//------------------------------// // The Beckwithshaw Geysers // Story: Doctor Whooves Episode 15: The Christmas Ponies // by Doctor Perseus //------------------------------// Chapter 8: The Beckwithshaw Geysers Ice Tomb Beneath the Beckwithshaw Hotel, Outskirts of Harrogate, England, Earth, Winter, 2010 A.D. "SHAUN!" cried Donna happily as she ran forward and gave her husband a bone-breaking hug. Shaun couldn't help but laugh as Donna hugged him. "I'm...not entirely sure what's going on right now but I'm certainly glad to see that you're okay, Donna," Shaun said with a smile. "You're the one who used the Sonic Screwdriver?!" Shaun looked at the Screwdriver and shrugged his shoulders. "Uh...I guess, if that's what this is called. I remember waking up inside that worm, floating in God knows what. Things were silent for a while and I kept blacking out. Then I heard your voice. I remember seeing something fall into the place I was trapped in. I swam over to it and picked it up. It looked like a weapon and I hoped that it would get me out of there. So I activated it. Then...I got puked out." He looked at the Screwdriver and then back to Donna. "Donna...how exactly do you know what this is? I didn't even know what it is." "Let's just say that I recently gained some memories that I lost. For now, I'll say that this Sonic Screwdriver belongs to a friend of mine. The same friend who I assume is probably the one who gave us that winning lottery ticket." Shaun looked really confused and Donna didn't expect any other different reaction. She stood up and helped Shaun to his feet. "Don't worry, Shaun. I'll explain everything once we stop that worm." Shaun's eyes grew a bit wider as he saw Twilight approaching him and Donna. "So this is Shaun," said Twilight. "Is...is that a purple unicorn?" Shaun asked. "Yeah, it is. Shaun meet Twilight. Twilight meet Shaun. Now let's get moving!" Donna exclaimed as she made her way over to the pond. Twilight and Shaun followed her to the edge of the pond. "Something tells me that the Doctor is on the other side of this pond. There's probably a tunnel underneath it." "I'll lead the way," said Twilight as she produced another magical barrier. Shaun was again surprised. Donna took the Sonic Screwdriver from Shaun's hand and stored it in her pocket. "Those must be some weird memories that you remember, Donna, because you don't seem surprised by any of this," said Shaun as he shakily began following Twilight and Donna into the pond. Donna wrapped one of her arms around Shaun and laughed. "Oh, Shaun...you have no idea," Donna said with a smile. "Doctor? What do we do?" asked Derpy as the tongues reached down towards her and the Doctor. The Doctor looked around the cavern. There had to be a way out. There was always a way out. That's when his eyes fell upon a tunnel entrance situated towards the ceiling of the cavern. He took one of Derpy's hooves and made her grab onto his suit collar. "Fly and hold on tight," the Doctor instructed. Derpy, getting what the Doctor meant, nodded and began flapping her wings. "You cannot escape, my dear Ditzy!" cackled Dahlia as she charged for the two ponies. That's when Derpy took off. Somehow, Derpy managed to keep a firm grip on the Doctor's suit as she took off into the air. The Doctor grabbed onto Derpy's other hoof to make the job a bit easier for her. Jimmy shot several of his tongues after them and Dahlia began climbing the wall of the cavern. "You've got it! You've got it, Derpy!" said the Doctor as they grew near to the tunnel. Derpy's wings and forelegs were growing tired but she didn't care. She had to get out of there. She had to get away from her mother and the worm known as Jimmy. Derpy looked to see that her mother was quite a fast climber in her spider cage. "DITZY!" Dahlia cried as she ran along the wall towards the tunnel that Derpy was flying towards. "Sorry, Mommy. It looks like I'll be getting away again," Derpy said coldly. With that said, Derpy gave into gravity and allowed herself and the Doctor to fall into the tunnel. The tunnel was at a downward angle and the walls were slick and smooth. Derpy screamed with excitement and fear as she and the Doctor slid through the tunnel. She could hear something following them which she assumed was either Dahlia or Jimmy, and she was leaning towards the latter. The Doctor let out a shrill scream of excitement as he slid through the tunnel. "I must admit that this is quite fun! Woo-hoo!" the Doctor cackled. "How is this fun?!" asked Derpy. "Who doesn't like slides?!" "Ponies who are being chased by giant worms as they slide!" "Fair enough." The tunnel twisted and turned and Derpy felt as if her stomach was going to fly out of her mouth. Up ahead, she could see the end of the tunnel. "Doctor! The exit's coming up!" she warned. "Yes! I can see that!" the Doctor responded. The Doctor and Derpy slid through the exit of the tunnel and found themselves falling from the top of another huge cavern. Derpy used her wings to stop her fall but the Doctor, being an earth pony, kept falling. "DOCTOR!" Derpy was about to fly towards the Doctor and attempt to catch him...when something else beat her to the punch. Twilight, Donna, and Shaun carefully made their way through the tunnel under the pond. After a few minutes of walking in silence, they found themselves walking out of another pond and into another large cavern. "This looks almost exactly like the cavern we just left!" Donna groaned as Twilight dropped the magical barrier. "At least this one's not covered in sick," said Shaun with a shrug. "One upside, at least." "Wait a sec...do either of you hear that?" Twilight asked. Donna and Shaun fell silent. They could hear a series of screams and yells growing closer and closer. They looked up towards a tunnel entrance that was situated towards the top of the cavern. Just then, two ponies fell out of the tunnel. One opened its wings and began to fly while the other fell. Twilight's eyes widened as she realized who it was. "DOCTOR!" cried Derpy Hooves. Twilight aimed her horn up at the falling Doctor and caught him with a simple levitation spell. Derpy glided down to the ground and Twilight sighed as she set the Doctor on the ground softly. "Well...that certainly got the hearts racing!" said the Doctor as he attempted to get his footing. Derpy landed next to him and helped him keep his balance. "Doctor? Are you okay?" "Doctor?!" asked Donna as she stepped forward. The Doctor turned his attention to Donna and he froze. For a moment, everybody and everypony was silent. The Doctor gave a smile and sighed with relief. "Donna Noble," he said. Donna turned to look at Twilight. "You didn't tell me that he's a horse!" "The correct term is "pony" and...sorry. I guess I forgot to mention that," Twilight said with a blush. "Yeah...you kinda did." She turned to look at the Doctor. She took a hard, long look at him. He may be a pony, but he appeared to have many similarities to the Doctor she had once known. Similar hair style, similar clothes, similar voice, and...even those same, old, sad eyes. "But...it doesn't matter." The Doctor took a step forward and Donna took a step forward. Soon they were walking towards each other, and then running towards each other. The two lost friends reunited with a big hug. Twilight gave a happy smile, Derpy gave a look of confusion, and Shaun gave a mixed look of happiness and confusion. "You...you remember?!" asked a shocked and happy Doctor. Donna broke the hug and proceeded to smile and nod at the Doctor. The Doctor smiled back. Donna's smile suddenly faded away and the Doctor was met with a quick slap to the face. "Yikes," said Shaun as his eyes widened a bit. "She really meant it," said Twilight with a look of admiration and surprise. "Oi! Ow! What was that for?!" asked the Doctor as he rubbed his cheek. "That's for erasing my memories!" Donna stated angrily. "What?! This is what I get for saving your life and giving you a winning lottery ticket?!" "Nah." Donna's smile returned as she gave the Doctor another long hug. "That was for saving my life and giving me a winning lottery ticket." The Doctor smiled and gave a giddy laugh. "Same old Donna Noble. Or should I say Donna Temple-Noble?" "Nah." "Um...I hate to be a killjoy but can we all catch up after we get out of here?" asked Shaun. "Yes! Of course!" said the Doctor as he walked over to Shaun and quickly shook one of his hands. "Hello, Shaun! Nice to formally meet you! Anyway, so...anybody or anypony know a way out of here by any chance?" "I think it's obvious that none of us knows a way out of here," said Twilight. "Ah yes. Good observation, Ms. Sparkle." The Doctor gave Twilight a quick hug. "Nice to see you in top shape and unfrozen, Ms. Sparkle. But...I think I smell something funky." "Trust me, you don't want to know," said Donna. The cavern walls suddenly began to shake. "Doctor! They're coming!" Derpy warned. "Yes...it appears they are," the Doctor gulped. "Here," said Donna as she reached into her pocket and pulled out the Sonic Screwdriver. "I think you probably want this back." Donna tossed the Screwdriver to the Doctor and he caught it. "If it's the worm then use that. The Screwdriver causes it to feel pain." "Good to have you back, Donna." Donna smiled. Just then, Jimmy the Worm smashed through one of the upper tunnels. He was followed by Dahlia. "Ah! Look what we have here, dear! Everybody and everypony that we have to dispose of here in one spot! This should make everything much simpler!" Dahlia cackled. "Is...is that an ice pegasus in a spider cage?" Twilight asked. "That's my Mom for ya," Derpy sighed. Twilight looked at Dahlia and then back at Derpy. "Did you just say that thing is your Mom?" "Long story. We can discuss it later." Jimmy roared as he began to bore down on the group. "Scatter!" yelled the Doctor. The group broke up as Jimmy slammed into the ground. Derpy and Donna ran in the direction of the pond while the Doctor and Shaun ran in the other direction and Twilight ran off on her own. Derpy and Donna turned to each other and Donna shook one of Derpy's hooves. "Derpy Hooves," said Derpy. "Donna Noble. Pleasure to meet you," said Donna. Just then something flew over their heads and landed in front of them. It was Dahlia. "I'm not letting you get away that easily again, Ditzy," Dahlia giggled. "I thought your name was Derpy." "Long story," said Derpy. Dahlia proceeded to lunge at them. "Look out!" Donna and Derpy jumped apart as Dahlia barely missed them. Donna looked back to see the Doctor, Twilight, and Shaun trying to face off with Jimmy. But she couldn't focus on them long for Dahlia lunged at her and Derpy again. She was starting to wish that she had a Sonic Screwdriver of her own. She and Derpy didn't really have any weapons on them to defend themselves against Dahlia. Donna then suddenly reached into one of her coat pockets and picked out the most blunt object she could find: her flashlight. Dahlia was beginning to advance on Derpy. Donna looked at the flashlight, turned to look at Dahlia, and shrugged her shoulders. "What the hell?" Donna chucked the flashlight as hard as she could at the back of Dahlia's head. It was a direct hit. "Yes!" However, all the flashlight managed to do was tick Dahlia off even more. She turned around to look at Donna. Her eyes were completely red. Donna gave a nervous smile before turning around and running. Dahlia proved to be too quick for her and suddenly Donna found herself bound by one of Dahlia's spider legs. "Leave her alone!" ordered Derpy as she flew over and grabbed onto her mother's back. Derpy punched and kicked at her mutated mother. Dahlia still managed to keep her grasp on Donna tight. Dahlia managed to send one of her legs up and grab Derpy as well. "You've been very naughty, Ditzy. I think it's time for your operation to begin," Dahlia chuckled. "No! Let me go!" Derpy continued to struggle but Dahlia was holding on tight. Donna tried to break free but it was no use. Suddenly...she began to feel hot. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. Something was inside her. Something needed to come out. She began to feel woozy. "My...my head," Donna groaned as the world began to spin around her. Dahlia turned to look at Donna and shrieked. Derpy's eyes widened. Gold and purple gases were evaporating from Donna's body. Her eyes were glowing with a pure white light. Dahlia fearfully raised one of her legs and prepared to finish Donna off. Just then Donna broke her arms free, lunged forward, and wrapped her arms around Dahlia Doo. Whatever was inside her, whatever was escaping...it was making her do this. Donna spoke again; but this time it sounded as if two people were speaking together. "I feel...so much anger. So much pain. So much...guilt. Love lost and shunned. Feelings buried for hatred. A damaged child and a conflicted parent. A forgotten love. A shunned love. A burning guilt. Is this truly what you've always wanted, Dahlia Doo?" The somewhat possessed Donna reached her hands up and wrapped them around Dahlia's head. Dahlia screamed as golden energy began passing through Donna's hands and into the depths of her mind. Indigo Hospital, Indigo Village, Equestria, Gaia, Autumn, 983 C.E. Donna felt weightless. She couldn't tell where she was. She turned to her right to see a cloud of white and gold shimmering next to her. It was hard to identify what the cloud was but it was clear that it was alive. Donna looked forward to see that she was standing in a hospital room. Dahlia Doo was lying in the bed, and she looked normal (as normal as a pegasus could look from a human's point of view anyway). In her forelegs, she was holding and cradling a young Ditzy Doo, who would later go on to be known as Derpy Hooves. Donna understood everything that was happening around her. She was witnessing a memory: a memory of Dahlia Doo. She was linked with Dahlia's psyche and could identify everything that was happening before her. Donna heard the door to the room open. In walked a pony doctor as well as Dahlia's husband Duncan. The doctor nodded to Duncan and left the room, closing the door behind him. Duncan approached the side of the bed and smiled at his newborn daughter. "She's beautiful," he said. "She is...isn't she?" Dahlia asked. The infant Ditzy looked up at her parents and smiled. Dahlia couldn't help but look unsure. "Is something wrong, Honey?" "It's just that...I'm still unsure about myself. What if I can't be a good mother?" "I think you can. As long as you want to be a good mother." "I do...but...I need you to be there with me, Duncan. I have a feeling that I'm going to screw everything up." Duncan placed a hoof on Dahlia's shoulder. "Don't think like that. I promise, as long as I'm around, you'll be a fantastic mother." "Do you think so?" "I know so." Ditzy gave off a series of baby noises and Duncan and Dahlia smiled down at her. "What should we name her?" Dahlia asked. "Why don't you decide?" Duncan asked in response. Dahlia turned to Duncan with a look of uncertainty. "Your next step at being a good mother: giving your daughter the right name." Dahlia looked down at her infant daughter and gave a tired smile. "Ditzy...Ditzy Doo. That's her name." "That's a nice and...unique name. Just out of curiosity, why that?" "I don't know. It just feels right." Dahlia lifted Ditzy closer and kissed her on the cheek. "Hi, Ditzy. I'm your momma. Yes I am! Yes I am!" Ditzy smiled up innocently at her mother, unaware of the dark events that lay in her future. The scene began to fade. Donna felt woozy again. Before the scene faded completely, Donna remembered something that the icy voice of Jimmy the Worm had predicted earlier. He had said, "You are returning and it shall die. You are returning, Donna Noble." Ice Tomb Beneath the Beckwithshaw Hotel, Outskirts of Harrogate, England, Earth, Winter, 2010 A.D. Dahlia screamed in pain as she let go of Donna and Derpy. Derpy took this chance to fly herself as far away from her ice mother as possible. Donna, although feeling a bit weak, managed to crawl herself away from Dahlia. She turned to look and see how the Doctor was holding up against Jimmy. Twilight helped Shaun get to safety as the Doctor continued facing off against the giant worm. The Sonic Screwdriver's effects were beginning to decrease on the worm. The Doctor assumed that it was now only a matter of time until Jimmy grew used to the Screwdriver's effects. There had to be a way out of here. There had to be a way to defeat Jimmy and Dahlia. The Doctor's eyes fell on the pond of water in the center of the room. He got an idea. It was a mad and suicidal idea...but it appeared to be their only chance. He distracted Jimmy with a blast of the Screwdriver before running over to the pond. Jimmy turned his attention from the Doctor to Twilight and Shaun. He then looked to the ground. "Children...come and feast," he said. Twilight watched as several ice monsters resembling the one that had attacked her and Donna above ground began to climb up from the icy earth. "What are those things?!" asked Shaun as he began backing up. "Bad news," Twilight replied as she readied her horn. Dahlia, meanwhile, broke out of her state of confusion and began looking for Derpy. Derpy was preparing to fight against her mother again when she noticed something: Dahlia was crying. And this wasn't just normal crying for she looked completely and utterly broken. "Where is she? Where is my Ditzy? Where is my Ditzy?!" she cried. Dahlia then turned to Derpy. A river of icy tears was streaming out of both her eyes. Her eyes looked less red and more...blue. Derpy remembered that blue had been Dahlia's original eye color. Dahlia stretched out her pony arms and began walking towards Derpy. Small wisps of golden steam appeared to be smoking out of Dahlia's head. "It's okay. There's no need to be scared. Mommy's here!" Derpy didn't know what to think. Was it a trap? Had her Mom gone even more insane than she already was? Or...had something changed? The Doctor looked around the room as he reached the side of the pond. Twilight and Shaun were facing off against an army of ice monsters who were apparently Jimmy's children. The Doctor assumed that Dahlia was the mother (a thought that created a bad taste in the back of the his mouth). Donna was trying to pick herself off the ground for she was still weak and Derpy was facing off against a now depressed and broken Dahlia. The Doctor turned and saw that Jimmy was charging for him again. The Doctor didn't have time to warn anyone or anypony else. He had to do this now. He clasped the Screwdriver tightly in his hoof before jumping down into the pond. Jimmy came to a halt at the edge of the pond and prepared to hop in after the Doctor...when something happened. The pond began to bubble. The ground and walls of the cavern suddenly began to shake. "What's happening?!" asked Derpy. "An earthquake?" Twilight guessed. "We don't get earthquakes here," Shaun replied. Donna looked at the bubbling pond. A pit formed in her stomach. She could feel the ground underneath her growing hot, and she had a feeling that it had nothing to do with her. "Doctor...what are you doing?" she breathed. Not a moment later, the pond erupted into a massive geyser that seemed to shoot straight up through the ceiling of the cavern. Donna looked down as the ground beneath her began to crack and bubble. Hot water began seeping through the cracks. Donna shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Again? Well...allons-y, I guess." Donna closed her eyes and held her breath like she had done earlier as a geyser opened up underneath her. Lobby of the Beckwithshaw Hotel, Outskirts of Harrogate, England, Earth, Winter, 2010 A.D. Mr. Franks stood at the front entrance of the hotel, drinking a cup of hot cocoa. The sky looked brilliant now. He had had his doubts earlier due to the blizzard; but the mysterious disappearance of said blizzard had opened up the night sky to a wondrous display of stars. Mr. Franks looked at his watch. It was fifteen seconds to midnight: fifteen seconds to Christmas Day, 2010. He took another sip of cocoa and smiled as the final ten seconds began. He began to count them down. "Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One," he said under his breath. A small chime rang out from his office in the hotel. He took another sip of cocoa and sighed with a big grin. "Merry Christmas." Suddenly, a loud roar began to reverberate through the air. It seemed to be coming from all around. Mr. Franks walked through the front doors and looked out upon the dark, snowy countryside. "What the devil?" Suddenly, a geyser of hot water shot out through the parking lot in front of the hotel. Mr. Franks was nearly knocked to his feet. Another one shot up towards the edge of the grounds. Then another shot up through the second parking lot. Then another appeared. Then another and another and another. Within seconds, the hotel was surrounded by a series of huge, steaming geysers. Mr. Franks stood in awe at the sight before him. "Oh of all things holy!" Other guests in the hotel were woken up and they proceeded to run to their windows to see the spectacle. As Mr. Franks listened to the roaring of the geysers, he could swear that he could hear screams too. Where they were coming from and who they belonged to he was not sure.