Their First Adventure

Chapters

The Beginning
The Stranger
The Awkwardness
The Protector
The Dawn

The Beginning

12 years in the past

Derpy Hooves hid underneath the blue blankets of her bed fighting against the tears that demanded to be free. She had just come back from school where she had spent the day being ridicule by her fellow students and all because of her eyes.

The young grey pegasus eyes had a strange habit of looking away from each other which as one classmate had put it made her look weird. It also didn’t help that when her eyes does this her depth perception gets mumble up making her bump into things or tripping over something. Because of these incidents the other ponies have been calling her names like “googly eyes” or “ditzy doo” not caring whether she was in earshot or not.

Suddenly there was a knock at her bedroom door. “Derpy, dear is everything alright?” asked her mother’s gentle voice.

Derpy pull the blanket tighter around herself. “G…go away. I… I just what to be alone.”

“Come now dear let me in.” her mother cooed her. “I got muffins.”

At that one word the grey pegasus lifted her head slightly, peeking at the door though the sheets. “Are they chocolate chip?”

“Of course.”

There was a moment of silence as Derpy took a moment to consider whether she was sad enough to say no to her favourite food.

She wasn’t.

“You can come in.” she said mournfully.

The bedroom door open, revealing an older grey pegasus with a long golden mane wearing a pink apron carrying a plate of muffins in her mouth. Putting the plate on the nightstand she took a seat next to the mass of blankets. “Now dear, do you what to tell me why you’re crying?” she asks.

The filly beneath the blankets didn’t answer her mother instead she quickly took one of the muffins from the plate and slowly nibbles on it.

“Did something happen at school today?”

Once again Derpy remain silent.

“Were they calling you names again?”

There was a sudden sniffle then a part of the blanket began to move up and down. “They called me googly eyes.”

“Oh, my poor baby.” Her mother said warping her arms around her blanket covered daughter. “It’s okay.”

“No it’s not!” Derpy cried as she presses her head against her mother’s neck. “Everyone make fun of me and call me a freak because of these stupid eyes of mine. I hate my eyes and I hate my life.”

“Now you listen here Derpy Sapling Hooves.” Her mother said in a stern voice, pulling her daughter away to look her in the eyes. “The world will not always be fair and you will meet ponies who are mean and selfish but I promise you, you will find ponies who will accept you for who you are. Because unlike the ones at school they see past your eyes and see the kind hearted and fun loving little girl that I know and love.”

Derpy looked into her mother’s eyes for a long moment. The tears had stopped flowing down her face and she was feeling lest sad then a moment ago.

“Really?” she asks.

“Really” with that the two embrace each other in a warm hug.

“Hey, Mum.”

“Yes dear.”

“Do you think a boy will see me that way too?”

At the mention of the word “boy” her mother’s eyes widen to the size of saucers. “Uh…maybe dear…umm…why do you ask?”

“I just wanted to know if I’ll have a husband when I grow up.” Derpy asks not realising that the conversation was making her mother somewhat uncomfortable.

“I’m sure you will honey, and I’m sure he will love you just as much as I do. But that will be many, many, many years in the future. Okay.”

“Okay, Mum”

“Good, now would you mind passing me a muffin?”

For the rest of the afternoon Derpy and her mother sat in her room eating chocolate chip muffins and talking about the friends she will one day meet.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

534 years in the future

“Dr Whooves you can’t do this!” Cronus protested to the brown stallion who was busy drugging a large piece of cable to what looks like a miniature blue barn. The brown horse ignores his fellow scientist as he plugged in the cable at the back of the barn.

“The TARDIE isn’t ready for this. If you try to activate the time vortex now it could explode or cause a planet wide blackout or…”

“Or it could do what we built her to do.” The Doctor said walking over to the other side of the lab to get another cable. “Honestly Cronus you need to relax.”

“Relax!” roared the blue stallion who was following behind the doctor. “You what me to relax!”

“Yes, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Cronus shook his head at his friend in disgust, why was it every time they work together Whooves has to do something completely dangerous. True his recklessness had made him a famous inventor at the price of being deemed a mad scientist. The Doctor actually found the idea funny and would often dress the part on Nightmare Night.

“You’re insane.” The blue stallion sighed realizing it was hopeless to try to talk him out of doing this.

The Doctor chuckle lightly as he connected the last of the cable to the TARDIE. “Well, you know what they say about geniuses being confuse with the insane.” He said.

With all the power cables connected to the blue barn the two scientists open its doors and stepped in. Now on the outside the barn looks as if it could only fit one or two ponies at a time on the inside however was a much different story. The inside of the TARDIE was as large as a ballroom with a large pillar standing in the centre.

Dr Whooves moved to one of the many panels that surrounded the pillar, causally mumbling to himself as he started to press buttons and pull levers. Cronus meanwhile stood by the door ready to run for it if there is the slightest chance of danger.

“Okay that should do it.” said the Doctor as he finishes typing on the panel. “Now all we need to do is activate the time vortex, pump in enough power to bring the main computer online then open a controlled wormhole without causing a permanent rip in the space-time continuum. Simple.”

“You always say that.” Cronus muttered under his breath.

“Cronus, would you mind closing the door please.” Dr Whooves called back going to the other side of the pillar to type on another panel. “We wouldn’t want to be suck out when we enter the wormhole now would we.”

“Don’t you mean if, we enter a wormhole?”

The Doctor chuckle lightly. “I would think you would know by now that I never deal with “ifs”.”

“Of course how silly of me.” Cronus said closing the door and locking it. “I still think this is going to end with you killing us.”

“Oh really, then why are you still here?”

“Because if this thing does work and we actually manage to travel though time I’m not letting you take all the credit.” He said making the Doctor chuckled again.

Taking his place opposite from the Doctor the two stallions began to slowly bring their invention to life. Bringing the main computer online was the easy part however activating the Time Vortex was a different matter entirely. The device had to be carefully fed power, too much and their years of work along with their lives will go up in flames, too little and it will not activate.

“How’s everything looking at your end?” Dr Whooves asks while keeping an eye on the power readings on the screen before him.

“Good so far.” The blue stallion answered also keeping his eyes on his screen. “But the Time Vortex needs a lot more energy than I expected.”

“How much?”

“From the top of my head I would say…twenty-five percent.”

The Doctor lifted his head and looked at his friend in a questionable way. “I thought you said anything over twenty percent would be bad.”

“Well, that’s what the simulations say.” Cronus said looking back at the Doctor who to his surprise looked as if he was having second thoughts. “Don’t suppose you’ve change your mind?”

Dr Whooves looked up at the blue stallion who stared at him with questioning eyes. My doubt must be showing. He thought as he turns his attention back to the screen before him. Truth be told he had doubt about going through with this since he came to the lab and found Cronus going over the TARDIE’s blueprints.

His original plan was to try and activate the machine by himself that way if by the small chance it did explode his life would be the only one in danger. That plan has since flown out the window now that Cronus had decided to stay rather than leave like most would have done. I’m beginning to rub off on him. The image of the blue stallion wearing the Doctor’s red bowtie would have brought a smile to his face if he wasn’t trying to decide whether or not to go through with his potentially suicidal plan.

“Whooves?” called Cronus snapping the Doctor back from his mental escapade. “Well, are we going to do this or not?”

The brown stallion looks from his friend to the screen then back to Cronus. He had come too far now to just turn around and leave with his tail in between his leg, but if something did happen.

No. he thought giving his head a quick shake to clear his mind of doubt. I do not deal with “ifs” the machine is going to work perfectly just as I calculated.

With that the Doctor gave Cronus one of his cocky smiles. “Of course we are.” He said in his usual cheery voice.

Cronus gave a small sigh, he was hoping the Doctor would have second thoughts and stop the test but he should have known better. Once he set his mind on something nothing could change it, not even himself.

“Alright then.” The blue stallion muttered. “Let’s start with getting twenty precent then if we have the time, pray.”

The two scientists began the long and painfully agonizing process of feeding the Time Vortex power. Soon they heard a soft humming sound coming from the pillar which made both the ponies both excited and cautions. The device was slowly activating and they were only at seventeen percent.

“So far so good.” Cronus said sounding slightly more confident than before.

Dr Whooves on the other hand was feeling even more nervous as he watch the power level rise. For some strange reason there was a small voice in the back of his head demanding he stop the test, that it was too dangerous. But he ignore it, all of his calculation said that the chance of something going wrong was virtually zero.

The humming sound from the pillar grew even louder and a faint glow could be seen in its centre. Cronus was growing more and more excited in each passing second. I don’t believe this. He thought. It’s actually working. The Time Vortex is actually responding.

When they finally reached twenty percent the glow within the pillar were almost reaching the top and bottom, and the humming was almost deafening.

“It needs more power.” Cronus said impatiently like a child who wants to open his birthday present early.

The Doctor notice this with one of his eyebrow raised in a questioning manner. “You’ve change your tune.” He said. “What happen to the whole “I’m going to kill us all” stuff?”

“That was before I saw these read outs.” The blue stallion replied defensively. “The power levels are steady, the core is nowhere near the red zone and the Time Vortex is responding perfectly. Just a little more energy and we’re make history.” For a moment the Doctor shared his friend’s enthusiasm but then he saw something on the computer screen that made his stomach tired up in knots. It was a small energy surge from the Time Vortex, so small in fact that most scientists wouldn’t have saw it or payed it enough attention. Luckily Dr Whooves wasn’t like most scientists.

“Cronus we need to shut the TARDIE down, now!” He shouted in barely control panic.

The blue stallion looked at the Doctor, confuse as to the sudden urgency. “What!” he said. “Why?”

“There’s no time to explain just do it.”

“But we’ve come so far.” Cronus protested not wanting to lose his chance of becoming a renowned scientist like his friend. “I don’t see anything on my screen that would call for an immediate shutdown.”

“JUST DO IT!”

For a moment the blue stallion was stunned by the Doctor’s sudden outburst. It was extremely rare for the Doctor to raise his voice and even when he did it was only in the most serious of situation.

After regaining his senses Cronus reluctantly followed the Doctor’s orders to perform the shutdown. But the computer wouldn’t respond to the command, in fact it was continuing to feed power to the Time Vortex.

“What are you doing?” Dr Whooves demanded. “I said shut it down!”

“I’m trying but the computer isn’t responding.”

“Blast it.” the Doctor cursed slamming his hooves onto the panel. This was what he was afraid of, even though they had perform extensive research on the device there was still a great deal they do not know about it or what would happen if it was given to much power.

He looked at the screen to find the power levels had reach twenty-eight percent and rising. If he doesn’t think of something soon everything in a fifteen-mile radius will be reduce to a very large smoking hole in the ground. Cronus was also rattling his brain for a way to shut down the machine.

Suddenly the blue stallion thought of the cables the Doctor had plugged in at the start of all this madness. If we can’t shut it down on the inside then maybe we can shut it down on the outside. He thought. With that Cronus ran towards the entrance at top speed not even bothering in letting the Doctor in on his plan.

“Cronus wait!” the Doctor called out to him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going to pull the plug.” He called back.

Dr Whooves was confused for a moment but then his eyes widen in realization. Of cause why didn’t I think of that! He thought as he rushed to his friend’s side. However if he had stayed at his station he would have seen the words, Quantum Leap activated flash across his screen.

Cronus reached the doors first with the Doctor a couple of steps behind. The blue stallion quickly pulled the doors aside expecting to see the familiar lab where they had been working in for the past five years, what he found was beyond his comprehension.

Instead of the large white room with cables littering the floor the pony was staring at what he could only describe as a tunnel of light. He stayed where he was for a brief moment, his face the perfect image of shock and confusion before suddenly being pulled out of the TARDIE by some invisible force.

Cronus screamed in horror as his hooves left the safe contact of the time machine’s floor. He try to grabbed on to something but it happened too fast, there was nothing he could do to save himself from being pull into the tunnel. Just as he had lost hope he felt something grabbed onto one of his legs. Looking back at the entrance of the time machine he saw the Doctor hanging out of the TARDIE with one hoof holding his leg and the other securely holding onto the machine’s doorframe.

“PULL ME BACK IN, PULL ME BACK IN!” the blue stallion shouted at the top of his lungs.

“I’m trying!” the Doctor grunted as he try to pull his friend back to the safety of the time machine.

It was a losing battle as the Doctor could feel his grip on Cronus’s leg was slipping. The blue stallion felt this too and began to tryst and turn in the hope of getting a grip on the Doctor’s arm with his own fore-hoofs. This however only caused the chest-nut brown stallion’s grip to become even looser.

“Cronus! Stop moving around you’re making me lose my grip!” Dr Whooves called out though whether he heard him or not he could not say as the fellow scientist was begging him not to let go.

Pulling with all the strength he had the Doctor slowly pulled himself back into the TARDIE with his hoof still holding onto Cronus’s leg. As soon as his hind legs touched the machines floor he grabbed the blue stallions other leg with his free hoof making the job of pulling him back in easier. The Doctor smiled as he was seconds from bringing his friend back into the time machine.

“Don’t worry Cronus I’ve almost got you.” He said pulling with all of his might.

But just as he had half of the blue stallion’s body through the doorframe disaster struck. Out of nowhere a sudden bolt of energy crushed against the time machine with enough force to knock the Doctor off his hooves. For one brief moment he could see Cronus’s eyes widen in horror as the hooves that were keeping him from flying into the abyss were suddenly gone.

The last thing he saw of his friend was him reaching for the doorframes calling out his name as he was sucked out of the time machine. “CRONUS!” Cried the Doctor as he got back onto his feet.

He quickly ran back to the doors in the hope that he could still save him but deep down he knew there was nothing he could do. Cronus was gone, washed away in a portal through time in which he could have died upon being swept away or is now permanently stuck in a time limbo.

For a moment the Doctor stood by the door looking out into the tunnel trying to come up with a plan to save his friend from a fate that could very well be worst then dearth. But nothing came to him. Here was the great brilliant Dr Whooves, the pony who everyone called the smartest pony who ever lived and yet for the first time in his life he didn’t know what to do.

The Stranger

“Hey Derpy, what do you think of this one?” Carrot Top asked as she looked at herself through her bedroom mirror. The pale yellow pony wore a dark blue dress that speckles whenever the light hit it. The grey pegasus who was idly sitting on the earth pony’s bed reading a comic book looked up to inspect the dress.

“Wow, Carrot Top you look great.” Said Derpy truly admiring it. “I bet all the colts at the festival are going to ask for a dance with you.”

The orange mane pony slightly brushed at her friend’s praise. “Thanks Derpy.” She said moving towards the closet to put the dress away. “So, what are you planning on wearing?”

The grey pegasus didn’t respond to her friend’s question at first, she just remain where she was pretending to read the comic before her. In truth she wasn’t planning on going to the Harvest Festival this year mostly because of what had happen at the one the year before. The events of what had happen that day were still fresh in her mind and she did not wish to relive it again.

The winged pony was brought back to pleasant by the sound of Carrot Top’s voice. “Hello, Equestria to Derpy is anyone home.” She said waving her hoof in front of grey pegasus face. “I said what are you wearing for the festival?”

Derpy thought for moment if she should lie but thought better of it, she was a terrible liar and even if she wasn’t she couldn’t lie to Carrot Top. They had been best friends since she had moved to Ponyville from Cloudsdale all those years ago. To even think of lying to her made Derpy feel a little shameful.

“I… I don’t actually plan on going this year.” She said keeping her eyes on the comic.

“What!” Carrot Top yelped in surprise. “But why not? We always go to the festival together, it’s a tradition.”

“I know.” The winged pony said still refusing to meet her friend’s eyes. “It’s just that with what happen last time…”

“Oh, Derpy that was a year ago I’m sure everypony had forgotten it by now.”

“I’d crashed into the Mayor while she was giving a speech in front of the town. Ponies don’t forget something like that.”

For a moment an awkward silent settled between the two friends with Carrot Top trying to find the right words to change Derpy’s mind while she sat there skimming over the comic. When the silent became too unbearable the grey pegasus cleared her throat and added. “I also have to deliver the mail the next day so I need to get a good night rest anyway.”

It was a horrible excuse they both knew that but it was logical none the less. Carrot Top sighed deeply, Derpy was a good friend, kind, loyal, and always there when you need her but she can also be quite stubborn at times, epically when it had something to do with past embarrassing situations. She remembers one time at Sugarcube Corner when the pegasus accidently tripped onto a table full of sweets making a very large mess. It took three whole weeks for Derpy to build up the courage to go back.

“Okay Derpy.” Carrot Top said suddenly putting on a reassuring smile. “If you don’t want to go then I won’t force you but promise me something.”

“What?”

“That next year you will come.” She said putting a hoof on her friends shoulder. “Otherwise it wouldn’t be worth going to without my best friend by my side.”

The grey pegasus could feel her cheek getting hot, she felt truly flattered by what Carrot Top said and a little guilty. “Okay.” Derpy said. “I promise.”

After that Derpy said goodbye to her friend and left for home. It was late noon and the sun was half way through setting turning the once blue sky into a blazing orange. It was truly a magnificent sunset, However the blonde mane mare was the only one who seem to be paying it any attention. All the other ponies were too busy with putting up the decorations for the festival or going home after a long day of work.

Looking at the setting sun Derpy remembered warm memories of her mother and how they would sit on the front porch of their house with a plate full of muffins and just watch the sunset. The winged pony stoped for a moment to allow those memories to flow through her mind. For a brief second she actually thought she felt her mother’s warm, welcoming forelegs around her.

Suddenly the happy memories turn sour as she remembered the day when her mother wasn’t there anymore. When the one fateful afternoon when she was coming home to school she found her mother’s boss Mr Ink Spot waiting for her to tell her that her mother won’t be coming back.

Derpy violently shook her head. No. Don’t think about that. She told herself fighting against the tears that wanted to so badly to be set free. After taking a deep breath the grey pegasus manage to regain control of herself and continued home.

Her home was a large white building which also doubles as Ponyville’s post office. The first floor was the post office itself while the other two floors which were originally for storage has been coveted into a well furnish apartment.

After eating a light meal the grey mare went up to the third floor to sleep. But sleep wouldn’t come to her as her mind wondered if she should go to the festival. Carrot Top looked so upset and disappointed when she told her she wasn’t going and it would be the first time that they wouldn’t go together. Maybe she should go.

Then the memory of her crushing into the mayor came rushing back like the tidal wave. The look of surprise and anger on the mayor’s face, the roaring laughter from the crowds and the feeling of unbearable embarrassment filled her head.

No. this is for the best. She thought turning onto her side to look out the window at the star filled sky. This way I won’t do anything else embarrassing. Besides I’m sure Carrot Top will have a better time without me there messing things up.

With that the grey winged pony closed her eyes and drift off to sleep, hopping that the next few days pass quickly and without incident.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the hills overlooking the town, a strange creature stood watching the town as its citizens slept soundly. The creature was three times larger than a pony and stood on four crab-like legs, it’s golden metallic skin gleams in the moon light. Its single large eye scans over the town, searching for guards or other defences.

Once it was satisfied there was no immediate danger of discovery it moved closer to the town. Despite its large bulk the creature moved quickly and quietly to the nearest house, barely making a sound as it glowing eye looked through a window.

Inside was a young blue pony sleeping soundly in its bed, for a moment the creature thought of taking her back to its lair but decided against it. The chance of the pony waking up and calling for help was far too high and it cannot risk detection, at least for now.

Turning around the metallic creature retreated to the hills empty handed but it didn’t mind. It had all the time in the world to acquire a suitable specimen and once it has what’s its needs nothing in this world will stop it.

Nothing.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Derpy Hooves flew across the sky at lightning fast speeds as she tries to deliver the mail on time. Usual she wouldn’t be flying so fast but the young winged mare had slept in and now she was incredibly late with the mail. Even with the speed she was traveling at she was still far from halfway done.

Oh, why did this have to happen? She thought as she dropped off a package in front of a house without checking if it was the right address or not.

After an half hour of frantic flying Derpy had manage to deliver almost all of the mail for the day. Now the only ones left were for Sweet Apple Acres which was located just outside of town.

She allowed herself to fly in a more moderate pace then before seeing how the apples family were much more laid back in when they got their mail.

As she flew at this slower pace she noticed that more decorations had been put up since yesterday. They even had the stage where the school hosts its play commemorating the towns settlers up. Derpy felt a small ping of regret in her heart but ignored it and continue flying to Sweet Apple Acres.

After a couple a meters outside of the town the grey winged pony decided to land to give her wings a short break. She sighed in relief when she felt her feathered wings folded on her sides, after today she might not be able to fly for a week.

Walking through the small forested area that separated the Apples family farm and Ponyville, Derpy couldn’t help but notice the transformation from winter to spring. The trees were full a bright green leaves and birds singing in their nest while the ground was covered in colourful flowers and small animals. It reminded her of how she helped Carrot Top with planting the seeds during Winter Warp Up.

Suddenly all of the animals who were just going about their usual business became frighten of something and began to ran away. Strange. Thought Derpy. Wonder what got them spook?

As if to answer her unspoken question a loud humming sound suddenly appeared causing the grey mare to almost jump out of her skin. Turning around Derpy grasped in surprise by what was happening before her.

There in the middle of the path a small blue barn was slowly fading into existence. The humming noise became louder as it became more solid causing the winged pony to cover her ears. When at last the strange barn became fully solid the noise slowly faded away leaving behind a confuse and slightly frighten pugasus.

Where…where did that come from? Derpy thought as her mind tries to register what had just happen. The grey pony remain where she stood trying to come up with a logical explanation as to why a blue barn would just appear like that.

Maybe it’s some type of magical device. She thought. Or maybe it’s some type of space ship from another planet.

The idea of making first contact with an alien race excited the grey pony, at least it did before she remembered what happen in one of her comics. In the comic a young filly like herself came across a space ship and met several little green aliens. At first the aliens seem really nice but when the filly got on to their ship they all turn out to be evil and wanted to eat the filly.

Derpy gulped down a lump in her throat as the excitement she was feeling before turns into fear. What if the blue barn was a space ship full of evil pony eating aliens and they chose to land here to make her into their next meal.

With a shaking hoof Derpy grabbed a nearby stick and held it out towards the barn. If they want to eat me then I won’t make it easy for them. She thought as she tries to be courageous.

Taking very small steps she slowly approached the barn. “Hel…hello.” She called out to it when she was a couple meters from it. “Is anypony in there?”

Nobody answered.

Taking a deep breath Derpy closed the gap between her and the barn by another few meters. “My…my name is Derpy Hooves and I…I welcome you to our…our planet.”

Again the barn remains motionless.

Seeing no immediate danger the grey wing pony took the last couple of steps towards the strange space ship. Now being in front of it she began to wonder why aliens would make their space ships look like barns. Maybe it’s some sort of cloaking device. She thought as she gently tap it with the stick.

When nothing happen she then proceeded to find the door which didn’t take a long time with it having only four sides. Once she found the door Derpy wondered if she should try to open it. For all she knew the aliens could be waiting for her on the other side, ready to snatch her and make her their dinner.

She shook her head to get rid of that thought, if these were pony eating aliens they would have try to capture her by now, wouldn’t they?

Reaching out with one hoof while the other held the stick tightly Derpy was about to open the barn’s door when suddenly they open by themselves. It was too dark for her to see anything clearly but she could clearly make out a silhouette of some sort of creature standing just inside of the door’s threshold.

For a brief moment Derpy stood there looking at the shadowy figure before her, her eyes widening in surprise and shock. Then acting on pure instinct the grey mare closed her eyes and started to pummel the alien while screaming at the top of her voice.

Even though she had her eyes closed she knew she was hitting the alien from all the yelling it was producing when the stick made contact. She couldn’t exactly hear what it was saying because of her own terrified screams but she imagines it was along the lines of ‘resistance is futile.’ or ‘prepare to be eaten.’

With those thoughts, plus the image of a hideous slimy pony eating alien stuck in her head Derpy redoubles her efforts to beat it into submission. After a series of blows to what she could only assume was the alien’s head there was the sound of something heavy falling onto the floor.

For a moment Derpy continued swinging the stick but when it didn’t make contact with anything solid she realize that the alien must have been what had fallen onto the floor. With slight hesitation she slowly opens her eyes to see what the unconscious alien look like. What she saw before her left her completely speechless.

Instead of it looking like the small green scary looking pony eating alien from her comics the alien before her look more like a normal earth pony. It had a chestnut brown coat with a dark brown mane, it wore a bright red bowtie around its neck and had a hourglass for its cutie mark.

“Wow.” Derpy said as she started to poke the unconscious alien with her stick. “I didn’t expect an alien to look so…pony like.”

While she poked the pony looking alien she began to wonder what she should do with it. She couldn’t leave it here, it might wake up and call for reinforcement or it could try to kidnap another pony. The only thing she could think of was to take it home and hold it prisoner, at least until she was sure it wasn’t a threat to anyone. But first she’s going to need some rope.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

One of the first thing doctor Whooves notice when he regain consciousness was that his entire body felt as if it had been stomped on by an rampaging dragon. The second thing he notices was that he wasn’t in the TARDIE he was instead laying on a small bed staring up at a white ceiling.

Confuse, he tries to lift himself off the bed but found his legs were bound together by rope. “Well, this is interesting.” He said. “I can defiantly say this have never happen to me before.”

Looking around the room for any indication as to where or when he was the Doctor found that the room he was in was obviously somepony’s bedroom. The walls were a light shade of blue and had several pictures hanging off of them. Beside the bed there was a night stand which had a lamp, a couple of comic books and a picture of a grey female pegasus hugging a little grey filly.

Before he could continue his investigation the door on the other side of the room opened to reveal a grey pegesus. The Doctor couldn’t see the pegesus face on the account of the tray of muffins blocking his view but he was fairly certain it was one of the females form the photo.

The pegasus placed the tray on the night stand then turn to face the Doctor. She was young being only two years or so behind him with a golden mane that was kept in a simple style, she also had a pretty face that most mares her age would kill for. All in all she was quite an attractive pony, if only her eyes weren’t so weird.

Her eyes, while a beautiful shade of sunny yellow seems to look away from each other. For instance right now her left eye is looking up at the ceiling while her right was staring straight at him. It was amazing that she manage to place the tray so neatly on the night stand let alone walk in a straight line.

Must be a genetic defect. The Doctor thought.

The pegasus cleared her throat then said in a very slow, very clear voice. “Hello visitor form the stars my name is Derpy what’s yours?”

The Doctor didn’t answer at first, he was far too confuse by the pegasus ‘visitor from the stars’ comment. Well that and as to how he got here with a pain stricken body.

The pegasus or Derpy as she had called herself must have thought that his lack of an answer meant he didn’t understand her because she repeated the question again slower and clearer than before. “I said, what is your name?”

“Why are you talking like that?” the Doctor asked in return.

Derpy gasped in surprise as if the very notion that he could speak was some sort of divine miracle. “You…you can speak our langrage.”

“Of course I can.” He said. “I can also speak draconic, griffon, several ancient unicornions derelicts and a little bit of Zebraas.”

“Wow, you must have been spying on us for long time.” Derpy said frowning in deep thought.

Spying? The Doctor thought. Why would this pony think I’m a spy?

Before he could continue this line of thought the grey pegasus asked him another question. “What planet did you come from?”

The Doctor’s eyes widen by the unexpected question. For the first couple seconds he was left speechless then after collecting his thoughts he finally manage to utter. “What?”

“I said what…”

“No, no I know what you said. It’s just… what in the name of the princesses make you think I’m from another planet?”

“Well, I saw you land your space craft and…”

“Space craft? I don’t have a…” Then a sudden surge of memories came rushing back like a tidal wave. He remembered being on the TARDIE as it ‘landed’ in another time zone, he then remembered opening the doors and being attack by something with a stick. After the memory surge it didn’t take him long to piece two and two together.

“You hit me with a stick!” he yelled louder than was necessary causing the grey pegasus to flinch slightly.

“Oh, you remembered that, huh?” Derpy said as she turns her head away from his angry gaze, scratching the back of her head sheepishly.

While the Doctor was angry at the pegasus he was also panicking over the fact that she saw the TARDIE ‘landing’. If she finds out that it’s a time machine instead of a space ship she was going to asks more questions, questions that could course an inconceivable amount of damage in the space-time continuum. He had to get away from this pony before then but how.

As he was pondering on how to escape Derpy was going over the events of how she saw the TARDIE land and how she thought he might be a pony eating alien. “You don’t though right?” she asks hopefully. But the Doctor wasn’t even listening; he was still trying to figure out how to get away from her.

“Hey.” she said poking the Doctor in the ribs which got his attention. “I said you don’t eat ponies do you?”

For a moment he was about to ask where that absurd notion came from but realize that she had been talking the whole time he was planning his escape. “No I don’t.”

“Well, that’s good.” She said with a sigh of relief. “And sorry about hitting you with a stick. It’s probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do when meeting a visitor from another planet.”

“No.” the Doctor said slowly as an idea slowly formed in his head.

“No it wasn’t.”

The idea while it would keep her from asking any awkward questions it was also going to involve lying and going along with the ‘Visitor from outer space’ thing. This didn’t make him happy as he was a terrible actor.

“It’s also not a very good idea to have your ‘visitor’ tired up like this.” He said as he swayed his legs back and forth slightly.

Derpy stayed where she was at first as she was clearly trying to determine whether or not she could trust him. Hoping it would help, the Doctor gave her his biggest reassuring smile that he could manage. After what could have been a life time the grey pegasus finally untie the ropes around the Doctor’s legs.

Raising to his feet the brown earth pony stretches his legs, sighing in relief for being able to move his stiff muscles. “Thank you.” He said giving her a warm smile. “Well, I’ve got to go now and do some alien stuff.”

“What?” Derpy said as he turns and walks towards the door. “Bu…but you can’t leave yet. I got so many questions.”

The Doctor didn’t stop though in fact he was now moving faster to the door. The grey pegasus realizing this quickly flew over the brown pony and blocks it with her body. The brown pony came to a screeching stop, almost crashing into her. The wing pony gave the Doctor an angry and somewhat hurt glare. Hanging his head in defeat the Doctor gave a slight sigh. “Okay, what’s your question?”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

After several gruelling hours of answering the pegasus’s questions the Doctor has come to the conclusion that this young mare has read far too many comic books. Most of her questions revolve around if he had some special powers or if his ‘space craft’ can take on other shapes or forms. He could swear he can hear his brain cells slowly dying from this unintelligent conversation but he knew he had to put up with for the sake of the universe.

“So, what’s your planet like?” She asks as she sat on the bed slowly eating a muffin.

“Oh, it’s not anything special.” He said in a bored tone. “It has the same things you have here. Water, Trees, an atmosphere, a sun and a moon.”

“Wow.” Derpy said completely amaze by the Doctor’s fake planet. “I wish I could see it.”

“So, is that it?” the Doctor asked silently hoping that this is the last question. “Is that all the questions you wanted to asked me.”

For a moment the grey mare sat there looking thoughtful or at least as thoughtful as one could look with her eyes. “Well.” She said taking another bite out of her muffin. “There is one more thing I wanted to ask.”

Blast. The Doctor thought as he prepared for another tedious question. “Okay, what is it.”

“What’s your name?”

For the first time since meeting the pegasus the brown stallion was stunned. Not by the question itself but by how he should answer it, telling her his name could put the space-time continuum in jeopardy. He would have to make one up which would be an easier task if the grey pegasus would stop looking at him with those googly eyes of hers.

“My name is…” he said slowly trying to stall for time. “Is the Doctor.”

“The Doctor?” Derpy questioned.

“Yes, that’s my name.” he said trying to sound as convincing as possible.

The wing mare didn’t look convince, she leaned in until their faces were inches apart. This sudden breach in personnel space made the Doctor very uncomfortable, if she had moved any closer they would be kissing right now. Which wouldn’t be such a bad thing he suppose, she was after all pretty even with her eyes being as they are and it had been a long time since he had been with somepony.

Don’t. The logical part of him said pulling him back to reality. You know you can’t have relationships. It wouldn’t be fair on them… or you.

“Is that really your name?” Derpy asked suspiciously, looking deep into his aqua blue eyes.

It took a moment for the Doctor replied. “Yes.” He said backing away slightly as to avoid any awkward situation that could be cause by being so close to a female. She remain where she was with both of her eyes now staring into his soul.

“Well… maybe it’s not my actually name.” he said looking away from her suspicious glare, yet for some reason felt compel to look into those molten gold orbs. “But it is what you can call me.”

“But why can’t I call you by your real name?”

“Oh, it’s a long name and very hard to pronounced so I decided to go by the Doctor.”

“I see, that makes sense I guess.” The grey mare said returning to her original position. The Doctor blew a sigh in silent relief. That was a close one. He thought. If she had kept pushing who knows what could have happen.

“So, have I answered all of your questions now?” the Doctor asked.

Derpy nodded “Yeah that’s everything I wanted to know.” She said finishing the last bit of the muffin she had been eating. The chestnut coloured stallion quickly jumped off the bed, not wanting to stay to see if the grey pegasus decides to change her mind and move towards the door. This time however there was no flash of grey jumping over him to block the exit.

“Oh, hey wait.” Her voice called out causing him to stop just at the door’s threshold.

Groaning silently in annoyance the Doctor turned around to the wing mare who had been wasting a great deal of his time and was for the second time since he met her, stunned. There she was sitting in the exact same spot she had been sitting in throughout the Q and A, with both of her golden eyes staring at him. The afternoon sun light shines through the window casting long shadows across the room and making her different somehow.

She was no longer the pony who knocked him out and held him prisoner, she was instead the young, beautiful mare she could have been had fate not be so cruel and made her eyes the way they were. For a brief moment it had seemed all time had come to a standstill, all there was, was him, her and her bedroom.

“I just realize you don’t have a place to stay.” She said completely oblivious to how her chestnut brown guest was mesmerized by her. “If you want you could stay here with me.”

For a second the Doctor was serious thinking of saying yes but manage to regain control of himself. What just happen? He thought as he took an unconscious step backward. Where did these feelings come from?”

“Th…that won’t be necessary but thank you for the offer.” He said as he turns away from her. Before she could say anything else the Doctor closed the bedroom’s door and half ran, half walk down the stairs. He needed to get out of here fast before these strange new feelings take hold of him.

After racing down several flights of stairs he finally reach the bottom floor of the building and much to his relief the grey pony wasn’t following him. Walking over to the door he turns his head to the stairs one last time before opening it. With his head still on the stairs he failed to notice the orange mane pony standing on the other side of the door.

“Well, hello there.”

The Awkwardness

Derpy laid on her bed the feeling of pure excrement running through her entire being. Not two minutes ago she had just spoken to a real live alien from another planet and he wasn’t at all the evil pony eating alien she thought he was. Oh, this is so great! I can’t wait to tell

Carrot Top about this. She thought as she giggled in glee.

She wondered if she would meet him again. She hopes so, he was really nice considering the fact she had knocked him out and tied him up. Who knows maybe they could even become friends and learn more about each other, something that made Derpy’s heart beat a little bit faster.

Looking out of her bedroom window, she watches as the last shades of the setting sun disappear and wondered what it looked like on the Doctor’s planet.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

“Well, hello there.” Carrot Top said to the brown stallion standing before her whose eyes were almost as wide as hers. For a moment they both stood there looking at each other in a state of mild surprise and confusion.

“Umm… hello, madam.” The stallion greeted with an Canterlotion accent. “Beautiful afternoon isn’t it.”

“Yes, I guess it is.”

The two ponies remain where they were for another couple of seconds before the stallion cleared his throat. “Well, I must be off.” He said as he quickly walked passed her.

“Nice meeting you.” She said slightly confuse by the encounter. The orange mane pony watch the unknown stallion walked down the street in a fast pace. Once he was out of sight she turns her attention to the building in front of her wondering as to why he was here. It was far too late for it to be postal related and she can definitely say that she had never seen him before, Ponyville is after all a small town.

Maybe he was here to see Derpy. She thought as she proceeded to enter the building. The thought was an unusually one as Derpy found it hard speaking to the opposite sex with the exception of her boss and perhaps a few of her co-workers. Then an idea came to mind as she walks up the stairs leading up to Derpy’s apartment.

Was he perhaps the reason why Derpy won’t be going to the festival with her this year. Could her best friend have a coltfriend that she never told her about. It was an unlikely concept as the two told each other everything but still it was a thought that wouldn’t go away easily.

I am sure she had a good reason. She thought as she approach the apartment door. But what could it be?

Several explanations came to mind with the most ridiculous one being that he’s marred and is having an affair with Derpy which is silly as she isn’t the type to do something like that. The most logical explanation was that she was simply overthinking about this and that there was nothing between them to begin with. Needless to say she chose to go with the that explanation.

The orange mane pony knocked on the door in the musical beat that had come to be known as ‘Carrot Tops knock’ and waited for her friend. It wasn’t a long wait as in less than thirty seconds she could hear the thundering of hooves running down the stairs. She must be in a good mood. She thought which immediately brought up images of the stallion which in turn brought up another set of images that she really didn’t want to think about.

The door opens to reveal the grey pegasus with a joyful smile on her face. “Hey, Carrot Top.” She greeted in an excited tone. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Derpy.” She greeted in return. “I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I’ll stop by.”

“Well, come on in.” she said, standing aside to allow Carrot Top to enter.

Closing the door behind her, Derpy lead her friend into the apartment’s lounge room. “Can I get you anything?” she offered as her friend took a seat on the couch.

The yellow pony shook her head. “No thank you.”

Derpy took a seat in the chair that was across from where Carrot Top was seating. She waited for the grey pegasus to get comfortable before she asked. “So, how have your day been?”

“Oh, my day been great.” She said in cheerful tone. “Well, not the morning because I accidently slept in and was almost late in delivering the mail but the afternoon was great!”

“Really why’s that?”

“Because I met a ali…” Derpy stopped in mid-sentence for a brief moment. Her mouth closed and her eyes seem to drift to the nearby window as if in deep thought.

“You met a what?” Carrot Top asked confused by her friend’s sudden quietness.

“I met a…umm.” She continues through now her cheerful voice seems to have change to a quieter nervous one. “A…an old friend of mine.”

Carrot Top raise one of her eyebrows at the grey pony suspiciously by the sudden change in her mood. “This old friend of yours wouldn’t happen to be the stallion I met outside would it?”

“Oh.” Derpy said chuckling nervously. “So you already met him.”

“Yeah, I have.” She replied finding it odd that the stallion was an old friend of Derpy’s and yet she never seen or heard of him before. “What’s his name?”

It took longer than normal for the grey pegasus to answer. “His name is…Doctor… Skip.”

“Doctor Skip?”

“Yep, Doctor Skip that’s his name, its short for Skippy you see but he doesn’t like being called Skippy so I call him Skip and he’s also a Doctor.” Derpy said in a very fast and nervous voice. “Did I mention his name is Skip?”

“Yes you did, several times.” Carrot Top said frowning at her friend in doubt. She knew that Derpy was lying to her which surprised her because she almost never lies to anypony especially to those close to her. So why was she telling lies now?

It obviously had something to do with this ‘Doctor Skip’ whoever he was. Already her mind shifted back to those previous explanations she had when she was walking up the stairs along with some new ones. In the end the orange mane mare decided to just ask her what was truly going on.

“Derpy.” She said in a soft caring tone. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

The blond gulped down the lump that had appeared her throat before answering in a voice that was slightly quieter than before. “Wh…Whatever do you mean Carrot Top?”

“Derpy please.” Carrot Top pleaded as she got up from the couch and walked over to her friend, gently placing a hoof on grey pony’s. “You can tell me anything remember.”

For a brief moment Derpy open her mouth to say something but quickly closed it before any sound could escape. She remains silent for a while, clearly contemplating whether or not to tell her friend what was really going on. Swallowing down the lump that had once again appeared in her throat the grey coloured mare open her mouth again and said, “I think I should go get dinner started.”

With that Derpy hopped out of the chair she had been sitting on and left the lounge room with a confuse and worried Carrot Top remaining by the chair’s side. There was defiantly something bothering her friend but whatever it was, it was something she didn’t want to talk about. Once again her thought returns to the stallion she had met outside. I don’t know who you are ‘Doctor Skip’ but I swear that if you did anything to hurt Derpy I make you wish you were never born. The orange mane pony thought darkly.

The rest of the night went on like it usually did when ever Carrot Top came over to the mailmare’s home for dinner. The two ate, gossip over the other ponies, ate some muffins, gossip some more, then said their goodbyes.

“Thanks for coming over Carrot Top.” Derpy said as the orange mane mare left. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Right, see you later Derpy.” She returns waving goodbye to her friend as she left.

Once she was outside of the post office she looked up at the second story window where she could make out the silhouette of her friend. “Whatever it is you’re not telling me Derpy I hope you know that I’m always here for you. Always.”

____________________________________________________________________________________

Doctor Whooves trotted along the darken streets of Ponyville turning his head from left to right in the hope of spotting the miniature blue barn he been calling home since the incident. He wished he had asked that grey pegasus where it was before he practically ran out of the building. He had thought about going back but it was already dreadfully late and he doubted she would still be awake.

Plus there was the matter over the feelings he had felt when he was around her. He had already concluded that these feelings were romantic or at least as romantic as one could get when meeting someone for the first time. But what really got his mind going was how strong these feelings were.

Back in his own time the Doctor had spent little time chasing after mares as he was busy researching the Time Vortex and building the TARDIE. On the top of his head he could only recall two relationships that were truly romantic in nature but they had both ended as quickly as they had started and nether had brought on these intense feelings before.

Perhaps it’s was merely a matter of being alone for so long, after all even the most discipline mind needs contact with somepony. But then that raises another question as to why he was feeling this way now. He had come into contact with hundreds of ponies in the past albeit with a great deal of care as not to reveal his identity but still he had been in contact with other ponies and haven’t felt anything like this for any of them.

Maybe it’s love at first sight. He jested to himself. As a scientist he didn’t put too much faith in such silly ideas as falling in love just by looking at a mare. Still whatever it was that had brought up those feelings he was sure he wouldn’t have to worry about them as long as he stayed away from that pegasus.

As the chest-nut coloured stallion turn into what he believes to be a park a sudden glimmer caught his eye. Turning his head towards it he notices that it was coming from the top of a nearby hill. A smile spread across his face as he rushed towards the hill thankful that he had finally found the TARDIE. He could get some sleep before he has to move it somewhere less conspicuous so as to not attract any unwanted attention.

These thoughts dissipated however when the glimmer of light began to move. Coming to a stop just by the foot of the hill the Doctor watch as it came down. As it drew closer it began to take shape, a shape that he was all too familiar with.

Ducking behind a tree the chestnut coloured pony waited anxiously, hoping that he was wrong about who this being could be. Unfortunately his worst fears were confirmed as the mechanical crab like machine walked past the tree he was hiding behind. What in the name of Celestia is he doing here? He thought as he watches the machine move towards the town.

The Doctor remained where he was, watching the metal giant as it made its way to the park’s entrance almost noiselessly. It had been a while since he last saw the robotic being and he had hoped he would never see it again but it seem that fate had other plans.

Once the crab-like machine passed through the park’s entrance and no longer in sight did the chestnut colour pony dare to move away from his hiding place. A whirlwind of questions were going through his mind as he quietly followed it. What is it doing here, what was it planning, why is it sneaking around for, how can he stop it when all of his tools are back at the TARDIE. So many questions, too little answers.

After peeping over the side of the park’s entrance to make sure the coast was clear the Doctor re-entered the town cautiously. It didn’t take him long to find the metal monster as it could be seen moving down the main street. Taking cover behind anything that could effectively hide his body the Doctor continues to follow it through the town until finally stopping at what he presumes to be the town hall.

Hiding behind a stall that had a sign with a golden carrot on it the chestnut brown pony watch the mechanical being as it stood in front of the large building. For a brief moment the crab-like robot stood motionless then a small antenna slowly appears from its dome shape head.

“What in Equestria?” he whispered to himself. Trying to get a better look at what the robot was doing the Doctor crept towards a group of barrels that were no more than ten meters away. However one of his back legs bumped into the wheel of the carrot cart making an almost inaudibly thud sound and causing the cart to shake slightly.

A pony would not have heard or notice either of these things but then again he wasn’t spying a pony. Suddenly the dome head swerved around to face him, its one single glowing eye focusing on him. Before he could even take his next breath the robot lunge at the Doctor, pinning him down to the ground with one of its legs pressing down on his chest.

“I should have known you would be here.” It said in a cold mechanical voice. “Fate always sees to it that our paths cross.”

The robot waited for the Doctor’s annoyingly witty reply but soon realize that the leg that was pinning him was also preventing him from breathing. Not wanting him to die yet it shifted its weight so that he could breathe but was still incapable of escaping.

After catching a few mouth full of air the chestnut stallion grinned at the metal giant. “It’s good to see you too Galek. The last time I saw you, you were being suck into a wormhole.”

“A wormhole that you created if I remember.” Galek replied as it pushes down slightly with its leg causing the pony beneath to gasp in pain.

“Well, to be fair.” The Doctor said in between gasps. “You were enslaving the western colonies to build a robotic army.”

“And it would have been a glorious army, one that not even your precious princess with all her power could stop.”

“I don’t know about that, she is one pretty powerful mare after all.” He mocked which earned him another painful squeeze from the crab-like machine standing over him.

“You really shouldn’t mock your better’s equine, especially when all it takes is the tiniest bit of pressure to their feet to squish you like the bug you are.”

“And what’s stopping you from doing that anyway?” The Doctor asks as he tries to stall for time for an escape plan. He could probably call for help, Galek seems to be trying to avoid coming into contact with the ponies in this time period. Although if the ponies tries to attack the mechanical giant, it would easy for it to wipe them out using any number of advance weapons that are attached to its body which was something he defiantly what’s to avoid.

“Oh, don’t worry your time will come but I thought it would be much more entertaining if you stay alive long enough to watch as I conquer this world and know there is nothing you can do to stop me.” Galek said as a small camera-like device came out of its body, aiming at the stallion’s face. “Sweet dreams my old adversary.”

Realizing what the device was the Doctor began to struggle franticly even though deep down he knew it was no use. The last thing he saw before everything went dark was the device flashing the brightest light he ever seen.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Derpy walked through the streets of Ponyville with her head hanging low in guilt. Last night she had lie to her best friend about who the Doctor was and to make matters worse Carrot Top knew she was lying. Oh, why didn’t I tell her the truth! She thought as she turn the corner entering another street.

She was thankful that it was still early in the morning allowing her to ponder over her actions without the distractions of a street full of ponies. The grey pegasus didn’t get much sleep last night as her mind replayed what happen. Frist she met a visitor from another planet, then her best friend who she practically thinks of as a sister comes over to spend time with her and she lies straight in her face. Then her mind wondered if what Pinkie Pie said about breaking promises and lying was true. Would she lose Carrot Top forever?

Finally after lying awake for what had seem an lifetime she decided that she would go for a walk and try to clear her head. She was mildly surprise to find the sun creeping over the nearby hills but that did little to change her mind. And now here she was walking aimlessly through the town’s streets with the same question going through her head. Why didn’t I just tell her?

Maybe there’s a way for me to make it up to her? The grey pegasus suddenly thought, lifting her head up as a plan began to formulate in her mind. I know I’ll open the carrot cart for her.
With that Derpy increase her pace as she moved towards the town centre with her head held high and her lips spreading into a wide smile. Why didn’t she thought of this earlier, even if this doesn’t fix the rift in their friendship it’ll be a good place to start.

It took her five minutes to reach the small open space in the centre of town where the town hall was located. She could see that the decorators had really gone to town here with streamers hanging from the rooftops, balloons tied to benches and carts; they even had the stage sent up in front of the town hall. Derpy’s cheeks flashed red when she saw the stage, the memories of the last Harvest Festival playing out in her mind. Luckily for her Carrot Top’s cart was on the other side of the town hall so she wouldn’t have to look at it while she was opening the shop.

Walking around the building as quickly as possible she soon found the cart at the far corner of the plaza just by the entrance to the main street. “A prime place to put a shop.” She remembers Carrot Top said when she started her business. “With the traffic coming and going through the main street I’ll sell thousands of carrots and show that Applejack who’s the better farmer.”

As the grey pony approach the cart she stopped for a moment and turned her head slightly to the side. Listening carefully she could just make out the sound of somepony softly snoring. Strange. Derpy thought as she moved closer. Why is the cart snoring?

The closer she got the more she realise that the snoring wasn’t coming from the cart itself but from behind it. Finding this even stranger the blonde mane mare quickly investigated. What she found both shock and filled her with joy. There laying fast asleep was a familiar brown coated stallion with an hour glass cutie mark on his flank. “Doctor!” She exclaim, surprise to find him behind a cart full of carrots.

The brown stallion didn’t respond however, he didn’t even stir when Derpy poked him in the stomach. Wow, he’s a really deep sleeper. She thought as she continues to poke him. I wonder why he’s sleeping behind Carrot Top’s cart.

Once it was clear that no amount of poking would wake him up Derpy decided that best thing to do was to take the sleeping alien back to the post office. It will be easier to explain why there was a sleeping stallion at her home then why he was sleeping on the street, at least she hope so. Pulling the alien pony onto her back the grey mare began the trek home.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

“Almost got it.” the Doctor said as as he slowly pulled down on the lever and watch as the small bronze coloured cube on the table before him began to glow. A triumphant smile spread across his lips, finally after years of research he had finally found a way to applied power to the strange artefact. He was one step closer to discovering the cube’s secrets.

As he celebrated this small victory he didn’t notice the door to the lab being open or shut nor did he notice a grey coloured pegasus sneaking up behind him. The obvious Doctor push the lever back up cutting power to the cube and turning it back into a mass of bronze. Turning around to write down the test’s findings he was surprise to find a familiar and angry mare standing behind him.

“You said you wouldn’t work on our honeymoon.” She said her golden eyes glaring angrily into his ocean blues.

The Doctor didn’t speak at first as he was too busy admiring his wife’s beauty and the wedding veil that was still attach to her head which for some reason enhance her already beautiful face. “Sorry, love.” He said chuckling nervously. “It just I finally found a power source that that cube responds to and I…”

“Don’t think I’m more important than some cube.” His wife interrupted him.

“What, no of cause not. You always be more important than my research.”

“Prove it.”

“Purdon?”

The golden eye mare smiled in a way that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end in anticipation and excitement. With a swift and graceful movement befitting the princesses themselves she leaned in and softly whispered into his ears. “I said, prove it.”

The Doctor gulped down the rather large lump that was forming in his throat. “And…and how would I go about that exactly?” He asks trying to keep his voice steady as the feeling of her warm breath was slowly driving him insane.

The question cause his wife to chuckle softly before moving away from his ear so she could look into those big wonderful blue eyes she fell in love with. “I’m sure a pony as smart as you can come up with something.” She said before slowly leaning over for their lips to connect. The Doctor was momentarily surprise by the kiss but quickly recovered and returned it.

What had started as a simple kiss soon began to heat up as the Doctor felt his wife’s tongue trying to gain entry into his mouth. He was more than happy to grant her wish, allowing her tongue to explore every inch of his mouth. The newlyweds were so caught up in their passionate kiss that they didn’t even notice that they were now on the floor with the mare at the bottom and the stallion on top.

Finally when the call for air became too great for either of them to ignore they separated. They remain where they were taking in the much needed oxygen and looking deeply into each either’s eyes.

“I love you.” The Doctor said.

“I love you too.” The grey pegasus returned.

They remain looking into each other’s eyes for a moment longer before returning to their kiss.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Doctor eyes slowly open to find himself in a room that look oddly familiar. But that didn’t really concern him at the moment as his mind was preoccupied with the dream he just had.

Did he really just dreamt of being married to the grey pegasus he met yesterday and perhaps more importantly did he also dreamt of being intimate with her. The idea that his mind could create such a fantasy goes to show just how badly he needed to stay away from that pony and perhaps any mares in the future. Through he is interested as to why she seems to have made such a big impact on his life.

Unfortunately this line of thought was interrupted when he realize that something was nuzzling his neck. Looking down he could have swear that his heart stopped beating from the sight that lay before him. There resting beside him with one hoof gently holding him was the very grey pegasus that he had been trying to avoid.

Suddenly a storm of questions rush his mind as he tries to keep the surging panic in his chest under control. How… how did this happen? He thought as he tries to think back to last night only to realize that he had no memories of what had happen. The last thing he clearly remembers was leaving this very room which he also realizes to be the pegasus’s bedroom. Had he come back for some reason, perhaps he had left something important behind or perhaps it was to gain some important information for this time period.

But then why was he in bed?

Fast asleep?

With her nuzzling his neck?

Immediately his mind went to the dream he just had. Oh, no. we didn’t… I mean we couldn’t have… could we? The Doctor mind began to replay the dream over his head causing his chestnut coloured cheeks to slowly change into a reddish tint.

Shaking his head to get rid of those thoughts the Doctor began to search the room for any clues as to what had happen the night before. The first thing he notice was that they were both resting atop the sheets of the bed and there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of them being intimate which brought a great deal of relief to him. Looking out the window he could see that it was around midday so they had been asleep for some time.

His attention was drawn back to the grey pegasus when she suddenly stated to speak softly. “Oh, no mummy no more muffins I’m too full.” She softly mumbles in her sleep. The Doctor couldn’t help but smile at the innocent dream she was having. “Well maybe one more.”

The chestnut coloured stallion made a loud squeaking sound when he felt the grey pegasus’s teeth starting to nibble on his neck. It didn’t hurt but the action and the strange sensation that he felt did surprise him. He actually started to enjoy it once the shock was gone, just lying there with the grey mare gently nibbling his neck. However this quickly ended when the Doctor realize what the nibbling was doing to his body.

In a blind panic the Doctor jerked his entire body away from the mare which ended with him accidently falling off the bed with a loud crash. Cursing himself for being so clumsy the chestnut coloured pony got back onto his feet rubbing his head tenderly. “I don’t believe it.” he sighed. “I’ve travel through time, fought monsters, ancient warlords and an army of killer robots and yet I’m more afraid of this girl then all of those things put together.”

Turning back to the bed he found the still slumbering mare reaching out for her missing ‘muffin’. He suppressed the urge to chuckle at the sleeping mare’s antics in case the noise would wake her. Walking down stairs to the main part of the apartment he began to wonder what his next course of action should be. He should defiantly look into why he can’t remember anything from the previous night but that would require him to stay and ask the grey pegasus seeing how he had awoken in bed with her. Although he should also find the TARDIE as soon as possible. Don’t want somepony to accidently rip a hole in the space-time continuum. He thought.

The decision was made for him when his stomach started to make a very loud grumbling sound. “Well, I guess I can’t start the day without breakfast.” He softly chuckled to himself. It didn’t take him long to find the kitchen and started a late breakfast which mostly involves a banana muffin and a cup of honeyleaf tea.

As he ate his breakfast on the kitchen’s bench he started to go over all of the things that had happen to him since he got here. He got knocked out by the grey pegasus, tired up by the same pegasus then woke up in the same bed as her with no memories of the previous night. Now most would have called this simple coincidence but if there was one thing the Doctor had leant since becoming a time traveller is that true coincidences were few and far between, which could only mean that she was the reason he was brought here.

This conclusion made the Doctor grateful that he wouldn’t have to fight some evil magician bent on world domination and yet it also made him feel a sense of uneasiness.

Beside the fact that every time he’s around her something strange or incredibly awkward happens there is still the matter of the feelings he has for her. While he’s confident that he is capable of controlling these feelings he isn’t really comfortable with tempting them. The last thing he needed is him doing or saying something stupid.

The sound of hoof steps brought the Doctor’s attention to the stairs where a half asleep pegasus was lazy making her way down. “Good morning!” he greeted.

The grey pegasus let out a ear splitting screech before jumping into the air and flew behind the couch. The Doctor stared into the lounge room slightly stun from the mare’s reaction. “Well, that could have gone better.” He said to himself as he put down his half eaten muffin and walked over to the couch.

As he got closer to the couch he could hear a small frighted voice saying. “Pl…please d…don’t hurt me. You…you can ta…take anything you want just please don’t hurt me.”

The chestnut coloured pony couldn’t help but laugh slightly at the pegasus’s overreaction. “Is alright Miss I’m not going to hurt you.”

He said in his most gentle and non-threatening voice. Slowly the frighted grey pegasus lifted her head over the couch to see the familiar chestnut coloured pony giving her a gentle smile. Almost immediately her face changes from barely contained fear to unbridled joy. “Doctor!” she said jumping over the couch and giving him a hug which made him feel a bit uncomfortable. “What are you doing here?”

“I was actually hoping you could tell me.” He said.

It only took a short amount of time for the grey pegasus to tell him about how she had found him and took him back to her apartment so he wouldn’t be discovered by the other ponies. “Then when I came back from helping my friend open her store I felt really tired so I decided to take a nap.”

“With me still on the bed?” the Doctor questioned. “Didn’t you think that was just a bit inappropriate?”

“What do you mean?” she asks innocently

He was about to answer but thought better of it. That conversation could be steered into any number of directions several of which he neither have the time for nor wish to discuss. “Never mind.” He said. “So when you found me was there anything strange or out of place?”

“Not really.” The grey pegasus said as she thought back to when she found him. “Well, there was that smelly black stuff.”

“Black stuff?”

“Yeah, when I went back to help my friend open her store I found this black liquid. It smelt really bad and it was really slippery.”

“I see.” The Doctor looked down at his hooves as he thought about the possible link between this black liquid and his loss of memories. “Could you take me to where you found the black liquid?” he asks.

The grey pony gave him a bewildered look. “Um, sure if you want to.”

“I do”

“Oh, Okay. Let me just grab a muffin to go.” With that the grey mare went to the kitchen leaving the Doctor alone to ponder over this discovery. Even though he can’t remember exactly what happen last night there were a few things that were beginning to surface. Mostly sounds and blurs of colours but still the memories were slowly returning. He could only hope the feeling of dread in his stomach was just him being paranoid otherwise worrying about the pegasus and her strange antics will the least of his worries.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile deep within the maze like tunnels that was dug out by a colony of Diamond Dogs. The mechanical behemoth known as Galek was navigating through the twists and turns that would confuse most creatures with ease. Every now and again it would stop and swerve its dome head before moving onwards.

It did this several times before it finally found what it was looking for. Coming to a complete stop in the middle of what others would presume to be just another random tunnel Galek turns to the wall, its glowing eye peering through the stone. If the machine had a face it would be smiling at the prize the laid behind these stone walls. Several panels opened across its cylinder-like body releasing long mechanical arms and a device that began to glow a faint blue light.

Suddenly the light began to intensify until it shot several burst into the wall causing the rock to slowly melt away as if it was ice. It would take some time for the metal giant to reach its prize but that was perfectly fine. By the time that meddling pony remembers the events of last night Galek will have already completed its secret weapon and found a pony to test it on.

At last victory will be his.

The Protector

Derpy and the Doctor walked down the streets of Ponyville in silence as they made their way to the town’s centre. The grey mare found the silence somewhat unnerving mostly due to the serious look on the chestnut coloured pony’s face. He looks really concern about something. She thought. Maybe there’s something I can do to help.

“So Doctor how long are you going to stay in Equestria for?” she asks in the hope of lightening the mood.

It took a moment for him to answer her as he was too deep in thought. “Oh, just a couple of days or so.” He said without turning to her.

“Then what.”

“Then I guess I’ll get into my spaceship and go to another planet.”

“Wow, I wish I could do that. Just go where ever I want to, have amazing adventures. It would be so cool.”

The chestnut coloured stallion turns his head slightly giving the grey mare a knowing look. “Trust me Miss adventuring isn’t as fun as you may think it is.”

“Well, maybe that’s because you’re doing it all by yourself.” She said in a cheery tone. “Going on adventures isn’t fun unless you have a friend there to share it with. And you don’t have to call me Miss just call me Derpy.”

“Very well, Miss Derpy.” He said giving her a small smile.

The grey mare couldn’t help but giggle slightly at the Doctor’s little joke. There we go. She thought, happy to see her guest finally loosening up a bit. As they continue to make their way to the town centre Derpy was able to slowly coax the Doctor out of his shell. He was even telling her some things about himself, like how he was a famous inventor back on his home planet.

“Wow, so what kinds of things do you invent?” Derpy asks as they turn the corner.

“A lot of things.” he said enthusiastic by the topic of the conversation. “Like one of my very first inventions was this screw driver that uses different sonic frequencies to achieve multiple tasks.”

“That sounds…really complicated.”

“Actually it’s not as complicated as you may think. All you need is a…” the Doctor’s explanation was cut off when his companion suddenly collided into another pony. The pour grey pegasus was knock off her feet while the other pony, a tall maroon coloured stallion with a set of blue boxing gloves for a cutie mark towered over her as if nothing happen. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” he shouted showing no interest if the mare was hurt or not.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.” Derpy apologise rubbing the lump that was slowly forming on the back of her head.

“Well, with those googly eyes of yours I’m not surprise. Now get out of my way freak!”

Derpy was taken aback by what the stallion said but did as she was told moving aside to allow the taller stallion to go past, fighting back the tears that were forming around her eyes. “Okay.” She uttered hanging her head low.

The maroon pony had taken no more than two steps when he felt a hoof tugging on his shoulder. Turning around he was surprise to find a chestnut coloured stallion wearing a red bowtie around his neck with a look of barely contain anger. “Excuse me.” He said in a calm but stern voice. “But I think you should apologise to the young lady.”

The stallion looked at the chestnut coloured pony as if he was making some sort of joke. “And why should I?” he asked pulling himself to his full height making him slightly teller then the Doctor. “She was the one who bumped into me.”

“Perhaps, But even so that doesn’t give you the right to insult her like that.”

Derpy, who had notice that a small crowd was slowly forming around the two stallions, quickly walked up beside the Doctor and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. “Come on, He’s not worth it.” she whispered. The last thing she wanted was for her new friend getting into a fight because of her.

The Doctor looks from her to the maroon stallion then back again, it didn’t take a genius to see that he really wanted to teach him some proper manners but he could see that doing so would only upset the grey mare even more. In the end he took a deep breath and calmed himself down, he still felt the urge to smash that stallion’s head through a wall but manage to control it.

Giving the stallion one last stern look he turned away from him and followed Derpy out of the small circle of ponies that had formed to watch the confrontation between the two stallions. Some of them actually looked a bit disappointed that the two didn’t end up fighting while most were grateful. Once it was clear there was nothing left to watch the crowd dispensed and went back to their lives.

An awkward silence fell over the two ponies; Derpy had both of her eyes transfixed to the ground not noticing or caring that the Doctor’s was on her. He opened his mouth to say something that would bring the usually cheery pony back but nothing came out. Closing his mouth he turns his attention back to the road ahead.

“Thank you.” Whispered a small quiet voice.

Turning his head back to his companion he was glad to find her staring back at him with a small smile. It wasn’t the same smile he was he was used to but it was a smile none the less. “Thank you, for standing up for me like that.” She said again only this time a bit louder.

“Well, I couldn’t just stand by and watch that pony speak to you like that.” He said feeling himself getting angry again from just thinking about him. “No pony deserve to be spoken to that way just because they’re a little bit different.”

Derpy opened her mouth to say something but then realize that she didn’t have anything to say. Instead she just leaned in and planted a small gentle kiss on his cheek. The Doctor stopped dead in his track, completely caught off guard from the simple gesture of gratitude. His could feel his cheeks warming up as he touched the place the kiss had landed.

The grey mare also felt her cheeks becoming warm as she wondered if she had done something wrong. Why…why did I just do that? She thought as she stood there worrying what the Doctor might do. Will he get angry about the kiss or would he ignore it and pretend it never happen. When he didn’t respond for what seems like an eternity she grew more and more worried. “I… I’m sorry I… I shouldn’t have done that.” She said turning her head away from the stallion to hide the embarrass blush on her face.

“No, no is alright.” The Doctor said feeling ashamed for not responding sooner which had clearly made the poor mare feel insecure. “It just I wasn’t expecting a kiss is all.”

Derpy slowly turns her head back to the Chestnut coloured stallion and stared into those ocean blue eyes of his, those kind, gentle blue eyes. They both stood there and stare into each other’s eyes for so long they had almost forgotten what it was they were supposed to be doing.

The Doctor was the first to turn away clearing his throat in a nervous matter. “We should umm… keep going to that uh, place.” He said nodding his head down the street they had been walking down on before.

“Oh, right of course.” The grey mare said as they returned to their journey.

They didn’t speak at all for the rest of the trip to the town centre, they were too busy thinking over what had just happen. For one pony it was a dawning of new feelings she never felt before for the other it was a sign that he was starting to get too close. And yet knowing this, knowing that he couldn’t afford getting too emotionally involve, he had to wonder that when the time comes to leave.

Would he?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Carrot Top stood next to her cart which she had appropriately called ‘The Golden Harvest’ watching out for any potential customers. It had been a slow day for selling carrots which was something she was kind of grateful for. While she was grateful for the business the new harvest brought, it also tired her out quite quickly. Why just the other day she was so tired she accidently fell asleep in the Apples family barn which wasn’t all bad seeing how it was Big Macintosh who found her.

As she started to daydream about the close encounter with her secret and forbidden crush, the orange mane mare didn’t notice the two ponies approaching her. “Good afternoon Carrot Top.” One of them said causing Carrot Top to jump a little in surprise.

Turning around feeling her cheek heat up from embarrassment the yellow coloured pony found two mares standing behind her. One was pale cream with a dark blue and pink mane while the other mare had a mint green coat with cyan coloured mane with white high lights. “Oh, hi Bon Bon, hi Lyra, How are you today” She asks.

“Quite well thank you.” Said Bon Bon who was looking over the selection of carrots.

“Bored.” Lyra mumbled as she stood behind the creamy mare looking disinterested with the world.

“Don’t mind her.” Said the cream coloured pony who was picking out several carrots. “She just mad because I drugged her away from the Everfree forest.”

Carrot Top grasps slightly. “What was she doing in the Everfree forest?”

“I was hunting the pale skin monster of course!” the unicorn suddenly declared in a loud voice that frighted both the mares.

“The…the what?”

“It’s some creature she supposedly saw a couple of weeks ago when she was walking past the forest.” Bon Bon explains. “Personally I think she was just out in the sun for too long.”

“The monster is real!” Lyra insisted. “It was as big as a manticore with a mass of brown fur on its head and it wore clothes like those fancy Canterlot ponies…”

“And it wore some sort of device around its arm that allows it to disappear.” The cream coloured pony finished with sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Sure it did Lyra. And I’m a princess.”

“Well, technically you were one last night.” Lyra stated, a devious smile slowly appearing.

Bon Bon’s face suddenly turned into a bright shade of red. “LYRA!” she shouted before toning it down to a whisper that Carrot Top could barely hear. “What did I tell you about saying stuff like that in public.”

“Oh, I’m sorry B.B” the teal coloured pony said feigning innocent. “It just slipped out.”

The blue and pink mane mare glared at her friend for brief moment who in return continues to smile mischievously. Carrot Top’s eyes switch between the two ponies, confuse by the way the conversation had gone. She was about to asked Bon Bon as to what she was doing dress up as a princess when she suddenly grabbed the carrots and left several coins. “Keep the change.” She said before leaving with a smiling Lyra in tow.

The orange mane pony watch them go still very confuse by what Lyra had said but then again Lyra always had a history of saying things that left most pony very confuse. She was kind of like Pinkie Pie in that sense with the only difference being she doesn’t appear randomly. It’s kind of surprising that she and Bon Bon are such good friends seeing how their personalities are totally different. She thought.

Taking the coins around the back of the cart to put it in the money pouch she kept back there she caught the sight of a familiar grey coloured pegasus. Strange. She thought. What is Derpy doing back here?

She soon got her answer when she spotted a chestnut coloured pony following close behind her. “Doctor Skippy.” Carrot Top hissed as she glared daggers into the pony. Since last night the olive coloured pony had grew more and more convince that this mysteries stranger had something to do with Derpy acting so strange lately. This had also led her to believe that whoever this Doctor is, he’s not somepony she want’s hanging around her best friend.

She watch the two ponies as they made their way closer to her cart until they stopped only a few feet away from her. Derpy seem to be looking for something because she was searching the ground as if she had dropped something. After a while she turned to the chestnut coloured pony, looking somewhat troubled, and spoke to him. She was too far away to hear what was being said but she could clearly see that ‘Doctor Skip’ looked bit frustrated by whatever it was that Derpy said.

Leaving her cart behind Carrot Top quickly made her way towards them, telling herself that she just wanted to say hello to her friend even through in truth she just wanted to be close enough in case she had to jump in and protect her. Protecting Derpy is something that she has always done even when they were little fillies, in fact that how they became friends in the first place. It was during recess at school and it was Derpy’s first day which was hard enough without her condition.

Carrot Top at the time was going to sit underneath a tree to have her lunch when she saw one of the older kids picking on the small grey filly. Growing up with a set of strong moral codes she couldn’t stand by and watch her be humiliated on her first day of school so she walked right up to the bully and gave her a piece of her mind. Unfortunately it ended in a fight and she had gotten a nasty black eye from it but she had also made friend too.

She had since then guarded Derpy form those who had sought to hurt her in any shape or from. Giving those ponies one of two choices, either apologise and get lost or get bucked in the face.

“…Somepony must have cleaned it up.” She heard Derpy say once she had reach earshot.

“So it seems.” Said the chestnut coloured pony who held his chin in thought. “I wonder if the one who cleaned it up is still around here somewhere.”

The two of them were so caught up in their conversation that they didn’t even notice Carrot Top walking towards them until she was practically right next to them. Derpy was the first to notice her “Oh, hi Carrot Top.” She greeted turning to face her.

“Hey Derpy.” Carrot Top returned before turning to the stallion standing next to her. “And it’s good to see you again Doctor Skip.

“Doctor Skip?” the stallion questioned.

“Uh, yeah that’s your name.” Derpy quickly interjected, giving the Doctor a slight nudge with her flank. “Remember.”

“Oh, yes of course I’m Doctor Skip.”

The orange mane mare eyed him suspiciously for a moment before being interrupted by Derpy. “Hey, Carrot Top do you know what happened to that black stuff I found when I helped you open the cart?”

“You mean that foul smelly stuff you slipped on?” She asked making the grey pegasus blushed a bit.

“Umm… yeah, that stuff.”

“Oh, well after you slipped on it I cleaned it up so wouldn’t happen again to some other pony.”

“What did you use?” the Doctor asks.

“A wash cloth, why?”

“Can I see it?”

“Umm, sure.”

With that the three ponies returned to The Golden Harvest. It didn’t take long for Carrot Top to find the once white wash cloth which was kept near the money pouch. Handing it over to the chestnut coloured pony who immediately brought it to his nostril and started sniffing it, the orange mane mare stood beside Derpy and watched him. “So why is he sniffing my cloth?” She asks finding what the Doctor was doing slightly bizarre.

Derpy was the first to speak. “It’s for research.”

“Research for what exactly?”

“For…err, for the science of… hey Doctor what science do you do again?” The grey mare asks.

The Doctor didn’t answer, he just stood there staring at the cloth in his hoof as if it would attack him at any second.

“Doctor?” Derpy asked again bringing his attention away from the cloth. “Is something wrong?”

The chestnut coloured looked from Derpy to Carrot Top then back to the blacken cloth. “No, everything’s fine.” He said in a quiet tone just barely loud enough for both mares to hear. The way the stallion mood suddenly change made Carrot Top feel very uneasy. It’s like he seen a ghost or something. She thought.

He continued to stare at the cloth for a moment longer before handing it back to Carrot Top. “Thank you.” He said before turning away from both of the mares and began to slowly walk down a nearby street leaving both the mares confuse and worried.

“Derpy? Is your friend okay?” Carrot Top asks.

The Grey coloured pegasus didn’t answer her, she just watch the stallion leave her face full of concerned.

“Derpy?” Carrot Top said again this time a bit louder, this time managing to bring the young mare’s attention away from him.

“Yeah.”

“I said is your friend okay?”

“Oh, yeah it’s just his allergic to… carrots”

“Carrots? But he didn’t even eat…”

“Listen Carrot Top.” The Grey mare suddenly interrupted. “I need to go and make sure the Doctor is okay. I’ll see you later alright.”

With that she quickly galloped after the wayward stallion leaving her friend behind with her cart. “Hey, Derpy wait.” She called out but Derpy was already gone.

Carrot Top stood there watching her friend go after the strange pony wondering rather or not to follow. The way that stallion acted really unnerved her and she didn’t like the idea of Derpy being alone with him. But she had to stay here and mind the cart otherwise somepony could steal all of her carrots. She looked from the direction Derpy went to the cart full of carrots trying to make her decision. In the end she sighed and galloped after the two.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

The Doctor walked aimlessly down the street as if he was the only living thing left in the world. The black liquid that was on the cloth was a rare and dangerous substance called dratroleum.

Many years from now shortly after its discovery in a mining accident a misguided scientist will try to use the dratroleum as a possible fuel source. In theory it could have worked, the substance was quite stable and bunt at a slow rate allowing it to last for an exceptionally long time. However the gases that were made from it were toxic making ponies sick or in a few rare cases mutate in to monsters.

The chestnut coloured pony remembered how early on in his travels he had landed in a town where almost the entire population were infected by the toxic gas. Luckily with the help of the town’s sheriff along with his daughter and a traveling musician he was able to create an antidote to cure the town along with the animals in the nearby forest. Unfortunately the cure didn’t work for everypony, one of the mutants who was infected for so long that it actually began to evolve into an intelligent being.

This intelligent mutant would later on create an advanced battle armour fuelled by dratoleum and swear vengeance on pony kind for turning him into a monster. Since then the Doctor and this mutant had several encounters with each other, all of them usually ending in a dramatic fight for Equestria survival. And now he found a cloth covered in the toxic stuff in a small town with little to no defence.

Is it possible that Galek is here?

No, it can’t be. The Doctor thought. The last time we met he was sucked into a wormhole. Even if he did survive the chances of him being in this time zone let alone this universe are astronomical at best.

And yet the image of the cloth flashed through his mind. If Galek was in this time zone it could explain his loss of memories. In their last encounter the armoured creature had used a device that could erase a pony’s memory in order to enslave them. Luckily the device effects would wear off in twenty-four hours, so the pony’s memory would return in time.

That is of course, if he is here.

“Hey Doctor, wait up.” Called out a familiar voice that brought the chestnut coloured pony out of his mantel tangent.

He was kind of surprise to find himself standing in the middle of secluded plaza but that fact was completely overridden when the owner of the voice landed in front of him looking deeply concerned. “Are you okay?” Derpy asks “You kind of went all weird back there.”

“Yes, Derpy I’m fine. I just needed to…think for a moment.” the Doctor said which was technically true. Whenever he was presented with a difficult problem back in his own time he always found that walking helps him to figure it out.

The concern on her face quickly faded away leaving behind the bright smile that he had come to know so well. “That’s good to hear.” She said. “So, did sniffing that black stuff help you remember anything from last night?”

“No, I’m afraid not.”

“Well, don’t worry I’m sure it’ll come back soon.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” He said as his past thoughts sprang back into his mind. Should I tell her? He thought as they stood there in the middle of the deserted plaza. It would be easy to make up a story of how the dratoleum was a substance from another planet and how a robot from that planet was chasing him, but then that would be another lie. The idea of lying to her again was making him feel ashamed with himself.

But why?

Lying was something he did on a daily bases, it’s comes with the territory of being a time traveller. It’s not like he enjoys it, it’s just something he has to do in order to protect the space-time continuum and those around him. It’s completely logical and yet he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her again.

He knows it was these strange feelings he had developed for her that was making him feel this way and while he still believes it’s impossible for a pony or any sentient creature to fall in love that quickly he can’t deny that he does feel something for her. Perhaps it was companionship or a mutual understanding of what it’s like being different compared to other ponies. Whatever it was he can’t lie to her but he didn’t have to tell her the truth either.

“Hey, Doctor can… can I ask you something.” Derpy suddenly asks bringing the Doctor out of mental tangent for a second time.

“Sure Derpy, what is it.” he said giving her a warm smile.

“Wel…well I was wondering.” She started, turning her head away from him slightly and drawing small circles in the ground with her left hoof. “You see…there’s this festival the town’s having tomorrow night to celebrate the spring and I wasn’t planning on going but seeing how you’re here I thought that we could go together. Not that it’s a date or anything I just meant how this is your first time in Equestria you might like to go with me as a tour guide or something like that.”

The chestnut coloured pony was left speechless after hearing the young mare proposal. It brought on mixed feelings in him, on one hoof he felt an certain joy and happiness at the idea of going to a festival with her and having some fun that was long overdue but on the other hoof this was an obvious sign that he was getting far too close to the mare. What should he do, he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings but they can’t get romantically involve either which will most likely happen if he agrees to go with her.

“Derpy, I…”

“There he is boys.” a voice suddenly called out interrupting the Doctor’s answer.

Both ponies look to where the voice came from to find an all too familiar maroon coloured stallion along with two other earth ponies and a unicorn. “That’s the pony I was telling you about, the one who wanted me to ‘apologize’ to his ‘special somepony’.”

The other ponies laughed in a manner that made the Doctor feel very uneasy. Acting on instinct he took a couple of steps towards them putting himself between them and Derpy. “What do you want?” he asks in a defensive tone.

“Oh, nothing really, it’s just that you’re the first pony who had the guts to stand up to me in a very long time and I was curious to see if you were just all talk.” The maroon stallion said taking a couple of steps away from his gang.

“I’m not going to fight you if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Is that so.” The stallion said, his eyes shifting to the grey mare who was visibly frighten. “Then you wouldn’t mind if we borrow your friend for a moment would you.”

Suddenly there was a loud shriek from behind the chestnut coloured pony, spinning around the Doctor was shock to find the female pegasus floating in an aura of magic. Before he could do anything to help her she was swiftly taken over to the other side of the plaza stopping just beside the unicorn.

“Let her go!” the Doctor shouted glaring at the group of thugs in barely contained fury.

The leader smirked malevolently at his reaction. “Oh, don’t worry we’ll let her go as soon as you fight me.”

The Doctor looked from the maroon coloured pony to the floating Derpy who was practically shaking in fear. The sight of this made him want to rushed over and punch every one of them into next week, especially the leader. But fighting him would be giving him what he wants and he hardly doubts that it will be a fair fight. The moment it appears that he’s winning, one of the other two earth ponies will most likely jump in or worse they may start hurting Derpy.

No! The Doctor thought pushing back the horribly images that invaded his mind. I won’t let that happen!

“If I fight you, you let the girl go?” he said turning back to the leader.

The maroon thug nodded then said in a poor impersonation of the Doctor’s voice. “You have my word as a gentlecolt.”

“Then I accept your challenge.”

With that the maroon coloured pony attacked without warning charging at the Doctor with speed that belied his size. Luckily the smaller stallion expected him to attack him in such a manner in the hope to surprise him. The Doctor gave the maroon stallion a confident smile before taking a step to the side at the last possible moment while flinging one of his front hoof up to knock his feet from under him.

The stallion made a comical shriek as he crashed face first into the hard concrete. Getting back up he cursed loudly as he turned to face the one who knocked him over only to find him running towards his partners and their prisoner who were both amazed by what had just happen. “Don’t just stand there!” He called to them. “Stop him!”

The sound of their boss shouting at them snaps the other two earth ponies into action, they both turn their attention to the Doctor who was charging straight at them. One of them try to tackle him once he got close enough but the Doctor surprised him by getting up on to his back hooves and slamming one of his front hoof into the stallion’s face with enough force to send him skidding backwards into a wall. The other stallion didn’t fare any better, after seeing his comrade being defeated he shouted something in a fit of rage and threw a poorly aim punch. The chestnut coloured colt grabbed the oncoming hoof and using the attacker’s momentum against him threw him into the unicorn.

With the unicorn knock off his feet the magic that was holding the grey pegasus evaporated causing the young mare to cry out when she suddenly landed on the ground. “Ow…my butt.” She groaned rubbing her backside.

“Derpy are you okay?” the Doctor asked as he rushed over to be by her side.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She said getting back onto her hooves. “Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“I’ll tell you later, right now I need you to fly away and get the authorities.”

“Okay, but what about you?”

Before he could answer the Doctor was unexpectedly grabbed from behind and was thrown across the plaza. Derpy cried out in horror as she watch her saviour being attack by the large maroon stallion who had started this fight. The chestnut coloured pony landed heavily on the concrete causing him to grasp in pain.

“You think you’re so smart and brave don’t you.” Spat the maroon stallion as he stalked over to the down pony like a hungry predator. “Do you know what happens to pony like you?”

“They get the mare.” The Doctor said sarcastically, slowly getting back up on his hooves.

“No. They get squash!” he roars lunging at the Doctor like a wild beast.

Luckily the chestnut coloured pony rolled out of the way of the oncoming thug which only served to anger him further. The larger stallion continues to hound the Doctor, throwing in wild punches or trying to tackle him. Luckily being smaller had its advantages, the Doctor was able to use his size and speed to dodge all of his attacks. However he was starting slow down. That’s the one thing about scientists. He thought as he dodged another punch. We never get enough exercise.

Suddenly a hoof came out of nowhere, slamming into the side of his face and sending him to the ground. Everything was spinning for a few moments before it finally slow down enough for him to see who his new assailant was. He was somewhat surprise when he found one of the other earth ponies standing beside the maroon one.

Wait, if he’s up then that would mean… spinning his head to where he last saw Derpy he found that the other two thugs were also up and running towards them obviously wanting payback from before but there was no grey pegasus.

“Looking for your friend?” The maroon pony asked before putting one of his hoofs down on the Doctors neck. “I afraid she flew off right after you saved her, a bit ungrateful if you ask me.”

“I don’t purpose it might have occurred to you that she might have gone to get help.” The Doctor said

The maroon stallion chuckle malevolently. “Then you better hope she comes back soon, either wise there be nothing left to save.”

________________________________________________________________________________________

Where in Equestria did those two go? Carrot Top thought as she trotted down the street swinging her head to side to side in the hope of finding her friend and that strange Doctor Skip. She has been wandering like this for the last ten minutes, wishing she had made her decision to follow them sooner and that the streets weren’t so crowded.

I bet somepony has already stolen all of my carrots. She thought angrily. After another five minutes of fruitless searching the olive coloured mare was on the verge of calling it quits when suddenly she was knock of her feet by a grey blur. Landing on her back along with whatever it was that knock her over laying on top of her, Carrot Top was about to bark at the thing but stopped when she saw who it was. “Derpy?”

“Carrot Top you have to help me!” Derpy shouted hysterically, tears were freely falling down her face and she was shaking uncontrollably. “The Doctor’s in trouble and it’s all my fault. If I’ve been watching where I was going this would never have happen and now…now…now those ponies are going to kill him because of me…”

“Whoa, Derpy slow down.” The olive mare said getting up on her hooves along with Derpy. “Now, tell me what happen?”

The grey mare told her what had happen and how the Doctor told her to fly away and get help. “I know I shouldn’t have left him there but…but I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t know how to fight.”

“It’s okay Derpy.” Carrot Top said trying to calm the frantic pegasus down. “I saw a couple of guards over by the café come on.”

With that the two of them rushed to the café as fast as their legs would carry them.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

“You know Gates, out of all the places you’ve taken me to, this is by far the best.” The drago-pony said taking a bite of her diamond sandwich.

“Really Nightshade?” The light blue unicorn known as Iron Gates question. “I would have thought you hate it here seeing how you like places that are a bit more… exciting.”

“Well, I’ll admit Ponyville is no Las Pegasus but it does have a certain charm about it. Although I do wish the other ponies would stop looking at me.”

The unicorn couldn’t help but look around at the café they were sitting at, catching several other patrons staring at their table nervously. He couldn’t really blame them, he had acted the same way when he first met Nightshade. With her dark grey coat, dragon like wings and eyes, not forgetting those sharp fangs it’s kind of hard not to stop and stare at her.

“Yeah, sorry about that, ponies around here probably never saw a drago-pony before.” He apologise, hoping that the unwanted attention wasn’t making his friend and partner feel unwelcome.

Nightshade giggles at the stallion. “It’s okay Gates, getting stare at comes with the territory of being a dragon-pony hybrid. Besides the way I see it, it makes me more interesting to the town’s male population.”

“You sure have a unique way at looking at the positive.”

“That also comes with the territory”

The two ponies chuckle and return to their lunch ignoring the other patrons who were still staring at Nightshade. Some of them were even whispering to each other which ordinary ponies wouldn’t hear but for a dragon-pony hybrid they might as well have been speaking normally. They were saying the usually things when she enter a town that never saw her kind before, what was she, are those wings real, do you think she’ll try to eat us.

However there was one noise that caught her attention, it was relatively far away but it was getting closer and fast. It took a moment for her to realize that the sound was of somepony or ponies who were running. Sounds like they’re in a hurry. Thought Nightshade as she looked in the direction the noise was coming from.

Soon enough her eyes spotted two distant ponies heading towards them. “Um…Gates?”

“Yeah.”

“You might want to move.”

“Why would I want to...” the young unicorn never got to finish his question as he was suddenly knock off his chair by a very distraught looking pegasus. She turns to Nightshade and started yelling about something that Nightshade could barely understand. The only thing the Crescent Guard understood from it was that whatever had happen had really upset the mare.

“Hey, slow down you’re not making any sense.” Nightshade said in as gentle a voice possible. But the pegasus didn’t slow down instead she just started crying and saying that something was her fault. The drago-pony looked to her partner who was still on the floor looking as perplexed as she was. Who is this pony? She thought wondering if she should try to calm her down or call for a straitjacket.

Before she could come to a decision another mare came to their table only this one was an earth pony and was much easier to understand. “I’m sorry for barging in on your lunch Miss but a friends of ours is being attack by a gang of thugs right this second and we need your help.” The mare said in a calm but obviously concern voice.

Nightshade looked from the earth pony to the still crying pegasus sitting across from her. Suddenly she stuffed down the last down the lasts of her jewels encrusted sandwich, got out of her seat and said in an authoritative voice. “Don’t worry ladies, Corporal Nightshade is here and on the job.”

“What!” Iron Gates yelped getting up and staring at the pony-dragon hybrid. “Bu… But Nightshade we’re on vacation, we’re not supposed to get involved in local affairs.”

“Gates didn’t you just hear these two mares, their friend is in trouble and it’s our duty as members of the Royal Guards to help.” She said puffing her chest out in pride. “But if you feel that strongly about it I could always order you to do it.”

“But we’re the same rank.”

“But I’ve been a Corporal longer then you have so I’m still your superior.”

“Well, that’s true but…”

“Then it’s settled.” The drago-pony said turning to the two mares. “Can either of you take us to your friend.”

The grey pegasus nodded and flew off down the way she came followed by the olive earth pony and Nightshade leaving the sky blue unicorn behind to deal with the bill.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Doctor Whooves felt the air in his lungs rushed out of him as the maroon stallion landed a perfect blow against his stomach. “Not so tough now are you.” The stallion mocked before landing another blow.

The chestnut coloured pony was held up by his fore-legs by the unicorn’s magic rendering him unable to fight back or even dodge. Well, it’s not all bad. The Doctor thought as he took another blow. At least I took out the other two.

The other two earth ponies were laying on the ground, one was completely unconscious due to getting hit hard on the head while the other one has a broken leg from a skilful blow to the knee. It didn’t take long to take them out of the fight, for henchmen’s they were poor fighters. Their boss on the other hand was a lot more capable, easily shrugging off every attack the Doctor threw at him.

Even when he picked up a nearby barrel and broke it over the stallion’s head he just kept on coming as if nothing happen. The unicorn at the time just stood back and watched with little interest as the smaller pony try to fight the much larger one. The only time he stepped in was when the Doctor tried to escape down one of the streets.

Using his magic to pick up the Doctor, the unicorn began to throw him around like a rag doll, causing him to crash into walls, barrels and the hard concrete. By the end his body felt as if he was hit by multiple trains, though he would never allow them the satisfaction of knowing that. “Is that all you’ve got?” he said getting back on his hooves only to get knock back down from a surprise blow to the face.

“Not even close.” The maroon stallion said before turning to the unicorn. “Sting him up.”

The unicorn gave a slight nod then focusing his magic on the chestnut pony’s fore-legs lifted him up off the ground. Standing up on his back hooves the stallion gave him a twisted smile before unleashing the first barrage of punches.

That had been a little more than two minutes ago and the Doctor was beginning to wonder if Derpy had actually gone to get help. In the brief moments where the stallion prepares to release another earth shattering blow, the chestnut pony looks over his shoulder in the hopes of seeing the grey mare along with a small army guards. The stallion chuckle when he saw this. “Still think your marefriend is coming back?” he asked in a sarcastic tone. “Face it little colt, she’s ran off to save herself not to get help.”

“Yo…you don’t know her.” the Doctor retorted through in truth he didn’t really know much about her himself but he likes to stay optimistic.

“Maybe, but even if she does come back we’ll be long gone.” The stallion said. “But before we leave I would like to know why you’re wasting time with that freak. I mean did you lose a bet, doing a favour for her brother or do you just have a thing for googly eyed mares.”

“Our relationship is not of your business.”

“Is that so? Well maybe she can tell me herself, after all she going to need a shoulder to cry on while you’re stuck in the hospital and she does have a very nice flank on her. Who knows, maybe I’ll be doing more than just comforting her.”

Without warning the Doctor’s back legs suddenly warped around the stallion’s throat catching him completely by surprise as they slowly squeeze. The chestnut coloured pony glare furiously at the stallion as he choked him for saying those things. “Don’t you dare go near her!” he screamed putting all of his strength into his legs. “Do you hear me! Don’t you ever go near her!”

He had never felt this way before. The rage, the anger, the wanting to end this pony’s life for saying such things about a mare he hardly knows. It actually scared him but then he remembers what he said and he redoubles his efforts. It was only the surge of pain the shot through his entire body that caused him to let go of the thug, who backed away coughing and sucking in the much needed oxygen.

“You…pay…for…that.” the maroon stallion said in between breaths. “Snitch drop him.”

The unicorn nodded and releases his magical grip on the Doctor’s fore legs, allowing him to fall onto the concrete ground like a sack of potato. Placing a large hoof on his head the stallion leaned in and whispered in to the chestnut pony’s ear. “Remember what I said before about ponies like you getting squash? Well, you’re going to get a first hoof on experience.”

Doctor Whooves laid there his body too numb to put up any kind of defence as the stallion lifted his hoof preparing to strike down a blow that could very well bring an end to the time traveller. He couldn’t help but find this situation a bit ironic, he had face all kinds of foes ranging from mad sorcerers to flesh hungry mutants and in the end it’s a common street thug that does him in. If I wasn’t about to die I would even go so far as say it was kind of funny. He thought as he close his eyes, waiting for the end.

“Halt, in the name of the princesses!” called out a new authoritative voice.

The Doctor’s eyes shot open to the sound, feeling unbridle joy and relief to find the maroon stallion’s face frozen in shock and terror. I knew she’ll come back. He thought as he use what little strength he has left to flip onto his other side. The sight before him was not the one he expected standing by one of the plaza’s entrance stood a creature that looked like a cross between a pony and a dragon. Standing beside her was an olive coloured earth pony with an orange mane and a grey pegasus who was staring straight at him with teary eyes and a hoof coving her mouth.

The pony-dragon hybrid took several steps towards the stallion before stopping several meters from him. “By the power invested in me by the princess of the moon I hereby place you and all of your accomplices under arrest. Resist and I’m authorized to use force to take you in and trust me, you don’t want me to do that.”

For a moment the maroon stallion looked at the strange creature before him until he turns around and shouted. “Book it!” to the unicorn. The two of them barely got to the other side of the plaza before the pony-dragon hybrid suddenly flew over them and blocked their paths. The maroon stallion tries to knock the creature out of the way only to discover that she was a lot stronger then she looked. With one well perform round-house kick she sent the stallion crashing into a wall.

“You want to try your luck too?” she asks the unicorn who shook his head and put his hooves high into the air. “Good choice.”

Derpy and Carrot Top ran over to the injured Doctor who was trying his hardest to get up on his own four hooves. “Are you okay?” Carrot Top asks giving him a helping hoof.

“Oh, yeah.” He said “You should see the other guy.”

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Derpy remain standing beside Carrot Top, looking over all of the bumps and bruises that cover’s the chestnut stallion’s body. It’s my fault. She thought as the feeling of guilt slowly gnaw at her. He got hurt because of me.

The Dawn

With the help of the local authorities Nightshade manage to arrest the gang with little trouble, through with two of the assailant’s unconscious, one with a broken leg and a unicorn who was practically shivering in fear from the mere sight of her, it wasn’t really that hard. Iron Gates appeared shortly after with a annoy expression on his face. “What took you so long?” Nightshade asks. “I know you don’t have wings but you’re never this slow.”

“Sorry, I try to follow you but the café’s manager thought we were running out on the bill and chased me.” He said sounding very irritated from the whole ordeal.

“You’re joking.” The drago-pony giggled. “Did he catch you?”

“Unfortunately he did. The old mule demanded that I pay the bill or work it off in the kitchen.”

“So did you pay him?”

“I would have but you had the wallet.”

Nightshade gave her partner a confuse look before reaching behind her and pulling out a small bag full of coins. “Oops, sorry about that.” she chuckle nervously.

“It’s okay.” Iron Gates sighed. “So, where’s this pony we’re supposed to save?”

“Oh, you’ve missed him. He’s friends took him home after they were questioned.”

“So he’s okay?”

Nightshade nodded. “Yeah, he’s okay. A bit banged up but okay.”

“Well, that’s good.” The sky blue unicorn said. Looking past the drago-pony he caught a glimpse of the criminals being hauled into a prison cart. “Wow, you really went to town on them.” he exclaimed, amaze by the injuries his partner inflected on them.

“Actually, I only took out the big one. The other two were the stallion’s handiwork.” Nightshade stated.

“He must be a good fighter if he manage to do that to two of his attackers.”

“Yeah.” The drago-pony agreed slowly as she thought back to when she met the chestnut coloured pony. There was something strange about that stallion, something that she couldn’t quite place. He had a very unique scent about him, it smelt like something that was both new and yet at the same time old. But how would that be possible? Nightshade thought as her head turn to the spot where he was laying on the ground. He was neither a child nor an elder.

The drago-pony stared at the space intensely for a moment longer before she turned back to the sky blue unicorn. “Hey, you want to go grabbed something to eat?”

“But we just ate an hour ago.” Iron Gates said.

“Yeah, but I always get hungry after arresting some bad ponies. But if you need persuading then I order you to take me to the nearest place that serves food.”

The unicorn was about to protest but stopped and chuckle slightly. “Alright, fine.” He said giving her a small smile. “But you’re paying.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The walk to Derpy’s apartment was a lot longer than the Doctor remembered and a lot more painful too. Each step he took made his body ache but he kept it hidden behind a smiling face and general conversation. “So Miss Carrot Top how long have you been living in this lovely little community for?”

“I’ve been here since I was baby.” The orange mane pony said though her eyes were on the third member of their party. Derpy had been unnaturally quiet since they left the plaza and it was starting to worry the mare. The injured stallion had notice this too, he tried to start a conversation with her at the beginning of their journey home but she remain quiet and stared at the ground with her blonde mane hiding her eyes.

The sun had set by the time they reached the town’s mail office, only a pinkish haze on the horizon were the only indication of where it once been. The Doctor needed the help of both mares in order to climb up the stairs, hanging both of his forelegs over them. Glad Cronus isn’t here to see this. He thought as he tries to keep himself from mourning in pain. He would never let me live this down.

When they finally reached the apartment door Derpy spoke up for the first time since the attack. “Thanks Carrot Top, I can take it from here.” She said though her voice was missing its usual cheerfulness.

“Are you sure.” The orange mane mare asked, deeply concern by the way her friend has been acting. “I could stay awhile.”

The grey pegasus shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’m just going to bandage Skip and go to bed.”

“Well, if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.” Derpy said, turning away from her friend and walking into her apartment. Carrot Top remained where she was, she didn’t want to leave her best friend when she obviously needs somepony to comfort her. She was about to follow the grey mare into her home when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t worry.” The Doctor said. “I’ll take care of her.”

Carrot Top glared at the Doctor, she wanted to knock the hoof off her shoulder and yelled at him, to tell that it’s his fault that Derpy was like this, that it’s his fault that Derpy got attack. But then she notices the sincere look in his eyes and the countless bruises that he received from protecting her. She couldn’t help but feel guilty for getting angry for the colt who risked his own life to save her friend from a group of violent thugs. “Alright.” She said, turning around and heading towards the stairs. “And thank you, not a lot a ponies would have done what you did today.”

“What? Getting my butt kicked.” The chestnut coloured stallion joked.

“No.” Carrot Top shook her head. “Being a hero.”

For a brief moment the olive pony stared into the Doctor’s eyes, sending a secret massage of respect and trust before walking down the stairs and leaving.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Doctor entered the apartment and found Derpy waiting for him in the lounge room. She kept her head low and avoided making eye contact with the stallion but he could see that her eyes are sightly red from crying and the tracks the tears left behind. The grey pegasus led her injured guest to the sofa and told him to sit there while she went to fetch the first aid kit.

Taking a seat on the comfy sofa, the Doctor turned to the nearby window to look out the darken streets below. What he saw instead made his eyes widen slightly, staring back at was his reflection covered with bruises and his left eye was swollen and blacken. Wow, I knew I was hurt but I wasn’t expecting this. He thought as he brought one of his hooves up to the blacken eye.

He immediately pulled away the moment the hoof made contact with it, grasping in surprise by how painful it felt. The chestnut pony continues to look at his injured body through the reflection of the window until the sound of hooves caused him to turn back around. Derpy had returned from the kitchen with a small red and white box in her mouth, still looking very solemn like before. She placed the box down on the small coffee table and took a seat by the Doctor’s side. Opening the box the grey pegasus took out several bandages then turned to the stallion sitting beside her.

Looking over his body, seeing all those bruises, the blacken eye, the smile he’s wearing trying to hide the pain that she was responsible for and she couldn’t help but feel the wave of guilt crashing down upon her. She wiped away the tears that were threatening to come back which the Doctor couldn’t help but notice. “Derpy are you okay?” He asked.

The grey pegasus nodded but avoided meeting his eyes.

“I’m just asking because you been very quiet since the fight.” He continues. “Are you really sure you’re okay?”

Why is he being so nice to me? Derpy thought as she fought against the guilt and tears that threaten to consumed her. He should hate me. If it wasn’t for me the fight would never have happen and he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

Suddenly a chestnut coloured hoof reached out and lifted the grey pegasus chin, lifting it up so that the kind blue eyes met her golden orbs that were in the rare moment of being normal. “Derpy please, talk to me.”

Staring into those sky blue eyes full of kindness and concern was the final crack that broke the dam. The grey pegasus threw her forelegs around the stallion, burying her face into his shoulder as she cried. The Doctor was caught off guard by this and while he felt awkward with the young mare crying on his shoulder he didn’t make any move to separate from her. Instead he warped his own forelegs around her, gently squizzing her in the attempt to be comforting. As the crying began to soften he can clearly hear something that left him rather confused.

“I’m sorry.” Derpy whimpered. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“For what?” the chestnut coloured pony whispered as he continues to hold her.

“For…for everything.” She stuttered while shaking from the tears now flowing freely down her face. “Yo…You got hurt because of me. If…if I had been watching where I…I was going I wouldn’t have bumped in that stallion and you wouldn’t have to…to stand up for me and then he wouldn’t have come back with those goons of his and hurt you.”

The Doctor was taken aback from what the crying pegasus said. She really thinks this is her fault. He thought. It was a preposterous idea, the only ones who were responsible for his injuries was that stallion and his thugs not the crying mare in his fore hooves. The feeling of anger suddenly appeared as he thought about him and what he had said, but he quickly pushed that aside and focus on the girl before him.

“Derpy.” He said in the most gently and comforting voice he could muster. “The fight wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes it was!” She cried.

“No, it wasn’t.” the Doctor said in a much more sterner but still gentle voice, he then pulled Derpy away from his shoulder to look into her golden eyes which had now become puffy and sore looking from her crying. “True, me standing up for you might have made me a target for that thug but if I could go back to that moment I would have done the exact same thing. I would have told that stallion to apologize to you and I would have fought those goons so you could get away safely and you know why?”

The grey pegasus shook her head, completely enthral by the Doctor’s words.

“Because your worth protecting.” He said stopping for a brief moment to allow his words to sink in. “Your worth protecting, your worth fighting for and despite what anypony say you’re not a freak.”

The room suddenly fell silent, there was no sounds of crying or words, no sounds from the street below or the sky above, there was only the pegasus and the earth pony staring at each other like it was their life line. All caution about the timeline and his identity no longer mattered to the Doctor, all he wants to do is make the young mare before him happy again. To make her smile like she did before all of this happen.

The grey pegasus was lost in the stallion’s eyes, nopony especially a stallion have ever said such things to her before. To be told that she was worth fighting for from the Doctor left her speechless and her cheeks warm. The feeling of guilt that has been pooling inside her subsided only to be replaced with the sudden urge to close the gap and kiss him. Soon the thought of kissing her hero led down a path she hardly went on. The heated images caused her to break eye contact as her grey cheeks slowly change to a bright scarlet. “You…you really think…that I’m worth that much?” she asked her voice barely more than a whisper.

“Yes, I do.” The Doctor answered, meaning everything he had just said.

Once again the room fell silent as they sat there on the sofa, Derpy return to where she was before on the stallion’s shoulder only this time there was no tears falling down her cheeks. Her fore hooves warped around his body in a calm and gentle hug. “Thank you.” She softly whispered much like how she did when he stood up for her.

The rest of the night was spent fixing the Doctor’s wounds even though he said he could do it himself the grey pegasus insisted on doing it for him. She smeared a blue paste over the lumps and bruises saying that it will make the swelling go down and help it heal. The paste felt cool when it touched the bruises making the Doctor feel more relax. The feeling was intensified when Derpy did his back, it felt like the pegasus was giving him a massage.

It had gotten late by the time all of the bruises have been covered. “You should go to bed.” The Doctor said as he helped the mare pack away the first aid kit back into the kitchen. “You had a long day.”

“Okay, but where are you going to sleep?” Derpy asked, she looked a lot better now, her eyes were no longer puffy and sore looking and what was left of her tears had disappeared.

“I’ll just sleep on the sofa.”

“Are you sure? You could sleep with me in my bed if you want, I wouldn’t mind. Carrot Top and I do it all the time.”

The Doctor had to bite down on his tongue from saying yes, as much as he would like to spend the night laying in a comfortable bed it would be far too awkward sharing it with her. Especially with his feelings as they are right now. “It’ll be fine.” He said leading her to the stairs that lead to her bedroom. “You just have good night sleep.”

“Alright.” She nodded as she started to walk up the stairs. “Good night, Doctor.”

“Good night, Derpy.”

The chestnut stallion remained where he was until he heard the sound of a door opening and closing. He let out a small sigh then turned and walked to the sofa, it might not be a king size bed but it will do for the night. As he laid there in the darken room thinking over the day’s events, his eyes kept wandering to the stairs wondering if perhaps he should reconsider her offer.

It would be nice to feel somepony next to him after traveling for who knows how long across time and space, to have a beautiful mare in his fore hooves. Besides she probably wants him by her side, after all she had been through a traumatizing event and she’ll what him there to keep her safe.

'And what happens when you have to leave her?' The logical part of his mind asks

'I guess I would have to make breakfast then.'

'That’s not what I mean and you know it. You’ve been down this road before remember, it ended badly.'

He did remember the last time he was in this kind situation, it was early on in his adventures and he had landed in a town that would later grow into the city of Manehattan. While there he met a young idealistic mare who wanted to become a Doctor of medicine. It wasn’t long until they became friends and soon after that more, it was one of the few occasion he could remember being truly happy since the accident.

But then it all fell apart when he got the stupid notion of telling her the truth about himself. It should have come to no surprise that she didn’t believe him when he told her but that didn’t stop him. Thinking back on that night he realize that have he been his usual logical self he would have just left it there. But he had so wanted her to believe him, to have her accept him as he truly was, he had wanted that so badly that he showed her the TARDIE.

He remembers how she had stood there, staring into the time machine with her face showing no emotion. The Doctor had misinterpreted this as her being astonished by the machine and the realization that she had fallen for somepony who wouldn’t be born for hundreds of years later. If he had been paying closer attention to her body language he perhaps he could have foreseen what would have happen next. While she stood there like a stone statue the Doctor was telling her about the adventures he had and how the TARDIE worked. It was only by the time he was finish that he realize that the way she was looking at him had changed.

Instead of love and understanding he found confusion and fear. “I’m sorry Whooves, but we can’t be together anymore.” She said before turning around and leaving him.

Words could not describe what he felt that night as he watch her leave, it was like tiny daggers were stubbing at his heart. He wanted to call out to her, to ask why she was leaving him at the one moment he had been completely honest to her. But then he realizes how foolish he had been, of course she would run away from him, the thought of being with a pony who travels through time must have overwhelmed her. She was afraid of him now, afraid of something she doesn’t understand nor wants to.

The memories of that night brought on feelings that the Doctor thought he had gotten over. Shock, heartbroken, anger, betrayal and loneliness all came flooding back like a dark wave. 'Do you really want to feel like that again?' The voice inside his head asks.

He stares at the stairs before answering that question, thinking of both Derpy and the mare he had fallen for all those years ago.

“No.” he whispered to himself as he turns over to his side, facing away from the stairs. “No I don’t.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Small dark claws held the black gem to a pair of glowing red eyes as they search for any imperfections. It was a rare thing for Galek to leave the safety of his battle armour but the handling of the crystal called for a gentler grasp then what his armour could provide. Besides he has nothing to fear, he’s miles from the town and the only pony who could possibly stop him doesn’t even know he’s here. For now at least. He thought as he slowly turned the dark crystal around to check the other side. Despite being confidence that he will finally succeed in conquering Equestria, he was still wary of that time traveling equine.

There were countless times in the past when he had come so close to victory only for that chestnut coloured fool to find some way of ruining it. Thinking back to last night he probably should have destroyed him while he had the chance, but it was far too late to worry about that now. Besides a squished pony would have brought too much unwanted attention for his plans to succeed.

Once he was sure that there were no imperfections, the creature carried the black gem over to a flight of stairs. As he ascended up the stairs his blood red eyes scans his lair, despite appearing in this time period only a year ago he was proud of how he manage to turn a cave in the side of a mountain into an impressive sanctuary. The walls were lined with monitors showing data on the weather and the wind currents. On one side of the room sat his crab-like battle suit getting refuelled by what little dratroleum he had found while on the other side several unused energy cages were waiting for the first round of test subjects. A large toothy smile appeared on Galek dark furry face as he visualizes them being full of ponies begging for mercy he will not show.

Finally he reached the top of the stair case finding a small open hatch built on the side of his new weapon, waiting for the last piece that will make it whole. He carefully placed the dark crystal within the chamber and watch as two claw-like arms from either side reach out and held it in the centre. Closing the hatch Galek hopped into the weapon’s controls and began to switch switches and press buttons. He smiled in glee when he heard the machine he spent so long building was now humming to life.

'Now all I need to do is tests it.'

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Doctor Whooves woke up from an uneventful sleep to the sweet smell of something freshly baked. Opening his eyes he was slightly surprise to find a plate of muffins and a cup of honeyleaf tea sitting in front of him. Lifting himself up into a sitting position the Doctor didn’t waste time in getting stuck in the breakfast in front of him. He was almost finish the meal when a familiar grey pegasus came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of her own.

“Good morning Doctor.” Derpy said when she put her plate of muffins down on the coffee table and took a seat next to him. “How do you like your breakfast?”

“It’s wonderful Derpy.” he answered taking a sip from the tea to wash it down. “Banana is my favourite.”

“I thought so. You looked like a pony who would like banana flavoured muffins.”

“What make you say that?”

“I don’t know. I’m just really good at guessing other ponies favourite type of muffins. You could say it’s like my sixth sense.”

“I see.” The chestnut coloured pony chuckled discovering something new about the young mare. The two ate their breakfast in comfortable silence with the Doctor finishing first. Derpy was eating her muffins slowly which the Doctor didn’t mind, he just laid back and watched. He had to admit that the way the grey pegasus ate muffins was adorable, she would nibble on it for a bit before taking a larger bite in which her eyes would close and a smile of pure joy would appear. It actually reminded him of how she had nibble on him while she was asleep the night before.

“Umm, Doctor are you okay?” The blond maned pony suddenly asked.

“Why yes Derpy, why do you ask?”

“Because your cheeks are red.”

“What!” he exclaimed, spinning around in his seat to look at his reflection in the window. Sure enough she was right, his cheeks have taken on a light crimson colour. For a moment he was confused but then realize that thinking of that night had also brought on other memories.

“You could be coming down with something.” Derpy said as she put her muffin down and moved closer to him. “I’ll check your temperature.”

Before the chestnut pony could decline the offer the grey pegasus suddenly laid her forehead against his. The Doctor was once again caught off guard by the young mare’s action. “Derpy.” he manages to say after regaining his voice. “Wh…what are you doing?”

“I’m checking your temperature.” She said in matter-of-factly type of voice.

“Okay, but do you really have to do it like this?”

“Well, how else would I do it?”

The Doctor tries to tell her the proper way of taking another ponies temperature but stoped when he realise how close their lips are. If either of them learns in just the tiniest bit they would be kissing.

“Wow, you’re really hot.”

“What!”

“I said, your temperature is really hot. You might be getting a fever.” She said as she jumped off the sofa and headed towards the kitchen. “Stay here, I’ll go get some medicine.”

As the Doctor tries to stop her there was a knock at the apartment’s door. “Huh, I wonder who that could be.” Derpy wondered out loud as she change direction with the Doctor close behind. Opening the door the grey pegasus was slightly surprise to find a certain olive coloured pony with a bright orange mane standing behind it.

“Carrot Top? What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Hi Derpy, sorry for coming over so early but I just wanted to see how you were doing since last night.” The olive mare said, stepping into the apartment.

“Oh, I’m fine.” Derpy assure her but it was obviously that the incident still bothered her. “I mean I was upset but the Doctor helped calm me down.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.” Carrot Top said eyeing the chestnut coloured pony with a neutral stare before turning back to the grey pegasus. “So I guess that’s mean you be okay with coming with me to the Harvest Festival then.”

Derpy’s cheerful face suddenly changes to one of confusion and fear. “But…but Carrot Top I told you that I wouldn’t be going this year.”

“Actually, you said wouldn’t be going to the dance tonight, you didn’t say anything about the festival itself. Besides it’s good to go out and have some fun after what you’ve been through, right Skip.”

The Doctor turned his head slightly to the side in confusion before realizing that ‘Skip’ was his disguise. “Yes, I do believe that would be best.” He agreed.

“You really think so?” the grey pony asks.

The Doctor nodded.

“Well, if you think it’ll help then I’ll go.” She said, though she still sounded unsure. “Just give me a moment to freshen up, okay.”

The other two ponies nodded and watch as she ran up the stairs in a quick pace.

“Amazing.” Carrot Top said aloud catching the Doctor’s attention. “I try to get her to come to the festival and she says no but when you say it’s okay then she’ll come along no questions asks. That’s quite a hold you have over her.”

“Excuse me?”

“Listen Skippy, I don’t know who you are or where you came from and truthfully I really don’t care but Derpy seems to likes you and while I’m happy she made a new friend I just have to know one thing. What exactly are your intentions?”

The Doctor was caught off guard by the mare’s sudden hostilities and the soul piercing green eyes that were trained on him. However, the question she had asked was also something that had caused him to lose his voice if only for few seconds. Again he was reminded of decision he had made from the previous night, to not pursue the feelings that he had develop for the grey coloured mare.

When he didn’t answer the olive coloured mare continued. “I need to know because she’s been through a lot, a lot more than any one pony should ever have to go through in one life time and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

Suddenly the Doctor’s voice returned to asks. “What do you mean she’s been through a lot?”

For a moment Carrot Top’s eyes softened, it was probably only for a spilt second but his keen’s eyes caught it and knew that he had probably just stumble onto something deeply sensitive. There was a brief pause as the orange maned mare considered on whether or not to tell him about the darkest moment of her friend’s life. When she finally made her decision she let out a small sad sigh and turned her attention to the photo hanging on the wall next to her.

“Do you know who that is?” she asks.

The chestnut pony examined the photo she was looking at, it had grey pegasus who was carrying a small familiar filly on her back. On closer inspection he could see the filly was half asleep with only one sleepy eye open. The older pony had a soft warm smile on her face and used her wings to keep the child safely nestled on her back. By looking at this photo the Doctor could actually feel the love the older pony had for the child.

“It’s her mother, right?” he presumed as he kept his eyes on the photo for a couple of seconds longer before looking back at the olive mare.

“Yes it is.” She said though her voice had lost the edge she had a moment ago and now sounded distant. “She was the most loving and kindest mare I have ever met, she was the type who would help anypony no matter who it was or where they came from. And she loved Derpy, she loved her so much that she moved to Ponyville so she could get away from the bullies from her old school.

“She took a job as a mail mare and worked as hard as she could to give Derpy the best life she could possibly have. One day she was asked to take over as the long distance courier and deliver some mail over to Clopington which means she had to fly over the Winterbreathe mountains. There was a really bad snow storm and she never made it.”

She paused for a couple of seconds to let that part sink in.

“Derpy was devastated. She had lost the most important pony in her life, the only family she had. One can only wonder how long it took her to move on, that is of course if she ever did. Since then I’ve done everything I can to make sure she’ll never feel that much pain again. I gauss you could say I became something of a guardian angel.”
Suddenly she turned back to the Doctor, her eyes had taken on an protective gaze as she glare at the stallion before her. “That’s why I want to know. That’s why if you do anything, anything to hurt her. Then you better pray to the princesses that your medical insurance is enough to pay for want I’ll do to you.”

The silence that came was so deathly quiet that one could hear the sound of birds chirping from the lounge room windows. Carrot Top kept her intense gaze on the stallion who returns it with an expressionless face. It wasn’t that the story didn’t affect the time traveller, quite the contrary in fact, it was just after hearing such a story about the grey pegasus a question kept surfacing in his mind. How can anypony who had been through something like that turn out so… cheerful? He thought as his head subconscious turns back to the photo. Again he looked at the picture but this time focusing only on the filly.

He stared at it for what might as well been an eternity, as his mind try to process this new information. A sudden feeling of guilt washed over him as he thought back when they had first met. He had thought that her peculiar personality came from a sheltered upbringing but instead she was force to face the world much sooner than any child should.

“Miss Carrot Top.” Doctor said his voice levelled but carrying a deeply sincere tone with it. “I can assure you that I do not wish to harm Miss Hooves in any shape or form and that my stay here will only be temporary. Once I have concluded my… business here I’ll leave and probably won’t be coming back.”

The olive mare continues to glare at him for a moment longer before taking on a more relax stance. While there was still something odd about the chestnut coloured stallion that bugs her, she knows he was telling the truth. Since last night she had actually found herself trusting him to degree but as Derpy’s best friend and self-proclaimed guardian she will always keep a close eye on him.

“Thank you.” She said.

It was at this moment that they heard the sound hoof steps coming down the stairs. They got quite the surprise by the young pegasus who appeared before them. Derpy’s mane was properly brushed and had a small red bow just below her right ear, her coat was also brushed and looked healthily and cleaner than before. As she moved towards the two astonished ponies the Doctor could swear he could smell the trace scent of perfume.

“Well, I’m ready to go.” Derpy declared in her cheerful voice, failing to notice the looks of surprise and confusion her appearance had caused.

Carrot Top was the first to find her voice. “Derpy you look so…so…so…”

“Amazing.” The Doctor finished before realizing what he was saying.

The grey mare’s cheeks started to change into a pinkish shade of red. “You really think so?” she asks.

“Well…um” The chestnut pony muddled as he tries to recover from his previous statement. “What I meant to say was that…um, you look very nice and…and that your mane is very…nice too.”

Smooth.

Thankfully before this very awkward situation could drag on Carrot Top cleared her throat loudly which caught both of the ponies attention. “We should get going.” She said. “We don’t want to miss pig race do we.”

With that the three ponies left the apartment with Derpy at the front and the two earth ponies following behind. As he left the Doctor noticed that the olive mare had that same protective look she had on before. She must have also realize that the grey pegasus didn’t go through all this trouble to look good for the festival. No she did this to impress somepony and they both know who.

Oh, horse-feathers.