//------------------------------// // Silent Night // Story: Silent Night // by sparkypchu //------------------------------// "Aaaand that's mostly it." In the TARDIS dining area the Doctor and Derpy sat at a table across from each other. Derpy's eyes were red and slightly puffy from a hard cry she had earlier. She seemed to be okay at the moment but somber. The Doctor finished his story. "Then I lied to you over some muffins and we had that whole wrong way...backwards...thingy with Clockwork and Uptight Snootle." The Doctor looked upwards, thinking of any detail he might have forgotten. Satisfied, he took a long drink of his now room temperature tea. Derpy looked at the bottom of her empty teacup. She also looked at a random point on the floor with the other eye. "So," she started, "Pinkie Pie is my daughter." "Yes. Weeeell, kinda. The physical pony that is Pinkie Pie is our daughter. Everything you know about Pinkie Pie and everything that is specifically Pinkie Pie is just a very good story." "But what about her family?" "The watch gave her new memories. Her family, her cutie mark, stories from her youth. They're all just memories built partly by the watch and partly by her imagination." "But her sister came to Ponyville! Remember the pony that was obsessed with rocks? I had to lock you in the TARDIS because you kept having a giggle fit every time somepony made a rock pun." "Oh yeeeeah," the Doctor chuckled at the memory. The Doctor's smile slowly faded into a frown. He put a hoof to his chin, looking down to the table as he lost himself in thought. A few moments passed in silence. The Doctor didn't move from his position. Derpy began to fidget in her seat, nervous of what the Doctor was thinking about. She finally decided to make the Doctor and herself some more tea. She got out of her seat and retrieved the well-used kettle from the stove. She brought it over to the sink and began to fill it. She looked back at the Doctor and began to worry slightly. He still had yet to move an inch. Just as she put the kettle on the stove, the Doctor spoke. "I have no idea." "No idea of what?" asked Derpy, having completely forgotten her previous question. "No idea as to how Pinkie's sister exists. I mean, I have explanations but none that would make sense. This is quite the puzzle." The Doctor got up from his place at the table and walked over to the stove. He sat down next to Derpy, putting an arm around her and giving her a little squeeze. "I guess we'll just have to ask when we visit." Derpy's eyes grew wide. "Visit?" The kettle chose this specific time to begin whistling. The Doctor released Derpy and began the process of making tea. "Yup," the Doctor said, "Visit. I told you that we were going to go see someone for Hearth's Warming that really missed you." *** The TARDIS materialized on the side of a road that was surprisingly deserted. The sky was a thick sheet of clouds that mimicked the thick snow covering every surface. A light amount of snow was falling, caught in the slight breeze. Although the sun was blocked from view, the fading light made it obvious that it was about sunset and Princess Luna would soon take the throne of both Equestria and the dream world. The doors of the TARDIS opened inwards, allowing the snow that was piled against it to fall in. Regardless, a brown earth pony with a green scarf trotted out into the snow. A grey pegasus with a matching yellow scarf flew out, closing the door behind her. "Hearth's Warming Eve in Ponyville," said the Doctor turning to the hovering pegasus, "Just like I..." The Doctor drifted off and looked around. He walked out into the road, looking up and down it. "What's wrong, Doctor?" asked Derpy. "Where is everyone?" Derpy looked around to see that not a single pony was outside. There wasn't even any hoofprints in the snow. "Maybe they're all inside. I mean it is pretty cold, Doctor. Plus, it's Hearth's Warming tomorrow. All the good fillies and colts are impatiently waiting for Santa Hooves." "Cold Smold! Like you said, it's before Hearth's Warming. Everyone should be out getting last minute gifts. There also should be at least three snowball fights happening now. What's become of kids nowadays?" "It is not a big deal and, more importantly, is not why we're here." The Doctor took one last look around. He nodded and the two made their way to the snow-covered Sugarcube Corner. The Doctor pushed open the door, causing a little bell to jingle. "Just a minnnnnnute~" called a voice from the kitchen. The Sugarcube Corner was warm and the smell of fresh gingerbread filled the air. Every seat was empty and there was nopony attending the register. The Doctor and Derpy approached the counter. From the behind the counter rose a pink mare with a fluffy mane and a smile on her face. "Hiya, Time Turner! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!" Pinkie greeted excitedly. She then turned to Derpy, her face scrunching up in confusion, "Have we met before? You look super duper familiar, but I just can't quite put my hoof on it. Oh! I know! You're Derpy's Mom! You must be in town for Hearth's Warming. She looks so much like you! I'm Pinkie Pie!" There was a fall in Derpy's smile, but only for a moment. "I'm so happy you two came in! I haven't had a single customer all day!" This caught the Doctor's attention. "Hmm. That is strange. Not one pony all day?" he asked in his something-is-terribly-wrong-and-we-need-to-fix-it tone. This got him an elbow to the side from Derpy. "Nope," said Pinkie, slightly sad, "All the gingerbread and hot chocolate is gonna go to waste. Oh! I know! We can have an All-The-Gingerbread-And-Hot-Chocolate-Is-Going-To-Waste Party! It'll be so fun!" Derpy elbowed the Doctor again and gave him a look of 'Get on with it.' "Actually, Pinkie," said the Doctor, pulling a pocket watch from under his scarf, "We were wondering if you could open this." "Of course I can!" Pinkie snatched the pocket watch and pushed a button on the top to open it. A glowing light began to flow out like a fog towards Pinkie's face. Once it had ended, her face scrunched up like she had smelled something terrible. She picked up a small trash can behind the counter and spat into it. "Oatmeal mints?! Are you kidding me?!" she said, still spitting, "If you weren't me, Pinkie Pie, I would slap you." She grabbed a brownie from the display and shoved it into her mouth, sighing in relief. After swallowing the chocolate-y comfort she looked up at the Doctor. "Dad? What are you doing here?" "Hi Dinky. You said I should come back and visit during Hearth's Warming," the Doctor said with a smile, "It took me about 19 years but I finally decided to take you up on that offer. I also brought a guest." The Doctor nodded to his left. Dinky looked left of the Doctor at the pony she ignored initially. She stared at this pony, overcome with familiarity. She knew this pony, but she hadn't seen her for some time. An unknown warmth filled her heart. Her pupils shrank as the realization hit her. Before Derpy could react, Dinky had jumped across the counter and was hugging Derpy tight. Derpy was surprised, yet she returned the hug. She began to feel parts of her coat dampen as tears fell. "I'm so sorry, Mom," Dinky sobbed into Derpy's shoulder, "I was so selfish and stupid for leaving you like that. I just...I just wasn't thinking straight. I was so angry....I...I...I missed you so muuuuuuch!" Dinky pressed her face into her mother's fur as she let out 200 years of tears. Derpy's eyes began to tear up as she stroked Dinky's mane. The Doctor joined the hug, smiling warmly. After 20 minutes, Dinky had managed to get ahold of herself. The three of them sat at one of the many empty tables, a mug of hot chocolate in each of their hooves. "So this whole time you've actually been Dinky?" Derpy asked. "Mmhmm!" answered Dinky sipping her drink, "I've been a Dinky in a pink Pinkie!" "So every time I brought you in here as a filly, you were also here as a mare?" "Yes indeedy! I've actually met myself loads of times as Pinkie Pie. It's like some kind of weird deja vu. Like I even planned one of my own birthday parties. How weird it that? Well...I guess I didn't do it, Pinkie did and I watched. It was still really odd. Super duper timey wimey." Derpy looked at the Doctor, her face a mixture of confusion and concern. The Doctor had no idea what response she was looking for so he just sipped his hot chocolate. Derpy turned her gaze back to her daughter, her right eye drifting upwards. "You seem so different, Dinky." "Well, duh!" Dinky said, as if it were the second most obvious thing in the universe, "I didn't just get put in the washing machine with a red shirt, I regenerated! I know how to juggle now and I can finally whistle!" Dinky demonstrated this by whistling the chorus of 'Winter Wrap Up.' Derpy looked down at her hot chocolate. She swirled the steaming liquid absentmindedly. She was quiet but her face reflected how hard she was thinking. "It's just gonna take some getting used to, I guess." Dinky looked at her mother and then to her father. Her eyes asking if she had done something wrong. The Doctor got up and moved his seat next to Derpy. He sat down and wrapped and arm around her. "Don't worry about it too much, Derpy," he said, "She's still our daughter." "She's our daughter," Derpy agreed, "But she's also one of my best friends...or was...I'm sorry, it's just a lot to think about. I've had a bit of a crazy day." "Yeeeah, I can see that now. Maybe we should get some rest. I'm sure things will seem clearer after a good sleep." Derpy slowly nodded, eyes still focused on her drink. "Oh, you two can sleep in the guest room!" said Dinky excitedly, "The Cakes are in Manehatten, so they won't mind. They wanted the twins to spend Hearth's Warming with the extended family. Come on, follow me!" Dinky hopped away in genuine Pinkie Pie fashion. The Doctor led a quiet Derpy in Dinky's wake. *** The clock let out three deep chimes as its pendulum continued to swing. Despite the hour, the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner was brightly lit and alive. The ovens exhaled deep breaths of heat and delightful scents. Pots and pans crafted a symphony of sounds as foods cooked in them. Holding a wooden spoon as she would a silver baton, the pink conductor of this concert looked up at the clock and frowned. Hanging from the pendulum was a tiny version of herself that looked back at her with an angry look. What are you doing up this late?! The little pony screamed, At this rate you'll be exhausted during Hearth's Warming and won't be able to participate in the Ponyville-wide snowball fight! Do you really want Rainbow Dash to win? Dinky frowned further at the pony. She had heard this voice the first time her Dad woke her up. She ignored it given the fact that there were more pressing matters at hoof. This time, however, she got well acquainted with the pony while she was cooking alone. She had given it the name Mini-Pinkie. Dinky began to stir the contents of the pot infront of her. She blinked and the pony stood on surface of soup she was stirring, still glaring. Dinky sighed. "Pinkie Pie," she addressed the little her, "Much like I explained an hour ago and the hour before, I don't need that much sleep. I'm not a normal pony." Oh yeeeeeah, Mini-Pinkie responded, I forgot that you're Thyme Lord. Dinky picked up the tiny pony from the surface of the soup, placing her on the counter as she resumed stirring. "T-I-M-E. Time Lord. I know they sound the same, but its the ticky-tocky kind not the spice." Oooooh. That makes sense. Hold on, if they sound the sound the same how did you know which word I used? "Because I know you, you Loco Coco!" Hey! You're the one with the Coco! Mini-Pinkie pointed at her accusingly. Dinky simply rolled her eyes as she walked over to the sink and began to scrub a pot. She blinked and Mini-Pinkie was sitting on an inner tube that was floating on the soapy water. Hey! I saw you roll your eyes! When am I going to have a turn with my body? Dinky splashed water at Mini-Pinkie causing her inner tube to capsized. She resurfaced with a dramatic gasp. "Your body?" Dinky giggled, "This isn't your body, silly billy, its mine." Fine its your body, when am I going to have my turn? Being a pony without a body is booooooring. Mini-Pinkie fell back and floated in the water, trying to look as bored as possible. "You can have it back as soon as Mom and Dad leave, sheesh." Mini-Pinkie sat up and sunk under the water. Dinky blinked and her entire vision was full of Mini-Pinkie. Mom and Dad are coming?! Yay! I do hope they bring Maud! Dinky frowned at the tiny pony. She jerked her head up and flung Mini-Pinkie back into the water. Mini-Pinkie surfaced with a pair of floaties and a snorkel. "Not your Mom and Dad, my Mom and Dad." Oh... Both Mini-Pinkie's hair and floaties deflated as her expression saddened. It broke Dinky's heart. "Look Pinkie, I really need to talk to you about your parents. They-" Dinky was cut off by the sound of somepony teleporting into the store front. Mini-Pinkie turned into a balloon that exploded with the sound of a party blower. Dinky ran to the double doors separating the kitchen from the store and peeked her head out. There stood the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. She was out of breath and her mane reflected her crazed state. She looked up at Dinky and her expression softened a little. "Pinkie Pie!" she said, sighing in relief, "Thank Celestia you're here! I need your help."