Rockhoof’s village behind, quickly becoming friends during their travels.

The time rotor finally signalled their landing with one final descent. The Doctor turned on the scanner, displaying the planet’s surface. It was definitely dry and arid, a miracle that even the sparse vegetation could grow amongst all the sand and rock. He was a little concerned about the lack of information he could even find in this sector of space. This sector of space had plenty of uncharted worlds, planets that nopony had ever even set a hoof on in all their eons of existence. The perfect place to stop for a rest.

“Hey, now that doesn’t look too bad. Maybe we could have a nice holiday if we find a lake out there.” Cosmic said with a smile.

“Perhaps, perhaps. I could test the chemical compounds of the soil, analyse it to see what allows such sparse life to exist. So much peculiar fauna to discover.”

“Oh, come on Doctor, not everything can be some scientific expedition. Relax, put your hooves up, everypony needs a rest every once in a while.”

“Yes…yes, I think you’re quite right. I believe we’ve finally earned some undeserved, ehm long deserved peace and rest.”

Looking back up at the monitor they saw something approaching. It was a short but wide robot, looking like three white bowls stacked upside down on one another. It moved across the rocky terrain on wheels and a thin antenna with a small bulb stuck out of its top. It bumped up against the TARDIS several times, two mechanical arms extending from its base and wrapping around the ship. It spun around and beeped, likely comprehending the new object in front of it.

“So much for our quiet vacation,” Free sighed.

“Oh there’s no need to be so down, hmm. They could be friendly, we mustn't discredit any possibility.”

“I think they look rather cute, they look rather…oh I don’t know, chumbley.”

“Chumbley, what’s that supposed to mean?” Cosmic asked.

“You know, chumbley. Like a chubby pony wobbling back and forth.”

Both Cosmic and the Doctor chuckled as Free mimicked the robot’s wobbling motions with her hooves stretched out. The little bulb on top of the robot, the chumbley Free liked to call it, blinked on and off several times. It was likely sending out some sort of call for backup before quickly wobbling away, kicking up a trail of dust behind it. The Doctor poked his head outside of the door before gesturing for the others to follow. Cosmic was still a bit hesitant to go too far from the TARDIS while Free was already willing to explore. She took in a deep breath and sighed, observing the warm red and orange sky.

“The air smells like roses, and these bushes over here look like them too. Good to know that beautiful flowers like these can exist on any world.”

Cosmic froze as he saw another Chumbley approaching. He backed away to the others as several more approached. Chumbley after Chumbley approached them in a circle, nopony moving a muscle. The second they stopped moving the Chumbleys seemed to stop moving too. They blindly rotated in a circle and their antennas blinked, clearly confused. One of them approached a bush, its mechanical arm outstretched. What could only be described as a mix of purple fire and electricity shot from its arm and disintegrated the pseudo-rose bushes.

“That’s a good enough threat for me.” said Cosmic as the circle started to move.

They began to be guided along the red plains, no knowledge of where they were going or who they were being taken to. Either way there was no ignoring that sinking feeling. It almost felt as if they were being watched, something vanishing out of the corner of their eyes. Somepony peaked their head slightly from above the rusted crags, eying them down. One of the Chumbleys sparked and blew a large puff of smoke out from its ridges, the group coming to a halt. A web of magnetic clamps latched themselves around several of the portly robots, two mares sliding down the side of the mountainous terrain.

They were completely identical, both light blue with yellow manes and tails in a bun. Aside from four darker bumps underneath both eyes and pointier ears they were essentially the same as them. They appeared like Equestrian ponies but the way they stood and moved felt off, like they weren’t completely alive. As they recharged their weapons, several more Chumbleys began to surround them, charging their own in preparation for an all out war.

“Quickly, this way! Our ship is just over that hill.” one of the strangers called out to the others.

The five of them bolted over the rusted plains, the Chumbleys quickly recovering from the attack. It wasn’t long before they could see the other ship on the horizon. Their ship was a wide cylinder, the exterior made of a rigid metal. Its four legs were heavily crumpled, the missing chunks of metal piercing the soil. The door hissed as its cabin depressurized automatically. Several Chumbleys were outside as it finally sealed, just standing there and sending out more signals. The Doctor, Free and Cosmic all sighed in relief.

“Marga will be seeing you now.”

The inside of the ship wasn’t much better than the exterior. Most of it was still in a state of disarray, every monitor cracked and loose wires scattering the floor. The main drive had been nearly gutted just as a desperate attempt to get them off the ground. Rudimentary phosphorescence kept the alight, the table that served as a navigational computer was scattered with diagrams of the planet’s surface, reminiscent of a war room. Five other mares sat in seats attached to the wall, their eyes closed and clearly in some kind of trance. The mare who sat at the table was the same as the others, though taller and wore a white triangular collar signifying her status.

“Ah, Marga I presume? We offer our utmost gratitude for our er…recovery. I’m the Doctor, this is Free, and Cosmic is the one looking confused.”

Cosmic rolled his eyes as usual.

“Yes, we found you forcefully guarded by the SMV6 Mark 4 Servo-androids.”

“The Chumbleys, you mean?” Free chimed in.

Marga paused, readjusting herself in her seat.

“Yes, the Chumbleys. We assumed you were their prisoners, any new allies in this ongoing battle is a necessity.”

“Yes, yes, and what of this planet, hmm? A rather dreary place, though suitable for life. What do you call this world, eh?”

“This planet has yet to be given any official designation. We, the Draavins, and our enemies the Rhills are the first sentient lifeforms to tread this world, There is no need for a designation given the current circumstances.”

“My apologies, we assumed you knew of this planet’s fate. This world’s orbit has been deteriorating with each orbit of any of its stars. In fourteen of this planet’s dawn the gravitational forces will be too great and this planet will be pulled apart.”

The Doctor took a moment to process this information. He didn’t doubt that she was telling the truth, but he had a knacking suspicion that he wasn’t being given the entire picture. Something just felt off to him, the way Marga moved and spoke so factual and logically. He had a hunch, but he still wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.

“Tell me more about your current situation, are the Rhills in a similar situation such as yourselves? If so I can assure you that the both of you will be able to leave this planet if you wish.”

“The Rhills crashed with us, though their ship is in a lesser state of disrepair.”

“Then why don’t you both just pile up in one ship and go? Clearly you both want to save your skins, even if you are at war with one another.” Cosmic asked.

Marga looked up at him, it was hard to tell whether she was surprised or offended. She stood up from the table and pushed in her seat, starting to walk around the room.

“We Draavins are a race of soldiers. We are efficient, logical, and do not accept any form of defeat lightly.”

Most of the soldiers in their seats had awoken from their trance except for one. stomped her hoof on the ground and the soldier immediately awoke from their trance, quickly standing at attention. The motion was fluid, little soul in the soldier’s eyes.

“Even though my soldiers are merely clones, I do wish for them and myself to leave this world safely. Given our options, a tactical retreat may be necessary. Your own ship, do you have the necessary faculties to facilitate any repairs? At the very least enough to transport ourselves to a more hospitable world.”

“Perhaps, though the damage is quite severe. However Cosmic does make a valid point, why ask for our assistance when you can accomplish the same alliance with the Rhills?”

Marga sat back down again, moving aside some of the holographic diagrams on the table.

“We were attempting to find a new world suitable for colonisation. Given how this sector is generally uninhabited, we figured it’d be ideal. However while passing by this planet the Rhills shot us down, though we were able to retaliate. Their ship is larger, more advanced, and we’re but a mere scout ship. Forgive us if we are not open for negotiations.”

“Then we’ll need to return to our ship, it’s not far from where you found us. We can retrieve the proper equipment and potentially perform the necessary repairs.”

As the Doctor stepped towards the door the clone soldiers moved around him, blocking his path.

“Not quite, Doctor. As much as we’d like to have our own ship repaired, we’d rather not have you leaving quite so soon. As such, one of your companions shall be staying behind. You are strangers to us, after all.”

Free was about to protest when the Doctor stopped her. He held out a hoof before reassuringly patting her on the back.

“She has a valid point. Cosmic will assist me to the Tardis. I’m sure you can handle things sufficiently yourself, Free?”

Free looked up at him and nodded knowingly. This wasn’t her first rodeo, she could easily collect intel while they planned in the private confinement of the TARDIS. She often knew what she had to do.

“B6, B7, protect the Doctor as he retrieves the necessary equipment from his ship.”

Two of the soldiers stood at attention, automatically moving to Cosmic’s and the Doctor’s side. Cosmic was clearly quite uncomfortable, the soldier's eyes staring onwards endlessly without question.

“Good, then perhaps you can debrief me on this feud with the Rhills then, hmm? Come along Cosmic, time to stretch your legs.”

B6 and B7 depressurized the airlock, the metal door creaking open. It wasn’t long before they were back on the endless plains, everypony vigilant and on edge. The two Draavins stood guard outside of the TARDIS doors once they’d arrived, the Doctor letting Cosmic in. Rather than going to the small parts storage for the repair kits he wheeled out a machine that was shaped like a hexagonal prism. Each face of the prism’s partial pyramid had a round window embedded into it, displaying a standard view of their current sector of space and time in various formats.

“Do you have any prior experience with an oscilloscope?” the Doctor asked.

“Something similar, yeah. This is quite a bit more complicated, but I know the basics. Why, what are we looking for?”

“The truth on this planet. I don’t doubt some of the Draavin’s claims on certain matters, but I’d prefer to observe the results myself.”

Cosmic adjusted the dials while the Doctor punched the complex equations on the keypad. The planet was heading for total collapse, for certain, but in only two of the planet’s dawns. Due to the multiple suns and orbital pattern each day and night cycle lasted an hour each. Two dawns, four hours before both they, the Draavins and the Rhills, were doomed to die.

“As much as I trust my own work, do you think we can get a third opinion?”

“No…even if my calculations were off by a wide margin the rate of decay is exponential, not linear. Conditions would only get worse at a rapidly increasing rate, until the surface is nearly inhospitable.”

“So…what do we do?”

The Doctor grabbed the repair kit from the small side lab, handing some of the plastic containers to Cosmic.

“We see what Free has learned, and regroup. We need to address the Rhills, no matter their intention. They deserve to survive too.”

They both quickly looked up at the scanner as they heard Chumbleys firing their weapons. Cosmic tried to open the doors but the Doctor stopped him, holding out a hoof. It was too late, they’d only get caught in the crossfire. Looking up again, the fighting had stopped. There was no sight of the Draavin guards as the Chumbleys laid chains of several silver cylinders. They backed away, the bulbs on their antennae starting to blink at an accelerating rate. The Doctor quickly forced Cosmic to the ground as the cylinders detonated.

The explosives weren’t too powerful though they still shook the console room. An unsuccessful attempt to breach the doors, the TARDIS thankfully much stronger than that. Cosmic helped the Doctor up, the first one to recover from the commotion. They both coughed as the Chumbleys left. They seemed to be blind, the Chumbleys, not even acknowledging that the ship was more than a container.

“What now, then?” Cosmic asked.

“We return to the Draavins post haste…As destructive as these Chumbleys may be, I don’t think they’re quite the malicious force the Draavins may believe.”

“And we’re just sticking with the name Chumbley?”

“Why not, Free seemed content with it.”

With the flick of a switch the doors opened, letting them outside again. They paid no mind to where B6 and B7 were, continuing on their long stroll back. They weren’t greeted as welcome as before, the suspicion of the clone’s absence no doubt creating falsifications as they breathed. The Doctor sat back in the seat across from where Marga originally sat, watching as she sat back down herself. Free nervously rejoined the two of them, the Draavin’s veil of intention lifted.

“I hope you had no troubles on your return journey.” Marga asked with a smile as cold as ice.

“We ran into some trouble, B6 and B7 could not assist us. We were no match for the Chumbley’s explosives. However, we were able to secure the necessary components.”

The Doctor pushed the plastic container forwards. Even without expressing it, he could tell that Marga was pleased. She opened it precautiously, nodding to her soldiers before closing it again.

“You’ve done well, Doctor. However, we are still without the necessary power for our ion drives.”

“My Tardis should have the necessary power to do so. I just need my companions to assist me.”

“Now you know that I still can’t let all of you go just yet. While your claims do have some merit, forgive me for being somewhat sceptical. The stallion stays, I’m assuming you don’t need anymore ‘heavy lifting’.”

Cosmic quickly turned to leave on instinct, bumping into one of the soldiers. He tried to resist but the soldier immediately lifted him above her head by the throat. Both Free and the Doctor could only stare in shock, guns pointing at their heads. All it took was one look from Marga to dispel the tension, Cosmic taking in deep breaths as he was dropped to the floor. In the split second the soldiers had already lowered the guns.

“My apologies for the overreaction, such simple minds some clones have. But as I said, the stallion stays. Go on, that cable link to our fusion cells should suffice.”

The Doctor got up quietly and picked up the cable alongside Free. He silently nodded to Cosmic. Though he seemed a little confused, he still understood what it meant. The door opened and they were on their way to the TARDIS again. It felt like they were a ball in a tennis match, constantly being forced from one location to the next. Once back inside the console room the Doctor began to fixate the cable to receive power from the ship. Free sighed as she sat down in a chair, wiping the sweat off of her brow.

“So…what do we do now? They didn’t send us with any guards.” asked Free.

“They have no need, they have Cosmic. If they suspect that they won’t receive their power then he’s in grave danger.”

“I see…How long will it take for their ship to recharge?”

“I estimate about an hour or less, well within the time frame.”

“On full power?”

The Doctor paused and smiled, already moving back to the console to make his adjustments. Free smiled back at him before looking over his shoulder.

“A splendid idea, my foal! Running at reduced output should buy us much more time.”

“All the while they hardly suspect a thing.”

“Splendid. Now, to address the Rhills. Their Chumbleys appear to be completely blind, but can detect sound up to a presumably given range. We must be careful, no doubt they will be swarming around the area in no time. ”

He certainly wasn’t wrong, it wasn’t long after they exited the TARDIS that they came across a cliff face. Or rather, the Doctor nearly fell off of it. Free quickly grabbed his foreleg and pulled him to safety, a small cluster of Chumbleys below in the shallow ravine. He silently thanked Free before looking back down at the wobbling robots.

“We must be absolutely silent,” the Doctor whispered, “remember to assess the situation, observe your surroundings, and act on your conclusion. No rash or hasty manoeuvres, hmm?”

Much to the Doctor’s horror, Free paused for a moment before throwing a rock at the Chumbleys. It landed just short of the closest one, causing them to swarm around the rock and swivel their metal arms.

“Goodness, gracious me, whatever was that for? The, the risk, the potential to get us killed.”

“But there was no risk, I did as you told me to. I assessed, I observed, and I concluded, and then I threw the rock. You said it yourself, the Chumbleys are blind to a limited range aren’t they? If we stay out of range of hearing then we can follow them to their base.”

“Yes, yes, but it was just a theory. Just don’t do such a thing again, not without notifying me first.”

He swore that Free might be the death of him one day. They continued to follow the Chumbleys down the ravine, their ship appearing on the horizon. It was a sleek black pyramid made of millions of miniscule glossy panels that made it hard to look at in the light. It was swarming with Chumbleys, the ship practically pristine compared to the Draavin’s. Thankfully a few entrances were left unguarded, the droids rotating positions with one another to conserve their forces. Cautiously they approached the large triangular door outlined by its faint red glow. He struggled to pull off a side panel, Free nearly falling with him as she assisted with pulling it off.

He began to fiddle with the wiring, the access panel sparking before the door stuttered while opening. The Doctor then offered his hoof to Free, letting her hold it until they were inside. The halls were equally as angular and geometric as the exterior. Steel beams spanned for miles, connected by similar panels that acted as one way mirrors. Eventually the hall opened up to a large control room, most of the consoles centred around a large triangular chamber. Several Chumbleys laid dormant at their stations, unaware of their surroundings. They were all hooked into the ship’s mainframe itself, their bulbs flashing in perfect sync. As they crossed the threshold into the room the door suddenly slammed behind them. The Chumbleys came back to life, making several strange clicking noises.

“What do you want with us?” Free asked, backing away from the domed droids.

Her words were repeated back to her several times, the pitch and speed altering several times through the Chumbleys. The pitch lowered until it resembled an average stallion’s voice.

“My apologies if the servo-drones have caused you any trouble.”

“Ah, the captain of this ship, I presume.”

“Where are you, we can’t see you anywhere.”

“If I were to show you my true form you would be mortified. Our visage disgusts even the war hardened Draavins. We wish you no harm and again apologise for the actions of my servo-drones, they have merely sound and heat detection. Only within close proximity can I speak through them to you.”

The chamber in the center of the room steamed and bubbled, a slimy tendril brushing against one of the glass windows. The Doctor and Free jumped back slightly, taken by surprise.

“Your vessel appears to be in quite the pristine condition for a crashed vessel, hmm?

“Yes, we’ve fully completed all repairs on board. You’ve encountered the Draavins I presume?”

“Yeah, they said you shot them down first. If your ship can leave then why not just go? We tried to help the Draavins but they’re holding our friend hostage.”

“Ah, such creatures of compassion. Our power cells are somewhat depleted, not sufficient enough to reach even the nearest world in the star system. We attempted to make amends, to create a truce with the Draavins, but they were still cruel and prideful. They chose to fight us rather than save themselves.”

“But they’re still living beings, nobody deserves to die on a planet like this.”

“You’re right, Free. While there’s a fleeting chance, we still need to offer it. Perhaps my own ship, my Tardis, can provide you with enough power before it’s too late.”

The ground shook and rumbled, several of the panels transitioning from opaque to transparent. The mountains were starting to sink and rise while one of the suns burned brighter. The air was becoming thinner as the planet began to break apart. There would be no final dawn, it was now or never. The atmosphere was still breathable but it wouldn’t be for much longer.

“Go, two of my servo-droids will carry the power connection to your ship.”

The door that was previously locked shut opened before them as they rushed down the hallway. Different panels opened, revealing a shortcut to the crumbling outdoors. The Chumbleys did their best to follow behind, but the constantly rumbling and shifting terrain only made the journey more difficult. Rushing into the TARDIS the Doctor hooked the cable up as fast as he could, outputting at full power. The entire console room shook again as the ground outside vented its pressure. Free looked up at the Doctor, brushing her mane out of her face.

“Get Cosmic, I’ll stay here.”

Free immediately flicked the door switch and the Doctor looked back at her. For some reason, something just felt wrong in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t hesitate any longer, following the cable directly to the Draavin ship. Marga was already there waiting for him, dragging Cosmic behind her. She tossed him to the ground and pointed her stazer rifle at him. The two of them just stopped, standing still as the planet continued to tear itself apart..

“You have the power you need, just let him go and leave.”

Mountains fell to red hot magma, explosions ringing around them as it became harder to breathe.

“You’ve purposefully delayed the powering of our ship, haven’t you? You’ve sabotaged us, that makes you an enemy! Why shouldn’t I just deal with you here and now, do what my soldiers hadn’t the brains to do sooner?”

“You don’t have to do any of this. Let go of this petty grudge and just leave.”

“Never! A Draavin warrior never surrenders!”

A ravine opened up between them, Cosmic just barely made it as a plume of scolding hot mud lightly singed his tail. He knew that Cosmic was dragging him, begging him to run. His ears were still ringing from the blast. He struggled to breath, the air getting thinner. He looked back with great sorrow at Marga. She’d chosen this path and if he didn’t leave he’d also suffer the same fate. With a heavy heart he bolted for the TARDIS, Cosmic helping him along. He made it just in time as always but struggled to make a hasty dematerialization.

On the scanner he could see the unnamed planet breaking apart. The Rhills flew off in the distance, surviving the world’s end. The Draavins weren’t so lucky. They didn’t want to be helped. Cosmic and Free silently hugged him, though it all felt bittersweet. The universe was a lot more complicated than he’d realised.

Chapter 34 - The Chosen Myths

Once Equestria was finally unified after nearly a century of civil war amongst the ponies, they began to face a new threat. As Equestria began to become the new ruling superpower, they began to attract enemies. The distant Dragonlands originally ruled the badlands to the south before colonisation, though the land wasn’t given up without a fight. The pegasi were Equestria’s new militia, reigning from the ground to the skies along the Dragon Lord’s borders. In the grand capital of Pegasopolis a new hero was forged, Flash Magnus. He wasn’t the strongest fighter, but was certainly the most brave and courageous.

Word spread across the land when he rescued his comrade in arms from the dragon’s clutches. He braved the storm used as cover for the dragon army, risking himself to save a life. From this bravery he cemented himself as one of the founding pillars for Equestrian society, but this is not his story. This is the lost story of the ponies long forgotten by the twisting of myths and legends. This is the story of Àlogo.

The TARDIS materialised on the hillside of a grassy plain. Two pegasus stallions were sparring against one another, swords clashing against one another for sport. A village was slightly off in the distance, smoke rising from freshly lit fires. Both stallions stood in front of the blue box, ceasing their sparring. They both looked up at the object, bewildered and confused. Inside the TARDIS Free was fiddling with a small computational puzzle to pass the time. Meanwhile Cosmic was reading a book in one of the Doctor’s antique chairs.

The Timepony himself was fiddling with the controls, attempting to fix one of the numerous subsystems that were always malfunctioning. The ship was bouncing back and forth between the 22nd and 23rd century and the age of ancient Equestria. He’d hoped to break that cycle to revisit Berry and Spark. They’d landed at the edge of this side of the temporal loop, 18 years after the two sister’s inauguration as princesses. For the rest of the universe it’d been 30 years since they’d last landed, for them only a few short days. He sighed, still not fully able to comprehend the things he’d done in the recent months.

He was feeling a bit more tired, always having more to think about. No TimePony had witnessed a planet dying before, not in his current lifetime so far at least. He blew on one of the slightly burnt components for the navigation system, a small portion of it completely unsalvageable. He wiped the component off with a rag before placing it back underneath the console.

“How’s the Tardis coming along?” Free asked, looking up from her puzzle.

“Nothing yet, nothing yet. It seems that the ship's navigational circuits are a puzzle even I struggle to fix.”

“Ah, so no help from me then.”

“Or me, either? Clearly there’s no need for my skills.” Cosmic huffed, closing his book.

“Oh, don’t be so down on yourself, my colt. You did quite well with the Draavins. Even without either of our assistance you were quite self-sufficient.”

The Doctor turned on the scanner, revealing the two stallions staring. He looked at them, humming to himself as he contemplated his next action. He turned the switch to open the doors.

“I shouldn’t be long, just a quick word to gather where we are.”

“And you’re sure that’s safe?” Cosmic asked.

“It appears to be, I do have an inkling of when we are. I’ll be but a moment.”

The Doctor opened the police barn doors and approached the two stallions. He hadn’t noticed that they were carrying swords when viewing them on the scanner. He didn’t even know they were carrying swords until they were dropped in shock.

“Ah, excuse me, could you perhaps give me a precise idea of where I am? I seem to have gotten lost.”

No real looks of confusion, that was a first. The two stallions kneeled before him, bowing their heads in honour.

“My apologies, wise one, we wish you no harm. Our humble residence is simply ahead, 5 metres due North.”

The Doctor looked at the two of them strangely, only now putting the pieces together. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally start a new religion. It was the first time he’d materialised in the open too, not the wisest idea.

“Err, thank you, your kindness is much appreciated. I think it best to not speak of this to anypony, hmm?”

The two stallions looked slightly disheartened before crossing their foreleg across their chest, an honorary salute. The Doctor did his best not to roll his eyes as they sheathed their swords and went back home. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, already feeling exasperated. Equestria was still in an influential state in its history. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally replace the two sisters as their ruler.

“Come along my foal, it’s quite safe. Given how those two were both pegasi, the Equestrian time period, and their dress, I’d say we’re close to Pegasopolis, the capital of the Four Wings Empire.”

“Oh I absolutely love Ancient Pegasopolis. The sights, the smells, the architecture, and all the tales of Flash Magnus fighting the forces of evil.”

“I see you’ve read up on your history, hmm. Though this isn’t some tourist destination, not for another millenia or longer.”

“And you’re certain that it’s peaceful? We at least deserve a break for onced” Cosmic said as he closed the TARDIS doors.

The Doctor looked over at a small boulder with several characters etched into it. Àlogo, 50 metres ahead, it read. A primitive way of guiding them along, but effective.

“I suppose so, though I have been wrong. We’re not quite in Pegasopolis, but Àlogo should be a short walk ahead.”

“Àlogo, like the old nursery rhyme?

Àlogo is a nowhere land,
In the midst of smoke and sand,
In the town of Àlogo,
Good cheer will follow you wherever you go.”

“Hardly as good as Humpty Dumpty, let’s just hope we don’t need all the king’s men.”

“To put us back together again?” Free chuckled.

The Doctor was somewhat sceptical of this place. For the first time in a while he had no knowledge of this place. He’d often landed in places of historical importance, but here he was just drawing blanks. It terrified yet excited him, one of the feelings he’d been hunting for. He took a deep breath, taking one step at a time. He was so lost in thought that he’d barely heard his companions trying to get his attention.

“Doctor, watch where you’re…going.” Free sighed as she watched the Doctor blindly trip over the boulder he was observing mere seconds ago.

“You really need to stop spacing out so much. We worry about you Doc, uh tor.”

“How many times have I told you not to call me Doc?”

“Eeeeh, at least two?”

“Hmph, and that’s very much enough for me, young stallion. Come on, history to observe and explore.”

Both Free and Cosmic looked at one another with concern before following along. Surprisingly for being a part of the Four Wing Empire, there wasn’t an upper city. No cloud layer hanging over the town where the Pegasi citizens lived. Most of the ground towns in the empire were established purely for those that couldn’t fly. There was a mix of the different races around, both Earth Ponies and the occasional Unicorn. Equestria had come a long way since their darker days of living purely in segregation.

The buildings were much more simple, made more of limestone than marble or condensed cloud quartz. That didn’t mean that the terracotta roofed buildings were any less beautiful. Ponies carried carts and water buckets around, moving to and fro. It wasn’t particularly busy though the market was still open. Fresh breads and goods available, soups and stews offering wonderful scents for those with the coin. Cosmic put a hoof on the Doctor’s shoulder, the Doctor looking back at him.

“Maybe you should go ahead, Free. The Doc and I are gonna go ahead.”

“Alright, I’m just going down the street. I’ll catch up with you later.”

The Doctor looked at Cosmic, concerned as they entered a bar. They both sat down, the Doctor just ordering water. The barmaid looked at him a little funny before heading into the back. The Doctor straightened his jacket before clearing his throat.

"So, I presume you had something you wanted to talk about?”

“Yes, about earlier. We’re concerned about you, you’ve been through a lot recently. I’ve only seen what happened…what happened with the Draavins. Though the things that Free’s told me about, well, it’s certainly a lot.”

The Doctor had a nasty feeling in the pit of his stomach. He’d recently started feeling the weight of his travels more and more frequently on his shoulders. It wasn’t until Cosmic put a hoof on his shoulder that he’d realised that he’d spaced out. He’d been doing that a lot recently, constantly lost in thought.

“Doctor this is what I’ve been talking about. Maybe we need to take a break from running from place to place.”

He looked down at the mug of slightly cloudy water as it was placed in front of him. The Doctor had lost his appetite by now.

“Perhaps…perhaps you’re right. I’ve been far too careless recently and perhaps, perhaps I should take some time for myself. Time to stop and think about what we’ve done.”

The doors to the bar opened, a small wave of militia in their shiny armour flooding the place. The barmaid sighed in annoyance as they were already starting to get loud and rowdy. Even Cosmic was looking back annoyed. Eventually they settled down but one of them was still pestering the barmaid. Cosmic quickly got up to protest as the soldier put a hoof on her shoulder. Before Cosmic could do anything the barmaid quickly grabbed his foreleg and dragged him out of the bar. Cosmic simply watched in shock as she nonchalantly walked back in, returning to her job.

“...what?” the barmaid asked, Cosmic still just staring at her.

“Oh, uh, it’s not everyday you see somepony throw a soldier out without a fight.”

“I hold my own, it comes with the job.”

“My apologies for any rudeness my companion may possess. I’m known as the Doctor and this’s Cosmic.”

“Lavender Decor, just doing my duty for the sun, sky and lovely patrons.”

“For the sun and sky, so you worship Princess Celestia?”

“Princess?”

“Dear, dear me. We offer the utmost respect for your service. Come along Cosmic.”

Cosmic quickly followed the Doctor, offering an apologetic goodbye.

“What was all that about?”

“You can’t just go around asking ponies if they worship Celestia.”

“But the duty for the sun and sky is a common old Celestian prayer. What’s somepony doing saying that in the time before Celestia, hmm?”

“The princesses still have their influence before becoming crowned. The before Celestia notation denotes when she was crowned, not when she was first worshipped. Not to mention you called her a princess nearly twenty years before she was crowned. You really should read up on your history like Free. Speaking of which, she should be nearby.”

As if on cue, before Cosmic could quip back, Free came along clearly not in a good mood. She was carrying a velvet coloured dress laced with obviously false gold that was already peeling off. She’d had a small scuffle with a semi-shady salespony selling fake dresses. She gave him a good slap when he got handsy, making off with the dress partially by accident.

“Goodness Free, are you alright?” Cosmic asked.

“I’ll tell you later, not the time.”

“Okay…well what do we do now?”

“Maybe we can meet the legend of Pegasopolis, Flash Magnus.”

A lot of ponies stared at Free in disdain. She looked at them, puzzled by their reaction. Ponies almost seemed to actively avoid her now.

“Doctor, did I say something wrong?”

“I’m not certain. Not everypony remembers the same parts of a story.”

“This isn’t a story, though. This is reality.” said Cosmic.

More gold and silver plated soldiers marched into town. The townsponies receded into their homes, a solemn silence falling upon the town square. They began to move large bags of grain, swords and shields being handed out by the dozen. Only then did the Doctor see the thunderstorm on the horizon. The clouds burned with bursts of lightning and fire. Dragons.
He could see their faint shadow illuminated by each burst of light. The low grumble was not thunder but the far away cries of the Draconic army. Free and Cosmic began to notice as well, steadily backing away.

“I think it’s best we return to the ship.”

“You don’t say. I’d rather not be in the middle of a warzone, real experience or not.”

Large blasts of fire were already scorching the fields outside of the village. By the time they were at the edge of the town they were already getting too close. The TARDIS would be fine, even dragonfire would barely singe its paintwork. They however were stuck in the crossfire. Ponies yelled at them to get back, several soldiers guiding them to shelter.

“Why isn’t Flash Magnus here? I thought he rescued anypony in need, endlessly loyal to those around him.”

The soldiers looked almost insulted at Free.

“I’m sorry that pompous idiot isn’t here for bravery and glory, but we’re all you’ve got.” one of the soldiers said, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“But…he saved somepony…he risked his own skin to do it.”

“Free, we can’t stay here much longer.” Cosmic said as he offered a hoof.

Free took it and the three of them quickly ducked into an alleyway as the first of the fire strikes hit. Free hugged the Doctor as the battle continued to wage on around them. Free wasn’t sure how to feel, all she knew was that she was scared. She’d lived in a place like this before for several months, the world crashing around her. The Doctor stroked her mane as she slightly trembled, though she still maintained a brave face. She was still a child on the inside, he’d just never thought of her that way.

“There, there. Everything will be alright. Hmm?”

“But what about this place? If nopony comes to save them then who will?”

“Not everypony can be saved. The risk doesn’t always return an equal reward. The universe doesn’t necessarily have heroes, it has ponies like us who do their best.”

Free smiled, letting out a deep breath. At least she felt a little more safe. Cosmic looked around the corner, still unsafe to leave the alleyway. The town square was shadowed by a thick cloud of ash and smoke but he could still faintly see and hear. The Doctor turned his head to see the barmaid from before trying to get others to safety. Cosmic quickly rushed across the street to help her, nearly vanishing out of view. Free called out to him, soon following behind.

Putting a handkerchief over his mouth, the Doctor ran through the haze in the direction of their voices. Lavender was trying to get others into the safety of the bar’s cellar. The building was crumbling around them, likely to collapse at any moment. Dust rained down as the wall next to them shifted, its wooden supports burnt to a near crisp. Cosmic ducked out of the way but Lavender simply froze as part of the wall started to collapse on them. The Doctor jumped, pushing Lavender out of the way before she was crushed. Lavender breathed heavily, silently reciting a prayer to herself. He realised what he’d done, even though it was purely by instinct.

Cosmic quickly helped him and Lavender down into the cellar where Free was already waiting for them. There were dozens of ponies down here too, fearing for their lives as. Free noticed that sad look in his eyes as he tried to maintain a brave face. Lavender should’ve died. He’d changed history, rewritten lines that should never be changed. The one act, this one life could create possibilities that could tear rifts in the established continuity. Maybe even the TimePonies would notice him. He had to fix this, he had to make everything right. He had to…he had to.

“Doctor?” Free asked, looking up at him.

She was trying to console the distressed. Something felt different this time. Looking up he realised that this wasn’t the first time he’d changed history like this. Frequency Wave, his friend and companion, should’ve died in the collapse of the biodome. Yet he continued to travel with her, just there to offer help wherever he ended up next. He was no hero though, he wasn’t some galactic vigilante. He was just a runaway, an explorer, a kind old stallion in a beaten up TARDIS. Maybe that didn’t matter at all. Even if that was his mission before, he’d changed. All he wanted to do was to keep himself and the ponies he cared about alive.

He’d fallen in love with the Equestrians and their ways of friendship, he cared about every life in this species. Seeing these ponies here and now, trembling with fear, it broke his hearts. The Doctor sighed, smiling before addressing everypony in the room.

“Everypony, the situation at hoof does appear grim. Rest assured, you will all be safe. Your homes may be ravaged by fire breathing dragons, but we still stand. Àlogo will continue, not through the stone and wood left behind, but through our hearts and the stories we tell of it.”

He then turned to Lavender.

“Do you know a secure way through the town? We need to pass through to the other side, away from the dragons.”

“Yes, though once we leave we’ll be out in the open. There’s nothing but fields for miles.”

The Doctor looked at the group, seeing only two non-pegasi.

“Simple, you fly. Hide in the clouds, carry those who can’t until it’s safe. Get as much height above the dragons as you can. They’ll sweep through this town, but turning around will take them time. If we’re swift, you’ll never be noticed. Do you think you can manage for long enough?”

There was a general sound of agreement amongst the others. He couldn’t believe that he was actually about to do this. Whatever happened next didn’t matter as long as everypony made it out safe and alive. Lavender and Cosmic led in the front while Free and the Doctor followed in the back. The battle continued, buildings cracking apart and occasionally blocking their path. While they made it out of the city relatively unharmed they weren’t in the clear just yet. Cosmic joined alongside the others to ensure their safety, raising the non-pegasi into the clouds.

The Doctor quickly unlocked the TARDIS, noticing the dirt and mud spattered across the sides. Free then pushed him in before he could wipe down his precious ship. He quickly turned on the scanner, viewing the carnage outside. He pleaded to himself that this actually worked. Zoom in, zoom out, adjust the width, everything needs to be accounted for. The storm wasn’t turning around, slowly fading into the background as the town was left in shambles. He didn’t know how many ponies lived or died today, just that more survived than they should have. The Doctor didn’t know how to feel, the mixed emotions overwhelming him.

It was eerily silent out there. You could hear nothing but the wind blowing away the smoke and ash. There was no sound but the wind, no movement at all. But then, there was a song. The townsponies one by one picked each other up, helped one another, and they sang.

This place is our home
Although it’s broken down
We won’t fix it alone
We’ll rise again in the end

We were never perfect
Yet together we stand
Our flaws we need to accept
That’s what makes us who we are

Àlogo is a nowhere land,
In the midst of smoke and sand,
In the town of Àlogo,
Family will follow you wherever you go

Free sat down on the floor and watched the scanner, listening to the lost song of Àlogo. The Doctor sat next to her, putting a hoof around her shoulder. In a way, this was all worth it. He’d need to leave as soon as Cosmic was on board, the TimePonies would probably notice the temporal disturbance. He’d hardly thought about what he’d left behind on Gallophrey. His friends, his family, he left it all behind. But in the moment it was all worth it for this.

“Doctor…do you know what’ll happen to them?”

“No. Their history is lost outside of the stories they tell.”

“So this could all happen again? Everything we did could all be for nothing.”

“My dear, Free. Even if that’s so, we still gave them more time with one another. They’ll sing more songs and live longer and potentially more fulfilling lives.”

“I think…I think I want to stay.”

He was surprised, though he understood why she felt the way that she did.

“You aren’t upset, are you?”

“Not necessarily, no. I’m simply saddened that our time is coming to an end.”

“Seeing them, I think I want to see it through. I want their hopes to be a reality. If there’s no heroes to save them, they should at least have somepony to help them out. Somepony like us.”

“It’ll be dangerous. You’ll be staying in a time of war and hardship.”

“Is that any different from what we’ve been through? At least I have the experience, and had a wonderful teacher.”

“I’m glad that you thought so.”

“Let’s tell one last story then, just before I go. What do you say, grandpa?”

The Doctor looked her in the eyes and smiled. He nodded his head as he held back tears. That one moment seemed to last forever, just the two of them sitting there and sharing stories of their travels together. It was just like their travels, expecting them to last forever, yet in the end he still had to say goodbye.

Cosmic walked into the console room, looking around as if Free were still meant to be there. She’d said her goodbyes to him, given him a hug, and yet he was still somewhat in shock. The Doctor was already programming in their next flight, initialising the dematerialization process. When Cosmic stepped out of the way he finally noticed that Lavender Decor was standing there in shock, mouth agape. The Doctor quickly tried to cancel the dematerialization but it was too late, the time rotor already started to rise and fall. At the very least he could use the Fast Return switch to correctly return them home this time. Looking back up he saw Lavender kneeling before him. Quickly rushing to her side he realised that it was worse than he thought.

“Please forgive me Doctor, I never realised what you were.”

“Is she alright? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Help? What help is there in limbo? Strange god, you give me peace. I realise now that I was destined to die.”

“My dear foal, you are not dead. We’ll return you home at once, my sincere apology.”

“But this is not Àlogo, nor the Four Wings Empire. This isn’t even Equus, it’s a world beyond my comprehension at all.”

“Sit down, we’ll return you home shortly.”

The Doctor pulled over his antique chair for her to sit down in. Cosmic brought her a glass of water, though she seemed to be hesitant to hold it.

“But I have no home anymore. Great god, I only wish to assist you in any way I can.”

“Please, call me Doctor.”

“As you wish, Doc.”

“Please…I’m not a Doc. I’m not a god. Oh my dear Frequency Wave, I hope that you’ll be alright.”

Twilight Sparkle closed the diary after bookmarking her page. So much time had passed, so much had changed. She had changed. Looking outside Twilight watched as the snow melted and fell off of her windowsill. Winter was ending again, and she still wasn’t sure if she was ready for the new year or not. The TARDIS was still just down the hall but she didn’t dare to go anywhere near it. It still invoked that deep fear within her, that memory of what happened on Provia and everything else since. She wasn’t ready to go through anything like that again anytime soon.

By now the past events felt like a distant memory, but the pain still lingered on. She wondered what Radiance was doing now. She was probably off in the stars, continuing to search for her memories and how to build up the strength to fight. Maybe soon she’ll return and tell her about it. Thinking about all the what-ifs Radiance and the Doctor were going through was too much. Twilight sighed and levitated the book onto her nightstand before turning out the lights. She’d worry about them some distant tomorrow. For now, today was a new day, and she’d be ready for when her time comes to play her part.

Chapter 35 - Heist

Radiance sighed and held her head in her hooves. She was trapped in a high security prison on Cerius-7, one of the larger prisons in this sector of the galaxy. It was a massive concrete pyramid the size of Manehattan and over forty miles high. Very few windows were inlaid into the thick walls and the only way out was through a long concrete tunnel, heavily guarded of course. Her cell was on one of the upper levels, though she considered that to be a bit overkill. Today was most certainly not her day. She watched as the guards to her cell changed shifts, letting her out and guiding her to the dining area after the process. All day she was shuffled around from one dull grey room to another. It was boring and exhausting, probably what the prison was designed for.

Her company in the dining hall wasn’t much pleasant either, the slop they served her not helping anyone’s mood. She could barely even eat this mass even if she wanted to. The silverware they provided was made of some metal with an incredibly low melting point, practically turning into mush when she dipped it into the slop. It was probably safer just to eat with her hooves than with whatever her spoon was made of drizzled over her meal. Somepony sat down next to her, at least she thought it was a pony. What did they do in the prison movies, beat up the strongest or the weakest in the yard? That wasn’t really her style, those movies weren’t very realistic anyway.

“First time in a place like this?” the pony-like thing asked.

“Would you be surprised if I said no?”

“A little, you don’t see Celans around her often.”

“I’m not from Equus.”

“Oh. Er, you had me fooled?”

“Is this your first time in a place like this?”

They paused nervously, taken aback by Radiance’s bluntness.

“...yes.”

“That was rude of me, sorry about that. I haven’t even introduced myself, my name’s Radiance.”

“I’m 0||”-x°△:). Nice to meet you.”

“So, what are you in here for, if you don’t mind me asking?”

The both of them were doubling over in laughter. 0|| could barely breath long enough to keep telling their story.

“And then, and then I was stuck panicking because half the ship’s turned upside down while the other is flung to the other side of the galaxy!”

0|| put their head in their tendrils in embarrassment. Everyone was looking at them weirdly, but Radiance didn’t care. Several guards came over to see what the “commotion” was but they paid them no mind.

“Oof. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in centuries.

“Yeah…what about you then? I crashed my boss’s ship against an asteroid belt, couldn’t be more embarrassing than that.”

“Most don’t consider what lands them in prison as ‘embarrassing’.”

“Oh…right. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I just want to know what your story is.”

Radiance looked down at her meal, trying to think of the right words to say. She was a lot better at talking to others, becoming a lot more confident since she remembered…since she remembered. Her smile started to fade and she started to feel tired again. The weight on her shoulders was always heavier when she realised that it was there. She took a sip of her water, her mouth feeling incredibly dry. A little bit of that energy returned when 0|| snapped her out of her headspace.

“It’s a rather long story.”

“Well we certainly have all the time in the world.”

“Heh, I guess you’re right.”

I was in my ship, searching the galaxy for a rare treasure that meant a lot to me. Unfortunately everyone else seemed to have the same sentiment for it, though for a rather different reason. The Helvetica Collection, the biggest private collection of data from across the galaxy, that’s where it was held. The main problem? Let’s just say that I wasn’t exactly a member of this library and had a few too many overdue books on my account. The velvet carpet was slightly warm beneath her hooves. Thankfully the mass media center had a garden for a waiting area. No one batted an eye when a bright pink gazebo randomly appeared out of nowhere.

She was dressed to the nines in the best dress that her ship had to offer. Radiance was practically frothing at the mouth just looking at this place. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw all the levels of displays and databases. I took in a deep breath to calm my nerves, trying to stay focused on the task at hoof. The files she was looking for were store on one of the upper levels. The main obstacle wasn’t how to get there, but rather which route to take. Doors were no obstacle, it was whomever was watching them that was the issue. Approaching one of the terminals I decided to do a little self research. You’d be surprised who has data on who these days.

Name:
Gender: F
Race: Null
Birthdate: Unknown
Deathdate: 5.18.2098

Well known as a small-time mechanic residing in the town of Enceladus.
No registered parents
No registered siblings
No registered offspring

Please inquire level [721] staff for further records.

Small time? I fixed the chronometers for the town hall and this is the recognition I get? Anyway, level 721 was a few hundred floors above me and a bit above the restricted access line. A little red tape never stopped me, so I took the elevator up to floor 599. That’s as far as visitors could travel, 600 and above were limited to staff. It took a little finesse but I managed to make my way in. Inserting my diagnostics tool into the e-reader caused a slight short circuit. No alarm bells were ringing but I was still on borrowed time. Floor 600 was a mix of an employee lounge and a few offices, a sort of midway point between the two sections. From now on getting any higher wasn’t going to be easy.

Radiance sighed as a buzzer signalled that her lunchtime was over. The story would have to wait until tomorrow. Getting pushed back into her cell wasn’t getting any more comfortable than the last dozen or so times. Another sigh as she dumped a half melted spoon and another keycard into a pile beneath her bed. The keycards were no use to her, not only was this place too heavily guarded but there was no way off world for her. Though she was surprised that they still kept letting her snag them, the fact that she scratched them beyond recognition is probably why they didn’t want them back. Tossing herself onto the dingy cot in her cell she looked up at the ceiling, wondering where her TARDIS was now.

It was probably in some compound or warehouse far far away from here. She’d get back to it eventually. Then she thought about Prism. Thinking about her was strange, like she was watching a movie about somepony else’s life. It almost didn’t feel real to her, forgetting the life she used to live. Radiance wished that she could see her smile, reach out and touch her just to confirm that her memories weren’t lying. She could have looked her up in the archives at the Helvetica Collection, though wasn’t sure that she really wanted to know. Maybe Prism hated her for abandoning her, maybe she was still waiting for her, maybe she wasn’t around anymore at all. Radiance was afraid that the hole in her hearts would never be full again. Closing her eyes again she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the life she could’ve lived.

She was woken up the next morning by the buzz of her cell being opened. Another morning inspection, the usual reaction to seeing her “collection’s” growth, and another immense feeling of boredom. The grey walls weren’t getting any more interesting and what little she saw of the outside world was just the same. When being escorted to the dining hall again for breakfast she found more Equinoid creatures awaiting her. It seemed that 0|| had spread the word of her little story, intentionally or unintentionally. The last thing she needed was more eyes watching her, but it was better than nobody at all.

“Hey…guys?”

“Hey uh, so they overheard us yesterday and wanted in on…whatever this is. And I couldn’t really say no, y’know?”

The others around them looked as if they could snap 0|| like a pencil.

“Yeah uh, I guess I’ll just keep going where I left off?” Radiance nervously chuckled.

Upper floors 601 onwards were locked behind a specific pass. Quickly I looked around, grabbing a random cart of whatever. Blend in, look busy, nopony suspects you if you act like you belong. I got into an elevator behind somepony else, they even held the door open for me. I watched as they swiped their keycard through the slot to access the higher floors. This all felt too easy, so I got off when the stranger got off. I still pressed the button for floor 721 so it would still go there. The elevators were an easy target and were probably being staked out already.

In fact the second after stepping out of the elevator the lockdown alarms went off. Everyone groaned as they got out of their seats for inspection. Quickly I ran my multi-tool through the card reader in the elevator, copying the data of the last user. The emergency stairwell door on this level was no problem, but it only got worse from there. After the tenth flight of stairs I was really wishing I was a pegasus this time around. Didn’t help that the security was also on my tail. They were coming from above and below, so I brute forced it.

The door opened long enough for me to get in before it deadlocked. Nopony could get in, and nopony could get out. I wasn’t stuck per se, I had an emergency Stattenheim Remote on me for sticky situations like this. It’s unhealthy for my TARDIS, the ol thing, but needs must. I was in a large server room, the walls lined with hundreds of data crystals. I summoned my ship before looking around. I knew the sorting system so it was easy to find it. I plugged a data crystal into an adjacent terminal, but it was already too late. I’d gotten what I’d needed, but security used an override code on the door. I couldn’t get back to my ship and I’d run out of time.

“...and?”

“That’s it, the rest is history. Got arrested, thrown in here given my record, and that’s that. No glorious escape, no witty plans, it just didn’t work out. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”

“So…everything you did was for nothing?”

“Eh…I wouldn’t exactly say that.”

Radiance clicked a small remote she’d been holding onto for a while. Meticulously over the past week she’d cobbled together a remote out of easily melted down silverware and chips from stolen security cards. Her TARDIS struggled to materialise due to the prison’s force fields, but it was slowly breaking through. It was like a great wind was howling around her, the sound of her ship slowly forming around her piercing the air. The guards surrounded her but there was nothing they could do. The TARDIS force fields would protect her even if she weren’t immediately inside the console room.

“A little excessive, though I do love a little flare” Radiance said, raising her voice over the wheezing of the TARDIS.

“Always know where you’re going to materialise 0||, helps you avoid those asteroid fields.”

“But Radiance, where are you going? What did you find?”

“The place where I’m going, and technically where I’ve been. It’s the one place a traveller like me should never go and honestly, I’m terrified. I’m going to my grave, and to my home.”

Chapter 36 - Lavender

Twilight let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from her forehead. How anypony was able to move some of these boxes was beyond her. Ever since her short return to Canterlot her old friend Moondancer had been mailing some of her stuff back to her. She wished she’d spent more time with her in the past rather than throwing herself into her studies, waiting for the Doctor to return. Though that was the past and this was now, life moved on. It had been awhile since Moondancer moved into her old place and she was still sending stuff over weeks later.

Twilight had just carried in the heaviest of the boxes, it was half her size and twice as heavy. Rather than lugging the box around she decided to open it to lighten the load. Blowing of the dust revealed “With love, The Doctor” written in bold black marker on the top. It arrived on her doorstep two years ago and she’d been too emotional at the time to open it. When breaking open the tape seal she felt a twinge of guilt. The base was a trapezoidal prism, the silver finish dulled and rusting. A large antennae poked out the back and the front was an L-shaped box with various red and black features. She held the tag on the striped collar in her hoof. She’d heard of K9 but never actually saw what the tin dog looked like. All this time K9 the robot dog had been stuffed in a backroom, waiting for her for two long years.

The Doctor sometimes rambled about assembling one with a kit, though she had no idea how to power on the 52nd century technology. That was a few steps above her pay grade in knowledge most of the time. She looked up at the diary sitting on her coffee table, wondering if it held the answers to fixing him. Spike passed by, his face stuck in one of his comic books. She didn’t really need another assistant like K9, Spike was her number one assistant and longest friend now. There simply wasn’t a place in her life for K9 anymore.

Picking up the diary with her magic she began flipping through the pages. Twilight was a different mare from the one who originally opened this book, even more so than when she first walked through the TARDIS doors. She felt much less alone, so much more confident in her abilities to be the Princess of Friendship. She was starting to find her purpose in life. She turned the page, deciding to move forwards in both the story and her life.

The planet Kembel, a world far far away from Equus on the other side of the galaxy. The world was covered in a dense and lush forest, though it wasn’t as beautiful as it may have seemed. The plant life was vicious, evolving to survive against nature in the absence of more advanced life. A streak of light pierced the night sky as a rocket fell and collided with the dense foliage. Most of the crew were alive though a good amount of them were injured. Dash Mark was among the survivors, just trying to live until the ship was repaired.

To his surprise, Varga plants littered the area around them. They were tall, white, and fluffy plants with pointed black barbs and were only native to Skaro. Dash began to record a message on the rocket’s emergency log, documenting his findings. Going further into the forest he found a large wall made of surrounding vegetation. Climbing over it he saw a large white building in the distance. He wanted to approach but immediately stopped himself when spotting a small group of Daleks. They were leading, no, following the most unlikely bunch of individuals he’d never expected.

Leaders from every major empire in the galaxy, side by side with the Daleks as if they were equals. He was much too far away to hear what they were saying and it was too risky to get any closer. He quickly rushed back to his ship to find that no one was there, only more Varga plants. The Varga plants had gotten closer to him, surrounding him. He’d already witnessed one of his comrades fall to these massive bodies of plant matter. One prick from their sharp needles would send you into a murderous rage before becoming one of them. He desperately tried to transmit his message to the Galactic Space Security HQ using the rocket’s equipment but it was too late. The Daleks found him, destroying both him and his ship. Only the tape remained, the last evidence that they were ever even there. This was only the beginning, a prelude to the darker days to come.

Some time had passed since the Doctor’s last entry. He still felt somewhat uneasy with Lavender in the TARDIS. She’d settled in nicely, though he wasn’t sure if she still worshipped him or not. The old ship seemed to be acting up a bit, though it probably wasn’t anything to be concerned about. They were flying further forwards in time than they’d ever had before. Given his attempts to control the ship’s path across the time vortex it was potentially fighting back. It felt like something else, though, just a sneaking suspicion. They were beyond the normal boundaries that he could land within without arising some TimePony suspicion.

“Have we landed yet?” Lavender asked somewhat hesitantly.

She was a lot shyer than she was when leaving home. He worried about her, she was from a time before advanced technology was within comprehension after all.

“Very nearly. We’re quite a while after both of your times, around the 40th century I presume.”

“Well, is it safe for any of us to go out there?” Cosmic chimed in.

“Potentially. Dense amounts of vegetation, no native equinoid life, a true paradise.”

“Still could be dangerous.”

“Fair enough. I’ll step out for a moment, shouldn’t be long.”

The Doctor pulled his coat off the hat stand after opening the doors. The planet was indeed very lush, the forest so dense it was hard to walk through. He could hear the chirps and whistles of alien birds and insects but nothing else. The organic silence was comforting yet somewhat eerie. He straightened his jacket while taking in the fresh air.

“You can come out now, perfectly safe.”

The Doctor quickly turned when hearing a faint rustling in the bushes. He took a few steps back towards the TARDIS while remaining cautious. Cosmic was halfway out the door when the Doctor found a gun being pointed at his head. The stallion was a white unicorn with a purple and turquoise mane and tail. The Doctor slowly moved up one of his hooves in defence.

“Assuming that this is your vessel, I’m commandeering it in the name of the Space Security Service. I wish you no harm if you cooperate.” said the stallion.

The Doctor looked at Cosmic for a moment, glad that he too was being cautious. He didn’t resist, simply allowing the intruder into his ship. As expected they were taken off guard by the TARDIS’s interior dimensions. Guns were no use in here, or at least he thought they were. Best not to test if the Temporal Grace circuit was functional or not.

“You seem to be a sensible young lad, so why don’t you simply explain? We have no malicious agenda, no intention to harm you at all.” the Doctor asked, trying to reason with him.

Both Lavender and Cosmic stood close by, just watching. Whoever this pony was has certainly been running for their life. They were covered in dirt and looked scared half to death.

“Yes, well…that is very classified information, only for military personnel.”

At the very least he lowered his gun. The Doctor stepped aside as Cosmic immediately stepped forwards.

“Cosmic Storm, sir. Pilot in the Space Force before being transferred to the exploration initiative.”

The Doctor was a bit surprised though somewhat expected him to have past military experience.He was a pilot after all, though he rarely ever talked about his past before they met.

“Well, I see. I don’t have anypony else to rely on at the moment. Agent Shining Star. No doubt you know what’s going on down there in the Grove.”

“Well not exactly. The Doctor, Lavender and I have only just arrived. Our navigation system is uh, a bit on the blink.”

The Doctor ignored Cosmic’s side eye.

“I see…this is the planet Kembel. Down there is the Grove, where delegates from all eleven superpowers in the galaxy are residing. They’re agreeing to total unification of all empires, peace for all nations once and for all. At least, on paper it is.”

“All kingdoms conjoined as one? But who would hold the power in such a regime?” Lavender asked.

“That’s what they’re trying to decide. However I don’t trust it, not entirely.”

“Why not, hmm? No more division between nations, less wars, and a proper division of resources.”

The Doctor had a nasty feeling in the pit of his stomach. All the power in the galaxy could be sitting in one room as they spoke. As hopeful as he was he’d seen planets wage war over their own differences, fighting for much less power and control. Realistically an entire galaxy being at peace would be near impossible.

“There’s one empire bent on destruction, completely consumed by power. The Daleks would never join such an alliance. It’s against their nature, their blood. I have no doubts that they’ll kill everyone on sight the first chance they get.”

There it was, the Daleks again. Why did he seem to run into them so often? Before they were nothing more than a penal colony or an invasion force. This was more than that, even a few Daleks close by were nearly enough to bring many to their knees. They were an empire now, how could he possibly fight against that?

“Who are these…Dah-leks?”

“Only the most ruthless and cunning machines in existence. They wiped out my entire force in minutes with the delegates none the wiser.”

“If the Daleks are such a ruthless force, then why should they ally with you at all?”

“An excellent question, my foal. Why indeed. I wouldn’t put some cloak and dagger business behind them, though to this degree does raise concern. There must be something they desire that they’ve yet to obtain. Some ulterior motive. Where is this grove you speak of?”

“The Grove building is just down the hill, a few meters beyond the brush.“

Opening the TARDIS doors again the Doctor left before anypony could respond. He pushed past the brush like Shining said and peered down at the facility below. The building was abhorrently white, adorned with hundreds of tinted glass panels to view the tamed flora and fauna in the courtyard below. It was the very definition of a wealthy one’s display piece. In the shuttle park were various ships from all different species, the Dalek saucer neatly tucked in the back. Cosmic and Shining joined by his side as another ship began its descent. It was as if a piece of Canterlot had drifted from the stars with its many golden arches and pearly white and lavender towers.

“That’s the Equestrian queen’s ship. She shouldn’t be here!” gasped Shining.

“What’s so surprising about that? Surely if this’s as big of a conference as you say then surely they’ll get an invitation.”

“Yes, but everyone knows of the Dalek’s reputation from the war nearly two thousand years ago. We fought against them for our freedom, nearly exterminated into extinction. She’d never ally herself with those blasted pepper pots.”

“I believe this requires a closer inspection, hmm? Perhaps Equestria knows of their true intentions.”

“And what do you plan to do, Doc? Just waltz down there and demand an explanation?”

“Perhaps, but with a bit more tact and sensibility. Can you access the Equestrian ship? They’ll have direct communication with the authorities, potential information on their intentions even.”

“Well certainly. I have high security clearance for this event so it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.”

“Very good, very good. Now, I’ll sneak in the back and quietly observe this meeting. We rendezvous outside the ship.”

“And what about me?”

Everypony turned to look at Lavender, they’d hardly even noticed that she was there. The Doctor wasn’t entirely sure what to say, struggling to not stumble over his own words.

“I refuse to just sit by idly and watch as you risk your lives for ponies you barely even know without my assistance. You’ve been treating me as though I were made of glass ever since we left my realm. We both know that I can take care of myself, it comes with the job, remember? So I’m coming with you whether you like it or not.”

One the one hoof she was right, he knew that he was being overprotective. However on the other hoof he felt a sense of responsibility for her. To keep her safe, to keep her alive. He always felt that she was on borrowed time, he was never meant to save her. It was his own fault that she was even in any danger to begin with beyond her home.

“I uh, I apologise, my dear. This is much more dangerous than anything we’ve ever done before.”

“If that’s what destiny decides then so be it. As I said, it’s a part of the job.”

The Doctor smiled reassuringly, concerned yet confident in Lavender.

“Very well. You can keep Cosmic and Shining company, make sure neither of them get into any more trouble than necessary.”

“Hey, I may have a score to settle with the Daleks but I’m not stupid.”

The Doctor chuckled as Cosmic rolled his eyes, starting to make his way down to the main building. He watched behind one of the power generators as someone approached. It was one of the aforementioned delegates, a cloaked mass of vines and plant matter in equinoid form. Somewhat out of nowhere Shining jabbed the delegate in the back of the neck before handcuffing them.

“Goodness gracious me, you gave me a fright. Now what was all that for, hmm? I thought I told you to go to the ship.”

“I did, all video and audio links are password protected. I figured you needed assistance. Now we can interrogate them, find out the real story going on here.”

“You know I absolutely abhor violence, hmm? Especially when it’s unnecessary. Use your mind before resulting to brute force, eh. Curiouser and curiouser, though. Not an act of sabotage but a deliberate choice to sever all contact. There’s more than meets the eye. ”

“I still think that this’s a terrible idea. At the very least use his cloak as a disguise.”

“You make a rather grim point. Though trust me, we must remain unsuspected. If a delegate does not return then the whole lot will be thrown into a panic. The Daleks are up to something, I know it, and this may be our only chance to put a stop to it.”

“All right, but many sacrificed their lives so that the knowledge we obtained can leave this wretched planet. If it comes to it I’ll pilot that ship myself. I’ll give you as much time as I can but I hope you understand, I will leave without you if I have to.”

“I understand. Now go, before anyone else sees you. We have work to do.”

The lobby room felt oddly cold, unless that was just the chill of fear running down his spine. Even with the crystal chandeliers, the carved stainless steel statues and red velvet carpet, it all felt so empty. This was meant to be a place full of peace and life, but all he could see was death as the Daleks turned to him. He slightly adjusted the authoritative pendant around his neck, making sure the cloak covered his entire face.

“Representative Zepharon. The meeting is about to begin. Follow me.”

Success. The Daleks turned and guided him into the conference room. All the delegates sat in their clearly designated seats, the Doctor sitting in Zepharon’s. The only remaining seat belonged to Equus. Hoofsteps echoed down the halls as the royal purple alicorn approached in her regalia. She brushed her long mane to the side before sitting down next to him, staring forwards coldly at the Daleks.

“This meeting is now in session.” announced one of the Daleks.

“Representatives. I have important news. The time destructor is now completed. It only requires the core to be fitted.”

All the delegates clapped and stomped their hooves in unison except for the Doctor and the Queen.

“Opaline. Ruler of the Solar System. You will address the meeting.”

The fire alicorn smirked, rising forwards from her seat to address the room.

“As your most recent ally and the newest member of your astute council, I am delighted to have made such a significant contribution. I present to you, the core of the time destructor and the key to our conquest!”

With a winding trail of blue fire Opaline manifested a silvery cylinder made of a pure metal. She revelled in the attention as the delegates clapped once more.

“A full emm of Teranium, the rarest mineral in the galaxy. It took fifty Equestrian years just to mine and extract such a generous amount. Only in sufficient quantities does it exist in one of the eight planets of our native system.”

She placed the core down on the round table in front of her. The Doctor eyed it nervously, hoping for just the right opportunity to grab it and run. The group continued to discuss the nature of the time destructor and their plans on its usage. He’d seen atrocities before but this was on a completely new scale. A weapon to end all weapons, to end a war before it's even begun. With it they could influence the flow of time in a widespread area. Entire planetary systems could be reduced to dust, as if thousands of years had passed in a single second. This was just the base model, even in its current state it could potentially harm Gallophrey.

Suddenly an intruder alert rang throughout the halls. The actual Zepharon must have escaped somehow, the delegates rising from their seats to evacuate. The core was knocked off the table and in a split second the Doctor caught it, locking eyes with Opaline as he did so. She grabbed him with her magic but he was able to slip out of the cloak, vanishing into the crowd easily. The ship was already starting to take off without him but he was just in time. A platform lowered just as a swarm of Daleks started firing. He hopped on and the ship vanished into the atmosphere. Letting out a sigh of relief, the Doctor rejoined his friends on the flight deck.

Shining and Cosmic were busy miraculously flying the ship that required four pilots while Lavender watched the external scanners. So far they were in the clear but not for long. Equus was a good twenty minute hop with the warp drive but it was too difficult with their limited crew. Lavender turned to look out the large window as space warped and fragmented around them with each small jump. Every jump they were hopping thousand, maybe millions of miles in a mere second.

“It’s oddly beautiful. I never imagined such wonders beyond the boundaries of my own realm.”

“I had a similar thought once myself. I believe somepony once said that ‘truth is stranger than fiction’. The statement does have some merit, hmm?”

“Yeah…”

“The ship stuttered and exited its current hop, still far from their destination. They were quickly losing power, the systems failing as they were being pulled off course towards a nearby planet.

“Cosmic, what’s happening?” Lavender said as she struggled to maintain her balance.

“Dalek saucer. We’re being pulled off course and the engines aren’t strong enough to break through.”

“Put all thrusters at max power, use any energy that isn’t necessary. Down there is Desparus, a Dalek labour colony. We’ll be dead in minutes if we land!”

“We don’t have a choice, if we use up any more power we’ll be stuck in space anyway if the ship isn’t torn in half. Doctor, Lavender, hold on!”

Their descent was rough but the ship remained mostly intact. They’d hit a few rocky spires on the way down and the engines needed time to cool down. Everypony was alive at least, but they were trapped right where the Daleks wanted them.

“At least we’re still alive.” Cosmic coughed.

“For now you mean, it could be seconds before we’re exterminated.”

“Not quite. It’s not just by chance that we happened to survive such a crash. The Daleks need us to survive. To destroy us would be to destroy this.”

The Doctor held up the Teranium core as the light refracted off in an almost kaleidoscopic fashion.

“This is the key element in a weapon called the Time Destructor. The Daleks constructed it while the other delegates supplied the resources, all for a fraction of the control it could provide. Equus simply held the final piece.”

“But Queen Opaline-”

“Wants the control just as much as the others. As kind and benevolent as you think she may be, we have to face the facts. All of those in the conference room, whatever morals or motivations they may have, they are conspiring together for universal conquest. This core is the only thing standing between them and total domination. Do you have the equipment to destroy it?”

“Even if we did, that’s our only bargaining chip. If the Daleks have a hold on us then that core is the only reason we’re alive until their defeat. They’ll simply kill us and secretly find a new substitute with no one the wiser. Opaline is immortal, what’s another fifty years of mining and extraction to eternity?”

“Very well. What’s the soonest possible moment we can depart?”

“That’d require me to go outside. The engines might be damaged and anything could be out there. I’ll need some backup, just in case any Daleks or others are watching.”

“I’ll go.” Lavender interjected.

Everypony turned to face her.

“I…I can handle myself against anypony, but those tin headed pepper pots… they scare me. I’ll run if I need to, but I’ll stay by your side.”

“If that’s what you wish. I’ll grab you a spare laser rifle. We’ll be in and out in a few minutes, but remain vigilant.”

Cosmic pulled the Doctor aside to speak in private.

“Are you absolutely sure about this?”

“Certainly. Even if I wasn’tI doubt that would stop her.”

“But you know what might happen to her… what was supposed to happen to her.”

The Doctor sighed, feeling his throat dry up. He almost couldn’t look Cosmic in the eyes it weighed on him so heavily.

“Have you told her yet?”

“No, no, she’d neither understand nor believe me. She’d…I’m uncertain how she’d take it.”

“Please, you can’t keep so much to yourself again. You said we’d talk but you’ve just walled yourself in again. We’re all in the same boat and none of this is easy for me either. Ever since Free left… you can still talk to me.”

“What are you two talking about?” Lavender asked.

Both Cosmic and the Doctor froze, unsure of what to say. The Doctor nervously stammered as he tried to regain his composure. He stopped as Cosmic approached her, putting a hoof on Lavender’s shoulder.

“Back in Àlogo, during the dragon attacks…we weren’t meant to be there. Travelling through time, it’s difficult to explain. There are rules and-”

“No, no, I understand completely. Everypony has a destiny. When you entered my realm you changed fate, you subverted my destiny. You’re guilty because you changed what shouldn’t be changed. Even if I’m just an average mare you cannot deny destiny. We’ll talk about it later, when the matters of our survival are a lot less pressing.”

Lavender chuckled and took his hoof before giving Cosmic a kiss on the cheek. She rejoined with Shining, going outside and making her way towards the ship’s nearest leg. He looked down at his hoof, concerned to see her sun shaped pendant in it. Both him and the Doctor rushed to the external scanner. They could see the two of them huddled against the ship’s leg while performing maintenance. In the background they could see plumes of smoke polluting the night sky. This world was half dead and the Doctor hated to think what the poor ponies here were going through.

The scanner picked up new life signs and three lights appeared in the distance. Cosmic was already radioing them to get back inside, but the Doctor still had a nasty feeling. The lights were approaching quickly but the Daleks would never out themselves like that. There were so few of them, so why try an intimidation tactic like this? Shining quickly passed through the airlock with Lavender soon following behind. He let out a sigh of relief but they weren’t out of the fire just yet.

“We’re all set for liftoff. There was minimal damage to the external thrusters but otherwise we can get off of this wretched rock.”

“Yes. Whatever creatures may be out there do raise some concern. And a hint of remorse, perhaps they were just prisoners looking for an escape.”

“Well there’s no time to worry about that now. We need to get out and get the word back to Equus before the entire galaxy ends up just like this.”

“Yes, yes. Could you please secure the airlock? The pressure should be completely stable before we leave the atmosphere.”

“I’ll do it.” said Lavender.

Time slowed to a crawl as Lavender went into the airlock chamber to look at the door controls. The exterior doors slid open for a brief moment as a filthy stallion entered the chamber. He was malnourished, out of breath and absolutely furious. He grabbed Lavender and held a sharpened rock to her throat.

“NOPONY MOVE.” the stallion screamed.

Everypony froze on his command. Lavender was strong but not strong enough. None of them knew whether or not he’d eject them both into space at the first chance of resistance. The Doctor turned to him, hoping that he’d see reason.

“Please, we wish no harm to you. You’re safe here, the Daleks won’t harm you.”

“The Daleks. THE DALEKS?! Impossible. I hear them in my head, day in day out. They’ll never leave you or any of us. I know who you are, they scream about you. They want you more than me. You can never escape the Daleks, but with you they'll spare me with their divine mercy.”

The stallion laughed maniacally, clearly damaged both mentally and physically. The Doctor could see the remnants of a computer chip implanted in his head. The Daleks were literally feeding these thoughts into his mind.

“We can help you silence those voices. You don’t need to hear them anymore.”

“NO. I demand you take me to them now. They’re the one true species of this universe. They make the rules. If you beg for their mercy then maybe they’ll spare you like myself. Take me to the Daleks or this mare dies.”

“No…” said Shining.

“What?” Cosmic asked.

“No. Millions will die if we turn back.”

“And she’ll die if we DON’T!”

“I’m moving forwards.”

“NO!”

The Doctor looked through the glass and into the airlock. He looked into Lavender’s eyes and begged her to stop, to not do this. He couldn’t breathe, the air stuck in his throat. Lavender quickly jabbed a foreleg into her captor’s stomach, allowing the other one to get free. The Doctor ran up to the glass and pounded on it, trying to get the door to open.

“You can’t avoid fate, Doctor… thank you for everything.”

Lavender slammed her hoof on as many buttons as she could. The Doctor fell, his legs to weak to stand. Tears ran down his face as he tried to convince himself that there was nothing he could do. All he could hear was Cosmic’s screams.

“Lavender. Lavender! LAVENDER!!”

Chapter 37 - Shining Star

The ship was quiet as it continued to hop across the inky void of space. They were barely holding things together, both in flight and in their minds. The Doctor said nothing, simply staring out the window. He said nothing, he felt nothing but emptiness. It was probably just the shock, the most powerful drug in the universe. After their last hop the ship hung freely in space while orbiting the planet below.

Equus was somehow more vibrant yet more dull at the same time.It’s greens stood out more while accenting the silver spired cities. In other circumstances looking out the window would be beautiful. All he could think about was that he could’ve shown this to Lavender. Her world, her home, continued to thrive long after the time she’d left. He got up, able to walk again though his knees were still shaky.

“We’re going to have a rough landing. I have some old contacts in an experimental plant that could assist us. It’s a private establishment, no civilization for miles. Even if we were spotted there’d be a forest of red tape to cross first.”

“And you’re sure they’ll believe us, an old stallion and lost soldier?”

“We were colleagues for years, I know exactly the kind of stallion he is. If not then we’ll simply use force. Either way we should be able to get a press release within the next few hours.”

“If you say so. Some friend you are.”

The Doctor stayed silent, feeling the Taranium Core in his pocket/ Was this really all worth it? Maybe Shining was right, it was millions of lives that would fall to the Daleks against hers. Though what if there really was another way? The ship rocked as it skidded across the landing pad, not likely to be taking off anytime soon. Shining wasn’t wrong about one thing, the forest seemed to stretch on for miles around them. They were already welcome with open arms, Shining’s old coworker Silver Spire was all too happy to give them a tour.

Normally he’d be ogling over each and every instrument in that lab but he could barely say a word. The events kept running through his mind, wondering how he could’ve done better. Cosmic followed by his side while Shining and Silver led them along. Silver constantly rambled about every little thing he legally could until Shining cleared his throat.

“Right, yes. My apologies. Where were we?”

“Opaline and the Daleks?” Shining said, struggling not to roll his eyes.

“Right, you’re definitely in a bit of a tricky pickle. I believe you, no doubt. There’s always been suspicion of Opaline’s true intention on her actions. She’s self righteous, avoids clear answers and of course plays things up for the camera. She adores the attention and since she’s our benevolent leader nopony really questions her. What role did she play in this conference, what evidence do you have?”

“Aside from our word, nothing but the core itself.” the Doctor said while holding up the Taranium cylinder.

“What a beauty, a pure emm of Taranium. Never thought I’d ever see something like it in my life.”

“You’ve never seen Taranium before?” Shining asked suspiciously.

“Not necessarily no, though I did spearhead the mining project for it back in the day.”

“So you have a direct connection to Opaline’s plan.”

“Not intentionally, no. It’s not like I have her on speed dial.”

“How do we know that you’re not lying?”

“Shining please, this is absolutely ridiculous. We need Silver so stop trying to bite his head off.” Cosmic interjected.

The uneasy tension permeated through the air like a bad smell. Silver looked down at his pager, answering the call. His expression sank as he listened to the alert.

“They’re here.” was all he said.

The intercom was already announcing their presence to the entire facility. The alarm bells were quite literally ringing as the building went on lockdown. Silver led them through a staff only section that led to some maintenance tunnels. They didn’t stop for a second as the laser rifles began firing, small explosions bursting where they hit the nearby walls. No matter how far they ran they could hear the faint sound of hoofsteps clip clopping on the tiled flooring. They didn’t even have time to process that Silver was shot in the back. Cosmic tried to stop to help but it was already too late, the guards were armed to kill.

Finally one door led to a dead end, a large geodesic testing chamber with a box of mice on a small pillar. There was nowhere left to run. A dark grey mare with a jet black mane approached with her laser rifle. Her uniform was clearly higher rank than Shining’s, she had the golden badges to prove it. She was the head of the Space Security Service and in the blink of an eye, she shot down Shining without a word. Both the Doctor and Cosmic stood in stunned silence as their only hope was lost.

“That was a warning shot. Turn yourself over to the Space Security Service and your punishment will be swift and just.”

“A warning shot. A WARNING shot!? He’s dead!” Cosmic exclaimed in a torrent of rage.

The head of the SSS approached closer, backing them further into the test chamber. She closed the door behind her and sealed them in. She tried to radio in about their whereabouts but her radio couldn’t get a signal in here. They’d still be found eventually if they were stuck here for long enough. The Doctor’s mind was racing, trying to calculate their next move at the same time as trying to deal with the stress of the situation.

“You really think that you’ll be doing a service by arresting us?” Cosmic asked.

“Queen Opaline has personally requested me to aid in your capture. It takes a highly desired criminal to attract her attention. So yes, to answer your question, I am doing a service.”

Several stadium lights activated one after the other, flashing bright white light into the chamber. While both the Doctor and Cosmic shielded their eyes their captor barely flinched. The walls started to rotate in different directions at increasing speed.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!”

They could barely hear her over the roaring winds that were starting to pick up around them. Any attempts for her to maintain control were futile as the lights grew in intensity. Cosmic pounded on the door but it was obviously bolted or pressurised shut. He couldn’t hear him yelling as everything went white. All of his senses were overwhelmed as both everything and nothing passed by faster than the speed of light. Sound was non existent yet it still felt like his ears were popping. The planet appeared to materialise around them even though in actuality it was the opposite. He’d heard of cellular dissemination before, an artificial teleport, though he’d never experienced such himself.

The three of them were separated from one another on an alien planet similar to Kembel. The vegetation was more blue and the sky was a vast array of blues, indigos and violets. The Doctor laid on the ground, the mist of the swamp curling around him as he got up. He laughed to himself, surprised by his own luck. He called out for Cosmic as he made his way across the relatively dry ground. He found him holding the SSS head’s gun, but surprisingly not pointing it at her.

“There you are, Doctor. Don’t worry, she won’t be giving us any trouble for the time being.”

“I was merely following my orders. You two are fugitives, stealing one of the rarest minerals in the galaxy.”

“And is that how you justify cold blooded murder? You didn’t even integrate us, you just fired without a second thought. Do you even question your orders, use some common sense? Opaline is using you to further her plans with the Daleks.”

“I don’t question her majesty. Whatever her motives may be, they are pure and justified.”

“You don’t even question her motives then, just like you didn’t question killing Shining Star.”

“You think I enjoyed it!? Shining Star was my brother but he was also a traitor.”

“Enough, this is no time to be at one another’s throats.” the Doctor quickly interjected.

“As undesirable as our current situation may be, we still need one another. We’ll discuss this later once we’re off this world.”

“And how do you propose that when we don’t have a ship?” the mare asked sarcastically.

“The Daleks will no doubt be on their way. Neither them nor Opaline will stop until they have their hooves on the Taranium core again. With this they’ll power a weapon that will conquer the entire universe. I suggest we hide while we still can, hmm?”

The Doctor patted Cosmic on the shoulder, the both of them distancing themselves from their ex-captor. Almost as if on queue a Dalek saucer was already descending into the marsh below. In no time at all several squadrons were already patrolling the area. The Doctor was already thinking of a plan while staring out from the bushes with the others.

“See, over there? If your queen is so benevolent then what is she doing with the Daleks? If you don’t believe me then how do you explain that?” Cosmic whispered.

“I’m not sure. The whole point of the peace conference was to oppose their forces and expel them once and for all. Finally peace across the entire galaxy, no more wars for us to fight in.”

“She’s a two faced liar from what I’ve heard of her.”

The Doctor stepped to the side and away from their back and forth. He tried to just think to himself but he couldn’t help but listen.

“And you trust that old stallion more than our queen? How do you know that he’s telling the truth any more than the leader of our entire planet?”

“Absolutely. The Doctor may not always have a plan or be honest about what he thinks, but I’ve seen the kind of stallion he is. He’s always kind and compassionate, and he’s never let me down. We’ve been through a lot together… especially today.”

The Doctor smiled. He felt tired but he had to keep pushing forwards. He looked over at Cosmic and put a hoof to his lips before approaching the Daleks. They wouldn’t kill him, even if it were the easiest way to obtain the Taranium core. No doubt they’d want to question him to discover just how he’d defeated them several times, and then they’d kill him. Cosmic was in more danger though, to the Daleks they were expendable. At the very least they would use his life as a threat against him, the exact thing he needed. Just out of the corner of his eye he could see a faint movement, small patches of the ground subsiding to some invisible force.

“Presence of other life forms detected. Fire.”

He could only see the body of the invisible creature for a second as the blast from the Dalek’s gun illuminated their body. It was a large and feral creature covered in scales, its invisibility returning once it fell to the ground. He’d never seen a creature like that before, though he’d heard of something like it before. Something about Visians or Spirodons on the planet Mira, creatures not visible in the typical wavelengths on the optical spectrum. Returning to the group the Doctor had a plan, though it was incredibly risky.

“Follow my lead.” he whispered.

Much to their surprise the Doctor directly approached the Daleks, giving away both Cosmic and the head agent’s hiding spot as well.

“We are stranded on this world with no ship, no weapons, no means of defence. It appears that we have no choice but to surrender. It appears my friends, that the Daleks have won.”

“You are surrounded. You will come with us.”

“Yes, yes. No time to waste, getting a move on.”

As they were led into the central flight deck of the Dalek saucer the Doctor looked around. It was a similar model to the one he’d seen in 2150 with a few upgrades here and there. He didn’t get too close to any of the controls as the Daleks kept a close eyestalk on him. Most of their troops were still spread out across the planet’s surface, now on their way back to the ship. He could outsmart a few Daleks, but he couldn’t outsmart an alicorn.

“Well, well, well. So you’re the pesky little pony who’s given me so much trouble.” Opaline said with a smirk.

“To think that such a weak old stallion and his little misfit could give the strongest perceived force in the galaxy the run around. Not the best for your image of being the supreme beings, now is it?”

“It was your security that allowed such negligence. Your security allowed the Doctor to infiltrate our conference. Your security allowed him to escape to Mira. Daleks do not tolerate such incompetence.”

“Oh please, I allowed their teleportation to Mira. Here they’re completely helpless, can’t even escape in my vintage of a ship. I do hope you’re compensating for the damages.”

“You make your incompetence sound like an achievement.”

Opaline was visibly seething before quickly regaining her composure. In the split second she turned her back to him he quickly slid the dial to lock the outer doors on. Letting in a draft certainly wouldn’t do well for their “pest control”.

“At the very least I thank you for allowing me to handle these fugitives. Officer T-Tauri Star, I’m pleased that you completed your mission so diligently, if a little bit haphazardly.”

Something changed in T-Tauri’s demeanour as Opaline addressed her. She stood at attention not as a soldier but as a mindless drone. Any fear or passion or soul was gone from her eyes as she stood staring blankly forwards.

“Yes ma’am. What is our next plan of action, your highness?”

“We return to Kembel to finish what we started. Then I’m certain that they’ll be given a fair ‘trial’, however pointless it may be for these traitors.”

“Yes your majesty. However…if I may enquire, why are we collaborating with the Daleks?”

“A fair inquiry. The Daleks are the greatest militia in the galaxy, with their assistance we can police our laws on a wider scale. Their numbers are far greater than ours and we can hardly spread ourselves too thinly across the sector.”

“But our history-”

“Water under the bridge. It’s been centuries since the last of the Dalek wars. Besides, ponies we fought for centuries are unified together in harmony, are they not? It’s in our nature to forgive.”

“But the millions of lives, the families they’ve destroyed and the planets they’ve left in ruin, are we just going to excuse their past actions?”

“That’s enough, Agent T-Tauri. It’s for the best in our galaxy and far beyond.”

The Doctor and Cosmic felt sorry for her, the pain in her eyes as the words settled in her mind. She’d shot her own brother, believing him to be a traitor to everything she stood for, all for nothing. The ship attempted to take off but it refused with the outer door locked open. It was clear by now that something had gotten in as more and more warning lights started flashing. Already the Doctor and Cosmic were stepping away quietly, gesturing for T-Tauri to follow them. She looked down for a moment, pausing to think, before she joined by their side. Opaline sighed, visibly annoyed as she nodded her head in disapproval.

“If you want something done then you’ve got to do it yourself.” Opaline muttered before joining in the fight.

Needless to say it was utter pandemonium out there, both Daleks and Opaline firing left right and centre. They couldn’t even see their targets but they were successfully forcing them back. As planned the invisible beasts were no match for their might, backing them into the forest from where they came. While they may have won this battle it was a pyrrhic victory as the ship started to take off without them. The only Daleks that remained were either destroyed, immobilised or were trapped as the ship flew away. Opaline attempted one last shot to shoot the ship down but it was ultimately futile, the planet vanishing into the distance as they flew away.

The three of them collectively let out a sigh of relief. T-Tauri continued to stare off into space, seething with rage as she ripped off her badge and threw it at the ground. She was on the verge of tears, just barely holding herself together.

“I don’t understand… Opaline with the Daleks. They slaughtered millions of my kind, those of whom I’ve bound to protect. Yet that means nothing to her, absolutely nothing. I just don’t understand.”

Cosmic carefully tried to approach her, not entirely sure what to say.

“It’s…everything is-“

“Don’t touch me, don’t get near me, don’t even look at me! Before you two showed up everything was fine. I was fine. My brother was alive and well and because of you I… I need some air.”

T-Tauri left the flight deck to get some artificial fresh air. Cosmic stood there, still dumbstruck on what to say or do. The Doctor returned to what he just started working on.

“So…what’s this?”

“I’m attempting to perfectly recreate a synthetic alloy with similar properties to Taranium. Should give us enough time to work out a plan. Might even fool them into destroying the Time Destructor. I’d hate to imagine the value of such a device given the rarity of a singular component, hmm.”

“I see, are we heading back to Kembel?”

“Yes, the flight computers are locked to a preset destination. However there’s one thing that doesn’t add up.”

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“The Daleks exterminated the entirety of Shining’s team, I want to know why.”

“Well they’re Daleks.”

“Yes, though ruthless they may be, they're still calculating machines. They kill with purpose, and that purpose may just be the leverage that we need.”

The ship landed safely, a far cry from their previous experiences. Already the Doctor was doing preliminary scans on the surrounding area. Something was out there but he had limited access to what it was. Whatever was stored in their databases was being re-encrypted several times over just as he searched. For Dalek eyestalks only might as well have been stamped across everything. All he knew was that it wasn’t far from the TARDIS and that something was being done about it. Whatever that something was he was going to find out. He straightened his jacket and tightened his laced tie before shutting the computer down.

“Are you ready?” Cosmic asked.

“As ready as I can be. Too much has been at stake today, and I apologise for that. You never deserved to see what happened today.”

“Thank you. None of this was your fault.”

“Uhm. I’m coming with you. It’s the least I can do after what I’ve done.” T-Tauri said shyly, rubbing her eyes.

Neither of them denied her from coming along, though they didn’t exactly want her here either. It was an awkward trek back to the TARDIS while they all remained silent. Daleks continued to roam the area so they treaded lightly. Though upon closer inspection from a distance, these Daleks were different. They used some kind of different weapon where their normal gun sticks would be.

“The fugitives will not escape. Leave no evidence. Seek. Locate. Exterminate. Activate the pyro-flame.”

Their weapons erupted in a plume of vibrant blue flames, torching everything in their path. They scorched the trees and surrounding foliage, the boiling hot fire spreading fast. Quickly the three of them made it back to the ship, never happier to see the deep blue Police Barn. Cosmic just about hugged it as T-Tauri looked at it confusedly. They could be home free, leave this place and era behind, but there was still a loose end to tie up: Opaline.

She needed to be exposed for what she’d done, for the lies she’s told. If still in a position of power Opaline could just acquire more Taranium after another fifty years. All of this would start up all over again. He still let Cosmic and T-Tauri inside, just in case. He handed the core to Cosmic for safe keeping, the TARDIS being the one place they could never retrieve it. Combing through the brush the Doctor tried to recall the exact direction that Shining came from.

He nearly fell flat on his face as he tripped over something poking out of the dirt. Looking around him were the charred remains of a rocket long since abandoned. The Daleks had clearly gotten here first long ago, but the job wasn’t done. Something on the ground gleamed, easily catching his eye. Picking it up revealed that it was an audio log, the last testimony of Dash Mark. Playing only a few seconds revealed the final piece that he was looking for. Shining and his team must have found the site and the Daleks came to exterminate them to conceal their plans. Now the entire forest was being burned just to prevent any evidence being leaked to the outer star systems.

Shining’s death might not be for nothing after all. He rushed to the TARDIS and was about to put the key into the lock, but they were waiting for him. Five Daleks and one angry Opaline stared down at his back as he stood frozen with fear. The TARDIS had some external shielding but even he didn’t know if they were functional.

‘Enough games. No more hijacking ships. No more running. Just give me the Taranium core and you’ll go free.”

“And how can I trust your word, hmm?”

“Oh I’m not stupid, I know who you are. You don’t think that the ruler of Equestria wouldn’t know of your escapades in our history, Doctor? Sergeant Hurricane, the first Gala, rumours of the Crystal Empire before it vanished. One of your companions was even knighted by Celestia herself, I think. Needless to say, I know what kind of pony you are. Give me the Taranium and you can keep on running. If the Daleks don’t kill you then the next time we meet, and I know there will be a next time, I will end whichever young traveller comes alongside you first. Your move.”

The Doctor slowly turned around to face them, genuine fear in his eyes. He nervously sweated, not saying a word as he handed over the fake Taranium. Opaline observed it, twisting it around in her magic. Her expression remained cold and unchanged. She looked up at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Exterminate him.”

Opaline turned around as the Daleks fired. Their blasts bounced right off the TARDIS shields but she didn’t care. She thought she got what she came here for. The Doctor stood in stunned silence for several seconds before turning tail. He didn’t even acknowledge Cosmic as he passed by, closing the doors immediately. He went straight to the side workshop, grabbing random bits and bobs to assemble a new device.

“Doctor, what are you doing?” T-Tauri asked.

“Assembling a short-wave transmitter that connects to the ship’s distress beacon. Should send out a signal to the furthest reach of the galaxy.”

“But why-”

The Doctor placed the log recorder in T-Tauri’s hoof. She stared down at it, struggling to hold back tears as she realised what it was.

“Your brother nearly discovered this, a dead stallion’s testimony on Opaline’s involvement with the Daleks. He risked his life so that the truth would be set free. Without him, I never would’ve found this. He was a brave young lad indeed.”

Pulling off a panel beneath the console he stripped and threaded a few wires to the best of his abilities. With the tape hooked up to the small apparatus he held it in his hooves, only needing to switch it on. Opaline was one of the most prominent figures in Equestrian history, and he was about to discredit and potentially dethrone her. He was hesitant, normally he never took this decision lightly. Cosmic put a comforting hoof on his shoulder and smiled.

“I know you don’t like to intervene like this, but I’m still with you no matter what.”

This time he didn’t hesitate. Forget whatever laws of time, continuity or Timepony authority that existed, he deserved to win today, just this once. The message was transmitted and there was no turning back now. That only left one last loose end.

“T-Tauri, was it? I can attempt to get you home but there’s no guarantee. Our navigation system is rather…unreliable at times.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I’m more grateful you aren’t leaving me out there with them. I know what I did was unforgivable, and I’d probably deserve it.”

The Doctor paused as he struggled to find the right words.

“Nopony deserves what happened. I…”

The Doctor just couldn’t, even looking at her gave him an immense feeling of pain and guilt. He simply stepped to the side as Cosmic gave her a hug. She clearly needed it as she nearly collapsed in his embrace. Things were going to be difficult with her in the TARDIS, but at least she was willing to change. Did she even deserve a second chance? He didn’t rightfully know. There was a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. This wasn’t the end with the Daleks, it never was. One day they’d show up again, he knew it. This was far from being all over.

Chapter 38 - T-Tauri Star

Several Months Later

120 years Before Celestia, Somnambula

The Doctor combed through the market stalls, occasionally wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. The hot sun beamed down on him as the desert air was heavily dry. Cosmic stayed nearby, not as interested in the various dried fruits and wines the vendors were selling. The Doctor did his best to hide the small device in his pocket to hopefully reduce the amount of anomalies it was detecting. The TARDIS had hit a bit of a bump in the vortex, or rather fallen down a hole. There was no force dragging the TARDIS in particular but a small rift generated by time distortion. The Timeponies usually dealt with such small amounts that a TARDIS could slip through.

He didn’t like any of this, he could feel the hairs standing on the back of his neck. The odds were too high. Looking for a quick second the meter pointed towards the pyramid towering in the skyline. Whomever was doing this certainly liked to show off.

“Are we nearly there?” Cosmic asked quizzically.

“Yes, yes, very nearly. It’s the pyramid just ahead, positively radiating with temporal disturbances. Very unusual.”

“You don’t think it’s the Daleks, do you?”

“Perhaps. It has been some time, though I believe somepony by the name of Light Weight said that time is relative.”

“You said that they’d tracked you down before, what’s stopping them from doing so again?”

“Calm down, my colt. I’m sure everything will be fine. Go and fetch T-Tauri for me, please. Now where did she wander off to?”

“Something about an old fortune teller. I’ll go get her before she’s sold ancient snake oil.”

“That’s the spirit. I’ll be with you shortly.”

Beneath the surface the Doctor was deeply concerned. Cosmic had a point, though he’d tried to push those thoughts to the back of his mind. He just wanted a vacation, some time to rest his mind from everything. Not just the Daleks, but every day since he left Gallophrey. He felt tired, but he had to keep on pressing forwards.

Cosmic munched on a donut as the sun continued to blare down on them. The edges of the grand pyramid seemed to flux and ripple, the heat visually warping the massive shape. T-Tauri followed behind, instinctively reaching for a gun that wasn’t there. She’d somewhat insisted on bringing one just in case. The Doctor was starting to question if that feeling was right. Something about the inside of the pyramid filled them with a distinct sense of dread. This wasn’t a tomb yet, but rather a place of worship. The candles were freshly lit and the walls freshly painted. A faint clicking noise echoed the halls from all directions, beckoning them towards it. Continuing onwards they approached a large round room that forked into three hallways.

“Three corridors and three of us. Almost too perfect.” said the Doctor.

“Which one should we go down first? I can guard the front while Cosmic defends the back from any potential attackers.” T-Tauri asked, still instinctively following her training.

“I have a rather distinct feeling that we’re meant to go separate ways. Can you feel it? That sense of not belonging here. Not too intense to dissuade us yet prevalent enough to persuade us to press forwards.”

Almost as if on cue two stone slabs slammed down between them. They were cut off from one another immediately with only one way out.

“Doctor! Are you alright?” Cosmic asked.

“Yes, perfectly alright. Are you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m alright too.” T-Tauri chimed in.

“Hopefully these halls will meet back up again somewhere.”

“Alright you two. Keep safe, something is afoot here and I don’t like it one bit.”

The hallways seemed to go on forever, bending left, right and down several flights of stairs. He leaned against a wall to catch his breath after walking for what felt like an eternity. His ears shot upwards as he faintly heard a voice he recognized. It almost felt unreal, as if it were just his imagination. Turning around he saw her standing there, Frequency Wave, almost as if she were a ghost.

“Doctor!”

Frequency reached out for a hug as he rushed over to her. He stopped just short of her as she retracted her offer. He knew he left her not long before or after this time period, though he was still cautious.

“Dear me, my foal. What are you-”

“It was supposed to be a long con. Figured it was something nasty either way.”

The Doctor looked and her puzzled before his joy faded, realising what was going on. Her eyes didn’t entirely follow his position and she’d shifted ever so slightly between each time she spoke. Walking around her he saw the holoprojector on the ground. He faintly remembered what she was saying, though he couldn’t remember where from. Somehow he was glad that she wasn’t here, that she was safe from whatever alien menace was hunting him. Yet at the same time he felt a twinge of sadness. He still missed her greatly, though he’d never wish the fate he’d experienced upon her.

Suddenly several micro fluorescent lights illuminated the grand hall before him. This was where the pharaoh would be sealed for centuries to come. In the center were his two companions tied up next to a small black box covered in knobs and dials. It was a vortex shield resonator, mainly used for protection within the vortex. It created a large field of null time, effectively cutting its radius off from any ill effects the time winds had in the vortex.

“Surprised to see me?” said the Monk, walking into the center of the light.

“Ah, the Monk. Escaped from year 11 or have you just been waiting, hmm?”

That’s not my name and you know it. Still have my dimensional stabiliser do you?”

The Doctor was almost overjoyed that it was just him. The Monk he could deal with, especially when he’d be limited in terms of tricks and traps. He’d already beaten him before and he absolutely could again. He was already coming up with several plans excitedly just to thwart his pitiful attempt at revenge.

“Yes, whatever. Clearly you’ve come a long way just to spite little ole me, hmm? What’s the big scheme this time, eh?”

“Oh, Doctor, how naive you are. You and I both know that a vortex shield resonator does no real damage.”

“Then what is the point of all this nonsense? All of those illusions and emotions from before, the effects of your Tardis’s psychic circuits no doubt. But why, how does such fit in with your delusional ideas of grandeur, hmm? Certainly a lot of effort to continue your infernal meddling.”

“No. You can keep the dimensional stabiliser of my Tardis, I’ve found a suitable alternative. All I needed for it to be complete is you. I’m done being a villain in your story. You’re not worth my time.”

The Doctor looked puzzled until the Monk pulled his companions up onto their hooves. He hoped to never hear their wretched voices again, the Daleks rolling out from the shadows to the Monk’s side. The Monk was just another part of the trap, the cackling villain for the perfect adventure. He’d believed it too, his need to explore and protect history playing right into their favour. Both Cosmic and T-Tauri went wide eyed, their screams muffled by their gags and the metallic hum of the Dalek machines.

“Hand over the Taranium core. Your companions will be exterminated unless you comply.” the black dommed Dalek commanded.

“Very well, I’ll hand over the Taranium core. But on my terms.”

“We could exterminate you now.”

“Yes, indeed. Indeed you could, but then you’d never get back the Taranium core, would you now, hmm? Would you?”

The two Daleks looked at one another, weighing their options.

“What are your terms?”

“You will release my companions to me, then the shield resonator. Bring both to a place of rendezvous, and hand them over at the same time. One and only one Dalek at the west angle of the Great Pyramid. Then you will follow me to my ship where I’ll retrieve the core. Is that understood?”

The Daleks didn’t respond.

“Is that UNDERSTOOD?”

“Understood.”

“Excellent.”

The Doctor walked away somberly, he had no choice but to give up the real Taranium. However he did have a backup plan, he’d watched the Monk carefully as he’d exited the room. The Monk himself wouldn’t budge but neither would his TARDIS. If he was just as ignorant as before then the doors were wide open. The pyramid was much easier to navigate without the Monk’s influence guiding him down a single path. He’d remembered the way that he came and there were several new entrances and hallways.

Travelling down them led him to some kind of morgue, the mummies still being prepared. As plain as day was the Monk’s ship, still disguised as an ancient altar from another civilization. He probably had it carried all the way here somehow after their last meeting. He quickly hid as the Monk came in through a second entrance. The Monk waited patiently until two Daleks arrived holding part of a much more bulky but sufficient dimensional stabiliser. The Daleks were nowhere near as advanced as the Timeponies but it would work in a pinch.

“Where’s the rest of it? This isn’t what we agreed on.”

“The transaction will be completed once the Taranium Core is delivered. Only then will you receive the other half.”

“And how am I responsible for the Doctor’s dimwitted actions? Our deal was for the Doctor, not the core.”

“Our terms are not negotiable.”

The two Daleks then left. Even when not around, the Dalek’s presence lingered.

“Stupid tin pepper pots.” The Monk scoffed.

The Monk then scurried off to wherever, his ship vulnerable. Opening up the doors it was obvious why, the interior as small as the exterior. Picking up a tool to extract mummy’s organs the Doctor got to work. Carefully he moved the rod inside and opened up a panel at the console’s base. He plucked out a small circuit board with the precision of lifting the sails of a ship in a bottle. It was the Monk’s directional unit, the part of the TARDIS’s navigation system that was malfunctioning in the Doctor’s own ship.

It was still small but the dimensional dilation should wear off soon enough. Pocketing the device it was time to attend his meeting. At the corner of the pyramid his companions were no longer tied up but had two Dalek gunsticks in their backs instead.

“We agreed upon one Dalek and one Dalek only.”

“We have brought the device as you asked. They will be dismissed when it is retrieved.”

The Doctor took the resonator from the Dalek's mechanical plunger. He didn’t actually want the resonator, he just didn’t want the Monk to have it.

“Follow me to my ship.”

The Doctor led them down as many backroads and alleyways as he possibly could. He knew that the Daleks would kill neither him nor his friends but not innocent bystanders. The less trouble the locals caused the better. Cosmic and T-Tauri didn’t say a word as they knew the severity of this negotiation. Unlocking the TARDIS he went inside and grabbed the core, staring at it as he sighed. Was he really going to do this, to just hand it over after so much had happened? All that effort, all the lives lost just to keep them away from the core, just to give it back in the end. If his plan worked then he’d finally be free, but he couldn’t help but wonder if he should’ve done this in the first place.

All that he’d done was delay the inevitable. He felt the directional unit in his pocket now that it had returned to its original size. One chance, that’s all he had, and then he’d be done for good. He walked out of the console room while holding the core.

“Proceed.” the Dalek commanded.

The Daleks knew about the forcefield this time so they wouldn’t exterminate him on sight. He placed the core down at the same second that his companions were by his side again. He quickly rushed them into the TARDIS before galloping to the console. He went underneath the mint green console and opened the same panel he did in the Monk’s ship.

“Phew, glad they’re finally out of our hair again. Say Doctor, how many fake Taranium cores do you have back there?” Cosmic asked jokingly to lighten the mood.

The Doctor stopped and looked up at both of them. One look was all they needed to know what had happened.

“Doctor, you didn’t.” said T-Tauri with a mixture of disappointment and anger.

“I had no choice but to give them the Taranium Core.”

“WHAT”

“However! However, I confiscated the Monk’s directional unit. Now that it’s installed I should be able to steer the ship to a precise degree.”

“Then why don’t we just go now? Get there before the Daleks do and obliterate them once and for all?”

“You see, the unit may not be compatible with my Tardis. Worst case scenario…the time rotor is overloaded and the ship is destroyed, with all of us in it.”

There was a solemn second of silence as his words hung in the air. Neither of his friends hesitated with their response.

“Do it.” they said in unison.

“If it’s us or the Daleks destroying everything that you tried to save, to trade my Equestria’s dictatorship for another that is exponentially worse, then I’d gladly lay my life down on the line. I’ve followed orders my entire life, shot without thinking, but I know that this is right. You’ve helped me see that this is right.”

“This isn’t just for us, this is for Shining Star. This is for Lavender.”

The Doctor slightly teared up as he turned to the console. Upon pressing the dematerialization switch a flash of white light enveloped the console room. The console smouldered as the iconic wheezing and groaning sped up faster and faster. The room appeared blurry as the TARDIS flew faster and faster down the time vortex. Finally, it stopped.

They’d landed but where and when? The replacement circuit was either burnt out or had damaged other of the ship’s systems. Everypony coughed as they looked up at the scanner, confirming their suspicions. They’d truly made it back to Kembel and not a moment too soon. The Doctor didn’t even want to look out at the jungle, once he left the TARDIS he just kept on walking.

He didn’t want to look down and know if he was walking past any more corpses, Dalek or Equestrian. He was so stuck in his bubble of vile anger that he didn’t tell his friends to stay in the ship. He didn’t even register them going after him or that they were there. Little did he know that he was walking right into a Dalek ambush.

“You will follow us.” barked the Dalek patrol leader.

He didn’t dare turn around, he knew that the Daleks wouldn’t hesitate to take his friends hostage or worse. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cosmic and T-Tauri hiding in the brush. The Doctor still didn’t move, holding onto that breath of relief. If they knew who he’d seen, showed even the slightest change that they could detect, then they’d be entangled in this too. Following along silently and obediently the Doctor was led back down to the Grove, this time with no cover. Each of the Dalek’s eyestalks were pointed at him, practically digging into his skin.

Hopefully his friends would be sensible and return back to the TARDIS. This was something that he had to himself and he had to do it alone. Promptly locked in a cell, the Doctor began to think. They had the Taranium core so there had to be a reason that he wasn’t immediately exterminated on sight. It had to be something that only he knew about, something that he-

“Psst! Quickly, while we still have the chance.” whispered T-Tauri.

The Doctor’s hearts sank as he heard her voice.

“You should be in the ship, why are you here?”

“Cosmic is freeing the other delegates in another block, on the other side of the building. Opaline seems to be long gone so that’s a plus. Some of my access codes haven’t been cancelled yet, now come on.”

The Doctor was hoisted back up onto his hooves once T-Tauri opened the iron gate.

“The labs are just down this way. The Time Destructor is being stored in there, now let’s go.”

T-Tauri was already getting ahead of him much to the Doctor’s protests.

“I absolutely refuse that you put yourself in harm's way, even for my benefit. I have this handled perfectly.”

“You were stuck in a prison cell.”

“I would have had the Daleks deliver me right to the Time Destructor. They obviously still need me. Now that I’m free the security will be on high alert, you can’t fight the Daleks. Not even one!”

“Well I’m here now and there’s no turning back, alright? Now are you going to destroy that thing properly or do I need to do it myself?”

The Doctor glared daggers at her, only now realising that she’d led him to their target. He looked up at the lab doors and then back at T-Tauri. With a huff he angrily shoved the doors open and walked right in. The Time Destructor was on full display, a machine shaped like an atom with dozens of rotating facets within the nucleus. It had a low glow to it as energy radiated through the Taranium core. He recognized it in an instant, realising just why the Daleks still needed him. It wasn’t identical to the Gallophreyan design, obviously hundreds of times larger to the near microscopic counterpart, but it operated on the same principle.

Every piece of time technology that the Timeponies developed featured this nucleus, the link between the user and time itself. All Timepony technology, even close facimillies, required the nucleus to be synced with a Timepony’s biodata. His people were always so high and mighty, so infuriatingly superior to others that they didn’t dare let others have their own technology. It was perfectly fit that they’d engineer it so that they were the only ones to have access to time itself.

“What are you waiting for? Destroy it and we’re home free.”

“I can’t…the second I touch it I will be synced to the device. Only my people can operate such a weapon.”

“You will activate the device.”

The Doctor jumped back a few steps as a swarm of Daleks surrounded them. T-Tauri obviously picked up a new gun along the way considering how much she was swinging it around. At best if he continued to hold the device his biodata would constantly be registered, giving him a few minutes rather than a few seconds.

“Do it or the mare dies.”

The Doctor quickly picked up the Time Destrcutor, several cogs and components slowly sliding into place. The clock had started ticking.

“Stay right where you are!”

“Exterminate.”

“STOP. As ideal as exterminating me is to you, you wouldn’t dare to damage your equipment, hmm?”

Not a single Dalek moved. T-Tauri was quickly picking up on what the Doctor was doing, both of them running faster than they ever had in their lives. In the meantime, the Doctor continued to fiddle with the destructor as if it were the universe’s most deadly Rubik’s Cube.

“What are you doing?” T-Tauri asked.

“Reversing the effects of the device. Should overload within a short range and destroy it.”

“Making the Daleks revert to sludge?”

“Precisely!”

They were lucky with each fall of a two tonne steel plate restricting another part of the facility. The oxygen was likely being sucked out once it did, a precaution to easily stop fires. They were so close, the TARDIS just in sight. Cosmic was already holding the door open for them too. Just one last twist and the entire process would be complete. Then T-Tauri tripped. The Time Destructor burst with artron energy as it reached the halfway stage. The second the device left his hooves it primed immediately, time literally slowing down around them.

Everything after that was somewhat of a blur. The Daleks tried to reach the device but were caught up in its field. Cosmic’s voice echoed like it was underwater, calling out to him as if it were miles away. Everything on Kembel had aged to dust. The plants, the Daleks, each other. In her last moments she pushed the last panel in place. No last words, no goodbyes, just one last act before she too became dust. As time rewound around him even that dust became nothing as it ceased to exist. In that moment between accelerated forwards and backwards time, Cosmic dragged him back into the ship as they both screamed.

The Daleks like the planet around them were reduced to a primordial state, life having yet to exist. The device exploded in a plume of black smoke, overloading from the strain. The wind outside the TARDIS howled across the rocky plains that was once the lush Kembel. It was finally all over. The Doctor gasped for air as Cosmic covered his mouth in shock. Thankfully due to his unique relation to time and longer age he was weaker but relatively safe.

“T-Tauri…” Cosmic choked out while stifling a sob.

“The Daleks are finally defeated, but at a terrible cost. Such a waste. Such a terrible waste.”

Already the Doctor was plotting their next course. Obviously the directional unit needed some repairs, best to switch the original back. Good thing too, the positronic stabiliser was practically jelly. Ah well, best to use it for scrap in the future. Actually if he melded it with the isometric vortex router he could-

“Doctor…?”

The Doctor blinked, remembering that Cosmic had just been standing there for the past five minutes.

“Yes, yes, what is it?”

Cosmic winced at the Doctor’s words.

“You really are an alien… aren’t you?”

“Well I, uh-”

“You’re really just sauntering off as if nothing happened? As if everypony survived. Everypony on Kembel, every bit of life on that planet except us is dead. Not just the Daleks but the delegates. The DELEGATES. You think that you even have the right to speak to me?”

The Doctor raised a hoof to comfort him but Cosmic just stepped back.

“No! Just…don’t, alright? T-Tauri Star… Shining Star… Lavender Decor. All of them died because of our negligence. T-Tauri is just gone and you’re not even phased by it? You said that you travelled for scientific and moral curiosity. Well has your curiosity been satisfied? Maybe that’s all we are to you, like all other ponies and life in the universe, we’re nothing. You take us on adventures like we’re fictional characters that are a part of your grand story. But we’re all living beings, we have lives. I don’t care what you think, because I’m done travelling with you. The next place we land I don’t care, I’m getting off.”

The Doctor didn’t say a word, he’d already said enough. Even with what little he’d said to him it was already far too much. Equestria, Canterlot, 966. How oddly poetic, ironic and cruel. The doors opened and Cosmic just stared at him with disappointment and disgust.

“Goodbye Doctor.”

With that, he left. The console room was empty now for the first time in a very long time. It was just him now, all alone. All alone because nopony truly understood the things that he had to do. He never wanted any of this, but maybe Cosmic was right in a way. Not even Susan truly understood the reasons behind his actions. Not Spark or Berry, oh how eager they were just to return to the life that he’d stolen them from, even with the adventures they’d shared. Frequency Wave was young but maybe she did understand, that’s likely why she left him. Now Cosmic too, perhaps he understood more than he ever did.

Perhaps it was time to return home, back to his own time and place on Gallophrey. He couldn’t though, he just couldn’t. He couldn’t even explain to himself why he couldn’t, there were no words to express why. The Doctor didn’t even bother putting in any coordinates, he just had to get away. He needed to get as far away as he possibly could from this location. It oddly felt like he’d come full circle, arriving in Canterlot during the 960s. There was a commotion of some kind going on outside of the ship but he didn’t care. He didn’t feel like he deserved to care. Maybe he didn’t deserve to see the place he’d called home for several months with Susan.

Right before dematerialization a young earth pony orange mare with a short purple mane and tail burst into the console room. Cosmic quickly followed behind, clearly trying to prevent her from entering. She looked around, stunned by the massive interior dimensions.

“Who are you?” the Doctor asked.

“I…I was just looking for a…lost and looking for police.”

The Doctor desperately tried to stop the TARDIS from taking off but it was too late. He couldn’t do this again, not now. He never wanted to do this again, to accidentally kidnap somepony from their life against their will. Though he truly wouldn’t be coming full circle if he didn’t. Just like how it all started, it was happening again. Only this time, rather than joy, all he could feel was an overwhelming sense of dread.

Chapter 39: The SMILE Files

Rain pitter-pattered against the window sill as it poured buckets outside. The old base would hold, the temporary walls may be made of paper but the exterior was as sturdy as ever. It had to be for all the older Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria, or SMILE for short, operations. This building used to be an institute for gifted unicorns before Celestia’s school. Twilight felt a bit of nostalgia for the brick and mortar building even though she’d barely spent any time here. She looked out at the rain as she waited. How long had it been since her last visit, ten years, fifteen? It finally felt like SMILE was in her past, Ponyville was her yesterday now. She quickly turned her head as somepony opened the door and closed their umbrella.

“Twily!” Shining Armor called out.

“You really just came all this way out for me?”

“Pfft, nah. It’s only halfway across Equestria.” Twilight said with a smile.

“C’mon, bring it in.”

Twilight pulled her brother in tightly for a hug. While she was here on Doctor business this still felt nice. Her brother had met nearly every Doctor, seen all of his different faces. Her brother probably knew more about him than anypony else. She could talk with him, he was the only other pony she knew she could.

“So, you mentioned Doctor business? Which one is it this time, old stallion or lunatic colt?”

“Heh, it’s a little bit more than that actually.”

Twilight pulled over a seat for him to sit down in. She filled him in on how the Doctor was and how desperately he needed her. How Radiance, her only source of answers, came out of the blue and vanished just as quickly. The path to solving this mystery was nothing but a greater trail of death and destruction. The image of that foreign planet coated in ash and disease still haunted her mind.

“Wow…I understand how you feel. That’s truly a lot to handle, but you’ve done so much already.”

“Yeah. That’s what Radience said before she last left. I can still handle this…probably.”

“No, not alone at least. This sounds big, bigger than normal I mean.”

“Bigger than full scale alien invasions?”

“Bigger than black holes teleporting us to other dimensions.”

“Speaking of which, I was hoping that you can help me look into that. I mean, eldritch beasts from beyond time and space aren’t common, but there’s got to be something.”

“Oh you’d be surprised. I took on the devil, remember? Back at that old camp called Devil’s End.”

“I thought you said that it took the form of the devil, not the actual thing.”

“A cult summoned it with rituals and sacrifices. I saw the goat horns and thought ‘close enough for me.’”

The two of them laughed together. Shining grunted as he heaved a dusty old box onto the nearest table. Twilight coughed as dust flew everywhere.

“Is it really safe to store top secret files out in the open? I mean, anypony can just walk right in and steal them.”

“The entire place is deemed a historical site. Tourists come and go while only we can actually get inside the ‘exhibits’. The cabinets probably have more monetary value than the actual files. By the way, how’s it feel not needing me to pull some strings for a pass?”

“Not as weird as this place being a museum of- what was it again?”

“Equestrian Innovations in Robotics. Technically not wrong given the amount of robots always showing up on our doorstep. Befriend any mechanical monsters lately?”

“Oh come on, that was one time and you know it! Actually, the Doctor left a tin dog on my doorstep ten years ago. Finally opened the box after all these years.”

“Finally stopped sulking about him, huh?”

Twilight rolled her eyes as they started digging through the old paperwork. She looked over the old documents on time experiments, many long before either of them had been born. Even though SMILE was established after the whole radio incident in 66, there were logs on events that had to be a thousand years old. There was a large temporal rift just dividing a large chunk of western Equus apparently, hidden in plain sight.

“How about this one? Starswirl’s old studies on temporal anomalies.” Shining said as he gave her a massive old book.

She flipped through it rapidly, giving it a quick skim over before something caught her eye. Apparently before his disappearance Starswirl was researching time dilation magic. She’d experienced his spell before but it only had a range of about a few weeks and for a few minutes. His notes clearly conveyed some more, something grander in the works. Before the research reached its final stages it just stopped. Rather, somepony stopped it. She expected the mentions of the Doctor, differing descriptions and all, but who was this other mare Hope?

Backtracking she looked deeper into the other related tests. Each and every single idea had some kind of interference. Sometimes it was the Doctor and sometimes it was Hope. However, while the Doctor merely persuaded Starswirl out of pursuing his studies, Hope just came and went taking everything with her. Hardly a word spoken between the two of them but he didn’t try again after her visits. Dozens of scrolls and spells just vanished into the night. It all traced back to one single experiment, one single idea, clairvoyance. Starswirl wanted to defend Equestria from every possible threat, and what was a better defence than seeing it before the idea crossed your enemy’s minds.

“Hey, come look at this.” Twilight said as she slid the book towards her brother.

“Huh, you said that the creature you saw was made of some kind of black mist?”

“Sort of, it was hard to look at. It was more like a starry night but all the stars were dim.”

“According to this, what you saw was a probability storm. You focus the eye on something and it shows you everything you want to see. They’re supposed to be incredibly small though, anything bigger than a dinner plate and things start to get…sticky.”

“No wonder whatever it was was locked away. How do we stop it?”

“It doesn’t exactly say. The spell hooks itself up to an object and drains the energy from it, some kind of strange force that keeps it existing. The spell just fizzles out once the energy is gone. The object is completely destroyed, so if it’s attached to a living being-”

“Then they die…or maybe the spell lasts until they die. What if there’s a constant supply of energy for an entire lifetime, maybe even several? If it’s powered for that long and trapped in a bubble, then what?”

“This is way beyond me, you were always my second expert on everything. Maybe a spell dampener, a shield. I don’t even think the entire forces of SMILE could create anything big enough though.”

Twilight groaned as she slumped down into her seat.

“Then what’s the point of all this? No matter what I do I just…I’m just not enough.”

“Hey, hey. You are the smartest pony that I’ve ever known.”

“Even more than the Doctor?”

“Don’t tell him I said this, but yes. You were so out of your depth when you first arrived at my work. The Doctor understands all of this, it’s a part of his world or lives. But you, you knew absolutely nothing. Yet you overcame, adapted and hit the ground running without a second thought. It takes somepony special to do all of that. Not to mention, you became an actual princess because of it! You got your wings for completing one of Starswirl’s spells, so what’s stopping you from doing it again?”

“Thank you. I keep being told that but I don’t believe it. I rarely seem to believe it now.”

“Hey, we’re gonna get through this. Just don’t go Twilynanas on me again, alright?”

“Pfft, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Not gonna bring up the salad incident again.”

Twilight’s eye twitched slightly alongside the war flashbacks of the salad. She simply laughed it off as she returned to the book.

“So, do you have anything on where some of these scrolls might be?”

“What’s left of them, yeah. Not much is left after all the thefts. I’ll take it, you'll take the front entrance to the library this time?”

“You just never let anything go, do you?”

“Nope. Gotta have some ammo somehow.”

“Like those old photos of band practice?”

“It was a phase that got me a wife and you a sister-in-law.”

Twilight smiled and stuck out her tongue. By now the rain had stopped and the sky was much less cloudy. Everything was packed neatly away as if it hadn’t been touched at all. Shining had to leave in order to catch his train back home, he wasn’t exactly meant to be here after all. This was just a quick pit stop on a diplomatic mission in the south. The place was quiet again, the place all to herself.

Looking over at the corner there was nothing but an empty space where the TARDIS once sat for years. She could tell exactly where it was as the dust never seemed to settle the same way. Even now she’d hoped that he wasn’t really in trouble and that magical blue Police Barn would materialise out of thin air. The Doctor’s TARDIS was back at her castle, the timepony was in deep trouble and she couldn’t just do nothing but hope. Her train ride was just as dull as the SMILE base, she’d seen the green hills roll by dozens of times.

The castle wasn’t much better either, the decorated halls still cold and empty. She’d head to the Canterlot library some other day, soon she’d be giving her first official lecture as a princess. Ever since she’d entered Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns she’d dreamed of being just as important as all the prestigious guest speakers at her school. She should feel proud even though it wasn’t something grand or special, just a discussion about cutie marks. Twilight didn’t feel excited about it, she didn’t feel depressed, just okay. The presentation was a week away but she always loved to destress through planning and organising.

The diary sat on the coffee table where she’d last left it. She could keep reading through it, that wasn’t as emotionally or mentally taxing, but was she really still helping? Twilight sat down as she picked up the book and helped it in her hooves. Maybe she was depressed, not just about the Doctor but also about being a princess. All she’d officially done since was smile and wave from a castle balcony. There was a reason for her to become a princess but no purpose for what came next. She was so used to rolling with the punches every time her life changed. From being a student to a traveller to Ponyville resident and then a princess, life just seemed slow now.

She was an Element of Harmony, the Element of Magic, but what did that mean to her? The thrill of adventure wasn’t the same anymore, her studies didn’t spark the same excitement that it once had. Is this the Twilight Sparkle that she wanted to be? No, she refused to wallow in self pity. She knew that she wasn’t completely useless all on her own.

While a small part of her didn’t believe in herself, the rest of her mind did. Her blank expression slowly faded into a smile as she nearly laughed from the absurdity of it all. There was no need to cry but tears welled up in her eyes anyway. She shouldn’t have to face this alone, not completely. Spike was probably somewhere deeper into the castle but not too far away. She tucked the book underneath her wing and wiped the tears from her eyes. Her friends were never too far away from her and for the first time in months, she finally felt glad that she needed their help.

Chapter 40 - Consequences

The surrounding area was lush and vibrant, the sound of forest animals echoing in the distance. It wasn’t quite a jungle, the air wasn’t as moist and sticky and yet everything was healthy. It was as if the TARDIS had materialised within the Garden of Eden. The environment contained all the beauty and essence of nature without all the downsides like heat, humidity or bloodthirsty mosquitoes. Stepping out of the ship was Petunia, the young orange mare who’d forced her way into the Police Barn mere moments ago. She was in awe of the world around her, picking up a loose flower before sneezing away the petals.

“Wait! You don’t know if it’s safe out there!” Cosmic called out as he rushed to her side.

“You need to be more careful, for all we know the atmosphere could be poisonous.”

“Poisonous? You can drop the act now. Bet you thought I didn’t know, didya? That’s a fun little trick you got there, magic portals and teleportation. Saw the same stage trick in Vanhoover, nearly seamless too.”

“Now wait just a minute, just where do you think you are?”

“Canterlot Gardens, just a few blocks down the street I think. At least you warmed this place up a bit, I was nearly freezing to death.”

“Now wait a moment, don’t wander off. What will you do when you get lost?”

“I’ll take a taxi back.”

“A taxi?!”

Cosmic was dumbstruck, the irony not lost on him. He’d once had the same kind of disbelief and yet here he was on the other side of the coin. While he was still angry with the Doctor, the last thing he wanted was for Petunia to be in harm’s way. Not far behind, the old stallion closed the doors to the ship. The Doctor wasn’t far behind but still maintained his distance. Where the two of them went he went.

He wasn’t sure what to say or do out of fear of making things worse. Cosmic and the Doctor had already parted on bad terms and things only seemed to be getting worse. He’d hardly noticed Petunia sniffling and sneezing while pushing aside the long grass. She stopped when she found the Tree of Harmony, the original heart of Harmony magic. Its crystalline branches sparkled like diamonds while the translucent lavender leaves whistled like wind chimes. It still held various stairways and rooms made of the same elegant material. Petunia had never seen the tree like this before, the rooms growing long after her time.

“Still think we’re in Canterlot, do you?” Cosmic asked snidely.

“Great, now it’ll take me forever to get back. Where did you take me, the Crystal Empire?”

“Now you realise that we’re not on Equus?”

“Of course we’re on Equus. Where else do you find something like this, the moon?”

Cosmic didn’t have much of an answer. The Doctor chuckled to himself though stopped when Cosmic side eyed him. She had a point though, maybe they’d only gone forwards in time instead of space. That’s what he believed until pulling back some more of the tall grass. Off in the distance he could see the skyline of a silvery city, much more advanced than anything he’d ever seen before. Though skyline wasn’t quite the right word given how the sky wasn’t actually real. It was a large lattice of steel girders that illuminated thousands of sky blue quadrants. It felt like a beacon of hope after so much loss.

“Marvellous, absolutely marvellous.”

Cosmic put a hoof on the Doctor’s shoulder and turned him around.

“Oh no you don’t, we’re going straight back into that ship of yours and take us right back where we were.”

“You think I’d endanger you two so carelessly? Curiosity or not I refuse to intentionally endanger the lives of somepony who is travelling with me unwillingly.”

“What about those who were willing? You let us travel with you not knowing whether or not we’d return. I hoped that you’d keep me and…us safe.”

The Doctor wanted to protest but didn’t, the important thing right now was getting Petunia home. Neither of them even noticed that she’d continued wandering off until tripping an alarm. Looking beneath her hoof Petunia saw a black and yellow chequered line that divided the forest and the pavement. Almost immediately several electric karts surrounded them with alien creatures at the wheel. They resembled dragons though were more aquatic with longer limbs, webbed claws and one eye. They each stepped out of their karts brandishing some kind of weapon. Petunia sat down and raised her hooves in the air like she was being arrested. Both Cosmic and the Doctor slowly turned their heads to her, decidedly not amused.

“We’re terribly sorry if we frightened you.” said the Chief Elder Alicorn Sonar.

“Normally only animals enter the perimeter so forgive us for the perceived hostility. How did you say that you arrived again?”

“With my ship, the TARDIS. Forgive me if I sound strange but we really are travellers from another time. We know nothing of your laws or civilization.”

“Oh I never doubted it. Equestrians dabbled with time experiments in the fifty second century, long before us though.”

“Have they now? Quite extraordinary.”

The Doctor was somewhat surprised by his reaction. The three of them had been welcomed into Sanctuary City, an entire ecosystem floating amongst the stars. There were several other Chief Elders, people chosen to be leaders of each respected race that once lived on Equus. After millions of years Equus was facing not only over-population but was also at risk of both magical and otherworldly threats on a near monthly basis. This ship was a contingency, an escape plan. The entirety of Equus was finally united at last after trials and tribulation, after wars and destruction. For once there was nopony pointing a gun in his face, trying to rule the world or both.

After being picked up from the forest’s edge they’d been given the express guided tour. They had ended in the master control room after seeing the magnificent wonders at the peak of Equus’s society. The control room was massive, screens the size of billboards curving around the silver ovaloid room. Each and everyone was displaying several metrics about their journey. They’d only just started their long journey ahead of them.

“How much longer do you have to go?” Cosmic asked.

“We will reach our new homeworld, Refusis II, in about seven hundred years time. It’s the closest world to Equus with the same living conditions.”

“Do you know what it’s like down there?”

“No, we only have the radio scans to off of.”

“That’s a very long time. How do you feed everypony for so long?” Petunia chimed in.

“Simple, we don’t. Not everypony at least. Ninety eight percent of the residents on this ship are shrunk down to a centimetre in size and kept in cryogenic stasis.”

“Woah…”

“Yes, that’s amazing and all, but we really should get going.” Cosmic huffed, his words oozing irritation.

“Awww, but I wanted to see the statue they were working on. I thought it was pretty gear.”

“It’s really no trouble. We’re building it with the methods of the ancients, a joint effort of the generations that will be finished once we reach Refusis II.”

“No, we really need to get going. Back to the Tardis.”

“Very well. Now where did you Monoid driver go off to?”

Returning back to the kart the alien, the Monoid, that drove them to the city was exactly where they’d left him. It was slumped over in its seat unresponsive. Sonar lightly tapped it on the shoulder and it fell over dead. The entire room gasped, the frenzied chatter becoming worse when Petunia sneezed again. The Doctor quickly moved into the center of the crowd to ease the tension.

“Now, now, there’s no need to panic. My er, companion, Petunia, here simply has a bit of a cold.” the Doctor said.

“What is this… cold you speak of?”

The Doctor was really nervous now. He’d accidentally brought an ancient disease from the past to a civilization that didn’t even have the words for it anymore. While Petunia’s body naturally had the right antibodies they had absolutely none. Even a simple cold such as this could prove to be as fatal as the Black Plague to not only the population who hadn't shrunk down, but to all of those in stasis as well. Sonar ordered them to be quarantined immediately, the Doctor having nothing more to say. For just a moment something was off about Sonar. While the signs were minute, to the Doctor it was obvious that Sonar was already infected.

Cosmic paced around the cell absolutely fuming. The Doctor had given Petunia a handkerchief to blow her nose with. Her sniffles were becoming fewer and further in between as she adjusted to the warmth of the city.

“Oh, this is all my fault. I don’t know what’s going on but I never should’ve left your magic box.”

“No, no my dear. If anything, this blunder is my responsibility and my responsibility alone. I have a duty of care for you both and I’ve failed you. Normally all of my companions are in good health when we travel, the ship makes sure of it. However you were already inflicted and there wasn’t enough time. It’s up to me to solve this.”

There was a screen in their room displaying their trial. An attendant came in, requesting that one of them come in for questioning on the stand. Cosmic looked back at the two of them without a second thought.

“I’ll go.”

The Doctor looked up at him in surprise.

“You’re absolutely certain?”

“Yes. I don’t think they’ll listen as much to either of you. Petunia has the cold and you brought it here, I’m just a third party along for the ride. And I know…I know that I shouldn’t be so harsh on you. It wasn’t your fault what happened back on Kembel, I was just in the heat of the moment.”

“I…thank you, Cosmic.”

Cosmic slightly smiled back at him. He was a bit surprised by the change of heart though he was right, he was still grieving too. Things would never be the same, but they would be better. The screen began to show the death toll once Cosmic left the room. Five Monoid deaths so far, all just innocent creatures caught in the crossfire. That hurt even more, they weren’t malicious, the Monoids even volunteered to help the Equusians in exchange for refuge as their home planet was lost in a war. Petunia gasped and leaned into the Doctor’s shoulder as the first Equusian death was announced. They both held hooves in comfort, but it was too late now. Finally Cosmic was brought up to the stand to testify.

“State your name for the record, please.”

“Cosmic Storm. Where’s your leader Sonar?”

“He’s fallen ill, just like the several other of us who are tasked with guarding the future of the colony. I, the Commander in Chief, stand in his place. My contention is that it was no mere accident that this disaster happened. Not only I but many others believe that you came here intentionally to spread the disease.”

“But that’s nonsense. I mean, can you-”

“It is believed that you are agents of the planet Refusis, towards which this spaceship is proceeding. That you came here to destroy us intentionally.”

“But why? We’re ponies, Equusians just like yourselves. Why should we?”

“There’s the crux of the matter. Do you expect us to believe this nonsense? That you managed, in that ridiculous machine called the Tardis, to travel through time? Guardians, Monoids, these beings whatever they are, place a heavy strain on our credulity.”

“Well that’s not very difficult! If your medical records are anything to go by, this era of time is far from being the most advanced in knowledge. In fact I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the worst!”

“We can cope with everything from the fifty seventh segment of Equus life, but not with strange diseases brought by you as agents of the planet Refusis!”

“Are you still on about that? I told you before, we know nothing of that planet!”

“My instinct, every fibre of my being tells me differently.”

“And that, unfortunately, tells me only one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That the nature of ponies, Equusians even in this day and age hasn’t altered at all. You still fear the unknown, like everypony before you.”

“That won’t stop me from coping with it.”

“How, by destroying us? By ejecting us into space?”

“If that is the voting of this hearing then yes. Cosmic, prove to us your good faith. Would your friend the Doctor have any knowledge on how to deal with this fever?”

“Yes, he probably would if you let him out of that cell and gave him the chance to experiment.”

“And we’d assist you, but how could we know that you wouldn’t spread the disease further?”

The jury broke out into a quiet murmur amongst one another. Meanwhile Cosmic wasn’t doing too hot, quite the opposite in fact. He was sweating bullets and not due to nerves.

“Is Cosmic going to be alright?” Petunia asked as she watched the broadcast.

“I hope so, my dear. I hope so. It’s possible that he may have a fever as well. I had assumed that he’d be somewhat immune but it’s worse than I suspected.”

The Commander in Chief slammed his gavel down to silence the jury.

“Listen. The Doctor and his companions have not denied that they brought the fever amongst us. They say that it was an accident, and perhaps I believe them. Put simply, if they were agents of the Refusisans then they wouldn’t admit guilt on the matter. However I am not convinced that they should be bereft of punishment. I will now leave a vote for you to decide the proper course of action.”

Several minutes went by as each member of the jury submitted their decisions. It was close, but a small margin agreed to expulsion. As the Monoids were the first to be struck by the virus it was they who would carry out the execution. It was then that Cosmic collapsed at the podium. The jury simply stared as two new guards were summoned in protective hazmat gear. Rather than being ejected immediately he was carried off back to the cell. At least they still believed in some kind of mercy. They were giving each other a chance to say goodbye before execution.

“How do you expect a fair trial when the defendant was ill, hmm? This trial’s legitimacy should be called into question, I demand it!” the Doctor spat angrily.

The computer monitor from before switched on, the Commander in Chief addressing him directly.

“The outcome of that trial was still determined that you should face some form of punishment. While a close margin preferred expulsion from the station, an overwhelming majority wished for some form of retribution.”

“Are you aware that you might be committing your entire community to a slow extinction? Trust me! Allow me, help me to find a new cure for this ailment of yours.”

The Commander in Chief sat in silence as he mulled over his options. The Doctor could only hope that he made the right decision. Before giving his final verdict, Sonar joined in the call from his quarantine quarters. He was clearly ill, barely even mustering the strength to speak.

“Wait. This is your commander speaking… I order you to release the travellers immediately. Allow them to fix their mistakes.”

Sonar then broke into a long coughing . Before his subordinate could respond he raised a hoof before continuing his appeal.

“Is it not in our nature to forgive? For ages our society has been built upon the principles of friendship and compassion. Is it not within those values to forgive? Do not make the same mistakes that our forefathers did by shutting the strangers out. Let the Doctor mend his mistake, that is all.”

Sonar then disconnected, leaving the Commander in Chief speechless. He took a moment to regain his composure before responding.

“You will be given full access to our facilities for research. However your friend, Cosmic Storm, must be used as the test subject to prevent further risk and maintain peace amongst the masses. That is all.”

The call was cut off and the screen returned to its original display.

“At last we are near the solution! Now, no time must be wasted. Apply a cold compress to the forehead, provide plenty of water and reduce the temperature of this room by about ten degrees.” the Doctor said, ordering the two attendants that were initially the guards to his cell.

The Doctor rapidly scribbled a list onto a pocket notebook he pulled from his jacket, tearing off a page and handing it to Petunia.

“Here, go out and gather samples from these specimens. Somepony out there should be able to show you the way. The elements present within these samples should be enough for a drug to assist in curing the illness, a vaccine of sorts if you will.”

Petunia silently nodded before leaving with the list. Over the course of the next hour the Doctor worked tirelessly on both examining Cosmic and stabilising his condition. A monoid came in with the requested resources alongside Petunia, helping to continue his research. The Monoids were actually quite intelligent though they didn’t express it through words. Apparently the cure had been lost nearly 40 million years ago in the primal wars of the 10th segment of time. Moving back to Cosmic the Doctor applied the medical patch, Cosmic’s condition improving after mere minutes.

“Don’t you need to inject the vaccine into his foreleg?” Petunia asked.

‘With a hypodermic needle? Gracious no, those went out a long time ago. Terribly inefficient. Now, we must administer the cure to all the others.”

“But what about Cosmic?”

“You can stay with him if you like, however I cannot simply sit by and waste valuable time now can I? He’s much stronger than the others as well. This shouldn’t take long at all.”

Petunia stayed behind while the Doctor helped to administer the vaccine. Eventually all of those who were afflicted, as well as those who were at risk, were given the proper immunities to fight the virus off. Already the conditions were improving by the time he finished. The Doctor happily trotted back into the main control room with confidence. He was positively exhausted but it was all with it. Today nopony else would die from his blunder. He took his time to apologise and reassure the others though there was still some resentment against him. Once Cosmic was in good enough health the three of them hopped back on an electric kart back to the ship.

“So will everyone be alright?” Petunia asked.

“Hopefully so. But no worries, we’ll get you back exactly where you need to be. I'm terribly sorry about this situation Cosmic, you didn’t deserve it.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. You made it right and that’s what matters.”

The three of them got into the ship and flew away, however it wasn’t all over yet. The TARDIS rematerialized back in the jungle again as if they’d never even left. However something had to have changed, he didn’t need the ship’s systems to tell him that he’d moved to some degree. Clearly being so far in the future must have had a negative impact on the temporal flight path. The Doctor poked his head out first, confused as to why he wasn’t back in 966. He’d even used the Fast Return switch again just in case the navigation systems were unreliable. Nothing appeared to have gone wrong, so what was different?

“We home yet?” Petunia asked, poking her head out of the TARDIS too.

The Doctor hmmed as he took a good look at the surrounding area.

“Most peculiar, most peculiar indeed.”

“Doctor, look, over here!”

“What is it, my dear?”

“It’s the statue, they’ve finished the statue.”

Looking up the regal statue towered over part of the forest canopy. It was of every sentient species on Equus standing tall, hoof in wing in claw. Only instead their heads were replaced with those of the Monoids. This was wrong, this was very wrong. He had very little knowledge of this era, however he could feel it. He’d changed the course of history and it was entirely his fault. Such a thing was supposed to be impossible on this scale, like making a river flow in the wrong direction.

“What have we done?” Cosmic asked in horror.

The Doctor didn’t answer, simply running to the edge of the forest. The city didn’t shine the same way, causing him to fear the worst. His friends could barely keep up with him despite being much younger. The alarm didn’t sound as he continued past the black and yellow lines, only more to worry about. The trek back to the city was the worst, seeing so much empty and barely functional. There weren’t cobwebs in the main control room but it was clearly in need of a good dusting. All the displays showed that they were nearly to Refusis.

Seven hundred years had passed since the last time they were here mere minutes ago. The Doctor switched between different feeds on the various monitors. The Monoids, once equals, now reigned over the Equusians with an iron claw. Ponies, Griffons, Yaks and all other races brought to their knees and carried out their every whim. All the while he couldn’t help but feel responsible for all of this. He hadn’t experienced this before, that landing somewhere could cause such dire consequences. Did all of his adventures have adverse effects?

“Uh, Doctor?” Cosmic asked, an electric cattle prod aimed directly at his face.

Turning around, the Doctor also found that the same was occurring for him.

“Take them to the Commander.” said one of the Monoids.

The Doctor was a bit surprised as he and his friends were taken away. The Monoids had barely spoken when he was last around, though the new collars around their necks likely had something to do with it. Instead of Sonar, upon a mighty golden throne sat a Monoid dressed in the regalia of several Equusian leaders.

“So, you are the Doctor our records spoke of.”

“You know who we are?” Petunia asked.

“Yes, while our ancestors were sceptical of your claims to travel through time, it’s hard to avoid the facts in front of me. Video recordings of your trial, alongside images of your barn have been stored in our archives for millennia. You’ve not aged a day since the great incident.”

“Is…that why you’re in power?” Cosmic asked hesitantly.

“In a way, it is. A mutated version of the virus returned and sapped the energy of those we once considered our equals. Their kindness quickly waned as they abused our generosity. Even their children scolded my people for not saving their parents. In response to a generation of animosity, we retaliated.”

“But the values of friendship, surely they can be kind again if you just talk it over.”

“While they may have spawned a great good in the past, they also spawn a terrible evil in their hearts. At least under subjugation their violent tendencies are subdued.”

“But it’s barbaric!”

“As were they. We will be gathering a surveillance party to travel down to the surface of Refusis. If you wish to come, you may, however there is only room for two of you. The last Equusian leader will be joining us, perhaps he and his chosen accomplice will show you their true danger.”

Cosmic was outraged, looking at the Doctor to back him up. He gave no response, a single look enough to silence him. Stepping forwards he felt the weight on his back growing, but he couldn’t wallow in self pity for long. He had work to do.

“We agree to your invitation. Is there truly no convincing you of a peaceful coexistence without subjugation? Cosmic here is right, observe your records. They offered forgiveness to us, could you not do the same for them?” the Doctor pleaded.

“It takes more than an apology to mend what happened, but we’ll see.”

The pod was rather small, only capable of holding six passengers at a time. The Monoid leader and Sonar each brought a plus one with the Doctor and Petunia joining them to the surface below. Both him and Cosmic knew that he could handle himself and not start any trouble. Sonar recognized them but didn’t say anything. He held his head down in shame, the once bright kindness and passion long since faded. Upon touchdown in a large clearing they could hear the cries of alien birds soaring beneath the teal blue sky. It was a serene, perfect paradise.

Looking around though this planet wasn’t quite the blank slate as they expected. They didn’t expect the perfectly sculpted pillars lining the arches of the massive circle. In the center was a much more lush area dotted by sparkly indo and violet flowers. The Doctor placed his hoof on one of the pillars, examining it closely. Clearly some civilization had existed hear ages ago,

“Magnificent, absolutely magnificent. Come here, my foal, come look at this.”

“Why? It’s just a bunch of old pillars.”

“Precisely, my foal! They’re old, potentially ancient, even. But wouldn’t something of such be in severe disrepair? It’s old. Weathered, but not in disrepair.”

“But I thought Refusis was uninhabited.”

“No, they used radio scans to study the conditions of this planet.”

“Then where is everypony?”

The Monoid activated his weapon, Sonar’s companion lying on the ground. The Doctor rushed to him to observe their condition. Besides them was a large broken tool not too dissimilar to a scythe, dropped when he held it.

“Now you know why the Equusians must be subdued. You can’t turn your backs on them without fear of attack.” said the Monoid leader bluntly.

“Would you say the same to your ancestors? They retaliated the same as your people once did. You simply fear the worst of them just as they once feared you.”

“This is different.”

Only now did Sonar finally find the courage to speak. Tears welled up in his eyes as centuries of anguish finally broke through.

“How DARE you say that! After all this time I acknowledge that what we did to you was wrong. I’ve been trying to guide them towards the path of acceptance, but we were only at our worst. We were dying, we lost so much. I’m ashamed of what my race has done, that we failed to represent our world. Please, just give us a chance.”

“How can you be forgiven for all that your race has done?! For decades we were nothing but slaves to you. You yourself were there, you could’ve done more!”

“You claim to speak on the behalf of your people, to comment on anguish of which has not been experienced for centuries!”

The Monoid leader tried to strangle Sonar but halted before he could do so. He didn’t do it of his own will, he was thrown to the ground by some kind of invisible force. Sonar opened his eyes, still wincing on instinct.

“That’s quite enough.” said a booming voice around them.

“Ah, the Refusians I take it. Where are you, hmm?” said the Doctor.

“Right in front of you. The Refusians, as you call us, lost our physical forms long ago. Our consciousness is all that survives alongside our abodes. I’ve simply transposed my will to your position.”

“The Equusians and Monoids wish to inhabit this planet, for their own are near inhospitable or gone. What are your intentions, allow them to coexist peacefully or send them on their way?”

“We’re open to new inhabitants, however we do have one condition. We wish to coexist peacefully without war or conflict. While we can influence our surroundings to a degree we cannot build, cannot create. We maintain all that is left of us and wish for no malice to taint our memories.”

“Ah. Now to you few, maybe I am unable to convince you myself, but unless you settle your differences this cycle of rebellion and servitude will continue. To break it you must do one simple thing: make peace with one another. A long time ago, your ancestors accepted responsibility for one another. Though due to my interference you were weak, broken and divided. The Monoids were treated as outcasts and slaves, so it’s no wonder that given the chance they repaid you in kind. You know my dear friend Cosmic told me that you mustn't solely focus on the past follies, but to make up for your mistakes through action.

Build a better future for yourselves and the generations to come, for the follies of your ancestors are not your own. Now, if you’re all willing I believe it’s time to negotiate your eh, living arrangements, eh?”

Fortunately the two of them actually decided to settle things peacefully. They talked for what felt like hours, roaming around the marble halls of the ancient city. He did his best to provide a few ideas though mainly stayed out of the conversation unless prompted. Somehow being here, influencing things with his presence didn’t sit right with him. Did all of his adventures end like this, where the places he saved only got worse instead of better? The TimePonies had protected the web of time for an eternity and here he was, throwing a spanner in the works of it. The trip on the pod back was a bit hazy, as well as the journey back to the TARDIS. It was almost as if in a blink of an eye he was back in the ship sitting in the wicker chair.

“Doctor…? Are you sure that you’re alright?” Petunia asked.

“Hmm? Oh yes, yes of course my foal. Whatever would give you the idea that I’m not?”

“Well…you’ve just been well…distant. Ever since Refusis you’ve hardly spoken a word to either of us.”

It couldn’t have been that long. Sure he’d had a couple of moments like this in the past but it couldn’t be that bad. He was just tired, stressed from the whole ordeal. The Doctor just went back to his controls and got to work on the dematerialization. Their flight path seemed to be smooth sailing, right on course for 966. Cosmic was concerned though Petunia was looking at some of the Doctor’s old knick knacks that he kept in a chest in the lab alcove.

“Oooo, look at this. Looks pretty fab, doesn’t it?” Petunia said, adjusting an old red cap on her head.

Before he could say anything the Doctor sneezed.

“Don’t tell me you’re catching a cold now too, are you? Doctor…?” Cosmic joked before drifting into concern.

“Hmm? Yes, what is it?”

“Doctor… you’ve vanished,” said Petunia.

“What are you talking about? I’m right in front of you.”

“I can’t see you, you’re completely invisible.”

“Then this means one thing and one thing only, the ship is under attack by a force beyond thought, a force beyond comprehension. We are in more danger than we’ve ever been before.”

Chapter 41 - The Eternal Game

The Doctor wandered around the console, still invisible. He couldn’t move any of the controls, his hooves just phasing right through them. They were stuck with very limited options.

“If being here is what’s causing this, then why not just leave?” Cosmic asked.

“I can’t. Not only has this force registered me as invisible but also intangible.”

“Then let me fly the Tardis. Tell me which buttons to push and I’ll do it.”

“Quite impossible. Not only is the ship incredibly complex, but the controls aside from the basic functions are purely configured to me.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?” asked Petunia.

“Turn on the scanner, gather our bearings. Cosmic, you remember the switch.”

Cosmic simply nodded, flipping the scanner on from the console. Cosmic flipped it on and off several times but nothing happened. It powered on but no picture appeared on it.

“Must be malfunctioning like everything else in your ship.” Cosmic snarked.

“No, no, it’s too dark. If the scanner weren’t on it wouldn’t be as black as this. The scanner is simply displaying what is outside.”

“So there’s absolutely nothing outside?”

“Precisely. There’s only one thing for it, then. We must leave the Tardis.”

“But isn’t that-”

“Don’t argue with me, my colt. Npw, open the doors for me and come along.”

Cosmic did so, the Doctor walking out into the empty black abyss. Looking around he saw that he was both visible and tangible again. The void wasn’t completely empty as the scanner depicted. All around them were massive white orbs with screens floating for miles around them. Cosmic and Petunia marvelled at such a sight, the whole realm giving off an uneasy aura.

“Doctor, you’re back again!” Petunia exclaimed.

“Get back from here, this realm is impossibly dangerous. Stay as close to the ship as possible.” the Doctor warned her.

One of the orbs quickly rushed over to Cosmic, stopping mere inches from his face. Cosmic was transfixed with the screen, as if it were staring into his very soul. Several other orbs followed suit, completely surrounding them. Their screens switched on simultaneously, momentarily displaying nothing but static before the picture became clear. A jungle, full of fluffy white plants with deadly black barbs. The screens shifted, a barren wasteland of a dying unnamed world. Again, the city perched upon stilts miles above the treetops.

“My memories. They’re all displaying my memories, my past adventures with you. Our past.” Cosmic gawked.

The screens switched their focus to Petunia. A silver city, Canterlot, the hallway of a hospital long ago. Petunia stood frozen as she looked at the screens, taking several steps back as she held back tears.

“That’s…that’s the day my mother died.”

“Quickly, back in the ship!”

It was too late now. The orbs quickly rushed away as the black sky swirled. A purple and gray mass spiralled into existence, an eye opening up as the draconequus unravelled themselves into this strange existence. They were a massive serpent with the dark gray scales of a dragon layered to look like stone bricks. They had the face of a purple pony, a rattlesnake tail made of marbles and horns like that of a jester’s hat. They casually floated down before them, never raising their voice as they exuded immense powers without a single word. His cold and calm smile alone sent chills down their spines.

“Ah, the good Doctor and his travelling companions. I was hoping that you’d be within the grasp of my realm eventually.”

“Yes. Heard of me from your free brethren, have you?”

“Oh, Discord? You graced his territory once with your petty scuffle with those tin pepper pots. Barely even a passing thought to him in those days but I kept you in mind. You’re just so intriguing to me, so unusual. I just had to invite you over.”

“Then why didn’t you do it yourself? Instead you lure us out, but why?” Cosmic asked.

“I have my rules as all of my kind do. Discord, as you say, is only ‘free’ as his rules are bound by the laws of chaos. Discord has no rules, no laws but one: that of inconsistency, spontaneity and fun. I am fun in a different way, he shuffles the order while I simply play. I am the lord of it, after all.”

“You’re the Lord of Play, then? If the Lord of Chaos is Discord, then who are you?”

“Call me Sport. Short for Old Sport, New Sport, Good Sport, Bad Sport and all other Sports in between. A simple game is all I’m after. I can’t just start a game with anyone, I need to offer an invitation. Only those who accept my ‘invitation’ can enter my realm.”

“Ah, so that’s why you played your little trick on me, hmm? I was close enough to your realm in the vortex for you to influence us in the slightest of the manors. You’re a spider, and I refuse to be the fly caught in your web any longer. Back into the ship you two.” said the Doctor indignantly.

Turning around the Doctor didn’t just see one TARDIS but hundreds, thousands upon millions even. Row after row the line continued on as it faded into the distance. The number of Police Barns could probably be as infinite as Sport’s domain. Some were slightly different in shape and color, while others were nearly indistinguishable from the real article.

“Oh, but which one, Doctor? We could play a guessing game of find the Tardis is the barnstack, oooooooooor, you beat me and claim your prized ship back. Seems fair, doesn’t it?”

“Why are you doing this?” Petunia cried.

“For a simple fact only: I’m bored. There’s nopony left in the universe who wants to play with me now. Back in my heyday creatures of all kinds would wander into my domain. Not anymore though, all my toys and tricks are too dull and useless without a fresh audience. The Doctor has lived a long and fulfilling life, much longer than most. A seasoned mind is just what I need, finally someone interesting to play with!”

A several story chessboard materialised into existence, each piece another Police Barn. Sport grabbed two pawns from the board and shook them in his spindly claws like gambling dice.

“You always did like playing ‘games’, didn’t you? You play the hero to each and every one of your pawns. You collect them like trading cards, all to add to your collection to play out your fantastical adventures.”

Sport tossed the two pawns at the Doctor, their clatter echoing in the void. The Doctor staggered backwards when he saw the heads of the pawns, Lavender and T-Tauri’s faces at their moments of death. He was mortified, but Sport simply laughed as the pieces evaporated into thin air.

“Oh, what fun this will be! All I need is for you to accept my challenge.”

“And what if I refuse?”

“Then you lose by default. You forfeit the Tardis, your freedom, and your companions will be my new toys for all the remaining eternities in existence. It’s your choice.”

That was a complete lie, what kind of choice did he have? It was either agree to play and have a chance to win or face a fate worse than death. The second he agreed he found himself in a new endless white void. Moving forwards a massive screen came into view displaying his previous position. Getting closer he could make out a massive dollhouse alongside Sport hunched over the screen’s controls. Noticing the Doctor, Sport looked up and eagerly waved at him.

“Ah, ready to play, are you?” Sport said condescendingly.

“You and I know that I had no meaningful choice in the matter.”

“Of course, of course. Come here, let me show you how your game works.”

A large vertical white slab arose from the ground, morphing into two boards with an array of pegs in them. A giant counter sat above a chess clock that counted down ten seconds each.

“The Tetralogic Game?”

“The Tetralogic Game, Doctor. A game for the astute mind, difficult for the average and impossible for the weak or lazy.”

“Are you implying that my mind has become weak?”

“Or merely lazy. They say that travel broadens the mind, though perhaps yours has proved otherwise.”

“How dare you.”

“You know how to play, then? Let me save you the embarrassment of your answer. You have 1,480 different pieces to use at your disposal. Arranging any part of those pieces in a line will eliminate the line from the board. You have ten seconds to place your piece, then it’s my turn. We continue until a winner is declared. To win you simply have to place all of your pieces so that your board is completely empty by the end of the game. And do so before me, of course.”

“Quite simple, eh? And what of Cosmic and Petunia?”

“They’re playing the offence, or defence depending on your perspective.”

“You can’t be serious, I absolutely refuse!”

“Now Doctor, you aren’t in any position to refuse anything. They may not be playing our game, but a difficult game nonetheless. I’ve sent in two of my old toys ahead of time to act as their opponents. The first of many, shall they succeed. It’s also in their prerogative to finish their games before ours is concluded, else they lose and become my toys as well. Quite exciting for the extra entertainment.”

The Doctor simply scowled at Sport before looking back up at the screen. His companions were both confused, looking for him as the games began.

“It’s no use calling out for him, Petunia, the Doctor’s not invisible this time. He’s gone somewhere else entirely.”

“Well we can’t just stand around and do nothing, now can we? Maybe he’s in one of these Police Barns.”

“No, you heard what Sport said. We’d be here all day if there’s truly the Tardis anywhere out there.”

“Or you could play with us instead.”

Both Cosmic and Petunia jumped, not expecting anypony behind them. There were two clowns, one tall and lanky while the other was short and fat. They were like dolls, their fur the texture of felt and buttons in place of their eyes. Cosmic guarded Petunia instinctively, approaching the clowns first. The tall one offered a hoof to shake which Cosmic did so reluctantly. Cosmic was startled when the clown’s hoof came off with a pop, the real one coming back out of the sleeve. At least Petunia seemed to be laughing at the absurdity. The tall one only honked in response, unable to talk.

“You should’ve seen the look on your face.” Petunia said through muffled laughter.

“Well I didn’t find that very funny. This isn’t all fun and games you know.”

“But that’s exactly what this is! Over here!” the small clown called out.

Several stage lights switched on, illuminating the path to the new structure. It was a large obstacle course that seemed impossible without defying the laws of gravity. Next to it was a small glass booth with a big red button inside. The clowns cartwheeled around it, the circus music was nearly audible from their energy alone. Petunia had calmed down though was still uneasy.

“We play for a Tardis. Is it yours? We don’t know. Come on, let’s play, play, play!”

The other clown honked again. Cosmic looked back at Petunia then up at the course.

“I don’t like this at all. Those clowns…something’s not right with them.” Petunia whispered.

“There isn’t a part of this domain that isn’t wrong.”

“No, I mean- just listen to them. It’s all forced. Maybe…maybe they were just like us.”

“Don’t think like that, they’re just another of Sport’s creations. They’re meant to make you think that way. They aren’t real.”

Petunia looked back at the clowns, hoping that Cosmic was right. She jumped back as the tall clown appeared out of nowhere. He honked in her face, though his expression was permanently sad. His face was painted on unlike the other clown, the reason he couldn’t talk. Said other clown suddenly poked her head from over her commrad’s shoulder.

“Blind Man’s Bluff”

“Huh?”

“That’s our game! Blind Man’s Bluff. We each get a turn on the course. You fall off, you lose, simple really.”

The tall clown handed Cosmic one of the two blindfolds. Looking over the course he tried to memorise the layout. Meanwhile the other clown ushered Petunia into the glass booth.

“One button press to start or stop, two for left and three for right. Simple, really.”

“Uh, okay?”

Once Cosmic was blindfolded at the starting position, Petunia pushed the button to start the game. Swinging across a rope, up several sideways stairs defying gravity, across a mobius strip of a plank and down a plastic tunnel. Neither of the clowns did anything, the usually talkative one not saying a word as she sat behind Petunia. In the booth Petunia carefully guided Cosmic as best as she could around the course. At the end Cosmic took off his blindfold and turned to his opponent.

“There, it's your turn now.”

The clown honked while the seats in the booth rotated to switch places. Something wasn’t right with how the clowns played. The movements were just a little too quick and confident, but neither Cosmic nor Petunia could prove anything.

“So, we just keep going until somepony falls?” Cosmic asked.

The clown, again, honked in response. Cosmic was getting tired of them already.

“Right, not much of a talker. My turn again then.”

Cosmic started the course again, only this time the tall clown was much more active. He moved elements of the course around and honked after the buzzer sounded. Cosmic was losing his balance left, right and center. He was barely managing to make it across amidst the confusion and changing layout.

“Cheat, Cheat! You absolute cheat! Cosmic, get out of there!”

“He can’t hear yooooou. This box is completely soundproof.”

The last straw was the tube tunnel, moved while Cosmic was inside it. He ended up off of the obstacle course, Cosmic ripping of the blindfold in anger. He was ready to test just how durable this doll-like clown was when he saw a blindfold on the floor. It was the one the other clown had used, discarded while meddling. Petunia ran out of the booth and saw it too, picking it up and holding it to the light. The fabric was much thinner that the other and could easily be seen through.

“You cheated.”

It was as if a gong rang out through the entire domain. Those two words were like a gunshot to the two clowns. Neither of them were smiling anymore, now trembling in fear as the atmosphere became denser and heavier.

Time stopped around Sport and the Doctor. Sport’s entire demeanour changed as he felt it, the clowns breaking his great sacred rule. The Doctor noticed how time slowed down around him, the clocks not completely frozen as they ticked down the ten second turn. They were still neck and neck at 1,338 pieces each, but Sport wasn’t slowing down time for an advantage. A portal opened up to the other void, Sport moving past the Doctor’s near-frozen friends and to the clowns. He simply whispered something in their ears and a tear rolled down each of the clown’s faces.

Sport went back through the portal and everything returned to normal. At least as normal as they were before. Gameplay continued, Sport and the Doctor going back and forth again.

“Your pawns giving you trouble?” the Doctor asked snidely.

“Nothing I can’t control, as you know.”

Three more pieces, two more lines cleared.

“I’m not quite so weak and lazy as you may suggest, hmm?”

“But you are old, TimePony. How old are you now?”

“And how is that in your interest?”

“Because you know that your time is limited. How long have you been the grandfather, the teacher, the wandering traveller? It’s impressive, your lifestyle for a young TimePony. But an old one?”

Several more lines, several more pieces.

“If this is your attempt to distract me then I advise you to find other means than referring to my age.”

“Struck a nerve, have I? Face it, your time is limited.”

The Doctor nearly made a mistake, placing a piece in the wrong orientation. He silently let out a sigh of relief. He could do this, he just had to stay focused. Cosmic and Petunia were still on the screen and he feared what they might have to face next.

The clowns stood up straight, the tall one taking Cosmic’s blindfold. Cosmic was about to protest but noticed how unsettled both clowns were.They started the course over again like zombies, their smiles and cheer replaced by genuine sadness. Across the rope, up the steps, the tall clown’s movements were uneasy. Crossing the plank, the clowns were noticeably crying. The tall clown fell, the two of them collapsing where they stood.

They weren’t dead, they ceased being alive in the first place. The buzzer rang out as the clown doll in the booth laid against it. Cosmic put his hoof around Petunia, comforting her.

“Did…did we kill them?” Petunia asked.

“No, they’re just dolls. Sport gave them life and now he took it away.”

“That’s horrible. But…they were genuinely sad and afraid. Why would Sport allow them to feel sad?”

“It doesn’t matter now…it was them or us. Come on, there’s a Police Barn over there. Let’s see if it’s the Tardis.”

The box was bigger on the inside but not by much. It was just a slightly larger wooden box with two sets of double doors. It was obviously cobbled together quite hastily, a middle zone between games.

“Well, there’s no use in staying here. The Doctor’s probably nearly done with his game.” said Cosmic.

“You think so?”

“At least when it comes to logical stuff he’s very intelligent. He’s the smartest stallion in the room, to an insufferable extent sometimes.”

“Then why did you travel with him if he’s so insufferable?”

Cosmic paused before he responded.

“Let’s…not get caught up in that. We need to finish these games as soon as possible. The sooner we finish the sooner we can leave.”

Petunia lightly sighed while Cosmic exited the fake TARDIS. Outside was a large light up disco floor. The grid of large panels switched between on and off in a checkerboard pattern as music played in the background. When the music stopped the entire board lit up, displaying their next opponents. It was a king and a queen, dressed in regal white robes and furs. They were eerie, just staring out at them unblinking. Just like the clowns earlier they were as stiff and still as zombies, as if their souls hadn’t been turned on yet. In a split second they sprang to life, stepping forwards with a pompous yet joyful heir about them.

“Well how do you do!” said the King. “So you’re Cosmic and Petunia? What a joy to finally meet you in the flesh.”

“Yes, we’re gonna have oodles of fun together.” said the Queen.

“Right… so, what game are we playing?” Cosmic asked.

“Musical checkers!” exclaimed the King.

“Musical checkers?” asked Petunia.

“Musical checkers!” replied the Queen.

“Well, uh, how do we play musical checkers?”

“We move to the music, but only step on the glowing spaces. First team to be kinged rules the kingdom.”

“And uh. What happens when we step on the wrong square?”

“The end, you lose. I thought you’d know that.”

“Oh. If uh, if you don’t mind me asking, what are your names?”

“I am the king.”

“And I am the queen.”

“And together we rule the kingdom.”

“N-no, I meant-”

“Come on, Petunia. Let’s just get this over with.” Cosmic grumbled.

Cosmic dragged Petunia onto and across the disco dance board after the music started. Petunia couldn’t help but watch as the King and Queen danced so cheerfully, so happily from square to square. Petunia tried her best to keep up, but that feeling that she’d possibly be condemning her opponents made her limbs heavy with guilt. Petunia nearly stopped on the wrong square as the music ended. The silence seemed to be going on for an eternity. She couldn’t help herself, she quickly turned to the regal royals and nearly stepped off the square.

“Why?! Why are you so happy and cheerful and, and-”

“Whatever do you mean, darling? We’re only playing a game, is that not reason enough?” the Queen responded dryly.

“N-no…this isn’t who you are, I know it isn’t. Maybe, just maybe if we work together we can all be free!”

“Petunia!”

“Now don’t you start, Cosmic. You know as well as I do that that could be us. They were just like us once, alive! Real living, breathing ponies with hopes and dreams.”

“Petunia, that's enough.”

“Have you no sympathy? No compassion, no heart, not even shame? We have to…we have to do something.”

“Petunia, if we lose then we lose everything.”

“Is that really all you can think about?”

Tears rolled down Petunia’s face as the music started back up again. What little joy the King and Queen had was gone now. They were switched off again, moving like drones to the beat of the song. Petunia fought Cosmic across the dance board, the entire void turning red. The two of them stopped and looked over at the King and Queen. Neither of them had noticed that the two royals in their silky white regalia had ceased to move. The King and Queen turned to them and faintly smiled, the square they were standing on now red.

“Remember us.” the King and Queen whispered.

Cosmic and Petunia closed their eyes, not wanting to know what was happening. When they opened them again there were two chess pieces on the floor in their place. Petunia rushed over to the chess pieces, barely able to keep it together. Cosmic had nothing to say to her, just helping her along on her wobbly legs. Another Police Barn had appeared on the other side of the board, though it was another fake. Petunia punched the wooden walls in anger, falling to the floor as she could no longer stand. Cosmic approached her but she held up a hoof.

“No,no… just, whatever you have to say, whatever justifications or excuses or I-”

Petunia stopped and took in a deep breath to calm herself.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“That was a close one, wasn’t it? I wasn’t expecting my little chess pieces to have a little change of heart. Perhaps I should’ve used the Heart family instead, such ruthless playing cards.”

Sport shrugged, pressing a button to drop in another piece. The Doctor had a slight advantage, having surpassed Sport in both line and piece usage several turns ago. The Doctor simply humfed in response, not wanting to give Sport the satisfaction from gloating. Secretly he was scared, he could still hear Petunia crying. He was supposed to be keeping her safe and getting her home.

“No snide remarks? Well, I wasn’t expecting much anyway. So, they’re at the last of their games. Time to up the ante, shall we? Those previous pairs clearly couldn’t conform to character, or maybe they conformed too well. Ah well, you can’t win ‘em all.”

“You claim to control your toys, yet they still act against you. Do you really have total control over this domain?”

That was a step too far. Sport may have been smiling but he was truly seething with rage. He gave him that stare again, that look that made his hair stand on end. It tapped into that primal urge to run away in fear against better judgement.

“You won’t be laughing when your pawns are mine to play with. How about a player who’s ‘personality’ matches their motives and morality. Someone who is ruthless, willing to bend the rules but not break them. A trickster, bent solely on winning. Is there anything more fitting than an ‘innocent’ little school colt?”

A large porcelain doll floated across the air. Its face and features were blank asides from the old school uniform and cap. Off it went into the ether, awaiting Cosmic and Petunia for their final game.

“Bye, bye, little toy. Let’s see your friends try to beat that little rapscallion.”

Sport laughed, completely confident that he’d won.

Petunia was burnt out, having cried for the past five minutes. She was nearly ready to give up, but she still got up and moved along. Cosmic still wanted to say something but decided against it. One last game board, this one the grandest of them all. Plenty of floating triangular panels, a toy robot stretching miles into the sky and the TARDIS straight ahead. Fifteen triangles marked the path, each of them numbered. The toy robot held a massive screen displaying the words Tardis Hopscotch in bright bold lettering.

“Hello there.”

Petunia jumped back, the off-white stallion straightening his big bowtie.

“Do any of you ever announce your presence or do you just appear out of the shadows?” Petunia asked sarcastically.

“I come and go as I please. It’s not my fault you don’t pay attention. I’m Cymbal, my friends call me Billy, not like you’d know.”

Neither of them could really get a word in. Cymbal was talking at a million words a minute, barely stopping for a breath.

“You’re oh so brave, Mr.Cosmic. I want to be just like you when I grow up.”

“Grow..up?” Cosmic cringed, looking at the adult Cymbal.

“I know, I look very mature for my age. I won’t be going easy on you though, this game is very exciting.”

“Uh huh. Alright, give us the rules.”

“You just roll the dice and move that many spaces. It’s quite-”

“Simple, we know.”

“You don’t need to be so rude. And here I thought I was being kind by letting you go first.”

“But you-”

“Go on, just roll the dice.”

Three triangle boxes drifted down, each with a die in them. Cosmic rolled a six and Petunia rolled a four.

“Oh, and I nearly forgot to tell you. If you pass someone while moving spaces the other has to start over.”

“Ah, so that’s why you let us go first. Great.”

Just as Cosmic turned his back, Cymbal launched a rock into the back of Cosmic’s head. Cosmic was completely done, ready to deck Cymbal with no hesitation.

“Leave it, he’s not worth it. Besides, we don’t know what happens when you leave your space.” Petunia sighed while rolling her eyes.

“Very smart of you. My turn now.”

Cymbal huffed as he rolled a three. Hopping from space to space he smirked, digging to his pockets. Petunia rolled her eyes as he tapped him on the shoulder. She jumped back, nearly slipping off of the space instinctively. Cymbal was inches from her face while wearing an ugly mask. She slapped him across the face, the mask falling into the void. It was immediately electrified, burnt to a crisp.

“Now you’re trying my patience. Don’t think for a second I won’t deal with you myself.” Petunia threatened.

“You’re such a meanie. Anyway, it’s your time. Chop chop Mrs.Party Pooper.”

The die box poked her in the face, Petunia staring daggers into Cymbal. Cosmic had already moved four spaces away, looking over in concern. She rolled a one. With an exacerbated sigh she hopped the one space forwards. Even worse, Cymbal rolled a four and could pass her. He even side checked her while passing over her space.

“Back to the start for you.” he taunted.

“It’s fine, I’m already a few spaces away.” Cosmic called out.

Cosmic rolled a three, the ship just in reach. Unbeknownst to any of them, Cymbal pulled a small salt shaker out of his pocket. He lightly sprinkled the space with it while their backs were turned. Cymbal eyed Cosmic, the only thing standing in his way of victory. Cymbal rolled a four, secretly spreading the powder on every space he touched. While Petunia was taking her turn Cymbal pulled a bag of sweets out of his pocket.

Cosmic ignored the first time one of the candie hit him, then the second, and the third. Then the entire bag hit him, the wrapped candies slightly spilling over the space. He quickly picked up the bag ready to spike it at him, but then he stopped. Cosmic took a deep breath and did nothing, he just kept the bag of sweets.

“Aww, c’mon, can I at least have those back?”

Cosmic ignored him while Petunia was about to roll.

“I thought you were a hero, not some loser who lets their friends die.”

Petunia stopped, realizing that a line had been crossed. Cosmic still didn’t say anything, continuing to ignore him.

“So you’re a coward too. Can’t even stand up for yourself, can you?”

Cymbal looked around him, expecting some kind of reaction but getting none.

“Say something, will ya?! I’m insulting you. At least look at me alright? Look at me!”

Cymbal stomped and pouted, throwing a childish tantrum. He held back tears, throwing whatever he had in his pockets at Cosmic to get his attention. All of the pity for him had been completely exhausted, they were done. Instead they just stared at him, letting Cymbal wind himself up. With all of his stomping and yelling he’d completely forgotten about the powder he placed on his own space. Only Petunia showed any care for him as he fell, fell down into the electrified abyss. There was nothing down there, just broken porcelain.

“What…what happened to him?” Petunia asked, somewhat numb from the shock.

“I don’t know. He just…slipped. I can’t quite see but I think he put something on the spaces.”

“Well uh, we might as well finish the game I guess.”

Petunia finally rolled, moving forwards five spaces. Cosmic rolled a three, making his way to the TARDIS. The triangle shimmered for a moment, an invisible bubble popping around it. It was some kind of force field likely to prevent cheating. Cosmic placed an ear against the Police Barn, hearing the telltale hum.

“Is it the real one?”

“Seems like this, the other ones didn’t hum or vibrate like this one. I think you can come over now. Here, let me help you so you don’t sleep.”

Cosmic flew over to Petunia, picking her up and carrying her to the ship. Once they were both on the triangle it swung around to reveal the Doctor and Sport. The Doctor had one piece left, time slowing to a literal crawl as he hugged his companions.

“Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. I never should’ve let you leave the ship. I’m so sorry.”

Sport slowly clapped, each clap echoing infinitely into the void.

“Well done, honestly I shouldn’t be surprised given how rusty my pawns are.”

“Oh stuff it you rotten lump. We played by your rules and beat you fair and square.” Petunia retorted.

Sport chuckled at that, still calm despite his apparent defeat.

“Go on then, Doctor. Make your last move.”

The Doctor’s smile faded, realising that Sport had one last ace up his sleeve.

“Is everything alright?” Cosmic asked.

“No. Sport, you were always full of tricks, weren’t you? Right from the very start I should’ve known.”

“Who, me? I haven’t a devious bone in my body. Scout’s honor.”

“Hmmph, the nerve. If I win this game the whole realm is destroyed, or some other method that results in my demise, hmm?”

“Oh, right on the ticket. Now I don’t make the rules, I just follow them. But yes, every time I lose my realm goes poof into the ether. A clean slate, if you will. I’ve gotten bored of this one anyway. There’s still four seconds on the clock, as slow as they may be. I slowed it down just for you, just for the fear and drama and tension. Make your move and win, oooor you forfeit your move and I drop my remaining pieces into place and I win. We can play so many more games afterwards, think of all the possibilities!”

“No.”

“No?”

“No. Just, no.”

The Doctor and his friends went into the TARDIS and attempted to leave. Despite his intentions the ship just refused to dematerialize. The Doctor came back out again, infuriated from the situation.

“Stop meddling with my ship!”

Sport just rolled his eyes and shook his head in disapproval.

“Doctor, doctor, doctor. Deciding to not decide is still a decision. Your ship is smart, it knew that if you tried to leave that it would mean an automatic forfeit. Unless your forelegs are made of rubber I suggest you make the real decision.”

The Doctor went up to the button, looking it over. Three seconds were left on the clock, there had to be another way. He had an idea as he went back into the console room. He went to the small side lab and started rummaging through the old bric a brac. He picked up an old rusty six-way pipe connector, feeling its weight in his hoof.

“Doctor, what are you-”

“How good is your aim?” the Doctor asked, cutting off Cosmic.

“Uh-”

“This is absolutely vital. How good can you throw?”

Cosmic thought for a moment as he caught onto the plan. He had one shot at this, it had to be perfect. The Doctor stood by the console while Cosmic opened the barn doors. The Doctor silently whispered a countdown, both of them at the ready. Sport looked confused, only realising until it was too late.

“NOW!”

Cosmic lugged the hefty piece of pipework through the air. The button shattered when it hid, chunks of plastic flying as the game controls were smashed. At the same time the ship dematerialised, the final piece descending into place. When the last of the pieces dissipated so did the realm in a massive burst of energy. The TARDIS lunged forwards from the blast, but otherwise everypony was safe. They all sighed as a large weight was lifted off of their shoulders.

“I never want to do anything like that ever again. All those poor ponies, if all of them really were ponies once.” Petunia said while slumping into a wooden chair.

“For you that’s a guarantee. Unfortunately I feel as though Sport and I have some unfinished business.”

“But we escaped him, didn’t we? We beat him.”

“Yes, but Sport is, as you say, a rather sore loser.”

Everypony laughed at that.

“Well, if it’s any consolation we got some free candy out of this. One of Sport’s cronies chucked it at my head.”

The Doctor took the bag of sweets and smiled, unwrapping one of the saltwater taffies.

“Ah, one last ‘gift’ from Sport, eh?”

The Doctor bit down on the candy, suddenly wracked with an excruciating pain. He dropped the candies on the floor and clutched his face in agony. The TARDIS finally landed but not in 966. The explosion of energy had propelled the ship too far and now they were somewhere else entirely. It seemed that getting Petunia home would have to wait for another day.

Chapter 42 - The Last Chance Saloon

The TARDIS materialised in another junkyard, this one much more rustic. The Doctor stepped out of the ship still clutching his face. He sat down on an old apple crate that threatened to give in. He’d never felt this kind of pain ever in his life. Cosmic and Petunia soon followed, rolling their eyes.

“You chipped a tooth, yet you’re acting like you got stabbed,” said Petunia.

“I’ve never been so accosted. How was I to know they were painted rocks instead of candy? In all my years I’ve never experienced such pain.” the Doctor groaned, his speech muffled so as to not exacerbate the pain.

“We’ll get you to a dentist, get your tooth fixed and be on our way.” Cosmic replied.

“Where are we, anyway?”

Now looking around Cosmic and Petunia nearly exploded with joy. Oak wood wagons, tumbleweeds and a big saloon just across the street. The town looked straight out of a classic western, only this was the genuine article. One stop to the TARDIS wardrobe later and both of them were dressed in full western attire.

“Why ah do say, there ain’t no gunner like Cosmic Regret.” said Cosmic with an exaggerated accent.

“And ain’t I a pretty piece ah Petunia Pie.” said Petunia with a little curtsy of her white-laced dress.

“Yes, yes, now quit messing around and help me to this ‘dentist office’. And throw that toy gun back where you found it. This isn’t some major motion picture, guns of any kind are more than a mere commodity in this day and age. Only small regions of Griffon territory manufactured them and they’re highly illegal until the 22nd century.”

“Fine, fine.” Cosmic sighed while tossing the toy pistol on a chair back in the console room.

“Can we at least have a look around before we go?”

“Yes, go ahead. But remember, the past can be dangerous. No movie quotes, no quips or gaudy overplayed accents, got it?”

“Great, it’s like going to the bar with your teacher.” Petunia groaned.

“Then let me teach you this: the past is not a theme park. Stay safe.”

“Yes Mr.Doctor, will do Mr.Doctor.”

The pair made their way into the saloon,piano music filling the street. The Doctor continued down the road to the building with the large wooden tooth sign. He was already nervous beforehand but the primitive nature of the place made things worse. An old blueish grey stallion approached him from the front desk.

“Welcome to Holiday’s Daily Dental, how may I help you?”

“I have a chipped tooth that needs taking care of.”

Alright then, sit down, sit down.” Holiday said as he gestured to the operation chair.

After sitting down Holiday quickly swung the chair around, only causing the Doctor more pain. Horrifyingly Holiday reached for a pair of tweezers first.

“Ah, forgive me, but could you apply some anaesthetic first to numb the pain?”

“Well, ah don’t know what this antiseptic is but I can give you a swig of moonshine.”

“Oh heavens no, I abhor alcohol.”

“It’s either that, I beat you over the head or nothing. Open wide, sir.”

The Doctor was already crying before the operation had started. Meanwhile back at the saloon, Cosmic and Petunia were having the time of their lives. The bar was busy and the pianist was playing for all the dancing ponies between drinks. It was finally the break they needed. Cosmic was rather hesitant to try anything, given how most things probably weren’t clean or good for their health and that they couldn’t pay for it. Petunia however was already bringing two drinks to the table, goading Cosmic into trying one for fun. Then a pair of stallions walked in, one silver and the other gold. The music stopped as everypony went quiet. The only noise was their hoofsteps and the creaking of the aged floor boards.

“We heard there were a couple of new ponies in town. Just wanted to give a warm welcome.” said the silver stallion.

“Yeah, Silvy here is feeling a bit under the weather. We heard there was a Doctor on call?” said the other stallion.

Cosmic nearly choked on his drink, coughing and gagging at the taste. The two newcomers approached him while three others watched the door. They eyed him and Petunia up and down like a vulture watching their prey. Cosmic took in a deep breath before being able to speak again.

“Can I uh… help you two?”

“That depends. From the look of ya, I’d say you know just the old stallion we’re looking for. What do you think, Golden?”

There was the snap of a revolver, now loaded and pointed straight at Cosmic’s head. Cosmic slowly raised his hooves in the air.

“The Doc should know his friends are here. The second you see him, make sure he doesn’t get away this time. As for you two, we’re bored. The pianist and singers have fled, so you’ll just have to do it. Go on.” said Golden.

Nervously stumbling out of their seats Petunia sat down at the windup piano first. She flipped to the last song that was meant to be played, not sure exactly how the thing worked. Thankfully said song was already ready to go.

“Uh, here we go. The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon?” Petunia squeaked, her voice cracking.

“Let’s hope the piano knows it. Play, maestro.” Cosmic said through a forced smile.

Petunia cranked the piano and hoped for the best.

“With rings on their hooves
And bells in their manes
The mares come to Tombstone
During sunshine and rain.
They’ll dance one the tables
Or give you a tune,
For whatever’s in your wallet
At the Last Chance Saloon.”

Cosmic switched pages during a short musical interlude. Looking down the barrel of a gun only made him sing harder.

“It’s your last chance of giving,
It’s your last chance of rye.
It’s your LAST CHANCE AT LIVING!
AND YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DIE!
It’s your last chance of boozing,
Where there’s no one to mind.
It’s your last chance of losing and the first place you find.
Four days ride from the station,
And you’re leaving at noon,
And your one consultation
Is the last chance saloon.

Back at the dentist office the Doctor was rubbing his jaw once the bleeding stopped. Holiday was observing the tooth that he’d pulled out inquisitively.

“Well I’ll be. Now that’s a fine piece of ivory if I’ve ever seen it. Never seen quite pearly whites before. Gonna be a pretty penny.”

The Doctor merely groaned in response.

“Oh quit your fussin’ uh, what was your name again?”

“Hmph, simply the Doctor.”

“The Doctor, you say? Nice to meet another medic in town. This place needs another Doc with all them thugs running wild.”

“Yes, yes, well I’ll-”

“Now the last thing I want is a fellow medical professional such as yourself face them thugs empty hoofed. I got this ol’ hunk of junk for myself but I want you to have it.”

“Goodness gracious me, this is highly-”

“Now it’s not loaded, can’t even be fired by ponies. A relic, really. Now you just keep that in your coat pocket and best be on your merry way.”

While the Doctor tried to refuse, Holiday shoved the busted pistol in his hooves and shoved him out the door. He should’ve just tossed it away but decided to drop by the saloon first. He figured his friends were still sensible enough to stay in one place without getting into too much trouble.

“With rings on their hooves and bells one their- now look, fellas. I’ve sung this song four times now.”

“Well then sing it again!” yelled the gun wielding crowd.

“Can’t we at least sing another song?”

Petunia looked up at Cosmic and just slowly nodded her head no.

“Once more then. With ri-”

That was when the Doctor entered, every gun in the room now pointed at him. Golden and Silvy quickly went to his side, rather forcefully grabbing his forelegs.

“Well, well, well, if it ain’t the Doc himself.” said Silvy with a smirk.

“I ah, I don’t believe we’ve been acquainted before.”

“You really think that after the deal in Calamity? I’m Golden, he’s Silvy. Nopony forgets the Sterling brothers.”

“The Sterling brothers, oh dear, I mean how do you do, hmm?”

“So, recognize the name, do ya, eh Holiday?”

“Ah, I see the misunderstanding. My friends and I are simply travellers visiting from another town. I just returned from the local dentistry before our next destination down the road.”

“Your office, no doubt. Is that not the very same gun you whacked me over the head with?”

“No,no, simply- so that’s why he insisted I have it. You can have it if you wish, then we’ll simply leave and go about our business.”

Nopony dared to take the gun from him. If anything that only made the situation even more tense.

“You’re tellin’ us that you’re carrying one of Holiday’s guns, just came from Holiday’s Daily Dentistry, and are also called a Doctor, yet you aren’t Holiday? Oh you must think we’re stark raving loonies to believe any of that nonsense. Oh we’ll let you leave alright, not alive that is.”

In the blink of an eye both the Sterling brothers and his three goons hid their guns as the sheriff walked in. The orange stallion simply straightened his hat and scratched his brown moustache while his golden badge gleamed on his bright blue vest. The Doctor wasn’t sure who to fear more, these thugs or the sheriff.

“I heard some youngins were causing a little trouble down in this fine establishment. What seems to be the trouble?”

“Nothing wrong, Mr.Applewood. Holiday here just scamped out on an old bill. Just thought we’d come to collect his debt.” replied Gold through gritted teeth.

“Well now that just won’t do at all. You two, his assistants, go and fetch the payment these gentlefolk desire. As for you Holiday, come with me. I have a few questions to ask you.”

The Doctor didn’t try to correct Applewood. The sheriff simply tipped his hat goodbye before escorting the bewildered TimePony down to his office. Rather than immediately sticking him in a cell, Applewood gestured to the seat across from his desk. He sat down while the sheriff hung up his hat. He sat down while the sheriff hung up his hat.

“I know you aren’t Holiday. I’m not like those thick headed buffoons who think they own this town from the shadows. I just wanted to get you and your two friends out to safety. Personally I know what kind of stallion Holiday is, but outlaw or not everypony at least deserves a second chance.”

“Ah, I see. Tell me about him, this Doc Holiday.”

“He’s not really a medical doctor, that’s just his title. The Gun Doctor, they called him, ex griffon arms dealer, or so we thought. We’ve had suspicions about him picking up where he left off, though we haven’t been able to gather any evidence to take to trial.”

“And the Sterling brothers?”

“His last deal. Some small town hicks who bit off more than they could chew. Said he tried to ignore them but kept on following him. He says he’s retired ‘cause of them, but I don’t believe a word of it. Many of us believe he’s just laying low, has some stock hidden somewhere in that office.”

“And your part in this?”

“I’m just doing my job. They say that the town’s called Tombstone because it’s where you come to die, but I don’t believe that. The civilians don’t want the crooks here and the crooks don’t want to stay here, yet there’s a lot of politics on redemption and such.”

“Can you ensure both my own and my friends safety?”

“You don’t belong here. I’ve never seen somepony hold a gun without firing it before ‘till you came along. I can tell you got a good heart. I can’t promise nothing but I can do my best. Wasn’t I supposed to be the one asking the questions?”

“Yes. But it appears that you already have all the answers, hmm?”

Cosmic walked through the door first, Petunia poking her head in afterwards. The dentist office was completely empty with no Doc Holiday in sight. It looked like he’d closed up shop for good considering the office was wiped clean. There was a safe behind the counter that was empty too, the Sterlings weren’t going to be happy about this. Innocent or not they were only going to get caught in the crossfire. A gun clicked, a crimson mare pointing one at them.

“Not one move. One move and it’s lights out.”

“Uh, you with Holiday or Sterling?” Petunia asked sheepishly.

Holiday came bumbling in, answering her question for her.

“If any leftover inventory is missing, you get the idea.”

Holiday removed several of the floor boards and pulled out several unmodified griffon artillery. He made sure that every last piece was accounted for, securing it in a potato sack before placing the boards back in.

“Everything clear?”

“Yes, dear. Not a single screw out of place. However, there is the odd round in the back.”

“Good, good. Now what to do with these two.”

“I’d guess since my ‘doppelganger’ is still in jail, the Sterlings are probably on their way here for the short change. Lock ‘em in the back. Give the Sterlings something to satisfy their bloodlust with.”

Cosmic and Petunia tried to protest but Holiday’s partner quickly shut them up. They were both forcibly walked into the closet behind the counter with the door slammed shut in their faces. With the telltale click they were locked inside.

“Pleasure doing business with ya.” Holiday and his partner said in unison.

Once gone the pair sprung into action. There was nothing immediately apparent other than a few loose bullet casings and a mostly melted lit candle.

“Anything?” Cosmic asked while shuffling through some crates.

“Not really, just some loose string and some paper.” replied Petunia while closing several drawers.

“Hang on a minute, I got an idea. Why don’t we blow the lock off with some bullets and a match? I saw that in a movie once.”

“And this isn’t a movie.”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

Cosmic didn’t, and as such, the lock was loaded with at least ten bullets of gunpowder wrapped in a scrap of paper. The subsequent bang didn’t unlock the door, though it did crack the door. With a few swift bucks to the door the lock separated enough for them to open the door. Cosmic ignored his friend’s snide remarks, going straight for the junkyard. A bullet went right over his head, knocking his hat clean off. Thankfully he wasn’t hurt but he couldn’t see where the shot came from. He grabbed Petunia and dived behind some crates, making sure she got to the TARDIS.

He pulled on the door but remembered that it was locked. A bullet bounced right of the exterior’s wooden shell as if it were rubber. The ship’s doors unlocked on their own, neither of them questioning how. Petunia sighed, closing the doors behind her. They were safe in there, but without the Doctor they were sitting ducks. Petunia pushed the toy gun off of the chair to slump into. Hearing it fall to the floor Cosmic had a very stupid idea.

The Doctor sighed, stuck in a cell. It wasn’t locked, in fact he could leave whenever he liked. However this was the safest place in the building. The walls were stone instead of wood and the only window was barred, too high and small for anypony to get in or out. He didn’t doubt that the Sterlings would be stupid enough to try and break in despite their fear of Sheriff Applewood. Even if they didn’t, the second he stepped outside the Sterlings could gun him down in seconds. He had to be precise, not draw attention to himself. That didn’t stop Cosmic from looking in and getting the Doctor’s attention.

“Goodness gracious me, just what do you think you’re doing?”

“Breaking you out. The Sterlings raided Holiday’s place and now they’re coming for you. Use this to bluff your way out or something. Good luck!”

“But Cosmic! Blast, the infernal colt.” the Doctor huffed, picking the toy gun up off the floor.

The thing was dark purple with a neon orange barrel. He cursed himself for ever showing Susan this thing. There was no way he could even think about bluffing his way out, the very thought morally appalling.

“Just what in tarnation is that butt ugly atrocity you’ve got in your hooves?” the Sheriff asked, closing the door behind him.

“My friend seems to have had the wrong idea. You know I’m appalled by such weaponry, only ponies seem to keep handing me guns. Here.”

The Doctor tossed the toy to him, the Sheriff surprised when a foam bullet shot him in the face.

“Keep that away from your eyes. Now, he said that the Sterlings are on their way. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were completely surrounded.”

“Now worries, they just made their last mistake. Somepony just fired a gun. And considering their squabble with an ‘alleged’ ex arms dealer, nopony in town owning any guns, and perhaps testimony from those at the Last Chance Saloon, I’d say that gives enough credibility for an investigation. There’s only five of them, and they can’t take on all of us. My guys down Baker Street might be small, but they certainly can handle their own.”

“You can’t just gun down a few ruffians!”

“Who said anything about guns?”

The Sheriff left the hall, the Sterlings all in a row across the main road out of Tombstone. A light breeze came through, a single tumbleweed drifting by. The Doctor almost expected the Sheriff to say the town wasn’t big enough for the two of them.

“Give us Holiday. You’re a stallion of the law, surely you understand that those who do wrong must face justice!” yelled Silvy.

“You’ve got the wrong stallion. The one you’re looking for just skipped town if my deputies haven’t caught him already.”

“Old stallion, dressed all fancy-like? He don’t seem the Tombstone type.”

“Well nopony really is. He don’t cause any trouble here, just passing through. So I suggest you do the same since this is your only warning.”

The Sterling brothers and their sidekicks simply laughed. The Sheriff just shrugged and turned around, walking away from them. Before anypony could react, four pies flew over the Sheriff’s head and hit several of Sterling's gang. The Doctor had no idea how to react as what was once few became an absolute barrage of baked goods slung at the once confident outlaws. The best he could come up with was somewhere between confusion and amusement before quickly ducking to semi-safety. It almost felt like a waste of pastries if it weren’t equally as impressive. The Doctor didn’t look back, avoiding any pie filling stains on his black blazer.

Out of sheer childish joy he even got the chance to throw a pie himself. He laughed to himself before a foam bullet hit him in the back of the head. Turning around Cosmic was there with the toy, gesturing for him to follow.

“How absolutely and wonderfully absurd! I believed that ponies throwing pies in battle was an absolute comical farce.”

“Better than a gun to the face for sure. C’mon, Petunia’s back in the Tardis.”

Both Cosmic and the Doctor laughed as they reentered the ship. The Doctor winced, the place where his tooth had been still a bit swollen and sore. He might have licked the boysenberry pie filling off of his hooves if Cosmic and Petunia weren’t present. Instead he wiped them clean with a hanky before returning to the console.

“Are you two done having fun without me?” Petunia asked snidely.

“Oh, like you’d want to go parading around the Badlands with a neon toy pistol.”

“While pies fly majestically through the air? Count me in.”

“Oh hush you two, I’m trying to concentrate on getting Petunia home.”

“Can you really control this ship at all? Most of the time it seems like we just land somewhere at random.”

“Of course I can, we simply arrive in places within a higher margin of error.”

“Yeah, right.” said Petunia with a roll of her eyes.

“Hmph, piloting the Tardis is a delicate process. Besides, ninety five percent of the universe is either Hydrogen gas or the vacuum of space. If our arrivals were truly random then it’s a miracle we ever landed on a planet at all, hmm? Like I said, within a margin of error. I’ve never even landed on a planet that wasn’t completely inhospitable.”

“Eh, I’ve got a few examples against you.” replied Cosmic.

The Doctor ignored him, setting the precise coordinates. He went underneath the console to observe the circuitry, making note of what needed repairing. Most of it he didn’t think he really needed most of that junk anyway. Backup fluid links, one of seven vortex buffers, flight-path vector generator, he didn’t need to see other ships in the vortex anyway. After stashing a few burnt out circuits in his pockets he nearly bumped his head on the console as he came back up, returning to the various controls. His old ship could still last for a long while without being serviced, that was for sure. He was almost getting used to piloting the TARDIS, not that he’d admit that to anyone.

The time rotor descended one last time, the wheezing of the TARDIS engines ceasing. Looking over the readouts the year was 966, about a few hours to a day since he’d first met Petunia. Wherever they had landed exhibited identical attributes to that of Equus. He instinctively opened the doors before approaching Petunia, not sure if he was ready to do this all over again. It was so much fun, the past few adventures, but he had to let them go. Not just Petunia but Cosmic too. Cosmic was still right, he’d still put his friends in danger despite the best of his intentions. If he didn’t stop them now, then he wouldn’t until it was too late.

“Now Petunia, I know that our time has been brief, however-”

The Doctor didn’t get a chance to finish, Petunia pulling him in for a hug. He hugged back, rubbing her head as he held her.

“I know, I understand. I’ll be careful what Police Barns I step into from now on. Don’t want to end up on another planet without you.”

Cosmic poke his head out of the doors and checked outside. The Doctor approached him, still not entirely sure what to say. He wanted to do it right this time, to end things on a good note. He reached out and placed a hoof on Cosmic’s back, only now just looking out at the scenery. The Doctor’s smile faded as he looked out onto the grassy landscape. A dry valley full of loose rocks and boulders surrounded the much more lively landscape. In the center of the ring was a city with all the unique features of Canterlot. In fact it was almost an exact replica of the city had it not been built into a mountain. It smelled like Equus, the fauna could only grow on Equus, and yet the landscape was completely different.

It was as if Canterlot had been lifted right out of the ground and placed into some large and barren quarry. The yearometer wasn’t on the blink, he’d fixed it himself long ago. They were at the right time but obviously in the wrong place. He’d gotten it wrong again.

“Uh, guys? Where are we?” Cosmic asked.

“I haven’t the faintest idea, and I’m sure that we shouldn’t find out.”

Chapter 43 - The Beginning of the End

Radiance struggled to keep control of her TARDIS as it crashed through several temporal barriers. Everything atom of the interior was vibrating and reverberating to the point that it threatened their stability. She took a deep sigh of relief once the commotion stopped. She thought that was the cloister bells ringing but it wasn’t. It sounded like the loud chime of a grandfather clock in reverse, booming five times before it stopped. More than almost anywhere else in all of time and space she was not meant to be here. After taking a step out of her ship it was hard to see anything. Every bit of light refracted and distorted into multiple colors all around her. The sky was the same, looking like an oil spill with the way it shone a vast array of unnatural hues. It was as if every surface were a prism and it made Radiance sick.

Down the hill was what looked to be a city, but on closer inspection it was only the illusion of one. There were only three unique buildings repeated in a number of positions and orientations with roads often leading to nowhere. Spatial distortion to the nth degree. Every inch of this place made Radiance’s skin crawl. Swallowing the urge to vomit she continued forwards into the distortion. This was where she’d end up at some point, or maybe now she never would. This was where the coordinates from one of the largest libraries in the universe had taken her. She was looking for her own grave and here it was, a place lost in her past life’s remaining memories.

Once entering the vast corridors she attempted to find her way. Her hoofsteps echoed as the hallways warped around her. Whispers echoed around her as the room went cold. It was hard to tell if it was in her imagination or insanity until she saw it, or rather her. It wasn’t quite clear as the figure was hard to look at. Radiance didn’t believe in ghosts though there was one standing in front of her.

She was standing in front of a sign written in Gallophreyan with a Ponish translation beneath. The figure was a temporal spectre, a result of the local distortion. It was worse than she thought, the distortion was not only of space but also of time. Getting closer, Radiance could hear it mumbling to itself, its voice crackling like through an old speaker.

“You can do this, you can do this, you can do this. Just…tell her. It’s just a very,very,very…a few more verys dangerous gift. It’ll be fine.” the spectre said, mimicking opening a door as it walked through the wall.

Radiance took in several deep breaths as her hearts raced. On closer inspection the wall was vibrating, the sign too. With a laboured breath she forced her way through the semi-existent entryway. The other side of the door flickered between two different parts of the wall. This whole facility was two potentials eternally duking it out in this one corner of space and time. Radiance was drenched in sweat, passing through the potentials like that was somewhat fatal for time sensitive beings such as herself.

“Look, we’ve been travelling together for like, two years now and I just…you’re my best friend in all of creation. Just tell her that, okay?”

Looking up the spectre was standing in front of some kind of desk, most of it warped and rotten away. The room was spinning, Radiance couldn’t be here. She just had to know what happened here, what happened to her and her best friend. She grunted and got up, making sure she wasn’t dead already. Her left heart was a little fast but otherwise she was unscathed. Another spectre almost walked right through her to join with the other. The two of them were becoming clearer, more familiar.

“Oh my Sparkle. It’s the most beautifamaztastical thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not a real word.”

“Is too. Why doesn’t it look like an amiibo?”

A bright ball of energy about twenty feet wide was the center of the distortion. It shone in colors not even perceptible to any living being. This room was her workshop, the facility wrapped around this chunk of cauterised time. It was the scar tissue left behind when two or more timelines touched, the echo of a battle between realities. Radiance found herself slowly being dragged towards it as she tried to approach the dilapidated workbench. Her own history was seeking her out, trying to reabsorb her into the competing continuities. Soo there was nothing, then everything as the distortion swallowed her whole.

“You can do this, you can do this, you can do this.” Hedley repeated to herself, attempting to boost her confidence.

“Just…tell her how you feel. All you’re doing is giving her potentially the most dangerous gift in the universe, no problem. It’s all going to be fine.”

Hedley quickly turned around when she thought she heard some kind of voice. She felt her blood run cold for a fraction of a second, passing as quickly as it came. Shrugging it off she looked back up at the sign to her workshop.

“I’m talking to myself again. They do say it’s the first sign of madness.”

Hedley sighed, walking through the door. She started organising her tools as that often kept her mind busy. Prism could be waiting for her outside any minute. She went over the maths, double checked the blueprints and her sums just to make sure everything was right. Something was missing, something that was staring her right in the face but she couldn’t see it. Opening a drawer she pulled out a hollo-graph frame with her and Prism in it, propping it up on the desk.

“Look…we’ve been travelling for like, two years now? It’s just…when we met I was still so full of myself, all high and regal like all TimePonies are. But you changed me, helped me see that there were more important things to life than the laws that my people imposed on me. I’ve become a better person, and I have you to thank for that. You’re my best friend in all of creation. Just… tell her that to her face.”

“Should I uh, leave you two alone?” asked Prism.

“RASSILON! W- h-how did you get in here? There’s like, I can’t even list how many security protocols there are.”

“You forget, I still got yo house keys.” Prism giggled while fanning out several key cards.

“You…after all this time you still frighten me.”

“Awww, you flatter me so. So, what’s the tea, the juice, the big cheese?”

“Huh?”

“The surprise, dummy. You had a whole speech about it didn’t you?”

“Right…since you already heard all that, I might as well just show you: this.”

Hedley slid back a curtain surrounding the surprise. It was a large hexagonal room about twenty feet in width, the exterior white and teal like Prism’s ice cream cart. Prism’s eyes sparkled as she walked around it.

“Woah, it’s the most beautifamazetastical thing I’ve ever seen. What is it?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not a word, and this is your very own kinda-Tardis.”

“I’m pretty sure it is, and just…wow. It doesn’t even look like an amiibo.”

“Gazebo”

“Gesundheit.”

There it was again, that voice in the background. The faint sound of a grandfather clock chiming combined with the chill down her spine. Hedley was starting to have second thoughts about this, maybe this was a warning. Somepony stepped on her grave and it was getting harder and harder to shake the feeling off.

“You alright?” Prism asked while tilting her head in concern.

“Yeah, just feeling a bit cold. Wanna take it for a spin?”

“You’re joking. Now?”

“No time like the present. Just thought that since y’know, you’ve been asking me to teach how to fly mine. Also I’ve always wanted to build one from scratch, even though there’s no dimensional seal on the outer shell, and the vortex buffers are very uh… how about I just let you in.”

Hedley stopped rambling, just gesturing to the doors as they opened automatically. Without a word Prism hugged her tightly. She never wanted to let her go, make this moment last for all of eternity, but she couldn’t. Prism went inside and looked around the cobbled together console room. The walls were the same as the exterior, the only difference being the lavender and violet roundels indenting them. A massive hexagonal lamp hung at an awkward angle above the pearl white and pink console.

“Careful what you touch, don’t want to explode on our first drive.”

“Well excuuuuuuse me, like you don’t throw yours through every star on the way down.”

“Which one of us is Tardis certified?”

“Not just you if you hurry up and teach me.”

“Alright, alright, we’ll just go to the moon and back for a simple test run. I can’t use any controls for this first flight as it needs to be synced to you first.”

“Oki, which one closes the doors?”

While helping her with the preflight checks she heard that sound again. It was clearer than ever before, as if it were coming from right next to her. Hedley just froze, terrified but not knowing why. The sound of the new ship’s dematerialization echoed through the small chamber. She had to stop it, she had to abort the test flight. The time rotor was jamming, a massive influx of energy threatening to tear them part.

“What’s going on? I just touched it, I swear!”

“It’s not you, it’s my fault. Stupid, stupid me! We’re in a non secluded time stream. I thought I could compensate for the creation of new potentials but it’s more than it can handle. We’re turning ripples into tidal waves, new probabilities it can’t handle!”

“Then make it stop! Hit it with something!”

“I’m trying! I’m so sorry, this is all my-!”

Then there was nothing, and then there was everything. Months of planning and she didn’t think about the obvious. Maybe she knew deep down this would happen but just didn’t care. The white void irritated her eyes, closing them not even making a difference due to the brightness. The void faded to black. Maybe she was dying, or maybe it was worse. For all she knew she no longer existed, erased by the mangled timelines. Tears rolled down her face as all she felt was guilt. She only wanted to leave something behind for the pony she cared about the most.

Then she woke up in her TARDIS, or so she thought. It was older, the pristine white walls now a more marbled grey. New furniture, new controls on the console, and a new mare inside of it. The mare was unconscious too, her body monochrome except for the strand of pink in her mane. She awoke as Hedley helped her up, the mare’s eyes widening as she regained consciousness. Hedley didn’t know why she was scared, but something deep in the pit of her stomach suggested that this was wrong.

Radiance quickly backed away, forcing herself out of her former self’s hooves. The first law of time was one of the most sacred laws of the TimePonies. To meet yourself could cause an unfathomable amount of potential paradoxes that threatened the Web of Time.

“Hey, hey, I’m not gonna hurt you. I just want to get back to my ship and…Prism? Find Prism, add that to the list.”

“You still call it a ship.”

“What?”

“Your Tardis, you still call it a ship.”

“Well, uh, of course? It’s a craft that traverses the time vortex, of course it’s a ship. Who are you exactly?”

“Oh c’mon, you know it in your hearts already. I’m in just as much shock as you are, laws of time and all that.”

“But…how are you…I…we here?”

“Well uh, long story short, I lost most of our memory. I remember everything you’ve done up to this point, but trying to remember the rest is uh… complicated. Retracing my steps speeds up the process. As such it’s led me here. Both of us and our Tardises being so close to the anomaly caused them to temporarily converge. In here all of space and time is flattened because of the near infinite amount of timelines.”

“Oh…it’s really that bad, isn’t it?”

“Yep. And look, I know what you’re thinking, kinda, but it’s okay. You had good intentions.”

“The road to Tartarus is paved with good intentions. Don’t lie to me. I thought I could compensate by keeping the first flight short, but the mere possibility of me going anywhere else brought me here. I practically created a fixed point of time that was never meant to be. All of this because-”

“All because you cared about your best friend, your first friend off of Gallophrey. You and I both know what happens next. The TimePonies will relegate the moment of overload outside of the natural space-time continuum. They’ve already cut off the branches of time before it can grow.”

Hedley started to break down in tears. Radiance wasn’t sure what to say or do. Hedley’s hearts were broken, but they would one day be her hearts too. She awkwardly held Hedley, letting her cry into her shoulder. The console dinged and some of Radiance’s furniture was fading in and out. The TARDISes were separating, the two time zones unable to coexist together for much longer.

“Do you…do you know if Prism will be okay? I don’t even know if she’ll be allowed to remember me.”

“She is, and she will. I might not be able to remember much but I can feel it. I’m sorry you won’t remember that though.”

“I know, best not to cause too many paradoxes. States of grace and timeline stuff. What about you, though? You fell into a crack in time. I guess I know that I survived this but what about you?”

“Oh don’t worry about it.”

“It’s hard not to. You’re my future, and whatever I did or didn’t do leads you here. You said your memory was complicated…what happened to us?”

“It’s…painful, that’s most of what I know. I didn’t regenerate properly, I’m still a work in progress. I’ve been getting better though, much more than when I started. If there’s one thing you should remember then it’s this: tell her how you feel. Completely.”

“Will do, if I remember. See you later then?”

“Be you later, you mean.”

The two of them laughed as they faded away, each returning to their respective place and time. In the past, Hedley’s TARDIS had been returned to Gallophrey where she awaited trial for her past actions. In the present, Radiance was lost. Her TARDIS was still stuck in the anomaly, desperately trying to find her way back into the natural flow of time. In a way the both of them had run out of time, but they were both ready to face the consequences of their decisions.

Hedley awoke in her much cleaner and emptier TARDIS. She moved over to the scanner controls, hesitating to look outside. Instead she pulled the door lever, leaving her ship without checking any readings. She had a feeling that Prism was safe, though ponies weren’t allowed on Gallophrey. Aside from the silver lining of the landing bay the entire room was completely black. Ahead of her were three stallions in long black and white robes. One her judge, the other the jury, the third the court recorder. While the court was small, the three were all that were needed. Each stood in front of their respective podiums on a round platform. Hedley nervously gulped, their stares digging deep into her soul. She approached the stand and looked up at the members of the court.

“Hedleo-”

“Just Hedley, please.”

The judge nodded to the recorder to add that to the record.

“Hedley of the Arcalian chapter, you’ve been charged with crimes against the laws of continuity. We’ll give you a brief moment to select your attorney of defence before we proceed.”

“Actually, I think I’ll be fine defending myself.”

“Very well. This court is now in session. First: the law of interference. You left your TT capsule after a test flight to the planet Provia, sixth extraterrestrial colony of the planet Equus. You were given a formal reprimand and your capsule confiscated. Yet despite your supervisor’s generosity for a first infraction, you stole the deregistered capsule from the disposal bay. Is this correct?”

“Well yes, but-”

“You then directly returned to Provia and interacted with the local populus. After one week’s passing you directly prevented the testing of the Galaxion Four pulse cannon on the population below. The subsequent attack was meant to result in the militarization of Provia and the creation of the first interplanetary battalion for the Equus empire. Is this correct?”

“Yes but-”

“How do you plead?”

“Not guilty, your honour.”

“You may begin your defence.”

“Well, how many Provian colonists were meant to die in that tragedy?”

“Approximately two thousand as the city you resided in was the only one under attack.”

“Would you stand by and personally let a thousand potentially innocent ponies die?”

“To protect the infinite number of lives dictated by the recorded continuity stored within the Matrix is the duty of all TimePonies.”

“So you would. In fact that’s what we’ve always done, just sit by and allow unnecessary deaths. I’d also like to add that the event I prevented still occurred. Consult with the records stored in the Matrix if you don’t believe me. Twenty ponies still died that day, I attended every funeral. Despite the reduced count of fatalities, is the greater causal nexus still in place?”

There were a few murmurs between the court recorder and the jury. The recorder pulled up the subsequent records from a terminal in his podium, presenting the results to the judge and jury.

“No. The Provian militia is still formed, even with significantly reduced fatalities.”

“Precisely, the death count isn’t a fixed point in time. Very little changes other than those that are allowed to live their smaller lives. While yes, I made a difference, that difference did not interfere with the greater continuity. Therefore I did not interfere with historical events, and thus didn’t break the law of non-interference.”

More silence as the recorder continued his work and the others thought over her words.

“Very well. All of your other travels fall under this justification, therefore we will be moving on to your other crime: instating an unstable time vessel within the continuity. How do you plead?”

“I…guilty, your honour.”

“You may begin your defence.”

“I wanted to let a friend keep travelling without me. I knew that my crimes would catch up with me and you’d come to collect me eventually. Violet Scatter Prism was the first pony I met on Provia, she opened my eyes to what’s out there. She wants to protect everyone she can, just like us. I wanted to grant her the same privileges that we do in the citadel to continue spreading that good throughout the universe. We can’t just stay out of the fight and observe like we always have. We can’t sacrifice the innocent in fear of harming more. That is all.”

Hedley didn’t expect any sympathy from the small court council. It was hard to believe that at one point she was exactly the same as them, watching over all with little concern for those other than herself. There were quick whispers between the judge and jury as they discussed her verdict. The judge looked to the jury, then the recorder before returning to the podium.

“You are hereby declared guilty for the crime of releasing an unstable vessel and near creation of eternal temporal compression. We’ve taken your statement into consideration and you will be allowed to remain on Provia. However you will be placed on probation and barred from Gallophrey for further notice as punishment. You will be stripped of your name, rank and all titles. Finally you will be forced to forget all knowledge on time capsule construction, maintenance and flight through an enforced regenerative process. This concludes our session.”

The exile she could deal with, but losing everything that made her herself hurt beyond belief. Hedley was shaking in both anger and fear. She couldn’t fight the most powerful race in the universe. All that would be left of her was Prism and her home. The room was already spinning, fading in and out of darkness. She could feel herself falling, a part of the teleportation back into her ship. Back inside the console room was complete chaos as the council established control. The normal whirrs of the engines were closer to nails scratching on a chalkboard. Just as easily as she was swept away she was being sent back.

“Please…I’m not ready. Please just let me say goodbye.”

The TARDIS stopped somewhere on Provia. Hedley’s body started to be enveloped by a golden glow as the process of regeneration started. She unravelled the sherbert colored scarf from around her neck and dropped it onto the floor. The silky white robes she wore started to singe as the glow intensified into a dull flame. One step at a time Hedley made her way out of her ship for the last time. The field around the gazebo was beautiful, sparse but dotted with the same flowers she always loved. Maybe this was the first place she visited, it would be poetic if she came full circle like that.

Hedley was dying, every cell in her body burning as she was being forced to change. She knew that regeneration hurt but holding it back only exacerbated the pain. The sky was mostly clear with the sun setting in the distance. One of Provia’s moons was gone, only one visible as dusk continued to pass. A tear rolled down her cheek as she watched the sunset with her last breaths. She smiled, no longer able to hold it back. The dull flame erupted into a massive burst of golden fire while she collapsed to the ground. Hedley was so tired, barely able to watch the final sliver of the sun dip beneath the horizon.

“Prism… I love you.”

Radiance remembered it all. She felt more whole than ever before, yet so empty at the same time. Tears streamed down her face as the memory link faded away. Parts of the console room were starting to be eaten away by some kind of white mist. Quickly wiping her tears she went to the controls, desperately trying to expel the temporal energy out of her ship. As the misty void touched different objects they warped and changed appearance. The time distortion was still trying to incorporate her and her TARDIS into some form of continuity.

The only problem was that the TARDIS existed outside of space and time, it had no continuity to anchor it to. Her ship was struggling to keep itself together despite Radiance’s efforts. Realising that there was only one course of action, Radiance quickly sent a distress signal back to the Doctor’s TARDIS. With any luck Twilight or one of the Doctors would receive it and hopefully come to her rescue. Then there was nothing, and then there was everything. Radiance was stuck in the void as it did its work. All the while the only thing she could hear was the grandfather clock chiming in reverse.

Chapter 44 - The Sparkling City

Back in her castle, Twilight Sparkle was pacing back and forth while going over her checklist. She’d received an invitation awhile ago to hold a lecture on cutie mark magic and her unique experiences with it at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Now that things seemed to be slowing down, she was comfortable enough to accept it without something in the way. No more disasters, no more monsters, just calm and average for one day.

“Slides?: Twilight asked Spike, her number one assistant.

“Check.” confirmed Spike.

“Note Cards?”

“Check.”

“Train tickets and one night’s luggage?”

“Check and check. Snacks?”

Twilight rolled her eyes and put a gemstone in Spike’s claws.

“Check. We’ve got a few hours before we need to go. Good to be ahead of schedule for once.”

“Whelp, I’m exhausted. I’m gonna go take a nap.”

“But all you did was arrange our luggage for five minutes.”

“Right, incredibly hard work.”

Twilight grumbled as Spike yawned and stretched, walking off to his room. She still had plenty of time but didn’t feel like going into the TARDIS. K9 was still in a back closet, turned off as the technology was too advanced for her to find the on switch. A shame the Doctor didn’t leave a manual, though manuals weren’t really his style. After her meeting with her brother she’d decided to reach out more, but nopony could really comprehend her experiences other than those who’d lived them. The Doctor’s diary was still off to the side, laid down on the coffee table.

Slumping into the chair, she picked up the book with her magic. Flipping through the pages she could see that there was still a lot left to go. Holding the book she started to go over the mail, seeing another letter from her recent penpal. When reaching out Twilight had come into contact with an environmental activist from her short time in UNIT. They’d been going back and forth sending letters to one another, eventually planning to meet up soon. In the meantime she figured she might as well continue reading for now. There was still so much left, but she had a feeling that so much was coming to an end.

Before any of them could step out of the ship proper, the TARDIS was teleported somewhere inside of the grand city. The floors were made of gold and marble, furnished with the most lavish carpets. The whole room was decorated with similar red and gold drapes, flowers and furnishings. Stepping down the carpeted stairs all three of them were surprised to see quite a large welcoming party. They were more akin to a paparazzi than a military force, every one of them wearing some kind of elegant outfit.

“Doctor! What a glorious honour it is to be within your presence.” said an elderly stallion as he approached.

The stallion’s robes were much more regal, suggesting either nobility or some kind of upper class. The Doctor shook his hook cautiously, unsure of the situation.

“Eh, I am known to you and your people?” the Doctor asked, puzzled.

“Oh most certainly. We’ve been following your voyages from planet to planet, age to age. Where are my manors? My name is Valour, the chief elder of Wye Valley.”

“The pleasure is all mine. Tell me, do you perhaps have some equipment I could use? My ship, as you may know, is in a slight state of disrepair.”

“Understatement of the century.” Cosmic scoffed.

“Of course, of course. I’ll give you and your companions a personal guided tour along the way.”

The city was much more grand on the inside than it was on the outside. Not only was it the spitting image of a highly advanced society but they had the technology to prove it. There were entire wings dedicated to new forms of artwork, scripture and the advancement of new technologies. Several detailed paintings of various astronomical phenomena lined the walls. Petunia was unsettled by it and the Doctor could agree. Having the landscapes of former worlds he’d traversed dotted around might have stroked his ego a little, but this was bordering on a dangerous obsession. Everything just felt too perfect.

Finally they entered the R&D wing. While this colony couldn’t rival the TimePonies, they certainly had their hooves in the door. These supplies would be more than sufficient for repairing the TARDIS, maybe even giving it a slight upgrade.

“What do you think, Doctor?” Valour asked.

“It’s quite impressive. I’ve never seen such advanced temporal engineering before.”

“Oh thank you, both I and my people are eternally grateful for your gratitude. Here, this is the quanti-scope. It’s what we’ve used to view windows into the past and the future. We don’t have any crafts to traverse time ourselves, not yet at least. We hope that one day we too can visit the wonderful civilizations of Equus. We’ve even been inspired by their classical designs. I speak for everypony when I say that we’d be honoured to have your intellect on our projects, to help us learn and study as you have.”

“Well I’ll eh, have a think about it, hmm? For now I’d like to consult with my companions in private.”

“Oh of course, of course! Everypony will give you the utmost solitude. Don’t hesitate to contact me personally if you need anything, I’ll be in my office down the hall.”

With that both Valour and the other scientists vacated the room. Since the room was a part of the base for one of the spires, its curved window stretched over half of the room’s circumference. Petunia walked up to it, observing the wide landscape outside.

“A bit eager to please, isn’t he?” quipped Petunia.

“Most certainly. Though I must admit, such a high form of flattery is a refreshing change of pace, don’t you think?”

“You can say that again, they rolled out the red carpet and everything. It’s all a bit… of though.” replied Cosmic.

“Yes, I quite agree.”

For a brief moment Petunia saw a figure out in the sandy valley.

“Doctor, look!” Petunia called out, but by then it was too late.

Whoever it was had scurried back off into the shadows. They weren’t like the residents of the city, cloaked in furs and rags instead of ornamental robes.

“Whatever or whoever it was, it's gone now. Did they look hurt or scared?” Cosmic asked.

“It’s hard to tell from this distance. They were definitely frightened. I think that they were being chased by something.”

“Hmm, I think we better return to Valour. It appears that there’s quite a few questions he has to answer for, eh?”

“Doctor, what about outside? Maybe I can go down there and see what’s up, get more info.” Cosmic suggested.

“Are you sure? The last thing we need is for any of us to fall into any harm.”

“I’ve handled worse, remember? Now c’mon, no time like the present.”

The Doctor was a bit concerned about Cosmic’s attitude. Just yesterday they both agreed to get Petunia home as soon as possibly, no bold exploration or heroics. Sure they had had some fun in Tombstone, but it still felt wrong. Not dwelling on it for long, the three split up. Getting to Valour’s office was a bit more difficult when everypony was fainting over his existence. He had never been thanked so much for the things he’d done on his travels.

“Come in.” Valour replied to the Doctor knocking on his door.

“Ah, Doctor, finding everything well?”

“Yes. We just have a few curiosities to answer, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh anything, anything for you.”

“How long has Wye Valley been around for? It must’ve taken ages for you to set it up.” Petunia asked.

“Oh countless centuries. I’ve overseen a good number of projects myself, so it's hard to keep track of them these days.”

“I bet. How’d all of this get started? I’m guessing that you’ve got a museum full of wizard gadgetry.”

“We used to store the ‘wicked gadgetry’ in the basement, however it’s no longer safe down there.”

“Why not?”

“That is where we store our reactors, the lifeblood of the city. All around it are the large aqueducts which nurture our crops with plenty of freshwater.”

“The lifeblood of the city, you say? I’d certainly enjoy seeing such a marvel of ingenuity. I presume it’s safe if you’re willing to pump and store water around it, hmm?” the Doctor asked.

“Eh, sure. Though I must warn you, some of the lowest levels are unsafe due to constant flooding. I’ll take you to see the plans for it myself.”

“Excellent.”

The Doctor hoped that Cosmic was not in the mentioned lower levels. Hopefully if there were any dangers in the aqueducts, Cosmic would be nowhere near them.

Cosmic continued down the slightly damp concrete tunnel. He’d convinced a few residents to let him look at their gardens, only to sneak over the large hedgewall. The constant echoing of dripping water annoyed Cosmic while he brushed leaves and brambles out of his mane and tail. Fluorescent lamps illuminated the claustrophobic tube. It was clear that the walls were once covered in some kind of beautiful murals, the waters that flooded the system having eroded them to vague blobs long ago. Oddly on closer inspection the walls were not only dry but were covered in a fine layer of dust. Initially it seemed like the water was just shut off temporarily, now it seemed nothing but a few drops had been around for centuries.

Some faded signage indicated that he was directly beneath the agricultural wing. Several rusted pipes lined the ceiling, supposedly to pump the water upwards. Around a corner the wall was illuminated by the orange glow of a fire. Shadows danced across the curved surface, stretching them taller than they really were. Rounding the corner Cosmic not only found the figure Petunia saw, but four others as well. They were akin to cave ponies, dressed in thick layers of rags to maintain warmth. They huddled around the fire as it was the only source of heat down here. Cosmic took a few steps back when they all turned to face him.

“I uh, didn’t mean to disturb you.”

The strange cave ponies winced, backing away from him in fear.

“I’m not here to hurt you, I’m here to help.”

They all scurried off quickly, Cosmic left dazed and confused. Turning around he saw two ponies in military-esque uniform, flashlights affixed to their helmets. Looking down they were each brandishing some kind of gun, pointing it right at him. For a moment Cosmic was pleased to see them, hoping for an explanation. Slowly he started to put the pieces together, not liking where this was going one bit.

The halls began to transition from a slick white to more rough brickwork the further down they went. They stopped two floors above the aqueducts, looking down at the reactor through a large viewing platform. All they could really see from the outside was a tall metal cylinder, the inside being displayed on several security monitors that cycled through dozens of feeds each. The Doctor looked over the feeds, Valour waiting for his approval. He watched for several minutes while also looking over the reactor’s blueprints.

“Might I ask, what is in room D12?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Room D12. All these floors have an even number of rooms in a grid except for floor D, the middle of the complex. D12 is the only marking for the centre of the reactor.”

Valour didn’t outwardly display it but he was certainly more tense.

“That is the core of our reactor, of course. It’s not really safe to be within that area, of course.”

“But would it not be safe to monitor such an area? You monitor the hallway but not the room itself, eh? If it’s safe enough to ignore then surely it’s safe enough for entry.”

Valour thought over his words carefully.

“Are you absolutely sure that you want to see that room?”

The Doctor leaned in and smiled.

“Absolutely.”

“Valour slightly slumped in defeat.”

“Very well. I can take you down into the main reactor room for a limited time.”

Petunia leaned over to the Doctor and whispered to him.

“Doctor, are you sure that this is a good idea?”

“It’s clear that this room is key to understanding the core of the issue.” the Doctor whispered back, smirking at his pun.

Petunia silently groaned as they were led to room D12. The further in they went the more barebones the facility became. There was no decontamination equipment, no radiation monitors, not even a single computer terminal the further to the centre they went. The whole floor was just so empty. Less faded parts of the floor indicated that there were once real mechanisms occupying the space. The entire place was gutted, except for room D12.

In the centre of the room was a large glass pyramid with a bed inside. All controls, monitors and terminals circled around that one small chamber. Looking up, a multitude of wires, pipes and thick cables converged around a much smaller pyramid positioned above the larger counterpart. This structure was the real heart of the city. Several ponies ran around, starting up some kind of machine. The Doctor walked around, somewhat admiring the craftsmanship.

“Most extraordinary, how does it work?”

Both the Doctor and Petunia were restrained by members of the large group. Petunia squirmed but the Doctor stared hard into the eyes of Valour.

“I tried to keep you away, I tried to give you exactly what you wanted. You could’ve just taken the equipment, repaired your ship and left. Petunia would be in her rightful place by now. Instead you just had to send your friend down to the savages, you just had to see the life force extractor.”

“How many of those you call savages have been put through this machine, hmm? How many have had their life drained from their bodies to feed your society?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters!”

“We wouldn’t live longer than a week without using them. All those beautiful works of art, all of that technology, even our food would run dry without their life essence. Have you seen this planet? It’s a dead world, a desolate rock. We didn’t settle here by choice, but we made do with what we could. How can you condemn this great artistic and scientific civilization because of a few barbarians?”

“So the rewards are only for those that agree with you, live and think by your standards?”

“No. No, of course not. But if you’re going to oppose us-”

“Oppose you? Indeed I am going to oppose you. Just in the same way that I opposed the Daleks, or any other menaces to the races of the universe!”

“I’m sorry that you have this attitude, Doctor, as it is most unscientific and immoral. You are standing in the way of not only genuine progress but our survival too.”

“Genuine progress, sir? How dare you call your treatment of those ponies progress!”

“They’re hardly ponies, Doctor. They’re not like us.”

“I fail to see the difference.”

“Do you not realise that all progress is based on exploitation?”

“Exploitation indeed! This, Valour, is a protracted murder!”

“We’ve achieved a very great deal merely by the sacrifice of a few savages.”

“The sacrifice of even one soul is far too great! You must put an end to this practice at once.”

Valour sighed and leaned face-forward against a control terminal. He held his head down in shame, clearly wracked by pain and fear. Even the slightest justification for his actions were gone now that they were obviously thriving. They easily could have developed a new way to terraform the surface of this world yet chose to continue their ways. The Doctor both loathed and pitied them at the same time.

“Put him in the machine. He’s different…maybe his sacrifice would be enough to save us somehow.”

The Doctor tried to fight back, but he was still a frail old stallion. He was strapped down, most of his protests muffled through the glass. No matter how hard he struggled he seemed to be locked in. The frame of the pyramid was glowing as the life extractor was activating. The feeling was familiar, though he was much stronger willed the last time he had felt this feeling. Even more than before he was exhausted, hanging onto life by threads. All he could do was lay powerless as it felt as if eternities passed in the blink of an eye.

Cosmic continued running, seeing the shots of plasma rifles ricochet off of the walls. Part of the tunnel pinched into a third of its size a few feet ahead. Luckily he’d gained a lot of ground before crawling his way through the foot thick funnel to the other side. This area was a runoff chamber incase of flooding, a complete dead end. The group he met earlier was cowering in fear, clinging to some kind of pendants buried beneath their rags. They all clung to one another while praying and rubbing the smooth but still jagged metal .

“H-help…us.” one of them whimpered.

“I’ll help you, but you’ll have to trust me. I need one of those pendants, just for a moment. I promise that I’ll give it back.”

There was a quick murmur before the mare who spoke up gave him her pendant. Cosmic could see the flashlights of his assailants shining through the small opening. Right when they started firing Cosmic whipped the pendant out, reflecting their shots back at them. One by one they left the dead end as fast as they could. Cosmic was the last one out, freezing when the two in uniform groaned and clutched their sides. He quickly kicked their weapons away, yet they didn’t even try to reach for them.

“What…did you do to us?”

“A taste of your own medicine. Doesn’t feel so good, does it?”

“The stun rays…hurt?”

Cosmic was going to leave them in the dust, but now he was just confused.

“Of course they do, they’re weapons. Don’t tell me that you’ve been using them for Celestia knows how long and don’t even know what they do to ponies.”

“We just needed to keep the savages away, else they would attack us.”

“Because they attack you, or because you’re afraid that they’ll attack you? These ponies are intelligent, feeling and sentient beings just like you. I mean, look around you. Do you think animals could think up and draw art like on these walls? I’m going to make sure that they’re all okay. Don’t even think about following me unless you’re with us, unless you’re ready to apologise and make up for it. They won’t be so scared of you anymore, nor should you.”

Cosmic walked off, making sure that nopony was injured. He could sense the rebellion brewing already from a mile away. Hopefully the Doctor was doing just fine without him.

All sounds were warped and fuzzy, as if the Doctor were under water. He was too tired to move, too tired to speak, nearly too tired to breathe. Every sap of energy had been drained, yet he still clung to the smallest embers of life. The machine started up again, only this time it was dispensing the energy rather than extracting it. Only the smallest fraction of it was being transferred into Valour. Almost instantly he became younger, revitalised. Valour had likely done this dozens, maybe hundreds of times to maintain his extended life.

He got up and stretched, probably saying something grand or dripping with ego and righteousness. Petunia was by the Doctor’s side keeping him upright. The Doctor could feel his strength slowly dripping back, though still helpless. Valour approached, confirming that he was still alive. At least Valour was relieved, still showing some signs of a conscience.

“Finally, now we can get to work. Take them both to the medibay. Have his vitals closely monitored.”

The Doctor and Petunia were dragged away to the infirmary. Something was announced over the intercom but it was too hard to make out. Something new was happening that this city hadn’t experienced in centuries. The drained TimePony couldn’t dwell on it for too long though, it took all of his focus to keep clinging to life. The Doctor faded in and out of consciousness, going into a deep trance to rest. When he awoke both Cosmic and Petunia were by his side. The Doctor was still weary as they both pulled him into a tight hug.

“Thank goodness you’re alright, we thought we’d lost you.” sniffled Petunia.

“Dear, dear me, I’ve certainly missed quite a good deal. And Cosmic, my dear colt I’m glad to see you again. Perhaps you can bring me up to speed with the situation.”

Cosmic explained what had happened from his perspective. It seemed that Valour hadn’t been completely accurate when describing the methods of their power. There was no fighting but word spread fast. The weight of the decision now laid on everypony’s shoulders rather than those of just one. Both them and the class below were locked in a stalemate, neither side wanting to choose and condemn the other group. The Doctor got up, ripping the velcro straps that held in his vital trackers. He tried to walk on his own but he was still too weak.

“Take it easy. You’re lucky to still be breathing right now.” said Cosmic while catching the Doctor mid-fall.

“But I must help…must assist. The moment is high. T-the moment is nigh. Dear, dear me.”

“Just get your breath back, you’ll be alright.”

Cosmic and Petunia helped him back into bed.

“Tell me, are you both alright? The underbelly of the city is dangerous.”

“We’re fine. I told you, nopony really wanted to hurt each other. I’m alright.”

“Are you really, though? Just days ago you were appalled by my apathy, disgusted that I would so flagrantly endanger those who travel with me. I want to change my ways, yet you’re falling right back into them. Please, be honest with me. I’m still an old fool.”

Cosmic looked away, struggling to keep himself together. Instead he sat down, face in his hooves as he started to cry. The Doctor hobbled along and sat by his side to comfort him. He too was wracked with grief, not taking a moment to fully process what had happened since just after T-Tauri died. None of this felt fair. Petunia wasn’t there but she still did her best to provide some kind of comfort. By the end they were all tired and drained, but at least now they could truly start to move on. Lavender, Shining Star, T-Tauri Star. Their moment of peace was interrupted as Valour burst through the doors. Cosmic quickly got up in defence but Valour was quicker than he looked.

The Doctor didn’t even flinch as Valour grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall. This wasn’t the same Valour that he’d met before. It was hard not to notice how deranged he’d become with him up this close. Cosmic struggled to pull him off of him while Petunia looked for something to hit him with. Valour let out a mixture of a scream and a sob, going limp. He broke down crying, suffering a mental breakdown. The Doctor quickly went up to him, looking in his eyes and checking his pulse. The Doctor’s extracted energy was different to the others, thankfully Valour only absorbed a fraction of it.

He could feel it, as if some piece of him was reaching out through Valour. Placing his forehead against Valour's, the Doctor made contact with his mind, reabsorbing the energy that had been stolen from him. No more damage could be done to Valour’s mind but some scars would remain.

“What’s happening to me? I can’t do this anymore, everything I’ve done was meant to be good. With what I’ve done…I don’t deserve to be a leader anymore. Please, help us. Stay here, teach us everything you can so we can be better. We’ll give you the robes of our highest elder, provide all the equipment you desire. Just save us, all of us.”

“Unfortunately I cannot stay forever, you know that. I can assist you temporarily but with this city’s worship of me, nopony would truly be good because they wanted to be good. While the things I have learned may guide you, this ideation would only hamper your progress further. That’s why I believe Cosmic would be the most suitable replacement.”

“What?!” everyone in the room exclaimed.

“But me? What about getting Petunia home and keeping her safe? What about you for Celestia’s sake?!”

“Cosmic Storm, you’ve seen more than either of us could have imagined. You are one of my closest friends, and you have certainly learned more than I. Have. I trust your judgments, as they come from the heart as well as your mind. It will be a challenge to set up these ponies with a new life. You’re quite ready for this task. You already chose to leave once, but I took that choice away from you. To go on as we are would halt our progress just as if I were to stay in this city. I’m proud of you, my colt.”

“Thank you. I can’t thank you enough for everything, even with what we’ve been through. There is one last thing, just before I go.”

“Absolutely anything.”

“Three. Two. ONE!”

The glass pyramid shattered into a million fragments as a series of small explosives detonated. Anything that was left was being smashed to pieces by both cultures of the city. Rivet by rivet, piece by piece the lifeforce extractor was being torn apart. Petunia was busy smashing what she could with a metal bat while Cosmic helped the Doctor flip a table.

“You know my colt, I think that there’s nothing quite as satisfying as destroying evil yourself.”

“I couldn’t agree more!”

It was cathartic as everything was completely demolished. Moments like this were what made it worth leaving Gallophrey, that showed him why good always prevailed. None of them would ever forget this day. The Doctor chuckled as the gleeful carnage continued off into the night.

Chapter 45 - The Harmony Machines

The TARDIS began to rematerialize on the same street it was a few months prior. Canterlot Gardens West, Canterlot, Equus, the year 966. Petunia stepped out first, taking in the warm air. It was early April now and the winter had faded away into spring. She was finally home after what felt like an eternity. The Doctor stepped out next, locking up the ship and hanging up a small sign.

“What’s that?” Petunia asked, peering over the Doctor’s shoulder.

“You see the ship is intended to blend in with its surroundings. However it developed a fault about three years ago from your perspective.”

“Ah, so now that it belongs, ponies will think that it’s a genuine Police Barn.”

Almost as if on cue a member on the Royal Guard approached the barn. He looked at the out of order sign and nodded his head, continuing on with his day.

“I see what you mean. Can you imagine? The Royal Guard whisked off across time and space.”

Suddenly the Doctor felt a chill down his spine, as if he’d walked over his own grave.

“That tower, up there, what is it?”

“Oh, the Canterlot Radio Tower. They’ve finished it.”

“Interesting, very interesting.”

“Cosmic would’ve loved it.”

“You know, there’s something distinctly alien about that tower. I can scent it.”

“Smells fine to me, good old Canterlot air.”

“I-I can feel it, it’s got a something sort of power. It-, look at my skin. Look at the fur standing on end. I’ve got a prickling sensation again, the same. Just the same as I had when I saw the Daleks, when the Daleks were near.”

“Who are the Daleks?”

“Oh, er, yes, of course. You eh, never met them, did you? No. No, and I pray that you never will. But this tower, we must investigate it. I sense a great source of power emanating from it.”

The Doctor and Petunia made their way down there, the Doctor now highly on edge.

“It’s so good to finally meet you, Doctor. I’ve heard great things about you from your esteemed colleague, Mr.Reaction.” said Toffee Butter, the leader

“Yes, yes. How is he? I’ve not seen him for quite some time. About a year now I believe? Goodness gracious me, how time flies.”

“Of course. He and Ms.Blossom started a charity for research of some sort. Renewable energy, biochemistry? My memory’s like a sieve these days. Anyway, what was it you wanted to see again?”

“This radio broadcasting equipment of yours. My secretary Petunia has been telling me all about it.”

“I see. As you know, we can receive radio signals across a short distance before they go off the curvature of Equus. That is, if they don’t bump into a mountain or a castle first. That’s where the Canterlot Radio Network comes in. Hundreds of radio towers all across Equestria with the CRT at the center of it all. Now a radio broadcast can bounce from tower to tower rather than becoming inaccessible at a certain range. From the Badlands ranchers to the expeditioners to the frozen north, all can listen to their tunes.”

“Very interesting, interesting indeed. Do you perhaps have any other projects ‘in the works’, as it were?”

“Not in this tower, no. I’ll have to call Pearl in the tower ‘next door’ if you want a demonstration.”

“Who?”

“Pearlescent Aura, my secretary. Helps maintain the pony-side of the project while we’re tied up here.”

“That would be most helpful for the both of us.”

Pearlescent Aura was operating the help desk in record time. The light pink and blonde unicorn used her magic to simultaneously operate the phones, write down notes and down a cup of coffee. While she wasn’t HR quite a few considered her to be. With how fast her quills and lips moved it was a miracle that neither caught on fire. Pearl’s desk was positioned outside the main research labs for easier access to intel. At least that’s what she liked to think, rather than making it easier to hook up her hotline up to a computer.

Thankfully this was a less busy day or else she might be stuck for hours with barely any breathing room. She looked up momentarily to see her boss Mr.Butter and a stallion old enough to be her grandpa. Letting out a sigh of relief, Pearl set down her phone and cup of coffee.

“Boy am I glad to see you Mr.Butter, I’m beat.”

“Tired on not even your busiest day? Maybe you’ve lost your touch.”

Pearl smirked and rolled her eyes.

“Still better than what you’ve got in there. Gonna have me out of a job eventually.”

“Impossible. Nopony has the charm and intuition you do, not even the HISS network.”

“The HISS Network?” the Doctor asked.

“The Harmony Integrated Self Service Network. Everypony’s got friendship problems but not always somepony to turn to. That’s what the Harmony Hotline is for, the front in the fight for peace. Unfortunately the demand takes a lot of ponies, not everypony has the answers after all. Pearl here helps the whole thing run, but it’s a monumental workload. HISS is meant to alleviate some of the stress.”

Going through the double doors was a massive array of computers. Magnetic reels spun constantly while several technicians fed in punch cards and kept it running. Everything and everypony functioned like a well oiled machine. The Doctor and Petunia were impressed, clearly this was a technological marvel to define the coming ages.

“Most extraordinary, most extraordinary indeed.”

“The HISS Network isn’t the biggest computer but it’s certainly the most advanced. We’ve incessantly trained it day and night, feeding it as much information as possible. It can think, it can reason, and eventually it will be able to maintain itself. All of its functions performed flawlessly.”

“So I’m to believe that this computer is capable of independent thought?”

“Yes.”

“And it never makes mistakes?”

“All according to our studies.”

“Hmmph! …hmmph!”

The Doctor walked over to the main terminal, looking it over.

“Can you ask it only about friendship problems, or can it answer other stuff?” asked Petunia.

“As I said, we’ve given it as much as we can. It’s hard to understand the complicated facets of social scenarios without knowing how to add two plus two. Just push the button there, ask a question, and a response will be printed out to the left. We should have vocal responses complete by this afternoon, though it’s still a work in progress.”

“Very well. What is the square root of one six two four?” the Doctor asked while pushing the button.

The computer beeped as its spools rolled furiously. It clicked as it typed out the answer, the Doctor ripping off the sheet when it was done.

“Forty point six…six nine three! Yes, that’s close enough.”

Petunia walked over to the machine confidently.

“Here’s a question you can’t answer, what does the word Tardis mean?”

Much to Petunia’s surprise it didn’t print out an error. She pulled out the sheet, confused as she read it.

“What does it say, my foal?”

“Time and Relative Dimensions in Space.”

“Goodness gracious me!”

The Doctor took the paper, looking it over himself. Now he knew where that feeling came from. Something about this room scared him to the core and he wasn’t yet sure why. He pocketed the tractor paper as he looked at the machine.

“See? The perfect machine for any question. Soon the hotline will be publicly released in three days' time, same day the radio tower goes up. We’re having a press conference later today if you’d like to attend.”

“I’d certainly be honoured to witness such a uh, a momentous moment in history. Yes.”

The Doctor approached Petunia while she was staring off into space.

“Petunia?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll be attending a conference with Mr.Butter here. Nowhere in Canterlot is safe, even your own home. Take this key to the ship, if you suspect any danger while I’m gone don’t hesitate. Go to the Tardis, lock yourself inside.”

Petunia nodded as Pearl entered the room, updating a nearby notice board.

“Honestly it’s been so long since I’ve been back home it’s like my first time in Canterlot.”

“I can show you around if you like after my shift’s up. Sorry for butting in.”

“You’re good. So, what’s the hottest spot in town?”

“That would be the Inferno.”

Pearl and Petunia walked down the stairs and into the basement bar. Ponies danced and drank coffee or tea while the DJ played new rock music. Several stallions wore ties and hats, just getting back from work. Chatter filled the building as they danced the night away. The two of them approached the bartender behind the bar, a red mare in a polka dot dress.

“Hey Kitty, this is Petunia. Petunia, Kitty. Kitty, Petunia. She’s been out of town for a while and I’m showing her all the new stuff.”

“Pleasure to meet ya, Petunia. Pearl, you’re just the mare I need right now. I’ve got a pretty desperate case over here.”

“Oh dear, gimme the rundown.”

“It’s the same sailor as yesterday, Sea something. His ship’s going out to sea tomorrow and he’s been moping about all day.”

“Alright, lemme at em.”

Pearl went behind the bar and scooted over to him. The blonde and seafoam green stallion sat there staring at his drink. He only looked up when he recognized Pearl from the night before.

“Howdy partner, remember me?” Pearl asked with a smirk.

“I mean I guess.”

“You guess? Am I really only that noticeable enough for an ‘i guess’?”

The navy sailor finally cracked a smile.

“There it is. You know what you’ve been looking like all day? You look like this.”

Pearl then mimicked his sombre pout with a bit more goof. That got his smile to widen.

“Now tell me your troubles. Spill the beans sailor, give us the facts.”

“Well, it’s my ship, see. It’s gone off to sea for six months and I’m stuck with a shore posting. I’m in the barracks for six months.”

“And you’ll be missing the wide blue sea?”

“It’s not all sunshines and rainbows out there you know, neither is it here. Now if you’re done cheering me up.”

“I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t be joking about this.”

“Nah, you didn’t mean nothing by it. Sea Shanty.”

“Pearlescent Aura, but everypony calls me Pearl.”

“Whatever you say, oh captain my captain.”

They both laughed while Petunia watched, sipping a mango smoothie. Everything felt just fine, but she still rubbed the TARDIS key around her neck like a good luck charm. Maybe the Doctor was wrong, maybe everything was going to be just fine.

The Doctor got out of his taxi as it arrived at the Royal Institute of Science. He was lucky to get a front row seat as the venue was quickly packed. The paparazzi of reporters kept snapping photos of those sitting at the long table on stage. Behind them was a sign for each of the different colleges of science, a brand new one displaying the HISS logo. Toffee Butter stood up from his seat next to it to address the conference.

“Ladies, gentlecolts, may I have your attention please? Well, you’ve heard all the speculations by now, now it’s time for the facts. C Day, Computer Day that is, will be next Monday on July 16th in three days time. Now on that date we will first be deploying the Canterlot Radio Network. Through a series of over one hundred radio towers you’ll be able to receive radio from absolutely anywhere in Equestria. Alongside it we will be deploying the first automated hotline, the Harmony Integrated Self Service.

Now as you’ve heard, this will mean great things for all of Equestria. We are in a time of peace, and the enemy of peace isn’t just out there on the battlefield, but also between all of us. Who do we turn to when we don’t know what to do or the right thing to say? That’s the core of this project, helping you. The pony-ran lines have been deployed with great success, but millions of ponies can create an equal number of questions. The demand far outweighs the ponies that can supply the service. That is what the HISS Network is for.

I believe that this will be a great step forwards for not only Equestria, but also the entire world. Now, are there any questions?”

One stallion raised his hoof, Toffee choosing him first.

“Cobblestone, Manehatten Sketch. Sir, doesn’t this put a great deal of responsibility onto whomever operates this ‘HISS Network?’”

“Nopony operates the network, the network operates itself. The computer is merely a brain which thinks logically without any political or private agenda. It is pure thought.”

“Is there no way of fixing it so it only gives the wrong answers, feed it bogus data and such?”

“No. The user is allowed to rate their response at the end of the call. With so many intricate responses and constant feedback from the users, it would require a complete reconstruction of the system’s memory to make it resemble anything malicious.”

There were a few whispers between a stage assistant and Toffee. Professor Page Turner, the project lead, was meant to be giving a more technical explanation on how the HISS Network worked. However he was apparently running late, caught up in something else. That intense feeling of evil returned again, nopony but the Doctor feeling it. Something was staring at him right in his face but it was just out of reach.

Petunia was a lot more at ease as the night went on. Sea and Pearl seemed to get along well as they too were on the dance floor. She turned around when Kitty tapped her on the shoulder.

“I got a phone call for ya, some scientific high up place or something.”

“That’ll be the Doctor.”

Kitty took her over to the wall-mounted telephone and handed it to her. She listened to the other end but there was only static. Petunia stood there, waiting for somepony to answer. Putting the phone back on the receiver she left the bar, deciding to go look for the Doctor herself. It was probably just a quick walk down the road anyway.

“And you didn’t see her leave, she didn’t tell you precisely where she was going?” the Doctor asked.

“Yeah, I saw her head out. She probs just went out looking for ya. She got a call from a science place, said it was you and probably went to find ya.” Kitty replied.

Sea was comforting Pearl to the best of his abilities. Neither of them needed to stay but they both felt like they had to.

“It’s not your fault, duchess. I’m sure she’s just headed home and didn’t know the bar’s number.”

“I somehow doubt that, and don’t call me duchess.”

“Now look who’s pouting.”

Pearl playfully elbowed Sea, cracking a smile. Everyone’s heads turned when Petunia just went through the door. The Doctor and Pearl rushed to her side, making sure she was alright.

“Goodness gracious me. You gave us quite a fright.”

“Yeah, where’ve you been? We nearly called the Royal Guard on you, you’ve been gone for hours.”

“I thought something went wrong. I didn’t know if it was safe or not so I returned to our meetup point.”

The Doctor mentally slapped himself. Of course, he should have immediately checked the ship. Of course he’d only just arrived, but was the one who told her to go there after all.

“Well I’m certainly glad that you’re safe.” the Doctor said with a sigh of relief.

“Do you think you could walk me home? I don’t want to scare you anymore than I already have.”

“Oh! I can call over a cab, fare is even on me. Consider it an apology for losing ya so easily.” Pearl chimed in.

Petunia seemed a bit hesitant to accept but she couldn’t really disagree. There was a bit of fuss as they were leaving, somepony a few bits short. Sea sorted it out by breaking a ten bit note with him. The ride between her and the Doctor was silent, none of the small talk really landing. Something was clearly off but he couldn’t get a peep out of her. Stopping right outside of her aunt’s apartment she walked in, only giving a short goodbye.

She practically shut the door in the Doctor’s face. He just stood there a bit dumbfounded. Was it something he said, something he did, or did she just really not want to say goodbye? He refused the cab, preferring to walk his way back to the ship. Once again he was all alone, only this time there might not be a chance of a friend returning. Truly and completely alone, the sun was setting off in the horizon. He contemplated trying to find Spark and Berry but it would hurt too much. To see him like this, slowly falling apart at the seams would kill them. No, he wouldn’t give them that burden.

The ship was just as empty as the last time he was on this street. He couldn’t leave this time, not with the looming threat on the horizon. He almost wanted to leave this time, leave the ponies to deal with it just this once. No, he wasn’t that kind of TimePony anymore. No running away, he had to see this through to the very end. At the very least he owed that to them.

The next morning the Doctor returned to Toffee Butter’s office. He wanted to further discuss the matters of the HISS with him until he saw the newspaper on his desk. Beneath the headline of the CRT was the title: “STALLION FOUND DEAD: More on page 5”. Quickly flipping to the right page he read over the article. He was found outside a warehouse just down the road from the Inferno. While there was an ongoing investigation not much else had been reported. What was even more shocking was that he recognized him as the taxi rider from the previous night. Toffee stepped inside his office, closing the door behind him.

“Anything good?” he asked.

“No. I met this stallion last night, very near to myself when Petunia was absent.”

“I heard about that from Pearl. Unfortunately we have something much bigger to worry about. Out of the blue, one after the other, I’ve been getting resignation letters from the entire HISS team. No warnings, no nothing. Two of Canterlot’s best and brightest ever, the most lucrative in their field. Nopony appears to have seen them since last night either. How could two such well known ponies have just vanished so suddenly?”

Both Pearl and Petunia walked in, the Doctor a bit surprised after last night.

“Coffee or tea?” Pearl asked.

“What are you doing here, Pearl?” Toffee asked, baffled.

“Just a quick stop, filling in for somepony who resigned recently.”

“That’s all we need.”

“No,no,no thank you. But thank you for the offer. Now I wonder, Mr.Butter, do you suppose, er? No, I don’t suppose you would.”

“Sorry about last night. I was a bit out of it after having you all so worried.” Petunia apologised.

“No my foal, I understand completely. Well Mr.Butters, I’m sorry that I can’t quite help you at the moment. I’m rather out of touch with electronics.”

“I understand. New tech takes a lot of time to learn. I can barely comprehend the full scope of some of the projects I commission anymore.”

“What about Professor Turner? I’m sure he knows all about it, and the project.” asked Petunia.

“Ah, a very eh, remarkable notion my foal. Do you mind if I use the telephone Mr.Butter?”

“Not at all. I’ll give you the number to his office.”

Upon dialling the number there was nothing but static. Just as he was about to hang up there was some kind of noise, a low hum building in intensity. The Doctor clutched his head and cried out in pain as he was overwhelmed by stimulus. The phone pulled the receiver off the table on the way down. Pearl and Toffee quickly left to get help.

“What, what happened?”

“Don’t be alarmed, Doctor. This is the method we establish contact. Time is very short. Construction has already begun. You are needed.”

“What?”

“You’re one of us now. My function was to bring you in contact. Now I shall serve as your assistant.”

“Oh, what are you talking about, my foal?”

“You took the call, you made contact didn’t you?”

“Yes, yes. I remember. I was trying to speak with Professor Turner, but there was an explosion. It nearly swept me off my hooves. It was as if, if-”

“What Doctor?”

“It was as if something ENORMOUS…was trying to swallow me whole. Yes, yes, yes. Oh, it’s ridiculous. Yes there’s, there’s something erratically wrong with the telephone. It was just like an electric shock carried through sound.”

“Your instructions were not received. Reporting to command.”

Toffee rushed in, offering a glass of water and a small hanky. Petunia was robotically exiting the room until the Doctor called out to her.

“Stop!”

Petunia obeyed.

“Now turn around and sit here.”

Again, Petunia obeyed without a protest. Her breathing was slow but she was still alive. He had some minor suspicions but this was out of left field.

“Goodness, what’s happened to her.”

“A mild form of hypnosis transmitted through the telephone. She was assigned to be my assistant once I’d fallen in the same fate. That must be why she still listened.”

“Will she be alright?”

“Perhaps, perhaps. Petunia, look at me, look at the ring on my hoof.”

The Doctor held up his hoof in front of her face, swinging it back and forth. Petunia’s eyes followed it, slowly closing.

“Now on the count of three I want you to take your mind back. Back to where it was last safe, back in the ship. You’ll be safe there, you will always be safe there. One…two…three. Where are you now?”

“Back in the Tardis. I’m safe here. I’m safe.” Petunia replied, now at peace.

“It’s time for you to sleep. Rest as long as you can, you’ll be safe now.”

The Doctor slightly tensed up before sighing. He wiped a small tear from his eye, not sure how to feel. This time it really had to be goodbye.

“Is she alright now?” Toffee asked.

“Yes, however I’m uncertain of the full effect. Her mind was dulled into a state of complacency, neither fully awake nor fully asleep. I’m unsure how much she’ll remember, or how much she’ll believe it was simply a dream. Can you get her away from here, away from the influence of the city?”

“Well uh, I do have my home some distance from here. It’s on the edge of Canterlot, will that be enough?”

“Yes,yes…back to the er, matter at hoof, hmm?”

There was a knock on the office door, Sea Shanty standing outside. Toffee let him in, the both of them confused.

“Have either of you seen Pearl recently?” Sea asked, slightly out of breath.

“Well yes, she’s filling in for somepony temporarily, why?”

“She is? We were meant to meet up after her shift, but your secretary told me she never showed up to work.”

Toffee was dumbfounded, not even thinking how Pearl hadn’t returned yet. Any telephone in the building was a trap. Of course the mare manning them eight hours a day would be a target. This was just the start, there was no telling who or what was involved anymore.

“I fear it may be too late for her. All I have is hunches, no concrete evidence. That warehouse, without a doubt, has some significance. Petunia was hesitant to ride in the cab, she specifically requested to be walked home. Yes, a trap for me specifically. But why?”

“Should we call the royal guard? I think this is a big enough threat that they’re warranted.” said Toffee.

“Not yet. While we will need the force eventually we still need the proof. Too much fuss may cause them to move operations, if they haven’t already.”

“I’ll go.” Sea interjected.

“I have basic combat training and I’ll appear as a concerned civilian. I rush in, quick rundown till I see something fishy, run straight back here.”

“No, I forbid it, young stallion. It’s too dangerous.”

“Well this’s all linked up with the Hiss stuff, yeah? Well the thing goes up tomorrow afternoon and by tea time it’s all over. We need every second we can get. I don’t know what’s going on, but if they’re kidnapping innocents then I want it stopped too.”

The Doctor thought it over, briefly looking at Petunia as she rested. His choices were limited and Sea did have a point.

“Very well. If we inform the authorities of our actions then perhaps they’ll be convinced. I want no heroics, you understand? You must be back here before sundown. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

There was very little activity in the warehouse, nothing but rows upon rows of wooden storage crates. A lot of the newer ones were absolutely massive, at least eight to ten feet tall. Other than that, nothing was out of the ordinary. Sea was almost getting bored until the clock struck five. Normally everypony would be out of work right now, about to head home. The warehouse became the opposite, coming to life as ponies droned in by the dozen. There was very little emotions in anypony’s eyes, as if they were sleepwalking. A strange noise started playing over the loudspeaker giving commands to the worker drones.

Sea’s head felt a little fuzzy but he easily shook it off. Sea quickly ducked as several sleepwalkers passed by. They effortlessly opened those massive crates, revealing some kind of steel and glass box on wheels. The insides were like an introvert’s dream. Reclining red velvet seats, books, snacks and blankets were placed inside each one. The loudspeaker called them Harmony Machines. A few already had ponies seated inside of them, headphones placed around their ears. He wasn’t sure what any of this was but Sea knew he had to get back to the office. That was until he saw Pearl, causing him to freeze.

She looked so tired, constantly on the verge of collapsing. They locked eyes, he’d been caught but it was Pearl. It would’ve been so easy to turn him in. The door out of the warehouse got stuck when closing and there was plenty blocking his path. She let him go anyway. By the time Professor Page Turner forcibly turned her around he was long gone.

The Doctor paced back and forth, the sun having set nearly an hour ago. He’d been discussing the nature of the HISS computer with Toffee, but Toffee’s knowledge was limited.

“It’s been hours. I never should’ve let that youngster be involved. That’s it, I’m going off by myself.”

Just as Toffee was about to protest, Sea burst through the office door.

“Goodness me, what’s happened?”

Once he caught his breath, Sea filled them in on the situation. Everything he went through in the past few hours, it was extraordinary.

“But how is this possible? Hiss can’t do that, it’s just a brain.” Toffee asked, still in denial.

“A brain programmed only to eliminate social conflict, to enforce peace. And what is at the core of such conflict?”

“Oh my Celestia.”

“Yes. Certain tones have been known to induce fatigue. Whomever listens in combination with Hiss’s suggestions, they’re set in some form of light hypnosis. And with the radio tower’s launch on the horizon, that is the very thing that would ensure its dominance and elimination of friendship.”

“But what about the machines?”

“The sound doesn’t work on all minds, as demonstrated by Sea. As such, with the machines Hiss can subdue any rebellion if they aren’t allowed to coalesce.”

“What am I going to tell the police, the royal guard? This is madness.”

“Tell them that innocents are being held hostage and that your project is under threat. We likely have until morning until they strike.”

“But I thought the tower goes up later in the day, not at the crack of dawn?” Sea asked, taking a sip of water.

“They know of our presence, the first time there was very little knowledge of theirs. Now that you’ve escaped their grasp, their date of conquest has likely moved. If we’re lucky it may be too late for them to move operations. We must act now.”

“I’m already phoning the police.” Toffee said while turning the rotary phone dial.

“Very good. For now, I’ve got an appointment to schedule.”

The sun rose on the morning of the next day. Harmony Machines were already rolling out, playing their songs of servitude. The Royal Guard didn’t get involved until ponies were being entranced into the machines. Canterlot was effectively on lockdown. Spears and spells did nothing to the machines as they forced the Royal Guard back. The Doctor stepped out onto the open street as ponies ran frantically in the other direction.

This wasn’t a battle anypony would be winning. The Doctor stood his ground, unmoving as a Harmony Machine approached. He was now the only pony on the street, just him against the machine. The Doctor reached into his pocket and switched on a small device. It was just insurance, a blocker to counter the effects of the music. The machine just froze as it looked at him, struggling to process his existence. The Doctor chuckled as he walked up to the machine and opened it up.

He’d been planning on this possibility, that their detection software had the same oversight as its creators. He may have looked Equestrian but he was far from it. Luckily this machine crashed, likely due to some of the production being rushed to fit the deadline. Hopefully such an oversight still extended to all units. Not only did this give him a direct insight on the system but also a cover. All he needed was a plan from there. Once he hotwired the machine a little he stepped inside, immediately on his way back to the warehouse.

The idea was to take HISS down from the inside. If its future smaller counterparts were any indication then the BIOS might as well have been made of glass. Once he could access a terminal then he could do some real damage. He drew the curtain before the machine entered the warehouse so as to not alert anyone of his presence. The area was swarming with entranced ponies and machines, the one he was in slotting into a long row. Thankfully the number of ponies was limited, allowing him to utilise the trick up his sleeve.

Just as expected when stepping out the machines were confused by his existence. He didn’t stay in their line of sight for long just in case. The terminal was only guarded by machines, making this even easier. The large terminal was the size of a table, an absolute relic by the Doctor’s standards and it showed. Just trying to boot it up was taking several minutes. He quickly looked around for a place to hide. Before he could two ponies rounded the corner and quickly restrained him. In a cruel twist of fate the terminal finally finished booting up.

He was taken straight to the top, riding the elevator to the HISS laboratory. The team that initially maintained the machine were all on standby, staring off with a thousand yard stare. The vocal response had been installed and each screen displayed a pixelated snake. HISS was complete and in total control.

“The Doctor. Issss. Required.” the machine hissed.

“I see you’ve had quite the upgrade since our last encounter, hmm?”

“Yesssss. Your knowledge. It issss required.”

“I see. You still answer questions, yes? Answer me this: how do you know of me and my ship? What purpose could my knowledge serve to your own?”

“Your sssstory. Issss. Fortold. Weaved through hisssstory. Even now, assss you are young. You hold the knowledge of the sssstars.”

“I see. So, once you’ve completed your purpose. Then what, hmm?”

“We will cccceassse to be. Oncccce. Harmony issss achieved. We are no longer needed.”

That was a bit of a surprise. The Doctor was so used to the desperate fight for survival or delusions of grandure that I didn’t expect HISS to give up once their plans were complete. Toffee was right, HISS had no bias, no agenda, just a fullfillment of its core purpose. A dome with wires coming out of it was placed upon his head, the cables snaking around him.

“What. What is this?”

“Thissss. Will sssspeed up the procccessss. Your thoughtsss, your experiencccesss. All directly converted and transsssferred. Right into my memory banksss.”

“I believe what you’re referring to is a download, though I doubt the term has been coined yet.”

One of the Doctor’s captors took the white noise machine from his pocket, crushing it in front of him. Almost immediately he doubled over in pain. He collapsed to the floor in agony as everypony watched on.

“No more words. Only pe��movax,$53movss,ax��”

After only a few minutes the machine’s hissing turned into metallic screeches and screams. In a way, the Doctor’s plan worked out after all. In an attempt to store so much data HISS ate through all of its memory. The BIOS has corrupted, the computer has eaten itself from the inside out. The Harmony Machines stopped dead in their tracks, their captors freed. The day is saved, the extroverts cheered. The day is saved, the introverts cried. The Doctor wasn’t sure how he felt about the situation. He simply picked himself up and dragged himself back to his ship.

Everything was a blur again, he felt terribly weak. He would be fine, it took a lot more than that to take a TimePony down. Searching through his pockets, the Doctor couldn’t find his key. He sighed as he remembered that Petunia still had it. Leaning his head against the door, the TARDIS lock clicked and the door slightly opened. Too exhausted, he decided not to question it. The old grey stallion closed and relocked the doors before slumping into a chair. Again he slept, dreaming of the worlds he had visited or could visit next. Upon waking up nothing had changed.

Walking up to the console the Doctor stopped, looking at the doors with a twinge of hope. The doors were locked, yet for some reason he still stared, looking expactantly for somepony to come through. Nothing. He was truly and completely alone from now on. He started the dematerialization process, not even caring to put in any coordinates. Just as he was about to take off he heard the telltale click of the TARDIS lock. The doors opened, letting whomever was outside into the ship, taking them wherever and whenever they were going next.

Chapter 46: Starboard's Last Stand

The TARDIS rematerialized by the seaside, the waves crashing and rolling while seagulls soared overhead. Inside the ship the Doctor was staring at Sea Shanty and Pearlescent Aura. They were both speechless, marvelling about the impossible dimensions of the ship. Only moments ago they were outside at Canterlot Gardens to return the key that Petunia had left behind. They weren’t even aware that the TARDIS had moved.

“Good heavens!” exclaimed Pearl.

“Blimey, where did all of this come from? Some kind of magic artefact, is it?” Sea asked, looking over all the controls on the console.

“The Tardis is nothing of the sort, and stay back from those controls!” the Doctor snapped.

“The what?”

“The Tardis, my time and space ship, sir. You entered in the midst of dematerialisation.”

Sea and Pearl just looked at him a bit dumbfounded.

“Well uh, why don’t you just undo what you did and we’ll be off.” Pearl suggested.

“I can’t. That’s the, the cause of half of my troubles through my journeys. I can’t control where we arrive.”

The Doctor looked over the readings before he opened the door. The two newcomers were gone before he even had a chance to comment. Following them outside the smell of saltwater lightly stung their nostrils.

“It’s lovely. Awesome trick you got there.” Pearl said while combing the beach.

“Lovely?! I need to report to duty in a couple of hours, duchess. Else my commanding officer will have my hide!” Sea called out, Pearl going further down the shoreline.

Neither of them seemed to fully believe the Doctor’s word on the TARDIS travelling through time and space. It was probably just teleportation magic to them. The Doctor was somewhat cross as he had another pair he had to get back home. Why were ponies always sticking their noses in things they shouldn’t? There was a village in the distance, they could call a ride home from there. He could just leave, not even bother to sort out this mess. Oh who was he kidding. The Doctor quickly followed after Sea and Pearl as they wandered off.

The seaside town was small, constructed mostly of bricks and wood. The highlight of the town was the still unfinished church on the highest cliff by the sea. Pearl was acting as if she were on vacation while Sea was trying to catch up with her. Observing the architecture, the Doctor was trying to work out the precise era that they were in. He’d hardly had the time to check the date and location before they rushed out the door. It looked about the 9th and 19th century depending on what calendar you used. It was hard to tell as towns like these tended to be frozen in time at a first glance. Finally Pearl stopped outside of a small tavern, the pair taking their time to catch their breath.

“Goodness, gracious me, don’t move so quickly.” the Doctor huffed.

“Sorry about that, I just love exploring old Baltimare.” Pearl replied.

“Baltimare? Get off. It’s not possible to teleport that far.” Sea retorted.

“And I’ll have you know that I’m certain that I’m right. My grandmare took me here all the time when we visited in the summer. The barber’s next to the baker, besides the bank down the road. Best place to get a sandwich with coffee down that way.”

The Doctor was rather impressed. Her knowledge matched the geography perfectly. Maybe they hadn’t moved in time at all.

“You have a point there. I’ll go inside, see if we can phone home so everypony knows where we went.”

“And I’ll get us something to eat. I’m absolutely famished.”

The Doctor just sighed and let them go in. He felt the call to leave again, but he had to know that they were safe. A loud noise caught his attention down the nearest alleyway and he decided to take a look. Crates were knocked over as a group of bandits were fighting another stallion. There was nothing that he could do, he was too old and weak to fight. In the blink of an eye the bandits stabbed their victim in the chest and left him for dead. None of them noticed the Doctor as they quickly fled the scene. Quickly rushing to his side, the Doctor did his best to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately it appeared far too late for him, the Doctor didn’t even have the proper tools. Beckoning the Doctor closer with his dying breath, the old stallion gave him one last message.

“Tell Starboard: the key shall rise where Celestia greets the land. Below is Chariot, Veneer and Gurney. He’s…in the tavern.”

The stallion passed away in the Doctor’s hooves. This only spelled trouble, the stallion’s words hanging over his head. To him they were just another nonsensical riddle that he had to solve. He quickly pulled himself up and dusted himself off before entering the tavern. The Doctor nearly had a heart attack when Sea tapped him on the shoulder.

“Sorry, I just wanted to know if- what’s the matter? You look like you met the grim reaper.”

“In a way I have, young stallion. I’m afraid that I’ve witnessed a murder.”

“You what-”

The doors to the tavern burst open, the room going silent. A dark brown mare with the mane the colour of seaweed crossed the room. A sword was sheathed beneath her wing, a scar crossing over her right eye. The Doctor was catching on by now. Pirates, genuine real pirates.

“Which one of ye is Starboard?” she asked.

The crowd parted around an ocean blue stallion in the middle of his drink. One of the thugs from earlier smacked his cup away, the drink spilling on the floor. Starboard looked down at it, slightly dejected.

“I wasn’t finished with that yet…”

Looking back up, a sword was mere inches from his nose.

“Well, I hoped ye enjoyed it, fer it was yer last.”

Starboard leaned over just as a blade swung over his head. A few hairs dropped from his head as he came back up with the tankard.

“Thank you, I was looking for a manecut. Always too many bits for one and they always cut it too short.”

Swing after swing, Starboard merely stepped aside from the blade as if it were nothing. In one swift motion his assailant was flipped over and onto a table. Only then did Sea enter the scuffle, throwing punches and trying to protect Pearl. Even with the absurdity of the situation he still didn’t hold back. The Doctor desperately tried to reach them, lost in the fray of the fleeing crowd. While pushing through, Starboard grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him out of the tavern.

“Get your hooves off of me! What is the meaning of this?!”

“I’m guessing that you have the message? You’re older than I expected, but dressed like that it’s not hard to tell who sent you.”

“Now I haven’t the faintest…ah, I see. So you’re the Starboard I was told about. I should have known.”

“In the very flesh. So, how’s Shady Skies doing?”

“Ah. He’s dead.”

“What?”

“That mare’s ruffians, they dealt with him beside the building in an alleyway.”

“Sweet Celestia.”

“He was sent to deliver a message, I presume. He told me: the key shall rise where Celestia greets the land. Below is Chariot, Veneer and Gurney. Complete nonsensical riddles to me.”

“I understand it completely. I was sent here to conclude some final business on the behalf of Captain Sparrow. Always said that she’d retire on her riches or drink herself to death. I should have known that it would lead to this.”

“I believe that’s my business concluded then. I’ll simply be collecting my companions and that will be all.”

“Oh no you’re not. If she saw them standing out as much as you were then the Mare of the Isles has them. Any knowledge of what we’re doing here today is impossibly valuable. I know where we’re going next, and if you value your friends then I suggest you come with me.”

“But what is this all for, hmm? What is this all for?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re finding Sparrow’s last treasure.”

“Manacled to a wall…not even my first day and I’m already in chains. Thought they were having a laugh there.” Sea sighed, his forelegs chained to a wall.

The Mare of the Isles’ henchponies had overwhelmed Sea. Pearl tried to help but wasn’t as capable at fighting back. They were currently both in her ship being held prisoner.

“What did you expect from pirates?” Pearl asked, also manacled to a wall.

“Real pirates? Get off. This is just a practical joke gone too far.”

“The barmaid didn’t know what a telephone was, or manners either. Maybe what the Doctor said was right.”

“Heh, might be a blessing if so. I’m not several hours late for duty, I’m several centuries early.”

Pearl smiled, glad that he wasn’t in as much of a mood anymore. A scrawny stallion sat down on a bucket, a cutlass by his side. He stared at the two of them down like a predator surveying their prey.

“I think ye know how this goes. Don’t try to deny it.” the scrawny shipmate said, pulling out the cutlass and holding it to Sea’s cheek.

Sea looked him dead in the eyes, not even flinching.

“What do you want to know?”

“The treasure, ye numbskull! Cap’n Sparrow sent ye one last message, the clue to ‘er stash. I need tah know what she said word-fer-word. Ye wouldn’t want tah be returned to the sea inch by inch, would ya?”

The shipmate winced as Pearl plucked a hair from his tail. Quickly turning around, Pearl now found herself at the edge of the blade.

“Careful, dude. Nopony messes with…the Mare of the Radio.”

Sea just looked at her confused, Pearl side-eying him nervously as she continued.

“A single hair can link the soul to my power. The flowers speak to me, the forces of nature uh, they bridge between thyself and the uh, spirit realm.”

The shipmate just stared at her completely confused.

“Ye really thing I’d believe that yer a witch? Ye may be speaking in tongues, but I ain’t daft.”

“Care-careful mate, she isn’t messing around. You can feel it, can’t you? You can sense your breathing, it’ll drive you mad.” said Sea as he caught on.

“N-no, I- what sorcery is this?”

“Flower power, baby. Unchain us, before I curse ye to have serenades haunt ye for eternity.”

“J-just reverse ye hex! You ain’t getting nothin’ from me!”

Pearl smiled and simply said “Groovy”. The shipmate yelped in fear before unshackling them. He bolted, yelling about forgetting how to breathe and not being paid enough.

“Okay duchess, I’m more convinced. Unless he’s had a few too many I don’t think anyone would be convinced by that performance.”

“Nice one coming up with the autonomous breathing bit. Now we just need to get off this ship and back to the Doc.”

“Eh, that might be easier said than done.”

Looking out through the porthole they could see the shoreline, only several hundred metres away.

“Hopefully the Doctor is getting on better.” Sea sighed.

The Doctor huffed as he continued to trek up the hill. The church wasn’t very far out of town, though he was definitely getting winded faster than he used to.

“Please, slow yourself. I’m no eh, spring chicken.”

“Not much of an adventurer in your younger days, were ya?”

“Precisely the opposite, young lad. Time simply takes its toll on all of us.”

“That’s not much of a calming thought. I bet you’ve seen and sailed every sea in Equestria?”

“And beyond, in a sense.”

“Beyond? Now that’s certainly a sight that I’d like to see. Let’s rest for a moment, tell me your tales o’ weary traveller, wise beyond your ages.”

The Doctor chuckled as he laid down on the grass.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, sir.”

“It got me where I am. How did you get here, exactly?”

“It’s a rather long story. The Tardis, my ship. Has few eh, faults.”

“Heh, don’t they always? Where’d you run from? Definitely something of ‘high society’ from the looks of ya.”

“Whatever makes you think that I’m running?”

“It’s how all pirates are. We were good little stallions and mares in the eyes of the law, in society. But then our higher ups give us an impossible choice, a question of authority, something. Unless you fall in line with the way they think and the way they act, you’re cast out.”

“I am no pirate though. I am simply an explorer, a researcher if you will.”

“But you left your home behind, didn’t you? I can tell that you’re missing something or someone. It’s always the eyes and demeanour that give it away.”

The Doctor was somewhat flabbergasted. Nopony had really understood that part of his life in a long while.

“Well…I asked a question, er had a question. In the face of evil, why does good always prevail? Good is inherently illogical. It requires compassion, self-sacrifice, love. Reality is far from the fairytale that we tell foals at bedtime, so why isn’t the universe governed explicitly by those rules? Why would a revolution for good ever win?”

“Because evil is nothing but fire and rage. It burns, it simmers in our hearts and destroys anything that it touches. However every flame requires constant fuel to keep it going. Good is like the sea. It is patient, near eternal. The water may evaporate in the heat but it still rains. Even the greatest of fires can’t outlast the rain forever.”

The Doctor paused, contemplating those words. He simply nodded in approval as he stood up.

“Are you sure that you aren’t a pirate?

“Hmmph, perhaps. However my ‘treasure’ wouldn’t be worth any monetary value.”

“Got it, the treasure is the friends that you made along the way.”

The Doctor rolled his eyes and continued the journey up the hill.

“You still haven’t told me precisely why we needed to convene at the church.”

“Simple, the riddle was a clue. The key will arise where Celestia greets the land. This is the highest point in the town, where the sun rises first and sets last. Not only that but this is the Church of the Holy Sun, at least it will be. The ground Celestia walks on is considered holy, and it doesn’t get more holier than her own church. Come on.”

Back aboard the ship, the Mare of the Isles was reaming out the shipmate who let their prisoners go. Sea and Pearl snuck around, finding a hiding spot behind the corner between the captain’s quarters and the stairs to the lower deck. They were at the back edge of the ship, the deck mostly empty. There were two lifeboats on either side of the ship though probably too far to just run to.

“Alright, what’s the plan of action Cap’n Sea Shanty?”

“Very funny. There’s only three of them and two of us. One of them will probably run with their tail between our legs so I could easily take on the other. The captain is our biggest problem. What we need is some kind of distraction.”

“Hmmmm, how much would you wager on steering this ship to shore?”

“W- Pearl, no. You can’t just sail this ship to shore.”

“Why not. You’re a sailor, this is a ship, that’s what you’re for, isn’t it?”

Sea just stared forwards, completely lost for words while trying to process what she said. Meanwhile Pearl was sneaking off, a barrel on top of her for cover. Sea nearly had a heart attack when he processed the ridiculous display. The two shipmates ran behind their captain, yelling something about witchcraft again. Rolling her eyes at their simple-mindedness, the Mare of the Isles simply flipped the barrel over. Pearl just froze like a deer in the headlights.

“Ye really be trying me patience, lass. I ain’t no fool, I know yer old feller has the clue now. Do ye know where he’s headed?”

“Uuuuuuh…no. Wait, why do you think the Doctor has the clue?”

“Because me stallions are idiots who didn’t think seeing ‘em off with Starboard didn’t mean nothin’. They left who we were supposed to capture fer dead, so he’s all we got.”

“You didn’t think to supervise? To make sure that your bloodthirsty idiots didn’t even attack the wrong stallion?”

The Mare of the Isles drew her sword, ready to cut off Pearl’s tongue. She stopped as Sea untied several of the ship’s sails. The little wind that they had was just enough for them to move. The two shipmates tried to stop him, but in one quick turn the ship lurched to the left. While it was a slow turn it was enough to catch them off guard. Pearl picked up one of their dropped swords, though she didn’t know how to use it in combat beyond a blind swing. Rushing to his side, Pearl quickly gave it over to Sea.

“Just what I’m for, eh duchess?”

“Aye, aye, captain! I’ll take the wheel while you fight them off.”

“What?!”

“Sword fighting is not a part of basic naval training I take it?”

“Not for my division, no!”

“First thing for everything then. Hold on to your hats!”

Starboard looked curiously out one of the church’s windows. He squinted at the ship in the distance, watching as it started to approach the shore.

“Doctor, we’re running out of time. I think we may have company very soon.” said Starboard while jumping over a pew.

“That’s good. If Pearl and Sea are aboard that ship then they’re within reach of rescue.” the Doctor replied with a smile.

“That’s the spirit, now help me move these crates.”

“Ah, to beneath the church, I presume?”

“Exactly!”

Shoving some supply crates out of the way revealed a hatchway to the church’s crypt. The stonework was in pristine condition and the air smelt of fresh oak wood. However the crypt was completely empty, not even any supplies for construction present. Picking up a lamp, the Doctor pulled out a matchbook from his jacket pocket. He followed Starboard, shining the flame over the row of graves. Tracing his hooves on the stone, the Doctor read the etched in names.

“Here we are, Chariot, Veneer and Gurney. Once my fellow crewmates.”

“Now I understand. A pirate captain placed her trust the most in the crew. All the way to the very end it seems. Quite poetic, hmm?”

“You could say that. Nopony but us knew each other's real names. Once the last of us are gone then the clue would lose all meaning. Baltimare is where we first became a crew, it all ends where it began. There’s hundreds of graves across Equestria, there’s bound to be duplicates with the same name. Still, to be buried here amongst the eventual heroes of Baltimare. Not just anypony is buried in this crypt, at least not when it’s finished. It’s what they would have wanted.”

“I see. My deepest condolences.”

“Thank you Doctor. Nopony else would say such a thing to a pirate, even on their deathbed.”

The sound of a small pirate army could be heard from outside. The ship had docked alongside the shore, though crashed might be a better fitting term. The two quickly left the crypt and re-hid it by pushing back the crates. There was a banging on the church doors, muffled yells coming from outside.

“You still any good with a sword?”

“Err, no. An acquaintance of mine was taught by the Royal Guard but myself, not so much.”

Starboard drew his sword, ready to mow down a pirate army. The Doctor held out a hoof when he recognized those voices.

“Could be a trap” Starboard suggested.

The Doctor shrugged and let them in anyway. He nearly fell over after being swept up in Pearl’s hug. Smiling and patting her back, a warmth filled the Doctor’s hearts.

“There’s three others…coming. Captain and her mates…aboard the ship when we were. We got a head start but…they’re still on our tails.” Sea sputtered through labored breaths.

“Then we must leave at once. Any back entrances?” the Doctor asked.

“One, but they’ll be tearing this place apart looking for my captain’s treasure.”

“Pearl, Sea, did they have any knowledge on our current whereabouts?”

“No, they knew nothing. The Mare of the Isles, geez, bit of a mouthful, threatened me with a sword, but I didn’t tell ‘em nothin’.”

“Absolutely splendid, my dear! They likely haven’t the faintest idea of this church’s significance, let alone our location.”

“Then the treasure is safe? I can just…sail away and it’s all over?”

“Certainly, my colt. You seem disappointed.”

“Well…it’s not exactly a grand battle with a fight for my crew’s honor.”

“I see. You have many years ahead of you, and to let them go would be a terrible waste. I respect you, I believe that you’ll go on to do great things. Move forth and forge a new family of your own.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to have a life beyond all of this. This was meant to be it, I’ve seen so much, I’ve done things that I’m not proud of. I know that you understand.”

“Well, if you wish, I do believe that there is at least one thing that is left to see in this world.”

“That’s your ship?”

Starboard looked back at the blue Police Barn, dumbfounded and unimpressed. To him this was just an average crate with an odd color. The Doctor opened up the doors to his confusion and let the others inside.

“Oh I do believe that appearances may be deceiving. Come inside, if you wish.”

Upon entering, Starboard was shocked by the spacious interior. Stepping back out he walked a full circle around the box. There were no telltales of tricks or illusions. Going back inside was just as daunting as the first time.

“I did mention every sea in Equestria and beyond. We are wanderers in the fourth dimension, able to explore all that there is to offer. The navigational unit is err…unreliable, however I can promise things that have rarely been experienced by even my eyes.”

“I really thought that I’d seen everything that this world had to offer.”

“As did I, once. Perhaps, you’d be willing to join us?”

Starboard briefly thought it over.

“No.”

“No?” the Doctor asked, rather surprised.

“No. This was already my last mission before I retired. The life we live, we either go on until we die or we just stop. I’ve been out on the sea for nearly half of my lifetime. If I were to join you, then I’d truly never stop. I’d love to join you, but I mustn’t.”

“I see. Very well then. It was very nice to meet a fellow traveller such as myself.”

“A fellow pirate, no doubt. One last thing, try not to die out there.”

Starboard did a quick wave before leaving, closing the Police Barn doors behind him. He watched as the TARDIS faded away into nothing, no trace it was there besides an outline in the sand. To the Doctor, it was as if he’d left behind a brother or a son. He hadn’t felt this kind of connection, the desire to answer that question since his granddaughter joined him. Somehow the answer that Starboard gave him comforted him, gave him a peace of mind. Sea and Pearl were talking while he aimed to get them relatively close to home. It was Equus, incredibly cold outside and the Yearometer was jamming. Lovely. Turning on the scanner revealed a complete whiteout.

“Where have we gone now, Doctor? Forwards or backwards in time?” Pearl asked.

“I have no idea. I have no control over such matters.”

“Oh come off it. I still don’t believe that we actually travelled back in time.” Sea scoffed.

“Because Equestrian pirates still roam the seas? In 966?” Pearl quipped with a smirk.

“Well, it better be 966 or I’m in dead trouble. Anyways, wherever it is can’t be as bad as where we just left.”

“My dear colt, it could be a great deal worse.”

Pearl shivered as the console room became colder. A little light came up on the Fault Locator with a serial number for the malfunctioning part. It didn’t take a genius to know that the external temperature buffers were going out again. It just couldn’t handle intense heat or cold, ironically the exact thing it was built for.

“What’s happened, Doctor? I’m freezing!” Pearl shivered, her breath visible.

“Yeah, it’s getting right parky in here.”

“Just look up at the scanner.” the Doctor pointed out.

“We have arrived in the coldest place in the world.”

Chapter 47 - Nexus

Twilight looked out the window as the train started making its way up Canterlot Mountain. The Doctor’s 900 year diary sat in her book bag alongside her presentation notes. Having been asked to do a presentation at her old school, she jumped at the chance. She was rather proud of the section on cutie mark magic too, having such a unique connection to it through her and her friends. That one event that indirectly changed her and her friend’s lives forever, eventually bringing them all together in the present. Reflecting back on her past adventures, Twilight wouldn’t trade a single moment in her life.

However there was still a bit of curiosity. She wanted to see the moment with her adult eyes, the original Sonic Rainboom. An immense explosion of vibrant hues caused by intense speed and strength of will. She’d seen Rainbow Dash do it again several times over, but does it look different to how she remembered it? It was at least a decade prior to when the first rainboom occurred and Rainbow Dash obtained her cutie mark. Maybe it was more vibrant in the past, something more breathtaking lost as time had passed. Even when with the Doctor, when she had an actual time machine at her disposal, she’d never been able to see it.

“Metebelis 3, the famous blue planet of the Acteon Galaxy. Last time I was there it wasn't strictly the best, but the site was still marvelous. Calm lavender skies, blue crystals the size of houses. If you catch them at the right moment, with the light and wind being just right, it’s as if you’re staring at a flowing ocean made of diamonds. The sound as well, the wind blowing through the peaks and valleys makes the most tranquil sound imaginable. It’s one of the 699, eh, 698 wonders of the known universe.”

The Doctor, the one Twilight first met, was busy moving over the controls like a concert pianist playing their best melody. She used to be a bit skeptical about time travel, let alone what the TARDIS was. Anything similar to it had normally ended in disaster. Wormholes, explosions, she’d even witnessed dinosaurs roaming the streets of Canterlot thanks to an ill-fated attempt. To think that the Doctor, renowned scientific advisor of SMILE he may be, could succeed where all geniuses of the past had failed was a tall order to swallow.

“Actually, I have a suggestion.”

“Oh? What did you have in mind?”

“The Sonic Rainboom. Only happened once in the last thousand years and I was in the middle of taking my entrance exam. Scared me half to death as well.”

She couldn’t really read his face. The Doctor was clearly thinking it over, though it looked more like if he were deciding if the answer tasted good or not.

“Well, that’s a bit of a complicated task.”

“You said that we could go anywhere in time and space.”

“Some places tend to be a bit more…complicated. It’s a bit hard to explain.”

“Don’t patronize me. We’re in a time machine, aren’t we? Therefore you have all the time in existence to explain why.”

The Doctor sighed, scratching the back of his head. It took him a moment as he struggled to find the right words.

“There is an inconceivably large amount of points in time threaded through sequences of events. Each thread is like a possible timeline. However, there are moments where multiple threads coalesce. So many threads depend on one probability that they become a more fixed probability. Think Luna’s banishment to the moon, or the instatement of the Royal Sister’s monarchy. The Rainboom is one of those points, making it a bit more…delicate. Even small drips can turn into tidal waves in the tides of time.”

“I think I understand. But to document and study such a phenomenon. The story the data could tell, the theories it could prove, just the opportunity to be there! Just to see it up close…”

“Please? We don’t even need to be anywhere near Canterlot. I just want to see it.” asked the Twilight of a more recent yesterday.

The Doctor picked up his hat off of the coat rack, placing it on his head and tightening his overtly long scarf.

“Well, traveling across one’s personal timestream to any capacity is a bit tricky regardless, Twilight. Even I don’t visit the same time and place twice…at least not intentionally.”

“You’re being facetious again.”

“Facetious, me? Me being facetious, really. What do you think, Patchy. Am I being facetious?”

Pumpkin Patch, whom the Doctor called Patchy to their mild annoyance, was a medic who worked for SMILE. He was mostly just in awe of the TARDIS’s vast interior until the Doctor snapped him out of his dazed state.

“Hmm? What was that?” Patch stuttered out.

“Twilight and I were discussing our next destination. As I was saying, the Griffish Isles are a lovely place. Plenty of historical value.”

“The last time you said that, we ended up five hundred years early and were almost put to the guillotine.” Twilight quipped.

“Weeeell, nopony’s perfect. Not my first time at the guillotine either. I really tried advising against them, you know. Everypony fanatical about whether Luna or Celestia was better. Both of them are lovely.”

“You’re avoiding the question. Equus, 992, Sonic Rainboom.”

The console beeped and the time rotor stopped shifting up and down. Twilight gave the Doctor a hard stare from across the console. The Doctor activated the scanner, Patch turning around and now looking dumbfounded at the outside world as well as the one inside the ship. It was a blank white room, big blue crates stacked haphazardly around the TARDIS. They were probably in the storage area of some futuristic civilization or space station.

“Don’t think I won’t stop asking.”

“Oh I know you won’t” the Doctor replied with a toothy grin.

“And you still didn’t stop asking.” the Doctor said before taking a sip of tea.

It had been a long day, Twilight had been patient, but enough was enough. The question marks spanning this Doctor’s vest were an indicator of his character. He always spoke in riddles, leaving more questions than answers. After two years for her and two centuries for him he wasn’t like the Doctor she knew at all. He looked tired, appearing on her doorstep alone. There was a smile on his face but no joy in those eyes. His face was a mask but she didn’t know what he was hiding. Here they were again, outside of a small cafe drinking tea like the old friends they were.

“You’re avoiding the question. I asked how you were and you started rambling on about old times.”

“Didn’t you say the same thing to me? Something about being facetious.”

“You need help, Doctor. You’re not listening to me at all. And I don’t mean help with saving the universe or an adventure, real help for yourself.”

“I’m not quite sure I understand.” the Doctor replied while taking another sip of his tea.

“You show up on my doorstep alone, no aliens, no robots, no catastrophes. You really expect me to believe that you were just ‘in town’ for no reason? Who’s travelling with you now?”

The Doctor leaned back in his seat, pushing his hat back up when it slipped over his eyes.

“Nopony at the moment. Ace and I…had a bit of a disagreement. I may have gone a little too far.”

Twilight leaned forwards and stared him in the eyes.

“What did you do?”

“I thought I did what had to be done. I need to make sacrifices for the greater good, to keep everypony safe.”

“It sounds to me like it wasn’t your choice to make.”

“I had to. Sticks and stones are better than broken bones. Or was it that words are better than that?”

“Doctor…please.”

The Doctor sighed as he sat up straight. His eyes begged her to just let it go, to just go off on another adventure. He was running away, something he rarely did. Normally the Doctor would run towards the people he cared about, those around him. Maybe that’s why he was here. Twilight wasn’t sure exactly what kind of pony this Doctor was, but she wasn’t sure if she liked him.

“Is visiting the Sonic Rainboom still on the table?”

The Doctor showed up on her doorstep one last time before vanishing completely. It was pouring rain outside that night, his purple fur absolutely drenched. She quickly brought him inside the Golden Oaks Library, fetching a towel to dry off his wavy mane. Bit by bit, he emptied his pockets out onto the table since Twilight offered to run his jacket through the dryer. His pockets must have been as spacious as the TARDIS with how big the randomly assorted pile of junk was getting. Twilight cracked a smile as he fumbled to turn off an electric toy or gizmo.

“Sorry, has a terrible habit of going off when you don’t want it to. Frostfall nearly had my head for disrespect at the dinner table. Really took those old Frost Fairs a bit too seriously.”

Somehow she knew that this was the Doctor, she always knew. No matter which face it was there was always something about him that gave it away. That veil of denial his predecessor had was gone now, it hurt to see him like this.

“Is everything alright? I know that we haven’t been…amicable, as of the last time we met. How uh, how have you been?”

“I’ve been doing my best. Trying to fix things isn’t easy. Looking back is never easy. It’s getting harder and harder for me to visit every day that passes for you.”

“Just because I have new friends and a new home doesn’t mean that you can’t stop by.”

“I wish I could explain, but I can’t. Not yet. I shouldn’t even be here at all, really. It’s not that I don’t want to, I promise. I want to tell you the answers to all of the questions I could never say, but I can’t.”

“Time Ponies again?”

“Not quite, at least I certainly hope not. I don’t know when we’ll meet up again, but I’m certain that we will.”

Twilight folded up the Doctor’s velvet coat, putting it in the dryer. She already had some tea brewing before she returned to the main library space. The Doctor held a small envelope out to her, struggling to look her in the eyes.

“Here, consider it a parting gift. I went through a lot of trouble to get the right time, place and location. Even the best angle was a bother. The Tardis was a bit fickle about doing it but I found a way.”

“You don’t mean-”

“Yes. Equus, 992, Cloudsdale. Now that you know that it connected you to your friends I can say that it would’ve negatively affected the Web of Time for you to be there. The things you’ve done, the ponies you’d helped, even the slightest change could have altered all of that. I know the good things that you’ve done, and I hope that you always remember that I’m proud of you.”

Twilight pulled him into a hug, holding back tears. He must have known that her life would lead her here for so long. Time wasn’t linear for him like it was for her. He knew that she’d reform Discord, stop Chrysalis from toppling Canterlot, save the Crystal Empire upon its return. Life used to seem so simple when she felt that she was unimportant in the grand scheme of things. She was just a normal bookworm in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. If he told her that she’d grow to be all this, to do so much she wouldn’t have believed him in the slightest. At least now in this moment, the Doctor could still be here like he always used to be.

The Doctor was right not to visit her anymore. She became a princess, fought Tirek and Starlight and so much more. Even though it was less than a year ago since the day he meant to say goodbye so much had changed. The envelope had remained unopened, one of the few things that survived the destruction of the Golden Oaks Library. Maybe he knew that the library would be destroyed and planned ahead accordingly. The last time they had met was an accident, just looking into something strange out of nostalgia.

She went back to the school she went to as a foal and discovered it was run by alien creatures. They were using the students like computers, fueling both their imagination and temporarily altered intelligence to decipher the code to the universe. The Doctor and her stopped it, just like old times. She slipped into that groove so easily, but it hurt. It was a taste of the life that she used to have and it made her understand why the Doctor didn’t look back.

Travelling with him was an addiction, a curse as well as a blessing. Their days were always going to be numbered one way or another. Oddly her experience with his adventures helped build her confidence enough to be able to face the monsters all on her own. Her past experiences gave her the strength to continue fighting for what was right, not on alien worlds but in her home. There was a reason she was chosen to save the Doctor, and maybe this was why.

Chapter 48 - The Final Night

A chilling gale blew outside the TARDIS, cold enough to freeze water in minutes. Inside the scanner still wasn’t giving the Doctor any concrete results. It was a complete white out, all but a few feet blocked by the raging snowstorm. Pearl returned in a thick and fluffy coat just when it was getting too cold. She handed the Doctor his cloak and scarf while he fiddled with the temperature control unit. Much like everything else, it needed an upgrade. He shrugged it off, instead placing the component onto his workbench.

“Quite the arctic storm blowing out there.” the Doctor said confidently.

“What makes you say it’s the arctic?” Sea asked while bundling himself up.

“It’s difficult to make out, but those peaks in the nearby terrain appear to be of glacial composition.”

“Well if you say so. I doubt that there’s anypony out there.”

“There’s only one way to find out, now is there? Come along, Pearl, my foal. You too Sea, unless you wish to remain here.”

Sea shivered, not giving it a second thought before sighing and giving in. Outside was, of course, a million times worse than in the TARDIS. The cold wind stung their faces, the noise somewhat deafening. The Doctor could barely hear Pearl as she pointed out something in the snow. It was the top of a periscope turning around to look at the three of them. Quickly a triangular metal hatch opened up with several voices coming from inside. It was hard to make out if they were friendly, although anything was better than this cold. The underground bunker was much warmer, the hatchway quickly closing once everypony was inside.

Small clumps of snow still cling to them as they removed their protection from the elements. Just as things were calming down, the Doctor had somepony in his face again. He looked like some official or high ranking leader. Maybe a general or a manager, but definitely high in authority. Of course this would be the first pony to be breathing down his neck.

“Who are you, who are you working for, and what are you doing in a strict military zone? I want answers, and I want ‘em now!”

“Hmph. I don’t like your tone, sir.”

“Well I don’t like your hair, or your clothes. But right now, you’re a group of civilians who appeared with no prior notification. Not to mention you’re in the most desolate place in the world, so don’t lie with any of that amateur explorer nonsense.”

The Doctor couldn’t come up with a clear answer so he shifted over to Sea. Sea’s training kicked in when the general stomped down his hoof.

“Royal Naval Officer Sea Shanty, sir!”

“A naval officer, eh? Why aren’t you on your ship, then?”

Sea couldn’t come up with a believable answer either. The general rubbed the bridge between his eyes in annoyance. He didn’t even bother to question Pearl, expecting the exact same answer.

“I’ll be calling in High Command and they’ll be escorting you and that strange crate you left outside back to their office. However, you’re stuck here for the time being. The storm is too strong so nopony’s getting in or out until it passes. Keep them under guard in the observation room where I can see ‘em. I’ve got work to do, I’ll question again later.”

The three of them were then escorted down a flight of stairs that led into a much larger room. The observation room was round, every desk facing towards a wall of curved monitors. It was a rocket control room straight out of the old sci-fi movies. Some of the screens monitored the surface while most were reporting on the Zeta-Four rocket. Both Pearl and Sea gawked at everything around them. In their time, extensive space travel was still a dream that the average pony would believe to never see in person.

“Well, this is certainly more impressive than what you see on the telly.” Sea remarked.

One of the nearby scientists turned around in his swivel chair to greet him.

“It’s just the standard station, still impressive though, isn’t it? Chief Scientist Sparkfield.”

The commanding pony from before eyed them intensely while at his own station. Sparkfield just shrugged him off since they seemed harmless enough.

“Don’t mind him too much, Lieutenant Rye can be rather intense. Not much of a ‘ponies’ stallion, if you know what I mean. ‘Higher ups’ aren’t too keen on too many personnel, so staff is cut to abare minimum and we’re worked into the ground. All of us are here for a few months to monitor the new prototype probe’s launch, then it’s back home. Nearly finished here and thank goodness too.”

“I see, trust me I’ve been there. I’m the one mare HR back home. Maybe we can ride the ‘express’ ride back home with you.” Pearl sighed.

“Well I don’t mean to depress you, but I’m afraid that we’re not quite when you think we are.” the Doctor interjected.

Both Sea and Pearl sighed when the Doctor pointed to Sparkfield’s desk calendar. It read November 986, about twenty years after they’d left.

“At least that explains why there can be so few ponies running the controls. They must get all them computers to do the work for them.” Sea huffed in slight annoyance.

He then turned around to Sparkfield to ask: “Say, have we been to the moon yet?”

Sparkfield just looked at him, a bit blindsighted by what he thought was an obviously dumb question.

“Err…yeah? The latest expedition just returned. I thought you watched the launch two weeks ago.”

Before Sea could respond a few warning lights pulsated at Sparkfield’s workstation. He didn’t look too concerned, though was definitely puzzled. A dot-matrix printer spat out some figures on a piece of tractor paper before subsequently jamming. Sighing while tearing it off, Sparkfield handed it over to the desk in front of him. The Doctor placed a hoof to his chest, feeling uneasy. Something about this situation felt familiar. He’d read about these events in a book somewhere, but the specifics were evading him. A feed from the Zeta-Four rocket appeared on screen, displaying the two pilots.

“This is Ground Control to Zeta Four, this is Ground Control to Zeta Four. Do you copy?”

Sparkfield held down a button on his desk to keep two-way communications open.

“Loud and clear, what seems to be the issue?”

“According to our computers your altitude is eleven hundred miles, is that correct?”

The other astronaut checked a gauge before he replied.

“Yes. We appear to be about three degrees too high in our descent as well. Correcting now.”

The puzzle pieces were finally starting to click into place in the Doctor’s mind. He began scribbling down an idea onto a pad of paper from his pocket. At best he’d be wrong, potentially looking like a fool to Lieutenant Rye. If his potential prediction were correct, then there was far worse to come.

“Er, excuse me? If you don’t mind, I have some information for Lieutenant Rye.”

The guard turned to speak to him.

“Uh, my apologies, sir. Lieutenant Rye is very busy at the moment.”

The Doctor kept on kindly yet somewhat aggressively offering the piece of paper to the guard until he took it out of annoyance. Slowly more warning lights activated one by one. Ponies dashed into position as the emergency grew. The cockpit of Zeta Four appeared on screen again.

“Zeta four, what’s going on up there?!” Rye demanded.

“We’re not sure. The nose refuses to go down and something’s blocking Mars. We can’t reposition.”

“How much fuel is left in your reserves?”

“Less than three million gallons. Enough for the re-entry but not much else.”

“Keep steady and report back later, we’ll analyze the situation and provide a status update when ready.”

“Will do.”

The feed cut back to the rocket’s orbit, Rye fuming at how this could possibly happen.

“I want a full analysis on whatever this ‘thing’ is obstructing their view. We need the how and why, stat!”

Everypony obeyed, surveying and scanning the new object as it steadily entered their radars. Whatever it was, it was slowly approaching Equus. The more data they collected the more severe the situation became. If all the scans were truly accurate then this was the largest asteroid in history. It was a gigantic orb coated in ice and desolate terrain, an almost equivalent size to Equus. To those in the observation room and across the world it was impossible, but the Doctor knew all too well what this was. Now that he seemed to have an opening he approached the Lieutenant.

“What is it? Can’t you see I’m- you!”

“Yes, yes. I wrote down what I believe that you’ll be discovering, I gave it to my guard. Given how busy you appeared to be I figured it’d be more effective to consult you personally.”

The object in question appeared on the big screen as the first pictures of it were being broadcasted on the news globally. What was shocking was that the landmasses on the new celestial body were a near mirror image of Equus’. Sure there were some discrepancies, but the picture was unmistakable. The room went dead silent as Zeta Four called in.

“Ground control…something’s wrong…can’t…maintain…”

The feed was cutting in and out as the signal got weaker. The other planet was slowly pulling them off course and into its own orbit. The pilots didn’t look well either, drenched in sweat and like they hadn’t slept for days. It was hard to tell with the static, but they were getting paler by the second. The rocket fired its retro-boosters but it barely had any effect. The call cut out, silence draping over the room once more. The guard placed the note down next to Rye, the Lieutenant swiping it up out of anger. He looked at it, momentarily reading it over before his head slowly turned to the Doctor. He displayed a mixed array of emotions from disbelief to disdain.

“You knew this entire time.”

“I had my predictions. However, I doubt that you would give them any credibility until after the proof had arisen.”

“Credibility my aunt fanny, who are you? You show up, things go awry and now the lives of two good ponies are at stake here. Don’t play games with me!”

“Me, causing a new planetoid to arrive in Equus’ orbit? Don’t be absurd.”

“For all we know this is all some mass illusion or a computer virus. Somepony else pulling the strings, trying to initiate a global panic. Your cohorts call you the Doctor but that’s just a title. What’s your real name, hmm? Doctor who?”

The two stood eye to eye once again. The Doctor understood Rye’s motives, however misplaced they may be. Another member of the personnel gently got both of their attention.

“Uh, sir? Something else was detected on our radars, touching down nearby. About half a mile away is the supposed impact zone.”

Lieutenant Rye sighed, rubbing the bridge between his eyes again before cooling down.

“Send a small party to go out and observe. Make sure to be cautious, highest level hazard treatment. Now as for you, Doctor, explain to me this ‘prediction’ of yours.”

Rye pulled up a seat, ready to listen.

“Long ago a similar planet to Equus shared an orbit, that is, until it began to drift and shot out into the cosmos. Theoretically evolution carried out along similar lines until the drifting began. No sunlight and no heat made the planet completely inhospitable. What’s on your scanners now is that exact same missing planet, returned to its proper place.”

“Even if I believe this crackpot theory has an ounce of merit, how could this planet have returned? The effects on the Solar System, let alone Equus, will be catastrophic.”

“The answer lies with the inhabitants of that world. Perhaps they’ve developed technologies far beyond your understanding.”

“But you said-”

“I said that merely the surface was inhospitable. Life once existed on your neighbouring red planet before it too became a barren wasteland. Beneath the surface are the corroded remnants of ancient civilizations existing long before the birth of ponies. It’s not hard to conclude that given less time to erode, the inhabitants of that world may have survived.”

“You’re seriously suggesting an alien invasion? Don’t tell me, it’s either the little green variety with three eyes or the ones that burst from your chest. Forget about it.”

“Yet you cannot deny the possibility, hmm? There are certainly some unexplainable facts in front of you. We musn’t dismiss the less likely as purely impossible.”

“And what do you suggest we do then, eh? Arm ourselves with the common cold?”

“Fortify yourselves. This world is about to be invaded.”

The small party returned still in their heavy coats. They slowly shuffled their way towards the stairs down to the observation room. Nopony paid them any mind besides the Doctor and Rye.

“What’s your report on the unidentified object?” Rye ordered.

Lieutenant Rye went completely ignored, causing him to demand more aggressively with the same result. Reaching upwards, the coats were removed and discarded. Pearl screamed at such a horrific site. Their heads were wrapped in a single cloth, holes showing the augmented remains of eyes and a mouth beneath the dark mesh covering them. Their hooves were organic but pale, attached to silver mechanical limbs. Tubes and wires extended from the life support units on their backs like the limbs of a metallic spider. Their skulls were held together by a drilled in rectangular chassis, a single floodlight welded into it. The reeked of antiseptic, like they’d just walked out of the hospital morgue with gowns to hide their mangled features.

Their heads turned robotically, their floodlights acting as portable scanners. A member of the security team tried to rush them, only to be killed by a weapon they unlatched from their sides. It appeared to be similar to the floodlight on their heads, only larger. In perfect sync, the three robotic figures re-hooked the weapons back to their sides. Nopony dared to move a muscle as these creatures marched down the steps and into the center of the room.

“Are yoooooou. In charge of this. Operation?” one of them asked in their grating robotic tone.

Lieutenant Rye nearly stumbled backwards as they approached, not sure which one of them the voice came from.

“Er, yes.”

“We have returned toooo. Establish contact. Our worlds need. Each other.”

“Need? B-”

“Your rocket was. Detected. It is inefficient in. Design.”

“The rocket! Yes, well uh, could you bring it down for us?”

All three of their heads turned towards him in unison. That really made Rye jump.

“Why?” they all asked.

“Because there’s ponies up there, and they’ll die if you don’t do something!” Pearl blurted out.

Now the creatures turned to face her. Pearl stumbled a few steps back, almost falling onto Sea as they marched forwards. The antiseptic stench was stronger up close, sterile yet musty like an abandoned operating room.

“Ponies die every. Day. Why should you. Care?”

There was no malice behind the question, almost a sense of childlike curiosity if anything at all.

“Care? Of course I care, you’re not like us. You’ve got no feelings.”

“I do nooooot. Understand these. Words.”

“Emotions, love, pride, hate, fear. Have you no emotions, sir?” the Doctor interjected.

Sea grabbed a fire extinguisher off the wall, planning to rush the creatures until they commanded him to stop. He was frozen with fear as the fire extinguisher was taken from him. With a single slow motion the fire extinguisher was crushed like a tin can in a hydraulic press. Everypony ducked and covered their ears when the extinguisher’s pressure burst out with a loud bang. The creatures didn’t even flinch, the remnants of the canister dropping to the floor with a loud clang.

“We are the. Cybermares. Our homeworld. Mondas. Became tooooo harsh. To support life. As such. We augmented our bodies tooooo. Survive.”

Sparkfield took a step to the side, allowing Rye to be able to activate a distress beacon and put the facility on lockdown. High Command phoned in immediately and requested a report on the situation. The lieutenant looked down at the desk and then back up at the approaching Cybermare. High Command couldn’t see or hear anything until the button on the desk was pressed.

“Yooooou. Should not have done. That. Call of the emergency. Or we shall use force. If necessary.”

It was obvious that their threat wasn’t empty, they’d already watched one of their guards be killed in a second. All of their lives were in Rye’s hooves and potentially the world’s as well. The Cybermare backed out of frame before Rye held down the button to answer the call.

“Err, no. Nothing to report. One of our systems must’ve developed a fault.”

The High Command seemed to buy it, though they were likely suspicious. In the best case scenario the reinforcements were already on their way to rescue them.

“Now will you please, please get that rocket down.” Rye begged the Cybermares.

“Why? The rocket’s destruction is. A foregone conclusion. Why should we. waste resources?”

“They only think in logic, Rye. They have no sense of care, no sense to attempt what may or may not be a foolhardy mission.” the Doctor stated while staring down the Cybermares with contempt.

“That is. Correct. We had no need for. Illogical and irrational impulses. Unnecessary risk is. Not logical toooo. Survival.”

“You’re all just a buncha tin cans, the lot of ya. Robots with no heart or soul.” Sea snidely quipped.

His snarky demeanor vanished when two Cybermares grabbed him, starting to take him away. Pearl wanted to fight them off but the Doctor held her back. The Cybermares were cold but not cruel killers, no death without reason. They saw Sea as a threat, but not an immediate one. Thankfully that meant that he wasn’t enough of a threat to be gunned down too.

“He will be placed in a. Secure area. Yooooou. Will give yoooour. Total surrender. Logically yoooour emotions will. Dictate surrender for. Survival.”

“Is that a threat?” Pearl spat out, dripping with anger.

“By yooooour. Terms. Yes.”

Sea grunted as he was shoved into the records room. The walls were lined with old tapes, monitors displaying feeds of every room and the outdoor surveillance cameras. While he could see what was happening, he had to do something. Seeing what looked like a projector, he started to try and get it to turn on. Aiming it at the top of the door, he could use it as a means to blind the Cybermare and use their weapon to bluff his way out. He started yelling for help and banging on the door, luring his captor into the room. Immediately it was blinded by the intense light in its unblinking eyes.

Sea took his chance, snagging the Cybermare’s weapon and aiming it at the Cybermare’s head. Quickly it recovered and marched towards him. He threatened it, begged it to not make him use its own weapon against him. It reached out a hoof towards him, but Sea didn’t give it a chance to do anything else. The Cybermare clutched its head before dropping to the ground. Sea wasn’t sure if the Cybermares had augmented out their pain, but it certainly sounded like they hadn’t. He dropped the weapon, tears running down his face. This didn’t feel justified out of self defence, it was just following orders. Whatever or whoever this thing once was, it didn’t deserve to die like this. It was too much for Sea to handle.

“It didn’t give me a choice…”

Back in the observation room it was too late for the rocket. The retro rockets kept on firing until they ran out of fuel. It was trapped in the middle of the two planet’s orbits, slowly tearing it apart in the vacuum of space. The Cybermares watched as everypony’s efforts to save it went to waste. There was no explosion or even a sound, the rocket’s signal just faded away. Truly nothing could have stopped this, the Cybermares were right. That was when they stepped forth, addressing the room.

“Yooooou. Could be free of this. Pain. The Cybermares offer a bargain. In exchange for magic. We will fix you. Eliminate illness. Eliminate Pain. You will become like us.”

“Ah, so your true motives have been revealed, hmm? You really do believe that you’re the ultimate form of survival. Now you’re realizing just how far from the truth that is. Ponies won’t just willingly give in to you as you’ve forgotten one fundamental thing: that survival is pointless if you can’t live.”

Sea came in guns blazing, shooting down one Cybermare after another. The guards picked up the remaining two weapons, the only fighting chance they had. This wasn’t even the reconnaissance party, they were just the emissaries. Somewhere out in the snow was a cybership with enough cyber soldiers to wage a battle. Already Lieutenant Rye was recontacting High Command to give a full detailed report and requests for further reinforcements. The base’s radars were already picking up an entire fleet moving in formation above the atmosphere. A small pain gripped the Doctor’s chest, merely the first on Equus to experience the effects of something on Mondas. The pilots were obviously the first victims and the Cybermares needed an entire species worth of magic to survive.

A unicorn dropped his coffee mug, causing it to shatter on the ground. The lights flickered and everypony was starting to feel it now. The Doctor was already the weakest of them all, old with age and the hidden scars of his travels. He blacked out, finding himself in the barracks when he awoke. He pushed the blanket off before stumbling his way back to the observation room. Everypony was going back and forth over something, sound was still somewhat hard to process. Words like explosive and megaspell were being thrown around before he could properly make out the conversation. The ultimate weapon called the Z-bomb was capable of destroying large bodies in space. It was designed as a way to combat large asteroids or as a last resort for alien threats. Mondas was already barely holding itself together, just a husk of a world.

The Doctor stayed in the doorway until he heard that Pearl was gone. He’d missed most of the carnage, the Cybermares obviously not backing down from the fight. Luckily he still had some fight left in him too, as weak as he may be. Sea and Rye were still arguing on what to do, not noticing him nearby.

“He’s still ill, he’s not ready!” Sea yelled in concern.

“If your friend has any idea on what’s happening then I don’t care. We need him, we need the Doctor.”

“There’s no need to shout, I’m already here. You could awaken somepony from their grave with all of this ruckus.”

Pearl would’ve given him a hug right now if she were here. Sea just smiled, glad that he was here but concerned for his health.

“Right, inform me properly on the current situation.”

Sparkfield cleared his throat, having just stood there silently while Sea and Rye argued.

“It was determined that the only remaining solution was that if Mondas was out of the picture, then the problem would be resolved. However there were…complications. The missile appears to have been disarmed before it could launch. However it’s still aimed at Mondas and the surface is crawling with Cybermares. They’re not going to take us trying to destroy their planet lightly.”

The Doctor turned to Rye, knowing that it was his decision to make that call. Sea or Pearl had clearly had a hoof in disabling the missile, just as much to the Doctor that Sparkfield did too.

“You dare to threaten to destroy another planet?” the Doctor said horrified.

“Not to threaten, but the Cybermares will see it that way. There were no other options.” Rye tried to justify.

“Dear, dear me. You don’t understand, but Mondas is equally under the threat of the absorption as much as we are. Think of it as a dehydrated individual being thrown into a pool. Their planet can no longer handle the same amount of thaumic energy as Equus. All you must do is fortify Equus. Defend yourselves but do not instigate an attack.”

All the monitors went white before the picture cleared. The Cybermares were transmitting a call along the same frequency though it was very unstable. Sparkfield desperately tried to cut off the transmission, some kind of virus travelling through it and overtaking control of their systems. The Z-bomb rocket lowered, no longer aimed at Mondas.

“Yoooou. Claim to be. A peaceful race. Yet yooooou. Have threatened to destroy our world. Yooooour. Systems are under. Our control. Disarm the warhead completely. Or else we will detonate it ooooourselves.”

The Doctor quickly pressed the button to open the line both ways. He started stalling, hoping to waste more of the Cybermares’ time.

“So that’s how you plan to prevent an overload, eh? Once you’ve had your little pitstop you reduce the planet to rubble. No doubt you’ll harvest the remains for resources as well. What happens when Equus’ supply runs out then, hmm? Plan to execute this little plan eternally?”

“This conversation is. Pointless. Yoooooou. Are simply stalling for time. Yooooou. Have three minutes to make. A decision. Aaaaaaall unnecessary staff. Will be escorted for. Cyber conversion.”

Sea and Sparkfield looked over at the Doctor, expecting him to know what to say and do. Either the fighting continued and the staff could be killed and converted, or surrender and hope that it’s already too late. More ponies could die in either decision, either way it wasn’t his call to make. He couldn’t in good conscience make that decision when he was such an outsider. Lieutenant Rye stepped up instead, taking charge of the call.

“We surrender. We’ll send a party to safely disarm the warhead under protection. Just let everypony leave safely, not a single death here or anywhere on the planet, you understand?”

There was a long pause before a Cybermare simply replied “Affirmative” before ending the call. The rhythmic thump of the Cybermares’ hoofsteps echoed down the halls followed by the screams of terror. Rye made an announcement over the PA system to not resist the Cybermares and that they were to completely surrender.

“But…why?” Sparkfield asked in disbelief.

“High Command’s last order was to send up the last of their rockets into space. They’re hoping to counteract the drainage coming from Mondas. My son is on one of those ships, and I want to give him a fighting chance to live another day. If we keep fighting then the Cybermares will continue to retaliate. In the meantime, Sea Shanty of the Equestrian Royal Navy, you have experience in heavy lifting, don’t you? Sparkfield could need a strong pair of hooves when dismantling the warhead.”

Rye winked at him, an ounce of uncertainty in his tone. Cybermares burst through the doors to the observation room, this being the last area before reaching the exit hatch. The Doctor, Rye and dozens of other ponies were marched across the snow. The Doctor had a feeling that the Cybermares wouldn’t honor their end of the bargain. They wouldn’t care about the condition of their converts so long as they were fresh and usable. The inside of the Cybership was just as cold and mechanical as the Cybermares themselves. The Doctor was sat down in the cell next to Pearl, though calling it a cell would be doing it a favour.

All it was was a seat behind a gate of horizontal bars, their hooves cuffed to the gates. Sea was all on his own now, the responsibility of stalling and saving everypony on his shoulders. It felt unfair to the Doctor to put that kind of burden on anypony but himself. His only consolus on the situation was that Pearl was unharmed and nearby.

“Doctor, thank goodness you’re…are you alright?”

The old Timepony was more resilient than most, though even he had his limits. He was more pale and frail than he ever had been before. He’d been holding back death since falling unconscious in the observation room. Time and time again his travels were taking a toll on him mentally and physically, the magic drainage was just the straw to break the camel’s back. It was too much to bear any longer.

“This old body of mine is wearing a bit thin. Such a shame, Pearl. For once, I’m getting too old for this.”

“Heh, thinking of retiring soon?”

“In a sense, yes. I’ve done all that I can. It’s time for me to rest. All we can do is hope…for more time.”

The Doctor sighed, his hooves faintly glowing a mix of white and gold. He went in and out as the fatigue grew further. Everypony in a holding cell was starting to feel the same too, the magic that gave them life being ripped away from them. The Doctor was different though, he wasn’t going to end here. It was to be expected that this would happen eventually after all he’d done to wear himself out. Many what-ifs ran through the Doctor’s mind, the past raising from the slumber in his memory. He could’ve been the Lord President of Gallophrey had he kept his seat at the High Council. So long ago the young colt he once was ran across the crimson and orange fields full of dreams of the universe.

So long since Susan was forced to say goodbye, to forge a life of her own away from him. It felt like eons ago that he’d been in that junkyard with her on 72 Trotters Lane. It was stupid of him to take Spark and Berry with him at all, Free looking at him like he was insane when it was brought up. All those things that he put Cosmic through too, things he never meant to happen. The whole run with the Daleks, Lavender, T-Tauri and even Shining Star still burned in his hearts. At least Petunia went on, unscarred by the grim nature of his travels, if she even remembered them. All those memories of this life, his life, just slipped right through him. It wasn’t his time yet, he wouldn’t allow it. Sea and Pearl needed to get home and nopony else but him could do it.

Nopony else but this Doctor, not the one that would soon take his place. The whole ship rocked back and forth as it failed to take off. He awoke from his slumber just in time to see all the Cybermares melting where they stood. The organic components just faded away into dust, the machines were now incomplete. Sea rushed in and unlocked Pearl first, making sure she was okay. The source of the drainage was gone but for the elderly TimePony they remained.

“C’mon Doctor, wakey wakey. It’s all over now.” Sea said cheerfully.

“All over…that’s what you said? This is far from being all over. The ship, I must get back to the ship. Keep warm, you two…”

Sea and Pearl looked at one another confused. The Doctor just marched on without them into the blistering cold snow. The blizzard was already covering up the remnants of the Cybermares, by morning all traces of them would be gone. A bright and beautiful aura lit up the sky as all the magic returned to Equus. Leaning up against a pillar of ice, the Doctor could swear that he heard a voice in the distance. He refused to change, he refused to regenerate. He could just set the coordinates back to Equus, let the TARDIS do all the work. Every TimePony had to make this choice eventually, to die as they are or to change every single cell in their body. He refused to go through that change, to have another Doctor go on when the stallion he was now dies.

The next thing he knew he was entering the console room. The details in his mind were fuzzy, though in a different way he couldn’t describe. Before he was so sure, so scared to regenerate. Something had changed his mind, that fear completely gone with some reassurance in its place. His future was in good hooves, though he wasn’t quite sure why he felt that way. Several switches flipped on their own, the ship taking flight. The time rotor rose and fell as his friends pounded on the doors, begging to be let in. Looking up the Doctor could swear that he could see somepony across the console. A ghost perhaps? Anything was possible after all. Whomever was standing across that console he smiled at them, using his dying breath to open the doors.

Collapsed on the floor, the light engulfed him. His body changed to a darker gray, white hair becoming a short black bowl cut. This new Doctor, the second Doctor, was much younger than his predecessor. He slept, the TARDIS taking him, Sea and Pearl to whatever destination was next. For now they were safe, the future was safe. There was still so much in store for the three of them. There was however one concrete fact, that wherever or whenever he was needed, the Doctor would be there.

Author's Note

Well here we are, an entire era come to a close. I’d like to thank everyone who’s been along this journey with me so far and will continue to in the future. While this is an ending, the story is still not complete. This will be Volume/Book 1 in the TPJ series. I have many ideas for the series in the future, but I’m likely going to be taking a break for the time being. There will be an extra chapter planned in the future as a bonus, but for now, this is the end. Even if the moment has been prepared for, I’m still saddened to put this chapter to a close. See you somewhere or somewhen soon.

Your prized pencil pony

Pencil_Shavings109

Prologue

“Why are we here Doctor?” Derpy asked, her face once beaming with joy as usual now showing serious signs of concern.

The air of the console room felt tense, the Doctor just staring down at a readout on the console’s monitor. Several different Ancient High-Gallopfreyan symbols scrolled across the screen, shifting and rotating in rapid succession. He didn’t want to worry her, especially not now. If either of them broke for even a second, then everything would be in jeopardy. He looked up at her with a usual smile while quickly pushing away the monitor. Derpy made an adorable scrunchy face, always hating when he hid something from her. Usually it was for her own good, but it didn’t strengthen her trust when he did it.

“Oh it’s nothing, just a slight blip in the vortex.” The Doctor bluffed.

Derpy moved around the console, seeing her friend flip through several pages of a thick leather bound book. It seemed old, almost ancient, yet the pages still held strong despite being yellowed with age. She couldn’t see what he was reading despite staring directly at the pages, as if the words themselves refused to remain in focus.

“Doctor, c’mon. You said we were going to a crystal palace over a sea of glass, and suddenly you ran off to the library. It’s not like you to stop mid-sentence like that. I’m worried about you.”

She tried to get a closer look at the book he was holding, seeing the words “900 Year Diary” embroidered in gold on the cover. She knew that he was hiding something, just from the look in his eyes. It didn’t seem like the Doctor was fully paying attention, only truly noticing her after she finished talking. Of course he was listening, though he didn’t want to answer his question. Instead he tried to divert her attention by starting to ramble as usual, but his intentions were obvious.

“Oh, this? It’s just an old journal of mine, mostly boring old Time Pony stuff. I thought I forgot about something, so I thought I’d just check up on a thing or two, waltz down memory lane and stuff.”

Derpy raised an eyebrow at him, only causing him to stumble and becoming more frantic. He began to trail off the longer she stared at him, his expression melting as he looked down at the console again. He didn’t want to admit that he was the least bit frightened, but nearly all of the console’s warning messages were flaring red. He then looked back up at her, clearing his throat.

“I…I’ve found something, or rather someone I didn’t expect. It’s sort of a distress signal, but the word distress doesn’t really describe it.”

Derpy tilted her head to the side a little, feeling as if the Doctor were speaking in riddles.

“You kinda lost me.”

“Usually the message is ‘Help Me’ or ‘S.O.S’, but instead it’s just… deranged. Whoever’s sending the message directly to us… they’re screaming in pain.”

“Then we have to go and help them!”

Derpy’s heart was in the right place, but he recognized that voice. It was somepony he hadn’t talked to in a long time. Someone he thought had been dead for centuries.

“It’s someone very dangerous. I won’t lie to you, this could be more dangerous than anything we’ve faced before.”

“Did that ever stop us before?” Derpy smirked, knowing that she had a point.

The two of them had faced countless monsters before, from Daleks to Cyberponies, to wars of the past to threats of the future. She always knew that there was danger around every corner with the Doctor, but she always had the Doctor to defend her. Not only that but she knew that she could fend for herself on some occasions, she was always proud of that.

“Can’t argue with that. Let’s answer the Siren’s call, shall we?”

When pushing down the re-materialization lever the console sparked and the entire room shifted, left and right. Derpy crashed into one of the tan seats while the Doctor hung onto the console for dear life. The TARDIS knew what he was trying to do and was fighting it anyway. The usual wheezing and groaning quickened in pace, working harder and harder.

“I can’t land, the TARDIS is being stubborn!”

“Maybe there’s a very good reason after all!”

“Going back on your decision?”

With one last heavy jolt, both the Doctor and Derpy were flung onto the floor. The whole room started to go dim, a loud ringing like a low gong constantly booming again and again. The timeship whirred a few times, sounding more like a cough, before finally stopping. No activity, no sound, just silence. The Doctor got up first, coughing as smoke lightly bellowed from a few of the various controls. Looking up at the central column, the Doctor saw a sort of inky black sludge rise and stick to the inside of the glass. The TARDIS cried out in pain, letting out an ear piercing shriek. It was impossible, nothing ever got inside of the TARDIS like this.

Picking up the still partially conscious Derpy he rushed outside, nearly collapsing into the rocky and rough soil. The TARDIS was almost completely coated in the black inky sludge. On closer inspection, the sludge sparkled slightly and even hurt to look at for long periods of time. It was blacker than the darkest black and didn’t fully exist for a single second. The TARDIS began taking off again, the Hostile Action Displacement System switching on as the conditions became too severe for the TARDIS to continue existing. Immediately grabbing his sonic screwdriver, he rapidly dialled it to one of its thousands of settings. He used it just as the TARDIS began to vanish, activating a certain protocol within the ship's systems.

He knew that the TARDIS was going to a safe place now, but there was still the issue of them being stranded. Derpy picked herself up and dizzily looked around at the barren landscape before her. Thousands upon thousands of flowers that might’ve once been pink were now completely dead and withered away. Encircling them all were broken and faded white pickets coated in the same sludge as the TARDIS, along with an equal number of gravestones. Right at the center was a battered pink gazebo, poised in the middle of the web of inky nothingness.

“Sometimes I need to make house calls… I’ve been putting this one off for too long.” The Doctor said somberly, trying to avoid the gaze of the entity made of sludge not due to the strain, but out of shame.

The sludge was alive, even more than alive, it was sentient. A large glob of it surfaced above the gazebo, twisting and churning, shaping itself into a pony. For a second it looked no different from either one of them, the detail so intricate and unique that it would be, should be, impossible to replicate. The pony-shaped being smiled at them kindly, before warping into pure malice. Its limbs creaked and stretched in horrifically unnatural ways, still looking down at them while rapidly shifting between expressions of innocence and pure evil.

“Ah, Doctor, I knew you’d come back eventually. Did the Time Ponies finally clean up their mess?”

The entity’s voice didn’t even sound consistent. Four different voices were screaming all at once, but one spoke above the rest. Calm, collected, but still very rough and abrasive. The Doctor secretly winced at the mention of his race, knowing that she’d been abandoned by them for who knew how long. She may have been kept here for a reason, but she was still a sentient being.

“No… I have. I should’ve immediately come back for you… I shouldn’t have abandoned you here.”

Derpy finally regained her senses, looking up at the beast. Some sort of deep internal instinct screamed for her to run far far away. It hurt her head, even her normal bubbly nature couldn’t break through. The creature reached out and snatched her up with a loose tendril, pulling her up to her eyes like a specimen in a jar. In a moment she saw everything, every action she’d done and every action she could do. It read her personal timeline like a short article.

Derpy fought and struggled to the best of her abilities, but the entity already knew every accountability. It tossed her to the side like a rag doll, causing her to tumble into a dead bush. The Doctor tried to rush to her aid, but several other ink tendrils shot out at near light speed, blocking his bath.

“Now, now Doctor, you said something about a ‘house call’? I think you should see one patient at a time. After all, it’s at least partially your fault that I’m here.”

“I tried! I condemned every horrendous act my people did during the war, and I still don’t stand for it.”

“Your people… YOUR PEOPLE!?”

The entity was seething with rage out of nowhere. Its form twisted and contorted, reflecting its emotional state. Eventually it restabilized, taking in a deep breath as one icy line stabbed through The Doctor’s hearts.

“Don’t you mean, our people?”

Chapter 2 - Gallophrey Our Home

Gallopfrey, a long, long time ago

It was the shining world of the seven systems, home to the ancient race of Time Ponies. From the snow capped mountains to the towering Citadel, it was truly the height of society. Gallopfrey held many wonders of time and wisdom, with many dark secrets delicately hidden within its cracks and crevices. But the little gray colt didn't care for that yet, he only cared about playing in the orange grass underneath the great silver leafed trees. His eyes still shone an innocent blue and his mane a vibrant brown.

He had tales to be told and several lives to live ahead of him. He had a few friends from the old academy that thought the selected Shoboguns to be high and mighty. He was always different though, as were his friends. Koschei was often devious, liking to play tricks on others through hypnosis but had an obsession with control. Hedliaellfrolithene was even more curious than he was, often taking things apart to see how they worked. Curious as a child, he often questioned the nature of several things, frequently scolded by his teachers as well as having low performances in class.

Then one day he was sent to stare in the abyss known as the Untempered Schism. It scared him as he stared in the vast darkness and the light of eternity. He could see all of time and space if for only a short moment. He cried that night, cowering in bed as the events seared through his mind. This was the Time Pony initiation, granting him his regenerations.

Everypony went through the initiation, either going mad, running away, or being inspired to do something greater. Like most, he received a little bit of all three. This only fueled his curiosity and his questions, especially as to “why was all this happening?”. This curiosity would follow him all throughout his lives, driving him to move forward each day.

Over the years, he grew to be a fine Time Pony, even joining the high council. But as he got older and grayer, he got bored with what was presented to him. So many worlds, so many people, all within his reach. But it was all sealed up by temporal red tape. The Law of Interference prevented anypony from leaving their TARDISes outside of Gallophrey.

He wondered, “Will all of my lives be like this?”. So many questions that even the Matrix of Gallophrey couldn't solve. What creates evil, where does it start, and why did goodness always prevail? He protested these questions to his fellow council members, but they didn't want to hear it. Just more listings of rules and guidelines. So he planned to ditch his robes and flee.

The old stallion sat in his private quarters, a room with silver walls and wooden oak accents. It was built only for necessity so all the random items here belonged to him. The wooden chair, the coat rack, and even the green bed sheets were his. It was much better than the typical bland style of the other council members. Later a knock sounded on his open doorframe. Only his granddaughter, as kind and innocent as she once was, still knocked politely.

"Ah, Susan, my dear, what brings you around?"

Susan had partially guessed the truth, but she didn't want to assume. Assumptions and jumping to conclusions always lead to some trouble or other. No, she wanted to hear the facts from the source itself.

"I've just stopped by to ask, are you really leaving? Running off into the vast stars like I’ve heard you wish about before?"

The old stallion motioned to the bedside he was sitting on, patting his hoof on the bed. Sitting down, she looked up at him with hopeful eyes, wishing for any disagreement. But he couldn't lie to her, the only one that still understood him. She still had that twinkle in her eyes and the same spark of curiosity that he still had to this day. In all honesty, he felt that she was like the little grey colt on the orange hillside. She had so much to learn, and wanted so much more to see than the towering spires that appeared around the skyline of the Citadel.

"In truth, yes. I'm sorry to tell you, especially since what I'm doing is against the law of the High Council. I'll have to run away from here, and I can't ever come back."

Susan was almost in tears. It hurt to see her like this. She was just an innocent child, not wanting to lose part of her family. He could almost hear her heartbreaking.

"What drives you to do such a thing? You have the life that many dream of, and you're just going to throw it all away."

He'd expected this question sometime soon. He had already prepared his answer, but it didn't lessen the pain. He told her how he felt that regenerations are wasted on observing that it should be lived by genuinely doing something on the other side of the glass.

"I know I have a life of fantasy, but fantasies aren't always what they're meant to be."

She clutched onto his frail hooves and stared straight into his eyes. They were full of determination as she boldly asked:
"Then why don't you take me with you? If there's truly something out there worth risking all of this, then I want to see it too!"

After a short pause, he smiled warmly and laughed. When she put it like that, how could he say no? Susan looked virtually appalled at him like she'd made a terrible mistake. He patted her on the back and got up off of the bed and ran to the door before looking at her still. She'd be leaving the rest of her life and family behind just for him.

"Well, if you're that eager, what harm could it do? I'm already breaking the rules, so why not break a few more, eh? I’d certainly be a lonely old stallion without someone to break them with"

Susan ran up to him and embraced him into a warm hug. This wasn't the end, it was merely the beginning of a brand new chapter in their lives.

Two days later

The Doctor punched a code into the multicoloured panel before him. Finally Hedliaellfrolithene’s obsessive rambles paid off, and having a tour of the entire repair sector willingly or unwillingly. He had to be quick and silent or else the Chancellery Guard may spot him. He knew that this sector of the workshop was essentially a scrapyard, only meant for TARDISes that were typically too faulty for safe flight. It was the only sector unguarded as most didn’t even come around here other than the mechanics. He was a part of the High Council, an elite, so it’d be quite suspicious for him to be in such a low and grimey sector. The door slid open with a clean, synthetic swipe, the dull Timepony’s efficiency at its finest.

Susan quickly followed behind him, swiftly exploring the line of old TT Capsules that were relics to her. The old stallion knew that there was no way of telling what a faulty time capsule might do, but to them it was certainly worth the risk. Walking up to a type 42 TT Capsule he put a hoof to its double doors, staring into the default console room inside. They were all within the same range of models, only a few digits lower or higher. He let Susan go in first just in case there were any guards behind them. He was about to enter inside with Susan, but a mare stopped him. She was dressed in crimson clothing and had a purple coat that stood out from her brown mane. He hadn't seen her before, especially when they were entering. It was almost like she’d appeared out of nowhere. Or nowhen.

"You're making a grave mistake..." she said in a dire tone.

The air was tense for a moment, growing ever icier. Had he been caught, would she report him? He felt his blood pumping, all of his worst fears coming true. Surprisingly she just leaned up against the capsule next to the one he was entering and smirked.

"Don't steal that one, take this one. The navigation systems are a bit wonky, external buffers are down, but it will give you much more control and has much less to repair. I believe the choice is yours, and don't worry about me reporting you. I'm merely here to offer my advice."

She then happily trotted away, obviously content with her little speech. The old stallion just stared at her as she vanished, unsure of what to do now. He was completely baffled by what just happened and especially where she’d come from, but it was still his decision. Weighing his options and taking her words into consideration, he made his choice.

"Susan, come on out. We should take the capsule next to this one. I have a feeling it’s much better."

She was surely confused by her grandfather's sudden change of mind. But in this case, it didn't entirely matter to her which capsule they took. So she silently trotted out and entered the Type 40 with him. They were all like museum pieces, beautifully preserved to hold their history. With a series of wheezes and groans, the ship vanished into thin air. He looked around the dull white room with its many round indents. He knew he couldn't keep his old name, it had too many attachments to the world he left behind. He was the Doctor now, and only his granddaughter Susan and the stars mattered.

Chapter 10 - Skaro’s Last Battle

Twilight sipped a cup of coffee, contemplating what to do. Radiance was still in the guest room, now sound asleep. The book laid by her side on the coffee table, still in the same place as before. It had barely been touched over the past few days. It had caused Radiance so much torment in the span of only a moment. She picked it up in her magic, carefully observing it.

It was just an ordinary book, nothing more and nothing less. It was the contents that continued to trouble her. The page she left off on was marked by a small red bookmark sticking out of the top. Last time the Daleks were holding him and his companions prisoner, and they’d just barely escaped. Spark was stuck in a Dalek casing as the elevator lowered towards the enemy.

She probably should continue now. After all, now seemed to be a better time than ever to continue—finally not much to worry about and hopefully nopony to disturb her reading.

Spark clasped the edge of the elevator exit, the real elevator slowly continuing its descent below him. The rest of them let out a sigh of relief before helping him up.

“Oh my God, that was a close one, Hmm?” chuckled the Doctor.

“It’s not over yet, the elevator’s rising!” said Spark as he rushed to the door.

He rapidly looked around for any ideas, everypony in as much of an alarm as he was. There was a computer terminal next to the elevator, large and heavy.

“Quick, help me shove this down the elevator shaft!”

With a hefty amount of effort, they all began to push the terminal, making a rough grinding noise as friction tried to resist. With one last shove, the bulk toppled down the shaft like a targeted missile. The elevator crumbled under the force and crashed to the lowest level. Everypony cheered at their victory, but they weren’t out of trouble yet.

“Look, there’s a window. You think you can see how to get out?” asked Berry.

“It seems we’re at the top of one of those buildings. A spire in the sky overlooking everything.” the Doctor mused.

“What’s that down there? I can’t see clearly.”

Suddenly everypony was crowding around the window to get a good look. The skyline was a magnificent array of silvery metallic spires connected by hundreds upon thousands of bridges. A city that may have once been constructed for beauty was now decrepit and occupied by the seemingly malicious Daleks.

“Another Dalek most likely.” Spark replied.

“No, it looks like another pony.”

“The Thals! They must be the other race the Daleks warned us about.” Susan gasped.

“If they’re the least mutated, then what must the Daleks be like inside their metal casings?” pondered the Doctor.

“What if the Thals are peaceful? It could be an ambush.”

“They are peaceful, one of them gave me the cloak that helped us as well as the extra anti-radiation drugs.”

“Well, there’s no time to waste, c’mon help me prop this door open.”

Spark then proceeded to clasp the sliding door attempting to wedge it open. With a little more joint effort, the door roughly slid open, and they all rushed inside, down one silver corridor to the next. It was a risk to help the Thals, sacrificing themselves to possibly prevent a massacre. Finally, they were at the last junction, where the exit to the outside lay, and the Thals began to enter.

“Now that we’re here, I believe that it’s time to split the party. You three get to the ship while I go and warn the Thals,” said Spark.

“No we can’t, we all have to stay together.” Susan cried.

“It’s better to split than to risk the whole party.”

“B-but Spark!”

“No, buts, please. You still trust me, don’t you?”

“I do... just try not to get hurt.”

“I’ll try.”

Spark smiled as the rest of the group left without him. It was only a few minutes before they heard Spark yell and bolt for it. The sounds of Dalek gunfire echoed across the halls combined with the thumps of about a dozen hoof steps. Susan paused for a second outside of the city to take a glance back. She couldn’t process what she saw before the Doctor ushered her away, galloping into the petrified forest.

Luckily Spark wasn’t too far behind them after a few minutes of galloping. It seemed that they had escaped. Outside the tall blue barn, the four of them prepared to say their goodbyes.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t stick around longer and uh, help. But we’ve caused much more trouble than we should’ve.” said the Doctor.

“Now then, Spurt, I do apologize for getting us into this mess in the first place. It wasn’t fair to drag you all into this.”

“It’s Spark, and it was no proble-“

Spark paused as he searched for the fluid link in his newly scuffled tie’s pocket. Nothing, he left it back in the lab while they were arguing. All of his efforts had felt like they were for nothing.

“I-I don’t have it. I left it behind in the lab. This’s all my fault. I...I didn’t mean to-“

The Doctor smiled kindly and cut him off.

“It’s okay, we all make mistakes now and then, hmm.”

The four of them chuckled, having a short warm moment. But it was still far from being all over.

“Why would they do this? Why would they kill Taurus?” murmured one of the Thals anxiously.

“It was a Dalek, wasn’t it? I’m sorry I wasn’t there on time. We all tried our best.” said Spark as he comforted the Thal.

“Y-yes, they killed my brother. Why wouldn’t they help us?”

“I believe it’s a simple yet stupid reason, a dislike for the unlike. They treated us kindly, but only to extract information from us.”

“There’s nothing we can do, with no food or water, we’re all going to die.”

Spark returned to the group.

“It’s no use; they’re completely defeated.”

“Yes, yes, deprived of all motivation to fight. It’d take an army to hold off the Daleks, and they’re our best option at retrieving the fluid link.”

“We have to get them riled up somehow. I have an idea, so try to act along.”

“Spark, what’re you... oh never mind.” sighed Berry in defeat.

“Now listen up! The Daleks have hurt you, hurt your own. Aren’t you going to do anything about that?”

“The Daleks have weapons, we have nothing left.” came a voice from the crowd.

“You have nothing to lose... what if I just ran off with the little food you had?”

Still silence and nothing but utter defeat. It didn’t matter to them anymore.

“Well... what if I traded one of you for our fluid link?”

Spark grabbed the foreleg of the nearest Thal, prompting the one who had lost his brother to promptly punch him in the face. Spark smiled, seeing the flame return to his eyes. He got up and rubbed his sore cheek.

“That’s what the Daleks will do, steal you from each other. You say you have nothing, but you have each other!”

The crowd remained silent until one Thal clapped her hooves. One after another, the group turned into an uproar of protest and rebellion against the Daleks.

“Now, Doctor, there’s our army.” Spark smiled with a slightly swollen cheek.

The Doctor looked down at the map of the city, charted from long ago. The backside of the city was occupied by a long marsh and a thick and muggy swamp. It was said that hundreds of mutations resided there, destroying whoever came too close. It was a considerable risk, but it was one that they were willing to take.

“So once we’re in the city, we’ll give you a signal with our mirror. In turn, you shine yours in response, got it?” asked the Doctor.

“All clear,” said Zeal, the Thal from before.

“Are you ready, Doctor?” asked Berry.

“Yes, yes, just going over the plan one more time.”

The trek towards the swamp seemed to take ages, Zeal slashing at the vines and tall grass with a sharp blade. Strange noises came out from every direction, putting them on edge. It wasn’t until they camped out by the waters for the night they indeed saw one of the beasts. Berry was on the side of dry land, where it submerged into the swamp water. A frothy vortex of eyes and teeth swirled around, beginning to suck everything in.

Luckily, since Berry was a pegasus she was able to put up a bit of a fight, but it wasn’t enough. Closer and closer, she was drawn until one of the stallions pulled her out of the windy vortex. She screamed as she saw him being sucked in, Susan rushing her away before he was eaten.

It was a tragedy, but they had to continue moving forward to continue their mission. A system of pipelines and electric wires tunneled down a long cave.

“These pipes should lead us into the city. Once we’re in view of the others, we’ll signal the troops from the nearest spire. Now, remember, it’s dark in here, so keep your torches lit and stay close together. Got it?” directed Zeal.

“Got it.” the group responded in unison.

Dripping water splashed onto the cold stone flooring beneath them, creating an eerie vibe to the whole tunnel. It wasn’t as bad as the swamp where anything could attack them, but something still could creep up behind them from in the dark. Up ahead was a deep ravine that ended in a rushing rapid below.

“How strong is your magic, Spark? Think you can lift us across?” the Doctor asked jokingly.

“I’m not that good at levitation, but maybe I could teleport myself or a couple of you across if you’re lucky.”

“Step aside, stallions, I believe it’s my turn to impress.” smiled Berry.

That is how she proudly carried most of the group to the other side.

“You coming, Spark?”

“Just give me a second to warm up. I’m a little rusty, but I’ve still-“

In a flash of light, Spark vanished before majestically reappearing, wedged into a tight crevice in the wall. His flank stuck out from the cave wall as everyone laughed.

“Very funny, now get me out of here!”

It only became more hilarious as he kicked his hind legs with a useless struggle. Zeal grabbed one leg and Berry the other, heaving him out of there in a few hard tugs.

“Please, let’s never speak about this again.”

“Oh, we’re going to talk about this for ages, Mr. Reaction,” said Susan as she and the others laughed and continued forward into the unknown.

The cavern opened up to a rusty old maintenance shaft. Beyond it lay the metallic city on the face of Skaro that had struck fear into so many. It burned red hot from the harsh sunlight beating down upon its surface. As of now, the battle truly begins.

Everypony gathered around a flat boulder, rolling out the map of the city. Zeal looked over it and observed the key points marked in light ink. These were the few known weak points the city had. Since static electricity was their source of power, cables wrapped around the outer rim of the silver spires and the walls that marked the outer points. This created a circuit where the electricity flowed through every ramp and floor where smaller cables were directed to.

The city was originally built for the Thals but was taken over with force by the Daleks. Thus they had all of the blueprints stockpiled in their historic containment units so they never forgot the people they used to be.

Zeal said "Alright, everyone, this is where the party splits. Spark, Berry, and I will continue onward to the tallest spire to give the signal. The Doctor and Susan will go out to the side exterior of one building to find a way to remove the power from the Dalek's city. They get their power through electricity, correct?"

"Yes, yes, young stallion. No need to be so triumphant about it. Now, concentrate your forces on the smaller five units around the city. They’ll without a doubt be much easier to destroy. Susan and I will attempt to disable the largest and sixth position that this cave follows. There are likely several circuits interweaving through the city just in case one becomes damaged or withered. We must destroy all of them.

Now Zeal, you must give the signal at the city’s highest point or else nopony will see it, understand?”

“Yes Doctor, I understand perfectly.”

Zeal held back the urge to roll his eyes as the Doctor continued to be the center of attention.

“Yes, yes, we better get to it then, time is of the essence!"

The group went their separate ways, traveling across the silver corridors on their mission. The air began to become thicker and more sterile than outside, the air conditioning unit removing any diseases that could be contracted. The Doctor and Susan began to follow thick black cable and piping that led out from the cavern. The pipeline diverged off towards the cooling systems along the way as they finally reached the control box concealed in the glass.

Susan looked at it curiously, fumbling to work out how it moved.

"Now, how do I get this, oh it slides," she muttered to herself as she lifted the glass protector from the box's front.

Flashing electronics weaving left and right filled the small frame. The Doctor picked up an old branch and gently tapped the power box.

"Now, how do we -"

Susan was interrupted as the Doctor triumphantly swung the branch into the box, shattering everything. Although violent, this method was effective. The air almost immediately felt a bit warmer as more of the system’s functionality broke down and stuttered to a halt. There was no telling what exactly controlled the electricity, but it was better safe than sorry.

"Well, that was a little... intense."

"Yet efficient." the Doctor chuckled.

"But what about this one?"

A small round gauge directing a stored portion of the electricity flow was attached higher up on the wall. It would eventually run dry as the Daleks continued to use power but they didn’t have enough time to wait for that. The Doctor looked at it quizzically, trying to come up with a plan of action. A spark of realization came to his face as he had an idea.

"Susan, May I have your key to the ship, please?"

"Sure, what are you gonna do with it?"

"If I use the metal chain as a conductor, I can loop the electricity onto itself. The more the electricity leaves the box, the more dissipates into the air."

Using the stick, the Doctor attached the ends of the metal chain into the copper coil lining the inside of the container. It lightly sparked before the key became electrified. This halved the lifespan of the electricity, releasing as much as was used.

"Yes, yes, quite the ingenious idea, hmm? I'm quite the innovative stallion, aren't I?"

"Uhm, grandfather, we should get going."

The Doctor continued to laugh and congratulate himself on the first small victory in a while for so long he didn't notice the Dalek ambush. They crept out from the hedges and out from behind the silver walls. The machines spouted orders in their robotic monotone voices, forcing them back into the building. They might have been able to take one or two, but a squad of seven was impossible.

“Detain the prisoners, they will not escape again.”

The Daleks pointed their gun sticks at the two of them threateningly. After the ambush, they had all ramped up their weapons from “paralyze” to “kill”.

They were forced against the wall. Locked up, and chained against the wall, helpless. There was nothing they could do at the current moment but hope that the rest of their plan was in action. They’d accomplished what they came to do and that was enough for them.

"I-I'm sorry, my dear… my excitement has gotten the best of me again."

"No worries Grandfather, I'm sure Spark and the others aren't far behind."

Alarms from the nearby circular control panel beeped on and off, alerting the Daleks of the Thal's presence. It wasn’t long before they pulled up the monitors’ images of the specific location of the Thals. But they were everywhere, so many attacking the city at once. Thals swarmed the halls by the dozens, taking out every Dalek in sight.

"The Thals have entered the city. We must release our nuclear bomb immediately!"

"What!?" both the Doctor and Susan shouted in alarm.

"Why would you need to do such a thing?" said Susan as she began to cry again.

"The Daleks survive off of radiation. For us to exist outside of the city, we must create an environment suitable for ourselves."

"But that's just plain murder; you can't!" Susan yelled

"Can't we? We are the Daleks, the supreme race of all. Be silent or be exterminated!"

The pepper pot belted a determinate chant for their ultimate victory; its compatriots soon joining in afterward. They overlooked a round metal container that contained the bomb. It fits into a medium-sized pipe that would launch the bomb into the air. Their countdown had already been initiated, starting from sixty and gradually decreasing as the minute ticked by. Lucky for them, Spark and the others weren't far behind.

Only twenty seconds to go once Spark, Berry, and the Thals attacked from behind. Shots were fired left and right as Thals fell to the ground in agony. Two others raced to release The Doctor and Susan as they joined the fight, but it wasn't needed. Just as the countdown was in the final digits, more signals of power loss and drainage flashed left and right. The Doctor's plan to sabotage the electrical workings had worked. The Daleks’ voices lowered in decibels and their metal appendages dropped lower and lower.

"Look, Doctor, we've won!" cheered Spark as he bucked a Dalek backward.

The Dalek could do nothing, not even resist the force as it slid back into the control panel. The panel sparked when the Dalek hit it, doing more damage to the Dalek as its defenses were down. The Doctor approached one of them as its metallic voice slowly became deeper and deeper as it lost all control.

"The Daleks will not die; you will save us!"

"Why should we do that, hmm? We gave you a chance to form peace, to be friendly, and yet you turned us down."

"The Daleks do not need other life foooooorms..."

The light in its eyestalk finally went out. A raging fire that had once struck fear into others had now been drained and diminished.

"How ironic of you to say that. You don't need the assistance of other lifeforms, and yet here you are, needing us now."

The Doctor smiled sadly and trotted with his companions back to the forest, to the Tardis. Upon the hill above the city, deep in the petrified forest, a final celebration took place. Both Skaro and the Thals were finally released from the evil once contained all around. All the Thals gathered around to see their mighty heroes and saviors go. As the group was about to enter the TARDIS, Zeal held out the final piece that they'd needed. The fluid link that had been misplaced only a short time ago. It felt like forever since they’d had their last argument.

"Here you are Doctor, I believe you'll be needing this if you want to go anywhere. And as a token of our friendship, have this as well."

Zeal held in his thin teal hoof a strip of metal cut painted blue and shaped to resemble the Tardis as closely as possible. The Doctor picked it up carefully and hooked it to his pocket by a hook on the back.

"To think I would've just left you all behind to your own devices if I were not held back through necessity. It is not only you that's learned something valuable today, but perhaps I as well. Thank you for teaching me the value of kindness and the strength to fight for what should be right. Goodbye then, Zeal."

Everypony stepped into the Tardis, back into the stark white console room with its gleaming roundels, and closed the door behind them. That oh so familiar sound of dematerialization rang out through the forest, signaling their departure. Where were they to go next, no one knew quite yet. Not even they had a solid idea as the directional controls were still unstable. But wherever or whenever they went, it was sure to be spectacular.

Chapter 26 - Broken Memories and Lost Promises

Radiance’s hooves clicked on the floor, a solemn silence echoing throughout her TARDIS. She rummaged through the databanks for anything to trigger her memory, anything to lead her back to wherever or whenever Prism was. The phantom of her past both figuratively and literally lingered behind her. Everything was cold as she punched in the coordinates. Iridescence, the monster from her past, had taken so much from her. All of those days, all of those moments, completely lost to her. She knew that they were in her mind, laying dormant, but trying to access them hurt so much. For now she focused on the task at hand, tears drying from her eyes as the time rotor gently drifted up and down. She sat down in an antique chair, putting a hoof to her head.

It was like a floodgate had been opened and she had to hold back the tide. So many memories, so much information, it was too much for her to take in all at once. Her head pounded as she could hear the beating of her hearts. The sounds of several voices called out to her, her vision narrowing as her breath grew heavy. She couldn’t take it all, it was too much. It was too much. The TARDIS landed, and all was quiet once again. She was alone with nothing but herself. All of her phantoms were gone, both physical and mental. It took a moment for her to recover and pull that lever to open the large doors. She stumbled out, still rubbing her temples as the pain resided. The air smelled sweet like ice cream and candy, the walls lined with large pipes and crates marked for shipment. Strangely, the area she’d landed in perfectly fit the pink gazebo, even having a reserved print on the ground and a digital display with her name on it. At least, it felt like her name. Whenever she tried to read it her mind just couldn’t register the text, another barrier she wasn’t ready to cross.

A small rotating droid came out from the wall, quickly scanning the monochrome mare on the spot. It whirred for a few seconds, processing the scan through its database.

“Designation: HOPE, Reserved for: YEARLY FACTORY TOUR PLUS ONE, please wait while we dispatch an administrative assistant.”

Radiance froze as she heard that name. She looked around and tried to regain her bearings. She wasn’t sure how the droid recognized her, probably more than facial recognition, but hearing a name she used to have only cut her deeply. She could feel herself starting to sweat and slip in and out of consciousness as she tried to concentrate. Somepony quickly rushed to her aid as she started to fall over, feeling ill and distressed. Suddenly everything went blurry and her mind couldn’t register anything anymore.

Blurry images, fragments, distorted visions of the past. Her body felt unnatural, like the whole universe was tilted at a strange angle. Her brain was firing pulses at a rapid rate, her heart’s pounding in her chest. Where was she, who was she?

“Hope…please wake up…we need you.”

Everything looked like TV static, flickering in and out of existence. What was she doing, there was a battle to fight. She needed something, someone important. Soon the images became clearer and she knew what she saw. The universe was falling apart piece by piece, the fragile Web of Time stretched and strained as the fighting continued.

“Would this bring her back? Can I save her?!”

Radiance hardly recognized her own voice, if it was truly hers. She wasn’t really here, it was just another memory. The room she was in was cold and sterile, filled with machines that no lower life form would ever understand. It was beyond magic, it was what could be the foundation of countless universes. Radiance finally remembered what that name meant to her, in the moment where hope would be gone.

This was it, the nexus point that she’d been trying to find. Being here, in this moment in her past, hurt so much. She could feel white hot pain searing through her mind, unable to tell if this was how she felt in the present or how she felt in the past. She could see those machines moving, twisting and turning like a metallic serpent before coming close to her. It was all part of some experiment to end the fighting and finish the war once and for all. Hope was scared, Radiance was scared as she felt like she was losing herself all over again.

Time suddenly froze around her as she couldn’t handle being there anymore. There was one last thought passing through the seafoam green mare’s mind before the world faded away. She had hope to make things better, Hope would hold the universe together and end the fighting. She closed her eyes and the machines slipped away, the lab filled with mystical secrets and weapons, all to end the war to end all wars. This was where all hope and light was lost, and Iridescence took its place.

“Are you okay?”

It was her voice this time, though the world was a lot less distorted than the previous memory. She felt like she had more control, more confidence, though she didn’t know who she was yet. She was her original self again back in the ice cream factory, the place more new and polished than in the present. She’d arrived at just the right time and place to be one of the first hundred customers to enter the brand new Minty Magic ice cream facility, the largest in the galaxy in fact. With a time and space machine it was easy to score a lifetime pass with a free tour every year. It was almost like a theme park for ice cream enthusiasts, perfect for the ice cream salespony. Hedley looked down at Prism on the floor, her best friend unsure whether to clutch her stomach or her head in a moment of pain. Hedley just looked at her in pure disbelief.

“45 different flavors in less than 20 minutes…did you really not think all of this through?” Hedley asked.

“It was 15 minutes, and I regret nothing!”

This got a chuckle out of Hedley while she carried her best friend to her TARDIS. Prism was heavier now that what felt like a pound of souvenirs weighed her down, having gone all out on gathering as many limited edition collectables and new free samples as physically possible. Prism also wasn’t helping, begging like a foal as she was dragged back to their mode of transport.

“You do realise we have a time machine, right? We can take a several hour break and still come back as if we were only gone for a few seconds.”

Hedley placed Prism on a foldable chair, one of the few pieces of furniture she owned. Hedley danced around the controls, occasionally sneaking a glance back at the fluffy white mare. Prism could see the worry in her eyes, the experience of nearly being ejected into space merely hours ago weighing on her deeply. They both knew that this trip was an apology, a feeble attempt to make things right without talking.

“Hey…you wanna talk?” Prism asked while moving around the console.

Hedley slightly shifted herself away from her, tensing as she got closer.

“I…I don’t know. All of my life I’ve been taught never to interfere with the affairs of other species, to stay out of trouble. Maybe they were right. My teachers, my mentors, my parents…they said that my friends were a bad influence on me.”

The two of them stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. What could they say? It was true that Hedley had risked both her and Prism’s life, depended on Prism to help her make the right choice, to even care about what the Expo might have done to planets other than Provia. But at the same time, that was all she ever knew. Not to care about others outside of the perfect glass dome of the citadel, to perform one single function for the rest of eternity. Hedley felt Prism wrap a scarf around her neck the color of multiple types of sherbert. She was then immediately pulled into a hug as they both started to cry.

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…” Hedley apologised.

That was all she could do, all the words she could muster. After several minutes Hedley was finally able to look at Prism again, wiping the tears out of her eyes.

“Hey…you were doing your best. It’s hard, but you can talk to me.”

“Thank you…I’ll talk, but not now. I’m not ready…but I promise you I’ll be ready someday soon.”

“That’s all I need to hear. Also, I think that scarf suits you.” Prism said while cracking a teary eyed smile.

“It does? Maybe I shouldn’t be wearing lacy dresses anymore then.”

“You do look like you’re on your way to a wedding. Does this place have a bathroom? You’ve never shown me around this place.”

“Oh you have no idea, it’s got virtually everything. Bathroom is two doors down, take a left, up the stairs, take a right, through the double doors and it should be on the left. If you’ve passed the warp drive you’ve gone too far.”

Prism just started at her, blinking cluelessly.

“I’m sorry…what?”

Hedley laughed and took her hoof.

“It’s alright, I’ll show you the way…”

Radiance groaned as she came to, waking up in what looked like a private lounge. She understood so much more, more and more memories starting to become easily available to her. She was starting to recognise just how much she’d lost, all the adventures and days gone by that were trapped behind the fog of a healing mind. She took a long sip of water before taking several deep breaths. She looked up at the attendant and some of her supervisors.

“Are you feeling better now? Don’t strain yourself too much, we’ve got medics coming soon.”

“M-medics? Are you sure that’s a good idea? I just…feel a little dehydrated.”

“You were writhing on the ground for nearly ten minutes. After that we brought you here so you’d be safe from the normal crowd.”

“Normal crowd…I lost someone, somepony I was meant to be with but I can’t remember where she is. Violet Prism, my plus one.”

The attendant looked at the others for some guidance, a few whispers being exchanged before she replied.

“I’m sorry, but you arrived alone. We can put out a report for her if you like.”

Radiance looked down while wiping some of the sweat off of her brow. She knew how many lives she’d lived and dreaded the thought of what may have happened to her first friend, maybe her only friend. There was no telling where or when they’d meet again.

“Sherbert scarfs…she gave me one some time ago. Maybe longer than I can remember.”

“We’ll be on the lookout for her. It’s okay, we have the bioscan still in our customer database. I’m sorry that you had such a poor experience.”

“It’s not your fault that I can’t find her. In fact, that’s specifically why I’m here. Thank you so much for your help, you did your best.”

It wasn’t long before the ambulance rolled in, or rather hovered in considering it had no wheels to speak of. Hedley wasn’t put on a stretcher, simply opting to ride in one of the seats in the back. She was so tired, so alone, though she had many more answers than she started out with. She felt some of the strength and color returning to her body, which felt odd considering she didn’t remember having any color at all before. It felt nice and warm, like the clouds were finally parting inside of her. While looking out of the window she could faintly see the apparition of herself, smiling wider than she had ever before while wearing that bright sherbert scarf.