//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Mind Games // Story: Doctor Whooves: Discord and Time // by Gherkin //------------------------------// Pain. More specifically, a raging headache. Twilight Sparkle lazily opened her eyes, groaning. Her head felt like it was about to explode. Her vision was hazy, but she managed to notice the unconscious forms of her five friends laying beside her. Her vision came into focus, and she took a look around. They were in the TARDIS console room, but The Doctor was nowhere to be seen. What just happened? Twilight remembered escorting an injured Big Macintosh through the war-torn streets of Ponyville, but after that, she just couldn’t remember. How had they gotten inside the TARDIS? From what she remembered, they were still a few blocks away when she must have passed out. Had The Doctor carried us? No, that wasn’t possible. Memories were slowly coming back to her. She remembered Applejack screaming, clutching to the limp body of her older brother. Oh dear Celestia! Big Macintosh was dead. She remembered it all now. She remembered The Doctor backing away slowly as Applejack wept, murmuring something about how “none of it had been real”. Was that it? Was the whole thing some sort of sick, twisted mind trick? She didn’t know. She slowly got to her hooves and took a look around. Apart from her friends, there was nopony to be seen. She called out The Doctor’s name, but there was no response. Strange, she thought, Where could he have got to? She trotted towards the double doors of the time machine and threw them open, stepping outside. Quickly, she caught herself before she fell out of the TARDIS into the open expanse of space below. She rubbed her eyes, not believing what was before her eyes. But we landed by Sugarcube Corner, I remember it perfectly! She gazed out towards the stars. They spread out all around her. She noticed that the TARDIS was slowly floating towards a dark purple nebula in the distance. She stared at it for a moment, watching in awe as a multitude of colours danced between the stars in front of her, before stepping back inside. Her friends had begun to stir. The first to fully awake was Rainbow Dash, who slowly stood up and glanced around. “Wha... where are we? What happened?” She took to the air, hovering slightly above the glass floor. She circled around the central column, looking for any signs of The Doctor or Applejack’s family. When she realized her search was ultimately fruitless, she returned to the rest of her friends, who had woken up and were looking around, dazed and confused. Naturally, they were as confused as Twilight was. It took a few minutes for the lavender unicorn to calm them down and admit to them that she knew as little as they did. That didn’t help matters, as it caused the situation to descend into panic. After they had found out that they couldn't leave the machine, and realized that they had no idea how to fly it, the situation only worsened. It wasn't until Twilight screamed at the top of her voice that a semblance of order returned to the console room. "Everypony, just calm down!" she shouted, "I'm sure The Doctor's around here somewhere, and even if he's not, he wouldn't just leave us here! We'll be fine!" Her friends started to quieten down, with most of them sitting down and taking deep breaths. Even Pinkie Pie was beginning to become uncharacteristically worried. "So what are we all gonna do now?" Applejack was the first to speak up. Twilight sighed. "I don't know. Sit tight for a while, I guess. I'm sure he's figuring out a way to get through to us." Suddenly, a frighteningly familiar voice boomed throughout the console room. "Ah, so you finally figured it out. Hello, Doctor." Twilight cringed. She knew that voice. She knew it all too well. It was... "Discord!" Fluttershy squeaked, diving behind Rainbow Dash. "Who are you?" The Doctor's voice. Both of them seemed to emanate directly from the main console itself. "What, so your six little friends never told you about me?" the trickster responded, "They never told you how they cheated me out of the throne of Equestria?" "Oh, you're Discord!" The Doctor chuckled. "No, they told me about you. Forgive me if I sound rude, but I'm used to something a little more intimidating than cotton candy clouds and chocolate rain." Twilight smiled. He always managed to get a laugh or two out of something, even at the worst of times. Seemed like Pinkie Pie had rubbed off on him. "Discord!" Applejack shouted out. "I know y'all can hear us! So tell me, how'd you get free? We encased you in stone!" Discord sighed. "Now that was rather rude of you, Miss Applejack. I was trying to have a civilized conversation with the good Doctor here. If you must know, only my mind and consciousness has escaped. My body is still in the Canterlot Gardens, being gawked at by tourists, and boring schoolchildren on class excursions." "Now I'd love to catch up with you all," he continued, "but I'd like to talk privately with your friend, and I simply can't have you listening in." As he spoke, Twilight noticed the sound of gas rushing into the room. "You all sound awfully tired. Perhaps you should get some rest." Immediately the six friends began to feel drowsy. Twilight tried to shake off the effects of the gas, but to no avail. Soon enough they had all passed out on the floor, and the TARDIS was quiet once again. *** OK, I need a plan. Think, Doctor, think. Well, I don't seem to be anywhere in particular, and there doesn't seem to be anything here, so I suppose my best plan is to sit here talking to this... thing until one of us starves to death. Honestly, I've had better plans. The Doctor glared at Discord as he formed a large couch out of nowhere and laid down, stretching and yawning. The time lord took a look around again, trying to find an item of interest in the black expanse of nothingness that surrounded them. "So, now that we're all alone," the dragonequus began, "I'm sure you have some questions. So shoot." "What have you done to them?" The Doctor asked almost immediately. "They're unharmed, if that's what you mean," Discord responded, "Can you even remember the last time you used the gas defense measures on this thing? Heck, have you ever used them? It's a shame to put something so useful to waste..." “Okay...” the chestnut-coloured pony continued, “Where are we?” “I was waiting for you to ask that. You see, Doctor, we are inside your machine! Amazing, isn’t it?” “So where’s my body?” “Well, remember that time a few days ago, when you were doing repairs down near the backup engines?” The Doctor nodded slowly, not liking where this was going. “You passed out, did you not? One of the engines backfiring. Well, you thought you woke up, but you didn’t, of course. You and your friends were put into a dream state that I created.” “That was when you used the gas for the first time...” The Doctor figured out. “Oh well done, Doctor," Discord congratulated mockingly, slowly applauding The Doctor. "Only a genius such as yourself could have figured that out." The time lord sat back on his haunches, confused. What does this guy want? He decided to ask. “Call it a rematch with your friends,” Discord explained, “To see if they can best me without their precious Elements of Harmony.” “And what do you want with me?” “Nothing,” he answered simply, “I just need you out of the way for a little while. Can’t go giving anyone any unfair advantages now, can we?” "I've left them a note, you see. On the screen on your console. The challenge is simple. Reach the backup engines, and your unconscious body, and get them online. The software behind your machine will recognize me as a virus and purge me from the system, and I'll be trapped in body once more." The Doctor's eyes narrowed. "Oh really? And what's the catch?" Discord shrugged and looked away nonchalantly. "Well, I managed to activate all of the TARDIS' defense mechanisms getting here, so I suppose they'll have those to worry about." He looked back, a menacing look in his eye. "Oh, and they only have about four hours before this ship gets sucked into a supernova taking place in the nebula below us." The time lord’s eyes widened in horror. “No... that’s not possible.” Discord laughed, a manic, insane smile upon his face. “Of course it's possible! I control this Type 40 TARDIS now!" "So why don't you just kill us all right here and now?" The trickster smirked. "Well now, where's the fun in that?" He chuckled slightly as The Doctor took a quick step back. “So,” he continued, “While we’re alone, tell me about yourself, time lord.” “I have nothing to say to you.” “Good, because I didn’t need you to tell me anyway,” Discord told him, “So tell me, are you still playing the hero? Even after what you did?” The Doctor looked away. “I did what I had to do,” he said weakly, “And I’ve forgiven myself.” "Are you sure about that? Is that why you're still looking to be adored by everyone you meet?" Discord asked, The Doctor not meeting his eye. "The great Doctor, always here to save the day." "And what about the people you've met, people you've molded into your own soldiers?" the dragonequus continued, trying to evoke emotion from the silent time lord, "Did you ever stop and consider what happens to them?" The Doctor turned and faced him suddenly. "Stop it. I remember Davros pulling that move, and I'm not falling for it again." Discord leaned back on his couch, musing. "I see," he said slowly, "Tell me, dear Doctor, do you remember a Professor River Song? "Yes, the woman in the library. The one from my future," the pony answered, suspicion apparent in his voice. "That's funny. Because no one else does." "What do you mean, no one remembers her?" Discord slouched back even further, getting comfy on the couch that seemed extremely out of place in the black expanse around them. "It's a long story, but I'll give you the abridged version. Basically, because of your, shall we say, 'unexpected' trip to my universe, Miss Song no longer exists." He grinned cruelly as The Doctor's eyes widened in horror. "No, that can't be possible!" "Oh, you of all people should know that time is always in flux, Doctor," he replied, "I won't spare the details, but let's just say it involves your wonderful blue box, a Roman Centurion, and a lonely little girl with a scary crack in her bedroom wall." The Doctor blinked. All of those descriptions felt awfully familiar. It was if he was supposed to know who Discord was talking about. Maybe if I hadn’t come here, to this universe, I might have met them. It was obvious that the God of Chaos was trying to guilt-trip him. Well, it wasn’t going to work. Too many people had pulled that stunt before. He’s just going to have to try and come up with something original. “And what about your beloved planet Earth, Doctor?” Discord was unrelentless, desperately trying to elicit some sort of emotion from the silent time lord. “Who’s going to protect it, now that you’re away?” “I have friends. Good friends,” he answered, an air of pride in his voice. “The Torchwood team in Cardiff are more than capable of looking out for humanity.” “Are you sure? Because it seems that they were disbanded not too long after you left!” Discord cackled with glee. “Officially and permanently terminated by the government!” He sighed, wiping a tear from his eye. “How ironic. Able to protect their planet from the unknown, and yet they are destroyed by the very people they swore to protect.” The Doctor smirked. “Oh, trust me, my friends don’t give up that easily. Especially when one knows that almost nothing can stop him.” He approached Discord, his signature confidence quickly returning after Discord’s mind games. “Being revived by the power of the Time Vortex tends to have that effect on someone.” “Really? How fascinating,” the dragonequus deadpanned. “You know, I really expected you to be more fun to speak to, Doctor. But alas, no, you’re just as boring as the others. It’s always ‘you’re nothing against us, Discord’, or, ‘we’ll find a way to stop you, Discord’. Blah blah, somepony please change the record.” He clicked his fingers, and a computer monitor appeared out of nowhere. “Speaking of the others, let’s see how they’re getting on, shall we?” *** “...All you have to do is make your way to the backup engine rooms, and you’ll be able to get yourselves home.” Twilight read aloud, trying to concentrate while her friends tried to catch a glimpse of the TARDIS’ computer monitor. “So that’s it?” she thought aloud, “Just make our way to the backup engines, and we’re home free? What are we waiting for? This is gonna be easy!” she scoffed. “Now, Twilight, you of all ponies should know not to underestimate Discord,” Rarity advised, “He’s probably planning something horrific with The Doctor that we don’t know about.” “I agree,” Applejack said, “If we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna need to be careful. We don’t know how big this place is, and it’ll be easy to get lost.” Rainbow Dash flew over and inspected the computer screen. “But he left directions to the backup engines!” “Uh, hello!” Pinkie Pie butted in, “This is Discord we’re talking about! We shouldn’t trust a thing that big old meanie says!” “Pinkie’s right,” Fluttershy agreed quietly, “We should stick together to get through this.” Twilight sighed, and thought for a second. “Okay, here’s the plan,” she told them, “We’re going to make our way towards the backup engines, like it says. If anypony sees anything suspicious, and I mean anything, don’t hesitate to tell us. It may be something important.” Her friends all nodded in understanding. “Right then, let’s not waste any time.” Reassured and with high morale, the six friends briskly trotted up the main console room staircase and into the myriad of rooms and corridors beyond. *** Twilight hated to admit it, but she thought she was lost. She and her friends were completely unprepared for the maze of halls and corridors inside The Doctor’s impossible machine. They were standing in the middle of a corridor that branched in four directions, and they were deciding how they were going to split up. “We should leave one of the corridors,” Applejack told them, “Take the other three, and go in pairs.” She pointed a hoof at the closest hallway. “Twi, Rarity, you take that one.” They nodded and trotted off as she directed the rest of them. “I don't know what The Doctor was thinking when he designed this place,” Rarity said as they were deeper down the corridor, trying to make conversation. “I mean, hexagonal corridors? Who in their right mind would want that?” “This is The Doctor you’re talking about, remember, Rarity?” Twilight told her, “He doesn’t exactly fit into any social norms.” Rarity said something in agreement, but her friend didn’t hear. She stumbled and fell against the wall as her head exploded in pain, crippled by what seemed to be a sudden migraine. She managed to make out Rarity’s muffled voice. “Twilight, my dear, are you alright?” The lavender mare was sure that the fashionista said something else, but couldn’t pay attention as she fell unconscious. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she almost fainted a second time in shock. The scene around had changed completely. Instead of the drab, gray corridors of the TARDIS’ interior, she was now stood in the middle of a raving crowd during what seemed to be an outdoor nighttime concert. She glanced around. Her hair was neatly curled and she was wearing a long purple dress. Looking to the stage, she could see Pinkie rocking out with a white unicorn wearing reflective purple sunglasses. Wait, this is too familiar... It was her brother’s wedding reception, that had taken place only a few weeks ago. She looked around and saw things she remembered vividly. Rainbow Dash excitedly chatting with a member of the Wonderbolts, Spike dancing next to Rarity’s sister, Sweetie Belle, even Applejack playing a fiddle to a couple of her relatives. Either she had somehow travelled back in time somehow, or there were darker forces at play. Either way, she had to find out. She couldn’t pinpoint why, but she knew that her friends were in grave danger.