Morning in Ponyville shimmered, morning in Ponyville shone. Rainbow Dash was flying though the sky clearing some stray clouds, salesponies set up their market stalls; Applejack was already selling to the breakfast seekers. Pinkie Pie was bouncing about greeting everypony she passed and a rather tired Twilight Sparkle was opening her library to the public. If anypony was so inclined they could have listened out and heard the sound of birds singing along to with their pony friend on the outskirts of town and also the incessant beep of a smoke alarm in the fashion boutique accompanied by dramatic platitudes regarding smoke damage to clothes.
Amongst it all, ponies went about their business. Foals called for each other to walk to school, store keepers opened their businesses and workers trotted to their offices and posts. One pony, however, was acting quite unusually.
The brown earth stallion was wearing a very broad brimmed hat low over his face and stuck close to the buildings, almost hiding. He moved furtively through town towards the train station, darting his gaze about to try and avoid detection. As he slid past Quills and Sofas, head low and steps carefully placed two of his observers snickered.
“Sparky, why is daddy sneaking around like that? He looks silly.” A little dusky purple unicorn filly asked her older companion.
“I think it is something to do with all the sneaky letters he keeps hiding away whenever we come into the house Dinky.” The pink mare replied, not taking her eyes of the stallion they called father. “Mum said it’s a special surprise and not to worry.” Her raised eyebrow was mimicked by the smaller pony.
“Oh, ok.” Dinky looked away, to check she had her expression just right, Sparkler caught her in the act and booped noses.
“Come on, we’ll be late for school. If we kept watching the weird stuff dad does we’d never get anything done.” Dinky giggled as her older sister shepherded her off to school.
Unaware that he had been observed the stallion carried on his sly progression through the town, humming super-spy tunes under his breath, reaching the edge of the built up area he took a look around. The coast was clear. With a mighty leap and a leafy rustle he landed in a large bush on the border of the park.
It made a lot of noise, the stallion froze. He was about to breathe a sigh of relief at remaining undetected when there was a crash and a covered basket landed in front of his nose. “I got some muffins for you and your friends sweetie!” A voice called down. The stallion looked up. Ditzy the mailmare grinned down.
“Oh, thank you dearest. We’ll certainly need refreshments today.” He smiled up at his wife and picked up the basket.
“I’ll see you later muffin!” The grey pegasus flew away to carry on her mail route and the now fully revealed stallion left his hiding place and trotted through the park. It really was a lovely day and promising to be an excellent evening. Perfect for his plans.
With a muffin basket in his mouth, he had to set it down on a table when he reached his goal.
Ponyville park was a wide open area, the Whitetail Woods sat at one border, the Everfree Forest at another and the edge that didn’t reach town led into the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres. In a corner near the woods was a deep natural depression in the earth. It had become a popular place for performances since the town founding. When a famous resident had passed, they had gifted the town funds to turn it into an actual performance area, long benches of stone had been laid along the sides and spells had been cast to create great acoustics.
Today it was a hive of activity, hammering and sawing echoed around as ponies were busy working away. Surveying the stage area Time Turner caught sight of who he was looking for and trotted over to the small group of ponies, two unicorns and another earth pony, pouring over a big blueprint. “Wonderful! You could all make it!”
“Well yeah! Sound effects and backtracks for this was too awesome to miss.” A two-blue tone maned Unicorn looked up from the sheet.
“Quite, it is heartening to know how popular a product from my home town has become and how long it has lasted.” The grey mare beside the unicorn added.
“We weren’t going to miss this cousin!” A blonde unicorn with similar colouring to the earth stallion and a pegasus stallion in the air chipped in, grabbing Time Turner around the neck. “The others will be coming in with the first train from Canterlot and Minuette said she would be along soon.”
“Thanks still, Vinyl, Octavia. I expected these nutters to come along but having you two provide music should be quite a draw.” Time Turner chuckled as two good natured smacks came from his cousins Perfect Timing and Crescent Moon.
“Hey, it isn’t every day that the best radio play series in Equestria reaches its fiftieth anniversary. It’s pretty cool of you guys to want to put on a show to celebrate.” Vinyl tapped the sheet in front of them. “You’ve got some pretty impressive stuff planned here.”
“Yes, I was so chuffed when the showrunners gave me permission to put on this production that I went a little overboard.” Time Turner reddened a moment. “Now, while we wait for the others to get here, let’s take a look at the set progress and the scripts.”
Around the main players cardboard was being cut out and stands created, three tall wooden crates were being painted blue and a grinning unicorn sat amongst three hexagonal plinths with a pile of random junk and strings of lights and a series of motors. Another unicorn trotted around the staging area tapping crystals and casting spells, her pointy hat bobbing up and down as she examined the stones.
Ponyville railway station was always busy at train arrival and departure times. The small town didn’t have many calls in a day so everypony had to be ready to catch a train. The group who left the service from Canterlot were unusual to say the least. Each one of them had the same cutie-mark and an air of secretiveness about them.
They were utterly unprepared for the pink whirlwind that accosted them.
“Master, Ten, Spiffy Threads, Pierce!” The pink pony checked off. “Inquiry, Sandstorm and Swift Justice!” She herded them into a group at the edge of the platform, away from the crowds. “I’ve been sent on a top secret mission to get you to the park super quick and stuff.”
“Okay…” The blonde maned stallion replied, giving her an uneasy smile. His fellow travellers nodded.
“Pinkie Pie! You were told to fetch them calmly!” A blue unicorn mare shouted as she trotted up. Spotting her, the group breathed a sigh of relief. “Sorry guys, we had to have her involved or risk her trying to find out what we were up to.”
“No problem Minnie, we just weren’t expecting such a… surprising greeter.” The spokespony shook hooves with the new arrival. “So, Time Turner said we had somewhere to be?”
“Follow me. You too Pinkie, we have some more jobs for you.” Minuette led the group from the station to the park and the rapidly growing crowd of workers at the stage.
There was one place in Ponyville to get impeccably crafted clothes. The Carousel Boutique where everything is chic, unique and magnifique. The proprietor, a white unicorn, element of generosity and sometime drama queen was carefully packing garments into a cart parked on the porch. When the last one was folded into place she covered the cart with a black sheet and tucked it in. Her client had requested secrecy after all.
“Perfect. Now, they said they wanted them delivered to the park.” She hitched up and began the short walk from her home to the public performance space.
As the unicorn got nearer to her goal she noticed the transformation of the area, where small projection crystals had once been sat larger ones, the stage had been covered in a special cloth that would take on different appearances according to a spell. A trio of pegasi were putting special clouds over the whole seating area. It looked like a Hollyhoof soundstage.
In one corner a group of mules were sorting through a pile of black armour next to a line of metal looking sculptures of oversized chess knights. In the centre of it all an assembly of ponies stood, all of them with the same cutie-mark.
“Time Turner, Minuette, what scheme have you cooked up?” She stopped close to them and unhitched the cart.
“Hello Rarity.” The brown stallion trotted over. “Are these all the costumes?”
“Yes dear, everything you ordered and to all the measurements.” She floated the cover off, “Now, will you tell me why I have made what looks to be enough costume to kit out a Doctor Whooves fan convention?”
“Well, we are putting on a show.” Peirce butted in, taking away a large frock coat and ruffled collar. “An original play for the fiftieth anniversary.”
“Darlings! That is wonderful! I trust we all get to come and watch?” Rarity began to unpack the cart and levitate the costumes to their presumed intended owners.
“Yes, we’ll be getting Pinkie to spread the word at four o’clock sharp. We want to begin at six when everpony should be able to come and watch.” Time Turner gratefully took the big brown jacket and the tie-collar that the designer floated over. The others began to place the red and gold cloaks on, Crescent Moon particularly pleased at his presidential robe. Spiffy Threads merrily dropped a fez on his head to compliment the bow-tie he was already wearing. Only Master was unimpressed with the tatty hooded sweater he had been given.
“Thanks for all the costumes Rarity.” Minuette said, she was floating a prop box beside her. “We’ll see you for the show.” Two sonic screwdrivers and a strange looking hoofband left the box in a blue aura.
“Alright then, I’m looking forward to it.” Hitching her now empty cart back up, Rarity made her way through the increasingly complicated set.
At four of the clock sharp everypony in town was handed a flyer by a pink blur. It depicted the familiar blue box Doctor Whooves travelled in, it proclaimed a special performance to occur in the park at six. The buzz in town began to rise.
The stage was set. The players were in their places and the entire town had turned out to see what was going on.
Perfect Timing, resplendent in the robes of a Time Charger, chanced a look at the crowd beyond the carefully disguised backstage area. The gathered principal cast heard her audible gulp. “What’s going on sis?” Crescent Moon asked.
“Ppprincesses....” She stuttered out, eyes as wide as saucers and a hoof limply pointing out to the crowd. Time Turner slipped next to her and took a look.
Outside, sat dead centre and halfway up the hill, were three princesses. Princess Twilight had been expected, she was a resident of the town and Time Turner knew she was quite a fan of the series, they had exchanged personal copies of recordings and books in the past. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were a surprise though. The monarch of the sun and the monarch of the moon were both seated either side of the newest princess. They had boxes of popcorn and a basket of cupcakes.
They also had expressions of eager anticipation.
“Um, yes. Princesses. Plural.” Time Turner shuffled back, a grin fixed to his face. “They are fans?”
“Alright then.” Minuette stepped up to the increasingly nervous ponies. “We are still putting on a show for a lot of ponies, just because three of them have wings and a horn doesn’t mean it will be any different to when we expected only one.” She stamped a hoof.
“Show starts in five minutes!” A stage-hoof shouted through to the congregated cast.
“That is my cue...” Time Turner tugged at his tie and collar a moment. “Brainy specs in the left pocket, sonic in the interior and my stuff goggles are in the right...” He patted each pocket to ensure the items were indeed in place, swallowed once and strode out to the stage.
“Daddy is going to miss the show mom!” Dinky said for the umpteenth time, waving a hoof worriedly to attract attention from Ditzy.
“Don’t worry little muffin, he’s here.” Ditzy grinned down at her daughter and pushed some snacks in front of the filly to distract her.
“Shh, it’s starting!” Sparkler hushed her family and looks out to the spotlight that had suddenly lit the stage area.
The green grass gave way to Canterlot paving as the backdrop of trees and hedges turned into the stone of the city buildings. The spotlight hit a familiar looking blue box sat almost unobtrusively on the street. The watching ponies held their breath as the door opened.
Out of the TARDIS stepped a brown stallion. He had a trench coat, collar and tie on. He looked out over the audience, looking but not looking at them. The sound of a chiming clock filled the area but faded out.
“Where is that mare?” The Tenth Doctor grumbled. “I swear, Noble Flame could shop for Equestria if given half the chance!” He glanced about accusingly, humphed again and stepped back into the blue box.
“Daddy is the Doctor!!!” Dinky whispered excitedly, pointing a waving hoof at the rapidly altering scenery.
Now the Canterlot streets had changed to a round and slightly lumpy room, the blue box was gone but in the middle of the stage was a hexagonal control panel with a column rising out of the centre. The Doctor walked through the door and began rummaging in a box, producing a yo-yo and began some unsuccessful tricks.
A sudden sound and light came from the control panel. “What?” Time Turner/’Ten’ said, rushing up to look at the flashing bulb. The sound of the TARDIS going on a journey echoed across the stage and everything went dark. TARDIS noises gave way to an arrangement of the theme Octavia and Vinyl had agreed upon.
The audience ooo-ed with excitement.
Time Turner stumbled behind the scenes as Pierce and Blossomforth prepared to step out for their first scene, the pegasus was portraying Swift Letter, a beloved and long serving assistant to the Doctor. With his Classical Trottingham coat and frilled collar, there was no doubt that the blue unicorn stallion was to be Three. When the strains of the music died down they bounded out with a wink to Time Turner.
“How was that then?” Trixie said from her position at the effects board. The showmare had arranged all the features and props needed to put on a realistic and impressive display. Her cloth backdrops and floor could be camouflaged by her magic and the large crystals would take a tiny illusion spell and cast it across a wide area.
“It looked great Ms Trixie, the transitions were flawless, even when the crate had to be spun and the console ‘ported into place.” Time Turner took a quick sip of water from an offered cup and waved to a mule in black armour, a fellow fan.
“You can thank Jumper for that part; he is very good at moving things.” Trixie pointed to a stallion with a double pointed arrow cutie-mark sat by a cordoned off area full of the large props. “Trixie met him in Canterlot and was impressed enough to hire him on for this venture.” The unicorn stallion nodded in their direction before powering up another spell.
Soon Pierce and Blossomforth were returning backstage. Waiting for their moment, Carrot Top and Spiffy Threads were practicing lines, they were going to be Eleven and Highland Pond. Jumper waved the pair out, he had teleported their TARDIS console out and Trixie had changed the stage.
“Roamin’ is laid up in bad with the stallion ‘flu, the baby!” Carrot Top said in a passable Scoltish brogue. “So we’re off on an adventure like old times, old-ish times...”
“Like all the other times you decided to run off with me without your boyfriend, now husband then?” Spiffy Threads said in reply.
“Oh, shut up you.” She gave the stallion a playful tap and the crowd laughed at his mock-hurt expression. Watching from the wings the other players smiled, so far the show was going well.
As the pair made their way around the “TARDIS” past the doo-dads and kajiggers one of the stage hooves gave Vinyl a nod and the DJ set a strange alarm playing, the lighting tech unicorn working the panel next to her started a light flashing.
“Doctor? What’s going on?” ‘Highland Pond’ said, taking a hard look at the flashing light.
“I’ve no clue! Isn’t it exciting!” He jumped up to press his muzzle against the column, “Alright sexy, what are you telling us eh?”
At that line the travelling sound began anew and Trixie made the scenery flicker and dance.
“Away we go!” ‘Eleven’ sounded very excited indeed.
Backstage the others prepared for their return, stepping into their blue boxes that Jumper was to teleport out at the right moment. A loud thump of a crash landing shook the set and Vinyl gave an apologetic grin to her fellows, Octavia gave the unicorn a clip around the ear for such a loud effect.
“We’ve arrived! Come along Pond!” ‘Eleven’ jumped back to his hooves and helped his sprawling companion stand up.
“You really need to work on landings Doctor.” She grumbled, brushing dust from her coat. Spiffy Threads wasn’t paying much attention, instead he was nose deep in a chest. When his head left the box she glared. “Again?”
“Yes.” He looked defiant, a fez perched atop his head at a jaunty angle. “A mystery adventure needs the correct attire. Besides, fezzes are cool.” He smirked and trotted to the door. “Coming then Pond?” He opened a leaf and the scene went dark.
Three boxes were sent to a new scene in quick succession, the floor and walls around t hem now looked like some futuristic interior area. Eleven and Highland Pond stepped out of the middle one. Three and Swift Letter from the left and Ten from the right.
“You!” Pierce/’Three’ said, pointing with a hoof.
“You!?” Time Turner/’Ten’ looked with shock.
“Me!” Spiffy Threads/’Eleven’ said merrily, a huge grin on his face.
“Who’s she?” Carrot Top/ ‘Highland Pond’ and Blossomforth/’Swift Letter’ both said in unison.
“Well, things are easier for me then.” ‘Ten’ said with a relieved smile.
The two companions set to arguing as the three Time Chargers looked on, two with concern and the other with mischief.
The gathered crowd watched the story unfold, enraptured. They knew that the show was going to be a Doctor Whooves adventure but they hadn’t expected three of the Time Charger or two of his assistants. Audience members laughed and noted mythology gags as the two companions first argued and then compared adventures. The comical look of relief ‘Ten’ was wearing as the other two Doctors considered how to separate their companions caused even more laughter.
Eventually the argument ended and ‘Eleven’ made an over the top gesture. “Finally got that bit sorted out then.” He nudged ‘Highland Pond’ “Now we can get down to the actual adventure bit and find out why we are here all together.”
“Yes, this congregation was quite unexpected.” ‘Three’ said looking at his counterparts with puzzlement. “This should be impossible.”
“If we’re not careful then we’ll make a hole the size of Brabant in the fabric of space time.” ‘Ten’ muttered, he took out his sonic screwdriver and stuff-goggles and started to scan while hoofing the flimsy two-coloured glasses on his face.
“Nope, no risk of Brabant here.” ‘Eleven’ chipped in, his slightly different screwdriver was bloinging.
On the soundstage Octavia face-hoofed while Vinyl held back raucous laughter at the sound effect she had managed to sneak in.
“Yep, bloinging screwdriver means there is boddgery a-hoof, possibly villainous boddgery.” ‘Eleven’ looked around accusingly, half pointing at some of the giggling colts and fillies in the front row. He waved the device back and forth, the sound getting quieter and louder depending on where it pointed.
“Put it over there.” ‘Highland Pond’ suggested, the Doctor followed her directions and soon a solid loud bloing played out.
“We have our direction fellows.” ‘Three’ said. “Shall we?”
“Allons-y!” ‘Ten yelled, running ahead. The others followed behind as the crowd cheered and the lights dimmed.
When they lit up the five ponies were in new positions and a new place, the gleaming spaceship hallway had turned into a gloomy looking corridor with hanging wires and dripping fluids. Strewn about the floor were ducts and pipes. It was clearly supposed to be the underbelly of a space-age place.
At the head of the group was ‘Eleven’, his screwdriver still bloinging steadily as he navigated from the backstage to the centre, stepping over trailing cables and pipes the prop-ponies had set out. ‘Pond’ Was keeping close by him, shooting dirty looks at ‘Swift Wing’, they had come to an agreement but weren’t friends just yet. ‘Three’ kept between them, this was not the right place for a fight. Bringing up the rear was ‘Ten’ with his “brainy specs” on and an inactive sonic screwdriver in his mouth.
.
Trixie checked her script, it was time for a scene where the assistants would argue some more and then get separated from the stallions. The Doctors would have a little reminisce about past companions and earlier adventures, Ten and Eleven swapping jokes about the regenerations between themselves and Three to wind the older/younger stallion up. Then a scene change would bring them out to a junk room that ‘Pond’ and ‘Swift’ had stumbled into and they would be frightened by a Cybermare shell, screaming and bringing in their Doctors. That would set them on a trial to the confrontation scene.
Half humming the theme tune to herself Trixie carried on casting illusion spells, it was a great show, certainly one befitting The Great and Powerful Trixie!
As story was told and Jumper dropped and swapped props as quickly as he could, stage-hooves hurried about quietly prepping extras for their moment.
In the backstage tent six black armoured mules stood at the ready to trot out in formation. A trio of earth ponies, their faces and hooves made to look reptilian and clad in red and silver bodysuits took position. In his enclosure Jumper focused on the four metal standing props, they looked like knights from a chess set, but with odd protrusions here and there, their metal a burnished grey with odd touches of blue.
The enemies of the Doctor were ready for their part.
Three Doctors and two companions had found themselves in a clear room, lit from an undetermined source. A room that they were not sure was where in relation to their TARDISes which was very worrying for the three Time Chargers. “The bloinging has stopped.” ‘Eleven’ said with disappointment.
“Thank goodness.” ‘Swift Letter’ and ‘Highland Pond’ muttered together, catching it and having a little laugh.
“So we have found the source of whatever brought us here?” ‘Three’ said, looking around the plain room.
“We should have.” ‘Ten’ replied, examining his screwdriver and giving it a shake.
A rumbling interrupted anything else he had planned to say. The stamp of hooves in formation, the trot of well drilled walkers and a trundle that would cause all eight hearts to jump in shock.
Six troops marched into scene, their armour black and shiny, their helmets threatening, featureless. “You will surrender to us the Eighth Sontaran Attack Force.” The head mule said; no bray or haw in his voice. The five around him stamped their feet to threaten their foe.
“Yesss Doctors.” One of the reptilian pony-like creatures hissed, poking his forked tongue through scaled lips. “We have you captured, three of you…”
“AFFERMATIVE!” The trundling had stopped. Four Equideks stood, menacing and tall. Their weapons trained on the five ponies.
The audience gasped in fear at three of the Doctor’s greatest foes, especially the cold and murderous Equideks. Foals hid behind their parents and even the princesses had their wings in positions of too-casual-to-not-have-been-scared-a-moment.
Not breaking character, Time Turner internally whooped at the success of their script, to silence a crowd so large and hold their attention in their hooves. He wanted to whoop but it would ruin the show.
“You ready to go on?” Jumper asked the blue unicorn mare beside him.
“As I’ll ever be.” Minuette replied, she had on jacket in a coat complimenting shade of navy and on her wrist a black strap with a box upon. “I keep telling myself just how excited Ruby will be to see me out there playing a part.” She smiled at the thought. “Should keep the nerves under control.”
“Ok, we’re just hearing the false plan from the head Equidek.” Jumper pointed over to a stallion by the sound box, a headset and microphone relaying his voice with the special effects to the props on stage. Next to the voice pony a unicorn manipulated remote controls for the monsters. “When Ten shouts about stopping their plans and Three mentions his martial arts skills I’ll port you in and Trix will have the effects going.”
“Alright.”
“WE THE EQUI-DEKS WILL BE VIC-TOR-I-US!” The creepy eye-stalk waggled, it would be comical if the monsters were not so fear inspiring.
“Not if I can help it.” ‘Ten’ declared. “I’ve faced you down all over the universe and that was with only one of me! We’ll stop your plans.”
The Sontarans strode forward to intervene but ‘Three’ reared up. “I warn you I am an expert in Maretian Akido.” He tweaked a hoof in a certain daring manner.
Action was about to break out when there was a strange sound of timey-wimey and a wobble of spacey-wacey.
“Doctor! Stop! It’s a trap!” a blue time charger mare galloping in shouted.
“Romana?” The three Doctors said in surprise.
“Quiet you!” The Sontaran shouted, aiming a gun at the running mare, she let off a blast of magic.
“They aren’t real.” Minuette said loudly. On cue the gathered enemies of the Doctor winked out and the stage lights dimmed. The mare made an effort to stand amongst the others as they began scanning the area with their varied equipment. Time Turner pulled out his “stuff” glasses, placing the flimsy glasses over his eyes and looking about.
The lights started to rise again as sinister music and maniacal laughter echoed about. A single light fell upon the stage and it lit up a scruffy looking blue pony, his hooded jersey stained and tattered. “Hello Doctors, ladies.” The voice was pitched oddly, a little touch of wrong about it.
“No…” Time Turner made a show of his realisation.
“You died. You really honestly died!” Spiffy Threads shouted angrily at the stallion.
“That has never stopped me before. Never Ever Ever!” The stallion cackled, he pulled down the hood to reveal a dishevelled blond mane and crazed eyes. “I’m back now and there are three of you to play with!”
The crowd gasped at the unexpected return of The Master, foals drew a little closer to their parents, grown ponies found themselves nibbling nervously at their hooves. The return of this long-time arch nemesis was proving to be edge of the seat stuff.
“Mum, mum... It is going to be ok right?” Dinky said from between her mother’s legs.
“Of course Muffin, the Doctor always wins.” Ditzy gave her filly a pat on the head as they watched the scene unfold.
A very traditional chase had just occurred down a metallic walled hallway, Trixie had been quite pleased with the illusion spell that allowed the backdrops to move in such a way that it looked like the players had run a long way but without losing the stage or using up all the space.
“We have you cornered now Master! Just give in already!” Eleven held out his sonic screwdriver, the tool buzzed and flashed.
“We can help you fix this, fix you.” Ten approached his nemesis with a tender voice, still hoping that his fellow last Time Charger would reform at last.
“N-n-n-n-no.” The stallion stuttered, his head moved wrongly, a back hoof tapped incessantly and sparks began to appear.
“What!” All three Doctors, the Time Charger mare and their two companions exclaimed. The Master crumpled to the ground, his coat sliding away on a leg to reveal mechanical components.
“A robot?” Three said in surprise. Eleven scanned with his sonic screwdriver.
“He’s a construct. An Equidroid.” Eleven looked around angrily, “Who would do something like that?”
A small group of ponies, their robes crisp and grand, waited in their spot. Soon it was time for the dramatic reveal to the audience. “Time to knock ‘em dead.” Crescent Moon whispered to his sister.
“They won’t be expecting this.” Inquiry chuckled quietly.
“Who would do something like that?” Spiffy Threads shouted.
“That’s your cue.” Master said, he was brushing his mane and out of the scruffy clothes he had been wearing. Jumper had switched the stallion for the prop robot puppet once the chase had begun.
“Off we go.” Crescent Moon muttered, leading his group out and schooling his face into an enraged rictus.
“Who indeed Doctor!” Crescent Barked out, resplendent in his Time Charger robes, eyes flashing angrily and voice echoing through the whole performance area. For added effect, he kicked at the prop robot, sending it shuddering away from him.
“No! You were all definitely dead and gone. I made sure of it. TWICE!” Eleven snorted in rage. “I DIED because of your actions!” He stomped his hooves and reared up again quickly.
“Died...” Ten said quietly, he had never wanted to hear his fate during this adventure.
“There there old boy.” Three said to him quietly. “We knew we would all meet an end some day, he was evidence enough of that.”
“Still meddling are we Rassilon?!” Eleven pointed out a hoof at the robed Time Charger.
“You still meddle also Doctor! You who have died the most and yet still you futilely battle on!” ‘Rassilon’ hammed it up, volume and projection in his voice of rage. “You should have known that you could not stop me! You could never keep all of Gallopfrey buried in TIME!”
“I have before and I will again.” ‘Ten’ looked at the Time Charger coldly.
“You exiled me.” ‘Three’ added. “I can see why that was the greatest gift you could ever have given. No punishment was it.” He calmly turned on the assembled Time Chargers. “Thinking yourselves above, better than all the rest of the universe. The only ones qualified to dictate how causality should progress. I can see why I did what I did, or do what I do, as it were.”
“Too late Doctor. We have a device, a device that will prevent your every action from ever occurring.” ‘Rassilon’ spat.
“Not so long as I draw breath will you succeed.” ‘Eleven’ said, seriousness in eyes and tone.
“You forget. We have your TARDIS, three iterations of her all neatly in one place.” The Time Charger leered at the suddenly silent trio.
“YAAAAAH!” a female voice shouted. ‘Highland Pond’ was flying through the air in the hooves of ‘Swift Letter’ her back legs in position to land and kick hard. In moments she had landed upon two of the Council and aimed a hard kick at the lead Stallion. “Take that ye scunners! This is how we do it in Scoltland!”
“Wahoo!” ‘Swift Letter’ giggled flying above the swatting hooves.
“Well done Pond.” ‘Eleven’ chuckled. His counterparts looked equally surprised and impressed.
“You sure do pick them don’t you Doctor.” ‘Romana’ commented, watching the brawl.
“What are y’ waiting for!” ‘Highland Pond’ shouted to the stallions. “Get to those blue boxes of yours, you mad ponies!” She kicked out again, flattening the scowling ‘Rassilon’. When the three Doctors and ‘Romana’ had left she jumped up and was flown away by ‘Swift Letter’, pocking her tongue out at the now severely knocked about Time Council.
“After them!” ‘Rassilon’ howled, first of the pony pile to stand. His hair was mussed and his robe askew. The ponies stood slowly, equally mussed by the fight and straightened themselves a little before galloping off. “You’ll never stop me Doctor.” ‘Rassilon’ said darkly before the lights turned off.
It was time for the show’s final set piece. It was highly impressive, tall and spherical with many flashing lights and trailing wires. Some of the pipes and cables led from the sphere to boxes and from the boxes into the three TARDISes, the doors held slightly open, enough to let the wires in but not so much to spoil the illusion.
The stage hooves hurried to prepare the set, Jumper zapping the large parts in while quick moving ponies linked everything up and plugged everything in. On her sound-stage Vinyl set specially tense music playing to keep the audience on the edge. Trixie projected a short image of the Doctors and their companions running through different corridors, a simple trick she had been looking into recording somehow.
Soon everything was ready for the big finish.
Lights up and the ponies were stood around the impressive device. It flashed lights and span the sphere around like the rotations of a planet, random gushes of steam shooting from one of the six boxes. “What is that?” ‘Swift Letter’ asked, daring to hover near it in the air.
“It can’t be what I think it is.” “Eleven’ said, scratching his head and dislodging the fez a little.
“I really hope they weren’t mad enough to do that...” ‘Three’ used his magic to poke a cable trailing from his TARDIS.
“They really are.” ‘Ten’ said, morose. “A Paradox Provider.”
“No! That’s, That is mad!” ‘Romana’ looked aghast. They were disrupted by more laughter.
“We tore down every last one you know, to build it. Every single component stripped out and repurposed.” ‘Rassilon’ stepped into view, looking more crazed than ever. “We had the schematics from his mind, his brilliant cracked brain had turned just one into a machine that held an entire planet in its thrall.” The robed stallion sneered at them. “Every single one we had though? So very many still functional even despite the war? We could rewrite the UNIVERSE!”
“That... it was all TARDISes?” ‘Highland Pond’ looked almost sick at the brutal treatment of the magnificent, living, machines.
“All of them.” ‘Rassilon’ looked proud. “Now, with these, three of the same TARDIS all connected in... We can reclaim our place in time and space.” He smiled at the three stallions who shook with rage. “And there is nothing you can do about it.”
“That is where I think you are wrong.” ‘Romana’ looked at the Time Council, gathered about the madpony. She tried to look brave but she knew her plan was risky. A plan that could kill her permanently. She looked ‘Rassilon’ in the eye. “If I do this...” She tapped the Vortex Manipulator on her leg. The unicorn mare disappeared.
Concentrating, Jumper teleported her from where she stood to the peak of the rotating sphere. The unicorn stallion grinned as the mare recovered quickly from the move and got her footing.
“I can grab this...” She gritted her teeth and her magical aura spread from her horn to encompass the whole sphere she stood on. “And.... I can do this!” She tapped the manipulator again, disappearing for a second time, taking the centre of the Paradox Provider with her.
The panting mare on the top of the sphere lay to catch her breath a moment backstage. She usually didn’t use quite so much magic, or interact her aura with the magic of another pony. “You good?” Jumper asked her quietly. Minuette waved a hoof in reply. “Ok, three minutes.” He caught her nod and prepared to send her back onto the stage.
“What! NO!” ‘Rassilon’ Yelled with rage as he and his comrades disappeared, fading slowly.
“Oh yes.” The three Doctors said solemnly. Watching the power mad Time Charger as he was pulled back into nothingness.
“Just you wait Doctor! This is not the last you have seen of me!” He raged and waved, wings out in a gesture of power. “Nothing in this Universe will STOP ME!”
“I think something is.” ‘Ten’ said calmly as the final shouts of rage were smothered.
Concealed by Trixie’s illusion, the ponies who had disappeared carefully trotted off the stage.
“Where is Romana?” ‘Swift Wing’ asked, looking concerned. “She should be back by now.” A loud bang and a lot of magical and real fireworks disrupted her, the machine was having its grand breakdown in great pyrotechnical fashion.
When the smoke and lights cleared a now slightly singed unicorn mare sat dazedly among the remains. “Did it.” She mumbled with a dizzy smile.
“Romanadvoratrelundar!” The three said together, happiness and chastisement in their voices. “Don’t do that again!”
They helped her stand and brushed her off, hugging her and grinning, ‘Highland Pond’ and ‘Swift Wing’ joining in. The show was wrapping up, it was nearly time for the denouement and the farewells when something very unexpected happened.
Nopony knew that the natural depression in the land had not been formed by normal processes, the same that had set the hills rolling and the mountains reaching to the skies. No, this area had been the site of a battle long long ago. Before Discord had risen up, even before the tribes had united it had been so long ago.
A mighty dragon had fought a battle with a ravenous monster, a monster that ate the magic of other creatures. It had been defeated by the drake and buried deep in the crater of their fight.
Long years had freshened the area with green grass and soft mosses. When the builders had arrived to construct the outdoor theatre, their work had not disturbed the buried creature’s malevolent spirit. The small scale productions that had taken place in the past were not enough to wake the monster.
Trixie’s crystals though were larger than the usual stones that enhanced and projected the magic. They were pushed deeper into the ground. The unicorn was using them a lot more often than in most plays.
All this had disturbed the spirit. First the magical load from the many illusions and teleports going on above its head, then the sounds created by a DJ and her partner. The massive final event had been the last straw.
The spirit awoke. It awoke hungry and angry.
There was a rumble below the ground that set the props shaking and one or two of the more sensitive earth ponies looking at the grass under their hooves.
Then, one by one, the magical lights went out. It was only by much effort that Trixie kept the scenery looking like anything other than heavy drapes. Even then, all she could do was project stark white upon them.
When the last crystal was dark a mist began to rise from the base of each partially buried stone. Tinted blue and unnaturally thick it rose like steam and smoke, curling and drifting from the grounded gems. Each trail met at the centre of the staging area, knotting together and becoming one mass.
From the mass a form emerged, a tall equine creature. Its hooves were cloven, broad like ancient tree stumps. Its horn was long and tapered, curving to a nasty point, two angry eyes beneath. Their mane was wild and ragged, drifting at the edges into mist and smoke. A tail swatted the air with anger, a lion like tail quite alien to Equestria.
Even formed though, the creature was still translucent, blue tinted fog in the air. The stamps and snorts and bellows were real enough for everypony watching.
It was with dawning horror that Time Turner realised the creature was real enough to do harm, as the stamps shook the stage props and rattled loose stones. He looked at the audience, still rapt. “They think it is part of the show…” He muttered under his breath.
His words seemingly broke a spell as the monster turned to face him. “I am Baku, Scourge of the Mages!” It shouted with a voice vast enough to suit its form. “Present Tribute or I shall take it!” Baku stamped again.
The players, well knowing that this was not in the script, took a few steps back. All bar the brown stallion were figuring out a way to unobtrusively run.
Time Turner swallowed. He didn’t know what Baku was but in everything he had ever read, spirit monsters never ate nice things like grass and apples. They would want ponies as tribute usually. Steeling his nerves and flicking his coat out for a moment of, hopefully, impressive poise the brown stallion marched forward. “I think not, Baku.” He looked the spirit in its glowing eyes and mentally begged the princesses for courage.
“Small Stallion. You Know Not of the Power of Baku!” The spirit snorted, looking down derisively at Time Turner.
“Wellll Baku… You know nothing about me either do you.” Time Turner felt a sudden rush of joy and courage suffuse him and he grasped onto it. “I mean, look here. You are a big scary monster right? You look nothing like anything any of these ponies have seen I am sure.” The stallion began casually pacing back and forth, gesturing with a hoof every now and then. The spirit monster looked confused a moment.
“This Should Be True.” He still had traces of anger his tone but it was giving way to puzzlement.
“So, really, these ponies should be fleeing in terror yes? I mean, great big liony-tailed, cloven-hooved and stampy spirit monster that you can sort of see through? Preeeetty scary.” Time Turner faced the monster, jumping to take the position. “But they aren’t are they, hmm?” He took the sonic screwdriver from his pocket and absently fiddled with it. “Don’t you wonder why that is eh? I’m sure way back when, everything you came across would flee. Strange that they aren’t.” His gaze was piercing then, seemingly glaring through the monster’s eyes and into its mind and soul. Baku took a surprised step back. “Maybe, ok, just maybe, it’s because I am here. Me. One little pony, an earth pony so no flying or magic, one brown pony with only his own four hooves.” He tapped each to the ground for emphasis. “You see, it is because I’m The Doctor.”
“A Physician?” The Monster laughed, stamping his back hooves and snapping his tail through the air once more.
“No, not that, not that sort of doctor at all. I am The Doctor and I am here. All the ponies aren’t worried. So, my big monster… Why aren’t you scared?” He grinned and flipped the screwdriver in his hoof. “Take a look for yourself; find out why they are all so happy to sit there. A town full of ponies who fled a bunny stampede?” He placed the screwdriver in his mouth and planted his hooves firmly on the ground, daring the spirit creature.
So the creature looked into the minds of the ponies. The young, the old, even the impossibly ancient. Deep into their hearts and minds it delved.
What it saw, everything the brown male pony had said was true.
The Doctor could turn back armies with a stern look, his words had saved planet after planet and countless lives. With fast talking and a spinning-beeping instrument of misdirection he had brought the universe back from the brink, united races and even saved the multiverse.
The Doctor who prized ponykind and all innocent life above all else. A Time Charger who had condemned every one of his own race to oblivion for their actions that he had judged wrong.
And there were three of him stood right there with a towns-worth of innocent ponies.
“I acquiesce.” Baku said, speaking to all the beings present. Then, turning to the brown stallion, the Time Charger who had first confronted him, the creature bowed. “Good Doctor I bow to you and only you. I leave this place in deference to your abilities.” He stepped back a little from the still glaring stallion. “I am no fool and seek not to challenge such a being.” With those words it straightened up and faded from view, head to tail as if it had never been. Even the feeling of its presence was gone.
Everyone was frozen, not daring to move or speak. All of the stage-hooves, the audience, the cast backstage and the ponies still playing their parts, not one dared to make a sound.
Just when the silence was getting oppressive Minuette took a step forward. “Doc...Doctor! You did it; you defeated the beast, the last great threat to all.” Time Turner stared at her momentarily; she nodded to confirm her intent, doing her best to hide the shaking of her legs. “Brought forth by the Rassilon and the council to finish you off, right as they were defeated.” He nodded too, keeping his eyes on the mare and transferred his sonic screwdriver from mouth to hoof.
“Yes Romana, it seemed he would stoop so low as to meddle with the fabric of all creation just to defeat us.” He dropped the screwdriver into a pocket of the baggy brown coat and looked to the other two Doctors. “Now though, now I think it is time we go our separate ways.” He pointed to their TARDISes, sat in a neat line with the cables and ducts pulled free. “I have a companion back in Equestria who will be quite cross I left her out of this adventure.” He grinned at the pair. “And if we aren’t careful we might tear things apart just by being in the same place now that Rassilon device has been deactivated! Brabant time and all that.”
“Oh, yes, indeed.” Pierce as Third said, “Without that paradox-provider we’ll be like a lead weight on a sheet! Nothing good will come of that, eveb a hole the size of Brabant is a pretty bad hole to have in the universe. Dirties the place up.” He dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. “The Brigadier will be wondering where I got to, too. So, Swift shall we be going?” He took a look at the gobsmacked pegasus, Blossomforth had not recovered from the unexpected deviation from the script and was virtually rooted to the spot. With a forced smile he took her hoof and guided her into their blue box.
“Yes… Time to be going right Pond?” Spiffy Threads knocked his fez back into a jaunty angle. “Roamin’ will be wondering where the universe went if we stick around and River is going to be a bit cross too y’know, if I’m late.”
“Of course, and he’ll complain about the lack of universe; especially after he got the drains fixed.” The mare looked at the Fez still sitting on his head. “But she’ll hate the hat more.” Carrot Top had slipped back into character easily enough. The others were treating it like part of the show and she wasn’t about to start a mass panic. Moving to take the headwear with a wink to the audience she ended up chasing ‘Eleven’ into his ‘TARDIS’.
With the four in their boxes the sound effects began, Vinyl and Octavia were not going to let the production fall down, and Trixie manipulated the magic to fade them from view. She knew what Ponyville was like and was happy to play along. It was making an amazing show.
“I guess this is goodbye for now then Doctor.” Minuette moved a little closer to Time Turner and the stallion gave her a quick hug.
“I suppose it is Romana. Take care.” He let go of her and the blue unicorn stepped back and made a show of fiddling with her wrist-gear vortex manipulator. With a flash she teleported away, ostensibly through time but actually backstage. “That’s it then eh old girl?” He turned to his blue box and opened the trick door, the one that left an illusion of a greater size inside. “Allons-y!” With careful timing the brown stallion jumped into the box and shut the doors. As the travelling sounds began and the mage hid the box the closing music played around them.
Then the cheering began. Trixie opened the door at the back of the box, “Come on, everyone is going to take a bow.” Time Turner trotted out and joined the other two Doctors and principal cast members as the extras and stage hands took up position behind them. When the last note played out they all bowed to the shouting, smiling ponies gathered around.
“Well, that was a resounding success.” Minuette whispered in his ear as the group bowed again. Time Turner smiled wider.
“Yes, we were very lucky.” He would have said more but after third bow he was mobbed by two young unicorns and a pegasus.
“Muffin! That was great!” Ditzy gave Time Turner a big kiss before remembering they were in front of most of the town, three princesses and her children. She stopped with a blush.
“Daddy was a hero!” Dinky jumped up and gave him a hug. “That was so cool! You were all like bzzz and zap and ‘Run!’!” She wrapped herself around a leg.
“Thanks Dinky, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He nuzzled the unicorn filly and then looked up to see his elder daughter scuffing a hoof. “Sparky, are you ok?” He held out a free hoof to her which she took up with remarkable speed.
“I knew that last bit was real...” She whispered into his ear. “I could feel the magic.” There was a tremor in her voice and Time Turner hugged her closer. “I could feel it in my head.” He felt a tear land on his shoulder.
“There there baby girl… Dad fixed it, we’re all fine.” He gave her a firm squeeze and she nodded, her head brushing against the coat her wore. She parted from him with a little sniff. “We’ll talk to the Princesses when everypony has cleared out.”
“Ok.” Sparkler drew back and was grabbed by Dinky who could see her sister was upset by something.
As the audience filtered away to Pinkie Pie’s after-party, technicians and extras began to dismantle the set. Soon the clearing was once again empty. Dinky and Ditzy had left the pair, the pegasus had not wanted to worry her youngest and promised to save some cake if father and daughter missed their chance.
All the props were packed away bar three blue boxes that had been carted to the party in town. The lights were stacked, the crystals wrapped and loaded onto a wagon. Vinyl, fussing and flapping had escorted her sound rig to the town, she wasn’t about to let a Ponyville Party go without music.
Then, only Time Turner and his still slightly scared eldest daughter remained at the outdoor theatre. “Are you feeling better now Sparky?” he nuzzled her forehead, just below her horn, the same way he had kissed her goodnight when she was a foal.
“I think so... It just felt so nasty...” She looked up and was about to say more when a small cough interrupted her. The teenager looked around, ready to be cross, but stopped.
Princess Celestia stood before them, her soft smile beaming down. Time Turner looked up at their ruler with his own shy grin, Sparkler was still buried against him and shivering but she managed a weak “hello” to the alicorn.
“You didn’t stop the monster.” The brown stallion said. “You and Princess Luna and Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony… It could have sent that monster away.” He looked her in the eye, a small mite of defiance in his poise and tone.
“Not without great loss, my little pony.” She sat down, weariness in showing a little. “Indeed, I could have fought it, him, Luna would have helped swiftly and Twilight too. However, we would have lost all of Ponyville.” She blinked. “He is a monster that eats the magic of a pony through their heart, their mind… We alicorns have a defence that will shield us but all the others? They would have fallen the instant he decided we were a threat.”
“OH.” Time Turner slumped, mouth agape at what he had stood down. “How did I beat him then? I was wearing a silly costume and playing a part Princess! I had a foals toy in my hoof!” Sparkler too looked to their monarch for answers.
“It is simple, Time Turner of Ponyville.” Celestia smiled down at the stallion. “I held back my sister and my student as soon as that monster reared his head. I let a little suggestion into the hearts of the audience… To truly believe in the Doctor and his abilities.” She laughed a tiny moment. “It wasn’t hard for them to embrace it. Then you, magnificent Ten, you stood up to the challenge and cowed that creature. You did not run or hide, you stood on confrontation. He had to reconsider, to check that he was at no risk.”
“They really all think that, all those ponies believe all those things about the Doctor? The things that scared him away?”
“Yes my little pony. The Doctor has saved the universe, the Doctor who sacrificed so much and would again. The Time Charger who would stand and rail against oblivion. A hero, a role model.” She leaned closer to the stallion. “For one brief shining moment, Time Turner, you were the Doctor to them. Standing against the monsters of this world.” The princess rose up, every inch the regal alicorn she was seemed to glow from her like the sun.
“The Doctor, who beats back the creatures who are the shadows, the monster you are sure lives in the crack on your bedroom wall or hides in your wardrobe waiting to come out. The last Time Charger who fights the bullies and saves the misunderstood, who believes on life and living and real-ness. The long-lived stallion who stares in wonder at the things mortals can achieve and watches with pride as his friends and allies become better than they were.” She blinked and her cheeks went rosy in a slight blush. “Listen to me prattle on. Just know this, The Doctor has a lot of fans and now so very many of them will think of you.” She left the pair then, returning to her sister as she made her way to the party.
“We all really think that Dad.” Sparkler said, nuzzling his neck, “About the Doctor, and… Me and Dinky always think that about you too.” She blushed too, it was the height of uncool to be so affectionate to her father in public, being a teenager.
“Thanks for that Sparky.” He nuzzled her back, “Are you ok to go to the party now?”
“Yeah, let’s get there before Pinkie eats all the cake.” Sparkler and Time Turner left the now fully dismantled staging area. All the action had moved to Town Square.
The three TARDIS boxes were placed around, many ponies were having photos taken beside them. There was chatter and dancing and excited calls all around. On a table near the fountain sat a huge blue cake being carefully cut up and divided amongst the crowd. In the queue was two familiar ponies, a unicorn filly and a pegasus mare. They caught sight of the rest of their family and waved excitedly. “Race you to your mum and sister?” Time Turner asked his daughter.
“Go!” She giggled and rushed off to the pair, straggling behind Time Turner chuckled and tried to catch up.
As the evening had gone on many of the townsfolk had come to the cast table to congratulate the group on such a wonderful show. Some shy colts and fillies even whispering for photographs with their favourite Doctor and more than one adult asked for a picture with Peirce. The extras were getting in on the act, Sontarans and Silurians were mingling with the crowd and scaring the unwary or drawing back from foals playing as The Doctor with their sonic screwdriver sticks.
Even Trixie, initially concerned that her prior acts had soured her to the ponies discovered that they had forgiven her and were impressed with the magic she had used. Rarity even put aside the hair incident to enquire about what illusions and fabrics the unicorn had used.
The trio of princesses had spoken with the players, complimenting their portrayals of the popular characters and the inventive story that Time Turner had written with the help of his wife. “Ditzy, you make an impressive writer!” Twilight had complimented, setting the grey pegasus blushing. “Mom always said that the novels were hardest to write right.”
“Your mom wrote some?” Dinky looked up with even more excited eyes (she had been almost overwhelmed by the proximity of her favourite princess already) “That’s really really cool!”
“Yes it is my little pony.” Celestia laughed, “One benefit of having her daughter for a personal student meant I got a sneak peek at the newest stories.” She said this in a secretive whisper to the filly, leaving the little unicorn agog.
“We ourselves read and listened to all material related to this Doctor.” Luna grinned. “We are most pleased with the show you acted out. Would a copy of the story be available for us to read also?”
“Oh, of course princess!” Dintzy’s wings fluttered out. “I’ll have a copy sent to you as soon as I can.”
“Thank you my little ponies.” Luna smiled and the three princesses bid the small family goodbye.
“Wow Mom, you’ve got a fan in the Princesses there.” Sparkler gave her mother a hug.
“Well, Mom is best pony.” Dinky chimed in, recovered from idol-closeness and was nuzzling Ditzy in an attempt to keep herself awake for more party.
“Yes she is.” Time Turner said softly, his wife blushed again.
It was past late and most of the town had retired to bed. Vinyl and Pinkie were still partying away, Octavia looking on with tired happiness at her partner’s antics. The Princesses had said their farewells, Luna and Celestia returning to Canterlot with Trixie in tow and Twilight to her library. The newest Princess had been eager to research the new monster that had been encountered that evening.
The tall TARDIS cake had been consumed, only a few crumbs of blue icing lay around the platter. Sat around the fountain and the now empty table the principal players lazed and chattered idly. Dinky slept in the warm crook of her mother’s wing while Sparkler battled tiredness to keep awake like the adults. Perfect Timing was barely awake propped against her brother with half lidded eyes.
“Fifty years.” Master said, a little louder than the chatter.
“Fifty great years.” Peirce added, levitating his tankard. Master lifted his glass in toast.
“Here’s to fifty years Doctor Whooves!” Spiffy Threads had his tumbler balanced on his snout.
“And fifty more!” Time Turner added, his cup joining the others.
“To Doctor Whooves!” The whole group called out with a cheer.
“And the adventure will go on… forever.” A little sleepy voice added.
-The Adventure Goes On.-
-Forever-
Author's Note
I hope you enjoyed this story. Maybe one day I will write the actual Doctor Whooves story that happens here instead of story that is a tribute to the Doctor Who show in the form of a tribute play for Doctor Whooves performed by ponies.
Brabant is a name of a Belgian horse breed. A reference to the very funny Time Crash short, go look it up on youtube.
Comment and critique below Whovians and Bronies alike!
