//------------------------------// // The Mind of Evil // Story: Doctor Whoof and the Elements of Discord // by Trickquestion //------------------------------// The distinctive hum of a TARDIS fills the air as the blue barn appears alongside a red brick wall. Twilight steps out first, levitating a piece of paper in front of her face as The Doctor and the others file out behind her. "Alright everypony, the files we found at the circus state that this is where The Master was collecting souls at." Twilight explained. "We need to find some kind of inhabited loca-OUCH!" Twilight abruptly stopped talking after walking into a sign, one attached to the brick wall the TARDIS had parked next to. "Sunshine Valley Royal Institute for the Criminally Disharmonic?" The Doctor read. He then glanced around, confirming this to be the only building in a bright field of rolling green hills. "Well, let's have a look then." "Hey, can I go with you guys?" Called Spike from the TARDIS doors. After the bit with the Auton Royal Guards, The Doctor had persuaded Twilight to bring Spike with them, in the event a letter needs to reach the Princess quickly. "No Spike! We don't know if The Master is about, it's too dangerous!" Twilight Sparkle called back, causing Spike's shoulders to sag in disappointment. The Doctor stopped for a moment. "Spike, we're giving you a very important job. Should something go wrong, you'll need to signal the Princess immediately. We're counting on you!" He assured, causing Spike to salute the group and head back inside. Meanwhile, Rarity was knocking on the guard post by the gate. The iron window plate slid back and a security pony stuck his head out. "Can I help you?" "Yes, yes you may. I am Rarity, and these ponies are my friends. We would like to enquire as to what..." At that moment the guard did a double take, and slammed the window plate shut. Rarity was aghast. "How dreadfully rude!" After a few moments of silence the gates swung open with a creek. The seven friends exchanged looks, then trotted in at a wary pace. The path from the gate lead up the road to a garishly rainbow painted castle. When the group reached the doors, nobody wanted to go up and knock, so they all stood around awkwardly for a moment. Suddenly, the doors exploded and a widely grinning Earth pony with a yellow coat and white mane. On her flank was a grinning red sun. "Hello Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie! Welcome to Sunshine Valley, I'm Happy Thoughts! I'm glad you could finally make it! Please, come inside, come inside!" Everypony exchanged confused looks, but The Doctor motioned for them to follow her anyway. With some reluctance, the group trotted in. "We've sent letter after letter to Princess Celestia requesting a lookie at the Elements for some time now!" Happy Thoughts explained as the eight ponies trotted down the sterile white halls. Ponies in labcoats would sometimes pass them by. "Now, has Celestia briefed you on what we need to know?" "Uh... She told us you would be studying the Elements, but said the details would be better explained by the brilliant staff at Sunshine Valley." Twilight Sparkle improvised. "Oh, isn't that flattering!" Thoughts giggled. "Well, I should first explain this whole place to you. As you know, Equestria is a harmonious kingdom, but even in Celestia's wonderful world, some ponies experience misfortune. This can make them bitter and resentful towards their fellow ponies. We at Sunshine Valley help them exist in harmony with their pony kin once again!" By now, they had arrived at Happy Thoughts's office. The Bearers and Doctor stood about the room while Thoughts sat at a desk. Before she resumed dropping exposition, she activated an intercom. "Will Chief Researcher Mega Bite please report to the Administrator's office? The guests we've been waiting for have arrived!" Happy then turned to her guests. "In a few minutes you'll meet the stallion who's gonna save the world! His work on healing disharmonious ponies has made leaps and bounds in recent months, ever since that scientist from Canterlot started assisting him. He believes that if the magic of the Elements can be replicated, we can..." "BANISH CHAOS FROM EQUESTRIA FOREVER!" Boomed a voice as the office doors swung open. Through the doors wheeled a mechanical apparatus (a wheelchair was what it began as, but it has been heavily modified to fit its owner) carrying an obscenely fat pegasus. His coat was a withered green, and his mane was simply non-existent. Appropriately, his cutie mark was a cookie with a huge bite removed. His shriveled up wings barely peaked from beneath the rolls of fat. "I see Princess Celestia has finally granted us an interview with the bearers of the sacred elements. A glorious day, one that will be unique in the history of Equestria!" Mega Bite exclaimed before wheeling to the window. "For too long, the sun blessed lands have been overrun by chaos and its harbingers. The release of Discord is a mere symptom of Equestria's growing sickness! Raging Griffons, greedy Dragons, jealous demon princesses, and the Windingoes are still out there somewhere! But with your help, we shall end it!" He finished while facing the group again. His eyes narrowed at The Doctor. "And who might you be?" "I am a Scientific Advisor to the Princess, here to evaluate the faculty and chaperone the Elements." The Doctor lied on the spot, flashing the psychic paper to back it up. "You are not permitted in this facility. Had you announced your arrival ahead of time, you may have received clearance. The only reason you six are allowed into our facility is the extraordinary nature of our research." Mega Bite spoke in a cold tone. "The orderlies will show you out." "Now hold on just a minute. You can't just go and kick me out! I'll report this to the Princess, then we'll see where your research go..." "Doctor, I really think you should just do as he says." Twilight cut in. "We're grown mares capable of handling ourselves, and I'm sure Spike could use some company." "If you need a place to stay, Sunshine Valley can lodge you in the Sunshire Inn. It's a very pleasent town just down the road." Happy Thoughts added in. "We can handle this Doc. What's the worst that could happen?" Asked Rainbow Dash, guaranteeing something awful would happen during their stay. "Alright then, I guess I'll be off." The Doctor sighed. He was somewhat comforted by the fact that the two Institute ponies were no physical threat, and that perhaps by leaving he'll draw The Master's focus away from his friends. Still, the idea of leaving them alone while the mad stallion was loose was unsettling. "I'm glad that is worked out. I'll have someone phone the Inn and book you a room, on us." Happy Thoughts spoke. She then gave a face splitting grin. "Okay! Before we get down to the hard science, how about a tour!" She exclaimed while leading them off. After watching everypony depart, Mega Bite rolled away. He eventually came to a stop in the midst of a corridor. A few moments of waiting later, none other then The Master trotted from a congruent corridor. "You were correct Metal Master. The Doctor you warned me of has arrived to foil our glorious research! He even dared to fool me with his psychic paper! The mental safeguards you imparted to me proved sufficient though, and I saw through his treachery!" "Yes, I was listening in on the entire conversation." The Master replied. "We must move quickly, lest they spoil our work." "The Doctor is traveling to Sunshire with Twilight Sparkle's disgusting dragon familiar! To think that a student to Princess Celestia herself could associate with such a chaotic life form!" Mega Bite raged. "It just proves us correct, Metal Master. No mortal is fit to wield the power of our Goddess!" "Don't let such things concern you, sir. I'll send some of our prototypes to eliminate The Doctor." The Master assured. "I will eliminate the Bearers myself. All you need to do is continue converting the prisoners." Meanwhile, Happy Thoughts had led the Mane Six to a long corridor with plexiglass cells lining the walls. Trapped in the cells were a variety of dazed, expressionless ponies. "And these ponies are the recipients of the new harmonizing procedure developed by Mega Bite and the new researcher from Canterlot." Her natural empathy triggered, Fluttershy approached the nearest cell and saw its occupant, a bony unicorn mare with a blazing flame cutie mark. The pony was curled under her cot blankets, shivering from a seemingly imagined cold. "What happened to these ponies?" "Yes, they don't seem very enthusiastic about their treatment." Rarity observed while watching another dazed pony licking the floor. Twilight had just finished scanning one pony with her magic. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say these ponies have had their souls stolen!" She accused. "Well that's because they have!" Happy Thoughts declared with a cheery grin. "WHAT!" Was the unanimous declaration from the Elements. "Alright, hooves where I can see 'em!" Rainbow Dash ordered while getting in a fighting pose. "How could anypony do such a terrible thing?" Asked Fluttershy. "Oh, don't worry, they're perfectly fine!" Happy Thoughts declared in a pleasent tone. "The new procedure invented by Metal Master and Mega Bite only takes the evil part of a soul. The procedure is very tiring though, so we need to keep them here for a few days before release." "Did you just saw old fatty no hooves has a pardoner named Metal MASTER?" Questioned Applejack. "I reckon we ought to meet this pony." "Well certainly! Right this way!" While this was going on, The Doctor and Spike were walking about Sunshire. The Doctor was wearing a white shirt and hat with a red trim to both of them, and a piece of celery attached to the lapel. Spike, who had on a panama hat and was carrying an umbrella with a question mark on the handle, had stumbled across The Doctor's wardrobe while he was alone in the TARDIS, now safely parked inside their quarters at the inn. All The Doctor's rather stylish outfits were too big for the baby dragon, so he got to wear the hat and umbrella, while the Time Pony was convinced to pull out one of his old outfits. "So, have you tried dressing up as a Roman?" The Doctor asked the dragon. "Mares like Romans." After checking in to the inn, the two had decided to examine Sunshire. It was a pretty town, full of flowers and butterflies and smiling ponies, yet something was a miss. The townsfolk seemed nervous around them, answering quickly but accurately when asked questions. Suddenly, The Doctor stopped. "Spike, stop. Can you here that?" Spike strained his ears for a moment. "Is that... Crying?" Spike asked. "The crying of a child." The Doctor stated in a serious tone. "And no one seems to be doing anything about it. That changes now." The Doctor rushed off towards the noise, with Spike trailing behind, one claw gripping his umbrella, the other his hat. The source of the noise was a little Earth filly, with a slick gray mane and water blue coat. She was too young to have a cutie mark. The strangest thing about this whole scene though, was that none of the villagers seemed to notice her. They all did their best to make it seem like they couldn't see or hear her. "Hello there!" The Doctor greeted, putting on his most cheerful face. "I'm The Doctor, and it appears to me you have a case of sorrow. Would you like to talk about it?" The filly composed herself for a second. "I'm not supposed to talk to strange adults." "Well then, I'll turn things over to my assistant, Nurse Spike." The Doctor replied while taking a step back. "He's a baby dragon, you know." "I'm not a nurse..." Grumbled Spike, before he looked at the crying fily. "Um, hi there, I'm Spike, the baby dragon. I know you're pretty sad right now, but do you want to be friends?" He asked while extending an open claw. The filly stifled her nose, wiped her eyes, then looked at Spike with wide eyes. "So... So dragons are real? You must come from really far away." She stated with awe. "All the way from Canterlot!" He stated proudly. The filly gasped. "Canterlot? That's where God lives! I've always wished daddy could take me there someday. But he told me nopony can ever leave Sunshire, because God and her angels in the Valley need us here." Tears began to fill her eyes again. "Daddy..." "Where is your Daddy?" The Doctor asked. "He went to work in the sewers last night, plumbing's his special talent, but he never came home." The filly explained. "His name is Drainy Day, and his cutie mark is a pipe with a cloth wrapped around it." Her tears stopped for a moment. "Are you going to bring my Daddy home?" "Yes. Yes we are." The Doctor stated assuringly, causing the filly to smile a little bit. "Don't you worry..." "Sunshine." She stated. "My daddy told me he named me that because ever since mommy went away, I've been his sunshine." "I'll bring your daddy home, Sunshine." The Doctor restated. "I promise. Come along Spike, we've got some sewer searching to do!" "Right behind you Doc!" Exclaimed an eager dragon. Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure is watching them from a window. "Alright, this looks like a good spot." The Doctor stated, having found a secluded stallion hole to the sewers. "Now Spike, wait here for a moment. I'll drop down first, then you climb down when I give the all clear. We can't risk you getting too wet, or else your fire might not work, and I have the distinct feeling we may require a little firepower during our quest." Spike nodded as The Doctor dropped into the sewers. Less then a minute later, a voice cut the air. "YOU THERE!" Approaching Spike was a pair of unicorn ponies, distinguished as police officers by their vests and hats. "Just what is going on here?" Spike giggled nervously. "Top of the morning, officers?" He greeted nervously while tipping his hat at them. "It's afternoon." One of them stated simply before nodding to his partner. In a flash, Spike was bucked in the head, sending his hat and umbrella flying. Dazed but not out, Spike got up to charge them, only to run in place for several minutes before realizing he was handcuffed to a vertical water spout. After realizing this, he fell on his rump in defeat. "Alright, the brat's secure. Head on down and finish the blood traitor." One commanded, causing his partner to descend into the sewer. "Now, to deal with you, lizard..." As the second cop turned around, he found Spike free of his cuffs, hat on his head and umbrella in his grip. While the two were distracted, Spike breathed a tiny ember into the keyhole on the cuffs, melting the locking mechanism and freeing him. "Have at you, knave!" He shouted, thinking back to the knightly romance novels he reads in his quest to win Rarity's heart, wielding his umbrella like a sword. Scowling, the unicorn used his back hoof to break a nearby window, then levitated the glass shards with his magic. In an instant, the razor glass was sailing towards Spike's face... ...Only to bounce off the thick dragon scales harmlessly. "Heh, that tickles." Spike giggled. Growing angry, the malicious police pony charged the baby head on, nostrils snorting. Spike jumped to the side, then flipped around his umbrella, grabbing it by the end. The clever dragon then swung it in an arc, catching a pounding hoof on the question mark shaped handle. The stallion lost his hoofing, tumbled head over hooves and landed on his head. As he staggered back up, Spike finished him off with a swift umbrella blow to the head. He took a moment to adjust his hat, then went over to the stallion hole. Flames were dragged out of his throat by self preservation when he saw a police hat rise from the sewers, but he swallowed it when it was revealed The Doctor was wearing the hat. "Be careful Doc, I almost roasted you!" "Ah, Spike, good to see you've delt with your assassin!" The Doctor said while shrugging off his near injury. "Come on down then, I've subdued the other miscreant." After using that officer's pair of handcuffs to restrain him, the two dropped into the sewers. The sight that greeted them was the other officer trying to get on his hooves, but slipping on the... Wet substances one finds in a sewer. "Hold on there mate, I don't think you'll be going anywhere until you answer our questions." The Doctor spoke as the unicorn tried to swing a hoof at him. The Doctor simply reared up, grabbed the oncoming front hoof with two of his own, and using the chumps own weight to slam him into the wall. Spike looked dumbfounded. "Where did you learn to do that?" He asked. "Venus." The Doctor replied simply. "Now then, how about you answer our questions?" "Never. I shall not betray God. You and your mud lizard might as well soak your head in this filth, might make you feel clean." He stated back between pained wheezes. "You know, I don't like your attitude, and I don't think we're gonna get much from you." The Doctor replied. Then, in the most nonchalant tone possible, added "Spike, roast him." "WHAT!" Exclaimed the police officer. "WHAT?" Exclaimed Spike. "You heard me. He's obviously not going to give us anything, and I'm rather put off by his attitude." The Doctor explained. "None of that teleporting magic, by the way. Extra crispy." "You're mad! You'll get life banishment for murdering a police pony!" The officer exclaimed. The Doctor huffed. "Any place I could be banished to would be dust in four ticks of a Time Ponies hear, long before my life is over." He turned to Spike. "Are you going to fry him or not?" "Wait, wait! I will do God no good dying here, and it matters not what you know." The police pony finally cracked. "What do you want to know?" "Where is the little filly's dad, Drainy Day?" The Doctor asked. "Drainy Day..." The officer growled. "He was always a troublemaker. Had dreams of leaving, when the great Celestial plan requires everypony in Sunshire to remain here." "If you have murdered him, I assure you..." The Doctor began to threaten, real rage building up inside him. Though he had been bluffing when he ordered Spike to kill him, if he were to hear that this pony had made that little girl an orphan, he might very well make good on his threat. "No, Drainy Day isn't dead, he is more alive then any of us." The officer added quickly. "He has been taken by the angels." The Doctor's face grew pale at the mention of angels. "What kind of angels? Where do they come from?" "Holy angels, built by the Institute... They require sacrifices..." He wheezed out. Suddenly a crimson red laser seared through the air and struck the pony dead. "Spike, dodge!" The Doctor exclaimed as the duo avoided several more shots. Harsh mechanical hoofsteps could heard as a gleaming silver figure in the shape of a pony emerged from one of the sewer tunnels. The Doctor's eyes went wide as he recognized it. "A cyberpony..." Meanwhile, inside Sunshine Valley, Happy Thoughts has lead the Mane Six into a dark room. "This better not be a trap!" Threatened Rainbow Dash, but when she turned to where the administrator was standing, the perky pony was gone. The six then heard the door lock behind them. "I reckon this is trap, Rainbow." Applejack stated. "SURPRISE!" Came a yell as the lights went up, revealing the Six to be in an operating theater. In the viewing seats above them, The Master and his three cronies, Zig-Zag having been the one to yell surprise. "Is everypony ready to die?" She asked with a psychotic grin. "Now Zig-Zag, do try to contain yourself. I prefer to think of this as a healing exercise." The Master took over. "Once we use the negative thoughts we collected from these miscreants and murderers as we stole their souls- splendid bunch, by the way- these little ponies will have a much finer understanding of their less... acknowledged sides." He turned to Silver Standerd. "Throw the switch." "We should just gas them..." The Element of Greed muttered while throwing the switch. The lights below went from white to red as our six heroes were suddenly split with headaches. The world began to go dark as evil consumed their minds... Inside Twilight's mind, the purple unicorn stood in the burning remains of Celestia's palace, the Sun Princess at her feet and the moon above her head. Nightmare Moon stood beside her. "Well done, my apprentice. As Equestria's new Queen, I decree that you shall be granted all the magic knowledge in Equestria!" Within Applejack's mind, she saw herself, Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh cornering a cowering Golden Harvest. "Now how many times has mah big sister gotta tell ya? Ponyville is an APPLE town, so keep your cotton-picking carrots to yerself!" Her little sister shouted. "Eyup." Her big brother added. "Now, let's see if mah special talent is breaking kneecaps!" Pinkie Pie's dark fantasy was of her in a big city alley, trading a bag of pills for a handful of bits with a shady looking pony. "Thanks Pinkie! Me and my crew are gonna party tonight!" "Enjoy the rush. I'm just glad to get of my boring family farm." Inside Rainbow Dash's mind, the pegasus was walking down the streets of a seedy looking neighborhood. In this fantasy scenario, her wings were crumpled up against her back, smashed flat in an accident. "Hey Rainbow Crash!" Called a rough voice. "How're the wings doing?" In an instant the aggressive pony had charged across the street and was brutally beating the heckler within an inch of his life. Fluttershy continued to see darkness, however the sound of tiny hooves reached her ears. Upon hearing it, a blind, flightless Fluttershy, moving through memory, arrived on the porch of her isolated cottage. "HEY YOU LITTLE RATS, GET OFF MY LAWN!" Rarity was seeing herself inside a jewelry store, a home made mask on her face, her magic pointing a knife at the clerk. "Give me all your gemstones or so help me I WILL CUT YOU!" Across all their minds, they could hear the evil laughter of The Master. A/N: The Doctor is clad in his Fifth incarnation's garb, and Spike's accesories come from his seventh. This story really does have more in common with Attack of The Cybermen then The Mind of Evil (The bit with the police officers was right out of AOTC) but we still had prison brainwashing, so I titled the chapter Mind of Evil to avoid spoiling things. The character of Mega Bite is partially based on recurring Doctor Who villain Davros, which is he why he distrusts him. Also, if anyone here is familiar with TvTropes.Org, could you please inform me if they accept Fan Fiction? I'm curious if they would take a page on my story. I figure it would be a good reference page for any readers unfamiliar with the Doctor Who elements.