Tales of the Lunar Consort: Volume X

Disclaimer: For any and all reference, I do not own Hasbro, The Hub, nor My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Excluding my OCs, all characters (Except the Doctor, The TARDIS, etc.)belong to Hasbro and shall be returned from whence they came in original intact packaging. I do not own Doctor Who, the character of the Doctor, or the TARDIS. They are the property of the BBC. Thank you!

Chapter One: Awakening

2:45 A.M., Soluna Plantation/Inside the dream

"NO! Don't you dare try to lie to me! You are naught but an extension! She is NOT dead! Were she dead, you would not be here! You are but one side of a coin; you cannot exist without her! Don't you dare lie to me,-"

"Professor?"

Awakening.  The esteemed Pegasus pony Professor Enoch A.L. Aurobolosai, opened his eyes, feeling for all Equestria like he had been climbing mountains for three days straight. His sleep had not been restful in the slightest, due to the nightmares he had been having. Emitting a groan, he raised himself on his elbows to look at the grey Pegasus mare who had awoken him: Ditzy Doo, also known as Derpy. "Oh! Professor, I'm sorry, I-I should have knocked. I'll go-" She stammered, embarrassed that she had caught her friend in bedstate.

"Oh, it's quite all right, Ditzy- er, Miss Hooves. I wouldn't have gotten much sleep in any case. Come in, if you wish." Enoch said sleepily, swinging upright so his legs hung out over the edge of the bed and battling a mighty yawn. He was dressed in black trousers, the trousers he had worn with the previous day's clothing. He often worked on strange and obscure projects of purpose and nature known only to him late into the morning, and so, as he prepared to head to Dreamland, he simply took off his shoes, his shirt and tie, neatly folding them and laying them on the small table beside the bed.

Spotting Ditzy's embarrassment, "Why, that tray looks to be rather weighty. Let me help you with that!" He reached over and put his hooves under it, supporting it. "I've got it, Professor!" Ditzy exclaimed.  "No, no, I have given you quite a shock this morning. And it appears to be set with breakfast for two, yes? Yourself and I? It would be a shame if the floor consumed the breakfast you've made for us, as it was about to. By the by, where is Dinky? Is she still asleep?" Enoch asked. "Yes, she's still out like a light." Ditzy said, smiling at the mention of her daughter's name.

The cyan blue Pegasus pony carefully carried the tray to the table and was somewhat dismayed to find it occupied by papers, schematics, diagrams and a letter emblazoned with the personal seal of Princess Celestia. He set the tray on a chair, moved all his papers off the table and onto the desk, neatly straightening them as he went. He reverently laid the letter from the Princess on top of the stack. He shuffled his wings as he worked, something Ditzy found quite cute.

After a minute of this, Ditzy asked, "Anything I can do, Professor?"

"Nope! Done!" Enoch said brightly, stretching his wings as far as they would go. "Please, Miss Hooves, sit! Enjoy the fruits of your culinary labors. You needn't wait for me." Said he, drawing a bathrobe about his form and pulling a chair out for her. "Say, what is the time?" he asked, looking under the bed for his alarm clock, which had routinely fallen off the bed.

"Ow!" he said, hitting his head. "Ah! Yes. Very good." he said, carefully backing out from under the bed, clock in hoof. " 2:45 A.M.? My word. Regrettable, but understandable, as I must soon depart for Canterlot. Oh, that reminds me. Miss Hooves, are you coming with me to Canterlot this morning? I needs must talk with Princess Celestia about my role in preparations for the Summer Sun Festival. It's being held here in Ponyville this year, you know."

"Yes!"

"Have you packed?" That last question must have made it clear that Ditzy had not packed; in fact she hadn't even made up her mind until Enoch had asked if she was going!  "I'll take that as a 'No', yes?" he said kindly, looking at her with his mismatched eyes. "Right. I mean, no, I haven't packed."

"Would you like some assistance? I'll help you and Dinky pack. Ah, is Dinky coming?" Enoch asked, tilting his head. "No, Professor, she's staying with Fluttershy. Anyway, after you eat, the first thing you ought to do is take a shower." Ditzy said with a small smile, pointing her hoof at his mane. Enoch looked sideways at the full-length mirror; his black mane was all mad, strands poking out, looking like a nest of writhing snakes; bed-head bad enough that one could use it as a punching bag and it would come out the same.

He ran a hoof through his tail; it was the same. Alarmed, he sprang out of his chair.

"Sweet Sist- Sweet Celestia! I can't go to Canterlot looking like this!" He bolted out of the bedroom... then came back. "Nor can I in good conscience offend my friend and research assistant who has made a most delightful breakfast for herself and I, now can I?" Enoch said shamefacedly, walking back to the table and planted himself upon the chair.

15 Minutes later, 3;00 A.M.

"Wonderful, Miss Hooves, absolutely fantastic. Once again, you surpass yourself! The hay bacon, the toast and jam, the tea, everything! You ought to think about opening a restaurant! You wouldn't have to worry about your job at Pegasus Mail anymore. I'd give you some of the space here, at Soluna, if you wished to do so." Enoch said, with manner of someone who has eaten just a bit too much and suppressing a hiccup. "Though I still say you that should have woken me earlier and had me assist you. How early did you rise? One o'clock?"

"Yes, around that." Ditzy said, taking another sip of her tea. "I knew you were going to Canterlot this morning, and I knew you had forgotten your potion last night. I wanted you to get as much sleep as possible."

"Thank you, Miss Hooves. What about you?" the blue Pegasus returned. "You often sleep 'til 5:00 in the morning. Then you make sure Dinky gets up in time for school, then you wake me up, if I'm not already. You walk Dinky to school, walk back here, and then you ready yourself to go to the post around 7:00 A.M.; you get off around 3:10 in the afternoon, just in time to get to Cheerilee's school to walk Dinky home. And then you do what chores I haven't gotten to! After you finish, you go to bed around, what, 10 o'clock?" Enoch sighed, taking a breath, as he was turning blue(er). "Miss Hooves, my point is, you work far too hard. You need - nay, you deserve a break. You have for a long time, but you won't take one. Let me help you pack for Canterlot. Then you sleep, 'til it's time to go. I'll take care of everything. I'll wake you." he said, finishing his miniature speech.

"What about Dinky? Her breakfast? Who will walk her to Fluttershy's?" Ditzy began.

"I will take care of Dinky this morning. I shall feed her. I will walk her to Fluttershy's house at 7:00. Oh, yes. I nearly forgot. I have a few errands to run this morning. May I take Dinky with me?"