It's Bigger on the Inside

It’s Bigger on the Inside

Chapter 8: My Little Time Travelers

The ever so distinctive whirring of the TARDIS diminished as the blue police box waned into existence. A loud drum beat once and echoed as the TARDIS became fully opaque. The doors swung open and a brown earth pony stepped out into the open air followed by a purple unicorn. Moments later five other ponies exited the TARDIS. Humans bustled about the busy street, which could be seen by the seven ponies that were hiding in the shadows of the alleyway. Everyone walked along, paying no mind to the figures in the alleyway, they were all too busy. The Doctor spun around to face his passengers.

“Welcome, my little time travelers, to planet Earth!” he announced grandly. The ponies were unfazed by the towering structures before them, they had buildings like this in Manehatten after all. What they were interested in, were the creatures of legend before them. Humans, only a myth in Equestria, stood before their very eyes. Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“Are these H-humans?”

“Yes they are Rainbow Dash.” The Doctor paused “And this,” he said gesturing to the surrounding area “is London! Capital of the United Kingdom! Decades upon decades before Equestria even existed London was getting its start as a small village, smaller than Ponyville, and here we are. Year 473 of the Equestrian calendar and look at them! Millions of humans live in this city alone! Billions on this planet and growing rapidly. Amazing, no?”

“I’ll say…” Rarity answered, still gawking at the humans.

“So, they’re real? Really-really real?” Pinkie Pie asked, gawking as well.

“As real as you and I.” The Doctor said pointing at Pinkie and then back at himself. “Now then, if you want to go exploring you’ll need these.” The Doctor said, running into the TARDIS and running underneath the main control station. He navigated through the wires and grabbed onto a latch in the floor with a label on it. It was labeled P. He opened it and threw things out, naming them as he went. He finally stopped on an item which was round and metallic, it was about the size of a marble and each one hung on a chain. He pulled out seven of them and tossed one to each pony.

“These,” he paused, gesturing to the object in his hoof. “Are perception filters, they’ll disguise you as humans. Can’t rightly have horses walking about and talking. That would just be odd.”

Each pony hung the filter around their neck, causing their equine form to distort and wave about as if someone had smeared a watercolor painting before it finished drawing. Finally their forms began to settle into place. A new unfamiliar place, everypony looked human. The Doctor slipped his on as well, after taking a good look at everypony to ensure their perception filters were working properly. The Doctor’s form began to shape itself into a human much like the Equestrians. He was tall, about 5’11”, with slightly broad shoulders. The problem however came to his attention that he was still not ginger. He was wearing the same suit that he wore as a pony, but it was now tailored to a human form. He straightened his bowtie and did a little spin for the now human ponies before him. “How do I look?”

“Human.” Twilight answered.

“Wrong, I look Time Lord. I set my perception filter to Time Lord.”

“But you look just like them!” Twilight exclaimed.

“I get that a lot, however you’re wrong. They look Time Lord. We came first.” The Doctor shut the doors to the TARDIS and spun around once more, skipping out of the alleyway in his new human appearance. “Come along then everyone! London’s a big city, and we’ve got all the time in the world to explore it. Literally!” Everyone followed without hesitation into the streets of London. “Look around everyone, look at this amazing planet and all its accomplished. Stylish fashions!” The Doctor said, gesturing to Rarity. “Amazing literature!” he added, gesturing to Twilight. He then began to gesture to Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie in turn, mentioning something of interest to them that the humans improved. “Domestication of animals, new methods of agriculture, new, faster, methods of travel, and so, so many types of confectionaries!”

“It is quite amazing.” Rarity affirmed as they walked along the busy streets.

The Doctor and his companions saw every sight London had to offer, they enjoyed lunch together and had a blast. The Doctor was beginning to think this would be the first trip with his companions that would ever go as planned. As the day went on however, he was soon proven wrong. He caught glimpses of something odd dashing through alleyways and backstreets as they walked, but never enough to convince him to go after it. After all London was a bustling city. The seven tourists continued about London, without a care in the world. Literally, all their cares were on a different planet. They spent hours upon hours in shops that pertained to each ponies interests. Rainbow Dash practically had to drag Fluttershy out of a pet shop, and Rarity had to drag Twilight past the massive London Library. Eventually, night began to encroach upon London.

The group of time travelers continued about their tour of Earth. A street light flickered on behind The Doctor, who was walking backwards, who was now rambling about human traditions, talking about the holiday of Valentine’s Day, which according to him was due to happen soon.

“Equestria’s got a holiday like that! It’s called Heart’s and Hooves Day! Last year mah sister tried to hook up her teacher with our brother.” Applejack added, chuckling a bit and attempting to further conversation.

“That was so funny!” Pinkie Pie giggled. “I still remember the look on Rarity’s face when she found the gaping hole left in her boutique after Cherilee had her way with it.” Pinkie Pie who was bouncing along behind The Doctor, collided into him as he stopped, staring at the wall before him. Written on the wall, in large white spray paint were two words, two words that The Doctor hadn’t seen in a long time. BAD WOLF.

Everyone stopped and looked at The Doctor, wondering why he was staring at something as common as graffiti. Unbeknownst to them, these words struck meaning in The Doctor’s hearts. His head swiveled quickly left and right, looking for clues as to why these words were appearing here. He noticed a flash of movement and set of sprinting. The six ponies followed him, wondering what was going on.

“Doctor!” Twilight shouted as they ran after him. “What’s going on? What do those words mean?”

The Doctor ignored Twilight and continued chasing the figure, only catching glimpses as it rounded the corners of the dark alleyways. Finally, he cornered his prey. The Doctor approached slowly, so he could see the creature, the six ponies caught up moments later to find The Doctor studying the beast. Applejack recognized the creature and called it out.

“A Timberwolf? What’s it doing on Earth? Don’t tell me they’re aliens too!” a few seconds after Applejack finished her outburst The Doctor spoke to his companions.

“No, it’s most definitely of Equestrian origin. You’re exactly right Applejack. Why is it on Earth? What can you tell me about these Timberwolves?”

“Well, I know they’re scared of pots bangin’ around.”

“Anything else?”

Applejack tapped her hand to her chin, thinking about everything Granny Smith had told her over the years. “I remember Granny Smith once said that they never showed up in town, they never left the Everfree Forest.” The Doctor turned back to the beast and studied it.

“If it’s supposed to be scared of pots banging around, what’s it doing in the big city? Shouldn’t it be scarred of all the noise?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Maybe that’s why it was running. It was scared.” Fluttershy said, sympathizing with the animal. The Doctor continued to think. Trillions of years of history flooding through his mind as he attempted to determine why and how this primitive Equestrian creature had left Equestria and come to Earth.

“Well we can’t have this thing terrorizing the humans.” The Doctor stated.

“What are we going to do then?” Twilight asked.

“We could take it to the forest.” Fluttershy suggested. Being good with animals, she approached the Timberwolf and stroked its fur. It instantly loved Fluttershy, like every other animal. The group of time travelers had no problems taking the beast to the edge of town and setting it free. After which, they returned to the TARDIS after a long day of sightseeing. The Equestrians returned their perception filters to The Doctor and went off to their rooms, which he had shown them beforehand. As they all retreated up the stairs to pass out on their beds Twilight noticed The Doctor still at the helm of his ship.

“Aren’t you going to sleep Doctor?” The Doctor, deep in thought, glanced up at Twilight and then turned back to stare at the controls of the TARDIS.

“No, I need to think.” The Doctor answered, the phrase BAD WOLF and the Timberwolf still troubling his mind.

Twilight’s hooves clacked down the metal stairs as she approached the TARDIS console. She stood next to The Doctor and placed a hoof on the shoulder of the absent minded Time Lord.

“I’m good at thinking you know.”