//------------------------------// // Accidental Circumstances [Redo] // Story: A Love to Remember // by SleepingPegasus //------------------------------// “Oh god no. Please. Stay with me.” Deep tears fell from the stallion, his eyes fixated on the mare in front of him. He lifted her up, holding her close to his body. “I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry.” The stallion kept apologizing, his tears soaking into the mare's coat. Her body was mangled as if she had been thrown under several bustling buses. Most of her blood had already caked onto her coat, hiding the wonderful gray hair beneath it. His eyes shot up as a faint moan escaped the mare's muzzle. “Where. Am I? What happened?” The mare was unable to take in her surroundings as she was still being held tight by the stallion. She tried to move, only for the pain to set in. Wincing in pain, she simply laid there. The stallion was dumbfounded, seeing the mare in his hooves alive. After everything that had happened, how was she alive? However, like life’s sick joke, the mare’s consciousness swayed. Her color drained from her as her eyes grew too heavy for her to keep up. The mare he had tried so hard to save, died in his hooves. Cries of agony echoed for miles. The stallion’s cries would not stop, even after his voice was all but gone. The world around him went dark. For what felt like years, he drifted in solitude until a blinding light consumed his vision. ╪══════════════════════════════╪ The night air chilled the Doctor as he sat on the bedroom balcony, staring at the vast stars above. Thoughts danced in his head. Thoughts of his world and the life he had before he was the Time Lord. Before all the crazy adventures. Before realizing the world he knew was just one of countless multiple. And most prominent, thoughts of Derpy crept around in his mind. She had been the kindest pony he's met while in Equestria, and it pained him to think of leaving her for his old life. After everything they had done thus far. After all the places they've seen together across the parallel Equestrian multiverse. Even after she went out of her way to help him adjust to being a pony and living in her world. Why couldn't he even find it in him to tell her that he ‘was’ considering the idea of going home, even if it wasn't going to be permanent? Once he figured out how to travel back, the Doctor planned on making scheduled visits back to Ponyville just to see Derpy and Dinky. So why couldn't he find it in himself to tell her? He didn't know how she would take it. Derpy and Dinky already lost their parents when they left both of them for adoption. What would she think of him if he left? Would she even want to see him again? The Doctor’s gaze slowly moved over his shoulder and glanced at the curled bump under the blanket that was Derpy. Watching her sleeping comfortably and innocently brought a lump into his throat. He cared about her much, and he had to tell her his plan. “Perhaps I’ll tell her after I know with certainty that I can get back and forth with the TARDIS. NO. That won't work out. What if I get back home and find out I can't get back? What then?” The question lingered in thoughts for some time before the Doctor found his eyes losing to sleep. Deciding he would make up his mind when he wasn't fighting sleep, he got up and went off to bed, feeling Derpy shift in her sleep. She scooted closer to him, as he could feel her hoof caress his side, reaching out and wrapping around him. There was something about Derpy that still confused the Doctor. Even when she was sleeping, she could always tell when he was close to her. Sleep didn't come easy for him. His mind refused to relax. He kept trying to play out every scenario, every reaction, and every outcome to each of his plans. It seemed like a ‘practical’ thing to do, but it only made his mind wander onto more and more different ideas. What was he supposed to do? Was there even a simple solution to this? The Doctor’s not so pleasant sleep was abruptly interrupted by the constant jumping of a small filly. “Wake. Up. Doc. Tor. It. Is. Getting. Very late.” Dinky said in between each jump. The Doctor sat up, rubbing his eyes, and bringing Dinky’s next jump off-center and crashing to the floor. The sleep was ripped from his mind when Dinky hit the floor, knocking the bedroom trash over. Both of them stared at each other. Dinky upside down on the floor, glancing at the Doctor through the bits of debris on her head. And the Doctor from on top of the bed, wondering how he caused this by just sitting up. “Umm. Dinky. Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He trotted over to her, trying to seem sincere about all of this. Emotions were not his thing and were hard for him to convey. The Doctor was a more rational idea kind of stallion, not the emotional kind. Just so long as Derpy was not part of the equation. “Yeah. I’ll be okay.” Dinky got to her hooves, quickly shaking the wobbly feeling, and trash, from her head. “Next time, give a filly a warning before you launch her across the room. Unless you want to be the pony who has to explain to Derpy that they sent her beloved sister to the hospital.” Dinky words were like needles to the Doctor’s skin. The spitfire in her voice always interested him and scared him. It seemed that all the family-friendly, fun-loving, and free-spirited personality all went to Derpy, not to say Dinky wasn't anything like that. And the strong-hearted, ‘don't mess with me’ personality went to Dinky, so long as no pony messed with what Derpy cared about. “Of course. Sorry Dinky. Next time I’ll sit up slowly.” The Doctor said, rubbing his front hoof behind his head. There was a stretch of awkward silence between the two of them before Dinky finally broke it and spoke. “So… What's for breakfast? And please don't say English muffins. That stuff is god awful. Can hardly call it a muffin.” An opinion she most definitely picked up from her sister. The Doctor chuckled. “You know I ‘can’ cook more than English muffins.” “You can cook?” Dinky cut in, destroying his attempt at appearing like a useful man-of-the-house. His chuckle fell, leaving him standing there in shock, which brought Dinky to laughter. “Geez. For somepony who claims to be the universes’ savior, you sure breakfast.” She made her way to the doorway, looking back at him. “Well, come on. Show me this ‘cooking skill’ of yours.” After a few hours, and several eggshells on the kitchen floor, two plates of scrambled eggs rested on the table. Thankfully Derpy of ponies was smart enough to leave a small basket of muffins on the counter to help complete the meal. The Doctor had fought countless creatures and evil machines in his time, but when it came to cooking or even baking, he was clueless. His last attempt at baking almost burnt down the kitchen, and nearly brought down the Muffin Goddess’ wrath. “See… I can cook.” He said, surprised the mess was as small as it was. Dinky just rolled her eyes and sat down at the table. “Yeah. The floor must have been starving. It got most of the eggs.” She stared down at the plate of eggs. “It must be hard. Being a pony and all. I know I'm still young to fully understand what all is going on between you and my sis, but I know the two of you haven't been talking as much as you used to.” The Doctor stopped cleaning up his mess and glanced at Dinky. “I'm not an idiot. And neither is my sister. We know what you’ve been working on in your workshop. We know you've been working out a way to get back to your world, and that you don't know how to tell us. Derpy has known for a while. She just doesn't know what to do.” Her words fell silent as she hesitantly grabbed her glass of orange juice. Dinky sighed before picking up her words. “I don't entirely care or understand your purpose in trying to go home. If it were up to me, and I had the chance to help, I'd be right beside you helping. But it won't be me your absence would affect.” There was another pause in Dinky’s words, leaving the Doctor wondering if he should interject. “What I'm trying to say is… Ever since Derpy and I were abandoned by our parents, my sister has had a hard time opening up to other ponies. With her awkward, bubbly personality and ditsy nature, most ponies either ignored her or straight up made fun of her. Which caused me to have to step in and defend her, or just be her shoulder to cry on. I, the younger sister, had to grow up fast to be able to handle Derpy’s pain. For the longest time, I was afraid somepony would break her, or take advantage of her. That she’d end up believing she didn't belong here. I no longer have that fear. You want to know why?” Dinky snapped back before the Doctor could respond. “Ever since you came into Derpy’s life, she’s been different. I have never seen her as lively as she has been during the last few months. I could not imagine what she would be like if she never met you.” She looked up, meeting eyes with the Doctor. “I don't know what you plan on doing if you find a way back home, but just know that you do have a place here in Ponyville. A place with Derpy and me. A place that, frankly, would be dull without you in it. Don't forget that.” The Doctor had no idea how to respond to all of that. For a juvenile filly, Dinky sure knew her way with words and knew just what to say to destroy any form of counter-argument a pony had. It took him a moment to gather his words. “I won't forget that, Dinky. You have my word, I won't forget that. Now hurry up and eat your breakfast before it gets cold.” The Doctor planned on keeping his word. Dinky’s speech helped stir up an excellent idea for when he finally breached the gap. An idea that would make the three of them happy. If, and only if, life was on the same page. Shortly after lunch, Dinky went off to play with a few friends, giving the Doctor ample time to continue with work. He left a note on the kitchen counter saying that he'd be in his workshop, in case either Derpy or Dinky got home before he did. With newfound determination and a fresh pep talk from a teenager, the Doctor trotted off to his workshop. The sun was creeping under the roofs as Derpy supported herself against a tree. Her daily quote met and past. Her day had been relatively light, only taking a few hours to complete. She finished her run quick enough that she went as far as to help the other mail ponies with their deliveries. With her workload finished, Derpy simply relaxed under the tree, staring up at the sky through the rustling branches. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and let her mind be carried off with the wind as she listened contently to the bustle of other ponies as they performed their daily routines. The faint exchanges between two ponies, be it between two friends or a pony and merchant. And the unmistakable scent of fresh pastries emanating from Sugar Cube Corner. All of this brought ease to Derpy. The thought of everything in Ponyville running the same as it always does was a good thing. With Equestria facing problems ranging from changeling invasions to some random unicorn getting their hooves on some super powerful amulet that lets her use alicorn magic. Not to mention the issues that go unnoticed. Cyberponies, Daleks, world-conquering transdimensional entities, you name it. The kind of stuff that she was all too familiar with, having accompanied the Doctor throughout the Equestrian multiverse for so long. Even if she typically ended up messing something up or almost being killing, converted, ‘deleted,’ or having some other weird and rather freaky stuff happen to her, those times with the Doctor were, in a bizarre way, exciting. The dangers of the multiverse didn't matter to Derpy, so long as she was beside the Doctor. Derpy’s relaxing thoughts were interrupted as Dinky trotted over. “Her sis. You chilling under a tree, or did you fall out of it?” Her comment brought about a one-eyed glare of annoyance, and a subsequent laugh out of the two of them. “Don't worry, Dinky. Your big sis has not fallen out of a tree. At least not this one.” Another laugh escaped their lips as Derpy laid down on her stomach and welcoming Dinky over to lay next to her. “It's been a while since we just laid down under a tree together. It's actually been a while since we've done anything together. Just the two of us.” That thought quickly hammered itself into Derpy’s head. “Oh, dear. I am so sorry.” “Don't worry about it, sis. You've had... Other things to tend to.” Dinky looked up at her sister with a coy smirk. “Other things? Like what? Derpy said, glancing down at Dinky and trying to understand where she was getting at. Besides her daily mail runs and keeping up with a lot of the housework, there wasn't much else that took up her time. Unless she was referring to the time she spent with the Doctor and judging from the particular look she was getting from her sister, she was on the right track. “Ever since you met the Doctor, you've been a whole lot happier. You're not as afraid to be yourself in public as you used to be.” “Yeah. So what? I've just grown more confident. That's all.” Derpy did not like where Dinky was taking the conversation. She didn't need to think about the Doctor. Thinking about him would only make her think about what he was planning, and Dinky knew that fact. “You have grown more confident, but you didn't do it on your own. Face it, Derpy. Your confidence grew the more time you spent with him, the Doctor. And the more your confidence grew, the more comfortable he got with this world, and to being a pony. I can't believe how the two of you could go on thinking you've grown on your own. Or the fact that none of you can find the courage to talk to each other about what's on your minds.” Those words brought a shocked expression onto Derpy’s face. “I am seriously not as dumb as both of you think. Especially when both of you make it obvious that you're concerned about each other. You know I'm right, Derpy.” Derpy’s eyes broke from Dinky’s, lowering towards the ground. “I-i.... I.” She wanted to fight the truth. Deny everything her sister was saying. “I'm afraid he might be making a mistake. What if it works and he goes home and doesn't come back, or doesn't want to come back? Or worse. What if he finds out he can't go home? What would happen to him?” Without realizing it, tears were dripping from her eyes. Dinky raised her sister’s head with her hoof until they met her eyes again. “That’s the point where he’ll need ‘you’ the most sis.” She removed her hoof and wiped the tear from Derpy’s face. “You know you are a whole lot more emotional now. There is no need to overthink everything. Doing that will only gray that mane of yours.” A small smile couldn't help but form on Derpy’s face. “I'm not that emotional. I just worry about him. That's all.” “Then worry about him. But there's no need to hide the fact you worry.” Derpy’s gaze turned towards the horizon. “I guess… No. You're right, Dinky.” She chuckled. “Feels strange being given a pep talk by my younger sister. Aren't I the one supposed to be doing the pepping?” “Just because you're older doesn't mean you don't need a good kick in the flank. And what pony better than your younger sister? And besides. Just gave a severe pep talk to the other half. What's one more?” Dinky slowly got to her hooves. “Come along, sis. It's getting late, and you still need to cook dinner.” Taking one last glance at the horizon, Derpy rose to her hooves. Dinky had already started making her way towards the house. “Thanks, Dinky. I… Really needed that.” She stopped merely for a moment. “Anytime. Big sis. Let's hurry. Something tells me our loveable fool has skipped lunch and is regretting it right about now. And we both know he's a wiz in the workshop, but he'd sooner burn down the whole house before he cooks anything serious.” That got Derpy moving. The Doctor did have a tendency to work so hard he forgets to eat, let alone knew better than to cook anything in her kitchen. Dinky’s pep talk had really done a great thing for the Doctor’s head. If he knew all it took to clear his head was a teenage yelling at him, he would have asked sooner. The cloudiness of his thoughts had been scattered, helping put his head back towards the project at hoof. It was going on three in the afternoon before the Doctor had finished the designs for his new idea. It was meant to be a gateway, in theory at least, linking this place to the inside of the TARDIS, wherever it may end up. He planned on putting another one in the TARDIS itself so he could jump in between, or have Derpy and Dinky visit. It was going to be a risking task, even for him. For the gateway to work correctly, he'd have to use similar spatial properties to that of the TARDIS. One miscalculation, or even disruption, could have very dire consequences. Not only for himself but for Ponyville. And that was only if the meltdown was small. The thought of fatal error didn't bother the Doctor. Yes, what he was doing had the chance of causing several spatial, temporal, and even chronological events. Still, he had done far more complicated tasks. This was just going to be near the top of the list when all was said and done. “This is going to work. This will work. After this, I can find my way home. To my world. Without any regrets…” The two mares returned home, Dinky quickly snatching a sweet spot on the couch as Derpy trotted into the kitchen. Her eyes immediately fell to the Doctor’s note. “Guess I’ll be delivering his dinner to him tonight. Again.” The words slipped from her mouth as quickly as any other. It had become a daily thing for her at this point to bring him dinner. After a few minutes in the kitchen, Derpy set out two plates of hay burgers for her and Dinky and a small salad for the Doctor. Even after being in Equestria as a pony for so long, he still didn't quite find the taste for the usual Equestrian food, so a salad was the best he was getting. And Derpy did not care what the Doctor said. English muffins were not all-day food. “Dinky. Dinner time. Come and eat your food while I go drop off the Doctor’s salad.” She heard an audible response followed by the pitter-patter of hooves. With the plate in one hoof, Derpy trotted outside before taking off. The cold air of the night blew through her feathers, sending the occasional shiver through Derpy’s body. It wasn't long before she was descending towards the small shed-like building that had become the Doctor’s workshop. The windows and cracks flashed with lights. Whatever he was working on, it was using a lot of power, and she wondered just where the power was being taken from, and if it might cause a blackout across Ponyville. Derpy approached the door, knocking loudly so she could be heard. “Doctor. It's Derpy. I've got your dinner. Do you want me to come in, or…” “No. No. I’ll come to pick it up. Be there in a jiffy.” The Doctor sounded, almost shouting, cutting Derpy off. She could hear the clops of his hooves underneath the roaring of machinery as he approached the door. That nagging feeling came up again. A sense of loneliness spanned out around her, clearing up as the door to the workshop opened. The Doctor popped his head out of the door. His face and right hoof were covered in oil, dust, and other substances. He glanced up from the ground as if he had been staring down, ensuring he didn't fall over, meeting Derpy’s eyes. “Evening Derpy. Sorry to still be working at this time. Really think I am onto something. Anywho. Things are, rather cluttered in here. That's why I couldn't have you come in here.” During his rambling, his eyes fell to the plated salad, still resting in Derpy’s hoof. “Oh, yes. Salad. Dinner. Thank you so much for bringing it, Derpy.” The Doctor stepped out just far enough to grab the plate from her and slipped back into the doorway. “Might be late getting home. Don't wait up for me. Okay?” Derpy made an inaudible acknowledgment as she watched the Doctor slink back into his workshop. “He’s absorbed in his work again.” Derpy turned on her hoof, taking into the air. “He really is dedicated to finding a way home.” A layer of sadness built up overtop her shoulders. She shook her head, letting a faint smile form on her face. “But even still… Even if he leaves… Even if I never get to see him again… My feelings for him will endure.” Dinky was lying across the living room couch, her half-eaten hay burger resting on the side table behind her head. “Dinky… I’m back.” “In the living room, sis.” She responded, not taking her eyes off the TV. Faint hoofsteps drew into the living room as Derpy stepped in. She trotted over, flinging her hooves over the back of the couch. “Anything good on tonight?” Her tone held a great deal of happiness in it. Dinky glanced up at her big sis, chuckling at her. “Somepony seems overly happy tonight. Did the Doctor give you a kiss before you left?” “No… I'm just… Happy tonight.” Derpy knew her sister was trying to tease at her expression but really couldn't find it in herself to care right now. “Whatever you say, big sis.” Dinky’s attention fell back to the TV. “And not really. There are a few Late Night Talk Shows, all of which discussing problems that aren't even relevant. Other than that, there’s nothing good to really watch. I got tired of changing the channel and ended up watching some lame comedy. You’re welcome to sit down and watch it with me. I think it's almost over, though.” Dinky sat up on the couch, making room so her sister could join her. “I'm good, Dinky. I think I’ll just head off to bed. Try not to stay up all night, sis.” Hearing her sister’s comment, Dinky gave a sarcastic, yet rebellious, sigh, laying herself back across the couch. Kissing her little sis of the cheek, Derpy ascended the stairs with her wings, falling flat on her bed. The early morning light of the sun illuminated Equestria as the Doctor weakly trotted into the house. The TV was still on, a sleeping Dinky sprawled out on the couch. He smiled kindly at her, pulling the couch blanket over her. After shutting the television off, he climbed the stairs, partly hoping Derpy was fast asleep like Dinky, slightly wishing she was waiting for him. He needed to talk to her. Explain to her precisely what he has planned. But nowhere in the vast Equestrian multiverse could he find the right words. The Doctor entered the bedroom, finding his ditsy pegasus lying on her bed with her blanket only partly covering her. He chuckled faintly to himself and quietly trotted over to the bedside. “Did she really just lay down on her bed and pass out then and there?” He climbed up onto the bed, nestling close to Derpy, who, in turn, wrapped her hooves around him. The Doctor kissed her hoof, closing his eyes to sleep. The following several weeks had become routine to that night. The Doctor would leave for his workshop shortly after lunch, not returning to the house until the following dawn. And Derpy coming home from mail delivery and bringing the Doctor his dinner. He did end up finding a little time to explain his work to Derpy, trying to keep it as simple as he could. And though Derpy smiled and nodded at his plan, it was apparent on her face that she bore the same worry that he did. What if it doesn't work? And it wouldn't be another two months before that question would have an answer. The Doctor had made splendid work building the gateway. With a few final adjustments, it would be ready for it's first, and very hopefully not last, startup. He trotted over to the switch, flipping it with much enthusiasm, jumping back as his creation stirred awake. Glancing at the monitor, the Doctor analyzed the current startup. “Power capacity holding. Internal temperatures stable. Spatial link initiating in T minus twenty seconds.” The Doctor’s enthusiasm increasingly grew as the countdown lessened. He bit his lip as the last five seconds went by, staring intently at the gateway. The empty space of the portal sparked, much to the Doctor’s concern. Before he knew it, it lit up as the path between his workshop and the inside of the TARDIS formed. The gateway was working, or at least started up. Now came the dangerous part. The Doctor approached the gate, an understandable sense of nervousness washing over him. He gulped, closed his eyes tightly, and stepped a hoof through. Various alerts on the monitor brought his advance to a halt as his head snapped toward the screen. Power Capacity Dropping... Internal Temperatures Rising… … … … Critical Failure Imminent The Doctor pulled his hoof out of the portal, galloping towards the exit. He took two steps before it was too late. As per usual, Derpy flew from her house to the Doctor’s workshop to drop off his dinner. The power at home had already begun fluctuating, telling her that he had begun testing his project. He had thankfully informed Mayor Mare of the potential power issues to come, both during the tests, and if the tests went south. The flight over to the Doctor’s workshop wasn't usually long, but tonight the trip stretched. A feeling nagged at the back of her head. It was the same feeling she got when she was traveling with the Doctor, shortly before something jumped out at them or went wrong. The air that night felt calm, and she didn't hear anypony screaming or running about, so she simply pushed the feeling to the side, chalking it up to her worried nerves. She landed in front of the workshop. She was on the verge of knocking on the door when she heard the alerts and alarms inside. Her hoof hit once, and the world around her came crashing down. The front side of the workshop exploded, sending Derpy barreling into the air. Her body slammed into the bottom of a tree, and she was left lying there. Her last few moments of consciousness were spent glancing back at the workshop, thankfully seeing the Doctor’s body a few feet away, twitching slightly. The rest was consumed by darkness. Consciousness came and went for Derpy, bringing images of rapid moving lights and other ponies talking. She couldn't make out much of it but did pick up on details concerning the prior events. Some sort of explosion. That thankfully, there were only two ponies injured, her being the ‘luckier one.’ And that there were still several parts of Ponyville without power. Her mind didn't have much time to comprehend everything she was hearing as darkness once again consumed her thoughts. Derpy fully regained consciousness several hours later. She was lying in a hospital body, covering in a gown. Her wings ached in pain, much like the rest of her body. Derpy could feel her wings were bandaged as well as her forehooves and stomach. The lights in the room had been dimmed so as not to bother her. Her eyes fell to the end of the bed to find Dinky resting her head by Derpy’s rear hooves. She raised her head and stared at her sister with concern in her eyes. “Oh. You're awake. Thank Celestia, you're awake.” In one quick motion, DInky was hugging her sister, tears now soaking the gown. “The doctors said you'd be okay, but I was still so worried.” Derpy was still trying to regain the rest of herself and simply patted Dinky on the head, trying to comfort her. “There. There. Dink. I'm okay. I'm alright.” She just kept repeating those words, more to convince herself than her sister. Her head was still a bit fuzzy as she tried to remember what all happened. The last thing she remembered was heading to the Doctor’s workshop to drop off his dinner. Then there was an explosion. An explosion. Derpy’s eyes widened. She held Dinky out in front of her. “The Doctor! Dinky! Where’s the Doctor? Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay, Dinky.” “I… I don't know. I heard from the doctors that he got hit worse than you did. I think he got sent to the Emergency Room.” The news did not help calm Derpy. Hre forehoof reached for the Call Doctor button and was soon mashing it. Frantic hooves raced down the hallway towards the room as a mare in a white nurse’s outfit rushed into the room. “What's the problem? How can I help?” The two of them met eyes, and questions just flew out from Derpy. “The Doctor…? Earth pony… Tan coat… Brown mane. How is he?! He would have come in at the same time I did.” Derpy’s expression was riddled with concern and frantic to get answers. “Let me go check. Just lay back and relax, dear. And please stop pressing the Call button.” The nurse walked away as Dinky slid her sister’s hoof off the button. “Relax sis. Just have faith that he's okay.” Derpy simply nodded, taking long breaths. A few minutes past before the nurse returned to the room. “It appears the doctors are still working on him. He seems to have sustained massive bruising and most of his left side is badly burnt from the explosion. He received a few cracked ribs, as well. The good news is, his injuries aren't too severe. He will be okay in a few weeks. There's no need to worry, Miss Doo. He's in good hooves.” Her words relieved Derpy. He was going to be okay. They were both going to be okay. “Thank you, nurse. If it's not too much hassle. Could… Could you tell me when he's conscious..?” “Will do, Miss Doo. Rest up for now.” Derpy nodded and leaned back in her bed as the nurse closed the door. He was okay. The Doctor was okay. That was all she could think about as the days went by. It would be another three days before Derpy got the news that the Doctor was awake and that she ‘should’ go see him immediately. With Dinky’s help, she was got wheeled over to his room. The doctor in charge of his care had just left the room as they arrived. He reopened the door and leaned his head back into the room. “You have some visitors, sir.” His doctor pulled his head out and stared at Derpy and Dinky. “He's still a bit shell-shocked from the accident, so go easy on him. His body is still in a lot of pain, even with all of the medication he's on. And another thing… His mental state might be a bit… Different.” With that said, he left the door partially open for them and walked away. The two of them glanced up at each other confused. Dinky pushed into the room slowly, leaving the door open slightly. The Doctor seriously looked worse for wear. Bandages extended up all of his hooves as well as the left side of his face. Even the entirety of his stomach and chest was bandaged. An IV stand rested next to the bed, supplying the Doctor with what pain relief the hospital could give him, even though not much was helping. “Well, if I knew I was going to have guests, I would have tried to present myself better.” The Doctor pulled off a small chuckle before wincing in pain. Dinky left Derpy next to the Doctor’s bed, fetching herself a chair to join them. “Well, at least you're okay. That's all that matters.” Derpy leaned in to touch his hoof, wincing in pain herself. "Yeah. At least I'm okay. But I do have to ask… Who are you two..?" The puzzled look of the Doctor was only beaten by the look of realization on both Derpy and Dinky. “And on top of that, where am I? And why can't I feel my… fingers..?” He looked down at his rear hooves and just stared. “This… This isn't my body. This is not the body I remember having.” It was at that point that his one seeing eye comprehended what it was seeing. There was a somewhat injured, grayish-blue pony sitting in a wheelchair next to him, while a grayish violet one stood next to her. “First off, again, who are you? And secondly, did you just talk?!” The two mares exchanged worried looks. He not only lost his memory of them but of all the time he spent in Ponyville. He was acting just like he did when he first got here. It was Derpy who spoke next, to the surprise of Dinky. The pain she was feeling was overwhelming. “I'm… I'm Derpy… Derpy Doo… I'm a pegasus. Your TARDIS brought you to a world called Equestria, a world where the general populace is intelligent equine. That's why you look the way you do.” The Doctor was shocked that some other ‘creature’ knew about the TARDIS and that he used it to travel to various universes. “You were in an accident… That's why you are in the hospital.” She motioned her head towards Dinky. “That's my younger sister, Dinky Doo. She's a unicorn.” Derpy fell quiet, hold back the stream of tears. “You might not remember this, but you've been spending time with both of us for a while now. In fact, you've been living with us. I don't know know if you still care, but we are, and will always be... there for you. Now. If you'd excuse us. We’ll let you rest up.” Her sister almost argued against her but could see the tears welling up inside. She helped Derpy out the door, closing it with her magic. The tears broke through the moment they were out of earshot of the Doctor. The doctor in charge of him approached. “Is everything okay, miss? Was he able to remember anything?” Derpy sniffled, unable to bring her eyes off the floor. “I see. I cannot imagine how you're feeling right now. To have somepony close to you completely forget all about you.” It was now Dinky’s turn to step up and speak. “Doc? Tell me. Just how bad is his amnesia? Is there any chance that he’ll remember anything?” “It's hard to say. The accident shook up his brain. Though no permanent damage has been done, it's difficult to say if his old memories will return. All I can suggest is that the two of you stay close to him. With any luck, your presence will help pull the memories to the surface.” He knew it wasn't exactly the news either of them wanted to hear, but his word softened Derpy’s sobbing at the very least. Dinky got Derpy back to her room and into her bed again, standing next to her. So what now? What do we do now, sis?” Derpy turned her head towards her younger sister. “Nothing has changed. He is still the stallion I love, and I'd rather give up muffins than leave him as he is. I am going to help him. Again. Just like old times.”