The next day came and with it, Jethro’s freedom. Despite the fact that he was proven innocent with Ditzy’s help, he was told that he still needs monitoring (she had a bit of a scowl when she told him that). When she said it would be her student, Twilight Sparkle, monitoring him, he could only object. When questioned why, he pointed out his close conviction, and him being different would probably provide biased reports. When it came to the first pony who met him, didn’t judge him, and even stood for him, Ditzy fit the bill and could easily monitor him. Celestia agreed and sent him off on the train to Ponyville.

“Huh, not a bad looking place,” Jethro said, as he exited the train. From his view from the train station, he could see the town seemed to have gotten back to normal, and it was only about 2 days. He exited the platform and began walking to where he remembered where Ditzy lived. As he walked, he saw that while most of the town seemed to have a standard look about them, there were a few buildings that looked unique. A tree that seemed to serve as a library. A boutique with a Merry-Go-Round (or Carousel) theme to it. A joke shop with a jester style roof. A sweet shop with Hansel and Gretel look. “I hope I don’t meet any wicked witch or whatever from that.”

“Why would a wicked witch be in Sugarcube Corner?” A voice said from above him, as he felt a sudden increase in weight on top of his head. “A wicked witch should be in a spooky place to be obvious about their wickedness.” Jethro stopped in his tracks and felt above him. As soon as he felt something fuzzy and (impossibly enough) pink, high pitched laughter was heard. “Stop it, that tickles!” Without hesitation, he grabbed the fuzzy pink thing and threw it, the action revealing that it was a pink pony. “Wheeeeeeeee!!!” She yelled out with her hooves thrown out like she was on a roller coaster ride.

“Haven’t you heard of personal space!?” Jethro yelled out with a combined annoyed and entertained voice. In the blink of an eye, she was in my face and was too close as well.

“No, I haven’t heard of Personal Space!” She shouted back in glee. “Should I know a pony by that name?”

“Personal space isn't a person,” he responded at a more reasonable volume. “It is a concept of allowing someone-”

“Geez, lighten up,” the pink pony interrupted. “I know what personal space is, I just forget to keep my distance...or do I?” She gave me sinister grin before switching to her cheerful look. “So, you’re new in Ponyville. I’ll get a special surprize set up for you unless you say otherwise.” She turned to trot away.

“Maybe later in the week, once I’m settled in,” Jethro suggested. “By the way, my name is Jethro. What’s your’s?”

“I’m Pinkie Pie, the town’s pink party pony!” She answered with a smile. “So, need any help navigating around town?”

“I’m just going to Ditzy Doo’s place. Princess Celestia wanted me monitored for a while, and has given her, alongside her husband, to do that,” he told her.

“Why, are you being monitored?”

“I was accused of murder, when it turned out to be a case of self-defense from a mindless, diseased pony,” he answered. “And with how dangerous my weapons are, she wants me watched.”

“You mean those afflicted?” She asked, with Jethro nodding. “I’m not the most smartest of ponies, but I have noticed that there have been a frequent sighting of those things, and when encountered in person, they tend to be rather crazy and all ‘RAH!! I WANT TO EAT YOU!!’ in that kind of way.”

“Do most of these afflicted have green crystalline growths and scar tissue that makes them look like they were burnt from head to...hoof?” He asked. Pinkie nodded. “The Scorched plague. May God have mercy on this land.”

“Such is the consequences of the Displaced,” said another voice.

“Hi Doctor,” Pinkie greeted. “What’s Displaced?”

“I’d like to know that too, and why when I last saw you, you said something about someone doing something again,” Jethro added.

“You will know soon enough, Miss Pie,” this ‘Doctor’ said to Pinkie. “I don’t say that to be rude, but until then, it’s best left secret.”

“Okie, Dokie, Lokie,” she said. “I’ll head back to Sugarcube Corner and get some muffins ready for Ditzy before she comes home for you.” She then bounced off.

“In all the centuries of my life, I’ve never met a more random pony than her,” the Doctor muttered. “Anywho, I was told about you being monitored by Ditzy and I, so I waited out here for you to help you get to the house. So follow me, and don’t get lost.” He then led him to his house, which was luckily only a ‘block’ away from their earlier conversation.

“So,” the Doctor said, after getting the two of them inside, seated, and some tea served. “Judging by your reaction and questioning about me mentioning the Displaced, you aren’t the willing kind of Displaced.”

“Not that I know anything about what you said, but I wasn’t willing,” Jethro said. “So care to fill me in?”

“The Displaced are individuals who are brought to different versions Equis through the void. There are generally many ways how that happens, but the most common way that I’ve seen is people getting tricked at a convention,” the Doctor explained. “In a manner of speaking, I’m also one of those.”

“How so?” Jethro asked.

“Well, one of these ‘Displacers’ found out that I was investigating the disappearances of those they tricked and they somehow tricked me as well,” he answered with a sigh. “I have to give that merchant points for managing to trick a Time Lord and trapping him by breaking his TARDIS, but that doesn’t mean it’s right.”

“So you are Dr. Who,” Jethro said with barely any interest.

“Most know me as the Doctor or Time Turner,” the now proclaimed Time Turner said. “And your reaction means you aren’t a fan of that greatly over-exaggerated show.”

“Anything else I should know about these Displaced?” Jethro asked.

“There is a way they can visit each other, but I haven’t found anything about-”

“Honey, I’m home!” We heard from Ditzy as she entered the house with a pale purple unicorn foal with blond mane and tail. “And I brought home muffins, both Dinky and the actual treat.”

“We can continue this later,” Time told me before going to his wife. “Nice to see you. I got Jethro settled in...mostly.”

“It’s nice to see you again,” she said to him. “Thank you for keeping that afflicted before it could do more damage.”

“It's Scorched and you’re welcome,” Jethro acknowledged, before starting to meet and interact with Dinky

“I’m sure the future will be exciting from here on out,” Time said to himself as he watched Dinky climb up to Jethro’s shoulder and start giggling.

Author's Note

Yay...my mind is throbbing...but oddly not in pain.