Now is not the time to ask, said the voice, which the Doctor now knew belonged to the Great Intelligence, but know that soon, I will do so, and you will not be able to deny me.
"What are you doing here?" the Doctor demanded.
This planet formed around me. After I left Earth, I drifted through the darkness for millennia. Eventually, I ended up in orbit around a newly born star. Slowly, dust from that star settled around me, layering onto me as it become stone. After a few billion years, life emerged on this planet. I decided to influence life, to bend it to my will.
"You took away their free will," accused the Doctor.
I made the creatures of this world so that they could have joy. I gave them magic, so that they could govern their world. I gave them the capacity to love, to think. I made a paradise.
"So you did all this, out of benevolence?"
Not quite. I made their world a paradise out of kindness, but that is not the only change I made to this world. I caused this world to be like Earth. Did you not find it strange that the fauna is so much like that of Earth?"
"I was puzzled. But why?"
This world is a trap. I needed to bring you here, I created a link to the Eye of Harmony, so that it would bring you here. I made this world like Earth to inspire your curiosity.
"But why bring me here?"
My universe, the one that you call the Pre-Universe, is dead. I survived it's passing. I have lived in this Universe for a long time, and have learned almost all of its secrets. I want to see what awaits me in the next universe. I know how to pass on. I must destroy the Universe. To do that, I need only ask a question.
"You can't do this!" screamed the Doctor, "you can't destroy the Universe just because you want to see the next!"
You cannot stop me Doctor. Soon it will be time, and the question will be answered. In the meanwhile, I'll let you return to the surface. You may do what you wish with what remains of you time. It matters not in the end.
"No! I will not allow this! I-" The was a blinding flash of light. When it subsided, the Doctor and Twilight were in the library.
"What just happened?" asked Twilight, "who were you talking to?" Instead of replying, the Doctor ran out of the library and into a unicorn guard.
"Hey! I've found him!" the guard shouted. Several more guards quickly arrived. The Doctor fell to his knees.
"Please, just kill me," he said, with a look of resignation on his face.
"Why would I do that?" asked the guard.
"I- I'm a criminal," stammered the Doctor, "I was about to be executed before I escaped. Please, you have to kill me!"
"We were sent to Ponyville to find you. Princess Celestia extends her apologies for your attempted execution, and would like you to come to Canterlot so she can apologize." He then turned to Twilight, who had followed the Doctor out of the library. "You are invited as well," he said.
A look of dread appeared on the Doctor's face as he realized what was happening, he looked at his arm. There were now four marks, as opposed to the three that there had been before. The guards motioned for the Doctor and Twilight to follow them. The Doctor had no choice but to obey. They were led to a large balloon, and climbed in. A guard cut the tether, and the balloon lifted into the air. In the corner of his eye, the Doctor noticed a piece of paper taped to the floor of the balloon. Picking it up, he examined it, and saw that it was a note. It read:
We have been enlightened. The question must be answered. The Silence shall no longer pursue your death.
That was it then. The Great Intelligence had gotten control of the Silence. There was no way that the Silence would allow the Doctor's death. The Universe was finished.
* * *
Celestia couldn't believe she had been so foolish. She had tried to kill the Doctor! She might as well have burned down Canterlot! She only hoped that the Doctor could forgive her. A guard entered the room.
"They're here," he announced.
"Send them in," Celestia ordered. The doors to the throne room opened, and the Doctor and Twilight Sparkle entered.
"Doctor!" exclaimed Celestia happily, "I'm so glad you could come. I'm so sorry about the attempted execution! I just don't know what came over me!"
The Doctor was grim. "Celestia, you have to listen to me. You must kill me. The fate of the entire Universe depends on it."
"What are you talking about? I would never do such a thing!"
The Doctor checked his arm. There was now a fifth line crossed through the first four lines. It was clear that he was not going to be able to have himself killed. Unless...
"Celestia, do you have a spell that can prevent you from lying? A spell that would force me to answer any question truthfully?" he asked.
"Of course. That would be simple."
"Good, I want you to cast it on me."
"I suppose there would be no harm in it." Celestia's horn flared, and an aura enveloped the Doctor for a few seconds, before fading.
"Thank you, now ask me if there are aliens other than me in this room." Before Celestia could answer, there was a flash of light, and the Doctor found himself in darkness, on a cold, metal floor.
When I said you could sped your remaining time however you liked, I knew what you would do, said a voice that the Doctor dreaded to hear.
"No," he whispered, "this can't be how it ends."
Oh but it is, Doctor. The Universe will end. Silence will fall.
"Please," the Doctor whispered. He was freely crying now, tears streaming down his face. "Don't do this."
You only made it to eleven, Doctor. That could have been another hundred thousand years of your life. It almost saddens me to think that you will die having lived such a tiny fraction of your potential lifespan.
"You don't have to do this. I can find another way to send you to the next universe."
It's too late, Doctor. A moment of foolishness has brought you here, and now my wisdom shall see the end carried out. Is there anything else you wish to say before I ask the question?
"When you reach the next universe, please don't destroy it. You can find another way to live. I know I can't save the Universe now, but please. Just let the next one live.
I will take your words into consideration, Doctor. Perhaps I will not live to see the end of the next universe. I am old, and I cannot live forever. But now, it is time. There is one thing I must know.
The Doctor braced himself for the end.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I couldn't win."
Doctor Who?
* * *
On the fields of Trenzalore,
at the Fall of the Eleventh,
when no living creature could speak falsely or fail to answer,
a question was asked.
A question that should never, ever have been answered.