//------------------------------// // Chapter 39. Unicorns // Story: Time Bubbles // by Janicethelight //------------------------------// All the houses stood uniform when they walked out.  The ground beneath them seemed to glow.  There was no trash on the ground.  Bins lined the houses.  It felt eerie and cold as they walked through.  There was a sign above the houses that the Doctor noticed first.  He stopped, stopping Derpy as well.  He pointed.  The sign showed a unicorn without a single hair out of place.  She smiled.  The sign read: “perfection is the only way to live.” Doctor felt unsettled.  “Derpy...I have a bad feeling.”  A door opened, and a unicorn that looked eerily similar to the one for the poster came out, wearing the same over extended smile.  She came down the sept, stopping to notice the two.  Slowly her smile faded.  She backed up the steps, eyes on them both.  Slowly, she reached the door before scrambling in.  The two shared a look.  “...we should run.” The doctor stated. “Yup.  Derpy agreed and the two took off through the neighborhood.  Their galloping hooves alerted more ponies as unicorns came out of their houses, eyes wide with shock at seeing the two run off.  The roads were like a maze, and they found themselves stuck in a cul de sac. A male unicorn threw open his door, horn shining with magic.  “You two know this isn't your land!  Get out of here and get back with your own kind!” “Terribly sorry.  We seem to have gotten lost some-” The doctor began but was cut off by the unicorn. “You should be sorry.  Now, I will repeat yourself so your tiny earth pony mind will understand: go back to where you belong.” “I beg your pardon!” The Doctor scoffed, “I will have you know I'm the Doctor, and-” “Well, isn't that quaint.  An empty headed earth pony thinking he can be a Doctor!” The unicorn next door laughed. “Really is stupid if he thinks hanging out with a brutish pegasus is a good idea!” “That's not a very friendly thing to say!” Derpy huffed. “Not friendly?!  Your kind making it snow on us during our summer festival-now that was not friendly.” “Or how about those earth ponies who tried to strike by refusing to give up the food they grew!” “Well, we showed them.  We refused to raise the sun for a week. And they came groveling back!” The unicorns laughed.  Derpy but her lip, realization hitting her like a ton of bricks.  The Doctor sighed, “Look, my friend and I are lost and-” Both unicorns laughed heartily, “friends he says.” The girl chuckled. “Leave it to an earth pony to think he can befriend a pegasus.”  Annoyance filled the Doctor. “Could you please just tell us where to go...or tell us if you saw a unicorn with a metal leg going around here?” “A unicorn? With a metal leg.  How simply garrish.  I mean, what next.  Every pony having eyes like yours?” “You simply must fix those.  It's one atrocious thing to look upon a pegasus, but one with eyes like that!  It's so...weird.  I can't even tell if you are looking at us or the earth pony.” “There is nothing wrong with her eyes.” The Doctor nearly growled. “Of course, a silly earth pony wouldn't notice, would he?” The unicorns laughed again as the doctor felt  annoyance built up in his heart.  He breathed, trying his best to ignore it.  “We will be on our way.” He spoke each word deliberately, walking away as he whispered, “I swear the next says something bad about your beautiful eyes, I-” “It's okay, Doctor.  And...thank you.” "For what?" Doctor inquired. “you talk to me about how my eyes are pretty.  You never seemed to mind their...oddness.” “Well, Derpy, where I come from, a lazy eye is a pretty normal occurrence, not that I am fond of the name for it ...and they are beautiful.”  Derpy smiled, kissing the Doctor's cheek.   As they went on, they kept finding houses upon houses.  Sneers and ridicule followed them until one unicorn came upon them.  She ignored her fellows, “It can be difficult to find your way if you don't know it.  I can lead you out.” “That is. The nicest thing any pony has said all day. “ Derpy breathed. “Thank you.” She nodded, leading the way out.  After a bit if silence, the Doctor spoke, “uh, pardon me, um…” “Kennari.  Kennari Hannan.” “Ah, I'm the Doctor and this is Derpy.  Now, if you don't mind me asking, why are you willing to help us?”  “Well,  My husband, Kocin and I have a bit of mixed blood, you see.  My great great grandfather was a pegasus, and his great aunt was an earth pony.  Not enough blood for ponies to see us as ‘mixed breeds’, but enough for us to realize that blood doesn't matter.  I'm getting ahead of myself.  When I was a filly, I found out that I wasn't full unicorn.  There was this test that was all the rage...ended up with some unicorns being thrown out for not being ‘enough’ of a unicorn...one of my best friends isn't allowed in the main city now because she's half earth pony, and “wouldn't understand the curriculum”...she was the brightest of us! Anyway, I decided that day to help every mixed pony have the best life they can, and opened an orphanage just out of town where I met my husband.  Kocin and I had the same goals.  We just...meshed.  and we realized that the fillies and foals we have aren't any different than the “full unicorn” fillies and foals.  Which means earth ponies and pegusi are really similar as well…” “Wise words.” The doctor smiled, thinking, ‘Humans still need to realize this as well.  Funny how often the ponies realize things like this.  In Derpy's world, they realized this moons ago.’  He mused. “Thanks.  The unicorns don't all think so.  I can't tell you how many times I have had some unicorn try to kick me out of my own home, but they haven't found a law yet to do so.  Now I'm basically ignored, though I'm sure I'll get some lip for helping you two out.” “Sorry.”  Derpy mumbled. “Eh, don't be.  There's nothing against the rules about guiding ponies back to where they belong.  Though we have one stop to make if you don't mind.” “Of course not.  I mean, you already went out of your way to help us out, so we don't mind a minor stop, isn't that right, Derpy?” “Absolutely!” “Thanks.” Kennari smiled, leading them out of town until they eventually stopped at a large building, going inside.  They found themselves swarmed by tiny unicorn fillies.   “Woah, look at them.” “They don't have horns!  They have no horns!” “This one has wings!” “Are you really an Earth pony?” “Can Earth ponies really grow any food anywhere?” “Can pegusi really walk on clouds?” “And control the weather?” “What's your names?” “Are you married?” “Do you have kids?” “Are you gonna adopt us?!” Millions of questions flowed from the herd of fillies.  Kennari and Kocin calmed them. “Now, my little unicorns, I know we are excited about our new visitors.  Kennari really surprised all of us!” “They needed some unicorn to guide them home, and no unicorn would help.” “Until you, my little sweet potato.” Kennari blushed, “yes well, I figured since the fillies talk so much and wonder so much about other races, why not meet them for themselves!” “Wonderful!  Every unicom, feel free to ask our visitors questions,  but remember to be considerate and listen well.  We are representing unicorn kind!”  The onslaught of questions started again, Derpy answering to the best of her knowledge until, little by little, the fillies went off to play.  Derpy noticed one stayed even after every other filly went off: a light purple unicorn with a yellow mane and tail with eyes to match.  The filly stared intently at Derpy.  Derpy froze, discomforted by the stare down.  “Mama?” The young filly asked. “Wait-what?” “Mama!” The filly hugged Derpy tight, causing Derpy to looked confusedly to the Doctor, who merely shrugged. “I uh- the thing is.  I'm not-” “I knew this day would come! I knew you wouldn't leave your baby!” Derpy was left speechless.  She had to admit that the filly certainly looked like her!  The Doctor noted the same thing,  looking between them. “Uh ...what about your dad?” Derpy asked confusedly. “He never wanted me.  You were forced to leave me.  You didn't have a choice.  Daddy had a choice and he left me here.” “That's...that's awful.” “But I knew you would come back.  You never wanted to give me up.  And now I have a mommy...a real mommy and a daddy too.  I don't even mind that he's an earth pony!” “Um...what's your name?” “Dinky!” “Look, Dinky, I think you have - WHOA!”