All's Fair in Love and War

The Doctor rushed to his TARDIS as fast as his hooves could carry him. Something horrible had happened – and it was his job to fix it. But it meant facing something that he was hoping he’d never have to face.

He slammed through the doors of his home. Derpy looked up at him with a startled expression, her bad eye drifting off elsewhere. He was panting heavily, and she gave him a confused look, “Something wrong, Doctor?”

He bit his lip. He had no choice now but to explain what happened. He sat his companion down on the couch, and held her hoof in his. “Listen… I have some very grave news, love.”

She cocked her head, she didn’t like where this was going. Based on the look in his eye. She knew this was serious “W-what is it?”

“There’s been a temporal tear. It’s a sort of… rip in the time-space fabric. I have to go fix it -  or else. It could mean the end of the universe, as we know it. It’s very complicated to explain, but I have to leave as soon as possible. I’m going to have to go… for a very long time.”

Derpy’s ears dropped. “What do you mean?”

He swallowed, “You see, my dear, time is relative, so when I’m near the temporal tear, every hour that passes for me could be years for you.”

“Is it dangerous, a-are you going to be okay?”

“I don’t know, Derpy.”

Her eyes welled up with tears. He quickly got up and went to his nightstand, opening the bottom drawer. Derpy cocked her head, “W-what are you doing?”

He pulled out a long necklace with a key on the end of it. He walked over to his companion, holding it up in front of him, “Here,” He placed it around her neck, “I made this for you. It’s the one and only other key to the TARDIS. I’ve kept it for a situation exactly like this. I want you to have it.” Derpy held the key in her hoof, it was just like any other key, but had a particularly unique glint to it. The Doctor leaned down and added, “It also opens a certain special box. You know the one. The one I never let you looked in. It has special surprise for you.”

The pegasus jumped up and hugged him. And for a moment, they were both smiling. But he pulled away form her, and began to get off the couch and walk away towards the blue phone booth. Derpy’s eyes widened and she hopped out of her seat, running towards him, “Wait!”

He turned and stopped her, putting a hoof on her shoulder, “I have to leave now… I’m so sorry.” The Doctor reached out and pulled her into a strong embrace. He felt the young mare’s tears fall onto his fur. He gently wiped them away with his hoof. “No, please, don’t cry…”

“Take me with you!” The Doctor was taken aback by this, “I’ve proven to you I can be useful, haven’t I? Why can’t I help?”

The stallion looked away form her, trying to hide the tears welling up in his eyes. “No, Derpy. You can’t come. I’m sorry, it’s just that –“

“What? It’s just what?”

“I can’t possibly stand to see you hurt!”

Derpy recoiled at his sudden outburst. He couldn’t help it now; the tears were starting escaping his eyes. He grimaced, “I’m sorry. It’s just too dangerous. If I took you and you got hurt – or even killed – I would never forgive myself.”

Derpy looked down and they sat in silence for several long moments, “Will you come back?”

“…” The Doctor refused to make eye contact with his dear companion.

She took a step forward, lifting up his chin with her hoof, “I love you…”

“I love you too.”