Chapter 2 – Follow that Mare
A short hop from the TARDIS and they were on the world the moon orbited and to the travellers stepping out it couldn't have been more different than night from day. Gone was the majestic and stark vista that characterised the moon and in its place timber framed buildings with yellow walls lined either side of the cobbled street that could have been pulled from a straight from a children's tale. Even with the moonlight giving a simple charm to their surroundings the Doctor was obviously displeased.
“I'd forgotten how annoying it was not to be able to put the TARDIS right when I want her after a short hope. I was aiming for morning so we could ask the locals about our mysterious friend but it seems only a little past midnight.” He said with exasperation.
“You mean your driving used to be worse?” Amy ribbed as she stepped our behind him with Rory.
“It was a long time ago, a beautiful old girl like her has quirks that a new driver takes time to become acquainted with”, he replied with an affronted look.
“Like the handbrake you mean?” Rory chipped in remembering a comment made by River Song.
“It's meant to make that sound! Honestly, fly round space and time with someone and they think they know better than the one with hundreds of years experience!” ending with a 'hmmph'. He paused a moment gripping the TARDIS key carefully in his mouth before he carefully walked his forelegs up the TARDIS too tuck the key on the door ledge out of sight. He continued, “Still this is the way we need to go.”
“How do you know? I thought you hadn't been here before,” Amy questioned
Dropping down he replied with a grin, “Easy! There's a light on down the road there and that means someone's still up.”
They trotted down the road toward the light the Doctor had seen round the curve of the street but before they reached it went out. The Doctor just shrugged, “Still as good a way as any. Lets look around a bit to get the lay of the land before going back to the TARDIS to grab a nap. We can ask about when morning comes.”
Moving on through the sweet night air they passed under a sign that was probably for a bakery of some sort and stepped out on to a wider thoroughfare that circled a large round building. It was bigger than those they'd passed by with a pointed roof, large windows and decking all the way round both on the ground and first floors. Something was obviously going on there as they approached they could hear voices carrying our into the night and there was light flickering in the windows. As they climbed the few steps to the door however they found themselves slowing and glancing around nervously, a faint scent they couldn't quite place setting them on edge.
The Doctor nosed open the door and the scent got a little stronger as he took in the sight of the room. Done up for some fancy event but something had obviously happened. On the dais at the front of the room three white pegasi were being treated by a two other ponies one blue and one white for what appeared to be burns. All over the rest of the room ponies huddled together, shivering, ears trying to track all the sounds around at the same time and more than a few pawing at the ground.
“Burnt hair,” he answered the question one of his companions had asked without turning, “and mind numbing fear”. All business he'd not even consciously registered the question he'd just answered though he could hear them swallow deeply as he stepped in and they got their own first looks about.
All eyes turned their way as they entered fully, distrust and fear prominent in many of the looks but most turned back to consoling others over what ever tragedy happened merely keeping a wary ear or eye on the three.
“Well it seems whatever was going on here has been well and truly cancelled” he muttered. “Let's mingle a bit and see if we can find out what happened here”. So saying he made his way down toward the injured.
Amy and Rory paused at the entrance and lent against each other taking comfort in knowing the other was there.
Tone uncertain Amy was the one to voice what they were both thinking, “I really don't want to go in there. It feels... It feels....” she ended tailing off.
“Like that hall is the most dangerous place we've ever been.” Rory finished for her.
“This is ridiculous. We've been through much more danger than a small hall filled with pastel pony's. We should get a move on before he comes crowing that he knows just what's going on and just how to solve it.”
“Sounds like an idea.”
“Well?”
“Well what?
“You're not moving.”
“Neither are you.”
“Isn't is your job to be the big brave stallion in the relationship?”
“I'm just trying to decide which group to start with.”
“That one then,” she prompted him nodding toward a near by group of three adults accompanied by a few foals. “On you go then.”
“Lets just go in together.” A trace of nerves remaining in his voice despite the banter.
“On three then?” Setting her face into a determined expression and irritated at her own dithering on getting a nod from her husband she simply, “Three.” Hesitantly starting forward she shook her head as if to shake off the unfounded nerves. It wasn't like she was afraid or anything after all, just a little indecisive after a long and extremely odd day. That's all there was too it and after a half dozen repeats of that in her head she'd mostly quashed the small almost voice in her head that said they were making a terrible mistake. So intent on sorting out her preoccupation that she nearly walked into a cyan mare that stepped forward to meet them.
“Sorry!” She exclaimed before catching control of her tone. “It's been a difficult night for us I didn't mean to nearly walk into you like that.”
“A difficult night for everypony dearie.” the mare replied in a motherly if worried tone, though she looked over the youngsters and the word 'night' carried an odd inflection.
“What happened? Everyone seems so scared.”
“You don't know? Oh of course you don't know, you've only just got here. It's terrible, Princess Celestia's been ponynapped!” Obviously not receiving the reaction she'd been expecting in they're uncomprehending looks she eyed at them suspiciously.
Rory thankfully was more on the ball than his wife and replied for her “That is terrible! Who could have done such a thing?” He somehow managed to stop himself from wincing at how contrived that sounded.
The script much closer to what she was expecting the cyan pony nodded fretfully and lead them over to the two stallions and the three dozing youngsters. “I know if I hadn't been here then I would never believed it either.” She began to ramble, “I'd never have thought it possible and why would somepony want to do it. Surely no pony would really want night to last forever?”
“The night lasting forever?” he echoed still confused.
“That's what she said,” spoke up the amber stallion. “Called down lightning on the royal guard and mocked us for not knowing her.”
“Didn't anybody know who she was?”
“A unicorn did, I heard she was sent from Canterlot to check things were going smoothly for the celebration. Was that her Macintosh?”
“Eeyup.” replied the large red stallion slowly. “Came by the farm lunch time.”
“Hope they don't hold this against her, not that the guard did any better.”
Calm and polite as the stallions' contributions were they couldn't help but hear an edge of distrust in the amber's voice and in the half lidded gaze of the red. It also didn't escape they're notice that both had subtly moved themselves between the youngsters and those they held with suspicion.
Trying to think of a way to ease their suspicion Amy realised they hadn't introduced themselves but was pre-empted by the yellow filly with the red main looking up and asking the red, MacIntosh, in a sleepy voice, “Who're these ponies?” there was something else added in a mumble they couldn't hear but the little one, obviously dead on her hooves was already drifting back towards sleep.
“I can't rightly say little sister,” answered Macintosh, “they haven't introduced themselves yet. You get some sleep, you've still got your chores in the morning.”
The filly mumbled something else to which Macintosh replied, “Our sister'l be fine but all ask 'em for ye'”. He turned to the two transmogrified companions said, “What ma little sister here wants to know is if you've seen our other sister, Applejack before you came in?”
Mostly addressing the filly Amy replied, “I'm sorry, we haven't seen her”. Turning to Macintosh she added, “I'm Amy Pond this is my husband Rory, sorry about not introducing ourselves earlier.”
Macintosh nodded in response. “I can't rightly fault you on that. I'm Big Macintosh”, he gestured to the filly at his feet then at the mare and stallion beside him, “and ma sister Applebloom, we're from Sweet Apple Acres outside of town. And these folks here are Mr and Mrs Cake they're the some of the finest bakers you'll find in these parts.”
“And the other two fillies?”
Mrs Cake took up the introductions then, “Mr Macintosh here doesn't know them as well, we're watching Sweetie Bell for her sister, Miss Rarity and Scootaloo for Miss Dash”. She seemed calmer for the normality of it, though her something in her tone suggested that 'Miss Dash' being with the young pegasus was something unusual.
“Were they caught up in what happened?” asked Rory trying for a bit more information.
“Miss Dash, our weathermare, certainly was; she chased the kidnapper when she left.”
In her orange pegasus proved not as asleep as she looked when she spoke up, “Rainbow Dash will catch that ponynapper and save the princess single hoofed. There's no way anypony can out fly her.” The conviction in the little pony's voice Amy thought privately was the kind that she'd only heard before in fangirl gushing and Chuck Norris jokes.
“That may be,” replied Mrs Cake, “but she shouldn't be so reckless. That pony was the one to have ponynapped the princess.” Seeing the change in the filly's look Mrs Cake must have realised that she'd made her afraid and reverted to a more motherly tone. “I'm sure Miss Dash will be fine, she might be a little reckless but she's a dependable pony. I'm sure she'll be back soon.” Mollified for the time being the pegasus stayed quiet but was obviously listening to the conversation now.
“Well why don't we focus on more positive things, I'm sure that Princess Celestia will be back and raise the sun soon.” she continued. “Though it seems your friend is wanting you.”
Indeed the Doctor was by the door tilting his head toward the door.
“We'd better get going Amy,” said with a tired exhalation.
“We should.” she agreed while turning to Big Macintosh “If you can describe your sister we'll pass along that your worried about her.”
“Thank you kindly. Ma sister Applejack's not an easy pony to mistake, straw blond mane, orange coat and three red apple's are her mark. Usually has the hat our father gave her too.”
With a nod to Mac she turned to leave only to be halted by Mr Cake. “If you wouldn't mind, could you keep an eye out for our assistant Pinkie Pie as well? She vanished after Miss Dash and we're worried about her.” On getting a confirming nod from Amy he continued, “Pinkie, she's,” he paused looking for the right words, “memorable. You'll know her if you meet her.” He finally settled on, real warmth in his voice made it clear he cared about her.
“Pinkie's a character,” Mrs Cake took up from here husband without missing a beat, “Pink as the cupcake on our bakery sign and her mane is always such a state, but oh you won't have seen our sign with being new here.” Like there was honest worry in her voice.
“Not a problem, I think we passed by it on our way here. Has it got a pink cupcake on the sign?”
“That it does dear.”
Amy smiled. “Would you like us to pass on a message if we run into Miss Dash too?” Looking out of the corner of her eye at the pegasus filly.
“It would be for the best, we can't escort Scootaloo home, her folks have a cloud outside of the town but it's at a fair height.” she looked like she'd say more but stopped herself. “Anyway she's another pony who stands out, her mane's like the rainbow she's named for. Thank you both for doing this.”
“As I said, not a problem. Better get going though the Doctor's looking like he's getting a bit impatient. Bye for now.”
Stepping our side the Doctor was obviously in take charge mode, his expression serious. “Come on, I've got a lead. A unicorn by name of Twilight Sparkle identified our tall friend as 'Nightmare Moon' and as the only pony who knows about her I think we should pay her a visit.”
“Yeah, we heard a bit about her as well. Apparently she kidnapped a princess they think raises the sun.” Rory's tone was bland as he could make it, there would be no taunting Murphy for him.
“Hmm, she did mention a sister before she left didn't she? I wonder...” statement drifting off into silence he started to walk.
“Where are we going?”
“To seek knowledge of course! And where better than a library?” gesturing to a massive tree along the road.
“Odd building, it doesn't look anything like the other's round here.”
“And a rum old world it would be if every old thing was wouldn't it?”
“I'd settle for being the old me right now.”
“Where's that adventurer's spirit gone?”
“I think it's in the TARDIS and I left it where I was sleeping when I woke up as a pony.” Rory finished with resignation.
The Doctor just smirked and after a beat added, “Oh, if you happen to see any pony's in armour about? Hide. I think my questions made them a touch suspicious.”
The only response he got was a flat look and his companions began to look around more instead of focusing on the door they had just reached.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The Doctor's hoof hitting the door's made them jump as it echoed through the night but despite a light visible behind the shutters no one answered. The returning silence was made more creepy by faint signs of tension on the Doctor's muzzle.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
His hoof rose and fell again against the door but still there was more answer.
“Well if they occupants won't answer I think we'll have to be a little impolite. Just take me a second with the conic to open the latch on this.” He moved his hoof as if into his jacket pocket then froze in embarrassment, “Ah, no pockets either today. I've left it in the TARDIS, I'll be right back.”
“Or we could go in the window.” pointed out Amy. “It's been left open”
“Yes, would that does work but I think I should get my sonic anyway. Who knows when I'll need it again?”
“From how you've been acting I thought you were in a hurry? Is there something your not telling us?”
“Just ecological planetary disaster.”
“'Just 'ecological'” she began to repeat then stopped herself. “Explain please because I for one am not getting that.”
“This planet is soon going to suffer catastrophic weather, massive coastal flooding and probable major shifts in seasonal climate.” He rattled off absent mindedly looking back in the direction of the TARDIS.
“Why though?”
“Because the Princess with the keys to what ever grand folly of celestial engineering that operates this system has been kidnapped.”
“Really? Their Princess really does control the sun and moon?”
“Yes. Take a look at the moon.”
“What about it?” She queried as she looked up.
It was Rory how supplied the answer barely missing a beat, “It's not moved in all the time we've been here.”
“Exactly.”
“Couldn't the night on this world just be really long?” She was not quite willing to believe in the idea of a machine that could move stars like a magic beast from a legend.
“Eternally long if my reckoning is right.” Replied the Doctor with deceptive blandness. “We'll see if we can find a lead on where Miss Sparkle has disappeared too then head back to the TARDIS to grab supplies. Rory, you wait out here and keep watch.” Without waiting for a reply he bit the lip of the window, pulled it open and heaved himself in.
Giving Rory a quick kiss on the cheek Amy followed, a quick almost reflexive flap of her wings giving her an easier time of it. Well if he had guard duty, he had guard duty. It wasn't as if he didn't have experience after all. For despite what he'd told the Doctor his time as the Centurion impinged on his consciousness frequently. There was a sort of mental door between them like he'd said. The thing was; it didn't lock. He got a feeling of déjà vu when something the Centurion had done or knew was happening or relevant. It had creeped him out when he became aware of it and still did if he was being honest with himself. It was easy for him now to tell when it started, his inner thoughts started talking to each other, one the more mature one pointing out what the younger missed but if he used it it just became – knowing. So as he circled the library he fell into the Centurion's patterns if not its mannerisms, noting what was out of place. It on some level pleased Rory that the Centurion was a little unsure itself, over nineteen hundred years of habit left it unsure without the blue form of the Pandorica nearby. Luck and paranoid instinct were working with him this time as the tree he walked round had him glancing up through the branches for an ambush. That was the only reason he spotted a white shape reflecting the moonlight in the sky through the branches. Sidling to the window he hissed though it “Douse the light, someone's coming.”
A brief consideration of climbing in himself was abandoned when he realised the noise would attract the searcher. So instead he added, “I'll hide out here and let you know when he's gone.” Nosed closed the window putting as much of the tree between himself and the searcher as possible slunk over to another building to hide under its overhang and watch.
To his surprise the armoured pegasus didn't land though he flew a mere few inches above it. As the soldier pony came closer it became easy to see why. His right fore leg was heavily bandaged from fetlock to gaskin and held in what looked from his limited experience to be in a poor position for flying being held straight as it was. The light was gone from the window so Rory eased himself back as the pegasus came round, scanning the ground and surroundings. Several tense minutes passed as the soldier searched, thankfully the ground was mostly dry and there had been a lot of ponies moving in front of the tree recently leaving little sign of them to find. Looking around suspiciously the pegasus flew higher and continued to search the area from the sky leaving Rory trapped in his hiding place.
The first think Amy noticed upon passing through the window into the library was that it was a tip. Books were strewn across the floor, lying ready to trip the unwary leaving the mint mare to carefully place her hooves on landing. “So what should I be looking for?” She asked looking at the mess.
“Anything that might give us an idea where Miss Sparkle or even where Nightmare Moon might be.” The time stallion replied, “She seems to be gone and given the mess it seems she was in a hurry. She may have left something behind that will give us a clue where.” He walked up to the reading table, more accurately a small tree trunk with a shelf looking over the open books on it.
“Do you think she really did kidnap this Princess? I mean for someone named Nightmare she seemed fairly nice enough when we freed her. Well that and not so good at listening.”
“We'll know for certain when we find her again but it certainly looks that way.” He paused over one tome. “And I think we have an answer, try to find a map will you.” As the pegasus started to look slowly over the shelves he expanded his statement, “We're looking for an old castle in a place called the Everfree Forest. Sounds nice.”
Her slow search was stopped by Rory quiet hiss of, “Douse the light, someone's coming. I'll hide out here and let you know when he's gone.” from the window.
As beings used to crisis this didn't rate and they quickly ran to the lamps at the stairs and door an blew them out.
After an indeterminable wait she hissed “I think spotted an atlas before we had to douse the lights. But I can't see my hand in front of my face in here.” Left unsaid was that neither of them had a way to light on or even seen one.
“If I had my screwdriver this wouldn't be a problem.” The Doctor muttered to himself in a way Amy thought was down right petulant of the stallion.
“I'll fix the light for you. If you answer a few questions anyway,” came a young boyish voice from above.
“Certainly, ask a way.” came the Doctor's more jovial voice from the dark.
“Why are you here and in the dark?”
“We're looking for Twilight Sparkle, we need to discuss something with her that may impact on the future of the whole world.” answered the Doctors voice, she was pretty sure the he was back near the reading table.
“Wow, that sounds important. But why are you in the dark?
“We thought that we'd - ” the Doctor's pause was barely noticeable, “surprise her. She's not expecting us. We only met recently in Canterlot.”
“I suppose you sound okay.” There was a brief flare of light that left them both momentarily dazzled leaving a candle flame flickering above them at the top of the stairs.
Both expected a young pony but what stood there with the candle surprised them both. The what was a small purple lizard with a green crest, looking suspiciously down at them. It looked like it was trying for 'intimidating' but between the faint bags under its eyes and the blue blanket in its other hand his look could be more summed up as 'adorable'
“So you're waiting for Twilight huh? Are you friends of hers?”
The Doctor nodded, “You could say that, what about yourself?
“I'm staying here in the Library it help out while she's here. Don't suppose you know where she is do you?” the little lizard asked nonchalantly.
“We think she might be headed to the Everfree Forest. We don't have long to find her as we're on a tight schedule, do you know the best way to get there?”
This revelation seemed to shock the dragon as he paled “It's,” he stopped. “How do I know your really her friends? Maybe...” He seemed to brighten, “hey, are you the pony's she met at Moon Dancer's party? You look kind of like how she described them.”
“That's us, I'm the Doctor and this is Amy.”
“I'm Spike,” and here the lizard's tone got angry and began to rant, “and your a liar! Twilight never went to that party! She never does me and the Princess are about the only friends she has! So what have you done with her and what were you looking for here! She'd never go somewhere as dangerous as the Everfree alone!”
“You just a miss understand-” the Doctor tried to say but Spike cut him off.
“No I don't! I heard you break in and I heard you say you freed Nightmare Moon! So what have you done with her! If you don't tell me I'll, I'll,” the Lizard after brief indecision snatched a book he could reach from the stairs and held it up. “I'll burn you up and send you away and no-one will see you again!” At this he exhaled a cloud of green fire and the book vanished in the flames not even ash left over just a faint trail of smoke.
Even as the Doctor was starting to speak and Amy was mentally upgrading 'Lizard' to 'Dragon' and from his voice and expression 'Upset Child With Flamethrower', the dragon started down the stairs. Whether it was the tears in his eyes, his anger or if he slipped on something she didn't know but the dragon stumbled off the banisterless stairs and fell. The next moments were engraved on her horror filled mind: The dragon landed with a huff of lost breath in front of the reading desk, the Doctors eyes widened as a cloud of fire expelled with the breath swept toward him, the Doctor began to twist, the fire swept over him hiding him and the desk from view, the fire was gone leaving only smoke.
While her mind was frozen, the terror welling up inside her told her body exactly what to do when faced with an upset dragon – Flee.
Her next conscious thought came from under a bush surrounded by trees and darkness.
The white alicorn stepped to her feet wearily. A bone deep ache filled her as her body felt the absence of most of her magic. Still she felt enough had recovered that she felt confident that between herself, her student and the Elements they could finally give her sister the help she needed. Stretching her wings to relieve the phantom knots in her muscles; it was time. Anticipation was over; it would soon be finished. Even though she was more vulnerable than any time since the last battle her sister would be no better, teleporting from the moon so soon after her imprisonment would leave her in the same state.
Her intentions came to naught however for as she took her first step and wing beat a book impacted on her head. 'Good' she thought, 'Twilight has worked out that Spike can get us a pass messages between us still. His aim could use work though.' The bump she'd received from it was minor after all though that she was weak enough to have any injury was vexing. Looking to see what her student had sent, pleasure at said student's cleverness gave way to confusion. Why had Twilight sent a copy of 'Elements of Desire - One pony's epic journey for their cutie mark' to her? Any further investigation of the oddity was curtailed by a large reading desk and a pony that must have believed that the bump on her head wasn't large enough. The last thought she had as darkness descended was that perhaps she should have been a bit more forthcoming with her student and then there were no other thoughts to be had for sometime.
Author Note's
Dialogue is a killer for me, I can't believe it took me this long to write (Ok I actually can...)
Constructive C&C appreaciated, especially on the dialogue, character voice and any peskie punctuation I've missed.
Edited 2/9/11 for grammar and spelling