Two Hearts to Heal

by Spaghedward

Foreshadowing Towards a New Adventure

There was a moment of silence as the ponies processed what was going on. This supposed time traveling colt was an eccentric soul, yes, but anypony was welcome in Ponyville. It also helped that the Doctor had proven himself to be a likeable enough pony. One problem though: this was decidedly not the Doctor.

“I’m sorry, but that’s just not possible,” said Twilight, “You look nothing like him.”

“Agreed.”

“Obviously.”

“Then who is he?”

Things were not looking good for the new arrival. Here he was standing in the middle of the crowd with an adopted name. He would have been stuck there for hours if it were not for the timely intervention of one Ms. Ditzy Doo.

“Oh no, that’s him. This is a…whatchamacallit…new regeneration.”

A soft voice resounded from the back of the crowd. “Angel bunny seems to think so too…” added Fluttershy.

“Well I’m not buying it,” huffed Twilight, “What is regeneration? Why would it change the Doctor?”

“Oh, well…it’s a Timelord thing.”

The crowd had become so wrapped up in its internal argument over who the stranger was that the ponies forgot that the stranger of interest was in their midst. It took this comment from him to snap them back to reality.

Seemingly satisfied with the vague answer he had given, “the Doctor” turned and made his way back into the TARDIS. He wouldn’t have given the ponies a second look if not for the exclamation of a gray mare with a bubbles cutie mark: “WAIT!!!”

“What is it?”

“You’re…you’re just going to leave? Just like last time?”

“An entire world of jeering, chattering ponies…not the place for me. Not now and not ever again.”

The TARDIS door slammed shut and the almost mystical box disappeared before the ponies’ eyes. Ditzy Doo stared at the location where the Doctor and his craft had been just a moment before as the others began to dissociate. A variety of conversations were being had on the side. The general consensus was that it couldn’t have been the Doctor, for if he were to visit town something would inevitably break.

Something broke, or rather; a lot of damage was done in a short period of time.

Almost as soon as it had departed the TARDIS returned with a newfound level of non-refinement in its landing sequence. It had materialized six feet from the ground and came crashing down. Less than a second after this the TARDIS once again disappeared from view.

And appeared crashing into a cart.

And again with a box.

And again with a house.

It was honestly very embarrassing to watch, and most of the ponies didn’t avert their gazes for any of it, partly out of interest and partly out of fear that the box may strike them without a moment’s notice.

If anypony had been inside Sugarcube Corner while this was transpiring they would have found Pinkie Pie writhing on the floor covered in flour and a sticky paste that felt like honey. The last time her famed Pinkie Sense had shown such a reaction Spike was about to have a violent digestive fallout stemming from the ingestion of a lump of coal mistaken for a tasty gemstone snack.

After what Rainbow Dash referred to as “the twentieth freakin’ time” the TARDIS settled down, smoke pouring from its doors. Even though the ponies and the supposed Doctor were separated by a door on top of layers upon layers of dimensional trickery and Timelord engineering, his incensed screams were loud and clear.

“WHY WON’T YOU WORK? I know you can do it…honestly…it’s just…YOU WON’T LET ME LEAVE!!! IS THERE A POINT TO ALL THIS!!!”

“Why are you so grumpy today? Don’t tell me you hate the new look?” asked Ditzy. After an intense scream session that reminded her of a banshee choking on a howler monkey, the Doctor had finally left the confines of his blue box. Red and the face and grumbling to himself, the Doctor stalked off mumbling strings of nonsense…at least that’s how a normal pony would have perceived it.

“Taking me where I need, not where I want. Whoever thought up the idea of a sentient ship deserves torture…”

“You can drop the act you cranky timepony, no need to hide things from me.”

“I’m not hiding anything.”

“Yes you are. Something is obviously wrong.”

“How so?”

“Your fashion sense for one thing. A bowtie? Really?”

The Doctor looked down at his chosen form of decoration. If Ditzy had been looking at his eyes just then, they would have been a haze. What sorts of memories were going on behind them? Good? Bad? Painful? Custard filled? Whatever they were, they caused the Doctor to remove the bowtie and drop it on the ground.

“I’m not the kind of Timelord that needs it anymore anyway.”

“Wha?!” Ditzy might not have known anything about the bowtie, but she could definitely sense its underlying importance. She scooped it up and held it out to the Doctor.

“Seriously now, what is it?”

“What’s what?

“You. What’s with you? You were sad last time too?”

“Well…I can honestly say that I’d have those circumstances again rather than the current one.”

“Which is what?”

“…you’ll never stop this will you?”

“I am the one and only Ditzy Doo. I helped you save entire planets. Remember the Jagafress Doctor? You and Muldoon 5 would have been goners without me. I’m your one and only pony assistant, here to help you out whenever you need it. You’re pretty lucky, all I ask in return is some muffins and…”

The Doctor’s body tightened at “lucky.” He drew his legs in, flexed his neck, grit his teeth…it was a very angry reaction to be sure. He looked Ditzy square in the eye and said two little words: “Be. Quiet.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m lucky? Ha! That’s a laugh Ditzy Doo. Don’t tell me you’re a comedian now?”

“Oh no no. I’m just your Derpy. The genuine article.”

“Well then, if you know me so well, you must know that I’m not lucky in the slightest. No. Not me, nor them. They’re all unlucky in the end I suppose. What, with alternate dimensions, neural meltdown, love. Oh, love is the worst of all Ditzy. It makes them do things, things they’d never have dreamt of. And sometimes, just sometimes, it makes me do things as well. I always say I’ll come back one day, that I’ll find the way after fixing the threat, but that will always be a lie. Heh. Even with my first face I would do such things.”

“Doc-“

“That’s why I’m not lucky. Now you? YOU’RE lucky. Luckier than the rest of them anyway. What did you do after I left, cry yourself to sleep for a week or two? Miss the adventure, the life threatening adventure? Maybe you went on a journey of your own, constricted by you terrestrial boundaries. Regardless, you’re still here. The only one I haven’ tainted. You, more than anyone else I’ve ever met, have NO RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT’S LUCKY!”

“But I-“

“B-but Doctor…SAVE YOURSELF THE EFFORT! You and I are done Derpy. There is nothing you can say, nothing you can do that will change this. I’m dangerous. Stay away from me and I promise that when the TARDIS decides to work once more, I’ll leave and never return.”

As the Doctor stomped off, a pool of liquid gathered at Ditzy’s feet. Clear and salty tears straight from her body. She sat and stared in the direction he was headed, and remained in this position long after he had taken a turn and disappeared from sight.

Don’t travel alone, that’s what River had said to him. He needed someone. Needed a friend. Needed a leash. He needed companionship to save him from himself. But who would save the companions when their troubles came? Certainly not him.

The Doctor stared at his hands, five fingers on each one. Hands that had held Amy and Rory just hours earlier. Hands that had failed the married couple completely.

The angels had taken Manhattan, and with the glistening city, Amy and Rory. Was it fair? Of course not. But it had happened. If only he’d rushed them out of that graveyard. Why did he have to clean the TARDIS with River at that time? Who would’ve cared how it looked…besides him…besides them. Damn.

He got up, not paying attention to his surroundings. He needed to go somewhere quite, somewhere where he could hide away as he regenerated into obscurity. Manipulating the TARDIS console, his eyes clouded with tears for a second. And a second was all it took.

RRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!

The TARDIS rocked back and forth, making a horrific noise. The Doctor reached for the console once more, but his body was overtaken by pain. His clothes melded with his body and his hands rounded and changed color. He could feel his face elongate and something was growing from his backside. This had happened before; it was a process that signified he was turning into a pony.

“NOT NOW!!!”

The Doctor’s thoughts were interrupted with a loud and overly cheerful “Howdy!” Looking over his shoulder, he caught sight of an orange pony wearing a hat.

“Ah, one of the Elemental Guardians.”

“Pardon? I think what ya meant to say was Element of Harmony.”

“What is it?” he grumbled.

“Oh, well now. I saw that little scene you had with our mailpony back there, it was a shame to see two good friends bickerin’ like ponies n’ buffalo.”

The pony crossed her front hooves. “Well before that I should be remindin’ yah that mah name’s Applejack. I can see that look in yah eyes. What did ya think it was, Applecrisp?”

“I was going for ‘pie’”

“Well I never!”

The Doctor walked away in a vain attempt to make his escape. He had no intention of making up with Ditzy, which was what the mare was obviously working towards. He was as old as the alicorns, if he were to express the fact in Equestrian terms. There was no need for him to answer to a young adult pony with apples on her buttocks.

“Terribly sorry, but I must get going.”

“Wait you-“

Applejack took off at a brisk trot, determined to change the Doctor’s behavior and get things back to what she considered to be normal. It might take all night, maybe even a week; but she was certain that he would make up with Ditzy eventually. She was unaware of what destiny had in store for the Doctor and her. A destiny that, from a linear point of view, had happened years in the past.

Nighttime in Ponyville is exceptionally peaceful. While the town is full of remarkable characters and silly fillies, few save Twilight Sparkle had the tendency to stay up into the wee hours of the morning. On this particular night however, Pinkie Pie found herself mixing batter in the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner. The Cakes’ had received an exceptionally large order from Canterlot earlier that day. Something to do with throwing a celebratory feast for the reformed Discord, who had just done his first job for the princesses. Pinkie wanted to turn the whole thing into a party, but Twilight forbade it.

“There’s no time to go to Canterlot right now Pinkie. The Games inspections are coming up after all.”

And so, Pinkie was a little to sleep-deprived to notice the distinct sound of the bell on the front door being rung. She was too tired to hear the assailant approach from behind. Too tired to fight back. Whatever was attacking her, it wrapped its hand around her and they both disappeared in a flash of light.

Twelve miles to the north of Ponyville, a ship was hovering in the air. It would take until morning for anypony to notice it, and it would take a doctor to bring it down. A very experienced doctor.

Author's Note:

Didn't know I could embed a video into the story itself. I'll stick with this method from now on.

Comments

[thetravelingman]

why do i wanna say it's the sontarans or the daleks

[Spaghedward]

2247017 Daleks don't have hands silly-billy.

[thetravelingman]

2247193 but they have robots that can have hands well them and cybermen

[Novalis14]

I love this, not only is the premise great but it actually written competently! Better than competently. I would love to read more.