//------------------------------// // In the name of love // Story: Aeternitas Book I: Lunar Shadow // by Shadowlight Wanderer //------------------------------// Chapter 18 The quartet of the rescuers and Rarity were slowly moving through the chamber. They saw their friends in various situations, happening without any connection to each other. They tried to go there and talk multiple times. But even if they tried very hard, something was just simply stopping them in one place. “Many timestreams in one location. Ugh, this place is downright wrong and it’s giving me a headache” complained Doctor, visibly unamused with the situation. “But why we can’t go to them?” asked Scootaloo. "We are connected to only our home timestream and we can only be in only one at the time. We cannot enter any other besides that certain one. The difference between them and us is that we are not incorporated anymore so we know. We can see through the illusion." ******************** Rainbow darling, what are you doing ? No, it is impossible" Rarity screamed as she saw a cyan pegausus, lifting a knife with one wing targeting Pinkie Pie. Pink pony was leaning over somepony else. Was it ?... "Is tha' ma sister ?" Applebloom whispered with wide eyes. "Rainbow !!! Don't!!!" Rarity dashed forward and ran towards the pegasus Doctor raised an eyebrow "Apparently she found correct timestream. Good for her" Ponies observed as fashionista jumped at Rainbow Dash and they rolled over in the shadows. The familiar orange silhouette was still lying on the floor. "Applejack!!! All ya all righ" shouted Applebloom, punching the invisible wall between timestreams. "She can't hear you" doctor whispered gently, as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo tried to comfort her friend. "What about Rarity ?" Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle quietly. "Don't worry. Despite her appearance, my sister can be a good fighter if she needs to be. Twilight once told me that he was using some form of karate when Discord turned her into her opposite self." Scootaloo slowly nodded. “I saw them together earlier, I think they will be fine”. Applebloom was now screaming in a very high pitch and she was beyond any reasoning "Applejack!!!!!!Applejack!!!!" Doctor sighed "I am sorry for this, Applebloom. Girls, step aside" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle hesitantly moved away from Applebloom. Doctor looked at red manned filly. Then he suddenly punched her in a few points on her body, on the neck, chest and belly. Applebloom looked at the Doctor with confusion and then collapsed to the ground. Sweetie Belle covered her muzzle with a hoof. "What have you done to her, Doctor ?" Doctor gently placed Applebloom on his back "I've just put her asleep, that's all. It is a part of Venusian Aikido. I wasn't doing it for centuries but I still remember" "Penpuxian Akhi whhaaaat ???" Scootaloo blinked , staring at the Doctor Doctor started trotting forward so the Crusaders followed him "Oh, I guess there is not a planet Venus in this universe. I think your equivalent is planet Cadezia. So it will be a Cadezian Aikido. Oh my, it sounds even better. I must tell you about the mechanics of the celestial movements in this universe some day." "Well you can tell us as we go. I guess finding our timestream will take some time" Sweetie Belle looked at the Doctor, doing the most adorable and innocent face she could make. Doctor was seemingly tired but smiled weakly and his eyes lightened up a bit. "I was planning to educate you on that stuff anyway. So, you know that I came from another universe. In my universe, there is a place called a Solar system. Your planet is residing in this universe’s equivalent of the Solar system. Both systems contain nine planets (well, eight and a half), similar in construction and order. Only difference is the names. In my universe the planets in the Solar system are named by the gods of ancient humans. Of course different cultures in the Solar system have a different names for the planets but let's focus on humans.From the Sun there are Mercury, Venus, Earth (the planet of the human race), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and... well, kinda...Pluto. In your universe, planets are named after a powerful entities that represent different aspects of pony life. There is Discoria, Cadezia, Equus (or simply Equestria) Hurrikhena, Celesti, Platine, Swirlien, Lunaria, Pudinge. They are named after Discord, Princess Cadence, your country, Commander Hurricane, Princess Celestia, Princess Platinum, Princess Luna, Chancellor Pudinghead..." "Doctor, we had astronomy in school. This whole alternate planets are interesting but we already know planets in our Solar System." Scootaloo looked at the rest of the ponies with a bored glare. Doctor cleared his troth "But this is not the best. When I arrived to this universe, the thing that bothered me the most were the movements of sun and moon. You know, back where I came from, sun and moon doesn't need to be raised, they are moving on their own. I convinced Twilight to do a research with me and we found out... are you ready for me to ruin your fillyhood ?" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other. Sweetie Belle nodded and smiled "I think this couple hours in your presence has already turned our lives upside down. Go on !!" Doctor resumed his lecture "We discovered that Equestrian Solar System is indeed heliocentrical, not geocentrical (or equocentrical, as you might say) as Twilight initially thought. She was so shocked that the Sun was not rotating around Equus, that I had to take her home afterwards. But later we managed to solve the mystery. If the Sun is not moving around your planet, why Princess Celestia has to raise it every day ? And here is where I came in. I scanned your planet magnetosphere and here is what I found. Your planet has a core made of a rare sort of metal, that emitates magical energy. It is like a battery for every magical sapient creature on the planet. But the magical energy also has a great effort on perception. The light of the Sun and Moon can't penetrate through that veil if some counterspell won't let the perception filter out. This what the princesses are doing. They are not literally moving sun and moon. They are just allowing different types of energy, as heat and light, come to you ponies. They are moving just the image, not the real thing. I know it sounds less... magical. But it is really interesting when it is explained, isn'tit?" Sweetie and Scootaloo chuckled nervously, tried to keep up with the Time Lord and look as interested as they could "Yeah, it is all soooo cooool..." Scootaloo scratched her mane. "Well, we asked for this" Sweetie Belle whispered to her friend's ear. Doctor smiled widely "I knew you will like it" he checked on Applebloom still lying on his back, sleeping soundly " Come on then. Allons-y!" As his words echoed in the void, the loud scream was heard Doctor froze and then gasped, exhilarated "If we hear the sound, it means that our timestream is right..." he pointed a hoof in a point in front of them and then his jaw dropped. The scene that the Doctor and the Crusaders were witnessing was so weird and wrong that they really couldn't believe their eyes... ****************** " Pinkie!!!What areyou doing? No, please!!! My Celestia, Applejack, just run!!! No no no no! Dash, don't do this... noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"howled Twilight in the distance " You monster, what have you done to my friends ?" "Me ? " echo brought the sound of a quiet giggle " No Twilight, your friends are to blame. They just needed a little push in the right direction. But the pony who gave them that push was none other than you. The magic of friendship died because of you and nopony else" " No, this is not true. I would never do that. Even if it is real, I will stop you or myself, if needed" said Twilight. Her horn started to glow in a shade of dark purple " That spell will banish anypony, who will be responsible for this... massacre...in proximity of a hundred hoofsteps. If the level of probability is higher in any of us, the spell will be directed" she lowered her head " beware Starswirl's Sword of Destiny. I'm willing the sacrifice myself to save my friends from the fate you showed me". *************** Applebloom yawned and stretched out on the Doctor's back "What a crazy nightmare ah jus' had..." She then acknowledged the scene in front of her "Or am I still sleepin'" she said in disbelief Doctor placed Applebloom on the ground "I will explain later, Applegroom. We have to save Twilight. It seems that she is in danger" "You think ?!" Sweetie Belle shivered slightly. "We have to run. NOW !" the Doctor shouted and started galloping towards Twilight. Cutie Mark Crusaders were by his side *************** " Oh, that is so sweet and...predictable. I knew it was going to turn out like this. So, my dear Twilight, take this" Doctor watched in horror as the stream golden light fell on Twilight from the ceiling. His eyes widened and he shook his head "No, this is... but it can't be ! Just can't" "What is it Doctor ?" asked Scootaloo "But... this is regeneration energy : How did she managed to get her hooves on Time Lords regeneration energy? And now Twilight is infused with it. I hope she will survive that... faster!!!" Twilight was lifted in the air, struggling to protect herself from the evil spell. "Twilight, fight with it. Resist!!!!" the Doctor and the Crusaders shouted in unison Twilight looked slightly in their direction and maybe she even noticed them. But then the remaining of her strength wore out. She suddenly disappeared in the flash of white light. The Doctor finally stopped running "Blast it! We are too late. She is gone" he whispered. Evil Celestia approached Doctor and CMC. Illusion burnt out and faded away as Daybreaker smiled widely "You cannot be more mistaken, my dear enemy. She is closer than you think" Anger flashed in Doctor's eyes "What do you mean? Where is Twilight ?" Daybreaker giggled "You are considered ancient and wise and yet you can't see..." " Look, I already lost a friend today. You killed a pony who I knew for centuries. And now you probably killed my companion. So I give you one warning. JUST ONE. STOP THIS MADNESS AT ONCE" growled the Doctor. "Well, how about that? This is the moment in my history that made me who I was . That plan perfected throughout the centuries. Today by sending Twilight away, I established my supreme reign. I will be the Empress of the new world, the world of eternal day." Daybreaker started to laugh maniacally, her whole body shaking with adrenaline. " But why are you doing this ? What madness made you do all of this things? The Elements are dying, you tried to convince the world to blame Luna, you killed Luna even if she was your sister, you brought back Sombra... Why did you do this? What is your point in this massacre?" Daybreaker grinned " I already was here once. I made sure that what happened will happen again" " The Doctor was right. You did time travelled." said Sweetie Belle, moving forward. Daybreaker's flames got hotter and brighter. " Warmer, warmer. I am older than Equestria. I am even older than you, Doctor. Twelve centuries of existence, you know what that time can do to a pony if they have to live on with regrets ? I had to move on so I became who I am now, Daybreaker. 1200 years, I lost so much and it all started tonight. Do you know how it feels to have to live with regrets so many centuries ?” “I know “ said the Doctor in a broken voice Daybreaker snarled at the Time Lord “You want to talk ? I thought that you from all ponies would understand me but no, you did something better. You abandoned me!!! You never tried to find me, you just ran away like you always do. Using ponies to fill your solitude.” she turned to CMC “Do not trust him. Believe,I did and it didn’t pay off.” Doctor shook his head „Enough! No more games. If you know me, which is quite impossible, then you must certainly know that messing with me is VERY BAD idea. We have questions. And you are going to answer them. Is that correct ?” This time Daybreaker almost fell to the ground during the laughing feat. „ It is so amusing, that you think that you can actually achieve anything now. But...fine, I will answer your questions. It won’t change a thing.” "First of all, how did you managed to time travel? Alicorns can't time travel on the long distances, even those as powerful as you." Daybreaker's horn lit up and the Doctor was suddenly pulled closer to the burning alicorn. "Look" whispered the Sun Empress, placing Doctor's hoof on her chest Doctor remained in place for a moment. Then he backed away, shock clearly visible on his face. "Your heartbeat... it's a rhythm of four. This is a Time Lord's heartbeat. But I am certain that you have only one heart. You are not a Time Lady. Who are you ?" Daybreaker rolled her eyes " Come on Doctor, use that enormous brain of yours. I don't want to kill an idiot, it is below my dignity." Cutie Mark Crusaders bravely shielded the Doctor. "If you want to kill him, you need to come through us" said Scootaloo in a tone that supposed to be a confident one. Daybreaker lowered her head "Oh, it was so long since I last saw your faces. You haven't change a bit" Maybe it was only some kind of reflection, but it seemed like a cerise light glimmered in her eyes, only for a moment. Then Daybreaker looked at Sweetie Belle. Her eyes narrowed and she roared "Get this thing out of my sight !!!!" In a flash of golden light a medallion appeared in front of Daybreaker.It was spherical, made from lapis-lazuli and adorned by decreasing moon scythe from pure silver. "My medallion ! Give it back " Sweetie shouted "Eeem, Sweetie Belle ? You didn't have any medallion with you. I would notice" said Scootaloo "No, I had it the whole time... I think..." Sweetie Belle had a confused expression on her muzzle. Doctor slowly nodded "A perception filter. Which leads to a different question. How can you see through that kind of sensual trick and how did you stole some of the regeneration energy ?" "The answer to the question is that I saw that medallion in my family's castle, many centuries ago. You were there and this thing is certainly exact same one. And about the regeneration energy... I will not spoil all of the fun for you". And in that moment Daybreaker was kicked in the jaw. She did a flip in the air and landed on the ground with a short scream, rather from surprise than actual pain. Applebloom stood over her, breathing heavily. "Better start talkin' before I will do to ya what ya've done to my sister". Daybreaker giggled once again "Dear, sweet Applebloom. You are incredibly strong. You managed to get me by surprise, I seriously admire that. Well then..." she turned herself in a stream of fire and Applebloom screamed, slightly burnt. She backed away and landed in the hooves of Scootaloo. Daybreaker repapered again and stated circling the others "I will tell you, but in my way" She opened her mouth and began to sing: Once upon a time, there was a place when I was safe and sound Happiness and joy was within a race And this place was my heart I had just all the pony could ask for The wonders I've encountered I couldn't ask for more ALL. WAS. JUST. FINE And then the darkness came it went to invite me to play a madness comes cause it's the cost when you fail yourself and it all is lost. I have lost my friends, I have lost the light back then it was my only hope I didn't have such courage to fight I. WAS. JUST. GONE I have travelled years and then a centuries what was my reward ? My soul was still broken But I could change the world Doctor: But you say you know my name Who are you that you are the same ? Cold in heart but hot as flame Why did you say that we meet again ? Daybreaker: Look into my eyes and you will know the answer Look into my soul when I spoke to you Did you really forget me It cannot be true. Doctor: What is that face that I see inside of my mind What is that face in front of my eyes Who are you, the voice of the unknown Are you a secret that within me hides Daybreaker: We shared our dreams of the future We were together in past How could you leave me behind I thought that our bond will last Sweetie Belle: I am so sorry for you that you lost your peace But you've done things that are horrible This madness must now cease Doctor: Just tell the truth, just say, explain... Daybreaker: You know me Doctor, you know my name... Applebloom: Is there a meanin' all of this is here, a bigger plan ? Or all our tears were for nothin' What is yer point again ? Doctor: Why can't I get it out How can you know if I don't know What is the thing that mind can show Oh I am stupid, just let it go Daybreaker: I waited for so long... Doctor: I know you could be more than that... Daybreaker: I lost them, all I've got... Doctor: Please, just listen to me... Daybreaker: You are not who you appear to be saviour of the universe, you always move on when somepony cares you're already gone You are so tired and alone All of the journeys you've came to see what is your choice and your destiny Doctor: Never cruel and cowardly I sworn to live Always trying to help, always to forgive But I still have a blood on my hands The only thing that's important are companions, friends Daybreaker: Then how could you leave me alone ? Scootaloo: What the heck is going on ? Sweetie Belle: I think that more than one heart is shattered... Applebloom: And we shall retrieve what mattered... Doctor: I am so close and so far... Daybreaker: Gods in heavens know I tried... Doctor: I think I know But it can't be true What you mean is that... Dayreaker: Doctor, I loved you!!! Doctor froze "Wha-What ?" he mumbled in shock Daybreaker flew to him and placed her forehead on his "I will show you" The pair closed their eyes. For a moment nothing happened. Then a tear dropped on the floor. It was Doctor's tear. The tear was followed by another one and the next one, until a whole stream was flowing down. Time Lord cried and when he opened his eyes, the pony standing face to face with him wasn't Daybreaker. It was Princess Celestia. Doctor remained speechless for a longer while and then spoke, still shaking and crying "I had no idea... I am so, so sorry... could you ever forgive me ?" Celestia slowly nodded "I forgave you and moved on." her body was shaken by a painful spasm " but she didn't. She is going to regain control any moment now. She will kill you." She looked at the Crusaders "Did you happen to see Luna ?" Three fillies looked sadly on the ground and that was all the answer Celestia needed. "She sacrificed herself to protect us. She was killed by Sombra and..." Scootaloo hesitated Celestia's eyes were full of tears. "So I did kill my own sister. I really don't deserve to be alive" Doctor protested "Don't say that. We might be able to fix the timelines, preventing this from happening and..." "Killing me in the process" Celestia completed. Applebloom raised a hoof "Scootaloo was correct earlier. Can somepony explain what in tarnation is goin' on ?" Celestia fell to the ground with a shriek of pain "You have no time, my little ponies. She is coming back. I am too weak... I already lost.. or I will loose... my sister... I cannot loose you too. Doctor, thank you for everything you were to me. And... I forgive you..." "Twilight" whispered Doctor. Celestia's mane ignited and she exploded in flames. Daybreaker emerged, grinning widely. "Did you miss me ?” she shouted nonchalantly, looking at the devastated quartet in front of her. She imitated their expressions "Why the long faces ? You are going to die for a moment !!! Right about...now!!!" Doctor screamed loudly and fell to the ground. He hissed with pain. Daybreaker raised above the group "I did some research you know, just like in the old days. I read that if somepony will create multitimesteam in one location and kill the link, stabilising the different versions of the universe, the whole reality will fall apart. Look!!!" she pointed at the walls, which started to fade away. "Luna. Luna was the link. Everything changed, even you. Luna was one fixed point and when you killed her..." the Doctor managed to speak Daybreaker laughed, her face showing nothing but insanity and madness. "This whole world will cease to exist. No matter the time or place, the change will affect every last bit of the universe. And what is the greatest thing" She looked profoundly into Doctor's eyes " In that universe, paradoxes kill Time Lords" Doctor shivered in pain "I think she is correct. Everything burns, every atom in my body. Only one heart works properly" Scootaloo facehoofed "Well, that sucks" Doctor looked at Daybreaker "You don't belong here. You are not from this realm. This whole situation was designed to kill me ? You shouldn't kill all of those ponies, the Elements. If that what you are saying is true, I can be killed by your presence alone." "Maybe. But I needed Sombra and I couldn't restore him in any other way" "Where is Sombra ? " Daybreaker moved closer to the Doctor and whispered "Spoilers" Doctor shaken furiously "Don't you dare !" he roared, trying to get up. Daybreaker laughed and with that final outburst she disappeared in a flash of white light. "Where did she go ? " asked Applebloom "I don't know. What important is that we must move on too. When you travel with me, there is a one important rule. When I say run, run. RUN!!!" shouted the Doctor. Sweetie Belle helped the Doctor get up and the group started galloping towards the exit of the enormous chamber. Scootaloo noticed something on the floor. It was a mysterious medallion. She grabbed it and used one hoof to place it around her neck. And then the ground under her hooves disappeared and Scootaloo fell into nothingness Suddenly, she was covered with emerald magical aura and pulled back up to the material path. When she landed, she felt Sweetie Belle's hoof bumping her head "Don't you dare do this again, Scoots" Scootaloo smiled weakly "You got it." After something that seemed to be hours, the group made it to the end of a path. They quickly made their way up to the Celestia's bedchamber. TARDIS was waiting for them. Doctor tried to open it but collapsed and screamed with pain. "Doctor, hurry up !" Applebloom screamed in panic. The void was almost at room's entry. "I seem to be dying, give me time" the Doctor raised up and hold a key in his mouth. "Doctooooor...." Crusaders moved back. Almost whole chamber was black now. Finally, the Doctor opened the TARDIS. "Go inside!!!" he commanded Crusaders doesn't need repeating. The entered the time machine quickly. The Doctor entered the last, closing the door. He started moving towards the console but collapsed once again "Curse you, death !" he hissed. He grabbed his sonic screwdriver. He pointed it in the console's direction and the device buzzed. The TARDIS started to shake "Here we go" mumbled Doctor, changing the frequency The engines started and the TARDIS dematerialised and rematerialised after a moment. Sweetie Belle helped the Doctor get up "Where are we now ?" They started slowly moving towards the console "Few minutes in the future, on the orbit of planet Cadezia" Scootaloo opened the door "Whooaaa, look at that" the pegasus said in amazement, looking through the door. The planet under them was in the mixed shade of yellow, orange and brown. It glowed gently in space, the point of light in the darkness of outer space. "That doesn' look like Princess Cadence at all. Beside that both are kinda tri-coloured" Applebloom gazed at the planet, observing the storms on her surface. "This is not the end. I must take us further. I must keep you safe." the Doctor programmed something on the console. "He is right, look ! " Applebloom pointed at the void, getting closer and closer " how can it be so fast ? Doctor, how many time we have left ?" "Two minutes, maybe three" the Doctor pulled the starting lever. The column flashed red and profound noise of the bells was heard The ponies heard a female voice YOUR DESTINATION IS CLOSE TO THE SPACE-TIME ELAPSION LIMIT. TRAVEL CANCAUSE MALFUNTIONS. Doctor lowered his head "I am sorry for this" He pressed a button on the console and spoke as loudly as he could "ENTERING THE CODE. SIGMA,SIGMA, MEDUSA CASCADE, ROSE, MARTHA, DONNA, TWILEY, DERPYPOO. CHANGING TO MANUAL, STATE OF TEMPORAL CRISIS, SWITCH OFF THE ELAPSION LIMIT, OVERRIDE,OVERRIDE" He pulled the lever once again and this time the engines started. The column however remained bloody red. "Hold on" shouted the Time Lord as the TARDIS was shaking in flight. The console was glitching and Doctor could swear that he heard Scootaloo shouting "WORST.DRIVER.EVER!!!" And then everything stopped. Doctor slowly moved towards the door and opened it. On the outside there was nothing but black outer space. Only a few stars burnt in the distance. "Where are we now ?" asked Sweetie Belle "The most far point the TARDIS could take us. On the very edge of the universe, year 100 trillion. The end of time itself. This is a lot of time from the moment of Luna's death. But it is only an hour, maybe a bit more, before the void will reach us" Doctor closed the door. "Scootaloo, go for the medical kit, is under the console. I think Applebloom needs help" Applebloom almost forgot that she was burnt by Daybreaker. She noticed that was the first time he spoke her name correctly. "What about ya Doctor. Is there any way we can help ya ?" asked the earth pony "There is no way. In this universe, such a temporal crisis is indeed fatal for me. I can't even regenerate. But don't worry, it takes days for Time Lord to day" "Why we should we happy ? You are suffering. How can it be a good thing ?" Sweetie Belle bit her lower lip. "Because I want to you to understand the whole truth about what is happening and I have a time to tell you the truth. If we are going to die today, you must know this" said the Doctor, sweating heavily.