//------------------------------//
// Something Unexpected 
// Story: Doctor's Journey without the TARDIS 
// by TimeLord_Whooves 
//------------------------------//

Weeks passed, the Doctor and Derpy were losing hope that they could find a way home.  They watched the daily happenings of the ponies working about the manor.  Every time they had the chance they’d sneak some nuzzling and some reassuring words.  Bright Shield started noticing that they were hardly ever apart from each other.  When they were apart, the Doctor would go into his room and work on clock things and Derpy would go into the kitchen when nopony was there and would come out with a tray of fresh baked muffins, she’d take them to the Doctor’s room though.
He started following them wherever they went, out to the grounds, occasionally the forest out behind the grounds.  They would wander and talk, and when they thought nopony was looking they’d steal kisses.  He decided to do something about this behavior, he cornered them as they were walking out on the field.
“So, as you two surely know, Serenity’s birthday is tomorrow… do you have anything for her, maybe some news?” he asked raising his eyebrows.
Derpy looked at the Doctor.  “No news, but I do have a present that I really want to surprise her with.” Derpy said with a smile.
“Do you have any news for me then?” he asked looking at the Doctor.
“The only thing I can think of is that I fixed your bedroom clock last night, I put it back this morning after breakfast.” the Doctor replied.
“Nothing else?”
The Doctor and Derpy both shook their heads and said in unison, “Nope.”
“You know you shouldn’t lie to a man who’s daughter you love…” Bright Shield said as he walked away.
The Doctor and Derpy gave each other awestruck looks, ‘since when did he know?’ they both thought.  They walked off back towards the mansion for dinner, they were going to look behind them wherever they went from now on.
Dinner was akward that night.  The Doctor and Derpy didn’t dare look at each other at all, Serenity looked at the two of them curiously.  “Is everything alright?” she asked unsure.
“Um… no, nothing is wrong exactly.” Derpy said quietly.
“Then why are you blushing Sweetness?” Serenity asked smiling.
“You two still want to stick to your story?” Bright Shield asked.
“Um… well… I…” the Doctor sputtered.
“If you don’t say it then I will.” Bright Shield said menacingly.
“Say what?” asked Serenity becoming more confused by the second.
The Doctor looked at his food, his face beet red.  Derpy had her face hidden from everypony.
“Very well, I’ll say it.” Bright Shield said and turned to Serenity, “These two have been rather friendly with each other lately.  I’ve seen them when they think nopony is looking, a little more than friendly.”
“You’ve just now noticed this dear?” Serenity asked holding back a laugh.
At hearing these words, the Doctor and Derpy practically sank beneath the table in embarrassment.
“They’ve been doing that ever since he got here.” Serenity said struggling to keep her laughter in, the look on Bright Shield’s face was priceless.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about you two, in fact I’m happy.  It’s nice that you like each other, we were starting to fear poor Sweetness wouldn’t ever find anypony to love.”
“You’ve known from the start and didn’t say anything?!” Bright Shield said incredously.
“Well I was unsure if you’d allow it, after all he is such a new face around.”
“I… well… I am happy about it, but I’m not pleased at how I found out about this, I would have preferred that you tell me yourselves.” He said looking at the Doctor and Derpy who had been sinking deeper and deeper beneath the table as the conversation went on.
When they finished their dinner, they all went up to their rooms.  Derpy followed the Doctor to his room, not being cautious anymore now that everypony knew.  When they entered his room the Doctor asked, “So why did we have to make that act exactly?”
“I told you Doctor, with them finding out like this we don’t have to hide our feelings around them.” Derpy answered.
“But like Bright Shield said, we could have just told them that we like each other, your plans are always so over complicated.”
“That’s not fair Doctor,” Derpy said as tears started to form in her eyes, “You usually like my plans.”
The Doctor pulled out a muffin and gave it to Derpy, she instantly cheered up.  “You do have good plans it’s just this one was way too complicated.”
“But wasn’t it kind of fun to act embarrassed for once?”
“Well… kind of, yeah.  The look on Bright Shield’s face, I almost died of laughter!” the Doctor said letting out a chuckle.
The two of them fell over laughing, remembering how frusterated Bright Shield was getting at dinner.  They ended up laughing themselves to sleep.
The next day they were woken up by the butler telling them to get ready for the party.  They quickly ran about the room putting on their nice clothes for Serenity’s birthday.  They ran out into the field after they had dressed and met with the group of ponies waiting to start the party.
“Sorry, overslept.” The Doctor said simply.
Bright Shield gave him a curious look and the Doctor just gave him an akward smile.  Serenity smiled at them and then turned to the table as the butler brought the cake out and set it in front of her.  She blew out the candles and the party started.  Everypony got a piece of cake and then the orchestra which had been set up at the end of the table started playing.
It wasn’t long before everypony was up and dancing to the music or just chatting by the table.  The Doctor and Derpy were dancing happily while ponies around them chatted excitedly.
There came a sudden scream and everypony looked around.  One of the maids was pointing to the forest, something was moving towards them.  Ponies scattered everywhere as the newcomers started demolishing everything in sight.  There were unicorns casting spells at random into the crowd, earth ponies ran through and grabbed a few of the guests including Derpy while pegasi flew overhead throwing rocks and other projectiles into the partygoers.
“Derpy!” the Doctor cried as they took her and the other captured guests towards the forest.  “Bring her back!”
He started to chase them but something hit him hard in the back of the head and he saw no more.  He could hear screams though they sounded distant and muffled.