The Crystal Empire outskirts, the far past...
The Doctor (yes, "the Doctor", thank you very much. He had no problems going by #4 in a group of himself, but now that he was alone, he was just "the Doctor") sneezed before wrapping his scarf around his neck a time or two more. Using it for its intended purpose, he thought wryly. What a novel concept.
"Thou really shouldst have dressed warmer for this outing, dear Doctor," Ceslestia said with a smile on her face. "Thou art not protected against the extreme conditions the way the two of us are."
"Yes, well, the wardrobe is a bit out of sorts at the moment," the Doctor said. "And last time I was at the Empire, it felt like spring in Everfree, despite the cold outside. I thought it was supposed to be protected from the rigors of the local weather."
"Aye, under normal circumstances, that is indeed the case," Luna said, then cast a significant look at the billowing black clouds above them. "However, today these are hardly normal circumstances."
"True, sister," Celestia agreed. "And as we are now in enemy territory, we must maintain diligence, lest Sombra discover us before we are prepared."
"Oh, he already knows we're here," the Doctor said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I felt him watching us the second we entered his territory."
Celestia sighed. "And we suppose you made him aware of this fact."
"Of course I did. I don't much like it when others are spying on me. It's rude."
Luna chuckled. "We are invaders in his territory, righteous though our intents are. It is only fair."
"Yes, I suppose," the Doctor said as he cast another look around the deserted street. He didn't like it. The Crystal Empire was supposed to be one of the busiest hubs of ponydom, despite its isolated nature. And yet, not a single pony apart from the three of them inhabited these streets. Occasionally, the Doctor caught sight of a pony peeking through their windows before tucking back out of sight, and even that brief glimpse was enough to see that that the crystal ponies were dull and lifeless compared to their usual brilliance.
"It is disquieting, is it not?" Celestia asked. She knew him far too well, didn't she?
The Doctor nodded. "All the more reason to make haste, Little Celestia."
Any further conversation was interrupted by a column of black an green fire that erupted several hooves in front of them. After a brief moment, the flames coalesced into the form of a coal black pony, who barely looked like one anymore, between his saber-like horn, flowing mane of pitch black, and especially his burning red and green eyes. "WHO IS THIS WHO DARES INTRUDE UPON THE DOMAIN OF KING SOMBRA?" The force behind the question made it feel like a force of nature itself. The response was much less impressive.
"You may call me the Doctor."
King Sombra's ever so impressive facade flickered for just a moment, as he looked at the little pony before him in mild confusion as the two princesses shared knowing smirks.
"Oh, I thought... Was that not meant for me?" the Doctor asked innocently. "I was most certain that question was meant for me, as I was certain you were already familiar with my companions here, Princesses Celestia and Luna, considering that you're preparing to go to war with them and all. It'd be highly irresponsible of you to not know them. Or were you expecting them to speak for me? Have a nice little chat with Celestia about me, while ignoring the simple fact that I am standing right here in front of you. So sorry if that was the case. I prefer to talk for myself, thank you very much."
Sombra stared at the Doctor for a moment in genuine confusion. "Who, or what are you?"
"Oh, me? No one of any real importance. Just a traveler. A tourist if you will. I happened to be in the neighborhood and thought I'd pay a visit to the much lauded Crystal Empire." The Doctor took one last look around and sighed. "I have to say, the reality leaves much to be desired."
"Oh," Sombra asked, his eyes glowing fiercer. "And why is that?"
The Doctor shrugged. "Understand I've been to the Empire at its heights. Streets practically swarming with ponies, of both the crystalline and more mundane varieties. A veritable center of trade, travel, and enterprise, despite its rather, shall we say, inconvenient location. This, however..." the Doctor indicated the empty street. "The streets are dead, the ponies themselves nearly so. No real luster or beauty to be seen in the buildings, despite the impressive construction. It's falling apart, withering. All to satisfy the cravings of one, solitary pony."
Here Sombra laughed. "And why shouldn't my subjects give me their all? It is their duty to do what is required of them by their king, is it not?"
"King? King? What is it, exactly, that makes you king? An inherited title? Such things mean nothing. A note in a document, a pretty sounding word. Easily overthrown, as my friends here will no doubt show you. King. It is the king's duty to look after his subjects, not the other way around. A king's first thought in the morning and last thought at night are of the safety and well-being of his kingdom. King. I see no kings here. Just a spoiled little foal who never learned what the word means."
"SILENCE!" Sombra roared as he fired a huge blast of pure destructive force at his enemies. It was stopped utterly by a dome of dark blue energy.
Princess Luna shook her head with a sigh, even as she dropped her shield. "We suppose this is what we get for allowing thee to speak first."
"I only said what you were thinking, Little One, and don't you even try to deny it."
"True, that," Celestia agreed. "Though we can not help but point out the hypocrisy of you of all ponies giving that lecture."
"I never claimed that I would be a good king," the Doctor said in his defense.
A new voice interrupted the conversation. "Well, well, old friend. It seems you're correct about this one. There is something both odd... and familiar about him." The winds picked up, kicking up a flurry of snow in the area next to Sombra. After a moment, a large snowpony was formed, with icicles forming viscous looking fangs where its mouth would be. "We must ensure he does not interfere." The Doctor cocked his head and one of his ears twitched at the sight of it.
The snow pony made a sweeping motion with a foreleg, and suddenly the Doctor and the princesses were surrounded by five other snow ponies. "Fascinating," the Doctor said. "Some kind of cryokinetic ability. Possibly aquakinetic. But that doesn't seem quite right, either. This whole scenario... it's familiar for some reason. Little Celestia, you're better equipped than I. Could you tell me if these creatures are made from Sombra's magic?"
Celestia's horn lit up as she cast quick glances at the snowponies. "Nay. There is no magical power at all animating these golems. I sense a form of will behind them, but it is difficult to determine what it exactly is as it is..." she paused here. "...foreign to my knowledge."
"You were about to say 'alien,' weren't you, Little Celestia?" the Doctor asked, his big-toothed grin spreading on his face. "An alien presence. Bully."
"You claim to know us?" the snowponies asked in unison.
"Oh, heavens no," the Doctor replied, a laugh in his voice. "I've only just an inkling of a thought, a ghost of a memory if you will. But I do know one thing. In this universe there are events that must happen and, at times, outside forces attempt to disrupt these events. And though it's hardly an official title I hold or even a personal quest to do so, I often find myself intercepting these outside forces. Today just happens to be another one of those instances." He cast Celestia a significant look, who nodded.
She fired off an attack at Sombra, who became a black mist of smoke to dodge it. He coalesced into a solid form in the air before a dark blue sphere of magic appeared around him. Before Sombra could react, Luna suddenly appeared before him, and she delivered a hard buck that sent the magic sphere flying out of sight. The two princesses vanished, one in a flash of gold, the other in a burst of blue.
"What did they just do?" the lead snowpony asked, confusion and anger in his tone.
"Oh, they're just doing what they came here to do. They're just doing it on the other side of town, so you can't bother them."
"Can't I?" the snowpony asked. "I am linked to the King in a way you can't even imagine. I can get back to him in an instant."
"Oh, no you can't," the Doctor said, and his grin turned a little colder. "You have to deal with me first. I'm just as much a wild card in your plans as you are to ours."
The snowpony's face shifted into a predatory smile. "True enough. I should take care of loose ends first."
Before the small army of snowponies could converge, the Doctor held up a small paper bag. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. This here is a very powerful and rather unstable explosive. Take one more step towards me, and everything within a ten meter radius will be vaporized. Including you."
The snowponies stopped in their advance. Then the lead one chuckled. "You are lying. Even apart from the fact that you would never risk yourself, or any hidden ponies in the area, that bag is full of confections."
The Doctor kept his composure for just a moment longer, before popping one of the Jelly Fillies in his mouth. "Quite right, quite right. I was bluffing. And as far as bluffs go, it wasn't even one of my better bluffs, I must say. I can see how you'd intuit the bluff so easily." The grin then vanished completely, leaving a look of cold calculation. "But, there is one thing. How did you know it was candy?"
~DrW~
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Lockup hated this shift. Most of the guards did. On paper, it seemed the perfect job. No patrols, no bed checks, no real danger. Just watching over one solitary prisoner. A prisoner who was, about 75% of the time, a model prisoner. But that was only because she could almost literally walk out of the place whenever she wanted, no matter what security measures were put in place.
And she was looking at him, with those exotic brown eyes, and her playful grin. She was quite beautiful--hot even, if he was to be honest, despite having to be at least his mother's age--with an interesting tan coat, and an incredibly curly mop of a mane that only enhanced the mystique. And who wouldn't be curious about a pony whose cutie mark is a question mark? But behind the beauty was a real piece of work, capable of anything.
"Aren't you going to get that?" she asked, amused.
Yes, the damnable phone was ringing.
"It's going to happen either way, you might as well make it easy on yourself."
Lockup sighed. That much was true. Using his unicorn magic, he silently unhooked the phone and passed it to the prisoner. She put it up to her ear, and with a smile that dazzled said the two words that always, always meant trouble.
"Hello, Sweetie."