//------------------------------//
// (Part 6) The Grey and Unseen Armies 
// Story: Doctor Whoof: The Iron Horse 
// by Muleicous 
//------------------------------//


The Grey and Unseen Armies

As the train raced toward Dodge Junction, The Doctor’s mind raced as well. Multiple possibilities filled his head: Who was the ‘army unseen’ that Endlessgaze referred to? What were the Cyberponies doing so far from where they were kidnapping ponies? But most of all, the time colt worried about Apple Bloom. She was a strong willed filly, but she had no clue what she was up against. Neither did Braeburn, but at least he was a full grown stallion; Apple Bloom had basically just begun life, and after what happened to... 
The Doctor shook his head, trying to wipe it clean like a dry erase board. “No... No, I can’t think of what happened to him.” the brown clot said out loud, “Adric wouldn’t want me mourning him, especially after all this time.” Suddenly, a sharp whistle filled the air, followed by a call from the conductor... Next stop, Dodge Junction.

***

Braeburn ran through the alleyway, Apple Bloom struggling to try and keep up as a wall of shining silver ponies marched closer and closer. As soon as they got off the train, the two Apples were assaulted by the brigade of Cyberponies. The metal monsters fired some sort of magic at them, magic that made the caboose of the train explode into flames when it was hit. All the while, the mechanical ponies said only one word over and over again.
“Delete, delete, delete.” the word echoed from their unmoving mouths, like an old eastern pony monk’s montra. “Delete, delete, delete.” Their constant repeating of the phrase began to wear on the deputy pony’s nerves, and Celestia knows how it was effecting poor little Apple Bloom. Still, the only thing the two could do was run as fast as they could, and as far as they could from the steel sentinels. Braeburn turned, his eyes meeting the dull, empty sockets of their pursuers, but he also saw something that made his heart jump. Apple Bloom, in an attempt to trick the monsters chasing her, had hidden behind a bunch of water barrels; however, as if the creatures could see through the solid wood, a group of three Cyberponies closed in on the farm filly.
“No!” the Appleoosan deputy cried, turning himself around so fast that it kicked up a cloud of dust around him, “Ya’ll leave her alone!” The brave, orange maned pony galloped at the group of armored monsters, his head bared down in an attempt to ram them out of the way. As his skull connected with the cold, hard metal of a Cyberpony’s side, Braeburn realized how much of a bad idea this was. The hit sent him to the ground, dizzy but not unconscious.
“Take them.” one of the metal ponies commanded, “The Doctor will follow if his allies are captured alive. We shall trap him, for the Queen.”
“Not much of a trap if I can hear you talking about it.” a deeply Trottingham-like voice said. The Doctor stepped out of the shadows, his eyes glaring in rage at the group of metal creatures. 
“You will come with us.” The lead Cyberpony ordered, “Or they shall be assimilated.” The metal pony pointed his front hoof at the two Apples, Apple Bloom now in full view as one of the Cyberponies held her by the nape of her neck in it’s metal jaw.
“I’ll come with you, but you have to let them go and leave them alone.” The time colt said, “After all, they’re just normal ponies. I’m worth at least ten of their kind, right?”
The Cyber Leader nodded, “Affirmative, release them and apprehend The Doctor.” Soon, the alleyway was empty aside from two ponies, one dizzy and one scared out of her mind. 

***

Braeburn and Apple Bloom walked along the main street of Dodge Junction, their bodies tired but their minds working tirelessly in the hope that they could find their friend.
“I just don’t get it...” Apple Bloom said, her eyes still red from the tears she shed during the attack, “It’s not like they could just disappear.”
“I don’t know lil cousin.” Braeburn replied, his voice sounding weak and tired, “We’ve looked all over APP- uh... I mean Dodge Junction, it’s like he disappeared.”
“Just like Applejack disappeared here after the Rodeo last year.”
“Applejack?” a voice called out to the two, and suddenly a red maned mare with a creamy coat stood in front of the two tired ponies. On her flank were three cherries with interlocking stems. “Did one of you say Applejack?”
“Eeeyup...” Braeburn replied, “Do you know her miss?”
“Jubilee, Cherry Jubilee.” the mare said, “Applejack said she had family in Ponyville,” Cherry looked down at the little farm filly in front of her, “Why, you must be Apple Bloom!” Her eyes then moved over to the Stetson wearing colt, “And I’m guessin’ you’re Braeburn, from Appleoosa?”
“That’s right ma’am, say...” the deputy pony pondered for a moment, “You wouldn’t know about any strange happenin’s around here, would you? Like ponies being abducted at night?”
“Oh my... No, but I’d be happy to help ya’ll look for your friend.”
“That’s mighty neighborly of ya Miss Jubilee...” Braeburn said, tipping his hat... When Apple Bloom suddenly jumped up and pulled off the imposter’s wig. Braeburn then tackled the pony to the ground and pinned it. “But we never told ya we were lookin’ for anybody.”
The fake Cherry Jubilee struggled, and her eyes focused on Braeburn with rage. That is, until Apple Bloom pulled the imposter’s eyes out, revealing dull, empty, Cyberpony sockets.
“Now,” Apple Bloom began, “ya’ll better tell us where you took The Doctor.”
“Negative,” the metal pony said, “you shall be deleted. Delete! Delete! De-” The mechanical monster was cut off as it’s head was surrounded by a grey, magical aura and pulled clean off it’s neck. Apple Bloom and braeburn then looked up to see Cherry Jubilee and a white colt in a brown poncho and flat top gambler-style hat on his head. The mysterious colt tipped his hat, revealing an alabaster horn under it.
“Well,” Cherry said as she looked over the destroyed Cyberpony’s body, “I understand ya’ll are lookin’ for their hide out?” 
“Yes ma’am!” Apple Bloom yelled out.
The unknown colt then stepped up, his aura illuminating a pocket in his poncho and pulled a business card from it. As it floated in front of Apple Bloom, she and Braeburn looked over it:

Unseen Stallion Bounty Hunting
Colt Easthoof


(Author's Note: It's Doctor Who trivia time! When The Doctor's worrying about Apple Bloom getting hurt, his mind went back to a very dark time in his life. During the original run of Doctor Who (before the hiatus that seemed to cancel the series) the fourth Doctor (Tom Baker, best know for his multi-colored scarf of legend) picked up an adolescent alien genius from a parallel dimension naked Adric. Adric stayed on as a companion of The Doctor, even when the Doctor regenerated for the fifth time (into Peter Davison, know for flipping a coin to make decisions). However, Adric's story does not have a happy ending. During the episode Earthshocker, Adric tries to stop a Cyberman frieghter from crashing into Earth. He doesn't make it, and instead the freighter crashes with him on it... While The Doctor and his other companion watch from the TARDIS, unable to help. This effected The Doctor greatly, and he hasn't had a companion Adric's age since. I hope this clears things up for you guys.)