It was a dark night that let the full moon shine with brilliant white light. The moonlight shone through many windows that lined one side of an ornately decorated room. Within the room the light reflected off of the walls and floors of white marble giving the room a dim luminosity. Even the darkest of corners were touched by the light. The room, if it could be called that, was huge. From the floor to the ceiling there was a good thirty feet of room. From the very large double door, decorated with a stylized image of the sun, to the semi-circular shaped wall with the windows was close to fifty feet of space. Needless to say, the room was large enough to hold a small pegasus race.
In the middle of the room lay a very large, round bed. Surrounding the bed was a red carpet which led to the door. Four pillars flanked the carpet on its path from the door to the bed, two on each side, both made of the same white marble as the rest of the room. Within the bed was a barely stirring shape, a simple rise and fall of motion giving away that it was resting quietly. The resting form was that of Princess Celestia, her multi-hued mane settled in around her and her wings tucked loosely against her sides. The equine figure of the princess was full of grace, even in slumber. Her head was facing one of the walls of the room, one would assume she had fallen asleep gazing at the pictures and images on said wall.
This wall was lined with an elaborate mural that stretched from the door, and almost reached the windows. The beautiful designs managed to remain both elegantly crafted and simply depicted. The mural began with two alicorn, one white framed by the sun, and one dark framed by the moon. It told through images a tale of the two alicorn ruling over the land peacefully, rising the sun and the moon respectively for the many small equines that were shown among the land. After the peace shown there was a section devoted to the white alicorn engaged in battle with the other. The alicorn responsible for the moon looked different from before, decidedly more menacing, even on the mural. The white alicorn was shown to defeat the other with the power of six floating gems. After the section of turmoil spread a story of the white alicorn ruling over the lands peacefully, assuming the role of raising the moon as well as the sun. The latest edition was of six different colored equines surrounded by an aura of light, seemingly firing a chromatic beam of light toward the same alicorn that was depicted earlier in the mural. After that was a piece of the mural that was still being worked on, it seemed to be a repeat of the earlier pictographs where each alicorn sat in front of its respective celestial body. This time, however, they seemed much closer, even conveying a happiness through the mural.
Two things remained constant in the mural, the white alicorn and the sun. Other things were present, of course, but they were mostly just shapes of the land and the equines that lived within. However, there was one very distinct object that would stand out to even a passive viewer of the combined art and history display. The object in question was a blue rectangle with what appeared to be windows near the top. The rectangle was located near the section of battle between Celestia and the dark alicorn. The box was simply displayed there, but it was far too large on the mural to be simply background art. Near the box was a stallion with a brown coat and darker brown mane. His similarly brown eyes seemed to be fixed intently on the battle. In between his teeth there was a small tool, and one end was lit up with a bright blue light, pointing it toward the battle between the alicorns. After this glimpse of the box, however, it's not seen again on the mural, nor is the stallion with the strange glowing tool.
Without warning the air in the room started to shift and turn. Wind seemed to be blowing through the room soon enough, and not long after it could only be described as a gale. The wind itself felt warm, unnaturally so, nothing like the warmth of the sun. The smell of the wind was something that burned the nostrils, and it could only be described as the smell of lightning striking a little too close. A strange noise accompanied the gusting gale, and in the large room it was given an echoing quality. The sound itself was a high-pitched woosh followed by a low thump. This noise became louder and louder until suddenly stopping, and as the noise died so did the gusting stop. As all this was happening a big blue box not unlike the one on the mural just materialized in between the mural and the bed in the center of the room.
Of course, all this excitement awoke the occupant of the room. Celestia had awoke with a start as soon as she heard that noise, and as the box was materializing a smile crept across her snout. She stretched and yawned as the box continued to appear before her very eyes, seeming to drop in and out of reality with the noise until fully solidifying before her. She righted herself, already knowing what the box was, and who was about to step out of the doors.
A rumble and a crash came from within the box, and soon after the doors opened. There stood a bipedal figure framed by a bright light coming from within the box. It took a step forward on its two legs and then seemed to shimmer for a second or two. After the distortion stopped the figure seemed to have shrunk considerably, and was now on four legs. The doors behind the figure swung close, cutting off the bright light, and letting Celestia see that the figure was now one of the ponies she was so familiar with.
The colt standing before her with a cheery smile on his face needed no introductions. The brown coat was familiar, the wavy mane was new, however, far different from the wild, fluffed up mane depicted in the mural. The eyes were new, as well, no longer the dark brown but instead hazel. The thing that brought the most attention, however, was the silly looking red bow tie around the colt's neck. Not that it mattered, Celestia knew this colt well. She knew the colt would have an hourglass cutie mark, she knew this colt came from the planet Gallifrey located in the constellation Kasterborous. Perhaps most importantly, however, she knew this colt was the Doctor, the last of the Time Lords, and that knowledge made the smile on her muzzle spread even further.
"Hello, Celly!" the colt said in a cheery high pitched voice. The Doctor already had a silly grin on his snout that managed to brighten just a little more at the sight of Celestia's own happy expression. He tilted his head to the side and gave a mischievous wink before proudly proclaiming the obvious. "I'm back!"
The ornate door that led outside of the room burst inwards and there in golden armor stood two stocky white guard ponies.
"Princess, we-.. intruder!" One of the guardscolts said as they were charging the Doctor, clear to tackle him.
"Halt, Captain." Celestia spoke, she did not raise her voice, but there was an undeniable firmness within the words only barely noticeable under the ever calm and warm tone. Both ponies stopped in their tracks but continued to eye the colt in the tie wearily. "This colt is a very old friend of mine, Captain, there is no need for such an alarm."
"Hello, I'm the Doctor!" said colt spoke up, lifting a forelimb to wag at the two guards in some sort of greeting, "Ah, hooves, right. I'll have to get used to those, again."
The guards didn't respond at first, still eying the Doctor. They both gave him one last quizzical look before they both turned to their monarch. "Excuse the intrusion, Princess." the Captain spoke before he and his compatriot made their way out, closing the door as they did.
"They can be very protective, but that is their job." Celestia said before rising off the bed and standing to her full height.
"I could swear they were wearing the exact same armor the last time I was here," the Doctor said, before tilting his head, "speaking of, when was the last time I was here?"
"Oh a thousand and-then-some years." said the white alicorn as she turned her attention to a neatly sorted assortment of accessories near her bed. She began slipping her hooves into the golden hoofguards while they spoke.
"I'm usually a bit more memorable than a 'then-some years.' I must be losing my touch. Granted when you're immortal you have the right to forget some things from time to time." The Doctor spoke while he took a look about. There was no furniture in the room besides the bed and a few pillows on the ground near to said bed. "You're rather bland for a princess, you know. Where's the extravagant dressers and silver hairbrushes? A princess without hairbrushes, tha-" a small flash cut him off and drew his attention back to Celestia. Her horn was faintly glowing and there, held in the grip of a telekinesis spell was an old but well-cared for gold hairbrush which was being run through her flowing mane.
"You were saying, Doctor?" Celestia said, allowing herself a little grin. One of the many reasons she was fond of the strange time-and-space traveling pony was his enthusiasm, and she knew full well the reaction showing off her magic would give. Her little grin grew just a tiny bit as his reaction began.
"Oh, magic, I keep forgetting all these wonderful things. That is brilliant!" The Doctor took a step forward toward the sun goddess, watching the brush as it was moved by little more than a faint glow that surrounded it. "Not really magic, of course, that's just belittling. Telekinetic abilities relying heavily on the use of a subtle part of the brain linked to your horn. That's the reason it glows, obviously."
"Yes, obviously." Celestia said with a tone that could be taken as sarcasm, before the brush was placed back under the bed. Her next target of the magical movement was her crown and mantle. After placing both of those on, still receiving looks from the Doctor similar to that of a child in a toy store as she did, she made her way to the door. "You're just in time, Doctor."
"Really?" The colt asked, broken from his trance by her voice, "Just in time for what?"
"Sunrise." The doors opened as Celestia spoke the words, they moved by the two guards that had burst into the room earlier. Both stood straight and at alert even before the two walked past, but both could not keep their curious glances off of the Doctor.
"That's right, immortal goddess of the sun and all. Oh, I absolutely can't wait. This must be one of my lucky days." The brown colt said.
Both the Princess of the Sun and the Time Lord made their way down stretches of hallway keeping an equal stride with each other. The Doctor remained quiet, eying all of the scenery as they passed it, something akin to awe on his face as they did. Of course, it wasn't awe, awe wasn't something you felt often after traveling time and the stars for close to a thousand years, but it was close. There were no servants out and about given the early hour, but the two did pass a few guards on their rounds. The few guards they did pass did their best to not openly stare at the Doctor, and to their credit, they did very well. Most reasoned the colt must have been some sort of noble, despite the silly bow tie and the fact they had never seen him around the castle before. As they passed the guards simply took note of the colt's cutie mark, just in case, and moved on.
Finally Celestia stopped in front of a large double door set. While it was not nearly as emblazoned as the door to Celestia's chambers, it was decorated in a similar fashion, albeit a much simpler design. One door was a creamy white color, with a gold trim and a half sun in the middle. Mirroring this exactly was the its other door, which was a rich dark blue hue with silver lining and a half moon to complete the sun, both semi-circle celestial bodies forming a full circle. Both doors seemed to glow faintly for a split second form Celestia's magic, then swung outwards to reveal a balcony. The Doctor and Celestia both stepped out onto the balcony and the doors closed softly behind them.
Before them lay the entire city of Canterlot, which was very quiet at this hour. It was very peaceful, not a part of the city seemed to be moving, everypony resting comfortably. Beyond Canterlot the Doctor could make out rolling hills and small hamlets here and there, a river ran lazily through the hills and completed the idyllic image. Not far to the left of these hills was a large, wild-looking forest which spanned a sizable area. In the distance the last things he could see of the land were snow-capped mountains which spread across a small portion of the horizon. While this balcony gave an excellent view of Equestria, it gave an even more superb view of the night sky. It was a clear night and the stars twinkled and glistened brilliantly. The Doctor could see constellations and planets amongst the dark sky, but the thing that stood out the most was a beautiful band of stars that spread across the entire sky, an arm of the galaxy for all of Equestria to see. The moon was behind him, but he was perfectly content with the stars above him.
"I could never make the stars shine quite as bright as Luna does." Celestia said wistfully, also gazing above. "No matter what I tried it never truly came out so perfect. My sister is an artist with the stars, she is the goddess of the moon so it should be no surprise, but her sky always manages to take my breath away."
The Doctor, once again broken from a reverie, tilted his head, "Sister? Ah, yes... Luna. Her time is up, then? Everything went according to plan?"
"Yes, everything I hoped for and more. The Elements freed Luna of the being and she is currently adjusting to life here on Equestria. The only unfortunate thing is that she keeps herself locked away in her tower with books and tomes, reading up on the the thousand years she missed." Celestia gave a small sigh after she spoke, "She refuses to rule by my side until she is completely caught up, by her standards I fear that will take some time."
The Doctor's brow was furrowed, just slightly, "And you're sure it's gone? That being can be very... persistent."
"It is gone, Doctor," an almost undetectable twinge of doubt made its way into Celestia's confident tone, "I am sure of it."
The Doctor didn't seem convinced, "Let's hope so.." After a split second he visibly brightened, "I'm sure she'll be fine. Now then, lighter things, you promised a sun-raising... Hah, lighter things, sun raising." A grin spread across his snout.
Celestia couldn't help but give a small chuckle at the rather lame joke. "Yes, I shouldn't keep Equestria waiting."
The avatar of the sun took a strong stance, bracing herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then another, and one following that. Her horn began to glow with a soft yellow light that was very pronounced in the dark. The small light soon began to flare brighter and brighter as the seconds passed to the point the Doctor actually had to avert his gaze or be blinded. The act of raising the sun was second nature to Celestia, she had done it more times than she cared to remember and at this point she could cast her spell by pure instinct. She reached out with her magic and 'touched' the sun and as she did a familiar feeling spread through her body. She felt the sun's warmth, but with no harshness; and in her mind's eye she could see the sun's radiance, but with no glare. She savored the sensation as she went about her work of beckoning the sun to rise.
All in all the process took no more than three minutes but as it occurred the sky rapidly changed from black, to purple, to light blue as the sun broke the horizon. While Celestia cast her spell the Doctor had been watching the horizon, partly to avoid the blinding light coming from the alicorn's horn, but mostly to witness the sunrise. In the back of the Doctor's mind a very quiet, logical part of him was saying that what the alicorn behind him was doing was impossible. That Celestia moving a star around the cosmos with what she deemed as magic was so absurd that it defied comprehension. The rest of the Doctor, however, wasn't listening. This is what the Doctor lived for, moments like these in his long, long life. Beautiful and fleeting and impossible moments like this. As he watched the sun break the horizon and appear over the mountains his eyes went wide with joy and his face was bearing the largest smile he had managed in some time. The Doctor was feeling pure joy and exuberance as he was watching this, but there was one other feeling that was very apparent, one that he didn't feel so often anymore.
The Doctor, last of the Time Lords, was in awe.
Celestia's horn dimmed until it stopped shining altogether. For a moment, she stood there, watching the Doctor as he sat perfectly still and gazed at the sunrise.
"That.. was.. amazing." The Doctor said very quietly before turning his head and giving her a glimpse of his smile that spread from ear-to-ear. He turned his whole body around, "Thank you, thank you so much."
"I thought you might like that." Celestia said with a hint of amusement coming out of her serene voice. She was genuinely happy to have made the Doctor feel such emotion, she wanted to bring such joy to everypony's life as often as she could. When she succeeded in doing so she felt a feeling not unlike that of the warmth that she felt just moments ago.
The moment was brought to an end by the Doctor's stomach. It let forth an audible grumble, and the Doctor looked down before bringing his head back up, a sheepish look on it. "I don't suppose breakfast is being served soon? Temporal illusion energies tend to make one a bit peckish.. "
"As it happens it is going to be served once we reach the dining room. Come along, it's not far." Celestia turned and opened the double doors with her magic as she spoke, "Luna should be joining us there, as well. While we eat perhaps you can tell me what brought you back to Equestria, Doctor; or share some of your adventures with me." She looked back at him and smiled, "I'm sure you have some interesting tales you can tell."
The Doctor caught up to Celestia and matched her stride. He flashed a grin, "Oh, Celly, you don't know the half of it."
