Chapter 3
The ship landed on the edge of the Everfree forest. I began the power down sequence as Twilight and Rainbow walked outside. I still couldn't believe the androgum were so generous. When they said they prepared a ship for me, I did not realize they meant for it to be a gift. It was no TARDIS, but it was still something I could work with. I walked towards the exit, and heard a conversation begin outside.
"Let Spike go you monster!" Twilight screamed, obviously in distress about something.
I began to run, intending to help, but nearly tripped when I heard the response.
"No, I am leaving with this ship. I am taking the dragon with me, and there's not a pony on this forsaken hunk of rock that can stop me," said that cold, intelligent voice.
"Not one," I mused as I walked down the exit ramp. "Would you like to test that claim?"
I finally came in sight of her. She had neither a horn nor wings, so that would make it easier if it came down to a fight. She had steel grey eyes, a cream colored coat, and a dark chocolate mane. Her cutie mark was a beaker filled with a foaming green substance. The beaker was labeled with one symbol, an hourglass. She was staring at me, with that cold, calculating look I had learned to hate. I just chuckled, but then I saw that Spike was on the ground and she had a hoof positioned at the base of Spike's neck.
"What could you possibly want with a dragon?" I asked. I knew she liked dinosaurs, but I never thought that extended to all oversized bird-like reptiles.
"I don't care that he's a dragon. He's just a useful hostage." She declared, voice filled with malice.
"And now that you know I am here, you have to change plans. How frustrating," I glanced at Spike.
The moment she thought my guard was down, she lunged at me. I just sent a telekinetic wave her way, I wasn't in the mood for a full on fight right now. It hit her straight in the head, knocking her out cold.
"Oh Ushas, when will you learn that you cannot get the drop on me?" I asked nopony in particular as I walked down the ramp.
"Koschei, who is this monster?" Twilight asked, the distress still evident in her voice.
"She is a genius biochemist called The Rani. She is the epitome of the old, evil scientist cliché, perhaps even the inspiration for it." I replied.
"What now?" Rainbow Dash asked, obviously unsure of what to do now.
Of course, they would be unsure. They had gotten in fights before, but had never had to take somepony prisoner.
"Rainbow, go find Applejack. Tell her we need her to contact The Doctor," I gave the order.
"Which doctor?" she sounded perplexed.
"She’ll know." I answered.
Rainbow Dash sped off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, wings flapping as I turned to Twilight.
"Wake up Spike. We are going to need the princesses, both of them if possible," I told her. "In the mean-time I will see about restraining our prisoner."
…………………..
2 hours later
The Rani was in a straightjacket. Both princesses, Spike, the Elements of Harmony, The Doctor, and me were all around her trying to decide what to do about her. But first, I had a question that needed answering.
"Rani, you died. How, exactly, are you here?" I asked.
"The Daleks resurrected me during the time war. They wanted me to build a biological weapon that targets time lord DNA only."
"Did you?" The Doctor asked, obviously suspicious of her. To be honest, I couldn't blame him.
"No, I may be a killer, but I am not omnicidal and I don't like the idea of a Dalek apocalypse."
"How did you escape then?" I asked, intrigued.
"I infected the planet with an artificially intelligent pathogen that targets Daleks. Once they were dead, I took a ship and fled to the edge of the universe. There was a hole in reality which I fell through and ended up here. My ship was destroyed, so I was stranded here on this damned technologically useless hunk of worthless rock, which brings us up to the present." she explained, her voice dripping with rage.
"Well, I can understand that you were desperate," Celestia began, "but that is no excuse for attacking my subjects. You are sentenced to imprisonment, until such a time as you are no longer a threat to Equestria."
"You're imprisoning me for being a threat, but letting him walk free!" Rani exclaimed, pointing directly at me.
Oh, buck it all for the second time today!!
"What are you talking about? He has done nothing." Celestia retorted.
"They don't know who you are, do they? They have no idea what you can do, what you have done, do they?" Rani asked rhetorically.
"Koschei, what is she talking about?" Twilight asked, both concerned and curious.
I was in trouble. Again. Everyone was looking directly at me. All I could do was look at Celestia with a guilty, pleading look. Her mouth formed a surprised "oh", before she looked back at the Rani.
"I know exactly who he is. His name is Koschei. He was born 19 years ago into a wealthy family in Canterlot. He attended my school for gifted unicorns, and graduated with honors. He is one of the most successful detectives in Equestria. For all his services to my kingdom, I intend to knight him. That is who he is. Who he was, is not my concern." She announced clearly, for all to hear.
Buck the hay, YES! I was off the hook. Legally, I mean. I still owed Twilight an explanation. Still, no prison time for me. I was getting knighted, too! Awesome!
"You fools! He and The Doctor are playing you! And you're just taking it! Like whores! AHHHHHHHH" she screamed.
Luna smacked her. Then Luna winked at me, before beginning her tirade.
"Shut up, maggot! You are a prisoner now. No talking. No insults. No thinking for yourself." Enter prison warden Luna, using the Royal Canterlot voice too. I was definitely a bad influence on her. Even Celestia gasped at her sister's behavior.
"You who-AHHHHHHH" screamed Rani.
"You will address us as Highness, maggot!" Luna roared.
"Y-yes, highness," whimpered The Rani.
……………………..
1 hour later
It was me, the Doctor, and the Element bearers, sitting in a restaurant eating dessert. Twilight finally repeated her question.
"Koschei, what was she talking about?"
Cue awkward question time.
"Before I came to Equestria, I wasn't a good person, by any stretch of the imagination." I finally admitted. It is true what they say, confessing does soothe the conscience.
"In what way were you bad?"
"The title Master," I began, "Has become, throughout millions of civilizations, synonymous with domination, enslavement, and cruelty. They got that from me. I was a ruthless, manipulative warlord. My goal was to become master of the universe." I looked at the ground the whole time. I did not want to see their reactions.
"Why?" was all Twilight could say.
"He was insane." The Doctor answered. "The leader of the high council implanted a severe hallucination in his mind. Then, when he made his first major mistake, everyone turned their backs on him. Then, his first companion turned out to be a spy for the Celestial Intervention Agency. Between the hallucination and the overwhelming sense of betrayal, anyone would have gone mad." The Doctor sighed. "I blame myself. We were best friends, but when he needed someone the most, I turned my back. Master, I am so sorry."
All I could do was nod. Centuries of pain and loneliness had finally caught up to me. I did not fall apart sobbing like a child. I was silently letting the tears out, in a stoic, masculine way while Twilight hugged me. I buried my face in her mane, and stayed there for a long time.