//------------------------------// // Signing the Contract // Story: Soren The Alicorn Part 4: The Rift // by KingNyroc15 //------------------------------// Bastian led Soren, Sunny, and the stallion messenger out of the cavern underneath the church. The zebra stopped before walking through the closed double doors of the wooden building. He turned to the messenger. "What is the name of this stallion?" he asked. "He didn't say; he said it was unimportant," replied the stallion. Bastian sighed. "You know how I feel about anonymous ponies. But...if he has information that can help us with the Evil Ones, so be it." Bastian turned around and pushed open one of the church's doors. The low sunset shined right into Soren and Sunny's eyes, blinding them both for a few seconds. "I take it you're the stallion asking for my presence," Bastian said. There was no response. He spoke to the mysterious pony again. "Are you two alright?" Soren rubbed his eyes to fix his temporary blindness. Adjusting to the two figures in front of him, Soren's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. The two ponies were mirroring Soren's reaction. "No way..." Soren gasped. "Well hello, Soren! Fancy meeting you here." Soren continued to stare in disbelief as he once again, under some celestial power, found the Doctor. The part that was most surprising was that Derpy Hooves was with him. "Is this a normal thing, Doctor?" Soren asked finally. "Never mind. It has to be. How...?" "How are we here?" the Doctor finished. "Well the TARDIS was dragged into some sort of spatial rift." "We were looking for an adventure anyway, so we decided to let it happen," Derpy added happily. "Yeeeaaah, probably wasn't the best decision. We could have easily become stuck in this dimension. That begs another question: Soren, how are you here?" "Do you know who I truly am? Like...truly truly?" "What do you mean?" "Since you're with Ditzy, I know that you just left the version of me that was about to confront your conscience in his dreams. Your 'conscience' being Cain." The Doctor walked up to Soren. "You have my old eyes," he said with sadness. "I'm so sorry you have to carry my burden, Soren. Before Ditzy and I left, I knew that you were me; that I will become you. You're my future version." "Wait wait wait," Sunny interrupted. "Soren, you...are him? How the hay are you two the same pony?!" "We will have to explain it at another time, Miss..." said the Doctor. "My name is Sunny Star." "Nice to meet you. Miss Star, are you traveling with Soren?" She nodded. "Then it's safe to say you two also got dragged into this universe by the rift." "Actually," Soren started. "I got pulled through; Sunny is from this universe." "So is this your first adventure together?" "Yes, and it is the same for you and Ditzy I presume." The Doctor nodded. "Very well." He turned towards Bastian, finally coming back to the issue at hoof. "Mr. Bastian, it has come to my attention that you have a big problem pertaining to six rather powerful mares." "That would be correct," the zebra replied. "They have held us under their iron hooves for Faust-knows-how-long." "There they go again with this Faust pony," Soren and the Doctor mutter to themselves simultaneously. "Have you tried stopping them before?" the Time Lord asked. "If so, how?" "A few brave, foolish ponies tried to kill those mares, obviously to no avail. The alicorn used her magic to enhance each of the other five." "One is an alicorn? They have powerful magic on their side." Bastian nodded. "We stopped hoping that we would one day defeat them. The Evil Ones never kill ponies unless they resist in some way. They also make sure to remind us that we are their slaves." "Uhh, Doctor?" Ditzy called worriedly. Sunny looked at the grey pegasus and followed where her eyes were looking. "Soren, have you encountered these mares yet?" the Doctor asked. "Actually, yes. Twice as a matter of fact. Both resulted in beatings both physical and psychological. There's one thing you should know before confronting them." "Soren," Sunny called. "Yes?" "I know they are just clouds, but don't they look sinister?" Soren looked to the sky and watched as storm clouds began covering the sky around town. The five ponies, including the messenger, and single zebra stared at the clouds with varying expressions. Lightning struck the ground near them, causing Ditzy, Soren, and the Doctor to jump a bit from fright. Thunder rumbled from above, and screaming in the distance could be heard. The six of them looked towards the origin of the panic and saw ponies running into their houses or nearby buildings. Walking calmly through the town, six ponies made a B-line towards the six ponies in front of the church. "Is that...?" the Doctor started in disbelief. Soren gulped then nodded slowly. The ponies that Soren missed the most were about to become his biggest nightmare. He saw alicorn Twilight Sparkle and evil Rainbow Dash, followed by a flat-maned and darker Pinkie Pie and sinister versions of Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. He was about to be confronted by evil versions of his closest friends. The 'Evil Ones' stopped walking at speaking distance from the other six ponies. "Greetings, fair Doctor," Twilight said with authority. "We see you have taken an interest in our affairs." "This...is...rather interesting!" was all he could say. "Doctor!" Soren and Derpy shouted. "Well it is! Although I don't care for the whole tyrannical personality, I have to say that seeing alternate versions of Twilight and her friends is an interesting twist!" "Interesting as it may be," Twilight spoke again, "I'm afraid I have to ask you and your sight-seeing companions to leave this town." "And why would we do that?" "What do you want from this town?!" Soren added on suddenly. "We have already achieved what we wanted from this sorrowful town: control," Twilight explained. "We know that when a Doctor shows up, things turn sour." "Are you implying that I automatically want to stop you?" "Don't you?" The Doctor didn't answer. "I thought as much. I'm sure Soren is no different." Soren stepped forward. "If these ponies are telling the truth about you all, then I will gladly try to stop you." "Soren, wait—" the brown stallion began. "Haha, you think you can stop us?" Rainbow laughed. "You all are nothing compared to the antagonists I have stopped before." "If you are so confident, how about we make a deal then?" Rarity joined. "If you can survive the ordeals that we will put you through, maybe we will consider leaving the ponies alone. We already achieved what we came here to do. Plus, even if you refuse to take on the trials, we will torture you all anyway." "Then what have I got to lose?" "Soren, don't be an idiot!" the Time Lord shouted. "You won't survive what they will put you through!" "Do you want to know how many times I have heard that I won't survive something? More than the number of lives you have been through." The Doctor sighed and shook his head. Deep down, he knew this pony has been put through a lot, is being put through a lot, and will be put through a lot. He can handle anything the world throws at him...to an extent. His body may be able to handle it, but his mind hasn't up to this point. "If you're sure you can do this..." "I have to." Soren looked at the Evil Ones. "I accept your terms! When will we begin?" "Not today," Twilight replied. "The night approaches. It won't be as fun if you are tired during these." She grinned then began laughing maniacally . Lightning flashed multiple times, allowing the six mares to teleport away. "Why does every villain know how to make an entrance and an exit?" Soren joked. "Shut up, Soren," Sunny retorted. "Are you crazy?! Taking on all of those mares? Who do you think you are?!" "I'm Soren. I'm the Elemental Guardian. I used to be the Doctor, but I still have his courage and determination. I'm the one who fought Nightmare Moon and a discorded spirit. I almost killed myself multiple times just to save my friends. I'm the one who cried when my enemy died in front of my eyes, and I will never forgive myself for her death. I don't care if I kill myself saving the ponies I care about. My life isn't worth it anymore! That's who I think I am!" "Soren..." "I'm doing this. I have to do some kind of good for all the crap I put ponies through. That's what my whole life is. Lies, problems, and solutions." Soren paused then looked at the Doctor. "Speaking of lies, I need to you to do something for me." "How can I help?" "When you get back to our Equestria, my past self is going to ask you about the truth of who he is. You cannot tell me who I truly am. When I ask, tell me to go fight the Elementals in the Spirit World. While I, along with another pony, fight those spirits, you need to go help me defeat them." "Why must I do all of this?" "Fixed points in time and paradoxes. That's all you need to know." The Doctor understood completely. He then looked at the zebra who has been silent the entire time. "Bastian, you haven't said a word about any of this. Are you fine with what is about to happen?" "Yes. I have seen the inner strength of this alicorn firsthoof. He has the determination and calm mind to push past the barriers that those mares will build in front of him." "And if his mind snaps? Let's be honest, those mares want to break his will then his body." "His mind has already become fractured once upon arriving in this town. I believe he won't let that happen so easily next time. Soren, I do not think I have to consult with the town to say that we believe in you. We believe you have a chance to stop them. Continue to take your risks; that is what brought you here." Soren smiled at the trusting zebra.