The very next week, twice as many smiling school ponies showed up in front of Time Turner’s shop waiting to hear a new Doctor Whooves tale. Thankfully, Time Turner had spent the week before coming up with various adventures for his time traveling alter ego. Time Turner was still inside his shop, with Pinkie Pie looking outside with him at all the little faces.
“This is quite a turnout,” said Time Turner.
“Looks like every grade is here,” commented Pinkie Pie.
“I’ve never been this popular before,” said Time Turner with a proud smile. “I should’ve claimed to be a time traveling alien years ago.”
“We better get out there,” said Pinkie Pie.
Time Turner and Pinkie Pie stepped outside the shop, to greet the huge crowd of school ponies. Looking about, Time Turner realized they would need location for storytelling.
“This seems like a rather inconvenient place to sit and tell stories,” commented Time Turner. “How would everypony like to go to the park?”
The school ponies cheered in excitement at this prospect.
“Then lets head out,” said Time Turner with great enthusiasm.
Time Turner and Pinkie Pie took the school ponies to the spot in the park usually used for concerts and other shows; it had the best space in all the park.
“Alright, so lets get started,” said Time Turner. “Is everypony already aware of my origins as a Time Pony from the planet Gallopfrey?”
All the little ponies nodded in unison. The clock maker figured the little ones from last week had already told their peers about his stories.
“Fantastic,” said Time Turner. “So, today I’ll tell you about the time I saved an entire planet from the Arachnoids!”
He could tell by the wide eyed silence that these little ponies were quite interested.
“If you couldn’t tell from the name,” continued Time Turner. “Arachnoids are race of giant spiders! Many are the size of our local library!”
There were several audible gasps.
“Bright red,” continued Time Turner. The blackest eyes you ever saw! Sharp teeth that could puncture metal! And several parts of their bodies are covered in spikes!”
“Strong webbing,” asked a curious little pony.
“One strand could hold a dozen Manticores,” exclaimed Time Turner. “And they had nasty tempers! But, they’ve never been on this planet; thanks to yours truly!”
“Was Pinkie Pie with you,” asked another pony.
“This was before I met Pinkie,” said Time Turner. “But I wasn’t alone at the time, no sir. You see, due to some sort of strange temporal anomaly, my time machine had locked onto this unsuspecting young mare who was in the midst of walking down the aisle for her wedding!”
“No way,” shouted one pony.
“Big way,” exclaimed Timer Turner. “Her name was Noble Flame. She was from a planet very similar to this one, except they had purple skies. She had a light yellow coat and a firey red mane. I was just sitting alone in my machine, minding my own business, when she just seemed to materialize! Out of nowhere, that is. Naturally, we were both shocked; she even accused me of kidnapping her from her own wedding! So I did my best to return her back to her chapel, but something was up with my time machine; so it became a lot more complicated than it needed to be.”
“Do you just call it a time machine,” asked a little pony. “You don’t have a special name for it?”
Time Turner was a taken aback by the question. It hadn’t occurred to him to name a time machine shaped like a blue crate.
“And why does it always look like a blue crate,” asked another little pony.
“That’s easy,” chimed in Pinkie Pie. “It has a special cloaking device that allows it to look like different things so it can blend in with surrounding objects. But the cloaking device broke, so now it’s stuck looking like a blue crate. Also, it’s name is The TARDIS! It stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space!”
The little ponies all smiled in wonderment.
“That’s right, Pinkie Pie,” said Time Turner. “The TARDIS was having trouble pinpointing the exact location of this chapel for some unknown reason. I would later discover that the Arachnoids had launched some sort of jamming device. Despite their size and frightful appearance, they were skilled with machines! Turns out they had set up a fake corporation to try and resurrect their once powerful race! They are a very old race, nearly as old as the Time Ponies. But, they’re race had become nearly extinct centuries ago. One of their queens had gone into a deep hibernation, when she eventually crash landed on Noble Flame’s home world! She was eventually discovered by an ordinary pony, who’s mind she took over for her nefarious needs. She had him build the fake company around her nest, and managed to gather more slaves to act as employees. Some were even working for her without even knowing it; Noble Flame being one of them. Her finace was just a pawn using Noble Flame for future food sources. It was a heartbreaking moment for Ms. Flame.”
“Then what happened,” asked another little pony.
“I gave the Arachnoid Queen a chance to leave the planet,” continued Time turner. “To thrive on a different world where she and her children could live in peace. She would hear none of it though; so I was left with no choice.”
Time Turner’s tone went a bit more serious at this point.
“I blew up a supporting wall of the building,” continued Time Turner. “It caused gallons of water to come pouring in! Combine that with the collapsing building and it was enough to take down the Arachnoid Queen and all of her newly hatched or about to be hatched children. It wasn’t an easy choice to make, mind you. But I couldn’t let the ponies and other innocent creatures be wiped out by some selfish monster and her spawn.”
“What happened to Noble Flame,” asked a pony.
“We went our separate ways for a while,” said Time Turner. “But, we eventually crossed paths again, shared some more adventures. Eventually, she grew tired of the time traveling and planet hopping and she managed to meet a good colt this time and settle down. She was a very good friend. But, I think that‘s for another day.”
There was a moment of silence, before some of the ponies started clapping.
“That was so wicked,” exclaimed one pony.
“You’re the coolest ever, Doctor Whooves,” exclaimed another.
Time Turner stood there, with a very proud smile on his face.
“I think it’s safe to say that we’ll meet here in the park when it’s free for stories,” said Time Turner.
All the little ponies began to run off back to their homes. But one little pony remained; a light purple unicorn, with a blonde mane and tail, and yellow eyes. Time Turner didn’t know why she hadn’t gone home yet, so he decided to talk to her.
“Why aren’t you going home, little filly,” asked Time Turner.
“Nopony’s home right now,” said the little unicorn with a little frown. “My mom is still delivering the mail. She’s expecting me to be at your clock store.”
“Oh, I see,” said Time Turner. “What’s your name?”
“Dinky, Dinky Doo,” said the little pony.
“Well, Dinky Doo,” said Time Turner. “You can come to my shop, and we can wait for your mother to come and get you. Would you be ok with that? I know you don’t know me that well, but…”
“I’ve learned plenty about you today,” said Dinky. “I’d hardly call you a stranger. Plus, I kinda know Pinkie Pie.”
“Oh yeah,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Her mother is the mail mare, Derpy Hooves.”
“Derpy,” questioned Time Turner. “Odd name.”
“Well it’s actually Ditzy Doo,” said Pinkie. “Derpy Hooves is a nickname. Or Derpy for short.”
“Interesting,” said Time Turner. “Well, Dinky, let’s head out.”
Walking back to the clock shop, Dinky decided to make some small talk.
“So, are you really a Time Pony,” asked Dinky.
“Why do you ask,” asked Time Turner.
“Just cuz grownups are known to lie,” said Dinky.
“Well, true,” said Time Turner. “If you found out I wasn’t an actual Time Pony, would you think less of me?”
“I guess not,” said Dinky. “I mean, you are telling some really fun stories. A lot of the younger ponies enjoy them a lot; and I like them too.”
“You’re a bright one,” said Time Turner.
“Thanks. So are you,” said Dinky with a smile. “I won’t let the littler kids know you’re just a regular earth pony. And I’m sure most kids my age know the truth too. Sides, everypony likes a good story. Surprised you don’t have a cutie mark for writing or something.”
“Well, that’s a more recently acquired talent,” said Time Turner. “My main specialty is time related mechanisms.”
“I suppose that can be neat too,” said Dinky.
“I always thought so,” said Time Turner. “I can tell the exact amount of sand needed for specific hour glasses. Hours, minutes, and seconds.”
"That does sound pretty cool, actually,” said Dinky. “You should incorporate more of that into your stories.”
“You really think so,” asked Time Turner.
“Sure,” said Dinky. “You’re a ‘Time Pony’ after all. Makes sense that they’d be really good with time stuff.”
“I never thought about that,” said Time Turner.
After a moment, Time Turner decided to ask Dinky something.
“So, Dinky,” began Time Turner. “Do you not have a father?”
“No,” said Dinky. “But mom won’t tell me anything about him.”
Time Turner didn’t dig any further on this subject; the rest of the walk back to his shop was in silence.
“Ever wanted to see the inside of a clock shop,” asked Time Turner.
“Never thought about it,” said Dinky. “But, sure, you can show me.”
They walked into the shop, and to Time Turner’s surprise, Dinky was actually interested in what was there.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many clocks in one place,” said Dinky.
“Well it is how I make my living,” said Time Turner. “It’s a family tradition, really.”
“I don’t really see myself delivering mail,” said Dinky. “Not that my mom doesn’t work hard.”
“I understand what you mean,” said Time Turner. “It’s always good to have goals. It was pretty much a given I became a time artisan. Although, there was some speculation about that, since I’m an earth pony and both my parents were unicorns.”
“My mom’s a pegasus,” said Dinky.
“Well, either your father was a unicorn as well,” said Time Turner. “Or you’re a genetic anomaly like me.”
“I’m gonna guess the latter,” said Dinky.
Just then, Time Turner heard the bell to his door ring.
“Dinky,” said a female voice. “Are you here?”
“Hey mom, I‘m hanging out with Doctor Whooves,” said Dinky.
“Actually, it’s Time Turner,” he corrected.
Time Turner turned around to greet Dinky’s mother.
“Pleased to meet you, miss…” he began, before being stunned.
In front of him was a light sapphire bluish gray Pegasus, with a pale yellow mane, light goldish eyes, and bubbles for a cutie mark.
“Ditzy, Ditzy Doo,” she introduced herself. “Course most know me as Derpy.”
“Y-yes, I’m Time Turner,” he introduced himself nervously.
“You okay,” asked Derpy.
“I’m better than I’ve ever been,” he said without thinking.
“Well…thanks for looking after my kid,” said Derpy.
“N-not a problem,” said Time Turner. “I didn’t want her going back to an empty home.”
“Mail was running a bit long today,” said Derpy.
“I’d be happy to watch her when needed,” said Time Turner.
“He tells some really cool stories, mom,” said Dinky.
“Isn’t he the one claiming to fly around in a blue crate,” asked Derpy.
“That was a complete misunderstanding,” said Tim Turner. “I’m just telling some fun stories to the little ponies.”
“Pinkie Pie spread the rumors,” said Dinky.
“That does sound like her,” commented Derpy. “But sure, if Dinky likes you, then you must be ok. So, if you know I’m gonna be late you can come by here, sweetie.”
“Cool, thanks mom,” exclaimed Dinky. “See you later Doctor Whooves.”
“Time Turner will still do,” he exclaimed as they walked out.
Time Turner stood there for a moment, feeling very strange.
“What’s this strange feeling,” said Time Turner. “My heart is beating a mile a minute!”
“Sounds like somepony’s in love,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
Time Turner jumped back a little in shock.
“How long have you been there,” exclaimed Time Turner.
“Long enough to see somepony’s caught the love bug,” exclaimed Pinkie. “I saw how you were so nervous around Derpy! Love at first site!”
“Is that what that is,” asked Time Turner.
“You really haven’t done much in your life,” commented Pinkie. “Most ponies don’t show Derpy much interest, what with her bad eye and all.”
“She has a bad eye,” asked Time Turner.
“Um, duh,” said Pinkie. “Why do you think she’s called Derpy Hooves?”
“I must’ve not noticed,” said Time Turner. “She was just so…radiant!”
“Go for it then,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “You’ll have plenty of chances to talk to her. Especially since you’ll be looking after Dinky from time to time.”
“I suppose I will,” said Time Turner.
“Looks like Doctor Whooves has a new adventure,” exclaimed Pinkie with a huge smile. “And adventure in romance!”