"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."
-Mother Teresa

“The multiverse, she said, was like an old library whose shelves were packed with books arranged by a cataloging system that ranked them according to similarity, each book containing within its covers a story that varied only slightly from the stories of its immediate neighbours, but by increasing degrees from those of increasingly distant books.”
-Paul J. McAuley

New York City, 2023 Anno Dominae

Freedom Tower, the official nickname for the World Trade Center. The majestic building was the pride of a country that suffered an attack on the whims of a madman. Instead of breaking them, destroying their will to fight, it spurred on the people, built up its military and set out to fight the darkness that threaten them.

A lofty goal.

In the end, this buildup was not a waste of time.

The portal open in Europe, a few short tenuous years of peace with the Queen of Equestria, and the ever growing concern of the New Foals before war broke out was all the warning Earth received.

One that the US military had built up for and prepared.

Just not the enemy they were expecting to fight against.

Everywhere Celestia's armies appeared, so did the once proclaimed 'Police of the World', and the world re-learn that the US military still had the chops for all out war.

But even the one thing they couldn't overwhelm with superior firepower was the barrier.

But they can make the Tyrant's armies bleed for every person they changed and bolster the ranks of the European armies.

When Marcus had the goal of setting up the PHL task force. He chose the New York's underground bunkers as their base location. A decision shroud in secret to keep the people above unaware of the growing resistance group. The real reason he chose New York was due to the brimming information coming from around the world and refugees had them in bulk.

What the armies did and their prime targets, how the New Foals react to threats, new tactics and weapons on the field that other militaries have not reported seeing.

When the barrier began to consumed most of Europe, they openly announced their place to the city. Thus began the massive excavation under the City that Never Sleeps, linking the bunkers to the tunnels and subway systems beneath the Big Apple. Subways were closed for a time, but eventually reopen with new guidelines about the changes.

Subways were now used to rapidly deploy troops in highspeed train cars across the city and herd civilians to specially constructed bunkers if they were in the train car at the time of an attack.

Freedom Tower became the 'face' to the public, using the building as the main entrance for the PHL/UN Taskforce.

Now with the barrier just off the coast, New York turn from the Big Apple, to the Big Guns. The last refugees came months ago, people signing up to fight, no matter the country they came from. Training was fast but tough, drilled into recruits on what was expected of them, even PHL ponies volunteering to act like Royal Guards or New Foals to give the recruits on what to expect deep in the fight. The city's gangbangers and Mafia refuse to leave and began to hand out weapons to anyone still living in the city, no one stopped them. Why should they? To run only meant to fight later, and fighting against themselves was beyond idiotic in a city with a very large military presence.

Cheerilee sighed as she waited for the elevators to reach the Level 5 basement floor. The First Gate to the PHL headquarters. The doors open and she found herself staring at three .50 caliber machine gun nests and a twenty yard 'no man's land' between them.

Two of the heavy guns were on either side of the entrance leading out of the First Gate, concrete slabs of stone making it into a bunker like structure. The third hanging over the entrance way, also heavily fortified from its perch. An Army enlisted stood before her, weapon in hand and at the ready. Cheerilee trot towards them, her eyes trained on the enlisted.

"Password."

"Fuck that Solar Bitch."

A snort came from above, but said nothing else to the pass phrase. The enlisted smiled and nodded his head. "Ms. Cheerilee, pleasure as always."

"Hello Specialist Guzman." Cheerilee gave a strain smile, attempting to be light hearted.

"Ah, Mamí, I seen that look before. Which puto is the one carrying the news this time?" Guzman walked to the heavy steel doors and placed his face before the scanner.

"Same puto that tried to turn himself into a shish kabob yesterday afternoon." Cheerilee sighed to herself. That stallion simply refuses to sit down and rest. She watched as the scanner ping out positively while the doors slowly began to open.

"El Doctor eh?" Guzman smiled before stepping aside. "Best of luck then, chica."

"Thank you." Cheerilee trotted forward coming up to a train car. The Second Gate.

"Identification please." A emotionless voice rang out.

"Cheerilee, PHL ID number 002, Code: Unity." Cheerilee answered. Her eyes watched the walls warily.

And for good reason.

The Second Gate was a literal death trap, design by an over excited human that desired to make anyone sneaking in without authorization was going to die painfully. Two turrets would pop up from the train and mow down the entire room. If that didn't work, lethal gas will be used and even if that didn't work, nozzles would appear from the walls and flush the entire room with napalm. Cheerilee didn't read the rest, she figured that there was at least five other weapons and defenses systems in the death hole that were to cause an even more horrid death than the last.

"Access granted, welcome Ms. Cheerilee." Cheerilee gave a sigh of relief before boarding the train car. "Destination?"

"Hotel Quebec." Cheerilee answered as she took her seat, giving off a groan as she sat down. She has been on her hooves for far too long and not enough sleep.

"Acknowledge. Estimated time of arrival, ten minutes."

Cheerilee slowly began to doze off as the train rumbled to its destination. She closed her eyes, giving off a small yawn before she stood up straighter in an effort to stay awake.

"I want to be sure that this is real...and I don't want to have any regrets."

"Are you sure? I mean-"

"I-I-I know it seems pretty fast-"

"Say no more. I understand. No regrets, no old memories of what ifs and could’ve beens."

"Yeah. You don't think any less of me?"

"I could never think less of you even if I tried."

"You don't think its going to be..."

"Weird? I think it will be weird for both of us, don't you think?"

"I just... I just don't see you liking me the way you do.You're a human and I...

"I like you as the person you are. I grew to admire your resolve and strength..."

"Thank you."

"I'm also a butt man so you have that in spades."

"Marcus?!"

Cheerilee jerked awake, the train car screeching to a halt at the station, her face flushed with embarrassment at the memory.

"Welcome to the Third Gate. Have a nice day." The synthetic voice echoed over the speaker. Cheerilee jumped from her seat, her cheeks still warm from the small dream. She shook her head before coming up to a pair of very old and rusted bunker doors.

She then turn to the side and walked up to the wall on the left. She pushed a seemingly random set of bricks, before the wall parted and allowed her entry.

A rather devious trap since the bunker doors were sealed shut, and the rooms inside was filled to the brim with toxic and nuclear wastes. Any new foal that managed to breach this far without the proper knowledge of the hidden door was a death sentence. A slow and agonizing one. The barrier could stop poison and radiation, but couldn't cure a pony that was poisoned or irradiated.

Humans did use this entrance and the few that did use this one were usually 'top brass' or leaders of various Special Forces. They usually have a means of keeping this information quiet.

Namely suicide.

Still, the US/UN/PHL has even hired help to be brought down, though blindfolded and ears magically muffled.

One such group was in now, if the shouting was anything to go by.

"Come on, T. Be reasonable here, they called us in to help plan heist and get in the horror house, not volunteer ourselves for war. We're bank robbers, not soldiers or mercenaries."

"Nononono! Mikey my boy. I deal drugs, arms, and general chaos. I want in, I have to show these people how it is done."

"Yo dawg, just because you dealt with those dumbfuck jarheads back home doesn't mean they are the same everywhere. I remember getting a call from your boy Ron saying you just got your ass handed to you by the leader of this group."

"T. Every time he personally picks up the shipment of weapons and ammo, you pick a fight with him."

"And every time, we get a call from Ron or that fool Wade saying you need to go to the hospital."

"Argh! He just makes me so furious! And all he does is smile when he kicks my ass!"

"I think he finds you amusing Trevor."

“God damn it, you are not helping Lester!”

A roar of rage and the sound of three men laughing came from an office. No doubt Doctor called the best of the best.

Still...

Bank robbers?

She shook her head before turning down the hall, making her way past the clinic area. She looked in, somewhat surprised to see Carrot Top resting in the hall. Curious, she trotted up to the sleeping mare, only to find herself looking into the room she was sleeping by when she heard a curse coming from within. Seeing Scootaloo playing some board game with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom was rather surprising.

Seeing them with cutiemarks even more so.

She felt her heart ache at seeing her back, wingless and crippled, never to fly again. She wanted to step in and give her some comfort, but Scootaloo crowed in joy as Applebloom apparently landed on a spot on the board.

"Boardwalk! Hotel too! That will be 2 grand please."

"Aw dang it! Stupid dices hate me Ah tell ya!"

Cheerilee couldn't help but admire the young mare for acting like that. Scootaloo was always a tough little filly, there was little doubt that she was moving on from this dreaded point in her life.

Cheerilee smiled at the three, happy to see them together once more. No longer apart due to the war. They were the Cutie Mark Crusaders once more.

Yay!

However, she had more pressing concerns now that she knew how Carrot Top, Sweetie Bell, and Applebloom arrived within the bunker.

Doctor was here.

After going through the maze like complex, asking from passing soldiers and engineers alike for the eccentric stallion. She finally found him in his lab. Limping from computer to data sheets, the stallion was in full scientist mode.

"Hmm, curious. Very curious readings."

"Doctor."

"Ah! Cheerilee, see that you received my message. Found some interesting readings an hour ago while I was scanning." Doctor said, pulling up several data logs and placing them on the table.

Said table groan underneath the weight.

"You should be resting." Cheerilee warned him, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him with annoyance.

"Wait, before you go on, I found this transmission being sent out into deep space while I was scanning. The Tardis picked it up, very high tech broadcast, almost a full fifty years ahead of its time really. I wanted to show you when you got here." Doctor pulled out an old boombox and insert a tape cassette inside.

"Wow, that still works?" Cheerilee couldn't help but ask. As far as she knew, this thing was ancient in the term of tech that she was used to working with these days.

Even more so by human standards.

"Heh, I may have modified it a bit. Plus, who said this old girl needed to retire?" Doctor chuckled as he gently pat the old radio.

"The 80's." Cheerilee bluntly answered, causing the stallion to scoff.

"Bah! Time makes no differences to me! I can live the 80's forever if I so wished. But that would cause issues, given that I am a pony and not a human. Plus running into myself might be a problem too..." Doctor mused before shrugging and hitting the play button. "Thoughts for another time, now listen,"

Is this thing working?
*static*
Testing, testing, one two three. This is Isaac Acevedo...

The radio went dead, the final message finished and left the two occupants inside to muse over what they heard.

Cheerilee couldn't help but shudder at what she heard. "They're eating ponies? New Foals even?"

Doctor sat across from her, couldn't help but shake his head. "Not all that surprising really. With the world's agriculture and food ports being erased by the Barrier, hard times are to be followed. He is right though, in a few more months it will be far far worse. I was fortunate enough to pick up the signal while I was scanning the barrier."

“Who or what is Crowe Labs?” Cheerilee scrunched her snout in thought, trying to place the odd name. “I know Marcus or Vinyl said something with that name before.”

“Crowe Research & Development Labs.” Doctor answered, looking over his notes. “An advance military R&D contractors for the US military. Very good with their work, clean record as far as the information I have was up to date and accurate. I think they are the ones that made Allie Way’s HUD visor and Vinyl’s minigun saddle.”

“Right.” Cheerilee nodded her head at this. “Vinyl was making something with...Er...Wubs, from her reports, and sent some schematics to them to figure something out.”

“She should of sent it to me, I could possibly figure it out in less than an hour. After all, I do have a ‘Sonic’ Screwdriver.” Doctor muttered, but shrugged, wincing slightly. “Anyhoo, work is calling and wait for nopony.”

"Doctor." The mare growled at him, her eyes narrowing into slits. "You should be resting, not working."

"But I am resting. I am surrounded by my family, my loving wife, and in my Tardis. I'm not running around, getting shot at, or attempted to be trampled. Just let me have this Cheerilee." Doctor persuaded.

Cheerilee scowled at this statement. "I don't care, Doctor. You are injured, Time Lord physiology or not, you need rest. You just had a spear inside of you just several hours ago. Let the girls handle-!"

"NO!" Doctor shouted, his eyes filled with a mix of panic and anger. Cheerilee took a step back from his shout in surprise. "I can handle it. I don't want the girls to be used anymore in this war than necessary! As their father I forbade them to train for war!"

"That didn't stop Dinky or Sparkler from doing it anyways." Cheerilee said quietly, watching as the stallion seemingly deflated at these words.

"I know... This should of never happen." Doctor whispered out loud, his head buried in his forelegs. "None of this should be happening. I saw my life become perfect. No more running. No more fighting. No more deaths because of something I did or couldn't interfere with. It was... Safe."

Cheerilee walked closer to him, she could see the tears running down his face. She gently pat his back, watching as the eccentric stallion seemingly break down before her.

"I saw all their futures. From the moment I landed in Equestria, in a new body, with a grey pegasus with strange eyes. Giving me the most beautiful smile I have ever laid eyes on." Doctor looked up, giving Cheerilee a sad smile. "A mare that I could see heartache and wanting. A mother who is raising a child on her own to the best of her ability. And she still gave me the most cheerful and heartfelt smile while she was trying to make it by."

Cheerilee sat down and listen, hearing the Doctor explain their adventures, how they saved Sparkler and adopted her from a different time from their past. How happy he finally was after 900+ years of running from his past.

"And then...one night." Doctor whispered in a low tone. "I couldn't see it anymore. Try as I might, all their futures turn dark and messy. I didn't understand. I tried to use the old Tardis to find out what was happening, but she refused, she said 'time is shattering, and the Oncoming Storm is needed once more'. I waited for days for whatever was coming up. The only thing of note was an old ship being found by Lyra herself when she went scuba diving out in the Galloping Sea with her friends from Canterlot. Some Doctor Howie Waggoner expedition ship that was lost at sea. I took a gander at the artifacts, but nothing stood out. I failed once again to changed anything."

"But you have helped us more than you can imagine." Cheerilee gave him a small hug. "You gave us the means to cross between our world and Earth without using the portals, allowing us to slip past Royal Guards. You helped make the defenses of many ships and weapons, allowing humans a fighting chance against the horde of New Foals. You done so much Doctor, and your children are so proud of you. They too want to help, and there is little doubt in my mind seeing you struggle so much just so nothing bad can happen to them makes them want to help more."

Doctor lowered his head, giving a small sigh of acceptance. "Hmm... I suppose you are right. Here I am blubbering away like a daft when my children are showing up their old man."

Cheerilee smile and nod her head. "Yes, and said pony needs some rest."

Doctor snorted a bit, giving her an amused smile. "Says the pot to the kettle."

"I'm planning on sleeping in Marcus' quarters... But I got so used to him being around or in contact with me." Cheerilee rubbed her foreleg nervously, it ate at her that there has been no sign of Marcus as of yet. "Just...its hard sleep."

"I understand, believe me." Doctor sighed, before pulling out a report. "Besides, getting off track due to my old age, I have something else to show you. Its an alert I received from the Tardis while I was scanning as I said earlier."

"What is it?"

"From the energy particles, I would say it is a portal opening up." Doctor mused, rubbing chin somewhat. "The energy, while still enormous, was quite small compare to the power a portal uses when it first used."

"Hmm, where was it?"

"Boston."

"So it might be the Sleepy Hollow Bureau then." Cheerilee sighed a bit, ready to throw out report.

"I thought the same, but..." Doctor gave her small smile.

"But?"

"Well, unless the Tyrant have finally managed to figure out a way to open a portal without an anchor, I don't believe this is the Tyrant's doing. The energy was located several kilometres above the city." Doctor explained, giving her a small smile.

"And unless she has the ability to shoving pegasi troops through at light speed, it only lasted a second. Whatever it was, it vanished as quickly as it appeared before I can get a bead on it."

Cheerilee chewed on this information before nodding her head. "Right, I’ll let the Navy and Airforce know, they'll have their radar and scanners watching the sky for anything that pops up. And you. Get. Rest. Now."

Doctor only gave her small smile. "Maybe later, I have to go see Bon Bon, her session is about to come up. I'll get some rest after I am done."

Cheerilee gave a small groan of frustration, but conceded to him. "Fine. But after that, you are to rest. Your daughters and wife can take care of your duties, understand?"

Doctor gave her a warm smile and saluted her. "Roger, Esteemed Leader."

She shook her head before she walked out, leaving Doctor to gather his wits before heading to the medical wing of the base.

As he made his way past the head nurse, who only gave him a sad smile and nodded to his unasked question, he couldn't help but wonder on Bon Bon’s state of mind. Ever since Cheerilee told him of the strange words Bon Bon relayed to her and Marcus before the battle, he couldn't help but think this was one prediction that was completely wrong. He walked past Scootaloo's room, a quick glance telling him that his youngest daughter was inside with Pipsqueak, cheerfully playing a game of cards with the other young mares and her coltfriend. And got a good game going from the two nurses, a doctor, and Carrot Top as well.

"Full house!" Dinky laid the cards on the bed, all of the players groan and threw their cards down.

"Sonova-" One Doctor Sheffield cut herself off, but still caused a round of giggles. The doctor that worked on Scootaloo's wings couldn't help but narrow her eyes on the mare gathering her winnings. "I vote for Dinky to be the dealer and only the dealer."

"Aye!"

"Pip! You too!?"

"Sorry, Dinky, but I want win once in awhile too."

Doctor smiled and shook his head at the roar of laughter coming from the room. He made his way to the end of the hall, coming up to the last door before giving a light knock.

"Bon Bon? Its me, the Doctor."

He looked inside, seeing Bom Bon sitting in her bed, gripping the same battered lyra, her right eye focused on it while the left was looking up, tears pouring from her eyes.

"Lyra." Bon Bom whispered out, gently caressing the old instrument. "Soon, see, together...never."

Doctor flinched, looking at her as she just slapped him.

"Doctor, we need to go!"

"The Tyrant is right on us!"

"Initiation of emergency jump! Derpy when I say, hit that lever!"

"Right, Doctor."

"NOW-?!"

The Tardis screamed in agony, a bolt of pure magical energy slamming deep into her side, puncturing directly through her. Doctor couldn't help but cry out as well, feeling his long time friend in utter agony.

And then they jumped.

Screaming surround him, watching as ponies held on for dear life, the puncture hole was sucking everything out into the time-dimension void. He saw it happen, watching as the traumatized Bon Bon slowly lifted off the ground and flew past him to the hole. He let go of the panel and jumped after her, his legs slamming on the wall and nearly buckling from the strain of holding on the mare.

"Bon Bon! Close your eyes! Don't look into the vortex!" Doctor growled through his clenched teeth as he held onto Bon Bob's tail. The screaming from both ponies and the Tardis had nearly crippled him. But he felt the warm presence of his wife, her forelegs wrapping around the candy maker legs and pulled with him.

"Derpy! Keep your eyes closed!" Doctor pulled with all his might, his loving and brave wife right beside him as the pulled Bon Bon from the hole. The Tardis gave a shriek alarmed, the wonderful machine that carried him across time, space, and dimensions gave a final whimper of warning to which only he could ever understand.

"Brace yourselves, everypony! We coming in hard!" Doctor called out, securing Bon Bon to a nearby seat. "Derpy, get me to the control pan-"

The screaming whirlwind died off, only to restart once more as the blue box appeared over the city of Austin, tumbling end over end as it plunged towards the earth below.

If the ponies were in trouble before, it was even worse now, most of them began to cry out in alarm as they suddenly found themselves inside a tumbling metal coffin.

"Come on, come on, come on old girl." Doctor whispered frantically as he tried to keep himself upright. The Tardis was dying, the artificial gravity and engine was shutting off. "I'm so sorry. Please, just stay on for a couple more seconds."

The center console gave a deep warm hum, struggling to keep itself active after all the damage it sustained.

"That's it, just a little more. Derpy, get on-"

"This is Angel Eyes calling to any open military channels receiving this message. Blue Box has been hit, we are currently over the city of Austin and coming down hard. We are going to need medical personnel on standby for injuries."

"Good girl." Doctor continued on, desperately attempting to keep them in one piece. Scanners began to flicker wildly as he steered them away from the main city. The Tardis slowed as it tumbled, sluggishly swerving in between buildings as it made its way to Camp Mabry located on the outskirts of the city. "Almost there, just a little more!"

The Tardis gave one last lurch before the engines finally died and the Tardis became a falling brick. It gave off a single mournful warning before the Doctor found himself in complete darkness with the only light coming from the puncture hull.

"Everypony, brace for-"

Doctor jerked away from Bon Bon as she gently tapped his shoulders.

"Don't accuse of flailing. Unseen Happenings are life to be a part." Bon Bon struggled out, her face scrunching up in concentration as she word out her sentence.

Doctor gave her a warm smile before guiding her to the bed. "Okay. You're right. I'm sorry for not trying hard enough."

He gave a sad smile as Bon Bon gently tapped his snout, her left on focused on him while the right swirled in its socket.
"Blame DONOT- DONOT-DONOT!"

"Yes. You don't blame me..." Doctor whispered to her, she tilted her head as Doctor lowered his own. "But I blame myself."

Bon Bon only gave a jerky nod before looking to the side. "Soon, Moon and Chaos. Proclaimed gods war on man land. Slave Star gives hit first." Her eyes began to focus on him. Doctor's eyes widened at this, quickly grabbing a notepad and jot down what she said.

"What else do you see, Bonnie? Focus on-!" Doctor drop the pad and Bon Bon began to jerk erratically, her eyes, ears, and snout began to leak blood. He held her down as she began to shake, her legs began to flail and kick him in the ribs.

"NURSE! Bon Bon let go the visions! Don't fall into them!"

Dark wings spread across the sky, shooting forward at the down New Foal and snatching him from the six mares standing around him. His light poured into the pony body, ignoring the pony chasing him without a single thought.
The being landed, his four wings folding onto his back before leaning down and leaving a human, whole and unchanged on the ground.

"Marcus Renee, you have brought many sacrifices for the sake of your mission. Your soul bears the stain of sin, yet your path is dictated by righteousness. Do not deviate from it..."

Doctor held her down the best he could, Bon Bon was speaking far to rapidly for him to understand what she was saying. The nurse attempting to inject her with sedatives cried out as Doctor was unable to hold Bon Bon down and got caught with a flailing hoof to the eye.

A red pony stood amongst the dead guards, his eyes burning with hatred and insanity. He sneered at the castle, his rage ever building to its peak.

"YOU'D BETTER WATCH OUT CELESTIA!" He screamed into the sky. "BECAUSE NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP ME! NOT THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY! NOT YOUR ARMY OF PUPPETS! NOTHING!"

"AND YOU! ARE GOING! TO DIE!"

"Bonnie, listen to me! You falling into the visions! Let go of the visions" Doctor tried hard to get Bon Bon to snap out of it, but the mental blocks kept him from delving too deeply.

Marcus Renee stood in the forest, eyes on the hat he recently claimed from the now deceased Applejack. A large smile on his face as he thought back on how easy it was and how under prepared they were for him.

“I killed Applejack,” he marveled, turning her hat over in his hands. “So they’re not invincible after all. We can do this. We really can! WE CAN REALLY WIN THIS WAR!”

Doctor gritted his teeth, what he was about to do was dangerous on a whole new level, but there was little chance of Bon Bon escaping this nightmare of futures and pasts on her own.

Celestia stood before the ruins of Las Vegas, her face a strange mixture of organic and technological horrors. The drones quietly walked by the former sun princess as she looked on in distraught at the fallen city. The ash filled sky giving no light to a dead world, the only living thing around was herself.

“Everything is broken…” Celestia muttered.

Doctor growled as he pushed against the metal blocks, trying so hard to contact the mare within. His body was sore, tired, and reeked due to his unwashed coat. His shoulder was on fire, begging him to allow his regeneration to finally put an end to the pain with some rest.

He gathered his entire mental control into a single point and pushed, attempting to drill through the blockage. The nurses had just finished strapping the mare down when Bon Bon open her mouth in a silent scream. Doctor only had a moment of clarity when he finally broke through, then it became Tartarus on Equus.

His entire mind was assaulted by visions of the past, the present, the future and everything that was entitled to it.
Events that never happen. Showing up on a world where humanity is far more advance than the Tyrant expected, as this humanity face off against an alien threat and won, taking their technology for their own and using it against her.

Another where Lyra stood proudly among the defenders of Boston, fighting for what she believed in and spurring on others to keep the fight going.

A world filled with corpses, the Tyrant and her ponies far too late to do anything as humanity had killed itself off a long time ago.

Vision after vision, Doctor couldn't help but be horrified by what he was seeing.

'She is not seeing possible future events... She is seeing every possible event! Both future and the past!' Doctor mentally stood amongst the chaos of Bon Bon's mind. 'Every little thing that can change the course of history, she is seeing it at same time!'

Doctor pushed through, waves of possible futures and pasts buffeting against him as searched for the broken mare.
'Bon Bon! Bonnie, listen to me! Focus on my thoughts, focus on me!' Doctor mentally shouted out, but the mare seemingly ignored his orders

'You look, Doctor. Everywhen. Ponies are MONSTERS-MONSTERS-MONSTERS!' Bon Bon broken voice echoed around him. 'Die, everypony claims to reaper is good. We deserve to never be at all! Life is good with no ponies.'

'Don't say that Bonnie. You know that's not true.' Doctor continue to search, but the broken mind that was Bon Bon, it was like figuring out a rubik’s cube while tumbling through the air at terminal velocity.

'Places that our gazes upon, taint and reaper touch. Slave Star show truth of ponykind. We need to DIE-DIE-DIE!' Bon Bon screamed at him. 'Stealers forth the Babes! Rapers of Childs! Slave Lord of Men! Pony is Evil! I descend into mad and seer of our truths.'

'Was Lyra evil? Was she just another evil pony that you claim us to be!?' Doctor shouted at her, almost at once the visions slowed, he could feel her mind being insulted by what he said.

'Never! Honey Lyra! Forever! She stand for true light!' Bon Bon cried. The visions began to slow even further, would be worlds slowly melting away. 'She be Special. No bad, always righteous.'

'Its true that we gone astray. But its ponies like Lyra that make us great. To keep us on the right side of the tracks.' Doctor watched as the visions begin to darken and vanish. 'She made this entire resistance from scratch with a single marine and a hoof full of ponies. She is-'

'Lyra. Good pony.' Bon Bon appeared before him, tears streaming from her eyes. 'Lyra seer up to humans. Like mustache man wordings.'

'Charile Chaplin.' Doctor said out loud, walking closer to the sobbing mare.

'Another words.' Bon Bon sniffed out loud, rubbing her snout. 'Keep it, perfectly sounding.'

'And what words are that?'

'All it takes for evil to win, is for good men to do nothing.' Bon Bon answered, her words never wavered once, she smiled a bright smile. 'Good structure. Good on ponies. Fight the dark, fight for every persons for far years.'

'Yes, its a very good saying. Now then, it is time to sleep-!' Doctor jerked back, his eyes widened as Bon Bon vanished and he found himself in the ruins of Boston. He swallowed as he slowly turned around, finding an alicorn he really didn't want see at the moment.

'Bon Bon?' Doctor asked out loud, only to find himself silenced by her words.

'Lying Star no longer sit on blood throne. She comes. But us never alone.'

Doctor turn his head and stared at the group behind him. His jaw nearly drop as he saw both Lunar Princess and Lord of Chaos themselves standing before a group of humans and ponies.

"Hello Luna, Discord. Come to join my Perfect Harmony? Or do I have to destroy you both as well?"

Doctor jerked awake, his eyes wide in alarm as he looked up to see his wife standing above him, a worried look on her face.

"Derpy?! How long-?" Doctor tried to ask, only to kept silent by Derpy's hoof on his lips.

"You were out for several hours, I told the doctors and nurses not to move you because you could get hurt really bad if you were disrupted." Derpy gave him a sad look, almost looking upset with him. "You promised you wouldn't do that. You said it was too dangerous."

"I'm sorry, Derpy. I really am, but Bon Bon forced me to break that promise. I couldn't let her die." Doctor whispered to her, kissing her forehead. He turn to his side, seeing Bon Bon laid down next him, her face clean of blood. "For Lyra's sake and memory."

"Doctor." Derpy hugged him tightly, sniffing as she held him. "You still blame yourself, don't you? For Lyra's death?"
Doctor said nothing, only allowed himself to give a small shudder in response as he withheld a grieving cry. There was a reason why Lyra's death affected him in such a way.

Lyra's death was a 'fixed' point. It was only when she was captured that he ‘realized’ it.

While the vision of Lyra living and fighting with them shocked him somewhat, sadly though, those sets of playing cards was not in the deck when the hand of fate played its cards.

Lyra's death had to happen. Needed to happen. But he refused to heed it.

He believed Lyra was the key to gaining his future back, and nothing would stop him from getting it.

Fate was a cruel mistress to him for his arrogance.

The Tardis refused to move before he finally forced her to go to an enemy filled city. The Tyrant had placed many wardings in an attempt to stop him from rescuing Lyra and Bon Bon, taking more time than necessary to get there. The Tyrant herself was there as well, watching over the proceedings.

In the end, he failed to save Lyra, as Fate had decreed.

Several PHL members died in the fighting, Lyra was stoned and destroyed, Bon Bon was a broken shell of a mare, and the Tardis was nearly destroyed in the aftermath of the botched rescue mission.

He walked away with nothing to show for his troubles.

"Doctor, there is something else." Derpy released him, giving him a small look of confusion.

"What is it Derpy?"

"There was an alarm last night when you went to talk to Cheerilee and then another one just a few minutes ago." Derpy answered, looking to the hallway. His eyes widen in alarm before he jump from the bed and raced out the door. His shoulder gave an painful throb, but it was almost completely healed thanks to his impromptu rest from his ordeal with Bon Bon.

He slip across the polish floor, slamming into the wall as he tried to take corner, but he quickly got back onto his hooves and waved off several humans trying to help him. He made it to his lab, nearly bowling over Sparkler in his haste.

“Dad! The Tardis-” Sparkler began but was cut off by her father.

“I know, your mother told me!” Doctor called to her, slamming the door open and rushed up to the panel. “Okay girl, the Doctor is here, tell me what is going on.”

Derpy and Sparkler walked into the Tardis, seeing Doctor reading off a screen that was rapidly scrolling for him. Doctor muttered under his breath, his eyes closed as he ran the numbers in his head.

“Doctor/Dad?” Derpy and Sparkler blinked as the wide eye look of shock before he rapidly rushed over to communications.

“This is the Doctor to all units in Boston, we have a portal event happening over the city at this very moment. I repeat, a portal is opening over Boston!”

“This is Admiral Chirkov, acknowledging the report. All Naval ships are loaded with munitions and setting up defensive points in the harbor.”

“This is Colonel O'neill, read you loud and clear, Doc. All available Air units are being diverted to the city.”

“This is Major Bauer, Verstanden and standing by. All ground units are in position and awaiting further orders. We’ll be ready for the arschlöcher.”

“Hold fire, I just received word that it might be friendlies coming from the portal.” Doctor quickly looked over the scanner. “Hold fire!”

“Friendlies?” One Colonel O’neill asked in a confused tone. “Did the PHL capture a Portal Station without telling anyone.”

“Negative Colonel.” Cheerilee’s voice popped onto the line. “We are still working out a means of getting one ourselves. Doctor, who is it?”

“I’m working on it.” Doctor quickly ran his screwdriver over the data before pulling it up and reading information. His mind going back to the vision from Bon Bon, but that couldn’t happen. Discord was dead, and Luna was a stone statue in the Castle gardens. His focus was taken off his screwdriver when the Tardis gave a small chirp, almost sounding delighted by what it scanned. “Wait, that can’t be right?”

“Doctor?”

Boston

A modified Sea King, heavily armed and armored, soared through the air to its patrol across the city.

The pilot was the King of Britain himself, William Arthur Philip Louis. He thought himself just another human among the millions that fought for the survival of his species. His people refused to see him that way, even leaders of surviving countries refused to demote to a simple commoner or soldier. He was a leader, a shining example of a leader who fought on the front lines...Or in the air in his case as being a helicopter pilot.

William frown as he saw something in the air just above the city. He turn to his co-pilot as he made the observation. “Ismael? Do you see that?”

The young Middle Eastern looked in the direction he pointed at, his eyes narrowing before pulling up the camera guns for a better look. “Hold on, getting a better look with the gun-cam.”

“This is Crown Flight Leader to Gateroom, I am detecting a strange object in the sky above the city.” William reported, turning the Sea King to investigate. “Moving closer for a better view.”

“This is Gateroom to Crown Flight Leader, belay that. Head away from the object, we detect the object and its a portal event. You are in a Sea King, sir. A modified one, but not one made for heavy fighting.”

“Roger, bearing away to poin-!” William yelped in surprise as there was a large flash of light, forcing the Sea King to pull away sharply. Ismael yanked his head away from the camera, blinking his eyes to clear them, cursing in his native language as he got back on the gun.

“Crown Leader! Portal event has ended, pull out now because what ever the Tyrant sent in is giving off a large magical signature! Whatever it is, its packing some serious voodoo. Get out there!”

“Damn it all! If its as powerful as you say it is, then at least let me slow it down so you can chunk some missiles at the bloody thing!” William turn and nodded to his co-pilot, who only gave a grim smile and began to ready weapons.

The Sea King pulled a tight turn, heading back to face off against whatever was sent through.

“Guns ready and hot.” Ismael relayed, William nodded his head in response to this, pulling the Sea King up, gaining a first look at whatever came through and let it eat several thousand rounds of hot, magical enhanced lead.

“SOLDIERS OF THIS HISTORIC CITY! STAY YOUR WEAPONS! WE HAVE COME BEARING NEWS OF YOUR MISSING MILITARY COMMANDER!”

Sufficiently to say, even over the roar of the blades, the engines, buffeting winds, and ear protection; William’s ears were ringing for several hours after one Princess Luna’s proclamation.

Author's Notes:

Before anyone complains, the next chapter will be so action packed that you will be tired of it.

Also something horrible.

And maybe funny.

Can anyone figure out the true divergence between Canon and TCB worlds? It is mention within this chapter, so keep a look out. :D

Also, Starvation story by Doc Fluffy is Canon to Spectrum.
Told you guys I was going to link the AU stories.

Also, I don't want to hear 'But the Doctor can't do that!' Yeah? He is telepath right? Then he can.

Also read that he did something similar in the old series, I may be wrong but I decided to go for it.