Princess Celestia was laying in bed, reading ‘Predictions and Prophecies’ when the room lit up with a bright light and it was filled with a very familiar sound.
Once the TARDIS finished materializing, the Doctor stepped out and locked the door.
“Hello, Doctor,” said Celestia.
“Terribly sorry, your… wait a minute. How’d you know my name? Is it a Princess-sense or… no, going by the look on your face, we’ve met before haven’t we?
Celestia giggled. “Yes we have, Doctor. A long time ago, but you did say, and I quote, ‘“You will be meeting me sometime in the distant-ish, or not so distant, future but who can really say. Anyways, in the afore-mentioned future, you will know who I am, but I won’t have the faintest idea who you are. At this point in your conversation, since you will be reciting it to me, you will say for me, “Hello, Past Me! Now I know what you are thinking, oh-no! Time will collapse, yada-yada-yada. But don’t worry! This is an established moment in time, so we’re good. Also Berry, Pinkie and Starlight say hello to their past selves, since they are standing behind you.”
Celestia paused, to allow the Doctor to turn to see Berry, Pinkie and Starlight standing there. She coughed slightly, as if to ask if she continue. The Doctor turned around and gave her a nod. She resumed with,
“Now, this is all fine and dandy so don’t get mad at me. Or you. Whichever. Now, you’ll need to set Celestia’s room as the HADS main destination. Next, you need to go to Twilight’s castle. There is a spell that can help. Lastly, and most important, don’t panic. Everything will be fine, but yes, you are correct in assuming the 'gangers are Zygons.”
The Doctor paled as Celestia finished.
“Did I say anything more?,” asked the Doctor, shaken.
“No, I’m afraid not,” replied Celestia. “Good luck with the Zygons, though.”
The suddenly, Pinkie Pie gasped as though she was going to go diving without an oxygen tank. “Why don’t YOU help us, Princess?”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible,” said Celestia, dashing the Doctor’s hopes. “I already asked and he said not to interfere anymore than I already have. But I can tell you this. The problem’s solution can only be solved, if you get the forest alchemist involved.” With this Celestia, smiled, and resumed her book.
The Doctor ushered Starlight and Pinkie back inside, where the other five stood waiting, with looks of concern on their faces. The Doctor immediately deduced that they had listened through the scanner. He walked over to the console and punched in the coordinates for outside Twilight’s castle.
“I have just one question,” said Rarity, who had been oddly quiet this whole time. “What did the Princess mean by the forest alchemist?”
Everyone stood there, quietly thinking when Twilight cried,
“I’ve got it! She hid a hint in her clue!”
“Why, whatever do you mean?” asked the Doctor.
”She was rhyming! Who do we know speaks in rhyming riddles?”
“ZECORA!!” cried everyone
“Who?” asked the Doctor.
But before anyone could answer, Rarity began laughing, evilly. “Thank you for that valuable information, you foolish ponies. Now the Zygon high command knows where your little friend lives, so we may dispose of her before you can stop us.”
“How’d you find out she lives in the Everfree forest!?” cried Rainbow.
“Well,” Rarity said, “Now they know where she is. I was going to tell them but now I don’t need to, seeing as how you did it for me.”
Rainbow Dash’s cyan coat paled several shades. “Oops.”
As Rarity began laughing again, she began to transform. It began with her spitting up stuff, and sprouting suckers. She then quickly
finished the process revealing her true form.
As soon as she finished, she immediately dived for the closest pony in the room, Fluttershy. Fluttershy screamed, and just before the Zygon made contact, its face smashed into a frying pan that had appeared out of nowhere. It fell to the ground, unconscious, as Starlight poked it with her pan. She looked up to see the Doctor staring at her, mouth agape.
“What?” she asked. “It went to attack Fluttershy, so I hit it with a frying pan.”
“That was…” the Doctor began, “surprisingly effective. At least you didn’t kill it so congrats, I guess. If you’d killed them, you really don’t want to know what happened.”
A sudden gasp broke out as Berry remembered something, “ZECORA! We have to warn her!”
The Doctor calmly walked over to the console with a smile on his face. “Not to worry, Berry! This is a time machine. We’ll just go back in time to her house after we pick up the book from Twilight’s castle.”
Twilight coughed to get the Doctor’s attention. “That wouldn’t be a good idea, Doctor. I went to visit earlier today, and I get the feeling that whatever we need Zecora to do, it’ll take a while. But the Doctor remained unperturbed by this.
“Then we’ll just go back to yesterday,” he said happily. But then his face fell, “But we’ll need to slip into present day Ponyville, grab the book from Twilight’s castle, and whoever does so will need to get in and get out quickly and quietly.”
As the Doctor punched in the coordinates for outside Twilight’s castle, Berry Punch called over Pinkie and Starlight. “Remember what Celestia said? About our future selves saying hi to us?”
“That’s been bugging you too?” asked Starlight.
“Oddly enough, it’s also bothered me, and I’d normally be excited about the prospect of travelling through time,” said Pinkie, frowning. “I mean, I’m all for it, but I get the feeling that the Doctor isn’t telling us something.”
“What’cha talkin’ about?” asked the Doctor, surprising the trio.
“Nothing important,” replied Berry.
“Ok. I just wanted to let you know we’ll be landing soon,” said the Doctor as he went over to talk to Twilight. With this, the trio exchanged concerned and worried looks, wondering if he had overheard them.