“Oh please tell me this story has a happy ending!” Star Breeze begged in fear. “That Puppet Master is going to give me nightmares for weeks after this!
“Happy birthday, Star Breeze! Here! Have a red balloon for your birthday! It floats, apparently!”
“I was about to get to that, and already I can tell you that I met dear friends too in addition to a horrible abomination. Both happened at the same time. It was almost as if they were there to help me get through this awful trial,” Feather Wind pointed out.
“Were they really time travelers?” Star Breeze asked in amazement.
“Time and space travelers,” Feather Wind corrected. “Their time machine could travel anywhere and anywhen.”
“How can it do that?” Star Breeze asked in astonishment.
Feather Wind shrugged. “I don't know. It seemed too complicated for me. They later told me it was Time Lord technology.”
“What's a Time Lord? You mentioned that once before. I almost stopped you and asked you that question back then.”
“The Doctor's race, apparently,” Feather Wind answered.
Star Breeze widened her eyes in astonishment. “By Celestia! He's an alien from outer space?”
“Do you want to hear the rest or not?” Feather Wind offered. “I could stop the story here and leave you in suspense.”
“I am getting a little tired,” Star Breeze said as she glanced up at the gradually emerging twinkling stars before looking back at her father and went on to say, “but I don't want to stop just when you filled my head with grim images of Puppet Master! Please tell me something a little better before I go to sleep tonight.”
“Tell you a bedtime story?” Feather Wind asked with an amused grin.
“Basically.”
“Okay then.”
xoxo
“This is it?” Feather Wind asked in disbelief as he beheld a blue box about three feet wide on each side of the box and five feet high. It had a text along the top of it too and he could actually read it. It said, “Police Call Box,” but he certainly did not know what that meant. There was also a little light on the top of it for some reason but it was not on at the time.
“That doesn't even look like it will fit the two of you let alone the five of us!” Feather Wind noted.
“It does seem a bit small,” Stern Wing agreed.
“Derpy, it's your turn to explain,” the Doctor declared as he charged right into the box after opening it. “I need to steer this thing and get us the heck outta here!”
“Certainly, Doctor,” Derpy accepted, then waved at the three of them to enter. “Please, do step into the TARDIS. I promise you there is plenty of stretching room inside.”
“It's bigger on the inside!” Feather Wind already realized because, when the Doctor entered earlier, his voice faded away as he spoke as if to suggest he gained more and more distance from them as he spoke. Also his voice bounced off other objects within which also seemed to indicate the box had a surprising amount of space within it.
“What? That's physically impossible!” Stern Wing objected.
“And a time machine is more believable?” Feather Wind countered.
“Ah . . . good point,” Stern Wing conceded.
“Look. Obviously we're dealing with unusual technology here,” Feather Wind remarked. “We may have to suspend disbelief for a moment and plunge onward.”
“I couldn't have said it better myself!” Derpy cheered. “Please enter,” her eyes suddenly grew very small as she said in a frightened tone, “so we can quickly get away from here!”
“I second that!” Feather Wind agreed wholeheartedly.
Vision didn't say anything. She just proceeded inside.
“Ooo, careful! Watch your step!” Derpy cautioned as she rushed in after the little filly.
“Shall we?” Stern Wing asked after a deep in and outtake of breath.
“We shall,” Feather Wind agreed. “Onwards and upwards, I guess.”
“I heard that!” the Doctor complained deep within the box. “That's my line, thank-you-very-much. Patent pending.”
Feather Wind and Stern Wing both stepped inside one after another then breathed in astonishment at the incredible space within the small blue box. Most of the controls seemed to be in the center of the room. At that location was a great big spinning things moving several directions above what seemed to be a circular console on the ground.
“Welcome to the TARDIS!” Derpy cheered back at the two of them, calling back to them over her left shoulder while a hoof steadied Vision carefully. “Please, shut the door so we can get on with this.”
Feather Wind looked back and used his magic to shut the door without directly touching it.
“I've seen this place in one of my dreams!” Vision marveled. “It was in one of Luna's dreams too! Oh, it's so fantastic to finally be standing here!”
“Yep, yep! She's a beaut, isn't she?” the Doctor declared proudly while he fiddled with some of the controls. “It can take us anywhere and anywhen.
“Imagine . . . all of time and space just out those doors. Anywhere and anywhen you want to go at our fingertips right here.”
Stern Wing looked at the Doctor strangely. “Our what tips?”
“He says strange things like that all the time,” Derpy explained with a shrug. “It's just one of his quirks. You get used to it eventually.”
“Not like your pony puns here in this world!” the Doctor said back in amusement. “I swear, the way you ponies describe some things kind of reminds me of some kind of children's toy commercials.”
Derpy yapped her lips silently to mock the Doctor behind his back. When Stern Wing giggled in amusement at that, Derpy flashed her a sheepish but also amused smile.
“Hang onto your butts!” the Doctor warned before he yanked the final leaver.
After that the machine they stood on made a strange mechanical wheezing over and over again. During that time, the occupants within grew unsteady. Derpy immediately covered Vision with her hooves and wings. Stern Wing spread her legs for a more sturdy stance, and Feather Wind wove back and forth like a drunken pony for a moment before he used his magic to float off the ground and not touch anything.
“A little more warning next time!” Feather Wind bitterly complained to the Doctor.
“Ah! Where's the fun in that?!” the Doctor playfully chided. “I'm taking you through time and space. Where's your sense of adventure?”
A few seconds later everything settled down. A new fading sound effect replaced the sound of the mechanical wheezing.
“Here we are! All safe and sound!” the Doctor proudly declared as he hopped over a rail near the console.
“Where are we, Doctor?” Derpy asked curiously. “Also when are we?”
“Same bat time, but different bat channel,” the Doctor answered as he made his way to the front doors.
“Huh?” Derpy cocked her head. She wasn't the only one confused. “Doctor, you're so weird sometimes. Even I can't understand you.”
“Voila!” the Doctor said in an introductory tone as he flung open the TARDIS doors. “I give you . . . your planet . . . as seen from orbit.”
“What?” Feather Wind asked in astonishment then slowly approached the doors.
While he did that, the Doctor leaned on the wall to the side of the doors. He stood on his hind legs and crossed his forehooves across his chest while wearing a very smug look on his face.
Also awed, Stern Wing approached the doors to her friend's side.
Beyond those doors, they both beheld an incredible sight. A glowing spherical planet with lots of blue oceans and swirling masses that made up the planet’s clouds but, seen from this height, everything looked more like a 2D image.
The stars were also remarkable. Up here, the stars no longer twinkled. Instead, they were steady lights in an unimaginable black void for those who had never seen it.
“Oh my gosh, Dad! Now you're making me so jealous!” Star Breeze said with intense envy. “I want to see the stars from orbit! I want to see it so badly!
“Also, I can't believe you and Mom both did this! This is way beyond where I expected you to tell your story!”
“See?” Feather Wind said with a smug grin to his daughter. “Your daddy's been around the block a couple of times. I've seen some amazing things.”
“Boy, I'll bet!” Star Breeze strongly agreed. “Next time, take me with you! Oh please, oh please, oh please Dad! Please-please-please-please-pretty please!”
“I've not been in contact with the Doctor or Derpy for a while now,” Feather Wind admitted.
“Do you have any way to contact him?” Star Breeze asked with desperate hope.
“I can think of several ways,” Feather Wind replied. “Leave a mark in history built with a hidden message that only the Doctor would understand, come across the kind of trouble he typically fights against, or concentrate very hard and send your will to specifically summon the Doctor.
“You see, that object he flashed at Puppet Master-”
“Too soon, Dad,” Star Breeze complained. “Too soon to hear his name again.”
“Well . . . anyway, that thing he showed, um . . . the dark wizard-”
“That's better.”
“-was something that showed the viewer only what they expect to see. He calls it psychic paper, and it responds to a thought.
“So . . . if you pray really hard enough . . . your thoughts might show up on that paper, especially if you are in dire need.
“I wouldn't encourage you to seek out danger deliberately just to find him but, if you do find him, he just might make it worth it.”
“Huh.” Star Breeze looked thoughtful.
{Anyway, as I was saying . . .}
“Go ahead. You can step outside,” the Doctor invited.
“Really?” Stern Wing asked in surprise.
“There is an air-shield around this vessel,” Feather Wind declared.
The Doctor looked at Feather Wind in surprise. “How did you know?”
“If there wasn't, we'd all be sucked into space right now,” Feather Wind explained. “Space is nothing but a giant vacuum, and any space with air in it, like this one, would get sucked out if it was exposed to space unprotected.
“Also, I have a unique connection to the wind and air. I just know it.”
The Doctor clapped his forehooves together and said, “Congratulations. You get an A.”
“I love this sight too,” Derpy said fondly behind them.
Feather Wind looked back at Derpy. He realized that he and Stern Wing were in Derpy’s way. He then looked at Stern Wing and offered a hoof to her as he asked her, “Stern Wing, do you trust me?”
“Of course I do,” she replied as she looked at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Then take my hoof,” Feather Wind requested. “Take it and I'll show you something wonderful.”
“Better than this?” Stern Wing asked suspiciously with a nod towards the exit of the TARDIS.
“It relates to this,” Feather Wind hinted.
Stern Wing grew a slow, loving smile, then took his hoof, prompting an adorable “Awww!” sound from Derpy behind them.
Using his grip, Feather Wind dragged Stern Wing outside where she yelped as soon as she noticed there was no gravity outside.
Because she was weightless, however, it made Feather Wind's job easier to manipulate her. He grabbed them both telekinetically and brought them to the side of the TARDIS. There he guided them onto it to sit on it like a bench in the middle of outer space.
“Grab the TARDIS with your other hoof and hold on tight!” Feather Wind said in a voice full of wonder and marvel.
Stern Wing did so and discovered she could latch onto the vessel. She took a few moments to calm her nerves down.
After that, she looked forward and widened her eyes in amazement. Now they were not just viewing the planet through the open door. Now they were staring at the vast expanse in front of them without visual obstruction unless they looked “down” and noticed the TARDIS in the way.
“That Feather Wind is a natural at this,” the Doctor said in an impressed tone within the TARDIS. Feather Wind overheard that since the Doctor's voice carried through the air. “Very few that I show this to understand the principles of vacuum of space, weightlessness, and are able to maneuver around out there so confidently the first time.”
“Found some new companions to join us on our journey, Doctor?” Derpy asked curiously and hopefully.
“Perhaps for a little while,” the Doctor replied, “but I actually know his name, Feather Wind. He was the first flying unicorn in recorded history.
“Well . . .” he rolled his head in a circle then spoke on, “ . . . technically he's not the first, but the rest of Equestria doesn't know that yet.
“Anyway, because I recognize him, I also recognize some of his future exploits, and let's just say there are some things ahead in his timeline I cannot interfere with.”
“Oh.” Derpy sounded disappointed. “Is this another one of those 'fixed' timeline events you spoke of?”
“Some of it, yeah,” the Doctor confirmed. “When those times come, I cannot help him. Events are meant to unfold naturally as they are.”
“But in the meantime?” Derpy asked with rising hope again.
“In the meantime tomorrow is as close or as far away as I want it to be,” the Doctor reminded his assistant then knocked on the wall of the TARDIS. “This is a time machine. I can bend the rules a little around certain areas.”
“Oh goodie!” Derpy cheered.
Later on she said, “Doctor . . . I really love that young filly. I really want to protect her.”
“You sympathize with her, don't you?” the Doctor guessed in an uncharacteristically serious tone that Feather Wind had not observed until then. “Both of you have vision problems. You with your eyes and her . . . she can't see at all until she sleeps.”
“Well, yeah. That's part of it, but it's also more than that, Doctor. I just . . . I don't know. I feel a connection with her. I can't really explain it.”
“Nurturer instinct is my guess,” the Doctor said with a lazy stretch. “She's a young child so you feel driven to protect her. That's not a mystery, it's an inbred instinct. Imagine how your race would survive if you had the opposite instinct to try to kill all of your foals.”
“That's terrible!” Derpy whined.
“But you see my point,” the Doctor returned. “You feel the way you do because she is young, and also because you are you. It's one of the things I love about you, my lovely assistant. You are compassionate and therefore oh so worthy of my journey.”
Yeah! Feather Wind inwardly agreed. I think I could grow quickly fond of her as well for a trait like that. It's nice to see I'm not alone in my allies when it comes to protecting what's important around here.
I'm sure Stern Wing feels the same way. These two are going to get along wonderfully together.
“Shh! Look, Doctor! She's asleep!” Derpy pointed out with fond fascination.
“Might as well. It's not as if she can see what's beyond these doors,” the Doctor observed.
“I know,” Derpy agreed sadly.
“Maybe she'll experience it in her dreams,” the Doctor theorized.
“Her dreams?” Derpy reflected, then asked in alarm. “Doctor! What time is it? Is it day or night over the area we're flying above?”
“Daylight. Don't worry, my little assistant. I pay attention and I plan ahead. I can assure you, if she sleeps now, she'll have pleasant dreams as long as what she told me is true.”
“Sleep in the daylight. Huh. That's kind of weird.” Derpy paused for a while before she spoke again. “If she really is blind, though, I suppose there is little way she could tell the difference.
“You know, Doctor, back in my time Nightmare Moon is-”
“Shh!” the Doctor shushed her. “No spoilers.”
“But they can't hear us out there!” Derpy pointed out.
“Can't they?” the Doctor reflected. “You can hear us from quite a distance away, can't you Feather Wind?” the Doctor called out the door.
“Is that recorded in your history books when you come from?” Feather Wind asked back at the Doctor.
“What those history books say depends on what you want to write in it,” the Doctor returned evenly. “You, my friend, were known as a prolific writer, and you knew several others who were the same way. I won't say they all recorded you accurately but, if you read enough and between the lines, you get an idea of the general pattern.”
“He can hear us out there?” Derpy realized. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. I'm so embarrassed.”
“I can fix this easily enough.” The Doctor went to the doors. “Knock on the wood three times when you want us to let you in again.” With that, the Doctor closed the doors to the TARDIS.
Feather Wind quickly realized privacy went both ways. He might not be able to hear them anymore through those doors, but it also meant he was alone out here with his girlfriend as they sat together and watched their planet from orbit.
Feather Wind pulled her close to his side as they sat there. They enjoyed this amazing and kind of romantic moment together.
xoxo
{When I returned into the TARDIS, I finally decided to fess up about everything I knew regarding Puppet Master and my conversation with Princess Celestia six years ago that involved this issue. I figured those present knew enough about the situation that anything else that they didn't know would actually put them more at risk at this point, especially considering the fact that Puppet Master personally saw each of our faces up close. For that reason alone, he might come back so I wanted my friends ready.
{It was a judgment call on my part but I had a feeling Princess Celestia would agree with me.
{If I was going to tell them everything, I might as well also explain why she wanted to keep this a secret so that they would understand her reasoning and perhaps why it was a wise call on her part, given the information we had at the time.
{But I had even more information to add to the pile, including things I did not discuss with Celestia. I also told them about my potential history with King Sombra, that my family may have a genetic line tracing back to that awful tyrant. I told them that I suspected that I was the one King Sombra was after.
{This also implied that some part of Sombra's spirit remained to wreak havoc on our days.}
“That reminds me,” the Doctor prompted, “do any of you know a purple pony with a rainbow mane, mismatched eyes, and a cutie mark with a cupcake that looks so angry at the world that it just wants to take it over?”
All of the occupants in the TARDIS looked at each other to see if any other pony knew any pony like that.
While technically Vision did not look at any other pony since she could not see, she was aware of the stares nonetheless (and this, of course, was after she recovered from her nap).
“Not likely,” Feather Wind finally replied.
“Oh good!” the Doctor breathed a sigh of relief. “I was worried for a moment that I sent a formidable monster after an innocent and unsuspecting pony. I specifically guided him to the middle of a desert just to make it that much more unlikely he would find anypony.
“Oh wow!” The Doctor rubbed a hoof through his mane. “It just hit me . . . I can't believe he actually bought that story! Holy Cheese and Crackers, that pony sure is one Nutty Professor.”
The Doctor looked at Vision, then said to her, “Vision . . . you claimed you had some insight into Puppet Master's past. You said he used to be an innocent toymaker named Toy Box. Can you give me a date when that happened? When exactly did he change?”
“I don't know,” Vision replied honestly. “I rarely see a calendar in my dreams. Hardly any pony hangs that up on their walls. My dreams are subjective anyway, but I got the feeling that this was a very long time ago.”
“I have a hunch that King Sombra is responsible for his woes,” Feather Wind guessed. “He drove this pony mad on purpose then later shaped him into a useful servant.”
“If you're right, then Toy Box is a victim too,” Stern Wing realized, then looked down sadly as her ears drooped. “Now I feel kind of bad for him.”
“See what I mean about redeeming qualities?” Feather Wind asked his daughter in the future, then pointed at his head three times. “I know what I'm talking about. Even the most evil-looking villains may have a tragic history that makes what happened to them not their fault.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Star Breeze waved her father off dismissively. “I see your point. Continue.”
“What reason would Puppet Master have to gather all that negative energy?” Derpy asked with confusion and worry.
“More to the point, what does King Sombra want with all that energy?” the Doctor refined her question. “As formidable as he is, Puppet Master is just a puppet in this scenario, literally and figuratively. Vision here said that the real power source of Puppet Master, the one animating his body, is some kind of black crystal somewhere within him. That same crystal is also gathering dark energy.
“Now who, in this scenario, do we know of who happened to be an expert with crystal magic?”
“Especially dark crystal magic,” Feather Wind added. “That would have to be King Sombra.”
“A.k.a, the Dark King,” Stern Wing put in.
“'The Dark King rises,'” the Doctor quoted as he tapped a rail that he was standing beside four times with rapid taps, and he repeated this several times. “That's what Puppet Master said. He kept talking about the Dark King rises, so pop quiz; rises from what?”
“From death,” Feather Wind answered. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna defeated King Sombra before the fall of the Crystal Empire. I assume, in this case, it meant he got killed but some part of him lingers to this day.”
“A Dark King that is trying to resurrect himself? Hmm. If only he had a bunch of dark energy to help him power that ritual,” the Doctor said with sarcastic ignorance.
“That's what he plans to use this energy for!” Stern Wing realized with a start. “That's why he's sending Puppet Master out to gather energy from terrorized ponies for years. King Sombra is trying to fuel his own resurrection.”
“I think it's more than that,” Feather Wind theorized. “I think he's trying to bring back the entire Crystal Empire,” he said with a brief appreciative nod to Derpy who recently informed them of the name of that vanished city. “That probably would require a great deal of energy.”
“He tried to rule over it once. Why not try again? Given his history, that makes sense,” Stern Wing agreed.
“That's just phase one,” Feather Wind went on. “If he secures the Crystal Empire, I think he'll set his sights on the rest of Equestria.”
“But Doctor, we know that doesn't happen!” Derpy pointed out to the Doctor.
“You only know one version of history,” the Doctor pointed out to Derpy. “As I tried to tell you many times, when history is not fixed, it's flexible. If we do nothing to stop this Dark King during this time period he may, in fact, rise a lot earlier than you remember and actually succeed to take over Equestria.
“Furthermore, note that this era of Equestrian history is far less prepared for his return. There are no Elements of Harmony to stand in his way, for example, not that he'd be aware of that anyway. We may be the only things stopping him from total conquest.”
“I heard rumors of how Princess Twilight and her friends did it before,” Derpy recalled. “It sounded like they used a powerful and blessed artifact known as the Crystal Heart to defeat him.”
“Then let's use that,” Stern Wing reasoned. “Where is this Crystal Heart?”
Derpy’s ears drooped as she looked regretful. “Unfortunately, it's in the Crystal Empire. You cannot get to it until the Empire itself rises first.”
“And by then it will be too late,” the Doctor added. “If King Sombra raises it first, I'm sure he'll stop at nothing to keep other ponies from finding the Crystal Heart. It's just like the last time before the fall of the Crystal Empire, only this time Princess Luna isn't around to help her sister defeat him. Who knows how instrumental her role was in this affair before?
“Now you could claim Princess Celestia could try new tactics to counter this threat since she had so much time to contemplate it and master new spells since that time, but King Sombra had just as much time to plot and strategize.
“I don't even think Celestia realizes he's involved at all during this time period. She's too distracted with Puppet Master's antics.
“King Sombra was a master strategist too, from what I understand of history, and he had plenty of time to maneuver in the shadows unnoticed. Who knows how much energy he has gathered at this point?”
“Maybe that's one of the things we should change,” Stern Wing proposed. “Let's go to Celestia and inform her what we're really up against. At the very least, it would be one more ally for our cause. If King Sombra wants her ignorant of his presence so he can maneuver around unnoticed, then that's the first thing we should change.”
“With what proof?” Feather Wind countered. “All we have is speculation at this point,”
“We know Puppet Master is working for King Sombra,” Stern Wing returned. “He said so himself.”
“And he's the model of an honest citizen,” the Doctor said sarcastically. “Look,” he lifted his forehooves as he said, “I'm not opposed to the idea of putting Celestia into this mix,” he folded his forehooves across his chest as he leaned back on the outside rail leading to the center consoles, “but let's think this through. Right now we don't have any proof that King Sombra is involved at all. I'd say we probably do have some evidence but it's based on unreliable evidence.”
“Unless you have any information that might help us, Vision,” Stern Wing brought up to the little filly.
“Of King Sombra, you mean?” Vision checked.
“Yes. Do you have any visions of King Sombra's involvement with Puppet Master? If you say yes, then I think we can convince the Princess.”
“Not specifically, no. Just feelings here and there,” Vision informed.
“What about tonight?” Derpy checked. “You slept just an hour ago. Did you have any visions then that might help us now?”
“Yes,” Vision replied.
“Well spill it!” the Doctor encouraged. “What's our next step?”
“The Red Crystal,” Vision answered. “You must claim the crystal that will help you defeat Sombra's puppet and perhaps even the Dark King himself.
“Right now, even if you informed Celestia, she would still be powerless to stop these villains. Instead, you must gather the means to defeat them.”
“Why is this crystal so important?” Stern Wing wondered.
“Because it has the last good essence of Sombra's magic,” Vision answered.
“NO WAY!” Star Breeze exclaimed. “Even King Sombra was once a good guy?”
“Even if I told you no, it would still be highly unnatural for any pony in Equestria to be that evil,” Feather Wind informed his daughter. “Something highly unusual happened to him as well. Something that drove him mad.”
“Then Sombra was a victim too!” Star Breeze realized in shock. “How far up this chain does it go before we encounter a true guilty party?”
“Why don't you listen and see?” Feather Wind invited. Star Breeze waved at her father to continue, on the edge of her seat again with interest.
{Actually, your mother made a similar remark at that time.}
“Wait! Does this mean Sombra is a victim too?” Stern Wing asked. “Then who is the true villain here?”
“I don't know, but I have an inkling,” Vision answered. “Of course, I cannot look upon such darkness without going mad myself. Whatever it is, it's pure evil.”
“Go back to the part about the Red Crystal,” the Doctor encouraged. “You said this crystal has the last of his good essence?”
“Yes, before he went completely mad,” Vision confirmed.
“You also said we need this crystal to defeat the black crystal inside Puppet Master?” the Doctor checked.
“Yes,” Vision confirmed simply.
“Huh. Using an enchanted crystal to defeat another enchanted crystal,” the Doctor mused as he resumed tapping the rail four times in rapid succession and repeated the pattern.
After a moment of silence, the Doctor declared, “If we're lucky, there may be a better prize here than simply a useful weapon. I wonder if this Red Crystal also contains some of Sombra's knowledge before he went mad. Maybe we can use that to shed more light into this mystery.” The Doctor looked squarely at Vision. “Where exactly is this Red Crystal?”
“In the frozen north,” Vision answered. “It's buried deep in someplace cold and dark.”
The Doctor rolled his eyes. “Well gee, that narrows it down. How many places do we know of that's cold and dark in the frozen north?”
“I think I can narrow it down even further if you simply take me there,” Vision offered. “I may not be able to see while I am awake, but I can feel. I remember what the dream felt like. I remember what the energy felt like near it. I can use that to sense a general location.”
Derpy looked concerned. “Oh . . . are you sure it's safe? You won't catch too much of a cold up there?”
“I do have some heavy coats in the TARDIS that might help,” the Doctor pointed out. “Hell, I can give you all space suits too but it might need to be re-tailored to fit pony physiology.”
“And right now it's what instead of that?” Stern Wing wondered aloud. “Oh, this I've got to see!”
“I can do this. I must do this,” Vision assured, “and he must come too.” Vision pointed at Feather Wind's general vicinity but she actually did miss the precise mark. “For the same reason the Dark King wants him, the Red Crystal will resonate with him too. It will awaken if he draws near which will help him to find it. After that, he must learn to attune himself to it.”
“How long will that take?” Stern Wing checked.
“I don't know.” Vision shook her head. “It depends on him.”
“Time isn't much of an issue with a time machine,” the Doctor reminded the group. “If he needs ten years to master that crystal, I can give him that in another timeline and maybe even another planet. If it's critical he masters this crystal fast relative to this time.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Feather Wind declared. “Let's do this.”
xoxo
“Brr!” Derpy shivered as she viewed out the front window on the door to the exit. She stood on her hind hooves to give her enough height to view out that window. “It sure looks cold outside.”
“I guess it would be,” the Doctor agreed as he spun a monitor in front of him above the center console in the room which he used to view outside. “This is probably why the area is called the frozen north.”
“Well,” Derpy landed on all four of her hooves. “If we're going to do this, let's dress up warm.”
With that, she trotted her way to the closet.
“And I'll just . . . configure things here,” the Doctor said then idly started fiddling with buttons, levers, and knobs. While he did that, he sang a little ditty. In this song, he played two parts, and on each part, he changed his pitch to make it sound like a different pony sang.
“I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice.”
As he sang, he did a little bit of prancing, spinning about then pulled another lever.
“You are so odd,” Stern Wing remarked with amusement. “What exactly are you doing, anyway? If we already landed, why continue to fiddle with the controls?”
“Oh it's Time Lord timey-wimey stuff that you wouldn't understand,” the Doctor assured then kept on humming the same song to himself.
“He's not really doing anything right now,” Vision informed. “He's only fiddling with knobs and levers to make himself seem important.”
“Wha-?” the Doctor looked both shocked, offended and embarrassed all at the same time. “Why you . . . tch . . . I'll have you . . . No!” the Doctor denied. “That's not what I'm doing at all.”
“Sure Doctor. Whatever you say,” Stern Wing agreed sarcastically with a playful roll of her eyes. “Me thinks thou dost protest too much.”
Stern Wing and Vision shared a giggle together.
The Doctor glared between Vision and Stern Wing, then resumed his fiddling while muttering under his breath, “Girls! Why do they always gang up on me whenever they get the chance?”
xoxo
Feather Wind was near the closet but didn't go into it until he heard a crash inside it. Concerned, he immediately trotted into the area.
Inside, he saw Derpy buried under a pile of clothes. In a moment her head thrust out the top of it. She rolled her eyes and her head in a dizzy way, then cursed to herself.
“Ditzy Doo, you klutzy feather brain!” she complained at herself.
“Need any help?” Feather Wind offered kindly from the door.
Derpy snapped her gaze in shock at Feather Wind. After that, her cheeks burned with embarrassment, then she said, “No. I got this. Just tripping over my own hooves, as usual.”
“Please allow me,” Feather Wind requested again, practically begging her.
“Oh. If you really want to,” she relented.
“Here.” Feather Wind ignited his horn with radiant silver. The large pile of clothes glowed with the same color then lifted off Derpy.
While he was at it, he also repaired the closet rail then hung the clothes on it all at once, but probably not in the same order they were in originally.
While doing that, he happened to notice most of those clothes were designed for very unusual looking creatures. Judging from the general shape, he guessed that whomever could wear these probably had to stand upright somehow.
“Thank you,” Derpy said a little sadly. “I'm afraid this is only a typical example of something that happens in my life. One of the joys of being me.”
“I think you're fine just the way you are,” Feather Wind argued. “I heard what you said to the Doctor about Vision. I have to tell you, I'm touched by your compassion too. I'd rather have a klutzy but kind ally on my side rather than a sturdy and sadistic one. I really hope you don't put yourself down like that all the time.”
“Eh. I'm kind of used to it,” Derpy said with a shrug. “Lots of ponies in Ponyville talk about me like I'm some kind of . . . um . . . Never mind. You don't want to hear this.”
“Ponyville? That's a curious name, also unfamiliar,” Feather Wind remarked.
One of Derpy's eyes looked at Feather Wind for a moment, then looked back down again. “Then it probably doesn't exist yet in your time. All I can tell you now is that it's situated near the Everfree Forest.”
“Really? Huh. I actually know one family that lives out there,” Feather Wind said.
“Really?” Derpy said brightly as her ears perked up. “They might be Ponyville's descendants, then. You might not be too far back from my time after all. Back when I come from, Ponyville is only about one-hundred years old.”
“Oh wow!” Star Breeze exclaimed to her father in the future. “Earlier you said you were confident that something special would come out of the Orchard family's farm but you wouldn't tell me why at that time and basically implied that you'd get back to it later.
“Tell me then, is this what you meant back then?”
“Mmm,” her father shrugged at her under his Mist Cloak. “Kind of. I said what I said to you earlier for still more reasons that you have yet to discover until a later point of my story, but I will say that this is part of it. By knowing that my new friend, Derpy, will grow up in a village which the Orchard family started, that just gave me even more evidence that the Orchards will continue to be blessed by a prosperous future on their new property. Deep down, I was overjoyed to hear that.”
Star Breeze cocked her head at her father a bit as she asked him, “How did it make you feel to know that? I mean, through her, you gained a tiny glimpse into the future. Weren't you curious what else she could unveil?”
“Well of course I was curious at the time,” her father answered, “but I also kept in mind something that the Doctor said, that any vision of the future could be merely one of many possible outcomes. Talking to somepony from the future or even visiting it myself does not guarantee that our reality will unfold exactly like theirs, but it does provide some hints.
“Much of it seemed like a pretty good future, actually.
“A future, by the way, that you may see unfolding before your very eyes as you grow up.”
Feather Wind leaned in close to his daughter as he told her emphatically, “Know this and know this well, my sweet, the future is always changing. If you want to make it a good one, you'll have to earn it. Don't just rely on other travelers from the future to tell you what your destiny is and don't merely sit there and hope that it will turn out well. If you want a bright and prosperous future, then do the work that will cause it to be so.
“The future I saw in Derpy's time did indeed look very bright for the most part, but it is important to understand that the only way that could occur is if we do our own part to cause it to be so.
“Also, if you want a pleasant present, then do what it takes to manifest that reality. Do not just wish for such things by blowing out your birthday candles. Instead, make it so. Be the miracle you hope to experience.
“That's probably what Baby Smith did out on her new farm with her faith and efforts, and that's what we need to do as well.”
Star Breeze looked up thoughtfully at the twinkling stars above her. She felt like a part of her grew much wiser at that moment. She felt older somehow. She was awed at the thought of infinite possible futures coming together into one single reality. It was mind-boggling to think that some of those possibilities could be felt even before they officially occurred.
Feather Wind gave her a moment to let that thought sink in. He waited until she looked back at him silently and nodded for him to proceed, so he did.
“Derpy . . . can I ask you something?” Feather Wind asked Derpy in the past.
“Sure,” she said as she tried to focus on him but only succeeded with her right eye. Her left eye steadily drifted lazily away.
“Why did you call yourself 'Ditzy Doo' a moment ago?”
“Oh, um,” she pawed at the ground in a little embarrassment. “That's because it's my real name. Derpy Hooves is actually just a nickname the Doctor gave me.”
“Really? Your real name is Ditzy Doo?” Feather Wind double-checked.
“Uh-huh.” Derby nodded in confirmation.
“Does the name 'Dunken Doo' ring a bell for you?” Feather Wind asked curiously.
“Dunken Doo? Um,” her eyes wandered about randomly again, and she shifted her head back and forth before trying to focus back on him as she said, “No. No, not really. Why do you ask?”
Feather Wind shrugged. “No reason. It's just that I met a good friend of mine several years back and his name was Dunken Doo. Given your true last name, I was curious if he might be a family descendant.”
“Or Daring Do,” Derpy theorized. She actually found it fun to contemplate that possibility. “Wouldn't it be funny if I was related to her too? If it's true, I think Rainbow Dash would find that very hard to accept.”
“There might be many ponies in your timeline with the last name Doo. I kind of figured it was a long shot, but I thought I'd ask anyway,” Feather Wind explained.
“How did you meet Dunken?” Derpy asked curiously with a soft small smile on her lips.
“He rescued me, kind of. I was stuck in the sky because I had not mastered my cutie mark talent yet. I drifted in the wind but couldn't really fly yet. Dunken was delivering some letters and happen to come across me. At my request, he agreed to deliver me the rest of the way to Canterlot by wing flapping me there.”
“Oh, how interesting! I deliver mail too!” Derpy informed cheerfully. “Well, that's what I do back home, at least, whenever I'm not gallivanting off to save the whole universe with the Doctor.
“Once again,” she rolled her eyes, “the story of my life.”
“Gallivanting across all of time and space to help save it? I think the story of your life is something I'd like to read, Derpy. Please don't sell yourself short. You are an awfully lucky pony.”
“Aw! Thank you!” Derpy said with an adorable blush, but calmed down as she resumed speaking. “Anyway, about your other question, I don't know if this Dunken Doo is related to me or not, but I hadn't exactly studied my family history back when I come from.
“Now that you bring that up, however, I'm kind of interested to check now . . . and I even know a good place to do it too. There's a good library in town that has lots of books in it, and it's managed by a very capable librarian. I usually don't have much incentive to read books myself, especially considering my lazy eye, but you've piqued my interest.”
“Um,” Feather Wind narrowed his eyes at her a bit. “If reading is a problem for you then don't you have a problem reading the addresses on the envelope of each letter?”
“Sometimes I do, and I've made more than a few mistakes because of it,” Derpy said regretfully. “I don't know why everypony puts up with me as much as they do. Guess I'm fortunate, then, to live in one of the friendliest towns in Equestria.”
“I guess that's something for you to look forward to,” Feather Wind figured. “If you have a good home where and when you come from then galloping away from it feels more optional. If returning home is always pleasant then it's good to know you have that freedom.”
“Um, I haven't thought of it that way. Thank you!” Derpy cheered. She then sighed as she looked about the closet. “Now how about finally doing what I came here to do?”
“Perhaps I can help you with that too,” Feather Wind offered.
“Yeah,” Derpy shifted an eye to him. “That might help.”
xoxo
“Okay! We've got the outfits,” Feather Wind announced as he stepped out of the closet area while levitating a pile of warm clothes.
“Excellent! Good job, my friend,” the Doctor commended cheerfully.
“Ooo! What is this, Doc?” Stern Wing asked while staring into a large jar with a bunch of crooked floating rainbow-colored multi-rings in it. “They're pretty!” Stern Wing was standing on the opposite end of the main exit.
The Doctor regarded what she was looking at, then grew a bit alarmed. “Ah! Don't touch those!
“As a matter of fact, you should probably back away from those. Those things are very dangerous . . . maybe.”
“Dangerous?” Stern Wing asked as she veered her head around the jar to look at the Doctor more clearly. “Dangerous how?”
“Those are an invention I've been tinkering with which I call flameless fireworks,” the Doctor explained then rubbed his chin with a puzzled look at the jar. “Only trouble is I can't figure out how to get them to ignite. Until then, it can potentially be set off at anytime and by anything, so I recommend you back away from those.”
“What?” Stern Wing regarded the jar of flameless fireworks then glared back at the Doctor a little. “If they are that dangerous then why do you have them in your little spaceship?”
“Ah, but the TARDIS is a tough old ship!” the Doctor said proudly. “I figured this is the best place to keep them in order to keep everyone else safe. That way, when they do ignite, they'll only be effective in here.”
“Which is where we are!” Stern Wing said incredulously. “Maybe the TARDIS will be just fine, but what about us?
“You've got a spaceship so probably your best option is to dump them off into outer space so they'll be a danger to no pony.”
“Ah, but then I'd never figure out how they work,” the Doctor said while raising and lowering his eyebrows multiple times. “Think about it.”
“I am thinking about it, and I don't think your curiosity is worth the security risk of those aboard this ship!” Stern Wing argued.
“Well, it's a good thing we're about to leave this ship and venture out into the safe confines of the frozen north.
“Tally-ho, my friend. Onwards and upwards, I say.”
From there, he pushed away from the rail that faced Stern Wing, indicating he was done with that conversation.
“Gah! That colt is impossible!” Stern Wing complained with a hoof stomp.
“It is his ship, and we're guests in it,” Feather Wind reminded her. “Besides, he's got one point. We need to venture out there and find that Red Crystal, or at least I do. Are you coming?”
“You ask that as if I have a choice.” Stern Wing trotted over to her friend. “I promised I would protect you, and I'm keeping my word.
“Besides, if she goes,” Stern Wing looked at Vision as Derpy helped the young filly into a warm outfit, “then she's somepony else I think I need to keep an eye on. We don't know how long we'll be trekking out there.” She looked back at her friend. “Maybe you can reduce the severity out there with your weather control.”
“Maybe,” Feather Wind agreed with uncertainty as he looked corner-wise down.
“Why the doubt?” Stern Wing asked.
“Because weather ponies didn't cause this in the first place,” Feather Wind answered as he looked back at her. “The weather did this on its own so, if I fight it, I might have limited success and it might be a constant battle. I can only make permanent changes to the weather if I remove the resisting factor, else the most I can do is make a temporary patch. I told you this before, remember?”
“At least you can do it at all,” Stern Wing said softly. “Right now I think it's wise we consider all of our options on the table. If she falls ill, we'll never find this crystal and Equestria could end up doomed.
“Aside from that, I don't want her to come to any harm.” Stern Wing eyed the young filly in concern. “I really don't.”
“You and me both, Sister!” Derpy cheered at Stern Wing.
Stern Wing smiled fondly at Derpy for that comment, then approached Derpy to give her a friendly hoof bump. Derpy gladly did not leave Stern Wing hanging on that one.