Chapter 1: The Old Man
Fluttershy was normally far, far away from the Everfree forest, even if her cottage was there. But today she had to help the toads migrate to Froggy Bottom Bog. Normally, she’d fly her way over there. But due an incident with a flower pot and one of her wings, she had to stay on the ground for awhile. But what surprised her was that she heard a wheezing, groaning noise coming from a far distance.
But it was getting closer and closer by the second. Fluttershy the quickly hid herself and her cart of toads into the thicker brush. She peered over the brush to find a large blue box saying “Police Public Call Box” on the top in bright white letters. What surprised even more was when a side door on the box opened and an old grey stallion with a black jacket, colder vest and a string bow tie walked out.
“Hmm, it seems the chromatic circuits have broken down over the years. Must get them fixed.” said the strange stallion muttering the last part.
“Oh my, we really have become little horses.” said another voice from inside the box. This time it sounded more like the higher pitched voice of a mare.
“By Joe, of all the strangest places you’ve taken us, Doctor, this just about tops them all.” said a younger grey stallion with a black mane.
But after putting her fore leg on one of the thick branches it snapped, causing the stallion to be startled.
“Who’s there, hmm?” asked the strange older stallion.
“I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, I’m really sorry…” trailed off Fluttershy.
Before the old stallion could say a word, a teenage filly walked out of the box and closed the door.
“Doctor? Is this one of the locals around these parts?” asked the filly.
“Hmm, I do believe so. Dear, what does your name happen to be?” asked the pony who the others called the Doctor.
“F-fluttershy…” Murmured Fluttershy shyly.
“It’s nice to meet you.” said the light grey coloured mare.
She now noticed that all the others were wearing strange clothes. The older mare wore a darker black sweater, as well as the younger grey stallion was wearing a suit and tie. Fluttershy wondered how they could all be such weird shades of grey at the same time.
“N-nice to meet you too.” stuttered Fluttershy.
“I’m Vicki, the older fem-er…mare is Barbara, the stallion is Ian, and you probably know the Doctor’s name.” replied Vicki cheerfully.
“W-well...it’s nice to meet you, but how’d you get here?” asked Fluttershy.
“We travel in the TARDIS, it’s the blue box.” said Barbara.
They seemed to be very odd ponies. If Fluttershy was a normal pony, they might have run off scared and called the police on the crazy ponies. But Fluttershy was luckily not like an average pony. She was a lot more kinder and more caring, so she rather make friends with these ponies.
“Very well, can you point us in the direction of some sort of universal shard.” asked the Doctor.
“Uhm...Ponyville is not very far away, but I can take you there after I help migrate these toads.” said Fluttershy a little more cheerfully.
“How far is it exactly?” asked Barbara.
“About...a quarter of a mile.” said Fluttershy.
“Thank you for the directions.” replied Ian before the Doctor could criticize her any further.
Fluttershy then went on her merry way in the direction of Froggy Bottom Bog. But little did Fluttershy know, she was being followed. Fluttershy began the hum a song to calm herself down. But then behind her there was a rustle in the brush.
“A-anypony e-else t-there?”’nervously stuttered Fluttershy.
Fluttershy wished she could turn around, but her hooves were frozen with fear. A full grown dragon had climbed out of the bushes and roared with all of it’s might. Fluttershy screamed as loud as she could. As quiet as she could scream, luckily the Doctor and his companions heard all of the commotion. They galloped as fast as they could.
“D-d-doctor…!” stuttered Fluttershy out of fear and terror.
A large wack came from behind and the dragon fell to the ground, but Fluttershy was still mortified and quivering. Turns out the Doctor’s cane was long enough to hit the dragon on the back of the neck.
“There, there, it’ll be alright.” said Vikki trying to calm Fluttershy down.
“L-last time was worst...I was attacked by a h-hydra..” said Fluttershy hugging Vikki, crying over the young mare’s shoulder.
“A hydra...dear, dear me. This world’s physics seem to really have a twist do they, hmm?” said the Doctor fascinated.
The device strapped to the Doctor’s side then buzzed, shaking around nearly falling out of it’s strap. The Doctor then fumbled it out of the strap and pointed it at the dragon.
“I believe I’ve found what we’ve came for.” said the Doctor.
The Doctor then placed a hoof on the device, both him, the device, and the dragon shimmering blue. The dragon then shrunk down into a smaller baby dragon.
“Extraordinary, this must be why the dragon was so out of territory.” said Fluttershy, picking up the baby dragon and cradling it in her fore legs.
A small glowing crystal layed on the ground.
“Is that one of the shards of the universe Doctor?” asked Ian.
“Quite so, quite so. But I do believe I’ve used up all of my crotonic energy in the process.” said the Doctor nodding his head sadly.
“Can’t you just generate more?” asked Ian.
“I can...but that only happens once every regeneration.” replied the Doctor.
“D-does regeneration h-happen to be that golden glowing t-thing?” asked Fluttershy looking at the Doctor.
“Hrmm? Oh, indeed it is. I believe that our time in this world is limited. If we were to stay any much more longer we’d cause quite a catastrophe.” said the Doctor starting to head towards the Tardis.
“Do we really have to go Doctor? I’m enjoying this place quite a lot.” huffed Vikki.
“Quite so, or we’ll create an explosion that’ll wipe out a quarter of this planet.” said the Doctor gesturing towards the TARDIS.
“Well, it’s been nice meeting you Fluttershy.” said Barbara shaking Fluttershy’s hoof.
“I-it’s been nice meeting you too. Thanks for saving me, I don’t want to think of what might have happened if you weren’t there for me.” shuttered Fluttershy, grinning at Barbara.
“After you.” said Ian, opening the Tardis door for Barbara.
“Thank you, Ian.” blushed Barbara walking in, Ian following after her.
Vikki followed not long afterward, but before the Doctor walked in, he tipped his hat for Fluttershy.
“Hopefully we’ll meet again soon.” said the Doctor grinning for the first time since Susan had left.
The Tardis then emitted it’s iconic wheezing sound and vanished into thin air. Fluttershy was baffled to how this was possible. But then again, the Doctor wasn't a normal pony, and things this confusing nearly happened on a daily basis for ponies. So Fluttershy carried on towards Froggy Bottom Bog to migrate her toads, hoping to someday see the Doctor again.
