Outside, the Tardis started to fade. It continued, fading in and out of space until the Tardis was eventually gone.
Inside, the Tardis moved a bit, though not enough to where it was a danger to the inside. It was like sitting in a carriage or wagon over a bumpy road. The Doctor looked at the Tardis with a smile.
“Woah,” Derpy said. “Why is it so bumpy?”
“Ah, well you see,” The Doctor stated, “we are currently in a time vortex going to Canterlot. If you were to step outside that door, you’d fall right into the time vortex.”
Derpy looked at the doctor and started flying to the door.
“Well, that wasn’t a suggestion to go in it,” The Doctor said nonchalantly.
“Oh, okay,” Derpy said, a little disappointed. “By the way, are you gone eat that?” She pointed toward the Doctor’s muffin.
“Yes, I am,” the Doctor said, a bit perplexed as to why she wanted it. “You already have one.”
Derpy looked down at her muffin. “Okay,” Derpy said, even more disappointed than before. She started taking bites out of her muffin. “I wish I had a second muffin,” Derpy muttered under her breath between bites.
The Doctor sighed, pretending not to hear. “It has been a while since I’ve taken this girl out for a spin. It’s the first time I’ve done it in this form.”
“This form?” Derpy asked with the last part of the muffin in her mouth.
“Oh, I suppose I’ve only told Rose about the story,” The Doctor said to himself. “Very well. You see, I'm not actually a pony, the people where I’m from just have pony-like forms.”
“Like a Changeling!?” Derpy interjected.
“Somewhat, but not in the same way,” The Doctor answered. “You see, I’m a Time Lord, though I’m personally more of a fan of the name Time Turner, an elite group of creatures known as Gallopfreyans.”
“Gallop...what now?” Derpy asked.
“Gallopfreyans,” The Doctor answered, “are the pony-like creatures that live on Gallopfrey, a planet lightyears away.”
“What’s a light year?” Derpy asked.
“That’s what she’s concerned with,” The Doctor thought. “Well, it means the amount of time it takes for light to reach somewhere. In other words, it takes a long time to reach there.
“Oh,” Derpy said.
“Anyway,” The Doctor started, “Time Lords have a power, of sorts, that lets us regenerate into a new body each time we die. We get 12 regenerations for 13 forms. This is my 10th form, so my 9th regeneration.”
“Wait, you’re an alien!!!” Derpy yelled.
“Yes,” The Doctor answered, looking at her oddly again. “I figured you got that already. For my past few regenerations, I’ve gone through time and space, stopping catastrophic events from happening. Luckily, none of them have been able to harm Equestria, not in a major way at least.”
“Woah,” Derpy said, only half getting what he was saying.
“Indeed, I was traveling for a while, stopping several villains from damaging the universe at large. That stopped when the Time War took out several creatures that were trying to take over or ‘EXTERMINATE,’ as they would say, and were wiped out by a massive explosion. I, myself, was also caught in the explosion. I crashed into Ponyville, regenerating into my current form. This also broke the Tardis. This would not be so bad on another planet, but in Equestria, most of the materials I need are not there. Luckily, by some miracle, I was able to get enough of the parts I needed to rebuild as much as I did. However, I fell in love with this era of Equestria. I liked it before, but now, I truly understand this world's beauty. I vow to make sure that I keep Equestria and even the whole planet safe from any time and space traveling threats. I’ll leave friendship problems for Twilight and her friends to deal with.”
Derpy looked back at The Doctor before saying, “Woah Doc, thank you!” with a big smile on her face.
“Don’t mention it,” The Doctor replied. The Tardis stopped moving and The Doctor said, “Ahh, that must mean that we’ve arrived.” The Doctor opened the door to the Tardis. “Now, let’s go.”
Outside was a beautiful view of Cloudsdale and even Ponyville. Canterlot, while not having as nice a view since they were in it, still looked very nice. Luckily, none of the tall buildings blocked the view of the race about to happen.
“I arrived a few minutes early so we’d be able to get comfortable before the race began,” The Doctor told Derpy.
Derpy went out of the Tardis and looked behind it. Behind the Tardis was Princess Celestia’s castle. They were next to a wall with a large window and a few pillars. “Woah,” Derpy said. “I’ve never been this close to the castle! It’s so much bigger up close.”
“Yes,” The Doctor started, “I suppose it is. Now, let us get ready for the Rainboom. I’ll lay down here, but you can anywhere you’d like to see better, just stay close; we wouldn’t want you meeting someone from the past.”
The Doctor laid down on the grass to watch the Rainboom. The Doctor could make out that the race could begin any second. Derpy was looking for a place she could sit to watch the race from a high angle. She chose to sit on one of the pilers near the wall. She flew up to the (rather tall) pillar and sat. By the time she sat down the race had already begun.
The two watched the Pegasi race throughout the skies only seeing Rainbow Dash due to her rainbow trail. Derpy stood up on the piler and shouted, “Go Rainbow Dash!”
The Doctor chuckled. “Be careful up there Mrs. Derpy,” The Doctor warned, only half concerned.
Derpy jumped on the pillar to show support for Rainbow Dash. Unfortunately, this jumping caused the pillar to become unstable and start to fall. The Doctor turned around, saw this, and yelled, “Mrs. Derpy! Jump!”
Derpy did so and jumped off the pillar in the nick of time. The Doctor ran over to try and stop the pillar from falling. He tried kicking the pillar like Apple Jack “bucked” her trees. Unfortunately for him, he was not as strong as Apple Jack. It did not go back into place, but rather it stayed put in the back of his hoof, neither of them moving, blocking the window. While this is happening, the Sonic Rainboom finally happens. The strength the Rainboom gives him is enough to finally push the pillar back.
“Oh, I’m sorry Doc,” Derpy said.
“No harm, no foul,” The Doctor said, brushing off his coat before giving Derpy a sincere smile. “I am glad we were able to see the Rainboom, even if not in the way I’d imagined.” The Doctor went to the Tardis. “Well, I suppose it’s time to go back to Ponyville.”
The Doctor entered the Police Box and went to the control panel. Derpy was close behind when she heard crying. Derpy looked back and saw a purple filly crying while running out of the castle. Derpy looked at her and frowned. She walked into the Tardis. “Hey Doc, I just saw a filly crying, is there any way we can help her out.”
“Hmmmm,” The Doctor said, thinking to himself. “I’ll see what I can do. However, if it’s too big a problem, I won’t be able to help.”
They both walked out and looked for the filly, but by the time they had got there, she was gone.
“She was right here just a second ago,” Derpy lamented.
“Yes, she must have run off,” The Doctor said, disappointed that he couldn’t help the mare Derpy saw. The Doctor went a bit further out to look down a few streets but didn’t see a single filly crying. “I suppose it’s time for us get going.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Derpy said, slightly upset.
“Well, Allons-y," The Doctor said, going back to the Tardis. The Doctor activated the Tardis and waited.
“I set the Tardis to take us back about an hour or two after we left,” The Doctor said. “It should be about another hour or so till sunset. It’s been a while since I last time travelled. I am feeling quite tired.”
“Okie dookie,” Derpy said.
The two rode in the Tardis quietly. They were both too tired to say anything. They were silent until the Tardis stopped moving, signifying that they had finally returned to modern Ponyville.
“Well, I suppose this is goodbye for now,” The Doctor said. “I hope to see you again soon. If you would ever like to go with me on another excursion, let me know, I’d love your company.”
“You got it Doc!” Derpy said cheerfully. “See you soon.” While Derpy said this to the Doctor, it was clear she was also eyeing up his muffin.
Derpy then walked out, leaving The Doctor by himself. He stood in the Tardis wondering what to do. He was going to eat his muffin then go to bed, but he realized he didn’t have any banana daiquiri. So, he decided to go to the place that sells them, “They should still be open,” he thought.
He left the Tardis and went to the streets of Ponyville. However, they were oddly empty. No pony was out even though sunset was a ways away. He walked down to Sugar Cube Corner to buy his daiquiri (Pinkie Pie was surprisingly great at making them). However, right before he made his way into the store he heard a faint, “Help!”
The Doctor recognized the voice as Derpy. While the possibility of it just being her accidentally falling a few feet was high, he still had to go see if he could help her. He galloped to the other side of Ponyville, barely seeing any ponies, maybe one or two out of the corner of his eye. But he couldn’t worry about that now. He had to find Derpy. And eventually he did. But what he found shook him to his core.
Derpy was being held by two “mares.” They had flat, cold, black eyes, no mane or tail, A light source beaming where their cutie marks should be, a metallic silver coat, a black line with holes where the mouth should be, and what looked to be headphones, like that of DJ Pon-3's, on their ears. They looked like alicorns, but the wing and horn (like the rest of its body) was made of a metallic suit. They were flying while holding either side of Derpy. The Doctor looked at these identical mares with fear.
“Hello again Doctor,” both Cybermares said.