//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Hide and Zeke 
// by Cruz Oscar 
//------------------------------//

	
Inside the Crystal palace the ruler of this decaying city looked down at his slaves, sadistic joy decorated his face. Even though he was forced to act sooner than he planned victory was still completely his and his alone 'Especially now that Ive captured your protector, wait for me Star, once your daughters have fallen you will be MINE'. Footsteps behind him confirmed that his battalion have succeeded in their mission 'Now, lets see what else they were panning' taking his place on his throne of thorns the dark unicorn watched as the doors to his throne room opened to revealed his puppets dragging a brown earth pony with an hourglass cutie mark; the pony himself did not appeared distressed in fact he appears to be admiring the castle interior decoration "Blimey! You really went all out for the Gothic look didn't you, personally I don't like it but to each his own eh" looking at the dark unicorn the Doctors eyes hardened "Hello Sombra".

20 minutes earlier

"Why am I dressed like this?" Zeke felt ridiculous, the Doctor had ripped a random curtain and forced in into make shift cape and bandanna, the bandanna itself covered most of his face except his eyes while the cape or rags like Zeke like to call it covered his wings and hooves "This thing is ridiculous! How is this gonna help with that plan of yours?" looking hurt the doctor finished placing what he calls an ear piece on his ear "Oi! Don't dis my work, if I really wanted to make you look silly I would just have painted you a target sign now cheer up" taking a few steps back the doctor admired his work. "I admit not my finest work but much better considering the circumstances, Just don't tell Rarity she would have my tail if she saw what I'm making you wear".

Moving towards the roof I pointed out the castle at the center of the city, wile I was pointing the shortest way to I facehoof myself as I noticed that he was already at ground level heading straight for it. Turning around the Doctor waved at me when all of a sudden I could hear his voice in my ear "Testing 1 2 3, Can you hear me Zeke" surprised by this I just pressed down on my ear "I can, does this work everywhere? ....wait where were you hiding these?" my mind was reeling with numerous tactical advantages it can give the royal guards back home "Not unless you cross dimension's, as for how you will have to ask Pinkie Pie oh she is just BRILLIANT!  Now remember, stay clear of the dragon, with any luck it probably returned to its cave under the castle, and be careful of the guards, they are far fragile than they look" moving further away Zeke took flight towards the closest tower "I just hope this works" the Doctor responded again from the ear-piece "Trust me, I'm The Doctor".

Present:

Zeke had reach the closest tower but to his surprise it was by the Diamond Dogs in a circular formation around the base. Getting near them without them noticing him was out of the question, however he was on a short schedule so theres only one alternative, good thing he was alone, less distraction. Bolting out of the shadows Zeke made a dash towards the guards, in no time they moved to intercept launching their spears as soon as he got withing firing range. Holding his cape with his wings the bat pony made a show of jumping over the projectiles, landing behind the guards Zeke didn't wasted time and bucket his rear hooves to incapacitate his target :Crash!:  "?!" avoiding the guards at the sides by running up the wall and backfilling behind them Zeke revealed his concealed wings and using them as large hands toked hold of their heads and smashed their heads together :Crash!:.

This time Zeke could see what was the cause of the noise, it was the sound of the guards breaking into glass, he instantly remembered the Doctor's words 'they are far fragile than they look' Zeke ducked and rolled to the side as another tried to land on him only to land over his cape which promptly pulled to trip him but not before delivering a solid right hoof to its jaws :Crash!:. Glancing at the remaining 2 guards Zeke's yellow eyes were glowing 'Times up, RUN!' the guards turned to run only to get sliced in half as Zeke ran passed them, cutting them with his wings :Crash! Crash!: Taking to the skies Zeke wore a smirk as finally things were going on their favor "Now! Its time for a wake up call!" Zeke folded his wings into a nose dive.

Crystal Palace:

"Thats King Sombra to you Peasant!!" one of the Diamond Dogs holding the Doctor growled, again the Doctor was not impressed "Please Sombra, using your magic to make puppets talk is a show for the kids" lifting his sonic screwdriver all the Doctor did was aimed it to the roof and all the dogs crystallized and broke apart around him "Now really, I'm curios to know why are you keeping them alive, I'm glad! Really  glad that their alright, well scared but still alive Ow!" looking at his sonic screwdriver the Doctor was surprised to see it getting encased inside a dark crystal, looking at Sombras smirk revealed the culprit right away. "As expected of Celestia's guardian, nothing could get away from your eyes; although you are my enemy, my predecessor talked very highly of you, so I will give you one chance 'Join Me'".

The Doctor tilted his head taking everything he heard to mind "Well sorry to say this but I don't like playing dodge-ball, pretty rubbish game, No whats going to happen is this, Celestia and Luna will arrest you, and if you release those ponies down there now you might get a lighter punishment. Because personally....I would not be as merciful as they are...Now I understand you using their Fear, their Misery and Pain to convert that into energy but what for? Your clearly not absorbing it, you aren't making an army So.....Oh...oh you...what have you done?" The Doctor was looking at the floor at King Sombra's hooves as the answer finally click in. On the background large booming crashes could be heard one after another, looking outside the window they could see the towers that circulated King Sombra's Empire falling over one another like domino figures. But as soon as the last tower fell the land surrounding the empire were consumed by a growing shadow extending from all corners of the empire, dark crystal towers sprung from them, plant life were reduced to ash, and any nearby creatures that were caught on the growing shadow were devoured into nothing but bones.

"...you transfer all of that energy into your shadow, making it grow until it covered the entire city, you cannibalized them...Your own subjects in order to used the city's system to extend its influence to the whole world; but you are clever, your shadow needed time to grow so you hid this city for such a long time, to the point nopony remembered if it ever existed". The Doctor forced himself to look away from the carnage to zero in on the laughing King in his throne "I thank you 'DOCTOR' with your help I was able to deliver my message to the princesses without harming my Empire! And now for our reward!" a cry from the sky fallowed by a blinding explosion on the horizon was all the warning they got. Celestia knows, and the Sun Goddess is angry. 

Border of the Empire:

Zeke looked on from his hiding perch as the dark crystals that sprang from the ground started spewing wave after wave of those fake Diamond Dogs while other actually took the form of a fully ground dragon. Fragile they might be they were becoming far too many, even if Celestia and the Royal guards could break through they still had the problem of saving the civilians who were now hostages and stop that growing shadow "What the hay do we do now!".