After the Doctor reared up, the group quickly disbanded; Rarity and Rainbow had to stay for the fashionista's big order, Pinkie was ”staging a performance involving all of Ponyville”, James went home to ”anticipate the end of this story”, and Twilight and Spike had to return to their duties at the library.
Before they left, Twilight suggested that the pair visited Applejack for more information.
”She lives on a great farm on the outskirts of Ponyville. If anypony's heard of something we haven't, it's her.”
”Oh, goodie, I haven't seen her in ages!” Ditzy Doo exclaimed.
”Great, we need to start our search somewhere, so why not at an old friend? Where is Applejack's farm?”
”Around 5 miles outside Ponyville.” Twilight answered.
”Splendid, we'll take the TARDIS.”
”TARDIS?” Ditzy Doo looked at him quizzically.
”My spaceship. It's at the town square.”
”Oh, wow, a real spaceship? Let's go!”
The mailmare raced out the door, the colt in hot pursuit of his companion.
They made it to the town square in record time, Ditzy Doo flying, while Doctor Whooves followed the best he could.
The pegasus saw the blue box and attempted a loop-the-loop towards it, only to barge through the doors and smack into the ship's console.
The ship's captain rushed to her side with a concerned look on his face.
”I just don't know what went wrong!” Ditzy wailed.
”Me neither. I was certain I locked the doors earlier. Splendid, the security system must be malfunctioning. Are you all right?”
”Yeah, yeah, I suffered worse during training. But …. wait a moment.”
The alien looked at her, giddy anticipation painted on his face as she looked around the Tardis, then outside at the sign reading ”Public Call Police Box”.
”It's smaller on the outside!” she declared.
He nodded in agreement.
”Yes it i- wait, what?”
His happiness changed to bewilderment, then bemused interest.
”Well, that's a new one. I like it!” he smiled.
He put on his black-rimmed glasses.
”All right, let's get going then. Ditzy, if you could just pull that lever over there.”
He pointed, and she pulled the lever down with her mouth while the captain of the ship pushed a blue and a yellow button simultaneously.
The box made the whirring noise signifying its departure.
”Here we go!” he yelled with glee.
A few seconds later it materialized outside the farm with a thud.
The pair walked out the creaking doors to find a yellow pegasus looking anxiously out behind her pink mane at the sheep-herding orange mare below her.
”Git back here, ya teasin' sheep!” the mare on the ground yelled, her blonde mane flying under the brown cowboy hat.
”Watch this,” Doctor Whooves whispered to Ditzy as they looked at the oblivious mares.
He activated the sonic screwdriver, the blue-tipped end blinking and buzzing, only to summon a brown and white collie to his side, panting and yipping.
”Whoops, that was the dog whistle setting.”
He fiddled with it a bit before trying again.
All the sheep ran in to the pen immediately.
”Now that's more laik it!” Applejack said.
She trotted up to her dog, her body glistening with sweat.
”Winona, why did ya jus' leave?”
”I called her, I'm afraid. I also herded your sheep in your place.”
Applejack just now noticed the adventuring duo.
”Why, Ah never …. Ditzy Doo!” a wide smile of recognizing spread across her face.
She came up to Ditzy and shook her hoof.
”Been downright ages since Ah've seen ya last time. How's Dinky?”
”Oh, she's just fine. She's getting better in school and at magic and everything.” she beamed.
”Excuse me, but who's Dinky?” the Doctor asked.
”Dinky Doo's my daughter, Doctor.” her mother explained.
”That's a lot of D's.”
They all chuckled before Doctor Whooves asked a question, dragging the words as if he was unsure
how to say it right.
”Soooo …. is she Derpy t--”
The colt never finished his question before a hoof slapped him hard on the left cheek, sending his glasses flying two feet into a patch of grass.
”Ow! What the hell?! Six galaxies removed and possibly in a parallel universe, and I still get slapped by someone's Mum!”
”Well, you had it coming!” she yelled back furiously.
The Doctor's head drooped, then turned up again. ”But, is she?” he asked again.
Dinky's mother sighed and glared daggers at her companion.
”If you must know, then no. Thank Celestia too. I am old enough to live with it, but I just couldn't bear it if somepony picked on my little Dinky.”
She looked down at the ground, and the alien looked away.
The farmer tried to salvage the situation.
”Well, er .. Howdy there, stranger! Ah don't believe we've met? The name's Applejack, and this here
is Fluttershy.”
She pointed to a yellow mare behind and above her.
The pegasus was indeed living up to her name, fluttering a foot above ground and looking like she could creep into a mousehole.
Fluttershy squaked at the mention of her name, and hid behind her mane again.
”Ah bought her here to help me with the sheep, but they don't respond to a meek mare laik Fluttershy here, apparently.”
He nodded. ”I'm Doctor Whooves, and I'd like to ask you a few questions.”
”Sure thang! That's the least Ah can do when ya herded mah sheep for me laik that.”
”Did anything fall from the sky recently? Any loud crashes, any flashing lights in the distant night sky?”
The orange mare put a hoof to her chin, pondering for a moment before answering.
”Now that ya mention it, there was a loud crash in the middle of the night, 'bout a month back. Woke everypony up, even ol' Granny Smith. Ah think it came from them mountains.”
She pointed behind her in the distance to a blue mountain range with snow on top, covered in a light mist.
”Could you be any more specific, perhaps?” he asked pleadingly.
The earth pony shook her head.
”Ah'm plumb sorry, Mr. Whooves. But hey, maybe the Princesses would know?”
”It's Doctor Whooves, actually. But thanks for your help regardless. It has been most invaluable.”
He turned to his companion.
”Any idea how we request an audience?”
She looked at him smugly before flapping her wings.
”Weeell, I just so happen to be the only mailmare in Ponyville who is also a pegasus. That means I'm the only pony in Ponyville who's in the Royal Postal Service, because I can fly from the town to the city.”
She grinned at him.
”I may be clumsy, but I am fast. Wanna try it … partner?”
”You bet!” he winked.
They said their goodbyes to the mares and trotted over to the Tardis, the colt picking up his glasses on the way.
After a quick Tardis ride, the duo found themselves in front of the gilded gates at the Princesses' shared palace in Canterlot.
”Halt! Who goes there?” the guard in the gilded armour demanded, holding his spear across the door, blocking it.
”I am Ditzy Doo of the Royal Postal Service, and I have an urgent message that only Princess Celestia must hear!” the grey mare said with all the authority she could muster.
”Ah, Derpy Hooves!” the guard grinned.
Said pegasus gritted her teeth at the mention of the loathed nickname.
”And where is this message?” he asked with suspicion.
”In here.” she tapped her head.
”Top secret spy plans.” she explained, lying carefreely.
The stallion nodded, then pointed his spear towards Doctor Whooves, who looked frightened.
”This is my accomplice ….” she stopped and looked towards the alien in panic for a fake name.
”Billowing Winds.” he gulped with little confidence.
She nodded. ”He carries the other half of the message.”
”Billowing Winds? But you're not a pegasus!” the black stallion, who was in fact a pegasus, noted, his suspicion rising.
”My, uhm, parents had a sick sense of humour, okay?”
The guard shrugged.
”Okay, I'm letting you in, but only because I know Ditzy here, you got that?”
He opened the double doors to the palace.
The pair looked nervously at each other, swallowed hard, then trotted on inside.