Half Past Octavia

The girl sat, peering across the lake with blank, unseeing eyes as the wind-ruffled waves lapped at the shore. The yawn of dawn was ending as the sun began to peek its all-seeing eye above the blink of the horizon. Despite her much wanted bliss, even she could not shut out the resentful glares that were shot by those who wandered by on the sidewalks of the small town park. People were awake before daylight, as was usual in the sleepy town of Applecross. Tears began to well in the girl’s eyes as she focused more on her lap. Ever since that day, the town never saw her the same way; it was the day that changed her life and the day that lingered like a stain in the back of everyone’s mind.

As hot tears of frustration and loneliness rolled down her cheeks, she couldn’t help but cast a forlorn glance beside her. There sat a doll, though something about it, something she couldn’t quite place her finger on coursed through her. The makings of a smile crept across her face, and she didn’t have to understand; she recognized it and that’s all that mattered. She leaned aside and picked up the doll by its arm, setting it on her lap, looking to it expectantly until, as if on cue, it whispered hushed comforts to her. It was her only friend these days, ever since her real friends had turned their backs on her; their once comforting hollers of joy morphed into sneers of spite and scorn.

“I’m your friend, I’m all you need. Everyone has turned their backs on you and I’m all you have. But listen to me, and you’ll never be alone again because you and me, we’ll reinvent everything!” the doll whispered into her ear cynically, egging her on until the girl nodded her head in agreement. It was all she could do now…

***

“Brilliant, simply brilliant!” the strange, well dressed man exclaimed as he paced across the room to me. “I don’t suppose you’re in too much pain, yeah? While I don’t usually resort to violence, you seemed like you needed the help.” He gently patted at my chest area as he rocked back and forth in a ponderous manner.
My mouth was still agape from the shock of seeing him, it had to be him! I winced a bit at the patting but carried on, propping myself up in the bed on my elbows a bit.

“You can’t be who I think you are can you?” I began, still awestruck.

He paused for a moment as he lifted a hand to his chin and looked me dead in the eye. “Well, I reckon that depends on who you are thinking of me thinking you think I am.”

“Are you…Doctor Whoo-” I stammered before being quickly cut off by the man.

“Ap pa pa pa,” he interjected before twirling around briefly as I just barely heard him mutter under his breath while he inspected his hands. “Okay, okay…hands; good sign…that means I have a human form, yes? Good, equine was so complicated! Human means…normal name, yes, right! John Smith, that is indeed who I am!” he blurted out cheerily as he whipped back around with a more sure expression.

I opened my mouth to reply but Miss O’Neal’s voice shot in first.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” she paused to place emphasis on the name to show she didn't think that was who he really was, “Mister Smith, but what exactly were you doing there and who are you really?”

“I know him,” Vinyl chimed in unexpectedly, lifting her hand to point at the man. All eyes fell on her as she stood there with her gaze fixed recognizably on him. As she placed her hand on her hips she spoke again. “I don’t really know his name or anything, but like, a friend of mine always talked about him.” She glanced over at Octavia who met her gaze in puzzlement. “Y’know, Derpy! She always talked about him.”

“You know Derpy Hooves?” I ventured. I swear it was like everypony knew everypony!

“Why wouldn’t I? Hello, I know Pinkie and if you know Pinkie, you know everypony!” Vinyl objected, nodding to reinforce her point.

“Wait, wait, wait- hold on a minute!” the man shouted unnecessarily loud before lowering his voice to a more calm volume. “You just said everypony…” she glanced over to Adrian with his sharp glare. “She just said everypony!” He nodded before bolting around the bed and up to Vinyl, looking her up and down crossly. Vinyl narrowed her eyes as she side glanced Miss O’Neal who only shrugged in response.

“Dude, what’re you doing?”

He raised a small black wallet with a card inside, showing it to her. From my angle, I could just make out what it said: John Smith; Licensed Physician.

“Licensed physician; don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Shut up.” He chirped before pulling out a slender object with a strangely lit blue tip. He pointed it to her and passed it along her as it made a peculiar noise. “Ah ha! Just as I thought, you’re the reason I’m here!”

I laid back down and pressed my hand against my face in indignation, what was he going on about?

“Me?” Vinyl squeaked as she pointed to herself.

“Yes, love, you! And…anyone else who might be from where you’re from…and who is this ‘Derpy’ person- or pony or whoever you mentioned?”

“Oh stop it,” I snapped before staring up at him, “I know you’re Doctor Whooves and all but you can try to make a little more sense.” For a moment, the look her gave me made me think he was just going to straight up deck me in my bed but then for a moment, I thought I could see genuine interest in his eyes. He took a pace forward, but I kept my ground with my chin up as I stared him in the eye. Octavia gripped me tighter, shooting me a warning glance as if telling me to be careful.

“Doctor Whooves, you say? And how do you know that?” he urged.

“I’m…” I stammered hesitantly before answering, “I’m a brony, but more importantly, why isn't Derpy with you?”
“I would be more than happy to answer that, mister…?”

“Felix.”

“Felix! Molto bene, fantastic name, I mean it! Mister Felix, I would more than happy to answer if I knew exactly who ‘Derpy’ is…” I blinked at him for a moment in disbelief, he was Doctor Whooves, how did he not know Derpy? I mean, I know the fandom invented the pairing but it seemed so legit, I had thought it’d be true.

“You know…Ditzy? Ditzy Doo?” I tried. Maybe he didn’t know her by her nickname, it certainly couldn't hurt to try. At that moment his eyes stretched wide and his slapped his forehead repeatedly before turning back to me with a wide grin.

“Ditzy! Yes, Ditzy! How did I not know that? I really thought I would have…curious, really. Ah well, I suppose I’m not used to calling her that…” he chuckled for a moment as he seemed to space out. “Quite the funny name though, I can see why she doesn't like me using it. I tried once, not the best experience I can say, but life moves on. More importantly,” he turned to Vinyl with a clap but then stopped again with his eccentric sights set on Octavia. “You! You’re one too, aren’t you? I knew there was a reason I was here. Two in one spot explains a lot…”

Octavia’s short temper was already well at work as I spotted her tapping her foot on the ground moodily. She rolled her eyes a bit before growling towards him. “Let me stop you right there, Doctor whoever you are! What in the name of Celestia are you talking about?!”

The Doctor sighed, his expression melting from his natural cheekiness to one more serious. “Don’t you see? You know it as well as I do, you both do. You aren't from here and what brought you here is a problem that can in essence tear the dimensions apart as they collapse into one another. You are the first ones I've found and I have to find the source of what brought you here. You both radiate cross-dimensional fields that if manipulated correctly can lead me right to her.” He went on, running a weary hand through his hair before it snapped back into place.

“Her?” Octavia echoed, her eyebrows rising in interest.

The Doctor didn’t meet her stare, avoiding the question as he went on.

“I need you both to come with me we’ll be on our way to take you home and save Equestria.”

This time I rose up, shaking my head in resentment. “No way, she’s not going anywhere, Doctor!”

Octavia looked at me with longing in her eyes as she spoke with a low pleading tone, “But, it’s to save Equestria. I have to, Felix.

“But-”

“But nothing, Felix.” Vinyl broke in, pushing her shades up her face so that they rested on her electric blue hair and leering at me with her hypnotic magenta eyes. “This is our home we’re talking about! We can’t just abandon it and Celestia knows I won’t!”

“Good girls or…fillies…I don’t know, whatever, just come on!” he went on, twirling around to stumble out the entrance but I couldn’t accept that. I wouldn’t let them go. If I couldn’t stop them then I was sure as hell coming too.

“Wait. I’m going too.” I announced with a determined look about me as the Doctor whirled back around to face me, his stare boring into me with uncertainty. I was almost certain he was going to turn me down, but the only thing that may have swayed him is when Octavia herself stood her ground to support me.

“He goes, Doctor, or we don’t.” she challenged, crossing her arms across her chest the way she often did when she had made up her mind.

Doctor Whooves gave an annoyed groan, wiping his hand along his face before turning aside and pacing with his chin cupped in between his thumb and his index finger. I could hear inaudible mumblings coming from him as he did so, obviously weighing his choices before his arms went limp and he turned back to us.

“Fine! Just fine! Let’s go,” he rasped, whipping around and out the door and muttering curses under his breath. “Blasted ponies… always so difficult! Stubborn as a mule is what they are!”

***

I had managed to get outside, and it hurt, but my wounds weren't as severe as I had anticipated. It was more like the feeling of intense sore muscles than anything, apart from the piercing pain that stabbed at my chest when I strained myself too hard. I had a broken rib but according to them I had been out for at least two days so a bit of healing had happened. Miss O’Neal and Adrian stayed behind due to their unease and unwillingness to trust such an odd man. The Doctor lead the way out the hospital doors after I checked out and down the parking lot and to an old looking police box that I was sure they didn't make anymore. He glanced back at us for a moment before beckoning us forward. As we advanced, he shoved a key in the door and turned it before pushing it open.
For a moment, I thought I was seeing things or that I had gone completely mad. It couldn't be possible that all that could fit…in that little space! Dear god, I thought as my mind reeled, the fandom was on to something for once! The interior was mind blowing; it was like a warehouse of bright glowing lights and tantalizing consoles with various buttons and knobs. He began to usher us in briskly before looking at us and shouting sternly.

“And don’t touch anything! So help me if you do,” he shut the door before scampering to the console with a quick slide. “Both of you fine and lovely equestrian human hybrid thing-a-whozits, come over here, please.”

The cellist and the DJ exchanged glances nervously before the Doctor called to them again and they reluctantly advanced. My eyes were trained on him like a hawk. Just because he was Doctor Whooves doesn't mean I trusted him, especially around Octavia. He drew his glowing device from a coat pocket before passing the buzzing tip just at eye level to the two.

“What is that?” Octavia questioned with a dash of concern in her eyes.

“This,” he began, passing the device over from Octavia and on to Vinyl, “is a sonic screwdriver. I am going to use it on you two to transmit the inter-dimensional radiation to the TARDIS to get a fix on the anchor that is holding you both in place, so to speak.”

“It’s not going to hurt us, is it?” Vinyl broke in.

“What else can it do?” Octavia ventured right after.

“Where can I get one of those…?” Vinyl asked.

“Shhhhh,” Doctor Whooves hissed before adding more quietly and irritably, “blimey you two ask a lot of questions!”

Octavia’s mouth flew open to retaliate but the Doctor had already flicked back to the controls and was actively pressing buttons and pulling knobs.

“Anyway, I’ve got a fix on the source…more or less…I think…I’m pretty sure, soooo,” he conceded before a daring grin spread between his cheeks and he slammed a hand on a final button. “Geronimo!”

The ground beneath me felt as if we were cast to sea as it slammed to one side, forcing everyone on board to lurch to the side. The only thing that caught us was the conveniently placed railing, but even that felt flimsy and unreliable and the force made my ribs ache even harder. The Doctor had managed to stay in place as he had clung to the center console for dear life, but the rest of us weren’t as fortunate. The room tilted violently in the opposite direction, as if was being shaken by a giant, though this time we were more ready, able to hang onto the railing and not be flung aside like ragdolls.

“What’s going on?!” Octavia shrieked in surprise, I could just make out her face turning pale but I couldn’t tell if by fear or motion sickness.

“You equines,” the doctor shouted over the loud tumbling of random supplies about the TARDIS. “Don’t you know anything? We’re obviously using the TARDIS to travel through the time vortex to another location instantly…well, for us anyways and-” he cut off as there was a loud bang outside and the stomach churning rocking of the TARDIS ceased. “Oh, good enough I suppose. We’re here!”

“Where?” I pressed, only just gaining my bearings as I pushed myself shakily off the rail and gripped my side.

“That’s a good question, Felix. Where indeed.” He echoed as he paced over to the center console and began to pan about the screen that was built into it.
As the Doctor stared into the screen, I noticed the absence of a certain soot-haired woman.

“Octavia?” I called, looking around.

“Over here…” she replied back, though her voice sounded muffled and distant.

As I walked down the platform I noticed a pair of legs sticking out from under the railing. As I neared, she was hanging from the platform by her legs, her hair reaching desperately to touch the floor. I couldn’t help but chuckle even though it hurt.

“Need some help?” I teased as I rested my arm on the top of the rails, looking down at her.

She met my gaze with burning frustration. “Oh, how lovely of you to offer; you’re such a gentlecolt.”

I rolled my eyes in good humor before bending down and grabbing her legs, though my face grew hot and reddened as I noticed her dress had flipped down with the gravity and I could see her panties very well. You’d think by now I’d be used to it, but I doubt I ever would be. I had to fight every fiber of my being from wanting to bury my face into that spot and I succeeded – barely. As I pulled her to safety, she wrapped her arms around me, her face unnecessarily close to mine.

“Thanks.” She whispered seductively, her eyes threatening to drown me in a sea of adoration.

The moment was spoiled by a deliberately loud cough. “I don’t mean to interrupt,” the Doctor broke in. “But there are dimensions to save…just saying…”

Way to cock block, doc… I growled in my head indignantly.

As we rose, Doctor Whooves sailed to the entrance of the TARDIS, pushing it open and revealing that we had really moved! I stared in awe. That thing actually took us somewhere, yet it had no wheels or jets or anything for that matter. Once Octavia, the Doctor, Vinyl, and I filed outside, the aroma of clean, country air swirled around me. Back in the city, the air seemed so foul in comparison with all the vehicles and machines everywhere, but something seemed off. The Doctor glanced around warily, down the slope of a hill rested a sleepy looking town with its residents stalking around, so far away they looked like ants.

“Come on.” He called over his shoulder before striding downhill, his trench coat flapping in the wind of the stretch of highland. Growing ever nearer, I could feel the unease drifting through the wind like a thick fog and my awe ebbed away, replaced by worry. What could be going on? We eventually made it to the streets; I could just make out a sign not too far away that read, “Applecross”.

“Where are we?” I heard Octavia whisper to the Doctor just behind me.

The Doctor didn’t answer right away, when I turned around I could see him concentrating on the faces of those who paced by but then he spoke in a low tone. “If I’m not mistaken, I’d say we’re somewhere in the United Kingdom…Scotland to be more accurate.” He paused thoughtfully before walking forward, beckoning us to follow. “But something isn’t quite right. Look at everyone. They all have the same expression.”

I glanced around only to notice with surprise that he was right. They all bore the wary expression, even the children; which was something rarely seen. Everyone kept their sight trained forward, scuttling about with grim faces as if avoiding something.

“Why do they all look so…angry?” I explored, looking to the Doctor expectantly.

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out. If you look over there.” He added, nudging his head as inconspicuously as possible. “Notice how the population density drops dramatically? I bet my bottom dollar that the problem is there.”

I couldn't argue with that, the observation was so acute that I didn't even notice but he was right. Everyone seemed to be concentrated on one half of the town while the other was practically deserted. Maybe whatever was going on was over there, but I still couldn’t understand what could possibly be so wrong with such a small town and have such importance that Doctor Whooves would come here. We walked in silence for a bit, only our foot steps on the pavement making gentle patting sounds until we finally came to a halt. There was nobody around – nobody, except a little girl. The sun was leaning down, making its descent to disappear under the horizon, dyeing the lake under it a deep pink; I could just make out her figure sitting on a bench and watching it.

I glanced aside and noticed the Doctor staring at her, a wave of emotion flooded from him; I could feel it, but what was it? Was it…regret? Unsure, I simply brushed it off as if I had imagined it.

“Who’s that?” Vinyl whispered to Octavia. She only shrugged in reply and turned to the Doctor to transfer the question but he was already gone. I watched him walk to the bench she sat on and the orange tinged light of the setting sun made her blonde hair look like strands of gold. He kneels down next to her and was moving his mouth as if talking; I had to lean forward and strain to listen in.

“Who’s your friend?” the Doctor asked innocently as I saw him point to something out of my view. The little girl didn’t turn her head to him as she replied, her voice sounding frail and high pitched.

“You shouldn’t have come here. He doesn’t like you here…” I just made out her mutter.

The Doctor’s eyes narrowed though he kept his voice soft. “Who doesn’t?”

The girl muttered something just out of my range of hearing but she pointed to the thing next to her that was blocked by the bench back. Suddenly, his eyes flew open wide as a maniacal chuckle echoed across the lake as if carried in with the tide. The Doctor shot up and sprinted toward us, alarm shot through me and thrashed in my chest like a landed fish. What was going on?

“Get back to the TARDIS! Now!” he commanded urgently.

“Why? And what the buck was that?” Vinyl challenged, crossing her arms.

The Doctor looked ready to give a sharp reply but the chuckle sounded off again, this time louder as if closer than before.
“Go!” he repeated, but it was too late.

The water of the lake swirled up in a water spout, spraying us until our clothes clung to us tightly. The alarmed shrieks of the towns people as they bolted away behind us. Whatever this was, it was too real. As quickly as it came, the water fell and before me was a sight that made my eyes bulge. The slender figure of a man floated above the lake, his gray hair waving in the wind. His clothes were abstract to say the least, a suit comprised of pieces of fabric from other clothes like dresses and coats and mismatching shoes and gloves. His stroked his long gray beard that only covered his chin cheekily.

“Well,” the man rumbled, “If it isn’t the colt from Gallifrey himself. I see you took human form too. Glad to see I wasn’t the only one,” his gaze flicked to the little girl who sat on the bench before adding. “But then again, I already knew that.”

“Who the hell is that and why is he flying?” I gasped, unable to hold in my shock any longer.

“No, silly human, he’s clearly floating. Flying is much higher and moving.” The Doctor corrected coolly never taking his sight off the man before speaking louder. “Discord, I see you haven’t changed. What have you done to her?”

Discord?! I shrieked inwardly, Oh, fuck we are so dead! Oh god, oh god, oh god! The god of motherfucking discord and chaos was right in front of me. A god versus an alien, two ex-horses and a normal person…these fucking odds are AMAZING.

Discord frowned, turning his head to the girl who still sat on the bend unmoving. “Come.” He ordered her.

The little girl rose, standing barely four feet off the ground and shuffled over to Discord as he lowered himself to the ground. He placed his hand on her shoulders and made her face us. Instant recognition hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew those golden wall eyes anywhere!

“It’s…it’s Derpy!” I gasped quietly

“I haven’t done anything to her, Doctor. I’m hurt and appalled that you’d think I would!” Discord answered him defensively but the blank, glazed stare of Derpy proved otherwise.

“Then why is she so young? What did you do, Discord? I won’t ask again.” The Doctor pressed on threateningly.

“Oh, what’s the fun in telling you that, Doc? You really are boring when you get serious, you know that?” Discord teased. “After all, you out of everypony should know what happened.” He added before giving a blaming leer and hardening his tone. “You did bring us to this cursed dimension.”

My eyes widened as I glanced over to the Doctor, Vinyl and Octavia mirroring my action with the same shocked expression. Doctor Whooves’s expression gave away nothing as he stared at Derpy. I was just able to see his hand slowly slipping into his pocket; I guessed he was going to whip out his sonic screw driver.

“Doctor, Doctor, Doctor. I don’t fall for the same tricks twice. When will you learn?” the god of chaos chuckled as he lifted a hand, twirling the sonic screwdriver between his fingers.

“Oh, you are a clever one, Discord.” He began before looking up to Discord. “You’re right; I do know what you did to her now. She’s been discorded, has she not?”

Discord smiled toothily, “Sharp as a knife, Doctor.”

“I’d have to say though, taking a hostage is low, even for you.” He started, “But where you’re wrong is that you seem to always fall for my tricks. If there’s one thing you should know about me is there is one word that will always lead to your defeat. This one, small word is what will send you back to Equestria where you will be set in stone again. Do you know what that word is?”

Discord’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, unbelieving glare. “Do enlighten me.”

Suddenly I could see the Doctor’s eyes burn with renewed vigor as he grinned from ear to ear.

“Allons-y!” he shouted, snapping his fingers.

In that instant the sonic screw driver that floated in Discords grasp screeched loudly as the tip flashed erratically. Discord threw himself aside, gritting his teeth as he covered his ears and the screw driver plopped into the grass.

“Get Ditzy!” The Doctor shouted towards me as he raced to the screwdriver.

“Curse you, Doctor!” Discord growled meekly, still covering his ears the screeching went on.

Vinyl and Octavia were on the floor as well covering their ears. The sound was unbearable and it scrambled my mind but I narrowed my eyes and ran forward, gripping Derpy by the arm and dragging her away from Discord. She offered no resistance, practically a dummy. Suddenly the screeching stopped. As I glanced over my shoulder I could see the Doctor with it in his grasp and Discord regaining his footing, scowling angrily.

“You think I will just let you get away so easily? Too much chaos to spread to be beaten just like that!” Discord boasted indignantly, raising himself in the air.

The Doctor didn’t even answer, pressing down on the sonic screwdriver and pointing it over to Derpy. She blinked for a long while, when she reopened them, her gaze had changed from dull and sightless to bright and bubbly. Her knees wobbled as they gave out from under her and I caught her in my arms. Her size had also dramatically increased, growing a foot and a half. Her body had filled out more and actually made her look like a woman, but the size increase in her children’s clothing made them stretch and rip, revealing most of her body.

My mind raced and my heart thumped as I stared down at the tight and ripped clothing that bound her body and showed her naked chest almost completely. My thought shot back to when I had first met Octavia on Jansford campus that day and how their breast sized were pretty comparable before my thoughts were cracked in two by a splitting pain that jolted through me. Octavia was standing over me, her eyebrow twitching irritably and clenching a fist. I drew a hand up to my head, covering where she had punched me. I could never catch a break; this is the thanks I get for catching a fainting girl.

Derpy roused in my arms, looking up at my with her shifting eyes in confusion. “W-where am I? Who are you?”

There was no time to explain before Discord enraged howl pierced my ears. “No!” he hissed, his eyes narrowed to slits as he glared at the Doctor “What have you done?!”

“What I’ve done is stop the dimensions from collapsing in on each other, Discord.” The Doctor answered briskly, taking strides toward him. “You know, saving people, stopping disasters, not causing chaos. That kind of stuff, it’s really lovely, you should try it.”

Discord gave a threatening growl before his human form began to melt. My jaw stretched wide as it unfolded before me. His face began to melt, his hair plopping off in matter clumps while his clothes began to sag with his skin slowly lopping off. I felt the tang of bile rise in my throat; I thought I was going to be sick.

I saw Vinyl smiling at the scene we were watching before she commented in awe. “Coooool!”

Suddenly his melted physique began to puff up as if inflating. The realization dawned on me swiftly... he wasn't just puffing him. He was going to blow!
“Doctor!” Derpy’s high pitch tone called in shrill alarm from in my arms as she stared after him in horror. “Get out of there!”

Doctor Whooves was already fully aware, pelting towards us as fast as he could but it was already too late. He barely made it a few yards away before the Discord bomb exploded, knocking everyone off their feet. As I tumbled over I was just able to make out the Doctor flying and slamming into the bench Derpy had been seated on when she was still discorded.

Everyone began to slowly pick their way up, moans and groans coming from everyone as they rose. The spot where Discord had been standing was now a black scorch but in the horizon I could just make out a multi colored figure - not human looking at all - flapping off into the now darkened night sky.

“Where is the Doctor?” Octavia echoed the question that burned through everyone’s mind. By the time I had found him, Derpy was already making a break for where he lay motionless. I drew in a wisp of air sharply. Was he dead? I jogged over to his side just in time to see golden, sparkling grains of light emanating from him but just faintly. As I glanced aside at Derpy, I could see hot tears streaming from her wall eyes as she gripped tufts of grass in her fists pressed against the ground.

“It’s gonna be okay, Doctor…” Derpy cooed softly into his ear, I could tell her tears were blinding her but she made no effort to wipe them away and her voice shook with dismay. I could just barely see the rise and fall of the Doctors chest. “We’re gonna get you back to the TARDIS and we’re gonna keep traveling like we always did. I’m gonna bake you a big muffin when we get inside,” she pleaded, her voice shaking even more. “Just- Just get up. Please! Don’t change, please! You’ll be fine, just c-come with me to the-” she couldn’t finish her sentence as he shoulder shuddered, her tears coursing down her face at full stream and her sobs loud.

I could only stare at the Doctor; the golden grains of light whizzing around him grew brighter and more abundant with each passing second. He would be fine, wouldn’t he? He just regenerates and he’s fine? But for some reason, it didn’t feel that way. Octavia and Vinyl had joined us, both kneeling around him. Octavia clung to me, her breathing now erratic as the tide of emotion began to overwhelm her until she began to weep as well. Vinyl and I only bowed our head mournfully before the blast of light exploded at full brightness, the grains whizzing around blindingly. Derpy shrieked in despair as the light died down and the Doctor began to stir. He raised himself into a sitting position before looking up at us, his face completely changed and hair from messily styled to neat and swept aside.

He pressed his hands to his face, spreading them all over. “Nose…mouth…eyes…ears – oh yes, those are important - hair” he began to list off before lifting his legs up, pulling on his pant leg to look it over. “Oh, well hello you sexy legs, you!” he then turned to us, his smile fading as he saw Derpy still crying though her sobs had hushed to sniffles now. He lifted a hand and pressed it against her cheek but she shrank away from the action. “Ditzy?” he called gently.
It was a while before she looked up at him but her eyes were still glittered with tears. “I’m still me, Ditzy…well…for the most part.” He told her cautiously, trying not to upset her further. “We can still travel the stars, nothing will change. I promise.”

She looked up and finally wiped away the liquid from her eyes and smiled but despite her display I could see the sadness pooling in her eyes. It was as if this wasn’t the first time she watched him die…

***

The repeating sound of the TARDIS filled my ears for the last time as it slowly began to fade away until nothing was there; leaving dead leaves stirring around were it had been. The Doctor and Derpy had been kind enough to leave us just outside our apartment. We had left Vinyl at Miss O’Neal’s already and we wearily climbed up the steps to our apartment. The death of the Doctor kept replaying over and over in my mind but I couldn’t help but remember the figure fading into the horizon. Discord had gotten away…what would happen now?