//------------------------------// // Episode 78: Time For a Diamond Heist! (Season Finale Part 5) // Story: The Life of a Wanted Changeling Season 2: Debt to a Doctor (Comment Driven Story) // by Down with Chrysalis //------------------------------// BrownDog's Comment With the sirens going off everywhere, you, the Doctor, and Derpy quickly rush inside the TARDIS. After the Doctor secures the Dog Collar Diffuser, he turns to you. “Alright, we’re going to have to find that Diamond.” “ Does it really have to be the size of a polo ball?” you ask. “Well, technically it could be a little larger or smaller, but just so long as it can reflect the…” he then starts talking in techno-babble that you don’t understand. Having enough of the mumbo-jumbo that you'll never understand you interrupt him as you say, “Alright, and where are we going to find that?” The Doctor look annoyed at you interrupting him as he says, “Well we have a few options, there are vast caverns within this mountain that have many kinds of gems, but bunkers and shelters have been made within them” he explains. “Aren’t those the caverns Cadance was thrown in?” you ask. “The very same, another option is we can try and take one from a celebrity or noble.” “I say we go rob Blue(No)Balls, surely he can part with some,” you guess. “Unfortunately, he fled Equestria weeks ago, taking his fortune with him,” the Doctor says in disgust. “Greedy B&$%@#*, still I say we rob his house” you swear. The Doctor shakes his head before he says, “But fortunately there are still enough rich folks here, like Fancy Pants, Sapphire Shores, and others, surely they might have some.” “Alright, so rob the rich first, if that fails, we go mining?” “Pretty much,” the Doctor cheerfully says. You sigh at this before you say, "Well I guess we can rob Fancy Pants first. I heard Rarity talking about him, said he was the nicest noble shes ever meant. Hopefully he's as nice in this dimension as he is in ours." The Doctor nods his head at this and is about to follow you out of the TARDIS, when Derpy suddenly asks, Grey Rebel's Comment "Did you meant it back there?" The Doctor stops to look at her, brow raising. "Huh?" "You know, being able to stop the Nightmare in this world?" He pauses to consider the question, then says, "Well, it's not like we are the only ponies to stop him. They have Pinkamena here! I'm sure she could take care of this world's Bugze." "Yeah," you pipe in. "No kidding. Did you see how she just kept getting back up no matter what I hit her with? It's like she's a terminating cyborg from the future or something!" Derpy seems to stare, a frown forming and a lazy eye straightening, as if she isn't satisfied with his answer. "Then why are we stalling?" Now THAT makes you stop in shock, but the momentum forces you to trip over yourself and fall, slamming into a wall. "Wait, what?!" you shout, getting back up. The Doctor is speechless, stuttering when he tries to say, "I, uh, D-Derpy! What are you talking about?" "You know we've crashed before, Doctor, and we never had to run around finding this many things." "But this is different!" The Doctor excuses. "But we've crashed from worse! Even I made bigger dents into the TARDIS than Bugze, and we never do this!" Derpy sternly says. Surprisingly, you discover that whenever her eyes are straight, she's like a mother sternly talking to a foal. Or maybe it is the other way around... Anyways, by that exchange, you see the Doctor just looks away, not denying it. After a moment, Derpy's expression softens as she says, "I know you. You never turn away from ponies in need, even if they're from an entirely different universe. So, Doctor, what in Celestia's name are we building?" What you see next stuns you. There it is, the spark in The Doctors eyes, something heroic... and perhaps an unyielding force of will behind it all. "...Something to stop the Nightmare. To prevent it from truly coming to complete its destruction, stopping it in its tracks." Still, even despite his short and sudden charismatic display of attitude, you still want to wring his neck for lying! "Wait, you mean the TARDIS isn't really broken and we could've gone home THIS WHOLE TIME?!" you indignantly ask. "No, no, no, no, no!" the Doctor quickly says, "The TARDIS IS damaged and at the very least, the power coupling is absolutely necessary for allowing the TARDIS to go back to our time, but the Diamond is still our top priority right now!" However, something stops you. In his words, something... Stuck out to you. And it makes you feel like an idiot, more so than the last few times. "Oh! OH, Buck!" you suddenly shout. "I almost bucking forgot!" "What?" The Doctor incredulously looks at you. "Bugze, what are you talking about?" "I meant to ask you about it, but I never really got the chance until now!" "Spit it out, Bugze, we are still on the run!" "Look, throughout my time in Ponyville, I've been getting these... Images of a message. Noling could see it but me. Even Selena couldn't see them. Every message is the same: 'The Nightmare Comes'." Just saying that phrase makes you shiver, but hopefully the Doctor will be able to explain it to you kn- "...I'm afraid I don't quite understand the issue." Your eyes widen in shock as you shout, "WHAT!? Look Doc I'm not crazy! Flag Burner heard the message, too!" "Wait, what?!" "Yeah, and he said someling told him about it, told him to make the Fillydelphia Incident back at Harthswarming happen!" Finally, you've finally got tell him that! Even though you were still stuck in a universe were your a psychopathic monster, it's still good to get it off of your chest. "Besides, if our universe is already saved from the Nightmare, then why is the 'Nightmare' still coming?" The Doctor is yet again in shock, but this time it is in fear. Visible, unadulterated fear. "Our problem, I realize, is a whole lot worse than I thought." "Why is it, Doctor?" Derpy asks. "Well, really, it's just that the stakes are a whole lot higher now. It's only a theory, but I hope it is wrong," he begins. "This universe's Bugze is full of hatred so strong, that it can leak into another universe—our universe! That must be why we are here, the walls between realities have been thinned by his Rage. If we let it continue, and if the Nightmare succeeds into taking over this world, then the Nightmare would surely come into ours." Then he muttered darkly, still loud enough for you to hear, "And many lives will inevitably be lost in our world in the aftermath." "In other words, we have two bucking worlds on our hooves, and the big baddy is my other self?" you ask. The Doctor grimly nods. "Buck you, Lady Luck!" You shake off your anger for that bucking goddess as you say, "Okay, so now we have even more of a reason to nab that Diamond! We fix the TARDIS and we stop the Nightmare. Cause now we got two worlds on the line if we don't." The Doctor and Derpy nod their heads at your deceleration before the Doctor says, "Okay, so the plan is-" You interrupt him as you say, Solarknes's Comment "Wait Doc, Shouldn't we find out what those sirens are for? I mean it could be something really important!" As you move to leave the TARDIS, you hear the Doctor shout, "Bugze! Wait!" "But we need to find out why the sirens are ringing." you respond as you turn around. The Doctor looks at you, before laughing and then saying, "And you seriously doubt that we can find that out WITHOUT going outside?" "Well, there is no waaaa- You know something I don't, don't you?" The Doctor give a smug smile before he says, "Let me present to you: The interstellar and -chronic broadcast-messenger! Fully functional Television at any point in the galaxy for any show, movie, or serial at any time. Also useful for finding out what is causing others to panic WITHOUT running into the fray." "Wait, didn't you use this to show me my... His rampage?" "Yes..." The Doctor says sympathetically, "But it can also pick up radio and sound waves as well. Listen." With that, the Doctor turns a few dials as you go back into the Main Control Room, you see said TV. Currently, it flickers before it shows you a blank screen before the speakers blast out, "CITIZENS OF CANTERLOT! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! PLEASE CALMLY MAKE YOUR WAY TO YOUR NEAREST FALLOUT SHELTERS NOW!" As Luna's RCV volume echoes through the TARDIS making all your ears hurt, the Doctor mercifully lowers the volume, "DO NOT PANIC AND PLEASE DO NOT ROB AND/OR LOOT YOUR FELLOW PONIES. I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DR-" Suddenly the announcement gets distorted and cut off by static as the screen suddenly flashes on and you see what seems to be a crimson-shelled changeling, transparent and surrounded by a pitch-black light-blocking substance. You can't help but notice that this crimson changeling seems wounded and tired, "To whoever finds this... You have to stop us! I have fallen to what is widely known as the 'Nightmare', but that is not important! We are heading towards a large city..." Oh? See! That's what you are. Weak, pathetic, needing to hope others do your work. You could be so much more... . You ignore the annoyance that is your shadow as Selena says, I just got an idea... That crimson changeling, could he be you? Or, well, this universe's you? Reaching out with the last of his sanity? At this point a tentacle of the pitch black drills into the changeling's back, "You don't have much time...", he coughs blood at this, "I was able to slow us down... Wrestle enugh control to get this message out to anyling that can here it... but I will vanish soon. Heh, I knew I was going to die a long time ago... So much rage and pain..." The tentacle pumps darkness into him, dark vines are visible and pulsing around him. You can somehow sense your Shadow wincing and rubbing at something in pain as it says, I feel glad that's not me. Very glad. But of course I'm not that and you would never be able to do that, you wouldn't have the guts to do th- You ignore your shadow's ramblings as this universe's "Real Bugze" starts to dissipate, "Help... Even after all they've done, they don't deserve what's coming to them..." With that the monitor abruptly turns off, You, the Doctor, and Derpy all gulp when the image cuts as the Doctor says, "Well...looks like we have a time limit now. Let's get this Diamond before it's too late." You look at him in confusion (while shoving off the fact that that could have been you on the screen) as you ask, "Wait, how do we know it's coming to this city?" The Doctor gives you a blank look as he says, "Cause this is the last city standing in the whole world." You blink a few times before you chuckle nervously and says, "Oh...right." With that the Doctor sighs before he starts to give you and Derpy a plan to steal from Fancy Pants.... You That Read Wrong's Comment Among the defenses you see Luna coordinating troops and temporary cause gaps in the shield surrounding Canterlot so airships can take off and take position around the city, a squad of Minotaurs helping to push the Flim Flam brother's weapon into position, Diamond Dogs digging trenches... with the help of a giant worm, and... BonBon (must be this universe's BonBon instead of that agent who was helping you) riding a giant Bugbear? Around Sunset Diamond Heist Difficulty: This Is Impossible +145 You once more looked into the skylight and double checked to make sure your mask is on tight. You look off to the left and you can see far down the street and see on the city wall Luna coordinating troops and temporarily causing gaps in the shield surrounding Canterlot so airships can take off and take position around the city. "That is so strange...yet for some reason it makes sense that she's doing it." You look over a little bit more to the left and see a squad of Minotaurs helping to push the Flim Flam brother's weapon into position. You gulp at the size of the weapon before you say, "I really hope they don't aim that thing at me…well Me me, not the other me." You look over to your right to see Diamond Dogs digging trenches... with the help of a giant worm, and... BonBon (must be this universe's BonBon instead of that agent who was helping you) riding a giant Bugbear? You shake your head as you say, "This dimension is soooo weird." You shake it off as you hear the Doctors voice say through your headset. "OK Bug- um sorry, what was your completely unnecessary codename again?" "Cains" you reply, after sighing heavily. At that a chuckle came through your head set to your mild annoyance. The chuckling ends as you hear the Doctor say, "Okay 'Cains' are you sure you want to rob Fancy Pants, the only pony with security and a vault matched only by the one they use to store the Elements of Harmony, wearing nothing but a suit, tie, and a clown mask?" Oh not this again.... "I mean seriously I have like tons of different outfits and stuff to wear that's better suited for this!" You give a blank face as you ask, "Like what?" You hear some shuffling in your headset before the Doctor says "Let's see, uh, there's a cardboard box, a lamp shade, the Nanosuit 2.0 and the ring of fog. Lotsa stuff, better than a suit and a clown mask. " You roll your eyes as you prepared to once more explain your odd choice of apparel. "Look Doc, how many times do I have to tell you? If you’re trying to pull off a heist of any kind, you HAVE to look good while doing it, or, at least that's what Pinkie would say if she was still her usual pink self." There's some awkward silence before the Doctor says, "Um...okay then, if you get in a tight spot and can't hide in the safe and comforting walls, that only a cardboard box could provide, don't blame me.” Yeah, cause the cardboard box worked so well in the past, you think to yourself. "So, I'm guessing you at least know the plan?" the Doctor asks. "Uhh...." You hear an annoyed sigh before the Doctor says, "We spent two hours going over-never mind, use the glass cutter to cut a hole in the glass, and get comfy because it's going to take about 4 minutes." Pulling the circular and somewhat large metal glasscutter the Doc gave you earlier out of the Inventory, you place it on the glass. You smile at the magic enchantment on it assuring it wouldn't move in any way or form once placed, and flick the switch to 'ON.' You see a screen on the cutter displaying 'Estimated Time: 240 Seconds' with a progress bar on the bottom, and in that moment your headset once more comes to life as the Doctor says, "One more thing 'Cains' - look I'm sorry I just can't say it anymore, It's just too ridiculous... and it sounds stupid." "Fine...killjoy." "Anyway, as I was saying, the glass cutter might jam occasionally at inconvenient times for no apparent reason. So, uh, if it does, just turn it off for five seconds, then turn it on and off really fast until you hear two beeps." "Doc! I thought you said this was state of the art! " "It's state of the art for 5 bits." You stare at the cutter as you just now notice that there are dents, duck tape, and loose screws all over it. You sigh as you mumble, "That explains a lot..." You sighed as the cutter's display changed from Blue to red and gave out a high pitched beep as it jammed. “This is gonna be a long 4 minutes,” you sigh. *4 minutes and 15 resets later* "About bucking time!” you cry out as the cutter’s display changes to 'complete.' Grabbing the device in your mouth and dropping it in the newly created hole, you then carelessly jumped into the perfect hole in the skylight. *THUD* Keyword there being skylight. At least you didn't break your neck when your face collided with floor below. You get back on your hooves while rubbing your sore nose, hoping noling heard or saw you break-in as the Doctor begins to give you your next objective. "Alright Doc, I'm in." "Okay, now you got the codes correct?" "It's the key card right? " "Yeah, you see the vault?" Turning around, you see the vault along with multiple lasers. You gulp slightly at the intimidating sight as you say, "Y-yeah. I see it. It’s got a bunch of lasers covering it." You hear the Doctor sigh before he says, "Great now don't try to do any Ninja stuff with those lasers, they’re spaced way to closely together, you'd look extremely awkward.” You stop in your tracks as that was exactly what you were about to do, “I-I wasn’t Doc, I’m not that stupid, heh heh…” you stammer nervously. “Clearly,” says the Doctor unbelieving, “Besides the vault door itself would trip them if you open it anyway. Trust me when I say this, you don't want to get caught, I hear Fancy Pants has an elite squad of guards on standby." "So no Ninja stuff, got it. Then what do I do? " "There's an alarm box on the 2nd floor in the closet of the guest room, you gotta hook it up with that tablet I gave you. And watch out for Sapphire Shores, she seems to be staying in that room. " "Oh okay-wait Sapphire Shores is here?! " "Yeah, I heard she was staying here for some reason" *insert squee here* The walk to the second floor was mostly uneventful since the guards patrolling seemed to be deaf and nearsighted, the only time you nearly got caught was when you turned a corner and almost came face first with a guard, but you quickly pulled back and he never seemed to notice... weird. You opened the door to the guest room, and see fancy outfits everywhere. You kind of want to take one, because they belong to Sapphire Flippin Shores! Ignoring your inner Celebrity Crush/Obsession (for the time being), you enter the closet and find the alarm box, you open it up and plant the tablet. It's like the cutter, displaying 'Time remaining 240 Seconds.’ "Hey Doc what's up with these guards they seem, sorta out of it…" You hear the Doc humming before he says, "From what I heard there running on nothing but coffee and an anti sleep spell, I think they work 3 days a week straight, no breaks." "That sounds horrib- " "But I think there paycheck is about 1,000 bits an hour." "Where can I sign up?" "Bug-*sigh*, just watch the tablet Bugze…" "Fine. At least this thing can't jam like that cutter. " The Doctor chuckles nervously over the headset as he says, "Actually I didn't finish writing the code yet, so it might divide by zero and the override could slow down significantly or stop altogether. So if it does just turn it off for about ten seconds and turn it on again. " "Doc, this closet isn't exactly comfy..." "Shut up and watch the tablet Bugze." *1 minute and 14 resets later * You had to reboot the system a few times, but progress is being made…you hope. When suddenly, you hear the door to the room open. You remain absolutely still as you listen. “Ms. Shores, I really must ask you to come with me to the crystal cavern shelters,” says a male voice. “I’ll be there in a minute sugar. I got a bad feeling about tonight, and if I’m going out, I’m going out looking my best,” says the pony of pop. You mentally squee since you’re in the same room as her. You peek through the crack in the closet and see her checking herself out in the mirror. She is dressed in tight fitting yoga pants and a sweater, and you begin sweating. She holds up a fancy looking costume you’ve never seen her wear before. “Never got to show this one off…no time like the present I suppose” she says to herself in the mirror as she starts undressing and putting the new costume on. Blood shoots out your nose at your peeping and you are mentally slapped by Selena. Focus on the job you fool. You can ogle later. I wasn't ogling, I was...observing Whatever helps you sleep at night, which will be full of nightmares if you don’t stop staring by the way. Aw man... “There,” she finishes, “Thos refugees in the shelter will appreciate this. My last show…” she sniffles as she leaves the room. *2 minutes and 25 more resets later* The screen on the table now displaying 'complete,' you silently crawl out of the closet and start to head back down to the vault, which is now missing it's hundreds of lasers. "Alright Doc you can open the doors remotely right?" "Yeah opening them now." The vault doors open with a sound that seems eerily similar to that made by scratching a chalk board, only louder. "Oh dear Luna Doc! I think everyling in the building and their mothers heard that!" " Relax Bugze they’re probably too out of it to notice. " " Hey...did...did you hear something?" You hear a guard say to his partner sounding half asleep. "I.... dunno.... sounded like some pony was scratching a chalk board...." replies an equally sleepy voice. "Yeah... that, *yawn* would explain it." Sighing in relief, you walk into the vault and see gems of all shapes and sizes. "Alright Bugze to your left should be a big metal door, get over there and put the codes in." "What about all these gems here? I count at least twenty Diamonds that are about the right size." The Doctor sighs in annoyance before he says, "Because if you cut, break, or so much as touch the glass on the display cases, the alarm will go off, and they'll be swarmed by guards." "Fine." Approaching the metal door you look through the small glass window to see a Diamond the perfect size for the job... behind a glass display. "Hey Doc the Diamond looks like it's behind a glass display like the others, how am I supposed to.... " "Once you get past the door use the glass cutter to get past the display." "Wouldn't that set off the alarm?" "Nah, whoever was enchanting the display cases forgot to set this one up so the alarm would trip if the glass was cut, don't break it though, it will go off if you break it." "Umm Okay then...how do you know all this stuff anyway? " “Well let’s just say that I’ve technically already done this before,” he responds. “You’ve robbed Fancy pants before?” you ask. “Well, not so much robbed, as in taking back something that was mine. He was there with me actually, his house security system turned against us, there was an Ood…I’ll tell you all about it later.” “Alright then,” you say. Fetching the key card with the codes you slid it on the terminal and then the alarm went off. "Umm... Doc!? I-I don't think the codes worked! " "What?! Those codes cost a fortune! You know what I had to do in a back alley to get those?! OK, ugh they must have changed very recently, or Intel was super fresh!" "Okay so what do I do now?!" "Um..... hope they don't break every bone in your body? And get back here as soon as you can. Looks like we’re going mining." In that moment a guard ran in and yelled, "Thief! Get him! " You throw your hooves up in defense as you say, "Wait, wait I can explain!" Or at least you could of if they hadn't dog piled you. Thinking quickly you Psycho Crusher out of the pile and make a run for it, completely forgetting the huge diamond. You smash out of a window and fall to the ground. You manage to land on your hooves and you make a run all the way back to the TARDIS. What you don't notice as you run is a familiar pink pony on the rooftops following after you.... BACK IN THE TARDIS When you get back to the TARDIS you quickly put the Baker Sylvester Tennant suit back on as you see the Doctor and Derpy putting on mining gear. “Well that was a bucking waste of time,” you lament. “Quite so, maybe next time we should all stick together,” says Derpy matter of factly. “Well…you got a point there,” you mumble. “Anyway, unlike you,” says the Doctor, “I was at least partially successful. Now that the TARDIS has been diffused, I was able to fix her up a bit. We still need a coupling, but now we can use the Collar for defense. So, Let’s go get that Diamond!” he says as he makes his way to the door with Derpy following. You’re about to follow them when you remember something... Also I wonder if smaug could be of any help *hint hint* *nudge nudge*. Or more precisely his hoard. Half of it to be exact... Smaug’s loot! I stuffed half of his hoard in here, there's bound to be a big diamond! With that thought in mind you open The Inventory and think of the biggest Diamond you could find. After awhile your hoof grabs something. You tug on it and pull out... A Diamond as big as a Polo Ball. The Doctor and Derpy stare at it in shock before the Doctor asks you, "Wha! Bugze were in the multiverse did you get that!" You give a smug smile as you say, "From Smaug's loot. This is the biggest one in there, so I hope we can use it. And you wanted me to put it all back." The Doctor ignores you as he takes looks at the Diamond in your hoof before saying, "This will more than do Bugze, now let me just try and remember where to put this!" With that he takes the diamond and begins to look around the TARDIS for something. As he does you ask him, Kersey's Comment "So Doc, how DID you find this dimension in the first place?" The Doctor looks over to you from a pile of rubble as he asks, "Well... do you still have that note that Derpy gave you?" "You mean that note she gave me after you saved me from the Princesses after I used my nightmare powers for the first time to protect Nightshade which also constantly reminds me of my debt which has gotten me into countless bad places cause of you?" (See "Episode 33: WHY ME!!!" and "Episode 34: I HATE The Woods!") you say in a deadpan tone that was totally not a rushed attempt at exposition, "Yes." he responds. "I do." you say as you take out the Note with your debt to The Doctor and it reads, Dear Bestest Best Friend Bugze, Hi! its me Derpy. So your feeling okay right? You hit your head pretty hard on the Doctors control panel thingy. Oh well... sorry I can't talk to you in person. The Doctor said I can't because of some sort of 'wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey' thing. I honestly don't know what hes talking about half the time (Don't tell him I said that). Oh right, The Doctor told me to tell you that we fed uh hold on a second Okay I'm back. So I asked The Doctor what this little sweet filly's name is. Huh...Oh right. We fed Nightshade but oh muffin did she have a appetite. I have a list attached to this letter of all the food she ate. I hope we can meet again soon Bugze. Love, Derpy After skipping the page that lists all the food Nightshade ate (which is alot), you continue, And Bugze, she said this was all a snack! And they were all extra large servings! Oh, The Doctor told me you owe him this much: 10,000,000,000,000,000 bits. Hope you have enough to pay! P.S. The Doctor tells me that the food is a tiny part of the cost. The real cost came from having to fix the TARDIS as you kinda broke the control panel thingy with your head. Because of that, the TARDIS couldn't move and we got hit by Princess Luna's attack making us arrive in this city that's like Cloudsdale, but made of rock and metal instead of clouds and full of these scary monkey creatures that were hurting each other with fire, hooks, bombs, and loud metal sticks. We managed to escape after getting hit alot more, but the Doctor had to quickly drop you in the some forest a few minutes after we picked you up at the castle so he could fix the TARDIS. "Well..." the Doctor says, "The TARDIS did go straight from the Castle to the Everfree and the note was originally just the first part and the list, but after I dropped you and Nightshade off, the TARDIS was more damaged than I thought and we landed in... here. When Derpy and I escaped, I was determined not to let this future happen so I went back to where I dropped you, only to find you already awake and reading the note. So I had Derpy create a startling distraction to make you drop the note while I quickly zipped in and attached the third sheet with a made-up story about this debt you owe me and some fantastic story about apes destroying each other with hooks and spells in a flying city. "Wait, you were that ghost sound?" you ask in surprise. "Actually, that was Derpy." "Thank Celestia for frogs" Derpy comments. "Anyway, then Derpy and I got back into the TARDIS to meet you at a later time-" "Then why didn't you bail me out at the Gala when everypony wanted to beat the stuffing out of me and I almost destroyed them all in turn when Selena took over?!" you interrupt. Technically you let me take over, Selena adds. Potato, Potahto, you mentally snark. "Wait... What gala?" "You know, the Bland Boring Ball where the Deadly 6 were and I performed a rock concert and Blueballs got his hooves on my daughter so I gave him the Nutshot to end all Nutshots." you explain, "You showed up when all the groups were arguing over who got to fight me first when you showed up in the TARDIS, but just grabbed a plate of food instead of helping me!" (See "Episode 68: Brawl At The Gala! Wrath Of The Hooded Offender! (Season Finale Part 5)") "Oh... that must be where I go in the future." "What?" you ask in confusion. "Yes, and now that you've TOLD me that, I can't help you at the Gala since you've now made that a Fixed Point in Time since now I know the exact date in time when I don't help you which shaped this moment that we're having now which means after this, I now need to go back specifically to not help you. That explains why the TARDIS zipped me to a Canterlot who's ballroom was still being rebuilt..." "Wait- Did I even bucking meet you yet? I mean what about when I got lost in that castle with the Weeping Pegasus hiding from Applejack and Rarity? Was that our 'first meeting'? And if you never existed in this universe, then shouldn't that mean you never saved me from Princess Luna which means I should be dead so the Nightmare never happened and thus you never needed to put me in the debt even though you should've cause of everything that's happened and- Oh no, I've gone cross-eyed!" "That's my thing!" Derpy exclaims. "Look," the Doctor interrupts, "if I start going into any more detail about time travel, then we'll be here all day drawing interlocking diagrams on multiple chalkboards. And that is time we do not have. Let’s just assume this version of you got away from Luna somehow, probably a bit more scorched than usual." "Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey." Derpy adds. "So I just need to 'suspend my disbelief' and ignore all the inconsistencies like I'm watching an Applewood blockbuster?" you ask. "Pretty much," Derpy answers for the Doctor. "Fine... As long as I don't need to go back in time to pass a history test while protecting my future mother from a dozen monkeys with butterflies or anything crazy like that." The Doctor nods his head before he sighs and says, "Ugh, where did I put that bloody thing! Bugze, Derpy help me find it! It's that sphere thing Bon Bon gave us at the castle!" You and Derpy nod your heads before you all... Kichi's Comment Separate around the TARDIS and begin to search when suddenly you all hear a loud banging against the TARDIS door. "Gah! Doctor, what was that?" you ask in surprise. The sound begins to repeat, as something hits the door every couple of seconds. The Doctor presses a button on the console and a screen appears. Outside the TARDIS, Pinkamena is shown charging at the door with her shoulder, smashing into it repeatedly. You gulp in fright at Pinkie's angry slamming as you ask in fear, “How the Buck did she find us?” The Doctor looks to you, “She may have a few more screws loose and be a bit blood thirsty now, but she’s still Pinkie, so your guess is as good as mine,” he says. You look back to the screen and see she is looking straight at it, as if she can see you. "How is it going with finding that sphere thing!?" you ask in fear, not taking your eyes off the screen. "We are still searching!" the Doctor shouts out, You take your eyes off the console as you take out the future comic, thinking that maybe the answer is in there. Instead, all you see is The Doctor and Derpy with shocked expressions on their face. You look up to the console and see Pinkie walking around the TARDIS, inspecting it, so you walk back to help in the search. “Oh blast it, how can one little orb slip my mind,” laments the Doctor. A voice suddenly calls from behind you. "Try searching under the kitchen table" "Of course! I put in there because the table was moving a little too much, thank you Pinkie," The Doctor says as he goes over and picks up the sphere from under the table. You all feel relieved that the Orb is found before you all realize something. You all turn around in fright and shout, "PINKIE?!" Pinkie is standing in the kitchen doorway, and she is frowning. “Not…Pink…Ie…” she snarls. “Oh right, sorry, Pinkamena,” you correct. "That’s better!" she says. Derpy gulps in fear before asking, "How did she get in?" The Doctor just whimpers before saying, "Uhhh... Maybe the Anti-Pinkie shield was damaged when we came into this universe.” You give the Doctor a confused look as you ask, "You made an Anti-Pinkie shield?" The Doctor gives you a deadpanned look before he says, "You'd be surprised how many times that mare has snuck in here.” You nod your head at this before refocusing at the Psycho at hand. “Anyway..." Kersey475 comment You whip out the Power Glove and declare, "WOULD YOU KINDLY BUZZ OFF!" At the "Insect Swarm" plasmid, a small cloud of bees comes out of your arm holes and attacks Pinkamena... *slice slice slice* Only for her to quickly and nonchalantly slice all the bees in half with a few swishes of twin knives. “Bees…are not my god…” she says creepily. She then looks at the readers. “Don’t forget that commenters, or I’ll just have to give you more ‘smiles’ than what you’re already going to get,” she says threateningly. A roar is heard only by her, and she loses that creepy smile. “Okay, okay, I’ll focus on the story…,” she says as she turns back to you. “Sorry about that, one of the commenters had Godzilla with them…bucking cheaters.” It’s official, this Mare has gone over the deep end, come back for air, and go down again. You're then about to try to use the last "Mix-Up Smash" (which would render the Glove useless for this arc as it would shut down to recharge), when the Doctor grabs you and says, "Wait Bugze! If she wanted us dead, you would be splattered all over this room." He then turns to Pinkie and asks... Kropsling66 "Pink…amena what are you doing here?" "I’ve come to help you of course, I’m on your side now." "Why is that?" you ask "Because the princesses ordered me to take good care of you" She replied with a cheerless grin on her face. “But you just tried to kill us the last time we met.” “Well yeah, because I thought you were cultists. You should’ve told me the truth from the beginning,” she chides. “Would you have believed us?” you ask. “Probably not, but I wouldn’t have tried to kill you…maybe cut you all a little, but not kill you,” she says. “But I’m your ally now, so let’s do this…” You barely hold back a doubtful look as you think, I don't like the sound of that. I think we can use this to our advantage How?! She is going to stab us in the back as soon as we fix the TARDIS! True but surely she can't harm us if we make a...Pinkie promise Are you crazy! I already broke plenty of those in the past what makes you think I won't break this one? Because she never breaks a Pinkie Promise. "It’s true I never break a promise, not even after all that’s happened," Pinkamena said interrupting your thoughts? ... Did she just ... Make the promise you idiot! Selena shouts "Pinkamema, do you Pinkie Promise not to harm me, Derpy and the Doctor while we fix this, and in return, we promise to stop Nightmare?" you ask the pink mare as you make the promise movements. You watched her do the actions of the Pinkie Promise. As you say the usual way of it, Pinkie says, I imagine a Pinkamena promise is "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a Needle in my eye." "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a Needle in my eye." You shudder at the new words. Pinkamena added to your party "Remember never break a promise to me " Pinkamena says "What happens if I do?" you ask Pinkie giggles before she says with a creepy smile, "Then Pinkie Break YOU." You gulp in fear as you think, ...Mommy... The Doctor nods his head at this as he says, "Good. Now that that's out of the way we can- Oh darn it!" "What is it?" you ask. only for the Doctor to tell you that you've: -Gotten the wrong gemstone -Accidentally chipped it in the melee rendering it useless. “Bugze this isn’t a Diamond! It’s Rock Candy!” the Doctor exclaims. “What?” you yell out in confusion. “That can’t be true!” Pinkie walks over and picks up the stone and takes a bite out of it. “It’s rock candy alright, made from diamond extract,” she says before swallowing. Her eyes take on a distant sad look as she says, “Just like me and Maud used to make…” You would question what she meant, but at the moment, you are pretty steamed, "Why in the seven layers of Tartarus was their a giant piece of rock candy in Smaug's loot?!" "Well everypony has a sweet tooth Bugze-er I mean Tennant, surely Dragons do too." "I better check over all my other loot later, to make sure they aren't chocolate or something." "You can do that later, right now we better be off to that mine." the Doctor says as he puts a hard hat on with a head lamp in it. "So after all that we STILL need to get a bucking diamond?!" you exclaim in exasperation, "What's nex-" "SWEET CELESTIA, WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!" Your party looks out the TARDIS door in shock as you yell, "What the buck was that!" The Doctor gulps before he says, "I don't know, but we're probably about to find out..." With that you all run outside the TARDIS... You, the Doctor, Derpy, and Pinkemena all run out of the TARDIS, down the alley, and towards the nearest group of ponies before you all look up at the sky in horror as you all see a large meteor heading towards Canterlot! Kersey's Comment WITH CELESTIA AT THE CASTLE, A FEW MOMENTS AGO Celestia quickly casts a spell and her horn starts glowing as she says, "Captain Gray Wing, you need to-" "Call us back to Canterlot because the Nightmare is on its way from the east?" the Griffin responds in a voice in Celestia's ear. "What? How did you know?" Celestia says stunned. "Lieutenant Gilda spotted it with her superior Griffin eyesight. We are moving to intercept and engage." "What?! NO, fall back to Canterlot now!" Celestia orders. "We are Griffins! We are the greatest warriors in the world and never fall back from anything!" Gray Wing boasts. "You don't have the proper backu- I mean equipment! You're no match for it!" Celestia says with panic in her voice. "There's only one of him and we're a WHOLE BATTALION! Just one squad can crush him like a roach! Speaking of which, Rumi Squad, engage!" "NO! I ORDER YOU TO FALL BACK TO CANTERLOT NOW!!!" Celestia roars in the Royal Canterlot Voice with a hint of panic, but what she hears next... *thud* "Squack!" *splort* "No, nononono-" *foosh* "AHHHHHHHHHH!!" *slice* "THAT'S NO BUG! IT'S A PLUCKING MONSTER! RUUUUU-" *SMASH* "All Griffins, ATTACK!!! We got the numbers so we- What the pluck is that?" He is interrupted when there's the sound of a large explosion and a distorted voice yells, "KFCCCCCCCCCC!!!" Suddenly the room Celestia is in shakes briefly. Her eyes widen as she thinks, No... that means he's close! "No... that's not possible." she hears Grey Wing say with terror in his voice, "W-WH-WHAT THE PLUCK ARE YOU?!" She then hears footsteps and distorted laughter coming closer and closer, "No, NO! Stay back!" There's the sound of wings flapping in a panic followed by a sickening crunch and a howl of pain from the Griffin, "GRAAAAH!!! LET ME GO!!! PLEASE!!! BY THE LOST IDOL OF BOREAS! I ORDER YOU TO LET-*TEAR*" Then there's only silence before the Monarch of the Sun turns off the spell... She turns around and looks out the window towards the sky and she feels a dark force heading her way. Celestia sighs sadly before she says, "This is it... the beginning of the end." BACK WITH YOUR GROUP NOW You and your group, along with nearby ponies, all look at the sky in horror as you all see a large meteor heading towards Canterlot! Everypony starts panicking, but suddenly a midnight-colored blur shoots into the sky and explodes the Meteor. Ponies cheer at this, but the relief is short-lived however as suddenly pieces of the shattered meteor start streaming in towards Canterlot. Many of the fragments tear through the airships causing them to explode in massive fireballs that plummet down onto the shield. Soon there is a rain of meteor fragments, burning airships, and even the bodies of guards raining on the shield. If you looked closely, you swore you could've seen something rapidly whipping the pieces at the city. Soon the Tartarus-ish rain ends with the shield around Canterlot still holding strong, but then you all see a furious midnight blur screaming towards Canterlot and a distorted voice that sounds like a higher, more deranged combination of your's and Selena's declares, "METEOR STORM!" The midnight blur smashes through the shield as the whole thing shatters and dissipates. The thing then smashes into the street in a large explosion that levels the two buildings on either side of it as it kicks up a large cloud of dust and debris. A large piece of the bakery comes screaming towards you and your group. Before it hits, and before you can even think about moving, you hear Pinkie shout. “Move you idiots!” as she pushes you, the Doctor and Derpy out of the way. In doing so, the large pillar slams into Pinkie and smashes her into the building behind you.You get up and pull the pillar off her in concern, but she's still breathing, only unconscious. You then look back to where the debris came from. As the dust cloud obscures your view of the force that caused this, the only thing you can see are 4 orange eyes glowing intensely through the mist... WHAT THE BUCK DO YOU DO?