The Stranger From The Vortex

Minutes had passed, and The Doctor finally arose to see the company he was with again. He looked up as the Ooze Ponies approached him in a horrifying fashion. Their bodies were completely made of slime and sludge, but entirely mimicked the muscle movements of the host bodies. He started to crawl back, trying to search for his sonic screwdriver. The Doctor scurried to get to his precious device, after realizing where it was tossed.

“Uh-uh-uh, not this time, Doctor!” said one of the Oozed Ponies as they grabbed him by the tail and flung him back at their master.

“Oh you're friend was so different than these creatures, in fact his life force felt very familiar. Hmmm ... you might even say that he wasn't even remotely from this world.” The Ooze said, enjoying the taste of The Maestro's energy bubbling inside it.

“I could hear everything he said to you, he pleaded for your mercy on me.” The Doctor said in rage, feeling the now solid slime twist around his body. “Now you're going to kill me! You lied to him!”

“That’s where you are mistaken my dear Time Lord,” the Ooze said, now using his mouth to speak, “for I did as he asked me to. I gave you back your life, in return for his … but he never said what I could do once I did give you back your lindos energy”

It proceeded to laugh along with the Oozed Ponies as it pulled The Doctor up to its face to be for an eye to eye confrontation.

“Face it, Time Lord; you are to die by the curse of your ancestors. Sad, the last of the Time Lords, calls himself The Doctor is defeated by a virus. Ha!” the Ooze flaunted.

“That's where you're wrong because if there's something this universe is full of, it's surprises, and that pony you just ate has possibly been the biggest surprise yet. So you see, I am not alone, not anymore!” The Doctor yelled before bashing head into the Ooze's, and bit the tentacle.

The creature groaned and dropped The Doctor. As it felt the pain, so did the Ooze Ponies. A familiar flaming aura surrounded their bodies as they felt the pains of his head bash and bite. It was the same glow that the Maestro emanated when he was at the hospital. He suddenly came up with a plan, and instead of using a high pitch frequency, The Doctor amplified his sonic screwdriver to a newer settings, and aimed it at the Ooze. They all gasped, in fear of feeling the same pain from earlier. However as The Doctor’s sonic screwdriver was glowing with a bright green at the tip, just like before, and warbled, just like before … this time there was no grand effect. The creatures flinched at first, but after a couple of moments with no feeling of agony or pain, they were confused. They looked at The Doctor, who was grinding his teeth and holding onto the sonic tightly with his life. He groaned and shook as the sonic was being pushed to its very limit, yelling like if he were carrying the heaviest object ever. The Ooze and its pony manifestations only smirked as The Doctor struggled hard doing whatever it was. Then he dropped it. The Doctor knelt down before the monsters as they moved towards him at a snail’s pace. His hearts were beating, sweat ran down his face, and his body felt tired.

“Pity, such a waste for your final moments. well my pets, you can have the body, but I want the mind. Not only will I make your body weak, but I will find your weakness, Doctor.” The Vortex Ooze said, until he was caught off guard by the Doctor's laugh. He laughed, and laughed, and laughed with every bit of air he had in his aching lungs. His laughter was so loud that every pony within a half mile radius could hear him. The Ooze Ponies were confused; he was about to die, and yet he was laughing.

“Why are you laughing? Tell me why, Doctor?” the Vortex Ooze demanded.

“It’s because you, a little bitty muddy thing thought that you won as if we were really at battle or something!” he answered, laughing so hard that his friends at Sugar Cube Corner peaked at the window. The Doctor started to back himself away as the Vortex Ooze was getting frustrated with his laughter. It was annoying it even further to the point that none of the creatures couldn't notice how the fog was starting to glow differently.

“Stop it! I order you to stop!” The Ooze demanded.

“No, hahahaha!” The Doctor said, laughing harder and harder now as he was right in front of Sugar Cube Corner.

“It’s The Doctor!” Ditzy said, happy to see him alive.

“You know, being in the vortex, I bet you forgot how Time Lord Biology works, huh? Oh man, that sonic was struggling so much to do what I needed it to do, but after this, it’ll be totally worth it!” The Doctor said, waving his device to flaunt his efforts.

“What are you talking about, Time Lord?!” the Ooze said, so angry that he grabbed The Doctor by its slimy hooves.

“A little trick we Time Lords have; it’s also how we kept beating you all those millenniums. Vortexnia Dibrandis, your day is over!” The Doctor said, before he shoved the sonic screwdriver into the Ooze’s neck and allowing the frequency to strongly push into it now. It gagged in agony, sending the same sharp stab to the Oozed Ponies. The Doctor jumped away, and ran into the shop.

“Doctor, you’re okay!” Ditzy said, jumping out to hug him.

“Not now Derpy, we have to get ready!” The Doctor said, moving her aside. Outside, the Ooze began to let out slight yelps of agony, groaning in between each one.

“Ready for what?” Pinkie Pie asked, “Oooh, is it a surprise?”

“Mr. & Mrs. Cake go upstairs and keep your children safe! And Pinkie Pie, it most certainly will be!” The Doctor assured. The Cakes didn't understand why, but whatever it was, they did as he asked and left to their babies’ bedroom.

“Doctor, what is going on?!” Twilight asked.

“This is bloody fantastic! Oh this universe is full of surprises!” he said.

“Doctor, you’re not making sense; what is going on?!” Twilight asked again.

“Twilight, nothing makes sense anymore. Not with the Maestro, here and alive. This completely changes everything!” The Doctor said.

“What do you mean, Clockwork?” Rarity asked.

“I can't explain it, but the Maestro's life is in danger, and I need Twilight and Ditzy's help. We have to save the Ponies that are under that thing's control.”

“Okay, so what do we have to do?” Applejack said.

“Don't dare follow us, and whatever you do, keep yourselves safe!” he ordered, turning back to the Ooze as it started to fight the pain back.

“And what are we gonna do?” Ditzy asked.

“Magic and weather! Spike, you stay behind and make sure these ladies do not follow us, you got it?! Good, come on you two!” he said in a dash. The Doctor opened the door and shoved his two companions out with him. Spike tried for the door, but he could do nothing as the warbling of the Doctor's sonic indicated that the lock was shut.

***

Twilight and Ditzy nearly tumbled over, but instead stood still as they saw the enormous blob figures of the Ooze twist and turn into other forms of life. It screeched like a dying animal, hollering as the flames of a golden fire blasted out of its mouth and eyes for a mere couple of seconds.

“What's happening to it?!” Twilight asked.

“The Vortex Ooze is struggling to cope with The Maestro’s powers.” the Doctor shouted as the creature's screams made it loud to hear.

“You mean he's stuck inside there?” Twilight asked.

“He sacrificed himself to bring me back to life, but he's still alive in there. His regenerative forces are keeping him alive.” The Doctor explained.

“Regenerative, but doesn't that mean-” Ditzy asked, only to get shoved into the ground along with Twilight by the Doctor. She got back up and stared at the tossed over cart the Ooze flung to them.

“Yes, but we don't have time for that. We’ve got to act fast. I added enough sonic wavelengths to amplify the Maestro’s life energy, and now his body is reacting to the Ooze. Fighting against the virus itself, but we need to give him more power!” he said, watching as the mist started to disappear.

“So what can we do to help him stop it?” Ditzy asked.

“You’re a pegasus, right? So what do Pegasus do best?” The Doctor asked.

“Make rainbows?” Ditzy said, trying to think of what makes her kind the best at something.

“That and create fixed weather patterns, and I need the power of lightning and thunder to give the Maestro the power he needs to burn this puppy up!” The Doctor said.

“But Doctor, I’m not that good at making-” she tried to explain, only to have the Doctor shush her immediately.

“Not another word out of you missy. You believe me when I say that you can do this! All I need is one cloud, just one cloud, and give it that Ditzy Doo charm to blast that thing out of this world!” He said, encouraging the mare to do as he asked. She looked at him and back at Twilight.

“Ditzy, if he says you can, than I think so too!” Twilight added. Ditzy looked at the two and smiled one last time before finally pulling out a serious face or as serious as you can get for a cute pony with wall eyes, but serious nonetheless. She hugged the Doctor and Twilight before flying away to grab the best cloud possible.

“Right then, now as she does that. Twilight, we need to keep the Maestro alive. The longer we do, the more time it’ll take for him to figure out that he can stop the Vortex Ooze!” The Doctor.

“So what’s the plan then?” Twilight asked.

“I need you to use your powers to grant me an opening or an entryway into his mind. Your magic, plus my Time Lord telepathic consciousness may be able to stop this along with Derpy’s lightning!” he yelled as his Pegasus companion started pulling in a thunder cloud.

“Right, but for how long?”

“Long enough to get me in there and help him concentrate full control of the Ooze. Now hurry!” the Doctor ordered. Twilight took in a deep breathe and concentrated on the central glow coming from within the main virus’ body. Her horn started to glow a lavender aura as she focused on the Maestro and his being. She tried to remember how he looked, the little interactions they’ve had, and watching him save Ditzy before heading back out to find the Doctor. Sweat started to run down her head and groaned as she had to push through the creature’s telepathic powers. The Doctor could see this struggle, and like before he amplified the sonic screwdriver to make it weaker. Suddenly he watched as a bolt of lightning zapped the creature. It screeched and yelled, weakening its focus on protecting itself from Twilight’s powers, giving the unicorn enough time to open a strong link to the Maestro.

“Doctor, the link is open; now’s the perfect time to do what you have to do!” Twilight exclaimed, using all her power allow this mind melding plan to go through.

“Right, establishing contact.” he said, before shutting his eyes and focusing his mind on the Maestro. He suddenly groaned and yelled as the Maestro’s mind refused him. He then felt something shove him away, another force as he heard a voice yell back at him.

“No, you fool, I’m trying to help you … what do you mean-? Listen, you’re The Maestro, and you need my help!” he yelled out loud. Twilight listened in on him as he kept conversing with the Maestro’s essence. The Doctor nearly trembled before and shook his head about, moving back. Twilight closed the contact and grabbed the Doctor.

“Doctor, what happened?” Twilight asked, yelling this time as Ditzy zapped another lightning bolt on the creature, this time having to jump around as it whipped its tentacles in the air.

“His mind … it’s refusing my contact. I’m not sure if it’s the Ooze or his mind keeping me away from something …” he said, pushing more focus on trying to contact the Maestro.

“Doctor, you have to put me in this contact thing you’re doing. Let me try and help you.”

“No Twilight, that is out of the question! Gah! This is between me and him, and besides you have to keep the link-” he was explaining, trying to get her to not try this. Suddenly another idea popped in his head, one so crazy enough that it might just work. “Wait, wait, wait. I have an even better plan. Derpy, come back quickly!”

Ditzy heard the Doctor and bucked one more bolt of lightning into the creature. The force and heat of the blast thrashed the Ooze and its Oozed Ponies into an alley way.

“What is it Doctor?”

“This may sound crazy to you two, but I’ve got to get inside that thing. Something is happening to the Maestro that our minds cannot communicate. If I am to save him and the ponies under the Ooze’s control, then I need to do something I’ve never done before.” The Doctor explained. “A Super Contact”

“What’s that?” Ditzy asked.

“Basically it’s where one Time Lord forces his mind and essence into the mind of another creature. His mind is shut and I’m going to have to force myself in whether or not the Ooze or even the Maestro himself allows it!” the Doctor explained.

“Then what do we have to do?” Twilight ask, looking over as the glow from the creature still lit up, growing more as it tried to reach itself back out.

“Get back inside Sugar Cube Corner, and keep my body safe. Until this is over, my body is going to be unable to move or even interact, until I can get the Maestro back out.”

“… And if you can’t?” Twilight suddenly asked. There was a slight silence for a moment or two as The Doctor took to account what would happen if he couldn’t save the Maestro.

“For now, let’s just worry on keeping my body safe. I know what I’ll have to do if it doesn’t work, but all I need you to do for me Twilight is to get me in there.” he said, with a monotone while keeping his eyes shut. He opened them again to see the two worried. “Please … all I need is for you to Trust Me. Please.”

They looked at each other and back at the Time Lord, zoning out the screams of the Vortex Ooze and its minions.

“Okay then, but be careful. Please come back safe.” Ditzy said, hugging the Doctor. He hugged her back, tightly before looking at Twilight who only stared back at the creature, contemplating the chances this might work. She then saw the Doctor and how he smiled at her, winking to assure here everything was going to turn out fine. Whether it was all these times they’ve been traveling or his Time Lord wizardry, but she quickly got back her smile and nodded back.

“Alright Miss Sparkle, time waits for no one, off we go!” he said. She and Ditzy ran right behind him, following him around Sugar Cube Corner, and sneak into the kitchen. As the Doctor locked the door, in walked Pinkie Pie and Spike.

“Twilight, you’re alright!” Spike exclaimed, happy to see his best friend safe and alive.

“What happened out there? We saw some lightning, but we couldn’t tell if you were still okay.” Pinkie Pie said, sounding a slight worrisome as she gave Twilight and Ditzy a hug.

“Don’t tell me the great queen of laughters and smiles got worried? Come on Pinkie Pie, give us a smile!” The Doctor said, passing her by.

“Uh, Doctor, shouldn’t we get this mind meld thing started?” Twilight said as he walked to the front and locked the front door and shut the windows. Rarity and Applejack got up, relieved to see their friends safe and sound as well.

“Thank Celestia you three are alright!” Rarity said, relieved to see them okay.

“Is it over, did you stop that Ooze thing you were talking about?” Applejack asked.

“No, but we're about to by doing something … Different.” Twilight explained.

“Different as in what, exactly?” Rarity asked.

“Oh, oh, oh, let me guess; you tried to establish a telepathic contact with the Maestro because you think if you can contact him then you can save the ponies under the Ooze's control, save him as well, and destroy the monster forever. However, his mind is still going through a regeneration, so that means you'll have to force your mind into the creature and help the Maestro control his alien powers before he burns himself out, killing the creature, and possibly everything else in a half mile radius!” Pinkie Pie said under one deep breathe. Every pony stared at Pinkie Pie, dumbfounded by her guess, especially the Doctor. His jaw hung about for a couple of seconds, completely taken aback by her precise explanation.

“H-H-How did you know?” he asked, stuttering as if he was in the presence of the most unbelievable thing possible. The girls then stared back at him, realizing that her weird and odd explanation was right.

“Just a lucky guess.” she calmly answered. They all kept looking at her, until they felt a bang coming from outside. Ditzy peaked out the window, and gasped as the fiery glow was starting to disappear

“Doctor, he’s starting to get some control back.”

“Oh no he doesn’t!” he demanded, poking out his sonic and amplifying it to the proper settings. He passed it over to Ditzy, and gave his final instructions.

“Now if anything, just use the sonic and it’ll keep stun the creature momentarily, but I’m counting on you all to keep yourselves and my body safe. Alright?” he asked as she stared down at the screwdriver. She nodded and hugged him tightly.

“Alright, but be safe. Promise me that you’ll stop all this.” she whispered before pulling back.

“I’ll try, but in the end it’s up to the Maestro’s will to stop all this.” He said, looking back out at the Ooze and the Oozed Ponies. He turned back to Twilight. “Okay Miss Sparkle, it’s time. Open the link again, and more force this time; give it all you got!”

Twilight nodded and concentrated deeply now as the lavender aura emanated strongly now from her horn. She clenched her eyelids, grinding her teeth, and groaning as her telepathic powers were being pushed to a farther limit than before. She gasped and opened her eyes, now glowing a mystic white. The Doctor shut his eyes and cleared his mind of everything. He placed his hoof on her head, and gasped for air as his entire life force slipped out of his body.

“Spike, open the door!” she demanded.

The Doctor’s body began to lose all color as his energy slithered around Twilight’s horn; his coat and mane turning into a pale gray while his eyes turned into a lifeless white color. Spike instantly opened the door, revealing the creature on the other side. It screeched and hollered at Spike; every pony, but Twilight and Ditzy, screamed as its horrors were at the door. Ditzy flung the screwdriver at the thing, and pressed a button. The warbling of the space device made the creature screech and push back, holding its tentacles up to its pony ears. It was there that Twilight struck the beast with a ray of golden energy into the creature’s face. As she kept blasting, the Doctor’s body shook itself as if it was finally feeling the effects of his life force being pulled out. The others ducked and looked away as the Ooze was again forced back by the magical beam. Apple Bloom screamed as she held onto Applejack tightly while Spike clinged to Rarity. Pinkie Pie merely giggled while wearing her sunglasses, watching the intense light show. The force of Twilight’s magic rattled the house immensely for a near minute, until finally all of her magic and the Doctor’s lindos pheromones were absorbed into the monster’s body. The Time Lord’s body suddenly collapsed

“Somebody shut the door!” Ditzy yelled as she too ducked from the force.

“Oki Doki!” Pinkie Pie happily replied, slamming the door and locking it up as quickly as she could. The Time Lord’s body suddenly collapsed, with Twilight’s as all that power left her tired to even stand.

“Twilight!” the gang yelled, running to her aid as Ditzy and Spike tried to help her up.

“I’m alright … the magic I used takes an abundant of time to practice … and I only learned it two weeks ago.”

“No wonder you’re like this, but Clockwork. What did you do to him?” Rarity asked as Ditzy held up his lifeless body up to her.

“Clockwork and Maestro, they share a-” she tried to explain, but stopped to think of a way to not reveal the whole alien factor. “-a ‘special’ connection you might say, but enough to get them together.”

“So what now, Twi?” Applejack asked. Suddenly they felt a bang from the door.

“AJ, you send Apple Bloom upstairs and keep her safe. We’ve got to keep Clockwork safe.” Twilight said.

“Right, but don’t count me out Twilight. We girls gotta stick together on this one!” Applejack replied.

“But-” Twilight tried to say, only to be interjected by her friends.

“No buts Twilight, Applejack is right. We’re your friends and we’re not going to leave you, Spike, and Miss Hooves alone to fight that horrible creature!” Rarity said.

“Yeah, we’ll show that thing not to mess with this town and our friends!” Pinkie Pie said, pulling out her Party Cannon. Twilight smiled at the three and Spike who was holding the door back, giving a thumbs up to her, but more focused on the bangs.

“Alright then, grab what you can girls because this thing is not going to turn my town into a sludge fest!” Twilight cried out, holding out her hoof.

“For the Doctor!” Ditzy said, putting her hoof in with the sonic.

“For Sugar Cube Corner!” Pinkie Pie cheered, putting her hoof in

“For Sweet Apple Acres!” Applejack and Apple Bloom said in unison.

“For that all the beautiful Ponies of Ponyville!”

“For a little bit of help!” Spike yelled.

“Right then, let’s get to it!” Twilight said as she and the girls immediately split up.

Twilight and Ditzy used their strength to lift the Doctor’s body upstairs to one of the rooms. Applejack had to argue with her sister as to why she had to be left back on this adventure. However it was made clear to Applejack that this discussion would have to no end, so the earth pony forced Apple Bloom to stay out of trouble in the safety of Mister and Misses Cakes. Pinkie Pie loaded the Party Cannon, setting it up with Rarity. Yet, even the fashionista made up her own plans to possibly keep the Ooze distracted with a little help of the sugar sweets of the store to inspire a possible way to stop the Ooze and its little minions. Spike held the door up, but with the help of the Doctor’s screwdriver from Ditzy and even Twilight’s spell to create a small and temporary shield around the building. It wouldn't last for long, but it would do for even as the creature persisted to fight, the gang of ponies were ready for anything possible. In the end, it was up to The Doctor to stop this virus; a cure that would need the help of not one, but of two Time Lords.