//------------------------------// // Bright Eyes // Story: Hourglasses // by Spiritus Arcane //------------------------------// Chapter Three Bright Eyes "No...that can't be right..." The Doctor muttered. He twisted a couple dials, flicked a switch or two, and looked at the monitor again. "...But that would mean- But then why...? The sound of hoofsteps pulled him out of his musings as Macintosh found his way back to the console room. "...Do ya know ya have a whole hoofball field back there?" the colt asked with a hint of awe. "Been wondering where that went," the Doctor responded with a grin, figuring 'hoofball' to be a pony equivalent of football or other outdoor sport. "Macintosh...I've been noticing some strange things about your planet. Have you noticed?" The pony just looked at him funny. "Fer instance?" "Well, for starters, the sun and moon seem to be locked in a perfectly balanced orbit around us. As in, the sun and moon both orbit this planet." "Uh...isn't it supposed to be like that?" "No, not normally no..." his eyes flicked left and right in thought. "...At least not according to the laws of physics I'm used to." He was silent for almost a whole moment before going on. "Second weird thing. Except for an odd patch here and there, this planet shouldn't have any weather. In fact, that means there shouldn't be able to be an apple farm for apple ponies outside. This whole space except for that forest over yonder should be dried up desert, but its not. In fact, it was quite pleasant out. Why's that?" Mac blinked, suddenly feeling like he was being interrogated. "Well, 'cause th' pegasai do the weather. At least 'round here..." "Pegasai?" The doctor repeated, both confused and intrigued by this. "You have pegasai...that control the weather?" "Eeyup." "And by pegasai, I'm talking about ponies with wings, right?" "Uh...eeyup." The Doctor grinned like someone who'd been told that Hearth's Warming day was happening twice. "That's brilliant, really. I think I'm going to like it here!" He turned and practically hopped back over to the console. "Speaking of here, I suppose I should get started having a look around. But first!" He turned back to Macintosh and suddenly knelt down to look the colt in the eyes. "Macintosh, Mac, my helpful little apple pony...you've been very helpful to me today, which I might have mentioned. So, as a thank you, I'd like to take you on a quick trip. A trip to anywhere, anywhen, time or place, that you'd like to go. So how 'bout it?" It was at this point that it really sank in for Macintosh. Through all the wonders, doubts about his own sanity, and other craziness that had happened over the last few ours, on simple truth bubbled its way to the top of his mind: He was standing in a TIME MACHINE. Yes, there were plenty of places and times he'd have loved to go and see. But if this was for real, and not just the result of him getting hit on the head by a stray apple...then there was only one time he wanted to go back to right now. Only one thing he wanted to do... He opened his mouth to give his answer... As if he had read the colt's intentions just by looking him in the eyes, which for all Mac knew, he could, the Doctor suddenly held up a finger to pause him. "I should clarify a little something. This trip's just for fun, just for a good time and laughs. No changing things around. Its dangerous, and generally not such a good idea in any case." Well, so much for that idea. "...Ok, then could ya...take me ta Manehatten?" "...MANEhatten?" The Doctor asked incredulously. "...I take it that's a city?" "Yeah!" Mac said with a nod. "My sister's there, ya see, and...well, kinda wanted to talk to her..." Make sure this isn't really all a dream... Maybe ask her to come back to th' farm... "Just a little hop over to Manehatten? Sounds a bit tame, I mean, TIME MACHINE! Isn't there, I dunno, a favorite time in...Ponyland history-" "Equestria..." "Equestrian history... ...Equestria, really? ...This world really takes the theme naming idea and runs with it, doesn't it?" He trailed off on seeing the colt's face fall. ...He hated seeing sad kids, especially sad PONY kids. ...Somehow that just made it worse. Turning back to the console he began setting the controls. "But right, no problem, one round trip to MANEhatten, comming up! " he said with a wink, then threw the main lever. The crystal column of in center of the console began to move up and down and there was a loud grinding and wheezing noise coming from all around. ...And then the room lurched to the right. The Doctor winced as he grabbed hold of the side of the console, even as Macintosh found himself dropped to the floor. "...Ok, that wasn't supposed to happen." Colgate left the chariot waiting at the gate as she trotted towards the barn. With luck, she wouldn't need it for the return trip, but when you were dealing with the Doctor, it paid to be prepared. And finally, there it was. A small, nostalgic, smile come to her as she spotted the still familiar shape of his TARDIS. "...Oh Doctor, still haven't fixed that circuit yet?" The 'filly' gave a small sigh. Then she got a sudden chill. There was a loud 'thump' sound from the TARDIS, followed by a distinctive wheezing noise. "Oh no, no, no!" Colgate exclaimed, breaking into a gallop even as first the beacon on top, and then the whole exterior began to pulse with a bright glow. "Doctor stop!" she shouted as she ran, in a futile attempt to catch his attention. "Doctor! DOCTOR!" But it was too late. By the time she made it to the barn, there was only a fading whistling sound left of its presence. Colgate panted a moment in the now empty space, catching her breath. "Yes...I think it's...official..." she muttered between pants. "I'm going...to KILL him..." Ditzy Doo was not having a good day. Actually, that was probably the understatement of at least the week. She was having a terrible day. And her eyes were certainly doing their best to not help the situation. They'd gone crossed, AGAIN, and almost no one ever took her seriously when her eyes went crossed. And the pegasus really needed to be taken seriously right now. But no, they'd gone and let her down not once, but three times so far, as she waited for the officer in front of her to read her report. "So let me get this straight," the police stallion sitting across from her said as he levitated up a donut out of the Pony Joe's box sitting next to him. "It says here that you're reporting that, last night, several ponies broke into your home, and assaulted your father, a member of the royal guard?" Ditzy nodded emphatically. "But when he managed to fight them off, he was shot...with a laser beam...from a giant salt-shaker? ...At which point you escaped by flying out an upstairs window..." The officer paused and looked at her skeptically. "...Kid, does this look like a creative writing class at the university to you?" Focusing her willpower, she blinked once, setting her eyes straight, and managed to force out a single word. "Truth!" The unicorn sighed. "Look miss...I'm not saying something didn't happen to your pops, but lasers and giant salt monsters?" Ditzy managed to give him the best pleading look she could. Her right eye tried to roll out of alignment, but she managed to force it back before it was too noticeable. She knew that if she'd heard this story herself, she'd think it was a joke too, but she'd seen that...thing for herself! The officer sighed again, defeated. "All right, I guess we can send someone to look things over at least...but this better not be a-" "Ditzerella!" Ditzy's ears shot up and she turned around in surprise. Standing in the doorway was a tall grey unicorn stallion in full, golden, royal guard armor. He was staring at her with a blank expression. "Papfin?" she gasped, then jumped out of her chair to rush over to him. "Papfin what harmony? You gas shout!" she said, so happy to see him that she didn't care that everything was coming out jumbled. "Mr. Doo I take it?" the officer she'd been talking to asked as he too stood up. "Lieutenant," her father clarified. The officer nodded, "Right, well, Lieutenant Doo...maybe you could clear some things up for us. Your daughter here claims you were...attacked last night." "I'm afraid whatever my daughter's been telling you is...untrue." Ditzy's entire mind ground to a halt. ...What? "It's unfortunate, but she occasionally has periods where she is unable to distinguish reality from fantasy. She had a particularly bad episode last night and ran out. I've been looking for her since." Ditzy stared up at her father in shock, her complete loss of focus causing both her eyes to move out of place. No no no...this wasn't happening. Her own father, who had spent her entire life telling her that, whatever problems she might have, that there was absolutely nothing wrong with her mind, was NOT telling the police she was delusional! The officer glanced at her with a bit of sorrow. "Ah...sorry to hear that. But, well, she appears to be just fine otherwise, and no harm done here. Glad we could help you find her, you're both free to go of course." "Of course," Lieutenant Doo said then, not quite gently, nudged the still disbelieving Ditzy towards the exit. "Lets go Ditzerella." Her mind still in partial shutdown, she numbly obeyed, too shocked to do otherwise. Macintosh rubbed his bruised flank as he stood up. After a couple minutes, the TARDIS had finally stopped shaking and had settled back down. "Ugh, this sorta thing happen often, Doc?" "Don't call me Doc, makes me sound like I'm a cartoon character," He was jumping from panel to panel on the console, dragging the screen that hung above it around and glancing at it every few seconds. "And sometimes...but shouldn't have this time... Felt more like the TARDIS was yanked off course...or maybe went off course by itself..." "So we didn' make it ta Manehatten then?" "No, most likely not, sorry..." Mac couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed about that, but it wasn't the Doctor's fault things went sideways. "So where did we go?" "A good question my dear pony..." the Doctor replied, striding away from the console and over to the doors. "...And I've found one of the best ways to find that out, is to just...look outside!" He flung open the door and stepped out. The TARDIS was sitting against a wall in what appeared to be a small alleyway. The architecture of the surrounding buildings was old, and reminded him of some parts of London he'd landed in, only much cleaner. Judging from the light in the sky, they'd not only moved locations, but at least few hours ahead as well. And then, at the mouth of the alley, he saw them: ponies! Naturally, due to the TARDIS' perception filter, they were all just walking (or was that trotting?) by, going about their business and not paying any attention to him. Red ponies, blue ponies, green ponies, pink ponies...the whole spectrum, all with equally colorful manes. And not just the normal (if you called pastel ponies with clothes and human-like hairstyles normal) ponies, but there were a few of the pegasai Macintosh had mentioned, but most of them, and what really caught his attention, were unicorns. "Macintosh...stay put for a bit, would you?" He reached into his jacket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. Then, with an ear to ear grin, strolled out towards the street. Behind him, Macintosh poked his head out of the TARDIS. Nope, definitely not Manehatten. He'd visited the city once or twice before with his parents to visit his Aunt and Uncle, and the buildings there didn't look anything like this. In fact, if the towers he could make out were any indication, he'd say they were in Canterlot. And then it hit him. The Doctor was about to walk out into the open...in the middle of Canterlot. Oh boy... Not having heard the Doctor's order anyway, Macintosh rushed out after him. Of course, he was far too late. Stepping out of the ally, he accosted the first unicorn to cross his path: a powder blue mare with a pink mane and pair of crossed feathers on her flanks. To his delight, she was also trailing a small group of packages, holding them above her, apparently in some sort of telekinetic field. "Hello madam... It is madam, right?" He bent to the side to getter look at the pony. "Yes, madam, pretty sure. In any case, would you mind holding still a second while I settle a bit of scientific curiosity?" The mare just gaped at him. Her packages fell noisily to the ground as she lost her concentration. "Thank you." He pointed the screwdriver at her and turned it on. The crystal on the end lit up as the device gave off a high pitched hum. He waved it over her face and over her horn a moment before with drawing it, and with a snap, popped open the claw around the crystal as he studied the results. "So the horn is some sort of psychokinetic energy magnifier linked directly into the nervous system? That's fantastic!" He looked down at the Mare. "So I saw the basic telekinesis, but what other sorts of effects can you pull of with that?" She screamed. Startled, the Doctor stepped back, even as she turned and took off at a gallop, still screaming her head off. Apparently this was enough to finally draw attention to him, because other screams and cries suddenly sprang out all around the street. "Oh right...I'm the scary monster this time," he said to himself. "...That's different." "Doctor, wha' happened!?" Macintosh asked as he ran up, even as most of the other ponies in the area were making tracks away from him. "You there, halt!" Most ponies, that is, except for a pair of burly looking earth ponies that were dressed in what the Doctor could only assume were Police uniforms. "Macintosh, I'm about to say something to you that I've said to lots of people over the years," the Doctor told the young colt at his side. "...What's that?" "Run!" And so they did. Ditzy Doo was feeling a bunch of things. Shocked, hurt, angry, betrayed...but overall, very scared. You see, she'd been pretty much on autopilot when she and her father had left the police station, and it wasn't until her brain had caught up with what her eyes were seeing that she realized that wherever they were going, they weren't heading home. "Papfin, where-" "Keep moving," Her father said tonelessly. She cut off the rest of her question and dropped her head, continuing on in silence. Eventually, they came to the exit of one of the large pipeways at the base of the city, a drain to let excess rainwater or melted snow to wash away so it didn't flood the city itself. She hesitated a moment, but a poke from her father's horn forced her on inside. Ditzy lost track of how long they walked after that, but it was far enough that the unicorn stallion had lit up his horn so they could see. Finally, they came to a large junction of several tunnels and stopped. Then she heard the whirring. It started softly, but then got louder right before she saw them: More of the giant salt-shakers! Ok, they weren't really giant salt-shakers, but that was the best comparison she had. There were three of them this time, each standing a few heads higher than a large pony. They were all colored a bright white, with gold decorations and other parts. The skirt like bottom halves of the things were covered in rows of small domes, and above this was a section of metal slats, the front of which ended in what she assumed were forelegs of some kind. One was long, ending with what looked almost like the cup from a toilet plunger. The other was shorter, a small tube with smaller tubes arranged almost like a flower around it, but the way they pointed these limbs at her made her think they were some sort of weapons. And at the top was a round, dome-like head, with what looked like two lamps on either side, and, in the middle, a long stalk, at the end of which was a glowing blue eye. And she knew it had to be an eye because the one in the middle was gazing right at her before its gaze switched up to her father. "THIS IS THE SOURCE OF THE POTENTIAL LEAK?" it asked in a harsh, high pitched voice. The lamps on its head lighting up with each word. "Yes," her father responded in the same toneless voice he'd used all morning. "She was apprehended before she could alert the local authorities." "EXCELLENT! RESUME YOUR NORMAL ACTIVITIES, WE MUST NOT AROUSE SUSPICION!" "I obey," Lieutenant Doo answered, then turned about and began walking away, leaving Ditzy with them. Ditzy curled up on the floor of the tunnel, shivering with fear. She felt like that time she'd gotten separated from her parents and ended up lost in the city for hours, only this time, she knew with a sinking feeling, her father wouldn't be coming to find her this time. "TAKE THIS ONE FOR PROCESSING AND TRANSPORT!" The lead monster said to one of the other two before it glided off down one of the tunnels. "I OBEY!" It moved towards her, still keeping the the smaller of its arms pointed at her. "THE PRISONER WILL STAND AND FOLLOW!" Ditzy didn't move, just remained shaking on the floor. She didn't know what these things were going to do with her, but if whatever had happened to her father was any indication, it would be anything but good. The one that gave the order to her suddenly pointed its short arm away from her. There was a flash of green light accompanied by a loud shrieking sound that she recognized as the same type of beam the one that had taken her father last night had used. Only this time, it blew a small chunk out of the floor next to her. She shot to her hooves with a frightened bleat. "THE PRISONER WILL STAND AND FOLLOW!" it repeated, "OBEY!" Left with little choice, Ditzy turned and followed the third creature as it led the way down another of the tunnels, the second one bringing up the rear. More walking, accompanied by the whirring noise of the creatures as they moved. Ditzy couldn't stop wondering what they planned on doing with her. 'Processing' certainly sounded ominous enough. But most of all, she couldn't stop thinking about her father. These things had come, using more ponies under their control, taken him away, and done...something to him that had forced him to give her up to them too... She wondered if she'd ever see him again, or if there was a way for her to free him...not that it looked like she'd get a chance.. *TSEEEWWW!* Suddenly, as they were passing a side tunnel, a bright beam of light shot out, striking the creature in front of her and causing it to explode! Wondering what else could go wrong today, Ditzy went with her instincts and dropped back to the floor, clamping her front hooves on top of her head and just waiting for it to be over. "ALERT! ALERT! UNDER ATTACK!" the remaining one yelled, rushing past her and firing its weapon in the direction the shot had come from. Another of the beams shot back at it and there was another explosion though smaller this time. "HELP! HELP!" Ditzy dared to peek and see what was going on. The front end of the creature's eye stalk looked like it had been blown off! "VISION IMPAIRED! HELP ME! HELP ME! I CANNOT SEE!" it screamed, spinning around and flailing wildly. Unfortunately, it was also shooting wildly as well, sending bright green bursts of energy all over. One of them shot over DItzy's head and slammed into the ceiling a small distance back the way they'd come. With a loud rumble, it gave way, collapsing behind her just short of her rump. Another shot from the attacker rang out, this one striking the salt-shaker dead center. It exploded just as violently as its partner, leaving only the dome studded base in anything approaching one piece, which wobbled slightly for a moment, before falling over with a loud 'clunk!' Ditzy stayed huddled where she was for a long, silent, moment before the sound of approaching hoofsteps made her look up again. A pony was walking towards her through the smoking remains of her captors. It was an earth pony mare with a soft pink coat and a fluff, pale blonde mane with a blue flower placed in it. She wore a set of brown saddle bags, and had a small metal tube on a handle attached clutched in her teeth. She stopped next to the remains of one of the creatures and gave it a good kick with a foreleg. When nothing happened she just nodded and moved on, and then her eyes locked on Ditzy. She gasped, almost dropping what she was holding before she tucked it into one of her bags and rushed over. "Oh dear me..." she said, then gently nuzzled the still petrified pegasus. "There there, it's all right, they won't be able to hurt you any more." She helped Ditzy sit up. "There we go, yes. ...You poor dear, how in the world did you end up in the company of a couple of Daleks?" she asked. Daleks. So Ditzy finally had a name to go with the horror. "M-my Papfin..." she said, though she was such a wreck right now she doubted she'd be able to make herself understood. "Papfin crated...things wing taste him. ...Gave selves above when muffin speak blue..." Then she sighed. Yes, just as she thought. The mare just stood still for a moment, staring into one of Ditzy's eyes. "...They captured your father? ...And then he gave you to them after you tried to tell the police? Oh dear...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Ditzy blinked in surprise. She'd...understood her? Even her father had trouble when she was this bad. "Well, you can tell me more later. Right now we'd better get out of here..." She turned away for a moment to glance down the still open tunnels. Ditzy noticed offhandedly that her Cutie Mark was an hourglass. "...They might send others to investigate when these two don't come back." She turned back and helped Ditzy to her hooves as she glanced at the blocked passage behind her. "...And it looks like we'll have to find another way out too." She gave Ditzy a friendly smile. "So, what's your name then?" "...Ditzy...Doo," Ditzy answered. "Well then Ditzy Doo, a pleasure. You can call me Flower Shine."