A thundering screeching rumble roared throughout the walls of Tartarus as the well-known phone box made its entrance at the edge of the awful scenery. The Doctor stepped away from the panel only to be caught in something he almost always found to be an issue.
Derpy quickly wrapped her hooves around The Doctor’s neck, slightly folding back his tie as she gave him a hug. It was the least Derpy could do. Dinky meant everything to her, and a complete stranger had won her back for her. Beyond that, he was prepared to offer her everything else she had ever wanted: a home where she was wanted, appreciated, and safe from the hate of others.
The Doctor wasn’t fond of hugging. It seemed rather odd for somepony to show appreciation by nestling themselves in each others’ shoulders. This seemed especially awkward, as the person doing it had no hands, and had difficulty raising any limbs over their heads (or should have difficulty). It was still an awkward feat for the Doctor, but as the mare felt wanted in the Doctor’s presence she pushed herself into himself harder, the Doctor could see into the shiny eyes of the misfit pegasus. Her eyes were unlike that of any humanoid he had ever met. They seemed to motion with a want that words alone could not express and her smile told him that that need was met. and it reminded him of his home. It reminded him of the family he had left behind, and it gave him a sight of what happiness he felt when he brought his race back into reality.
The Doctor had everything he wanted. He hugged back as the mare hung in his arms. No form of hugging was right in the eyes of The Doctor, but this was perfectly fine and it left dear Doctor feeling better than he had felt since before the fall of Gallifrey.
After Derpy found she had given the Doctor only the best of her appreciation (and though she feared to admit it, and expression of friendly love towards the lonely alien), she pulled away and wiped a tear from her soft cheek.
The Doctor smiled the best he could as he glanced over at the door to the outside world. It was a world of darkness and despair. That wasn’t the point of being here. Although a terrifying place, it was also beautiful. It was filled with adventure and excitement. Not everything would be safe and fun all the time. Not everything was a nice thing for anyone, but it would never be fun if you never thought of it that way. This place was one of the most feared places in Equestria, and The Doctor recognised it this way. It would be an adventure. This feared place would be great.
The Doctor stepped outside as the sweet mare followed close behind with her little filly.
Doctor didn’t like having little fillies travel with him. It seemed all too realistic that they wouldn’t obey him, and when his companions didn’t obey him, it was all too likely that the person that doesn’t obey him would be killed by the dangers of being his companion.
This time, the Doctor would have to make an exception. Although he was in the most dangerous place in Equestria, it was Equestria. It was possibly the least dangerous world in the universe and it was unlikely that anything could happen to the filly.
The Doctor took several steps toward the great abyss that stood before and practically shook itself in his face. The walls of the surrounding hell towered over the Doctor and his current companion. It seemed strange and surprisingly calm, but there would certainly be adventure somewhere in this strange world. The Doctor trudged onward, leading his small party along the edges of the chasm that surrounded the deep pit of imprisonment.
An archway carved out of rock stood several meters away and looked as if it were to hide whatever were behind it and a wall sitting adjacent to it. The distance between the party and the archway closed as they continued walking and looking for the possible adventure ahead. The Doctor turned his head as he crossed under the arch as if investigating the pit that stood to the side of him.
It was as if to be a great holding cell for behemoths that wouldn’t be able to survive on the small islands near the center of the great prison. It went all the way down to the darkest and deepest part of the ugly rock-carved walls and ascended barely to the ceiling of the floor that the group was in the middle of. It perplexed the Doctor. Yet it seemed as though the family soon following him was a little less than amused. They continued, passing many archways, before crossing one that struck the Doctor. He passed under the archway, feeling a sickness as if he were trapped in a terrible condition. It got worse the closer he was to the arch before he crossed it.
He went under the arch and turned his head to see a similar pit to many of those that he crossed before. The only difference was that this one glowed red. The archway collapsed behind him as if it were just a doorway. The Doctor turned his head to the pit. Out of it rose a red, scaly creature with sharp teeth that curled into an evil smile. The Doctor recognised it as the same face of the demon that attacked Equestria two months ago. It was Bellus.
“Now, Doctor,” sneared the demon, “Before you stand two jars. One of them holds the key to your TARDIS…
“Pardon?” interrupted the Doctor, “Why do you know my name and how’d you get my key?”
“That’s simple magic when you’ve spent so long absorbing the magical traits of Tartarus” laughed the evil being, flickering his eyelashes in a humored manner.
“Now as I was saying before you interrupted, there are two pots on the ground at your feet. One holds the key to your TARDIS, you can summon it and leave.”
“And the other?” The Doctor questioned.
“The other holds the key to my chains,” said the Demon, smirking.
The Doctor stood confused. He should very easily be able to find his key. It was light, and the pots beneath him both looked heavy. They looked heavy, but as the Doctor went to lift them, they both seemed light. He tried to clear his mind and find some reasoning. He had to find some way to figure out which one was his.
Finally, he looked up at the wide grin of the despicable creature. He was obviously using some form of magic to throw him off. Questions formed in the Doctor’s mind.
“Why can’t you smash the pots and give yourself the key?” he then asked.
“The type of magic that is used to keep me here requires deals and bets. It is demon magic. This is the most I can do to insure my escape.”
Doctor looked down at the pots again before selecting a single one of them and lifting it above his head. He thought about his action. He thought that this pot contained his key, but the demon could be using magic to make him feel that way. The Doctor put the pot down and stared confused at the other one. He looked down into his pocket where his sonic screwdriver was. It was useless for finding out what things were inside of other things. The decision was all his.
Derpy walked forward toward The Doctor.
The Doctor looked back to see the confused expression of the cross-eyed mare.
“Do you think you know which one’s it?” The Doctor asked.
Derpy shook her head before making her way to The Doctor’s side.
“I know that whatever decision you’ll make, though, you won’t have to make it alone.” replied the mare.
The Doctor smiled at her before realizing how close her hoof was to pot he had just held up.
Her tail swished once and knocked the pot over, putting a crack in the side at a right angle to the rim.
Derpy quickly scooped the container up, but it only made the crack grow until a corner in the bottom of the pot finally broke off and a key quickly made its way out of the new hole. The pot on the other side of the pair quickly shattered revealing another key.
As everything happened, the key from the only mildly shattered pot flew at the demon and clacked against his claws as he pinched it tight.
“Your key is to your left. You have your TARDIS, I have my freedom. I’ll race you to the surface,” spoke the demon as he loosened his cuffs.
The Doctor pressed hard on the TARDIS key, summoning it to a relatively close location. He waited a few seconds, letting it slowly come into existence. He started into the door as it was still appearing.
The Doctor started slamming on the console: telling it to get to Ponyville. He had to get there before the demon would. He’d have to warn everypony.
Derpy and Dinky walked in behind him. They stood worried as the Doctor angrily pounded on the keyboard.
Derpy slowly approached the Doctor to apologise.
Derpy came close to his side to talk to him.
“Doctor?” She asked
“I can’t talk right now, Derpy,” he responded.
“I just wanted to say sorry for breaking the wrong pot,” She described.
“That’s alright,” came the accented voice again, frustrated, “I would have chose that pot anyway.”
Derpy responded, “I really am.” her voice cracked slightly and the Doctor recognised it as a symbol of some different emotions than he had thought she’d be experiencing.
He turned to see the mare’s face coated with tears. It then fell upon the Doctor that Derpy had just considered herself responsible for the possible future destruction of all of Equestria, and his tone didn’t do much good for her poor feelings.
The Doctor immediately put his arms around the startled companion and tried to make her feel better. The Doctor didn’t blame the poor mare. He wanted more for her. After seeing her eyes, he felt he would never have enough to give her. She meant more to him than any amount of treasure or adventure or any possession was worth. She meant the world to him.
It wasn’t her fault. None of this was. She was just a companion. She was his companion. The both of them didn’t want to be alone and neither would. They had each other. Companions.