Sunshine opened his bleary eyes to find himself in a rather strange location. He found himself lying face down in an infinite expanse of white. An endless landscape of pearly wasteland, not a single bump or ridge on its smooth surface. The sky was a different story, it was a clear, light blue of a summer’s day. What was odd was that there was no sun to be found on this clear sky. With it, he nor anything else on this land cast a shadow. His armour and other belongings seemed to have returned to him. His sword also appeared to have been completely repaired.
“What in Luna’s name…”
While his addled mind tried to formulate a logical explanation, the land began to shimmer, as if in a haze of heat. Steadily, the white expanse gave way to a familiar grassy meadow, overshadowed by a magnificent castle, resting upon a mountain top. Despite its familiarity, it seemed much smaller and rugged compared to the Canterlot he knew and loved. It was much smaller, and many of the magnificent towers and spires seemed to have disappeared. The land also seemed younger, fewer trees grew, but the grass was greener and more lively, swaying in the breeze.
Sunshine felt at peace here, but this was not his home, and as long as he lived, he will find a way back.
Frolicsome tossed and turned on the marble floor. Horrible images of torment and pain swam through his consciousness, torturing his mind and soul. Flickering shadows pierced his mind with unbearable cold. Like snakes, they struck and poisoned, leaving him writhing in agony. He felt a hoof nudge him, but he did not acknowledge. A rougher shoved broke his state momentarily, but then came back worse than before.
He was finally brought back to reality when a hard hoof was swung at his face, impacting with a satisfying *CRACK*
“What in all hells…” he muttered, nursing a bruised cheek bone
He looked up to find the confused, but stern faces of a stallion and mare. The stallion was a brown earth pony a short, spiky mane and tail of a darker shade. His cutie mark was an hourglass. The mare was a grey Pegasus with a spiky yellow mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a plume of bubbles. The oddest things about the pair were that the stallion was sticking a silver stick with a glowing blue tip at his eyes, and the mare’s eyes seemed to have trouble focusing.
“Ah, there we are!” sighed the brown stallion “Good as new! Minus a bruise, but, at least your awake,”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” smiled the mare sheepishly “but nothing else we tried seemed to work,”
“So, what’s your name?” the stallion asked “I’m the Doctor, and before you say anything, it’s the Doctor. Just the Doctor. This is my lovely assistant and wife, Ditzy…”
“Hi!”
“And we just so happen to find you convulsing on the floor of this here castle,”
Taking a moment to steady himself, he found that he was indeed, in a castle. It was a grand building, made of white stone. Stained glass windows depicting important events lined the walls to his right and left. At the back of the room stood a throne, simple, elegant and adorned with precious metals and stones. Pillars lined the sides, supporting a huge glass roof, welcoming the light of the sun. Behind him stood a small blue barn, roughly the size of an outhouse. A common sight among the country side, but not in a hall so magnificent as this. Shaking his head to clear the last of his dizziness, he resumed his normal, respective attitude.
“My name is Frolicsome Meadowlark,” he said “Personal Guard to Princess Luna and Co-Captain to the Night Guard,”
“Really?” said the Doctor “You don’t mind me saying if that’s impossible, do you?”
“Actually, I do mind a lot,” Frolic retorted “Now if you would show me the way back to Canterlot, I have to report to the princess and find my brother,”
“Okay, let’s just say you are from Canterlot. How in Equestria did you get here?”
“That’s classified,”
“Ugh!” grumbled the Doctor “Enough of all you secretive types,”
“How about this,” suggested Ditzy with a cheeky smile “If you don’t tell us how you got here, we won’t take you back to Canterlot,”
Frolicsome looked for a retort, but it died in his throat. He settled his internal debate with one word.
“Fine,”
“Great!” exclaimed Ditzy “To the TARDIS!”
“Oy, only I can say that!” complained the Doctor
With that, they both clambered into the little blue barn, argument resounding in their wake.
Having dealt with odd ponies before, Frolicsome merely shoved it off and proceeded cautiously to the ‘TARDIS’. He had to admit though, these two are certainly the oddest pair he’s ever met. Upon entering the barn however, he came to the conclusion that they were definitely the oddest ponies he’s ever met.
For want of a better description, it was bigger on the inside. It contained a huge circular room, like a dome. The walls were lined with circular indentations, breathing white light into the dominant yellow-bronze. Organic pillars supported the roof, like the branches of an ancient tree, warped by age and the elements. In the centre stood what was presumed to be the control panel. A round menagerie of everyday devices and other odd bells and whistles that didn’t quite belong there. Connecting it to the roof was a large transparent column, emanating an aquamarine hue. Mechanisms inside moved constantly, creating an odd sound, like some low, metallic groaning. At the control panel were Doctor and Ditzy, fussing over some kind of monitor.
“Go on, say it,” smiled the Doctor, keeping his eyes glued to the monitor
“What kind of magic is this?” the guard breathed
The Doctor blinked, honestly surprised by his reaction.
“Well, that’s a new one,” he commented “Never had that one before. It’s always ‘It’s bigger on the inside!’ or something of the sort,”
“First time for everything!’ sang Ditzy
“Alright then, down to business,” greeted the Doctor, then began to wave his glowing blue stick at the disgruntled guard.
“Please get your wand out of my face,” Frolic growled
“Easy on there, it’s a sonic screwdriver, not a wand. I haven’t seen a pony use a wand for years. Anyway, I’m just collecting a DNA scan out of some stray particles so I can identify you,”
“Save the lingo for the scientists and just get me back to Canterlot,”
“Yeah, sure, give us a moment,”
Doctor began to tap furiously onto an old typewriter, hardwired into the console and fixed in place with nails. His hooves worked in a blur of motion, making it impossible to decipher what exactly he’s been typing. Seconds later, he pressed one final button, which prompted a loud *ding* from the monitor.
“There we are!” he exclaimed “Let’s see here…”
His words were lost into an incoherent mess of “Hmm”s and “Uh huh”s. He kept looking towards Frolic, confusion and worry in his eyes. Finally, he turned to Ditzy, who only offered a shrug in response. Heaving a sigh, he turned to Frolicsome.
“Well, guess you are Frolicsome Meadowlark,” he conceded “Sorry for the mix up. We didn’t really expect to see you at all, and here of all places,”
“Where exactly am I?” Frolic asked
“Not ‘where’, but ‘when’. Although, ‘where’ is still a pretty good question,”
The brown stallion pressed a few more buttons and a panoramic view of the castle outside appeared on the monitor. It looked truly beautiful, but also very off-putting. It looked so similar to Canterlot, but looked so different as well. The whole city was much larger, as was the mountain it was built on. The country side immediately below it was covered in large villages, with farmland going further outwards.
“Familiar, isn’t it?” whispered the Doctor “Welcome to ‘The Mother Land’!. Home to a population of 2 million ponies, 34 percent unicorn, 36-ish earth pony, 14 percent Pegasus and 16 percent other. This place has remained secluded from the rest of the planet for thousands upon thousands of years!”
“You haven’t answered my question,”
“I was getting to that. This kingdom has been concealed by a powerful magical incantation and runic ward system. Very powerful, for something so ancient of course. It resides on the other side of the Crystal Mountains, which block off the north of Equestria from the other side of the world. When we are, is currently thousands of years before either Celestia or Luna make an appearance. We are currently experiencing a period of great peace,”
“But then, how are you here?”
“This beauty we are currently standing in is my TARDIS. Time And Relative Dimensions in Space. The best ship in the universe and also a time machine,”
“Yeah,” Frolic scoffed “And my toaster’s a laser cannon,”
“It probably isn’t, but how else do you explain us being here?”
He had to admit, he has a very good point.
“Now, it’s my turn,” the Doctor’s face lost its playful smile, and was replaced with a heavy scowl. “How did you get here?”
Frolicsome took a moment to gather his memories, then debated whether he should tell the odd brown pony and his equally odd companion. He finally decided that what harm could there be if it meant getting him home.
“Princess Luna appointed my brother Sunshine and I for a reconnaissance mission of Astral Star’s Estate…”
“Hardly a wise decision,” The Doctor commented “Continue,”
“It was supposed to be an easy job, get in, map the place, get out. Until the statues showed up,”
“No…”
The odd stallion’s face dissolved into slack-jawed worry, coupled with a hint of fear.
“We thought they were harmless at first, so we passed them by. Then we found that they started moving…”
“You didn’t…”
“A statue attacked me. Had me pinned to the wall one foot off the ground. Sunshine tried to help, but it wouldn’t budge. That last thing I remember was a great pain in my chest, like some pony stabbed it,”
“You did,” he sighed “What you encountered was a Weeping Angel. A very powerful creature that feeds off temporal energy. They can only move when they are not seen. They are extremely dangerous, and we’ve needed to deal with them before. When Ditzy and I visited the mansion, a pony named Charlene told us that it was inhabited by hundreds of those things. We were assured that they have been domesticated, but now that you’re here…”
“Actually,” interrupted Ditzy “You remember when you asked if they were safe?”
“Yes…” replied the Doctor, not sure where this is going
“Did you remember her answer?”
And suddenly, it all clicked together.
“Not even remotely if one were to jeopardise the safety of the mansion,” She quoted, a satisfied smile on her face
“Oh, right,” it was the Doctor’s turn to be sheepish now “Anyway, we have to get you home!”
The brown stallion rushed over to the other side of the console, pushing buttons, pulling levers and smacking things. He paused for only moment to ask Frolic something.
“So, what date would it be in the morning after your little mission?” he inquired
“The 15th day of the August, two years from Luna’s return,” he answered proudly
“Alrighty then! You might want to hold onto something!” he cried, pulling one final lever.
The whole room shook as a metallic wheezing echoed throughout the ship. Frolicsome clung to a handrail for dear life while Ditzy and Doctor laughed like mad ponies. It was like a roller coaster for them, nothing more. As abruptly as it started, it stopped with a loud thud. Frolic took a moment to retain his sense of balance, while his two companions stumbled around like a pair of drunks, giggling hysterically.
“That was a doozy!” announced the Doctor
“I’ll say!” shouted Ditzy “Let’s get out, I’m gonna lose my lunch!”
“What lunch?”
“Exactly, now move!”
The pair made their way to the door and haphazardly stumbled out the door. Frolicsome followed suit soon afterward, not too keen on having an experience like that again.
Upon exiting the TARDIS, Frolicsome noted several things. First, was that he was in some pony’s bedroom. Second, that it was a bedroom he spent most nights standing outside on guard duty. Finally, that there were half a dozen night guards pointing spears at him and his companions.
“At ease, gentle colts,” commanded a female voice
All night guards withdrew their spears, and settled into the usual stance they took while guarding their posts. The two centremost guards took two paces to either side as a regal blue alicorn strode toward him, baring a face that he has not seen for many years.
“Welcome back, Captain Meadowlark,” Luna spoke. Her voice hinted relief, but also anger “I hope you have a good explanation for your absence,”