The Doctor goes to the coordinates Twilight gave him and finds himself in a place he shouldn't be, meeting an old enemy who should be long dead.
The Doctor lands in Canterlot on a certain Alicorn's wedding day.
Now he must find a way to accomplish his goal without breaking the first law of time. Which is even more difficult when he realizes that he isn't sure what his goal is...
The fools had tried to take his diamond, the diamond that he found near that crack in the Hive's wall. They couldn't have it. It was his. It spoke to him. It told him of all the wonderful things he would accomplish.
And the drums. It gave him the drums.
He soon found himself falling into blackness.
He found himself alone in a void. Blackness on every side. He also expected silence but there was none.
Just the drums. Louder than ever before.
"Weak fool," hissed a weak voice. "Pathetic failure. I am ashamed to call you my counter part...."
"Who goes there?" R'Stame hissed back. "Who are you?"
"You have no idea the pain it brings me to say that we are you," another, much clearer voice rang out.
"Show yourselves!" R'Stame hissed.
Over thirty figures stepped out of the shadows. Only five caught R'Stame's eye.
There were two that were very similar. Two tall bipedal creatures wearing black suits and sporting beards. One looked slightly younger than the other.
Another had slicked back gray hair and wore a leather jacket.
Another was shorter than the rest, clean cut, and skinny.
But the fifth...
The fifth was the one who had spoken first. He looked like something out of a horror story. He seemed to be just bone shrouded in a black robe. Moss seemed to be growing on him. He stared at R'Stame with cold dead eyes.
All of these things here were the same creature. The one in the middle was this creatures true essence.
"You know our name," hissed the essence. "Don't you Changeling?"
A word appeared in R'Stame's mind. This... thing's name.
"I'll see myself dead before I call you-"
"What you call yourself fool," the creature hissed. "You are us. You always have been. It took a nudge to get you here but the drums have called you to us. Choose. There are over thirty of us here, and we all await your choices. You know what we are. You know why we are here. You have no other choice.
"Change yourself, Changeling."
R'Stame thought for a moment, not very long. He realized that it was either this, or oblivion.
He made his choices, and woke up.
The three Changeling muggers looked on in awe as there victim took on an intense orange glow. He cried out. His voice deepening in the middle of his scream.
After that, there was a moment of silence, finally broken by a cold cruel laugh.
"Oh," R'Stame said. "Oh that is splendid. I haven't seen a mirror yet though, I'm not sure what I look like. Though that's the advantage of this body isn't it? I can have-"
He shapeshifted. "Any face I want." He did it again to a new form. "Any time I want." Once again. "Regeneration on command." One more time. "No fuss, no muss."
He went back to his normal Changeling form. "Though I like this face better, I think. It... suits me."
"What in Tartarus is wrong with you R'Stame?" the gang leader asked.
"That is not my name," their former victim hissed fiercely. "Not anymore."
"Then what is?" the mugger asked again.
"I am generally referred to as the Master," he said cooly.
The mugger let out a sharp laugh. "Is that so?"
The being who called himself 'Master' whipped around to reveal that his once lime green eyes had turned burning red. "Universally."
With that, a red magical aura wrapped around the leaders neck. The energy lifted him up into the air, all the while he was struggling and gasping for breath.
With a sickening snap it was all over.
The Master stared into the souls of his other two attackers, who immediately fell under his trance. "You two are coming with me," he said firmly. "I want to speak to our lovely Queen."
They had been playing this game since there were games to play.
He and his adversary had been waging this war for millennia. Each one using a new tactic each time the game restarted. New pieces, new board, new rules, but it was always the same game.
And he always won. Though it was close. It was always to close.
So this time he put his faith in the Doctor. He had helped him before. Maybe he could end this game before his opponent had even started.
But it was too late.
His adversary and thrown his own pawn into the game
The TARDIS was cruising to its mystery destination, all the while the Doctor was pretending not to be nervous.
Twilight had made everything different by saying what she did just before the five ponies left Minos. "Time Lord, you are not alone."
He had heard those words once before from a very different source. The Face of Boe said that exact thing just before...
No. No it couldn't be. He couldn't be here.
She also seemed to be treating the Doctor as a much closer friend than he actually was to her. As if they went through something together that had brought them closer. That hadn't happened, at least not yet.
And then there was something else...
Since the Doctor had been made manifest in Equestria things had been happening. Little coincidences that, when taken alone, could've been chalked up to very rare good luck, but taken together...
The Doctor didn't like this. He was being manipulated. Someone was pushing him along to get him exactly where they wanted him to be and that more than anything else was unsettling. The Doctor wasn't one to be easily manipulated.
"Where're we headed anyhow?" Applejack asked.
"I don't know!" the Doctor smiled.
"Whaddya mean you don't know?" Applejack shouted. "You came out of that buildin' like a bat outta Tartarus and said we had to get to these coordinates right now, and you don't even know what'll be there when we get there?"
"Yup!" the Doctor said cheerfully. "Not a clue. Makes it a bit exciting, don't you think?"
"No," Applejack said firmly. "You didn't look to excited when we left."
"Oh, I'm excited." the Doctor smiled. "I may not be happy but-"
The Doctor was interrupted by the sound of three fillies singing along to a record in one of the back rooms.
"Don't care of you do cause it's understood, you ain't got no money you're just no good!" Sweetie Belle sang along to the record.
"Well I guess if you say so!" Scootaloo sang along with Ray Charles. "I'll have to pack my things and go!"
"That's right!" sang Apple Bloom.
"Oi!" the Doctor protested, running into the room and stopping the record before they launched into the chorus. "Who said you could touch these, eh?"
"But Doctor!" Apple Bloom said. "That was really cool music..."
"Well of course it was, it was Ray!" the Doctor smiled. "Nice bloke he was, bit of a ladykiller but..."
"Did that come from the other Doctor's universe?" Scootaloo asked.
The Doctor led the three fillies into the main control room. "Yep, and you can listen to it later. Right now, if I'm not mistaken...." the TARDIS ground to a halt. "We're here! Wherever here is."
"Well," Applejack said. "What're we waiting for?"
"Indeed!" The Doctor marched briskly toward the door, but stopped just short of opening it. "Ah..."
"What?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Something Twilight said," the Doctor said nervously. "She said that what lies beyond this door is going to make me panic. It's going to make me want to send the four of you home and handle this alone. Something past this door is going to make me think it is unacceptable for you to come with me. She said I couldn't. She said you have to be here."
"Darn right!" Apple Bloom smiled.
"There's no way you could do what you need to without us!" Sweetie Belle squeaked.
"And besides, Doc," Scootaloo said smugly. "We'd find a way back, anyway."
"And there is no way I'm lettin' you do this without me!" Applejack snapped. "The only thing I trust for you to do on your own is fly this rust bucket! And even then..."
"You've made your point..." the Doctor smiled. "Alright! No sense wasting time, is there! Let's see what land of horrible twisted nightmares we've landed in! Avanti!"
The Doctor flung the door wide open.
He was greeted by white. White everywhere. A white street. White walls. White flowers. The one thing that broke up the monotony was a long red carpet that had been lain out on the main street leading all the way up to a great big palace on a hill, peices were cut out of it sloppily with scissors.
There were banners on almost every wall each bearing two initials woven in gold. "S C"
"This looks like..." The Doctor looked around. "A coronation? Or maybe just a royal parade, but what's the occasion? These people are highly excited to see whoever it is who visited. Look at the carpet! People have been taking souvenirs. The only thing I've ever seen get people this excited is either a coronation or..."
"A wedding," Sweetie Belle looked suddenly horrified.
"You noticed too?" Scootaloo asked.
"Deja Vu..." Apple Bloom was stunned.
"Which one?" Applejack asked frantically. "Is this the second one or-"
"It's gotta be the first one sis, the red carpet's still out..." Apple Bloom answered.
"First what?" The Doctor was confused. "Wedding for who?"
"Doctor," Applejack turned toward the Doctor and stared straight into his soul. "We have to get to the palace now. We can stop this before it starts!"
"Oh no," The Doctor realized all at once what was happening. "You four have been here before, haven't you? Somewhere in this city you four are here not suspecting a terrible thing is going to happen."
"This is Cadence and Shinin' Armors wedding!" Applejack shouted. "And he's about to get trapped by-"
"I know," the Doctor nodded. "This is the day of the Changeling invasion of Canterlot. This is the Rain of Green Fire. You all took part in it. You were all here."
"That's right!" Applejack shouted starting toward the castle. "There maybe still time to tell'em Twi was right before-"
She was stopped by the Doctor's hoof on her shoulder.
"Oh she was right," the Doctor said quietly. "You four are going home, now."
"This day is going to be perfect, the kind of day in which I dreamed..." the mare who was using the shape of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was singing softly to herself when her most trusted adviser came in the room.
"Majesty," came his smug voice. The visitor was enshrouded in blood red flame before revealing his true form, a changeling with burning red eyes.
"Ah R'Stame!" she smiled back. "You have news?"
"Yes majesty," the Changeling smiled at his puppet. "All is ready. Our subjects are chipping away at the Shield Spell as we speak. It shouldn't take us long. Give it twenty four hours."
"And then Canterlot falls..." The false bride let out a slow cruel laugh.
"Majesty?" the red-eyed Changeling asked. "A word about our arrangement? If I am to succeed it is imperative that no damage comes to the central spire. I need that vantage point if I am to complete my work..."
"Always thinking of science," Chrysalis giggled. "You never find any fun do you? Yes, R'Stame. Celestia's sun will be unguarded, and you will have the vantage point you need. I still don't understand why you need it though..."
"To best serve your majesty," the silver tongued Changeling replied.
Chrysalis let out a laugh. "So you've said! I must go, the groom wants me to meet his sister. The little brat could be trouble..."
Chrysalis left the room. Now her adviser was left alone.
He tapped his hoof four times on the floor.
"I meant every word," he hissed. "Nothing can best serve you like the pathetic parasitic life you lead being snuffed out as early as possible. Then finally I can be free again. I can leave this pathetic little planet and see what else this bold new universe has to offer me."
Tap tap tap tap.
"And he's arrived. He's here. The drumming has gotten louder. Excellent. Help me, old friend. Help me answer the question. The question that has joined the Drums. The question that has been burning my mind since we last met. The one I've been hearing over and over and over and over again...
The Doctor dragged AJ into the TARDIS by her ear. "Come on!" he insisted.
"Ouch!" Applejack protested. "What the hay was that for?"
"You're going home," the Doctor said firmly. "All of you. I can't believe Twilight tried to send me here with you. This transgresses the first law of time!"
"And what exactly is that?" Applejack asked.
"You're not allowed to cross your own time stream," the Doctor said firmly. "The one rule I've never broken."
Applejack shot the Doctor a dry look.
"Alright, I've broken it three or four times," the Doctor said. "But it was never my idea!"
The Cutie Mark crusaders rushed in to the TARDIS. "But Doctor, you can't!" Sweetie Belle protested.
"Twilight said you'd want to send us home, but you couldn't!" Scootaloo added.
"I know but..." the Doctor trailed off. "I know..."
"So...?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I don't like this," the Doctor said. "Someone who knows much more than I do is pushing me into awkward situations. This is bad for two reasons. One: I don't like being used, and two: there are very few people who know more than I do, and they're either evil or very, very fussy. Neither of which I want to deal with right now..."
The Doctor looked up at the TARDIS ceiling. "Alright, you! I know you can hear me or at lest know what I'm saying! We need to have a little talk, you and I! At the end of this you meet me here, in this control room and we'll have a bit of a chinwag, eh? We'll talk as time displaced beings do, and you'll tell me what you want. Otherwise I'll take a seat in this TARDIS and refuse to move until you decide it's worth letting me know what's going on!"
There was a silence in the TARDIS after that.
"I'm going to take that deafening silence as a yes!" the Doctor called out. "Meet me here when I'm done!"
"So," Applejack began. "Are we comin'?"
"Yes," the Doctor said reluctantly. "You're coming, but you are not going to make anything happen too early. Things are going to happen exactly as they did last time, and we're just going to stay in the background. Understood."
"I..." Applejack started to protest but trailed off. "Yeah..."
"Swear," the Doctor said firmly. "This is the most important promise you will ever make with anyone, ever. I want you to make the most powerful oath you can make. Something you'll never break for the rest of your lives."
The four ponies rolled their eyes and said simultaneously: "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
The Doctor paused, utterly confused. "What the bloody blue blazes..." He shook his head. "Alright! Good enough! Now to prepare for the journey!"
"Doctor?" Scootaloo asked. "What happens if we run into the past usses by accident?"
"I've taken care of that!" the Doctor smiled. He reached down and pulled out four necklaces that he threw on the four ponies.
"Well these sure are pretty, Doctor," Applejack said. "But why...?"
"Press the pendant," said the Doctor.
The four ponies did as instructed and pressed the pendants. All of a sudden the four looked different, completely different ponies from head to toe.
"What in tarnation!" Applejack said in a voice that wasn't her own. "My voice! Where's my drawl? Why do I sound so... confused?"
"And why are you all..." Scootaloo looked at the grey, blonde haired Pegasus that was once Applejack. "Crosseyed?"
"Those are perception filters," said the Doctor "They'll change what you look and sound like for the moment"
"She looks like one of the ponies in town!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. "What's her name? Derpy Hooves?"
"I thought it was Ditzy Do." Apple Bloom said.
"Bright Eyes!" the Doctor said cheerfully, making up the name on the spot. "You're Bright Eyes, visiting duchess from... somewhere! And I am your servant and these are your lovely daughters. Alright?"
"Duchess?!" Applejack asked firmly. "Doctor, I was raised on an apple orchard all my life, how am I supposed to be glamorous?"
"It's easy to be glamorous!" the Doctor smiled. "All a girl needs to do is stand still, and look stupid!"
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now..." Applejack said through gritted teeth.
"I'm the only one who knows how to fly the TARDIS," the Doctor said smugly. "Now, off we go!"
"So, wait," said Applejack pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm the Duchess Bright Eyes, their my daughters, and you're my family Doctor?"
"No," the Doctor said. "I'm your butler Time Turner. Never call me Doctor when we get to the castle, alright?"
"Why?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Oh Apple Bloom," the Doctor knelt down to meet the filly at eye level. "If everything goes well, you'll never know the answer to that question."
Tap tap tap tap.
The Master had waited a long time for this. He had been stuck in this linear time stream for too long. No means of escape. Nothing to look forward to except manipulating these pathetic creatures. And then...
Tap tap tap tap.
And then he found it.
Of all the universes, of all the places they could have jettisoned it after the war was over, the Time Lords had sent it here. He had to thank them if he ever got back to Gallifrey. He'd like to at some point. He knew what the Doctor didn't. Gallifrey was still there, and it was all thanks to him. He had to thank the Doctor too. It would all be so boring without him.
Tap tap tap tap.
But Gallifrey would have to wait. This universe was as vast as any other, so many more depths to explore, so many more fools to exploit. Also he wanted to meet his Benefactor.
To say that the Master had led a charmed life as a Changeling would be an understatement. Everything had gone perfectly for him. Too perfectly. Someone had been helping him. Someone had been using him.
He'd have to thank him. And then kill him.
The Master was no one's pawn.
Tap tap tap tap. Doctor who?
Tap tap tap tap. Doctor who?
They had gotten louder, clearer, and the question was ringing in his brain again.
There was a tinging in the back of the Master's neck.
"So you've finally arrived, old friend," he smiled. "It will be good to see you again, Doctor."
The Doctor and the disguised companions made their way to Canterlot Castle.
The Doctor was growing more nervous. Applejack and the crusaders shouldn't be here. This was wrong. If the two Applejack's came in contact with each other....
No... That wasn't what was bothering him.
Part of him knew who he was going to meet when he got there, the other part couldn't believe it. He was dead. He made the choice to die. He could have easily regenerated but he decided that he wanted to stick it to the Doctor one last time. The Master was his past, no drudging it back.
But then there were Twilight's words. "Time Lord, you are not alone."
That was even the same wording as before. That couldn't be a coincidence.
But even if he was here, how? How could the Master be in this universe? Technically the Doctor wasn't in this universe, at least not the original one. Did the Master manifest in this universe the same way the Doctor did? Did this universe's version of the Master have a chance meeting with his counterpart? Or is it the original Master come here himself?
Whatever the answer was, he knew one thing. Something or someone was pushing him toward this meeting. Someone who had a vested interest in keeping him alive. The Doctor couldn't decide whether that comforted him or not.
They made their way into the main hall, where they were announced to the two princesses.
And then they were allowed to meet the "bride."
Applejack had explained everything on the way over. Princess Cadence was at this moment kidnapped and being held in a dungeon underneath the castle. The pony in front of them was an imposter. Chrysalis, the tyrant queen of the Changeling Hive. The Doctor swore to himself he wouldn't try to stop anything too early.
Of course that wouldn't stop him from having a little fun with her in the meantime.
"And you are...?" the false Cadence asked in a condescending tone.
"Oh," the Doctor let out a small laugh. "Forgive me, I am Time Turner. I'm an attendant to her grace, the Duchess Bright eyes."
"Charmed, I'm sure..." She held out her hoof for Applejack to kiss.
At first the Doctor thought AJ was going to punch her, but she composed herself and played along.
"Forgive me," Chrysalis said. "But you don't seem like the Duchess type..."
"Oh, I wouldn't mind that," the Doctor said without missing a beat. "On a day like to day, nothing's as it seems!"
The false Cadence started to look very very nervous. "Um... Right."
"I don't mind telling you, the Duchess and I do love weddings!" the Doctor said boisterously. "The love in the air is so thick you can taste it! Almost feed on it!"
Chrysalis was starting to look trapped. "Yes... Yes of course..."
"Why I'd say that too much could even BLOW you clear across Equestria!" That got Applejack to stifle a laugh, which may have blown their cover if a stallion hadn't entered the room at that very moment.
"Would you?" he said smugly. "That's an interesting turn of phrase. I like it. It fits with your attitude I think."
"Ah!" Chrysalis looked as if she had been rescued. "Time Turner, Duchess Bright Eyes, this is Decorum. He's my attendant."
"Delighted," Decorum smiled.
The Doctor's jaw dropped. This was it. He couldn't doubt it any more. But how? How did he get here.
"I'm particularly glad to meet you Time Turner," Decorum smiled. "It's good see another humble servant. A kindred spirit! Someone you can share your wells and woes with. Yes, I think whether you're king or commoner...
"It's good to know you're not alone."
Decorum shot the Doctor an evil grin. The Doctor managed to keep his composure however. "My thoughts exactly. As a matter of fact I think we shouldn't keep these ladies busy any longer! I think this castle has a wine cellar and let them get on with their duties and have a little drink. What do you say?"
"Sounds perfect!" Decorum smiled.
Applejack shook her head, begging the Doctor not to leave her with Chrysalis.
"I'm afraid I can't stay," Chrysalis smiled. "I'm meeting my future sister in law. The guards will show you to your room, Duchess."
Applejack let out a sigh of relief.
"You used to foalsit for the groom's sister, didn't you princess?" the Doctor let out a sly grin. "How did that amusing little hoofshake go? Sunshine, sunshine..."
Chrysalis very quickly made her way out of the room.
"Your Grace?" the Doctor called to AJ as she was being led to her room. "When you and the children get to the room, feel free to let your hair down. I'll be up later with some business to take care of, alright?"
Applejack suddenly realized something. "Uh... Time Turner? Where are the fillies?"
The Doctor was suddenly horrified. He hadn't seen the Crusaders since he got to the castle. "Ah... I'm sure they're just getting themselves into a little mischief. I'll find them and bring them to you when the time comes."
"Yes, yes," Decorum said happily. "I'm sure they're fine. In the meantime, Turner. We have much to discuss."
Decorum led the Doctor to the wine cellar.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders burst into the TARDIS throwing of their perception filters as they came in.
"Alright," Apple Bloom said. "I think I can do this. I've been watchin' real close and I think I have the basic idea on how to fly this thing now!"
"It's a good thing the Doctor gave us a key!" Scootaloo smiled.
"Why are we doing this again?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Come on, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo said. "A lot of problems that we've run into can be solved if the Doctor had the TARDIS closer to the action! He's always cut off from it. So we're gonna move it into the castle so the Doctor can get to it when he needs it."
"Why didn't we ask the Doctor to do this?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"This is more fun!" Apple Bloom said as she flipped the switch and got the TARDIS moving again.
After a very bumpy ride they finally materialized.
They walked out of the door and noticed their surroundings. "See? This is the castle wine cellar! Told you I'd get us here!" Apple Bloom said smugly.
They heard two voices coming from up the stairs. One of them belonged to the Doctor.
"Quick, hide!" said Scootaloo.
"The wine is down here," Decorum smiled. "I feel that this is a good place to talk."
"Agreed," the Doctor smiled.
Decorum selected a wine and poured it into glasses. "You really could have been more subtle than that, Doctor."
The Doctor closed his eyes.
"All of those veiled insults and hints," Decorum smiled. "Chrysalis is an idiot, she didn't catch them. I did. You're getting rusty. I'm beginning to think that without me to temper you, you'll get rusty. We wouldn't want that, would we?"
The Doctor smiled and excepted the glass. "Thanks. How do I know this isn't poisoned?"
"Doctor," Decorum smiled. "You insult me."
Decorum was enveloped in blood red flame. When the fire died down, the visage of a red-eyed Changeling stood before the Doctor.
"I wouldn't do anything as inelegant." The Master raised the glass.
The Master took a sip of his wine and licked his teeth.
"Fangs," he pondered aloud. "I've never had fangs before. I think they suit me, don't you? Adds to a frightening visage. Not that I need to. Look at me! Pitch black hairless skin, burning red eyes, and membranous wings. I have wings! I had to learn how to fly! Well strictly speaking, I already knew. That's the complicated bit. With these great holes in my legs it's a miracle I can even stand. I shouldn't complain though..."
He looked the Doctor up and down. "It could have been far worse."
"What are you doing here?" the Doctor asked sternly.
"You want the how or the why?" asked the Master. "You can't have either. The why I'm not going to answer, because honestly, where's the fun in that? And the how I couldn't answer even if I wanted to. So you see the problem..."
"Who are you?" the Doctor asked. "Are you the original Master, or are you this universe's Master like-"
"Like you?" the Master asked happily. "Yes, that explains a lot. Yes, I am this universe's Master made manifest."
"How?" the Doctor asked. "If your counterpart came here I would have-"
"I'm afraid he's occupied at the moment," the Master frowned. "No, I, or at least what used to be me, happened to come upon a White Point Star. The White Point Star. It had everything that was 'the Master' in it. I picked it up, and it gave me the drums back. It took me getting a Changeling's horn in the sternum for me to finally realize who I was. I then regenerated into what you see here."
"You 'just happened' to come across the diamond?" the Doctor took a sip of his wine. "I shouldn't have to tell you that that's bloody unlikely..."
"It's very good that you're bothered by that," the Master laughed. "So was I. Things have been falling too perfectly into place for me. Not that I'm complaining, but I feel as if someone has been helping me along my way to come here today. All of these things happening at once... I mean finding the diamond was one thing but..."
The Master let out an evil grin.
"But what?" the Doctor asked.
"You know what they did during the last days of the Time War, Doctor?" The Master slowly began circling the Doctor. "They ejected everything into the void. The entire archive. Every single piece of important Time Lord technology into the blackness to keep it away from the Daleks. All of it shot through the nothingness and some of it hit other universes. One very important piece of Time Lord history hit this sorry little reality. And I found it."
"What is it?" the Doctor asked firmly. "Your not back on that 'Key of Rassilon' malarkey again, are you?"
"I want you to tell me something Doctor," the Master started to speak frantically. "Why is the question there? Why has it joined the drums? Why Doctor?"
"What question?" the Doctor was confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You know which question!" the Master shouted, his eyes bulging. "You know the answer too. I know the answer. But no matter how many times I answer it, it won't go away!"
"I have no idea-"
The Master stopped dead in his tracks and began to pound his hoof on the floor. Tap tap tap tap. "Doctor who?" Tap tap tap tap. "Doctor who?" Tap tap tap tap. "Doctor who?!"
The Doctor was stunned by the question.
"For three of the longest years of my life I have been living this timeline in it's intended sequence," the Master growled. "Unable to leave. Unable to travel. Unable to have any excitement. I've been stuck here, Doctor. I need something in order to leave, and tomorrow it will be unguarded. So I cant let you expose me. Goodbye, Doctor."
The Master's horn began to glow red. "And perhaps if you die, they'll stop asking."
The Doctor prepared to defend himself as best he could, when the Master suddenly stopped his magic.
"Wait," the Master wondered. "That's a fair question. Why haven't you exposed me yet? You knew right away that it was me. So..."
The look on the Doctor's face gave the Master all the information he needed.
"Ohoho...," the Master laughed. "You can't can you? Exposing me means exposing her and that means causing something to happen out of order! Something very important is going to happen tomorrow that requires the Changelings to be discovered then and not before! Oh, brilliant."
The Master retook the form of Decorum. "Well, in that case," the Master smiled. "I wouldn't want you to miss out on the fireworks tomorrow! You always make things a little more lively. I've always liked that about you. Well, no time to lose. Big day tomorrow. A false wedding, a full out invasion, hands pointed to the sun and all that! I'll speak with you tomorrow afternoon! Cheery-Bye!"
The Master left the Doctor alone in the wine cellar, or so he thought.
"Uh, Doctor?"
Sweetie Belle's tiny voice made the Doctor leap a foot into the air. He turned around to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders behind him, their perception filters off.
"Sweet Celestia!" The Doctor took a moment to catch his breath, and make sure his hearts were still beating. "Never do that again! How long were you three there anyway? Where did you go? What are you doing in the wine cellar of all places?"
"Uh, okay," Sweetie Belle started. "Question one: the whole time."
"Question two," Apple Bloom went on. "We went to get the TARDIS just in case you needed it close by later."
"Question three," Scootaloo finished. "I don't know, this is where Apple Bloom flew us."
The Doctor looked straight at Apple Bloom. "You flew the TARDIS?"
"Eeyup!" she said smugly, imitating her older brother.
"No you didn't," the Doctor said frankly. "You couldn't have flown the TARDIS unsupervised and landed so close to where you wanted to go. You'd have no idea how without help." The Doctor suddenly realized what had happened. "Oh..."
Apple Bloom deflated. "Darn it," she moped. "Stupid Guardian Angel. I thought I'd done somethin' cool."
The Doctor nuzzled up to Apple Bloom. "Now don't be upset," the Doctor said softly. "Bringing the TARDIS here was a good idea. I may need it."
Apple Bloom gave the Doctor a little smile.
"As for our guardian angel," the Doctor went on. "I think the Master may have one of his own. He's been having the kind of luck we have had."
"Oh yeah!" Scootaloo said. "This 'Master' guy? Who is he? How do you know him? What does he want?"
"The first two questions have long answers and I'll give them to you when we get up to the room," the Doctor answered. "As for the third, I have a theory. But I'll need to check something to be sure... He said 'hand' not 'hoof'..."
"So what do we do next?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"Tonight we look for something," said the Doctor. "And if we find it, we panic."
The Doctor got back to Applejack with the Crusaders and explained what happened. She was livid at her sister and her friends.
"Y'all could've gotten yourselves killed!" she yelled at Apple Bloom, who was looking at her forehooves. "The next time you gals go gallopin' off on your own like that...!"
"Now now," said the Doctor. "Their safe now aren't they? Besides it was a bloody good idea. I always park the TARDIS too far away..."
"And what about this 'Master' fella?" Applejack turned on the Doctor. "You knew we were gonna meet up with him here didn't you? That's why you took us here in such a panic! Why didn't you warn us?"
"Because I didn't know," the Doctor said frankly. "I suspected, but I couldn't be certain. I didn't want to overly panic you more then I already had. I just wanted to be sure AJ. And now I am."
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just tell the guards right now about him and stop the weddin' before it starts?" Applejack asked sharply.
"Think about it," the Doctor said. "At that rehearsal tomorrow, everyone is going to treat Twilight like a fool, including Celestia. Celestia is going to learn a harsh lesson about trusting her student more. The next month she is going to decide to give her student a test, that will put her on the road to ascension. Once she has ascended she will be instrumental in saving this world on at least two more occasions. Right?"
"Right," Applejack nodded.
"We expose the Master as a changeling early," the Doctor continued. "No humiliation. No lesson learned. No test. No ascension. No world-saving. At that very moment everything changes. There is no way to be sure that anypony will be safe from the Everfree forest overgrowing or Tirek taking over. The devil you know beats the devil you don't and right now I like the devil I've got."
Applejack thought about that for a minute before finally hanging her head. "You're right," Applejack sighed. "But... What now? I know this all turns out for the better so now what? We just go home?"
"Of course we don't go home!" the Doctor said quickly. "We can't do that. The Master is planning something behind Chrysalis's back. Obviously it didn't come off in your future because he isn't ruling all of you with an iron fist! Since we are the only one's who know about it we're the only ones who can stop it!"
"So," started Scootaloo. "If we do something, it will radically change the future. If we do nothing, it will radically change the future?"
"That's about it, yeah," the Doctor smiled.
"So what do we do?" Apple Bloom asked.
"The right things!" the Doctor grinned. "Which right now means going down into the great hall and having a quick look round. There's something I need to find."
They had been searching around for nearly half an hour in the middle of the night. The Doctor made his excuses to the guards as he came across them as to why he was holding the Screwdriver in front of him, scanning every wall.
Applejack finally got up the nerve to ask the question. "What are we doing?"
"Waiting for the Sonic to go 'ding,'" said the Doctor.
"And that will mean...?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"I've found it,'" said the Doctor frankly.
"Found what?" Apple Bloom asked.
The Sonic Screwdriver began to pulse rapidly in front of a pillar in the great hall, He examined it carefully. "This."
Scootaloo peered at the pillar. "Why this?"
"Do you know," the Doctor began, "Why my TARDIS looks like a big blue box?"
"They don't all look like that?" Applejack asked.
"It's a disguise," the Doctor explained. "The TARDIS looks all about itself whenever it lands anywhere and takes the shape of something that would be inconspicuous. It's called a chameleon circuit. One day I landed on Earth, a little place called London in 1963, it took the form of a Police Box and then stuck. I liked the way it looked so I never bothered to fix it. A working chameleon circuit however can look like anything. Even..." The Doctor moved his screwdriver over a pillar and a door opened in the side of it. "A castle pillar. After you."
The ponies entered the pillar to see a twisted version of a familiar console. "The Master..." Sweetie Belle was stunned. "Built a TARDIS."
"Looks like," the Doctor shrugged. "It must have taken him years. I can buy that he could come by most of the raw material, but..."
"Oh that's all we need," Scootaloo grumbled. "That wackadoo loose throughout all of time and space."
"Oh," the Doctor began quietly. "I wouldn't worry about that..."
"Why not?" asked Apple Bloom.
"It's not working," said the Doctor. "All of the minor functions of the ship are operational, but it can't go anywhere..."
"Why not?" asked Apple Bloom.
"No Eye of Harmony," the Doctor said.
"Eye of what now?" asked Scootaloo.
"It's the name of the thing that powers every TARDIS," the Doctor explained. "You can't time travel without one. It's a great big collapsing star frozen in the state of it's highest energy output. Without it this thing is a train without coal. No... Scratch that, it's a train with no furnace. Why did he go through all of the trouble to build this thing? The only way he could get his hand on an Eye is if he had-"
Something clicked in the Doctor's head, he whipped around to Applejack.
"AJ," the Doctor said sternly. "Where was Princess Celestia?"
"What?" Applejack asked.
"During the wedding!" the Doctor shouted. "What was she doing during the wedding?!"
"S-She...," Applejack said softly. "She was hung up in this Cocoon thing the Changelin's made. She couldn't help. She-"
"Wasn't watching the sun," the Doctor nodded. "I know what the Master wants. I know what he's gotten his hands on!"
"What?" Applejack asked frantically. "What has he got?!"
"But how?!" the Doctor was pacing around the darkened control room. "How does he have it? He said that the Time Lords jettisoned the Archive but for it to land here exactly where he would find it is more than coincidence it's the work of-"
The Doctor stopped dead in his tracks. As if everything in the world had just become clear, and it all horrified him.
"I know...," the Doctor said slowly. "I know who's been doing us all of these favors. And I know who must be helping the Master..."
The Doctor gritted his teeth and looked up toward the ceiling. "Alright!" the Doctor called out. "Listen up the lot of you! First of all, you!" He raised one hoof and pointed to his right. "If you wanted my help again you could have just asked me up front instead of moving things to different places like the world's most annoying celestial prop man! And you!" He raised another hoof and pointed to his left. "Why all of this beating around the bush? If you want to kill me, kill me!"
"He's talking to the ceiling again," Sweetie Belle whispered to her friends.
"Come on! We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow!" The Doctor rapidly started to exit the empty TARDIS.
He didn't explain to AJ what he was talking about. He just sat there, the both of them unable to sleep. The only things that brought them any comfort were the snores of the crusaders.
Eventually the sun rose. They still needed to wait six hours before the false wedding was to take place.
They heard rumors of the groom's sister losing it at rehearsal outside their door. Applejack looked down at the ground. She was ashamed of herself in not believing Twilight. She could have stopped so much destruction if she had just trusted Twilight as Twilight had always trusted her. It made her sick that she would have to let it happen again.
What puzzled her most however was the Doctor. He had been staring out the window since they got back to the room. Straight up at the sky, not saying a word.
And then he got up.
"Time to go!" he said cheerfully. "Applejack, put on your perception filter. We have a wedding to get to!"
"Mmph!" Sweetie Belle mumbled as she sat bolt upright in bed.
"I'm up!" Apple Bloom said defensively.
"Save Equestria Time?" Scootaloo mumbled.
"Ah good! You're awake!" the Doctor smiled. "I need you three to get to the TARDIS and stay inside."
"What?" Apple Bloom seemed hurt.
"If the master fails he may look for a quick route of escape," the Doctor explained. "He may try to get his hands on my TARDIS again. I don't want that to happen again. If he comes down to that wine cellar, take off and don't look where you may land. Just keep it away from the Master."
The three fillies saluted. "You got it, boss!" said Scootaloo.
"As for us," the Doctor turned to Applejack. "I could think of worse mares to be on my arm at a wedding reception!"
Applejack turned on her perception filter. "Don't push your luck."
The five ponies ran out the door toward their destination.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders made it to the TARDIS stepped in, and locked the door behind them.
There was an awkward pause.
"This is gonna get real boring real fast, ain't it?" Apple Bloom asked.
The other crusaders deflated. "Great!" said Scootaloo. "Just hoofing great! Now we have to sit here, with nothing to do, waiting in a box for the world to come to an end! We can't even see what's going on out there!"
All of the sudden a monitor in the TARDIS flicked on to show the outside of Canterlot Castle. A constant live feed.
The three fillies were spooked by the sudden granting of the favor.
"Uh..." Sweetie Belle started cautiously. "That's a good thing, right? Last night the Doctor said that whoever was doing this wanted his help for something..."
"He also said that somepony else was helpin' the Master," Apple Bloom said. "And that whoever that was wanted the Doctor and all of his friends dead."
"That's us," groaned Scootaloo. "But still, how would turning on that monitor kill us? Seems like a pretty weak way to do somepony in..."
"He may want us to see somethin' that would get us to do somethin' stupid," Apple Bloom reasoned.
"Or," Sweetie Belle chimed in as she ran toward the back room. "It could be the guy on our side showing us what we need to see in order to save the day. Still, until we see it, there's only one thing to do." She emerged with a vinyl record entitled "Ray Charles: Greatest Hits." "We listen to some music!"
The Doctor and Applejack ran into the Master, waiting alone, in the room outside the wedding hall. He was still taking the form of decorum. "I'm afraid we can't go in!" he frowned. "The Ceremony is already in progress and we wouldn't want to interrupt it ahead of schedule."
The Doctor glared at the Master. "Applejack," he said. "How long until-"
"Twi arrives with the real Cadence?" Applejack asked. "'Bout ten minutes. What do we do?"
"Simple," said the Doctor, taking a seat on the floor. "We wait."
"Agreed." the Master smiled. "Neither of us can do anything until the true party starts so..."
There was a good minute long silence.
"Well," the Master said finally. "This is boring. Who's up for twenty questions?"
"I got one," Applejack said sternly. "What the hay is this 'Hand of Omega' thing."
"Oh! You've figured it out, have you?" the Master beamed at the Doctor. "Well, that will save me time explaining it to you later. I think we should talk to her, though. How long has this mare been traveling with you without you chattering her ear off about Time Lord history? The shame!"
The Doctor smiled and turned to Applejack. "It starts a few millennia ago, with two scientists..."
"Two Gallifreyan scientists," the Master interrupted. "The name 'Time Lord' wasn't given, it was earned. Earned by these two. Rassilon and Omega."
"Rassilon was a Temporal Engineer who had a theory about a technology that could travel to any point in time and space," the Doctor continued. "The trouble was that he didn't have the energy to power it. He also had no idea where to get it. that's where Omega comes in."
"He thought you could take a sun and loop it in a state of perpetual Nova," the Master smiled. "A point just before its death where it releases a tremendous amount of energy. He created a device to pluck the stars out of the sky, Rassilon, for political reasons, called it the 'Hand of Omega.'"
"Wait..." Applejack said cautiously. "If you have this thing... That means you're gonna take a star out of the sky? Where are you gonna get-"
She looked at the Doctor's face, and then looked out on the bright sunny day.
"No..." Applejack was horrified. "You can't mean... You'll kill everypony!"
"That is the general idea, yes!" the Master smiled pleasantly at Applejack. "Well, that and getting me the hell off of this planet."
"You won't get past Celestia," Applejack said through gritted teeth.
"Celestia," the Master said coolly. "Is going to be incapacitated a few seconds from... now. Hello, Twilight Sparkle! Hello, Princess Cadence!"
Twilight and Cadence galloped past them. Giving them odd looks before running into the wedding hall with more important things to do.
They heard the commotion from inside as Chrysalis was revealed to the crowd.
"So exciting, isn't it Doctor?" the Master said, dropping his disguise in a wave of blood red flame. "The crowd is on the edge of their seats, the suspense is palpable. The contestants are getting ready now, all set for the first ever Time Lord horse race."
He tapped his hoof on the ground four times. Tap tap tap tap.
They heard the clash of horns from inside as Celestia stepped up to defend her people.
The Doctor snapped to the ready. "Applejack!" the Doctor called. "When I start running, so do you! Understand?"
"You got it!" AJ stood ready as well.
Tap tap tap tap.
They heard the pulsing magical energy spark between Chrysalis and Celestia.
"Not long until the starting pistol is fired," the Master grinned.
They heard a thud as Celestia fell to the tile floor.
The Master took off from the ground and soared up to the top most spire of the Castle.
"Sweet Celestia those must come in handy!" said the Doctor enviously. "I should try for wings next time..."
"Doctor?" Applejack said, trying to keep him on focus.
"Right," the Doctor said. "The Master can fly, that puts us in a bit of a pickle. He was dangerous enough on the ground. It also means he can get to where he's stashed the Hand faster. We need the shortest way to get there. It's a shame we're not..." The Doctor spotted two pegasi, a mare and a stallion, puling on blue flight suits.
"'Just a wedding', Celestia said," the blue, white-maned mare grumbled. "'Cushy job, expect no complications', Spitfire said. 'We won't even be the main attraction, kick back and have a few drinks!' you said. 'Open bar!' the groom said..."
"Come on, Fleetfoot," the stallion protested. "How were we supposed to know that this place would be attacked? Clairvoyance? Just get your suit on and let's join the fight."
"How were we supposed-" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "It was a big social event in Equestria, Soarin! Of course it was going to be attacked! It was inevitable! It's like walking through Manehattan and not catching a cab! The sky is blue, the grass is green, Equestria will be assaulted by hideous monsters during political events."
The Doctor watched this scene with awe. "That's..."
"The Wonderbolts..." Applejack said, stunned. "At least two of 'em..."
The Doctor looked up. "I sense your hand in this. We're still going to have that little chat, I hope..."
"Doctor?" Applejack asked.
The Doctor marched over to the two pegasi, reaching into the inside pocket of his Waistcoat to pull out a leather wallet. "Excuse me!" he called out to them. "I'm the Doctor. This is my partner Bright Eyes." He flashed the wallet. "Her majesty's secret service. It is vitally important to national security that we have a lift up to the window below that top balcony. And it's top secret so I can't tell you why."
The two pegasi looked at each other and nodded. "Okay," the said in unison.
The Doctor was a bit taken aback by that. "Well," he said cheerfully. "That was... simple. I'm sorry, I guess I was expecting more resistance then that..."
"When it comes to the Quiet Guys," Soarin winked. "We've learned not to ask questions."
The Doctor found that statement a bit odd. But he dismissed the thought immediately. "Well then," the Doctor smiled. "Avanti!"
The three fillies paced around the TARDIS control room. Music playing in the background. Apple Bloom was getting more agitated by the minute.
"How long until Shinin' Armor's shield breaks?" Apple Bloom asked, looking at the monitor.
"Shouldn't be more than a couple of minutes," Scootaloo said.
Apple Bloom grumbled, still pacing back and forth. "Alright," she said finally. "What do we know?"
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"What do we know?" Apple Bloom said. "Let's think about all the stuff we now for sure, and then let's see how that can help us."
"Okay..." Sweetie Belle started. "We know that the Doctor has an old enemy who calls himself the Master. The Master has shown up here, about six months ago, at Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding."
"Two," Scootaloo continued. "The Master has something called 'The Hand of Omega'. If he uses it, bad things will happen."
"Three," Apple Bloom finished. "There is somepony out there with some sorta power to cause little conveniences for us who has been helpin' us out ever since we met the Doctor. Also the Master has his own little helper. And the way the Doctor was talkin' last night, he's met both of 'em before..."
"Yeah," Scootaloo said. "But what can we do about it from here?"
"I..." Apple Bloom deflated. "I don't know..."
There was a sad silence in the TARDIS control room.
Sweetie Belle perked up. "Four," Sweetie Belle said cheerfully. "This problem solves itself in about half an hour!"
"What?" said Scootaloo.
"Think about it!" Sweetie Belle said. "If the Doctor can hold out for thirty minutes, Cadence and Shining Armor will meet up, and then Whooosh! Out they all fly of Canterlot! Every single Changeling! Including..."
"The Master!" Apple Bloom cheered. "Sweetie Belle you're a genius!"
"How are we gonna help, though?" Scootaloo asked.
"By askin' for help!" Apple Bloom looked up. "Alright, buddy! You listen up! We've been on to you for a while now! It's time we had a little talk. You've been helpin' the Doctor out for so long, we can only assume you have our best interests at heart! So here's the deal. You tell us whether or not the Doctor needs our help, and you help us do it if we need to!"
"If that's not too much trouble!" Sweetie Belle added meekly.
"Why'd you say that?" Scootaloo asked.
"Because anypony with the power to move this thing around probably has the power to blow it up..." Sweetie Belle added.
All of a sudden, the monitor went black. After a while, green text appeared on it.
No trouble at all, it was my pleasure. I owe the Doctor for helping me last time, and this task is far more complicated. I'm afraid it's going to get worse from here. The Master is not his main worry.
Apple Bloom looked at the screen puzzled. "Can you-"
Of course I can hear you! the text continued. I hear everyone. By the way, the Doctor will be needing our help in a couple of moments, I think. Always reckless that one.
"Are you..." Apple Bloom started. "Are you our Guardian Angel?"
Two syllables too many, one syllable too short, the text continued. Explaining who I am would take far too much time. But I will give you one question each. Think before you ask.
Scootaloo stepped up. "I'll go first," Scootaloo started. "What have you been doing all this for?"
The text seemed to think for a moment.
Everything. Everywhere.
The Wonderbolts had dropped Applejack and the Doctor on the floor beneath where the Master had to be on the balcony. The ideal position to fire the Hand of Omega from was outer space. The Master didn't have that option, so he had to get to the highest point he could.
They made their way up the stairs, when the Doctor turned to Applejack. "When we get there," the Doctor said. "Stay out of sight."
"Why?" Applejack asked.
"One: I don't want you to get hurt," the Doctor said frankly. "Two: If the Master gets me pinned, I will need somepony to take him by surprise, and buck him into a wall."
Applejack let out an evil grin. "You got it boss!"
The Doctor left Applejack and went up to the Balcony.
He found the Master looking up dazed at the sky. Behind him was a large chest covered by a tarp. The Master watched as the changelings slowly chipped away at the magic shield protecting the city.
"It's all such a waste of time, isn't it Doctor?" the Master asked. "These creatures spend hundreds of years building an empire. A true utopia. All creatures living together in harmony. To prove their might the carve a city into a mountain. To be there forever. To stand in glory for all eternity...
"But it doesn't," the Master sighed. "Does it doctor? Empires crumble. Harmony turns to chaos. Cities die. Mountains turn to dust. In one day, it can all end. One idiot trusts the wrong person, and everyone pays the price. The Time Lords fight a war to defend themselves and countless civilizations are decimated. These ponies try to hold a wedding and then all hell breaks loose. In the end it all comes crashing down. In the end, it all just..."
Tap tap tap tap. The Master grinned as Shining Armor's shield broke, then he turned to face the Doctor.
The three fillies stared at the text on the Monitor. It spelled out two simple words. Next question?
Sweetie Belle stepped up. "Alright," she started. "You're so all powerful, why don't you just zap all the bad things away? Wouldn't that be simpler? Just poof no more Master?"
My counterpart would stop me.
"The one who is helping the Master out," Sweetie Belle reasoned. "He's as scary powerful as you?"
Under the right circumstances, more so.
Apple Bloom bit her lip and thought for a moment.
Last question the text went on. Apple Bloom?
"Gotta make this a good one..." Apple Bloom started pacing around the control room. "Alright, this thing moves by disappearin' in one place and reappearin' in another, right? So what if it were to appear around somethin'?"
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Think about it!" Apple Bloom smiled. "If the TARDIS materialized around somethin', when it took off again it would still be inside! So..."
Scootaloo jumped up and down. "So if we materialized around that Hand of Omega thingy..."
"We could take off again and get it away from the Master!" Sweetie Belle squeaked.
"Exactly!" Apple Bloom turned triumphantly to the monitor. "My question to you is: You can fly this thing, right?"
They waited for the screen to respond.
Correct.
Apple Bloom turned to Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle, crank up the music! Track five I think would work best."
Sweetie Belle grinned. "Oh, yeah. Definitely track five!"
Hold on tight girls! ^_^
The Doctor stared into the Master's eyes.
"I could start on the whole, 'You don't want to do this, you were once a good man', malarkey," The Doctor sighed. "But you're not going to listen."
"Nope!" The Master whipped the tarp off of the bronze chest that contained the Hand of Omega. "I could go onto my 'together we could easily take this reality apart' speech, but you're uninterested..."
"Yes," the Doctor nodded.
"Then," the Master started. "As always, we are at a verbal stalemate, Doctor. The difference this time is that I hold all of the practical cards, and you have nothing."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," the Doctor smiled. "I've always been a crafty swine, me. I may have a few tricks up my sleeve you don't even know about."
"I am assuming that there is one of your pathetic fan club somewhere trying to do something to stop me," the Master chuckled. "It won't work Doctor. Once the sun is out of the sky I will be headed to parts unknown. Never to look back. Watching this planet die, and give this reality a new Master."
"I also have something else," the Doctor said, his grin unwavering. "Something you've been wanting for quite a while."
"And that is?"
"Information," the Doctor said frankly. "I know who brought us here. Who's been causing those little lucky coincidences that had us face each other on this balcony. I know who our benefactors are. When you think about it, it's obvious. Two entities, playing against each other in a cosmic game of chess as they have for millennia. The only two beings in the world with the power to do any of this."
The Master thought for a moment, and then his jaw dropped. "No..." he started. "You mean..."
"And if we keep going like this we're just going to be pawns in their game," said the Doctor. "You open that chest you'll be playing right into his hands-"
"And if you stop me," the Master grinned. "You'll be playing right into his. Oh... Oh this is interesting..."
"Master," the Doctor said sternly. "Trust me, dealing with these two is dangerous. Believe me, I know. I have to be involved, there's no way out for me at this point. You still have a chance to-"
"To do what?" the Master said. "Give up? Stop playing their game? You won't. You could but you won't. Why? Because it's the 'right' thing to do? I don't think it's the fact that I'm part of this now that bothers you, I think you're mad I'm playing for the wrong side! Oh this... This is perfect. And the best part is, if you're right, he can tell me..."
"Tell you what?" the Doctor asked.
Tap tap tap tap. "Doctor who?" Tap tap tap tap. "Doctor who?" Tap tap tap tap. "Why do they keep asking? If the question is from the same place as the drums, they know the answer! Why can't I answer? Why must it be you? Why, Doctor?! Why do the Time Lords keep asking?!"
The Doctor was stunned. "The Time Lords are gone," the Doctor said firmly. "They can't be the ones asking."
"Another fair point!" The Master let out a manic grin. "But it's them! Trust me. They are asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, waiting for you to answer! And I'm going to find out why! Nothing is going to stand in my way!"
"Master," the Doctor started. "This is your last warning! Leave now."
The Master laughed. "Well... I guess if you say so," he said mockingly. "I'll have to pack my things and go..."
"That's right!" came three voices seemingly from nowhere.
The three fillies were dancing around the TARDIS console, and singing in unison.
"Hit the road, Jack! And don't'cha come back no more no more no more! Hit the road, Jack! And don't you come back no more!"
A bronze chest materialized inside the TARDIS.
"That looks important!" Sweetie Belle squeaked.
"Hang on I'll ask the Doctor!" Apple Bloom said happily.
Apple Bloom poked her head out of the TARDIS and turned to the Doctor. "Hey Doc! This big chest gadget we got in here..."
The Doctor burst out into a wide smile. "Take it away, Apple Bloom," he said. "Not much use for it here anymore."
"Gotcha!" Apple Bloom looked at the Master, then at the TARDIS, then back to the Master. "Bet you wish yours was workin'!"
As the music of Ray Charles and the giggling of the Crusaders faded away, so did the TARDIS.
The Master was left, speechless and defeated, staring at the Doctor, mouth agape.
"That was always your mistake," the Doctor smiled. "You always tried to force everything. You never looked around at your situation to figure out what to do, you always try to force everything. You are never willing to put people in the right positions, and then let events take their course. You never learned to trust anypony. That's why you're standing here, without the hand, without anything. You could never count on the people around you."
The Master gritted his teeth hard, fangs burrowing into his lower lip, drawing blood.
He leaped and tackled the Doctor to the ground. Pinning him. "Shut up! Shut up! I may be stranded on this god forsaken planet in this god-forsaken world, in this god forsaken timestream, but there's still you! Oh yes! You're still here! I'm going to take my sweet time with you, Doctor! I doubt you have any thing else that can save you from this!!"
"Wanna bet?" Applejack distracted the Master just long enough so she could whip around and buck him in the chest, sending him flying in the air.
Then a burst of violet energy swept over all of Canterlot, throwing the Master even further away. He would have been blown clean out of Equestria had he not vanished in the last second.
The Doctor and Applejack got up and took a few deep breaths. "Are you alright?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah," the Doctor said breathlessly. "That... That was..."
"Cadence and Shinin' Armor," Applejack smiled. "They got themselves together and saved Equestria. And now we get to see the good part."
"I'm afraid not," the Doctor said firmly. "Normally I would stick around for the wedding, but we have to get back to the TARDIS. I have an appointment.
"It's time the four of you met our benefactor."
The Doctor and Applejack met up with the CMC inside the TARDIS.
"We did it!" Sweetie Belle sqeaked
"It was my idea!" said Apple Bloom smugly
"On a scale from one to Rainbow Dash, how awesome were we?" Scootaloo asked.
The Doctor hugged the three fillies. "Oh girls," he smiled. "You were all brilliant. And now I think you've earned something...
"Haven't they sir?" he called to the back of the TARDIS
From out of the back room, in steeped a mare. She was taller then anypony else in the ship. She was wearing a golden crown with a single amethyst embedded in it. She had massive wings and a long horn, all pure white. Her mane flowed like a great cloud.
She gave the five ponies a soft smile.
Applejack and the Crusaders quickly bowed, but the Doctor just stared right at her. "You're not Princess Celestia," the Doctor said slyly. "You may look like her for right now, but that's not who you are."
The alicorn nodded.
"Well..." Applejack started "Then who is that?"
"I'm cross about several things," the Doctor began. "First off, last time we met, you just give me the instructions and send me off. When I'm done I never receive a thank you. I went through half of time and space looking for your little cosmic doohickey, and then not even a nice card? And now you don't even bother to ask for my help! You just push me to different parts of time and space without the slightest clue of what I'm looking for! What am I looking for?"
"The Lynchpins of the Multiverse," the mare who wasn't Celestia responded.
"Rubbish," the Doctor said dismissively.
"Before we get in to what is, and isn't rubbish in the reality I protect," she started. "Shouldn't you properly introduce me to your friends?"
"Oh, yes!" The Doctor turned to his companions. "This is Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applejack. Ladies this...
He wasn't sure what had just happened. The Doctor's idiot companion had nailed him squarely in the chest, and some huge wave of energy had sent him flying. He was flying sixty stories over Canterlot, when all of a sudden, he was standing here.
"Four words, Master," a voice dripping with evil came from seemingly nowhere.
"What?" asked the Master.
"Four words," the voice continued. "That is how long your responses can be. I'm a busy man, and I haven't the time for anything longer."
The Master understood immediately who was talking. The Doctor was right. "I understand, Black Guardian," he smiled.
"Oh good," the voice said smugly. "You know who I am, that will save time."
"I'm sorry I failed," the Master said tenuously.
"You haven't," said the Black Guardian. "In fact, your work is just beginning."
"Can I see you?" the Master asked.
The Black Guardian inhaled sharply. "I'm a cosmic being of pure evil, there isn't much to see... Oh hang on, I'm sure I can whip something up..."
From the shadows stepped a tall imposing figure. Lime green eyes, a black body, fangs and bright red wings. The shape of an alicorn in black and red.
"A bit cliche, perhaps..." the Black Guardian said smugly. "But it suits me."
The Master couldn't help but laugh. "A bit unsubtle though..."
"I am the cosmic being that protects all evil in the whole of reality," the Black Guardian explained. "Subtlety is not an extravagance I partake in. Anyway, I am glad we can finally talk. I have a proposition for you. You collect something for me, and in return you get your freedom through Time and Space back. And something else. Something that we both want..."
"What would that be?" asked the Master.
"Revenge on the Doctor," the Black Guardian smiled.
The Master didn't have to consider the offer very long, but he felt like making the Guardian sweat a bit. After all, the Black Guardian had been manipulating him ever since he came to Equestria. He was going to have to pay for that eventually...
"Four words, Master," the Black Guardian said sternly. "What is your answer?"
The Master looked up and grinned.
"Where do I sign?"
"White who what now?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"The White Guardian," the Doctor said. "The being you see before you is the entity charged with keeping peace and justice throughout the multiverse. He... She? It? The White Guardian is the manifestation of all that is good and right in the whole of reality. She's also bloody irritating!"
"That's rich, coming from you," the White Guardian laughed. "How many times has your counterpart nearly ended his universe? Five, maybe six times? At least two more times that you don't even know about yet. And I'm irritating?"
"Why didn't you just come to me?" the Doctor said sternly. "I would've said yes! I said yes the last time, didn't I?"
"You were reborn in this universe," the White Guardian answered. "You were new. You were excited. You were also terrified. You didn't need me to add to your stress."
"Oh yes," the Doctor said sarcastically. "Someone walking up to me and giving me a clear goal is simply too much pressure. I need some sort of clandestine being to sneak behind my back opening doors and giving me hints. That won't make me paranoid."
"I'm here now," the White Guardian smiled. "Let's talk."
"Let's! Lynchpins," the Doctor said, as he sat down across from the White Guardian. "Tosh."
"I'm afraid not Doctor-"
"Hold it!" Applejack said suddenly. "What the hoof is a lynchpin? You've mentioned them a couple times now. They seem to be pretty important, so why?"
The Doctor hung his head. "The Lynchpin Theory of the Multiverse," he began. "Is a belief which sates that the Multiverse is not as infinite as we think it is. Due to the fact that it is impossible for certain things not to exist. These things, Lynchpins, must exist in every universe in some capacity. Whether they be as potent a force as they are here, or just a program on telly, in some sense of the word, a lynchpin must exist."
"Correct," the White Guardian said calmly. "As a matter of fact, there are five things that must be in each and every universe."
The Doctor looked up. "Daleks, Cybermen, the Master," the Doctor counted off. "That's three I've dealt with so far. Why do I need to find them?"
"Because," the White Guardian looked into the Doctor's eyes. "If the Black Guardian manages to get his hands on even one of them, the terror he could reap from it would be catastrophic. I think he may already have one, Doctor. I don't think we have seen the last of the Master."
"Neither do I," the Doctor said sadly.
"Wait, wait, wait," Scootaloo jumped in. "Who's the Black Guardian?"
"You know how the White Guardian is the one that's all sweetness and light?" the Doctor asked.
"Yeah?" Scootaloo answered.
"The Black Guardian is the other one."
"I'm going to have to send you somewhere Doctor," the White Guardian explained. "Someone has come through to my universe who doesn't belong. They appear to be looking for you. Unfortunately, now that we have spoken, I can't help you as actively as I have been. I am however, sending in some reinforcements."
"Who exactly?" the Doctor asked.
"Well..."
"... That's quite up to you," the White Guardian finished. "It would give the Equestrian Doctor a chance to catch up. You haven't seen each other in quite a while."
"Longer for me than for him!" He took off his jacket and sat across from the White Guardian. "Why do you think he needs my help?"
"There is a new priest in Dodge Junction," the White Guardian explained. "No one can remember confession."
His eyes widened as he leaped into action, pressing buttons and pulling levers on the console. "Well then! Yes I so quite understand now why it is you sent for me. Nothing beats experience, after all. Though I am quite miffed, actually. I was expecting to be done with all of that nonsense. Oh well, never mind!"
"Be careful," the White Guardian said cautiously. "This could be a trap."
"If what you're saying is right, then that can't be it!" he smiled. "Not if they no what they're doing! Because there is one thing you-"
"Never ever put in a trap," the White Guardian finished, exasperated. "Just... Get there and help him out, alright Raggedy Man?"
"You don't get to call me that," the Doctor said frankly.
The White Guardian nodded. "Yes I do."
The Doctor flipped another switch, and the TARDIS was hurtling back through the void.
The Kid. The Raggedy Man.
The Eleventh.
"GERONIMOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
He didn't like to time travel. It was too risky.
It was in his nature to be chaotic, and he could jump back if he wanted to with just a snap of his fingers, but he didn't like it. It could cause... problems.
This was a special circumstance, though. If his contact was right, all of his friends were in danger.
He caught sight of his contact. He was astounded by what he saw. He was tempted to avert his eyes.
"Don't" said the thing in the priests collar. "This conversation will take forever if you do. You've received our message?"
"Yes," he replied. "If what you're saying is true, you have utterly confused me. That's usually my job. Congratulations."
"You understand what must be done?" the thing responded.
"Yes," he said calmly. "I'm not going to hurt anypony, but I swear, the Doctor will not leave Dodge Junction."
"This is imperative," the thing hissed. "It is vital that the Doctor not reach Trenzalore! Otherwise he may answer the question, and when he does the whole of reality could cave in on itself! I want your word, Draconequus! As shaky as it might be.
"You have my word. The Doctor will not reach Trenzalore. When the question is asked...
