Daring Do: A Derp in Timeby Lance SkyesChaptersPart 1: The Story BeginsPart 2: RealizationPart 3: Seeking AnswersPart 4: Crowded House? More Like Crowded Police BoxPart 1: The Story BeginsRainbow Dash was laying in her bedroom reading the last book in the Daring Do series. (For the second time.) “‘With Zowezodel sealed within the volcano and the Golden Edge returned to its perch atop the Iron Mountain,’” Rainbow Dash read aloud, “‘Daring Do finally found time to rest as Equestria returned to a state of peace.’” Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the book and tossed it to the side of her bed. “Man, I think that book was better the second time. Oh well, time to go back to the library and ask Twilight for the first book for the third time.” Dash then put on her saddlebag, put the book in it, and flew out of her house towards the library. It was a pretty peaceful day in Cloudsdale that day. Had Rainbow Dash paid attention, she would have noticed this was due to an absence of a particular clumsy pegasus, but this wouldn’t have bothered her anyway. She just wanted an excuse to leave Cloudsdale before a huge thunderstorm scheduled nearby for that afternoon. Dash flew by several other working pegasi on her way down to Ponyville, almost all of which waved to her as she passed. Dash waved back as she knew most of these ponies, but she kept on flying towards Ponyville. Once Dash got to Ponyville, she made her way to the library where Twilight was in the other room working on something. “Twilight!” Dash called when she got inside the library. “Are you here?” “Yeah,” Twilight called from the other room. “Give me a second. I’ll be right out.” Rainbow Dash waited for a moment in the doorway before Twilight stepped out from a door in the back of the library. “Good to see you Rainbow Dash. What brings you by?” Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebag and pulled out her Daring Do book. “I’m here to return this book,” Rainbow Dash said. “Also I’d like to check out Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue again.” Twilight took the book in her energy field and trotted over to where the Daring Do books were kept. “You know, Dash, a new author recently wrote a new Daring Do book and published it. I have it here, but I haven’t read it yet, myself.” Twilight used her magic to replace the book Dash gave her and pulled out another book next to where the first book went. “It’s a pretty strange title, though.” Rainbow Dash excitedly took the book and placed it in her saddlebag without even looking at the cover. She then made her way out the door, but not before Twilight stopped her. “Hold on a second, Dash. You’re not even going to look at the cover?” “I guess I could...” Rainbow Dash said, pulling the book out of her saddlebag. “Hmm, let’s see. ‘Daring Do: A Derp in Time.’ That is a weird title.” Rainbow Dash then examined the cover image. However, the color was incredibly faded despite being a new book. All Dash could gather was that there were four pegasi (one of which, she guessed, was Daring Do) and some small box that looked like it could barely fit one pony inside. “I might be able to get my hooves on some rainbow to restore this cover image when I get back to Cloudsdale. See ya soon, Twi.” Rainbow Dash then placed the book back in her saddlebag and flew off back towards her house in Cloudsdale, flying as fast as she could to avoid the thunderstorm that was already almost ready to begin. Once Dash got home, she quickly went to her room and pulled out the book. “The cover can wait,” she said to herself. “I’ve got some reading to do.” Dash excitedly opened the book to the first page. “‘Chapter one: The Pegasi in the Box.’ Maybe this will explain those three other pegasi and that box up front. ‘Daring Do was relaxing on a cloud high above the Everfree Forest not too far from the rest of Cloudsdale. With Equestria at peace, she had some time to rest. However, her rest was about to be cut short.’ Already awesome!” Rainbow Dash said, closing the book for a moment and holding it close to her chest. She then opened the book back up and continued reading. Daring Do woke up slowly as she noticed a shadow move over her face. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that another pegasus had moved a cloud over the one he was laying on. “Hay!” she shouted, flying off of the cloud she was laying on. “What’s the big idea, huh?” “Terribly sorry,” the pegasus who moved the cloud said. “I needed some way to get your attention.” The pegasus flew over into Daring’s view. he was a brown stallion with a dark brown mane and blue eyes. His cutie mark was an hourglass and he spoke with an accent that Daring wasn’t quite familiar with. “Who exactly are you?” Daring asked. “Oh, right,” the pegasus said. “I’m the Doctor.” Daring was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. Doctor who?” The Doctor smiled a little when Daring asked this. “Ah, I never get tired of hearing that. In fact, can you ask me that question again?” “Doctor who?” Daring asked, though this time asking it as though she were saying a regular sentence as a question. (e.g. Pony 1: “Is my mane frizzy?” Pony 2: “Uh... no?”) “Oh yes. Just one more time, please?” “Look, can you just tell me why you woke me up?” Daring asked, getting a little angry now. “Oh, right.” The Doctor took a second to try to remember why he was there in the first place. “I’ll just get right down to business. I need your help.” “My help? With what?” “Saving Equestria and several other worlds from certain destruction.” Just then, it began raining on the two. “What’s the big idea?” Daring asked, getting very angry now. “Am I on some hidden camera show?” “Terribly sorry about that,” the Doctor said. “That’s just one of my other companions, Derpy Hooves.” Rainbow Dash quickly dropped the book when she read that name. “Derpy?” she shouted out loud. “In a Daring Do book?” Just then, she took another look at the cover image. All four pegasi were completely grey. Upon closer inspection, however, Dash found that one of the ponies did have the same crossed eyes as Derpy. “This can’t be right. This can’t be right at all.” Dash then rushed out of her house with the book in her hooves towards the weather station where the rainbows were made. She did her best to cup some of the colorful liquid in her hooves to place it on the cover of the book, but she was unable to keep it in her hooves. After several attempts, she finally gave up and dipped the whole book in the rainbow. After about a second, she took the book out and wiped the excess liquid off of the cover. The whole thing was in color now and the four pegasi were easily identifiable. First, Dash found the pony who she already knew was Daring Do because of her hat. Next to Daring was the Doctor as described in the book. Behind him was Derpy, every detail of her an exact match with the Derpy Hooves she already knew. But that wasn’t all. On the other side of Daring was one pony who Rainbow Dash would never mistake for anypony else. A pony who she could always point out in a crowd in less than five seconds. Herself. Part 2: RealizationRainbow Dash flew as fast as she could back towards the library to tell Twilight about what she had found in the book and on the cover, completely ignoring the downpour she had to fly through. Fortunately, her saddlebag protected the book from getting wet or being blown away as Dash flew relentlessly through the wind and rain. At last, Rainbow Dash arrived at the library and rushed right into the door. “Twilight!” the pegasus shouted. “Twilight, are you here?” “I’m here,” Twilight said, flying in from the top floor. “What’s the matter?” Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the book. “Take a look at this cover. Do you notice anything strange about it?” Twilight levitated the book in front of her for a moment. “Oh, hay. You restored the color on the cover. Wait a second... did you mess with the cover while restoring it?” “I swear I didn’t. In fact, that’s exactly why I’m here. I was wondering if you knew how Derpy and I got on this cover.” Twilight looked at the cover a little closer to try to find evident or non-evident signs of tampering when she suddenly gasped with shock. “Rainbow Dash... you didn’t happen to look at who the author of this book was, did you?” Rainbow Dash flew over to where Twilight was. “I didn’t, actually. Why?” The confused pegasus grabbed the book in her hooves and looked back over the cover of the book. Suddenly, a look of pure shock came over her face as she read the name of the author. “This is impossible! This can’t be happening! Why does this book say that I’m the one who wrote it?” What the startled and confused pegasus was true. The book clearly said ‘Written by Rainbow Dash.’ “I don’t understand it either,” Twilight said. “You either tampered with it or you actually wrote it. Those are the only conclusions I can draw.” “Well I certainly didn’t tamper with it, but I know for a fact that I didn’t write it either. This is even more confusing than Pinkie Pie on Tuesday.” Twilight was silent for a moment before she finally sighed and spoke up. “I believe what you say, Rainbow Dash,” she said, “so there’s only one solution I can see.” The alicorn then walked up to Rainbow Dash, who was still staring at the book. “You need to continue reading it. Who knows, we might find some answers.” Rainbow Dash kept staring at the book, but listened to what Twilight said. “You might be right,” Rainbow Dash finally said. She then opened the book back up and tried to find where she left off. “Okay, let’s see... Here’s where I left off...” ”Terribly sorry about that,” the Doctor said. “That’s just one of my other companions, Derpy Hooves. Excuse me for a moment.” The Doctor then flew up to a grey pegasus with a bright yellow mane and crossed eyes. “What was that for, Derpy?” “I thought we were trying to wake her up,” Derpy replied. “Yes, but she was already awake. Don’t say it. Please don’t say it.” “Sorry, but I just don’t know what went wrong.” The Doctor’s ears drooped and he hit his face with his hoof. “You said it. You actually said it.” He then flew back over to Daring Do, who was still rather confused. “Now then, if you could come with me and Derpy...” “Hold on a second,” Daring said, backing away from the Doctor. “First off, what the hay is even going on here? And on top of that, you still didn’t answer my first question..” “Which one? ‘Doctor who?’” “No, the one after that.” “‘Am I on one of those hidden camera shows?’” “Yeah, that one.” The Doctor laughed a little to himself. “No, you’re not on a hidden camera show. Believe me, I’ve tried running those kinds of shows before. I couldn’t keep a joke like that running if I tried. Anyway, are you going to come with me and Derpy to save Equestria or not?” Daring thought about this offer for a moment before answering. She knew for a fact these two ponies were crazy, but it couldn’t hurt to see if there was any truth behind this stallion’s offer. Could it? “You know what?” Daring finally said. “I’m in.” “Excellent,” the Doctor said. “Follow me. Derpy, come on.” The Doctor then began flying downwards towards the Everfree Forest with Derpy following like a puppy. “Why is this guy headed for the Everfree Forest?” Daring asked herself when the two ponies were gone. Finally, she just shrugged and began following the two. When she finally landed, the Doctor was trotting into the forest, looking around as though trying to find something. “What are you looking for, Doctor?” “A blue box,” the Doctor replied, not turning around to look at Daring. “Probably about as tall as the length of an average pony.” Daring was now more confused than ever. “And why are we looking for such a small box?” “Because that’s the vehicle Derpy and I came in. And before you say anything, you’ll understand how we fit in there once we find the box.” Daring was about to speak up, but Derpy’s voice from somewhere not too far away stopped her. “I found the TARDIS, Doctor,” she called. “It’s over here!” “What the hay is a TARDIS?” Daring asked as the Doctor galloped past her. “Follow me and you’ll find out,” the Doctor replied, not even slowing down. Daring just sighed and began following the Doctor. “You still aren’t answering a single one of my questions, Doctor!” she called. The Doctor either didn’t hear her or didn’t even pay attention. He just kept on galloping towards where Derpy was. “Wow this guy’s a nutcase.” “I heard that,” the Doctor called back to Daring. “And the word you’re looking for is ‘madman’, not nutcase.” Daring was about to say something else, (something she probably would have regretted) but all of a sudden, the Doctor came to an abrupt halt. “Why are you stopping?” Daring asked. “Are we there already?” The Doctor turned around with a smile on his face. “Yes we are,” he said. “Daring Do, I present to you... the TARDIS.” The Doctor then stepped to the side to reveal a dirty-looking blue box with the words ‘Police Public Call Box’ written across the top above the two doors and a small light at the very top of the box. “It’s small,” was Daring’s first comment. “And... kinda looks like it needs to be washed.” “Well, she never hears that second comment,” the Doctor said, trotting up to the box and opening the door. “Are you two coming?” “Oh, right,” Derpy said, flying into the open door. The Doctor was about to walk in with Derpy, but stopped when he noticed that Daring Do wasn’t following him. “Aren’t you coming?” Daring sighed in defeat. “Do I really have a choice at this point?” The Doctor pretended to think about this for a moment, sticking his head out of the box. “Hmm... nope, not really.” With a smile he went the rest of the way into the box. Daring stood still for a moment, but eventually trotted into the box, entirely unsure of what to expect. “And that’s the first chapter,” Rainbow Dash said, closing the book and looking over to her alicorn friend. “If I did write this book, I would have put myself in the first chapter.” “Maybe it’s just because you aren’t important to the story just yet,” Twilight said. “Maybe you’ll turn up if you read a little further.” “Okay...” Rainbow Dash then opened the book back up and turned to the second chapter. “‘Chapter two: The Time Machine...’” Part 3: Seeking AnswersRainbow Dash was sitting in a chair in the corner of the library with the book still in her lap. “I just don’t get it,” she said to Twilight. “How could Derpy be in a Daring Do book that I wrote? Just to be clear, I’m asking how Derpy is in the book and how I wrote it.” “I’m telling you, Dash,” Twilight said, “you need to read further. I’m sure answers will turn up if you have faith.” Twilight then trotted over and levitated the book in front of her. “Besides, I want to read the rest of this book. Now, let’s see...” As Twilight was flipping through the pages, Rainbow Dash grabbed the book out of Twilight’s energy field. “Hay, my questions, my book...” Rainbow Dash flipped to the back cover of the book and showed it to Twilight. “My author’s signature. Wait, I actually signed this? Dear sweet Celestia, this gets creepier and creepier.” “Well, now that you have your book back, are you going to read it or not?” Rainbow Dash looked down at the book for a moment. “Yeah,” the pegasus finally said, opening the book back up. “I’ll go ahead and read it. Let’s see... ‘Chapter two: The Blue Box. Daring Do trotted into the small box, not knowing what to expect...’” ...but when she got inside, she was at a total loss for words. Somehow, she had gone from a tiny box to a huge room full of buttons, switches, screens, blinking lights... lots of other things that she had no idea what they were. “What the hay is all this?” she asked nopony in particular as she looked around the room with wide eyes and her jaw hung open. “It’s called the TARDIS,” the Doctor replied, galloping around the center console and not really paying attention to Daring. “It’s a, uh, time machine. I mean... Derpy, you tell her. I need to concentrate.” “Okay, Doctor,” Derpy replied. She then turned around to Daring. “It’s called the TARDIS. That’s an acronym for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It’s pretty much a ship that can move anywhere in time and space. Back in time, forwards in time, to the far corners of this universe, almost anywhere.” Derpy then turned around to the Doctor. “How was that, Doctor?” “Picture perfect,” the Doctor replied. “I knew you were paying attention last time.” “So...” Daring said, “are we going anywhere in particular?” “No, actually. We aren’t going anywhere. We’re staying right here in this one spot in Equestria.” Daring was about to begin arguing, but Derpy quickly flew over and whispered something into Daring’s ear. “Really?” Daring asked Derpy. “That’s what I need to ask?” Derpy smiled and nodded in reply. “Fine. So, Doctor, when are we going?” “Derpy told you to say that, didn’t she?” the Doctor asked. “Thanks for teaching her that, Derpy. We’re moving forward about 100 years to the time period where Derpy’s from. There’s one more passenger we need to pick up before we can get started on what we’re doing. Hold on to something, you two. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.” “Bumpy ride?” Daring asked. “You might want to listen to him,” Derpy said, flying down near Daring and hanging on to a rail. “It may be his ship that he’s been piloting for the past few centuries, but he still hasn’t mastered flying it smoothly.” “Centuries? How old is this guy?” “A thousand or so years,” the Doctor replied, putting his hoof on a large switch. “I’ll get into the details once everypony’s here. As ironic as my track record would make it seem, I don’t like explaining everything about me every single time I wind up somewhere. Now hold on, everypony!” Before Daring could ask a single other question, the Doctor quickly pulled the lever his hoof was on and the entire room began rocking around the ponies, tossing Daring around. “I told you to hang on to something!” “I was!” Daring shouted, doing her best to remain upright. She was about to be knocked over to the other side of the room, but Derpy was quick enough to catch her. “Thanks, I guess.” “Don’t mention it,” Derpy replied. “You are a first-time flyer, after all.” Daring was about to say something when the room suddenly stopped shaking. Daring looked over to find the Doctor standing at the center console again, holding the lever he pulled in its original position. “Nice catch, Derpy,” he said. He then began trotting towards the door where the three ponies had originally entered from. “Come on, you two. We’re here.” “Where exactly is ‘here’ anyway?” Daring asked, very frustrated that almost none of her questions were being answered. “A town called Ponyville,” Derpy replied. “This is where I’m from.” “It won’t be built for another ten years, though, Daring,” the Doctor said, poking his head out the door and looking around. Suddenly, he let out a quick yelp and quickly slammed the door. “Daring... how good are you with dangerous animals?” “Dangerous animals?” Daring asked, almost smiling. “What kind of dangerous animals?” “Timber Wolves. Scary, dangerous, pony- and Time Lord-eating Timber Wolves.” “Come on, Doctor,” Daring said, happily trotting up to the door. “You’re afraid of a few little Timber Wolves? Somepony give me a challenge for once.” Daring then opened the door and trotted up to the three Timber Wolves who were waiting outside the TARDIS. One of them roared right in Daring’s face as she stepped out, but this didn’t phase her one bit. “A few breath mints would go a long way for you three. But for now, I have to make you pay for threatening my new friends.” Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor could only press his ear up against the door to listen to the flurry of growling, snarling, and hooves impacting on wood. After a while, the door suddenly opened, startling the Doctor and nearly making him fall over. On the other side of the door was Daring Do with only a few scratches, a couple splinters, and a messed-up mane. “Are you alright, Daring?” the Doctor asked. “Am I alright?” Daring repeated. “Pfft. You should see what a typical Tuesday is for me if you have to ask me that. Now come on, you two. Those Timber Wolves are gone.” Derpy and the Doctor looked at each other for a moment as though silently asking each other, “Who the hay is this pony?” After a while, though, the Doctor trotted out of the TARDIS uneasily with Derpy following close behind. “Okay,” Daring started, “where is this ‘Ponyville’, anyway?” “I know where it is,” Derpy said, waving her hoof in the air. “Follow me!” “Okay,” the Doctor said. “Lead the way.” Derpy nodded and began flying in the opposite direction of where the three were originally facing. Daring and the Doctor began following Derpy, neither one sure if Derpy was going the right way. After a little while, the three pegasi found themselves in the town of Ponyville, a rather small town with only about a hundred or so ponies. “So, Derpy,” the Doctor said, “do you know where our fourth passenger is?” “No, I don’t,” Derpy replied sadly. “Hay, why don’t we ask Twilight where Rainbow Dash is?” Just as Rainbow Dash read that line, there was a knock at the door. “I wonder who that is,” Twilight said, trotting over to the door. However, Rainbow Dash was still reading and didn’t hear the knocking on the door. The trio trotted through Ponyville, looking for the library near the center of town. They passed by many other ponies, several of which were kind of looking at the three like they didn’t quite belong there. (Maybe because they were all pegasi who probably lived in Cloudsdale and were here in Ponyville for whatever reason, as well as the fact that one of them was wearing clothes like one would wear if they were going into a forest for a period of several days.) After a while, Daring finally spoke up. “So, where exactly are we going, again?” “To the town library,” the Doctor replied. “There’s a certain pony we need to talk to.” “Hay,” Derpy suddenly said. “We’re here.” The other two pegasi stopped and looked in front of them to find themselves standing in front of what looked like a large hollow tree that actually looked like it was suitable for a pony to live in. “Well that was easy enough,” the Doctor said. He then trotted up and knocked on the door. There was a pause for a moment before he heard hoofsteps trotting towards the door. When the door opened, on the other side stood a purple alicorn with a lavender mane that had hot pink and dark purple highlights. “Oh, hello Doctor,” the alicorn said as he and Derpy bowed, followed quickly by Daring. “It’s been a while.” [Author’s note: It’s a little known fact that Twilight was once one of Doctor Whooves’ companions.] “It certainly has,” the Doctor replied, looking at the alicorn’s wings. “Anyway, you know Derpy, so I’ll skip straight to introducing a more recent companion of mine. This is Daring Do.” Rainbow Dash quickly put the book down and flew as fast as she could to the door once she managed to “put two and two and two together,” as Pinkie said. The knocking on the door, the “purple alicorn” who answered the door... Ponyville in general! What was going on in the book was happening right at the front door of the library! There was no way Dash was going to miss an opportunity to meet Daring Do. “Nice to meet you, Daring Do,” Twilight said, shaking Daring’s hoof. “I’ve read about all of your adventures.” “They wrote books about me?” Daring asked, surprised. “I had no idea I was that popular.” Just as Twilight and Daring were about to go into further conversation, Rainbow Dash flew in and almost knocked Twilight over as she landed. “Daring Do?” Rainbow Dash asked, doing her best not to hyperventilate and, in a word, geek out. “It’s so great to meet you! I’m a huge fan!” “Geez,” Daring said. “Does everypony here know all about my accomplishments?” “I’m here, too, Rainbow Dash,” Derpy said. Rainbow Dash leaned a little to the left to look at Derpy. “I noticed.” Rainbow Dash then turned back to Daring. “So, what are you doing here in Ponyville? For that matter, didn’t you live a hundred years ago?” “One of your questions is the same as mine,” Daring replied. She then turned to the Doctor. “But this stallion is the one who has the answers, and he insisted on waiting for when we found you before answering any questions I threw at him.” “Nice to finally meet you, Rainbow Dash,” the Doctor said, stepping forward. “I’m the Doctor.” Rainbow Dash was about to ask the Doctor’s favorite question, but Daring stopped her. “Don’t ask him that. You’re not going to get an answer.” Rainbow Dash nodded in reply. “So, what are you doing here, Doctor?” Twilight asked. “I’ve come for Rainbow Dash,” the Doctor replied. “I have a problem that I think she’ll be able to help with.” “Me?” Rainbow Dash asked, her confusion obvious. “Why would you need me?” “That I can explain later, but for right now, all I can tell you is that Equestria is in terrible peril.” “Do we need to bring the others with the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight asked. “My dear Twilight,” the Doctor started. “You know as well as I do that I can’t bring that many ponies along. Just the four of us will be enough.” “Four of us?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You’re talking like I already agreed to go.” “Do you agree to go?” Rainbow Dash paused for a moment and looked at the Doctor with an expression that looked like a mix between “What kind of stupid question is that?” and “*sigh* Yes” The vocal result of this was, “Yeah, let’s get going already.” “Hold on a second, Doctor,” Twilight said. “There’s a book over there that was written by Rainbow Dash. Or, now that you’re involved, probably will be written by Rainbow Dash. You, her, Derpy, and Daring are all in it. Does that mean that book will say everything that happens to you four?” The Doctor sighed before answering this. “Forgive me if my tone of voice gives any spoilers, but yes, it does... to the word.” Twilight got a hint of sadness in her eye, but shook it off and turned to Rainbow Dash. “Be safe, Rainbow Dash.” “Of course I’m going to be safe,” Rainbow Dash quickly replied. “No, I mean be really careful. Don’t let anything happen to you.” “I’ll be all right and you’ll know that, Twilight. You have the book right there.” Twilight sighed before responding. “That’s what worries me.” “Can we get going?” Daring asked. “I’d really like to have some questions answered now that the whole herd’s together.” (“A herd,” the Doctor said to himself. “That sounds better than calling us a gang.”) “Daring’s right,” the Doctor said out loud. “We should get going.” “Goodbye, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “I’ll see you soon. Doctor, do me a favor and don’t come back for half an hour. It should take me about that long to read the whole book.” “Will do, Twilight,” the Doctor replied. “Come on, everypony.” The four pegasi (Dash, Derpy, Daring, and Doctor) then began walking flying out of town and towards the Everfree where the Doctor parked the TARDIS. Part 4: Crowded House? More Like Crowded Police BoxTwilight trotted back into the library and used her magic to pick up the book Rainbow Dash dropped minutes before. “The Doctor couldn’t have been saying what I think he was saying,” Twilight said to herself, flipping to the third chapter. “If Rainbow Dash were to not make it, then she couldn’t write the book, right?” Twilight sighed a nervous sigh before sitting down to begin reading. “‘Chapter Three: The Four Pegasi...’” ”So I was offered an adventure,” the rainbow pegasus said. “But nopony told me what kind of adventure.” “Same here,” Daring Do added. “I was just pulled right off of a cloud by these two a few hours ago.” “Are you sure it wasn’t more like a hundred years ago?” the Doctor joked. This actually made the other three giggle a little. “Anyway, the adventure I offered is something beyond anything you could imagine, Rainbow Dash.” “Really?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Anything?” “Yup. Anything.” Just as the Doctor was saying this, the four were over the Everfree Forest. “I’ll explain when we get to the TARDIS. Follow me.” The Doctor then began flying straight down into the Everfree. “What the hay is a TARDIS?” Dash asked. “It’s like a time machine,” Derpy replied before following the Doctor. Rainbow Dash looked at Daring as though asking her if she knew anything, but Daring just shrugged and flew down with the other two, followed by Rainbow Dash. [Author’s note: In this story, I’ll start and end each chapter with Twilight reading the book, but the rest of it will be from Rainbow Dash’s point of view. (Not first-pony view, but what’s going on around her.) This way, I can show exactly what’s going on through everypony’s minds during the adventure, and that’s something I can’t do in a book.] About a hundred questions were going through Rainbow Dash’s mind as the four pegasi finally landed. Why were they in the Everfree Forest? How is Daring Do here? How does Twilight know this stallion? How does Derpy know this stallion? And why were the four standing in front of a tiny blue box? “I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” the Doctor said, standing next to the box. Rainbow Dash was about to respond, but Daring cut her off quickly. “And it took you that long to figure that out?” the impatient adventurer asked. “Hay,” Rainbow Dash shouted. “He was talking to me. Just because you’re one of my three heroes doesn’t mean you can cut me off like that.” “Actually, I was talking to both of you,” the Doctor said. “But first thing’s first. Everypony but you, Rainbow Dash, has already been acquainted with the TARDIS. Better you step in right now so I can answer all the questions you’re going to have quickly. After that, I can answer whatever questions either of you two have that don’t regard this tiny blue box of mine.” “You want me to... go inside that tiny blue box?” Rainbow Dash asked. “It’s bigger on the inside,” Derpy and Daring said in unison, kind of creeping each other out. “Yeah, what they said,” the Doctor said, trotting into the TARDIS, followed closely by Derpy. Daring hung back for a split second to give Rainbow Dash a quick wink before following the other two into the TARDIS. “I guess I have been through weirder,” Rainbow Dash said to herself, finding that she was the only pony standing outside of the box. After hardly ten seconds, she gave a heavy sigh and trotted into the box. When she stepped in a look of sheer disbelief washed over her face and, if it were even possible, her entire body. She found herself in a huge room full of knobs and buttons and levers and a huge pillar in the center that had even more strange buttons and screens all around its base. “What... the...?” “Yup,” the Doctor said, pulling some levers and pressing some buttons around the center pillar. “That’s the exact same reaction just about everyone has.” “It’s bigger...” Rainbow Dash tried to say. “...on the inside... How is this possible?” “The specifics are a bit over your head, I’m afraid,” the Doctor said. “One way of looking at it is thinking of the door of the TARDIS as some kind of portal that leads to a different world. Namely, this room and everything down that long and confusing hallway over there.” The Doctor indicated another doorway on the other side of the room that led to a hallway that extended further into two different directions. “Ahem,” Daring Do said. “I’m sorry, but weren’t we going to get to answering my questions sometime soon?” “And I still have questions too,” Rainbow Dash added. “Yes, of course,” the Doctor said. “Derpy, watch the control panel. Don’t touch anything. Just let me know if any red lights start flashing.” “Okie-dokie,” Derpy said. She then flew over and stood at one of the panels on the center pillar. “And don’t get any muffin crumbs on the control panel again. I won’t be able to stand another detour to Oakside Park.” Derpy nodded in reply and resumed her idle standing while the Doctor turned back to Daring Do and Rainbow Dash. “Now then, first thing. Daring, you were wondering about what Derpy said about me ‘piloting this ship for the past few centuries.’” “Wait,” Rainbow Dash said. “Centuries? How old are you?” “Roughly a thousand years. See, I’m technically not a pony. I’m actually what’s called a Time Lord. One of an immortal but nearly extinct race of time travelers. When a Time Lord is on the brink of death, we have the power to regenerate ourselves into a new body and a new personality, completely recovered and in perfect health. In this case, I regenerated from a previous form into this equine form you see me as now. Rainbow Dash, your turn to ask a question.” “Okay,” Rainbow Dash said, pausing for a moment to consider what to ask the Doctor. “I guess my first question is... what do you know about that book I found in Twilight’s library that was apparently written by me?” “To be honest, nothing.” Rainbow Dash was about to say something, but the Doctor quickly stopped her. “Allow me to explain that. The TARDIS can move anywhere in space and time. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m from the future, though. Maybe I’ll deliver the book in my future but in Twilight’s past. As well, that likely means you’ll write the book in your future.” “Well that explains just about everything,” Rainbow Dash said. “My turn,” Daring quickly said. “Why exactly have you brought me and this prismatic pegasus here?” “You’ll have to be a little more specific,” the Doctor said. “There’s two ways I can interpret that question and each interpretation has it’s own answer.” “Okay... What kind of adventure have we been summoned for?” “That I can answer. I’ve detected a dangerous anomaly near Equestria. A ship full of dangerous creatures called Cyberponies is headed this way. Cyberponies are powerful robot-like creatures who were once organic ponies who were seeking power and immortality by replacing every part of their bodies bit by bit with cybernetic components until they became soulless, merciless warriors on an eternal warpath to convert all living beings into Cyberponies.” Daring Do and Rainbow Dash stood there, staring at the Doctor with open-mouthed expressions. Neither one had ever heard a more dark and vile story. “Wow,” Daring said. “And we’re supposed to stop them?” “Didn’t you say they were powerful and immortal?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I did,” the Doctor replied. “However, I’ve done battle with them many times over the centuries not through physical combat, but through battles of wits and skill. Now then, did you have one more question, Rainbow Dash?” “Oh, I... guess I did,” Rainbow Dash said. “I can understand why you would want Daring Do to help you with this, but why me? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be here, but why did you want me here?” The Doctor chuckled a little before answering. “Well, as you may know, it’s always a good idea to keep a family together.” Twilight pretty much threw the book when she read that line. “I didn’t read that right, did I?” Twilight asked. She picked the book back up and reread that last line. “This is impossible.” Twilight then continued to read the book. ”What are you talking about?” the prismatic pegasus asked the Doctor. “Isn’t it obvious?” the Doctor replied. “Look at each other. Quite frankly, I’m not sure how you can’t figure out that you two are related.” Rainbow Dash and Daring Do, for the first time since they stepped into the TARDIS, actually looked at each other and noticed their similarities. Their manes had a similar pattern (albeit contrasting coloration) and they had the same eye color. “I never noticed before,” Rainbow Dash said. “I knew we had similar adventurous personalities, but I never thought we’d actually be related.” “Yup,” the Doctor replied. “Rainbow Dash, say hello to your great-grandmother. Daring Do, say hello to your great-granddaughter.” “There’s no way...” Daring said to herself. “I never thought that my heir would be so... bright. How do you get through the jungle without getting eaten by predators?” “Actually, I don’t adventure through jungles,” Rainbow Dash said. “I usually either charge straight into battle with my friends or just practice my extreme flying skills. I really take pride in my moves.” “You can finish your family reunion later,” the Doctor said. “There’s kind of a Cyberpony invasion that’s on its way to enslave Equestria.” “I suppose if it means saving Equestria...” Rainbow Dash said. “We could catch up later,” Daring finished. “All right, then,” the Doctor said, trotting over to the center pillar and nudging Derpy out of the way. “Let’s get going, everypony. ALLONS-Y!” The Doctor then pulled a huge lever and the four pegasi were on their way towards the Cyberpony ship. Twilight lowered the book and just stared off into space for a moment. “I never would have seen that coming,” the alicorn said to herself with an expression of disbelief on her face. “Wait a second. Did he say ‘Cyberpony’!?”
Part 1: The Story BeginsRainbow Dash was laying in her bedroom reading the last book in the Daring Do series. (For the second time.) “‘With Zowezodel sealed within the volcano and the Golden Edge returned to its perch atop the Iron Mountain,’” Rainbow Dash read aloud, “‘Daring Do finally found time to rest as Equestria returned to a state of peace.’” Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the book and tossed it to the side of her bed. “Man, I think that book was better the second time. Oh well, time to go back to the library and ask Twilight for the first book for the third time.” Dash then put on her saddlebag, put the book in it, and flew out of her house towards the library. It was a pretty peaceful day in Cloudsdale that day. Had Rainbow Dash paid attention, she would have noticed this was due to an absence of a particular clumsy pegasus, but this wouldn’t have bothered her anyway. She just wanted an excuse to leave Cloudsdale before a huge thunderstorm scheduled nearby for that afternoon. Dash flew by several other working pegasi on her way down to Ponyville, almost all of which waved to her as she passed. Dash waved back as she knew most of these ponies, but she kept on flying towards Ponyville. Once Dash got to Ponyville, she made her way to the library where Twilight was in the other room working on something. “Twilight!” Dash called when she got inside the library. “Are you here?” “Yeah,” Twilight called from the other room. “Give me a second. I’ll be right out.” Rainbow Dash waited for a moment in the doorway before Twilight stepped out from a door in the back of the library. “Good to see you Rainbow Dash. What brings you by?” Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebag and pulled out her Daring Do book. “I’m here to return this book,” Rainbow Dash said. “Also I’d like to check out Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue again.” Twilight took the book in her energy field and trotted over to where the Daring Do books were kept. “You know, Dash, a new author recently wrote a new Daring Do book and published it. I have it here, but I haven’t read it yet, myself.” Twilight used her magic to replace the book Dash gave her and pulled out another book next to where the first book went. “It’s a pretty strange title, though.” Rainbow Dash excitedly took the book and placed it in her saddlebag without even looking at the cover. She then made her way out the door, but not before Twilight stopped her. “Hold on a second, Dash. You’re not even going to look at the cover?” “I guess I could...” Rainbow Dash said, pulling the book out of her saddlebag. “Hmm, let’s see. ‘Daring Do: A Derp in Time.’ That is a weird title.” Rainbow Dash then examined the cover image. However, the color was incredibly faded despite being a new book. All Dash could gather was that there were four pegasi (one of which, she guessed, was Daring Do) and some small box that looked like it could barely fit one pony inside. “I might be able to get my hooves on some rainbow to restore this cover image when I get back to Cloudsdale. See ya soon, Twi.” Rainbow Dash then placed the book back in her saddlebag and flew off back towards her house in Cloudsdale, flying as fast as she could to avoid the thunderstorm that was already almost ready to begin. Once Dash got home, she quickly went to her room and pulled out the book. “The cover can wait,” she said to herself. “I’ve got some reading to do.” Dash excitedly opened the book to the first page. “‘Chapter one: The Pegasi in the Box.’ Maybe this will explain those three other pegasi and that box up front. ‘Daring Do was relaxing on a cloud high above the Everfree Forest not too far from the rest of Cloudsdale. With Equestria at peace, she had some time to rest. However, her rest was about to be cut short.’ Already awesome!” Rainbow Dash said, closing the book for a moment and holding it close to her chest. She then opened the book back up and continued reading. Daring Do woke up slowly as she noticed a shadow move over her face. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that another pegasus had moved a cloud over the one he was laying on. “Hay!” she shouted, flying off of the cloud she was laying on. “What’s the big idea, huh?” “Terribly sorry,” the pegasus who moved the cloud said. “I needed some way to get your attention.” The pegasus flew over into Daring’s view. he was a brown stallion with a dark brown mane and blue eyes. His cutie mark was an hourglass and he spoke with an accent that Daring wasn’t quite familiar with. “Who exactly are you?” Daring asked. “Oh, right,” the pegasus said. “I’m the Doctor.” Daring was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. Doctor who?” The Doctor smiled a little when Daring asked this. “Ah, I never get tired of hearing that. In fact, can you ask me that question again?” “Doctor who?” Daring asked, though this time asking it as though she were saying a regular sentence as a question. (e.g. Pony 1: “Is my mane frizzy?” Pony 2: “Uh... no?”) “Oh yes. Just one more time, please?” “Look, can you just tell me why you woke me up?” Daring asked, getting a little angry now. “Oh, right.” The Doctor took a second to try to remember why he was there in the first place. “I’ll just get right down to business. I need your help.” “My help? With what?” “Saving Equestria and several other worlds from certain destruction.” Just then, it began raining on the two. “What’s the big idea?” Daring asked, getting very angry now. “Am I on some hidden camera show?” “Terribly sorry about that,” the Doctor said. “That’s just one of my other companions, Derpy Hooves.” Rainbow Dash quickly dropped the book when she read that name. “Derpy?” she shouted out loud. “In a Daring Do book?” Just then, she took another look at the cover image. All four pegasi were completely grey. Upon closer inspection, however, Dash found that one of the ponies did have the same crossed eyes as Derpy. “This can’t be right. This can’t be right at all.” Dash then rushed out of her house with the book in her hooves towards the weather station where the rainbows were made. She did her best to cup some of the colorful liquid in her hooves to place it on the cover of the book, but she was unable to keep it in her hooves. After several attempts, she finally gave up and dipped the whole book in the rainbow. After about a second, she took the book out and wiped the excess liquid off of the cover. The whole thing was in color now and the four pegasi were easily identifiable. First, Dash found the pony who she already knew was Daring Do because of her hat. Next to Daring was the Doctor as described in the book. Behind him was Derpy, every detail of her an exact match with the Derpy Hooves she already knew. But that wasn’t all. On the other side of Daring was one pony who Rainbow Dash would never mistake for anypony else. A pony who she could always point out in a crowd in less than five seconds. Herself.
Part 2: RealizationRainbow Dash flew as fast as she could back towards the library to tell Twilight about what she had found in the book and on the cover, completely ignoring the downpour she had to fly through. Fortunately, her saddlebag protected the book from getting wet or being blown away as Dash flew relentlessly through the wind and rain. At last, Rainbow Dash arrived at the library and rushed right into the door. “Twilight!” the pegasus shouted. “Twilight, are you here?” “I’m here,” Twilight said, flying in from the top floor. “What’s the matter?” Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the book. “Take a look at this cover. Do you notice anything strange about it?” Twilight levitated the book in front of her for a moment. “Oh, hay. You restored the color on the cover. Wait a second... did you mess with the cover while restoring it?” “I swear I didn’t. In fact, that’s exactly why I’m here. I was wondering if you knew how Derpy and I got on this cover.” Twilight looked at the cover a little closer to try to find evident or non-evident signs of tampering when she suddenly gasped with shock. “Rainbow Dash... you didn’t happen to look at who the author of this book was, did you?” Rainbow Dash flew over to where Twilight was. “I didn’t, actually. Why?” The confused pegasus grabbed the book in her hooves and looked back over the cover of the book. Suddenly, a look of pure shock came over her face as she read the name of the author. “This is impossible! This can’t be happening! Why does this book say that I’m the one who wrote it?” What the startled and confused pegasus was true. The book clearly said ‘Written by Rainbow Dash.’ “I don’t understand it either,” Twilight said. “You either tampered with it or you actually wrote it. Those are the only conclusions I can draw.” “Well I certainly didn’t tamper with it, but I know for a fact that I didn’t write it either. This is even more confusing than Pinkie Pie on Tuesday.” Twilight was silent for a moment before she finally sighed and spoke up. “I believe what you say, Rainbow Dash,” she said, “so there’s only one solution I can see.” The alicorn then walked up to Rainbow Dash, who was still staring at the book. “You need to continue reading it. Who knows, we might find some answers.” Rainbow Dash kept staring at the book, but listened to what Twilight said. “You might be right,” Rainbow Dash finally said. She then opened the book back up and tried to find where she left off. “Okay, let’s see... Here’s where I left off...” ”Terribly sorry about that,” the Doctor said. “That’s just one of my other companions, Derpy Hooves. Excuse me for a moment.” The Doctor then flew up to a grey pegasus with a bright yellow mane and crossed eyes. “What was that for, Derpy?” “I thought we were trying to wake her up,” Derpy replied. “Yes, but she was already awake. Don’t say it. Please don’t say it.” “Sorry, but I just don’t know what went wrong.” The Doctor’s ears drooped and he hit his face with his hoof. “You said it. You actually said it.” He then flew back over to Daring Do, who was still rather confused. “Now then, if you could come with me and Derpy...” “Hold on a second,” Daring said, backing away from the Doctor. “First off, what the hay is even going on here? And on top of that, you still didn’t answer my first question..” “Which one? ‘Doctor who?’” “No, the one after that.” “‘Am I on one of those hidden camera shows?’” “Yeah, that one.” The Doctor laughed a little to himself. “No, you’re not on a hidden camera show. Believe me, I’ve tried running those kinds of shows before. I couldn’t keep a joke like that running if I tried. Anyway, are you going to come with me and Derpy to save Equestria or not?” Daring thought about this offer for a moment before answering. She knew for a fact these two ponies were crazy, but it couldn’t hurt to see if there was any truth behind this stallion’s offer. Could it? “You know what?” Daring finally said. “I’m in.” “Excellent,” the Doctor said. “Follow me. Derpy, come on.” The Doctor then began flying downwards towards the Everfree Forest with Derpy following like a puppy. “Why is this guy headed for the Everfree Forest?” Daring asked herself when the two ponies were gone. Finally, she just shrugged and began following the two. When she finally landed, the Doctor was trotting into the forest, looking around as though trying to find something. “What are you looking for, Doctor?” “A blue box,” the Doctor replied, not turning around to look at Daring. “Probably about as tall as the length of an average pony.” Daring was now more confused than ever. “And why are we looking for such a small box?” “Because that’s the vehicle Derpy and I came in. And before you say anything, you’ll understand how we fit in there once we find the box.” Daring was about to speak up, but Derpy’s voice from somewhere not too far away stopped her. “I found the TARDIS, Doctor,” she called. “It’s over here!” “What the hay is a TARDIS?” Daring asked as the Doctor galloped past her. “Follow me and you’ll find out,” the Doctor replied, not even slowing down. Daring just sighed and began following the Doctor. “You still aren’t answering a single one of my questions, Doctor!” she called. The Doctor either didn’t hear her or didn’t even pay attention. He just kept on galloping towards where Derpy was. “Wow this guy’s a nutcase.” “I heard that,” the Doctor called back to Daring. “And the word you’re looking for is ‘madman’, not nutcase.” Daring was about to say something else, (something she probably would have regretted) but all of a sudden, the Doctor came to an abrupt halt. “Why are you stopping?” Daring asked. “Are we there already?” The Doctor turned around with a smile on his face. “Yes we are,” he said. “Daring Do, I present to you... the TARDIS.” The Doctor then stepped to the side to reveal a dirty-looking blue box with the words ‘Police Public Call Box’ written across the top above the two doors and a small light at the very top of the box. “It’s small,” was Daring’s first comment. “And... kinda looks like it needs to be washed.” “Well, she never hears that second comment,” the Doctor said, trotting up to the box and opening the door. “Are you two coming?” “Oh, right,” Derpy said, flying into the open door. The Doctor was about to walk in with Derpy, but stopped when he noticed that Daring Do wasn’t following him. “Aren’t you coming?” Daring sighed in defeat. “Do I really have a choice at this point?” The Doctor pretended to think about this for a moment, sticking his head out of the box. “Hmm... nope, not really.” With a smile he went the rest of the way into the box. Daring stood still for a moment, but eventually trotted into the box, entirely unsure of what to expect. “And that’s the first chapter,” Rainbow Dash said, closing the book and looking over to her alicorn friend. “If I did write this book, I would have put myself in the first chapter.” “Maybe it’s just because you aren’t important to the story just yet,” Twilight said. “Maybe you’ll turn up if you read a little further.” “Okay...” Rainbow Dash then opened the book back up and turned to the second chapter. “‘Chapter two: The Time Machine...’”
Part 3: Seeking AnswersRainbow Dash was sitting in a chair in the corner of the library with the book still in her lap. “I just don’t get it,” she said to Twilight. “How could Derpy be in a Daring Do book that I wrote? Just to be clear, I’m asking how Derpy is in the book and how I wrote it.” “I’m telling you, Dash,” Twilight said, “you need to read further. I’m sure answers will turn up if you have faith.” Twilight then trotted over and levitated the book in front of her. “Besides, I want to read the rest of this book. Now, let’s see...” As Twilight was flipping through the pages, Rainbow Dash grabbed the book out of Twilight’s energy field. “Hay, my questions, my book...” Rainbow Dash flipped to the back cover of the book and showed it to Twilight. “My author’s signature. Wait, I actually signed this? Dear sweet Celestia, this gets creepier and creepier.” “Well, now that you have your book back, are you going to read it or not?” Rainbow Dash looked down at the book for a moment. “Yeah,” the pegasus finally said, opening the book back up. “I’ll go ahead and read it. Let’s see... ‘Chapter two: The Blue Box. Daring Do trotted into the small box, not knowing what to expect...’” ...but when she got inside, she was at a total loss for words. Somehow, she had gone from a tiny box to a huge room full of buttons, switches, screens, blinking lights... lots of other things that she had no idea what they were. “What the hay is all this?” she asked nopony in particular as she looked around the room with wide eyes and her jaw hung open. “It’s called the TARDIS,” the Doctor replied, galloping around the center console and not really paying attention to Daring. “It’s a, uh, time machine. I mean... Derpy, you tell her. I need to concentrate.” “Okay, Doctor,” Derpy replied. She then turned around to Daring. “It’s called the TARDIS. That’s an acronym for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It’s pretty much a ship that can move anywhere in time and space. Back in time, forwards in time, to the far corners of this universe, almost anywhere.” Derpy then turned around to the Doctor. “How was that, Doctor?” “Picture perfect,” the Doctor replied. “I knew you were paying attention last time.” “So...” Daring said, “are we going anywhere in particular?” “No, actually. We aren’t going anywhere. We’re staying right here in this one spot in Equestria.” Daring was about to begin arguing, but Derpy quickly flew over and whispered something into Daring’s ear. “Really?” Daring asked Derpy. “That’s what I need to ask?” Derpy smiled and nodded in reply. “Fine. So, Doctor, when are we going?” “Derpy told you to say that, didn’t she?” the Doctor asked. “Thanks for teaching her that, Derpy. We’re moving forward about 100 years to the time period where Derpy’s from. There’s one more passenger we need to pick up before we can get started on what we’re doing. Hold on to something, you two. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.” “Bumpy ride?” Daring asked. “You might want to listen to him,” Derpy said, flying down near Daring and hanging on to a rail. “It may be his ship that he’s been piloting for the past few centuries, but he still hasn’t mastered flying it smoothly.” “Centuries? How old is this guy?” “A thousand or so years,” the Doctor replied, putting his hoof on a large switch. “I’ll get into the details once everypony’s here. As ironic as my track record would make it seem, I don’t like explaining everything about me every single time I wind up somewhere. Now hold on, everypony!” Before Daring could ask a single other question, the Doctor quickly pulled the lever his hoof was on and the entire room began rocking around the ponies, tossing Daring around. “I told you to hang on to something!” “I was!” Daring shouted, doing her best to remain upright. She was about to be knocked over to the other side of the room, but Derpy was quick enough to catch her. “Thanks, I guess.” “Don’t mention it,” Derpy replied. “You are a first-time flyer, after all.” Daring was about to say something when the room suddenly stopped shaking. Daring looked over to find the Doctor standing at the center console again, holding the lever he pulled in its original position. “Nice catch, Derpy,” he said. He then began trotting towards the door where the three ponies had originally entered from. “Come on, you two. We’re here.” “Where exactly is ‘here’ anyway?” Daring asked, very frustrated that almost none of her questions were being answered. “A town called Ponyville,” Derpy replied. “This is where I’m from.” “It won’t be built for another ten years, though, Daring,” the Doctor said, poking his head out the door and looking around. Suddenly, he let out a quick yelp and quickly slammed the door. “Daring... how good are you with dangerous animals?” “Dangerous animals?” Daring asked, almost smiling. “What kind of dangerous animals?” “Timber Wolves. Scary, dangerous, pony- and Time Lord-eating Timber Wolves.” “Come on, Doctor,” Daring said, happily trotting up to the door. “You’re afraid of a few little Timber Wolves? Somepony give me a challenge for once.” Daring then opened the door and trotted up to the three Timber Wolves who were waiting outside the TARDIS. One of them roared right in Daring’s face as she stepped out, but this didn’t phase her one bit. “A few breath mints would go a long way for you three. But for now, I have to make you pay for threatening my new friends.” Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor could only press his ear up against the door to listen to the flurry of growling, snarling, and hooves impacting on wood. After a while, the door suddenly opened, startling the Doctor and nearly making him fall over. On the other side of the door was Daring Do with only a few scratches, a couple splinters, and a messed-up mane. “Are you alright, Daring?” the Doctor asked. “Am I alright?” Daring repeated. “Pfft. You should see what a typical Tuesday is for me if you have to ask me that. Now come on, you two. Those Timber Wolves are gone.” Derpy and the Doctor looked at each other for a moment as though silently asking each other, “Who the hay is this pony?” After a while, though, the Doctor trotted out of the TARDIS uneasily with Derpy following close behind. “Okay,” Daring started, “where is this ‘Ponyville’, anyway?” “I know where it is,” Derpy said, waving her hoof in the air. “Follow me!” “Okay,” the Doctor said. “Lead the way.” Derpy nodded and began flying in the opposite direction of where the three were originally facing. Daring and the Doctor began following Derpy, neither one sure if Derpy was going the right way. After a little while, the three pegasi found themselves in the town of Ponyville, a rather small town with only about a hundred or so ponies. “So, Derpy,” the Doctor said, “do you know where our fourth passenger is?” “No, I don’t,” Derpy replied sadly. “Hay, why don’t we ask Twilight where Rainbow Dash is?” Just as Rainbow Dash read that line, there was a knock at the door. “I wonder who that is,” Twilight said, trotting over to the door. However, Rainbow Dash was still reading and didn’t hear the knocking on the door. The trio trotted through Ponyville, looking for the library near the center of town. They passed by many other ponies, several of which were kind of looking at the three like they didn’t quite belong there. (Maybe because they were all pegasi who probably lived in Cloudsdale and were here in Ponyville for whatever reason, as well as the fact that one of them was wearing clothes like one would wear if they were going into a forest for a period of several days.) After a while, Daring finally spoke up. “So, where exactly are we going, again?” “To the town library,” the Doctor replied. “There’s a certain pony we need to talk to.” “Hay,” Derpy suddenly said. “We’re here.” The other two pegasi stopped and looked in front of them to find themselves standing in front of what looked like a large hollow tree that actually looked like it was suitable for a pony to live in. “Well that was easy enough,” the Doctor said. He then trotted up and knocked on the door. There was a pause for a moment before he heard hoofsteps trotting towards the door. When the door opened, on the other side stood a purple alicorn with a lavender mane that had hot pink and dark purple highlights. “Oh, hello Doctor,” the alicorn said as he and Derpy bowed, followed quickly by Daring. “It’s been a while.” [Author’s note: It’s a little known fact that Twilight was once one of Doctor Whooves’ companions.] “It certainly has,” the Doctor replied, looking at the alicorn’s wings. “Anyway, you know Derpy, so I’ll skip straight to introducing a more recent companion of mine. This is Daring Do.” Rainbow Dash quickly put the book down and flew as fast as she could to the door once she managed to “put two and two and two together,” as Pinkie said. The knocking on the door, the “purple alicorn” who answered the door... Ponyville in general! What was going on in the book was happening right at the front door of the library! There was no way Dash was going to miss an opportunity to meet Daring Do. “Nice to meet you, Daring Do,” Twilight said, shaking Daring’s hoof. “I’ve read about all of your adventures.” “They wrote books about me?” Daring asked, surprised. “I had no idea I was that popular.” Just as Twilight and Daring were about to go into further conversation, Rainbow Dash flew in and almost knocked Twilight over as she landed. “Daring Do?” Rainbow Dash asked, doing her best not to hyperventilate and, in a word, geek out. “It’s so great to meet you! I’m a huge fan!” “Geez,” Daring said. “Does everypony here know all about my accomplishments?” “I’m here, too, Rainbow Dash,” Derpy said. Rainbow Dash leaned a little to the left to look at Derpy. “I noticed.” Rainbow Dash then turned back to Daring. “So, what are you doing here in Ponyville? For that matter, didn’t you live a hundred years ago?” “One of your questions is the same as mine,” Daring replied. She then turned to the Doctor. “But this stallion is the one who has the answers, and he insisted on waiting for when we found you before answering any questions I threw at him.” “Nice to finally meet you, Rainbow Dash,” the Doctor said, stepping forward. “I’m the Doctor.” Rainbow Dash was about to ask the Doctor’s favorite question, but Daring stopped her. “Don’t ask him that. You’re not going to get an answer.” Rainbow Dash nodded in reply. “So, what are you doing here, Doctor?” Twilight asked. “I’ve come for Rainbow Dash,” the Doctor replied. “I have a problem that I think she’ll be able to help with.” “Me?” Rainbow Dash asked, her confusion obvious. “Why would you need me?” “That I can explain later, but for right now, all I can tell you is that Equestria is in terrible peril.” “Do we need to bring the others with the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight asked. “My dear Twilight,” the Doctor started. “You know as well as I do that I can’t bring that many ponies along. Just the four of us will be enough.” “Four of us?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You’re talking like I already agreed to go.” “Do you agree to go?” Rainbow Dash paused for a moment and looked at the Doctor with an expression that looked like a mix between “What kind of stupid question is that?” and “*sigh* Yes” The vocal result of this was, “Yeah, let’s get going already.” “Hold on a second, Doctor,” Twilight said. “There’s a book over there that was written by Rainbow Dash. Or, now that you’re involved, probably will be written by Rainbow Dash. You, her, Derpy, and Daring are all in it. Does that mean that book will say everything that happens to you four?” The Doctor sighed before answering this. “Forgive me if my tone of voice gives any spoilers, but yes, it does... to the word.” Twilight got a hint of sadness in her eye, but shook it off and turned to Rainbow Dash. “Be safe, Rainbow Dash.” “Of course I’m going to be safe,” Rainbow Dash quickly replied. “No, I mean be really careful. Don’t let anything happen to you.” “I’ll be all right and you’ll know that, Twilight. You have the book right there.” Twilight sighed before responding. “That’s what worries me.” “Can we get going?” Daring asked. “I’d really like to have some questions answered now that the whole herd’s together.” (“A herd,” the Doctor said to himself. “That sounds better than calling us a gang.”) “Daring’s right,” the Doctor said out loud. “We should get going.” “Goodbye, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “I’ll see you soon. Doctor, do me a favor and don’t come back for half an hour. It should take me about that long to read the whole book.” “Will do, Twilight,” the Doctor replied. “Come on, everypony.” The four pegasi (Dash, Derpy, Daring, and Doctor) then began walking flying out of town and towards the Everfree where the Doctor parked the TARDIS.
Part 4: Crowded House? More Like Crowded Police BoxTwilight trotted back into the library and used her magic to pick up the book Rainbow Dash dropped minutes before. “The Doctor couldn’t have been saying what I think he was saying,” Twilight said to herself, flipping to the third chapter. “If Rainbow Dash were to not make it, then she couldn’t write the book, right?” Twilight sighed a nervous sigh before sitting down to begin reading. “‘Chapter Three: The Four Pegasi...’” ”So I was offered an adventure,” the rainbow pegasus said. “But nopony told me what kind of adventure.” “Same here,” Daring Do added. “I was just pulled right off of a cloud by these two a few hours ago.” “Are you sure it wasn’t more like a hundred years ago?” the Doctor joked. This actually made the other three giggle a little. “Anyway, the adventure I offered is something beyond anything you could imagine, Rainbow Dash.” “Really?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Anything?” “Yup. Anything.” Just as the Doctor was saying this, the four were over the Everfree Forest. “I’ll explain when we get to the TARDIS. Follow me.” The Doctor then began flying straight down into the Everfree. “What the hay is a TARDIS?” Dash asked. “It’s like a time machine,” Derpy replied before following the Doctor. Rainbow Dash looked at Daring as though asking her if she knew anything, but Daring just shrugged and flew down with the other two, followed by Rainbow Dash. [Author’s note: In this story, I’ll start and end each chapter with Twilight reading the book, but the rest of it will be from Rainbow Dash’s point of view. (Not first-pony view, but what’s going on around her.) This way, I can show exactly what’s going on through everypony’s minds during the adventure, and that’s something I can’t do in a book.] About a hundred questions were going through Rainbow Dash’s mind as the four pegasi finally landed. Why were they in the Everfree Forest? How is Daring Do here? How does Twilight know this stallion? How does Derpy know this stallion? And why were the four standing in front of a tiny blue box? “I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” the Doctor said, standing next to the box. Rainbow Dash was about to respond, but Daring cut her off quickly. “And it took you that long to figure that out?” the impatient adventurer asked. “Hay,” Rainbow Dash shouted. “He was talking to me. Just because you’re one of my three heroes doesn’t mean you can cut me off like that.” “Actually, I was talking to both of you,” the Doctor said. “But first thing’s first. Everypony but you, Rainbow Dash, has already been acquainted with the TARDIS. Better you step in right now so I can answer all the questions you’re going to have quickly. After that, I can answer whatever questions either of you two have that don’t regard this tiny blue box of mine.” “You want me to... go inside that tiny blue box?” Rainbow Dash asked. “It’s bigger on the inside,” Derpy and Daring said in unison, kind of creeping each other out. “Yeah, what they said,” the Doctor said, trotting into the TARDIS, followed closely by Derpy. Daring hung back for a split second to give Rainbow Dash a quick wink before following the other two into the TARDIS. “I guess I have been through weirder,” Rainbow Dash said to herself, finding that she was the only pony standing outside of the box. After hardly ten seconds, she gave a heavy sigh and trotted into the box. When she stepped in a look of sheer disbelief washed over her face and, if it were even possible, her entire body. She found herself in a huge room full of knobs and buttons and levers and a huge pillar in the center that had even more strange buttons and screens all around its base. “What... the...?” “Yup,” the Doctor said, pulling some levers and pressing some buttons around the center pillar. “That’s the exact same reaction just about everyone has.” “It’s bigger...” Rainbow Dash tried to say. “...on the inside... How is this possible?” “The specifics are a bit over your head, I’m afraid,” the Doctor said. “One way of looking at it is thinking of the door of the TARDIS as some kind of portal that leads to a different world. Namely, this room and everything down that long and confusing hallway over there.” The Doctor indicated another doorway on the other side of the room that led to a hallway that extended further into two different directions. “Ahem,” Daring Do said. “I’m sorry, but weren’t we going to get to answering my questions sometime soon?” “And I still have questions too,” Rainbow Dash added. “Yes, of course,” the Doctor said. “Derpy, watch the control panel. Don’t touch anything. Just let me know if any red lights start flashing.” “Okie-dokie,” Derpy said. She then flew over and stood at one of the panels on the center pillar. “And don’t get any muffin crumbs on the control panel again. I won’t be able to stand another detour to Oakside Park.” Derpy nodded in reply and resumed her idle standing while the Doctor turned back to Daring Do and Rainbow Dash. “Now then, first thing. Daring, you were wondering about what Derpy said about me ‘piloting this ship for the past few centuries.’” “Wait,” Rainbow Dash said. “Centuries? How old are you?” “Roughly a thousand years. See, I’m technically not a pony. I’m actually what’s called a Time Lord. One of an immortal but nearly extinct race of time travelers. When a Time Lord is on the brink of death, we have the power to regenerate ourselves into a new body and a new personality, completely recovered and in perfect health. In this case, I regenerated from a previous form into this equine form you see me as now. Rainbow Dash, your turn to ask a question.” “Okay,” Rainbow Dash said, pausing for a moment to consider what to ask the Doctor. “I guess my first question is... what do you know about that book I found in Twilight’s library that was apparently written by me?” “To be honest, nothing.” Rainbow Dash was about to say something, but the Doctor quickly stopped her. “Allow me to explain that. The TARDIS can move anywhere in space and time. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m from the future, though. Maybe I’ll deliver the book in my future but in Twilight’s past. As well, that likely means you’ll write the book in your future.” “Well that explains just about everything,” Rainbow Dash said. “My turn,” Daring quickly said. “Why exactly have you brought me and this prismatic pegasus here?” “You’ll have to be a little more specific,” the Doctor said. “There’s two ways I can interpret that question and each interpretation has it’s own answer.” “Okay... What kind of adventure have we been summoned for?” “That I can answer. I’ve detected a dangerous anomaly near Equestria. A ship full of dangerous creatures called Cyberponies is headed this way. Cyberponies are powerful robot-like creatures who were once organic ponies who were seeking power and immortality by replacing every part of their bodies bit by bit with cybernetic components until they became soulless, merciless warriors on an eternal warpath to convert all living beings into Cyberponies.” Daring Do and Rainbow Dash stood there, staring at the Doctor with open-mouthed expressions. Neither one had ever heard a more dark and vile story. “Wow,” Daring said. “And we’re supposed to stop them?” “Didn’t you say they were powerful and immortal?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I did,” the Doctor replied. “However, I’ve done battle with them many times over the centuries not through physical combat, but through battles of wits and skill. Now then, did you have one more question, Rainbow Dash?” “Oh, I... guess I did,” Rainbow Dash said. “I can understand why you would want Daring Do to help you with this, but why me? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be here, but why did you want me here?” The Doctor chuckled a little before answering. “Well, as you may know, it’s always a good idea to keep a family together.” Twilight pretty much threw the book when she read that line. “I didn’t read that right, did I?” Twilight asked. She picked the book back up and reread that last line. “This is impossible.” Twilight then continued to read the book. ”What are you talking about?” the prismatic pegasus asked the Doctor. “Isn’t it obvious?” the Doctor replied. “Look at each other. Quite frankly, I’m not sure how you can’t figure out that you two are related.” Rainbow Dash and Daring Do, for the first time since they stepped into the TARDIS, actually looked at each other and noticed their similarities. Their manes had a similar pattern (albeit contrasting coloration) and they had the same eye color. “I never noticed before,” Rainbow Dash said. “I knew we had similar adventurous personalities, but I never thought we’d actually be related.” “Yup,” the Doctor replied. “Rainbow Dash, say hello to your great-grandmother. Daring Do, say hello to your great-granddaughter.” “There’s no way...” Daring said to herself. “I never thought that my heir would be so... bright. How do you get through the jungle without getting eaten by predators?” “Actually, I don’t adventure through jungles,” Rainbow Dash said. “I usually either charge straight into battle with my friends or just practice my extreme flying skills. I really take pride in my moves.” “You can finish your family reunion later,” the Doctor said. “There’s kind of a Cyberpony invasion that’s on its way to enslave Equestria.” “I suppose if it means saving Equestria...” Rainbow Dash said. “We could catch up later,” Daring finished. “All right, then,” the Doctor said, trotting over to the center pillar and nudging Derpy out of the way. “Let’s get going, everypony. ALLONS-Y!” The Doctor then pulled a huge lever and the four pegasi were on their way towards the Cyberpony ship. Twilight lowered the book and just stared off into space for a moment. “I never would have seen that coming,” the alicorn said to herself with an expression of disbelief on her face. “Wait a second. Did he say ‘Cyberpony’!?”
