A Tale of Two Doctors

The Doctor and John stood outside of the T.A.R.D.I.S. on a grassy hill overlooking a shanty town a few miles south of Ponyville.

“Are you sure this is alright?” John asked as the other Changelings emerged from the pone box.

“It’s a ghost town, all of the former residents abandoned it about three decades ago to move onto greener pastures once the town’s economy collapsed, one of the adverse effects of being so isolated, but what you lack in economic strength you’ll gain in safety.”

“But, what about withdrawals? I’ll be fine, but what about the others?” John continued.

“I can’t guarantee that ponies will learn to accept you quickly or easily, but this is the quickest and easiest solution I can think of for the time being-others will have you to look after them and help them get through their withdrawals-after all; you beat it.” The Doctor added reassuringly.

“And what about Celestia?” he pressed. “After the attack on Canterlot and Chrysalis’ kidnapping and subsequent impersonation of her niece…what will her reaction to all of this be?”

“Celestia is far more understanding than most would think she is-just because she’s royalty, doesn’t necessarily make her a close-minded prude-like Blueblood.”

“And what if you’re wrong?” he challenged.

“Then, I’ll take the heat for it.” The Doctor replied with a toothy grin before winking.

“Doctor, what did you mean when you said that your life ‘wasn’t worth saving’?”

“You have my memories-you should know.”

“Yeah, just thought I’d like to hear it from the horse’s mouth-so to speak.”

“And what did you mean when you said I was your first non-Changeling friend, John? You’re a shape shifter, if companionship is so important to you, couldn’t you have taken up the guise of some pony you’ve made up accompanied with an alias?”

“I have.” He replied dismally. “And I met a girl named Orange Sherbet and we got along well enough, to the point where our friendship grew into something…more and I didn’t want to have any secrets between us, so I showed her the truth about myself.”

“And I’m guessing that didn’t go over so well…”

“No, it didn’t, but not because I was a Changeling-at least, not entirely-when I told her she cried and kept apologizing, saying that she still loved me, but being in a relationship with a Changeling was wrong and that she was afraid that if someone found out, it would get one or both of us executed.”

“And you never saw her again?” he pressed.

“No, I left town that day…never saw her again.”

“Ponyville?”

“No, some other town-similar, but different can’t remember the name of it, don’t want to, it’s…”

“Too painful.” The Doctor finished.

John nodded.

“Yeah, I get that…you know Chrysalis will want revenge for this lot’s disloyalty, don’t you?”

“And you realize that she merely disliked you before, but now she hates you and won’t rest until she sees you dead.” He shot back.

“Stone dead, I should think. If you see her again, tell her to get in line.”

“Why don’t you tell her yourself?” John asked, shooting The Doctor what he assumed to be the Changeling equivalent of a grin.

“What will you do now, Doctor?”

“Well, I’ll go inform Celestia of the situation her and see if we can’t get some sort of system sorted out, and then I think I’ll drop by the arcade, I think I’ve earned a break at this point, don’t you?”

“I mean, what will you do now that your alias is gone-there can’t be two John Smiths running around-can there?”

“No, of course not! Jimmy, John, Jack, Joe, none of those are considered legitimate names in Pony society unless there’s some obscure object attached to it, like donut, apples or…pears.” He gagged at the last one.

“I’ve been using ‘Time Turner’ since coming to Equestria and it seems to have been working out great so far-I think I’ll stick with it.”

“If Chrysalis comes back for us…”

“When she comes back to attack you.” The Doctor corrected. “I’ll be here to help you out-promise.”

“But, how will possibly know if-”

The Doctor gestured to the T.A.R.D.I.S.

“Time machine, remember?”

“Hey, learn to relax-you’re a Doctor now-it’s time to start acting like one.” He added before entering the phone box as John Smith couldn’t help, but look on in awe as the T.A.R.D.I.S. de-materialized.