Part Six: Mad or Mad Genius.
Creaking slightly the mass of wood and heavy objects swayed from left to right as it hung from the ceiling above Octavia, bound together and held up by a rudimentary rope and pulley system devised by the Doctor who was at that moment busy checking the results of his work.
Impatient and more than a little worried at his plan the young musician fiddled with her bow-tie in an effort to distract herself from her rapidly approaching moment in the spotlight, she smiled ironically at that thought given all her effort until today to get to perform her first solo work in the biggest opera house in the world.
A small tear escaped and slid down her muzzle as she remembered all the horrible things she’d seen and heard that night.
Looking at the Doctor she began to ponder who or what he really was, he frightened her but also he intrigued her, his cryptic words and mannerisms were baffling and him having two hearts was beyond her comprehension but still she found herself feeling curious to find out.
Now Octavia was hardly impulsive yet she had followed him into this nightmare not knowing where she would end up and to her surprise she realized she didn’t care.
Perhaps the loss of her prized instrument had released something in her she wondered, for years she had given her all to it but in the end it had been smashed and her dreams with it…
…What now then…?
It was then Octavia decided that come what may she would find her answers, ‘IF’ she survived the night of course and the Doctor she had a strange feeling would be how she did that…
Feeling like he was being watched the Doctor turned and flashed a nervous smile at Octavia who seemed to be studying him intensely, for the Doctor not privy to her inner most thoughts remembered the incident in the cupboard and blushed quickly returning to his preparations as he tried to put it to the back of his mind.
All the while off to one side of the almost empty room they had chosen for this task the two guards were laid out exhausted from helping the Doctor gather all the materials needed and lugging them to this room.
The pair was observing the odd looks the other two were giving each other and the strange silence that had descended upon the room, once again convincing the guards to champion the idea of being as quiet as possible.
It wasn’t long before the ‘elaborate’ trap was ready and the Doctor wiping sweat from his brow sat back and congratulated himself on a job well done, if he said so himself.
“Doctor,”
“Yes?”
“It’s a bit basic isn’t it?”
“Ooo... Every pony has to be a critic! I’ll have you know this works all the time!”
“So now we wait?”
“Yep… Pretty much…”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Fire away.”
“What happens after? After this I mean… What are you going to do? Actually mores the point, what is it you do, do?”
“Well …I travel through time and space in my big blue box.”
Octavia’s eyebrow twitched as she debated whether to laugh or ignore his silly evasion to her quite serious question, she decided to play along.
“A-And what do you do in time and space apart from destroy priceless instruments and drag young unsuspecting mares along as you chase after monsters?”
Although serious sounding Octavia’s words which she meant humorously left the Doctor speechless for a moment as he considered them.
“That’s… It… Pretty much, Well that and getting to see all the wonders of this universe at any point in time I choose!”
“And you do this alone Doctor?”
“Yes… No… Well yes at the moment but I was supposed to see a friend of mine… Quick trip to somewhere…”
“An old flame perhaps?”
“No… What is it with you musicians? First you kiss me, and then you ask about my past loves… Next you’ll be asking to come with me!”
Octavia was somewhat bothered at how he appeared totally serious in what he was saying, and his cheeky demeanor made it hard for her to read his face for any hint of a lie?
“I said no such thing!”
“Oh… But you were thinking it…?”
Octavia huffed, enough was enough; all this talk had gotten her nowhere and worst of all she couldn’t understand why deep down she had a nagging feeling he really was telling the truth! Or he really believed he was in which case she was right and he really was a complete lunatic…
“Certainly not… If I believed you and what you say I still would never go gallivanting off into ‘time and space’ with a complete stranger… Preposterous rubbish anyway, whatever or whoever you are, you are mad sir! And I shall have nothing more to do with you after this evening is through! If that thing doesn’t finish us first so there! …Doctor…”
Upon the use of his name Octavia ladled on the sarcasm in her voice before turning away from him closing her eyes and sniffing loudly in a derisive manner.
The Doctor was a little taken aback as he scratched the back of his head for something to say but instead he just breathed out loudly and looked around comically while swinging his forelegs back and forth and tapping his hooves together.
A sound which quickly annoyed Octavia forcing her to abandon her aloof stance as she stared at him fuming, his foal like grin the picture of feigned innocence.
“You are unbelievable… a mad pony you know that.”
“Yep, mad pony with a box.”
“That you travel through time and space in.”
“Uh-huh.”
“If we survive you will prove it to me!”
“Hold on, so you do want to come with me!”
“Certainly not, I am no adventure pony, I merely thought… (Octavia took a moment to think before it struck her!) That if you can travel through time and space… You can replace my broken cello with one from the original maker himself!”
“Oh, right then…”
At first the Doctor seemed crestfallen but then he had an idea too…
“If I do will you join me on a trip to the future? …To collect my friend then right back again?”
“I already told you no, I have a performance tomorrow that if you can bring me a cello and we survive tonight I am damn well going to play!”
Octavia was confused, tired sore all over and most of all really, really confused.
She felt herself going along with the absurd things he was saying as if she believed them herself, even starting to sound out loud like he did…
The Doctor smiled at Octavia as she suddenly felt like an idiot sat in the middle of the room next to a lunatic, with of course a giant wolf made of wood with nails for teeth bearing down on them…
“I am going to die…”
“You’re not going to die.”
“Why not…? What makes you so sure of yourself?”
“Because I’m the Doctor… I am nine hundred years old from the planet… Mmmph…!”
Octavia who had placed her hoof over his mouth as he began to monologue pointed with her other towards the door through which the giant frame of the Timberwolf could be seen coming into view as it drew level with the door…
As Octavia removed her hoof the Doctor paused before uttering,
“Odd I didn’t hear it coming… Ah well never mind… Ready?”
“N-No!”
The Timberwolf snarled…
“Y-Yes… YES!”
“Both of them scrambled to move as the beast lunged through the door and made right for them…”