The Mane Six Militia and The Shadow of a Phantom

Derpy sat atop a hill right outside of camp, having finished cleaning the mess from dinner. Her thoughts wondered as she stared upon the sky, hopelessly wishing her time lord would come and save her from this place. She knew he wouldn't, though.

Flashback

    "Wait what? No you, you can't leave, you can't leave me here." Derpy started to sob having heard those words she had feared for so long.

    "Ditzy, I'm sorry. If I take you from Equestria now or if I stay, it will dramatically alter the future, and disrupt this dimensions universe. Its possible it will tear a whole in time and space." The doctor began to tear up himself.

    "But doctor, I-I don't understand. "Why? We've traveled together for a long time and nothing bad has ever happened because of it." She argued.

    "I know ditzy, I know. You've never had such a big role in a major event before now." The doctor tried to explain.

    "What do I have to do with this war that's supposed to start months from now?"

    "I do not know. All I know is you play a vital role in Equestria's future." The Doctor was upset himself that he could offer no more of an explanation.

    "W-will I ever see you again?"

    The question crushed the doctors heart. "No, by the time this war has ended it will have been years and years in the tardus. I can't promise I'd be back, where I'll be or when I'll be. I'm afraid I must say goodbye." Finally the doctor's floodgates broke and he himself started to cry.

    "You can't."

   "Ditzy I have to."

    "Your one of the few ponies that have accepted me for who I am. You've saved me more times than I can count. I can't lose you. Please Doctor." She knew not why she pursued this futile attempt at convincing the doctor to stay or take her with him. Once he made his mind up, that was it.

    "I'm sorry Ditzy." The doctor replied simply. "I'm only leaving because I care."

    Derpy fell to the ground and covered her eyes. Tears streamed  over her cheeks and muzzle. The docter lay down beside her, nuzzling her neck which seemed to calm her down a bit. "Doctor, I know your doing this for the better, I just wish there was another way."

    "I do to Ditzy. I don't have much time left in Equestria however. I need to get going." He replied with grief.

    "O-okay, just promise you won't forget me."

    "Ditzy no-on, I mean nopony could ever forget you." He stood up on his hooves and Ditzy followed suit, walking with him over to the tardus. The doors opened as the doctor got close and he stepped inside. He turned to see Ditzy one last time. "Goodbye Ditzy Doo."

    "G-goodbye Doctor. I'll never forget you."

    The doctor was about to close the doors when Ditzy stopped him by blocking the door with her hoof. "Ditzy?"

    "Avante." She whispered.

    "Upwards and onwards." He smiled, the gesture nearly broke his heart. He wanted so badly to kiss her, to tell Ditzy that he loves her, but he knew that it would only make this harder on her. So he just smiled. He hoped that one day, she'd find a pony to make her as happy as he himself had, even if it meant Ditzy forgetting him and loving another.

    With this she allowed the door to close, forever taking her doctor away. Soon after the whirring began as the tartus faded in and out of existence. She watched until she could no longer hear the whirring and the tartus faded out its last time in Equestria. She let her head hang low as she turned to make her way back to Ponyville. That's when she noticed the key was still tied to her pony tale. 'He never took it back.'

    To this day the key never left her side, either around her neck or tied in her hair it stayed for 16 months now.

    She began to toy with it. "I miss you." She told the sky, hoping that somehow the doctor could hear her.

/Back at Dash/Shy's hut\

     It was one of those rare occasions that Rarity, Apple jack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were together other than breakfast. They sat together in a circle, picking at one another and sharing laughs.

    "Well excuse me for being polite. It is only custom to clean your hooves before walking into somepony's home. " Rarity snapped.

    "Rares, you wiped your hooves outside, only to walk in the dirt inside." Apple Jack challenged.

    "There is no need to drag anymore in then, is there?" Rarity replied.

    AppleJack put her head into her hooves. "There's no arguin with a drama queen." She said to herself.

    "Excuse me? What was that" Rarity snorted.

    "Oh nothing sugar cube." Apple Jack replied. "Just thinkin aloud is all."

    The other three giggled at this and Rarity stuck her chin up. "Hmph."

    "I swear, you two argue like your married." Dash chipped in.

     "Oh I'm sorry Ego Dash, are you to cool to listen to us?" Rarity went on the offensive.

    "What do you mean, Ego Dash. I don't have an ego." Dash exclaimed.

    This time the laughter was directed to her. Even Shy herself began to crack up.

    "What's so funny? I'm serious."

    "What ever helps ya'll sleep tonight Dash." Apple Jack replied and Dash huffed.

    "Shy, I don't know what your laughing at, your barely over the fear of your own shadow."

    "For somepony afraid of her shadow I seem to handle you well enough." Shy shot back and the group let out a series of ohhhh's while Shy hid behind her bangs, realizing that she had just spoken aloud.

    "Lets not forget Pinkie with the sweet tooth. Ya know, since we have gotten out here ah think you lost a few pounds seeing as y'all no longer able to eat cup cakes all the time. Ah can tell you right now its all going to your flank." Apple jack exclaimed.

    "Hey are you saying I have a fat flank?" Pinkie narrowed her eyes at Apple Jack.

    "Nah ahm just thinkin you could lay off them sweets for a while is all." Apple jack chuckled.

    "Well, well uhhh... Shut up." She huffed and crossed her forhooves fueling Applejack's laughter.

    "Well, ah believe its about that time, Have to be up with the sun." Applejack said just before yawning. "Plus ah don't want to leave Sweetie and Applebloom alone to long. Ya comin Rares?"

    "I suppose I must. I will see you all tomorrow."

    "Alright bye guys." Dash replied.

    AppleJack and Rarity left Dash's hut and started in the direction of the farm. "How has AppleBloom been lately?"

    "Ah suppose she been doin fine. She still won't really talk to any pony in the camp besides Sweetie and well, us of course." AppleJack explained.

    "You must understand darling, she simply just does not know any of the other fillies or colts. Sweetie has been the same way." Rarity replied.

    "Ah know ah know, its been over a year now. I don't want her to grow up bein afraid of other ponies because of the war."

    "AppleJack they are old enough to understand the difference between good and bad. They are just seeking comfort from one another. I believe it reminds them of better times, if I am not mistaken." Rarity would be lieng if she were to say she was not at all concerned but she was more than willing to give the two friends the benefit of the doubt.

    "Ah just wish they didn't have to go through this. We never had to worry about such things. Ah feel like a bad sister." Applejack told her, letting her head hang low.

    "AppleJack, were not even that old ourselves. Do not be so hard on yourself, you are a better sister than most."

    "Thanks Rares. Ah really appreciate it." Applejack replied.

    The next few minutes the two walked in silence until they got to the farm. Applejack and Rarity walked into her hut but saw no sign of the two fillies. "Where are they?" Rarity exclaimed.

    "Calm down Rares, they probably in the barn." Applejack explained. "Come on."

    The barn doors were shut, which was strange to Applejack. She normally closed the doors before sun-set but she had not been there to close it. 'Maybe AppleBloom took care of it for me.' She thought.

    AppleJack pulled the door open just enough to slip through. She didn't get half way in before backing out quickly and closing the door, standing between it and Rarity, her eyes closed and her muzzle scrunched in disgust. "You'll never believe what ah just saw."

    "What, are they okay?" Rarity asked alarmed.

    "Oh they're more than okay." Applejack replied leaving Rarity confused.