//------------------------------// // 19: The Mailmare, the Time Lord, and the Sun by TheAlmightySage // Story: Xenophilia: Shotglass Oneshots // by TheQuietMan //------------------------------// The Mailmare, the Time Lord, and the Sun by TheAlmightySage -------------------------------------- ~vworp vworp~ ~vworp vworp~ The sound of time and space being manipulated echoed as a blue Phone Box, with the words "Police Public Call Box" written on the top along with a blinking light, phased into existence. After a few moments, the door opened and a tan stallion with a spiky brown mane poked his head out glancing about. "Well Ditzy, it looks like we're in the Royal Gardens." "So we're at Canterlot Castle?" A grey coated pegasus with a messy blonde mane and offset eyes asked as she stepped out beside the stallion to look about the gardens. "Indeed we are my dear assistant," the spiky haired stallion answered while he admired the chrysanthemums. "Beautiful view as always, although I still say they should put in a little shop." "So why are here, Doctor?" Ditzy asked as she stretched her wings. "Oh, I got a message on the psychic paper," the Doctor answered casually pulling out what appeared to be a blank ID card. As Ditzy looked at the blank paper the message of: Please come to the Royal Gardens for tea at 2 o'clock appeared then vanished leaving the psychic paper blank again before the Doctor tucked it back into his coat pocket. "Wait, you mean actually took us where we wanted to go for once?" Ditzy asked genuinely surprised. "What do you mean by 'for once'?", the Doctor asked petulantly as he straightened his green tie. "Doctor, what did I tell you about arguments you can't win" Ditzy said with a sigh. "Yes, yes I remember," the Doctor replied rubbing his forehead gingerly. "Good," Ditzy giggled, before lazily flapping her wings. "Let's just see if we can find whoever sent the message," the Doctor said, looking about the gardens. "Wouldn't want to keep anypony waiting, Doctor?" Ditzy asked with a lopsided smile. "Precisely, my dear assistant," the Doctor said nodding to a gate decorated with colorful variety of flowers. ------ "...and so that's why I was using celery as a canary," the Doctor said, finishing a rather rousing tale of time and space shenanigans, as he and Ditzy rounded a rather tall hedge and stepped out into a well kept area with a stone table three seats, tea and sweet breads for three set out, and Princess Celestia already seated and quietly reading the morning edition of Equestia Daily that was held on her magic. "Good afternoon, your..." the Doctor started, before. "Hi Princess!" Ditzy nearly shouted out while waving a hoof cheerfully. The Doctor winced rubbing an ear. "Please Ditzy, not so loud." Princess Celestia lowered the tabloid and smiled at the Doctor and Ditzy, before motioning them over with regal wave of her hoof. "I see your sense of timing still hasn't improved," Celestia said with a smirk as her two guests took their seats. "Your note said 2 o'clock and it is precisely..." the Doctor said confidently, before the princess levitated up a silver pocket watch that read 2:45 PM. "Point taken," the Doctor deadpanned. Celestia gave an airy laugh while Ditzy giggled at the Doctor's unamused expression. ------ "So how have you been, Doctor?" Celestia asked before levitating the teapot and filling his and Ditzy's teacups. "Quite well actually," the Doctor answered cheerfully. "Really? No end of the world disasters lately?" Celestia asked while filling her own teacup. "Not really, aside from Dinky forgetting her lunch this morning," The Doctor answered with a chuckle. "And the batch of muffins you burnt?" Ditzy asked before popping a crumpet into her mouth. The Doctor gave an embarrassed laugh while Celestia smirked once more.  "Ditzy, darling, I told you that wasn't my fault. The timer didn't go off." "Well it would've gone off if somepony hadn't used its bell for a time dilation alarm," Ditzy said casually, before sipping on her tea. "Trouble in paradise, Doctor?" Celestia asked, her grin unashamedly ear to ear. "Don't we have something slightly more pressing to discuss?" The Doctor asked trying to steer the conversation to its true subject. "To the point as always, Doctor," Celestia commented before she sighed softly. "You wouldn't call me over for tea without a reason," The Doctor countered with a cheeky grin. Celestia nodded and drank the last her tea. "What do you know of Lero Michaelides, the human living in Ponyville?" Ditzy cocked an eyebrow at the question, while the Doctor took it in stride. "Sadly, not much. He's a bit odd, but he seems like a nice enough chap. Ditzy?" Ditzy scrunched up her face in concentration for a moment. "He's got a herd of three so far. Rainbow, Twilight, and Lyra, plus Spike as a sort of little brother. Um, he works at the spa as a massager, but spends a fair amount of his time repairing various things around Ponyville," Ditzy idly explained in detail before she popped another crumpet into her mouth. "That is correct," Celestia agreed before pouring Ditzy then herself more tea, "But what do you know of his method of arrival to Equestria?" "Fluttershy found him passed out and looking very beaten up on the outskirts of the Everfree forest," Ditzy answered before drinking her tea. "There was also a rather unnatural tear in the fabric of time and space near where Fluttershy had found him," The Doctor explained, his voice taking on a hard edge. "So you know?" Celestia asked gazing directly at the Doctor. "Yes, I am painfully aware of what manner of beings are only capable of causing those kinds of tears in the fabric of reality," The Doctor replied with a grim expression. "Doctor," Ditzy said, her voice barely above a whispered, as she took the Doctor's hoof in her own. "I'm fine, Ditzy. Just something I was hoping to never have to deal with again," the Doctor said with a weak smile. Ditzy laid her head on the Doctor's shoulder and draped a wing around him. "You sure?" "Yes, I'm sure," the Doctor replied nuzzling Ditzy's cheek. "Doctor, I know this is a painful topic for you, but I need to know if this could happen again," Celestia all but pleaded to the Time Lord seated across from her. The Doctor gently rocked his head side to side as he thought while Ditzy stayed close to him, then looked up at the princess. "No, They wouldn't take a risk of that size again for a very long time." "What makes you say that, Doctor?" Celestia asked in gentle tone, not wanting to upset her old friend further. "Three reasons, but for starters They aren't stupid. Insane and oddly angled, yeah sure, but far from stupid," The Doctor answered with a cheeky grin. Celestia felt herself relaxing as the Doctor fell back into his usual mood. "And the second reason?" "Well, by now They'll know that you and more importantly your sister will know that They've breached one of the old agreements," The Doctor explained with a chuckle, "And knowing Luna, the moment she learns of this she'll probably want to drop a black hole on all Their heads." "Luna has always been a bit moody since her teen years. For the record, Doctor, I blame you for that," Celestia said with smirk. "You should see the mess the house is in after the Doctor watches Dinky and Sparkler for only an hour," Ditzy chimed in with a smirk. Celestia openly laughed at that thought, "Oh, I can only imagine." "Females," the Doctor let out with a groan and a facehoof. "Would it be possible to send Lero back to his home dimension?" Celestia asked she idly swirled her teacup and watched the leaves for any discernible patterns. The Doctor rubbed his chin in thought and stare off into the sky for a moment before answering, "Maybe, if it was shortly after he had arrived here in this side of the pond, but now I'd say it's out of the question." "He's a fixed point, Doctor?" Ditzy asked in surprise. Despite her clumsy reputation, Ditzy Doo was not a dumb pony. As a matter of fact she is one of the few ponies able to keep up with the Doctor's comprehension and explanations of time, space, and the fabric of reality. "Precisely, my dear Ditzy," the Doctor said with a nod, before looking back to the princess, "He is here for a reason and has a part to play here in Equestria. And if I'm right it'll be a big part." "I don't suppose you'd be willing to give me any hints, my old friend?" Celestia asked with her most charming smile. "As much as I liked to, Celestia. You know the rules just as well as I do," the Doctor replied with a smirk. "Well it was worth a try," Celestia said with a shrug, earning a laugh from Ditzy. With business finally out of the way friendly conversation, and a bit of cheeky commentating, became the rule over the rest of the princess' tea party. The Doctor was one of the few ponies that Celestia could have such casual conversation with now days and Ditzy was such a delight to have around, as well. Celestia wished she could have them over more often. "A shame you have to leave so soon, my friends," Celestia said as they stood by the Doctor's blue box. "Comes with the job I'm afraid," the Doctor said with a smile and a shrug before he opened the TARDIS' door. "Those crumpets were as good as muffins from last time," Ditzy said with a bright and infectious smile. "I'll be sure to let the royal baker know, Ditzy," Celestia said smiling as well. "Come along, Ditzy. I think if we hurry we can make it back in time to get a batch of muffins ready before Dinky gets out of school," the Doctor called out from the TARDIS' door. "Good idea," Ditzy replied before stepping through the door. Celestia held up a gilded hoof, before the Doctor turned to trot into the TARDIS, "One last thing before you go, my old friend."  "And what might that be, princess?" the Doctor asked with a grin. Celestia leaned in and spoke quietly. "What was the third reason They wouldn't try anything again?" "Simple, I already warned them once and one warning is all anyone gets," The Doctor replied with a cold anger glinting in his eyes. "Doctor, please don't do anything brash," Celestia asked of her old friend, concern obvious in her voice and upon her face. "No worries, Celestia. I won't be going out of my way to fight Them. I've got plenty of reason to stay and enjoy this quiet life of mine," the Doctor said with a smile glancing over at Ditzy, who was fidgeting with the TARDIS control panel. "Be seeing you," the Doctor said with a cheery grin as he closed the TARDIS' door. "Take care, Doctor," Celestia said with a smile bidding farewell to her old friend. Celestia stood and watched as the TARDIS vanished into the streams of space and time.