It's Bigger on the Inside

It’s Bigger on the Inside

Chapter 1: Doctor, I Don’t Think We’re On Gallifrey Anymore

Twilight Sparkle usually spent her time cooped up in her tree of a library. Or is it a library of a tree? I’m not quite sure, but I digress. She usually spends her time studying in her library, however, today she cantered about Ponyville mindlessly window shopping. It was another bright and sunny day in a week filled with bright and sunny days and she was determined to not let this one slip by.

That night the weather ponies had scheduled clear skies. There was a meteor shower happening just before midnight and who other than Twilight to be the pony most looking forward to the event. The purple unicorn cantered about for about an hour. Once the clock struck twelve she decided it was time for some lunch. Twilight craved something sweet and savory, and there was only one place in Ponyville that served quality pastries. Sugarcube Corner. As Twilight entered the shop the resounding jingle of bells filled the air, joining in with the smell of freshly baked muffins. Pinkie Pie popped up from behind the counter, a bright smile on her face as always.

“Hiya Twilight! Are you here for a tasty snack? How about a muffin, or a bear claw? Why do they call it a bear claw anyways? Bear’s aren’t involved in the recipe at all! Why isn’t it called a-.“

Pinkie was interpreted by Twilight who obviously noticed Pinkie about to go on rambling pointlessly about bear claws.

“Uh, Pinkie, kind of off-topic don’t you think?”

Pinkie giggled. “Sorry Twilight! What can I get cha’?”

“I’ll take a muffin please, they smell heavenly.”

“One muffin, comin’ up!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

Pinkie Pie bounced about the kitchen, grabbing, bagging, and ringing up Twilight’s order. Once she finished she handed the steaming hot muffin to Twilight and Twilight hoofed up the corresponding amount of bits.

“Thanks Pinkie! Have a good day!” Twilight said as she trotted out of the pastry shop. “Oh! Before I go, there’s a meteor shower tonight! Are you gonna come watch it?”

“No. Mr. and Mrs. Cake need my help installing a new oven. I blew up the last one.” Pinkie said, her voice losing its enthusiasm, but still being enthusiastic by most ponies standards.

“Oh, all right then!” Twilight called out, “I guess I’ll see you later then!”

“Bye Twilight!” Pinkie shouted as the door to Sugarcube Corner closed with a decisive ringing. Suddenly a beeping could be heard from the Kitchen. Ms. Cake shouted from the other room.

“Pinkie, don’t tell me you broke the oven again!”

You could smell the smoke throughout the shop.

********

Twilight Sparkle continued to waltz around the market for a while, deciding that she had a few hours before she had to prepare for the meteor shower. After a few minutes of perusing various mercantile stalls she came across the Apple Family’s usual apple stand. At the cart stood Applejack and Rainbow Dash who were in the midst of a purchase. The scholarly pony approached the stall as Rainbow Dash finished paying for a bag of apples.

“Howdy there, Twilight, what can I do you for?” Applejack asked with the same country accent as always.

“Hi Applejack,” She said turning to face Rainbow Dash, “Hi Rainbow.” She turned back to Applejack.

“I think I’ll take a dozen apples.” Twilight requested, figuring she’d need a snack while she was star-gazing. Applejack began to gather up Twilight’s order, and after a few moments it was finished. Applejack handed Twilight a bag of twelve apples and the stripe maned unicorn, reminiscently of earlier that afternoon, placed the correct amount of bits on the table. Applejack took a little more than half of the bits, and nudged the rest back at Twilight.

“I’ll give em’ to ya’ at a discount, we're friend's after all.” Applejack stated matter-of-factly.

“Thanks Applejack.” Twilight said enthusiastically.

“Are you and Rainbow going to see the meteor shower tonight?”

“Nah,” said Rainbow after remaining silent for most of the exchange, “I gotta catch some Z’s. Since the weather team arranged clear skies for the meteor shower most of us have to get up early tomorrow to schedule a light downpour before everypony wakes up.”

“And I’m plum tuckered out from workin’ the orchard today.” Applejack added. “I’m plannin’ on hittin’ th’ hay soon as I finish up here.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.” Twilight griped. “I wonder if Rarity is going.”

“I sure as sugar don’t know, but I saw her headed into that fabric store a minute ago.” Applejack responded pointing out the store with her left forehoof.

“Thanks Applejack! Bye girls!” Twilight hollered as she strode off to find Rarity.

Twilight once more entered a shop. Surprisingly, taking into account that Ponyville was a relatively small town, she had never entered this shop before. Luckily, Rarity was near the entrance, eying a roll of brown stylish fabric with a plaid design.

“Hey Rarity!” Twilight beckoned as she approached Rarity.

“Hello there Twilight!” Rarity exclaimed, “What brings you into this store?” Rarity questioned, as Twilight Sparkle in a fabric store was somewhat of an uncommon sight.

“I just wanted to ask you something and Applejack said she had seen you come in here.”

“Oh, well what is it you wanted to ask me?” Rarity inquired.

“I was just wondering if you were going to watch the meteor shower from our usual spot tonight.”

“Oh, well no, and if you were wondering Fluttershy won’t be attending either. She still had a few contacts with some ponies from being a model and she was able to get me an audience with some very important ponies. We’re going to meet them tonight and won’t be back until extremely late.” Rarity explained.

“All right then, I don’t mind star-gazing by myself. If you girls came along I’d probably just bore you all to death talking about stars and meteors and the like.”

“That’s quite all right dear. I do enjoy your lessons, sometimes.” Rarity mused.

The clock struck three and Twilight hurried herself out of the shop. “I’ve gotta go prepare, see you later Rarity! I hope your meeting goes well!”

“Bye to you too Twilight!”

Twilight left the shop and cantered home arriving in just a few minutes. She packed the necessities and skimmed a few books she had already read jotting down a few quick notes. Once completely packed she looked at the time. The clock read four-eighteen. Seeing as she had a few hours before the meteor shower was scheduled to take place Twilight decided to take a short nap. After all she didn’t want to be tired during a rare meteor shower such as that one.

********

Twilight awoke around ten-thirty and grabbed her things. She headed out the front door, being careful as to not wake Spike. She cantered out to her usual hill for star gazing and began to lay everything out using her magic. A purple glow enveloped her saddlebags and everything was laid out neatly. She sat down on her blanket and looked up to the sky to gaze at the stars before the meteors began to fall.

An hour later the first meteor began to fall. Twilight carefully inspected every detail of it with her telescope, jotting down notes as it fell. Soon hundreds of meteors were falling, too many to keep track of one specific meteor to study. Twilight simply sat there bathing in the beautiful light from the moon and meteors, admiring the magnificence of the shower. After a minute the number of meteors began to decrease a few stragglers came in around twelve-forty and Twilight took a few notes on those. During that time however she noticed a very strange meteor. This meteor was smaller than the rest and its trajectory was a huge outlier from the majority of the other meteors. In fact, its trajectory was well, aimed directly at Twilight.

Twilight galloped out of the way of the meteor. She noticed just before it crashed it looked oddly like a large, blue box. The meteor crashed just a few feet away from where Twilight’s stuff was strewn across the grass. When the dust cleared Twilight noticed that indeed the meteor was a large, blue box. It read “Police Public Call Box” on the side.

“What in the hay is this?” Twilight pondered as she inspected the UFO. As she got closer the door opened and a bright yellow light emitted from the box. Once the light subsided a soaking wet brown earth pony climbed out, waving his hoof around in the air trying to clear the smoke. He coughed a few times and began to inspect his surroundings, completely unaware of Twilight.

“Four legs?” The pony questioned in an accent obviously from Great Breton. “Why that’s odd I seem to be-“ The pony said scratching his head. “Gah!” he exclaimed upon noticing his hoof. “I have a hoof!” He began to examine the rest of his body. “Hmm, definitely equine. Maybe a pony of some sort?”

“Umm excuse me?” Twilight asked, not wanting to interrupt whatever was going on.

“Just hold on a minute.” The strange colt said as he examined the rest of his body. “Would you look at that. An hourglass tattoo. Never had a tattoo before.” He continued.

“Are you alright?” Twilight asked.

“Alright? I’m fine, just had a bit of a fall. Into the swimming pool, again.”

“Swimming pool? How could you fit a swimming pool in a-“ the purple unicorn was cut short by the brown earth pony

“I’ll explain later. Now-.“ The earth pony cringed and fell to the floor, wincing in pain.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Quite alright. This is perfectly-.“ The earth pony coughed again and a bright yellow dust expelled from his mouth and floated off into the clear, night sky. The same yellow aura radiated from his body for a few seconds and then dissipated.

“I’ve never seen magic like that.” Twilight said in amazement, not even entirely sure what it did. “Who are you?”

“Me? Well I’m The Doctor.”