What Might've Been

Derpy walked down a winding path, her head low. "You clutz." She scolded herself. "I can't believe you did that! Now you've lost your job!"

"That job wasn't great anyway. The boss was super mean!" She argued with herself.

"Yeah," Derpy continued, "But still! You-"

Derpy's thoughts were interrupted when something caught her attention, out of the corner of her eye. Curious, she trotted over, and gasped.

A stallion was laying there, passed out. He had a tan coat, with a chocolate-brown, spiky mane. He had an hourglass cutie mark, as well, which intrigued Derpy for a reason she couldn't explain.

Derpy approached the stallion slowly and cautiously. "Should I wake him up?" "Maybe you should get somepony to help?" "I think if you just-" "Look! He's waking up!" And indeed he was.

"H... help me... I... I can't seem to walk..." He spoke shakily.

Derpy gasped and hurried over. "Thank goodness for wall eyes..." She thought as she lifted the brown stallion onto her back.

Neither ponies knew that in that moment, both of their lives had changed for the better.

The Doctor snapped himself out of his nostalgia. He chuckled slightly to himself. "What a first impression..." He grinned.

"Gosh, how long has it been? Years...? More? Less? And now... She's... Leaving..." The Doctor's smile faded slightly. He could remember that moment too...

"A cooking school IS a huge opportunity..." The Doctor smiled, though it ended up looking more like a grimace.

"I know, right! And they've got all these majors for different chefs! I'll be doing baking of course, because, you know, muffins! And they've got these really nice dorms, and top-quality, stainless-steel ovens! Celestia herself would probably- Hey, are you okay?"

Derpy stopped herself and looked at the Timelord. "I'll be gone for a little while, but I can't wait to start traveling with you again! You won't get lonely, right? Please, don't get lonely Doctor. You'll make sure to visit Dinky and Sparkler, won't you? And I'll write, and... Hey! Maybe I can learn how to make something with pears in it, huh?" Derpy smiled. The Doctor smiled back, but she could tell it wasn't wholeheartedly. "Buttered pears...?"

The Doctor smiled, a bit more sincerely this time. "No no, I'm happy for you Ditzy, really I am! And, as you said, it's not like you'll be gone forever. It's just..."

Derpy tilted her head and pressed on. "Just what?"

The Doctor paused for a minute, then smiled. "I don't know if baking will come in handy if you plan on working at McSoy's down the road..."

Derpy shoved him playfully. "Eww! No way I'm working there!" She giggled, putting on her best stink face. The Doctor laughed, making Derpy blush slightly.

The Doctor shook his head, being brought back to reality. "McSoy's... Of all the punchlines..." He muttered. However, he slowly started to grow sad again.

"She can't go! They'll... They'll tease her! They'll hurt her! Baking school is a magnet for pure evil! The lowliest, cruelest ponies are sure to be there!" He thought.

"Don't be ridiculous!" He countered. "The evilest they'll do is say her cupcakes are undercooked..."

"Which will break her heart!" "No it won't!"

"Ugh!" The Doctor exclaimed. "Why am I so worried and overprotective all of the sudden?" He felt himself blushing, but shook it off. "She's my companion. It's natural for me to want to protect her."

"I'll just... Visit with Carrot Top and see if she's left yet. I know she went over there to say goodbye..."