Chapters Chronicles Of A Timelord - Volume 1 - An Unequestrian Stallion
"Now then... What about me?"
For The Doctor, a member of a race of beings known as Timelords, it was the most important question that could be contemplated as he awaited an answer from two fellow Timelords that were to be his judges for the crime of meddling with time itself. Admittedly, he had indeed spent a great deal of his time wandering across the vast plains of time and the many events it encompasses, but he had declared passionately that what he had done was for the greater good. His actions had always been within the interests of saving life and preventing strife.
"We have accepted your plea." One of his judges, a tall, imposing male with blonde hair and a blank expression replied. "That there is evil in the universe that must be fought, and that you still have a part to play in that battle."
The look of concern on The Doctor's face melted into one a relief, accompanied by a deep sigh.
"You mean... You're going to let me go free?" He enquired eagerly. However, he was greeted by the sight of his judges sharing a glance and an ominous smirk.
"Not entirely." The blonde stated. "We have noted your particular interest in the planet Earth. The frequency of your visits there must have given you special knowledge of that world and its problems."
"Yes, I suppose that's true." The Doctor said quietly, his eyes shifting uneasily as he began to try and interpret the deeper meaning of what was being hinted. "Earth seems more vulnerable than others, yes."
"For that reason, you shall be sent back to that planet."
"Oh, good."
"In exile." The judge finished, shattering all of The Doctor's hopes. "You will be sent to Earth in the twentieth century, and will remain there for as long as we deem proper. For that period, the secret of The TARDIS will be taken from you."
Scared and angry, The Doctor huffed as he processed what he was being punished with. His method of transport across the barriers of time, The Time And Relative Dimension In Space, was to be rendered useless to him and he was to be left on a planet that was not his own.
"But..." He stammered in protest. "You can't condemn me to exile... On one primitive planet in one century in time! Besides, I'm known on the Earth, it might be very awkward for me!"
"Your appearance has changed before, it can be changed again and that is part of the sentence."
"You can't just change what I look like without consulting me!" The Doctor thundered, only to be replied to in the same indifferent, almost condescending tone that had been maintained throughout the entire proceedings.
"You will have an opportunity to choose your appearance."
"Oh..." He breathed. "Well, that's not so bad, but I must warn you that I am very particular!"
"Here is your first choice." The judge stated while gesturing towards a screen that would show The Doctor what he was to become. Turning round, The Doctor was greeted by the image of a man that could only be described as decrepit, blessed with a snow white beard and not a single shred of hair gracing the top of his head.
"Oh, he's too old!" He exclaimed. After a few moments, the image changed to another choice. This time, it was a much younger face with a head of short brunette hair, however he had a very prominent double chin and chubby cheeks.
"Well, he's too fat, isn't he!?" He remarked with disgust and confusion at how the choices he was being given were proving to be most undesirable. The next image was of a man with a jawline that practically ended in a point.
"He's too thin!" The Doctor rebuked with a flourish of his hand, only to be confronted with the choice of a man that was similar to the ancient example he'd been presented with at the very beginning, but lacked the beard and had hair instead.
"That one's too young!" He lied, desperate to maintain his present appearance. "This is ridiculous!"
"You're wasting time, Doctor." His judge scolded with a hint of irritation. Defiant, The Doctor huffed in exasperation as he continued to protest.
"This is not my fault is it!?" He protested forcefully. "Is this the best you could do? I've never seen such an incredible bunch!"
"Since you refuse to take the decision, the decision will be taken for you."
"No, no, no, I never said that." The Doctor stammered in panic. "But I... But I maintain I have the right to decide what I look like! It could be very important on the Earth. People on Earth..."
Suddenly, The Doctor's speech began to become incoherent. His attempts to continue his protests created random sounds without any actual resemblance of speech. His view began to blur and darken as consciousness was sapped from him. Slowly, he began to become aware of a series of faces that were circling round him. Squinting, The Doctor was able to recognise the faces he saw as images of himself. Confusion set in as he struggled to comprehend what was occurring and why.
"What's hap..." He began to burble in fright." What's happened!?"
"The time has come for you to change your appearance, Doctor, and begin your exile."
"Is this some sort of joke!?" The Doctor spluttered as his mind continued to be more unable to maintain coherent thought. The hallucinations of himself continued to whirl round his head, mirroring the expressions of confusion and fear that were etched onto his face. Mere seconds passed before the sensation of nausea, comparable to that caused by the dizziness of being spun round rapidly, began to set in, disorienting him further.
"No, I... I refuse to be treated..." He began to protest but, after sensing something far worse was occurring, stopped. "What are you doing?"
The nausea and confusion intensified, forcing him to grip his head in a feeble attempt to try and mitigate the sensations that were unnerving and sickening him.
"No!" He cried out. "Stop! You're making me giddy! No! You can't do this to me!"
Breaking down, The Doctor began to repeat no over and over again in a vain attempt to stop the mental torture that was being afflicted. However, the sensations merely intensified. Unable to continue, he lost consciousness, his body still causing him to burble his cries for mercy from his fellow Timelords until all of his strength was spent. Silent, his body lay motionless as the judge that had sentenced him beckoned some attendants to carry him into his TARDIS.
"Ensure that he is comfortable and then dispatch his TARDIS to Earth." He ordered before leaving the attendants to complete their task. After placing The Doctor's lifeless form inside his transport, they began to operate the hexagonal console that controlled it, programming in the coordinates that would transport The Doctor to the right location and time to serve his sentence. Once they were finished, they abandoned him to his journey, his transport whirring into life as it dematerialised.
"Ma'am!" A Timelord tasked with observing The Doctor's journey into exile called out to his superior. "We have a problem."
"What's the problem?" She enquired while leaving her desk behind to see what the issue was. Upon arrival, she could see that the TARDIS, taking the shape of a British police box, was approaching a void, completely empty of light.
"He's approaching a charged vacuum emboitment." He explained while pointing at the black hole. "If he's caught by it, we'll lose him!"
"Then send coordinates that will cause his TARDIS to change course." She countered with an almost irritated tone at her subordinates lack of initiative.
"That's the problem, Ma'am." He countered. "It's not responding! All of my attempts to redirect his vessel have failed!"
Suddenly, the image of the police box began to distort as it was sucked into the emboitment. After a few moments, it had disappeared completely.
"He's gone."
"I'll... Inform the proper authorities." The supervisor remarked monotonously.
Author's Note
Just testing the water with this for my first fanfiction. Depending on the initial reaction, I'll continue this indefinitely, since it's a chronicle. It only stops when The Doctor dies, which has been shown to be incredibly hard to achieve.
Chronicles Of A Timelord - Volume 1 - An Unequestrian Stallion
"How is he, Doctor Horse?"
The voices sounded distant, like they were being carried as an echo through a vast mountain range. Groggy and disoriented, the patients eyes slowly began to flutter open. The sight that greeted him was a most peculiar one. Staring back at him were a pair of equine faces, one was male with glasses, brown mane and a light amber coat covered by a white doctor's jacket, shirt, tie and stethoscope. The second was a female with light green eyes, nurse's cap, pink coat and a light purple mane with white stripes.
"It's hard to be sure, Nurse Sweetheart." He replied thoughtfully, while flashing a small light into The Doctor's eyes to test the functionality of his cranial nerves. "I've never had a patient like this before. I don't believe anypony has!"
Sweetheart hummed in response while easing a thermometer into The Doctor's mouth. After a few brief moments, she removed it and reported the results.
"The best thing we can do is just observe and see if any other symptoms are presented to help us discover what is wrong with this pony." He remarked while trying to attract The Doctor's attention by moving his hoof from side to side in the patient's view. "Hello, sir! I am Doctor Horse and this is Nurse Sweetheart. Can you tell us how you're feeling?"
The Doctor's gaze drifting vacantly from one pony to the next. His mind was struggling to process what was occurring, but he could conclude that he was in some form of medical institution. After a minute of uneasy silence, he finally responded.
"Shoes."
"I beg your pardon?" Doctor Horse responded while looking over the top of his glasses in confusion at The Doctor's statement. Nurse Sweetheart frowned and placed her hoof against her cheek in concern.
"Shoes!" The Doctor repeated urgently before rolling over to try and look over the edge of the hospital bed he was lying in and see if they were on the floor. However, his actions were prevented by the intervention of the two physicians who gently forced him back into his original position.
"Now, now." Doctor Horse scolded lightly. "You're not well enough to get out of bed just yet, but if you wish to have your shoes, I am certain we can give you them. Nurse, do you know where his shoes are?"
Nurse Sweetheart nodded, her frown melting into a smile that accentuated her chubby cheeks. She trotted over to a nightstand by the bed, which was separated into two parts. A small drawer was available for trinkets, watches and other articles, while the rest of the nightstand was home to a larger, cupboard-like space for clothes and other big items that wouldn't fit in the drawer. After opening the cupboard area, she retrieved a pair of black leather shoes that were in a style perfect for being worn on humanoid feet, but useless for equine hooves.
"They are most peculiar, but these were on his hooves when we found him." She remarked while passing them to Doctor Horse. After glancing over them, he then held them out to The Doctor.
"Are these the shoes you wanted?" He enquired. The Doctor stared back at him blankly before swiftly snatching the shoes from him and hugging them close to his body. The frantic display made Nurse Sweetheart squeak in surprise and Doctor Horse's eyes widen at the overprotective behaviour being exhibited by his patient.
"Perhaps he may have suffered from some form of head trauma?" He mused as The Doctor rolled over to face away from his physicians. Nurse Sweetheart shrugged in response before following her superior out of the room into the corridor.
"Maybe we should ask for the pony who found him to come and visit?" She suggested. "Perhaps seeing her will make him more comfortable and allow us to speak to him?"
"It could work, plus it won't do any harm to him." He remarked while adjusting his glasses. "I know a neurologist in Canterlot who could take a look at him. After all, an extra opinion might help us, Nurse."
"Oh, indeed!" She replied enthusiastically. "I'll see about having Lyra come and visit, Doctor."
"I have no idea what's going on."
The Doctor's gaze wandered around the room, quietly absorbing his surroundings for him to analyse as he adjusted to the light, clinical green the room had been painted in. It looked pleasant enough, but he was still uneasy. He couldn't quite grasp what was precisely wrong, but he was convinced that there was an issue. Looking down at his dark cream hooves, he couldn't help but question if what he was using to hold his shoes close to him were what he was meant to possess. His unclear memories showed that he was meant to have a more agile limb with appendages growing from it to assist in grasping objects.
"Spindly things..." He murmured as he attempted to remember what this limb was. "Spindly... Long, but agile, holds things."
After a few moments of struggling, he gave up and shook his head vigorously to clear his mind. His focus then attached itself to his shoes. He wanted, if not needed, them for some reason, which compelled him to snatch them so fiercely from the doctor attending to him. Curiously, he grasped one of the shoes and looked at it more closely. They were old, the leather was creased and cracked and a brief sniff resulted in a rancid smell invading The Doctor's nostrils. Scrunching his face in disgust at the odour, he refrained from sniffing again and shook the shoe before throwing it across the room carelessly. He then picked up the last shoe and turned it over, resulting in it making a soft rattle. Eyes widening, The Doctor shook the shoe lightly, which caused a key to fall out of it and onto the bed.
Small, round headed and the word "Yale" engraved on it, it was a very dull looking artifact. The Doctor threw away the remaining shoe and picked up the key, turning it over to examine it for any other marks of interest before licking it tentatively. Greeted with a distinct and strong metallic taste, he wiped his tongue feverishly with his hooves to try and remove the taste that was assaulting his taste buds. Once the taste of metal had disappeared, he grasped the key tightly and held it close.
He was unsure why, but he had a deep affinity for the key that told him that he needed to protect the key with all his might. Remembering that he was under the care of unknown individuals, he looked around for somewhere to hide it, but a swift glance round the room yielded no places to conceal the key. Suddenly, an idea formed within him. Gulping with uncertainty, The Doctor opened his mouth and placed the key under his tongue, ensuring that it wouldn't contact his taste buds and inconvenience him with the unpleasant taste he'd experienced mere moments ago.
Happy that he had sufficiently concealed the key he needed to protect, he plumped up his pillows before resting his head on them. He felt exhausted and reasoned that since no harm had come to him yet, he could get some rest right now.
"What exactly do you want me to do with him, doctor?"
The aquamarine mare, blessed with a pale cyan and white striped mane and a lyre adorning her rump, was the subject of an urgent request by Doctor Horse. Since she was the one to discover the unknown stallion lying in one of the side streets of Ponyville beside a strange, tall, blue box in oversized and peculiar clothing, she was also the first point of contact given to the hospital staff when she brought him in. Now, she was being asked to act as some form of companion to an amnesiac she knew nothing about. Suffice to say, she wasn't keen on the idea.
"It isn't a task you're required to do, Lyra." Doctor Horse admitted. "However, we believe that since you were the first to encounter him, he might be inclined to be more open with you."
"You mean like some sort of spy?"
"No, not at all! Consider it more along the lines of being a carer."
Lyra tapped her chin in thought as she mulled over the offer. On the one hoof, she wasn't convinced that her presence would be of any help. On the other hoof, she was rather lonely at that moment. Normally, she'd have the company of her roommate, Bon Bon, however she had business to attend to in Canterlot and wasn't going to return home for a few days. Realising that the task would, at the very least, help with her loneliness, she nodded in acceptance.
"Thank you! You have no idea how grateful I am for your help."
"Not a problem, doctor." Lyra replied modestly as she followed Doctor Horse out of his office. After navigating the corridors to reach the patient's room, Doctor Horse knocked on the door lightly before entering with Lyra following behind him.
"Hello again!" He greeted. "I have a visitor for you."
The patient, a stallion with a white mane and a dark cream coat, was laying motionlessly in bed. Doctor Horse approached quietly and was about to gently poke his shoulder, but was cut off when the patient immediately sat up in bed defensively.
"Oh! I'm sorry if I startled you." Doctor Horse apologised and bowed his head slightly submissively. "I'd like to introduce you to Lyra Heartstrings. She was the mare that found you and brought you in for treatment."
Lyra blushed as she tapped the floor nervously due to the unknown stallion staring vacantly at her. After a moment of silence, she looked up to meet his gaze and waved.
"Hello."
The stallion blinked before slowly copying the gesture and waved back at her, eliciting a giggle in response.
"I'll leave the pair of you to get acquainted." Doctor Horse said while backing out of the room. Once he'd shut the door, the pair were on their own. Silence creeped in as the two ponies stared awkwardly at each other.
"So..." Lyra began uneasily. "How are you feeling?"
Seconds passed by and all that was gained was a blink. Lyra coughed slightly to try and dispel some of the awkwardness that had gathered, but upon realising that it wasn't working she walked over to a chair nearby and pushed to closer to the bed. Once it was in position, she sat down. She had a reputation for having a unique method of sitting on chairs and other objects. She chose to sit with her rump on the seat, her legs dangling over the edge and her back straight against the backrest. The reactions she had received for such a choice varied wildly, but for the most part other ponies were concerned that what she was doing was uncomfortable.
After adjusting herself to achieve a degree of comfort, she looked back at the patient. Greeting her view was the stallion staring at her posture with deep interest.
"Is there a problem with the way I sit?" She enquired with a hint of irritation. To her surprise, his response was a solemn shaking of his head.
"You don't mind it?" She asked eagerly. "Um... Do you perhaps sit like this too?"
Her heart leaped with joy when he nodded, but was then surprised when he opened his mouth and began to speak.
"Is it not the normal way to sit here?"
"No, it isn't." Lyra explained while sitting in the more common position to demonstrate. "This is how ponies usually sit, but I prefer my way."
Nodding, the patient lifted his bed sheets so that he could sit on the edge of the bed to face Lyra. Every second caused Lyra's smile to widen as she saw him sit in the exact same manner as herself.
"So..." She began happily. "You never answered my question about how you were feeling."
"Oh, that is a good question." He replied while rubbing his temple thoughtfully. "I feel confused. I feel very strange and I feel like I should know more than I do right now."
"Well, do you know your name?" Lyra asked gently. "No pony knows right now, do you?"
His gaze drifted to the floor as he began to search through his memories for an answer. Seconds turned into minutes before he finally looked up at Lyra and shook his head dejectedly.
"I don't." He replied. "Do you think you could help me find out?"
Lyra blinked. She wasn't entirely sure how to react to such a question. As far as her task went for Doctor Horse, she was pretty much done. He was clearly unable to recall any details regarding his identity, meaning her continued interaction with him was pointless. However, a feeling within her heart begged her to say yes. It was most likely due to the fact that he sat in the same manner as she did, but to her, such a gesture meant a lot. Lyra had been the subject of a number of strange looks when she sat and she'd done her best to ignore them, yet it still hurt to see that ponies couldn't just accept that she was just being herself. She saw a comrade in sitting in this amnesiac, a lousy excuse to continue spending time with him, but for her it was good enough.
"I will definitely try!" She chirped with a nod. "I was the pony who brought you here, so I guess that means I know a bit about you."
"And what do you know about me?"
"Well!" Lyra began while clapping her hooves together. "I was heading to Sugarcube Corner when I heard this strange whirring coming from one of the side streets in Ponyville. So, I had a look to see what was making it and found you laying beside this big, blue box thing."
"What happened then?"
"Well, I approached and tapped your shoulder to see if you were okay. When you didn't say anything, I thought something was really wrong and so I brought you here!"
"You carried me?"
"Nope, I levitated you!"
The patient blinked in surprise and shook his head in disbelief.
"You... Levitated me?"
Lyra nodded and then closed her eyes while her horn began to glow. The patient was surprised to find that he was no longer sat in the bed, he was now floating in mid-air, surrounded in a brightly coloured aura. He began to flail his hooves about to try and get back onto solid ground, causing Lyra to giggle.
"Don't worry!" She soothed. "I won't drop you! Levitation is a basic skill for any unicorn, silly!"
"If it's all the same to you, Miss." He replied uneasily. "I would rather that I am on the ground where I belong."
Lyra obeyed and lowered him to the ground. Once he landed, he looked down at his four hooves and began to lift each one up individually and then put them back down onto the floor tentatively.
"This doesn't feel right to me." He mused.
"What do you mean?"
"Standing like this with four limbs." He replied and began to walk forward in a haphazard manner. "It feels awkward and unnatural to me. It's as if I've never done this before."
Lyra tilted her head while tapping her chin in thought. Ideas regarding how much he'd forgotten began to whirl round her head, considering whether it was possible that a fully grown pony could forget how to walk. After making a mental note to ask Doctor Horse about such a possibility, she stood up and approached him to help by teaching the amnesiac how to walk.
Chronicles Of A Timelord - Volume 1 - An Unequestrian Stallion
"Total retrograde amnesia."
Lyra blinked at Doctor Horse. She had taken the opportunity to slip away and talk to him about her findings regarding the patient she'd volunteered to interact with, who was currently taking a brief nap. She tilted her head and frowned at him in an attempt to inform him in a subtle manner that he wasn't being clear. He was swift to notice her expression and nodded in understanding before continuing.
"It's a type of amnesia, typified by being incapable to remember anything that occurred before the event that caused the amnesia. In essence, he would be able to create new memories like anypony else, however he'd never be able to recall anything before until he recovers." He explained. "That is IF he recovers."
Frowning, Lyra looked down at the floor, imagining how horrible it would be if she forgot everything. Who she was, who her friends were, such a fate seemed more frightening than being swarmed by changelings.
"However!" He interjected to break her train of depressing thought. "In my experience, it's uncommon to have amnesia that effects so much. After all, amnesia can either prevent you recalling information before the event, prevent you creating memories after the event, and even affect what kind of information you forget or remember."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the most common form of information we think of when it comes to talking about amnesia is declarative or narrative. This is things like what you ate for breakfast this morning, when your birthday is or who is Princess Celestia. The other type is non-declarative, which is how to walk, how to talk or how to fly." He stated quietly while tapping his chin in thought. "Still, we've yet to find out what may have caused his memory problem."
"You don't know what's wrong yet?"
Doctor Horse shook his head in resignation. Sighing, Lyra paced the room, desperate to figure out how she could help the poor stallion regain his memories. After all, she had agreed to provide assistance and it just didn't feel right to abandon him just because the task might be difficult. Moments turned into minutes of silent contemplation, which was suddenly cut short by Lyra stamping her left hoof in frustration.
"We must do something, Doctor!" She declared. "He can't go around without his memories! What if he has a family? They would be worried sick right now!"
"Calm down, Lyra!" Doctor Horse soothed while giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "I wish I could tell you something to help you, but these kinds of problems are ones we can't give a medicine for. We'll just have to take care of him until he's physically well, his memories will return when they're ready."
"But, they might not return at all, right?"
Doctor Horse opened his mouth to disagree, but thought better of it. He closed his eyes and nodded solemnly, causing Lyra to sigh deeply before heading towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to check on him." She murmured. "There's nothing else to do right now."
"These hooves." The Doctor thought as he continued to practice walking. "They're so awkward."
"How's the practicing?"
He looked up to see Lyra in the doorway, watching him with a smile. The Doctor smiled back and nodded in greeting.
"They're... Strange." He replied. "I think I've already mentioned that, haven't I?"
Lyra giggled softly and nodded back. Trotting over to him, she bent down to readjust the positioning of his legs. Once that was done, she stood in front of him and cleared her throat.
"Okay, watch me." She told him. Once his gaze was fixed upon her, she began to slowly walk forward.
"See how I move?" She asked, gaining a nod from The Doctor. "Copy the same motion, one hoof in front of the other."
After another nod of understanding, The Doctor attempted to copy Lyra. One hoof began to move after the other, each gingerly landing on the ground with a soft clop. A few wobbles occurred, but he was slowly managing to travel short distances without any assistance. His tail flicked as he smiled with joy similar to a child receiving birthday presents.
"I can walk!" He proclaimed and clapped his fore-hooves together. "Thank you, Miss...?"
"Oh!" Lyra exclaimed in surprise. "How rude of me. My name is Lyra Heartstrings, and I'm guessing you're not aware of your name just yet?"
"Yes, I am rather fuzzy on everything at the moment." He replied with a sheepish grin. "Still, it's a pleasure to have had your assistance, my dear. Thank you once again."
"Not a problem! I'm just glad to have met another person with my... Um... Quirks."
"Oh, you mean the sitting thing." The Doctor interjected. "I wouldn't call it a quirk. I have the strangest feeling that it's actually the normal thing to do. However, you said it wasn't, which makes quite a dilemma, doesn't it?"
"I don't see how. Maybe you're just mistaken?"
"Maybe, but something as simple as sitting and walking. Are those abilities not practically part of the sub-conscious? Two incontrovertible facts colliding into a paradox. No, it must mean something more, Lyra."
Lyra looked on in confusion and slight shock. The Doctor's musings were completely alien to her and it appeared that he was beginning to rave almost maniacally. Her fear was soon dispelled when he whirled round to face her.
"I think a spot of food is in order." He stated and offered a hoof to Lyra. "Care to join me?"
Mouth agape, Lyra merely stared back at him in surprise at the sudden change of attitude. After a brief moment to recollect herself, she nodded subserviently and reached out to grasp his hoof.
"Wonderful!" The Doctor replied and gave Lyra a gentle tug towards him as a hint that he wanted her to follow him. He then released her and walked out of the room, Lyra blindly following him.
"You know, I hope the menu is good here." He remarked thoughtfully. "I feel truly famished. What about you?"
"Well, I... I guess I'm a little hungry." Lyra replied quietly. "Do you even know where to go for food?"
"Well, this is a hospital." The Doctor reasoned. "Hospitals need to feed their staff and their patients. Ergo, there must be a kitchen or cafeteria or somewhere that allows many the ability to eat."
"I meant where the cafeteria is."
"Oh." He replied passively, the realisation that knowing something exists and where it exists are two different matters finally dawning upon him. Lyra laughed and, while stood beside him, bumped her flank against his to rouse him from his musings regarding how to find their destination. His gaze looked up to meet hers and she smiled back to comfort him.
"Don't you worry though." She soothed. "I know where it is."
"Well, it seems that I am once more in your debt, Lyra, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
"Are you certain that this is even real food?"
Lyra rolled her eyes at The Doctor. They'd arrived at the cafeteria and she'd ordered him a light meal of a salad burger and hay fries. Her efforts were swiftly frustrated once he'd taken a bite of the fries and spat it out unceremoniously, clearly disgusted by the cuisine.
"Yes, Doctor." She reassured him. "This is perfectly good food!"
A solitary eyebrow raised as The Doctor looked back at her incredulously. His gaze then turned towards the burger and gave that an experimental nibble. After a few moments to chew, he satisfied himself that this, unlike the fries, was palatable and began to eat. Lyra was quick to join as she chewed on a mouthful of fries.
"Is it common for everyone to stare?" The Doctor asked, causing Lyra to look around her. The pair were sat in their unique manner, while the rest of the equines in the canteen glanced over at them occasionally, clearly curious about their choice of stance.
"You get used to it." She replied with a hint of sadness. "I know I did."
"I see." The Doctor said cautiously while meeting a couple of the glances he was getting with a dismissive-aggressive glare. The response he received was everyone swiftly looking away. Smirking, The Doctor then focused on eating his meal. However, the peace he'd acquired for himself and Lyra was swiftly broken by another pony joining them.
"Ah, nice to see you up and about." Doctor Horse remarked while setting a tray down beside them. "How are you feeling?"
"I do believe I'm feeling rather well, thank you." The Doctor replied. "Admittedly, my memory and basic life skills are lacking, but my physical health seems to be just fine."
"Yes, we didn't find anything physically wrong, which raises the question on how we are actually meant to help."
"Hmmmm... Mental health has always been a bit of a strange area of expertise." The Doctor mused in response. Silence fell, causing him to look up at Lyra and Horse. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's just..." Doctor Horse replied in surprise. "I didn't expect you to know."
"Well, I know some things. Not important things like my name, but some things. Like sitting, words, sentence structure and such."
"Do you think that you'll remember everything soon?"
"Well, if I don't I can always learn, can't I?" The Doctor said with a grin. "Just because I've forgotten everything once means I can have the adventure of learning it all again."
"I wish I had your optimism." Doctor Horse replied gravely. "I'm not sure how I'd feel if I was to lose every memory I've ever had."
"Well, be glad that you're not experiencing it." The Doctor replied comfortingly. "I'm sure losing your memory is rare and you'll probably never have to experience it."
Doctor Horse nodded thoughtfully, the logic being presented seemed reasonable to him. The trio settled down to eat their respective meals. Once they'd finished, The Doctor was first to speak.
"Where am I?"
Doctor Horse and Lyra looked up at him in surprise and disbelief, but they were quick to remember that they were speaking to an amnesiac and their gaze softened.
"Well, this is Ponyville Hospital in Equestria." Lyra explained.
"I see. You mentioned unicorns." The Doctor interjected while touching his forehead. "Yet I am not in possession of a horn and a number of the staff don't have one either. I assume there's more than one species?"
"That's correct. We are split into three distinct types. You're an earth pony, Lyra and I are unicorns and there are also pegasai, blessed with wings so they can fly. Our princesses are a mixture of all three." Doctor Horse replied. The Doctor nodded slowly as he absorbed the information and considered it.
"And when you say princesses. Do you mean that you are ruled by a king and queen?"
"We don't have a king or queen." Lyra countered. "We have two princesses that protect us; Princess Celestia and Cadance."
"Intriguing, fascinating even." The Doctor mused, hoof rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "A monarchy with no king or queen. A dual partnership of royal duty."
Doctor Horse tilted his head as he watched his patient think. A dilemma was presenting itself to him and he was unaware how he was meant to inform this stallion and Lyra of it. Knowing that they'd have to know eventually, it was better he told them now.
"There is something that the pair of you should know about." He began gravely. "Since there's nothing physically wrong with you and there's no practical treatment for your amnesia, we'll have no choice, but to discharge you."
"If you do that, you'll be kicking him out onto the streets!" Lyra protested. "He doesn't know where he lives or who he is. How are we meant to find his family, friends or partner if we know nothing about him!?"
"Sadly, the hospital can't help there and we need the beds for more urgent cases in need of treatment."
Lyra opened her mouth to protest further, but was stopped when The Doctor raised his hoof to silence her.
"I understand and I'll just have to find some accommodation elsewhere."
"But that's not fair! Where will you go!?" Lyra replied angrily. The Doctor merely shrugged, causing her jaw to drop. "How can you be so relaxed about this?"
"Well, what do you suggest I do?" He countered calmly. "Continue to occupy a bed which could be used by someone who has a serious illness?"
Lyra glared at him, her mind ticking over in an attempt to argue, but her mental search proved fruitless. She bashed her hoof against the table in frustration.
"Well, you can come and stay with me then!" She ranted, her nostrils flaring as she breathed heavily. "My roommate is away on a trip, you should be alright."
The Doctor smiled and patted her hoof to calm her. Lyra was briefly startled by the sudden contact, but blushed slightly after realising her outburst was hardly becoming of an adult. Coughing, her gaze fell to the floor in embarrassment.
"Calm yourself, Lyra." The Doctor soothed. "I appreciate the gesture, but you don't have to."
"No, I am sure of myself." She replied firmly. "You can stay with me. I'd be delighted to have someone's company while Bonbon is away."
"Well, if you're all agreed, then it solves that problem." Doctor Horse interjected. "I'm grateful that you're being so helpful, Lyra."
"It's no problem for me, I'm happy to help." Lyra replied.
"Doctor!"
"Yes?" The Doctor and Doctor Horse replied simultaneously to the nurse that had called out. Lyra and Horse then looked at The Doctor in surprise. The Doctor shared the same expression, clearly confused regarding why he'd responded instinctively to the call of doctor.
"I'm sorry." He apologised and looked down sadly. "I don't know why I did that."
"It's quite alright." Doctor Horse explained. "No harm's been done. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's clear someone needs me."
Lyra and The Doctor watched the physician vacate his seat and leave with the nurse. With the pair now alone, Lyra tapped The Doctor's shoulder to grab his attention.
"Now, before we head home." Lyra began. "I have a few rules to lay down."
Chronicles Of A Timelord - Volume 1 - An Unequestrian Stallion
Chapter 3 - Acclimatisation
The discussion regarding ground rules was swift and without confrontation. It was agreed between The Doctor and Lyra that he would not be permitted to be lazy. He would help keep the house clean and other menial chores, sharing the work with Lyra fairly. He had no issue with this and was eager to see his new surroundings. The trip from the hospital to his new home was brief and without incident. The pair were now on the threshold of entering, Lyra opening the door of the thatch roofed house to reveal a reasonably furnished interior. The layout was in a 3x1 layout with a ground and first floor. The pair were about to enter the middle sector, an entrance hall with the stairs included. The left had a kitchen-diner, the right possessed a reception room. Upstairs, the landing split into two bedrooms, one on either side.
"Welcome to my home," Lyra said with pride. "Kitchen's on the left, living room on the right. Upstairs is where the bedrooms are. Mine is on the right, you can borrow Bon Bon's on the left. However, don't touch anything other than the bed, It's her room and I doubt she'd like it if you were to go snooping around."
The Doctor stepped inside and took a moment to glance into the two adjoining rooms. He nodded appreciatively and sniffed in thought before turning towards Lyra.
"Yes, well..." He began quietly. "If it's all the same to you, I think I might sleep in the living room. I'd rather not become an intruder in your roommate's bedroom, if it's all the same to you. After all, it's the private sanctuary of the occupant. I'm not one to deprive someone of their privacy."
Lyra nodded in understanding before gesturing towards the living room. The Doctor nodded back in gratitude before entering and taking a seat on a couch by the fireplace. He was quickly joined by the mint green mare, who sat next to him. Silence fell, as they quietly waited for the other to break the ice.
"You wouldn't happen to have any reading material kicking around, would you?" The Doctor enquired. "I doubt spending your time staring at the walls is fun for you or your roommate."
"Oh!" Lyra exclaimed in a mixture of embarrassment and surprise. "I'm sorry. Let me get something for you. Is there anything in particular you'd like?"
"Well, I think anything you have on the history of Equestria would be a good start." The Doctor suggested politely. "No time like the present to begin relearning everything!"
Lyra hummed in agreement before scanning over the books that were being stored on a bookshelf nearby. The titles she could see were hardly what her guest desired. The vast majority were fictional titles, most adventures and mythology, a couple of romances and a few instructional books on baking. Huffing a little with disappointment, Lyra ran her hoof along the collection of lined up books, her gaze following it as she read each title individually. Happily, she was able to spot a book that was perfect for him to read. Her horn glowed as she levitated the book from the shelf and let it float over to The Doctor.
"Ah, thank you." He began before reading the title. His brow furrowed and then an eyebrow raising inquisitively with a hint of suspicion.
"Predictions & Prophecies?" He repeated. "This is a book on mythology?"
"Yes, but some of it is true, I think." Lyra countered uneasily. The Doctor stared back at her blankly before shrugging and opening the slightly dusty tome. Lyra watched as the stallion silently let his eyes blaze across the page. Mere seconds passed before he then flicked the page over.
"I thought you said you wanted to read it?" She asked with a hint of annoyance. "How could you even read a page that quickly without skipping parts?"
The Doctor tore his gaze away from the book and tapped his chin in thought.
"I'm not too sure." He replied. "I guess I must have been a librarian or some other academic before I lost my memory."
Lyra looked away as she turned the suggestion over in her mind. After satisfying herself that the idea was reasonable, she looked up to see her guest turning the book to the side and letting the pages blur by like a flick book. She tilted her head and raised her eyebrow, clearly questioning his current actions. Once he'd flicked through the final pages, he closed the book and placed it on the arm of the couch.
"Interesting read." He remarked. "Not sure on the mixture of legend and fact though. For example, the entry regarding 'The Mare In The Moon'. It says a number of things I'd like to ask about."
Lyra's eyes widened. Her recollection of that section of the book was that it was near the middle. Therefore, her guest must have been able to read it.
"Um... Well..." She began in disbelief while sitting back down. "W-What do you want to know?"
"Firstly, it said that there were two sisters that ruled together, the eldest being the one that raises the sun, while the youngest raised the moon." He enquired. "I've already seen that unicorns are capable of levitation, but is it actually possible for someone to be able to move something as large as the sun or moon?"
"Yes!" She confirmed. "Princess Celestia raises the sun and moon all by herself."
"Fascinating." He murmured. "Okay, so they are capable of moving celestial bodies. Next, it states that this younger sister was trapped within the moon. Is that actually true?"
"I doubt it." Lyra countered with a giggle. "I mean, the moon itself has a pattern on it that looks like a mare, but it couldn't be true! You said yourself that it was a mixture of fact and fiction."
"Yes, I did. Still, it's always best to be sure."
Lyra nodded. She was about to speak when someone knocked on the door. The Doctor looked towards the entrance and began to stand up, but Lyra gestured for him to remain seated. She stood up herself and answered the door. Glancing over at the newcomer, The Doctor was able to notice a nurse passing Lyra a package before nodding farewell and leaving. Lyra shut the door and returned to the living room, where she presented the package to him.
"It was the hospital." She explained. "We forgot to take your possessions when we left. These are yours."
"Oh, thank you." The Doctor replied as he took the package and opened it. He examined the contents closely, noticing that it contained his shoes, a bow tie, frock coat, socks and plaid trousers. Unsure of the functions of any of the garments, The Doctor began to examine each article individually. Lyra watched as he picked up the shirt and held it out in front of him, she tilted her head as curiosity overwhelmed her too. Gingerly, the stallion lifted the shirt over his head and let it slip over him. He discovered that it was far too large as it covered him from head to flank, the problem being compounded when he pulled his head through the opening at the top.
"You look a bit silly." Lyra remarked as she stifled a giggle. The Doctor looked over at her and waved, the sleeves dwarfing his legs and the excess material flailing around comically. He cracked a grin as he removed the garment and tossed it back onto the pile.
"Yes, these clothes seem to be far too large for me." He remarked as another visitor knocked on the door. Lyra abandoned him to continue messing with his belongings, while she answered the door. On the door step was a mare blessed with a cream coat, dark blue and pink mane with three wrapped sweets as her cutie mark. Lyra's eyes widened with joy as she threw herself at the mare with a delighted squee.
"Bon Bon!" She squealed while wrapping the surprised mare in a crushing embrace. "You're back!"
"Nice to see you too!" Bon Bon hissed as the air was crushed from her lungs. "I didn't need to be there as long as I thought!"
Lyra nuzzled her cheek happily before releasing her, allowing the dazed mare to breathe again.
"It's great to see you again!" She replied. "Which reminds me. I have someone here who's... Um... Staying with us for a little bit."
Bon Bon's expression melted into a frown.
"What?"
"It's nothing permanent." Lyra soothed. "He's only here for a few days."
"Okay," Bon Bon answered with an unsure nod. "Who is he?"
Lyra opened her mouth to answer before falling silent, realising that neither she nor her guest knew. She cleared her throat and gestured towards the living room.
"Well, why don't you meet him yourself? He's in the living room."
"I'll do that." Bon Bon replied as she trotted into the house towards the living room. Upon seeing The Doctor her mouth fell open in surprise. Her presence was quickly noticed by The Doctor, who stood up to greet her.
"Hello there," He began cheerfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss....?"
"B-Bon Bon."
"Ah, hello, Bon Bon!" The Doctor chirped. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Your roommate, Lyra, was gracious enough to let me sleep on your couch for a little while. I hope you don't mind, she's laid out some fair rules and I shall endeavour to do my bit round the home."
Bon Bon merely burbled in response, her surprise and disbelief paralysing her. Lyra was quick to notice and approached Bon Bon to assist her.
"Bon Bon, are you alright?" She enquired with worry. The sudden attention snapped Bon Bon out of her stupor.
"Y-Yes! I'm quite alright." She murmured. "I was just a bit surprised. I didn't think you'd be so generous. I-Is he a friend of yours?"
"I don't believe so." The Doctor interrupted. "At least, I can't remember. I'm having a bit of trouble with my memory at the moment and Lyra was helping me get back on my feet."
"Feet?"
The Doctor narrowed his eyes at the question. He was unsure why he'd used such a term, since he had no feet. He had equine hooves, yet he'd instinctively referred to them as feet.
"I'm sorry." He said forlornly. "My mistake. I'm still trying to 'pull myself together' one might say."
Bon Bon nodded slightly before turning towards Lyra.
"I've booked us in for an appointment at Carousel Boutique." Bon Bon informed Lyra. "With the Summer Sun Celebration being tomorrow, I thought it would be wise that we finalise arrangements with Rarity."
"Oh, of course!" Lyra chirped with excitement. "I almost forgot with spending time with him. When is the appointment?"
"About five minutes time." Bon Bon stated while looking at a clock above the fireplace. "We should probably get going."
"Going?" The Doctor asked with interest. "Going out somewhere?"
"Yes, we're going to a local dress maker." Bon Bon replied. "Are you sure you want to come with us?"
"Well, I..." The Doctor began thoughtfully while approaching the duo. "I don't see what the harm would be if I did. Plus, I'd like to see the sights while I'm here."
"Alright then."
"That's not the only thing." He added. "Lyra mentioned a blue box that I was found next to. I'd be much obliged if she'd show me it, if it's along the way, that is."
Lyra nodded energetically in response to The Doctor's request, while Bon Bon's expression became graver still. However, she was quick to hide it with a soft smile towards Lyra as she helped the mint green mare put on her saddlebags. Once the trio were prepared, they began to trek through the streets of Ponyville. The air was cool, while the sun gave a hint of warmth which made the ambient temperature hit the perfect balance. The streets were awash with fellow equines of all ages, types and genders going about their business, whether it be regarding preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration or mere day to day chores.
Once they'd passed the town centre, they saw a blue circular building with traces of pink thrown in, which contrasted with the other buildings that composed the dwellings of Ponyville, in the distance. Lyra cleared her throat, causing Bon Bon and The Doctor to look at her.
"Your box." She stated quietly. "I saw it this way."
Lyra veered away towards an alley, where she was swiftly followed by the others. The sunshine was swiftly blocked by the buildings they had slipped between, casting everything in shadow. However, the appearance of the aforementioned blue box was impossible to miss. Tall, cuboid in shape with a slightly pitched roof, it was dark blue with a lamp on top of the structure, a notice upon the door and a strip across the top stated that it was a 'Police Public Call Box'. The Doctor approached the box timidly, his hoof reaching out to touch it.
"What is it?" Lyra asked, causing The Doctor to jump in surprise.
"I don't know." He replied quietly. "But I'm going to find out. You two can continue heading to your appointment or you'll be late."
Lyra opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off by Bon Bon grabbing her shoulder softly and pulling her away. After a brief moment of pouting at Bon Bon, Lyra glanced back at The Doctor before finally leaving him alone. The Doctor spent a few moments examining the exterior, his hoof gliding over the panels to feel their wooden texture. Once he'd satisfied his curiosity, he opened his mouth to retrieve the key he'd kept there and let it slide into the lock. Taking a deep breath, he turned the door and wandered inside.
He was greeted by a soft humming emanating from a grey room, the walls covered in roundels, while the centre possessed a hexagonal structure with a vast array of buttons, switches and levers arranged on each side. Tentatively, he stepped closer towards the console and touched it, his hoof feeling each component with his eyes closed. The Doctor twitched slightly as he felt the fog of amnesia begin to dissipate. He remembered this room. He remembered what it was for, what this box was for. His expression melted into a soft smile as his eyes fluttered open once more.
"This is my Tardis," He whispered to himself. "And I am The Doctor."
