"Where...where am I?" Sunny groaned as she sat up. Her head was still pounding; her body shook. And why is it so cold? She looked around the room she awoke in.
There was one wooden door that led out of the room and one window to look outside. Looking out said window, Sunny that saw she was a few floors up and saw a misty canyon next to whatever building she was in. A few candle lit the interior, yet Sunny saw a chandelier with burnt out candles on it. She found herself laying on a bed with a small nightstand next to it and a note laying atop it. Sitting herself up, Sunny picked up the note and read it.
Hello Miss,
We regret to inform you that you have been selected by Master Diamond to join us as we unify our minds into one. Your magic prowess/ability will be an excellent addition to our group! We hope you find your stay to be comfy and relaxing. If you need anything, please ask for assistance. One of our members will gladly help.
"Not signed by anyone? Weird. And it's so formal too. Unify our minds?! But I like my mind." Her volume increased. "Hey! Where are you cowards?!"
"Miss, don't be so loud!" a crystal unicorn mare said as she poked her through the the cracked door. "There's no use being aggressive. It'll only agitate them." Sunny charged at the mare, who simply levitated Sunny off of the ground and plopped her back onto the bed. "Please." The mare stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.
Sunny investigated the crystal mare. She was light red with a dark red mane that flowed down
to her chest; also, she had no cutie mark. She didn't look that much older than her or Soren. This wasn't the pony that foulnapped her.
"Who are you all?" Sunny asked. "What's the point of unifying our minds?"
"Oh, that... That's something to find out soon. It's not so bad; we've done it before. You don't lose your mind in the process."
"Then what? Why is it so important that I have to be involved?"
"Well, Diamond can see all. He sees the ponies that have strong magical potential. He sees you and the stallion you are traveling with. The shattered hero and the burning mare."
"He's coming to save me. The lot of you better make sure you're not in the way."
"I know...but they don't believe me." The mare didn't say more than that; she simply turned away and left the room. Magical aura then surrounded the door after it shut. Sunny knew it was enchanted to stay closed. It wouldn't be a good idea to break free anyway. Who knows how strong those ponies are?
-------------
Back at the lake, Shayden's eyes slowly opened. It was morning; he could tell from the blinding sun shining down on him. However, he didn't feel rested. I am up earlier than I would like, he thought. He began to move but heard a light noise coming from the lake. Remaining still but glancing over, Shayden saw Soren standing on his hind legs, pressing his hooves on something. He heard piano keys being played. A keyboard? He didn't have that before. Shayden remained silent as Soren started singing.
Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the clouds, get up and go if I knew
That someday it would lead me back to you
That someday it would lead me back to you
Shayden guessed that he was singing about someone he really cared about.
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Flying slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave
Figures trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hooves
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Flying slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave
But things just get so crazy even life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I'm calling out to you
Singing someday it'll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself back home to you
And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Flying slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave.
Soren played the last note and stood normally next to the propped keyboard. He heard Shayden walking up to him, so he turned to look at the unicorn.
"That was...beautiful," Shayden commented. "I haven't heard singing so wonderful since Lilly sang me lullabies."
"Do want to give it a try?" Soren asked. Shayden was a little stunned.
"What? No, I couldn't possibly... I can't even sing."
"You don't have to." He walked up to Shayden and put a hoof on his chest. "Every pony has a song within them...even you. I can show you what I mean. Do you trust me?"
"I guess?"
"Good. Now close your eyes and feel anything." Shayden did as instructed as Soren's horn lit up. "What are you feeling? What do you want to project into a song? When you have that feeling, tell me with your thoughts, not your words." Soren closed his eyes, waiting to feel the connection.
Once he felt a spark, he opened his eyes and walked to the keyboard. Folding the prop and levitating both that and the instrument, Soren trotted into the TARDIS. Within the minute, he returned with his electric guitar levitating next to him. Standing on his hind legs again, Soren faced Shayden and the lake. The song began as the first chord was played.
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
When the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone up there will find me
'til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's bucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
No, I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone up there will find me
'til then I walk alone
Shayden was impressed. "You are a singer, a musician, and you can sing a song based on what ponies are feeling?" Soren nodded. "Listening to that song...it is hard to imagine that I lasted this long staying sane."
"You fought to stay sane. You chose to fight on."
"But what's the point of waking up if you find yourself in the dark?"
"To escape the nightmares that your mind will feed you."
"Nightmares come in reality as well."
"But those can be defeated."
"What if they can't?"
"Then I'll make them lose for once."
"How?"
"I'm me."
"Who exactly are you?"
"I used to be the Doctor. Time and space bend to my will...to an extent."
"To an extent?"
"Fixed points in time and all that. It doesn't matter. What matters is that we should get moving. We have a date with a few crystal ponies."
"I do not plan to have dinner with them." Soren sighed and face-hoofed.
"Shayden...expression."
"I know. I was merely testing how you would react. You did poorly."
"I think he did well," a new voice commented. Soren sighed even harder.
"Again with ponies appearing out of nowhere!" he exclaimed.
"Well it was your singing that probably lured them here," Shayden bluntly replied. The two looked at the two crystal unicorn mares standing before them.
"Shut up," he told Shayden. "I'm also irritated that crystal ponies show up everywhere. Not even these two have cutie marks! Is that a thing with crystal ponies? Anyway, what do you girls want?"
"We're here to bring you to Master, of course," said the green mare with a dark green mane. "My name is Jade, and this is Topaz." She gestured to the yellow mare with an orange mane.
"There's no way the Master is in this universe."
"Of course he is. Who do you think has been watching you all this time? Master Diamond will be please to meet your acquaintance."
"Master Diamond? Ok, so it's not the Master. I doubt he died and regenerated. And what if we refuse to follow you?" Soren looked at Shayden, who was gripping the dirt with his hooves and was slightly gritting his teeth. He wants a fight.
"Then I will have to ask you one more time to cooperate, or else we will take you there by force."
"Then force me." Soren readied himself. Jade sighed but smiled.
"I guess it's time to have fun." Her horn ignited.
"If you want fun, meet Pinkie Pie." Soren charged at Jade, who retaliated by throwing pony-sized rocks at him. He teleported away and reappeared behind Topaz. The yellow mare turned but was suddenly thrown at Jade, who caught her friend with telekinesis.
"Annoying foal," Topaz growled. After being put on the ground, she sent a pillar of fire at Soren. The fire, however, was being sucked towards another source. Shayden. He brought the smoke to him and swirled it around himself. He then thickened it and threw stream after stream at the two mares. They managed to dodge most of them but were hit by two or three. The streams cut their coats when it impacted.
Now it was Soren's turn. Realizing Jade and Topaz used Earth and Fire magic respectively, he was going to use spells they couldn't easily stop. He created a flowing stream of water from the lake and sliced it multiple times like a sword at Topaz. With her fire, she tried to create enough mist to hide and evade, but Shayden would always bring it to his person then send it at Jade, who easily protected herself with rocks. With a major blast of water, Soren sent Topaz to the ground. He nodded at Shayden, who teleported to Topaz and switched his focus onto her.
In the break of action, Jade took the opportunity to throw a boulder at Soren. The boulder knocked him to the ground and crushed one of his hind legs. He screamed in pain but immediately shot a lightning bolt at Jade. She tried using rocks to block the spell, but the bolt exploded through the rocks and blasted Jade to the ground. Now wobbly from his broken leg, Soren stood up on his other three legs and faced Jade.
"No wonder Master Diamond wants you. Your magic will be invaluable. Such diversity!"
"I don't care. I'm stopping him. He created the rift, didn't he?!"
"Soren..." Shayden called out worriedly. Soren looked to him and saw him backing up in slight fear. Topaz was acting strange. Her mane was giving off heat! She stood up and now Soren was a little worried. Her mane was now pure fire, her eye color the same, and her grin was wicked. Soren knew that eye color...
"Hello again, Soren," Topaz said in a familiar voice as she charged him. "Don't you recognize me?!" She threw a punch as she said each word. Soren dodged all but the last one. "I'm your pal the Fire Elemental. You didn't think universes would keep me from exacting my revenge, did you? I possessed this mare so I can end you once and for all."
"Why?! I defeated you!"
"You should have killed me. Now I'm going to kill you!"
"We both know you four can't die. Don't make me do this."
"Kill her or suffer!"
"Burn with me." Soren hugged Topaz and touched his horn to hers then tried to absorb the magical heat coming from her mane. Since Soren had no hope of handling such magic, this caused a white ball of light to form at the tips of their horns. It grew bigger and bigger until it developed both Soren and Topaz. A female yell was heard; Shayden used his remaining smoke to create a shield, as did Jade with her rocks. A massive fire explosion rocked the clearing, singeing the trees at the forest's edge and most of the grass in the clearing.
Shayden and Jade dropped their shields and looked at the two ponies still in each other's grasp. Upon a closer look, both ponies were unconscious and burned. A few seconds passed and both fell backwards and landed on their backs.
"Soren!"
"Topaz!"
Shayden and Jade rushed to their respective teammates then made eye contact.
"I will help him if you help her," Shayden bargained. Jade hesitated, looking at her injured friend. She gritted her teeth.
"Fine!" she finally blurted and teleported away with Topaz. Shayden looked at the unconscious and burned Soren.
"Fool. I went through psychological hell for as long as I remember, but you...you torture your body and soul just to protect. Why?" Soren coughed and breathed hard for air.
"Because it *cough* let us *cough* win." He coughed multiple times and grimaced in pain.
"How are we supposed to defeat them now?"
"You think I didn't have...a plan?" he grinned, still taking deep breaths to recompose himself. "Take me to...the TARDIS."
"Unless you have a medical bay in there, I do not see how that will be helpful other than the use of transportation." Soren grinned at him. "You have got to be joking..."
--------------
It took at least half an hour but Soren managed to let his broken leg heal. It will be sore but at least he can use it. His skin healed slightly, still damaged from the second-degrees burns, but it wouldn't hinder him. Stepping out of the Zero Room, Soren stretched and looked at Shayden.
"Not entirely healed but we don't have a lot of time to waste."
"Why not? Could you not fully heal so we have a bigger chance of winning?"
"Nope. As you may have forgotten, they have my friend, Sunny. She's in danger as far as I'm concerned." He opened the TARDIS doors.
"Couldn't we simply travel there in this?"
"Do you know the layout of the forest?"
"No."
"Neither do I, and neither does she. So...we're walking there."
"She?"
"The TARDIS."
"Soren...it is an inanimate object." The TARDIS made a deep groan.
"You might want to apologize to her."
"Umm, sorry, Miss TARDIS?"
"Good boy! Now come on. We've wasted enough time!"