My Little Doctor Whooves: Horsing Around

by comicfan616


Welcome Aboard

Dear Princess Celestia,

Sorry for taking so long with this, but after the incident Spike wrote to you about, I had to rest due to magical overuse. I’ll give you the details of our adventure in another letter (once I figure out how to best explain it), but for now, I think it’s best that I give my final thoughts on the Doctor.

After further analysis, I have concluded that the Doctor presents no threat whatsoever to Equestria. In fact, were it not for him, Equestria would have fallen to a force that we were not only unaware of, but also unknowledgeable of and otherwise defenseless against.

This whole adventure has taught me something, Princess. No matter where they come from, friends can be anypony who just happens to show up at your front door. The Doctor may seem strange when you first meet him, but deep down, he is just like anypony else; he has feelings, isn’t afraid to make his emotions known, and has a troubled history, just like most, if not all, ponies in Equestria. The only thing that truly separates him is biology, and let’s face it, even that isn’t so different.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

P.S. Since our contingency plan is no longer needed, I’ll come by at my earliest convenience to drop them off.

“That should do it,” Twilight said to Spike. The dragon instinctively rolled up the parchment, slid the Celestial Royal Seal over it, and breathed a mystical, green flame over it; the resulting smoke flew out the open window of Twilight’s room.

“Hey, Twilight?” Spike asked. “What did you mean by ‘contingency plan’?”

Twilight paused, almost uncertain, but said, “It really doesn’t matter now, does it? The Doctor’s about as likely to attack Equestria as Fluttershy. Like I said, we won’t be needing it.”

“If you say so,” Spike replied. Both went downstairs to the lobby. The other ponies, save for Rarity and the Doctor, were already there.

“How ya’ feelin’, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Much better,” Twilight said. “How long was I out?”

“It’s almost noon,” Fluttershy answered. “After you passed out, we brought you back here so you could get some proper rest.”

“What about Shining?”

“The Doc dropped him off after the volcano thing,” Rainbow said. “He’s probably fine.”

“Ahem!” A small yet commanding cough came from the door. Everyone turned and saw Rarity in the doorway. “Ladies,” she said, “it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you… The Doctor!” She stepped to the side of the door.

The Doctor followed her in. He was now wearing a blue suit that seemed to be made of a sturdy yet comfortable fabric. Underneath was a white shirt that was mostly obscured except for the area around the neck and just above his hooves. He also wore a dark-blue necktie that was tucked into the suit itself. The whole ensemble ended behind him just in front of his flank, leaving his cutie mark visible.

“Be honest,” he said. “What do you think?”

“Not bad,” Rainbow said, “seeing as it came from somepony who makes dresses all day.”

“I shall take that as a compliment, Rainbow,” Rarity responded.

“It looks very nice,” Fluttershy said to the Doctor.

“It actually kinda completes you,” Twilight added.

“You don’t know the half of it,” he replied. “It felt really weird walking around with nothing to wear. And of course, this suit has one thing I desperately needed since I got here.”

“A bold statement?” Rarity asked expectantly.

“Pockets actually,” the Doctor clarified. “Absolutely rubbish without them. You would not believe the things I’ve had to carry around with me throughout my life.”

“Anyhoof,” Applejack interjected, “you feeling up to headin’ on out?”

“Oh yes,” the Doctor said. “In spite of that nasty business with the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness, I feel fit as a fiddle. Wait, do ponies even play fiddles?”

“Just how often do you get into these kinds of messes?” Twilight asked.

“More than I’d like, admittedly. But hey, we all need some excitement in our lives. But enough of that; if I’m going to make my exit, I’ll be needing my transportation. Shall we make our way to the basement?”

The Doctor took the lead as all seven ponies and dragon went downstairs. After they got back, the TARDIS returned to same place as when it first arrived in Ponyville. No one had even approached it since then.

As soon as they were next to it, the Doctor sentimentally placed a hoof on the TARDIS. “Well, this is it,” he said to no one in particular. “Whole new body, whole new suit, whole new adventures to be had.”

“We wish you luck, Doctor,” Twilight said. “And thanks for your help.”

“It was my pleasure, Miss Sparkle.” The Doctor turned to the TARDIS as if to open the doors, but he paused and turned back to the group. “Actually, before I go, there is one thing I want to ask.”

“What’s that?” Pinkie replied.

“Do you want to come with me?” The reactions from the others were varied, but they all pointed toward one general emotion: surprise. “Of course I’ll bring you back when you decide you’ve had enough. You see, traveling the cosmos on my own can be, well, lonely at times. I’ve gone on many adventures with several friends I’ve made in the past. It’s just nice to have someone to share the experience with.” Everyone was thinking about the Doctor’s speech, like they were actually considering his offer.

“However, I don’t ask this lightly. Because if you do want to come, then I should warn you: you’re going to see all sorts of things. Ghosts from the past. Aliens from the future. And if we’re really lucky, the day the world died in a ball of flame. It won’t be quiet, it won’t be safe, and it won’t be calm. But I’ll tell you what it will be…” The Doctor paused to watch the ponies’ and dragon’s faces. He smiled. “The trip of a lifetime.”

There was another silence. The room was heavy with the anticipation of who would make the first move and what that first move would be.

“I’m in!” Everyone turned to Rainbow Dash. “The way you talk, it sounds like non-stop action. I want a piece of that.” In hindsight, no one should have been surprised, but the idea of her getting into Celestia-knows-what still caught them off-guard.

“If she’s goin’,” Applejack said, “Ah’m goin’. Gotta make sure she dun’t do anythin’ foolish.”

“I’m afraid I shall have to pass on this, Doctor,” Rarity said. The fact that she refused turned out to be no less surprising, given the two consecutive acceptances. “That… thing used my own mannequins as weapons against me. I shall need some time to… recover from this… unexpected occurrence.” Everyone could tell that she was trying to keep her composure and not break down at the memory.

“I’ll have to refuse too,” Fluttershy interjected. “I’m not sure I want to leave Equestria for something so… frightening.”

“I would defend that it’s not all frightening,” the Doctor said, “but suit yourself. Pinkie, how about you?”

“Wish I could, but I can’t,” Pinkie said energetically. “I still need to plan out your ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party. Nopony, and I mean nopony, comes to Ponyville without getting a good ol’ Pinkie Pie-style bash.”

“If you say so,” the Doctor said slowly. “Twilight?”

Twilight had been incredibly silent throughout the whole conversation. She seemed conflicted: getting the chance to see things nopony had ever seen before would be quite the experience; but on the other hoof, she didn’t want to be gone for any longer than she had to.

“Come on, Twilight!” Rainbow said enthusiastically. “This’ll be awesome! How many ponies can say they’ve traveled in a spaceship-slash-time machine?”

“Wait. Time machine?” Twilight asked.

“Oh that’s right, you weren’t awake for that,” the Doctor realized. “When I dropped off your brother, I got him back to a time before Cadence even realized he was missing.”

“So… Wait, just let me see if I have this,” Twilight thought aloud. “This box can go through space… and time?”

“Theoretically,” the Doctor said, “I could have you all back home five minutes ago.”

Twilight’s indecision seemed to disappear completely. “A chance to see some of Equestria’s greatest moments with my own eyes? How can I say no?” She was on the verge of jumping excitedly; she quickly stopped herself, though. “Spike, can you watch the library while I’m gone?” she asked the dragon in faux calmness

“Hey, you wanna go off with a crazy pony who says he’s an alien,” Spike said, “all I gotta say is, ‘Just don’t bring anything weird back.’”

Twilight drew the dragon into a hug. “You’re the best Spike.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Well, then, if that’s everyone…” the Doctor said. The three volunteers lined up in front of him. “Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, welcome aboard.” He pushed the door open and all four ponies stepped inside. The others watched as the doors closed and the TARDIS faded out of sight.