The Deadly Arcade

“Doctor, you didn’t really let that thing kill him-did you?” Light asked nervously once they re-entered the TARDIS.

“Don’t worry,” he replied reassuringly. “He’s still alive-just in another timeline-think of it as a second chance for him to become a better person.”

“Okay,” Light leaned against a wall of the TARDIS. “That’s all well and good, but what about this huge freakin’ area behind the arcade?”

“Simple, I’ve reprogrammed the whole system to be non-lethal so all you have to do is start making a hole in the wall and install a door and call it an ‘addition to the arcade.’” He replied.

“And the labyrinth?” she pressed.

“You’ve never heard of laser tag?” he shot back.

“Heh, you have an answer for everything-don’t you?”

“Just about!” he quipped as he moved towards the TARDIS control panel.

Button’s mother had retrieved her purse from the floor of the arcade and Button was playing on his Joy Boy.

After ensuring that everyone and their personal belongings were inside, he set the TARDIS coordinates to materialize just outside of the arcade so Light could get some rest and Button and his mother could finally get on their way home.

“Doctor, what are you doing now?” Light asked, noticing him fiddling with the control panel.

“I’m taking everyone home.” He replied.

The TARDIS came to life as it began to dematerialize, leaving the Eight’s secret area behind the arcade completely empty.

Glancing back at the others, he couldn’t help but feel a little shocked at how well they were taking everything that had happened in the past few hours.

Light was still leaning against a wall of the TARDIS as The Doctor couldn’t help but draw connections between her and the attitudes and personality of other companions he’d had like her in the past.

One thing that set her apart from most teens like her that he’d seen in Equestria was that she genuinely cared about Button and worried about him like a big sister, the exact opposite of most others who merely saw the child that they were supposed to be watching as a means to an end.

Button’s mother was sifting through her purse, making sure everything was still inside from before Eight stole it now that she knew that her son was safe.

Button was playing on his Joy Boy, completely enthralled by the game-seemingly completely unfazed by the events that had transpired earlier.

Normally this would have caused some alarm, but he supposed that after living in Ponyville for their entire lives (specifically the past three years) it seemed as though they have gotten use to all of these crises and bizarre events, learning to block them out or forget about them when all is said and done.

He had to admit that he was slightly envious, after over nine-hundred years of travel through time and space this was not an ability had had been able to master.

Once they had reached their destination, The Doctor snapped back to the present.

“Alright, rides over-everybody off!” he announced as Light pushed the door open to as Button’s mother followed her outside, followed by her son who was still distracted by his videogame.

It was dark out, with the only illumination coming from the stars above in the cloudless night.

Button’s mother turned to him, still wearing what he could have sworn to be a seductive expression with half-lidded bedroom eyes…was this the way she normally looked?

Then again, he supposed it didn’t really matter as long as they were all safe and now he could finally get some rest.

“Well, I suppose you two will be headed home now-Button…Button’s mother.” He added, remembering that he never asked her name.

“Thank you for taking care of my son.” She replied, “Come on sweetie.” taking her son by the hoof and practically dragging him back home as his legs barely moved with him being so caught up on his hoofheld device.

He then turned back to Light, seeing her yawn and stretch.

“Well, it’s been a real long day…and an even longer night.” She commented, tiredly. “I’d better hit the hay too, the arcade is still open tomorrow at the same time…girl’s gotta make a living after all.”

She then took out her keys to unlock the door to the arcade.

“Wait, you actually live in here?” The Doctor asked.

“Yeah, this place was my grandad’s and the arcade was kinda built around it so I still have a bed, bathroom, kitchen, same things you find in a normal house-it’s just built around the back so it doesn’t distract anyone…it would probably seem out of place if you’re in a room filled with arcade games and claw machines before walking into a kitchen.”

She turned to look at The Doctor.

“You should probably get some rest, too.”

“That’s a good idea,” he replied turning to leave. “Goodnight.”