The Doctor watched Twilight flip up her hood, a look of confusion and fear on her face. Celestia bowed her head, her horn glowed white and Twilight vanished in a flash of light. The Doctor turned and sat on a chair, rubbing his eyes.
"You don't approve, do you Doctor?" Celestia asked, sitting next to him. The Doctor shook his head.
"It's not that I don't approve Tia. I understand why it needs to be done. I just wish you had told Twilight the real reason, or at least send some backup for her." He told her.
"She needed to find out on her own Doctor. Twilight needed perspective on the war, otherwise how is she meant to take my place someday." Celestia explained. The Doctor looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean Tia? We stopped that future from happening." Said the Doctor, putting his hoof on her shoulder. Celestia looked at him and smiled weakly.
"Doctor, you of all ponies should understand. I have to measure my actions over hundreds or thousands of years. Planning ahead, rarely letting myself leave anything to chance." Celestia stood, pacing around the table. "Doctor, how long have you known me?" she asked finally.
"I was there when you were born, when Luna was born. I watched you grow up, knowing what you were to become. I stood next to you when you were crowned. I nursed your pain when your parents left. You travelled with me for some time. I have known you for centuries Celestia, and I plan to know you for centuries more." Said the Doctor, smiling at Celestia.
"Exactly Doctor. And in all that time, have you ever known me to be this scared of the future?" The questions made The Doctor nervous. He stood, walking up to her, looking straight into her eyes.
"What's going on Tia?" Celestia dropped her head, tears welling in her eyes. They were suddenly interrupted by Applethunder, who burst in, breathing heavily.
"Princess! We have a problem." She said. Celestia composed herself and walked quickly out of the tent, followed by the Doctor. Applethunder pointed to the sky, as a giant red dragon swirled in the air.
"Not this again. Applethunder, talk to the unicorns, I want them to bait it into attacking me, just like last time." Celestia turned, going into the tent to retrieve her helmet as Applethunder ran in search of Lightstar. Celestia looked at the Doctor one last time. The Doctor saw the look of pure fear on her face, and he suddenly realised.
"Tia… You don't have to. You can't." He pleaded with her, but to no avail.
"I'm sorry Doctor, but this is the way it has to be. The way it must always be." She placed the helmet on her head, taking a deep breath.
"You can ignore the visions Tia, they aren't always right." The Doctor said.
"The last time I ignored them, we got Nightmare Moon. I will not let that happen again. I love you all too much to let my ponies go through that again. Please tell twilight that I don't want her to cry for me." Celestia said. She stretched her wings wide, the bladed tips shone in the light. She bent down and kissed the Doctor on the lips.
"For missed opportunities Doctor." She said, before taking off, heading straight at the dragon that had turned towards the unicorn bait. The unicorns had their horns lit up, drawing the Dragon closer. It noticed Celestia first, and attacked. The Doctor galloped down to the front lines, as ponies gathered to watch the epic battle. At first it looked as if Celestia had the upper hand, but then the dragon swung its spiked tail, sending Celestia slamming into the ground. The Doctor snatched a bow away from one of the archers, firing it at the dragon. The arrow hit it in the eye, but only enraged the dragon more. Celestia stood, unsheathing her sword. She lunged at the Dragon, dodging its claws and keeping a watchful eye on the tail. She flew fast, not giving the dragon a target, before bringing the sword down, and cutting off half of its tail. The dragon howled in pain, turning and breathing a blast of white hot fire at her. Celestia put up a magic shield, and for a moment the Doctor couldn't see her as she was engulfed in flame. The white and red mass of hot tendrils dissipated, and the Doctor gasped as he looked at Celestia. Her magic shield had failed her to a degree, and the feathers on the tips of her wings were burning. Celestia put them out with magic, and continued the assault, but the Doctor noticed that she was slower. Sword slash, claw swipe and fire followed for the longest time. But still Celestia fought. Never giving up, Celestia flew around the dragon near its mouth, hoping to flank it. But faster than the Doctor could blink, it lashed out and gripped Celestia with its teeth.
"NOOOOOO!" screamed the Doctor, firing more arrows at the creature as it shook Celestia wildly. Finally it stopped. The Dragon collapsed; Celestia had managed to stick her sword into its brain. The Doctor galloped out toward her, tears flowing down her face. He looked at her, broken, bloody, her horn was broken at the head, and her eyes were closed.
"Tia! Tia! Wake up, come on wake up." The Doctor shook her, screaming. She opened her eye a bit.
"Doctor, I need you to do something for me. Take my horn. When you think she is ready, give it to Twilight. It is then that she will fulfil her destiny. And one more thing… Take care of Luna for me; I'm sure she will lead you all to victory." And with that, Celestia exhaled her final breath. The Doctor stood, and picked up Celestia's horn, lying in the snow. The tears melted the snow underneath him. Other ponies began to show up, dragging Celestia out of the dragon's mouth. She was taken to the medical tent and placed to a table, cleaned and dressed in her spare armour, as the entire army paid their respects. Luna showed up the next day, distraught, she wept by Celestia's side for hours, before building up the courage to talk to the Doctor, who had stayed by her side the whole time.
"Cannot thou help us Doctor?" her voice was quiet and hoarse. "Cannot the Tardis retrieve her?" The Doctor shook his head.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Luna, But even if this hadn't become a fixed point in time. I don't have the Tardis. When Celestia pulled me out of the time vortex to become the element of Loyalty, The Tardis was put on search mode. It starts at the beginning of time and searches every moment in time for me, every alternate reality, every timeline, incarnation, looking for the right me. It may take thousands of years for it to come back to me." Luna nodded her head, but the Doctor saw the sadness on her face.
"Did she say anything before he died? Luna asked.
"She said that you were to take charge of the army, and I was to keep an eye on you. She also gave me her horn. I'm to give it to Twilight when I think she's ready. Until then, you are the sun and moon Princess Luna." The Doctor told her, his voice was quiet.
"Has Twilight been informed?" Luna suddenly wondered. The Doctor shook his head.
"Celestia sent her on a mission before it happened."
"One last thing Doctor, did she know? Was it one of her visions?" Luna looked at him, her eyes were red. He nodded once, and Luna began to cry again, louder this time. She hugged her big sister, and the Doctor left, leaving her to her grief. He went back to the main tent, the other elements had all gathered to grieve, as well as Big Mac and Black Diamond, who were comforting Fluttershy and Rarity respectively. The Doctor hugged Derpy, pulling her close and letting her warmth fill him. He rubbed her belly, and smiled, knowing that soon it would happen, and he could start his life over. But for now, The Doctor just wanted to sleep.
A week passed, with no sign of Twilight and Luna still anxious about her new position. They had a funeral for Celestia, as unicorns and Luna encased her in a magical bubble. Rarity was among those helping. Once the bubble was completed, it was turned to diamond, to preserve Celestia for eternity in the Royal tombs below the palace. A carriage covered in flowers carried her back to Canterlot for the city's funeral and for her to be put to rest. As the carriage went out of sight, Derpy groaned in pain.
"Derpy! What's happening?" the Doctor asked.
"My water just broke Doctor, It's coming."