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// Chapter Eighty-Two 
// Story: A Journey Unthought Of 
// by Hustlin Tom 
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We safely made it to the Tardis and we dematerialized. Princess Luna looked at the large interior with an air of an art critic assessing a new piece.  She frowned and looked about.  “A large room within a small box.  You must have great knowhow of the universe, Doctor.”  

“I guess you could say that,” was all he muttered as his gaze was fixed on the countdown.   

We landed right outside the Invention Emporium, and the countdown came to 2:17:49.  

“There’s little time left, and we need to coordinate with the others.  Lyra, could you lead the Princess into the Emporium?  I need to quick speak with Adam for a tick.”  

“Alright,” she said as propped up Princess Luna once more and led her to the doors of the larger than life box.  

The Doctor waited until they had cleared the door before he turned to me, “Adam, there’s something I need to broach to you, and honestly, I’ve had a terrible time trying to find the best way to say it.”  

“Doctor, I don’t think I like the sound of this.”  

“We can repair the Void hole with only one Princess and the Elements of Harmony,” 

“Well that’s good news,” 

“Yes, it is.  I’ll fly the Tardis into the Void hole itself, and close it from the other side.”  

“Okay, so what’s the trouble then?”  

“Adam,” the Doctor sighed as he looked at me, “you have to come with me.”  

“Why,” I asked numbly.  I raised my arms; they were shaking.  “Everything I’ve ever really cared about is here.  I have true friends; friends who care about me and don’t have preconceived ideas of what I should be like.  I have a chance at a completely new life here, and I’ve grown to love this place!”  

“We are the disturbances that shattered the Hole into existence in the first place.  If we don’t return to where we properly belong, any fix we attempt to make will only be temporary.”  

“Doctor, please.  Just leave me behind!  It might not be my world, but it’s a place I would happily live all my years out in.  I want to be here, even if it means I’m alone.”  

“It can’t work like that Adam.  If you stay here, you and everyone you love will be consumed by the Void eventually.”  

“I’d still have time to be with them.  We could start a bucket list together.”  

“Adam, listen to yourself!  If you truly love your friends, you’ll have to let them go.  It’s the only way you can guarantee them a chance to live out their lives.”  

He was right.  If I stayed, my friends would die, but they would live if I sacrificed ever being able to see them again.  There was a large part of me that just wanted to stay and use my time wisely before the end.  As I thought though, I knew that the end would come for everyone, not just me and my friends.  How many lives would be lost if I made my choice like that?  Ten thousand?  One hundred thousand?  More?  I would essentially be a bringer of genocide if I chose that path.  For the sake of everyone and everypony, I knew what was required of me.  I had to give up everyone and everything I loved so that they could live.  

I looked up to the Doctor, resolve and water filled my eyes.  “Damn you, Doctor.”  

He looked at me, and his face was filled with frustration, “I’m leaving my friend behind as well, you’re not the only one affected here.  Now you know a little of what it’s like making the impossible choices, sacrificing for others.”  His face softened, “it’s not all bad though.  I’ve left something behind so we can still keep in touch with them.  I know it’s not the same thing as being with them, but it’s better than the alternative.”  

I sighed in defeat and looked at the floor, “Fine Doctor.  You win.”  I walked toward the doors of the Tardis, “Just let me say goodbye to everypony.”