At the End of the Road

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Chapter 1

A man watched the sun set amidst a gray Michigan sky. From his vantage point on a jagged, high cliff, he could also see a sea of autumn color below him..a dazzling array of red, yellow, orange, and green subtly moving in the breeze. The same wind blew his blond hair about and rustled his jacket. He stared impassively, a torrent of thoughts running through his head.

Behind him, under a mound of fresh earth, lay the body of his mother.

Nothing about it had gone the way he thought it would, the way it always seemed to in movies. His mother had requested that a wake would be held the night before and then a simple graveside service; no clergy involved at all. Everything had gone smoothly (he had somehow made it through delivering the eulogy without breaking down completely) and according to her meticulous plans. Except, Daniel thought, what I'm supposed to do now.

In the distance, he could see dark clouds approaching. The dull ache he had been feeling in his knees since arriving at the cemetery was getting rapidly worse. Barometric pressure's dropping..that storm is coming sooner than I thought. Wasn't even in the forecast for today. He sighed and turned, gazing at his mother's simple and elegant grave marker. The wind started picking up as tears blurred his vision. "Farewell, mother," he said softly before putting his hood up and walking slowly to his car. His wife and daughter glanced at him as he entered, then resumed looking somberly out their respective windows as he got in and started it.

He was glad for the relative lack of traffic (though he had to be mindful about the usual deer at dusk wandering about near the road) as he drove back towards his mother's..no, his house until he managed to sell it. He also had the option of turning it into an AirBNB or somesuch, but he was leaning towards the former. He hadn't made all that many visits to this part of the Upper Peninsula the last few years, as his mother usually came down to his house in suburban Chicago for holidays but he had had to stay in his old bedroom the last few weeks after his mother's condition became terminal and she began palliative care. He and his family were planning on leaving in the morning, then he'd come back by himself at some point and take care of anything else that was left to do while his wife handled their practice.

I honestly don't know if I'm going to miss this place he thought as the first truck in several minutes passed him, discarding a cigarette while doing so. The remnants danced on the road, glowing momentarily before fading away. Somehow, he felt at ease either in a relatively isolated small town such as this or in a vast metropolitan area in a sea of millions. He was still mulling over what he should do with the house as he pulled into the driveway, hearing a familiar crunch of gravel under the tires.

The wind was getting stronger and he could imagine the whisper of leaves rustling as he drove toward the house. When he was growing up here, his mother's dogs would always chase any incoming vehicle, due to their herding instinct. There'd also be horses calmly grazing in the field and cats roaming the barn, but they were all gone now. He looked over at a patch of land near the barn where several of them were buried. He also remembered how any impending thunderstorm forced his mother and him to drop anything they were doing and get all the animals to safety. Now, there was nothing to do but head inside.

The car had been silent the whole time back, as both Criosa and Zoe had been completely uninterested in any conversation whatsoever. While his wife could be reticent at times, to hear nothing at all from the usually effervescent Zoe was quite unnerving, especially when she was usually so interested in storms and severe weather. He opened the garage and guided the Rav4 in, glad that the house had an attached one as it was raining quite hard now.

It was completely still and silent as they entered. He was grateful for a distant rumble of thunder as he turned on the lights and sat on the couch. "So...um, do we have anything for dinner?" Zoe said as she headed for the kitchen.

"Leftovers from the wake," said Criosa. "Mac and cheese and some cornbread..make yourself a plate." She sat down next to her husband and pulled her phone out of her purse. "Lots of condolences from everyone, of course," she said evenly as she flicked through her notifications.

"Ah, that's good of them. I'm glad for that," he said softly. He decided to leave his phone in his pocket..the rest of the world and its increasingly chaotic news could wait for at least one evening. As much as he felt like his world had stopped, the rest of humanity was moving inexorably and indifferently forward.

He heard the microwave running and glanced over at the kitchen. Zoe was frowning and tapping at her tablet while perched on a stool. He could hear the rain beating steadily on the roof of the nearby porch, along with more frequent thunderclaps. Well, at least I might sleep more easily tonight, he thought. I need to talk with Jens tomorrow about the estate and anything else we need to do right now before we go. He glanced at his wife; she was writing a group text to her parents and siblings. He looked around the living room at the various pieces of furniture and artwork that had accumulated over the years, wondering what they should take home. We'll have to have an estate sale at some point..but just going through everything is going to take a while..and I'll need some help.

There were so many memories everywhere else he looked..the time he had gotten baking soda over almost everything in the kitchen as a toddler (and when his mother had shown the pictures to Criosa when they were dating)..his mother bandaging him on this couch when he'd accidentally cut himself badly with a scythe as a teen..when his favorite cat had died suddenly and his mother had held him as he sobbed..when he got the letter saying he'd been admitted to the Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine and they'd celebrated joyously. Through it all..his mother. Her smile, her laugh, her gentle words, her kindness, the unique sound of her keys jingling that let him knew it'd be okay..Mom was there and everything would be fine.

Never again.

Criosa passed him a box of tissue and squeezed his shoulder. He took a tissue, blew his nose, and nodded at her.

"I'll be okay..eventually," he said. He used some more tissues to wipe his eyes. Criosa nodded and returned to looking at her phone. It was just then that Daniel noticed something on the coffee table. It was a dark blue envelope with no other markings on it; it was sitting misaligned on top of a stack of magazines. "Hey Cri," he said, sniffing loudly. "Have you seen that blue envelope there before?"

She looked up and frowned. "No, I hadn't..probably another bill to take care of." There was a bright flash and then the lights dimmed for a split second amid a particularly loud burst of thunder.

"Let's have a look, then," Daniel said, shrugging. Criosa sighed, put her phone down, and reached to her left to pick up the envelope.

"This paper feels very weird..like it's thick and thin at the same time," she said with a puzzled expression. "I can't even tell if there's anything inside." She held it tightly and started trying to rip the top off. "What the..it's not giving at all."

"Zozo, there's some scissors in the drawer next to the stove," Daniel said. "Can you bring them to your mother?"

"What? Oh, sure thing, Dad," said Zoe as she put her tablet down. She got the scissors and presented them handle first to her increasingly frustrated mother.

"Oh, thank you, sweetie," said Criosa. She put her fingers in the handle and brought the scissors to the envelope. "Oh for..it's not cutting at all!"

"What?!" said Zoe. "Mom, they're kind of old, but I'm pretty sure those scissors aren't that dull."

"Here, let me try.." Daniel said, reaching for the envelope. Criosa scowled at him and pulled it away.

"What, you think I can't do this?!" She sighed, quite irritated. "Zo, get me a steak knife." Fortunately for Zoe, her mother didn't notice her rolling her eyes as she went back into the kitchen.

Why now.. thought Daniel, furrowing his brow as he felt his heart rate accelerating. He focused on his breathing as he knew that saying anything at all would likely make things worse. The rain was very heavy now and there wasn't much of a gap between the lightning and the thunder. Criosa had dropped the scissors on the table with a loud clank and was now furiously using the knife Zoe had given her to try to saw the envelope open. "What...is..this...thing...made of?!"

Daniel glanced over and saw that, despite all of her efforts, she hadn't been able to cut the paper at all. What in the world.. he thought. Why would anyone make an envelope that's this hard to open..

"Bah..I give up," said Criosa as she put the knife on the table and disdainfully flicked the envelope with her wrist. To Daniel's surprise, it fluttered right back into its previous position. "Some kind of dumb prank," his wife said with disgust as she picked her phone back up.

Reflexively, Daniel reached out to pick the envelope up and gasped as a previously unseen flap opened at his touch. Neither his wife nor daughter had noticed as they were ensconced in their respective devices. He reached inside with his right hand and found a single piece of paper. When he pulled it out, it appeared to be a standard piece from a printer, vertically folded. He carefully opened it and took a deep breath. "Cri, Zozo..you guys need to see this," he said, his voice trembling slightly. They looked up and stared at him in wonder.

"How..how did you open that?!" said Criosa, looking more annoyed than shocked. "And what's that letter?"

"It's..my mom's handwriting. And it's addressed to all of us." Zoe had put her tablet down and was now sitting on the couch next to him. Criosa moved closer and looked intently at the letter as he held it. The rain had slowed and there was a distant rumbling of thunder, but otherwise, the house was silent. Daniel cleared his throat, his heart pounding as he began to read.

"My dear Daniel, Criosa and Zoe. This is the hardest letter I'll ever write. It was very hard to decide whether I should write it at all, but, in the end, I decided that you needed to know who you really are, Danny. I believe that you'll never be truly complete until you do. I am so proud of all of you, all the things that you have done and that you will do. I know that you are all going through a hard time right now, as you are likely reading this letter very soon after my funeral. Learning the truth will be even harder, but I know you all will make it through." Daniel blinked and paused. What is she talking about..I know who I am, I figured that out a long time ago. he thought. No one knows me better than I know myself.

"Danny, I know you're wondering what I'm talking about and why I'm not just telling you in this letter. First, you wouldn't believe me if I said it, no matter how carefully I phrased it. This is something that you have to see for yourself. If I have any regrets in my life, it is that I never told you the truth when I was alive. I was terrified that you would think that I was completely insane and put me in an institution. I was determined that I would live my last years in peace, dignity, and freedom, even though it meant having to lie to you by omission. I just couldn't see any other way. That was selfish of me, and I am very deeply sorry."

"Oh Mom," Daniel said, pausing as he took a few fresh pieces of tissue. "Nothing to be sorry for.." After wiping his face, he looked over at his family; they looked just as puzzled as he felt. He coughed and continued reading.

"You are all about to go on a great journey, likely an adventure. Your guide will arrive soon. I don't know what form your guide will be in, but you will know them as soon as you see them. Part of what I didn't tell you is that I traveled for an extended period with your guide and saw and did things very few other humans have ever experienced. After you were born, Danny, my adventuring days were over and your guide and I parted ways. Being your mother was the best thing that ever happened to me...I could not have had a better son. I feel terrible that I've deceived you, but now that I am gone, you will know the truth, and it will set you free." Daniel needed some more tissue after reading the last few lines. His wife and daughter silently embraced him as he wept.

"I know this is all happening very quickly, but I need you all to remember the following things: Pay attention to what's going on around you. Listen to each other. Definitely listen to your guide. Follow their instructions to the best of your ability. Be patient, as it will all work out and will all make sense in the end. Love each other. That's the most important part. I hope you can forgive me at some point for how I've wronged you, Danny. This is my way of trying to make things right. I will be with you every step of the way. I love you so very much, more than any words of mine can say. -Mom."

Daniel put the letter down on the table and tried to take deep breaths; he could feel himself starting to hyperventilate. "It'll be ok, Dad," Zoe said, hugging him, though he could tell she was struggling to stay calm as well. "Wait, what's that at the bottom?"

Criosa picked up the letter and read the postscript. "It's not your mother's handwriting," she said perplexedly. "And all it says is Criosa, this isn't a dumb prank. Wait, how could anyone else know that?!" Daniel's breathing had slowed down and he glanced at the bottom of the leader. Indeed, it was a strange hand that had written that line. It was precise yet bold, with thick, evenly spaced letters. It was almost the opposite of his mother's loopy, almost dreamlike writing. He shook his head..how could any of this be real? What could have happened to have made his mother so frightened of being branded a lunatic that she had only posthumously hinted at what had happened in her past? She had never talked all that much about how her life had gone before he was born; all he knew was that she was an only child and she'd grown up in this town, gone to college and graduated, then returned and started working on the family farm. Her parents had died before he has born and he had never met any of his other relatives on his mother's side.

While he was pondering this, he heard the grandfather clock by the door begin playing the Westminster Quarters..it was 7:00. His wife had resumed using her phone; he watched as her thumbs moved rapidly on the screen. His daughter was carefully examining the letter and envelope, a quizzical expression on her face.

The clock started sounding the hours. He counted them much as he did when he was a kid and thought about how comforting that was, then and now. No matter what happened to him, time was a constant. When the seventh strike faded away, he suddenly heard a rhythmic whooshing and groaning sound from just outside, each iteration of the sound ending with a solid thump.

Somehow, he felt as if he'd heard it before.

"Hey Dad, what's that?" said Zoe, looking up. "There's..something on the porch," she said, pointing at a large silhouette at the window. Criosa noticed it as well and dropped her phone in shock. The rain had totally stopped and they could clearly hear a door opening and closing, along with a series of brisk footfalls on the wooden boards. Then, there was a series of four rapid knocks on the door, followed by a long pause, and then four more.

"Beethoven's Fifth," Daniel whispered. "The way Mom always knocked." Is this die hand von Schicksal? he thought as he summoned whatever courage he had left and stood up.

"Dan!" Criosa said with a low hiss. "What are you doing?! You have no idea who's out there!"

"It's ok..I think this is the guide Mom mentioned," he said in a low voice. "I'll..get the door." He walked carefully towards it and very tentatively opened it.

Much to his surprise, there was a woman at the door. She had blonde hair in a bob cut and strikingly vivid green eyes. Her outfit was quite outlandish, though; she had mustard-colored suspenders holding up a pair of rather high-waisted teal pants. Her shirt was dark blue with horizontal yellow, green, and red stripes. Over this peculiar display, she wore a light gray overcoat with rainbow trim. Her brown boots looked rather worn but were the only part of her clothing that would likely fit in around these parts. She smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back..he had seen her somewhere before..but where..and when?

"Hello, Daniel!" she said cheerfully in a crisp Yorkshire accent. "I'm the Doctor!"

"And I'm here to take you to your father."

Author's Note

Version 1.0

Chapter 2

Daniel blinked. "The Doctor? Doctor of what?"

"Oh, anything I need to be," she said as she walked inside. "Lovely house this is, I can see your mum everywhere in it. Is this your fam?"

"Um, yes..this is.."

"Dr. Sheridan, lovely to meet you..and you must be Zoe. I heard all about you from your Gram," said the Doctor, smiling warmly at Daniel's wife and daughter. Criosa narrowed her eyes, folding her arms.

"Doctor of anything, you say..does that include veterinary medicine?" she said evenly. The Doctor shrugged as she walked briskly over to the couch and glanced at the envelope.

"Oh good, you've read the letter. Right. Let's get going, then." Criosa held up a finger, throwing a sideways glare at her husband.

"Not so fast. What makes you think we're going to go along with you, no questions asked, just based on some trick letter?" she said disdainfully. "I'm supposed to believe some middle-aged woman dressed in off-brand hipster..whatever..is a doctor of anything 'she needs to be' and is going to lead us to my husband's father, a man who was lost at sea before his son was born and who supposedly traveled through.. time..with my mother-in-law but was never mentioned by her at all until this..letter arrived right after her funeral." She fixed the Doctor with a withering scowl. "I don't buy it..you're a total fraud." Daniel wasn't used to seeing someone else as the recipient of his wife's ire, but it was just as unnerving.

The Doctor sighed and shook her head gently. "A bit of skepticism can be useful in the right places, but right now is not the time. You just need some evidence, that's all. Right. Now, let's discuss the anatomical significance of the.."

Zoe tapped her dad's shoulder. He leaned down to listen to her, noting in passing how much taller she'd gotten in the last few months. "This is going to take a while, isn't it?"

Daniel nodded. "You know how your mother gets." He listened to the conversation, marveling at the Doctor's breadth and width of knowledge of his profession and how rapidly she could lecture upon it. Criosa's face was steadily falling even as she interjected the most complicated questions he had ever heard from her only to have the Doctor comprehensively answer them without the slightest hesitation. Zoe had gone to the window and was looking quizzically through it.

"Dad, there's a..huge blue thing on the porch..it says..'Police Public Call Box' on it?!"

"What?" Daniel said quietly. He stood up and walked over to her. When he first saw it, he thought like he was looking at an impossibility..how could the Doctor have carried this onto the porch by herself? It looked too bulky and heavy for even a very strong individual to move any significant distance. The feeling of familiarity that he had been experiencing ever since she arrived seemed even stronger now.

He walked over to the front door and opened it, looking out at the front of the house. He could see the driveway and front yard which were illuminated by a strong light at the top of an old, slightly rusted antenna tower next to the house. He didn't see any footmarks or any other indications of an object being dragged through the grass or the gravel. The air was rank with the scent of rain and he saw a far off flash of lightning but otherwise, the weather was calm. He took a step outside and turned towards the blue..thing..on the porch, his mind racing as he tried to figure out some angle he had missed, something obvious that he just couldn't think of at the moment. He gazed at the object, trying and failing to find anything rational about its presence.

"Hey Dad, I think they're just about finished," said Zoe, breaking his reverie.

"Oh..oh, thank you, Zo," said Daniel. He took a breath and stepped back inside. His wife was standing, looking rather crestfallen while the Doctor had taken a seat on the couch. She had gotten out part of his mother's tea set and was drinking from a teacup. Smells like chamomile..my mom's favorite.

Criosa shook her head slowly and said "Well, you have more knowledge and experience by far than any other vet I've ever known. I'm..willing to believe that you're more than qualified to call yourself one. Everything else you've said seems impossible, though."

"'Oh day and night, but this is wondrous strange! And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy,'" said the Doctor as she finished her tea. "Oh, that's lovely. Now, then, let's be off."

"Yes Doctor, we've all read Hamlet," said Criosa with a hint of irritation. "So where are you taking us? Do you know where his father is, somehow?"

"I think you should all sit down for this, to be honest," said the Doctor. She put down her teacup and stood up. Almost before they knew it, Daniel and his family were sitting together on the couch. "Right. Now, this is one of the things your mother didn't tell you, Daniel." She paused. "Your father is from another world entirely. I don't know if he's alive or not right now, but he's not on Earth."

There was a long silence. I...must have misheard her somehow, with that accent, Daniel thought. Otherwise, that statement is absolutely preposterous. He turned as his wife suddenly burst out with a loud, raucous laugh.

"I'm sorry, Doctor..honestly, you are the most brilliant person I've ever met and I'm sure that you could somehow find a way to locate my husband's father on this planet. But to say that he's..an alien of some kind?" she said with a wide, fallacious grin. "I've heard there's a thin line between genius and insanity..and it looks like you crossed it a long time ago." Her smiling countenance instantly vanished and was replaced with a cold stare.

The Doctor shrugged and said, "Well, that's not the first time I've been accused of such..won't be the last, either." She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Now, I could persuade you otherwise with a few words, but I know that you won't be satisfied without some empirical evidence." She motioned to the door. "Daniel, I saw that you took a peep at m'TARDIS just a bit ago. Not surprised..your mum and the TARDIS got along really smashingly," she said wistfully.

"TARDIS? What is that supposed to be?" said Criosa, shaking her head ruefully.

"Cri, it's the..ah, blue box that's sitting on the front porch right now..it's..um, how she got here. Somehow," Daniel said, a bit sheepishly.

Criosa gave him a dubious glance. "A blue box. Really."

"Yes, it's right there," he said, turning and pointing, "And I don't know how she got it there..or what those noises were just before she arrived, but I think we should take a look..why not?" She glared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment, then sighed and stood up.

"Fine..let's go see this TARDIS..whatever..thing." The Doctor had already started for the door. Before Daniel could follow, Criosa beckoned him and Zoe over. "This is likely a trick..keep your eyes open," she said in a low hiss. Before either her husband or daughter could respond, she was already walking swiftly towards the porch; the Doctor had left the door open.

"Ah good, you're all here," said the Doctor when they all got outside a few moments later. "So, this is m'TARDIS," she said, gesturing to the blue box. "With her, I can go anywhere in space and time," she said proudly.

"Right...sure...." said Criosa under her breath. Daniel gave her a caustic look and took a step forward.

"So..this is what you and my mom were traveling in?" Even if she's right somehow how could something like this...be capable of something that extraordinary..?

The Doctor nodded. "Quite right, Daniel. There's definitely more to her than you might think." Daniel looked more closely and saw there was a double door, the left side of which had a black placard with white lettering; all he could make out on it was "Police Telephone Free For Use of Public" and "Pull to Open" on the bottom. The Doctor opened the rightmost door and gestured. "Let's go inside, now. Everything you'll need for our journey is in there."

Daniel and his family looked inside the TARDIS, all of them focusing intently. Daniel shook his head..he knew he had been there before..it made no sense at all, but it felt like home. He took another step and gazed more deeply into it.

He fell to one knee with an instant, massive headache. "What..what the.." he said, gasping loudly. The Doctor shook her head and quickly stepped over to help him up.

"Don't look at it too closely until you're inside, Daniel..you might lose yourself otherwise," she said in a far more serious tone than anything he'd heard from her previously. Daniel nodded and looked away, towards the still and dark woods.

"What are you talking about?" said Criosa. "All I see in there is a wall with an old-fashioned phone; why you are freaking out about that?"

"I don't see that, Mom," said Zoe, leaning forward. "It looks like..I don't know..everything's in there..all creation or something..and it's telling us to come inside."

"Zozo, that's absolute nonsense..you know better than to say things like that," said Criosa, frowning. The Doctor, though, smiled approvingly.

"She's a lot closer to the truth than you think. Now, Daniel..I think you're going to have to close your eyes to get in. I'll guide you."

Daniel looked back at his family. Zoe was nodding encouragingly while Criosa's face was oscillating between indignation and resignation. "Okay..let's go," he said, closing his eyes. He felt the Doctor's surprisingly firm yet cold hand guiding him forward over the creaky boards of the porch he and his mom had spent so much time together on..especially in the summer evenings, drinking lemonade and watching the fireflies after getting all the animals in.

"Right. Mind your step," the Doctor said as they entered. Daniel immediately felt very warm, welcomed, and loved. Gemütlichkeit..that's it. That's what I'm feeling.. The surface felt odd under his formal shoes but solid enough to walk on.

"You can open your eyes now, Daniel," the Doctor said. He slowly did so and gasped, taking a step back involuntarily. He quickly turned around and saw the other side of the entrance to the TARDIS inset in a giant wall with interwoven hexagons. Just before that were more hexagons surrounding an irregularly shaped archway. He turned again and gaped in astonishment at the center of the large, unimaginable space he found himself in.

There were two concentric circles elevated about the floor upon which he stood; the outermost one had a deep blue floor with inlaid hexagons at its cardinal points along with white horizontal lines between them. The inner one was elevated slightly above its companion and had six large golden wooden structures that resembled crooked fingers all around its perimeter; a seventh one rose from the very center, ringed with a riotous array of wires, devices, and contraptions that Daniel couldn't make any sense of.

The rim of each circle had an intricate set of similarly indecipherable runes on them. All of this was enclosed by an extensive cluster of towering blue, seemingly crystalline hexagons, fading to a golden color at their base.

"So, what do you think?" said the Doctor, her voice full of pride.

"I...um...the.." Daniel said, feeling genuinely dumbfounded for the first time in many years. Then, a thought came to him. "The..interior is incongruous with the exterior..?!"

The Doctor laughed, clapping her hands. "Well, that's a different way of putting it. Right, let's get your fam in here and be on our way." She turned and walked vigorously towards the entrance. "Zoe, Dr. Sheridan, you can come in now," she said, calling through the open door.

Zoe ran in enthusiastically and stopped suddenly. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell agape in wonder. "Dad! This..this...is..AMAZING!" she said gleefully. "Why didn't Grandma tell us about this? We wouldn't have told anyone!" she said, gesturing wildly. "I can't believe she was riding around in..in this!"

"Well, not exactly," said the Doctor, smiling. "The TARDIS changes as I do. I didn't look like I do now when I knew your Gram, actually."

"What do you mean by that, Doctor?" said Daniel. At this point, he didn't know how many more shocks he could take but he was also ready to believe almost anything.

The Doctor was about to respond but was interrupted by the sound of heavy footfalls. They all turned to see Criosa stomping inside, her head down. "I don't know what kind of smoke and mirrors you've got going on here, but it's a very impressive...illusion.." she said as she looked up. She halted and her eyes widened as she looked all around. In all the years that Daniel had known his wife, he had never seen her look this shocked or bewildered. She started gasping rapidly, putting her hand on her chest.

"Well, Dr. Sheridan..is this sufficient evidence for you?" said the Doctor gently.

"I...I...I'm starting to believe..this..this is too much," she said, breathing heavily. Daniel ran to her side and put an arm around her shoulders, but she waved him off and took a few deep breaths.

"I just have one question, Doctor. Why us? Why us when you have..all of this?" she said dejectedly, gesturing around her. "You can go anywhere and any..when, and you're spending your time with dumb humans like us?"

"Criosa," the Doctor said sharply. "I don't want to hear you calling yourselves dumb or stupid or any such rubbish. I know very well all the good and evil, the compassion and the cruelty and everything in between that humans have done..and will do." She paused, tapping her chin rapidly. "What year is this, actually?"

"2019," said Daniel and his family in unison. The Doctor looked astonished for a split second before resuming her usual expression.

"Oh..oh dear..right, anyway, humanity as a whole has such..massive, wonderful potential in the long term..provided you get there. I've had many human companions before, actually. And, not to brag or anything, but I've also saved this planet from invasion or destruction on..quite a few occasions," she said, her tone bittersweet.

"So..extraterrestrials are real," said Daniel slowly. And apparently, my father is one, he thought before fearfully dismissing that particular idea. "But why would aliens want to go after this particular planet..which is, as I'm sure you know far better than any of us, extremely insignificant on the cosmic scale?"

The Doctor paused. "They have their reasons..just as I have mine. Right. Let's get ready to go."

"But where are we going?" said Criosa in a subdued manner. "And if you are an alien as well, why do you look so much like us?" The Doctor smiled and started walking towards the console at the center.

"She was right about you..so many questions..well, my physiology is quite different; the main points of interest are that I have two hearts and a much lower body temperature, to put it briefly. As to where we're going," she said as she started rapidly adjusting levers and flicking switches, "That's something else you'll have to see for yourself."

She ran to the other side of the console, turning knobs and peering into what looked like monitors from Daniel's perspective. "Oh, right, before I forget..don't worry about your practice or Zoe missing school or anything like that. No matter how long it takes to find your father, it'll be tomorrow morning when we come back. Right," she said with a grin. "All's ready."

Daniel tried to take a few deep breaths but his heart was racing as he frantically pondered the situation. His mother had accompanied a time-traveling alien for an unspecified amount of time. During that time, she had met his father. He must have been from another humanoid species that they encountered..otherwise, I could never have passed for human..assuming this is all somehow true. Heh, it's no wonder that DNA test couldn't determine anything about my paternal origins, he thought, a bemused expression on his face.

"Doctor?" said Zoe, looking around. "Where are we going to sit when you blast off..or whatever it is the TARDIS does?"

"Well, we're not going to blast off," said the Doctor thoughtfully. "No need to..and I don't think the TARDIS would like that if I tried. Instead, after you're all in bed, I'm going to throw this lever here," she said, quickly pointing to it, "and when you wake up..we'll be there."

"And..where are we going to sleep?" said Criosa, glancing about. "This floor doesn't look all that comfortable."

"Oh no, that would be rude of me," said the Doctor, folding her arms. "Perish the thought. No, your bedrooms are down that corridor over there," she said, quickly pointing to their right as she made a few more minute adjustments.

"Oh..alright. Thank you, Doctor," said Criosa, walking in that direction. "I am rather tired, come to think of it," she said under her breath. She covered her mouth as she walked, yawning loudly. Daniel looked at his daughter and she seemed to be just as exhausted. She followed her mother while yawning and stretching.

"Good night, Doctor!" she said over her shoulder.

"Good night, dear," said the Doctor. "I'll be here in the morning." Daniel had so many more questions to ask, but he abruptly felt more fatigued than he could ever remember feeling. He trailed after his family, mumbling something resembling "Good night" to the Doctor.

The entrance to the corridor was hexagonal and completely dark, but as they entered, it seemed to shift and turn into the hallway in the upper level of his mother's house. Daniel started and turned around; there was only the same darkness behind him.

"This is so weird, Dad," said Zoe, groggily. "This has to be a dream.."

"Well..let's just get in our beds and go to sleep..might be the only way to wake up..and escape.." said Criosa. They continued towards the bedrooms, Daniel marveling at how accurate the decor was along with how the floorboards creaked in the same places.

He and Criosa entered his old bedroom, exactly as it was when they had gotten up this morning, except for their pajamas, which were neatly laid out on the bed.

"Mom? Dad?" said Criosa from the guest room across the hall. "Do I need to brush my teeth, too?"

"No, Zozo, just go to sleep..we'll see you in the morning. Good night, we love you," Criosa said absently as she quickly changed into the muted long-sleeved shirt and yoga pants that were on the bed. Daniel was quite glad to take off his formal wear as well and put on a blue t-shirt and pajama pants. Without a word, Criosa slipped under the covers and snoring quietly within a few seconds.

I guess she figured this wasn't worth talking about anymore. Well, we'll just wake up tomorrow morning and it'll all be over.. he thought as he sat on the bed, turned off the lamp, and put his phone in its usual spot on the nightstand. He then did the same with his wedding ring as he got under the warm flannel sheets and feather comforter.

He was asleep before he knew it.

When he awoke after a deep and dreamless rest, the room was still dark. That's strange, he thought. Although, we did go to bed rather early last night..when did we go to bed, anyway? He glanced over at the digital clock that had been in this room since he was in elementary school, but it was blank. What, did another storm roll through here and knock out the power? He reached for his phone, but knocked it to the floor; it hit the carpet with a subdued thump. What the..my hand feels really weird..like..something's missing. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to go back to sleep.

An indeterminate amount of time later, he sighed and opened his eyes. Well, she's still sleeping, somehow, he thought, glancing over at his wife in the very dim light. Something looked odd about her hair, though..it seemed like it was a far brighter shade of red than it normally looked. He rolled back over, wondering why his body felt so much smaller than normal..and why his hair felt so much longer. And why does it also feel like there's something..hairy attached to my rear?

He snorted and sighed. I need to figure this out..I'll go to the bathroom and turn the light on in there. He tried to gently take his covers off and eventually managed to after several attempts. I can't feel my fingers at all..what is going on.. He tried to sit up and unceremoniously fell off the bed. He groaned as softly as he could, listening intently. Criosa stopped snoring for a moment and it sounded like she was moving around a bit. Then, with what sounded like a soft whinny, she resumed her slumber.

OK..next problem. Why aren't my legs working correctly, either? Did I have a stroke or some other neurological episode while I was sleeping? Could it be botulism? He thought for a few moments, then shook his head. No..none of the symptoms match. He slowly tried to stand up again and managed to prop his hands on the bed, but when he let go and tried to turn and walk, he lost his balance and fell heavily on all fours.

This is like nothing I've ever read about..this has to be a dream or a dream within a dream..or a lucid one..perhaps it all started when the Doctor arrived.. He took a few breaths and tried to orient himself.

Okay..the bathroom should be straight ahead. If I have to get there while walking on my hands, then so be it; no one's here to watch. To his surprise, he found that he could move quite easily while doing so. The bathroom door was slightly ajar and he was able to push it open with whatever was masquerading as his hand.

He walked in and shut the door behind him, hoping the click of the latch bolt would be sufficiently quiet. When the door was closed, he went to the leftmost wall and propped his left arm against it. Then, he tried reaching for the switch with his other limb, hoping he could push it up from the bottom. After a few tries, he was able to flick it on and let himself down.

The recessed lights activated and he winced from the sudden glare. He found himself looking at the wall as he opened his eyes..the whole room seemed significantly larger to him compared to yesterday. OK..time to see what happened to my hands. He took a deep breath and looked down.

Instead of arms and hands, his extremities resembled that of the forelimbs and hooves of a horse. He snorted disgustedly as he turned his right hoof over and looked clinically at it. If I'm going to dream I have horse limbs, how could I screw up the anatomy this badly? He took a few steps over to the sink and pulled himself up on the countertop. While his rear legs couldn't quite touch the floor, he was able to get enough of his front knees onto the surface to support himself.

He slowly lifted his head and then gasped in terror. He still had his light blue eyes, but his blond hair was now a striking shade of yellow..and had become a mane. He slowly glanced over his shoulder to see that he had a tail, colored the same shade as his mane; there also seemed to be strange markings on his hindquarters. He looked back into the mirror and saw that the rest of his body was now a vibrant blue. His ears seemed close enough to a horse's, but the muzzle and general shape of his head were not close to being accurate.

Wait..why do I have a horn on my forehead? I'm...a unicorn?! He started breathing rapidly and tried to pinch himself with his hooves but had no luck. Okay..I can still work the faucet...wake up...wake up...wake up.. He pushed the handle up and to the right with a hoof and then ran both of his forelegs through the stream of cold water.

He didn't wake up.

He splashed the water on his face.

He didn't wake up.

He stopped the water and took a deep breath. There was a brief silence.

He began to scream.

Author's Note

Version 1.0

Chapter 3

This can't be happening..this can't be happening.. It had been a few years since he had had a panic attack, but what was left of his rational mind could tell he was in the middle of one. He slipped off the counter and fell to the bathroom floor on his hooves, though he barely felt it. How could this happen..my life is over..it's all over..this is impossible..how could this happen... He curled up on the floor, hyperventilating, weeping, and screaming repeatedly.

In between his desperate cries, he heard movement in the bedroom. There was a muttered expletive along with a loud, disgusted snort. "What in the world is going on?! Daniel, is that you? I was having a nice dream for once..where are you, anyway?" said a loud voice, only slightly muffled by the door.

Daniel stopped screaming for a moment while still breathing rapidly. There's no other way around it now.. "I'm..I'm in here."

There was a short pause. "Daniel..I don't know what it's like to lose a parent, especially when your mother was the only family you had," Criosa said calmly. "I know you're absolutely terrified right now, but you have to pull yourself together..if just so we can get some sleep. Now..take a deep breath. Let it out. It's going to be okay."

I don't know if it's going to be..I don't know how to fix this. Still, he took a few deep breaths and let them out slowly.

"Okay..I'm glad you've stopped for now. Daniel, you can come out and we'll talk it over in the morning," she said. "Though I don't know why I can't turn the light on..my hand feels really weird. Was there something in those leftovers?"

Oh boy... "I'll..I'll be right out." His breathing hadn't slowed down all that much, but he was feeling slightly more lucid. It took a few tries, but he managed to get enough of his hoof on the doorknob to turn it and give it a slight nudge. He then pushed it open and walked slowly into the bedroom.

"Daniel? Where are you? I thought we got rid of that creepy animatronic horse toy a long time ago..what is it doing in here?" she said, still sounding half-asleep. He could faintly see her equine-like form in the light from the bathroom as she continued flailing at the switch for her bedside lamp. He blinked several times and took a few deep breaths. He wasn't close to being completely calm, but this was likely the best he could manage at the moment.

"Criosa, sweetheart..I know you're not going to believe this..but it's me. I'm the..ah, little horse-like thing."

"Very funny," she said derisively. "Can you see what's wrong with my hand? I can't feel my fingers at all..I can't get a grip on this dumb chain."

"I'll..give it a try," he said. This is not going to go well. He trotted into the shadows and to the other side of the bed. He could see Criosa somewhat more clearly now and she appeared to have been similarly converted into an equine version of herself, albeit with more vibrant tones of red in her mane and green in her eyes.

"Great, I'm hallucinating as well..that toy is moving around by itself. I thought that dream with that crazy 'Doctor' lady and her nightmarish blue box was bad enough," she said as Daniel reached the lamp.

"Okay, I'm going to try now," he said, a bit unsteadily. He thought for a moment and crooked a hoof around the end of the chain. If I can get enough of a grip between the bulb and the fetlock.. He was able to do so and turn the lamp on.

They both flinched at the light and Daniel turned his head to the right, towards the wall. When he turned back, his wife was staring at her hooves in sheer terror. She was shaking violently and tears were running down her face. As Daniel tried to climb onto the bed, she made incoherent noises while gasping loudly; he had never seen her in such a state.

After a few attempts, he was able to get on top of the covers and then slide over to his wife. He put a hoof around her shoulders and held her, noting in passing how surprisingly muscular she was. Just being next to her was helping to improve his own frantic state; he could feel her beginning to calm as well.

"Daniel.." she said unsteadily after a few minutes. "I..don't even know what's real anymore. This..this is all wrong.." She wrapped her nearest hoof around him tightly and sighed heavily as more of her tears stained the covers.

"I know..our anatomy right now isn't even close to being right," he said with a hint of levity. She gave him a sideways glance and snorted.

"Well yeah, I noticed that, too..but that's not the point! The Doctor..the TARDIS..your father..is any of this really happening?! How could it be?!" she said, waving her free hoof about.

"I think it's real..all of it. I..tried splashing myself in the bathroom earlier when I discovered..what had happened to me." She shook her head and looked away.

"That only works in fiction..I don't know where that idea came from..but even if this isn't real..there doesn't seem to be any way out of it," she said glumly. She turned back to look at him with fear in her eyes. He looked back, trying to show resolve even if he didn't truly feel it. He could feel himself blushing slightly as he gazed into her eyes.

"Well..whatever form you happen to be in..you're still quite beautiful," he said softly with a wan smile. Her expression hardened instantly and she swiftly turned away, letting go of him.

"Stop it," she said coldly. "We're both hideous monstrosities now and you know it."

"Criosa, I told you not to be so cruel to yourself. I think you both look rather lovely, actually," said a voice from the door. They both turned to see the equine form of the Doctor trotting into the bedroom. Much like Daniel and his wife, her hair had been turned into a corresponding, more lively mane, though her eyes looked much the same. Aside from a set of elaborate earrings, she wore no other clothing or accessories. "Ah, good, you're both awake. Right, Daniel, we've got a lot of work to do before we'll be ready to go and
find your father."

He heard a sharp intake of breath from his wife and instinctively moved away from her. "You...you...was this your plan all along?! Is this your true form and you've turned us into one of you?! I demand you make us human again immediately!" Criosa yelled, pointing a hoof at the Doctor and shaking it violently.

She shrugged and continued towards the bed. Daniel noted in passing that she had an emblem of an hourglass on her hindquarters as she reached Criosa's bedside, seemingly indifferent to the invective being hurled her way. "Dr. Sheridan, I'm not responsible for this..not directly, anyway. This is what happens to anyone who is not native to this planet..a very interesting effect to which even I'm not immune," she said evenly, looking intently at Criosa. "As soon as we return to Earth, you will revert to your..original forms."

Daniel wasn't sure if it was those words or something else the Doctor was doing that he couldn't perceive, but his wife calmed down at once, though her expression was still rather offended.

"What is this planet, then, Doctor?" he said, moving a bit closer to the two mares. I suppose they are, now..and I'm a stallion. Who would've thought..

"This planet is in the galaxy that you know as NGC 4622, close to 200 million light-years from Earth. It is in the constellation Centaurus, which appears in your southern hemisphere. In many aspects, it is similar to Earth, but there are many significant differences and you need to learn them."

"What do the locals call this planet?" said Daniel, his mind reeling at the distance that they had traveled seemingly overnight.

"Translated into English..it's also known as Earth. However, we should only need to concern ourselves with the nation we're currently in, which is called Equestria," the Doctor said with a smile.

Criosa snorted and shook her head. "Seems fitting, if a bit on the nose," she said, grimacing. "Is that what we are now..Equestrians?"

"No, ponies," the Doctor said quickly. "You and I, Dr. Sheridan, are what are known as earth ponies. Physically strong and wise in the ways of the earth itself..they also help change the seasons. Daniel here is a unicorn; his horn allows him to manipulate his environment with his mind..the most powerful unicorns can be quite formidable."

"Ponies.." said Daniel thoughtfully. "Well, we do seem to be rather small equine-like creatures." Criosa's eyes widened as if she had just realized something.

"Zoe..where's Zoe?!" she said desperately. "I've got to..gah!" She fell from the bed but the Doctor caught her and gently set her down in one swift motion. She then helped her up back onto her hooves.

"Zoe's quite all right," said the Doctor soothingly. "She's in the control room."

"Cri, are you okay?" said Daniel as he slowly slid off the bed next to her. She shook her head as she reared up and tried to take a few steps on her back legs. She couldn't maintain her balance, though, and put her front hooves out to break the fall.

"Walk like a horse, Criosa," said the Doctor. "That's the first thing to master." She glared back, looking quite embarrassed at the thought.

"Fine..oh, this isn't so bad," she said. "So, this is what it feels like for them.." she said, her voice trailing off. The Doctor and Daniel followed closely as she left the bedroom and headed back towards the TARDIS's control room.

"Ah good, Daniel..you've figured it out as well."

"I..had a little practice beforehand," he said, chuckling slightly.

"Beforehoof," said the Doctor. "You can't use any metaphors or similes that relate to hands or feet here. Also, use anypony instead of anyone." Daniel blinked and snorted lightly.

"I..see. We've got a lot to learn, as you said." He tilted his head slightly as a thought came to him. "Doctor, you seem rather blasé about being a pony now. I think I'm still completely terrified about this..just hasn't hit me yet," he said with a tense grin.

The Doctor shrugged as they passed through the darkness and back into the control room. "I transform all the time, actually..I've gotten rather accustomed to it. I've never been a mare before, though..this is fascinating," she said cheerfully. Daniel contemplated this as they caught up with Criosa. Her expression was worried as she looked all about.

"Doctor, you said she'd be here.." The Doctor smiled and pointed upwards.

"Zoe, dear, your parents are down here," she said, calling to the ceiling. Daniel heard a sharp, excited gasp from above along with what sounded like the beating of..wings?

"Mom! Dad! Look at me! I can fly!"

He looked up to see his daughter, now a light blue-winged pony, gliding far above them. She's..what..100 feet up?! he thought.

"Zoe, come down here!" Criosa said frantically. "I can barely see you!"

"I'm fine, Mom!" Zoe said, flapping her wings. "This is the best thing ever!"

"Doctor! Does she know what she's doing?!" said Criosa. The Doctor nodded and smiled, looking at the little pegasus with pride.

"She's doing smashingly, as you can see..she came out here earlier, actually. All I had to do was give her some tips..and she did the rest."

"I've never seen her so happy, my dear," said Daniel, putting his hoof around his wife's shoulder. She continued watching her daughter swoop and soar, a wide mixture of emotions playing out on her face.

"Me..either," she said after a time. "This is too much..it really is."

"Zoe, time to come down," said the Doctor. "Your mum and dad want to see you up close."

"Aww..ok!" said Zoe. She started descending, beating her wings in a steady rhythm until she landed softly several feet in front of her parents. Her mane and tail were slightly tangled arrangements of her usual strawberry blond hair, while her eyes were an even deeper shade of blue than their human counterparts. When she saw the other ponies, she gasped and galloped towards them.

"You got turned into ponies too?!" she said as she reached her father and wrapped her hooves around his neck. "Aww..you're so fluffy, Dad!" Daniel chuckled and returned her hug. For a moment, he felt absolutely wonderful.

"Zoe..please don't do that again. I almost had a heart attack," said Criosa as she walked over and embraced her daughter. Zoe turned her head towards her mother and pouted, which somehow looked even cuter as a pony.

"Aww, Mom..you're fluffy and adorable too, why are you being so grumpy?" she said, still pouting.

"Yes, Dr. Sheridan, I happen to agree with that assessment of your adorableness," said the Doctor playfully. "Right. Now that we're all here, here's the plan. For the next four days, you are all going to immerse yourselves in Equestrian history, culture, customs, geography, common expressions, pony anatomy, and anything else we will need. Then, we will go to Ponyville, which is the closest town, and begin our search."

"Well, that's the most generic name ever," said Criosa. Zoe was now standing next to Daniel, wagging her tail rapidly. The Doctor smiled and waved her hoof gently at the filly.

"First lesson, Zoe..you're not a dog. Ponies don't usually move their tails all that much, as doing so is considered immodest."

"Oh..I'm sorry," she said as she looked at the floor and folded her ears down.

"It's quite all right, my dear..you'll figure it out. Right. We are currently in what is known as the Everfree Forest. It's a completely untamed region where ponies fear to tread..the fact that the weather here is natural unnerves them."

"What, they control the weather otherwise?" Daniel said. "They possess that level of technology?"

The Doctor shook her head. "That is the main job of the pegasus ponies..not only can they fly and walk on clouds without falling through, they also can manipulate the weather according to the needs of the local populace."

Daniel's eyes widened and he shook his head and mane. "Very interesting.."

"Quite. Now, while no one can enter the TARDIS without my permission, it would be rather inconvenient to find a regiment of troops waiting for us when we step outside," said the Doctor, with no trace of humor.

"And..why would there theoretically be troops waiting for us?" said Criosa with a hint of scorn. "Is there something you're not telling us?"

"Oh, there are many, many things I'm not telling you," said the Doctor with a droll expression. "In this case, it's that, the last time I was here, Princess Celestia said she would be..quite displeased if I returned."

"Princess Celestia? Who's the king, then?" said Daniel, rubbing his muzzle.

"There's no king..she is the monarch of Equestria, but she delegates her power equitably and has ruled for close to one thousand years as of now. And yes, years here are roughly equivalent to Earth's."

There was a silence as Daniel and his family tried to process that statement. "I'm glad she's not a dictator," said Criosa. "They're bad enough as they are, but an immortal one?" She shuddered.

"Immortal, probably not..very long-lived, yes. Even in the worst case, I'm sure I could persuade her to allow us to find your father, Daniel. After all, you are half Equestrian..and Zoe is a quarter."

"So Zoe," said Daniel with a wry smirk, "does that make you a quarter horse?"

She tilted her head at him, then snorted and nickered. "Dad..." she said, rolling her eyes. "Not funny.."

"Unfortunately for you..and fortunately for her, 'dad jokes' are not part of Equestrian culture," said the Doctor, waving a hoof back and forth. "Right. The first thing we're going to do is create your pony names..and we have to get used to calling each other by them. Until we return to Earth, I will be Dr. Time Turner..you can still call me Doctor, just don't make a habit of it. Now then, shift to your right and line up so I can see your cutie marks."

"Cutie marks," Criosa said flatly. "What a stupid name..is that what's on your hindquarters?" she said as she and her family turned and moved as directed.

Time Turner nodded. "Yes, every pony has a unique one appear when they come of age..according to the ponies, they 'denote one's special talent and/or destiny' and the acquisition of one is a cause for celebration."

"Wait..so this 'cutie mark' is what determines what a pony does with their life?" said Daniel, his brow furrowing.

"That's basically right, yes."

"Bah..Mein Schicksal ist mein allein! I will determine my own destiny and not be subject to the whims of an arbitrary mark!" Daniel said grandiosely. He heard snickering from the other ponies and snorted. "Well, we'll be back on Earth soon enough, so it's just an irrelevant decoration." Still..I am half Equestrian.. he thought, starting to feel worried.

"That's a..reasonable way of putting it," said Time Turner. "Now then..your mark is a clock ringed by scythes..the hands point to 7:07..your name shall be Chronos, after the personification of time," she said somberly. "Very odd that you would have that mark..and be a unicorn."

"Why's that, Doc..Time Turner?" said Chronos, trying to wrap his mind around his new name.

"Your father's name is Rambling Wind; he's an earth pony. Your mother was also one and her pony name was Flowing Stream. Still, Equestrian genetics are rather unpredictable, given how often over the centuries the three types of
ponies have had offspring together."

Rambling Wind.. he thought, trying to picture his father. Nothing clear came to his mind, though.

"Like how..Chronos..and I had a pegasus, apparently?" said Criosa.

"Indeed so," said Time Turner, nodding. "As for you..your mark is a fireball colliding with a wall of ice..your name shall be Frostfire."

"Frostfire," she said softly. She thought for several moments then shrugged. "I can live with it."

Time Turner nodded. "And finally..well, you don't have a cutie mark and you might not get one before we return, so.."

"Doctor Turner, can I pick my name? Please?" said Zoe, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Of course you can," said Time Turner. "What do you have in mind?"

"I want to be Storm Chaser!" she said, hovering about a foot above the ground in her excitement. "Dad, when we get back, can we start storm chasing next year like you said we could? I think I'm old enough now and if I can handle turning into a pony and exploring an alien planet, I could handle anything, right? Right?"

"I said we'd think about it..Storm," said Chronos, holding up a hoof and smiling.

"Yay!" said Storm Chaser. She jumped and flew around for a bit before her mother's disapproving glare brought her back down.

"That's settled, then," said Time Turner. "Let's have some breakfast..and then begin your studies." She pointed to three separate stacks of books to her left, one shorter than the rest. There was a wooden table nearby filled with a wide assortment of fruits, vegetables, and what looked like bottles of juice.

Chronos chuckled ruefully and started trotting over, his family following.

On the evening of the third day since his arrival in Equestria, Chronos was sitting in a recreation of his study at home..a small, intimate room with his collection of books and curiosities along with a set of comfortable chairs. The TARDIS had adapted them into pony-sized versions and he was curled up in one, reading a text about Equestrian holidays. The Doctor mentioned that it's spring right now, so the next one should be the Summer Sun Celebration, if I remember correctly, he thought as he looked over a list of the major festivals. His eyes were starting to grow weary, though, despite the reading glasses he was wearing.

He sighed and closed the book with a hoof. Time for some more practice.. He concentrated hard on channeling his will and he began to feel an increasingly familiar tingle in his horn. The book became enveloped in a light blue, sparkling tint and began to slowly rise. He then focused on moving it horizontally, towards a neatly stacked assortment of volumes.

He managed to levitate it to the stack, but instead of sliding it neatly on top, he lost his focus and the book fell with a thump on top of the others, slightly askew. He snorted and got up to adjust it. Almost there..maybe I'm just tired. And still overwhelmed.

After he did so, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," he said. It opened to reveal his wife, looking rather dour.

"This room creeps me out..for a moment, I think I'm home and then I remember.." she said with a sigh.

"We can't deny where we are..and tomorrow morning, it'll be time to go out into this world..strangers in a strange land, yes?" He motioned towards the opposite chair. "Let's talk..we haven't really had a chat since we arrived."

She sighed and flopped into the chair. "At least this is just as comfortable as the real one," she said under her breath.

"Oh, check this out," he said excitedly. He turned his head and looked at a button on the wall. His horn lit up and, while it took a few seconds, he was able to push it, igniting the fireplace. "Pretty neat, eh?"

She snorted and tossed her mane. "Must be nice..I've had to learn how to do everything with either my hooves..or my mouth. Still, learning how to 'buck' trees has been surprisingly satisfying..not that I'll likely need to use that particular 'skill', but the Doctor wants to be prepared, it seems." She stared at the flickering flames, holding her hooves out.

"Indeed..it's just like cramming for exams back at State..though hopefully, we'll retain it as long as we need to." He paused and used his horn to carefully lift his reading glasses off of his nose and onto the table between the chairs. "I'm getting better..but I'm so slow at this. Every..pony is going to wonder what's wrong with me..but, if the Doctor thinks I'm ready, I'll trust her judgment."

"I don't trust her," Frostfire said, bitterly. "After a few days with her, I honestly think she's making everything up as she goes along..but she's so frickin' intelligent, wise, and observant that it just looks like she planned everything all along." She leaned forward slightly. "Our lives could all depend on her ability to improvise."

"I don't know if I entirely agree with everything you're saying..but we'll see what happens when we get out into this world," said Chronos. He leaned back and took a deep breath. "I'm really nervous..but very excited about what we might see. Think about it, Cr..Frost. We're going to go where..well, only my mother has gone before," he said wistfully.

"Well, Equestria seems far too good to be true," his wife said with a frown. "There's got to be something going on that's not in their history books..how does their society have nearly one thousand years of peace and prosperity and not stagnate as a culture or technologically? Everything I read about Princess Celestia was like a hagiography..she can't be that flawless." She looked down, lightly tapping a hoof on the cushion. "I don't trust these ponies, period."

"I hope we can trust my father, at least." He looked at the fire, grateful for its warmth even as his mind started to race; it hadn't stopped for all that long during the last few days. "I keep thinking about all of the different possibilities..about what kind of pony he is. All the Doctor would tell me is that he's an itinerant, a vagabond who has a principle of never staying in one place for more than a few days."

"I think the Doctor is much the same..she's gotten increasingly eager to get moving. In this case, I feel the same way." She looked up and peered intently at her husband. "By the way, we still need to have that discussion we've been putting off when this is all said and done," she said grimly. "All of this insanity isn't going to change anything."

He looked back at her with a mournful expression. "I..didn't expect anything different."

"Well, I'm glad you're being realistic even in this nonsensical world." She stood up and headed for the door. "Good night. I'll see you in the morning," she said as she left.

Chronos could only gaze forlornly into the fire.

The next morning, he felt energized and enthusiastic. Every other pony was as well, except for Frostfire. "Why do we have to wear saddlebags?" she said grumpily to Time Turner. "I'm not some pack animal."

"We don't need to carry terribly much," said Time Turner, unperturbed. "Just camping supplies, some food and water, brollies and slickers, our personal supplies, and a few other things. It's completely normal for ponies to use them. I think they look lovely on us, actually."

Frostfire shook her head and frowned, but said nothing else.

"Right. Let's be off." She walked towards the entrance of the TARDIS and pushed it open with a hoof. Chronos and Storm Chaser were behind her, with Frostfire in the back. The door opened to reveal a tranquil, deep forest, the verdant floor illuminated by the sunshine filtering through the canopy. It was silent, aside from a few birdcalls echoing through the thick, tall trees. It's..absolutely beautiful, Chronos thought. And brighter than I thought it would be..

Time Turner seemed lost in thought as she left the TARDIS, looking about rapidly. Chronos took a short breath and stepped onto Equestrian soil for the first time, feeling his hooves sink slightly into the moss.

"This is so cool!" said Storm Chaser, bouncing on the ground. Her mother emerged, looking awestruck.

"It feels..and smells..so..undisturbed. Like we're in a..Bob Ross painting..doesn't seem real," she said, her tone subdued. "I know, I know..no references to anything from Earth," she said before anypony else could respond.

"Hey Mom..is it okay if I fly above the trees?" said Storm. "I want to see what's up there!" She didn't wait for an answer before she started her wings and ascended, but Time Turner held a hoof up and she descended just as quickly, looking slightly abashed.

"This is different now..when I was here 40 years ago from now, it was a lot darker," she said, her eyes darting all around. "Let's find the road and get going to Ponyville..there's still a lot of dangerous creatures here. Stay alert." She pulled an irregularly shaped metal rod from a side pocket on her saddlebag and pointed it at the TARDIS; the doors instantly shut. She then put it away, turned to her right, pointed, and started trotting in that direction.

I know she said that Celestia herself couldn't break into the TARDIS..but it still seems odd to just leave her out here like this, Chronos thought as he walked up a slight incline. He was already missing the feeling of absolute safety he had experienced when inside the Doctor's domicile.

Overall, the path wasn't all that clear and involved a bit of climbing over rocks, exposed roots, and fallen trunks as they wound their way through the undergrowth. Fortunately, Storm was able to fly herself over or around any of the minor obstacles they encountered.

As they hiked, Chronos glanced at the mechanical wristwatch Time Turner had given him; it closely resembled his cutie mark. Surprisingly, the ponies also divided their days into hours, minutes and seconds; their planet also took 24 hours to rotate. However, their year was slightly shorter; it lasted 360 days and the seasons were 90 days each, divided into 30 day months. According to
his watch, it was 8:47 on the 27th day of the first month of spring. The equivalent of mid-April, I think..seems warmer than I'm used to that time of year.

They continued in silence. Chronos didn't mind, though, as he tried to take everything in. Some birds, a few indeterminate tracks, but we haven't seen anything else. Did my father ever travel through here?

After about half an hour, they encountered a large bank of thick brambles. "Storm, I need you to fly up and see if you can find a way around this," said Time Turner said quickly. The pegasus nodded and took off for a nearby tree. She settled on a thick limb and started looking around. After a few moments, she pointed eagerly to her left.

"I see a path..and I think I see the road, too! Go..directly left..and there's a narrow gap in the thorns. I hope we can fit.." She flew back down, making a clean landing.

Good to see all that practicing paid off, thought Chronos. Frostfire, at least, had stopped looking so worried every time her daughter left the ground.

"Well done, Stormy!" said Time Turner with a wide smile. "Right, let's be careful here..don't want to catch these on your coat." The other ponies nodded and stepped down the path, quickly arriving at the gap Storm had indicated. It did look rather narrow but passable. Without a word, Turner started walking slowly through it, Chronos and his family following closely.

It was hard for him to see anything other than the brambles as he tried to concentrate on putting one hoof in front of the other..it made him feel anxious. He could hear his wife grumbling behind him and was about to hazard a remark when Time Turner suddenly put her hoof up.

"Don't move," she said in a low voice. They instantly stopped, Chronos straining his ears to try to hear anything at all. He could faintly hear someone..or thing..approaching. He then heard voices..some high pitched, some low, but the overall tone was warm and friendly. They were getting louder though he couldn't quite make out what they were saying. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears..it sounded like they were right in front of him. Keep moving..keep moving.. he thought, doing everything he could not to panic. This wasn't anything the Doctor couldn't handle..right?!

Fortunately, their voices and hooffalls started to fade away and Time Turner lowered her hoof. "That was very odd," she said as she resumed walking. Soon enough, they emerged and saw what appeared to be a well-traveled and maintained road.

"What's very odd, Doctor Turner?" said Storm Chaser as they walked onto the road. Turner thought for a brief moment, then pointed to her left. "North to Ponyville. Now then, my dear, it was odd that there was a group of ponies that came through here without any fear at all," she said as she started walking in that direction. "More curiously, there were nonponies with them.."

"What?" said Chronos, startled. "Everything I read indicated that nonponies in Equestria usually keep to themselves..and are rather rare."

"There are exceptions to every rule, Chronos," said Frostfire, sneering at him. "Remember that and you won't be so limited in your thinking."

"I never said it was a rule.." he said, his tone slightly offended. "How am I supposed to know anything about this land other than what I've read?"

Frostfire had started to reply when her daughter cut in. "Doctor, what were those nonponies you mentioned?" she said loudly, using her wings to help her jump in between her parents.

"A kirin and a dragon," Time Turner said nonchalantly. "Indeed, they're both usually quite reclusive.."

Chronos felt his blood run cold..they had almost encountered an actual dragon?! He had learned that this world somehow was one where many mythological creatures from Earth existed alongside sapient equines but to actually see one..and a kirin? He vaguely remembered that they were from East Asian mythology, but knew little else about them; there had been limited material about their Equestrian counterparts.

"Whatever," said Frostfire. "Let's just get to Ponyville."

"Quite right. Remember, just smile and wave if we encounter anypony else on the road..or anything else," said Time Turner. They continued quietly, the forest becoming brighter and less dense as they did so. Chronos could start to see the forest's edge and he could feel his excitement building. Maybe all they had to do was get to Ponyville, ask around, find his father there, have a reunion, and then go back to Earth.

When they reached the edge, they all stopped and looked around at the landscape that had opened before them. The road wound down a hill and over a sturdy bridge that spanned a wide river; it partially circled Ponyville and flowed to the west, past the horizon. Far to the northeast, Chronos saw a tall, jagged peak with what appeared to be a large castle on its western side. That must be Canterlot.. he thought before he turned his gaze to Ponyville itself.

It was much larger than he had imagined..a small city rather than a sleepy provincial hamlet. He saw several ponies in the nearby streets and buildings, both on the ground and flying about, along with a wide assortment of other creatures.

He looked up slightly and gasped, noticing a large crystalline structure on the far side of the town. It vaguely resembled a tree, though as he looked more closely he could see balconies and spires trimmed in gold. A purple banner with a star-like emblem hung on a pole on its left side; a much larger version of the star dominated the top of the castle. Finally, he noticed various colorful beaded strands hanging from various points.

He looked at his companions and saw that they had apparently been staring at it for significantly longer than he had. "Doctor.." he said. "What is that?"

For the first time since he had met her, she appeared to be speechless. Chronos watched her carefully as, while her expression was passive, she was likely thinking at a speed and a level far beyond his comprehension. After a long pause, she nodded, her face resolute.

"Almost everything we knew about Equestria..was wrong."

Author's Note

Version 1.0

Chapter 4

"Not a word to anyone at all beyond a simple greeting," said Time Turner to Chronos and his family, her expression stern. "We need to find out who is currently ruling Equestria before we do anything else."

"And how do you propose we do that without arousing suspicion?" said Frostfire. "If there's a new regime, it might not take kindly to any inquiries along those lines.."

"I agree that it'll be best for us to be circumspect until we can get more information..but, based on what we've seen so far, I don't think the ponies have turned to authoritarianism or anything like that," said Chronos, gesturing towards Ponyville. "Unless they're hiding it very, very well." His wife glared at him for a moment but stayed silent.

"It's nothing like that," said Time Turner, slightly irritated. "Nor has anyone grossly manipulated the timeline. However, there have been at least two attempts to do so that I can sense, and I will deal with those responsible when I find them, but this is the same timeline as before."

"So this isn't like Back to the Future II," said Frostfire casually. "I get it."

"Remember, no references to Earth; you cannot contaminate this culture," said the Doctor, sharply. "Right. Let's get a move on." She started towards Ponyville, the others following at a slight distance. Frostfire trotted alongside her husband and put her muzzle close to his ear.

"I was about to mention the Prime Directive," she said in a low voice. "But she doesn't seem to be in the mood for that sort of thing."

"Yes," said Chronos. "I think this is bothering her even more than we realize." They had reached the bottom of the hill and they could see even more ponies and other creatures flying and walking about. He also noticed that were no guards or any other barriers at the bridge, so Ponyville, at least, was a place that could be freely entered.

The bridge itself wasn't crowded, but Chronos still felt considerably nervous walking by other ponies for the first time. Fortunately, the colorful assortment of earth ponies and unicorns only nodded and smiled at them as they passed. After they crossed, the Doctor continued straight ahead, the others having to canter for a bit just to catch up. It was starting to get a bit more crowded and Chronos hoped that they wouldn't lose sight of their guide.

"Where are we going, Dr. Turner?" said Storm Chaser after they managed to reach her.

"The Rusty Horseshoe Inn," Time Turner said, not breaking stride. "We need to continue to the town square, then go northwest for four blocks and west for three. It's close to the train station and we'll be leaving as soon as we can figure out where to start looking for your grandfather."

The grass-covered streets were starting to get more congested as they continued towards the center of Ponyville. Chronos tried his best not to look around at everything the way a tourist would but it was hard for him to resist, given the novelty of it all. There were bustling stores, packed open-air markets, and various lively cafes and restaurants along the way. What struck Chronos the most was how genuinely happy everypony and other creature seemed, a far cry from the general weariness and wariness he had experienced so often on Earth. Whether Celestia is still the ruler or not, things are about as peaceful as I expected.

It didn't take long for them to reach the central town square, which had a large, two-tiered circular building at its center. Interesting..a city hall with no front and no back, he thought as he looked about. The rest of the square looked like an archetypal village green, partially bounded by a stream with an array of small bridges. There were a few fountains, small tents, trees, and benches scattered about along with several ponies and a few other creatures sitting, napping, or playing together.

The Doctor pointed towards an arch, trimmed in dark pink with lighter hearts at its apex and on both sides of the bottom of its span. As they headed for it, Chronos noticed a group of ponies snuggling under a tree. They were mostly stallions and he thought he saw a few nonponies mixed in as well. All of them appeared to be very content as they lay pressed together, occasionally nuzzling, licking, or gently kissing each other.

Chronos suddenly looked away; it would be impolite to stare. While he vaguely recalled reading a few lines about how this was a common practice in pony society, it was still quite the Kulturschock for him. He trotted rapidly and fell in aside Time Turner as they passed under the arch.

"You seem troubled by something, Chronos," she said. He nodded, glancing back at his wife and daughter. The former had a morose expression while the latter was smiling widely and taking in everything she possibly could.

"Yes, just got surprised by something for a bit..that's all..it's all behind us now. I don't think anypony noticed," he said quietly. She gave him a perceptive look and shook her head gently.

"I think you realize now just how different Equestria compared to what you've always known. You need to set aside your preconceived notions of what is..and what can be," she said. For a moment, her glance seemed to penetrate his very being and he suddenly felt very small and insignificant.

"I'll..keep that in mind," he said softly.

The ponies proceeded in silence towards the inn, the streets becoming less cramped as they did so. The Rusty Horseshoe was a vaguely medieval-style three-story wooden structure with a thatched roof, neither stately nor decrepit. A large instance of its namesake hung near the steps to the entrance. To the left of the door was a large porch, though its benches were empty. Without hesitation, the Doctor started up the stairs with Storm Chaser taking a wing-assisted jump to the top. Chronos looked at Frostfire, who seemed more relieved than anything.

"I am not going to be happy if we can't get a room here..these ponies are even crazier than I thought they would be," she said under her breath. "I can't believe some of the things I saw them doing in public.." Chronos opened his mouth to reply but then thought better of it.

"Well, we'll be able to figure out our next move, anyway," he said as he walked up the steps, the boards creaking slightly under his hooves. He thought for a moment and then used his magic to open the door. He then stepped to the side and gestured for his wife to enter. She glared at him and didn't move.

"You know that I don't like it when you do that..just get in there," she said icily. He sighed and did so, remembering to relax his horn and let the door close. The interior wasn't overly bright or decorated all that well but it felt warm and inviting, even as it reminded him of modern recreations of medieval inns. Time Turner was talking with the receptionist, a young dark-haired unicorn mare with a light purple coat. Storm Chaser was close by, listening intently.

"..yes, Dr. Turner, we can get you two adjoining rooms. Will your companions need two rooms as well?" the mare said politely. Time Turner nodded and pulled some more bits out of her saddlebag.

"Will this cover it?" she said. The receptionist nodded and used her magic to deposit the bits in what looked like an antique cash register. She then levitated two keyrings with two large keys each from where they had been hanging on the wall behind her.

"The room numbers are on the rings and you can see me or whoever is at the front desk if you need anything," the mare said cheerfully as she placed them in Time Turner's saddlebag. "Have a pleasant stay!"

"Thank you, we will," said the Doctor. "Right. Follow me, everypony." She started towards the wooden spiral staircase that was on the leftmost wall, near the inn's large hearth. Chronos could tell by his wife's grumbling that she was unhappy about the lack of an elevator, but she was otherwise silent as they climbed the stairs to the top floor.

After they arrived there, Turner pointed to the right and they accompanied her down a hallway that was lit by what looked like torches but they didn't emit any smoke or have any scent. "Here we are," she said after they rounded the corner of the building. "I'll take the interior rooms; you can decide how to divvy up yours." She then took out the same device she had used earlier to lock the TARDIS and pointed it at the wooden door. There was a brief, odd noise and the door swung open.

"I'll see you in half an hour," she said as she put the device back and then gave Chronos the appropriate set of keys. He took it, glad for all of the practice they'd done with carrying objects with their hooves. It still seemed bizarre to him that this was possible, but he had learned a lot in the last few days about just how different, even with their various extraordinary capabilities set aside, Equestrian ponies were from Equus ferus caballus.

He didn't have too much difficulty in opening the opposite door and leading his family into their rooms for..however long they would end up staying. They were surprisingly similar to the various places they had stayed in over the years, albeit in the same style as the rest of the inn.

The curtains were open and bright sunshine illuminated the beds, which seemed shockingly small at first glance, but it made sense considering how much tinier they were now. There was some pony-sized furniture, a floor lamp, and the usual light fixtures between the beds.

"Not too bad..it beats sleeping in a stable," said Frostfire, dropping her saddlebags on one of the beds. "This is actually kind of cozy," she said, indicating what looked like a wood stove in the corner. Strangely, there were no logs or fireplace tools by it.

"From what I read, all of these appliances run on batteries that supply a limited amount of magical energy instead of electricity..hmm, we'll see if they've figured out how to use that as well," said Chronos.

"Does some..pony have to come to replace them when they run out, then?" said Storm Chaser.

"Yes, I would think that the staff here does it," he said, nodding. He then noticed her eyeing the empty bed and he gently shook his head. She pouted for a moment and then walked towards the other set of rooms.

"Oh hey, this door isn't locked like it usually is," she said. Before her parents could react, she had already flown inside. "Looks the same," she said before quickly returning. "So Dad, who's sleeping where?"

"We'll do it like usual, Zo..Stormy. We'll take this room and you've got the other one all to yourself," he said. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his wife had laid down on the bed next to her saddlebags. She looked a bit more relaxed but still quite wary. "Oh, I'll get our things out." He walked over, flipped the sides open, and concentrated on using his horn to extract their personal items and place them on the other bed.

"You can do it Dad, you got this!" said Storm while hovering nearby. Frostfire muttered something from her prone position as her husband carefully moved everything over without dropping anything.

"Wow, I am getting better at this..Frost, do you need anything?" he said as Storm took her personal effects.

"Besides the Doctor getting us out of here? No," she said, sighing. "What is she doing in there, anyway? Why hasn't she found your father yet?"

"You heard her, we can't do anything until we figure out what's happened in Equestria since the last time she was here," said Chronos as he picked up the remaining items with his horn and walked very slowly towards the bathroom, focusing on keeping everything aloft.

He heard his wife make a frustrated sound as he used a hoof to push the door open, which caused him to lose just enough of his concentration for his toothbrush to start falling. He managed to grab it before it hit the thin carpet, though, and then he was able to place it and everything else on the bathroom counter. The room itself was slightly larger than he had expected, but nothing else was out of the ordinary.

"You do have a point. The more we know, the better chance we have of escaping this place with our lives..and sanity," she said as he returned from the bathroom. He sat on the opposite bed and looked at her, trying to gauge her pensive yet thoughtful expression. After a few moments, her face instantly brightened and she nodded quickly.

"When did the Doctor say she was coming back?"

"Hello again, fam. Let's find a bookstore and read up on what we've missed," Time Turner said about 15 minutes later as she entered the room.

"Do we need to, though?" said Frostfire with a wide smile. She got off the bed and walked amiably towards Turner. Chronos suddenly felt uneasy and he could see a trace of it on the Doctor's face as well.

"How do you mean? This is the knowledge we need if we're going to find Chronos' father and avoid any trouble. I thought that was the main thing you were worried about," said Turner evenly.

"Well, as soon as we figure out where his father is, all we have to do is go back into the forest, get in the TARDIS, and go there directly. And, if he was in Ponyville at any given time, then we just have to jump back to whenever that was and we're all done. That's all we have to do, right?" she said eagerly. "Then, all of this will just be a bad dream and things will be back to normal."

Time Turner shook her head gravely. "Dr. Frostfire, that's not going to happen," she said abruptly. "The TARDIS doesn't work like that. She took us to where and when we all needed to be. If you tried to do what you're proposing, she would simply refuse to go there. I wouldn't be able to persuade her otherwise..I've certainly tried many times before."

Chronos could only watch as his wife's expression collapsed, her head lowering. Before he could do anything, though, she looked up suddenly, her teeth clenched and her ears pinned back. She angrily pointed at Time Turner, who showed no reaction.

"What the..you said you could go anywhere in time and space. You didn't say you were limited by the cantankerous, meddlesome notions of your time machine!"

"You didn't ask. When it comes to the journey that you're on, there are no shortcuts. It would be meaningless otherwise." The Doctor stepped towards Frostfire and spoke in a gentle tone. "The journey is something you must experience..I know you would deeply regret not doing so for the rest of your days."

"You think I want this?!" The Doctor took another step. "You actually think I can handle this..this insanity?!"

"You are far stronger than you know, Frostfire. I would not have brought you along if I didn't know that you can and will handle this and everything else that's going to happen." They were face to face now. "But there is no going back to normal after this. When you return to Earth, you will be a different..and a better person."

Chronos could see tears welling in the corner of his wife's eyes. She was silent yet trembling slightly. For a moment, he thought she was going to cry profusely but then her face hardened and she only nodded, staring bitterly at Turner.

"So be it, then," she said coldly. "Go and get..whatever you need. I'm staying here." She turned and got back on the bed, facing the wall.

"I'll stay with Mom," said Storm Chaser, sadly. She looked like she was on the verge of crying herself as she flew over to the bed and gently touched her mother's shoulder. Frostfire turned her head and smiled wanly.

"Thank you..oh, what's your name now..Stormy, that's it," she said, sounding quite weary. Storm sighed, her ears drooping as she hugged her mother.

Frostfire turned over and returned the hug, but her face was still stoic. Time Turner took several apples and sandwiches with flowers in them out of her saddlebag and placed them on the table between the beds.

"There's some lunch for you..and some bits you can use downstairs to get dinner and anything else you need," she said, tossing a small bag next to the food, which landed perfectly with only a soft clanking sound.

"Right. Chronos, let's head out," she said, glancing at him. "Bring your reading glasses."

After a quick lunch at a cafe near the inn, Time Turner and Chronos walked silently through the streets of Ponyville, the former lost in thought. How is she going to make it through this..I suppose she can stay in whatever hotels we use while the Doctor and I search for my dad..but it could still take weeks..I don't even think she knows how long we'll be here. He looked up, making sure he didn't lose her in the crowd.

Fortunately, he spotted her heading towards what looked like the bookstore she had mentioned in passing during his meal. It was larger than most of the shops he had seen in Ponyville and looked more contemporary as well. A large purple quill hung above its front doors, through which a variety of creatures were rapidly passing back and forth.

Turner stopped for a moment, glance back at him, and nodded; they then entered the building together. It immediately reminded him of the small bookstores he had frequented in his youth; while this was a larger space, it still felt intimate and comfortable. He inhaled briefly and smiled, the scent taking him back to the first months of his courtship with Frostfire..when just being together anywhere was enough.

"Dr. Chronos," Time Turner said, a bit irritably. "I need you to find all the books you can about contemporary history as well as any news magazines; I'll cover the rest."

"Right," he said. "Do you happen to know where those are?" But she was already gone, blended into the crowd. He sighed and looked around, realizing he was alone for the first time since he had been told his mother was entering palliative care. He spotted what looked like an information desk and headed over, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

There was a red earth pony mare at the desk; as he got closer, he noticed her ears and hooves were trimmed in black. She had bright green eyes and a friendly smile as she beckoned him over.

"Hello sir, welcome to the Purple Quill. How can I help you today?" she said in a somewhat high-pitched, lively voice.

My first conversation with a pony..here goes..

"Um, yes, hello..I am looking for books on contemporary history along with the latest..periodicals," he said. She gave him a perplexed look, thought for a few moments, then nodded and grinned.

"Yes, you'll find those behind me, near the wall..the books are to the left and the..periodicals..are to the right," she said with a somewhat droll expression.

"Ah, thank you," he said, nodding to her. He had the sudden thought that she was quite physically attractive, but then immediately dismissed it.

"You're quite welcome. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for," she said brightly.

He nodded and started towards the back of the store, but he couldn't resist glancing backward at her for a split second. He noticed her tail was fluffier than normal and the tip was dyed white. Probably some new fashion that ponies my age don't understand..I'm glad Stormy isn't into that sort of thing..just yet.

When he reached the wall, he looked to the left and was disappointed to see that the section was only marked "History" and he'd have to delve into it to find the most recent material. He sighed and started carefully pulling any books that looked even somewhat relevant from the shelves, neatly stacking them on the closest table. He then sat down, put his reading glasses on, and started on the first book on the pile.

About 3 hours later, he sighed as he finished the last book. Of course, he hadn't read every one thoroughly but had skimmed them for the major events and made mental notes about the ones that had been mentioned the most often.

All the books agreed that a new era had begun 13 years ago when Princess Celestia suddenly disappeared just before the Summer Sun Celebration, which was being held in Ponyville that year. Her apprentice, Twilight Sparkle, aided by five local ponies, was able to restore Celestia along with her sister, Princess Luna, who had been corrupted into a being known as Nightmare Moon before being banished. He remembered reading about Nightmare Moon while in the TARDIS, but the stories had been regarded as apocryphal at best.

After that incident, there were several short periods of peace that were suddenly disrupted and then usually just as quickly resolved thanks to the efforts of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. For her bravery and valor, and for managing to finish the final spell of the legendary wizard Star Swirl the Bearded, Twilight became a Princess as well. Along with Cadance of the recently rediscovered Crystal Empire, there were four princesses at that point.

Yet, over the next seven years, the cycle of tranquility and upheaval continued, most notably during the successful invasion and brief occupation of Equestria by the forces of the "Storm King", who managed to momentarily petrify Celestia, Luna, and Cadance but was reduced to a pile of rubble when his petrifaction device backfired and he was shattered. (There wasn't any clear agreement in the texts on the actual circumstances, as Princess Twilight gave an ambiguous report). Curious that only Twilight and her friends were the ones who managed to save Equestria repeatedly..well, I suppose only us humans would be suspicious of that.

The books concurred that Equestria finally stabilized after the combined forces of the changeling queen Chrysalis, the sinister centaur Lord Tirek, and the rogue pony Cozy Glow (the latter two had escaped from Tartarus where they had been imprisoned for "crimes against Equestria," as one book had put it) were defeated and then petrified. That appears to be the Equestrian alternative to capital punishment..though the spirit of chaos named Discord managed to break it..and then reform himself, seemingly.

He stood up and stretched, hoping he wouldn't call too much attention to himself. While he didn't feel completely satisfied, he had a good idea of where things stood now: Celestia and Luna voluntarily abdicated and both now had the rank of princess emeritus while Twilight became the lone ruler of Equestria. Cadance was still on the throne of the Crystal Empire though her daughter Princess Flurry Heart, the youngest alicorn, was the heir apparent. And it just so happens that Cadance is married to Princess Twilight's older brother..seems shady to me..but the Doctor is right. Sentiments like that would adversely affect this culture.

He looked at the shelf again and spotted a slightly dusty tome entitled A Collection of Contemporaneous Accounts of the Recent History of Equestria. "Might as well read everything," he said quietly. He took it from the shelf, sat back down, and started on it. It began with a summary of the Nightmare Moon incident but then had detailed interviews with Twilight, Celestia, and Luna (to his surprise) that were quite helpful in providing details and filling in gaps. I probably skipped over some of this before, but this is still quite fascinating, he thought.

The next chapter discussed the first attempt by the Changelings to invade Equestria, with comments by Twilight, Cadance, her husband Shining Armor, and Celestia. It was surprisingly candid about what went wrong in that instance and the long term effects of Chrysalis's various schemes to siphon the love and friendship of Equestria. Chronos smiled as he continued reading through the rest of the various events that had marked the last several years.

He was about halfway through the book when he felt as if he was being watched. He slowly glanced up and saw a bespectacled, orange unicorn stallion looking at him curiously. There was an awkward silence as Chronos looked him over. He had a somewhat unkempt appearance, as his red and light orange mane had several hairs sticking out of place, though his short beard was well-groomed. He was wearing a long cerulean-colored cloak decorated with aquamarine stars and trimmed in the same color. Chronos noted that the brooch below his beard matched the trim of his cloak as he examined the stallion's markings. He appears to have a blaze on his face and four stockings..curious..what a distinctive-looking pony.

And quite handsome, too.

Wait, where did that come from?!

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir," the stallion said in a somewhat high-pitched, timid voice. "I didn't mean to bother you..I just..um, noticed that you were reading a..book I wrote." His face was somewhat flushed and he was looking to the side as he spoke. "I'll just..um, be on my way.."

"You wrote this?" said Chronos, recovering from his momentary confusion. "You must be Sunburst, then. I'm delighted to meet you," he said, smiling. "I've really enjoyed reading this book; it's been very helpful to me in learning more details about recent history."

"R..really?" said Sunburst. He looked up and adjusted his glasses with a hoof. "I'm..glad to hear that. This book hasn't, um, sold all that well, so I'm glad somepony is..getting something out of it."

"Absolutely," said Chronos. "If you have the time, I'd love to discuss it with you," he said, much to his astonishment.

"Oh..sure, yes, I'd be happy to do that," Sunburst said, looking even more flustered. He walked over and sat down across from Chronos, who was trying to remember the proper social protocols in this situation.

"Ah, I beg your pardon, I haven't introduced myself yet," he said, buying some time. "My name is Chronos." Sunburst smiled and Chronos felt his heart speed up a bit. He looks so adorable when he smiles, he thought, still puzzled by the origin of these feelings and why they were occurring so suddenly.

"No problem; I'm pleased to meet you, Chronos," said Sunburst, extending his hoof.

Ah, right, 'hoofshakes' are used here. Chronos touched his hoof momentarily to Sunburst's and briefly gasped; the feeling was electrifying. By the startled look on Sunburst's face, it seemed likely that he felt it as well. They looked at each other and Chronos felt like he was blushing..his heart was beating even faster now. He looked into Sunburst's eyes, which were a captivating shade of cyan..he momentarily felt like their eyes were locked together. They were both blushing furiously until Sunburst broke the silence.

"Umm..so..um, how far have you read..so far?" he said with an uneasy chuckle.

"Oh, I was just about to start the chapter concerning Starlight Glimmer and when Twilight and her friends first met her," said Chronos, feeling somewhat more at ease.

"That..was not an easy chapter to write, I have to admit," said Sunburst with a sigh. "It was very difficult to stay objective as she's been my best friend since we were foals." He paused, his expression turning wistful. "She has completely turned her life around since those times, but history demands that her misdeeds and machinations are recorded alongside everything she has done to aid Equestria since her reformation..as much as I personally don't want to think about them." His eyes then widened and he looked down. "Oh, I'm sorry..I didn't mean to say all that."

Chronos resisted the urge to reach out and lift the other stallion's chin. Instead, he said, "Nothing to apologize for..from what I've read, I don't think I'm in a position to judge her at all. Besides, her story is still being written, yes? I don't see why future historians would allow all of that to outweigh the rest of her life."

Sunburst's brow furrowed and he was silent for several moments. "That's..an interesting perspective. True, I'm not all that worried about what the future might think of her but rather if I can accurately record her role in history. And, you haven't gotten to the point where I performed my extremely limited part. As noted in the text, I had Princess Twilight interview me and another historian provided analysis."

"Oh, I had no idea," said Chronos, genuinely surprised. "Come to think of it, you were barely mentioned in these other books I flipped through..a footnote at most."

"That..was intentional," said Sunburst with another nervous laugh. "I'm not very comfortable with the idea of any, ah, accolades or anything like that..I was a bystander, for the most part. Perhaps I made a very, very minor impact concerning the events surrounding the birth of Princess Flurry Heart, but, ah..I'll let you read and decide that for yourself."

"Alright, I'll do that," said Chronos. "Umm..so...umm..what else do you do besides writing enjoyable history books?"

Sunburst blushed and adjusted his glasses. "Well..I've been the vice headmare at the School of Friendship for the past few years, which has been wonderful for me, I have to say..Starlight is the headmare and it has really helped our friendship..we do have to provide a good example to the students, after all," he said, smiling anxiously. "I lived in the Crystal Empire for several years before moving here, actually, and I'm from Sire's Hollow originally." He leaned forward slightly. "So, where are you from and what do you do?"

"I'm from Fillydelphia and I'm a general practitioner," he said smoothly, glad the Doctor had prepared comprehensive backstories for all of them.

Sunburst smiled and his eyes lit up. I don't know how it's possible, but he's even cuter now.. "Oh, you're a doctor, wow..that's amazing! You, ah, struck me as a well-educated stallion..so..umm..do you live around here now?"

Chronos shook his head. "I'm just visiting..I'm on vacation with the senior partner at my practice and my family." Sunburst's face fell, but just for a moment. Chronos thought he saw a flash of sadness, frustration, and anger, but he was back to his seemingly usual apprehensive self just as quickly.

"Oh..so, you're married?" he said quietly.

Chronos shrugged. "Yes, with one daughter."

"Married to a mare, then..?" Sunburst said tentatively. Chronos blinked and chuckled to hide his confusion.

"Well, yes..almost 15 years now..our daughter is 10, though it seems like she was a foal just yesterday," he said, glad he was getting the terminology right.

Sunburst nodded somberly. "I'm..a bit surprised your wife isn't here..is she doing something else in Ponyville?" Chronos could see the difference in Sunburst's body language but wondered what could be bothering him.

"She's..feeling kind of sick right now, unfortunately. I know, every..pony expects doctors to stay healthy all the time, but we're just as susceptible to injury and illness too, of course," he said airily.

"I..never thought that," Sunburst said, his face skeptical. "I don't know why anypony would think that."

"Ah, it's just an expression back home..anyway, we started a practice not all that long ago and this trip is our celebration of it. We're the junior partners and Dr. Time Turner is the senior."

Sunburst nodded, looking a bit distracted. "Time Turner..I feel like I've heard that name somewhere..ah well..um, have you been having a good trip?"

"Yes, it's been going well..we're really enjoying Ponyville, though we're leaving the day after tomorrow, most likely."

Sunburst looked confused and stroked his beard. "You're..not exactly sure when you're leaving?"

Chronos chuckled and smiled. I need to be careful..this guy is a lot sharper than he might seem. "Well, Doctor Turner..she's very good at planning and..improvising; she..wanted this trip to be a surprise throughout, so..we're not sure where or when we're going next."

"Oh, I see," said Sunburst, looking very amused at the concept. "She already sounds like a very interesting pony..she is a pony, right?"

Chronos nodded. "Yes, and she is absolutely brilliant..I'm very glad I'll be able to work with her."

"Perhaps that's how I've heard of her..still not sure..hmm." There was another brief lull as Chronos tried to think of something else to talk about..somehow, he really wanted to keep the conversation going.

"So..I take it you're a historian in general? About far back have you studied?"

Sunburst grinned and nodded. "Oh, as far back as Equestrian history records. I've done some research into the history of the other nations, but I've been reading about Equestria for..well, about as long as I can remember."

Chronos grinned as well. "So, what do you think is the most interesting and/or influential period in..our history?" Sunburst gave him a wide grin and was adorably excited again. He made himself comfortable and started talking rapidly.

"Well, in my opinion, that would be the.."

"..and somehow, by fate or by fortune, that barrel that I got at the antique store contained the lost journal of Star Swirl the Bearded! The..rest of that particular story is in my book," said Sunburst, gesturing enthusiastically.

Chronos wasn't sure how long he and his new..acquaintance..or friend..or..whatever he was had been talking but he had been having such a marvelous time, he wasn't all that concerned about it. He glanced at the nearest window and was surprised that night had fallen.

"Hey..um, Chronos, are you doing okay?" said Sunburst. Chronos looked back at his companion and nodded.

"Yes..I'm fine, thank you," he said. "Just..really missing my mother right now." He looked down, wondering if he should have let that slip out..and how easily it happened. He gasped and looked up as he felt Sunburst take his hooves and hold them gently. The other stallion's eyes were filled with sympathy and sorrow.

"I'm very sorry to hear that," he said, his voice nearly a whisper.

"T..thank you," said Chronos. It wasn't quite the same feeling as earlier, but it was still quite exciting, somehow. "It..wasn't all that long ago, actually," he said, his voice starting to break. Sunburst squeezed his hooves and nodded. Chronos found himself at a complete loss for words. He squeezed back and bit his tongue, trying everything to avoid weeping profusely in public next to a relative stranger.

"It's...been a long time now, but I still miss my father," Sunburst said, still using a quiet voice. "He..was in a terrible accident..my mother hasn't quite been the same since." He paused, looking frustrated for a moment. "We eventually figured things out, but we didn't have much of a relationship for several years. It was really hard after I washed out of the School for Gifted Unicorns and she kept pushing and pushing me to be successful until I moved to the Crystal Empire just to have some peace in my life."

Chronos blinked as he thought over what he had just heard. "How is that possible..an accomplished and renowned scholar such as you washing out of a school?" he said, quite baffled.

Sunburst chuckled ruefully and gave Chronos' hooves another squeeze before letting go. Oh great, you put your..hoof in your mouth with that one.

"As I'm sure you have figured out from reading my book, while I'm considered to have extensive knowledge about the theory and history of magic..I'm..not very good at actually casting it. I wrote a textbook about theory and history and use it in one of the classes I teach, but other unicorns teach the application of it," he said with a bittersweet smile.

"I see..I had some professors like that, actually..great teachers, overall," Chronos said, glad that the subject had changed but he also found himself wishing he could have held Sunburst's hooves a little longer.

"Good to hear," Sunburst said, smiling. "Where did you go to school?"

"The University of Fillydelphia and their med school," he said, glad he had an answer prepared.

"Oh, interesting. I've never been there, actually..but I would like to visit you at some point if I..happen to be in the area."

Oh no.. "Yeah, that'd be great..if the timing works out." He noticed out of the corner of his eye that another pony was approaching. He turned his head slightly to see the same clerk from earlier.

"Hi Sunburst," she said, nodding to him. "The store's going to close soon; I can ring up any books you'd like to get."

"I will take this one," said Chronos, giving her Sunburst's book.

She smiled. "I thought you might," she said with a chuckle. "Meet me at the till." Chronos and Sunburst stood up and followed her, but then the former stopped, glancing at the pile on the table.

"Oh wait, I should put those other books back.." Sunburst shook his head and held up a hoof.

"Allow me..this happens to me every time I come in here." His horn lit up in a pale yellow aura, and the books on the table rapidly floated back onto the shelves enveloped in the same color. He made that look easy..

"Thank you, Sunburst," he said, smiling.

"You're quite welcome," he said, smiling back. They resumed following the clerk to a series of registers. The store itself was mostly empty and quiet now, the other employees working diligently at their last tasks for the day.

"That'll be 10 bits," the clerk said once they reached an empty till. Fortunately, the Doctor had provided for him a saddlebag and a pouch with more than enough funds to cover this particular expense. He concentrated and was able to float out the exact change he needed, which he placed on the counter. I hope that didn't look too clumsy of me..well, Sunburst of all ponies would understand.

The clerk took the coins and placed them in the register. When she gave him the book, however, she unexpectedly leaned forward and whispered "You two are absolutely adorable together..you should totally ask him out."

Chronos felt his cheeks flush and he chuckled nervously. "Um..well, thank you, you were most helpful," he said in a normal tone. He used his magic to put the book in his saddlebag next to the pouch and then motioned towards the door. Sunburst nodded and they set off together. He thought he saw a knowing smirk on the face of the clerk as they departed. I don't know what she's going on about..kids these days.

It was a clear and somewhat cool night, but it felt comfortable as the stallions stepped outside. Sunburst walked towards a nearby bench and sat on it. He beckoned Chronos over, patting the space next to him. I..don't know what's happening, but this feels..really pleasant, somehow. Chronos smiled and sat next to his new friend.

Sunburst nudged himself over until their sides were touching. Chronos felt what seemed like a mostly empty saddlebag under Sunburst's cloak, but he also felt quite warm and comfortable to be with, to his surprise.

"Chronos," Sunburst said, his voice hesitant. "I've had a marvelous time with you today and I'd like to see you again if we're..ever in the same place again." He put his hoof on Chronos' and snuggled closer.

"I..feel the same. I wish I could..write letters to you, but as I've got no idea where we're going, I don't see how the logistics of that would work," Chronos said, finding himself leaning slightly against the other stallion. I feel like a teenager again..should I be doing this?!

Sunburst tapped his chin with his other hoof, his eyes narrowed in concentration. He then smiled and turned his head, his expression very excited.

"I think there is a spell we can use..I've been meaning to experiment with it, actually..er, anyway, it involves two books and whatever is written in one will appear in the other, even over great distances," he said rapidly. "Princess Twilight knows the spell, and I'll probably need to have Starlight cast it, but I think I can do all that within a day and then send one of the books to your hotel." He grinned eagerly. "What do you think?"

Chronos found himself at a loss for words..he was blushing very hard as he pondered the right thing to say. "Wow..um..that's..very generous of you..very kind," he said haltingly as he looked into Sunburst's eyes..and tried not to lose himself in them.

"Not a problem at all," Sunburst said, blushing heavily as well.

"Are the..ah, spell materials..expensive?" said Chronos. Keep talking..keep it together.

Sunburst shook his head. "Just two blank books; the difficult part is knowing the theory of the spell and then being able to execute it." Chronos nodded, taking a few short breaths.

"Ah, that makes sense..you can tell I'm not all that knowledgeable about such things, heh..I've always tried to have a better grasp of knowledge in general, but being a doctor takes up so much time and effort..there's only so much time in a day, after all," he said, rambling nervously.

"I know that feeling." He squeezed Chronos' hoof and leaned towards him slightly. "Are you..doing ok? You don't look so good right now, to be honest."

"I.." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he looked at his companion. "I...yes, you're right..I'm suddenly not feeling very well..I'm sorry." He saw disappointment flicker briefly across Sunburst's face and felt even guiltier.

"Chronos, there's nothing to apologize for.."

"I don't want to get you sick as well if indeed I have something contagious. However, I think this is more likely a case of simple fatigue and..nervousness. I..um, have issues with unexpected things happening and as..wonderful as today has been, it's..a lot to take in," Chronos said, smiling wanly. That's..mostly true.

"Heh..you're right. It is a lot." He paused, gazing sadly at his companion. "So..um..which hotel are you staying at?"

"The Rusty Horseshoe Inn." Sunburst thought for a moment and then nodded.

"I don't think I've heard of that one, but I'll make a note of it," he said, using his magic to pull a scroll of papyrus, a quill, and a small bottle of ink out of his saddlebag. While his mantle was lifted, Chronos momentarily saw Sunburst's cutie mark, an orange sun surrounded by six stars and light yellow and white rays extending from it.

Interesting..nice hindquarters, too.

After noting the hotel, Sunburst returned the implements to his saddlebag and then sighed. "I wish I knew when I could see you again, to be honest." Chronos nodded somberly, his mind racing.

Perhaps I could persuade the Doctor..and my wife..to let me see him before we go back.

"Same here..I'll see what I can do, okay? Who knows, we might come back this way on our way home." That's..technically true.

Sunburst smiled, closed his eyes, and leaned close to Chronos.

His heart felt like it was about to burst through his chest.

He felt Sunburst slowly and tenderly rub his muzzle against the side of his head. Oh...oh..he's..nuzzling me..well, I've seen horses do this plenty of times. He somewhat awkwardly returned the nuzzle, marveling at how great it felt.

They looked at each other and nervously chuckled at the same time. "Well..until we meet again," said Chronos. "However long it takes."

Sunburst nodded sadly and started walking away, glancing behind him every so often. Chronos stood and watched him until he turned a corner and was out of sight. He sighed heavily and looked around the area, hoping to spot the Doctor or another familiar face. After a few minutes of searching and asking the remaining ponies if they had seen Time Turner, he returned to the bench and sat on it.

I'm sure we went mostly to the south after having lunch..it was early afternoon and the sun was somewhat to my right. If I can find north from here, I should be able to ask for directions if I can't find the hotel by myself.

He gazed longingly at the sky and its seemingly infinite array of stars. Not that I know any of the constellations here..not enough time to read about everything..there has to be something here I could use to navigate..blast, if the bookstore wasn't closed, I could look it up quickly..

Wait..there's a much closer landmark..that enormous crystal castle..that was to the north when we looked at it. He looked around for a gap in the buildings, hoping it was lit in some way. It didn't take all that long for him to find it; it wasn't brightly lit but there was no other structure in Ponyville that was that large..or foreboding. He glanced down the closest street in that direction; it was much quieter than it had been in the daytime, but it was lit well enough that he felt it was safe to traverse.

He started slowly, keeping his head up and trying to look like he knew where he was going. The street curved every so often, but he could tell he was still going north. Only a few establishments were open at this hour, and they were packed with all manner of creatures talking, laughing, dancing..They live so joyously and freely, he thought as he walked by a particularly raucous bar. I still can't get over it. I can hardly remember what it was like to have a life like that..if I ever did.

He picked up his pace and continued northward, keeping the castle in sight. If I somehow find the train station, the hotel was to the east of there, if I remember correctly.. He could tell that he wasn't going back the same way, but he didn't mind. While he didn't have a phone to navigate with, it also meant his wife couldn't constantly text him.

After several more minutes of brisk walking, he reached another clearing with a fountain and stopped to get his bearings. The castle loomed a bit larger, but he still hadn't found the cafe from earlier in the day or another familiar place that would help him find the hotel.

Well, I'm probably close enough now that I could get directions. He looked around but didn't see any other creature about. Also, all of the stores in the vicinity were closed. He was about to get up and resume going north when he thought he saw something moving to his left. He turned warily and saw a magnificent stallion walk out from a shadowy side street.

He was a very muscular and large Earth pony, with a dark gray coat and lengthy, unshorn fetlocks. His mane and tail were both long and dark but somewhat unkempt, which seemed to correspond with the scars and markings on his limbs and face. Yet, as he approached Chronos, he gave him a gentle smile, his deep blue eyes seemingly shining in the light of the streetlamps.

"Hello there, stranger. You look like you're lost," he said in a deep, rumbling voice. Chronos nodded sadly and shrugged, trying to distract himself from just how very attractive this other stallion was. Not cute or adorable like Sunburst, but just plain hot.

The newcomer smirked a bit as he got closer. "Heh..you like what you see?"

Chronos gasped and laughed nervously almost simultaneously. "Umm.." he said, feeling his face get warm. "I...umm..whatever the..right answer here is..?" The other pony laughed, a rich, hearty sound.

"I don't mind. No harm in looking. Well, where you headed, stranger?" he said, stopping a few feet in front of Chronos.

"To the..Rusty Horseshoe."

"I know that one," he said, nodding. "Stayed there a time or two. You're pretty close, actually..just go north a couple of streets and then head east. It'll be on your left after five blocks or so," the other pony said slowly yet steadily.

"Ah, thank you, sir," Chronos said, smiling. "That's just what I needed to know."

"You're welcome," the other stallion said with a nod. "Have a good evening." He then proceeded to the west, Chronos noting in passing his cutie mark of an anvil, hammer, and forge. He was just about to leave the square when he heard the Earth pony, his voice carrying easily.

"One more thing, stranger. If you need some company tonight, you might want to go to the Old Salt Lick. It's right next to the train station." There was a pause. "You might find something else you're looking for there. Tell them Steel Forge sent you if you go." Chronos stood for several more moments, shaking his head in confusion. What is he talking about?! Well, maybe I'll stop there if we have time before leaving.

Fortunately, Steel's directions were accurate and he was able to make his way back to the hotel. He nodded at the clerk and walked up the staircase. It was very quiet as he stepped carefully towards the rooms, not sure if anypony was still awake.

He slowly opened the door and then jolted in surprise; Time Turner was waiting for him, her expression austere. She motioned towards her rooms and he found himself going in that direction before he had the chance to think about it. The Doctor pushed past him and opened the door, the lights turning on as she did so.

He entered the room and gasped; everything had been completely rearranged and various complicated contraptions were laying about; this was a far more chaotic scene than anything he had witnessed on the TARDIS. The Doctor cleared her throat and motioned him towards a chair that looked like it had been created using parts from the lamp, the dresser, and several other things he couldn't identify.

He sat down, suddenly feeling very nervous and guilty. The Doctor stood across from him, her expression neutral. "Well, Chronos, nice of you to finally return to us," she said after an extended silence.

"We need to talk."

Author's Note

Version 1.0