Doctor Whooves: The Sentaurans

Doctor Whooves: The Sentaurans

Chapter 5: The Doctor takes Marelin

The Doctor collected evidence of the Senturan Invasion that was to come, but he tried to take small things that were duplicates to minimize the chance they would be noticed off-hoof.  Fortunately, Sentaurans loved to have backup copies of their backup copies.  It seemed that all good wars crawled on their paperwork.  The Master, on the other hand, being a proper Time Lord, would not care about paperwork unless it directly concerned his plans.  That's what the Doctor was counting on.

He glanced at Gusty's War Party as they walked out of camp towards Marelin.  He had almost never seen a drunken Sontaran before, and wondered just how similar they might be to these Sentaurans.  Making a mental note to check on that once he was back in his right body and dimension, he gathered up his Assistants in Training and headed out.

"Hey Doc?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Yes?" he asked back.

"Should we all leave Gusty and Firefly here with all of these here Sentaurans?"

"Considering that they're really future Princesses of Equestria, I see little danger.  They also seem to be quite... fond of each other.  I'm sure they'll cover each others backs until we return from seeing the King's representatives."

"Hey Doc?" asked Scootaloo.

"Yes?" replied the Doctor.

"If this already happened, then should future Pinkie Pie and future Rainbow Dash already know what happened?"

"That is always possible," he mused back.

"Then why don't they just tell us what happened?"

"But where would the fun in that be?"

"Fun?" she asked as she cocked her head.

"Yes," he replied, "They both came back with us because the future was 'boring'.  Therefore, they have some reason to believe that the past was somehow... 'less boring'."

"Well, if they know what could happen, wouldn't it be in Pinkie Pie's nature to see what would happen if things were done... differently... then before?"

"I suppose that makes sense, but we don't really have time for that right now.  Besides, I'm not sure just how they would know about what happened before... unless they told their past selves what was going on..."

"Then they would know what was going to happen in the future."

"Neither of them seem to be the type to be good at keeping secrets.  Besides, I'm not sure when Pinkie would have had the time to leave the party to go see herself back in Ponyville."

"She all snuck into the TARDIS, and no one noticed even when we all was on Gallifrey."

"Well, that is true.  Perhaps we should speak to them when we return to Ponyville once this little mess has been dealt with."

So the four of them left the work camp and headed down the road towards Marelin.

...

Over at the Carousel Boutique, a mysterious unicorn mare opened the door and simply let herself in.  She looked about at the works in progress and how they were disturbed by less than careful hooves.  Under her cloak, it was difficult to see any solid details about her other than the off-white parts of her legs and nose that were showing.

"So they have been taken," she said under her breath, "It's time she knew what was happening."

She vanished in a flash of light, appearing in the back room of the Sugar Cube Corner.

"Howdy!" said Pinkie Pie, "Can I help you?"  She somehow did not seem to be surprised that a strange unicorn just happened to appear in a place she shouldn't be.

"No," replied the stranger, "But I know I can help you."

"Great!" she replied, "Because I have this rush order for a gross of..."

"No," said the stranger as she cut off Pinkie, "I can help you with something much more important.  Your friend Rarity and her new assistant Romanadvoratrelundar have been taken away... by a bad stallion.  You need to help the one called the Doctor to get them back.  They are in... danger."

"That's odd," replied Pinkie, "but my Pinkie Sense is telling me... that we're related.  Do you know my sisters?"

"Oh, we are related.  Distantly."

"For a second, I thought you were going to say you were my future Princess self come here to warn me about things I shouldn't know about yet because it might influence the future that's yet to be."

"Imaginative one, aren't you?"

"So I've been told."

"Unfortunately, I cannot remain long.  My partner is waiting for me to return.  She gets bored and lonely when I leave her alone too long.  I have to say I get lonely without her as well.  So I'll tell you what I know about Rarity and Romanadvoratrelundar, and then I shall take my leave."

"Well I can't leave until..."

"Oh, the cupcakes are done.  I'm sure they love the hoofenberry touch you added."

"Great!" replied Pinkie, "They weren't supposed to be done for another 30 minutes!  It almost seems like you used magic or something to get them done sooner!"

"I just... have a way with baked goods."

"What a coincidence!  So do I!"

"Oh, and I suggest you take Rainbow Dash with you.  You may well... require her assistance."

"Oh, I like Dashie!"

"Yes, you do both like pranks, don't you?"

"We do?!"

"Oh, you do indeed."

"Wow, you must be related to know us so well," mused Pinkie, "It's almost funny that I don't remember seeing you before."

"It is, isn't it?"

"So tell me how Rarity and Romanadvoratrelundar are in danger."

The mysterious unicorn leaned closer and began to whisper to Pinkie.  She nodded as she listened.

"Well as soon as I..." began Pinkie.

"I took the liberty of taking the cupcakes out of the oven for you while we talked."

"Good, then I can..."

"Oh, I already put the Nightmare Night decorations on for you."

"Wow, how did you know..."

"Oh, I saw the order when I came in here."

"But you teleported right in here..."

"Ancient unicorn secret, and I believe you'll find Dashie napping on a cloud just outside of Twilight Sparkle's library," replied the stranger with a wink before she teleported out of the room.

"Oh," said Pinkie, "I love secrets.  Well, I better go see Dashie right away."  She bounced out the door past the Cakes.

"Pinkie," said Mister Cake, "Aren't you going to take care of the..."

"Already finished!" she replied cheerfully.

"But how could you..." began Mrs Cake.

"Ancient unicorn secret!"

The Cakes watched her bounce out the door before Mister Cake said, "Pinkie's not a unicorn... is she?"

"I don't think she is," answered Mrs Cake, "How could we not notice something as obvious as a horn?"

"You're right, honey-buns," he replied, "Pinkie does seem to say... random things... doesn't she?"

...

"Now you should stay close to me," said the Doctor, "Marelin is a large city and it would be hard to find you should we become separated.  We need to alert the authorities as quickly as we can, and then get back to make sure that Gusty and Firefly are doing alright... or at least we should make sure that the Sentaurans that are partying with them are behaving themselves."

"Wow," said Apple Bloom, "I ain't never seen a city as old as this one looks."

"Well it is a whole lot older than Ponyville," agreed Sweetie Belle.

"Ponyville is already pretty dang old.  I mean, Granny Smith loves ta tell us all about how she was a filly when Ponyville was settled... and who all knows just how old she all is."

"Yet the ponies who settled Ponyville did come from somewhere else," said Scootaloo.

"I all reckons so."

"Do any of you know which of these buildings is the Palace of Marelin?" asked the Doctor.

The three fillies just shook their heads.

"Well, I'm sure just asking won't hurt anything," he replied as he headed for the nearest local.  He noticed it was an earth pony of tan hide, and much ado about white beards and mustaches.  "Excuse me, sir, but..."

"Uncle Apple Strudel?!" called out Apple Bloom.

"Apple Bloom?!" he called back, "What are you doing all the way out here?!  Where's the other kinfolk?!"

"Ah, I take it you know each other?" asked the Doctor.

"Well, course I do," replied Apple Bloom, "He shows up to... well... ALMOST every family reunion."

"And you're a resident of this city?"

"Well, I don't dress like this because it's fashionable!" exclaimed Strudel.  The Doctor looked over his green hat with tan feather, white shirt, green vest, broad green shorts showing an ice cream covered pastry and a few assorted decorations that looked like small red apples.

"I suppose not," he replied, "but Apple Bloom and I are seeking the advice of the King."

"What?" he asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, there is an issue..."

"Well, if you want something to get done, then you should go to the Germaneigh Council."

"Well, if you could tell us how to get..."

"Aw, it would be faster just to take you there myself!" said Strudel, "And besides, I haven't seen my little Apple Bloom in such a long time!"

"It was only half a year ago," replied Apple Bloom.

"Too younguns like you and geezers like me, that is forever!"

"Well," said the Doctor, "I would love to have you show us how to get to the Council.  Thank you."

"Now here's a stallion who knows how to respect his elders," said Strudel, "I can respect that."

"But the Doctor here is..."

"Oh, don't bore him," interrupted the Doctor, "I'm sure he has plenty of interesting things to say while we're going to see this Council he spoke of."

"Now let me tell you just how you make a great strudel.  First you start with the finest whole wheat flower you can get your hooves on.  Everyone knows the best pastries require hoofmade flour..."

...

Pinkie was bouncing around the Golden Oak Library as she called out, "Dashie!  Oh Dashie!"  She repeated herself over and over until finally a bleary eyed Rainbow Dash came down to meet her.

"What's so important?" she asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "Can't you see I'm doing important weather surveying?"

"Yes, I'm sure the weather in your eyes is just peachy!" she said, "But I have a need of your awesome help!"

"Me?" she asked, "Why me?"

"Some mysterious unicorn mare told me just a little while ago that some big meanie of a stallion kidnapped Rarity and Miss Romanadvoratrelundar!"

"Who the hay is that?"

"You know, the unicorn who does the tailoring with the three diamonds are her..."

"No, I mean Romanadvoratrelundar!  Who the hay is that?!"

"Oh, that's Miss Rarity's new design partner, but that's not important right now!"

"So what is so important?"

"She told me where to find them before she teleported out!"

"If she can teleport, then what does she need us for?"

"Well she's OBVIOUSLY not as awesome as we are, so of course WE have to rescue one of OUR friends!"

"And how do you know she's not pranking us?"

"Because my Pinkie Sense told me she was telling the truth!"

"All right," said Dash, "So just how are we supposed to save them?"

"Well, she said to head in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres and look for a bunch of stallions that all look alike!"

"Uh-huh..."

"And then she said following them will lead us to the hollow rock!"

"Uh-huh..."

"We just have to watch them to see how we get in!"

"Uh-huh..."

"And then she said to beware of the stallion that looks different among those who look alike!"

"Uh-huh..."

"Then all we have to do is save our mares from all of those stallions!"

"Oh yeah, how could it be simpler than that?"

"SO LET'S GO ALREADY!!"

The two began to walk towards the road to Sweet Apple Acres as Twilight looked out her upper balcony window at them.

"I wonder what they're up to this time?" she asked after Pinkie's calls disturbed her reading.

...

"And that's how you make the best Apple Studel ever!" concluded Apple Strudel as they stopped before a large and important looking government building.

"Maybe I can get my cutie mark in baking!" exclaimed Apple Bloom.

"A bunch of Apples did it before you," he replied, "So I wouldn't be surprised if your got yours that way too."

"I take it we're here?" asked the Doctor.

"Why yes we are, youngun," replied Strudel as he looked to the Doctor, "Now just you follow my lead.  I know ponies who know ponies who know ponies.  The Apple name carries weight around here.  I'll have you talking to the Council before you know it."

"I wonder if it's too late to be adopted," mused Scootaloo quietly, but apparently no one else heard her or was willing to admit that they had heard her.

They walked in and approached a door guarded by four spear armed stallions.  They were obviously wearing uniforms, and they were standing at attention.

"Hey fellas," said Strudel, "I kinda need a few minutes of the Council's time for something mighty important!"

"Uncle Strudel!" said one of the Guards, "How are you?"

"I'm still kickin," he replied.

"Are these your friends?"

"Well, this one here is little Apple Bloom all the way from Ponyville!" he said as he rubbed her head with one hoof, "And these here are... uh..."

"I am called the Doctor," said the Doctor, "and these are Apple Bloom's dear friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo."

"But Marelin has a whole lot of Doctors," replied the guard.

"But this all is THE Doctor!" exclaimed Apple Bloom.

"Well, no one is sick here..."

"Oh, there will be more than sick ponies if this growing problem is not addressed soon," replied the Doctor, "That is why it is the utmost urgency that we speak to the Council as soon as we can."

The guards paused to whisper to each other.

"All right," said the first who spoke to them, "But you better be serious.  We could get in a lot of trouble if you just go in there and waste the Council's time."

"We won't, will be Apple Strudel?"

"Yeah," he replied, "I'm sure my little Apple Bloom wouldn't bother ponies from outside her kin for some little issue."

The guards opened the door to let them in.  As there was no announcement, the members of the Council were looking towards the doorway with curious expressions on their faces.

"Good evening!" said the Doctor, "I am known as the Doctor, and I'm here to warn you that war is on it's way to Germaneigh even as we speak."

There was a collective gasp from the Councilponies.