//------------------------------//
// A Spiritual Rescue 
// Story: Doctor Whooves Episode 12: A Dalek in Celestia's Court 
// by Doctor Perseus 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5: A Spiritual Rescue


Canterlot Castle Throne Room, Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Autumn, 1002 C.E.

Luna's eyes widened as the body of her sister fell to the ground right in front of her. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Celestia couldn't be dead. Her sister could not be dead!
"NO! What did I tell you about not doing anything?!" the Doctor snapped at the Daleks in his colder voice. "All of you shall remain still until I say so! No shooting! Nothing!"
"BUT WE CANNOT LISTEN TO YOU...AND YET WE MUST!" cried the Dalek that had shot Celestia. Another shower of sparks shot off its armor before it fell silent again. 
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight cried. Luna knelt down next to her sister and balanced her head in her forehooves. "Doctor...this can't be! We've been to the future! We know that Celestia still lives in the future! She can't die here! It's impossible!"
"I know, Twilight. Something's not right here...and I have a feeling that something else is going to fix it," the Doctor replied in his normal voice.
"Don't die on me, Celestia!" Luna cried as she stared deep into her sister's black, lifeless eyes.

Unknown Place, Unknown Time

Celestia opened her eyes to find herself standing in what appeared to be the throne room at night. She was alone.
"Luna? Twilight? Doctor? Is anypony here?" she asked. She remembered the Dalek shooting her and a familiar pain rung through her head. "Am I...dead?"
"Not quite," replied a familiar voice. Celestia looked into the darkness to see the familiar, blue eyes of her sister staring back at her.
"Luna?!"
"Yes and no. I am Princess Luna but not the one that you are thinking of."
"I do not understand."
"Maybe the best way for me to help you understand is if I show you."
Celestia watched as a figure emerged from the darkness. She didn't know what to think. She knew that the creature before her was Luna...but it certainly wasn't the Luna she knew. 
A human woman stood before her. She had long, flowing, blue hair that glimmered like the night sky. Her eyes were night blue and carried a sharp gaze. Her skin was incredibly fair. A black crown sat on top of her head. She wore a deep blue tunic with dark blue pants and a long, gray cloak. A silver rapier hung from a holster connected to a black belt wrapped around her waste, which had Celestia's Luna's cutie mark imprinted on it. The last thing Celestia noticed was a long, silver wand sticking out of one of the pockets in the woman's tunic.
"What...what are you?" Celestia asked. Another pain shot through her head. The woman approached her.
"I told you, Celestia. I'm Princess Luna," she said.
"You...you can't be Luna. You're not even the same species as her!"
"But I am her, just from another reality. Members of my species are known as human beings."
Another pain shot through Celestia's head.
"Human...beings. I...I think I've seen them before."
"Of course you have. You've seen me. You've seen...well I guess I shouldn't go into that just yet."
"Why are you here?"
"I'm here to make amends to the wrongs done against you and my ponified self."
"What do you mean?"
"The Daleks that went after your Luna were incredibly confused. I can only assume that the dimensional rifts didn't take kindly to their minds. They were befuddled."
"Befuddled?"
"Yes. You see, the Daleks were after Princess Luna but not your Luna."
"They...they were after you!"
"Exactly."
"But why?"
"It's complicated."
"Is...is it true that the Doctor sent them?"
"Yes and no. A Doctor sent them but not the Doctor who's been fighting alongside you."
"So...there's more than one Doctor?"
"Yes. It's complicated and I don't have much time to explain. I'm reaching through not only dimensions but time as well to talk to you."
"You said that I'm not quite dead. Is this true?"
"Yes. You're not going to die, Celestia. You're going to live on. I've come here to help your lost spirit return to its body."
"How are you to do that?"
"Well, unlike your Luna, I've had some practice in the spiritual arts as well as the magical. Nothing dark, I promise you."
Celestia sighed. She couldn't be happier. She wasn't dead...but something else was troubling her.
"So...is this other Doctor a threat to me, my friends and family, and my kingdom?" she asked. The human Luna sighed.
"If you want an honest answer then...yes. He is a threat to you," replied the human Luna. "But don't worry, Celestia. As long as you're allies with the Doctor and as long as you have that odd stallion by your side, you will always triumph against anything the cosmos throws at your home." Luna the human suddenly began to fade away. "Oh man! I better make this fast! Listen to me, Celestia, tell the Doctor to follows the rifts."
"Follow the rifts?"
"Yes! The dimensional rifts! They're the key to everything that's going to happen! A war is on the horizon, Celestia! Don't anticipate when this war is going to happen or what the outcome is going to be! Just make sure the Doctor is there to help you. As long as Equestria is an ally of the Doctor, you'll never have a short supply of allies to fight alongside you!" Luna the human placed her hands against Celestia's head. "Now this may sting a bit. I'm going to send you back to your body! You still have a lot to do, Princess, and a stupid Dalek shall not bear your downfall!" Celestia watched as the dark throne room began to slowly disappear into darkness. "And, one more thing, I've noticed that you've been struggling with some lost memories. I think, as a special bonus, I can give you one last jolt to allow you to finally remember what you lost."
Celestia closed her eyes and cried out as her body began to glow like the sun and vibrate like an earthquake.

Silent Forest, South of Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Autumn, 53 C.E.

Celestia walked through the forest quietly. The air smelled of oak and maple and colorful leaves fell to the ground slowly. The city of Canterlot could be seen shining far above the forest. The Princess fell silent as an odd sound began emanating through the trees. She knew this sound. She knew it all too well. She turned as a familiar, blue box appeared a few feet behind her. The doors of the box opened and out stepped a familiar, chestnut stallion in a black suit.
"It's nice to see you again, Doctor," said Celestia as the Doctor approached her. He seemed sad about something. "What happened to your blue suit, Doctor? I think that fit you quite nicely. No offence, but this new black outfit of yours doesn't really go with you."
"It's nice to see you too, Celestia," the Doctor replied grimly. "Don't worry, I still have the blue suit. I just felt like wearing this one for a little bit."
"What's the reason?"
"I...I lost somepony. Somepony I really care for."
"I'm sorry, Doctor. Death is never an easy thing to get over."
"No. Death didn't take her. What took my friend was something much crueler than death."
"What could be worse than having somepony you care for dearly die?"
"The unknown. That's what's worse. I've lost her...literally. She's gone and now it's incredibly probable that I'll never see her again."
"But there is a chance that you'll find her, right?"
"Of course there is! That's what I'm doing! I'm searching for her. I'll never give up, Princess Celestia. I will never give up!"
"I wish you all the luck in the universe, Doctor."
"Thank you, Celestia. Well...I guess I better be off then." The Doctor turned around and began walking back to the TARDIS. At the last second, he turned around and said, "Before I go, I have something to tell you."
"And that would be?"
"There's a storm coming, Celestia. Not even a year from now, there's going to be a giant cloud of evil rushing over that horizon to destroy everything that you hold dear. It's going to be a rough fight...but don't worry. I'll be there to help save your country."
"I've already lost a lot, Doctor. I've lost most of my friends. I've lost my parents. I've even lost...my sister. But I will not lose Equestria! I shall be ready for this storm when it arrives! And you better live up to your promise!"
"Don't I always, Celestia? And, besides, I know I'm going to keep my promise because I've already fulfilled it!"
"What? Oh. Right. Wibbly wobbly timey wimey."
"Never gets old, does it?!"
"No. I guess it doesn't."
"Goodbye, Celestia."
"Goodbye, Doctor."
The Doctor strolled into the TARDIS and shut the doors. Celestia gave a small smile as the TARDIS disappeared, leaving her alone in the forest once again. 

Canterlot Castle Throne Room, Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Autumn, 1002 C.E.

Celestia opened her eyes to find everypony looking down at her. 
"Celestia?!" cried Luna. Luna grabbed her sister and hugged her tightly. "You're alive! You're alive!"
"Yes...I guess I am," Celestia said with a loud sigh. 
"But how?" asked a shocked Twilight. "You were hit by that Dalek's death ray!"
"It's complicated."
"You can tell us the details when you're feeling better!" said Luna.
"Aw! We have to wait?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"So Celestia just came back from the dead. I guess nothing's going to separate these sisters, eh Doctor?" Monty asked.
"No. I guess not," the Doctor said with a smile. "So, what are we to do with our unwanted, metal attackers?"
"I'll take care of them," said a flirtatious voice. Everypony turned to see a red-coated mare with a purple mane walking towards them. 
"Matilda?!" asked the Doctor and Twilight.
"The one and only."
"But...how...why...what...what are you doing here?!" asked Twilight.
"I just popped in to take care of your Dalek infestation. Don't worry. I know exactly where to send these unwanted guests of yours."
"So this is Matilda," said Fluttershy. 
"I see this, for some of you, is our first meeting. Don't worry, you'll get to know me quite well in the future."
"Yay," said Applejack sarcastically. Matilda rounded up the Daleks while Luna helped Celestia up.
"It...it's you! The mare who gave me the portable cage!" Celestia exclaimed.
"Your welcome," said Matilda as she finished rounding up the Daleks.
"Wait. How did you know to bring the portable cage here?" Rainbow Dash asked. Matilda turned towards the Doctor.
"Doctor?"
"Wibbly wobbly timey wimey!" the Doctor sang with a smile.
"There's you answer, Ms. Dash!"
"That's not an answer! That's a rhyme!" Rainbow snapped.
"Are you saying that rhymes can't be answers?"
"No need to discriminate against the rhymes, Rainbow Dash!" teased the Doctor.
"Don't tell me you've decided to become like her, Doctor!" said an annoyed Derpy with a smile.
"You know what they say. If you can't beat them, join them."
"Good choice, Doctor," said Matilda. "Well I better get these Daleks back to where they belong. Oh, and Celestia, I believe Princess Luna just provided you with some interesting information that the Doctor would like to hear."
Celestia took in a deep breath as memories of the Doctor flooded her mind. The words of Luna the human, however, remained in place as the main focus at the moment.
"Yes," Celestia replied. "I believe I do have some interesting information."
"Good! Well I'll see you all later! Have a nice day!"
Matilda clicked a few buttons on her vortex manipulator and, in a quick flash of light, she and the Daleks disappeared. 
"She sure is quite a character," said Monty.
"Look who's talking, Mr. Clown," said Rarity.
"Look who's talking, Ms. Marshmallow!"
"How dare you!"
"I think everypony can be considered as quite a character," Derpy whispered to the Doctor.
"Not going to argue with that one," the Doctor replied with a chuckle.