Perhaps Death

by WritingSpirit

...At The Ends Of Time

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Forty-two.

To those who don't know, forty-two is a number. A natural number, both pronic and abundant, wedged between two prime numbers. It is the sixth Catalan number and the thirtieth Størmer number, as well as being the angle in which white light disperses into a rainbow. Apart from all of that, many civilizations across the thousands of galaxies I've been through have embedded this fabled number into their daily lives, with some preaching it as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything in general.

Forty-two was the answer.
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"Turner, you're making that face again."

"Huh?" I stammered, snapping out of my daze. "W-What face?"

"You know what I'm talking about," chastised Twilight Sparkle, the only other pony in the universe, as well as its creator. "The face you always make when you're thinking of something really hard. You know, the one that goes something like this?"

Immediately, she scrunched up her cheeks, her brows furiously curving down with a frown on her face enough to frighten a few Daleks. I couldn't help but let out a mirthful chuckle at that, both at her teasing and how she looked like. Of course, as usual, the mare pouted when she saw me laughing my sides off, never amused by what she categorized as my childish antics.

"I'm serious, you know?" she asserted, before sighing. "And each time, you never tell me why..."

"It'll ruin the fun." I answered with a grin. "Plus, some secrets are worth more keeping than telling, Twilight."

"Turner, you're with me for what would be forty-two years already," her persistence spoke up. "I should already know all of your secrets by then. Plus, I've told a fair share of mine, so shouldn't I be getting some answers in return?"

"A reasonable argument, Twilight, though I still have to say no."

Of course, Twilight Sparkle being Twilight Sparkle, she just sighed and looked away. Well, she has to live with that brief disappointment a little longer, until I'm ready to tell it to her. Well, I've lasted forty-two years in here already. An extra ten minutes or so wouldn't hurt. Or maybe ten days, or months. Depends.

In case any of you were wondering, we were having a picnic on the Canterlotian hillside underneath an old oak tree, looking down at the capital while having a meal composing of hay sandwiches, a few varieties of salads and cherry tomatoes on a stick. This was probably our eightieth time here, sitting before the epitome of Twilight's nostalgia. There were many conversations that we had here, most of which had slipped my mind. It wasn't my fault, really; I had something more important to look forward to.

"If there's anything bothering you..."

"I'll let you know," I finished her sentence, smiling up at her. With a chuckle, she ran a hoof across my mane, before lying down on my sides as she gazed up to the branches. We were this affectionate since day one, after I promised her that I will never leave her side. The vow I took was a heavy one, I'll have you know. It was a promise akin to marriage, a companionship consummated in the timeless world.

Soon enough, as noon turn to dusk, dusk turn to night, the sun setting in this fabricated reality, Twilight Sparkle once again fell asleep in my embrace, leaving me to gaze at the stars. Each of them suns, circumscribing my travels around the universe. A part of me didn't want to believe it was all a replica, a figment of one's imagination. How could such beauty be falsified, plagiarized perhaps, into an empty world? Perhaps it was the imaginative spirit of its creator, sleeping before me? Nevertheless, it was still awe-inducing as it was back in the valleys and mountains of time.
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"Turner..." Twilight mumbled, half-asleep. "That's the fourth time you're making that face today."

"Am I?" I replied, acting skeptical. "You're certain it's just not my normal form of expression?"

"I could give you one whole theoretical hypothesis on the differences between that look and your average facial expressions and you still wouldn't believe me."

"Now, that's just misjudging, Twilight Sparkle," I quipped back. "You wouldn't know for sure unless you tried. In fact, you can explain it now, considering we have, I don't know, the rest of eternity to look forward to."

"No thank you, mister. I don't want to spend an eternity talking it out with you. Besides..." she muttered, shuffling onto her sides while letting out a yawn. "It'll just... ruin the fun."

Twilight Sparkle, you cheeky mare, you.

I looked up to the stars again. No, not to make a wish, but to just ponder, although a wish sounds good right about now. What can a Time Lord wish for in this dire situation? A brand new TARDIS, perhaps. Now, that one would certainly take a star, or rather a dying one, if you know what I mean.

All my faux-pondering was over when Twilight decided to have a change of scenery, the familiar landscape zooming forward only to show a much more familiar one. It was the street between the orphanage and Twilight's old house, you know, the one that was thirty-four feet wide, pavement inclusive? Anyways, it would be our... two hundred and sixty-third time we came here, so the routine was pretty clear. Little walk down the road, talking about everything possible underneath the quiet night sky. Suffice to say, she got all the details right: whose house goes where, the colors of each stone on the street, even little details like that creeping shrub growing between the cracks three blocks down the street. Suffice to say, as the omnipotent creator, Twilight Sparkle has all the nitty-gritty down in the correct places.

All except one.

"You're still keeping this little decoration?"

My inquisitive hoof, along with the words I uttered, was directed at a street lamp. Yes, a seemingly ordinary, black iron, farola fernandina Canterlotian street lamp. At first glance, it would be like all its partners down the aisle, but a closer inspection would reveal that the glass that enclosed the luminous crystal within was stained in a tint of brown, making it literally a dim one among the rest. Twilight Sparkle, once again, wore her little smirk even before I began mentioning it. With a chuckle, she trotted up to the lamp, looking at it with a shimmer in her eye.

"You really don't like it?" she asked in the most innocent manner she could portray.

"It just seems... out of place."

"Can't the creator have a little fun while's she doing her work?"

Suddenly, Twilight leaped onto the pole before I could stop her, spinning around and around it while giggling loudly like a schoolmare. Before I even knew it, she hopped off and right onto me, pushing me down onto the pavement with a grunt rushing out of my mouth. Her cheerful laughter resounded through the empty streets, my own joining almost immediately.

Imagine the two of us, convulsing gullibly in the middle of the road without a care for whoever's watching. It was, like all of our other nights together, wonderful; a surreal experience enjoyed alongside my cherished companion. Soon enough, the laughter died down, leaving these two young ponies to be mesmerized at each other. Twilight Sparkle stared down at me, the smile I'm always fond of only making her look more pleasant than she already was.

"Everything's boring if it's all the same..." she cooed softly, resting her head on my chest. "Don't you think so, Turner?"

"Yeah..." I hummed, looking up once again at the stars. Everything's boring if it's all the same... ironic, really. Looking back, we probably done this numerous times, perhaps even having the same conversation as well. All the days and nights we spent together were wonderful, don't get me wrong, but there was nothing else to look forward to now. That just felt wrong to me, having nothing for the future. Isn't that how life works? Looking towards the future, hoping for the best, wanting to know what comes next... that excitement was gone. To not have that privilege was a wake up call.

A wake up call that I sorely needed.

"Twilight?"

"Hmm?"

"There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

Twilight Sparkle shifted her head, looking up from the tufts of fur on my chest to me. Her smile was still there, but I could see it was waning just a little. Her gaze shifted down, her head following closely along, before she suddenly stood up, her resplendent figure towering over my prone self before she trotted forward, this time striking her gaze to the stars.

A pitfall of silence followed. It was dauntingly long, lingering even as I shuffled around to stand up, watching her frozen in the moment. If time were to exist in this world, it would've stopped. I tensed up, waiting for a response -- any response -- from my enigmatic companion. All my patience was rewarded soon after, when she gave a sigh and started speaking:
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A fresh tear dripped from her cheeks, down onto stone and gravel. Perhaps it was only me, but I felt a faint rumbling in the world around me, almost as if each nook and cranny was beginning to crumble down to its knees. It was scaring me a little. With good reason, of course. However, such a situation was not even a worthy excuse to back down now.

"I know," she uttered with a tremble. It was always there, the aura of worry that wafted over us; always had been since the first few days I was stuck here. She was worried that this inevitable day would come, that I would finally find the courage to leave her side and return to the world that needed me. She was worried that her dear Doctor would finally take his leave. "To think that he, of all ponies, would stay any longer... h-how stupid can you be, Twilight Sparkle..."

"Then you know what you need to do," I egged her on. "I want to go back, Twilight. I need to go back."

"What if I said no?"

"Twilight, this isn't about you or me only. This is, and always had been, about the fate of the living universe."

"It just so conveniently happens that I'm the creator of that universe."

"Twilight, this isn't the time for fun and games!" I raised my voice. "There's a way out of this. There was always a way out of everything. Right now, it's you. You're the key to saving us. Both of us."

Right as I said that, a bright light sparked up at the corner of my eye. Sparing a glance, I saw, dancing with a little raggedy doll at her window, a young Twilight Sparkle, twirling around and around like the ballroom dances in her dreams. "No," I scolded myself, shaking my head. "She's trying to distract you. You know better than that."

"In the beginning, there was nothing," I heard her speak. "All it took was a single spark and the entire universe came to be, only to be consumed after an eternity... RE... PEAT..."

I whirled around, finding the Twilight Sparkle before me, the creator of the universe, now glowering at me, tears running down her cheeks. She was sniffling softly, her hooves clenched. Her mane, depriving of color, was flowing slightly in a gentle breeze of her own making. What actually caught my eye, however, was right behind her: the sight of a younger me, bumping into her and her makeshift tower of books, the echoing sounds of a collapsing bibliotheca ringing in my ears. Thinking back, that was our first actual encounter, up close and persona-- no, no, NO!! I can't do this! Not now!

"They say one won't believe the same trick after seeing it twice," she spoke suddenly, making me pale in horror. "I beg to differ, Turner. Won't you agree as well?"
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"How long was I here, Twilight?" I gasped out my question. "H-How long?! Tell me, Twilight Sparkle!! How long was I here?!"

"Let me see... forty-two years this time... seven hundred and eighty-seven years."

Seven hundred and... this time... Celestia... this was not Twilight Sparkle I'm dealing with. This was the monster that the Order had created, the turbulent emotions and frustrations of an adolescent mare capsuled within the body of a deity, set to explode the moment I landed here. I knew for a fact it wasn't simple, but to use that, of all things, against me... it was cruel. Crueler than the machinations of the Weeping Angels or even the Daleks.

"What's the point of me being here, Twilight?!" I yelled at her. "I could be saving galaxies! I could be rescuing those in need! They stranded me here to stop me, made you do this against their will and you... you're doing this to me?!"

"Selfish! Selfish!! SELFISH!!!"

A blast of unseen magic threw me off my hooves, flying down the boulevard before skidding to a halt... wait, we're now somewhere in the empty space. Not distant apparently, as I spotted the giant ball of flame that is Princess Celestia's sun brightening up my vision. Just right above me, however, I could see an apparition of Twilight and myself peering out of the TARDIS, her face a mix of amazement and wonder.
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"That's Princess Celestia's sun..."

"Yep. The very same one. The one that we see in the sky."
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"YOU PROMISED, TURNER!! YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE ME HERE!!"

Hastily, I scrambled to pick myself up, standing on the invisible, bespangled plains as the Creator of the Universe stomped towards me, horns and watery eyes glowing a luminous white. This is bad. This is really, really bad. Certainly, this was not the first time I tried to break free and fight back, but that doesn't make it any more easier.

"We both knew this day would come eventually, Twilight!" I shouted, trying to knock some sense into her. "Everything must come to an end at some point!!"

"It d-doesn't have to!" she protested manically, her ferocity beginning to soften as she smiled again. "It doesn't have to... you don't need them anymore, don't you understand? It's over."

"Those ponies... all those lives I could save... they need me more than you will ever do!!"

That probably pushed the wrong button in her, as I found myself flying across the realm once again, feeling the rough surface of wood beneath me. We were in a corridor of sorts; quite an old one one too, from the looks of it. Twilight Sparkle was still there, denial replaced with anger. An incarnate of wrath and envy... two sins down, five to go, I guess. Stepping back against the window, I noticed an open doorway at my side, once again seeing the two of us in another conversation.
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"...if I lost you, imagine the consequences that it would bear to the world... I could never live with myself knowing that I left you to the angels to perish."

"B-But that still doesn't mean you have to blow up the entire house..."

"I know, I know... and I'm sorry."
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"You don't need me, Twilight Sparkle. You never did..."

"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW, TURNER?!!" she screamed, her horn flaring up once again, aiming it towards me. "YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING!! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONELY I WAS WHEN I WAS STUCK HERE THE WHOLE TIME!! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW BAD I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THERE!! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD SAVE ME, TURNER!! I THOUGHT YOU'LL COME IF I SCREAMED YOUR NAME, BUT YOU DIDN'T!! YOU NEVER CAME!!"

Immediately after that, I was spiraling out of the window again, the searing pain in my chest beginning to take its toll. This time, however, I found my face planted onto the cold surface of cement. With a grunt, I picked myself up, finding myself standing in complete darkness. That is, until a giant spotlight lit up suddenly in the distance. Trotting closer and squinting my eyes to get a better view, horror gripped me tightly by the throat when I saw what it presented to me.

It was Twilight Sparkle. No, not the one pursuing me. The one that I called my companion, the one that went missing in a morning like all the other mornings, abducted from her own bedroom and is now strapped down onto a desk by a few leather straps. She was struggling desperately, trying to free from her bonds until her hooves already were marked blue by bruises.

I don't know why...

Why I stood there, just gawking.

Never acting, never moving.

"S-Somepony... somepony save me!!" I watched her cry. "Somepony... Turner!! Turner, please--!!"

"The Doctor can't save you now, Twilight Sparkle."

The ominous voice, one belonging to a male, boomed in the darkness, loud enough to startle even yours truly. There is... something about it, however... I might be wrong, but I know I heard that voice somewhere before. Maybe it was the baritone sound, or maybe it was the lecherous tone. Nevertheless, it shaken the bounded Twilight by a tad bit, though it's not enough to stir away her defiance.

"Y-You're wrong!" she fought back. "The Doctor... he wouldn't leave me here!"

"Call him."

"Wh-What?"

"You said he would come if you call for him," the voice reiterated. "So call him, Twilight Sparkle. Don't you value your life?"

It took a moment for Twilight to process the words in her head. Her captor was requesting for her to call for help, staring deep down into her eyes. It was torturous, watching my companion fearfully opening her mouth, her lips trembling as her mind scrambled about to recover her words, yet all the effort resulted in a single, plaintive whimper.

"D-Doctor..."

"PATHETIC!!" the voice snapped suddenly, making her jump. "You're calling someone, at least put a little effort! AGAIN!!"

"D-Do..." Twilight squeaked, frozen in fear. "S-Save me, D-Docto--"

"Unbelievable little--"

Suddenly, a loud yelp rang through my ears, making me flinch in horror as the bound mare was smacked across the cheek, leaving a telltale bruise behind. That was enough to shatter her trembling composure, washing out in a flood of tears as Twilight Sparkle bawled for mercy. Watching her crying, squirming helplessly in her bonds and being treated like that... I feel myself brimming with rage. A flame that had not been kindled for a long time.

"Listen carefully, Twilight Sparkle," her captor demanded, grabbing her firmly by the chin. "This is how it works. You are to try your best to get the Doctor to hear you, so that he can come be the hero and save you. That's what the Doctor is right now. The hero. You, my dear, are the victim. Your life is at stake until your precious Doctor comes and saves the day. Do you understand?"

No response. To the malignant being, that sufficed as a response.

"Now then..." he began. "Try again."

Twilight couldn't help but comply. "D-Doctor!"

"Again!!"

"D-DOCTOR!!"

Another powerful smack across the cheek, enough to stun her for a second. Useless as I was, I watched her sniffling, writhing within her mental agony, her cries becoming audible as each moment passes. I would've done everything in my power to save her, I know I would, yet there I was, standing stiffer than a scarecrow in the field.

"LOUDER!!!" I heard the voice lash out. "LOUDER, YOU DISGRACE OF A MARE, LOUDER!!!"

"TURNER!!!" she hiccuped, sobbing uncontrollably. I was petrified at that moment, the period of Twilight being mentally broken and battered fossilized into my memory stream. She screamed my name out in desperation. There had been times like this, many times where she had been cornered and interrogated, yet she had never gave in. She always, always used my title, not my name, even if it wasn't the actual Gallopfreyan one. What they did to her... it was harsh enough to break that pact, surely it would be harsh enough to tear apart her mind.

"Turner, please... save me..." I hear her whimper in the dark, pining for hope that will never come "Save me..."

"In the beginning, there was nothing. All it took was a single spark and the entire universe came to be, only to be consumed after an eternity. Say it."

"I-In the beginning, there... th-there was nothing. All it t-took was a single spark... and t-the entire universe came to be, only to b-be consumed after an eternity."

"Repeat."

"In the beginning, there was nothing. All it took was a single spark..."

"and the entire universe came to be, only to be consumed after an eternity."

"Repeat."

I finished her sentence, the albescent waves of light liberating me from the confines of darkness and back into the pseudological streets of Canterlot, where every detail is carefully replicated save for a street lamp, courtesy of the creator standing before me. The faint dampness on her cheeks were still there, as was the bloodshot veins in her eyes. Here stands Twilight Sparkle, creator of the universe, known and unknown, but only a fragment of her former self.

"Twilight..." my voice echoed my laments. "There is a way out. A chance for you to change this. All of this."

"You can't change anything, Turner..." she denounced. "I tried. I tried to go back... but nothing can happen. Nothing will happen. Everything just goes around and around, the same thing over and over and over... I don't understand why..."

"I can explain it to you--"

"Why you keep insisting on going back!!"

Immediately, I dived to the side, narrowly dodging another spiraling bullet of magic that would've sent me flying off to another hundred miles or so. Gritting my teeth at her obstinacy, I quickly picked myself up and rushed to her before she could conjure up another fancy trick, gripping her tightly by her shoulders and staring her down. Of course, she didn't take it too kindly, her horn already flaring up in another attempt to retaliate.

"Trust me when I say that nothing will ever happen if you just sit here and idle while time just flies," I chastened. "I figured it out, Twilight. I knew it for a while now. A way to save you."

"You keep saying that..." she gasped underneath her breath. "But you know that never goes anywhere. It never has, it never will."

"That's because you never gave me the chance to for the past seven hundred and eighty-seven years."

The overwhelming sense of guilt she was feeling was evident when she turned away, refusing to meet my stern gaze. If it were any other pony stuck in this unfortunate situation, they would've been reduced to nothing but a fading pile of ash. Still, seven hundred years isn't a small number, even for a Time Lord.

"Do you remember what I said?" I asked her. "About how important you were?"

A meek nod. That should do for now.

"I'm here because you were important to not only me, but to other ponies as well. Your parents, your brothers, Princess Celestia... they personally asked me to look for you. Had your mother not come searching for me, I would never be here. Had the princess never permitted me to search for you, I would still be in Canterlot. Do you understand why I'm here now?"

Twilight Sparkle shook her head, her years of desolation clouding the answer.

"I'm here to bring you back, Twilight," I answered my own question. "I'm not here to save you, don't get me wrong. You never needed saving in the first place. I'm here to remind you of who you were. You had brothers, both who will protect you from danger in their own ways. You had a father who maps the stars and a mother who writes about stories in distant lands. You had a mentor who cared as much about you as she does about her own country, doing everything in her power to make sure you will not get hurt. Never mind me, Twilight; what about them? They were right beside you long before I was, Twilight. Don't you remember that life, Twilight Sparkle?"

"I... I... remember..."

Suddenly, all around us, emerging from the nothingness, were shadows. Faint, translucent figures that resembled faded shadows trotting about. As they grew further into clarity, those shadows began to blossom with color from bottom to top, the chattering of different voices pleasantly startling my ears. Soon enough, the streets of Canterlot, once empty with only us two, were being populated by ponies of all different shapes and sizes.

I watched in amazement, recognizing many of the faces I see in the crowd. Some of the colts and fillies from the school were here, along with one or two of the teachers. The cafes were now filled with customers, the staff elegantly serving delectable treats to those waiting eagerly. The parks leaked excitement from all the foals running about, watched over by each of their parents. Life had returned to the universe; for once, a genuine smile, ear to ear, grew on my face.

Amid all the hustle and bustle, my sharp ears caught a timid whimper; one that grew into a light sniffle, to a strained gasp, to a mild sob. I turned around, watching Twilight Sparkle crumble down to her knees, fresh tears springing out once again. This time, however much I perked my ears, the tone of desperation wasn't there anymore. What I hear instead was serenity, a sense of tranquility that I had not heard in, well, seven hundred and eighty-seven years. She held her head up, surprising me with a smile on her face.

One as genuine as mine.

I trotted towards her, helping her up even as she continued crying with a smile. The minute she was on her hooves, she immediately wrapped them around me, embracing me tightly as she sobbed into my chest. In turn, I gave her all the silence she needed, listening to her crying her pain away. There we were, standing in the middle of the Canterlotian street, hugging each other tightly as oblivious streams of ponies flow on by.

Life had returned to the universe; peace returned to its creator.

"Thank you... Turner..."
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It took a while.

Seven hundred and eighty-seven years, to be exact.

Being trapped in this suspended universe had given me a lot to look back upon. The lives I had come across with all the different faces I wore, some saying their goodbyes peacefully, some the center of a more tragic tale... time and time again, I was reminded of how both accomplished and tactless I can be. How I saved many, how I ended several, yet the lesser crowd always crammed my head with a snark. Few beings in this universe knew of such a reality. Most of them were my fellow friends, one or two becoming my sworn enemies.

Only one called me a stranger.

Her student was now sitting before me, recomposing herself.

It took Twilight Sparkle around fifteen minutes after returning to the white, immaculate universe from our foray in the replica of Canterlot. I watched her cry and considerately listened to her apologies for the first ten; the remaining five was just us sitting in a tranquil silence, her head resting on my shoulder as we reminisced on the could-haves and could-beens, muttering sweet nothings that eventually would become what it would literally mean.

"So..." she spoke first, ending those fifteen minutes. "What now?"

"Like I said, I found out how to get out of here," I said. "There is a way to stop this, which would be to save your before the Order could do anything harmful to you. In order to do so, I have to go back to the time when you were held prisoner. However, right now, going back would be a daunting task. First off, this universe could not possible exist. At least in corporeality."

"What do you mean?"

"You 'created' it, but the match wouldn't light without a spark. A big bang, per se."

I stood up, looking forward into the coruscate, hollow world. Somewhere in this white desert, there was a monument, a capsule of twisted metal, a steel flower of a cadaver. Had it been intact, many of you would call it a TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension-- you get the idea. I came here within that to a place that could only exist as a concept, yet when I arrived, it was real. Tangible.

"When I crashed landed here, the dimensions of the TARDIS were broken apart," I explained. "All the spatial and temporal energy contained within my ship blew apart. Your big bang. In the beginning, there was nothing, remember? All it took was a single spark..."

"... and the entire universe came to be," Twilight finished the sentence, eyes lighting up. "Everything was set for you the moment you landed here. When you decided that I was being held here, at the beginning of time, you set your course here. Then, and only then, this universe came to be. I began the creation of the universe, but you -- your TARDIS, specifically -- finished it."

"Exactly. Such a conceptual location -- the beginning of time -- does not exist. The destruction of the TARDIS were the first building blocks to the creation of this universe. I believe as well that it can be safe to assume that this universe we're trapped in was designed as a time loop."

"Repeat..." my companion uttered. "So there's the loop... but what's causing it?"

"In Stalliongrad, it was the Maretryoshka doll. In the Flambeaux household, it was the prized shotgun. Here, however... I believe the constant is the one thing that brings all of this together."

"The question..."

"Correct," I replied, a little impressed that she still has her wit despite all she had been through. "Where have you been... specifically, where have I been. This question, one that existed at the beginning and the end of time... we knew you asked it here, in the beginning of time... what about the end?"

"It comes after the universe is consumed by an eternity..." Twilight mused, remembering those words. "But... that can't be right. What is the end of eternity anyway?"

"The beginning." I almost laughed at the perplexed look that she was giving me, though I held it in. "Normally, in a conventional situation, such an end does not exist," I elaborated. "That is, if we were actually in a conventional situation, not to say a conventional universe. Of course, that does not seem to be case now, doesn't it?"

"We're in a time loop..."

"Yes."

"So the end will ultimately loop back to the beginning!"

"Correct once again," I chuckled. "Now, the hard part of this is breaking the loop. In order to that, I require the TARDIS. Thankfully, this universe was technically built with its energies, so we have the power source down. The only problem now is routing that power, concentrating it to transport itself through time and space with everything intact..."

"You think I can do it, don't you?"

However eager she was for my proposal, I could see the reluctance brimming in her eyes. It was true, she was the only one capable of doing so, being the so-called 'Creator' of the universe. Her powers, as displayed, were immense, possessing even more capabilities than my TARDIS could ever perform. In conclusion, she was the incarnation of the TARDIS and she doesn't know that yet.

"Just think about it, how did you get here?"

"I... I'm not sure how it worked..." Twilight mumbled, her expression darkening. "The Order had this... some sort of device...it somehow increased my magic capacity to the peak point... so much that I could take in enough energy that may rival that of Princess Celestia. Maybe even more."

"That's how you were able to exist here."

Think of it like our bodies exerting pressure. When there is lesser pressure pushing outwards within our body, the external pressure from the environment would crumble us in, which would make ponies a sagging pile of flesh or even worse, having our innards squeezed out from every orifice. Likewise, if there's lesser pressure outside of the environment, our body's inner pressure would expand, having us probably explode into a really gruesome confetti. Either way, it's as disgusting as an existence gets.

Now replace pressure with time energy, then we shall have the reason why Twilight's existence -- and perhaps mine as well -- doesn't collapse or explode. It's a give and take scenario, simply put. When Twilight's magical capacity was pushed to the peak, which I admit would be a staggering one, she ascended to a higher plane of existence. A concept, to put into perspective. Guess what else is a concept?

That's right: the very universe we were standing in.

Twilight's universe was a conceptual one, with a conceptual creator overseeing it. However, it couldn't have existed physically if it weren't for the TARDIS. With her magical capacity being heightened to such a degree, it's only understandable if she and the universe absorbed a grand proportion of it to balance out the magic of the universe, making it a world where life could exist. That's why I could exist as well, because the energy within and around me was balanced thanks to Twilight's inadvertent doing. All of this information was conveyed to Twilight, who looked at me, awed and a little confused, but blinking with realization when all the pieces were put into place.

"So I'm... the TARDIS?"

"It would seem so," I replied. That was how she can have the power to move about from place to place in a blink of an eye. That was how she could traverse through time and space, bringing up events and locales from different locations all together. The TARDIS could only travel, but to an extent, she has the power to manipulate it, like how she tried to distract me by presenting our past conversations, or how she can change a few details of a landscape. Any major change that could affect the course of time would be too much for a loop of time to handle, especially those that involved paradoxes, which explains why she couldn't go back.

"With you being the TARDIS, it would mean that you can bring me back to where I was supposed to be," I further explained. "The plan is simple. With all your energy used as magic, you can conjure a spell that would direct me back to the universe that I came from. However, because I'm jumping to another universe, technically another plane of existence, there will be repercussions."

Newton's third law. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

"With such an amount of time energy required to break through the barrier between universes, there will be a rebound. In the beginning, there was nothing. Considering we're in a time loop -- thus, repeat -- we would ultimately end up in that beginning. Physics-wise, if we succeeded in breaking that barrier, however, it would only mean one thing."

"This universe... the reality of it... will collapse into nothing... consumed after an eternity..."

I nodded grimly. It didn't take a second for her to figure out what it meant.

"When this world collapses, I'll go along with it..." she muttered to herself, loud enough for me to hear. A long moment of silence settled in, the two of us stuck at that very foreboding thought. In order to succeed, to go back as planned, the creator must give her life. To break the loop, it all comes down to her. Never had I tasked anypony to do such a severe, fatal task. In fact, I never wanted to do so.

"So..." she spoke up suddenly, her voice evidently trembling. "It all c-comes down to this, huh?"

"I'm sorry, Twilight."

"No, no, d-don't..."

There was fear. The most primal fear of all fears, one that the concept itself was based on. The fear of death, a commonplace one, yet be it a farmer or the creator of the known universe, it transcends all of space and time. You can call it a constant, really, but it was one that could not be measured in numbers or symbols. No, this was a constant of an organic kind, the natural instinct to survive, for the fear of death was its mother. This wasn't like the fear I held for seven centuries. This wasn't the fear of losing the one pony that mattered to me. No, this was true fear, one seated at the very essence of it.

"Turner..." Twilight whimpered suddenly, looking at me. "I'm scared..."

"It's okay. You have every right to be," I tried my best to assure her. "I know I'm asking a lot from you. In fact, this time, I'm asking a little too much..."

"I-It's fine," Twilight said with a weak smile. "Just... think of it as repaying a favor. Seven hundred years of companionship is a lot to ask as well, right?"

The two of us laughed, trying to make light of the situation we were in. Of course, that was quick to pass, both of us plagued with worry and anxiety. I wanted to find another way out of this, I really do. There was a reason I procastinated. Even if it was for another ten years, I would gladly do so. I would gladly wait another seven hundred years if I had to. I really don't want to do this. Anything but this.

I don't want to end the life of a dear companion for my sake.

"What will happen to me?" she asked. "After all this and the universe collapses... what about me?"

"The time energy that you directed will converge through the barrier and I would be back in the TARDIS, if everything goes as planned," I hypothesized. It was just a theory, for I had never been to a conceptual universe before. First time for everything, as the saying goes. For this case, however, it would be the last. I hope it would remain that way. "As for you yourself... I don't really know..."

"Would it hurt?"

"Chances are that it won't."

There was fear, the fear of death. With fear, however, comes the means to overcome it. With fear comes courage. Now and here, in this moment, there will never be a greater moment of courage than the one Twilight was bolstering right now. Soon enough, after a few solemn minutes, she was ready, more than I could ever, ever be.

"Well then," I said, hesitantly sticking out my hoof as I sighed, mostly to myself. "It's... been nice knowing you, Twilight Sparkle."

"Off to see an old friend, I presume?" Her lips broke into a knowing smile as I nodded, her eyes twinkling with an amount of wit. "Well then, she must be a very important friend of yours."

"Yes..." I echoed, reciprocating with a grin. "A very important one indeed..."

"Tell her I said hi."

"I will, Twilight Sparkle. I will."

A crackle and zap from her horn lit up the universe, my eyes quickly being shielded by my hooves as Twilight's horn started to flare up. Underneath my shield, I could make out a swirling, spiraling ribbon of energy around her horn, poised directly at me. When she opened her eyes, I could see her tears returning, which only serve to make my eyes water as well. The world shook and rumbled around us, the searing white enveloping me so much that I could barely see her smiling back at me. I wanted to scream back at her, to say how sorry I am for putting her through this. She seemed to know, for she shook her head before I had the chance to open my mouth.

"It's okay, Turner!" she shouted over the maelstorm of noises. "It's okay... it's okay..."
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Those words echoed into my head, silence embracing me tight despite all the chaos happening around me. All the noise died down into silence, my ears treated to a sensational calm. I watched as her flowing tears were swept away in the violent tides of air, her smile the focus of my enrapturement. Time seemed to slow down around me as I looked at her, amazed by what I'm seeing. She looked so beautiful... so enchanting, even more so than the past centuries of being around her.

"I'm sorry, Twilight..." I let it out. "I'll save you from this! I'll make sure I'll save you this time! I promise!"

"I just said it was okay, worrywart..." she chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I'll be fine, Turner. You go on ahead."

"Just... one more thing before I go," I asked her hurriedly. Already her figure was being eaten away, the world around her fading into darkness. She would soon go along with it, I knew that from the get-go, but there was one more thing I had to do. One that would determine her fate. One more thing that had been asked at the beginning by her when I arrived, to which I shall do the same to her when I depart from this world.
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"Where have you been?"

Her answer mirrored the question: sweet and simple, yet perplexing in its own way.

"You'll know it when you see it."

The question, asked at the beginning and end of time, the first question ever asked, was finally answered. Those thoughts lingered on my mind, as I feel myself leaving. In fact, through the dark cracks of the world, I could see the inklings of my precious TARDIS returning to me. Overjoyed as I may be, I hear her voice amid the collapsing universe; her final words that were uttered she faded along with her universe, ceasing to open her eyes again.
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It was as if it never existed.

Almost as if it only happened in one's mind.

Some of you might know of the term 'paracosm'. By definition, a paracosm is an imaginary world created within one's mind, detailed enough to involve things within and beyond reality. Some of the more complicated ones include their own geography, history, ecology and culture; the manifestation of a corral for creativity running rampant. Most paracosms were experienced in childhood, though some would stay and eventually become the setting for famous books. It would seem otherworldly, surreal even, such an experience from a child. I won't be surprised though; the young mind is ever exuberant and expressive.

Perhaps I was in a paracosm then. Twilight Sparkle's, to be exact. If we negated the expense of energy, she was a creator that would've designed the world to her own liking. I could imagine her to create stories like her mother would, or map the universe like her father did. She would firmly protect it like her brothers would do to her and rule over it fairly like her tutor was ruling over Equestria.

Sadly, in the real world, physics would never allow such a thing.

Such was the ephemeral existence of her universe; quick to build, quick to disappear.

When I came to, lying in the middle of the TARDIS, I was thinking about how surreal the experience was. Heading to the beginning of time, staying there for a languid seven hundred and eighty-seven years, coming back while leaving the creator behind to fade into nothingness... it was like waking up from a bad dream, except you knew it actually happened. Looking at the time, half an hour barely passed since I left to save Twilight, only to come back to where I was. Why was I here, I wondered. Why bring me back?

For a moment, I thought I had failed. I really thought that I lost her. It took me a while to remind myself why I was here: to prevent all of it from ever happening in the first place. The damage had been done to the other universe, so aside from my jumbled memory, no crises arising from paradoxes in the future. Still, what if I really did lose her?

"Don't say that!" I rasped at my miserable thoughts. "No, wait... Twilight knew where she was, so if she brought me back here..."

"You've redecorated."

Jumping at the voice, I sighed a deep, calming sigh when I saw the TARDIS doors opened, Princess Celestia standing at the doorway. She gave me that detestable smirk of hers as she trotted in with scrutiny. Even a pony with a mind akin to a doornail can tell that this wasn't the first time she saw the inside of my ship. In fact, this would be her seventh, if my memory does not fail me.

"I must say," she unleashed her assessments, wrinkling her snout. "At least you made an attempt."

"Harsh."

"The truth hurts sometimes," was her audacious reply, chuckling at my raised eyebrow. "Don't worry, Doctor. I came here alone, knowing you and your privacy. The last thing we both need is some of the royal guards losing their marbles over your ship. Well then. Did you find Twilight?"

"Yes and no."

Hurrying out of the doors, the earthy smell of freshly-cut grass hitting my nose;. I was definitely back in one of Canterlot's pristine parks. Time is ticking, the fate of a very important mare now rests in my hooves. All I needed to know now was where she was being held captive. Judging from how dark it was, it must be one of the many buildings in the city. A concrete floor would mean it was one of the more industrial buildings and not the typical household. Still, we're talking about Equestria's capital here.

"Twilight's somewhere in this town," I went straight to the point. "I don't know when, but she would soon be experimented upon, Your Highness."

Immediately, the alicorn's visage was skewered into a grim frown. "Where is she right now?" she questioned. "Turner, where is she?"

"I'm afraid I have no idea."

Princess Celestia cursed underneath her breath. It wasn't rare, seeing the princess curse, I mean. You should've seen her in her younger days, running her mouth with language so colorful it puts sailors and rainbows to shame. Not that rainbows actually were capable of cursing whatsoever, but you get the idea.

"You have no idea," she began quizzically. "Yet somehow you seem certain that she's in this town."

During our journey across many of Canterlot's streets, I quickly briefed her on my experience in the strange universe, leaving a few parts out such as the fact that Twilight tried to trap me there for seven hundred years, or the fact that I spent seven hundred years romantically with her, or the fact that she used her magic against me when I tried to leave. Okay, maybe not just a few: I probably withheld almost all of my experiences from the princess. Not that she really needs to know about it anyway.

"Well, did she say something before you leave?" Princess Celestia inquired. "Something that may tell us where she may be?"

"There is one thing..." I said, remembering those words. "She mentioned that I'll know it when I see it. That was the only clue she gave me."

"See what?"

I didn't reply. Well, I wanted to reply, but I couldn't. Rather, my voice was caught in my throat, my eyes glued to a most peculiar sight on the street. No, it wasn't a lonely, sticky island of mud on the roadside with hints of grass. No, it wasn't the couple having a verbal fight in the corner of the street. In fact, it wasn't anything extraordinary at a second glance. It would never compare to all the planets and stars I have seen and visited, yet... in this situation, it exceeded them entirely.

I saw an ordinary, black iron, farola fernandina Canterlotian street lamp.

One which, unlike its brethren, had the glass encasing its crystalline source of light tinted brown.

"Twilight, you brilliant mare..."
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It all happened in a split second.

Just a moment ago, I was with the princess in one of Canterlot's more industrial districts. Now, I'm standing in one of the many wooden warehouses in said district, looking around the recesses as I trotted around wooden stilts and across the concrete floor. Around the wide expanse were the royal guard, scouring throughout the warehouse's darkest recesses and retrieving what seemed to be books, flags and other items worthy of a spiritual procession. In the center of it all, lit by a single lamp hanging from the ceiling, was a steel table with belts for straps: the same table I saw Twilight being held down upon. The same table that resigned her to her fate.

It was by sheer, dumb luck that we found this place. After assembling her guards and sealing off the streets, a swift raid was launched upon the district. When they found this warehouse, the ponies (which I presumed were from the Order of the Triskelion) were already midway in their procession, apparently waiting for the arrival of the 'foreigner'. Whoever it may be, I'm certain they bore the deep, booming voice that broke my companion in. One day, I told myself begrudgingly. One day.

"Doctor?" I heard my name being called, turning around to see Twilight's brother, Sergeant Shining Armor, standing before me. He was relieved, to say the least, finding out her sister was safe and all. I believe their parents would be as well. Of course, aside from that, there was also a hint of trouble. "The princess said you might want to take a look at this."

With a nod, I permitted him lead to the way, bringing me to a dark corner of the room. Princess Celestia, who had been overseeing the operation a minute ago, was now there, scrutinizing what came across to me as a gigantic needle attached to a robotic arm, with wires coiling around the insides and connected to a small glowing generator. Rapt as I was, I managed to step forward, obviously admiring its nuts and bolts. This was a beauty, I found myself thinking. A piece of technology that no pony could've done, yet the Order possessed it.

"Thank you, Sergeant Armor. Leave us for now," I hear the princess say, finding her standing next to me. "Well then, what do you think of this?"

"What was it for?"

"According to some of the guards, Twilight's captors were pointing this at her when they found her."

"They were trying to enhance her magic capacity," I found the answer, to which Princess Celestia began to grimace. "It was how they managed to gather enough energy to bring Twilight to a higher plane of existence. To turn Twilight into an idea. A concept rooted in everypony's minds."

"The concept of magic."

"I believe so," I agreed, looking across the machine's body. Towards the base, however, I saw what seemed to be an array of various circles and patterns. At first glance, it seemed like some sort of star chart, perhaps for the galaxy and such, but upon closer inspection, I knew, deep down in the darkest parts of my heart, what it was, however much I don't want to admit it. "This... this is..."

"What is it?"

"It's Gallopfreyan. The language of the Time Lords."

"The language of your planet..." Princess Celestia mused. Having known each other throughout history, it was no surprise that she knew many, many things about me. At least, more than the average pony would know. The stories of my planet were no exception. She knew about its birth, about its system of rule and parts of culture, even its history that ended with its eventual downfall. She knew as much as I knew about her, which was considerably a lot. "What does it say, Doctor?"

What it said... it bothered me to no end. "Hello," I translated those taunting words, gritting my teeth.

"Is it me you're looking for?"
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I had a long talk with Princess Celestia.

It was the longest conversation I had with her so far in this reincarnation, mostly defending myself from her accusations and disregarding any possibilities of me concocting the elaborate plan. She was desperate, I understood that. In the end, we never knew who it was, but we both agreed that the 'foreigner' was behind all this. The foreigner that greeted me in his absence.

After that, I came upon Sergeant Shining Armor again, this time requesting to see his sister. He was hesitant to answer at first, but it took a little reassurance and a promise of a corn dog to convince an answer out of him, With that, plus a parting advice of not being too harsh on her, I set off, leaving the warehouse and heading down the road.

Twilight Sparkle was sitting at the edge of one of the esplanades, overlooking the lower districts of the town. My heart warmed, a little happy to see my companion like this again, not worn down by loneliness, age or fear that her form of the Creator possessed. I slowly approached her, a little nervous. What should I say, I wondered to myself. Something nice, something quirky, something lively... all of those choices cycled around rapidly in my mind. By the time I seated down next to her... let's say I went with the one from the 'something obvious' shelf.

"You alright?" I asked her.

"Fine, fine... just fine..." she muttered, trembling just a little. Blinking some fresh tears away, my companion stared ahead, down into the distance and beyond the horizon. The setting sun was shining on her face, her expression frozen as if in shock. Trauma was dancing visibly, trampling with a tango across her spirit. It was strong and merciless; cruel and unforgiving. It blemished her with tears, replaying in her head over and over again. "Just needed a little time alone..."

"Your brother mentioned the medics saying you were not injured."

"Recovering from shock..." Twilight corrected. "But yes, fine... just shaky and a little paranoid, maybe."

"Ah... that's great, that. I was hoping that you would be fine after--"

"Turner."

Cutting me short, Twilight turned to stare at me, eyes shimmering almost pleadingly.

"Y-Yes, Twilight?" I stuttered.

"Am I... selfish?"

Selfish. The word that I was bombarded with for an innumerable amount of times, courtesy of the mare talking to me. Never had she called herself selfish before. At least, never in front of me. For a moment, I was speechless, unable to form something cohesive to answer that. Shaking her head with a derisive chuckle, Twilight turned away, angry at herself.

"Just admit it, I'm selfish, aren't I?" she cried. "Yes, I was. This whole time... I'm the selfish one..."

"B-But you didn't do anything selfish, Twilight," I tried my best. "At least, not to me!"

"Right, because you showed my so much of the universe whereas I just kept all my stories to myself! Because I just wanted to be in that ship of yours to explore the entire universe, all for the sake of my knowledge and understanding! Because I wanted to figure out the answer to that stupid question without your help, all because I wanted to prove how useful that a small little mare like me could be. Because I got myself abducted and was nearly killed, all because I couldn't tell you the truth!!"

I was stunned, as if struck by five bolts of lightning while her tidal wave of confessions stormed my mind. Twilight was panting and heaving, tears audibly dripping onto the pavement.

"Solomon told me something before he died," she said, dredging up the past. "He said that you were the most selfless pony he had ever met... that you were willing to risk your life saving those in need. So much that you became selfish when they said no... why..."

"Why... what?"

"Why do you have to do this?"

For that question, I had my answer pretty easily. "Because I wanted to. It's my duty, my responsibility as the Doctor to save those in need, regardless of whether they want to be saved or not. Always had been, always will be."

What came next threw me off further than the brakes of the TARDIS ever did.

Immediately, Twilight Sparkle yanked me forward into our kiss, our lips meeting for the very first time. I just stared at first, wide-eyed, confused, terrified... I was feeling everything! In the end, I completely gave in, my eyes closing as I relished this moment along with her. I could feel it, the warmth of her lips thrashing against mine, the sensations exploding throughout my body, her hooves embracing me as if she was hanging off the edge... I had never felt more alive than before.

We broke off after several seconds, leaving me agape and Twilight just blushing furiously to herself. It was unprecedented, yet I knew it was genuine. I looked at her, too surprised to even begin. Even on her end, It took a few moments of silence to actually hear her speaking up for herself.

"I'm sorry..." she whimpered. "I... It was... just me being selfish again..."

"You weren't being selfish, Twilight," I stopped her disdainful words, trying to make sense of what happened. "How... how long... well..."

"A week after our visit to the sun."

"But the promise... you said no to the--"

"I know I did, Turner, I know!" she yelped. "It's just... I don't know what to do! I just... I didn't know if I..."

"You don't know if you're ready."

A meek nod from her was all it needed to make me smile. Without sparing a second thought, I pulled her in for another kiss, to which she accepted wholeheartedly. This one was longer, more sensual, more uplifting, her hoof around my waist, my hoof running down her tousled mane... it was as if time was suspended for us, to allow us to enjoy the moment we were sharing. I didn't even notice myself falling backwards onto the pavement, our lips still connected as I landed with a thud, Twilight lying on top of me.

We broke it off again, this time with Twilight looking at me. She's still exceptionally beautiful despite her ordeal, her face basked in the warm orange glow of the sunset. Her eyes were gleaming, her tears now brimming with joy. A small chuckle flew out of her mouth as she hugged me tight, nuzzling me even as my face turned a slight blue.

"Thank you... Turner..."

"For?"

"For giving this selfish mare a chance," she muttered, resting her head on my chest. "I wouldn't know what to do if you didn't..."

"You're a brilliantly smart mare," I answered, grinning. "You'd find a way, with or without me. Just... promise me not to do anything like that again."

Twilight gave me a warm chuckle.

"Promise."

A tranquil silence befell upon Twilight Sparkle and I, the two of us enjoying the peace and each other's company. It had been a long journey, fighting through time loops and existential questions and conceptual universes and a few arguments perhaps, but we're finally here. It was certainly wonderful, all those times I spent with my companion. How far we had come from thirty-four feet across the window, I would say.

"So..." Twilight began rather awkwardly. "I'm your marefriend now..."

"Not really. You're not my marefriend, Twilight. I'm your coltfriend."

"Ugh, Turner..." she deadpanned, shaking her head as I convulsed with laughter. "You know, I need time to get used to this. Your eccentric behavior, your overly-inflated ego, your time travelling, your terrible jokes, your overly-inflated ego--"

"You mentioned 'overly-inflated ego' twice."

"Statistically accurate. Besides, if I don't, it'll ruin the fun," Twilight quipped with a grin. "Let's see... tomorrow, after school at Daisy's?"

"Consider it done. Do you want a serving of some timey-wimey adventuring with that?"

"Hmm... lemme think about it..."

"Come on, Twilight."

"Oh, alright," she sighed. "It'll get boring if it's all the same anyway."

I grinned knowingly at her reply.

"So... it's a date then?"

"That's my line," she giggled, smiling back. "Also, yes. It's a date."

Well then, this has been one heck of a day. Twilight Sparkle being abducted, me travelling back to the beginning of time and coming back after seven centuries, me saving Twilight from her fate and now, we're already planning our first date. I couldn't help but smile gleefully, looking back at the mess that happened prior to this. What happens next, I wonder to myself. Whatever it was, I'm really, really looking forward to it.

"Just... one more thing," Twilight snapped me out of my thoughts. "How did you know I was being held there?"

"Oh, that..."

I turned back to look at a special street lamp: a single mistake put on display by a creator in another universe; a marker to guide me where I wanted to go. Should I tell her, I wonder, about the alternate universe I've been to just to save her. After thinking for a while, I decided not to. Procrastination, you may call it. Maybe I'll get back onto it in, say, seven hundred and eighty-seven years?

"Somebody told me," I said softly, smiling to myself.

"Who was it?" she asked, to which I answered:

"An old friend."
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