As the Doctor and Applejack ran through the castle, the two sisters continued to cry out. The image of the balloon blowing up was still fresh in their minds. The Changelings swarming the castle and attacking the guards was still fresh as well because it was still happening. As they ran through the halls of the castle, the Doctor had to restrain himself from fighting with the Alicorns. He wasn’t supposed to even travel, but interfering with a war that never happened was something different. He was underpowered, even with the TARDIS.
The TARDIS. The Doctor just remembered that his TARDIS was still parked outside the castle’s walls. If the Changelings noticed it before their attack, they may certainly try to open it. But nothing can open those doors, absolutely nothing.
Unless I didn’t lock it, he thought to himself. Pony feathers.
Applejack led the group through the halls, mainly because she is more familiar with them. She had seen the castle while she was helping rebuild it for the sisters. Boy that ended a lot differently than she expected. The hidden spring trap wasn’t supposed to go off right in the middle of the ceremony.
Applejack stopped and turned around. Luna and Celestia were still in tears, but they were more afraid than sad at the moment. Applejack looked around her surroundings. She was in the Hall of Hooves. So the castle’s many traps and gadgets were built with Solaris and Cosmos.
She turned to the Doctor, who immediately got what she was thinking. The Doctor looked around, and found one spot where there wasn’t a hoof on the wall. Before he could do anything to the wall, another explosion rocked the castle. Two Alicorn guards came crashing through the opposite wall. The head guard, Sea Crest, looked battered and bloodied. Next to him, his partner laid. The Doctor didn’t move, thinking that the Alicorn was dead. He checked his vitals.
Sea Crest sighed. “He was just a rookie. This was his first century working with us. If we survive, it will be Hell to deliver the reports to their families,” he said.
“But ya will survive, right?”
“I’ve survived three hundred years in the war and two swims in the volcano realms of the Badlands. I think I can survive a couple of bugs buzzing about,” he said.
The Doctor smiled. “You look like you survived a war of your own, Doctor. I can see it in your eyes. I see fire and rage,” Sea Crest said.
The Doctor fidgeted. Applejack immediately noticed this. “I’ve seen a lot of fire and rage in my days,” he said.
Sea Crest shook his head. “I see your rage, Doctor. I have seen fire in your eyes, sir. Do you regret?”
The Doctor was silent for a moment. “Yes,” he said. “Every bit of it. I try to live beyond that horrible day, but I can never right that wrong. There is no other way.”
Sea Crest nodded. “Apple one, take care of your friend. I fear there will be times where he needs a shoulder to cry on. Nopony can stay strong forever.”
Applejack nodded. Suddenly, another explosion rocked the castle. The hole where Sea Crest flew from was suddenly filled with blood-thirsty Changelings. They immediately attacked with their magic, but Sea Crest immediately responded by forming a shield over the ponies behind him. Already he seemed to be struggling.
Sea Crest strained to hold the shield. Behind him, little Celestia and Luna looked upon him with worry. Luna ran up to Sea Crest and hugged his forehoof. Celestia did the same, fearing for his life.
The guard’s eyes began to water. “There is a secret exit on your left, Doctor. I will hold them back for as long as I can, but you have to move! Get them out of here!”
Applejack's eyes widened. Get them out of here!The Doctor nodded and raised his Screwdriver once more. This time, a lock from the other side of the wall came undone, and the wall spun around, revealing a tunnel. Celestia and Luna didn’t budge from Sea Crest’s legs.
“Luna, Celestia, we have to go,” the Doctor said.
Luna shook her head. “No! Sea Crest, come with us!”
The battered alicorn continued to struggle underneath the shield. His magic was waning. He looked down at the two foals. He wasn’t going to die like the others, but he was a guard. He was supposed to prevent this. His comrades were dying around him, but if he could defeat the Changelings at their source…
Sea Crest made up his mind. Using what he had left of his magic, he thrusted up with his power, knocking the Changelings back. He immediately went on the offense. Charging up his horn, Sea Crest fired a lightning bolt at the Changelings. They all fell over, fried. He led the sisters through the hole, Applejack and the Doctor close behind him. Once the Doctor entered, the door sealed itself.
Thankfully, the Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver also worked as a torch. Keeping a steady rhythm with his instrument of awesomeness, the Doctor lit a path down the tunnel. Of course, Sea Crest stayed in the front with the sisters behind him. The Doctor kept the light with his companion close next to him.
As they walked, Applejack’s mind began to race as her heart went into overdrive. The sudden flash of her parents the night they died upset her deeply. The smell of the Everfree Forest filled her nostrils. It was autumn when they attacked. The howling of the Timberwolves broke through the night, and boy did it frighten the mare today.
‘Big Mac, take your sisters and get out of here! We will hold them off!' her father said to them.
She remembered being dragged by Big Mac with Apple Bloom on her back. The trees were dense and the fog was unbearable. Applejack’s heart began to race as the memory continued to unfold in her head.
Young Applejack heard the piercing screams of what may’ve been her mother behind her. She almost wanted to jump into her memory and rescue them. Maybe she can stop her parent’s deaths.
The memory of arriving back at Sweet Apple Acres brought her temporary relief. She heard herself scream Granny Smith, it’s the Timberwolves!
Somewhere inside the barn, Granny Smith managed to raise the alarm, which was the sound of iron bells. The ringing echoed through to the forest, scaring the Timberwolves away. Applejack’s young heart was racing as the sounds of the Forest were reduced to the grasshopper’s chirping.
“Applejack? Applejack! Wake up!”
The voice echoed through the farm. It was the Doctor calling out to her. Her vision blurred and the last scene she saw was the Sun rising and the Everfree Forest filled with fully armed ponies.
“Applejack! Wake up!”
Applejack’s eyes shot open. Somehow, she collapsed onto the ground of the cave. The Doctor was scanning her with his Screwdriver, searching for whatever was the cause of her blackout. When he saw her eyes opening, the Doctor gave a big sigh of relief. “Are you OK?”
The farm pony looked around her. Sea Crest was with the royal sisters further down the cave. They seemed to have calmed down a little bit because they weren’t crying as much. The Time Lord, however, wasn’t concerned about them at the moment. The sudden shift of attention made the mare blush a little bit.
The Doctor helped Applejack to her hooves. He scanned her one more time with his Screwdriver, convinced something forced her to the ground. Finding nothing to help him, the Doctor gave up. Instead of saying anything, Applejack gave the Doctor a hug. She needed somepony to cry on, but crying wasn’t on the agenda for today.
The Doctor hesitated for a little bit, but returned the hug. “What is that for?” he asked.
“Later,” the farm pony said.
The Doctor didn’t push for any information. “Come on, we have to get out of here. If the Changelings are looking for the little ones, they will be looking for magic. We have to hide.”
Sea Crest came over with the fillies. “I remember a small town where we can stay for the night. I can probably look for a spell to hide our magic for the time being, but we have to go now.”
“Do you have access to the Alicorn Army?”
“No, all castle personnel refrain themselves from the war effort. I was relieved of duty after my service, so I lost personal communication,” Sea Crest said.
The Doctor sighed. “I can’t get my TARDIS from here. No remote control,” he said. “I should probably fix that.”
The guard nodded in agreement. “What’s wrong with your companion?”
The Doctor looked over, expecting Applejack to answer. Silence. “Personal problem. Right now, we need to get out of here. You know the tunnel routes, you lead from here.”
Sea Crest agreed. His horn charged up and they continued walking. This time, Applejack was in front of the Doctor. If she fell over again, he would be there to help her right away.
After 10 more minutes of walking, the 5 ponies found the exit, and with Sea Crest’s magical cloak, left the castle undetected. They followed the river downstream and out of the Forest. They were safe, for now.