Doctor Whooves: Echo

"So, here's the thing about 'distant future' destinations..." The Doctor rubbed the back of his head absent-mindedly.

"What? What's the problem?"

"Well, for the past, I can rely on your knowledge of Equestrian history. The future, however..." He coughed. "I have absolutely no idea what we'll run into."

I smiled. "Sounds like fun!"

"That's the spirit!" He leapt at the control panel, barking orders as abstract as 'hold that one down.' I did my best to keep up with the rapid barrage of instruction, and it must've worked because the TARDIS landed without a hitch about a minute later.

The Doctor galloped to the door, then remembered I was here. "Oh. Right. Rose, would you like to--"

"No," I interrupted. "You go ahead. You seem so excited. Aren't you used to it by now?"

"Ha!" He grinned. "Why would I keep going if I was used to it? You never get used to it! It's like asking someone if they're not as curious about reading Sherlock Holmes just because they've read most of them."

"Uh.. Sherlock who?" I asked.

"Never mind." He gave the door a mighty shove and it swung open. The first step forward, however, turned out to be a step down.

He yelled, but had already lost his balance and tumbled out of sight.

"Doctor!" I ran to the threshold, watching as he rolled down the face of a cliff, landing on a on a convenient ledge a few meters below.

I knew it probably hurt, but I couldn't help giggling. It was like something right out of a cartoon. "You alright?"

He groaned. "Just... just get down here... and stop laughing!"

I had to hold my breath to get the chuckles to stop. "Sorry." I slid carefully down the rocky mountainside, eventually landing beside the Doctor. I looked back up at the TARDIS, seeing it parked at the very edge of a similar ledge above us. "Doesn't look like it'll be easy to get back in there..." I commented.

"Oh god..." The Doctor pushed himself up into a sitting position. "I used to be so much more careful."

"Looks like you've had enough adventure for a while." I laughed. "You're covered in dirt. You'll be black and blue within the hour!" I kept laughing.

The Doctor sighed, but smiled and took it. "So... where are we?"

I looked around this mountain wasn't the only one in sight. The two of us were surrounded by peaks. "Dunno. Is that a cloud?" It was indeed, floating by below us.

"Hey! Look up there!" The Doctor waved a hoof about frantically.

I followed his line of sight, spotting the silhouette of a winged creature against the grey sky. "Hey! Down here!" I screamed, bouncing about on the ledge. "Help us!"

The creature kept circling.

"Ooh! I've got it!" The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it straight up over his head "May want to cover your ears," he warned before pressing the button.

The screeching sound reverberated off the mountains, multiplying infinitely and finally catching the attention of the flying thing.

It was big. Really big, with a black beak and curved claws the size of scythes.

The Doctor was cleared shocked. Guess he didn't have griffons where he was from.

"More peace makers, huh?" it grumbled, flicking it's lion-like tail.

"Uh... yes?" The Doctor guessed.

Without another word, he grabbed us by the scruffs of our necks and lifted us into the air. I kicked and screamed, but he barely seemed to notice.

"Doctor?" I cried, "What do we do? What's going on?!"

He gave me a look filled with terror. "I think we're prisoners of war!"

~~~~~

"Hey!" I screamed. "Let me go! What the hell is wrong with you?"

The griffon's grip tightened. He remained silent.

The Doctor hung helplessly, still sore from his fall. "This must be ponies versus griffons," he guessed.

"Oh, you think?" I was furious. Nopony-- er, griffon-- treated me like this! "God! This is all your fault! 'Uh... yes?' You've probably never even seen a griffon!"

"Well, I- no, not exactly. Just ponies. Aren't magic ponies enough? Why does there need to be a million other species and problems?" He groaned. "And I ripped up my jacket again."

"Hey! You!" I gave the griffon a swift punch in the chest. He barely even blinked. "Where are we going?"

Silence.

The Doctor laughed derogatorily. "Oh! Brilliant! Just ask, he's sure to answer!" He seemed to see something to his left but I couldn't see around his head. "Oh."

"What? Your fat head's in the way."

"I'd imagine that's where we're headed."

The griffon wheeled to the left, and our destination was revealed.

An elegantly natural-looking castle jutted out from the side of a mountain. It almost appeared as though the many twisting spires had been carved from the rock itself.

"Do you know what that is?" The Doctor asked.

"I think it's the Griffon Kingdom Palace. I saw pictures when I was a filly in scool, but..." I whistled at the size and granduer of the palace.

"Well, remember: it's been... a while since you saw those photographs. Any number of things may have changed in all that time."

I grimaced. "I had always wanted to see it. Not like this!" I screamed, being sure our captor heard every word. If I was going to be hauled around like shopping, I may as well voice my opinion.

The Doctor chuckled dryly. "I'll take you sometime. You can see it when it's less war-like." His torn-up jacket flapped in the breeze, making an odd sound I hadn't heard a fabric make before.

"What's that thing made of, anyway?"

"Leather. What's it look like?"

"What's leather?" I asked.

The Doctor looked at me like I had sprouted wings, then seemed to crumple. "Oh..." He muttered something about similar species, then grew silent.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

The griffon came in close to the small promontory below the castle door, tossing us down to the rock like cast-away luggage.

"Oi!" I yelled. "Don't treat us like this, we're... honored guests!" I don't know why I said that. I guess I figured he wouldn't know the difference.

"No pony is an honored guest here," he spat back, pounding on the door. It was made of wood, set right into the stone and covered with complex carvings of military valor.

After several determined knocks, a second griffon appeared, this one female. She sighed, almost sad, and motioned for us to be brought in.

The male gave us a shove from behind.

"Hey!" I hissed.

"Go away, Fletcher," the female ordered. She must have been rather old, judging by the rattle in her voice.

The male obliged, pushing past her and heading into the dark and winding tunnels in the castle.

The griffon led us through a maze of passages, her lion tail dragging limply behind her. Her normally white feathers were dyed with purple adornments to set her apart from other griffons.

After a few minutes of what seemed to be aimless wandering about, we came to a row of cages: metal bars drilled into the rock.

"Please, just go inside without a fuss," the griffon said, unlocking the door. "You'll be allowed in together if you're good."

"You don't sound like you want to be doing this," The Doctor commented, wandering right into the cage and pulling me along right behind him.

"I don't," she snapped, slamming the door shut again. She made herself comfortable in a seat across the way, burying her beak in a dry-looking book.

"Why?" I asked.

She sighed again, still sad. "It's a long story."

"We're not going anywhere." He sat down, looking to the griffon to begin. "Start with your name. We'll give you ours, too."

"It's Gilda. Gilda Greycloud."

"I'm the Doctors. This is Roseluck."

"Hello..." I murmured awkwardly.

"You married?" Gilda asked innocently, barely looking up from her book.

"Uh... no," I replied.

"Not... not seeing that happening any time soon..." the Doctor added.

"Why are you together, then?"

"That's... that's another long story," the Doctor told her.

"Fine. Look, ever since I was a chick, I've been friends with ponies. It was a natural thing no one thought was even the slightest bit wrong. The two species used to be so similar..."

"They're not now?" I asked. How far in the future was this?

"Of course not.  Anyway, I seemed to click more with ponies from a young age, and even spent summers at a pony flight camp. Those were great summers..." She smiled to herself. "I had this one really close friend. I came to visit her hometown once, long time ago... I did some things I regret." Her smile disappeared. "I had to leave. I had to be a griffon instead of a pony. But--"

"But they didn't accept you," The Doctor inferred. "Then, how did you get where you are?"

"The only way they would bring me back was to take an oath of military allegiance. Right now, the allegiance is against ponies."

"I see. No choice, then. Well, don't beat yourself up, it's where you belong." I know the Doctor meant well, but he was still a bit off from his crash-landing.

I elbowed him, leading him to the back of the cell. "Stop it. You can't help her."

"What? Why not?"

"Because. She's lost the magic."

"I'm sorry-- what?" The Doctor looked nearly ready to double over laughing.

"It's not funny!She's got no family, no friends, no reason to be happy!"

The Doctor choked down his laughter. "Sure she does! Lots of things can make you happy!"

"No! Ugh, I can't believe this. You act so clever, but you're just so... so thick!" I slapped my forehead. "Doctor, friendship is magic!"

The Doctor couldn't hold back anymore. He laughed uncontrollably. "I can't help it! Who designed this world, a six year old girl? Oh!"

"What?!" I hissed.

"Oh!" A look of realization crossed his face. "Friendship... is magic! Releases endorphins, stops you from getting stressed or depressed! Like a drug! Fascinating..."

I sighed. "Yes. So glad you understand. Now apologize to that poor griffon!"

"Ooh..." The Doctor turned back to look at Gilda. "Uh... what should I say?"

"Nothing. Just pretend to take a nap or something. I'll explain."

I could see he was about to protest, but I covered his mouth with my hoof. "Doctor, you need to trust me."

He closed his mouth and nodded sternly. He then laid down on the cold floor, facing away from the bars.

I sighed deeply, preparing for the confrontation. "Gilda,' I began. She put her book down

Then I realized something. "Gilda, where are all the prisoners?"

~~~~~

As I was told, something was occurring in the throne room at this very moment. This is how I imagine it playing out:

A heavily scarred griffon sat in an ornately carved stone chair, one that seemed to create a wreath of feathers behind him. Shadows hid the kings face as he relaxed, listening to the quick chattering of a second griffon.

"And, you see, the paradoxes created... well, we've already lost over a quarter of our army, sir..." he whined, wringing his shaking claws to keep busy.

The king seemed to sink deeper into his chair, his claws throwing sparks as they slid against the stone. "Listen, peon," he spat, 'What would you call this little... event we find ourselves in the middle of?"

"A... a war, sir?"

"A war. That's right. What do you know about wars, hm?"

"Uh..." He gulped.

"How do they start?"

"C-conflict?"

"How do they... end?" He drummed his claws on the arm of the chair. "How?"

"I--"

"Let's try this another way. How do we create laws? What do we do?"

"Um... think of an idea... and agree on it?"

"Unamimously?"

"Oh, no. Hardly ever." He shook his head.

"Then why should the killing in a war be unamimous?"

He swallowed hard again, his voice shaking. "So... so we can win?"

"Do we have to make it through without csualties to win?"

"I suppose not..." He ran a shaking claw through the feathers on his head. "But this is different... you're causing this, sir."

The king prickled at this statement. "What?" he growled.

"I-I-I said we're--"

"You said I'm causing this." He clenched his fist, showering more sparks and drawing gashes in the stone.

"Well--"

"Am I the only member of the kingdom? Of Elkanism?" He was slowly sitting forward, a sharp black beak poking out of the shadows.

"B-but you're the leader, sir!" the griffon shouted.

The king froze. "I see. Yes, I see," the beak said.

"Y-you do?"

He took a deep breath, as though preparing to give a speech, but instead released an ear-piercing screecheed.

The other griffon's face fell, fright glazing his eyes. He turned, frantically skittering across the stone, trying to escape whatever he thought was coming for him.

After only a few strides, he was gone.

He was being taken to the Chronobomb.

~~~~~

Gilda could not tell us about where the prisoners had gone. She told us to just go to sleep and that she might explain in the morning.

The Doctor took off his jacket, rolling it up and placing it on the floor for us to use as a pillow.

We laid with our backs against each other. The stone made me shiver, the leather squeaking and crackling under my ear.

"You alright?" the Doctor whispered.

"Eh... could be better..." I replied, curling into a tighter ball.

"Cold?"

"Mph." I nodded. "Yeah."

"Come here."

"Excuse me?"

"Just come closer. I'm plenty warm."

"Uh..." I rolled over to face him.

He was holding his forelegs wide open for a hug. "It's okay. Just give me a hug. It'll warm you up, I promise."

"This is awkward."

"Oh, Rose. It's just a hug." He smiled. "Come on. Everyone like hugs."

I slid closer. He wrapped his forelegs around me. "Oh!"

"Told you."

"How are you so warm?"

"Two hearts, remember? Where do you think all that energy goes? Especially when I'm just sitting here." He let go. "See? Just a hug."

I blushed. "Thanks."

"No problem. Think you can get to sleep?" he asked.

"No. Maybe. I don't know."

"It's alright. I never sleep. Well, almost never. I'll stay up with you." He changed his position, laying on his stomach instead.

"So, what do you think is going on?" I asked.

"Not sure yet. But it's got something to do with the missing prisoners, I'm sure of that."

"Where do you think they are?"

He sighed, pondering the question. "No idea. Could be anywhere. But if they were just dying, that wouldn't be any secret to keep. Wherever they are, they must be alive."

"Huh. Yeah, I guess you're right." He made a lot of sense, always thinking about things from every perspective. He was like the cleverest thing alive.

"I know I am." Also one of the most arrogant. "I'll give it some more thought. You really should try to sleep."

I groaned, rolling back onto my side. "You sound like my mum."

"Sorry. But it's true." He gave me a sympathetic smile. "At least close your eyes. Who knows what'll happen tomorrow..."

I groaned again. "Fine." I let my eyes drift shut. It only took me a few minutes to fall asleep.

~~~~~

"Rose... Rose, wake up!" the Doctor shook me.

I stood immediately. "What?"

"It's them again, Rose!" He started to run, but seemed to bump into an invisible wall. He ran back toward me, but was stopped again. "Rose!"

I was fine, though. Nothing was wrong. The world was an empty grey-white. It was very calm, with this low buzz in the background that seemed to be lulling me to sleep.

I was staring out at the plane of grey, not a single speck of color disrupting the haze.

Then, out from the wall popped two green antennae. Two eyes opened, milky white with barely any distinction or separation from the rest of the face.

It started walking toward me, but didn't get any closer. I tried to back away, but the dinosaur-like creature's very gaze was holding me in place.

I watched in disgusted horror as his jaw melted open, revealing a twisted grin that hung open at an unnatural angle.

Without moving the jaw, words began to pour out of it. "MO KO BLO SHO FO NO SO HO!"

I screamed. The Doctor yelled my name. The world dissolved, leaving only sound.

I felt the cold once more, but this time there were small, gentle beams of sunlight on my face.

The Doctor had a hoof on my shoulder. "It's okay. It's fine."

I didn't think. I just grabbed him and hugged him tight.

"You're alright..." he soothed.

I couldn't even reply. I couldn't even cry. I just hugged him as tight as I could.

"I think I found out what happened to the prisoners." He whispered.

I pulled away, looking him in the eyes.

He nodded. "It's not good."

~~~~~

"It all has to do with this device they've created," he explained. He dug through his coat, searching for the sonic screwdriver. "They call it the Chronobomb.

"Chronobomb? What does that mean?" I asked, standing by in case a guard appeared.

"It's something entirely new. Setting it off causes anyone nearby to be sent back in time." Hew found it, using it quickly to open the door.

"That doesn't make sense," I whispered. "Why go to all the trouble?"

"Don't know yet. Let's get somewhere safe and figure it out." He stopped. "Oh."

We faced a selection of five tunnels, all the same.

"Um... any chance you remember the way out?" He turned, giving me a sheepish grin.

"No! Of course not!"

"Oh, dear..."

I heard the clicking steps of a guard drawing near. "Just-- the middle one! We have to go!" I whispered fiercely.

"Great! Go!" He galloped for the tunnel, me right behind him. "Right!"

I followed. We just kept running, making random choices, until we came to what seemed to be a wine cellar. Empty barrels were stacked by the door, seeping the scent of alcohol.

"Get inside!"  He shoved me toward one. "I'll put the lid on. Go!"

I obeyed, climbing in and hearing the lid being set into place. The barrel was rather large, and I could actually sit comfortably inside.

I stayed this way for a while, maybe half an hour, my heart pounding in my throat. Then the soldiers came.

The first was a girl. "Wish they'd give us higher-quality mead," she complained. "This stuff disappears in a heartbeat because it's so weak!"

"Only the king gets pure mead," a second voice said, this one male. "We get the watered-down version."

"Ugh. Why? We fight so hard and this is what we get? One part mead, nine parts water?" The voice drew nearer and nearer, and two sets of claws grabbed the top of the barrel I was in.

"No. We get 'religious atonement and forgiveness of possible past sins against the Great Cleansers,' " the male mocked.

'Great Cleansers?' What religion was this?

"Yeah. Great." The barrel was thrown on it's side, unexpectedly fast and harsh. I had to stick my hoof in my mouth to keep from crying out. I was going to be covered in bruises by the time this was over.

"Come on! It's not too bad a gig, really! We get separation from Celestia, too."

I heard another barrel thrown down beside me. The Doctor made a small pained noise.

"You hear that?" the male asked.

I held my breath.

"What? The sound of your own voice?" The female sniggered. "You're losing your mind, Geoff."

"Naw, I heard something..."

"Would you stop?" My barrel rolled a few strides. "Just move the damn barrels to the mess hall. I'm thirsty."

"You don't get drunk 'cause you're thirsty, idiot," Geoff commented.

"It's an idiom, Geoff. Stop making yourself look dumb."

He groaned. "I hate this. I never have to do this. I can always get out of it with the guys."

"Too much walking?"

"No... I don't like being so far underground. I feel trapped, you know?"

"Please stop whining! We're so close, just shut your beak and move!"

As if on cue, I started to smell clean, crisp, fresh air that had seeped in through a hole in the barrel. It made a wonderful change form the dank stench of the tunnels. This mess hall must have been exposed to outside air.

Then another feeling washed over me. They thought our weight was that of the mead. They were going to pop open these barrels in a room full of hungry, drunk griffon soldiers!

I could now hear the chatting f the soldiers as they ate, as well as their sloppy chewing and disgusting belches. The sounds grew and then promptly faded as we were moved to what I guessed to be a kitchen. Our barrels were placed upright, and I watched in horror as the flat end of a crowbar was wedged under the lid.

A griffon with an oily mustache stared down at me for several long seconds before trying to say something. I punched him right in the beak before he could make a sound. He tripped backwards, landing heavily on his tailbone.

I could hear the Doctor trying to break himself out of his own barrel as I tried to haul myself out of mine.

As I struggled, the barrel tipped over, rolling a good distance before hitting a wall.

The griffon got up. He was too confused to comprehend our position, and could barely even talk.

"Move!" I yelled as the Doctor finally broke through. We both galloped for the window.

"Help!" the griffon finally managed to get out. "Escaped prisoners!"

I honestly can't believe I'm telling you I did this, but I actually leapt out the window and slid down the mountainside on all four hooves.

The griffon kept yelling. We were going to have a few chasing us soon. Had to hurry.

I really couldn't stop screaming. It wasn't entirely from terror, like it should have been. It was actually kind of fun.

Until I hit a rock. My hoof got caught some how and I was thrown forward. I landed on my shoulder, my graceful glide becoming a painful tumble full of rocks and dirt. Finally, I hit a solid, flat surface with a rather unattractive sound of exhaustion.

Only a moment later, I heard the Doctor's voice approaching. He was grunting, too. No doubt he'd lost his hoofing on the way down.

I tried and failed to stand and get out of his way, and was once again hit very hard in the side.

The Doctor was almost immediately back up on his hooves. "Well. That was... painful.

I was panting hard, trying to find a stable place to stand up. "Maybe so, but we got out. Back to the TARDIS?" I suggested.

"No, no!" The Doctor blocked me from moving forward. "We can't leave yet!"

"Doctor, there is literally a whole army of griffons up there. I didn't cover myself in bruises so we could climb back up!"

"This bit was your idea!"

"You could've stopped me!" I took a seat.

"Plus, I never said we were climbing anywhere."

He took a deep breath.

"Oh, no."

"Rose! How dare you get us lost! That was such a cunning and daring escape plan!" he yelled robotically.

I put my hoof to my forhead. "I will kill you for this.

"It's okay. I have a plan," he whispered.

"You do?"

He nodded. I could already see the griffons pouring out of the mess hall.

"Well, what is it?"

"Okay, here it is: while they're carrying us to our deaths, I'll think of a better plan."

~~~~~

Word moves fast in the Griffon Palace. News had already reached King Elkas that two prisoners had escaped. He was not amused.

More importantly, he knew that we'd gotten out on Gilda's watch. Up until now, Gilda had escaped punishment of all kinds for reasons yet unknown to me. For whatever reason, Gilda was special to the King, and he would let her get away with almost anything.

The point is, Gilda was about to be punished unfairly and it was our fault.

Of course, since we had already been captured, the Chronobmb had already been prepared. It served no great loss to simply toss Gilda in with the two of and send us all back in time.

One more thing I learned from our captors: apparently, King Elkas can't bear to get his fat arse out of his throne for anything.

"Okay," the Doctor had been talking for about a minute out loud, but this time he seemed to be addressing me. "About twenty years in the future, magic bomb that sends ponies back in time. How is that possible?"

I shrugged.

"Okay, okay. It is possible, I suppose. Not important. Why use something like that? What's the gain?"

I shrugged again.

"Think. Come on, think. What's the outcome of irreversible time travel? Erm... potential energy? No, no. That has less uses than the bomb itself. What about paradoxes? But... what do you get from a paradox?" He looked to me.

"How the hell should I know?"

"Well, say something at least!" he said desperately.

"I don't know... you?"

"That's silly. I'm not the paradox police." He frowned.

"You said to say something!"

"Well, something a bit more useful than that!"

"I don't bloody well know!"

"Oh!" His face suddenly lit up.

I looked hopeful. I knew that face. He'd figured something out.

His face fell again. "No, I don't know."

I hung limply from the griffon's talons. "That's just... just great. I can't believe this. You're such a bucking idiot."

"Oi! Language!" the Doctor scolded me. "I think that was a curse..."

"Can't believe this. They couldn't care less who we are, you know? They just captured us 'cos we're ponies. That's all. It's Nazi Germaney all over again."

"How did you..."

"I listened, Doctor. The griffons wanted freedom from Princess Celestia," I explained.

"But... why?"

"Because she's a pony and they aren't. It's called the 'Everypony Clause.' "

He was pretty quiet. "And... what's that, then?"

"It means that species who aren't ponies don't believe they should be under the rule of the Princess. They think they deserve their own leader. The first step is usually a small group banning the use of 'everypony.' "

"Oh."

"Yeah. See that? You don't have to be all spacey to be clever."

"So... is this religious at all?"

"Oh, yeah. Ponies worship the Princesses. They change day into night and vice versa. Pegasi control the weather, and we've got magic on our side. We don't need to make up explanations for things we control."

"Then groups who separate practice a different religion?" The Doctor was firing questions faster and faster. He was on to something.

"They'd have to."

"That's it! Rose, I figured it out! All of it!" The griffons set us down at the entrance to the throne room. The Doctor ran to me, grabbing me by the shoulders. "We can fix this. I know we can!"

"How?"

He grinned. "Time."

"Bring them in," a gruff voice called. It was the voice of the King.

The Doctor marched right in, bowing deeply to the shadowing figure. "Hello, your Highness! Hope you don't mind me complimenting your lovely doors."

The King stuttered a bit. "Doors?"

"Oh, you know. The doors you've got all over the place. The nice wooden ones with the carvings."

"They're... antiques," he told the Doctor, still deeply confused but willing to play along.

"Yes, I'd guessed that. The bloody victories ones are nice, but I've gotta say-- this one--" he pointed to the one he had just stepped through "-- has got to be my favorite."

"Is that so?"

"You bet. I can tell you're wondering why."

"No," he replied grumpily, "I wasn't."

"Oh. Well, I'll tell you anyway." He galloped over to the door. "You see this thing? This one here."

"Yes."

I looked where he was pointing. There was an odd looking  bat-like creature there, hovering over a terrified pony.

"I know what that is."

The King stiffened.

"Thought that would scare you. This door is your religious door, right?"

No answer.

"Of course I'm right. I'm me. I'm always right. Now Kingy, if I know what this is--" he pointed again "-- and I know that this is your religious door, then you know that I know that you know exactly what you're doing with that bomb."

The king shifted uncomfortably.

"Um... what?" A guard asked. "That was very confusing."

"Yes, it's all very clever and very confusing so that not one of you would be able to figure it out. So listen: your King is plotting to kill you all!"

Silence.

"Don't believe me? Should I tell you what that thing is?"

Silence.

"It's called a Reaper. Whenever someone messes up bad enough to create a paradox, they come down to clean up the mess." He turned to me. "The paradox police."

I smiled.

"And they way they do that by erasing things from history until it goes away. It really is the worst way to die," he added in a whisper. "Now, your King believes--" he trotted cockily up to the throne "--that when he finally gets these things to appear on his doorstep, he can just sort of take control. And he's going to rebuild the universe. Literally."

"But that's impossible!" I joined in, coming to stand next to the Doctor. "Why would all-powerful creatures spare you just like that?"

"They wouldn't."

"And-- wait, why aren't they here just yet?" I added.

He chuckled. "That's the best bit. You can't create a paradox unless the poor soul lives to see the time they were alive. And that hasn't happened yet because the bomb's just an experiment."

"It's more than that, Doctor." Another griffon had appeared at the door, one with a familiar and almost comforting voice. "It was an accident."

He grinned smugly. "You want to tell the rest, Gilda?"

She stepped forward. "I created the Chronobomb. They had me guarding the weapons wing of a scientific institute not far from here. I had to lend a claw, sometimes, when staff was short."

"Go on," The Doctor encouraged.

"Well, it was a clumsy mistake that yielded amazing results: a black hole, but tiny and contained."

"And the King decided he could use that to fulfill his little fantasy," I finished.

The three of us stood defiantly before the King.

"Ha," was all the Doctor had to say.

"Gotcha," Gilda added.

The King seemed to be tensing, still hidden in the shadows.

Then I figured out the last piece of the puzzle. All of a sudden, everything else clicked. "Bet you're all wondering why he has to re-create the universe," I teased. "I'll give you a hint. Your King isn't a griffon. He isn't a pony, either."

I reached over, grabbing the sonic from the Doctor's pocket, and shined it right at the King.

"He's a hybrid."

I couldn't have been more right. The only griffon-y bits of him were the beaks, wings and talons. The rest was a dark blue earth pony stallion, much like any other.

"Anything you want to say before your Kingdom comes crashing down?" Gilda asked.

Elkas was still tense, but he started to smirk. "Guards, take them to the Chronobomb and I'll be sure you live."

Unfortunately, the guards didn't have a very strong moral compass. Even though their King had turned out to be a fake, the premise of life was too good to give up, and we were soon held fast by two guards each.

I struggled against their grip, but there was no getting out of this one. "Well, we put on a good show," I said.

"At least we'll be alive whenever we land," Gilda reminded us.

"Ha!" The Doctor shouted. Then he lowered his voice, "Think that was a good show? Wait until you see the grand finale."

The griffons pushed us toward an unassuming section of wall to our right. One guard stepped forward, feeling about with the tip of his claws in several cracks. After checking a few, his claw slid deeper into the wall. It slid in neatly, and he turned it, causing a grinding sound to come from behind it. The wall slid slowly back and to the right.

Beyond was a set-up familiar to me as a fan of crime shows: a room with chairs, controls and microphones facing a glass pane tinted dark blue. I could not tell what was in the next room because of the color.

The Doctor leaned in towards me. "It's cobalt glass. Allows viewers to see the reaction in the chamber."

I nodded. I was too scared to ask questions. The Doctor, so far, had managed to come up with all kinds of cunning escape plans. I was sure he could pull us out, but... how long would he wait?

"Cutting it kinda close?" I muttered.

"Just trust me." He smiled warmly, adding a wink.

The griffons unlocked the heavy metal door, shoving us roughly inside.

The bomb was so tiny, about the size of tennis ball. It had a great number of hexagonal sides, so it appeared to be covered in teal scales.

I was jarred from my thoughts as the metal door was slammed shut and locked. The Doctor watched carefully as the griffons made themselves comfortable.

"Okay. You two ready for this?" He pulled out his sonic screwdriver.

"What's that thing?" Gilda asked.

"This thing is the thing that's going to save our lives. Not to mention all the ponies who were sent back."

I grinned confidently.

"Alright," he commanded, "when I say, you two need to cover your eyes. Otherwise, the bomb could blind you. Gosh, I hope this room's big enough..."

"For what?" I asked.

"Depends... better stand back."

"Depends on what?" Gilda demanded. The bomb was starting to hum, and it was making her hysterical.

The Doctor pointed the sonic at the bomb. "How many ponies were sent back in time. Now!"

We shaded our eyes, ducking away from the bomb and behind the Doctor.There was this strange sound, like thousands of voices whispering in reverse, and then it was over.

"Ha! Reverse the polarity!" He planted a kiss on the tip of the sonic. "Guess who's back?" he shouted triumphantly. We turned, gaping at the room full of confused but happy ponies.

"How--?" I tried to ask.

"Another thing the sonic is handy for: switching things about." He tossed it up into the air, catching it expertly and sticking it back in his pocket. "Little advice: always search the pockets!" He called to the terrified griffons in the control room.

Our space was packed with ponies, but one pumped her grey hoof in the air.

"Long live the Princess!" she screamed, jumping at the glass and pounding on it.

Others followed the pegasus' lead, and it soon shattered, showering the griffons in blue.

"Long live the Princess!" they chanted, "Long live the Princess!"

~~~~~

Gilda was smiling. Actually smiling. I think it had been a long time since she had smiled. "You two did me more good than you can know."

"Don't mention it, "The Doctor replied, "It's what we do."

She chuckled. "Pretty amazing life."

"Well... if you wanted... you could come with us." I proded the Doctor. "Couldn't she?"

"No. No, it's time I learned my lesson," Gilda said, "I can be with whoever I want now, can't I?"

"You could've before. Just needed an extra push. And maybe a little adventure," he added in  a whisper.

"You've got spirit, Gilda." I gave her a playful punch in the shoulder. "Time to go show it to somepony."

She smiled, wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes. "You're right. In that case... do you think you could do me one more favor?"

"Depends," the Doctor said," on where you want to go."

"It's a time machine, right?" Gilda asked. "I want you to take me back to 2010. I have an apology to make."

We led Gilda to the TARDIS, but she barely even blinked at the size and colors. She snagged a sheet of paper of the console, quickly but carefully writing a letter.

The Doctor started the engines. "Ponyville, then?"

Gilda nodded, still writing feverishly.

As soon as the engines faded, Gilda ran to the door, opening it slowly. "No sign of me. I'll be back."

That left the Doctor and me. "So, what do you think?"

"Of what?" he asked.

"Equestria."

"Well... it's more than I bargained for."

"I know." I smirked. "I could kinda tell."

"It's surprising."

"Yeah. I know that, on the surface, we look strange to you."

"Well, where I'm from, people are a lot more judgmental. They only see the surface. It was hard for me to realise that..." he trailed off.

"That what?"

"That outside doesn't matter here. It's an amazing and wonderful place, Equestria. It's better. And I think I'm better for being here." He sighed. "I sort of wish I could stay..."

"But you have to leave. Someday. I know. But, please... try not to make it soon."

He smiled. "Okay."

The door creaked open again. "I'm back. Ready to go."

"What was in that note?" I asked.

"Everything. The sort version." SHe winked. "Last stop, I swear: twenty years forward?"

The Doctor nodded. "Your wish is my command!"

"I never asked-- who was it that... you know..."

"Rainbow Dash. "She looked me in the eyes and smiled knowingly.

"Oh my god..." I realized all at once who she was. That face was suddenly like that of an old friend. "I remember you!"

"Recognized you right away. Sorry I didn't say anything, but... you know, time streams and stuff. It's the one thing you learn with the Chronobomb."

The TARDIS landed. Gilda wandered slowly to the door. "See you around?"

"Yeah. Maybe." I waved.

SHe waved back.

"You knew her?" The Doctor asked when she was gone.

"Yeah. I was at her welcome party." I chuckled. "She was a huge bully. Hit me with a cake."

The Doctor looked surprised. "Well. Takes all kinds, I suppose. Ready to go?"

I watched the door a bit longer before turning to the Doctor.

"Quick pit stop first."

"Where?"

"Home."