Dr Whooves And The Mare Who Saw What Wasn't There.by Paganbrony666ChaptersPart One: The Mare Who Saw What Wasn’t There.Part Two: Luna Finds A Stallion.Part Three: Luna Chase.Part Four: An Unusual Introduction and a Strange Passer-by.Part Five: A Doctor for Dinner.Part Six: Explanations Arguments and Revealed Losses.Part Seven: Dr Whooves and the Cave of the Silmeragan.Part Eight: Mindstorm.Part One: The Mare Who Saw What Wasn’t There.Part One: The Mare Who Saw What Wasn’t There. The stars twinkled in the night sky over Ponyville as its inhabitants slept Luna’s night away, with a few ponies making their way home after a carefree evening out. It seemed as if nothing dramatic or sinister would befall this small slumbering town that night, and as luck would have it nothing did. That is until just moments before the sunrise, when there came a wheezing sound, at first it seemed distant but as it continued it grew louder, morning dew sparkling in the sun’s rays began to vibrate fiercely as in the town square a blue light appeared fading in and out. Silence again descended on Ponyville, its inhabitants unaware of the return of Equestria’s silent guardian. As morning wore on ponies came and went as the town of Ponyville came alive, shops and stalls opened and its inhabitants began to fill the streets, not ones to miss a good sunny day they talked and shopped and all was well. Well... Nearly all… Ditzy Doo sat in a muddy puddle on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres on the outskirts of Ponyville. Her golden mane and grey coat were soaked with dirty water and clinging mud, to make matters worse her saddlebags had fallen off and broken open, the letters as Mail mare of Ponyville she was supposed to deliver were now floating in the water beside her. As she watched the nearest envelope bobbing on the surface of the disturbed puddle she sniffed loudly fighting back tears, it wasn’t fair... She tried to be careful, to avoid branches and check where she was headed, but if she remembered those she forgot to keep an eye out for other Pegasai who might be flying around, not that her eyes ever did what they were told anyway. Most ponies figured Ditzy Doo had walleye, or some mental problem that wasn’t discussed in polite (or her) company, but for whatever reason Ditzy’s eye’s roamed, often in different directions and rarely could she keep them pointing in the right direction without concentrating. But as she sat there cold and dejected her eye’s focused on the cyan coloured Pegasai mare a few hooves away as she sat up groaning rubbing her head. In a flash Ditzy remembered how she’d ended up in the puddle! She’d hit something! She’d been concentrating hadn’t she…? Ditzy thought for a moment, no she hadn’t... Memories of her morning sprang to mind… Something had happened… She had woken up early for work, breakfast as usual then... Then she had gone up stairs... To do something she did every morning… Something important… But she had struggled to remember what it was. Of course! To wake her room mate Carrot Top! That was it… She was sure it was… Her house mate however had seemed like she too was forgetting things as after having an awkward silent breakfast Ditzy had left for work but with the nagging feeling something was wrong... “DITZY!!!” The shout made the grey mare jump out of her skin. Muddy water and letters went everywhere as she slipped trying to stand and fell forwards her wings outstretched in surprise splashing down and sending even more mess flying from her puddle. As Ditzy struggled to right herself and tried to shake the filth from her coat her left eye settled on the figure in front of her, turning her head and forcing her left eye to stay still so she could focus Ditzy mumbled a greeting to the furious looking mare. “Hi Rainbow…” Rainbow Dash cyan colored with a rainbow mane stood hoof deep in mud and having been covered in it head to hoof as a result of the crash glared at Ditzy. “Hey, you back from where you zoned out to? You weren’t even looking where you were going Ditzy!” Ditzy hung her head and tried to look sorry, but Rainbow was already fuming. “I’m... sorry…” Tears began to fall as a terrible sadness overtook her and gradually she broke down even more as a flood of frightening emotions overtook her. Rainbow as angry as she was couldn’t believe what she was seeing as her old friend from flight school broke apart in front of her. Slowly she put her hoof around Ditzy’s shoulders and tried to calm her with soothing overtones, but to avail. “I... can’t stop... crying…” Ditzy sobbing louder choked as she couldn’t breathe. “I don’t know why...” Rainbow tried to forgive Ditzy, she told her it wasn’t her fault, and it had been an accident she’d even resorted to pulling funny faces! But nothing worked the grey mare just continued crying unabated. Eventually Rainbow stopped; honestly she had no clue what to do… Then it hit her! Honesty! They were on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres so Rainbow decided to get Ditzy to the farmhouse where she could get a little help from a friend and fellow Element of Harmony. Of all the Elements of Harmony, honesty is the best policy, and its flesh and blood representative, a young orange earth pony named Applejack was no exception to the rule. She was showing her honesty with gusto as she stood in the hallway outside the bathroom fidgeting as she hollered at her older brother through the door to hurry the hay up. She was beginning to reach numbers she wasn’t familiar with as she danced from hoof to hoof when suddenly there came a knocking from downstairs, faintly accompanied by what sounding like sobbing. Needing the distraction she looked around the upstairs hallway for any sign of the other members of the Apple family who lived at Sweet Apple Acres, seeing the coast was clear and hoping she could get back before Granny Smith woke up and commandeered the bathroom for the morning, (forcing her to use that damn bush again) she made her way downstairs to the front door. As she drew closer, the sounds became easier to make out, and she recognized a familiar voice repeating over and over. “Please stop crying, please...” Applejack frowned, looking up at the clock on the wall by the door which read a little after six she cocked her head to the side frowning deeper she opened the door. “Rainbow what the hay are you doing up this early and what’s with all the caterwauling?” Applejack looked at the two Pegasus stood on the porch and winced as her jaw bounced off the hardwood floor. On the porch sat a muddy Rainbow Dash holding close to her with a wing draped over her protectively an equally muddy grey Pegasus who Applejack recognized instantly as the mail mare of Ponyville. Looking once more at her friend Dash Applejack was taken aback as their eyes met and Dash’s screamed ‘Help me!!!’ Applejack motioned Rainbow to bring her in and moved aside as Dash maneuvered the sobbing pony through the living room and into the kitchen while dripping mud and water everywhere. Rainbow positioned the inconsolable Ditzy by the fire as Applejack rushed to find towels, Ditzy for her part just sat staring into the flames. After ejecting Macintosh from the bathroom and finally getting to use it, she then ran a bath, fetching Rainbow Dash the pair bathed the nearly catatonic Ditzy. After drying her off Rainbow ran herself a bath as Applejack took Ditzy downstairs and sat her by the fireplace, which Applejack then got going before getting Ditzy a cup of hot chocolate to sip while she warmed up. Applejack kept her company for a while before retiring to the back porch unable to get the grey mare to speak. Dash joined on the porch a short time later still drying her mane with a towel as she brought the farm mare up to date. As Applejack listened to how Dash had woken up early for once and gone for a morning’s flight before being knocked out the sky and what followed after, her now near permanent frown deepened. “Rainbow you told me Derpy falls out the sky or crashes into things all the time? What’s made her react like that this time? Did you say something mean to her because she crashed into you?” Dash winced as Applejack called the grey mare by her nickname. “Don’t call her Derpy A.J; you know she hates being called that, and no I didn’t.” “Sorry Dash, but honestly from the sound of it she’s mighty sore ‘bout something.” “I know but... I tried to get her to say what it is but she kept saying she couldn’t remember what caused her to feel like this.” The two friends looked through the kitchen window at Ditzy, who was gradually beginning to seem a little more together. “So what’s your plan huh Dash?” “I guess get her home? So she can rest…” “Makes sense ah guess but that mare needs to talk ‘bout it with some pony.” As they made their way back into the kitchen the youngest member of the Apple family appeared. Applebloom was a miniature Applejack, but without the limited patience or self control of her big sister. Indeed her adventures with her filly friends, Sweetie Belle the unicorn and Scootaloo the Pegasus had Applejack wondering if compared to them she had been as rebellious and energetic as a filly as she thought she’d been. The residents of Ponyville treated the crusade waged by the three fillies in their quest to gain their cutie marks as if it was an oncoming storm. Preferring to run and hide should the ‘CMC’ come to town, lest they be overwhelmed by questions about their cutie marks and how and when did they get them. At first the ‘CMC’ had asked the ponies close to them, but when that failed to impress the whole ‘Give it time idea’ on them, they had expanded the process to any and all who crossed their path. Applejack had tried to put an end to it after the CMC had cornered a local hooker outside a seedy bar in town and asked the mare why her cutie mark looked like a giant pink cucumber above the picture of a wallet. Applejack blushed at the memory, still regretting all the lies she had to tell just to distract the girls from a conversation she herself didn’t fully understand. But youth does have its uses as the energetic filly getting her breakfast and preparing for school seemed to awaken something in Ditzy. As Applebloom tucked into her cereal she finally noticed the bedraggled and still drying Mail mare by the fire, and as if nothing was wrong through a mouthful of fruity ponies, she said. “Hiya Miss Derpy watcha doin?” Applejack and Rainbow Dash double faced hoofed as the pair simultaneously imagined the effect the nickname would have on the fragile Ditzy. Both ponies stared at the mail mare waiting for the final blow to hit home, but surprisingly Ditzy brightened up and laughed. “I crashed into Dash.” “Are ya hurt Miss Derpy?” “Nope…” Ditzy spread her wings and tried an experimental flap or two, “Working fine...” The mail mare gave a lopsided grin as Applebloom continued eating ignoring the stutter in Ditzy’s voice. Another reason most ponies called her Derpy was her problems with speech, if only they realized despite her problems with sight, speech, balance and concentration that she was in fact one of the smartest ponies around they wouldn’t have been so quick to use it. Smarter in fact than most that used that nickname but it had stuck and some ponies didn’t realize it wasn’t her actual name. Applebloom who was one of the ones that didn’t said something resembling ‘great’ through a mouthful of cereal, as she continued to eat she noticed the clock and with a squeal sprang from her chair and bolted for the door. “Ah shoot ah’m gonna be late, gotta go see you later Miss Derpy!” Upon noticing Dash for the first time she called out as she ran for the door. “Hi Rainbow… Bye Rainbow.” Dash just waved as the filly disappeared through the door, but as the door opened and closed Ditzy’s smile faded and she went back to looking into the flames. Dash, more than a little tired sat down at the breakfast table and yawned giving Applejack a look that said ‘batter up’. Shaking her head and sighing, Applejack approached Ditzy and gently laid a hoof on her shoulder. “Are you feeling better now sugar-cube? You feel like telling us what the matter is?” When she got no reply Applejack moved around to face Ditzy, who was staring intensely into the fire her eyes were focused forward but pretty normal looking for any other pony but as Applejack looked closer for just a second it seemed as if the fire reflected in her eyes was different somehow. As Applejack leaned closer still she thought she could almost hear faint screaming! She recoiled as Ditzy’s left eye swiveled in her direction, in shock Applejack reared up hitting the pans above the fireplace with her head, as she stumbled and fell her hat came off and fell straight into the fire. Applejack laid on her back eyes closed and teeth gritted as she waited for the dancing rainbow dashes to disappear from behind her eyelids before gingerly opening her eyes to see a concerned Dash hovering above her. “You OK AJ?” “Ah reckon so.” Applejack sat up and instinctively moved to adjust her hat, as her hoof searched the top of her head she realized it had fallen off... Looking down into the fire, she saw a familiar shape smouldering atop the burning logs... Applejack hung her head as she prayed for the soul of her now cindered hat. “Ah loved that hat it was a present from mah dad… ” Rainbow who knew about Applejacks tendency to become attached to inanimate objects at the best of times, a prime example being reading bedtime stories to an apple tree, Dash knew that careful tact was needed. Tact was far from the result, as Ditzy who had seemingly emerged from whatever train of thought she’d been riding began clumsily trying to apologize and retrieve the hat. Applejack just sighed, she’d spent enough time around her friends to know accidents happen, but when Ditzy tried to give her the still smoking remains of her pride and joy the hat crumbled as burning ash covered Applejack's outstretched hooves causing her to yell and curse. Seeing her in pain and cursing frightened Ditzy who in her fragile state scrambled for the door, before Dash or Applejack could stop her she was out the backdoor and gone... Rainbow Dash hovered at the door as the mare disappeared into the distance unsure as whether or not to follow she spoke out loud to her friend with anger in her voice. “Applejack, I’m going to find out exactly who or what upset her and I’m going to beat an apology out of them.” A grunt from behind her confirmed her friends desire to do the same. Meanwhile… The doors of the blue box in Ponyville opened and a young looking stallion with brown fur and a darker brown mane wearing a brown long coat with a blue suit jacket, white shirt and red tie stepped forth and looked about him in a confused manner, more than a little upset he accosted a nearby pony. “Excuse me… Where are we?” The pony in question gave him a puzzled look before responding, “Uh… This is Ponyville…” “Oh… Not Canterlot…” The now nervous pony pointed off into the distance where Canterlot could be seen sitting atop the mountains in said distance. “Oh… Bother… You wouldn’t happen to know what year it is by any chance…” The stallion watched as the pony gave him a weird look and began rapidly to continue on his way. Turning to his blue box the stallion ran a hoof down its exterior as he whispered to it. “Now why did you bring me here old girl?” A sudden feeling of being watched made the stallion spin around to find the source, but when none presented itself the stallion with the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end realized he’d felt that sensation once before… “Oh… That’s why…” Part Two: Luna Finds A Stallion.Part Two: Luna Finds A Stallion. As almost all ponies, Griffons and Dragons know, Equestria is ruled by the omnipotent sisters of sun and moon, Celestia and her younger sister Luna. Celestia the goddess of the sun was a large white Allicorn, earth pony Pegasus and unicorn rolled into one who was adored by her faithful subjects and who secretly enjoyed the odd party, after all she was a good pony, not a complete troll... …Right? Luna however was the dark horse of the two, she had lost her rag with her sister in the past and transformed by the darkness within she had waged war upon her sister in a battle for control of their kingdom. When this was thwarted by Celestia, with as Luna might add considerable help from the Elements of Harmony not to mention a light brown stallion with a long coat and an extra long colorful scarf, fedora hat, and an hourglass shaped cutie mark, topped off with buck teeth and a penchant for bags of sweets and trouble along with a grey Pegasus with a golden mane as his companion. This as all ponies know resulted in her banishment to the moon for a thousand years, only returning after the magic that kept her there had worn off and despite her alter ego being defeated yet again, but this time thanks to Celestia’s protégé and her assortment of friends she was freed from the darkness. And so a repentant Luna had been allowed to stay in Equestria and resume her duties as dual princess. Luna strongly suspected this was a ploy by Celestia to get time off, but since she had spent a millennia on the moon alone and now could live freely in Equestria, (as long as she fulfilled her duties each sister being responsible for raising and lowering of their respective celestial bodies each day and night) Luna was prepared to overlook the odd sun coming up late because of yet another all night party thrown by her sister. Today though Luna couldn’t shake the feeling of something being wrong, turning to her sister as they sat at the long table in the palaces great hall for their breakfast, Luna began to ask. “Celestia...?” “Hmph...?” “Celestia…?” “Urghh…” Luna looked at her sister’s bedraggled mane, bloodshot eyes and hung over expression and tried to imagine what it took for a goddess to get drunk? Sure Luna knew that the parties her sister threw were sometimes extravagant, and that she always invited at ‘least’ one of personal guard or a ‘friend’ to her chambers afterwards for a nightcap, but... Luna didn’t really understand the situation, or what a ‘nightcap’ meant, and Celestias’ attempt to explain what she called the birds and the bees had resulted in confusion for Luna since she couldn’t understand what that had to do with ponies? Luna studied her sister as Celestia sank lower into her chair, Luna decided perhaps disturbing her wasn’t the best thing right now, especially since every servants hoof tread echoed loudly in the marbled hall, causing Celestia to wince. Leaving her remaining breakfast and her near comatose sister to wallow in self pity, Luna left the hall and headed outside to the palace grounds. An idea quickly thwarted as Luna realized her sister had forgotten to regulate the sun’s temperature again, the result being it was scorching hot outside and the guards at the gate looked as they would burst into flame any minute. Sighing deeply and wondering why everyone put up with her sister’s behavior she made her way towards the library, at least in there she would be cool enough and able to relax. As Luna entered the grand library she breathed deeply; the smell of dust and old paper relaxed her as she walked past the many shelves, she began to hum to herself. Just as she passed the first of many rows of books in the mythical creatures section she failed to see the large stack of books that unsteadily turned the next corner in front of her, colliding with it she was knocked over clipping the shelf next to her with her outstretched wings resulting in her being buried under the shower of heavy tomes and age old manuscripts that fell from the shelf. As the dust settled on the heap of books Luna poked her head out from underneath it all before standing up, causing the pile to spread even further across the floor. Looking for what she had bumped into Luna’s eyes came to rest on a young stallion, who was also attempting to extricate himself from the pile. Wait… Him…? Luna knew there were no male librarian ponies at the palace so with the best impression of her sister she could muster up; she stood looking down at the stallion with her most regal looking stance. The strange pony managed to stand up after slipping about on the books, and for the first time noticed Luna. “Umm... Hello…” The stallion said with a slightly confused expression as Luna puffed her chest out. “Who are you?” Luna demanded with what she hoped was a commanding tone. “Sorry, don’t you know who I am?” Luna bristled as she eyed up the weirdo, he was an earth pony, brown fur with a dark brown unkempt mane, a brown overcoat and blue jacket with a red tie.. She screwed up the courage and looked him straight in his eyes. As she stared he didn’t flinch or blink but those eyes she knew them from... …The dark times, as her buried memories began to resurface the library dissolved around her into darkness as she began to panic... “Noooo stop!” With a look of genuine sorrow the stallion mumbled, “I’m so sorry…” That was the last thing she remembered before she lost consciousness. The earth pony caught Luna as she toppled which for her size was no mean feat, gently laying her down he placed a few manuscripts under her head. Satisfied he left the library, the book he wanted in his mouth he glanced back at the prone princess and smiled… …A sad smile. It was a long time ago he had first met Luna, before the darkness had taken her; even then it wasn’t this fragile looking mare or him for that matter, well sort of… With a craving for sweets he slipped quietly away. A little while later, Luna awoke with a start, books and paper scattered around her as she hastily got up. What had she been doing? She calmed herself closing her eyes she thought back.... …The intruder! Luna’s eye opened wide as she remembered. Turning towards the main door of the library and in a less than royal fashion, she ran headlong out the library calling out as she did so. “…CELESTIA!!!” Followed by an even higher pitch as she cried out... “…BIG SISTER!!!” Meanwhile back in Ponyville. It was now mid day and as busy as ever. After the debacle at the farm and Applejack getting a mouthful from Granny Smith about… “All that darn mud in mah kitchen!!!” Rainbow Dash and Applejack had decided since it was too hot to work or as Dash put it lay out on a cloud, they would go looking for Ditsy. “You know Rainbow, she could be anywhere.” “Well… Why don’t we just check Sugarcube corner…?” “And what exactly makes you think she’s there?” “They sell muffins?” Applejack stopped walking, “Muffin’s Dash…?” “Sure, they are her favorite thing in the whole of Equestria! She’s upset so I guarantee we’ll find her if we go to all the places that sell muffins.” Dash flapped into the air and headed in the direction of Sugarcube corner. “I sure hope your right Dash, you know Ditsy she could be flying into all sort’s of trouble.” “Trust me OK, muffins for sure” Dash sped away as Applejack followed behind, mentally she was questioning Dash’s logic and groaned when she started thinking how many places in Ponyville that sold muffins (which she realized was quite a few nowadays). “Aww darn it all...” It didn’t take long for the both of them to reach Sugarcube corner, as the pair reached the open door they heard the distinctive cheering and hollering of their friend and fellow Element of Harmony Pinkie Pie. As the element of laughter Pinkie’s pink coat and mane along with her party balloons for a cutie mark personified her as the one pony, any pony would ask for help planning any party, anytime, anywhere, for any pony. Trouble was if there wasn’t any parties happening anywhere and Pinkie couldn’t think of an excuse, she had the tendency to get a bit unhinged. Not that she was crazy, well not in the traditional sense but she could be very scary if she didn’t get her quota. Dash and Applejack caught sight of Pinkie through the open door, she was covered in bits of glitter and bits of streamer and was bouncing back and forth between the shelves and a pile of what looked like party bags, cakes, toys and sweets lying in the middle of the floor, it was immediately obvious she was preparing some kind of birthday party. Deciding not to disturb her and glancing around the shop for Ditzy Applejack stepped back out the door and whispered to Dash. “She isn’t here Dash” “Well next stop then.” Dash replied lazily flapping her wings turning in the air to head back down the street. As Applejack followed Dash winged her way towards their next stop, a little café newly opened just off the town square. Applejack who was a little behind the times and not so good at remembering gossip called up to her friend, “Uh Dash you mind telling me who runs the place again?” “Don’t you ever listen to Rarity?” Applejack looked sheepish, “Ah skip bits.” Dash nearly crashed into a lamppost as she couldn’t help but agree with the farm pony. “Look, last month Bon-Bon’s aunt passed away, you know Bon-Bon right?” Applejack shook her head as she tried to picture Bon Bon, the name rang a bell though... Dash just sighed as she explained. “Well her aunt passed away and left Bon Bon a ton of bits, well Bon-Bon was going to do all this stuff like travel…” “So what’s that got to do with this here café...?” “I’m getting to that, well Bon Bon was convinced by Lyra to open a shop instead so Bon Bon could sell her amazing candied treat that she makes… And so that they could live off the profits.” “Uh Dash, this isn’t a candy shop.” “Well Bon-Bon didn’t want to run a shop just for candy but she had always dreamed of owning a small café instead.” “And she sells muffins.” “Bingo.” The small interior of the café was simple as was the outside all done out in white walls and oak wood skirting boards, small oak chairs and tables filled but not crowded the room and the atmosphere was quiet. In the corner behind a small counter was a till, price boards and a selection of tea cakes, sweets and... …Muffins. Dash trotted to the counter as a cream earth pony with pink and purple mane and three candy sweets as a cutie mark came from a door presumably leading to the back. “Hi there Bon-Bon…” “Oh Dash! How wonderful, hold on… Lyraaaaa… Dash is here.” She called loudly back through the door as Applejack finally recognized the mare from around the town; she nodded awkwardly to Bon-Bon, embarrassed she hadn’t remembered her. Bon-Bon busied herself behind the till as they waited, although Applejack noticed she looked a little exhausted, looking around Applejack noticed there weren’t too many customers, in fact only two. One was an old stallion quietly slipping tea and reading a paper, the other… Applejack realized was muttering quietly. Applejack couldn’t hear what he was saying and couldn’t see him either, well not properly. He was sat with an old dusty book with a moon on the cover labelled ‘Mythical beast’s myths and legends volume one’ which was open and standing upright on the table in front of him obscuring her view. As Applejack turned back to Dash, she heard him say… “Well that didn’t happen like that, (followed by) …Ha that’s wrong for a start…” Dash and Bon-Bon didn’t hear him and Applejack still worried about Ditsy not to mention annoyed because a hard day’s apple bucking had gone to waste ignored it. Dash and Bon-Bon were chatting away harmlessly when Applejack interrupted. “Dash, don’t forget why we’re here now.” Dash stopped mid sentence and gave a sheepish grin “Hey, uh Bon-Bon, have you seen Ditsy anywhere, or has she bought muffins today?” Bon-Bon paused thoughtfully for a second. “No, sorry Dash, the only muffins I’ve sold were with tea and sweets to that stallion… She pointed a hoof at the stallion who was still muttering to himself behind the book. It was clear Bon-Bon was a little nervous about her customer as she quickly glanced away frowning. Unsure what to say, the trio stood for a moment trying to think of something. This was fortunately broken by the arrival of Lyra. Lyra a green unicorn pony with a lyre shaped cutie mark Applejack knew all too well since her arrival in Ponyville, Lyra had initially made few friends but when her and Applejack first met nearly a year ago, Lyra would often visit the farm and sit in the orchard playing her Lyre while Applejack worked. However Applejack hadn’t seen her in a long time not since Lyra had taken up a bad habit and Applejack had found her wandering past the orchard one day seemingly spaced out smoking what smelled like medicinal herbs. Now Applejack wasn’t always quick on the uptake, but she did know something about so say medicinal herbs, Big Macintosh her brother wasn’t the quiet law abiding farm pony everyone took him for. Sneaking off to the barn all hours, Applejack blushed as she play thought of the stack of porn mags, bags of medicinal herbs and strong cider hidden behind a board in the back of the barn. Needless to say Applejack had politely shooed Lyra away from the farm but still considered Lyra friendly, if a little strange. “Wow Lyra, you look hammered…” Bon-Bon and Applejack flinched at Dash’s blunt welcome. Applejack studied Lyra, with her unkempt light green mane, her eyes bloodshot, yeah hammered suited perfectly. Bon-Bon’s crushed expression said it all, her eyes though, Applejack thought the look in her eyes was a little strange, as if there was nothing she could do about it. Dash wasn’t oblivious either. “So uh Lyra, you’ve seen Ditsy Doo?” “N’uh sorry Dash, uh which one’s Ditsy again?” “Ah wonder.” Dash gave Applejack a sharp kick as she continued. “You know Ditsy Doo…? Derpy…” “Oh yeah… Derps! Why not say so Dash…? Like no, haven’t seen her in a while been here with Bonnie all day” “Ouch…” Lyra flinched as Bon-Bon flicked her ear with her hoof. “Stop calling me that.” Bon-Bon sniffed with what looked like a real tear threatening to fall. Lyra smiled apologetically, but her expression seemed so distant her eyes fuzzy. Applejack motioned to Dash it was time to leave as a voice behind them piped up. “Uh… Sorry did you say you were looking for Dixie Doo?” The stallion behind the book now peering over asked. “Uh no… A mare named Ditsy Doo, she’s grey, with a blonde mane… She’s a Pegasus who delivers the mail.” “Really…?” He blinked deep in thought. “Nah couldn’t be…” And with that he disappeared behind his book again. Confused and with a lot of places still to check, Dash and Applejack bade farewell to Lyra and Bon-Bon and moved on. “Uh Dash.” Applejack asked, Dash flying a little off the ground next to her replied. “Yeah...” “How’d you know those two so well? They were pretty happy to see you, especially Lyra? You don’t you know...” “What?” Dash asked panicking slightly… “Uh you know... Herbs…” Dash breathed out in relief. “Certainly not… I’m training to be a Wonderbolt remember.” Dash was clearly upset at the implication. “OK, sorry ah should’ve known better...” Dash flapped her wings slightly annoyed. “Well how then?” “I met Lyra at one of Pinkie’s parties for new ponies in town she was a bit partied out, (stoned most probably Applejack thought) so I helped her home, that’s how I met Bon-Bon. “So they’re room mates huh, they live above the cafe then?” Dash blushed… “Not room mates... But they do share a room…” It was Applejack’s turn to blush. “Seriously those two are…?” “Uh yeah…” Dash glanced away,. “Didn’t you notice, the lack of customers they had?” Applejack nodded. “Well at first lots of ponies went there, but after a week or so some pony started spreading rumors saying they were filly foolers and he’d seen them kiss, then Lyra and Bon-Bon admitted it and came out, and... Things haven’t gone that well recently.” “That ain’t right.” Applejack, a measure of uncertainty in her voice looked away from her friend as she continued. “Sooo... you’re not bothered huh Dash?” Dash while flying alongside didn’t look at her but replied. “Princess Celestia said ponies could be what ever they want so long as it doesn’t hurt any pony.” Had Applejack been looking she would have seen the mare go from cyan to a deep red in the cheeks. Applejack was a little surprised at how Rainbow had replied but a sharp stone on the road reminded her they had a long way to go if they were to find their friend, as she quickened the pace something was bothered her. “Uh Dash, is Lyra OK?” “Ah mean did she seem a little funny to you, ah mean it don’t seem like they... were doing that well… Together…” Applejack couldn’t help but frown as she said the last part due mostly to her lack of understanding. Dash looked up, then away. “Lyra’s been, well not good lately.” “Is it because she’s been overdoing it with the herbs right?” Applejack asked with a little disapproval sneaking into her tone. “That’s what every other pony thinks, but...” “Go on…” “I told you, Bon-Bon’s aunt passed away right…?” “Yeah…?” “Lyra was alone with her when it happened, Bon-Bon told me a neighbor found Lyra in a corner of the front room, freaking out, screaming and stuff and covered in scratches.” “Wow Dash, what happened?” “Well the doctor reckoned Lyra just flipped due to the stress of seeing the body, since then she’s been having episodes more and more lately but its difficult to get her to talk about it, she gets really spacey and upset if you mention it...” “And that’s why she was like she was today?” Dash nodded. “That poor mare...” Applejack felt guilty about judging Lyra’s state so harshly. “The reason she gets so wasted Bon-Bon told me is because she gets waking nightmares at random in the day time and at night she wakes up screaming. Last week, she freaked out big time, cleared the shop” Dash finished and by her demeanor Applejack figured it was best to leave it. “So you’ve been helping Bon-Bon look out for her yeah?” “Uh yeah a little...” “You’re a true friend Rainbow.” Again back in Canterlot… Luna sighed, a few moments passed, and then she sighed again, it was late afternoon and Luna was waiting in the courtyard of the castle. “Stupid sister of mine…” Luna had encountered an intruder, an intruder who had broken into the library and done something to her to make her relive her darkest memories from a time best forgotten and then she’d passed out. Luna had after regaining her senses and composure run to and told Celestia all about it! Celestia’s reaction was a little underwhelming, in fact when describing the villain to her Celestia remarked, “My dear sweet sister, did he have any distinguishing features?” Luna paused, “Uh no...” “Did you see his cutie mark?” “No…” “So we’re looking for a brown stallion who was possibly stealing books when our chief librarian says all are accounted for.” Pause. “And after searching the castle and its grounds, our guards found nothing suspicious or out the ordinary?” “But big sister… I saw him, he be-spelled me!” “Oh Luna, don’t you think you may have nodded off reading one of your romance stories again?” Celestia yawned hiding a smirk. “No! I didn’t dream it, why won’t you believe me! A-And I certainly haven’t read any of that rubbish you keep leaving on my bed side table!” Luna blushed as she remembered the trashy romance novels that Celestia thought might encourage her to try dating again, however the first she had tried to read called ‘Fifty Shades of Horsehair’ (a favorite of Celestias) convinced her that ponies these days were a lot more relaxed about such things than she remembered… …Not to mention a lot more ’experimental’ and far more risqué, but that also her sister had some very dark tastes... Luna’s voice was slowly getting higher pitched she continued to push her sister to do something. Celestia who still was feeling a little less than virtuous after the previous night softened her approach slightly... “Well sister, what do you plan on doing about it?” Luna blinked, “But I, I asked for your help?” “Busy…” Luna looked around them; it was quiet as a mouse so at first she felt angry, then sad, then confused, and as Celestia began tapping her hoof Luna screwed up her courage and in her most annoyed voice stamped her hoof on the floor making her sister flinch. “I’m going outside the castle to look for him myself.” “Capital idea sister, good luck.” Luna blinked again. “Aren’t you going to stop me?” “Nope…” “But ‘Tia…” Luna whimpered. “What’s wrong?” “I haven’t been out on my own yet.” Luna said this in a very small voice. “Oh very well, wait in the courtyard, I’ll send some of my guards to accompany you.” “But I have my own guards Tia.” Luna whined referring to the two Pegasus guards Celestia had begrudgingly let Luna outfit with her own black bat style embossed armour and royal crests. “No! And you can’t take your chariot either or mine for that matter.” “But… ‘Tia!” “No buts, you’ll scare our subjects.” Luna huffed “Fine...” “Oh and do have them back by ten when their shift ends, there isn’t enough in the royal budget to cover overtime...” “Only because you drank most of it I’ll bet.” Luna muttered this part but adopted an air of innocence when Celestia narrowed her eyes. “What was that dear Luna?” “Nothing…” “And don’t forget the moon.” She called to the angry Luna who was now heading to the door. Luna was furious as she stomped away; she turned at the door and shouted, “I will prove he exists, just you wait! And do something about your sun its melting the statues out there!!!” And with that she left for the courtyard, Celestia’s laughter following her out of the room. As she cradled her throbbing head again Celestia chuckled at what she thought was her sister’s imagination, on the other hoof however getting out and about would do Luna some good she reasoned, while she wondered if having another drink would help her hangover. After a little longer waiting in the courtyard two of Celestia’s guards turned up, Luna didn’t know their names but she didn’t have time for the niceties. “We are going to find the intruder who assaulted me!” “Uh, where do you think he is?” One of pair asked. The other guard nudged him with his hoof. “I mean... where shall we start your highness?” Luna shuffled uneasily since one thing was still bothering her, the librarian had said that there were no books missing, but why risk breaking into the castle? Especially since the entire place was stuffed to the rafters with guards, her and her sister of course. Surely a thief would have taken something? A complete nut might have burned the palace down, but risking it all just for books? No sane pony would… …Except maybe Twilight Sparkle Celestia’s darling student she thought. Luna could understand it though, she would have sold her soul (for the second time) for just one book on the moon, but it didn’t seem right unless in the direst of circumstances… Maybe he’d been a reporter? Or maybe one of those pap...paper...paparazzi? Celestia had warned her about ponies wanting nothing but gossip and scandal to read, apparently they would pay others to go to great lengths to get it, Celestia had said they were the lowliest of all her subjects and not worth scuffing her royal hooves on. (Although from what Luna had overheard some the maids saying, it sounded like Celestia had done just that on several occasions, not to mention the large number of pony statues in the castle grounds that were suspiciously holding cameras.) It was then Luna realized the guards were just stood silently watching and waiting as she was thinking. Turning away from them Luna screwed up her eyes and concentrated. What to do? What would Celestia do? Then Luna remembered that was the reason she was out here. Damn it she thought, it wasn’t that long ago she had returned from the moon, and she still didn’t fully understand the new world she now lived in. She needed some ponies help, but who could… Then it hit her! She could ask Twilight! Celestia’s favorite student! The ringleader of those who had wielded the elements and freed her from Nightmare moon! …Who she hadn’t spoken to since that night... Luna’s insecurities resurfaced... “Uh, your majesty...?” One of the guards inquired nervously as the princess remained silent in her thoughts. “We’re going to Ponyville.” “Now…?” “Yes now!!!” Luna replied ignoring the less than acceptable way she kept being spoken to by the pair, her mind made up she headed for the castle gates with the guards falling into step behind her. Part Three: Luna Chase.Part Three: Luna Chase. Twilight Sparkle sat alone in her tree house/library home reading quietly. Her baby dragon assistant Spike was over at her friend Rarity’s house helping the beautiful mare fulfill a large order for her fashion boutique. It was nearly five the clock on the table said, so Twilight began to think about closing up the library/house she worked/lived in, putting her bookmark in and closing her book the purple unicorn heard the sound of the library’s front door opening and sighed. “Typical.” Turning to see who it was Twilight was relieved to see her friends Applejack and Rainbow Dash. ‘At least those two won’t be here for books’ she thought, packing her librarians book stamper away in a draw. “Hey girls, can I help?” Dash and Applejack looked frazzled, Applejack responded first. “Hi Twilight, you haven’t seen Ditsy have you?” “Ditsy Doo? No I haven’t, are you waiting for a delivery too? You know she’s probably ended up flying somewhere tropical again…” Twilight eyed the assortment of coconuts, beads, strange idols and a grass skirt near the door that Ditsy had given her as way of apologizing for delayed deliveries. Applejack and Dash who trusted Twilight to be the last pony to gossip explained the events preceding their arrival at the library. “Oh my… That’s not like her at all, wait you say you checked everywhere?” “Yeah…” Dash replied. “We’ve been all over town.” Applejack stated. “Did you go to her house?” ... ... ... “You didn’t go to her house?!” ... ... ... As the two now left the library somewhat sheepishly with promises to tell Twilight what, if anything they found out, begged her not to mention it to anyone. Twilight hid her concern bid them farewell and as she closed the door she put the open/closed sign to closed. She was wondering if maybe she should have gone with them when a knock came at the door. ‘Ooohh, if they’ve forgotten where she lives’ Twilight thought, turning back she opened the door. “Hello” Twilight looked at the unfamiliar pony in front of her. “Um hi…?” “Can I come in?” “What for…?” “Because it’s a library…?” The stallion looked a little confused as he continued. “This is a library yes?” Pointing a hoof at the sign outside the tree he gave her a big grin like a foal. “Umm it’s a little late, I’m closing…” He gave her the most disarming smile. “I promise I’ll be quick.” Now he was giving Twilight puppy dog eyes. “Do you want a particular book maybe?” Twilight asked hoping to get rid of this stallion fast. “Mythical beast’s myths and legends volume two...” The stallion stood giving Twilight a hopeful look. “Uh, well I think we might...” “Great!” The stallion slid past Twilight and a made a beeline for the shelves. “Hey... No... Wait...” Twilight was unsure what to. “Hey that’s science fiction.” “Oh, OK…” The stallion replied switching shelves. “That’s gardening…” The stallion stopped. “Why would you have gardening next to sci-fi?” “I don’t organize the books.” Twilight blushed. “But you’re the librarian?” He stood giving her a quizzical look. “Aren’t you?” “Well yes but my assistant usually....” She trailed off. The stallion gave her a sympathetic look that made her feel both relieved and the world’s silliest filly. “Uh I think... Maybe over there…” She pointed her hoof towards the bookshelf in the far corner of the room partially hidden by a giant potted plant. Twilight vaguely remembered seeing a book called Draconicus on a shelf over there. “Thanks.” The stallion trotted over and began scanning the shelves. “You’re welcome…?” Twilight replied still puzzled, gaining no response in return except a grunt. Moving to a more than reasonable distance Twilight eyed the stallion with a slight frown. She silently wished he’d find the book and leave, but wait…! She didn’t know him! Was he even a member? Did he have any intention of returning the book? Twilight began to tense up and then she realized, if he wasn’t a member then he’d have to register and that would take time! Her one night this week she was alone to relax and some stranger turns up out of the blue, Twilight remembered Applejack and Dash ‘Oh I hope they’re having better luck than me’ she wondered. Twilight hopes weren’t too far from the mark, Applejack and Dash had gotten to Ditsy’s house and found the lights on through the curtains. ‘Odd’ Applejack thought, she looked at the sky it was late but the sun was only just beginning to descend slowly. Dash loudly and impatiently banged on the door. “Ditsy you there…?” “Hey.” Applejack shushed Dash. “You’ll scare her again.” Dash looked apologetically at her and it was then AJ noticed she looked exhausted. Without the constant naps Dash usually had she looked awful after a day traipsing around Ponyville. Knocking softer this time Dash called again. “Ditsy please let us in; we just want to know you’re OK.” “We got muffins.” “We haven’t got muffins.” Applejack hissed. “I know, but it might work...” “Fine but you tell her that you lied, I’m innocent.” Dash sniggered knowing full well who had eaten most of the muffins they’d bought in search of Ditsy, and then complained because of the low standard of apple used in the apple muffins. After a few more minutes of knocking, they were relieved to hear the sound of hooves on wood behind the door giving each other a look that said ‘finally’. They were surprised when as the door opened it revealed a pony that nervously squeaked. “Yes...?” Dash recognised the orange mane immediately. “Oh hi Carrot Top.” “Oh Dash... it’s you, can I help you?” Fear was evident in her voice. Both Applejack and Dash exchanged worried looks. “Uh is Ditsy here?” “Ditsy… No she’s not here, sorry…” “Have you seen her at all today?” “Only this morning...” Carrot Top trailed off her eyes unfocused, she momentarily glanced back indoors as if looking for something, as she did her mane shifted slightly and Applejack noticed a long but shallow scratch partially obscured. “Is everything ok? You seem nervous, do you mind if we come in?” Applejack asked this hoping she could get a better look under Carrot Top’s mane. “What, no I’m fine.” The scared pony stammered a little before regaining her composure. “I’ll tell Ditsy you came by.” With that she disappeared as the door closed. Applejack turned to Dash. “Ah’m starting to get worried, something just ain’t right.” “You and me both” Dash replied. As the pair walked away, Applejack piped up. “Uh Dash, why did Carrot Top answer Ditsy’s door?” Dash blinked. “Its Carrot Top’s house, Ditsy just lives there.” “Oh.” Applejack frowned then blushed. Dash saw Applejack’s slightly embarrassed expression. “Just housemates...” Dash remembered their previous discussion earlier about Lyra and Bon Bon. “OK.” Applejack said it quickly turning her head so Dash wouldn’t see her blushing harder which of course meant she missed Dash also turn away blushing. “So… What now?” Dash asked awkwardly as she focused once again on the task in hoof. “Uh, back to Twilight ah s’pose, she’ll know what to do.” Dash nodded and turned with her friend back towards the library. Twilight looked at the clock, it was nearly seven o’clock the night had fallen and she was making yet another cup of tea for the strange pony that still hadn’t left yet. The pony had somewhat mysteriously managed to convince her despite her better judgement to allow him to read the section of the book that he was after and eventually found under the leg of the dining table. Twilight wasn’t going to allow him to leave with it since he claimed he had membership but didn’t have his card on him, but only after he waved a blank piece of paper in front of her and then seemed confused when she just blankly stared at him. She was confused, he spoke with such authority but when questioned he was nonchalantly evasive and somehow she had ended up telling him a shortened version of her own life story! Figuring he’d finish sooner or later and abandoning all hope of a relaxing bubble bath Twilight jumped as the sound of knocking came from the front door. Looking over at her somewhat unwelcome guest who hadn’t reacted to the door Twilight hoped it was Spike, or Applejack and Dash with news of Ditsy. Hurrying to the door Twilight’s leg buckled with shock as she opened it. There framed in the light of the doorway was... “Princess Luna!!!” Twilight stammered using her position on the floor to half rise, half bow. “P-please Miss Sparkle don’t, I mean it’s not necessary r-really.” Luna wasn’t happy when everyone bowed to her it made her feel unapproachable. “I’m sorry to disturb you it’s just that I need your help...” CRASH!!! Both Twilight and Luna jumped as the sound of breaking pottery resounded through the library. As Twilight turned to the sound, Luna poked her head through the door to see for herself, the stallion gave them a cheeky grin and a wave. He looked from the broken pot that had fallen from the window sill he was halfway out of to the two ponies who were staring back at him, mostly the one peering through the door though. “Um, hello again...” He spluttered around the book in his mouth. “…My book!!!” “…YOU!!!” Luna screamed deafening Twilight who had cried out first. “…GUARDS!!!” “Oh I don’t think we need bother…“ The stallion managed to say before the royal guards quickly descended on him as he struggled to get out the small window. Moments later... “WHO ARE YOU…?” Luna demanded stamping a hoof. The stallion sat between the two guards in the middle of the library floor, Twilight was just off to the side having just caught up with the situation in hand thanks to Princess Luna, who was interrupted by a few mild half hearted protests from the anonymous stallion. The stallion sat there, looked around, took a deep breath and said. “I’m just a traveler, well a passer by if you like.” He smiled innocently at Luna. She bristled. “What’s your name?” This time one of the guards forcefully nudged the prisoner. “Ohhh sorry didn’t I say?” A foal like grin on his face... Luna blinked, she paused and then recovered. “HOW DARE YOU, I AM A PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA AND YOU WILL TELL ME YOUR NAME!!!” “No.” Luna faltered, she wasn’t good with ponies at the best of times but this one just unnerved her, it wasn’t that she was scared of him, he just didn’t stop smiling and she watched him she couldn’t help but feel like she trusted him? She shook her head. “Why not…?” She asked rather less forcibly. “You didn’t say the magic word.” Now if Luna still had the powers of Nightmare Moon there was no doubt in Twilight’s mind Luna would have shot him into the sun. “Do you think me a mere filly? You dare mock me in such a way!!!” Luna was vibrating with power now as the air crackled with energy. “Well… What’s the magic word?” He asked expectantly waiting for her to say the word. The wind deserted Luna’s sails as Twilights and the guards jaws dropped. For a second Luna looked as if she’d cry, then lowering her head a little she gave in. “Please?” “Nope not it… Sorry.” “W...W...” And that was all that Luna could manage dumbstruck at his daring. The guards looked at the princess unsure of whether or not they could start pummeling when Twilight stepped forward and in her most irritated voice she asked. “Then what is it...” The stallion smiled before rearing up and shouting! “It’s… ALON – SY” *STAMP* *SHOVE* As one guard fell sideways and the other cried out as his hoof went numb, the stallion sprang for the still open door past a shocked Luna and almost made it. “Hey Twilight” why is the door wide open?” *CRASH!!!* Twilight’s assistant Spike was bowled over as he was hit head on by the fleeing stallion both going head over hooves into a pile outside the door. Luna’s guards were still recovering their wits as the Princess with Twilight in tow rushed outside. The stallion was barely to his feet when Luna tip of her unicorn horn glowing with magic shouted. “Stop right there in the name of...” She paused. “In the name of my sister, I command you to stop.” Amidst the momentary silence as the stallion weighed his options the most horrifying screaming accompanied by shouts of anger rent the air, coming as it seemed from down the street. Luna panicked as Twilight froze; Twilight instinctively knew that voice shouting… No it couldn’t... That voice belonged to... Frightened Twilight shouted into the night. “…RAINBOW DASH!!! I’M COMING!!!” The stallion began to run in the direction of the screams, Twilight although frightened followed him without hesitation all the while calling her friends name. As Luna’s guards appeared beside her she too took off towards the noise, her heart thumping she ran like never before… Barely moments had passed as those running reached the source of the screams in the mouth of an alleyway between two of Ponyville’s shops, in the ally inadequately lit by street lamps stood Rainbow Dash. The stallion skidded to a halt and surveyed the scene, Twilight mere seconds behind didn’t stop she ran straight to Dash who as she got closer staggered and fell with a deep wound across her chest and what looked like claw marks down her back. Twilight was speechless as she nuzzled the side of the now unconscious Dash, as she did though out the corner of her eye she saw another prone form, she gave a strangled sob as she saw Applejack laying a few feet away. Despite her own fear Luna approached the scene and after a moment’s hesitation at the horror of it all she ran to Twilight who now stood sobbing uncontrollably between her fallen friends with no clue what to do. As Luna reached her side Twilight looked up and through the tears asked “What do... …I do?” She cried out, “Save them, please Princess Luna I know you can!” Luna backed away looking around she saw her guards close by one was scanning the surrounding area for the culprit, the other was watching the strange stallion. Luna focused on the stallion; he had a strange metallic object between his teeth the end of which was giving off a bright blue light and a shrill sound that grew stronger or faded as he waved it in different directions. “Princess Please....” Twilights strangled sobbing brought Luna’s thoughts back to the two injured ponies. “I-I can’t...” “I know you can Princess, please help them!!!” Twilight’s voice cracked as she screamed the last part. Luna was frozen, Celestia had warned her not to play Goddess, saving ponies or choosing which ponies to save was dangerous ground not to be trifled with and as Celestia had said, you can’t save them all. Luna shook her head and tried to explain this to Twilight but she couldn’t, the purple mare just continued to plead with her. Luna remembered what these ponies had risked against nightmare moon, if it hadn’t been for them... She stamped her hoof, consequences be damned she thought. Summoning all her power and focusing all of her talent and concentration Luna cast the most complicated of healing spells she knew. The moon princess, Luna, sister to Celestia and maiden of the night spread her wings wide and the world around the group became nothing but light. The still forms of Dash and Applejack floated as if on strings off the ground, their bodies began to slowly repair, in mere moments Luna’s confidence increased. Their wounds sealed themselves as newly growing hair covered the rapidly fading scars… Almost as quickly as it began the light dissipated as Dash and Applejack once more lay on the ground. Twilight was speechless, slowly she leaned over and poked each of her friends with a hoof; both twitched and were breathing as if asleep. “Thank Celestia…” Twilight cheered, her tears still flowing but in a happier sense. Remembering the Princess beside her Twilight looked up and registering the dreamy yet slightly crestfallen look on Luna’s face, she corrected herself. “I meant... Thank Luna…” Cringing slightly she waited for Luna’s response which didn’t come. Luna had because of her power temporarily linked to her sister, although Luna could tell Celestia didn’t exactly disapprove of saving the two she could still sense that the impending lecture upon her return to the castle would be lengthy. Looking down at the relief on Twilight’s face said it all, as far as Luna was concerned her sister could stuff the lecture, to the sun with her and her rules she thought. All this commotion had brought a crowd of onlookers onto the streets and they had gathered at the entrance of the alleyway. Luna’s guards had moved to said entrance and were blocking it as only they knew how. Luna looked around as she remembered the strange stallion now left unguarded by the guards; she then saw the tail end of said stallion disappear around the other much darker end of the alleyway. “No… Not after all this… He’s not getting away this time!” Luna took off literally and sped towards the alleyway’s end, as she turned the corner she saw the stallion disappear around yet another corner not too far away. Without hesitation she followed but then cautiously slowed down as she got too near… Maybe following him secretly would yield answers? She hoped so as followed him with exaggerated care, studying him from a distance as he followed the strange sounds emitted by the metallic tube in his mouth. Then it hit her! For the first time she was alone! Outside the castle! Sure she’d been alone on the moon for a millennia, but she had nothing to fear up there, now she was all alone in the dark following a crazy stallion with whatever attacked those ponies running loose somewhere… She realized right away she was afraid… Part Four: An Unusual Introduction and a Strange Passer-by.Part Four: An Unusual Introduction and a Strange Passer-by. Twilight checked yet again the still sleeping forms of her friends Applejack and Dash as she adjusted the quilt over them as they lay next to each other in her bed. The royal guards Biggs and Wedge as Twilight had found out they were called who had accompanied Luna were downstairs having carried the two mares to the library after they had sent home the mob of worried ponies that had gathered outside the alleyway. That however was forgotten as she could hear them argue about who was supposed to have been watching Luna, reaching the living room her usual tactful demeanor and calming influence disappeared and she yelled loudly at both of them. “YOU BOTH SCREWED UP OK! ACCEPT IT!” “The Princess Luna’s who knows where… A monster or a thing or something is hurting ponies, oh and I almost forgot… Some loony pony is out there with her and all you can do is argue?!” Biggs and Wedge exchanged embarrassed looks and hung their heads, ‘sorry’ they murmured in unison. “Better.” A still seething Twilight tried to calm herself as her thoughts sifted the current events. Mayor Mare of Ponyville had sent a message through Spike immediately to Princess Celestia and had left Twilight to care for her friends while she organized the inhabitants of Ponyville to stay indoors and hopefully prevent anymore attacks from whatever was out there. Twilight glanced out the window, all of Ponyville had their lights on burning bright and despite the memory of the night’s terror for a brief moment it looked so beautiful against Luna’s night sky. “Oh Luna…” Twilight breathed. “Please be safe.” Luna was sort of safe… She was sat dejectedly on her haunches against a moldy log inside a small clearing and staring at the night sky, Shivering with anger she cursed her luck. While following that bizarre Stallion Luna had stumbled and twisted her hoof, to make matters worse she had done this shortly after following her quarry into the Everfree forest outside of town. Luna tried again to heal her hoof but in saving the two ponies earlier she’d used far too much power and now couldn’t focus because of her tiredness and the fact she hadn’t eaten since breakfast as her stomach was now insistently reminding her of. *RUSTLE* ... *CREAK* Luna froze as the sound of disturbed leaves and creaking wood came from behind her. Terrified, she slowly turned... And nothing was there... Confused she began to curse her imagination when the sounds happened again, this time clearly behind her but definitely sounding like they came from above her… Tilting her head slowly up she stared into the branches of the tree behind her, as a pair of golden eyes stared back. “EEEEEYAH…” Luna screamed tumbling forwards as she tripped in her haste and fell in a heap on the grass and leaves of the forest floor. Quickly and painfully she scrambled to her hooves and panicking looked again at the branch but the eyes hadn’t moved, or had they? Through the shock and confusion she looked harder. The eyes were indeed still there, but didn’t seem to be... No they were definitely pointing in different directions? “Goodbye…” A weak voice stammered as the eyes slowly shifted direction. Luna’s mind went off in several different directions as the eyes continued to sort of watch her. When her train of thought returned to the station, all she could muster was... “D-don’t you mean hello?” “Uh no... No I mean y… I meant hello…” “Are you planning to try to attack me by any chance?” Luna trembled slightly as she asked. “N-no, no reason to, why afraid me...?” Luna’s mind once again hit a stumbling block at the reply, after giving it a moment’s thought she inquired hopefully. “Did you mean, you have no reason to and why am I so afraid?” Luna held her breath. “Y-Yes...” Luna relaxed just slightly. “Um, could you come down so I can see you?” Luna braced herself for whatever might emerge, seconds ticked by before the sound of movement and then… *CRASH* Whatever had been in the tree had fallen out into a bush directly below. Luna tried to stay calm as a shape climbed awkwardly from the bush. After a fair bit of commotion and completely random words and curses, the entity behind the eyes finally stood in the clearing before the princess. The relief washed through Luna’s body as she realized it was just a young Pegasus mare albeit a rather disheveled and oddly behaved one. The mare who had a blonde mane and grey coat shuffled nervously scuffing the ground with a hoof. “Misunderstanding apologies accept…” She gave Luna a sorrowful look as Luna unpicked this in her mind. “O-of course…” She paused noting the timid nod of the grey mare, one eye looked straight at her the other was pointing somewhere off to the left, Luna felt a migraine fast approaching. “So, uh... what’s your name?” The grey mare hesitated. “I’m Luna, nice to meet you...?” A pause, a shuffle, then... “Ditsy…” “…Nice to meet you Ditsy.” The following conversation was complicated somewhat by the young mares inability to string together coherent sentences Luna thought. Upon inspection the mare’s outward appearance seemed broken and fearful, although the eyes seemed to lend a comical slant to the poor mare and Luna tried ‘royally’ hard to not break out in nervous laughter despite the ludicrous set of events beforehand. After explaining she’d been following a pony after the attack on Twilight’s friends into the forest but had lost him, Luna waited patiently for Ditsy to respond. After a momentary pause to re-align her eyes, Ditsy realised the strange looking pony had said Twilight’s friends! Stammering profusely she responded. “Who? Twilights hurt friends?” Luna cocked her head, her eye twitched as her tired mind caught up. “Uh, it was Applejack and... Rainbow Dash...” The grey mare looked crushed. “Do... Do you know them?” The now crying grey mare nodded, Luna quickly continued… “But as I said, they’ll be fine I promise! I healed them myself!” Ditsy nodded again, bolstered by the confidence in the strange mare’s voice. Ditsy concentrated harder on her eyes, as she successfully managed to get them dead center she studied the pony in front of her. Luna shifted uneasily as both the mare’s eyes suddenly focused straight at her, for a moment she wondered if she should say something before.... “You not white, only pony familiar know white.” Luna grasped for straws until she saw Ditsy’s eyes flicker between her horn and her wings, well that and about a million other things as they began moving around again. “The only allicorn you know is Celestia?” Ditsy nodded. “Well… I am Celestia’s younger sister Luna!” Celestia hated her using the ‘younger’ part and so Luna had made a point of it from then on. A blank look a moment’s thought and an ‘um’ from Ditsy told Luna she had some P.R to arrange back at the castle. “Princess of the moon…? Princess Luna?” Nothing... Luna sighed. “I used to be nightmare moon?” Yep Bull’s-eye Luna thought as she trotted unsteadily back to the base of the tree the mare had first fallen out of. “You don’t need to be afraid; I won’t hurt you...? Please come back down…” “Not for Muffins!!!” In the morning back in Ponyville… After a night of fear and speculation for the ponies of Ponyville they were soon relieved as they saw Celestia’s sun rising in the sky. Celestia after arriving in Ponyville had immediately set about calming its terrified inhabitants while taking stock of the situation. Biggs and Wedge the two royal guards assigned to Luna however had suffered Celestia’s wrath, as they stood outside the library’s front door they were under no illusion thanks to Celestia’s vocal tirade what was in store for them. If something happened to Princess Luna their future lay either on the moon or as part of the palace gardens decorations due to Celestia’s seldom referred to in public habit of turning those who displeased her to stone. She had also added that even if Luna returned unscathed the consequences would still be dire dropping a comment about posting them to some inhospitable corner of Equestria. The usually steadfast guards secretly wished a quick doom and pondered if they would get a chance to pose before becoming ornaments or if they would at least be able to take a pack of cards to the moon. Inside the library Celestia paced back and forth muttering to herself, it had taken a while to assimilate Twilight’s recollection of events and they worried her. Luna was a Goddess after all Celestia reasoned, alright a Goddess who was actually as pure and innocent as they were supposed to be, despite her past… This thought niggled Celestia, Luna hadn’t been back long and it was if she had been reborn, she had knowledge of the times before nightmare moon, but she was little more than a filly back then... Out there in the real world Luna had proved useless at adapting to modern conventions and Celestia was worried, Luna had been gone all night and Twilight’s description of the stallion Luna had been chasing significantly worried the Princess, an hour glass cutie mark Twilight had said... Celestia tried not to think of what his reappearance could mean, or why Twilight’s description clashed with her memories of that troublesome stallion, had he changed again she wondered…? “Princess…” A deep voice intoned her title. Celestia turned to the Pegasus royal guard that had been waiting patiently as she paced. “Yes Aquilinus…” “You’re wearing out the floor Marm…” Celestia blinked. “Oh- yes, I suppose…” “Um… Aquilinus?” “Yes Marm.” “How long have I been pacing?” “Three hours Marm.” “Oh…” Celestia blushed, it wasn’t the slightly concerned eyes of her guard watching her or his slow deliberate tone which sounded almost parental it was just that Aquilinus always treated her respectfully but firmly, there wasn’t another pony in Equestria who dared to point out when she was being irrational or was acting improperly. She gave him a warm smile. “Thank you Aquilinus.” “Marm…” Celestia disembarking her train of thought and looking for a distraction looked around for her prized pupil Twilight. “In the kitchen Marm, she’s been in there the whole time.” “Thanks…” Celestia headed to the kitchen door at the back of the library, making a mental note not to forget to send Aquilinus an extra something on his coming birthday. Twilight was used to staying up all night reading, being up all the night worrying about Dash and Applejack not to mention Luna and whatever else was out there had short circuited the purple unicorn and so she was bustling round the kitchen in a daze. “Twilight dear…” Celestia called as she entered, “Princess Celestia! Is there any news…?” The young unicorn asked. “Not yet, the search parties I sent still haven’t returned…” “W-well no news is good news right?” Twilight responded hopefully. “Of course…” Celestia said silently thanking her astute if a little naive student. Celestia used the momentary pause following this to look at her surroundings, a homely kitchen if she ever saw one, but as she glanced around she realised the mess it was in. “Ah, Twilight… Is everything OK?” “Huh…” Twilight paused, as she came back to reality she immediately tried to explain the kitchen and why it looked as if a storm had passed through. “I was cooking breakfast for every pony, me Applejack and Dash…” *Pause* “And you, the guards…” She trailed off before finishing lamely. “I’m not a good cook though… I had to start again…” Another pause followed as she added. “A couple of times...” Celestia decided not to rub salt in the wound by pointing out the burnt toast or the lumpy looking soup arranged haphazardly on tea trays or the pile of rather sloppy looking pancakes threatening to ooze off the plates nearby. “Quite a mix of... Things…” Twilight blushed. “I didn’t know what everyone would like.” “So you cooked what you had right.” The Princess asked in what she thought was a positive tone. Twilight embarrassed by her disastrous efforts could only nod. “You’re a kind pony Twilight; at least you showed your willingness to try.” Twilight blushed again at the obvious attempt to praise her effort if not the results. “Is something burning?” “Oh my… The hay fries!!!” Twilight panicked again rushing to the oven hurriedly. ‘Fries, pancakes, toast and soup’ Celestia wondered if instead of learning about friendship Twilight should have attended cooking classes. As Twilight was putting the fries to rest in the bin and Celestia despite Twilights objections began to clean the kitchen the first of the sleeping mares upstairs awoke. During the confusion of the previous night’s events Twilight had forgotten to close her bedroom curtains, it was now as the morning sun shone through said window onto the face of Applejack that it’s gentle rays woke her. Not fully conscious and her mind not yet able to function, Applejack rolled over to her other side to escape the painfully bright sunshine screwing her eyes shut as she did. After a few seconds Applejack realized something wasn’t right, shifting slightly something tickled her nose. Quickly she realized she could hear soft breathing, and as she thought about it this didn’t feel like her bed? Cautiously she opened an eye, quickly shutting it again Applejack froze, her heartbeat beginning to reach dangerous levels. Trying to slow her now rapid breathing Applejack opened both eyes this time and focused on what was tickling her nose. The multi colored mane was spread right across Dash’s pillow across onto Applejack’s. Dash!!! Applejack panicked as she tried to shuffle out of the bed, this however caused Dash to moan softly and turn over. Before she could stop her Dash had rolled over and on coming in contact with the startled mare she had instinctively snuggled closer to the warmth wrapping herself around the now hyperventilating farm pony from tip to tail. ‘How..?’ Applejack thought back as she desperately tried to remember what had happened before well... This…? Looking around she tried to remember but then it struck her, this was not her bed or Rainbows, not her place or Dashes for that matter, where in the hay had she ended up? Then the sleepover she’d had with Twilight and Rarity a while ago surfaced in her mind. Oh no, this was Twilight’s room and her bed!!! As if on cue Twilight backed through the bedroom door using her magic to levitate what looked like a breakfast tray in front of her. Applejack was frozen in time; she was on her side in a different bed with a different pony now sprawled all over her and the beds owner was bringing in breakfast! Applejack winced as she began to realize how uncomfortable much her body was feeling and that it was aching quite badly in places. Twilight a little startled by the scene before her expecting her charges to be still asleep, saw the pained expression on Applejack’s face and chided her quietly as she laid the tray on her bedside table on Applejacks side of the bed. “You shouldn’t move too much, not after last night.” Applejack tried desperately to relax her breathing after Twilight said that, but the heart beating alongside hers was a mite distracting. She tried again to remember as much of the previous night as she could but nothing came forth to aid her recollection. She paused, then in light of the still sleeping Dash whispered. “Uh Twilight, just what the hay happened last night, ah remember leaving Carrot Top’s place then asking Rainbow if she wanted to get a drink before we carried on searching for Ditzy...” Looking back down to the slumbering form laying out against her she turned a deep shade of red and as she glanced at Twilight’s unkempt hair and tired expression she drew several conclusions (all wrong) and as her imagination kicked in her mind promptly shutdown as its self preservation instinct cut in. Twilight watched as Applejack turned a variety of red shades while soundlessly opening and closing her mouth. Twilight innocent in such things didn’t understand Applejack’s expression and assumed she was reliving the night’s terrors. “It’s okay Applejack…” Twilight soothed as she reached a hoof towards Applejack to calm her, the farm pony flinched at the gesture and tried to climb from the bed and out the embrace Dash had her in. Twilight barely managed to say ‘be careful’ as Applejack clipped the waiting breakfast tray, without thinking she instinctively tried to grab at it only making matters worse as she lost her balance and slipped off the edge of the bed. It was Rainbow Dash who now woke up as the fluffy apple scented cloud she was sleeping on in her dream suddenly moved and pulled her with it. As Applejack landed on her back on the floor, her hind hooves still on the bed, Dash still half on the bed ended up face down with her chin on Applejack’s chest. Applejack craned her head forward as Dashes eyes went as wide as saucers at their predicament. “Uh, hi Sugacube…” *SPROING* *CRASH* The breakfast tray and its dubious contents were finally laid to rest along with Twilight’s alarm clock and bedside lamp as Dash’s wings unfolded involuntarily. “Is everything alright Twilight?” Celestia asked as she popped her head round the door. This was the last straw for Applejack as she fainted… In the Everfree... Deep in the Everfree forest Luna sneezed. Luna shook her head, it wasn’t fair, eventually she’d talked the mare Ditsy out of the tree, but that was only the beginning ... it had been a cold damp night. “Are you sure it’s this way?” Luna had lost count of just how many times they’d been past the tree she was now shivering miserably under. Ditsy was a wreck, she was too weak to fly, her memory was shot and her eyes hurt from crying about something she refused to talk about. The two stayed there for a while before they heard the sound of approaching hooves! Luna tried to hide but the stranger had appeared through the trees a few yards away and was going almost parallel to Luna. The Princess stood still hoping the figure in a cloak would pass them by, silently she turned to Ditsy to re-assure her... ...Where’d she go…? “Zecora!!!” Ditsy called as she used the last of her energy to reach the startled zebra. “Zecora!!!” Luna stumbled to Ditsy’s side as the stranger tossed back her hood and knelt beside Ditzy, a concerned look upon her face. “Oh child who flies astray, how did you end up this way…?” Luna listened to the strange sing song pronunciation of the zebra before her and pleaded. “Please help us…” The zebra looked up. “Of that child you can be sure, but how unusual to have dinner for four.” Later in Ponyville... Back in the town library, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were coming to terms with the actual events of last night after leaving Ditsy’s place. The two of them along with Twilight and Princess Celestia sat in the main room of the library; each had given their own perspective on what had transpired what they could remember that is… Now they were waiting as Aquilinus had gone to check in with the search parties. With every local pony indoors or searching for Luna, Celestia had ordered Biggs and Wedge to collect and return with the remaining Elements of Harmony. Celestia firmly believed that the combined Elements of Harmony would help overcome the evil that had appeared in Ponyville, and in the process return her beloved Luna to her... As Celestia continued to think happy thoughts Twilight was bewildered by the behaviour of her two friends; neither Dash nor Applejack had looked at or spoken to each other for nearly half an hour at this point. Twilight unaware of the reasons behind the unspoken tension between the two remained confused as she sat as close as dignity allowed to her mentor for reassurance, feeling useless and insignificant amongst all the strife... Normally she would have checked her books for an answer but something told her the book she needed had been stolen by that stallion, Twilight tried to figure out at which point he could have possibly have swiped it during the confusion…? Somewhere sat at a table… The stallion in question flipped through the pages of the book he’d ‘borrowed’ and together with the one he had ‘borrowed’ from Canterlot he pieced together the clues he’d gathered and came to only one conclusion… …The tea he was drinking tasted horrible! As he pulled a face he placed the cup down, then as an after thought said to no pony in particular ‘Alonsy’ and finished it in one giant gulp, if that was the most horrible thing that was going to happen this day then what the hay he thought. Besides he’d had worse earlier in that café… That mare knew her sweets and muffins but sod all about the art of tea he mused, thinking way back he thought of an old companion of his a young grey mare who could make a killer cuppa… …His reminiscing over he stared down at the page he had open, ‘Oh dear’ he thought. Part Five: A Doctor for Dinner.Part Five: A Doctor for Dinner. Luna began to warm to Zecora as between them they carried the limp form of Ditsy. Fortunately Zecora’s home wasn’t far and as they approached the door Luna felt safer already, after all Ditsy had run straight to the mare so she must trust this Zecora she reasoned. Barely had Zecora reached a hoof for the door when it opened inwards and a familiar face emerged. “Oh, hello… I Thought I heard something!” The brown earth stallion stood for a moment in surprise and then motioned them to enter... Luna had given up, she was cold tired scared and hungry, and soon she was sat next to Ditsy on the floor in Zecora’s front room. Across the room ‘that stallion’ was reading books from a large bookcase on the wall, even if she had the energy to ask she knew there was nothing she could do to force a straight answer. Zecora was stood off to the side, keeping busy as she prepared food and drinks, keeping an eye on Ditsy and occasionally giving a smile or nod towards the stallion when he surfaced for the next book or to Luna when she caught her eye. She treated the stallion like an old friend Luna noted, she watched over the grey mare wrapped in a blanket laid out on a pile of cushions, the signs of possible fever beginning to surface. At this point, Luna couldn’t help but gently fall asleep, gradually her tiredness overcame her and moving to lie down next to Ditsy she felt her mind drift away and her body succumb… Zecora watched as the two mares slept, Luna having unconsciously slipped a wing over Ditsy, the zebra smiled at this and turned towards the pile of books on the table. “Soon we feast, but you are yet to tell me how you plan to trap the beast…” Zecora’s eyes narrowed as she moved closer to better observe the reaction her only conscious guest. “Yes, well, missing a few things at the moment.” “Oh…?” The stallion stopped scanning the book he had open and looked for the first time worried. “I know what it is; I know where it is… Now if I can just figure out how to stop it.” Zecora frowned. “Tell me what manner of demon kind, can so worry a lord of time” Hesitating slightly he eventually answered as his eyes clouded slightly as if he were seeing it before him, he had encountered one before but pushing that memory away he ignored her comment temporarily. “Been traveling alone for a while…” “Thought I might visit a friend or two (looking at Zecora with a smile she returned) but as soon as I arrived something was wrong, bit of running around and Bob’s your uncle…” He grinned catching Zecora off guard. “So…?” “It’s a silmeragan” Zecora gasped. “You sit there like a fool when others may suffer the hands of a ghoul!” She shouted this in surprise as the Stallion flinched. The zebra was working up a terrible rage as she imagined the horror unleashed on her friends in Ponyville. “Before… How did you destroy the beast… …That you can say at least?” “Ah well I sort of kind of dropped it into a black hole.” Upon seeing Zecora’s stunned look he simply said… “Bit tricky to pull off…” “…Well unless you enjoy going hoof to hoof with a giant bitey clawy monster that can’t be sedated, poisoned or coerced…” He finished by waving his hooves in front of his face for a scary effect as Zecora failed to smile, she simply hung her head and asked… “So what now… When you know not how…?” Looking quietly down at the two sleeping mares he frowned, bit his lip and answered. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t for a while that Luna finally awoke, and when she did the previous day and night of exertion had taken its toll upon her as she struggled with stiff aching muscles to get to her hooves. As she stood she noticed Zecora was the opposite side of Ditsy and she was placing a tray of muffins next to her nose. “Miss Zecora… Is it?” “Yes…” “Muffins…?” “Her fever is already passing, those bowls...” Zecora waved a hoof at two small wooden bowls she had placed nearby earlier with a steaming green liquid almost like syrup in them. “They contain herbs to help soothe and replenish yourselves when you breathe them in.” Luna was overjoyed to see her companion did indeed appear slightly less ragged in her breathing and seemed more peaceful than before Luna had slept. Bowing deeply and respectfully Luna began. “Thank you Miss Zecora, my name is Princess Luna… I cannot thank you enough for your help.” The zebra merely smiled and retired to cooking her cooking. Luna awkwardly looked at the stallion who was still engrossed in Zecora’s books. ‘Sniff…’ “…Muffins!!!” Luna looked down to see Ditsy still asleep but moving, her legs made slow circular motions as if trotting and her nose inched towards the muffins as it sniffed the air. Amused Luna watched as finally the sleeping Ditsy homed in and scoffed down the first treat without batting an eyelid, her second was millimetres from its fate when the Stallion suddenly crossed the room and sat next to her. “C-can I help you?” Luna asked tentatively, angry but blushing at his close presence. The stallion looked down at Ditsy and smiled. “Old friend of the family... Me that is.” “Really…?” That was Luna’s somewhat skeptical reply. “Oh yeah, I knew her mother Dixie, we traveled together a long time.” He grinned at the memories. Seeing Luna’s somewhat filly like blush he paused. “Oi you, not like that...” “We hung out, as mates…” Another blush... “H-Hey… Mates, friends, you know buddies?” Luna nodded but still hid behind her fringe as she continued to blush. “So she’s not....” “No…” He stated firmly. “Grandmother…” “Huh?” Both Luna and the stallion looked down. Ditsy had exterminated the last muffin without mercy and rolled onto her front blinking, as she studied the stallion in front of her, her eyes moved down noticing his cutie mark her smile grew wider. “Sorry, you said Grandmother?” “Dixie Doo, Grandmother!” *pause* “Ditsy Doo… Me!!!” “Not her daughter” “Nope” “Oh…” He scratched the back of his head absently… “Old… …Old friend of the family then...” Luna was about to ask the first of many questions mostly about age when Ditsy spoke first. “She told me!” Ditsy concentrated; she had wanted this chance since a filly. “Nanna Doo told me bedtime stories, her adventures as a young mare, her travels with the Doctor!!!” The Doctor... Luna’s mind almost shutdown, she knew that name, she had met... No she hadn’t… She was certain she had never met the pony beside her? It was becoming hard to think her mind began to feel drowsy. “Princess Luna…?” Ditsy looked concerned, so much so her eyes were both fixed straight on Luna. “I’m okay… I think.” The moon princess felt herself slowly return to the speed of her surroundings. Ditsy focused an eye on each of the ponies next to her. The doctor didn’t look happy; in fact he was frowning at Luna who hung her head still frail from her adventures, she tried to sort her swimming thoughts and emotions into some semblance of order. Still worried, Ditsy asked the stallion, “Doctor…?” “Doctor what happened… You back now?” The doctor blinked and studied Ditsy, confusion across his face… “Pardon...?” “She said you can tell your story over dinner…” Zecora had returned. “Right ho then…” The doctor gave Luna a glance then followed Zecora to a table in a corner of the room laden with food. “Luna OK…?” Ditsy still concerned gently nudged the Princess with her muzzle. “Sit next to me?” Luna gave a weak smile and followed the now energized Pegasus. As the four sat to eat, Ditsy repeated her question but slightly improved although it took a lot of effort. “So why you not come back? Nanna waited, you said you’d return… Trip to Gallophrey then back.” The doctor finishing a chip had a far off look in his eyes… “I couldn’t, I just couldn’t.” He paused as he had another chip… “It’s just me now, can’t go back.” Ditsy’s expression drooped. “You not travel some pony together?” “No… …Just me...” He reached for another chip. “Just me and the old girl...” “Old girl…?” Luna asked with other questions lined up but was ignored. Ditsy’s sadness at his quiet reflective tone, and the genuine loneliness contained beneath spurred her on. “Not alone, just waiting!” The doctor arched an eyebrow. “Waiting for what exactly?” Ditsy’s wings opened out as she pointed a hoof at herself smiling. “ME!!!” “Oooh yeah…” The doctor chirped mockingly. “And what makes you think I want another Doo following me around and getting under hoof and in trouble all the time.” “Easy! When save world, no one see you do it, me along you can be brainy and show-off.” Zecora’s laughter cut across the conversation. “Aha, it would seem this child fate bestows… A better companion do you know?” The doctor’s eyes gave away his feelings. “Well maybe, a quick trip…” He muttered absently before realizing he’d spoken aloud, seeing Ditsy’s eyes light up, he quickly added. “And then home…” “…I’m not a sightseeing tour and anyway, I’ve got a slight problem to deal with before any pleasure cruises.” Ditsy nodded enthusiastically. “Beat monster, can travel.” “Uh, yes well, I suppose, yes…?” The doctor could feel the mare’s excitement emanating from her in waves, a long repressed feeling awoke, the feeling to run and keep running with Ditsy by his side. Luna didn’t understand, this stallion, this mare, talking about adventures? “Just who are you…?” “I’m the Doctor.” “Ugh, I guessed that, Doctor what?” Luna’s attention switched as Ditsy mumbled. “Who...” “What…?” Luna asked her. “Meant to say… …Who?” “Huh…?” Luna was perplexed. The grey mare sighed. “Never mind…” Zecora stifled a laugh at Luna’s confused look. Luna’s temper began to fray as she tried to keep a level tone. “Never mind what you call yourself, how do I not remember meeting you when you address me as if we have, and why does your presence or mere mention affect me so...?” Her mind was still dogged by a nagging feeling she’d forgotten something, the humour drained somewhat from the Doctor’s eyes which took on a sombre glow again. “I was there, the final battle… The moment when Equestria hung in the balance between sun and moon, I helped seal Nightmare Moon’s power...” He continued… “You haven’t any memories because you...” *CRASH* Zecora’s front door exploded inwards, through the now much wider gap stepped three Pegasus of the Royal Guard! The three moved silently as they half encircled the still sitting quartet who just stared as Princess Celestia stormed into the room! Her horn was ablaze with magic. “…Doctor!!!” She snarled as she descended on the table, for his part the Doctor tried looking unconcerned and noticing Ditsy’s barely contained laughter as she tried not to look at the Doctor’s antics, he faced the Princess and said… “Urk… …Urggh...” “No! …Sister!!!” Luna came to life as Celestia pulled the Doctor off his rump and choked him with her magic! Her eyes burning like the sun she throttled him as all hay broke loose. Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony who till now had been patiently waiting for the signal charged on in hearing Luna’s cry from the inside. Upon entrance, they found the three guards stood unsure if to act before a rampant Goddess, Luna hung around her neck trying to pull her away, pleading with her not to kill the brown stallion suspended in mid air before them. As Twilight joined Luna in trying to avert murder, Ditsy was becoming a little worried about the Doctor, since he was turning a variety of colors while slowly choking after all, she spied her friends Applejack and Dash with her other eye and waved, too stunned by it all they slowly waved back. It was here, the host, homeowner and exceptionally furious zebra had had enough. Zecora went right up to Celestia and without hesitation or reverence declared. “I will not suffer blood spilt within these walls, for a Princess to act as if the playground calls.” As the Doctor’s last regeneration began passing before his eyes and he started to fade, Celestia though angry realized her stunned audience weren’t used to her somewhat less than professional side when she was riled up. She immediately began apologizing and turned to address Zecora. “Sister…” Luna cried out as Celestia acted as if she’d accidentally forgotten to release the Doctor… Part Six: Explanations Arguments and Revealed Losses.Part Six: Explanations Arguments and Revealed Losses. Zecora was livid and afforded the sun princess no special treatment as she vented over her wrecked home. Celestia for her part stood stony faced and took the zebra’s tirade, all the while uttering less than repentant sounding apologies. The Doctor with Ditsy at his side was apparently out of it; Luna Twilight and the rest of the Elements were stood back watching open mouthed. After Zecora had calmed down Celestia and Luna had embraced in a sisterly show of mutual concern, the inevitable conversation about what had happened to them since the previous night began. Ditsy kept an eye on the Doctor, listening as Rainbow Dash explained how she ‘found’ Ditsy, then gone to Sweet Apple Acres, how Ditsy had taken flight (at this Ditsy shuffled and focused on the floor embarrassed) then her and Applejack’s search and it’s somewhat grisly conclusion. Twilight then continued with what happened after Luna had disappeared, Celestia’s arrival Dash and Applejack’s recovery and after missing out the breakfast and bedroom disasters explained how they had found Luna and co after exhausting all other possibilities and with a little help from a friend. Pinkie Pie had arrived at the library escorted by the royal guards and in a perfectly pinkie moment suggested using Applejack’s dog Winona to track Luna using Celestia as a scent template, being sisters and all… The party pony had beamed as her friends chalked it up to Pinkie’s random effect on the world around her. As every pony absorbed these events Luna began to explain her side, every now and then glancing between the Doctor and Ditsy and the now stoic yet still fired up inside while barely contained sister of hers. It was then Zecora who continued telling of how she encountered Luna and Ditsy and had returned home. Having established the events so far the assembled ponies turned and looked at Applejack as she cleared her throat. “Ah know things don’t exactly make a whole lot of sense right now, but Ah’m sure as hay sure it’s got something to do with him…” Pointing at the still floored Doctor. “…And ma girl Ditsy of course.” Applejack faced a fidgeting Ditsy and asked bluntly. “Hun, did you see you a monster? Is that why you were so scared?” Ditsy continued staring at the floor, her front hooves tracing little patterns. “Sugar, that thing attacked me and Dash, it’s gonna hurt some other pony, can y’all tell us anything Hun…?” Ditsy was agitated now, she didn’t know what to say, she couldn’t remember anything before she’d hit Dash mid-air, and she’d been cold and alone in the Everfree forest after running away from Applejack’s, until Luna arrived she hadn’t been able to figure out why she’d been so afraid so she’d hid in a tree to calm down. “Nothing…” She mumbled under her breath a tear slowly tracing down her cheek. Instinctively Luna moved to her and placed a comforting hoof around Ditsy’s shoulders as she continued to break down slowly. As Luna made soothing noises and stroked the distressed mare’s mane, her tears falling steadily now the Doctor opened his eyes just as another tear hit his face. “I’m OK no need to cry.” The Doctor said as he assumed she was upset over him. “N-Not you idiot…” Ditsy managed as she gently kicked him with a hoof. “Right... well... good…” He mumbled with a little disappointment in his voice. Luna, who now had an red faced Ditsy burying her face in her neck and shoulder, looked at those present, Celestia, Zecora, the Elements of Harmony, and the Royal Guard. “Doctor…” Luna said looking down. “…Help us…” Having the moon Princess act so sombre and meek, not to mention she used his name put the Doctor off guard a little. For a few seconds the Doctor just laid there as the room’s silence was broken by Ditsy’s soft crying. “…Right!!!” Jumping to his hooves the Doctor regained his composure, his big grin spreading across his face as he surveyed his audience. Without waiting for a response or recognition of his assumed authority he began. “Princesses… Guards mares and my old companion Zecora…” The zebra let her indignation slide at being singled out, after all, wasn’t she a mare? “There’s a very nasty critter on the loose and we need to work together on this!” As Celestia motioned to her guards to hold off beating him down she stepped forward letting her regal bearing take effect on those around her and spoke. “So what evil if not you… plague’s my lands…” “A Silmeragan.” All eyes focused on Celestia as her blood ran cold and her mouth fell open. “But... …But wasn’t the last of those… It was destroyed a thousand years ago…?” “What’s a Silmerage?” Twilight asked her mentor. “A Silmerage…” The Doctor butted in… “Is a creature about three inches squared, covered in fur and looks and sounds a bit like a Tribble except when they suck your blood that is...” “Huh…?” “A Silmeragan is a legendary beast over two ponies tall it has two long arms, two legs, red claws, is covered in putrid green scaly skin and has a head like a shark with double the teeth.” “That…” He looked to see if he still had their attention. “…Is a Silmeragan it doesn’t feed on flesh or blood, it absorbs the mental energy of its victims often keeping them somewhere in almost hibernation returning only to feed or dispose of the old or dead ones.” Seeing the shock and disgust in the room the Doctor paused. “Now hang on an apple picking minute, me and Dash were attacked…” Applejack piped up. “And ah don’t remember a giant green monster; in fact I don’t rightly remember anything about it at all.” The Doctor approached the farm pony. “That… Is because its claws and teeth are covered in a substance it’s immune to that disrupts your memory.” “It uses it to attack and restrain it prey and should its prey escape, it won’t remember being attacked and in most situations walk right back into the same situation again.” “Also it’s hard to hunt down because most survivors can’t remember to tell anyone what did it and mistake the injuries for bear attacks...” “So you’re saying anyone who gets away can’t remember…? But every pony else would about the missing ones!” Twilight piped up with her question ignoring the frown from the Doctor as he was interrupted mid flow. “But you said it captures its prey and keeps them prisoner…? …But there haven’t been any disappearances around Ponyville…?” The Doctor tried to explain it in lay pony terms. ”The Silmeragan projects a mental field using the minds of its victims to completely erase all thought and memory of the victim from the minds of those who know them.” Seeing the confusion rife on the faces of the group, he tried to explain it differently. “Imagine some pony gets attacked, when the silmeragan adds that mind to the field, all those within that field forget them.” “But what about pictures silly…?” Pinkie broke in. “I have pictures of all my friends; I’d never forget some pony just because of some icky monster or a magic spell.” “Yes... well…” The Doctor impressed by the pink ponies reasoning added. “If a pony close to you is added to the field, it erases all recognition from your mind to the extent you can look at a picture of that pony and your brain only registers the background…” “So... how big is this field exactly…?” Twilight interjected. The Doctor cocked his head to the side and inhaled sharply. “Oh…” *pause* “Well…” *pause* “Depends on how many ponies… The mental ability of the Silmeragan… How many ponies know the victims...?” “Sooo…?” Twilight pressed on. “Hundreds of miles…!” The Doctor answered in a hesitant tone. The gasp from the assembled group was loud as the implications sunk in. Pinkie Pie, a pony for who unsettling or depressing thoughts affected her deeply slid into denial as she countered angrily. “Don’t be a foal, there’s no way I’d forget a friend and I know all the ponies for miles around here.” “Really…?” The Doctor’s voice was cold as he responded, his eyes containing a small flicker of sympathy. “…For sure!!!” Pinkie bristled as she stared the Doctor down. “This Silmeragan is powerful and old, very old, so old and powerful in fact it’s even affected Celestia herself…” At this, the group turned to look at the Princess. “Nonsense…” She countered, full of self confidence. “Well explain then, why there is only five Elements of Harmony here.” A cold silence fell in the room as those present counted the Elements. “It’s... not possible…” Celestia shook her head. “No…” “…I....” The Elements took this worse than the Princess; Pinkie’s usually unmovable smile disappeared. Twilight just sat mouth open, her mind blank in shock. Dash and Applejack just shared a look of disbelief as Rarity just sat eyes brimming with tears, head held low. “I’m sorry…” The Doctor said to no one in particular. It was Luna still comforting Ditsy who spoke first. “So what now, how do we beat it? How do we find it?” It was Celestia who responded first, her rage building up inside. “I’ll kill it myself; I’ll blast it to pieces!!!” “We have to find it first…” Luna replied a little unnerved by her sister’s quick and violent response. It was then; Celestia caught the knowing look Zecora shared with the Doctor. “And what do you two know we don’t?” Zecora gave an apologetic smile to the Doctor as he face hoofed. “I know where its lair is…” His reply caused Celestia’s mane to ignite in a fiery burst burning like the sun. “You will show me immediately.” “Not that simple I’m afraid…” “WHY!!!” Celestia’s tone was deep and hate filled as she glared daggers at him. “If you kill it before we rescue its victims from its clutches, they’ll die right along with it, the creatures demise will cause the mental field to invert, collapse and fry the minds of those connected.” “…Oh…” Celestia managed, her fiery mane dimmed somewhat as his words sunk in. “So rescue first, kill later, job done.” All eyes turned to Ditsy as she emerged from her depression wiping her tears away with a hoof slowly separating herself from Luna’s comforting embrace. The Doctor was a little dismayed at Ditsy’s intelligent yet casually blood thirsty response but still gave her a small wink and a forced smile as he put it down to the situation in hoof, after all he didn’t relish the thought of ending a life, no matter how destructive it could be. The Doctor looked out the nearest window. “It’s light out, so the Silmeragan will still be asleep but it should leave to explore its territory or hunt around dusk...” “So we invade its lair when it’s dark and then once we’ve rescued all the ponies, we hunt ‘it’ for a change.” Twilight spoke in a confident yet slightly wavering tone. “No…” The Doctor said firmly. “The only ones to do that are Celestia and me; the rest of you will just get in the way or killed.” “Now hold on a minute, our friend is in there, and I sure as hay am not staying here when there’s a-rescuing to be done.” Applejack was joined by the other Elements who cried in unison. “…Yeah!!!” “I’m sorry…” The Doctor said before he asked… “What was her name again…?” This was like a slap across the face as the remaining five Elements all shared looks of confusion and pain. “I’m sorry, I really am, but this thing is just too dangerous, one scratch, one swipe of claw and you’re out of it, you’re either a victim without memory or just in the way.” “What about you? Aren’t you just as vulnerable?” Luna wasn’t sure but she could have sworn he gave her a look like she’d been dribbling. “I’m an expert!” He replied but mumbled absently to himself… “Sort of...” It was Ditsy who won the argument as she pointed out the possibly fatal flaw in the Doctor’s plan. “Who saves ponies if it not gone, if you busy fighting monster…” Luna quickly added to the jumbled speech. “And what if more need rescuing than the two of you can manage…?” The Doctor saw the looks passed between all those present and sighed deeply. “…Fine.” “So what do we do now doctor?” Luna instantly realized her mistake seeing Celestia’s angry expression. “Luna, you will stay away from him, I will deal with him later when this is over, until then the Doctor and I will stand guard as the others…” Celestia motioning a hoof at the Elements and her guards… “…Rescue any pony they find.” Celestia’s commanding tone gave every pony present little chance to argue, the Doctor just looked bemused as out of the corner of his eye he saw Ditsy silently laughing to herself as she mouthed to him… “In trouble now…” Responding with a warm hearted grin, the Doctor decided it was better just to play along like Celestia had said, ‘For now’. As every pony agreed to the plan, an argument broke out between the royal sisters over whether or not Luna was going along. The Royal guards Aquilinus, Biggs and Wedge went to patrol outside to escape any possible repercussion from earlier events. As the Elements, Zecora, Ditsy and the Doctor all retreated to the other end of the house as the arguing sisters got louder and more personal. Twilight watched stunned as her Princess’s raged away at each other, she’d never seen Celestia act like this and Luna didn’t seem like the foalish mare she’d met previously. She was stronger looking and definitely more defiant and stronger willed. “Be fine, he makes people out of shell.” “W-W... huh…?” Twilight turned to Ditsy who was looking at her while sat only a few hoof steps away. “S-sorry…” Ditsy mumbled going bright red, inwardly cursing her speech pattern she tried again. “Has effect on ponies, drives up wall.” *pause* “Magnet for trouble…” Pointing a hoof at the Doctor sat on a stool, he was once again behind the pages of a book. “So who is he…? Where’s he from…?” The other Elements and Zecora gathered round mostly because it was beginning to be difficult to hear anything over the royal expletives. Ditsy waited for every pony to settle then replied. “Gallophrey…” “Gallophrey…? Uh I’ve never heard of that town, is it near Manehatten or closer to Phillydelphia?” Rarity interrupted. “Surely you recognize a Trottingham accent… So cultured…” She mused flicking her gorgeous mane. “How about we look at this map you guys…?” Pinkie produced a very old map seemingly from nowhere. Ditsy ignoring where Pinkie got the map from for the sake of sanity shook her head. “Not on map.” “So where then, Space?” Dash interrupted pointing a hoof upwards mockingly. Ditsy nodded. The Elements laughed in unison. “I suppose he has a spaceship too...” Dash said, her sides splitting as she fell to the floor rolling about in laughter. “Maybe he came to steal all the cows…” Applejack snorted laughing along. “Oo… Maybe he’s like an intergalactic treasure hunter!” Rarity giggled at the idea of ‘space gems’. “Oh I know, maybe he’s like a famous intergalactic explorer on a five year mission!” Pinkie collapsed rolling around alongside Dash. Ditsy sighed... ... ... ... “It’s called a T.A.R.D.I.S… And he is from space… He’s the Doctor and he’s here to help…” The serious expression, forward facing stern looking eyes and the way she spoke with clearly absolute confidence she silenced the others who looked to Zecora for help… “Trouble he is and when around doubled it is, when he comes knocking more often than not it saves you from a coffin...” Part Seven: Dr Whooves and the Cave of the Silmeragan.Part Seven: Dr Whooves and the Cave of the Silmeragan. Two princesses’ five elements a Doctor a mail mare a Zebra and three royal guards set off from Zecora’s home into the Everfree forest on a mission to rescue any survivors they could find in the cave of the monster. It was about time for it to be patrolling its territory according to the doctor so now was the best time for them to attempt so risky a venture, the self appointed leader rambled on as he led them deeper into the woods Following close behind was Ditzy and Zecora with Luna right behind them, the others weren’t so keen to be near him and with the three royal guards bringing up the rear they continued on. Princess Celestia was going through a wash of emotions as she followed the one creature in the universe that irritated her more than Discord, in fact when they had first met she had thought he was a servant of Discord due to his ability to cause absolute chaos, or at least be there when it happened. She reflected on the difference in his appearance and tried to count how many faces she knew he’d worn, she was no stranger to his race but they were no more and as the strangest of his race she’d encountered, he truly was a rule book unto himself. Too busy thinking about him Celestia missed her footing on a tree root and stumbled falling into a pool of stagnant water which enveloped her in mucus and stinking mud. Celestia’s swearing made all of those present blush as she regained her footing and stood dripping and furious. “How far is this damn cave Doctor?” “Not far… We’re almost there.” “How can you be so sure…?” The Doctor had an expression of disgust as he pointed his hoof at the shallow pool Celestia had just clambered out of, floating in the water were dozens of skulls and bones some still with rotting flesh clinging to them. The already white goddess turned even paler as she fought to hold onto her lunch, Twilight was about to try to help the Princess in some way when a small fish popped out of one of the bobbing skulls eye sockets through the remains of the eye. All those present cringed as Twilight stood right in the path of the royal upchuck and bore the full brunt of the explosion. For the rest of the way to the cave Twilight was consigned to the very back of the procession, Celestia kept trying to apologize but the faithful albeit shocked Twilight wouldn’t hear of it. Silence filled the air as they neared their destination, the way was littered with the debris of the monster, lots of bones arranged like totems were scattered along a rough path repeatedly trodden over centuries of travel. Eventually the group made it to the very entrance of the monsters lair; it was here the Doctor gave his final instructions before they entered. “Right, well, now we’re all here, here’s the plan…” “…We go in locate those to rescue then I’ll break the psychic field, the princesses’ and Twilight will combine their magic and teleport themselves the rest of you and the missing to safety.” With their instructions clear and without wasting any further time they used some torches Zecora had brought with her and the light from the unicorns present using their horns. The caves entrance wasn’t hidden at all and as the group stood before the foreboding black hole they took a moment to prepare themselves for what was ahead. The interior of the cave was large and covered with slippery moss, bones littered the floor, the tunnel cleverly hidden at the back wasn’t discovered until Applejack rested against the wall and fell through the covering over it. Descending into the tunnel forced the group to walk in line in the dark with only the unicorn’s lights and the Doctors strange glowing and beeping device to lead them on. The evidence of the creature continued on until they reached a small cavern where their breath was literally taken away as dozens upon dozens of prostrate ponies lay haphazardly across the floor. As they moved between the comatose ponies it quickly became clear there were far too many to attempt to carry them out so teleportation was the only solution. The Doctor flitted between them checking vitals and taking ‘readings’ as he called out their condition. The ponies were all in varying degrees of emaciation and of all ages and gender, none of the group recognized any of the ponies until Dash who was checking for live ones found one that made her stop. The yellow mare was laid out over a rock, her pink mane was soaking wet lying in a pool of water at the base of the rock, her breathing was erratic and like all the others her eyes flickered constantly. Dash stood for a moment in recognition but still she couldn’t remember her name… The Doctor however was flustered as he called them together, as they gathered he had a stern look on his face. “Right, well I can bring them out of the field but the moment I break the connection on any of these ponies the Silmeragan will know and return here.” “So what now Doctor…?” Ditzy looked expectantly at him and as he followed her eyes as they slowly rotated around freely, eventually he went cross eyed and shaking his head he replied in an uncertain tone. “I have an idea…” The Doctor explained his idea, Celestia blinked along with the others as it sunk in, the Doctor looked confused as the group acted thoroughly unimpressed at the concept. “That’s it… That’s your great idea… It’s a bit basic…” Luna had hoped this Doctor might fulfill the description given by Ditzy but so far he was proving to be a bit of a disappointment. “So you expect us to unite our magic and levitate a giant rock above the door and drop it on the beast when it gets here.” “Yes.” Ditzy and Zecora said nothing as they both gave the Doctor skeptical looks as they frowned. It was Rarity who spoke next as she asked what exactly he would be doing, his answer was to huff and spread his fore hooves and with a big grin said… “…Being brilliant…” All assembled rolled their eyes as he acted hurt, Ditzy stifled a laugh as he sat and folded his arms his nose in the air as he ignored the snorts and grumbles from the others. Out of options the group conceded and so Celestia Luna and twilight concentrated on moving the biggest boulder they could towards the entrance. The elements were busy trying to drag all the various comatose ponies nearer to the center of the room as the Doctor fiddled with his silver device that sounded like it had had better days. Ditzy trotted over to him and smiled at him, when he eventually noticed her presence frowning he looked over to the other side of the room and then back to her. “Wrong Doctor…?” “You mean ‘is something’ wrong?” Ditzy blushed but nodded, the Doctor stopped twiddling and without a word walked in the direction he’d been looking, Ditzy a little put out followed mumbling about manners. Picking his way through the room the Doctor began rambling about mental fields and how he could feel patterns and see the connections in the room… Ditzy was joined by Zecora as she too tried to make sense of his mutterings as he stopped and bent down over a small cluster of rocks, with a clap of his hooves and a whoop lent forward. Gently the Doctor sat back, cradled in his arms was a small grey filly with a blonde mane that like the others was unconscious but OK. Ditzy stared long and hard at the little bundle, she could feel a connection but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t remember a name or who she was… “Doctor… How did you… Know…?” The Doctor allowed himself a triumphant smile as he grinned like a Cheshire cat before answering. “Tapping into the psychic field allowed me to read the brainwaves of the ones connected, I’d know the brain of a Doo anywhere.” Ditzy settled in front of the Doctor and gently took her from him. “How do I remember her…?” “When the Silmeragan is no more, then all should return to normal… Hopefully…” “…Hopefully?” “…Uh yes...” “Great.” Zecora checked the little filly and nodded to Ditzy all was well under the circumstances. “It seems obvious that the creature must have snatched the girl last night, wiped her from every ponies memories including Ditzy… Since Ditzy knew something was wrong it’s clear even a mother’s instinct can’t be completely erased by the field.” Ditzy gave the Doctor a wet kiss on the cheek and held the filly up for the newly arrived Luna to see. “A most joyous thing my little pony… But I fear that device is trying to tell you something Doctor…” The Doctor glanced down as his attention finally caught up to the shrill sounds being emitted by his device. “Why do they never turn up when you expect them to…? Just once on time, all I ask…” Jumping up in a flash he grabbed it between his teeth he pointed it towards the entrance and sure enough it went crazy, the Doctor motioned furiously for all to get ready. Luna and Celestia both caught hold of the rock they planned to use with their magic and lifted it above the entrance and waited. The elements Zecora and Ditzy all rushed to finish gathering the surviving ponies near the center of the cavern as the three guards got ready to distract the Silmeragan and allow them time to crush the beast… …And thus the trap was set. Part Eight: Mindstorm.Part Eight: Mindstorm. The Doctor crouched behind a rock at the rear of the trap as he awaited the beast’s appearance; the others were also ready spread out behind cover in front of him, a giant rock suspended above the door with magic. Silence pervaded the cavern as the group waited for the moment of action. Moments passed as they waited but nothing came forth, Ditzy and Zecora who were next to the Doctor gave him puzzled looks before a small sound behind them made them freeze. Zecora spoke first… “I do believe evil of the worst kind… Sits behind…” The Doctor slowly turned a forced smile on his face as his eyes drew level with the beasts… “…W…Welcome…D…Doctor…” The voice echoed in their heads as the trio scrambled over the rock they were behind just as long red claws swiped at them, Ditzy tumbled on to the Doctor who called out as they fell. “…CELESTIA!!!” The royal princesses’ turned at the cry as did the rest to see a huge shape emerge from behind the rocks, tall and covered in slime and mud the beast opened it’s gigantic mouth exposing row after row of sharp teeth in a terrifying roar. Luna Celestia and Twilight all screamed in unison as they sent the rock hanging in the air crashing down across the room a direct hit on the beast. All was quiet for a moment as the sudden shock of the beasts appearance wore off, as the dust settled the assembled ponies slowly approached where the beast lay trapped underneath the giant rock. Its mouth opened and closed it’s breathing erratic and its eye’s flicking back and forth wildly between the Doctor and the Princesses’. “I knew you were… Here… Doctor… I… Feel… Your mind… …So… Old… …So… Much pain… D… Deli…cious…” The Doctor narrowed his eyes as he drew closer… “I can make this easier… For you…” The creature laughed a choking rattling laugh filled with blood as it replied to the Doctor who stood with a blank soulless stare as he watched it. “You intend… …To offer to take control of the mindscape… …To ease… My passing… And save my collection… Ah… So many minds… …So much POWER!!!” The ponies all in a semi circle at this point were lifted off the ground and thrown backwards as the creature lifted the arm not trapped and roared again. The Doctor hit the ground the same time as the others but springing to his hooves almost immediately he locked eyes with the creature and cried out as their minds met the creature attempting to mentally crush his. All around the room the comatose ponies sat up as the field began to fluctuate, Ditzy ran to the Doctor as he called her name… “D-Ditzy… Screw… …My Screwdriver!!!” Ditzy looked around until she spotted it not too far away lying on a pile of stones. She launched herself using her wings to help her glide to it but as she reached it the creature despite the Doctors best efforts hit her with a psychic wave. Lifted once more from the ground she sailed through the air until she hit the wall knocked cold she tumbled to the ground the device clamped firmly in her jaws. “Doctor… You cannot stop me… The field will… …Heal me… Even if I… Have to use them all!!!” A mournful wail ripped from the still comatose ponies whose empty eyes snapped open as their bodies arched, their life force their mental power draining away. “…NNNooo!!!” The Doctor threw everything he had into breaking the beast’s control but the weight of years, knowledge, stolen memories... Everything taken from centuries of victims beat down on the Doctors mind. “Do… You… Feel it Doctor… You cannot resist my mind…” The wind in the cavern started howling even more as the creature intensified its attack but as it did a groaning, wheezing sound cut through the screams and the rushing wind. “No!!! No!!! What is this!!! No!!! …STOP!!!” In the center of the cavern fading in and out of reality itself was a giant blue box a blue light atop flashing slowly as the box materialized. As the box finished its entrance its doors swung open and a golden pulse flowed outward which upon contact with the beast caused it to expand and then explode as the power of the field was reversed onto it. With one final unified cry the comatose ponies collapsed backwards choking and crying out as they were awoken from the dream state. the Doctor slumped down to the floor, lifting his head up he could see Ditzy groggily staring back from by the wall her eyes giving a comical slant to her dazed look. Firmly held in her mouth was the Doctors screwdriver surrounded by a big smile that she held as she laughed the Doctor also joining in as he wiped bits of Silmeragan from himself. “Doctor… Another minute and it would have been you that went BOOM not the monster in his DOOM.” The Doctor sniffed as he ignored the jibe. Zecora like the others were regaining their hooves and picking bits of monster from their manes and coats, the elements all cheered and celebrated as did Luna but Celestia with a nod for her guards to follow approached the Doctor who hadn’t moved. “DOCTOR…” “Hmmm…?” “Leave… …NOW!!! Or be arrested.” A loud gasp sounded as Luna stepped forward… “Sister …please … I have questions for him…” “Absolutely not, he is nothing but trouble and I want him gone from my lands.” “YOUR lands…?” “You know what I meant… Dear sister please understand something’s aren’t meant to be remembered…” As the two sisters argued over what that meant the three guards all surrounded the Doctor, smiling nervously he waved to Zecora who ignored him and continued to help the newly awoken ponies who desperately needed a friendly face at this point. The elements had joined Zecora in treating the ponies and as the effects of the field began to fade names were remembered ponies recognized tears shed and prayers given. “…LUNA ENOUGH!!! We will discuss this later for now he has to leave… …This instant!!!” Princess Celestia whirled back to the Doctor pointing a hoof as the three guards stepped forward to ‘assist’ him in leaving, crashing in a tangled heap the guards scrambled to their hooves as they recoiled in fear at passing right through him. The image of the Doctor waved about slightly as he grinning childishly at the surprised look on Celestia’s face. “H-How… What trickery is this…?” “I’m over here…” Celestia and the others turned to find the Doctor standing next to Ditzy as he retrieved his screwdriver. “B-But how did…?” I’m using what’s left of the residual energy in the cavern to project myself over there in your minds… Moved while you were distracted… Pretty nifty don’t you think…?” The Doctor barely made it to the Tardis and through the door as Aquilinus Biggs and Wedge thudded into it as it closed. Celestia howled in anger as her guards slid down the outside of the Tardis, but as it tapered off a small voice interrupted. “…Doctor…” Ditzy moved towards the still smiling image of the Doctor sat nearby while next to her pressed against her legs was the small filly the Doctor had found and next to her another young mare with a purplish coat. The Doctor saw the upset look and teary eyes and hesitated unsure what to say… “These are my daughters… This is Dinky… And this is Sparkler… I’m taking them home… I can’t… I can’t come with you… I’m sorry…” “A-Another time perhaps…? I could always pop back in a couple of years…? It’d only take a minute…” “S-Sure… I’ll be waiting… …Doctor.” Escorting her daughters towards the center of the cavern with the rest of the ponies Ditzy gave the Doctor one last sorrowful look then turned away a tear in her eye. Each of the elements waved their thanks to the Doctor as did Zecora, who when the Doctor motioned if she would like to join him shook her head smiling sadly. Nodding the Doctor inside the Tardis watched on the monitor as the group was magically teleported away by the Princesses and Twilight leaving the Tardis alone in the cavern. For just a moment the Doctor paused and considered how close he’d been to having a companion to travel with again… A ‘Doo’ to boot, laughing he shook his head remembering the last one… Snorting the Doctor whistled absently as he prepared to set off, a bit too absently as it turned out because as he flipped a lever the whole Tardis lurched wildly as it entered the time stream. Holding onto the control deck for dear life the Doctor managed to reach out and reverse the lever before crashing down to the floor as the Tardis stabilized once more. Brushing off his ruffled jacket the Doctor was putting out the fire on the control panel when a knocking sound came from the direction of the door. The Doctor blinked… That didn’t happen very often… Intrigued he made his way to the door and stopped before it he giggled as the sound came again. Opening the door widely and sticking his head out with a beaming grin on his face the Doctor was spun around as he was hit squarely on the chin by what appeared to the Doctor as he keeled over backwards was a grey hoof! Flat on his back the Doctor was wide eyed as a tall young looking grey mare with a black mane, a pink bow-tie with a white collar and an octave shaped cutie mark stood brandishing the remains of what looked like an instrument between her teeth as she spoke around it. “WHO DEAR SIR MIGHT YOU BE??? AND WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT MY INSTRUMENT!!!” “What…?” “ARE YOU DEAF!!!? I SAID…” The Doctor panicked as the irate mare went into a diatribe about her instrument and how standards must be lacking if the Royal Canterlot opera house were hiring magicians… …And how dare he be so inconsiderate as to practice his ‘tricks’ whilst she was preparing for her big unveiling into the world of classical performance!!! Frowning the Doctor held up a hoof as the mare trailed off as she got a good look around the interior of the Tardis, the mare was open mouthed as she finally realized the problem with scale. “W-Wait… B-But…” Using her distraction the Doctor got to his hooves and poked his head out of the Tardis door, sure enough it was slap bang in the middle of the main stage of a rather new looking Canterlot Royal Opera house. Muttering to himself the Doctor pondered why the Tardis stabilizers had just ‘hiccuped’, after all he’d been aiming for Ponyville plus a few years to find Ditzy and as he tasted the air he realized he was also a century or so backwards as well… The scream was long and drawn out as it echoed through the newly opened opera house, the candles spread about illuminating the stage flickered as a chill wind blew past. “I say was that a scream…?” The grey mare barely had snapped out of her shock at the Tardis as she spun around to scan the room for the source of the disturbance. “Shall we find out…?” “Are you mad???” “No… Why…?” “You… You use your magic to bring your box thing down on my instrument during my break and then when you hear a bloodcurdling scream you expect me to go hoofing it into the dark with you…? A complete stranger to find out what’s going on…” Another even more urgent sounding scream rang out as the grey mare pricked up her ears and danced a little on the spot before continuing. “B-But… W-Well they might need help… A-and I suppose I should go with you…” “…Safety in numbers and all that… But shouldn’t we fetch the Canterlot Royal Guards?” “Nah we’ll be fine, besides they would take the fun out of it…” The Doctor grinned as he stepped from the Tardis turning to her he offered his hoof and gave her a broad foalish grin. Taken aback by his nonchalant behavior and strangely reassured by his lack of hesitation the mare placed the remains of her cello on the floor and bringing her head level with his she raised her foreleg. Taking her by the hoof the Doctor beamed as he began running with her towards the sound… As the pair ran deeper into the auditorium the candles continued to flicker as an unnatural howl rent the night. THE END DR WHOOVES WILL RETURN IN… DR WHOOVES AND THE CLASSICAL MOON
Part One: The Mare Who Saw What Wasn’t There.Part One: The Mare Who Saw What Wasn’t There. The stars twinkled in the night sky over Ponyville as its inhabitants slept Luna’s night away, with a few ponies making their way home after a carefree evening out. It seemed as if nothing dramatic or sinister would befall this small slumbering town that night, and as luck would have it nothing did. That is until just moments before the sunrise, when there came a wheezing sound, at first it seemed distant but as it continued it grew louder, morning dew sparkling in the sun’s rays began to vibrate fiercely as in the town square a blue light appeared fading in and out. Silence again descended on Ponyville, its inhabitants unaware of the return of Equestria’s silent guardian. As morning wore on ponies came and went as the town of Ponyville came alive, shops and stalls opened and its inhabitants began to fill the streets, not ones to miss a good sunny day they talked and shopped and all was well. Well... Nearly all… Ditzy Doo sat in a muddy puddle on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres on the outskirts of Ponyville. Her golden mane and grey coat were soaked with dirty water and clinging mud, to make matters worse her saddlebags had fallen off and broken open, the letters as Mail mare of Ponyville she was supposed to deliver were now floating in the water beside her. As she watched the nearest envelope bobbing on the surface of the disturbed puddle she sniffed loudly fighting back tears, it wasn’t fair... She tried to be careful, to avoid branches and check where she was headed, but if she remembered those she forgot to keep an eye out for other Pegasai who might be flying around, not that her eyes ever did what they were told anyway. Most ponies figured Ditzy Doo had walleye, or some mental problem that wasn’t discussed in polite (or her) company, but for whatever reason Ditzy’s eye’s roamed, often in different directions and rarely could she keep them pointing in the right direction without concentrating. But as she sat there cold and dejected her eye’s focused on the cyan coloured Pegasai mare a few hooves away as she sat up groaning rubbing her head. In a flash Ditzy remembered how she’d ended up in the puddle! She’d hit something! She’d been concentrating hadn’t she…? Ditzy thought for a moment, no she hadn’t... Memories of her morning sprang to mind… Something had happened… She had woken up early for work, breakfast as usual then... Then she had gone up stairs... To do something she did every morning… Something important… But she had struggled to remember what it was. Of course! To wake her room mate Carrot Top! That was it… She was sure it was… Her house mate however had seemed like she too was forgetting things as after having an awkward silent breakfast Ditzy had left for work but with the nagging feeling something was wrong... “DITZY!!!” The shout made the grey mare jump out of her skin. Muddy water and letters went everywhere as she slipped trying to stand and fell forwards her wings outstretched in surprise splashing down and sending even more mess flying from her puddle. As Ditzy struggled to right herself and tried to shake the filth from her coat her left eye settled on the figure in front of her, turning her head and forcing her left eye to stay still so she could focus Ditzy mumbled a greeting to the furious looking mare. “Hi Rainbow…” Rainbow Dash cyan colored with a rainbow mane stood hoof deep in mud and having been covered in it head to hoof as a result of the crash glared at Ditzy. “Hey, you back from where you zoned out to? You weren’t even looking where you were going Ditzy!” Ditzy hung her head and tried to look sorry, but Rainbow was already fuming. “I’m... sorry…” Tears began to fall as a terrible sadness overtook her and gradually she broke down even more as a flood of frightening emotions overtook her. Rainbow as angry as she was couldn’t believe what she was seeing as her old friend from flight school broke apart in front of her. Slowly she put her hoof around Ditzy’s shoulders and tried to calm her with soothing overtones, but to avail. “I... can’t stop... crying…” Ditzy sobbing louder choked as she couldn’t breathe. “I don’t know why...” Rainbow tried to forgive Ditzy, she told her it wasn’t her fault, and it had been an accident she’d even resorted to pulling funny faces! But nothing worked the grey mare just continued crying unabated. Eventually Rainbow stopped; honestly she had no clue what to do… Then it hit her! Honesty! They were on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres so Rainbow decided to get Ditzy to the farmhouse where she could get a little help from a friend and fellow Element of Harmony. Of all the Elements of Harmony, honesty is the best policy, and its flesh and blood representative, a young orange earth pony named Applejack was no exception to the rule. She was showing her honesty with gusto as she stood in the hallway outside the bathroom fidgeting as she hollered at her older brother through the door to hurry the hay up. She was beginning to reach numbers she wasn’t familiar with as she danced from hoof to hoof when suddenly there came a knocking from downstairs, faintly accompanied by what sounding like sobbing. Needing the distraction she looked around the upstairs hallway for any sign of the other members of the Apple family who lived at Sweet Apple Acres, seeing the coast was clear and hoping she could get back before Granny Smith woke up and commandeered the bathroom for the morning, (forcing her to use that damn bush again) she made her way downstairs to the front door. As she drew closer, the sounds became easier to make out, and she recognized a familiar voice repeating over and over. “Please stop crying, please...” Applejack frowned, looking up at the clock on the wall by the door which read a little after six she cocked her head to the side frowning deeper she opened the door. “Rainbow what the hay are you doing up this early and what’s with all the caterwauling?” Applejack looked at the two Pegasus stood on the porch and winced as her jaw bounced off the hardwood floor. On the porch sat a muddy Rainbow Dash holding close to her with a wing draped over her protectively an equally muddy grey Pegasus who Applejack recognized instantly as the mail mare of Ponyville. Looking once more at her friend Dash Applejack was taken aback as their eyes met and Dash’s screamed ‘Help me!!!’ Applejack motioned Rainbow to bring her in and moved aside as Dash maneuvered the sobbing pony through the living room and into the kitchen while dripping mud and water everywhere. Rainbow positioned the inconsolable Ditzy by the fire as Applejack rushed to find towels, Ditzy for her part just sat staring into the flames. After ejecting Macintosh from the bathroom and finally getting to use it, she then ran a bath, fetching Rainbow Dash the pair bathed the nearly catatonic Ditzy. After drying her off Rainbow ran herself a bath as Applejack took Ditzy downstairs and sat her by the fireplace, which Applejack then got going before getting Ditzy a cup of hot chocolate to sip while she warmed up. Applejack kept her company for a while before retiring to the back porch unable to get the grey mare to speak. Dash joined on the porch a short time later still drying her mane with a towel as she brought the farm mare up to date. As Applejack listened to how Dash had woken up early for once and gone for a morning’s flight before being knocked out the sky and what followed after, her now near permanent frown deepened. “Rainbow you told me Derpy falls out the sky or crashes into things all the time? What’s made her react like that this time? Did you say something mean to her because she crashed into you?” Dash winced as Applejack called the grey mare by her nickname. “Don’t call her Derpy A.J; you know she hates being called that, and no I didn’t.” “Sorry Dash, but honestly from the sound of it she’s mighty sore ‘bout something.” “I know but... I tried to get her to say what it is but she kept saying she couldn’t remember what caused her to feel like this.” The two friends looked through the kitchen window at Ditzy, who was gradually beginning to seem a little more together. “So what’s your plan huh Dash?” “I guess get her home? So she can rest…” “Makes sense ah guess but that mare needs to talk ‘bout it with some pony.” As they made their way back into the kitchen the youngest member of the Apple family appeared. Applebloom was a miniature Applejack, but without the limited patience or self control of her big sister. Indeed her adventures with her filly friends, Sweetie Belle the unicorn and Scootaloo the Pegasus had Applejack wondering if compared to them she had been as rebellious and energetic as a filly as she thought she’d been. The residents of Ponyville treated the crusade waged by the three fillies in their quest to gain their cutie marks as if it was an oncoming storm. Preferring to run and hide should the ‘CMC’ come to town, lest they be overwhelmed by questions about their cutie marks and how and when did they get them. At first the ‘CMC’ had asked the ponies close to them, but when that failed to impress the whole ‘Give it time idea’ on them, they had expanded the process to any and all who crossed their path. Applejack had tried to put an end to it after the CMC had cornered a local hooker outside a seedy bar in town and asked the mare why her cutie mark looked like a giant pink cucumber above the picture of a wallet. Applejack blushed at the memory, still regretting all the lies she had to tell just to distract the girls from a conversation she herself didn’t fully understand. But youth does have its uses as the energetic filly getting her breakfast and preparing for school seemed to awaken something in Ditzy. As Applebloom tucked into her cereal she finally noticed the bedraggled and still drying Mail mare by the fire, and as if nothing was wrong through a mouthful of fruity ponies, she said. “Hiya Miss Derpy watcha doin?” Applejack and Rainbow Dash double faced hoofed as the pair simultaneously imagined the effect the nickname would have on the fragile Ditzy. Both ponies stared at the mail mare waiting for the final blow to hit home, but surprisingly Ditzy brightened up and laughed. “I crashed into Dash.” “Are ya hurt Miss Derpy?” “Nope…” Ditzy spread her wings and tried an experimental flap or two, “Working fine...” The mail mare gave a lopsided grin as Applebloom continued eating ignoring the stutter in Ditzy’s voice. Another reason most ponies called her Derpy was her problems with speech, if only they realized despite her problems with sight, speech, balance and concentration that she was in fact one of the smartest ponies around they wouldn’t have been so quick to use it. Smarter in fact than most that used that nickname but it had stuck and some ponies didn’t realize it wasn’t her actual name. Applebloom who was one of the ones that didn’t said something resembling ‘great’ through a mouthful of cereal, as she continued to eat she noticed the clock and with a squeal sprang from her chair and bolted for the door. “Ah shoot ah’m gonna be late, gotta go see you later Miss Derpy!” Upon noticing Dash for the first time she called out as she ran for the door. “Hi Rainbow… Bye Rainbow.” Dash just waved as the filly disappeared through the door, but as the door opened and closed Ditzy’s smile faded and she went back to looking into the flames. Dash, more than a little tired sat down at the breakfast table and yawned giving Applejack a look that said ‘batter up’. Shaking her head and sighing, Applejack approached Ditzy and gently laid a hoof on her shoulder. “Are you feeling better now sugar-cube? You feel like telling us what the matter is?” When she got no reply Applejack moved around to face Ditzy, who was staring intensely into the fire her eyes were focused forward but pretty normal looking for any other pony but as Applejack looked closer for just a second it seemed as if the fire reflected in her eyes was different somehow. As Applejack leaned closer still she thought she could almost hear faint screaming! She recoiled as Ditzy’s left eye swiveled in her direction, in shock Applejack reared up hitting the pans above the fireplace with her head, as she stumbled and fell her hat came off and fell straight into the fire. Applejack laid on her back eyes closed and teeth gritted as she waited for the dancing rainbow dashes to disappear from behind her eyelids before gingerly opening her eyes to see a concerned Dash hovering above her. “You OK AJ?” “Ah reckon so.” Applejack sat up and instinctively moved to adjust her hat, as her hoof searched the top of her head she realized it had fallen off... Looking down into the fire, she saw a familiar shape smouldering atop the burning logs... Applejack hung her head as she prayed for the soul of her now cindered hat. “Ah loved that hat it was a present from mah dad… ” Rainbow who knew about Applejacks tendency to become attached to inanimate objects at the best of times, a prime example being reading bedtime stories to an apple tree, Dash knew that careful tact was needed. Tact was far from the result, as Ditzy who had seemingly emerged from whatever train of thought she’d been riding began clumsily trying to apologize and retrieve the hat. Applejack just sighed, she’d spent enough time around her friends to know accidents happen, but when Ditzy tried to give her the still smoking remains of her pride and joy the hat crumbled as burning ash covered Applejack's outstretched hooves causing her to yell and curse. Seeing her in pain and cursing frightened Ditzy who in her fragile state scrambled for the door, before Dash or Applejack could stop her she was out the backdoor and gone... Rainbow Dash hovered at the door as the mare disappeared into the distance unsure as whether or not to follow she spoke out loud to her friend with anger in her voice. “Applejack, I’m going to find out exactly who or what upset her and I’m going to beat an apology out of them.” A grunt from behind her confirmed her friends desire to do the same. Meanwhile… The doors of the blue box in Ponyville opened and a young looking stallion with brown fur and a darker brown mane wearing a brown long coat with a blue suit jacket, white shirt and red tie stepped forth and looked about him in a confused manner, more than a little upset he accosted a nearby pony. “Excuse me… Where are we?” The pony in question gave him a puzzled look before responding, “Uh… This is Ponyville…” “Oh… Not Canterlot…” The now nervous pony pointed off into the distance where Canterlot could be seen sitting atop the mountains in said distance. “Oh… Bother… You wouldn’t happen to know what year it is by any chance…” The stallion watched as the pony gave him a weird look and began rapidly to continue on his way. Turning to his blue box the stallion ran a hoof down its exterior as he whispered to it. “Now why did you bring me here old girl?” A sudden feeling of being watched made the stallion spin around to find the source, but when none presented itself the stallion with the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end realized he’d felt that sensation once before… “Oh… That’s why…”
Part Two: Luna Finds A Stallion.Part Two: Luna Finds A Stallion. As almost all ponies, Griffons and Dragons know, Equestria is ruled by the omnipotent sisters of sun and moon, Celestia and her younger sister Luna. Celestia the goddess of the sun was a large white Allicorn, earth pony Pegasus and unicorn rolled into one who was adored by her faithful subjects and who secretly enjoyed the odd party, after all she was a good pony, not a complete troll... …Right? Luna however was the dark horse of the two, she had lost her rag with her sister in the past and transformed by the darkness within she had waged war upon her sister in a battle for control of their kingdom. When this was thwarted by Celestia, with as Luna might add considerable help from the Elements of Harmony not to mention a light brown stallion with a long coat and an extra long colorful scarf, fedora hat, and an hourglass shaped cutie mark, topped off with buck teeth and a penchant for bags of sweets and trouble along with a grey Pegasus with a golden mane as his companion. This as all ponies know resulted in her banishment to the moon for a thousand years, only returning after the magic that kept her there had worn off and despite her alter ego being defeated yet again, but this time thanks to Celestia’s protégé and her assortment of friends she was freed from the darkness. And so a repentant Luna had been allowed to stay in Equestria and resume her duties as dual princess. Luna strongly suspected this was a ploy by Celestia to get time off, but since she had spent a millennia on the moon alone and now could live freely in Equestria, (as long as she fulfilled her duties each sister being responsible for raising and lowering of their respective celestial bodies each day and night) Luna was prepared to overlook the odd sun coming up late because of yet another all night party thrown by her sister. Today though Luna couldn’t shake the feeling of something being wrong, turning to her sister as they sat at the long table in the palaces great hall for their breakfast, Luna began to ask. “Celestia...?” “Hmph...?” “Celestia…?” “Urghh…” Luna looked at her sister’s bedraggled mane, bloodshot eyes and hung over expression and tried to imagine what it took for a goddess to get drunk? Sure Luna knew that the parties her sister threw were sometimes extravagant, and that she always invited at ‘least’ one of personal guard or a ‘friend’ to her chambers afterwards for a nightcap, but... Luna didn’t really understand the situation, or what a ‘nightcap’ meant, and Celestias’ attempt to explain what she called the birds and the bees had resulted in confusion for Luna since she couldn’t understand what that had to do with ponies? Luna studied her sister as Celestia sank lower into her chair, Luna decided perhaps disturbing her wasn’t the best thing right now, especially since every servants hoof tread echoed loudly in the marbled hall, causing Celestia to wince. Leaving her remaining breakfast and her near comatose sister to wallow in self pity, Luna left the hall and headed outside to the palace grounds. An idea quickly thwarted as Luna realized her sister had forgotten to regulate the sun’s temperature again, the result being it was scorching hot outside and the guards at the gate looked as they would burst into flame any minute. Sighing deeply and wondering why everyone put up with her sister’s behavior she made her way towards the library, at least in there she would be cool enough and able to relax. As Luna entered the grand library she breathed deeply; the smell of dust and old paper relaxed her as she walked past the many shelves, she began to hum to herself. Just as she passed the first of many rows of books in the mythical creatures section she failed to see the large stack of books that unsteadily turned the next corner in front of her, colliding with it she was knocked over clipping the shelf next to her with her outstretched wings resulting in her being buried under the shower of heavy tomes and age old manuscripts that fell from the shelf. As the dust settled on the heap of books Luna poked her head out from underneath it all before standing up, causing the pile to spread even further across the floor. Looking for what she had bumped into Luna’s eyes came to rest on a young stallion, who was also attempting to extricate himself from the pile. Wait… Him…? Luna knew there were no male librarian ponies at the palace so with the best impression of her sister she could muster up; she stood looking down at the stallion with her most regal looking stance. The strange pony managed to stand up after slipping about on the books, and for the first time noticed Luna. “Umm... Hello…” The stallion said with a slightly confused expression as Luna puffed her chest out. “Who are you?” Luna demanded with what she hoped was a commanding tone. “Sorry, don’t you know who I am?” Luna bristled as she eyed up the weirdo, he was an earth pony, brown fur with a dark brown unkempt mane, a brown overcoat and blue jacket with a red tie.. She screwed up the courage and looked him straight in his eyes. As she stared he didn’t flinch or blink but those eyes she knew them from... …The dark times, as her buried memories began to resurface the library dissolved around her into darkness as she began to panic... “Noooo stop!” With a look of genuine sorrow the stallion mumbled, “I’m so sorry…” That was the last thing she remembered before she lost consciousness. The earth pony caught Luna as she toppled which for her size was no mean feat, gently laying her down he placed a few manuscripts under her head. Satisfied he left the library, the book he wanted in his mouth he glanced back at the prone princess and smiled… …A sad smile. It was a long time ago he had first met Luna, before the darkness had taken her; even then it wasn’t this fragile looking mare or him for that matter, well sort of… With a craving for sweets he slipped quietly away. A little while later, Luna awoke with a start, books and paper scattered around her as she hastily got up. What had she been doing? She calmed herself closing her eyes she thought back.... …The intruder! Luna’s eye opened wide as she remembered. Turning towards the main door of the library and in a less than royal fashion, she ran headlong out the library calling out as she did so. “…CELESTIA!!!” Followed by an even higher pitch as she cried out... “…BIG SISTER!!!” Meanwhile back in Ponyville. It was now mid day and as busy as ever. After the debacle at the farm and Applejack getting a mouthful from Granny Smith about… “All that darn mud in mah kitchen!!!” Rainbow Dash and Applejack had decided since it was too hot to work or as Dash put it lay out on a cloud, they would go looking for Ditsy. “You know Rainbow, she could be anywhere.” “Well… Why don’t we just check Sugarcube corner…?” “And what exactly makes you think she’s there?” “They sell muffins?” Applejack stopped walking, “Muffin’s Dash…?” “Sure, they are her favorite thing in the whole of Equestria! She’s upset so I guarantee we’ll find her if we go to all the places that sell muffins.” Dash flapped into the air and headed in the direction of Sugarcube corner. “I sure hope your right Dash, you know Ditsy she could be flying into all sort’s of trouble.” “Trust me OK, muffins for sure” Dash sped away as Applejack followed behind, mentally she was questioning Dash’s logic and groaned when she started thinking how many places in Ponyville that sold muffins (which she realized was quite a few nowadays). “Aww darn it all...” It didn’t take long for the both of them to reach Sugarcube corner, as the pair reached the open door they heard the distinctive cheering and hollering of their friend and fellow Element of Harmony Pinkie Pie. As the element of laughter Pinkie’s pink coat and mane along with her party balloons for a cutie mark personified her as the one pony, any pony would ask for help planning any party, anytime, anywhere, for any pony. Trouble was if there wasn’t any parties happening anywhere and Pinkie couldn’t think of an excuse, she had the tendency to get a bit unhinged. Not that she was crazy, well not in the traditional sense but she could be very scary if she didn’t get her quota. Dash and Applejack caught sight of Pinkie through the open door, she was covered in bits of glitter and bits of streamer and was bouncing back and forth between the shelves and a pile of what looked like party bags, cakes, toys and sweets lying in the middle of the floor, it was immediately obvious she was preparing some kind of birthday party. Deciding not to disturb her and glancing around the shop for Ditzy Applejack stepped back out the door and whispered to Dash. “She isn’t here Dash” “Well next stop then.” Dash replied lazily flapping her wings turning in the air to head back down the street. As Applejack followed Dash winged her way towards their next stop, a little café newly opened just off the town square. Applejack who was a little behind the times and not so good at remembering gossip called up to her friend, “Uh Dash you mind telling me who runs the place again?” “Don’t you ever listen to Rarity?” Applejack looked sheepish, “Ah skip bits.” Dash nearly crashed into a lamppost as she couldn’t help but agree with the farm pony. “Look, last month Bon-Bon’s aunt passed away, you know Bon-Bon right?” Applejack shook her head as she tried to picture Bon Bon, the name rang a bell though... Dash just sighed as she explained. “Well her aunt passed away and left Bon Bon a ton of bits, well Bon-Bon was going to do all this stuff like travel…” “So what’s that got to do with this here café...?” “I’m getting to that, well Bon Bon was convinced by Lyra to open a shop instead so Bon Bon could sell her amazing candied treat that she makes… And so that they could live off the profits.” “Uh Dash, this isn’t a candy shop.” “Well Bon-Bon didn’t want to run a shop just for candy but she had always dreamed of owning a small café instead.” “And she sells muffins.” “Bingo.” The small interior of the café was simple as was the outside all done out in white walls and oak wood skirting boards, small oak chairs and tables filled but not crowded the room and the atmosphere was quiet. In the corner behind a small counter was a till, price boards and a selection of tea cakes, sweets and... …Muffins. Dash trotted to the counter as a cream earth pony with pink and purple mane and three candy sweets as a cutie mark came from a door presumably leading to the back. “Hi there Bon-Bon…” “Oh Dash! How wonderful, hold on… Lyraaaaa… Dash is here.” She called loudly back through the door as Applejack finally recognized the mare from around the town; she nodded awkwardly to Bon-Bon, embarrassed she hadn’t remembered her. Bon-Bon busied herself behind the till as they waited, although Applejack noticed she looked a little exhausted, looking around Applejack noticed there weren’t too many customers, in fact only two. One was an old stallion quietly slipping tea and reading a paper, the other… Applejack realized was muttering quietly. Applejack couldn’t hear what he was saying and couldn’t see him either, well not properly. He was sat with an old dusty book with a moon on the cover labelled ‘Mythical beast’s myths and legends volume one’ which was open and standing upright on the table in front of him obscuring her view. As Applejack turned back to Dash, she heard him say… “Well that didn’t happen like that, (followed by) …Ha that’s wrong for a start…” Dash and Bon-Bon didn’t hear him and Applejack still worried about Ditsy not to mention annoyed because a hard day’s apple bucking had gone to waste ignored it. Dash and Bon-Bon were chatting away harmlessly when Applejack interrupted. “Dash, don’t forget why we’re here now.” Dash stopped mid sentence and gave a sheepish grin “Hey, uh Bon-Bon, have you seen Ditsy anywhere, or has she bought muffins today?” Bon-Bon paused thoughtfully for a second. “No, sorry Dash, the only muffins I’ve sold were with tea and sweets to that stallion… She pointed a hoof at the stallion who was still muttering to himself behind the book. It was clear Bon-Bon was a little nervous about her customer as she quickly glanced away frowning. Unsure what to say, the trio stood for a moment trying to think of something. This was fortunately broken by the arrival of Lyra. Lyra a green unicorn pony with a lyre shaped cutie mark Applejack knew all too well since her arrival in Ponyville, Lyra had initially made few friends but when her and Applejack first met nearly a year ago, Lyra would often visit the farm and sit in the orchard playing her Lyre while Applejack worked. However Applejack hadn’t seen her in a long time not since Lyra had taken up a bad habit and Applejack had found her wandering past the orchard one day seemingly spaced out smoking what smelled like medicinal herbs. Now Applejack wasn’t always quick on the uptake, but she did know something about so say medicinal herbs, Big Macintosh her brother wasn’t the quiet law abiding farm pony everyone took him for. Sneaking off to the barn all hours, Applejack blushed as she play thought of the stack of porn mags, bags of medicinal herbs and strong cider hidden behind a board in the back of the barn. Needless to say Applejack had politely shooed Lyra away from the farm but still considered Lyra friendly, if a little strange. “Wow Lyra, you look hammered…” Bon-Bon and Applejack flinched at Dash’s blunt welcome. Applejack studied Lyra, with her unkempt light green mane, her eyes bloodshot, yeah hammered suited perfectly. Bon-Bon’s crushed expression said it all, her eyes though, Applejack thought the look in her eyes was a little strange, as if there was nothing she could do about it. Dash wasn’t oblivious either. “So uh Lyra, you’ve seen Ditsy Doo?” “N’uh sorry Dash, uh which one’s Ditsy again?” “Ah wonder.” Dash gave Applejack a sharp kick as she continued. “You know Ditsy Doo…? Derpy…” “Oh yeah… Derps! Why not say so Dash…? Like no, haven’t seen her in a while been here with Bonnie all day” “Ouch…” Lyra flinched as Bon-Bon flicked her ear with her hoof. “Stop calling me that.” Bon-Bon sniffed with what looked like a real tear threatening to fall. Lyra smiled apologetically, but her expression seemed so distant her eyes fuzzy. Applejack motioned to Dash it was time to leave as a voice behind them piped up. “Uh… Sorry did you say you were looking for Dixie Doo?” The stallion behind the book now peering over asked. “Uh no… A mare named Ditsy Doo, she’s grey, with a blonde mane… She’s a Pegasus who delivers the mail.” “Really…?” He blinked deep in thought. “Nah couldn’t be…” And with that he disappeared behind his book again. Confused and with a lot of places still to check, Dash and Applejack bade farewell to Lyra and Bon-Bon and moved on. “Uh Dash.” Applejack asked, Dash flying a little off the ground next to her replied. “Yeah...” “How’d you know those two so well? They were pretty happy to see you, especially Lyra? You don’t you know...” “What?” Dash asked panicking slightly… “Uh you know... Herbs…” Dash breathed out in relief. “Certainly not… I’m training to be a Wonderbolt remember.” Dash was clearly upset at the implication. “OK, sorry ah should’ve known better...” Dash flapped her wings slightly annoyed. “Well how then?” “I met Lyra at one of Pinkie’s parties for new ponies in town she was a bit partied out, (stoned most probably Applejack thought) so I helped her home, that’s how I met Bon-Bon. “So they’re room mates huh, they live above the cafe then?” Dash blushed… “Not room mates... But they do share a room…” It was Applejack’s turn to blush. “Seriously those two are…?” “Uh yeah…” Dash glanced away,. “Didn’t you notice, the lack of customers they had?” Applejack nodded. “Well at first lots of ponies went there, but after a week or so some pony started spreading rumors saying they were filly foolers and he’d seen them kiss, then Lyra and Bon-Bon admitted it and came out, and... Things haven’t gone that well recently.” “That ain’t right.” Applejack, a measure of uncertainty in her voice looked away from her friend as she continued. “Sooo... you’re not bothered huh Dash?” Dash while flying alongside didn’t look at her but replied. “Princess Celestia said ponies could be what ever they want so long as it doesn’t hurt any pony.” Had Applejack been looking she would have seen the mare go from cyan to a deep red in the cheeks. Applejack was a little surprised at how Rainbow had replied but a sharp stone on the road reminded her they had a long way to go if they were to find their friend, as she quickened the pace something was bothered her. “Uh Dash, is Lyra OK?” “Ah mean did she seem a little funny to you, ah mean it don’t seem like they... were doing that well… Together…” Applejack couldn’t help but frown as she said the last part due mostly to her lack of understanding. Dash looked up, then away. “Lyra’s been, well not good lately.” “Is it because she’s been overdoing it with the herbs right?” Applejack asked with a little disapproval sneaking into her tone. “That’s what every other pony thinks, but...” “Go on…” “I told you, Bon-Bon’s aunt passed away right…?” “Yeah…?” “Lyra was alone with her when it happened, Bon-Bon told me a neighbor found Lyra in a corner of the front room, freaking out, screaming and stuff and covered in scratches.” “Wow Dash, what happened?” “Well the doctor reckoned Lyra just flipped due to the stress of seeing the body, since then she’s been having episodes more and more lately but its difficult to get her to talk about it, she gets really spacey and upset if you mention it...” “And that’s why she was like she was today?” Dash nodded. “That poor mare...” Applejack felt guilty about judging Lyra’s state so harshly. “The reason she gets so wasted Bon-Bon told me is because she gets waking nightmares at random in the day time and at night she wakes up screaming. Last week, she freaked out big time, cleared the shop” Dash finished and by her demeanor Applejack figured it was best to leave it. “So you’ve been helping Bon-Bon look out for her yeah?” “Uh yeah a little...” “You’re a true friend Rainbow.” Again back in Canterlot… Luna sighed, a few moments passed, and then she sighed again, it was late afternoon and Luna was waiting in the courtyard of the castle. “Stupid sister of mine…” Luna had encountered an intruder, an intruder who had broken into the library and done something to her to make her relive her darkest memories from a time best forgotten and then she’d passed out. Luna had after regaining her senses and composure run to and told Celestia all about it! Celestia’s reaction was a little underwhelming, in fact when describing the villain to her Celestia remarked, “My dear sweet sister, did he have any distinguishing features?” Luna paused, “Uh no...” “Did you see his cutie mark?” “No…” “So we’re looking for a brown stallion who was possibly stealing books when our chief librarian says all are accounted for.” Pause. “And after searching the castle and its grounds, our guards found nothing suspicious or out the ordinary?” “But big sister… I saw him, he be-spelled me!” “Oh Luna, don’t you think you may have nodded off reading one of your romance stories again?” Celestia yawned hiding a smirk. “No! I didn’t dream it, why won’t you believe me! A-And I certainly haven’t read any of that rubbish you keep leaving on my bed side table!” Luna blushed as she remembered the trashy romance novels that Celestia thought might encourage her to try dating again, however the first she had tried to read called ‘Fifty Shades of Horsehair’ (a favorite of Celestias) convinced her that ponies these days were a lot more relaxed about such things than she remembered… …Not to mention a lot more ’experimental’ and far more risqué, but that also her sister had some very dark tastes... Luna’s voice was slowly getting higher pitched she continued to push her sister to do something. Celestia who still was feeling a little less than virtuous after the previous night softened her approach slightly... “Well sister, what do you plan on doing about it?” Luna blinked, “But I, I asked for your help?” “Busy…” Luna looked around them; it was quiet as a mouse so at first she felt angry, then sad, then confused, and as Celestia began tapping her hoof Luna screwed up her courage and in her most annoyed voice stamped her hoof on the floor making her sister flinch. “I’m going outside the castle to look for him myself.” “Capital idea sister, good luck.” Luna blinked again. “Aren’t you going to stop me?” “Nope…” “But ‘Tia…” Luna whimpered. “What’s wrong?” “I haven’t been out on my own yet.” Luna said this in a very small voice. “Oh very well, wait in the courtyard, I’ll send some of my guards to accompany you.” “But I have my own guards Tia.” Luna whined referring to the two Pegasus guards Celestia had begrudgingly let Luna outfit with her own black bat style embossed armour and royal crests. “No! And you can’t take your chariot either or mine for that matter.” “But… ‘Tia!” “No buts, you’ll scare our subjects.” Luna huffed “Fine...” “Oh and do have them back by ten when their shift ends, there isn’t enough in the royal budget to cover overtime...” “Only because you drank most of it I’ll bet.” Luna muttered this part but adopted an air of innocence when Celestia narrowed her eyes. “What was that dear Luna?” “Nothing…” “And don’t forget the moon.” She called to the angry Luna who was now heading to the door. Luna was furious as she stomped away; she turned at the door and shouted, “I will prove he exists, just you wait! And do something about your sun its melting the statues out there!!!” And with that she left for the courtyard, Celestia’s laughter following her out of the room. As she cradled her throbbing head again Celestia chuckled at what she thought was her sister’s imagination, on the other hoof however getting out and about would do Luna some good she reasoned, while she wondered if having another drink would help her hangover. After a little longer waiting in the courtyard two of Celestia’s guards turned up, Luna didn’t know their names but she didn’t have time for the niceties. “We are going to find the intruder who assaulted me!” “Uh, where do you think he is?” One of pair asked. The other guard nudged him with his hoof. “I mean... where shall we start your highness?” Luna shuffled uneasily since one thing was still bothering her, the librarian had said that there were no books missing, but why risk breaking into the castle? Especially since the entire place was stuffed to the rafters with guards, her and her sister of course. Surely a thief would have taken something? A complete nut might have burned the palace down, but risking it all just for books? No sane pony would… …Except maybe Twilight Sparkle Celestia’s darling student she thought. Luna could understand it though, she would have sold her soul (for the second time) for just one book on the moon, but it didn’t seem right unless in the direst of circumstances… Maybe he’d been a reporter? Or maybe one of those pap...paper...paparazzi? Celestia had warned her about ponies wanting nothing but gossip and scandal to read, apparently they would pay others to go to great lengths to get it, Celestia had said they were the lowliest of all her subjects and not worth scuffing her royal hooves on. (Although from what Luna had overheard some the maids saying, it sounded like Celestia had done just that on several occasions, not to mention the large number of pony statues in the castle grounds that were suspiciously holding cameras.) It was then Luna realized the guards were just stood silently watching and waiting as she was thinking. Turning away from them Luna screwed up her eyes and concentrated. What to do? What would Celestia do? Then Luna remembered that was the reason she was out here. Damn it she thought, it wasn’t that long ago she had returned from the moon, and she still didn’t fully understand the new world she now lived in. She needed some ponies help, but who could… Then it hit her! She could ask Twilight! Celestia’s favorite student! The ringleader of those who had wielded the elements and freed her from Nightmare moon! …Who she hadn’t spoken to since that night... Luna’s insecurities resurfaced... “Uh, your majesty...?” One of the guards inquired nervously as the princess remained silent in her thoughts. “We’re going to Ponyville.” “Now…?” “Yes now!!!” Luna replied ignoring the less than acceptable way she kept being spoken to by the pair, her mind made up she headed for the castle gates with the guards falling into step behind her.
Part Three: Luna Chase.Part Three: Luna Chase. Twilight Sparkle sat alone in her tree house/library home reading quietly. Her baby dragon assistant Spike was over at her friend Rarity’s house helping the beautiful mare fulfill a large order for her fashion boutique. It was nearly five the clock on the table said, so Twilight began to think about closing up the library/house she worked/lived in, putting her bookmark in and closing her book the purple unicorn heard the sound of the library’s front door opening and sighed. “Typical.” Turning to see who it was Twilight was relieved to see her friends Applejack and Rainbow Dash. ‘At least those two won’t be here for books’ she thought, packing her librarians book stamper away in a draw. “Hey girls, can I help?” Dash and Applejack looked frazzled, Applejack responded first. “Hi Twilight, you haven’t seen Ditsy have you?” “Ditsy Doo? No I haven’t, are you waiting for a delivery too? You know she’s probably ended up flying somewhere tropical again…” Twilight eyed the assortment of coconuts, beads, strange idols and a grass skirt near the door that Ditsy had given her as way of apologizing for delayed deliveries. Applejack and Dash who trusted Twilight to be the last pony to gossip explained the events preceding their arrival at the library. “Oh my… That’s not like her at all, wait you say you checked everywhere?” “Yeah…” Dash replied. “We’ve been all over town.” Applejack stated. “Did you go to her house?” ... ... ... “You didn’t go to her house?!” ... ... ... As the two now left the library somewhat sheepishly with promises to tell Twilight what, if anything they found out, begged her not to mention it to anyone. Twilight hid her concern bid them farewell and as she closed the door she put the open/closed sign to closed. She was wondering if maybe she should have gone with them when a knock came at the door. ‘Ooohh, if they’ve forgotten where she lives’ Twilight thought, turning back she opened the door. “Hello” Twilight looked at the unfamiliar pony in front of her. “Um hi…?” “Can I come in?” “What for…?” “Because it’s a library…?” The stallion looked a little confused as he continued. “This is a library yes?” Pointing a hoof at the sign outside the tree he gave her a big grin like a foal. “Umm it’s a little late, I’m closing…” He gave her the most disarming smile. “I promise I’ll be quick.” Now he was giving Twilight puppy dog eyes. “Do you want a particular book maybe?” Twilight asked hoping to get rid of this stallion fast. “Mythical beast’s myths and legends volume two...” The stallion stood giving Twilight a hopeful look. “Uh, well I think we might...” “Great!” The stallion slid past Twilight and a made a beeline for the shelves. “Hey... No... Wait...” Twilight was unsure what to. “Hey that’s science fiction.” “Oh, OK…” The stallion replied switching shelves. “That’s gardening…” The stallion stopped. “Why would you have gardening next to sci-fi?” “I don’t organize the books.” Twilight blushed. “But you’re the librarian?” He stood giving her a quizzical look. “Aren’t you?” “Well yes but my assistant usually....” She trailed off. The stallion gave her a sympathetic look that made her feel both relieved and the world’s silliest filly. “Uh I think... Maybe over there…” She pointed her hoof towards the bookshelf in the far corner of the room partially hidden by a giant potted plant. Twilight vaguely remembered seeing a book called Draconicus on a shelf over there. “Thanks.” The stallion trotted over and began scanning the shelves. “You’re welcome…?” Twilight replied still puzzled, gaining no response in return except a grunt. Moving to a more than reasonable distance Twilight eyed the stallion with a slight frown. She silently wished he’d find the book and leave, but wait…! She didn’t know him! Was he even a member? Did he have any intention of returning the book? Twilight began to tense up and then she realized, if he wasn’t a member then he’d have to register and that would take time! Her one night this week she was alone to relax and some stranger turns up out of the blue, Twilight remembered Applejack and Dash ‘Oh I hope they’re having better luck than me’ she wondered. Twilight hopes weren’t too far from the mark, Applejack and Dash had gotten to Ditsy’s house and found the lights on through the curtains. ‘Odd’ Applejack thought, she looked at the sky it was late but the sun was only just beginning to descend slowly. Dash loudly and impatiently banged on the door. “Ditsy you there…?” “Hey.” Applejack shushed Dash. “You’ll scare her again.” Dash looked apologetically at her and it was then AJ noticed she looked exhausted. Without the constant naps Dash usually had she looked awful after a day traipsing around Ponyville. Knocking softer this time Dash called again. “Ditsy please let us in; we just want to know you’re OK.” “We got muffins.” “We haven’t got muffins.” Applejack hissed. “I know, but it might work...” “Fine but you tell her that you lied, I’m innocent.” Dash sniggered knowing full well who had eaten most of the muffins they’d bought in search of Ditsy, and then complained because of the low standard of apple used in the apple muffins. After a few more minutes of knocking, they were relieved to hear the sound of hooves on wood behind the door giving each other a look that said ‘finally’. They were surprised when as the door opened it revealed a pony that nervously squeaked. “Yes...?” Dash recognised the orange mane immediately. “Oh hi Carrot Top.” “Oh Dash... it’s you, can I help you?” Fear was evident in her voice. Both Applejack and Dash exchanged worried looks. “Uh is Ditsy here?” “Ditsy… No she’s not here, sorry…” “Have you seen her at all today?” “Only this morning...” Carrot Top trailed off her eyes unfocused, she momentarily glanced back indoors as if looking for something, as she did her mane shifted slightly and Applejack noticed a long but shallow scratch partially obscured. “Is everything ok? You seem nervous, do you mind if we come in?” Applejack asked this hoping she could get a better look under Carrot Top’s mane. “What, no I’m fine.” The scared pony stammered a little before regaining her composure. “I’ll tell Ditsy you came by.” With that she disappeared as the door closed. Applejack turned to Dash. “Ah’m starting to get worried, something just ain’t right.” “You and me both” Dash replied. As the pair walked away, Applejack piped up. “Uh Dash, why did Carrot Top answer Ditsy’s door?” Dash blinked. “Its Carrot Top’s house, Ditsy just lives there.” “Oh.” Applejack frowned then blushed. Dash saw Applejack’s slightly embarrassed expression. “Just housemates...” Dash remembered their previous discussion earlier about Lyra and Bon Bon. “OK.” Applejack said it quickly turning her head so Dash wouldn’t see her blushing harder which of course meant she missed Dash also turn away blushing. “So… What now?” Dash asked awkwardly as she focused once again on the task in hoof. “Uh, back to Twilight ah s’pose, she’ll know what to do.” Dash nodded and turned with her friend back towards the library. Twilight looked at the clock, it was nearly seven o’clock the night had fallen and she was making yet another cup of tea for the strange pony that still hadn’t left yet. The pony had somewhat mysteriously managed to convince her despite her better judgement to allow him to read the section of the book that he was after and eventually found under the leg of the dining table. Twilight wasn’t going to allow him to leave with it since he claimed he had membership but didn’t have his card on him, but only after he waved a blank piece of paper in front of her and then seemed confused when she just blankly stared at him. She was confused, he spoke with such authority but when questioned he was nonchalantly evasive and somehow she had ended up telling him a shortened version of her own life story! Figuring he’d finish sooner or later and abandoning all hope of a relaxing bubble bath Twilight jumped as the sound of knocking came from the front door. Looking over at her somewhat unwelcome guest who hadn’t reacted to the door Twilight hoped it was Spike, or Applejack and Dash with news of Ditsy. Hurrying to the door Twilight’s leg buckled with shock as she opened it. There framed in the light of the doorway was... “Princess Luna!!!” Twilight stammered using her position on the floor to half rise, half bow. “P-please Miss Sparkle don’t, I mean it’s not necessary r-really.” Luna wasn’t happy when everyone bowed to her it made her feel unapproachable. “I’m sorry to disturb you it’s just that I need your help...” CRASH!!! Both Twilight and Luna jumped as the sound of breaking pottery resounded through the library. As Twilight turned to the sound, Luna poked her head through the door to see for herself, the stallion gave them a cheeky grin and a wave. He looked from the broken pot that had fallen from the window sill he was halfway out of to the two ponies who were staring back at him, mostly the one peering through the door though. “Um, hello again...” He spluttered around the book in his mouth. “…My book!!!” “…YOU!!!” Luna screamed deafening Twilight who had cried out first. “…GUARDS!!!” “Oh I don’t think we need bother…“ The stallion managed to say before the royal guards quickly descended on him as he struggled to get out the small window. Moments later... “WHO ARE YOU…?” Luna demanded stamping a hoof. The stallion sat between the two guards in the middle of the library floor, Twilight was just off to the side having just caught up with the situation in hand thanks to Princess Luna, who was interrupted by a few mild half hearted protests from the anonymous stallion. The stallion sat there, looked around, took a deep breath and said. “I’m just a traveler, well a passer by if you like.” He smiled innocently at Luna. She bristled. “What’s your name?” This time one of the guards forcefully nudged the prisoner. “Ohhh sorry didn’t I say?” A foal like grin on his face... Luna blinked, she paused and then recovered. “HOW DARE YOU, I AM A PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA AND YOU WILL TELL ME YOUR NAME!!!” “No.” Luna faltered, she wasn’t good with ponies at the best of times but this one just unnerved her, it wasn’t that she was scared of him, he just didn’t stop smiling and she watched him she couldn’t help but feel like she trusted him? She shook her head. “Why not…?” She asked rather less forcibly. “You didn’t say the magic word.” Now if Luna still had the powers of Nightmare Moon there was no doubt in Twilight’s mind Luna would have shot him into the sun. “Do you think me a mere filly? You dare mock me in such a way!!!” Luna was vibrating with power now as the air crackled with energy. “Well… What’s the magic word?” He asked expectantly waiting for her to say the word. The wind deserted Luna’s sails as Twilights and the guards jaws dropped. For a second Luna looked as if she’d cry, then lowering her head a little she gave in. “Please?” “Nope not it… Sorry.” “W...W...” And that was all that Luna could manage dumbstruck at his daring. The guards looked at the princess unsure of whether or not they could start pummeling when Twilight stepped forward and in her most irritated voice she asked. “Then what is it...” The stallion smiled before rearing up and shouting! “It’s… ALON – SY” *STAMP* *SHOVE* As one guard fell sideways and the other cried out as his hoof went numb, the stallion sprang for the still open door past a shocked Luna and almost made it. “Hey Twilight” why is the door wide open?” *CRASH!!!* Twilight’s assistant Spike was bowled over as he was hit head on by the fleeing stallion both going head over hooves into a pile outside the door. Luna’s guards were still recovering their wits as the Princess with Twilight in tow rushed outside. The stallion was barely to his feet when Luna tip of her unicorn horn glowing with magic shouted. “Stop right there in the name of...” She paused. “In the name of my sister, I command you to stop.” Amidst the momentary silence as the stallion weighed his options the most horrifying screaming accompanied by shouts of anger rent the air, coming as it seemed from down the street. Luna panicked as Twilight froze; Twilight instinctively knew that voice shouting… No it couldn’t... That voice belonged to... Frightened Twilight shouted into the night. “…RAINBOW DASH!!! I’M COMING!!!” The stallion began to run in the direction of the screams, Twilight although frightened followed him without hesitation all the while calling her friends name. As Luna’s guards appeared beside her she too took off towards the noise, her heart thumping she ran like never before… Barely moments had passed as those running reached the source of the screams in the mouth of an alleyway between two of Ponyville’s shops, in the ally inadequately lit by street lamps stood Rainbow Dash. The stallion skidded to a halt and surveyed the scene, Twilight mere seconds behind didn’t stop she ran straight to Dash who as she got closer staggered and fell with a deep wound across her chest and what looked like claw marks down her back. Twilight was speechless as she nuzzled the side of the now unconscious Dash, as she did though out the corner of her eye she saw another prone form, she gave a strangled sob as she saw Applejack laying a few feet away. Despite her own fear Luna approached the scene and after a moment’s hesitation at the horror of it all she ran to Twilight who now stood sobbing uncontrollably between her fallen friends with no clue what to do. As Luna reached her side Twilight looked up and through the tears asked “What do... …I do?” She cried out, “Save them, please Princess Luna I know you can!” Luna backed away looking around she saw her guards close by one was scanning the surrounding area for the culprit, the other was watching the strange stallion. Luna focused on the stallion; he had a strange metallic object between his teeth the end of which was giving off a bright blue light and a shrill sound that grew stronger or faded as he waved it in different directions. “Princess Please....” Twilights strangled sobbing brought Luna’s thoughts back to the two injured ponies. “I-I can’t...” “I know you can Princess, please help them!!!” Twilight’s voice cracked as she screamed the last part. Luna was frozen, Celestia had warned her not to play Goddess, saving ponies or choosing which ponies to save was dangerous ground not to be trifled with and as Celestia had said, you can’t save them all. Luna shook her head and tried to explain this to Twilight but she couldn’t, the purple mare just continued to plead with her. Luna remembered what these ponies had risked against nightmare moon, if it hadn’t been for them... She stamped her hoof, consequences be damned she thought. Summoning all her power and focusing all of her talent and concentration Luna cast the most complicated of healing spells she knew. The moon princess, Luna, sister to Celestia and maiden of the night spread her wings wide and the world around the group became nothing but light. The still forms of Dash and Applejack floated as if on strings off the ground, their bodies began to slowly repair, in mere moments Luna’s confidence increased. Their wounds sealed themselves as newly growing hair covered the rapidly fading scars… Almost as quickly as it began the light dissipated as Dash and Applejack once more lay on the ground. Twilight was speechless, slowly she leaned over and poked each of her friends with a hoof; both twitched and were breathing as if asleep. “Thank Celestia…” Twilight cheered, her tears still flowing but in a happier sense. Remembering the Princess beside her Twilight looked up and registering the dreamy yet slightly crestfallen look on Luna’s face, she corrected herself. “I meant... Thank Luna…” Cringing slightly she waited for Luna’s response which didn’t come. Luna had because of her power temporarily linked to her sister, although Luna could tell Celestia didn’t exactly disapprove of saving the two she could still sense that the impending lecture upon her return to the castle would be lengthy. Looking down at the relief on Twilight’s face said it all, as far as Luna was concerned her sister could stuff the lecture, to the sun with her and her rules she thought. All this commotion had brought a crowd of onlookers onto the streets and they had gathered at the entrance of the alleyway. Luna’s guards had moved to said entrance and were blocking it as only they knew how. Luna looked around as she remembered the strange stallion now left unguarded by the guards; she then saw the tail end of said stallion disappear around the other much darker end of the alleyway. “No… Not after all this… He’s not getting away this time!” Luna took off literally and sped towards the alleyway’s end, as she turned the corner she saw the stallion disappear around yet another corner not too far away. Without hesitation she followed but then cautiously slowed down as she got too near… Maybe following him secretly would yield answers? She hoped so as followed him with exaggerated care, studying him from a distance as he followed the strange sounds emitted by the metallic tube in his mouth. Then it hit her! For the first time she was alone! Outside the castle! Sure she’d been alone on the moon for a millennia, but she had nothing to fear up there, now she was all alone in the dark following a crazy stallion with whatever attacked those ponies running loose somewhere… She realized right away she was afraid…
Part Four: An Unusual Introduction and a Strange Passer-by.Part Four: An Unusual Introduction and a Strange Passer-by. Twilight checked yet again the still sleeping forms of her friends Applejack and Dash as she adjusted the quilt over them as they lay next to each other in her bed. The royal guards Biggs and Wedge as Twilight had found out they were called who had accompanied Luna were downstairs having carried the two mares to the library after they had sent home the mob of worried ponies that had gathered outside the alleyway. That however was forgotten as she could hear them argue about who was supposed to have been watching Luna, reaching the living room her usual tactful demeanor and calming influence disappeared and she yelled loudly at both of them. “YOU BOTH SCREWED UP OK! ACCEPT IT!” “The Princess Luna’s who knows where… A monster or a thing or something is hurting ponies, oh and I almost forgot… Some loony pony is out there with her and all you can do is argue?!” Biggs and Wedge exchanged embarrassed looks and hung their heads, ‘sorry’ they murmured in unison. “Better.” A still seething Twilight tried to calm herself as her thoughts sifted the current events. Mayor Mare of Ponyville had sent a message through Spike immediately to Princess Celestia and had left Twilight to care for her friends while she organized the inhabitants of Ponyville to stay indoors and hopefully prevent anymore attacks from whatever was out there. Twilight glanced out the window, all of Ponyville had their lights on burning bright and despite the memory of the night’s terror for a brief moment it looked so beautiful against Luna’s night sky. “Oh Luna…” Twilight breathed. “Please be safe.” Luna was sort of safe… She was sat dejectedly on her haunches against a moldy log inside a small clearing and staring at the night sky, Shivering with anger she cursed her luck. While following that bizarre Stallion Luna had stumbled and twisted her hoof, to make matters worse she had done this shortly after following her quarry into the Everfree forest outside of town. Luna tried again to heal her hoof but in saving the two ponies earlier she’d used far too much power and now couldn’t focus because of her tiredness and the fact she hadn’t eaten since breakfast as her stomach was now insistently reminding her of. *RUSTLE* ... *CREAK* Luna froze as the sound of disturbed leaves and creaking wood came from behind her. Terrified, she slowly turned... And nothing was there... Confused she began to curse her imagination when the sounds happened again, this time clearly behind her but definitely sounding like they came from above her… Tilting her head slowly up she stared into the branches of the tree behind her, as a pair of golden eyes stared back. “EEEEEYAH…” Luna screamed tumbling forwards as she tripped in her haste and fell in a heap on the grass and leaves of the forest floor. Quickly and painfully she scrambled to her hooves and panicking looked again at the branch but the eyes hadn’t moved, or had they? Through the shock and confusion she looked harder. The eyes were indeed still there, but didn’t seem to be... No they were definitely pointing in different directions? “Goodbye…” A weak voice stammered as the eyes slowly shifted direction. Luna’s mind went off in several different directions as the eyes continued to sort of watch her. When her train of thought returned to the station, all she could muster was... “D-don’t you mean hello?” “Uh no... No I mean y… I meant hello…” “Are you planning to try to attack me by any chance?” Luna trembled slightly as she asked. “N-no, no reason to, why afraid me...?” Luna’s mind once again hit a stumbling block at the reply, after giving it a moment’s thought she inquired hopefully. “Did you mean, you have no reason to and why am I so afraid?” Luna held her breath. “Y-Yes...” Luna relaxed just slightly. “Um, could you come down so I can see you?” Luna braced herself for whatever might emerge, seconds ticked by before the sound of movement and then… *CRASH* Whatever had been in the tree had fallen out into a bush directly below. Luna tried to stay calm as a shape climbed awkwardly from the bush. After a fair bit of commotion and completely random words and curses, the entity behind the eyes finally stood in the clearing before the princess. The relief washed through Luna’s body as she realized it was just a young Pegasus mare albeit a rather disheveled and oddly behaved one. The mare who had a blonde mane and grey coat shuffled nervously scuffing the ground with a hoof. “Misunderstanding apologies accept…” She gave Luna a sorrowful look as Luna unpicked this in her mind. “O-of course…” She paused noting the timid nod of the grey mare, one eye looked straight at her the other was pointing somewhere off to the left, Luna felt a migraine fast approaching. “So, uh... what’s your name?” The grey mare hesitated. “I’m Luna, nice to meet you...?” A pause, a shuffle, then... “Ditsy…” “…Nice to meet you Ditsy.” The following conversation was complicated somewhat by the young mares inability to string together coherent sentences Luna thought. Upon inspection the mare’s outward appearance seemed broken and fearful, although the eyes seemed to lend a comical slant to the poor mare and Luna tried ‘royally’ hard to not break out in nervous laughter despite the ludicrous set of events beforehand. After explaining she’d been following a pony after the attack on Twilight’s friends into the forest but had lost him, Luna waited patiently for Ditsy to respond. After a momentary pause to re-align her eyes, Ditsy realised the strange looking pony had said Twilight’s friends! Stammering profusely she responded. “Who? Twilights hurt friends?” Luna cocked her head, her eye twitched as her tired mind caught up. “Uh, it was Applejack and... Rainbow Dash...” The grey mare looked crushed. “Do... Do you know them?” The now crying grey mare nodded, Luna quickly continued… “But as I said, they’ll be fine I promise! I healed them myself!” Ditsy nodded again, bolstered by the confidence in the strange mare’s voice. Ditsy concentrated harder on her eyes, as she successfully managed to get them dead center she studied the pony in front of her. Luna shifted uneasily as both the mare’s eyes suddenly focused straight at her, for a moment she wondered if she should say something before.... “You not white, only pony familiar know white.” Luna grasped for straws until she saw Ditsy’s eyes flicker between her horn and her wings, well that and about a million other things as they began moving around again. “The only allicorn you know is Celestia?” Ditsy nodded. “Well… I am Celestia’s younger sister Luna!” Celestia hated her using the ‘younger’ part and so Luna had made a point of it from then on. A blank look a moment’s thought and an ‘um’ from Ditsy told Luna she had some P.R to arrange back at the castle. “Princess of the moon…? Princess Luna?” Nothing... Luna sighed. “I used to be nightmare moon?” Yep Bull’s-eye Luna thought as she trotted unsteadily back to the base of the tree the mare had first fallen out of. “You don’t need to be afraid; I won’t hurt you...? Please come back down…” “Not for Muffins!!!” In the morning back in Ponyville… After a night of fear and speculation for the ponies of Ponyville they were soon relieved as they saw Celestia’s sun rising in the sky. Celestia after arriving in Ponyville had immediately set about calming its terrified inhabitants while taking stock of the situation. Biggs and Wedge the two royal guards assigned to Luna however had suffered Celestia’s wrath, as they stood outside the library’s front door they were under no illusion thanks to Celestia’s vocal tirade what was in store for them. If something happened to Princess Luna their future lay either on the moon or as part of the palace gardens decorations due to Celestia’s seldom referred to in public habit of turning those who displeased her to stone. She had also added that even if Luna returned unscathed the consequences would still be dire dropping a comment about posting them to some inhospitable corner of Equestria. The usually steadfast guards secretly wished a quick doom and pondered if they would get a chance to pose before becoming ornaments or if they would at least be able to take a pack of cards to the moon. Inside the library Celestia paced back and forth muttering to herself, it had taken a while to assimilate Twilight’s recollection of events and they worried her. Luna was a Goddess after all Celestia reasoned, alright a Goddess who was actually as pure and innocent as they were supposed to be, despite her past… This thought niggled Celestia, Luna hadn’t been back long and it was if she had been reborn, she had knowledge of the times before nightmare moon, but she was little more than a filly back then... Out there in the real world Luna had proved useless at adapting to modern conventions and Celestia was worried, Luna had been gone all night and Twilight’s description of the stallion Luna had been chasing significantly worried the Princess, an hour glass cutie mark Twilight had said... Celestia tried not to think of what his reappearance could mean, or why Twilight’s description clashed with her memories of that troublesome stallion, had he changed again she wondered…? “Princess…” A deep voice intoned her title. Celestia turned to the Pegasus royal guard that had been waiting patiently as she paced. “Yes Aquilinus…” “You’re wearing out the floor Marm…” Celestia blinked. “Oh- yes, I suppose…” “Um… Aquilinus?” “Yes Marm.” “How long have I been pacing?” “Three hours Marm.” “Oh…” Celestia blushed, it wasn’t the slightly concerned eyes of her guard watching her or his slow deliberate tone which sounded almost parental it was just that Aquilinus always treated her respectfully but firmly, there wasn’t another pony in Equestria who dared to point out when she was being irrational or was acting improperly. She gave him a warm smile. “Thank you Aquilinus.” “Marm…” Celestia disembarking her train of thought and looking for a distraction looked around for her prized pupil Twilight. “In the kitchen Marm, she’s been in there the whole time.” “Thanks…” Celestia headed to the kitchen door at the back of the library, making a mental note not to forget to send Aquilinus an extra something on his coming birthday. Twilight was used to staying up all night reading, being up all the night worrying about Dash and Applejack not to mention Luna and whatever else was out there had short circuited the purple unicorn and so she was bustling round the kitchen in a daze. “Twilight dear…” Celestia called as she entered, “Princess Celestia! Is there any news…?” The young unicorn asked. “Not yet, the search parties I sent still haven’t returned…” “W-well no news is good news right?” Twilight responded hopefully. “Of course…” Celestia said silently thanking her astute if a little naive student. Celestia used the momentary pause following this to look at her surroundings, a homely kitchen if she ever saw one, but as she glanced around she realised the mess it was in. “Ah, Twilight… Is everything OK?” “Huh…” Twilight paused, as she came back to reality she immediately tried to explain the kitchen and why it looked as if a storm had passed through. “I was cooking breakfast for every pony, me Applejack and Dash…” *Pause* “And you, the guards…” She trailed off before finishing lamely. “I’m not a good cook though… I had to start again…” Another pause followed as she added. “A couple of times...” Celestia decided not to rub salt in the wound by pointing out the burnt toast or the lumpy looking soup arranged haphazardly on tea trays or the pile of rather sloppy looking pancakes threatening to ooze off the plates nearby. “Quite a mix of... Things…” Twilight blushed. “I didn’t know what everyone would like.” “So you cooked what you had right.” The Princess asked in what she thought was a positive tone. Twilight embarrassed by her disastrous efforts could only nod. “You’re a kind pony Twilight; at least you showed your willingness to try.” Twilight blushed again at the obvious attempt to praise her effort if not the results. “Is something burning?” “Oh my… The hay fries!!!” Twilight panicked again rushing to the oven hurriedly. ‘Fries, pancakes, toast and soup’ Celestia wondered if instead of learning about friendship Twilight should have attended cooking classes. As Twilight was putting the fries to rest in the bin and Celestia despite Twilights objections began to clean the kitchen the first of the sleeping mares upstairs awoke. During the confusion of the previous night’s events Twilight had forgotten to close her bedroom curtains, it was now as the morning sun shone through said window onto the face of Applejack that it’s gentle rays woke her. Not fully conscious and her mind not yet able to function, Applejack rolled over to her other side to escape the painfully bright sunshine screwing her eyes shut as she did. After a few seconds Applejack realized something wasn’t right, shifting slightly something tickled her nose. Quickly she realized she could hear soft breathing, and as she thought about it this didn’t feel like her bed? Cautiously she opened an eye, quickly shutting it again Applejack froze, her heartbeat beginning to reach dangerous levels. Trying to slow her now rapid breathing Applejack opened both eyes this time and focused on what was tickling her nose. The multi colored mane was spread right across Dash’s pillow across onto Applejack’s. Dash!!! Applejack panicked as she tried to shuffle out of the bed, this however caused Dash to moan softly and turn over. Before she could stop her Dash had rolled over and on coming in contact with the startled mare she had instinctively snuggled closer to the warmth wrapping herself around the now hyperventilating farm pony from tip to tail. ‘How..?’ Applejack thought back as she desperately tried to remember what had happened before well... This…? Looking around she tried to remember but then it struck her, this was not her bed or Rainbows, not her place or Dashes for that matter, where in the hay had she ended up? Then the sleepover she’d had with Twilight and Rarity a while ago surfaced in her mind. Oh no, this was Twilight’s room and her bed!!! As if on cue Twilight backed through the bedroom door using her magic to levitate what looked like a breakfast tray in front of her. Applejack was frozen in time; she was on her side in a different bed with a different pony now sprawled all over her and the beds owner was bringing in breakfast! Applejack winced as she began to realize how uncomfortable much her body was feeling and that it was aching quite badly in places. Twilight a little startled by the scene before her expecting her charges to be still asleep, saw the pained expression on Applejack’s face and chided her quietly as she laid the tray on her bedside table on Applejacks side of the bed. “You shouldn’t move too much, not after last night.” Applejack tried desperately to relax her breathing after Twilight said that, but the heart beating alongside hers was a mite distracting. She tried again to remember as much of the previous night as she could but nothing came forth to aid her recollection. She paused, then in light of the still sleeping Dash whispered. “Uh Twilight, just what the hay happened last night, ah remember leaving Carrot Top’s place then asking Rainbow if she wanted to get a drink before we carried on searching for Ditzy...” Looking back down to the slumbering form laying out against her she turned a deep shade of red and as she glanced at Twilight’s unkempt hair and tired expression she drew several conclusions (all wrong) and as her imagination kicked in her mind promptly shutdown as its self preservation instinct cut in. Twilight watched as Applejack turned a variety of red shades while soundlessly opening and closing her mouth. Twilight innocent in such things didn’t understand Applejack’s expression and assumed she was reliving the night’s terrors. “It’s okay Applejack…” Twilight soothed as she reached a hoof towards Applejack to calm her, the farm pony flinched at the gesture and tried to climb from the bed and out the embrace Dash had her in. Twilight barely managed to say ‘be careful’ as Applejack clipped the waiting breakfast tray, without thinking she instinctively tried to grab at it only making matters worse as she lost her balance and slipped off the edge of the bed. It was Rainbow Dash who now woke up as the fluffy apple scented cloud she was sleeping on in her dream suddenly moved and pulled her with it. As Applejack landed on her back on the floor, her hind hooves still on the bed, Dash still half on the bed ended up face down with her chin on Applejack’s chest. Applejack craned her head forward as Dashes eyes went as wide as saucers at their predicament. “Uh, hi Sugacube…” *SPROING* *CRASH* The breakfast tray and its dubious contents were finally laid to rest along with Twilight’s alarm clock and bedside lamp as Dash’s wings unfolded involuntarily. “Is everything alright Twilight?” Celestia asked as she popped her head round the door. This was the last straw for Applejack as she fainted… In the Everfree... Deep in the Everfree forest Luna sneezed. Luna shook her head, it wasn’t fair, eventually she’d talked the mare Ditsy out of the tree, but that was only the beginning ... it had been a cold damp night. “Are you sure it’s this way?” Luna had lost count of just how many times they’d been past the tree she was now shivering miserably under. Ditsy was a wreck, she was too weak to fly, her memory was shot and her eyes hurt from crying about something she refused to talk about. The two stayed there for a while before they heard the sound of approaching hooves! Luna tried to hide but the stranger had appeared through the trees a few yards away and was going almost parallel to Luna. The Princess stood still hoping the figure in a cloak would pass them by, silently she turned to Ditsy to re-assure her... ...Where’d she go…? “Zecora!!!” Ditsy called as she used the last of her energy to reach the startled zebra. “Zecora!!!” Luna stumbled to Ditsy’s side as the stranger tossed back her hood and knelt beside Ditzy, a concerned look upon her face. “Oh child who flies astray, how did you end up this way…?” Luna listened to the strange sing song pronunciation of the zebra before her and pleaded. “Please help us…” The zebra looked up. “Of that child you can be sure, but how unusual to have dinner for four.” Later in Ponyville... Back in the town library, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were coming to terms with the actual events of last night after leaving Ditsy’s place. The two of them along with Twilight and Princess Celestia sat in the main room of the library; each had given their own perspective on what had transpired what they could remember that is… Now they were waiting as Aquilinus had gone to check in with the search parties. With every local pony indoors or searching for Luna, Celestia had ordered Biggs and Wedge to collect and return with the remaining Elements of Harmony. Celestia firmly believed that the combined Elements of Harmony would help overcome the evil that had appeared in Ponyville, and in the process return her beloved Luna to her... As Celestia continued to think happy thoughts Twilight was bewildered by the behaviour of her two friends; neither Dash nor Applejack had looked at or spoken to each other for nearly half an hour at this point. Twilight unaware of the reasons behind the unspoken tension between the two remained confused as she sat as close as dignity allowed to her mentor for reassurance, feeling useless and insignificant amongst all the strife... Normally she would have checked her books for an answer but something told her the book she needed had been stolen by that stallion, Twilight tried to figure out at which point he could have possibly have swiped it during the confusion…? Somewhere sat at a table… The stallion in question flipped through the pages of the book he’d ‘borrowed’ and together with the one he had ‘borrowed’ from Canterlot he pieced together the clues he’d gathered and came to only one conclusion… …The tea he was drinking tasted horrible! As he pulled a face he placed the cup down, then as an after thought said to no pony in particular ‘Alonsy’ and finished it in one giant gulp, if that was the most horrible thing that was going to happen this day then what the hay he thought. Besides he’d had worse earlier in that café… That mare knew her sweets and muffins but sod all about the art of tea he mused, thinking way back he thought of an old companion of his a young grey mare who could make a killer cuppa… …His reminiscing over he stared down at the page he had open, ‘Oh dear’ he thought.
Part Five: A Doctor for Dinner.Part Five: A Doctor for Dinner. Luna began to warm to Zecora as between them they carried the limp form of Ditsy. Fortunately Zecora’s home wasn’t far and as they approached the door Luna felt safer already, after all Ditsy had run straight to the mare so she must trust this Zecora she reasoned. Barely had Zecora reached a hoof for the door when it opened inwards and a familiar face emerged. “Oh, hello… I Thought I heard something!” The brown earth stallion stood for a moment in surprise and then motioned them to enter... Luna had given up, she was cold tired scared and hungry, and soon she was sat next to Ditsy on the floor in Zecora’s front room. Across the room ‘that stallion’ was reading books from a large bookcase on the wall, even if she had the energy to ask she knew there was nothing she could do to force a straight answer. Zecora was stood off to the side, keeping busy as she prepared food and drinks, keeping an eye on Ditsy and occasionally giving a smile or nod towards the stallion when he surfaced for the next book or to Luna when she caught her eye. She treated the stallion like an old friend Luna noted, she watched over the grey mare wrapped in a blanket laid out on a pile of cushions, the signs of possible fever beginning to surface. At this point, Luna couldn’t help but gently fall asleep, gradually her tiredness overcame her and moving to lie down next to Ditsy she felt her mind drift away and her body succumb… Zecora watched as the two mares slept, Luna having unconsciously slipped a wing over Ditsy, the zebra smiled at this and turned towards the pile of books on the table. “Soon we feast, but you are yet to tell me how you plan to trap the beast…” Zecora’s eyes narrowed as she moved closer to better observe the reaction her only conscious guest. “Yes, well, missing a few things at the moment.” “Oh…?” The stallion stopped scanning the book he had open and looked for the first time worried. “I know what it is; I know where it is… Now if I can just figure out how to stop it.” Zecora frowned. “Tell me what manner of demon kind, can so worry a lord of time” Hesitating slightly he eventually answered as his eyes clouded slightly as if he were seeing it before him, he had encountered one before but pushing that memory away he ignored her comment temporarily. “Been traveling alone for a while…” “Thought I might visit a friend or two (looking at Zecora with a smile she returned) but as soon as I arrived something was wrong, bit of running around and Bob’s your uncle…” He grinned catching Zecora off guard. “So…?” “It’s a silmeragan” Zecora gasped. “You sit there like a fool when others may suffer the hands of a ghoul!” She shouted this in surprise as the Stallion flinched. The zebra was working up a terrible rage as she imagined the horror unleashed on her friends in Ponyville. “Before… How did you destroy the beast… …That you can say at least?” “Ah well I sort of kind of dropped it into a black hole.” Upon seeing Zecora’s stunned look he simply said… “Bit tricky to pull off…” “…Well unless you enjoy going hoof to hoof with a giant bitey clawy monster that can’t be sedated, poisoned or coerced…” He finished by waving his hooves in front of his face for a scary effect as Zecora failed to smile, she simply hung her head and asked… “So what now… When you know not how…?” Looking quietly down at the two sleeping mares he frowned, bit his lip and answered. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t for a while that Luna finally awoke, and when she did the previous day and night of exertion had taken its toll upon her as she struggled with stiff aching muscles to get to her hooves. As she stood she noticed Zecora was the opposite side of Ditsy and she was placing a tray of muffins next to her nose. “Miss Zecora… Is it?” “Yes…” “Muffins…?” “Her fever is already passing, those bowls...” Zecora waved a hoof at two small wooden bowls she had placed nearby earlier with a steaming green liquid almost like syrup in them. “They contain herbs to help soothe and replenish yourselves when you breathe them in.” Luna was overjoyed to see her companion did indeed appear slightly less ragged in her breathing and seemed more peaceful than before Luna had slept. Bowing deeply and respectfully Luna began. “Thank you Miss Zecora, my name is Princess Luna… I cannot thank you enough for your help.” The zebra merely smiled and retired to cooking her cooking. Luna awkwardly looked at the stallion who was still engrossed in Zecora’s books. ‘Sniff…’ “…Muffins!!!” Luna looked down to see Ditsy still asleep but moving, her legs made slow circular motions as if trotting and her nose inched towards the muffins as it sniffed the air. Amused Luna watched as finally the sleeping Ditsy homed in and scoffed down the first treat without batting an eyelid, her second was millimetres from its fate when the Stallion suddenly crossed the room and sat next to her. “C-can I help you?” Luna asked tentatively, angry but blushing at his close presence. The stallion looked down at Ditsy and smiled. “Old friend of the family... Me that is.” “Really…?” That was Luna’s somewhat skeptical reply. “Oh yeah, I knew her mother Dixie, we traveled together a long time.” He grinned at the memories. Seeing Luna’s somewhat filly like blush he paused. “Oi you, not like that...” “We hung out, as mates…” Another blush... “H-Hey… Mates, friends, you know buddies?” Luna nodded but still hid behind her fringe as she continued to blush. “So she’s not....” “No…” He stated firmly. “Grandmother…” “Huh?” Both Luna and the stallion looked down. Ditsy had exterminated the last muffin without mercy and rolled onto her front blinking, as she studied the stallion in front of her, her eyes moved down noticing his cutie mark her smile grew wider. “Sorry, you said Grandmother?” “Dixie Doo, Grandmother!” *pause* “Ditsy Doo… Me!!!” “Not her daughter” “Nope” “Oh…” He scratched the back of his head absently… “Old… …Old friend of the family then...” Luna was about to ask the first of many questions mostly about age when Ditsy spoke first. “She told me!” Ditsy concentrated; she had wanted this chance since a filly. “Nanna Doo told me bedtime stories, her adventures as a young mare, her travels with the Doctor!!!” The Doctor... Luna’s mind almost shutdown, she knew that name, she had met... No she hadn’t… She was certain she had never met the pony beside her? It was becoming hard to think her mind began to feel drowsy. “Princess Luna…?” Ditsy looked concerned, so much so her eyes were both fixed straight on Luna. “I’m okay… I think.” The moon princess felt herself slowly return to the speed of her surroundings. Ditsy focused an eye on each of the ponies next to her. The doctor didn’t look happy; in fact he was frowning at Luna who hung her head still frail from her adventures, she tried to sort her swimming thoughts and emotions into some semblance of order. Still worried, Ditsy asked the stallion, “Doctor…?” “Doctor what happened… You back now?” The doctor blinked and studied Ditsy, confusion across his face… “Pardon...?” “She said you can tell your story over dinner…” Zecora had returned. “Right ho then…” The doctor gave Luna a glance then followed Zecora to a table in a corner of the room laden with food. “Luna OK…?” Ditsy still concerned gently nudged the Princess with her muzzle. “Sit next to me?” Luna gave a weak smile and followed the now energized Pegasus. As the four sat to eat, Ditsy repeated her question but slightly improved although it took a lot of effort. “So why you not come back? Nanna waited, you said you’d return… Trip to Gallophrey then back.” The doctor finishing a chip had a far off look in his eyes… “I couldn’t, I just couldn’t.” He paused as he had another chip… “It’s just me now, can’t go back.” Ditsy’s expression drooped. “You not travel some pony together?” “No… …Just me...” He reached for another chip. “Just me and the old girl...” “Old girl…?” Luna asked with other questions lined up but was ignored. Ditsy’s sadness at his quiet reflective tone, and the genuine loneliness contained beneath spurred her on. “Not alone, just waiting!” The doctor arched an eyebrow. “Waiting for what exactly?” Ditsy’s wings opened out as she pointed a hoof at herself smiling. “ME!!!” “Oooh yeah…” The doctor chirped mockingly. “And what makes you think I want another Doo following me around and getting under hoof and in trouble all the time.” “Easy! When save world, no one see you do it, me along you can be brainy and show-off.” Zecora’s laughter cut across the conversation. “Aha, it would seem this child fate bestows… A better companion do you know?” The doctor’s eyes gave away his feelings. “Well maybe, a quick trip…” He muttered absently before realizing he’d spoken aloud, seeing Ditsy’s eyes light up, he quickly added. “And then home…” “…I’m not a sightseeing tour and anyway, I’ve got a slight problem to deal with before any pleasure cruises.” Ditsy nodded enthusiastically. “Beat monster, can travel.” “Uh, yes well, I suppose, yes…?” The doctor could feel the mare’s excitement emanating from her in waves, a long repressed feeling awoke, the feeling to run and keep running with Ditsy by his side. Luna didn’t understand, this stallion, this mare, talking about adventures? “Just who are you…?” “I’m the Doctor.” “Ugh, I guessed that, Doctor what?” Luna’s attention switched as Ditsy mumbled. “Who...” “What…?” Luna asked her. “Meant to say… …Who?” “Huh…?” Luna was perplexed. The grey mare sighed. “Never mind…” Zecora stifled a laugh at Luna’s confused look. Luna’s temper began to fray as she tried to keep a level tone. “Never mind what you call yourself, how do I not remember meeting you when you address me as if we have, and why does your presence or mere mention affect me so...?” Her mind was still dogged by a nagging feeling she’d forgotten something, the humour drained somewhat from the Doctor’s eyes which took on a sombre glow again. “I was there, the final battle… The moment when Equestria hung in the balance between sun and moon, I helped seal Nightmare Moon’s power...” He continued… “You haven’t any memories because you...” *CRASH* Zecora’s front door exploded inwards, through the now much wider gap stepped three Pegasus of the Royal Guard! The three moved silently as they half encircled the still sitting quartet who just stared as Princess Celestia stormed into the room! Her horn was ablaze with magic. “…Doctor!!!” She snarled as she descended on the table, for his part the Doctor tried looking unconcerned and noticing Ditsy’s barely contained laughter as she tried not to look at the Doctor’s antics, he faced the Princess and said… “Urk… …Urggh...” “No! …Sister!!!” Luna came to life as Celestia pulled the Doctor off his rump and choked him with her magic! Her eyes burning like the sun she throttled him as all hay broke loose. Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony who till now had been patiently waiting for the signal charged on in hearing Luna’s cry from the inside. Upon entrance, they found the three guards stood unsure if to act before a rampant Goddess, Luna hung around her neck trying to pull her away, pleading with her not to kill the brown stallion suspended in mid air before them. As Twilight joined Luna in trying to avert murder, Ditsy was becoming a little worried about the Doctor, since he was turning a variety of colors while slowly choking after all, she spied her friends Applejack and Dash with her other eye and waved, too stunned by it all they slowly waved back. It was here, the host, homeowner and exceptionally furious zebra had had enough. Zecora went right up to Celestia and without hesitation or reverence declared. “I will not suffer blood spilt within these walls, for a Princess to act as if the playground calls.” As the Doctor’s last regeneration began passing before his eyes and he started to fade, Celestia though angry realized her stunned audience weren’t used to her somewhat less than professional side when she was riled up. She immediately began apologizing and turned to address Zecora. “Sister…” Luna cried out as Celestia acted as if she’d accidentally forgotten to release the Doctor…
Part Six: Explanations Arguments and Revealed Losses.Part Six: Explanations Arguments and Revealed Losses. Zecora was livid and afforded the sun princess no special treatment as she vented over her wrecked home. Celestia for her part stood stony faced and took the zebra’s tirade, all the while uttering less than repentant sounding apologies. The Doctor with Ditsy at his side was apparently out of it; Luna Twilight and the rest of the Elements were stood back watching open mouthed. After Zecora had calmed down Celestia and Luna had embraced in a sisterly show of mutual concern, the inevitable conversation about what had happened to them since the previous night began. Ditsy kept an eye on the Doctor, listening as Rainbow Dash explained how she ‘found’ Ditsy, then gone to Sweet Apple Acres, how Ditsy had taken flight (at this Ditsy shuffled and focused on the floor embarrassed) then her and Applejack’s search and it’s somewhat grisly conclusion. Twilight then continued with what happened after Luna had disappeared, Celestia’s arrival Dash and Applejack’s recovery and after missing out the breakfast and bedroom disasters explained how they had found Luna and co after exhausting all other possibilities and with a little help from a friend. Pinkie Pie had arrived at the library escorted by the royal guards and in a perfectly pinkie moment suggested using Applejack’s dog Winona to track Luna using Celestia as a scent template, being sisters and all… The party pony had beamed as her friends chalked it up to Pinkie’s random effect on the world around her. As every pony absorbed these events Luna began to explain her side, every now and then glancing between the Doctor and Ditsy and the now stoic yet still fired up inside while barely contained sister of hers. It was then Zecora who continued telling of how she encountered Luna and Ditsy and had returned home. Having established the events so far the assembled ponies turned and looked at Applejack as she cleared her throat. “Ah know things don’t exactly make a whole lot of sense right now, but Ah’m sure as hay sure it’s got something to do with him…” Pointing at the still floored Doctor. “…And ma girl Ditsy of course.” Applejack faced a fidgeting Ditsy and asked bluntly. “Hun, did you see you a monster? Is that why you were so scared?” Ditsy continued staring at the floor, her front hooves tracing little patterns. “Sugar, that thing attacked me and Dash, it’s gonna hurt some other pony, can y’all tell us anything Hun…?” Ditsy was agitated now, she didn’t know what to say, she couldn’t remember anything before she’d hit Dash mid-air, and she’d been cold and alone in the Everfree forest after running away from Applejack’s, until Luna arrived she hadn’t been able to figure out why she’d been so afraid so she’d hid in a tree to calm down. “Nothing…” She mumbled under her breath a tear slowly tracing down her cheek. Instinctively Luna moved to her and placed a comforting hoof around Ditsy’s shoulders as she continued to break down slowly. As Luna made soothing noises and stroked the distressed mare’s mane, her tears falling steadily now the Doctor opened his eyes just as another tear hit his face. “I’m OK no need to cry.” The Doctor said as he assumed she was upset over him. “N-Not you idiot…” Ditsy managed as she gently kicked him with a hoof. “Right... well... good…” He mumbled with a little disappointment in his voice. Luna, who now had an red faced Ditsy burying her face in her neck and shoulder, looked at those present, Celestia, Zecora, the Elements of Harmony, and the Royal Guard. “Doctor…” Luna said looking down. “…Help us…” Having the moon Princess act so sombre and meek, not to mention she used his name put the Doctor off guard a little. For a few seconds the Doctor just laid there as the room’s silence was broken by Ditsy’s soft crying. “…Right!!!” Jumping to his hooves the Doctor regained his composure, his big grin spreading across his face as he surveyed his audience. Without waiting for a response or recognition of his assumed authority he began. “Princesses… Guards mares and my old companion Zecora…” The zebra let her indignation slide at being singled out, after all, wasn’t she a mare? “There’s a very nasty critter on the loose and we need to work together on this!” As Celestia motioned to her guards to hold off beating him down she stepped forward letting her regal bearing take effect on those around her and spoke. “So what evil if not you… plague’s my lands…” “A Silmeragan.” All eyes focused on Celestia as her blood ran cold and her mouth fell open. “But... …But wasn’t the last of those… It was destroyed a thousand years ago…?” “What’s a Silmerage?” Twilight asked her mentor. “A Silmerage…” The Doctor butted in… “Is a creature about three inches squared, covered in fur and looks and sounds a bit like a Tribble except when they suck your blood that is...” “Huh…?” “A Silmeragan is a legendary beast over two ponies tall it has two long arms, two legs, red claws, is covered in putrid green scaly skin and has a head like a shark with double the teeth.” “That…” He looked to see if he still had their attention. “…Is a Silmeragan it doesn’t feed on flesh or blood, it absorbs the mental energy of its victims often keeping them somewhere in almost hibernation returning only to feed or dispose of the old or dead ones.” Seeing the shock and disgust in the room the Doctor paused. “Now hang on an apple picking minute, me and Dash were attacked…” Applejack piped up. “And ah don’t remember a giant green monster; in fact I don’t rightly remember anything about it at all.” The Doctor approached the farm pony. “That… Is because its claws and teeth are covered in a substance it’s immune to that disrupts your memory.” “It uses it to attack and restrain it prey and should its prey escape, it won’t remember being attacked and in most situations walk right back into the same situation again.” “Also it’s hard to hunt down because most survivors can’t remember to tell anyone what did it and mistake the injuries for bear attacks...” “So you’re saying anyone who gets away can’t remember…? But every pony else would about the missing ones!” Twilight piped up with her question ignoring the frown from the Doctor as he was interrupted mid flow. “But you said it captures its prey and keeps them prisoner…? …But there haven’t been any disappearances around Ponyville…?” The Doctor tried to explain it in lay pony terms. ”The Silmeragan projects a mental field using the minds of its victims to completely erase all thought and memory of the victim from the minds of those who know them.” Seeing the confusion rife on the faces of the group, he tried to explain it differently. “Imagine some pony gets attacked, when the silmeragan adds that mind to the field, all those within that field forget them.” “But what about pictures silly…?” Pinkie broke in. “I have pictures of all my friends; I’d never forget some pony just because of some icky monster or a magic spell.” “Yes... well…” The Doctor impressed by the pink ponies reasoning added. “If a pony close to you is added to the field, it erases all recognition from your mind to the extent you can look at a picture of that pony and your brain only registers the background…” “So... how big is this field exactly…?” Twilight interjected. The Doctor cocked his head to the side and inhaled sharply. “Oh…” *pause* “Well…” *pause* “Depends on how many ponies… The mental ability of the Silmeragan… How many ponies know the victims...?” “Sooo…?” Twilight pressed on. “Hundreds of miles…!” The Doctor answered in a hesitant tone. The gasp from the assembled group was loud as the implications sunk in. Pinkie Pie, a pony for who unsettling or depressing thoughts affected her deeply slid into denial as she countered angrily. “Don’t be a foal, there’s no way I’d forget a friend and I know all the ponies for miles around here.” “Really…?” The Doctor’s voice was cold as he responded, his eyes containing a small flicker of sympathy. “…For sure!!!” Pinkie bristled as she stared the Doctor down. “This Silmeragan is powerful and old, very old, so old and powerful in fact it’s even affected Celestia herself…” At this, the group turned to look at the Princess. “Nonsense…” She countered, full of self confidence. “Well explain then, why there is only five Elements of Harmony here.” A cold silence fell in the room as those present counted the Elements. “It’s... not possible…” Celestia shook her head. “No…” “…I....” The Elements took this worse than the Princess; Pinkie’s usually unmovable smile disappeared. Twilight just sat mouth open, her mind blank in shock. Dash and Applejack just shared a look of disbelief as Rarity just sat eyes brimming with tears, head held low. “I’m sorry…” The Doctor said to no one in particular. It was Luna still comforting Ditsy who spoke first. “So what now, how do we beat it? How do we find it?” It was Celestia who responded first, her rage building up inside. “I’ll kill it myself; I’ll blast it to pieces!!!” “We have to find it first…” Luna replied a little unnerved by her sister’s quick and violent response. It was then; Celestia caught the knowing look Zecora shared with the Doctor. “And what do you two know we don’t?” Zecora gave an apologetic smile to the Doctor as he face hoofed. “I know where its lair is…” His reply caused Celestia’s mane to ignite in a fiery burst burning like the sun. “You will show me immediately.” “Not that simple I’m afraid…” “WHY!!!” Celestia’s tone was deep and hate filled as she glared daggers at him. “If you kill it before we rescue its victims from its clutches, they’ll die right along with it, the creatures demise will cause the mental field to invert, collapse and fry the minds of those connected.” “…Oh…” Celestia managed, her fiery mane dimmed somewhat as his words sunk in. “So rescue first, kill later, job done.” All eyes turned to Ditsy as she emerged from her depression wiping her tears away with a hoof slowly separating herself from Luna’s comforting embrace. The Doctor was a little dismayed at Ditsy’s intelligent yet casually blood thirsty response but still gave her a small wink and a forced smile as he put it down to the situation in hoof, after all he didn’t relish the thought of ending a life, no matter how destructive it could be. The Doctor looked out the nearest window. “It’s light out, so the Silmeragan will still be asleep but it should leave to explore its territory or hunt around dusk...” “So we invade its lair when it’s dark and then once we’ve rescued all the ponies, we hunt ‘it’ for a change.” Twilight spoke in a confident yet slightly wavering tone. “No…” The Doctor said firmly. “The only ones to do that are Celestia and me; the rest of you will just get in the way or killed.” “Now hold on a minute, our friend is in there, and I sure as hay am not staying here when there’s a-rescuing to be done.” Applejack was joined by the other Elements who cried in unison. “…Yeah!!!” “I’m sorry…” The Doctor said before he asked… “What was her name again…?” This was like a slap across the face as the remaining five Elements all shared looks of confusion and pain. “I’m sorry, I really am, but this thing is just too dangerous, one scratch, one swipe of claw and you’re out of it, you’re either a victim without memory or just in the way.” “What about you? Aren’t you just as vulnerable?” Luna wasn’t sure but she could have sworn he gave her a look like she’d been dribbling. “I’m an expert!” He replied but mumbled absently to himself… “Sort of...” It was Ditsy who won the argument as she pointed out the possibly fatal flaw in the Doctor’s plan. “Who saves ponies if it not gone, if you busy fighting monster…” Luna quickly added to the jumbled speech. “And what if more need rescuing than the two of you can manage…?” The Doctor saw the looks passed between all those present and sighed deeply. “…Fine.” “So what do we do now doctor?” Luna instantly realized her mistake seeing Celestia’s angry expression. “Luna, you will stay away from him, I will deal with him later when this is over, until then the Doctor and I will stand guard as the others…” Celestia motioning a hoof at the Elements and her guards… “…Rescue any pony they find.” Celestia’s commanding tone gave every pony present little chance to argue, the Doctor just looked bemused as out of the corner of his eye he saw Ditsy silently laughing to herself as she mouthed to him… “In trouble now…” Responding with a warm hearted grin, the Doctor decided it was better just to play along like Celestia had said, ‘For now’. As every pony agreed to the plan, an argument broke out between the royal sisters over whether or not Luna was going along. The Royal guards Aquilinus, Biggs and Wedge went to patrol outside to escape any possible repercussion from earlier events. As the Elements, Zecora, Ditsy and the Doctor all retreated to the other end of the house as the arguing sisters got louder and more personal. Twilight watched stunned as her Princess’s raged away at each other, she’d never seen Celestia act like this and Luna didn’t seem like the foalish mare she’d met previously. She was stronger looking and definitely more defiant and stronger willed. “Be fine, he makes people out of shell.” “W-W... huh…?” Twilight turned to Ditsy who was looking at her while sat only a few hoof steps away. “S-sorry…” Ditsy mumbled going bright red, inwardly cursing her speech pattern she tried again. “Has effect on ponies, drives up wall.” *pause* “Magnet for trouble…” Pointing a hoof at the Doctor sat on a stool, he was once again behind the pages of a book. “So who is he…? Where’s he from…?” The other Elements and Zecora gathered round mostly because it was beginning to be difficult to hear anything over the royal expletives. Ditsy waited for every pony to settle then replied. “Gallophrey…” “Gallophrey…? Uh I’ve never heard of that town, is it near Manehatten or closer to Phillydelphia?” Rarity interrupted. “Surely you recognize a Trottingham accent… So cultured…” She mused flicking her gorgeous mane. “How about we look at this map you guys…?” Pinkie produced a very old map seemingly from nowhere. Ditsy ignoring where Pinkie got the map from for the sake of sanity shook her head. “Not on map.” “So where then, Space?” Dash interrupted pointing a hoof upwards mockingly. Ditsy nodded. The Elements laughed in unison. “I suppose he has a spaceship too...” Dash said, her sides splitting as she fell to the floor rolling about in laughter. “Maybe he came to steal all the cows…” Applejack snorted laughing along. “Oo… Maybe he’s like an intergalactic treasure hunter!” Rarity giggled at the idea of ‘space gems’. “Oh I know, maybe he’s like a famous intergalactic explorer on a five year mission!” Pinkie collapsed rolling around alongside Dash. Ditsy sighed... ... ... ... “It’s called a T.A.R.D.I.S… And he is from space… He’s the Doctor and he’s here to help…” The serious expression, forward facing stern looking eyes and the way she spoke with clearly absolute confidence she silenced the others who looked to Zecora for help… “Trouble he is and when around doubled it is, when he comes knocking more often than not it saves you from a coffin...”
Part Seven: Dr Whooves and the Cave of the Silmeragan.Part Seven: Dr Whooves and the Cave of the Silmeragan. Two princesses’ five elements a Doctor a mail mare a Zebra and three royal guards set off from Zecora’s home into the Everfree forest on a mission to rescue any survivors they could find in the cave of the monster. It was about time for it to be patrolling its territory according to the doctor so now was the best time for them to attempt so risky a venture, the self appointed leader rambled on as he led them deeper into the woods Following close behind was Ditzy and Zecora with Luna right behind them, the others weren’t so keen to be near him and with the three royal guards bringing up the rear they continued on. Princess Celestia was going through a wash of emotions as she followed the one creature in the universe that irritated her more than Discord, in fact when they had first met she had thought he was a servant of Discord due to his ability to cause absolute chaos, or at least be there when it happened. She reflected on the difference in his appearance and tried to count how many faces she knew he’d worn, she was no stranger to his race but they were no more and as the strangest of his race she’d encountered, he truly was a rule book unto himself. Too busy thinking about him Celestia missed her footing on a tree root and stumbled falling into a pool of stagnant water which enveloped her in mucus and stinking mud. Celestia’s swearing made all of those present blush as she regained her footing and stood dripping and furious. “How far is this damn cave Doctor?” “Not far… We’re almost there.” “How can you be so sure…?” The Doctor had an expression of disgust as he pointed his hoof at the shallow pool Celestia had just clambered out of, floating in the water were dozens of skulls and bones some still with rotting flesh clinging to them. The already white goddess turned even paler as she fought to hold onto her lunch, Twilight was about to try to help the Princess in some way when a small fish popped out of one of the bobbing skulls eye sockets through the remains of the eye. All those present cringed as Twilight stood right in the path of the royal upchuck and bore the full brunt of the explosion. For the rest of the way to the cave Twilight was consigned to the very back of the procession, Celestia kept trying to apologize but the faithful albeit shocked Twilight wouldn’t hear of it. Silence filled the air as they neared their destination, the way was littered with the debris of the monster, lots of bones arranged like totems were scattered along a rough path repeatedly trodden over centuries of travel. Eventually the group made it to the very entrance of the monsters lair; it was here the Doctor gave his final instructions before they entered. “Right, well, now we’re all here, here’s the plan…” “…We go in locate those to rescue then I’ll break the psychic field, the princesses’ and Twilight will combine their magic and teleport themselves the rest of you and the missing to safety.” With their instructions clear and without wasting any further time they used some torches Zecora had brought with her and the light from the unicorns present using their horns. The caves entrance wasn’t hidden at all and as the group stood before the foreboding black hole they took a moment to prepare themselves for what was ahead. The interior of the cave was large and covered with slippery moss, bones littered the floor, the tunnel cleverly hidden at the back wasn’t discovered until Applejack rested against the wall and fell through the covering over it. Descending into the tunnel forced the group to walk in line in the dark with only the unicorn’s lights and the Doctors strange glowing and beeping device to lead them on. The evidence of the creature continued on until they reached a small cavern where their breath was literally taken away as dozens upon dozens of prostrate ponies lay haphazardly across the floor. As they moved between the comatose ponies it quickly became clear there were far too many to attempt to carry them out so teleportation was the only solution. The Doctor flitted between them checking vitals and taking ‘readings’ as he called out their condition. The ponies were all in varying degrees of emaciation and of all ages and gender, none of the group recognized any of the ponies until Dash who was checking for live ones found one that made her stop. The yellow mare was laid out over a rock, her pink mane was soaking wet lying in a pool of water at the base of the rock, her breathing was erratic and like all the others her eyes flickered constantly. Dash stood for a moment in recognition but still she couldn’t remember her name… The Doctor however was flustered as he called them together, as they gathered he had a stern look on his face. “Right, well I can bring them out of the field but the moment I break the connection on any of these ponies the Silmeragan will know and return here.” “So what now Doctor…?” Ditzy looked expectantly at him and as he followed her eyes as they slowly rotated around freely, eventually he went cross eyed and shaking his head he replied in an uncertain tone. “I have an idea…” The Doctor explained his idea, Celestia blinked along with the others as it sunk in, the Doctor looked confused as the group acted thoroughly unimpressed at the concept. “That’s it… That’s your great idea… It’s a bit basic…” Luna had hoped this Doctor might fulfill the description given by Ditzy but so far he was proving to be a bit of a disappointment. “So you expect us to unite our magic and levitate a giant rock above the door and drop it on the beast when it gets here.” “Yes.” Ditzy and Zecora said nothing as they both gave the Doctor skeptical looks as they frowned. It was Rarity who spoke next as she asked what exactly he would be doing, his answer was to huff and spread his fore hooves and with a big grin said… “…Being brilliant…” All assembled rolled their eyes as he acted hurt, Ditzy stifled a laugh as he sat and folded his arms his nose in the air as he ignored the snorts and grumbles from the others. Out of options the group conceded and so Celestia Luna and twilight concentrated on moving the biggest boulder they could towards the entrance. The elements were busy trying to drag all the various comatose ponies nearer to the center of the room as the Doctor fiddled with his silver device that sounded like it had had better days. Ditzy trotted over to him and smiled at him, when he eventually noticed her presence frowning he looked over to the other side of the room and then back to her. “Wrong Doctor…?” “You mean ‘is something’ wrong?” Ditzy blushed but nodded, the Doctor stopped twiddling and without a word walked in the direction he’d been looking, Ditzy a little put out followed mumbling about manners. Picking his way through the room the Doctor began rambling about mental fields and how he could feel patterns and see the connections in the room… Ditzy was joined by Zecora as she too tried to make sense of his mutterings as he stopped and bent down over a small cluster of rocks, with a clap of his hooves and a whoop lent forward. Gently the Doctor sat back, cradled in his arms was a small grey filly with a blonde mane that like the others was unconscious but OK. Ditzy stared long and hard at the little bundle, she could feel a connection but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t remember a name or who she was… “Doctor… How did you… Know…?” The Doctor allowed himself a triumphant smile as he grinned like a Cheshire cat before answering. “Tapping into the psychic field allowed me to read the brainwaves of the ones connected, I’d know the brain of a Doo anywhere.” Ditzy settled in front of the Doctor and gently took her from him. “How do I remember her…?” “When the Silmeragan is no more, then all should return to normal… Hopefully…” “…Hopefully?” “…Uh yes...” “Great.” Zecora checked the little filly and nodded to Ditzy all was well under the circumstances. “It seems obvious that the creature must have snatched the girl last night, wiped her from every ponies memories including Ditzy… Since Ditzy knew something was wrong it’s clear even a mother’s instinct can’t be completely erased by the field.” Ditzy gave the Doctor a wet kiss on the cheek and held the filly up for the newly arrived Luna to see. “A most joyous thing my little pony… But I fear that device is trying to tell you something Doctor…” The Doctor glanced down as his attention finally caught up to the shrill sounds being emitted by his device. “Why do they never turn up when you expect them to…? Just once on time, all I ask…” Jumping up in a flash he grabbed it between his teeth he pointed it towards the entrance and sure enough it went crazy, the Doctor motioned furiously for all to get ready. Luna and Celestia both caught hold of the rock they planned to use with their magic and lifted it above the entrance and waited. The elements Zecora and Ditzy all rushed to finish gathering the surviving ponies near the center of the cavern as the three guards got ready to distract the Silmeragan and allow them time to crush the beast… …And thus the trap was set.
Part Eight: Mindstorm.Part Eight: Mindstorm. The Doctor crouched behind a rock at the rear of the trap as he awaited the beast’s appearance; the others were also ready spread out behind cover in front of him, a giant rock suspended above the door with magic. Silence pervaded the cavern as the group waited for the moment of action. Moments passed as they waited but nothing came forth, Ditzy and Zecora who were next to the Doctor gave him puzzled looks before a small sound behind them made them freeze. Zecora spoke first… “I do believe evil of the worst kind… Sits behind…” The Doctor slowly turned a forced smile on his face as his eyes drew level with the beasts… “…W…Welcome…D…Doctor…” The voice echoed in their heads as the trio scrambled over the rock they were behind just as long red claws swiped at them, Ditzy tumbled on to the Doctor who called out as they fell. “…CELESTIA!!!” The royal princesses’ turned at the cry as did the rest to see a huge shape emerge from behind the rocks, tall and covered in slime and mud the beast opened it’s gigantic mouth exposing row after row of sharp teeth in a terrifying roar. Luna Celestia and Twilight all screamed in unison as they sent the rock hanging in the air crashing down across the room a direct hit on the beast. All was quiet for a moment as the sudden shock of the beasts appearance wore off, as the dust settled the assembled ponies slowly approached where the beast lay trapped underneath the giant rock. Its mouth opened and closed it’s breathing erratic and its eye’s flicking back and forth wildly between the Doctor and the Princesses’. “I knew you were… Here… Doctor… I… Feel… Your mind… …So… Old… …So… Much pain… D… Deli…cious…” The Doctor narrowed his eyes as he drew closer… “I can make this easier… For you…” The creature laughed a choking rattling laugh filled with blood as it replied to the Doctor who stood with a blank soulless stare as he watched it. “You intend… …To offer to take control of the mindscape… …To ease… My passing… And save my collection… Ah… So many minds… …So much POWER!!!” The ponies all in a semi circle at this point were lifted off the ground and thrown backwards as the creature lifted the arm not trapped and roared again. The Doctor hit the ground the same time as the others but springing to his hooves almost immediately he locked eyes with the creature and cried out as their minds met the creature attempting to mentally crush his. All around the room the comatose ponies sat up as the field began to fluctuate, Ditzy ran to the Doctor as he called her name… “D-Ditzy… Screw… …My Screwdriver!!!” Ditzy looked around until she spotted it not too far away lying on a pile of stones. She launched herself using her wings to help her glide to it but as she reached it the creature despite the Doctors best efforts hit her with a psychic wave. Lifted once more from the ground she sailed through the air until she hit the wall knocked cold she tumbled to the ground the device clamped firmly in her jaws. “Doctor… You cannot stop me… The field will… …Heal me… Even if I… Have to use them all!!!” A mournful wail ripped from the still comatose ponies whose empty eyes snapped open as their bodies arched, their life force their mental power draining away. “…NNNooo!!!” The Doctor threw everything he had into breaking the beast’s control but the weight of years, knowledge, stolen memories... Everything taken from centuries of victims beat down on the Doctors mind. “Do… You… Feel it Doctor… You cannot resist my mind…” The wind in the cavern started howling even more as the creature intensified its attack but as it did a groaning, wheezing sound cut through the screams and the rushing wind. “No!!! No!!! What is this!!! No!!! …STOP!!!” In the center of the cavern fading in and out of reality itself was a giant blue box a blue light atop flashing slowly as the box materialized. As the box finished its entrance its doors swung open and a golden pulse flowed outward which upon contact with the beast caused it to expand and then explode as the power of the field was reversed onto it. With one final unified cry the comatose ponies collapsed backwards choking and crying out as they were awoken from the dream state. the Doctor slumped down to the floor, lifting his head up he could see Ditzy groggily staring back from by the wall her eyes giving a comical slant to her dazed look. Firmly held in her mouth was the Doctors screwdriver surrounded by a big smile that she held as she laughed the Doctor also joining in as he wiped bits of Silmeragan from himself. “Doctor… Another minute and it would have been you that went BOOM not the monster in his DOOM.” The Doctor sniffed as he ignored the jibe. Zecora like the others were regaining their hooves and picking bits of monster from their manes and coats, the elements all cheered and celebrated as did Luna but Celestia with a nod for her guards to follow approached the Doctor who hadn’t moved. “DOCTOR…” “Hmmm…?” “Leave… …NOW!!! Or be arrested.” A loud gasp sounded as Luna stepped forward… “Sister …please … I have questions for him…” “Absolutely not, he is nothing but trouble and I want him gone from my lands.” “YOUR lands…?” “You know what I meant… Dear sister please understand something’s aren’t meant to be remembered…” As the two sisters argued over what that meant the three guards all surrounded the Doctor, smiling nervously he waved to Zecora who ignored him and continued to help the newly awoken ponies who desperately needed a friendly face at this point. The elements had joined Zecora in treating the ponies and as the effects of the field began to fade names were remembered ponies recognized tears shed and prayers given. “…LUNA ENOUGH!!! We will discuss this later for now he has to leave… …This instant!!!” Princess Celestia whirled back to the Doctor pointing a hoof as the three guards stepped forward to ‘assist’ him in leaving, crashing in a tangled heap the guards scrambled to their hooves as they recoiled in fear at passing right through him. The image of the Doctor waved about slightly as he grinning childishly at the surprised look on Celestia’s face. “H-How… What trickery is this…?” “I’m over here…” Celestia and the others turned to find the Doctor standing next to Ditzy as he retrieved his screwdriver. “B-But how did…?” I’m using what’s left of the residual energy in the cavern to project myself over there in your minds… Moved while you were distracted… Pretty nifty don’t you think…?” The Doctor barely made it to the Tardis and through the door as Aquilinus Biggs and Wedge thudded into it as it closed. Celestia howled in anger as her guards slid down the outside of the Tardis, but as it tapered off a small voice interrupted. “…Doctor…” Ditzy moved towards the still smiling image of the Doctor sat nearby while next to her pressed against her legs was the small filly the Doctor had found and next to her another young mare with a purplish coat. The Doctor saw the upset look and teary eyes and hesitated unsure what to say… “These are my daughters… This is Dinky… And this is Sparkler… I’m taking them home… I can’t… I can’t come with you… I’m sorry…” “A-Another time perhaps…? I could always pop back in a couple of years…? It’d only take a minute…” “S-Sure… I’ll be waiting… …Doctor.” Escorting her daughters towards the center of the cavern with the rest of the ponies Ditzy gave the Doctor one last sorrowful look then turned away a tear in her eye. Each of the elements waved their thanks to the Doctor as did Zecora, who when the Doctor motioned if she would like to join him shook her head smiling sadly. Nodding the Doctor inside the Tardis watched on the monitor as the group was magically teleported away by the Princesses and Twilight leaving the Tardis alone in the cavern. For just a moment the Doctor paused and considered how close he’d been to having a companion to travel with again… A ‘Doo’ to boot, laughing he shook his head remembering the last one… Snorting the Doctor whistled absently as he prepared to set off, a bit too absently as it turned out because as he flipped a lever the whole Tardis lurched wildly as it entered the time stream. Holding onto the control deck for dear life the Doctor managed to reach out and reverse the lever before crashing down to the floor as the Tardis stabilized once more. Brushing off his ruffled jacket the Doctor was putting out the fire on the control panel when a knocking sound came from the direction of the door. The Doctor blinked… That didn’t happen very often… Intrigued he made his way to the door and stopped before it he giggled as the sound came again. Opening the door widely and sticking his head out with a beaming grin on his face the Doctor was spun around as he was hit squarely on the chin by what appeared to the Doctor as he keeled over backwards was a grey hoof! Flat on his back the Doctor was wide eyed as a tall young looking grey mare with a black mane, a pink bow-tie with a white collar and an octave shaped cutie mark stood brandishing the remains of what looked like an instrument between her teeth as she spoke around it. “WHO DEAR SIR MIGHT YOU BE??? AND WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT MY INSTRUMENT!!!” “What…?” “ARE YOU DEAF!!!? I SAID…” The Doctor panicked as the irate mare went into a diatribe about her instrument and how standards must be lacking if the Royal Canterlot opera house were hiring magicians… …And how dare he be so inconsiderate as to practice his ‘tricks’ whilst she was preparing for her big unveiling into the world of classical performance!!! Frowning the Doctor held up a hoof as the mare trailed off as she got a good look around the interior of the Tardis, the mare was open mouthed as she finally realized the problem with scale. “W-Wait… B-But…” Using her distraction the Doctor got to his hooves and poked his head out of the Tardis door, sure enough it was slap bang in the middle of the main stage of a rather new looking Canterlot Royal Opera house. Muttering to himself the Doctor pondered why the Tardis stabilizers had just ‘hiccuped’, after all he’d been aiming for Ponyville plus a few years to find Ditzy and as he tasted the air he realized he was also a century or so backwards as well… The scream was long and drawn out as it echoed through the newly opened opera house, the candles spread about illuminating the stage flickered as a chill wind blew past. “I say was that a scream…?” The grey mare barely had snapped out of her shock at the Tardis as she spun around to scan the room for the source of the disturbance. “Shall we find out…?” “Are you mad???” “No… Why…?” “You… You use your magic to bring your box thing down on my instrument during my break and then when you hear a bloodcurdling scream you expect me to go hoofing it into the dark with you…? A complete stranger to find out what’s going on…” Another even more urgent sounding scream rang out as the grey mare pricked up her ears and danced a little on the spot before continuing. “B-But… W-Well they might need help… A-and I suppose I should go with you…” “…Safety in numbers and all that… But shouldn’t we fetch the Canterlot Royal Guards?” “Nah we’ll be fine, besides they would take the fun out of it…” The Doctor grinned as he stepped from the Tardis turning to her he offered his hoof and gave her a broad foalish grin. Taken aback by his nonchalant behavior and strangely reassured by his lack of hesitation the mare placed the remains of her cello on the floor and bringing her head level with his she raised her foreleg. Taking her by the hoof the Doctor beamed as he began running with her towards the sound… As the pair ran deeper into the auditorium the candles continued to flicker as an unnatural howl rent the night. THE END DR WHOOVES WILL RETURN IN… DR WHOOVES AND THE CLASSICAL MOON
