A/N: Just a suggestion, but you may want to listen tothis song while you read.
This was stupid. But broken hearts lunge at stupid chances, to make the pain go away. And he, the master of pain and suffering, knew this all too well. The crisp parchment roll he held loosely in his mouth smelled fresh and new, not like its contents. The contents, laborious sections of the universe painstakingly scoped out on every level, were ancient, knowledge he, and only he, had within his burning, painful mind and memories, numbing memories so recently stained with loss once again. But these feelings were not old ones, and the brown-coated stallion of time had learned to push them aside in all circumstances for the greater good. And oh the good this would bring to those who had lost.
So this landing had to be perfect, the on-the-dot time that had never so much as flashed across his burning mind as he piloted his little spaceship across all of the universe, and beyond. Being ‘on time’ had never been significant, and now that it was he was determined to make this right. And the landing was just the first issue. There were oh so many other wrongs to be righted here, in this very moment, as his little spaceship flew ever closer to Canterlot Castle, where the Princess awaited his imminent arrival. Flip a few switches of which names he knew but did not bother to find. Kick a few things into place, align everything just right, and…victory. The beautiful electronic whirring of landing signaled his ever-so-perfect arrival. A soft stomp of his hooves, and the doors opened to the glorious chambers of Princess Celestia herself. Shining light everywhere as the dawn broke upon Canterlot, the reds and yellows of sunrise staining the glistening white sheets and adornments. And the Princess herself shining just so, her wings still spread slightly from her dawn flight, had landed. Her horn glowed softly with magic as she continued her occupation, a mirror reflecting her dismal face at her, reminding her just how old she was. The wrinkles of sadness had returned, and the stallion sensed this as he stepped out of his ever-so-magical box, taking the map into his right front hoof.
“Celestia.” His voice broke the silence and the startled alicorn’s shining white horn flared with light, only to die down as she turned to the brown-coated earth pony standing behind her. She smiled wanly, magic fading as the sun stood finally in its rightful position.
“Oh Doctor, I’m so glad you’ve made it. I cannot express how grateful I am you have come.” The glistening white Princess of the Day stood, her solar wind-driven mane curling about her face. Eyes of rose looked upon him from six times his own height, and the Doctor too smiled roughly.
“I cannot say I am happy with my own decision.” The Princess’ eyes softened, smile lines at the corners of her mouth disappearing as she frowned sorrowfully.
“I understand, dear Doctor.” And the blue-eyed stallion knew she certainly did, a mare who has seen so many years, genocide and extinction and power beyond all she could ever have. Immortality was a curse, and he knew so, because he had lived the lived the lifetimes she had, and been her constant companion through her life, a guardian and advisor. Celestia no longer needed him, but the bond they shared was no light one. And together—now—they had a task to perform, and a wrong to rectify.
“Of this I have no doubt. But Celestia, timing in vital, because, if a single piece of this puzzle goes awry, we have committed thousands of acts of genocide. You are reluctant, as you should be, but there is no place for reluctance here, only determination. You must first understand this.”
Celestia’s lips formed a wry smile. “You should have more faith in me, Doctor. Of course I—”
“My sister, what is the meaning of this?!” The dark-maned alicorn of night burst into her sister’s chambers, an indignant frown across her mouth. “The Doctor is here, and thou hast not informed us of his arrival!”
“Luna…” Celestia protested, but her sister would not cease her tirade.
“We demand to know what thou hast planned to do without us!”
“Selene.” The alicorn of night looked down at the lifelong companion she had known and trusted—and betrayed, one too many times.
“Yes Doctor?” The dark-maned stallion of time hushed Selene with his hoof.
“This is something your sister wishes to do alone, and though I do not agree with her decision to leave you out of this treacherous task, she feels she must and I have no place to tell her that she is, indeed, wrong.” The starry mane of the Princess fluttered about her face, which grew an indignant and very righteous expression as the Doctor watched.
“…this is about our wife, isn’t it, Celestia?!” Selene raged, stepping forward and jabbing a hoof into her sister’s chest. The Princess of the Day flinched backwards, eyes darting about in clear guilt.
“Luna…I’m sorry, but—”
“DO NOT CALL US BY THAT VILE NICKNAME LUNA, OUR NAME IS SELENE. HOW DARE THOU CONVINENTLY FORGET US IN A PLOT TO SAVE OUR DEAR WIFE?!” The navy alicorn’s rage permeated every corner of the room and left an aura of darkness in the air. Celestia shrank back, and the Princess of the Night stepped forward.
“Because the Doctor and I are not saving her…Selene. I feared your recklessness would upset the dangerous balance—”
“SO THOUST ADMITS TO IGNORING OUR CONNECTION TO THE LATE...BECAUSE WE ARE RECKLESS?! DOES THOU THINK WE DO NOT CARE?!”
“Luna!” Celestia shouted, the tears streaming from her eyes mirroring those in the dark Princess’. “I left you out because I feared we would fail, and you would feel responsible for all this death we would have caused!” The white princess let out a ferocious sob, reaching out to her sister with a hoof. Selene whimpered and reached out into her sister’s embrace.
“We are…sorry, Sister. Thou shall feel free to call us Luna. We would still like to be informed of this matter thou hast hidden from us, but we shall not protest if thou wishes to leave us behind…Tia.”
“No, no, I am sorry, Luna. You should come along, and control the outer stars. It was foolish of me to think I could do this alone, to believe it was right for me to do this alone.” Celestia let out another sob, and her sister clung to her more tightly. The Doctor sighed, and turned to his little blue spaceship. Celestia, bringing herself together, spoke.
“I shall explain on the way, Selene. Doctor, you have the maps, correct?” The brown-coated stallion of time nodded, tossing them to Celestia from his hoof, and stomped his hoof lightly to open the door to the vast interior of the small blue box. His charges entered, once again marveling over the spectacular structure of the beautiful machine. It had changed since they had last journeyed within it. The doors shut behind the Doctor, and he turned his hooves to his beautiful little stolen box. He caressed the console, whispering soft words inaudible to the two princesses.
“Sexy, please let this go through. You’ve always taken me where I’ve needed, and now…I need to go a lot of places within a very short amount of time. If it makes you feel better, I’ll input the coordinates, you know I never do that. You know what you’re doing, girl, even if I don’t. Please…reassure me.” The box said nothing, but the Doctor broke into a sad smile. “I knew it, girl. You can do this.” Align a few switches, hit a few buttons, was he supposed to put down the brakes? No, he didn’t think so…and done.
And they were off, zipping through time and space like fire, stopping and starting and opening and closing. Wormholes that closed as soon as they opened burned holes throughout the space-time continuum. Five hundred thousand light-years away, five hundred thousand years ago, the team of three worked, Celestia and Selene poring over maps as the Doctor drove his little machine far and wide. And everything was perfect. Thank Faust, everything was perfect. No mistakes, no near-mistakes, and not a single mix-up interrupted the gorgeous flow of tender work exhibited on the universe. Time was of no essence, faded in the flurry of activity and perfect flow.
Once the trio had finished their masterpiece, the Doctor exhibited his final precise act and landed carefully on the balcony at the very peak of Canterlot Castle. It was time for the rise of twilight. Selene and Celestia flew side by side, magnificent horns glowing with the magic bestowed upon them. Celestia’s horn glowing the colors of violet, orange, and scarlet, she proceeded to lower her sun, and Selene, her horn glistening black and violet, raised her moon. The moment the two celestial bodies crossed paths in a full solar eclipsed, it was visible: in the night sky gleamed the constellation of a six-pointed star. Celestia’s thoughts drifted to her Most Faithful Student. Selene began to cry as she thought of her friend and wife. The Doctor stood on, thinking himself of his quirky, adorable, and brilliant companion. And all through the air rose a beautiful, wordless song.
