Doctor Whoof: The Iron Horse

by Muleicous

(Part 4) Facts, Figures, and Failures.

The Doctor yawed as he sat in the small caravan that served as the mobile head quarters of Torchwhoof. The outside of the wooden wagon had been very plain, nothing too note worthy; however, the inside was amazingly decorated. The windows where covered in large, dark blue curtains that blocked anypony from the outside’s view, the door had a variety of bolts and locks on it (including an enchantment that General Stormbreaker himself put on it.), not to mention the couches and pillows the various pony guards sat and layed on where as fluffy as a marshmallow. Soon though, the time colt’s eyes where brought back to the unicorn in front of him.

Stormbreaker couldn’t believe his luck. Not only had The Doctor lead him right to trouble, but he was now in full right to interrogate this strange pony for information. The only thing that would’ve made his moment sweeter for the veteran guardsman would’ve been if Princess Celestia herself handed him a metal of valor. “Now,” the general began, “From what you’ve told me so far, we arn’t dealing with an Equestrian threat at all, but a threat from your own world.”

The Doctor nodded, it had taken very little encouragement from the time pony to convince Stormbreaker that The Doctor was from another planet... Another dimension to be exact. The time colt could only surmise that the princesses had told all the members of Torchwhoof this. The Doctor couldn’t help but chuckle in his head, thinking of how ironic this was.

“You haven’t told me what exactly we’re dealing with though, Doctor.” the unicorn tapped his hoof impatiently, “I’d like to know what these... Cyberponies, as you call them, are. What can they do? Are they always hostile? Is there any way we can negotiate with them?” General Stormbreaker waited for a response, but the brown pony across from him remained silent, just as he had from the past hour. The general slammed his front hooves on the table they where sitting at, papers flying into the air and floating down like leaves from a tree. “Luna dammit! Tell me what we’re dealing with you son of a mule!”

“There’s no need to use that kind of language General,” The Doctor sat calmly, as if this conversation was boring him, “If you let me go and leave, I’ll deal with all of this and you can give your full report to Celestia...” A quick smack from Stormbreaker interrupted the Doctor’s train of thought, the sound of a hoof hitting somepony’s cheek echoed through the caravan.

“You will address the princesses by their full title, Doctor.” Stormbreaker glared at the pony he had just hit, “You know, it’s ponies like you that make me sick to my stomach. You think that just because you’ve met royalty, you know them. I don’t care if you’re an acquaintance of Princess Celestia’s top student, I don’t even care about that little 'incident’ in Canterlot, you are not royalty so you DO NOT act like you’re better.”

The time colt spat a bit of blood from his mouth, “I never said I was.” He knew Stormbreaker’s type: aggressive, angry, and a pony that everyone respected just from his past. However, much like the general himself, The Doctor didn’t care who or what Stormbreaker thought he was. All the time pony knew was that if he didn’t deal with the Cyberponies soon, they would have enough foot solders to march on Canterlot... Maybe even all of Equestria. “I’m going to tell you one more time Stormbreaker... I will deal with the Cyberponies. You need to head back to Canterlot,t and tell Princess Celestia that I’m here and dealing with the situation.”

Stormbreaker gritted his teeth, this pony was as stubborn as his brother. Then again, this ‘Doctor’ pony seemed to have gained the respect of both princesses almost over night. Stormbreaker’s horn glowed with a violet-red aura, which then enveloped a file on the table. The file on The Doctor was very small compared to the files of outlaw ponies he had seen in the past; however, it held all that Torchwhoof and the royal guard knew about the strange pony from another world:

“Damned...” The general cursed under his breath. He knew that this strange pony in front of him was right now. It was strange though, Stormbreaker must’ve read that file over one hundred times since being transfered to the head of this new division, but he had never seen anything in the additional information category... unless. The white unicorn glared at The Doctor, “You changed this file... Didn’t you?”

The Doctor smiled and leaned back a bit, “Well now, what ever gave you that idea.”

“After that, your majesty,” General Stormbreaker said as he bowed to his matriarch. “My unit left Appleoosa in the... capable hooves of The Doctor.”

Princess Celestia nodded at the last word, by her side was her starry haired sister. The two looked at each other, exchanging glances as if they where having a full conversation in some secret language that only they knew. “Thank you General... After the disturbance we had this afternoon, it is good to hear some good news. You are dismissed.”

“Thank you, your majesty.” Stormbreaker bowed and turned to walk away. In the military unicorn’s mind, however, his thoughts where clouded by hatred. Hatred of being beaten by what he considered cheating, and by some... alien of all ponies! As he exited the throne room and made his usual turn down the hall, the general looked over to the small town of Ponyville just miles from the royal city. “You won this round Doctor... But now that I know what you are, what you can do, I know that I will beat you at your own game.” The unicorn smiled as he looked into the sky, a smile that would’ve made the most innocent of fillies run, “And then... I’ll give you to my true ruler.”

Author's Note: If you guys want me to make more Torchwhoof files, just ask and I'll put them in a bonus chapter. Also, the incident that Princess Celestia mentioned near the end happened in my side story Discord in Time!. If you want to check it out, click the link.

Also, thanks for being patent guys.