//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18: Leaving 
// Story: Doctor Hooves: An Unusual Filly 
// by Anime PJ 
//------------------------------//

   "I can't tell you how sorry we are over the whole incident princess," Cheerilee said "you have our deepest sympathies over everything that's happened." The group were currently stood outside the TARDIS, Celestia had insisted on saying goodbye before they departed as a way of thanking them for opening her eyes on what she had to do to save everypony.

Princess Celestia smiled at the purple pony whom she had barely any time to speak to, if these four were anything to go by then the future would be bright indeed. "Thank you," she said "for everything. Not just my sister but also your guidance through the Everfree Forest, if it weren't for you all of my guards would have died in that place and those Shadow Ponies which Discord created would have prevented me and Luna..." she let out a sigh "... from gaining the Elements of Harmony. I am deeply indebted to you."

Doctor Hooves spoke up "I do have one more thing to say thought princess, everything will be okay. I know that sounds like a fool trying to offer false hope but believe me when I say that you will see your sister again. I can tell you that in a thousand years time the alignment of the stars will aid in the escape of Nightmare Moon. Do not fear however, if you put your trust in a very lonely pony studying under you at the time you will have your sister back, this I promise."

Celestia smiled "Isn't it wrong to tell us about events from the future?" she asked.

"They say it was prophesied anyway so I just thought, why shouldn't it be me who gives that prophecy? And I hate to leave a pony in a bad mood."

Celestia laughed, a full, joyous laugh for the first time since Luna's rise as Nightmare Moon "Thank you Doctor Hooves, farewell to all of you. I get the feeling you probably want to get home as soon as possible."

Cheerilee and Big Mac nodded, the group of travellers offered one large "Goodbye!" before entering the strange blue box that was bigger on the inside.

The big white room was a welcoming sight even to the ponies who had technically been kidnapped in this strange machine, Doctor Hooves walked towards the console and his horn lit up. Some of the contraptions on the console moved around with a magical aura around them and soon the TARDIS was shaking everywhere, the familiar roar of the engines as they grinded was more comforting than the annoyance it had been the first time. Eventually the noise from the machine stopped and Doctor Hooves looked down at a screen in confusion.

"Oh dear," he said "remember how I said the TARDIS isn't the best when it comes to its controls? Well it's taken us to a completely different planet from where we want to be."

"What planet would that be, grandfather?" Sugar asked nervously.

Doctor Hooves hummed, he had never heard of this planet before "According to the TARDIS this planet is called Skaro..."