//------------------------------// // The End and Beginning of a Feud // Story: Doctor Whooves Episode 2: The Awakening // by Doctor Perseus //------------------------------// Chapter 5: The End and Beginning of a Feud Canterlot Castle, Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Spring, 2002 C.E. The castle was in a state of complete panic by the time the Doctor and the others arrived. Sarah put the unconscious Twilight on her back. "I'll find a safe place for her to rest," she said. "I'll try to keep my sister at bay," said Luna. "I guess that leaves Thalia to the Doctor, Juliet, and myself," said Charlie. "Okay! We've all got a game plan set! Let's go!" exclaimed the Doctor. Sarah ran down the hallway with the unconscious Twilight and Luna took for the skies to prevent the possessed Celestia from destroying any more of the castle and city. "So where do you think she is?" asked Juliet. "If I were an insane pony clone desiring to watch the destruction of an entire city I'd probably find the tallest point in the area and watch the show from there," said the Doctor. "The Belle Lamburg Tower." "The what?" "It's an old bell tower that was constructed in the late 1300's. It's the highest pony-made structure in Equestria." "Where is it?" "Look up." The Doctor did what he was told and saw a sturdy tower of stone and metal rising into the sky. "Huh. How could I have missed that?" he asked himself. "We need to get up there! Now!" stated Charlie. "Is there a way up?" "I visited this place on a field trip once. I believe there's an elevator just around the corner," Juliet replied. "But, Charlie, I'm and alicorn and you're a pegasus. We could just fly up there." "Huh?" Charlie croaked. "Brilliant! You two can fly up there and distract her while I use the elevator to go up! I can then finish her off with the clone destabilizer that your mother gave me," said the Doctor. "My thoughts exactly!" said Juliet. "Are you ready, Charlie?" "I'm kind of nervous," Charlie admitted. "Don't be! Just think of this as...a test." "A test? Really? Is that the best comparison you could come up with?" "Oh do shut up and let me try to help you! Just think of this whole thing as a really hard test that you have to pass! Don't focus on the collapsing castle, the possessed queen, or the possibility of falling to your death. Just focus on the goal! Get Thalia into the Doctor's shooting range." "I wouldn't have a choice to back down anyway, right?" "That's correct. I'll drag you up there myself if you refuse." "Alright then. It's not like I have anything else to do while the castle's under siege." "That a boy...er...pony! I'll see you up there!" said the Doctor. Charlie and Juliet took to the skies as the Doctor ran down the hallway in search of the elevator. The Belle Lamburg Tower, Above Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Spring, 2002 C.E. Thalia leaned against the exterior wall of the bell tower calmly as the city of Canterlot burned underneath her. She had complete control over one of the most powerful alicorns in Equestria and now the entire country, if not the world, would eventually bow down before her. Sure it was a little generic to go after complete world domination but she thought that coming up with a whole new complicated goal would tire her out more excessively than she needed to be. The screams of the ponies below excited her. Their pain and suffering would bring a rise to her fame and fortune. Unless the Doctor interfered again. That annoying pony. He had always been there to foil her. To stop her from obtaining her true purpose in this vast and changing place known as the universe. And he was almost always joined up with that obnoxiously snarky Twilight Sparkle. Suddenly, Thalia fell back. The mere thought of Twilight sent a strange vision flashing through her mind. It was happening again. She was taking another memory trip. The world around her faded and she collapsed on the ground. The bell tower disappeared and was replaced by that of a simple shop. Sugar Cube Corner. The name popped into Thalia's head. She knew this place. She had been there many times before through the eyes and ears of Twilight Sparkle. She was sitting at a table now. Five others ponies sat around the table. She instantly knew their names. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity. She had run into them several times in the past, all meetings resulted in her trying to kill them, but this meeting through the point of view of Twilight Sparkle was calming. It was even somewhat enjoyable. There was laughter, talk of future parties and events, and just goofing off. She found herself enjoying the memory. It was nice. It was innocent. But it still put her teeth on edge. How dare that Twilight Sparkle have a happy and innocent life while hers was full of change, pain, fighting, and failed dreams! How dare she be happy! How dare the original have more rights and respect than her, labeled under the status of being nothing more than a dark shadow that needs to be bathed in the light of death. In the memory, Pinkie handed Twilight a cupcake and she ate it. Thalia could taste the sweet frosting and the spongy cake. It was too scrumptious for words. That taste. The taste of true friendship and happiness. The taste of a life before the arrival the wondrous and incredible Doctor. The memory faded away and Thalia found herself laying on the ground of the bell tower room. Two fuzzy figures were examining her. "Do you think she's dying?" asked a female voice. "I don't think so," replied a male voice. Thalia's vision returned and she recognized her spectators. They were the two ponies who had been helping the Doctor down in the caverns. Her eyes scanned them and two names popped into her head. Charlie Kemp and Juliet Sparkle. Sparkle?! The alicorn possessed the blood of Twilight Sparkle. Sure, she couldn't kill Twilight...but killing her descendant would be just as satisfying. She quickly jumped up and attempted to grab the alicorn. The alicorn jumped aside and managed to cut her attacker with her horn. "Stay away from her!" ordered Charlie as he attempted to kick her. The kick missed and Thalia simply shoved him aside. Juliet looked down towards the spot where she had cut Thalia. There was definitely a rip in the skin but no blood was coming out. "No blood? How is that possible?!" breathed Juliet. "Honey, I've been dead for a long time," chuckled Thalia. The wound slowly healed itself and the clone flung herself at the alicorn. Juliet tried to use a few offensive spells on her but they all had little to no effect. Thalia pushed Juliet onto the ground and attempted to choke her. Charlie jumped on the clone's back and bashed her with his wings as hard as he could. "Get off of me you annoying whelp!" Thalia attempted to buck Charlie off of her back but he held on tightly. She eventually managed to kick him off, sending him into a collision with the side of the Lamburg Bell. The bell emitted a deep and loud ring that shattered the silence around them. The town and chaos seemed to stop as the bell rang out. Even the fighting Luna and Celestia stopped to listen to the bell. Thalia wasn't phased. She grabbed Juliet in a headlock and prepared to snap her neck. "Just try to escape my grasp!" Thalia gloated. "Just try!" "I don't have to try," chuckled Juliet. Suddenly there was a flash of light behind Thalia and she felt her body slowly fall apart. Her bones turned to dust, her skin turned to gelatine, her brain turned to jelly, and her mind turned into a vaporous energy doomed to evaporate up towards the sun. The last image Thalia saw was another quick vision. She was laying in the Doctor's arms as he pleaded down to her. "Stay with me, Twilight. Stay with me," he said. Thalia looked into his eyes. They seemed caring and thoughtful. So sign of hatred or sorrow. They were beautiful eyes. "Stay with me, Thalia. Stay with me." "But...I can't stay, Doctor," she sighed as her body finally disintegrated into nothing. The Doctor stood there, Sarah's clone destabilizer aimed at the spot where Thalia had been standing. He gave a long sigh and looked over at Charlie and Juliet. Charlie was on the ground, one of his legs had been broken, and Juliet was doing her best to heal him. Juliet looked up at the Doctor and their eyes met. "It is finished," he said.