> The Fallout of a Fractured Sky > by Sam Cole > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > chapter one, jail time > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legal stuff, I don't own any of these characters other than original characters, nor claim to at any point, I do this for fun and the advancement of literature, nothing more. Doctor Who is owned by the BBC, MLP:FIM by Hasbro. Please support the official release. CRAP!!!!!1!!! Running now, gotta run! Can't stop, hearing the zip of laser fire pass overhead! I turn fast, which way, which way! The TARDIS! I can see it! A blinding flash! Crap! What was that, Run forward, hope for the best! Hope for-BANG!- owww, my head... I found the TARDIS now. I'm inside, I ran right into the consul again, didn't I? "Tehehehehehe, Opie, that was fun," My wife, Pinkie Pie said. I groggily looked at her, and saw in her hooves the Polaroid camera the Doctor had given her. How she worked it, that was beyond me. "Pinkie," I said calmly, "Did you take my picture right before I entered?" "Yep, its a good one, lookit!" She said pressing the photo into my face. "That's a real keeper Pinkie," the Doctor said, laughing, "Just in time too. He looks like an action hero!" "Yepperunie! This one is my new favorite, going right here!" Pinkie said pinning the picture to the bulletin board we had put up, full of pictures of our adventures to new worlds. "Great," I said trying to stand, "Now can we go home, I don't think they want us here on... where are we?" "Raxitalianfalibitorious!" The Doctor said with a smile, "They were rather polite today." "Why do you say that Doc?" I asked. He hated when I called him that, but he chalked it up to a country upbringing. "They missed," He said so calm, so passively, all I could do was laugh as we twisted and turned through time back home. At least, til we got that darn call. Something in the TARDIS was ringing. I had heard this before now, the Doctor called it a Telephone, but never said he had one in the TARDIS. He answered it, and then turned to us a little miffed. "What's wrong Doctor? Lets turn that frown upside down," Pinkie said, twisting her neck for visual effect showing a frown literally turn upside down. How the buck she did that, even the Doctor was at a loss. "That was my wife, she needs a lift," The Doctor said. I think my jaw hit the floor now, because Pinkie laughed and read my mind. "Doctor, Doctor. Keeping your wife a secret form us, shame on you. I didn't know you were married. So then, where/when is she?" Pinkie said. "Stormcage Containment Facility, a galactic prison," The Doctor said. "Uhm... Doc, mind if I ask?" I posed to the intrepid time lord. "What she did?" The Doctor asked, to which Pinkie and I both nodded, "She was arrested for my murder, happy?" "Oh, well," Pinkie said, "Not really, Sorry Doctor." "It's alright, you all were bound to find out some day," The Doctor said. "So just out of curiosity..." I started. "No no, we do this all the time. It's our thing," The Doctor said. "Does she know your a pony now?" I finished. "Oh... um... no, I don't think she knows..." The Doctor said sheepishly. I will admit, I was scared, anyone that could rile up the Doctor like this, that has to be bad. We soon started the materialization inside Stormcage Containment Facility, and when the loud bang of the ship stopping rang, Pinkie and I opened the doors, to see 5 or 6 armed guards at the ready. Although as soon as they laid eyes on a box that's bigger on the inside filled with ponies, they lost the ready. Pinkie didn't. "Hiya, I'm Pinkie," She said to them all. "Ohmygod she is cute, my daughter would love her!" One of the guards said. "Yeah, sure Steve, your 'Daughter' would definitely love her... BWAHAHAHA!" Another guard said. "Can you help us Steve?" Pinkie asked. Only my wife would ask the guards for help during a prison break. "Sure thing, whaddya need?" Steve said. Only my wife would get the guards help during a prison break. "We need his wife, can you get her for us?" Pinkie said with a smile. I thought we were about to die. "Sure thing, who is she?" Steve's friend said. The hay! What kind of prison is this? Wait I know better, this is working, don't jinx it. "Doctor River Song," The Doctor said stepping up to the door now. "Of course," The guards said and parted to reveal a nice looking human female, in an adventurous outfit. "Hello Sweetieeee What the Hell?" She said looking at the Doctor now, she couldn't see over her guards I guess. "What on Gallifrey happened to you love? You're a freaking horse!?!" "I'm a pony now. Ponies are Cool," The doctor said. We had to let this slide, last week he had gotten his hooves on a Fez, and pranced around it in, always saying 'I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool.' But this time he was right. "Oh, for the love of... 12th regeneration?" River asked. "Yes indeed, now, get in the box," the Doctor said. When River was on board they started working the controls, taking us back to Ponyville once more. "So love," the Doctor asked in between pulling a lever and kicking the command node, "Hallucinatory lipstick again?" "Oh love, no imagination. I used the old Jedi Mind trick," River said. "I really hate to rush you Docs, but some of us have work in the morning, like say all of us except Mrs... The Doctor, here," I said. If I didn't keep the doctor on track, we would never get anywhere. "Oh, you work now?" River asked her husband. "Yes I do, need to keep up the mild mannered Pony bit. By the way, this is Pinkie and Opie Pie," The Doctor said. "It's Fixx," I said. "No it's not," The Doctor said. "No it's not... Hey!" I said. All the while, Pinkie and River talked, soon laughing it up like long lost friends, maybe sisters... oh Celestia that's a scary thought. I took the chance to turn to my new hobby, inventing. I had made some modifications to my tools, and was close to having my own working Sonic Screwdriver. I say working because I have a rather nice collection of useless ones. The Doctor walked up to me, and in a deflated manner, fell back on his haunches, letting out a sigh and doing something I had never expected of him. "Opie, I need your help," He said. I was floored, the Doctor never asked for help. "Um, what can I do for ya Doc?" I asked, unsure how to go forward with this. "I need some advise, I am not really good at the whole being married bit," The Doctor said, head hung low. "Well, you're 1173 years old, buddy. You mean to tell me the only thing you don't know about is love?" I said. "Well being the last of your species, you kind of give up on love," The Doctor said. "Wait the last? You mean..." I started "Yes Opie," the Doctor said, his stare aimed at the floor, "Even with time travel, I can not go back to my world. It is forever lost to me now, I am the Last of the Time Lords." With that he looked me in the eyes, and I could feel all of his pain, all of his suffering. All the times he had opened his heart, all the times he had to watch those he loved die. All the wonders he brought, that was only one side of the coin that is the Doctor, the other side... was death, agony, pain, loss, and hopelessness. "Doctor, what I did a year ago..." I started. "I don't hold that against you Opie, You wanted to save everyone, and you had what you believed you needed. I did the same myself," The Doctor said. We forgot about the issue of the Doctor's marriage, it seemed irrelevant now. How do you help a relationship between two time travelers that never meet up in the right order. The Doctor went over to River and they started comparing their journals, to sync up where they where with each other. Once she asked if he had seen the river of plasma on Hexdrcop yet, when he said no and tried to ask about it, her only response was 'Spoilers.' Pinkie and I watched this scene, eating some popcorn Pinkie had just made or found, I don't know, I don't ask these questions. "So my little ponies," River said, "What should I know about Ponyville?" "Oh my, Ponyville is great, its where all of my best friends live, Except you now, and Captain Jack, And the Princess of course, and Zecora, and..." This was a long list. Every one worked while Pinkie listed off friends, literally everyone she knew that didn't live in Ponyville. "So River," Pinkie said when she was done, "I feel we should warn you, some ponies in town are not too happy with aliens..." As if on cue, the TARDIS started to buck and shake, like it does when we are in for a bad landing. "Oh what now Sexy?" The Doctor pleaded with his machine, "Some one outside the TARDIS managed to change our course? But, but how?" "Who the hell is this Celestia?" River asked, looking at a tweed billfold from the Doctor's pocket she had swiped earlier. "That's the Princess, but how did you know that name?" I asked. "Psychic paper love, the Doctor here was thinking it, he read it on one of the screens. Apparently she wants to see us." River said. "Oh boy, I'll get my party Cannon!" Pinkie said. We were soon materializing, and form outside we could hear the echo of the engines as we came into the world. With a deep breath The Doctors, Pinkie and myself readied for the worst. "Oh Opie, it's not the worst, the Princess is our friend!" Pinkie said. "What, how..." I started. "I'm reading the narrative, silly," She said. "Pinkie... how... Forth wall... I," I admit, I was at a loss. Pinkie, just get on with the story. "Okay dookie artichokie," Pinkie said. I'm in a battle with physics, I swear. We left the TARDIS, to find an army of royal guards at the ready, and the Princesses Luna and Celestia, walking towards us, a serious expression on the elder, Celestia. Luna looked a little dazed and tired, but I didn't say anything. River walked calmly towards them, then bowed. "Greetings my most elegent hosts, I am Queen Cleopatra, how do you do?" River said offering the paper from before. But Celestia was not falling for it. "That paper is blank Doctor Song," She said, her voice oddly cold, "And you and the Doctor here are no longer welcome on Equestria. We want no more involvement with you beings from other worlds. So we would like to ask that you leave, before we make you leave." "Of course, your highness," The Doctor said. "Doc wait, you can't, this is your home," I said, trying to keep a hold of my friend. The Doctor came over and gave me a big hug, odd, but not for him. During the embrace, he whispered into my ear, he had a warning. A plan. Unfortunately those were his exact words almost, real helpful Doc. "Come along River, this world does not need us," The Doctor said. Pinkie cried, a big flowery display. "No, Doctor, River, TARDI, don't go!" She said. "You named the TARDIS 'TARDI?' The buck hun?" I said. We sat and watched as my best colt and his wife left our world, the music of the engines playing an almost sad note now. We turned to the Princess that had just banished our friend, looking for a reason, a sign to why she willingly cast off our only protection form the bad aliens. But we were in for a shock. "My little ponies, do not cry, and do not fear. My actions are in our interest. We do not allow contact with any advanced races now," Huh, that's an odd way to put that, what was up with our Princess? "The rule had to be across the board, meaning even the Doctor." "(Sob) But Princess, he was our friend, he only wanted to help us, live a nice life," Pinkie said. "I know my dear, but tomorrow, you wouldn't even remember the good Doctors." Celestia said. Wait what? Like a fog, she decended on us, her normal playful laugh now one that struck fear and panic into my heart as the world went dark. > chapter two, something's off in the fair village > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I awoke nice and refreshed, the sun was high, the birds singing, the great smell of fresh made Cinnamon Muffins floating up from down stairs, Pinkie was already hard at work, bless her. I slide out of bed and trotted into the bathroom, starting to brush my teeth. Pinkie left me a message, I thought when I walked in, and saw Good morning Mr. Pie written on the mirror in lipstick... wait... something is off. What was I doing here, my friend was... "Good morning honey!" My wife said to me, looping her for legs around my neck as I came downstairs. Celestia I was lucky to have her. I ate a big breakfast this morning, Pinkie always made the best muffins, then it was off to work. I skipped along, humming to myself, waving to all of my friends as I went. The happy teacher Twilight, the animal lover Fluttershy, The happy couples of Gilda and Rainbow Dash, and Applejack and Rarity, who were talking to an odd pony with a spiked up chocolate mane and chestnut fur, with a hourglass cutie mark... But before I could focus on this, I bumped into a new pony. "Oops, my bad. Hi there, I'm Opie," I said, trying to help up the cream colored mare with frizzy blonde hair. Something about her was... familiar. "Hello Opie, I'm Melody, Melody Pond," She said. "Nice to meet you Melody. Are ya new here?" I asked. "Quite. Just got in last night," She said with a smile. For some reason it hurt my head to look right at her, into those gray eyes. "Hmm, you should go to Sugarcube corner, say hello to my wife, Pinkie. She loves to throw parties for the new ponies in town," I said. "Will do. Ta ta for now Mr. Pie," She said trotting off. "Hey, wait," I called after her, "I didn't tell you where it is... Or my Name. And IT'S FIXX!" I yelled. Why did everpony keep calling me Opie Pie? I continued on to the clock tower, ready to get to work maintaining the big toy of mine. Celestia she was beautiful, and so big. It was almost like she was bigger on the inside... Almost... There was a knock at my door, so I hurried over to see who was here. "Oh, Hello Derpy," I said to the fair mail pony, "If it's bills I'm not here," I joked. "Nope, just a package today. Here... no wait... here? No... oh no...Um..." Derpy said having trouble reading the labels on the mail. I knew to just wait it out, Derpy couldn't let me handle other ponies mail anymore, we had a problem with that. "Huh," She said at last, "That's odd, It's not here. But I could have sworn..." She said, almost in tears. "Hey, it's all good Derpy, it happens. Why don't you go over to the Sugarcube. Tell Pinkie I sent you for a fresh cinnamon muffin," I said. "Yippee, fresh muffins!" She said, a spring in her step. I closed the door with a chuckle, she was a good pony, she just needed a good friend, and some bubble wrap, to be set for life. I turned around to find myself face to face with the odd pony from this morning, the one talking to the Apple-Rarity couple. "Hello Opie," He said as if he and I were... best colts...at my wedding, I.. I had asked..."I don't have long Opie, I need you to go to Canterlot. Trust me, I'm the Doctor," He said with a brilliant smile. A smile that I felt told me this plan was about to suck for me... why did I know that... how? Another knock at the door, probably Derpy with that package she couldn't find. I turned to look at the door for a second, and when I turned back, the odd pony was gone. I shrugged it off, I do live with Pinkie Pie after all. "Hello," I said opening the door to find it was actually two royal guards, both looking rather serious. "Opie Pie?" The black one asked. "It's Fixx! Opie Fixx!" I yelled. The two guards nodded to each other, then tackled me and put a bag over my head. Celestia, I hate that, not being able to see, ponies don't like that. I blacked out now, the bag smelling really funny, just like chloroform... oh, wait... crap. I awoke in an underground cell, or so I guess, based on the temperature and walls. I looked around now, trying to figure out where I was, and any tools I had at my disposal. But the cell was empty, except for a large white Alicorn! "Princess!" I said trying to rush too her, but I was chained to the wall. "Hello there my little pony, glad you are finally awake," She said, with a sad smile upon her face. Her beautiful coat was mud stained, her mane a mess, which for a shifting aura of magic is rather hard I think. "What happened, why are you locked up down here Princess?" I asked. "Please, call me Celle, there is no need to stand on circumstance now. Last week I was enjoying a walk in my private garden, when Queen Chrysalis sprung a trap. She replaced me, and used some sort of alien device to be able to draw the love of everyone in Equestria for me into her, making her nearly invincible. She has to be stopped," She pleaded with me. "Um... how? I'm here with you, locked in an underground cell," I said, and a very valid point. "You are the best repair pony there is, she might try to use you to better the alien device," Celle said. "Me? What can I do?" I asked. It's not like I could fix alien tech, not with out a sonic screw driver, a temporal distortion field to cut relay displacement, a psychic regulator to keep it form burning out, and a roll of duct tape... Wait what? Brain you betray me, hiding this knowledge til now! "Never mind Celle, my brain just kicked in I think." "She's coming, quick Opie, for Equestria." She said in a hushed tone. A second later the Princess, or should I say changling Queen, entered our cell. "Hello there little one, did my guard treat you well?" she asked of me. "Oh yeah, so well, those two deserve a raise," I said sarcastically. "I meant the one in here with you," She said., and I watched as the princess I had talked to changed in a flash of green magic into a changling. "What, how? Oh wait, changling, right. But why?" I asked, confused. "It was the only way to get you to admit you could improve on my device. Thank you my child," She said to the monster that was now freed for the wall. "Now my little pony, you Will help me," She said, horn a glow with magic as she prepared to magically force me into her service. Oh filly, Princess Celestia needs me to fix a device for her, and am I ever happy to help. Ouch! Brain, why did you hurt me for that... whats wrong... everything... wrong... We turned a corner and the Princess smiled down at me, and what a lovely smile. My leader looked at consul of displays and asked if I could make it work better. "Of course Princess," I said. And I happily went about the task. It was hard, but I somehow managed. After a bit I got hungry, and wanted a muffin. I realized I was working on a giant psychic relay now... I wonder... all that power, energy, and magic flowing through it... "Oh little pony, are you done yet?" the Princess asked of me. "Almost," I said, "Just applying the finishing touches.. and done." I said rising, eating my muffin. "Where did you get that?" the Princess asked with a puzzled look on her kind face. "Muffin Button," I said with a more than likely stupid look on my face. "What? Never mind, guards, throw him in the dungeon, I will now become a god!" She cried, and let loose an evil laugh. I sat back and enjoyed my muffin, watching the lightning flash all around. Everything seemed so nice... the Princess was so nice... Princess... All of the sudden I felt like some one slapped me, I looked hard, but the only one here was the Princess... Princess... "Foal, why don't they do anything? What did you do you idiot?" She demanded of me? Why would she do that... Why was I sitting here. "You screwed it up, they are too blindly in love now, I can't handle this much power!" She cried. Wait, she wasn't... wasn't... what was she not... "RAGH!!!" She cried as she let loose a powerful blast of magic, her power growing out of control. I remember now, she was the Queen, Chrysalis! I had to stop her. I leaped at the terminal, sliding under it and putting a hoof to the button, shutting the whole thing down. With a cry, the changling queen transformed back to herself. looking at me with fire and rage in her eyes. "Well, that was fun ma'am," I said, casually leaning on the computers now, "But I really think you should free the Princess, and break your spell over Luna too, she needs her brain." "Foal, do not treat me as such, I will rule you all!" She bellowed. "Yeah, not gonna happen. I cut you off from the relay, and reversed the psychic resonance into a better target, the princess herself. With your spell over everyone, and a massive relay like this one, all that power, she is gonna be here in..." I started, cut off by a beautiful White Alicorn teleporting into the room. She was angry, like Pinkie when somepony breaks a Pinkie promise angry, because no pony messed with her subjects. "Now," I finished with a smug smile as the Queen cowered from the Ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia. The changling queen tried to bolt, but my Princess put a stop to that plan. "You are the worst, Queen Chrysalis, You endangered my kingdom, hurt my subjects, drained my sister, and banished my friend. You are not to ever leave the caves of despair!" Celestia said, horn glowing as she magically cast the foul shifter to the caves far from Canterlot, or anything really, to live out her days as queen of the rocks. With all the power coursing through her now, she was scary, but amazing. With a cry, the shifter vanished and the Princess turned to me and smiled, her normal warm smile. "Thank you my friend. I am forever in your debt," She said. "Think nothing of it, now if you will excuse me, I need to shut down this machine and get my friend back," I said. "Of course, but how did you make the machine hurt the Queen, or empower me?" She asked as I got under the command node and cut the power. "Muffin Button," I said. "What?" "What?" The princess laughed as the machine was disabled, so no pony could ever use it for ill will again. Then the sounds of a very familiar engine could be heard through out the castle, and the Princess and I dashed into the main hall way where just in time, the big blue box appeared. The Doctor burst out, along with a painful to look at pony version of River Song. "Opie, listen, we were interrupted, but now you need to bring down the relay!" he yelled. "Easy Doc, it's all good, I took care of it. We're good," I said doing my best Doctor level smile. "What, but, but how?" The Doctor said, obviously a little deflated. "Muffin Button." "Ah, jolly good. Still have any muffins?" The Doctor asked. And everyone assembled laughed. "So Doc," I said, "How is River a pony now, and why does it hurt to look at her?" "Perception Filter, and because you know she is not a pony, so your brain is fighting to correct the image," The Doctor said rather like I should have known. "Um, boys..." River said. "Yeah?" I said, looking near her, not wanting to kill my brain now, I was on a roll. "Where is Pinkie, I thought she was with you..." River said. She spoke on, But I couldn't make out the words. All I knew was my Pinkie was gone, and I had to find her. I ran from the castle, I ran and I ran. I was almost to the Canterlot city gates when the Princess' chariot passed over and told me to jump in. I did, with out a second though. It could have been a trap, I didn't care, I was going to Pinkie, and not a force on Equestria could stop me. > chapter three, oh Pinkie, where art thou > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The flying chariot pulled low over Ponyville, straight up the street from the Sugarcube Corner. I bailed out while the ride was still 15 feet up, I tucked and rolled, not missing a beat, and dead sprinted into my home. When I burst in, I found the palce a mess, there was over turned tables, food everywhere. The had been a struggle. I heard a sound in my workshop, so I ran there, maybe it was Pinkie! I burst in to find the Doctor and River examining something. I yelled, I had gotten my hopes up, and now, I had nothing. Before I could run out, the Doctor ran over and knocked me to the floor, pinning me down with his forelegs, sitting on my chest. I yelled. I cursed. I cried. My Pinkie was gone. Was it the Changling? Did she steal my Pinkie? What was going on! Pinkie! "Opie, Snap out of it," The Doctor said to me, "You're not helping by being this mad. You are more useful calm, intelligent. Pinkie needs you at the top of your game old chap, now shut up and think!" The Doctor yelled at me. He had yelled at me before, but never like this, never for me, usually just at me. I swallowed hard, panting, but I was thinking. "Why are you in here?" I asked him, I thought I was nice. "Two reasons love," River said, "First, this is the only room in your house we can land the TARDIS in, and Second, Pinkie was in here, she left a note." "What, what does it say?" I asked, trying to keep calm before I lost it again, the Doctor was right, I was of more use this way. "Something called Diamond Dogs kidnapped your friend Rarity with an alien weapon," She read, "Pinkie and the others went to get her back. Applejack is so worried... is that her lover?" River asked looking at the last part. "Yeah, why?" I said. "Ah, I see where this is going," The Doctor said, "Opie, I hate to ask, but I need you to arm yourself. We have no idea what those foul dogs have gotten their paws on. Build it, grab it, whatever, I don't care, just get something." "Well, I have made something..." I said thinking. It was big, but the tool bag the Doctor gave me was here, and my toy would fit nicely. "Excellent," He said, grabbing a banana and a mop, "River, ready to go?" "You know it, Sweetie," River said, holding up her alien weapon, some sort of hoof laser weapon thing. My brain throbbed looking at her, I knew it was in her fore leg hoof thingy, but it looked like it was just sitting in the small of her hoof now, and that made no sense. She looked at the Doctor and laughed. "Muhmph?" He said, the mop in mouth. "Darling, give it to Opie, in his bag. You look just plain silly with it in your mouth," She said. The Doctor begrudgingly did as she asked, then we were off, and not a moment too soon. We ran straight to the outskirts of town, where I had last seen the Dogs. When we got there, there was signs of a struggle, and lots of dirt and mud thrown about. "Perfect," I said surveying the scene, "They're already on high alert." "Great, that means some one else already did the hard work of breaching then," River said. "Come along Pie, we have a friend to save," The Doctor said finding a free passage down to the Dogs. We ran down the passage, every second I knew I drew closer to my Pinkie Pie. The others fell back some, but I couldn't stop. When we bottomed out, we were in a huge expanse, miles and miles of earth excavated. I saw the Dogs, their alien weapon, a large, one paw device pointed right at Rarity's head. I also saw Pinkie, and all of the gang, Gilda too, huh Rainbow must have put her hoof down, kind sad to think how that will end for Dashie tonight, Gilda would 'punish' Dash for any wrongful behavior, and try as we might, we couldn't break them up. But I digress, PINKIE! "Pinkie!" I cried, galloping to her. "Stop where you are stupid Pony, or the jewel finder paints the cave with her skull," The Alpha dog said. I stopped dead, as happy as I was to see Pinkie, I knew better than to risk Rarity's life. It was now up to the Doctor and his wit to save us all. Right on cue, he stepped forward. "Oh, sorry bout this chap, but I'm afraid you won't be doing that," The Doctor said. I reminded myself to recheck his hostage negotiations qualifications later. "You doubt me dumb pony?!?" The alpha said, snarling. "Oh no no no no no no. It's just that what you have there, is in all actuality, a hair dryer. Not a weapon, And if I was that close to an angry, dirtied unicorn, I would run," The Doctor said. Before the Dog could even turn his head to look at what was in his paw, Rarity had spun on her front hooves, planted hard, and bucked with all of her might. From where I was, over 100 feet away, I heard the crack of his jaw, that had to hurt. Rarity dazzled us with a brilliant spell, pelting the other dogs with gems til she was safely behind us. I took the chance to slide forward and plant my invention. It's three legs popped out and down, its barrel extended and raised to the dogs in the room, a red laser light on them, but they couldn't see that part. With a mighty spoot, it pelted potato after potato at the dogs. After one hundred feet, the taters couldn't do any harm, but it still scared the dogs something fierce. We all gathered and left, the Doctor waving his mop at any dogs that got to close. I think if I hadn't scared them first though, they would have taken the damn thing and hit him with it. When we were all top side, Rarity threw herself into Applejack's embrace. "Oh AJ, darling, I was so scared. My first thought was I would never get to see you again," The fashionable mare said. "Ah know Sugarcube, but you're okay now, we got ya," Applejack said. "Ah wanted to thank y'all. Ya didn't have to rush in, knowin what ya knew, but ya did, and we're better for it, so thanks, from the bottom of mah heart." "It's nothing," I said, speaking for my group. "We will always help you out AJ, Rarity, you gals are our friends, there was no way we could let you guys face this alone," Twilight said. Everyone said yeah, along some lines at least. Gilda was being upitty, but she had been underground, it was understandable. "I am happy you all are safe," The Doctor started, and as the sun set now, I got a bad feeling about what was to come. "But I am sorry, so truly truly sorry. Rarity, you and Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Gilda, your relationships, are lies." With a roar, Gilda shot out at the Doctor, her deadly talons at the ready, she touched the ground twice, to build air speed for flight, but she failed to see the banana peel the Doctor had placed between them. She stepped right on it, and slipped, her wings had no where near enough lift generated yet, and she ate dirt rather hard, flipping over and sliding to a halt right in front of the Doctor. He quickly pinned her down while River grabbed something from her, a disk like object, and stomped it. I think she did something else with it, but the pony thingy showed her stomping, and I found the more people present, the easier it was to believe. Instantly I remember now though, the Doctor was right. It had been AJ and Dash after the Daleks, in rather poor timing I admit, but that was how they coped with the loss. Everyone else started to remember also, and soon everypony was in their right mind. But that does not mean there was no awkward feelings now. "Dash, I ...I'm so sorry! I only wanted..." Gilda said trapped under the Doctor. He was stronger than he looked I guess. "Gilda, why? You used that alien Thing on me, then when I resisted, you beat me. You hurt me, and you have the audacity (10 points to RD for that word, she did learn from reading) to call it love?" Rainbow Dash said, half in tears, half lost in rage like I was. I think the rage was winning, so I stepped in. "Dash," I said, "You're hurt, I know, but Don't give in to that. I did, and I was stopped before I did anything bad, but if the Doctor hadn't talked me down, I would have never found Pinkie today. After I was taken, I thought the worst." "Gilda, we need to know how this happened. How did you figure out how to use the Perception filter?" The Doctor said. "I... I'm sorry... It was Discord. He gave it to me, told me to keep Rainbow form the others, promised me she would love me with that thing. I'm so sorry," She cried. And cried. I could only imagine the pain she was in, but I could not find in me any sympathy for the griffin. She was willingly helping Discord, and that was not a point we could look past. "I'm sorry," The Doctor said, "You only wanted to feel your love reciprocated, but instead you had to hurt your love, and then we took everything from you. I'm so, so sorry," The Doctor said, tears in his eyes for her. Was this the side of the Doctor that knew love, or loss, I could not tell. "Hey, wait, Doctor, you said the filter made River a pony, but here it made everyone remember... wrong... I guess," I said. It was a hard concept to grasp alright. "Perception filters affect memory too. When they don't have to change what somepony sees, they are even more powerful at augmenting memories. Sometimes they can have a lasting effect," The Doctor said, casting a look behind me when he spoke. I assumed he meant the girls. We let Gilda up, knowing we had bigger fish to fry. But as she flew off, the Doctor turned to me, pity in his eyes. "Opie, I am sorry for you as well," The Doctor said. "Why, cause of what happened? It's nothing Doc, we beat the changlings," I said full of bravado. "Opie, think for a second. Has this Pinkie for one second acknowledged your existence? Was she happy to see you? Has she spoke?" The doctor said. I felt cold. I couldn't answer him. I turned to my Pinkie, I outstretched my hoof, and rubbed her check. She didn't flinch. She didn't blink. I hugged her tight, yelling inside, crying outside. "Pinkie? Come on, you got me, funny prank. But now your husband is really scared. I need you to talk to me Pinkie. Please, for the love of Celestia please!" I cried out. Everypony there was silent as I dropped onto my flanks cradiling the silent Pinkie. "Why? Why is this happening? What is this?" "A very evil device," The doctor said, pulling off her face, revealing a clockwork head underneath. I cried looking at it, for once alien tech I knew like the back of my hoof, and it had fooled me. "It's a clockwork Pony. Beautiful machines, but they switched her, after the note. Girls," He said turning to the gaggle around me, "Was Pinkie alone at anytime after she was told of Rarity's kidnapping?" "Yes, she was," Fluttershy said, "When she went in to write Opie the note. It must have been after that." "Wait, how do you know about the note then?" I said, thinking for once. "Oh... um... shoot, that part was never covered..." Fluttershy said. "Well little repair pony, you're smarter than you look, congrats on figuring out the drones. She was not a full drone like me, poor little F-f-f-Fluttershy barely put up a fight, but I won't be so kind," the Flutterbad drone said. I readied for a fight, instantly pulling my cutting torch from my bag, but the Doctor stepped in. "Yes yes, that's all well and good, except you forgot one really important detail," He said. "What would that be?" Flutterbad asked. "You hurt my friend, kidnapped his wife whom is also my friend, played games with us that broke the hearts of all involved, and worst of all, insulted my intelligence. You see, the one thing you forgot, is that I am the Doctor." > chapter four, revenge and love lost > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm lost now. So, so lost. My Pinkie Pie is gone, replaced with a brain dead drone. Fluttershy has been fully replaced, no pony even noticed. Did anypony even care? What kind of friends are we that we never noticed. The Doctor said it happened today, but I just don't feel it, that is too great a coincidence for it too have been random chance. The Changlings, Diamond Dogs, Gilda, and Discord all at the same time, over a year after the Daleks invade. We have been taking turns with Flutterbad now, trying to get Pinkie's and Fluttershy's location from her. We had taken her to the clock tower, no interruptions. We gathered so far that Discord wanted to keep the elements apart. But right now, he had two of them, and from the looks of things, had been trying to get them all, and had tried to keep me and the Doctor out of commission, but the forces against us tried their own thing, as did the other abductions. No honor among thieves, right? So now, we pleaded, magicked, threatened, or in my case, just beat the drone. They wanted answers, I want Pinkie. River was going in now, and no pony knew if this would work. 20 seconds later though, River stepped out. "We should go now, Discord is in a wrecked Dalek ship, 80 miles from here. We can take the TARDIS, but we can't land there directly, we should be a mile out," River said. Everypony got up and got ready. I heard the Doctor walk over and talk to her River now. "River, love, um... what did you do?" The Doctor asked. He had been against using force, but I was the first to break the rule. Oddly not last, Twilight used magic, but it was still really brutal from what I heard and saw. Twilight had branded Flutterbad, right on the cutie mark. I had just hit her a few times til the Doctor pulled me out. "Sweetie, Sweetie. You really do lack an imagination, don't you? All I did was change my filter so she thought she was reporting to Discord, and had her relay the plan," River said with a smile. "What?" I said overhearing, "You mean to tell me you could have done that at any time?" "No love, interrogations are tricky, she had believe she was being rewarded, that she had been truthful. This was the time," River said with a heavy heart. As we pilled into the TARDIS, I pulled the doctor aside for a quick chat. "Doctor, I don't know about this. I think we're walking into a trap," I said, my voice low. "Yes Opie, me too, but it is our only lead. Trust no pony," He said, his voice like ice. We went top side to the command node, to see every pony looking around mystified as River gave the welcome to the TARDIS speech. I gathered my self up, reading for anything. I would not lose to Discord, I would not fall for a fake again, I would succeed. "Opie, darling? Can I speak to you a minute?" Rarity asked of me. Rarity was a good friend, and had just been through a lot, no matter my own problems, I had to keep thinking of others as well. That was how the Doctor did things. "Sure Rarity, Whats up?" I asked, sinking to my flanks. Rarity dropped heavily, and let out a big sigh. When she looked up, I could see she had been crying. "I don't know what to do anymore. I just don't know. That alien thing, it made me do so much, I remember so much, that my mind says is both true and false. Opie..." She said, her head hanging low again. "Hey, cheer up, it was all a trick Rare, you're okay, right?" I asked of my savvy friend. "mumble mumble mum," Rarity said, so quite all I could hear was her mumbles. "Rarity?" I asked, concerned. "I do love Applejack," She said, and began to cry again. Oh, that's why the filter was so strong with them, Rarity did love Applejack. The Doctor had told me, the less a filter has to make up, the stronger it is. Rarity was head over hooves for AJ, and AJ loves Rarity like a sister, so it was able to make every pony believe they were in love. "Rarity," I said, and I hugged her. She lost all control and just fell apart in my fore legs. It was no longer just about Pinkie for me, now I had my friends to fight for. The TARDIS touched down about a mile form the crash, but stepping out the door, we found the craft to be larger than we could have ever guessed. It stood above the marsh land it landed in like an obelisk, of metal and air, large sections missing from the hull. Birds flew in and out of the higher sections, but otherwise it was dead. "Doctor, this is all wrong, Discord is about chaos, but this... this is just loss," I said. "Yes Opie, I know what you mean. But does any pony smell that?" He asked the group, perking up his ears and lifting his snout into the air. "Metallic, oil, with plastic... the Drone Factory! Of course, this ship was the drone factory, and where Discord made his replacements. Everypony, keep up once inside, I'm not losing anypony else today," The Doctor said and then he reared up, waving a hoof at the ship, "Allons-y!" We ran to the ship, but when we were 30 feet out, a panel fell off, making us all stop, and a hole through which we saw the extent of Discord's evil. Pinkie, trapped in greenish goop, Fluttershy next to her, along with Twilight? Ah crap... We slowly turned to Twilight, seeing her smile maniacally, shifting into a pink earth pony with crazy eyes and cutie mark of a screw and a baseball. "Thank you, Daughter dearest for leading them to me," Said a cold and somehow metallic voice. We turned to see the twisted pony monster that put us through this hell, Discord. But seeing him, something was wrong. Parts of him were pieced together out of machines. He was not floating around making chocolate rain or night to day and back in seconds, but was just sitting there, and even a earth pony like me could feel his magical pressure, and from this far. "So Doc, I'm guessing you were trying to warn me about Twilight not being Twilight, huh?" I said, keeping eyes on Discord. "No actually, I did not see that one coming," The Doctor said in complete honesty. A sure sign he was lying. We were marched forward to the monster that Discord had become, and from where he started, that's saying something. "So, Discord," The Doctor said, looking at the thing, "What exactly happened here now, this is new. Is that a Kelprich Third eye? Very smart. So why the upgrade?" The Doctor asked of him. He was joking around, but I could tell, the Doctor was mad. "Well Doctor Whooves, I saw what those Daleks did to the world. They brought so much pain, so much hate, so much chaos. True chaos, like for Applejack here, who lost her dear brother. Or Pinkie, her bosses and their kids, gone forever. I was in awe, I had never even scratched the surface of evil like that. I had just messed around, but the Daleks, they were Gods among ponies. They were strong, but they had a weakness, magic. So when I got free, I upgraded myself with all the alien tech I could, draining whatever knowledge I had to. It took me over a year, but I was finally ready to strike at the ponies that had last encased me in stone!" He yelled, I guess he was angry about that. "I see, so do you have a new name for yourself?" River Song asked, her voice so cold it sent shivers up my spine. "Yes new pony, call me Disborg!" He bellowed with a laugh. "Good, cause now I know what to put on your tombstone!" River said, drawing her laser thingy and taking aim at the monster. She let fly with shots, only to miss wildly. "River, love. Remember lasers don't work right on Equestria, too much magical interference," The Doctor said, kind of hushed. "Now my little ponies, face your greatest fears!" Disborg said enveloping us in a cloud of black fog. I couldn't see my hoof in front of my face, but I could move. I just couldn't see! Did something just brush past me? What was that noise? I was going crazy, then I heard the voice. "Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate!" The Dalek voice yelled, but it was not closing in, it was actually moving parallel to me now? I heard the Dalek weapon discharge. "No! Rainbow! Not mah Rainbow, please, Ah jus' got ya back, don't die on me sugarcube!" Applejack cried, then I heard another shot in the darkness. I ran towards her. I ran and I ran, but I never got closer. I heard the weapon again, behind me. I spun and heard the cries again. "No, Rarity," River cried, "Opie, please, where are you! AH!" I heard a third shot, and the Doctor yell. I ran to him, and as I ran I heard the shot and found myself praying to Celestia that this wasn't happening! But I couldn't hear the Doctor now. Or anything. I yelled, I kicked. I swore at Discord, or borg, whatever he called himself. He was going to die. Then I heard the old voice, and turned to see him, of all ponies, him! "Hello friend," Said the big red powerhouse, Big Mac. "Mac, is that you?" I said, walking to him, shakily. "Eeyuup. But brother, why didn't ya help us?" "What do you mean Mac, I did everything I could. I tried my best, but I couldn't save everypony! I tried, I tried everything!" I cried, what did Mac want, I had given my all to save the world, very nearly my life too, but Celestia, I was spared. "Nooppe, Ya have a time machine friend, why didn't y'all use it?" Mac asked me. "Mac, please! I would have, but the Doctor, he said..." "So the word of this Doctor is more important than the lives of everypony in town? Why did ya leave us to die Op?" "Mac, I..." "Why didn't you take care of mah sisters. Ah wanted to look after 'em, I gave my life for 'em, so y'all could do nuthin. Y'all didn't even kill off 'em Daleks! Ya let em fly off kill more ponies across the universe. Why Op?" Mac asked, each word like a dagger. "Because, I could never kill them! I know what they did, what they will do, but I am not a killer Mac, I am not like them. I want them to make the choice to stop, but I will not kill an entire race just to save mine. I learned that from the Doctor. Killing an entire race is called genocide, and though the Daleks may use that, I will never sink to their level. You got that?" I yelled, now realizing I was no longer in the shadow form the magic villain, but free. "Well little pony, you faced your fears, bravo. Oh, by the way, are you fast?" Disborg asked, smiling. "Buck off metal mash up, I'm taking my friends back," I said. "Then Opie Pie, catch the bride!" He said with a laugh. I turned an saw Pinkie get dropped off the top of the ship, straight down the shaft to a pit of spikes. I ran and jumped, ready to catch her, but Applejacks lasso grabbed my legs and pulled me back! No! Why AJ! I turned to see she was not holding it, but the screwy pony was. I looked back, trying with all my strenght to break free, save Pinkie. She was half way, no time! I tried and tried, but I couldn't break free. I watched in horror as my wife fell into the pit trap, heard the snapping sound, saw the blood. I hate blood. It inched slowly to me, as if trying to make me see it. I cried. I turned and hit the screwy pony dead in the snout, making her rear up. That bought me the time now to break free, but too little to late. But the monster was still there, laughing coolly. I ran to Disborg, and leaped with all my power I had left. I hit the false god with my fore hooves, and everything went screwy now. I could feel his mind, as if it was an extension of my own. I saw the world clearly now, I had not broken free, just given a small rise of hope, so that I could fall even greater. Pinkie was safe, everypony was running about, except the Doctor, he was looking at me, could he see through the magic? I finally followed through and fell, Disborg reeled back, rubbing his check I had hit. But everpony was safe now. for the time being. "Bravo Opie, but where did you learn to manually interface with somepony through touch?" The Doctor asked of me. My mind reeled, my vision swam, I was hungry. "Muffin Button?" I said. "What?" The Doctor said. "Huh?" I said in response. I was too drained form overpowering the monster to move even. But Disborg was not so hampered. He yelled, rearing up to his full height, claws and hoof coming down to me. But right before he hit, I heard a familiar little whistle sound. I saw Disborg freeze, and looked over at the Doctor, sonic screwdriver in mouth. "Mumphmemphy" He said. "Huh?" was all I could muster myself. "He said 'motobelle," River said, "But Doc, why didn't the magic affect you? We all felt our worst fears, but you were left alone it seems," I asked. "Opie my boy, I'm the Doctor," he said with his smile, his charm. "Doc, what planet were we on last?" I asked of him. "Um, shoot, I think it was Xenoglob 5, why?" The Doctor asked. "River, AJ... help me up please," I said. when they were there with me, I drew them in tight and whispered "That isn't the Doctor." Neither said a word, but the looks in their eyes said it all. They... thought I was nuts. Maybe I was. Pinkie was freed from the green stuff now, and shakily got to her hooves. "Ugg, that was a horrible party..." She said, looking as drained as I was. She was brought over and I hugged her. She stunk to high hay, but I didn't care, I had my Pinkie back. She cried with me. "Opie, I'm sorry to have scared you. When I heard about Rarity, I went to your shop to leave you the note, that's when Fluttershy attacked, and magically brought me here. Turns out she was Screwball," Pinkie said. "Who is Screwball?" I asked. Pinkie just pointed to Disborg's daughter. "Ah... wait she was Twilight?" "Not exactly, she swapped places with me when I questioned her. It was their plan, to find out about the TARDIS, and bring it here. Fluttershy had been replaced by then and swapped with me when I was abducted. Pinkie's drone could not get the mind right, something about temporal interference," Twilight said. "Makes sense, Time travelers have a hard time with mental droid program mapping," The Doctor said. "Doctor, I need to talk to you, alone. You too Pinkie," I said. When the Doctor came up to me, I pulled him in and touched all three of our heads together, and that was when things got weird. > chapter five, the final ballad of discord > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pulling us together, I created a psychic link, the Doctor had done this before, I found out how when I made that muffin button earlier. The button was a loophole in a large temporal network that was also feeding in magic. But it dumped so much raw data into my mind, that the longer I was away from the source, the less remained. This was the last thing I would do with this small gift I think, But I had been as smart as the Doctor there for a bit... Wait, no... I was the Doctor. He had imprinted his mind in mine. He knew this was coming, because right now, I was looking at Discord. The monster had swapped places with the Doctor during the fear storm. "Oh, little pony, you saw through all of my tricks, bravo," Discord said. "You had planed to swap with the Doctor all along. Use his body to fly the TARDIS and spread chaos across time," I said, finally seeing the true plan. Was this how the Doctor was always, 15 steps ahead. But I didn't have a full imprint. "You siphoned all the Doctors knowledge on the TARDIS, and had Screwball act as a spy in the TARDIS to gleam what you could about how to fly it in pony form, correct?" Pinkie asked of the beast. "Yes, and this is why I couldn't get the drone to have a mind I'm guessing, the Doctor gave you a fighting chance in my mind," Discord said. "Pinkie," I said, "I think Discord here broke a Pinkie promise," I said. I really didn't like Discord. "NO PONY BREAKS A PINKIE PROMISE!" Pinkie bellowed at the monster. She lunged at him, putting him in locks and holds I can't even name. The thing about fighting like this was who ever had the strongest mind would win, and Pinkie, with no magic, could naturally bend Physics to her will. Discord was magical, and thus here where we had no magic, was at the disadvantage. Pinkie fought hard, bless her. I just sat back. I was trying with all my might to re open the network to the Doctor and get him back. But also, I was beat, I needed a nap. Just a few more seconds. Almost... There! I opened the link to the Disborg, and let the Doctor join in the group now. "Bravo Opie, You did magnificently," The Doctor said. "Doc, next time you make a plan like this, don't follow through," I said. "Doctor," Pinkie said, leaving the beat Discord in a heap. She ran up and hugged him. "Here's your brain back," She said, reaching into her ear and pulling out a small pink brain with a label on it that read 'Property of the Doctor.' We sat back looking at her. "How?" We asked in unison. "Easy, I'm Pinkie Pie, sillies. You both look so funny, Oh, I want a picture," She said reaching around and pulling out her camera, then she got in the picture with us, and snapped the photo. Blinking the flash out of my eyes, I saw I was back to reality, in my body. Everypony was looking at us weird. It had been a few seconds to them, but we looked so ragged now, except Pinkie, who looked so much better, and was holding the picture we had taken in her mind? "Pinkie," The Doctor asked, "How did you get the Picture into the real world here?" "I dunno," Pinkie said with a shrug. I chuckled at the Pink mare, and gave her a kiss on the check, and promptly passed out. The others all laughed. Pinkie set up a giant party for us all in my sleep, so I awoke to a full swing shindig, already in progress. The Doctor and River where dancing, River in human form now, so it looked really odd, but that's the Doctor for ya. He is a really bad dancer, actually, he made Twilight look good. Rainbow was dancing with Fluttershy, and I felt bad, I still had no idea when Fluttershy was nabbed. Apparently it had been early that morning, while she was feeding her birds, but I didn't find that out til later. Discord had sought to give Ponyville one last rouse, then hit the stars in the TARDIS, but thanks to friendship, the Doctor, and hunger at bad times, he was stopped. The Doctor had taken Disborg, locking away his magical mind link abilities, and trapped him in a temporal loop, leaving him a living statue in the Royal Garden. The Princess wanted others to see what happens when we misused the wreckage from the aliens. It was true we had bettered our medicinal technology, and our agriculture as well, but Cyborgs were now made illegal, as to prevent another problem like this. The Changling Queen had escaped I found out. The Princess was not strong enough to hold that spell with out the relay it turns out. I walked out onto the patio for some air, and found Applejack and Rarity talking, and before I could escape I was roped into the conversation. Literally, we are talking about AJ here. "Opie, I was telling Applejack here how I feel. We wanted your advise, please," Rarity said, a little red in the face. "What do you mean?" I asked, hoping I was not about to hear... "Rainbow and Ah are takin a break. We don't know how to go on now, what after that dang alien whatcamacallit. Ah ain't never been so confused in mah life," AJ said. So it was what I though, damn it. "AJ, your a grown up, and..." I started. "Don't. Ya ain't here cause ya are older than me, y'all are here as Mac's bestest friend Op. Ya knew him longer than anypony else here, mahself excluded bein his sis. He wanted ya to look after me and Apple bloom, ah know he did. He didn't like me and Dash. He didn't care that ah was a Filly fooler, though, he just didn't like what Rainbow made me do. I was just with her at first cause it irked him, but after the aliens, Ah just stayed with her. Ah don't want to hurt her, but Ah just don't feel like Ah love her anymore," Applejack said. I have to admit, I wanted nothing to do with this, but as a friend, I could never leave them like this. "Well, Aj, take some time. Only you know when your ready, but Rainbow deserves to hear this too," I said. I was not a fan of keeping secrets, even more so with this kind of secret. I was just a repair pony damn it! Pinkie stepped out to see what was going on. "Oh hiya girls, Opie, you should know that Rainbow was feeling the same. It was just a game before, but now after everything, Rainbow is not ready for a life like AJ wants. But maybe Rarity is. Also this is a rather unhealthy way to deal with these situations, give it some time," Pinkie said with a smile. "Thanks Pinkie, Opie. Y'all really helped me out here. Rarity, Ah love ya, but Ah need a little time, just to let things settle between me an' Dash. Y'all understand, right?" AJ asked. "Of course I do. I can wait as long as you need, but know I don't want to be kept waiting, it's impolite," Rarity said with a wink and walked back in. Pinkie snuggled up to me and looked at the stars. "You were reading the narration again, weren't you?" I asked. "Yepperunie!" Pinkie said and nuzzled my ear. I will never understand her. AJ went inside as the Doctor came out to see us. "What kind of hosts leave the party? I even brought a banana," He said, a little drunk. Ah, an inebriated pony with the ability to travel through time, the thought keeps me up sometimes. "So you sensed the network as soon as we landed, read the whole plan, and left a bunch of ideas on the network to make all the plans fail, and give us a weapon against Discord? Am I close?" Pinkie asked snuggled up to my chest. "Yes I did Madam Pie. Opie, you broke the network though,with the matter manipulation relay over ride, or muffin button as you called it, don't you care?" The Doctor asked, looking dejected. "Am I with Pinkie again?" I asked. "As you should be," the Doctor said with a big grin. "Then not in the slightest," I said just enjoying feeling Pinkies warmth, knowing today was over. River came out and sat with us all, looking at the stars. "Oh sweetie," she said pointing at that one to the left, "I think I lost a pair of ear rings there once, lets go get them back." "River darling, I can't be running around all willy filly all the time, I have a job now," The Doctor said, his face as rigid as stone. "Really?" River said a little shocked. "No, I have a time machine, I can be anywhere. I just don't want anymore babies being made on my ship, that's why they sleep at home," The Doctor said looking at us. "Kids? Not yet Doctor, I have time later, now I just want to enjoy my hubby," Pinkie said. I was almost asleep again, Pinkie is very soft, and that goop smell was finally washed out, so she smelled fantastic. Like... muffins. I laughed to myself now. "What's so funny?" River asked. I put my hoof to Pinkie's forehead and said "Muffin Button." Pinkie got it, cause she leaned back and reached her head up to kiss me. Life was pretty good now. The next morning I went to the wall, and left a Macintosh apple under the name of an old friend. I sat there and talked to the wall for an hour it seamed. No pony thought that was odd, everyday some pony would do it to some name here. I just wanted to tell Big Mac that his sisters were in good hands now, How Apple bloom was doing in school, and how nice her cutie mark was. She was the next great pony architect I told him. I told him everything. So I didn't notice the little pony sneaking up on me now. "Hello Mr Pie," She said. "Why does every pony call me Pie?" I asked turning to see the loose end we forgot, Screwball. She lunged at me, trying to tackle me, trying with all of her might to hurt me in some way. but with Discord down again, she had no power to draw from, she was just an earth pony like this. But a crazy one, and oh crap she has a knife. Help. Please... Oh come on Pinkie, You read it every time but now? "He's not a fan of knives is he?" Pinkie said hoping over the wall and standing next to me. "Who are you talking to?" I asked. "Them. And you, shame on you, you're at work... It's okay, I won't tell if you won't," Pinkie said with a smile.Whatever, she was here now. "I got this," She said , walking over to Screwball, and pulled the wacky pony up to her. I thought the worst, I had no idea what to expect, so when Pinkie just hugged her tight, and said of all things I'm sorry, I was floored. "You lost your daddy, I get it. But we are not the enemy here, we want to help you. We want you to be happy." "I just want my daddy, I miss you daddy," Screwball said. I felt bad. On both sides there are loved ones lost, and this foal had to teach me that today. I sat with them as Screwball cried, chocolate tears of course, she was Discord's Daughter. I vowed to never let Pinkie feel that pain now. But for now, I got the two fillies up and helped them to the Sugarcube corner, where Pinkie got a new assistant.