//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Meet the Doctor // Story: A Rosier View // by Frozen Echo //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Meet the Doctor Derpy followed the mysterious stallion to a small house, not meeting his eyes. I could've gone home but, he seems like such a nice pony! she thought. The gray pegasus held back a giggle as he tripped up the stairs, rushing to help him up. He looks...strange. The Doctor muttered his thanks and placed a hoof on the doorknob, frowning. Derpy peeked over his shoulder as he tried to open the door, failing miserably. "Maybe it's the rain?" she offered with a shrug. "Yeah." "May I try?" Derpy asked, stepping closer to the door. The Doctor nodded, moving out of the way for her. Derpy placed a firm hoof on the doorknob, twisting with a grin as the door popped open with ease. He stood there and looked at her with wide eyes. "Something wrong, Doc? You seem shocked," the gray pegasus giggled. When the Doctor shook his head and mumbled something to himself Derpy suppressed a laugh, reluctantly following him inside. He scurried off into the house making Derpy frown slightly. "Uh, doc, are you ok?" "Yes! Yes, I'm fine," he breathed, rushing past her. "Um, can you wait here for a second?" "Sure thing." Derpy shut the door and stood on the welcome mat, inspecting his house. It was small but reasonable for one pony. The living room had a brown couch for two ponies in the corner, small plush pillows on each side. A large light blue rug was in the center of the room, stretching out to the kitchen. A small round table was on each side of the couch, each one having a small cream lamp on it. The rug stopped in the doorway to the kitchen as Derpy tried to lean forward to see the rest of the house. "Here you go!" The gray pegasus squeaked as she tumbled forward from the Doctor's voice breathing into her ear from behind her, landing harshly on her face. "Oh dear!" the Doctor gasped, scrambling over to the fallen pony. He helped Derpy up, a blush creeping over her face. The blush darkened as he placed a hoof on her cheek with a frown. "Are you sick? You're face is red," he asked, moving his hoof to her forehead. Derpy squeaked again, backing away suddenly with a darker blush as she avoided his gaze. "I feel fine," she insisted. The Doctor walked back over to her while biting his lower lip, lifting her chin. "Are you sure? I mean, you are pretty warm." Derpy nodded frantically, flinching away as he held out his hoof. "What? It's a towel," he said with a smirk. The gray pony looked out at his hoof and relaxed, grabbing the towel gratefully. As she dried herself off the Doctor's smirk grew bigger. "Maybe you weren't sick," he said with a sigh, moving his eyes to the side. Derpy let out a sigh of relief as he said that, hiding a smile as she dried off her face. "but maybe, you were blushing." She moved the towel slowly off her face to find the Doctor nose-to-nose with her, the blush finding it's way back to her face. "N-no I was not!" she stammered, putting the towel back over her face to dry off. "Derpy, your face is dry already," he said smugly, a large grin on his face. She jumped as the Doctor removed the towel from her grasp, backing away. "I, uh, think I should be heading home," she mumbled, heading over to the door quickly. "Wait," he called out, stopping the gray pegasus in her tracks. "you can't go out in this weather!" Derpy sucked in a sharp breath, turning back around. "I mean, I don't want to be a bother or anything," she said softly, twirling a strand of her blonde hair with a hoof. "A bother? Why would you be a bother?" "Well, I usually create messes everywhere," Derpy said with a frown, sitting down on the welcome mat. "I try to help but, it always turns into a disaster." The Doctor opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it, padding quietly over to her. He sat down by Derpy, leaning against the door as he searched her face. "How do you make messes all the time?" "Let me explain today..." After Derpy was done explaining, the Doctor straightened his tie that was around his neck. He looked at her face, seeing that one eye was off. He furrowed his eyebrows as he thought maybe he was seeing things. The Doctor blushed as she looked away, her ears flattened. "It's ok," she sighed. "everypony stares..." "No! I was j-just a bit confused, that's all!" he tried, reaching out to her. "Please face me." The gray pegasus refused, trying to block him out. "Derpy, I'm begging you." Derpy let out a tiny sigh, hesitating. Finally she turned back around slowly to face the Doctor, his blush gone. "U-uh, doc, what are you doing...?" He had his hooves on either side of her face, gazing intensely into her eyes. "My, my," he breathed. "you have lovely eyes." A dark blush found its way to Derpy's face, moving her eyes away from his. "Um, t-thanks." The Doctor removed his hooves quickly as he drew in a deep breath, rising to his hooves. "Well, I only have one bed," he said with a sheepish grin. "I can take the couch." "No, I'm the guest! I'll take the couch." He stopped her before she could move, his eyes serious. "But you are a lady," he pointed out. Derpy stared at him with wide eyes, her breath hitching. A...lady...? "Now, go upstairs. The bed is the first room on the right." She watched the Doctor for a few more heartbeats as he headed over to the couch, laying down on it. "Thanks, Doctor," Derpy whispered, heading up the stairway. She followed his instructions carefully, walking into the bedroom. A small bed was in the corner of the room on her left along side of a window. There was a small desk with a lamp on it, drawings scattered on the wooden desk. A blanket was cast over a large rectangular shaped object, a sudden idea hitting the gray pony. He never had a blanket... she thought to herself. I'll get him this one! Derpy skipped over to the rectangular box, gripping the soft blue blanket between her teeth with closed eyes. She pulled away the blanket with a satisfied hum, opening her eyes. She dropped the blanket with a shocked look on her face as she looked up at the box. No way. Before her, the large blue metal box loomed over her that she saw in the street. How is this here...?