Doctor's Shadows

Doctor’s Shadows

Ch. 2: Shadows of Fear

The cottage lay just on the outside of the Everfree Forest. Animal carcasses were strewn about, still fresh. A pool of blood lay around the chest of the yellow-furred pony who had tried protecting them. The body was taking shallow breaths and looking back into her home, where a group of ponies were looting the stores of food. She couldn’t figure out how something like this could happen. Tears streaked down her face, and her breathing ceased.

64 hours earlier…

Doctor Whooves was galloping at his top speed in the direction of the Everfree Forest. It had been an hour in preparation, and he knew time was of the essence. If he hadn’t had to talk his family into staying, he may have been quicker. He quickly recalled the discussion in his mind.

“You need to stay here. Lock the doors, don’t let anyone in.”

“But where are you going to go?”

“There’s something I have to do…Just stay.”

He hadn’t given her the time for a response. He had bolted out the door, and slammed it shut, not waiting to hear the click of a lock. His only goal was to find Fluttershy. She was undoubtedly scared out of her mind, and he needed her. Not too long now. I just hope she hasn’t let anyone inside. He powered through his incoming exhaustion, and made a turn for the last leg of his trip.

Derpy stared at the door, lost for words. Her daughter tugged at her, but to no avail. Derpy stood for ten minutes with that blank stare before she finally locked it. She looked down at her daughter, thinking about what they were to do. What were they to do? They had no defense, and no way out other than the front door. The windows had been boarded shut after a while due to Dinky falling out a few too many times. She frowned.

Dinky looked up at her mother with worry. She hardly ever stopped smiling. Dinky looked out through the peephole, and leaped back in surprise.

“Are you ok?” her mother asked as she looked into the hole, also jumping backwards. She quickly opened the door, welcoming back her husband. He looked worn down. “You finished already?”

He gave her a blank look, shaking his head after a moment. “We have to go. Pack up.”

Both Derpy and Dinky gave him an inquiring look, but he shooed them off. He took a rest against the wall, checking through the door. I can’t let it happen, he thought quietly, she doesn’t deserve what she gets.

His family returned, and he looked outside again. No sign of trouble. He signaled quietly for their motion. Bringing again the weird looks of his family, who was now seeing he looked much worse than worn down. He looked like he was breaking. His mane was wild, and he was speckled with blood. Even his eyes had lost all of their shine. They stepped outside, and he opened the door of a nearby shed.

Fluttershy peered out her windows, having lit at least 50 candles, including ones cut in half to make extras, to keep her home lit. Rarity had been visiting, and was in the process of lighting even more candles. “Fluttershy, you must get away from there. Staring out into the dark will only worry you more!”

She looked back at Rarity, who now noticed the tears building up in her eyes. “I-I can’t…Angel was out there. He could be lost or scared or hurt or alone…or what if he isn’t alone! There are so many mean creatures out there…”

Rarity sighed, but only to herself. She didn’t want to sound angry with her friend. “Maybe we should get you some tea. To calm your nerves.” She pulled the pegasus away from the window and sat her upon her couch. “Stay here while I go make it.”

Fluttershy watched as she walked into the other room, and could faintly hear the water begin to boil. She knew Angel was a fighter, but that didn’t help. She needed him just as much as she felt he needed her. “Oh Angel, please stay out of trouble.”

A round of knocking rattled the door. A small scream issued from Fluttershy’s mouth. It was Rarity who walked into the room and checked the door. An odd sight greeted her.

“Did you call the doctor for a visit?”

“Oh, um…Doctor…?”

“Doctor Whooves.”

Fluttershy shook her head, and her friend opened the door cautiously, leaving space to speak, but to shut the door fast if need be.

“Hello, Rarity, is Fluttershy home?”

Rarity peered back into the house for a second, and then gave a slow nod. “She wasn’t expecting anyone to call…”

“It’s important. Can I come in?” he peeked over his shoulder, and a small rabbit hopped on top of his head from his back. Angel Bunny.

Rarity opened the door wider and stood aside for him to come in. “How rude of me, I must have forgotten my manners.”

Fluttershy didn’t move as the doctor-in-nothing approached. He waited a moment before speaking, “I need to get into my shed.”

Panic struck at the shy mare. “Bu-but you said bad things come from it! You said it was dangerous to open!” She was surprised at her shouting, but maintained her new stance.

“It’s an emergency, and I know how to handle it. Please show me where you’ve placed it.” He offered a small smile to reassure the poor pegasus. Angel hopped up and looked at her expectantly. After a moment, she nodded and stood up.

“I think I’ll…stand back when you open it.”

The group walked outside, taking one of the candles to light the way. The shed had been stripped of paint by the weather, but it remained structurally solid, as if protected by an invisible force. Doctor Whooves stepped forward, taking the key from Fluttershy. “I have to warn you…you won’t see it anymore once I’ve gotten in.”

Fluttershy thought best to not ask questions. That and her mouth was sealed shut in fear. Rarity, however, stepped forward.

“Fluttershy, dear, I think I’ll join him.”

“No, neither of you can.”

“Too bad, I’m going.”

“No.”

“Try and stop me.” At this, Rarity knew she had won, as he simply opened it up, and stood aside for her to enter. The insides were dark, but Rarity walked in with little hesitation. It was just as dark outside, and far dirtier by her estimation.

Fluttershy backed away. “I’ll just stay…my animals need me…”

Doctor Whooves gave a small nod, still mildly upset from Rarity’s insistence upon entering. “Stay safe.” He walked inside and the door was shut.

Fluttershy watched it disappear, sighing with a small sort of relief. Suddenly, something was materializing around her, and she began screaming relentlessly. The shed formed around her and disappeared once more.

After Rarity had stumbled around long enough in the dark, the lights suddenly flickered on. The sight astounded her. No shed looked like this. Doctor Whooves ignored her surprised questions and remarks, and went straight to the console. He fiddled around with it as if it were his favorite hobby. A whirring noise started up, and the machinery began working.

Only then did he turn to face Rarity. “It’s sort of a gateway to another part of the universe. Time doesn’t go here either. The shed is much smaller than the inside. Anything else?” She gave him a gaping stare, speechless. He looked at her a moment longer, before turning away, sighing to himself. He was back in the saddle, so to speak. So why was he feeling so…off? His worst fears began to creep into his head. Can this be fixed? Is it something that needs fixing? Am I still the man I used to be? What if I just make things worse for everypony? I shouldn’t have left my family…

The streetlight illuminating the two mares was slowly but surely losing strength. The riotous screams were beginning to die down though, allowing a moment of easy breathing for Rainbow and Twilight. They took a moment to assess the situation.

Twilight spoke first. “We should try and find our friends. If we’re all together, we’ll be better able to fix this.”

“But what are we fixing?” Dash’s question struck a dark chord in Twilight’s heart, causing her to fall flat in her planning. RD instantly felt for her friend and tried consoling her. “We’ll just have to find out if our friends know. Let’s get to looking, alright?” She waited for an acknowledgement she did not receive. She then urged Twilight onward, into the darkness.

As Twilight moved on, she couldn’t push the questions from her head, extrapolating fears inside her. Is everypony still ok? How could this be happening? What exactly is happening?

End Ch. 2