Return of the Master

"My Princesses!" a Guard exclaimed, bursting through the doors to the throne room. "You have urgent visitors!"

Celestia raised a brow. Visitors? The Day Court was over, and the Night Court would not begin for over two hours. "Who are these visitors?"

The Guard straightened his posture, finally catching his breath. "The brown one calls himself 'Doctor John Smith'. Others named Jack Harness, the dentist Colgate and your student Twilight Sparkle are here as well."

At the mention of Twilight, Celestia's smiled. "Ah, my student. Though it is nice to see her again... Her company perplexes me..." Of course, she knew all too well who they were. Her Doctor was here again. "The only other one I recognize is Colgate."

Luna's smile, however, faded. How much longer must We keep this charade, dear Sister? Surely the Doctor's time stream has caught up...

Just a little longer, LuLu. The Doctor will know everything all too soon. "Send them in. My sister and I would like to see them at once."

"Yes, Princess!"

A few minutes passed, and eventually Celestia saw the ponies she was waiting for.

Her Doctor was finally here.

"Doctor John Smith, at your service, My Princesses." The Doctor bowed, and his companions did the same.

"No need, Doctor. Rise, my friend."

The Doctor froze. "That's... Something I would like to talk to you about, Celestia."

See, 'Tia, he is not yet aware.

.... I see that, Sister.

"The first time I met you was when I first entered Equestria from my universe. I was taken here on request from my companion, Ditzy Doo."

Not from my perspective...

"And since then, we've only had one short meeting. And that was erased from time."

"With the Weeping Angels."

"Precisely. So, there's no way you can know me enough to trust me with waltzing in here unannounced. Who are you, Celestia?"

Twilight poked the Doctor in the ribs, pretending to cough. "Doctor! The Master!"

"Quite right. Sorry, Twilight." The Doctor's gaze hardened. "As I'm sure you're aware, there was an attack on Ponyville yesterday."

"Yes, Princess Luna and I were informed mere hours after it began."

"The pony who attacked the town was another Time Lord, like myself. The Master."

'Tia. This 'Master' was seen fleeing the town into the Everfree Forest. Towards the-

That place is long gone, Luna.

But not forgotten.

"He was brought into Equestria by a number of factors. The paradox we caused to stop the Angels, and the TARDIS's connection to my universe. It pulled his soul here from the afterlife.

"His soul then found a way to tap into my dark side. The side that holds my evil, and my darkest secrets. He is the Master, but at the same time, he is me."

The Doctor jerked, as if he were in pain, and rubbed his head, mumbling as if he were talking to someone.

"Ah... We... Something backfired with his revival, though. A piece of my mind went with him, and his with me. His voice torments me, and I assume mine talks to him."

"And why have you come here, Doctor?" Luna questioned. She was happy that the Doctor was here, but why tell her when he has stopped worse?

"The Master is one of my toughest foes. The last time I faced him in my world, I died. And this time, he wants to make sure I stay dead. And he'll kill anyone who gets in his way. He's already killed Spike, and countless others."

Celestia turned her head to Luna. "Sister? Your thoughts?"

Luna nodded, and put on a fake face of distrust. "What you have said, Doctor, We don't exactly believe it."

"I didn't think you would. But-" suddenly, the Doctor's nose flared, and he whipped around to his companions. "He's here." His face turned grim, and he whipped out his Sonic Screwdriver. “Derpy’s not with him. Her body signature’s still out of reach.

“Princesses, I need your help. Please, use your magic to place a barrier between this dimension and my own. The Master- I think he’s trying to rip a hole in the Universe, just to kill me.” The Doctor’s words changed in tone. They changed to ones of worry, and fear. Not like the Doctor that Celestia and Luna knew.

Celestia’s mouth grew into a slight smile. Oh, how she had missed this. “..... Doctor, I will help you.”

The Master laughed. His plan would finally come to fruition. After all this time, all the energy wasted on luring the Doctor out, and kidnapping that retard, it would finally happen.

You’re insane. The voice of the Doctor rang again.

“I thought I got rid of you.”

Not until the Doctor dies.

“So, you’re on my side, now?”

... No.

“No matter. My plan is almost done.”

Your ‘plan’ will get everypony killed.

“No. Just the Doctor. I’ll make sure of that.” The Master held his Laser Screwdriver is his hoof, and pointed it at the Princesses’ throne room. “I just need to lure him to me. And at long last, I will be victorious.”

He fired, and the laser struck its target, and the throne room erupted into a ball of flames.

“..... Doctor, I will help you.” No sooner than the words left her mouth, her throne erupted into a burning death trap, which would have killed her, had she been a regular pony. The explosion merely charred her fur. But her throne was the least of the damages.

She fell onto her side, and looked to her sister. “Luna! Get them out of here!”

Luna’s throne too exploded, along with the walls and floors. Chunks of ceiling fell, nearly crushing them, the Doctor and his friends. “We shall not leave thee, Celestia!” Luna’s horn ignited, and a rock that nearly crushed Colgate was blasted out of the air. “If We must leave, thou are coming, as well!” Another explosion, and the Guards stationed outside screamed.

The Doctor looked out of the space where the walls used to be, and looked down into the Gardens. “The Master. Jack, Watch Twilight and Colgate. I’m going down.”

Jack nearly fell over in surprise. “N-no, Doc.” He stepped over to the Time Lord’s side, and placed a hoof on his shoulder as another explosion erupted behind them. “If you’re going, we’re going, too.”

"J-Jack, I can't have you in danger. You know how ruthless the Master is."

"Which is exactly why we're going."

The Doctor sighed in defeat. "Fine. Princesses, I would appreciate it if you got to work on that shield. We have a Time Lord to stop." The Doctor flashed a grin, and straightened his bowtie. “Alright, lads... Geronimo.”