//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Freshmares // Story: Choices // by Paleo Prints //------------------------------// Choices By Paleo Prints Chapter 5: Freshmares Cheerilee pushed open her dorm room’s door with a sigh. She trotted inside slowly, using one hoof to lean on the nearby walls. Falling onto her hindlegs in front of the couch she divested herself of her jacket and rested her head on a sofa pillow. She briefly felt thankful for the coming of spring. The last few weeks may been filled with avoiding her marefriend's emotional minefield, but at least she didn't get snow in her cart anymore. That’s when the room went dark. "Lyra?" She realized now that all the blinds had been closed. Slowly rising to her hooves she scanned the blackness. “Ditzy?” The breath left Cheerilee as a pony tackled her from the side, pinning her against her roommate’s work table. Cheerilee almost screamed before a soft muzzle began kissing her on the nose. “Um, Lyra? What are you doing?” She tried to wiggle away from the shifting furniture. She could hear the smile in Lyra’s voice as her marefriend finally spoke. “What are we supposed to do? Well, the light’s out… ” Cheerilee tried to shift her weight as she felt the table leg give against the weight of the two mares. “This is… mmph… dangerous.” Lyra giggled. “Really? You know, I kind of like… ” The end of the sentence remained forever in question as something fell off of Ditzy Doo’s worktable. Hitting the ground it came alive, flashing the room with many-colored lights as it blared alarm klaxons. Lyra kicked off of Cheerilee in panic as her marefriend reached out and grabbed the device. The startled musician ran for a light switch. Illumination only seemed to bring more worries, as the device in Cheerilee’s lap was starting to visibly heat up. Lyra wrenched the front door open. “’Lee, drop the damn thing!” Cold sweat dripped off of her forehead. Cheerilee paused for a second and depressed the top of the device. The cacophonous contraption silenced itself. She breathed a long sigh of relief. Lyra trotted to the couch and gave the quiet machine a suspicious look. She spread the look to her marefriend. “How did you possibly know how to do that,” she inquired while lying flat as if taking cover. Cheerilee giggled as she waved the device in the air. “It’s Ditzy Doo’s, remember! That means it’s made out of extra appliances and junk, right?” Lyra nodded nervously as Cheerilee turned the top to her for inspection. “It has a snooze button.” Slowly a gentle mint hoof poked the mysterious gadget. She gave it a distrustful look as she levitated it back onto the table. After slowly locking eyes with Cheerilee the pair stared at each other in silence for several seconds before erupting into laughter. “Well,” Cheerilee forced out between chuckles, “I expect that killed the mood.” Lyra lowered herself to the floor, resting her head on Cheerilee. “A bit.” Cheerilee ran her hoof along Lyra’s downy neck. “So, how was class today?” Instantly Lyra sprang up, trotting to the kitchen. “Checking on me? That’s the first thing that always comes to your mind,” she snorted. “It was fine. I’m doing fine.” “Wait!” Cheerilee stood up from her position with a painful grunt. “I just want to know what your life is like.” Lyra’s head disappeared into the fridge, reemerging with a bottle of Coroana. As Cheerilee entered the kitchen Lyra left. “That’s right, because you never harp on me to keep going to music class.” “Please,” Cheerilee breathed out worriedly. “I want you to succeed. You have so many opportunities I never had. If I can just help you... ” “Don’t push so hard!” Lyra screamed at a stunned Cheerilee. “I have had ponies yelling about my opportunities all my life. I came here to forget about that.” Lyra took a long swig of her drink. Cheerilee wavered, leaning against the back of the kitchen. Lyra’s eyes filled with tears as she saw the hurt shock in her marefriend’s eyes. She dropped the half-empty bottle and it left a wet trail as it rolled against the couch. “I’m sorry. You just reminded me of my dad for a second.” Lyra stared at the pool of alcohol as Cheerilee cautiously approached her. “I-I don’t want to do this again, Lyra. Please. I just want the best for you.” Her voice quavered with effort. “T-he best for us. And t-his talent that you take for granted, it's a gift from Celestia. Don't pass it up… ” “Really?” Lyra gave Cheerilee an angry scowl. “I don’t want to start any blasphemous rumors but I think Celestia’s got a sick sense of humor.” She galloped out of the room. For one last second in the hallway, she turned back with a sneer. “You just couldn’t drop it, could you?” As she ran out of sight, Cheerilee moved to follow. As the sounds of her lover's hooves retreated suddenly the mechanical noisemaker started up again. Shocked at the piercing wail, she turned in fear to see it burning a hole in the table. She ran to the device and pressed the top button again, once again stopping it. “Snooze button,” Cheerilee said with a smirk. She gave a single genuine laugh before putting her forelimbs on the table and crying into them. Ditzy Doo shuffled nervously on the stool in Free Radical’s office. She cast an occasional glance at the mix of engineering schematics and pin-up pictures that covered the walls. Earlier in the semester a student had complained about the sexism she felt while being surrounded by attractive young mares provocatively posing in socks. As a response, Radical had posted up every month of the Canterlot Fire Department’s “Stallions in Socks” calendar. Ditzy thought she could make out some very interesting accidental uses of composition. “So,” he said, snapping Ditzy out of her reverie, “Let’s discuss your proposal.” She saluted, missing and hitting herself. Slightly put out at herself, she dropped her gaze. “Let’s talk about your previous display. When I say it was the most demeaning moment of my educational career, I’m elevating it above some nasty near-accidents. I have never had students run screaming from my room in terror before.” Ditzy raised her now-bleary eyes, venturing a slight smile. “Never?” she asked, barely above a whisper. Radical’s stern face cracked. “Pranks involving fake fusion reactors don’t count. Ditzy Doo, there’s only one reason you’re still enrolled in this program.” Her eyes rose. She concentrated, focusing them to look in the same direction. It hurt. “You were impressed with my bravery under pressure?” “Buck, no! You stuck your head in that thing and showed all the survival instincts of a clinically depressed lemming. I did take notice when you solved the incantation particle overflow problem on the device.” “Why?” She scooted her stool forward, daring to hope. “Did I do it wrong?” Radical took off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. “I’ve never seen it done that way before. In fact, no one has. To my knowledge no one’s ever fixed that engineering limitation. Ever. I wrote up a summary, explained what you did as best as I could, gave you co-credit, and sent it out as a paper. You’re going to be published in the Journal of High Energy Sorcery. Based on that, I got you a demonstration in front of the department administration tomorrow at noon.” Ditzy flew into the air, spinning in circles and clapping excitedly. “Woo-hoo-wheeh!” Professor Radical shook his head and bit down on her tail, pulling her back toward the desk. “Nuh waih a segoun,” he said with a mouthful of blond. Ditzy hovered in place with a self-conscious look. “There’s a few… “ Radical stopped as he licked the inside of his mouth. “What kind of shampoo is that, anyway?” Ditzy lifted her tail in embarrassment. “I get it from out of town. A friend brings it to me.” Radical shook his head. “Anyway, this had better be perfect. Show up prepared, show up on time, and double-check your device. There are two things you can count on to stay the same: the need to check your equipment and the Mare in the Moon.” Ditzy’s knowing giggle drew a reproachful stare. She shrugged in apology. “Doo, you do have enough machinery ready to present?” She nodded. “Get out of here,” he said with a wave. “I've got better things to do than watch you go girly on me.” Radical nearly choked as Ditzy grabbed his neck and squeezed. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou… ” He broke her death hug and glared. “Go get ready, Doo.” She saluted (with more accuracy than the last time) and sped out the door. Radical sighed as he saw the blond-topped rump fly out of his office. “I could love that filly. She’s got a beautiful taste. If I was ten years younger,” he said as he crossed his forehooves and leaned back, “I’d still stand no chance in Tartaurus.” A grey blur sped out into the hallway, dodging between clusters of confused students. Further down the hallway a brown-coat unicorn mare slowly levitated a large crate. She looked in fear at the streak bearing down on her. Two fearful amber eyes became distinct as the excited pegasus tried to decelerate “Clockwork!” Ditzy cried with a smile. “Neighton’s First Law!” Clockwork shouted in alarm. Ditzy nodded in understanding, rose to the ceiling, overshot her friend, and slammed hard onto the carpet straight down. She saw muffins and screwdrivers spinning around her head for a second before a quick shake cleared her vision. Clockwork sat on her haunches, staring at Ditzy. Her coat was disheveled and her eyes bloodshot. She gave a faint smile to Ditzy. “Ditzy. I’m glad to see you happy.” Ditzy stayed silent for a few seconds. “You’re not happy.” Clockwork shrugged. “Nah, I’m cool. Moving out of the campus, as a matter of fact. There’s a small school I applied to in Detrot that’ll take me on my finances. I’m going somewhere.” Ditzy placed her hooves carefully on her friend’s shoulders. “But you love going to Canterlot University! What would make you give that up?” “I… ” She wiped the corner of her eyes. “It’s just been too stressful to keep my scholarship. This school system chews you up and spits you out. I’ll see you.” She walked away from a speechless Ditzy Doo. Suddenly she stopped and turned back. “Ditzy, promise me you’ll stay true to your dreams.” “What?” “Whatever happens to me, I want to know that you’ll follow your heart.” Clockwork’s chest heaved through heavy breathing. “I’ll always wonder if things worked out for you. I… ” She stopped, unable to force anything else out. Ditzy nodded in confusion. Clockwork smiled and walked away. Cheerilee was silently spinning records when Ditzy burst in the room. Neighvana and others were spread out on the floor as the solemn mare organized her music. “Hey, Cheery! I got a second chance!” She paused as she listened to the cheerful tunes spinning off the phonograph. “Hey, I like that! What’re we listening to?” Cheerilee gave a warm grin. “It’s called ‘Stand and Deliver.’ It used be our song. I was in the mood for something cheerful. I broke out some of my oldies.” Ditzy’s eyes widened as she pored over the ancient records that were so new to her. “Wow! You’ve got the ‘Trot and Roll High School’ soundtrack. That’s my favorite record to cook to. Can I look through your collection?” Cheerilee nodded and switched discs, quickly filling the room with the sounds of the Ramanes. “I love grunge, but it’s doing no good cheering me up lately. What’s up?” An hour later the two mares were optimistically talking when a knock sounded on the door. Cheerilee got up as Ditzy continued rolling on her back on the couch, exploring the box of musical treasures. On the other side of the door she found Professor High Class, still in his crayon-marked apron. “Professor! What brings you from the ‘Ed’ Building today?” He stared at her for a second, taking in her joyful facade and looking away guiltily. “Can I come in for a while?” She nodded, disturbed by the lack of his usual optimism. As he moved inside High Class became distracted by one of Ditzy’s astronomy posters. “My dear, what is that?” He inclined a hoof toward an elaborate poster on the wall. Ditzy perked up. “That’s a representation of our galaxy from the Royal Observatory!” He nodded in contemplation. “What are the push-pins for?” “Oh! Those are some of my favorite places…” Ditzy noted the look of confusion on her audience’s faces. “…to read about!” “Really?” Cheerilee raised an eyebrow. Walking over to the poster she squinted at the small hoof-written labels. “Do we have enough information about ’Kasterborous’ to make good reading?” “Certainly,” Ditzy said with less confidence than she hoped. She nervously grabbed an astronomy textbook. Flipping through the pages, she smiled. “It’s blue!” Cheerilee and High Class gave each other a shared look of mystification. “And I love the color blue and I’m heading to the kitchen right now to make muffins!” As the nervous mare flew away, Cheerilee shrugged at High Class. “She’s a wonderful roomie. Every day is full of mysteries.” He nodded. “Unfortunately, she may not be your ‘roomie’ for much longer.” She waited in silence for the other horseshoe to fall. She had been waiting since Nightmare Night. “Cheerilee, I received a letter from your parents. Word has reached back to them about your romantic situation. They wrote to me asking about obtaining a working scholarship.” “But… “She rubbed her chin in puzzlement. “Why would I need a scholarship? They’re paying for everything.” He shook his head sadly. “Not anymore, Little Flower. It’s time to get roots of your own.” She stood there for a second in thought before turning to the couch. She grabbed a pillow with both hooves and flashed High Class a smile. “Give me a second?” He nodded, but his composure suddenly fled when Cheerilee shoved her faced into the pillow and screamed. As she dropped it to the floor her eyes were wet. “They’ll… they’ll do anything to keep Lyra away from me. How would they even know?” High class placed a soft hoof on her shoulder. “My dear, your family is in agriculture. Anything that happens to an Apple quickly passes through the grapevine. Would… ‘grapevine’ make it a mixed metaphor?” He shook his head. “Anyway, I have a position for you in Ponyville. You’d live with the schoolteacher, Miss Scribbles, whilst you intern in the school. She’s due to retire within a few years’ time. It is honestly the best offer I have, and I’m giving it to you.” Cheerilee sat back on her haunches. “Out of pity.” “No. I’m giving it to you because you’re the best I have. I only wish the circumstances were better.” Ditzy pushed a hoofkerchief into Cheerilee’s grasp, having silently sneaked into the situation. Cheerilee always wondered where her roommate spent so much time learning sneaking around. She nodded in thanks to Ditzy. Slyly, she turned to High Class. “Is this finalized?” “What?” “Is there still time to change my parents’ minds before their financial papers clear?” He considered this, taking the moment to clean his monocle. “If you hurry, you could get a letter to your parents tonight. Educational deadlines are pretty draconian things. Sometimes I think they’re made by actual dragons.” Cheerilee nodded and jumped to her feet. “Ditzy, you ready to star in a play?” The hopeful engineer stared in confusion. “Miss Doo, this is the end of an eighties play, and we have an hour to grab my marefriend, write the letter, convince my parents, and save the school! Let’s do this !” “Save… what school?” Cheerilee paused. “I dunno, that’s always the last thing on the list usually. I’ve always wanted to save a school. To the music building! Lyra’s in lecture now. Wait!” She ran into the bedroom. “I’ll be right out!” High Class sighed as the bedroom door shut. “Society is not always kind to ponies like us who follow their hearts. Ditzy, is it? Take good care of her.” He walked out of the room. Ditzy’s eyes spun as Cheerilee emerged from her bedroom. She had shed her flannel jacket and headphones for a pair of blue lightning bolt earrings. “Um… ‘Lee?” “In here, we need a little more hope. Hey, ho, let’s go!” The friends crossed the campus in record time. Soon they were navigating the maze-like hallways of an unfamiliar building. “Celestia!” Cheerilee’s frustrated mounted. “Where do we go?” Ditzy gave a comforting scratch to the back of Cheerilee’s ear. “Always take the right-hoof turns in a maze!” She dragged her protesting friend down several turns, finally finding themselves in front of a busy auditorium. The front doors were open as the finished lecture hemorrhaged students. Cheerilee apologized as she pushed through the throng toward the front desk. A proper lady pony with multi-colored hair was organizing her notes as she prepared to leave. “Pardon me, are you Professor Chromatic Scale?” The older mare stared over her glasses in confusion. “I haven’t seen you two in this building before. Can I help you?” “Yes!” Cheerilee breathed out with relief as Ditzy caught up, panting. “Sorry,” she whispered to her roommate, “Earth pony endurance.” “I know,” Ditzy replied, “Lyra always brags about it.” While Cheerilee blushed the instructor caught on. “Is this about Lyra Heartstrings? If you’re here to pick up her textbooks I have them over here.” While she searched behind her desk the two friends exchanged a look. “Pardon me,” Cheerilee ventured. “Do I have the wrong section? Lyra goes to this class, right?” Professor Scale gave a discerning look. “Are you friends with the mare in questions?” Cheerilee nodded. Chroma shrugged in response. “You must not have spoken with her lately. Lyra Heartstrings was an amazing student for the first two weeks of the class. She hasn’t shown up after that. It’s a shame, really. If she could only find her musical voice she could go far. I assume she dropped. If you’re here to resell her textbooks, here they are. She left them in class on her last day.” Cheerilee tearfully shook her head and walked away. Ditzy watched her as she left. “Thank you for your help, Professor. Give them to someone who needs them.” She flew after her friend. Lyra drank in the music through closed eyes. In the shade of a Canterlot store canopy she played a joyful song, picturing herself and Cheerilee dancing slowly to the tune. The distinct sound of Cheerilee crying forced Lyra to open her eyes. The noise of the busy marketplace fell away as Lyra saw her marefriend standing across the square. Ditzy was standing behind her, keeping a reassuring hoof around Cheerilee’s neck. Lyra didn’t even notice. With a jolt, Lyra galloped over to Cheerilee. Unseen by the pair, Ditzy flew toward the storefront and gathered up the lyre and saddlebags. “’Lee! I didn’t expect…” “Why did you keep lying to me?” The timber of Cheerilee’s voice wavered. The hurt in her voice twisted in Lyra’s ears. She couldn’t bring herself to speak. “Lyra,” she said as she stepped closer, “you lied to me every day for weeks. You made up things that happened in class. You even pretended to go out studying with friends!” She wiped her eyes and nose. H-how long did you expect that to last?” Lyra's mind whirled. You were right, Dad. You were right, and I hate you for it. “Cheerilee, I was raising money for us. I got my Nightmare Night outfit this way. I saved up enough money to finally buy you… ” Cheerilee shook her head. “That’s so sad.” “What?” Lyra’s nostrils flared. “I’m out here every day getting money for you! Are you suddenly too good for a street performer? Cheerilee dropped to her knees as passersbys eyed the conflict while pretending not to. “No. You’re too good to be one. Lyra, you have so much talent. You’re ignoring it. There’s so much you could be if I wasn’t holding you back.” “Don’t you dare give me that!” Lyra ran up to Cheerilee and shook her by the shoulders. “I’m not one of your damn students! You have no responsibility to make me whatever ‘better pony’ you think I should be.” Cheerilee cried and quivered instead of responding. Both mares were oblivious to Ditzy, standing to side. As Ditzy’s gave a soft sneeze through her own tears, she heard a passing Canterlot lady sniff. “Isn’t it disgusting how young mares… “ “Shut up,” Dizty interrupted in a bubbly yet threatening voice, “Shut up or I will buck you up.” The mare sniffed and hurried away. Cheerilee shook her head as she turned away. “I won’t ruin you.” Lyra shook on her feet as if she was punched. “No.” “I won’t deprive you of being the pony you could be. I’m holding you back.” “You holding me is the only thing that makes me go forward!” Lyra galloped to the side of Cheerilee. “Don’t do this. Did you seriously come here to play Celestia to all the ponies in your head? Don’t do the ‘right’ thing if it’ll hurt this much. Be a worse pony. Be selfish. Think about yourself for a little. That’s what ponies actually do.” Cheerilee slammed her hooves into the cobblestones. “I’m losing my dreams over this!” Lyra stopped as Cheerilee turned a tormented face to her. “All I’ve ever wanted to be is a teacher. My parents just cut my scholarship because of us. I was going to try to write to them and talk about how responsible you were, about how much potential you had! But you really haven’t grown up at all since we sat on the steps of Miss Scribbles’ schoolhouse.” Lyra pulled Cheerilee to her, their lips inches away. “Stay with me, ‘Lee. Please.” “Lyra, I can’t give up my dreams.” Cheerilee fell out of Lyra’s grasp. The entire marketplace watched the spectacle as Ditzy pleaded with a nearby Royal Guard not to intercede. Lyra stood alone in the middle of the crowd. “My only dream was you.” She snorted, veins on her forehead bulging. “What now? Are you going to run back to Caramel?” Cheerilee stopped and walked back to Lyra, her hair disheveled and tangled. Staring at her nose-to-nose Lyra’s breath caught in her chest. Cheerilee leaned in slowly and gave Lyra a passionate kiss that stunned the crowd of onlookers. “Oh, please.” Ditzy clasped her hooves together, the forgotten Royal Guard staring like an audience member at the end of a play. “Oh, please let this be the moment it works out.” Cheerilee leaned backwards out of the kiss as Lyra tried to draw her closer. “This wasn’t a mistake, Lyra. This wasn’t an experiment or a fling. I love you. I always will. This just didn’t work. I can’t take a wonderful pony and make her less than she could be. “ Ditzy swallowed. She said nothing; she knew she couldn’t get the words out right. As Cheerilee willed the mask of a smile onto her face and walked away, Lyra collapsed onto her side. She howled incoherently, screaming again and again. Ditzy looked from one mare to the other. She saw Cheerilee’s shaking shoulders and Lyra’s forceful hoofstamps on the ground. Placing Lyra’s saddlebags next to her, Ditzy chose to run after Cheerilee. It was a well-considered decision that would haunt her for the rest of her life. As the day drew to a close Lyra had yet to return to the dorm room. Hours of comforting Cheerilee had left Ditzy lying on the couch, fading out of consciousness every few minutes. Cheerilee silently moved back and forth, loading her cart with whatever it would take. She gave Ditzy an exhausted look of fondness. “So, you’ll remember to send the rest of my stuff to Ponyville, right?” “Murm…butterfly radio smash mouth.” “And come and visit me?” “Purple bucketheads spice fillies.” Cheerilee petted Ditzy’s mane. “I’ll take that as a yes. What about your project, tomorrow?” “Cherry popping studs.” Ditzy roused herself to partial lucidity. “Set my alarm for early muffin time. I’ll be out on a parts hunt before dawn.” She yawned and cleared her eyes. “I’ll miss you, ‘Lee.” “This isn’t good-bye forever. You’re too wonderful to leave behind, Ditzy. We’re still friends. I’ll write, you’ll write, and we’ll visit each other. We might end up living close together.” Cheerilee shrugged. “Wherever you go, there you are.” Ditzy nodded. “The earring look blowfish on you. Keep them.” She waved feebly with her wing. “Smile more. I like you smiling.” Ditzy snuggled into the couch side. A knock sounded on the open door as a red stallion stuck his head in. “Hey, I know it’s kinda late, but is this room 213?” Cheered zipped the bag out with her teeth. “Yup.” She looked at Ditzy scrunched up on the couch. “I’ll see you, Ditzy. Thank you for everything.” Ditzy briefly rolled over for a hug. He smiled as he looked at Cheerilee’s flank. “Um. I just got in from Detrot. I’m your new roommate, so it’s… “ Ditzy turned and smiled awkwardly as she waved to him. “Actually… ” Cheerilee didn’t spare him a look. “Treat her right or I’ll end you.” She placed her headphones and warded away the world. She grabbed a bag with her teeth, shouldered her cart’s harness, and walked into the hall. She didn’t hear or look at the stallion as he nervously scratched his mane. As Cheerilee disappeared into the crowd of students, he turned to Ditzy with a quizzical look. Ditzy sighed. “She’s got a long train ride alone with her thoughts. Alone is not the best way to travel.” He nodded. “Yeah. That’s the impression that I get.” Lyra staggered into the empty apartment the next morning with alcohol on her breath and a mix of bite marks and scratches up and down her right forelimb. She stood in the doorway on her back hooves and examined the empty apartment in the light of the morning sun. Taking a few steps inside in her own peculiar way she unconsciously reached for the phonograph’s on switch. She nearly tipped over as she only found a note. She stood there, her hoof on the note and her mind far away. She sunk against the back wall as she pulled the tear-stained note into view. Long minutes passed before Lyra was able to stand again. Lyra stood on four quivering hooves. She was silent as her head dropped to the rug, the tears that dripped from her muzzle lightly drizzling it. The neighbors on both sides of Ditzy’s dorm suddenly flinched as a terrifying scream of desperation lashed through the walls, followed by the sustained sound of furniture shattering. After a time the room was silent. Lyra walked into the kitchen. She scanned the cabinets thoughtfully as her flickering horn opened each one. Her eyes lit up as she saw an unopened package from Ditzy’s mother. She pulled a stool over to the kitchen counter and sat down. The small pharmacy-stamped parcel levitated onto the counter. Lyra reread the familiar note aloud. “Dear Muffin, these are the pills the doctor recommended for depression and your other issues.” Lyra snorted. “As if there was ever anything wrong with Ditzy.” A growing realization of intent burned behind Lyra’s eyes as she unscrewed the top of the previously neglected medicine bottle and gently lifted its contents into view. Lyra examined the hovering bottle’s label carefully. “Triphe… tryph… trippy-fun-something-something. ‘Take twice orally.’ I love those kinds of imperatives.” She dumped out a small pile onto the counter with her hoof as her horn poured a glass of water. “Fourteen should do it to start with.” “Please. Please don’t.” Lyra swiveled around in her chair. At the sight of Ditzy on the couch, she shook her head and looked again. “Doo? I didn’t hear you come in. Give me a minute and I’ll join you.” Lyra turned back to the pile of sedatives. Ditzy covered her hoof with her mouth. For a moment she looked out of a recently open window pleadingly. No help seemed imminent. She gritted her teeth and stood off the couch. “Come on, Ditzy,” she whispered to herself, “You always said you’d be able to pull this off.” She slumped over the kitchen counter and stared at Lyra with crying eyes. Lyra snorted and pushed the pills to the side. ”You know, I could just do this later if you want to talk.” Ditzy’s chest heaved. “Please. Please. Don’t. It’ll get better.” Lyra’s hoof slammed the water glass into the wall. “That’s what she always said! That’s what she always told me. Thing is, she was the reason. Now she’s gone.” “Um…” Ditzy tripped over the words that had confounded her all her life. Somehow she always managed to say the right thing at the right time; she hoped now was one of those moments. “Where there’s life, there’s hope?” Ditzy got up from her stool and reached a hoof out to Lyra. Lyra raised her own hoof threateningly. “Don’t try it, Doo.” Ditzy didn’t stop. “S’okay. I’ve been hit in the face before plenty.” Lyra stopped in confusion, allowing Ditzy to wrap her forelimbs around the sitting mare’s waist and sink to the ground. She let her head rest in the area that only Lyra called the “lap.” “You were always…,“ She began. Suddenly Ditzy stopped, caught her breath, and started again. “You always make a room light up. There’s a joy that leaves Equestria when you go.” She looked up at Lyra, one eye keeping contact. “I don’t want to lose both of… one of my good friends.” Lyra stayed still for a space of several seconds before patting her emotional friend on the head. “Ditzy, have you gained a little weight since I saw you last?” Two golden eyes rolled in opposite directions. “Ly-Ly, you wouldn’t believe me if I tried. Did you think about how this will hit Cheerilee? Why would you do this to her?” She sniffled. “Why would you do this to me?” Tears started to pour out of the hysterical harpist’s eyes. “I hurt. I hurt myself today just to see if I could feel.” She was shaking. “She was the only thing that made the world worth it. She was everything I wanted, everything I needed. She was everything inside me I wished that I could be. She’s gone now, and I don’t know where else the hurt can go.” Ditzy sprang to her hooves. She scanned the room with desperate energy. “Oh, please tell me I remember where you… ah-ha!” Momentarily, a lyre was pushed into Lyra’s hooves. “Play. Go somewhere with an audience and play. Let the pain flow from your hooves and other ponies will willingly take it into their hearts. You’ve defined yourself as Cheerilee’s mare for a long time. Make yourself a musician again.” Lyra embraced Ditzy for uncounted minutes. “Doo, I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t here in time.” Ditzy nuzzled her sobbing friend’s neck. “I do,” she whispered. Lyra ended the embrace and stepped backwards. After a moment of contemplation she levitated the lye into her saddlebags and donned them. She gave a warm smile to Ditzy before walking out of the room. Ditzy locked the door behind her. For long minutes Ditzy sat on the floor, wracked with sobs. After a moment she became aware of a rhythmic tapping on the outside window. The Doctor hung precariously from the window-sill, balanced on a tree branch. “Love, we really need to go. Carrot Top won’t watch the kids forever.” Ditzy nodded, giving a nostalgic look to the dorm room. “Do you think it worked?” He shrugged. “Let’s go home. I wonder if we shouldn’t try to find a Miss Heartstrings to invite for dinner.” Ditzy stood up, shaking the wetness off her face. “But, Cheerilee might need me to... “ “You only get one.” He returned a serious stare. She giggled. “Everybody only gets one, huh?” Ditzy walked to the window and caressed the Doctor’s mane. He returned the smile despite the sudden two-inch dip of the tree branch. “Nope, just you.” Someone started fiddling with the front door. Ditzy’s eyes went wide. “Oh, no!” The Doctor started scooting backwards. “Leave now, love! This is a conversation you don’t want to have and a day you don’t want to tamper with.” Ditzy tensed, readying a flight out the window as the door started to open. Suddenly she stopped. “Why should we worry about Carrot getting impatient baby-sitting? We have a time machine.” The door unlocked. The Doctor dropped from the branch. “We’ve no time for this,” he hurriedly whispered. “No, wait a second,” Ditzy continued, “You always act like we’re out of time when you don’t want to deal with something.” The door creaked open. “Love,” the anxious whisper came from outside, “we are truly, seriously, out of time!” She shrugged, smiling. As Ditzy Doo hurried out the open window, Ditzy Doo walked in the front door. This Ditzy was pulling a cart filled with engineering supplies, and thus failed to notice the familiar blond tail fly out of her window. She was, as Lyra accurately noted, carrying a half dozen pounds less the one that just flew out. Ignorant of the drama that just played out in her room, Ditzy began methodically emptying her cart with one hoof and both wings. The morning passed in silent effort as Ditzy leaned over the table, tongue stuck out in concentration. As she organized a line of capacitors, Ditzy realized a noise had started. She turned around in time to see the TARDIS materialize. The door opened up to reveal a Doctor with soot on his coat and weariness in his eyes. He stumbled out a leaned on the wall. As Ditzy gasped he gave her a reassuring wink. Nearly crawling onto the couch, he let out a long breath. “Tell me something I don’t know, Ditzy.” “What?” His heavy breathing stabilized. “I’ve seen things. Done thingy things to things. Been a bad day. I sometimes feel like I’ve already seen everything good in the universe. Tell me something pleasant that I haven’t heard.” He sputtered as a tub of cold water was dumped on him. Startled eyes turned to Ditzy. “That is rain water with an abnormal lightning content. The cloud retains a little bit of a spizzle spoo. Can you feel the difference between these, Doctor?” He threw up his hooves as another barrage of stored rain water assaulted his face. He turned to Ditzy with a scowl that broke after a second of introspection. “That… that last one feels different. Like… like uneven temperature differences.” He licked his nose experimentally. “Salty, too.” Ditzy nodded. “The first spring storm on a beach after the snows melt. I had to catch a train to nab that one.” “Why’d you go to so much effort, dear?” She shrugged. “Because I knew I’d have to do this one day.” The Doctor was silent for a spell. He rolled onto his elbow and looked the smiling pegasus in the eye. “Ditzy Doo, I had no idea what I was getting into when I first saw you in the woods.” She steeped over to the couch and placed her face so close he could smell her hair. The Doctor breathed in deeply. “That’s a lie, Doctor.” He raised an eyebrow. “Eh?” “Doctor, I may not always speak right. I may have nearly blown up the engineering building because my huon stabilizer disappeared. Maybe I forget the words or the parts, but I never forget our meetings. The first time you met me wasn’t the forest.” He sat up slightly, scratching his mane nervously. “Well…. “ “Doctor,” she continued, “you first met me on a dance floor on campus, and you told me I was beautiful.” He sputtered. “Well, chronologically I knew that, but… ” She gently closed his mouth with her hoof. “Doctor.” He stopped trying to speak. “Doctor, you spent all that time with me knowing the mare I would grow into. You knew that lonely girl would grow up into me feeling how I felt that night. You knew that and went ahead.” She cocked her head. “How many centuries has it been for you? From your perspective, how long have you known me?” “Two months.” She gasped. He leaned forward towards her, pushing up on his elbows. “Ditzy Doo, I may have an unhealthy obsession. Except for one or five emergencies I’ve spent the last two months of my life jumping through yours. Every single time I stand at that TARDIS control panel I try to think of a place I’d rather be than with you. It never works.” She stared at him for a full heartbeat. Suddenly she turned around and walked calmly into her bedroom. The Doctor shook his head. “Um. Should I wait here? Maybe put a kettle on?” The Doctor drew a sharp breath as Ditzy walked out. She was wearing dark blue and grey striped socks that went all the way up. She walked to the Doctor and sat down on her haunches, looking at him expectantly “Ditzy,” he said with care as his hearts beat quickly, “Why… Why do you have something like that lying around? Something as gorgeous as that… in my favorite colors… ” Ditzy very gently pulled his head towards hers and leaned towards him. “What… What are you doing, Ditzy?” “Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” She breathed in quickly before putting her mouth over his. His eyes went wide. He pushed her up with gentle force. “I… I think… “ “Please don’t, Doctor.” Her breathing came in quick little gasps. He saw her flushed face as she pushed some of her mane out of her eyes. “I know all the risks. I’ve seen what can happen. Doctor, I’ve seen countless lives end in regret on our travels. I don’t want to be like that. Whatever I accomplish, wherever my story ends, I want to be as happy as I can be.” She flew gracefully onto the couch, lying down onto the Doctor. “Happy is with you.” “Ditzy, you’ve seen what my life is like. I can only complicate you.” She closed her eyes and leaned down into him, bringing warmth to places that had been cold for a long time. “I’ve seen civilizations end, Doctor. We parked the TARDIS out past breaker satellites and watched worlds die. Everything is worth it for you.” She leaned over him again and stared into his eyes. “Doctor, everyone I know goes away in the end. I just want to be happy.” She looked over the Doctor and briefly saw her alarm clock. It was twenty minutes to Noon. If Ditzy hurried, she could make the presentation with technology they had never seen. She kept one eye on the clock and the other on the Doctor. He hooked both of his hooves down around her neck and, almost timidly, eased her lips onto his. Ditzy pushed her body against his, snaking the alarm clock with one hoof and throwing it across the room. It landed in a corner, the ten minutes to Noon alarm silenced forever. “Stay with me, Doctor. Tonight. No running.” “I will. I promise.” A passing thought occurred to him. “It’s… been a while. I remember something about ‘protection.’ Shouldn’t we have some kind of protection, love?” She briefly pulled away, her chest heaving. “Doctor, you’ve always been enough protection for me.” “That’s… sweet if illogimmphh.” For a short time for two ponies in a small corner of the universe, time stood still. Lyra had sat in the same spot for hours. Her eyes closed, she felt nothing but her music as she gently caressed the strings of her harp. A soft, haunting melody filled the air around her as every string was plucked with the tenderness of pained reflection. After a long time she felt a gentle, steady tapping on her shoulder. Opening her eyes gave her a view of the outside of the Canterlot Amphitheater. A crowd of ponies surrounded her at a respectful distance. An aged gentlepony stared at her expectantly through a monocle. Lyra dropped her head and lyre simultaneously. “I know. I’ll move. Tell the owner I’m… “ “That won’t be necessary, miss.” She looked up. He cleared his throat. “I happen to be the owner.” Lyra cringed, tears that she had thought run out hours ago welling up in her eyes. “I’m sorry.” He placed a hoof on her shoulder. “I know. Let’s go inside.” She stared at him without understanding. “Don’t… don’t you want me to go?” “Dear Celestia, I certainly hope not!” He gestured at the attentive audience that surrounded her. “I’ve never heard such emotion channeled through that particular instrument.” He gestured to the crowd. “Fillies and gentlecolts, how did you like the show?” Lyra sat dumbfounded as the sound of applause rained down on the cobblestone. He offered a hoof and gently pulled Lyra to her feet. “Let’s go inside, dear. I want you as my orchestra’s second chair in the string section.” He raised an amused eyebrow. “I may be convinced to go higher if you’re any more pleasant than my first chair.” She followed him mechanically toward the building. “Really, this must be a dream of yours, dear.” She sniffled. “I guess so. I did need a new one.” They approached the double doors of the amphitheater and she saw Jazz gently clapping on the floorstones. He looked at her with admiration. “I always said you could do it, dear.” As the owner walked inside she hesitated for a second to speak with her father. “Thanks for always believing in me, Dad. I’m glad you’re proud.” He nodded, beaming. “I hate you, Father. Go away forever.” He silently watched her walk into the lobby and out of his life. The Doctor woke up. Unlike Equestrian ponies, he awoke with total consciousness. His race left sleep instantly, remembering where they were and what was going on around them. He smiled. Ditzy Doo lay on her side on the bed, gently snoring with a slight whistle that he found adorable. He spent fifty-seven enjoyable minutes without moving a muscle, watching her breathe as the dying light of the sunset snaked through the living room blinds. He only stopped when his coat started beeping. With great care he dropped off of the bed. He crawled along the floor, finding his coat in a corner in the living room four feet from his tie. He fumbled through the pockets until he drew out a small machine with green beeping lights. “Hmm.” He cast a guilty look backwards toward Ditzy. “I’ll be back before you know it. I promise.” A minute later he walked out of the dorm room, peering curiously at his tool. He navigated the halls of the dormitory while never taking his eyes off the blinking unit. Eventually he stopped in front of a closed door. “Now, why on Gallopfrey would this room have a huon stabilizer in it?” He pulled a small cylinder out of his coat and aimed it at the door. After a short, blue flash the door creaked opened onto a lavishly decorated room. The sound of the shower running could be heard. The Doctor ignored it in favor of the small gadget he saw beeping in a corner. Cast of on the edge of a chair and forgotten lay a piece of technology that could jump Equestrian science centuries ahead in the right hooves. The Doctor picked it up and examined it from several angles. He chuckled. “Wow. I love what she did with the oscillation overthruster. The Banzai Institute’s been trying to solve that problem for centuries.” He was too involved in admiring a mare through her handiwork to hear the shower turn off. He spun around at the sound of a voice. “Who the Tartaurus are you?” Starshine stood dripping onto the carpet, a towel thrown over his back. The Doctor regarded him with disdain. “I’m the colt in the box. Where did you get this?” Starshine snorted contemptuously. “I expect you to leave this room right now!” He turned to leave the room before he felt a hoof on his shoulder. “Hey! Wait! I’ve got a little complaint.” The Doctor lifted the softly humming object and waved it under Starshine’s nose. “Where did you get this?” Starshine pushed the beeping object out of his face. “Hanging around the lab somewhere I suppose. Please leave before I call security.” Carefully placing the object on a table, the Doctor commenced to grab Starshine by his towel and drag him closer. Inches separated the angry stallion from the perplexed student. “That’s a very primitive but well-made with love huon energy stabilizer/generator. If you had the intelligence to build a macaroni model of that I would know. There’s only one mare in Equestria who knows how to build one of this.” “How could you possibly be so certain it’s hers?” “Because the labeled diodes have muffins for ‘i’s.” They stared at each other for seconds. Starshine finally found his footing. “Listen, I’m not sure you know who I am or what… ” The Doctor grinned. “Go on. Threaten me. I’ve had it done by the best.” He blinked. “Or would that be the worst?” Starshine shook his head. “Fine. I took it from Derpy’s project. You’ll never be able to prove it anyway, and considering the pull my family has on the university I’ll just push counter-charges on you.” “I can do one thing to you that you can’t resist, though. No one’s ever resisted this.” Starshine snorted. “What would that be?” “Tell me why you did it,” the Doctor said while smiling. “Well, the little nag embarrassed me on stage.” Starshine levitated his steamed-fogged glasses out of the bathroom and beamed while cleaning them on the Doctor’s jacket. “Professor Radical was publically humiliating me and that retard interceded. As if someone of my stock needed a lesser pony to plead for them. I thought the university would be better off without her bleeding heart.” He donned his glasses and smiled. “Let me get this straight,” the Doctor began as he stepped forward, “you decided to break Ditzy Doo for being merciful?” He was standing inches away from Starshine's face now, and his volume was rising with steady determination. “What's next? Punish the trees for drinking sunlight? Hurt the sun for shining? By the Great Bird of the Galaxy, why don't you ruin water financially for being wet?” “Who... are you?” The Doctor grinned. “You need to believe me.” He waved an analytical hoof. “For this to work, you have to absolutely believe I am who I am.” Smashing his hooves together in anticipation, he turned and left the room. The moment the mysterious stranger was out of sight Starshine galloped to the door and locked it. He suddenly turned around as a siren-like klaxon sounded from nowhere. A flashing light materialized in his room, resolving into view on top of an odd blue box. Starshine gingerly approached the strange thing. “What… is a Public Pony Box?” The door opened up. “It’s a place,” the Doctor said with a grin, “for ponies that need help.” As he stood on the threshold he called to Starshine. “C'mere a minute.” The terrified noble stepped toward the inviting door. “It's... bigger on the inside than the outside.” A back hoof hit him in the chest, toppling him over. “Okay, you got the quickie tour.” The Doctor sighed wistfully. “You know, I normally love it when they say that. I’m going to go see a lot of you. I’ll be right back.” The door shut and the box vanished. Starshine squinted distrustfully at the space it previously occupied. He rubbed his head and closed his eyes as memories of long ago suddenly leapt unbidden to his mind. The now-familiar sound of the box materializing rang out, sending Starshine onto the floor in panic and recognition. The doors of the box opened. The Doctor leaned against it and crossed his forelimbs. “So, who am I?” “You...," Starshine stammered, “You're the wizard of the Travelling Box! I used to dream about you all the time! You'd take me off somewhere and we'd float in space and you'd... " He suddenly became very afraid. “Go on,” said the Doctor. “... You'd tell me how ponies should treat each other. You’d show me places when ponies hurt each other for terrible reasons. You took me on an adventure with awful people. I spent most of it hiding. You showed me amazing things.” The Doctor nodded. “So, do you happen to have a huon stabilizer I could borrow?” Starshine nodded. “Of course! I have the one from Derpy’s… ” The Doctor stared him into silence. “I find it kinda funny. I find it kinda sad. I gave you a chance. I went back and tried to make you a better pony. Even though it may have changed history and prevented a very enjoyably spent afternoon, I attempted to do this the easy way.” The Doctor looked at the table to the still-present huon stabilizer and nodded. “Yet, you still did that.” “Well, it was all very childish stuff I remembered the Wizard saying. I grew up and realized how the world actually worked. Wow, I'm actually admitting it, it was actually you.” His eyes widened in wonder. “Chilidish.” The Doctor stared at Starshine, who stepped back until he hit a wall. “Morals and ethics and examples and you call it 'childish.' Well, you hurt the most 'childish' mare I know and squandered your do-over, so I'm going to reach into my coat and destroy you now.” As the Doctor extended his forelimb slowly into his jacket Starshine lifted an imploring hoof. “Wait! You can’t… ” He froze. He had expected a weapon. “Wait, is that a phone?” The Doctor nodded as he pulled out a miniature pink phone and started tapping on it with one hoof. “Hold on. Texting. It's important or I would stop.” Starshine walked closer to inspect the device. “That’s a portable phone? It’s so much smaller than any I’ve seen.” His eyes went wide. “It has a crystal ball screen on it?” The Doctor grinned, “Yup! Small teleys! Great for keeping in contact, terrible for traffic safety. Has amazing range, I can play solitare on it, and...,“ the Doctor paused as he held it up and it flashed, “also has a camera.” Starshine rolled his eyes, sighing in relieved disappointment. “So, you manipulated time to enrich my life and take my picture. Are we done now?” The Doctor tapped away on his phone. “What did you call her?” “Excuse me?” “Well,” the Doctor said while shrugging, “I remember it’s kind of laugh-worthy. Humor me. What do you call her?” Starshine smiled, wrongly sensing a lack of hostility. “Derpy Hooves.” The Doctor was silent for a second. In that second the ancient, atavistic part of Starshine’s brain that evolved to sense predators and threats screamed, pleading with him to hide in a cave. “Ah.” The Doctor paused. “She’s got dozens of different names from many races throughout time and space, you know. The Malmooth call her the Seer of Two Paths. To the Koloobari, she's the Grey Angel. The Macra gave her the title of ‘the Bringer of Mercy, if I remember right. Macra’s a bunch of clicky noises, after all.” “Um… Interesting. So, why do the Mac-mic-maccy things call her that?” The Doctor spread a smile that froze Starshine’s blood. “Because she convinced me to spare their world.” There was a pregnant pause. “She’s not here now, you know.” An uncomfortable silence intruded. “Now,” the Doctor continued, “since they're all on my contact list, I just sent them a little picture of you, a planetary location, galactic coordinates, and a description of what you did to Ditzy. Let that penetrate your thick consciousness for a second. You got kicks causing the worst day in Ditzy Doo's life, and I just informed space-and-time-faring civilizations who owe their existence to her all about it.” A glowing light started to emanate from the closet. “Oh, Merian slide-rift technology.” The Doctor’s eyebrows lifted in curiosity as he inspected the glow. “The Pandawan simian-birds cut to the front of the line. Well, I never expected them to be first on the list. She must have really touched them with her speech at that bombed-out hospital.” Starshine suddenly began hovering into the air. As the closet door flung itself open he began slowly floating into the light. “Have a nice trip, Starshine. Remember, there really are monsters in your closet.” “Wait! You can't let them kill me! You don’t do that!” The Doctor cantered towards the TARDIS, looking away from the terrified stallion. “You really never paid attention, did you? ‘Don’t kill Starshine’ is rule number one. There may be one or two others but I didn’t stress myself out about it.” Starshine’s terrified eyes searched for mercy in the Doctor’s mien. “Please! How do you know they’ll obey?” The Doctor spared a single backwards glance. “They’re smart. They know what condition I expect you to be in afterwards. Unlike some ponies, THEY LISTEN TO ME WHEN I TELL THEM HOW TO ACT!” As the door slammed shut, the Doctor walked into the blue box. Within seconds the dorm room was empty. The TARDIS rematerialized inside Ditzy’s room. The Doctor pushed open his time machine’s door with a smile that quickly turned into confusion. Instead of Ditzy a red stallion was sprawled out on the couch. A magazine lay spread across the floor where he had dropped it in terror. His eyes poured over the blue box. The Doctor looked around. “Pardon me, have you seen Ditzy Doo?” The paralyzed student just stared open-mouthed at him. The Doctor walked up to him and held his lower jaw up. “Diiiiitzy Doooooo. Have you seen her?” Snapping out of it, the red pony nodded. “Yeah, she was my roomie for a while. How does that big flashing blue box work?” “That’s a wagon. Someone slipped you some drugs. Always bring your own cider. You said awhile?” The Doctor raised an eyebrow. “What? When?” “Well, a few months ago she missed some big presentation and lost her scholarship. She moved back to Ponyville.” “No.” “Yeah, I miss her too. She made great muffins while she was here. Kinda cute, too.” The red stallion’s eyes went wide. “Hey, if you’re looking for her could you give her this?” The Doctor watched helplessly as a wooden TARDIS was pulled out of the closet and placed into his hooves. “Yeah, she kind of left this here when she moved. It had so much detail I couldn’t bear to throw it away.” The Doctor held the hoof-painted toy tightly. “Fine. Good. Listen… “ “Um, I’m Red Glare, Mister Drug-Induced-Hallucination.” The student offered a hoof, still staring at the box. The Doctor absent-mindedly nodded. “Listen Mister Glare, if you ever care about someone, never let them out of your sight.” He ran back inside the TARDIS, leaving Red Glare confused and alone as the box disappeared. A blue box materialized on a side street of Ponyville. As it had for centuries, it landed at a particular spot and moment where nopony was watching. An agitated brown head quickly stuck its head out of the door with a screwdriver in it. He spit it out and trotted out. “Oh, someone please tell me that I fixed the navigation circuit. Months is way too late.” He ran into the busy Ponyville marketplace, settling on the first booth he could find. A cheerful mare smiled back. “Buy some flowers, sir?” “I want to know if I fixed my navigation circuit!” She blinked back. “Um.... you may want to talk to an engineer.” The Doctor slammed his forehooves hard on the stall table. “When is this?” “This… this is Ponyville.” She made eye contact with other sellers with terror in her eyes. “I know that! I said when!” Suddenly seeing her fear, the Doctor very slowly backed down off the counter. “Look, I’m sorry. Miss, do you know a mare called Ditzy Doo?” She blinked, her mind leaving the flight-or-fight stage. “Um. Yeah. The mailmare.” He breathed slowly to control himself. “Mailmare? She went from an engineering major to being a mailmare?” She shook her head. “I hear she flunked out of engineering college about three years back.” The Doctor rested his head on the counter. “Three years. Red Glare was three years ago.” “I think she tried to get some kind of mechanic job, but everyone heard about some explosion at school.” The Doctor clenched his teeth. “I didn’t do enough.” “For her, you mean?” He blinked. “That, too. I meant to him. But you don’t know about Starshine… " She laughed. “That crazy guy who writes those trashy books about alien abduction? That guy’s a lunatic.” The Doctor smiled. “Look, is she happy? That’s all I need to know.” He turned to the listening crowd he had drawn. The all avoided eye contact. Returning to the flower vendor the Doctor pleaded with her. “Tell me she’s happy.” She stared at him, terror and confusion turning to sympathy. “She’s married.” “Really?” He sighed. “Tell me good things about her husband.” She said nothing. He turned to the nearest bystander. “Say something positive about her husband! Anything! Give me something cheerful!” He shook him by the shoulders. “I order you to say something nice about Ditzy’s husband!” The crowd was silent. The Doctor screamed in rage at the sky. “Why? Why by everything that’s good would a mare like that marry… “ He saw her. She was walking across the far side of the marketplace. Ditzy had changed over the years. Her belly was full with child. A bruise lay across her right eye. Out of all of this, the thing that hurt the Doctor the most was her expression. As other ponies walked by, Ditzy Doo kept her head low, watching the road and silently moving out of their way. Her eyes showed nothing but disappointment and resignation. The Doctor fell backwards onto his haunches, leaning against the stall. “That’s it then. All for nothing. Every good thing I’ll ever do won’t wipe away that from my mind.” He picked himself up. The vendor leaned over. “Shouldn’t you go to her?” He shrugged . “What could I say? What right to I have to apologize? It won’t matter in the long run. In fact, I think I’ll feel like a new stallion in the morning.” He started to walk off. After a few steps the Doctor felt a restraining hoof on his shoulder. "Doctor." He raised his head at the familiar voice. Turning brought him face to face with a fuchsia mare pulling a shopping cart of school supplies. "Cheerilee? I have it right, you're Cheerilee?" He gave a half-hearted smile at her nod. "I never forget a pony. Well, almost never." "But you did, Doctor." Cheerilee smile had an anger behind it. "You forget her." "No! I just... I just wound up in the wrong place." While she stared at him he ran his eyes over Ditzy's old roommate. "You look good. Haven't gained weight, I see." Her smile lost a little anger. "I'm a teacher now. For the moment I help Miss Scribbles, but I'm taking over the schoolhouse this fall. Running around with the kids all day keeps you busy." "Is it... what you wanted?" She bit her lip. "It's everything I hoped it would be." The Doctor nodded. "And... Lyra?" "I knew you were going to ask that." She sighed and looked away. "She's successful in Canterlot. I always thought she could be. I've been writing letters to her ever since I left. Three months ago she finally started returning them. Hopefully she'll come to visit Ponyville one day." Cheerilee turned back to the Doctor with purpose gleaming in her eyes. "You should have seen Ditzy's face. Delivering that letter to me was the only thing that made her happy since you left her." A silenced stretched out for several seconds as Cheerilee watched the Doctor's internal struggle play out on his face. "Doctor, you once told me you'd give up forever to touch her. If that's still true, she needs you now more than ever." “What? What could I possibly do now?” “You care about her. I can tell." Cheerilee gave a deep breath as she weighed how to phrase things. "I think you should know she gets those bruises a lot. She falls down the stairs.” He looked blankly back until she pointed to a small house on a hill. It stood away from Ponyville proper, nestled between large black trees and under brewing storm clouds. “That’s Ditzy’s house,” she explained. The Doctor carefully considered this. He spoke in an emotionless voice that nevertheless sent a chill down the spine of every listener. “That… is a one-story house.” He kept staring at it. “And she’s a pegasus.” Cheerilee nodded. Not a word was spoken in the marketplace. The hopeful teacher saw planets burning in the Doctor’s gaze. He contemplated the house until a bolt of green lightning struck a tree close to it. “Well, that’s unusual. Been having nasty weather lately?” The Doctor straightened himself. She nodded. “Yes. It started when Ditzy’s husband began building some kind of machine. There’s something strange about what he’s doing there on that hill with his tools.” She stepped back and watched another tree catch emerald fire. “Sometimes I think he only married her to get a lab assistant. Do you think the weather will get worse, Doctor?” He smiled a smile that carried no comfort to any who saw it. “There’s an oncoming storm. Count on it.” He took several dramatic steps toward the house on the hill. Suddenly he spun on the flower vendor with a smile. “It’s wonderful to be me. Truly is. Life is nothing but highs and happies. I break every rule in the galaxy. ” His manic grin haunted the mare’s dreams for years. “Do you know what is the absolutely most wonderful thing about being the stallion that gets to break all the rules?” The salesmare dumbly shook her head. The Doctor nodded and grabbed a bouquet off of her stand. He fished around in his pocket and left an inert world-tree seed, a jelly baby, and a gold coin. “I even get to break my own rules. Ditzy Doo, today is going to be the day that I’m gonna make it up to you." Cheerilee walked to his side. "Don't leave her this time." The blood drained from his face as she continued. "You have a choice, Doctor. We all did. You can keep traveling, or you can be the stallion she needs." He nodded to her as he turned and walked away. As the Doctor marched off, the flower seller called after him. “Wait, sir!” He turned with smoldering eyes. “What’s your name, sir?” He bobbed his head back in forth in thought. “Names. Always been a bit rubbish about names." He turned to Cheerilee. "Is Ford Prefect a good name?” She shook her head with a giggle. He shrugged. “Well, I need a name. A good, strong name. After all, I intend to share it with someone.” He bowed and turned towards the storm. He had decided to chase after Ditzy Doo. The girls' stories don't end there! Cheerilee's life takes her to the hardest class she could imagine in School Daze! What is Ditzy and the Doctor's family life like? How will they deal with time travel and monsters? Take a look at The Three Whooves! Lyra's future with Bon-Bon will be written someday... and they won't be alone...