Doctor Who adventures: Season 1, episode 1, Pink

Everfree Forrest Clearing

*CLACK* *CLACK* "UGH. BREAK DAMN YOU!" *CLACK* *CLACK* "AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH" A stone was sent hurling and shattered against a tree, adding to the pile at the base.

Panting, Eileen Scanned the area. "You're stuck." That loathsome voice mocked her from the back of her mind.

"Back with us, I see." Eileen practically growled. "Aren't you a bit too nonchalant about this?" She picked up another rock and started banging at the ring again.

*CLACK* *CLACK* Nothing. The ring didn't even have a scratch. Screaming, she threw the rock at the same tree. "I WILL NOT STARVE IN THIS BODY!"

"AAARRRRGGGGHHH" The scream sent every single creature scattering. High Flyer could sense her panic. However, deciding not to poke the bear anymore, he elected to stay silent.

Her eyes darted left to right, scanning the area, as if something there could help. "That damned, loathsome dog Celestia"*GASP*

"Celestia. She'd know how to remove this. I'll make her take this off."

"HA"

"What exactly is so funny"

"Princess Celestia has lived for centuries. She sealed Nightmare Moon. She defeated Discord. She imprisoned King Sombra. She sent Tirek to Tartarus. You don't stand a chance.

"You do realize I don't know who either of those is. No matter. I may not be able to hurt her physically, but everyone has something they care about."

Though nobody was around to see it, a grin came across her muzzle as she looked to the castle on the side of the mountain.

**********

Outskirts of Ponyville

"DOCTOR!" The two Alicorns shouted in unison. A surprised Doctor found himself caught in a crushing embrace. "IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

The Doctor gasped for air as he struggled to break free. Panicking, Pinkie ran up and managed to pry the princesses off of him. They looked at her indignantly before they realized The Doctor's condition. Celestia was the first to speak. "What's wrong with him?"

Pinkie filled them in on everything that had happened since the Doctor had arrived, with each word the light of comprehension began to grow brighter in their eyes. It was Luna's turn to speak up. "So he had never seen a pony before?"

"I wouldn't say that. But he was surprised I could talk." Pinkie looked like she was going to continue until…

*Ahem*" HE is standing right here" The Doctor sounded more amused than annoyed. "Look. I'm a time traveler. I don't always meet peopl-eerr-ponies in the right order."

Luna and Celestia couldn't help the disappointed looks on their faces as they nodded. "We understand", Celestia sighed.

"It's just.....hard." Luna stepped forward, ears drooping.

The Doctor lay a hand on each of their heads, "I understand, and I look forward to developing those memories. But it hasn't happened for me yet so, how about we introduce ourselves."

"Ahem." Celestia cleared her throat. "Yes, let’s."

**********

The walk to the castle passed fast as they lost themselves in their introductions. They arrived to find a purple alicorn waiting for them at the door. She seemed to be looking around for something, her eyes widened. "Princess Celestia! I came as soon as I heard. What's lande...", Twilight trailed off as her eyes landed on The Doctor. "A HUMAN? But when did he come through the mirror?"

Spike cut her off, "If he came through the mirror then he'd be a pony. But that's not important right now."

"Spike is right. Something has happened." Celestia stepped forward. "But first, let's get inside. Best not to cause a panic." She turned to Silverstrike. "Round up the guards and tell them to keep everypony indoors." Silverstrike saluted and galloped off.

Celestia turned to the group and motioned a hoof inside. "Shall we."

**********

Castle of Friendship

"....and you're all caught up." Twilight's jaw was practically on the floor.

"YOU'RE THE DOCTOR. I've read all about you. You're a living legend.” The Doctor stared bewildered.

“I have so much I want to ask you, but I guess you don’t have the answers.” Twilight’s ears drooped dejectedly.

“I’m sorry.” He pet her head and turned to Pinkie.

“Now.” He clapped his hands together. “Let me clear one misconception you two seem to have.”

Pinkie and Spike cocked their heads.

“I’m not human. I’m a time lord.”

“A what.”

The Doctor averted his eyes and seemed to visibly deflate. “I’m sorry but…could we not talk about this.” He looked back to them and gave what Pinkie presumed was supposed to be a reassuring smile.

Pinkie and Spike, both recognizing that it was a sore subject nodded understanding.

Celestia cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt but, isn’t there something more important we need to be focused on.” She gestured a hoof toward Emerald.

Emerald raised an eyebrow, “I don’t appreciate being talked about like I’m not here. If you want to say something ” Her statement prompted a snicker from the scrawny earth pony sitting in the corner.

Celestia shot him a look that said, ‘not the time’, before turning a softer look toward Emerald. “Of course dear, I’m sorry about your husband.”

“High can take care of himself, I’m more interested in killing that thing infecting him.” The zebra’s voice grew more and more passionate. “I’m going to tear its throat out for laying a finger on him….assuming it has a throat…..or fingers.”

Every jaw in the room was on the floor, but The Doctor had a complicated look on his face. The silence lasted a few more seconds but, slowly, The Doctor spoke.

“I had a friend who once thought as you did, an eye for an eye, that line of thinking corrupted him and turned him into a monster.” The Doctor’s voice was low as if the mere memory was painful, but it carried to every ear in the room.

Emerald narrowed her eyes and raised her voice. “SO YOU’RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE THAT THING INSIDE MY HUSBAND.”

The Doctor stood up so that he towered over her. His voice was stern, but he never raised his voice. “Don’t raise your voice with me.” Emerald looked like she wanted to say something but she backed down, ears pinned back in anger.

“Now.” He knelt to her level. “I will help as much as I can to get your husband back, but I will not help you kill.” He stood back up. “We must give it a choice first.”

He put the next question to the room. “What do we know about this creature so far.”

It was Luna who piped up. “All we know for sure is that it is controlling Mr. Flyer.” She leaned forward. “And that it came down not long before you did.” She chuckled dryly. “One day we’ll see you, and something won’t be trying to kill us.”

“Do you remember anything before your regeneration?” Celestia put this question to The Doctor. When he looked away, she walked up to him. Coming to eye level with him, she lay a comforting hoof on his arm. “I know it may be painful but, it may be important.”

He sighed. “I was trying not to speak of this but..” He sat back down next to Twilight. “I had just sent Gallifrey, my home, back into the Time War…” The Doctor visibly winced has recounted the events that had led up to his regeneration. When he was finished, everyone in the room had their eyes downcast. Even Emerald, who until now had been glaring daggers at him, looked upon him with wet eyes.

Celestia was the first to speak. “Thank you, I’m sorry for pressuring you.”

The Doctor gave a half-hearted smile, eyes downcast.

Celestia took her place next to Luna again. “Sister.” Luna turned to Celestia with an accusing glare. “How does this help us. You’ve forced him to relive painful memories and for what? We’re no closer to figuring out what this thing is, what it wants or where it comes from.”

Celestia did not flinch at her sister’s words, but the look in her eyes told Pinkie that she agreed. Twilight piped up. “Princess.” Celestia motioned for her to continue. “Do you remember Starswirl’s book, the one with the spell you had me complete?”

“The one that gave you your wings? Yes, I remember it. But I don’t see how that…..” *Gasp* Celestia’s eyes widened with worry. “You can’t be serious.”

“Mind filling the rest of us in.” Spike tapped his foot impatiently, expressing the thoughts of everyone in the room. Except for The Doctor, who continued to stare at the floor with an unreadable expression.

“Ah, I’m sorry.” Twilight turned her attention to the room.

“You see. Starswirl created many of the spells we unicorns take for granted today.” She paused to make sure everyone was on the same page. “Some spells, though, he kept secret. Only jotting them down in his journals, many lost now, but some like that book give us glimpses at spells he began developing but never finished. One such spell was an invisibility spell.”

Luna leaned forward. “You don’t propose one of us spy on this creature, do you?”

“I do,” Twilight spoke matter-of-factly.

Celestia, worry evident on her face, shot up. “Twilight. You can’t be serious. A lot of Starswirls spells were erratic and unpredictable, even the complete ones. I can’t imagine casting one of his incomplete spells.” Celestia was pleading.

“Princess, I haven’t been idle these past few months. I’ve been working to complete some of those spells. The invisibility spell is difficult though, I can only cast it once. We will have to select somepony here.”

Celestia looked frantically to Luna, clearly hoping she would object. Luna met her look with a sigh. “I’m sorry sister. But it’s the best plan we’ve got. We don’t know enough about this creature.”

Celestia was becoming visibly desperate. “That may be true but…we still don’t know where it is.”

The Doctor chose this moment to look up from the floor. “Don’t worry about that.”

“What was that,” Celestia growled, anger replacing desperation. “SOME CREATURE IS OUT THERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ONE OF MY SUBJECTS. WE DON’T KNOW WHERE IT IS OR WHAT IT WANTS, AND NOW I’M EXPECTED TO LET ANOTHER ONE OF MY SUBJECTS BE SUBJECTED TO EXPERIMENTAL MAGIC THAT COULD VERY WELL KILL THEM. AND YOU TELL ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT! Celestia was panting by the time she was finished. Everyone in the room was silent. Everyone except…

“Are you done?” The Doctor’s voice was low. Receiving a glare from Celestia, he continued. “Like I was trying to say. From what you told me transpired at the house, the enemy is desperate. It will make a move soon enough. We will know then.”