Coming Back to Me

by rosexknight

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Derpy Hooves, Crossover, Doctor Whooves, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Roseluck, Other, Romance
Length: 4228

Doctor Whooves makes a vital mistake, driving Ditzy Doo off. Now he's lost her. But something is amiss. Something bigger than all of them.

Doctor Whooves makes a vital mistake, driving Ditzy Doo off. Now he's lost her. But something is amiss. Something bigger than all of them.

Their relationship will be tested. Lines will be crossed. Time will be wibbly-wobbly. And they will either come out of it better, or much, much worse...

Published 2013-07-30 04:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-17 03:40:13 UTC

Chapter One

The TARDIS doors slammed shut behind her as she stormed out to her house, ignoring the fact that she probably just broke the Doctor's nose with the blue door. At the moment, she didn't care. She was just trying to remember where she'd hidden the key to her back door.

The grey pegasus replayed the events that had happened only moments ago in her head. If he had called her any other name it would have been different.

Anything else would have been better than that...

"Ditzy!" the Doctor's voice called as the blonde located the key and jammed her it into the lock. She heard his hooves pounding hard on the ground as he ran to catch her. "Ditzy please! I'm sor-"

Ditzy Doo cut him off by yanking the key to the TARDIS off from around her neck, chain and all, and throwing it at the brown-grey stallion. It hit his forehead and fell to his feet, and the Doctor was momentarily amazed at the girl's perfect aim.

"Get the hey out of my yard!" she exclaimed, glaring at him, both eyes focused on him rather than being in different directions. "I want you and your bloody box OUT! I never want to see you again you alien FREAK! I want you out of my life! Forever!"

The Doctor felt his hearts break as her words sunk in. He had hurt her so much by just making a mistake. Now she wanted him gone.

A familiar void was forming inside him. But this wasn't just a void. It was a black hole that was beginning to eat away at him. He grew desperate, grabbing the TARDIS key and stepping towards her.

"No. Ditzy I'm begging you. Don't say that. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you." he touched her wing, desperate to hold her. To make it better. "Please, Ditzy. Forgive me..."

She slapped his hoof away without a word as she turned to unlock and open her door. "Go away, Doctor. Leave. And don't you dare come back." she said, her normally cheerful voice coated in acid.

The Doctor faltered, stumbling back over his extra legs and landing on his bum. He could barely believe this. How could he have been so bucking stupid?!

"What about all we've been through!?" The Doctor demanded, trying to cling to what bit of her heart he still held. "The adventures. The laughs! You saw me regenerate from a pony to...another pony! We saved universes together! Doesn't that mean anything to you?!"

This made River pause. And for a long while she just stared forward. Walk inside. Leave him. Come on girl...She could feel the sting of tears welling, but she refused to let him see her cry.

"I have other things to attend to." She said simply, "I won't be out traveling to who knows where with a stallion who can't read the difference between twelve hours and twelve months on his own ship." Her voice shook for a moment, but she corrected it, "Go away."

The Doctor winced at the cold tone of her voice. She was serious. He had lost her.

Slowly he stood, looking at her back. Neither moved for a long while, but it was obvious that Ditzy was not going to change her mind. His ears and head dropped sadly as he reached out and touched his hoof to her wing once more.

"You'll...take care if yourself. Stay safe, yeah?"

He saw her nod, and, feeling the welling tears in his eyes, turned to leave. She refused to look at him. It pained him so much to have her shut him out like this. "Ditzy..." he begged, his voice laced in anguish. "Please...I didn't mean...I don't want..." he was struggling for the right words for an apology, but couldn't find them. It didn't seem like any words in Equestria would work.

Finally, she shook her head. "I can't take it anymore, Doctor. Don't you understand? I can't do this anymore. I'm staying home. I can't...I just can't take it..."

"Ditzy..." the Doctor said again, his voice shaky as he begged. It was an odd feeling, begging a companion to stay. He'd vowed when they wanted to go home that he would take them. No objection until now. Now he was regretting the promise. "Please...please don't leave me..."

She squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her jaw. The anger had faded, giving way to the hollow feeling of sadness. But she couldn't stay, as much as she wanted to. If she went back after what he'd done...she knew she'd never forgive herself.

It may have been a mistake on his part, but it was one that had shaken her to the core. Once again, she shook her head. "Just...go. Goodbye Doctor."

She shut the door, standing with her back pressed against the wood. It seemed too soon when she heard the whirr of the engines. Tears fell from her eyes as the sound faded. The TARDIS was gone. She sunk to the floor and cried. He was gone.

Good. He deserved it.

She just needed to make herself believe that. It was the truth.

He deserved it for what he'd done to her. For making her feel so inferior. For making him feel like second best.

For breaking her heart.

Stupid Time Lord.

Author's Note

This is a Pony-fied version of another FanFic I did. I hope to update it daily. I'm super proud of it and cannot wait to Pony-fy it all. If people show interest I'll link the original, but for now enjoy!

Chapter Two

He'd never been more happy that some ponies used phones in his life.

"Hey, Ditzy. It's me...look I'm really sorry. I can't...I need...Please call me."

Beep.

"Hello Ditzy...I just wanted to see how you were doing. I went to Space Baltimare today. It had automated sand! You would have loved it...Ditzy, I miss you. Please call me back so we can talk..."

Beep

The Doctor was sure he was going mad. He'd left at least twenty seven messages on her phone within the past few weeks. At least, he thought it was twenty-seven within a few weeks. He'd stopped keeping track.

He was hoping, by some miracle, his phone would ring and her sweet voice would come from the other end. It was all he could do to hold back the tears and keep his voice level when he heard her voice mail.

"Hiya! This is Ditzy Doo. I'm enjoying a muffin right now, so leave a message." had become the greatest words he'd ever heard.

He knew he should leave her alone. Find another companion like he always did. But hearing those words meant she hadn't disconnected her phone. Meant he still had one small piece of her. Meant there was a little bit of feeble hope left.

And he was holding onto it with all his might.

There were nights when the wind was so cold...
That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside my window...

She had managed to supress the memories, putting every reminder in a box. She thought it fitting, him in a box.

But the voice messages were torture.

She didn't know why she listened to them. Didn't know why she couldn't disconnect her phone. Every time she heard his voice her heart broke even more, but she felt such a relief when she heard his voice. Because that meant he was okay. Meant he was still out there.

Meant he hadn't gotten himself killed.

Meant he hadn't regenerated.

Meant he was still her Doctor.

And she hated herself for feeling that way.

There were days when the sun was so cruel...
That all the tears turned to dust and I just knew my eyes were drying up forever...
Fo-o-orever...

Slowly, she made herself strong again. She figured it was time healing the wounds. Rather ironic really, since in a way it was time that had made them.

Work was the only place she felt like her old self again. No Doctor. No reminders. Just her and the citizens of Ponyvilla and endless mailboxes. Paradise.

She'd forgotten how much she loved delivery. How much she loved Ponyville. How much she loved seeing Carrot Top in her garden or Twilight in the library or Lyra and Bon Bon on their bench or Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner. It was brilliant.

I finished crying in the instant that you left...
And I can't remember where or when or how...

Yes, she grew strong again, but it took a long wile.

The Doctor's box grew dusty as the weeks and months passed, but she was stronger. She never saw other stallions in those months, though. She knew no one would ever be as good as him. Knew she could never love anyone like she loved him, and that wouldn't be fair. Part of her hated him for raising her expectations, but she soon accepted it.

A small part of her couldn't bring herself to let him go completely. It was the part of her that wouldn't allow her to throw his box away. That part that made her listen to his voice mails every night. It took a wile, but she eventually grew numb to the pain, and it became comforting to hear his voice.

Slowly, she grew back to her old self. Her mates noticed her getting back to her old self too, but no one said anything when she would stare at the sky, almost searching for something. They were just glad to have their cross-eyed mailmare back.

But I banished every memory you and I had ever made...

~Seven Months Later~

The Doctor galloped into the TARDIS, quickly setting it in motion and grabbing the phone. Clumsily he dialed her number, never used to using hooves to hit the keys. Finally he heard her voice, and the tone.

"Ditzy it's the Doctor. I'm calling to warn you: something is happening. I don't know where or when, but it's close to you. Now, listen to me because it's never been more important. Don't do anything rash if you notice something peculiar. Stay inside. Teleport away with the Time-Vortex manipulator I hid away on your porch if you have to just don't get involved and don't..." his voice cracked at the thought. "Please just be careful. Run and stay away until I tell you it's okay. Trust me, Ditzy. You just need to listen to me this once. Be careful sweetheart...I..Stay safe."

Chapter Three

It was seven months, three weeks, and two days before she saw him again.

He was running.

Of course he was. He never stopped running.

But when you touch me like this...and you hold me like that...

The sight of her made him stop short and, for a moment, their gazes locked. Ditzy had the sudden urge to run to him, but the shackles binding her to the wall of the prison cell in the ship, along with her pride, made it impossible.

The Doctor did a huff, pulling out his sonic screwdriver from his collar. The mere sound of the screwdriver made the mare smile inside.

"I thought I told you not to do anything rash." he told her as he propped his hooves up to disarm the lock of the dank cell.

Her stomach did flips at the sound of his voice. A smile escaped her lips, but she quickly composed herself as he soniced her shackles. They popped open, and she stumbled to the ground, landing on her stomach and sitting back, streching her wings and rubbing her hooves.

"Well, I never listened to you anyway did I?"

I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me...

The Doctor paused, looking at her for a moment. Her face was emotionless, but she hadn't changed a bit.

"No I suppose you didn't." he said, a small smile appearing on his face.

She looked at him too. Same white collar. Same face. Same muzzle. Same bowtie. Same stupid Time Lord Pony. She had to admit, she was relieved. Though she refused to show it.

"So what do the Cyberponies want with Equestria?" she asked nonchalantly, as if she got locked in Cyberpony ships every day.

"Same as always I'm sure." The Doctor said, "They want to take over and convert everypony so they can build a military stronghold and then branch out and take over this star system."

Ditzy stood, "And you came here to stop them." she figured, stretching her wings again before folding them to her side.

"Precicely." the Doctor said with a confident nod, "The question is, why didn't they convert you?"

When you hold me like this...and I kiss you like that...
I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me...

"Isn't it obvious?" The mare asked, looking at him with her uneven gaze, "They were hoping to capture you. But now you're here and have a plan to stop them, right?"

He became distracted by her eyes, and after a moment blinked, coming back to his senses. "Well, no."

"No?" Ditzy asked, confused.

"Its complicated." the Doctor said, turning to look out the door of the cell, checking every direction to make sure the coast was clear.

"Complicated how?" She asked, trotting to stand beside him.

"Just...complicated." he insisted, pushing his dark mane out of his eyes. For it was. He didn't fully understand it himself.

"Complicated how?" Ditzy demanded.

Suddenly, hoofsteps were heard, but not the metal clunk of Cyberpony hoofsteps. No. These hoofsteps were lighter. More...Equestrian.

"Doctor! I think there are ponies in this cell too." a feminine voice called.

Ditzy' heart sank. Another mare. Of course. She knew how lonely the Doctor got. Why wouldn't he get a new companion to tag along?

But the Doctor's blood ran cold as his head jerked to the other side of the hallway. That voice...Those hoofsteps...no. The sounds closed in. He needed more time.

Ditzy glared at him, but frowned at his expression. Fear, longing, sorrow, and anticipation all rolled into one.

"What's wrong now?" she asked, a bit annoyed.

But the stallion didn't answer. Instead, he seemed to be in much more of a hurry as he turned to glance at her and around the inside of the cell for a hiding place or an escape route.

"We've got to run." He said, grabbing her hoof and pulling her to dart don the hallway.

"Why?" She asked as she followed, another set of footsteps echoed, coming closer. They weren't Cyberpony.

"I told you!" the Doctor said. "It's-" he stopped short as a cream colored mare with a red and pink mane appeared at the hallway, nearly plowing them over.

It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now...

"What is it, Rose?" Another voice came.

A stallion with a light brown coat and dark brown mane appeared beside Rose Luck, and the sight of him made both Ditzy and the Doctor's eyes widen.

There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light.
There were things I'd never do again but then they'd always seemed right...

The blonde pegasus gulped "Oh. Yes. Very complicated."

Author's Note

If it has not been made clear yet, Ditzy's Doctor is Raggedy Doctor (11th Whooves) and the Doctor with Roseluck is the normal 10th Doctor Whooves. It's a tad challenging to get that across when talking about the pony version and not the normal version so I thought I'd clarify.

Chapter Five

The group darted down a side corridor, the cyberponies passing them. They had gone undetected, and all let out a simultaneous sigh of great relief.

It was lost long ago but it's all coming back to me…
If you want me like this, and if you need me like that…

"Don't shut down the engines." The older Doctor said, trying to catch his breath."It'd be better to go to the control room. Then you could just set the ship to jump into hyperspace and come out millions of light-years from the Earth."

Ten gave him an odd look, "Why? They could just come back."

"Ahh but if we hook the hyperdrive core up to the TARDIS…"

"Then we could send them into the future when the sun has burned the Earth! There would be no Earth to invade. Oooh that's brilliant."

"But...wouldn't that put us right in the middle of the supernova?" Rose asked, "We'd get torched."

"Well...no. Not really." Ten said, trying to sound like he meant it. "I mean, yes, the shields would probably go down during the speed jump and take a bit to reboot...But with the TARDIS we could be out of there before we're singed. Right?"

"In theory, yeah!" Eleven said with a grin. "You're the one being brilliant now! Is this what it's like, listening to me talk?"

"I rather like it. Wish I could be so lucky."

Ditzy smiled. She had to admit, it was funny to see both Doctors together being brilliant. She'd missed him.

It was dead long ago but it's all coming back to me…
I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now...

"How are we gonna distract the Cyberponies?" Roseluck asked before Ditzy could.

The Doctors turned to her, then looked at each other. Eleven looked back at Ditzy. He didn't know how this would end. It was okay the first time, when he'd gone through it while being his younger self, but the time stream was in flux now, and the events that were once in set were changing. Above all, he had to keep her safe. He'd just gotten her back. He wasn't losing her again.

"Wait in the TARDIS." He said firmly.

"What?" she exclaimed, outraged. There was no way she was gonna let him tuck her away while he went off galavanting with his younger self. She wanted to help. To fight. To do what companions did.

"You too, Roseluck." Ten agreed. "Go with Ditzy to the Traveler's TARDIS and wait for me."

"But I want to help." Rose was giving him a helpless look. The grey pegasus could tell the earth pony wanted to help, but didn't know how. She knew that feeling, and gave a begrudging look to Eleven. Companions were supposed to listen to the Doctor.

"You can help by going to the TARDIS." Eleven said sternly, "Ditzy, watch her. You two stay put. TARDIS is right down the hall. If anything happens, get out of here." He put emphasis on the last part and ignored the blonde mare when she opened her mouth to protest. "Doctor, we'll hook your TARDIS up to the hyperdrive core. I'll distract the Cyberponies while you secure the control room."

"How?" Ditzy snapped, unable to help a worried tone.

There were those empty threats and hollow lies…
And whenever you tried to hurt e I'd just hurt you even worse and so much deeper…

Eleven turned to her, a grin on his face. Her eyes narrowed. She knew that look.

"Simple." He said, "Give them a target."

With that, he galloped towards the control room. Ten gave rose a tight hug before following. Rose looked after him fearfully, and Ditzy could practically see the vibe of concern and worry and compassion for each other. And as the two shrank the mechanical steps of Cyberponies could be heard, no doubt closing in on the stallions.

"Doctor!" Rose called after him as their hoofsteps echoed down the hall, as if that would make him come back. Ditzy knew better.

"Wait for me Rose!" Ten called back, "I'll be back I promise! Five and a half hours!"

Ditzy stepped in front of Rose "Do- -Traveler!" She called after them.

Eleven turned to see an object flying at his head. With reflexes only a Time Lord could have, he caught it the moment the metal device was about to hit his head. In his hoof was one of the two communicators Ditzy had taken the day she left. Eleven looked up to see her glaring at him and was once again astonished by her perfect aim. She was obviously angry and hurt, but another emotion was there that was so faint he couldn't pinpoint it.

There were hours that just went on for days…
When alone at last we'd count up all the chances that were lost to us forever…

"If you die…or regenerate…or whatever Time Lords do, you'll have to answer to me!"She exclaimed.

She was torn. She still hated him for what he did. But she wasn't losing him here. Not yet.

The eleventh Doctor smiled. So she still cared…that was comforting. Maybe hope wasn't lost for him after all. "Thank you sweetie!" he called, putting the communicator around his neck and dashing after his younger self.

The metal footsteps were close now, and a flash of metal came from another cooridor. The mares shrunk back into the shadows of their cooridoor, slowly walking backwards and listening for the metal hooves to stop pounding at the floor before headed to the TARDIS.

Ditzy turned, faced with the cream-colored mare looking to the opening of the hallway with such a worried and concerned look that it made Ditzy's heart ache.

So this was Roseluck…beautiful red mane, shiny coat, and pretty, straight eyes that made a pang of jealousy run through the grey mare. No wonder she was special…

"Sorry. I'm Ditzy. Didn't get your name…" Was all she could think to say.

Rose looked at her, "Roseluck." She said.

"Intruder sighted." A mechanical voice suddenly came from behind them.

The mares turned to find themselves being stared down by a squad of Cyberponies. "Your presence is no longer required. Delete!"

"Nice to meet you Rose. Run for your life!"

And they did. They galloped out of the cooridoor and down the main hall, the Pegasus in the lead. It wasn't long before the beautiful, welcoming Blue Box was in sight. She hated to admit it, but she missed the running. Still, there was a nagging worry in the back of her mind she hated more. She worried about the Doctor. About both Doctors. She had to keep Rose safe. If she didn't she'd never forgive herself.

And neither would the Doctor.

Author's Note

I'm sorry that this has taken me so long to post, guys. Life caught up to me and I got pretty busy. But I'm planning to post at least three more chapters tonight if I can.

Chapter Four

The two Doctors were staring at each other, as if trying to read each other while questioning the possibility of it. The younger Doctor was trying to figure out his future while the older was desperately trying to warn his younger self of what was to come.

Roseluck looked between her Doctor and the two strangers, wondering who this stallion was and why the Doctor seemed so shocked. After looking Ditzy over once, she turned to her Doctor, a worried look on her face.

There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right…

"Doctor? What's wrong?" she asked.

The tenth Doctor Whooves blinked, brought out of his trance and back to the matter at hand. "Rose! Right. Yes. Well then, you see, it's complicated. He's…" He looked at his older self, the new face. The eleventh Doctor shook his head, leaving Ten to think fast.

Eleven hated to have to lie to Roseluck, but he knew it would be bad if she knew he was the Doctor. She'd ask questions. Questions he couldn't answer. She would get upset, and that was one thing he knew he and his younger self didn't need. The situation was explosive enough. Especially with Ditzy and Roseluck both here.

Especially after...that.

There were nights of endless pleasure…
It was more than any laws allow…

Ten stumbled over his words. "He's a Time Pony." He said, not having to fake the astonishment in his voice. "An old friend."

Eleven smiled, proud of his younger self. Not lying to her, but not giving too much away either. "Yes!" Eleven said, "I'm…The Traveler. This is Ditzy, my- -" He cut himself off, looking back at the grey pegasus.

She wasn't his companion.

Not anymore. What were they to each other now?

"Friend." He said finally. "My friend, Ditzy Doo."

Roseluck's face lit up. "That's grea- -" but she was interrupted by the sound of metal Cyberpony footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"We'll have to catch up later." The younger Doctor said, "Right now we're on our way to the engine room to shut the engine down."

The eleventh Doctor shook his head, "Better to…" Suddenly, Cyberponies appeared at the end of the dungeon's hallway, beckoning "Delete!"

"Run!"

Baby, baby
If I kiss you like this
And you hold me like that...

The younger Doctor almost instinctively pushed Rose's back in the direction they needed to go and did just that. Eleven followed, reaching just as instinctively for Ditzy's wing, but she gave him a glare.

She had been so happy to see him, but ever since what had happened things were different. Way different. And she still wasn't ready to face him…

I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me…