//------------------------------// // The Vines Are Watching: Part Two (S1C4) // Story: DOCTOR // by Deidorimu //------------------------------// "Alright, I think we lost them", said the Doctor, panting as he sat on his rear. He looked over his shoulder to the other two, having to squint through the excruciatingly thick mist. Dean, equally tired, flopped on his belly on the swamp ground. Milly, who had clung to the Doctor's back as they ran through the swamp slid off the Doctor and sat next to him, being carful not to touch her new cast on the ground dirt. Panting, Dean said, "sweet Celestia its a good thing you have elemental magic! But was that much fire really necessary?" "What do you mean? I barely used any!" said the Doctor. "You lit the entire clearing on fire just so we could get past the vines surrounding your M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T! Your fedoras on fire by the way." "Hm? OH!" the Doctor quickly ripped off his fedora and patted the flame until it died. Blowing off a bit of ash, the Doctor placed his hat snug back on his head and said, "Dean, I am very experienced in the art of phoenix magic. And I assure you, that situation could have been much, much worse! But thanks to my fire, everything turned out-" Three Minutes Ago Milly was screaming as she clung desperately to the Doctors neck. As Dean screamed repeatedly, "kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!", the Doctor spewed fire from the tips of his fore hooves. He screamed as he sprayed fire in random directions. The vines, all on fire, wiggled, swatted, and flung rapidly about; hitting trees and grass, igniting everything it touched in flames. "Doctor! I think that's enough!" "NO! THERE'S STILL MORE!" "But the swamp is on fire!" "DON'T CARE! BURNING VINES!" "DOCTOR!" "AAAAAAAAAGH!!!" "DOOOOOCTOOOOORR!!!" Present Time "-Absolutely fine", said the Doctor, brushing ash off his shoulder. "A tree almost fell on us! And you had to use your magic to extinguish the swamp fire! Plus you didn't even get all the vines! They chased us half way here!" "But we're alive aren't we? Therefore, everything turned out alright!" Dean sighed, "fine, whatever, how much further is the storage?" "Just a mile more, won't take us long. How are you feeling Milly?" asked the Doctor. "I'm okay", said Milly. "Did the vines scare you?" "Mmm, a little. But I wanna be brave like the colt in the story!" Milly said enthusiastically. The Doctor smiled and patted Milly's head, "well then, let's not keep your parents from seeing their "brave little filly". Come on Dean! Up and at em!" "Alright", said Dean, as he and the Doctor stood to their hooves. Milly hopped onto the Doctor's back and together the three continued their way towards the cave. A five minute period of silence ended as Dean asked, "so Doctor, what exactly are we going to do once we get there? I mean, we can't just ask the Frostealius to stop attacking us. Well, we could, but if that doesn't work then what?" "First we'll investigate the area and see if we can find any clues to where the Frostealius is hiding and where they are keeping Milly's parents. Hopefully the Frostealius is keeping Milly's parents with them", said the Doctor. "Uh, them? As in multiple Frostealius?" asked Dean. "Hm? Oh! No, there aren't multiple Frostealius. Sorry, its a habit of mine whenever I can't tell whether somepony is male or female. Its part of the Phoenix Pony culture." "It is?" asked Dean. "Yup! When we speak in a non-formal manner we tend to have a "gender neutral" vocabulary. The reason for this is because Phoenix Ponies technically do not have genders. Sure we show similar body traits to male and female common pony, such as comparing my body traits to yours. However, when a Phoenix Pony regenerates there is the possibility that they might change into the opposite gender. Therefore, it just seems pointless calling someone by "he" or "she" for a hundred years then be forced to use the opposite pronunciation for the next hundred years. Unless they want to be identified by "he" or "she", there are a couple who do. Most on the other hoof just don't care. I mean, if you had no idea whether or not your next life would be male or female, would you care?" "Um . . . I can't say to be honest. That's a Phoenix Pony thing, I'm not sure I'll understand", said Dean. The Doctor shrugged, "oh well, you don't have to understand it. Just be kind to them, no matter what gender they are or wish to be." "Right, I'll keep that in mind . . . wait, hang on. Does that mean when you regenerate you might become a mare?" The Doctor blushed and looked away from Dean as he responded, "I- I did just say gender doesn't matter, right?" "Yeah I know it doesn't. But you also said that Phoenix Ponies will have similar traits to an actual gender." "What are you getting at?" the Doctor asked, feeling uncomfortable. Dean blushed, "well if you, er, had the body of a mare when you, you know, regenerate. Then could you . . . um . . . have chil-." "DEAN! There is a child present!" the Doctor interrupted. Dean's face burned red as he looked to Milly on the Doctor's back. "R-Right, er, sorry I-." "Dean", said the Doctor, looking astonished. "Er, yeah?" " . . . Are you insinuating something?" "I- what?" "Dean I know we've been traveling alone together but . . . goodness . . . I'm ninety four years old. I could be your great grandfather! Shouldn't you, you know, go for someone that's . . . . not me?" If Dean had a camera he would have proof that he was the first Do family member to be red. He could practically feel steam bellowing out his ears. Looking to the Doctor, he stammered, "I- I w- what!?! N- No! T- That's not what I meant at all!" "It isn't?" "NO! I was just curious that's all! Sweet Celestia NO!" The Doctor sighed, "oh, what a relief. I feel less awkward now." Dean laughed sarcastically, "Oh you do? That's nice because I don't feel any different! UGH! That's an image I never want popping up in my head!" "That makes two of us", said the Doctor, chuckling. "I'm eighteen! That would be sickening if that were to happen!" "Yeah, it would." "I mean, an old stallion with a kid! Yuck!" "Alright Dean I get it-." "The possibility of that happening is an absolute zero! I would never in my life be with a pony as old as-." "Alright Dean! God! Now your just . . . just". The Doctor stopped and turned around, staring into the forest with a look of concern. Brow raised, Dean looked to the Doctor and asked, "Doctor? Everything alright?" Licking his lips, the Doctor responded, "nope, not at all". The Doctor adjusted Milly, positioning her in a more firm position. He then looked to Dean and said, "we need to run. Milly, hang on tight!" "What? Doctor what's-." "The vines are catching up! We need to out run them and get to the shed! Come on!" the Doctor shouted, running off as fast as he could. Dean, following closely behind asked, "were we too loud? Is that how they found us?" "No it was- GAH!" The Doctor had nearly slipped on a spot of mud. Regaining his balance, the Doctor said, "no it was only a matter of time before the vines regrouped and caught up to us. The Frostealius is already aware of our intentions and knows where we are!" "Can it see us?" asked Dean. "Yes and no, see this mist that's covering the swamp?" "You'd have to be blind not to see it!" "Yes well this mist is doing more than blocking our vision! Its water elemental magic! The Frostealius can use this mist to track us and, basically, have a mental visual on us. So it knows exactly what we look like and what we're saying!" "How is that possible!?!" Dean shouted. "Sound vibrations travel very well in water! Its just one of the advantages a Water Elemental has!" "Then why didn't we stay silent earlier!?" asked Dean. "Kind of pointless if they already know where you are-." CRASH!!! Millie screamed as a tree fell over to the Doctor's right. Twelve snake like vines sped their way through the swamp, crashing, tearing, and ripping anything in their path. The vine at the front and closest to the running ponies made an attempt at them. It rushed forth, swiping and swinging at the Doctor and Milly. The Doctor swatted the vine away with a flaming hoof and increased his speed, pushing his body past its limit. The adrenaline helped numb the pain of Milly clenching into the Doctor's back. "LOOK OUT!" Dean shouted. The Doctor turned his head and instinctively ducked within a fraction of a second. A vine took aim for the Doctor's head and missed, only having managed to tear a gaping hole in the Doctor's fedora. The Doctor's heart jumped a beat as he heard Dean shouting in pain, "DEAN!" Dean had been too distracted by the Doctor's receiving attacks to realize he too had an attacker. Multiple vines, too many to count, snuck from the left and made an attack for Dean's face and torso. Dean felt the thrashing of attacks with a gash cut into his left cheek, above his eye, and behind his ear. The other attacks, albeit weaker than the first, scratched the side of his torso. He staggered but quickly regained his balance, making haste to run out of the vines attacking proximity. A second attack from the vines failed as Dean was more prepared from the first attack. Several vines swiped and thrashed at Dean and missed as Dean dodged each one. The Doctor took his eyes off Dean as he realized his companion wasn't too hurt, in impeccable time as well. Just as he looked away a vine made an attack for the Doctor's legs. The Doctor caught the attack in his peripherals and jumped to dodge. A second attack swiped at the Doctor's head. The Doctor ducked, again evading a blow to the head and harming his fedora once more. A second hole, smaller then first, opened on the hats felt fabric. Dean hopped over a root and ducked beneath a low hanging tree branch as he spotted a vine. This one furthest from the others and closest to Dean. It swiped furiously at Dean, aiming desperately for any part of the colt's body that it could. Dean managed to dodge the vine well at first but gasped as he felt pain to his hind left leg. The vine had managed a lucky swipe to Dean, cutting the back of his leg. The Doctor growled as he witnessed Dean being harmed but could do little to prevent Dean from receiving more injuries. In fact, he was unsure whether he could escape these vines unscathed himself. His old body shouted desperately for him to stop running. He could feel the well known pain of exhaustion developing in his lungs, hearts, and torso. He noticed he was starting to lose speed as well. If he didn't think of something now, not only would the vines catch him, but Milly on his back as well. Swearing internally, the Doctor shouted, "Dean! I'm going to toss Milly to you!" "I beg your pardon!?!" Dean shouted. "Your going to take Milly and continue running to the shed. All you need to do is turn right when I give you the signal and continue moving straight! You'll find the shed, and when you do I want you to hide in it and wait for me!" "And what, your going to be the vines distraction!?!" "Precisely!" the Doctor shouted. "Wait, really!?!" "Yes! Now catch her!" the Doctor shouted. The Doctor quickly took hold of Milly and tossed her onto Dean's back. Milly screamed as she landed hard, gripping painfully to Dean's back once she landed. Dean shouted both in spine crackling pain and having not been prepared for the Doctor's plan, "sweet Celestia!!!" "Turn right now!" the Doctor shouted as he jumped suddenly to Dean's left. Dean only had a second to avoid crashing into the Doctor and galloping to the right, but the colt was successful. The Doctor looked over his shoulder to see if the plan worked. Most of the vines followed him, a few separated to take chase after Dean and Milly. "Very few, Dean should be able to handle that amount of vines", the Doctor figured. His plan worked for the most part. All he had to do now was keep the vines on his trail long enough to allow Dean and Milly to reach the shed. Then the Doctor had to figure out how he was going to escape the vines chasing him. How he was going to do that, however, he hadn't a clue. An idea, a very poor one at that, popped into the Doctor's mind. "Haven't done this in a few years. Hell, more like a few decades! It shouldn't hurt too bad. Sure my body exceeds the recommended age limit for using this level of phoenix magic. But I should be alright, right? Just don't think about it, just don't think about it." The Doctor made a sharp turn left, then a right, hopped over a bush, and another turn right. The Doctor tried thinking of the appropriate time to use his magic when his thought was suddenly broken. He had been too focused on his plan to realize just how tired his body was. A sudden strangling pain flashed directly into his hearts. The Doctor gasped and tripped, falling face first and rolling several feet before colliding into a tree. The Doctor curled into a fetal position as he clenched onto the fabrics on his chest. The pain in his hearts and lungs overpowered the scratches and bruises on his back from the collision. Even his swollen cheek from falling face first couldn't compare to this. He coughed hard, struggling to breath. The Doctor fought his pain and forced his head to lift as he squinted. Through blurred vision the Doctor saw a horde of vines. Nearly every vine that had chased the Doctor and Dean earlier and new arrivals surrounded the Doctor. Front to back, side to side, the Doctor was completely surrounded. And they approached slowly, slithering, trapping the Doctor in the shrinking space. Breathing heavily, the Doctor clenched his teeth and forced his body to stand. Slowly, shaking, and in agony, the Doctor stood. Facing the vines with determination. The Doctor knew it was now or never. Whether he was scared or not, it didn't matter. This was about life and death, and he would rather feel the pain of his own magic then be caught dead by swamp vines. Sweat dripping, body aching, hearts dying, the Doctor fought through his pains and took hold of the phoenix fire coursing through his second hearts veins. He summoned the fire and surrounded it around his body. He then engulfed his body and condensed the fire, increasing its intensity. "Okay . . . okay, okay, okay! Let's see just how well this old body can still work!" said the Doctor through gritted teeth. The Doctor then closed his eyes and pictured the miner's shed in his mind. He imagined Dean and Millie, hiding within the shed. And the Doctor approaching the shed, knocking on the door and reassuring Dean and Milly that the vines were gone, that the danger had passed. He wanted to be there and tell them that they were safe. He told his body to move without moving, mentally shouting for his body to travel without moving a single muscle. Envisioning the shed, the coordinates, his friends; he felt it, the needle like fire on his body was glowing, slowly becoming brighter and brighter. Until it was too bright to even see the Doctor. The vines knew what he was doing and attacked, but they were too late. The Doctor felt the shift in his surroundings jerk and the entire world swirled at rapid speed. Everything moved to the speed of light. Round and round it went, moving without care. Then, just as suddenly as it had began, it ended. The Doctor landed on the ground hard, returning to fetal position as his entire body felt pierced in agony. He shook uncontrollably, unable to hold back tears as his pain made him want to scream. Yet he was too hurt to do so. Every part of his body felt as if it had been crushed by spikes. His lungs, chest, and hearts felt like implosions. The Doctor failed to hold back a sob as he gripped his vest harder. Tugging at his fabrics as the agony seemed never to end. He vision blacked out; he hadn't fallen unconscious, yet he wasn't entirely conscious either. He knew he had landed, but the world seemed to vanish. Popped out of existence so that all that remained was a black void of pain and agony. He wanted it to end, he wanted it to end so bad. He knew his body was old but this was beyond anything he had felt in his life. He had been hurt before, he remembered this. His enemies had made him suffer in the past, but the grasp of time itself taking hold around his neck was a pain beyond pain. The Doctor felt both trapped and dying. Thoughts came quickly to the Doctor's mind. He could handle any other pain because he knew he could recover and move on. This on the other hand he knew he could not easily escape from. This pain is caused by over exertion to a body that wasn't meant for this. His body shouldn't be running or fighting for its life. It should be home, at peace in a comforting place where there is no danger. Because he knew that this pain would not go away, it would only get worse. Because time does not heal, it moves and never stops. And the Doctor wasn't getting any younger; and he knew this. The Doctor couldn't take it anymore, he had to make the pain stop. He felt that his head exploding would be far better then his current ordeal. The Doctor was starting to regret even escaping the vines at all. He questioned whether he should have just let them capture him, and wondered what's the worse they could have done. "They could have killed me, that's what could have happened. Then again, maybe death isn't so bad. Then I won't hurt so much anymore . . . or maybe . . . I don't need to die . . . but this body does? . . . I can't . . . I can't do this anymore, it hurts too much. I need to do it . . . I need to let go . . . I need to-." "Doctor." The Doctor's ears perked to the sound of his name being called. He squinted slightly and saw the silhouette of a pony, standing above him in a blinding ray of light. Hovering tall, looking down upon him. Like an angel staring down from heaven. The Doctor couldn't see her clearly, yet her figure appeared oddly familiar. The pony spoke in a gentle, melodic voice. The kind a mother would have towards a child. "Doctor." The Doctor recognized that voice. Without moving, the Doctor spoke, "S-Serendipity?" The mare appeared unfazed by the response, "you need to get up Doctor. Your friends need you." The Doctor remained motionless as he responded, "can't . . . hurts . . . too much." "You have to help them Doctor, they need you." The Doctor refused to stand and replied, "need . . . to . . . need . . . to-." The Doctor stopped as he felt the mare place a soft, shining hoof to his cheek. "It isn't your time yet. You mustn't do that now." " . . . Then what . . . do I do?" The mare place a second hoof to the Doctor's opposite cheek and answered, "do what doctors do best, save them!" The light behind the mare slowly began to fade and the mare's color began to show. "Serendipity?" said the Doctor. More color began to show and the mare was appearing more and more gray by the second. "Doctor!" she shouted with sudden masculinity. "Serendipity", the Doctor repeated. "Doctor! Doctor!" The bright light was gone. Standing in the mare's silhouette wasn't a mare at all. Instead there stood a gray stallion with a terrified looking filly beside him. Dean held the Doctor by both cheeks and shouted, "Doctor! Wake up! Wake up already!" The Doctor snapped his eyes wide and sat up quickly. Looking around, the Doctor saw that he was inside a large, gray, metallic building. Beside him was Dean, Millie, old boxes, a desk, and several picks and shovels. The entire place was covered wall to wall in a inch thick worth of dust. The windows were blocked by stacks of boxes and something on the opposite side of the boxes were banging against the walls, shaking the entire building violently. The Doctor's heavy breathing caused him to inhale a large amount of dust. Coughing and clearing his throat, the Doctor asked, "w-where am I? What's going on?" While keeping a look of concern, Dean sighed with relief and said, "we're in the storage Doctor. Some of the vines didn't leave us earlier when we separated. They chased Milly and I all the way to the mine storage and trapped us in. I managed to barricade the windows as best as I could but I don't think it'll last long". Suddenly, Dean's concerned demeanor turned to one of anger as he said, "then you popped up out of no where in a flash of light! Scaring the ever loving daylights out of Millie and I! I nearly thought something new was attacking us until I saw you drop to the ground! I went to see if you were okay but you looked like you were having a heart attack! I thought you were dying! But then . . . you started calling me "Serendipity?" What was that about!?" "I uh . . . I'm not . . . too sure", the Doctor said slowly. He slowed his breathing, breathing in through his nose and out his mouth as he placed a hoof to his chest. The aching lingered, though the pain itself wasn't nearly as bad as before. Dean, still incredibly worried asked, "are you alright Doctor?" The Doctor didn't respond immediately. He was lost in thought, unable to concentrate as thoughts rushed in and out of his mind. He managed to focus his thoughts and asked himself internally, "was I really considering doing . . . that? Had I ever had these thoughts before? No, I don't ever remembering thinking like this. This is all new to me. Have I gotten weaker perhaps? Or, has my age not only caught up to me but has preceded me as well? I just . . . I . . . I need to take a step back. What's going on? I'm in a shed, no, storage, the minors storage. Dean's here, Milly's here, and we're still under attack . . . okay then . . . Step taken, now moving forward." Slowly, the Doctor placed a shaky hoof to the ground and lifted himself up. He groaned as he felt left over pain lingering in his chest. Dean quickly took hold of the Doctor and helped him to his hooves. "You think you should be standing?" The Doctor stood to his hooves and sighed. Taking deep breathes to ease his pain, the Doctor replied, "yes, we need to get out of here before the vines break in. I'm going to look around and see what I can find. You try and keep these vines out for as long as you can". The Doctor turned to Milly, who stared uneasily at the Doctor, "how are you doing?" Milly looked away and replied softly, "I'm scared. The monsters are outside." A sudden loud bang caused Milly to squeak and shiver as she crossed her forelegs over her chest. The Doctor knelt close to Millie and said gently, "everything's going to be fine. We're one step closer to finding your parents. Just give me a bit of time to investigate, alright?" Milly looked to the Doctor's eye, hesitant to respond. The Doctor continued, "don't forget the child in that story. He was scared too. Do you want to be brave just like him?" That did the trick. Milly still felt uneasy but slowly responded with a nod. The Doctor, however, noticed her determination slowly deteriorating. He knew he had to get them out of here before Milly becomes too scared to continue. Standing tall and wincing momentarily from fading chest pain, the Doctor turned back to Dean. He pointed to the items scattered amongst the storage, "block the windows with more boxes and this desk. I'll get to my searching." Just before the Doctor moved, Dean placed a firm hoof to the Doctor's shoulder. A look of concern placed upon Dean's face as he asked, "are you sure your going to be alright?" "I'll be fine Dean." "Are you su-." "Dean!" the Doctor blurted. Dean went silent and removed his hoof, taken aback by the interruption. The Doctor sighed and smiled gently to Dean. He spoke in a softer tone, "I'm going to fine. Just focus on preventing the vines from entering. The faster I find out where Milly's parents have gone to, the faster we can find them and get out of this swamp. You said you like cereal, we can have as much as you like when we get back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. How's that sound?" "Er, yeah, sure. That sounds nice. If you say your fine then, alright. Just don't push yourself, despite what you say you still look a bit hurt." "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Let's get to work", said the Doctor. "Right", said Dean, walking to the nearest box to add to the barricade. The Doctor watched Dean for a second before sighing and getting to work. The Doctor looked around and groaned, he figured this wouldn't be easy. It's difficult investigating an area to search for clues, but even more so when that area is being tampered with. But he didn't have much of a choice at the moment. Dean had to move everything to the windows. It was either that or allow the vines inside to attack them. Muting his internal complaints, the Doctor decided to work with what he had as he searched the floor. There wasn't much, it was a very dirty, very dusty, old, chipped, cement floor. It had small pieces of metal scattered here and there and a few tools. However, despite being a minors storage there were no tools that a minor would use; such as picks, hard hats, protective gear, or lanterns. The Doctor took note of this, wondering just how long it has been since the storage had been abandoned. Not finding much, the Doctor turned to look at the walls, hoping to find something there. Just as the Doctor turned, Dean had placed a forth box atop the stack and asked, "so Doctor; what exactly was that light you popped out of?" "Uh, light?" asked the Doctor, keeping his eyes to the wall. "Yeah, that bright light you popped out of. What was that exactly? And how did you end up here after separating from us?" asked Dean as he grabbed another empty box. "Oh, that. That's, uh . . . a form of phoenix magic. A very advance form at that", said the Doctor, walking close to the wall and rubbing a hoof to its semi rugged smooth surface. "Magic? You used magic to escape the- hang on". Dean stopped and turned to the Doctor, "now I remember, that flash of light. I've seen unicorns use it back at Mane City. Doctor, did you teleport!?" Without looking to Dean, the Doctor said, "keep stacking the boxes Dean. Have you stacked the table yet?" Dean continued looking to the Doctor as he grabbed a large box to add to the stack. "Yes I have, and you didn't answer my question. Doctor, did you teleport? Can you even teleport?" The Doctor hesitated to answer as he took his eyes off the wall and looked to the ceiling. A plain, flat ceiling with nothing to show. The Doctor spoke, "phoenixes can teleport Dean. So it only makes sense that a Phoenix Pony would too." Dean dropped a box atop the stack with a grunt and looked to the Doctor angrily. "You can teleport and you are only now telling me this!?! Do you have any idea how useful that would have been back at Dodge Junction!? Do you have any idea how useful that would have been now!?! Why didn't you teleport Milly and I here into the storage instead of us running for our lives!?" The Doctor looked sternly to Dean, pausing his investigation momentarily. He replied, "because phoenix magic doesn't work that way! Unicorns are able to use their magic safely around others. Our magic cannot because our magic is based around fire! A phoenix teleporting is like a bolt of lighting. It travels too fast to be seen by the naked eye. It isn't exactly like traveling fast but its similar enough to that of a lighting bolt. If another pony who isn't a phoenix pony was to teleport by phoenix magic, they would be incinerated the moment they enter into the phoenix pony's magic! That and . . . well . . ." The Doctor's expression changed suddenly, dropping to something unrecognizable to Dean. Dean noticed that the Doctor looked unusually older. Of course, the Doctor was ninety four so he was quite an old pony. However, all the time he spent with the Doctor; in the forest, in Dodge Junction, now in a swamp, he hadn't really noticed this until now. The Doctor was a very old pony. He didn't know why, but it just seemed more . . . apparent now. The Doctor continued, "teleporting is very advance magic for Phoenix Ponies and can only be used by the most skilled, the most educated, and most of all, the most durable. If a Phoenix Pony cannot perform teleportation properly and their body is unable to withstand its power, than they could critically damage themselves." "Phoenix Ponies can harm themselves with their own magic?" asked Dean. "Unicorns can, so of course Phoenix Ponies can too. My body isn't . . . as durable as it used to be. As a safety precaution it is recommended that Phoenix Ponies stop performing advance magic when their current body's have reached late middle age. As you can see I am far beyond the recommended stopping point. So it was a risk for me to teleport." "So your too old to teleport?" asked Dean. " . . . Yes." "Did it hurt?" "Yes, a lot. I think that is the last time I'll ever be able to teleport. That is until my . . . er . . . next body. I might actually kill myself if I do it again in . . . this one." The Doctor suddenly stopped and frowned, looking to the floor as he did so. Dean, feeling he had said something wrong asked, "Doctor, you alright?" Licking his lips, the Doctor replied with fatigue, "let's get back to work shall we?" "Er, yeah, sure" said Dean. Just as the Doctor turned around to resume his investigation, Dean asked, "hey, one more question. If you don't mind?" The Doctor sighed, "what is it?" "Well, I was just wondering, who's Serendipity?" "Doctor!" Milly screamed. A sudden violent jerk to the storage from the outside halted the conversation and reawakened the Doctor and Dean to the matter at hand. A few boxes from the stacks toppled over, having nearly landed on Milly if the Doctor hadn't been close. He grabbed Milly and pulled her away just as a box landed in her place. "Stop the stacks from collapsing!" the Doctor shouted, holding Milly in his left leg. "Right!" Dean shouted, running forth to the stacks and pushing it to the window with all his strength. Looking to shattered glass on the spot Milly had stood previously, the Doctor said, "that was close. Are you okay?" Milly nodded, "I'm okay." The Doctor smiled to Milly and asked, "did you get any glass on you? Those vines must've hit the storage hard and broke the windows." Grunting from a push from the vines on the outside, Dean said to the Doctor, "actually the window was already broken when we got here." "The window was already broken?" asked the Doctor. He looked to the shattered glass upon the floor; close to the window that had Dean's stack of boxes. It was then that the Doctor noticed something. Placing Milly beside him, the Doctor looked around to the entirety of the storage. There were only two sets of windows: one on the left side and one on the right. Everything within the storage had been moved to the windows as a blockade. However, the window on the left had a larger stack than the one on the right. Furthermore, the Doctor noticed Dean struggling with the vines outside the left window as he worked to prevent the stack from collapsing any further. The Doctor then decided to compare the right side of the storage to the left side, and inhaled deeply as he saw the results. The Doctor looked to Dean and asked in a sudden, excited tone, "Dean! Why did you pile the stack larger on the left of the storage and not the right!?" Keeping his concentration on the blockade, Dean replied, "I, uh- I don't know! I tried blocking both sides but- DAH!" A sudden jerk nearly pushed Dean back. "I haven't had much trouble with that side! They seem to only want to get us from this one!" "Is that so!!!" the Doctor shouted, smiling. "Doctor you got a plan or something because this is getting really difficult- GAH!" another jerk startled Dean. "Nope! No plan yet! But I think I know what's going on! AND!" The Doctor looked to Milly, "I think I know where your parents are!" Milly gasped, "really!?!" "EEYUP!!! This storage told me exactly where they are!!!" "Well do tell please! Because some of us don't really have the patience- DAH! STOP THAT!!!" Dean shouted to the vines. "Right! Right! Well, looking at the storage its quite clear as to which side the vines are attacking us at! The left side! And only the left side! But why would they be doing that? An entire swamp full of vines and yet the Frostealius is limiting himself to only the vines on the west side of the swamp to attack us from the left? That doesn't make any sense! He's already covered most of the swamp with his mist so he should be able to control the vines from anywhere within it! UNLESS! He can't! CAN YOU MISTER OR MISSES FROSTEALIUS!!!" the Doctor shouted to nowhere in particular. "What are you doing!? Didn't you say he can hear us if we're inside his mist!?" asked Dean. "YUP! Indeed I did! Therefore, you'd be able to hear me if I told you I was going to take down the stack blocking the right windows!" the Doctor shouted, making his way to the right windows slowly. "Doctor what in Celestia's name are you doing!?!" Dean shouted. Milly, unable to determine what to do chose to hide in the corner furthest away from Dean and the Doctor. One side of the shack had vines trying to break in. The other had a crazy old pony about to take down their only wall of defense. Keeping her distance from both was the only choice she could make. "If you want to come get us you'd better strike now! Cause I'm only opening this window for a short time!" the Doctor shouted, grabbing the first box and toppling it off the stack. "Doctor stop! They're going to get in!" Dean shouted. The Doctor grabbed more boxes from the stack, toppling them over one by one. Dean could only stand and watch as their defense fell to the floor. He wanted to run and stop the Doctor but couldn't. The vines were still attacking from his side. If he stopped pushing his stack against the window they would surely break in. The Doctor grabbed the final box from the stack and toppled it over easily. The stack fell, leaving the right window exposed. The Doctor looked to the window, the window on the right side of the storage. Completely intact, despite a few scratches and a layer of dust. The Doctor smiled as his theory was confirmed. "Just as I thought. Just as I thought!" Turning around and looking to the ceiling, the Doctor shouted, "you haven't so much as scathed this side! Come on! The windows wide open! No boxes blocking your way you can just come right in if you wanted to! So, WHERE ARE YOU!?!" The Doctor paused, appearing as if he was waiting for a response. When one failed to show, the Doctor continued, "you can't . . . you can't attack us from this side can you! And not only that but I was wrong wasn't I!? Or at least, some what wrong! You can't hear us can you! No! You can't hear us AND you can barely see us! The three of us are probably three oddly shaped blobs in your vision! Your like a Frostealius in desperate need of glasses!" The Doctor walked to the right window and opened it wide. Sticking his head out, the Doctor shouted outside, "tell me, how long have you been hiding here!?! Days? Weeks? Months? I'd reckon even a year at most! All this hiding! Its ridiculous! Why are you hiding!? What are you hiding from!?" The Doctor shut the window hard and walked close to Dean. "Well whatever it is you'd better stop it now! Not for our sakes but for yours! All this hiding! Disconnecting yourself from society! And your access to food, shelter, and most of all, water! Your weak aren't you! That's why your not attacking us from the right side! Nor are you responding to a single word I say! You can't use the vines from the swamp because your too weak to do it! And you can't hear us with your mist! You don't have enough magic to do that do you? You barely have enough to see us but your vision isn't clear! We're three fuzzy looking intruders on your land! And furthermore! I know exactly where your hiding!" The Doctor looked to Dean and spoke in utmost determination. "Dean, the vines are attacking from the left. Take a guess what's to the left of us." It didn't take any thinking for Dean to know exactly what the Doctor was talking about, "the cave entrance!" "Exactly! The Frostealius is only attacking from the left because their vines are coming from the cave entrance! And because their vision is distorted they see this side of the building as the only way to reach us! They don't know about the other window! All they sees is a cement building and this one window as their only way through!" "But Milly and her parents were here earlier-." "Exactly! That's how I figured it out! If they had been in here before us then how come the right side of the storage is still left unscathed!? "But the vines from earlier?-" "These are those same vines! The exact same! Think about it, after we escaped the vines from the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T how come it took time before they caught up to us? With an entire swamp full of vines the Frostealius could have taken over a new set of vines that could attack us sooner and from any direction! But no! They used the same vines to turn around and catch up to us!" "But why would they do that?" asked Dean. "Because they're weak! I don't know how long they've been hiding here but it sure has been long enough to weaken themselves to the point where they cannot properly use their magic! They aren't able to use their mist the same why they normally could! They can't hear us and they can only partially see us!" "Yes but why can he only attack from the cave?" asked Dean. "Because they don't have the magic to control them from long distances! They can only control these vines if they are touching it directly! They must have taken as many of the vines as possible from the swamp and tied it all together to make these extra long ones! Which means!-" "Which means if we follow the vines it'll take us straight to the Frostealius!" Dean concluded. "Exactly!" "But how can we do that? Their not exactly friendly!" said Dean, struggling to keep the boxes from collapsing. "Simple, we're going to take a non aggressive approach. As long as they don't consider us an enemy than we might have a chance to speak to!-" CRASH!!! The boxes, reduced to pieces and splinters were thrown back to the opposite end of the storage. The vines controller attacked with all the force they could muster. A successful strike to the storage's outer wall. The window frame broke from the cement wall, breaking to pieces to the wall on the opposite end. The Doctor and Dean, both caught off guard by this sudden attack were thrown off their hooves, colliding to the wall next to the window frame. Milly screamed, covering her head for protection as the loud crash commenced a mere six feet from her. The vines wasted no time in breaking in. Snake like and slimy, the vines whipped around and thrashed about, feeling each odd and end of the storage interior; like a blind man searching. Disoriented and sore, Dean was the first to lift his head and look to the intruder. "Doctor!" Dean shouted. The Doctor didn't move. He lied on the cement floor, fading in and out of consciousness; fighting the blackness enshrouding his vision. The vines slithered on the ground, moving quickly to the trapped ponies. Dean had been looking to the vines above him when he felt one touch his hind hoof. He gasped and looked to the vine, creeping along his leg. In a panic, Dean bucked randomly, kicking the vine off of him. He crawled close to the Doctor and shook him hard. "Doctor! Doctor get up! They're inside! Doctor!" The Doctor didn't hear Dean, he didn't hear anything. His ears rang loudly as the blackness in his sights faded, leaving a fuzzy image of the distress around him. One of the vines approached Milly and touched her hind hoof. The smallest of touches as it was immediately kicked away by the screaming filly. But that touch was just enough to tell the vines controller that their target was finally within their grasp. Instantaneously, several vines shot towards Milly, coiling around her legs and torso. "HELP!!!" Millie shrieked as she was dragged from her place towards the opening in the storage. Hearing Milly's scream, Dean looked away from the Doctor and swore as he witnessed the filly being dragged. Without thinking, he galloped forth and wrapped both forelegs around Milly's torso, pulling with all his might. Despite Dean's efforts the vines still managed to drag Milly away, slowly now thanks to Dean. It was obvious that the vines were stronger, yet Dean refused to let the filly go. "DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME! DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME!" Milly screamed, trying and failing to move within the vines grasp. "Ah won't let you go! Ah've got you!" Dean shouted, unaware of his accent. More vines entered the building. Dean saw this and prepared himself, expecting the new vines to help drag Milly away. However, these new vines did not attack, nor did they look the same from the rest. They slithered along the floor and stopped close to Dean, then remained motionless. These new vines, Dean noticed, were blue and had a white flower grown at the tip. This struck Dean as odd for he hadn't seen these vines until now. And there were so little, only two had entered. Dean found this too as odd but thought little of it as he was preoccupied. Then, the unexpected happened. The flowers of both vines split open in a four cross-section, revealing a small hole. There was a hiss as a thick brownish goop spewed from the holes, hitting Dean square in the face. He hadn't been prepared in the slightest. The goop went into his eyes before he could react. Dean screamed as he felt his eyes ignite with the burning sensation of hot needles penetrating his orbitals. He released Millie and fell to the floor. Clasping his hooves to his eyes, he writhed and screamed in agony. Milly screamed as the vines had ridden themselves of Dean, now able to pull Milly freely without his involvement. It was then that the Doctor's vision refocused and the sounds around him blasted in his ears. Jerking his head upwards, the Doctor saw Dean fall to the floor and Milly being dragged. All feeling of pain left his body as he shot forth in an attempt to save the filly. He knew Dean was in need of help as well but chose to save the one in deeper peril. He would return to Dean as soon as he saved Millie. He would save Millie, he had to, he was determined. "MILLY!!!" the Doctor shouted. The vines were fast, dragging her from the opening of the storage towards the cave entrance quicker then the Doctor could reach them. The Doctor jumped through the opening and galloped towards Milly. Thoughts of a rescue attempt flashed before his mind at lighting speed. He couldn't use his fire, he might harm Milly. His age prevented him from flying as well as teleporting. Perhaps he could taunt the one controlling the vines? If he could set the controllers sights onto him then perhaps that could give him the chance to reach Milly before they entered the cave. He couldn't hear the Doctor so all he had to do was-. The Doctor's thought ended abruptly before he could finished as he tripped and fell face first. Looking to the thing responsible, the Doctor saw a lone vine coiling around his hind legs. It showed no sign of capturing the Doctor nor harming him, it only wanted to stop him from running. "Its trying to stop me from reaching Milly! " thought the Doctor; before he noticed two blue looking vines catch up. Both with flowers that appeared to be aiming towards him. As the flowers split open, the Doctor realized why he was stopped and thought fast. Quickly, the Doctor took hold of the vine coiled on his legs and ignited his forelegs with phoenix fire. The vine released the Doctor and thrashed about, beating itself to the ground to extinguish the flame. Simultaneously, the Doctor rolled to the left, evading the blue vines projectiles as it landed close to the Doctor. It splashed about in a mush as the Doctor stood to his hooves and avoided the goop. The blue vines appeared ready to fire a second time before stopping midway. Sealing their flowers shut, the vines suddenly slithered away fast, joining the rest of the vines as each and every single one made way to the cave entrance. The Doctor was confused for only a second before realizing the reason for the vines retreat. Milly's screams had stopped because she was too far to be heard. The vines had succeeded, they had taken Milly into the cave. They had won, so the fighting was over. Thus, the vines retreated. Leaving the Doctor standing in the open, fuming in anger. Refusing to believe the situation, the Doctor ran forth to the cave entrance, growling as he did so. Stopping in front of the entrance, the Doctor shouted, "MILLY!!!" No response, not even an echo. The Doctor tried again, "MILLY!!!" No response. Breathing heavily, the Doctor cupped his hooves and shouted a third time, "MILLY!!!" He waited, and listened close. But . . . . no one responded. It was futile, no amount of shouting could save her. Millie was gone. The Doctor shook in his spot as realization stabbed deep into him. His friend had been harmed, Milly had been captured, and he had failed to protect them both. He wouldn't stand for this. No, the Doctor would not stand for this at all. Standing on his hinds hooves, the Doctor glared into the darkness of the cave. As if his foe stood before him, ready to clash at an moment. All this time the vines had attacked them because this Frostealius saw them as a threat. Perhaps he was defending himself, perhaps he was genuinely scared for his life. Which ever it may be the Doctor no longer cared. If he was scared, good, let him be scared, he has a reason to be scared now. Was he defending himself? He had better be, because if not, well-. And did the Frostealius see the Doctor as a threat? The Doctor hoped so, because as of this moment, the Doctor was a threat. He was a threat; and he stared death into the darkness and spoke, "you may not have heard me before back in the swamp but I know for a fact that you can hear me now. The sound will travel through this cave directly to you so I know that you can't ignore me. So LISTEN UP! Because as you hear me for the first time you will want to take in every word I say, for if you do not than you are a fool! A FOOL WITH A DEATH WISH! Now listen, to, me!" "You are about to enter yourself into a battle that you are surely to regret if you don't give me back that child RIGHT NOW! Do you have any idea who you are dealing with? You should! You're an Elemental! You sensed my magic the moment I entered this swamp! Just as I had sensed yours! Well listened close, and I mean very close! You are not dealing with any Fire Elemental my dear Water Elemental. Perhaps you've heard of me?" "I am the one who abandoned the Elemental race! The one sentence to life in exile for breaking the laws of the Fire Elementals! I am the one who escaped the Elemental armies and single handedly defeated King Bex! Previous ruler of Minauria and the enslaver of thousands! I am the runner, the dreamer, the Phoenix Adventurer!" "I am the Doctor! And if you don't hand Milly back this instant than I will have no choice but to send you to tartarus MYSELF!!!" The Doctor's words echoed through the cave. Traveling deep within, until it reached the end. Towards the end, where the words were directed to. Towards the one who was meant to receive the Doctor's message. At last, he had heard the intruder's voice. A recognizable voice, yet even more so now that he knew of his name. The one who had received the message spoke in a frail whisper as he remembered who it was, "Doctor? Is that really you?"