//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The One True Queen // by Queen of Cupcakes //------------------------------// Prologue: Avante… The sound of hooves beating solid ground was cut through every so often by the crack of a whip and the shout of 'FASTER!' the desolate world had no colour aside from the ponies coats, no joy aside from the joking of the guards above, no pony wore a smile. It was into this world that Doohickey was born one evening just as the moon had reached it's height her father had been there holding her mothers hoof smiling those half smiles that took place of the real ones. Doohickey loved her mum and dad. They made her who she was. She got her blue eyes from both of them. The colour from her father the cross ness from her mother. And her mother predicted that if she saw more cheerful sunlight she'd have her father's coat as well instead of the dull grey brown. Her mane and tale were like her parents as well. Her father said it was like custard and burnt fish sticks 'A personal favourite of mine.' 'Dear… that's just… gross.' 'Don't buck till you try it my dearest.' 'Right, sure.' Doohickey liked herself just the way she was. Many older ponies she met said she would have liked the times before the war, they say it would have been better for her to grow up then instead of the waste like state of Equestria now but Doohickey didn't know anything else, sure it was cold, dark, depressing and downright sad, but she could find a bit of happiness, she went home to loving parents each day. She saw the same people every morning and evening. Life was just fine for now… Her life was about to take a drastic turn for the worse… "You there!" "Yes sir?" "Where is your stallion and foal!" "My daughter is sick sir, and I'm taking my husbands load today…" "You did that yesterday! He has to come out like everypony else!" "Alright… I'll go get him…" "Good! You there! Pull that haul faster!" the blond mare cringed as she flew away fro the line of ponies hauling heavy debris to help repair Canterlot and increase the army. She heard a cry and looked back to see a small filly collapse under a barrel a purple unicorn stood over the fallen child "Get up! You useless waste of space get up and haul that load!" the filly didn't move. "She dead" another pony, this time a blue Pegasus with a rainbow hued mane. She said these words plainly as if commenting on a broken tool "Too bad, another pony will need to fill her place if we want to keep a schedule." An orange earth pony said behind both of them with a sneer. The small orange Pegasus next to her wore more of a grimace then a sneer but didn't shed a tear. The grey Pegasus watched this scene with tears in her crossed eyes. How many foals had to die before this ended. Suddenly there was a bright flash in the sky. Many ponies blinked at the light. There in the sky was queen Celestia followed by four empirical guards. "WHERE IS THE CROSS EYED MARE AND THE STALLION WHO RUNS!" Celestia cried out in royal fury. Ditzy's eyes widened. With that she ran as fast as her crossed eyes and clumsy hooves would let her. At the guards flew after her she made a split second decision and took two corners. As the guards flew passed her she placed an eye patch over her wonky eye, one she had not worn in years, and whizzed passed the guards and fast, as her wings would let her. She burst through the door of a run down house. "Doctor! Doctor, Celestia is after us! Doohickey! Where are you guys?" Upstairs a brown earth pony coughed deeply. He moved his hoof away from his mouth and sighed at the droplets of red on his coat. He shakily leaned his forehead on the mirror and tied his green tie. "One more day…" he said in a breathy voice. The door creaked open "Papa? Papa what's wrong?" his daughter asked innocently. He smiled weakly. "Nothing's wrong my dearest Doohick-" he coughed heavily and his legs wobbled. "Papa, are you sure your alright?" his daughter asked worriedly. He looked at his daughter before turning away. "Doctor!" his wife called on the floor below "Doctor, they're coming!" he pulled open his drawer and coughed again. He wiped his mouth and stared at his matted fur. He sighed. "Doohickey… I want you to have something." The stallion turned and held out a strange key on a deep blue string. The filly looked at it in awe "What is it for?" she asked excitedly. The stallion smiled at his daughter's curiosity something she most certainly got from him. "It is the key to something very special. Ask your mother, go on." His daughter smiled and dashed for the door. She stopped and turned to her father. "You are coming down right?" she asked innocently. He smiled sadly. "I'll be right down. " she smiled and trotted off. A tear rolled down his check. "I'm so sorry Ditzy…" he coughed again a glob of blood falling on the floor. "You'll see it all Doohickey, all of space and time…" he collapsed to the floor with the light thump. "Sorry folks, the doctors out…" with this last thought the Doctor closed his eyes and took one last shaky breath. Downstairs Doohickey ran to the wall of the landing. "Ow." "Doohickey, what have a told you about flying in the house!" Ditzy scolded her daughter. She was so excited she didn't even notice. "Look at what papa gave me mom!" Doohickey said showing her mother the key around her neck. Ditzy's eye widened and filled with tear. She pulled her daughter to her chest and cried into her mane. "Mama? Why are you crying?" "Doohickey, we're leaving." "What about papa?" "He… he can't come." Ditzy said sadly. Doohickey realized what her mother meant and her own eyes filled with tears. "NO! Your lying, I just was talking to him, he's fine!" Doohickey turned to go see her father and Ditzy held her back. "I'm so sorry Doohickey, but we have to go, it's our only chance." Ditzy lead her daughter out the back and the galloped towards the Everfree forest. "We're going in there!" Doohickey cried out in fear "We have to, it's where it's hidden." Ditzy said cryptically. They galloped through the under brush Doohickey not letting her straight eye leaving her mother, lest she get lost in the dangerous woods. At last Ditzy slowed to a stop and pulled a few bushes aside and walked threw a forth. Doohickey held her breath and walked through herself. As she entered the clearing her mouth dropped open. In the center on the clearing was a blue phone booth covered in vines, moss growing on one side, and more vines being cleared away by her mother on the front. There was a symbol on the front that read Celestia order of healers certified. And a sign that read 'toll free booth. Use for emergencies. Direct line to Canterlot guard tower. Pull to open'. Doohickey held the handle and pulled. Nothing happened. She held up the key on her neck to the lock. She put it in and turned. It clicked. She smiled and tried the door again. "Urrrgggg!" her hooves slipped and she fell backwards. Her mother leaned over her. "It's a push door." She said with a sad smile. "But it says pull to open." Doohickey said. Ditsy pulled on the small handle on the panel with the sign. It opened and revealed a telephone. "Oh…" she pushed open the door. And her mouth dropped open again. "It's… it's b-b-bhaaa…" "Bigger on the inside?" Ditzy asked smiling with tears in her eyes. Doohickey was so shocked her only nodded. Ditzy let a single tear fall from her eyes. Doohickey walked forward and looked at the console. "It's like papa's old nursery rhymes isn't it. 'Turn the knob and twist the thing, flip the switch and pull for a ring' he was teaching me how to use this… what is this?" Doohickey said sadly. "It's called the Tardis… it's a time machine." Ditzy said. Doohickey turned to her mother in shock. Her eyes brightened, I can go back in time and save papa!" she ran around the console. "No Doohickey." Her mother said firmly. Doohickey stopped and looked at her mother. "Your father didn't teach you how to use it so you could save him, he taught you so you could run away." "But!" "No, you take this and you go somewhere far away, somewhere safe." Ditzy said. Doohickey looked sad but nodded and looked for the controls. "Three quarter turn counter clockwise. Twist this 25 degrees to the right. Now where's the switch. Oh here it is." As her daughter fiddled the controls Ditzy waited. "Okay mom, we're all se… mama! What are you doing?" Ditzy closed the door as her daughter tried to open it. "I'm sorry Doohickey, but some one has to stop them from finding you." Ditzy said before flying to the sky as the Tardis below her began to fade. The sky was dark and moody but as she flew a few rays of sun broke threw the clouds lighting her up. I'm so sorry Doohickey. Our torch is too big for you "hey you big lumps! Come and get me!" she screamed at the guards who were below her searching through the underbrush. They whipped into the sky chasing her all over the forest. Doctor. She did a few loop de loops to throw them off Doohickey. At last she flew over Ponyville her friends turned their eyes to the sky and watched her. Fluttershy covered her eyes. And all of Equestria, know that we loved you. She stood still for a fraction of a second and was slammed into the ground by rainbow dash. "Thank you commander rainbow dash." One of the guards said "Don't mention it." She said holding Ditzy down even though she wasn't struggling. Celestia walked up to her. "The cross-eyed mare, I saw your husband, but where is your daughter?" she asked. Ditzy smiled. "She's gone." She said happily. Celestia's eyes widened. "NO! YOU'RE LYING!" Celestia said slamming her hoof into Ditzy's face. She rolled over a few times and laughed. "Things not going according to your plan Celestia?" she said smirking. Celestia's face and eye twitched in madness. "Twilight! This pony is to be executed immediately to set an example for every pony else!" she screamed. "Yes your highness." Twilight said restraining Ditzy with magic. She was brought to a guillotine on the edge of Ponyville as all of the citizens were gathered. Many were in tears as Ditzy was placed in the frame. An orange Pegasus guard stood by the lever. "Do you have any last words you wish to speak?" he asked sadly. "…Avante…" was all she said. The guillotine shined as it whizzed down the frame.