//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Running Wild // Story: A Rosier View // by Frozen Echo //------------------------------// Chapter 3: Running Wild Derpy blanched at the large blue box that looked over her menacingly, her eyes wide and her jaws parted. She fell onto the ground, her wandering eyes full of confusion. How is this here? It was in the street a while ago! The gray pony flinched as a bolt of thunder cracked through the silence like a hot knife through butter. Deeply heard a familiar voice come from downstairs as she panicked, reaching for the blanket. In the rush of madness, Derpy tripped over the blanket and tumbled face first onto the wooden floor with a cry of pain. "Derpy?" The Doctor rushed up the stairs and headed for the bedroom, peeking through the crack the door made. He erupted into the bedroom as Derpy snapped up her head, her face draining of all color. "N-no, it's not what you think," she began breathlessly with her ears flattened. "I was getting a blanket for you and I... sorta..." The gray pony trailed off as the Doctor stared at the blue box, his jaw dropped. The air was just as stagnate as the two ponies as the thick silence draped over them like a blanket. "W-what a surprise!" the Doctor smirked, strolling to her casually. Derpy tilted her head in confusion as he seemed to sway when he approached her. "It appears you found my... uh, my carving collection! Brilliant," The Doctor muttered the last word with heavy eyes. Derpy got to her hooves, her eyes sparkling brightly. "Really?! Do you have more?" The Doctor shifted his hooves as he tried to meet the pegasi's yellow eyes, not wanting to lie. I have no choice, he decided. "No, unfortunately," he said evenly, hiding a grin as his voice never faltered. "I'm still working on this one, though." Derpy nodded with her breath hitching in her throat as she snuck a glare at him when the Doctor wasn’t looking. He thinks I’m that gullible? She thought while clenching her teeth. “Looks pretty cool, mind if I open it?” she asked starkly, stepping closer to the beautifully crafted piece. As she did so, the Doctor flinching was painfully noticeable. “N-no! It, uh, doesn’t have an inside, actually.” “Then why get all nervous, doc?” “I’m not nervous,” he scoffed, looking away. “Look, let’s just go back to bed. Sound good?” The gray pegasus pondered on his pleads with a stifled giggle, nodding slowly. “Ok, sounds good.” The Doctor closed his eyes with a simple smile and ruffled Derpy's blonde hair playfully, turning to exit the room. She hesitated to call out to him, picking up the blanket as he slipped away silently. She followed after the stallion quietly and listened to him mumble to himself. "That was too close," he sighed quietly, flopping onto the couch. Derpy felt a tugging suspicion at her brain, his mumbling ceasing as her heart stopped. Does he know...? The Doctor rose to his hooves and padded quietly to her direction as her heart began to race. She could hear his steady breathing getting closer as she clenched onto the blanket tighter, beads of sweat rolling down her face. No, don't come any closer! He can't know I was snooping on his mumbling. Derpy tried to blend into the wall as much as she could, feeling warm breath reach her ear. She held back a shriek as he nearly touched her, a deep blush coming over her face. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for him to see her slim and frail shadow pressed tightly against the walls. The lights were off but Derpy didn't know if that would help her blend in or not. She almost exhaled the breath that she was holding and nearly dropped the blanket she had been clinging onto for dear life as the Doctor moved away from her. The gentle patters of hooves on the wooden floor stopped as she heard him walk onto the carpet and go back to the couch, making Derpy fly back up the stairs as quietly as possible. On second thought, maybe he doesn't need this blanket... ~ The gray pegasus opened her eyes reluctantly as sunshine poured into the room, the sound of hooves approaching her slowly. "Derpy, it is time to get up," a familiar voice cooed. She felt firm hooves shake her, trying to get her out of the comfy bed. Derpy let out a groan and sat up, her gaze veering to a smirking stallion. "Is something wrong...?" she mumbled, rubbing the heavy sleep from her eyes. The Doctor shook his head as his eyes twinkled, heading back to the open door to exit. "I made breakfast, if you're hungry." Derpy felt her stomach growl loudly, her face flushing in embarrassment. He turned to face the blushing pegasus with a chuckle as he flicked an ear. "I take that you are, in fact, hungry," the Doctor chirped with a gentle smile, his eyes closed and his head tilted slightly. Derpy offered a smile back, getting out of bed and followed the Doctor. Her mouth watered as wonderful scents filtered into her nose, holding back a squeal of delight. The Doctor looked back her, his head tilted back as he talked to her. "You seem excited," he snickered, leading her into the kitchen. Whoa! Derpy examined the counter hungrily, resisting the urge to poke the bowl. "What is this?" "Where I come from, it's called Oatmeal." "Oatmeal...?" The word flowed off her tongue easily which brought another wide smile to her lips. The smile faltered as she backed away, looking at the Doctor. "I'm sorry but, I can't accept your food." The Doctor replaced his smile with a aghast, opened mouth, his eyebrows furrowed. "Why not?" "I have a house, doc. I can't eat your food," she explained, looking at the ground. "I'm sorry I never told you before--" "Ah, don't worry about it," the Doctor responded, using a hoof to push it towards her. "You wouldn't have made it home in that rain, anyways." Derpy let a smile pull at her lips, shaking her head. "I'm not that hungry," she lied through her teeth. "But...may I ask you a question?" "Yeah, sure." Derpy hesitated, dragging a hoof along the wooden floor. "In your bedroom...what was that, really?" "Derpy, I told you what it was--" "You we're lying," she grumbled, narrowing her golden eyes. "Tell me the truth." The Doctor shuffled his hooves on the ground, refusing to meet the grey pegasus's challenging stare. "Well...if I told you, you--" A loud bang from the door made them both leap in surprise, the Doctor not sure if he should be relieved or worried. The Doctor placed two hooves on Derpy's back and shoved her towards the stairs, hearing the door splinter and crack. "What's going on?!" "Just head upstairs! Ill be right there," he instructed, stepping back and urging Derpy to fly to his bedroom. When she was out of sight, the Doctor snuck back to the front, peeking his head around the corner. "Exterminate!" The Doctor leaped away as a he heard the laser being shot, covering his ears when the part of the doorway he was peeking around showered down on him in chunks. Daleks! I have to get Derpy out of here. He made a run for it, leaping onto the staircase and scrambling up the stairs as another shot nearly caught his hind leg. The Doctor rounded a corner and collided into a frozen Derpy, knocking then both over. "Sorry!" He cried, quickly getting off her. "But we gotta go!" He helped Derpy up before dashing off to his bedroom, the grey pegasus now hot on his heels. "What are those things?" Derpy inquired. "Daleks," he responded, eyes flickering around the room. The Doctor ran over to his window and quickly pried it open, motioning for Derpy to come over. She did what was asked and got ready to climb out, only to fall back with her golden eyes as wide as saucers. "Derpy, what's wrong? Jump out!" "Uhmm...look out the window, doc." The Doctor poked his head out like the pegasus had told him to do, and sudden realized her terror. "Exterminate!" The Doctor leaped away and pounced on top of Derpy, the window exploding and glass shards hitting them. "Brilliant," he muttered, slowly crawling off Derpy. "Now what?" "Are we going to die?" "Hah! If I don't come up with a plan, maybe." Derpy's ears flattened slightly at that, casting her vibrant orbs to gaze at the ground. The Doctor stifled a sigh and rubbed his temples with his hooves, eyes narrowing. Think, doc, think! How can I get us out of here? "Look out!" The Doctor felt something slam into him and knock him away from a laser, eyes growing wide. "Derpy, keep that door closed!" He hollered, watching the pegasus crawl off him. She nodded quickly before flying over to the door, kicking it shut and locking it. The Doctor straightened his tie before sucking in a sharp breath, heading over to the item Derpy found yesterday. The Tardis. He opened up the door to reveal a whole system of electronics inside, looking over his shoulder at Derpy. Her eyes slowly grew wide as she trotted towards him, jaws parted in silent awe. "Just a craft piece, huh?" She grumbled. "Oh, just go inside." Derpy scrambled inside and looked around, eyes flickering around and absorbing in every detail. "Ready to go?" She looked over to see the Doctor flipping some switches and pressing buttons, meeting her gaze. "Don't worry," he chimed. "We'll get out of here." Derpy felt her world spinning and questions clogging her brain, eyes frantically searching the strange contraption. What's going on? Who is this pony? What is this...thing we're inside? "It is called the 'Tardis.'" "Oopsie," she mumbled. She didn't realize she said that all out loud. At least her mind wasn't whirling. "And you already know who I am." "What are you?" Derpy asked shakily, turning around to face the Doctor. He blinked slowly as his face shuttered close, erasing all emotion from his face. He flipped a switch open to reveal a red button, locking his eyes with the trembling grey pegasus. "Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to," he said rather darkly. He brought his hoof down and let it slam into the red button, the whole room shuddering. "Where are we going?" Derpy cried, ears flat on her head. "An adventure." As the Daliks busted down the door, they could see the faint outline of the Tardis before it completely vanished. The sound of whirls and clicks made some Daliks step to the side, revealing a large mechanical pony. It's eyes blazed red and a large gap was between its chest, showing a red glowing gem. It released an airy groan and growl, a hiss spilling past its metal jaws. "Exterminate," it breathed, claws clicking on the ground as it approached a desk. The claws were brought down and shredded the wood into splinters, the fire-like red of its eyes growing brighter. "The Doctor."