Dr. Hooves took out his pocket watch and looked at it. It was almost seven o’clock. He brought his eyes toward the evening sky and saw that the stars were already out. He put away his pocket watch and trotted home. He carried a single paper bag of groceries on his back. While crossing the street he silently nodded to passersby, smiling lightly and only responded in a low voice when they said “hello.” A pegasus mare was closing her shop for the night and waved to him when she spotted him. As more stars filled the dark sky he found his home. Before stepping through the door he looked around. He was very anxious for morning to come. Dr. Hooves sighed to himself and unlocked the door, then turned on the light.
“Surprise!” a crowd of voices rang out.
Dr. Hooves stumbled backward, but caught himself just in time. Some fruits and vegetables rolled out of the paper bag and onto the floor. A few of the ponies came to his side to help put them back into the bag. When he stood straight he fixed himself and gazed at the ponies in his home. Derpy and Pinkie Pie stood together, grinning at him. He noticed Lyra and Bon-Bon amongst the crowd of friends, and his fellow instructor at Ponyville Community College, Minuette.
“What’s going on here?” asked Dr. Hooves nervously.
The ponies looked at him in a confused fashion. “What do you mean?” said Pinkie. “We’re throwing you a surprise party, silly.”
“Oh. What’s the occasion?”
Derpy stepped forward. “Well, you said you were going away for a while, so I thought it’ll be a good idea to have a party before you go.”
“Oh. Well, I thank you.”
His voice shook.
Derpy grimaced. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
“It’s not that, it’s wonderful what you did. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all. I’m really… surprised by all this.”
“That’s the thing about surprise parties; you’d never know when they’re coming,” said Pinkie.
Minuette trotted to the corner of the room where the record player was located. Party music played, and the party commenced. Pinkie Pie brought out a cake with We’ll Miss You written in blue icing. Dr. Hooves was the first to take a slice. He was mildly pleased to know that it was chocolate.
During the party, ponies gathered around Dr. Hooves to wish him luck on his upcoming travels, to say goodbye, and to say how much of an honor it was to have been his friend. They also reminded him of all the times he helped fix their watches. Dr. Hooves didn’t have much to say about any of those times. He smiled, nodded, only saying “Thanks,” and “I remember that as well,” and of course, if anybody asked him where he was going, he would reply, “Somewhere.” Dr. Hooves was known as a mysterious character in Ponyville. He never talked about himself as much as other ponies wanted him to. Not even Derpy, his closest friend, can’t seem to get much out of him, beside the already-known fact that he is a part-time instructor at the community college and a watchmaker.
Dr. Hooves gave his silent approval of the party whenever someone asked him about it. A silent approval was not enough for Pinkie Pie, however. She hopped in front of him and grinned, making Dr. Hooves nervous. It always happened whenever he was around the pink mare.
“So, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“The party, you silly filly,” she giggled.
He caught himself about the stammer and stutter, but he gathered his thoughts. “It’s wonderful. I really appreciate you and Derpy for doing this. At least I have something to remember before I go… off.”
“Yeah, me too! I know we haven’t been the bestest of best friends, but I wanted you to know that I think you’re a neat pony.”
“Thank you, Miss Pie.”
Pinkie hugged him, smiled, and went someplace else. Dr. Hooves tried to make his way into his kitchen, but had to make stops along the way. More ponies wanted to make small-talk with him, to say hello and to say goodbye. He entered the kitchen and sat at the table. He took out his pocket watch, which read 7:40. He sighed to himself. He was hoping nopony would be around during this time, and he feared it was too late to do anything. He thought about ending the party and send everyone home while there was still time, but that will be rude of him. Dr. Hooves thought about how he could say he was tired and needed sleep for his “travels,” in the morning. They would understand that, he hoped.
“Hey Doc,” someone said. Dr. Hooves turned his head and saw Derpy entering the room. She smiled awkwardly and took a seat on the opposite side of the table. He smiled lightly in return, not showing too much emotion. “Are you enjoying the party?” she asked.
“Oh yes, I am. I just wanted to sit down for awhile.”
She was silent.
“Um, I was wondering… where exactly are you going?”
“I’m not sure if I can tell you.”
“Why is that? Don’t you trust me?”
“I do, I’m just concerned you may not understand. I don’t think anyone will understand.”
“Why don’t you think I’ll understand,” she said, somewhat offended. “I understand that my best friend is leaving me. That’s the reason why this party was my idea. I want to see you before you go.”
Dr. Hooves placed his hoof on her own. “I never meant to hurt you, Derpy. It’s just that… well, let’s just say something of tremendous importance is happening in my life, a calling if you will, and I need to take that call.”
“A call? Do you have a new job or something?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what is it?”
“That’s just it,” he sighed. “I can’t say.”
“Why can’t you tell me?” begged Derpy.
Dr. Hooves drew his hoof back. He took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say. “What if I say… some old acquaintances are coming here soon? And these old acquaintances and I have a long history together, and I have to go with them, and it’s not entirely my choice? It’s something like that.”
Derpy gave him a bewildered look. Her hooves were on the table, but she drew them back. She brought her head down, as though she couldn’t look at him.
“Does our friendship not mean anything to you?” she said in a low voice.
“It does, it truly does,” said Dr. Hooves. “It’s just that these circumstances are unfortunate. It goes back a long time. Please, I hope you understand. I have to go.”
“I understand. Just remember to say goodbye before you go.”
Without another word she left the kitchen. Dr. Hooves opened his mouth, but drew himself back. It was no use. Everything will be set in order soon. He looked at his watch, 7:45. He put it away. The first phase will begin soon. It was too late to send anyone away. He might as well have to suffer through it.
Derpy washed her hooves and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She cleaned her face of the tear stains with toilet paper, then gazed at herself some more. Derpy had the look of someone who had lost everything, and didn’t know what it was she lost. Growing uninterested at the mare resembling her in the mirror she climbed into the bathtub, pulled the curtain closed, and sat down. The only thing that occupied her thoughts was what will happen and what will she do once Dr. Hooves in gone.
She wasn’t the most popular pony in Ponyville, but that’s not to say she didn’t have any friends. There was Pinkie Pie, who on any given day will strike a conversation with her, even if she was busy planning parties or working at Sugarcube Corner, but she was known to be everyone’s good friend. There was also Rainbow Dash, who found Derpy only mildly annoying due to her clumsiness. Derpy didn’t know Pinkie and Rainbow Dash’s other friends very well, but only saw them on occasion. She was good friends with Lyra and Bon-Bon, with the only downside is that she never sees them quite as often as she wanted to. Dr. Hooves was the only other pony she spent the most time with, the one who truly understood her on another level nopony else had. With him gone she was at a crossroads.
A knock started Derpy, and the door opened.
“Is anypony in here?” Dr. Hooves asked.
She pulled the curtain away and found him standing at the door. “Derpy? What are you doing in there?”
“... Just sitting. Thinking.”
Derpy sat up on the tub and leaned against the wall. Dr. Hooves sat on top of the toilet that was beside the tub.
“I hope you’re not disappointed in me,” he said.
“I don’t know how I feel anymore. But all I want to know is why you decided to leave now?”
“This has been something I always knew will happen. It has nothing to do with you, Derpy.”
“But why now? And how come you won’t tell me where you’re going?”
Dr. Hooves sighed, hoping whatever needs to happen happen soons. “Because if I told, you wouldn’t believe me,” he answered.
“You don’t know that. I’ve been open about everything with you. Why won’t you open to me?”
There was prolonged silence. Then he said, “Because there are some things nopony knows about me, things I have kept secret for a long time.”
“... You’ve kept secrets? From me?” Derpy asked, offended.
“It’s not for the reasons you think, but it’s a reason I rather not say.”
“Will you stop talking like that?” Derpy snapped. “Why would you think I won’t understand? Is it because I’m a ditz? Everypony else already thinks I am? Why won’t you tell me?”
He was silent again. “You should leave. Tell everyone to leave. Now, while there is still time.” There was a hint of urgency in his dull tone.
“Don’t do this to me! Why are you leaving?”
As Dr. Hooves was about to give another explanation, the power shut off inside the house. Derpy shrieked in the darkness. Dr. Hooves told her that everything is okay, and turned on a flashlight. Fear contorted her face.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Derpy nodded, still shaken with fear. He helped her out of the tub and led her out of the bathroom. They joined the others downstairs, who were just as shocked at the power outage. He waved his flashlight about and informed everyone that he has candles, and to remain calm. Dr. Hooves grabbed Derpy by the hoof and led themselves into the kitchen, pointed a flashlight at one of the top cabinets where the candles were in. The lighted candles only brought dim brightness to the living room until Dr. Hooves switched on the emergency lights he installed in his home. Another pony looked out the window and commented how the street lamps also went out, making the entire town encased in blackness. Dr. Hooves consulted his pocket watch. It was 8:15. It has begun.
“Doc, I’m scared,” Derpy said.
“Just… stay calm,” he stammered.
He knew this would happen. Dr. Hooves kicked himself. If only he had everyone leave his home as soon as he entered. He didn’t plan for anyone to be caught up in this. Unfortunately, now everyone thought it was good time to go home, if they can find their way home under the cover of darkness. The party guests said goodbye to each other and made their way to the door, but Dr. Hooves blocked them.
“Excuse me, Doc, but we have to get going,” Minuette said politely.
Dr. Hooves remained in their way, shaking his head.
“Can you please move out of the way?” she asked again.
“I can’t let you leave. It’s too dangerous,” he said grimly.
“Why not?”
“You just can’t!” he snapped. His toned made everyone take steps back. Even Derpy was taken by surprise. Dr. Hooves patted heavily, then calmed himself. “I’m sorry, but you can’t leave.”
“Okay, stop joking around! There’s a blackout, and we have to go,” Lyra said.
“And I have to go home and make sure the Cakes are okay,” said Pinkie. “Their foals are really scared of the dark.”
Dr. Hooves remained in front of the door, but surrendered after protests. He slowly opened the door for them. As they walked out one by one they gave Dr. Hooves weird looks. It was not the sort of behavior they expected from him, and he understood.
Minuette looked up, amazed at how wonderful the night sky was when there is no electric lights. The stars were everywhere, more stars than she had ever seen. If only the world could shut off all the lights in the world at least once in a blue moon so the stars can have their time to shine. Then she peered closely. There was something odd about one of the stars. It appeared to be blinking, and it gave off a strange, pale-colored light. Her widen when she saw it move.
“Oh my gosh,” she said aloud.
“What is it?” asked Lyra.
Minuette pointed to the sky, to the moving star that hovered across the stars. Lyra thought nothing of it, thinking it was probably a meteor that will burn up in the atmosphere with no damage done. Then that same star came back again, and blinking repeatedly. “Whoa, that is weird,” Lyra said.
“I know, right?”
Soon the ponies gathered around Minuette to look up at the direction she was looking at. They too were amazed at the moving star. One of them called on Dr. Hooves to see it as well, and figure if it was something astronomical that they don’t know about, but he refused to come out.
“Doc, are you seeing this?” Lyra called out. “There’s this weird star in the sky. Do you know what it is?” He didn’t answer.
The radio turned on, much to their surprise. A weird sound emanated from it, like someone drawing a razor blade on a group of wires. The stations changed without anybody fiddling with the dials. Everyone came back inside to see what was up with the radio.
“Doc, what’s happening?” Derpy asked. He remained silent.
The strange noise had stopped, but replaced with low static. A voice sounded as though it was trying to climb its way out of the radio. Then a deep, echoey voice spoke, sending vibrations to the room.
“My name is General Titus of the Ashtar Galactic Command. We have come from beyond the stars to make contact with your world, the planet of Earth. It has come to the Galactic Command’s attention that your planet is harboring a fugitive. His name is Ryu’ke Tor-El and he is wanted by the Galactic Order. He is accused of crimes against the State, including for inciting an uprising. He is hiding among you. He will look like you, talk like you, but he is not one of you. We have traced his presence here and we have created a blockade around your planet until he surrenders to us. Ryu’ke Tor-El, if you are here, then you have one of this planet’s hours to give yourself to the Galactic Order. If you refuse to do so, you along with all the inhabitants of this planet will suffer the consequences. The choice is yours.”
The radio turned off, although darkness was still present in the room. Dr. Hooves felt everyone staring at him, and for good reason.
“This is some kind of joke, right?” Lyra said. “There’s no aliens around here, right?”
“Yes, there is,” sighed Dr. Hooves.
The ponies were dead silent. If this was a practical joke, then it wasn’t a very funny one. Not even Pinkie was laughing. Derpy approached him, but took caution, like he was quarantined. Her voice was shaking. “Doc… please, tell me. Are they looking for you? Are you the alien?” she stammered.
There was no response from him. Dr. Hooves scanned the party guests, all of them anxious for an answer. Then he sighed.
“No, I’m not. But there is someone they are looking for here.”
“What do you mean?” Derpy asked. “Who is it?”
Dr. Hooves silently stepped aside and grabbed a flashlight, and went to the other side of the house. The others followed him until they stopped at a door on the wall. Slowly, he unlocked it and opened and peered inside. He told everyone to wait while he was down in the basement. Nopony spoke or breathed while he was down there. Derpy shivered, feeling she might have a heart attack when hearing Dr. Hooves rummaged through his belongings in the basement. Hoofsteps were heard from the darkness, but it sounded like another pony was there with him. When all was done, Dr. Hooves emerged from the basement with a tall, slender, pale-green skinned creature with large black eyes that stood on it’s hind legs.
“... What the heck is that,” Lyra said, stunned. It was a terrible dream that never ended.
“This is who they are looking for. This is Ryu’ke Tor-El. I found him a long time ago. He crash landed on the Everfree forest, and his ship was destroyed beyond repair. I took him to my home to heal him and let him recover, and I offered to build him a new ship so he won’t have to stay here. Ryu’ke Tor-El is the leader of a resistance movement against the Galactic Command. He told me that the Galactic Command has oppressed many worlds under its grip, and he and his fellow rebels have been trying to unite them so they can overthrow the regime. Sadly, it was during a battle in interstellar space that his ship was damaged. Luckily a wormhole led him here, to Earth. I apologize if this is all confusing to all of you.”
Nopony said anything, as they were too busy gazing at the strange creature from beyond stars than listening to what Dr. Hooves had to say. Derpy took her eyes off of the alien to look at Dr. Hooves with a mystified look on her face.
“That’s why you’ve acting so strange,” she said. “Because of that… thing.”
“I didn’t want anypony to know about him. I thought it will caused unimaginable chaos if word got out that an alien was among us. But it’s too late for that now.”
“You said you were going away. Where were you going to go?”
“When Ryu'ke told me that the Command might have finally located him, the prototype wasn’t finished. So, I was planning on leaving Earth with him, to make sure it worked.” He heart broke when he saw Derpy’s shocked face. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. If I had more time it wouldn’t have to happen.”
“You were going to leave me behind,” she said, her voice breaking.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of this. We don’t have much time left. The Galactic Command wants an answer, and it wants it soon.”
Ryu’ke placed his hands on the back of Dr. Hooves’ head. He was caught in a daze, for a moment not responding to anybody who called his name. Slowly he turned toward Ryu’ke.
“Are you sure you want to do it?” he asked. A moment later, Dr. Hooves brought his head down, like he failed at something. “I understand,” he said. Ryu’ke let go of him, and stepped back into the darkness of the basement.
“What happened?” Derpy asked.
“He was communicating with me, telepathically. Ryu’ke said he will surrender himself.”
“Why?”
“He decided he has brought enough trouble to this planet by being here, and he does not want to be responsible for the destruction of this pale blue world. Also… he wanted me to stay with you. He hates it when friendships are broken.”
Derpy felt her legs becoming weak. Dr. Hooves caught her just in time, and hugged her. Her moisty eyes caught a glimpse of Ryu’ke hiding in the darkness of the basement.
Before the hour was up, Ryu’ke stepped outside and turned on a homing device he had kept, to alert the Galactic Command’s ships. He was arrested, and assured the officers that the inhabitants of Earth had nothing to do with him, that he had been hiding out in deserted areas of the planet. Of course, being the insignificant world that Earth was, the officers couldn’t bring themselves to care. Most of Ponyville stepped outside their homes and watched the ships carry the alien away, and disappear into the night sky forever. Then the electricity was returned after an hour of uncertainty.
“What will happen to him?” Derpy asked.
“He told me that if he was ever captured, he will stand trial, found guilty, then executed.”
“Oh no,” she said gravely. Derpy couldn’t help to feel that somehow she was responsible.
“Don’t worry,” said Dr. Hooves. “He said his death will cause ripples throughout his part of the universe. And maybe someday, the oppressed will rise up and take back their lives.”
