The Pegasus Paradox

While Twilight got her brother up to speed on everything that had happened to them, The Doctor began fiddling with the round control panel which encircled the large glowing green tube jutting out from the center of the room.

"But, why are we using this thing to get underground?" asked Dash. "Aren't we already in Canterlot?"

"Yes." The Doctor replied. "But, after the Changeling invasion last year-Princess Luna had personally sealed off all of the tunnels and secret passages had been installed in the castle in the hopes avoiding a future crisis from the creatures."

He then looked sternly at the other three.

"I hope none of you are claustrophobic.” He commented before pulling a lever.

Once again, there was that odd noise as the TARDIS began shaking.

“What’s going on?” asked a slightly panicked Shining Armor.

“Relax, this is all completely normal.” The Doctor assured him.

After a few moments the TARDIS seemed to have settled itself.

“I’ll go outside first.” The Doctor announced before pulling out what appeared to be a small metallic instrument with a blue node at the tip.

“What’s that?” inquired Rainbow Dash.

“Sonic Screwdriver.” He replied, nonchalantly before trotting outside.

Shining Armor was about to follow suit before he was stopped by his little sister’s hoof blocking his path.

“Sorry, BBBFF…but, there’s still one more thing we need to tell you…”

“There is?” asked a confused Rainbow Dash.

“Yes…Shining Armor we’re….Rainbow Dash is my special somepony…” she admitted, fearing the worst.

Ever since her fillyhood, keeping secrets from Shining Armor was something that she had never done and while she trusted him, all too often had she heard stories about mares revealing their sexuality and relationships with their marefriends before being shunned by their previously loving families.

The two siblings were always very close and she feared that if he didn’t accept her, then neither would their parents.

Her brother’s expression was unreadable and the silence that accompanied it did nothing to alleviate her fears.

He glanced over at Rainbow Dash, who was grinning sheepishly as a few small droplets of sweat fell from her forehead.

Finally, he spoke.

“Well, that was definitely a surprise…”

Twilight’s face fell as Rainbow Dash’s ears flattened.

“But, I am glad that you’ve found a special somepony that cares about you.” He continued.

In a way this was a relief, he was always protective of his sister and most of the other stallions he knew in Canterlot were the exact type of ponies he secretly hoped she stayed away from, which didn’t seem like it would be a problem at the time considering her disinterest in social interaction and focus on studies.

Of course, the more he thought about it-the more sense it made.

For just about all of recorded history, Equstria’s gender ratio had been ten to one with mares largely outnumbering the stallions.

The Doctor’s head popped back through the doorway.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“No,” replied Shining Armor. “My sister and I were just talking.”

“Well, you talk while we explore the cavern-we’ve got a world to save!” he exclaimed.

“Allons-y!”

The trio followed him out of the TARDIS, where there was indeed a large, dark cavern.

“How’re we going to find Princess Celestia, if we can’t even see our own hooves in front of our faces?” complained Rainbow Dash.

The Doctor was about to once again reach for his Sonic Screwdriver when, almost as if on cue-the walls began to glow a dull green which seemed to be emanating from veins embedded within the rock.

The tunnel they were in also seemed to have a path carved leading to a larger area that seemed to be glowing a very bright shade of green, in stark contrast to their current location.

“Well, that’s certainly peculiar.” He commented.

“Its magical energy,” observed Twilight, “…And not the good kind.”

“What do you mean by that, Twily?” asked a concerned Shining Armor.

“I’ve only seen this particular type of magical energy used by one species.” She explained.

“Who?” pressed Dash.

“…Changelings.”