//------------------------------// // Shields Up // Story: My Little Doctor Whooves: Horsing Around // by comicfan616 //------------------------------// Shining Armor looked up on the shelf above him. “Twilight!” he yelled in surprise. “What are you doing here?” “I could ask the same of you!” Twilight said. The voice of the Nestene interrupted whatever conversation might have followed. “I had my soldiers bring him here from the store he was browsing.” “You mean you kidnapped him,” the Doctor interjected. “Your father had the same tactics. I guess it is true what they say about apples and trees, isn’t it?” The Nestene continued, “Through my psychic senses reaching from my soldiers, I could tell he was incredibly gifted in shield ‘magic.’” “Shining, how could you?” Twilight demanded. Her voice was between anger and sadness. “I didn’t want to, Twily!” Shining defended. “Yes,” the Nestene added, “he did prove to be quite unwilling to help me. But his mind is an open book. I could see that he had family not too far from here. And unlike your Canterlot, Ponyville is much closer; I could easily control more soldiers than the paltry two I was barely able to create to take Mr. Armor.” “I saw everything, Twily,” Shining said. He sounded scared. “They were gonna hurt you… and everypony… I had to stop it.” “So that’s why you called off the attack,” the Doctor surmised. “You had succeeded in your blackmail attempt.” “I have promised him complete safety, for himself and his family, if he created the heat shield which even now protects the two of us,” the Nestene said. “The eruption would never even reach your little town. Once it is over, he is free to go, protect his family, perhaps mount a futile defense against my army…” “A heat shield?” The Doctor became curious. He did notice that the area around the Nestene was redder than everywhere else. “Can he really cast one strong enough to block several tons of magma?” “Shining’s shield magic is second to none,” Twilight answered. “He was even the captain of the princess’ Royal Guard.” “I am quite confident in his abilities,” the Nestene said. “And at this point, it’s far too late. The shield is already up at its maximum potential and the volcano is mere minutes away from eruption. Even if he wanted to back out now, it would be… hazardous to his health.” It chuckled. “Doctor,” Twilight said, “is there anything we can do?” The Doctor turned her. “I’m working on it, but right now, the Nestene is holding all the cards and… Hang on. Where’s Rainbow Dash?” The others quickly looked around and saw that Rainbow was indeed no longer among them. The Nestene ignored the ponies’ situation as it said, “Perhaps it’s best you simply accept what is to come, Doctor.” Suddenly, a cry rang out through the cavern. No one had time to react before Rainbow flew in and slammed into the Autons on either side of Shining Armor. One simply fell over, but the other landed into the Nestene itself; the plastic body melted into the Nestene’s and the tuxedo burst into flame. The Nestene screamed in both anger and agony. “Come on!” she shouted. The other Auton was already getting up. “But where—?” Shining started. “How do you think we got here?” Rainbow interrupted. “Our ride’s up there, so move it!” Shining didn’t bother questioning his sister’s friend. He cut off the magic powering the shield. By now, the Nestene had fully recovered and was already focusing on the fallen Auton. The two ponies started running as the mannequin-turned-alien finally stood up and chased after them. Its hoof clicked open and it stood ready to fire. Suddenly, Fluttershy appeared in front of the Auton; it was a surprise to everyone that she had moved without them noticing. She was glaring at it. “You should be ashamed of yourself!” she said to it, still quiet but a bit stern as well. “You were just supposed to show off a nice suit, but now you want to hurt ponies? If you had a mother, I bet she would be disappointed in you.” The Auton seemed to be reeling, and its actions were affecting the Nestene as well. The Doctor watched in confusion and a bit of amusement. “Okay, I have been turned into an equine, seen real magic for the first time, and heard of a Nestene reproducing. But only now can I say that I have seen everything, and for me, that’s saying something. I mean, berating an Auton? And succeeding?” Pinkie spoke up. “Let’s just say there’s a reason Flutershy’s sometimes called ‘The Stare Master.’” Fluttershy proved to be enough of a distraction for Rainbow and Shining to reach the foot of the cliff. Without any way to climb up, Twilight and Rarity had to levitate the unicorn to their level. Rainbow helped speed things along by getting under him and pushing him upward. Soon, Shining was more than halfway up the cliff. “Fluttershy!” Rainbow called. “We’re good here! Let’s get going!” Fluttershy’s face softened and she flew away from the Auton. It took a few seconds for it and the Nestene to regain their senses. The Nestene growled and the Auton trained its hoof at the fleeing pegasus. However, when it fired, the blast stopped and exploded in midair, like it hit a wall. “Told you that field would protect us,” the Doctor said as Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Shining landed near the others. Shining walked up to Twilight. “Twily, I’m sorry. I—!” He was stopped by a sudden hug. “Don’t bother,” Twilight said with tears in her eyes. “Even I don’t know what we’re dealing with. You certainly couldn’t have.” The Doctor turned back to the Nestene. “I hope you realize what this means,” he said. “We have your only means of defense-slash-bargaining chip. The volcano will blow any minute now, and I don’t think I need to tell you what happens when it does. So I’m offering you one last chance: let me help you. I can find you a planet that is more than suitable for your needs.” “Ally myself with the one who killed my own father?” the Nestene replied in rage. “I would gladly accept death! And I will take you all with me! I was limiting how much of my own body heat went into the volcano, but if I unleash it all…” “…The scope of the lava’s range will increase to include…” The Doctor paused as he completed the Nestene’s statement. “…Several towns in the surrounding area, with Ponyville among them!” The others gasped. “And when it is over,” the Nestene continued, “even if you survive, their deaths will weigh heavy on your conscience. Knowing you will experience the loss what you consider ‘dear lives,’ maybe you will think twice next time.” The Nestene roared and the entire mountain shook. “Everyone, into the TARDIS, now!” the Doctor yelled. “But what about the—” Fluttershy started. “Look, I want to help it,” the Doctor replied, “but it’s made its decision, and the volcano’s just a few short minutes from being filled to the brim with lava. We’ll be much more useful outside and alive.” Some of the other ponies looked back to the Nestene; it was still thrashing and yelling in anger. Eventually, they all realized the Doctor was right and headed into the TARDIS.