//------------------------------// // The Open Door // Story: A Landing Most Wibbly Wobbly // by Baffles //------------------------------// Air hesitated for a moment, why did he tell her to wait, did he not say it wouldn't open? Did he not say it was their only way out? This baffled her why it was so important not to open the door by any means necessary. A door was replaceable, a life, perhaps, was not. "Why? you told me it was our only way out of this place!" Was her retort. The rock hovered in her magic precariously. She wanted nothing more than to see it smash into the door, releasing them from this horrible jungle. However, the Doctor apparently had different plans. "You can't... Just bash her in... She's a living, breathing thing. Not a normal box, made of normal wood. You wouldn't like somepony throwing rocks at you. Would you?" He held his hooves up to stop her. His eyes wide and pleading. His back was to the blue box, clearly trying to protect it. He trembled slightly, afraid she'd throw it anyway, maybe hitting him in the progress. Air just stared, at a total loss, not knowing what to think. Instead she slowly put the rock down, turned and walked back towards the tree they left Chip in. This stallion was clearly deranged, it was better to leave him out in the wilds, where natural selection would take place. It was a harsh and cruel reality, but she couldn't look after an injured filly and a mentally ill adult. She walked back with a cold, resolute form. Holding herself up, looking straight. Not deviating from her path back. It was far less slippery this way back, knowing the route, the path and all the obstacles she faced before on the way to. The Doctor just stared as she walked off. "W...Wait!" He called out, but was ignored. She didn't stop, or quiver, but kept moving. His ears went down, sagging. He watched her muddy form disappear into the thick jungle foliage. A click behind him made his head swivel. The Tardis door swung lazily open. Jumping to his hooves he rushed into the depths of the machine. "You've gotten better!" He exclaimed, smiling brightly. He went up to the controls, beginning to read what she had gone through. But, upon reading. His hearts slowed. Now he knew why she had locked him out, why he had been banished from her. It made sense and he now knowing, didn't blame her one bit. Tears stung his eyes, his head lay on the console, stroking the controls. "I'm so sorry... What will we do?" A loud wurring sound. "I have to take care of them... Make it as right as I can..." A click was his reply. He turned, getting back onto his hooves, going into the deeper parts of the Tardis. Getting a parcel of food, medicine, and towels, fresh water and bandages. He would have to explain, but it was more important to provide. When he had gotten what he wanted, he took his leave. Giving the door a soft kiss. "Thank you... And please don't hate me..." Then turned, as the door locked with another click. And left. Air had returned and climbed up the tree. Curling around the little shadowy figure of the little filly, she rested her head. To protect the little pony, under her care. Closing her eyes, she let sleep take her. When the Doctor made his way back to the tree, he began to set up a shelter. Taking branches, fallen or fresh, forming a tepee structure. It was hard, manual labor. making sure there would be something for the two to wake up too. A safe place, a home. To make their own. He'd make this up to them. One way or another. He would atone and get them both out of here, as fast as he could. But the Tardis wouldn't let him leave, without doing something first. Perhaps, this was part of it. He stayed up, until the Sun's rays penetrated the trees above him, lighting his nights work. It was primitive, but obvious what it was meant to be. A house, made of branches and leaves, large ones on the top, to allow rain to roll right off, leaving the inside toasty and warm. Even a secure entrance, with a makeshift door was apparent. He stood, looking at his work, proud. At least he had done something right. Right? He deposited the supplies inside and closed the door. Scaling the tree, he nudged Air softly. "Air, I need you to bring Chip down, I made a shelter." He said softly as she blinked sleepily up at him. He smiled brightly. "What are you doing back here?" She asked, rubbing her eyes, careful not to knock Chip, hurting her, or waking her. She then opened her eyes, which were circled with dark pouches under them. She hadn't slept well, keeping guard, she had only just fallen into a restful sleep, before he woke her up. "I made shelter, I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to really help the situation. I made us a safe place to stay and I'll do anything you ask me too." He said, offering her a hoof. "I promise." He added, with a soft wink. She regarded him unsure, but the offer for help, would be useful, surely. She took the hoof reluctantly, but nodded. "Okay, but we need to find a reliable source of food, we can't just eat something, there is probably a lot of poisonus plants out here." She glanced around, taking in for the first time how lush and dense this jungle was. It was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack, and not being able to eat the hay... "We'll have to find a steady source, but how? We can't try everything, in hopes of not getting sick, or dropping dead." She continued, concerned. "I know a few edible plants in this part of the world, might not be the tastiest, but I can promise you it will be nutritious" He gave another smile. Pointing his hoof to one plant snaking up the branches near them. "That's edible, it will be bitter, but is good for stomach aches. And this bark If we cut it can provide us with a small amount of water." She raised an eyebrow. "Water? Sap, or actual water?" "Actual water, see, the roots suck up water and the water stay--" He was cut off. "I know what you're talking about, the water then 'bleeds' from the tree when the bark is damaged, it's common in vines as well." The Doctor stared dumbfounded at her. "Fair enough."