//------------------------------// // Unstoppable Force // Story: Traveler // by Squeak-anon //------------------------------// 982 C.R, Everfree Forrest The sun filtered down through the leaves of the Everfree forest, Casting specks of light upon a sleeping brown earth pony and the small unicorn filly using him as a pillow. The Doctor stirred slightly as the forest awoke. Opening his eyes, he looked around until his sights fell upon a blue box, now standing upright next to a large gouge in a nearby tree. “Terrific!” he yelled. “I knew the old girl could do it-” he cut himself short when he noticed Trixie’s head lying against his stomach. With great care he maneuvered himself out from under her, placing her head on the charred remains of his jacket. He walked over to the box, opened the doors wide and stepped inside. The TARDIS had repaired the damage sustained in the fall and was back in working order. He put his forelegs on the console, pulling various levers and knobs. “Knight!?” The Doctor heard from behind him. “Oh knight!? Where have you gone?” The Doctor’s eyes shot wide, as he began to work faster. “Are you in here?” Trixie opened the door. “What is this? A closet where you keep your armor or someth-” She paused as she entered the large TARDIS interior. “Oh, Good morning Trixie!” The Doctor said hurriedly. “Got up early to work on my...um..” “I thought you said you weren’t a mage!?” “What?” “A mage! Surely only somepony of great magical power could do this!” “Oh, well, no it’s-” “This makes so much more sense! You were a crummy knight.” “Hey! I saved your blanket didn’t I?” Said the Doctor indignantly Trixie wasn’t listening. “Oh, this will fit wonderfully into my story! A mage masquerading as knight because he’s on the run from an evil queen. Only the Great and Powerful Trixie could see through his clever deception, by discovering his magic box!” She ran around, taking in the scale of the thing. “This is great! Your powers must be immense!” she paused in thought for a second. “Almost as great as mine.” The Doctor sighed. “Okay, you got me.” “Really!?” Trixie asked, then caught herself. “I mean...of course I did.” “Yep, that’s me, the Mage in the Magnificent Magic Box.” Trixie grimaced “That’s a terrible name, far too many words.” “Says 'The Great and Powerful Trixie'.” “Yes, and that means it’s correct, we shall simply call you The Mage of the England.” “Of course.....Now, about that evil queen bit of the story, I kind of have to get back to that bit. It would be very un-magely of me to forget, don’t you think?” Trixie deflated. “B-but you never finished your story.” “Oh, the story.” The Doctor looked at the monitor. “I really have to go....” “Can I come with you!?” Trixie asked hopefully. “Well, the temporal vortex is already in chaos, and the causal nexus is hanging by a thread. I almost destroyed the universe with that stint in the mid eighties.” The Doctor sighed. “I was so tempted to stick around and see if they went though that whole ‘Madonna’ phase.” “Huh?” “Hmm? Oh yes, in anycase, for the sake of keeping the universe from collapsing in on itself like a balloon in a needlehouse, I’m sorry to say you can’t come with me.” “Oh...okay...go then...like everypony else.” Trixie turned dejectedly to the door. The Doctor continued his work “I’m sorry.” “It’s alright, no pony likes being around me very much...they all leave at some point. Perhaps I’m too great and powerful, even for the Mage in the Magnificent Magic Box.” The Doctor looked up. “I thought you said that name was terrible?” “It is. But it’s your terrible name.” She hung her head as she neared the doors. “Feel free to forget it when I’m gone...” “Oh, no, Ms.Great and Powerful.” The Doctor as he walked over. “That sounded like a challenge, and the Mage in the Magnificent Magic Box thinks he might be able to stick around. At least to finish the story. But then I have to go...Alright?” Trixie’s face lit up. “Yes, yes, yes!!” she Squealed as she galloped over to the console and sat on her haunches expectantly. “Tell the bit about the Raggedy Mares again!” “Oh no Trixie, I only have time to finish, no going back.” Trixie pouted. “Fine.” “So, Twilight was deep within Dragon Mountain....” 35 T.R Dragon Mountain Rainbow Dash entered the room and stood by Applejack, both of them staring hard at Twilight. “So, it really is her then?” “Yep.” said Applejack. Rainbow’s face hardened. “Then why don’t we just throw her into the smelting pits.” Twilight pressed herself against the wall. She was scared; there was something more frightening about those words, coming from Rainbow Dash, than almost anything else. “She ain’t done us no wrong...yet...” “What do you mean yet?” Said Rainbow This is obviously a trick, some kind of trap to lure us out into the open. She’s probably some magical bomb or something.” Rainbow Dash took a threatening step forwards. She was stopped by Applejack’s hoof. “Rainbow, it’s not a trick. Look, on the table.” The orange earth pony nodded towards the small cake sitting on a napkin. “So what? It’s your lunch.” “No it ain’t. Smell it.” Rainbow Dash stared at her for a moment, but relented. She walked over to the table and inhaled deeply. “That smell...it’s.....” “Not magically created food, it’s real, it's apples, my apples.” said Applejack. “I made that cake.” “But how is that possible?” “I don’t know, but that proves without a doubt that this is Twilight, our Twilight, from before all this.” The room was silent. Twilight felt terribly alone in that moment. Two of her closest friends were standing inches away, and she realized, she knew neither of them. She opened her mouth to say something “I can expla-” “Shut up! Just shut up!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “You, you’re the cause of all this!” she advanced once more, before Applejack could stop her. “I don’t know how, and I don’t care if you’re from the freaking moon. Give me one good reason, if you’re from before all this, that we shouldn't just get rid of you. Permanently.” She’d backed Twilight into the wall, her nose inches away. Twilight could feel the anger radiating from Rainbow’s body. She meant every word. “I’m waiting.” Twilight looked into the Once-Pegasus’s eyes. She could tell Rainbow Dash had seen some terrible things, those eyes were hard and cold, the kind of eyes she'd seen too many times since she'd arrived. She saw something else too and, in that moment, she pleaded to it. “Because I’m your friend...” she said softly. Rainbow was taken aback by that. She was silent, Applejack stepped in and gently pushed her away from Twilight. The rainbow pony’s face flashed through several emotions, anger, sadness, fear, and for a moment, ever so slightly, happiness. It was quickly gone, and the Pegasus regained her composure. “Alright Rainbow, we’ve established she’s who she says she is. Let’s hear her out. Tell us your story Twilight” 35 T.R Cantorlot The Doctor raced out into the hallway, leaving the throne room far behind as he galloped forwards. He could hear the sounds of the Raggedy Mares tearing themselves from the floor as he darted around corners looking for a way out. “Why is the throne room of megalomaniacs never near the exit? It’s only common courtesy.” Said The Doctor out loud, sharply turning another corner. He could hear a louder sound now, The sound of the Mares running after him, a kind of shifting sound, like old teddy bear hitting the floor over and over again as their cotton filled hooves hit the floor. He dashed through a door to his left, and found himself in the kitchen. Several chef ponies stopped and stared at the strange pony in a suit who’d interrupted their preparation. “Sorry!” he paused reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a black wallet. “Royal Kitchen Inspector at your service.” Everypony in the room straightened up. A large white stallion with a blue mane and a frying pan cutie mark stepped up and saluted. “We’ve been expecting you, sir!” he barked. “You’ll find everything in perfect working order, sir, you’ll find nothing to report to the queen, sir!” “Um...thanks...yes...expecting me.” The Doctor paused. “Well, everything seems to be ship-shape! So much so that I don’t even need to do a full inspection.” “Are you....sure sir?” “Quite, now stop saluting. I can't stand saluting, and the logistics of a pony pulling one off raises enough questions as it is.” “Sorry sir!” “Good. Now, I’m in a hurry, I have...more...inspection..type... things to do, but can you answer one question for me?” “Anything, sir!” The stallion had to stop himself from saluting again. “You’re an earth pony correct?” “Um....yes sir?” “And you’re a chef right?” “Of course sir! Best in the kingdom.” “Well I’ve wondered this for a while...” “What sir?” “How do you get the filling in your cakes?” The Kitchen doors exploded inwards. The Doctor ducked as bits of wood flew in all directions. “It appears you’ll have to tell me later. Still, clean kitchen, great job and all that, must be off!” He dashed through the back door. The Raggedy Mares dragged themselves through the crowded kitchen as ponies went screaming and running in all directions, impeding their path. “Drat. Hold onto that thought.” said the Doctor, ducking out a side door. “What? Wait! Sir!” The chef called after him, but he was quickly knocked out of the way by the pursuing Raggedy Mares. The Doctor leapt out into the hall way, wondering which way to go. “Right or left?” He held up a hoof. “Eeny meeny miny mo....” There was a crash from the kitchen. “Left it is!” he started down the hall as the door behind him burst into splinters. The Raggedy Mares lopped after him, gaining fast. He came to a fork in the hall and went left again, the cloth creatures close at his heels. As he turned the next corner he grabbed a statue standing the in hall and tipped it over. The Raggedy Mares went stumbling into each other, their fabric ripping and tearing in places. The Doctor looked back as he pulled ahead. “Ha! Who says modern art is useless? As he turned back, he ran smack dab into something white, purple, and incredibly well groomed. 35 T.R Dragon Mountain “So, let me wrap my head around this, this friend’a yours, the ‘Doctor’, has got a time machine?” said Applejack as Twilight finished. “Yes. We were in 1001 back when Celesta was Princess,” Twilight replied. “we came here on accident, trying to stop something else.” Rainbow Dash’s eyes shot wide. “Then we could stop all this! Go back before it ever happened. Do things right, make sure none of this ever happens!” “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way, Rainbow Dash. That’s what we’re trying to stop.” “What?” “A paradox. Back in the present-” “Past.” Rainbow said huffily. “Sorry. Back in the past, the Doctor did something to cause a parodox. It called forth this creature, a terrible thing called a Reaper. A creature that, as the Doctor put it, in time could destroy the world.” “It’s already destroyed as far as I’m concerned. Can’t get much worse.” said Applejack. “I’’m confused,” said Twilight. “I’ve told you what happened to bring me here, now you tell me. What happened here? Why are things so different? “Things are bad I kno- Before the word left her mouth Rainbow Dash had her against the wall. “Of course they're bad, you made them that way. You’re the reason for this. Don’t you dare tell me how things are.” Twilight struggled against the rainbow pony's hold. “Then tell me, Rainbow, tell me how things are. What did I do?” Applejack tapped Rainbow on the shoulder. “Let her down, she’s told us her piece, now it’s only fair we tell her ours. Come off it.” She pulled her back. “But let’s tell her what she will do.” 35 T.R Cantorlot The Raggedy Mares turned the corridor to find a purple and white unicorn blocking their path. “Oh it was horrible!” she cried. “Some vile stallion attacked me! Accosted in my own home! Can you imagine!?” The Raggedy Mares stared blankly at her. “Well, don’t just stand there! I sewed you for Celestia’s sake! Off with you! Catch him! He went that way.” She pointed down the hall. “Shoo, shoo!” They ran off after the intruder. After she was sure they had left, she let herself exhale. There was a knocking sound from the door behind her. The Doctor poked his head out. “What are you made of!? Ow, I mean really, it was like running into a brick wall, bumping in to you.” “Shh!” She put a hoof to his lips. “I didn’t turn you in and if you’re who I think you are I was right not to, ‘Clockwork'. Or should I say, Doctor.” “Come to think of it, that’s a very good question, what are you lot made of? I mean I thought it was just normal horse biology, but after being around a while I’m not so sur-” he paused. “Wait, you know?” “I know lots of things.” said Rarity. 35 T.R Dragon Mountain “It wasn’t all bad at first.” Applejack began. “You and the ‘Doctor,’ as you call him, came out of that Toyshop you mentioned. I don’t know what you did in there, but the howling finally stopped. That’s when everything started,far as my memory goes. After that, you were a changed pony, Twilight Sparkle. It wasn’t all that noticeable at first, just your eyes. They seemed so much darker than they had that mornin, when you’d bought that there cake from me.” Applejack nodded towards the table. “I thought nothin' of it at first, but It began to show after that, things changed. The Princess started acting strange, but I guess you already know that bit. You didn’t seem concerned, although we were all terribly worried as Celestia declined, You just shut yourself away, in your library, with your books and Spike. Said you was working on something big, something that would change Equestria for the better, we were worried, Twilight. Spike tried to talk to you, but you’d become cold, distant, you wouldn’t answer his questions and got real angry when he persisted. He confided in us that you were acting strange, and he was more worried than all of us. But you know Spike, loyal to the last. He stayed by your side. I remember you came out on occasion, to get supplies, and we’d try to talk to you, get you to come to parties, events, everything. You just turned down anything and everything.” Twilight nodded soberly. “Go on.” “Soon, Celestia was beyond anything anypony could do. That’s when you finally came out. You’d invented something, a box, that would allow anypony to do magic.” Applejack nodded to the boxes she and Rainbow Dash wore around their necks. “The HORN, as you called it. Suddenly, magic was available to anypony willing to learn it. It was your greatest achievement, no more was the ability to cast spells closed off to earth ponies and Pegasi. You made one for anypony who asked, cranked them out like a machine. Nopony was quite sure how they worked, but you knew your stuff. I remember the day I got mine, each one is carved special.” Applejack displayed the small box. Twilight could see it was covered with apples and trees, with a small house in the corner. “I picked apples fives times as fast after a few lessons. You started talkin again after that, personally instructing anypony that would listen in how to use your fantastic invention. Ponyville was changed forever. We thought you’d gotten over whatever had happened in that shop. Not a moment too soon neither; Celestia was too far gone, and Luna was fading fast. We begged you to do what you could, and for a while you did, takin' charge of the sun and the moon in their stead. But your eyes were still dark, Twilight Sparkle, so very dark, and getting darker every day.” Applejack paused. “Go on.” Twilight said softly. “What?” Applejack looked around distantly. “Oh yes sorry. Not soon after that, it happened. You betrayed the princesses.” Rainbow Dash held up a hoof. “Wait Applejack, let me tell this part.” she said. She turned to glare at Twilight. “The Princesses had shut themselves away in a castle covered in lanterns in the Everfree forest. Said it was the only place they felt safe, where the light was brightest, and 'The Shadows wouldn’t hear’. They hardly came out, you basically ran the country at that point.” Her scowl grew harsher than Twilight thought possible. “But that wasn’t enough for you. Almost forty years ago today, at twilight, you marched to the castle, saying you needed to confer with the princesses on some royal duty or something. No one questioned you. Oh no, who would bother? You were the ‘Revolutionary pony who brought magic to the masses’, you could do no wrong. Ponies kissed the ground you walked on, Twilight Sparkle. We fell for it hook line and sinker. “But on that day, oh on that day I’ll never forget. You had to go and see the princesses. You stepped into that castle, and ripped their powers away. The mare that taught you, that practically raised you, had her heart torn out that day. Ooh, we thought she was mad before, but we hadn’t seen anything yet. She and Luna lost it, they stopped making any kind of sense, just jabbering, and lying in bed, that’s all they do now. Their horns are gone, and their magic is dead.” Twilight gasped. “Oh, you’re surprised now are you? Didn’t think you were so heartless huh? Well, neither did we.The five of us who knew you better than anyone else, felt something. Something wrong. So we came to see you in Cantorlot. That’s when you really changed. You looked just like the princesses once did, tall, regal, I thought you were beautiful. We thought for a moment you had been gifted, perhaps changed naturally, but oh no, that would have been too good to be true, wouldn’t it? Still we wanted to believe in you. I wanted to believe in you. There was one small thing you didn’t share with the princesses, one small detail you needed to add to make yourself complete. “No...” Twilight whispered. Rainbow Dash took a step towards her. Her voice getting louder “Yes, go ahead, accept it. I stepped up to you, on that day, the first time I saw you like that, before you had wings, Twilight Sparkle, right before you got those lovely wings of yours.” “No.....” “Don’t you dare deny what happened!!” Rainbow grew shrill. “I stepped up onto those stairs, and you did to me what you did to the princesses! You ripped out my heart! You took my wings, and made them your own!” “No! I wouldn’t do that! I couldn’t do that!” Twilight yelled. “Well you did! You did it Twilight. You took the best part of my life away from me. Now give me one good reason, and not friendship this time, because you tried that once, it won’t work again. That’s dead, dead and gone. Just one good reason I shouldn’t toss you off the highest mountain I can find!” “I wouldn’t do that!” Twilight cried. “Not me....not me!” She looked imploringly at the Rainbow colored pony. “Look into my eyes, tell me, tell me if I could do such a terrible thing.” The two stared at each other for a long time. Rainbow Dash’s eyes burned at Twilight’s, hard and full of rage, rage that had built up for decades. She looked into Twilight’s, and she saw none of the darkness she’d hated. Nothing of that cruel glare she’d given her before she’d torn her wings from her back and left her flightless. They were not the same. She could see in those eyes the innocence of fifty years ago, and she was the first to look away. Applejack stepped up. “Calm yourself Rainbow, our Twilight’s done a lot that needs payin' back, and I intend to collect with interest. But this Twilight ain’t done nothin yet, and I ain’t hurtin' an innocent pony. Maybe she can help us.” “I’ll do anything I can,” Said Twilight, still quite shaken. Applejack smiled slightly. “There’s the girl I knew. Now, is there anything you’d like to know?” “Yes...” Twilight said hesitantly. “So far I’ve only seen you and Rainbow Dash here. I’m scared to ask, but...where at the others? Applejack frowned. “I haven’t talked to some of them in years, Twilight. After you became queen we drifted apart. Rainbow and I stuck together. When you started building the colonies we built up this resistance. We try our best to stop you.....” She paused. “Her, whenever we can, but we can only do so much. She’s strong Twilight, and she’s got plans I don’t think I wanna see come true.” Applejack put a hoof to her chin. “As for the rest, they ain’t cut out for fightin. As far as I know, Rairy works for her, the royal seamstress. She wouldn’t hire anypony else, so she ain’t have no choice in the matter. Perhaps she’s better off there. Can’t imagine Rarity doing much of anything besides sewing. She makes her clothes, and those creatures Rainbow saved you from.” “Rarity...made those things?” Twilight asked, this was all too much to take in. “Not by choice. She makes a new bunch every five years or so. Our Twilight is practical if nothing else, commands the old ones until they’re nothing but string.” “What about Fluttershy and Pinkie?” Applejack’s frown deepened. “Pinkie, you know her. She can’t see the darkness in any situation. She still believed in you, and probably still does I reckon. I don’t know where she is right now. She was the royal event planner for a while, then the jester, then she just fell off the radar. You searched high and low, but you never found her far as I know. Our Twilight used it as an excuse to invade Equindor.” Twilight’s head swam. “And Fluttershy?” “Another non-fighter, and I wouldn't have it any other way. That filly wouldn’t harm a bumble bee if it stung her in the behind. She lives in the castle of lanterns, taking care of the princesses as their nurse.” Twilight felt exhausted from the strain of everything she’d been through. She couldn’t quite remember the last time she’d slept; technically it was fifty years ago. She felt like it. She was drained. Applejack walked to a large wooden door at the back of the room. “Twilight, there’s one other person you should see. You can talk to him.” “Who?” she asked softly. “Someone who’s been waiting to see you for a long time.” she said. “I think Spike would like to say hello.” 35 T.R Cantorlot The Doctor was ushered into the sewing room by Rarity. “So wait, you made those things?” he asked. “I simply sewed them together, Twiligh-” “Twilighttwo.” The Doctor interrupted. Rarity rolled her eyes. “Twilighttwo is the one who brings the horrid things to life.” “Okay then.” said the Doctor. “Next bit, and this is a really important bit, an extremely really important bit.” He looked dead at Rarity. “How do you know I’m called the Doctor?” “Wow, you’re an early model aren’t you?” “What?” Rarity smiled. “I traveled with you for a time, Mr.Doctor.” “You?” The Doctor asked, astonished Rarity’s smile vanished. “You don’t have to act so shocked!” “Sorry, it’s just...you always seemed so....” Her eyes narrowed “So what?” The Doctor floundered a bit. “So...tea on the lawn..” “What’s wrong with that?” “Tea? Oh nothing, tea is wonderful, but tea on the lawn with chairs and parasols, nowthat’s a different story” Rarity’s smile came back. “Same old Doctor,” she said distantly. “Twilight and I were there, a small while before all this. When her eyes were dark, but not quite black. There was something in my shop, a shadow. I thought it was nothing, but no. You came in, always the gentleman, and told me to run, and run we did Doctor. I stumbled into the TARDIS, quite on accident. You kidnapped me, you and Twilight, and we went a few places before you got us back. That planet with the crystal moon and the pink sun, oh how I wish I could have had just a small chunk of that moon.” She noticed the Doctor glaring. “What! It was so perfect! But of course the locals needed it to defeat that evil something or other...still, I suppose they wouldn’t have missed a small piece.” The Doctor glared some more. “Oh fine, you’re the same old Doctor alright.” Rarity pouted. “But we did have such fun the three of us. There was that time with the miniature super ponies made of living clay in the early 600’s, the adventure with the human and that time I became a God. Oh we were so lost, the best kind of lost. You did get us back eventually though. “Did I? Well, good for me then.” Said the Doctor quickly. “Don’t tell me too much, that may still happen. I’ve got enough paradoxes on my head right now. I have a much more important question to ask” “What would that be, Doctor?” “Twilighttwo said she’d done something to me. If she’s here in the future then I’m here too. You traveled with me. So tell me, Rarity, what happened?” Rarity looked away. “I’m sorry to say I don’t know, Doctor. You went missing, right before she headed to the Lantern Castle in the forest. Nopony’s seen you in decades. I hardly remembered what you looked like.” “Hmm....Well, that doesn't bode well, now does it? The Doctor said mildly. “Oh well, I’ll figure it out I’m sure. In that case I have two more questions for you.” “Ask anything,” Rarity’s eyelids fluttered. “Doctor.” “Okay then...” The Doctor stepped back slightly. “Question one, it’s been fifty years, why don’t you look any older?” “Why, Doctor! Flattery will get you everywhere...” Rarity advanced. “No! I don’t mean like that! I mean literally, you don’t look a day older than the last time I saw you.” He reached into his suit pocket, taking out the sonic screwdriver. “You aren't!” he said as he scanned her. “You aren’t much older than you were when we last met! How’s that possible?” “Oh, that, it’s been like that since those HORN things popped up. Nopony seemed to age after that. ” she paused. “Still...I like to think I look rather young, even considering that. Wouldn’t you, Doctor?” “Hmm? What’s that? Oh yes, you look like a regular Marylin Monroe.” He waved the question away. “Who?” The Doctor sighed. “Never mind. On to my second question.” “What’s that, darling?” “Darling, really?” The Doctor said under his breath. “What’s that?” “Oh, nothing, anyway, tell me about the shadow in your shop...” Rarity’s eyes lit up. “Oh! The first time we met! Gladly.” She cleared her throat. “Well it all started when I got home from Fluttershy’s house...” 35 T.R Dragon Mountain Applejack led Twilight through a large tunnel with Rainbow Dash bringing up the rear, torches lighting the way every few feet, casting shadows along the cave walls. Twilight could hear the sound of machinery working ahead of them, the grinding of cogs and the shifting of metal echoing around them. The temperature rose, getting steadily higher as they walked through the tunnel. “He’s down here.” Said Applejack. “Our base is in the heart of Dragon Mountain as you know. Our Twilight’s factories are above, carved into the side. Spike lives there, he helps to hide us. The one place you’d never suspect us of being, right below the empire’s powerhouse.” Twilight was silent for several minutes as the heat rose and they neared the end of the tunnel. There was a door, made of iron bolted into the rock, a small peephole placed in at the top. Applejack looked through it. “All clear.” she turned to Twilight. “Are you ready for this?” Twilight stared at the door, steeling her nerves. “Yes.” “Alright then. Help me get this open Rainbow.” Both ponies braced themselves against the ground and tugged against the door’s great handle. It opened with a great creak, sending a blast of heat rushing back towards them. “I’ll go first, you come when I call” Said Applejack as she stepped forwards into the cavern. The cave was dark, and Applejack was quickly lost in the gloom. Twilight could hear her hooves as they clicked against the stone floor. “Spike, we've got someone here to see you,” Applejack said softly. Twilight heard the sound of something large shuffling in the dark. “Come on,” Applejack continued, her voice loosing it’s soothing tone. “Wake up you lazy dragon, we ain’t got time for this. I got a feelin something big’s going down. Go on! Get!” There was the sound of a hoof hitting something that sounded a bit like an old carpet. “Applejack?” Twilight jumped as a deeper voiced boomed down the tunnel. “What do you want?” “Like I says, we got someone very important to see you. Now get up,” Applejack chastised. “Five more minutes,” Said the voice. It was those words that got her. Twilight knew that voice, no matter how deep it may have gotten. She stepped forwards into the dark. “Some things never change. You always want five more minutes.” she chuckled in spite of herself. “Fifty years, and you’re still a lazy little dragon.” The sound was deafening as something huge moved to the edge of the cavern. Pressing itself against the wall. “That voice....” Suddenly Twilight was blinded as a great tongue of flame shot out into the air, lighting the whole cavern. It was gone as quickly as it came and they were submerged back into the darkness. “It is...” The voice continued. “It’s you...” “Enough of this stumbling around in the dark,” Applejack interrupted. She whispered something and a small ball of light floated from the box around her neck and attached itself to the ceiling. “That’s better.” Twilight got a good look at Spike for the first time. He was immense, at least as big as the other dragons they’d seen before, if not larger. His purple scales were worn and peeling in places, but he still looked the same, just bigger with one subtle difference. “You wings grew in...” Twilight remarked. The dragon shrank back further, still staring at the small purple unicorn. Twilight stared at his large purple wings, just as worn as his scales, with a few holes here and there. The two stared at each other for a while. Eventually Spike built up the courage to lean closer. His head was massive. When it got close enough his eye was almost bigger than Twilight, she could see her reflection in his green iris as it focused on her. They were the same eyes she knew, though they were large, she could tell they had seen a lot in her absence. “You know it’s me Spike.” she said. He leaned back again, exhaling sharply. “I know, you look the same, the same as you used to. It’s been a long time since you looked like that.” Spike turned to Applejack. “What’s going on?” “I don’t rightly understand it myself.” Said Applejack. “Apparently some Doctor fella has pulled one heck of a miracle.” “The Doctor!?” Spike exclaimed. He turned to look back at Twilight. “The Doctor’s involved?” “Yes, he’s here too, but he’s been captur-” she was cut short as she was lifted into the air by a giant claw. “That means it really it you!” Spike held her up to his face. “Twilight! My Twilight!” “Yes Spike, it’s me. I missed you.” she said softly. “I’ve missed you too. I haven’t seen that face in a long time.” “I haven’t seen that face, so....large...” Spike smiled. “I bulked up, told you I would.” “Who knew you were right?” she looked around the cavern. It was even hotter in Spike’s hand near the ceiling. In the light Twilight could see several doors spaced around the room. Beyond them she could hear the sound of machinery working. “What is this place?” “She calls it my office.” said Spike. “I work here.” Twilight noticed all the doors were pony sized. “More like trapped here.” “Oh, no! She treats me well enough, I can’t leave, true, but, I’m her oldest friend, I do what’s best.” “What does she have you do?” “I can’t tell you, she has me under a spell, I can only do what’s best for her.” “Then why do you help them?” Twilight nodded to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Spike smiled again. “Because, I’m her oldest friend, I do what’s best for her.” his smiled vanished quickly. “Ruling wasn’t good for you Twilight. It made you worse, you need to be dethroned. Maybe then you’ll....” Spike trailed off. “It’ll be alright Spike. I’m here now, and I plan to set things right. This isn’t my future, I’m going to find the Doctor, get back, and make sure none of this ever happens.” Spike stared at the small unicorn in his palm for a while. Then gently set her down. “You’d better hurry then. Applejack is right.” “About what?” “Something big is going down. I’ve heard things, you’d be surprised what people are willing to tell a large scary dragon.” Spike got down on all fours and walked towards one of the many doors. “It’s right outside that one, use your magic to unlock it. I’m too small, but peek out and you should see what I mean. I can’t tell you, but if you see it yourselves It’s no fault of mine.” he winked. “Now we’re getting somewhere!” said Rainbow rushing over. Twilight focused on the lock. It opened with a small click. The three of them walked through, and looked at the large cylinders of metal that lay before them. “Oh no...” said Twilight. 35 T.R Cantorlot Rarity finished her story, smiling wistfully. “Ah, such good times, wouldn’t you say, Doctor?” “Yes! It makes so much sense now!” He exclaimed. “It does doesn’t it, how we were meant for one anoth-” “The princessses, Twilight, everything makes sense!” The Doctor paced around the sewing room. “Why couldn’t I see it before! Oh I’m getting old, it’s so obvious!” “What?” asked Rarity, slightly put out. “Come with me, we have to find Twilight. If I’m right she’s still in ponyville. Where are we now?” “Cantorlot.” “Camelot?” asked the Doctor raising an eyebrow. “No, Doctor, Cantorlot, Camelot is in Equypt, you know, with the pyramids and things, we don’t get camels here.” The Doctor stopped pacing and stared at Rarity. “You’re completely serious right now aren’t you?” “Why yes, I know basic geography, Doctor.” The Doctor sighed. “Why do I even bother.” he walked over to the door. “Fine, what’s the fastest way to get back to ponyville?” Rarity put a hoof to her chin. “Well, the train I’d say, it takes supplies to Twiligh-” “Twilightwo’s” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Twilighttwo’s factories. There’s nothing faster.” “Then that’s where we’re going. Lead the way.” Rarity looked appalled. “Well wait a minute! I have to get myself ready, I’ll need my saddlebags, and I can’t go out looking like this!” “Rarity! We haven’t got time for this! You look fine!” “But Doctor, if I’m to represent all of Cantorlot, I have to look my best, no matter what the circumstance! I haven’t even got my-” “Rarity!!” The Doctor cut her off. “You always look fantastic, now come on.” Rarity stood still for a moment. “Really? You really think that?” “How could I not? You’re only the most fashion forward pony in all of ponyville, you don’t need any bloody saddlebag to look your best.” Rarity’s face little up. “Oh Doctor!” she marched towards the door. “You’re right! I always look fabulous. Now come on! We’ve got a train to catch.” Rarity dashed out into the hall. “Tea on the lawn,” The Doctor whispered to himself. “always tea on the lawn.” He followed her down the hall until they came to some stairs. Rarity turned back to, putting a hoof to her lips. “This way.” she whispered. As they descended, the Doctor noted several smells he hadn’t come across since his arrival in Equestria, the smell of oil and coal burning, the smell of industry. It got stronger the closer they got to the bottom floor. They could scarcely breath by the time they reached the doorway. Rarity opened it slowly and she and the Doctor peeked out. He could see it, made of steal and iron, sitting on one of several tracks. The train was prepped and ready to leave,smoke had already begun billowing from the stack above the engine. Several guards ushered workponies forwards. They clustered around large pieces of machinery hidden under tarps lifted by magic into place. “There’s the train, we haven’t missed it yet.” Rarity said quietly. “I should be able to get us aboard without much trouble. The guards are putty in my hooves. The Doctor said nothing. “Doctor? Doctor are you listening?” Rarity complained. “Those things, those things they’re loading onto the back.” He said shakily. “They shouldn’t be here.” “What are they?” “If they’re what I think they are, then this whole world is in danger.” “Doctor, what is she planning to do!?” “She’s planning to do her worst. No sun, no moon, Twilighttwo is planning to plunge the whole planet into darkness...” To be continued in Immovable Object Story by: Squeak. Edited by: http://lightsideluc.deviantart.com/ I have an editor now, editors are cool.