Son of Sombra

The Doctor looked straight at Rarity and said “Lock Light and I were fighting an Ursa Major on the outskirts of Ponyville. I was testing a new device called an M.W.G. or Micro Wormhole Generator. In fact, it was the same one we used on the Ipopony earlier today.”

“Then why didn’t I feel any of the affects?” Rarity quizzed.

“Because this version was more fine tuned than the last. The wormhole actually had a little side effect, any unicorn within an undetermined radius was pulled towards it. It used Lock Light’s magic for the final blow to banish monsters to deep space.”

“So you killed all of those creatures?” Fluttershy asked again shuttering.

“Like I said earlier,” the Doctor said “if you’d known who’d sent them, you wouldn’t want to get to know them. They’re nothing but evil.”

“So you’re saying,” Rarity said “that it was YOUR machine which dragged me ALL the way to that stupid rock!”

“In a simple way,” the Doctor responded “yes.”

“So what you’re saying is,” Rainbow Dash said haughtily “is that without you and Lock Light, none of us really would have had our cutie marks?”

“Oh,” the Doctor said “I’m not saying that at all. You would have found them eventually, I’m just suggesting that you wouldn’t’ve found them in the manner in which you did, and they may have been different cutie marks all together.”

“I think I understand,” Twilight said “you didn’t actually MEAN to set out to help us find our cutie marks, because that would have been too risky, and you didn’t even know that we would have found our cutie marks, but you were just at the right place and at the right time so that all of these events could be triggered when they did. They were simultaneous events, but you actually weren’t planning to do it, everything just fell into place.”

“Exactly,” the Doctor said turning to Twilight “you’re a clever one aren’t you.”

“So,” Applejack said “when do we actually get to meet him?”

“That might be a little difficult to arrange,” the Doctor said “I...”

“Wait a second!” Pinkie Pie interrupted.

“What Pinkie?” Twilight asked

“Isn’t tonight Nightmare Night?”

“Yes,” Twilight said “but I don’t see…”

“What a perfect opportunity,” she said “everyone will be so distracted, that they won’t be even remotely paying attention to when we actually meet him…I mean, he doesn’t strike me as kind of a crowd’s type pony.”

“That’s a good idea Pinkie,” Twilight said “what do you think Doctor?”

“Splendid,” the Doctor said “I’ll send him a message.”

On the evening of Nightmare Night, they were all gathered on the outskirts of Ponyville. The Doctor paced back and forth, he was alone. He had told the others to wait and hide and come out when he told them too. But Lock Light was late, he should have been there by now. As if on cue, a flutter of wings was heard and Lock Light landed gracefully next to him.

Panting slightly he said “What’s up Doc?”

“Very funny,” the Doctor said “all you need is a carrot, buck teeth, and longer ears.”

“Sorry?”

“Oh,” the Doctor said “you wouldn’t get that reference.”

Suddenly, a party cannon fired from out of nowhere, showering confetti all over the place and nearly giving Lock Light a heart attack. Pinkie sprung up as the cannon fired and shouted “Hello!”

Recovering from having fallen to the ground in shock, Lock Light glared slightly at the Doctor “You told me there wouldn’t be anybody here.”

“And you told me you were going to have fun for one night in your life,” the Doctor retorted “Lock Light, I want you to meet the ponies you’ve been helping.”

The rest stepped out from the bushes and walked toward him, he braced himself wings flared ready to fly at a moment’s notice.

“It’s okay Lock Light,” Twilight said “you don’t have to be afraid.”

“Sorry Twilight,” he said “with my experience, it’s best not to trust appearances.”

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash said “you know us already.”

“Consider this a formal introduction,” the Doctor said “and believe me Rainbow Dash, with what Lock Light and I have seen, his mistrust is completely understandable.”

Taking a breath he continued “Lock Light, I’d like you to meet Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, of course you’ve already met Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and…Applejack.”

Upon seeing Applejack he lowered his wings slightly but still kept a weary eye on all of them. In his own mind, he was going over the best tactics for the situation should he escape, looking at their strengths and weaknesses. There were a tense couple of moments, but then Applejack walked up to him and reached out a hoof. For one of the first times that her friends have ever seen, she looked bashful, and said “I…I wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve done around the farm. I’m sure we would have lost it a long time ago if it wasn’t for you.”

Lock Light’s expression changed as he looked at Applejack, and then, slowly, completely lowering his wings, he took her hoof, and shook it lightly “It was, and always will be my pleasure.”

Everyone felt the air become normal again, Twilight walked up to him “That’s actually why we’re all here,” she said “we wanted to formally thank you for helping us.”

Upon seeing Twilight he instantly dropped to one knee and said “Your Grace, my humble apologies, I didn’t realize I was in the presence of royalty.”

“That’s alright,” she said “you’ve had it rough the past couple of days.”

“I was also distracted your grace,” he said getting up and glancing quickly at Applejack “I simply didn’t realize…”

“I understand,” Twilight said smiling at both him and Applejack. Applejack blushed and turned her eyes away and Lock Light did as well.

Rainbow Dash walked up to him and said awkwardly “I also wanted to thank you…I didn’t realize how much you had affected my life. Really, everything, it’s because of you…”

After all of the formal introductions and the awkward first five minutes were over, Applejack looked at Lock Light “Would you like to come down with us to Ponyville for Nightmare Night? It’ll be fun, I could show you around.”

“Yes,” Lock Light said “I would like that.”

They all walked together, the Doctor chattering away with Twilight about the complexities of metaphysics and quantum teleportation, and the others either ignoring them or having their own conversation. As Lock Light and Applejack walked together, he looked at her and asked “So, how’s Granny Smith?”

“She’s good,” Applejack said “can’t complain too much.”

“I’d like to see her again,” Lock Light said “it’s been a long time.”

“How long?”

“A while,” he said “I hope I’m not making this awkward for you.”

“Not at all,” Applejack said.

“So where are we going to anyway?”

“Why, we’re going to Nightmare Night,” Applejack said “it’s a celebration, where all the foals dress up and they get scared by Nightmare Moon.”

Lock Light suddenly stopped in his tracks “Wait a second,” he said “I thought she was banished?”

“Nah, shucks,” Applejack said “she’s good now, back to good old Princess Luna.”

Lock Light relaxed, but Applejack was curious to see how much of an effort it took him.

“Why,” she said “what’s the matter?”

“It’s just…,” he said “history, that’s all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Princess Luna and I have a history,” he said “it’s kind of awkward.”

“Ah see,” she said “do you think it’ll be a problem?”

“Shouldn’t be,” he said “at least, as long as it’s really just Princess Luna.”

Before long they found themselves in the town square. The foals were laughing and playing games, the ponies were also happy and eating food. Lock Light allowed himself a quick smile. Applejack noticed, based on what the Doctor had told them, he didn’t do it very often. Then suddenly, in a flash of blue smoke and lightning, Nightmare Moon appeared before them.