Corrupted life

Colgate and Twilight broke through the last cluster of trees and burst out over a long empty plane. The sunlight blinded the, both momentarily. They continued to trot over the lush prairie like field until they came to the side road that would eventually lead them to the main road. The weather was slightly cloudy, but not enough to break the beautiful light of the sun. Another duo of hoof steps followed their own, reveling The Doctor and The Master. All four ponies walked tiredly on the road, occasionally greeting a pony who passed by. They passed the colorful setting of sugar cube corner, then Rarity’s boutique shop, and soon came to the library.

"What's this sign doing on my door?!"Twilight practically shouted. It was then that the four ponies began to look about, and then that they finely noticed the surprised and curious stares that every pony was giving them. Colgate looked back to the sign.

CLOSED UNTILL FURTHER NOTICE

Colgate gently knocked on the door, and when no answer replied, opened it. The lights in the library where on and the place looked a complete mess. Books were strewn everywhere, heaps upon heaps stacking to the ceiling. The horse head statue that was usually placed on the table had been ungraciously knocked onto the floor, bending many a page of a valuable book. The Doctor, being his usual curious self, quickly went through the motions of scanning the room with his new sonic screwdriver the TARDIS had made for him.

"We have company, but it’s just your dragon and some other equine life forms. Probably PinkiePie or Applejack." The Doctor concluded. The Master was just standing off to the side, unknowing what to do.

"Looks like Spike has been falling behind on his chores." Twilight growled. She took in a deep breath to shout the baby dragon’s name, but Colgate quickly put a hoof there instead.

"Someone's coming!"She whispered frantically. Although she was in a much more mature body, Colgate’s mind was still that of a filly, also meaning she was constantly fearful.

"Hey! What are you doing here? The sign says the library is ... TWILIGHT!!!!" A speeding rainbow bullet rushed across the room and tackled the unsuspecting unicorn mare to the ground in a big bear hug. Twilight, who now found it increasingly harder to breath, tried to pry the mare off of her.

"OMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!!! We have been so worried! First spike was all 'oh no! Twilights gone. I’ll go eat ice cream!' Then the next day he got more worried so he came and told us and so we were worried..." The cyan Pegasus was interrupted by a pink blur that joined their bear hug and continued from were Rainbow had left off, this time in a much faster voice.

"And then we sent a letter to the princess and asked if you where with her, but you weren’t! Then Celestia used some crazy spell and couldn’t find you, so she told us you might not be in Equestria. So then I came up with the idea to go to the library and stay there and wait for you but no pony would listen and I got so worried and two more days went by and...And...IMISSEDYOUSOMUCH!!!!!"Pinkie shouted and started to sob. Soon the room was crowded when three more mares came down. All gave Twilight a hug and told her how worried they were.

Eventually everyone settled down so that Twilight and the rest of them could find out what had happened. The elements all sat in a sort of half circle facing Twilight while the time ponies sat to the side watching the whole ordeal.

"Okay every pony. I would like a one at a time explanation to why the library is closed, why you’re all here, and what was that bit about Celestia?"Twilight looked around, signaling Fluttershy to explain. The shy mare squeaked before stepping forward slowly.

"You...You were gone for almost two weeks, and Spike got really worried. He told us and we waited, but then we sort of freaked out and sent a letter to the princess to help us find you. I hope you don’t mind...please dont be angry with us." Fluttershy scooted back like a scared animal.

"So I’ve been gone for two weeks?!" Twilight growled, scowling at The Doctor.

"I thought you said we wouldn’t be gone a minute later than we left! Now look at this mess you've made!" All of the mares suddenly seemed to jump, realizing that the six of them where not the only ponies in the room. Rainbow instantly hopped into the air and flew right up to The Doctor’s face.

"And what were you doing with her punk? Trying to gussy her up and get her drunk? Trying to get her to go home with ya for the night? You didn’t hurt her did ya? Cuz if you did I’m going to SHOW YOU WHAT PAIN FEELS LIKE!!!" A purple aurora snatched rainbows tail and yanked her back from the surprised stallion. The Doctor was blushing profoundly and the urge to run beckoned to his mind. Rainbow was plopped back down next to an upset Applejack.

"Rainbow! Quit throwing accusations around when you have no idea what’s happened to me over the last two, what seems to you, weeks. To me it feels like months and I need my sleep!" Twilight stomped away from the group and up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door for emphasis. The mares left in the room turned on The Doctor, all holding either scowls or evil grins on their faces.

"There are other ways of getting information." Rainbow said maliciously. Pinkie giggled and whispered to The Doctor.

“You should run.”

"Wellcomealongcompanionsnoneedtostay!"And with that The Doctor rushed out the door, Colgate and The Master right at his heels.

Twilight jumped onto her bed and closed her eyes. A wave of sadness and relief washed over her. Relief because she was finely home, sadness because, well, she didn’t know. She was just sad for some reason. Maybe it was because of the stress from the last couple weeks? Or maybe it was because she didn’t want her friends to be so worried about her.

Twilight lifted her head a bit and let magic flow through her. Her horn light up, levitating a small bound book and a quill over to her.

"Hey diary. It’s been a while." Twilight sighed and opened the book. She flipped past many pages with dates and writing. As she flipped farther into the book, the hoof writing continued to become neater, showing the changes in her learning and age. Soon she came to a blank page. Twilight dipped the quill in the inkwell and put pen to paper.

Dear diary,

I’ve been gone for a while...

As Twilight wrote, she felt emotion overcome her. Tears slipped off of her face, dropping onto the page with small splashes. She wrote about all that had happened and paused a moment to think before she finished.

I was so scared and didn’t know what to do. I was so alone and none of my friends there where the same as my real friends. I learned a few important lessons. The first one is that The Doctor lies. It’s probably one of the most important lessons that I’ve ever learned. He was never mean to me, it’s just that he's dangerous in a sort of unrelated way. The other lesson I learned is that anything could happen at any time, so you should always be prepared for the best or the worst to happen.

Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle

Twilight slowly closed her journal and levitated it back under her bed, and placed the quills back where they belonged. She just collapsed on her bed and pushed her head in her pillow sobbing.

Who

Twilight looked up to see Owlishious sitting in her window sill. The owl flew over to her and perched on her bed, snuggling against the emotionally unstable unicorn.

"Hey owlishious sniff How are you? I hope spike had been taking care of you properly."

"Who, Who" Twilight giggled at the owl’s way of speaking and gently rubbed in between his wings. The owl seemed to melt into her hoof from pleasure. Many voices could still be heard downstairs, and Twilight was worried that her friends might be so worried that they wouldn’t leave.

"Who, Who, Who, Who!" Owlishis said, seeming to read Twilights mind.

"Good idea owlishious. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to talk to them each separately to get things straight. But I still won’t be able to tell the truth. No pony would believe me and the girls would just push harder." Owlishious swiftly flew out the room and Twilight tried to wipe the rest of her tears from her face. Moments later a yellow Pegasus walked meekly into the room.

"Oh. H-Hi Twilight. Owlishious said that I should be first to come talk to you." FlutterShy looked up from her lowered gaze and gasped when she saw that Twilight had been crying.

"Oh dear! Are you alright!?" FlutterShy flew over and gently hugged Twilight and began rubbing her friends back to sooth her.

"Yes Shy, I’m okay. Thanks for coming up here. Has The Doctor left yet?" Fluttershy nodded a faint look of worry showing.

"I kind of wanted to know... I mean...Rainbow said that you...never mind..."

"Go ahead FlutterShy. I won’t get mad. What did Rainbow say?" FlutterShy's cheeks blushed red.

"She said that you went to the stallions house and-"

"Nope!" Twilight cut in. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, and she would have to slap Rainbow for even having such thoughts.

"Then where were you?" FlutterShy asked attentively. Twilight sighed, not knowing what to say.

"Please Twilight. You can trust me." Twilight flinched when Fluttershy said that. It was exactly what The Doctor had said, and also what Colgate had said.

"FlutterShy. I was on a trip. Colgate asked me to come along so I did, and now it’s over."

"Were you kidnapped!?" FlutterShy squeaked. Twilight ignored the question.

"Believe me FlutterShy, I’m fine. Friends?" Twilight hugged Fluttershy and let go.

"Friends." Fluttershy agreed.

"Okay. Ask PinkiePie to come in here next." Fluttershy trotted out of the room and Twilight lay back and sighed.

Hi ya Twilight!" Pinkie bounced into the room. Twilight was about to speak, but Pinkie beat her to it.

"I can’t wait to hear all about your adventure with The Doctor! Where did you visit? Was it in space or did you just travel in time? Why did Colgate look older than before, and OH MY GOODNESS have you been crying?! It’s okay, I know Rainbow was wrong and was just worrying about you. The Doctor would never kidnap you or anything and he doesn’t drink alcohol. And who was that other pony that came in with you? It was definitely another time pony, but I guess you already knew that. But I really really want to know where you’ve been so I’ll try and be quiet and listen starting...NOW!!!" Pinkie stopped automatically and sat rigid still, ready to know where Twilight had been to.

Twilight told her the events that had happened the past few days and Pinkie pulled her into a big bear hug when she was finished.

"The world can be tough Twilight, but please don’t blame it on The Doctor. He tries to do his best and he already blames himself enough as it is." The emotion in Pinkies voice shocked Twilight almost as much as it did to see her sit still so long. Pinkie departed out the door and soon a rainbow manned head appeared. The face accompanying it was one of rage.

"I want an explanation and I want it now! What did that guy do to you and why are you sticking up for him?" Twilight sighed again (as she had been doing a lot of that in the past hour) and waited a moment for Rainbow to sit down.

"Let’s start. You ask a question and I will answer truthfully and as I see fit." Twilight had a feeling that doing it this way would be much easier.

"Did that stallion hurt you?" Rainbow scowled as she asked.

"No Rainbow. Not in a way that he had control of."

"Did he kidnap you?"

"No he didn’t."

"Are you the real Twilight?

"RAINBOW!!!"

"Okay, sorry. But, if you went on your own accord, and he didn’t hurt you or anything, why didn’t you tell us you were going? We were truly worried Twilight." Rainbow frowned and turned away slightly, hiding her face.

"I didn’t think I would be leaving. I was sort of stuck Rainbow. You have to believe me when I say that I am truly sorry." Twilight reached to hug rainbow but was gently pushed away.

"I forgive you Twilight, but I need some time." Rainbow left the room and Twilight again sighed. She could imagine that it must have been the hardest for the element of loyalty to sit and do nothing but wait for her return.

Applejacks meet went mostly the same as Rainbows, but she managed to get a hug in the end. Rarity just put it off and said that a true lady should not be questioned for what she does. She said it was downright impolite for friends to be so inquisitive. So one by one each friend left and went home, leaving Twilight to herself in her room.

"Twilight?" A young voice called and the door cracked open. Twilight lifted an eye and smiled slightly, motioning for her faithful assistant to come to her. The baby dragon lay on the bed next to his caretaker and gave her a hug.

"Twilight?"

"Yeah spike?"

"Please don’t leave me again."

"Not in a million years number one assistant." And there the two fell asleep.

The Doctor trotted around the TARDIS consol, his ever building energy making it impossible to sleep. He wasn't used to long sleeping; only a rare few short naps. The Master had gone into the guest room with the excuse of his headache coming back. Colgate had also gone to sleep, needing it more being so young.

No matter what he did, The Doctor couldn't stop thinking about The Masters and his agreement. The Doctor would be losing a lot because of it, but it would make every pony else happy. Colgate would find her mother and probably go make a home and live with her, leaving The Doctor. And The Master, the poor lowly Master who was always in so much pain. To have the drums and the strain of life lifted from him would probably be wonderful for him, but were would that leave The Doctor? Alone as always. No companion, no friend, only his shadow and the TARDIS.

The Doctor rubbed his hoof against the aged metal wall.

"In the end it's always us two. You’re such a good ole gal. So loyal. You would never leave me would you? You wouldn't just throw out a handsome time lord as myself after you stole me, would you?" The Doctor chuckled a moment before his face again turned grave. He stomped a hoof to the ground and growled.

"It's just so unfair. My whole life I've been saving planets and watching over all these bloody weaklings, and in the end what does it amount to? I never gain anything! It's always me to lose something in the end. IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" The Doctor shouted. He breathed hard, trying to calm down as he continued to pace.

"Consol! Show me a picture that will calm me down!" The Doctor ordered. A projection of the earth materialized before him and he stomped again, gritting his teeth.

"I said that would calm me down! Not another thing to remind me of all I lost!" The Doctor shut his eyes closed and lay down where he was.  A soothing voice hit his ears. It was Scottish, as that was the setting he had put the consol’s voice on when he met Amelia pond.

"I am not showing you what you want to see, but what you need to see." The voice deepened to one that made The Doctor shiver. "You need to face your fears."  The Doctor clenched his eyes shut harder, fear biting his mind.

"It's only a projection, it's not real. It's only a projection, it's not real. “The Doctor kept repeating the words and slowly he opened his eyes. He flinched when he saw the tall creature looming in front of him.

"Discord." The Doctor whispered the name and the projection seemed to grin.

"Doctor." The projection said and The Doctor stepped back.

"No, projections can't do that!" He said panicked, his voice growing. "Consul, projection off!" The image of discord flickered and disappeared, but not before saying a last word. The Doctor sat down fear engulfing him. It felt like one of his hearts had stopped working and the other one was being split in two. It felt like he was being torn limb from limb, like each bone in his body was being cracked apart one by one.

The Doctor crumpled into a heap, his coat darkening quickly before hardening. Two feathered limbs sprouted from his back and his eyes turned Icy blue. The TARDIS groaned and creaked before the engines usual hum started to fade into a low growl. The interior slowly shifted into a darker place, the only light an eerie green. The Doctor’s mind echoed in a hollow void.

ALONE

The Master sat up in bed, startled to hear The Doctors shout

"IT’S NOT FAIR!!!"

It was unlike The Doctor to shout things like that, but The Master paid it no heed and lay back down, reclosing his eyes. He listened to the drumming in his head, trying to hear it as a soft beat instead of the constant pound that drove him insane.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Thump, thump, thump, thump

hello

The Master’s eyes shot open. Did he just hear a voice inside his head? No, that was impossible. And had the room really grown darker than it had been, or was his eyes just unadjusted? He closed his eyes again and pushed away the thoughts of voices in his head. He just had to get back to sleep.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

That wasn't much of a welcome party. The Master grew stiff, but was able to keep himself from opening his eyes.

"What do you want?" The Master growled back, clenching his teeth. The holder of the voice could only be one creature, and the tone made it obvious as well.

I just wanted to talk, maybe make a friend? It looks like we will be stuck like this until the end anyways.

"It's not my problem that you're going to die, and I’m going to enjoy it."

well, I can tell you now that you won’t like the news that I’m going to give you, but it will just be *So Funny** to watch you.*

"What are you talking about Discord?"

I’m surprised you haven’t noticed yet. I mean, sometimes things just *fade away** and even a Doctor can’t fix a blackened heart.* The draconoquis snickered in The Masters head.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE DOCTOR?!?" The Master burst. He couldn’t stand this monstrous freak stuck in his head.

well that’s a harsh way to think. I don’t think I’m a monstrous freak. Of course, you’re and my thoughts are sort of combined now, aren’t they?

The Master struggled to open his eyes, but when he did nothing seemed to change from the blackness. Everything was dark and enveloped in thick shadows. The Master stumbled off of his bed and began to run towards the door, tripping and falling in the process. He got back up quickly and rushed towards the control room.

"Doctor?! Doctor! *snort* Doctor!" as The Master reached the control room a bubble of mad laughter emanated from his throat. What was happening to him? He looked around quickly and saw The Doctor laying on the floor looking much like he did when they had first rescued him from discord in the parallel world.

"DOCT-" The Master tried to shout the name but only accomplished to burst out laughing again. He just couldn’t stop. And his head pounded more every step closer to The Doctor he took.

Stop trying to save him and I may let you go freely. The Master could feel discord grin in his head but tried to ignore the feeling as he struggled to breath.

"I...Won’t....Save him..." The Master relaxed as the laughter and the drums released him from their grasp.

See, that wasn’t so hard, now was it? Now go wake him up and don’t pull any moves on I or your life will turn red.

The Master dragged his hooves toward The Doctor and gently prodded his old friend/enemy.

"Doctor? Wake, wake?" The Doctor moved slightly and opened his eyes. The Master noticed instantly that they had turned an icy blue full of malice.

"Get off me Master" The Doctor spit out the name with scorn. A scowl overcame his darkened features and he stood up.

"Haven’t you done enough trouble for one life? Go jump in a pit." The Doctor kicked The Master in the side before leaving the console room. The Master was flabbergasted and stood there like an idiot for a moment before going back to his room. He had had enough problems for one night.

"Please! Let me out!"

"Quiet or you will wake the whole hive prisoner!"

"No! I can’t let them ruin my life!" A unicorn mare sat, pulling at the cage that imprisoned her. A dark creature flew over to her, a sharp object in hoof. He poked the mare with the item through the bars and she flew back to the wall as a green bolt of electricity shocked her.

"I told you to shut up!" The creature buzzed, flying back to his post. The mare lay down and wept.

"My poor, poor Minuette."