The Adventures of Trotter Grey

Advice from the Doctors

“It’s your move, Trotter Grey.”

Trotter opened his eyes.  When he noticed how bright the room was he quickly shut them again.

“Ha!  Too bright for you?  Hold on let me fix it.”

There was a brief pause.  Trotter just sat there with his hooves over his eyes, waiting for something to happen.

“There we go, you can open your eyes now.”

Trotter opened his eyes again.  The light had been dimmed.  Trotter found himself sitting at small dining table.  It reminded him a lot of his grandmother’s cottage.  At one end the room there was burning fireplace with a mantle holding several empty picture frames.  In another corner of the room there was a couch facing a window.  To Trotter’s left there was an open wooden door leading into a kitchen that seemed to be overstocked with food and cooking utensils.

“Do you like it?”

Trotter’s head shot up.  He looked around the cottage for the owner of the voice, but he found himself completely alone.

“H-hello?”  Trotter called out nervously, “I can hear you, bu-but I can’t see you.”

“Oh I’m sorry, this spell is always tricky, I’m sorry could you give me one more moment please?  Thank you very much, Trotter Grey.”

There was another brief pause.  During this time Trotter investigated the room further.  The table he was sitting at laid upon a fine carpet which bore a black spiral emblem.  In front of him sat a chessboard with a game that had already been started.  The black side was facing him and it seemed like he was losing.  The white side had three of his pawns, a bishop, and a knight.  The only he could really move without risk was…nothing...balls…

“Like I said it’s your turn. “  The voice said again, this time it sounded closer.  Trotter turned his head and saw the pony that had been talking to him or at least…part of him.  The pony wore a cloak that cast a shadow over his face.  Trotter could make out very little of him, all that he could really tell was that he was an ash grey earth pony, definitely a stallion, and he defiantly was older.  This pony sounded older, almost like a cheery grandfather.  “The last pony to play was very bad at this game.  She said she had played before, but I doubt it.  Hopefully you’ll be a better challenge, I hate being bored.”   The hooded pony let out a hearty chuckle.  He trotted past Trotter and took his seat at the other end of the table.

Trotter looked around the room.  “So-”

“Where are we?”  The hooded pony interrupted, “Well, you’re in a bed at a hospital.  You were pretty badly injured, but the Doctors and the Doctor were able to patch you up.  You were very lucky.”

Trotter continued to look around the room.  “But this-”

“Doesn’t look like a hospital?  No, you were knocked out in the explosion.  You’re asleep in the hospital.  This is just a dream.  As for why you’re dreaming of here, I thought it would be nice to take you here.  This was my grandparent’s house way way way back in the day.”

Trotter opened his mouth, but the hooded pony just shook his head and laughed.

“I know a spell that lets me enter your dreams while you’re in this state.  This place is one of my memories, I thought it would be comforting to you.  I know you don’t like being alone, so I thought I would join you.  Besides I got bored of my last patient.”  The pony shook his head again.  “I know what you’re thinking, but she’s fine.  What kind of doctor would I be if I left a patient while they were still sick?”

Trotter nodded his head, “Thank you, I appreciate it.”  Trotter smiled at his new friend and stuck out his hoof, “I’m Trotter Grey, it’s very nice to meet you!”

The hooded pony staggered for a moment.  If Trotter had been able to see his face he would have seen the surprise in his face.  The pony slowly stuck out his hoof and shook Trotter’s hoof.

“I’m-” The pony started.

“Dear Luna!  What happened to your hoof?!”  Trotter shouted.  “Are you okay?!”

The pony shook his head, “Oh that’s nothing.  I’ve had these for as long as I can remember.  Anyways, that’s not important right now.  Let’s finish our game.”

Trotter looked down at the board.  It was his move, though there wasn’t a lot he could do.  His king was in check and he could either lose a bishop or another pawn and good spot in order to protect his king.

“You know,” The pony started, “They say you can learn a lot about a pony by playing chess with them.  So, I wonder what I’ll learn about you.”

****

“Check mate!”

The pony studied the board, checking to see if there was any move he could make.  After a minute he shook his head.

“Well, that WAS an interesting game.  A lot of fun, I never had a game quite like it.”  The pony looked up at Trotter, “Thank you for that.”

“Ha, it was no problem.  I too had a great time.  Did you learn anything interesting?”

“Oh, more than you know.”  The pony started to look around the room, “Huh, it seems like we finished just on time.  You’re waking up.”

Trotter looked around the room with the pony.  It looked the same to him.  “How can you tell?”

“I just know.  It is my spell!”

“Oh, well, when I wake up I’ll be sure to thank you.”

“Haha, you’ll be seeing me soon enough.”  There was something sinister about the way he said that.  “I’m sure that you’ll be seeing a lot of me.  A word of advice though, be ready for anything.”

There was a sudden flash of light and reality came crashing back to Trotter.  When he awoke he found himself lying on a hospital bed.  The room was almost completely dark, the only light came from a crack in a door at the other end of the room.

How long had he been knocked out?  The pain in his flank had died down to just a mild sore.  While that pain had almost completely faded he had a new pain in his chest.

Trotter slowly sat up in his bed.  There was a slight movement in the room.  He wasn’t alone.

“Hello…?”  Trotter quietly called, “Is somepony there?”

“Huh?”  A tired voice called back, “Tr-Trotter Grey?”  A sudden life came to the voice, “YOU’RE AWAKE?!”  The voice was cheery and familiar, “Oh, good show.  I was worried you were gonna stay in bed another day!”

“Doctor, is that you?”  Trotter asked.

The light hovering above Trotter’s bed flashed on, burning Trotter’s eyes.  He made a quick flinch which sent a surge of pain through his chest.  After a moment Trotter finally was able to open his eyes and actually see.

The hospital room was much different from the one in his home town.  This one was larger and it even had a small bookshelf in a corner of the room.  His bed was situated in the middle of room.  Besides him was one of those weird coat hanging thing where they hung the blood pack, though this one was empty.

From his flank to upper chest, Trotter found himself covered in bandages.  The bandages covering his chest had several small red stains.  What had happened on the train?

Trotter looked up at the Doctor who had been standing at the foot of his bed, smiling and waiting for Trotter to get his bearings.  “So…”  Trotter began, “How did I end up here?”

“Ha, you see when the Cybermare charge up his beam I was able to cause a short circuit in his spell with my screwdriver!”  The Doctor explained, “Machines and magic make a terrible combination.  Though, I am sorry for this, the short circuit caused an explosion and well you got pretty badly injured.  I did what could with what I had, but when we arrived in Ponyville you were rushed to the hospital and you’ve been here for the last three days.  I think that sums it up!”

“Okay, that’s one question, but I still have more.”

The Doctor chuckled, “Ha, they always do.  Ask away!”

Trotter took a large inhale and began to rapidly ask the Doctor his questions.  “How did you create an explosion with a screwdriver, what the hay was that thing, was it an alien, was it really a mare, are there more of them, and most importantly WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU?!”

“Oh, that’s a lot of questions.”  The Doctor smiled, “I like a lot of questions.  That means you’ve got a good head.  Well first,” The Doctor mimicked Trotter and took a large inhale, “It’s a sonic screwdriver and before you ask it can manipulate and scan machines, locks, environments, and other things like that.  That thing was a half pony half machine cyborg, the Cybermares convert other ponies into their race eliminating all of their emotions.  Yes it was an alien.  I don’t know if that thing was mare or stallion, it really is impossible to tell, but the collective name of the race is Cybermares.  There are defiantly more of them, but that was the last one in this part of the galaxy, it belonged to a scouting party, but I took care of them.  And finally, I am the Doctor, I’m an alien from the planet Gallopfrey, home of the Time Lords.  I have a time traveling spaceship!  And, well, I like to travel, I love foreign food and I like to tinker with machinery.  Any other questions?”

Trotter’s mouth dropped.  He spent a good amount mouthing words and question, but found himself unable to talk.  Eventually he managed sounds, but the sounds lacked context and were just jumbled phrases.  The Doctor just stood there at the foot of his bed chuckling.

“I can see you’re having some problems, maybe I’ll try asking you a question.  What’s your name?”

“You already know my name, you said it before.”

“Yes, I do know it.  I needed to go through stuff to find some id to check you into the hospital.  I’d still like a proper introduction though, it seems like the right thing to do!”

“Ha, I think I understand.  I’m Trotter Grey, it’s a pleasure to meet you Doctor…what did you say your name was?”

“Just the Doctor and it’s a pleasure to meet you!”  The Doctor trotted over and patted Trotter on the shoulder.  “I know you don’t have a lot of money, I saw what you had.”  The Doctor gave a quick frown, however it quickly faded into a large smile.  “But don’t worry, the train company and the hospital owed me some favors so don’t worry about the bills!”

Trotter gave large grin, “Really?!  Thank you, Doctor!”  Trotter leaned out of bed and gave the Doctor a tight hug, though Trotter quickly regretted it because of another surge of pain that entered his body.  He quickly receded back into his bed and gave a pained smile to the Doctor.  “Guess I can’t do too much hugging yet.”

“Oh yeah!  I had another quest-”

Knock, knock, knock!

A knocking came at the door interrupting the Doctor.  The two of them looked to the door and then back at each other.

“Were you expecting someone?”  The Doctor asked.

“No, I don’t know anypony here, what about you?  Were you expecting somepony?”

“No, I don’t think so.  Though I never do know…Any-who, I’ll get it.”

“Thank you, I’m not really in the mood to get up right now.”

“COME ON IN!”  The Doctor shouted from the bedside.

“Well I could have done that!”

“Why didn’t you then?”

“Because-”

“He’s awake!”  A purple unicorn exclaimed as she entered the room.

The unicorn was followed by a blue pegasus and an orange earth pony.  The three of them seemed very happy to see Trotter, but Trotter had never seen any of these mare before in his life.  Was it his birthday?

“Looks like you owe me twenty bits, sugarcube!”  The orange pony said to the pegasus.  She had the accent of a cowgirl, almost like the ponies of Appleloosa.  She had a long blonde mane and wore a cowboy hat.  Her eyes were a bright green and had a certain confidence to them.

The blue pegasus let out an annoyed groan, “Oh come on, we both thought he wouldn’t wake up for another two days.  Look at this colt!”  The blue pegasus fly over to Trotter and motioned to him, “He looks soft, we really couldn’t have known he would wake up this early!”  This pegasus was a bright sky blue and a colorful rainbow mane and matching tail.  Her eyes were a darkish purple, similar to Trotter’s eyes.

“You two stop it, you’re being rude!”  The purple one complained.  It was at this time that Trotter realized that this was not just a unicorn, this mare was an alicorn.  She had her wings tucked in, but he had somehow missed them.  The alicorn looked over to Trotter and gave a nice smile, “I’m sorry about them, they’re a bit competitive.  I’m Twilight Sparkle.”  Twilight Sparkle pointed up at the blue pegasus who was still hovering by the bedside, “That’s Rainbow Dash.”  She then pointed to the orange earth pony, “And this is Applejack!”

“Oh…um well it’s nice to meet you?”  Trotter smiled back at Twilight Sparkle, “But-uh…”  Trotter’s smile quickly faded, “I don’t mean to sound rude, but why are you here.  I’ve never met any of you before, have I?”

“Well kind of.”  The Doctor started, “When I got you to Ponyville these three helped me carry you to the hospital and they’ve been coming back every day since to check up on you.”

“That’s a lot less than what you’ve been doing, partner!”  Applejack stepped forward, “This pony has been staying here while y’all were asleep, he never once left your side!”

“Oh…ha…”  Trotter was taken back, never before had he received such kindness from strangers before.  “Th-thank you, thank you all.”  Trotter looked at them, completely shocked, not the bad kind of shock, but a good shock.  “Thank you all so much.”  Trotter could feel a tear start to form in his eye.  Why?  He wasn’t sad, why would he cry?

“Hey, don’t get all sappy on us!”  Rainbow Dash flew over and slapped Trotter on the back sending a surge of pain through his back.  “Oh, whoops!”  Rainbow Dash flew slightly back and grinned nervously.  “That was my bad.  Heh…uh-you okay?  Yeah!  Of course you are!  Anypony who can take a beating like that and wake up in a few days has to be strong!”

“Oh dear.”  The Doctor started.  At least he had noticed how painful that must have been for Trotter.  “Hey you lot, why don’t we leave this one alone, he looks like he could use some rest.  He just woke up a few minutes ago and he should just take it easy now.  It’s the Doctor’s orders.”

“I think he’s right, girls.  Glad to see you awake Trotter!”  Twilight Sparkle said as she backed up to the door.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash made a similar statement and followed behind her.  Before the Doctor left he did a few last checkups on Trotter to make sure he was alright.  Trotter had insisted that regular doctors could have done so, but the Doctor insisted that he could he take care of it.  After a few minutes the Doctor was sure that he was alright and decided to let Trotter be.

“Doctor!”  Trotter called before he left, “Just one more quick question.”

“Of course, but before I did have a question I never got to ask, would it be okay if I asked mine first?”

“Sure.”  Trotter smirked, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Ha, that was clever.  Well anyways, you see, I do a lot of traveling and you seem like a clever colt.”  Trotter looked confused, he tilted his head at the Doctor.  “What I’m trying to say is, I get lonely and usually travel with a companion and I was wondering if maybe, you would want to travel around with me?  You seem like an adventurous sort and I thought maybe you’d like to come along.”

“Wow…”  Trotter’s face rapidly changed between a smile and confused frown, “That’s quite the offer.  I just planning move here and you want me travel along with you?  That’s a bit sudden, you barely know me, why would you want me to come along?”

“Because you seem brilliant, you ask questions, you very funny and I can tell you like a good adventure!”

“I don’t know, I had just come here to move and I don’t even have a place to stay yet.  I just really don’t know.”

“Ohhhh, don’t worry about that.  Just one adventure when you’re feeling better and you’ll see.  Will you accompany me on one adventure?”

“Just one?”

“Just one and after that one, if you never want to go on another with I’ll leave you alone.  Deal?”

“Okay, Doctor.  Deal.”

“Brilliant, just brilliant!  Well, I’ll get my ship ready for you!  Get better soon!”  The Doctor turned and began to gallop to the door.

“Doctor, wait!”

The Doctor turned his head back, “Hmmm?  What?”

“I still have my question.”

The Doctor fully turned around, “Oh yeah, that’s right.  What did you want to know?”

“When I was knocked out a there was a hooded pony in my dreams, he said he was there via a spell and he was a doctor here.  Do you know where he is?”

“Um, no?  I didn’t see anypony like that in any of three days you were asleep.  What did he look like?”

“He was wearing a hood, um, he was an earth pony and he had a grey coat.  Oh!  He sounded older, like he was in his sixties maybe late fifties, but he seemed very cheery up until the end.  That’s really all I remember.  I think there was something else, but can’t really remember.”

The Doctor shook his head, “I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen anypony like that and that doesn’t sound like a doctor.  It was probably just a dream.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.  Who knows what crazy things you can dream about when you’re knocked out?”

“Yeah, well I got to go!  I need to get ready!  I’ll see you very soon!  Some advice though!  Be ready for everything!”

The Doctor galloped out of the room and down the hall.  Trotter adjusted himself in his bed and tried to rest.  As much as he tried to resist the thought he kept thinking back to the dream.  What did he forgot?  What was it, something about his hoof, there was something wrong with his hoof.

“OH!”

He had it.  The hood pony’s hoof had been covered in a bandage.  The more Trotter thought about he slowly remembered it wasn’t just his hoof.  His entire body had been covered in bandages.

Who was that?