DOCTOR

by Deidorimu

Doctor Who?: Part Three (S1C3)

The Doctor entered into the kitchen and found Dean sitting patiently at the dining table, waiting for him.

He was whistling a catchy tune with his head leaned back, facing towards the ceiling with his eyes closed.

"Woooeeoooooooooooo weeoooooooooooooooooooo."

The Doctor coughed, catching the colts attention.

Dean ceased his whistling and looked to the Doctor. "Hey! Your back!"

"Yup, took a tad longer then expected. Had to make some readjustments". The Doctor took his seat across from Dean and smiled to the colt. "Alright, I do beleive we have one more Elemental to talk about."

Dean sat straight and grinned, "about time! Took you long enough."

"Well I had to get the nooks and crannies of the Elementals explained first, didn't I? Give you a little insight on the Elementals. Not just who they are or where they live but their whole lifestyle and why they are the way they are."

"Well I'd like a change of subject if you don't mind. That history lesson was too grim for my tastes", said Dean.

The Doctor chuckled, "alright, no more dilly dallying. Last but most certainly not least, Fire Elementals. A.K.A, the Phoenix Po- ."

"Wait, hold on" said Dean.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I was wondering, do you, by any chance . . . hate the Frostealius?"

"Why would I hate them?"

"Well, I noticed you gave great insight on the Earth and Air Elementals. But when you explained about the Water Elementals you didn't have much to say. It was like . . . I don't know. I could be wrong, but I feel like you didn't want to talk about them."

"Well of course I don't! There home is nothing but snow and ice. If you want me to go into deeper detail then that then I'll have to start telling you about the destruction that the civil is doing to their home. And I doubt you'd want me to start talking about that."

"Well yeah, but still. I don't know, I just have this . . . feeling. Do you hate them?"

There was a brief silence before the Doctor spoke. "It'd be a lie if I told you I didn't hate the things that their ancestors have done. Any Frostealius born after the first Burning Ice War had nothing to do with what had happened. However, although the decision for Davros to take part in the second Science War was decided by the council and the king, there were still a lot of those who supported Davros. Not before Davros released his Xydra to the public, after."

"There were Frostealius who supported that mad pony!?" asked Dean.

"Ohhh, not just supported. Some would go the full lengths to devote their lives to that pony. And I mean that literally. Most of Davros's Xydra were created either by cloning or by kidnapping Frostealius. Some on the other hoof, were created by volunteers."

"You've got to be kidding me!" said Dean.

"Afraid not, some worshipped Davros and claimed that he should be the new leader. Not just of the four Elemental territories but of all the world. They gladly gave Davros full access to their bodies and allowed him to mutate them into Xydras. Some even today would have gladly volunteered for Davros, if he was still around that is."

"So no, I don't hate them. I don't hate the Frostealius. I just hate those who support Davros and claim that the destruction and murder he caused was actually justice! Some ponies are disgusting, vile creatures! The ones who support murder and supports psychotic monsters such as Davros, those are the ones that I hate! With every fiber in my body, I despise them!"

"I assume you've met a few?" asked Dean.

"Aside from Tumbleweed and Oswald?" asked the Doctor.

Dean nodded.

"Ohhh ho ho ho! I have met more then you'd ever want to imagine! Some far worse then Oswald and Tumbleweed combined! I can still remember a time, back when I was a small lad, I helped to fight against a minotaur king. A ruler of Minauria named "King Bex". I'll never forget him, he was one of the first biggest foes I had ever had to fight. He ruled Minauria with an iron fist, enslaving his own citizens and anypony else he could get his hands on. He waged war to the surrounding nations, claiming as much land as possible to grow his own country larger. He didn't care who he killed. If they stood in his path, they were as good as dead. Mares, stallions, old, and young. Age, gender, species, none of it mattered. To him, the minotaurs were the superior race and all other species to exist should bow before them."

"Hang on, I've never heard of a "King Bex". I've heard about the ruler of Minauria and she's a queen, Queen Veronica. I mean, I've only heard of her but I've never actually studied her or this "king" you speak of.

"That would probably be because the minotaurs don't like talking about their history. This was a dark time for everyone. Well, perhaps only a smidge darker then things are now. God how little things have changed. Anyway, most minotaurs are ashamed of what their ancestors had done during King Bex's reign and prefer to put their past behind them. So it's understandable that most don't know who he is or have ever heard of him. As for Queen Veronica, she is the great granddaughter to Queen Lessey. Who happens to be King Bex's daughter and the one to take the throne after his . . . downfall", the Doctor explained.

Dean took notice of the Doctor's change of tone to his last word. It had suddenly dropped to a level of sorrow, taking Dean by surprise. Dean felt put off by this tone and thought it would be best to change the subject. Despite his better judgment, Dean decided to press on. HIs curiosity overcoming his uneasment.

"What happened to him? And when did this happened?" asked Dean.

There was a brief silence before the Doctor spoke. "Do you remember those friends I told you about? The ones that used to travel with me?"

"Yes."

"Well, back during those days, during King Bex's rule, I was around fourteen when I had first met him. Four of my friends used to live in Minauria, before they were forced to leave by King Bex. If they hadn't, they would have become his slaves."

"My friends and I adventured around Equiis and stayed out of the way. None of us ever wanted to get involved in the war. But . . . we didn't have a choice . . . everything changed . . . when the war brought itself to us."

"Did something happen?" asked Dean.

The Doctor gulped, "yes . . . something terrible did happen. We . . . were visiting a small village in Zebrica. We were friends with everypony their. We were always helping them with whatever they needed help with. Such as food, water, clothing, anything really. We didn't mind, we loved helping them . . . and . . . seeing their . . . beautiful smiles."

The Doctor stopped for a moment. Dean's uneasment grew stronger as he noticed the Doctor's change of tone to his last words. It had dropped farther then its current sorrow, reaching a level of utmost sadness and depression.

Dean's previous thought of changing the subject returned and was immediately dismissed. He wanted to hear the Doctor's story. As uncomfortable as he felt, his curiosity lead Dean to allow the Doctor to continue.

The Doctor gulped and continued. "I had landed the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T onto the village. When we opened the doors we discovered the entire village on fire, burning to the ground. Villagers all over the place were fleeing from attacking hordes of minotaur. My friends . . . the ones who lived in the village . . . I-I . . . I tried to save as many as possible but . . . my friends and I were surrounded. A few survived by escaping to the safety of my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. The others, all of them . . . I watched as they died before my eyes. Burned, shot, stabbed, crushed . . . killed . . ."

The Doctor cleared his throat, "after the minotaur were finished with the village they set their eyes on us. We fought back as best as we could but lost. I managed to escape with a few villagers in my M.I.E.D.P.H.A.T. My friends on the other hoof, none of them were lucky. They all were captured and taken to King Bex himself."

"Why weren't they killed? If you don't mind me asking", said Dean.

"Let's just say they didn't exactly have "good history" with the king. The king wanted them captured and brought to him ever since I had first met the man, when I was fourteen. I was eighteen when this had happened."

"After this, however, after King Bex had slaughtered the friends I had who lived in the village and captured the friends who traveled with me, that was the last straw. I . . . I snapped. I lost all control of myself. I had to save my friends, they were the world to me. If anything were to happen to them I . . . I just don't know . . . I-I don't! I . . . I don't like fighting with my magic. If I have to use my magic I will try to use it in the most non-lethal way as possible. But I didn't learn this, I didn't know how much I truly hated killing another living being, until that day. That was the day I discovered the power I possessed and how many I could so easily kill. And that was the day that I learned I never wanted this power. Nor do I ever want to use my magic to kill ever again."

"Ever since then I had learned and discovered new ways of fighting. Ways to prevent anyone from dying. That is, to prevent the least amount of creatures dying as possible. But still . . . I . . . can never forget . . . that feeling . . . when you break . . . when you've . . . reached past your limits . . . when you lose control . . . my will has become stronger since then, but I'll never forget the pony I had become."

The colt ignored the screams of the minotaur, incinerating to ash with his own blue fire.

His mind was blank, empty, devoid of any emotion but one, anger. He had only one goal, to reach his friends and save them. He didn't care how he did it, he didn't care how many piles of ash laid behind him in this long, stone, castle hallway. He only cared about his friends, and the death of the one who had caused this.

A giant, wooden, double door ahead; coming close. Two minotaur guards, each wielding spears. This was going to be too easy.

The colt increased the speed to his gallop as he focused his magic to cover his entire body in fire. The red rug beneath him lit in a trail of flames beneath his hooves. He charged head on, straight towards the minotaurs.

The minotaur to the left sprinted forward, thrusting his spear towards the colt. The colt swiftly ducked, evading the attack. He then extended his wings, took hold of the attacking minotaur, and launched him towards his partner. The minotaur screamed due to both being pushed and the burns his body was now receiving. His partner was not prepared in the slightest. The attacking minotaur crashed into his partner directly and the two landed into the corner next to the door.

As the two were catching their bearings, they looked up to see a flying white pegasus. He glared to the two with death in his eyes. His wings flaring in a flood of fire, giving an appearance of a Phoenix. Staring down upon its prey.

This was the last thing the guards were to ever see, before the pegasus struck downwards.

There was a flash of blue, then nothing. The guards no longer saw anything after that, and they never would ever again.

The double door broke off its hinges, flying ten feet before crashing to the ground. Revealing the colt and a large pile of ash beside him.

Ahead of him, twenty feet away, stood a tall, muscular, minotaur. He wore a black and silver crown, armor, and a two handed great sword. Placed comfortably within a scabbard upon his back. The minotaur had dark gray fur, black hair, and red eyes. He had his hands held behind his back as he looked to the opposite direction.

The steaming colt, panting heavily with anger roared to the minotaur.

The minotaur slowly looked over his shoulder to the colt before laughing sinisterly. He then turned, facing the colt, eye to eye.

"Well, well, well! So the little birdy did decide to come save his friends- ."

Bex was cut off to a fire bolt, firing mere inches to his right cheek. It passed and exploded to the wall behind him. It didn't harm Bex, yet it was close enough for him to feel its power.

The colt could barely speak. His anger caused him to breath rapidly and shake uncontrollably. Yet he spoke, forcing the words out of his mouth. "MY FRIENDS!!! GIVE EM HERE!!! NOW!!!"

Bex tsked to the colt, "my, my, someone's developed quite the attitude. What happened to that shy little colt I used to know? Hmm? Where's he at- ."

"THAT WAS BEFORE YOU MURDERED EVERYONE I LOVED!!!"

"Ha, ha! Oh little birdy! If I had known that killing a few villagers would have turned you into this, I would have slaughtered them sooner!"

The colt screamed, fire blasting off his body and reaching to the ceiling as he did so. "SHUT UP!!!"

"Or what? What are you going to do? Are you going to kill me? Are you going to kill me unless I give you your friends? Is that how this is going to work?"

"Oh ho ho ho! NOT THIS TIME!!!"

Bex raised a brow, "so you're going to kill me regardless of what I do?"

"You've killed too many, enslaved thousands of innocent creatures, killed my friends, and captured the ones that are closest to me! I can't let you live, you don't deserve to live! I'm going to show you exactly what happens to those who mess with the ones that I LOVE AND CARE ABOUT!!!"

"Do you realize how many have fallen trying to kill me? How many I have defeated in combat? What makes you any different?"

"That may be, but if I am correct you've never foughten a Phoenix Pony before, have you?" the colt asked.

Bex laughed, "indeed not! But you're still a kid, do you honestly beleive that you posses the power to defeat me?"

"No, I beleive I have the power to cremate you on the spot!"

Bex laughed, harder. "You are something else. In all my years of being king I have never met a pony such as yourself. One minute you're a scared little mommas colt and the next you're a fearless warrior fighting to save his friends. No matter how strong you may think you are, in the end you are nothing but a fool! To think that you are strong enough to fight me? I will have your head on a spike in seconds!"

"Well don't just say it! Do it!" the colt taunted.

The minotaur king's smiling face faltered as he frowned to the colt. "If you are in that much of a hurry to duel, then I shan't waste any more time."

Bex reached to the handle of his sword and extracted the blade from within its scabbard. He placed his second hand to the handle and faced the blade towards the colt. "This is your last chance kid! Give up now or die by my sword!"

The colt growled, "how many times do I have to say it? How many times do I have to BUCKING SAY IT!!!"

The colt bent his knees and lunged forwards. Using his wings, he pushed the surrounding air around him, forcing his body to dart forward. Like a speeding arrow.

"I AM NOT A KID ANYMORE!!!" the colt roared.

Bex prepared himself, twisting his sword into a shield like defensive position.

The colt screamed as he darted to Bex, mere seconds before colliding into him.

"DOCTOR!"

The Doctor awoke from his thought, realizing just how much he was sweating as he did so. He took notice of Dean staring at him, looking scared.

"Bloody tartarus, are you alright mate?" asked Dean.

The Doctor sniffed, "fine . . . just got lost in thoughts. Bad flashbacks, have you ever had one?"

"No, can't say I have."

"There not good . . . not at all . . . change of subject!" the Doctor blurted, suddenly.

"Wait, what!?! W-What about King Bex? And your friends? What happened to them?"

"Oh I managed to save them and escape the castle before it crashed to the ground! Its a long story, all and all King Bex couldn't escape the castle in time when it crashed and he died inside. Thus concluding his reign. I helped his daughter pick up the pieces afterwards and that was that!"

"Really? That's how the "evil King Bex" died? A crashing castle?" asked Dean.

"Yes! How do you think he died?" asked the Doctor, growing frustrated.

"Well I just thought . . . maybe you . . ."

"Maybe I what? Dean?"

" . . . Nevermind."

The was brief moment of awkward silence before the Doctor spoke. "I didn't kill him. I was going to . . . but I didn't."

"But how did you learn that you didn't like killing with your magic if you didn't kill King Bex?" asked Dean.

"I never said I learned it from killing King Bex. I never said how I learned it at all. I learned it that day, on that very day. During our fight, not at the conclusion, near it."

"I don't understand- ."

"Dean!" the Doctor said abruptly.

"Y-Yes?"

" . . . I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"R-Right . . . sorry."

There was a long silence. The Doctor rose from his seat and walked to his fridge. Opening the fridge, he found a bottle of water inside and took it. He closed the fridge, returned to the table, twisted the cap opened, and drank it vigorously until it was less then half empty.

As he finished, the Doctor sighed, placed the cap atop the bottle and sighed again as he rested his back against his seat.

Dean, avoiding eye contact said, "I'm sorry, for making you- ."

"Don't", the Doctor interrupted.

"I was just cur- ."

"I, said, don't . . . Its fine . . . I understand. You were only curious. But a lot has happened in my life and not all of it was good. So try to be a bit more sensitive the next time "bad memories" occur. Will you, please?"

'Did he know what I was thinking?' thought Dean, surprised. "Um, sure! I will, and . . . sorry."

"It's alright, I forgive you. How about we get back to the Fire Elementals? I haven't told you about them yet- ."

"A-Are you sure? You don't seem well after talking about that. Do you want to take a break and do something else?"

"No, no, no! I'll be fine! There just itty bitty little bad memories! They can't harm anyone! Besides, I still need to tell you about the Fire Elementals! I really want to, they are my own species after all!"

"Well . . . okay, if you want to. I mean, I know I'm the one who asked you to tell me about the Elementals but we don't have to do it now."

"Nonsense! If not now then when? The sooner the better if you ask me!"

"Well . . . alright, go for it."

The Doctor shifted in his seat, repositioning himself, then said, "now there's quite a few things I can skip. Culture, technology, where we live, I've already explained these. So, starting of with the country itself- ."

"But you just said not where they live- ."

"Ah! Yes! I said I won't explain where they live! But I haven't explained what the Phoenix Ponies live on!"

"Alburnia isn't some ordinary country Dean. Its entire climate is the hottest on this planet. Because of the intense heat of our magic and because of the volcano that's set in the center most part of Alburnia. This volcano is what allows the Phoenix Ponies to protect the planet's core and keep it warm. The volcano is like a long tube that reaches all the way down to the planet's core. All we have to do is insert our magic into the volcano and it'll send our magic to the core. Our society may be science based but science can't do a Phoenix Ponies job. That's all, one hundred percent, magic!"

"Now Alburnia, oh! This place is beautiful! The place may be hot but it's full of vegetation! Trees and plants that have adapted to the excruciating heat of Alburnia. The trees that grow there are similar to coconut trees but grow red hot fruit instead! And by hot, I mean spicy! The red and coal colored leaves that grow, orange bushes, light red grass. Its so amazing! Just, the entire place changes your perception of nature! Most think of nature as great big green trees or green grass and animals. But Alburnia isn't like that at all! We have forests, we have grassy plains, and all of it is usually red!"

"Its been so long, but I can still remember sitting on the balcony of my home as a little colt. Watching the sunrise from the east as it makes the grass shine. And I mean that literally, the grass at alburnia shines when the sun first rises. Its brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"Do you miss Alburnia?" asked Dean.

"Well, yes, I do. But I had a choice between spending my life in a country and spending my life in the world and I made my decision. I wouldn't change it, no matter how much I miss Alburnia."

"Anyway, that covers Alburnia, onto the species themselves. The Phoenix Pony are exactly what's said in their name. They are literally "Phoenix Ponies". I say this because some assume we have taken this name because of our unique abilities with fire. When in actuality it is because we possess every trait there is to a Phoenix. All Phoenix Ponies have wings. Don't mistaken us for pegasi, it is because Phoenix's have wings. There is no such thing as a Phoenix Pony without wings and with horns."

"Phoenix Ponies have a few unique traits to us that separate us from the rest of the Elementals. First off is our fire. We can manipulate fire to our will but there's more to it then just that. You see, Phoenix Ponies can also summon their own, unique, Phoenix Fire any time they please. Even when fire is not available."

The Doctor rose from his seat and walked close to Dean. Taking Dean by surprise, the Doctor took hold of Dean's hoof and placed it to his chest. "Do you feel that?" the Doctor asked.

Dean awkwardly responded, "it's just your heart."

The Doctor nodded and shifted Dean's hoof left. "Now what do you feel?"

Dean fell slack jawed as he pierced his confused gaze at the Doctor's chest. "T-That's . . . your heart, again?"

The Doctor nodded as he stepped away from Dean, returning to his seat. "That, Dean, is a Phoenix Ponies second heart."

"Phoenix Ponies have two hearts!?" Dean asked in shock.

"Yes, but the second heart works differently from the first heart. The first heart works the same way as any heart would, pumping blood throughout the body. A Phoenix Ponies second heart, however, pumps our Phoenix Fire throughout our bodies. When a Phoenix Pony is using their own Phoenix Fire, the fire doesn't magically appear on the spot. They are actually taking the fire stored within their second heart and using that. Their fire works a lot like blood, so when a Phoenix Pony has used too much of their own fire they will feel the same effects as one would feel from blood loss . Because there isn't enough fire flowing through their bodies and they will have to wait for their bodies to generate more. It is possible for Phoenix Ponies to share their Phoenix Fire with one another but they try to conserve their magic as best as possible so that it doesn't get to that point. Hence the weapons I mentioned earlier."

"Also, our Phoenix Fire can become affected with age. As we get older our fire will become cooler and weaker. But the changes are only apparent after each cycle of a Phoenix Ponies life."

"Cycles? You mean like when a Phoenix Pony is a teen to an adult?" asked Dean.

"Not exactly, there's something about the Phoenix Ponies that separate them the most between the other Elementals. This is something that only the Phoenix Ponies can do."

"What would that be?" asked Dean.

The Doctor didn't answer. He looked away from Dean, appearing to be lost in thought. He moved his gaze from item to item amongst the kitchen, procrastinating his answer.

The Doctor figured he would have to tell his companion eventually. Better sooner then later, he figured.

The Doctor sighed and return his gaze to Dean. "Dean, have you ever seen a Phoenix?"

"No, can't say I have."

"Well, you do know what happens when a Phoenix has reached the end of their life, correct?" asked the Doctor.

"They burn their bodies to ash and are reborn from amongst the ashes." Dean replied.

The Doctor nodded. "Phoenix Ponies are literally Phoenix's Dean. In every aspect but one. We aren't birds, we are ponies. And just like a Phoenix, when a Phoenix Pony has reached the end of their life they will burn every cell in their body and will be reborn from amongst the ashes."

"Some call this the "Burn Cycle", because a Phoenix Pony burns their old body to form a new. However, the technical term, the one that most Phoenix Ponies use, is called "regeneration."

"Phoenix Ponies have the same lifespan as common Equine, eighty to a hundred years. Once they're bodies have reached this limit, they will regenerate. Their old bodies will burn and they will regenerate a brand new body from the ashes. This is what I mean by "cycles". You see, a Phoenix Pony can regenerate twelve times. So they will have a total of thirteen cycles, or "forms" if you will. And with each cycle, our fire will become weaker and weaker. That fire shield I had used on Oswald's stallions for example, I won't be able to do that anymore once I have reached my fourth form. My fire will have become too weak. If I tried using the shield again, the weapons would just pass through and hit us on the other side."

"However, as our fire becomes weaker with each cycle, our lifespans will also grow longer. I'm ninety four and as you can tell I have aged quite a bit. But if I was in, say, my tenth cycle for example. I would be able to become just as old as I am now and look roughly about sixty, give or take. This is because a Phoenix Pony in their tenth cycle could live up to around a hundred and fifty years old before they would have to regenerate. Unlike a Phoenix Pony in their first cycle, who could only live to about a hundred. There is a reason for this, it's very sciency. Has to do with the balancement between energy given to the fire's power and the Life Fire we have."

"Life Fire?" asked Dean.

"Yes, the Life Fire. Phoenix Fire flows within Phoenix Ponies bodies with their second heart. However, stored deep within Phoenix Ponies is a second fire known as the "Life Fire". This Life Fire is different from normal Phoenix Fire. It cannot be manipulated like Phoenix Fire and should never be touched. This fire flows not only through our bodies but through our souls. This fire is what controls the regeneration process. When a Phoenix Pony regenerates, they will be engulfed in Life Fire and burned to ashes. The Life Fire will continue to burn until it forges a new body with the ashes of the old. The reason it should never, ever, be touched is because it can only do two things if you are to manipulate it."

"One, you can give your Life Fire to someone else. It is the ultimate healing magic that can even heal fatal wounds, at the price of sacrificing yourself of course. And the second, is that you can manipulate your Life Fire to change your age."

"You see, when a Phoenix is reborn from their ashes they will have strong, mature bodies from the moment they are reborn and are capable of living as they had before. Phoenix Ponies aren't so fortunate. When a Phoenix Pony regenerates they will be reborn back into a young, helpless, infant. Their mind's, knowledge, and memories remain unaltered. However, they will require somepony to raise them until they are of a mature age once again. Some don't do this but they are, well, impatient. They don't want to have to go through the aging process of a child or teen again. So they can take control of their Life Fire and, essentially, burn those unwanted years away. They can force their bodies to skip as many years as they please. However, this process is permanent. If you burn away eighteen years so that you can start your new cycle as an adult, those years you burned away are gone. If your new cycle has one hundred years to live, then you just lost eighteen of those years and you won't be getting those back, ever. So most tend not to touch their Life Fire."

"The only time all Phoenix Ponies did this was during the Burning Ice Wars. If a Phoenix Pony was killed while on combat they would just regenerate, burn their years away, and keep fighting as an adult. Now that the wars are over nearly everyone refuses to do that. Its not a problem for them, usually they have family or friends to take care of them while they are foals. Some, if not all, return to their common life once they become colts and fillies."

"Okay, so . . . . am I going to have to raise you once you regenerate?" asked Dean.

The Doctor chuckled. "No, no, I might just burn those years away and skip to being an adult. But then again, being a child would be nice. Being able to have another childhood and all. However, there is something else about regenerating that you need to know about."

"And what would that be?" asked Dean.

"You see, Phoenix Ponies are the only ones who have to deal with this issue. The other Elementals are lucky. They get to age and stay the same and that's it. Nothing about them will change drastically. Phoenix Ponies on the other hoof, well . . . when a Phoenix Pony regenerates, every cell in their body will burn away. And the Life Fire regenerates completely brand new cells from the ashes."

"Why is that a bad thing?" asked Dean.

The Doctor paused for a moment. He took a deep breath and continued hesitantly. "What this means is that- ."

Suddenly, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T began shaking and the usual metallic groans it made echoed through the halls and kitchen. Then, as soon as it had began, it stopped.

Dean clung tightly to his seat, expecting that he and the Doctor were once again in danger. A few moments of nothing later caused Dean to look to the Doctor in confusion. "What just happened?"

The Doctor looked equally confused for a moment before his expression brightened. "I think we've landed."

Dean practically leaped from his seat. "Really!?! We're here!?!"

"I beleive so". The Doctor stood to his hooves and walked quickly to the kitchen door.

Before Dean had the chance to move, the Doctor turned to Dean and stopped him. "Why don't you stay here? Its awfully dangerous outside with Discord's magic around. I won't be gone for long anyway. I'm just going to talk to my friend and be back in a flash. Out, then back in."

"Oh, are you sure?" asked Dean.

"Trust me, I'll be finished in minutes. You won't have to wait long at all."

"Well, alright, if your sure. I'll just wait here then."

The Doctor nodded and turned to leave before the sound of his name ushered him back into the kitchen.

"Hmm? What's up?"

"You were saying something about your cells burning and that it was a bad thing?" asked Dean.

"Oh! Right! Its, ah, well . . . because . . . it . . . hurts. It just hurts a lot, tha- that's all."

"That's it?" asked Dean.

"Yes", the Doctor lied.

"Oh, well, hopefully yours doesn't hurt too much", said Dean, sympathetically.

The Doctor frowned and looked away. "Yeah . . . hopefully."

"I mean look on the bright side! You'll be young again! That's a good thing, isn't it?" asked Dean.

"Yes . . . Yes I . . . I guess."

The Doctor was about to turn to exit before hearing his name a second time. "What is it?" he asked.

"I was wondering, um, you got any cereal?" asked Dean.

"Cereal? At three in the afternoon?" asked the Doctor.

"Cereal is delicious no matter what time of day it is!" Dean responded with excitement.

The Doctor chuckled, "quite right there. Pantry next to the fridge, top shelf."

"Nice!" said Dean, as he stood from his seat and walked to the pantry.

The Doctor smiled as he exited the kitchen. His smile quickly dropped to a frown as he walked through the hallways and made his way to the console room.

'I'll tell him . . . not today . . . someday . . . when the time is right', the Doctor thought as he entered the console room.

The Doctor walked to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's exit and pushed.

The first thing the Doctor was introduced to as he exited the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was strong gusts of wind and the shouts of a stallion.

"Freeze! Put your hooves in the air! Where we can see them!"