15 Time Turner

Meanwhile at the Whooves' residence...

It had been over two days since Butter Hooves returned, and the Doctor and Butter Hooves began 'time sharing'. for Derpy it had been a mixed two days of joy and ... disappointment. She hated to admit even to herself how .... immature Butter Hooves seemed to be. In all the years he was trapped inside his body he had not matured more than a year. he was essentially a foal in a stallions body, where derpy was a full grown, mature(ish) mare.

Her heart began to ache with the dilemma... could she continue to be married to such a split stallion?

that one thought tore at her soul.

'No..How can I even think that? selfish selfish me!' she silently berated herself.

'we'll figure out something.. time sharing or ...' sitting in a quiet corner of the house and allows herself to cry, tears falling freely.' I miss the doctor! a few hours at night aren't enough...' Thinking to the nights when Butter Hooves would need sleep, the Doctor would come out. 'I never realized how much I truly loved him until he was.. gone. I mean I know he's in there but...I just....' she sighs heavily and half smiles, chucking in self derision 'I suppose I could just turn the wheel o fun... After all that's how Beta started this mess!' She thought almost angrily. 'I'm happy Butter is back but... he's not my husband.' putting her head down, Derpy begins to cry silently to herself... something she got very good at hiding before she married the Doctor.

In the white void that was his mind, the doctor is laying down in a blue box. His fore hooves crossed and dangling over the edge into the emptiness. In the mind a moment can last an eternity or an eternity can take but . a moment... the doctor has had a great deal of time to ponder his situation.

To live at the expense of . another was wrong. that was obvious. but... he had not created this situation! the doctor signed again in frustration. he missed Derpy so much. the nights weren't enough.he was glad the adolescent mind of Butter Hooves was agreeable to letting the doctor have that time while he 'slept'.

The Doctor wanted to be angry at Beta... 'that damned nosy, interfering, self righteous hypocrite ...' the Doctor let out a long angry then sad sigh. 'no... it wasn't Beta's fault. beta did the right thing. painful,but correct. Butter Hooves is a child. He has no real affection for Derpy except as a dear friend.he hasn't had the chance to grow up and learn what it means to be an adult.

But the Doctor... he looked around this simulacrum of his old TARDIS... it brought too many memories back. How he got here. His many deaths over the years. he understood this was a reward. the universe have him...this aspect of him a chance to live a normal life...such . as it was.

He missed many things about his time in the TARDIS... but here he had rest. He had a living wife and his life was hardly boring. Beta was certainly seeing to that... the Doctor wanted his life back! He stood up and stepped out of his blue box, looked back and sighed.. "I'm sorry girl... but our travels are over. I love derpy too much to abandon her. even if I somehow managed to make a new TARDIS I'll never leave her behind again." he said to the image. he then walked away as it disappeared with a familiar wheezing lion whoosh.

Looking up into the emptiness above him he shouted "butter hooves! I have something to discuss with you!"

"Who are you?" another voice asked in return

"I'm the doctor" The Doctor replied, his old confidence returning.

He is replied to with a cruel laugh, "The Doctor is dead. WHO are you?" it repeated the question

"I'm...I'm..." The Doctor fumbled. He then looked at his mark... and smiled, the old manic feeling returning...

"I AM the Doctor.. but you can call me Time Turner... DOCTOR Time Turner Whooves, and I want my life back!" Time Turner bellowed. he could almost hear the smile from the other entity.

"A little more time Doctor Time Turner Whooves. It will all turn out in the end." and the voice trailed off.

Butter Hooves was thinking along the same lines as Time Turner. He HAD died, he was sure of it. He wasn't supposed to be here anymore. This was supposed to be the Doctor's body now... but something had gone wrong at the moment of the Doctor's arrival. Looking around the empty room he saw the outline of the grim reaper. He knew it was him. He's seen him since he regained consciousness. At first he was a fuzzy outline, barely there. but the longer that Butter Hooves was 'on' the clearer he got.

Looking outside he saw Derpy... she was crying again. He knew the way her body moved. Unlike the Doctor, Butter hooves had seen Derpy cry many many times as foals. Before she got hit on the head, she was teased for being too smart. She was easily one of the smartest ponies in Ponyville if not Equestria. Now she was probably teased because of her eyes and being a bit of a clutz. But she never cried around the Doctor.

That much Butter had been able to determine, The Doctor rarely saw her cry.He made her so happy so much of the time, she didn't cry. Butter Hooves was oddly jealous of that fact. He also realized that he didn't make her as happy. Their history was from their foal-hood nothing else. He was still a child. He had not grown up, and only saw Derpy as a friend. a 'girl' but nothing more. And now she was a full grown, beautiful mare. He simply didn't know how to handle that.

The main reason he let the Doctor take over at night was he had no idea what he was supposed to do. How do you sleep with another pony? He tried not to listen in on them when they talked at night... but it made him so sad to listen to them. He truly felt like he wasn't... wanted here. At least he wasn't needed. That's when Death finally spoke to him.

"Time is nearly gone." the dark figure with the scythe said. "Do you know what you have to do?" He asked, his black note pointing towards the back of Butter Hooves. Looking at his cutie mark Butter hooves had no idea, then it hit him, and he looked at Death and nodded. "Yes... *gulp* I do"

Walking to the door, Butter Hooves called to Derpy to come in. "Derpy... Could I speak with you a a moment?" He didn't... couldn't approach her while she was crying.

"J-just a moment Butter dear" She said, sounding normal, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. getting up off the grass, she turned, smiling, and approached the house... their house. Her and The Doctor's home. They had built it with their own two hooves... it crashed down, so the town got together and helped them build this house. That though brought a genuine smile to her maw. She loved this little town.

Seeing Derpy's matted, wet furr, the red at the edges of her eyes, Butter Hooves confirmed what he already knew. She'd been crying very hard. He felt the Doctor's love for her, but it wasn't HIS love, it's belonged to the Doctor. 'This farce has to end' he thought almost angrily to himself. He knew what he had to say,had to do.

Once Derpy was inside, he nosed the door closed. As soon as she sat on a cushion in the living room he looked towards her, very seriously. "My dear Derpy, the last couple days have been so happy." He began. Derpy immediately saw where this conversation was going and wasn't sure how she felt about it. "But" he continued "it's time I finally moved on."

"W-what do you mean?" Derpy asked, her voice quivering. She wasn't sure she could handle loosing him again, despite everything, she was afraid to loose her friend again.

"I... I died all those years ago. You saw it. I stopped breathing." He continued with as much courage as he had, looking almost directly at the grim reaper who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen behind Derpy. "That light you saw... that was the Doctor. Something about him healed this body as soon as he entered it. But that act of ... regeneration  you might call it, erased his memories for a time."

Derpy nodded. 'That.. actually makes sense. He was so lost... my Doctor, when he first awoke.' she thought

"I... I need to move on Derpy.. I need to di..."

"NO!!! NOT AGAIN!" Derpy interrupted, pleading, shouting at him "Please Butter Hooves, please don't die, I'm so sorry! I'll be better I promise!!" She was on her hind knees, her fore hooves in front of her, together, begging. "I'm sorry, I swear I won't be sad anymore I.."

"DEDRA!" he shouted, his own courage fading, tears starting to form in his eyes. He had to hurry, to say goodbye before he lost his nerve again.

Derpy was stunned. No one, but NO ONE called her that. Even the Doctor didn't know her actual name. Some how to her, when he said Derpy it sounded seductive. She looked up into the stallion's eyes before her and saw how much this was costing him, and nodded. She knew he couldn't be interrupted again.

"Dee Dee... He's waiting for me" Butter Hooves continued, nodding towards the reaper.

Derpy was confused. because of her unique eyesight she'd seen the tall rabbit holding the scythe and in robes. but she thought "You mean Beta?" she said pointing at the reaper. Then she saw his furr was a solid green, and his face... "Th-that's not Beta..."

The reaper was surprised she could see him. She hadn't seen him at the boy's death many years ago, and even then, she thought he had simply come back to life... 'it must be those damned eyes of her's' the reaper thought. 'They must give her incredible peripheral vision'. which was the only place most being could see the dead, out of the corner of their eye.

"Your eyes have always been exceptional... as I understand from the Doctor, especially now since the accident. you see the world differently.Dee Dee... my sweet Derpy... I was always supposed to die that day. But you saved me. But the rocks insured my demise. I... I'm so sorry I made you so sad all these years. That your eyes were made like that. You could have become a great engineer or.. I dunno." he rambled on, knowing he had so little time before he had to go. He could feel the Doctor asserting himself.

"I'm.. I'm happy with my life Butter Hooves." Derpy said simply, the stream of tears refusing to stop.

That was all he needed to hear. He smiled warmly and reached back to turn the hour glass one last time. His name was erased as he turned the time piece. His body... The Doctor's body began to glow like it did that day. Rearing up on his hind hooves, roaring as male equines do a strange sight was missed by Derpy's keen eyes, as she knew what was to happen next. Her Doctor was returning.

A moment later the light cleared and there standing a little taller was Her Husband! "DOCTOR!!!" Derpy screamed, racing to hold him in her fore hooves. she kissed him all over before tasting his lips. They kissed for a long time. Time Turner was the happiest pony in all of Equestria. He had his body back, he had his life back, bust most important to him in all the world.. he had his beloved wife, Derpy Whooves back, in his arms, and on his lips.

Still weeping when the kiss finally broke for lack of air, Derpy looked at her Husband "I missed you so much Doctor. Please Don't ever do that again! Don't leave me ever again!" was all she could say before breaking down again in tears. They both sat on their haunches, Time Turner pulling her closer to himself. He could tell her about his new name later. He had always been the Doctor up until this point, he could wait a while longer before becoming Time Turner Whooves.

"I promise My love. I'll never leave you like that again. You are the one thing I thought about in there. You were.. are the happiest thought I have. And I want to enjoy ever second I have in this world with you, my beloved wife." He knew he might not be able to keep that promise... but damned if he wouldn't put every ounce of his now complete being into doing his best to try!

As the Doctor reared up on his hind legs a small human boy walked forward, and to Death, the great equalizer of men and kings. The boy looked up as death put his soft paw on the boy's head affectionately. "Hello boy" He said in a gruff, unearthly voice.

"Hello Death. it's been a while... I'm sorry I'm so late this time. But... how come you are a rabbit now?" He asked.

"A great deal of time has passed on earth... Furries like me and Beta are in charge of the world now.. it's a long story and one you will find out in due time" Death has said, keeping the history lesson for later. "You have been away from God too long. She misses you."

"Will.. Will Derpy be alright?" the Boy asked as his attachment to this life was rapidly leaving him.

"Yes. She and Time Turner, as he calls himself now, will live very long and interesting lives. They will have a child in several months." Death answered, smiling. This was his favorite part of his duties, coming to Equestria, escorting complete spirits home to God.

"She's gonna have a baby?" The boy asked, excited for his former friend. "She's gonna be a mommy?" Death looked at him and smiled, nodding "Yes, the circle of life, even here, continues.

"Where is.. here? What is Equestria mister Death?" The boy asked, having long ago forgotten.

Feeling it would pass the time as they walked to their next destination before returning to God, Death explained. 'Once upon a time, a very very very long time ago, there were two sisters who lived a very very sad life. When they died, as young ages, younger than you even, their souls were horribly scarred. They were innocents, but even heaven could not wash away the hell they lived through in life. So the old Death talked to God. They agreed that there should be a special place for young, scarred souls should go to rest and recover. They would recycle.. reincarnate as many times as it took for the pain of their life to fade from memory. "

"The two sisters were sent to this place to have create. God surmised, correctly of course, that by making this place the sisters would also be able to heal themselves. They created a paradise for little girls, and boys." Death explained as they walked. "Those sisters are Celestia and her little sister Luna. They created this world, and for many many cycles simply lived their lives as common ponies. Once in a while a little human girl would come and play with them. This made them very happy. More spirits came to live and rehabilitate here, and the sisters decided they could best serve God, the spirits, and Equestria by becoming goddesses themselves." He continued.

"Equestria is a place where young souls.. the souls of children to be exact, come to heal after experiencing something truly horrible in their lives. If they can not find peace in Heaven they are brought here, to a land of magic, fairies and ponies to cycle through lives until they are healed. That's why you were so bad at holding on to things. This was your last cycle little one. You were literally loosing your grip on life. That is also why you were always sick as a foal... you had little desire to continue."

"What.. that happened to me sir?" The boy asked. "I don't remember"

"That is for the best son. That is why you had to cycle so long. your's was especially bad. I won't tell you, and once you see God, you will stop caring anyway. Please take my word on that." He finished, hoping the boy would not press again. It had been something truly horrible. It was something only a human could do. He knew if he thought about it he would risk channeling wrath. Instead he thought about what a happy occasion this was. He would have to visit Celestia later to tell her one of the last humans has cycled at last.

"Where are we going mister Death?" The boy asked as they entered a small house just outside the opposite side of town.

"We are hear to help the man who made this possible. He was gravely hurt doing the work of Luna, and protecting Equestria from what has become a blight on the land." Death replied. "You see, some souls are so hurt by what happened to them, that the first cycle or two they are here they do bad bad things, like what happened to them." He couldn't bring himself to say that these poor souls had been horribly sexually abused. That their turning into sexual predators  here was a reflection of that scarring on their souls. Now that Luna had declared them monsters, they should be easier for the living ponies to.. cycle.

"How are we gonna help him?" The boy asked. Death loved children. He didn't ever tire of the intelligent, and innocent questions they often asked him. Pausing near the bed side of Beta they watched Beta's ragged breathing, and Apple Berry's worried expression as she did all she could to stabilize his condition.

He'd been out since the battle. Channeling that much godly magic from Luna had been more than his damaged body could handle. Apple Berry was worried for him. She loved him, truly loved him. The time they spent together, talking, bonding.. and that one night... She didn't want to loose him. She had not felt this way for anypony for many years. And she wasn't sure she could again. Beta was so special, different... kind to her.

Every few minutes she would say a prayer to Celestia.. then to Luna to see that he lived through this.

Death and the boy heard her prayer as she made another one. "O Celestia, please shine your healing light upon this soul who would only help those around him. Help him heal so that he may continue to spread joy in the lives that he touches. Please... I love him, and I never thought I could love like this again... um.. A men."

Looking up at Death, the boy simply asked "How can I help him?"

Death smiled back down at him. 'Children, so quick to help. I will never tire of that quality, be it human or animal' Death though. Then he said, while gesturing with one paw "Put your hand on the red bandage across his waist. think healing thoughts and the red will fade. That will heal him, at least for a while." Death knew that Beta's final fate lay within his own paws and the hooves of the princesses of Equestria. "You are giving him what's left of your life. You have a little bit left", 'and... I don't want to see him die... again' Death thought quietly.

The boy, feeling braver now, put his hands on beta's bandage. he winced from the pain feeling the slight pressure. Opening his eyes, he could see death and the boy, they were very fuzzy outlines, as though his eyes were out of focus. A moment later he forgot everything as the pain of his healing turned everything into white noise. Beta's breathing became easier, his bandage clearing up until it was a light pink with only a couple dots of dark red.

When the golden light disappeared Beta saw Death and the boy. Looking at Death he says "Hello my old friend." His voice is cracked and parched from days of only drinking what his nurse could squeeze safely into his maw from a towel.

"Do you remember when I brought you across?" Death asked. Beta only shakes his head 'no' "I'm not surprised" Death said. "You were in pretty bad shape. Luna spent 2 days healing you in the place between worlds. That bandage is the result. And even that you have managed to soil" Death finished admonishingly.

"I've had a rough few days" Beta croaked, looking around for something to drink.

"Will I remember this?" Beta asked realizing he might still be asleep.

"No. I did want you to know who did this however." Death said, stepping back so Beta could see the small human child.

"Butter hooves?" Beta asked

Death simply nodded. "He's a pure soul now. He's ready to see God and live in Heaven.

"Take care kid... and thanks" Beta said to the boy who smiled brightly. Actually it was bright, a blinding white light filled the room.

When the light disappeared, Death, the boy, and the pain were gone.