The Doctor had lost track of time - far from ordinary in his case. Comforting Luna had caused him to think about all that had happened. The cybermen, element x, the towers. He berated himself for not taking action sooner when the earpieces were first handed out. It was cyberman technology, of COURSE it was cyberman technology, but the Doctor didn’t wanted to believe it. Once again, his arrival had caused death to those who did not deserve it. What started as a dream had quickly escalated into a nightmare and now the Doctor and his friends were the only ones who could set things right, and they needed Princess Luna.

They had gotten lucky. Vinyl had caught the night princess off guard, but that wouldn’t work on Celestia. She knew they were here and she would see them coming a mile away. Their only hope was that Luna would be able to keep her sister busy long enough so they could remove the earplugs from her, but the Doctor needed Luna to be in the right state of mind for that. They were still in Luna’s bedroom while the alicorn was sobbing into the Time Lord’s shoulder. Grief had taken her and she needed time to let it out.

Rainbow Dash was busy looking at her hooves. She never was good at handling situations like these. She usually just flew about to clear her head but that wasn’t an option here. Instead, she tried to block out Luna’s crying by making small talk with Rarity. Rarity on the other hoof wished she could help somehow. She was the queen of overdramatic reactions but here she felt the princess was fully justified to let it all out. She could see that Rainbow was struggling to deal with the situation so she tried her best to distract her friend. She hoped her fear wouldn’t show.

Vinyl had made her way to the balcony, away from everypony else. She briefly considered a cyberpony might spot her from below but she didn’t care right now. What she had done was going to cause questions to be asked, questions she wished she’d never have to answer. She blew away a single strand of blue mane that fell across her face; her mane always started to get messy when she was worrying and it bugged her to no end. She had hoped the fresh air might cheer her up but looking at the dark cloudy sky only helped to bring down her mood even further. The clip clop sound of hooves hitting the ground was behind her and she knew who they belonged to as they got closer to her.

“Well… you’ve gotten stronger,” stated Octavia as she walked up beside the DJ. Vinyl quickly adjusted her glasses so they were firmly on her face. “I’ve been thinking about what’s been different about you recently. The random late night excursions which I’m now certain weren’t last minute gigs, the fact that I can’t remember the last time you didn’t have your glasses on, that you recently brought your own fridge for your own room yet you constantly use the one in the kitchen, and let’s not forget that you appear to be stronger than an earth pony now.” Vinyl said nothing as she continued to look at the clouds. “It’s bad enough that I found out you had a whole secret life. Travelling in a time machine with an eccentric…”

“I’m going to stop you there Tavi.” Vinyl spoke for the first time in this conversation. “You’re the one who’s been dating the counterpart, so don’t tell me if a stallion came to you and offered you an adventure anywhere in time and space that you wouldn’t jump on board.” Octavia stared at the DJ. Vinyl hadn’t looked away from the clouds during the conversation and Octavia found it slightly unnerving. From what Octavia could gather, the pony Doctor had dumped her back on Equestria without any warning and disappeared.This explained her hostility to his counterpart, but her general moodiness and other changes still hadn’t been explained.

“True, but there’s more to this. What has happened to you Vinyl Scratch?” Vinyl hated it when Octavia used her full name. It felt like she was being talked down to by her mother. Vinyl let out a heavy sigh as she turned to face the grey mare.

“I’m going to bring up a bad memory now so stay with me here, okay?” asked Vinyl. Octavia nodded in response. “Do you… Do you…” The DJ was struggling to say it so Octavia put her hoof on Vinyl’s shoulder to reassure her. “… Do you remember two years ago when I told you I loved you?”

Ah, I can see why she didn’t want to talk about it, thought Octavia. “Yes, yes I remember.”

“I couldn’t believe it myself. I had never really liked anypony like that before and I was a total goof about it. It just kind of happened. Heck, I told you this already so I don’t…”

“… Vinyl. It’s okay, just say it.”

“Thanks. When you said you wanted us to be friends... I took it badly. I know it looked like I ran out of the house and didn’t come back till the morning… but that wasn’t exactly what happened. I ran into the Doctor and Ditzy that night. They were being chased by a statute that moved when you didn’t look at it. Weird, huh?”

“Sounds absolutely ridiculous. Then again, giant metal men and aliens from another universe are pretty ridiculous too.” Octavia smiled warmly and Vinyl soon returned it.

“Anyway, I kind of got caught up in it all and before I knew it, we were travelling in the TARDIS. I was actually gone for a month but I asked to be returned to the morning after our...talk. Ever since then, I travelled with those two until six months ago when both me and Ditzy were dumped.”

“Ditzy and I. And, Well that explains how you met him, but that doesn’t…”

“… I’m getting to that, just wait a moment,” assured Vinyl as she placed her hoof on Octavia’s shoulder. “It happened a bit after I saw the Doctor regenerate, you know all about that stuff right?” Octavia remembered what ‘her’ Doctor had told her, so she nodded. “Cool, anyway one day we travelled back in time, 200 years ago to Trottingham. Something was attacking the locals at night and of course, we went to stop it. One night I got separated and attacked, but when I woke up, I didn’t have a scratch on me except… two puncture wounds on my neck…” Octavia was allowed a moment to digest what she heard. Her first thought was understandable but...surely not, right? Vinyl couldn’t be? “When we stopped him he… he turned out to be a vampire. I don’t think I need to say anymore.”

“No, I don’t believe you. You, a vampire? That’s just…” Vinyl took her glasses off and Octavia stopped dead in her tracks. Ponies were varied when it came to colours. Whether it was coats, manes or eyes but there was one eye colour you never see on a pony - Red. Yet Vinyl’s eyes were a ruby red. They were bright and stood out beautifully. The scary thing, apart from it being impossible for a pony to have red eyes, was that Vinyl’s eyes were meant to be purple.

“Before you freak, let me give you the facts,” assured Vinyl. “One, I can walk in daylight, but admittedly I’ve always been a night-time mare. Two, no I cannot turn into a bat. Three, no I am not immortal either but I am super-strong and super-fast…”

“… If you are super-fast and super-strong then why didn’t you use any of that earlier when we got cornered by the cybermen?”

“I was about to, but then I panicked about you finding out ,and then I noticed that the Doctor was planning something so I left it to him. Trust me, this hasn’t been an easy thing to hide.”

“So, you leaving randomly at night?”

“That was me stocking up on blood vials. I’m not really allowed to talk about it buts there sort of an underground network of vampires that help each other out. The Doctor showed me them, all I have to do is attend the occasional meeting and help out when needed.”

“So that’s what your private fridge is for. You have blood in there!”

“Hush, keep your voice down will ya?” Vinyl looked around to see if anypony had been spying on them but it appeared the coast was clear. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but can you blame me? I’m still Vinyl, just a vampire is all.”

“I know, but if you go for my neck, I’m getting the garlic.”

“Sorry Tavi, garlic doesn’t work.”

“So, vampires aren’t what they’re supposed to be in books?”

“They don’t sparkle if that’s what you mean.” Vinyl gave a coy smile which earned a chuckle from Octavia. “You’re taking this a lot better than I thought you would.”

“Honestly, I thought you might be dying. But considering everything that’s happening right now, to hear that you’re okay is great news.” Octavia wrapped her forelegs around the DJ’s neck and Vinyl did the same. The pair was simply relieved that they hadn’t lost the other. Octavia knew this was still Vinyl, her friend. For a brief moment, Vinyl closed her eyes in peace, but when she opened them, the Doctor was standing by the balcony entrance.

“You heard, didn’t you?” she asked flatly.

“Every word,” he responded. The pair broke their hug as the Doctor knelt down to them. “Sorry, I came to get you because Luna was starting to calm down and I overheard your conversation.”

“Ah, forget it,” assured Vinyl as she waved a hoof in a lax manner. “I was kind of jerk to you anyway, just don’t tell anypony, kay?”

“Okay. Alright, who’s up for getting some answers?”

Meanwhile…

“DOCTOR! I FOUND IT!” screamed the party mare. Before she could speak any further. a grey hoof was shoved into her mouth by a panicked mailmare.

“Pinkie, please keep quiet,” pleaded Ditzy. “You’ll alert all the cybermen to where we are if you’re not careful.” When Pinkie nodded at her, Ditzy felt it was safe to remove her hoof.

“Sorry Ditzy, but I think I’ve found what the Doctor wanted.”

“Did you now?” asked the approaching Doctor. Fluttershy was trotting behind him and the group met in the middle of the room. “Let’s see what you have Pinkie?” Pinkie practically shoved the blueprint into the Doctor’s face. The Time Lord walked over to the closest table and unfurled the plans so everypony could see it. It appeared to be a blueprint of the towers, though there was something different about it.

“Do you see Doctor?” asked Pinkie. “It looks a little different. doesn’t it? And take a look at that!” Pinkie pointed to one of the planning notes at the top of the blueprint. It simple said ‘Construction will commence on top of Canterlot castle.’ The Doctor’s eyes looked over the construction. The design was familiar to him, and in an instant, he knew what this was.

“This tower is different from the others because it isn’t for controlling the populace. Well it sort of is, basically this tower links all the towers together. However, it appears to have another purpose. The Doctor pointed to a component that was near the top of the tower. “Take a look at this component here, this is rather fascinating.” Everypony gazed at the part of blueprint the Doctor was pointing too.

“What’s so special about it Doctor?” asked Ditzy.

“From the description, it appears to absorb the magical energy in the air in order to power the machine. That’s why it’s located on top of the castle. The two most magically gifted ponies in Equestria live under this roof; it must be like a buffet for that machine.”

“But why does it need that,” asked Fluttershy.

“I believe it’s powering the machine, but I think it has another purpose as well. Sadly, it doesn’t say on this blueprint.”

“If that thing is meant to link the other towers together. Doesn’t that mean it’s finished!?” questioned Ditzy.

“Yes, your right.”

“So all we gotta do is destroy that mean old tower and everypony will go back to normal.”

“No; remember that if you remove the earplugs from a pony then you cause a neuron implosion which will kill them. The same goes for destroying the tower because it’s such a sudden cut from the link. However, a manual release is located at the base of the tower that should safely cut the link. Everypony will simply pass out and awaken free from any form of control.”

“So that’s what we have to do, we have have to save everypony!” announced Fluttershy, who broke out of her usual quiet voice.

“That’s right everypony, follow me to the top…” The Doctor was about to begin the righteous march toward the top of the castle, when he realised that they were now blocked off by their own barricade. “Um, Pinkie, could you…?”

“On it Doctor!” Pinkie gave a mock salute and began to break the speed barrier again.

Meanwhile…

Luna was now standing up, having regained her composure. She cleared her throat in order to get everypony’s attention. The Doctor, Vinyl and Octavia came in from the balcony while Dash and Rarity stopped their conversation beside the large bookshelf and trotted over to the princess.

“I would like to apologise, now is not a time for tears, yet I…”

“Princess, you have nothing to apologise for,” assured Rarity, but Luna would have none of it.

“No! It is my responsibility to protect all of you. Instead, I helped in this takeover. I may have been under their control. But I still helped nonetheless.”

“Didn’t you fight them at all?” asked Dash.

“I did but… none of my magic attacks worked. Such things as lifting and throwing them away worked but actual attacks appeared ineffective. Eventually, they overpowered me.” The Doctor was scratching his imaginary beard as he came to a conclusion.

“The cybermen are from a different reality where magic doesn’t exist. Although the rules are different here... Perhaps they have some odd form of immunity due to them being metal, but I couldn’t say without looking into it further.” A small awkward silence filled the room. It was rather unexpected, considering the Doctor knew what he wanted to ask but suddenly found himself incapable of asking Luna any further questions. Maybe it was because he knew that she was clearly not a hundred percent. Dash never liked this kind of awkward atmosphere and always did her best to break it whenever it occurred.

“Um… I… didn’t know you had a kid Princess,” stated Rainbow Dash. Too late did she realise her error in bringing it up when she saw the pained expression on Luna’s face. Dash cringed outwardly and berated herself for being so foolish. “I’m sorry princess…”

“No my little pony, you wouldn’t know. My sister didn’t even know until I told her several months ago. Understandably, it was quite a shock to her. You see I have been… suffering from nightmares myself.”

“Hold up, you can do that dream walking thing, can’t you?” asked Vinyl. “I mean, some of my friends have told me about you helping them in their dreams. Can’t you stop them?”

“To stop the nightmare you must first find the cause, and I know why I have them. Guilt, for not saving my son.” Luna stood up and walked over to the balcony. She gazed out to what the city was becoming. A metallic paradise for the cybermen and soon for the cyberponies as well. The express trains we’re delivering metal for the antennas all over Equestria, and at the rate they were being completed, the vision of the cybermen would be realised sooner, rather than later. “Then you have to stop the guilt, but I can’t. I simply can’t. From day one he was bred to be a soldier. I even called him Carnage in order to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies. This may surprise you, but before he was born, he was altered.”

“Altered? Altered how?” asked the Doctor.

“Scientists from my army altered his genetic code, making him stronger, faster, the perfect soldier. They did other things to him...but I would rather not say. I conceived him with one of my most loyal followers. a military stallion who i grew quite fond of.”

“Hold on,” interrupted the Doctor. “That’s impossible. You couldn’t have that kind of technology.” Luna let out a heavy sigh as she placed a forehoof over her face. Clearly she was trying to compose herself.

“What if I told you that we were once far more advanced than we are today?” This earned odd looks from the entire group and Luna continued to explain. “I’m telling you all of this in the strictest confidence. When the war was over, the planet had a lot of recovery to get through. According to my sister, she blamed technology moving too quickly as one of the reasons for the war and why it lasted so long. She destroyed so much technological advancement, and after several generations, all the races simply forgot any of it ever existed. Why do you think my sister has always pushed for the advancement of magic, but not of technology? I’m still not sure if I agree with her but I understand her reasoning. My sister had a lot of power after the war and slowly gave it back to the other races when she was satisfied she had changed the history books enough.”

“Th-that’s unbelievable,” said Octavia.

“It’s a lot to take in. My son was placed inside a stasis coffin before the final battle. I had hoped I would win, but as you know, I was defeated that day and Nightmare Moon was imprisoned and as a result, my son was left in the coffin. My son was born a Pegasus so I doubt he could retain the alicorn immortality. You are either born an alicorn or… well… that’s private. I will never see him again. While my sister has had many children over her thousand year reign, the one child I had- he shall nev- he shall…” Luna began to choke up so Rarity pulled a hanky out of seemingly nowhere. Luna wiped away a few stray tears and smiled in gratitude. “Thank you Rarity, you would have made a fine element of kindness.”

“Listen, this is interesting and all but shouldn’t we worry about these cyberpunks first?” interrupted Rainbow Dash.

“You’re right Dash,” said the Doctor. “Luna, how much do you remember of the Cybermen’s plans?”

“All of it. What do you wish to know?”

“Tell me, what is element x?”

“Ah, this has confused me actually. It’s magic, pure, raw magical energy.” The Doctor thought it over for a moment and then I smile of realisation hit his face.

“Oh, of course! The cybermen don’t believe in magic. They have no proper concept of it. So, they gave it another name. How they even came here is still a mystery I assume?”

“Yes, somepony from this world let them in. My sister. But she didn’t lead them here. For some reason they can’t remember, almost as it was removed from them. They gave them everything, the knowledge to harness magic, the towers, the means to come here and their final plan.”

“Luna, tell me everything.” As Luna began to explain, everypony’s face turned to a mix of surprise, shock and realisation. There was only one thing left to do. Stop the cybermen, or all was lost.

Author's Notes:

I would like to take a moment here to thank my editor, Sunny Dawn. I haven't had the chance yet and I would like to thank him/her for their fast and effective work.

So, what is next for the group? What is the master plan of the Cybermen? Will the Pony Doctor's group be sucessful in switching off the earpieces? Will Celestia get in the way? Find out next chapter :)