//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: The Vanguard And The Planet of Darkness // by Gravitiaxis //------------------------------// After an intense hour long struggle with your watch, you found out that not even Granny Smith could open it. She tried everything she possibly could. The tried everything from moving the gears to trying to take it apart but the watch was pretty durable despite its old age. "Looks like you will need a clockmaker to help you open it." She said handing it back to you. “Are there any of those clockmakers in town? I can go to them now and see if they can help me.” “I don't think- wait, there is one young stallion in town who works on clocks. He's a clockmaker. His name is Time Turner. I'm sure he can help open it it for you.” You smiled and began to toss the watch back and forth through the air. “If so, I can go to him right now.” "I'll go with you. Granny Smith said. You smiled again and took her up on her offer. Granny Smith didn't move like most elders. She alternated between walking like a senior and having the type of pep in her step that a youngster only a would have. When you asked about it, she told you that her hip had gone bad over the years. She told you not to worry about it as she's working on getting her hip replaced, but she doesn't have enough bits to cover it. You made a mental note of that. The two of you reached the watchmaker's workshop, shortly after dusk. As you walk inside the shop, you could see a variety of different types of clocks and watches such as a large grandfather clock which rested behind the counter. Many of the different clocks ranged from old and ancient two fairly new. There seems to be no one up front but you could hear the sound of rummaging in the back room. “Pretty nice place.” You whispered out loud, which Granny Smith silently nodded to. “Hello? Is anyone here? You got customers!” You yell out while tapping your hoof against a bell on the front desk. “Customers? Hold on, I'll be right there!” The voice of a young stallion said with a certain pep in his voice which you found kind of familiar. A few moments later, the sound of hoofsteps could be heard. The stallion slowly walked into the room with a energetic bounce to his step. You could hear the stallion grumble something as he held a pocket watch in the air and then began to dangle it in the air. The stallion then turn his gaze towards you and his smile someone faltered. “Oh, it to you.” “Ah, crap. It’s the weirdo.” “Hey! Hey! Rude, I’m not weird. I’m strange. There’s a difference.” The stallion said while putting away his own pocket watch. He walked closer to the counter and took a seat on a nearby stool. " I asked you to miss me but judging by your expression I would say no."The stallion said giving you a light chuckle. He then turn his attention to Granny Smith. "Hello Granny Smith, it's always a pleasure to see you." "Hello Mr Turner. I'd take it you two have already met before?" Granny Smith asked why stating the obvious. “Yeah we’ve met before, this wacko tried to pickpocket me.” You said almost angry. “I did not pickpocket you, but I am a wacko.” He said gleefully. “Now, what can I do for you two?” Time Turner said, not turning his attention away from you. "My friend here has a broken fob watch and we'd like for you to repair it.” Granny Smith said taking the watch from off of you and handing it to Time Turner. Being extremely careful, he took it from the mare and began to inspect it. “The watch is old, I take it?” Time Turner said while passing a glance to you. You nodded your head. “Yes, that watch is just as old as I am, if not older.” "I see." He said about twisting and turning to watch so he could see it at all the angles. “This might take a while.” Time Turner said with his smile finally fading as he noticed the markings engraved into the watch. “I've got time.” You said looking at Granny Smith with a smile. “You can head on home. I remember the way.” You said. “Are you sure that you don’t want me to stay?” You shook your head. “Nah, It’s alright. My brain isn’t that senile.” You said giving her a wink. “If you say so. You should hurry back soon though. I’m making apple pie tonight and as I recalled you haven’t tried my cooking.” She replied, leaving you in the workshop along with Mr Turner. The clockmaker passed a glance at you ask you took a seat on the cold hard floor. His eyes showed a certain sadness that has smiled did not. Not wanting him to know you noticed this, your expression remained stoic. “I should have this fixed within 30 minutes." Time Turner said grabbing his small tool kit. "I can wait.” You said looking around the room, in search of some way to pass the time. For some reason you have a feeling that this was going to be a long half hour. Time Turner would every so often mumble something to himself as he fiddled with your watch. You never really seen a clockmaker at work before, but to you he look like he was just playing with it. Your respect for his profession, however, kept you from calling him out on it, so you just sat there and watched him do his work. Eventually so much time had passed that you didn’t even notice that he had slipped into his back room. 30 minutes later The Doctor held the fob watch in his hoof and began to sigh. He finally knew that he wasn't the only Time Lord left, there was another. He knew he should have been happy, but for some reason he wasn't. Derpy who was also in the shop at the same time, watched as The Doctor began to dangle your fob watch in the air by chain. “What's wrong Doctor? If he’s a Time Lord like yourself, shouldn’t you be happy?" "One would naturally think that, yes, I would be if this was a normal circumstances, but I don't know who this Time Lord is. He can be very dangerous. He might be The Master for all we know, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t dead.” The Doctor said almost sighing. “Why would he be dangerous? I thought the Time Lords were a good race ponies?” Derpy said. The Doctor shook his head once more. “No, that's how I chose to remember them. We weren't a good race, what we weren’t necessarily bad either. I think of us as being morally ambiguous." "Oh... but I thought Time Lords could sense other Time Lords?" “We can, but the chameleon arch hidden within our fob watches usually block out the scent. I can't tell whether or not he's pony or a Time Lord.” He said looking towards your direction, watching as you checked out one of the clocks that were on sale. “I guess there's only one way to find out.” The Doctor thought. The Doctor walked back out towards the front and called out to you. “Did you fix my watch?” You asked standing up and walking towards the front counter. The Doctor nodded his head and hand it to you back your watch. “Yes, I did. Here you go. why don't you try using it?” He said smiling. You pressed the small switch on the side and watched that the fob watch flew open, before you could even say anything, a gold dust like form of smoke found its way into your nose. For a moment there was nothing, you're mind was now blank and all your thoughts were now gone. Until everything began to become clear again. You shook your head and looked at the stallion in front of you. You both took a sniff of the air and took a step away from each other. You suddenly began to recognize each other. “Theta!” You spat out. “Vanguard!” The Doctor yelled out with the same level of disgust.