//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Back to Normal // Story: Doctor Whooves: Discord and Time // by Gherkin //------------------------------// The snow-laden street was quiet, and empty. Not a living creature stirred, except the two people standing beside a large police box. A blonde, middle-aged woman, outraged with the man in front of her, berated him. “This is wrong, Doctor,” she said, disgusted, “I don’t care who you are, the Time Lord victorious is wrong!” “That’s for me to decide,” he replied calmly, his long brown coat billowing in the wind. The look on Captain Adelaide Brooke’s face changed from outrage to pure disgust. “Now, you better get home!” He turned to look at the house behind them. “Oh, it’s all locked up. You’ve been away.” He pulled a slim device out of his pocket. “Still, that’s easy.” He pointed it at the door, pressing a button. The device whirred, the door unlocked, and it drifted open. “All yours,” he told her, popping the device back into his pocket. “Is there nothing you can’t do?” she asked, walking past him. “Not anymore.” He watched her walk inside her home, before turning away walking back to his TARDIS. Reaching the door, he was about to open it when he heard a single laser shot emanate from Adelaide’s house. He turned around, before realizing what his actions had caused. He leant back against the box in shock. “I don’t care who you are; the Time Lord victorious is wrong!” Her voice rang through his head. He turned to see a familiar creature, the creature that prophesied his death, standing in the middle of the street. “I’ve gone too far.” He dropped to his knees. “Is this it?” He called out fearfully, “My death?” The creature just stared at him. “Is it time?” Without a word, the creature faded away, as if it was never there at all. The Doctor stood up, glancing around, before hastily shoving the key into the TARDIS’ lock and stepping inside. For a moment he just stood there, in the middle of the console room, listening to the chimes of the cloister bell. “No.” He yanked a lever, setting his machine in motion. Sparks flew out of the console. The whole room began to shake violently. “What?” He checked his monitor as parts of the room crumbled around him. “Oh no...” The blue box tumbled through the time vortex, before becoming caught up in the rifts of the Medusa Cascade. It struggled for a few moments, trying to escape the Cascade’s pulling grasp. Then, it was gone. Wiped off the face of the universe. DOCTOR WHOOVES DISCORD AND TIME STARRING: MATT SMITH TARA STRONG ASHLEIGH BALL ANDREA LIBMAN TABITHA ST. GERMAIN JOHN DE LANCIE The Doctor suddenly jerked awake. Glancing around, he found himself in the middle of the TARDIS’ console room. Must have fell asleep, he thought, I have got to stop having that dream. I went too far... He circled the console, his hooves clopping against the glass floor. “Do you always do this?” He stopped, hearing the familiar voice of a certain orange farmpony. He turned around and, sure enough, there was Applejack, sitting at the top of the stairs. “Do what?” “Y’know,” she said, trotting down the stairs, “Stay up all night and mess around in here.” “Usually. I don’t sleep as much as you, and the TARDIS has been acting a little strange recently,” he replied, “What are you doing up, anyway?” “Couldn’t sleep.” He nodded, before turning back to the assortment of buttons and contraptions that adorned the console. She stopped him. “Doctor, can I talk to you about something?” He paused, a little taken back by the question. Applejack had never been too personal with him over the last two weeks since they left Ponyville, preferring to sit back and watch in awe as they witnessed the wonders of the universe. “Sure, go ahead.” “All those things we’ve seen, the singing towers, the Perseus Nebula, all those things in time and space. I can’t help but think that we are just tiny parts of your life because of all of them.” “Applejack," he said soothingly, “You all are the best parts of my life. I’ve been to the edges of my universe, and this one too, but it’s no fun without friends by my side.” He sat down. “See, when you’re as old as me, and you’ve seen all these things, they kind of lose their touch.” She stared at him, an inquisitive look in her eye. He ignored it. “But with you six around, it feels as though it’s a whole new place. A whole new universe to explore, with friends.” She looked into his eyes, concerned. "I heard the things you were mutterin' in your sleep, Doc. Something about 'going too far'." He sighed. "Applejack, there's something I need to explain to you." "Go on." "If you remember a while back I explained that time is always in flux, which means there are minor details that can be changed. Say, for instance, someone you knew went on holiday to Trottingham, and you went back and made them go on holiday to Las Pegasus instead. Stuff like that." She nodded. "But there are some parts of time that are known as 'fixed points', that must always stay the same. I tried to change one of them, tried to 'assert my status' as a Time Lord. But it all went wrong." "How? What happened?" "I don't want to talk about it. Long story short, I thought I had the power to bend the laws of time to my will, but I've realized that no one man should have that power." He looked up at her. "There's a song about that somewhere, I think. Well, if you can call rapping singing..." Applejack clapped her hooves together. "Doc, you're goin' off topic here." "Right, sorry." She looked at him for a moment. "Doc, I got one last question." He looked back. "Shoot." "Why did y'all take me and Twi back in time anyway? You hardly knew us!" He looked away. "To prove a point, I suppose." He got up and began to pace around the console. Applejack studied him for a while. There was definitely something he wasn't telling her, but she decided not to question him any further. "Maybe it's just because I enjoy your company so much," he called out, before grinning. She smiled, and yawned. "Couldn’t sleep, eh?” he said. She chuckled and stood up. “I think I might try it again. Oh, and is there a toilet around here? The one in my room is broken.” She groaned. "Pinkie Pie picked up a little 'souvenir' when we were in the Horsehead Nebula. And by souvenir, I mean some local firecrackers." He smiled. “First right, second left, just past the helter-skelter. Next to the wardrobe." She thanked him and trotted back upstairs. The Doctor turned back to the console of the machine, staring at it. He chuckled, before settling down on a seat. Feeling drowsy himself, he drifted off to sleep. *** “Wakey wakey, sleepy head!” The time pony jerked awake to the sight of the TARDIS’ most hyperactive new occupant staring at him, inches away from his face. “Pinkie!” he exclaimed, wiping sleep from his eyes, “How many times have I told you not to do that?” She giggled, failing to suppress an amused snort. “Sorry, it just cracks me up every time!" She hopped backwards, letting him stand up. The rest of her friends had gathered in the console room, having heaved their baggage from their rooms. “What are you doing?” The Doctor asked, yawning. “What’s with the bags?” Twilight turned her head at the sound of his voice, surprised to see him awake. “You said we were going back to Ponyville, remember? That the TARDIS needs to refuel, or something.” He watched Pinkie Pie trot out of the room to collect her bags. “Did I?” He shrugged. “Must be getting forgetful in my old age.” Twilight cocked her head. “Old age? You look no older than me!” He straightened his bow tie and ran a hoof through his flowing mane. “Oh, right, haven’t told you yet, have I?” “Told us what?” “I’m about nine hundred years old, can’t remember exactly.” He walked over to the monitor on the console, leaving Twilight with even more questions that probably weren’t going to be answered. Tapping a few buttons, he set his machine to land back in Ponyville on February 19th, 1002 Celestia’s Reign. The day after they left. Rainbow Dash glided over to him. “Don’t you remember, Doc? You said that Ponyville was a ‘hub’, or something, and that the TARDIS refuelled there using the Elements of Harmony!” He nodded. "Right. Of course.” “Wheeee!” Everyone in the room turned their attention to the hallway, where Pinkie soon appeared. “Guys, there’s a helter-skelter in here!” She leapt down the stairs in a single bound. “That was so much fun!” The Doctor stared at her for a moment, before smiling and addressing the rest of the group. “Listen carefully, everypony! The TARDIS needs a day or two to refuel, so I suggest you all try to slot back into your daily routines, at least for a while.” The rest of them nodded, having already made their plans. Fluttershy walked over to him. “What about you? What are you going to do for the next few days?” He looked away, gazing into the column that protruded from the console. “Mess around in here, I s’pose.” He looked back at her. “Like I always do.” Pinkie leapt in front of him. “Boring! How about you come to Sugarcube Corner with me? I need someone to taste-test Mr. Cake’s new candy invention!” He smiled, looking her in the eye. “Oh really? And what would that be?” he said playfully. “Mr. Cake came up with these new type of gummy candies! He calls them ‘Jelly Fillies’.” He looked at her, disbelief spread across his face. “Really?” She nodded. Suddenly, the room began to shake violently, throwing the six friends off of their hooves. Then, as quickly as it started, it stopped. “We’re here!” The Doctor exclaimed proudly. Throwing open the double doors, he beckoned them to exit, proclaiming “Fillies first.” They had landed in an alley opposite Sugarcube Corner. True to The Doctor’s word, it was mid morning the day after they had left. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Pinkie Pie had already bounced over to the building opposite, so, as the others went back to their business, The Doctor followed her inside the bakery. A strange odour combination of freshly baked cookies and baby excrement hit the time lord as he entered. Covering his nose, he called for Pinkie, who had already gone behind the counter into the kitchen. She quickly popped her head out. “Sorry Doctor, Mr. and Mrs. Cake kind of have their hooves full with a big order today!” “CARROT CAKE!” The Doctor heard somepony scream. “The foals need changing, in case you haven’t noticed!” A lanky orange stallion came dashing down the stairs, trying his best not to trip over his dirty apron. “I’m on it, honeybun!” He paused to say hello to Pinkie, before disappearing into the kitchen. The Doctor stared at the kitchen door for a moment, listening to the overworked couple unsuccessfully try to juggle their work and duties as a parent at the same time, before looking back to Pinkie, who had been doing the same. "Did we come at a bad time?" The pink pony groaned. "We could have done better. I'd better go help them out." She disappeared inside the kitchen once again. She emerged soon after, the Cake’s following behind carrying saddlebags full of confectionery. “Alright Pinkie, are you sure you’ll be able to handle Pound and Pumpkin while we’re gone?” Mrs. Cake asked, constantly checking her watch. “You can count on me!” “OK then, we’ll see you later.” They exited, greeting The Doctor briefly on their way out. They both stood there for a moment, before The Doctor grinned characteristically. “Well, this should be easy!” “Easy?” Pinkie scoffed. “You obviously haven’t met the Cake’s twins.” “No, but I speak fluent baby.” He trotted over to the foals, who were playing with a set of building blocks, and picked them up. “Hey there,” he whispered to them, “I’m The Doctor, what’s your name?” They stared at him, innocent smiles on their faces. Pumpkin tugged on his bow tie, trying to put it in her mouth. “No, it’s not tasty.” He looked distant for a moment. “I’ve tried.” Pinkie giggled. “Well, it looks like you have them under control, that’s for sure.” She turned towards the kitchen. “That means I’ll be able to make some Jelly Fillies for you to try!” Hopping into the kitchen, she pulled open a large cupboard, taking out all the ingredients she needed. Her face dropped. “Oh, we don’t have enough food colouring.” She trotted back to The Doctor, who was talking to the foals. “What are you doing?” He turned his attention to her. “Oh, just telling Pound and Pumpkin the story of the Emperor Dalek’s new clothes. Would you like to listen too?” Pinkie smiled. Only The Doctor would entertain a pair of foals by telling them of ancient aliens from the outer reaches of space. “No, I have to go out to the market for a while. Will you be okay with the twins?” He scoffed. “Of course! I can’t believe you ever doubted me, Pinkie.” She rolled her eyes, and bounced out of the door. *** Pinkie didn’t spend long at the market. There wasn’t much to see, as it was a slow day for business. A few ponies trotted from stand to stand, buying necessities for everyday life, but it was otherwise deserted. Making her way back inside Sugarcube Corner, she was surprised to see the storefront empty. “Doctor? Where are you?” “In here!” she heard him call from the kitchen. Walking inside, she saw Pound and Pumpkin eating some hay fries, dipping them excitedly into a bowl of custard between them. She gave The Doctor a confused look. “They were hungry,” he explained, a sheepish smile across his face, “I tried giving them everything, but, apparently, the only thing they want to eat today is hay custard!” Pinkie gaped at him for a second, before glancing towards the bowl of custard. She looked to the time lord for approval. A nod of the head. She dived in, picking up the custard and gulping down the whole bowl. The Doctor chuckled, picking up some fries and popping them in his mouth. “Hmm,” he said to himself, “Not bad.” *** Can I smell apple pie? Heh, I must be home. Applejack trotted up to the farmhouse. The farmhouse that had been her home all of her life. It felt strange to be back, living a normal life for a while. I’m not sure if I’m ready to be home, after all I’ve seen, she thought, staring at the front door. She could hear the aged voice of her grandmother from within. “Apple Bloom! Can y’all hurry up and finish off the dishes?” “I’m comin’ Granny, hold your horses!” Applejack smiled. Some things never changed. She slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside. The distinct aroma of apples hit her the moment she stepped through the threshold. She walked into the kitchen, taking in her disturbingly familiar surroundings. A freshly baked apple pie sat on the windowsill. I don’t think I can remember a time where there wasn’t some sort of pie sitting there. She heard her little sister grumbling, reluctantly scrubbing away at the dishes. “Granny always makes me do the dishes.” She groaned. “It was Applejack’s turn today.” Applejack chuckled. “Is it? I better get to work then.” Apple Bloom whirled around, startled at the sudden noise. She quickly composed herself. “Oh, so you’re finally home!” she said, resentment in her voice. Applejack embraced her sister. “Oh, Apple Bloom, I’ve missed you so much!” The filly struggled to break free of her sister’s grip. “Hey, calm down big sis! You’ve only been gone for one night!” Her sister smiled. “Yeah, something like that.” She let go of Apple Bloom, who was now even more confused with her sister’s behaviour. Applejack laughed slightly. “Come on, let’s finish the dishes.” Applejack was finally home with her family for a few days, away from all the space and time travel. After all she’d seen and done, she needed some peace and quiet. But she wasn’t going to get any.