The General- Part Three
The General was not what the Doctor expected to see.
He expected a rough and tough nitty gritty bulky stallion, or perhaps even a sly, clever, wise, and smart stallion like himself, however, he did not expect them to be female, that actually did take him by surprise. “Wait, what? You’re a female? I can't actually believe this, I thought that you surely would look like something else, anything else, but not this,” he said upon seeing her for the very first time.
“Yes, I admit, my appearance is alarming, but I can assure you that I am indeed the General, although I did briefly consider using a male pony stallion to try to trick you, but you quickly saw through that in a second which is why I had to reveal myself as I really was which at the moment my form is unexpected.”
“Well yes, and that’s saying a lot from us, isn't it?”
“Indeed, but you see Doctor, you are here for one very plain and simple reason, you are either here to save the time lords, destroy the Daleks, or kill me, or perhaps maybe I am here to kill you, we shall see, won't we?”
“Indeed, but not if I have anything to say about it.”
“But guess what, you don't, just give up, Doctor,”
“Sorry, that word does not exist in my own personal dictionary.”
“I know,” the General said with a smile (The Doctor had come up with many nicknames for her already like Susan, Sarah, Alice, Daisy, Lily, and so on even though she liked to be called Skyler, but the closest he would come to that was Skyla instead). “Doctor, you cannot win against me, and you shall not escape this time, I won’t allow you to run away like the coward that you are, you need to stay and stand and face your fears and you need to fight for the really important things. I mean why do you fight for the humans and ponies at all?”
“Because they need help, and no one else is willing to give it.”
“Alright, fine then, but why fight so hard? Why not just give up?”
“Because I can't, I won't I refuse to stop or surrender.”
“Very well then, this shall make my games and challenges interesting…”
“Is the trick to say I give up and quit?” The Doctor asked.
“Maybe, maybe not, you shall see.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that to me?” The Doctor asked.
“Maybe because they are confident in their own abilities?”
“Perhaps, but then again, who isn't?”
The Doctor considered that a very smart question.
“Trust me Doctor, my plan for you shall become very clear very soon.”
“Okay then, what exactly is this great grand plan of yours anyways?”
“You will soon see as I already said,” the General said.
“Alright, fine then, but I don't see why you need to keep me in suspense.”
“It would ruin the surprise ending, and I know how you would hate that.”
“I suppose that you’re right about that,” the Doctor said.
“Oh, trust me, I am,” the General said with a smile on her face.
“Is there an easier name that I can call you?”
“You can call me Shiva, the destroyer of worlds.”
“I’ve come up with many names for you by now.”
“Then I'll suppose you’ll have to keep guessing then, won't you?”
“I hate guessing,” he said.
“But you love using it against your enemies, don't you?”
“I do, but at least have the respect to give me your name.”
“Call me Ash if you must, it’s gender neutral.”
“Ah, well I suppose that would work, as you wish, Ash.”
“Now what is your name Doctor?” Ash asked.
“Not of any significant importance, now tell me where is Lyra?”
Safe for now, but you see I can't give her to you, and neither can Kronos, we both withheld the truth from you Doctor, you see there is one more final test I wish to see. I hear that you ran away from your initiation, that you ran away from the time war, that you ran away from your own people, you run away from your enemies too sometimes, but other times you are very brave and face them instead, you’re unpredictable and chaotic, but there is one constant that has held true, you’re always willing to protect others first over your own life, the humans, these ponies, your friends, your companions, and now Lyra. So, therefore, I designed a test to see if that was really true or not, Doctor, the final test that you must pass is to save and rescue your best friend from the clutches of an entire planet of Daleks on Skaro, yes, you heard me right. Or, you can simply just run away, and living isn't required, only saving her is, and I know that you must be upset, but it was never in my intentions to harm her, and I did it for Kronos and his family, our people, they only want you now Doctor, they respect and admire and fear you too, even when you have no plan.
“Go, scare the wits out of them, go and save your friend, there is no time limit, but if you should fail or run away I will know, and I will kill Lyra. You cannot escape from this Doctor, no more running, it’s time to face your worst fears.”
“I’m not afraid of the Daleks,” the Doctor said.
“I think you’re lying, but if you aren't then this will be much easier, won't it?”
The Doctor shrugged casually, “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Good, now then your Tardis will be returned and you can use anything you want within reason, but don’t try to fix time or reverse it, I will know. Oh, and one more thing, Davros says hello, he sends his regards. Good luck Doctor, I hope that you win, but just in case I will try to protect your friend.”
“Yeah, like I would ever believe your word,” the Doctor said.
“Hey, I’m not the one who ran away like a coward,” Ash said.
“You’re not any better than me hiding behind a desk and making plans.”
“Hey, it’s just what I do, it's my job,” Ash said.
“Well, you do it very poorly then,” the Doctor said.
“Go before I become angry, you might not have much time with the Daleks involved, and right now she is in our current timeline with the Daleks.”
“Well, that’s one step easier and closer to locating her.”
“I merely wish for you to be prepared, Doctor,” Ash said.
“By giving me only bare essential information, yeah, thanks a lot.”
Ash smirked and pulled out a sonic screwdriver and soon enough the Doctor could see his very own familiar and lovely blue box. “You better hurry Doctor, your ride is here, and I think the Daleks are very anxious to meet you again.”
The Doctor stared at Ash and her sonic screwdriver, “Why do I get the feeling that someday we’ll meet again? And why do I feel like you know me?”
“Because you already do, and I know you will save your friend.”
“How do you know that?”
“Trust me, I just do, but anyhow, good luck, Doctor.”
“I won't need it,” the Doctor said.
Ash grinned, “That’s more like the Doctor that I know of and also respect too.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said getting into his Tardis and closing the doors.
“Farewell Doctor, I know that we shall meet again someday,” Ash said as he went in and the Tardis slowly vanished away as he went to face his next greatest danger, biggest threat, and possibly the most perilous moments ever as well.
He would be fine.