Chapters It was a sunny day in Equestria. Rainbow Dash had cleared the sky early for good reason. Twilight was calling her five friends for a meeting. Something weird was going on with Dash and she wanted to know if her friends knew anything about it. They quickly filed into the library. Dash, a sorrowful look on her face, walked in slowly. Twilight saw how sad she looked and wanted to investigate.
“Dash, what’s wrong? You look like somepony died.” Dash froze.
“Nothing’s wrong, Twilight. I just-”
“There’s something wrong.” Dash looked up at the now frustrated unicorn.
“How-”
“Because you NEVER call me by my actual name. Now what’s wrong?” Dash shrunk back.
“Well, uh…you know that tan stallion that just so happens to be around when something bad happens?” Twilight nodded. Dash looked around the room. “It’s not coincidence.” A knock on the door startled the two, hinting to Spike that he was going to be the one to get it. The small dragon walked up to the door almost twice his size and paused before opening it.
“Hello my good man! Oh, wait…Hello my good stallion! Is Rainbow Dash here?” Spike, unphased, pointed to the colorfully maned mare. The tan stallion trotted nicely over to his target. “Good morning, Dashie! Want to go adventurin` again? I got my fez!” Twilight growled under her breath. The enthusiastic stallion froze in his tracks. “Oh, um…Hello Flashlight!” He stretched a smile a little too far.
“For once in you life, GET MY NAME RIGHT!!” He cowered behind Rainbow, shivering in fear like she had attacked a foal and not a full grown stallion.
“Ugh! What is wrong with you, Doctor!?” Twilight froze, Rainbow shouldn’t know his name… “And I told you not to call me Dashie!!!” The Doctor squeaked as Rainbow grabbed his bowtie and dragged him outside.
“Ow, Ow, Ow! Alright! Alright!” Rainbow let go, dropping him to the ground. The Doctor stood up and dusted himself off. “So as I was saying, do you want to go on an adventure?” He offered a hoof and smiled. Rainbow could feel her blush.
“Uh…I don’t know…I mean last time I went with you I almost died!” The Doctor blinked repeatedly.
“That’s what makes it so fun! You never know WHAT’S gonna happen!” He enthused.
Rainbow stepped into the mysterious blue box, lifting her tail over the small step. The Doctor was flipping switches and turning knobs. He looked up to see the cyan mare right across from him, and sighed.
“Look, if you don’t want to go on the adventure I completely… Why are you staring at me like that?” Rainbow had a smirk. “Why wouldn’t I want to go on an adventure?” The Doctor stumbled on his words.
“I-But-You-COME ON!” Rainbow burst out laughing.
“So Doctor, where are we going?” She asked, sagging into a chair. The Doctor tapped his chin.
“Where do you want to go?” Dash shrugged before laying down in her chair.
“Somewhere exciting.”
“I can show you exciting!” The Doctor spun around to face the hallway, where there was a dark blue stallion.
“JACK! I thought I told you to stay in your room!” The stallion groaned.
“COME ON, Doctor! I need to have some fun!” The Doctor rolled his eyes, returning to the TARDIS control panel. Rainbow was now out of the chair and directly in front of Jack. He smiled. “Hello there, I’m Jack Harness. And you are?” Rainbow studied the stallion from top to bottom. “You must be Rainbow Dash?” He said slightly confused.
Rainbow Dash stepped back. “Yeah, how’d you know?” Jack had a cheesy grin that didn’t amuse Dash in the slightest.
“Derpy used to talk about you ALL the time! How you preformed a sonic rainboom, twice I should mention.”
Rainbow blushed. “Well, it was actually three times.” The Doctor was obviously annoyed by Jack’s presence.
“EUREKA!” Jack jumped a bit as The Doctor yelled out. Rainbow ‘dashed’ over.
“What!?” The Doctor harrumphed at Jack’s disappointed expression. “How about we go to the Dragon Empire?” Rainbow remained silent. “They’ve got dragons!” He said happily. Rainbow rolled her eyes.
“I see a dragon almost every day.” She responded, obviously mentioning Spike.
“Pfft! Big deal! They also have deer!” Jack stated.
“What! No way!” Rainbow exclaimed. The Doctor smiled.
“Dragon Empire it is then!” The TARDIS whirred and buzzed. Jack opened the door revealing a completely different area. “Here we are!” The Doctor sang. Rainbow stepped out into the fresh air. There was a slight stench of smoke. She screamed as her eyes got used to the two suns. There was a huge deep red dragon standing in front of her.
“Jack, how many times do I have to tell you!? No traveling without me!” Griffon gave an excited grin.
“Oh, this is so cool! Come on Jack, there’s someone I want you to meet.” Jack smirked.
“Well this is certainly getting interesting.” He said trotting after Griffon. The brown stallion stopped dead in his tracks, causing Jack to bump into him.
“Aren’t your friends coming?” Jack looked behind him and motioned for The Doctor to follow.
Dash flew above them as they headed for what seemed to be a park. Griffon stopped in front of two gates. “I’ll unlock it for you.” He said turning towards The Doctor. He gave a nervous laugh, realizing he was the only one without wings. The ‘Draco’ stretched out his wings and jumped onto the fence, retracting claws from his hooves.
“Whoa…” Rainbow’s mouth hung open as the stallion climbed over the gates and jumped to the other side. A small clanking sound came from the other side before the door creaked open. Griffon smiled as a sand colored stallion walked up beside him.
“Guys, this is Thunder. He’s a royal guard for the princess." The stallion was dressed in a golden suit of armor, and wore a medallion around his neck, which had his dark grey mane held tightly to the back.
"it's nice to meet you." He said, proudly giving Rainbow a kiss on the hoof. She reacted with a blush just as a doe (Female deer) approached from behind Thunder.
"Excuse me, Captain Thunder Hooves." A look of fear and embarrassment reached the stallion's face.
"Princess Delilah! I was just-" She raised a hoof to silence him.
"You need not to apologize. I know you were only being social." She turned to Griffon and frowned. "I thought my father got rid of you."
"Nope! I'm still here!" He said with a smile.
"Delilah?" A male voice came from the background. The princess twirled around.
"Coming father!" She scowled angrily at Griffon. "I better not see you in the castle again, or you'll be hearing from my FATHER'S guards!" She trotted away towards a brown buck (Male deer), giving Thunder a wink before disappearing behind a corner. Thunder sighed, lovestruck. The Doctor and Rainbow Dash were speechless.
"Isn't she beautiful?" The blushing stallion asked, laying his head between his hooves.
Thunder led the ponies through roads and alleys, finally ending up in front of the castle. It was very tall, and it was lined with guards ranging from deer to gazelles. A red stallion stood out from the rest, his coat brightening as he stepped out of the shadow. He had a violet mane with dark purple highlights.
"Captain Thunder Hooves, sir!" He said saluting.
"At ease, soldier. What's wrong?" Thunder asked, stepping forward. The stallion lowered his hoof.
"There has been an unidentified spaceship in the area, we've never seen anything like it. The king believes it could be dangerous."
The Doctor let out an amused laugh.
"Ha! Ha, ha, ha! Dangerous! Oh, that's a good one!" Rainbow stared at him angrily. The other guards were now all staring at him confused. Thunder also had his attention to the Doctor. "Ahem," The nervous stallion straightened his tie. "Continue."
"Anyway, the spaceship resembles a...we don't know what it is sir. Our troops described it as; Blue, small, and having a strange aura." The red stallion raised a blue chip. "We took a sample."
"THEY HURT MY TARDIS!" The Doctor snatched the chip out of the stallion's hoof and bolted for the blue box. A zebra with a silver suit of armor raised a hoof in the Doctor's direction.
"GET HIM!" A fair amount of the guards raced after the now 'criminally insane' Doctor Whooves. A few Pegasi and Draci chased after Rainbow Dash, Captain Jack, and Griffon.
The ponies finally slowed down to take a break. "Huff. Huff. Man...That was a close one!" Griffon retracted his claws back into his hooves. The Doctor looked back warily.
"I'd almost say too close." Rainbow shook her wings while Jack was trying to get his Vortex Manipulator to work.
"Ugh. Gah! Stupid HOOVES!" The Doctor's head popped up.
"OI! What's wrong with me?" Rainbow rolled her eyes as she looked around a corner.
"Uh...Guys? I think we have a problem!" All of the colts joined Rainbow, looking around the corner. There was a regal looking buck headed their way. His mane was slick, and was a royal blue. He had a red robe that shook around loosely as he trotted. His crown was bright gold and was encrusted with rubies. His tail bounced from side to side as he trotted along-side his companion; the red dragon from earlier.
"I don't care about Thunder! Just, FIND THEM!" Draken shifted his leg armor.
"Yes Sir." Draken flew off, causing all of the rebels to hide in a barrel.
"Ack!" Draco's claws grinded against the metal ring around the barrel. The king turned towards them, obviously awre he was not alone. Delilah trotted down the alley, returning to her father's side.
"Nopony down there father." The king looked around one last time before turning around and heading for the main path.
"Thank goodness!" The Doctor said, squeezing out of the barrel.
"Follow him?" Rainbow asked the Doctor with a mischievous smile.
The Doctor rubbed his hooves together. "Fantastic!"
"I can break you into the castle!" Griffon said, trotting for the main path.
"No!" The Doctor pulled him back by his tail. "If foo rifky!"
"Then what do we do?" Jack asked, spreading his wings.
"We find out what he wants us for." The Doctor rubbed his elbow. "I have a feeling it's more than just my TARDIS."
***
The Doctor flipped a switch on the control panel and leaned back in his swivel chair. Rainbow was playing cards with Griffon while Jack was leaning against the wall.
"Now, we just wait." The Doctor said pulling out a plate of muffins. "Muffins anyone?" Jack rolled his eyes and grabbed one.
"Where are we going now, Doc?" Rainbow asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"Oh, nowhere."
"..."
"As in we're in the same place." There were sighs all around. "I just went back in time. According to the TARDIS, we are in 5,000 BC."
"Woah..." Rainbow Dash's mouth hung open.
"I know, awesome! Am I right?"
"You mean, before Celestia?"
"What? No!" The Doctor slapped a hoof to his face. "Before Christ! Geez, don't you ponies get anything right?"
The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS with a disappointed frown.
"You know, I honestly thought it would be more exciting." He said looking around the small town. Ponies were conversing all around, balloons were all over the streets, and a few clowns actually passed by. "I think we've run into a fair." He said grabbing the plate of muffins.
"What?" Dash joined him in the doorway and gasped. "Doc, look!" He followed her hoof to a young fawn with a cardboard crown. "I think that's the king! Geez, time-travel is trippy." The Doctor slammed a hoof in her mouth.
"I think you're right..."
"Of course I am! I saw my own dad once...as a foal!" He shook his head.
"Not that, the fawn. He's wearing the same necklace that the king had." A tall buck suddenly grabbed the brooch around the stallion's neck.
"What did I tell you about stealing my brooch?" He asked with a huff. He snapped the necklace from the colt's neck and stuffed it into his robe pocket. "And get rid of that fake crown, you look like an idiot." The small colt obliged and removed the crown from his head.
"Who is that?" The doctor asked, rubbing his chin.
"I dunno." Rainbow shrugged, stuffing a muffin in her mouth.
"What's up?" Griffon asked, resting his arms on each of their shoulders. "Did you find something...intriguing?" He asked, attempting to sound smart.
"Yes, quite...." He set his head on a hoof with a huff. The Doctor just had to be quaint .
***
"Excuse me?" The colt looked up at the doctor with a frown.
"Are you my new tutor?" The stallion laughed.
"Oh, no. I'm just curious."
"About what?"
"Well, I just wanted to know-" He paused. "Why do you need a tutor?"
"My etiquette tutor? My father says I need to learn proper etiquette to be a king." He sighed. "It's really boring!" The Doctor chuckled.
"My good friend, you don't need to be proper to be a good leader! I have a very good friend who is a great leader, and she chews with her mouth open!" He laughed. The colt giggled as well. "Know, tell me the real reason you take these classes."
"I have to do what my father says, or I get in trouble."
"Well, I happen to know somepony who gets in a lot of trouble. Do you want to know who?" The colt nodded. "It's that mare I mentioned earlier." He gasped.
"Really!?" The Doctor nodded. "I'm scared to get in trouble...my dad is really scary." The colt's new friend smiled.
"I can see that. Can I give you some advice?" He nodded. "My job involves defeating monsters, and I love it. Do you know why?" The colt shook his head. "Because I know that my friend would never let me get hurt, and you have to live in the moment! I never let my fear get the best of me." He rubbed the colt's head with a smile. "Now I have to get back to her. You have a good day." The colt nodded.
"Doc! Did you find out what's going on?" Rainbow asked with a hopeful smile. He smiled and nodded.
"I think I know what's going on." He chuckled. "Yes, very."
***
"Doc, what's going on with you? You're usually not this quiet..." The tan stallion gently lowered a picture of a grey mare.
"I am when I'm brooding..." He said with a grin.
"Doc, why do you have to use such big words?" She sighed. "Nevermind. Don't know, don't care." Griffon slammed his cards onto the table.
"Ha! Take that, Jack! Or should I say, Jack-Squat?" He said with a smirk. Jack slammed his hooves on the table.
"Darn it! How do you keep doing that?" He groaned and rubbed his head. "Doctor, when are we going to intervene?" Rainbow floated onto his back with a laugh.
"Yeah, when are we gonna start adventuring?" She asked, resting her head in his mane.
"Soon," He said chuckling at the mare on his head. "Be patient."
Draken stood on top the stage, spreading fear through the crowd of equines. A stallion guard stood place on the side of the stage.
“Bring him out.” The guard pushed forward Thunder, sending him wobbling onto the stage. Draken smiled, showing his complimentary fangs. He raised his left claw. “This is the stallion that has been sentenced to death!” A random buck in the crowd spoke up immediately.
“That is the captain of the guard! This is mutiny to the king!” Draken growled behind his teeth.
“NO! This is mutiny to YOU! If anybody would care to remember the first law of this kingdom!” A few random equines all stood immediately to this request.
“Obey the king!” “Obey the king’s oders!” Draken smiled again, satisfied.
“EXACTLY! This is upon king’s orders!” He screamed, lifting Thunder above his head. Thunder looked to his right, and saw a noose. He panicked.
“Upon what grounds!?!” Draken frowned.
“BETRAYEL!!” Rainbow Dash shrunk back upon hearing the word. She felt a comforting hoof on her back, and relaxed knowing that the Doctor was still by her side. Draken continued. “This stallion is guilty in the crime of ASSISTING THE DOCTOR!” Rainbow squeaked, knowing she would be put to death immediately if she was caught with The Doctor. Draken saw a guard next to him putting the stool in place. “WHAT SAY YOU?!” He asked the crowd, lifting Thunder higher. The entire crowd started to mumble about who the ‘Doctor’ was. Draken let out a growl before placing Thunder on the stool.
“The Doctor! The one we all must kill on SIGHT!” A buzzing sound played on several speakers surrounding the stage. Dash looked beside her and saw, not the doctor, but Griffon. He looked at her with an annoyed expression.
“WHAT!? He told me to make sure you didn’t get into trouble!” Draken roared furiously at the sound covering his ears, enabling Thunder to get to a safer spot. A British voice boomed over the loud speakers.
“Yes kill is a good word, but have you tried…” The Doctor jumped out from behind the stage curtains. “FEAR?”
“Sorry if I scared you,” He said with a deep tone. “My name is Draken, I’m the one in charge around here.” Dash gulped, she had only seen an actual dragon up close once, and he wasn’t as intimidating as this one.
“I-I’m Rainbow Dash…” ‘Come on, Dash! Think of something nice to say!’ “Um…Nice wings.” Draken growled, showing his fangs.
“I don’t have time for small talk! You didn’t happen to see a brown Draco pass by did you?” Rainbow looked over to a far off wall and saw a brown pony with green hair hiding in a barrel. He was motioning for her to stop talking.
“Um…nope!” Draken narrowed his eyes at her.
“Okay, but if I find out you were helping him you’ll be sent to the dungeon as well!” He stretched out his golden wings and took off. The brown stallion jumped out of said barrel, landing down softly thanks to draconic wings. Rainbow froze. She had never seen a pony so creepy. Not including his wings-He had a spikey green mane and tail, green zebra stripes, reptilian eyes, and sharp fang like teeth. He gave her a nervous laugh.
“Sorry for getting you in trouble,” He said handing her a hoof. “I’m Griffon. You’re Rainbow dash, right?” Dash nodded, unaware that she was still staring at him. He furrowed his brow. “What? You never seen a Draco before?” he said, obviously irritated by her rudeness. Thankfully The Doctor came to her rescue.
“Sorry sir, she’s a little new around here.” He said with a big grin. Griffon narrowed his eyes.
“You are too if you don’t know who I am.” Jack squeezed past the two ponies, landing in front of Griffon. “Jack?” Jack looked up at the draconic pony and recognized him immediately.
“Griffon! Hey man!” Jack looked behind him to see a confused Rainbow Dash and a very angry Doctor.