//------------------------------// // Chapter Six // Story: The Vanguard And The Planet of Darkness // by Gravitiaxis //------------------------------// “Are ya’ feelin alright?” Applejack asked as she watched you stare aimlessly at the living room wall. No matter how many times you shhh'd her, she continued to keep talking. Annoying as it was, you could understand her concern for you. You did just change into a new pony. Anyone with the right mind would be concerned. “Yes, for the hundredth time I'm fine. Now would you kindly do me a favor and shut up. I'm thinking.” You said passing a glance at Applejack. You could tell that she didn't take too kindly to you telling her to be quiet. There was a quick moment of silence before she began to speak again. “What are ya’ll thinking about?” She asked causing you to let out a much exaggerated sigh. “I'm thinking about the last 400 years that I've wasted in that body. All those years that I could have spent doing something.” You aggressively began to rub your chin. “Too many memories that shouldn't be here. Waste of a perfectly good regeneration.” You spat furious we as you try to sort through your head. Applejack shook her head. “What in tarnation are ya’ll gettin on about? What happened to ya? How did ya’ll change like that without the use of magic?” “I guess your grandma didn't tell you everything now did she? Now listen up, because I'm only going to say this once. My name is The Vanguard. I am well over 10,000 years old. I hail from a planet called Gallopfrey. I changed my appearance through a process called regeneration, but on your planet it would be better associated with the term reincarnation- which is the rebirth of a soul into a new body, but regeneration is quite similar but still different. Regeneration Is the rebirth of a body but with the same soul. That old stallion from earlier was me, but now he's not. He's dead, but still alive. Am I making any sense to you?” You ask Applejack causing her to studder. “Yes, ah mean somewhat.” She said trying to fully processed everything you had just laid out to her. “Good. You're a lot brighter than I thought you were. Kudos to you.” You said tipping her hat over her eyes. “Okay, so if you can live multiple lives, what number are you on right now?” “My third, no! Fourth Incarnation. I believe I'm on my fourth.” You said feeling a bit uncertain about what generation you were on. “Are you sure? You said that as if you didn't quite know the answer yourself.” She asked raising an eyebrow. “My mind is a little fuzzy right now. Regeneration can be a bit-” Suddently you stopped, causing Applejack to wonder. There was a weird feeling building up in your chest, right where your hearts were. “Something's wrong.” You said hopping onto your hooves. “What do you mean what's wrong? Applejack axe growing a bit concerned. “I don't know!” You yelled. Then clinched your chest as an attempt to stop the pain. It felt like thousands upon thousands of little needles were stabbing themselves in and out of your hearts with each beat that they made. “My hearts! Something's wrong with my hearts!” You yelled out in a seemingly annoyed tone. This was always a reoccurring problem with you. With every regeneration you’ve had there was always something wrong with your heart. A defect you've had since birth, not every regeneration could fix the problem, in fact this time the pain seem to be at its worst. “What's going on?” Applejack asked as she jumped out of her chair in order to assist you, but you immediately pushed her back. “Get back!” You yelled. “I think I'm having a heart attack or possibly heart failure.” You laugh while in immense pain. “I can't tell, it's been so long since I've had one.” “You mean you don't know?” “I don't know alot of things.” You chuckled. “That's not funny, you’re lying here dying on mah floor and ya’ll think its funny?” Applejack yelled out in anger and shock. You probably would have made a snappy remark but you didn't even hear what he said, you were already on conscious. When you open your eyes you found yourself in your mind, surrounded by three others. The stallion, The Mare, and now the old Stallion. You couldn't help but give them a smile. “Well if it isn't me, me and what do you know? Me!” You yelled out clapping your hoes. The oldest one here in terms of physical appearance was the stallion, he was your original incarnation. He was your second longest living incarnation, clocking in at about 2500 years before dying and regenerating into your second one. The incarnation who had the pleasure of being the oldest was your second incarnation who had just happened to be your only female form. She had the pleasure of living about 7500 years before calling a quits and regenerating into your third incarnation. You're very incarnation, however, was your youngest living incarnation. He only caught in around about 400 years old, before regenerating into what is now on your fourth incarnation, which means you're barely 10 minutes old. “Oh great, it seems like he's a joker. I don’t like jokers.” The second said rolling her eyes. “Neither do I.” The Third agreed. “And what's so wrong with that? You don't have to say such mean things. You’re figments of my imagination anyway.” You said chuckling to yourself. “Yes, we are. I find it funny how figment of imagination are telling you that they don't like you.” The second said crossing her eyes at you. “You don't like me? That hurts. That really does. So how do you guys like the new body?” You asked turning around for a long time to see the full form. All three of them took a second and looked at each other. “Average.” They all said in unison. “You lose points for still having a heart condition.” The second said. “Not my fault. Birth defect.” You said with a loud huff. “Besides don't get on me, you all had it as well.” You pointed out. “Just not as bad as you.” The third stated giving you what looked like a frown. “Wow, I do not like me.” You said chuckling at the fact that you were one that had created these figments of your past selves. After the Time War you were left alone for a very long time. Think of it as a coping mechanism. “So, do you have you made any plans?” The First asked causing you to shake your head in denial. Haven’t been here for more than a few minutes and you were already expected to have a plan. “Nope.” You said not really giving any thought to it. “Well, a lot of good that you are.” The Second said shaking her head. “Hey, cut me some slack. I’m still new. I’ve still got to work out the few kinks here and there.” You exclaimed. “First, I just need to find my Tardis and I should be set.” “Does anyone remember where it is?” The Third asked. “Nope.” said The Second. “Can’t say I do.” Added The First. “Then what good are all of you then? We've got ten thousand years of memories floating around in here and we can't seem to remember anything that should be important!” You yelled out in frustration. “Um, what are we supposed to be remembering again?” The Third asked. “My TARDIS!" You yell it out with absolute anger. Sometimes you wonder why you even created these voices in your head. You're absolutely worth it sometimes. You dismissed the voices and watch as everypony begin to fade away, leaving you alone. "This is going to be difficult. Very, very difficult." You sighed. “And how long has he been out like this?” Granny Smith asked Applejack as she attended to your own conscious body. “For a while Granny.” Applejack admit it. “And ya’ll didn't think to wake me up?” “Granny I tried, but ah think you hit the cider a bit too hard last night.” Granny Smith began to blush. “Um, right then. It appears that he's just sleeping… You said he was having a heart attack right?” “Yes. He said that right before passing out.” “Well, don't panic too hard. I believe this might have been one of those side effects of that regeneration thing my mother told me about when I was Apple Bloom's age. He should be just fine, at least I think he is.” Granny Smith said letting out a sigh as she didn't know what to do with you. “Now thats something strange. Your mother must’ve been well informed.” A voice said alerting both Applejack and her grandmother. Upon turning around they saw The Doctor with a look of uncertainty on his face.