> DOCTOR
>  by Deidorimu
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> SEGMENT ONE
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Twilight Sparkle, young student of Princess Celestia fulfills a thousand year old prophecy on the night of the Sunset Celebration. She and five others: Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity, enter into the Castle of the Two Sisters and faced the evil dark alicorn, Nightmare Moon. Upon her defeat, the mares vanquish Nightmare Moon and return Luna back into her original self again. This event, this one special night marks the beginning of a beautiful story. A story of magic, harmony, and friendship. This is the day that the six mares become the heroes of Equestria, also know as The Elements Of Harmony. Their story, and everypony else's story become brighter, stronger, and much more beautiful. These girls would face many more challenges along the line, only to, in the end, solve their way through using teamwork, integerety, and of course, friendship. This story is the story we all know and love.

However, as happy and harmonic things are today, it wasn't always this way. The world today is a much more peaceful place. There are more heroes then there has ever been and Equiis, the planet, is so much safer than it ever was . However, the world was a much darker place back then. Back then ponies weren't as friendly. The world was a dangerous and scary place, filled with greed, evil, and chaos. Back then finding a hero was rare. Those with kind hearts who were truly willing to befriend somepony was hard to come across. Most kept to themselves, not wanting to involve themselves in the horrors of the outside world. 

So much evil and darkness spread throughout the world. And at a time, it even seemed like fate that this world was destined to fall. That this world would crumble beneath the hoofs of evil, forever spreading everlasting darkness for all eternity.

Perhaps at a time, that is how it seemed. However, as common as villains were, and as rare as heroes were. There was still one pony amongst the rest who stood out.

This pony, neither villain nor hero, who burned his mark deep into history, changing the events of the world and molding this planet to the way it is today.

Some ponies today think of him only to be a legend. Some beleive he is merely a character of a fairy tale. Most, however, don't even know who he is. However, I can assure you, he is in fact real. And those who knew him best, even those still alive today, can confirm of his existence.

This pony, this mystery stallion.

His legacy still stands strong today. And to prove it, he etched something into ponykinds history, making it so that no matter how many centuries pass, he will never be forgotten.

He left the ponies of this world asking a question, one simple question.

The everlasting question as it was called, a question that cannot be answered. For it is believed that the day the question is answered, that is the day that his story, his legacy, truly ends.

This question, the first question. The question that must never be answered, hidden in plain sight. The question he had ran from nearly his whole life.

Doctor Who?

This is our story.

> The Mystery Stallion: Part One (S1C1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


DISCORDIAN ERA


1422 Years Before Return of Luna


Dean Cornelius Do, a gray earth pony with a short well kept black mane. He had violet eyes and a constellation for a cutie mark. 

His special talent of course told those around him that he was an astronomer. A pony interested in stars, planets, constellations. Yet he himself did not feel that way. He enjoyed such studies with great enthusiasm. However, convincing himself that he was an astronomer would be false. He didn't feel like an astronomer. He felt like a dreamer. 

All his life he had wanted to study the stars and use this knowledge in an attempt to discover a new constellation. He wanted to discover this brand new constellation and share his discovery with all of Equestria. However, with the current technology present in Equestria, Dean would have to somehow invent a brand new telescope. One that was more powerful than the current model of telescopes. Or, he would have to find someone who can invent one for him. Currently it was impossible to discover a completely brand new constellation. It seemed that all of them had been discovered by other astronomers. Yet Dean knew better. He knew there were more stars out there, he just needed a powerful telescope, one that did not exist. So here he was, in a silent forest, off to the edge of Equestria. Traveling home as he hopes of finding someone to invent such a telescope for him. He knew how to work telescopes, yet inventing one that was more powerful than the current models was beyond him. He was an astronomer, not an inventor. He was willing to pay a very wealthy price to any inventor who can build such device. His family owned a farm that was taking business very well. So money was, currently, no concern to him. But to Dean money, the fear of being lost in this forest, or the probability of never finding an adequate inventor was the least of his concerns. What he and the rest of Equestria feared most was the Spirit of Chaos, Discord.

Although no pony knows who he is or where he came from, Discord had appeared out of the blue one day. And the first thing he did was take over Mane City, the capital of Equestria. From what Dean had heard, Discord had defeated Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in a duel. After their defeat, Discord sought out to spread his chaos magic through the rest of Equestria, making Mane City the chaos capital of the country. The princesses are doing everything they can to contain his magic, yet the princesses are fighting a losing battle. Day after day Discord's magic is covering more and more of Equestria. It is theorized that within months, Discord will have taken over all of Equestria.

Dean didn't fear the things that Discord was doing. He didn't fear what would happen to himself if he was caught within Discord's magic. He wasn't afraid of what he would do to his family either . . . okay, he was a little afraid. He knew they were in good hoofs, though. Discord had spread his magic to Dodge Junction where his family's farm was located. He had arranged a deal with them stating that they can continue their business as long as they don't participate in any rebellions against Discord. Apparently there are ponies out there who (despite the fact that Discord is significantly stronger then them) are fighting back against Discord. His family were fighters (everyone but him). They would fight to protect those that are precious to them. Equestria was their home, and that was something worth fighting for. Yet at the same time, fighting back would cause them to lose their farm. The farm was their only source of income. Although they despised Discord and wanted to fight back for Equestria. Reluctantly, they agreed to his terms and stayed out of any rebellions against him. Equestria was their home, but to Dean, family came first. 

Dean knew his family was safe. He wasn't afraid of what was happening to them. What he was afraid of was how Discord's influence would affect his dreams. He was afraid of going through so much trouble to accomplish his dreams, only to fail in the end. He didn't want to be a failure. He didn't want Discord to ruin his dreams for him.

Yet at the moment, Dean didn't need Discord to ruin his dreams for him, he was doing a fine job ruining his dreams himself.

After all the planning, scheduling, packing, and list making he had done. Dean still managed to find himself lost in the middle of a forest. He had asked for directions and the ponies he had asked were kind enough to give him a map. Yet Dean, for the life of him, couldn't read the map at all. Years of study, star mapping, constellation drawing. Yet here he was, lost in a forest because he couldn't read a map. 

Dean sat against a rock and face hoofed at this irony.

The trip shouldn't have even lasted this long! Dodge Junction was a mere five miles away. This trip should have last a few hours. Yet he had somehow found himself traveling for two days.

Dean sighed and glared at the map for the eightieth time. "If I continue traveling south east, then I should arrive at the creek. Then if I follow the creek then I should find myself at a . . . uh . . . what? What is that? Some sort of big blue mountain? But this is a forest! There shouldn't be any . . . Oh, wait, that's the lake . . . AGH! Why is this darn thing so hard to read!" Dean shouted in a British accent. He crumpled the map and threw it off into the forest somewhere. Dean sighed and lifted himself off the rock. "I shouldn't have lost my temper, now I've got to find the darn thing" Dean muttered. He climbed over a large bush, and searched the surrounding area for several minutes, not finding the map anywhere. After searching through the tenth bush, Dean groaned and threw his forelegs into the air. "Where the blazes did that blasted map go!"

Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping could be heard. Dean turned around quickly, finding nothing there. He cocked his eyebrow in suspicion, then continued searching for his map. He walked for a few feet, then spotted a wrinkly white ball close to a bush. Smiling triumphantly, Dean ran to the ball and crouched down. "There you are!" he said, happily unfolding the ball into a flat map again. "Alright! No more games! Time to trek on and-" Before he could finish, Dean had stood up and bumped the top of his head into something large. Rubbing the top of his head, Dean backed up and found himself face to face with a manticore.

A very angry and hungry manticore from Dean's perspective. "O-Oh! H-Hello there! I-Is this your part of the f-forest? My m-mistake! I'll just be h-heading off now!" Dean had taken a single step back when the manticore roared in his face. Dean screamed and ran in the opposite direction. Jumping over bushes, dodging trees, Dean made haste to escape the Manticore. To no prevail. The Manticore was much faster and stronger then Dean. Within a few seconds, the Manticore was a mere few inches away from Dean's tail. Dean having noticed this made a sharp turn left at a tree. While turning, Dean grabbed and pulled a low hanging thin branch on the tree forward. Once releasing, the branch snapped back into position, whipping the manticore across the face. The manticore roared in pain as he stopped to rub his stinging eyes. Dean took this opportunity to gallop several feet, make a quick jump over thorn bushes, turn right and hide behind a tree.

Blinking the sweat out of his eyes, Dean slowly peered around the tree, looking to find his attacker's location. He only looked for a second before whipping his head back behind the tree. He tried to silent his heavy breathing and slow his violent shakes, making himself as quiet as possible as to not be detected. 

Dean could hear the manticore's movements. The heavy beast stomping about, sniffing the air, searching for his prey. 

Dean decided to risk another peek around the tree. 'If the manticore's close, I'll throw a rock in the opposite direction. While he's distracted, I'll make a run for it!', thought Dean. Slowly, Dean peered around the corner. He saw the manticore sniffing at the air, facing the opposite direction. Dean thought that this was a good sign, that his attacker had lost him and would be leaving. 

This thought didn't last two seconds. 

While in mid-thought, the manticore stopped sniffing and immediately snapped his head in Dean's direction. Dean flung his head back behind the tree, but it was too late. 

From the manticore's perspective he had caught a very slight glimpse of dark brown hair hide behind a tree a few dozen feet from him. That glimpse was all the manticore needed to verify the location of his prey. Slowly, the manticore walked straight to Dean's location. 

Dean could hear the manticore's heavy paw steps, coming closer and closer to him. Fear rising inside him, Dean could no longer control his breathing or his shakes. He sweat profusely as he tried to figure out a new plan. A million options popping in and out of his head, the fear no longer allowing him to put any of it into one clear plan of action. He began to panic, genuinely feeling that this would be the end of his road, that this forest would be his resting place. 

'Maybe it won't be so bad', thought Dean. 'Maybe he'll bite my head off first, that way I won't feel anything. Of course after that I'll be digested and . . . turned into feces. Oh Celestia, this is not how I wanted to go!' Dean sat on his rear and folded his fore legs over his head, waiting for the inevitable. The manticore's heavy paw steps continued to walk closer and closer to Dean.

Then, it stopped.

Listening closely, Dean no longer heard the manticore's paw steps. He instead heard his breathing.

The manticore was right behind him.

As Dean braced himself, he suddenly heard a voice shout from somewhere behind him and the manticore.

"Hey you!" the voice shouted.

Dean gasped at the new voice. He peered around the tree to see who it was. 

He was an old white pegasus, his graying hair turning white showed that he was quite elderly. He wore a long sleeved grey button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his knees, a black dress vest over the shirt with a pocket watch chain hanging out the pocket and a dark blue tie. Upon his head, he wore a fedora, black with a grey string lining trim. He had a cutie mark of a shimmering, golden, twelve pointed compass with a bright blue flame in the center. Dean had noticed that he too had a British accent. 

He stood staring at the manticore with complete confidence, not a hint a fear could be detected in his eyes.

Dean saw that the manticore was no longer paying him any attention and was now focused on the stranger. Dean felt a brief second of relief towards himself before a sudden wave of fear for the stranger came upon him. He looked directly into the stranger's red eyes and silently messaged him to run away.

The stranger caught the message and ignored it, paying no attention towards Dean, only the manticore. 

Taking a step forward, the stranger said, "yeah you! Big manticore! What do you think you're doing? Coming into this forest and scaring the local critters!? That's no way to behave!"

'What is that old fool doing!?!' Dean internally shouted. He made several hoof signals telling the stranger not to provoke the manticore and to run away. Once again the stranger ignored him.

The manticore growled at the stranger and started walking towards him. Simultaneously, the stranger began walking towards the manticore.

"You know, a large animal like yourself hunting for his meal is understandable. That's just the way that nature works. What I don't understand is what a manticore like yourself is even doing here. Manticores don't belong here, especially during this time of year, in the summer. Too hot for your kind. so-". The stranger stopped as he was nose to nose with the manticore. He smiled and said, "why are you here big fella?"   

The manticore roared into the stranger's face, splattering him with spit.

The stranger sighed, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the spit from his face. He then calmly came close to the growling manticore. Before the manticore could react, the stranger pinched him on a spot on his neck. This caused the manticore to freeze and fall over. As soon as he did, the stranger floated above the manticore and began rubbing his belly. "There see, isn't this much better then prowling around growling at everypony?" The manticore didn't respond or show any signs, to Dean the manticore appeared to be in a trance of some sort. All anger or hunger the manticore possessed was now gone, his pupils had dilated and he seemed calm.

Perplexed, Dean slowly left his hiding spot and approached the stranger and manticore. He looked to the stranger, then to the manticore, then back to the stranger. Dean stuttered, "b-but, but, h-how!?!"

"Speak clearly sonny, I haven't an idea what you're saying" said the stranger, now gently scratching the manticore beneath the chin.

"What in Equestria did you do to it?" asked Dean.

"Him, he's not an 'it' he's a him. And what I did was simply pinch a nerve, one that sends signals to his brain telling him to relax and lose tension. Sort of like a pressure point, but without hurting him or knocking him unconscious", the stranger explained.

"S-So we're safe?" asked Dean.

"Only for a little while. As soon as I stop petting him his hunger will slowly return to him, and so will his anger".

Dean gulped, "s-so what do we do? D-Do we kill it or- OW!" 

Dean had suddenly been smacked on the head by the stranger. Rubbing his head, Dean looked to the stranger to find him glaring angrily at him. 

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" he shouted.

"What!? What did I do!?"

"You said we should kill him!"

"I was just trying to figure out what we should do!"

"And killing isn't an option!"

"He tried to kill me!"

"Of course he tried to kill you! He's a manticore! An animal! He lives in the wild and hunts for his food! You on the other hoof are a pony! Your sentient! You know better then the manticore does! And besides, look at him! He won't hurt you now! Not while he's like this! Are you honestly going to take this creature's life while he's subdued?"

Dean thought for a moment. He looked to the manticore, then to the stranger and sighed. "Okay so what do you propose we do?"

"Simple, he tried to kill you because he was hungry, so all we have to do is feed him! Honestly, it wasn't that difficult to come up with a solution, I'm surprised you didn't think of it! A young stallion your age nonetheless!" said the stranger.

Dean glared angrily at the stranger, "what do you mean feed it!? You honestly expect me to help you feed some wild beast?"

"I'm not expecting you to do anything! You can go off and try to find your way out of the forest alone! I don't care! I can take care of the manticore by myself anyhow! Oh! And you'll be needing this!" said the stranger, as he threw a crumpled piece of paper to Dean.

Dean caught it and unfolded the paper. "My map?"

"You dropped it while you were running away and screaming like a little filly" said the stranger.

Dean's cheeks turned red and he growled angrily at the stranger.

The stranger chuckled and said, "if you're going to Dodge Junction you'll need to head that way". He pointed in the direction behind Dean. "You clearly need to learn how to read a map, you've been traveling in the wrong direction the whole time".

'Seriously!?! I have!?!' Dean internally shouted. "Well, you seem to have the situation under control, thank you for the directions and for saving my life".

"Don't mention it. You wouldn't have needed saving if you hadn't been stupid enough to actually go into a forest without knowing how to read a bloody map!"

"It was a mistake and it won't happen again!" said Dean through gritted teeth. "Nonetheless, thank you for assisting me. I'll be off now".

"Fine, go, I'll take care of the manticore". said the stranger, who had been petting the manticore the entire time.

Dean having realized this asked, "all by yourself?"

"Well nopony else is here and you're leaving so yes, all by myself".

"But aren't you a bit-" Dean paused, looking for a nice way to phrase his wording. " . . . Fragile to be handling a creature like that on your own?"

"Are you calling me old!?"

"What!?! No, no, no! I was just-"

"I'll have you know that I am still in my prime! Ninety four may seem old for a common pony like yourself, but for me, I'm still a child! Six years more and I'll be ten for common pony age!"

"Um, I beg your pardon?"

"Peh! Never you mind! You wouldn't understand! Just go! Get out of the forest! Get out of here and try to not get yourself killed this time!"

"All right fine! I'm leaving!" said Dean. He straighten his saddlebags and turned to leave. As he did, he heard the stranger behind him say to the manticore, "all right big guy, time to get up. I'm going to take you somewhere you can eat!"

"Crazy old stallion" Dean muttered under his breath as he walked away. Dean walked for a few feet before he stopped. He turned back to the stranger and the manticore, both of which were walking away in the opposite direction. Dean thought for a moment, 'that old stallions seriously going to feed that thing? He must be mad! But he did save my life, the least I could do is make sure he stays safe. What? No! What am I thinking!?! He's not the one needing protection! I am! If he can handle a manticore he can handle whatever else this forest has to offer! I on the other hoof am leaving right now!' Dean walked a few more feet then stopped again. 'But he saved me! I have to pay him back! . . . . I really shouldn't follow him . . . ', Dean thought. He tried to get his legs moving again and found that he couldn't. He couldn't help but look back at the stranger as he walked deep into the forest with the manticore. 

"Oh! blast it all!" said Dean, frustrated. He turned back to the stranger and galloped to him. 

"Oi! Wait up!" Dean shouted as he approached him.

Without stopping, the stranger said, "so, you decided to join us?"

"Us?" Dean asked, out of breath.

"The manticore and I".

"Ah, right, us" said Dean, as he looked uneasily at the manticore. "Well I, uh, thought that if I joined you I could perhaps . . . repay you. Or at least give you company. That and you seem to know how to get through this forest so I figured you could lend me a hoof and help me out of here".

The stranger chuckled, "I don't need you to repay me for anything. Ponies get themselves into trouble all the time. If I happened to come across one who's gotten himself or herself into a pinch, I'll lend a helping hoof as best as I can. I don't do it for rewards or fame, I do it because it's the right thing to do and everyone should do the same. A shame that nopony else thinks that way".

"Indeed, but I still feel the need to thank you in some sort of way".

The stranger sighed, "alright, how about this. You can join me while I help this manticore and I'll help you to Dodge Junction-".

"But then you'll be helping me again, I'll be further in your debt".

"On the contrary. You see, I am an adventurer, I travel all over not just Equestria, but the entire world! It may sound exciting, but after awhile, seeing all the cities and meeting new ponies, it just isn't as fun when you do it alone. After awhile, the excitement dies down and gets stale. So, if you're with me, you can bring some of that excitement back to my adventure!"

"You want me to travel the world with you?" asked Dean.

"No, just until we get to Dodge Junction, that way the trip won't be so boring if either of us are alone".

"Oh, well I wouldn't want to distract you from where you're going-".

"I told you, I'm an adventurer! I don't have a destination! I go where the wind takes me! Not literally of course, I'd be stuck at the poles right now if that were true. But nevertheless! You can travel with me until we get to Dodge Junction, then the trip is over. You can consider this paying me back. Is that alright with you?".

"Well, yes I guess so. Thanks".

"What are you thanking me for, your repaying me, I should be the one thanking" said the stranger, smiling to Dean.

Dean smiled back and looked to the manticore. "How did you get him to follow you without him attacking?"

"I just told him we were going somewhere to eat and he followed".

"Really? That's all it took?"

The stranger nodded.

"Wow", Dean muttered. 

The walked in silence for a few moments before Dean asked, "so, do you always bring someone on your adventures?"

"No, you'd be the first actually. My adventure's becoming stale due to my loneliness is actually a rather new predicament that I have not encountered before. I have always felt lonely every now and again, but not like this".

"So, you need a companion?" asked Dean.

"I don't need one" said the stranger, annoyed.

"Sounds like you could use one".

The stranger looked to Dean for a moment, then sighed. "I guess it would be nice to have a companion". The stranger looked to Dean and smiled, "but only until we get to Dodge Junction".

"Agreed, being your companion full time I get the feeling I'd be killed, especially if what you did earlier is how your life is daily".

The stranger shrugged, "every other day perhaps".

"So, how long have you been adventuring for anyway?" asked Dean.

"Oh for awhile now, thirty years? Forty perhaps? I'm not sure really, Once you get to my age you stop counting. I might start counting when I get young again".

"Pardon?"

"Never mind, don't worry about it".

"Right . . . hey I just realized, I never got your name-".

"And your not going to either". said the stranger, suddenly.

"What? Why not?"

"Because names are powerful, they can form great bonds with ponies. A bond which I do not wish to make with someone who I am only traveling with temporarily".

" . . . I think you overthink these things a tad bit too much. Well if you're not going to tell me your name I'll just tell you mine. I am Dean Cornelius Do, nice to meet you!" said Dean as he extended his hoof to the stranger.

The stranger hesitated for a moment, then shook his hoof, "Pleasure". 

"So, Mystery Stallion, what exactly are you doing here in the forest?"

"Just coming to relax in its scenery, nothing more to it. I was sitting against a tree reading my book when I heard you scream".

"So it's just coincidence that you found me?" asked Dean.

"Well what else could it be? Fate? Destiny?"

Dean chuckled, "I'd sooner believe the tooth fairy told you where I was then something as silly as destiny".

At that remark, the Mystery Stallion looked at Dean for a moment then asked, "what about you? Why are you here?"

"Well, I was in Mane City, studying at a college for astronomy. That is until that demon came along".

"You mean Discord? You were there when it happened?"

Dean nodded, "I wasn't there to see it first hoof. That and I got lucky. The day Discord defeated the princesses and took over Mane City was the day I just so happened to have been asked by my teacher to retrieve a spare part for one of his telescopes. One of which is only sold outside of Mane City".

"Ah, so while you were out of Mane City retrieving the part, Discord took over Mane City and everyone inside".

"Yes, as soon as I saw his chaos take over the city I ran away as far as I could. I camped in the plains for a few days before I met a traveling merchant. Spent the rest of my bits buying supplies and I was lucky enough to find some nice pony who offered me his map. Been traveling for a couple weeks now trying to get to Dodge Junction, back to my home".

The Mystery Stallion nodded, indicating that he was listening.

"I survived what happened, but as for everypony else. Well, I'm just not sure, I haven't heard any news since I left. I just hope my teacher and fellow classmates made it out alive". 

There was a moment of silence between the two before the Mystery Stallion spoke. "I'm sorry Dean, no pony escaped the city that day".

Dean looked to the Mystery Stallion, stunned. "I beg your pardon?"

"Anypony who was in the city that day stayed in the city. As soon as his chaos magic spread, no pony could leave it. Like you said, you were lucky enough to have not been in the city when it happen. However, anyone who was in the city, well-" he didn't finish, he didn't have to. 

Dean knew exactly what he meant. His teacher, his friends, everyone that he knew in Mane City. All of them were gone. Whether dead or alive, nopony knew-

"But their not dead" said the Mystery Stallion.

"What!?!" 'Okay, so one pony does know', thought Dean. "But, how do you-"

"Discord is the spirit of chaos. He finds joy in creating havoc, destruction, and making everyone go crazy in panic and despair. But, the thing about chaos is that you need ponies to have it! Without them, it wouldn't be chaos, it would just be bad weather on an empty planet. To have chaos you need disorder, and to have disorder you need ponies. In other words, to have Discord you need ponies. Discord is a powerful, mad, chaos spreading lunatic. But he's not a murderer. Everypony that's trapped in that city may not be completely safe, but they won't be dying, I can assure you of that".

"B-But how do you know this?" asked Dean.

"I just do, trust me. And as soon as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna defeat Discord and turn him into stone, all of the ponies trapped in that city will be freed".

"But the Princesses were defeated, what makes you think they can beat him?" asked Dean.

There was a slight pause, small, but noticeable. Then the Mystery Stallion said, "you just need to have faith, especially when the ones you need faith in may just be your only hope".

Dean thought of this for a moment then replied, " . . . Okay, I see . . . wait, why would they turn Discord into stone? Why wouldn't they banish him to the sun or moon or something?"

"Why do you say he'd turn into stone?" asked the Mystery Stallion.

"Because you said so".

"No I didn't".

"Um, yes you did"

"No I did not".

"Yes! You did! You specifically said that the princesses are going to defeat Discord by-"

"We're here!" the Mystery Stallion shouted suddenly.

Dean stopped for a moment, annoyed at the interruption, then continued walking.

The three were now at a small river in the forest. The only sound that could be heard was the fast flowing water of the river.

"What are we doing here? I thought he was hungry" said Dean.

"And what do you think rivers provide?" asked the Mystery Stallion.

The manticore immediately jumped into the river and plunged his head into the water. A few seconds later his head emerged from the river and in his mouth he held a large orange fish. He ate the creature whole and plunged for another.

The Mystery Stallion gave Dean a smirk. Dean crossed his forelegs and looked away. "Alright, sorry I questioned you. I now see you knew exactly what you were doing. But could you at least tell me your plans ahead of time that way I can stay in the loop".

"If you try to keep up and pay attention then maybe it wouldn't be so hard" said the Mystery Stallion.

Dean face hoofed and turned to watch the manticore eat.

Ten minutes later the manticore had finished. Once finished with his meal, the manticore had sprawled onto the ground to take a nap. 

Meanwhile, the Mystery Stallion was rummaging through the manticore's fur and hair, as if searching for something. Curious, Dean asked, "what are you doing? The manticore's finished eating, can we leave now?"

"Not yet, there's something I'm looking for".

"Like what?" Dean asked, getting annoyed.

"Aren't you at least the slightest bit curious as to why you were even attacked by a manticore today?" 

"Um, I already know why I was attacked by a manticore, it was hungry".

"No Dean, it's not as simple as "he was hungry". Honestly, you don't know why of all creatures that attacked you in a forest today, it just so happened that that creature would be an eight hundred pound manticore?" 

"Well lots of manticore live in forests-"

"Yes that be true, but! Why did it just so happened to be a manticore today of all days?"

"Oh I don't know! How should I know!?"

The Mystery Stallion was silent for a moment as he rummaged through the manticore's hair. Suddenly he stopped and asked, "do you remember what I said earlier? When I had first approached the manticore?"

"Sort of, I was a bit too scared at the moment to really-"

"I was asking the manticore what he was doing here. For you to understand why I'm going to go a bit off topic. Tell me Dean, where are we?"

"A . . . forest?"

"And what time of the year is it?"

"June 5th".

"The season!"

"Summer!"

"So we're in a forest in the summer"

"Okay what is your point to this!?!" asked a frustrated Dean.

"Because Dean! We're in a forest in the summer! What should we be hearing!"

"Hearing?" 

"Yes hearing! What should we be hearing!?"

"I don't know! Leaves! The river! Birds-"

"BIRDS! EXACTLY! And what don't we hear right now?"

"I- well-" Dean froze, the gears in his head suddenly turning. He turned away from the stallion and cupped his hoofs to his left ear. He listened closely, and yet the only sound he heard was the water. Nothing more, nothing less. "But . . . I heard birds . . . earlier today-"

"Ah yes, but that was before you encountered the manticore, wasn't it?"

"Well, yes but-"

"Like I told you earlier, you've been traveling the wrong way to Dodge Junction. Instead of the way you were supposed to go you instead went deeper into the forest. And as you got deeper, things became more . . . silent? Didn't it?"

Dean had begun to feel uneasy at this point. "I-I never noticed, the birds, I just didn't think of them. What does this mean?"

"It means this" said the Mystery Stallion, holding the manticore's ear and pointing to it.

Dean looked closely to his ear and saw a red and black tag, pierced into the manticore's ear.

The tag read:


Manticore #54
Group: B
Section: 4
Dismissal: 11:30


"What is that?" asked Dean.

"It's a tag from who ever caught him".

"Caught him?"

The Mystery Stallion nodded. He released the manticore's ear and stepped away. Turning to Dean he said, "the reason you're not hearing any birds Dean, is because someone's stealing them".

"Someone's stealing the birds?"

The Stallion nodded.

"But if that's true then what about the manticore? What does he have to do with this?"

"Oh come on Dean! Think! It's summer! Manticore's are large creatures with lots of hair! It's dreadfully hot for a creature like this big fella to be in a forest like this in the summer! He and the rest of his kind would migrate to somewhere cooler. You being attacked by a manticore today, that shouldn't have happened! The reason why is because a manticore shouldn't have even been here in the first place!"

"Well he was here" said Dean, pointing to the manticore.

The Stallion sighed, "You're missing the point! Yes the manticores here but he's not supposed to be! So why is he here? What do you think?"

"I don't know! Maybe he didn't want to leave to somewhere cooler! Maybe he just likes it here! Or what if he didn't-" Dean stopped.

The Stallion came close to Dean and smiled. "I see you just put the pieces together".

Dean looked to the manticore, then to the Stallion. "H-He didn't have a choice, did he?"

The Stallion nodded in anticipation.

"So if he didn't have a choice, then he must have . . . been forced to come here!" Dean finished.

"Exactly! Now your getting it! And do you know who forced him here?" asked the Stallion.

Dean thought for a second, then looked to the tag on the manticore's ear. "The same ponies who gave the manticore that tag!"

"Exactly!"

"So with what I'm getting at, you think the ponies who stole the birds and who forced the manticore into this forest are the same?"

"Brilliant! See! I knew you were smart!"

"That's all fine and dandy sir, but that still leaves me with one question".

"And what's that?" asked the Mystery Stallion.

"How exactly are YOU involved in any of this?" asked Dean.

The Mystery Stallion's smile vanished for a moment before he gave a slight chuckle. He sighed, "I may not have been completely honest with you. You see, I already knew about the birds. I first heard about them from a café three miles from this forest. I had stopped there for a morning coffee when the manager and I had gotten into a conversation about this forest. He told me about how the birds had suddenly started disappearing. When I asked them when this had happened they told me three nights ago. They told me that one day the birds were there and the next they vanished. No signs of migration, no signs of moving, nothing! I didn't quite understand at first, animals don't just disappear in the middle of the night. Unless, somepony moved the creatures themselves! With this in mind I came to this forest as soon as possible. A couple hours of investigating later I found traces of wagons and cages having been dragged along the ground by some trees. The marks were fresh, I knew that someone had been there, and quite possibly this "someone" is still here in this very forest".

"You can't be serious" said Dean.

"Oh I'm quite serious, and that's not all. Whoever these ponies are they've manage to foulnap at least a couple thousand birds. At least forty seven percent of the population that resides within this forest-"

"Well somepony's got to stop these ponies!"

"And that Dean, is precisely why you and I have met!"

"What do you mean?"

"Because I'm the pony who was trying to find these "bird thieves" and put a stop to them. However, while I was searching for the bird thieves I stumbled upon this big fella here" said the Stallion, patting the manticore. "I saw the tag on his ear and was going to find out what was on it. But before I could the manticore had found you".

"So that's what you've been up to, you've been trying to get to the manticore!"

"Well, yes and no. Yes I needed to get to the manticore to find the bird thieves, but this poor dear has been through so much. He was hungry so I lead him somewhere he could eat. I couldn't just let him starve after all. And now that he has eaten we could find out where the bird thieves are".

"But the tag doesn't have a location written on it, how will we find the thieves?"

The Mystery Stallion smiled and pointed to the manticore, "he will take us to them".

"He will?"

"This big guy was forced into this forest because the bird thieves aren't just stealing birds, their stealing all kinds of animals! And this poor dear managed to escape. But! He knows where they're keeping the animals! And he can lead us right to them!"

"But why would he want to go back after he justed escaped?" asked Dean.

"Because the number on his tag read manticore #54 which means that he's not the only one! Which means more manticores have been foulnapped! Manticore's who could quite possibly be his friends or even his family! So with this in mind, the big guy will take us back to the place he was being held captive at. Because he knows that we're going to save his kind!"

"We're? As in you and I?"

"Well you did say you wanted to tag along".

"But I didn't think I would get involved in something like this! This is a bit too serious for me, I don't think I want to be part of this-"

"So are you going to leave then? I thought you wanted to repay me?"

"I thought you said you don't ask for ponies to repay you?"

"Well I didn't ask you to, did I? But you decided to tag along to repay me anyway, that was your choice. So, what'll it be Dean? You going to leave, or do you want to help me save the wildlife?"

Dean thought for a moment. He wasn't a fighter like his family was. He's too afraid for anything like this. He wouldn't even have traveled on hoof through this forest just to get home if all the carriage ponies hadn't been trapped in Mane City thanks to Discord. But as much as he hated the situation he was in he had to admit to himself that he couldn't just leave now. Especially now that he knows that this old stallion is going to try to fight off thieves by himself. Yes he wasn't a fighter, but he decided to help the old stallion as best as he could! Dean sighed, "guess I don't have a choice, I'm in too deep anyway".

"Great, then let's get moving, come on up big guy! It's time to go now" said The Stallion, waking the manticore from his sleep.

"But wait, the numbers on his tag".

"What about it?"

"Well one said "Dismissal". It sounds like they're intentionally releasing the manticores on that date. But that date sounds off".

"Yes because that's not a date it's a time".

"A time? For when they're released?" asked Dean.

"No that's not it, it wouldn't make sense. Why would they foulnap manticores and released them into this forest. Unless . . . when they say "dismissal", they don't mean "release". What if their wording it differently?"

"What are they saying then?" asked Dean.

As the manticore had awoken from his nap and was now wide awake, the Mystery Stallion petted the manticore and turned to Dean. A look of worry present on his face. "I don't think their being dismissed into the forest Dean, I think their being dismissed from their lives!"
> The Mystery Stallion: Part Two (S1C1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night had fallen.

In a large clearing of the forest lied a large camp. On one side of the camp there were tents, a bonfire, and lots of ponies eating, talking, and keeping themselves warm around the fire. On the other side of the camp there were very large cages, dozens of glass and iron barred cages. The ones with glass contained thousands upon thousands of birds. The iron barred cages were filled with manticores, bears, a few tigers, and diamond dogs. 

In the center of the camp was a very large object, hidden beneath a cloth.

"That side has all of the thieves, and over there is where the animals are at" the Mystery Stallion explained, pointing to one side of the camp then  to the other while hiding behind bushes with Dean and the manticore a few yards away from the camp.

"And what's that big thing under the tarp? In the middle of the camp?" asked Dean.

"That? I'm not sure, if I had to guess I'd say that's what they used to capture all these animals in the first place".

"So it's a machine?"

"Perhaps, a machine would make sense. Foulnapping all these animal isn't an easy job if done by hoof. And having more stallions wouldn't make much of a difference. That machine is most likely what helped them capture all these animals".

"So we have to destroy it and save the animals without getting caught?"

"Yes but it won't be easy since the cages are in clear sight of the group around that fire. So we'll need a backup plan . . . Oh, but of course!"

"What? You've got something?"

"Yes but it's a bit risky and I'm going to need you to move very fast!"

"What's the plan?"

"First  I need you to grab as many twigs, leaves, and anything that's flammable and surround the entire camp with it. Its awfully dry in the summer so finding anything flammable in a forest should be easy. Then  we're going to figure out exactly what that machine is and find a way to disable it. Finally As soon as we have that figured out I will go cause a distraction, that way no pony will notice you freeing the animals from their cages.

"What!?! How am I supposed to do all that!?!"

"I told you, you need to be fast!"

"Okay and let's say I do this, what are you going to do, burn down the campground?"

"No, if necessary we'll make a fire that surrounds not only the campground but the group as well! That way they can't escape and try to recapture any animals".

"But what if the fire starts burning down the whole forest? What then?"

"It won't, trust me, I know what I'm doing-'

SNAP!

Dean and the Stallion quickly turned around and saw a pink earth pony with a blue mane who had accidently stepped on a twig. He looked to them with fear evident in his facial expression.

" . . . Hello . . . I-I wasn't trying to spy on you or anything I was just, um . . . I-I should be heading back to my friends now, goodbye-"

He hadn't taken two steps before Dean and the Stranger were on top of him. Having been pinned to the ground he struggled to free himself, to no prevail of course. His body relaxed slightly as he said, "Okay, Okay! I was spying! I-If you let me go I promise I won't tell anypony about you!"

"Oh like we'll believe that!" said Dean.

Together, the two lifted the pink pony up to his hoofs and leaned him against a tree. He shook violently with fear as he looked back and forth between the two.

"You look awfully young to be in a group of stallions like these ones lad, what's your name?" asked the Stallion, calmly.

"Hey! What are you doing!? He's one of the thieves! You can't be nice to him!" asked Dean.

"Just trust me" said the Stranger to Dean. He turned back to the pink pony, "just try to relax, I promise we're not going to hurt you. We just want to ask a few questions. Is that alright with you?"

"I-I don't know. T-The boss might kill me if I do".

"He won't kill you if he doesn't know about this conversation will he?"

"N-No I guess not".

"Then come on boy, tell me, what's your name?"

"P-Peter Fillipes".

"Peter? That's a nice name, I like it. So Peter, why are you working with these criminals? Shouldn't you be at home, prepping yourself for the new school year that starts next month?"

"W-Well yes, but schools only for those who can afford it. M-My family's a bit poor you see. We haven't even enough money for a proper roof over our heads. We live in a small broken house near here actually, a couple miles away from the forest in the plains. I promise you I never wanted to even join these criminals! I swear! I-I'm just desperate! M-My Mother, she's sick! As well as my three baby sisters! And-"

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down, I believe you. I understand how hard times are right now, but it's incredibly dangerous to associate yourself with these kind of folk. Your hearts in the right place, but you could get killed if you're not safe".

"I-I know, its just . . . my family . . . I just want to help them" said Peter, tears forming in his eyes.

"How old are you Peter?" asked the Stranger.

Peter sniffed, "seventeen".

"Seventeen, that's very young, too young to have to handle situations like this. Especially while you're alone. You're incredibly brave Peter, doing this for your family".

Peter smiled and sniffed as he said this.

"Now Peter, I need you to listen very closely, understand?"

Peter nodded.

"My friend and I-"

"Companion" Dean corrected.

The Stranger sighed, "my companion and I are going to save all of the animals, then we're going to stop those criminals and have them put behind bars-"

"B-But there's over twenty of them! How will you-"

"Just leave that to us, alright? What I need you to do is just keep yourself out of the way when the situation gets a bit out of hoof. Keep yourself out of harm's way. And when this is over I promise you, I'm going to take you home and I'm going to help you and your family, understand?"

Peter looked to the Stranger in disbelief. "You . . . You mean it? You're really going to help my family?"

"Absolutely!" said the Stranger, smiling.

"I . . . I don't know what to say-"

"When you figure it out you can tell us later. For now If you want us to help you, you need to help us first. You don't have to do anything serious, just answer us a few questions".

"A-Alright, sure".

"Good, now tell us. That big object under the tarp, what is it?"

"T-That's just a really big vacuum, we used it to steal all the birds. It made the job a lot faster".

"Ha, knew it!" said the Stranger, looking to Dean. Looking back to Peter he said, "Okay now how do we destroy it? Is there a power source or is it magic powered?"

"Its magic powered. The unicorns are the only ones who can control it. If you destroy the control box on the side of the machine it should prevent the unicorns from using it. The machine will be useless after that".

"Perfect! Now, the animals, how do we get them out of here?"

"Oh! I have a key! Everyone has one to all the cages".

"Brilliant! Give it here!" 

Peter obeyed, giving the Stranger his key.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Peter I promise you, as soon as this is over I'm taking you back to your family! And when I do, I'll tell them all about how you helped us save these animal! You'll be a hero!"

"R-Really! You won't tell them I was working for criminals?"

The Stranger shook his head and placed his hoof over his chest. "Cross my hearts and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, that I absolutely promise not to tell your family about your past actions", said the Stranger, smiling and crossing his hoof over his chest in a "X" shape. 

Both Dean and Peter looked to the stranger with confused looks. "What was that supposed to be?" asked Dean.

"That, Dean, was a Pinkie Promises. Once You make a Pinkie Promise, it must never be broken. Ever!" said the Stranger.

"Do you make that up?" asked Dean.

"No, somepony else did" said the Stranger.

"Who?" asked Dean.

The Stranger smiled, "somepony absolutely brilliant!"

Although Dean continued to look confused, Peter smiled. He didn't know why, but he knew he could trust this stranger.

Returning the smile, the Stranger said, "Alright Peter, you've helped us as best as you could now run back to the group before they suspect anything".

Peter nodded and did what he was told.

The Stranger tossed Dean the key and said, "you ready".

Dean took a deep breath, "as ready as I'll ever be. A bit nervous though. Sure was lucky he came along wasn't it".

"Indeed so, you take care of the leaves, I'll take care of the machine. As soon as that's done I'll go into the group and make the distraction so you can free the animals. Once the animals are free and we use the fire to trap the criminals, I'll watch over them while you and Peter run to the nearest guard station. Once you bring back the guards and the criminals are arrested, we'll take Peter home and celebrate our victory in Dodge Junction".

"What about helping his family?"

"You just let me take care of that. As soon as this is over I'm taking you home, no exceptions, agreed?"

"Yeah, sure".

"Alright, let's get moving, we don't have long".

"Right!"

The two separated, Dean running into the forest to find anything that was flammable and the Stranger ran straight to the machine. He found the control box and immediately went to work. Meanwhile, Dean had found plenty of twigs, branches, and leaves that were flammable and placed it in large piles, surrounding the entire campsite. When the Stranger had finished his job he set out to help Dean with his, speeding the process. 

As soon as the two had finished, they sat behind a bush near the group and waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.

"You took care of the machine?" asked Dean, watching Peter uncomfortably squirm in his seat in the group of stallions.

"Of course".

"How'd you do that? Smash it with a rock?"

"No that would have been too loud. I just used some of my magic on it, wasn't too difficult" said the Stranger.

"Magic? But you're a pegasus, you can't use magic".

The Stranger looked to Dean and gave him a smirk. "You can if you know how to".

Before he could respond to that, he suddenly heard someone from the group of stallions shout, "everypony shut up! The boss has something to say!"

Dean and the Strangers focus immediately went to staring at the group, intent to see exactly who the boss is.

A green earth pony with a black goatee and short mane exited the largest tent. He approached the bonfire, as he did so everyone around it immediately ceased their chatter.

The earth pony grabbed a mug out of a pegasus's hoof, observed its contents for a moment, drank it in one swift swig, tossed the mug aside and walked into the center of the lot.

Everyone was dead silent, listening to what he had to say.

"Hey, do you think we should have asked what the boss's name is from Peter?" Dean whispered.

"Don't worry about that. We're about to find out" the Stranger replied.

The pony cleared his throat and spoke, "gentlestallions, I would like to congratulate all of you on a job well done!"

The group of ponies cheered.

"If it wasn't for your help, and my brains and money of course, this would have never been accomplished! Tonight we go home! And tonight! We become! RICH!!!"

Another cheer from his stallions.

"Of course there were some . . . complications. One of the manticores, as you all know, escaped yesterday morning. But no matter! One lost beast will mean nothing to us!"

"Yeah! Forget about him!" one stallion shouted.

"Out of sight! Out of mind!" shouted another.

"Now before we can really celebrate, we still have one more job to attend to! I do believe you all know what we have to do?" asked the green earth pony, already knowing the answer.

Some of the stallions gave each other uneasy looks. The more wicked of the group smiled, high hoofed, and gave excited whoops.

"That's right, it is time! For dismissal!" 

The cheers from the group varied. The more wicked were the loudest, where those who were uneasy cheered without emotion, only to not stand out amongst each other.

"However, I know how some of you feel about this kind of work. So! I will give you this chance to back out now! If any of you do not wish to participate in the dismissal of the beasts! Raise your hoof so you can be dismissed! You will not be thought of any less for your actions!"

The group went silent.

"Oh, he's giving them a chance to leave without having to kill any of the animals? Guess he's not entirely evil, still pretty evil though. Right? Sir?" asked Dean as he turned to the Stranger. Dean suddenly felt scared as he saw the expression upon the Stranger's face.

The Stranger looked not just worried, but something else. A mixture of fear and concern perhaps, Dean couldn't tell.

"Sir? What's wrong?" asked Dean.

"That pony . . . their boss . . . he wouldn't dare!" the Stranger whispered through gritted teeth.

"What!? He said he was going to let them go!" Dean shout whispered.

"No! His exact words were he was going to dismiss them!" the Stranger shout whispered back.

Dean thought for a moment, then suddenly realized what he meant. "Y-You don't think he meant- . . . but . . . he wouldn't, would he?"

"There are a lot of evil ponies out there Dean. Some worse than others. Some, who would even kill their own stallions if they had too! No! If they wanted too!" said the Stranger, angrily.

Dean looked back to the group, worried. "W-Well as long as no pony actually raises their hoofs they'll be fine . . . right?"

The Stranger didn't answer, his eye's were deadlocked onto Peter.

The group continued its silence.

" . . . Well? Are there any ponies who do not wish to participate in the dismissal?" asked the green earth pony.

The silence continued for a few moments.

Suddenly, it was broken by the sight of a hoof, slowly and shakily rising into the air. 

"I-I would like to leave" said Peter.

The group immediately broke into mutters, jeers, and insults.

"No! Are you kidding me!" Dean shout whispered.

"Don't you dare Peter!" the Stranger shout whispered.

"SILENCE!!!" the green earth pony shouted.

The group obeyed and fell silent.

"So, you do not wish to be part of the dismissal?" asked the green earth pony.

"N-No s-sir" said Peter.

There was a brief awkward silence before the green stallion said, "very well. If that is what you wish then you are dismissed".

Peter sighed with relief, "thank you sir".

"Doesn't he realize what's going to happen!?" asked Dean.

"I don't think he does" said the Stranger.

He rose from his seat amongst the stallions and left the group. He had walked a few feet before he was stopped.

"Excuse me, where do you think your going?" asked the green stallion.

Peter looked to the green stallion, confused. "I-I was just leaving sir-"

"I did not say you could leave".

"B-But you said I was dismissed sir-"

"Correct! I asked you if you wished to be dismissed and you accepted, therefore-". The green stallion clapped his hoofs. Two large bulky earth ponies who were his bodyguards reached behind themselves and pulled out a bow and arrow. They both quickly pulled the string, aiming the arrow at Peter, catching him off guard.

"No!" Dean whisper shouted.

"Peter!" the Stranger whisper shouted, slightly louder than Dean.

"You are dismissed!" the green stallion announced. The two ponies released the string.

The crack of the weapons and the whoosh of air as the arrows flew towards the victim could be heard through everyone. What was also heard was a gasp of pain as the pink earth pony's body jerked sideways and fell to the ground. His body lay facing opposite of the group, hiding his wounds from the others. No one dared to check on him, fearing that they would be next if they did so. Yet after a few moments everyone knew that the need for checking was no longer required. The pink earth pony was no longer alive.

He had been dismissed.

" . . . Peter" Dean whispered. He felt the inside of stomach suddenly give a jerk. He had never seen another pony die before. He clasped his hoofs to his mouth as he felt his innards slowly rising into his esophagus. He looked to the Stranger and felt worse when he did. Looking to the Stranger didn't just make Dean feel sicker, he suddenly felt scared. More scared than he already was.

The Stranger looked much different than Dean expected. The Stranger wasn't sick. He didn't show fear, or anger, or hatred towards the ponies who had murdered Peter. He may have felt these emotions, but he certainly didn't show it. What little he did show was his eyes. The Stranger's eyes, fixed directly on the green earth pony, the one who had commanded for Peter's death. To Dean, he saw fire in the Stranger's eyes. Like a flood ready to break loose, or a storm prepared for destruction. Just being near the Stranger, Dean felt a power radiating off of him, like a powerful fire bringing heat to those who stand near.

He did not show it, but Dean knew that something was going to happened. That the Stranger, who ever he is, would not let this act of murder pass on without punishment. Dean felt fear, not for himself nor the Stranger, but fear for those criminals and for most of all, the boss himself.

This fear passed immediately, for Dean knew whatever was going to happened. Those criminals deserved everything that the Stranger was going to do to them.

" . . . Dean", the Stranger said, ever so calmly. 

"Mmmhmm?" Said Dean, his clasped hoofs muffling his sound.

" . . . I'm finishing this". The Stranger left his hiding spot and proceeded towards the group.

Dean tried to reach to the Stranger to stop him. But before he could he felt that he couldn't keep his insides in any longer. Dean was left vomiting as the Stranger approached the group

Back with the group, the green earth spoke, "is there anypony else who would like to be dismissed?"

The group was dead silent.

The stallion continued, "you were all told from the very beginning that once you join our mission, there is no going back! And those who do not wish to see this mission through to the very end would be dismissed!"

"And what exactly is this mission?" asked a new voice amongst the group.

The green stallion, not recognizing this voice, looked to an elderly well dressed stranger with fading gray hair, who had somehow snuck his way into the center of the group. He immediately pointed to the two armed ponies, commanding them to reload their weapons. "And who exactly are you?" he asked as the bodyguards pointed their bows at the stranger.

The rest of the group having just realized about the newcomer rose from their seats and grabbed their own weapons. Spears, swords, bows and arrows, all taking aim towards the Mystery Stallion.

The Mystery Stallion looked to everyone in the group and smiled calmly. "Who? Me? Oh I'm just an old stallion who just happened to come across your little campsite. I was going to just walk away when I suddenly caught you committing murder. Care to explain this "mission" of yours? And why this mission is so important that killing is a requirement?"

The green stallion chuckled, "what makes you think I'm just going to tell you anything? You've seen too much old stallion, we're going to kill you".

"All the more reason you should tell me, I'm not going to live to tell the tale anyway so might as well" said the Mystery Stallion, calmly.

The green stallion thought for a moment, then smiled as he walked up to the Mystery Stallion. "I guess a stallion of your age does deserve a final wish before he accepts death's embrace, so, very well. But before I tell you anything I do believe names are in order". The green stallion extended a hoof to the stallion, "Oswald Dohnavein, the leader of this mission. And you are".

The Mystery Stallion accepted Oswald's hoof and shook it. "I am the Doctor".

"The Doctor? Doctor Who?"

The Mystery Stallion smiled, "just the Doctor".

Oswald looked confused for a moment, then smiled. "Well Doctor! You'll find that after tonight, you'll be one the one needing medical attention!"

"Not before you tell me about your mission" said The Doctor.

Oswald smiled, "very well. You see, I have been assigned by an anonymous source to hunt down a specific list of beasts. All I have to do is simply find them, capture them, then, dismiss them! As soon as I and the rest of my stallions are finished we will return to the location of where I had received my mission and receive our reward!"

"Reward?"

"Two and a half billion bits!"

"And you believed this source? You honestly expect to go back and received that much money? From a source who you don't even know about? How can you trust this source?" asked The Doctor.

"Because the letter I received that contained my mission had a signature burned onto it".

"A signature from who?"

"I'd rather not say".

"Why?"

"Because the letter told me not to".

"And how do you know this signature isn't forged?"

"Because you old fool! This signature could only be written by one pony in all of Equestria. Any attempts to forge it would be impossible. You'd have to see the letter to understand what I mean".

"Alright, signatures aside. Your mission is to come here, take innocent animals from their homes and murder them, but why!"

"I do not know, the letter did not state the reason for this mission. We were simply given a mission with a reward and we set off to complete said mission to receive said reward. Plain and simple".

"So that's it then? You received a letter from Celestia knows who to kill innocent creatures and you don't even care? You're completely fine with murder?"

"Money is money, it doesn't matter how it is obtained".

"And what about the stallion you killed, what about him!?! Was it okay to murder him? Do you even know who he was!?!" The Doctor said angrily, voice slowly rising.

"Of course I know who he was, his name is Peter Fillips-"

"No! More than just his name! Do you really, really, know who Peter was!"

"What does it matter?"

"It matters because he was a breathing living pony! He had a beating heart and you stopped it! A beautiful brain and you cut the signals! He was only seventeen and you took the rest of his life away from him! That is unacceptable!!!"

"His heart and brain mean nothing to me if he wasn't going to use them to work for me. Peter chose his fate, I gave him a choice and he made his decision. You cannot call me the villain for a choice that he made. So what if he was seventeen? The colt was old enough to . . . hold on . . . how did you know about his age?" asked Oswald.

"Met him about twenty minutes ago, we talked for five minutes" said The Doctor.

"And you think you can know a pony in just five minutes?"

"More then you will ever know! Peter Fillipes was a young and innocent colt! He only joined you and your band of criminals so he can raise enough money for his family! He had a mother and three baby sisters, all of which will never get the chance to see him again because you took his life away! All he wanted to do was help his poor, starving, sick family, and you took that all away from him!"

Oswald chuckled, "I'm a business stallion Doctor! You really think that I would concern myself with petty squabbles such as this one? So a colt died! The world moves on!-"

"But his world has stopped! And so has his family's!"

"And you think I should mourn him?"

"No, I think you should be very afraid. Because once you have all been taken into custody, I'll be sure to have every single last one of you punished without mercy!"

The entire group burst into laughter. 

Smiling, Oswald said, "and what are you going to do Doctor? Take us down with a cane? Subdue us with false teeth? Or do you have friends from the retirement home as back up?"

The group laughed harder.

"Oh you think laughing at my age is funny?" said the Doctor. He looked at each of the laughing faces of the group members. Then he himself started to chuckle. "You should never underestimate your enemy, no matter how old they may seem".

The groups laughter continued, some had started jeering at The Doctor.

"Alright, your joke's over. Dean, DO IT NOW!" The Doctor shouted.

Before anyone could figure out what he meant, their entire campground was suddenly surrounded by a wall of bright orange fire. Those closest to the edge jumped back as to avoid the fire.

Oswald looked to the fire, then to The Doctor. "What have you done!?!"

Smiling, the Doctor said, "That would be my back up. Although, he is a bit too young to be in any retirement home but I assure you, you won't have to worry about being attacked by any canes or false teeth". 

"You're not a wanderer, you had this planned!" Oswald reached into his pocket and extracted a knife. He pointed it towards The Doctor's throat. "Tell me who you really are!"

The Doctor looked to the knife for only a second before setting his fiery gaze directly into Oswald's pupils, the very center. "Do you really want to know who I am? You'll find that our opinion towards me will change drastically if you are with me for too long. That is, unless you're opinion is already sour- "

Oswald took a step forward, placing the knife mere inches beneath The Doctor's throat. "Talk you old fool! Who are you! Why exactly are you called "The Doctor?" Is that a code name!?! Are you a spy!?! A secret agent!?! Or are you working for another business that competes against us!?!"

"Oh those are excellent accusations young lad but I have to say that none of those are correct. You see Oswald, I am nothing of which you have just said. I am not a spy, nor an agent, and believe it or not The Doctor is indeed my real name-"

"Then why are you here!?!"

"Because Oswald, you're not the only one with a mission tonight! You see I've known about you and your gang for a while now. Everypony knows about you! They don't know exactly who you are but they know about your group, the "bird thieves". You didn't hide yourself very well, stealing that many birds doesn't go unnoticed and believe me it has very well been noticed. How you lot have been stealing birds from this very forest! So, I set out to investigate and find the bird thieves. Once I've found them I intended to stop them from whatever they were planning and return the birds back to where they belong! Along with the other animals as well!" "

"But why! Why do you dare try and stop us! Do you want the reward for yourself!? Is that it!?!"

"No".

"Then why!?!"

"Because it's the right thing to do. That's the only answer you need and that's the only answer your getting".

Oswald stared angrily at The Doctor for a moment, then, he reached forward and grabbed his tie. He yanked The Doctor's tie, pulling him close so that their faces were nearly touching. Oswald was shaking with anger at this point and taking sharp breaths. "So! That's what this is huh!?! An old stallion trying to be a hero!?!" He bellowed into laughter, "I don't know how senile your age has made you old stallion! But in case you haven't notice, there is no such thing as heroes!  Just look around you! The almighty Princess Celestia and Princess Luna who are both alicorns  failed to protect their country! Discord is spreading his chaos and there's no pony alive who can stop him! Meanwhile, Discords got every guard in this country so busy, it lets stallions like me and my gang here do whatever the tartarus we want! No pony, not even those so called "alicorns" can stop me, my gang, Discord, and everypony else who isn't limited by the law, can stop us! And the best part is, once Discords finished off those princesses for good, then stallions like me can do whatever we want forever!!! There are no heroes! Only us!"

Having been listening to their boss, the group had forgotten about the fire and cheered as Oswald finished his speech.

The Doctor allowed the group to cheer for a few moment before he smirked.

Oswald taking noticed asked, "what's with the grin? Didn't you hear what I said!?"

"Oh I heard you loud and clear and I must say, I have to agree with you".

Oswald looked confused for a split second before saying, "of course you do! It only makes sense for you to-"

"But, I also disagree with you completely!" 

"I -I, what!?!"

"You are correct, evil is spreading fast all over this country and it does seem that nopony can stop it. That evil will succeed because this world has no heroes. Well, allow me to explain to you what a hero is. A hero is the one who does an extraordinary act of courage which will or may result in the conscious sacrifice of himself to protect the good of others. That may not sound like a lot of ponies that exist in this country. Not many are willing to commit to such acts of courage. However, there is in fact an alternative to "heroes". One that most certainly exists".

"Oh? And who are these ponies Doctor!?"

"These ponies are the one's who rebel against treacherous ponies such as yourself, these ponies are the ones who have hope in their hearts and truly believe that a happy ending does indeed exist. These ponies are the ones that have so much faith in pony kind as a whole! These ponies may not be hero's, but in their own ways they are that small sliver of light at the corner of a storm! They are the reason why no matter how long Discord ruled Equestria or how long stallions like you do as they please, you nor any criminal that reside in this country will ever succeed! Because these ponies still exist! And as long as they exist evil cannot truly win! They are not heroes! They are the ponies who care!"

"Is that who you are Doctor? A pony who cares?"

"Care? Me? Caring about the lives of everypony in this country? No, I don't care, because for me, caring is an understatement. You see Oswald, although it may seem hard to imagine, heroes do indeed exists. One out of thousands would ever become a true hero". The Doctor came close to Oswald's ear and whispered, "since heroes are so rare in this day and age I assume you aren't experienced with dealing with one. Would you like me to show you Oswald? The power of a true hero".

"An old stallion can never be a hero. You said you were going to save the animals. How exactly are you going to do this?"

"Oh saving the animals won't be too difficult. In fact, I do believe we are already finished".

"I beg you pardon?"

"See for yourself".

Oswald turned and saw through the flames that the cages on the other side of the camp were indeed empty. The group members, having also realized the animals were missing, began to murmur in panic amongst each other. 

"WHAT!!! But how!?! When did you-"

"You had your anger too focused on me that you forgot that I had back up. And you control your gang so much to the point that they didn't even bother checking the cages themselves in fear that they would miss anything that you would say. Even if I hadn't distracted you with that speech I highly doubt that any of you could get passed that fire to stop my partner-"

"Companion!!!" Dean shouted from the other side of the fire wall.

"Right, companion. Which reminds me, isn't anypony going to ask how this fire has been burning the past five minutes without so much as singeing a leaf on any of the surrounding trees?" asked The Doctor.

The groups murmur became louder. Most had noticed but chose not to talk about it. The Doctor was correct, they were indeed quite focused on what their leader had to say while The Doctor and he were speaking. They were afraid of missing anything he had to say. Some did not notice the fire and thought that the entire forest was burning down. Oswald, however, knew from the start. "Clearly you are using magic, your companions are unicorns!"

"Singular phrasing actually. I have a companion, not multiple companions. And he is not a unicorn, he is in fact an earth pony-"

"You are lying! You are controlling this fire! Its obvious! You have unicorns!"

"I do not-"

"ENOUGH!!! I have had enough of this!!! Your little charade had gone long enough Doctor! But you and your "companion" are going to pay dearly for the loss of our animals! And after all this there is only one way to repay for this! DISMISSAL!!!" Oswald shouted, pointing to his gang.

Every criminal who possessed a throwing or ranged weapon aimed at the Doctor. Oswald ran out of harm's way, towards his two bodyguards.

"Doctor! The animals are free! Get out of there!" Dean shouted.

"These criminals need to be behind bars Dean. I'm not leaving until they've been dealt with properly".

"You can't fight them all at once!" 

The Doctor smirked, 'the power of a true hero? Great choice of words but that was false. I do not possess any "powers" of a true hero. No, that was an understatement. I possess a power far more powerful than any "hero" could ever hope to obtain' thought The Doctor.

"Fire at him!" Oswald shouted.

The group did as they were told and threw their spears, threw their knifes, and fired their bows.

'I am not a hero, I am not a miracle, nor am I invincible' The Doctor thought at lighting speed as the weapons came towards him

"DOCTOR!!!" Dean shouted.

The Doctor blinked. ' . . . That's right Dean, that's what I am'.

The weapons killed The Doctor. 

Or so everyone thought.

Milliseconds before the weapons made contact a stream of fire burst from the wall at lighting speed, passing directly into to the weapons path and incinerating all of the weapons and arrows to ash. Once the flame had return to the wall, all that stood there was The Doctor, covered in the ashes that had once been the weapons of the gang. 

The Doctor stood tall, staring at the gang, unfazed.

Oswald, Dean, and the gang stood staring. All with a mixture of fear, anger, and confusion. 

Dean, jaw dropped said, "what the!?"

"Did we miss?" asked one of the members.

"No you idiot! All our weapons burned to smithereens!" shouted another.

"How'd he do that?" asked another.

"It's those unicorns of his!" shouted a fourth.

"I've already told you, I do not have unicorns with me. This fire is indeed being controlled with magic but it isn't any magic the likes of any of you have ever seen!"

"Fire at him again!" shouted Oswald, grabbing a bow out of one of his bodyguards hoofs.

They did as they were told and fired more weapons, only to see another wave of fire burst from the wall and incinerate their weapons.

'Doctor, how are you doing this?' thought Dean.

The Doctor, smirking asked, "are you ready to give up now? Or do you have any weapons left for a third try?" 

Oswald growled, "what is wrong with all of you! Why can't you hit one old stallion!?! Enough ranged attacks! Hit him up close!"

The group obeyed and grabbed whatever melee weapons they had left. All twenty four members including Oswald's bodyguards rushed to The Doctor at once. However, once the group was a mere four feet away from The Doctor, another wall of fire emerged from the original wall. This new wall blocked the gangs path to The Doctor. The gang looked back to their leader, desperate for an order, or any plan of action at all at this point.

Eyes wide with confusion, Oswald turned to his unicorns. "I thought unicorns were supposed to be smart! Why aren't any of you using your magic!?!"

A bald orange unicorn responded, "we don't know attack spells sir! We only know how to use our magic to work the machine-".

"THEN WORK THE MACHINE!!! You imbeciles! Use your magic on the vacuum and suck him in!!!"

"But sir! Only birds can fit in there-".

"Yes but the suction is strong enough to get him stuck in the tube! Now do as I said and USE YOUR MAGIC!!!" Oswald roared

The unicorns did as they were told and focused their magic onto the machine. Each unicorn's magic color varied between each other. The vacuum was engulfed in a series of different colored auras as every unicorn took hold. 

The vacuum responded to the magic and began to move forward. However, after three feet of the travel the vacuum had suddenly started to shake. Its shaking grew more and more violent until it began to steam a black smoke. Sparks flew out the sides as the unicorns tried desperately to keep the machine under control. 

Then suddenly, the machine stopped, discontinuing any magical control the unicorns once had. The machine sat there, useless and smoking.

"What the devil are you doing!?! Use that blasted machine right now!!!" Oswald roared.

"I'm sorry sir! I don't know why but the machine won't respond to our magic anymore! I think it's broken!" a green unicorn shouted.

"Impossible! You used the vacuum just this morning! It was in perfect condition then!"

"Not unless "somepony" came along and "tinkered" with your machine" said The Doctor, smirking.

Oswald glared (if possible) more furiously at The Doctor. "You!?"

"Yup" he responded calmly.

Oswald shook ferociously, "YOU!!!  You broke my, my- do you have any idea how much that costed!?!"

"Do you have any idea how much I don't care?" The Doctor sarcastically asked.

Veins popping, Oswald shouted. "That's it! Unicorns! Take down his fire! Let's see how cocky he is once we have control over it!"

"W-We c-can't sir" a blue and white maned unicorn stuttered.

Oswald glared at the unicorn, "Why the tartarus not!?!"

"W-We've already tried sir! Honestly! We have! But our magics not working against the fire! We don't know why!" replied the scared looking blue and white maned unicorn to his boss.

"Having trouble with your magic ay? Well you shouldn't waste your energy trying to control this fire. If it was indeed being controlled by unicorns then you'd probably have stood a chance. Unicorn magic against unicorn magic. However, as I have stated before, I do not have unicorns with me. Therefore, you unicorns aren't fighting against normal magic. You're fighting a brand new magical force altogether! One of which you cannot compete against because of your lack of experience! You're not fighting an old stallion, colts-" With the wave of his hoof, The Doctor sent forth a large wave like barrage of fire down upon the gang. 

The gang cowered in fear, expecting the fire to incinerate them all. Most had closed their eyes, some had covered their heads and faces with their forelegs. All of them had expected the fire to crash upon them, sending them to a burning, painful death. 

When a few seconds had passed and death had failed to show, the group looked to The Doctor, only to find their field of vision blocked by large streams of bright blue fire.

"You're fighting an unknown entity. A mystery, a shadow, a monster" said The Doctor.

Oswald, who had been separated from his group and was standing ten feet away from the large globe of fire that imprisoned his gang, looked to The Doctor with a mixture of hate, confusion, and anger. "You!? You're the one who's controlling this fire!?!"

"I did say that I did not have unicorns, therefore, somepony else has to be the one controlling this fire" said The Doctor, calmly.

Oswald turned to his gang for a moment, listening to the muffled screams of his stallions. He then turned back to The Doctor. "You're killing them!?! You lecture me on murdering that weakling from earlier and you have the nerve to go and do the same thing!?! You hypocrite!!!"

"Your stallions are in no danger Oswald, I do not intend on killing any of you tonight. My mission is to send you all to prison-"

"And you'll take my stallions there in body bags!? Some hero you turned out to be!"

"If I concentrate the movement and speed of the fire, I can force the fire to take all of the oxygen out from inside the globe. You're stallions will suffocate, however, as long as I keep the oxygen level above eight percent your gang will not be harmed fatally. They will all fall-" The Doctor waved his hoof, releasing the fire. The fire disappeared. Every gang member who had been imprisoned within the fiery globe fell to the ground. Not one member was moving .

"Unconscious" The Doctor finished.

Oswald could only stand there, stiff with shock as he looked to his gang. Every member was breathing, every member was alive, and just as The Doctor had said, each member was unconscious. He dropped the bow that he had intended to use against The Doctor, no longer feeling the power he previously had to even lift the arrow. He looked to The Doctor, showing his fear for the first time. " . . . W-What have you . . . how did you . . . who are you!?!"

With a clap of his hoofs, The Doctor released the wall surrounding the camp. The wall of fire immediately dispersed, leaving only a large circular scorched mark on the ground. Only the ground had been burned. The trees surrounding the camp looked as if they hadn't been touched for a second by the fire. The Doctor walked closer to Oswald until they were five feet apart. 

" . . . Who are you?" Oswald repeated.

Setting a fiery gaze upon Oswald, The Doctor said, "I am The Doctor! The stallion who cares!"

Oswald stood staring at The Doctor for a few moments before taking a step back. "You're not an ordinary pegasus are you? Pegasus control the weather, not fire! What are you really Doctor?"

The Doctor looked to Dean (who had been watching from outside the firewall the whole time) and motioned him to approach. Dean did as he was told and came close to The Doctor. The Doctor looked back to Oswald, "you are correct Oswald. For you see, I am indeed no ordinary pegasus. I am a phoenix pony from the country Alburnia. Land of the fire elementals and controllers of the planet's core. I used my phoenix magic to trap your stallions. Because Elemental magic is completely different from ordinary magic, your unicorns possessed no chance of controlling my fire".

Both Dean and Oswald looked to the Doctor, confused and surprised.

"You're a phoenix pony!?" asked Oswald.

"That can't be true, I thought phoenix ponies weren't supposed to leave Alburnia" said Dean. 

"Their not, I'm the only one who has" said The Doctor.

"So you're a runaway phoenix pony huh? Bet that puts a high price on your head, doesn't it?" asked Oswald.

"Actually, I am quite worthless to the phoenix ponies. You won't be finding any price on me so don't even bother doing what you're about to do. I know what you're thinking, you can't sell me. You won't even earn a bit". 

While the two were talking Dean looked to the unconscious gang, looking to see if they all were truly alive. 

"Oh I won't be selling you back to your country, Doctor! Once I've taken you down I'll be sure to have you sent directly to the black market! I'm sure there are some slave owners who would just love to have an elemental for a slave!" said Oswald.

"Did you not see what I just did to your gang? You? Take me down? Why do you persist on? Just give up. Your gang has been defeated by an old stallion and an astronomer. You've lost Oswald".

"Oh is that what you think?".

Meanwhile, Dean continued to observe the gang until he noticed something odd. One of the members had their foreleg on the side of his body. Dean had looked away for only a second. When he turned back to that stallion he noticed the his foreleg had changed positions. His leg was now behind his back. Dean also noticed something else.

The "unconscious" stallions leg was slowly moving, reaching for something behind him. Dean didn't know what it was, but he had a feeling he knew what the stallion was reaching for. And he had a feeling that he knew what the stallion was going to do.

"No, I don't think. I know that you've lost". said The Doctor.

Oswald chuckled. "I am afraid that you are wrong Doctor. No pony has lost just yet. But I can assure you, the one who does will not be me!

The Doctor detected that something was wrong. While looking into Oswald's eyes he noticed that Oswald was repeatedly looking past him, his eyes moved back and forth between The Doctor and his group. Something was wrong, The Doctor knew Oswald was planning something.

Suddenly, the "unconscious" stallion made a fast movement. Dean who had been watching him knew what he was going to do. "Doctor! Look out!" he shouted. Dean ran forward and shoved the Doctor out of harm's way. Simultaneously the "unconscious" pony quickly rose to his hoofs and threw a throwing knife, intending to hit The Doctor. However, Dean who had shoved The Doctor and put himself into harms way received the attack. The weapon hit directly in the side of his torso. He gasped in pain as he fell to the ground.

"DEAN!!!" The Doctor shouted. He turned to the group and glared at the attacker. 'One was still awake!?!' The Doctor internally shouted. The attacker reached behind his back for another knife. However, The Doctor was too quick for him. Using his magic, he ignited a fistful of blue fire in his hoof and threw it at the attacker, hitting him directly in the chest. The attack was strong enough to knock him down, burning his torso and (possibly) knocking him out for good this time. He purposely weakened his fire to prevent the attacker from receiving any fatal wounds. He turned to Oswald only to find him missing. The Doctor growled as he suddenly realized what Oswald had been looking at. During their conversation, Oswald at some point must have noticed one of his gang members was still awake. He waited patiently for the gang member to attack so that Oswald could take this chance to escape! 

The Doctor would have gone after Oswald, however, there was something much more important to attend to.

The Doctor knelt to Dean and gently lifted the young stallion's head. 

Dean held his eyes shut tight as he breathed rapidly. He felt his vision blurring in and out of focus as he felt the pain from the knife pulsate through his entire side. The signals ran through his nerves hard, giving him a headache. He had never felt pain like this in his whole life. Realizing this only made Dean breath harder. He started having a panic attack. He reckons he would have thrown up if hadn't already done so back at the bushes from earlier. He wanted help desperately, he wanted someone to take the knife out of his body and tell him that everything would be all right. That he would be safe and healthy and could live another day so that he could continue his quest to fulfill his dream.

His dream, Dean just remembered. He still had a dream to fulfill, he had to discover a new constellation. Dean's panic attack worsened. 'Oh sweet Celestia! Help me!' Dean internally screamed.

"Dean, can you hear me?" The Doctor asked, gently.

Dean hadn't noticed The Doctor holding his head until now. He opened his eyes slowly to see the old stallions face, looking with an ever so worried expression down upon him.

Dean wasn't sure what made him say it, he wanted The Doctor to help him. He is a doctor after all, this is his job, to help those who are hurt or sick. Yet when He opened his eyes, the first words to leave his mouth weren't "please help me". Instead, Dean said, "w-what are you doing? He's getting away, g-go after him!"

"I'm not leaving you Dean, we'll get Oswald later. For now let's get that knife out of you. I need you to try and slow your breathing. You're panicking, panicking will only make your wound worse. Try and calm down so I can heal you properly".

"B-But Oswald is getting-"

"Shh" The Doctor shushed gently.

"But-"

"Shhhh, listen to The Doctor's orders".

Dean hesitated for a moment before obeying. He concentrated on his breathing, doing his best to calm himself.

The Doctor observed Dean's wound for a moment, then sighed with relief. 'His wound isn't fatal. My fire may not have knocked out that attacker, but it did weaken him. His throw may have hurt Dean, but it wasn't strong enough for the knife to reach very far. It seems the tip is just barely inside his rib. It hurts, but it's nothing serious. Now, if that attacker did have his full strength, I don't even want to imagine what kind of state Dean would have been in' thought The Doctor.  

The Doctor positioned his head above Dean's wound, ready to start healing. "Now you might feel something hot. It'll feel like it's burning you but it's actually healing you so don't be scared and try not to panic" said The Doctor.

"What do you mean it'll burn? What are you putting on me- AH!" Dean screamed suddenly. It felt as if The Doctor had just dripped hot boiling oil on his wound.

"I told you not to panic, you're making this more difficult than it needs to be".

"What the devil are you putting on me!?!" Dean yelled. He looked down to his wound and slowly felt his fear returning to a state of panic as he did so. What Dean saw was The Doctor crying over his wound, letting the tears fall from his face and into the wound. Each tear made a sizzling noise as it made contact with the wound. Deans wound would steam with an odd white smoke as the tears made contact. The knife was no longer inside him and laid a few feet away from the two. Dean was too distracted by the burning sensation he felt to realize The Doctor had pulled the knife out. " W-What the bloody tartarus are you doing!?"

"Mending your wound" The Doctor said calmly.

"By weeping all over me!?!"

"Phoenix tears have magical healing properties Dean. My tears are healing you".

Indeed he was right. After he explained this Dean suddenly realized his wound had stopped hurting. It had actually started to feel very soothing. After a few seconds The Doctor stopped crying and smiled to Dean.

Dean rubbed his side, touching the soft, slightly sensitive, brand new layer of skin. "Y-You . . . You heal ponies? W-With your tears?"

The Doctor nodded.

"That . . . is incredibly disturbing. Do you cry on everypony who gets hurt?"

"Only if they want to continue living, yes".

"Well . . . Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful. But, I feel very uncomfortable now".

"Don't worry. You'll get used to the new layer of skin-".

"No, it's not that".

"Oh? What is it?"

"Well, it's just that . . . A hundred year old stallion just cried on me-"

"Hey! I'm ninety four!"

"Be as it may, it just feels weird".

"Just be glad I saved you" said The Doctor, extending a hoof to Dean. Dean took it and The Doctor helped Dean to his hoofs. "Now, enough chit chat. I do believe you and I have a runaway criminal to catch!".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Oswald hopped over a thick bush as he galloped full speed through the forest. He looked over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being followed. When he saw no pony fallowing him, he looked to his front and growled. 'The blasted, no good, interfering, elemental! How dare he come into my camp and ruin all of my plans!?! Four months of planning all gone to waste because of him and his companion! And what is an elemental even doing in Equestria!?! His kind doesn't belong here! He should be in Alburnia, protecting the planet's core, or keeping Equiis's temperature stable, or whatever the buck it is fire elementals do! Instead he's here! Meddling in things he shouldn't be involving himself into! I swear, when I get back to the guys in Dodge Junction I'm going to tell them all about these two! Then they'll be sorry! We'll spread the word and everypony will want to get their hoofs on that phoenix pony! The Doctor will rue the day he dared to mess with me!' Oswald internally bellowed.

He made a sharp turn left and continued galloping. "I'll make him pay! YOU HEAR THAT DOCTOR! I"LL MAKE YOU PAY!!!"

Suddenly, Oswald tripped. HIs momentum caused him to drag, roll, and tumble several feet before he stopped. Oswald, rubbing his head, ignored his ground burns as he got to his hoofs and looked to the thing that tripped him.

It was a small, thin snake like thing covered in yellow brown fur.

Oswald, having been dealing with animals for the past two months suddenly felt uneasy as he realized what the thing might be. "What the-" was all he could mutter.

Suddenly, a large manticore pounced from behind a large set of bushes. His tail (which Oswald had tripped over) swung feverishly behind him.

Oswald fell to his back and tried to crawl backwards away until he suddenly felt himself hit against a large object. He looked up and saw that the object was another manticore, growling angrily at him. Oswald jumped away from the manticore in fear and attempted to run away before he saw several more manticore approach him from the front. Oswald skidded for a moment and turned left. He ran for a few seconds before he stopped in a small clearing. More manticore were in front of him. He turned around and saw the previous manticore had already caught up to him. Oswald made a three sixty degree turn, desperately looking for an escape. The problem was, more and more animals were coming from the forest suddenly and entering the clearing. 

It wasn't just manticore either. There were tigers, bears, and diamond dogs. All of them with tags pierced into their ears.

Oswald had also taken notice of the large amount of birds that had suddenly appeared.

He looked about at the hundreds of animals, all surrounding him. Each and every single one looking to him, growling, snarling, and looking angry. Oswald knew exactly who these creatures were and why they have come for him. 

He had been trapped by the very creatures he had imprisoned and tried to execute. 

He was completely surrounded.

He stood up straight and composed himself as best as he could. "N-Now I know some of you may be a bit furious at me".

The growls and snarls grew more intense.

" . . . Okay, maybe all of you are a bit furious at me. However, I-I have a . . . proposition to make! If you let me leave unharmed I promise you I will go to the nearest city and tell everypony to leave the beast- er, creatures of this forest alone . . . f-forever!"

The growls and snarls continued.

"Y-You can take my word for it! H-Honest! I swear!" said Oswald, desperately as he placed one hoof over his heart and the other in the air as a form of oath.

"Oh I don't think any of them will be willing to listen to you after what you've done" said a voice from behind.

Oswald turned and glared, "Doctor!!!"

"Hello" said The Doctor as he and Dean appeared into the clearing.

"You, you haven't won, you hear me! You haven't! You can take me to prison but I promise you once I'm there I'll be sure to tell everypony about you and your companion! And once everypony knows about the "Phoenix Adventurer", they'll all come hunting you down! Do you have any idea how much a fire elemental is worth for a slave? You're a walking gold mine! Everypony will hunt you down from now on! You won't be able to so much as go to the toilet without somepony coming after your head! And as for your companion, he won't be worth much to the black mark. Heck, I'd say as soon as someone's captured you, they'll be sure to dispose of your little "companion" properly. With a nice, good ol, dismissal! You haven't won Doctor! You've lost!"

Dean glared angrily at Oswald as The Doctor took a step forward. "You know, you're not the only criminal I've encountered in my life. I've been chased by thousands of others. Some far worse than you. I have seen leaders of entire armies order for my execution. Entire nations have tried to kill me. The worst of the worst. You Oswald, you're a tiny fish in an ocean of filth. Surrounded by fish who are more bigger, yet just as dirty as you are. If not, dirtier. I can handle anything you threaten me with. And as for Dean, well, this was only a one time thing for him. It was actually an accident that he was even here to begin with. I don't expect him to come into any more trouble. But if trouble should find him, well, I'd expect he'd handle it just as brilliantly as he's done today".

"But Doctor, all I did was light some twigs on fire".

"And you did it brilliantly!" said The Doctor, happily smiling to Dean.

Dean returned the smile, just as happily.

The two returned their focus to Oswald as they heard him gag. "You two make me sick! How can you be so cheery at a time like this! Every criminal will want to kill you! Aren't you afraid!?"

"Not as afraid as the criminals will be once they actually find me" The Doctor replied.

Oswald stuttered for a moment then said, "I- I don't know what to think of you Doctor. Are you stupid? Or crazy enough to really believe you can fight against a country full of criminals?"

"Like I said, I've handled worse".

"And what about you and I Doctor? This dispute you and I have had?"

"Its finished" The Doctor said, calmly.

"Oh is it?"

"If you value your life, yes".

Oswald chuckled, "oh I can assure you that this dispute is far from over! They can't keep me in prison forever! And once I've figured a way out you can bet your flank that the first thing I do is find you! And end you! You'll see Doctor! This will never end until you're dead!"

"Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see how the future turns out, won't we? Until then, I do believe you have some unhappy animals to deal with".

Oswald turned to the animals. Having nearly forgotten them, he gasped as he looked into each of their growling faces.

"You're not leaving me with them? Are you Doctor?"

"Well why shouldn't I? You've given them quite a lot of pent up steam that I think they have the right to blow off".

"But they'll kill me!".

"Not my problem". The Doctor faced the animals and shouted, "have at it!"

Oswald screamed as every animal pounced at him at once.

Meanwhile, The Doctor quickly tapped and pulled aside a nearby diamond dog. He whispered to him, "make sure he doesn't die, okay? You can take your anger out on him but I need him sent to prison. Can you do that for me?" 

"Don't worry, I make sure animals not kill him" the diamond dog replied.

"Thanks, oh, and one more thing. Tweet, tweet" The Doctor Whistled.

A large yellow and black billed hummingbird flew to the Doctor and tweeted happily. The Doctor smiled to the bird as he reached into his vest pocket and extracted a rolled up scroll and a string. He tied the scroll to the bird's torso. "Here, take this to the closest guard station you can find. There's one five miles north west from this forest, you can't miss it".

The hummingbird saluted before zooming off into the distance.

"That letter has orders to send guards into this forest to pick up the gang, still unconscious back at the campsite. I was wondering if you and a few animals wouldn't mind watching over them for a bit until the guards arrive. In case any of them wake up, we wouldn't want them escaping".

"We will do as you ask Doctor" said the diamond dog.

"Alright, well we best be off. Thank you for your help".

"No Doctor, thank you for your help! We diamond dogs shall never forget your kindness". the diamond dog said, extending a paw.

The Doctor smiled as he shook paw and hoof with the dog. 

As the Doctor was about to turn away, a manticore had separated himself from the group beating Oswald and approached The Doctor. The Doctor recognized him immediately. "Hey there big guy!" he said, rushing over and petting the manticore beneath the chin. "Do you feel better now that that bad stallions been stopped?"

The manticore purred sweetly in response.

"LIsten, now that you are all free it's time for you all to go home. To where you belong. However, after all you've been through, most of you might have a hard time getting there. They're going to need a leader. Can I trust you big fella? To lead these animals back to where they belong?"

The manticore nodded.

The Doctor smiled and gave the manticore one last hug. "I know I can count on you big guy! Good luck and stay safe, alright?"

The manticore gave The Doctor a small lick to the cheek before returning to the other animals (still beating up Oswald).

The Doctor adjusted his fedora and turned to Dean. "Let's head back to the camp. Before we leave I need to find something".

"What is it?" 

"You'll see, follow me" said The Doctor as he darted into the forest with Dean close behind him.
> The Mystery Stallion: Part Three (S1C1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the campsite.

The Doctor and Dean were searching through Oswald's tent.

The tent was the largest in the camp. Big enough for a king sized bed on the front side, a large wooden chest against the right side, a counter full of coffee supplies and other various trinkets on the left side, and a wooden table in the center. There was a map of the forest taped against the wall with big red circles marked on it indicating the areas that the gang had been in. 

The Doctor was rummaging through the chest as he turned to Dean. "Ah ha! found it!" said The Doctor as he extracted a red ribbon tied, rolled up scroll from the chest.

"What is it Doctor. 

"Oswald mentioned about some pony sending him a letter with his mission information written on it. He said that no pony in Equestria could forge the signature burned onto it".

"Well, who's the signature from? Who gave them this mission".

"Let's find out" said The Doctor as he ripped the ribbon. He unrolled the scroll and read its contents. His eyes grew wide as he did so. "That . . . that's impossible!"

"What impossible? Who's it from?"

The Doctor didn't say anything for a moment. He stared at the scroll then looked to Dean with a face of concern. The Doctor appeared lost in thought for a moment before suddenly rolling the scroll quickly and shoving it into his pocket. "Whelp! That was obviously a waste of time!"

"W-Wait, what!?!"

"It was a waste of time looking for the letter".

"B-But I thought it had a signature that-".

"There is no signature! Oswald lied! He just received a random letter from a stranger and took the mission without thinking".

"Wait, hold on. Oswald just accepted a random mission from no pony!?! Why would he do that!?!"

"Because this stranger is rich".

"How do you know that?"

"Because the letter came with a bribe" said The Doctor, pointing to the chest.

Dean looked inside and gasped. The contents of the chest was filled with books, parchment, ink cups and feathers, and a very large pile of gold.

"Somepony gave Oswald money before hoof to convince him to take the mission in the first hoof. I doubt this stranger would have been willing to pay him again once the mission was finished" said The Doctor.

"Thats a lot of bits" said Dean, staring in awe at the gold.

"Indeed".

"D-Do you know who could have given Oswald this mission?"

"No, but I'll keep my investigation going. Until then, help me with this chest" said The Doctor, closing the lid.

"Huh? We're taking the money?"

"Yes but don't get your hopes up, it's not for us".

"Oh, who's it for?"

"Just help me with the chest, I'll explained once we get him".

"Him?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh, him" Dean said sadly as he looked down at Peter's lifeless body.

The Doctor and Dean were outside, standing near Peter's body. The rest of the gang were a few yards away from them. By now the animals had returned from the clearing in the forest and were watching over the gang, waiting for the guards to arrive. The animals had added a very bruised, bloody, and painful looking Oswald to the group of unconscious gang member. Who of which have not awoken yet. Oswald was still alive, barely.

"D-Do you think you can use your tears and heal him Doctor?" Dean asked.

The Doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Peter was shot twice. The first penetrated his shoulder, a wound I could have easily healed. His second, however, hit his heart. That kind of damage is called a "fatal wound". Meaning that he has taken a hit so damaging, not even magic could heal him. If he was in a hospital with doctors and nurses and extensive medical care he could have perhaps had a chance of survival. However, in a forest with no medical care whatsoever, I'm afraid neither unicorn magic nor phoenix magic could heal him. Without medicine or science, magic is very limited. I'm sorry Dean, I'm so sorry".

"Don't be . . . it wasn't your fault . . . but . . . he was so young" said Dean, staring into the poor colts lifeless eyes.

The Doctor and Dean looked over the body for a few moments before The Doctor said, "alright, help me lift him up. Put him on the chest so we can take him and the gold".

"But what are we going to do with him? You haven't said what you were doing yet".

"First we're taking him back to his family".

"And then?"

" . . . And then, I'm going to fulfill my Pinkie Promise".  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~15 Hours Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dean thought he was never going to leave that forest. He had been trapped in there trying to find his way to Dodge Junction for days. And thanks to the Doctor it had only taken hours! This made Dean feel very inexperienced. 

They had walked a few miles until they reached the cafe that The Doctor had told Dean about. The Doctor asked the manager, a large build grayish brown earth pony with short well kept brown hair and a russian accent, if he could keep Peter's body safe and the manager agreed. He wrapped Peter in cloth and stored his body in the ice room to prevent his body from decomposing. The manager had also invited The Doctor and Dean to stay the night, especially after hearing everything they had gone through.

After a nights rest, the Doctor and Dean had awoken early at the crack of dawn. They retrieved Peter's body and The Doctor tried to pay the manager for his hospitality, which he had refused, saying that it was on the house. The Doctor thanked the manager and the two tried to leave. Before they could, however, the manager was kind enough to offer the two a ride in his carriage.

"You still have your blue box in my storage closet Doctor. I wouldn't want you to have to walk all the way to the colt's home and back so you can retrieve it" said the Manager.

"What blue box?" asked Dean.

"Oh right, you've got a point there. Very well, I accept your offer. Thank you very much Sticky Bun". said The Doctor to the manager.

"Think nothing of it friend! You have done more for this community as it is! Somepony has to repay you!" said Sticky Bun.

"Oh I don't ask for thanks".

"Well you should! You could get payed big money for the things you do!"

"You know I don't like being payed to help others, it just wouldn't feel like the right thing to do".

"You're too kind Doctor! How do you expect to make a living if you keep doing things for free?"

"Oh don't worry about me, I have plenty of money as it is".

"Well, alright. But don't forget to at least ask for a thank you every now and again, huh!? Let those ponies know that real heroes still exist!"

"I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, shouldn't we be off?"

"Yes of course! Meet me out front! I'll go and get my carriage!" said Sticky as he left the two and headed for the back door.

"Doctor, why are you keeping a blue box in his closet?" asked Dean.

"Oh it's my . . . you know what, I'll tell you later. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise" said The Doctor, smiling gleefully as he exited the front door of the cafe.

"Wait, what surprise". said Dean.

The Doctor didn't hear him as he was already outside.

"Doctor! What surprise!" Dean shouted, gaining no response. " . . . Should I be scared?" Dean asked himself as he followed The Doctor outside.

A few moments later, Sticky Bun, having attached the harness to his torso, pulled the carriage around the building to the two. It was a standard wooden carriage with a back flip gate. The carriage was large enough to carry up to six ponies max. It had plenty of room for The Doctor, Dean, Peter, and the chest.

"Hop on in!" Sticky shouted, energetically.

The Doctor and Dean obeyed and hopped into the back of the carriage. With a little effort and teamwork, The Doctor and Dean managed to lift Peter and the chest onto the carriage. Once everypony was on, The Doctor flipped the gate up, locked it, and said to Sticky, "ready when you are".

"Alright! Then let's be off!" Sticky shouted as he forcefully pulled the carriage with all his might. His enormous strength pulled the carriage with ease. The Doctor was unfazed by the sudden jerk of the carriage as they sped off. Dean on the other hoof fell to his back and needed The Doctor to help him to his seat.

The three ponies sped off along the bumpy dirt road, heading to their destination.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"Sticky Bun, stop the carriage!" The Doctor shouted.

Sticky Bun placed his hoofs firmly against the ground, causing the carriage and himself to drag along the dirt road for a few moments before coming to a shaky stop. 

Dean not having been prepared fell again. The Doctor lifted Dean to his hoof as he looked to a small house in the distance.

The trip had only taken an hour, by now the sun had fully risen. 

They were in the plains, surrounding the dirt road was miles of large, dry, yellow grass. Thirty yards from the road in the middle of the grass was a small gray and black house. The windows were all cracked and had holes. The wooden roof looked molded and had wooden boards covering holes. Paint was flaking off and the wooden door itself looked bent with water erosion, leaving open cracks in the doorway.

"Is that the place?" asked Dean.

The Doctor nodded, "that's Peter's home".

There was an awkward silence before The Doctor said, "why don't you two stay here, I'll go break the bad news".

"R-Right, y-you do that" said Dean, looking down to Peter's wrapped body with a face of sorrow.

"Yes, you do that Doctor, I'm not good with bad news anyhow. It be better if you spoke to the family. Dean and I will wait here for you when you are finished" said Sticky Bun.

The Doctor nodded and (with Dean's help) lifted the chest and Peter to the ground. The Doctor then pushed the chest with Peter's body on top over to the house.

From this distance, Dean saw The Doctor leave the chest a few feet from the door. He walked up to the door and knocked three times. There was a small wait before a pink mare with long, dirty, blue hair answered the door. Dean couldn't hear their conversation from this distance. He saw The Doctor remove his fedora and place it to his chest as he spoke to the mare. A few moments later, the mare's eyes teared up and she said something to The Doctor. The Doctor then pointed to the wrapped body on top of the chest. The mare rushed to the chest and practically ripped the cloth off of the colt's head. Upon seeing his face, the mare shouted in agony as she wept over her son's body.

Even from this distance, Dean and Sticky heard the mare's screams and cries.

The Doctor walked up to the mare and placed a hoof to her back, trying to comfort her. He said something to the mare that caused the mare to suddenly hold The Doctor tightly and cry into his shoulder. 

It was at this moment that three little fillies appeared in the doorway. One was a pink earth pony with blue hair who looked nearly identical to Peter except her hair was a slightly brighter shade than his. She was the oldest, who looked like a young teen. In her forehoof she carried their youngest sister. A small blue unicorn with pink hair who looked around four years old. Beside the two was the middle child. Unlike the rest of the family, who were all colored blue and pink, this one was a red pegasus with a flashy blue and black mane. She looked to be somewhere between eight and ten.

The oldest child said something to the mother and the mother said something to the children and motioned for them to return inside. The children obeyed and closed the door as they returned. However, Dean saw that the three children immediately went to the front window to watch The Doctor and their mother, curious as to what was happening. 

The Doctor spoke to the mother for a few more seconds, then allowed the mother to weep into his shoulder for several minutes. Once the mother had composed herself as much as she could, she said something to The Doctor, hugged him, and left to the door. Before the mother went inside, she turned to face Dean and Sticky and waved to them.

Dean gave a weak wave as he watched the mother turn from them and proceed inside.

The Doctor then left the chest and Peter in front of the door and returned to the carriage.

"So, how'd it go?" asked Sticky.

"How do you think? The mother lost a son and those three little fillies lost a brother. Not even the money we gave them could fix the void that's in their hearts now" The Doctor replied with a sorrowful tone.

"What about the father? I don't think Peter mentioned him and I didn't see him talk to you. Where is he?"

The Doctor didn't answer. He lifted himself into the carriage and lifted the gate close. After locking it, he gave Sticky a wave, telling him it was time to go.

Seeing The Doctor's wave, Sticky turned the carriage around and darted forward, pulling them towards the direction of the cafe.

"D-Doctor, w-where was the father?" asked Dean.

There was a moment of silence before The Doctor sighed. "Apparently the father is no longer there. He . . . he passed away, three years ago".

Dean stared in shock as he heard this. He couldn't even come close to imagining what state that family was in. First they lost a father, now they've lost a son and brother. It scared Dean just thinking about it.

The Doctor continued, "Penelope, the mother, told me about her husband. He was sick with a bad fever and they didn't have the funds to get him medical help. It was at this point that Peter tried to get the money himself to help his father. Peter took on several small time jobs, earning minimum wage to pay for their father's medical bill. But no matter how many jobs the poor colt took, it just wasn't enough. Even after he had earned enough for his father to see a doctor his father's condition worsened. He grew more and more ill until . . . he just couldn't take it anymore".

There was a brief silence before the Doctor continued. "But no matter how bad things got, Peter never gave up. Once their father was gone Peter took his place, taking care of his sisters and earning money for his family. But eventually Peter wanted to do something bigger for his family. He wanted to get his family out of poverty for good. So he left, telling his mother about some big "job" opportunity that he had to take and left for several months. Putting two and two together, I'd say this is around the time Peter left to join Oswald's gang and capture those animals. He was going to use the money from this mission to help his family. And in the end, he succeeded".

Dean looked to The Doctor, astonished. "What do you mean he "succeeded"? He's bloody dead! What kind of a success is that!?"

"Not every success is a complete win, Dean. Some ponies lose more so that they can win. Do you remember what I said earlier to Oswald, about what a hero is?"

Dean nodded, "You said a hero is the one who does an extraordinary act of courage which will or may result in the conscious sacrifice of himself to-" 

"Protect the good of others. Yes, Peter lost his life. But he died fighting for a noble cause. He entered into that gang so that he could help his family. And although he didn't receive money for the mission, he was still lucky enough to meet us. For thanks to him, he helped us free the animals, he helped us break Oswald's machine, and for that, he is the reason that you and I were even able to defeat Oswald's gang and take that money to his family in the first place! So in a way, Peter's mission was a success. With that money Peter's family can afford a real house now! His sisters can have proper schooling and health care. And they'll be well fed and nurtured, all thanks to Peter. Peter succeeded, he saved his family. And for that, he, in his own way, is a hero! And it may not mean much now, but for Peter, I was at least able to fulfill my Pinkie Promise to him".

"Your promise?" Dean asked.

The Doctor nodded, "I promised to help his family and to tell them that Peter was hero, and that's exactly what I did. I brought his family the gold and told his mother that Peter's "job opportunity" wasn't a hired stallion for a gang. Instead, I told Penelope that Peter tried to become a bounty hunter and find the stallions who were stealing the birds and use their bounty to help fund his family. Peter had crossed paths with us and we decided to help him on his quest to bring these criminals to justice. I told his mother that Peter died fighting against these criminals and that without him, those animals would have never been saved. So in the end, Peter is a true hero. Both to the eyes of his family and to himself".

Dean let these words sink in for a moment before he asked, "but, isn't it rotten how Peter tried doing something good by doing something bad? Doesn't that make him a bad pony?"

"Not necessarily, It mostly depends on his point of view, not ours. Others may see him as a criminal, and he may even feel like one. But deep down, he was doing the right thing. It may sound complicated, but when you think about it, Peter did the wrong thing to do the right thing. He may have never done the right thing, and that's not wrong. What mattered most, is that he truly believed that he could do the right thing". The Doctor concluded.

Dean thought about this for a moment and smiled. He felt a tear form in his eye as he thought, ' . . . ponies who care, huh? . . . Oswald was wrong, heroes do exist. I had the privilege of meeting one, and his name is Peter'.

Dean looked up and saw The Doctor smiling to him. Dean blushed as he realized he accidently muttered Peter's name. He wiped his eye and his blush slowly went away as he smiled back.

A few moments of silence passed before something came across Dean's mind. "Hey Doctor, when you and I first met you didn't want to tell me your name because you didn't want to form a bond with me. Yet you told your name to Oswald when he asked for it, how come?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Dean, I didn't offend you did I?"

"A smig perhaps".

"My apologies. You see, if you remember the exact words I said, it's that words are powerful! They don't just form bonds with ponies, they do so much more than that! Take my name for example, The Doctor. My name helps other ponies gain more of a trust with me, because ask yourself, wouldn't you trust a doctor? If you're in a dangerous situation and someone comes along and claims to be a doctor, wouldn't you feel at least a little bit at ease? Everypony trusts a doctor. Except! If you're playing for the other team. If you're the one in danger than of course you'll trust a stranger claiming to be a doctor. However, if you're the one who's causing the danger, then it creates a complicated combinations of different feelings and perspectives. Take Oswald for example, he was the bad guy in this adventure of ours. He asked for my name and all he received is "The Doctor". Now, if you were the bad guy, what would you be thinking?"

"I would think that you made that up. There's no way your name is just "The Doctor".

"And That is exactly what he was thinking! I can't say exactly what was going on in his head, but he was most likely pondering on who I was. Thinking things along the lines of "is The Doctor his real name? Why is a doctor even here? Is he even a doctor? What is his purpose? Is it a spy name? Is he working for someone? What's his real name? And of course, Doctor Who? You see Dean, these are the kind of thoughts that go through the bad guy's head! Someone needing help usually never bothers thinking this way because their desperate. They don't care who I am or why my names "The Doctor", they're just glad someone's there to keep them alive! Bad guys on the other hoof, depending on who they are, can become scared, confused, worried, and those who have heard of me before become down right terrified! And this is all just from hearing my name! That's what I was trying to do Dean. All it takes is for me to tell my enemies my name and I already come closer to getting inside their heads!"

"But that doesn't make sense! How do you even get "a name" to become so powerful?" asked Dean.

"That, I can't say. There are many ways to make your name powerful. Some names are known for their heroic actions. Some actions make names feared. Some become taboo because of the atrocities they commit, and other are glorified just for who they are, whether it be their social status, ranking, or what other reason there might be".

"That sounds complicated".

"It is complicated. But once you get the hang of it, it actually starts to make sense. Here, I'll give you an example. Do you know of any names that are glorified?"

"Um . . . not at the top of my head-".

"Oh come on this one's easy! Everypony knows who she and her sister are!"

"Sister? Oh, oh! I know! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!"

"Brilliant! Exactly! Those are two very powerful names! Glorified throughout Equestria for their duties as princesses and for being the only two alicorns in this country! And that's just one example of powerful names. There are so many others! But! If you're experienced, have the right know how, and always stay on the right track, then you can use your own name as a weapon. And with just your words, you can win!" 

Dean gaped at The Doctor for a moment  before saying, "that's awfully complicated for just a name don't you think?"

"Some of the smallest things are the most complicated" The Doctor replied.

Dean thought about this for a moment then said, "so, as for creating bonds?"

"Ah, well. I didn't want you to know my name in fear of us becoming too attached, but I now see that that's exactly what happen. I mean you can't go through everything we went through with a pony and not form some sort of bond with them. Honestly, I wanted you to leave when I saved you from that manticore".

"What, why?"

"I just wasn't in the mood for mingling. I was in a bad mood you see. Before coming into that forest I . . . stopped by the resting place of my old friends. Great ponies who I had traveled with in my younger years. After losing my friends I wasn't really in the mood for making more. So when I met you I was actually hoping you would just leave, I just didn't want to form another friendship with anyone anymore".

"Oh . . . that makes sense . . . must have gotten lonely though, w-without them, I mean".

" . . . . Ya . . . it sure did".

" . . . Do you . . . still want me to leave?"

The Doctor looked to Dean and sighed. "You're a good colt, looking back I'm actually glad you didn't leave. I've enjoyed our time spent together".

Dean smiled at this and asked, "so, are we friends?"

The Doctor looked to Dean for a moment then said, "sure, friends".

The two smiled as they fell into an awkward silence. Several minutes passed before Dean asked, "If you don't mind me asking, these friends of yours, how did they . . . you know".

"Old age. I was just a colt when I first joined them. They were a lot older then me so it makes sense for them to pass on before I did. And even if we were the same age, I doubt that would have made a difference. They would have been gone first anyway".

"What do you mean by that?" asked Dean.

" . . . Dodge Junction, once we get there. I want you to introduce me to your family so that you can tell them about the adventure we went on. If you're still curious by then I'll answer any more questions you have. For now, I think I'd rather this trip be quiet. If you don't mind?"

"Uh, ya! Sure thing" said Dean.

The rest of their trip was silent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A toast! To Peter!" Sticky shouted, holding a glass of vodka into the air.

The three had returned to the cafe and had sat at one of the cafe tables for a while, talking about various things and having conversations about random topics. Half an hour later, Sticky took out a bottle of vodka and offered the two drinks. The Doctor was about to question Sticky, seeing as it was a bit early to be drinking. However, recent events made The Doctor feel he could use a drink. He agreed, asking if Sticky had rum instead (he preferred it over vodka), and Dean (who was underage) asked for a soft drink instead. The three made toasts, cracked jokes, talked, and laughed amongst each other for a solid hour and a half before Sticky stood up and offered one final toast. A toast to Peter.

"A brave colt, wonderful pony, and a heroic son and brother!" said The Doctor, lifting his glass of rum into the air.

"Hear, hear!" said Dean, lifting his glass of sarsaparilla.

The three drank their drinks and set the glasses onto the table.

Sticky collected the drinks and said, "welp, best not keep the cafe closed any longer. Today's been hard but I still need to run my business afterall!" 

"You just drank an entire bottle of alcohol, are you sure you can still work?" asked Dean.

Sticky bellowed a loud laugh, "please! That was merely the weak stuff! I can take several bottles of it! My more stronger bottles are in the back! It would be rather stupid of me to drink those when I still have to open shop! You can't have a drunk manager managing the place, can you?"

Dean chuckled, "no, I guess not".

"And don't you two need to be going somewhere?" asked Sticky.

"Oh gosh, you're right! This adventure has been quite a rush, but I do believe it's time to take you home Dean" said The Doctor.

"Okay" said Dean, standing from his seat. He turned to Sticky and extended a hoof. "Thank you for your hospitality Mr. Bun".

Sticky took Dean's hoof and shook it so vigorously, Dean's entire body shook up and down. "Don't mention it! A friend of The Doctor's is a friend of mine! You take care of yourself, you hear?"

"Y-Yes s-sir!" Dean stuttered as Sticky released his hoof, his body still vibrating for a few seconds. When he regained control of his body, Dean gave Sticky one final smile before turning to the door.

"Dean, where are you going?" asked The Doctor.

Dean turned back to The Doctor and saw him standing near the back of the cafe, next to the storage closet door. "Aren't we leaving?" Dean asked.

"Yes, but the way out is this way" said The Doctor, pointing to the closet.

Dean looked to The Doctor, confused. "Inside the closet?"

"Well if you want to walk all the way back to Dodge Junction then no, the way out is through the front door. But, if you want to go home today, in five minutes, then the way out is this way". said The Doctor.

" . . . Okay, you're not making sense".

The Doctor smiled, "follow me, and you'll see what I mean". He turned and entered into the storage closet.

Dean looked to Sticky, his facial expression asking Sticky for an answer.

Sticky merely shrugged, "just follow him. He's odd, but he seems to know what he's doing".

"A-Alright", Dean stuttered as he walked to the closet, slowly.

"Goodbye Dean, I hope we can see each other again soon!" said Sticky.

"Yeah, you too Mr. Bun. Goodbye" Dean replied. 'We'll be seeing each other again in a minute when I walk into this closet, find nothing, and have to leave out the front' Dean thought. He opened the closet door, noticing an eerie white light as he did so. He entered slowly, expecting The Doctor to stand there, smiling, telling him that this was some sort of joke. Instead, Dean found something he was not expecting at all.

It was a large blue wooden box. It had a door with a pull handle and above it was a sign with four words. Two was in a bigger font saying: "Guard Box". The smaller font said: "Public Call". The box had two square shaped windows on each side of the box. On the top sat a large white lantern looking light, giving off the eerie white glow.

Dean slowly inched his way to the box. He knocked at the door and said, "Doctor? Are you in this box?"

"As a matter of fact I am! Won't you come in?" The Doctor shouted.

Odd, The Doctor sounded far, and his voice echoed as if he was in a large empty room. Curious, intrigued, and confused, Dean slowly opened the door and felt his jaw drop.

Inside the small box was a large, circular, pearly white room that was at least twenty feet long and twenty feet wide to Dean. The room was practically empty except for a coat racket that was next to the door and a large hexagon shaped table in the center of the room. The table had all sorts of buttons, knobs, switches, and on one side, a small black box that gave off Dean's reflection. The center of the table had what appeared to be a glass cylinder with odd looking black and white squares inside. The walls had large glowing circles as a design and on the far end of the room was another door.

The Doctor was next to the hexagonal table, grinning at Dean. "So, what do you think?"

If there was a word to describe what Dean thought, Dean certainly hasn't learned it yet. He silently gaped at the interior of the box, trying and failing to speak. Unable to control his curiosity, Dean left the box, returning to the closet. He looked around the box, feeling around the sides. He checked the back and even pushed the box, seeing if this was some sort of spell. When the box shook as he pushed it, he confirmed that the box was indeed not connected to the building. Dean returned inside the box, looking to The Doctor in shock.

"Magic!" Dean suddenly blurted out.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Magic! This has to be some sort of magic! It's just not possible! Its! . . . Its!".

The Doctor's grin grew wider, "what is it Dean?"

Dean looked around the room again as he said, "it's bigger on the inside".

The Doctor sighed in happiness, "love it when they say that". He pressed a button and the door closed automatically behind Dean, startling him.

Dean backed away from the door and came close to The Doctor. "Is this magic? Like, some sort of illusion magic? Or is this dimensional magic?"

"No it's not illusion or dimensional magic" said The Doctor.

"Oh, well I just thought that . . . guess it makes sense. Illusion magic is only temporary unless a unicorn gives off a constant feed. And dimensional magic is excruciatingly advance! Only elder unicorn masters could come close to doing it successfully!"  

"You seem to know a lot about magic for an earth pony".

"Astronomy may be my primary subject of study. But I like to be well educated in various subjects. Magic or non-magic. Well, what kind of magic is this Doctor?"

The Doctor laughed, "Magic? You think this machine uses magic?"

"Well how else is it bigger on the inside?" asked Dean.

The Doctor pressed a few buttons, then switched to a different side of the table and flipped a switch. "What if I told you Dean, that his machine is entirely "science based".

Dean's jaw dropped again. "You're joking".

The Doctor smiled, "I'm not".

"But . . . That's not . . . this has to be magic! There's no way this "box" is science based!"

"Most ponies don't know this Dean. But the phoenix ponies are actually quite an advance race. Most ponies, or any species in that fact, try to create all of their inventions around "magic". Magic fireplaces, magic vacuums, magic this, magic that! But the phoenix ponies wanted to go a different route! They took the concepts of magic and replicated it to create completely, scientific based inventions! Take this box for example, it's actually what I use to travel around the world, like a form of transportation".

Dean chuckled and said sarcastically, "really? This box is your transportation? What else does it do? Travel through time?"

The Doctor laughed, "oh I wish! Imagine the kind of adventures I would go on if it could! Actually, this "box" is called a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. It stands for "Multipurpose, Expeditious, Inner, Dimensional, Phoenix, Home, And, Transporter!" Its basically exactly as the name says! It's a transporter and it doubles as a home, seeing as the inside is big enough to be use as one".

"Do all phoenix ponies have one of these?" asked Dean.

"No, only certain kinds. You see, phoenix ponies aren't supposed to leave Alburnia. But when they do, no matter what the reason for their departure may be, they take one of these for their trip to where their going and back. Its the worlds fastest ways of transportation!"

"What about the other elementals? Are they as advanced as your species?" as Dean.

"Well, the Frostealius, or water elementals, have tried to increase the current level of their own technology, especially after seeing how advance we were. The other two elementals on the other hoof, don't really care about that sort of thing. Breezies and Golems prefer to be more "traditional" with their cultures. Concentrate more on their environment then their technology. But this doesn't mean that their stupid or inferior to us, they just don't like change. And beside, breezies have very important jobs as air elementals, keeping the planets wind blowing. And as for golems, well . . . they just don't like change".

"Wow, I never knew that about the elementals. You have to teach me more about your species and the other elementals! And how come your species never leaves your country? And how come you're the only one to leave?"

"Perhaps later, for now lets just get you home" said the Doctor as he switched a few switches.

"But Doctor. What makes you different from the other phoenix ponies? I mean, fire elementals work with the other elementals to control the planet's temperature according to the position of the sun and moon that the princesses control. And fire elementals also control and protect the planet's core with their phoenix magic. So what makes you different from them Doctor? How come you aren't at your country doing those kinds of things?"

" . . . What makes me different is that I left Alburnia".

"But how come you left Alburnia if phoenix ponies aren't supposed to?" asked Dean.

The Doctor sighed, "Oh, it's a stupid reason honestly. I was just bored. I didn't want to be a common phoenix pony doing common phoenix pony jobs. I wanted more in life so I left".

"Wait, you left just because you were bored?"

"Were you expecting a more "grand" reason for me leaving?"

"Honestly, yes".

The Doctor chuckled, "sorry to disappoint, but that's the only reason I left. Alright, no more questions. Next stop, Dodge Junction!" The Doctor pressed a few buttons and flipped a switched. As he did, the glass cylinder rose up and down, and the machine began to make a metallic, groaning type noise. The Doctor rushed to the other side of the table and pulled a lever, then switched to another side to press more buttons. 

Suddenly, Dean saw large green words appear on the black box. The words said: Destination: Dodge Junction, South Eastern Equestria. Approximate travel time, five minutes.

The Doctor looked to the box, "the screen says five minutes? Odd, my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T used to be faster. I'll have to look into that. Anyway, just sit tight, we'll be there shortly".

Dean sat on his rear and stared in awe at the machine, curious as to what each and every button, knob, and switched did to activate the strange machine. He pondered as to why The Doctor had pressed those exact buttons and flipped those exact switches to move the machine. And how pressing those exact buttons and flipping those exact switches would somehow take him to Dodge Junction. 

WHINE! WHINE! WHINE!

'And why was the machine making that noise?' thought Dean. So many thoughts, so many questions. Yet for some reason, one particular question came to mind. "Hey Doctor, can I ask you just one more question?"

"What is it?" asked The Doctor.

"It doesn't have to do with your species or the machine or anything like that. I was curious about something you said yesterday?"

"I said a lot of things yesterday, you'll have to be more specific".

"Its about the Pinkie Promise".

"Oh, that, what about it".

"Well you didn't really make any sense when you explained to Peter and I about it. You said that somepony made it up. If you don't mind me asking, who is this pony?"

The Doctor smiled as he looked to the screen on the table."You wouldn't believe me if I told you".

"Oh I think I'll believe anything at this point. Tell me, who is this pony?"

The Doctor looked to the ground, his smile widened. "Let's just say, a mare who's going to make a lot of ponies smile someday".

Dean looked confused for a moment, then shrugged. 'Guess I won't be getting a straight answer. Oh well, its not really my business anyway. Whoever this pony is, she must mean a lot to The Doctor. I wonder if she's important?'

Meanwhile, The Doctor checked the screen again before walking to the opposite side of the table. He sat on his rear and placed his hoofs into his pockets. As he did so, he felt a large, rolled up scroll within. Dean didn't notice as The Doctor's face hardened as he thought, 'names indeed are powerful Dean. You may not fully understand, but I'm sure, in due time, you will. Just a bit of growing up, that's what you need. As for this name, the name burned onto this scroll. Her name . . . quite a powerful one . . . Perhaps it's a fraud but, as Oswald said, no pony could forge this signature. No pony . . . . best keep this a secret from Dean. Wouldn't want him getting involved in things he doesn't need to be a part of. Just take him home, that's top priority right now. Then, after Dean's safely home, I deal with 'her royal majesty'.

Dean was lost in his thoughts for the rest of the trip. Silently thinking, occasionally observing the hexagonal table, and listening to the odd metallic noises the machine would occasionally make.

WHOOZ! VIRRR! WHOOZ!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cries of a mare echoed loudly among the dark, damp dungeon walls as she was beaten by a stallion. A small, well toned, light yellow earth pony. He had thinning brown hair and piercing red eyes. He wore a large brown stetson and brown vest. He had a desert cactus and a tumbleweed for a cutie mark.

The prisoners, having nothing else worth doing listened in fear inside their cells. Some prisoners flinched at every shout of pain, others hardly moved. One in particular was too concussed from his beating to pay much attention to the cries of the mare.

The stallion gave the mare one final blow to the head before pushing her to the ground.  "So, you ready to give up yer land now?" the stallion spoke in a western accent.

The mare spat a bloody loogy at the stallion in response.

The stallion growled and bucked her in the rib cage. "Guess that be a no!" He walked towards the gate of the mare's cell and sighed, "you are a stubborn mare, you know that?"

The mare, who had taken her fifth beating this week, still mustered the strength to shout (also in a western accent), "Go to tartarus!"

The stallion opened to gate, exited her cell, closed and locked the gate, then looked to her, frowning. "I have given you several chances Mrs. Do. I've tried be'in nice but ah can't keep this up anymore. You're go'in to give us yer farm-"

"Over my cold dead body! We've had that farm for three generations now! And I ain't gonna give it away to some no good, traitor'in, piece of bull manure!"

The stallion grinned, "I thought you'd say that. So I sent my colts out to go an grab you some "persuasion".

"What the hay is that supposed to mean?"

The stallions grin grew wider, "you know, you've been in here fer so long you might ah not heard the news. But some big "chaos spirit" came and took over Mane City. And since a little birdy told me that yer son just so happen to go to school there, I figured that since his school is gone now he'll have to leave and come on home. And I thought "the colts been through quite a lot. Wouldn't it be nice if I had my colts go out there and give him a nice "welcome" once he made it back-".

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MA SON!!!" Mrs. Do screamed, coughing up spittles of blood.

The stallion chuckled. "I'd best be off now, wouldn't want to keep him waitin. Now what was his name again? Dean? Dean Do I think? Ya, I think that's right, I'll have to remember that when I "welcome" him". The stallion burst into a sinister laugh as he walked away from the mares cell and headed for the dungeon exit.

"You won't lay a single hoof on ma son! You hear! Ah bet he ain't even comin back to Dodge Junction! He's probably a thousand miles away from here as we speak!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meanwhile, a quarter of a mile outside of Dodge Junction~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A blue box appeared out of nowhere next to the "Welcome to Dodge Junction sign", making a metallic groaning sound as it did so. 

A few moments later the door opened with a squeak and out came The Doctor and Dean.

"Here we are, Dodge Junction!" said The Doctor.

"Wow" Dean said in awe as he looked to his beloved home town.

It was a western style town, all designed with the classical wooden structures one would see if they were in the wild west. All the roads were dirt and cacti surrounded the town. Dean could see the town hall at the end of the town if he squinted.

"I can't believe it, I'm actually home!" exclaimed Dean. 

"I told you, five minutes was all it took. Would have been sooner though, I really need to look into that. Might be something wrong with the data transference of the console via the-"

Dean wasn't listening, he was too focused on the town ahead of him. He felt excited to see the townsfolk again.

'Wait until Mother and Father hear the story I have for them' thought Dean, as he started walking towards the town.

"- And if that's the case, then a simple cross link of the binary- oi! Where are you going! Don't leave without me!" The Doctor shouted, catching up to Dean.

Together, the two walked on and entered into Dodge Junction.
> Corruption in Dodge Junction: Part One (S1C2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The hot summer sun shone bright upon the town of Dodge Junction. Visual heat waves hovered upon the scorching desert sand. The desert creatures all hid beneath shades of cacti or borrowed themselves beneath the ground. All of them, unseen within miles of the town. Yet even if one happens to be trekking out of shade into the heat, the critter wouldn't have been seen by a single soul.

A single tumbleweed rolled through the silent, empty streets of Dodge Junction. Only the sounds of a few vultures, eating a desert mouse next to a barrel in an alley could be heard.

Fading hoofsteps through the streets was the only evidence that civilization did exist here at one point. However, the blowing wind, though not as strong as it had previously been minutes before, erased the marks slowly. Covering the marks with additional sand or disfiguring the shapes with erosion. 

Dodge Junction seemed devoid of any life.

Except for the two ponies entering at the town's front.

One was a gray earth pony with well kept black hair. He had violet eyes and a shooting star for a cutie mark. He carried saddle bags filled with supplies upon his back.

Beside him was a well dressed elderly pegasus. He wore a black vest with a pocket watch chain hanging out the pocket and a blue tie, and a gray long sleeve button up shirt underneath with the sleeves rolled up to his knees. In addition to his attire, he wore a black fedora with a gray trim lining. His cutie mark was a shimmering, golden, eight pointed compass with a bright blue flame in the center.

A trail, created by their hoofsteps, lead to a large blue box out in the distance. A quarter of a mile from the town, next to the "Welcome to Dodge Junction" sign.

The two ponies looked about, taking in every detail of their surrounding. 

"Wow, western styled. I like it. Cowponies of the wild west! With their stetson hats and street duels and the wild parties they have in the saloons!" the Doctor said excitedly.

Dean chuckled, "I'm not sure what kind of western town you've been to but I'm afraid Dodge Junction isn't like that. We're a lot more civilized here. Of course they wear stetsons and we do occasionally have parties in the saloon. However, our parties never get out of hoof so it's nothing to get excited for, and you definitely won't be finding any "street duels" here. Our sheriffs keep this town too well protected to allow that to happen".

"Really? So this isn't the "wild west, it just "the west?"

"Guess so, Dodge Junction puts the "C" in "common west".

"Oh, that doesn't sound too fun. I was honestly expecting to walk in town and be greeted by the townsfolk while simultaneously watching a drunk being thrown out of the saloons second floor window".

" . . . What western towns have you been to?" Dean asked, looking to the Doctor in confusion.

"Ones that put the "W" in "Wild West", that's for sure" the Doctor replied.

There was two seconds of silence before the Doctor asked, "hey, I just realized something. If you live in a western town in Equestria. Then how come you sound British?"

Dean blushed and looked away. "Oh, um, well . . . it's a little embarrassing. I at one point had a western accent, still do actually. However, once I moved out of town and left for college in Mane City, I felt too intimidated to speak with my accent in front of the "high class" ponies. I did try once, everypony laughed at me. Asked why a "stupid" cowpony would want to study astronomy. This one bloke even said I should, "get my dirty farm hooves off of royal ground and just go back and grow some fruit like I'm supposed to". I was just about ready to leave at this point until I found a drama class close to my college. I applied for classes and the teachers there taught me how to imitate a British accent. I studied every night as soon as I come home from school, speaking everything in my new accent. Eventually my accent sounded so convincing that I started speaking it out during the day. Ever since then I always spoke in a British accent, even when I returned home for the holidays. I was afraid, still am afraid actually, that if I try to speak in my western accent again that I'll lose my British one. I know it sounds silly, but that's just something I've done to try to cope with those "high class" snobs".

"So this isn't your natural accent?"

"No".

"Huh, guess you and I have more in common than I thought".

"What?"

The Doctor, ignoring Dean's question said, "listen,  I'm glad you found a solution to your problem and all. But you shouldn't let ponies like that change you for who you really are. If you wanted a British accent, then practice for it. However, it sounds to me like you let them force you into getting one just so you can fit in. That isn't right Dean. Never let anypony change you, You be who you want to be, western or not. If you ever meet ponies like that again don't ever feel the need to lie to yourself just to be accepted. Because if it were me, I'd rather everypony hate me for something I am then something I am not. And I'd recommend thinking the same way".

"R-Right, I'll think about that", said Dean, looking to the Doctor.

" . . . But, I guess it is understandable what you did. Those high class royal rear ends are too stuck up and clean to ever associate themselves with a pony that might not be just like them. Don't get me wrong, I have met a few rich ponies who were decent. The majority, however, think that their better then everypony else because they have jewels, and money, and live near the princesses. Honestly, I think they deserve what Discords doing to them-".

"Whoa! A bit far don't you think?"

"Oh please! Those rich snobs are fine! Their not dying or in any serious danger! But if you ask me, I feel like they could use Discord as a form of punishment for the way they treat lower class ponies. Although you and I know they're not in danger, they don't. So maybe once Discord has been defeated, those ponies will start being more appreciative to other lives than themselves. Its a low chance, but one can hope after all" said the Doctor.

They continued walking through the streets for a few moments before taking notice of the towns silence. They looked around, searching for ponies. 

"Your town seems awfully quiet Dean, is there some sort of holiday they're celebrating? Should I have brought something? Like a present or a meal?" asked The Doctor.

"No, at least, not that I know of. We don't celebrate holidays in the summer. I mean, asides from birthdays but that wouldn't make everypony disappear. Where is everyone?" asked Dean.

The Doctor looked to Dean, seeing that he was genuinely confused. The Doctor looked around for a bit, observing every detail of the town. He looked to the old hoofsteps beneath him and bent low. Gently, he touched a hoofstep that hadn't been too affected by the winds, one that had been pressed deeper into the ground then the other hoofsteps. He sniffed the mark, then took a pinch of sand a placed it upon his tongue. Closing his eyes, the Doctor swished the sand in his mouth back and forth before spitting to the ground and wiping his mouth. "Three days old, fresh but barely". The Doctor looked to Dean and backed a step. 

Dean was giving the Doctor a look of absolute disgust and confusion. His mouth gaping as words seemed to fail him.

" . . . What?"

"Uh . . . uh-"

"What!?"

"W-why, why did you just pop sand in your mouth?" asked Dean.

"Oh, I was tracing back to when a pony had last stepped here. Speaking of which, is there a hat tailor here?" asked the Doctor.

" . . . You put sand in your mouth to find out when a pony stepped here"

"Well, yes".

" . . . . Doctor, where did you get your degree from?"

"DEAN! Now's not the time to mock me! Hat tailor! Does this town have one?"

"Um, yes! It does! Its close by here, why?"

The Doctor pointed to the hoof mark. "There's traces of mercuric nitrate in the sand. A chemical used to moisten the fabrics used on hats to reduce the time needed to produce one. This hoofmark hasn't eroded as fast as the other marks by the wind because this hoofstep is deeper. The reason for this is because water had been spilt here. This sand was mud three days ago, and whoever stepped on it must have worked at the hat tailor. Its faint, but the traces are still there".

"You found all that out just from tasting sand?" asked Dean.

"Well it takes lots of practice but, yes".

"Are you going to get sick now? Isn't mercuric nitrate poisonous?"

"I'll be fine, it has mostly faded since the pony last stepped here. Now, if all the marks on this street are as old as the others. Then that means no pony has stepped hoof outside in three days".

"But, where could they have gone?" asked Dean, becoming concerned.

"I'm not sure, but something is definitely wrong-". 

Suddenly, the Doctor whipped around, facing towards one of the nearby alleyways.

A shadow darted away as the Doctor did so, disappearing behind the buildings.

The Doctor looked around quickly at each of the windows. Too fast for the eyes of the shadows to hide behind their curtains before they could be spotted.

Dean stepped forward, "Doctor, wha-".

"We're being watched".

"What! Where!?"

"Everywhere. Through the windows, in the alleys. Their close, they have us outnumbered".

"Maybe it's the townsfolk-".

"If that's true then what's with all the hiding and spying? If ponies really are here then how come not a single one has at least left their house let alone greet us?"

"I, uh, I don't know! They're usually a lot nicer than this, they would never hide unless something really bad happened!" said Dean, scared.

"Well it looks like something bad must have happened while you were gone-".

Suddenly, the Doctor and Dean turned to a two storied building marked "Dodge Desserts", as they heard the shrill screams of a mare peirce and echoed through the town.

"That's Mr and Mrs. Sugar's shop! They live on the second floor!"

Before Dean could react, the Doctor had already darted forward and was in the shop in a second. "Hello!!! Where are you!?!" the Doctor shouted.

Another scream caused the doctor to looked to the back of the store, where a flight of stairs were.

The Doctor galloped forward, up the stairs, and into a hallway. The Doctor kicked down the first door to his left and rushed inside. He immediately left the room (seeing as it was an empty washroom) and broke straight into the next door to the right. It was a messy bedroom with scattered clothes, candy, and a hole in the wall beside the bed. No pony was inside. Growling, the Doctor proceeded to the next room, then the next. 

Until, at the end of the hall, the Doctor broke into the master bedroom.

It was a dark clean room with a queen sized bed and two dressers on each side. 

The Doctor's vision zoomed left to right as he searched for the pony in danger. "HELLO! Do you need help!? Are you in trouble!?!"

"No, but you are" said a western voice behind the Doctor.

The Doctor turned and saw a peach colored mare with freckles and a brown mane in a ponytail shut the door. She had positioned herself so that when the Doctor had opened the door, the door would prevent the Doctor from immediately discovering her. However, the door swung with such force at the mare that her nose was now bleeding.

She held up a bat and positioned herself. "I'm so sorry".

"What!-"

The mare swung the bat, hitting the Doctor across the head. 

The Doctor fell to the floor, unconscious.


THIRTY SECONDS AGO


"That's Mr and Mrs. Sugar's shop! They live on the second floor!"

Before Dean could react, the Doctor had already darted forward and was in the shop in a second. 

"Doctor! Wait!" Dean shouted, galloping forwards into the shop. He heard a second scream just before entering. He entered, looking at the scattered tables and the front glass counter full of candy in the store. He rushed to the counter and peered over, seeing if anyone had been hiding there. After finding no one, Dean suddenly realized he heard hoof steps above him. He looked to the ceiling and waited, listening to find out if the Doctor had found the mare who screamed. 

"HELLO! Do you need help!? Are you in trouble!?!" a muffled stallion voice shouted.

"Doctor?" Dean mumbled.

Silence for a moment, then.

"What!-"

There was a dull slam as something fell hard onto the floor above.

"Doctor!!!" Dean shouted, rushing to the stairs. He galloped to the top as fast as his legs could take him. Reaching the end of the hall within seconds. Just as he was about to enter the master bedroom, a mare rushed out and slammed the door. 

She was a peach colored mare with freckles and a brown mane in a ponytail. Her nose was bruised entirely and bleeding. She looked in absolute distress as she fell to the ground.

Dean rushed to her side, "Mrs. Sugar!? W-What's happening? Are you alright?"

The mare whimpered, "Oh Dean! I'm so glad yer back! Its been awful! This town has been in a real mess since you been gone!"

"What? What's happened to the town? Wait, hold on, a stallion just rushed up here. An old white stallion wearing a vest and a fedora, where is he?"

"He a friend a yers?" 

"Yes, where is he?"

"He . . . he . . .", the mare couldn't finish. She broke down and started crying. "He's dead!"

Dean froze, "w-what!?!"

Mrs. Sugar sniffed, "some bad ponies had broken into ma house and tried to kill me. But that brave stallion came in and saved ma life. But . . . they killed him . . . they killed him and took his body!"

'So she's the one who screamed', thought Dean. "Why would they take his body? And how did they even get out of the house? We'd have to have crossed paths in the hallway as I came up here".

"Oh, they . . . went out the window".

"On the second floor?" asked Dean.

"Y-Yes, they . . . had a ladder".

Dean took notice as the mare's tone suddenly changed. It still sounded scared, however, it wasn't the same fear as before. Her previous fear sounded genuine. Now, it seem like she was under some sort of pressure. 

'Is she . . . is she lying? I mean, her story doesn't even make sense! Some "bad ponies", who even are these bad ponies? They came in, tried to kill her, but the Doctor intervened. They kill the Doctor instead and left out the second floor window carrying the Doctor down a ladder? What does she take me for? An idiot? I don't know exactly what's going on, but I do know that the Doctors in trouble. She must have done something to him. I need to find the Doctor' thought Dean.

"Mrs. Sugar, who exactly were these "bad ponies?" And what did they attack you for?" asked Dean.

"I-I don't know! Ah swear! They just came in and tried to hurt me!" 

'Sweet Celestia you're a bad lier' thought Dean. "Did these "bad ponies" kill the Doctor in this room?"

"Y-Yes".

"Alright, I'm going to have a look" said Dean, trying and failing to walk into the room as the mare jumped to her hooves and blocked his path.

"Wait! You can't go in there!"

"And why not?"

Mrs. Sugar started to sweat at this point, looking back and forth between the door and Dean. "B-Because! B-Because of, uh, the . . blood! There's blood and uh, organs! His organs are splattered all over the place you wouldn't want to see yer friend like that!"

Dean said sarcastically, "Oh gosh you're right, that's just terrible! So, you're saying that those bad ponies didn't just kill the Doctor, but they mutilated him and splattered his remains all over the room?"

Felling her trick was successful, Mrs. Sugar said confidently, "Precisely!"

"Oh my goodness I can't believe my dear old friend is- oh, hold on. Didn't you say they took his body out the window and down a ladder?"

"Um . . . yes?"

"Oh, that's funny because-" Dean leaned close to the mare, their faces mere inches from each other. He looked fiercely into the scared mare's eyes. "If those ponies did take his body, then why are there remains still in the room?"

'Oh no! He saw through ma trick!' thought Mrs. Sugar. "Well, that's because, that's because . . . uh . . . they took . . . just his head?"

Dean stared at her for a second before saying, "you know. I'm insulted that you think I'm honestly stupid enough to beleive you". 

"Y-you don't beleive me?"

"Not for a bit".

"Oh, uh . . . okay well. Would you believe me if I told you your friend was abducted?"

"Oh? And what was he abducted by?"

The mare bit her lip as she concentrated greatly on her next choice of words. "By . . . aliens". 

'Genius!' she thought.

Dean didn't think the same way. " . . . Aliens?"

"Eeyup!"

"And what are these aliens called?"

"Uh! The, uh-"

'Quick! Think of something!' she internally shouted. 

"Well?"

"He was, uh, abducted by a fleet of aliens called . . . the . . . Daleks?"

Dean looked to the sweating mare for a few seconds before sighing. "I'm finished with your lies. I'm going in now".

"Wait! No!"

Dean pushed the mare aside and entered. 

The room was clean. No signs of an attack, to marks anywhere, no blood or gore ("thank Celestia' thought Dean). The room looked untouched.

However, what was also missing was the Doctor. Dean looked beneath the bed, finding nothing. He rushed to the closet and yanked the doors open, only finding clothes. No signs of the Doctor at all.

Except.

Just before Dean turned away he noticed something in his peripherals. Sitting atop a small cardboard box in the corner of the closet sat a black fedora. One with a gray string line trimming. Dean grabbed the hat and said, "this is the Doctor's! He's been here! Why did you- WHOA!!!"

Dean had turned to face Mrs. Sugar mid sentence. His timing was impeccable. Just as he turned he saw Mrs. Sugar in time take a swing at his head. Dean ducked and her bat missed, slamming into the closet doorway, breaking a large chunk off.

Dean jumped to the bed as she took another swing. Her bat breaking a hole into her wall.

Dean turned to the mare, his adrenaline and natural instincts fully kicking in now. "Mrs. Sugar!!! What are you doing!?!"

"You shouldn't have returned Dean!!!" she shouted with a shrill. She brought the bat up and slammed it with full force onto the bed. 

Dean jumped towards the door in time as the bat missed, breaking through the mattress and wooden bed frame.

Dean reached for the handle and shook it as he found out the door was locked. He unlocked the door and tried to leave. He was too late, however, as another attack came his way. Dean saw the bat in his peripherals and ducked, dodging another head injury.

The bat broke a hole into the door and was stuck momentarily within the wood. Mrs. Sugar yanked the bat out of the door, breaking off more of the door as she did so. She stood on her hind legs and rose the bat above her head, ready to smash it down onto her victim.

However, her next attack never came. Dean, wanting desperately to get away from the crazy mare, turned and bucked her as hard as he could in the stomach. 

The force of his attack knocked the wind out of her and pushed her through the door, smashing the wood to pieces. Mrs. Sugar felt the back of her head slam against the wall opposite of the room. Bright blue, red, and yellow dots filled her vision as she slid down the wall and onto the ground. 

Dean wasn't going to give her the chance to get back up. He grabbed the saddle bag off his back and threw it to the ground. Using his teeth and fore legs, Dean bit onto the strap of the bags and ripped the strong material off. He rushed over to Mrs. Sugar and sat her against the door of the room. Using the strap, Dean tied Mrs. Sugar's fore legs to the handles on both sides of the door. He then turned to run down the hall before stopping himself.

He looked back into the room and saw the Doctor fedora, sitting upon the broken bed as Dean dropped it earlier to dodge the bat. He rushed forward, grabbed the hat, left the room, and rushed down the stairs. Leaving his saddlebags full of supplies in the room.

Mrs. Sugar's vision had returned just as Dean left the room with the fedora. She tried to reach for him and failed, finding that she had been tied to the door. "You little brat! Come back here! I need you! I need you!"

Dean ignored her, and ran down the stairs.

Mrs. Sugar could hear the store's entrance door open and close as Dean left, returning to the streets.

Tears formed in Mrs. Sugar's eyes as she shouted, "Come back! Please come back! Please! I need you! I NEED YOU!!!" 

Upon hearing no response, Mrs. Sugar hung her head and started sobbing. "Come back . . . come back . . . I need you . . . I need you . . ."


ON THE STREETS


Dean galloped down Dodge Junction's dirt road, holding the Doctor's fedora within his mouth. He made a left turn onto a new street as he looked for his designated building.

'Got to get to the sheriff, he'll tell me what's been happening in this town. After that I'll have the sheriff help me find out what Mrs. Sugars done to the Doctor!' thought Dean.

He galloped for a few minutes until he came to a decent sized stone building with a "Sheriff's Office" sign painted in black on the top front. He burst through the door and looked to the two ponies closest to him.

Near the front of the building was a desk with two ponies sitting and talking. Their discussions abruptly ending as Dean had entered. 

Behind them was a row full of jail cells, all empty. Across from the desk was a door, leading to another room.

One of the ponies sitting at the desk was a brownish green earth pony with a dark brown dirty mane. He had green eyes and a long dark brown curly mustache. He wore a large, light brown stetson and a brown vest. 

The second was a gray earth pony with black hair. He had magenta eyes and a black raggedy beard. He too had a stetson. His was dark brown with a red rose design in the front stitches. He had a black vest with a white, dirty, ripped undershirt.

Both ponies had "Deputy" badges and a belt with weapons holstered (throwing knives, burning pepper powder, hoof chains, and a small sword).

The deputies rose from their seats and placed a hoof to the pouch with the pepper powder.

Dean lifted his hoofs in defense, "wait! Don't hurt me! I'm looking for the sheriff!"

"What do you want with the sheriff?" asked the gray pony with a very deep western accent.

"I've come for help! I just came into town with my friend and we heard a scream and when we went to see who was in trouble Mrs. Sugar, the sweets shop owner, attacked us and I think something really bad happened to my friend and I need your help!" Dean spoke fast while trying to regain his breath.

"You just came into town? You new?" asked the brown pony, who had a lighter, yet slightly drunk western tone.

"N-No, I live here with my family. I've been to college so I haven't been here in awhile. But that doesn't matter! I need the sheriff! Or somepony, I don't even care at this point! I need help! My friend is in danger!"

"Now just relax colt, we'll help you out" said the brown stallion, he and his partner placing their hooves away from their weapons. The brown stallion motioned something to his partner and the gray stallion nodded and left to the other room. 

The brown stallion walked around the desk to Dean. "Before I can help you I gotta know yer name first".

"Dean, it's Dean Do. My family and I live on a farm, just on the other side of town" said Dean.

The brown stallion's eyes widened as Dean said this. "Is that so? Yer the son of Mr and Mrs. Do? The farm owner's?"

"Y-Yes, that's correct".

"Interesting, the sheriff's definitely gonna want to meet you!" said the brown stallion, smiling a long, yellow tooth grin.

Dean suddenly felt uneasy as the deputy said this. "He wants to meet me? What do you mean? Was he expecting me or-" Before he could finish, the door to the other room opened. Out came two ponies.

One was the gray pony. The other was a small, well toned, light yellow earth pony. He had thinning brown hair and piercing red eyes. He wore a large brown stetson and brown vest. He had a desert cactus and a tumbleweed for a cutie mark. He too had a badge, his said "Sheriff".

"Greeting! My name is Max Tumbleweed, I'm the sheriff around these parts".

Dean's expression turned to a confused one. "You? You're the sheriff? What happened to Cledus?"

"The old sheriff? He's retired! Left Dodge Junction and moved outta country. Now, yer name, it wouldn't happen to be "Dean Do" would it?"

"I-"

"It is sir! He told me! Just now before you and Arnold came in!" said the brown stallion.

Sheriff Tumbleweed smiled. "Is that so? Welp, guess that takes care of that! Arnold, Pat, hold him".

The two deputies nodded and rushed to Dean. They took hold of his forelegs as Dean struggled to break free. "Hey! What are you doing!?!"

Pat, who was holding onto Dean's right leg, reached for the fedora he held in his hoof. "Well isn't this a fancy hat! Do all the ponies in that rich city wear these?" he asked, replacing his stetson with the Doctor's fedora.

"Hey! Give that back! That belongs to my friend!"

"Freind? You brought a pony with you into town?" asked Sheriff Tumbleweed.

Dean struggled to reach for the Doctor's hat. Upon failing, Dean glared angrily at the sheriff and said, "that's right, I brought a friend! I don't know what's going on but when he finds out what your doing to me you'll be sorry!"

Arnold and Pat gave a hearty laugh as Dean said this. The sheriff, giving a light chuckle came close to Dean. "And who is this friend ah yers?"

"He calls himself the Doctor!"

"Doctor? Doctor who?"

Dean smirked, "just the Doctor!"

The sheriff's smile turned to an expression of confusion. "You've been travel'in with ah pony who calls himself "the Doctor?" That sounds awfully suspicious . . . alright. Arnold, you're going to go into town and find this friend ah his. Bring a longbow with you just in case. Pat, I need you to send one ah our messenger birds to the other deputies. Tell them to stop the search, their target came home all by himself!"

Dean stopped struggling and glared at the sheriff. "You've been searching for me!?"

The sheriff walked around the desk and searched the drawers for something. He extracted a brown looking bottle and a rag. "You see Dean. Yer family has gotten themselves into a bit of a . . . predicament. They've been very stubborn in cooperating with us. But ah think that with you, they'll finally be willing to come to an agreement with what we have planned".

"Agreement? What agreement, what are you talking about, how is my family involved, what have you done with them?" Dean spoke rapidly.

The sheriff took the rag to the bottle's opening and flipped it upside down. He allowed the contents to soak into the rag for a few seconds before stopping. He placed the bottle down and walked around the desk towards Dean.

"Yer family isn't safe Dean. Not until they agree to our plans".

"What plans!?! What've you done with them!?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY FAMILY!?!" Dean roared in the sheriff's face. The two deputies had to tighten their hold on Dean to prevent him from reaching the sheriff.

The sheriff chuckled, "you want to see yer family so bad? Then by all means-". The Sheriff took the rag and forced it onto Dean mouth.

Dean's screams were muffled as he inhaled the fumes of chloroform. He felt his vision blackening and his muscles losing their tension with each breath.

"Sleep! Sleep now! And wake up to dear ol mama!" Sheriff Tumbleweed shouted. He pressed the rag hard against Dean as he laughed sinisterly, watching Dean fade from consciousness.

Dean fought, struggling to stay awake. The chloroform, however, was too strong. Dean's vision blackened entirely as the sheriff's laughs echoes further and further away, until no sound could be heard at all. 

No sight could be seen nor sound could be heard as Dean drifted into a forceful slumber.


MEANWHILE


His headache rose slowly in strength as he awoke. The Doctor's vision still blurred, slowly focusing as he groggily lifted a hoof to his eyes. He blinked, groaned, and placed his other hoof to his left temple.

"Hmmm, ah! Oh . . . Oh my god . . . what the devil hap- OOF!" The Doctor had lifted his head, bumping into a flat surface. The Doctor cringed and held on to his head. His headache rising straight to a migraine after the bump. Once the pain subsided just enough for his concentration to return, the Doctor felt about the interior of the cramped space he was stuck in.

"Wood? I'm in a wooden box? How did I-" the Doctor stopped. Sudden memories of a peach colored earth pony hitting him across the head with a bat came to him. 

He placed a hoof to his left temple, the side that was hit. He cringed, realizing he had pressed against a swelling bruise. "Oh are you serious!?! Hit me with a bat!?! Crazy mare- gah! Jiminy Cricket! That hurts! This migraines not going away any time soon. Best get back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and see if I have something for my head. Could be a concussion, though it better not be, or that mares going to be punished severely when Dean and I get to . . . SWEET CELESTIA'S SUNNY SIDE BUM!" the Doctor shouted, regretting it as his migraine worsened. 

He just remembered about Dean. This box was too small for even the Doctor to fit. His back was arched against the side, practically curling his body into a ball. Therefore, Dean wasn't trapped with him.

Thinking quickly, he realized that he had last seen Dean outside of the shop. The two had heard the mare scream and he had rushed in to help. Upon entering, that mare knocked him unconscious with her bat (the Doctor growled at the thought). So if Dean had followed him as he was knocked unconscious, that means that Dean was left alone and defenseless with the crazy mare. Which means-.

"Dean's in trouble!"  the Doctor concluded. He felt around the box, searching for a way out. A few moments of searching was futile as he failed to find an escape. Desperate to escape his trap and find Dean,  the Doctor positioned his body so that he could lay on his back entirely, having his hind legs facing towards the top. 

"Hope this box isn't sturdy" said the Doctor, as he bucked the top as hard as he could. 

One kick was all it took, for the top crashed open. Allowing the Doctor an escape.

Pushing aside the broken wood and splintered ends, the Doctor poked the top half of his body out and looked cautiously to his surrounding.

He was in the same room as when he first encountered the crazy bat mare. Except now, the room was a mess!

There were holes in the wall, the bed frame was split down the middle, and the door had been smashed to pieces (the remains lying in the hallway). 

The Doctor lifted himself out of the box and looked to his trap. 

As it turned out, this "box" was actually the bedside dresser. Its inner shelves having been removed to allow a hollow interior.

The Doctor thought in confusion for a second then shrugged it off. He returned to observing the rooms destruction when his eyes had settled onto a lumpy object lying on the floor.

It was Dean's saddle bag.

He lifted the bag and saw that the contents were still there. The straps to the bag, however, had been torn off.

A small whimper caught the Doctor's attention. He held onto the bag as he walked to the sound in the hallway.

There, he saw the crazy mare. 

She sat in an upright position, unable to move as her forelegs had been tied to the handles on both sides of the door. She was tied with the same material as Dean's bag, the straps. 

She had her head hung low. Her cheeks stained with tears, telling the Doctor that she had been crying for a while (causing him concern as to how long he had been unconscious for). Her eyes were closed as she whimpered, not noticing the Doctor standing above her.

The Doctor coughed to catch her attention.

She gasped as she looked to the angry looking stallion above her. Her eyes wide in fear, allowing the Doctor to witness how bloodshot her eyes were.

"Hello there" the Doctor said with hot calmness.

The mare tried backing away, only to remember that she was tied. She looked to the Doctor with pleading eyes. "Don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me!"

"You hit me with a bat".

"I know! I'm sorry!"

The Doctor inched his face closer to the mare. "You hit me with a bloody bat!"

Tears returned to the mare's eyes as she said with a whimper, "I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me! Please!"

"Don't hurt you? You ask for me to not hurt you? Then tell me-". Suddenly, the Doctor rushed his face half an inch to the mare's nose. 

"WHAT SHOULD I DO THEN!?!"

Tears fell as she began crying again. "I'M SORRY! I did it because they're going to kill him! Please! I only hit you because I was desperate! Please don't hurt me!"

"If I don't hurt you, what should I do then? Ah, I know". The Doctor back a few inches away from the mare and reached into his pocket.

The mare watched with anxiety as the Doctor rummaged for a second, then gasped in fear as she witnessed him extract a pocket knife.

"No! Please! Please don't!"

The Doctor glared down upon the frighten mare, the shadows around his eyes showing. Appearing darker than usual. The Doctor then said with bitter calmness, "you don't want me to hurt you. So I have an alternative". Slowly, he pointed the knife towards the mare and advanced forward.

The mare shut her eyes tight, tensing her muscles as she waited for the Doctor's blade. 

Keeping her eyes shut, the mare suddenly heard an odd ripping sound. Then, she felt tension on her legs eradicate, causing her legs to drop to her side. 

If this didn't surprise the mare enough, she suddenly felt the Doctor's fore legs wrap around her upper torso. His grip didn't harm her in the slightest. In fact, it felt comforting.

The mare opened her eyes slowly, seeing the Doctor hold her in a kind, comforting hug. She turned her sight to the door handles, seeing that the Doctor had cut the straps with his knife, freeing her.

"W-What?" the mare stammered, utterly baffled.

"You said I couldn't hurt you. So, I chose to forgive you", the Doctor said, taking the mare by surprise with his sudden kind tone.

"Why would you . . . I thought that-".

"I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm a cranky old Doctor, I can't control my temper like I used to. Getting hit with that bat really got me off my rocker you see".

"But I . . . hurt you . . . why-".

"Shhh, relax yourself now. You're scared and stressed. I want you to calm down, and tell me what the problem is afterwards".

"B-But-".

"Afterwards", the Doctor said sternly, while maintaining his level of kindness.

Tears flowed rapidly as the mare asked, "y-you won't . . . hurt me?"

The Doctor chuckled, "does my hug hurt?"

The mare couldn't hold back. She flung her forelegs over the Doctor as she wept into his chest. 

The Doctor tighten his hold. Not too much too hurt her, just enough to better her comfort.

The mare sat crying into the Doctor's chest, weeping her sorrow away into a stallion she didn't even know. But she didn't care. She was hurting, she needed help, a needed care.

She needed a Doctor.

The Doctor smiled as he realized how corny this quote may have sounded, as he allowed the mare to weep onto him.


HALF AN HOUR LATER


The Doctor returned from the kitchen, holding a tray with two cups of hot tea. He approached the table in the center of the first floor room, handing the mare her cup, and sitting down across from her. 

The window curtains had been shut, preventing anyone from discovering the two inside. As the Doctor had shut the curtains from earlier before entering the kitchen, he saw that night had fallen. The moon was at its highest position, indicating it was well into the middle of the night. This caused the Doctor to worry about his friends whereabouts. 

"Thank you" said the mare, as she blew upon the hot liquid.

"You're welcome" said the Doctor, taking a large sip out of his tea.

The mare's eyes widen slightly, "that doesn't hurt, does it? You just poured it from the kettle, isn't it hot?"

The Doctor shook his head, "I'm not as sensitive to hot things. Now, why don't we start with names. I'm the Doctor, and you are?"

"Mrs. Sugar, ah own the shop we're in".

"I see".

'Still a bit shaken, yet trusting enough to tell me her name. Just keep your temper and she might just tell you the whole truth. It's so much better earning one's trust with kindness then forcing it with fear', the Doctor thought, reminding himself.

"Now, Mrs. Sugar. Before I can help you with your troubles, I need to know something very important-".

"You want to know where Dean is, don't you?"

Doctor frowned at the interruption for a second then smiled, "correct".

Mrs. Sugar lifted her cup to her lips, testing the temperature before drinking a small sip. Looking to the contents in her cup, Mrs. Sugar said, "ah think I might have an idea where he mighta gone to. But yer not going to like it".

"Like it or not, I need to know. Please, where is Dean?"

Mrs. Sugar looked to the Doctor with sad eyes for a moment, then sighed. "After I hit you with ma bat I kinda . . . stuffed you into ma secret box-"

"Secret box?"

"Its a box made to look like a dresser. But the shelves on the insides been taken out. So I can fill it with big stuff and keep it a secret and no pony will know. They'll just think its full a clothes er somthin".

"I see, so what happened after that?"

"Well after that yer friend Dean came after you. I tried to stop him comin in, but he got through me and went inside anyway! He found yer hat and knew you been there. I got scared, so I . . . tried to . . . knock him out with the bat too" said Mrs. Sugar, looking away sheepishly.

The Doctor try'd hard to control his temper. One because of this mare attacking his friend and two because he just realized his fedora was missing. 'I like that fedora!' the Doctor thought angrily. 

"Seems like one heck of a fight happened in that room".

"Oh you shoulda seen it! That boy was hoppin around like some sort a jack rabbit! I couldn't even hit him once! Then, he bucks me through the door and tied my legs up to that other door!"

'Well, nice to know the colts able to handle himself in dangerous situations' thought the Doctor. "So Dean fought back, won, then ran out of the shop leaving behind his bag behind".

"Well he did take yer hat with him".

The Doctor's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? Did he?"

The Mare nodded. 

On the outside, the Doctor said, "huh, the colt must have wanted to give me my hat back when he found me". On the inside, the Doctor was cheering with joy as he knew his fedora was in the safe hooves of its savior, Dean.

"Sadly, Dean didn't know that you had been in the room the whole time. In ma secret box" said Mrs. Sugar.

The Doctor realized something. "Question, you mentioned that if somepony were to enter your room, they would think that your "secret box" was just an ordinary dresser full of clothes. However, why do you even have a secret box? What "big, secret" thing would you even need to hide?"

The mare suddenly looked afraid. "I-I . . . well-"

"Or, a better question is, who exactly are "they".

The mare hesitated to answer. Genuinely terrified, she looked around her. Paranoid that anypony could be listening to them as they speak.

The Doctor seeing this said, "no pony is here Mrs. Sugar. You can say whatever's on your mind and no pony but I will hear".

Mrs. Sugar looked uncertain for a moment, then slowly took a deep breath. "Like ah said, ah think I know where Dean went. But yer not going to like it".

"And why is that Mrs. Sugar?" the Doctor asked, slowly losing patience.

"Because . . . you see . . . that secret box is fer me" Mrs. Sugar confessed.

"You?"

She nodded. "In case "they" came to get me, ah would have a place to hide. They already have ma husband, I'm afraid they'll come after me next! And after that fight Dean and ah had, I think he mighta gone to them, thinking they would help the poor colt find you-".

Cutting her off, the Doctor said sternly, "Mrs. Sugar, who did Dean go to?"

Mrs. Sugar gulped, "ah think Dean went to the sheriff!"

"The sheriff? wouldn't that be a good thing?"

The mare shook her head, "you don't understand! The law in this town is corrupt! Things got real bad after that new stallion took the old sheriff's job!"

"New sheriff? Dean never mentioned any new sheriff".

"This all happened while he was gone! He wasn't supposed to come back! He really shouldn't have come back!"

"Why shouldn't he have returned? He lives here-".

"Oh you don't understand Doctor! Neither you er Dean knows about the trouble the sheriff and his deputies have cause this town!"

"If he couldn't return because it's that dangerous, then how come his parents never informed him?"

"Because they have them!"

The Doctor's eyes widened, "the sheriff has Dean's parents?"

She nodded quickly. "No one's seen them fer a long time, but that's not the worst part!"

"They take over a town and foulnap Dean's parents to god knows where and you mean to tell me it gets worse?"

"It does get worse! Cause a few weeks after they took his parents, they told the town to keep a lookout fer him. That if anypony sees him, they have to report to the sheriff and tell him Dean's in town".

"Sounds to me like they're looking for Dean".

"Doctor, they are looking fer Dean! And the worst part is, ah think the sheriff's found him!


MEANWHILE


"Dean . . . Dean . . . are you waking up?" said a kind, soothing voice.

"Doc . . . Doc . . . tor . . . izat you?" Dean said groggily, barely half conscious.

"Dean, wake up sweetie. You need to wake up now".

"Doctor? W-Why do you sound like that. And, did you just call me sweetie?".

The voice chuckled. "Ahm no doctor, but that won't stop me from calling you sweetie. No matter how old you get".

Dean processed this for a moment before snapping his eyes open. He looked up and saw a light gray mare with a long, messy, silver mane, smiling down upon him. She had violet eyes, just like Dean. However, one eye had swollen nearly shut, and she had bruises and cuts all over her face. 

"M-Mom!?"

Smiling wider, Mrs. Do wrapped her forelegs around her son, embracing him in a hug. "Hello sugar cube".

Dean accepted the hug, looking to the mare's body as he did so.

Her entire body was covered in scratches, bruises, cuts, and scars. She looked skinnier then Dean had remembered. Her ribs were showing and her belly and cheeks had shrunken. She appeared to have not eaten in days.

Dean felt tears form as he asked, "mom . . . w-what happened to you".

"Oh, I've just been . . . in a bit of a rough patch while you were gone sweetie. But don't you fret over me! I can handle anything these no good criminals do to me!" said Mrs. Do.

Dean could tell by his mother's tone that she was trying to be brave for him. But Dean knew she was weak. Dean felt afraid to ask how long his mother had been treated this way. 

Dean looked to his surroundings. He was in a dark, gray, windowless, brick jail cell. It was empty except for a toilet, a sink, and a single small blanket lying crumpled in a ball in the corner.

He looked to the cell across from his. There was a pony sleeping under his or her small blanket. The darkness prevented Dean from getting a clear description on the imprisoned pony.

As Dean looked around, he realized something. "Mom, wheres Dad?"

Mrs. Do's false smile fell into a genuine frown. "Yer Dad, he, um . . . he's not here sweetie".

His worry rising, Dean asked, "not here? Where is he?"

Mrs. Do released Dean from the hug and stepped back. She turned away. Looking to the empty wall as she said, "yer father . . . didn't make it sweetie".

Dean froze. Dean felt as if time had just stopped. That the world itself had just stopped turning. That everything was frozen.

Everything except for the impossible words escaping from his mother's mouth. Words that shouldn't have even been used to make such a sentence let alone be spoken aloud.

It wasn't true, Dean determined this a lie. Or better yet, she was phrasing this differently, just like Oswald when he used "dismissal" to describe death. 

That's what this is, she's phrasing it differently. Dean's mind locked onto this decision, forcing no other alternative conclusion to dare enter his thoughts.

"Didn't make it? What do you mean? Did he escape? Is he in town?" Dean asked rapidly.

His mother continued staring at the wall for several moments before slowly turning back to Dean. 

Dean's eyes widened as he saw tears flowing rapidly down his mother's cheeks.

"I'm sorry Dean, I'm so, so, sorry!"

Dean knew why his mother was crying. Yet despite the obvious, he continued to cling on to his false belief. Desperately keeping his thoughts set that his father was alive. That he did in fact escape.

This belief slowly began to falter as he watched his mother fall to her knees and cry into her fore hooves.

His mother, the toughest mare he had ever known, breaking down in front of him.

He remembered, his family were fighters. And it slowly dawned that the Do family had lost this battle.

And as the family lost, so did a member.

Slowly, Dean approached his mother and draped his fore legs over her shoulders. He rested his head upon hers as he lost his belief. Slowly replaced with a new one. The true one.

Dean and his mother wept the night away within the dark cell.


MEANWHILE


The Doctor took a sip of tea, then gently placed the cup down upon the table. "Mrs. Sugar, I want you to start from the beginning of when all of this occurred. You so far have merely given me the sum of the events that transpired in this town. I want the full details. Would you please?"

Mrs. Sugar, finishing her cup of tea and having the Doctor refill her cup said, "sure, I'll tell you. But it's not a good tale I can tell you that".

"I've heard of many bad tales. One's so dark you wouldn't even want to beleive! Like this one story about a yellow pegasus and her shed. You wouldn't want to know what she keeps in her shed, quite disturbing, you'd have nightmares. Anywho, I think I can handle what you have to say. So please begin".

"Oh well, it all started about a month ago. Everypony received word to meet in front of the town hall for a public meeting. Once everypony gathered there, the mayor announced that the current town sheriff, Sheriff Cletus, would be retiring. He was a sweet stallion. He had been a law enforcer for over fifty years. It made sense for him to retire, seeing he was eighty four years old. And everypony thought the same-".

'Retiring at eighty four? Blimey, I'm ninety four and I still travel the world. Almost makes me think to consider retirement . . . almost' the Doctor thought.

"So, the mayor introduced a new sheriff. Some stallion named Max tumbleweed. Which struck everypony odd, because no one had ever heard of this fellow. We all thought he would have chosen one of the well experienced deputies. Or at least a pony who knew the town and the citizens well. Instead the mayor brings in some stranger no one's ever heard of. But everypony, me included, didn't think much of it. We trust, or at least, we trusted the mayor on his decision and didn't question him. And that was that, Max Tumbleweed was elected new sheriff and everyone went back to their business-".

"Hold on, was Cletus there when this town meeting took place?"

Mrs. Sugar shook her head. "No he wasn't. Which ah thought was weird. Cause ah thought that there was supposed to be some sort a celebration when a law enforcer retires".

"There is. A veteran of any faction, whether it be law enforcer or soldier, should received some sort of congrats for serving their time to protecting our country. You're right, it is weird that Cletus had never shown. By any chance, do you happen to know where Cletus may have been during the town meeting?"

"Sorry Doctor, ah haven't a clue. Last ah saw him was about a week before the town meeting. Ah saw him in the market buy'in apples".

"Right, I see". 

'So that begs the question, where exactly was Cletus during the town meeting?' the Doctor thought.

"Anyway, please continue". 

"Right, so as ah was sayin. Everything seemed normal enough the next few days after that. However, it wasn't until about a week er so later ah noticed that more an more a the town residence been disappearing. And every time I asked where they were, ah got the same answer every time. "Oh they just left town for a bit, they'll be back soon". Ah thought they were telling the truth at first. But as more an more ponies disappeared, and each time I asked I receive the same answer. I knew it was more than just coincidence".

"Ma husband thought the same thing too. He felt mighty suspicious about the new sheriff. Thought he was the reason fer all them ponies disappearing. So he went up to the town hall one day to ask the mayor what was goin on. But, you wanna know what ma husband told me when he came back?"

Finishing his sip, Doctor placed his cup on the table and asked, "what did he tell you?"

"He told me he asked one a the secretaries that works at the town hall and asked her if he could talk to the mayor. And she said that the mayor won't be available for a while. When ma husband asked why, she said it's because "the mayor left town for a few days. He'll be back soon".

"Really? Just like when you asked about the others?"

"Exactly like that! At that point ah knew it weren't no coincidence. Something was up, and as confused as ah was, ma husband was determined to find out the truth. So after that he started investigating. Spying around town at night, hiding in alleys to try and catch anyone suspicious. And he even broke into the sheriff's office and town hall a few times. Lucky he didn't get caught".

"It got to the point where ah got scared somethin was gonna happen to him. Ah tried to tell him he should stop snoopin, that he might get himself in trouble. But he wouldn't listen. Said he'd been in this town fer too long to let any no good fellas come in and make the place rotten. So he continued with his snoopin".

"If ah had known what woulda happen that day ah would have stopped him. Ah really would! Ah . . . Ah didn't think things would ever get this bad".

"What happened?" the Doctor asked.

Mrs. Sugar gulped. "About three days ago is when things took a turn for the worst. The day started off normal enough. Ah was gett'in the shop ready fer customers when ah suddenly heard shoutin outside. Ah was about to check before ma husband came burst'in through the door like the devil was after him. I asked what's wrong and he said he needed a place to hide. Said there's no time to explain and ah should act natural and deny anything ah know. Before ah had the chance to ask what the buck he was talkin about, the sheriff came in with two a his deputies. Told them to arrest ma husband. Ah tried askin what was goin on but before ah could he sent his deputies on me! They had the both a us in shingles and brought us to the middle a the street. An we weren't the only one's either. They took Mr. and Mrs. Do to the middle a the street too!-"

"Mr. and Mrs, hold on, Dean's parents?"

Mrs. Sugar nodded.

"What were they dragged out for?"

"I don't know. But if ah had to guess, I-It . . . it might have been ma husband's fault".

"How?"

"Like ah said, if ah had known this woulda happen ah would have stopped him snoopin-", said Mrs. Sugar, eyes watering.

"What did your husband do to involve Dean's parents, Mrs. Sugar!?" said the Doctor, frustrated and impatient.

Taking notice of the Doctors slight change of tone, she went silent. Hesitantly, after a few moments, she continued. "They took us there an had everyone gather around. He told them that the four a us were under arrest for breaking and entering, and thievery. Said that we been stealin from the town hall and from the citizens. Ma husband got mad and shouted that he was lyin. Said that the only criminal in this town was the sheriff and that he had proof. They didn't put muzzles on us so he grabbed a paper in his pocket with his teeth and threw it into the crowd. The sheriff tried to get it back but was too late. The ponies who were closest to ma husband snatched the paper and started readin it. Ah don't know what was on the paper but it made the crowd mad. They were shoutin things like "thief", "criminal", and "murderer. It actually looked like the crowd was gonna start a riot before the sheriff blew on some whistle".

"After that, a whole bunch a ponies just came outta nowhere! They started hittin an pepper powder'in all them! Once the chaos had stopped, the sheriff said that there was no point in keeping secrets anymore since everypony knew. He said that he was officially in charge of our town an that these new ponies were the towns new deputies. That all the others had officially been relieved of their duties-" 

"Has anypony seen the deputies prior to that day or during?"

"No, I never saw any a them".

'The original town sheriff and all of his deputies suddenly missing. It doesn't take a genius to think who caused this" the Doctor thought.

Mrs. Sugar continued. "Of course when the sheriff said this everyone was enraged. So to set his authority in the town and make sure no pony dared to try and get in his way. The sheriff . . . the . . . the sheriff".

"Mrs. Sugar?"

Mrs. Sugar stopped talking. She seemed unable to. Her lip quivered as tears formed. Appearing in complete distressed as she recalled the events that occurred next in her memory. 

The Doctor taking notice of this stood from his seat and walked to Mrs. Sugar's side. He placed her in a hug and said soothingly, "does it hurt?" 

"W-what?"

"The memory. Does it hurt to remember?"

Slowly, the mare placed her head against the Doctor's torso, allowing her tears to flow from her cheek and fall onto the Doctor. "Its all ma fault . . . ah shoulda stopped him from snoopin . . . ah shoulda done somethin . . . ah just . . . ah . . . ah-".

The Doctor hushed her gently. "I know your pain Mrs. Sugar. I know the feeling of having to remember a terrible memory. The one's you just want to throw in a safe and keep locked away in the deepest parts of your mind. So you never have to remember this memory ever again. But, the thing about memories is that they are like ink. Once the image is drawn, you can't ever erase it once it's there. But . . . what you can do is accept it".

"A-Accept it?"

"Accept your memory. Accept the picture drawn in ink. No matter how bad it may be. You were there, what happened happened. You can run for as long and as far as you can. But you can't run forever. Someday, whether it be for a day or a century, you'll have to stop running. Your path will run out, or your breath will diminish. You'll have to stop and accept. That these memories are true, these memories actually happened. That these memories are mine".

Tears fell faster as Mrs. Sugar said with a whimper, "h-have you ever . . . had one of these memories?"

"I wouldn't know so much if I didn't".

" . . . . Have you ever . . . . seen another pony die? Someone you were friends with?"

The Doctor was silent for a moment. His expression fell to a sad one as he said slowly, "yes".

" . . . How old are you Doctor?"

"Ninety four".

Mrs. Sugar seemed unfazed, hiding her astonishment over a mask of sorrow. "Ah guess a stallion your age would know what it's like to lose someone".

There was a brief moment of silence before the Doctor said. "I know it hurts. But you need to accept your memory and tell me what happened so that I can help".

The Doctor heard a small, surprised gasp as Mrs. Sugar looked to the Doctor's face. "Help us? What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly that. First you're going to finish telling me what happened in this town. Then I'm going to find Dean and everypony else who have disappeared. Finally, I'm going to stop Tumbleweed and all of his deputies. I'll kick them all out of town if I have to".

Mrs. Sugar mouthed silently for a second before saying, "you can't. You can't do that. You'll die! You're just one pony, your old-".

"Hey! I'm still well into my prime!"

"Your ninety four".

"That's not going to stop me from helping this town-".

"But there's too many of them!? Why don't you just go to a guard station and bring back help?"

"If it was that easy then how come no pony else has done that?"

"That's different! After what happened that day the sheriff had us all on a strict curfew! We were only allowed to leave our houses during certain times a the day and we weren't allowed to leave the town! They constantly check up on our houses just to make sure we haven't left! But they don't know about you, you can leave and get help and none of them deputies will ever know who done it!" said Mrs. Sugar, releasing the hug and taking a step back.

"I'm sorry to tell you this but I'm afraid it's not that simple. The nearest guard station is about two miles from here".

"Ah don't see how that's a prob-".

"And its empty".

"What?"

"All of the guards have left that station. So there's no one there to help us. I could just go and find another guard station, one that's farther away. But chance are that one will be empty too. Most guards all over the country have been moved to Mane City, abandoning their stations".

"But why would they do that?"

"Don't you know what's happening in Mane City?"

"We haven't gotten any news in the past week. The sheriff doesn't allow any delivery or news ponies to pass through our town anymore". 

"I see. So he's kept this city in the dark as well. If Discord's magic spreads to Dodge Junction, no one would stand a chance. They'd be unprepared, they wouldn't even see him coming".

"Discord? Who's that?" asked Mrs. Sugar.

"Long story short. A chaos spirit took over Mane City, is using it as his new capital, and is spreading chaos magic all over Equestria".

Mrs. Sugars eyes widened. "What!? Why haven't the princesses done anything to stop him?"

"They tried".

"And?"

"They lost".

She couldn't beleive what she was hearing. "That's not true! I know our princesses would never lose! They're too strong to be defeated by anypony".

"Mrs. Sugar! We can debate about who lost and who won later. But the fact is, whether you like it or not, chaos magic is spreading throughout Equestria as we speak! However, that problem is just as much ours as it is everyone elses through this country! So instead of worrying about the country's problems, why don't we get back to the situation at hoof in this town! Because even if guards were available, who's to say I could even get back to the town in time with them? What if something else happens while I'm away? And what about Dean? Do you expect me to leave town while he's here? Probably being held captive".

"Well ah . . . ah don't know! Ah just don't want to see another pony die!" Mrs. Sugar shouted.

There was a brief silence before the Doctor said, "Tell me who died that day Mrs. Sugar. Who did the sheriff kill?"

Mrs. Sugar looked to the Doctor with eyes of sadness as she said slowly, "he killed Dean's father".


MEAN WHILE


A single pony walked along the dark city streets.

He held a lantern in his left hoof, shining light into alleyways and to building corners. Appearing to be searching for something.

Or for someone.

He turned as a sudden shout caught his attention. 

"Ah just don't want to see another pony die!"

It was muffled, but he recognized that voice. She wasn't talking to her husband, he was locked in the sheriff's secret prison.

And she shouldn't have company, its past curfew.

So, who's Mrs. sugar talking to?

The stallion chuckled with a yellow tooth grin as he walked to Dodge Desserts.


BACK INSIDE


"The sheriff's office, where is it?" the Doctor asked.

"The other side a town. Just walk down to the end a this street, make a left, then walk straight. Its at the end". said Mrs. Sugar.

"Alright then, I beleive I've heard enough. Thank you for the tea Mrs. Sugar and for your, er, hospitality. But I best be off", said the Doctor, adjusting the collar to his undershirt. 

"What! Where are you going!?"

The Doctor checked his silver pocket watch, seeing it was ten before midnight. Slipping the watch back into his pocket and letting the chain hang out, the Doctor said, "Where do you think?"

"You can't just go bursting into the sheriff's office!"

"Yes I can".

"Why?"

"Because I said so".

The mare groaned, "Doctor this is serious! The sheriff murdered Mr. Do in the middle a the street in front a everyone! He won't hesitate fer a second to do the same to you if you go in there!"

"Well if he tries to kill me, he tries to kill me. Its his funeral", the Doctor muttered the last part.

"What?"

"Listen!" said the Doctor, stepping close to Mrs. Sugar. "I have to go in there! I have to save Dean! And nothing you say is going to stop me! So just stay here and keep silent! If anypony tries to come in just go upstairs and hide in your- oh wait I broke that. Just tell them to go away or something-".

"But why are you so determined to help us!? Why are you willing to risk yer life to save a bunch a ponies you don't even know!? We haven't done anything fer you!".

" . . . Does a pony really need a reason to express friendship?" 

Mrs. Sugar went silent at this. She wasn't expecting, out of anything the Doctor could have said, for him to say this. 

"You're afraid they're going to kill your husband, aren't you?" The Doctor said suddenly.

Mrs. Sugar didn't answer, so the Doctor continued. "You tried to subdue Dean with that bat and take him to the sheriff's office. Hopping they would free your husband if you did". 

The Doctor thought to what Mrs. Sugar said earlier, "I'M SORRY! I did it because they're going to kill him!" He compared that to what she said about the sheriff, "they told the town to keep a lookout fer him. That if anypony sees him, they have to report to the sheriff and tell him Dean's in town". Putting two and two together, it only made sense.

Mrs. Sugar's silence confirmed Doctor's theory. 

" . . . I'm-".

"I've already forgiven you, there's no need to apologize" said the Doctor.

She looked to the Doctor, mixed with an expression of sadness and confusion.

Her silence continued once more, so the Doctor said, "I understand what you did. It was wrong, yet, the right thing to do. Don't beat yourself up over wanting to see your husband again".

Turning to the door, he had taken five steps before Mrs. Sugar said, "friendship? Yer going to save a town from a pack a murderers because a friendship?"

A brief moment of silence, before the Doctor said, "if only the world had more friendship. Then maybe we wouldn't be in this situation".

"You could get so much more. If you save the town. Fame, money, power. Heck, I'd reckon the town folk would want you to be their new mayor. Wouldn't you want that instead of something as silly as friendship?"

" . . . . Kindness, honesty, loyalty, generosity, laughter, magic . . . the best kind of magic" the Doctor whispered.

Mrs. Sugar raised a brow, confused. Having not heard what the Doctor said.

He turned to Mrs. sugar, smiling. "I wouldn't ask for anything else!"

The mare's confused expression deepened.

The Doctor chuckled, thinking, 'if only they knew'.

He turned back to the door, saying, "By tomorrow this town will be free from Tumbleweed, so clear your schedule. I've got the feeling a lot of customers are going to want your desserts while they celebrate".

Mrs. Sugar was about to persist on with her argument, but gave up. Realizing that the Doctor had his mind set, and nothing was going to change that. She smiled to the Doctor and said, "don't worry, it'll be clear. Just stay safe, please?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. See you tomorrow", said the Doctor, giving a wave.

"Goodbye", said Mrs. Sugar, returning the wave.

Doctor went to the door and placed a hoof to the handle. Just as he did, he froze. 

His eyes widened, as he slowed his breathing to inaudible volume. Slowly and carefully, he placed his left ear to the door and listened.

Mrs. Sugar looked in confusion for a moment before asking, "Doctor, wha-".

The Doctor snapped his head into her direction, placing a hoof to his mouth to silently shoosh her while giving her a very stern expression. 

He listened for a few more seconds before walking backwards towards Mrs. Sugar. "You know what, maybe I won't be saving the town".

"What!?!" Mrs. Sugar said, completely baffled. 

"As a matter of fact, I'm actually rather tired. An old stallion of ninety four does need his rest" said the Doctor in an oddly loud tone.

The Doctor came close to Mrs. Sugar as she asked, "what in tarnations are you on about!?! You go through all that sayin yer gonna go and stop Tumbl-".

Doctor clamped a hoof to her mouth, silencing her. He brought his lips close to her ear and whispered, "someone is listening to us".

Mrs. Sugar's eyes widen in fear. "You sure?" she asked, muffled by the Doctor's hoof.

He nodded and released his hoof. "He or she is listening through the door".

She looked to her store's front entrance with an expression of complete fear. "F-Fer how long?" she whispered.

"The entire time, most likely. Best not take any chances. Follow me".

"What!?" Where am I going?"

"You're no longer safe here. Follow my lead and you'll be safe". The Doctor turned and started walking towards the kitchen, Mrs. Sugar following nervously behind. 

"So Mrs. Sugar, you have a guest room I assume?" the Doctor said loudly, attempting to trick the eavesdropper. 

Mrs. Sugar taking notice said, "y-yes of course! I-Its right up stairs, first door to the right!".

"Thank you kindly Mrs. Sugar" said the Doctor, as he and Mrs. Sugar entered the kitchen. 

The very back of the small kitchen was the back entrance, leading to an alleyway. 

The Doctor pointed to the door and said silently, "we leave, then we run".

She nodded and followed.

The kitchen was filled with the usual culinary tools and supplies one would see in a kitchen. Only, this kitchen had it in pairs. A pair of stoves, pair of ovens, pair of counters (one on either side). Leaving the center of the kitchen a single straight away towards their escape. The floor and counters were littered with trash and had pots and pans every here and there.

On the left side was a painting of a painting, of a painting, of a painting . . . of a painting.

As the two walked through, the Doctor looked to the painting with a look of confusion. He pointed to it, silently asking her, "the heck is that?"

She sighed, "ma husband bought that".

He nodded and continued on. 

At that moment, the two heard the front entrance shake, indicating a pony trying to enter.

"I-Its locked, so he can't get in".

She froze as she heard the door swing open with a slam.

"Not locked anymore, come on, hurry!" the Doctor shout whispered. 

The two made their way to the door and the Doctor gently opened it. 

Just as he did, a couple of mice passed through the doorway, under their legs, and into the kitchen. 

"Dagnabit! That happens sometimes".

"Well no time to deal with them now, let's get going before he finds us".

"Are the mice going to be a problem?"

"Mrs. Sugar, they're mice! I'm sure you can leave your shop to rodents for the time being!"

"That's not what I meant! What if the pony who broke in hears them?"

"They're mice, how loud could they be-"

SLAM!!! SMASH!!! CRASH!!!

The Doctor and Mrs. Sugar turned to find a row of pots and pans, all having previously been on the counters, now on the floor.

Mrs. Sugar gasped, "I forgot! The mice sometimes knock over things on the counter!"

CRASH!!!

The Doctor looked to Mrs. Sugar with a frustrated expression. "And you didn't bother warning me!"

"I'm scared! I forgot!"

SMASH!!!

The Doctor groaned and face hooved. "God I love it when this happens", he said sarcastically.

"Who's in there!?!" a stallion shouted from outside the kitchen.

"Run!!!" The Doctor shouted, grabbing Mrs. Sugar by her hoof and pulling her outside.

The two galloped down the dark alleyway. Knocking over trash cans along the way to block their pursuers path.

Once exiting the alley and stepping into the open street, the Doctor turned to the alley and saw the silhouette of their pursuer hopping over the trash cans. The dim moonlit night hiding his features.

"Come on!" said the Doctor, running down the street.

Mrs. Sugar gasped fearfully as she saw how close their pursuer was. She ran, lingering a few feet behind the Doctor.

"Get back here!" the pursuer shouted.

After several feet of running, the Doctor looked over his shoulder to see that he and Mrs. Sugar were losing their distance between them and the pursuer. He was gaining on them fast.

The Doctor's hearts beat painfully with each step he took. Clenching his teeth and blinking sweat out of his eyes, the Doctor looked for a possible plan of action around him.

'Gotta think of something, I can't outrun him. I hate to admit it, but this body's not as strong as it used to be. I'm going to collapse from exhaustion if I keep running!' thought the Doctor.

"Doctor!" Mrs. Sugar suddenly shouted.

Doctor looked over his shoulders and gasped. 

The pursuer had caught up, his features now distinguishable.

He was a brownish green earth pony with a dark brown dirty mane. He had green eyes and a long dark brown curly mustache. He wore a large light brown stetson and a brown vest. 

The Doctor could barely distinguish his "Deputy" badge pinned upon his vest.

The deputy, once close enough, had stopped running and had a long bow armed and ready to fire. With one eye closed, he pulled the string and carefully took his aim.

The Doctor's keen perception identified who he was aiming for. 

"Look out!" he shouted. The Doctor stopped, turned, grabbed Mrs. Sugar by the torso, and pulled her and himself out of harm's way.

The deputy took his shot.

It was close, the Doctor felt a force of air streak against the side of his head as the arrow soared pass. Missing him by inches.

The two landed with a thud.

Mrs. Sugar rose to her hooves first, looking to the Doctor. "Are you alright?"

"I should be the one asking that!"

"I'm fine! You?"

"Of course!" said the Doctor, as he tried to stand. As he did, a sudden loud crack could be heard. The Doctor groaned and fell to the ground. "Nope, not alright!"

Mrs. Sugar rushed to his side and tried to help him to his hooves. To no prevail, the Doctor couldn't move.

"Doctor what's wrong!"

"I think that may have been my hip, quite possibly my back too". The Doctor tried to stand, only for another crack to break loose. Gasping in pain, the Doctor said, "nope, that was definantly my back!"

"Too old to be runn'in, are you partner?" said a stallion's voice behind the two.

Mrs. Sugar turned around, looking in fear to the deputie standing tall above her. Grinning a yellow tooth smile as he wielded his bag of pepper powder.

"Can't run anymore? Can you?" he said, reaching into the bag.

Taking notice, the Doctor forced his body to stand. Ignoring the pain his old bones gave as he stood in front of Mrs. Sugar. Using himself as her shield. "Don't you dare try anything!"

"Or what? You gonna fight back old stallion?" the deputy said with a chuckle. 

"I'm warning you. You can harm me but dare to touch Mrs. Sugar and I'll make you regret your actions!" said the Doctor, fiercely. 

The deputy gave a hearty laugh. "Ah can see why the colt is friends with you. Both a y'alls barks are bigger then yer bites!"

"Dean? You have him? Takes me to him!-"

"Yer not the one giving the orders "Doctor"!"

"You know me?"

"The colt mentioned you, told us yer name. Said how you were gonna come and save him and all that". He laughed, "wait till ah bring you to the prison, yer friend won't be thinkin the same way about you anymore!". 

Grabbing a hoof ful of pepper powder. He reached his foreleg into the air, preparing to throw the powder down hard against the Doctor's face.   

"Doctor!" Mrs. Sugar shouted.

There was a loud clang, and the deputy froze. His expression remained locked, stuck in a large maniatic smile. His body didn't move. For a moment, just like his face, it too was locked. Stuck in its position. One hoof ful of powder in the air, the other holding on to the contents bag. 

Both the Doctor and Mrs. Sugar looked in confusion at their attackers sudden stop.

Then, slowly, the attacker fell forward. Face first into the dirt road.

Behind the attacker stood a masked stranger, wielding an iron skillet with the back of the deputy's head dented into it.

Mrs. Sugar relaxed, realizing what had happened. "We're saved!"

Suddenly, the masked stranger reached to his back, extracting a large dagger from a hidden scabbard. He pointed to the two, showing his hostility.

"No we're not" the Doctor said bluntly.

"You two, with me, now". the stranger said sternly. His voice deeper than the deputy's, yet still maintaining the western accent that most ponies in this town seemed to have.

The Doctor and Mrs. Sugar nodded in compliance. 

With one hoof, the stranger lifted the deputy onto his back. The other held the dagger strictly towards the two. He gave a nod to the right, motioning to the two to walk in front of him. 

The two complied and walked on. Being escorted by the stranger to walk side by side into another alley.

The stranger watched them closely, walking a few feet behind as he carried the deputy.

"What are we going to do?" Mrs. Sugar whispered, stepping over a molded sandwich in disgust.

"We're going to see where this stallions taking us" the Doctor whispered back.

"Are you serious?"

"If he wanted to harm us he would have done so back in the street".

"He's probably taking us to the sheriff's office-".

"We're walking in an alley, clearly he's not. Besides, even if he was then how come he subdued that deputy? If we wanted credit for our capture he wouldn't have hit a deputy with a skillet".

"Then where are we going?"

"You two, stop talking!" the stranger said sternly.

"Patience will tell us" the Doctor whispered quickly.

The two obeyed and went silent for the rest of their walk.

The four ponies walked through the alley for several minutes. Taking turns and stepping over trash along the way. 

Eventually, the stranger told them to stop.

Mrs. Sugar, looking to the end of the alley said, "this is on the other side a town. What are we doing here?"

The stranger didn't answer. Throwing the deputy off his back and into the wall, the stranger walked to a pile of trash bags. He bucked the trash bags away, revealing a large, flat, wooden board. He took one end of the board and slid it away, revealing a large hole.

"Inside" he commanded.

"You can't be serious" said Mrs. Sugar.

"He has a weapon, I assure you he is not joking" said the Doctor, hopping down the hole.

"Doctor! What are you doing!" 

"Just do what the dagger wielding stallion says already!" the Doctor shouted from the bottom of the hole.

Mrs. Sugar groaned and complied. Hopping into the hole and stumbling forward, not expecting the hole to be this deep.

It was a five foot drop, at the bottom was a tunnel. Neither of the two knowing where it leads.

"How long has this been here?" the Doctor asked.

"Ah didn't even know this was here!" Mrs. Sugar exclaimed. She gasped in startlement as the deputy's body suddenly came crashing besides them. 

A moment later, the stranger followed. He looked to the two and said, "enter".

"Alright" said the Doctor, turning to the tunnel.

"Doctor we can't go in there!"

"Of course we can".

"Why!?!"

"Because the nice stallion asked us to" he said sarcastically. 

"How can you be acting like this in this kind of situation!?!"

"Because I feel like it! Is that a good enough answer for you?"

"No!"

"Well that's too bad" said the Doctor, entering the tunnel.

"Doctor!" Mrs. Sugar said angrily. She looked to the stranger for a moment before looking fearfully to the tunnel. Shuddering as she entered.

The stranger dragged the deputy's body behind him, as the tunnels top side was too low for him to be carried on the stranger's back. 

Mrs. Sugar walked in anxiety for a minute before coming to an opening. Upon entering, she saw the Doctor. Standing in the middle of what appeared to be a small, hollowed out cave.

There was a lit lantern in the center, giving the cave light. A sleeping bag against the wall and a bag of food and trash on the opposite end.

The stranger dragged the deputy inside and threw him to the trash. He walked over, disconnected the deputy's shingles from his belt and shingled the deputy to a hook posted in the wall above the trash.

The Doctor saw the stranger's features clearly now. He was a large stallion, wearing brown pants and jacket. He had a simple black mask covering his whole head.

He then turned to the others, pointing his dagger towards them. "You will answer anything ah ask, got that?"

The Doctor sighed, "you know, you could have been more gentle with that deputy. He's going to be sore once he wakes, with you throwing him all over the place-".

The stranger took a step forward, "I said you got that!"

The Doctor took a step towards the stranger, showing his anger for the first time. "I heard you loud and clear the FIRST TIME!!!"

The stranger held his dagger to the Doctor's throat, "you wanna shout at me again?"

The Doctor growled, "with pleasure, just drop your toy and I'll shout the bloody NIGHT AWAY!!!"

"Doctor stop!" Mrs. Sugar shouted, catching the Doctor's attention.

The Doctor, realizing his temper, took a deep breath. He forced a grin and said, "my apologies". He took a step back and adjusted his collar. "Forgive me on my temper. One does lose their patience with age".

Maintaining his caution, the stranger said, "well try to keep your temper in check. Or I might have to use this-".

"Oh would you stop trying to be threatening! It isn't working, well for the mare perhaps, but not for me" the Doctor blurted.

"Excuse me?" the stranger said angrily.

"Doctor, shut up!" said Mrs. Sugar.

"Its just an itty bitty knife Mrs. Sugar, are you honestly afraid? I've faced much worse to be honest-".

"I just saved you from that deputy!-"

"No! No you didn't!" said the Doctor, cutting the stranger off. "You were merely a coincidence. You just happened to come across ponies who looked like they were in trouble but in actuality they were just fine! I had everything under control until you popped up!"

"Didn't look like it while you were lying on your back! Old stallion!" 

"A minor set back! That's all that was! I had a plan! Or at least was thinking one, but nonetheless! I would have been just fine!"

"You're lying! You're just a scared old stallion blabbering his mouth to waste time!"

"Perhaps at first, but not anymore".

"If your not scared of me, then why didn't you fight back?"

"Oh there are much better, more strategic ways to fighting then an up close brawl. If I was going to fight you I certainly wouldn't have done it right then and there. That is, if I had even planned to".

"Your not scared, and you're not going to fight back. Why did you let me take you here then?"

"Finally! He asks! Its quite simple really. A masked stranger comes along, takes down a deputy and saves our behinds. But! He then takes us to this secret location to which I assume no pony but you knows about! Now the obvious question is why would he do that, but the obvious questions don't always lead us the right direction. The un-obvious question, the one I think is much better to ask is, whats with the mask?"

"Why would you need to hide yourself? Bad guys only wear masks when the good guys are stronger. Where keeping their identities a secret is crucial to the good guys not finding them and bringing them to justice. However, in a town that has been taken over by criminals, thus making the bad guys stronger! The need for a secret identity is no longer need. But, do you know who needs the secret identities now? The good guys".

"Because the good guys are the ones in danger now. The roles have been reversed! In a town where villains are the rulers and heroes are the ones to fight back. The villains are the ones to find the heroes and bring them to "they're" justice. Which isn't actually justice I'm just trying to make a point. Point being, with the roles reversed, heroes need their identities protected, to keep themselves safe".

The Doctor took a step forward, grinning. "You're not with the sheriff, you're against him! And you've brought us here because you need us to help you fight him! Because nopony else in this town will bother helping you, will they? They're all too scared".

The stranger was silent for a moment, before laughing. His volume increasing slowly until he was practically bellowing in laughter.

Suddenly, he stopped and sighed. "Great deduction old timer, and you were so close too. Yer right, ah need yer help. And like it or not you're going to assist me-".

"No argument there" said the Doctor, smiling.

"However, there's one more reason ah brought you here. Which is also the reason why ah where this mask".

"Oh? And what would that be?"

He didn't answer. 

Slowly, he dropped his dagger and reached behind his head with both hooves. The other two heard a zipper as the stranger unattached his mask. He removed his mask and let it fall to the ground.

He was a gray stallion with fading black hair and orange eyes. He had stubble growing and a scar on his left cheek.

The Doctor heard a gasp and turned to Mrs. Sugar. 

Her eyes were wide as could be. Her pupils had shrunk to the size of a pinhead. She stood frozen, gaping to the stallion who had just revealed himself.

"Sugar?" Doctor asked.

Words seemed to fail her as she continued to stare at the stallion. 

No one was speaking, so the stranger decided to be the first to do so. "Hello Mary, surprised to see me?"

She gaped for a moment, then said, "impossible . . . that's impossible . . . I saw you . . . I saw you die!"

The stallion chuckled, "everypony saw what they thought they saw. And they were wrong".

Mrs. Sugar took a step forward. " . . . Dean . . . you're alive?"

"Dean?" Confused, the Doctor looked to the stranger, then to Mrs. Sugar.

Thinking about everything that was happening, the Doctor slowly put the pieces together. 

He looked in astonishment to the stranger, "Dean, the Dean I know, he's the second? As in, he's Dean Do jr.?"

The stranger nodded.

The Doctor pointed to the stranger, "so that makes you-". He didn't finish.

The stranger grinned. "I am Dean Do the first. And my son, the one who walked into town with you, is Dean Do jr.".

Silence ensued for several moments before the Doctor asked a question. One simple question that both he and Mrs. Sugar wanted to ask.

" . . . What!?!"
> Corruption in Dodge Junction: Part Two (S1C2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean and his mother lay resting in the corner of the dark cell. Covering both their bodies as much as possible with the small blanket.

Dean had his head rested against his mother as she gently stroked his mane. Giving him well needed comfort after several hours of crying.

The colt had his eyes shut tight. He couldn't sleep, couldn't if he wanted to. He had too much on his mind. So many questions.

What happened to the town? Why is the sheriff doing this? Where's the Doctor?

' . . . Where is he?' 

At this point Dean felt that the Doctor wasn't coming. Maybe the Doctor escaped and left town? Or maybe Mrs. Sugar really did kill him? Either way, the poor colt felt that help was no longer coming to his aid. 

Of all questions he had, one stood out far amongst the rest.

Softly, Dean whispered, "mom . . . h-how did dad . . . go?"

Mrs. Do stopped her stroking for a second, then continued as she explained. "Yer father got himself involved in some really shady business. Meddling into things he shouldn't have. Guess ah can't really say much, seeing how ah was involved too".

Opening his eyes, Dean said with a start, "You!?"

She nodded.

"W-Why were- how did- when did-".

"Calm down Sugar Cube-".

"But you and dad! You were- the both of you! W-What kind of "shady business" were you both involved in!?" Dean asked, raising his voice.

She closed her eyes for a moment, preventing herself from crying. 

Dean's startlement and raising voice came as no surprise to Mrs. Do. Their family little to never kept secrets from each other. They were loyal, honest, and were always there for each other. 

So for Dean to discover a secret such as this one from his own mother. Mrs. Do knew Dean had the right to be upset.

"It wasn't anything bad Dean, ah swear it wasn't. Still, it got all us in a lot a trouble".

"All of us? You and dad weren't the only ones involved?"

"No, Mr. Sugar was involved as well".

"Did you and dad involve him?"

"No, he involved us".

"How?"

Mrs. Sugar sighed, recalling the events that transpired the past week. "A lot happened while you were gone. First thing that happened was our town getting a new sheriff. Didn't think much of it, Cletus was old and deserved a nice retirement".

"After that, however, apparently there were more things happen'in at the town then ah realized. Ah had been so busy at the farm that I never noticed. Ponies disappear'in, deputies gone miss'in, even the mayor himself just goes and vanishes".

"How could you not know that ponies were disappearing?" asked Dean.

"Our crops aren't doing so well this year. They've been need'in extra care to make sure they survive this summer. Ah ended up stay'in at the farm twenty four seven. Only yer father left to town whenever he needed to go shop'in er whatever other errand that had to be done. I'm not sure when it happened or how long those two were at it. But at one point, Mr. Sugar had been snoopin around and investigating and somehow got yer father involved".

"What was he investigating for?" 

"He was try'in to figure out why all the ponies were disappear'in. He thought the sheriff had someth'in to do with it. His paranoia spread to yer father and the both a them started snoop'in-".

"What about Mrs. Sugar? Was she involved?"

"No, apparently she knew about her husband's snoopin. But she never knew about her husband get'in yer father involved. From what ah heard from yer father, Mrs. Sugar did try and convince her husband to stop with his snoopin. She never involved herself in his snoopin and she felt mighty nervous with him sneak'in around. Had the right to, obviously. But he didn't listen. Went on snoopin anyway. And with yer father, the two worked together in try'in to solve what was happen'in to the town".

"Well, did they ever find out?"

"Er, yes and no. Its complicated, we couldn't find all the right papers".

"We? You mean to tell me it was at this point that you got involved?"

" . . . Yes".

Dean sighed in frustration, "you could've stopped them. You could've prevented this-".

"Dean".

"Why didn't you mom?-"

"Because ah didn't have a choice!" Mrs. Do shouted, causing Dean to look to her wide eyed in shock. She sighed and lowered her volume, "I didn't have a choice Dean. Neither yer father and ah had a choice. Especially not after the night yer father came home with information. The night he convinced me to start help'in him".

"Ah had no idea yer father had been sneak'in out and help'in Mr. Sugar with his investigate'in. When ah did find out was six days ago. Er, maybe it was seven. Could be more, or less, I really don't know. You can't really tell the time down here. Anyway, so yer father wakes me one night and tells me we need to talk. Something urgent he said. And ah knew he was serious when he started close'in the curtains and lock'in the doors and make'in sure nopony was around".

"After he made sure that nopony could hear us, he told me everything that had happened the past month. How the ponies been disappear'in, as well as the old law enforcers and the mayor, how he and Mr. Sugar had been investigate'in, and finishing off by tell'in me that he had just broken into the sheriff's office".

"Now, ah was about to smack the side a his head after hearing this, before he show'd me what he found while he was in there-".

"What did he find?" asked Dean.

"A document, giving Tumbleweed orders to take the town".

"Tumbleweed was given orders to take Dodge Junction? So he's not the one who's in charge?"

"He is in charge of the town. But there somepony who's higher up the ranks then he is".

"Who".

"No idea. Yer father only got part of the document. They heard somepony com'in into the room they were in before they could finish search'in. But whoever this pony is, they sure as heck knew what they were do'in when they set Tumbleweed with this job. Cause on the back a the document was a strict set a instructions. I can't remember exactly what it said. I remember some a the instructions but not all of it".

"He had instruction on how to take over a town!? How long had they been working on this?" asked Dean.

"I'm not sure. Coulda been months fer all I know. Yer father didn't get all the documents".

"Hold on, how did dad and Sugar even manage to break into the sheriff's office?" asked Dean.

"Oh those two were smart work'in together. After that night yer father showed me the documents I decided to tag along with them to try and get the rest. So ah got to see first hoof just how they did it".

"We snuck into town, make'in sure nopony sees us. Then, when we made it to the sheriff's office, yer father had me hide in a nearby alley while he and Sugar went to work. So while ah was hide'in, yer father went up and knocked at the door. Yer father ran off and hid before any a the deputies could answer. While the deputy was look'in fer who knocked on the door, Sugar had used some barrels to climb himself onto the roof. He threw a bit at a window away from the sheriff's office, make'in a noise and lure'in away the deputy.  Once he was away, yer father ran to the door and looked inside to make sure the coast was clear. At the time we thought we were lucky that Tumbleweed only had one guard take'in post at the front that night."

"What do you mean "at the time?"

"I'm get'in to that. Anyway, yer father motioned for me to come and Sugar climbed down from the roof while I ran to the door. We made it inside before the deputy could spot us".

"Once inside, yer father picked the door to the only other room in the place. Which lead to the sheriff's personnel office. We went inside to try and find the other document. And we searched fer a good while to".

"But, that's when they caught us".

"Were you too loud?" asked Dean.

"No, he knew we were come'in".

"He?"

"Tumbleweed." 

"Tumbleweed knew!? How?"

"Well, turns out the pony who almost walked in on yer father and Sugar was Tumbleweed himself. Although the two escaped through the window before they were spotted, Tumbleweed still noticed that his documents were missing. So he secretly had two guards posted at the front that night. One at the desk, the stallion who answered the door when yer father knocked, and the other was hiding under the desk. Guess, thinking back, we shoulda checked ta make sure no one else was in there-".

"No, you think?" said Dean, sarcastically.

"Don't get smart with me!-"

"You broke into a sheriff's office and tried to steal documents. I can get as smart as I want!"

"Dean this was important fer us to do this! We had to find out what Tumbleweed was up to! And it's a good thing we did! Cause before he caught us we found the other document!"

"Really? And what was so important on this document that made the three of you do all this?"

"It told us where all the ponies disappeared to!"

Dean's attitude disappeared as he heard this. Taking interest, Dean asked, "you found out where they all went?"

"Yes, turns out the sheriff has been take'in them all here" said Mrs. Do, pointing to the cell they were in.

Dean looked around in confusion. "Here? But when I came into the sheriff's office earlier I didn't see anypony in any of the cells-".

"You still think you're in the sheriff's office?"

"Well, not anymore, now that you said that".

"Dean, the cells have no windows-".

"I just assumed they covered them to make the place dark-".

Mrs. Sugar sighed in frustration. "Dean, were not in the sheriff's office anymore. This is a secret prison that Tumbleweed  had his deputies make".

"But for what purpose!? Why would he do this?"

"To take over the town. With those documents, we found out that everypony was forced to give their property and land away for free to Tumbleweed. Anypony who didn't comply had a member of their family brought here. Anypony who dared to try and leave Dodge Junction, tell anypony in town what he had done, or try and get help from guards, they would be beaten to a pulp".

"Tumbleweed had them beaten?" asked Dean.

Mrs. Do nodded, "see the stallion across from us?" She asked, pointing to the cell on the other side.

"Barely, it's too dark so I couldn't really tell who it was".

"That would be Cletus".

Dean looked to the stallion across from them with wide eyes. "The old sheriff!?!"

"Eeyup, turns out he was one a the first ponies to be brought down here. He tried to tell everypony about Tumbleweed after Tumbleweed forced Cletus into retirement. So he had his deputies beat Cletus up. Poor stallion, during ma time down here ah haven't once seen him move. The only reason ah know he's still awake is cause he moans every once in awhile. It wasn't long after Cletus that Tumbleweed's deputies went after Cletus's deputies and had them sent here too. Cletus's deputies are the ones who told me this."

"You've never seen him eat or drink?"

Mrs. Do chuckled, "eat? Those scumbags only bring us water. Barely enough to keep even a rabbit hydrated. They don't bring us food, ah haven't eaten in days. I'd hate to imagine how much longer its been since Cletus has eaten, seeing as he's been the first one down here. And as bad as that seems, it only get's worse."

"How can it be worse then it already is!?"

" . . . The mayor, he was forced to give Tumbleweed full authority-."

"Well I would assume so. If Tumbleweed is stealing property, it makes sense for him to start with the leader. So he takes over the mayor's job and he throws him into jail with us. Is that what makes this worse? Tumbleweed being mayor?"

" . . . Tumbleweed didn't throw the mayor into prison with us."

"W-Where did he take him? somewhere more secretive or something?"

Mrs. Do was silent for a moment, the sound of her heavy breathing preventing pure silence. Her stress rising as she spoke.

" . . . The mayor is dead. He killed him."

Dean's jaw dropped. An expression of utter shock was present on his face as he looked into his mother's eyes.

"W-What!?!"

Mrs. Do didn't respond.

"Tumbleweed killed him!?! What for!?!"

" . . . I don't know. The document said to kill him, on the instructions. But it didn't have a reason for why-".

"So he just killed him . . . killed him for no reason?"

"He was follow'in orders-".

"Be as it may, he stilled killed someone without knowing the reason why! He doesn't know why this pony has to die! Some random pony comes along and tells him to do it and he just does it!?! W-What is- how . . .", Dean couldn't finish.

There was a brief silence before Dean spoke again.

"So all this . . . all this just to take everyone's property?"

"Well, once they have all the property in the land, then they'll have full, complete control over the town".

"But why do they even want to take over Dodge Junction? They could have picked anywhere! The South Colonies, Marzipan, Colesville, instead they choose here! Why!?"

Mrs. Do sighed, "I'm not sure Sugar Cube. We got all the information we could. But we couldn't figure out why they were doing this or who gave Tumbleweed his orders".

"Really? So we're stuck in prison, everyone's losing their land, Tumbleweeds taking over the town, and we don't even know why?"

Mrs. Sugar didn't answer.

" . . . Where is this prison anyway? Are we still in Dodge Junction?"

"I don't know. Everypony who was forced down here was knocked out with chloroform before entering. Nopony knows whether or not we're still in Dodge Junction".

"Perfect", said Dean sarcastically.

There was a brief silence before Dean asked, "So if anypony gives up their land to Tumbleweed, what happens? Aside from him gaining more power, what happens to the ponies?"

"Some are set free and can go back to their families. Others aren't so lucky. From what I've heard from the deputies, those who are set free are on strict curfew and must never leave Dodge Junction. They don't say it, but ah know they're just afraid someone's gonna go and get guards if anypony does leave".

"So that's why I'm here! You haven't given Tumbleweed our farm yet, have you?"

" . . . No. No ah haven't".

" . . . Before I was knocked out, Tumbleweed said that he had his stallions looking for me. He had one of his deputies send a messenger bird to tell them to stop their search, said that their "target" returned home by himself".

" . . . I'm sorry".

"Don't be. I know how important the farm is-".

"Its not more important then you-".

"But would dad have wanted you to give it away?"

"Of course not!-"

"Then you did the right thing-".

"But he would have wanted me to if it meant saving you!!!" she shouted.

An awkward silence ensued the cell for several moments, as Dean sat up in his place.

He looked to his mother as he said, "finish your story".

Mrs. Do looked to her son with saddened eyes as she took a deep breath. "After we were caught, Tumbleweed commanded his deputies to take us into custody. There was a struggle and it ended with me in chains, yer father with pepper in his eyes, and Sugar, in the nick of time, escaping through the window. We were take'in into one a the sheriff office cells for a few hours before Tumbleweed had us dragged through town. Literally, they dragged us on chains until we stopped in front a Dodge Desserts-".

"Why did they take you there?"

"Cause apparently the first thing Sugar did when he escaped was warn his wife about the sheriff and his deputies. Guess he didn't realize that that would be the first place they would look fer him, cause the next thing I know I see a couple deputies have Mr. and Mrs. Sugar in chains. They both get'in dragged into the middle a the street with us".

"After that the sheriff tells the town that we're criminals fer break'in and enter'in and fer thievery. That we are the criminals! Can you believe that? The three of us were outraged! But poor Mrs. Sugar, that poor dear hadn't any clue what was go'in on. She was damn well surprised when she saw yer father and I. You know, cause she didn't know we were involved. Anyway, so after the sheriff shouts out this nonsense, Sugar completely loses it. Starts shout'in that he's a liar and he that he can prove it".

"I guess he was pretty desperate at that point, cause that stallion ends up throwing our evidence into the crowd. Now ah thought that Tumbleweed woulda snatched that document up fast and gotten rid a it. But before he could, some a the townsfolk grabbed and started read'in it. Started share'in it with one another too".

"The town knew the truth after that. Most of them had known he was no good, steal'in their property and send'in ponies to jail. But they had no idea their scheme was this big! They had no idea he had actually murdered somepony until now. They were furious, tried to start a riot, them townsfolk. But just as they did, Tumbleweed pulls out some fancy whistle and blows on it. A few seconds later, a whole bunch a ponies ah ain't never met before come outta nowhere! They started attack'in the townsfolk, stop'in them from start'in a riot. And once the chaos went down, Tumbleweed told us that these new ponies worked fer him. That they were his new deputies and the old ones were no longer work'in fer him".

"Are the deputies down here too?" asked Dean.

"Yes, all of them. He didn't have any a them killed, thank Celestia. But . . . what he did next . . . he . . . he", Mrs. Do couldn't finish. Her eye's watered as she recalled the events that transpired next. She folded her forehooves around her torso, holding dearly to herself as she tried holding back tears. Her lips quivered on gritted teeth as tear drops fell.

"Mom?" Dean returned to his laying position, hugging his mother close to him.

His mother accepted the hug, wrapping her forelegs around him. She placed her face hard into Dean's torso.

"I'm sorry! I just . . . I - i".

"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay" said Dean, trying and failing to comfort his mother.

She sniffed, "it's not okay! It's not! T-Tumbleweed got mad and said that t-there was no point in keep'in secrets since everypony knew! He didn't want anypony to fight back or question his authority! So to show everyone that he meant business he . . . he . . .".

She began weeping fiercely onto Dean. "He took a bow and shot yer father!!!"

Dean's eyes widened at his mother's sudden shout. His grip tightened as she said this.

Mrs. Do sniffed, took a deep breath, and continued weeping as she said, "he took a bow and shot yer father in the chest! He killed him!"

Dean's own eyes had began to water as he felt the same sorrow as his mother's. Sifting to rest his head closer to his mother, he allowed tears to fall as he stared to the wall behind her.

He felt he shouldn't ask this, but he had to know. He didn't want to come this far just to stop and cry. He was hurting, but he needed this information.

Finish the conversation, then morne, he decided.

"Mom, w-why did he spare you and Mrs. Sugar? A-And w-what happened to Mr. Sugar".

Speaking between sobs and breaths, Mrs. Do said, "h-he let Mrs. Sugar live because she was one of the few ponies in town who didn't know anything. Because she didn't get to read the documents. So he spared her life, but kept Mr. Sugar in this prison as insurance to make sure she doesn't come onto Tumbleweeds bad side. As fer me, he kept me because ah hadn't given him the farm yet. So ah had "unfinished business" with him, as he called it. Ah asked why didn't he just kill me and steal the land, but he said he had his reasons. Wouldn't say what those reasons were".

" . . . And did dad . . . did he say . . . anything? Before he died?" asked Dean.

Mrs. Do sobbed for a brief moment, before forcing her emotions silent so she could speak. She looked straight into her son's eyes, her eyes more bloodshot then before, and smiled. "He was awake long enough to give his goodbyes. He said he loved me. And he wanted me to tell you, as soon as ah saw you again, to tell you that he loved you. And how proud he was of you".

Dean didn't speak. A fresh wave of tears flowed rapidly as stared back into his mother's eyes. Silently crying.

Gently, Mrs. Do placed a hoof to her son's cheek. Smiling, she said, "he loves you and is so proud of you Dean. Ah know things seem bad now, but just you wait. Things will get better, ah just know it. And as fer yer father, ah bet he's looking down on us right now. Think'in how grateful he is that his son is at least home".


MEANWHILE


"Ah cannot believe you brought ma son home!!!" Mr. Do shouted, angrily.

After Mr. Do had revealed himself to Mrs. Sugar and the Doctor, he retold the story from his point of view. From Mr. Sugar convincing him to help him investigate. All up to the point where everypony had witnessed his false death.

Along the story, the Doctor and Mr. Do would occasionally argue with each other back and forth.

Mr. Do's story coming to a halt as their argument continued once more. This time arguing about Dean.

"Well what did you want me to do? Leave him stranded and alone?" asked the Doctor, angrily.

"Ahm not saying that! Ahm glad you found ma son but you coulda taken him anywhere else-".

"Oh like where!?"

"Anywhere! Literally anywhere! Mixon, the South Colonies, heck, you coulda taken him outta country! Somewhere like Britain! He woulda fit in just fine with his accent! But you just had to bring him here!-"

"We didn't know it was dangerous!"

"He hasn't received any letters from us fer a long time! Ah think that would be indication that something's go'in on!"

"And even if Dean had told me that, which he never mentioned, that would have given us more motivation to come here!"

"That should tell you not to come here! Not to come faster!"

"That would have made us worry!"

"Why would you be worried about us!?! We don't know you! Now ah don't know how you know Dean, but he wouldn't be here in this town full a murderers if it weren't fer you!!!"

"Your son barely escapes Discord from Mane city, loses all his money on supplies only to get lost in a forest, and, beleive it or not, gets himself involved with more murderers! So yes! I brought him home safely! But by all means, shoot me!"

"Both of you stop!" Mrs. Sugar shouted, catching their attentions. 

The Doctor and Mr. Do went silent for a moment, looking to Mrs. Sugar then back to each other.

"Is now really the time to be fight'in?" asked Mrs. Sugar.

"No, it ain't" said Mr. Do.

Mrs. Sugar looked crossly to the Doctor as she received silence from his response. "Well?"

"What?"

"Is now the time to be fight'in?"

"Well . . . technically he started it-".

"Doctor!"

"No! Now's not the time to be fighting! And . . .", the Doctor sighed. "I'm sorry, if I had known your town was in this state I would have taken Dean somewhere safe. Be as it may, Dean would have been in a much worse situation if it weren't for me. I understand that you're upset Mr. Do, however, I'd appreciate it if you didn't take your anger out on me".

Mr. Do looked away in shame as he said, "yer right, I'm sorry. I've just been . . . on edge. This past week hasn't been easy on me, fer any a us, actually. While I've been keep'in in the shadows, stalk'in up on food and make'in sure ah don't get caught. The rest a the town as been have'in to deal with Tumbleweed and his deputies. Boy I'd wish ah knew why he's do'in all this. I don't like be'in stuck without a clue".

"Same here as well. The most info we have is that he's doing all this because he was told too by somepony else, his boss. Hmm . . . well, putting that aside for now, I'm still curious as to how exactly you're still alive Mr. Do. Everyone else seems to think you're dead, how did this happen?"

"Ah, well, as ah told you, that no good Tumbleweed blew on his whistle and had his secret deputies come outta hide'in. After they prevented the townsfolk from riot'in he said he wanted to make an example to the town. Make sure they didn't disrespect his authority or anything. So, he used me fer his example. Took a long bow and shot me right here-".

Mr. Do stripped his jacket, revealing a large, whitish brown, square cloth tied onto his wound. He untied the cloth used to hold his bandage in place and allowed it to fall to the ground. He removed the cloth, revealing a mid-sized black and brown hole. Some of it had healed, those parts being sealed by a scab. However, a large majority of the wound was still wide open.

The Doctor approached Mr. Do, placing his head inches to the wound so he could observe it closely. "He was aiming for your heart and missed". Gently, the Doctor placed a hoof to the wound, "its nonfatal".

"I'd appreciate you not touching it" said Mr. Do, cringing.

The Doctor stopped and back away. "Sorry, just a bit, er, surprised. He was really close to giving you a fatal wound. And with all of you chained and helpless, Tumbleweed would have had plenty of time to shoot and kill you with no mistakes. Was Tumbleweed far from you when he fired?

"Er, he was about six meters, ah reckon."

"Really? That's about twenty steps away. Probably wanted to show off. Even so, at that range he could, no, should have killed you! You were a chained, defenseless, immobile target! So, how did he miss?"

"Probably just a bad shot", said Mr. Do.

"Yes . . . perhaps", said the Doctor, feeling this wasn't the correct answer.

He thought for a moment, then asked, " so how exactly did you manage to survive?"

"Well, after he shot me ah told ma wife ma goodbyes then passed out. I really thought ah was going to die you see. The next thing ah knew ah was wake'in up in the middle a the desert not even a mile away from town! Guess they didn't bother checking to see if ah was alive still. They just assumed ah was dead so they left ma body for the vultures. A way a get'in rid a me without do'in the dirty work themselves, lousy no good scumbags!"

"So after that ah snuck back into town-".

"Why didn't you just leave and go get help?" asked Mrs. Sugar.

"Ah had a hole in ma chest! You really think ah would go out in the desert and get guards? Do'in that woulda killed me! I'm lucky to even be alive now!"

"No kidding, you've lost a considerable amount of blood and, from the looks of it, you haven't cleaned it very well", said the Doctor.

"Get'in clean water has been a challenge fer me".

"I see, so you survived and went into hiding in this . . . um . . .", the Doctor paused and looked to his surrounding. "Where are we?"

"A secret self made cave! When ah was a colt ma friends and ah loved dig'in holes! We would get into trouble cause some ponies would fall into them. So we decided to start dig'in in places that no pony usually walked in. Like the alley outside, no pony ever walked in it. So ma friends and ah dug there. We just kept dig'in and dig'in in the same spot everyday until we ended up make'in this cave! About two meter down, underneath the Quills and Sofas shop".

"Even after all these years nopony has ever found it! All ma friends and ah have grown up, but we still keep this cave a secret. Nopony except them knows about it!"

"Well, that's convenient. You survive getting shot, hide in this cave, and what? Scavage supplies while you were in hiding?"

"Yes sir".

"Okay, you seem like you knew what you were doing but what happens next? You can't hide forever, and if you don't get that wound properly treated then you definantly have no chance of living for too long. What were you planning to do after hiding?"

"Honestly, ah ain't too sure. I decided to stay in hide'in fer a while before come'in up with someth'in. And yer right about ma injury, it's start'in to hurt real bad these past few days. I was in town yesterday morn'in look'in fer someth'in fer ma injury when a spotted you and ma son come into town".

"You saw us?"

"Ah was in the alley, you almost caught me".

"That was you?"

"Yes sir it was me. After that ah decided to spy on you two, ah didn't know who you were or why you were with ma son so ah didn't feel comfortable come'in outta hide'in just yet-".

"But you must have seen Dean leave at one point", the Doctor interjected.

"Yes ah did. Saw him gallop outta there without his bag and hold'in yer hat. Ah tried follow'in him but the colt was too fast! Couldn't keep up  thanks to this injury a mine. But ah knew where he was go'in, if ah wasn't hurt ah woulda stopped him before he made it to the sheriff's office. But ah couldn't, so he's stuck there". Mr. Do looked away, his look of shame returning.

"Don't be ashamed Mr. Do, there was nothing you can do. If you did overexert your body to catch up to Dean then you would have most likely cause your wound to reopen entirely. And that would have killed you", said the Doctor.

"Ah know, ah know . . . but Celestia knows what's happen'in to him".

The Doctor scoffed, "Celestia? The tartarus does Celestia know? Nothing! That's what! But you and Sugar and I know just enough!"

"What do you mean?" asked Mrs. Sugar, slightly taken aback to hear the Doctor speak this way about the princess. 

"I'm saying that we have just enough info to fight back against Tumbleweed! Not all of it, but once it's over I'll find out exactly who Tumbleweed is working for!"

"Once whats over?" asked Mrs. Sugar.

The Doctor looked to Mrs. Sugar with a look of determination. "We're going to bust into the sheriff's office, find Dean and the other ponies, and free this town from Tumbleweed!"

"Now that sounds like a plan!" said Mr. Do, smiling.

Mrs. Sugars eyes widened, "what! You can't be serious! There's only three of us by ourselves fight'in against these guys!?"

"Mrs. Sugar, do you want to see your husband again?" asked the Doctor.

"I, well, yes but-".

The Doctor came close to Mrs. Sugar and placed a reassuring hoof to her shoulder. Smiling, he said, "we're going to free your husband and you two will live in this town safely again".

"But there's too many of them!"

"Dean and I outnumbered you two to one and that didn't seem to stop you with that bat".

"What bat?" asked Mr. Do.

"Oh that was different! There was two a you! There's at least fifty deputies!"

"And are you going to let those fifty deputies stop you from seeing your husband again?" asked the Doctor.

" . . . I . .".

"Well?"

Mrs. Sugar thought for a moment, looking to the Doctor with fearful eyes. Slowly, she sighed, "no. I'm not gonna let them stop me from see'in ma husband!"

"That's the spirit!" said the Doctor, giving her a friendly pat as he turned away. "Game plan, let's begin-".

"Now hold up, what was that you said about a bat?"

"Nevermind that! Now, here's what we're going to do. The three of us are going to need to break into that office in order to find out where Tumbleweed is keeping all his prisoners! Sure enough there are going to be a few deputies in the way. However, after that deputy from earlier attacked Mrs. Sugar and I, we now know that Tumbleweed knows about me and has his stallions searching for me. That sounds bad, but if we plan it right, we can use this to our advantage!"

"What do you propose we do then?" asked Mr. Do.

The Doctor grinned, "here's how we're going to break in!"


MEANWHILE
 

Tumbleweed awoke with a start. Dripping sweat, he wiped his brow as he looked to the clock beside his bed.

"Three in the morn'in? Damn nightmares, still got a few more hours a sleep!" Sighing with a dry mouth, Tumbleweed slipped out of bed and walked downstairs. 

On the first floor of his home, he walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of cool, refreshing water from a pitcher in his fridge. 

He drank the liquid, placed the cup beside his sink, and exited his kitchen.

"Good morning sir" said a voice.

Tumbleweed gasped in surprise as he looked to his left.

A deputy stood there, looking at him with confusion at his boss's startlement.

Tumbleweed sighed, having forgotten that he had two deputies in his home as guards. One for day shift, one for night shift.

"Morn'in", he said grumpily, turning away.

He walked a few feet before stopping. He turned to the deputy and asked, "have any of the other deputies returned yet?"

The deputy shook his head, "no sir, none of them have returned".

Tumbleweed growled, "they better get here before noon tomorrow, or their all gonna be in trouble!"

"Should ah send another messenger bird?"

"Don't bother, the one from earlier should suffice. Just keep guard and wake me if they return".

"Yes sir!".

Tumbleweed turned away, walking upstairs and returning to the comfort of his bed. He chuckled as he thought about the hours to come. 

"By tomorrow, that farm will be mine! Then, ah will officially own all of Dodge Junction! And best of all, once them deputies are back, ah can finally get rid a those prisoners once and fer all!"


MEANWHILE


"So, any questions?" Asked the Doctor, having finished explaining the plan.

Mrs. Sugar raised a hoof.

"Yes Sugar".

"Are you sure this is going to work? It sounds dangerous".

"Of course it's dangerous! One single mistake is all it will take to get us killed!"

Mrs. Sugar gulped.

"But don't worry! Stick to the plan and you'll be fine! You just need to have faith".

"Welp, we better get move'in. We only have a few hours a darkness left", said Mr. Do.

"Oh! Hold on! Before we leave, can you show me your wound Mr. Do?"

"Why?"

"Well we can't have you help us free the prisoners with your injury. Let me tend to it so you can work properly".

"I don't know-".

"Hey! I'm a doctor! Don't you trust me?"

"Ah still don't know you-".

"And I said I'll tell you after this is over! Your wound, bring it, now!" The Doctor said sternly.

Mr. Do sighed and complied, "fine".

"Now, as soon as I finish we'll head out. Just a warning in advance, if you feel a burning sensation, do try to remain calm. You'll make this more difficult if you panic".

"Why would ah feel a- WHOH NELLY!"

"I told you to remain calm!"

"What in tarnations are you!- . . . . Are you crying on me?"


MEANWHILE


"Alright stallions! Five more minutes a break, then we head off!" the head pony shouted.

He walked from the group to the edge of the hill they rested on. He took out a telescope from his saddlebag and looked into the horizon.

"How much further?" asked an orange stallion, walking to his side.

"About five more miles. If we hurry, we should get back to Dodge Junction by sunrise".

"Why don't we sleep fer the night and continue in the morn'in?"

"Ah told you! The boss says Dean returned on his own! We don't need to search fer him anymore! We gotta get back to town as fast as possible so we can finish the job once and fer all! The boss'll be mighty angry if we don't hurry!"

"What does he need us for? Can't he kill them prisoners without us?"

"No, he can't! There ain't enough deputies back at Dodge Junction to keep things in order. If the boss tries to kill them prisoners without us and the town fights back, he'll be in serious danger! We gotta get back and make sure to keep them townsfolk in line during the execution".

"RIght, ah see. Welp, guess since ah won't be get'in sleep tonight, I'll just whip ma self up a hot cup a joe".

"Get me one too will ya?"

"Sure thing" said the orange deputy, returning to the group of thirty deputies. 

All of them, resting before making their return to Dodge Junction.
> Corruption in Dodge Junction: Part Three (S1C2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two deputies sat at a desk, keeping watch at the front entrance of the sheriff's office.

One was fading in and out of consciousness, trying hard to keep himself awake.

The other was reading a magazine on gryffon cuisines. Or, that's what it seemed to his partner. Secretly, he had a very inappropriate magazine tucked beneath the cover of a gryffon cuisines magazine. He smiled slyly as he flipped through the pages with great enthusiasm. 

Suddenly, the two heard a knock to the door. 

The two looked to each other, then to their desk clock, then back to each other. Both with confused expressions.

"Who could that be?" asked the one reading the magazine.

"Don't know, ah think you should check and see".

"Why me? I've done more work tonight!"

"Read'in about gryffon cuisines ain't work".

"And neither is sleeping!"

"Just check the door!"

His partner sighed and placed the magazine to the table (cover facing up), "fine!"

He walked to the door and opened it, revealing the Doctor.

The Doctor held a cane in his left hoof and wore a monocle on his left eye. He had his back arched, his eyes squinted, and his mouth puckered slightly. Making him appear older then he actually was.

Speaking in a raspy, wheezy tone, the Doctor said, "excuse me sonny. I'm looking for a young, gray stallion named Dean. Have you seen him?"

An expression of confusion evident, the deputy asked, "uh, and who might you be?"

"I'm the Doctor".

"You? You're the Doctor?"

"That's correct".

He looked to his partner for a moment, both with sly smiles. He then looked back to the Doctor and said, "well, come on in! We'll show you where your friend is!"

"Thank you young stallion" said the Doctor, walking in with a limp, using his cane as support. 

He followed the deputy to the desk and sat in a seat given to him. He groaned as he did so, "oh my. These old bones sure are giving me trouble tonight".

"Would you like a painkiller?" asked the deputy, giving a false kind tone.

"No that's alright, I don't need that, thanks anyway".

The deputy nodded and sat back with his partner. "So Doctor, you said you came look'in fer Dean. He a friend a yers?"

"Oh yes, we've been traveling together for awhile now".

"Really, so what are you going to do when you find him?"

"Well, first we're going to Britain, see some of the sites. We'll vacation there for a bit before deciding where to go next".

"So you two are just travelers? Nothing more then that?"

"Nope, nothing more then that".

"Nothing at all? You're not planning something specific or doing anything . . . important?" said the sleepy deputy, seeking answers.

"No, not really . . . well, there is one thing".

"And what would that be?"

"Well, you see, I had this really great idea where-", suddenly, the Doctor jerked and froze.

The two deputies smiles faltered slightly as he did so. "Uh, Doctor . . . you were say'in".

The Doctor didn't continue. Placing a hoof to his chest, he rolled his eyes to the back of his head as he fell out of his chair and onto the floor.

The two deputies rose from their seats and rushed to the Doctor's side.

"What in tarnations!?!" one shouted.

"What's wrong with him?" the other asked.

The Doctor held tightly to his chest, clutching his vest in a clump as he foamed from the mouth. His body jerking as he appeared to be suffocating.

"Ah think he's have'in a heart attack!" 

"What do we do!?! We can't send him to the boss dead! He wants him alive!"

"Go get the first aid kit from under the desk!"

The magazine reading deputy did so. Rushing from the desk and back to the Doctor with the first aid kit.

He quickly opened the kit, nearly breaking the box in two with his haste. He rummaged messily through its contents, uncertain of what to use. 

"What am ah supposed to grab! Bandages? Er, this bottle a anti-venom?-"

"You idiot! That's fer snake bites! It won't work!"

"Well what do ah grab!?!"

"Ah don't know! I've never helped a stallion with a heart attack before!"

"Uh! Uh! Oh! What about this shot a adrenaline!"

"That'll make it worse! Dagnabit, this ain't gonna work! We need a doctor right now!"

"But he's a doctor-".

"And he's the one who needs help stupid!"

"Oh sweet Celestia! What are we supposed to do when a doctor needs a doctor!?!"

Suddenly, the Doctor froze. The tension on his grip slipped away, and his eyes close. He appeared to have fallen out of consciousness. His body jerked no more, remaining still.

The two looked to each other with scared looks. 

"Oh no".

"The boss'll kill us when he finds out the Doctor's dead!"

"Hey! Who said the boss'll find out? We can hide the body before anyone finds out!"

"But what'll the boss say when no one finds the Doctor? The other deputies in town are look'in fer him".

"Well there never gonna find him! Cause we're gonna hide his body and nopony will ever know, got that?"

The Doctor sighed, "you two are just adorable, you know that?"

The two jerked their heads to the Doctor, their eyes bulging in shock. "What!?! Yer alive!?!"

The Doctor laughed as he wiped the false foam from his mouth and placed his monocle into his vest pocket.. "Wow, was my acting really that convincing? I should be in theater again".

"Wha- acting!?!" the sleepy deputy shouted.

The Doctor placed his forelegs behind his head as he lay comfortably. Taking satisfaction as he looked up to the two shocked faces. "Are you really that afraid of your boss? Or are the both of you cowards?"

A moment of silence passed as the deputies stared at the Doctor.

Then, the two deputies reached for their belts, taking their bag of pepper powder. 

"You better start talk'in old stallion!? What in tarnations did you just do!?!"

"Oh, nothing, nothing at all. Except distract the both of you while my accomplice broke into the sheriff's office, found the documents we needed, and is standing right behind you".

"Behind!?!" 

The two turned quickly, seeing Mr. Do standing to the door. Smiling mischievously as he held a tied scroll in his forelegs. 

"Evening fellas" he said calmly.

The two turned back to the Doctor when he heard him laugh. 

He had taken off the handle end of his cane and was taking of the bottom end, twisting it off like a cap. "Oh and I should probably mention that although I may seem old, I don't need a cane at all. Have either of you ever seen a homemade blow pipe?"

The two deputies, both realizing what the Doctor meant by this, gasped and turned to run.

They were too slow.

The Doctor blew into one end of the wooden pipe, causing large amounts of burning pepper powder to blow out the other end. 

Mr. Do had exited the front, getting out of harm's way.

The other two weren't so fortunate. The deputies screamed as they felt the powder cover them from head to hoof. Each had their eyes closed tightly as to prevent powder from penetrating a place as sensitive as there. The magazine reading deputy had actually fallen to the floor, unable to stand in his agony.

Mr. Do took this opportunity to re enter the building. Wearing gloves, he walked up to the sleepy deputy and threw his head into the wall, knocking him unconscious. He then grabbed the deputy on the floor, lifted him, then slammed him onto the desk. Causing the deputy to break through the desk and crash hard onto the floor. He lost consciousness upon impact with the desk.

Ripping off the peppery gloves (as to not get any powder on himself by accident), Mr. Do said, "so, that went well".

"Yup, everything went according to plan. Brilliant! Now onto phase two! Documents, hand them over please".,said the Doctor, throwing the blow pipe aside.

Mr. Do complied and tossed him the scroll. He looked to the pipe lying on the ground as he did so. "You got any more pepper fer that pipe? We might need it."

The Doctor caught and untied the scroll, rolling it open and reading its contents. Mr. Do could see the Doctor's eyes move left to ride as he read fast, finishing within seconds.

The Doctor spoke as he finished, "nope, that was all the pepper from the deputy we left tied in the cave. That and the pipe itself is only good for one use. We'd have to clean it in order to use it again or it'll burn the one using it."

"How long would that take?"

"Too long- Ooh! Ooh hoo hoo hoo! Clever!" The Doctor exclaimed.

"What is?"

The Doctor looked up from the scroll to Mr. Do, grinning. "This document is just another set of instructions, the last set. There's still one more".

"Another document!?"

"Yes, just one, the last document. The one that has all the answers. And I know where it is".

"Where?"

"Before I answer that I need to know, was there an earthquake by any chance? One powerful enough to shake the whole town? Possibly one within the last year or so?"

"Uh, I don't see what that has to do with this. But yeah, we had a bad earthquake, possibly the worst one this town's ever had about a few months  ago".

"How bad?"

"It broke a hole in our cemetery and destroyed the grave watchers house! On the other side a town. Took months to clean everything up!"

"And what has happened to the grave watchers house since then?"

"It was rebuilt but the poor watcher didn't want to live there anymore. Got paranoid that another earthquake might hit his house so he moved to a house inside the town. After that, the house was abandoned, nopony lives there anymore".

"Really? Nopony lives there? Tell me, where does Tumbleweed live?"

"The mayor's house".

"How do you know?"

"Cause he's the one in charge a this town now! It only makes sense".

"So that's your answer? An assumption? Nopony really knows where he lives?"

"Why is this important Doctor?"

"Its important because your assumptions have caused you all to blind yourselfs from the truth! Nopony knows where he lives! After all his time being here!? How is that possible!? If at least one pony had opened their eyes just a bit more then it would have been obvious!"

"So Tumbleweed doesn't live in the mayor's house?"

"No, he lives in the cemetery".

"What, really? It says that on the document?"

"See for yourself", said the Doctor, walking to Mr. Do and handing him the document.

Mr. Do took the scroll and began reading. As he did, the Doctor said, "that wasn't an earthquake Mr. Do, it was an explosion. You'll see on the document that Tumbleweed was instructed to set explosives in the cemetery, set it off, and clean the evidence. So when your original town deputies searched the cemetery, they didn't find any explosive remains, burn marks, or evidence of the cemetery having been tampered with. And because your town little to never get earthquakes, as said on the doc, you and the rest of the townsfolk just passed this event off as an earthquake. Even the town's ponies thought that that was what an earthquake sounds like when the explosives went off-".

"Earthquakes don't sound like that?" Asked, Mr. Do.

"Er, n-no, not at all. Really, what is with ponies secluding themselves in their towns to the point where they can't tell the difference between an earthquake and a bomb? Anyway, as I was saying. After that Tumbleweed had his stallions work on the reconstruction of the cemetery. He tricked the mayor into thinking they were legitimate construction workers. This gave them full freedom to do as they please with the cemetery and the grave watchers house. And with the grave watcher no longer living there and nopony ever going to the house, this allowed them to build anything without their plans being discovered!"

As the Doctor finished, Mr. Do read the last words to the document. He looked to the Doctor with wide eyes. "He's keeping the prisoners in his home!"

"In a secret prison, built underneath the house! That's also where he's keeping the finale documents!"

"How long was this planned for!? This seems to well planned fer it to be done by any ol criminals!"

"No, they are just ordinary criminals, the lot of them. Even Tumbleweed. Its the boss who's more then meets the eye. He's the one that planned this, he's the one who gave the instructions, he is the mastermind to this".

"If he so smart, why's it say here that in the instructions that Tumbleweed need's to get signatures to get the ponies property? Wouldn't it be faster just to take their property by force? Cause this plan seems awfully slow."

"Ah, but you see, Do. Not every good plan is fast. Some of the most strategic ones are the slowest. It doesn't say why in the instructions, but I know exactly why Tumbleweed needs to obtain these signatures."

"And why' that?"

"He wants to make his scheme appear as legal as possible. With signatures, it'll appear that the townsfolk gave full, legal, ownership of their property to Tumbleweed. It would be very obvious if he had just taken the property by force."

"But won't anypony check and see if this is legitimate. Cause even by a legal standpoint, it doesn't seem likely that everypony in the whole gosh darn town would just give away their property fer free."

"Normally yes, however, Tumbleweed's boss, who ever he is, couldn't have chosen a better time to put his plan into action. All property related transactions, such as this one, would go to the main leader of the town or city. And because the mayor is, well, not around anymore, then it would go to someone with higher authority. Thus, it would go to someone who works at the Mane City castle, because they have the highest authority over any mayor or leader. The ones with the highest authority would be, of course, the princesses. However, as of currently, Mane City is covered in chaos magic which prevents anyone with authority to look into our situation. Which means that no one from Mane City nor the princess will look into the property transactions between Tumbleweed and the townsfolk. Tumbleweed is free to do as he wishes and if it even seems a little legal, just barely, then no one with authority will investigate. And I'll bet whoever Tumbleweed's working for knew this from the start! He's using Discord as his advantage for power!

"Well then we gotta get those documents and find out who he is!"

"Saving the prisoners first of course", said the Doctor.

"In that case, after you", said Mr. Do, holding the door open for the Doctor.

"Thank you kindly", said the Doctor, exiting the sheriff's office, followed by Mr. Do.

Once outside, Mrs. Sugar quickly popped from around the corner of the building, rushing to the two stallions. "Did you get it? Do you know where they are?"

"Yes and no, we didn't find the specific documents needed. However, we did find the last set of instructions. And these instructions tell us exactly where both the prisoners and the final documents are", the Doctor explained.

"Where at?" asked Mrs. Sugar.

"Tumbleweeds home, in the cemetery".

"Cemetery!?! Tumbleweed lives there? Ah thought he lived in the mayor's house".

"Yup, seems like everypony thought that", said the Doctor, rather annoyed.

"Why does he live there? I thought it was abandoned".

"We'll explain on the way. Nice job being look out by the way. Now, Sugar, Do, you two ready?"

"Ready to get ma family back and kick Tumbleweeds flank? Absolutely!" said Mr. Do, with great enthusiasm. 

"As ready as I'll ever be", said Mrs. Sugar, with a hint of fear present.

"Brilliant, then let's get moving", said the Doctor, taking lead as he and the other two made their way to the cemetery.


TWENTY MINUTES LATER


The only pony awake in Tumbleweed's home was a single deputy, sitting on the living room couch taking guard of the household. His blank stare pinned onto the ceiling. 

Nothing interesting had happened that night. He had slept during the day within this home so that he could stay awake during his night shift. So he hadn't partaked in any of the events that had occurred during the day. Such as when Dean and his friend returned to town, or being part of the search teams that went to find the Doctor.

He was left out entirely, waking up midday and preparing himself for his usual mundane shift. Only then did he find out from his partners what had happened outside the home of Tumbleweed. 

He was a little urked, having missed out on the excitement. He is always left out when something new happens. He never leaves the house and nopony ever comes here so the need for a guard is inexistent. He had no problems staying awake during his shift, and nothing dangerous ever occurs. Its the boredom that becomes his biggest dilemma.

He sighed, wishing for a change in his dull night.

A knock at the door caught his attention, forcing him from his thoughts.

He looked uneasily to the door, fear building slowly within as he placed a hoof to the sword on his belt. Standing from his seat, he took haste to the door, choosing a rabbit's pace instead of a snail's. 

Approaching the door within seconds, he decided to prepare himself for whatever stranger stood within inches of him. The wooden door being the only barrier between them.

He knew it was a stranger, it certainly wasn't a townsfolk and deputies aren't supposed to come here. Any deputies to return to town should rest at their scheduled homes until the time of execution. That was in the letter Tumbleweed sent, the deputies wouldn't dare disobey his orders. They knew full well what would happen if they did.

This was an enemy, it had to be, there's no other explanation!

The paranoid deputy, regretting his wish, grabbed the door handle. Without thinking, he swung the door open with full force while simultaneously extracting the sword from his scabbard.

He swung fiercely at the empty air in front of him. Stabbing, slashing, and swinging what was supposed to be his enemy. Only did the need for a breather caused the deputy to realize the silliness of his actions; as he looked about to the lonely cemetery around him.

He took a deep breath and chuckled, seeing that he was alone. 

Returning the sword to his scabbard, the deputy nearly turned to walk inside as he saw something from the corner of his eye.

A single, golden coin, laying seven feet away from him.

Smiling at his luck, the deputy walked to the coin and happily picked it up. Observing the gold for a moment, the deputy flipped the coin into the air with glee. "Just ma luck, I found me a bit! Guess ma night wasn't so bad afterall!"

"I hate to say this, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to change that", said a voice.

The deputy froze as he felt the tip of something sharp being placed against his neck. Immediately recognizing it as a dagger, the deputy slowly turned. 

Mr. Do had a dagger placed to his throat. The Doctor stood beside him, frowning angrily at the deputy, and Mrs. Sugar stood close to the Doctor, looking fearfully to the deputy.

"You're going to take us to the prison hidden beneath this building. And you're going to do it silently, obediently, and with haste. Do I make myself clear?" asked the Doctor.

Looking between the three ponies with panic, the deputy said, "you think ahm gonna just go and show you the prison? How do you even know about that? No ponies supposed to know!"

"It doesn't matter how we know, fact is we do. And you're going to take us there now!"

"Why should I?"

The deputy gulped as he felt the dagger blade press hard to his neck. Having enough force to nearly start cutting.

"Does the dagger answer your question? If not, then perhaps a bit more "explaining" would be needed-".

"No! Don't! I-I'll show you the prison! Just don't hurt me!" The deputy said loudly.

The Doctor smirked, "lead the way".

The Deputy complied, walking back the building with the Doctor, Mr. Do, and Mrs. Sugar following close behind.

The four ponies entered into the small, cozy house. Its interior was very comfortable to the Doctor.

A red couch, cream colored walls, red bricked fireplace, mahogany coffee table with a stack of magazines placed atop, glass chandelier, a red and white square rug beneath the table, and various plants placed around the room. The Doctor liked Tumbleweeds tastes in home decor. If he didn't know better he'd think that he and Tumbleweed could have had a decent conversation on the subject. He would have been quite comfy if the lot hadn't been in danger, and this was just from the living room.

"Well? Where is it?" asked the Doctor.

"Here", said the deputy, pointing to the rug beneath the table.

The Doctor immediately went to one side of the table and pushed it aside. He then took the rug and pushed that aside as well. Underneath was a square, metal door with an inward handle and keyhole attached to the floor. 

"He kept the entrance to the prison smack dab in the living room?" asked Mr. Do.

"Kept it hidden in plain sight, in case anypony unwelcomed did happen to come in the house, clever", the Doctor explained. He looked to the deputy, "key, now".

"I-I don't have it" the deputy stammered.

"Don't lie!"

"I swear! The boss never gave us a key!"

"Well how are you supposed to get in when it's time to feed or water them?" asked the Doctor.

"W-We don't . . . actually . . . give them food or water", the deputy said weakly, knowing this would infuriate the three.

He was correct.

Upon hearing this, the three ponies glared with pure hate towards the now shaking deputy. The deputy felt the knife press hard enough to his neck the it had cut the top layer of skin. Any further and he'll start bleeding.

"You don't do what now partner!?" Mr. Do said, angrily.

"I'm sorry! T-The boss doesn't want the prisoners fed! He said there's no point if they're just going to die anyway-".

"What!?!" the three said in unison.

"Oh, y-you do know don't you? That's why you're trying to rescue them?" asked the Deputy.

The Doctor came close to the deputy, glaring solemnly to his eyes, "know about what?"

"O-Oh, guess you . . . didn't know-".

"Know about what!?!" said the Doctor, raising his volume higher yet not to where anyone sleeping would hear.

The deputy sunk his head in fear to the Doctor's anger. "T-The prisoners are going to be executed tomorrow! As soon as the other deputies get back to the town, that's when it'll begin".

"Other deputies? What other deputies?" Asked Mr. Do.

"The deputies that went to search fer Dean. But he's back now so they're all returning", the deputy explained.

"They sent search parties out for Dean!?! Why wasn't I told of this!" The Doctor asked, looking to Mrs. Sugar and Mr. Do.

The two returned looks of confusion to the Doctor. 

"Ah didn't know! Ah swear!" Said Mrs. Sugar.

"Ah knew they were look'in fer ma colt around town, but ah didn't know they sent search parties", said Mr. Do.

"How did nopony!-" The Doctor groaned with annoyance, "good god! I'm learning something entirely brand new all along this adventure! Why can't I know this from the start!?! Make things simple!?! Alright, we need to get these prisoners out of town before the deputies return. Deputy, how long do we have before they return?"

"I'm not sure, Tumbleweed told them to return yesterday. They should be come'in back today-".

"Then we haven't much time. Brilliant, just brilliant! Okay! First we get the key, which Tumbleweed has I assume?" the Doctor asked, looking to the deputy.

The deputy nodded.

"Alright, I'll go and get it. As soon as we get the key and break in, we'll only have about ten minutes max to get every prisoner out of this house. We only have-". The Doctor looked to his pocket watch, "thirty minutes before the sun rises. If we're not out before then, we're in trouble. Therefore, no mucking around with hugs and kisses and any other lovey dovey stuff you'll want to do when you see your family. I know you're happy to see them but you can love them as much as you like when we get out of here-".

"What happens after we get everyone out of Dodge Junction Doc?" asked Mr. Do.

"These criminals will have to pay for their crimes. I'll take care of them while the rest of you are safely out of here. Oh don't give me those looks! I'll be fine! I know how to deal with ponies like this, I can take care of it!"

"What about the last document?" Asked Mrs. Sugar.

"Priorities, Sugar. Prisoners first, documents later. Alright, be back in a bit", said the Doctor, walking with haste towards the stairs.

He gently walked up the steps and down the hall. Cracking the doors and peering into each room to see which belonged to Tumbleweed. The last one at the end turned out to be the correct one.

Inside was Tumbleweed, sleeping soundly in his bed. 

The room itself was clean. It had a bluish white design, unlike the livings rooms red and cream design. It had a desk, and oval rug, a large dresser, and a blue queen sized bed. 

The Doctor slowly crept his way towards the desk, silencing his breathing as he did so. Years of experience clashed with his age. Making this both simple, yet extremely difficult to do. 

He had stealth, skills far better then even the most slyest of ponies. Yet he could feel, even hear the cracks of his old limbs with each step he took. 

A loud crack made him stop and look to Tumbleweeds direction, blinking sweat from his eyes as he did so.

A small snore gave the Doctor enough reassurance to continue.

Once at the desk, he gently opened each drawer, quietly rummaging through its contents to find what he needed.

He stopped when he accidently found more then he intended.

A scroll, with the word "Classified" written in great, big, bold, red letters across the front.

'The last documents?' Thought the Doctor, looking to Tumbleweed for a moment before slipping the scroll into his inner vest pocket. 'Tumbleweed hasn't fed the prisoners but the instructions didn't say he had to do that. Do these last documents tell him to do that? Or did he choose not to feed them on his own. Either way, Tumbleweed is sick for starving innocent prisoners. Gotta find that key fast.'

He rummaged for a few minutes before concluding that the key was not there. However, years of experience told him of a second place the key could be hiding.

With haste, he quietly walked to Tumbleweeds bedside and smiled to the handiness of his experience.

The Doctor knew the bad guys well. If they plan to hide a key they usually hide it in two places. One, in their desk, safe, or any other personal storage container. Or two, they would keep it on themselves at all times. And for some reason, when it is a key, the bad guys like to keep it on a chain or string. Wrapped around their necks.

And there it was, hanging around Tumbleweeds neck, a large silver key.

"Brilliant", the Doctor whispered, as he took hold of the key string, expertly taking it off of Tumbleweed without waking him. 

It only took seconds to get the key. Once he had it, he as quickly and quietly rushed back downstairs to the others.

Once in the living room, the Doctor smiled to the others, all of which were sitting on the couch, patiently waiting.

"Got it, let's move", said the Doctor, walking and crouching down to the metal door. He inserted the key and twisted the lock. Smiling with success at the sound of a click, the Doctor pulled the door open. Revealing a staircase.

"Alright everyone, ten minutes, chop, chop!" said the Doctor, running down stairs.

"Right behind you!" said Mr. Do, following close to the Doctor while pulling the deputy with him.

Mrs. Sugar, silently following from the back, kept as close as she could to Mr. Do.


IN THE PRISON


After hours of crying, sadness, and mourning, Dean and his mother had finally exhausted themselves to sleep.

The two laid close, cuddling one another for comfort.

Dead had his head placed against his mother's foreleg, using it as his pillow. He had one foreleg resting on his mother's chest while the other place against his mouth. He suckled the tip of his hoof as he slept his dreamless, uncomfortable, slumber. His mother had her other foreleg over her sons head, holding him ever so gently.

With only an hour worth of sleep, Dean felt rather grumpy upon being woken so abruptly.

He groaned as he heard his name being repeated again and again. 

"Dean! Dean! Wake up!"

"No! Don't wanna!" Dean replied with a whine in his tone.

"Dean for god's sake! Wake up!"

"OW!" Dean shouted, having felt someone smack his head. He sat up, rubbing the spot that had been smacked. He looked to the one who had smacked him and immediately felt wide awake as he did so. 

There, standing above him, was that familiar, well dress, old white pegasus, smiling to him.

"Doctor!" Dean shouted in surprised.

"Hello there, did you miss me?" said the Doctor, sarcastically.

Dean rushed forward and hugged the Doctor hard, "you're alive!"

The Doctor, slightly taken aback said, "of course I'm alive! Why wouldn't I be?"

"B-But I thought that Mrs- HER!" Dean shouted, spotting Mrs. Sugar standing behind the Doctor.

She blushed in shame as she looked to Dean, avoiding eye contact as she did so. 

"The tartarus is she doing here!?!" Dean shouted, releasing the Doctor and taking a step back.

"Mrs. Sugar has been helping me rescue you".

"Rescue me? After she bloody well tried to murder me with that bat of hers!?!"

"She didn't try to murder you. She was just desperate! She thought that if she could subdue you and take you to the sheriff she could get her husband back", the Doctor explained.

"Oh, really? Sell me out to Tumbleweed? Is that all? Well that's a relief, I thought she was going to do something worse. Oh thank Celestia that's all she was going to do!" said Dean, evidently sarcastic.

"I'm sorry Dean! Ah just wanted ma husband back", said Mrs. Sugar, tears forming in her eyes.

"Well you can get him and get out of my sight!" Dean shouted angrily.

"Dean, take it easy-".

"And what about you!?! What happened to you!? And where have you been this whole time!?!" Dean asked, cutting the Doctor off.

"She knocked me out and locked me in a box but it's fine now! I forgave her and everything is working brilliantly between us-".

"Is it?"

"Yes-".

"Why!?! She knocks you out and locks you in a box and you, what, forgive her!?! I've seen what kind of things you can do, why didn't you show her a little bit of what you've got-".

"Because that's not how I do things Dean! I don't go seeking revenge for something as little as this! Sure she hit me with a bat! I'm not going to murder the mare for it! And besides, she was doing it for her husband! She was doing the wrong thing for the right thing! Does that sound familiar?"

"I-", Dean stopped for a moment and thought. Images of a pink earth pony with blue hair filled his mind as he did so.

"I think she deserves forgiveness Dean, for what she did", said the Doctor.

Dean looked to the Doctor with a look. An odd look, one with a mixture of confusion, hate, sadness, and sympathy.

Only the Doctor was able to read every evident emotion.

Slowly, Dean walked to Mrs. Sugar,extended a hoof, and said simply, "I forgive you".

Mrs. Sugar held back tears and she pushed his hoof away, giving a hug instead of a shake.

Dean hesitated, then accepted.

Once released, the Doctor said, "alright Mrs. Sugar, go find your husband".

"Yes Doctor", said Mrs. Sugar, running out of Dean's open cell and down the hall.

The Doctor walked close to Dean and whispered, "and between you and me. The second reason I chose to forgive her was because I needed information on what was happening in this town".

"Didn't want to force the info out of her, did you?" 

"Nope, that's not how I like to do it. I like giving ponies kindness in exchange for their info instead of scaring it or torturing it out of them".

"Really? After what she did I would have expected you to want to get revenge, that's what most ponies would have done".

"Do I look like most ponies?"

Dean chuckled, "no, guess not. You know, if I didn't know better I would have mistaken you for a pacifist".

"Well its a good thing you know better then, isn't it. Now, we need to get moving before- hold on-". 

The Doctor came to sudden realization that he and Dean were not the only two in the cell. He turned around and saw a bewildered mare, having watched the conversation from the back the whole time. 

"Oh! Sorry about that! Got a bit distracted and forgot about you for a moment", said the Doctor. He approached Mrs. Do and extended a hoof. "Hello, I'm the Doctor".

Mrs. Do raised a brow in confusion. "Doctor who?"

"Just the Doctor", he replied.

Ignoring the Doctor's hoof, Mrs. Do looked to her son. "Dean, do you know this stallion?"

"Oh, uh, yes, actually. He's the Doctor-".

"His real name sugar cube".

"But that's it, the Doctor".

"His real name is "Doctor".

Dean nearly answered before replying with a shrug.

This caused concern for Mrs. Do, "okay "Doctor". How in Equestria do you know ma son! And why won't you tell us yer real name! Ah know no ma or pa would ever name their son "Doctor" so you must be lie'in!"

"Your son? Oh! You must be Mrs. Do! Its so nice to finally meet you-".

"Don't change the subject! How do you know ma son!?"

"Mom is now really the ti-".

"Yes now is perfectly well the time!"

"No Mrs. Do, I would have to disagree with you on that. Now is most certainly not the time".

"Oh yeah? And why's that?"

" . . . Are you-". The Doctor turned to Dean, "is she serious?" He looked back to Dean's mother, "Mrs. Do you are in a prison! I am trying to free you! And I, Mrs. Sugar, and your husband have worked really hard to get here! So if you could just-".

"Wait, what did you say?"

"Hmm? Say what?"

"What did you say about ma husband?"

"Um, oh! Right! Probably should have given you the news slowly so it wouldn't come too much as a shock. Well no point in keeping you from knowing now. Congratulations Mrs. Do! Your husband isn't dead!"

Both Dean and his mother fell silent in shock. Eyes wide and gaping at the Doctor.

As if on cue, Mr. Do came from behind the three, at the entrance of the cell.

"Everyone's free from their cell Doctor! We're ready to head out!" Just as Mr. Do finish speaking, he realized then who the Doctor had been speaking to.

Silence reigned awkwardly as Mrs. Do and Dean stared at their supposed "deceased" family member.

After a time that felt too long to the Doctor, Mr. Do spoke. 

"Hello", he said simply.

Mrs. Do gulped and responded slowly, "Dean . . . h-how?"

Mr. Do grinned, "I didn't die that day honey. Tumbleweed thought ah was dead and dropped me in the desert, but ah was alive".

"But mom said he shot you", said Dean.

"He did, right in ma chest. The Doctor checked me out though, said he was aim'in fer ma heart and missed. He called it a, er, "nonfatal wound" ah think".

"But you look just fine, where's yer marks?" asked Mrs. Do.

"Er, that's a little hard to explain-".

"Which is why you can do it later!" The Doctor interjected.

"Wait, did the Doctor cry on you?" asked Dean, Mrs. Do looking to the Doctor with a mixture of confusion and disgust as he did so. This cause the Doctor to facehoof and groan.

"Uh, yeah, he did actually-".

"For god's sake! Explanations later! You will know everything after we get out of Dodge Junction!"

"Doctor I thought my father was dead! Can't I have a few sec-".

"No you can't Dean! I'm sorry but we really, really need to get you and the other prisoners out of this town before tomorrow!"

"Why? What's happen'in tomorrow?" asked Mrs. Do.

"It's a bit complicated so here's the summed up version. Tumbleweed plans to kill you and the rest of prisoners tomorrow!"

"What! Why!?" asked Dean.

"Don't know, that's sorta the complicated part. But we can figure that all out later! For now, you and the prisoners, out now!"

"Come on you two, let's go!" said Mr. Do, leading Dean and Mrs. Do out the cell.

The Doctor exited the cell and ran towards the front of the prison, shoving aside prisoners having just been released as he did so as to move faster. He took notice of Mrs. Sugar embracing her husband as he ran and he noticed a few original deputies holding their sheriff; Cletus. He also took notice of Tumbleweeds deputy, struggling in his shackles as he was chained to one of the prison cells.

'Cletus definantly has it the worse, he'll need medical attention if he has a chance at surviving', thought the Doctor, stopping directly in front of the fifty one prisoners. 

The prisoners were too loud, shouting about in confusion as to what was happening. He needed to get their attention. He turned and stood on his hind legs, facing the prisoners.

The Doctor inhaled deeply before bellowing, "QUIET!!!"

The prisoners ceased their chatter and looked to the Doctor.

Staring solemnly at each and every prisoner, the Doctor said, "I am the Doctor, and you will all listen very closely to me! Because I'm only saying this once! And no questions! We haven't the time for that! Tumbleweed is going to kill each and every one of you later today!"

The prisoners gasped in unison, their chatter rising and suddenly ceasing at the sight of the Doctors impatient glare.

"However, if we can get you all out of the city before he does, then I guarantee you! All of you will be saved!"

"But what about our families!? Or the other ponies still living in the town!?" asked one of the prisoners.

"Don't worry about them! Their in safer positions then you are right now! They will be taken care of as soon as you are taken care of first!"

"Now here's how this is gonna work! These stairs behind me leads up to the surface! You may not know this but this prison was built underneath Tumbleweeds home! So you're all going, one at a time, up the stairs and out through the front door! And you're going to do it as quietly as possible! So you do not get caught! Tumbleweed is sleeping in his room on the second floor! If he wakes up, you're dead! So absolutely no sound! Everyone got that!"

There were no questions, everyone understood. 

"Brilliant! You!-", the Doctor said, pointing to a random prisoner, one closest to the front. "You're first after me! The stairs are too thin to fit more then a single pony at a time! So I'll be at the top supervising, making sure nothing goes wrong! Anyone behind him follows!"

The prisoner nodded and followed the Doctor up the stairs. The pony behind him followed, then the one behind him, then the one behind her, and so on and so forth.

Mr. Do and Mrs. Sugar was assigned earlier by the Doctor to follow from the back and make sure every prisoner got out safely. Therefore, Mr. Do and his family and Mrs. Sugar and her husband were going to be the last ones out.

On the surface, the Doctor held the front door open, watching each prisoner exit Tumbleweeds house one at a time.

"Start making your way to the edge of town, and hurry!" the Doctor would say to every other prisoner.

At one point, the Doctor saw two original deputies helping Cletus out from the prison. One holding his head and the other holding his hind legs. Once out of the prison, the deputy holding his legs help Cletus onto the other deputies back. They exited the building together, running to the other prisoners.

One after the other, after the next, after the next.

Until eventually, the last prisoners out were Mr. Do, Mrs. Do, Dean, Mrs. Sugar, and Mr. Sugar.

"That's the last of them Doc", said Mr. Do.

"Brilliant! Let's get moving".

Just as the six ponies were about to leave the building, they all froze to the sound of an alarm. Two bells, banging against a metal device at rapid speed.

"Doctor, that's an alarm clock", said Dean, scared stiff.

Grabbing his pocket watch, the Doctor checked the time quickly, seeing that it was six o'clock. He ran outside and looked east, seeing a very thin but expanding light, rising far over the horizon.

"Night times over, the sun rising", said the Doctor. He turned to the others, fear and worry present on his face. "Its day time, Tumbleweeds waking up!"

"What in tarnation!" The six ponies heard Tumbleweed shout from the top of the stairs.

The Doctor's eyes widened and his pupils shrank as he looked to the others. "Run, RUN!" 

They didn't need telling twice, the six ponies galloped away, out the cemetery and onto the streets, catching up to the other prisoners. As the Doctor ran through the cemetery, he looked over his shoulder, seeing Tumbleweed in his doorway, shouting something he couldn't make out.

What he was saying wasn't good though, the Doctor knew that.

Most likely, he was shouting for his deputies.

The group of prisoners looked to the six ponies in confusion, unknowing to their sudden increase in pace.

"Tumbleweeds spotted us! Everyone out of the town now!" the Doctor shouted.

Sudden panic rising, the group all galloped as fast as they could. Running through the streets towards the edge of town.

Aside from the deputy carrying Cletus, the Doctor lingered the furthest. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't run fast enough to keep pace with the rest of the group.

A pain shot through the Doctor's chest as could hear the sounds of his hearts beating hard. His vision blurred slightly as he looked to Dean, whom he and his family ran nearly the fastest, giving them lead to the front.

'As long as they get away, it doesn't matter if I get caught. I won't be able to run much longer anyway', thought the Doctor.

The group made a turn, ran to the end of the street, made another turn, and continued this process until they arrived at a familiar street. The one that Dean and the Doctor had been on the day before and had Dodge Desserts located close by. The street that connected to the edge of town, leading out of Dodge Junction.

This was the street that Dean and the Doctor stepped upon when they had first entered this corrupted town.

The Doctor's pace had waned, slowing until he was several feet behind the group. After several minutes of galloping through the town, the Doctor was forcing his body to move. Over exerting his weak body far beyond its limits. He needed to stop, he felt like he was going to die if he didn't.

No, he was smarter then that. He didn't feel it, he was going to die if he didn't stop. Calculations at the speed of light told him he had about twenty more seconds before the first stages of cardiac arrest begin to take effect.

Unable to run any longer, the Doctor was just about to slow to a jogging pace.

However, before he had a chance to, the rest of the group had suddenly stopped. All the prisoners skidding to a dusty halt along the dirt road. Stopping at the borderline of the town, a couple dozen yards away from the Dodge Junction welcome sign and the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

The Doctor, finally able to catch up, ran straight to Dean. He spoke between breaths, "the tartarus (pant) are you (pant) lot doing!?!"

"Doctor, ahead of us!" Dean shouted, pointing towards the direction that lead out of town.

The Doctor looked to where Dean pointed and said slowly, "you gotta be kidding me".

Out in the horizon was a large mass of ponies, a large dirt cloud brewing strongly behind them as they all galloped full speed towards Dodge Junction. Straight in the direction of the prisoners.

"Its the returning deputies!" the Doctor shouted.

"We can't go outta town this way Doc! They'll catch us!" shouted Mr. Do.

The Doctor turned, facing inwards towards the town. Seeing another mass of ponies coming their way as he did so.

From their opposite direction came a second group of deputies. All being lead by Tumbleweed who ran front and center of his stallion.

"They're coming from both sides!" shouted a prisoner.

"What do we do!?!" shouted another.

"What are we going to do Doctor!?!" shouted Dean from the Doctor's left (right if he faced inwards to town).

Frantically, the Doctor looked about, searching for a plan of escape that would guarantee the safety of every prisoner.

Setting his eyes on a close building, the Doctor shouted, "everyone inside Dodge Desserts! NOW!!!"

He and the rest galloped towards Mr. and Mrs. Sugar's shop, all shoving and pushing one another as they forced their way through the front door.

The door was wide enough to allow two ponies, three if they were skinny, to enter side by side. As for fifty one prisoners, it seemed obvious that there would be difficulties.

Some noticed immediately and chose to enter the building through an alternative entrance. 

They ran and jumped, crashing directly through the windows. Glass practically exploding through the front of the shop as they did so. 

Those who had jumped first received minimal injuries whereas the ones behind them, the ones not careful with their leap of directory, would have glass stabbed into them as they jumped into the jagged glass ends of the broken window.

Mr. and Mrs. Sugar would normally have taken a care to the damage being done to their precious shop, if not for the circumstances they were currently in. So they chose to ignore their property damage as they entered through the crowded doorway.

Within half a minute the prisoners had manage to make their way inside of Dodge Desserts.

As successful as some felt for entering the building in time before they were caught, the Doctor knew they were not finished.

"Barricade the door! Seal the windows! Get the back door in the kitchen secured! Use the tables! The chairs! Anything you can find! Use the furniture up stairs if you have too! We cannot let Tumbleweed and his deputies in! Move everypony! Chop! Chop!" The Doctor shouted.

Doing as commanded, everyone within the building went to work.

Ponies left and right lifted tables and chairs, placing it all along the door and broken windows. Stacking it all as best as they could. 

A few, including Mrs. Sugar, ran to the kitchen. Working together, the ponies managed to lift the heavy fridge and place it to the back door. After that was finished, they proceeded to move the stoves, pots, pans, and anything they could find around the kitchen to stack against the door. 

As they moved the stove, one pony asked, "hey, shouldn't we lock the door before moving these?"

"What's the point! There going to get the door open anyway! We need to get the door blocked before they do!" shouted Mrs. Sugar, remembering from past experience when the deputy had picked the lock to her front door.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sugar, Dean and his family, and the other ponies rushed up and down the stairs, bringing as much furniture as they could to reinforce their barricade.

Dressers, bedside tables, the broken bed from the master bedroom.

While all this happened, the Doctor heard someone call his name from behind the cashier counter near the front.

"Excuse me! You said you were a doctor right!?" he shouted, increasing his volume to be heard above the chaotic sounds of rushing, panicking ponies.

"Yes, I'm a doctor!" the Doctor shouted back, recognizing him as the deputy carrying Cletus.

"Could you please take a look at Cletus!? He ain't looking so good!"

The Doctor ran around the counter, finding the deputy shouting to him, a second deputy, and Cletus all lying behind the counter.

The two deputies had hid Cletus behind the counter, watching over him and protecting him from the chaos.

The Doctor kneeled down to Cletus and felt around his torso, being gentle as possible as his wounds were quite visible. It didn't take a doctor to know the state Cletus was in. It was a good thing the Doctor was thorough, he discovered that his wounds consisted of five broken ribs, bruising to the left lung, temporary impairment to both eyes (soon to be permanent if the Doctor couldn't heal him soon), and, if it wasn't already obvious, dehydration and starvation.

The Doctor gave the two deputies this info and informed them that Cletus would survive if he received medical attention as soon as possible.

Before the deputies could say anything else, a loud bang against the front of the building caught their attention.

The Doctor looked over the counter, he and everyone else knowing what the sound was.

Tumbleweed and all of his deputies had arrived, all of them pushing against the piles everypony had stacked in the front.

"They're here! Don't let them break through!" the Doctor shouted, running around the counter to the piles of furniture. 

Together, he and everyone else within the building pushed as hard as they could, fighting against the force of Tumbleweeds stallions.

The pile was shifting, it moved inwards to the building. So the ponies inside fought harder, shifting it back outwards.

This went on for a minute before Tumbleweed called off his deputies. They obeyed and stood back, allowing Tumbleweed to speak with the ponies within.

Tumbleweed cleared his throat, "could ah speak with the one in charge a all this!?!"

In unison, everypony set their sights directly to the Doctor.

The Doctor sighed in annoyance. "Of course it's me. This is the Doctor speaking! You have my attention!" He shouted through the wall.

"Doctor!? You say yer name is the Doctor!?" Tumbleweed shouted back.

"That is correct!"

Tumbleweed chuckled, "so yer that friend Dean had mentioned yesterday! Yer the one who caused all this!?! Break'in ma prisoners outta their cells and cause'in a ruckes through ma town!?"

"This isn't your town Tumbleweed! You've taken these innocent ponies properties by force! Forcing this town from the ponies that rightfully own it! Your a theif! You're a criminal! But worst of all, your a murderer!"

"Oh don't make me look like the bad guy fer kill'in off a few ponies! It's what was needed! I had to do it to get ma town work'in properly! If ah let those ponies yer protect'in in their live! Then their just gonna get in ma way when ah take full control of this town!"

"Just let them go Tumbleweed! They won't fight back if you let them leave!-"

"And have them come run'in back with the royal guards!?! Ah don't think so! These ponies have to go Doctor! And one way er another, they're gonna go! And I'll be sure to have you be the first!"

"But you can't take over the town without one of the Do family signatures! You need it to have control over their farm! If you kill them, they can't give it to you!"

"Ah only need one alive and it's seems there's two extras in ma way! Mr. Do!"

Mr. Do growled as he heard his name called.

"Ah know yer in there! Now ah don't know how yer still alive! But you can bet yer flank it won't stay that way much longer!"

"Oh I'd like to see you come and try!" Mr. Do shouted.

"Not a single pony is dying today Tumbleweed! If you want them! You're going to have to come through me!" shouted the Doctor.

Tumbleweed and his stallions laughed. "Get through you!?! An old stallion!?! Shoot! This'll be easy!"

"Don't underestimate me Tumbleweed! If you choose to fight me, I'll make you regret your decision!" the Doctor shouted.

"You're going to make me regret ma decision!? Well, we'll just have to see about that!" Tumbleweed turned to his stallion, "alright colts! They're not coming out! You all know what that means!"

The deputies cheered in response.

"Time to kill us some roaches! Unicorns! Earth ponies! Gatling formation!"

The Doctor's eye's widened as he heard this. He peered through a crack in the pile, seeing what the deputies were doing.

"Doctor! What's gatling formation?" asked Dean.

"Something really bad!" the Doctor shouted.

"How bad!?"

"Very bad! If they're doing what I think they're doing! Which if they are, it doesn't make sense! How does a pack of criminals know how to do it!?"

"Doctor, do what!?!"

From outside, the Doctor saw ten unicorns stand apart two feet of each other, all in a straight line side by side. Behind them, an earth pony, taking hold of the unicorn's tail and head, positioned them to face their horns towards the building.

The unicorns began charging up their magic while the earth ponies took their aim. The earth ponies lifted the unicorn's tail, ready to begin as soon as the unicorns finished.

The Doctor spoke fast, explaining the situation as quickly as possible. "Its an advance military technique! One used for rapid fire attacks! It requires two ponies, one positioned in the back and the other in the front! The back has to be an expert marksman while the front has to be a unicorn! If a unicorn concentrates hard enough they can form their spells into solid beams and fire them repeatedly with great speed. If they remain perfectly still and focus on nothing but their magic, they can fire their attacks faster, longer, and deadlier!"

"However! This kind of concentration diminishes their energy and their accuracy! That's where the pony in the back comes in! With one hoof the hind pony can position the unicorn's head to have better aim towards their target! While the other hoof is used for their tail! A unicorns anatomical bone structure starts at the horn, through the spin, and down the tail! Because of this, a pony could actually take a unicorn's tail and spin it around fast! Like a lever action motor! It sends electrical signals thrice the normal speed through the spine to the horn and gives them extra magical energy! This reduces the amount of strain a unicorn would have in such an attack!"

"What do the attacks look like?" asked Dean.

"Well I said beams, but if you want something more specific then it kind of looks like-".

Before the Doctor could finish speaking, the unicorns had finished charging their attacks and fired.

A barrage of multi colored beams blasted through the building, fired holes through the walls, and crumbling the furniture to pieces.

"Like that! DUCK!!!" the Doctor shouted, leaping behind the counter with Cletus and the two deputies to take cover.

Madness reigned throughout the building. Ponies ran everywhere, avoiding the spells piercing through the wooden walls. With each attack, a new hole would be made into the wall, combusting sharp splinters that spread as it did so. Injuring the ponies either by spell or by exploding wood.

The first three spells came as a surprise, yet, by luck, nopony had come to contact with the beams. However, as the beams progressed, firing faster and faster without any signs of slowing or stopping, the ponies became aware of their danger and ran about dodging and screaming.

It was no use, they had used all the furniture for their stacks, all means of cover was gone. Some had ran for cover upstairs, yet some returned galloping faster as some of the deputies had began raining their destruction to the second floor.

Casualties had risen fast.  WIthin seconds after the first attacks, many ponies had either been knocked unconscious by being too close to a bit of exploding wood, or shot down by a beam.

The Doctor peered around the corner, checking to see the damage.

Their stacks had fallen one third their original sizes, splinters covered every inch of the first floor, and the walls looked nearly identical to swiss cheese. From top to bottom there were holes.

The Doctor looked in devastation to the amount of ponies lying injured on the floor. His anger rising more and more with each falling pony.

A gray pegasus stallion tried taking to the air, hovering close to the roof. He didn't last long, a spell came through the wall, hitting him square in the face. He grunted and fell, crashing hard to the ground. Landing on his right wing, a loud crack confirmed it had broken on impact.

An orange earth pony mare, running about helplessly, scared to tears as she received her blow. A purple beam burst through, she was fortunate enough to jump out of its path. However, her leap had accidently fallen her to the path of a green beam. She was hit in the torso, at her belly, flying her several feet back as she hit against the back wall, inches from the kitchen door.

A brown earth pony stallion, a brave fellow doing his best to make sure as little ponies as possible were harmed. He had risked the chance to come close to the exploding wooden furniture and was successful in proclaiming a large chunk of table. Using it as a shield, he ran back and forth blocking attacks that would have surely taken down a pony. He had managed to save several ponies before he himself had fallen. His shield grew weaker and more frail with each block, to the point that his shield had become nothing more then a one inch thick plank. One last save was all he could managed, and he knew that. He couldn't risk another chance at grabbing more furniture, the stacks were too badly damaged anyhow. Therefore, before he had fallen he threw his shield aside. He leaped ahead of everyone else and stood on his hind legs. He opened his legs wide apart, stretching his body as far as he could. When the next attacks came he was shot several times. One in the shoulder, three in the torso, two on his legs, and two to his head. He was thrown hard, flown into the air and crashing into the back wall with great force, causing him to crash through and fall into the kitchen.

His sacrifice had prevented three ponies from falling.

Mrs. Sugar and her husband ran about just as everypony else did. They had lasted for a while too.

While running amongst the chaos, Mr. Sugar was unfortunate enough to have his hoof stuck between a broken chunk of wood. One that had blasted off the front of the building, landing on his leg. 

He screamed as he attempted to remove his leg, to no prevail. His wife did the best she could to help him. However, during this process a neon orange beam blasted through the wall.

Mrs. Sugar could only gasp as she was hit in the face.

Mr. Sugar screamed in agony as he watched his wife fall. However, a second attack hit the wood that trapped him. The combusting wood pushed his body into the air. He landed with a thud on his back, tumbled a few moments, then remained as limp as his wife.

"MRS. SUGAR!!!" the Doctor screamed, covering his head as a close attack blasted splinters over him.

"Alright, STOP!" Tumbleweed shouted, ceasing his deputies fire.  

There a a brief pause, smoke and dust spread throughout the building, showing no signs of settling. Eardrums rang as the thunderous sounds fell suddenly silent. The ponies breaths were heavy, exhausted from the running, jumping, and dodging. Yet it was difficult to breath within the smoke and dust.

The Doctor stood from his hiding place, walking around the half destroyed counter and surveyed the destruction. 

More then half of the prisoners lied upon the ground, some appearing more injured then others. Some of the prisoners were still conscious and standing on their hooves. Dean and his parents being the lucky ones, having made through the ordeal unscathed. Wood splinters, broken furniture, and part of the ceiling was spread all over the floor. 

And amongst this destruction, the Doctor looked with a combination of despair, sadness, and anger to Mr. and Mr. Sugar, lying several feet from each other. 

Both had their eyes shut, neither moved at all.

"Alright Doctor! Ahm gonna give you a second chance! Surrender yerself and everypony inside with you! And ah promise, yer death will be quick and painless!" shouted Tumbleweed. 

The Doctor ran to the window, the size of the stacks having become small enough for the Doctor to look over. "Why do you want us to surrender so badly!?! You've done a fine job slaughtering these innocent ponies, why not just finish us now!?!"

"You think ah had them ponies killed!? Naw Doctor, those were stun spells ma unicorns were shoot'in! Ah need those ponies alive!"

"What for!?"

"To execute them in front a the town of course!"

"But why would you go through such trouble!?-"

"Because of what yer do'in right now Doctor! I was afraid someth'in like this was gonna happen'in and now you've gone and done it! You made the townsfolk think they have the power to fight back against me! Well, once ah take everypony in that building and have them killed in front a their family and friends! Then no pony will ever try to fight back ever again!"

"That's why you'll kill them!? To make everypony fear you!? What are you, stupid!? You're not going to make everypony fear you Tumbleweed! You'll make everypony in this town loath you! They will despise you and they will demand justice! And if they don't get it then they'll take it upon themselves to do it! Because if you kill these innocent ponies! Then they won't see you as a criminal anymore Tumbleweed! You'll be worse then that! A monster! And before you know it your plan will have backfired! You're not repressing them Tumbleweed! You're giving them a better reason to fight back! You'll only make it worse if you do this!-"

"You shut up! Ah don't need no old stallion tell'in me what's gonna happen if ah do this er this! Ahm do'in exactly what ah want to do! And what ah want to do is kill those vermin yer with before the days over! So what'll it be Doctor!?! You gonna surrender nice and easy!? Or am ah gonna have to have ma unicorns change from stun to kill!?"

The Doctor didn't respond. Falling silent, he thought at lighting speed, forming a plan.

Simultaneously, Dean approached the Doctor. "Doctor, you can fight these ponies! You can beat Tumbleweed if you fight back!"

"I know, let me think of a plan first-".

"Think of a plan!?! Doctor he's already stunned over half of these ponies! I've seen what kind of power you have when you fought Oswald and his stallions! Why aren't you using your fire against them!?! Why are we trapped in this building instead of you fighting!?!"

"Because I don't fight that way Dean! Do you expect me to go and slaughter every bad guy I see? That makes me just as bad as them!"

"You don't kill?"

"Would you?"

"Well no, but this is different! He's already killed the mayor and he's going to do the same to us! I don't want to Doctor, but if we don't kill him first then he'll kill us!"

" . . . That's not the way I do things-".

"Well how do you fight then Doctor!?!"

"Dean, look!!! Tumbleweed is an evil, vile, disgusting pony! But he is still a living breathing pony! He will die someday, but I don't want to be the pony responsible for making that day come too soon! And I most certainly don't want to carry that weight with me for the rest of my life!"

"But you'll be saving other ponies lives by killing him!"

"I'd have also taken a life in the process".

"So you don't kill the bad guys at all then, huh!?!"

" . . . . Only as last resorts. The very, very last resort. When there's no other option left".

"And you think we can still win without killing him?"

"No, I don't think, I know!"

"Then you should use your fire!-"

"I can't, he'll die-".

"But I saw you use your fire on one of Oswald's stall-".

The Doctor groaned in annoyance, cutting Dean off. "There are only certain occasions I can use my phoenix magic for my fights Dean!!! Look! Phoenix magic is entirely different from normal unicorn magic! Unicorns have basic control on just about everything! And best of all, they can have specific control on how weak or powerful they want their magic to be! Like the unicorns outside, they weakened their magic so that their attacks became stun spells. If they give their spells more strength, then their spells will become fatal death spells".

"Phoenix magic on the other hoof isn't variously wide like unicorn magic. Whereas unicorns have basic control over every kind of magic, Phoenix Ponies have full mastery over fire based magic from an early age. Unlike unicorn's smooth and fluent magic, ours is sporadic, sudden, explosive in a sense! We can't control the strengths of our magic like they can! Ours doesn't have a low, medium, and high! Its just high or low, hot or not! If I fought with my magic, I can make my fire either so weak I'll just be blowing hot air at my enemy. Or it'll be so hot, it'll disintegrate my enemies to ash, bone and all!"

"But I saw you throw fire at that one stallion-".

"He was weak from when I suffocated him in that fire vacuum. A small, weak attack such as the one that I used was plenty to knock him off his hooves".

"Well then do the fire vacuum again if you can't fight head on with fire!"

"And get shot!?! The only reason I was able to that before was because they were unarmed! The deputies outside will fire at all of us again if I try to do that!"

"Well what about when Oswald's stallions threw their weapons at you? You were able to stop those, why can't you use your fire to protect us like that?"

"Because it only works with physical objects! If I use my fire as a shield and they use their magic again, their spells with just go through my shield and harm us!"

"I don't see why you can't just blast them to smithereens-".

Before Dean could finish, the Doctor rushed to him and grabbed him hard to the shoulders. "Dean! Do you want me to kill them? Do you want me to end their lives? Because I can do it, I can burn all of them to ash right now and it would be so easy! And it would only take seconds! Is that what you want? Just give me the order Dean! Do you want me to murder Tumbleweed and all of his stallions!"

Dean gaped at the Doctor for a moment, thinking critically on how to respond.  Slowly, he said, "b-but we would save our lives".

"We would also end lives in the process", said the Doctor, softening his grip.

" . . . I . . . I can't". Dean looked to the window at the stallions outside, then to the Doctor. "I'm frightened of them Doctor, but I don't want to ask you to kill them. I'll be just as responsible if I do-".

"Ah, see, now you're getting it. Asking someone to murder is just as bad as committing the murder yourself. And if I have to live on knowing I ended the lives of over fifty ponies, then so will you."

"But how will we win if we can't defeat them?"

"Who said we had to kill them to defeat them?"

"Y-You know how to beat them without killing them?"

The Doctor smiled and whispered to Dean. "I have a plan that can not only save the town, but also prevent anypony from being killed. Nopony is going to die today. Do you trust me?"

It only took a second for Dean to smile and nod. "I trust you Doctor".

"Alright", said the Doctor, releasing Dean and taking a step back. "Alrighty then!" he shouted suddenly, gaining everyone's attention. "I know this seems bad but do not fear! For I have a plan!"

"What plan?" asked Mr. Do.

"A plan that'll save everypony in this town from Tumbleweed! But for this plan to work I'm going to need all of you to cooperate and do as you are told! What I'm about to command you to do may seem both confusing and insulting but you're just going to have to trust me!"

"What's the plan Doctor?" asked Dean.

"Well step one none of you are going to like".

"And step two?"

"Step two, I'm not going to like".

"Why's that?" asked Mrs. Do.

"Because step two is going to hurt very, very much."


FIVE MINUTES LATER


After several minutes of silence, Tumbleweed had lost his patience. He turned to his row of earth ponies and unicorns and gave them the command. 

"Alright colts! It seems the Doctors not going to be very cooperative with us! Looks like we're gonna have to use the big spells! Charge your horns! Get ready to fire the death spells!"

The unicorns obeyed, all shutting their eyes to focus on their magic. Their horns growing brighter and brighter as more magical energy flow within them.

A few moments later, the unicorns were ready.

"Alright colts! Ready!"

The earth ponies took a tight hold to the unicorns tails.

"Aim!"

The earth ponies then positioned the unicorns heads.

"And! Fi-".

"WAIT!!!" a shout came from within the building.

Tumbleweed and his stallions froze as they spotted a small white thing in the window.

It was a white towel tied to the tip of a chair leg. The pony that shouted waved the towel tied stick back and forth, giving the towel a nice wave.

"We surrender!"

Tumbleweed recognized the voice to being the Doctor. Smiling, he shouted, "if yer serious, then come on out then! Unarmed!"

Slowly, the front door to Dodge Desserts opened. Two ponies opening each side of the double door. The Doctor stepped between them, walking towards Tumbleweed with the table leg held in his right hoof. He walked until he was five feet away from Tumbleweed.

Tumbleweed and the Doctor stood tall and apart. Tumbleweeds stallions, watching from behind their sheriff with excitement, while the prisoners and Dean's family stood behind the Doctor, watching with anxiety.

Tumbleweed said with a grin, "so, you ready to give up now Doctor?"

Licking his lips, the Doctor responded. "Yes, they surrender! The townsfolk and all of the ponies that stand behind me surrender to you Tumbleweed. All of Dodge Junction surrenders to you!"

Tumbleweeds grin grew more sinister. "That's what I like to hear!"

"Yes, indeed so. However-".

Suddenly, the Doctor stood to his hind hoofs. He lifted the chair leg to the air and brought it down sideways. Breaking it in half against the knee of his right hind leg. He then threw the two halves aside, returned to normal standing position, and glared fiercely at Tumbleweed.

"I'm not from around here, am I!"

Taken aback, Tumbleweeds non unicorn deputies all reached for their weapons. Extracting them from their sheaths and pointing them towards the Doctor. His unicorn deputies, all of them having their death spells pre charged, pointed their horns towards the Doctor. Ready to fire if necessary.

Tumbleweed, appearing unaffected yet just as taken aback as his stallions asked, "what is the meaning of this!?"

"The citizens of Dodge Junction have surrendered to you Tumbleweed. However, I am not a residing citizen, am I?"

"Are you saying that only you wish to fight?"

"Correct."

Tumbleweed and his stallions laughed, all finding the Doctor's "act" humerous. "You against all of us?" shouted Tumbleweed, his laugh fading to a chuckle.

"No, not against all of you. Only you, Tumbleweed."

All laughter ceased when the Doctor said this. Jokes were over, no one was grinning, everything had become serious. Tumbleweeds stallions looked to the Doctor in shock, assuming to what they believed the Doctor was proclaiming.

Tumbleweed had assumed the same. "Are you challenging me Doctor?"

His glare growing fiercer, the Doctor responded. "That is correct, Tumbleweed. I am indeed challenging you! And I challenge you- ."

The Doctor pointed to Tumbleweed as he shouted, "to a street duel!"
> Corruption in Dodge Junction: Part Four (S1C2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"That is correct, Tumbleweed. I am indeed challenging you! And I challenge you to a street duel!" said the Doctor.

"A street duel? You and ah?"

"Indeed, you and I, one on one. It'll be a twenty pace march, longbow, single shot."

"And why should ah accept yer challenge?"

The Doctor smiled, extracted a paper from his vest pocket, showed it off to Tumbleweed, and said, "because if you win you get this!"

Tumbleweeds deputies gasped at what the Doctor held. Tumbleweed nearly took a step forward at the sight of his reward.

It was a property document with three signatures at the bottom. A signature from Dean, Mr. Do, and Mrs. Do. All giving Tumbleweed full ownership of their farm.

"If you defeat me at our duel, then this document is yours. And you will have every property belonging to Dodge Junction, giving you full, and legal, ownership of the town", the Doctor explained.

"And if ah lose?" asked Tumbleweed.

"Then you burn all signed documents that had previously given you property ownership, giving everypony their land back! You are also to leave this town and not step a single hoof within the town border ever again! Do I make myself clear?"

Tumbleweed chuckled, "why don't ah just take that document from you right now?"

"Because you're smart enough to realize I could just rip it up. None of you will be fast enough to stop me, not even your unicorns could take it from me. Their magic will rip it out of my hoofs if they try."

Tumbleweed rubbed a hoof to his chin. "If ah beat you in the street duel while everyone's watch'in, that might just get em to never fight back against me! I won't just be a stallion kill'in an older stallion, this'll be a fair fight! It will be fair, won't it?" Tumbleweed asked with a threatening tone,  narrowing his eyes to the Doctor.

"Rest assured it will be fair. None of my friends will interfere as long as your deputies do the same, agreed?"

"Yeah, yeah alright. As long as its a fair fight then ah agree! As soon as ah beat you in the duel, all of Dodge Junction will be mine!" Tumbleweed shouted, receiving a cheer from his deputies in response.

"Then in that case. Three thirty sharp this afternoon. One longbow, one arrow, twenty five pace march, do you accept?" asked the Doctor, extending a hoof.

Tumbleweed grinned sinisterly, shaking the Doctor's hoof. "Ah accept yer challenge!"

"Then it is settled. We will begin at three thirty. I will wait inside of Dodge Desserts until it is time. You can leave a deputy to watch me, in case you feel that I will abandon our challenge during the wait. While I wait, however, I do request a bow and arrow."

"I'll send a deputy to give you what you need. Don't do anything funny during our wait or else!"

"Do not worry. Like I said, I will remain inside Dodge Desserts until it is time."

"Alright, in that case, I'll be see'in you tonight", said Tumbleweed, turning right to walk down the road towards the sheriff's office.

Tumbleweeds deputies followed in suit. As they did, however, the Doctor had spotted something.

A gray earth pony with black hair, magenta eyes and a black raggedy beard. He wore a black vest with a white, dirty, ripped undershirt and a very familiar looking hat.

The Doctor approached him, swiped the fedora off his head and placing it comfortably upon his. "I'll be taking that back! Thank you very much!" said the Doctor, turning and walking away from the agitated deputy, returning inside to Dodge Desserts.

Upon entering Dodge Desserts whilst being followed by the deputy assigned to watch him, the Doctor was confronted by Dean and his parents as they headed for the stairs.

"Are you absolutely certain this was a good idea?" asked Dean.

"If you didn't think so then why did you give me your signature?"

"It only sounded like a good plan at the time because they were threatening to shoot us with more spells! After that display you put on I'm beginning to have my doubts!"

"Well there's no going back. What's done is done- oi! What are you doing!" the Doctor asked angrily. He had taken notice that Tumbleweed's deputy was following the four up the stairs.

"I'm here to watch you- ."

"You were assigned to make sure that I do not leave this building! I can't very well leave on the second floor can I?"

"You have wings, you can fly out the window", said the deputy.

The Doctor looked to his wings, then to the deputy, "do you not see how old I am? Do you really think I could just fly away like a bird to freedom!? I'll tell you what, if I try I'll be flying as well as a rock! And even if I could fly well i wouldn't dare leave. I didn't waste all that time and energy getting all these ponies out of Tumbleweed's prison just to abandon them now!"

The Doctor took a threatening step to the deputy, placing his face an inch to his. Narrowing his eyes, the Doctor said, "I will not leave this building. And I am going to fight your boss, do I make myself clear?"

The deputy nodded awkwardly.

"Good, now leave me alone so I can get ready. If you want to make sure I don't leave then go wait by the front door. Three twenty sharp I'll be exiting through it. Watch a clock if you don't beleive me". The Doctor turned suddenly and proceeded quickly up the stairs, the deputy walking the opposite direction towards the front door as he did so.

Once at the top in the master bedroom, now empty from stacking the piles earlier, the Doctor sat on his rear against a corner, facing the Do family.

The Do family all stood uncomfortably, looking to each other and the Doctor with mixed feelings.

The Doctor, sensing the insecurity asked, "do you all have such little faith in me?"

Dean coughed to clear his throat and said, "it's not that we don't have faith Doctor. It's just that, well, no one really believes you could win- ."

"That's the same thing!"

"Look Doctor, ah appreciate everything yer do'in fer this town. But yer about to fight against Tumbleweed in a duel! Now ah could be wrong, but even if you knew how to work a bow, ah don't think a stallion yer age has a chance against a stallion like him!" said Mr. Do.

"You doubt me because of my age?"

"Doctor I've seen the things that you could do. I've seen you use your phoenix magic against Oswald's stallions. But this is different. You directly told me that you weren't going to use your magic, that you were going to fight them another way- ."

"I'm going to fight and win without killing them, is that wrong?"

"No Doctor, its just, well, it's just that I'm not comfortable with this! I can't imagine a stallion winning a fight like this without magic! You fought that last fight with magic and won without killing! If you said you were going to do that again then I'd be fine, but your not! I just can't see you winning without magic!"

There was a brief silence between the four as the Doctor glared at the Do family. Not one of them able to read the Doctor's emotions.

After a few seconds, the Doctor said, "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

The Do family all shared confused expressions as Mrs. Do asked, "w-what about them?"

"The princesses are alicorns, the only one's within Equestria as of currently. They possess the three types of equine magic: earth pony magic, pegasus magic, and unicorn magic. With a lifespan of over thousands of years and powers that could move the sun and moon! They could bring harmony to Equiis or tartarus to those who deserve it! They are strong, they are brave, and they kind. But, do you want to know something that they are not, something that most ponies seem to beleive. Something that almost everypony in this country all seem to beleive in? Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are not gods!"

The Do family gasped in unison. "H-How could you say that!?!" asked Mrs. Do.

"They can move the sun and moon! Only gods can do that- ."

"No, no, no, of course they can't! Gods don't move the sun and moon! Alicorns are the ones to move the sun and moon!"

"But what's the difference?"

"The difference, Dean, is that there is a god. God does exist but he most certainly isn't an alicorn. Because alicorns are just like us, alicorns are born, they age, and then they die. Just like the rest of us! The difference between gods and alicorns are that gods are immortal and alicorns are not! Alicorns are just beings with far too much power. Power that could save pony kind, or destroy it. That is, if they can surpass those beneath them."

"Beneath them?" asked Mr. Do.

"Yes! Beneath them! I'm talking about the earth ponies and the pegasus and the unicorns! Ponies like you and me!"

Suddenly, the Doctor leaped to his hooves. "You all spend so much time hailing and glorifying those two ponies. Just because of how strong you think they are! Or how powerful they may be! Yes their strong, of course their strong! But as strong as they may be they would be nothing without us! Without the common pony!"

"Alicorns are treated like gods just because they have the traits of all three types of equines. That some, if not all, would even make them princesses just for the shear fact that they are alicorns! But do you want to know what they do? Well there's only two so it'll be quite easy to say what alicorns do. They do their jobs! Exactly like they should!"

"Because this planet can't function on its own, you all know that. We control the weather, we control the nature, we control, well not really control, more like assist, the living situations of animals! We do as a species on this planet should do! Tend to the mandatory functions of this planet to prevent it from dying!"

"Earth ponies take care of the land, and the nature, and the growth of vegetation! Pegasus take care of the weather, and the clouds, and help breezies with the wind! And unicorns, unicorns keep magic in the balance! And they help to study and invent new ways to use it! Without them, the use of magic would be almost meaningless!"

"And what do alicorns do? Well, since they have all three traits they could do pretty much anything! They could tend to the land or the weather or even study magic? But do they do that? No, they do not. They sit in their castles, tend to politics, and move the orbits when it is time."

"Now do not get the wrong idea, I am not against the princesses for doing this. It is understandable for them to not have the same job as we do. Taking care of an entire country takes a lot of work, and princess Celestia and Luna are perfect for it!"

"However, when it comes to taking care of our planet, the princesses do just as much as we do. They are glorified for their jobs because everyone seems to think that they are the only ones to do it. Yet no pony has ever even tried to see if they could do the same? One because it would be illegal, only the princesses are allowed to move the orbits. And two, because everyone already has this mindset that we are too weak. That they are superior and that we are dirt compared to them!"

"However, without us the world would die. Plain and simple. Without elementals, or animals, or equines, the world would surely perish as one species that tends to the earth would no longer be able to. And the planet would lose that mandatory need that keeps it alive, thus causing its death."

"Why are you telling us this Doctor?" asked Dean.

"Because, Dean, it is okay to worship your princesses and treat them with the respect that our country's rulers deserve. However, it is most certainly not okay to treat royalty as gods! They are just as ordinary as we are. And I think, if everypony had as much faith and trust in the common pony as they did with the alicorns, then the bad guys would have a much harder time trying to fight us good guys."

"Yes I am old, yes I am frail, and yes I am going to fight without magic. But I assure you, after today, once the duel is finished, then you will see! That the common pony can be as good, if not better, then an alicorn!" 

Smiling, the Doctor asked, "do you believe in me Dean? Do you trust that an old pegasus can win? Even though he isn't using magic?"

Dean gaped for a moment, just as his parents did, before smiling. "Yes . . . yes, absolutely! I beleive in you Doctor!"

Dean's parents looked to him in shock. "Dean! Yer side'in with him after the way he disrespected our princesses!?"

"But mom he's right! Three days ago I was lost in a forest. I was attacked by a manticore and do you know who saved me? Not the princesses, the Doctor did. A common pegasus! And even after that, he and I found ourselves facing an entire camp full of criminals! Criminals that would kill a pony without even caring! Just like Tumbleweed! And do you know who stopped every last one of them, without killing a single one, and had them all sent to prison? It certainly wasn't the princesses, it was the Doctor! The Doctors right mom, we can't just think we'll survive off of miracles and magic! We have to take a stand and beleive in ourselves! In our own strengths!"

Dean turned to the Doctor, "I have faith in the Doctor. That he will save us all."

Mrs. Do gaped at her son for a moment, then looked to her husband. "What do you think Dean?"

Rubbing his chin, Mr. Do said, "well . . . seeing as how things are ah don't think we have a choice". He looked sincerly to the Doctor, "Doctor, tell it to me straight. Do you have a plan? And will it work?"

"Yes, and we'll have to see".

Sighing, Mr. Do asked, "but can you win?"

The Doctor's grin widened to a smile, "absolutely!"

"Then that's all I need to hear". Looking to his wife, Mr. Do said, "if he say's he can do it, he can do it."

"B-But, this is . . . he . . . w-we don't even know him! How can we think this stallion can- ."

"Mom!" Dean yelled, cutting his mother off.

Mrs. Do looked to her son, taken aback at his outburst.

Dean took a deep breath, "you just need to have faith, especially when the ones you need faith in may just be your only hope."

Mrs. Do thought for a moment, looking desperately to her husband for an alternative answer. When receiving none, she realized that there was indeed no other option. She sighed in defeat, "alright . . . fine. If you think the Doctor can do it, then I'll beleive in you."

Dean smiled to his mother in response.

She returned a smile for a moment before shooting an angry glare towards the Doctor. "But don't you dare let us down! If ah have faith that you can win and you go and die! Ah swear, I'm gonna find a way to bring you back to life so ah can kill you again!"

Chuckling, the Doctor said, "alright, alright, I'll be sure not to lose then". 

'Funny, I haven't heard that one since . . . nevermind', thought the Doctor, stopping himself before he could think of his past.

"So Doctor, what's your plan?" asked Dean.

"Hmm? Plan?"

"Um, yes, your plan."

"Um, oh! Right! Plan! Yes! You see, my plan is, if I say so myself, very, very brilliant!"

"Well what is it?" asked Mr. Do.

"Ah, okay, how to explain this. Its a little complicated. Well first off, the three of you know what a twenty march duel is, correct?" the Doctor asked.

"You and Tumbleweed are going to start off facing each other twelve inches apart. An assigned pony will act as the referee and tell you two when to go. When he does, you two will turn and march opposite directions from each other. Once you two have taken twenty steps, you will each turn and fire your weapons to each other. If one injures the other more or kills em, they win. And neither of you are allowed to move once you've hit the twentieth march", Mr. Do explained.

"Nice! Somepony knows how street duels work! Now, can you explain the difference between longbows and shortbows?" asked the Doctor.

"Short bows allow a pony to hold the bow with one hoof while pulling the string with their mouth. Although this reduces your accuracy, it does allow a pony to move while firing. Longbows on the other hoof don't allow this. Longbows can fire arrows at a longer range, giving the arrow more distance and dealing more damage then the shortbow. However, it also prevents a pony from using it while moving, as it is too long. When using a longbow, a pony must stand still in order to use it properly", Mr. Do explained.

"Precisely! I specifically made sure to have us use longbows to make absolutely sure that Tumbleweed would not move when he reaches his twentieth step. He's a murderer! Did you honestly trust him when he said he would fight a fair duel? Because personally I didn't! This is to make sure he doesn't cheat."

"Okay but is that all? I was expecting more then why you chose that particular weapon", said Dean.

"Indeed, there is more. And this part's a little tricky to explain. You see, although I do have a plan, it is quite a risky one- ."

"Ah remember you say'in someth'in earlier about yer plan hurt'in?" asked Mrs. Do.

"Yes, indeed it will. Again, it's quite a risky plan. You see, in order for this plan to work I am going to have to get shot by Tumbleweed. There is no way out of it."

"What!?! But you said you could win!"

"Not every win can be won painlessly Dean. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. And in this case, in order for me to win, I will have to be shot."

"You all doubt me because of my age, and although I can indeed prove you wrong. That an old stallion such as myself can in fact win. What I cannot disagree with you on is the weaknesses that come with my age."

"When it is time for us to make our attacks, Tumbleweed will fire first. My body will not be able to move nearly as fast as Tumbleweed. He is younger, faster, more nimble then I am. And for me to take the proper shot, I will need a very precise aim, which of course will take time."

"But what if he kills you?" asked Dean.

"Ah! You see, I have a plan for that as well! More risky then the first plan and quite possibly unreliable. Yet, it is the only plan that i have."

"For this plan to work, I am going to need assistance from the air elementals. From the breezies!"


FIVE HOURS TWELVE MINUTES LATER


All of Dodge Junction was dead silent. Every citizen was brought to the street outside of Dodge Desserts. Standing in a row along the side, forced to watch the duel by Tumbleweed.

Tumbleweed stood in front of Dodge Desserts, facing the side opposite of the town entrance, standing tall and confident with a longbow and arrow held in his left hoof. His deputies all stood to the side, as close to their boss as possible, yet out of harms way for when the duel commences.

Looking to a random citizen, Tumbleweed asked, "hey you! What time is it!?"

The yellow earth pony shook in fear as he was asked this. He look to his pocket watch and stuttered, "t-three t-twenty eight Mr. Tumbleweed sir!"

"Is that so? Well, he's got two minutes before ah send ma deputies in there and shoot every last pony to- ."

Tumbleweed was interrupted by the sound of a door, slamming hard against the building outerier. 

Everypony in town stared with a combination of shock, awe, and fear to the Doctor. Who stood to his hind legs, both forehooves placed horizontally  as he pushed the double sided door open with great force.

Some of the citizens feared for the old stallions death. Others thought he was mad, having ever challenged Tumbleweed in the first place.

The rest had hope. Silently watching their hero with great concentrations. Internal wishes of good luck as they hoped for the Doctor's victory as they semi believed the Doctor could save them.

The Doctor fell to all fours and continued forward. Marching with confidence to Tumbleweed.

Tumbleweed smiled as the Doctor stopped a foot from him. "So you did show up?"

"Of course, I'm the one who challenged you after all."

"I just thought you were try'in to buy yerself some time before ah had ma deputies kill you."

"Clearly you were wrong. Now, my bow."

Tumbleweed turned to his deputy named Pat, "give him his weapon."

Pat nodded and ran to the Doctor, handing him a single arrow and a well maintained longbow.

'This bow is in great shape. Clean, polished, practically new, manufactured by Rags Co. The arrow is perfect as well. Sharp, straight, no signs of ever being used. It might just be new, more so then the bow. Tumbleweed gave me a fine weapon, he clearly thinks I don't stand a chance. Or perhaps this is his way of showing off to the spectators. Giving me a weapon such as this one does make the duel seem fair. Either way, it looks like I'm going to have to show him just what I can do', thought the Doctor, inspecting his weapon.

"You think you can handle a piece like that?" asked Tumbleweed.

The Doctor shrugged, "it'll do. Shall we begin?"

"You seem eager to get this duel started Doctor, are you in that much of a hurry to die?"

"When you get as old as I am you'll find that your patience begins to fade until you either no longer have a care for time or are in a constant hurry for everything! I'm part of the latter, so if you don't mind I would like to get started before I die of old age!"

"Which shouldn't take too long", said Tumbleweed in an insulting tone, gaining laughs from his deputies. He looked to a deputy he assigned as their judge. "You ready to count?"

"Yes sir!" said the coffee brown pegasus.

Returning his look to the Doctor, Tumbleweed said, "ah assume ah don't have to explain the rules?"

"No, that won't be necessary, however, there is something that I want done before we begin", said the Doctor.

"What? A body bag?" asked Tumbleweed, mockingly. Gaining more laughs from his deputies.

The Doctor's eyes narrowed slightly. "No, not that. I want you to make a promise to me. That if I win, you will follow our agreement. That you will give all of the townsfolk their properties back and you will leave Dodge Junction forever."

Chuckling, Tumbleweed said, "ain't ma word good enough fer you?"

"No", the Doctor said simply, gaining a few "oohs" from the spectators.

Tumbleweeds grin waned for a moment before regaining itself. "Alright, fine! Ah promise to-".

"No, not an ordinary promise, a special promise", said the Doctor, cutting Tumbleweed off.

"Special promise?" asked Tumbleweed, growing annoyed.

"Yes, it is called a Pinkie Promise. This kind of promise must never be broken. If one is to break it, then dire consequences will follow- ."

"The buck is this nonsense! Ah don't want to waste ma time with silly little!-"

"If you don't do it, then I'll call the duel off! And you won't be able to kill me in a fair fight in front of the town", the Doctor explained quickly.

Tumbleweed thought for a moment, sighed, then said, "okay fine! How do you do this "Pinkie Promise?"

"Its quite simple, just do as I do". The Doctor placed a hoof to his chest, crossing it in an "X" shape. "Cross my hearts and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, that I solemnly swear to not break the terms and conditions of this dual", he said, finishing by placing a hoof to his left eye.

Tumbleweed groaned and followed suit. Matching the Doctor's movements as he said, "cross ma heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in ma eye, that ah solemnly swear to not break the terms and conditions of this dual. There! Are we finished?"

"Yes, you have made the Pinkie Promise. You cannot by any circumstances break the promise, or else!"

Tumbleweed, thinking nothing of what the Doctor said replied, "Alright, then let's begin."

The judge walked close to the two. "You both know how the duel works, so I'll just skip to how you win. Its simple, it don't matter who fires first as long as you can get yer hit. The loser is either the one who misses, the one who has received the worst injury, or the one who dies. You both only got one shot, if you both miss then you both get to try again. You ready?"

"Yes", said the Doctor, getting annoyed.

"Ready", said Tumbleweed, excited.

"Alright, on ma count then", said the judge. He walked backwards until he was close to the crowd, making sure he was out of harm's way. "Tumbleweed, Doctor, make yer turn!"

The two turned on command, facing opposite directions from each other.

"I'd wish you good luck, but ah reckon it'd take a miracle to save yer sorry flank!" said Tumbleweed.

The Doctor ignored him, choosing to focus on his plan then to respond.

"Begin yer march!" said the judge.

The two began marching forward, the judge counting aloud with each step they took.

"One! Two! Three! Four! Five!"

The Doctor glanced to his right, looking to the prisoners the stood spectating the duel in front of Dodge Desserts.

They all watched with deadly anxiety, sweating, shaking, and gritting their teeth as they did so. The prisoners stunned earlier had awoken now, some were too injured to stand but chose to watch sitting or lying against the outer wall. Mr. and Mrs. Sugar were awake as well. Mr. Sugar leaned against his wife for support due to his leg injury, both watching with equal anxiety as the rest as they glued their eyes to the Doctor.

Next to the Sugars were the Do's, watching with weaker anxiety then the others. Dean himself had the least of them all, feeling the most confident that the Doctor could win. Placing every bit of hope and trust into the Doctor that he had.

Of course, to the Doctor, this was understandable. The Do's were the only one's to know of his plan, only they knew what was going to happen. Everyone one else, the Sugar's included, hadn't a clue of the Doctor's secret plan.

The Doctor internally swore not to let Dean down as he shifted his eyes away from the spectators, focusing on the direction he walked in.

"Eleven! Twelve! Thirteen! Fourteen! Fifteen!"

Tumbleweed grinned through the entire march, feeling that his chances of losing were an absolute zero.

'Come on breezies, don't let me down!' thought the Doctor, taking a deep breath and preparing himself for the plan to commence.

As the Doctor thought this, he felt a sudden shift in the air. He could sense it, it was approaching towards them. Keeping its constant pace, yet coming ever so quickly.

He smiled, knowing that it had arrived.

"Eighteen! Nineteen! Twenty! FIRE!!!" the Judge roared.

Simultaneously, a sudden gust of wind blew hard through the street as Tumbleweed and the Doctor stopped and turned.

It was quick, but easily noticeable. Tumbleweed was fast, too fast. He turned first, placed the arrow to his bow, aimed for the Doctor's chest, and fired. 

There was a crack, and a whoosh as the arrow soared through the air, entering directly into its target.

The Doctor gasped in pain as he felt the arrow peirce into him. A simultaneous gasp echoed through the town as everyone witness the Doctor take a direct hit.

The Doctor held the bow and arrow in his hoof, only having enough time to place the arrow to the bow. He leaned forward for a moment, appearing to fall over.

The older ponies held their children close to them, comforting their scared fillies and colts as they watched their hero die. Some had even began crying, a single pony with a weak stomached began vomiting.

The prisoners reactions were nearly identical, although none were sick, a few had began crying. Mr. and Mrs. Sugar held tightly to each other, tears falling from Mrs. Sugar as they did so.

And through all the sadness and disparity, Dean and his parents were the only ones who felt anxious. Not out of fear or worry, at least, not anymore. Instead, they were anxious, because only they knew that the duel was not over.

Tumbleweed, feeling that the duel was indeed over, laughed sinisterly as he stood to his hind legs. His deputies all cheering as he did so. "Welp! That takes care a that! AH WIN!!!"

The cheers strengthened through the deputies.

"Ha! Ha! HA! Well what did you all expect anyway!?! You trusted an ancient stallion like him to fight yer battle fer you! And what do you get! Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Now that I've won that officially makes this town mine!-"

"Not so fast Tumbleweed", said the Doctor, gritting his teeth hard to surpass his pain.

A second gasp echoed through the town as all eyes once again glued onto the Doctor, whom was standing triumphantly on his hind hoofs. Completely ignoring the arrow sticking out of the right upper side of his torso.

"I haven't taken my shot yet", said the Doctor, grinning slightly through heavy breaths.

Baffled and wide eyed, Tumbleweed stuttered, "w-what! B-But ah shot you! Ah shot you right in the heart! You were too slow! Ah had plenty a time to aim and get the shot right! H-How are you still stand'in!?!"

Gritting his teeth hard as he felt a surge of pain pass through his chest, the Doctor waited a moment. As soon as the pain passed, he responded, "you should really work on that aim of yours Tumbleweed, that's the second time you've missed a ponies heart."

"Second!?!" he shouted. Freezing in place, he looked to Mr. Do in the crowd, then to the Doctor. Growling as he put two and two together, "so that's how he's still alive!?!"

"Indeed so, you missed his heart and dropped him in the desert without bothering to check and see if he was still alive- ."

"Whatever! It doesn't matter! He's going to die anyway because I have won!-"

"Oh no you have not!" said the Doctor, taking a firm grip to his bow as he pulled the string back far. One eye close, the Doctor shakily took his aim to Tumbleweed.

Tumbleweed froze, dropping his bow and lifting his hoofs in defence. "Now hold on, y-you really think you can hit me? An old stallion such as yerself!?"

The Doctor ignored him, keeping absolute focus on what he was aiming for.

Tumbleweed, feeling genuine fear shouted, "you can't Doctor! A-Ah am the winner a this duel! You won't be able to get as good a shot as ah did! So you might as well give up!"

The Doctor's continuing silence increasened Tumbleweeds fear.

Shaking slightly, Tumbleweed roared, "You senile old fool!!! Just stop try'in!!! Can't you see you've lost!!! Ah am the ruler a this town now!!! Ah own the place!!! So that makes me the KING!!!"

"In that case, check mate", said the Doctor, releasing the string to his bow.

There was a crack as the bow fired the arrow fast into the air. Tumbleweed shouted in pain as he felt the arrow peirce into him. Entering and exiting through his shoulder. He fell to the ground sideways, twitched for a second, then remained motionless.

If silence could kill, the whole town would have died. For everyone fell both frozen and silent as they looked between Tumbleweed and the Doctor.

Tumbleweeds deputies stood slack jawed in shock as they stared at their fallen leader.

Every prisoner, every citizen, and every deputy all processing what had just happened.

Suddenly, earsplitting shouts of victory roared throughout the town as everypony (excluding the deputies) cheered. Jumping into the air, hugging one another, and throwing their hats into the air. 

The deputies could do nothing but watch as the town celebrated in Tumbleweed's loss.

"YES!!!" Dean shouted, cheering as loud as the rest as he leaped to his parents, embracing them in a hug.

The Doctor took hold of the arrow still inside him, grunted for a moment as he pulled it out hard, then tossed it aside. He fell to all fours as he observed his wound. 'An inch, a single inch more and he would have gotten my heart. Lucky those breezies came in handy. At the healing rate of a Phoenix Pony, this wound should take about a day to heal completely. Just bandage and clean it and I'll be fine', thought the Doctor. 

He looked to Dean and his parents and began walking towards them. As he did, however, Dean, his parents, and practically the rest of the town all began galloping towards the Doctor. All of them surrounded the Doctor, cheering, thanking him, and shouting his name.

Dean and a few others shouted to clear room for the Doctor. The crowd of ponies obliged, allowing the Doctor room to walk straight to Tumbleweed.

A few minutes later, the Doctor stood several feet to Tumbleweed, who at this point, was still on the ground. 

Tumbleweeds deputies stood behind Tumbleweed as all of Dodge Junction stood behind the Doctor.

Each side facing each other, the Doctor's side feeling more brave and confident with the Doctor's victory and vise versa with Tumbleweeds side.

Looking down to Tumbleweed, the Doctor said, "not feeling so tough anymore, are you?"

Tumbleweed could only move his head as he looked to the Doctor. Glaring angrily, he said through gritted teeth, "y-you . . . haven't won!"

"No, I have. And as promised you will return all the property you have taken from these ponies. Then you and the rest of your deputies will leave Dodge Junction forever. If I hear that any of you dare to step a single hoof within this town again, I'll be sure to make each and every one of you regret your action! Do I make myself clear!"

Tumbleweed spat at the Doctor, "you fool! Do you think I have lost that easily! You may have won a one on one duel! But let's see how you can handle all my deputies at once! Deputies! Kill him!!!"

All of Tumbleweed's deputies reached for the lethal weapons on their belts. All of which consisted of a short sword.

As everypony behind the Doctor took a step back in fear, the Doctor remained still. He tsked at Tumbleweed, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Well yer not me!!! Deputies!!! Kill him!!! RIP HIM APART!!!"

The deputies screamed and charged at the Doctor.

However, mere seconds before they could reach him, every deputies was thrown into the air. 

A wave of blue fire, appearing out of nowhere, smashed into the ground between the Doctor and the deputies. The force of the fire had thrown the deputies off their hooves, launching them several feet into the air and causing them all to land with heavy thuds. 

Harmed but nowhere near fatal, the deputies got to their hooves and stood shakily with their swords pointed to the fire.

The fire itself had begun forming a wall that separated Tumbleweed's deputies from the townsfolk. A small opening in the fire allowed only the Doctor to be seen. Everyone else was hidden behind bright, blue, raging fire.

Tumbleweed glared to the Doctor with a mixture of confusion and anger as he shouted, "what in the name of tartarus is this!?!"

"You made a promise Tumbleweed, you made a Pinkie Promise to agree to the terms and conditions of the duel. And now that you have chosen to break them, the consequences that come with breaking the Pinkie Promise shall commence!"

Suddenly, the gap that allowed the deputies and Tumbleweed to see the Doctor sealed, and the wall of fire rose higher as it slowly began to approach the stallions.

Tumbleweed, trying and failing to move, shouted, "what are you doing!?! What's happening!?!"

"I'm not doing anything Tumbleweed", said the Doctor, his voice audible through the fire. "You are the one doing this. This is your consequence for breaking the Pinkie Promise. This fire will consume you and the rest of your deputies, and you will all suffer in burning agony until there is nothing left of you but ash!"

"Make it stop!!!" shouted Tumbleweed. He looked to his deputies for help, only to find them running away.

However, before they could a second wall of fire, just as big as the first, appeared out of nowhere. Blocking the deputies path. They had nowhere to run, all means of escape were blocked by fire.

They were trapped between two walls of fire, both sides inching its way towards them.

Two more walls and a ceiling had formed. This prevented the deputies from escaping through the buildings and from allowing any pegasus a means of escape.

They were trapped, stuck within the center of a flaming box. A box that grew smaller and smaller, soon to be too small to fit anyone.

Sweating and breathing heavily, Tumbleweed looked back to the first wall of fire and gasped as he saw it was only two feet away.

"No! Please! Ah don't want to die! I'm sorry Doctor! I'm sorry!"

"Sorry won't bring back the ones you have killed Tumbleweed."

"Ah don't want to die!!! AH DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!" Tumbleweed shouted. He tried desperately to drag himself away from the fire but it was no use. He just couldn't move, moving any part of his body made the injured part of his body feel like tartarus. 

He looked to the wall of fire as it came within half a foot of him. He could feel the intense heat of the flames, slowly beginning to burn the fur of his lower torso. His tail had begun smoking, about ready to catch on fire.

Tumbleweed didn't notice his scared deputies dropping their weapons and backing away from the fire that came closer to them, he was too concerned with his own situation. 

In desperation, Tumbleweed shouted, "I'll leave! I'll leave Dodge Junction forever! I'll keep ma Pinkie PROMISE!!!"

Suddenly, the fire disappeared, leaving nothing but scorch marks on the ground.

A very stern Doctor could be seen glaring at Tumbleweed. "You mean it? You will leave?"

"Yes! We'll leave! Just don't let the Pinkie Promise kill us!"

The Doctor smiled, "well then". He looked to two random Tumbleweed deputies, "you two carry your boss. He won't be able to move for a while, his body is in shock from the sudden impact of damage it has received. He'll need a hospital as well, take him to the nearest one in Coltorando, about forty miles north from here."

The deputies nodded and ran to their boss, lifting him onto their backs as they stood side by side.

The Doctor then looked to a separate pair of Tumbleweed deputies, "you have four deputies missing. One is chained inside Tumbleweeds prison, two are inside the sheriff's office, and one is in an alley next to the quills and sofa shop. Get them, now!"

The deputies nodded and did as they were told.

The Doctor glared fiercely to the rest. "The rest of you, get your things ready. You have a long walk ahead of you and you'll die without supplies. One hour, that's all you're getting! And in one hour sharp, all of you, every single last one of you, GET OUT!!!" the Doctor roared, pointing to Dodge Junctions exit.

The deputies obeyed, running off in different directions to prepare for their journey.

The Doctor smiled a very small grin as he turned to the cheering crowd behind him.


ONE HOUR FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER


After the hour had passed, every single last one of Tumbleweed's stallions (Tumbleweed still laid on the two deputies backs) stood at Dodge Junction boarder. 

During that hour the Doctor had time to explain to Dean's parents who he was and how he and Dean had met. After he finished explaining, the Do family began talking about themselves. Talking about their likes, passions, and interests. Dean at one point told the Doctor about his dream of discovering a new constellation, saying how he needed to find a strong enough telescope in order to do it.

After forty five minutes of conversing, Mr. Do told the Doctor that he and the his family were leaving to return home for awhile. Saying that it had been so long since they had been on their farm and that they really wanted to see it again.

The Doctor, understanding how they felt, said his goodbyes to the Do family and agreed to see them again later after he made sure Tumbleweed and his deputies left.

After the Do family had left, the Doctor had made a request to Mrs. Sugar asking for a messenger bird. Mrs. Sugar, who conveniently had a friend that owned a messenger bird, complied to his request. 

Borrowing the bird, the Doctor wrote a letter to the guard post near mane city, requesting a squad to comprehend Tumbleweed and his deputies at Coltorando and arrest them. After placing in a photo of Tumbleweed, the Doctor sealed the scroll with a small rope and tied it to the bird with a string. He released the bird and watched it fly off into the distance.

A few minutes later, it was time for Tumbleweed and his deputies to leave.

The Doctor stood away from them at the town entrance, watching as they left town. He watched until they became a spect in the distance, slowly fading away until they disappeared over the horizon.

The Doctor then returned to Dodge Desserts to ask if Mrs. Sugar needed help with cleaning up her building. She kindly denied his offer, saying that he has done enough for the town as it is and felt that he didn't need to do anything more for her. When the Doctor pressed on, saying that he felt he should help anyways, Mrs. Sugar pointed out that lots of townsfolk were already helping her, she had too much help as it is and that the Doctor would get in their way if he tried to help. The Doctor agreed and said his farewells to Mr. and Mrs. Sugar before leaving.

He was waved at and greeted by many of the townsfolk, being thanked and almost praised for the kindness he had given to the town. Nearly everyone had tried to pay back the Doctor but he refused every offer, saying that what he did was free. This increased the towns liking to the Doctor and actually caused a few ponies to give him more things as a reward. Again, the Doctor refused their rewards.

It took awhile but eventually, after walking through Dodge Junction, all the way to the other side of town, down a dirt road that seem to disconnect from the rest of the town. The Doctor finally entered into the Do family farm.

It was a very large farm, filling nearly every bit of ground with dying date trees.

In the distance, the Doctor spotted a brownish red farm house, placed within a large clearing of the date trees.

He quickened his pace, approaching the house within seconds.

The Doctor knocked thrice, waited a few seconds, then was greeted by Dean as he opened the door.

"Doctor!"

"Hello", said the Doctor, smiling.

"Come in", said Dean.

"Thanks", the Doctor said as he entered, following Dean to his living room.

It was a medium small room with brown, red, and white striped walls. There were picture frames, white vases with dying flowers, and ornaments placed along the walls. A red bricked fireplace sat lit in the front center of the room. Across from it was Mr. and Mrs. Do, sitting together on a large brown couch. A couple of glasses filled with ice tea sat on a wood and glass coffee table in front of the couch. Beneath the coffee table lied a brown, red, and white striped carpet with flower like designs. 

Overall, it was a nice living room, except for the dust. Comfortable enough to the Doctor, yet the family's absence has caused the room to collect dust. The Doctor assumed that would change with the family's return.

Dean's parents greeted the Doctor as they saw him and offered him a seat.

He accepted and sat in  large brown sofa that was placed beside the couch.

Dean sat next to his parent, took a sip of iced tea, then looked to the Doctor. "So Doctor, are you heading out soon?"

"Yup, my job here is done. Tumbleweed and his deputies are heading to Coltorado and the guards I messaged should be there to pick them up and send them to prison."

"You sure have everything planned out, don't you?" asked Mrs. Do.

"More or less", said the Doctor.

"Oh don't be so modest! You were amazing today!" said Mrs. Do.

"You took that arrow like a real champ! And trick'in Tumbleweed with that fire, hoowee! That was quite a show! By the way, are you sure Pinkie Promises aren't actually that dangerous?" asked Mr. Do.

"Of course not. Like I said back at Dodge Dessert's, the Pinkie Promise is meant to make the bonds of friendship stronger. It can't actually kill someone! I just made Tumbleweed and the rest of the town beleive that it could when I used my Phoenix magic to form those firewalls."

"So how come you only told us and no one else?" asked Dean.

"Because, the entire town now has a reason to fear the Pinkie Promise. Only you three know that the Pinkie Promise making those firewalls from earlier was just an illusion. But nopony else knows that, so from now on, they'll be taking the Pinkie Promise very seriously. I'd dare say if anyone is ever to use it, rest assured it'll never be broken!"

"Wow, that's clever Doc!" said Mr. Do.

"Yeah! Hey I just remembered, did you ever patch up Cletus?" asked Dean.

"No, I didn't. However, he is in good hooves now. His injuries were near fatal so there is little that my magic can do. What Cletus needs is bed rest and a doctor who will stay for him. And that's exactly what he has right now! I saw the deputies, the original deputies, taking Cletus to your town hospital earlier. So he'll be fine, don't you worry about him."

"That's good, Cletus is a kind stallion. I hope he makes a full recovery", said Mrs. Do.

"Don't worry, he will", said the Doctor, smiling.

Dean smiled at the Doctor as he thought for a moment. He was amazed at how much this stallion had achieved in a matter of only two days. After everything this town had gone through, all of the hardship it was forced to endure, it was over. Just like that, it was all over, in just two days.

Dean wondered how the Doctor had achieved this, he wondered how brilliant one needed to be to have thought of such amazing plans.

As he thought of this, he remembered the Doctor explaining his plan to them from earlier.


NEARLY THREE HOURS AGO


"The breezies? Why would they help us?" asked Dean.

"They won't be helping us directly, they'll be helping us without realizing it", said the Doctor.

"I don't understand", said Dean.

"Its a little complicated but it makes sense! Here, let me ask you this, Mr. Do, can you remember how close Tumbleweed was when he shot you with his bow?"

"Er, I don't know. If ah had to guess ahd say he was about six meters- ."

"The same as our twenty step march for the duel. Okay, now, why do you think Tumbleweed missed? He was aiming for your heart and you were chained to shackles. You couldn't fight back so Tumbleweed had all the time in the world to fire at you and kill you but he missed. Why is that?"

"Ah don't know, he's a bad shot-".

"Oh believe me, you can be the worst shot in the world but given the situation he was in you'd still be able to kill your target. Wrong answer, what other factor might it be, why did Tumbleweed miss?"

"Um . . . the sun was in his- ."

"Incorrect! Anyone else wish to try a guess?"

"What about the wind? Was it windy that day?" asked Dean.

The Doctor beamed at Dean, "brilliant! Perfect guess! Mr. Do tell me, was it windy that day?"

"Very windy, but what does that have to do with this?"

"Because! Wind plays a huge factor in this! Most ponies seem to forget that wind will affect your arrows trajectory when using a bow! It can move your arrow off course if it is strong enough!"

"How does this involve the breezie?" asked Dean.

"Because the breezies were the ones responsible for the strong winds that day! Because Equestria is currently in the summer, the breezes are moving winds to the colder parts of the world. However, some of that wind starts off in a country away from Equestria and the breezies use Equestria as sort of a passing point. This is a routine that the breezies have always taken, even before Equestria was founded. Most don't know this because one: elementals don't associate with common ponies, and two: everyone had always assumed that this was natural and never thought that the breezies were involved. But in actuality, on a hot summer day, when the day is scorching and calm, then a sudden burst of wind blows hard out of nowhere! That is the breezies moving the stronger winds through Equestria to the colder parts of the world!"

"So you're going to use the winds provided by the breezies to help you fight?" asked Dean.

"Precisely! If a hard wind blows at just the right moment, it'll knock Tumbleweeds arrow off course just enough to still hit me, but it'll hit me in a nonfatal place!"

"But there's no wind today, how are you supposed to know when the wind will blow? Its wind after all!" said Dean.

"Oh I don't need to figure that out, because I already know."

"You what?" asked Mrs. Do.

"Isn't anyone curious as to why I specifically chose three thirty as the time for our duel to start? I'm an elemental after all- ."

"Your a what!?!" Mr. and Mrs. Do exclaimed in unison.

"I'll explain later, you see, I'm an elemental. And with being an elemental, you receive these natural connections to other elementals, more so if that elemental is the same type as you. Such as fire to fire or water to water. Along with this natural connection, I have previously studied the schedules and routes that breezies take when directing their winds. You won't see them, but their wind will blow through Dodge Junction at around three thirty. Possibly three fourty, either way, it'll be here, and it'll be a strong one!"

"And I'll know when they arrives, because I'll be able to sense their magic! There wind will blow Tumbleweeds arrow off course, he'll miss my vital spots, and I'll be able to deliver my attack from there! That, is my plan."


PRESENT TIME


'And boy what a plan that was!' thought Dean, awakening from his memory and looking to the Doctor.

"So what about Tumbleweed? You didn't kill him but that wound you gave him seemed pretty bad", said Dean.

"Ah, yes, well. He's not going to die but chances are he'll most likely never be able to use that leg again. My arrow had pierced through his shoulder bone. He can get it replaced but I don't think he'll be able to use that leg the same afterwards. So he won't be able to use bows anymore."

Mr. Do chuckled, "well that's good, serves him right fer what he did to this town. Speak'in a which, did you ever find those last documents? The one that said who Tumbleweed was look'in for?"

"Oh, no I didn't. I searched Tumbleweeds house after you left before I went to watch Tumbleweed and his deputies leave. But I couldn't find it anywhere", said the Doctor, lying.

"So we'll never know who assigned Tumbleweed to take over Dodge Junction?" asked Dean.

"I'm sure we'll find out someday, until then, however, I've sent a letter to princess Celestia asking her to look into this situation for you. She's a friend of mine so she'll be more then willing to help you", said the Doctor, lying again.

"Your friends with the princesses?" asked Mrs. Do.

"We've met a few times and I've done her a few favors. Its complicated really", said the Doctor, now telling the truth.

"Wow! You've lived quite the life haven't you! World's only Phoenix Pony to leave his country! Associate'in with the princesses, and be'in able to see the world! That's more then most ever do in their whole lives!" said Mrs. Sugar.

"Well a lot can happen when your alive for over ninety years. Anyway, I think it's about time I headed off."

"You have to leave now?" asked Dean.

"I've been here for two days and a lot has happen during this time. I think I've had my fill on Dodge Junction for now. I will return someday, you can count on that! This town has too many nice ponies to not see them again!"

"Would you like to take some food or drinks with you Doctor?" asked Mrs. Sugar.

"No thank you, I have all the food and water I need for my travels."

Mr. and Mrs. Do raised a brow in confusion, seeing as the Doctor carried nothing on him except for the clothes he wore.

The Doctor, seeing their confusion responded, "just trust me, I've got all I need."

"Well, alright. But at least take a photo with us before you go", said Mr. Do, reaching behind his couch and extracting a self print camera out of nowhere.

"A photo?" asked the Doctor, looking curiously to the camera and wondering where Mr. Do had grabbed it from.

"Just so we don't forget about you. We never want to forget the things you did fer this town. You've done so much fer us, and that makes you our friend!"

The Doctor smiled, "well . . . alright. As long as I get to keep a copy."

"That's the spirit! Come close so you can be in the camera."

"Okay", said the Doctor, walking and sitting close to Dean. 

Mr. Do lifted the camera up and everypony smiled as he did so. Mr. Do counted to three before pressing a large red button on the top side of the camera. There was a flash and a few seconds later two large square photos slid out from a slot on the camera.

Mr. Do handed one to the Doctor, "there, one fer you and one fer us."

"Thank you", said the Doctor, placing the photo in his vest pocket, feeling a familiar scroll rub against his hoof as he did so. "Welp, time to go now. Thank you for you hospitality Do family and I'll be sure to stay in contact."

"You better! Or we might just have to come find you ourselves and teach you a lesson!" said Mr. Do.

The Doctor chuckled at his joke, "oh I'll make sure it doesn't come to that. Good bye everyone."

"Good bye Doctor", said Mr. Do.

"Goodbye", "said Mrs. Do.

"Farewell Doctor, stay safe, alright?" said Dean.

The Doctor gave Dean a warm smile, "don't worry. I'll be fine. Take care of yourself and never give up on your dream."

Dean returned the smile, "I'll do my very best!"

The Doctor nodded and headed for the door. He opened it, exited, shut the door, and walked four feet before freezing in place. 

The Doctor stared to the path that lead back into town with an empty expression as he thought for a moment. 'Time to head back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T . . . the empty . . . empty . . . box.'

A second thought pop into the Doctor's head, interrupting the first thought. A flashback of four days ago.

"You want me to travel the world with you?" asked Dean.

"No, just until we get to Dodge Junction, that way the trip won't be so boring if either of us are alone."

"Oh, well I wouldn't want to distract you from where you're going- ."

"I told you, I'm an adventurer! I don't have a destination! I go where the wind takes me! Not literally of course, I'd be stuck at the poles right now if that were true. But nevertheless! You can travel with me until we get to Dodge Junction, then the trip is over. You can consider this paying me back. Is that alright with you?"

"Well, yes I guess so. Thanks."

"What are you thanking me for, your repaying me, I should be the one thanking" said the Doctor, smiling to Dean.

Dean smiled back and looked to the manticore. "How did you get him to follow you without him attacking?"

"I just told him we were going somewhere to eat and he followed."

"Really? That's all it took?"

The Doctor nodded.

"Wow", Dean muttered. 

They walked in silence for a few moments before Dean asked, "so, do you always bring someone on your adventures?"

"No, you'd be the first actually. My adventure's becoming stale due to my loneliness is actually a rather new predicament that I have not encountered before. I have always felt lonely every now and again, but not like this."

"So, you need a companion?" asked Dean.

"I don't need one" said the Doctor, annoyed.

"Sounds like you could use one."

The Doctor looked to Dean for a moment, then sighed. "I guess it would be nice to have a companion."

As this memory ended, the Doctor slowly reached into his vest pocket and extracted the photo. 

He looked down to the photo, observing the smiles on the Do family's faces. He smiled to the photo as an image flashed before his eyes.

The same photo, only the Do family had been replaced. There were seven ponies now, all of them smiling towards the camera like the Do family had.

The one on the very right was a very large and strong black earth pony with a silvery gray mane and dark brown eyes. Beside him was a yellow timid looking pegasus with pinkish red hair with bright blue eyes. Besides her was a skin colored unicorn with thick square glasses, a brown messy mane, and green eyes. Beside him was a blue, tall pegasus with a red and blue two toned mane, reddish orange eyes, and standing in a heroic pose. Beside him was a dirty, yellow, brown, earth with orange hair, who held a smoking cigarette in his mouth with yellow eyes. Beside him was a light yellow, peach colored pegasus with fiery red hair and eyes, smiling with confidence.

And beside her, the last pony farthest to the right, was a small colt. A white pegasus with red eyes and bright, two toned, blue hair. Who smiled a wide, innocent smiled to the camera. He had both forelegs wrapped around the mare next to him as far as his legs would let him. She in return had her right leg wrapped around the colt.

As the Doctor saw this image, a voice spoke in his head.

"You should always be with your friends. They help you feel better all the time, no matter what situation you're in. They'll be there for you when you're scared or alone, and they'll help you feel brave! Never be alone Doctor, never be alone."

The image disappeared, returning the photo to its original look. The Doctor and the Do family smiling.

With the Doctor sitting furthest to the right.

'A companion . . . just like the old days', thought the Doctor, as he looked back to the Do family house.

The Doctor, finishing his thought, made his decision. He tucked the photo back into his pocket and ran to the door. He knocked four times and waited impatiently.

A few moments later, a surprised looking Mrs. Do answered. "Oh, howdy, what are you still doing here?"

"i need to talk to you and your son about something. Its very important!"

"Really? Well come on in and tell us", said Mrs. Do, making way to allow the Doctor entrance. 

Mr. Do and Dean looked in confusion as they watch the Doctor speed walk into the living room.

"Doctor? What are you doing here? I thought you left", said Dean.

"The Doctor said he needed to tell us something", explained Mrs. Do.

"Oh, what is it?" asked Dean.

The Doctor decided to get straight to the point, attempting to fight pass his nervousness. "Well, I wanted to ask you Dean if, well, would you like to come with me?" 

"Come with you? Come with you where?"

"Anywhere! Absolutly anywhere! We can go to Britain and to Cloudsdale and, and, and the Great Falls of Marzipan! I can take you anywhere you like, anywhere at all! That is, if you want to come with me."

"Your . . . inviting me to travel the world with you?"

"What do you say Dean? Want to fly away with me?", asked the Doctor.

Mr. Do, both he and his wife looking to the Doctor in confusion asked, "now hold on! Why do you suddenly want our son to leave with you!?"

"Because . . . Because . . . Dean. Do you remember those friends I told you about, the ones I used to travel with?"

"Yes."

" . . . Ever since they left I have been alone. I never stopped traveling the world but I had always done it alone after their deaths. I thought I didn't need friends anymore, that if I had new friends they would just die and I would feel even worse. But I was wrong, I can't stand being alone anymore. My M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T used to be filled with laughter and joy and excitement! Now . . . it's just echoes. The inside just echoes because of how empty it is now. And . . . I don't like it . . . I'm so alone . . . but if you want, I won't force you, you could . . . come with me . . . and change that. We can travel together, you and me, partners, or as a companion. What do you say?"

Dean was silent for a moment before responding, "well . . . I don't know. I have things that I need to do here. I need to help fix my town and we need to find a new mayor. Plus, I still have a dream I need to accomplish, I can't abandon that for adventure. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do. And I am fully aware of your dream, therefore, I want to help you."

"Help me? How so?"

"You need a telescope strong enough to see farther stars! Well, what if I told you I know just the person who can build one for you."

Dean's ears perked up at this, "y-you do!?!"

The Doctor nodded, "Vincent Conneraft, a minotaur inventor, lives in Germaneigh. He can build this telescope for you. He's been wanting to build this telescope for years but hasn't found the right materials for it. What if you and I took a look at this telescope and figured out exactly what it needs to be properly built? We can find the materials he needs, get the telescope built, and you can discover your own constellation!"

"Are you serious!?! You'll take me to see him!"

"Absolutely!"

Dean smiled wide, "that sounds-". He stopped, his smile waned as he looked to his parents. "Great", he finished, his tone having diminished.

Confused, the Doctor asked, "what is it Dean?"

Dean thought for a moment then said, "I-I'm sorry Doctor, I can't. This town needs my help right now. I have to help the townsfolk get everything fixed and help them find a new mayor and- ."

"No you don't", said Mrs. Sugar, cutting Dean off.

Dean looked to his mother with confusion. "What do you mean? You've been trapped in prison for who knows how long! You're going to need help with the farm and nursing you back to health and-".

Mrs. Do lifted a hoof, silencing her son. "Dean I understand your worried, but I am a full grown mare, I can handle myself. And I have your father here to help me with anything I need. And you don't have to help the town at all, we have everything under control now that Tumbleweed is gone."

"But shouldn't I- ."

"I know you care for yer town sweetie but everything's going to be fine now! Yer father and ah know just how important this dream a yers is. And the Doctor is giving you a once in a lifetime opportunity! He's going to help you with your dream! And after seeing what he's done fer us today, ah trust him completely with keeping you safe! We'll be fine here on our own, you should go with the Doctor and keep him company. I know you want to go just as much as he wants you to come with him."

"You're alright with me leaving with him? Just like that?" asked Dean.

"Well, sweetie, if you want to accomplish yer dream you don't really have a choice. Mane city had the only astronomy college in the country and the city's gone now. If you really want to find yer constellation, yer gonna have to go with the Doctor. And after everything he's done fer us, I have full faith that he'll help you succeed."

"But . . . I . . .", Dean looked to his father. "W-What do you think dad? Should I stay or should I go."

Mr. Do sighed, "ah think you should do what you think is best. Yer eighteen, and ah think this is a decision that you should make."

"But . . . I just got here, and I haven't seen you for long."

Mrs. Do smiled, walked to Dean, and embraced her son in a hug. "And we'll be here safe and sound for when you return."

Dean, accepting the hug responded, "I'll make sure to write to you as often as I can."

"Once or twice a day is fine sweetie, don't go hog wild on the letters again like you did back at the university. Ah don't think our mailbox can handle that many letters again!"

Dean chuckled and looked into his mother's eyes. "I love you."

Mrs. Do kissed her sons forehead, smiled brightly and said. "I love you too. Now go have an adventure sugar cube!"

Smiling in excitement, Dean rushed to his father, gave him a hug, then rushed up the stairs to the second floor. "I'll be quick! Just need to grab some things before I go!"

"Don't worry, I won't leave without you! Just meet me at the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T!" the Doctor shouted to be heard from the first floor.

"Alright! I'll meet you there as soon as possible!" shouted Dean, running into his room.

The Doctor turned to Dean's parents and said, "thank you for allowing your son to travel with me."

"And thank you Doctor for helping Dean. But please keep him safe, and make sure he keeps up on his hygiene. He often forgets to keep himself clean with all the study'in he does", said Mrs. Do.

"Don't worry, Dean will be in my care at all times. And I'll be sure to bring Dean home every once in awhile", said the Doctor, turning to walk out the door before being stopped by Mrs. Do. 

"Oh, and Doctor, what's a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T?"

"Oh it's just how I travel around, get from place to place."

"Like a ship?" asked Mr. Do.

"Sort of, now, I best be off. Take care!"

"Goodbye!" said Mr. Do.

"Goodbye Doctor!" said Mrs. Do as she and her husband watched the Doctor exit their house.


TWENTY MINUTES LATER


Dean opened the wooden door and entered into the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, looking around the wide, white, circular room as he carried several packs of supplies on his back. Food, water, clothes, soap, toothbrush, etc.

He saw the Doctor standing at the hexagonal table in the center of the room, looking at the black box he had called a "screen". Dean still had no idea what that was.

The Doctor looked to Dean as he heard him close the door. "Ah! Took you long enough. You ready to go?"

"Yup! As ready as I'll ever be. Didn't think I would ever be in this thing again. Sorry about the wait. I had to say goodbye to nearly everyone in town on my way here", said Dean, continuing to stare in awe at the room.

"Ah don't worry about it. I didn't mind the wait . . . too much. And yes, this old box is quite the sight isn't it? And it'll be better as soon as I figure out how to change its desktop theme, never did quite figure that out. Anyway, I know that I said I would help you with your dream but there's something I need to do first if you don't mind."

"Oh? and what would that be?"

"I need to find someone, a friend of mine before we head off to Germaneigh. I think she needs help with something so I need to assist her as soon as possible."

"Is she in trouble?" asked Dean.

"No, well, maybe. I honestly don't know. But don't you worry about it, it's a concern that you don't need to worry about. For now, why don't you go find a room that you can rest in and store all your things. Just go through the doors behind me and search for a room you find to your liking."

"How many rooms are there?" asked Dean.

"About twenty . . . or thirty . . . well, to be honest I don't know. Sometimes a new room pops up that I didn't even realized I had! Although, the plain white walls in the hallway doesn't help. It makes you feel like you're in the same place with every turn around a corner! Hence why I want to find out how to change that blasted desktop theme! Anywho, go find your room. I'll take care of finding my friend while you're gone. Take as much time as you like!"

"Alright, be back in a bit", said Dean, running past the Doctor and through the white double door.

As soon as Dean left, the Doctor pushed two buttons and pulled a switch. Causing the machinery in the center of the table to move up and down and for the machine to give off a metallic groan.

WHIRR! WHIRR! WHIRR! WHIRR!

As soon as he got the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T moving, the Doctor turned away from the doors Dean had entered into and reached into his vest pocket. He moved his photo aside and extracting a scroll. One the had large bolded red words saying "CLASSIFIED" written across the front.

Expression hardening, the Doctor tore off the ribbon keeping it tied and unrolled it, reading its contents.

As soon as he finished, the Doctor quickly went to the opposite end of the hexagonal table, pressed a few buttons, then held the paper against the table.

A red light beamed beneath the paper, scanning its contents. It made a beep as it finished. 

The Doctor reached for the black box, the monitor, and turned it to his direction. 

On the screen he read:


Scan Complete.
Signature: %100 match.


The Doctor growled, "impossible, that's impossible!"

He looked to the letter, then to the monitor. "That can't be, it just can't! Whatever is going on, whatever is happening, I will find out!"

"I don't know how you're involved princess, but once I find you, I will get my answers!" said the Doctor, looking to the document one last time before stuffing in back into his vest pocket.


Dear Mr. Tumbleweed
You have been assigned by the Equestrian royal order to claim legal ownership of Dodge Junction. You must obtain the signatures of everypony who owns land within the town of Dodge Junction. You will be given fifty of my own stallions to help you with your assignment. You will accept this mission, refusal to do so will result in punishment. If something occurs and you find yourself unable to complete your task, a stallion by the name of Oswald Dohnavein is located thirty miles south east within the forests. Send him a messenger bird and he will send reinforcements to assist you. And I expect you to do the same if he is to ever contact you for help as well. Along with this letter you have been given three separate letters. Each one is a strict set of instructions that should guarantee the success of your mission. But only if you follow each set to the letter. Do not allow anyone to gain the knowledge of your plan or anything within the four letters sent to you. If anypony but you do gain this knowledge, all association with you or any of your partners will be denied and you will be punished severely. Any further details or questions you may have are all answered and explained in the instructions. If you have any further questions that the instructions could not answer, I expect you to figure it out on your own for I will be unavailable. Therefor, you are forbidden from sending me letters and you are forbidden from attempting to come into contact with myself or any other pony with royal status. 

The success of your mission shall grant you a reward of two and a half billion bits. Failure in your mission shall result in your execution.

I expect you to do your best and not fail, or else.

Sincerely.

Princess Celestia, high monarch and ruler of Equestria.







( ( ( NEXT TIME ) ) )






"Dean, you have to do this!"

"I don't know if I can Doctor!"

"Dean you have to! You are my only hope!"

"I think you're over exaggerating this a bit- ."

"Please Dean! I need you to do this!"

"Alright! Alright! I'll do my best". With all the strength he could muster, Dean grabbed the top surface hard. He attempted to turn the lid as best as he could, his veins popping as he did so. Eyes wide and tongue sticking out, Dean groaned as he felt pain pass through his leg as he began putting too much stress on his muscles.

Finally, at last, Dean was successful. The lid, making a pop sound as he twisted it open, revealed a fresh batch of pickles within.

The Doctor smiled, took hold of the pickle jar, and placed it against the kitchen counter. As he began pulling out pickles, the Doctor said, "thank you so much Dean! I haven't had a pickle in so long! Those jars are hard to open when I'm alone."

Sweating, Dean said, "no problem. Now, you were going to answer my question, right?"

"Hmm? What question?" asked the Doctor as he began spreading mayo on his sandwich.

"You said you were going to tell me about the elementals and about your species."

"Um, oh! Right! Well alrighty then!"

The Doctor finished his sandwich, took his plate to the table, and sat down facing Dean. 

"You want to know about the Phoenix Ponies? Well, here's everything you need to know about us!"
> Fiction vs Reality (April Fools Day Special)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You want to know about the Phoenix Ponies? Well, here's everything you need to know about us!"

Before the Doctor could begin explaining, an alarm was set off. The lights changed from their bright white and began flashing red. The sound of a loud, dull bell could be heard ringing through the entire M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

"Doctor, what's that?" asked Dean.

"Something not good, come on!" said the Doctor. He jumped from his seat and rushed to the door with Dean following quickly behind. 

The two entered into the long, pearly white hallway, running and turning corners until they found the door that lead to the console room.

The Doctor ran to the console, grabbed the console monitor, and pressed a few buttons. He would look between the console and its monitor, reading the words that would flash and change at a constant pace whilst operating the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T simultaneously. 

Suddenly, the alarms grew louder, and the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T began shaking violently.

"Doctor! What's happening!?!" Dean shouted, taking hold of the console as to not lose his balance.

"I don't know! Everything is off the charts!"

"What is!?"

"EVERYTHING!!! Literally everything! Magical frequencies! Power levels! Gravitational Pulses! Everything on the charts is bouncing all over the place! I don't know what's- oh no. No that can't be."

"Doctor what's happened?"

"The dimensional rift. Something's happened to the dimensional rift. Its opening!"

"Dimensional- Doctor what's a dimensional rift?"

"No time to explain! Just hang on!"

"To what!?! All that's here is the console!"

"Then hang on to it tighter then you already are! And prepare yourself! It's happening!"

"What is!?!"

"Everything and anything!"

Suddenly, everything stopped.

The alarms went silent, the lights stopped flashing, and the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was still.

Panting, Dean looked about the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T in question as he asked, "Doctor, is it over? DId, whatever you were saying, happened?"

He received no response.

"Doctor? Hello?" 

Upon hearing the continuing silence, Dean turned to the Doctor and gasped.

The Doctor stood, shaking violently in his place. A bright white and gold light was shining brightly out of his agape mouth. His eyelids were wide open but the actual eyes, Dean could not see. It appeared that his eyes were missing. instead of dark holes, however, Dean saw static flashing violently within the Doctor's sockets. 

The Doctor seemed to be screaming, but the only sounds he could make was a low, muffled, screech.

He wasn't moving. His body shook violently, like a seizure, but he remained cemented in his spot. He didn't fall over, he didn't move an inch, he stood in that spot. Not moving, only shaking.

Dean, obviously scared out of his wits, slowly inched his way to the Doctor. "Doctor, a-are you alright?"

He didn't respond, the Doctor continued to screech as he stared into nothing.

"D-Doctor?" Dean asked. Slowly, Dean lifted his hoof and tried to touch the Doctor. He was a mere three inches away. His left hoof inching closer, and closer, and closer.

Until, he made contact with the Doctor's shoulder.




And it was at that moment that Dean realized.


He bucked up.




The Doctor's face rushed into Dean's. Dean eye's were blinded by the bright static of the Doctor's eyes as their noses touched. The Doctor took a painful grip to Dean's shoulders, preventing Dean any means of escape.

Dean could only struggle as he listened to the Doctor's demonic, high pitched voice.

"DEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNN!!!!!!"


Dean screamed as he began kicking the Doctor, to no prevail as the Doctor remained still. Not so much as reacting to Dean's kicks.

"DEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNN!!!!!!"

"WHAT!?!" Dean screamed.

"DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!"

"WHAT!?! WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME!?!" 

The Doctor went silent for a moment, then smiled.


"April Fools."


Before Dean could respond, the Doctor headbutted Dean and knocked him unconscious. 





SOMEWHERE ELSE, NOT TOO SURE WHERE





Dean groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, awakening to nothing. He felt as if his body was floating in water but it was obvious that there were none in sight. He looked around and saw that he was floating in the air. Floating in a empty, white, space of nothing.

No Equiis, no Equestria, no story, nothing at all.

Just white; a void of blank, empty, whiteness. 

"Doctor!" Dean shouted.

He listened for a moment, waiting for the Doctor to respond. When silence reigned, Dean shouted again, "Doctor!"

Once again, nothing.

Realizing he was alone, Dean closed his eyes and began to cry. He placed his head to his hoofs and curled into a ball, sobbing to the thought of his tragic, and quite random,  demise.

"I don't know where I am!" Dean sobbed, his voice muffled within his hoofs.

"Dean."

Dean halted his crying for a moment and looked about. Searching for the voice that he could have sworn he had heard.

"Dean."

There it was again, his voice, the Doctor. He was close, Dean could tell. He searched about frantically, searching for the Doctor. Yet, it was no use, all Dean could see was white. The blank, white, empty void.

"Dean, you can hear me. I know you can", said the echo of the Doctor.

"I can't see you", said Dean.

"I'm everywhere, you're inside my timestream. Everything around you is me."

Dean looked around to the empty void and raised a brow in confusion. "Um . . . but I don't see you. Everything's just . . . white . . . and empty."

"What!? But you're in my timestream, why can't you- . . . oh . . . oh I am an idiot!"

"Doctor, what are you on about?"

"The story! My timestream is empty because we're barely on chapter three of the first segment! No wonder nothing's there, we got nothing to fill it with! 

"Um, story?"

"Yes! Story! As in the one you're in . . . like, right now."

"Um . . ."

"Dean, come on. I know the story is at the very, very beginning. But I'm pretty sure you're aware that we're characters of a fanfic."

"Um . . . oh! Oh, right! Now I remember, so we are. Wait hang on, we're only on chapter three!"

"Well, yeah, why?"

"What the frick frack snick snack is with that! Didn't we just go through, like, seven chapters already?"

"Well, no, technically not. Those were actually chapter parts. You know, chapter one parts one,two, and three. And then chapter two had four parts, which the author had no intention of making a chapter that long it just sort of happened."

"Wha- w-why! Why are the chapters so long!?"

"Beats me, there's just a lot of content, I guess."

"Okay, and what's with this "segment" stuff? What's that?"

"Well this story's going to be a long one. Its easier on both the audience and the author if certain parts are split into segments. That's why those numbers are at the end of the chapter. "S1C2", that just means that the audience is reading segment one chapter two."

"Oh! So the "S" doesn't stand for "Season?" Like, season one chapter two?"

"What? No! That's stupid! This is a story! Not a show! Come on Dean, you know all this already!"

"Sorry, I just feel the need to ask all this."

"Why?"

"I don't know I just have this weird feeling in the back of my head that I need to ask these questions to let anybody who just happens to be listening to us know this info and that I should take advantage of this chapter to explain information that is irrelevant but still equally important to the story and that I should speak in very large sentences without punctuations and periods to tick off the grammar nazis because I'm making this into a runoff sentence beep bop skippity boop! "

"Dean! Don't tick the grammar nazis! They help the author by pointing out mistakes that he can fix. They also help to improve his grammar for later chapters!"

"Oops, forgot, sorry peoples. So, back to what's actually happening. The story's too young so it doesn't have any content to fill this void?

"Well, yes, I mean we have Dodge Junction. And this unnamed forest, well, part of the forest. And, um, oh! Sticky Bun! We can pop Sticky Bun in there! Here, let me just, MMMMMMMMMM!!! GGGAAAAAAAGH!!! Nope, nope can't do it. He's not relevant enough to the story."

Suddenly, there was a shake as Dean felt himself being thrown far off, further into the void.

"What's wrong, what's happening!?" Dean asked.

"I'm inside my own time stream it's collapsing on itself."

"Well get out then!"

"Not until I've got you."

Dean pushed his head against his hoofs and cried, "I don't even know who I am!"

"You're my impossible girl. I'm sending you something, not from my past, from yours. Look up, look."

Dana looked, and saw a large, old, brown leaf float down to her. 

"This is you Dana. Everything you were or ever will be. Take it."

She held her hoof up and caught the leaf gently.

"You blew into the world on this leaf- ."

"What, no I didn't", said Dana.

"Well for the sake of the reference you have. Now, hold tight. It will take you home."

"Dana!" shouted the Doctor.

Dana turned and saw the Doctor, floating in the void as a greenish blue, electric, portal sealed behind him.

He appeared normal enough. However, Dana took notice of the Doctor's change of clothes. Instead of his usual vest and fedora, the Doctor now wore a large light brown coat with a white button up shirt beneath, red suspenders, and a brown bowtie. 

The Doctor's voice no longer echoed as he spoke. "Dana! Dana! Come on! Come on, to me, now! You can do it I know you can!"

"How?" asked Dana.

"Because it's impossible and you're my impossible girl! How many times have you saved me Dana? About none, but that doesn't matter now! Just this once, just for the hell of it! Let me save you!"

Slowly, Dana moved her forelegs in a swim like fashion, floating her way towards the Doctor.

"You have to trust me Dana! I'm real! Just a bit further!"

When Dana came close enough, the Doctor took hold of Dana and held her into a tight hug. He held her close and rested his head to her's. "Dana! My Dana!" the Doctor exclaimed as he kissed her head.

Suddenly, the Doctor froze. Noticing, Dana looked to the Doctor's face and saw him looking to something with wide eyes. 

Turning around, Dana saw a dark gray stallion, facing away with his back towards them. He had crazy, messy, dark purple hair and a cutie mark of two empty eyes with static and a sinister grin beneath.

"W-Who's that?" asked Dana.

"Nevermind, let's get back", said the Doctor, an obvious hint of worry in his tone.

"But who is he?"

"He's me, there's only me here and that's the point. Now let's get back!"

"But I thought this place was supposed to be empty. Because the story doesn't have enough content. Because you're the first Doctor- ."

"I said he was me, I never said he was the Doctor."

"But I don't understand."

"Look, I said this place is my timestream, that everything in here is me. And were also characters of a fanfiction. Look, here's the thing with fanfiction. Not everyone does this but the larger majority does. In every fanfic the main character will develop traits of the author writing it. Sometimes it'll be a couple traits like how the character looks or how the character acts. And sometimes people will go the full mile and make an exact replica of themselves as the main character. Like those dreaded cosplay fanfics! Just because you were transported to Equestria while you were dressed like Goku doesn't mean you actually become him! Even with magic and cartoon physics it doesn't make sense! But I digress."

"Point is is that the author to DOCTOR, our author, a little bit of him is inside of me. And if this is my timestream, then it is also his."

"But this place is empty, why can't I see anything from his history?" asked Dana.

"Because I've hidden it", said the gray stallion with a dark, depressed tone.

"Why?"

" . . . Because I am ashamed."

Before Dana had a chance to respond, she fainted. 

"Dana! Dana!" the Doctor shouted as he caught her and place her on his back. 

"He is my secret", said the Doctor.

"What I did, I did because I was young", said the gray stallion.

"I know."

"In the name of peace, and sanity."

"But not in the name of the Doctor!" 

The Doctor turned and proceeded to walk away. Before he could, the stranger stopped him.

"Do you hate me?" he asked.

The Doctor sighed, "yes . . . and no. You were young and in your edgy phase. Everyone goes through those."

"But the stories I had written, the things I had created- ."

"You could have created worse, beleive me, you could have. At least you didn't write anything "M" rated."

"But . . . how could you- ."

"Because this isn't you anymore, you've grown. You've grown passed the edgy phase. And with your age, you created us. You created DOCTOR. And we're thankful. Even though you are our past, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be having our future."

"You may not like your past but whether you hate it  or downright despise the person you used to be. Just remember, if it wasn't for that person, you wouldn't be the person that you are today."


(See, this chapter does have a moral to it.)


The Doctor turned to the gray stallion one last time before leaving. He smiled as he said, "so long, Merotik."

The Gray pegasus turned, revealing his features to the Doctor. He had dark spots and bags on his eyes, his eyes were purple (a lighter shade then his mane), and he had a small scar on his right cheek. 

He returned a smile to the Doctor as he responded. "Take care, Deidorimu. Hopefully your story goes a lot better then mine."

"Oh it will, trust me, you'll make sure of it. Just don't include Shadow the Hedgehog again, please?"

"But, I didn't- ."

"Yes, yes you did. A little darkness is fine, just don't go overboard. Goodbye."

"Take care. And good luck", said Merotik. 

And with that, the Doctor turned and walked away. Leaving the past behind as he watched the Doctor leave. Waving with a smile as he did so.

Just as a flash of light appeared, the portal that lead to the way out of this void, Merotik's hair slowly began to change as he watched the two disappear.

His hair slowly began turning blue and his fur started fading, becoming white.

He smiled as he looked to his future.

"I'll do my best on this story. And I can assure you, this story- ."

Merotik stood tall as his eyes changed red.

"Is going to be absolutely brilliant!"

A light flashed blindingly bright and the Doctor and Dana were gone.





LATER IN THE, UH, I HAVE NO IDEA, ACTUALLY





Dana groaned as she awoke, finding that she was riding on the Doctor's back as they flew through a large, purple,  swirling vortex.

"D-Doctor?"

"Ah, Dana, you're awake. That was quick."

"W-Where are we?"

"We're passing through a dimensional portal back to our story. We should be there soon."

"Dimensional portal?"

"Yes, don't you remember what I said at the beginning of this chapter?"

"Doctor I don't even know what's happening now. I feel like everything's broken."

"That's because everything is broken, just not in a broken sort of way."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Dana, the thing I said to you, there were two things. One was about the dimensional rift, it had opened. It means that the wall that separated our world from the others had opened, giving easy access to anybody who wants to hop dimensions. Now, this is very bad. Very, very bad! Because dimension hopping can cause cracks in the dimensional rift that would eventually cause the entire universe to collapse on itself. If there were too many cracks, that is. However, today is the exception. For because of what today is, anything and everything can happen without repercussions. Including dimension hopping."

"But Doctor, why is today so important?" asked Dana.

"Ah, that's the second thing that I said that was super important. The second thing I said to you was, "April Fools!"

" . . . April Fools?"

"Eeyup!"

" . . . Okay, um . . . why is that important? Today isn't April Fools day. It isn't even April, it's June."

"Well, yes and no. It's not April here in our world. But in another, it's April first of the year two thousand and sixteen."

"And why does this matter?"

"Because everything that is happening now. The crazy, uncommon nonsense happening in this chapter. It's happening because of this day. You see Dana, April first is the day that authors like to be silly with their stories. They like to wonder off the usual path that they write their stories in and try something different. Most of the time it's random and silly and just makes no sense!"

"Is that what our author is doing?" asked Dana.

"It's what every author is doing! Just looked outside the vortex."

Dana looked curiously to the inner lining of the vortex, staring closely to see what the Doctor was talking about. As she did, she noticed that the vortex was see through. Barley, but just enough to notice that there were large glowing orbs that seem to float all around the cylinder vortex they were in.

Each glowing orb had images flashing at random.

One orb showed a pony wearing a bulky metal suit, shooting a laser at a large creature in a barren wasteland. 

Another orb showed Princess Celestia with pink hair, touching a very uncomfortable guard while making lewd gestures to him.

Another orb showed a titan sized Rainbow Dash, wielding a mighty sword as she fought against a demonic Discord. Whose size was equal to hers. 

A fourth orb showed a light brown earth pony with spiky dark brown hair and an hourglass for a cutie mark. He was running alongside a gray pegasus mare with blond hair, was cross eyed, and had bubbles for a cutie mark. They appeared to be running from something but Dana couldn't see what it was.

And that wasn't all. There was so much more. Orbs as far as the eye could see. The number of orbs was uncountable, for they were infinite. 

"What are these?" asked Dana.

"Other dimensions. What you are looking at, Dana, is the multiverse. Other worlds with their own different and unique timelines. That one over there- ", said the Doctor, pointing to something outside the vortex.

It was an orb, just like the others. However, this one was golden and was ten times the size of the other orbs. As big as the sun, perhaps bigger, Dana reckoned.

Although this one glowed gold and was the brightest of them all, this one had no image.

"That is the prime dimension. The reason we have the multiverse is because of that one dimension there. All other dimensions was created from that one. Although each dimension has their own unique stories and timelines, they all have similar traits that all correspond to that one dimension there. To the prime dimension."

"And this vortex we are in, this is what allows us to see the other dimensions and to visit the other worlds. It is the gateway to other unique and creative stories. It is called "Fimfiction."

"I see, other stories . . . so . . . we're part of a multiverse of stories? You and I?"

"Eeyup! Our world, and those ones out there, are all stories! Oh! Look at that one there!" shouted the Doctor, pointing.

Dana looked and saw another orb. Except, this one was different.

This orb wasn't a sphere like the others. This one had jagged edges that seem to bounce in and out of itself. It had an image like the others, except, this one was out of focus and wobbled.

"What's wrong with that one?" asked Dana.

"That one has an author writing an April Fools day special to it. It makes the world seem all wibbly wobbly, just not in a timey wimey sort of way. Everything will be random and silly for a while. But as soon as April Fools day is over everything will return back to normal and no one will remember a thing. That's why most April Fools day specials are uncanon."

"So the authors just having his way with that world and the ponies in it? He's just doing whatever he please?"

"Well it's their story- ."

"But it's our lives! What gives them the right to decide what happens in our world!? This is our world! We live in it! Not them! So we should be the ones to decide what happens!"

"Dana you don't understand, we are the ones to decide what happens- ."

"But what about what's happening now!? And all this junk that happened!? I certainly wouldn't have wanted to go through all this! It's a waste of, like, what, and hours worth of someone's time? Wasted on an uncanon chapter!? Its not fair!? How is this right for us!? I mean we exist too! Don't we!? . . . Don't we? Or . . . is that all we are? FIctional characters of a fictional story? Do we even exist? A-Are we real?"

The Doctor was silent for a moment as he thought of what to say. Then, he responded.

"Dana, have you ever read a book and wondered what it would be like to be with those characters?"

"Sometimes."

"Well, beleive it or not those characters do exist. Each and every character from each and every story exist in their own worlds. And if you make a fanfiction of yourself in that world, then beleive it or not, there exists a world where you are there. The story that you had written exists in another dimension. The authors don't know this, to them they are simply writing a story or a fanfic and are creating the events that will transpire. And in that world, in theirs, they truly are. Because in their world we are fictional. However, even though we only exist as fictional characters in their world, we are very real in ours. The dangers are real, choices matter, and the people are important! If someone dies in their story then someone has died realistically in our world."

"And it is not the author causing this. The events occurring in our world and the author writing this story are happening simultaneously. He doesn't know it, but what's actually happening is that the author is writing something that has already happened in that other world. Basically recording events that had happened, not creating their own. Even though they think they are creating their own. Which in their own world, they are."

"This sounds way too complex for a simple April Fools Special. Are you sure this is uncanon?" asked Dana.

The Doctor smiled, "that's for the author to know and for the audience to figure out."

"Okay, but what about the dimensions that our being affected by the April Fools Day specials? Isn't the author affecting them?"

"Yes and no. The author's do have enough power to cause strange, silly, random things to occur in that world. But it's all temporary. None of it will actually affect the lives of anyone within that world! As soon as the special ends everything will restore itself to how it was originally and nobody will remember a thing! It'll be as if nothing had even happened. And for our world, nothing did happen! But in the author's world, they got to have their April Fools Day special."

"I see. So even though we're a story in their world, we truly do exist in ours."

"Exactly! We may be fictional characters of their world. Mere characters of stories or fanfictions. But here, within the multiverse and within the stories that Fimfiction can take us to, we are very real!"

"For each and every story does exist, in their own dimension."

The Doctor went silent as he and Dana finished their trip through the Fimfiction and returned to their own world.

A light flashed blindingly as everything returned back to the way it was before.

Marking the end of April Fools.






You may see us as fiction. But to us, we are the reality and you are fiction.

> Doctor Who?: Part One (S1C3)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Doctor and his companion Dean Do in:


Doctor Who?


Chapter Three/Segment One


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~







Dean opened the drawer and placed a black comb within after having combed his hair for the second time. He stood on his hind legs, placing his forelegs to the bathroom sink to have a better view of his reflection in the mirror. He smiled, fixed a single hair strand that stuck out of place, then dropped back to all fours. He then turned to exit the restroom.

Just before leaving, he spotted something blue in the corner of his eye. Looking to a rug, placed against the toilet on the floor, he saw the corner of what appeared to be a blue piece of paper. 

Curiosity lead Dean's hoof to the odd parchment. He slip it out from beneath the rug and read what the paper had to offer. 

Or at least, he tried to. He raised a brow and flipped the paper sideways and upside down. Trying and failing to comprehend the complexities of the parchments contents. Although he was unable to determine heads to tails from the parchment, he was able to assume that it was a blueprint for a device of some sort. 

Everything was written in white, including a large picture of a stick like piece of metal with what seemed like a light bulb at the end.

Dean decided to ask the Doctor about it. So he rolled the blueprint up and opened the bathroom door.

Shutting the door behind him, Dean looked left and right down the pearly white hall, trying to remember which way lead back to the kitchen. Once he remembered, he turned right, walked to the end, made another right turn, passed three doors and entered the fourth on his left.

Inside was a very large kitchen. Circular and white just like the console room (Dean hadn't an idea what a console was, that's just what the Doctor called it). Except instead of monitors, consoles, and controls. There were ovens, stoves,  various kitchen supplies, and a few other necessities that Dean had never heard of before.

There was a black and white rectangular box that the Doctor called a "toaster". Beside it was an "automated coffee maker", and beside that was a "microwave."

Dean had no idea what any of these were. To him it all seemed, as he described it, "future-y." Then again, everything about the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T seemed ahead of the current day and age of technology. 

Dean decided not to question too much about the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and the things within, he'll either ask later or figure it out along the way. For now, Dean had other questions that had higher interest to him.

Near the end of the kitchen was a dining area fit with a round table for four, a chandelier fit for royalty hanging above, and a black and white checkered table with a clothed adorned atop ('why is everything in black and white?' thought Dean).

Sitting at the back end of the table was the Doctor; eating a wheat and daffodil sandwich with mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, caramelized grilled onion, and various spices. All placed between toasted, sesame seed bread.

He was reading a news side article with a headline starting : Nefarious Criminal Oswald Dohnavin and His Gang Imprisoned. 


Beneath it was a story stating that six days ago the royal guards had received a message from a carrier bird giving instructions on where to comprehend the criminals. The letter had also told of Oswald's crimes and the murder he had committed to Peter Fillips. In the paper, it was unknown as to who sent the letter or why a pack of animals were guarding the criminals as they waited for the guards arrival. As odd as it may seem, what struck the guards off the most was the gang leader himself, Oswald, having been attacked by the animals to near death but left alive. It is unclear why the animals did not kill Oswald, or how the entire gang was found unconscious on site or who was the one responsible for sending the letter. Further investigation will be put into the matter as soon as enough guards are available after the situation in Mane City is taken care of.

Dean figured it would only be a side article. Obviously the main story of the paper was the events occurring at Mane City. It practically took up the entire paper along with a picture of Mane City engulfed in chaos magic printed on the bulk of the front page.

Aside from the paper, Dean noticed that the Doctor's attire had changed. Not by style but by color. He still wore the same shirt, vest, tie, fedora, and the pocket watch chain hanging out the pocket. Except, instead of the black and gray contrast he had originally, today he had changed it to a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T blue (Dean had never heard that color in his life until the Doctor said it). His shirt was white and his tie and the fedoras string lining was black. His pocket watch remained silver, as it had before.

It had been two days since they left Dodge Junction and Dean noticed that his current attire was the same everyday. The only thing that would change was its color. Dean was curious if this was his only set of clothes or if he just favored this fashion more then anything else; to the point where he would refuse to wear any alternative clothing.

The Doctor look up from his paper to take a bite, as he did so he noticed Dean and smiled. "Hello! Took you a while."

Dean returned a smile as he pulled a chair out from the table and took his seat. "Sorry, did a bit of combing to my hair after I was finished. That and I almost forgot how to get here."

Taking a bite, the Doctor said, "Still don't know the place? You've been here for two days and you can't find your way back from the toilet?"

"Two days isn't enough! This place is huge! Seriously, how does this machine function!"

"It's kind of complicated."

"Of course it is, speaking of which, we've been inside your machine for two days now. And as much as I love being in here, when are we going to find this friend of yours?"

The Doctor swallowed, wiped his mouth with a cloth, then replied. "Soon, very soon. There's been some difficulty trying to find my friend. She's located close to Mane City. Not close enough to be within the boundaries of Discord's chaos magic, but still close enough to see its effects clearly."

This caused Dean's eyes to widen with worry, the Doctor taking noticed added, "but that's precisely why the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's taking its time. Its calibrating to find an exact point to land. One that can land close to Discord's magic but not too close for us to fall in danger. Its just difficult because of how, er, random his magic is. It can't seem to find a fixed point without his magic popping in and out of the area."

"I see, so we're stuck here until the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T can find a spot to land?"

The Doctor, finishing his lunch and walking with his plate to the kitchen sink said, "when you put it that way it sounds simple, but it's not."

"Well, as long as it doesn't take too long I suppose", said Dean, with a sigh.

The Doctor dropped his plate into the sink, returned to his seat at the table and said, "oh don't sound so bored! There's plenty to do!"

"Yeah, sure there are", Dean said sarcastically. A thought came to Dean as he held the rolled up blue print to the Doctor. "That reminds me, I found this while I was in the restroom."

"Oh? One of my blue prints? That's odd, I keep those locked up. Wonder why it's down here". The Doctor took and unrolled the blueprint. His eyes widened and a grin grew happily as he realized what the parchment was. "You found it! I've been looking for this!"

"What is it Doctor?"

"Its a tool I've been trying to invent. An artificial unicorn horn! It would allow any non-unicorn creature to use magic the exact same way unicorns can!"

Dean's eyes grew wide, "what!? Really!? That's incredible!"

"Yes it is! Or, at least, it would have been. This blueprint was found in the "scrapped" projects files within the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's memory matrix. Apparently the scientist at Alburnia we're going to invent this beauty before they threw away the project all together. They were afraid of the negative feedback they would receive for creating an artificial unicorn horn. I mean when you think about it's understandable. Unicorn horns on a unicorn isn't a tool, it's physically part of their body. Building an artificial unicorn horn would be like you or me cloning biological body parts."

"Wouldn't that be a good thing? You know, for ponies who have lost their limbs or unicorns whose horns have broken?" asked Dean.

"Well if it's an artificial limb then yes. But actually cloning a body part with its meat, and blood, and veins, that would be looked at as dark magic. That and unicorns would never need an artificial unicorn horn.  A unicorn would grow their horn back in due time if they were to break it. Also, a unicorn's horn is more of a sacred thing. Replicating something like that would be considered an insult to them. Artificial limbs is one thing but horns, that's another."

"So why do you have this blueprint then?"

"Because I don't give a flying feather if I insult unicorns! Let them be upset! I need this a lot more then some unicorns do with their own horns! In my past there have been situations where a little bit of magic would have come in handy. Although yes, I am quite capable in most situations without it. Having something like this would just give me a lot more reassurance, that's all. Plus, this thing is really, really cool!"

"However, this project was scrapped back in its early stages so I've had to try and figure out how to invent it myself from scratch. So far this blueprint is the farthest I've ever gotten. Its able to replicate some things to a unicorn horn but it is still flawed in nearly every aspect. Although it is unable to replicate the abilities of an actual horn. What I have been able to come up with so far is that I can manipulate molecular sound waves to achieve certain tasks. Very small tasks like opening doors or scanning something or someone. However, in due time I think I could get this bad boy to do so much more! It's taken me nearly twenty years to come this far. I reckon a few years more, like three or four, give or take, and I should have the tool completely finished and ready to use! 

"So even though it's not entirely an artificial horn. It is still a very useful scientific instrument!"

"I see, so it's a tool that uses sonic waves. It's like some sort of, er, sonic wrench or something?" asked Dean.

"Well, yes, but I like to think of it as more of a screwdriver."

There was a brief silence as the Doctor rolled the blueprint up and tucked it away into his vest pocket, causing Dean to wonder just how deep his pockets were. A thought came to Dean as he watched the Doctor pocket his scroll. "Hey, why did I find that in the bathroom?"

"Hmm? You found this in the- oh! I remember now! I was probably writing last minute modifications on the blueprint while sitting on the loo."

Dean froze as he said slowly, "you . . . were writing on that while using the toilet?"

"Um, maybe . . . I think I was."

Slowly, Dean looked to his hooves in disgust as he wiped them on his torso. " . . . Ew . . ."

"Hey! The bathroom is a great place for focus! Its quiet, relaxing, and personally, using the toilet helps me think."

"That's still gross- ."

Deciding to change the subject, the Doctor cut Dean off. "You know I still haven't told you about the Phoenix Ponies. Or any of the other elementals! You rushed to the bathroom before I could."

Dean's ears perked up, "hey, your right! Okay, guess this could kill some time. But if we don't make it there by the time you're done explaining, I'm just going to get bored!"

The Doctor shrugged, "sorry, nothing I can do if that happens. Alright, where to begin? Hmmm . . . jeez this is a long topic, uh . . . I don't know. Guess I'll just explain it one elemental at a time. I'll try to make my explanation as simple as possible. Some things may sound confusing but it all makes sense in the end . . . sort of."

"Now, let's start with an elemental that most ponies are accustomed to. Breezies! The air elementals!-"

"Now hang on, why don't we start with your species first?" asked Dean.

"Now Dean, we gotta save the best for last."

Dean raised a brow and chuckled, "oh? Best for last? Mighty full of yourself aren't you?"

The Doctor chuckled, "well we do have one of the most important jobs, keeping the earth's core protected. It is as big as fifty five percent of the planet after all."

"But with that logic, wouldn't the water elementals have an even more important job? Since the planet is seventy one percent water?"

" . . . Well- ."

"And if you put it that way! Wouldn't that mean that earth and air elementals have the largest jobs of all since their species basically works all over the planet, giving them the full one hundred percent?"

" . . . Shut up", said the Doctor, jokingly. Causing Dean to laugh.

"Now, starting with the air elementals."

"Breezies are the air elementals. They are small, bug like ponies, whose magic is primarily based around wind. Breezies often travel by strong gusts of wind or by breezes, hence their name. Although their primary job is to control the flow of wind through Equiis, their secondary job is to keep the planets nature well pollinated."

"During migration time for the breezies, the breezies will take pollen and spread it accross the planet. Yes, pollen can travel alone by wind. But a breezies magic can not only protect the pollen they carry but also increase its effects. Making the pollen stronger, more fertile, and having an absolute one hundred percent success ratio of producing strong, healthy plants! If you come across a field of flowers, for example, that had just been crossed by migrating breezies, you'll notice the flowers being brighter and healthier. You can go a month of hot sun, dry whether, and no water and I guarantee the flowers would still be shining bright!"

"It is unknown as to where the breezies live, they are the only elementals without specific locations. Their homes are kept secret for protection, as they are fragile creatures after all."

"Breezies also have the shortest lifespan out of the four elementals, living only up to seventy to ninety years. Roughly around a normal ponies lifespan, perhaps a bit smaller. However, although they have the shortest lifespan, they have the largest number of population."

"You see, Breezies cannot function with only one or two or even twenty of their own kind. For breezies to use their magic to full strength, they have to be in swarms of at least one hundred of their own kind. The more there are, the stronger their magic becomes. Which is one of the reasons why finding their homes are virtually impossible! Their magic is so powerful because you have millions upon millions of breezies all bunched up in one spot! That kind of magic is strong enough to compete against an elder dragon! Or a changeling queen! Perhaps even an alicorn . . . but a few notches down. Like, two and a half, maybe?"

"So, they help with the weather, the nature, and are masters at using anything air related with their magic. For their own defense, and if their numbers are high enough, breezies could form nasty tornados. Manipulating it to destroy whatever they like. Of course they would never do that unless they were forced to."

"Breezies are calm, quiet, and just like the other elementals, prefer to be left alone. But that's okay, these species live entirely off of nature. The breezies and the golems don't need to trifle themselves with species like you and me. Getting involved on politics and money and other equine stuff like that. They and the golems prefer living off the fat of the land! They don't need help with traveling or when they're in danger or whatnot because they are, technically, never alone. Yes they like to be left alone by the other species, but they are always there for each other, never leaving a single one alone."

"Alright, I think that covers it with the air elementals. Next up is the Breezies opposites. Earth elementals, the Golems!"

"Golems live on the four corners of Equiis. They always live in the center most part of the continent, farthest away from water. Its not that they hate it, they'll just die if they go into it . . . okay, you know what. Maybe they do hate water, I don't know honestly, I've never met a Golem. I've just studied them."

"Anyway, Golems are the complete opposites of Breezies in both a figurative sense and a physical sense. Golems, unlike the breezies, have the longest life spans out of all four elementals. From eighteen hundred to two thousand years. However, with their long lifespan, they also have the shortest population out of the elementals."

"The reason their population is so small is because they don't populate the same way we do. Actually, Gollem's aren't born, they're grown. It takes nearly two thousand years for a golem to grow to the size of an infant. Which for a Golem would be about two meters. But growing a golem is strenuous work! You have to carve them at certain points and make sure they don't get wet and all kinds of other things while they are growing. Their not too fragile when they are growing but they are certainly more vulnerable to danger. If something were ever to happen while a Golem is growing, they will be born with defects."

"Defects? Like they'll be mental?"

"Well, they won't be crazy.  But they'll be, um, mentally handicapped. And sometimes physically handicapped."

"Ah, I see. So what happens then? Do they keep them in a hospital or?-"

"Well Golems don't have hospitals actually. They don't need them. A Golem's anatomy is so solid and inorganic that it is nearly impossible for Golems to get sick, poisoned, or harmed. But, to answer your question. Its a bit sad what happens. You see, Golems don't tend to any defects they have because they are, well, put down."

"Put down? They kill them!?"

"Its for their own good Dean. Its awful for anypony to be incapacitated in any sort of way, whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally. If a common pony becomes incapacitated, and he's lucky to not die or be left alone, then he will have loved ones taking care of him twenty four seven. He might be suffering, but his family is always there, giving him so much love and attention that he doesn't even feel the pain. But Golems aren't so lucky."

"First, Golems don't have families, let alone parents. They have gardeners, who tend to them during the time they are being grown. And second, could you imagine having to live like that for two thousand years Dean? Simply being incapacitated for sixty or seventy years is hard, but at least we common ponies have friends and families who will be there for us. Golems don't have that, they will be incapacitated and alone for two thousand years, suffering. They can make friends with each other of course, but the population is so small that no Golem wants to tend to someone incapacitated for two thousand years! It sounds cruel, but that's just the way Golems work. Them killing a defect is basically their way of helping that poor unfortunate soul escape a living tartarus."

"Now, sad stuff aside. Golems are, quite literally, big hulking behemoths! They look like ponies but are made entirely out of rock. They can reach up to a height of about seven and a half meters! They are strong, powerful, and are very unfriendly to outsiders. Most of the time they will attack anyone who isn't a Golem. They give warnings first of course so if you're stupid enough to not take heed in the warning, then personally I think you deserve whatever the Golems do to you."

"Golems live as far from water as possible because, as I've already said, they could die if they enter it. And by enter I mean if a golem is to completely submerge themselves in water. Rain or flash floods will have no affect on them and they have their precautions in case of threatening floods. But, not only are they unable to go into water, they are also unable to step hoof off the ground."

"Golems, from the moment they are born after finishing their growing process, are permanently attached to the ground. When they walk they appear to be dragging their hooves but in actuality it is because they are physically connected to the planet's surface. Jumping, flying, skipping, all those things are things that they cannot do."

"Golems do tend to the planet's surface, shifting the continentals plates at the appropriate times and making sure nothing catastrophic happens. However, golems only do this after the first hundred years of their lives."

"You see, Golems take one hundred years to reach full maturity, they don't do much during that time. Mostly learn about the world, their species, or do whatever they feel like doing. However, that one hundred years is also for them to make a decision, one that will affect how the rest of their lives will go."

"You see, Golems, when they reach maturity, travel to what is called a "Golem Temple" to complete their aging process. Once there, they will have two decisions to make. Decision number one is if they wish to become full, complete Golems. If they choose this path, a Golem will link his mind, body, and magic to what is called the Master Golem. The Master Golem is a Golem the size of a skyscraper! It looks like a statue but is actually composed of hundreds and hundreds of Golems! They all link their minds and bodies together into one large cluster so that they can have full and absolute control of Equiis's surface. Golems are located in four spots, the four corners of Equiis. Therefore, there are only four Master Golems in total. If Golem's wish to link themselves to the master Golem and participate in taking care of the planet's surface, they will link their bodies to the Master Golem and, basically, synch their minds to the cluster and have full control over the surface. A Golem will then tend to the planet's surface for the rest of their lives, the next eighteen hundred to two thousand years! Once it is time for a Golem to pass on, he will die peacefully and painlessly, basically like drifting off to sleep, as his body slowly reduces itself to dust. The dust falls out of the cluster and will then be taken to Golem burial grounds. Delivered by Golems who have not yet reached maturity. 

"That is the first decision they can make, the second is if a Golem does not wish to spend the rest of their lives protecting the surface. Although Golem's seem like simple minded creature, they do in fact have their own thoughts and emotions like we do. Some Golems take a liking to the planet and wish to see more of it. Or perhaps they develop their own dreams they wish to accomplish. Whatever the case may be, sometimes Golems do not want to be part of the cluster and wish to live on their own. With their own lives and their own freedom. If this is the case, the Golem will go to the Master Golem. However, instead of linking themselves to the cluster, the Master Golem will instead use its own magic to temporarily take control of the Golem's magic."

"While they have full manipulation of its magic, they will condense its magic smaller and denser, until its magic is equal to the body mass of an ordinary size equine, such as you and I. After that, the Master Golem will then absorb whatever earth magic they have, taking away their earth elemental abilities. Once this is done, the Golem will lose its earth magic, thus causing it to lose all of its rock like traits. Well, almost all of it. You see, the Golem will lose its outer, rock like, exterior and shrink to the size of a common equine; equivalent to their magical mass. After that, a brand new body will be forged from the rocks that had been their bodies previously. With the Master Golems magic, he will change the old body into a smaller, more mobile body, made entirely out of crystal. Once this process is complete, the Golem will no longer be a Golem anymore. He will be an ordinary equine. He or she will be as big as you and I and can leave the ground now. Their elemental magic turns into common equine magic, one of the three types. Its never known which one they'll get, it is always random."

"They, basically, become a common Equine. The only difference is that their skin is made entirely out of crystal. They can then live lives like you and I can."

"Hang on, this sounds an awful lot like Crystal Ponies." said Dean.

"That's because they are crystal ponies. Your confusion is understandable, crystal ponies who originated from Golems are rare. Most Golems choose the Master Golem over the Crystal Ponies. But at a time there were a few who chose to become Crystal Ponies. And after they become Crystal Ponies, they also gain something they had never had before: a gender. They will become male or female and will gain the ability to breed. Crystal ponies can then be born after that. Thus causing confusion on the matter because Golem converted Crystal Ponies are rare, Crystal Ponies born from another Crystal Pony are common. But, as rare as they may be this is actually how Crystal ponies originated. At one time, they used to be earth elementals but did not want to spend the rest of their lives in the cluster. So they choose to live their own lives, sacrificing their elemental magic and their abilities to connect with the land and other elementals. Their lifespan reduces as well, which reduces to common Equine lifespan." 

"And although yes, Earth Ponies can connect to the land with their own magic. Earth Elementals can do it better, having not just a connection to it, but full manipulation as well. Crystal Ponies lose that ability but they don't mind. Most if not all are happy with their decisions."

"But whatever decision a Golem does make it had better be the one they absolutely want. Because after they make their decision, there is no going back. This is how they will live for the rest of their lives. But they have one hundred years to decide so it isn't, er, too difficult . . . ish."

"That doesn't sound like a good way to live if you ask me. That's way too big of a decision to make!" said Dean.

"Well be thankful that your a common Equine then."

"So, Crystal Ponies aren't considered Elementals anymore because they lose their earth magic, right?" asked Dean.

"Yup, they are as common as you and I."

"Hang on, there's something I've noticed. All this time you've been saying how common "you and I" are, like your a common Equine as well. But your a Phoenix Pony. Why are you making it sound like your a common Equine?"

"Well . . . I'm not . . . its complicated."

"Why?"

"Because, well . . . okay. Yes, I am a Phoenix Pony. I am a Fire Elemental. But I just don't feel like one, if that makes sense. Elementals have their own differences that make them unique, but there's one thing that they all have in common. Elementals stick to their own species. Breezies and Golems never associate with non-elementals at all. They stick to their own and survive just fine like that. Phoenix Ponies and Frostealius are the exceptions. Because they aren't adaptable to nature like Golems and Breezies are, the fire and water elementals do involve themselves with other species but only to an extent. Our species has contact with leaders all over the world, helping to maintain peace and order between the elementals and non-elementals. Sometimes we trade goods and sometimes something happens that forces us to discuss politics with other species. Asides from that, however, Phoenix Ponies and Frostealius stay in their own territory. They never leave, any discussions made with other nations are discussed via messaging animals. Such as a messenger dragon or a messenger phoenix- ."

"There are messenger dragons?" asked Dean.

"There's a breed of dragons call Teloscaleions that have a unique ability to teleport items with their fire breath. Its so much faster then delivering by bird, but I digress."

"Point is, I don't address myself like the other Elementals because, although I am an Elemental, I have done the one thing that all four species of Elementals are not supposed to do. I left my home, I left Alburnia, breaking the number one rule of the Elementals."

"Why is this rule so strict? How come Elementals can't leave their territories?"

"Its because of this planet, and how we're the ones to take care of it. Elementals have very important jobs taking care of this planet. If Elementals suddenly decided to stop their jobs and leave somewhere else, then the world would fall into chaos! Alburnia is where the Phoenix Ponies protect the planet's core with their fire. Well what if we suddenly decided to leave? Who would stay to protect the core? It can only be Phoenix Ponies because only phoenix fire can protect the core. Of course, some will want to stay and protect the core anyway, but will it be enough?"

"I see, so you all can't leave because of the danger it would cause to the planet as a whole?"

"Correct, that is why no Elemental is meant to leave their territories. Which is why I don't like to prefer myself as one." said the Doctor.

"But if Phoneix Pony jobs are that important, then why did you leave? I know you said it was because you were bored, but if that's the case then, do you not care what happens to the planet?"

"Don't be ridiculous, of course I do! I just figured that one measly Phoenix Pony leaving wouldn't cause any problems, and I was right. Nothing bad happened at all."

"They weren't mad at you leaving?"

"No they were furious! They sent tons of Phoenix Pony soldiers after me! They chased me for over ten years before they finally gave up."

"So you got away? Just like that? Scott free?"

"Er, no, no not quite. You see, I had tried so hard to escape that when they quit their chase they decided that if I didn't want to be in Alburnia so badly that I should just stay out, permanently. They had sentence me to life in exile."

"What!?! You're banned from going home just because you left!?!"

"Your astonishment is due to your little understanding on the subject, Dean. You are so accustomed to the cultures of common Equine that you forget Phoenix Ponies have their own cultures with their own rules. Yes it seems shocking, but that is just part of being an Elemental. And being an Elemental means you have to follow the laws of an Elemental. You break the law, you will be punished."

"But I'm not too disappointed, I mean sure Alburnia was my home and I absolutely loved the place! But I'd rather be traveling the world and seeing what it has to offer then be trapped in Alburnia for the rest of my life."

"But what about your home?" asked Dean.

"This is my home, you're in it- ."

"No I mean, like a country, don't you live somewhere?"

"No, and I don't need to. The entire world is my oyster Dean and I'd rather not limit myself to a single country."

"Alright, I think we've gone off topic long enough. Now, where was I?"

"You had just finished telling me about the Earth Elementals", said Dean.

"Oh! That's right! Let's see, I've covered their home, the way they live, lifespan, population, what they do, guess I have this Elemental covered!"

"Next elemental, Frostealius! The Water- ."

The Doctor was interrupted to the sound of a loud alarm. The white lights changed red, giving the kitchen a dark hazy contrast that mixed badly with the white and black design. 

"What's that!?" asked Dean.

"Something bad, console room, quick!" said the Doctor, leaping to his hooves and dashing towards the kitchen door. 

Dean followed behind, he and the Doctor exiting the kitchen and running down the pearly white hallway. Whose lights had also changed color and were now fading in and out between black darkness and red light.

It took ten seconds for the two to reach the console room.

Upon entering, the Doctor first rushed to the monitor on the hexagonal console and read its contents before groaning. "There's been a sudden imbalancement between the gravitational pull and magic frequencies! It's flip flopping all over the place!"

"What is?"

"The frequencies of course! WHOA!" 

The Doctor and Dean fell over simultaneously as the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T gave a sudden jerk. The Doctor rushed back to his hooves first, shifting his balance as best as he could to not fall down again as the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T shook like an earthquake. 

The Doctor looked back to the monitor before pressing a few gray buttons. He then rush to the other side of the console, flipped a lever, turned a knob, switched the side to his left, pressed more buttons, and flipped another lever.

The monitor gave off a small 'DING!', like a bell being tapped with small, metal, mallet. The Doctor rushed to it, read its contents, then slammed a hoof to the console. "This is Discord's doing! His magic is affecting the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's coordinations! It doesn't know where to land! Its flying blind!"

"What does that mean!?!" shouted Dean.

"It means if I can't reroute the trajectory path then the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's going to crash!"

"Crash!?! Crash where!?!"

"I don't know! Somewhere random!" 

"Can you fix it!?!"

"Of course I can! Just watch!"

The Doctor made haste as he fiddled with his console. Pushing buttons, turning knobs, pulling levers and switches, running to and fro to each side of the console.

Suddenly, the machine jerked, more violent then the first.

Dean and the Doctor held on tight to the console to not fall, having expected the machine to act this way after the first jerk. 

A few moments later, the Doctor looked to Dean with an expression of worry. "You may want to prepare yourself."

"Why?"

Just as he asked this the alarm became more apparent. The red light blinking faster as the alarm became louder and more frequent between intervals. 

"What's happening!?!"

"Flying through Discord's magic is a lot more difficult then I expected!"

The Doctor and Dean lost balance for a moment as the machine jerked again.

Quickly recovering, the Doctor gave Dean a half reassuring, half worrisome smile. "This could work but just in case it doesn't, hang on tight!"

The Doctor rushed forward to a silver lever with a black ball connected at the top. He grabbed the lever hard and flipped it down.

As he did, the alarm and red light worsened as the machines shook more violently then before.

"DOCTOR!!!" Dean screamed. He tried to keep his balance with the machines violent shakes. 

Yet little did the poor colt know that the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, from the outside, was spinning out of control.

The Doctor growled, "come on girl! You can do it!!!"

Another jerk caused Dean to scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
> Doctor Who?: Part Two (S1C3)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another jerk caused Dean to scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

The Doctor reached for one last button and pushed it hard.

As he did, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's shaking slowly ceased. The alarm stopped and the red light had returned to its original, bright, white light.

As the machine settled, the Doctor looked to the monitor and smiled. "We're stabilizing. See girl, knew you could do it."

As relaxed as the Doctor was, Dean was feeling quite the opposite. He still felt as if the machine was still shaking. His hooves continued to clamp tightly to the console as he held his mouth shut tight, trying not to vomit.

The Doctor looked to Dean and raised a brow in confusion. "Um, Dean . . . are you alright?"

Dean gulped and answered, "has . . . has it stopped?"

"What?"

"Has the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T stopped shaking?"

"Uh, yes?"

"Then why do I still feel it?"

"Oh you're just not used to it yet. Just give it some time and your body will adjust to the motion."

"But that wasn't just motion that was . . . we could have crashed!"

"Yes but I fixed it, just as I said I would. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T has returned to a stable zone and is searching for a safe place to land once again."

"But why did we almost crash!?"

"Oh, well, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T got a little too close to Discord's magic and it, sort of, clamped onto it. Which is odd, the area we're flying around now didn't have chaos magic just a few days ago. His magic is spreading faster- ."

"Wait, I thought this thing could teleport."

"It can but not with all this chaos magic around. Teleporting through chaos magic would be like jumping head first into a concealed box. You never know what you're going to land into. So we're playing it safe and flying around, looking for the safest place to land."

"How much longer? I don't think I could handle something like that again."

"I'm not sure how long it'll take to find a safe landing spot. But I can assure you that that won't happen again, I have it set flying further then the intended area. That way we're not as close to Discord's magic."

"Okay, well if we're safe now then I'm going back to the kitchen." Dean released his grip from the console, stumbled for a moment, then shakily made his way towards the white double door and into the hallway.

The Doctor made a few last checks to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, making sure the remainder of their trip would be out of any danger. Once he was sure they were safe, he left the console room and returned to the kitchen.

Once there, the Doctor spotted Dean sitting at the dining table, resting his head onto his crossed forelegs.

Taking a seat next to Dean, the Doctor said, "you wouldn't happen to have motion sickness, would you?"

"No, but I'm allergic to death."

The Doctor chuckled, "well I'll be sure to keep you away from that then."

Dean lifted his head, leaned back into his chair, and sighed. "Sorry, that was just . . . a bit much for me. I wasn't expecting something like that to happen at all today."

"Well no one can expect when they'll fall into danger. It just sort of happens. That's the thing about traveling, you're never safe. But it's worth it, because you're never bored!"

Dean chuckled, "never a dull moment for you huh?"

Returning a laugh, the Doctor said, "nope. Everyday I get to see new places and meet new creatures. Yet not every place is good and not every creature is kind. But I don't care. I may not know what to do at first but I always find out in the end. And I will always leave in one piece, only to do the same thing again, except, somewhere new this time. Adventure, it's completely terrifying but so, so exciting!"

Dean smiled and thought for a moment. He thought about the Doctor and wondered about his age. He wondered just how long the Doctor has been traveling for. Dean noticed he was very cocky at times. Someone stupid may get cocky, feeling as if they can take anything no matter what the challenge may be. But not the Doctor, he certainly wasn't stupid. He was brilliant, and that cockiness may be because the Doctor truly does beleive he can take on anything. Perhaps he could, Dean couldn't even imagine how many years of experience he had. This made him wonder another thing. How did the Doctor first begin his travels. Of course, it was probably after he had left Alburnia. But the Doctor had mentioned that he was hunted by the Phoenix Ponies for a while. Dean didn't think anyone could adventure while they were being hunted. Perhaps the Doctor went into hiding and waited until the coast was clear before he began. Or perhaps he didn't care and adventures anyways. Based off the Doctor's personality, Dean had assumed the latter was the most likely choice. 

But that brought another question to mind, why did he call himself the "Doctor?" It can't be his real name, Dean refused to beleive any parent would name their foal "Doctor". It had to be a name he had chosen for himself but why? Why of all things would he call himself "Doctor?" Doctor sounds impressive in a full name. Such as Doctor Dorris, or Doctor Smith, or Doctor Seuss. But just "Doctor" sounded silly to Dean. 

'When did he first start calling himself that? And, Doctor Who, exactly?' Dean asked internally.

"Hey, do you still want me to explain to you about the four Elemental species?" asked the Doctor.

Dean snapped out of his thoughts and looked to the Doctor. "Yeah, sure. You were going to tell me about the Frostealius."

"Ah, right, Frostealius, the Water Elementals. You see, even though each of the four species have their own unique traits and qualities. And Water Elementals are supposed to be the Fire Elementals opposites. These two Elementals, as odd as it seems, are very similar to one another. Both have roughly the same life span and population. Which by the way, our species populations are larger then the Golems and our lifespans are larger then the Breezies. And vice versa with the Breezies population and the Golems lifespan. So this puts both our species in between the two."

"And asides from that, both of our species cultures are similar as well. Such as laws, technological advancements, and running scientific based countries. There's more to it, but I'll get back to this later."

"Now as far as culture, technology, lifespan, and population, those are the only similarities we have. Everything else about the Frostealius are, figuratively and physically speaking, different. Just like the Breezies and Golems."

"Frostealius are, well, to put it bluntly, frost like creatures. Hence the name. The outer layer of their bodies, such as hair and skin, appear to be made out of snow or frost or sometimes ice. However, the inside of their bodies are one hundred percent made out of water! Their organs, bones, everything! Whereas a normal Equine is usually made out of fifty seven to sixty percent water."

"How can they be entirely made out of water?" asked Dean.

"Its a combination of their anatomy, science, and of course, magic. Their skin only looks like it's made of frost or snow or ice. But, actually, their skin is as tough as dragon leather! They've evolved this in order to prevent any water from leaking out from inside them. Their like an extra strong water balloon."

"What would happen if they get hurt though?" asked Dean.

"Its actually about the same as a normal Equine healing from a bleeding wound. The moment a Frostealius's water makes contact with the air after leaking out, it will freeze and, essentially, make a scab. With a little bit of patience and making sure their wound is clean, the scab will heal and fall off and their skin will be as good as new."

"Weird, so they really are like some sort of magical healing balloon!" said Dean, smiling.

The Doctor chuckled, "yes, in a manner of speaking. Just don't call them that if you are to ever encounter one. They take offense to that."

"They take offense to being called a balloon?" asked Dean.

"Yup, being called a balloon to them would be like me calling you "swine manure."

"Oh! Its that offensive?"

"Yes, especially nowadays."

"What do you mean?"

"Well a lot of the Elementals are insulting them for the things they've done. It has to do with what I said earlier about the similarities between the Water and Fire Elementals. Here, I'll explain in a minute, let me finish the Frostealius first."

"Now, the Frostealius live down near the South Pole, in a country called "Frostbite"- hey, what are you chuckling about?"

Dean managed to stifle his chuckle as he said, "Frostbite"? Really? That's the name of their country?"

"Yes, what's wrong with that?"

"The Frostealius live in "Frostbite" and the Phoenix Ponies live in "Alburnia". By any chance were these countries named for the puns intentionally or was this some sort of accident?" Dean asked sarcastically.

The Doctor raised a brow and said, "Oh! Says the "Equine" who lives in "Equestria". And not to mention went to college in "Mane City."

Dean laughed, "fair point!"

The Doctor chuckled and continued, "anyway, as I was saying. Frostbite, as you can imagine, has a very cold climate. Which, of course, is obviouse. There country is covered in snow, very little vegetation grows there. What does grow there has adapted to the cold climate so vegetation that grows there wouldn't be able to grow anywhere else, as it would be too hot. And, that's about it! Frostbite is, well, basically what you'd expect to see in the South Pole. Cold and covered in snow. No offense to them, but they don't really have much to show for. I mean, this is where they can control the wave patterns and currents of the oceans water but asides from that they don't, well, have much."

"Really? That's all you have? You go through these great explanations on the Golems and Breezies and this is all you have on Frostealius?" asked Dean.

"Well their culture is similar to ours. And both of our cultures are similar to yours, except for the fact that Elementals don't associate with Non-Elementals. So there isn't really much to say. Well, except for the "hot water" they are in right now."

"Hot water?"

"Yeah, the Frostealius aren't in a good position at the moment. They've gotten themselves in a bit of trouble. Not only with the other Elementals but also between themselves."

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, gee, where to start? I guess it began back during the "Science Wars."

"The Science what?" asked Dean.

"Its just a term, nothing meant to be taken seriously. It wasn't even an actual war, it was a joke! Here, let me explain."

"As I've told you, the Phoenix Ponies were the first species, not only as Elementals but on the planet, to try and create a non-magic based culture. Setting all of their technology to run strictly on science! Of course, the rest of the planet was skeptical, believing that magic is a fundamental necessity to literally everything in life. However, that was before the Phoenix Ponies first biggest breakthrough, Five hundred and thirteen years ago. When they created the first model of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T."

"After seeing the potentials this machine had to offer, species became a little more open to the idea of a science based culture. Never to the point where they would do it themselves of course. They were only just a bit more comfortable. Still laughing behind our back of course. Just not as sceptical."

"However, after three hundred and fifty years worth of research and inventing, the planet had ceased its laughter and instead gazed in awe at the level of science we had reached! We had become the most scientifically advanced species on the planet! Creating things like vacuums that no longer need a unicorn to use or even transportation that doesn't require a pony to pull on a harness in order to move! Everyone had taken notice in our advancements. Especially the Frostealius."

"When we had first made the decision on a non-magic based culture, the Frostealius were just as sceptical about this as everyone else were. However, after seeing our achievements, they had become envious. At the time, the Frostealius were living just like the other two Elementals, living off the fat of the land. After seeing the levels of science we had achieved, they wanted to leave their lifestyle behind and join our culture."

"And we accepted them with open hooves! We would have never done this with anypony else. But to fellow Elementals we gladly gave them open access to our technology and taught them everything we knew. Well, almost everything. We never taught them any of the big things like the creation of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T or anything like that. We liked to keep those inventions to ourselves. But everything else we gladly shared to them. And for a time everything worked out perfectly. That is, until the Frostealius's envy had turned to jealousy."

"The Frostealius tried so hard to make Frostbite into a culture that was just as advanced as ours. And beleive me, they had gotten pretty far, surpassing every other species on the planet. However, and I don't want to sound mean when I say this but, the Frostealius just weren't good enough. They would always compare their inventions to ours and their inventions always seem to fall short to ours. No matter how hard they tried, the Frostealius were stuck in a standstill as the second most scientifically advanced species on the planet. And they didn't like this. No, they didn't like this at all."

"They had become angry and wanted to prove that they could surpass us and that they could become the most scientifically advanced. So, the Frostealius challenged us to a series of contests that would put our scientific intellect to the test. These "challenges" consisted of our two species creating an invention of a particular category. Such as home living, medicine, cleaning, and a lot, lot more! Basically, whoever created the better invention, wins."

"This time period that the Frostealius challenged us to these contest was dubbed by the other Elementals as the "Science Wars". A time where the Phoenix Ponies and Frostralius fought over their levels of scientific knowledge. However, as I've said this name is not to be taken seriously for it is merely a joke. The reason for this is because the Elementals found this whole ordeal humorous. The Water Elementals were so fumed at not being number one that they acted as if they truly were at war! All they could think about was creating the better inventions during the Science War. I remember being told that some Frostealius would even eat and sleep less in order to have more time on their work."

"Everyone else, the Phoenix Ponies included, didn't take these challenges nearly as serious they did. We accepted every challange they gave us and still worked hard, of course. However, we didn't take these challenges as a way to prove who can be the superior species. Instead, the Phoenix Ponies used the Science War as an excuse to better themselves. We would create these great inventions that would surpass the Frostealius's inventions. And although it seemed we were participating to win. We were, actually, just creating these inventions to benefit us. The rate of our advancements had actually increased during the time of the Science War."

"In the end, we won every challenge, which came as no surprise to anyone. We had over hundreds of years worth of experience whereas these guys just started! The Science War ended after thirty years, when the Frostealius had ran out of ideas for challenges and essentially gave up. They, of course, were absolutely furious at their loss. They refused to associate with the other Elementals for a while and shut themselves away from the rest of the world while they recovered."

"Recovered?" asked Dean.

"From their loss."

"They needed time to recover from that?"

"As I said, they took this very seriously. Everyone else felt they were being over dramatic and were being immature. Locking down their country so they can sulk. But to the Frostealius, they genuinely felt as if they lost a war."

"They sound like a bunch of twats to me", said Dean.

"Oh don't say that! They were just being . . . er . . . okay, so they were. But there's no need to call all of them that. Its mostly their king who was a twat. These huge decisions were being ran by their current king at the time. Or, at least, they were during the first Science War."

"First? Hold on, there was another!?" asked Dean.

"Yup, after three years of silence they began associating with us again. And you want to know the first thing they did when they talked to us? They challenged us to another competition. Once again they wanted to prove that they were the more advanced species. We argued at first, stating that this whole ordeal was ridiculous. But the Frostealius persisted that we have these challenges. In the end we agreed to their competition.  Thus, beginning the second Science War."

"It started off roughly the same as the first. The Frosteaius would decide what category of inventions we would create and who ever created the better invention would win. We won every challange they gave us and the whole cycle seemed to repeat itself. That is, until things took a turn for the worst, during the last challange."

"What happen?" asked Dean.

"The Frostealius, after having lost three years worth of challenges, decided to take a different approach. They declared that they wanted to do one last challange. If we win then they decided to end this dispute and accept that we were the most advanced species. And if they win, they would still accept our level of knowledge. However, they would at least have something to brag about. Which at this point was good enough for them. They chose a category that neither of us had done during the Science Wars because of the dangers it holds."

"What category was that?" asked Dean.

"Warfare, the Frostealius wanted to see who could create the better technology for warfare. The councils of the two Elements held a meeting on the matter and decided to give it a go. And to be honest, the only reason the Phoenix Ponies agreed to this challange was because this gave them the chance to end the dispute once and for all. I mean could you blame them? Fighting over something so pointless for over thirty years? Yeah, they were sick and tired of it."

"But they took precautions of course. They have never had a challange with warfare before and they wanted it to be as safe as possible. The plans and preparations were agreed upon and the two Elementals went to work."

"The Frostealius wanted to make sure this final challange would be their win. So they had the final challange take a year for inventing before the scientist would show their creations to the public."

"One year later and it was time for presentations. As usual, the public was impressed with what the Phoenix Ponies had to offer. Stronger armor, automatic ranged weapons that was charged with phoenix magic, levitation vessels- ."

"Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa! I thought you said Phoenix Ponies were a science based culture. How come they're using their magic for their weapons?"

"No, no, no, we don't use our magic for weapons, we use our magic to power our weapons. Our weapons are powered with phoenix crystals, which as you could imagine is only found on Alburnia. The phoenix crystals work like energy sources that can store phoenix magic. When our weapons energy run dry they become powerless. So we store some of our magic into the crystal so that we can use our weapons again."

"Why don't you just fight with your magic? Like you did with Oswald?" asked Dean.

"Because it's too difficult to fight that way. If we use our weapons then we could fight while spending as little magic as possible. If we fight with our magic alone, we would, eventually, get tired and no longer be capable of fighting. We would be vulnerable to enemy attacks while we are in this weakened state. After all, any species who uses magic would get tired from the excessive use, eventually. Weapons make it a whole lot easier to conserve this energy."

"Sounds to me like you guys cheated a little when you said you wanted a "science based" culture."

"Its not cheating! Its actually a very good way of using energy! Magical energy crystals, such as the phoenix crystals, are actually a lot better for the environment then those coal powered trains you Equines use so- MMMM!" said the Doctor, sticking his tongue out to Dean.

Dean chuckled, "alright, alright, whatever. Hey, you said the crystals were for the "automatic ranged weapons, right?"

"Yes."

"What's that? A bow that fires multiple arrows?"

"Mmm, not exactly. Its, um . . . well . . . drat. This would be a lot easier to explain if crossbows were invented."

"What's a crossbow?"

"Don't worry about it, just, um, okay. Imagine a unicorn firing a death spell, or a beam, if you will. Now, imagine a metallic rod that's easy to hold and easy to carry. Except this rod has a handle with a, sort of, lever type switch attached to it. If you press this "switch" then it fires a beam from the rod's tip. It works like a unicorn firing a death spell, except, any species can wield it. Also, it's accuracy is significantly better then a unicorn or even bows! Its automatic because it can fire one hundred beams in as little as fifteen seconds! Before it requires the wielder to reload. Either by a Phoenix Pony replacing the phoenix crystal or by recharging the crystal manually. Which, in a battle situation, would not only cost some of your energy but would also be slower then simply inserting a replacement crystal into the weapon."

"It sounds impressive. But how come nopony else has a weapon like this? Your weapons sound extremely advanced. Yet all we have in Equestria, heck, the rest of the world in that matter, are bows, swords, and spears."

"Do you honestly expect the Phoenix Ponies to share their excruciatingly advance technology with the rest of the world? Ha! As if! The day we want the planet to explode is the day we would share our tech."

"You don't trust us?" asked Dean.

"When it comes to this technology, no. No we most certainly do not! Heck, we don't even trust the other Elementals with this tech. Especially the Water Elemental. Not after what they did."

"What did they do?" asked Dean.

"Well I was getting to that but you distracted me by badgering me on our tech!"

"I wasn't badgering! You said you were a science based culture but you power your tech with magic!"

"Just the weapons and transportation! And it's environmentally safe for us to recharge magic crystals then use disposable batteries or gas!"

"You're still using magic."

"As batteries!" the Doctor shouted, veins bulging and eyes glaring as he did so.

Dean laughed, "alright, alright, simmer down. Wouldn't want you popping a vein or something."

"Wouldn't be the first time", said the Doctor. He took a deep breath and relaxed himself.

"Wait, what?" asked Dean.

"Anyway, if you wouldn't mind I'd like to finish."

"By all means", said Dean.

"Okay then. Now . . . where the heck was I? Second Science War, final challange, yaddy yaddy yadda- ah ha! Right! As I was saying."

"So the day had come for us to present our inventions. As I've said, everyone was impressed with the Phoenix Ponies weapons. Such as the armor, guns, levitation vessels- ."

"Whoa hang on, guns? The heck are those? You didn't mention those", said Dean.

"That is what those rods are called, the ones I was explaining about. Now can I please finish?"

"Right! Sorry."

"It's fine. Anyway, so we presented our tech. Now it was time for the Frostealius to present. Everyone was expecting something similar to us like the armor or some sort of weapon. However, what we weren't expecting was for them to announce a brand new "super soldier". At least, that's what they had called it. There's nothing super about the soldiers they made, if they can even be called soldiers."

"What was wrong with their soldiers?" asked Dean.

The Doctor chuckled, "what's wrong? Better question is "what isn't?" These "soldiers" they announced was supposed to be the breakthrough that the Water Elementals had been striving for. This was supposed to be their chance at their first win. However, what they got instead, was death."

"Death and destruction."

"What happened?" asked Dean.

The Doctor paused for a moment before continuing. "The soldiers were presented in front of a public crowd, as all the past inventions had been. Hundreds of these soldiers had been built during that year we spent inventing. At first everyone was confused, because they didn't look like soldiers at all. What they were introduced to appeared to be a large ice sculpture. It looked like an octopus with metal eyes and mouth. It doesn't sound threatening, based off those descriptions alone. But that's honestly the best way I can describe them to you. I only had the misfortune of seeing them once so their looks have faded from my mind a bit."

"You've seen them? They're still around today?" asked Dean.

"No, not anymore. But I did see them once. And after that day, the day the public had set eyes on them for the first time. That is the day that these monsters had begun their war on the world."

"Their was a speech, at the presentations, by the Frostealius King himself. He tried to show off their new creations and lied to everyone, saying that he was the genius who had thought of this invention. After the speech he activated the soldiers and commanded them to conduct tasks, to express the soldiers abilities to the public. But they didn't listen. Instead, the soldiers aimed their weapons towards the king and fired, killing him on the spot."

"Right then and there a new pony appeared, not an Elemental, a normal Earth Pony. He stood upon the dead king and laughed, announcing himself to the public and explaining who he was and what his creations were. As it turned out, he was the one responsible for the Second Science War."

"After the first Science War had ended, the king felt defeated and sulked in his castle. He did this for months until he was greeted to the Earth Pony. The Earth Pony had talked his way into the castle and managed to gain an audience with the king. He was a scientist and shared his knowledge with the king. And from what I've heard, this stallion was brilliant. However, despite his knowledge he was limited by the primitive technology this world had to offer. And he had heard of the advancements the Water and Fire Elementals had achieved and was intrigued to see such advancements for himself. And with the situation the Frostealius were in at the time, the Earth Pony used this as his advantage to gain access to the advance technology."

"So, he asked to be the king's partner and he promised the king that if he agreed to his plans, the Frostealius were guaranteed to win the next Science War. The king had fallen for his trap and agreed to the pony's partnership."

"Every other invention created during the Second Science War was overseen by the king. The last invention, the soldiers, this was planned and overseen by the Earth Pony."

"And they weren't soldiers at all, they weren't even monsters. They were so much worse."

"How worse?" asked Dean.

The Doctor gulped, cleared his throat, and continued. "This insane stallion had used his level of knowledge and the advance tech to create a mutation. The king was too preoccupied with the Science War to take notice of his own ponies disappearing. The Earth Pony, in secret, had been foalnapping Frostealius and experimented on them. He would mutate them and disfigure their bodies. And tamper with their minds,  erasing all but one of their emotions; anger."

"It was later discovered by Phoenix Pony researchers that dark magic was involved with his experiments as well. Dark magic, torture magic, so many sadistic things were committed during these experiments."

"After a year, he had successfully created his soldier. The poor, tortured, mutilated and disfigured Frostealius would be stuffed into this contraption and, essentially, become the Earth Pony's ultimate soldier. A deadly and very powerful creation that could withstand a ton of damage whilst slaughtering anypony who stands in its way."

"And that's exactly what they did. He set his soldiers onto the public and they attacked."

"Luckily, the Science Wars turned out more useful then initially thought. Thanks to the advance warfare we had just created, we had a better chance of surviving and fending off against the creations. However, we were the only fortunate ones, despite our losses."

"Yes Phoenix Ponies died that day, but at least we were armed. The other Elementals, the Breezies and Golems, who had come to watch how the final challange would turn out, were massacred. They tried fighting back against these creations with their magic but it wasn't enough. These creations, their armor is so powerful! It was able to withstand a swarm of over a hundred thousand Breezies and the brutal attacks of Golems. And their weapons, their weapons were scary! Their beams could fire through the thickest of armor! Although our weapons were able to damage them, our armor was useless to their attacks. And as for the other two Elementals, heck, they died the moment they were hit. Even the Golems, who's thick exterior gives them the most defense out of all four Elementals, were shot to the ground with a single beam."

"The creations were accurate, their armor was strong, and their weapons never stopped firing. Some had decided to fight up close, which quickly turned out to be a mistake. There's a reason why they were designed to look like octopus. Their tentacles were deadly, they moved incredibly fast, knocking ponies about and throwing them all over the place. Then, there came the saw blades, that had extracted from within the tentacles. And that's when things got very gory."

"I'm glad I never saw the whole ordeal myself, as I wasn't born at the time. But just the thought alone gives me chills. Like I said I only encountered these creations once but they never used saw blades. At least, I never saw them use the saw blades. It was an awful experience for the ones there. Hundreds of Golems died, thousands of Breezies died. And Phoenix Ponies, although receiving the least amount of casualties, still suffered with the loss of hundreds. As for the Frostealius, they didn't die, they received a fate worse then death. They were foalnapped by the creations and taken back to Frostbite, where they were to be mutated and turned into the creations themselves. . . . Dean, are you alright?"

Dean had been staring wide eyed and mouth agaped during the entirety of the Doctor's tale. Dean merely shook his head, unable to respond vocally.

"Is it too much?" the Doctor asked.

Dean slowly closed his mouth and stared to the table. His forelegs crossed on his chest as he clung onto himself for comfort. Frowning, Dean said with disparity, "why did the creations do this? Why did they kill them? They were still Frostealius on the inside, weren't they?"

The Doctor frowned and furrowed his brows. He looked away and sighed as he responded. "No, they weren't. At least, not anymore. I told you, the sadistic Earth Pony had meddled with their minds, erasing all emotions from them except for anger. That's the only emotion they can feel. Anger, just anger."

"But that isn't enough to have them massacure those Elementals. Just being angry."

"Yes, that's true. But they did lose their sense of morality. So they felt no remorse for the ones they killed. But you're right, it isn't just the emotions. The machines they were stuffed into work like enchantment magic. It's technology corrupts their minds and forces them to do the Earth Ponies biddings. They had no choice but to follow his orders. All they can do is kill, kill and destroy. That's all that these creations can do, and they no longer have any choice on the matter."

"B-But why did he do this to the Frostealius? Why would he foalnap them at the presentations?"

"Because only Frostealius are compatible for the conversion. Only Frostealius can be mutated and changed into these creations. Its because of their liquid anatomy and their unique magic to water. Dean do you want me to stop? Is this too much for you?"

Dean's pale head shook in response. "I want you to finish. I-I want to know what happened. This mad pony, what was his name?"

"Are you sure you can- ."

"I'm fine Doctor! I just . . . I want to know if everything turned out alright. I won't feel satisfied until I know the ending. Did you stop the creations? Your species I mean, did they stop them and this pony?"

The Doctor sighed, "well, alright, if you think you can handle the rest. This pony's name was Davros, and the creations he had made were called the Xydras."

"We had managed to fend them off but only for a short time. Davros had an entire country full of Frostealius and was using them to make his army bigger and bigger. The Elementals, seeing how serious the situation had become, joined together to fight against Davros and his Xydras. However, the Breezies and Golems could only help in saving Frostealius refugees instead of actually fighting on the front lines. it was unknown at the time, but for some reason the only thing that seem to damage the Xydras were our advanced weapons. And since the Phoenix Ponies were the only ones trained to use these weapons, the other two Elementals were unfit for combat at the front lines. I mean, the Breezies could fight back but the Xydras attacks were strong enough to take out thirty Breezies at once so it was too risky for them. And the Golems were able to do some damage, but seeing as most of the fighting was done near water, the Golems were of no use. So they helped to save as many Frostealius as possible from being converted while the Phoenix Ponies fought at the front lines."

"How did the Golems see the presentations on the day of the attack if they can't go in water?" asked Dean.

"Well they didn't come to Alburnia, if that's what you're wondering. We brought the presentations to a place that made it convenient enough for all four Elementals to watch."

"Ah, I see."

"Anyway, the Phoenix Ponies had managed to bring the fight into Alburnia, giving us the better advantage. Elementals are stronger whenever they are in their home territory, so this proved beneficial to us. The fight between the Phoenix Ponies and the Xydras lasted for twenty two years. And the fight never extended outside of Alburnia and Frostbite. Because of this, the fight was hence named: The Burning Ice War."

"In the end, we managed to win. Davros had ran short on soldiers and retreated. He ran from the war and went into hiding, bringing whatever soldiers he had left with him."

"After the war, the four Elementals worked together in fixing the damage that had been done. But the Water Elementals, the damage they had committed couldn't be fixed. Thousands had perished during the war, Water Elementals having lost the most due to the conversions. Golems died, Breezies died, and Phoenix Ponies died. Luckily, no other species got involved so only the Elementals had received casualties. And when I say lucky, I mostly mean for the Frostealius. For if any other species had been killed, this would have become a global affair and the Water Elementals would have been in a much worse situation then they already are."

"They were punished severely and kept on a very short leash. Having allowed a complete stranger to conduct these experiments just for a simple quarrel, this was more then stupidity, the Frostealius weren't thinking at all! And they were put to shame for their actions. Although not every Frostealius is to blame, because it was their king and council that made most of these decisions, the Frostealius were still treated like dirt by the other Elementals."

"Fear had risen within the Elemental territories. Only they knew of the dangers of Davros and his Xydras. They had lied to the world, telling them that this war was between the Phoenix Ponies and the Frostealius, not the Phoenix Ponies and the Xydra. They did this because they were afraid that the common Equine would try to meddle in on the affair and control the Elementals way of life. They didn't want common Equine or any other species involved. So they worked on the matter between the Elementals alone."

"While the Frostealius were recovering in Frostbite and the Golems and Breezies were repairing the damage, Phoenix Ponies were working to prepare themselves in case Davros were to strike again and they sent soldiers to try and find him."

"And, eventually, we did find him. It was thirty nine years later when we found Davros. We discovered him on an artificial island that he had built himself. Only, it wasn't exactly an island. The outside looked like a perfect replica to a tropical island, could have fooled anypony. We were only lucky to have found this place by chance. But the entire inner workings of the island was all metal and machinery. The island was actually a factory that created Xydras."

"Davros couldn't get his hooves on anymore Frostealius because we had them on lockdown. So, he found an alternative solution. Instead of Frostealius conversions, he had discovered the means of cloning a Frostealius and converting his clones to Xydras."

"Why didn't he just clone the Xydras?" asked Dean.

"Because he still needed something biological within his machine to work the controls. Cloning a Xydra would only give him the metals parts and that wouldn't do. A full metal soldier is full of flaws. They could be tampered with, hacked, and used against him. He needed something living on the inside to counteract these flaws. It made the Xydras a near perfect soldier, inside and out."

"Near perfect?" asked Dean.

"Well they may be strong, but everything breaks when you hit it enough. They're not immortal, though they certainly acted like they are."

"After we had discovered the island we set soldiers there to spy on the activity that occurred there. Apparently, Davros had been building Xydras ever since he first retreated from the Burning Ice War. And he was nearly finished."

"Was he planning something?" asked Dean.

The Doctor nodded. "Asides from fighting against the Elementals again, Davros had plans to send soldiers all over the globe in attempts to gain full world domination. Our soldiers had discovered his plans during their time there and found out that he had been planning this since before he had even met the Frostealius king, all those years ago."

"It was a perfect plan and nearly ready to commence. Problem was, Davros didn't have enough soldiers. He just had to wait a few more days before he was ready, and the Phoenix Ponies weren't going to allow him that time."

"So the Phoenix Ponies sent as many troops as possible, ambushing Davros and taking him by surprise. It was a nasty battle but ended with Davros retreating once again. He slipped through our hoofs a second time and brought as many Xydras with him as possible. Once again, Davros had escaped and was hiding somewhere out there, planning for his next attack."

"But the Phoenix Ponies didn't care. They had defeated Davros's Xydras a second time, destroyed his island and prevented his plans on world domination. To them, this was the best victory they had ever had. And they celebrated on their win."

"Their celebration, however, didn't last long. It ended abruptly, and things went from good, fun, victory to absolute tartarus."

"What happened?" asked Dean.

"Davros happened of course. On the seventh night of our celebration, when everyone slept from exhaustion, they were attacked. Whole armadas of Xydras attacked them in the night, raining chaos all over Alburnia. They took us by surprise, badly. We hardly had any soldiers ready, most fought them with phoenix magic alone. But it was a massacre, thousands upon thousands of Phoenix Ponies died. We called for help to the other three Elementals, but they refused to send anyone. They were afraid that the Xydras would attack their territories next. They had seen the power the Xydras possessed and wanted as many of their soldiers available as possible if they were to attack them. So, we were on our own."

"After this night, the Phoenix Ponies were on high alert, constantly ready for battle when time came. Twenty four seven the Phoenix Ponies fought against the Xydras. After five years they managed to push them out of their country, but by then it was too late. The damage to Alburnia had been critical, and it came to the point where desperate times called for desperate measures."

"The Phoenix Ponies brought forth their most powerful of weapons, armor, and any other technology they had available. They sent all their soldiers and had citizens brought to fight in this battle. Soldiers, citizens, and even children all contributed to the fight."

"And we had located the source of the Xydras and found where Davros was hiding. Once again, he had hid on a factory disguised as an island. This new island, however, was twice as big as the original and was building twice the amount of Xydras at twice the speed." 

"We had later discovered that this "new" island was actually the original island that Davros had used from the start. That island that the Phoenix Ponies had discovered and destroyed was actually a diversion. Davros knew it was only a matter of time before he was discovered, so he set the fake island to be discovered by us. He made us beleive that we had defeated him on that island and he knew we would celebrate on our victory. He had tricked us, to attack us during our celebration when we had a guards down."

"It angered us when we had made this discovery, and we planned to retaliate. The Phoenix Ponies had lost many but were prepared to fight the Xydras, even if it meant losing their lives. They were officially at war against Davros and his Xydra on the island."

"What was this place called?" asked Dean.

"The island was called Skaro. It was a war between the Phoenix Ponies of Alburnia and the Xydras of Skaro. The beginning of the second Burning Ice War."

"I don't want to press on with the war. It was devastating, of course you can assume that. It was the bloodiest war any of the Elementals had witnessed. And it was the bloodiest the Fire Elementals had the misfortune of fighting in. Many were dead, our home was destroyed, and we nearly lost."

"But we didn't. In the end we managed to win, barely. Thanks to a stallion named Cold Punk."

"Cold Punk?" asked Dean.

The Doctor nodded. "I have only heard stories of him. He was an eighteen year old pot maker when the first Burning Ice War began. A series of unfortunate events lead him to fight alongside the army against the Xydras. He was awarded for his heroic duties during the war and was granted permission to join the army if he so pleased. And he accepted."

"He rose high in ranks fast and was a corporal by the time the second Burning Ice War began. He was the one who lead a squad of soldiers to Skaro during the final days of the war. Surprising enough, all of his member survived. He was also the one to face Davros and fight him single hoofingly. He won and from the reports he had given to the council, he had killed Devros once and for all. Skaro was destroyed, along with Davros and his Xydra. Ending the second burning Ice War."

"The second Burning Ice War began before I was born and ended when I was six. The final week of the war was the only time I had seen a Xydra up close. It was so long ago, I can barely remember what it looked like. But there is one thing I can still remember about them, something I could never forget; their voice. That metallic, disfigured voice they spoke in. And that word . . . the word they always said before killing the innocent. That terrible, terrible word." 


"EXTERMINATE!!!"


"Doctor!"

The Doctor awoke from his thoughts at hearing his named shouted. He looked to Dean, who looked back with worry.

"Are you alright?" asked Dean.

The Doctor shifted in his seat for a moment, searching for a comfortable way to sit. When he found it, the Doctor sighed and replied. "Yes . . . I'll be fine. I was just . . . those were dark days. Horrible days . . . Horrible days . . . Lucky I only had to experience those for a short time. It was that one and only time I ever had to see a Xydra. After that I never saw them again, and I never will. Davros is dead and the Xydra are extinct. We'll never have to worry about them ever, ever, again."

"But the wars still left scars. To the Elementals, but most of all, the Phoenix Ponies. The Xydra had only fought us during both wars. Because they knew that our weapons were the only things to cause them the most damage. And that thirty year in between from the first and second Burning Ice War had given the Phoenix Ponies plenty of time to prepare. Our armor was stronger, strong enough to repel a few shots from the Xydras. Our weapons were deadlier and our technology was at its peak in advancements. And by technology, I mean our warfare technology. All other forms of tech had been put aside, and the only thing we sought to advance was warfare during those thirty years. So once the war had ended, not only had we become the most scientifically advanced species, but we had also become the deadliest."

"The other Elementals saw this and tried negotiating to balance our strengths, because they were afraid of our power. But the Phoenix Ponies were pissed. They had been abandoned by the other Elementals and left to fight the second Burning Ice War alone. It had gotten so bad that we were afraid of going extinct!"

"So when they held a council meeting on the subject, the Phoenix Ponies agreed to never misuse their power and to only use it for defense and peace. However, they refused to "balance" their power with anyone, saying that the others were cowards and that they don't deserve to wield this power. They argued but in the end it was futile. The Phoenix Ponies wouldn't so much as let the other Elementals look at their tech let alone use it. So the Elementals gave up trying to gain access to our tech and left us in peace. The only repercussions we received were the negative opinions they had towards us afterwards."

"In the end things simmered down. The Air and Earth Elementals returned to their own lifestyles and try to associate with us as little as possible. The Water Elementals have tried returning to their own lifestyles but couldn't. The damage was too severe and it left them with a country that had no ruler. Now, Frostbite is split in two, fighting in a civil war to claim the throne. The Elementals only associate with the Water Elementals when they need to. But the Water Elementals are now looked down upon and shamed for everything that had happened."

"As for the Phoenix Ponies, they managed to put everything back to where it belonged in Alburnia. Their all genius inventors, of course it didn't take long to repair the damage. But it did leave nasty scars on my species. We're never on good terms with the Frostealius anymore and we keep them in constant check. Their king letting Davros into their labs and create the Xydra was one of the biggest mistakes they had ever made. And we will never let them forget that."

"Once again we convinced the world that it was a war between the Frostealius and the Phoenix Ponies. And that we won and put things straight again, making Frostealius look like the bad guys. They never got themselves involved in our problems and that was that. Over a hundred years of fighting and it was over. The world moved on, as it always does."

The Doctor sighed as he concluded. There was a brief silence between the two as the Doctor placed his thoughts to a different subject. "Six years later is when I ran away from Alburnia. I was twelve when I stole this beauty we're riding in. Used her to escape the place and have been traveling the world ever since."

"You stole this M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T? When you were that young?" asked Dean.

"I was a smart kid, I figured out how to use her, even at that age. Though, there were, and still are, many things I don't know. Those geniuses that build these inventions had hundreds and hundreds of years worth of knowledge and experiences, and I'm only ninety. In your years I'm ancient. In Phoenix Pony year's, I'm a child. Six more years and I'll be considered ten. Basically, I was considered a foal when I stole this M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. I may be smart, but I'm no genius. I'm still learning all sorts of things even today. And I still teach myself as much as possible when I've got the time. I've got history down pretty well, though I'd have to say math is my weakest subject. Way too many formulas for me to deal with. I like literature, that's my favorite."

"Still, you know quite a lot. You're very good in a fight, and saving ponies." said Dean.

"I do my best, as everyone should. But don't glorify me just because of my skills. A compliment is fine but I've seen hero's turn to gods. And I hate that. Sorry it's a little off topic it's just . . . if you're going to travel with me you're going to see things. More importantly, you're going to see me do things. Things that may seem impossible but are actually very plausible. Plausible to those with faith, knowledge, and courage. Funny how many ponies have mistaken these traits for god like power. And even funnier is how many times I've been glorified for these traits."

The Doctor leaned forward in his seat, sternly gazing at Dean. "Dean I want you to know right now. I am not a god, I am not a hero, I am not immortal, I, am, not, impossible. I am the Doctor, and I am as ordinary as you are. I eat, I sleep, I laugh, and I cry. Understand?"

Dean nodded. 

The Doctor leaned back in his seat and spoke with less sternety. "But is ordinary really a bad thing? Lots of ordinary things are beautiful. Bees are beautiful and they're all over the place. Flowers are beautiful, a cloudless sky is beautiful, a simple hug is beautiful."

The Doctor extracted his watch for a moment to check the time. After seeing it was two thirty four, the Doctor returned the watch to his pocket and smiled to Dean.

"You know, I was curious about something. Do you remember what I said about names? About how powerful they are?"

"Yes", said Dean.

"Well there's a second reason for their power, one that I did not mention. Have you ever noticed that the names of ponies seem to be related to them? Not by color or look. Well it could be by look or color. But I mostly mean by profession, or special talent, like a cutie mark but not as a symbol, as a name. Like Tumbleweed, whose cutie mark was a, well, a tumbleweed. And Mrs. Sugar, whose special talent is making desserts. Now why do you think that is Dean? How can a parent name their child with a name that corresponds to the type of pony they will become years and years into the future?"

"I'm not sure? But I know what your talking about. I've heard of this, it's called the Moment of Destiny. Or the Precognition Name Theory. When a parent names their child they just have this, sort of, odd feeling. Like, a name just pops in their head. And they don't know why but they feel as if this name, this one name, is the perfect one for their child. It is unknown why this happened, theorist beleive magic is involved. But the Precognitive Name Theory is when parents give their child the name that may give them insight on the kind of pony they will become in the future. Like someone with the name "Cake" will most likely become a baker or someone with the name "Rich" might become a wealthy pony. Or even someone with the name "Doctor" would become a physician, perhaps."

The Doctor chuckled, "you were spot on until that last part. Good guess but no, my name has nothing to do with this theory. This theory only works with a selective amount of ponies. It is unknown why but these ponies often become involved in larger matters. Larger then the ones who haven't been given a "destiny name". Yet sometimes it's the ones without the "destiny name" who have the larger roles to take. Its confusing honestly, this theory. Its makes sense in a linear point of view but from a, sort of, side view. Like a view not just from the ones with the "destiny name" but also from the ones without, this theory is all flipped flopped. Some with the name have larger roles then the ones without and vice versa. Yet sometimes they work together in an equally large role. It makes sense in a very confusing way. You just have to think outside the box. Then take it a step further and think outside the bubble. Hardly met anyone who can do that."

"Now, with this in mind. Why are you named "Dean Do?" Why is that?"

"I don't know, my parents just chose that name. I've never really asked them why", said Dean.

"I see, they just chose it. You don't know why, but two date farmers chose the name "Dean Do". Why Dean Do? That's nothing farm related. Nothing astronomy related either. If the name isn't profession related then perhaps its talent related. You got any talents Dean? Hobbies, favorite pass times, anything of the sorts?"

"No, not really. I mean, I like studying and astronomy. And I'm very good at cards."

"Cards? No, that's not "Dean Do" related either. Perhaps your parents never had the "Moment of Destiny". But by the off chance that they did, then why "Dean Do". Why that name? Dean Do . . . Dean Do . . . Dean . . . Do . . . Do . . . Do. Hmm, you know, their is something that most get confused about the theory."

"And what's that?" asked Dean.

"Its that most assume that this "destiny name" is always the primary name. Well, why can't it the last? Why can't the last name be this "special name?"

"Why does it matter? Its just a name either way. I don't have any intentions on making my name powerful if that's what your on about", said Dean.

"Yes . . . I suppose . . . but I always think outside the bubble. And doing so tells me to never looks at things as they are, because most of the time, they never are . . . it could be right in front of your eyes. And if you're not paying close attention, you may just miss it."

"Miss what?" asked Dean.

"The "it" that matters most", said the Doctor.

Before Dean could press on, the Doctor leapt from his seat and walked towards the kitchen door. "I'm gonna check on the console and make sure everything's in check. Be back in a jiff."

"Oh! A-Alright", said Dean.

"You hungry or thirsty? Want me to get you something while I'm up?" asked the Doctor.

"No, I'm fine, thank you", said Dean.

"Okay, just let me know if you need anything, kay?"

"I will, thank you", said Dean, smiling.

The Doctor nodded as he returned a smile. He turned and walked out the kitchen, leaving Dean in his confused thoughts.

'The "it" that matters most?  The heck does that mean? And what is he on about names? One minute he was finished telling me about the wars his species have had and the next he's on about names and how he's not a god. Maybe he just wanted to take his mind off the subject. The Doctor didn't seem to like talking about that and I did kind of force him too. Then again, he does seem quite curious about my name. Maybe this is something he's been thinking about and he decided now was a good time to bring it up? And what did he mean when he said that about last names? Is he saying that my last name is important? But, what would be so special about "Do?" Why would that name mean so much?'

'I honestly don't know! Everything the Doctor said made little to no sense! Why doesn't the Doctor just give these details to me straight? Why does he have to be so confusing? Perhaps the Doctor has his reasons for being mysterious, I don't know. I've only know him for about a week, there's a lot I don't know about him. He's mysterious . . . but he's a good pony, nonetheless.'

'I just need to trust him. It may not make sense to me, but the Doctor seems to know everything he's talking about, perhaps even a bit more? Just have faith. The Doctor knows what he's doing.'

Dean's thoughts concluded as he waited for the Doctor to return.
> 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."






 MINAURIA CASTLE
76 YEARS AGO






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.


"BEX!!!"


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.






PRESENT DAY






"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!"
> Doctor Who?: Part Four (S1C3)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Doctor looked between the five angry soldiers, pointing their spears a few feet infront of him. All of them were either white or gray and dress in shimmering, golden armor. 

As the Doctor locked his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and slipped his key into his vest pocket; he extracted a small, black, pocket book and showed the soldiers a blank, white, piece of paper from within.

"I am the Doctor! Personal adviser to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I am of no threat!" said the Doctor.

A soldier squinted to the blank parchment and nodded to his comrades. "He's telling the truth, let's let him in!"

The soldiers rested their weapons against their shoulders as they lead the Doctor back to their camp, three yards away.

The Doctor looked to the area around him as he was lead to the soldiers camp. The ground was severely uneven and was painted in purple and blue checkerboard. The trees were flashing different colors as they spun in their spots. A flock of cows with butterfly wings were flying over head and a nearby rainbow was raining candy.

The Doctor looked to the staring soldiers as he entered the camp and was lead straight to the captain's tent. A large, dark, gray space. Lit with a single lantern.

There was a map of Equestria taped to the wall. A large highlighted area showing the parts covered with Discord's magic. Taking over more then half of the maps space. Beneath it was a care package full of M.R.E's. In the corner was a stack of weapons and arrows. The center of the tent had a wooden table. Placed atop was a second map of Equestria. This one had wooden figures placed in various spots, representing the guard posts spread across the land. On mane city was a small, wooden, figurine of Discord. Immediately, the Doctor knew this map was used for strategy.

Surrounding the table were five high ranking Equestrian soldiers. One being the captain himself, who stood on his hind legs. Using his forelegs as support on the table as he looked down upon the map. 

A large, muscular stallion. Dark brown fur and a short black mane beneath his golden armor. He looked to the Doctor with dark purple eyes as he heard him enter. Dropping to all fours, the captain walked around the table and stood chest out to the Doctor. "I am Captain Stone Ball of Camp Mason, and you are?"

"He's the princess's personal advisor sir! He's shown us his papers!" said one of the soldiers that lead the Doctor here.

"Is that so? I never knew the princess's had a personal advisor."

"Well they do, I am their advisor", said the Doctor.

The captain turned away from the Doctor as he returned to his original spot at the table. He stood to his hind legs and once more used his forelegs as support on the table. "What's your name "advisor?"

"The Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"Just the Doctor."

Captain Stone Ball glared at the Doctor for a moment before looking down to the strategy map. "What are you doing here "Doctor?" I'd have expected an "advisor" to stay miles away from this here chaos magic."

"Last time I heard the princess's were supposed to be here. If I was taken to you instead of them, I can assume that they're no longer here?"

"Your assumption is correct. The princess's are no longer at this camp."

"Where are they?"

"Your their advisor, shouldn't they have told you?" 

"The princess's haven't responded to any of my letters. I haven't heard anything from them", the Doctor lied, knowing full well he never sent the princess's letters.

"Ah, they must have been stolen along the way. A lot of letters are being hijacked nowadays. Criminal scum, they're stealing from us while we're distracted by Discord! I can assure you though, as soon as Discord's been dealt with we'll be going after them next. So, why have you been trying to contact the princess's?"

"To stay up to speed with the current situation. As their advisor I need to know these things."

"Well you don't need a dang letter from the princess's to know our situation! Just go look outside and smell the chaos! My soldiers and I have been up to our necks trying to hold Discord's magic back as best as possible! And I'm losing soldiers everyday in doing so!"

"You've received casualties?" asked the Doctor.

"No, all of my lost soldiers got themselves corrupted by the chaos magic! They've either gone loopy or M.I.A."

"I see, and what are the princess's doing about this?"

The captain scoffed, "I haven't got a clue! They left the camp three days ago. Left me very little information when they did."

"Did they at least tell you where they are going?" asked the Doctor.

"No, they didn't. The only info I received is that they are in search of some sort of weapon. Something that is powerful enough to defeat Discord."

"And they went to search for this "weapon" alone? Why?"

"Our numbers are growing thin. The princess's need as many stallions and mares here at the front lines as possible. They couldn't afford sending any soldiers with them." 

"I see, that's what they've told you". The Doctor smiled, 'those little liars.'

"Can you tell me more about this weapon? What exactly is it?"

The Captain seemed hesitant to answer. Reluctantly, he sighed and responded. "The princess's didn't tell me much. However, they did let slip about a "tree" they are searching for."

"A tree?" the Doctor asked.

"Ridiculous, I know. But that's what I heard. The princess's are searching for a tree that is supposed to have the "weapon" in defeating Discord. I have no idea how a "tree" will benefit us in our battle with the chaos spirit. But I have faith that our princess's know what their doing."

"I see, anything else?"

"Negative."

"You're completely sure that's everything?"

"Doctor I assure you if there were anything else relating to our fight with Discord I wouldn't be keeping it a secret from you. I have told you everything I know."

The Doctor stared at the captian for a moment before concluding he was telling the truth. "Alright, thank you for your time Captain. And good luck."

The Captain nodded and returned his gaze to the map.

The Doctor nearly left before he stopped. "Oh! One more thing. Do you happen to know which direction the princess's traveled in as they left the camp?"

"East", the captain said bluntly.

"Thank you", said the Doctor. He turned and exited the tent, making his return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

A few moments later, the Doctor shut and locked the door behind him and walked to the console.

Whilst pressing a few buttons and pulling a lever, the Doctor thought aloud. "A tree, huh? Interesting . . . very interesting . . . heh, heh, heh, heh- ha, ha, ha, ha- HA, HA, HA, HA!!!" The Doctor laughed as he ran to the other side of the console. He pressed more buttons and turned a knob as he shouted, "I know exactly what their doing!"

As the Doctor pulled the final lever that activated the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T for departure, the Doctor froze as he felt a familiar, yet terrifying sensation.

He turned to his monitor, breathing heavily as he focused on where to take the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. His attempt to distract himself failed as the sensation grew stronger. The Doctor's breathing grew heavier as he became more frightened.

Then, it stopped, as suddenly as it had started.

Sweating, the Doctor spoke through heavy breaths. "Its happening, whether I like it or not. This is the big one."

The Doctor stumbled for a moment as he walked to the console side to his left. He pressed two buttons then looked away from the console. Breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth to calm himself.


The Doctor was frightened.



Genuinely frightened.







(((NEXT TIME)))






The child whimpered, "Momma, I'm scared."

"I know sweetie, I know."

The rustling of leaves caught the mare's attention as she looked over her shoulder.

She could hear it, the beast. It was coming closer, the sound of leaves and twigs rustling about told her this. As the sound approached at an alarming speed.

The mare gulped, as she knew what she had to do. 

TRANSITION

"Can you tell me what your name is?"

"M-Milly."

"Okay Milly, do you remember the last time you saw your parents? I've already assumed they've been taken by the monster but where exactly were they taken?"

Milly frowned, "I don't know. I saw my mommy and daddy in the forest. The monster took them in there."

TRANSITION

The Doctor knew it was now or never. Whether he was scared or not, it didn't matter.

This was about life and death, and he would rather feel the pain of his own magic then be caught dead by swamp vines!

Sweat dripping, body aching, hearts dying, the Doctor fought through his pains and took hold of the Phoenix fire coursing through his second hearts veins. He summoned the fire and surrounded it around his body. He then engulfed his body and condensed the fire, increasing its intensity.

"Okay . . . okay, okay, okay! Let's see just how well this old body can still work!" said the Doctor.

TRANSITION

One of the vines approached Millie and touched her hind hoof. The smallest of touches as it was immediately kicked away by the screaming filly.

But that touch was just enough to tell the vines controller that their target was finally within their grasp.

Instantaneously, several vines shot towards Millie, coiling around her legs and torso. 

"HELP!!!" Millie shrieked as she was dragged from her place towards the opening in the storage.

TRANSITION

"You are about to enter yourself into a battle that you are surely to regret if you don't give me back that child RIGHT NOW! Do you have any idea who you are dealing with? You should! You're an Elemental! You sensed my magic the moment I entered this swamp! Just as I had sensed yours! Well listened close, and I mean very close! You are not dealing with any Fire Elemental my dear Water Elemental. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

"I am the one who abandoned the Elemental race! The one sentence to life in exile for breaking the laws of the Fire Elementals! I am the one who escaped the Elemental armies and single handedly defeated King Bex! Previous ruler of Minauria and the enslaver of thousands! I am the runner, the dreamer, the Phoenix Adventurer!"

"I am the Doctor! And if you don't hand Milly back this instant then I will have no choice but to send you to tartarus MYSELF!!!"

TRANSITION

The one who had received the message spoke in a frail whisper as he knew who it was, "Doctor? Is that really you?"

TRANSITION

"Dean, don't blink. Keep your eyes shut until we can get this stuff off of you."

A large amount of goop that covered Dean's eyes fell to his mouth. Spitting it out, he shouted, "Doctor! What is this stuff!?"

"Tree sap, but its been tampered with. Whoever's attacking us has mixed the sap with a chemical that causes temporary blindness. Its already blinded you but if you keep your eyes shut the effects will wear off sooner."

TRANSITION

Dean felt the Doctor tense. If he could see he would have seen the Doctor's eyes widen in shock. "Doctor? Is everything alright?"

Licking his lips, the Doctor blurted, "you!?!"

"What? Do you know him?" asked Dean, looking around as if he could still see.

"What . . . what the hell are you doing here!?!" the Doctor asked, voice shaking.

TRANSITION

Without thinking, Dean tried to wipe the liquid away before he caught a scent. A familiar scent of iron.

Dean raised his hoof and sniffed it.

He froze, as a chilling thought came to mind. "Doctor?"

No response.

Dean gulped, "D-Doctor . . . h-have you been shot?"

TRANSITION

"Run", said the Doctor.

The boulder size chunk slid out of place, dropped a moment, stopped, then dropped once more, falling directly above the ponies.

The Doctor thought quickly. The position of the boulder, angle, gravity, weight approximation, calculation after calculation, zapping like lighting through the Doctor's mind.

It took a second, but the Doctor knew where the boulder would fall.

"RUN!!!" the Doctor shouted.
> The Vines Are Watching: Part One (S1C4)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hot sweat, stinging the pink eyes of the yellow furred, pinked haired mare. Running with her blue eyed, pink furred, yellow haired child; clinging desperately to her back.

Her near blinded vision, squinting through the immensely thick mist of the swamp.

She blinked through the sap in her eyes, unable to chance a single moment to wipe and relieve her pain. 

Twigs snapped beneath her hooves and a puddle splashed about as she galloped through the thickest swamp she had ever seen. Bushes, trees, mud, quicksand, vines, not a single inch of this dreaded swamp seemed free of mother nature's cruel grasp.

Her poor filly weeped, keeping her eyes shut tight. Unable to view the dangers that surrounded them. 

Nor the beast that came ever so closer.

A sharp turn left, another right, past a tree, over a bush. Galloping and galloping, fighting the pain of exhaustion that strangled her lungs.

She pressed on, fighting with all her will. A single moments rest would result in the end of her life and her child's, she knew this.

And she refused.

The power of her might was no match to the time she had spent running. Trying to escape these swamps whilst fleeing from the grasp of the beast.

Fatigue and lack of vision proved as her downfall. 

A single misguided step; a large rock, placed inconveniently in her path. As she galloped upon the stone, her leg cracking as she tumbled forward. 

She rolled and dragged along the swamp ground, giving her a set of cuts and dirt burns to add to her previous set.

The mare groaned as she lifted her head, looking to her child who laid several feet away, "Milly? Are you alright sweetie?"

The child wept as she slowly stood to her hooves. "My leg Momma! It hurts!"

Her mother screamed internally as she saw her child lift her right leg, seeing it bend in a way it shouldn't. "Its alright sweetie, i-its just a bad bruise. Try walking to me sweetie!"

The injured filly tried and failed to do as her mother said. She limped for a moment before tripping, falling face first onto the ground. The filly looked to her mother in despair as a fresh wave of tears soakened the dirt on her face. "Momma!" the filly shouted.

With her remaining strength, the mare forced her body to move. She lifted herself to her hooves and stumbled to her daughter. 

The mare placed a hoof to her daughter's forehead and gently shifted her hair aside. Tears formed in the mother's eyes as she squinted down upon her injured child, eyeing her through the sap. "Y-You are so beautiful."

The child whimpered, "Momma, I'm scared."

"I know sweetie, I know."

The rustling of leaves caught the mare's attention as she looked over her shoulder.

She could hear it, the beast. It was coming closer, the sound of leaves and twigs rustling about told her this. As the sound approached at an alarming speed.

The mare gulped, as she knew what she had to do. 

Quickly, the mare lifted her child, ignoring her child's gasp of pain as she did so. 

Spotting a thick bush nearby, the mare stumbled forth to the bush with her daughter held to her chest.

She approached the bush and gently placed her child within. The mare shifted the twigs and branches about, making sure her daughter was as well hidden as possible. She then stood back to observe the bush, feeling the bush would be adequate enough.

She lurched slightly, her pain and fatigue finally coming too much to bare. She stood her ground for a moment, attempted to focus and rebalance her stance, before succumbing to her pain. Her eyes rolled back, her sight went fuzzy, and she fell to her side. 

The filly, having to squint through twigs to see her mother clearly asked, "Momma . . . what are you doing?"

Tears fell freely down the mares dirty cheeks. She placed a shaky hoof to her mouth and shushed her daughter silent. "Everything's going to be alright Milly. Just stay quiet now."

The rustling grew louder, as the beast's arrival came closer.

"Momma . . . why are you laying down Momma? The scary monsters coming, get up Momma!"

The mare cried, "I-I can't sweetie. M-Momma can't run anymore . . . b-but she doesn't have to."

"What do you mean?"

The mare gulped, "M-Momma's going to wait for the monster, baby. He's going to take Momma to Papa- ."

"NO! Don't go with the monster! Don't go with the monster!" the filly shouted.

The mare shushed her child silent as she gave her daughter a gentle smile. "Everything's going to be okay sweetie. I want you to wait until the monsters gone. Then I want you to shout for help until someone comes, okay?"

"But I don't want you- ."

"Shhhhh, it's okay. You're going to be safe . . . Momma's going to be with Pappa again. Just promise me you'll keep quiet until the monsters gone. Please sweetie, one last time, listen to Momma- GAHH!!!"

The mare looked to her hindlegs, finding thick, spiked vines wrap around her legs. 

A second and third set of vines shot forth from amongst the darkness of the thick swamp trees.

The second set wasted no time wrapping around the mare's torso. As did the third set, as it wrapped around the mare's neck.

The mare managed to free her right foreleg from the vines as she clung to the ground. Her body received cuts as she struggled to break free. Her skin dragging and digging into the spikes of the vines. 

The mare had an expression of utter fear, even with her eyes shut tight, as she felt her body move. The vines had begun dragging her away from her daughter. The mare continued to grasp desperately to the ground, forming a long drag mark the further she moved.

The mare could do nothing but move further and further away from her daughter. She screamed as the vines pulled her closer and closer to the darkness of the thick swamp trees.

Then, she was gone.

One final scream was all the filly heard as she watched her mother disappear. Dragged into the darkness.


"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"



"MOMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!!!"












~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Doctor and his companion Dean Do in:


The Vines Are Watching


Chapter Four/Segment One


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






WHOOZ! VIRRRR! WHOOZ!

The metallic groans of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T emitted loudly as it materialized in the center of a clearing. Free from trees, bushes, and the only clearing to contain tall grass.

The blue door opened and out stepped the Doctor.

He looked to his surrounding as half his body remained within the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T had landed in a swamp. A very hot swamp, the Doctor noted, already feeling sweat develop upon his forehead. 

The swamp was miles away from Discord's magic so it was safe from containing any of his chaos.

It was very bright and very sunny. Despite the thickness of the trees and vines that covered this swamp, light still managed to slip between the cracks and spaces. Giving just enough light to see through.

However, light wouldn't last much longer.

It had only been half an hour since the Doctor spoke with Captain Stone Ball at Camp Mason, meaning that it was three fifty eight.

The Doctor knew he only had three hours left before Celestia would set the sun. He had to make haste with what he had come here to do, before it becomes night.

The Doctor exited the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T entirely; carrying a large, metal, rectangular, contraption on his back. The contraption had what appeared to be an oddly shaped handle with a thick black wire attached to the back end. The wire extended from the handle to the contraption on the Doctor's back.

The Doctor walked several feet before he pointed the handle towards a large batch of trees, facing it east. The Doctor pressed a button on the handle, causing it to "beep" and glow red. It did this for a moment before the "beeping" ceased and the device's glow changed green.

The Doctor looked to the handle of his device and smiled, "nice, we're on the right track."

"Doctor! What's going on? Are we here?" the Doctor's companion shouted from within the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

"Yes and no. We're on the right track but this isn't the place."

"What are we doing here then?"

"Searching for traces of a particular magic. The only info I got on my friends whereabouts is that she is heading east. That doesn't give me much to go by. So, if she had traveled through this location sometime earlier today or yesterday, I should get a signal that'll tell us where to head off to next."

"And you're doing that with a metal saddlebag?"

The Doctor sighed, "it's a scanner, for detecting magical traces. Phoenix Pony tech, highly advance. So I'd appreciate you not calling it a "saddle bag."

"Okay, sorry. So we find this "trace" of magic to know where your friend is heading and then we'll leave?"

"Yup!"

"Okay, and tell me again why we're doing this?"

"I told you, my friend is searching for something important and we need to find her."

"But why can't we just leave her be? She's not lost or foalnapped or anything, why do we need to interfere with her search?"

"Its important."

"How!? The only info you've given me is that she left a note at her home saying that she was searching for "something". And what exactly is this "thing" she's looking for."

The Doctor scanned a second time and smiled as he saw the handle's light change green again. "Nice, got her trace. Its something important, I'm not sure if I should tell you."

"Why? Is it private or something?"

"Er, not really- ."

"Then why can't you tell me!?!" 

"It's something very, very big! Is that a good enough explanation for you!" the Doctor growled.

"Oh? Something big? Well isn't that fantastic! I can't wait to help your friend find this "big thing". Jeez I can't wait to see it! I wonder what size it'll be- oh! Right! I already know! Its big! Problem is that that's the only thing I know!" Dean shouted, through the open M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

The Doctor groaned and mumbled,"if he'd think for a moment then he'd probably realize I'm not telling him for a reason."

"What was that?"

"I said can't you just be patient! You'll find out about the "big thing" when it's "Doctor explains about the big thing" time!"

"Well excuse me for wanting to stay in the loop!"

The Doctor pressed the handles trigger as he scanned a third time."Look, I am in an excruciatingly bad rush right now! The longer it takes for me to find my friend, the worse her situation will become! I have to find her fast! So I apologize for the lack of info. You're just gonna have to trust and follow my lead". The Doctor returned his focus to the scan before adding, "please?"

Dean sighed, "alright, I trust you. Its just a bit irritating, not knowing what's going on. I feel like I'm in a mystery novel. You know something's going on but you just don't have the details to find out what."

"I take it you're not a fan of mystery novels?"

"Nope, not at all."

"Really? Those are my favorite. Well, everyone has their preferences."

The device beeped a third time, causing the Doctor to chuckle with excitement. "Last scan reads positive! I know where to fly next!"

"Where to?" asked Dean.

The Doctor turned and began walking back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. "A forest, seven miles from here. I'll have to scan again once we're there just to make sure we haven't fallen off course."

"So what happens after we find your friend exactly?"

"Then I'll tell you all about the big thing. It'll be easier to explain with her there anyway- ."

The Doctor stopped in his tracks and stood still. His ears perked and twitched as he heard a distant sound. Raising a brow, the Doctor turned north, facing a batch of trees. A batch that appeared different from the rest.

The swamp, as far as the Doctor could tell, had plenty of light to see through the thick trees. Sunlight could pass through the cracks among the treetops.

However, this batch of trees had little to no light at all. It was dark; and the Doctor noticed that the further one traveled into this direction of the swamp, the darker it would become. 

The second thing the Doctor noticed was a thick mist, covering the swamp in this direction. Looking around, the Doctor saw no mist covering any other direction; only north had mist.

"Doctor? What's the hold- ."

"SHH!" the Doctor shushed, raising a hoof to silence Dean.

Dean stuck his head out the door and looked to the Doctor, confused. "Um . . . everything alright?"

The Doctor ignored Dean and closed his eyes, keeping his focus on the sounds of the swamp. He listened for a moment, invisioning his surroundings within a twenty yard radius. With every rustle, he imagined a tree moving to the breeze of the wind. With every chirp, he imagined a bird perched on a tree branch. 

And with a voice, one single feminine voice, the Doctor imagined something out of place. Something that did not belong here, especially in this setting.

The Doctor's eyes snapped open, "someone's screaming."

"Screaming? I don't hear any- ."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH" a filly screamed, echoing loudly through the swamp.

Taken aback, Dean shouted, "what the buck!"

"Follow me! And watch your language!" said the Doctor, throwing the scanner off his back and rushing forth straight into the mist.

"R-Right! Following!" said Dean, running out the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and catching up to the Doctor in seconds.

The two ran fast towards the sound of the scream. Avoiding trees and trampling bushes, searching for the source of the noise. The two had to squint to see through the thick mist covering the area. 

As the two ran, the Doctor felt an odd sensation. A familiar sensation, one he had felt before. Only, this time, it was stronger. Not the sensation he felt back in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. No, this one was different. And he felt it, pringling against his skin. As if the very mist itself was like a blanket, dragged through a desert and now covered in thorns, rubbing all over his body. Yet this sensation, it couldn't be possible. There's no way one of them could be out here, could it? 

Perhaps, but now wasn't the time to ponder this. He had to focus on the one who screamed and save them if they were in danger.

"Hello! Where are you! We're here to help!" the Doctor shouted.

"Anypony! Hello!" shouted Dean.

The Doctor and Dean looked left to the sound of a second scream. This one containing a hint of sobbing then the last.

"This way! Come on!" said the Doctor, making a sharp turn left.

Dean followed with ease, turning left and looking around the Doctor. Searching hard for the source of the scream.

"Where are you! Hello!!!" the Doctor shouted.

As if on cue, a pink filly with yellow hair and blue eyes ran out from behind a bush. She took no notice to the Doctor and Dean as her vision was fuzzy, having to view through eyes drenched in tears.

She also took no notice to which direction she was running in. Which lead her towards a collision course with the Doctor and Dean.

At the last minute the Doctor turned, grabbed Dean by the shoulders, and threw he and his companion out of the filly's path. Preventing the two from having trampled the small girl.

The sounds of the Doctor and Dean tumbling on the ground brought the filly's attention towards them. She skidded to a halt and gasped as she saw the Doctor and Dean, laying on the ground two feet away.

"Well, ouch", said Dean.

"Sorry about that. Here, let me help you", said the Doctor. He stood to his hooves and extended a helping hoof to Dean. Dean took hold of the hoof and was lifted to his hooves.

"What was that about?" asked Dean, rubbing his head.

"We almost hit that filly, didn't you see?" asked the Doctor.

"Barely, she came out of- oh!" Dean stopped, as he notice the filly, staring at he and the Doctor. The Doctor and Dean exchanged glances for a moment before Dean spoke. He cleared his throat, "um, hello! W-Were you the one who screamed by any chance?"

The filly didn't respond. She stood rooted to her spot, shaking uncontrollably.

The Doctor and Dean noticed how dirty the filly was. She didn't seem to have taken a bath in a very long time. They also noticed the redness of her eyes and the dark spots on her eyelids. That wasn't just from crying, she hasn't slept in awhile. Dean knew this from his own experience. He would often forget to sleep, too preoccupied with his studies that he would lose track of time. He would study all night and wouldn't realize it until he either got hungry, had to use the restroom, or the first rays of the sun shined through his windows.

The filly's leg caught their attention the most. She stood on three legs. Her fourth leg was held to her chest, obviously broken.

She was injured, alone, tired, and completely frightened.

The Doctor and Dean knew something was wrong, yet both thought this differently.

Dean wondered what happened to the poor filly's parents. Why was she alone, how long has she gone without sleeping, how bad does her leg hurt?

The Doctor didn't think this. He was thinking, 'what was the filly running from just now?'

Dean took a small step towards the child and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's alright, you're going to be fine."

The filly didn't answer, she continued staring at the two, shaking. Or, at least, she appeared to be staring at the two. 

Dean certainly thought she was, but the Doctor noticed. He tensed as he realized the filly wasn't staring at them at all.

She was looking past them, shaking in fear to whatever was behind the Doctor and Dean.

"Can you tell me your name?" asked Dean.

"Mo-Mo-Mo- . . . m-mo-mo-mo-" the filly stuttered.

"Eh?" Dean asked.

The filly's shaking intensified as she coward in fear. Unable to speak past her rapid stutters.

The Doctor slowly looked to Dean. "Dean, we need to leave."

Dean, taking notice to the fear in the Doctor tone asked, "why? What's wrong?"

Suddenly, the filly screamed and pointed behind Dean. Simultaneously, Dean felt something wrap and pull his legs from beneath him.

Dean fell and grunted as he hit the ground hard. He looked to his hindlegs to find a thick, green vine with red thorns. The vines tightened and began pulling Dean away fast. Dean clung to the ground beneath him, forming two drag marks as he was pulled away.

"DOCTOR!!!" Dean screamed.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!!!" the Doctor roared. Acting fast, the Doctor concentrated his focus to the fire blazing within his second heart. He felt the fire, rushing and pulsing its intense heat through his veins. Through the arteries, through the torso, through his legs. The Doctor placed his focus onto one point that the fire traveled through. Then, he felt it; his heart pulsed a strong surge of his Phoenix magic. Traveling through his body, until it reached his hooves. Then, he took hold of it. Summoning it from its magical, near non-existent state to its physical, deadly form. As it transferred from beneath his hooves to the outside world. A ball of blue, Phoenix Fire, flickering to life within the Doctor's grasp. All this, within a single second of time.

The Doctor yelled as he threw the flame upon the vine. Incinerating and snapping it apart, several feet away from Dean.

Dean stopped dragging as he was free from the vine. He quickly kicked the vine off his legs and ran back to the Doctor.

The remaining vine appeared in pain, thrashing about in a frenzy. As if it was a snake, fighting back against an attacking predator.

Then, suddenly, it stopped.

The vine fell limp and remained motionless on the ground.

Panting, Dean looked to the Doctor and asked, "what the bloody tartarus was that!?"

"I'm not sure, but it doesn't look like it's a threat now- ."

"NO!" the filly screamed.

The Doctor and Dean looked to the filly, both taken aback.

The filly cried as she looked up to the two. "T-there's more monsters! There's more!"

The Doctor and Dean turned around to the sound of rustling. At that moment, dozens of vines shot from amongst the darkness of the trees. All appearing to come from the same location as the first vine.

The Doctor quickly grabbed Dean and pushed him towards the opposite direction, whilst grabbing hold of the filly and placing her upon his back. 

"RUN!!!" the Doctor screamed.

A vine quickly caught up to Dean and attempted a grab at his leg. Dean jumped, avoiding the vine last minute.

A second vine lunged for the filly on the Doctor's back. The Doctor saw this and was too quick. He swerved right, dodging the vine's attack.

Two vines attacked Dean at once, one going for his head while the other attacked at the torso. Just as the vines lunged for their attack, Dean leapt forward, slid across the ground on his stomach, then stood to his hooves and continued galloping. The vine's attack missed while Dean slid. The two vines collided together in midair, tangling one another in a knot. They fell to the ground, no longer able to pursue the fleeing ponies.

"There! Up ahead!" the Doctor shouted.

The mist was thinning and the Doctor and Dean could see the clearing that contained the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Its doors left ajar, an advantage for the three ponies. Not needing to waste time unlocking and opening the box.

"Just hang tight! We're almost there- WHOA!" the Doctor ducked his head, missing a swing from a vine by an inch.

The Doctor chanced a peek over his shoulder and growled as he saw dozens of vines, continuing their pursuit towards the three. He then gasped, having noticed the vines had increased their numbers. They had doubled from dozens to over half a hundred.

The Doctor returned his sight to the approaching M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, glaring in determination. "Come on!" he shouted.

The Doctor and Dean leaped over a bush and landed into the clearing, exiting the dark mist and returning to the bright, sunny, light. Dean was first to enter, followed by the Doctor and the filly. The Doctor quickly shut and locked the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's door. A second later, the Doctor could feel the vines banging on the door from the other side. They continued their attacks to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T before the sounds of bangs went silent, indicating that the attacker had ceased their attempts to reach the three. 

Doctor stepped back, staring intently at the door. Their only connection between safety and danger, now locked securely. Guaranteeing reassurance to the side of safety. 

As his breath returned to his lungs, the Doctor turned to Dean, checking on him. He was safe, leaning against the wall opposite of the Doctor, panting heavily and waiting for his own breath to return to him. Aside from the minor scratches he received on his leg from the vine's thorns, Dean had escaped unharmed. This helped the Doctor relax, now he had one other pony to check on.

It was then that the Doctor realized his entire back was shaking. As if every part of his body but his back was defying an earthquake. Doctor also felt the bottom back side of his neck drenched in liquid. Tears, the Doctor assumed, obvious by the loud muffles of the filly that wept into the Doctor's fur.

The Doctor gently took hold of the filly but retracted as he felt her flinch. Instead of touching the filly, the Doctor tried speaking with her instead. He spoke quiet, soft, warmly to the weeping filly. "We're safe, the monsters can't hurt us while we're in here. You don't have to be scared anymore."

The filly's weeping slowed to a minor sob, yet she continued to cling to the Doctor. Keeping her face placed firm against his fur.

The Doctor spoke again, in a voice more soothing then the last. "I noticed that your leg is hurt. I'm a doctor, I can help you. But only if you'll let me."

The filly's crying ceased but she refused to move.

The Doctor thought for a second. Only one single second before a brilliant thought came to the Doctor's mind. He smiled as he said cheerfully, "and if you're a good little filly I might just let you fly my spaceship."

The Doctor could feel the shaking come to a sudden stop as the filly lifted her head. She looked into the Doctor's eyes. Her innocent curiosity overpowered the fear that had overcame her previously. Her eyes still glistened with the tears of the sad, lost, scared filly. However, the Doctor could almost see tints of stars gleaming behind her tears.

The filly sniffed, "s-spaceship?"

The Doctor's smile widened, "eeyup! Just take a look."

The filly complied and looked to her surroundings. She looked in awe to the pearly white interior of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's console room. The filly's eyes stopped at the console itself, staring in wonder to the machine before her. 

"T-This is a space ship?" the filly asked.

The Doctor nodded, "those mean ol monsters cant get us while we're inside this space ship. Its made out of really strong metal and enchanted with protective shield magic."

The filly's eyes widened and a smile grew as the filly relaxed, her eyes still placed onto the console.

The Doctor took this moment to touch the filly again. Slowly and gently, he took hold of the filly on his back and placed her to the ground.

The moment her hooves touched the ground, the filly darted forward, taking a closer look to the console.

Doctor felt a tap to his shoulder and turned to Dean. A brow raised as he looked to the Doctor, clearly confused by the discussion. "What are you doing?" Dean asked.

"Helping the filly feel safe, why?"

"Well why are you telling her that this is a- ."

Dean's last words were muffled as the Doctor forced a hoof to his mouth. Doctor came within an inch close to Dean's ear and whispered, "imagination is a great distraction for scared children. Let her beleive she's in a spaceship and she might just feel comfortable enough to explain to us what is going on. Or would you rather her talk to us through stutters as she shakes like a chiwawa?"

Dean grabbed the Doctor's hoof and removed it from his mouth. "Alright, I see what your doing now. But do you think the filly knows what those things were?"

"Perhaps not, but even information given to us by a child is still information."

The Doctor walked to the filly and placed a hoof to her shoulder. The filly turned her gaze away from the console and looked up to the smiling Doctor.

The Doctor spoke softly, "do you like it?"

"I-Is it really a spaceship?" the filly asked in response.

"Of course! I travel all over the universe inside this ship! Adventuring from planet to planet! Telling stories and fighting bad guys- ."

"Bad guys!? Like, monsters?" asked the filly.

"Yes, I guess they count as "bad guys", said the Doctor.

"But I thought you said you were a doctor? Doctors don't fight monsters."

The Doctor chuckled, "well this one does. He also helps tend to those who are hurt or sick, speaking of which- ". The Doctor knelt close to the filly and gently placed a hoof to her injured leg. Observing her leg for a moment, the Doctor said, "all that running distracted you from your pain. You hardly felt a thing while those monsters were chasing us, didn't you?"

"I-Its starting to hurt now", said the filly, frowning.

"Yes, because now that I'm talking about your leg you're now thinking about the pain. My fault, sorry, I do tend to think aloud. Here, take this", the Doctor reached into his vest pocket and extracted a small white bottle. He opened the bottle, shook it slightly while tilting the bottle downwards above his hoof, and waited until a small white circle fell out, landing on his hoof. Doctor held the circle to the filly, "here, take this. Its a pain killer so your leg will stop hurting."

The filly looked to the circle with curiosity. "Pain killer? M-My momma gave me one of those before, but it didn't look like that. I-It looked like a leaf."

"Yes most Equestrian medicine is either an herb or a liquid. But this is special medicine from, uh, from space!"

The filly gasped, "you have space medicine!"

"Indeed so! But you can't chew this medicine. It has to be swallowed whole."

"Swallowed whole?" the filly asked, tilting her head slightly. 

"Y-Yes, you do know what that means, right?" the Doctor asked.

The filly thought for a moment before responding. "It means that I . . . have to swallow this while sitting in a hole?"

Both Dean and the Doctor shared equally confused expressions as they stared to the filly. " . . . . How . . . old are you exactly?" the Doctor asked.

"I'm going to turn eight real soon!" said the filly standing tall, proud of her age.

"And how soon is "soon?" the Doctor asked.

"My momma says in three months!" said the filly.

"Really? Three months? That's not soon at all. Anyway! Dean! Why don't you go to the kitchen and get this filly some water while I "talk" to her."

"Sure, be right back", said Dean, running and pushing through the double door on the opposite end of the console room.

"Now then, I'd like to ask you some questions while my friend goes and gets you a drink. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

The filly shook her head in response.

"In that case, I'd like to know. Why is a seven year old filly such as yourself alone in a swamp? Where are your parents?"

The filly didn't respond. She sat on her rear and looked to the ground.

The Doctor waited patiently for an answer. A moment later, the Doctor slowly heard the quiet sounds of the little filly sobbing. Droplets were already falling from the filly's cheeks onto the floor.

The Doctor gently placed a hoof to caress her mane as he allowed the filly to cry.

Feeling the Doctor's touch, the filly came closer to the Doctor and placed her head onto his torso. She placed her hooves to her eyes as she cried into the Doctor.

By the time Dean had returned with a glass of water three minutes later, he found the filly crying into the Doctor and the Doctor caressing her mane.

When the Doctor had noticed Dean he placed a hoof to his lips, silently sushing Dean to prevent him from asking questions.

Dean nodded as he took the message and waited patiently behind the console, opposite side from the other two.

When the Doctor felt that an adequate amount of time had passed he knelt close to the filly and quietly cooed, "do you want to hear a story?"

The filly sniffed and spoke through sobs, "a-a s-story?"

The Doctor nodded, "about a little colt just as old you. Well, maybe a little bit older. You see, he had lost his parents too. He had crashed his air balloon into some tall mountains while trying to escape from some bad ponies. It was dark, and raining, and windy, and cold. And the little colt was all alone and frightened."

The filly sniffed, "w- why were bad ponies chasing him?"

"Oh, the bad ponies wanted something from him, something very important. But that doesn't matter, fact is he escaped and now he was alone. So, while he was out and about, the colt become frightened by the cracks of lightning from the storm. So he hid in some bushes. However, while he was there he saw a pony walking along a path; a mare. The wind was so strong she could barely see. So, when a bolt of lightning struck down and blasted a tree next to her, she was unable to avoid it! Do you want to know what happens next?"

The fillies eyes were wide now as she asked, "what happened! She didn't get squashed did she!?!"

The Doctor chuckled, "no she wasn't squashed. The little colt, despite being so scared and so young, mustard up the courage to run out the bush and save the mare. He pushed her out of the way before the tree could fall on her. And after that the two became friends and traveled together, eventually making it out of the mountains to safety. The two continued to stay together afterwards and the colts life became so much happier. Even though the colt was much, much younger, he still did what he could to be brave and protect the mare whenever she needed help. Do you know why he does that? Even though he is younger and weaker than the mare?"

The filly shook her head in response.

"The colt does that because that is simply what ponies do when they care for one another. They help the ones they love no matter how big or small they are."

The filly smiled and nodded in understanding, before frowning and asking, "but . . . is that it? Didn't the colt find his mommy and daddy?"

The Doctor's smile waned slightly but recovered unnoticeably. He nodded, "yes, yes he did find parents. And it was thanks to the mare that the colt had saved. All because of one act of bravery did the colt's life become better."

"And . . . that's it?" the filly asked.

"Yup, that's where it ends. Now, why do you think I'm telling you this?"

The filly shrugged.

"I'm telling you this because I think that if a little colt can save a mare from a giant tree, then a brave filly like you can help us save your parents."

"But I'm scared", said the filly.

"And so was the colt when he was alone, and so am I to be honest. But that won't stop us, in fact, our fear's make us stronger then ever. It helped that colt be brave and run fast enough to beat that tree. You and me, we'll be brave together and beat those monsters. And we'll find your parents, because unlike the colt from the story, you're not alone. You have my friend and I helping you", said the Doctor, pointing to Dean.

Dean smiled and gave a small wave.

"However, in order for us to help you you're going to have to help us. Can you do that? Can you be brave like the colt from the story?"

The filly thought intently for a moment, split between wanting to hide and cry and helping the Doctor find her parents. As another waves of tears fell, the filly looked into the Doctor's eyes and asked, "t-the colt really got to see his mommy and daddy again?"

The Doctor smiled, "absolutely!"

The filly returned a smile as she responded, "then I want to be just like him! I want to fight the monster and save my mommy and daddy!"

The Doctor clapped, "ha ha! I knew you'd want to! Now if this is going to work I need you to focus and help us, can you do that?"

The filly nodded as she wiped her tears away.

"Alright then, Dean, give her her water."

"Right", said Dean, handling the filly her glass.

As the filly swallowed her medicine, the Doctor asked, "okay, let's start with your name. Can you tell me what your name is?"

"M-Milly."

"Okay Milly, do you remember the last time you saw your parents? I've already assumed they've been taken by the monsters but where exactly were they taken?"

Milly frowned, "I don't know. I saw my mommy and daddy in the swamp. The monsters took them in there."

"I see, you don't know exactly where in the swamp?"

Milly shook her head.

"Okay, do you remember what these "monsters" looked like? Did you get to see them?"

Milly nodded, "it looked like cat fish legs!"

The Doctor raised a brow and looked to Dean. Dean shrugged as he was equally confused. Looking back to Milly, the Doctor asked, "er . . . cat fish legs?"

Milly nodded, "mmhmm! Big cat fish legs!"

" . . . Um . . . are you sure your describing the right fish?" the Doctor asked.

"Mmhmm! Its the one with eight legs! And they squirt ink out their butt!" Milly explained.

The Doctor and Dean simultaneously "oohhh!" as they looked to each other.

"I think she's mistaken-", said Dean.

Nodding, the Doctor replied, "yeah, yeah. Um, Milly."

"Yes?" Milly responded.

"I think you made a mistake with the cat fish. See, cat fish don't have eight legs, octopus do", the Doctor explained.

"Octopus?" asked Milly, tilting her head to the side.

"Er, yes, octopus. Cat fish look completely different from octopus-."

Milly gasped, "cat fish are real!"

It took the Doctor a second to process what Milly had said, " . . . didn't you just . . . but . . . w-why did you call octopus a cat fish?"

"Because I think octopus are cute! Just like cats!"

"So, you didn't know that cat fish were real fish nor did you know the actual name of octopus?" asked the Doctor.

Milly thought for a second before nodding with a smile.

The Doctor felt a tap from behind and turned his head. Dean edged close and whispered into the Doctor's ear, "Doctor, this is basic first grade knowledge. With her age she should be in the second grade at least. Either she's a bad student or she's never been to school before."

"First grade basics? Schools have goal criteria's at that age?" the Doctor asked.

"Er, yes? Didn't you go to school when you were younger?"

"Eh . . . no." The Doctor glared as Dean looked dumbfounded by the answer. "What!?"

"Are you really a doctor?"

"That's not important!" The Doctor continued before Dean could press on, "now! If what your saying is true then that might be of importance. Or probably not, she could just have a hard time remembering these things. Still, wouldn't hurt to ask", the Doctor whispered.

Looking back to Milly the Doctor asked, "Millie, are you currently attending school?"

Milly shook her head, "my mommy and daddy don't want me in school. They said they don't have money for it."

The Doctor and Dean shared equal expressions of pity towards the filly. "Oh, I see, I'm sorry to hear that. Do your parents homeschool you?"

"Homeschool?" Milly asked, having not understood the meaning of the word.

"Do they teach you things themselves?"

"They use to, but not anymore. They're always too busy."

"Busy? Busy doing what?" the Doctor asked.

Dean stepped forward, "sorry to cut in but I had a question related to yours, its something that's been on my mind. What exactly are you and your parents doing in this swamp in the first place? If I had to guess by the sounds of it, it sounds like your parents have money problems. Would you happen to know if your parents are out here working on a job of some sort? And is it possible they brought you along because, well, they couldn't afford anyone too watch you or they just didn't have anypony to watch you? I mean, its just a thought but it makes sense when you think about it."

Looking to Dean, the Doctor responded, "that . . . is a really good deduction! Nice thinking Dean."

Dean shrugged, "can't let you do all the detective work yourself. You hogged it all back in Dodge Junction, might as well give it a go myself."

The Doctor chuckled as he looked back to Milly. "My friend has an excellent point Milly. There must have been a reason for you and your parents to have come here at all. Would you happen to know why?"

Milly thought for a moment before responding, "my mommy told me we were looking for a pony."

"Your parents are searching for someone? Who?" the Doctor asked.

"I don't know, mommy said we can go home if, um, we find him. But a monster took my mommy and daddy when we were looking for the pony". Milly yelled suddenly, "ooooh! I remember where the monster took my daddy!"

"Really!? Where was he taken? Can you describe the area to us?" the Doctor asked.

Milly nodded, "we were running away from the monster and there was a, um, small house. Me and mommy and daddy hided in there and waited for the monster to go away. But the monster took my daddy from the window and my mommy ran away with me."

"A small house? Hmm . . . hang on a second". The Doctor turned to the center console and began pressing buttons. The monitor beside him started flashing. It continued until an image appeared, showing what appeared to be a large cluster of green spots placed atop a white background.

"What's that?" asked Dean.

"A geographical map of the forest. I had the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T scan a fifty mile radius of the area. See this spot here", said the Doctor, pointing to a small brown, square spot on the screen.

"Yeah."

"THAT is the only building within this radius. But, its very small. Really, really small, even for a house. By these scans I'd have to say that the "house" Milly and her parents were hiding in was actually a shack. No, hang on that's wrong, not a shack. Look here."

The Doctor pointed to a small brown circle on the monitor screen. Three times large then the square indicating the "shack" and only half an inch away.

"What is that?" asked Dean.

"That would be a cave, or to be more precise, a cave entrance! Scans are indicating several large deposits beneath that area. There are minerals every here and there but the majority of its been picked clean. Which mean that that cave entrance is for an old mine. Which means that that shack isn't a shack, its actually a-."

"Mine storage!" Dean concluded.

"Precisely!"

"But why would that matter? Shack or not its still just a place for them to hide. Why would the specifics of "what kind of building it was" would that matter?" asked Dean.

"Oh it shouldn't matter! Not at all! I just like to get down to the VERY specifics of things! You never know how important knowing more then necessary would come!" said the Doctor. The Doctor turned away from the console and faced Milly. "Alright Milly, here's what's going to happen. That medicine is strong so you can't feel your leg anymore. However, its also got a side affect that makes you drowsy. So, I am going to take you to one of the spare rooms to rest up a bit. I'll put a cast on your leg and you can take a nap. When you awake we will search for your parents together! Does that sound like a good plan?"

"But I want my mommy and daddy! I'm not tired!" Milly yelled, just before yawning loudly.

The Doctor chuckled, "well that yawn there begs to differ. Dean, I'm going to take Milly to one of the rooms. I'll be right back."

"Alright, I'll wait for you here", said Dean.

The Doctor nodded and lead Milly towards the door on the far end of the console room. "Come on Milly, let's take you to bed."






FIVE MINUTES LATER






The Doctor returned to the console room to find Dean standing next the console, appearing lost in thought.

"Something on your mind?" the Doctor asked, walking next to Dean and pressing buttons on the console.

Dean awoke from his thought and looked to the Doctor. "Oh, just thinking of that story you told Milly."

"Oh yeah? What about it?"

Dean shrugged, "I don't know, I guess I was wondering if that was a, well . . . personal story."

The Doctor pressed a button and responded, "would it matter if it was?"

"No, I guess not. Its just, with what you've told me how long you've adventured for I just assumed that colt was you. So, did that actually happened?"

There was a pause before the Doctor answered, "I like to tell stories. And most of them, if not all of them, may just be made up on the whim that I need to tell a quick story. Like one that would help a little filly feel braver for example. All stories actually happen when you think about it, even in a place like ours where it couldn't have possibly happened at all. And with a scrambled mind like mine, it could be hard to differentiate the difference between the true and not. Even with stories."

Dean felt uneasy at that response. He felt the Doctor had both answered his question whilst avoiding it entirely. It confused him, so he chose to move on. "Er . . . right . . . okay . . . well, tell me this. The little colt in that story, I noticed what you did there at the end."

"What do you mean?"

"When Milly asked if the colt had found his parents. You said he "found parents", you didn't say he found "his parents."

"Alright, sorry I wasn't specific enough-."

"No! What I mean is, well, I guess I'm just wondering what reason you have to avoid something as small as that. Did the colt actually find his parents Doctor?"

The Doctor didn't answer, he stared to the monitor, appearing emotionless.

Dean pressed on, "Doctor? Did he find his parents?"

The Doctor sighed, looked to Dean, and smiled. "The colt found ponies that would love him for the rest of their lives. They were his family and that's just as good. But I don't see what the point in this is, its just a story for a filly, it really isn't that important."

"But why don't-."

The Doctor lifted a hoof to Dean, silencing him. "Sorry to cut you off Dean but there's something more important we need to talk about. Asides from finding Milly's parents. It's related but it is certainly much bigger then the problem at hoof."

"Er, right. Are we really going to take Milly with us to find her parents?"

"Of course, why not?" said the Doctor.

"Well, wouldn't it make more sense to leave Milly here and bring her parents back with us instead?" asked Dean.

"Normally yes, it would, if it wasn't for them", said the Doctor, turning the monitor towards Dean.

Dean saw on screen the outside of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and what appeared to be vines all wrapped around the base of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

"Are those-."

"The same "monsters" that chased us earlier, yes. It seems that whoever is controlling these vines are really keen on capturing Milly. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T isn't invincible. I've boosted the shielding and defenses but it won't hold out forever. If whoever is controlling the vines start attacking the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T it'll take them awhile with the extra protection but give it some time and they'll break through the shields, through the door, and will have easy access to Milly."

"But why aren't they attacking us now?" asked Dean.

"That would be because of me."

Raising a brow, Dean asked, "you? How are you stopping them from attacking us?"

Licking his lips, the Doctor pressed a button to shut the monitor screen off. He then looked to the ground and said, "do you remember back in Dodge Junction when I was telling you the plan I had to defeat Tumbleweed?"

"What about it?" asked Dean.

"I told you that Elementals have an ability to sense other Elementals. Or at the least, sense their magic or magical presence. . . . this . . . is why our situation is much bigger then simply finding a lost girls parents."

"How so?" asked Dean.

Licking his lips again, the Doctor responded, "I sensed the presence of another Elemental while we were running to Milly earlier. This magical presence was much stronger then the one in Dodge Junction. The presence in Junction was weaker because only the Breezies magic was flowing through the area, not the Breezies themselves. This presence . . . it means there's another Elemental here."

"But I thought you said Elementals had a law forbidding Elementals from leaving their home territories?" asked Dean.

"Exactly! So why is there an Elementals here? But more important question, what type of Elemental is it? Well that question isn't hard to answer at all? Did you notice the mist earlier when we ran to find Milly?"

"Yeah."

"Well did you notice that that was the only spot in the entire forest to have mist? And the fact that these "monsters" are actually just forest vines? We never actually saw the real monster?"

"What do vines have to do with the mist?" asked Dean.

"Think about what mist is Dean", said the Doctor.

"Its just water."

"And the vines that attacked us from earlier, what flows inside the vines?"

Dean thought for a moment and slowly placed two and two together. "Water! The vines have water inside them! Mysterious mist? Attacking vines? Doctor, this Elemental, is a Frostealius attacking us?"

"I think one is. That's why the vines aren't attacking us now. The Frostealius must have sensed me as well and is afraid to attack. Most likely, he's waiting for the right time to strike. As for why a Frostealius would be in a swamp in Equestria attacking a poor little filly and her parents I have no idea. That is a problem to us because we don't know if this Frostealius is a runaway who is simply attacking out of fear or if he is trying to harm that girl for another reason. So, its up to you and I to figure that out. However, there's another issue at hoof, one worst then the rest."

"Another? What could be worse than a psychotic Elemental in the middle of a forest trying to kill us and a filly?" asked Dean.

"The fact that this "psychotic Elemental" stole the magic scanner", the Doctor replied.

" . . . What?"

"He stole my scanner when I dropped it to find Milly. It wasn't on the monitor when I showed you the vines outside. So you and I, along with finding Milly's parents and finding out why this Elemental is here, need to go and get my scanner back. And when Milly wakes up we need to find it as soon as possible. The scanner will lose track of the magical traces within twenty four hours so you and I need to get it back before it does. Because if it does than we are in for a VERY bad time! A very, VERY, bad time if we can't find my friend."

" . . . Okay . . . um, I can see why that would be a bad thing. But how is that worse then an Elemental trying to kill us?" asked Dean.

"Oh you'll find out, believe you me you will. In due time; for now we should get our rest as well. We've got a lot to do as soon as Milly awakes", said the Doctor, walking towards the double door on the far end of the room.

"Yeah, alright", Dean replied.

Just as the Doctor opened the door, Dean called from behind. "Hey Doctor!"

The Doctor stopped, "what is it?"

"I just wanted to know, that mare from the story, who was she?"

The Doctor didn't respond immediately. He looked to the ground, licked his lips, then smiled. He looked over his shoulder to Dean, "she was someone very special to the colt. Someone worth living with. And . . ." 

There was a pause as the Doctor's smile waned. " . . . And . . . someone . . . someone worth dying for . . .". The Doctor coughed and straightened his posture. "The two lived happily together until the colt grew up. Then they would part ways but would always see each other again. Because no matter where their lives took them, their love would never allow them to be separated for too long. There, that a good enough explanation for you?"

"Er, yeah, sure, sure thing Doctor", said Dean, awkwardly.

"Alright, well, if that's all the questions you have then I'll be going. See you in the morning", said the Doctor, turning and exiting through the door.

"Er, yeah! Of course! See you-". Dean's tone dropped, the Doctor was already gone. " . . . In the . . . morning."

Dean sighed, "he's an odd one, that Doctor. He seems like he's hiding something, but what? That mare, he didn't exactly tell me who she was. But, from the sounds of it, perhaps she becomes that colts "special somepony". The way he described their love it only makes sense. But, if that story is real and the Doctor really was that colt then . . . then . . ."

A new thought came to the Dean's mind, "if the Doctor's had a special somepony, than where is she? Is she . . . gone? I guess that would make sense, the Doctor being so old and all. But . . . maybe that's why he avoided my questions. It makes sense that he wouldn't want to talk about this, though it does beg the question why he brought it up in the first place. Still . . . its all confusing . . . very confusing . . . hmm . . . ouch."

Dean rubbed his temples and cringed, "all this has given me a headache. Might as well rest up too, hopefully we get out of this swamp soon. Wouldn't want to get attacked by any of those vines again. Ugh! Can't believe we're under attack by swamp vines. Swamp vines of all things! Heh, sounds like something Discord would do, with his chaos magic and all. Ha! Imagine him being the one behind all this, oh that would be the worst!"

Dean chuckled as he walked to the double sided doors. "Imagine having to be the one to face him! Pah! As if that'll ever happen! He'll probably turn me into a walking candy or something. Heh, imagine that, walking candy. Next I'll be taking a chocolate bath from a raining cotton candy cloud!"

Dean laughed at his joke as he exited the console room.
> The Vines Are Watching: Part Two (S1C4)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright, I think we lost them", said the Doctor, panting as he sat on his rear. He looked over his shoulder to the other two, having to squint through the excruciatingly thick mist.

Dean, equally tired, flopped on his belly on the swamp ground. 

Milly, who had clung to the Doctor's back as they ran through the swamp slid off the Doctor and sat next to him, being carful not to touch her new cast on the ground dirt.

Panting, Dean said, "sweet Celestia its a good thing you have elemental magic! But was that much fire really necessary?"

"What do you mean? I barely used any!" said the Doctor.

"You lit the entire clearing on fire just so we could get past the vines surrounding your M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T! Your fedoras on fire by the way."

"Hm? OH!" the Doctor quickly ripped off his fedora and patted the flame until it died. Blowing off a bit of ash, the Doctor placed his hat snug back on his head and said, "Dean, I am very experienced in the art of phoenix magic. And I assure you, that situation could have been much, much worse! But thanks to my fire, everything turned out-"






Three Minutes Ago






Milly was screaming as she clung desperately to the Doctors neck.

As Dean screamed repeatedly, "kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!", the Doctor spewed fire from the tips of his fore hooves. He screamed as he sprayed fire in random directions.

The vines, all on fire, wiggled, swatted, and flung rapidly about; hitting trees and grass, igniting everything it touched in flames.

"Doctor! I think that's enough!"

"NO! THERE'S STILL MORE!"

"But the swamp is on fire!"

"DON'T CARE! BURNING VINES!"

"DOCTOR!"

"AAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

"DOOOOOCTOOOOORR!!!"






Present Time






"-Absolutely fine", said the Doctor, brushing ash off his shoulder.

"A tree almost fell on us! And you had to use your magic to extinguish the swamp fire! Plus you didn't even get all the vines! They chased us half way here!"

"But we're alive aren't we? Therefore, everything turned out alright!"

Dean sighed, "fine, whatever, how much further is the storage?"

"Just a mile more, won't take us long. How are you feeling Milly?" asked the Doctor.

"I'm okay", said Milly.

"Did the vines scare you?"

"Mmm, a little. But I wanna be brave like the colt in the story!" Milly said enthusiastically.

The Doctor smiled and patted Milly's head, "well then, let's not keep your parents from seeing their "brave little filly". Come on Dean! Up and at em!"

"Alright", said Dean, as he and the Doctor stood to their hooves. 

Milly hopped onto the Doctor's back and together the three continued their way towards the cave.

A five minute period of silence ended as Dean asked, "so Doctor, what exactly are we going to do once we get there? I mean, we can't just ask the Frostealius to stop attacking us. Well, we could, but if that doesn't work then what?"

"First we'll investigate the area and see if we can find any clues to where the Frostealius is hiding and where they are keeping Milly's parents. Hopefully the Frostealius is keeping Milly's parents with them", said the Doctor.

"Uh, them? As in multiple Frostealius?" asked Dean.

"Hm? Oh! No, there aren't multiple Frostealius. Sorry, its a habit of mine whenever I can't tell whether somepony is male or female. Its part of the Phoenix Pony culture."

"It is?" asked Dean.

"Yup! When we speak in a non-formal manner we tend to have a "gender neutral" vocabulary. The reason for this is because Phoenix Ponies technically do not have genders. Sure we show similar body traits to male and female common pony, such as comparing my body traits to yours. However, when a Phoenix Pony regenerates there is the possibility that they might change into the opposite gender. Therefore, it just seems pointless calling someone by "he" or "she" for a hundred years then be forced to use the opposite pronunciation for the next hundred years. Unless they want to be identified by "he" or "she", there are a couple who do. Most on the other hoof just don't care. I mean, if you had no idea whether or not your next life would be male or female, would you care?"

"Um . . . I can't say to be honest. That's a Phoenix Pony thing, I'm not sure I'll understand", said Dean.

The Doctor shrugged, "oh well, you don't have to understand it. Just be kind to them, no matter what gender they are or wish to be."

"Right, I'll keep that in mind . . . wait, hang on. Does that mean when you regenerate you might become a mare?"

The Doctor blushed and looked away from Dean as he responded, "I- I did just say gender doesn't matter, right?"

"Yeah I know it doesn't. But you also said that Phoenix Ponies will have similar traits to an actual gender."

"What are you getting at?" the Doctor asked, feeling uncomfortable.

Dean blushed, "well if you, er, had the body of a mare when you, you know, regenerate. Then could you . . . um . . . have chil-."

"DEAN! There is a child present!" the Doctor interrupted.

Dean's face burned red as he looked to Milly on the Doctor's back. "R-Right, er, sorry I-."

"Dean", said the Doctor, looking astonished.

"Er, yeah?"

" . . . Are you insinuating something?"

"I- what?"

"Dean I know we've been traveling alone together but . . . goodness . . . I'm ninety four years old. I could be your great grandfather! Shouldn't you, you know, go for someone that's . . . . not me?"

If Dean had a camera he would have proof that he was the first Do family member to be red. He could practically feel steam bellowing out his ears. Looking to the Doctor, he stammered, "I- I w- what!?! N- No! T- That's not what I meant at all!" 

"It isn't?"

"NO! I was just curious that's all! Sweet Celestia NO!"

The Doctor sighed, "oh, what a relief. I feel less awkward now."

Dean laughed sarcastically, "Oh you do? That's nice because I don't feel any different! UGH! That's an image I never want popping up in my head!"

"That makes two of us", said the Doctor, chuckling.

"I'm eighteen! That would be sickening if that were to happen!"

"Yeah, it would."

"I mean, an old stallion with a kid! Yuck!"

"Alright Dean I get it-."

"The possibility of that happening is an absolute zero! I would never in my life be with a pony as old as-."

"Alright Dean! God! Now your just . . . just". The Doctor stopped and turned around, staring into the forest with a look of concern.

Brow raised, Dean looked to the Doctor and asked, "Doctor? Everything alright?"

Licking his lips, the Doctor responded, "nope, not at all". The Doctor adjusted Milly, positioning her in a more firm position. He then looked to Dean and said, "we need to run. Milly, hang on tight!"

"What? Doctor what's-."

"The vines are catching up! We need to out run them and get to the shed! Come on!" the Doctor shouted, running off as fast as he could.

Dean, following closely behind asked, "were we too loud? Is that how they found us?"

"No it was- GAH!" The Doctor had nearly slipped on a spot of mud. Regaining his balance, the Doctor said, "no it was only a matter of time before the vines regrouped and caught up to us. The Frostealius is already aware of our intentions and knows where we are!"

"Can it see us?" asked Dean.

"Yes and no, see this mist that's covering the swamp?"

"You'd have to be blind not to see it!"

"Yes well this mist is doing more than blocking our vision! Its water elemental magic! The Frostealius can use this mist to track us and, basically, have a mental visual on us. So it knows exactly what we look like and what we're saying!"

"How is that possible!?!" Dean shouted.

"Sound vibrations travel very well in water! Its just one of the advantages a Water Elemental has!"

"Then why didn't we stay silent earlier!?" asked Dean.

"Kind of pointless if they already know where you are-."

CRASH!!!

Millie screamed as a tree fell over to the Doctor's right.

Twelve snake like vines sped their way through the swamp, crashing, tearing, and ripping anything in their path.

The vine at the front and closest to the running ponies made an attempt at them. It rushed forth, swiping and swinging at the Doctor and Milly.

The Doctor swatted the vine away with a flaming hoof and increased his speed, pushing his body past its limit. The adrenaline helped numb the pain of Milly clenching into the Doctor's back. 

"LOOK OUT!" Dean shouted.

The Doctor turned his head and instinctively ducked within a fraction of a second. 

A vine took aim for the Doctor's head and missed, only having managed to tear a gaping hole in the Doctor's fedora.

The Doctor's heart jumped a beat as he heard Dean shouting in pain, "DEAN!"

Dean had been too distracted by the Doctor's receiving attacks to realize he too had an attacker. Multiple vines, too many to count, snuck from the left and made an attack for Dean's face and torso. Dean felt the thrashing of attacks with a gash cut into his left cheek, above his eye, and behind his ear. The other attacks, albeit weaker than the first, scratched the side of his torso.

He staggered but quickly regained his balance, making haste to run out of the vines attacking proximity. A second attack from the vines failed as Dean was more prepared from the first attack. Several vines swiped and thrashed at Dean and missed as Dean dodged each one.

The Doctor took his eyes off Dean as he realized his companion wasn't too hurt, in impeccable time as well. Just as he looked away a vine made an attack for the Doctor's legs. The Doctor caught the attack in his peripherals and jumped to dodge. 

A second attack swiped at the Doctor's head. The Doctor ducked, again evading a blow to the head and harming his fedora once more. A second hole, smaller then first, opened on the hats felt fabric.

Dean hopped over a root and ducked beneath a low hanging tree branch as he spotted a vine. This one furthest from the others and closest to Dean. It swiped furiously at Dean, aiming desperately for any part of the colt's body that it could. Dean managed to dodge the vine well at first but gasped as he felt pain to his hind left leg. The vine had managed a lucky swipe to Dean, cutting the back of his leg.

The Doctor growled as he witnessed Dean being harmed but could do little to prevent Dean from receiving more injuries. In fact, he was unsure whether he could escape these vines unscathed himself. His old body shouted desperately for him to stop running. He could feel the well known pain of exhaustion developing in his lungs, hearts, and torso. He noticed he was starting to lose speed as well. If he didn't think of something now, not only would the vines catch him, but Milly on his back as well.

Swearing internally, the Doctor shouted, "Dean! I'm going to toss Milly to you!"

"I beg your pardon!?!" Dean shouted.

"Your going to take Milly and continue running to the shed. All you need to do is turn right when I give you the signal and continue moving straight! You'll find the shed, and when you do I want you to hide in it and wait for me!"

"And what, your going to be the vines distraction!?!"

"Precisely!" the Doctor shouted.

"Wait, really!?!"

"Yes! Now catch her!" the Doctor shouted. The Doctor quickly took hold of Milly and tossed her onto Dean's back. Milly screamed as she landed hard, gripping painfully to Dean's back once she landed.

Dean shouted both in spine crackling pain and having not been prepared for the Doctor's plan, "sweet Celestia!!!"

"Turn right now!" the Doctor shouted as he jumped suddenly to Dean's left. 

Dean only had a second to avoid crashing into the Doctor and galloping to the right, but the colt was successful.

The Doctor looked over his shoulder to see if the plan worked. Most of the vines followed him, a few separated to take chase after Dean and Milly. "Very few, Dean should be able to handle that amount of vines", the Doctor figured.

His plan worked for the most part. All he had to do now was keep the vines on his trail long enough to allow Dean and Milly to reach the shed. Then the Doctor had to figure out how he was going to escape the vines chasing him.

How he was going to do that, however, he hadn't a clue. An idea, a very poor one at that, popped into the Doctor's mind. "Haven't done this in a few years. Hell, more like a few decades! It shouldn't hurt too bad. Sure my body exceeds the recommended age limit for using this level of phoenix magic. But I should be alright, right? Just don't think about it, just don't think about it."

The Doctor made a sharp turn left, then a right, hopped over a bush, and another turn right. 

The Doctor tried thinking of the appropriate time to use his magic when his thought was suddenly broken. He had been too focused on his plan to realize just how tired his body was. A sudden strangling pain flashed directly into his hearts. The Doctor gasped and tripped, falling face first and rolling several feet before colliding into a tree.

The Doctor curled into a fetal position as he clenched onto the fabrics on his chest. The pain in his hearts and lungs overpowered the scratches and bruises on his back from the collision. Even his swollen cheek from falling face first couldn't compare to this. He coughed hard, struggling to breath. The Doctor fought his pain and forced his head to lift as he squinted. 

Through blurred vision the Doctor saw a horde of vines. Nearly every vine that had chased the Doctor and Dean earlier and new arrivals surrounded the Doctor. Front to back, side to side, the Doctor was completely surrounded. And they approached slowly, slithering, trapping the Doctor in the shrinking space.

Breathing heavily, the Doctor clenched his teeth and forced his body to stand. Slowly, shaking, and in agony, the Doctor stood. Facing the vines with determination.

The Doctor knew it was now or never. Whether he was scared or not, it didn't matter. This was about life and death, and he would rather feel the pain of his own magic then be caught dead by swamp vines.

Sweat dripping, body aching, hearts dying, the Doctor fought through his pains and took hold of the phoenix fire coursing through his second hearts veins. He summoned the fire and surrounded it around his body. He then engulfed his body and condensed the fire, increasing its intensity.

"Okay . . . okay, okay, okay! Let's see just how well this old body can still work!" said the Doctor through gritted teeth.

The Doctor then closed his eyes and pictured the miner's shed in his mind. He imagined Dean and Millie, hiding within the shed. And the Doctor approaching the shed, knocking on the door and reassuring Dean and Milly that the vines were gone, that the danger had passed. He wanted to be there and tell them that they were safe. He told his body to move without moving, mentally shouting for his body to travel without moving a single muscle.

Envisioning the shed, the coordinates, his friends; he felt it, the needle like fire on his body was glowing, slowly becoming brighter and brighter. Until it was too bright to even see the Doctor.

The vines knew what he was doing and attacked, but they were too late.

The Doctor felt the shift in his surroundings jerk and the entire world swirled at rapid speed. Everything moved to the speed of light. Round and round it went, moving without care. Then, just as suddenly as it had began, it ended.

The Doctor landed on the ground hard, returning to fetal position as his entire body felt pierced in agony. He shook uncontrollably, unable to hold back tears as his pain made him want to scream. Yet he was too hurt to do so.

Every part of his body felt as if it had been crushed by spikes. His lungs, chest, and hearts felt like implosions. The Doctor failed to hold back a sob as he gripped his vest harder. Tugging at his fabrics as the agony seemed never to end.

He vision blacked out; he hadn't fallen unconscious, yet he wasn't entirely conscious either. He knew he had landed, but the world seemed to vanish. Popped out of existence so that all that remained was a black void of pain and agony. He wanted it to end, he wanted it to end so bad. He knew his body was old but this was beyond anything he had felt in his life.

He had been hurt before, he remembered this. His enemies had made him suffer in the past, but the grasp of time itself taking hold around his neck was a pain beyond pain. The Doctor felt both trapped and dying.

Thoughts came quickly to the Doctor's mind. He could handle any other pain because he knew he could recover and move on. This on the other hand he knew he could not easily escape from. This pain is caused by over exertion to a body that wasn't meant for this. His body shouldn't be running or fighting for its life. It should be home, at peace in a comforting place where there is no danger. Because he knew that this pain would not go away, it would only get worse. 

Because time does not heal, it moves and never stops. And the Doctor wasn't getting any younger; and he knew this.

The Doctor couldn't take it anymore, he had to make the pain stop. He felt that his head exploding would be far better then his current ordeal.

The Doctor was starting to regret even escaping the vines at all. He questioned whether he should have just let them capture him, and wondered what's the worse they could have done.

"They could have killed me, that's what could have happened. Then again, maybe death isn't so bad. Then I won't hurt so much anymore . . . or maybe . . . I don't need to die . . . but this body does? . . . I can't . . . I can't do this anymore, it hurts too much. I need to do it . . . I need to let go . . . I need to-."

"Doctor."

The Doctor's ears perked to the sound of his name being called. He squinted slightly and saw the silhouette of a pony, standing above him in a blinding ray of light. Hovering tall, looking down upon him. Like an angel staring down from heaven. The Doctor couldn't see her clearly, yet her figure appeared oddly familiar.

The pony spoke in a gentle, melodic voice. The kind a mother would have towards a child. "Doctor."

The Doctor recognized that voice. Without moving, the Doctor spoke, "S-Serendipity?"

The mare appeared unfazed by the response, "you need to get up Doctor. Your friends need you."

The Doctor remained motionless as he responded, "can't . . . hurts . . . too much."

"You have to help them Doctor, they need you."

The Doctor refused to stand and replied, "need . . . to . . . need . . . to-."

The Doctor stopped as he felt the mare place a soft, shining hoof to his cheek. "It isn't your time yet. You mustn't do that now."

" . . . Then what . . . do I do?"

The mare place a second hoof to the Doctor's opposite cheek and answered, "do what doctors do best, save them!"

The light behind the mare slowly began to fade and the mare's color began to show. "Serendipity?" said the Doctor. More color began to show and the mare was appearing more and more gray by the second. "Doctor!" she shouted with sudden masculinity.

"Serendipity", the Doctor repeated.

"Doctor! Doctor!"

The bright light was gone. Standing in the mare's silhouette wasn't a mare at all. Instead there stood a gray stallion with a terrified looking filly beside him. 

Dean held the Doctor by both cheeks and shouted, "Doctor! Wake up! Wake up already!"

The Doctor snapped his eyes wide and sat up quickly. Looking around, the Doctor saw that he was inside a large, gray, metallic building. Beside him was Dean, Millie, old boxes, a desk, and several picks and shovels. The entire place was covered wall to wall in a inch thick worth of dust. The windows were blocked by stacks of boxes and something on the opposite side of the boxes were banging against the walls, shaking the entire building violently.

The Doctor's heavy breathing caused him to inhale a large amount of dust. Coughing and clearing his throat, the Doctor asked, "w-where am I? What's going on?"

While keeping a look of concern, Dean sighed with relief and said, "we're in the storage Doctor. Some of the vines didn't leave us earlier when we separated. They chased Milly and I all the way to the mine storage and trapped us in. I managed to barricade the windows as best as I could but I don't think it'll last long". 

Suddenly, Dean's concerned demeanor turned to one of anger as he said, "then you popped up out of no where in a flash of light! Scaring the ever loving daylights out of Millie and I! I nearly thought something new was attacking us until I saw you drop to the ground! I went to see if you were okay but you looked like you were having a heart attack! I thought you were dying! But then . . . you started calling me "Serendipity?" What was that about!?"

"I uh . . . I'm not . . . too sure", the Doctor said slowly. He slowed his breathing, breathing in through his nose and out his mouth as he placed a hoof to his chest. The aching lingered, though the pain itself wasn't nearly as bad as before.

Dean, still incredibly worried asked, "are you alright Doctor?"

The Doctor didn't respond immediately. He was lost in thought, unable to concentrate as thoughts rushed in and out of his mind. 

He managed to focus his thoughts and asked himself internally, "was I really considering doing . . . that? Had I ever had these thoughts before? No, I don't ever remembering thinking like this. This is all new to me. Have I gotten weaker perhaps? Or, has my age not only caught up to me but has preceded me as well? I just . . . I . . . I need to take a step back. What's going on? I'm in a shed, no, storage, the minors storage. Dean's here, Milly's here, and we're still under attack . . . okay then . . . Step taken, now moving forward."

Slowly, the Doctor placed a shaky hoof to the ground and lifted himself up. He groaned as he felt left over pain lingering in his chest.

Dean quickly took hold of the Doctor and helped him to his hooves. "You think you should be standing?"

The Doctor stood to his hooves and sighed. Taking deep breathes to ease his pain, the Doctor replied, "yes, we need to get out of here before the vines break in. I'm going to look around and see what I can find. You try and keep these vines out for as long as you can". The Doctor turned to Milly, who stared uneasily at the Doctor, "how are you doing?"

Milly looked away and replied softly, "I'm scared. The monsters are outside."

A sudden loud bang caused Milly to squeak and shiver as she crossed her forelegs over her chest.

The Doctor knelt close to Millie and said gently, "everything's going to be fine. We're one step closer to finding your parents. Just give me a bit of time to investigate, alright?"

Milly looked to the Doctor's eye, hesitant to respond.

The Doctor continued, "don't forget the child in that story. He was scared too. Do you want to be brave just like him?"

That did the trick. Milly still felt uneasy but slowly responded with a nod. The Doctor, however, noticed her determination slowly deteriorating. He knew he had to get them out of here before Milly becomes too scared to continue.

Standing tall and wincing momentarily from fading chest pain, the Doctor turned back to Dean.  He pointed to the items scattered amongst the storage, "block the windows with more boxes and this desk. I'll get to my searching."

Just before the Doctor moved, Dean placed a firm hoof to the Doctor's shoulder. A look of concern placed upon Dean's face as he asked, "are you sure your going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine Dean."

"Are you su-."

"Dean!" the Doctor blurted.

Dean went silent and removed his hoof, taken aback by the interruption.

The Doctor sighed and smiled gently to Dean. He spoke in a softer tone, "I'm going to fine. Just focus on preventing the vines from entering. The faster I find out where Milly's parents have gone to, the faster we can find them and get out of this swamp. You said you like cereal, we can have as much as you like when we get back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. How's that sound?"

"Er, yeah, sure. That sounds nice. If you say your fine then, alright. Just don't push yourself, despite what you say you still look a bit hurt."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Let's get to work", said the Doctor.

"Right", said Dean, walking to the nearest box to add to the barricade.

The Doctor watched Dean for a second before sighing and getting to work. 

The Doctor looked around and groaned, he figured this wouldn't be easy. It's difficult investigating an area to search for clues, but even more so when that area is being tampered with. But he didn't have much of a choice at the moment. Dean had to move everything to the windows. It was either that or allow the vines inside to attack them. 

Muting his internal complaints, the Doctor decided to work with what he had as he searched the floor.

There wasn't much, it was a very dirty, very dusty, old, chipped, cement floor. It had small pieces of metal scattered here and there and a few tools. However, despite being a minors storage there were no tools that a minor would use; such as picks, hard hats, protective gear, or lanterns. The Doctor took note of this, wondering just how long it has been since the storage had been abandoned.

Not finding much, the Doctor turned to look at the walls, hoping to find something there.

Just as the Doctor turned, Dean had placed a forth box atop the stack and asked, "so Doctor; what exactly was that light you popped out of?"

"Uh, light?" asked the Doctor, keeping his eyes to the wall.

"Yeah, that bright light you popped out of. What was that exactly? And how did you end up here after separating from us?" asked Dean as he grabbed another empty box.

"Oh, that. That's, uh . . . a form of phoenix magic. A very advance form at that", said the Doctor, walking close to the wall and rubbing a hoof to its semi rugged smooth surface.

"Magic? You used magic to escape the- hang on". Dean stopped and turned to the Doctor, "now I remember, that flash of light. I've seen unicorns use it back at Mane City. Doctor, did you teleport!?"

Without looking to Dean, the Doctor said, "keep stacking the boxes Dean. Have you stacked the table yet?"

Dean continued looking to the Doctor as he grabbed a large box to add to the stack. "Yes I have, and you didn't answer my question. Doctor, did you teleport? Can you even teleport?"

The Doctor hesitated to answer as he took his eyes off the wall and looked to the ceiling. A plain, flat ceiling with nothing to show. The Doctor spoke, "phoenixes can teleport Dean. So it only makes sense that a Phoenix Pony would too."

Dean dropped a box atop the stack with a grunt and looked to the Doctor angrily. "You can teleport and you are only now telling me this!?! Do you have any idea how useful that would have been back at Dodge Junction!? Do you have any idea how useful that would have been now!?! Why didn't you teleport Milly and I here into the storage instead of us running for our lives!?"

The Doctor looked sternly to Dean, pausing his investigation momentarily. He replied, "because phoenix magic doesn't work that way! Unicorns are able to use their magic safely around others. Our magic cannot because our magic is based around fire! A phoenix teleporting is like a bolt of lighting. It travels too fast to be seen by the naked eye. It isn't exactly like traveling fast but its similar enough to that of a lighting bolt. If another pony who isn't a phoenix pony was to teleport by phoenix magic, they would be incinerated the moment they enter into the phoenix pony's magic! That and . . . well . . ."

The Doctor's expression changed suddenly, dropping to something unrecognizable to Dean. 

Dean noticed that the Doctor looked unusually older. Of course, the Doctor was ninety four so he was quite an old pony. However, all the time he spent with the Doctor; in the forest, in Dodge Junction, now in a swamp, he hadn't really noticed this until now. The Doctor was a very old pony. 

He didn't know why, but it just seemed more . . . apparent now.

The Doctor continued, "teleporting is very advance magic for Phoenix Ponies and can only be used by the most skilled, the most educated, and most of all, the most durable. If a Phoenix Pony cannot perform teleportation properly and their body is unable to withstand its power, than they could critically damage themselves."

"Phoenix Ponies can harm themselves with their own magic?" asked Dean.

"Unicorns can, so of course Phoenix Ponies can too. My body isn't . . . as durable as it used to be. As a safety precaution it is recommended that Phoenix Ponies stop performing advance magic when their current body's have reached late middle age. As you can see I am far beyond the recommended stopping point. So it was a risk for me to teleport."

"So your too old to teleport?" asked Dean.

" . . . Yes."

"Did it hurt?"

"Yes, a lot. I think that is the last time I'll ever be able to teleport. That is until my . . . er . . . next body.  I might actually kill myself if I do it again in . . . this one."

The Doctor suddenly stopped and frowned, looking to the floor as he did so.

Dean, feeling he had said something wrong asked, "Doctor, you alright?"

Licking his lips, the Doctor replied with fatigue, "let's get back to work shall we?"

"Er, yeah, sure" said Dean.

Just as the Doctor turned around to resume his investigation, Dean asked, "hey, one more question. If you don't mind?"

The Doctor sighed, "what is it?"

"Well, I was just wondering, who's Serendipity?"

"Doctor!" Milly screamed.

A sudden violent jerk to the storage from the outside halted the conversation and reawakened the Doctor and Dean to the matter at hand.

A few boxes from the stacks toppled over, having nearly landed on Milly if the Doctor hadn't been close. He grabbed Milly and pulled her away just as a box landed in her place.

"Stop the stacks from collapsing!" the Doctor shouted, holding Milly in his left leg.

"Right!" Dean shouted, running forth to the stacks and pushing it to the window with all his strength.

Looking to shattered glass on the spot Milly had stood previously, the Doctor said, "that was close. Are you okay?"

Milly nodded, "I'm okay."

The Doctor smiled to Milly and asked, "did you get any glass on you? Those vines must've hit the storage hard and broke the windows."

Grunting from a push from the vines on the outside, Dean said to the Doctor, "actually the window was already broken when we got here."

"The window was already broken?" asked the Doctor. He looked to the shattered glass upon the floor; close to the window that had Dean's stack of boxes. It was then that the Doctor noticed something.

Placing Milly beside him, the Doctor looked around to the entirety of the storage.

There were only two sets of windows: one on the left side and one on the right. Everything within the storage had been moved to the windows as a blockade. However, the window on the left had a larger stack than the one on the right.

Furthermore, the Doctor noticed Dean struggling with the vines outside the left window as he worked to prevent the stack from collapsing any further.

The Doctor then decided to compare the right side of the storage to the left side, and inhaled deeply as he saw the results. 

The Doctor looked to Dean and asked in a sudden, excited tone, "Dean! Why did you pile the stack larger on the left of the storage and not the right!?"

Keeping his concentration on the blockade, Dean replied, "I, uh- I don't know! I tried blocking both sides but- DAH!" A sudden jerk nearly pushed Dean back. "I haven't had much trouble with that side! They seem to only want to get us from this one!"

"Is that so!!!" the Doctor shouted, smiling.

"Doctor you got a plan or something because this is getting really difficult- GAH!" another jerk startled Dean.

"Nope! No plan yet! But I think I know what's going on! AND!" The Doctor looked to Milly, "I think I know where your parents are!"

Milly gasped, "really!?!"

"EEYUP!!! This storage told me exactly where they are!!!"

"Well do tell please! Because some of us don't really have the patience- DAH! STOP THAT!!!" Dean shouted to the vines.

"Right! Right! Well, looking at the storage its quite clear as to which side the vines are attacking us at! The left side! And only the left side! But why would they be doing that? An entire swamp full of vines and yet the Frostealius is limiting himself to only the vines on the west side of the swamp to attack us from the left? That doesn't make any sense! He's already covered most of the swamp with his mist so he should be able to control the vines from anywhere within it! UNLESS! He can't! CAN YOU MISTER OR MISSES FROSTEALIUS!!!" the Doctor shouted to nowhere in particular.

"What are you doing!? Didn't you say he can hear us if we're inside his mist!?" asked Dean.

"YUP! Indeed I did! Therefore, you'd be able to hear me if I told you I was going to take down the stack blocking the right windows!" the Doctor shouted, making his way to the right windows slowly.

"Doctor what in Celestia's name are you doing!?!" Dean shouted.

Milly, unable to determine what to do chose to hide in the corner furthest away from Dean and the Doctor. One side of the shack had vines trying to break in. The other had a crazy old pony about to take down their only wall of defense. Keeping her distance from both was the only choice she could make.

"If you want to come get us you'd better strike now! Cause I'm only opening this window for a short time!" the Doctor shouted, grabbing the first box and toppling it off the stack.

"Doctor stop! They're going to get in!" Dean shouted.

The Doctor grabbed more boxes from the stack, toppling them over one by one.

Dean could only stand and watch as their defense fell to the floor. He wanted to run and stop the Doctor but couldn't. The vines were still attacking from his side. If he stopped pushing his stack against the window they would surely break in.

The Doctor grabbed the final box from the stack and toppled it over easily. The stack fell, leaving the right window exposed. The Doctor looked to the window, the window on the right side of the storage.  Completely intact, despite a few scratches and a layer of dust.

The Doctor smiled as his theory was confirmed. "Just as I thought. Just as I thought!" Turning around and looking to the ceiling, the Doctor shouted, "you haven't so much as scathed this side! Come on! The windows wide open! No boxes blocking your way you can just come right in if you wanted to! So, WHERE ARE YOU!?!" 

The Doctor paused, appearing as if he was waiting for a response. When one failed to show, the Doctor continued, "you can't . . . you can't attack us from this side can you! And not only that but I was wrong wasn't I!? Or at least, some what wrong! You can't hear us can you! No! You can't hear us AND you can barely see us! The three of us are probably three oddly shaped blobs in your vision! Your like a Frostealius in desperate need of glasses!"

The Doctor walked to the right window and opened it wide. Sticking his head out, the Doctor shouted outside, "tell me, how long have you been hiding here!?! Days? Weeks? Months? I'd reckon even a year at most! All this hiding! Its ridiculous! Why are you hiding!? What are you hiding from!?" 

The Doctor shut the window hard and walked close to Dean. "Well whatever it is you'd better stop it now! Not for our sakes but for yours! All this hiding! Disconnecting yourself from society! And your access to food, shelter, and most of all, water! Your weak aren't you! That's why your not attacking us from the right side! Nor are you responding to a single word I say! You can't use the vines from the swamp because your too weak to do it! And you can't hear us with your mist! You don't have enough magic to do that do you? You barely have enough to see us but your vision isn't clear! We're three fuzzy looking intruders on your land! And furthermore! I know exactly where your hiding!" 

The Doctor looked to Dean and spoke in utmost determination. "Dean, the vines are attacking from the left. Take a guess what's to the left of us."

It didn't take any thinking for Dean to know exactly what the Doctor was talking about, "the cave entrance!"

"Exactly! The Frostealius is only attacking from the left because their vines are coming from the cave entrance! And because their vision is distorted they see this side of the building as the only way to reach us! They don't know about the other window! All they sees is a cement building and this one window as their only way through!"

"But Milly and her parents were here earlier-."

"Exactly! That's how I figured it out! If they had been in here before us then how come the right side of the storage is still left unscathed!?

"But the vines from earlier?-"

"These are those same vines! The exact same! Think about it, after we escaped the vines from the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T how come it took time before they caught up to us? With an entire swamp full of vines the Frostealius could have taken over a new set of vines that could attack us sooner and from any direction! But no! They used the same vines to turn around and catch up to us!"

"But why would they do that?" asked Dean.

"Because they're weak! I don't know how long they've been hiding here but it sure has been long enough to weaken themselves to the point where they cannot properly use their magic! They aren't able to use their mist the same why they normally could! They can't hear us and they can only partially see us!"

"Yes but why can he only attack from the cave?" asked Dean.

"Because they don't have the magic to control them from long distances! They can only control these vines if they are touching it directly! They must have taken as many of the vines as possible from the swamp and tied it all together to make these extra long ones! Which means!-"

"Which means if we follow the vines it'll take us straight to the Frostealius!" Dean concluded.

"Exactly!"

"But how can we do that? Their not exactly friendly!" said Dean, struggling to keep the boxes from collapsing.

"Simple, we're going to take a non aggressive approach. As long as they don't consider us an enemy than we might have a chance to speak to!-"

CRASH!!!

The boxes, reduced to pieces and splinters were thrown back to the opposite end of the storage. The vines controller attacked with all the force they could muster. A successful strike to the storage's outer wall. The window frame broke from the cement wall, breaking to pieces to the wall on the opposite end.

The Doctor and Dean, both caught off guard by this sudden attack were thrown off their hooves, colliding to the wall next to the window frame.

Milly screamed, covering her head for protection as the loud crash commenced a mere six feet from her. 

The vines wasted no time in breaking in. 

Snake like and slimy, the vines whipped around and thrashed about, feeling each odd and end of the storage interior; like a blind man searching.

Disoriented and sore, Dean was the first to lift his head and look to the intruder.  "Doctor!" Dean shouted.

The Doctor didn't move. He lied on the cement floor, fading in and out of consciousness; fighting the blackness enshrouding his vision.

The vines slithered on the ground, moving quickly to the trapped ponies. 

Dean had been looking to the vines above him when he felt one touch his hind hoof. He gasped and looked to the vine, creeping along his leg.

In a panic, Dean bucked randomly, kicking the vine off of him. He crawled close to the Doctor and shook him hard. "Doctor! Doctor get up! They're inside! Doctor!"

The Doctor didn't hear Dean, he didn't hear anything. His ears rang loudly as the blackness in his sights faded, leaving a fuzzy image of the distress around him.

One of the vines approached Milly and touched her hind hoof. The smallest of touches as it was immediately kicked away by the screaming filly. But that touch was just enough to tell the vines controller that their target was finally within their grasp.

Instantaneously, several vines shot towards Milly, coiling around her legs and torso.  "HELP!!!" Millie shrieked as she was dragged from her place towards the opening in the storage.

Hearing Milly's scream, Dean looked away from the Doctor and swore as he witnessed the filly being dragged. Without thinking, he galloped forth and wrapped both forelegs around Milly's torso, pulling with all his might. 

Despite Dean's efforts the vines still managed to drag Milly away, slowly now thanks to Dean. It was obvious that the vines were stronger, yet Dean refused to let the filly go.

"DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME! DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME!" Milly screamed, trying and failing to move within the vines grasp.

"Ah won't let you go! Ah've got you!" Dean shouted, unaware of his accent.

More vines entered the building. Dean saw this and prepared himself, expecting the new vines to help drag Milly away. However, these new vines did not attack, nor did they look the same from the rest. They slithered along the floor and stopped close to Dean, then remained motionless.

These new vines, Dean noticed, were blue and had a white flower grown at the tip. This struck Dean as odd for he hadn't seen these vines until now. And there were so little, only two had entered. Dean found this too as odd but thought little of it as he was preoccupied.

Then, the unexpected happened.

The flowers of both vines split open in a four cross-section, revealing a small hole. There was a hiss as a thick brownish goop spewed from the holes, hitting Dean square in the face.

He hadn't been prepared in the slightest. The goop went into his eyes before he could react. Dean screamed as he felt his eyes ignite with the burning sensation of hot needles penetrating his orbitals. He released Millie and fell to the floor. Clasping his hooves to his eyes, he writhed and screamed in agony.

Milly screamed as the vines had ridden themselves of Dean, now able to pull Milly freely without his involvement. 

It was then that the Doctor's vision refocused and the sounds around him blasted in his ears. Jerking his head upwards, the Doctor saw Dean fall to the floor and Milly being dragged. All feeling of pain left his body as he shot forth in an attempt to save the filly. He knew Dean was in need of help as well but chose to save the one in deeper peril.

He would return to Dean as soon as he saved Millie.

He would save Millie, he had to, he was determined.

"MILLY!!!" the Doctor shouted. 

The vines were fast, dragging her from the opening of the storage towards the cave entrance quicker then the Doctor could reach them.

The Doctor jumped through the opening and galloped towards Milly. Thoughts of a rescue attempt flashed before his mind at lighting speed. He couldn't use his fire, he might harm Milly. His age prevented him from flying as well as teleporting. Perhaps he could taunt the one controlling the vines? If he could set the controllers sights onto him then perhaps that could give him the chance to reach Milly before they entered the cave. He couldn't hear the Doctor so all he had to do was-.

The Doctor's thought ended abruptly before he could finished as he tripped and fell face first. Looking to the thing responsible, the Doctor saw a lone vine coiling around his hind legs. 

It showed no sign of capturing the Doctor nor harming him, it only wanted to stop him from running.

"Its trying to stop me from reaching Milly! " thought the Doctor; before he noticed two blue looking vines catch up. Both with flowers that appeared to be aiming towards him.

As the flowers split open, the Doctor realized why he was stopped and thought fast.

Quickly, the Doctor took hold of the vine coiled on his legs and ignited his forelegs with phoenix fire. The vine released the Doctor and thrashed about, beating itself to the ground to extinguish  the flame.

Simultaneously, the Doctor rolled to the left, evading the blue vines projectiles as it landed close to the Doctor. It splashed about in a mush as the Doctor stood to his hooves and avoided the goop.

The blue vines appeared ready to fire a second time before stopping midway. Sealing their flowers shut, the vines suddenly slithered away fast, joining the rest of the vines as each and every single one made way to the cave entrance.

The Doctor was confused for only a second before realizing the reason for the vines retreat.

Milly's screams had stopped because she was too far to be heard. The vines had succeeded, they had taken Milly into the cave.

They had won, so the fighting was over. Thus, the vines retreated. Leaving the Doctor standing in the open, fuming in anger.

Refusing to believe the situation, the Doctor ran forth to the cave entrance, growling as he did so.

Stopping in front of the entrance, the Doctor shouted, "MILLY!!!"

No response, not even an echo.

The Doctor tried again, "MILLY!!!" 

No response.

Breathing heavily, the Doctor cupped his hooves and shouted a third time, "MILLY!!!"

He waited, and listened close.

But . . . . no one responded.

It was futile, no amount of shouting could save her.

Millie was gone.

The Doctor shook in his spot as realization stabbed deep into him. His friend had been harmed, Milly had been captured, and he had failed to protect them both.

He wouldn't stand for this. No, the Doctor would not stand for this at all.

Standing on his hinds hooves, the Doctor glared into the darkness of the cave. As if his foe stood before him, ready to clash at an moment. 

All this time the vines had attacked them because this Frostealius saw them as a threat. Perhaps he was defending himself, perhaps he was genuinely scared for his life. Which ever it may be the Doctor no longer cared. If he was scared, good, let him be scared, he has a reason to be scared now. Was he defending himself? He had better be, because if not, well-.

And did the Frostealius see the Doctor as a threat? The Doctor hoped so, because as of this moment, the Doctor was a threat.

He was a threat; and he stared death into the darkness and spoke, "you may not have heard me before back in the swamp but I know for a fact that you can hear me now. The sound will travel through this cave directly to you so I know that you can't ignore me. So LISTEN UP! Because as you hear me for the first time you will want to take in every word I say, for if you do not than you are a fool! A FOOL WITH A DEATH WISH! Now listen, to, me!"

"You are about to enter yourself into a battle that you are surely to regret if you don't give me back that child RIGHT NOW! Do you have any idea who you are dealing with? You should! You're an Elemental! You sensed my magic the moment I entered this swamp! Just as I had sensed yours! Well listened close, and I mean very close! You are not dealing with any Fire Elemental my dear Water Elemental. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

"I am the one who abandoned the Elemental race! The one sentence to life in exile for breaking the laws of the Fire Elementals! I am the one who escaped the Elemental armies and single handedly defeated King Bex! Previous ruler of Minauria and the enslaver of thousands! I am the runner, the dreamer, the Phoenix Adventurer!"

"I am the Doctor! And if you don't hand Milly back this instant than I will have no choice but to send you to tartarus MYSELF!!!"

The Doctor's words echoed through the cave. Traveling deep within, until it reached the end.

Towards the end, where the words were directed to. Towards the one who was meant to receive the Doctor's message.

At last, he had heard the intruder's voice. A recognizable voice, yet even more so now that he knew of his name.

The one who had received the message spoke in a frail whisper as he remembered who it was, "Doctor? Is that really you?"
> The Vines Are Watching: Part Three (S1C4)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Doctor! Doctor! AAGH!" Dean screamed, laying on the cement floor of the minors shack. He gasped as he felt a hoof touch his shoulder, but quickly relaxed as he recognized it to be the Doctor.

"Stay still, don't move too much. Let me see what's happened to you", said the Doctor, kneeling close to Dean.

The pain was too much for the colt. Dean writhed about, unable to keep still for the Doctor. He said with a groan, "Doctor! Doctor ah can't see! Its in my eyes!"

"I know, I know. Take deep breaths, don't focus on the pain. Listen to my voice, focus on that", the Doctor said soothingly. He touched the tip of his hoof to the brown goop covering most of Dean's face. The Doctor raised his hoof close to his mouth and sniffed the mysterious substance. He then proceeded to lick the goop before spitting it to the floor immediately. "Dean, don't blink. Keep your eyes shut until we can get this stuff off of you."

A large amount of goop that covered Dean's eyes fell to his mouth. Spitting it out, he shouted, "Doctor! What is this stuff!?"

"Tree sap, but its been tampered with. Whoever's attacking us has mixed the sap with a chemical that causes temporary blindness. Its already blinded you but if you keep your eyes shut the effects will wear off sooner", the Doctor explained, reaching into his inner vest pocket.

The Doctor extracted a large hanky from his vest and placed the cloth upon Dean's face. He then used the cloth to smear off as much of the tree sap as possible. When most of the sap was removed, the Doctor reached into his inner pocket for a second hanky, and proceeded to clear off the remaining sap upon the colts skin. Once finished the Doctor said, "there, your clean for the most part."

"Ah still can't see!" Dean said loudly, unable to maintain a calm tone through his pain.

"We'll need to return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T before I can take care of your eyes."

"Can't you just cry in my eyes and heal me!?"

"The saps too thick, you'll need an eye wash station first. Until then your going to have to hang on to me, I'll guide you through the cave. Can you stand?"

Dean groaned, "yeah ah can stand. Why are we going to the cave?"

As the Doctor helped Dean to his hooves, he responded, "they've got Millie. We're going to get her back."

"What!?!" Dean shouted, stumbling forward into the Doctor's forelegs.

"Easy Dean!" said the Doctor, helping Dean regain his balance.

"They've got Millie!" shouted Dean.

"Yes and we're going to get her! She's going to be alright!" said the Doctor, releasing Dean.

Standing on his own, Dean pointed his head to the ground and said, "this is ma fault! This is all ma fault! Ah had her in ma hooves when they grabbed her! But ah got hit with that stuff and lost her and-"

The Doctor placed a hoof to Dean's shoulder and said sternly, "Dean! This isn't your fault! This is all my fault, not yours! While I was lying on the floor you actually went and tried to save her! Yes you lost her but at least you tried! And you got hurt in the process! And for that, that makes me responsible for the endangerment of two ponies! You shouldn't have been harmed and Millie should not have been captured! Therefore, I have failed in my responsibility, not only to the parents of that filly but to yours as well!"

The Doctor sighed, "Dean I am so, so sorry that this has happened to you. I should never have asked you to come along with me. As soon as this is over I'll return you to Dodge Junction, alright?"

"What! No! Doctor I'm not going back!"

"But I-"

"Doctor ah chose to come with you. Ah already assumed it was going to be dangerous ever since we dealt with Tumbleweed. Ah knew there was a possibility ah might get hurt but ah chose to come along anyway! I'm not going back to Dodge Junction just because ah got some sap in my eyes!"

"But doesn't it hurt?" asked the Doctor.

"Yes, a lot actually. But doesn't it also hurt to be alone?" asked Dean.

Taken aback by Dean's sudden question, the Doctor had no response.

Mustering a smile, Dean said, "we're in this together old stallion. We'll find Millie and get ma eyes taken care of."

The Doctor couldn't help but smile brightly, despite knowing Dean couldn't see him. "Alright, let's save Millie and fix your eyes."

Nodding, Dean replied, "but you think we could hurry a bit? I'd like to get ma eyes fixed soon. Its really starting to become unbearable!"

"Right! Right! Here, place your left leg around my shoulder. I'll help guide you through the cave."

"Okay", said Dean, wrapping his leg around the Doctor and holding firmly to his shoulder.

"Careful as you walk, the ground might be a bit rigid in there so you don't want to trip."

"I've got it Doctor, let's get going please", said Dean, grunting as he felt a fresh wave of stinging pass into his eyes.

"Alright, let's move. Easy now, one step at a time", said the Doctor as he and Dean exited the shed and headed towards the cave. "Nice accent by the way", the Doctor added.

It took Dean a second to realize that he had ceased his British accent and returned to his original one. Blushing, Dean returned to his false accent and said, "its not that good, honestly."

"Don't say that, I like it. You should use it more."

"Thanks but no thanks, I'll stick to this one."

"Oh yeah? Well what made you stop using it?" asked the Doctor.

"Er, I uh, saw Millie get nabbed by the vines and I, sort of, forgot to use it when I went to help her. Its not my actual accent so it takes a bit of concentration", Dean explained.

"You'd probably have an easier time focusing on things if you used your western accent", the Doctor hinted.

"Not happening Doctor."

"Its a nice accent", the Doctor pressed on.

"No Doctor."

"Alright, alright."



Deep Within the Cave



He lifted his head as a sudden sensation struck his insides. His inner magic alerted him like an alarm, triggered by two trespassers. They both walked into the entrance of the cave very slowly. An odd pace to take. Not because they were scared of him, they knew exactly who he was; or what he was in this matter. Their pace was slow for another reason. Perhaps to maintain a state of caution? Wise . . . yet, not the case. The two were close together, touching one another as they walked. Perhaps they were planning something? Or had already formed a plan and were executing it? He wasn't sure, he needed to check and find out.

Summoning his strength, he strained to use his magic; viewing the trespassers with his mist.

It was difficult, like squinting in a dark room without a second eye. But he managed and saw the trespassers in deeper detail. Much better then before they had entered.

Both trespassers were male. The stallion on the right had his left hoof wrapped around the other. The stallion on the left was assisting the right stallion to walk. The stallion on the right was very unbalanced. He stumbled frequently and tried hard to keep pace with the stallion on the left.

Now he understood what was happening.

He had fired his sap at someone earlier, the one who had tried to stop him from capturing the filly. The stallion on the left must be the one who received an eyeful of his sap. He can't see and now the stallion on the right was assisting him.

He fired at a second pony earlier and missed, the stallion on the right must be that pony. Although he couldn't definitively see the features of either pony he was sure he knew who the stallion on the right was. He heard him earlier, he told him his name. 

And he knew that if that stallion was coming to him for the filly, than he was in danger.

He released his magic with a gasp, unable to maintain his sights on the two any longer. If only he had the strength to respond, he wanted to tell that stallion who he was. He hadn't a clue how that stallion was involved with the filly and her parents, neither did he care.

That was his business, and no pony ever questions the Doctor's business. Unless they were a fool or had a death wish.

All he knew was that the Doctor was with the filly. He captured the filly and the Doctor followed. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. The Doctor was coming for him to get to the filly. He was the Doctor's enemy now.

And this frightened him severely.

He needed to warn the Doctor, to tell him of the true threat that was held within this cave. But his strength was far too weak to do so. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak through his mist. He could only sit and wait as the Doctor approached ever so closer. Slowly and surely, like a creeping grim reaper.

His magic was already in use to something far more important. To use his magic further would be to release the ones he had imprisoned, and that would be a danger to him. Therefore, magic was no option.

All he could do was wait. Wait and allow the Doctor to enter and see him face to face.

And that is what he decided to do. "Doctor . . . after all these years . . . I get to see you again."



The Doctor and Dean



Several minutes had passed and nothing happened.

Dean held to the Doctor for support as the two walked deeper into the cave.

Once the depth that light could no longer be seen was reached, the Doctor had stopped to grab a torch from his inner vest pocket. He blew a flame to the torch, igniting its tip and lighting the cave for the Doctor to see. Dean was left confused as the answer he received to asking where the torch had come from was "my pocket." 

Confusion aside, Dean was worried on the lack of danger. Surely after walking this long something should have happened. He had certainly expected to be bombarded with a dozen vines five seconds after entering. Yet nothing had happened at all. Everything was silent; the cave was hot and moist, and the space to walk was plentiful. If Dean hadn't known better he would have thought this place to be a hot springs. The caves calm and relaxed environment left Dean feeling not very calm and relaxed at all.

The Doctor's thoughts weren't far off either. The Frostealius knew they had entered, it was impossible for him not to. Even a weak Frostealius's magic would be strong enough to detect someone this close. So, why hasn't he attack yet? They wasted no time in attacking a seven year old filly, why weren't they attacking two grown stallions?

"Perhaps they don't want to attack us? Maybe their waiting for Dean and I? Why would they wait? Sure the cave is spacious but if they had any plan of attack now would be the perfect time to execute it. Most certainly not when we're face to face, that would give Dean and I the upper hand. Or perhaps their plan involves us to be face to face? No, that can't be it, it wouldn't make sense. Now is the perfect time to attack! Waiting for us to arrive would mean that they are intentionally allowing themselves to be put into danger. They know that I'm an Elemental so perhaps their scared of me? . . . Actually, that would make sense. I told the Frostealius my name and now he's allowing us entry- oh! . . . Ohhhhhhhkay!"

The Doctor smirked at this thought. "Okay than, so this Frostealius does know me. Their not attacking and are allowing Dean and I to enter. They really do want to meet face to face. Smart Elemental, hopefully they won't give me any issues when I ask what the heck is going on. But that does strike another question. How does this Frostealius know who I am? Most common answer is that they've heard the stories. And if I'm lucky than that's what the answer will be. If not, and I really have met this Elemental before, than this might not go well at all for any of us. Especially if this Frostealius turns out to be an enemy. Like those other ones back during . . . well . . . those days . . . . . God I hate being old."

"Doctor are you okay-"

"Yes!" the Doctor blurted, startling Dean. Realizing his outburst, the Doctor coughed and regained his composer. "I mean, yes, yes I am. Why do you ask?"

"You were shaking. I thought that you felt something touch you or . . . something."

The Doctor hadn't realize until than that he was in fact shaking. Not because he was afraid, at least, not for the reason Dean thought he was afraid. The Doctor responded with a quick thought, "sorry, I was just thinking of the Frostealius."

"And that's causing you to shake?" Dean asked.

"It was an intense thought."

Skeptical, Dean pressed on, "right . . . Doctor are you sure your okay?"

"I'm fine Dean, nothings touching me. Nothings even here at all. We're safe, or at least, for the most part we are."

"Actually, I was curious about that. Why hasn't anything happened? Wouldn't the Frostealius have wanted to attack us by now?" asked Dean.

"No, he won't attack. He's allowing us to enter his cave."

"But why?"

"Because they want to talk."

"Talk? What for? They weren't so keen on talking earlier", said Dean.

"Yes but that was because they couldn't hear us earlier. Here in the cave on the other hoof they can hear us, but only if you shout."

"Neither of us have shouted though."

"I did earlier, back at the entrance when Millie was first captured. I was angry and threatened the Frostealius, and told them my name. They must've heard and recognized me."

"They know you?" asked Dean.

"Most Elementals do, one way or another. I am quite infamous in the community after all. Whether it be from stories or past experiences, most tend to know who I am as long as I tell them my name."

"Past experiences? You've encountered other Frostealius before?"

"Occasionally, haven't seen one in a few decades though. Most of the Frostealius I did encounter weren't so friendly."

"How unfriendly were they?"

"It varies, some I met where thieves, others where gangs, and some . . . some where murderers-". The Doctor coughed, feeling a sudden flow of magic pass through his gut. Like butterflies fluttering in his lower abdomen. He grunted, knowing what that sign meant. "I'll tell you more about them later if you like. But right now, where about to meet them."

"I beg your pardon?" asked Dean.

"The Frostealius's magic just became more apparent. We're getting closer, I can sense it", the Doctor explained.

"How close are we?"

"Very close, we haven't walked far enough to reach the deepest of the cave so that tells me the Frostealius is waiting for us in the caves first mineral deposit", the Doctor explained.

"Okay but quick question. If you've met Frostealius before that killed, is there a possibility this one might also?" asked Dean.

"Possibly, but let's hope not, for Milly's sake."

"Right, and is there a possibility this Frostealius might already know you? Personally, that is" asked Dean.

"Maybe, if their one of the good ones than we don't have to worry."

"And if their not?" asked Dean.

" . . . Than I'm going to need you to stand back, because things may get very hot!" said the Doctor.



Several Feet Deeper



"Things may get very hot!"

He opened his eyes and peered over his shoulder to the entrance behind him. "He's here" he thought, staring intently to the entrance.

Sure enough, the light from a torch was beginning to appear. Weak at first but grew as the two ponies walked closer and closer.

His time within the cave had left his eyes adjusted to the pitch dark. The weakest of the light was strong to his eyes. The closer the light came, the further he squinted his eyes. Until it became too much for him, and he shielded his eyes with his hooves and clenched his eyes shut. He turned his head back to the opposite entrance, not wanting to face the light.

He heard the ponies speak. The use of mist was no longer needed as the two came into hearing range.

"There's the entrance to the deposit. Its only a few steps further", said the elderly pony.

"That voice! It truly is him!" he thought excitedly.

The two ponies approached and entered slowly. The elder pony held the torch high, giving light to most of the deposit. He looked about as he helped Dean enter.

The deposit was like the inside of a stone sphere, very large and round. If this deposit was once rich with minerals it most certainly wasn't anymore. The walls, ceiling, and floor and been cleaned of any mineral it had once contained. 

Cobwebs covered most of the surrounding surfaces, and dust and dirt filled air, making it hard to breath. Large stalagmites pierced from the ground and ceiling; more so on the ceiling as it appeared some had been destroyed on the ground.

The entirety of the deposit had vines covering the ground. Not an inch could be seen through the thick, slimy, snake like nature ropes. The vines almost appeared to be alive to the Doctor's torch light. All moving, wrapping in a swirl on the ground. Leading to the center of the deposit, which held a single wooden chair with a pony sitting upon it, draped from his waist to the ground in vines.

The Doctor could almost see a second entrance on the opposite end of the deposit. But the Doctor paid no attention to it, nor to the vines slithering at his hooves. His sights were on the pony facing away from them.

Dean took a step forward, stepping on a sloppy wet vine and making it "squish" loudly. He gasped, "what!? What is!?-"

"Easy Dean! Easy! Its just a vine, relax, it wont hurt you", said the Doctor.

The Doctor help Dean step over the vines slowly. Together, they inched their way towards the pony sitting in the center. He could hear the pony's breathing as they approached. It was heavy, yet slow.

The Doctor knew the pony was exhausted. Even so, if this Frostealius wanted to he could easily have he and Dean killed. With a deposit this large filled with this many vines, it would all be too easy to trap the two under and suffocate them with vines. He could use his phoenix magic if this were the case. But that would leave Dean engulfed under enflamed vines. No, he would take a passive approach. If the Doctor could avoid further harm to Dean than that would be good. If he could find Millie and her parents unharmed than that would be better.

Only the top of the Frostealius's head could be seen over the back of the chair. It was like looking into a spider's web, his silver, greasy, messy hair shinning hazily in the Doctor's blue torch light.

The Doctor was first to speak. He cleared his throat and stood tall, "so you must be the one behind all this?"

The pony's breathing continued.

With no response the Doctor spoke further, "I was able to sense your magic from the moment I entered into your mist. You're a Frostealius aren't you? Tell me, what is a Water Elemental doing all the way out here in Equestria?"

The heavy breathing intensified as the pony struggled to speak. Having not spoken in what felt like years, he forced the word out. "D-Doctor?"

"So you do know me? Tell me, what horrific stories of me have the Elementals spewed at you? Or . . . have we met?"

The pony exhaled, "you know me . . . Doctor . . . we . . . are friends."

"Is that so? Well, it seems you and I have some catching up to do than "friend"! Tell me, how has foalnapping a family gone? Did you feel any shame as an eight year old filly screamed while being dragged into a cave? Or what about the parents? Are they here too? Are they even alive? Or did you have yourself a good time slaughtering each one!? You certainly have the power to do it if you wanted to. Even if you are as weak as you are now", the Doctor spat angrily.

"You think . . . I would harm them? . . . You think . . . I'm a . . . monster?" the Frostealius asked. There was a slight shift in his tone only the Doctor noticed.

He was taken off guard by the Frostealius being concerned, but quickly dismissed it. "I've seen creatures of all sorts do terrible things. Ponies, Manticores, Gryphons, Frostealius, and of course, Phoenix Ponies. After ninety four years it can be difficult to see the differences between the monsters and the others. So you tell me, are you a monster or not?"

" . . . No."

"No? Even after what you've done?"

"I had my reasons! I believe-". The Frostealius paused to inhale painfully. "My actions were justified! I . . . am not the . . . one at fault here! You . . . do not see . . . the entire . . . truth!"

"Than tell me the truth. Tell me what's actually happening here. And you can start by turning around and talking to me. Face, to, face."

There was a pause. The Frostealius's breathing being the only prevention to silence.

Slowly, the Frostealius's leg could be seen lifting. As his leg rose to the air, the vines around him began to move. Quickly at first before slowing to a gentle slither. They took hold of their master's chair, turning him around and facing Dean for the first time. And the Doctor once again.

Dean felt the Doctor tense. If he wasn't blind he would have seen the Doctor's eyes widen in shock. "Doctor? Is everything alright?"

Recognizing the Frostealius, the Doctor felt his heart race suddenly; a mixture of anxiety and fear driving into him. Licking his lips, the Doctor blurted, "you!?!"

"What? Do you know him?" asked Dean, facing his head to the Doctor's direction.

"What . . . what the hell are you doing here!?!" the Doctor asked, his voice shaking.

The Frostealius gazed softly to the Doctor. He smiled apologetically while hanging his head low, too weak to keep it up.

In the light, the Frostealius could be seen clearly now. He had pale gray fur, shoulder length silver hair, empty baby blue eyes, devoid of sclera and pupils, and was badly malnourished.

The Doctor could count each individual rib on the Frostealius's torso. It sickened the him, more than that, it struck the Doctor's very heart with sorrow. He wanted to rush forth and hold the pony before him, mending whatever wounds he had. He was horrified, more so because of who this pony was. Because of who this Frostealius was.

He felt his eyes water as he stuttered to the weak pony, "S- Silver Drop? Is that you?"

Silver Drop's smile waned as he spoke to a near inaudible volume. "You recognized me . . . even when I am this weak."

Slowly, the Doctor released Dean and stepped closer to Silver.

"Uh, Doctor. What's happening?" asked Dean.

The Doctor ignored Dean as he placed a hoof gently to Silver's cheek. " . . . H-How?"

Silver raised a weak hoof to the Doctor's extended leg and gripped it. "I . . . am sorry . . . that you had . . . to see me this way."

Licking his lips, the Doctor continued. "How did this happen? How . . . did this happen!?"

"Doctor who is he!? What is going on!?!" Dean asked, his confusion becoming unbearable.

"He's my friend Dean. He's . . . a very close friend of mine. We've known each other for about eighty three years now."

Silver mustard a chuckle, "you were always good at . . . memorizing stuff and . . . time . . . I would have never remembered-."

"Silver!" the Doctor interrupted. 

Silver went silent and frowned.

The Doctor continued, nearly shaking to maintain his composure. "Tell me right now Silver. What, is, happening! Why are you in Equestria! Why have you taken Millie and her parents! And why . . . why are you, like . . . this!?!"

If Silver had the strength he would have looked away, not wanting to speak eye to eye . The best he could do was shift his eyes and avoid the Doctor's concerned and stern expression. 

"I . . . wanted to contact you . . . I needed to contact you . . . I tried . . . but I couldn't. Ran out of time . . . they were after me . . . back in the Crystal Empire."

"Crystal Empire? What were you doing there? I read your letter just four months ago, you said you were helping the refugees in Ice Land."

"And I did help . . . only . . . only it wasn't enough. The war has grown worse since the last time we spoke. I had saved as many as I could . . . it . . . was too much. Hundreds . . . are dead."

"But what about the princess? Hasn't she made any progress?" the Doctor asked.

Silver shook his head, "no, she hasn't. We are at a standstill, and I tried to tell you, to send you a letter . . . but I couldn't. Ice Land is under attack by a new faction. 

"Wait, what!?!"

"I'm not following, what war are we talking about?" asked Dean, listening to the two and keeping up as best as he could.

The Doctor looked to Dean, "the civil war in the Ice Lands. I told you about it back in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Between Princess Pond's army: the Rivers, and General Cool Mist's rebellion: the Cloud's. I've never taken part of their war personally, but I've always supported Princess Pond.

"And you say Ice Land is under attack by a third faction? Who?" the Doctor asked Silver.

Silver shook his head, "I don't know who they are, but they call themselves "Seekers."

"Seekers?" 

Silver nodded, "they appeared without warning . . . and attack both armies. Asserting themselves . . . as a new army. Without giving any reasoning to their attack. We don't know their motives, their goals, or their leader."

The Doctor placed a hoof to his mouth, thinking for a moment before sighing. "Alright Silver, I want to know the status and position of all three factions and the overall status of your country. I'm also going to want to send a letter to Pond, and I want her to write back. But only after we deal with this situation first."

"I will try . . . but we are not the reason . . . that you haven't seen us in twenty years. She will be unhappy to receive . . . only a letter."

The Doctor ignored his statement with the wave of a hoof. "Whatever, now, how about you let the filly go and explain to me why you foalnapped them."

Silver's eyes widened, "I cannot! I am . . . sorry Doctor . . . but I-."

The Doctor chuckled, cutting Silver off. "Oh! My apologies! It seems you misunderstood me. That wasn't a request, that was a demand."

The Doctor took a step close to Silver, until their noses were inches apart. The Doctor's glare shot daggers into Silver's eyes as he said, "you are going to release Millie. And you are going to tell me why you captured her. Or so help me, you are going to have a very bad time! Do I make myself clear?"

Silver gulped and nodded before closing his eyes and focusing his magic.

A scream could be heard echoing from the opposite entrance of the deposit. The scream grew louder as a single vine slithered closer, dragging something along with it.

Within the vines grasp was Millie, kicking and screaming in an attempt to escape. Her screaming ceased as she realized where the vine was taking her. She looked to Silver with fearful eye's, before gasping upon seeing the Doctor and Dean. "Doctor! Dean!" she cried.

"Remain calm Millie! Your not in danger anymore!" said the Doctor.

Silver released his magic and the vines strong grip was gone. 

After feeling the vine go limp, Millie immediately jumped to her hooves and galloped to the Doctor's side.

The filly practically shoved the Doctor off his hooves as she leapt to him with all her weight, burying her face into his chest and weeping.

The Doctor hugged Millie, stroking her mane as he said, "there there Millie, everything's alright. Your safe now, the big mean pony won't hurt you anymore."

"Hurtful", said Silver, frowning.

"Well you are. You just foalnapped an innocent child!"

Silver cocked a brow at that, "innocent? Really? She and her parents hunt me down . . . for months! And she's the innocent one!?!"

In response, the Doctor cocked his own brow. "Her parents? Their the ones who have been after you?"

"Yes, she and her parents . . . have been after me . . . ever since Ice Land. Though . . . it may seem hard to believe, she being . . . a child after all. But it is the truth Doctor! I . . . would never do . . . something such as this . . . for no reason! . . . You know me Doctor! . . . You know I wouldn't dare!-"

"HEY! PSST!" the Doctor hissed, pointing to Silver and silencing him. Sighing, he said, "Calm, down! I've known you longer than anyone else. And the Silver I know would never do something such as this without reason. So, your going to tell me what happened from the moment Millie's parents began chasing you to now. Than I'm going to ask Millie for her say in things. Because I do believe you Silver. Disappointed that you'd go as far as to harm a filly, but nonetheless, I believe you had your reason. And Milly-."

The Doctor looked down to the shaking filly. Her head still buried into his chest. "I know your scared but I promise that you are are no longer in any danger. Now I'm going to ask this pony some questions. Then, I am going to ask you some questions. And if you want me to help you, then I need you to answer my questions as best and as truthfully as you can. Can you do that?" Although Millie didn't respond, a small nod from the filly told the Doctor she was listening and agreed to him. "Alright, now then. Silver, start from the beginning."

Silver nodded. "I was at an outpost called "Poison Tear" at the Shwallow River. I was helping a large group of civilians escape on ships when I noticed a couple of hooded ponies in the crowd. I thought they were refugees trying to get on the ship so I paid no attention to them. But after a few minutes, I realized they were still there. They were still standing there, not moving with the crowd to board the ships. And I notice that they seemed to be staring at me. I ignored them for a few minutes before looking back, but they were gone once I did.

"I saw them again the next day. I was on break after checking the supplies we would be sending with the refugees. I found a house that . . . used to be owned, and ate my lunch in there. I was . . . upset that day, as most Frostealius are nowadays. But that day in particular, I just didn't want to be around anyone. So I sat alone in the living room of some strangers house to eat my lunch. And I saw them while I was eating my food."

"They came into the house?" the Doctor asked.

Silver shook his head, "whoever owned the house before evacuations had a mirror in their living room, across from me. I was sitting in a chair and there was a window next to me without drapes. Seemed like they had been ripped off at one point, I don't know. But I was eating when I saw them, in the reflection of the mirror. They were standing behind the window, talking and pointing to me a few times. But only for a minute before they left. I pretended not to see them and, luckily, it worked. They didn't notice that I had spotted them.

"I alerted the River Guards quickly and they said they would find them, but that didn't make me feel any better. I went the next few days without sleeping, not knowing if they were spies for the other factions, or something worse.

"The next few days passed before I saw them again. There were no reported attacks over those few days and the war had gone quiet all of a sudden, which made everypony nervous, including myself. The silence and the spies made me paranoid, and I was starting to suspect a lot of the ponies there were secretly going to stab me in the back. But it didn't matter, I found out later it wasn't them.

"On the fourth day I was sleeping when they broke into my room. They attacked me but, heh, thank Celestia for my time in the army. Not to mention those adventures we had when we were young. I sensed them in my sleep and jumped into a counter attack. I always sleep with a dagger and tackled one of them, got a good cut on her before I threw her into the wall.

"Her? You knew she was a mare under the hood?" the Doctor asked.

"No, but one does tend to squeal when their in pain. Anyway, the stallion tried to stab my back after I threw his wife into the wall. But I caught his hoof before he could. After yanking it out of his hoof, I kicked him in the abdomen and found that he had tried to stab me with a syringe. Then and there I knew what their plan was: they were trying to foalnap me.

"I was going to subdue them after discovering that before . . . well, I'm not sure exactly what happened next. Before I attacked I felt this . . . this . . . unbearable illness flood over me. I was nauseous, the room was spinning, my head was pounding, and there was this buzzing in my head that just hurt so much! And then . . . I blacked out.

"When I came to, I was in a prison carriage. I tried using my magic to escape but the metal was too thick, and the air inside was too stale to use my water magic. I banged and kicked the walls for awhile, obviously that didn't work. With no tools, no weapon, and no plan, I was stuck. No choice but to wait there and hope for the best. Luckily it didn't take long for me to escape, but it was sheer luck and very painful.

"I remember sitting against the side of the carriage when everything started to shake. I'm not sure what happened from the outside but the next thing I knew the entire carriage was flipped sideways. We were on a mountain path when it flipped, so the carriage fell down the side with me in it."

The Doctor piped in, flabbergasted, "what!?! Are you alright!?!"

"I'm fine, the carriage rolled down the side of the mountain until it crashed at the bottom. The door broke off along the way so I tumbled out. A few bumps, possibly a concussion, but for the most part I was fine.

"Now I'm not sure what had happened. And for a second I thought it was intentional, pushing me over the side of the mountain. But after leaving the carriage I saw the two running down after me, so I knew that wasn't the case. Whatever had happened, they still wanted me, so I ran through this forest that was at the bottom of the mountain. Ice Land doesn't have forests, so I knew I wasn't in my home country anymore. And after about an hour, I found out just how far I was."

"Where did they take you?" the Doctor asked.

Silver took a deep breath, relaxing his gut from a sudden jolt of pain before responding. "The Crystal Empire."

"The Crystal Empire!? That's across the world from the Ice Lands! You must have been out for a long time. But, why would they take you there?"

"They hadn't intended to take me there. I believe we were passing alongside the country, using the mountain paths along the border to hasten our travels. We were traveling on the mountains closest to the Crystal Empire when I escaped and didn't realize it until after I left the forest. Once I was in the Crystal Empire I went straight to the princess and asked her for help.

"Wait, you went to Princess Amor for help? The Queen of the Crystal Empire's daughter- you went to her for help? Not a guard?" asked Dean.

"The princess and I are friends, of course I went to her. The Doctor is as well, as I assume he's already told you."

"What!?!" Dean practically shouted. "Your friends with Princess Amor, Doctor!?"

The Doctor frowned as he responded, surprising Silver with his dismissive tone. Almost as if he brought up a topic the Doctor disliked. "Uh . . . yeah, we are."

Confused by his tone, Silver pressed on in curiosity, "you have told Dean about your friends, have you? Doctor?"

"We've only known each other for a little over two weeks."

"Really? That long and he doesn't know about me? Nor does he know about Amor and River? What about the others? Drake, Iron Heart, Twingle, Blitz". Silver leaned forward slightly, "and what about the princesses of your favorite country? Hmm? Does he know your relationship with them?"

"That was never brought up in a conversation-"

"Oh, but I bet you've told him about the four Elementals already, haven't you?" The Doctor didn't respond, confirming Silver's accusation. He grew angry, and his low energy didn't allow him to yell. So Silver growled instead, "I know you more than anyone Doctor. You can't pretend the last eighty years didn't happen-"

"Silver continue your story", the Doctor interrupted.

"We all care for you Doctor, you know that. And we all grieved when she passed away."

There was a tension in the air as the two went silent. Dean tried his best, but he lost his track midway through the conversation. He hadn't the faintest clue what the two were talking about. What he did understand, or he thought he understood, was that the two were in an argument.

The Doctor took a deep breath before whispering calmly to Millie, "do you mind sitting with Dean, please?"

Millie, her focus in and out of an adults conversation, nodded and walked to Dean. As she sat, leaning back against Dean's belly, the Doctor came close to Silver and whispered in his ear, quiet enough so the other two couldn't hear. "You have kidnapped a little girl and her parents. Now you are going to finish your story and tell me everything or by god you will not like what happens next."

The Doctor's statement made Silver's heart skip a beat. But he responded calmly enough to hide it, "what I've done is self defense. You left everyone that cared for you-"

"They have their lives and I have mine! The story, finish it!" the Doctor growled.

"Twenty years, Doctor. What exactly have you been doing for twenty years. You were sent hundreds of letters and yet not one response. Twenty years and where were you?"

The Doctor didn't respond. He returned and sat in his spot before repeating to Silver, "finish your story."

A brief silence passed before Silver complied. "Alright, but you and I are not finished with this."

"Sorry, but what was that about?" asked Dean.

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure the Doctor will tell you in due time. Or, probably not", Silver added, looking to the Doctor, who had his fore legs crossed and glared back furiously.

Silver took a deep breath and continued, "Princess Amor gave me what I needed to return to the Ice Lands: food, water, money. She even offered me to stay in the castle for awhile, so that I could rest after my first escape. But I denied her offer. I knew the two ponies had followed me to the Crystal Empire, and I was afraid they would cause trouble to the Crystal Ponies if I stayed around. Not wanting anyone there to be in danger, I left the next day and headed south. Of course, Equestrias in a bad spot right now, so I traveled along the boarders east to avoid the chaos magic in Central Equestria. Once I hit the Red Mountains in the Unclaimed Territory, I was going to take a ship further south from there, until I reach Zebra country and continue moving south from there. And after three days I was confident that I had lost them. I hadn't ran into trouble, I had more than enough supplies to keep me going, and Equestria may not be my homeland, but this country sure is beautiful. I felt content, and almost enjoyed being here again.

"But on the third day, however, they returned.

"I don't know how they found me. But when they did I was walking along this very swamp. The outskirts, I had no intention of passing through this place. I remember it was midday when I heard that buzzing again. Followed by the nausea, dizziness, I was suddenly weak, it felt the same like it did back in the Ice Lands. And the next thing I knew it, those two ponies bounced from behind a bush and attacked me while I was weak. And I don't know how they managed to weaken me like this, both back in Ice Land and here in Equestria. And that made me afraid.

"However, being in this swamp, there were plenty of ways I could use my Elemental magic to defend myself. Whatever strength I had I used it to summon vines from the swamp, using those to fight. And we did, for a little while. But that sickness they made me feel was too much. It made me too weak to fight and I lost quickly. Luckily, I managed to escape before they could capture me again.

"After all that they still want to capture you?" the Doctor asked.

"It seemed that way. The way they talked to each other, it didn't seem like they had any intention on finishing me off. Either way, I wasn't going to let them take me that easily.

"I ran, leaving all of my supplies behind, and managed to give them the slip. I was in no condition to escape the swamp. Not after the beating and that sickness. So I searched for a place to hide and, about a day later, I found this old mining deposit. I decided to stay here, hoping that they would assume I left the swamp and leave to search somewhere else. That way I could get out of here and, hopefully, find my supplies and make it south. That . . . that was a month ago."

"A month!?!" the Doctor and Dean said in unison.

"You've been stuck in this cave for a month!?!" the Doctor asked.

Silver nodded.

"But surely you could have done something after hiding here for a day. Two at the most! Your strength would have returned to you! You could have escaped-"

"Only it never did! My strength", Silver spat, followed by a wheezing cough. "I never felt better, even after resting. Every day I felt sick. The cave was always spinning, my magic was weak, even in the beginning, and going outside only made it worse. So, I was trapped here."

"But you found a way to use your magic", the Doctor said, looking to the vines that draped Silver.

"Yes, of course. Direct contact with interlocking vines, allowing my magicka to flow through the vines instead of receiving it by mental transmission. But, you figured that out already, didn't you?"

The Doctor didn't respond, but Silver knew he was right. "I knew I would grow weaker the longer I stayed here. Frostealius need twice the amount of water common ponies do. And without my supplies, it was only a matter of days  before I couldn't so much as walk anymore. By then, however, I managed to collect enough vines to reach more of the swamp!

"Over the next month I fought those two from this cave. With each passing day those two came closer and closer to my cave. They searched this swamp, destroying all the vines they saw and running from the ones I used with my magic. But at the same time I was able to collect more vines, and further extend my magic to sense them. My magic was too weak to sense them clearly, but that didn't matter. Because the more vines I collected also gave me more land to attack from, granting me more opportune ways of defeating them once and for all. So that I can finally leave this place.

"And I found that opportunity yesterday. It was early morning, before the sun rose. I woke up sick, if not because of those ponies than because I hadn't eaten food or drank water in thirty days. I couldn't fall back to sleep, so I mustered up my magic to sense them. And finally, after this month, I had a stroke of luck."

"What happened?" the Doctor asked.

"I found the ponies prison carriage. After figuring out the form of magic I used, they must've kept it secret in a location I hadn't reached. Because that was the first time, after falling off the mountain, that I had seen it. And I know it was the same one, because it was still damaged from the fall.

"I saw the carriage but I didn't see them. At that hour I assumed they were sleeping, and I was right. I wanted to capture them, to figure out why they had tried to capture me. So I used my vines to push the carriage to my cave. I could only control so many vines at a time outside the deposit; bringing them here, I could use all my vines at once to capture them."

"If you were going to capture them here anyway, why not let them find you first? Instead of the other way around? They could have walked in here and you would have attacked, it would have been all the same", said the Doctor.

"Its because of that ill feeling. Each time they attack me I was struck ill and immobilized. I was afraid it would be the same if I allowed them to find me first. Therefor, I had to capture them while they were off their guard or if they were weak. That way I could avoid being struck ill and perhaps even figure out how they were making me sick", Silver explained. "And I almost succeeded without issue. Until I reached the cave.

"I was carful not to wake them, rolling the carriage to my cave while rocking it as little as possible. I had managed to roll the carriage just outside the cave before they awoke. I don't know if I had hit a bump, pushed it too hard, or those two just woke up on their own. Either way, they woke up and escaped from the carriage. And ran to this shack that's outside the cave-"

"The same shack you attacked us in", the Doctor interjected, sounding more as a statement than a question.

"Y- Yes, that's the one. They locked themselves inside and barricaded the only window the shack had, so I couldn't reach them as easily. So I used my vines to attack from the outside, weakening the walls to force my way in. Or, at least, frighten them enough so they would leave."

"Only window?" Dean asked. He turned his head to the Doctor, "does that mean?"

The Doctor replied to Dean, "yeah. He really didn't know about the other one, because of his weak vision."

"I'm sorry, other what?" Silver asked.

"It doesn't matter, keep going", said the Doctor.

Silver didn't bother to ask and continued. "I did manage to grab one of them, the stallion. But the mare escaped from the shack and ran into the swamp. But before she did, I managed to hit her with my "special vine."

"By "special vine" your referring to the ones that squirt poisoned tree sap!" the Doctor said loudly.

Silver shied slightly at the Doctor's tone, "I understand that you'd be upset by this. But you know the blindness is only temporary?"

"Yes I know its temporary. But temporary or not does not shake the fact that you used this stuff to harm my friend!"

"I didn't know who he was! I thought the both of you were helping the ponies after me! I didn't know whether they had called back up or not! I didn't know anything!" said Silver, a pleading tone hinted in his voice.

"I don't care what you thought or didn't think! What I want to know is what possessed you to think that it was alright to use this sap against a little filly and her parents!" said the Doctor, his anger growing.

"But that's just it Doctor! I didn't know who the filly was either!"

"You didn't know whether she was their daughter or not so you attack her?" 

"No! You misunderstand me! You see, I hadn't seen the filly once the entire time the ponies had chased me! The first time I had seen this filly was in this swamp, just yesterday in fact. After I blinded the mare I chased her for awhile before she fell. After I captured her and dragged her to the cave I felt my magic detect something. A third pony, one I had never seen before. And it was her."

"Yesterday? But that's when we arrived", said Dean.

"That's right. So, you mean to tell us that after an entire month in this swamp you only just discovered this filly yesterday?"

"You sound skeptical", said Silver.

"Because I am", the Doctor responded simply.

"Doctor, you know how limited my vision is. Everything appears blurred to me through the mist. The entire month the ponies searched for me I only saw two blurred figures. Only two, the entire time!"

"So what made yesterday different?" the Doctor asked.

"I don't know! I sensed her hiding in a bush after capturing the mare. And based off her size I knew she was a filly. But I-"

The Doctor piped in, glaring fire at Silver. "Wait a minute. You knew she was a filly and you attacked her anyway!?!"

Silver couldn't help but shake under the Doctor's glare. "I needed to know who she was!"

"There are a million and one ways you could have approached this Silver and you know it!"

"I was desperate! Look at me! I am dying, Doctor! Phoenix Ponies such as yourself may be able to last over two weeks without water but Frostealius start to die after two days! I've barely survived off the moisture from the swamp but it isn't enough! If I don't leave and find water than I will die! Don't you see? I, am, desperate! What more can I say!?" 

A tense silence followed before the Doctor sighed. "I understand that Silver, and it scares me to think what would have happened if we hadn't arrived in this swamp yesterday. It scares me to think of what could have happened to you and this filly's family. But you and I have seen what happens to ponies driven to madness-"

"You think I've gone mad!?" Silver spat.

"Gone mad from starvation and dehydration? Yes! Absolutely! Silver, you can't say you haven't been driven even a little bit mad after the things you've done to this family-"

"Why do you keep defending them Doctor!?! I am supposed to be your closest friend! I've known you since before you even knew how to fly that M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T of yours! We're supposed to be partners! But now you come here, not so much as sending a letter for twenty years, treating me like I'm just another villain!? Are we not friends anymore!?"

Taken aback, the Doctor said, "of course we still are-"

"Than why are you defending them!?-"

"Because your not acting like the Silver Drop I remember!" the Doctor yelled.

Silver stopped at that comment, panting heavily. He stared the Doctor down with bitter confusion.

The Doctor looked to Dean, catching a glimpse of Millie as he did so. She looked frightened by the sudden aggression that rose between the Doctor and Silver. Her eyes were wide and she held her good leg up to her chin defensively. And Dean, he was just as equally startled as Millie, although not as frightened. He couldn't open his eyes, but his mouth was agape, as he faced the general area between the Doctor and Silver.

Licking his lips, the Doctor looked to Silver and said softly, "do you remember when we were sixteen? That time Princess Pond wanted to escape her duties and join us on an adventure?"

Silver merely nodded in response.

The Doctor thought for a moment then continued. "The three of us left the others at that inn so that we could have our own adventure together. Of course, I was in a heap of trouble when I returned."

"I thought you told them where we were going?" asked Silver.

"I lied, I told them we were going shopping. They would have never allowed us to leave if they knew where we were going. That and I didn't think we were going to be gone that long, let alone for a full day. Serendipity had my flank on a spike after she found out what we actually did."

The two shared a chuckle before the Doctor continued. "We arrived at that town, Teal Springs I think it was called. We thought that all those stories of ponies gone missing was just your typical town myth. And after seeing the place full of ponies, we thought we were right. But we were wrong, weren't we Silver?"

Silver chuckled, "about as wrong as you could get."

The Doctor laughed, before frowning suddenly as he turned to Dean. "Dean, cover Millie's ears for me."

"Uh, sure?" Dean patted Millie's head, searching for her ears before covering them and muting all sound around her.

"Hey!" Millie whined.

"Sorry Millie", Dean said in a half apology. He didn't know what else to say, as even he didn't know why he had to keep Millie from hearing the conversation.

When Millie's ears were covered, the Doctor continued. "After we escaped that hoard of brainwashed townsfolk I remember we were in a . . . basement, I believe. It was you, me, Pond, that mare, Tea Green, I think, and, Olive. And we were figuring out a plan to escape when she found that knife. And you remember what happened next?"

Silver remembered clearly, images of the event playing in his mind as the Doctor recapped their adventure. It took a moment for Silver to respond. This particular event in their adventure happened over half a century ago. But it was still horrific, and being there in person made it worse. It was clear, that memory flashing before his eyes. He had to take a deep breath before he answered, "she tried to commit suicide."

Now Dean understood why he had to cover Millie's ears. He did a double take, repeating Silver's sentence in his head to make sure he heard that correctly. He then faced towards the Doctor's direction, eager and curious to hear what happened next.

The Doctor nodded, "that's right. She had been trapped there for, well, about as long as you've been trapped here in fact. One month she spent there, tortured and brainwashed. Forced to watch as her neighbors succumbed to the madness of that town, while she somehow managed to hold out longer than everyone else.

And it was you who stepped in first. Just before I could you stepped forward and talked her out of it. And I remember something that you said to her. When she said she had always been alone, even before the town fell, and that she was crazy. What were your exact words? Something along the lines of, "its okay to be scared and its okay to be crazy. You could be completely bonkers and there's nothing wrong with that. Because even a crazy pony-"

"Can still find friends, and can still have love. Yeah . . . I remember", said Silver, frowning as he looked to the ground.

The Doctor continued, "that mare was in the same position you are in now and was driven mad because of it. You may not have been under an artifacts influence-"

Dean did a second double take.

"But starving for a month is torture in itself. And from what she told us, she had harmed others just like you are now. She hurt those ponies as you are to those two plus Millie. Now the others I understand as self defense but Millie? She's a little filly, you honestly think she's in league with the ones trying to capture you? You really believe she herself has the capability of harming you?"

Silver raised his head slightly at this.

"She had that knife and, it still scares me thinking about it. She was honestly going to do it. But you talked to her and you taught her that no matter what happens, no matter how scared or desperate you become, you mustn't lose yourself to the madness. You taught her that and you saved her life. That is the Silver that I love and remember."

A moments silence followed as Silver took these words in. The thought of that day and the impact he had on the mare  made him smile, only for a second. Before he frowned as he looked to his hooves, feeling scared as he realized just how bony and horrific he must have appeared. Silver gulped, "its different . . . when your the one who's actually dying."

The Doctor looked into Silver's eyes with sincerity. Without a thought, without hesitation, without a single breath nor moment, the Doctor responded. "No, it isn't, it really isn't. Because you and I both know that if there is one pony on this planet that can confirm that well . . . your already talking to him aren't you?"

Silver couldn't respond. He tried searching for the right words and failed. He couldn't so much as look the Doctor in the eyes.

The Doctor pressed on, "you are the last pony I would ever expect to act this way. I know I seem defensive over the ones trying to capture you, and I will deal with them in a moment. But I am honestly afraid of what this month has done to you, and the choices you've made because of it". The Doctor paused to allow Silver to speak. When he remained silent the Doctor continued, "you are one of the greatest ponies that I know, Silver. This country alone has already lost a lot of good ponies because of Discord. I just don't want to lose you too."

"And you won't-"

"Than prove that to me, please", said the Doctor, a sense of plea in his tone.

Silver was at a complete loss of words. The memories of that moment hit him suddenly, like a tidal wave. Slowly rising to surface before rushing him all at once. The tears that mare wept, the single light that lit the room above her; as she held that rusted knife to her neck, pressing into her own skin. The thought process Silver went through as he thought of each and every word carefully, trying desperately to convince that mare not to do what she was going to do. The growing determination he felt as he realized his words were working, as the mare began hesitating more and more. The feeling of suspense as he concluded his tiny speech, not knowing what decision she would make.

Then, that feeling, that beautiful feeling of shock and relief, mixed in a wonderfully scary brew. As the sound of the knife still echoed loudly through the room, clanging against the hard cement floor. The rapid hoof claps that followed, then struggling to keep his balance as he felt the mare press her full weight onto him. 

She was cold, thin, and smelled. But that wasn't what Silver was thinking at the time. As he felt the mares tears running down his shoulder, her legs wrapped tightly around his torso as he held onto her. Giving her a sense of security she hadn't felt in forever. That thought he had, that beautiful thought. "I did it, I saved her, she's going to be okay, she's going to live now."

Silver felt time stop as this memory passed. He looked to the Doctor, then to Dean, then to Millie. All three had been affected by him, harmed by his hooves. The adventure's he had, the stories he had been part of. Together, the Doctor and Silver, all those times they spent. Now, it truly was different, and Silver realized this. This adventure wasn't his, and he was the bad guy to this story. He was the villain, he is the villain.

Silver could already feel tears drop as the reality settled. Silver looked to Millie and noticed her cast. Her cast to her broken leg; the leg that he harmed. That's when Silver broke down, as he dropped his head and began weeping.


Deeper Within the Cave


He opened his eyes, confused. He felt lighter and could move. He looked to his legs and saw that the vines had loosened their grip. Without a moments hesitation, he jumped forth, bucking any extra vines off of him. He spotted a stalagmite close by and ran to it. Seeing as it was the only place in this cave not covered in vines, it must be safe, if not safer, to stay put there.

It was quick and easy, the stallion realized, as he sat upon the base of the stalagmite with his legs wrapped around the stone. He panted as he looked to the vine covered ground, utterly bewildered at this sudden miracle.

Taking a chance, the stallion poked a hoof at the vine and flinched, bracing for impact. He slowly relaxed when nothing happened. Feeling brave, he poked at the vine hard. When nothing happened, he bucked the vine before standing on top of it. 

Smiling, he muttered, "well what do you know, guess the poor guy couldn't make it after all". "Still, dead or not I need to be prepared", the stallion thought. He turned to search for an exit before freezing in place.

"JOHN!!!" a voice echoed.

John snapped into the direction the voice came from, "Pecan!?!" 

"JOHN!!!" the voice shouted again.

"Hang on Pecan! I'm coming!" John shouted, galloping over the vines and into a hallway like, cave entrance.



The Doctor and Others



"I'm sorry! I'm s-sorry!" Silver wept, his voice muffled as the Doctor held him close.

"Its alright Silver, Its alright. We'll fix this together", the Doctor said softly.

More so in fact, it was softer than soft. Like the eldest child comforting a baby brother. 

Dean sat with complete comfort, no longer feeling even the slightest lick of danger. With the Doctor's voice mixed with the sobbing Frostealius, Dean felt that the danger was over and the Doctor had succeeded. Even the pain in his eyes didn't bother him. He just sat, smiling, soaking in the Doctor's wonderful, slightly gravely, voice. 

Milly sat besides Dean, unsure of how to feel. First this pony was a monster trying to harm her and her parents. Now, he was crying, sobbing in the Doctor's legs. Though she wasn't scared, she was quite confused.

As for the Doctor, well, it didn't matter how he felt. To him, the most important thing on this planet at the moment was the pony sobbing in his legs. Second to that was the filly besides them. Then the parents, then solving this whole mystery together, then the magic scanner, then back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, then to tend to Dean, all in that order.

"Milly, I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be as honest as you can, can you do that?" the Doctor asked, stroking Silver's mane.

"Mmmhmm", Milly responded, nodding her head.

"Good, now, this entire story that Silver's told us, this story involving two ponies trying to capture him. You told me yesterday that your parents were looking for somepony, is this the pony your parents are looking for?"

"Um", Milly thought for a moment. "Maybe, Mommy and Daddy didn't say a whole lot. They said that this pony would help them with their job. And if we found him than I could go to school."

"There job? That doesn't sound good. But did they describe to you what the pony looked like at all?" the Doctor asked.

Milly shook her head, responding "no."

"Alright, than tell me this. Did you and your parents travel to Equestria from another country? Do you remember traveling a lot?"

Milly nodded, "we went to a lot of places!"

"Did any of those places happen to be the Crystal Empire?"

Another nod from Milly, "I got to see a big castle! And Crystal Ponies!"

The Doctor smiled, "sounds like you had fun. But I need to know, the entire time you and your parents traveled, where were you while your parents had Silver?"

Milly cocked her head sideways, "what do you mean?"

"Let me rephrase that. When you were in Ice Land, the other country, where were you while your parents were gone?"

Now understanding the question,  Milly replied, "I stayed in a place that mommy rented."

"Rented? I didn't realized Ice Land had rentable homes", said the Doctor.

"It doesn't", said Silver, his voice still muffled.

The Doctor thought for a moment, "so, Milly's parents are definitely the same ponies that captured Silver in Ice Land. But rented? What does she mean her mother "rented" a place? Did they steal someone's home? Or did they find somewhere abandoned? That's most likely the case, with the war and all finding an abandon home is actually common. Still, I don't know what lengths her parents are willing to go to to get Silver". "Right, okay. Anyway Milly, where were you when you were in the Crystal Empire?" the Doctor asked.

"Me and my Mommy and Daddy stayed in a hotel!" said Milly, clearly happy with her time spent in the Crystal Empire.

"I see, and did you spend any time traveling in a carriage? More specifically, one that's big and made of metal? And doesn't have windows?" the Doctor asked.

Milly placed a hoof to her chin, trying to recall that memory. She responded, "I can't remember. We went to a lot of places in that carriage."

"Did you travel everywhere in that carriage? The same one?"

Milly nodded, "mmhmm!"

"I see, so that carriage does belong to your parents. But I guess it does make sense. There was no water, or even the slightest precipitation with Silver being trapped in there. He would have never been able to detect who was around him. And with him being distracted during his escape he most likely wouldn't have noticed", the Doctor thought aloud.

"Doctor? What are you-" Dean was about to ask.

"Hang on a moment Dean. Milly, one more question. When you and your parents came to this swamp, where were you the entire time?"

"I stayed in the carriage a lot."

"And why's that?"

"Because my Mommy and Daddy would leave a lot and they would make me stay. They said the swamp was too dangerous."

"I see, and do you remember what happened yesterday morning? Did your parents rush you out of the carriage?"

"Mmhmm, it was really scary. Mommy and Daddy woke up yelling, and the carriage was shaking a lot. Then Mommy put me on her back and carried me away."

"That was before you two ran into the shack?"

Milly nodded.

"And then you two ran into the swamp. Was she still carrying you on her back when you two ran into the swamp?

Another nod.

"I see, it all makes sense now."

"Doctor, I don't understand what your getting at", said Dean.

"It explains why Silver hasn't seen Milly up until now. Her parents, for whatever reason, brought Milly with them. I think I know why, but I'll get to that in a moment. Point is, they brought Milly with them on their mission to capture Silver."

"Mission?" Dean asked.

"Mission, job, assignment, whatever it may be. Fact is those two must have been hired to capture Silver, that's what this "job" of theirs is! And they knew their job wouldn't be safe for a filly so they kept her out of it as much as possible. Keeping her in a house in Ice Land, having her stay in a hotel while in the Crystal Empire. And in the swamp, they had her stay in that metal prison carriage the entire time. A solid box of metal, something that, even a Frostealius at full health, couldn't detect anything on the inside. And when the two actually did have to take their daughter out, Milly's mother carried her the whole time. Now if Silver was at full health he would have been able to tell the difference. But in his current state the two together must have looked like one blurred pony. It wasn't until Milly's mother dropped her that Silver saw Milly for the first time."

"Oh! That makes sense! But, why would they bring her here at all?"

"Ah, right! That parts a little complicated. Its just a theory, but I think I know why they brought Milly along-"

"Doctor!" Silver spat.

"Hang on a second Silver. They brought-" the Doctor stopped.

Silver was groaning and gasping.

The Doctor looked down to Silver gasped.

Silver's eyes were wide and bloodshot. He was clearly in pain but only his face expressed it. His body shook hard but he couldn't move. He looked on the verge of being sick but he couldn't speak. The only sounds he made was a faint groan, which turned to gargling.

"Silver?" said the Doctor, heart pounding as he looked to his friend.

Silver's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he slumped over.

The Doctor felt Silver's full weight fall onto him as Silver blacked out. "Silver! Silver!" the Doctor yelled. He rested his friend to the ground, lying him on his back. Silver was still draped in his vines as the Doctor placed him by the chair.

"Doctor! What's happening!?!" said Dean. All calm and comforting feeling he had just moments ago were now erased in a second. He felt Milly hold onto his right leg and was shaking, afraid.

The Doctor reached into his inner vest pocket and extracted a stethoscope. He quickly placed the eartips to his ears and the diaphragm upon where a Frostealius's heart would be. It was beating fast, not a good sign. The Doctor opened one of Silver's eye lids. Aside from being bloodshot, it showed no sign of consciousness. "Silver! What happened!? What's-"

"FREEZE!" a stallion shouted.

The Doctor complied and froze. He slowly raised his head towards the deposit opening, opposite from the entrance. Dean froze and looked to the general area the voice shouted from. Milly squeaked and ran behind Dean, hiding with her eyes shut tight.

Standing a few feet away were two ponies, a mare and stallion. The stallion was an averaged sized, lean pony. Bearing tone muscles for a lightweight. He had light brown fur, dirty hazel short hair, autumn red eyes, and a pile of assorted beans for a cutie mark.  He wore a quiver and held a long bow. Armed and ready to fire, aiming it straight in between the Doctor's eyes. 

To his right was the mare. She had yellow fur, a long curvy pink mane, a pecan pie for a cutie mark, pink eyes, and was also quite skinny. Unlike her husband, she was more bony than muscular. But the Doctor couldn't tell what color her eyes were. She had her eyes shut tight, with thick brown tree sap covering the top half of her face. Since she couldn't see she faced her head down, almost appearing as if she was staring at the ground. She held a large metallic looking box, aiming it towards there general area. She had no idea where to aim, but aiming a few feet away from Silver was close enough for the effects to work.

It was a silver box with a red button and knob, and a small round disc screwed to the top. Sitting on her hunches, she had one hoof pressing down on the button, with the other holding onto the knob. She had the box facing Silver so that the disc was pointed towards him. It was vibrating in her hooves and emitting a loud, robotic "humm."

Whatever it is, the Doctor realized that it was affecting Silver.

"All of you step back and give us our daughter!" the stallion growled.

The Doctor and Dean were taken aback, more so to Dean as his jaw dropped. The Doctor didn't express his shock and instead cocked a brow as he simply said, "daughter?"

At this demand, Milly recognized the stallion's voice. Peeking her head around Dean, she gasped and galloped forth to the stallion with the bow. She jumped past the Doctor and gripped the stallion's belly, hugging him hard.

"Daddy!" Milly shouted with glee.

"Daddy!?!" the Doctor and Dean shouted in unison.

"W-What!?!" Dean yelled.

"You're Milly's father?" the Doctor asked.

He hugged Milly for a moment before readjusting his bow, making sure the Doctor was in his sights. He motioned for Milly to go to her mother before asking the Doctor, "yeah, and who are you two!?"

Standing to his hooves above Silver, the Doctor said, "oh, well, I'm the Doctor and this here is my companion Dean Do. Say hi Dean."

"Uuugh" Dean merely squeaked.

The Doctor chuckled awkwardly, "he's uh, just a bit nervous."

"Doctor, is he pointing a weapon at us?" Dean asked.

"What? Weapon?" the Doctor looked to Dean, then back to the stallion with the bow. "Oh, no! No, no, no, he's just, uh, just a stallion. Just a reasonable stallion and his wife who's come to have a chat with us. Isn't that right "gentlestallion" and "lovely lady"? Just a normal, calm chat with no weapons", the Doctor lied, smiling to the stallion while eyeing the bow.

"But he said freeze", said Dean.

"So?"

"You don't say freeze unless your pointing a weapon at someone."

"How do you know?"

"It's just common knowledge."

The three ponies just stood listening to the two, looking from one pony to the other as they took turns speaking. Like they were the audience of a tennis match. 

"Really?"

"Yes!" 

"Well have you ever told somepony to freeze before?"

"Er, probably?"

"Were you holding a weapon when you told them to freeze?" 

"No?"

"Then he doesn't have a weapon."

"Doctor! Under these circumstances I'm pretty sure he has a weapon!"

"Your just assuming things-"

"Both of you shut up before I shoot you!" the stallion shouted.

The two immediately went silent as they looked to the stallion. 

There was a terrible silence as the Doctor and the stallion stared each other down. The echoes of the stallion's shout died, but the silence lingered.  Only their breathes could be heard. Each and every breath, some heavier then others. Milly's being the most silent.

The armed pony remained sighted to the Doctor, looking to Dean every so often before returning his focus to the Doctor. Ready to fire at the slightest sign of resistance.

Despite the armed stallion, the Doctor and Dean stood their ground. One appearing much braver than the other. The Doctor and Dean felt the atmosphere change. Before it was tense, then dropped to a calm level as Silver relaxed. Now, it felt threatening, the stallion being the source of trouble. His tone and anxious attitude gave the atmosphere a sense of paranoia. And with his weapon, he made the area feel like a bubble floating on boiling water. At any moment, any second, that bubble could burst. And it would be a swift pop.

Through it all: the atmosphere, the glares, the breaths, the stares, the bow. One pony amongst them spoke first.

" . . . . So . . . he does have a weapon", Dean confirmed.

"Oh my god", said the Doctor, exasperated.

The stallion shook his bow as a reminder that he was in fact armed. A reminder that only the Doctor noticed. "Shut up! Both of you!"

A moments silence, then the stallion continued, breathing hard and sweating. "Now I want to know who the two of you are right now! Why are you here? How did you know we'd be here? Who are you working for?"

The Doctor raised his hooves defensively, "whoa, whoa, easy there, it isn't like that. We're not working for anyone and we most certainly had no idea that you and your family were here. My friend and I were just passing through the area when we heard your daughter screaming. We only came to this cave to help her find you."

"You . . . helped our daughter?" the mare asked, raising her head.

The stallion cocked a brow and looked to his daughter, "is this true?"

Milly nodded, "the Doctor and Dean are really nice. They even made my leg feel better!"

It was then that the stallion noticed the cast on his daughters leg. "What happened to your leg!?"

"She broke it, it was like that when Dean and I found her. But I fixed it", said the Doctor, causing the stallion to look to him, confused.

"You fixed her leg? And . . . gave her a cast?"

"Well "Doctor" isn't just a name. I really am a doctor", the Doctor explained.

"But where did you even have the supplies to make this? You must've brought a medical carriage with you", said the stallion.

The Doctor sighed internally, "you can practically feel the suspicion on this one. He's a paranoid fella, that's for sure. Best watch what I say, don't want to set him off. Not while he has that bow".  The Doctor eyed the mare without moving his head. "She seems to be the passive parent. I should get her to speak. It might help calm the father down." The Doctor returned his sights to the stallion without anyone noticing. "Yes, I guess you could say I have a carriage of sorts."

"Its a space ship! I've seen it!" said Milly, excited.

"A . . . space ship?" the stallion asked, suspicion rising.

Noticing his suspicion, the Doctor thought quickly. He said with an innocent tone, "it does look quite like a space ship. I know it sounds silly but I'm sure you and your wife will be quite amazed once you see it."

"You assume we'll just walk out of here with you?" the stallion asked.

"No, I wasn't trying to assume. I just thought you'd want me to help your wife", the Doctor explained, continuing his act.

The mare looked to where the Doctor stood, the first time she turned away from the ground. 

The Doctor noticed and continued his persuasion. "Your blind at the moment. My friend here has sap in his eyes just like you, so he can't see as well. I can take you all back to my "carriage" and fix you up. I can wash the sap out of your eyes and give you medicine that will return your vision."

"C-Can you really help me?" the mare asked.

The Doctor nodded, mostly to the father, "of course! But I'm going to need you to trust me."

The stallion scoffed, "don't listen to him Pecan! You heard what he said, his names the Doctor! We need to be careful!"

That caught him off guard. Taken aback, the Doctor asked, "sorry. Does my name come as an issue?"

John gritted his teeth as he replied, "wouldn't you like to know!?" 

Confused, the Doctor asked, "have I done something wrong? I helped your daughter after all, the least you could do is give me an explanation."

The stallion sighed, "I appreciate you helping my daughter. But I'm having a hard time trying to trust you while your standing above that monster!" The stallion pointed to Silver and practically spat fire when he said "monster."

The Doctor didn't take that kindly but maintained his composure. He had hoped the father wouldn't notice him standing above Silver. He currently hoped more that the father wouldn't assume he was doing it as a way to defend Silver, despite that being the case. He spoke with a shake first, before correcting his tone to one fit for business. "Ah, right, your referring to Silver. Well, before we proceed further might I ask why you and your wife want him?"

The stallion growled, "that isn't any of your business old stallion! And you better move away from him if you know what's good for you!"

Quickly, the Doctor added a soft touch to his "business" voice. "Easy, easy, I'm sorry if I upset you. But I would highly recommend keeping the tension low. We have four out of six ponies in this deposit who aren't fit for conflict. The two being you and I. Now I know you don't trust us and you most certainly don't trust this pony below me, I completely understand. However, two of those four are your wife and daughter. You may not care for our safety, but if you care for theirs than I would suggest calming down."

The stallion received the Doctor's words negatively, angering him. He took a step forward, "what are you talking about my family's safety? Are you threatening us!?"

The Doctor kept his ground, "most certainly not! I assure you we are not your enemy! We just want to talk-"

"And how am I supposed to know that!?!" the stallion shouted.

"Try looking at your daughter and seeing how safe she is!" the Doctor spat, losing his composer.

That got the gears to turn. The stallion stopped, panting from his outburst. He looked to his daughter, only to find that she had disappeared. A slight seconds panic struck him as he turned his head about. His panic switched to relief as he found his daughter, having hid behind her mother as the voices began to grow angrier.

His panting slowed as this thought came to mind. How this stranger, the one he pointed the bow to, had helped return his daughter to him.

The Doctor spoke, "If we truly are your enemies than why did we bring your daughter back? Sure we could have used her to try and find you, but if that were the case than why go through the trouble of mending her wounds? And why not attack you after finding you? My friend and I have been in this cave for almost an hour. During that time we could have killed your daughter before finding and killing you but we didn't! Think about it, if we truly are your enemies then why haven't we attacked? Why do we have a bow aimed at us instead of the other way around!?" 

There was a pause as the words sank in.

The Doctor felt nervous, wondering if his words had any effect, waiting anxiously to see the results. To which the results were: half and half. The stallion loosened his suspicious and lowered his voice. However, the bow remained in its place. That was fine, it was good enough for the Doctor.

"John?" Pecan said gently.

The stallion didn't respond, his thoughts didn't allow him to. He was terribly conflicted. Between the strangers, the monster, and his family. To trust or to attack; though his suspicion had decreased, he still did not know what decision to make. To accept the Doctor help, or remained cautious on the warning against him.

Pecan said to John, "John, honey, I-I think we should trust them."

John's ears perked at this, but he neither moved nor spoke.

"T-They brought Milly back to us . . . they helped her."

No response, so Pecan continued. " . . . P-Please John . . . just put the bow down . . . please . . ."

"Daddy?"

That voice poked him enough to make him turn. He saw daughter poking her head from behind her mother, looking fearfully back at him.

Milly asked, "daddy? Are you going to shoot the Doctor?"

John didn't know how to respond. "I . . . well . . ."

"John."

John looked back to the Doctor, trying and failing to see this stranger as a threat. Despite what he had been told.

The Doctor said, "Milly told me about the travels you three have had. Those travels, I assume was actually you and your wife searching for this Frostealius?" The Doctor continued before John could speak, "you and your wife have money issues, don't you?"

"H- How do you know that?"

"Just from talking with Milly. She's said about a "job" you've taken, one that would help you get her into school. You don't have the money to afford that. Ah! Because your farmers, aren't you?" the Doctor said, eyeing John and Pecans cutie mark

John glanced to his cutie mark before looking back, "and if I am?"

"It means, like most farmers in Equestria, that your farm must have been take by chaos magic. By Discord. Beans and pecans? You grew them together on your farm?"

John gave a hesitant nod in response.

"And I'm right aren't I? A lot of farmers have lost their land to Discord. Heck, almost all of Equestria has lost their land by now. And its made everypony poor, and without food and homes. And your no different, are you?"

"Y- You've figured that all out, huh? Y- You some kind of detective?" John asked, his suspicion returning.

"Oh don't be daft, John. This isn't something I had to investigate. All farmers are suffering because of Discord, that's common by now. You don't have money to put your daughter into school, your cutie marks are dead giveaways, it was only a matter of putting the pieces together. And its also why you brought your daughter along, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" John asked.

"You were assigned job by someone. I don't know who and I don't know why but that's obviously why you are here. Your being paid to capture Silver. And with no farm you no longer have money, so you had no choice but to accept-"

"What makes you think I didn't have a choice?"

"A good stallion like you? Voluntarily wants to foalnap someone? No, no, no, you don't seem the type. A stallion who tries to keep his daughter out of the conflict of his job so that she could stay safe, that just doesn't seem like a pony who would want to accept this kind of job. A good stallion and a good father, wanting a job that involves foalnapping Frostealius? That doesn't match, does it?"

John didn't reply, but based of his expression the Doctor knew he was right. "You had no choice but to accept this job, and your wife would join you. But that left one issue, who would watch Milly? Maybe family or friends of a close neighbor. No, you didn't have anyone to watch her. At least, not anymore", the Doctor added, seeing John frown with grief. "Discord took your family and friends, didn't he?"

Not as hesitant this time, John nodded.

"I'm sorry about that. Your a good stallion, John. With no one to watch Milly you had no choice but to take her with you. And you and your wife have kept her safe this entire time". The Doctor became serious, "listen, you and Pecan don't have to do this anymore. I can help you, all of you."

"Oh yeah? And how would you help us?"

"First we would need to return to my carriage so that I can tend to your wife. Afterwards, I can take you three somewhere safe, away from the chaos."

"Really? You'd do that? Why?" John asked, skeptical.

"Because its the kind thing to do, that why. I just want you to be safe", the Doctor said, being as sincere as he could.

It didn't work, as John scoffed. "Really? That's why? Because its kind? Because its the right thing to do?" He looked to Pecan, "you see? Everything we were warned about is true! He's trying to put us into a false sense of security with that silver tongue of his!"

Taken aback, the Doctor said quickly. "What!? Warning!? I don't know what your talking about but I swear I'm not-"

John shouted, silencing the Doctor. "Oh save it! I don't want to hear anymore of your lies! You really think I'd trust you!?! Even when you've been standing above that monster, defending him this whole time!"

"Shoot!" the Doctor thought, frowning. "I'm just making sure no one else get hurt-"

"No one else gets- he's already hurt my family! My wife is blind and my daughters leg is broken!"

"John, that was self defense. You were trying to foalnap-"

"Hurting my daughter was self defense!?!" John roared, progressively becoming angrier and angrier.

"No! That was different! Besides the point! John! You need to calm down-"

"Don't you tell me to calm down! I know what your doing and it won't work! You fix my daughters leg, pretending your only doing it to be "kind". When actually you were just sucking information out of her this whole time! So you can get closer to Pecan and I and get us when our guard is down!"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because your affiliated with that monster of course!!! Do you think I'm stupid!? Why else would you be defending him!?"

"You really think I've plotted something against you?"

"You tell me! You said you'd been here for an hour, what were you doing this entire time!"

"Talking, just talking", said the Doctor.

"Oh yeah? Talking to who?" John pointed the bow to Silver before darting it back to the Doctor. "Was it him?"

The Doctor licked his lips, "yes we were talking to him-."

"AH HAH! So you are affiliated with him!" John shouted.

Everyone around John could practically feel his jittery anger. They were tense, bracing themselves, like John was a time bomb about to blow. Milly remained behind her mother, covering her ears and shaking badly. Dean, unable to do much, simply stood stiff as a board. Pecan, on equal grounds with Dean, stood stiff as well. Neither the two could see or do anything. So they tried talking to their respective sides speaker. Pecan to John, to calm him down, and Dean to the Doctor, simply because he was nervous.

"John please!" Pecan yelled, trying to speak over her husbands volume.

"D- Doctor!" Dean stuttered.

Sensing Dean's tension, the Doctor wanted to respond and set him at ease but couldn't. John was already shouting again, ignoring his wife. "Was this little "chat" you had with this "monster" for the past hour actually some sort of interrogation?"

The Doctor was taken aback, "what!?! No, no, no, you misunderstand-."

"Then what was it Doctor!?! Why have you been snooping into all of my family's business!?!"

The Doctor tried to speak fast. John was going to blow up and he knew this. He had to defuse the situation before someone gets hurt.

"I needed to know what was happening! I can't help if I don't investigate!"

"So you are some kind of detective!"

"John please!" the Doctor begged.

"Honey calm down!" Pecan yelled.

"I can't trust him Pecan! we were warned about him ever since day one! And he's working with this monster! He's been standing over him defending him the whole time!" shouted John, waving the bow about.

The Doctor raised his voice,"Listen to me! You need to calm down! Someone's going to get hurt!"

John roared, "the only pony getting hurt is this dang monster! He hurt my wife! He hurt my kid!"

"But I helped your daughter-"

"Only after you sucked out the information from her!!!"

"John you have it all wrong-"

"NO!!! I know exactly what I'm doing! My family and I are leaving and we're taking the darn Elemental with us!"

"John I can't allow that!" the Doctor said sternly.

John stood to his hind hooves, pulling the bow string to its maximum length. He aimed to the Doctor's head and growled shakily, "if you try to stop us . . . I will kill you."

"Doctor?" Dean said, fearfully. Hearing John's threat caused Dean to step back in panic, to which he stepped on a vine wrong and tripped over his own hoof. He fell back, startling John.

John's temper was too high for control. The slightest movement caused him to react. When John heard Dean hit the ground, he yelped and turned his bow to the colt. 

In an instant, in a second, in that split and heated moment, the bubble had burst.

And John fired his bow.
> The Vines Are Watching: Part Four (S1C4)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milly screamed, shutting her eyes and looking away. Pecan shouted her husbands name. John gasped as realization hit. Not to the bow he just fired nor the colt laying on the ground. It startled him, just not as much. What startled John was the ninety four year old stallion, standing between Dean and him.

He was within inches of John, blowing hot air to John's face as he breathed ever so heavily. His temper having reached its peak, as John could feel the Doctor's entire body shaking with rage. But it wasn't that which John was concerned with. His thoughts were placed on the pain he felt in his neck and his struggling breath.

Standing to his hind legs, the Doctor had one hoof firmly grasped to John's neck, strangling him, lifting him a foot off the ground. The other hoof was on John's hoof, the one that had held the bow. The bow, which was now lying on the ground.

John's eyes were wide as he croaked. He felt the pressure from his crushing windpipe rush to his head, and his vision went hazy.

The Doctor stabbed John with his glare, trying desperately to control himself. "How, dare, you!", the Doctor said through gritted teeth. Each word pierced into John like knives. John grabbed the Doctor's hoof, trying to release his grasp, but he wasn't strong enough, not compared to the Doctor's anger.

"Doctor!?" Dean gasped.

Dean had heard the bow strings snap into place, and the arrow firing. In a panic, he quickly felt around his body, checking to find any injuries. When he confirmed that he hadn't been shot, he stood to his hooves with a relieved sigh and walked shakily to the Doctor. "Doctor! Are you alright!?"

The Doctor ignored Dean as he remained fixed onto strangling John. 

"You shot at Dean." the Doctor spat.

"Chkagh! D-Do-ghtor!" John choked.

"Doctor? What's hap-", Dean stopped as he reached to touch the Doctor. He touched his shoulder, and the Doctor jerked aggressively in response. Startled, Dean pulled his hoof back, "Doctor?" He stepped away sideways, and as he did he noticed that his hoof was damp. Without thinking, Dean tried to wipe the liquid away before he caught a scent. A familiar scent of iron. Dean raised his hoof and sniffed it. He froze, as a chilling thought came to mind, "Doctor?"

No response. All he heard was the Doctor's heavy breathing and John choking.

Dean gulped, "D-Doctor . . . h- have you been shot?"

The Doctor continued to ignore Dean as he released John, letting the stallion fall.

John rolled to his side and coughed as he held his throat, catching his breath before looking up to the boiling stallion above him; who remained standing on his hind legs.

Glaring, shaking, teeth clenched shut, the Doctor frightened John, he looked like he was ready to murder him. John could see the fire burning in his eyes, even in the cave's darkness. Not a good fire of determination or hope, but the other fire, the bad fire, the fire of hatred and anger and rage. The fire that burns with vengeance. The fire that hurts, not saves.

John thought to reaching for an arrow in his quiver, before realizing his bow sat closer to the Doctor. He had no defenses now, no tool to protecting he or his family. He felt helpless, just as he had back when the Frostealius had him captured.

What made the Doctor worse to John was the arrow in his shoulder. The Doctor just stood there, ignoring the projectile lodged in his bone, as he glared death into John. 

John wanted the Doctor to show at least a small sign of pain. He would seem less threatening if he did so. But he didn't, he wouldn't, his anger overpowered his pain. And that made it much more frightening.

Or it had, until the Doctor moved his hoof. His right hoof, slowly to his left shoulder, the one that held the arrow. He grasped the projectile and, with a heavy grunt, pulled it out of his shoulder without the slightest restraint. No pauses, no stops, the arrow just slid out, like the Doctor was made of butter.

He most certainly wasn't. The arrow must have torn his muscle or some tissue. He must be bleeding and releasing that arrow must have hurt like tarterus. John was sure of it, it had to. But whether it did or didn't; whether he bled or torn a muscle John could not tell. Not because of the dark, his eyes were well adjusted now. But because of the Doctor's pure iron will.

The Doctor had grunted, and that was it. No gasps, no struggle, no taking breaks to let the pain subside, nothing. Just a grunt, and the Doctor was back to glaring at John. Only now without an arrow sticking through him.

John's anger had left him. He was now afraid of the walking shield standing above him.

The Doctor said through heavy breaths, "I told you to calm down, I tried to tell you. But you just, would, not, listen!"

"D-Doctor?" Dean croaked.

John said nothing. He only watched as the Doctor spat words onto him. 

The Doctor was having trouble keeping restraint and John could tell. He lifted a hoof up in defense, just in case the Doctor lost this restraint.

"If y-you", the Doctor gulped. "If you had shot . . . if you had harmed Dean . . . I . . . I don't even know what I would have done."

The Doctor was taken off guard for only a split second, as he felt legs wrap around his torso. Immediately after, he returned his fixed glare to John as Dean held the Doctor comfortably. Dean said softly, "Doctor its alright, I'm fine. H- He didn't hurt me so lets . . . lets just calm down now."

"He still tried to, that's inexcusable."

"Doctor your hurt, I- I don't want you fighting while your hurt. Please Doctor lets . . . lets just . . . leave. Lets leave and . . . h- have that cereal you mention earlier. W- We can help Milly's family later . . . please?" Dean begged.

The Doctor turned his head to Dean. He saw how frightened the colt was, despite lacking eyes to add to the expression. His face was full of fear, that was clear as crystal.

It was then the Doctor noticed Dean's legs. He found this odd, as Dean didn't seem like one to become clingy in stressful situations. If he was, he certainly didn't show it back in Dodge Junction, nor in the forest with Tumbleweed. The most he's grabbed onto was the console when the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T nearly crashed. But, never to the Doctor, never has Dean grabbed onto him or anyone else.

This brought a second thought to the Doctor's mind. Dean holding onto him? Begging when he said please? It was more of an assumption than a theory, but a possibility nonetheless. Dean is the only one out of the group who has witnessed the Doctor's phoenix magic. Milly witnessed only a small bit of his magic when he teleported and used his fire on the vines. But Dean, he's seen just how powerful his magic can be used on another pony. Suffocation, incineration, trapping, and who knows how much more? Dean certainly had no clue, which only brought the imagination to mind. Just how much could the Doctor do? And if the Doctor were to be the one to explode, just how far would he go? Dean could only imagine.

A thought, an assumption, but a possibility nonetheless. Was Dean afraid of the Doctor? Or more specifically, was Dean more afraid of the Doctor being set off than he was of John? Perhaps, it only made sense. 

The Doctor accepted this thought and took a deep breath. Shutting his eyes, he wrapped a leg over Dean's shoulder and gently rub the colt's head. "Alright Dean, alright . . . I'll simmer down."

Dean smiled and ignored the awkward feelings surging through his gut, as he hug the Doctor happily, his cheek pressing into the Doctor's good side.

The Doctor grinned to Dean, but immediately dropped back to a frown as he looked to John.

John gulped, he had begun to relax as he saw the Doctor lower his anger. He was thankful to the colt helping with that. However, he hadn't expected the Doctor to return his sights onto him.

"Your lucky I've got a kid of my own to watch over or I swear you'd be having a very bad time right now". The Doctor looked to Pecan, who could only stand and listen to the conversation anxiously. "Pecan: you, Milly, and John are all returning to my "carriage" so I can have a look at each of you. Afterwards we will discuss what's going to happen next."

"A- Alright", Pecan stuttered.

The Doctor looked back to John, "and you!" John gasped, startled. "You are going to return with your family safe and sound, understand?"

John nodded in response.

The Doctor continued, "we are going to bring Silver, the Frostealius, with us and there will be no complaints, got it!?"

Another nod from both parents.

"Brilliant", the Doctor clasped his hooves together; "absolutely-"

A pony groaned.

"Brilliant?" said the Doctor, cocking a brow and looking down to Silver.

Silver had awoken, rubbing his head as he caught his bearings. He blinked twice and took a deep breath, clutching at his gut. As he awakened, so did the fatigues and pains he felt before falling unconscious. The first to return was his cramps, his starving stomach begging for food. Then came the migraine, dizziness, and the rest of his body followed.

"He's awake!" John yelled.

Instinctively, the Doctor knew what would happen next, as he looked to Pecan; who, as expected, raised the odd metallic box towards Silver's direction. "Don't you dare use that!" the Doctor shouted, pointing to Pecan with his good leg.

"But he's-", Pecan began.

"He's awake and he won't be harmed with that device any longer! So leave him alone! As I said he's coming with us back to my carriage! And if anyone has anything to say against it then speak up now so that we can leave you behind! Because I will leave you!

"This decision is mine and mine alone! No pony has any say! Unless you'd rather go back to trying to kill one another then by all means! Speak up! Speak up now!" He was furious and impatient, and suddenly lost his temper. The Doctor hadn't intended to shout at them, especially Pecan as she was the calmer parent, and she had Millie behind her. However, after he did shout, he found he meant everything he said and didn't care.

No pony said a thing, whether they wanted to or not. So the Doctor continued, breathing heavily, "alright . . . alright then . . . lets be off."

"D- Doctor?" Silver said, weakly.

Dean released the Doctor as the Doctor leaned close to Silver. He held onto his shoulders and said softly, "Silver? Are you alright? How do you feel?"

"I . . . I don't", Silver stopped. He appeared to struggle keeping awake, as his eyes fell shut. His head drooped to the side as his eyes rolled back.

"Whoa! Silver! Come on buddy, stay awake for me", said the Doctor, tapping Silver's left cheek gently.

Silver gasped as he forced his eyes open. Without thinking, he reached forth and took hold of the Doctor's shoulder; gripping hard. The Doctor gasped and jerked as he felt his injury pressed. The Doctor's gasp awoke Silver, as he looked to the Doctor curiously. That's when Silver noticed the wound. Silver could feel the dampness of his hoof and the beat of his heart increase. "Doctor? Your . . . hurt?"

"What?" the Doctor took a glimpse to his wound, then looked back to Silver. "Oh, yeah, only a bit."

"How . . . did that happen?" Silver asked.

The Doctor shook his head, "never mind that. Listen, we're leaving now. We're going to leave the cave and return to my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. I've talked to the ponies who tried to capture you and they agreed to leave you alone."

"They?" said Silver, looking past the Doctor towards the family; standing anxiously to the side.

"Yes, the ponies who tried to capture you! They won't try to harm you anymore, your safe now!" said the Doctor, smiling.

The words sank in slowly. Silver wanted to believe it, he truly did. Yet, it just seemed so impossible. After all that work, after all that struggle, why would anyone want to go back on all of that? Then again, this must have been the Doctor's doing. He sorted everything out and fixed the problem. He came to that conclusion based on his sheer trust of the Doctor. That, and he was too tired to think properly.

Silver wanted to smile, yet he was so weak he couldn't even manage that. Only the Doctor could manage to convince someone to go against everything they've done. After an entire month of running, he was safe. He was finally safe, thanks to his friend. It was the Doctor's doing.


It was the Doctor's doing.

:)
































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































It was the Doctor's doing.



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































It was the Doctor's doing.























































































































































































































































It was the Doctor's doing.































































































It was the Doctor's doing.




































































It was the Doctor's doing.






























It was the Doctor's doing.




























It was the Doctor's doing.




















It was the Doctor's doing.

















It was the Doctor's doing.














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7777777

> Input://:1000042:=(Command):=(Initiate{0-1998-420}):=En+47/Prm:7777777//
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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> The Vines Are Watching: Part Five (S1C4)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silver's eyes snapped open, darting about as he looked to everywhere and everything.

"Hey, hey, hey, calm down, your okay, your alright", said the Doctor.

Silver's breath was frantic, as the elemental searched the scene vigorously. Something was wrong, the Doctor could tell. Silver's eyes moved like a hummingbird searching for food. "Silver?" the Doctor asked.

No response, Silver's eyes continued to dart back and forth.

Up, down, side to side, around and about, around and about, around and about. Searching, searching, searching. But, searching for what? Silver hadn't a clue, his search held no purpose. Yet, it was the most important thing in the room, he had to find it.

The Doctor didn't know what he was doing either. It appeared as a spasm at first, it certainly wasn't a seizure. But than he realized that Silver was moving on his own. If he were having a spasm attack he wouldn't be able to control his movements, and it took the Doctor a moment to figure out this wasn't the case. Silver was darting his eyes and appeared to be looking for something. Yet, it was odd; he couldn't tell what it was he was searching for and he didn't know why he needed to find "it" right this moment. But that wasn't what the Doctor thought the most. His primary thought was, "why are his eyes so empty?" His eyes darted, searching with a purpose. Yet, his eyes seemed lifeless. John didn't notice, he only saw a monster panicking. But ninety years with Silver told him otherwise, that something was wrong with Silver. And nothing he had mentioned before, this was new. 

Perhaps it was the effect of the device Pecan held? It was the Doctor's first guess. Perhaps it was causing some sort of lingering affect? Was Pecan using that device again? The Doctor turned his head for only a second to check.

Pecan stood facing the scene fearfully. She held the device loosely to her chest; both hooves on the device but neither on, as the Doctor could only assume what this piece was, the trigger.

"If Pecans not using that device, than what the hecks happening!?" the Doctor thought. "Silver I need you to relax."

Silver didn't listen. Or, perhaps he didn't hear? The Doctor couldn't tell. "Come on buddy, calm down. Please just try to relax, tell me what's wrong."

No response, the searching continued. Searching, searching, searching. Around and about, around and about, around and about.

"What the tarterus is wrong with him!?" John shouted.

Around and about and stop . . . he stopped. Upon hearing John's shout Silver paused and froze. His frantic breath remained heavy as his eyes went wide, and he stared to nothing. For only a moment, before Silver's eyes moved slowly, gliding towards the voice he heard. Silver stared to John with the wide eyes and the heavy breaths. His heart beating fast, and John, feeling his own begin to quicken. Then, from John, Silver's eyes drifted to the ground, staring at an object that sat close.

An object of wood, and harm, and death. The weapon that John had dropped. The purpose became clear now, Silver realized what he had been looking for. He gulped, "h- he s- shot you."

"What?" the Doctor asked in utter bewilderment. He turned his head and looked to what Silver was staring at. He tensed as he saw the bow and slowly came to realization. Looking back to Silver fearfully he asked, "is that what you were doing? Looking for that bow?"

Silver answered with a question, "he shot you didn't he?" Silver gulped and his breath quickened, "t- that's why y- your hurt, isn't it? He shot you? He hurt you?"

The Doctor nearly answered before stopping, as he felt something slide beneath him. It took a second to realize it was a vine. And in that same second to realize why the vine had moved, and why more were all beginning to move. Silver was becoming agitated.

"Even in this weakened state he can still use his magic!? the Doctor thought. He had to turn this situation around fast, he knew what would happen if he couldn't. "There was a bit of a mishap, that's all. A small dispute that lead to an accident. That's all this was, a simple acc-"

Silver shook his head, "no, no, no, he shot you, he shot you, your bleeding because he shot you."

"Silver, really, its not an issue. We're going back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T so I can patch myself up there anyway."

"He still hurt you! He shot you with an arrow, h- he shot you!" Silver spat.

"Phoenix Ponies have quick healing properties so I'm not that hurt!" the Doctor spoke fast.

"He tried to kill you, he tried to kill you!"

"No, Silver! It was only an acc-."

"Your lying!" Silver shouted for the first time, startling them all.

Everypony but the Doctor took a step back. John jumped to his hooves and rushed to his family. "Mommy!" Milly whined, cowering behind her mother. A split second later, Milly screamed. As did Pecan and Dean; John yelped when he was startled.

Each pony, including the Doctor, felt the entire ground start to move. Each vine covering the cave ground began slithering around, gradually moving faster and faster.

"Doctor! What's happening! The vines are moving!" Dean shouted.

"MOMMY!" Milly screamed.

John pointed to Pecan, "use the frequency immobilizer!"

Pecan positioned the device towards Silver, ready to fire. The Doctor turned to Pecan, glaring and shouting, "don't you dare use that!!!"

Pecan stopped and John intervened, "he's going to kill us if she doesn't use the immobilizer! Now use it on him Pecan!"

"I will make you regret it if you dare use that!" the Doctor shouted. He turned back to Silver, "Silver, come on buddy, you need to simmer down!"

Silver laughed, "simmer down? SIMMER DOWN!?!"

The Doctor could only gasp as a vine attacked beneath him, moving too fast to detect. Whipping the Doctor square in the chest, knocking him off his hooves. The vine threw him five solid feet away, and he landed on his back hard.

Silver wrapped his top shoulders with vines and used those like ropes, to help him rise as he stood to his hind hooves, glaring at the Doctor. "We were best friends! Best friends! And you abandon me for twenty years!!! You don't have the right to tell me to simmer down!!!"

Milly screamed, John gasped, both Pecan and Dean were confused; both having only heard the Doctor receive the blow.

"Doctor!" Dean shouted.

"John what's happening!?!" Pecan shouted.

"The elementals gone crazy! That's what happened! I knew he was monster!!!" John shouted.

Silver glared to John and roared, "monster!?! MONSTER!?! You foalnap me! Locked me in a prison carriage! Chase me through the country! Trap me in this swamp for a month! And now you shoot my best friend!?! Yet I'm the monster!?! ME!?!"

Rubbing his chest, the Doctor lifted himself up. "Silver this caves unstable! You need to calm down-"

"SHUT UP!!! You don't have the right to talk to me!!!"

"You're going to bring the whole cave down!" the Doctor shouted.

"I don't care!!! I don't care what happens to this stupid cave!!! I hope it falls apart and reduces to rubble!!! In fact-"

The vines began to rise, like giant snake like monsters. Every single vine, towering over the ponies, reaching towards the ceiling.

The Doctor and John looked up to the predators above, trying to look to each one; which neither could, there were far too many to count.  

"Silver?" said the Doctor, a slight tone of plea mixed with confusion. The Doctor was afraid as he turned and looked into Silver's eyes. The Frostealius's empty, soulless eyes. "Too empty", thought the Doctor.

Silver ignored the Doctor's pleas and shouted, "if doing this makes me a monster, THAN SO BE IT!!!"

"SILVER NO!!!" the Doctor shouted, rushing towards Silver. 

Too late, Silver attacked.

Not at the ponies, not directly. Instead, Silver attacked the very cave they stood in. Each blow with the vines, striking like metallic whips against the old stone ceiling. Each strike shook the cave, shaking more violently with every blow. Every vine, attacking together, adding to a hundred blows per second.

From the ponies perspectives, the ones who could see, it appeared like a monster with tentacles was thrashing wildly at the ceiling. Neither Dean nor Pecan could see, but both felt the cave and heard the rocks begin to crumble.

"DOCTOR!!!" Dean screamed, ducking and covering his head.

"JOHN!!!" Pecan shouted, holding onto Milly.

Large pieces of the cave broke free and plummeted towards the ground, crashing around the ponies, missing them by several feet.

John wrapped his hooves around his family, shouting, "we need to get out of here!!!"

The Doctor stood to his hind hooves when he was close to Silver, "sorry about this Silver!" The Doctor raised his left hoof and struck it down hard, hoof chopping Silver in back of the neck.

Silver was distracted commanding his vines to attack the cave, and he took the blow directly without noticing. He fell to his side almost immediately, unconscious and limp as a noodle. The attack had knocked him unconscious before he hit the ground, and the vines followed suit, falling limp to the ground in unison to Silver.

The attack was over, but the danger remained. The cave continued shaking and rocks still crashed.

Having not used physical attacks like that in many years, mixed with his old age, had made him sensitive to these certain blows. He felt an electric sting pulse through fore ankle, and it cracked as the Doctor held it, rubbing it to sooth the pain. "Ow!" he said aloud. 

Dean faced towards the ceiling in a panic, "Doctor what's happening!?!"

The Doctor shook his wrist gently and shouted, "the caves collapsing!" Quickly, he grabbed Silver's limp body around his torso.

"What!?!" Dean and Pecan shouted in unison.

The Doctor hoisted Silver onto his back while saying to the group, "its a miracle these mines have lasted as long as they have being so old! Silver's attack is all it took to bring this entire place down! So we need to leave right now!!!"

There was a crack, a loud one. A very loud one. Every pony looked to the ceiling to witness the largest chunk of the ceiling, half the size of the cave, ready to fall. Bits and pieces dropping beforehand, like a warning.

"Doctor?" said Dean.

"Oh boy", said John.

"Run", said the Doctor.

The hill size chunk broke free and fell directly above the ponies.

The Doctor thought quickly. The position of the boulder, angle, gravity, weight approximation, calculation after calculation, zapping like lighting through the Doctor's mind. It took a second, but the Doctor knew where the boulder would fall.

"RUN!!!" the Doctor shouted, grabbing and pulling Dean with his good hoof towards the safer exit.

Dean lost his step for a moment before biting the tip of the Doctor's tail. He held on tight, using the Doctor as guidance.

"Come on!!!" John shouted, taking Milly and placing her on his back as he pulled Pecan, making haste to follow the Doctor.

The six ponies ran together towards the exit and through a semi large passage. Small rocks crumbled and fell above their heads as they ran through the rocky hall way.

The Doctor could hear larger rocks begin to fall several feet behind the group, gradually approaching nearer.

"Hurry!" the Doctor shouted.

A minute of galloping that felt like seconds as the group arrived at a second deposit. Just in time for the Doctor to turn around and witness the passage collapse, preventing any way of returning.

John looked around, his family panting. They had ran to the second deposit. There were to passegways, just like the first deposit. One they just ran through and the other on the opposite end of the cave, and just like the first deposit, the ground in this one was covered with vines. He recognized this deposit, because it was the one that he and Pecan were prisoned in earlier. "You've trapped us!" John shouted.

"No, I just saved you! Your welcome", the Doctor growled.

"Saved us!?! We're even deeper into the cave now!!!" John shouted.

Dean released the Doctor's tail, "what!?! Why are we deeper!?!"

"If we had ran towards the main exit we would have been crushed! This was safer!"

"Safer!?! Oh, of course!!! I feel so mush safer now!!! I think I'll go pray to Celestia in a nice cozy corner with my family before WE DIE!!!" John roared.

"John stop it! You're scaring Milly!" Pecan shouted, having heard the filly whimper before crying.

"Yeah John, your daughters watching, simmer down", the Doctor said with obvious sass.

John growled, "oooh, do you want me to beat you!"

"Yeah you can touch me while you kiss my-"

"DOCTOR!!!" Dean shouted, blushing and flabbergasted.

"Flank! I was going to say flank!" the Doctor shouted defensively.

"We are going to die! Is now really the time for petty arguments!" Dean shouted.

The Doctor growled, "alright! Alright!" John glared as the Doctor turned, running and standing to his hind hooves at the deposit wall. The Doctor then placed an ear to the wall as he felt around the rock.

"What in Celestia's name are you doing!?!" John shouted.

"Right now I'm rubbing the wall", the Doctor said simply.

"Okay . . . why?" Dean asked, just as confused as the others.

"Do you remember earlier when you asked why I needed to know every little detail about our situation?"

"When you found out that the shed outside was actually a miners shack?"

"Eeyup! That be the one!"

"Yeah I remember, why's that important?" asked Dean.

"Because if I hadn't known that I would have thought that this cave was just that, a cave". The Doctor moved to a different spot, continuing to rub. "But this cave isn't a cave, its a deposit! One that had miners at one point! Miners, who of course are working a dangerous job, would have made some safety precautions!"

"Safety precautions?" Pecan asked.

"In case the minors ended up in the same situation we're in now! They would've needed a quick way out! Running from deposit to deposit until they eventually reached the main exit would have been suicide! Not to mention sheer stupidity! So, as a solution to this problem, each and every deposit had a mandatory emergency exit that lead straight to the outside!" the Doctor explained, moving to a new spot and repeating the process.

"But this is the deposit that monster had us imprisoned in! I've been trapped here for over a day and I haven't seen any "emergency exit!" said John. Angry at the Doctor, he purposely put infuses into calling Silver a "monster", hoping to tick him off.

It did, and he muttered under his breath, "oh, go suck a fat one". He shouted suddenly, "Yes of course it would be difficult to find one! This cave is so old that the possibility of rocks falling were high even before we arrived! But, if my assumption is correct, which I'm really hoping it is, than the exit should be-"

The Doctor stopped as he felt around a large boulder. A boulder that hadn't appeared to be part of the wall. He smiled as he felt the tiniest breez touching his hoof through a crack. The Doctor walked backwards, observing the boulder. "Than the exit is right here actually."

"You've got to be kidding me!?" John shouted.

"Not at all! John give me a hoof here!" the Doctor commanded.

John handed Milly to Pecan and rushed to the Doctor's side. The Doctor quickly dropped Silver and made haste to the boulder. The two then stood to their hind hooves on the left side of the boulder, placing their forelegs to the rock firmly.

"Alright, push!" the Doctor shouted.

It was a struggle, with the Doctor's injury John did most of the work. The two grunted as they pushed; the stone moving slowly, leaving marks on the ground, the only spot that wasn't covered with vines. The breeze grew stronger as the opening widened, the space allowing air to enter more easily. 

As half of a passage was revealed a light had begun to shine within. A weak, dim light; yet strong enough to blind the eyes of the ponies who could see. Their eyes having been adjusted to pitch black now were adjusting to the sudden light.

"I see the way out!" Milly shouted, pointing.

"Really!? Oh thank Celestia!" said Pecan, gratefully.

The cave shook hard and rocks fell from the ceiling, causing the two to stop their efforts and turn around.

"That'll have to do! This cave won't last-" the Doctor stopped. He almost missed it, he was so close. In the nick of time, the very nick of time, the Doctor saw a large stalagmite break free from the ceiling. As big as a carriage, dropping right above the others. John had noticed it too, but a second slower than the Doctor. The others hadn't noticed. Dean and Pecan felt the shake, but their lack of vision continued to best them. Milly hadn't notice, she was distracted by the light entering the deposit.

Instincts kicked and an extra dose of adrenaline moved the Doctor faster then he should have. Without a second thought, the Doctor bolted forth. Just as John shouted, attempting to gallop to his family, the Doctor's wings extended. And the Doctor took flight.

Bones cracking, spine stabbed with piercing pain, wings that hadn't been used in forever now stretching forcefully wide. The Doctor bent forward, leaned, extended his wings to maximum length. Then, like a bullet, shot forth towards the three ponies.

It happened in a second; the Doctor bolted, caught Dean and Pecan around the torso, and crashed against the ground hard. The carriage sized stalagmite fell and crashed on the very spot they previously stood.

Now sitting a few feet away, not including the Doctor who laid there painfully; the three slowly stood to their hooves, panting and catching their bearing from the sudden save.

"What the tarterus!?!" Dean shouted.

"What happened!?! Milly are you alright!?!" Pecan shouted, frantically.

"I'm okay mommy", said Milly, rubbing a bump on her head that she received from the landing.

Dean felt around and touched the Doctor, just as he had heard him groan. "Doctor!? Are you alright!?! What just happened!?!"

The Doctor groaned again as he planted a shaky hoof to the ground, feeling his kneecaps crack as he did so. His back was so much pain, all he could muster was a moan, "ohhhhh!"

Dean felt the Doctor shaking and helped him to his hooves as John approached and hugged his family.

John kissed Pecan on the cheek, "oh Celestia that was close!"

"Ow, ow, ow!" the Doctor groaned, standing and taking a step.

"Are you hurt? What happened?"

"H- Had to use my wings, n- not supposed to though", said the Doctor, panting.

The cave shook, giving each pony the same thought. "The exits open so lets move!!!" John shouted, pulling Pecan towards the emergency exit.

"Come on Dean!" the Doctor growled, doing the same and pulling Dean.

The five galloped to the exit as rocks, boulders, and stalagmites crashed at an alarming rate. John arrived first and helped his wife and daughter through the opening, assisting Pecan by the hoof as she slid through before handling her Milly. Which was easy enough thanks to her size.

John stood to his hind legs and stepped sideways through the gap. He stopped halfway as a thought occurred, looking back to the approaching ponies as hopes of escaping nearly caused John to forget them. Then John looked down, two feet away from the boulder, where the unconscious Frostealius laid, still and unaware of the dangers crashing above.

John frowned, looked to his family, back to the Frostealius, hesitated a moment, then groaned. "Ohhh! Celestia dang it!" Making haste, John slid out from the gap and rushed to Silver.

The Doctor approached as John grabbed Silver around the torso, "what are you-"

"Get the kid through! I'll help the Elemental!" said John, hoisting Silver atop his back.

With the collapsing deposit, the Doctor chose not to question the change of heart. For now, the Doctor grinned and nodded before turning to the opening. "In you go!" said the Doctor, helping Dean enter first before following. Through the opening and into what appeared to be another deposit.

It had the same size and shape as the deposit, with certainly its fair share of stalagmites hanging like spikes. Only, the ponies stood on what appeared as a stone like platform, one large enough to hold a dozen more ponies. The platform wasn't pony made but was part of the cave, only mined and shaped to appear as a platform.

The platform hung, attached to the opening, above a seven story drop to the cave ground below; with piercing stalagmite spikes scattered around. The entire deposit was like one large bowl, with the platform elevated a hundred feet above the bottom. The only other place elevated at the same height as the platform was a second platform, across a wide stone bridge on the opposite side of the deposit. From there, the source of the light could be seen. A large, semi circle opening, calling to them with blinding, warm, sunlight. The way out, only a gallop away.

The Doctor turned back to the opening. Seeing John struggle with Silver, the Doctor rushed forth to help. It took a second, John on one side and the Doctor on the other. Silver was through and John followed, assisted by the Doctor.

The deposit on the other side collapsed, not entirely, but most of it. The Doctor could still see just a bit of space within the opening to the deposit. He reckoned two minutes more is all it would take for the deposit to collapse entirely. The new deposit shook just as bad as the others, with rocks beginning to fall loose from the ceiling. The entire mine was crashing down like dominoes.

A few minutes, that's all it would take for their exit to fall into the same fate as the rest of the mine. Realizing this, the Doctor rushed forth, hoisting Silver to his back and pulling Dean by the back of the neck; keeping a firm grip to make sure he didn't fall off the bridge. "Come on! We're almost there!" the Doctor shouted, jogging carefully atop the bridge towards the exit.

John nodded and followed, placing Milly atop Pecan and keeping hold of the two as they walked.

The opening brightened the closer they approached. Brighter and warmer, the suns rays beckoning, begging for their arrival.

The cave shook, foreboding dangerously around the deposit. Rocks beginning to fall, dropping larger and larger by the second. As if the cave itself was alive and forbid the ponies to accept the suns beckon. Boulders fell, a great attempt to prevent their escape.

The ponies lost their balance but were quick to regain their footing. Ignoring the caves collapse and determined to escape, the Doctor growled as he sped his pace; John taking notice and following suit with his family.  

They were so close, a mere dozen yards away, but the cave wouldn't allow it. The first stalagmite fell, a massive spike like rock, breaking loose from the ceiling. Many followed soon after, but one stalagmite fell first to attack. Plummeting down like a missile, right above the stone bridge.

None of the ponies could have prepared for the stalagmite. It crashed with fierce velocity, crumbling the middle section of the once great bridge to pebbles. It wasn't far from the group and they felt the impact. Luckily, the ponies were close enough to the end of the bridge, or they all would have fallen with the collapsing bridge behind.

Each pony lost their balance, gabbing onto one another for help. The Doctor wrapped a leg around Dean and, forcefully, locked a wing around Silver, holding both close. Though the Doctor was quick enough to take hold on his friends, John was not. The impact felt worse to John and he tripped over his own hoof when the bridge shook. He bumped into Pecan, knocking her sideways. She yelled as she stumbled close to the bridge's side.

Quickly regaining his balance, John gasped and rushed forth, swinging his legs wildly to grab his wife. He took hold of her foreleg, stopping her abruptly and jerking her back, but the jerk caught Milly off guard and she lost her grip. She released her mother's neck and fell backwards off the bridge in a flip.

"MILLY!!!" John screamed.

Milly screamed and made a grab for her mother. Just barely, she manage to take hold onto her mother's tail. A prevention to falling, yet, the unexpected tug from behind made Pecan's hind hoofs slide off the bridge. Pecan screamed as the back half of her body plummeted suddenly, hanging off the bridge as John held desperately to her top half.

Milly screamed, swinging loosely from her mother's tail. John bit his tongue and clenched his teeth, holding with all his might as he felt his hind hooves begin to slowly slide out.

The Doctor hadn't notice John and his family, he was too concerned with the ones he held as he continued his dash for the exit.

John's hind hooves started sliding faster. They were too heavy, and he would soon quickly fall with them off the bridge. Realizing that, John arched his back, giving himself leverage and adding a small, extra bit of friction to himself. He looked over to the Doctor and shouted, pleading, "DOCTOR!!! HELP!!!"

The Doctor stopped only two feet away from the exit; the bright light preventing him from seeing the outside world. He looked over his shoulder to see John holding on to his family, about to fall. "Shoot!" the Doctor gasped. Quickly, he grabbed Dean by the back and pushed him to the exit, before grabbing Silver and tossing him to Dean.

Dean "oofed!" as he fell on his front. He turned on his back and gasped as he felt Silver collide into his chest. Feeling the air pushed out of him, Dean choked, "Doctor! What the-"

"The exits behind you! Take Silver and get out of here!" the Doctor shouted.

"Wait what's-"

"John needs help! Just get out of here!!!" the Doctor ordered, turning and galloping to John.

Coming to his aid, the Doctor took hold of Pecan's left leg as John took hold of the other. The weight distribution helped John when the Doctor helped. However, despite John pulling one half of the weight, the Doctor struggled with the other half. His age and strength proved too much for a task like this. His legs were wobbly as they lifted Pecan, and he felt a knot developing in his spin. 

Together, the two managed to pull her up so that her fore leg knees were at level with the bridge. However, just as Pecan was nearly high enough to place on the bridge, the Doctor felt his give in. It cracked loud enough to startle John, and the Doctor yelled out, "GHAAAGH!".  Falling to his knees, the Doctor lost his hold on Pecan. Pecan dropped half a foot as John felt all of the weight return to him. He lost his balance for a moment, his hind legs slipping out, and he fell on his front. Now, John only had a hold onto Pecan's right leg, as the rest of her body dangled above the spikes below. Milly felt the drop and nearly lost her hold on her mother's tail. She slipped, dropped a few inches, and in a panic, clenched her jaw down on her mothers tail, hard enough to rip the fur and pop Milly's jaw. A chunk hair from Pecan's tail had been torn, but the majority still remained, leaving Milly plenty to hold on to.

The cave shook hard, more violent then the first, as a large stalagmite broke free from its place and fell to the ground below. It missed the bridge but crashed close enough to topple over and knock into the wall that held the platform. The over bearing crash shook the bridge massively, so much so as to break off a large chunk not too far from the four ponies. With the bridge deteriorating, the Doctor and John noticed they hadn't much longer before the part they stood on would crumble as well.

John panicked and pulled, arching the top half of his back. At the same time shouted to the Doctor, "Doctor! Help me!"

The Doctor groaned and cursed, rubbing his back hard to release the knot. He only spared a second to his back before quitting on it, as he sprang to his hooves and grabbed hold of Pecan. She swung her left leg up, and the Doctor was able to catch it. Yet, however hard he tried, it didn't work in the slightest. In fact, after his back gave in, the Doctor was in pain and had become weaker. John, even with the Doctor's help, felt all of the weight remain on him.

The cave shook again, stalagmites and rocks fell, another chunk of bridge broke and fell. Milly felt the shake and nearly lost her grip, falling an inch before regaining her hold. Pecan screamed, feeling the painful tug at her hindquarters. John was panicking; the bridge was going to fall, and he and his family would fall with it. He looked to the Doctor and screamed, "PULL THEM UP!!!"

"I'm trying!" the Doctor yelled.

The Doctor truly was, but it wasn't even close to good enough. "TRY HARDER!!!"

The Doctor groaned, giving a strong heave. Strong enough to lift Pecan a few inches, before the Doctor's strength immediately left him. Pecan dropped slightly, but the two kept their hold on her. Despite so, however, the Doctor was unable to contribute any assistance to John. He held to her, but he didn't pull at all, so John was once again left holding on to his family's full weight.

The Doctor shook his head, "its no use! I can't pull them up!"

"Are you a stallion or not!?!" John shouted, angrily.

"A ninety four year old stallion!" 

"So your an old brittle stallion! And you'll give up just because of it!?!"

"Shut up!!! I didn't say that!!!"

"THAN HELP ME!!!"

"I AM!!!" the Doctor roared, his wings flaring up a bit.

The Doctor glanced to his wings for a moment. He found it odd, it had been years since someone had gotten him worked up enough for his wings to flare on their own. He might of found it funny had he not been in a crumbling cave. That small though brought an idea to mind. He remembered saving Dean, Pecan, and Milly earlier using his wings. He knew he was too old to use them, it would be like trying to fly with two pieces of paper. 

Quickly, the Doctor looked over the edge pass Pecan. He then looked up and saw a rock break free from the ceiling. Watching that rock, he counted how long it took for it to fall to the ground below. As soon as it did, he realized the exact distance he had between himself and the ground if he were to fall. Afterwards, the Doctor worked mental math quickly; his weight, Milly's weight, acceleration with air speed and power. He worked it in his head and, suddenly, it came to him. He smiled to himself and said allowed, "oh, brilliant!"

"WHAT!?!" John shouted, not having hear him.

The Doctor knew that he was old, though hated admitting it. He was old and his wings weren't strong. He couldn't flutter down and grab Milly, carrying her to safety. However, what if he could glide down to her instead? It would work at her current distance, a mere five feet down. He would drop down and grab her, but the combined weight of the two plus not enough air passing through him would cause him to fall with her, even with his wings extended. But he knew that was the case already, which is why he calculated the distance he had before falling below. Because, he know knew exactly how long he had to fall before the Doctor could catch Milly. After all, the Doctor realized, paper may not be able to fly, but give it enough wind, and it sure can float.

"John your not going to like this but I need you to trust me! I need Milly to let go of Pecan!" 

"WHAT!?!" John shouted.

"I'm not strong enough to pull them up! But I can use the velocity from the drop the catch her and glide back up!", the Doctor explained.

"Are you insane!?! Just fly down and grab my daughter!"

"I haven't used my wings in ten years! I can't carry her!-"

"You used them earlier!!!"

"That was the spur of the moment! And I hurt my wings doing that!"

"I won't let-"

"JOHN!!!" the Doctor roared, silencing John. "Trust me! This is the only way!"

John didn't have a response. Even after everything the Doctor has done, he still wasn't entirely trusting towards him. Yet, he also felt he had no choice as he looked to the collapsing ceiling above. 

The shakes were worsening and larger rocks fell and crumbled. The far end of the bridge was gone, reduced to pebbles on the ground below. And based off the developing cracks, it seemed that their end of the bridge wasn't far off from the same fate.

The Doctor couldn't pull them up and John certainly couldn't either. They were going to die unless John listened, and he realized this. He made his choice with an angered sigh, "alright! Fine!" Keeping his hold on Pecan, John cranked his neck to the right, peering down to his hanging daughter. "Milly! The Doctor is going to come get you! But he says he needs you to let go!"

"What!?!" Pecan and Milly both shouted.

"Trust us Milly! Its the only way!" John shouted.

The cave shook and the Doctor thought aloud, "we need to leave, NOW!!!" The Doctor stepped close to the edge and looked down to Milly. "I'm going to catch you Milly! Okay!?"

"But I'm scared!" Milly screamed, slightly muffled having to talk through hair and clenched teeth.

The Doctor cupped his hooves to his mouth, speaking loud enough for her to hear easily. "Do you remember the colt in that story!?!" He didn't wait for a response, "be brave like that colt! I know its hard but that colt was scared too! Remember that!"

Milly didn't take long to think. Her grip was sliding and she felt she was going to fall either way. She looked tearfully up to the Doctor, "you promise to catch me!?!"

The Doctor gave her a confident smile, "absolutely!" Another violent shake made the Doctor frown, concerned. "But you need to do it now!"

"Wait! I didn't agree to-"  Before Pecan finished, Milly screamed, released her grip, and fell. "MILLY!!!" Pecan screamed, reaching helplessly to her daughter with her free hoof.

With the reduced weight, John pulled Pecan up the bridge with a heavy grunt; sighing hard and nearly falling over as he dropped her on the bridge.

Meanwhile, the Doctor forced his wings to open, ignoring the galore of cracks rippling through his bones. He bent his knees, aimed downward, and pushed his body off the side of the bridge with full force.

The Doctor positioned his body like a dart, keeping his limbs to his sides and narrowing his wings backwards. This accelerated him, approaching Milly with great speed. He reached out to the screaming child, who flailed her legs in panic without noticing her rescuer. He came close, but the ground was approaching as well. The Doctor cursed as he reached out to the filly. 

They fell forty feet before the Doctor managed to grab hold of Milly. He screamed, "gotcha!" and extended his wings. The air and wind pushed against his wings hard, dramatically dropping the speed of the fall. The sudden deceleration startled Milly and knocked the air from her. She held to the Doctor with a death grip as she choked, trying to catch her breath.

The Doctor used the velocity of the drop and bent his wing upwards, flying in a sharp "U" shape to return back up to the bridge. He had to turn and swerve around as he rose to face the bridge again. Atop the bridge were John and Pecan; John watching the Doctor while Pecan held tightly to John. The Doctor noticed and shouted, "get to the exit!"

John nodded and grabbed his wife, "come on!"

As the two ran, the Doctor rose close to the bridge. The closer he came the slower the speed of his glide would drop. To get to the bridge faster, the Doctor forced his wings to flap thrice. It hurt and he shouted, but he pressed on; and within seconds the two were on the bridge again. The Doctor collapsed along with Milly, as the two rolled on the stone.

"Come on! Hurry up!" the Doctor heard John shout.

Growling, the Doctor pushed his body up. He didn't allow the filly a second to catch her bearing before he grabbed hold of her mane and tossed her atop his back. Taking off, the Doctor galloped to the exit, where he could see John waving for the two to hurry.

He could hear the deposit crashing behind him. Everything was collapsing, probably even the very bridge he stood on. He couldn't tell, and at this point the Doctor didn't care either. The exit was right there, and he wouldn't spare a second to look back as he approached it.

The light was blinding as he leaped out into the open air, through the exit. John practically pulled the Doctor out as he came through. 

The three ponies collapsed side by side several feet outside of the exit. The exit, which turned out to be a large hole on the side of huge hill, spewed a cloud of dust towards the ponies, as the deposit caved in. Its last legs gave in, and the mine deposit was no more.

The ground shook for a minute, then slowed, before coming to a stop. The dust cleared, and what was left of the hole was now a pile of rocks on the side of a plain, grassy hill. Its useful exit fulfilled, and now reduced to rocks and boulders that sealed the exit shut.

As the noise died down, the only sound that remained were of the three ponies panting. 

Each of the ponies, equally exhausted, perhaps the Doctor more so because of his age, all lied together without moving. They stared to the exit they came from, breathing, in shock and disbelief. Each taking forever to catch their bearing. After several minutes, the Doctor felt a tap to his shoulder. The Doctor looked up to find Dean, who had one eye squinting down.

"Doctor? You alright?" Dean asked.

At that, the Doctor felt his energy return. He smiled and stood to his hooves too quick, ignoring the stars that popped in his eyes from doing so. "I'm brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

The Doctor smiled ecstatically to John, which helped John come to realization. As the stallion looked back to the exit, then back to the Doctor, John's eyes widened and he smiled as well. "We made it . . . we're alive!" John leapt to his hooves and rushed to his daughter, picking her up and spinning her, receiving a yelp in response from the smiling filly. "We're alive!"

The filly giggled and cheered with her father, "we're alive! We're alive!

"John?" 

John stopped and looked to his wife, who stood a few feet away beside a still unconscious Silver; her eyes still shut and her head facing their general direction.

Tears welled in John's eyes as he galloped to his wife while holding Milly, nearly knocking them all down as he wrapped  her in a strong hug. "Pecan! We made it! We actually made it!"

Pecan laughed, both happy and exhausted, hugging her husband and kissing her daughter on the head once she felt around and found her. "I can't believe it! We actually, really survived!"

The Doctor chuckled and looked away from the happy scene to Dean, who was still squinting. "Are you alright?"

Dean, who had been watching the family looked to the Doctor, "hmm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

"What about your eyes? Seems like one of ems doing better."

"Oh, actually it still hurts. Its not as bad as my right eye, but I had to open it to find my way out of the cave", Dean explained.

The Doctor rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "yeah, sorry about throwing Silver at you like that. And for you getting hurt and, well, everything that's happened today really."

Dean shook his head, "no worries, you said John needed help and you helped them. We all survived and that's what matters. Sure I got a little dinged up but we all did today. Besides, weren't you the one who said "not every win can be won painlessly?"

The Doctor smiled for a moment, before quickly frowning, "but you wouldn't have gotten hurt if-"

"Doctor" Dean interrupted. He waited a moment to make sure the Doctor was listening, then continued. "No more of that, alright? You've expressed that you feel this is your fault and your wrong. I chose to come with you, this was all my decision. So stop looking down on yourself that your friend got sap in his eyes or he almost died in a collapsing cave. I mean, its not like you forced me into that cave against my will, am I right?"

The Doctor chuckled, "yeah, I guess your right."

Dean smiled, "plus, I think you have another friend to worry about right now." Dean pointed to Silver, "he needs your help more than I do, that's for sure."

The Doctor gave a nod that Dean did not see, "your right. He needs medical attention real bad. And you and Pecan need an eye was station and phoenix tears."

"You mean your tears?" Dean asked, smirking.

"Don't make me feel weird about helping you", said the Doctor.

Dean chuckled, "hey, I'm the one who's going to use your tears as medicine."

The Doctor laughed, "yeah, I guess so". The Doctor took a deep breath and looked around.

He looked to the family, who had released their hug and were being checked for injuries by John. John held Milly's good hoof while Pecan rubbed her daughters back. He looked to Silver, unconscious, possibly in serious condition, but was in the Doctor's care so he knew he would be fine. Silver was alive, that was what mattered. Then he looked to Dean. His new friend, his new partner, his new companion. It was odd, this warm feeling the Doctor felt surging through his gut; knowing that the stallion that stood before him would return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T with him and stay while the others left. He wouldn't leave alone this time. It was an odd warm feeling he hadn't felt since . . . a long time ago. Before the days he became alone. What struck as odd was that the Doctor hadn't felt this way earlier, not when he had first invited Dean. Sure he had wanted a friend, but for him to feel like family so soon.

No, it was because of the high stress situation they were just in. Dean wouldn't stay permanently, he would probably leave as soon as he gets the chance to return to his studies. It was a sad thought, but it was true. He knew Dean was brilliant, it only made sense he'd want to go to school once it reopens, whenever that'll be. Whatever the case, he knew their time would be short, but at least he could enjoy it while it lasts.

The odd feeling went away, and the Doctor smiled and took another breath. "Everypony lives."

"Hmm? What was that?" Dean asked.

"Nothing, hey!" the Doctor yelled, waving to the family. "Let's get out of this swamp already!"

John smiled, "couldn't agree more!" 

The Doctor trotted to Silver and, with John's help, hoisted the Elemental onto his back.

John grabbed Milly and placed her on his back before holding onto Pecan to guide her. "Alright Doctor, you said you had a place to help us?"

"Yes, back at my carriage I have medicine to help your wife."

"Then lead the way", said John.

The Doctor nodded and looked to Dean, "ready for this adventure to be over?"

"Sleep in bed with a bowl of cereal? Yes please!" said Dean, excited.

The Doctor smiled and nodded, also excited, "alright than, lets get out of here."






One and a Half Hours Later





"Woah!" John said in awe, looking around the console room to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

"I know! Its so cool, right!" said Milly, trotting on three around the console.

"What is? I still can't see", said Pecan.

The family, all patched and healed from any injuries received the past few days, waited patiently for the Doctor to finish tweaking with the console. "Don't worry, you're sight will return to you shortly. 

The Doctor checked a monitor and flipped a switch. As he did so, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T emitted a high pitch squeal before dropping to a monotone "humm". The lights flickered for a moment, the systems shut off, and within seconds everything was back on and active. The machine shook, followed by the familiar metallic groan "WHOOZ! VIRRR! WHOOZ!", before a stomping sound emitted loudly. Like a piston dropping firmly against a hardwood floor. The shaking stopped and the machine made one last soft "humm" before slowly dropping silent.

The Doctor smiled, pressed a button, pulled a lever, then walked to John. "Sorry about that, I had my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's defenses on max while we were gone. It used up a lot of energy so I have it on power saver mode". The Doctor clasped his hooves together, "now then, where were we?"

John nodded, "right, as we were saying on the way here. My family has always been in hard time, you figured that out yourself. My wife used to be a stay at home mom and took care of our daughter while I worked. We teach her the best we can but we're no teachers, the two of us were actually bakers that was just starting to bring in money until-."

"Until Discord came and you lost your bakery along with your entire life savings. We got to that, I want to know more about this job of yours. You and Pecan came here for Silver but why? Who hired you?"

John shook his head, "no idea. We were camping out at the unicorn plains where the other ponies who've lost their homes go to stay when we got the job. Well, I was the one who received the job, I just told it to Pecan."

Pecan interjected, "I swear Doctor my husband and I aren't criminals! We were just trying to provide for our daughter-."

"I understand Pecan, I completely understand. Don't worry, none of you are in trouble. I just want to know about who gave you the job."

"Like I said, I don't know what he looked like. He wore a big red and black coat with fire on it. His collar covered most of his face, I barely even saw his eyes. Gave me a letter with all the job descriptions on it next to a tree", John explained.

"Do you still have that letter?" the Doctor asked.

John nodded, "yes". He slipped his hoof into a pouch on his quiver and extracted a large, dirty, semi white paper. He handed it to the Doctor and continued, "oh, before you read it there's something else you should know."

"What would that be?" the Doctor asked, holding the folded paper half open.

"Well, I want to apologize before hoof about my behavior back in the deposit. I'm normally not the one to be so, well, cautious around other ponies."

"You mean earlier when you panicked and almost shot Dean?" the Doctor asked, raising a brow and smirking.

John rubbed the back of his head, blushing, "heh heh, well, er, yeah". He cleared his throat, "its just that, I've never done anything like this before. Foalnapping, sneaking into other countries, heck, we really hurt that friend of yours. So my wife and I were buck nervous from the gecko. And I feel just awful about it. So I am apologizing for that. But, I became worried when you told us your name because, well, we were warned about you."

The Doctor paused for a moment, thinking to himself as he looked to the letter in his hoof. He nodded before looking back to John, "I figured as much. You said that back in the deposit, when you were-"

"Panicking, I know", John interjected, still sorry for his actions based on his tone.

The Doctor grinned to him, letting John know he was fine. "And this warning, I presume, is written here?"

"Yes sir", said John, pointing to the paper. "It gave us everything we needed to know about our job: where to find Silver, what to do with him once we've captured him, it even told us how to use that nifty little machine that subdues Frostealius. Said it would make capturing Silver a lot easier if we had it."

"Your talking about that Frequency Immobilizer you had back in the deposit. You still have that?"

"Sorry Doctor, I dropped it when we were running in those caves", said Pecan, drooping her head slightly.

"Don't worry about it. If it was destroyed than at least it won't harm any Frostealius anymore. Still, I'm curious about how it works. You say it subdues Frostealius? Do you know how it works?" the Doctor asked, intrigued.

John shook his head, "the letter tells us how to us it but nothing more then that."

"I see, does it only work on Frostealius?"

"As far as I know, we never tried it on anypony else."

The Doctor placed a hoof to his chin, thinking. "Hmmm, and this stranger, he's the one who gave you this device?"

"The letter and the frequency immobilizer, that's everything he gave us", John explained.

"He didn't fund you for this mission?"

John sighed, "no, he didn't. Pecan and I ended up using what was left of our life savings on this job. I think a have some bits left in my quiver, but now much."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Odd that a stranger would trust you with this level of technology. It must be advance if it only subdues Frostealius- hey, wait a second. If this was used to subdue Silver than how were you able to acquire it back in the deposit? In fact, where did the bow come from as well? I'd have thought Silver would've destroyed it."

John looked to the Doctor confused and responded, "no, after I was free from those vines I found our weapons lying in a corner, in the deposit my wife was trapped in."

The Doctor looked utterly befuddled, " . . . really, just . . . in a corner, as in . . . just there? Out in the open?"

"Well, yes."

The Doctor resisted the urge to face hoof, though it was clear he wanted to. " . . . Good . . . god . . . okay, uh, I'll have to talk with Silver on that later". The Doctor cleared his throat, "so, you were saying about a warning?"

"Oh, right. As I was saying, the letter gave us all of the instructions we needed for our job and the instructions were clear enough to understand, that is, until we read the end. At the bottom of the letter it warned us about a stallion simply named "the Doctor". Which I assume would be you, right?"

The Doctor nodded, "that's right."

John continued, "It didn't tell us anything more than that. No age, no appearance, not a single thing more than that. Just "beware of a pony named the Doctor. He will be a threat."

"Anything after that?"

"Just to avoid you at all costs. The letter ends after that."

"I see . . . I . . . sort of see . . . hmm, strange they would classify me as a threat. Oh well, maybe it makes sense."

"It does?"

"In a way."

"But how are you a threat? You've helped us so much", said Pecan.

"Oh well not a threat to you of course. I'm glad I was able to help. But this stranger, whoever they are, clearly know who I am. So they'd be aware that I would try to help you once I found out you needed help. Although, the same could be said if you had gone to anypony, like guards."

"We couldn't, he said we weren't allowed", said John.

"I presumed as much, wouldn't want to let the guards on to something illegal. But he knows I would help you whether you asked for it or not, and that would disrupt his plans. I wasn't a threat to you, in a sense, I'm actually a threat to this stranger. But still, he specifically warns you about me? Warns you not to go to guards, yes,  but specifically warns you about me? Its strange because, well, its not like I was traveling about searching for you lot. Everything that happened these past few days have simply been coincidence. Dean and I were searching for a friend of mine actually and we just so happened to be here when Milly needed help. We didn't try to find you, it just happened. So, why warn you about me?" The Doctor paused for a moment, thinking, before turning to walk towards the left side wall, where a series of flashing panels were placed. 

"Oh well, I'll figure it out later. For now, I think its time we found you somewhere safe to stay". Approaching the wall, the Doctor pressed a button, hearing a robotic "beep" in response. A moment later, a panel opened from the wall to reveal a large, pearly white and silver, metallic chest. The Doctor proceeded to the chest, typed a code on a panel placed on the left side of the chest, then opened the box.

The family stood aside and watched, unable to see the contents of the box from their position. 

As the Doctor extracted a paper, letter, and pen from the chest, John curiously asked, "um, Doctor? What are you doing there?"

The Doctor shut the box, a lock clicking into place as he did so, then returned to the panel wall and pressed the same button. The panel sealed tight, the cracks blending so well with the wall that the panel had might as well not even be there. He received a "beep" from the panel before returning to his spot next to the console. The Doctor then placed the paper atop the console and began writing for a few moments, before smiling and turning to John. He raised the paper, folded it, and placed it into the letter, making it clear for John to watch. Once finished, the Doctor licked the glue trimming and sealed the letter. He then tapped the tip of his tongue on the center of the letter, leaving a small scorch mark. Oddly enough, John noticed the mark resembled the Doctor's cutie mark very similarly.

John was both impressed and intrigued. However, before he had the chance to ask about the mark, the Doctor held the letter out to John. "Here, I'm giving this to you."

Raising a brow, John asked, "what is it?"

"Its a letter to Princess Celestia."

Pecan gasped upon hearing the princess's name, Milly exclaimed in excitement, and John looked skeptical. "A letter to Princess Celestia?"

The Doctor nodded, "I didn't tell you on the way here, but I'm not just a doctor. I also work for the princesses as their adviser."

"Does that mean you know the princesses!?" Milly yelled, smiling.

The Doctor responded, "indeed I do!"

"Wait, your serious? You actually work for the princesses?" John asked.

"John, after everything we've been through, don't you trust me?" the Doctor asked innocently.

John's eyes were wide as this information sank in. His skepticism changed, now he looked to the letter like a sacred artifact. He was both excited and afraid to receive the letter. "So, than . . . w- why are you giving me this?"

"Oh, its not just for you. This letter is for your whole family", said the Doctor.

John's heart sank at that and was about to ask before Pecan beat him to it. "Are we in trouble for what we did Doctor?" asked Pecan.

The Doctor shook his head and smiled, "I already said none of you are in any trouble. This letter isn't to punish you, its to help you."

"Help us?" John asked.

"Yes, I've written to Celestia about your situation and have asked her to take a generous amount of my own money and give it to you. It should be enough to provide for the three of you until you get your bakery back. And don't worry, I've left out everything about what's happened this past month. We'll keep that to ourselves", the Doctor explained.

While Pecan couldn't believe what she heard, John literally didn't believe what he heard, it was just too good to be true. "Can I see the letter?" John asked.

"It's already sealed, you'll rip the envelope."

"But . . . that's . . . impossible", John said through shakes.

Pecan walked to John and placed a hoof to his shoulder, "John? Honey?"

John ignored Pecan as tears welled in his eyes, "b- but, h- he's your friend and . . . and we treated him so terribly. We don't deserve this we . . . h . . . how much are you giving us?"

"Well, I wasn't sure how long it would be before you can get your home back. That and with bits being the new currency I'm still a little fuzzy with how much bits are worth. So I'm going to give you fifty thousand, that should be enough, shouldn't it?", said the Doctor.

John jerked, hearing that ludicrous amount made his heart skip a beat, as Pecan clung to her husband in astonishment. A single tear fell as John continued, "n- no . . . no! We don't deserve that! W- We deserve to be in jail! Why!? Why are you helping us!? This . . . this can't be true . . . it-"

The Doctor smiled, came close to John, and placed a hoof to John's unoccupied shoulder. John blinked through tears, looking to his shoulder, then to the Doctor. The Doctor said, "I believe that even the worst of deeds are acceptable, so long as that deed is for a noble and selfless cause. Silver is my best friend, I have known him ever since I was a colt. And if I had lost him, well . . . I can't say for sure how I'd feel. That's something I'd prefer not to think about."

"But then-"

The Doctor raised a hoof, cutting John off, "however, I know Silver more than any other pony would. I know, that despite everything he has been through, he will be alright. Silver will live another day and will go back to his own life. You on the other hoof will leave this M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T empty hoofed. No money, no home, no food, nothing, and that is unacceptable. You took this job in the first place as a means of providing for your daughter, and I will not allow you to end your troubles with nothing."

John stood listening to the Doctor, holding back tears as they fell anyway, "w- why?"

The Doctor tilted his head, silently asking, "why what?"

John choked, and took a moment to compose himself, before he asked, "w- why are you helping us so much? N- No pony else would ever do what you've done today. N- No pony else cares! W- Why do you care about a couple of strangers so much?"

The Doctor smiled warmly and replied, "because most ponies believe that in a time as chaotic as ours, the only way to survive is to fight fire with fire. That they need to be greedy, and steal, and fight, and conquer, and be ruthless to gain what they want. But . . . I believe that, in a time such as ours, the alternative is the best solution. In a time full of greedy, evil, terrible ponies, the best thing to do is to show friendship. To be kind, and honest, and loyal to the ones you love. To be generous to a stranger or to just make a crying child laugh; because, John, because the best thing to do, in a time such as ours, is to start putting water on the flame. To share friendship with one another and make Equestria a magical place again."

John sniffed, "e- even after everything we've done . . . y- you'd want to be friends with us?"

The Doctor replied happily, "absolutely! Especially after what you've done!"

John asked, astonished, "but why!?!"

"Because a pony can do the wrong thing to do the right thing. It may have never been the right thing, but that doesn't make it wrong. So long as you believe you are doing the right thing. You fought bravely for your daughter, and though you weren't doing the right thing, I won't dare look down on you for what you've done. Because you fought for your daughter, you fought for love. And if you ask me, I couldn't admire you enough, and that is the honest truth."

The Doctor's final words struck John hard and the stallion shivered. He was close to crying, but choked and stopped himself. Placing a hoof to his mouth, John clenched his eyes shut, taking deep breaths. John needed a minute before he composed himself enough to talk, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" the Doctor asked.

"Just . . . for everything. And . . . thank you, thank you so much for everything you've done for us" said John, smiling as happily as he had after escaping the mine.

Pecan stepped in, "yes, thank you so much Doctor! And we really are sorry for the trouble."

The Doctor raised a hoof, "no more apologies. I forgive the both of you entirely and I'm sure Silver will as well. As soon as he wakes up I'll tell him the reason for this whole mishap.

"Now then, are you going to take this letter or am I just going to stand here holding it all day?"

John looked to the letter uneasily, "are you certain we can have this? Fifty thousand bits is a lot of money."

"John if I wasn't serious I wouldn't have written it in the first place. Take the letter and give it to Princess Celestia as soon as her court opens to the public again", the Doctor ordered, nicely. "Oh!" the Doctor exclaimed. He reached into his inner vest pocket and pulled out a large, lumpy, brown pouch. Taking John's hoof, the Doctor placed the pouch into his grip, "almost forgot. You'll be needing this for where your going."

Jiggling the pouch, John asked, astonished, "is this-"

"Just some money to hold you off until the courts open. You can use this for now and then give that letter to the princess. That letter won't help you without the court, and you said you didn't have any money left."

Pecan was taken aback, and practically frozen stiff as she looked to her husband with her jaw hanging open. John was hesitant to accept the money, before the Doctor decided for him. "Go on, take it!" the Doctor practically ordered. John nodded and, slowly, placed the pouch into his empty quiver. Looking to the Doctor, John said, "thank you. I'll have to pay you back though."

The Doctor thought for a moment and answered, "Tell you what: keep out of trouble, enroll Milly into school, and just be happy. Do that and you'll pay me back in full."

John's eyes widened, and was about to question him. At this point, however, he knew the Doctor was serious and simply nodded. "Alright . . . alright, you can count on us!"

The Doctor smiled, "I'm happy to hear that."

John frowned suddenly as he pointed to the first letter, still in the Doctor's hoof. "But, what will you do about that?"

The Doctor looked to the letter and responded, "oh this?" He slipped it into his inner vest pocket nonchalantly, "I'll look into this later. For now I think the three of you would like a place to stay?"

"But we don't have a home. Our house was engulfed in chaos magic", Pecan explained.

The Doctor turned to his console, flipped a switch, and pressed a button. The machine activated, responding with a metallic "squeal" and light tone "humm". "Tell me, where did you three live?"

"Lemon Drop", said John.

"Lemon Drop? Near the mountains?" the Doctor asked.

"Yes."

"Eeyup, your right about that. That place is completely covered in chaos magic. So, I'll just have to take you somewhere else for now."

As the Doctor turned a switch and trotted to the other side of the console, John asked, "somewhere else? Where do you have in mind?"

"Oh I don't know, how about-" The Doctor pulled one last lever and the machine jerked.

The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's familiar squeal emitted loudly, "WHOOZ! VIRRR! WHOOZ!". And the machine shook as the bumps knocked against the sides. As if metal beams were knocking into walls.

Then, as soon as it had began, the machine stopped. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T went still and silent with one last "thump".

The Doctor smiled and approached the front door to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, opening it excitedly. As the door was pulled open, he stood back to allow the family view of the outside world. The warm sunlight, inviting them out, shining through the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T door.

The Doctor then finished his sentence, "the Dela Hayburg hotel in Trinitia!"

The family shared equal gasps of shock as they each slowly exited the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, looking to the beautiful ten story building before them.

It was a shimmering red, blue, and gold castle like building, made entirely out of crystal. A twin set fountain spewed crystal clear water from the bottom of the tall stairs, leading to the building's front entrance where two ushers awaited to assist. The water fell into a large pool with a sign posted at the front. A sign with the hotels name on it, written in silver. Surrounding the area was a very large chunk of green, grassy land with more then plenty of trees. If one were to look right they would see other building above the trees in the distance, indicating a city close by. If one were to enter the hotel and look to the left at the top floor, one would see a small, shimmering, crystal castle, far into the distance.

Other ponies close by looked to the family and Doctor oddly. Each and every pony in the vicinity confused, shocked, or appalled at the sudden appearance of a blue box and four ponies stepping out. Some were curious, the more snobby ponies found them rude for suddenly popping here like this. The richer ones close by saw the dirt plastered on the four and stepped away in disgust.

But the family paid them no mind, with the exception of the Doctor who was annoyed. The family was too shocked in awe to care about the surrounding ponies.

John stuttered, "w- we're, t- this is-"

Pecan finished for John, "were back in the Crystal Empire!"

John looked to the fountain, then to the trees around the building, then to the Doctor, "b- b- but this is-"

The Doctor cut John off, "the same hotel that you three stayed in a month ago?"

Pecan nodded as John replied, "y- yeah. How'd you know?"

"Because I told him we stayed here!" Milly yelled, jumping into the conversation.

Both John and Pecan raised a brow as they looked to their daughter. "You told him?" John asked.

Milly nodded as the Doctor explained, "she told me you three stayed in a hotel in the Crystal Empire before coming to Equestria. And since the Crystal Empire, the city I mean, doesn't have a hotel, I just had a hunch that you three stayed here."

John smiled, "huh, you know, you really do seem more like a detective then a doctor."

The Doctor chuckled, "yeah, I certainly feel that way sometimes."

John nodded and extended a hoof, "thanks again Doctor, for everything."

The Doctor shook John's hoof before turning to Pecan, who gave a pleasant hug in substitute to a shake. "Goodbye Doctor, thank you so much!"

"It was my pleasure Pecan. Just keep taking good care of Milly, alright?"

"Of course!" said Pecan, stepping back from the Doctor.

The Doctor then turned to Milly, who was frowning to the Doctor. "Hey, what's the matter? Aren't you happy to be safe with your parents again?"

Milly nodded and replied, "yes but . . . will I ever see you again?"

The Doctor chuckled and knelt close to Milly, "I might see you again someday. Maybe I'll pop around and see how you and your parents are doing. Would you like that?"

Milly fidgeted, "yes but . . . what if . . . what if monsters try to hurt us again?"

"Now Milly, you know Silvers not a monster right?"

"Yes but, what if?"

Milly seemed genuinely frightened and the Doctor found this odd. Perhaps she didn't want the Doctor to leave? Perhaps she felt him as a sort of guardian now? The Doctor thought so, this wouldn't be the first time. However, he couldn't stay and he didn't want to poor filly to be in distress during their stay at the hotel. But he needn't worry about this, the Doctor had an easy solution to this problem.

"Here", he said, reaching into his inner vest pocket and extracting a long, bamboo like tube with a mouth piece at the end. It had red painted carvings that resembled odd faces and birds. He handed the smooth object to Milly, "take this."

Milly simply raised a brow confused as she looked to the tube. "What is it?"

The Doctor pointed to the object, "this is a Soaroinim Whistle. If you or your family are in any danger and you feel that nopony else can help you, blow into this whistle and no matter where I am; I will hear you and I will be there."

Milly gasped excitedly as she looked to the Doctor, then back to the whistle. She nearly blew into the whistle as a test to see if it worked before the Doctor stopped her.

"Wait!" he said, extending a hoof to Milly. "This whistle is only for the utmost emergencies. And when I say utmost I mean only emergencies that I am needed. If you can get your parents or guards to help you then go to them instead. But only blow this whistle if you absolutely have no choice, do I make myself clear?"

Milly nodded and obediently placed the whistle to her chest, "yes Doctor."

The Doctor nodded approvingly and stood up. He turned to his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and looked back to the family as he waved, "goodbye everyone. Stay out of trouble this time and make sure she's responsible with that whistle."

John, Pecan, and Milly waved together. "Don't worry, we will! Goodbye Doctor!" said John.

"Goodbye!" said Pecan.

"Bye Doctor!" said Milly.

Just before the Doctor turned back, John looked past the Doctor with a raised brow. "Eh, Doctor. Is your box supposed to do that?"

"Hmm?" said the Doctor, turning to his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

It was then that the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's high pitch "WHOOR! VIRRR! WHOOR!" screeched loudly, and the box appeared to faze in and out of existence.

It was dematerializing, and the Doctor realized this with a high pitch squeal of his own. "Wait, WHAT!!!" the Doctor shouted, tossing himself to his precious machine. "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!!" It was too late, as quickly as it had arrived the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was gone. The Doctor jumped through nothing and landed face first onto the ground.

The Doctor jumped to his hooves and shook off the dirt, before standing slack jawed in the very spot his machine had been. His eyes like blank marbles staring into a disbelief nothing, as he could only croak like a stallion receiving a blow to his lower region.

The family looked to one another before John spoke, "um, Doctor? Are you alright?"

The Doctor appeared not to have heard him. He stood like a statue for a solid minute before finally moving. And it was a solid motion of hoof to face contact, before aggressively extending both legs and shouting, "WHAT!?!" The Doctor looked to the ground where his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was supposed to be, "WHAT!?!" He then looked to the family, then back to the ground, "WHAT!?!" He then flapped his legs about and stomped the dirt hard, "WHAT!?!"

No less then a second later did the same sounds of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's screech reappear. It was quiet and soft at first, then gradually grew louder and louder as the box appeared to faze in and out back into existence; rematerializing no less than two feet away from the Doctor.

The Doctor stared at the box, somehow further into disbelief then previously. Though the Doctor felt a strong surge of relief, he did not express it. A few moments passed before the Doctor stood suddenly. Turned away from the family, he muttered under his breath, "just pretend it was supposed to do that."

"Uh, Doctor? Was your box meant to do that?" John asked.

Quickly, the Doctor straightened his tie, cleared his throat, and dusted the dirt off his vest as he turned. "Oh it was just, eh, recalibrating its central orbiting controls. It does that every so often."

"Really? You seemed awfully upset when it disappeared", said John.

"I'm an old stallion, I forget it does that sometimes. Any who, time to be off. Goodbye everyone!" said the Doctor, waving. He made haste into the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T quickly, fearing that it would disappear again.

"Oh, goodbye-"

WHOOR! VIRRR! WHOOR!

"- Doctor", said John, waving to nothing as the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was already gone.

Pecan chuckled and looked to her husband, "he's a strange pony, isn't he?"

John smiled, "you know, I was thinking the same thing."

Milly looked up to her parents, smiling as she watched the two laugh and embrace each other. Not wanting to be left out, she quickly jumped to the two. To which John and Pecan happily accepted her into their hug.

The three held each other for a minute, happier then they had all been in a long time. John holding his wife and daughter, Pecan holding her daughter and husband, and Milly holding her father, mother, and the Soaroinim Whistle.





Inside the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T







The Doctor slammed the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T door before galloping to the center console. His mind was frantic in panic as he checked all the controls to make sure everything was functioning properly. He flipped a switch to dematerialize the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T before placing it into a "stand by" mode. Just as he was about to press a button to run diagnostics, he looked to his side and noticed Dean. A very nervous and sweating Dean at that.

The Doctor paused and slowly looked to the colt as a thought came to mind. Frowning, he asked, "Dean."

"Y- Yes", Dean replied.

"Why did my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T just take off without me."

Dean chuckled nervously, "about that, i- its not my fault! I swear! L- Let me explain!"

"Oh please do" said the Doctor, calmly. Though it sounded quite menacing to the Dean.

The colt spoke fast, "I- I know you told me to keep an eye on Silver back in the medical room, but Silver woke up and he wanted to leave but I told him no, I swear I did! Then he asked me for a glass of water so I turned my back to get him one and when I turned back he was gone! Then I heard the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T activate and-"

The Doctor stopped Dean, "hang on, hang on! Silvers awake?"

Dean nodded.

"Did he fly my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T?"

Dean nodded, "I was just getting to that. You see- hey, where are you going!?"

The Doctor ignored Dean, having already walked past the colt towards the double sided doors on the other end of the room. As he entered he asked, "is Silver back in the medical room?"

"Y- Yes", Dean stuttered, keeping his space between the Doctor as he followed.

"Good."

It didn't take long for the two to arrive at the medical room. In fact, Dean noted that it took a fraction of the time for them to arrive at the medical room then it did for him to find the control room. He assumed it helped that the Doctor already knew his way around the place.

As the two entered the large, rectangular, pearly white room, the two could see Silver lying on his back; on a hospital like bed in the corner of the room.

The room had a very large area full of cupboards on one end of the room and beds lying in a row throughout the rest of the room. A few bottles with odd liquid sat on a coffee table next to the cupboards. Whether chemicals, potions, or medicine, Dean couldn't tell, though it did show what the cupboards contained. 

The Doctor marched straight to Silver baring an expression that a father would have punishing a child. Standing beside Silver, the Doctor cleared his throat.

Catching Silver's attention, Silver turned his head to the Doctor. His fatigue hiding all emotion, Silver simply whispered, "you seem upset."

The Doctor nodded, "well you of all ponies should know that I don't appreciate having my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T pop off without me."

Silver laid his head back, facing the ceiling once more. "Sorry, I . . . needed to . . . get something."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

Silver shakily lifted a hoof, pointing to the ground beside him.

As his hoof drop almost immediately, the Doctor and Dean looked to the spot Silver pointed to find what looked like a large, square, metal saddle bag.

"Is that?" said Dean.

The Doctor's frown flipped to an astonished grin as he rushed to the device. He quickly picked up the device and flipped it around, checking every side of it. "My magic trace scanner! But, we forgot this back in the swamp! Wasn't it in the deposit when it caved in?"

"No . . . I never . . . brought this into . . . the deposit . . . didn't want to waste energy . . . so I left it in the swamp . . . near the cave entrance", Silver explained, having to pause and take breathes every so often.

"But why would you return for it?" the Doctor asked.

"I knew what it was . . . the scanner . . . I could tell by the feel of it", Silver explained.

"How would you know what it was just by the way it feels?" Dean asked.

"Silver traveled with me for a very long time before settling in the Ice Lands. He and I experimented with a lot of Phoenix Pony tech back in those days. So I'm not surprise he'd know what this is, even with him being blind", the Doctor said.

"How much time?" Silver asked.

"How much what?" Dean asked.

"He said time, how much time for what?" the Doctor asked.

Silver took a deep breath, struggling to stay awake now. "Scanner . . . the . . . scanner."

The Doctor and Dean both raised a brow. "I don't understand . . ." The Doctor gasped and quickly flipped the device to its backside, where a small panel was located.

"What is it Doctor?" Dean asked.

"I know what he's talking about!" said the Doctor, pulling open the panel.

Inside was a small monitor with various buttons set in rows of ten by ten. The Doctor pressed the button at the lower right hand corner and waited as the screened flickered to life. The screened flashed brightly and, though Dean couldn't see what the screen said, the Doctor cheered happily.

"We still have fourteen minutes before the memory is erased!"

"Wha- oh! Oh my gosh! That's right! It loses that trace after twenty four hours! I had forgotten about that!" said Dean, realizing what the Doctor had cheered for.

"With everything that's happened I almost forgot too. Thanks Silv- Silver?"

Silver didn't hear the Doctor's gratitude, he had already fallen unconscious again.

The Doctor sighed and placed the device atop his back. "Thank you Silver. Alright, let's hook this up to the console and see where we need to go next."

"Right", said Dean.

As the Doctor walked to the exit, he said to Dean, "oh, and if you catch Silver up and about again, come tell me as soon as possible. I'm glad he helped and all but he really shouldn't be out of bed."

"R- Right, of course", Dean stuttered, looking away from the Doctor as he followed him down the hall.

The Doctor raised a brow and looked to Dean, "you know your not in trouble, right?"

Dean looked back to the Doctor and chuckled nervously, "yeah, I, uh, just thought you'd be upset."

"Oh I was upset alright, just not at you", the Doctor explained.

"R- Right, of course."

There was a seconds pause before the Doctor asked, "is that why you didn't notice Silver bring in the scanner? You were afraid you were in trouble?"

Dean chuckled once more, "yeah, I suppose. After I saw that Silver was gone I ran in a hurry to find him. Though, the panic caused me to lose my sense of direction and I found myself lost in your hallway. By the time I finally found your console room you came in."

"Ah, I see. Well don't you worry, your not in trouble. In fact, I do believe our efforts after today deserve a reward!"

"What do you have in mind?"

"A cold bowl of cereal, while we sit by the fire, wearing Serilian gold weave cotton robes. How's that sound?"

Dean blinked, "you have a fire place?"

"In one of my rooms, though I haven't used it in a while so it might take a bit to find."

"And Serilian gold weave cotton? What's that? Some fancy fabric?"

"Fabrics sewn to have the same quality as clouds."

"Wait, so these robes feel-"

"Like your wearing a cloud, exactly!"

"But can't you just sleep in clouds whenever you like? You have wings after all", asked Dean.

"Ah, that's a common misconception amongst my species. See, pegasus magic allow pegasus to control the weather and have full physical contact with clouds. Phoenix magic on the other hoof doesn't work the same way. Our magic works around fire mostly, so we can't control the weather. And if we tried to sleep on clouds we would just fall through like any other pony would."

"Oh, interesting. You know what, I think that sounds perfect. I am exhausted after today!" Dean said with a sigh.

The Doctor chuckled as he and Dean entered the console room.

The Doctor walked to the center console and place the device on his back to the floor. He then opened a panel placed to the side of the device, revealing a thin cable. Grabbing the cable, the Doctor attached the male end to the female end; placed on the side of the console.

As soon as the cable attached, the monitor beside the Doctor flickered on and a loading screen appeared. As the screen loaded, slowly from zero percent to three percent, the Doctor looked to Dean. "So, how are your eyes doing?"

"Hm? Oh, my eyes are doing fine. They feel a lot better after the eye wash station and, eh, your tears."

The Doctor chuckled, "that will never stop being awkward."

Dean laughed, "nope. But really, I appreciate you healing me and all but don't you worry about what others think when you say your going to "heal them with your tears?"

The Doctor shrugged, "not really, I stopped caring a long time ago."

"Hm, alright. Say, your tears work really well as healing potions. Have you ever thought about selling it?"

The Doctor cringed, "Ugh, no I would never, that's just wrong."

"It is?"

"Well, imagine if someone paid you to drool for them, wouldn't that be disturbing?"

"I see your point, but your tears can heal."

"Yeah, and eating unicorn horns extends your lifespan, but you don't see unicorns chopping their horns off."

"Oh yeah, I did read about that. But this is different, you can produce more tears quicker than unicorns growing their horns back, if they even grow back, that is."

"Those are still my genes I would be selling. And the last thing I need is for some dark enchantress to find my genes and do as she pleases with them.

"Besides, they're tears, how much of that do you really think I can produce at once?"

"Well you wouldn't have to do it at once. Wouldn't it make sense for Phoenix Ponies to just cry a lot on one day and then cry again the next? Or if they had multiple Phoenix Ponies taking shifts in crying. I mean, if they can just make themselves cry on command like you can than they can have as many tears whenever they want."

"But other Phoenix Ponies can't make themselves cry on command. Some actually don't cry at all."

Dean tilted his head, "really? Why's that?"

The Doctor chuckled and shrugged, "I don't know! That's the same as me asking "how come some pegasus don't work for weather control?" Or, "how come those unicorns are wizards?" Just because I can cry on command doesn't mean everyone else can. Its my own personal function, not something were all born with. Kind of like you with your western accent, not everyone in Equestria has one of those."

"I see, so some phoenix ponies aren't able to heal others like you can?"

"Eh, they probably can. I mean, yes I can do it much better than them because I can cry on command. Personally, all I have to do is think of something that makes me sad and it just happens. For them, I don't know, everyponies different."

"But if that's true than what about leaving Alburnia? You said that its a law that you can't leave. That kind of makes it sound like all phoenix ponies are the same. At least, in that aspect.

"I don't know. That law is . . . strange. It made sense in the older days when phoenix ponies were sparse. But with generations of new ponies, there's been a lot of mixed feelings on it. Though, the law is controlled by phoenix ponies from the older days, who are all used to that law, so I doubt the law would change either way. But your right about that, despite mixed feelings most of the phoenix ponies don't do anything about it."

"Except for you", said Dena, grinning.

"Well, not just me. I said most don't do anything about it. Some, a very small number, have."

"There were others that have left too?" asked Dean.

There was a pause as the Doctor thought for a moment. He licked his lips, almost hesitating to answer, before chuckling. "Heh, yeah . . . there was one other."

"Really? Who?"

"He . . . he was . . .", the Doctor paused, as if he was having trouble answering. He wanted to, but to Dean, the Doctor seemed hurt to answer. Slowly, the Doctor replied, "he was a really good friend of mine."

Dean took notice of the Doctor's shift in tone and asked, "did something happen to him?"

There was a pause as the Doctor answered slowly, "he, uh . . . honestly . . . I don't know what happened to him."

"What do you mean?" asked Dean.

"Well . . . it was a long, long, long time ago. Back when he and I used to live in Alburnia. You see, I left Alburnia because I was bored and my friend was no different. The both of us wanted to see what this world had to offer so much! So the two of us, no older then ten at the time, made a plan to escape. He caused a diversion while I go steal a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Easier said than done, we already knew that from the start. But we were determined to escape, so we set the plan to motion and . . . well . . . it ended badly."

"How bad?"

" . . . Bad enough to land a ten year old colt in high security prison."

"Wait, what!?!" Dean exclaimed, eyes wide.

"Phoenix Ponies are very strict with their laws and stealing a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T isn't exactly something they'd gloss over. They didn't care how old we were, he was thrown in prison the next day once they caught him."

"Without a trial!?"

The Doctor shook his head, "from what I heard, no. But if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have escaped. And I tried going back for him, I really did. But when I broke into the prison I found out that he had already escaped. I searched for a while, searching through the surrounding countries and beyond. But . . . I never found him. And I haven't seen him ever since. Whether he's alive or not I honestly don't know."

The Doctor frowned and looked to the ground, "he escaped about a month before I arrived. Can you believe that? A month? Hah! If I had only been there just one month earlier, just one month, I could have broken him free". There was a pause before the Doctor continued, "I was too late . . . one month too late . . . or . . . even about two years too late."

"Two years?" Dean asked.

The Doctor sighed, "I was only ten Dean. Ten years old and all alone. And my only friend had been taken from me and thrown in prison. I didn't know what to do. I was lost and scared. I mean, eventually I found some ponies to help me. They taught me things and made me strong. It wasn't until I was twelve that I thought I was ready to return to Alburnia and rescue him. But . . . of course that didn't turn out well either."

There was an awkward pause as Dean stood there, feeling sorry for the old stallion. He glanced away for a moment, imagining the hardship one would have to surpass at such an age. He couldn't imagine his own self accomplishing such feats, even with his current age, let alone a ten year old child. Looking back, Dean said empathetically, "I'm sorry that happened."

The Doctor sighed and grinned slightly, "its fine, that's all in the past. I've moved on, and if my friends still alive than I'm sure he's moved on too. Heck, he's probably adventuring just like I am. Perhaps I'll run into him someday. Or maybe I already have and didn't realize it. I mean, the both of us are the same age so I wouldn't be surprised if he's already regenerated. Who knows . . . heh . . . who knows."

Dean grinned and asked, "what was your friend's name?"

The Doctor smiled and replied, "his name was Coal Burns."

"Bleep Bloop", the monitor beeped.

The Doctor looked to the monitor and became excited, seeing the load screen reach one hundred percent. "It's finished!" he said happily, quickly pressing a few buttons before looking back to the monitor.

"Excellent! Where are we heading?" asked Dean.

"It seems the next location is . . . a . . . forest! A forest just outside the fifty mile scanning radius. We'll have to stop there and rescan before we can continue."

"Alright, well what are we waiting for?" 

The Doctor looked to Dean curiously, "you excited?"

"More anxious to find your friend already. But I'll admit, I am a bit excited."

"You aren't worried about running into more danger?"

Dean shrugged, "of course I am. But, all of Equestria is dangerous at the moment when you think about it. It just seems . . . different this time. Like, its still scary but it has . . . more of a thrill to it now. Does that make sense?"

The Doctor laughed, "I know exactly how you feel!"

As the Doctor pulled a lever, activating the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's signature squeal, Dean asked, "hey Doctor. I don't think you've told me your other friend's name. The one that we're looking for."

"Oh you'll find out soon enough!"

Dean raised a brow, "why's that?"

The Doctor chuckled, pressed a few buttons, then rested a hoof on a lever, "because I think you'll recognize this pony once we meet her". Before Dean could ask, the Doctor shouted, "alright! Next stop, a random forest!" The Doctor pulled the lever, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T shook and squealed, "WHOOZ!!! VIRRR!!! WHOOZ!!!"


And together, the two were off to their next location.



( ( ( NEXT TIME ) ) )


Dean Do quickly followed, taking in the sights of the forest around him. "Wow", he breathed, turning in a circle as he walked to look at everything.

"I know! Beautiful isn't it?" said the Doctor, smiling.

"Where are we?"

"I told you, a random forest."

"No, I mean, where in Equestria are we?"

The Doctor laughed, "ah, but that's just it. We're in a random, unnamed forest outside of Equestria!"


TRANSITION


"Welcome to the edge of Equestria! We are just five miles outside of the border in the unnamed forest."


TRANSITION


He was a baby blue stallion with purple and white hair. He had scruffy hair, a messy, dirty tail, and a cutie mark of what appeared to be a large white and purple flower. The stallion was dirty and had cuts from the fall. He was noticeably shaking and was crying, as evident by the glistening eyes and trail of tears running down both cheeks. 

Dean relaxed and asked, "are you okay?"

The stallion didn't respond. His breathing continued at speed and he shivered before wincing from the pain.

Dean noticed and took a step forward, "your hurt aren't you-."

The stallion saw Dean approach and shouted, "stay away!"

Startled, Dean stopped and took a step back.

The stallion, openly crying yelled, "I- I don't know who you are! Y- You better stay back!"

Dean raised his hooves to his chest and responded softly, "I'm not going to harm you. Honest, I just want to help."


TRANSITION


"Sorry I don't believe I caught your name."

Through heavy breathes, the stallion managed to stutter, "A- Aster."


TRANSITION


"He went to where I saw the pony to check if someone was actually there. I tried to tell him not to, I really did. But . . . he went anyway and . . . he . . . he . . .". Aster's eyes teared as he gave a slight sob.

The Doctor and Dean shared equal care to Aster's distress, evident by their expressions of pity. The Doctor, however, was the one to walk close to Aster and pat his back gently.

Feeling his touch, Aster sniffed and looked into the Doctor's eyes; wanting to smile to the kind stallion, yet unable to. He whimpered, wiped his eyes, and pressed on. "When he c-checked he . . . he was attacked."

"Attacked by what?" the Doctor asked softly.

Aster gulped once more and looked away, seeming too scared to even describe the event.

So the Doctor, continuing to pat, said, "I know it hurts to think about it. And it probably scares the ever loving daylights out of you. But if you want me to help, then I need to know what it was that attacked your coltfriend. You said you saw a pony out of the corner of your eye? And you called her "she"? Did this mare attack your colt friend?"

A tear fell as Aster looked back to the Doctor with wide eyes. "She wasn't a mare! She was a ghost!"

"A ghost?"

Aster nodded, "a ghost! A phantom! A- er, I don't know what she was! But she wasn't a pony!"


TRANSITION


Ten feet away from the three stood the very mare Aster had ran from. The mare without fur and leaking eyes, a wasp like mane, no cutie mark, and pale as an ocean blue. Before them was the phantom, smiling carelessly.

"Oh my god", thought the Doctor, standing up straight and adjusting his tie. He cleared his throat, "hello there!"

The mare didn't respond. She continued staring and drooling with her malicious smile.

Will Aster remained hidden in the bushes, covering his mouth to prevent himself squealing by accident, Dean dropped the leg he pointed with and gulped. "N- No, no that's not . . . that's not a ghost, it . . . i- it can't be!"

"Don't be rude Dean, ghost or not she is still a mare", the Doctor whispered over his shoulder to Dean.

"B- But ghost aren't real! Their not real! T- That's impossible!" Dean shout whispered, shaking to the sight before him.


TRANSITION


The phantom laughed, "don't you wanna be a pretty princess mister? It'll be fun!!!"

Aster sobbed while gasping for air, feeling his lungs reaching their limit. "Stay away from me! Stay away!"

Aster's please were futile, the phantom merely laughed in response. She didn't appear tired or scared, and she had no trouble maneuvering through forest. Following Aster allowed her to foretell when an obstacle would approach. If Aster stumbled on something or bumped into a tree, she would see and avoid it. And with every obstacle, Aster, through very slight, would slow down. Allowing the phantom to seal the gap further and further.

"Ow!" Aster shouted, bumping into another tree and scratching a mark to his right shoulder.

"Your friend would be happy to see you mister! He's a princess! And you can be one too! Wouldn't that make you happy to see your friend again!?!" the phantom shouted with glee.

Aster sobbed, "no! Stay away from me!"


TRANSITION


Growling, the phantom marched straight to Dean. Standing above him, she took hold around his torso once more with her tendril mane and lifted him again. Holding him upside down, and keeping him inches apart from her, so that she could look into his eyes face to face.


TRANSITION


The Doctor's flame illuminated the rest of the room, exposing the secrets the had hid in the dark.

The size of the room was to that of a living room, and what had once been furniture and décor helped the Doctor assume this room had, at one time, been a living room. However, whatever was or had been certainly wasn't anymore, for the room, at one point, had been tampered drastically.

A rug clothed the center of the old wood floor. Old, ripped apart, and stained in black, far to ruined to distinguish its original color and design. A small wooden coffee table sat atop the rug, withered, chipped, and had two plates of rotted food. White and blue fuzzy lumps of mold caked the plates, as dozens of flies buzzed around it. A chefs knife popped out from one of the plates, stabbed into the food and stained black, the bottom half coated in fuzz.

Beside the table was a green coach. The fabric was ripped apart, exposing its feather and spring insides. Battered, dented, ripped with holes, and stained in black, the coach look ready to fall apart at any moment.

Along the walls were a few picture frames. Many had fallen at one point with shattered glass covering the ground, the ones stills hanging were all blotched in black liquid. One in particular had a knife sticking out the center.

Across from the front door was an entry way leading to two separate staircases, one leading up and one heading down. The wall on the far side was heavy coated in mold and black stains. Larger pieces of glass covered the edge of the wall, along with chunks and bits of rotted food. Several knifes and cleavers were stabbed around the wall randomly. And in the center of the wall in big, bold, black letters, was a message written sloppily. "THE DOCTOR HAS FALLEN, THE CHILDREN HAVE FALLEN, LONG LIVE THE KING, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!!


TRANSITION


The phantom blurted out laughing, too hard and causing her to choke. All the while she felt her magic course through her heart and soul, and through her leg to the Doctor.

And the Doctor felt it. Like hot boiling oil rushing through a tube, he felt her magic flush into him. His head was suddenly heavy, and his body's weight suddenly lifted off his bones. All his pains and aches gone, leaving him numb. Her magic burned, yet only for a moment, as all his senses began to leave him, so did his sense of hot and cold. Her magic no longer burned, and the ground was no longer cold.

He felt nothing, he felt like nothing, or, being reduced to nothing.


TRANSITION


"The end of the past begins with a lullaby. You die so you can live, but you will remain dead as he arises. And he will live on as you, but never in your image. For, he is not truly you, and he never will be. You know that, you do . . . and you cannot stop it . . . no one can."

"No! Please no! Please!"

The flame completed its crawl, the Doctor's body was covered top to bottom in golden fire. Burning more powerful than before, reducing the Doctor's body to ash. And he felt it, starting from his lower half, his physical body disintegrating.


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"



TRANSITION


The phantom filly, smiling and glaring at Dean, had spotted him. She rushed from no where and pushed Dean with all her might, slamming him into the tree.

Her tendril hair hovered about, aimed to Dean like a squad of pythons ready to strike. The phantom giggled as she stepped towards Dean. "Pretty, pretty, PRINCESS!!! You can't run anymore!!! Let the Queen of the Forest make you HERS!!!" 

Dean rose to his hooves coughing. He felt pain surge around his right ribs, and it made him strain to stand. But he managed and glared at the phantom. He had done so much tonight, and reminding himself of what he had done empowered him with a surge of energy. A will to fight back and win against this phantom. Mixed with a sudden mass of hate. 

The persistent phantom, chasing him and attacking over and over. She hurt the Doctor, she hurt Aster, and she wouldn't stop attacking him. He wanted her to stop, he wanted her gone. She just wouldn't leave him alone, and that made him angry. 

His will to fight, his anger to the phantom, he stood to his hind hooves. Breathing heavily, Dean roared at the phantom, "I've had about enough of you, your highness!" Dean attacked with his whip, shouting, "you will not take me!!!"


TRANSITION


"G- Ge- off!!!" Dean sputtered, grabbing meekly at the phantom's ankle.

She laughed and lowered her tendril hair slowly, encircling Dean's vision with black, hanging snakes. The tendrils extended to the ground and atop Dean, covering the surrounding ground and Dean's torso. A few of the tendrils slithered up his neck to reach his face. 

"S- S- op!" Dean choked.

She laughed, "nighty night PRINCESS!!!"
> lullabies: Part One (S1C5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larkspur hummed a lovely tune as he collected a few more dry twigs off the ground. He was nervous being alone and humming usually calmed his nerves. And the forest was quite unsettling, what with the thick fog and echoes of distant animals every so often; whether birds or wolfs Larkspur could hardly tell.

The forest was awfully humid so finding dry wood deemed a challenge for Larkspur. Though he had no choice, if he and his coltfriend wanted supper for the night he had to make a fire. So here he was, alone in the forest collecting wood. A dozen yards away from the campsite where his colt friend was setting preparations for the meal.

Larkspur spotted a small river bank and chose to take a break nearby. Setting down the wood he had collected on the driest spot of dirt possible, Larkspur sighed and plunged his hooves into the calm water. The water was sharply brisk, despite it being summer; though the sun was dropping so the temperature had fallen. Larkspur, however, found the water to be relaxing, splashing large hoovefuls onto his face and drinking some in his cupped hooves. Once he had his fill, Larkspur took a moment to look at his reflection in the water.

His black hair was still nice and tidy, even after hours of traveling. His dark purple eyes reflected the water back into his own reflection, and his coat complimented his eyes well. Though a dull purple in comparison, still a fine color for a pony of such scheme. He could almost see the cactus shaped white and purple flower mark upon his rear through the ripples of the water.

Larkspur smiled and looked to his surroundings. Despite his nerves, the forest was actually quite nice. The setting sun and thick fog gave the area a very serene feel, with a blue and white tinge. The cool wind of dusk was the perfect chill to provide a cozy, calming breeze. Not to strong nor too weak, nor cold either, the wind was perfect. The scent of dew and wet grassy dirt enshrouded the area, and the gentle water flowing amongst the river rocks was like a calming tune to Larkspur.

The forest, truly it felt like a place that could only exist in one's dream. It was beautiful, it was pleasant, and it was calming. And it was exactly why Larkspur had chosen this very location to bring his coltfriend. A nice place, away from the chaos of central Equestria.

Larkspur sighed peacefully and allowed his shoulders to slump down. His nerves had calmed and he was at last relaxed.


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"


It, however, did not last long. Larkspur jumped to his hooves and looked to the direction of the scream, which faced him back to the campground. "Aster!?!" Larkspur shouted. His voice was crisp, quite young for his age, reminiscent to a college student fresh out of grade school. 

"LARK!!!" a stallion shouted.

"ASTER!!!" Larkspur dashed forth, galloping back to the campsite. Leaving behind the pile of dry twigs and sticks.

Quickly maneuvering around trees and small bushes, Larkspur found himself back at the campground in no time. A small area containing just as many trees as the rest of the forest, with the exception of a small patch of free space to set up a tent for two. There was a rock pile meant for the fire three feet away from the baby blue tent, and a saddlebag full of food; dropped to its side and abandoned near the rocks. 

Larkspur frantically looked about, rushing and searching in the tent only to find it unoccupied. He spun around, "Aster!?! Aster where are you!?!"

"Lark!"

The sound came from behind the tent. Running around, Larkspur found himself almost immediately gasping for breath as something wrapped around his neck. It took him a moment to realize it was his own coltfriend: Aster.

Aster was a smaller than average stallion with a feminine snout. He spoke with a soft voice that equally matched his appearance. He had white and blue, flat, soft hair, baby blue eyes, and a coat only a shade lighter than his eyes. He held his legs frightfully around Larkspur's neck. His head almost jabbing into Larkspur's chest as he shook.

Larkspur grabbed Aster by the shoulder and looked him in the eye, releasing the tight grip that choked him. "Aster! What happened!?"

Aster stuttered, speaking fast, "t- there, there's, t- there's a- a- a-"

Larkspur interrupted, "Aster, breath."

Aster complied and took a deep breath. In through the nose and out through the mouth, calming himself as Larkspur caressed his mane.

Larkspur allowed him a moment before he asked, "now tell me what's wrong. What's gotten you upset?"

Aster, still shaking, said, "I- I- I thought I saw something."

"What was it?"

"I- I don't know. I- I, i- it almost looked like a filly. O- Or a mare, I- I couldn't tell."

"You thought you saw another pony?"

Aster shook his head fast in response.

"Where?"

Aster looked to the right and pointed to a patch full of large bushes. Larger than the others surrounding the area.

Raising a brow, Larkspur released his coltfriend and walked calmly to the area.

Aster frowned and cried out, "Larkspur! Don't go looking there!"

Larkspur looked over his shoulder and gave a warm smile to Aster. "Relax my little flower bud. I'll go see if somepony is really there. If someone is than I'll introduce myself. There's no need to be afraid."

"B- But I thought you said we were the only one's here", said Aster, shaking ever more frightfully now.

"I could be wrong, it doesn't hurt to check", said Larkspur, turning back and walking to the bushes.

Aster placed his hooves to his head and whined under his breath, "but it might!"

Gingerly, Larkspur approached the bushes, keeping caution while maintaining his composure. Though he felt uneasy to investigate the bush, he still needed to act calm. He didn't want to accidently set his coltfriend into a panic attack just by seeming slightly distraught. Aster was easily spooked by the little things and this time was no different. Perhaps a forest critter rustled the bush and scared him? Larkspur didn't know, though he felt confident it was nothing. Placing a hoof to the bush, Larkspur, both wanting to seem brave and wanting to get the fright over with, quickly pulled the twigs aside and peered within the bushes.

Inside was nothing, just plain, empty bushes. Larkspur smirked, "just as I thought". He turned to Aster and said with a smile, "see? It was nothing. Probably just a bunny rabbit or something. There's no need . . . to . . . what- what are you looking at?"

Aster's eyes were wide like grapefruits, his jaw dropped to max length as he squealed; too afraid to even speak. His fear peaked, too scared that even his body could no longer shake. He wanted to scream, but was too afraid to do so. And he couldn't run, he had gone stiff. All he could muster was a poised leg, pointing like a statue behind Larkspur.

Now Larkspur felt afraid, as he slowly turned around.

Half a foot from his face, on the other side of the bush, was a mare of questionable age. She stared into Larkspur's eyes, somehow without eyes of her own. Empty pitch black sockets somehow staring, oozing a dark, mysterious liquid. Dripping from the sockets, along her face, dripping down her neck and onto the ground. She hadn't any fur, her skin was a pale water blue, like moonlight on a lake; and she hadn't a cutie mark. Her tail and mane were long and flowing. A long, streaming, vapor like, see through, white hair. The way it flowed made it seem like drapes in the wind. Appearing like a ghost, or a phantom.

Blankly staring to Larkspur, she spoke a voice both male and female. Like a duet of both genders speaking at the same time. Yet, the voices were manipulated, as if the female was being strangled and the male was a demonic being. It was a horrific voice fit for tarterus.

"Would you like to play?" the mare said, smiling a leaking smile of the black liquid.

Larkspur screamed the loudest he had in his life, and Aster followed suit.


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

















~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Doctor and his companion Dean Do in:


Lullabies


Chapter Five/Segment One


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~











"WHOOZ!!! VIRRR!!! WHOOZ!!!"

The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T squealed as it materialized in the forest, landing no where specific.

The door opened and out stepped the Doctor, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. He sighed contently, breathing out the wondrous, fresh forest air.  "Humid, dusk, wet grassy dew, ahhh. Just my kind of place", said the Doctor. Taking a step out of his machine, the Doctor looked to where they had landed.

It wasn't a clearing or any particular spot in the forest. They landed in a place just as full of trees and grass as the rest of the forest had to offer. Bushes scattered about, the final chirps of birds before the end of a day. A completely ordinary spot for a forest.

As the Doctor stepped out, Dean Do quickly followed, taking in the sights of the forest around him. "Wow", Dean breathed, turning in a circle as he walked to look at everything.

"I know! Beautiful isn't it?" said the Doctor, smiling.

"Where are we?"

"I told you, a random forest."

"No, I mean, where in Equestria are we?"

The Doctor laughed excitedly, "ah, but that's just it. We're in a random, unnamed forest outside of Equestria!"

Dean spun around, facing the Doctor, "what!?"

The Doctor nodded, "eeyup! That's right! Welcome to the edge of Equestria! We are just five miles outside of the border in the unnamed forest. Which is odd, because when you think about it that technically gives this place a name doesn't it? So it would be the, "Almost Named Forest?" Nah, that sounds stupid."

Dean shook his head, "wait, wait, wait, we're outside of Equestria."

"Eeeeyup."

"In the unnamed forest."

"Pretty sure I just said that."

Dean anxiously placed a hoof to his head and exclaimed, "b- but, t- this- this is the unclaimed territory! We're not just in an unnamed forest, we're not even in a country anymore! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be in land that isn't part of a country, or even civilization for that matter!?!"

The Doctor chuckled, "oh Dean, your worrying too much! Sure this isn't Equestria or a country but that doesn't mean it isn't safe. I've been in plenty of unmarked territories before and nothing ever went wrong . . . most of the time."

Dean looked to the Doctor dumbfounded, "oh really? Well, that's reassuring isn't it?"

"Alright fine, if it worries you that much than I'll just scan the next trace real quick and we'll be off. That sound better?"

"Much."

"Okay, than I'll just . . . oh! Almost forgot. Dean, could you run in and grab the scanner please? I got excited and ran out before grabbing it", said the Doctor, pointing to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

"Sure", said Dean, turning and walking back into the box.

The Doctor waited patiently for Dean as he listened to the sounds of the forest. The chirping, the gentle rustle of leaves as the soft wind blew, bits of dust and pollen flowing along the breeze every so often. He loved the colors as well. The forest, thickened with tree, made it a challenge for light to pass through. What little did mange to pass the branches and leaves gave the area a subtle hint of orange and blue, the setting sunlight illuminating whatever it could. The various brown colors of oak and maple, bright green and frivolously watered grass and leaves, damp, soft, moist dirt as far as the eyes could see. The Doctor couldn't imagine a better place to be, and he took a deep breath and sighed a heavy, content sigh to express it. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant", the Doctor said under his breath. 

It was so amazing, and he couldn't express or feel more so than he did now. This forest, he loved it, three minutes he's been here and already he wants to spend the night. It was so perfect.

And that wonderful singing just made it so much better.

" . . . . . Wait a second", thought the Doctor, perking his ears to the sudden appearance of the new sound.

He turned away from the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and listened close. It seemed to be coming from a mare, singing a soothing melody of sorts. Like a mother singing a lullaby to a child. It was quiet at first, the Doctor only hearing the melody. But as the Doctor paid closer attention, slowly, the mares voice became clearer. Though it was difficult, as her voice would fade in and out.

"Setting sun . . . . orange dusk . . ." the voice faded.

"Hello?" the Doctor called out.

No response, the voice faded in and sung once more. "You rest your head . . . . you run away . . ." the voice faded.

"Hello! Is anypony there!?" No response, so he cupped his hooves to his mouth, "hello!"

"Doctor?" a voice said suddenly.

The Doctor screamed. And as he screamed the second voice screamed, which only caused him to scream louder. As the Doctor screamed and turned, he found that the second screamer was actually Dean, clutching the magic scanner to his chest. 

It took a second for the Doctor to realize he must have scared Dean just as bad as Dean had to him. The Doctor took a breath and exclaimed, "Dean! What- i- it- you-"

Dean frowned and said with a start, "bloody tarterus Doctor! What's gotten you jumpy all of a sudden!?"

The Doctor thought for a moment, embarrassed as he formulated a rational response. He couldn't think of one and responded, "I- I . . . didn't- didn't you hear that?"

Dean raised a brow,  "hear what?"

The Doctor pointed to a random direction in the forest, "that! That singing!" Dean gave the Doctor a look that was clear he hadn't a clue what the Doctor was on about, so the Doctor pressed on, "a mare was singing just now! Didn't you hear?"

Dean tilted his head, "uh, no pony was singing Doctor."

The Doctor nearly pressed on, before stopping himself to sigh. "You probably didn't hear because you were in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T."

"Actually it only took me a second to grab your scanner. When I came back out you were shouting at someone, but I didn't hear anyone reply."

"What? But you . . . eh, never mind. Doesn't matter, its just singing. Here, give me the scanner and I'll-" The Doctor stopped and perked his ears.

"Doctor?"

"Shh!" the Doctor shushed Dean, raising a hoof to his lips. He cupped a hoof to his left ear and listened, as a sound slowly faded in.

" . . . . Setting sun . . . . Orange dusk", the voice faded.

The Doctor smiled, "I knew it!" Looking to Dean, he said excitedly, "you must have heard that time!"

Dean looked confused as before as he said, "what? I didn't hear anything."

"Wha- your joking, right?"

Dean shook his head.

"B- but, it was clear as day! The singing! How can you not hear that?"

Dean started to become worried, and expressed it with a look. "Doctor? Are you feeling alright?"

"Wha- I- I", he stopped suddenly, and looked beyond Dean, staring for a moment. 

Dean looked back, curious, but found nothing there. He turned back to ask, but found he didn't need to. The Doctor's expression made it obvious he wasn't looking to anything. He was, instead, deep in thought. His mouth hung open, without blinking, the Doctor was motionless for a few seconds. Before he startled Dean with a quick and sharp gasp.

Whatever the Doctor was thinking it was intense enough to make him visibly afraid, and it made Dean worry. Before he could ask, the Doctor ordered suddenly, "follow me!"

"What? Where are-"

The Doctor, already running forth to a random direction, looked over his shoulder and shouted, "toss the scanner into the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and follow me!"

"What!? But Doctor!" Too late, the Doctor had ran somewhere into the forest, the vast amount of trees hiding him from Dean. Dean sighed and did as he was told, quickly tossing the scanner into the box and shutting the door before turning to the direction which the Doctor ran in. "Doctor!" Dean shouted, running forth and hoping to catch up to him.

It was difficult running through the forest, keeping a sharp eye out for oncoming trees and bushes to swerve around. Which wasn't too difficult with the ones he initially saw. However, some of the trees grew quite close to another, and were positioned in the perfect spot where Dean couldn't see it until after he had avoided the prior tree. Whenever that happened, Dean would practically have to jump to avoid collision. Not only slowing him down but also diverting his attention from finding the Doctor.

As the forest grew darker, it became more difficult for Dean to maneuver through. Bits of twigs, rocks, and other various things on the ground became increasingly difficult to see. Eventually, he had to run slower than usual and keep most of his focus to the ground, making sure he didn't trip. Not to mention his nerves growing uneasy, as night fell many of the nocturnal animals were beginning to awaken. And already, Dean started to hear them. Whooing, cawing, or howling loud, their noise echoing amongst the forest.

To make matters worse, Dean realized he had ran into an area completely covered in fog. He didn't notice at first due to lack of lighting. However, the further he ran the more he noticed the fog becoming thicker and thicker. Eventually, Dean couldn't tell whether the darkness or the fog was giving him the most difficulty seeing.

Dean shivered as he felt the humidity become brisk, "Doctor!" No response, so he called again, "Doctor!" Again, no response.

At this point, Dean had to stop and catch his breath. He clutched his chest, waiting for the pain of cold air coursing through his lungs to subside. He could feel himself sweating now, and it was relieving, for a mere thirty seconds. The heat of running dropped after his break, and the cold air chilled his sweat, making it too cold for comfort.

Dean wiped the sweat off his brow and felt his heart, waiting for it to calm down. Soon after Dean took a deep breath, cupped his hooves and shouted, "DOCTOR!!!" He waited for a moment and listened, looking around as he did so. Though, trying to search for the Doctor seemed useless, as the immensely thick fog made the entire forest look like part of a cloud. Even without the fog Dean still wouldn't be able to see through the trees, let alone the dark.

Dean's nerves grew worse, and he could feel his heart picking up speed again. The lonesome feeling and being openly exposed in a place such as this, he felt defenseless and lost. Yet despite so, Dean still couldn't but feel absolutely irritated at the Doctor for getting him in this position. All because he ran of to . . . why did he run off?

Dean didn't think the Doctor said, and that only irritated him more. He groan, cupped his hooves together, and shouted, "DOCTOR!!!" He waited for a moment and listened, but heard nothing. Nothing but the sounds of the forest itself. 

"Blast!" Dean exclaimed. He took a step, nearly about to start in a gallop to search somewhere else, before a sound made him stop. A cracking, crumbling of dirt or twigs, and stomping hoof steps coming in his direction. It sounded like a pony stomping from a distance towards him. Dean's first thought was that it was the Doctor, and he turned to the direction the pony was approaching from, frowning. "Ugh that better be him- DOCTOR!!! Hey Doctor!!!" Dean shouted.

He waited for a response, expecting the Doctor to reply, but it never came. In fact, Dean realized that the noise he had heard, the stomping sound, it wasn't exactly that. The hoovesteps were heavy because this pony was galloping. He couldn't see the galloping pony through the dark and the fog, but whoever they were must not have heard, for they didn't slow down. Either that, or they didn't care.

Dean suddenly felt that familiar sense of danger creep into his gut, and his heart began to beat quicker. He took a step back and shouted, "hey!"

No response, the galloping continued, growing louder as it approached closer.

"Hold on a second! HEY!" Dean shouted, turning to run. Only, he didn't move very far. In fact, he had only ran three feet before slamming smack dab into a tree. His sights popping with stars as he felt the entire front of his nose smash back into him. He fell and landed on his back, clutching to his nose as he groaned. It took him a second before he lifted himself up with his left leg, standing on the one leg as he held his sore nose with the other.

The hoofsteps were close, and Dean could see a dark silhouette appear with the fog, making out the shape of a pony. 
It startled Dean and he stepped back, forgetting about the tree he had ran into. He walked backwards into it, his back now lined against it, cornering him between the tree and the approaching pony. Who was now very close.

He looked to the tree, then to the pony, and his mind went blank. He couldn't think of anything that could help him, or anything he could to help himself. Him mind went empty, and nothing seemed to appear. Without any alternative, Dean lifted his left leg and shouted fearfully, "wait!"

The pony appeared from within the fog, rushing out and bellowing the loose, moist dirt behind him. He practically blowing the fog in swirls, making this pony appear ghostlike. Which only made him much more frightening to Dean. However, the frightfully grand appearance of this pony caused Dean to see this pony as such; a phantom. He didn't see a pony running with their head down, not even looking to where they ran.

Dean screamed, closed his eyes, and raised his legs over his head protectively.

The pony, only now having noticed Dean, jerked his head up and screamed as well. Dean's scream frightened him, and the pony stomped his hooves to halt and prevent running into Dean. However, he had ran too fast and instead tripped over his own hooves. He fell hard, scraping along the dirt and rolling before knocking the back of his head into a tree; a tree several feet away to the left of Dean. The pony cried out in pain as they held their head, laying on the ground and shivering.

Dean heard the knock of wood and opened his eyes. He looked over to the pony who cried and noticed him holding his head. He hadn't a clue what happened and was still frightened of the stranger. However, despite his nerves, Dean curiously approach the pony. Keeping his distance as caution, he gulped and asked, "hey, are you alright?"

The pony gasped upon hearing Dean and turned his head suddenly to look to him. 

That movement startled Dean, and he jerked back slightly. However, seeing the pony lying there, crying and hurt and obviously not a threat, it made him feel safer. Still uneasy, and worried for the stallion, but safer nonetheless.

He was a baby blue stallion with purple and white hair. He had scruffy hair, a messy, dirty tail, and a cutie mark of what appeared to be a large white and purple flower. The stallion was dirty and had cuts from the fall. He was noticeably shaking and was crying, as evident by the glistening eyes and trail of tears running down his face. 

Dean assumed he must have tripped, though he didn't see to know how it happened. And Dean realized the stallion must have bumped his head, as he continued holding the back of it and wincing. But what Dean noticed the most was the clear as day fear expressed on the stallion. Dean had thought he was scared, but this stallion looked like he had just been chased by a demon. And he was breathing quite heavily, whether by the fear or being tired, Dean couldn't tell. Heck, Dean reckoned it could be both. This in turn calmed Dean and he felt sympathetic. "Are you okay?" Dean asked.

The stallion didn't respond. His breathing continued at speed as he stared Dean down, appearing to be observing him, as if he were waiting for Dean to do something. He shivered before wincing from his head.

Dean noticed and took a step forward, "your hurt aren't you-"

The stallion saw Dean approach and shouted, "stay away!"

Startled, Dean stopped and took a step back.

The stallion, openly crying yelled, "I- I don't know who you are! Y- You better stay back!"

Dean raised his hooves to his chest and responded softly, "I'm not going to harm you. Honest, I just want to help."

The stallion ceased his crying for a second upon hearing "help". He blinked to Dean, a shimmer of hope apparent to Dean behind the stallion's glistening eyes. However, the stallion was still afraid. He stuttered with uncertainty, "h- how am I s- supposed to know your telling the truth?" 

Dean thought for a moment, unsure how to respond and gain the stallion's trust. He didn't want to frighten the stallion away, and he surely didn't want to provoke him if the stallion was willing to fight back. He needed to calm him, assure him that he was no threat. Puzzled, Dean thought to himself, "I know I've seen this before. The Doctor had to do the same thing with Millie when she was frightened. If only the Doctor was here now. I wonder what he would do to help". 

Suddenly, a clever thought popped into the colt's mind, something reminiscent to the Doctor. Dean smiled warmly and sat on his hunches, both remembering and trying to replicate memories of the Doctor's actions from the past few days. Specifically, to reenact the actions the Doctor took to calm Milly. "If I were going to harm you, wouldn't I have done it already?"

It seemed to have worked, as the stallion lifted his head closer to Dean. But it wasn't enough, as the stallion quickly retreated. "Y- You could be tricking me?" the stallion stuttered, sounding more as a question than an assumption.

"Remember the Doctor and Milly, remember the Doctor and John, remember how he went about both of them", thought Dean. Relaxing his muscles, Dean attempted to look as passive as possible as he responded, "I promise I am of no harm to you sir. I only wish to help you". Dean's tone and attitude seemed to work, the stallion's hopeful expression had returned. However, he didn't want to lose him, so Dean continued; pointing to the stallion's injuries. "My friend is a doctor. We were separated but if you come with me we can try and find-"

"A doctor! Really!?" the stallion exclaimed, a sense of relief present in his tone. The stallion, upon hearing "doctor", was looking to Dean with hopeful wide eyes. 

Dean nodded, "absolutely! He can help you, but you'll have to come with me so we can find him."

The stallion's eyes watered and his lip quivered. Practically leaping, the stallion bounded forward suddenly and gripped Dean's shoulders. "You mean it!?! You and your friend will really help me!?!"

Dean, though caught quite by surprise, managed a smiled, "of course!"

The stallion cried, hugging Dean tightly. "Oh thank you! Thank you!"

Dean chocked as the stallion squeezed his gut, and he pushed Aster back gently before patting his shoulder. "Its alright, I'm happy to help. Come on, we need to find my friend if I can help you."

Aster frowned, "but, Larkspur needs help too!"

"Sorry, who?"

"Larkspur, we went camping together in this forest! I don't remember where the campsite is anymore, but we were attacked by this scary ghost!"

Dean paused, and needed a moment to think on that. He looked puzzled, like he didn't hear that right. Then he grinned, as if it must have been a joke, "a ghost?"

The stallion nodded sincerely, "a ghost! It came out of nowhere and attacked Larkspur! I managed to escape, b- but I don't know where he is or what's happened to him!" The stallion gripped his hair tight with one hoof and chatted his teeth against the other. Dropping to his hunches, the stallion began breathing heavily, well enough obvious for Dean to realize he was starting to have a panic attack.

Quickly, Dean sat close to the stallion and patted his back. "Woah, woah, hey, calm down. Take a deep breath". The stallion nodded and complied, and Dean asked as he did, asking mostly to give the stallion something else to think about, "I don't think I caught your name."

Through deep breathes, the stallion managed to stutter, "A- Aster."

"Aster? Isn't that a kind of flower?"

Aster nodded, rocking back and forth.

"Oh, that's rather nice actually. Well, try to calm yourself Aster. It seems to me you've well outran, er, whatever it was that attacked you and your friend."

"A g- ghost", said Aster, moving closer to Dean for comfort.

"I know what you said, but are you sure it was a ghost? Not a pony in a mask or . . . something?"

Aster looked to Dean, frowning, "do you not believe me?"

Dean shook his head, "no, no, I believe that you and your friend were attacked. Celestia knows why else you ran like the demons of tarterus were after you. But honestly, I'm not quite sure if a "ghost" is the culprit here. Ghost aren't real after all-"

Aster stood abruptly, practically shoving Dean as he did, "I know what I saw! It was a ghost! It had no eyes! And no fur! And it was oozing this black stuff out of its face!"

Aster yelled, pointing to his eyes. And though Aster looked and sounded sincere, Dean didn't buy any of it. In fact, he was actually quite skeptical. No eyes and fur sounded like a stereotypical ghost to Dean, but the added oozing of black liquid? That must have come straight from a horror book, Dean assumed. Nevertheless, Dean chose to drop the subject. He didn't want to aggravate the already stressed pony. So, Dean stood up, "alright, alright. I apologize, maybe I'll see this, er, "ghost" when the Doctor and I search for your friend."

Aster's attitude flipped almost immediately when Dean said that. "You'll try to find Larkspur!?"

Dean smiled, "of course! I did say I would help you. And if your friends in danger than I'll be sure to help him too."

Aster squeed with twinkling eyes as he hugged Dean once more, "thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Dean chuckled. "Your very welcome Aster, but why don't we leave now?"

Aster nodded, "okay, but where do we go?"

Tapping his chin, Dean thought for a moment. "Well, you ran from this way", he said, pointing one way. Pointing to another direction, Dean continued, "and I believe I came from this way. So I think it would be wise if we try this way!" He concluded, pointing to a new direction.

Aster seemed hesitant and replied with uncertainty, "well, if you think so."

"Don't worry Aster, I'm sure this is the right way. The Doctor should be around here somewhere."

Aster was still uncertain, but he nodded anyway, "well . . . alright. I'll follow you, but do you really think you and this doctor can help me find my coltfriend?"

Dean nodded, "trust me, I've seen the Doctor do amazing things during the time I've traveled with him. Finding your friend will be a piece of cake!"

It was Dean's confidence that made Aster to smile. He came closer to Dean, feeling safer. Like Dean was his own bodyguard. "Okay than, if you have that much trust in your doctor, than I think I can trust him as well."

Dean smiled and nodded, "excellent. Okay . . .". Dean took a deep breath, "okay . . . let's get moving shall we?"

Aster nodded and followed as Dean walked on, feeling a surge of pride well in his chest. Helping another in trouble, genuinely, dangerously in trouble, it felt rather good actually. It wasn't the same as giving someone directions to a café or telling someone the time back at Mane City which, for Dean, was the most help he could remember ever being. A common passerby, there to tell someone the time or give directions. To be that pony that someone goes to for help, genuine help, it made Dean feel proud of himself. Maybe that was why the Doctor helped others, simply because it felt good? Though, if he were being honest with himself, it also made him anxious, and he wanted to find the Doctor as soon as possible so that he could take the lead. But for the moment, Dean was the helpful pony, and that felt good. 

For a minute at least, before Dean realized something. He looked to Aster, who walked quite close to Dean, and asked, "hey, did you ask if the Doctor can help you find your "friend?" Or your "coltfriend?"

Aster's eyes went wide for a moment, before he looked away blushing. "Oh, I- I said- I said, coltfriend."

Dean looked away from Aster, staring straight ahead, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with how close Aster was to him. "I . . . I see."

Aster took a glance to Dean, indirectly looking to him, and asked, "do you . . . have a problem with that?"

Dean nearly went stiff as he shook his head, "n- no, no! Not at all! I just . . . er . . . not at all!"

Aster wasn't convinced, but he looked away, choosing not to press on, "alright."

Dean glanced over his shoulder to Aster, a thousand thoughts rushing through his mind suddenly. "A stallion with a stallion? I've heard of same sex relationships, but I don't think I've ever seen one before. Is that why he's so close to me? Wait, he's not going to develop some attraction to me because I'm helping him is he? Oh Celestia! He just might! Of all the stallions I had to help it had to be one who fancied males!" Dean shook his head, "No, no, calm yourself Dean. You heard him, he already has a coltfriend. He won't try anything with you. Just maintain your distance and let him be aware that your a stallion that fancies females . . . despite never ever having a marefriend. And don't make it too obvious, you might upset him. Oh dear, but what if I say something that upsets him!?" Dean sighed loudly, catching Aster's attention.

"Is everything okay?" Aster asked.

Dean's head went stiff as he, uncomfortably, shot his sights to any distraction possible, trying to look casual to Aster. Though, when lost in a dark, foggy forest, the only distraction Dean could find on the fly was a large Be-Bo bug that happen to be crawling up a tree. A caterpillar with antennas, as large as a newborn pony's leg, normally found in colors of two with a pair row of small red dots on their back, and whenever they crawled they emitted a small noise that sounded like a young child saying, "be-bo". This one was a mish mash of blue and yellow, with large, shiny, crystal blue eyes. And sure enough, each time the caterpillar pulled its body into a hunch it went, "Be!" And when its body extended straight and moved, the bug went, "Bo!" It was an adorable bug, and Dean looked to it as if it were the key to finding the Doctor. 

"Be-Bo, Be-Bo, Be-Bo, Be-Bo-", the Be-Bo pressed onwards, traversing his way up the bark to the leaves that hung on the branches above. His meal, his goal, his victory, the little bug that believed.

Aster too was looking to the Be-Bo, before giving Dean a look as he asked, "are . . . you okay?"

Dean broke from his stupor and coughed, "fine! Fine, just, uh, thinking of where we should go!"

Aster, looking back to the Be-Bo skeptically, asked, "are you really?"

Dean nodded, almost forcefully, "of course!"

" . . . Okay than."

The two continued walking, passing the Be-Bo. The sun had completely dropped now, leaving the forest dark. Only the fog and Aster could be seen to Dean. However, Dean, at this point, was hoping it would be so dark he couldn't see Aster. For, as Dean thought, if he could see Aster, than Aster would be able to see him. Thus, he would be able to see the sweat dripping from his head due to how uncomfortably nervous he was. He had certainly hoped Aster wouldn't notice. That, however, deemed not the case when Aster asked, "am I making you uncomfortable?"

Dean cursed silently and chuckled unconvincingly, "what are you talking about?"

"You've been acting weird ever since I told you I had a coltfriend."

Dean forced another chuckle, one that was, somehow, even more unconvincing than the first. "Pah! What!? Me uncomfortable? I have no idea what your talking about, I'm perfectly fine!"

"So you don't have an issue with me having a coltfriend?" asked Aster, almost glaring to Dean.

Dean was obvious nervous before, only now he had shakes to add to his sweat, "I- I, I, uh-"

"Dean!" a familiar voice echoed through the forest.

"Oh thank Celestia!" thought Dean, sighing in relief. He cupped his hooves to his mouth and shouted, "DOCTOR!!!"

"Dean! Over here!" the Doctor shouted back.

Dean turned left to the sound and saw in the distance the Doctor's silhouette. Just vaguely through the fog, sitting on his hunches and waving. 

Smiling, Dean said to Aster, "come on!" 

Aster nodded, following Dean as the two galloped to the silhouette.

The Doctor smiled to Dean as his companion and the newcomer approached him. "Took you long enough, where have you been?" The Doctor nodded to Aster, "and who's your friend?"

Dean dismissed the question with a scoff and replied frustrated, "where have I been? Where have you been!? Running off like that out of the blue!"

The Doctor chuckled, almost without a care. "Sorry, I had to see who was singing. You didn't get lost did you?"

"Lost? Oh no, I just decided to wander off for a bit and see the kinds of trees that- yes I got lost!" said Dean, angrily.

"You didn't get lost because of me did you?"

"You ran into the forest all of a sudden without so much as giving me a warning, what do you think!?"

The Doctor scratched the back of his head and coughed, "eh, right. Guess that would be . . . my fault. But your fine now, so that counts!"

Dean could only stare in bafflement as a response to the Doctor's logic.

Turning away from the two, the Doctor asked, "so, who is your friend anyway?"

Dean sighed and chose to drop the issue. Brushing off his irritation, some of it at least, he pointed to the newcomer. "This is Aster, we ran into each other while I was trying to find you. Because you ran off like a mad pony."

"Aster? Like the flower?" said the Doctor, dismissing Dean's irritation as he offered a hoof to Aster.

Aster nodded and shook the Doctor's hoof, "yes sir."

"And are you lost too, young stallion?" 

Aster sighed, "not exactly. I was camping out in the forest for the next week with my coltfriend Larkspur."

"Camping? What are you doing camping out in a place like this? This is unmarked territory, its very dangerous", said the Doctor.

"Says the one who bolted in here without a thought", said Dean, receiving an annoyed glare from the Doctor.

Aster ignored the two's quarrel and continued, "it was my coltfriend's idea. He and I had planned to leave Equestria and move to Scrotonshire. With Discord ruining the country we just didn't see this place fit to live in anymore. But Larkspur suggested staying in the unnamed forest for a week, just to relax and get rid of some stress. Celestia knows how anxious I've been ever since that demon took over our home. I was reluctant at first but he told me that he had camped here with his father when he was a colt and nothing bad ever happened to him. So I agreed and here we are."

"So what happened to him?" the Doctor asked.

Aster gulped as he looked around worriedly, as if checking to see if they were being watched. After a moment, Aster explained quickly, like he only had seconds to do it. "W- well, I- I was preparing dinner for the both of us when I realized we didn't have anyway of cooking it. So Larkspur left to find some fire wood and while he was gone I was searching my bag for our food when I saw a pony out the corner of my eye. Larkspur told me that ponies don't normally come out here so naturally I wasn't expecting to see anypony out here. So when I saw her I was frightened and screamed and I ran behind our tent as fast as I could and waited for Larkspur to return. When he did I tried telling him what I saw, but I don't think he believed me. He went to where I saw the pony to check if someone was actually there. I tried to tell him not to, I really did, but he went anyway and he- and he- he-" Aster's eyes teared as he gave a slight sob, before whimpering while out of breath.

The Doctor patted Aster's back gently, soothing him. "Hey, easy now, you don't have to tell me in one go. Take a deep breath."

Feeling his touch, Aster sniffed and looked into the Doctor's eyes. He nodded and did as he was told, giving himself a minute before continuing. "When he c- checked he . . . he was attacked."

"Attacked by what?" the Doctor asked softly.

Aster gulped once more and looked away, seeming too scared to even describe the event.

So the Doctor, continuing to pat, said, "I know it hurts to think about it. And it probably scares the ever loving daylights out of you. But if you want me to help than I need to know what it was that attacked your coltfriend. You said you saw a pony? And you called her "she"? Did this mare attack your colt friend?"

A tear fell as Aster looked back to the Doctor with wide eyes. "She wasn't a mare! She was a ghost!"

"A ghost?"

Aster nodded, "a ghost! A phantom! A- er, I don't know what she was! But she wasn't a pony!"

The Doctor, placing a hoof to his chin, asked, "how can you tell this mare was a ghost? By the way she looked or walked?"

Aster nodded again, faster than the first. "Yes! By the way she looked! Oh it was horrible! She didn't have any fur or eyes! And she had this black oozing stuff coming out of her mouth and her eyes! And when she grabbed Larkspur she . . . she . . .". Aster didn't continue. His eyes weld up as he caught his face between his hooves into a fit of sobbing.

The Doctor quickly stroked Aster's mane as he cooed, "shh, shh, there, there, everything will be all right, I promise."

Though the Doctor's tone was pleasant, his expression seemed quite the opposite to Dean; who had simply watched the two converse. Dean didn't like it, the Doctor's expression. He and Aster had the same discussion no less then five minutes ago, and Dean didn't believe a lick of Aster's story. Yet the Doctor, putting Aster to a state of ease with his tone, looked serious. His brows furrowed, his eyes staring out, he was deep in thought and Dean knew that. He wasn't in disbelief the way Dean was, he was clearly putting some thought to what Aster had said. To this, Dean frowned, "he doesn't honestly believe this stallion, does he?"

The Doctor allowed Aster to sob for a minute before whispering, "Aster, let me help you. Tell me what happened to your coltfriend and I promise you I will find him and I will help him."

Aster sniffed and spoke through his hooves, muffling his voice slightly, "y- you promise?"

The Doctor responded with determination, "absolutely!"

Sniffing once more, Aster turned his head toward the Doctor, observing him for a moment. He eyes looked to the Doctor's face, then to his suit, before tracing back to his eyes. "Y- You really mean it don't you? Y- You really promise to help?"

"Of course, did you think I was lying?"

Aster shook his head, "no, no, I just . . . the only other ponies who are actually willing to help me are my family and Larkspur. You and Dean are really kind ponies."

The Doctor patted Aster's head and replied, "I try my best."

Aster simply nodded approvingly, before his smile waned. He gulped and said slowly, "Larkspur . . . when the mare attacked she . . . she grabbed Larkspur and . . . and I . . . I'm not sure exactly what happened to him. He shouted at me to run before falling over. The last I saw before running away was . . . him turning blue . . . and . . . he went limp . . . I . . .". Aster stopped as he felt the Doctor's hoof on his shoulder.

The Doctor said with sympathy, "you don't have to say anymore. If Larkspur is hurt than rest assured I will help him. I am a doctor after all". The Doctor waited for Aster to smile before continuing. "First we have to find him, then we'll take the two of you back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T." 

"M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T?" asked Aster.

"Its what I like to call my carriage. It has all of my medical supplies."

Aster nodded, "oh."

The Doctor looked to Dean, "then, I want you to watch Larkspur and Aster while I find out about this ghost."

Dean took a step forward, "excuse me? If you are going to risk your life finding some "ghost" then you can expect me to help you as well."

The Doctor tilted his head, seeming confused. "I thought you weren't into this kind of stuff. Adventuring and danger and what not. Didn't you say so when we first met?"

"Well yes, but . . . but I think that you could use the help is all. I can't leave an old stallion alone in a forest, that would be irresponsible of me."

The Doctor groaned, "please stop calling me old, I don't like that. And I'm more than suited enough for adventure like this. I've been in situations far more dangerous than this. You call this danger? Have you ever stumbled into a town that's cursed by dark magic? Where you can't escape until dawn while being attacked by hordes of the undead?"

A full minute of silence followed after that. With Dean and Aster simply staring wide eyed and slack jawed to the Doctor, both in total disbelief. The Doctor realized why and said in a huff, "okay, a bit off topic . . . maybe a little too intense."

The two blinked as Aster, utterly shocked, asked, "did you say "undead?"

"Uh . . . sure-" He turned to Dean, "point is, I can handle myself in danger, you on the other hoof just got your vision back after having been blinded by tree sap! I can't allow you to fall into anymore situations where you could get hurt!"

"Hey! I'm eighteen! I'm an adult so I can make the decision on whether I travel into danger with you or not! Besides! What's the difference between now and all of the other dangerous things that's happened this past month?"

The Doctor placed his hooves together, counting on imaginary fingers. "One: you were lost when we first met and you just so happened to be there when I was already in the middle of something. I didn't imagine you'd stay with me after that, let alone after Dodge Junction."

"You asked me to come with you!" Dean stated.

"Did you say "undead?" Aster repeated, needing to confirm what the Doctor said.

The Doctor glanced to Aster, confused, and repeated, "yes I did". He looked back to Dean, "I was upset, and ever since the swamp I've been thinking that that was a mistake."

"Which I told you it wasn't-"

"Besides the point! Two: you didn't really have a choice getting involved in Dodge Junction; I mean, your home town being taken over by a corrupted sheriff, believe me, that took me for a loop too. Though, it was kind of fun."

"Wait wha-"

"And three: with what happened at the swamp I was more concerned with Milly and her family at the time. I should have thought about your safety more-"

"You know I could have chosen to stay in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. But I didn't, I chose to come with you-"

"Yes and I chose to let you make that choice, a mistake I will not be making again-"

"Excuse me!" Dean exclaimed. "That's not your choice to make! I'm suppose to be your companion here!"

"Did you say "undead", Aster asked again.

The Doctor rubbed his temples, irritated. "Oh, why do you both keep saying that- look! Why- why do you want to be part of- eh- this! This- this danger! And searching for a ghost in unclaimed territory! Remember that? We're in unclaimed territory right now, weren't you just complaining about it ten minutes ago?"

"You told me to follow you in here!"

"I thought it was safe! Clearly, I'm wrong. So now that it's not safe, why don't you and Aster stay in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T after we find Larkspur while I do some detective work?"

"I'm not letting you do that on your own", Dean stated with authority.

The Doctor paused for moment to pinch in between his eyes. He took a deep breath before clasping his hooves together, "okay. Just answer me this: why do you want to come with me?"

Dean was confused by that question and responded, "I followed you at the swamp-"

"That was different I asked you to come, I'm asking you to go back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T now but you don't want to, why?"

Dean appeared to struggle for words, taking a moment before responding, "I already told you, I can't just leave you to do it on your own-"

"No, the truth, why do you want to come?" the Doctor asked, cutting Dean off.

"Wha- but I . . . I" Dean stopped and thought for a moment, thinking of the right thing to say. He knew the real reason why he wanted to join him, but he couldn't tell it to the Doctor. It felt awkward to him, uncomfortable, if he were to be honest. So, Dean replied the best way he could, "I . . . I just think that . . . after . . . everything that's happened that . . . maybe it would be better if you had someone by your side. After what you've done for those animals, and for my home, and that family, I just think you'd appreciate the help, that's all. Make these quests easier."

"That's what this is about? Giving me help?"

"Exactly! And I told you earlier that these- eh- adventures of ours, though a bit scary, are actually becoming thrilling! It really isn't as bad as you think Doctor, I'm more than happy to help! A bit excited if I'm being honest!"

Dean watched the Doctor place a hoof to his mouth. He was clearly thinking and looked skeptical, and Dean knew why. The Doctor was clever, and nearly everything Dean had said was the truth; and he didn't necessarily lie, he just made sure to leave out the real truth. And the Doctor was figuring that out.

"Dean", the Doctor said in a sigh. "You know you don't owe me anything, right?"

"P- Pardon?" Dean asked, feeling his heart sink.

"The animals, your home, that family, you were part of those too. Especially back in that swamp, you helped quite a bit. Yet, from the sounds of it, it seems to me that your giving me more credit than I deserve."

"I- I don't-"

The Doctor chuckled, finding the stuttering colt humorous as he smiled to Dean. "You are a brilliant, outstanding colt, Dean. And you don't owe me anything for what I've done. For what we've done, okay?"

"Uh- yeah . . . sure", Dean said, not knowing how to respond to that.

The Doctor thought for a moment, before sighing. "Well, you are an adult after all . . . and I can't really force you to go back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T . . ." The Doctor nodded, beckoning to Dean, "alright, you can join me."

Dean nodded, smiling, "Excellent!"

The Doctor turned to Aster, "what about you? You want to join too?"

Aster, having been listening to their conversation, was quite lost. Trying to figure out what they were talking about; between Dodge Junction and talk about a family and helping ponies, in the end he had no idea. He was confused, and stuttered when the Doctor spoke to him. "Oh, what? Sorry- I- um . . . What?"

"Do you want to help Dean and I find this ghost or do you want to wait in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T?"

"Oh! Right! I- um- I'll wait in the M.E.I.D . . . that . . . Are you two spies?"

The two looked to Aster, humorously confused. "I beg your pardon?" the Doctor asked.

"You said about ponies you helped and something about a corrupted sheriff and . . . did you say "undead?"

The Doctor and Dean chuckled as the Doctor replied, "no, we are not spies. We're just two ponies in a forest, looking for a friend."

"Oh! Is that why your here? I thought you were camping here too", said Aster.

Dean laughed, "camp here? Ha! Absolutely not! What gave you that idea?"

Aster shrugged, "I don't know, I just assumed."

The Doctor spoke up, announcing to both, "alright than! You and Larkspur will stay in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T after we find him. Then Dean and I will find this ghost and figure out exactly what's going on around here."

"Okay", said Aster.

"Alright then, let's not waste time. Its far too dark to see anything out here so I don't want to spend too long finding Larkspur. Until then, you two stay close to me. I'll provide us with some light", said the Doctor, reaching unto his inner vest pocket. 

Aster watched as the Doctor extracted a thick torch from within his vest. The Doctor then placed the top end close to his mouth, cupped a hoof around the top, and gently blew a stream of blue fire to the string. Aster gazed in awe to the brilliant blue flame that the Doctor held high, lighting a small proximity around them in blue light. It gave the forest an eerie, yet serene feel. Dark, foggy, and yet tinted in blue, like a filter on a photo. 

"How did you do that?" asked Aster, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

The Doctor smiled upon seeing Aster's expression and simply replied, "magic."

Before Aster could press on, the Doctor had already proceeded forth with Dean following close behind. Aster sped walked quickly to keep pace before slowing close to Dean.

The Doctor glanced over his shoulder, making sure Dean and Aster were following, before looking ahead, taking a deep breath. He muttered under his breath, trying to reassure himself. "Don't think about it, don't think about it. There's nothing here, nothing at all, so focus, focus, focus. A pony needs help so no distractions, no pauses, there is nothing, absolutely nothing in this forest that will stop us!"






Five Minutes Later






The three had stopped. 

The Doctor turned to Aster and asked, "Aster? Are you alright?" Along the walk, the Doctor would glance over to Dean and Aster, checking on them periodically. Along the way the Doctor noticed Aster shaking slightly, which progressively worsened the further they walk. To the point where Aster was practically skipping, as he appeared to be in discomfort.

Aster nodded with a shiver and spoke with sincerity, despite shaking harder, "I'm fine, why?"

"Your jittering, are you cold?" asked Dean, only now noticing Aster shaking.

"N- No, I'm not cold. I, um, I . . . actually have to". Aster looked away, blushing, "I have to go potty."

"Oh, I see. Well, there aren't any bathrooms near here. But you could go in a bush, if you don't mind that is. Dean and I will look away-"

"No!" said Aster, interrupting the Doctor. "I don't need to go! I want to find Larkspur! I'll go potty after we find him!"

"Are you sure? Your shaking a lot", said the Doctor.

"Yeah, when was the last time you went?" asked Dean.

"Uh . . . well . . . yesterday I think", said Aster, placing a hoof to his chin.

"You haven't gone for an entire day?" asked Dean, his tone hinting that it might be a joke.

"I was busy preparing for our camping trip! I just forgot!" Aster replied, blushing harder.

"Aster, just go to the bathroom. Dean and I will wait here until your finished, okay?" said the Doctor.

"W- Well . . . I don't-", Aster stopped and squealed, as he felt a sudden surge of pain rush through his lower region. Aster nodded furiously, "okay I'll go!" He turned and galloped quickly behind a plot of bushes, out of sight to the Doctor and Dean.

The Doctor sighed once Aster was gone, "alrighty than, once he gets back we'll keep moving. I sure hope Aster's coltfriend is safe."

"Yeah, me too . . . hey Doctor, there's something I wanted to talk to you about", said Dean, walking to a tree and leaning to wait.

Sitting on his rear, the Doctor replied, "what's up? You need to go to the bathroom too? Now's your chance."

"Hm? Oh, no I'm fine. I wanted to talk about, well, I want to talk to you about Aster actually."

Cocking a brow, the Doctor asked, "why? Something wrong with him?"

"Well, in a manner of speaking I would say so."

"What's wrong with Aster that you had to wait until he was gone to tell me?" the Doctor asked, becoming concerned.

Dean looked away, suddenly appearing uncomfortable with what he had to say. "Its, er, its . . . eh, well, you know who Aster said we were looking for? Right?"

"We're looking for Larkspur, his coltfriend, why?"

"Well . . . I mean, you don't seem very bothered that were looking for Aster's . . . eh . . . coltfriend."

The Doctor, suddenly realizing what Dean meant, frowned disapprovingly to the colt.

Dean didn't notice and continued, "isn't it odd that a stallion is with another stallion? I have heard about relationships such as this one, but I have never actually seen two stallions together before, its so . . . strange. I don't know, what do you think Doctor?"

The Doctor didn't respond immediately. He glared to Dean for a moment, looked away towards the ground, took a deep breath in, and exhaled with a sigh. He then looked back to Dean and spoke softly, "I think . . . that you need to be very careful with what you say next."

Dean looked back to Doctor quickly, taken aback by the sudden shift of atmosphere. He became nervous upon seeing the Doctor's glare, looking at him cross, offended even. "H- have I said something wrong?"

"No . . . not yet. Your young so I don't expect you to fully grasp this. Than again, you did call it strange . . . well, that's one of the more tame ways of seeing it."

"I beg your pardon?"

The Doctor scooted closer to Dean and said in a nicer tone, which in turn put Dean in a state of caution, almost like a child would fearing the possibility of punishment. "Dean, what are your views on homosexuality?"

Confused, Dean replied, "I, uh, I don't really know honestly. That's not something I've ever thought of. Well, love and relationships in general I've never really thought about. I mean, I love my family, but nothing more than family love."

"You've never fancied a mare before?" the Doctor asked, becoming suddenly intrigued.

Dean blushed and rubbed the back of his head, "I never got out a lot, except for classes. When I wasn't in class I was locked in my dorm studying most of the time. Friends and mares just weren't on the top of my mind. I mean, not that I don't like mares, I just never think about them."

" . . . . Quick question, are you related to anyone with the name "Sparkle?"

Dean titled his head, "no? Why?"

"Just curious. Okay, what about your parents? Did they have any opinions on this?"

Dean shrugged, "I don't know, I don't ever recall this being a topic of conversation. And there weren't any ponies like this when I grew up in Dodge Junction. Stallions loving stallions, I mean."

"If that's true then why do you find it strange for a stallion to be with another stallion?"

"Well, I've heard other ponies talking about it before. And they never really had any positive opinions on the matter either. Everything I've heard on this was either classified as "evil" or "disgusting" or anything of that sort really. Now, personally I wouldn't think so much as to calling it "evil", but a stallion needs to be with a mare in order to reproduce. So it seems odd to me that a stallion would be with another stallion, seeing as they can't reproduce together."

The Doctor nodded, "I see, I think I understand now. Dean your right on one thing, stallions can't reproduce with other stallions, but that's not a bad thing as other ponies would think it would be. If two stallions wanted children they could simply adopt, there are thousands of children out there who would love a good home. And they wouldn't care what kind of parents they had so long as they loved them and took proper care of them. And as for calling them "evil" or "disgusting", well . . . I believe that has to do with our time period." 

"Time period?" Dean asked.

"Sorry, I mean, this current day and age, if you will. Most ponies nowadays, heck, most species nowadays find homosexuality as "immoral". So much so that it's illegal almost everywhere! Equestria, Alburnia, the Ice Lands, Marzipan, these are the few places that have legalized this."

"Its legal in your country?" Dean asked.

The Doctor laughed, "of course! You think Phoenix Ponies would care about something as little as gender? There's always the possibility that we'll change genders after regeneration so Phoenix Ponies have, naturally, never thought of gender as a factor to love. We simply love the pony for the pony, not for the parts". The Doctor sighed, "sadly the rest of the world just doesn't think this way. To them, love is a solid law forbidding love between those of the same gender. Mares and stallions only, and that's that."

The Doctor stood to his hooves, smiling to Dean, "I'm sorry for sounding defensive Dean. I was afraid you were going to say something, well, hurtful. I've gotten used to talking to ponies who wouldn't think twice before saying something nasty about these kinds of relationships. However, I see your simply confused, so I'll tell you plain and easy what "homosexual" relationships really are." 

The Doctor walked to a tree beside the one Dean leaned to and sat against the trunk. He then lifted his hooves, puppeteering them for an easier explanation, "imagine a mare and a stallion loving each other. They laugh together, they cry together, they play together, they enjoy each other. They choose to have a family or they don't choose to have a family. Maybe it won't work and they divorce, maybe it'll work so well they get married and live the rest of their lives together. 

"Now, imagine this exact same thing except with two stallion, or even two mares. Either way, it works the exact same way. Love, laugh, cry, play, marriage or divorce, family or not, it is the exact same thing. There is no difference once you look past what parts they have."

"The exact same thing? No matter the gender?"

The Doctor nodded, "the exact same thing."

"But then, why do so many ponies think so badly about it?"

The Doctor sighed, "that I can't say. That's all opinion based. Some say its evil and you will be sent to tarterus for loving another stallion. Some will say its a disgusting act that will give children bad examples to follow. And some will simply say its bad for the sake of calling it bad without having any factual evidence to back up. Either way, its just based off the pony."

"Those were . . . very specific examples", Dean said, amused.

"Like I said, I've met a lot of ponies who have, in fact, said these word for word". The Doctor leaned closer, "listen Dean, remember when I said to respect Phoenix Ponies? No matter whether they wanted to be called "he", "she", or anywhere in between? The same thing applies here, just respect a pony no matter who they love or what they like. Everyponies different and we should all respect that, you know?"

Dean nodded, "I understand . . . have I been rude to Aster for asking this then?"

The Doctor thought for a moment before shaking his head, "no, I don't think so. I mean, had you asked him these questions the conversation might have been different, so I'm glad you came to me. But really Dean I have to ask, has no one ever talked to you about homosexuality?"

Dean chuckled, "nope, not at all. As far as I can remember at least."

"Really . . . well, just comes to show how much thought is put to that than. Still, I think you should apologize to Aster just in case for being uncomfortable around him. I'm not sure how serious he is on the matter. I am, personally, for my own reasons. So Aster, if he's noticed, he certainly isn't acting the way I would."

"Have ponies insulted you for that?" Dean asked.

"No, they've never done that to me."

"Than why-"

"I take it very seriously for different reasons, don't worry about it. Just apologize to him when he gets back . . . from going to the bathroom . . . which he's taking a very long time to goooo oooooohhhhh!!!" The Doctor leapt to his hooves, grabbing Dean by the shoulder and pulling him to follow, "we need to get to Aster!"

Dean, nearly tripping asked, "w- what!? Why!?!"

"Asters still going to the bathroom! Don't you think he would have come back by now!"

Dean glared to the Doctor, dumbfounded, "your only realizing that now!?!"

The Doctor ran forth to Aster's direction, with Dean following closely behind. "You didn't think of that either!"

"Wha- but- I didn't- Ugh!", Dean groaned, realizing the Doctor was right.

The Doctor laughed, "ah, you gotta love the brain! Sometimes you have everything to the tip of your hooves and sometimes it won't remind you something important until last minute! Aster! Aster!"

The two didn't run far before the Doctor stopped suddenly, extending a leg to catch Dean in his tracks.

Dean "oofed" as his gut collided with the Doctor's leg, "what are you-"

The Doctor raised a hoof to his mouth and shushed Dean before looking to a particular plot of bushes. A plot that was shaking hard, and had a distinct, bony chatter that could be heard clearly by both stallions.

The Doctor and Dean looked to each for a second before the Doctor took lead in stepping slowly to the bushes. Careful and soundless, the Doctor gently placed his hooves to the bristles of the bushes, pulling them aside to peer within. He smiled as he saw who was cowering inside. "Aster!" he whispered happily.

Though the Doctor merely whispered, it was enough to startle Aster, making him scream as if he were being murdered. He flapped his legs about in a panic, shrieking in a high, hear ringing, pitch, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!!!"

As Dean covered his ears, the Doctor quickly slapped Aster's legs away and covered his mouth, muffling Aster's scream. Only when his mouth was covered did Aster realize who had found him. Before he could respond, the Doctor placed a hoof to his own mouth, "sssshush! What the tarterus are you doing!?!

The Doctor released his hoof, allowing Aster to speak. "I- I thought you were the ghost!"

Rubbing his ears, Dean asked, "you saw the ghost?"

Aster nodded furiously, "It almost saw me! But I managed to hide before it did."

The Doctor sighed, "that's good. But you need to keep quiet, scream like that again and I think the ghost might actually find us."

"A- Actually D- Doctor, I- I don't think that'll make a- a difference anymore", Dean stuttered, frightfully.

"Hmm? What do you-", the Doctor looked to Dean, seeing him stiff and pointing to something ahead. The Doctor looked over and discovered what Dean had meant, and why he was afraid. 

Ten feet away from the three stood the very mare Aster had ran from. The mare without fur and leaking eyes, a wasp like mane, no cutie mark, and pale as an ocean blue. Before them was the phantom, smiling carelessly, and drooling a black, ink like liquid.

"Oh", said the Doctor. He stood away from Aster, adjusted his tie, and took a deep breath, forcing a convincing smile to the phantom, "now what do we have here?" . He cleared his throat, "hello there!"

The mare didn't respond. She continued staring and drooling with her malicious smile.

Aster remained hidden in the bushes, covering his mouth to prevent himself squealing by accident, while Dean dropped his leg and gulped. "N- No, no that's not . . . that's not a ghost, it . . . i- it can't be!"

"Don't be rude Dean, ghost or not she is still a mare", the Doctor whispered over his shoulder to Dean.

"B- But ghost aren't real! Their not real! T- That's impossible!" Dean shout whispered, shaking to the sight before him.

The Doctor cocked a brow, "you don't believe in ghost? Huh, I thought you were supposed to be smart."

Glaring, Dean hissed, "I was top in my class during my time at the college and I know for a fact ghosts aren't real! Their just stories to scare ponies."

The Doctor chuckled, "is that so? Well, I hope you don't dislike scary stories."

"Eh, why?"

The Doctor chuckled once more, "because it seems we're in one."

The wind was howling.

Previously had it been a gentle breeze had suddenly turned to a strong wind, bending the tops of trees and whistling amongst the branches. The weaker leaves fell, and drifted aloft, disconnecting from their stems by the winds strength. 

The clouds moved quickly, blowing away from the moons position and exposing the satellite entirely. The moonlight shining bright through the trees, illuminating what little ground it could reach through the branches. Simultaneously, like a fan, the wind blew the fog away, almost eradicating it. The thicker fog lingered to the ground, no higher then a ponies ankles.

Dean shivered, not just to the sudden chilling wind, but because he was completely visible to the phantom that stood before him. Despite being out in the open, Dean now felt even more so with the fog gone and moon light illuminating the four, practically exposing him.

The Doctor looked up to the sky and smiled before placing a hoof to the tip of his torch, crushing hard on the flame and killing it. "Guess we don't need this". He turned to Dean, "hold this for me please."

"Sure", Dean replied, reaching out to the unlit torch.

Just as the Doctor handed Dean the torch, he tripped, pressing his torso to Dean before catching himself. "Oh! sorry!"

"Hey!" Dean yelped, grabbing hold of the Doctor's shoulders. "Watch it! Maybe you still need that."

"What? Now that the moons out? No, its bright enough, I'm just clumsy is all."

"Since when?" Dean asked, as the Doctor placed his hooves to Dean's shoulders, lifting himself back up.

With one hoof holding the torch and the other held to his chest, Dean watched as the Doctor brushed himself off and took a step toward the phantom. "Now than, my names the Doctor, who would you be young mare?"

The phantom's malicious smile failed to wane as she tilted her head, eyeing the Doctor with her empty holes. "Doctor?", she asked, an odd satisfaction present in her tone.

"Yes, that is me. May I ask what your name is?"

There was a pause as the phantom stared for a moment, unmoving. Before she laughed suddenly and repeated over and over, singing, "Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor!" She cackled, drooping her head to the left, "Doctor who? Teeheehee!" She giggled, and took a step to the Doctor, prompting Dean to flinch, expecting her to make a sudden charge for them. 

The mare giggle once more and said suddenly, "Doctor who, I knoooow yoooouuu!"

That made the Doctor curious, "Know me? You know who I am?"

Her mouth stretched wide, popping her jaw, as she laughed hard. "Aaaahaahahaha! The Banished Bird! Manticore Warrior, Ashen Blood, THE PHOENIX ADVENTURER!!! . . . . Doctor . . . who? Aaaahaahahaha!!!"

"Doctor, aren't you the phoenix adventurer? Are those all your names?" Dean asked.

"I've been called a lot of things, Doctor is the one that I chose."

"But what does she mean she "knows you"? Do you know her?"

The Doctor's smile waned, and he almost looked concerned. Quickly, however, he popped a smile back on, in an attempt to appear friendly to the phantom. "How is it that you know who I am? If I may ask."

There was another pause, as the phantom didn't reply immediately. Her face changed subtly, and she appeared lost in thought for a moment, but with her smiling mouth hung open, only the Doctor noticed it. The way she appeared to the Doctor, it was almost as if she had something to say, something important, but she couldn't remember what it was. Or, perhaps she simply didn't want to say what was on her mind.

The Doctor didn't receive a response, so he asked, "were you the one who was singing earlier?" 

She didn't answer. Instead, there was a small pause before she shouted suddenly, her face brightening into an excited smile, "Do you want to play?"

"Don't say yes! Don't say yes!" Aster squeaked, having been shaking quietly while remaining in his fetal position in the bushes. 

The Doctor ignored Aster and responded to the phantom, keeping a mental note to what the phantom had said. "You want to play a game?"

The phantom appeared thrilled by this question and sqweed happily, "yes! Yes! Let's play a game!"

"Doctor?" 

The Doctor shushed Dean before replying, "What kind of game do you have in mind?"

The mysterious liquid pooled faster at the bottom of the phantom's hooves, as her smile became wider. "Let's play princess tag!"

"Princess tag? How do you play?"

The phantom jumped up and down as she explained, "I'm it! And if I tag you, you'll become my pretty princesses!"

"Will we now? Did you happen to play this game earlier with another fellow perhaps? Did you make him into a pretty princess?"

Aster stopped shivering suddenly as he realized who the Doctor was talking about, "Larkspur!?"

The phantom ceased her jumping and nodded, "I tagged him! Now he's a pretty princess!"

"I see, so, where is he now than? Shouldn't he try and tag you now that he's the pretty princess? Isn't that how you play tag?"

The phantom laughed, "no silly!!! He can't make me a princess! Because I'm already Queen of the Forest!!! And only the queen can turn everypony into a princess!"

Dean gritted his teeth in both disbelief and fear, and Aster continued shaking like a living earth quake, the Doctor remained place in perfect poster, appearing unafraid at all. In fact, to the other two, he appeared enthused. Smiling as if he was enjoying talking to the phantom. "I see, so does that mean you have already turned others into "pretty princesses?"

The phantom nodded, "mmmmmhhmmmmm!"

"My goodness! So we and that stallion from earlier aren't the first ones! You must be one really talented queen to have turned so many ponies into princesses!" said the Doctor, imitating the perfect act of a spoiling parent.

Oddly enough, the phantom blushed a semi transparent blue tone around her cheeks, giggling. "Thank you!"

Dean was about to question the Doctor about what he was doing, but before he could Aster beat him to it. "What in Celestia's world are you doing!?" Aster shout whispered.

The Doctor, again, ignored Aster, keeping concentrated to the phantom only. "So where are all the pretty princesses? I don't see any?"

The phantom giggled, placing a hoof to her mouth, soiling it in the liquid. "They won't be out here silly!!! They're all safe and sound back at the castle!"

"Oh! A castle! Out here in the forest!" the Doctor exclaimed, sounding amazed.

"Yeah! A wooden castle! With lots of flowers and a pool!" the phantom explain, excited.

"Wow! That sounds brilliant! Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you take us to your castle and we can play tag there! It won't be long before the clouds cover the moon again, and I doubt this wind will keep this fog at bay much longer. So, before it becomes too difficult to see again why don't we take this game over to your castle! It'll be much more fun and easier to see!" said the Doctor, smiling happily to the phantom.

The phantom's smile waned ever so slightly, only noticeable to the Doctor. "Oh, I can't do that silly!!! Only princesses are allowed at my castle! And your not a princess! Not yet at least!" The phantom stepped forth, walking slowly towards the Doctor, "so come on! Let's play!"

"Doctor!" Dean shouted whispered, clutching the torch to his chest.

Aster, having heard the phantom's hoofsteps approaching, squealed into his cupped hooves.

The Doctor remained in his spot, keeping his smile to the phantom. "Now hang on! I don't think you've explained the game clearly enough! So, when you tag us we just magically become princesses?"

The phantom stopped eight feet from the three and shouted, "I already told you how to play!!!"

"You told us we would become princesses after you tagged us, but I'm still confused. Do we become princesses the moment you tag us or do we have to wait a few minutes before it happens? And, will we remain stallions once we're princesses or do we have to be mares? And what about this castle? Are you going to take us there after we become princesses or would we magically know were it is or-"

Dean had been staring in disbelief to the Doctor, silently questioning everything about his antics. However, his thoughts completely turned as he noticed the phantom.

The phantom's smile had waned further. It wasn't malicious as it had been previously. Now, her smile appeared more forceful as she seemed confused instead of excited. And with each question the Doctor asked, the more confused she became. "I- I . . . I don't . . . uh", the phantom stuttered, the mysterious liquid dripping less than usual.

Dean went wide eyed, "oh my Celestia! It's working! He's distracting her!"

"- And if that's so, than wouldn't there be a ceremony of some sort? You know all new princesses deserve a ceremony to express their position", the Doctor asked.

Dean shook his head, releasing his doubt as he followed the Doctor's lead. "Yeah! That's right! We would need to have a ceremony if we become princesses!"

"C- Ceremony?" the phantom stuttered.

"Is this really happening?" Aster asked.

The two paid no mind to Aster as Dean continued, "Oooh! And what about pretty dresses and crowns! A pretty princess needs a pretty dress and crown too!"

The Doctor couldn't help but glance a proud smile to Dean as he chuckled, "ha! Your right Dean! We would need a dress and crown! Actually, where is your crown? Aren't you supposed to be the queen?"

"I- I uh, w- what?" the phantom stuttered, looking back and forth between the Doctor and Dean.

"If anyone deserves a crown more than a princess than it certainly would be the queen! Her position of royalty is even higher than a princess! So of course it makes since that the queen of all ponies deserves her crown!"

"I don't remember- I don't, I- I-"

"Oooh! If we do get crowns could I have one with a big sparkling star at the front! No, no, no! A pearl gem with a constellation jewel engraving! One that looks just like my cutie mark!" said Dean.

"Ooh! Nice! I want one with an hour glass, not an engraving, a real hour glass! One that I can flip around and actually use as a timer!"

Dean looked to the Doctor, "hour glass? On your crown?"

"Yes! It would be attached with metal wires so that it can spin around in place while sitting comfortably on my head."

"Wouldn't you prefer something related to your cutie mark?"

"Not really, I think an hour glass would be nice."

"What! B- But- that's not- that's never been in the game!" the phantom shouted, becoming agitated. As she did, he her suddenly changed. Her white waspy hair darkened, turning gray. And slowly its gentle waving motion ceased, as the hair became limp, as if it suddenly became denser.

"Okay, well, I still want constellations on my crown! And on my dress!"

"And I'll have my hour glass! Then I can be Princess Doctor!" the Doctor said happily, extending a leg to express his title.

"Then that makes me Princess Do!" said Dean, mimicking the Doctor.

"No! Your not princesses! I need to tag you!-"

Dean interrupted the phantom as he complained, "no, wait, that doesn't sound right. Princess Do? Hmm, what about Princess Dean?"

The Doctor shrugged, "both sound find to me."

"Hey!!! Don't ignore me! I'm talking to-"

The phantom was once more interrupted by the Doctor, "actually, you know what, I think Princess Do sounds better than Princess Dean."

"You think so? I thought it sounded odd."

"No, no, it sounds fine. Princess Dean is a little odd to me, Princess Do is better."

The phantom had started growling, and the mysterious liquid began dripping as quickly as before. She glared to the two, utterly enraged. Her malicious smile had turned dark, appearing like a growling hell hound with her exposed teeth, but it came second to the death threat coming from her empty eyes. Her hair had begun levitating as well, as her anger fueled her mane, bringing them to life. They solidified, hardening around the edges and forming long, squid like tentacles. Her mane waved about, becoming a nest of gray, snake like tendrils.

Aster, from his position couldn't see the phantom. He did, however, noticed the growling and squeaked, "eeep! Um, Doctor, Dean, c- could you please stop?"

"Princess Do? Hmm, well, its short and straight to the point, for a name at least. Kind of like yours in a way", said Dean.

"What? Straight to the point? My name? . . . Hmm, well . . . huh, I've never thought of my name that way before. It always seems "bigger" in a simplistic sort of way, that make sense?"

Dean shook his head and smiled, "nope!" 

"GRRRRRRRRRR!!!" the phantom growled. She stood tall, her tendril hair growing angry with her as they begun flapping at the air. The mysterious liquid dripped harder, practically pouring from her mouth, peddling to the ground beneath her. Not just from her mouth as well, she was crying, or so it seemed. More of the mysterious liquid dripped from her empty eyes, like small streams.

"Of course, it all depends on personal preference too. Do you want all your subjects to call you "Princess Do" from now on? Or would you rather them call you "Princess Dean?"

Dean tapped a hoof to his chin, "huh, I hadn't thought of that. Hey Aster, could you call me Princess Do for a moment and see how that sounds?"

Aster yelped, "don't get me involved please!"

"Enough!!! the phantom roared, rising to her hind legs.

Aster held to his head and covered his eyes, shaking as he braced himself for the worst. The Doctor and Dean's conversation halted as the two looked to the phantom.

She dropped to all fours and crouched, huffing and puffing furiously through her mouth. With each puff, the faucet of liquid sprayed, covering the ground close to the Doctor. Her sockets dripped quicker, as her brows were furrowed deeply. Her mane and tail tendrils wiggled and thrashed madly. Absolutely livid, she was shaking in her spot. She growled, "no dresses! No crowns! No ceremonies! I! Want! To! Play! Tag!!!" She walked forth, proceeding to the Doctor first.

Aster screamed into his cupped hooves, crying as he listened to the phantom's hoofsteps approaching.

Dean whispered to the Doctor, "I'm assuming you have a plan?"

"Don't worry, I got this", the Doctor whispered.

The phantom approached slowly. Six feet, five feet, four feet, yet the Doctor didn't move. He remained rooted to his spot, smiling to the phantom. Which, in turn, confused her. Most ponies would have ran by now, but not him. Why, she wondered, why isn't the Doctor running?

Three feet, two feet, one feet, she was there, standing within legs length to the Doctor. She lifted her right hoof slowly, stopping it inches from the Doctor's nose. "Tag! I got you!!!" the phantom said happily.

Aster, from his hiding spot, could see the phantom clearly from the bushes now, and he couldn't help but cry a muffled sob in terror through his cupped hooves.

Dean couldn't help but shiver, seeing the phantom's hoof so close to the Doctor's face. "D- Doctor", Dean stuttered.

Yet, the Doctor remained calm. His smile never faltered as he softly asked, "alright, you got me. But, before I'm tagged could I ask one more question please? Just one, and that'll be all", the Doctor added.

"Fine!!!" the phantom said through gritted, black plastered teeth.

"Ah! Thank you! All I wanted to ask is, if you can turn anypony into a princess than what about an Elemental? More specifically, what about a Phoenix Pony?"

Unlike everything else the Doctor had asked, this question actually made the phantom curious. "Phoenix Pony? Are you a Phoenix Pony?"

The Doctor nodded, "indeed I am, and I'm not certain you can turn Phoenix Ponies into princesses. We're different from ordinary ponies."

The phantom pursed her lips, pouting, "no! I can make anypony into a princess! Anypony!!!" 

"I see, guess that means I should start running than, huh? Though, it'll be tough for you to catch all three of us now that the fog is back and the moon is covered", said the Doctor, dropping his smile into a smirk.

"W- What!?!" the phantom shouted, confused, as the area hadn't changed.

"Well I did say I was a Phoenix Pony. And being a Phoenix Ponies means that I have elemental magic. Which means that I have a sense to anything related to the four elements. Even though I can only use fire elemental magic, I can still sense when other elemental magic is in the area. And that includes the change in weather. After all, wind is an air element controlled by breezies."

As if on cue, the wind stopped. All fog that had been blown by the wind began to return slowly, enshrouding the area just as it had before. The clouds had drifted below the moon and would have passed it, if the wind hadn't stopped. Now that it did, the clouds slowed drastically, appearing to not move at all. With the overcasting clouds and returning fog, the forest had returned to a dark, thick fogged, blinding maze.

The phantom looked about to the sudden shift in environment, baffled, "what the!?"

"Oh, and one more thing Ms. "Queen of the Forest", as a fire Elemental I can also do this!" Suddenly, the Doctor jumped back, stood to his hind hooves, and struck his fore hooves against one another hard.

A Phoenix Pony defense technique. Focusing his magic onto a concentrated point in his hooves, a small and dense spot ready to combust, yet too small to cause any damage. When one clasps their hooves together in one fluid, striking motion, like a flint against steel, the concentration of magic combusts against the hard bone hoof. It creates a small explosion that Phoenix Ponies can control, and they deliver its power directly to their opposite hoof. Similar to a flint and steel, the initial combustion can create a spark. However, give the concentrated magic enough power and it can combust into a binding, flashing light. A Phoenix Pony spell: equivalent to that of a flash bang grenade. 

The phantom screamed as she clasped to her eye sockets, "AAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

Dean looked away as the light exploded, just in time for him to receive partial effects, blinding him for only a few seconds. And being too afraid, Aster had his eyes shut tight the entire time, preventing him from being blinded by the light.

The Doctor reached to Aster and pulled him from the bushes before pushing him towards Dean. Before Dean or Aster could register anything, the Doctor shouted, "run!"

The Doctor bolted forth; alongside Dean who, instinctively, ran to follow the moment the Doctor shouted. However, Dean had to grab Aster and pull him along, as he was still confused even after they started running.

The phantom screamed and ran, pursuing the three while blinking to regain her sight. With her momentarily blinded, however, she was unable to keep up to the three and, quickly, were out of sight to them.

Seconds later, Aster shouted, "what do we do now!?!"

"We need to find the castle the mare talked about. I think she's keeping all of her victims in there!" the Doctor explained.

"Victims!!! Does that mean Larkspur- is he-"

The Doctor cut Aster off, "we can't be sure until we find him! Just pray that he's just been captured and not- eh- you know!"

"But how do we find the castle! I can't even see where we're going!" Dean shouted.

"You remember how she described it?"

"Yeah! So?" shouted Dean.

"The phantom described her castle as a "wooden one?" Which is odd because I don't remember a wooden castle ever being in this forest! Or any castle for that matter! And has lots of flowers and a pool? Flowers in a forest is nothing strange but a pool? That makes no sense to find a swimming pool in the middle of a forest. Unless you consider there are other alternatives if you want to go swimming in a forest!"

"Like a lake?" Dean asked.

"Exactly! I think she must have called the lake of this forest a "pool."

"So, we need to find a lake to find her castle?" 

"Not necessarily. Yes we need to find a lake, but I don't think its a castle we're looking for. What would be made out of wood in a forest that ponies could live in?"

"A log cabin!" Aster exclaimed.

"Perhaps, but she did describe it as a castle. I'm thinking it is made of wood, or perhaps even logs. But I'm also thinking its something much bigger, possibly a large wooden house."

"A wooden house next to a lake?" asked Aster.

"But who would live out here in unclaimed territory?" asked Dean.

"I don't know, but whoever it is might have the answers we need to figuring out about- DAAAAAAGH!!!" the Doctor screamed.

The phantom had caught up much faster than they all had anticipated. And, somehow, had passed the three without them noticing. The phantom leaped from behind a tree, one that was to the left of the Doctor, shrieking as she charge towards them.

"So much for the fog!" thought the Doctor, making a sharp turn right and galloping faster, narrowly avoiding the phantom. Having missed the Doctor, the phantom aimed towards the closest pony behind him. Which was Aster, running behind the Doctor's left.

Luckily, Dean was quick and pushed Aster, assisting him to avoid the phantom while falling right, to the ground.

The phantom turned around, growling as she stomped angrily. She looked to the Doctor and Dean, then to Aster, and noticed he had separated from the two. Despite being a few feet apart, the phantom chose to charge at Aster.

Aster quickly leapt to his hooves, screaming as he ran. With the phantom on his tracks, he set his focus to running away, too afraid to think about the Doctor and Dean as he ran on his own.

With Aster on his own, the phantom ignored the Doctor and Dean, setting her sights to Aster first before returning for the others.

"Wait!" Dean shouted.

"Aster!" the Doctor shouted.

It was no use, they had already ran too far and too fast to be seen through the fog. Yet, they could still hear Aster and the phantom's hoof steps. Barely, but just enough, "follow them!" the Doctor commanded Dean.

Dean looked to the Doctor, both shocked and scared, "what!?!"

The Doctor turned away from Dean as he repeated, "follow them! You'll catch up to them faster then I will!"

"How wi-"

The Doctor interrupted, "listen to their hoof steps! Hurry before their too far!" As soon as the Doctor finished, he ran in the direction they had come from previously without looking back.

"Where are you going!?!" Dean shouted.

"TO DO SOMETHING!!!" the Doctor shouted, fading into the fog.

Dean gulped and clutched the torch to his chest, looking away from the Doctor towards the phantom and Aster's direction. He shivered, "oh, blast it all!" Quickly, Dean bolted forth, following Aster and the phantom.






ASTER






"HELP! HELP!" Aster sobbed.

No response, Aster was alone as he ran through the forest, the phantom high on his tail. He had only just realize he darted away from the only two ponies trying to keep him safe, and now he felt utterly defenseless. To make matters worse, the thick fog blocking his vision caused him to bump into several trees along the way, and he couldn't help but bump into more.

He wanted to slow down, fearing he would ram head first into a tree and become seriously harmed, but he didn't want to risk the phantom catching up. Though, despite his efforts, the phantom was already sealing the gap between them. She was fast, scary fast.

Lack of sleep, fatigue, an unconditioned body and the increasing number of bruises from the trees he hit was greatly beginning to take a toll onto Aster. If not for the adrenaline and pounding panic attack from his chest, he would have fallen unconscious from fear alone.

"Gagh!" Aster screamed, having scraped his left against another tree.

The phantom laughed, "don't you wanna be a pretty princess mister? It'll be fun!!!"

Aster sobbed while gasping for air, feeling his lungs reaching their limit. "Stay away from me! Stay away!"

Aster's pleas were futile, the phantom merely laughed in response. She didn't appear tired or scared, and she had no trouble maneuvering through the forest. Following Aster allowed her to foretell when an obstacle would approach. If Aster stumbled on something or bumped into a tree, she would see and avoid it. And with every obstacle, Aster, though very slight, would slow down. Allowing the phantom to seal the gap further and further.

"Ow!" Aster shouted, bumping into another tree and scratching a mark to his right shoulder.

"Your friend would be happy to see you mister! He's a princess! And you can be one too! Wouldn't that make you happy to see your friend again!?!" the phantom shouted with glee.

Aster sobbed, "no! Stay away from me!"

"If you let me taaaaaaag yoooouuuu than you can see your friiiieeeeend agaaaaaiiiiin!" the phantom sang without the slightest hint of exhaustion.

Aster sobbed, "no, please no, please!!!" Suddenly, Aster tripped. Stepping onto a rock at an awkward angle, bending his ankle and causing him to fall.

He rolled for a bit, scratching his body and bruising his right leg, the one he fell on. After tumbling a moment, he stopped. Lying on the ground, moaning and sobbing.

Aster remained that way for half a minute, too tired and hurt to move. Afterwards, he lifted his head slowly, coming face to face with the phantom. Looking down and staring at him inches away, drooling her mysterious liquid over him without care.

Aster wanted to scream and plead to the phantom. Yet, at this point, he couldn't. He was too hurt, too tired, and he knew the phantom wouldn't listen anyway. All he could muster was a gasp and a squeal.

The phantom laughed, spewing liquid onto Aster's neck and face. "I got you!"

Aster spat out any liquid that fell into his mouth and looked away, clenching his eyes shut.

The phantom laughed again before, slowly, raising a hoof to his cheek. "Tag! Your it!"

"No . . . please . . ." Aster muttered, bracing himself.

Aster wasn't ready, he didn't want to go. Whatever this phantom did to his coltfriend she was now going to do to him, he knew this, and it frightened him. 

He felt her cold hoof press against his cheek, and almost instantly was hit with a rush of magicka. He felt the unknown energy flow from the phantom, her magic coursing through his core, her leg, her hoof, and into Aster, forcing it inside him. Her hoof was cold, and her magic was like liquidized dry ice, burning him, yet it was freezing. Coursing through his face, slowly flowing down through the rest of his body. Ice body seized up, and burned in the icy magic as it made its way down his body, until everything felt cold. Seconds after, his mind started to grow numb. His body followed shortly, as he began losing feeling to the rest of his body.

He felt himself drifting away, the ground disappearing, yet, he didn't fall. He simply drifted off, as the rest of the world faded away, until nothing was there. An imitation to falling asleep, but Aster knew better. His mind had gone blank, he couldn't feel his body, and the phantom's magic was no longer cold. He felt nothing, and his mind lingered. A natural, primitive part of his mind fighting to stay in the real world. But it was a losing battle, and even survival instincts realized that. 

Larkspur, that was what his fading mind thought of. He didn't know if Larkspur was gone, nor if he would die. He hadn't the faintest clue what this ghost meant when she wanted to make him a "princess". But he guessed he didn't have to worry about that, being a princess. Whatever that meant, he was about to find out, it was going to happen to him as it did to Larkspur. 

A final thought, that's all his mind could muster. It was a warm thought to sooth a mind about to sleep. That no matter what happens, at least he would be able to see Larkspur again.
> lullabies: Part Two (S1C5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1423 YEARS BEFORE LUNA'S RETURN






"Are you sure your okay?" asked Aster.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me", said Larkspur, smiling, his face patched and bruised, and his right foreleg wrapped in bandage.

He and Larkspur sat underneath a large willow across from a pond. The beautiful white city walls of Marzipan could be seen only a few miles away. The willow blew gently in the spring breeze, the cloudy sky shone bright as the shadows of flocking birds streamed across the landscape. Blooming flowers blowing pollen through the air as critters, every here and there, skittered through the bright green grass; searching for food or homes or a place to rest.

Aster, returning a roll of bandage to a box labeled with a red cross and placing it beside him, frowned to Larkspur. "You didn't have to do that."

"You expect me to stand around and let some punks hurt you?" asked Larkspur.

Aster looked away, "h- honestly, yes, I- I would have thought so."

Larkspur's smile waned slightly, "your around a lot of unfriendly ponies, aren't you?"

"W- Well, its not that their unfriendly. They just aren't comfortable being around a pony like me, that's all."

"A pony like you? What's that supposed to mean?"

Aster blushed, "w- well, I- I'm not . . . exactly . . . normal?"

"Okay, and what's that supposed to mean?"

"I- I . . . I, um . . . I'm not . . . I don't-"

"Is it because you like stallions?"

Aster "eeped" as he burned red in a blush, "h- how did you-"

"I heard what those stallions were shouting at you. Seems like they had an issue with you liking stallions."

Aster chuckled sheepishly, "w- well . . . m- most everypony seem to have an issue with that. I- Its not just those stallions". Aster fidgeted with his box as he said shyly, "i- its not a big deal anyway, I- I'm used to it. A- And its my fault anyway-"

"What!"

Aster jumped, startled at Larkspur's outburst. Seeing Larkspur angry, Aster was quick to apologize, "s- sorry! I didn't mean to make you upset!"

"Why would you think this is your fault!?" Larkspur asked.

Taken aback, Aster stuttered, "w- well I . . . I've been told that . . . stallions should be with mares and . . . not . . . stallions-"

Before Aster could say anything else, Larkspur said loudly, "and you think that because other ponies told you that, it makes it okay for them to attack you?"

"U- Uh- I- um- I don't-"

"Because it's not! You haven't done anything wrong! Don't go thinking your the one at fault here because you are most certainly not!"

Aster stopped, as Larkspur's words hit him hard, "I . . . what did you say?"

Larkspur repeated, though with slight more sincerity, "I said you haven't done anything wrong. Don't tell yourself this is your fault because it isn't". Larkspur scooted closer to Aster, making the young stallion blush. "You are a wonderful stallion, you know that? Its them that are the bad ponies. They are the ones who go around beating up ponies that are different, not you! You'd never hurt a fly! Your quiet and sweet and gentle and the last pony on this planet who deserves this kind of abuse! You don't deserve what they do to you because your not at fault here! Your not wrong, they are! All of them!"

Aster couldn't stop his eyes from watering as he placed his hooves to his cheeks, attempting to hide his deepening blush. "N- No ones ever told me that before . . . you . . . you really mean it?"

Larkspur smiled and said kindly, "of course. If those ponies think that your a bad pony just because you like stallions, than to tarterus with them. They're clearly too stupid to see what an amazing pony you actually are."

A single tear drop fell as Aster smiled behind his hooves. Yet, just as Aster felt happy being told this, a question popped into mind. "Hey, how would you know all those things about me? We've only just met today."

Now it was Larkspur's turn to blush, as he looked away, coughing into his hoof to hide his own embarrassment. "Oh, er, well I . . . I've . . . sort of . . .". Larkspur gulped and forced the words out, "I- I've had my eye on you for awhile."

"Y- You what?"

Larkspur's blush deepened, "I- I don't mean I've been watching you or anything. W- Well, maybe a little, but I'm not a stalker or anything! I swear! I've just . . . had an . . . interest in you, that's all."

"O- Oh!" said Aster, his eyes twinkling.

Larkspur chuckled, "your not the only one who's into stallions you know. And you and I both sell flowers for a living so I see you a lot with some of my own costumers."

"Oh, I see", this was all Aster could say. He hadn't an idea what else to say. No pony, not one, in his life had ever revealed that they too like stallions, let alone confess their feelings towards him. The thought exploded into a mixture of various emotions. Confused, surprised, happy, excited, though, one that stuck out the most was relief. Relief, because he finally knew he wasn't alone. 

And that only made his feelings towards this stranger more powerful. This stranger, that reminded Aster. "Hey, you never told me your name."

Larkspur dropped his hoof, "oh, its Larkspur."

Aster gasped, "just like the delphinium plant?"

"Oh, y- yeah actually. You study plants too?"

Aster nodded, "I love plants! Larkspurs are one of my favorites!"

"Really? Hmmm". Larkspur rubbed his chin, "your name wouldn't happen to be "flax" or "aster" would it?"

Aster went wide eyed, "it is Aster! How did you know?"

Larkspur laughed, "just a hunch. Those two are my favorites."

Aster smiled, "really?"

Larkspur nodded.

Aster laughed and extended a hoof, "well, its nice to meet you Larkspur!"

Larkspur shook Aster's hoof, smiling, "you too Aster."






PRESENT DAY






The memory faded with Aster smiling. A single tear dripped to the ground, and Aster chuckled softly, his face's left side placed firmly to the ground; dirty, scratched, and wet.

"He helped me back then too . . . that's how we met . . . all he's ever done is help me. Funny though . . . I don't think I've ever helped him the way he has to me. Aster felt the phantom place her hoof to his right cheek and immediately felt that entire half of his face go numb. His right eye's vision blurred before fading black, and he could feel all thoughts draining from his mind. As if he was quickly falling into a dreamless sleep. Slowly, he found all feelings to his limbs extinguished. Though, he felt too tired to move prior, so this made little difference to Aster. 

The stallion smiled and allowed his eyes to droop shut, as he accepted his fate. "I'm sorry I wasn't brave like you . . ." His body went limp, and his conscious waned with a final thought, "Larkspur . . . . do you . . . think there are flowers where we're going?"

The phantom said something, but Aster didn't hear it. Her voice sounded like it was at the end of a tunnel, echoing in the distance before fading away. Drifting away, endlessly, far, far away. And before he knew it, he was gone. The cackling of maniacal laughter singing him to his sleep. The last thing he would ever hear.

That, and the screaming. The screaming, which slowly grew louder, approaching right towards them. 


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"


Dean appeared from amongst the fog, galloping full speed and plunging straight into the phantom's abdomen. Pushing her off Aster and throwing her to the ground.

"GHAOAGH!!!" the phantom coughed.

The second the phantom's hoof was released Aster's vision returned. As if a claw grabbed him from the depths of a dungeon, aggressively pulling him towards the light, Aster awoke. Her magicka disappeared, burning his insides in a hot pain as it evaporated. All feelings and movements returned, and the stallion bolted upright, clutching to his chest whilst gasping for air. His thoughts returned like an explosion, blasting out of the blue with a barrage of questions ranging from, "where am I?" to, "what's happening!?!" He yelped as he felt a hoof suddenly press to his back. He tried to push it away before it grabbed hold of him.

Holding onto Aster, Dean yelled, "Aster! Aster! Take it easy! Its me!"

Hearing his voice, Aster stopped and looked to his rescuer, "D- Dean!?!"

Dean sighed, "oh thank Celestia! I thought the ghost- GAGH!!!" Dean screamed, as his torso was wrapped in gray, oily, tendrils, squeezing the air out from him.

Looking past Dean, Aster saw the phantom back on her hooves. She was furious, growling, dripping liquid with each "huff" of air she exhaled. Her tail flicked about, almost seizure like, and her tendril hair had extended from her head to Dean, grabbing him around his torso. She lifted Dean into the air and threw him to the ground hard, thirteen feet away.

Dean slammed into the ground, rolling before stopping. Once stopped, he clutched to his side, the part he landed on, while keeping his hold on the torch.

"DEAN!!!!" Aster shouted helplessly. 

Growling, the phantom marched straight to Dean. Standing above him, she took hold around his torso once more with her tendril mane and lifted him again. Holding him upside down, keeping him inches apart from her, so that she could look into his eyes face to face. "That wasn't very nice!!!" the phantom screamed.

Dean shut his eyes, receiving a blast full of the mysterious liquid. Spitting whatever his mouth caught, Dean replied, "yeah? Not nice to push others huh? What about chasing ponies in a forest? Is that nice!?! Or foalnapping ponies? What about that!?! Is that nice-"

"Everypony wants to be a pretty princess!!!" the phantom screamed, her voice becoming more demonic.

"Y- You leave him alone!" shouted Aster, shaking in his place while pointing to the phantom.

The phantom merely glanced to Aster before ignoring him. "I am the queen! And I say everypony shall become princesses!!!"

Dean groaned, needing a second to catch his breath, as the tendrils tightening hold squeezed his lungs. Quickly, he took a firm hold of his torch. "Okay than "queen", if that's how your going to be! You wanna be the queen of the forest!" Dean placed the bottom tip of the torch to his mouth and twisted. The bottom tip cracked and fell, exposing a small hole. He then placed the hole to his mouth while the other end faced towards the phantom. An inch from her muzzle. Then, Dean readied himself, following the Doctor's instructions.






EARLIER






The Doctor looked up to the sky and smiled before placing a hoof to the tip of his torch, crushing hard on the flame and killing it. As he did, the top of the torch caved into itself, revealing a gray and black, rock like material inside. 

"Guess we don't need this". He turned to Dean, "hold this for me please."

"Sure", Dean replied, reaching out to the unlit torch.

Just as the Doctor handed Dean the torch, he tripped, pressing his torso to Dean before catching himself. "Oh! sorry!"

"Hey!" Dean yelped, grabbing hold of the Doctor's shoulders. "Watch it! Maybe you still need that."

"What? Now that the moons out? No, its bright enough, I'm just clumsy is all."

"Since when?" Dean asked, as the Doctor placed his hooves to Dean's shoulders, lifting himself back up.

The Doctor, pretending to have slipped, used this opportunity to whisper into Dean's left ear. "Twist and break the bottom, then blow into it towards her if the phantom catches you."

"Wait? What?" whispered Dean.

"Just do it!" the Doctor whispered, before turning around.

With one hoof holding the torch and the other held behind his back, Dean watched as the Doctor brushed himself off and took a step toward the phantom. "Now than, my names the Doctor, who would you be young mare?"






PRESENT






"Than here! Have a gift from the Doctor and I! Your highness!" Dean shouted. He took a deep breath, placed the bottom tip into his mouth, and blew as hard he could.

Black and gray bits of chalky rock erupted from the top end of the torch, blasting square into the phantom's face. Alarmed and taken off guard, the phantom released Dean and used her legs to shield her eyes. However, a large amount of the odd rock had covered her head to neck, some bits having passed their way into her empty eyes. She screamed, rubbing her eyes to remove the rock.

While the phantom was blinded, Dean quickly jumped to his hooves. Dropping the torch, he ran to Aster and grabbed him by the shoulder. "Come on! Let's go!"

"Wait!" said Aster. He pointed to the phantom, "what's happening?"

Dean looked back to the phantom and took a step back, startled to the spectacle before him, "what the!?"

The rock covering the phantom had begun to glow. Their original dull shades had transitioned to a bright blue, then bright red, before flashing various neon colors rapidly. Her entire head had begun to vibrate, as her tendril like mane writhed about frantically in a panic. She clawed at her face in an attempt to remove the dusty rock, but it was no use. Small, tiny bits fell, but its qualities were to that of a clay like glitter. It was beautiful and shiny, and brilliantly bright, yet it was difficult to remove, practically sticking to her skin. As the vibrations increased, the phantom screamed. Standing to her hind hooves, her forelegs extending outward, as she bellowed towards the sky. Screaming to the heavens in fright and fury.

Then, suddenly, each and every dusty, clay rock exploded. Every single bit, pieces that fell and pieces still sticking to the phantom. They all exploded into a bright blaze of color. Blasts of orange, green, red, blue, purple, the entire spectrum, all setting off like fire works. Some exploded later than others, not one went off simultaneously. And with rocks still yet to explode, the phantom was left paralyzed. Unable to do a thing while stuck in her colorful trap.

The entire forest had lit up. Dozens of yards away had turned bright enough to see. The light almost clashing against the night darkness, and it was perfect for Dean.

Dean grabbed Aster's shoulder and pushed him the opposite direction, away from the phantom, "come on!"

"Oh sweet Celestia! Oh sweet Celestia!" Aster whined, quickly running and following Dean.

The two galloped away, exiting the bright, neon, color filled area of the forest. Running far enough to enter back into a dark, fog filled area. Difficult once again to see, yet far away from the phantom. But that was good enough for Dean, so long as he could figure out what to do next. Though, he felt he would have an easier time now. At least, for a few more minutes. After all, even though they had entered back into darkness, the air from this distance was still filled with the sounds of explosions and a screaming phantom.

The Doctor's trick seemed to be lingering longer than he anticipated. Therefore, Dean was going to use this to his advantage and figure out what to do next.






THE DOCTOR






"HUFF, HUFF, HUFF! Ah hah!" the Doctor shouted, stopping and catching his breath as he approached the bush.

He gripped the bush and pulled away the thistles, looking inside to see a small bit of grass; grass that had been ruffled and imprinted with hoof marks. "Excelente, found my way back!" The Doctor rubbed the grass and tapped the soil before looking away, towards a spot ten feet away. "This is where Aster hid when we found him, and that there is exactly where that mare stood". The Doctor released the bush and jogged to the spot, finding small indented hoof marks. He crouched close to the spot, squinting, observing the marks closely. "Interesting, very interesting", he muttered, rubbing the marks gently. 

He sniffed the spot before tapping a bit of soil out from the ground. He noticed how moist the soil was and remembered that liquid the mare had drooled. He picked up the soil and observed it close, seeing that the coloration and turned a dark black, due to that mysterious liquid. He sniffed the soil from the ground again, then sniffed the soil from his hoof, "is that what I think it is?" He sniffed again before licking the soil. Before a second could pass, the Doctor immediately dropped the soil and spat to the ground. Spitting and blowing raspberries until his mouth was dry. Even then it wasn't enough, the Doctor reached into his inner vest pocket and extracted a large canteen, to which he popped off the cap and poured water into his mouth. He swished the liquid around for a moment before spitting it to the ground. The Doctor then took a hanky from his outer vest pocket and rubbed his tongue.

"That was . . . oddly tasty. Still disgusting but . . . what is that taste?", said the Doctor, folding the hanky and returning it to his pocket. As he placed the cap back onto his canteen, he looked to the spot on the ground and cocked a brow. "There's something familiar about that, but what?"

The Doctor placed his canteen back into his inner vest pocket and crouched close to the ground again. He sniffed the ground once more, "what is that? It's so familiar. It smells sweet, tastes bitter, I know its familiar . . . hmm. Blast, its on the tip of my tongue."

The Doctor stood up and looked back to the bush. He spent a couple minutes thinking, trying to figure out what the mysterious liquid had reminded him of. In the end he groaned, annoyed, "gosh darn it! What is that taste!? I know I've tasted it before, its so familiar!"

The Doctor sighed and observed the phantom's hoof prints. He tried tracing her hoof prints back, trying to find a path she had taken previously to get here. He couldn't find it and complained, "Jeez, now I'm not sure if we should be more afraid of her or not."

Taking a deep breath, the Doctor galloped off, following the prior route before the encounter with the phantom, and continuing his search.






ASTER AND DEAN






"Okay, okay, let's stop", said Dean, bending over to catch his breath.

Stopping close to Dean, Aster walked to the closest tree and leaned against the base. He too trying to catch his breath.

A few moments passed before Dean could calm his breath. He sighed, yet still breathing heavy, as he looked to Aster. "I . . . I think we might have lost her."

Aster, his breath having not quite returned, spoke through pauses. "You . . . you think . . . so?"

Dean swallowed and exhaled, "yeah . . . yeah . . . maybe . . . I don't know honestly. But we made it this far, must've ran at least a mile or so. If the phantom even has some way of finding us, whether it be magic or senses or something else, its going to take her awhile before she actually catches up to us."

"But . . . but she was really fast earlier . . . and . . . and I mean . . . really fast!" said Aster, his breath just beginning to return.

Dean turned towards the direction they had come from and cupped his hooves to his eyes, trying to see as far as he could for any signs of the phantom. "Yeah, your right about that. She is quite fast. That torch the Doctor gave me worked well and it seemed to last for awhile. But I doubt it'll last forever. And if she knows how to find us, hmmm . . . its just a guess. But if, hypothetically speaking, the torch lasted for about five minutes after we left, I'd reckon she's only a few minutes behind us."

There was no sign of the phantom, so Dean dropped his hooves and turned to Aster. "Let's keep moving but try to catch our breathes. If we see her again we'll need our energy to outrun her."

Aster stood off the tree and walked to Dean, "but where will we go?"

Dean placed a hoof to his chin and thought aloud, "well, I could use the stars to try and guide us out- no, cant do that, too many clouds. Hmmm . . . let's think: the Doctors ran off somewhere, knowing him I'd guess he's either investigating or figuring out a way to save us and the other ponies, most likely both. So, we could try and find him. But, after all that running I have no idea which way is back to anywhere! No idea which way would take us to the Doctor, so we could try and find the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, but I haven't the slightest clue on how to get back to that either. And we could just wander around aimlessly and hope to run into either the Doctor or the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, but than we're just running off on shear luck. And that honestly doesn't make me feel certain we'll find safety before we find the phantom. Hmmm . . . ."

Dean exclaimed suddenly, startling Aster, "Oh! A wooden castle! With lots of flowers and a pool!"

"Um, pardon?" asked Aster.

"What the Doctor was figuring out earlier! The phantom mention her castle! Made of wood and has lots of flowers and a pool!"

"W- What about it?"

"When the ghost was talking about her home the Doctor thought that she was talking about a place located at a lake in these very woods! If that's true than if we find a lake around here than we can find that castle! Or house, or whatever it might be!"

"What!?! Wait, you think we should go and find the ghost's castle ourselves!?!"

"Well what other alternatives are there? As I've said we don't exactly have many options. We could either try and find the Doctor or the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T but really what good is that? Even if we get lucky and somehow manage to find either one or the other without being found or caught by the ghost, than what happens next? We just wait until the Doctor finds the castle himself? Or we help him investigate than try and find the castle? Either way, we're going to try and find that castle no matter what we do, so why not try and find it ourselves! If the Doctor finds a way to get to the castle after his investigation than we'll run into each other either way so that seems perfect to me!"

Aster, taken aback by Dean's ludicrous plan, stammered, "w- what!?! N- No! That's sounds horrible! What if the ghost finds us while we're looking for the castle?"

"Than we're in trouble, but we'll still be in trouble if we get caught trying to find the Doctor, and if we get caught trying to find the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. No matter what decision we make the ghost is still looking for us. We are going to be in danger no matter what we do so I say we look for this cabin, find out what's going on around here, hopefully find the Doctor there too; and who knows, maybe we'll be able to find Larkspur and any other who have been caught by the phantom."

That caught Aster's attention. His ears perked as he looked to Dean with hope. "You think so?"

Dean nearly answered, about to say something positive. But he couldn't, and instead spoke honestly, "I can't be certain."

Aster's ears dropped as he frowned, "oh."

Dean continued, "but the ghost did say that "only pretty princesses can go to the castle". So if Larkspur was turned to a "pretty princess" by the ghost, I think it might be safe to assume he's going to be there."

Aster looked to the ground, "well . . . I don't know."

There was a pause, and Dean took a moment to think. He sighed, "alright, here's what we can do. We will try to find the Doctor or the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. If we find the castle than we will wait there for the Doctor, because I'm sure he'll be there. If we find the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T than you'll wait there while I try to find the Doctor. If we find the Doctor first than, well, I guess we'll ask him and see what happens next. How does that sound?"

Aster thought for a moment and seemed hesitant to answer. It sounded like a good idea, yet, something about it didn't seem right. Not because it wasn't a bad plan, it was something else, something he had trouble putting into words. So, Aster answered with uncertainty, "I guess we can do that."

Dean caught the uncertainty and asked, "are you sure? You don't sound like you like the idea."

"No, no, I think its a good idea. Its just, I- I don't know. I want to see Larkspur-"

"And we'll find him, don't you worry about that."

"Um, actually I-" Aster stopped, the two went stiff suddenly as they heard a shriek, echoing far in the distance. Both knew who it was, but how she was loud enough for them to hear this far out frightened them, and left them concerned.

"I- Is she coming!" Aster stuttered, feeling heart beginning to race again.

"I don't know, let's not wait around to find out. Come on! Let's get out of here and try to find- eh- something! Anything! We just need to get as far away from here as possible!" said Dean.

Aster nodded to Dean and followed, as Dean galloped off. He searched about vigorously as he ran, for even the slightest glimpse of anything might just save them. A pony, a box, or water leading to a lake. Anything would help, as long as whatever he found wasn't the phantom. So, he was careful, any sign of a pony would be nice, as it might be the Doctor. But if that pony wasn't, he needed a plan for that, just in case.






ELSEWHERE






"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

The phantom bellowed in agony, writhing on the ground to her fiery, colorful torment. Each explosion, one after the next, endlessly blasting pain again and again.

Suddenly, she noticed, the explosions had begun to diminish. Having been a full blown barrage now exploded slowly. One after the next, every couple of seconds or so. 

POP! . . . POP! . . . POP! . . . . . POP! . . . POP! POP! . . . . . . . POP!

Then, after a minute, the explosions stopped all together.

The phantom lied sprawled, panting as she waited for the pain to subside. Her body was dirty from rolling about and dusty from the ash of the explosions. The rocks sizzled and her body smoked as the light of the explosions disappeared, returning this area of the forest to darkness and fog.

Several minutes passed before the phantom sat upright, glaring wide eyed and huffing angrily. She stood to her hooves, shaking with rage as her mane wiggled about like snakes.

She took one step forward and yelped as the last explosive combusted suddenly on the ground. 

Startled, hurt, enraged, the phantom growled and gritted her teeth before looking to the sky and screeching. A piercing shriek, echoing through the entire forest.

Over a mile away the Doctor heard it, stopping in his tracks as he looked to the direction the shrieks came from. "Uh oh", he said, unaware of how far she was. Silently, he hoped the others were safe.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the forest, a couple miles away, Dean and Aster heard the shriek. Aster screamed as it peirced through their area. "Is that her again!?!"

Dean cringed as the screech hurt his ears, "I think so!"

"She's really mad!"

"I know! Just keep running!"

As Aster and Dean continued galloping, and the Doctor moved on his path, a third party heard the shriek.

Miles away, sitting in the pale light of a hot, stale, cement room. Illuminated by a single red candle, which shone in an eerie red light, as it hung above a wooden table. A table small enough for drinks, and no more. The table sat between two chairs, one of which was occupied.

Through the cracks, vibrating the walls, the phantom's screech blasted in, awakening the only able body inside. He raised his head from his slumber, looking towards the direction of the screech. His empty eyes stared and his mouth dropped, as he spoke without moving his lips. "My queen."

He rose up, levitating from his chair. A fluid, lifeless motion, he rose himself from the chair without moving physically, hovering inches above the ground. He twisted his neck and cracked it, before doing the same on the other side. He then floated towards the door across the room and gripped a silver handle with a sun and moon engraving. Pulling the door open, he ascended the stairs before him, entering the floor above.

"My queen, I am on my way", he said softly.






THE DOCTOR






"HUFF! HUFF! HUFF! HOO! Great- HUFF! HUFF! Googaly moogaly! I- HUFF! HUFF! Am out of shape!" The Doctor stopped, gripping his sides and crouching as he waited to catch his breath. "HUFF! HUFF! So very- HUFF! HUFF! Very out of shape!" The Doctor looked over his shoulder, checking for any signs of approaching ponies. When no evident sign came and no sound was heard, the Doctor looked to the hoof marks on the ground as his breath returned slowly. "This is bad . . . This is bad. Alright, lets see."

The Doctor stood up and walked once more, looking about. As he searched, the Doctor thought aloud, "it should be around here. I retraced back to when we first met that mare, back to where Dean and I talked waiting for Aster, and back to when Dean found me. He came from this direction and left hoof marks so- oh!" The Doctor stopped as he looked to a spot on the ground. The hoof marks had stopped, leading to two trees. 

The Doctor rushed to the trees and observed closely. One tree he noticed had scuffing marks on the ground at its base. The Doctor couldn't tell what that meant exactly, though in comparison to the dirt and grass at the base of surrounding trees, this one is the only one anypony had sat against for awhile. Sat, touched, pressed, crouched, leaned, he didn't know. That's what the Doctor knew. That, and the marking at the base of the second tree.

A tree to the right had hoof marks as well. However, it also had a peculiar pattern that formed as the hoof marks stopped. Though, with experience, the Doctor identified this as dragging. Or rolling, tumbling, it wasn't exact. All he knew was that someone must have tripped and fallen, based off the scruff and distortion of the spot of dirt as well as the left over marks. 

The Doctor looked over to the opposite direction. The hoof marks he had followed here lead to this spot. The marks consisted of two sets: both were close together before separating. One came from one direction before stopping suddenly. What the Doctor found peculiar is that this set, after stopping, appeared to trace backwards into the first tree, the one someone had sat against. It appeared that someone had back tracked at one point, a pony walking backwards? Or, a pony taking a minute to think. Think of what though? Perhaps, thinking on how to find the Doctor. But, that would mean that this set belonged to Dean. An assumption, but tracing set one backwards, the Doctor found that this set followed a direction that he recognized. If memory serves, that direction lead back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Or, that general direction lead close to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, veering off to the left slightly. If these tracks truly were Dean's, that means he mustn't have ran in a straight line. Guess that explains why Dean didin't simply follow his own trail back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Than again, the Doctor recalled Dean trying to find the Doctor, and he didn't want to return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Guess that was a viable answer too.

If his theory was correct, that meant the second set belonged to Aster. Looking at the tracks and scuff marks, it seemed that Aster came from the opposite direction, and unlike the first set, this one did not stop. This set clearly came straight to this area before the tracks suddenly turned to drag like marks, indicating the point at which Aster had tripped. Thinking back, Aster did look kind of dirty, if he had tripped at this point that would have made sense. How he tripped and why, the Doctor didn't know. He could have been running in a panic and his hooves stumbled. 

Actually, that made sense. Aster is a very panicked pony. Understandable under their circumstances, but Aster in particular doesn't seem like one who can handle this kind of situation even remotely well. Based from what he's seen, Aster appears as one to become frantic when scared, to the point of losing focus. If that was the case, it would be plausible that Aster would run without a thought, blindly trying to get away from the phantom. His chances of tripping over anything, even if it were himself, was actually high.

So, with that in mind, Dean came from one direction while Aster came from the other. Aster had tripped running from something and, probably, collided against a tree. The two joined together and left in a third direction where they soon found the Doctor. Or, the Doctor happened to spot them first and called to them. Either way, the Doctor was able to trace back the other two's location back to when they first met. That left the Doctor with a few variables: One, Dean's direction back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, not so much useful but at least good to know. Two: Aster's direction, which by what Aster had said about camping, this direction would take the Doctor to that very campsite. Three, a rather interesting factor: if Aster had in fact tripped from running when he found Dean, well, clearly that meant he was running away from something. Aster said Larkspur was attacked by the phantom and that he had managed to run away. Putting the two events together, that would mean that after Aster had escaped from his campsite he ran for an unknown period of time before meeting with Dean.

That in itself meant two things: one, that he and Dean had arrived in this forest, probably, only minutes before the attack; and two, if the attack really did only happen minutes before or after they arrived, than that meant Larkspur would have been attack only a few hours ago. 

If the attack really wasn't that long ago, Larkspur might not be in as much danger as he thought. Than again, that's assuming the filly kidnaps her princesses. And even than the Doctor couldn't guess what happens to the ponies taken to this "castle" of hers.

The Doctor cursed, "he's going to be fine! We'll find him, he's going to be safe! I swear on my life I'll find him!" Looking to Aster's hoof marks, the Doctor bolted forth, galloping along the trail and continuing his search.






Aster and Dean






"Dean!" Aster shouted.

"Yeah!?" Dean replied, shouting over his shoulder.

"Is it just me or is it getting brighter?"

Dean cocked a brow, confused. Looking around, he did notice it had in fact become brighter. That shriek from earlier startled he and Aster, causing the two to run faster. In doing so, he hadn't notice until now that it had become significantly easier to see. The fog had thinned, having nearly disappeared in fact. The trees population was thinning. The trees themselves were as large, strong, and green as always, yet it just appeared that there were less than before. Not only that, but grass had started to appear taller. Almost reaching their knees in fact. 

Dean's puzzlement had only lasted a minute, and in that time the number of trees had dropped further and quicker. Now, the two recognized this area as more of a grassland full of trees rather than a large foggy forest. Even the fog was gone now.

Bemused, Dean looked over his shoulder, considering his eyes to be tricking him. The forest flooded with trees was still there, far in the distance, and he could almost see at which point the trees numbers started to wane. No, his eyes weren't deceiving him, the forest was there. Yet, it didn't seem that they were still in it.

Just before Dean figured it out, the two came to a steep hill. Running to the top, Dean stopped to catch his breath and Aster followed suit. Dean looked back to the forest, then ahead of him, "I can't believe it, were back in Equestria!"

"What!?" said Aster, squinting into the distance.

From what Dean knew, it was true. Before them, past the hill, was an horizon of plains as far as the eye could see. Trees dotted the landscape every here and there, before the population stopped past a certain point, and only large grassy plains continued. Far, far into the distance, large mountains poked over the horizon, and Dean knew those mountains all too well.

Dean pointed to the mountains, "you see those mountains way out there, the plains end there. After that, go around or over those mountains and you'll find yourself in a desert. About twenty miles more and you'll find Dodge Junction, that's my home. Which means that this here", Dean said, pointing a couple dozen yards away from the hill they stood upon. "Is the border between Equestria and the uncharted territory."

Aster looked to the border, his eyes twinkling excitedly, "wow! That's amazing!"

"Isn't it?" said Dean, smiling to Aster's excitement. Dean cupped his hooves over his eyes and squinted to the horizon, trying to see as far as he could. "Let me think. Dodge Junction is in west Equestria so heading to the mountains would mean we're going west. Which means going back into the forest is East. North leads back into Equestria, but the closest city that way is Mane City so that's out of the question. That and a small town or two, but those have likely been taken by chaos so that's also a no go. And I can't remember where south leads us. I think the forest curves at one point, so going that way would just take us back into the forest."

"You think so?" asked Aster.

"I'm not sure. I vaguely remember the map of Equestria, but geography wasn't my subject of study back at the college."

"Oh? What was it?" Aster asked, intrigued.

"Astronomy, didn't get too far though. Spent one semester their before Discord took over Mane City."

"Oh! You went to the college in Mane City!"

Dean frowned, "yes, I did. Not sure if I'll be able to go back now. That's actually why I'm travelling with the Doctor, he said he would be able to help me continue my studies. Which is nice, I appreciate that. Still, its kind of sad, never being able to return. I worked really hard to get in that college. Now, all that work, ruined because of some chaotic monster."

Sensing Dean becoming upset, Aster apologized, "I'm sorry to hear that."

Dean shrugged, "eh, don't worry about it. I can still study astronomy. And at least I wasn't in the city when it actually happened, the day Discord took over. I was out getting parts for a telescope, for my professor. He didn't make it out though, neither did any of my peers."

"Oh . . . I'm sorry."

Dean sighed, "its fine, really."

Attempting to lighten the mood, Aster tried to relate with Dean, "I had a few costumers in Mane City, I don't think they made it out either."

"Costumers? For what?"

"I sold flowers. I owned a small shop with Larkspur in Trotto, and we would deliver flowers to Mane City occasionally."

"Trotto? Isn't that the next town over by Galloping Garden? On the way to Mane City?"

"Yes, it is. It was taken by chaos though, just like Galloping Garden, and Mane City. Which is why Larkspur and I were going to stay in Marzipan. We both came from there actually, and have family that can help us."

"But that's the next country over, why would you move all the way to Equestria to sell flowers? Doesn't Marzipan have a flourished environment?"

Aster nodded, "it does, but it doesn't have anything to do with selling flowers. We moved so that Larkspur and I can be together."

"So you can- oh, I see", Dean knew what Aster meant. Remembering what the Doctor had told him earlier, Dean knew that Marzipan was a beautiful place of flowers, trees, long plains of grass, and tall rich cities of white and gold. But, thinking about it now, Dean remembered that Marzipan, despite looking nice on the surface, was actually one of those places that made it illegal for same sex marriage. It made sense that Lark and Aster would want to move to Equestria. They could be together without fear of breaking the law.

"Why would you want to go back?" Dean asked. "If you and Larkspur aren't allowed to be together there?"

"We don't have any other choice. We lost our shop in the chaos, it was all we had here. We have nowhere to go, so, we're going to stay in Marzipan."

"Aren't you worried about getting in trouble?"

"Well, a little bit. But its okay, no one ever found out about us when we used to live there. Some used to bully me about it, but that only because they thought I was, you know. They never had any proof, so I think I'll be fine. Either way, Larkspur and I won't let those laws stop us from being together. We'll stay there as long as we need to then leave when we have the chance, and no law will keep us apart."

"I . . . I see. You two must really love each other."

Aster sighed happily, smiling as he thought of Larkspur. "Yes, we love each other very much."

Dean frowned, feeling awful as he thought back to how he reacted when he and Aster first met. Remembering what the Doctor had said, Dean said to Aster sincerely, "I'm sorry Aster. About how I treated you when we first met."

Aster was caught by surprise by Dean's apology, as he blushed slightly, "oh! Um, that's alright. It doesn't really matter."

"No, it does. You and Larkspur have something amazing, something I can't imagine, because I've never fancied anyone before. Loving your special somepony". He grinned to Aster and continued, "I hope you and Larkspur have a great time in Marzipan. And don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do, because that's not up to them."

It warmed Aster's heart to hear Dean say this, and his eyes twinkled as he replied, "t- thank you Dean. It means so much to me for you to say that!"

Dean smiled and offered his hoof to Aster, "it was a pleasure meeting you Aster. I hope we can see each other again someday."

Aster frowned, looking to Dean's hoof, "wait, it sounds like your leaving."

"I have to, the Doctor is still in the forest. I can't let him face that ghost alone. That, and I'm sure he'll need some help finding Larkspur."

"B- But that ghost is really scary! And fast! Aren't you scared?"

Dean chuckled softly, "scared? Of course! I am absolutely terrified of being caught by her."

"Than why would you go back? You said Dodge Junction is over those mountains, why don't you and I go there and find help?"

Dean dropped his hoof and explained, "because Dodge Junction won't be able to help us, they just had their own crisis they're having to deal with."

"Is it the chaos?" asked Aster.

"Eh, no, not chaos. The town was actually taken over by this band of criminals that were impersonating as the town's deputies. And this pony named Tumbleweed was their leader and he was impersonating the sheriff and- i- its- its a long story. Point is, Dodge Junction doesn't have anyone who will be able to help us."

"Well what about a guard box? We can call guards for help", Aster suggested.

Dean shook his head, "that won't work either Dodge Junction doesn't have a guard box."

"What!? What do you mean it doesn't have a guard box! Every town has one!"

"Not Dodge Junction, we don't have guards, only deputies. But even if we did do you think guards would be able to help us? They're all too busy helping fight back against the chaos."

"But some might come and help us."

"True, they might just send a few guards to help, but how long will that take? Let's say we leave together, and we travel miles and miles to the mountains, then we have to travel over the mountains, then walk across the desert to get to Dodge Junction, are you seeing what I mean?"

Aster's head drooped slightly, "oh, okay."

"Look, I don't like the odds either, but the reality is that we're on our own, there are no guards that can help us. I'll be in danger when I go back for the Doctor but you can stay safe! Its going to be a long, grueling walk, I won't deny that. But I have family in Dodge Junction who are more than willing to help you once you get there. You just need to tell them that your friends with Dean Do, Okay?"

"S- Sure", said Aster.

Dean caught hesitation in Aster's tone and asked, "is that a problem?"

Aster shook his head, "no, I'm thankful for your help! I- I'm just worried, that's all. And it doesn't . . . feel right."

"What doesn't?"

"Its just . . . leaving. I want to be safe but . . . I just think that . . . if it were me that was taken by the ghost, Larkspur wouldn't have left."

"What are you saying?" Dean asked.

"I- I guess- I guess I'm saying that I . . . I don't know", Aster stopped. He wanted to tell Dean what was on his mind, but found that he couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't muster up the strength to tell Dean that he wanted to return as well. To help save his colt friend with the Doctor and Dean. He knew if he told Dean than it would be solid, he would return back into danger. The shear thought of that ghost alone stopped him from saying what was on his mind.

Dean didn't know what Aster was trying to tell him, so he guessed. "If its about Larkspur, don't worry about him. The Doctor and I will find him, I promise."

Aster frowned, dropping what was on his mind. Changing the subject, he replied, "are you doing this because you owe the Doctor something?"

Taken aback, Dean asked, "what do you mean?"

"You and the Doctor said something earlier. I don't know what it was, but it sounded like you owe the Doctor something. Is that why your going back? Because your paying back a debt?"

There was a short pause as Dean thought to himself. Thinking back to that very conversation, and how the Doctor responded. He couldn't tell him then, and he wasn't sure he could tell the Doctor the truth now. Even to Aster, part of him felt embarrassed to say it. But if this was the last time he would see Aster, Dean figured he should know the truth. Dean sighed, "to him, to the Doctor, I don't owe anything. But, I've known the Doctor for about half a month now, and in that short time the Doctor has done so much to help others! Saving lives, stopping criminals, he doesn't consider himself a hero, and it baffles me why he doesn't. To me, the Doctor is the very definition of a hero. Everything he's done, and he never so much as asks for a thank you.

"He saved my home, he saved my family, and for that I owe him my life. He would never admit that, he's too kind. But, if I don't do anything to pay him back, I just . . . I just couldn't live with myself."

Looking back to the forest, Dean shot a determined look outwards, "I'm not strong, and I am scared. But no matter what, I will be there for the Doctor. I owe him that much."

Aster was slow to answer, considering if he shouldn't even speak. He hesitated, before asking, "a- are you sure that's a good idea?"

Looking back to Aster, Dean asked, "what do you mean?"

"W- Well, the Doctor, if he's really that nice, h- he doesn't really seem like someone who wants to be paid back."

"Exactly, that's the kind of pony he is."

"Than, why pay him back even though he doesn't want to be paid back?"

"Well I can't just do nothing!"

"I- I didn't say that! You don't have to do nothing, b- but you don't necessarily have to pay him back either."

"What are you saying?" asked Dean, not understanding.

"W- Well, if the Doctor doesn't want to be paid back, you can still help him. It doesn't have to be paying him back."

"Well what do I consider it than? Charity?"

"N- No, not really. I- I just think that, maybe, your helping him because your . . . loyal."

" . . . Loyal?" Dean hadn't thought about that. And he wasn't going to either, they'd spent too much time here as it is. He gave it a small consideration as he grinned to Aster. "I don't know, maybe I am loyal, maybe I'm just trying to pay him back. Either way, I need to get back in there and find him, and I think its time you got yourself as far away from here as possible."

"Oh, okay", said Aster, disappointed that Dean didn't understand what he tried to say. "I . . . I guess this is goodbye."

Dean nodded and sighed, "yes, maybe it is. Still, I'd like to think that we'd become friends. If you don't mind, that is."

Aster smiled happily at that, "of course not! I'm glad we can be friends. Do you think we'll see each other again?"

Dean shrugged, "who knows. If I'm ever in Marzipan I'll be sure to keep a look out for you."

The two smiled as a small pause followed, the two taking a moment to think about that pleasant thought. Being in the safe city of Marzipan, without chaos, without ghosts. Simply there, enjoying the beauty of the city or the land, enjoying each others company.

"You said your last name was Do?" Aster asked.

"Yes."

"Do, does it mean anything?"

"No, its just a name my family's had, since my great grandfather."

"Oh, I see. Do . . . I like it! My last name is Pedal."

"Pedal? Like a flower Pedal?"

Aster nodded.

"Aster Pedal, I like it". Dean offered his hoof, smiling, "well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Aster Pedal."

Aster excepted his hoof, shaking it. "You to, Dean do."

The two released, and Aster added, "please stay safe."

"I can't make any promises, but I'll do my best. Goodbye Aster."

"Goodbye."

With that, the two went their separate ways. Dean galloped away from Aster, returning back into the forest. Aster walked a few feet, before looking back, watching Dean gallop until he was out sight. Once he was gone, Aster smiled, thinking aloud, "Such a loyal colt."

Aster looked away, facing the plains before him. Taking a deep breath, Aster took a step forth, as he began his way towards the mountains far, far away.






The Doctor






"Ohh! Ohh mercy! Oh sweet mercy!" the Doctor stopped, taking a moment to catch his breath. "C- Cardio! HUFF! HUFF! I want it back! HUFF! My- HUFF! HUFF! Cardio!"

The Doctor gulped and exhaled hard, a portion of his breath returning. His chest bobbing in and out, the Doctor took a step, a deep breath, and squinted as he saw what he had been looking for ahead.

"Ah hah!" the Doctor exclaimed, charging forth.

The Doctor stopped at the base of a tent, four feet away from a pile of rocks and a spilt saddle bag full of fresh food. Aside from this, there appeared to be nothing else different about this particular area.

The Doctor smiled, "Aster and Larkspur's campsite! So this is where Larkspur was attacked."

The Doctor walked around to the back of the tent and looked for the largest and closest bush. Assuming that's where the filly hid before attacking, it didn't make sense for it to be any old bush. A large one with thick leaves, otherwise, how else was that filly able to get the drop on Larkspur without spotting her first. Of course, magic could play a factor, it always does. But from what the Doctor had seen so far, he didn't think that was the case this time. Unless that filly had some form of secret ability to turn invisible, the Doctor could assume that see hid in a bush large enough for Larkspur to miss her.

And he spotted just the bush he was looking for, several feet away from the back of the tent. Approaching the bush, the Doctor gripped and pulled the bristles aside, looking to a damp, dark spot on the ground. The Doctor chuckled excitedly, "ha ha! So she was here!" Walking around the bush, the Doctor kneeled close to the ground and sniffed the dark spot. Which only puzzled the Doctor further. "Odd, its that same smell. Won't be tasting it again but its definantly that same liquid. What is this stuff? Its so familiar."

The Doctor stood straight as he turned around, searching around for further indications of the phantoms being here. When he couldn't find any, the Doctor groaned, "darn it. I was hoping she could have left a trail. Didn't see one at her other spot either but it makes no difference. I guess she doesn't, eh, "excrete" this liquid unless she gets excited or upset", he said, slightly disgusted.

Perking his ears, the Doctor heard the sound of running water, and smiled. "Luckily for me, there's another way to find this "castle". Quickly, the Doctor galloped towards the river.

Once there, the Doctor looked to both directions. "Let me think", he said, closing his eyes.

Focusing, the Doctor envisioned his surroundings. Like a camera, his mental image began top down, a birds eye view observing the land from the sky above. He saw himself, standing by the river water. He saw the trees, the water, and the grass beneath his hooves. As the image became clear, the Doctor's vision expanded quickly, until the image was miles into the sky.

His eyes shut, mentally envisioning himself. His eyes popped open, as he sat over the edge of his open M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, looking down and smiling as he observed the topmost section of the unknown territory, and the southern border of Equestria. Sipping a cup of juice, he could see the river clearly in the unknown forest, as well as himself. The real Doctor, standing with his head dropped and his eyes shut, being observed by the imaginary Doctor in the sky, sitting in a floating M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T that wasn't actually there.

The Doctor chuckled before taking another sip. Rocking his hind legs back and forth over the edge, almost like a child would on a swing set, the Doctor looked to the surrounding parts of the forest closest to the river.

It was a river, of course it would have two directions. Which direction depends on the location, for every river, and land for that matter, was unique in a world as misshapen as this one. Though, as rivers go this one was ordinary. The unknown forest had two lakes, a small one, hardly even considered a lake, and a large one. If one were to swim in this river beginning at the larger lake, they would begin west and swim their way down south east. Their would be a fork two thirds of the way that would split the river into two for six miles before connecting into the smaller river at two separate points. 

At his current location, the Doctor was closer to the larger lake. A single mile walk west fallowing the water.

The Doctor looked over to the larger lake and grinned happily, as he saw the glorious spectacle of the grand wooden castle, standing directly at the edge of the large lake. 

Though he couldn't confirm it, he was confident in his prediction that this was the location to the "wooden lake". Because he wasn't sure, he had to imagine the castle in its possible location, looking far more grand than it probably actually is. Everything else, however, was real. No, the Doctor wasn't actually in the sky looking down over the country in his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T at this moment, but he had done this before. 

An uncounted number of times, sitting on the edge of his open M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, during times where he just wanted peace and quiet. Relaxing with a cold glass of juice, restfully admiring the landscape, memorizing the entire geography of Equestria and beyond. The Doctor smiled and sipped his juice, sighing in content as he gazed at the beautiful land below. With each time he had done this he memorized this land more and more. Until he had a perfect map of the country imprinted into his mind.

The Doctor in the sky faded, and the memory finished. The Doctor on the ground opened his eyes, smiling with determination. Looking left, the Doctor thought aloud, "a big wooden castle, with a huge swimming pool and flowers. If I didn't know any better, it would seem she's describing the larger lake. I could be wrong, but it doesn't hurt to try. That, and if I am wrong, it would be quicker to check the lake I'm closest to first. Alright than, no time to lose."

The Doctor stood tall, tilted his head left until his upper neck cracked, repeated for the other side, then exhaled deeply. "Let's do this", he said with determination, charging forth and galloping along the river.






Somewhere Else






Black tears fell, streaming down her face. She was too angry to weep, yet too frustrated to hold back her tears. She stood shaking with rage, breathing heavily through her gritted teeth as she waited impatiently. Her mane was frazzled, a snake like mane waving about frantically, appearing just as angry as the phantom. Her skin was dirty, and covered in dust from the small explosions of those strange rocks. Even after an hour had passed, the Doctor's trap still stung her.

"My queen."

Awaking from her stupor, the phantom looked left, to the one who spoke. Indirectly, as he hovered aimlessly behind the nearest trees, showing only his hanging right leg. She growled to him, "they hurt me."

The tall, hidden figure replied, "how much?"

"Not too bad, but they made me SO MAD!!!" the phantom roared, spewing black liquid onto the ground.

The figure was unfazed and said without moving, "do you need assistance?"

This question made the phantom angry, and she spat at him, "I can do it on my own! I will make everypony a princess! And I will be the queen of the princesses!!! ME!!! ME!!! ME!!!!" The phantom shouted, stomping her hooves onto the ground with each shout.

Yet, the figure still remained unfazed, "some princesses are more challenging to find than others. This one is cunning, if they were able to harm you and get away-"

"He is not CUNNING! He's stupid! And mean! And a big, old, POO POO HEAD!" 

"Say what you want, I am going to assist you this time-"

"I said I DON'T NEED HELP!!!"

There was a brief silence as the phantom stood growling, glaring at the figure and breathing heavily. The figure remained motionless for a moment more, before floating slowly to the phantom.

He was very tall and slim. Like the phantom, he had no eyes nor fur, and his skin was a pale baby blue. However, the figure appeared much more tidy than the phantom. His white hair was sleek and drawn back, his tail curly and neat, he was very clean and spilled no liquid from any orphic. He wore nothing more than a thin black suit. Only the suit, without the tie and under shirt. His suit was so thin, and its material so lifelike, it appeared plastered to his skin, almost as if the suit itself was his skin. He never blinked, and he never moved his mouth when he spoke. Essentially, he looked like a male version of the phantom filly. A cleaner, tidier version; and his demeanor made him menacing. A fearful enigma, just like the phantom filly, but not in the way that made her terrifying. Unlike her maniacal, psychotic personality, he was stone faced, emotionless. A perfect, phantom wild card, ready to do anything he pleased, and no one would be the wiser to what he was about to do. The stallion phantom was silent, and haunting.

He never touched the ground, floated always a few inches above, as he approached the phantom filly. He appeared  menacing to her, despite his lack of emotion. Towering over her, hovering a foot away, looking down upon the unnerved phantom. His features never changed, but to the phantom, he was glaring into her soul.

"I am going to assist you, my queen" the phantom stallion commanded.

His default tone was just as monotone as before. Yet, the phantom shook slightly, knowing full well the figures tone was masked. To her, he was speaking with authority. She gulped and stuttered, "y- yes my king."

"Than let us be off", said the figure, turning around and floating forth.

The phantom followed close behind, shivering.






THE DOCTOR






The Doctor sighed, "just a bit further, just a little bit further". With the forest mapped in his head, the Doctor knew he was close. 

By this time, thirty minutes had passed since he found Aster and Larkspur's campsite, and well over four and a half hours since the Doctor and Dean first arrive in the unnamed forest. The sun had already begun to set when they first arrived. With the Doctor's intellect, he knew the exact time to be 7:47, based on the position of the sun and lighting of the sky. 

The pattern between Celestia's sun transitioning between night and day with Luna's moon had remained consistent, never falling out of schedule once since the day the two had been correlated as the rulers of Equestria. At 7:30 the sun begins to drop, and by 8:00 it will have transferred to the opposite hemisphere, changing places with Luna's moon and placing the eastern hemisphere into night until 7:30 the following morning. Which, by then, they transition places once again the same way. The moon begins to drop until it has transferred to the western hemisphere, switching places with the sun. By 8:00, the moon is completely unseen, beginning the start of another day. It's a simple way of telling time without a clock, anyone could do it.

The Doctor looked to the sky and just managed to take a glimpse of the moon through the thickness of the leaves. That's how he knew four and a half hours had passed. Which meant, based on the position of the moon, it was eleven passed midnight.

The Doctor sighed, "good thing Deans used to late nights. Still, between yesterday and now we haven't gotten much rest. Hopefully he and Aster are doing-" The Doctor stopped abruptly, taken from his thoughts as he heard a sound appear.

"You rest your head, you run away . . ." the voice faded. Looking about, the Doctor recognized that sound as the singing from earlier. That strange lullaby, sung by a familiar voice. It sounded as if it came from everywhere, and yet, the Doctor could not find any distinct direction where the song could possibly come from. "Hello!" the Doctor shouted, hoping for a response this time. Of course, it didn't come.

The voice faded in, the same as earlier. It sung, before fading off, "across the land . . . you brilliant dreamer . . ."

"Who's there!? Hello!?!" the Doctor shouted, turning around quickly to find the source of the song. He was, however, no closer to finding the source with each turn. Turning one direction mad the song sound as if it were being sung somewhere else. So the Doctor would turn in that direction in hopes to finding the singer, only to turn and hear the song coming from another direction with no one in sight. He would turn again, and it would repeat.

Growing annoyed and frustrated, the Doctor shouted, "I can hear you!?! Where are you!?! Where! Are you!?!"

The voice faded in, "Orange dusk . . . on a bright blue world", then, it faded out.

The Doctor growled, "I don't have time for this! Is it that girl from earlier that's singing!? The girl who claimed to be queen of the forest? Are you singing!?!"

The pattern repeated, the voice fading in and out. "Full of misery . . . the light shines around you . . ."

The Doctor became angry and yelled, "what the hell are you doing!?! Why are you singing!?! What is the point!?! Are you trying to tell me something!?! Give me a clue!? A riddle!? What!?! What are you doing!?! Who are you!?!"

The song stopped suddenly, leaving only the Doctor's angry pants to sound the area. Calming slightly, the Doctor asked, "and why can I only hear you? You sung earlier when Dean and I were outside, yet only I heard you. Is it because of my age? Can only old ponies hear you? Or . . . or is it something else?" 

There was a pause as the Doctor waited, expecting the song to continue again. It didn't, and the Doctor was left in his thoughts, momentarily. Thinking back to earlier when he first heard the singing, comparing it to while he heard it now. He questioned its relevance, or any possible factors that relate to why he heard the singing earlier and now. Maybe this was just a trick, magic being casted from a distance. The caster is singing to him while exerting a low volume of magicka within a reachable field, a spell that can cast the users voice to another location. They can talk to another without having to be there physically, and the low amount of energy required could pass undetected, unless a unicorn casts a spell to trace magicka.

But there were two issues with that theory: one, the caster would have to be a unicorn. Unless they were using an enchanted item, but that would require a lot of focus and, enchantments being weaker than a unicorn spell, the majority of the time that is, this pony would have to stay relatively close to the Doctor in order for their voice to be heard. If that were the case, the Doctor wouldn't have as difficult of a time locating the singer.

Which bring him to the second issue: the caster was singing a lullaby? Why? What was the point. Unicorn or not, what would they gain from singing to him a lullaby? Singing when they first arrived, singing while he's alone now? What did it mean? What was their to compare?

Unless, there wasn't anything to compare. Singing to him then and now was irrelevant. It isn't when it was singing that mattered, it was why. That puzzled the Doctor further. Taking away the times it sung for the moment and thinking only to why it sung, that still left him wondering why the song was sung at all. A lullaby in a forest haunted with a filly that looks like a ghost, none of that seemed to match. He knew better to know that that song had nothing to do with the filly herself. Possibly, she was the one singing, toying with him, but the song having anything relative to her, not a chance. One would assume the lullaby might be a mother singing her child to sleep, and that child is the phantom filly. The first half is correct, but the second, not so much. That would be to assume that the phantom filly is a phantom filly. Again, the Doctor knew better.

The first half, a mother singing her child to sleep, that is what a lullaby is, normally, made for. But, why sing that around the Doctor? Or, to put it another way, why sing it to the Doctor? Singing a lullaby to the Doctor? A lullaby . . . to the Doctor. That thought made the Doctor go stiff.

He had a brief thought earlier, a sudden assumption that he had hoped was wrong, and the reason why he had charged into the forest in the first place. He was determined to find the singer, he absolutely had to. His life depended on it. The reason why it sung, a mother's lullaby to a child about to sleep.

What if that lullaby was for him? What if that was why Dean couldn't hear it? He wasn't meant to hear it. If it were singing now, of all places, than that could only mean-

The Doctor halted that thought, growling and shaking his head, forcing the paranoia out. Looking outward to the forest, he shouted to no one, "no, no, NO! SHUT UP!!!

"I refuse to listen to your song! You hear me! This! This is a trick! Magic! It has to be! Someone out there is playing a trick on me and whoever it is had better stop or else!!! This is not my lullaby! This is a trick! Because if you think this is where I die than YOU ARE WRONG!!!" He was furious with that song, and whoever sung it, and he had exerted a lot of energy into shouting at her. His heart was beating quick, and he needed a moment to catch his breath, panting heavily.

The river water flowing behind brought the Doctor back into reality. The gently wind breezing through the leaves, bugs and crickets chirping and making sounds, and a particular sound caught his attention.

A large, yellow and green, caterpillar like bug, crawling on the grass by his hooves. It emitted a tiny sound as it crawled past him, "Be-Bo, Be-Bo, Be-Bo, Be-Bo"

The Doctor closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming himself. He kept his mind to the pleasant forest sounds, helping to unravel his nerves.

Suddenly, the music began again. This time he heard a piano, playing the song that the mare sung, and the mare was absent. It was subtle, hardly audible. But he heard it, and the Doctor's eyes popped open furiously. He glared towards a direction away from the river and, this time, was able to pin point where the music came from.

It was clear this time, that the music was obviously coming from this direction. In his anger, the Doctor growled and charge forth, "I said shut up!!!"

Almost immediately he felt his body beginning to lag, sluggishly running much slower than he wanted; and this only angered the Doctor further. "Faster! Faster! Faster!" he said under his heaving breath, feeling the strain in his lungs piercing.

The river was out of sight, and the streaming water could no longer be heard. The fog appeared even thicker now, as the Doctor galloped amongst the trees, each one blurring past him quickly. The Doctor was quite fast for someone his age, some might consider it impressive even. Yet, to him, it wasn't enough. 

Not nearly enough, as the Doctor forced each muscle to move. He galloped quicker than he should, yet, it wasn't far different than his previous speed, only galloping slightly faster.

"C- Come on! Move! Move darn it!" the Doctor shouted. 

His chest hurt, his lungs felt to be caving in on itself, and he couldn't help but slow down to a run. These pains, just from running, it angered the Doctor. It reminded him that this wasn't the first.

He felt winded running away from Tumbleweed's house back at Dodge Junction, and he remembered he couldn't even catch up with the rest of group running away. And yesterday, running away from Silver's vines, he had to force himself to teleport just to escape because he couldn't run anymore. Later after, he didn't have the strength to pull Milly from that bridge. He had to fall off the bridge and use shear air velocity to save her. He was unable to use any of his own natural strength to save anyone during those rescues. He couldn't run, he couldn't carry another pony, and it was happening more and more frequently.

This old body, with its deteriorating strength, it was mental abuse. Each memory of him becoming winded, or his chest aching, or his inability to fight through physically enduring tasks, it was mocking him. Looking down on him and taunting, saying just how weak he's become.

It more than angered him; he was upset, he was frustrated, but what he felt most of all, was pity. Gritting his teeth, the Doctor said through huffs, "not . . . fair . . . I used to be . . . so much faster . . . why!? . . . Why can't I run faster!?"

The music grew louder, and just as it did the Doctor spotted someone. A figure, too far to see in the dark for most. The Doctor would have recognized him, yet his fatigue and clouded mind fogged his senses. Assuming the figure was the singing pony, the Doctor charged towards him.

"Gotcha!" the Doctor shouted triumphantly, pouncing onto the figure head on.

"Doctor? Is tha- AGH!" the figured yelled, falling to his back as the Doctor pushed him to the ground.

The Doctor laid on the pony, panting heavily, too tired to move as he let his body weight pin the pony down. "G- Got you . . . I . . . got . . . you", he said through breathes.

The pony groaned, "ow, Doctor? What was that for?"

Recognizing his voice, the Doctor mustered enough strength to lift his head and see no other than Dean Do. Who looked back with utter bewilderment.

"D- Dean? Y- you- I- y- you-", the Doctor dropped his head to Dean's chest, too tired and out of breath to so much as speak.

"Woah! Doctor? You alright?" asked Dean.

The Doctor didn't respond. If he had, he would have bombarded Dean with questions. He tried hard to listen past his heavy breathing, yet, it was no use. The singing had stopped, and the Doctor felt no closer to finding the singer then he had before. In fact, he felt further away and more confused.

"Doctor?" Dean asked, concerned.

Regaining just enough energy, the Doctor shakily lifted himself off Dean. He looked around a moment, hoping to see anypony or, at least, hear even the slightest pitch of music. When he didn't, he frowned and responded without looking to Dean. "Did you hear anything?"

"Hear what?"

The Doctor turned to Dean suddenly, evidently frustrated, "anything! Singing, a voice, a melody, anything tha-"

"Whoa, whoa, wait, wait, you think that- did you tackle me because you thought I was singing?"

Licking his lips, the Doctor responded quickly, "maybe, kind of, and I'm sorry for that but I need to know! Did you hear anything!? I heard it come this way!"

Dean stood to his hooves as he gave the Doctor an annoyed look, "Doctor what are you on about? Is this about what you thought you heard earlier-"

"I didn't think! I know!" the Doctor yelled suddenly.

Surprised, Dean took a step back, growing more concerned.

Taken aback by his own outburst, the Doctor coughed into his hoof and cleared his throat. "I know what I heard, I haven't gone senile."

Looking bewildered, Dean replied, "I never said you had! Doctor what has gotten you? You've been acting strange ever since we first arrived at this forest! Is it me? Are you that concerned with my safety?"

"It isn't that."

"Than what is it!? You run off when we first arrived, you run off after that ghost chased us! She almost caught Aster for crying out loud! And where were you!" Dean said angrily, pointing a hoof at the Doctor.

"I had expected that, which is why I gave you my torch. And seeing as you don't have it anymore I can assume you used it and it worked."

Dean looked to his empty hooves, flabbergasted, and looked back to the Doctor. "Wha- I- that- are- are you serious! Did you not hear me? The ghost almost caught Aster!"

"The torch-"

"Forget the torch Doctor!!!" Dean yelled, furious, and startling the Doctor. Dean took a step forward to yell, reaching a level of anger that the Doctor had never heard from Dean before, let alone hear it directed at him. "Why weren't you there!?! Yes I said I wanted to help you, Doctor, but I was expecting to help you side by side! Not cast off alone to fight a ghost! What do you think would have happened if I didn't make it in time when Aster was almost caught?"

It was then the Doctor noticed that Aster wasn't there, "where is Aster?"

Dean rolled his eyes, "so now he asks. For your information, Aster was nearly caught by the ghost and I saved him last minute. After that we ran so far we wound up back at the boarder of Equestria."

"You two ran that far?" the Doctor asked, impressed.

Dean, however, was not. "Well we didn't have much of an alternative now did we!?! You left us so I had to figure something out! Once we made it out of the forest I sent Aster off towards the mountains. He's headed to Dodge Junction as we speak."

"Dodge Junction? That's quite a walk-"

"What other choice did I have Doctor!!!" Dean shouted.

He hadn't intended to, but the Doctor's statement came off as a critique. As if Dean's plan wasn't good enough or that it was the wrong choice, and it insulted him. The Doctor was quick to correct himself, "it was a good plan Dean! I'm sorry I couldn't be there, I had something else to do."

Dean scoffed, "we are in a forest where a filly wants to kill us and has already, possibly, killed someone else. What the bloody tarterus could you have-" he stopped suddenly. His ears twitched, and Dean's eyes turned curious. He still looked upset, but something had caught his attention. He looked to that ground, where he felt it. A vibration like sensation, warning him of something approaching.

It took the Doctor a moment before he noticed Dean's change of attitude. Concerned, he asked, "Dean? What's wrong-"

"SHH!" Dean interrupted, putting a hoof to his lips.

The Doctor went silent, and simply watched Dean curiously.

That vibration Dean felt, it worked like a sonar. With every beat of his heart, Dean felt a static like energy pulse out beneath him, entering the ground. Expanding outwards, traveling through the dirt like a sea of fish in a current, in a far radius, and touched the unidentified creature. As soon as it did, this energy returned to him, vibrating the ground as it sent signals into his brain. Images flashed in his mind; a shadow, shaped like a pony, walking through the forest a couple dozen meters away, heading towards them.

"Duck!" Dean hissed, crouching low and bringing the Doctor with him, hidden by the tall bushes around.

The two remained stationary for a moment, silently laying low to the ground. It took the Doctor a few seconds to realize what had alarmed Dean. He couldn't see anyone while lying low, but he certainly heard steps approaching. Light steps, yet just heavy enough for the slightest of crinkling to the ground beneath their hoofs. A rustling of bushes as they came close, but stopping just six feet away.

"You said you heard shouting!!!"

The Doctor stiffened as he recognized that voice. It was the phantom, talking to another pony. Which startled the Doctor further, and Dean as well.

And his voice only made it worse, "perhaps they heard us. They must've ran, or are hiding somewhere close."

"Don't ignore me!!! You said you heard shouting!!! No one is here!!!" the phantom shouted, stomping a hoof.

"Your stomping and aggressive nature is loud, clear your mind and let the weight of your body-"

The phantom growled, "I can't do that!!! I've already told you!!!"

"You can, I have seen you. If you allow your body to float it will reduce the sound you make. It will help you with your goal, is that not what you want?"

Crossing her forelegs together, the phantom looked away, pouting. "Mmmph! I want to but I'm not good at it!"

"If you won't float than at least calm yourself. If anyone hadn't heard us then, they must have now."

"But it wasn't-"

"We haven't anymore time to discuss this. The night will not last forever, come my queen."

A strong gust of wind blew suddenly, whistling and shuffling the nearby bushes and trees as the stranger floated away.

The phantom growled and gritted her teeth. "I'm the Queen of the Forest, I can be as loud as I want", she murmured under her breath, trotting close behind the stranger and following him away from the area.

The wind ceased and the phantom's hoofsteps faded. The two remained in hiding for a minute, waiting as the area became eerily silent.

The two stood and checked for the ghosts. Niether saw them, confirming that they were gone, for the time being. Relieved, the Doctor sighed and asked, "you heard them coming, Dean?"

Dean looked confused when he replied, "not exactly. I knew they were coming but I didn't hear them."

"How'd you know they were coming than?"

Dean shrugged, "I'm not sure honestly. It was almost as if I just knew where they were. I felt it in my gut."

"In you gut? It told you they were coming? Dean, did this "feeling" feel like a sixth sense? Or, an energy like impulse of some sort?"

"Um, I think, I'm not sure."

Dean was unsure, but the Doctor understood what Dean had felt. He explained, "you may not have felt this before because your body has never been in life and death danger before. Adrenaline, fear, and injuries received from the past week has caused a sudden growth of your earth pony magic."

"A growth of my magic?" asked Dean.

"All three tribes of ponies have purposes for their own unique magic, but what they have in common is using their unique magic for survival. The three tribes all have abilities that link them to their instincts which allow them to better handle a fight or flight situation. It affects your body so you can run away quicker or give you a boost if fighting isn't an option. Sometimes a pony's power increases exponentially when placed in a life or death situation, and I mean they really, truly have to believe they are going to die. When that happens, your primal instincts for survival activates your untapped magic, the parts you never use, and gives you strength and abilities you may have never known you already had. This is called: Survivalists Awakening."

"I . . . see", said Dean, following along; intrigued, yet annoyed.

"It usually happens to untrained ponies but when it happens to the ones who are adapted to danger whew! They can get really strong! Like sensing ponies through dirt or soil, that's a passive Earth Pony ability that, if you train enough, can come very much in handy-"

"Doctor why have you been acting strange?", Dean blurted, angrily.

The Doctor paused. For the moment, he had become excited to hear Dean use his Earth Pony magic, and half of him went into a lecture to talk about it. The other half had actually hoped Dean had moved on about their previous discussion, and used this new topic to divert away from the old one. Clearly it didn't work, and was now expected to give Dean a proper explanation. The problem was, how could he explain to Dean why he had searched so vigorously for the singing? After all, if the singing truly was what he thought it was, that would mean he would have to tell Dean the last bit of information. The one he left out when explaining about regeneration. It also meant he would have to tell him of the lullaby, and what it meant.

No, now wasn't the time to tell him that, either of them. Making his choice, the Doctor recomposed himself before grinning sheepishly to Dean. "Right, right . . . I . . . have been acting . . . inappropriately, haven't I?"

Dean nodded a simple response.

The Doctor's grin dropped as his eyes slowly fell to the ground. "I . . . I'm sorry for my behavior. I haven't . . . I . . . I'm". The Doctor gulped silently before continuing, "when I left you and Aster that was unrelated to the singing. I had left to investigate Aster's campsite, hoping it would give me insight on what had happened and why this is all happening. Still, that was wrong, I shouldn't have left you alone. Maybe if you were better equipped and trained, but right now, that was foolish of me. 

He took a breath, "I've been selfish, there's a pony in danger and I'm running around for a pony singing that only I can hear, apparently", the Doctor added. The Doctor's brows furrowed as he spoke, "with or without your magic I should have known they were approaching. I trained a long time ago to sense when others were approaching and yet here I am wondering a forest like a child, too distracted to see what's around me, and what really matters."

Dean relaxed as the Doctor talked. His tone was angry, but it was clear that its anger was directed to himself. The Doctor was angry with himself, disappointed even, Dean saw this. Though, he was still annoyed, he listened to the Doctor with an open mind of forgiveness. Because through his anger and disappointment, Dean heard sincerity.

The Doctor continued, "I'm sorry Dean, I really am, for my behavior. And I want give you an explanation but . . . I see now that we've, I've wasted enough time as it is."

The Doctor straightened up and his tone changed suddenly, taking Dean by surprise. A slight bit a disappointment and some anger was evident, but what appeared out of nowhere was determination. The same tone Dean had remembered the past week, and grown to enjoy. "All my life I've put myself before others. Helping without thinking of myself for a moment. I'm not sure when that changed, I've lived so long god knows how much I've changed, but I won't allow this to be one of them. My care for others, I refuse to let that change". The Doctor smiled to Dean, "thank you for helping me realize that Dean, I would never let something as silly as "a singing pony" distract me from saving another ponies life. I'll explain to you everything, after we save Larkspur, got it?"

Dean couldn't help but smile happily to the old stallion who, in this moment, was a spitting image of the stallion he remembered. Despite his strangeness and way of going about his business, this is the stallion that made sense to Dean. The Determined Doctor.

Dean nodded, "got it!"

"Brilliant! . . . Brilliant", the Doctor smiled softly and sighed. "Alright than, let's not waste anymore time! I know where Larkspur is so let's go save him!"

Dean had to double take before realizing what the Doctor said, "wait, you know where he is?"

"Yes, I'll explain on the way, follow me!" said the Doctor, bolting away from Dean.

"Woah! Hang on a moment!" said Dean, rushing to catch up to the Doctor.

It had worked, the Doctor's diversion had worked. He was sincere and honest. He felt it was true, that he did allow the singing to distract him from what was important. That he would put himself before others, and leaving Aster and Dean alone, everything he said was the truth. Mixed with the truth, he was careful to choose the right words to get on Dean's good side, calling himself "selfish" and that he had "acted like a child". Still, the Doctor felt that to be true as well, but he didn't have to say any of it. 

Everything was the truth, he was completely honest with Dean, in a very strategic way. He never lied, the Doctor simply avoided telling Dean the truth that mattered.






Camp Mason, Ninety One Miles Away






Captain Stone Ball placed his shimmering spear atop his bed and grinned approvingly at it. He hadn't had a chance to polish it due to the chaotic atmosphere of his work, both literal and metaphorical. 

More soldiers had gone M.I.A in chaos territory, whether they were actually missing or had been corrupted he hadn't a clue. Their food supply was running low, they were losing land day and night, energy was running low with the twenty four hour surveillance, and without the princesses in command, every issue rested on Stone Ball's shoulders.

He was upset at the princesses absence at a time like this. However, he trusted the princesses knew what they were doing and kept any complaints to himself. After all, he would never have accepted a position as high as his if he didn't know the duties that comes with it.

Stone Ball sighed as he looked to a map of Equestria, posted on his tent wall. Part of the map had been highlighted red, marking the overall area taken by chaos; a concerning amount of red, covering more than half of the country. The red was close to his camp, around two miles of clear space before the chaos reached his camp. He frowned, looking at small red "X's" scattered about the map, crossed with black string and tacks. The "X's" indicated fellow soldier camps that had been taken by the chaos. Including Camp Mason, there were only eleven camps left.

"There isn't much time left. I'll have to move the camp again in the morning."

Stone Ball shifted his gaze to a large box beside his bed. A dark green, wooden box with a shimmering silver and white soldier helmet sitting atop, the colors of Celestia's captains. The helmet itself was similar to that of a Spartan helmet, with the exception of a single spike protruding the top center of the helmet. The long spike was to help the public find guards quicker in case they needed help, though, Stone Ball disliked it. The spike was solid metal, so wearing it made him feel off balanced and top heavy. But a captain is still a captain, so he maintained his armor well, despite his dislikes. The thought of working hard on his job filled him with pride, for only a moment, before remembering that the side he was leading was losing.

Stone Ball removed the helmet off the box and placed it on his bed, before opening the box and checking inside. The box was filled with several scrolls, all work related, and a few miscellaneous items. Amongst those items was a silver, pearl encrusted locket shaped like a heart. Silver twisted the small lock on the side and opened it.

Inside was a heart shaped photo of three ponies smiling in a grassy area full of trees and pink flowers. To the left was a young cream colored filly with brown hair and orange eyes. To the right was a filly of the same age, completely identical with the exception of her eyes, which were hazel. In the center, holding the two fillies, was a cream colored mare with a long, white mane and pale, faded gray eyes.

Stone Ball smiled as he gently felt the photo of his twins and wife. Closing the locket, Stone Ball went to return it to the box, before he noticed one of the scrolls had unrolled. Grabbing it, he had intended to wrap it close, before realizing which scroll this was. Reading it brought him back to when he had first received this scroll, detailed inside with his objectives and new title as captain. Just a day after their defeat, the day they lost Mane City, and the last time anyone had seen the princess.






Six Weeks Ago






Stone Ball entered the large, dimly lit room with haste. He was immediately approached by a well dressed, orange pony, just as he did.

It was clear he had tried to keep his dark brown hair neat, but the stress of his work made it impossible, turning his mane into a sideswipe bed head. Along with his messy hair, his stubble and tired baggy eyes was evident enough to tell Stone Ball he wasn't the only one working in a hurry. His tail was short and curly, but Stone couldn't see his cutie mark, even if he had wanted to check. He wore a formal, robe like attire that covered from his flank up to his neck. His brown robe had three buttons on the front that weren't fastened, revealing a dirty, white, silk shirt underneath. It was clear he was in a hurry, so Stone Ball wasn't concerned with having his time wasted.

"I've been summoned?" Stone Ball said abruptly.

The pony nodded quickly as he grabbed a hoof full of scrolls, having to trot on three as he rushed to the door. His voice was professional, gentlemanly, yet somewhat soft, almost forcefully soft. Stone Ball knew he was trying to be polite, which tends to be difficult when one is in as bad of a rush as this pony was in. "Yes, she's in the other room. There isn't much time so remember everything she tells you, its very important-"

"I've got it", Stone interrupted, walking towards the door opposite of the room.

"One more thing, you'll be needing that as well", said the pony, pointing to a table in the center of the room.

Stone Ball had noticed the table, and wouldn't have paid attention to it if not for the pony. 

The room was large and cozy, a long fancy couch lined the wall on the right while tapestry and a painting of the princesses covered the wall to the left. Glass and mahogany dressers and tables dotted the room every here and there, and would have brought a shimmering beauty to the room if not for the lack of light. The royal carpet as well would have been a sight to see if not for the hundreds of papers, clothing, trash, weapons, and broken objects scattered all over the room. A few of the dressers were on its side, broken with shattered glass spread on the floor. A few of the paintings had fell, oddly enough with minimal damage; and on the ceiling, where a large glass chandelier once hung, now is an open hole with parts of the chandelier hanging off the floor above. His career experience told him that the chandelier had been pushed upwards into the ceiling, which is why there is a hole and yet the chandelier remains hanging through the floor above.

He didn't question the state of the room, nor did he want to know what had happened. If he guessed, Stone Ball would assume the room was destroyed during the battle. Though, he was surprised the room even remained. He only witnessed a mere minute of the fight while helping with evacuations. And even that minute was enough to make Stone Ball believe that the entire castle would be reduced to rubble. He was glad to be wrong, it was sad to see the room, the castle, in such disarray. Princess Celestia's bedroom used to be so beautiful.

The center of the room held a large table, not nearly as fancy as the others. Surrounded by furniture that once had value was a large, thick, wooden table made for durability. Function over form, Stone Ball recognize this sturdy table to be one of the emergency barricades used by the higher ranks. Metal cased the under parts of the table, giving great protection if flipped, in case of a sudden attack or if no other barricades are available. He found this odd, the princesses have never requested furniture barricades for their room. Then again, the princesses have never lost a battle either. On top of the table was a large, dark green, wooden box. A standard box, also used by soldiers for supplies. Though, why this and the table was here in a royal bedroom only brought further questions to Stone Ball.

"Why do I-"

Stone Ball looked over his shoulder and stopped, as the pony was no longer there. Though there was a second pony there to hear him.

"Stone Ball? Is that you I hear?"

Stone Ball whipped his head to the opposite of the room, where a familiar voice spoke through a cracked door. Though he couldn't see her, and he wasn't sure she could see him, Stone Ball still galloped forth close to the door and bowed to the one who spoke.

"Your highness, you summoned me?"

Amongst the sounds of rummaging items and papers, Stone Ball heard the alicorn herself speak to him: Princess Celestia. Despite her weariness from battle, she still spoke as gentle and majestic as he had remembered her to be. "Yes, thank you Stone Ball. I'm sorry I cannot speak with you face to face. Time is of great essence, and sadly, I do not have any now."

"Are you busy figuring out how to defeat Discord? Is that the reason for my summon?"

Something dropped from the room, something heavy. Whatever it was, it sounded to have snapped, causing the princess to sigh. "Yes and no. I need your help assisting us for our fight with Discord. However, actually defeating him, I'm afraid you and your soldiers will have a different role to play."

"I don't quite understand your highness."

There was a moment of rummaging before she responded. "As you already know, my sister and I have . . . been defeated. We lost in our fight with Discord and are, for the time, defenseless against his chaos magic."

Stone Ball perked his head at that, "for the time? You mean, you do have a plan for defeating Discord?"

"That is correct. My sister and I have an idea that should help us win, however, it will require for my sister and I to leave for awhile."

"For you to- you, you and Princess Luna won't be here?"

"No Stone Ball, I am sorry."

"But, your highness, what of the citizens? Who will protect them?"

"That responsibility I will entrust in you, Stone Ball."

Stone Ball was shocked to hear that, and replied wide eyed, "me? Your highness, with all due respect, I do not think I am the most suited for a mission with such responsibility."

"And what makes you think that? You are kind, you are loyal, you are a friend to many, and a great symbol for friendship."

"Friendship? My apologies your highness, but I do not see how "friendship" is going to help". Stone Ball heard a drawer shut, and Celestia whispered something, too quiet to hear. 

"Stone Ball, I have watched you grow into the stallion you are today ever since you were but a young colt. The qualities you have, through your years of training and defending Equestria with your fellow soldiers. You have traits that are unique, that not many share or are willing to accept. Yes, a soldier is strong, a soldier is brave, courageous, skilled, at the ready for battle. However, with our troubled times, we need a pony who is more than just a soldier. What we need most is are friends. Ponies willing to put their differences aside and band together.

Celestia turned and spoke towards the crack directly, heightening her sound. "Stone Ball, despite how you wish others to see you, you cannot deny these traits that you hold in your heart. I have seen you, the extra work you do to help others without your fellow soldiers knowing, the charity you contribute, that home you built for those children.

Stone Ball stiffened and blushed, embarrassed and, for the moment, lost his serious demeanor.

Stone Ball couldn't see her, as Celestia smiled to the kind pony. "You may not like others knowing of your good deeds, but you can't hide those from me. I have seen all the good you have done Stone Ball. You are not a soldier simply for the money are the benefits, or because you think you are tough. You became a soldier because you truly care for others. And you are very good at hiding your intentions, is it because you are embarrassed for your fellow soldiers to know of your good deeds? Or, do you simply wish not to brag?"

"I . . . I don't know", said Stone Ball, timidly. He knew the truth, but as a soldier standing before a princess, he felt awkward to display that level of emotion to her. His response was the best he could muster, and Celestia knew that.

She had hoped he would be honest with her, but being princess can be intimidating to others, so she let it slide. "Even so, you can hide your emotions very well, and that will come of great use in your task."

Stone Ball frowned curiously, "what do you mean?"

"Stone Ball, I am about to give you  very important task. With your qualities of friendship, I can think of no other pony perfect for this mission. Therefor, Lieutenant Stone Ball, from this day forth you will be promoted to Captain Stone Ball."

Stone Ball felt his heart stop, as a mixing surge of pride and excitement filled his chest. "Your highness . . . I- I- I don't-" Stone Ball was cut off to a clock tower ringing in the distance, chiming four times before stopping.

"It is time for me to take my leave. Captain Stone Ball, I know you will do your best, you have my faith."

Stone Ball stood to his hooves and raised his voice to the door. "Wait! Your highness! What is my task!? What do you need me to do!?"

"Everything you need to know is in the case behind you. Read the file and follow its instructions to the letter. I'm counting on you Captain, I know you will make me proud."

The was a flash of light, strong enough to, even through the crack, blind Stone Ball for a moment. He blinked to let his eyes adjust, as he quickly rushed into the room. Only to find it dark and empty, and in worse condition then the neighboring room.

Papers scattered all over the place, furniture reduced to splinters, what had once been a bed now laid on its side and broken in half. A few drawers remained intact, with scratches and dents all over. The room was dismantled, disarrayed, and held no Princess Celestia. Stone Ball didn't bother searching further, he knew she was already gone.  

He exited the room and approached the table with the green case. Placing a hoof to the side of the box, Stone Ball had intended to open the case, before a cackling laugh made him freeze in his place.

In the distance, ringing so loudly, as if he stood in this very room, laughing manically in utter glee. The screams of thousands with their trampling hooves, vibrating the walls with their blasting noise alone. The entire city was in chaos, and Stone Ball knew who was to blame.

Stone Ball gritted his teeth angrily, "Discord!" Grabbing the case and hoisting it to his back, Stone Ball rushed out the room and ran down the castle halls. 


"I won't fail princess, I promise!"







Present Day
 





Stone Ball sighed with content, as he returned the scroll to the case. "My primary mission is complete your highness, I hope the Doctor finds you soon."

Suddenly, blasting through the camp, horns went off. Stampeding hooves followed as soldiers outside began shouting.

Taking Stone Ball off guard, he stuffed the locket into his pocket without thinking before rushing to his armor. Helmet on, spear at the ready, it took seconds for the captain to be armed before rushing outside of his tent.

Stone Ball could only describe the scene before him in one, plain, obvious word: chaos.

The sky had an overcast of cotton candy clouds, raining large drops of sticky chocolate milk, sticking to the soldiers and slowing them down. Large rainbows blasted from the distance, crashing into the camp and exploding into fruity, rainbow colored candy, knocking anyone within the radius off their hooves. Butterflies made of actual butter fluttered about, and dragonflies consisting of actual small dragons with fly like buzzing wings, blowing tiny puffs of fire around. Though the butterflies were harmless, the dragonflies had already set some of the tents on fire. 

Bubbles floated everywhere, appearing harmless enough. Until Stone Ball saw one unlucky soldier run into one and accidently pop it with his face. The bubble exploded like a bomb. Though not lethal, it made the entire area slippery while any suds of soap that touched the soldier dissolved his armor into paint.

Plants had risen from the ground, growing taller then the soldiers, grabbing them with their long, vine like arms. Sunflowers turned to small balls of fire, while the ground beneath them transformed into a plain of plaid and checkerboard rainbow patterns. 

Giant sandwiches stampeded through the camp, eyeballs with wings soared about, dog like watermelons spat seeds like arrows, pegasi lost their wings, unicorns lost their horns, earth ponies lost their dignity, a stallion named "Steven" had his name changed to "Stephan". It was madness.

"Sir!!!" a soldier shouted, rushing to Stone Ball. His armor had dissolved and his spear had turned into a five foot long vegetarian sub sandwich. His shield remained normal, so he held that above his head for defense. "Sir! Our barriers have been broken! We can't hold back the chaos magic! More than half of the troops are corrupted, we need to retreat immediately!!!"

"When did the barriers break?"

"A few minutes ago! Sir! We need to leave now!!!"

Stone Ball went wide eyed, "a few minutes!?! That's all it took!?! To lose my entire camp!?! A FEW MINUTES!!!"

"SIR!!!"

Stone Ball growled and shouted as loud as he could, "FALL BACK!!! EVERYPONY FALL BACK!!! NOW!!!"

Everypony that heard halted their fighting and ran from the camp quickly. Some, the ones not quick enough, fell behind and where caught by the chaos magic.

Stone Ball ran with his evacuating soldiers, and was a mere couple feet outside of his camp before he heard someone trip behind him. As the others continued running, Stone Ball stopped and turned. 

The same soldier that came to Stone Ball at his tent had been caught by his hind legs by a large daffodil, with vine like arms coiling around him, bringing the soldier back towards the spreading chaos.

The soldier dug his hooves into the ground, digging drag marks as he clung for his life. "Captain!!! Captain help me!!!"

"PRIVATE!!!" Stone Ball shouted, rushing to the soldier's aid. 

Stone Ball took his spear and threw it to the daffodil with perfect accuracy. Receiving a blow square in the face, the daffodil fell, releasing the soldier from its vines.

Stone Ball assisted the soldier to his hooves and shouted, "come on! Let's move!"

"Thanks Captain!"

"You can thank me later! Come on!"

"CAPTAIN!!!" the private shouted.

Stone Ball turned around for only a second. One single second, that's all the time he had to register one of the rainbows blasting directly towards he and the private. Before it made contact with the ground, dead center between the two. It exploded, candy bursting everywhere, as the two soldiers were blasted off their hooves, flying in separate directions.

When Stone Ball felt the ground collide into his chest, he dragged a moment before, shakily, picking himself back up quickly. His ears rung slightly, as he dizzily searched for the soldier, "private! Private!"

"CAPTAIN!!!"

Stone Ball looked over and found the private a dozen yards away, held in place by a group of ponies that had once been his fellow soldier. Each one looking nothing like they had before. Some had extra limbs, some had none, some had changed shape, or color, or gender, or species, or even inanimate objects. None of them were ponies, but all of them were insane. Each laughing manically, spouting nonsense and gibberish.

"HELP!!! CAPTAIN HELP!!!"

"PRIVATE!!!" Stone Ball rushed forth to help the private, before a pair of hooves grabbed him from behind and stopped him.

Two soldiers, who had both noticed the Captain trying to help the private, grabbed him and pulled him the opposite direction.

"Its too late for him! We have to leave!" shouted the left soldier.

"NO! LET ME GO!!!" Stone Ball shouted, struggling in their grip.

"CAPTAIN!!!" the private shouted.

Suddenly, the corrupted ponies, all smiling psychotically, opened their mouths impossibly wide. The inside of their mouths glowed an eerie, purple and black light, before an orb of that color, consisting of a static like energy, erupted from within them. Erupting from their mouths and penetrating the private, invisibly latching onto his very soul. The private screamed as he received the multitude of attacks, before he suddenly appeared to have blacked out.

"P- Private?" Stone Ball muttered, believing for a moment his soldier had died.

Not even a second passed before the privates eyes shot open, his orbitals flashing rainbows as he convulsed. Drooling chocolate milk, the corrupted released him as the private jumped to his hooves, shaking his head at the speed of sound. His fur puffed up, becoming fluffy, and turned pearly white. His hind legs shrunk and disappeared within his coat as his forelegs grew twice as long. His head stopped, and his eyes and mouth had grown to the size of watermelons. He had no nose, no ears, and no tail. His mane turned fluffy as well, looking like a smaller version of his body.

He appeared like a strange cloud and pony hybrid, which only appeared more so as the private started floating. Drooling chocolate milk, the private looked to the captain with his own maniacal smile, matching the rest of the corrupted ponies.

"P- PRIVATE!?!" said Stone Ball.

The private laughed and responded, "CHEESE TALKS TO YOU!!!"

"NOOOO!!!" Stone Ball shouted.

"He's gone! Its too late! Come on!" the soldier on the right shouted.

Quickly accepting the privates fate, Stone Ball ceased his struggle against the two soldiers and followed them out of the camp. The three managed to catch up with the rest of the soldiers, but their retreat wasn't over.

What was left of Camp Mason continued running, as the spreading chaos traveled faster than it ever had before. With the corrupted private and the rest of the corrupted soldiers, the chaos made its way south.


Arriving ever so closer to the border of Equestria.

> lullabies: Part Three (S1C5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Doctor and Dean






"So after backtracking, you followed our hoofsteps back to Aster's camp?" Dean asked.

"That's right, after that I found the river next to the camp. Which helped me figure out where Larkspur might be", the Doctor explained.

"But how would the river have told you where Larkspur is?"

"Dean, I've been all over this planet plus some, this certainly isn't my first time in the "unnamed forest". When I was younger I used to sit in my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T and float above Equestria while sipping drinks. It helped me relax, watching the country above, seeing how beautiful the world is. In doing so I've memorized the entire country, including the entirety of the unnamed forest."

"So you've seen the wooden castle the ghost mentioned?"

"No, what's odd is that there's never been a castle here before. Granted I haven't sat above the country in over twenty years. Even still, building, no, establishing a castle in unclaimed territory this close to Equestria would definitely not be permitted. However, it wasn't the castle that helped me find Larkspur, it was the pool.

The "phantom" mentioned that her castle had flowers and a "big pool". The unnamed forest has two lakes that are connected by the river. Both are relatively large with one being larger than the other. If I had to guess, I'd say that this "castle" is located at the larger lake."

"You know that for sure?" asked Dean.

"No, its only a guess. There aren't any other lakes in the unnamed forest. Unless one formed during my absence, which I highly doubt, I'd say our best bet is to check the larger lake to see if this "castle" is really there. If not, than we'll just follow the river down to the smaller lake and check there."

"You really have this entire forest memorized?"

"Oh there's plenty I still haven't seen. Its difficult to see through all the trees when your floating in the sky. But for the most part, yes. The landscape, the size, the lake, its all in here", said the Doctor, pointing to his head.

"So you should know how much further until we're there?" asked Dean, evidently starting to feel tired.

"Actually, we should slow down. We're getting close and we don't want to alert anyone who might be there."

"Got it", said Dean, slowing his pace to a light jog.

As Dean caught his breath, he yawned, bringing a worried thought to the Doctor's mind. " Hopefully this isn't too much for Dean. Poor colt, with that magic growth spurt of his, its obvious his body isn't used to this. I need to get him back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T soon so he can rest"

The two continued silently making there way to the lake, unaware of someone watching them through the bushes.






Four Minutes Later






"Is that water I hear?" asked Dean.

"It is, stay quiet and follow me", the Doctor whispered, crouching low as he slowly approaching the sound.

Dean nodded and followed suit, keeping close to the Doctor.

The Doctor crept behind a tree, smiling as he pointed ahead, "there it is Dean! We found it!"

"That's it? That's the castle?" asked Dean, peering behind a neighboring tree.

The grand lake sparkled and glistened in the moon light brilliantly. The trees stopped shy several feet from the bank, making this area one of the few that was completely free of trees, allowing the moon to illuminate the lake beautifully. The lake water flowed elegantly, washing in and out of the river as it pleased, like a free spirit. The air had grown humid, bringing a comfortable coolness to the area.

As beautiful as the lake was, the building beside it was harsh on its delicate nature. Beside the shimmering lake was a large, dull, two storied wooden house; built out of what seemed like scrap. Rusted bits of metal nailed every here and there to form a make shift wall, wood that was rough and chipped, and in desperate need for a sanding; there were no windows and the door was protruding slightly out of its frame. A rusted, breaking, disgusting building next to a lake that looked like liquid crystal. The Doctor and Dean had the same thought of, "why would someone build this here?"

"Eeyup, that "phantom" must see this place as a castle."

"That looks like the kind of place ponies are brought to before their killed!" Dean shout whispered.

"Well your not wrong. If were lucky, Larkspurs still alive and so is anyone else who might have been foalnapped."

"And if not?"

"If not, and we really are facing worst case scenario here. Well, you have four working legs."

"So, run?"

"Brilliant! You know what to do. Come on, let's see what's inside", said the Doctor, walking away and approaching the house slowly.

"O- Okay", Dean felt a slight panic arise in his chest as he looked to the house he was about to enter. Taking a deep breath, Dean shook his head as he prepared himself mentally. Though he was still nervous, it helped him feel a little braver as he jogged to catch up to the Doctor. "Here we go!" Dean whispered to himself, arriving by the Doctor's side.

Cautiously, the Doctor approached the old, bent door, looking over his shoulder to Dean as he did. "It seems to be made out of iron". Looking to the door, the Doctor leaned closer, inspecting its detail. "Five inches thick, pure iron. The way its built seems to me like someone wanted to keep things from coming in. Or, perhaps, make sure nothing comes out. Hmm, either way, strange how this door managed to hold up for this long". Raising a hoof, the Doctor went to feel the metal, "its so old-"


Dink

CRASH!!!


The Doctor hardly touched the metal before the entire entry way collapsed in front of him. The hundred pound door slamming onto the ground erupted a blasting echo of metal meeting dirt, vibrating within a radius of miles for anyone to hear.

Dean cringe and held his ears, keeping his eyes shut as he waited for the sound to echo away. A loud slam, echoing through the forest, each time more silent than the last. Until, after a moment, the sound was gone. Making the forest feel more silent than ever.

When the sound was gone, Dean opened his eyes and shivered as he looked to the Doctor. "D- Doctor?" Dean stuttered.

The Doctor stood there, jaw dropped and staring to the fallen door. Eyes wide and pupils having shrunk to pins, it took him a moment before muttering silently, "oh . . . my god."

"Doctor?"

"Get inside."

"Wha-"

"Get inside!"

The Doctor hastily grabbed Dean by the shoulder and pushed him forth into the house before rushing in himself. Dean stumbled before catching his balance, casting an annoyed look to the Doctor, "Doctor! Wha-"

The Doctor shot a hoof to his lips, shushing Dean. "Shh! Keep close to me and stay quiet. We need to find Larkspur quickly and get out of here!"

Dean was about to question the Doctor, but stopped as he looked to the fallen door, "you think the ghosts heard us?"

"With how loud that was, definitely. Even if they hadn't, why take the chance?"

"Right, let's hurry than."

The Doctor nodded and looked to the room before him.

The inner workings of the house resembled the outside. Slabs of wood and rusted metal nailed together to form make shift walls. Yet, despite its rough appearance, the walls and ceiling were built well enough to hold on its own, and prevent light from entering. Not a single crack nor hole to allow any illumination from the moon.

With what light that did enter through the hole that had once been the entryway, the Doctor and Dean were able to see a few feet into the pitch black room.

The hard, cold, withered wooded floor looked old and had splinters protruding everywhere. Aside from that, the two couldn't see anything else. But it wasn't what they saw that was distinguishable, it was the smell. The room smelled horrid, old and rancid, making the two scrunch their noses in disgust. The room was full of buzzing as well, which the Doctor assumed to be insects, flies perhaps. A dark, smelly room full of flies? The Doctor could only wonder what he had gotten himself into this time.

"What is that smell?" asked Dean.

The Doctor squinted, "no idea, you see anything?"

Dean shook his head, "nope."

"Darn, me neither. I was hoping we wouldn't have to use a torch, up our chances of not getting caught. But, if we must". The Doctor reached into his inner vest pocket, searching for a moment, before he looked questionably to his vest. The Doctor searched further with more aggression, before switching to his left pockets and repeating the process, looking bewildered. "What! W- Where did- why- w- where's my torch!? I always have one in my pocket just in case!"

Raising a brow, Dean asked, "didn't you give it to me earlier? Before we split up?"

Realization hit the Doctor as he suddenly remembered, frowning a moment before smiling warily. He chuckled and said with a sigh, "right, I did do that". Clamping his hooves together, the Doctor rubbed them hard and, quickly, emitted a tiny puff of smoke to rise from the tips. "Oh well, its no festival torch, but it'll do for a backup."

"Backup?"

The Doctor continued his rubbing, and the line of gray smoke grew slightly. The Doctor then came close and blew gently, exhaling a small, blue, blow torch like flame from his lips. When the fire met his hooves, it ignited, starting a small fire. As the flame came to life, the Doctor quickly flapped his right leg, killing that flame while keeping the one on his left hoof alive. Showing his flame, the Doctor smiled to Dean, "ta da!"

"Wow!" said Dean, looking interested. Before he asked, "couldn't you have done that earlier?"

The Doctor frowned, "no silly billy, a torch lasts much longer than this fire here. I'd have to constantly feed this with my magic, and that would exhausting!"

"Then why'd you rub your hooves together?"

"Our hooves have dead skin cells. Rub my hooves together, loosen the cells up, keep the fire lasting a little longer. And it helps that Phoenix Pony cells are extra flammable, whether its dead or alive."

"Wow, that's . . . disgusting."

"Oh its brilliant and you know it!" said the Doctor, smiling.

Dean returned a smile, silently letting the Doctor know he agreed.

The Doctor chuckled as he turned, brightening the rest of the room. Immediately, the two dropped their smiles and looked deathly afraid. They felt their hearts sink as the Doctor's flame illuminated the rest of the room, exposing the secrets that had hid in the dark.

The size of the room was to that of a living room, and what had once been furniture and décor helped the Doctor assume this room had, at one time, been a living room. However, whatever was or had been certainly wasn't anymore, for the room, at one point, had been torn apart.

A rug clothed the center of the old wood floor. Withered, ripped apart, and stained in black, far too ruined to distinguish its original color and design. A small wooden coffee table sat atop the rug, rough, chipped, and held two plates of rotted, indistinguishable food. White, black, and blue fuzzy lumps of mold caked the plates, as dozens of flies buzzed around it. A chefs knife popped out from one of the plates, stabbed into the food and stained black, the bottom half coated in fuzz.

Beside the table was a green coach. The fabric was ripped apart, exposing its feather and spring insides. Battered, dented, ripped with holes, and stained in black, the coach look ready to fall apart at any moment.

Across from the front door was an entry way leading to two separate staircases, one leading up and one heading down. The wall on the far side was heavily coated in mold and black stains. Larger pieces of glass covered the edge of the wall, along with chunks and bits of rotted food. Several knifes and cleavers were stabbed around the wall randomly. And in the center of the wall in big, bold, black letters, was a message written sloppily. "THE DOCTOR HAS FALLEN, THE CHILDREN HAVE FALLEN, LONG LIVE THE KING, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!! Beside that wall to the right, left of the first entryway, was a second entryway.

Dean looked to the Doctor, "so . . . what was that you said about being in a horror book?"

The Doctor responded without looking away from the text, "well . . . that was supposed to be a joke but . . . good god."

"The doctor has fallen?" You don't think its talking about you? Is it?" Dean asked.

"Uh . . . I certainly hope not. The Doctor has fallen, the children have fallen? Long live the king, long live the Queen? Hmm . . . that filly called herself the Queen of the Forest. You don't think that stallion she was talking to might have been the king, would it?"

Dean looked to the text, rationalizing that idea, "you think so?"

"Maybe, that would explain this. Long live the king, long live the queen; a king and a queen, queen of the forest, king of the forest, a mare and a stallion. Two ghosts, both together, but, who are the children?"

"And who's the doctor?" asked Dean.

"Hmm, well hopefully its not referring to me. Guess we're just going to have to find out". The Doctor turned to the two entry ways, "basement, attic, and entry to the rest of the first floor. Let's start searching through the entry way first."

"Why don't we split up? That way we can search the house quicker", asked Dean.

"Split up? And make it easier for those "ghosts" to pick us off? Ha! No, no that's not happening. What is this, a horror flick?"

"A horror what?"

"Never mind, that hasn't reached Equestria yet, follow me."

Dean nodded and followed as the Doctor lead through the left entry way, both keeping their distance as far as possible from the rotten food without touching the walls.

The entry way lead to two doors and another open entry way. One door to the right, one forward, and the entryway to the left. The Doctor chose the right door first, carefully turning the dirty knob and opening it slowly. Creaking loudly, the door opened and the Doctor peered inside, before closing the door quickly and turning away. Ripping the fedora off his head, the Doctor shoved his face into the inner felt, breathing in it deeply for a moment.

Slightly surprise, Dean asked, "woah! What happen? What did you see?"

Breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth, slowly and deeply, the Doctor calmed himself. As his breath calmed, he look up from his hat, exposing only his eyes to Dean. "B- Bathroom", he stuttered shakily.

"Pardon?"

"T- That . . . t- that was the bathroom. Don't look inside, i- i- its a hygienist's hell in there."

"What? I- I don't know what a "hell" is."

"Sorry, tarterus, I can't think right now. Not after that". The Doctor shivered, "not after that."

"Was it that bad?" asked Dean.

"Absolute nightmare fuel". The Doctor gulped as he hugged his fedora to his chest, "alright, alright, door number two."

Slower than the first, the Doctor stretched his left leg out, keeping his distance as he gripped the handle. The Doctor winced, preparing himself mentally for whatever lied behind this door. Turning and opening with a creek, the door opened, revealing what was inside.

The Doctor sighed in relief. Though the walls were dirty and stained in black, the small broom closet wasn't that bad in comparison to the other rooms. A bucket, mop, broom, the usual cleaning essentials placed on the ground, taking up the entirety of space within the four by four closet. A small shelf hung above the essentials, holding a small pile of books, rags, and various bottles of liquids; none of which were labeled. The worst was the inch thick layer of dust caking everything. Aside from that, this closet was fine.

"That's much better", said the Doctor, returning his fedora atop his head, before standing to his hind hooves and grabbing one of the bottles. Reaching into his inner vest pocket, the Doctor took out a large red handkerchief and wiped the bottle thoroughly, blowing small clouds of dust away as he did so. The bottle looked relatively new, with hardly a scratch or mark on the glass. It was semi clean, and had he had water he could have wiped the dirt off better, making the glass clearer.

Popping off the cork top, the Doctor swirled the liquid around beneath his nose as he smelled the contents. He looked to Dean, "its just cleaner". The Doctor popped the cork back on before returning the bottle to the shelf, then threw his handkerchief into the bucket on the floor before closing the door. "Strange, this closet doesn't seem that off. Its dirty, but it mostly seems like it hasn't been used in a long time. Guess whoever lives here doesn't use their broom closet very much."

"Oh? Really? I wouldn't have noticed" Dean said sarcastically, grinning.

The Doctor chuckled, "come on, let's try the kitchen."

"Kitchen?"

The kitchen was to the left, through the open entryway. Like the rest of the house, this room too was in disarray. A broken, wooden table laid in shambles in the center. Counter tops covered in thick layers of food, rotten and barely distinguishable. A broken pantry door hung sideways, held on its last hinge and ready to fall. Scattered all over the floor was rotted food, melted candle wax, broken glass, and various knives. On the wall to the far end, next to the pantry, was words similar to those in the living room. Big, bold and black saying, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS REAL ANYMORE". Beside that was a second text, "HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP ME!" Across from that, to the far right of the kitchen was a third text, "GET HIM OUT! GO AWAY!" And a forth text, scribbled messily on the table top, "GET OUT OF MY HEAD! STOP LAUGHING AT ME!!!"

"Doctor, what do you think happened here?" asked Dean.

"I'm not sure. "Help me?" "Get out of my head?" That doesn't seem right." 

"How so?" 

"Well, it doesn't make sense if those "ghosts" wrote these messages. Because what would be the point? The way they seemed earlier, they knew what they were doing and they wanted to capture us. But if they were the ones who wrote these messages, it seems to me that they aren't in as much control."

"What do you mean?"

"Well . . . I don't know exactly. Messages like this are usually written by crazy ponies. Ghost writing have at least some sort of meaning to it, but these, these seem like they were calling out for help almost."

"So, the ghosts are crazy and calling out for help?" asked Dean.

"Probably at one point, but they don't seem to want help anymore . . . it would make more sense if these were written by someone else. Than again who would write something like this, and to write it here of all places. Hmm . . . . well, as much as I'd like to figure this out we still have ponies to save. Come on, let's go to the basement."

"Basement? Why there?"

"Well if you were a foalnapping ghost where would you keep your victims?"

"Well I know that! Its just, the basement seems rather dangerous."

The Doctor turned and walked past Dean as he stated, "more dangerous than where we are now."

Looking to the knives on the ground, he replied, "good point", before following. Dean frowned as his stomach growled, realizing now how long it had been since he had eaten. Distracted for a second by his stomach, Dean walked through the living room entryway and collided into the Doctor. "Oof!" he grunted, bumping face first into the Doctor's rear. Rubbing his head, Dean casted an annoyed look, "why'd you stop-"

Suddenly, the Doctor turned and shushed Dean, silencing him as he looked to Dean with bulbous eyes, before pointing to the front door, the flame in his hoof now dead.

Outside, from a distance, a voice echoed, just barely audible. It sang melodically in its demon voice, "pretty, pretty, princess! Pretty, pretty, princess! I'm gonna get you soon! Pretty, pretty, princess! Pretty, pretty, princess! I can't wait to find you!"

Dean felt his heart start to race as he whispered, "its the ghost!"

The Doctor cursed silently before whipping towards to right side entryway, "upstairs!"

"But you said-"

"Changed my mind, upstairs now!" the Doctor hissed, charging forth to the entry way and running up the stairs.

Following closely behind, Dean found he and the Doctor in a narrow hallway, oddly reminding him of the same hallway at Dodge Desserts. A darker, far more crude version, and with one less room. One closest to the left, one further down to the right, and one at the end to the left.

"Our door! Look what they did to our door!!!" the phantom shouted from outside.

"Come on!" the Doctor shout whispered, galloping into the room closest.

Neither the Doctor nor Dean had time to fully register the room, as the Doctor searched hastily for a hiding place. Pink walls splattered in black liquid, a twin sized bed to the right, closet to the left, broken toys scattered on the ground. The Doctor pointed left, "in here, hurry!"

Rushing forth, the Doctor grabbed the closet handle to open, only for the door to remain stiff in place. Two more vain tugs before the Doctor felt around the door, squinting hard to see through the dark. The Doctor quickly found that the closet door was locket by two slide latches, one at the top of the door and one at the bottom. Cursing, the Doctor swooped down to unlatch the bottom lock, before jumping up to unlatch the top lock. "There! Now in here- son of a!-" With the door unlatched, the Doctor managed to open the door, only to feel a large, heavy wool sack drop onto him. With its height and angle, the sack collided into the Doctor's neck and chest, pushing him back as it fell to the ground. The Doctor tried shoving the sack back into the closet, but found that the sack had fallen from the top of a pile, and he was shoving it against the bottom. As it turned out, the closet was quite small. Large enough to fit two ponies, and it was stuff full of wool sacks, creating a pile that reached the Doctor's collar bone.

"Pretty princess! Where are you!?!" the phantom shouted from downstairs.

Breathing heavily, the Doctor said, "help me with this!"

"Oh sweet Celestia!" said Dean, dropping down to help the Doctor lift the heavy sack.

The two managed to drop the sack back onto the top of the pile, but it was unstable, so the Doctor held his left hoof to the side, preventing it from toppling over again. He beckoned to Dean, "alright, hop in!"

"What!?!"

"You heard me! Get inside!"

"Wha- how!? Why!?!"

"Climb over the bags and lay flat on top so you can hide!"

"But how will-"

"Just do it!" the Doctor hissed, startling Dean.

Nodding, Dean approached the pile and hoisted himself up. Immediately Dean felt the pile give in and tilt. The Doctor had to muster an extra bit of strength to keep the pile steady, but he managed. Carefully, Dean managed to enter the closet. Reaching the back end of the closet, he laid onto his back with his hind legs towards to door. Cranking his neck downwards, Dean managed to peer to the Doctor. "Alright, I think I'm in!"

"Good . . . that's good", said the Doctor, huffing. It didn't take long for Dean to make it into the closet, but keeping the weight of the sacks from falling under Dean's weight took most of the Doctor's energy from him. Taking a deep breath, he mustered the strength he had left to hold to the pile with one hoof, while grabbing the door with his other.

Meanwhile, Dean had looked about his cramped hiding spot when he noticed something, "um, Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"I don't think there's enough room for the both of us. How are you going to hide in here?"

"I never said I was."

"What!?!"

The Doctor carefully cracked the door, and slipped his hoof out. The pile leaned over, and the Doctor felt its weight mixed with Dean's press against the door. The Doctor pushed hard, forcing the door shut. The hinges groaned but the door managed to remain shut, holding the sacks and Dean inside. Afterward, taking a breath, the Doctor quickly leaned down to lock the bottom latch. He heard Dean's muffled voice shouting at him as he stood to lock the top latch. 

The door was thick enough that Dean's voice was nearly inaudible, which the Doctor found convenient. Sure enough Dean was going to shout at him, most likely he was confused, understandable. He could only hope the phantom doesn't hear him when she enters.

The Doctor knocked on the door, silencing Dean. He spoke with his mouth an inch from the door, speaking loud enough for only Dean to hear. "Listen! Stay quiet, you'll be safe in there. The filly never saw you return to me, so she doesn't know that your here. She'll think that I came into this house alone."

Dean shouted something, and the Doctor cut him off. "Shhhh!!! Listen! Trust me! I'm going to figure something out, alright! Just hide in there until I come back for you, got it?" The Doctor heard a muffled reply, and based on the tone it didn't sound like Dean agreed with him. The Doctor figured as much, but it didn't matter, this was the best he could do to protect Dean.

"I'm going to find you!!! And make you a princess!!!" the phantom shouted, her muffled voice speaking at the bottom of the stairs.

Stepping back from the closet, the Doctor closed his eyes and thought to himself, taking a deep breath. "House of wood with innocents inside means that phoenix magic is a no go, both defense and offense. A less flammable technique perhaps? I could use the flash bang again, but she might expect that, and she'll block the doorway, no way out. Micro flame technique? Perhaps, it'll burn her and may just repel her long enough for me to make my escape, and as long as I'm careful I won't burn the house down. But again, how to get past her when she's blocking the door way? Hoof to hoof combat is out too, since she can render ponies unconscious just by touching them, so forcing her out of my way is also a no go; and I'll need to keep my distance, so the micro flames might not work."

The Doctor groaned loudly, rubbing his temples, "I can try to teleport again? But that'll kill me. Perhaps the more aggressive route and blow her up? Controlling the explosion I can perhaps subdue her. Oh that's genius, and while I'm at it why don't I just go and kill Dean! Any explosion of any size is going to hurt Dean no matter how hard you try to control it you dunce! Uh . . . hide under the bed and catch her by surprise? Nope, first place she'll look, and if not than the closet is the first place she'll look and I can't allow that. Break through the wall? Horrible idea, don't know how thick the walls are and I'm on the second floor. Old wings and old body means my knees will shatter if I try jumping out this high. Uh- I could . . . uh . . . crap!"

The floor in the hall creaked, as the Doctor heard her speak outside the door. "Are you in here pretty princess!?! Are you in my room!?!"

The Doctor felt his heart start to pitter patter, as his mind went to formulating a plan, racing against time. "Serendipity's lesson on fighting when cornered, use your enemies weakness against them. Get inside their head, distract there senses, timing is key, find your opportunity then strike. Don't think that'll work here, not against a filly of this psyche, and she doesn't have any obvious weakness, other than her eyes. Can't reach that though, I don't have the torch, and I don't have anything to keep a distance. There's got to be something; house in the forest, king and queen of the forest, foal napping, writings on the wall, help me, help me, get out of my head? Get out of my head . . . I don't know what that means . . . darn it! Its all I have to work with, I really don't have any other option! Crap! I have to do better than this! I've always been able to! If I was younger I could have found a way out of this! I think . . . I think I've made a mistake . . . if only I were younger"

"Sweet Dream Child, what is it that scares you so?"

The Doctor's eyes shot open, as his sights darted around the empty room searching, "its that singing!"

The door opened slowly with a creek, revealing a very angry phantom, smiling menacingly from the doorway. Her mane waving about in tendril fashion, her pale, blank eyes, glowing a subtle, ominous purple in the dark. As with her teeth, drooling that mysterious black liquid, tints of purple glowing. She stared with those eyes, those glowing, empty eyes, straight to the Doctor. "FOUND YOU!!!" she shouted gleefully, jittering in place excitedly.

"Sweet Dream Child, what is it your waiting for?" the song continued.

The phantom staring to him from the doorway, and the singing, clear as day, yet its source no where to be seen. This was it, this is why he heard that singing from earlier, it had to be. This is where the singing lead him to. It was singing him to his sleep.

The Doctor couldn't accept that. He shuffled back until he bumped against the wall. The phantom laughed as she strutted cheerfully to the Doctor. "Aww! What's the matter princess!?! Are you scared!?!" The phantom stood close, standing above the Doctor, dripping her liquid on him without a care.

Helplessly, the Doctor could only look up to the phantom, closing his eyes to prevent the liquid from blinding him. With no other option, the Doctor blurted the first thing he could come up with, "I can help you!"

The phantom continued smiling as she tilted her head, speaking through her clenched grin, "help me? With what!?!"

It was a last effort attempt, but at this point he would try anything. This wasn't his end, he refused. "I- I know your not a ghost! Ghosts don't act the way you do! Your not a phantom or any kind of spectrum! I think your just a girl! A young and beautiful girl who just needs help! A- And I can help you! Only if you'll let me!"

The phantom laughed, "your weird! Of course I'm not a ghost! I'm a queen! Queen of the Forest!"

"Yes of course you are! Lovely, beautiful queen of the forest! But what about your fur? Don't you want me to help you get that back? And this liquid that's all over the place? Don't you want that to stop?"

The phantom laughed louder, "why would I want that!? I don't need fur! And I LOVE chocolate milk!"

"C- Chocolate- wait, that's what this is!?"

The phantom crouched low, placing herself face to face with the Doctor, as he felt her musty breath. "You've really given me a bad night. But as the generous Queen of the Forest I am, I am willing to forgive you! But only if you become my princess!"

"No."

The phantom placed a hoof over the Doctor's eyes gently, and the singing grew louder, ringing in the Doctor's ears. "You rest your head, you run away."

"No! No! No! Please! Let me help you!" the Doctor shouted.

The phantom blurted out laughing so hard that she choked. All the while she felt her magic course through her heart and soul, and through her leg to the Doctor.

And the Doctor felt it. Like hot boiling oil rushing through a tube, he felt her magic flush into him. His head was suddenly heavy, and his body's weight suddenly lifted off his bones. All his pains and aches gone, leaving him numb. Her magic burned, yet only for a moment, as all his senses began to leave him, so did his sense of hot and cold. Her magic no longer burned, and the ground was no longer cold. He felt nothing, he felt like nothing, or, being reduced to nothing. His conscious waned, and he felt himself falling to sleep. "No . . . no . . . I . . . I refuse!"

"Nighty night princess!" the phantom shouted, pressing harder to the Doctor's face.

Yet, the Doctor didn't feel it. All senses were gone, even his sense of life as the world slowly disappeared. Even the singing had faded, dropping like a coin down a well, before its distant voice was too far to be heard.

"Orange dusk . . . on a bright blue world."

"I . . . I don't . . . I don't . . . want . . . to . . .

"Sweet . . . Dream . . . Child . . ."






AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
 The phantom's shrill laugh pierced Dean's ears, painful, despite being muffled through the closet door.

His breathing lacked control, panting while trying hard to keep it silent. The anxiety pumping his blood hard, practically allowing the colt to hear his own heart beat as blood passed through his ears. He tried calm breathes, in through the nose and out through the mouth, but it didn't work. The phantom had gotten the Doctor, he heard the whole conversation, and the dull "thud" of the Doctor's body dropping to the wood floor.

"One princess sleeping, two more still awake!!! Come on princess! Let's see where your friends are!" the phantom said outside the door.

Dean could hear her hoofsteps walk away from the closet, followed by something dragging along the ground. To which, Dean assumed was the Doctor's body. That thought kicked in suddenly, and it made him feel ill, "the Doctor's body."

Dean cursed, "Doctor . . . s- she's got the Doctor! I- I . . . I have to do something!" Dean kicked his hind legs to the door, attempting to break it open. However, his tight space prevented him the movement needed to flex his legs for a stronger kick, giving the door a slight knock rather than the hard pound he wanted. He groaned, "oohh! Come on!" Dean kicked again, to no prevail. "Come on!" he shouted, kicking again. 

And again, and again, and again, several times over, kicking the surprisingly strong door. But he wouldn't give up, the Doctor needed his help, he knew that. He knew if he had been the one captured the Doctor would do everything he could to save him. And with everything he had already done, Dean was determined to repay the Doctor with every effort he had. The door would break, he was sure of it. A few kicks more and the door will break in no time. 

Then, he would rescue the Doctor.






Three Hours Later






"Come . . . on . . . one . . . more", Dean panted. He kicked the door again, giving it a hardy tap. Hours of trying to get out, Dean's muscles were sore from the bottom up. Each kick was weaker than the last, until taps and soft knocks were all he could muster.

Being trapped in this confined space didn't help either. A closet stuffed full of sacks, crammed to the point where only a small space from the top remained, that space that Dean now occupied, it was bad from the start. Now, after hours with the closet crammed top to bottom, the air had gotten quite stuffy. Its smell was dirty, relatable to a decade old dusty box full of moth balls. After three hours of inhaling this air, Dean's lungs felt desperate for the forest's fresh, cool, clean air.  

Dean was no longer sweating just from stress. The forest outside may have gotten chilly from the night, and the humid wind only made it more so. But the closet had as much air flow as a cemented coffin. Stuffy, cramped, and hot, Dean was starting to feel like he was in an oven. His body screamed for freedom, to at least move a limb enough to scratch the itch on his back. Alas, he was stuck.

He kicked, tapping the door again before sighing, "that . . . is a strong door. Maybe . . . maybe I've at least . . . weakened it . . . at least . . . a little bit". Dean exhaled heavily, summoning all his strength to his lower legs. "Come on . . . come on! One more! One more time with all I've got!"

"One!" Dean shouted, bending his knees as far as possible and scraping them against the roof. "Two!" he prepared himself, ready for this to be the one. The door will break, and he will finally be free. He might have to hide, the phantoms are sure to hear him. "No!", he told himself, "I'll worry about that later! Freedom first! Planning second!"

"Three!!!" Dean roared, bucking the door with all he had.

The door swung open, taking Dean by surprise, as he and the pile of sacks toppled over and out of the closet.

The first thing Dean felt was a waft of cool air rushing over him, relieving him of the heat from that stuffy closet. The second thing he felt was the cold hard wooden floor as he fell face first, before tumbling out and knocking his head onto the bed, opposite from the closet. 

Dazed from the impact, Dean rubbed the fresh sore spot on his noggin before gasping happily. He jumped to his hooves, smiling, "I did it! I'm free!"

"Dean?"

Dean froze as a voice suddenly appeared. Three hours in a pitch black closet had adjusted his eyes enough to make out the ponies silhouette, standing beside the open closet and pile of sacks. 

"What were you doing in there?"

Dean recognized him immediately, "w- wha- A- Aster!?!"  

Aster smiled sheepishly, "hello. You probably weren't e- expecting to see me here, w- were you."

Flabbergasted to say the least, Dean had to take a second to accept that Aster was truly standing before him. "What- w- wha- wha- what are you doing here!?"

Aster stepped forward to reply, before tripping on one of the sacks. He lost his balance and fell forward, collapsing into Dean as Dean caught him.

"Woah! Careful!" said Dean, holding Aster in his forelegs.

Aster blushed, "s- sorry! I- I can't see! Its too dark and r- really scary in here!" Aster looked into Dean's eyes, "c- could I stay close to you? I- I'm r- really scared."

If Aster's eyes had adjusted, he would have seen Dean give him a deadpan expression. " . . . . Sure . . .", he replied with annoyance.

Aster's blush hardened, "I- I have a coltfriend so i- its only temporary a- and I- I, um-"

Dean interrupted, "if your that scared than why are you here!? I thought I told you to head to the mountains! We were out of the forest! You were safe! Why'd you come back!?! How did you even come back!?!"

Aster gulped, "I- I'm sorry! I just- I just- I- I- I just wanted to help! I ran and followed you for awhile and I saw you and the Doctor together so I kept following until you found the house and I hid in a bush and watched for awhile-"

Dean released Aster, cutting him off from his quick talk as he fell to the floor. Dean asked as Aster picked himself up, shuffling closer to him. "You ran back in after I left and followed me, then followed me until I found the Doctor, then followed us until we found the house, am I getting that right?"

"Um, yes."

"Okay, so pray tell, why didn't you just tell us you came back!" Dean asked, rather angrily.

Aster gulped, "I'm s- sorry! I saw you two hide and I saw those two ghost come and almost find you! I got scared and stayed hidden while I followed you. Then I saw you two go into this scary house, a- and I was too scared at the time to go in too so I stayed hidden in some bushes, waiting for you to come back. You never did so I got worried, so I came in and . . . here we are.

"That and I was scared you'd both be mad at me for coming back". Dean exhaled an annoyed sigh, so Aster added, "I'm sorry Dean! I- I just wanted to help!"

"I'm not sure you can Aster. Not that I don't appreciate the help, Celestia knows I could use it right now. But I think if you try and help you'll just get caught by those ghosts too, just like the Doctor."

Aster gasped, "the Doctors been taken by those ghosts!?"

Dean nodded, unaware that Aster couldn't see, "and if you get yourself involved than you'll only end up the same!"

"B- But if I don't help t- than you'll be all alone. W- What will you do?"

Dean sighed, "I'm not sure exactly. Try to find the Doctor of course but . . . I don't exactly know how. But I'll find a way, I have to, if the Doctor hadn't hid me in that closet I would have probably been captured too."

Aster looked to the closet, thinking of what Dean said as he pieced two and two together. His ears perked, "oh! Oh my goodness! D- Did he sacrifice himself for you?"

Dean frowned, feeling the word "sacrifice" stab into his heart. "I . . . yeah, I guess you could say that. He hid me in a closet that only I could fit in, which caused him to get captured. He also took an arrow for me . . . two in fact, for . . . me and my town . . . darn it!" Dean growled, slamming his hoof to the bed and startling Aster. "Time and time again! Time and time again! He just keeps- he just keeps!" he choked as words left him. He felt himself verging to tears and he shut his eyes tight to keep himself from crying. His eyes watered, and he blinked out whatever was there.

He took a breath to compose before speaking, his voice cracking sometimes as he did. "The Doctor . . . he . . . he's done so much I . . . I just wanted to pay him back. I mean, I'm no fighter, and I'm not brave, but I thought- I thought that I could at least . . ." Dean's head drooped, and he paused. 

He could feel his tears return as a flood of emotions coursed through, clouding his mind. Savior, defender, hero, those words bittersweet to him, thinking that each defined the Doctor perfectly; and they reminded him of the deeds the Doctor has done. It made him angry and upset, thinking of himself as a failure for allowing the Doctor to be captured, when he should have been doing his best to repay the Doctor. He wished he could come close to that of the Doctor's bravery, or at the very least surmount where he was currently. Than he might be able to repay the Doctor properly.

"Dean? Are you okay?" asked Aster.

Dean sniffed, catching his nose from dribbling, wiped his eyes, and coughed, "fine . . . fine."

"You don't sound fine."

"I . . . I wanted to pay the Doctor back. I know that I'm not . . . experienced, as he is, but I wanted to at least try."

"But why?" asked Aster.

"Why? Because of everything he's done! He saved my home, saved a forest of animals, defeated criminals, and rescued a family! He may not look like it but the Doctor is a hero. I mean, the very first day I met the old stallion he was in the middle of rescuing forest animals!"

Dean sighed, "I want to pay him back not just because of that, but also because he never asked for anything in return, and because . . . and because it wouldn't feel right if I didn't do . . . something". He chuckled weakly, "and you know, with everything that's happened I almost forgot the Doctor said he would help me continue my studies. I mean, I didn't ask to come, he asked me if I wanted to. I could have said no, I thought about it too when I was packing. But after seeing what he was capable of, I don't know. I wanted to come to continue my studies but . . . it was something else, another reason I wanted to go, I don't know how to explain it. Either way, he's helping ponies all the while helping me pursue my dream of astronomy. And I wouldn't feel right not to pay him back."

A quick silence passed the two before Aster responded, "the Doctor sounds amazing."

" . . . Yeah . . . he really is."

"Why did he ask you to come with him?"

"He said he was lonely. He told me he used to travel with a lot of friends, but they're all gone now."

"Oh, poor dear, but don't you think that traveling with him is perfectly fine?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you said the Doctor has never asked for anything in return, for all those things you said he did, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Well, I could be wrong, but what if that was the Doctor asking? When he asked you to come with him?"

"What do you mean?"

"You say the Doctor has never asked for anything in return, but that might not be true. I think he's never asked for anything that you would expect of someone to ask. He didn't ask for money, he didn't ask for ponies to spread his name, but he did ask you to come with him."

"That's- well, that's different."

Aster shrugged, "it could be, but of anything the Doctor could have asked for he asks you to come with him."

Dean thought about that for a moment and summarized, "so . . . the Doctor asks for me as his reward for saving my town?"

Aster chuckled, "no silly! He asked you to come with him because he was lonely and wanted a friend! Tell me, when the Doctor asked you to come with you what all had you done together? Because it sounds to me like the two of you had been together for awhile."

"Not that long actually. The Doctor and I had met just the other day before he asked. I was there when he saved forest animals from being taken by criminals. After that he offered to take me home, where we found it taken over by even more criminals. My mother and I were captured and the Doctor found my dad and Sugar, a mare who runs a shop, and rescued us. We almost escaped but were cornered by the criminals, where the Doctor challenged their leader to a dual."

Dean's face brightened, thinking back to that dual. "Oh it was amazing! That old stallion, I don't know how he does it, well I do know because he told us how, but I still don't know how he does it! All those years of adventuring I presume. He and their leader are on the streets, taking their paces, and the entire town is dead silent. The countdown goes to zero and the two turn to each other and fire their bows! The Doctor takes a hit but he doesn't fall! And he fires at their leader!"

Aster gasped, "did he kill him?"

Dean shook his head, "no, and that's another thing about him. He tries so hard to save ponies and fight criminals, but he'll take the extra step to not kill anyone. He fired his bow precise and struck their leader in the shoulder. No one died, and the criminals gave our town back to us!"

"Wow!" Aster exhaled. "That does sound incredible. And this is the same day he asked you to come with him?"

"Yeah, after everything was said and done he came to my house. Originally he was going to leave without me, and he nearly did. But, I guess he changed his mind, and he came back and asked if I wanted to come with him."

Aster put a hoof to his chin, thinking aloud, "that makes sense."

"What does?"

"Why the Doctor wanted you to come with him."

"I know, because he was lonely."

"No Dean, not just that!" said Aster, frowning. "Don't you think that maybe you and the Doctor formed a bond together in the short time that you were together?"

"Well of course we grew closer! How could you not after all that?"

"And if you two grew closer than doesn't that make sense that the one thing the Doctor asks for is simply for you to be there for him?"

He hadn't thought about that, and thinking now, he had misinterpreted what Aster meant. "So . . . the Doctor wants my friendship as a way to pay him back?"

Aster sighed, "no Dean! I'm saying that the Doctor asked you to come with him simply because he wants you to be with him! That's the one thing he asked for is friendship! And he didn't ask for it as a reward, he gave you the choice to come with him, didn't he?"

"Er, yes?"

"And if you had said no than don't you think the Doctor would have been okay with that? Maybe he would have been sad but would never force you to go with him, would he?"

"He . . . no . . . no he wouldn't."

"What I'm trying to say Dean is that the Doctor sounds like someone who simply wants someone to be there with him. Sure its nice to pay somepony back for something they did, but if you two are really friends than the Doctor probably doesn't expect you to pay him back, just being there with him is good enough."

"But if I don't pay him back than that would be taking advantage of him."

Aster shook his head, "no, no Dean. If you took advantage of him than you wouldn't be caring about him this much. Its okay for someone to do something for there friend and not get anything back all the time. Like when Larkspur buys us tickets to see a play, or when I bake a cake for him, we just do nice things for each other because we love each other."

"But this is different, he's saved lives! How can I not do anything about that!"

Aster stepped closer to Dean and patted his shoulder, "oh Dean, don't you see you already are? Your so worried about him, and you care about him. Being there for him as his friend is already doing something.

"Dean, why do you want to pay him back?"

"Uh, I already said because-"

"No, honestly, why do you want to repay him? What do you feel that makes you want to pay him back so bad?"

"What do I feel?"

Aster nodded, and Dean contemplated that. Not just why he needed to repay the Doctor, but why he felt the need to repay the Doctor. The simple answer is the one he's already said, "because of everything he's done". But thinking about it, that wasn't a feeling, it was an excuse to hide his feelings. What he truly felt was the need to exceed expectations, to impress the Doctor. After everything the Doctor had done it wasn't merely that he wanted to repay the Doctor, he didn't want the Doctor to think less of him because he couldn't compare to what the Doctor can do. But it was deeper than that, not just a colt trying to impress a friend. A colt, trying to impress his first friend.

Dean swallowed and hesitated, but chose to be honest with Aster and speak his mind. "I've never really had friends when I was younger. I was bullied when I was a kid because I lived on a farm, and at the time I wasn't, eh, financially stable."

"Oh", said Aster, understanding what he meant.

"Nopony wants to be friends with the dirty farmer colt, so I kept to myself. While everyone else was playing hoops or hide and seek, I was in a classroom studying. Things were like that until I was about fifteen. The bullies either got bored picking on me or grew up so they left me alone, but I was used to never having friends so I never bothered with it, even afterwards. I mean, townsfolk know my family by heart so I'm technically friends with the ponies in Dodge Junction, but my own friends, someone you can really relate to and trust, I never had that."

"Your afraid the Doctor might not like you?" asked Aster.

Dean nodded slowly, "he's my first friend. I don't . . . want him to think I'm not good enough to be his friend."

Aster smiled sadly, "Dean, that's just silly, the Doctor would never think that."

Dean sighed, "I know that I just . . . can't help but feel that."

A strong gust from outside blew suddenly, and the two heard it through the walls. Neither knew what time it was, but this long into the night had finally cooled the house a bit. With no ventilation the house had been stuffy and hot. Now, mildly warm, and still unbearable to breath in. A silence passed with the two unsure of what to do. They feared the phantom walking in at any moment, despite having never returned after capturing the Doctor. They were uneasy, feeling the need to do something, but without any plan or guidance to tell them what to do. Aster took the time thinking, figuring out what to say to Dean, while Dean simply sat staring at nothing, stuck in his empty mind.

"You want to know why I came back?" asked Aster. "Larkspur and I met a year ago, I was being bullied by some ponies in Marzipan. Larkspur was searching for fertile daisies for the pollen when he saw me being bullied. He stood up to them and protected me when they started fighting. I was so grateful, and I felt the same way you did for awhile, wanting to pay him back."

"Which you did?" asked Dean.

"Um, in a way. I bandaged his wounds and helped him home where he introduced me to his family. Soon after our two families became friends and shortly after that Larkspur and I started dating. And that's all it took in terms of "paying him back". But that's not what it was about.

"I came back because we love each other, and I know that if I were the one taken instead Larkspur wouldn't rest until I was safe. When I was out there leaving the forest I didn't think about returning because I owe it to him for defending me, I did it because I can't rest until I know that he is safe. Do you understand Dean?"

"Yeah . . . kind of."

Aster gave Dean a small grin, "and you know, I think the Doctors right about you". Dean looked curiously to Aster, not knowing what he was getting at. "You really don't give yourself enough credit. Because I think when you saved me from the ghost was really brave."

Dean grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm not normally like that, spur of the moment you know?"

"Oh stop that! You are a brave pony Dean, and your very loyal. I think after we find the Doctor you should talk to him, and tell him how you feel."

"You think so?"

Aster nodded, "of course."

"Well . . . alright, guess that makes the most sense. Just tell him how I feel, guess I'd have to do that after we leave. Thanks Aster."

Aster chuckled, "your welcome Dean. So, do you have a plan so that we can leave this scary forest?"

"Right! I . . . have no idea", Dean said, frowning.

"Well, did you and the Doctor ever find out where Larkspur is?"

"Yes and no, we looked around the bottom floor before the ghost arrived. After that we ran upstairs and hid here. Well I hid, the Doctor . . . yeah. Anyway, before he was taken the Doctor did mention about searching in the basement."

"There's a basement?" asked Aster.

"You didn't see it?" 

"No, its too dark. I had to shuffle around until I found the stairs. I followed it up here, but I didn't go anywhere else", Aster explained.

"Oh, so you didn't see what the rest of the first floor looked like?" asked Dean.

"No, why?"

"Ahhhh, I think you'd rather not know."

"Is it scary down there?" Aster asked, a slight shiver running up his spine.

"Um . . . you can say that", said Dean, looking past Aster to the exit door.

Dean took a step, intending to walk to the door and check the hallway, before he nudged against something soft. Looking to the floor, Dean had forgotten about the sacks that had filled the closet, as he and Aster were enwrapped in their short discussion. Giving the sack a small kick, Dean asked, "what's in this?"

Aster squinted, trying to see what Dean meant. "Huh? What is it?"

"Its a sack, there's a couple of them in the closet."

"Oh, I'm not sure."

"Hmm, well only one way to find out". Dean reach for the sack top, before Aster stopped him. "Wait!" he said, reaching out to Dean, "don't open it! What if there's something dangerous inside!"

"Well I was crammed against these sacks for the past three hours. If there really was something dangerous in these than I think I'd be dead."

"Oh, well, even still-"

"There also might be something useful in here, to tell us what happened around here, and why there are ghosts", Dean explained.

"Why would you want to know that?" asked Aster, shaking at the thought of investigating these ghosts.

"Oh I don't. Admittedly I am a little curious, but I'd rather high tail it out of here than stay another minute. But the Doctor will want to know more, so I think this will help him."

"Well, if you say so. Just, be careful."

"I'll try", Dean reached out, keeping as much distance between he and the sack as possible. It was sealed well, but the rope itself felt to be losing its pull, slowly becoming loose. With the rope untied he let it fall to the ground before opening the sack wide. He had to squint to see what was inside, maintaining his caution. At this point, he hadn't a clue what to expect, so he prepared himself for anything.  Only, once he did manage to see inside the sack, he found it was filled with various, questionable items, that took him off his guard. Dean reached inside, pulling out a teddy bear from the pile of various contents. "Well, at least it isn't something horrific. Though, not exactly what I was expecting to see stuffed inside the closet of a haunted house."

Aster squinted to see what Dean held, barely making out its tiny silhouette, "is that a teddy bear?"

"Yeah, and not just that", Dean stood to his hind hooves, gripping the bottom of the sack and turning it upside down, dumping everything onto the floor.

A wide assortment of children toys came spilling out. Dolls, wooden swords, paints, children's drawings, small cowboy whips, safari hats, wooden shovels, bows with fake arrows, and a few bottles of what appeared to be large, red marbles.

"Oh!" Dean said excitedly, grabbing the whip. "We have these back on my farm, albeit a lot larger since those weren't toys."

Taking interest, Aster grabbed a teddy bear and a small wooden sword, smiling adoringly as he placed the sword into the teddy bear's paw. "Was this a child's room?"

Dean grabbed one of the larger safari hats and placed it snug atop his head. A brownish tan hat nearly fitting him, replicating the originals design while clearly bearing fake, low quality fabric. Dean smiled, feeling cool wearing the hat, "I think so. That would make sense why there are toys in here."

"You think the other closets are full of toys too?" asked Aster, placing the bear and sword on the bed. The glass bottles with the red marbles intrigued him, so Aster took one of the bottles from the pile and grabbed at the cork, struggling to pop it off.

Dean gave the toy whip a small flick, letting it snap, "I don't know, never got to check the other rooms". Dean stopped, thinking for a moment as he looked quizzically to Aster. "Now . . . I've never been one to believe in ghosts personally, but from what I have heard, ghosts are, essentially, dead ponies? Or spirits that are haunting something or somewhere?"

"Uh, well, that's kind of it. I've heard a lot of different things about ghosts."

"But a dead family, you think that sounds like a possible way to bring about a haunted house?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Aster, growing concerned.

"Ghosts are spirits that haunt buildings or items, at least, that's what I've read from horror books. And if we are to assume that those books contain factual evidence, which I never thought would ever be the case, than that means this house might be haunted by those two ghosts."

"The Queen of the Forest and that stallion?"

"Yes."

"But what does that have to do with a "family."

"Because king and queen means they must be a married couple, so that would explain there being a mother and father for a child. We're in a child's bedroom, and the Doctor and I saw three doors in the hallway for three bedrooms, one for each of them. It would make sense that this house is haunted by a family!"

"But we haven't seen a third ghost", said Aster.

"True, but we didn't see that second one either until after we met the first one, so a third one might be around here somewhere."

Aster gasped, both at Dean's theory and the cork popping off suddenly, "you think so!?"

"Maybe, but I can't be too sure. The Doctor's much better at this, we'll need to find him and see what he thinks."

Aster sniffed the contents of the jar, cocking a brow before dipping for another scent. "That's kind of strange don't you think? That if the two ghosts are married than how come they have separate rooms?"

"I, uh . . . huh, that is a little odd. Maybe they do share a room, and that third room is for a second child?"

"You think so?" Aster asked, going for another sniff.

"Eh no, not really. Two ghosts claiming to be king and queen, room full of children's toys, three bedrooms, not to mention this house is in the unclaimed forest. Honestly, I have no idea what any of it means. We need to find the Doctor, he'll know how to piece this together."

Aster sniffed the contents of the bottle before replying, "okay, but we need to get to the basement first. And that ghost is still down there."

Dean turned to Aster, "wait, who's downstairs?"

"The ghost that chased us earlier. When I was waiting for you to come out I saw both ghosts go inside, but I only saw the stallion ghost leave. If the Doctor and Larkspur are in the basement, do you think she's down there with them?"

Dean stomped a hoof, aggravated, "Darn! I think you might be right. Thank Celestia one of them isn't there, but we'll need to get past that second ghost in order to find the Doctor and Larkspur, and anyone else who might have been captured."

"But how can we get past her?" asked Aster, smelling the bottles contents again.

"I don't know . . . hmm, if we had been the ones captured instead, and the Doctor was here, what would he do to save us? Because I know he would think of something just . . . what exactly?" As Aster took another whiff of the bottle, he caught Dean's attention. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Smelling this, I think its candy."

"Candy?"

"Yeah, here", said Aster, handing the jar to Dean.

Dean looked curiously to the large red balls inside the jar before taking a small sniff. Which seemed plenty as Dean sneezed, his nose attacked by a fiery, cinnamon scented puff of air. He coughed as he returned the jar to Aster, "Kohff! W- W- What is that!?"

"I think its one of those jars you can buy at the candy store. The one with the assorted candy. But it looks like all the other candy is gone, all that's left are the hot balls."

"Hot balls?"

"You don't know what hot balls are?" Aster asked, giving him a skeptical look.

"I don't eat candy."

"Oh they are really good! Its tastes like cinnamon on the outside but has a chili pepper paste on the inside. I guess it would make sense that a child wouldn't want to eat this, since we found it in a child's bedroom."

"Why in Equestria would there be candy in here- Kohff! W- Where did it come from?"

"From the sack?"

"No, I mean, who made it?" said Dean, feeling his eyes sting from the smell.

"Um", Aster turned the jar around, finding a small label attached to the bottom. He read it aloud, "Swirly Pop's Assorted Candy. Made with love in- Mane City?"

Dean felt his heart quicken at that, becoming curious and excited. "Mane City? Candy from Mane City, here of all places? How does candy from there get here? What does that mean?"

Aster thought for a moment, placing a hoof to his chin, before replying with a shrug.

Dean sighed, "yeah, I don't know either". He pointed to the jar, "but that's good! We need to tell that to the Doctor, he will definantly want to know this!"

Aster agreed, nodding, before sniffing the hot balls again. "Aw, I wish we didn't find these in a scary house! I love spicy candy."

Dean rubbed his nose, thinking of the smell. "How could you enjoy that? It makes my eyes hurt just from smelling it?"

Aster shrugged, "I just like spicy food."

Rubbing the sting out of his eyes, a thought popped into Dean's head. He looked to the jar of candy, then looked to the fur on his hoof, damp from enveloped tears from the sting. Suddenly, it brought him back to earlier. Back when Dean used the Doctor's torch to escape from the phantom, blowing those exploding rocks into her face. It struck him, a possible plan they had and a weakness she had that they could use to fight with: her eyes. "Aster, what did you say was inside those "hot balls?"

"Hmm? Oh, uh, chili pepper paste."

"And you enjoy these, so how would you eat the paste on the inside?"

At that question, Aster tilted his head curiously. "Have you never eaten a hard candy before? You just suck on it and let the hard candy dissolve in your mouth. When it gets small enough the paste will just come out."

"Ah, dissolves in your mouth, with your saliva. But, it could also dissolved in water, couldn't it?" asked Dean.

"I guess?" Aster more asked then said, unsure of what Dean was talking about.

"And if I was to eat one of these "hot balls" and rub my eyes, would it sting like a real chili pepper?"

"Uh, I don't think so. Not unless you spit it out and get the liquid in your eyes. Which would be gross so I'm not sure why you would do that."

Dean smiled, "there's a kitchen downstairs, a lake outside, and we have a few jars of hot balls, Aster!" He exclaimed excitedly, pointing to Aster, "are you thinking what I'm thinking!"

Aster frowned, "eh, no, I have no idea what your talking about."

Dean sighed, "earlier when we escaped the ghost back in the forest I used that torch the Doctor gave me. It blew all those exploding rocks in her face, remember that?"

Aster nodded, "oh yeah! That was neat!"

"Well, what if we do that again? Only, we don't have those rocks with us so we'll have to improvise."

At that, Aster suddenly connected the dots. "And you want to hit her in the face with hot balls?"

"No, not hot balls, the chili paste inside the hot balls. After all of the balls have dissolved in water, the both of us will go down there and splash this in her face! She'll be blinded long enough for us to rescue the Doctor, Larkspur, and anypony else who are trapped down there!"

"But what about the second ghost? Won't he hear her screaming and come back?"

"I think so, which is why we'll just need to move fast!"

"Alright, and then what? We run out of the forest carrying all those ponies?"

Dean rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment, before sighing. "Honestly, I'm not sure. But I think if we find the Doctor he'll come up with a plan quickly, so we shouldn't have to worry about that. If not, the best we really can do is just try to escape."

"Well . . . I- I don't know. Those exploding rocks are one thing, but chili pepper water? How long do you think that will blind her for?"

"I don't know, it depends on what pepper is used in the paste. Could be an hour, or could probably be less."

"What's the least amount of time do you think we'll have?"

"Probably . . .", Dean sighed, frowning. "I think we might have only a few minutes."

Aster shivered at that thought, searching in a dark scary basement with only minutes before the phantom attacks. "Oh dear! Well, what will we do if we run out of time."

"Er, we . . ." Dean went silent. He wanted to answer that, but he didn't have a clue what to do. If he was honest with himself, formulating this plan and finding a clue for the Doctor was impressive, and made him feel determine, and he didn't want to lose everything on this obstacle. Her eyes, that was the only weakness he could think of. Catch her by surprise, splash her with pepper water, then she can't see. But they wouldn't have long, and no plan he thought of would fix that. 

Perhaps the Doctor would figure that out? That was a nice thought, but he would just be working on an expectation that the Doctor would be able to do that. What if the Doctor couldn't make a plan? What if he's hurt after being taken? Or unconscious? It was nice to think the Doctor will help them after he's saved, but that possibility that he won't be able to lingered in his mind.

Struggling with a plan made Dean sigh, exasperated, as he drooped his head. Doing so, he looked to the empty sack on the floor, along with the toys scattered about. More particularly, he was looking to the rubber toy whip.

He picked up the whip, observing it closely as he thought aloud, "four strings, loose connection in the handle, six feet, definantly not meant for whip wielding. But it might just work-"

"Um, sorry, what are you saying?" asked Aster.

Dean exhaled slowly, putting himself into a state of mind. He wasn't strong and he was scared, but for the Doctor, he was going to have to put that aside. He was afraid of what he had planed, but if they only had a few minutes, than he was going to have to accept it.

"It isn't about paying him back, its about doing what's right simply because its right, for the ones we care for. Is that right Aster?"

"I beg your pardon?" asked Aster, confused.

Grabbing the rim, Dean adjusted the safari hat, bringing the front end angled down slightly. He looked upwards to Aster, with only the bottom half of his eyes visible, then took a deep breath. "Aster, I have a plan, but I'm going to need you to trust me."

"Um, sure, I trust you. W- What exactly do you have in mind."

" . . . Something I was taught, something I never thought I'd ever use."






The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T






"AAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" the Doctor awoke in a cold sweat. Thrashing wildly before coming to his senses, breathing heavily as he felt his heart racing through his chest.

Looking about, the Doctor realized he was in bed, back in his room, safe in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Though it was too dark to see the room in whole, he could tell this bed was definitely his. With its bright blue blankets, white sheets and pillows, fresh smell of fabric cleaner, and its safe, homey, comfortable, familiar feeling.

His breathing calmed slowly as he looked to his bedside table, seeing his digital clock say five thirty. He groaned and fell back onto his pillow, "a dream . . . it was all a dream . . . I . . . I could have sworn that-" The Doctor suddenly sat upright, "wait . . . wait a second. Somethings not right, I'm forgetting something, something important. I'm, I'm, uh-" the Doctor gasped, "Dean!"

Ripping off his blankets and bounding off the bed, the Doctor rushed out his room and down the hall.

The double doors flung open, and the Doctor galloped into the eerily dark console room, finding another pony there. A colt about ten years old, standing on the opposite side of the console, staring at the exit door.

The Doctor stopped as soon as he noticed the stranger and spoke with caution. "Hello there, little one", the Doctor added, noticing the pony to be a colt. The colt didn't respond and continued staring to the door.

The console room was too dark to allow the Doctor to see the colt properly. Taking a step, he looked over the console to get a better view of the colt, while maintaining caution. "Can you tell me how you got in here?" No response, the colt just stared without moving.

Feeling uneasy, the Doctor shouted over his shoulder, "Dean are you awake! I need you in the console room!"

"You won't find him here", the colt said suddenly, his voice surprising light, almost like a filly's

"Excuse me?" the Doctor asked, looking curiously to the colt.

"You won't find your friend here", the colt repeated, continuing to stare at the door.

"My friend? You mean Dean? Why isn't he coming here? Why would you say that? Who are you exactly?"

Silence for a moment, before the colt replied, "he isn't your friend. He is the Doctor's friend."

Now the Doctor was very confused. "What? Sorry, I am the Doctor-"

"No you are not", the colt interrupted.

"What do you mean I'm not?" the Doctor asked, looking concerned.

"You are not the Doctor. The one born from a world unknown. Birthed from a name, created by one who too bared a false name. The one who began the journey and the very reason for his existence. You are not him, he is dead, you are an imposter."

Now the Doctor felt both confused, and unnerved. "I'm a wha- what are you talking about? Who are you!?"

Another moment of silence, before the colt said slowly, "you know who I am."

The colt turned from the door, facing the Doctor directly. Through the darkness the Doctor, now, could just make out the colts blue hair and red eyes. Which were enough for the Doctor to realize who he was.

The Doctor stepped back, feeling his heart race as his rear bumped into the door leading to the hallway. "No, no, no, no, no, no, that's impossible. You- you . . . your lying. Your lying! Who are you!?!"

"You know who I am", the colt repeated, stepping closer to the Doctor, yet keeping a distance. His messy blue hair, piercing red eyes, and clean white fur were easier to see as the colt approached the Doctor.

"No . . . no! You are not who you say you are! Who are you!?!" the Doctor roared, pointing angrily to the colt.

Not once had the colt's emotions changed. He remained expressionless as he said in a monotone, "I am not who I say I am? No, you are mistaken. You are not who you say you are."

The colt took another step forth and pointed to himself. "I am the Doctor, and you are a fake."

Suddenly, the Doctor felt excruciating pain course through his abdomen. As if the colt's words were knives, the Doctor felt this pain stab into him, as he clutched his gut and fell to the floor. Curled into a fetal position, it flowed through to the rest of his body, igniting the Doctor in an inferno of pain. "W- What's hap- what's happening!?"

"Your time has come. You cannot lie any longer."

"Y- Your doing this! A- Aren't you!" the Doctor shouted, coughing.

"No, not I. What could I have done to stop this. It is impossible, such as your delusion of an existence without end."

A sudden spike pierced the Doctor's heart, and he writhed as he groaned. Erupting like magma, he felt a burning sensation flow from his heart, coursing through his veins, and burning his body from the inside out. The Doctor coughed, "ooowwww! What is-" The Doctor froze as he looked to his hoof.

Engulfed in a shimmering, golden flame, the Doctor's hoof shined bright in a yellow white glow. A replicate flame, burning strongly, erupted suddenly from his opposite hoof, increasing the shines brightness. Slowly, the two flames crept down the Doctor's legs, until the two met on his chest and combined. Covering his body, the fire continued to creep, until his lower half was ignited in a golden flame, leaving only his head exposed.

The Doctor's jaw fell agape, panicked, as he struggled to comprehend what was happening. "I- I don't- I- I'm not controlling this!!!" He glared to the colt, "what are you doing to me!?!"

"Nothing, I cannot control what is meant to be". The colt stepped forward and leaned close to the Doctor, "and, neither, can, you!"

The fire crept slowly, inching upwards on his neck towards his face. "No! Its not true! This isn't happening! I refuse!!!"

"I am dead, the Doctor is dead. You are not the Doctor, you are a fake!"

The fire burned his chin, as the Doctor felt it creep along his lower face. "I am not a fake! I am the Doctor! I am the Doctor!"

"Perhaps before, but not anymore, not in the end of the past, not when you change."

His vision was blinded in that golden glow, creeping past his jowls and nearly covering his entire body. Leaving only his eyes, blinded by the fire of his burning, dying body.

"Noooooo! I will not change! I refuse! I refuse!"

"The end of the past begins with a lullaby. You die so you can live, but you will remain dead as he arises. And he will live on as you, but never in your image. For, he is not truly you, and he never will be. You know that, you do . . . and you cannot stop it . . . no one can."

"No! Please no! Please!"

The fire crept, the Doctor's body was covered top to bottom, his eyes now enflamed. Burning more powerful than before, reducing the Doctor's body to ash. He felt it start from his lower half, his physical body disintegrating.


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"






"AGH!" the Doctor gasped, darting upright. Breathing heavily, the Doctor felt his senses rush back to him, with a harsh mildew odor being the first. It took a moment before he realized where he was, looking to his surroundings.

It appeared as a dungeon made from cement, illuminated by several rose colored candles: three on a small table by the door, three on the far end of the room, and another three beside the Doctor in the corner to his right.

The room itself was a perfect rectangular block. Forty eight feet long, fifteen feet wide, eight feet tall, made entirely of cement, and with one door and no windows. The door was closest to the Doctor, directly in front of him from his rusted iron cage. The willow door was hinged with the same iron as the cage, with a sphere handle decorated with a metal plated insignia. A large gold and silver symbol, the entirety made into what appeared as two alicorns flying in a circle. One flying around a bright sky, the other flying on a star lit night. The symbol of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The Doctor noticed the symbol, looking at it curiously. 

The door was a foot from the wall, across from the Doctor and on the right end of the room. The rest of the room left of the door was a clear walkway, allowing one to have access to the cages that lined a row on the Doctor's left.

A row of cages, cemented into the ground, floor, and walls, were all the same size: eight by eight by eight. First the Doctor in his cage directly across from the door. Beside him was a stallion, sleeping on his side in the center of his cage. A somewhat larger than average stallion, he had a dull purple coat and a messy black mane. Though, his colors didn't interest the Doctor, it was his cutie mark. A cactus shaped plant, covered in white and purple flowers. A plant the Doctor recognized.

The Doctor's jaw fell agape as he murmured to himself, "a larkspur?" Realizing who this pony might be, the Doctor scooted closer to him and whispered through the bars. "Larkspur? Larkspur is that you?" No response, Larkspur was out cold.

The Doctor looked over Larkspur and spotted three others, each in their own individual cages. A total of six cages, with the last one at the far end of the room empty.

Beside Larkspur was an average sized bright orange stallion with a curly purple mane, with a cutie mark in the shape of three orange liquid drops. Beside him was a cream colored mare with a peach colored straight mane. Her cutie mark shaped with two cinnamon sticks crossing each other in an "X". The last one was an all black, bony stallion. Bald, and with a swirly white and black striped cutie mark, baring a distinct likeness to an hypnosis wheel.

Looking to each pony's distinct color, it reminded him of the colt in his dream. That small, white furred child, with a blue mane and red eyes. Standing above the Doctor as he was engulfed in flames. A golden flame, hot enough to burn a phoenix pony to ash. A species that is supposed to be immune to almost anything hot, let alone fire.

That fire, that shimmering, blinding, burning, golden fire. It made the Doctor shiver, before freezing suddenly. He knew it was just a dream. Though, would it be possible that not all of it was a dream? That fire truly felt like it burned. 

Dreams could hurt, he knew that. Or, at least, dreams can make one believe that they are truly hurt, only to wake up feeling nothing. But that thought did nothing to relax him. Everything else may have been a dream. But that part, the last of his dream, where everything turned gold and he was engulfed in a fire that actually harmed him. What if that part actually happened?

He had heard of some who changed while unconscious. Though, it seemed very unlikely that, in this case, he would change while he himself were unconscious. He didn't have anyway to prove it, that thought was purely to help him feel better; it didn't. 

He didn't think that girl killed, as evident to Larkspur and the other foalnapped ponies laying in their cages next to his. Than again, what if they weren't unconscious?

That worrisome thought made his heart race, and he patted his body, checking himself. Weak bones, skinny frame, mare like jaw structure, feeble wings, and of course his mane, having lost its color, now faded to a gray turning white. That helped a little, and he breathed a relieved sigh before looking to Larkspur. The phantom hadn't killed him, or whatever the phantom had tried to do to him may not have worked. Otherwise, he expected he'd still be laying on the ground like the rest of the ponies. That concerned him, as he was unsure whether the others were actually "unconscious", or worse. Hopefully, the phantom wouldn't go that far.

"The phantom?" that's right, the Doctor remembered something, the last thing he heard that filly say before he fell unconscious: "chocolate milk?" Interesting, that the mysterious black liquid was actually chocolate milk this whole time. Those letters and splatters on the walls downstairs, those were all chocolate milk. That explained all the mold. 

Now that was interesting, that the filly would be drooling chocolate milk, but it did give him a crucial clue to what might be the cause for all of this. He knew from the start that she wasn't a ghost or a phantom, experience alone told him that. Even still, he didn't know exactly what she was, until that crucial bit of information. It made sense, a ghost that drooled chocolate milk, why would a ghost drool chocolate milk? Well, who else likes chocolate milk? The very same creature that is spreading his chaos through equestria at this moment.

That made sense, the Doctor couldn't think of anyone else who was responsible. Than again, though it made sense the he would be responsible for this, what didn't make sense is why he would have ponies kidnapping other ponies. The Doctor didn't remember that to being something he would do. Puzzled, the Doctor scratched his head and felt his heart stop.

Something was missing. Quickly, the Doctor's sights darted about in a search. One that took mere seconds with how empty the room was, despite its size. Six cages, two coffee tables, nine candles, five ponies, and no fedora. The Doctor sighed, "darn it! Why the fedora! They always take my fedora!"


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"


Suddenly, the Doctor covered his ears, feeling an horrific shriek pierce through him, vibrating the cages. The screaming stopped, and the Doctor felt his ears ringing. Whoever screamed was still howling, not nearly as loud, but was clearly in distress. He recognized that scream, muttering, "its her!" He wasn't sure what was happening, but locked in a cage made him defenseless. If something was happening he wanted to be prepared, so he went to work on picking the cage lock.

Wasting no time, the Doctor dug in his inner vest pocket and swiped out a thin, sharp pin. A second after, he found his screwdriver and swiped that out as well. Finding his tools, he entered the pin and searched for the proper chamber, before giving the lock a slight turn with the screwdriver after he had found it. The first chamber clicked into place, so he repeated the process. Searching for the second chambers placement, shifting it with the pin, and listening closely for the small "click" to let him know he found it. Once he did he repeated the process a third time, before moving to the fourth and last chamber. Three fourths of the way there, the Doctor had nearly unlocked the cage before he heard a voice he recognized, surprising him enough to make him stop.

"I think he might be in here!"

"Is that-", the door pulled open suddenly, revealing who was on the other side.

With a gasp, Aster ran into the dungeon, smiling happily, "Doctor!"

Shaking his head, the Doctor exclaimed, "wha- what!?! Aster!?! What are you doing here!?!"

Trotting to the Doctor's cage, Aster replied quickly, "there's no time! We need to get out of here before the ghost comes after us!"

"The ghost! Wha- h- how did you get past her?"

"Um, well . . ." Aster started.






A Moment Earlier






Knock, knock, knock.

Aster knocked on the basement door, with Dean standing behind him, holding a bucket of water behind his back.

It took half an hour to find the bucket; moving cautiously slow the whole time. With what Dean had seen earlier with the kitchen, he moved even slower just to not touch or step in anything rotten. He had asked Aster to stay in the entryway because he knew Aster wouldn't want to be in this horrific kitchen. But after fifteen minutes of searching his hooves were soiled in filth, so he washed his hooves in the lake while trying to figure out how to carry the water. It was while washing his hooves he remembered the cleaning closet next to the kitchen, and he galloped quickly to search there. Sure enough, he found a bucket with a mop poking inside. Toss the mop away, and Dean had what he needed. It than took ten minutes more for the hot balls to dissolve in the bucket of lake water. Afterwards the two returned inside and set there plan to motion.

Dean ran upstairs and returned quickly with a sack full of toys, placing it by the front entrance while Aster waited by the basement. Afterwards, Dean met with Aster by the basement door, bucket in hoof, and Aster knocked three times.

"Are you ready?" Dean asked.

Aster replied, shaking, "a- are you sure the Doctor will be-"

"He'll be fine with it", Dean interjected. "Just find the Doctor while I keep watch on the ghost, got it."

"Um-"

Before Aster could reply, the basement door creaked open. From the entry revealed the phantom, on odd, ominous red glow illuminating behind her, giving a dim light to the room inside. 

Smiling maliciously, she exclaimed excitedly, "my king!" Upon seeing the two she paused, having expected the stallion phantom only to find Aster and Dean. 

Before she could react, Dean attempted to attack. He had intended to thrust the bucket forth, plunging the water inside onto her, keeping hold of the bottom as not to lose his grip on the bucket. However, with what little space he had in the staircase, as well as the weight of the bucket, Dean was unable to thrust the heavy bucket and instead lost his footing. 

"Woah!" he tripped and managed to catch himself on a lower step closer to the phantom, spilling a handful of water on her shoulder as he did so.

An uncomfortable silence passed as Dean, his face a mere foot away from the phantom's, chuckled weakly. Aster could almost feel his heart stop as he watched Dean. He was confident that the plan would work, enough so that he didn't bother catching Dean when he stumbled. For, Aster had mistaken his stumble for a proper movement of splashing a bucket of water onto another ponies head. His pupils, to the speed of sound, shrunk to pin tips as his jaw dropped. "Uuuuuuuuuhh", Aster squealed, his pitch so high it came out nearly as a whistle.

Amongst the silence, the Phantom stared to Dean, before her eyes slowly drifted to the wet spot on her shoulder. She touched it, looked to Dean, to Aster, back to Dean, then to the bucket. Her smile actually wavered slightly, as she was honestly confused to what the two had attempted. However, taking a second glance to the bucket, almost immediately, she came up with an assumption. "Did you just spill water on me?" the Phantom asked, scaring the two with how normal her tone was. Without any hint of horror or threat, just on honest question of genuine confusion.

Dean gulped, "uh, m- maybe."

Her tone reverted to normal instantaneously, as the Phantom spat a trail of milk onto Dean's face laughing. Dean spat and wiped his face as the Phantom shouted, "y- you were going to attack me with water!?! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!" She fell into a fit of laughter, so hard that she had to grip the wall not to lose her balance. "That's your plan!?! Water!?! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" She sat on her hunches and gripped at her sides, wiping a chocolaty tear before pointing mockingly to Dean. "I hope that's your plan to confuse me while you grab the sword that's strapped to your back! B- Because this hardly seems like a fair fight-"

SPLASH!

With his second chance it was much easier for Dean to thrust the water out of the bucket and onto the Phantom. And with how hard she was laughing she didn't bother to move as the water drenched her. Covering head to toe and penetrating her eyes.

The effects were immediate. The water stung every inch of wet skin, and she felt a thousand red hot pins stab her orbitals as the water burned and blinded her. She screamed an ear splitting screech, blasting Dean and Aster in milk and piercing the basement in a booming echo.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!


Dean dropped the empty bucket and grabbed Aster's shoulder, pushing him into the basement past the Phantom. "Come on!" he said, entering the basement behind Aster.

The two entered and went to work, leaving the Phantom laying at the foot of the stairs. Holding her eyes and sobbing, she shrieked, "IT'S PEPPER WATER!!! W- WHO PUT'S PEPPER IN WATER!?!"

Dean and Aster looked around quickly. The basement consisted of four parts: A hallway to the right, two doors to the left, and the central room they stood in.

The basement was a large cement block. The wall, the floor, the roof; a fifteen, by fifteen, by fifteen foot cube. The floor was bare, as were the walls, spared an inch every here an there with a rose red candle posted on a metal spike. Two candles on each end, all positioned on the left and right end of each wall. In front of them, on the far end, sat two mahogany chairs in the corners beneath the candles, fixed with soft, mildly dirty, velvet red cushions for the seat and back. A coffee table of the same wood sat between the chairs, holding a dusty glass full of black chocolate milk.

The left of the room positioned its candles the same, held above the two doors. One door was made of wood and, unlike the basement door and front door, was as thin as the bedroom doors on the second floor, and had no lock. The second to the right from that door, however, was unlike any door in the house. This door consisted of pure steel. Heavy, thick, bared a large steel bar on the outside to lock the door secure and, oddly enough, was kept rather clean. Despite some dust and cobwebs, the door practically shone in the candles red lighting. And to the right with the ten foot long hall held another door at the end to the left, as well as a single candle posted on the wall at the very end. This door too was unlocked.

Dean pointed to the hall, "you search the room down there, I'll watch the her!"

Aster nodded and ran down the hall. The moment he saw Aster enter the room did Dean hear the phantom stomp suddenly. He looked to her, and she looked back, her eyes stinging, but with one squinting enough to make out Dean. She was huffing, her chest heaving in and out, as she growled at Dean, "how dare you!!!"

Dean gulped, "well . . . that lasted shorter than I thought it would."

The phantom roared as she jumped forth. Dean was quick and evaded left in her mid leap. With her sights still fuzzy the phantom slammed to the ground and swiped about, frantically trying to grab Dean. Dean took the chance to gallop up the stairs, the phantom heard his stepped and spun around. Like an angry dog she foamed milk, spilling chocolate from her mouth, as she growled and charged towards the stairs, "come back!!!" 

"Aster!!! PLAN B!!! Dean shouted over his shoulder, as he galloped to the exit. Grabbing the sack full of toys swiftly, he went to work tying the rope to the sack around his chest with one leg, as he ran towards the forest. 

The phantom screamed at him, and Dean knew she was chasing him, so he didn't bother to check. With the sack tied he ran faster, as he put the plan into motion.






The Doctor





The Doctor and Larkspur's cage doors were held open, both successfully picked. With the three inside, the Doctor had his ear placed to Larkspur's chest, listening to his heart beat. Aster stood beside him, his hooves held to his chin as tears welled in his eyes, looking down to his unconscious coltfriend. "He's not . . . he isn't-" he couldn't say it, but the Doctor knew what he meant.

Feeling the pulse in his neck, the Doctor responded, "Larkspur's still alive."

Aster looked to the Doctor, face full of shock, as he stuttered, "w- what!? H- H- He is!?!"

The Doctor nodded, "yes, he's still alive." He placed his hoof to Larkspur's chest and felt around, pressing down gently from top to bottom. "No signs of anything broken, a few minor scratches, nothing even close to fatal, thank god. He is still alive, he's just not waking up for some reason.

"B- But why!?! Why isn't he waking up!?"

"I'm not sure. But I think that filly might have done something". The Doctor blurted suddenly, "Dean mentioned you were almost caught earlier, that the filly had you pinned down before he came.  Did you feel anything while she had you pinned?"

"Um, y- yes I did!" Aster replied, nodding.

"What was it like? How did you feel?" the Doctor asked quickly.

"I- I don't remember exactly. She grabbed me and I felt something, um, "hot" go into me. Like, i- it wasn't like fire or anything, it kind of "flowed" into me, and then, I'm not sure. My body went numb after that and I felt like I was going to faint."

"I see, that filly's magic."

"Pardon?" asked Aster.

"That feeling, hot and flowing, that must be how her magic works". The Doctor stood up and walked to the cage door, speaking over his shoulder to Aster as he did so. "Every form of magic works and feels differently. Hers seems to only work when she touches you. And once she does it feels like a hot stream flowing into your body. Followed by loss of feeling and soon followed by loss of consciousness. You were saved before you fell unconscious, where as I on the other hoof felt the whole thing. And I felt just about the same thing you described."

"But, than that would mean you'd still be unconscious too wouldn't you?" Aster asked, looking to Larkspur and the unconscious ponies.

"I certainly think so. But whatever happens after a pony is captured must not have worked on me. I'll need to look around a bit so I can find out exactly what's wrong with them. That and I can figure out exactly what's been going on around here. First we'll need to get passed that filly."

"Actually I don't think she's in the basement anymore."

"Basement? Oh, that's where I am, so I am still in the house. But, why do think she's not here?"

"Because Dean had her follow him outside", Aster explained.

The gears in the Doctor's head halted abruptly. Slowly, he turned to Aster, turning like a statue on a horizontal wheel. " . . . . . Come again?"

Aster gulped, feeling nervous under the Doctor's glare, "D- Dean said he would be the distraction so that you and I could get the other ponies out of here."

His mind went blank at that, processing what Aster just said, before he thought to what he heard Dean shout. "Aster . . . Dean shouted something about a "plan b?" What's "plan b?"

Aster stuttered, feeling his heart beating anxiously, "i- in c- case the ghost try's to chase after us Dean would let the ghost chase him outside of the house. That way we can save the foalnapped ponies."

There was a pause as Aster waited for the Doctor to respond. The Doctor was silent as he appeared frozen in thought, taking in the fact that Dean was out in danger on his own. 

The silence lingered eerily long, and Aster became increasingly uncomfortable, despite only being for a few seconds. Eventually, Aster had to ask, "D- Doctor? Are you okay."

" . . . . What."

Aster thought that to be a question, so he repeated. "I was asking if you were-"

"What!" the Doctor yelled.

Aster flinched, and tried to explain quickly, "D- Dean said you would be fine with it!"

His explanation didn't help, "What!!!"

Aster was shaking as he said, "he came up with the plan! It wasn't my idea! I swear!"

The Doctor didn't respond. He turned away from Aster, walked out of the cage, out the room, down the hall, and stood in the center of the central basement room.

The Doctor didn't hear Aster call out to him as he looked about the room. He saw the candles, the mahogany chairs and coffee table. He saw the two doors as well as the basement door wide open at the foot the stairs, splattered in black chocolate milk. But what he didn't see was Dean, nor the phantom filly.

The Doctor took a deep breath to calm himself. Remaining patient as he tried to keep his temper down. Only to remember the promise he made to protect Dean, and how old he was, and how little patience he had left. He took another deep breath-


" . . . . . OH MY GOD!!!"

> lullabies: Part Four (S1C5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dean


Dean felt sluggish running under the weight of the wool sack, tied in an "X" around his back with two ropes. Its contents, making the sack's exterior bumpy and uncomfortable, jiggled and bounced about as he galloped through the forest.

The house beside the lake was out of sight, having ran far enough to once again be surrounded by trees. Each one blurring past him, seeming hazy in his speed. He only paid attention to the trees that blocked his path, as he swerved when necessary to avoid them.

The air was colder than before he entered the house hours ago, and not just because the wind pushed back against him. Hours deprived of the sun's warmth left the forest frigid. If he had been in his home town, in the desert, a summer's night would still be cold, only, not nearly as bad. The green and vegetation, with its exuberant humidity and wet grassy ground, made the forest far colder than the desert. The chill biting his skin as droplets of dew splashed at his legs and lower body with each step.

Glancing over his shoulder, Dean could see the phantom filly not far behind.

She had her maniacal smile, her floating tendril hair, and her chocolate milk drooling, all as expected. Only, her eyes were wide and angry. Glaring Dean furiously as she chased him. With each step the Phantom Filly huffed forcefully, growling and shouting in between each take of air. 

"Get back here!!! Get back here NOW!!!" 

"Oh sweet Celestia!" Dean thought, as he took a sharp turn left.

Dean's intentions, initially, were to run in a looping path. A good distance south, right turn to the west, make a good distance, right turn north, make a good distance, right turn east, make a good distance and return to the house. He figured the Doctor and Aster would have finished what they needed to do by then, so long as he kept the threat out of their way for the time being.

That was his plan, how it was supposed to be. But the phantom was far too fast for him, and in a panic Dean had made several swerves and turns after leaving the house. To the point that he had lost his way back. And in his panicked state, with the phantom approaching closer, his mind couldn't take the time needed to figure out how he would return.

His plan took a bad turn, and he was winging it now.

Another turn right, swerve a few trees, left, right, left, dash over a bush. Dean could really feel the burn enveloping his lungs now, and the heavy sack made it worse. Fighting against its weight, as it felt heavier the further he ran. But, he did bring it for a reason, and when he felt himself starting to slow he figured now was the time to use them.

Shifting the weight forward, Dean managed to tilt the sack downwards, angling the opening towards his chin. When it was close enough, Dean cranked his neck to reach inside. He took this time to spare a glance at the phantom, who ran a mere six feet away. Startled, he felt his heart skip a beat, seeing how close she was.

Acting fast, Dean extracted a white, fish net bag from the sack using his mouth. Filled with large, bright, colorful marbles, Dean pinched his teeth to the bottom of the bag and shook it hard. Until the opening ripped, spilling its contents below and past his legs.

The phantom filly, unaware of what Dean had been carrying, was caught by surprised as she lost her footing over the marbles. She didn't trip entirely, but that small fumble from a childish trick was enough to make her even more angry. "TOYS!!! Your throwing TOYS at me!!!"

Dean paid no attention, he was already reaching into the sack for something else. Looking back, that small trick had managed to widen the gap by a few feet. Not good enough, but that was fine, he had more tricks up his sleeve. And by tricks, Dean was simply planning to chuck toys at the phantom to get away.

He extracted a second bag of marbles and repeated the process, shaking out the contents and letting the marbles roll behind him. But the phantom was ready this time, as a small hop was enough to avoid them. However, what she hadn't expected was for Dean to extract a second item and throw it at her mid jump.

Smack in the face, she felt a hard wooden sword collide into her nose, dazing her for a moment and nearly knocking her off her hooves. Shaking out the stars in her eyes, the phantom growled, "THOSE ARE MY TOYS!!!! WILL YOU-"

POOF! A soft pillow had been thrown mid sentence and combusted into a cloud of feathers on contact with her head. It didn't hurt and only distracted her for a moment, but she still found it aggravating. "Really? Pillows? Your throwing soft stuff now- HEY! STOP IT!!!" The phantom filly roared as Dean chucked a teddy bear at her.

It was rapid fire at this point. Dean reached into the sack, grabbed something, threw it at her face, and repeated, becoming quicker with each item he threw. Teddy bear, sword, random jar, doll, pillow, sword, pillow, doll, pillow, sword, pillow, pillow, more pillows, one after the next. And with each item thrown, the sack progressively became lighter and lighter. Until Dean was running weightless, bearing no struggle under whatever items he had left. Though, at this point it had become apparent he was running low on ammunition. As the sack became flatter and flatter, almost laying flimsy over his back.

It wasn't until the phantom said something about it did Dean realize his sack was almost empty. "OH! STOP IT! HOW MANY TOYS DO YOU HAVE!!!"

Quickly, Dean took a peek inside the sack. A few items remained, plus the toy he had intended to save for last. With the gap widened by a few feet, Dean figured now was the time to change plans with what little he had.

It was risky to go toe to toe with the phantom, and with his strength it most likely won't be good enough. However, he figured the phantom expects him to continue running, not wanting to take a chance fighting back. So, he planned on taking advantage of that.

He hadn't believed in ghosts until today. And with his love of books he had come across many scary stories, all of which he believed to be fictional. In those stories the protagonist always runs away when danger arises. Whether it be a ghost or a monster or killer, the results were always the same. The protagonist runs while the enemy chases. So, he wondered, "what would happen if the protagonist fights back?"

He toyed with the idea with Aster, but he hadn't intended to do it. Thinking about it, running away from danger does make more sense than fighting back heads on. Of course, if he did have to fight he wouldn't do so without a plan. Even still, he didn't want to fight, he had hoped to return to the house in time without being caught. But with his ammunition running low, and his fatigue kicking in, as well as the phantom not showing the slightest sign of tiring out, he felt his options becoming slimmer. As she approached alarmingly close, in his panic Dean felt he hadn't any other choice.

"Back up plan it is!" thought Dean, taking another sharp turn left.

The phantom followed, taking a sharp turn left. Then a right, then a left, a right, a left, another right, until the phantom realized that Dean was running in a zig zag. Evading trees and taking left and right sharp turns every so often. The moment she realized this, the easier it became to follow him. Left turn, right turn, left turn, right turn. Then, all of a sudden, Dean stopped.

Coming to an abrupt halt, Dean stopped at a tree dead center in his path. He would have had to evade it had he not decide this to be the opportune time to stop. Leaning against the tree and taking a well needed breath, Dean quickly rummaged through the sack, grabbing its remaining contents.

The phantom halted as well, stopping six feet from Dean. And unlike him, she wasn't out of breath, nor did she express any hint of fatigue. Smiling a wide, toothy grin, she laughed maliciously, "aw! You can't run anymore!?!"

Dean didn't respond. Quickly, he pulled out the first item he touched, another teddy bear, and chucked it with a grunt, "RRRAAAGH!!"

The teddy bear hit her dead center in the nose, and she didn't so much as flinch. It hit her, stuck for a second, before falling to the ground with a "squeak". The phantom filly looked to the teddy on the ground, before looking to Dean and bursting in laughter. "AHAHAHAHA!!! IS THAT REALLY IT!?! TOYS AND PILLOWS!?! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" A sloppy glop of chocolate milk dribbled from her chin, spilling about and marking the ground in black, as she marched slowly to Dean. "You can't run anymore PRINCESS!!! I am your queen!!! And you! Will! OBAY!!!"

Dean's heart was pounding. Quickly, he reached into the bag for another item and chucked that as well. Another pillow, his last one, thrown into her face with no results. She continued marching as if nothing happened. Dean cursed under his breath as he repeated the process. Another item, a doll, and chucked it hard, resulting the same way. Then a sword, another doll, a third doll, then nothing. Nothing, except the item he had saved for last. Before he could reach it, Dean went stiff, as he felt a heavy breathing from above. Looking away from the sack, Dean found the phantom filly glaring, her face inches from his. Dean coward away, arching his back as the phantom leaned over him, towering above menacingly.

She laughed, "oh no! Are you out of toys!?!"

Dean gulped as he searched the ground around him, spotting a large stone to his right, a few feet away. He searched for a second more, before deciding that it was perfect. "Y- yes and no. Out of toys b- but I still have one more I'd like to share."

"Oh you do? Are you going to throw it at me!?"

At this point Dean had forgotten how cold it was, as he blinked the sweat out of his eyes. The amount of adrenaline rushing through him made him hot, and he felt confined being backed into this tree; with the phantom towering him, basically cornering him in his place. He gulped again, his throat feeling dry. "No, n- not really. A- Actually I wanted to ask. H- Have you ever been on a farm?"

Dean pressed on before she could say anything. "You know about whips right? Nifty tools for all sorts of things. But the main thing its used for is picking up items from a distance. Like something in the barn on a high shelf or . . . something", Dean explained, eyeing the stone.

Extracting the coiled whip, Dean showed it to her, which in return gave Dean a curious, if not malicious look. She eyed the whip, wondering what Dean had in mind, half expecting him to try and use the toy as a weapon. Of course, that was ridiculous, and in a sense it was, without knowing what Dean was hiding up his sleeve.

Dean adjusted his safari hat as he took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart. A shame his hat wasn't real, it did feel rather tight now that he thought about it, it was made for a child after all. 

The phantom simply watched Dean with her unwavering smile. Armed with a whip, and wearing a hat, Dean had no way of fighting back, not without that torch. So, that was it, she knew she had won. One princess sleeping, one more to find, and one ready to be tucked. 

Yet, she couldn't help but wonder what attempt he was going to make this time. Everything else so far all but just delayed the inevitable. Now, his final plan was a toy, rubber whip. This was going to be fun to watch.

Making a quick glance to the stone, Dean positioned the whip, gripped in his right hoof as he held it at a slanted angle. His leg positioned across his chest and held to his left shoulder. "Tell me, please. Are you a little filly?"

The phantom laughed, "WHAT!?!"

"I asked if you truly are a filly! I need to know! Are you a child?" Dean yelled.

Never had she been asked that, and it caught her off guard. She reeled back slightly, before cackling. "You must be stupid!!! I am not a child! I am the Queen of the Forest!" she struck a leg into the air, declaring her name upon Dean. "Ruler of all princesses in the land!"

There was a split seconds silence, before Dean took another deep breath. "What I am about to do is to help the Doctor. Not just for all he's done, but because he is my friend. And by doing this, I can help him rescue the foalnapped ponies". Another deep breath, "I am doing what needs to be done . . . so let's do it". Dean stood tall on his hind legs, looking into the phantom's eyes. He was afraid, that was evident, but what he held behind his fear was strong and unnoticed. A welling sensation of determination, building inside him. "Your right", Dean muttered.



The response didn't make sense, so the phantom allowed Dean to explain. "Filly or not you are, as you say, "Queen of the Forest". And your going to capture me either way. As one of your "princesses", aren't you?"

She didn't respond, curious to what Dean was on about. And he hadn't expected her to answer either, so he continued. "The Doctor, Aster, your going to go get them after dealing with me. Unless, of course, that other ghost is already there, isn't he?" The phantom didn't respond, so Dean assumed he was right. "I expected that. Oh well, I'm sure they can handle him on their own. But the two of you together? I can't really allow that, now can I?" 

Gritting his teeth, Dean forced himself to stay strong. "If it helps, I'll keep you distracted as long as I can. You need to capture me first before you can return. Otherwise you'll be forced to let me go, and risk losing one of your "princesses."

"You can't keep me distracted! I've already won!!!" the phantom shouted, spewing liquid.

Dean wiped his chin and took a deep breath, "no, not yet you haven't. Because if you really think that than there's three things you need to know. One: you may not have known because of my accent, but I'm actually a farmer's son. Raised on a farm until I turned eighteen. And in the past eighteen years I've been taught a lot about farming. Growing crops, handling different weather conditions, but one particular skill I remember, was handling a whip."

Dean released his grip on the top end of the whip, allowing it to uncoil, rolling out and dangling along his left hind leg. "Two! Whips aren't just simple tools. To the experienced, the skilled and trained, it is a weapon and a shield. For offense and defense, a complex, highly strategical weapon. And to the ponies who use such a weapon they are known as whip wielders. And it so happens that the greatest whip wielders in west Equestria, possibly the greatest in all of Equestria, are Dean and Donna Do: my mother and father. And they taught me everything they knew" 

"And three!" Dean pointed to the phantom, speaking in a tone of justification. "I would never hit a child, I swear. But you, if it saves those ponies that need help, than I am willing to make an exception. Therefor, if you truly are a child, than I apologize."

The phantom tilted her head, cocking a brow, "apologize? For what!?"

"Well . . . for this of course-"

At an astounding speed, Dean whips to the right, aiming for the nearby stone. He gave the whip a proper flick, and it "cracks", flashing forth and coiling around the stone. Pulling back, Dean retracts the whip, bringing the stone with it. As it returned Dean gave a facsimiled flick, and the end uncoils from the stone, releasing it. A third, fluid flick, and Dean had the whip recoiled, making it seem like the whip rolled up on its own. Simultaneously, the airborne stone cracked into the side of the phantom's skull, dazing her as she stumbled left from Dean.

With the phantom distracted, Dean took the opportunity to run, spinning around the tree and continuing his path.

Echoes of the phantom pierced the air, as she screeched her earsplitting scream. Not long after, Dean heard the phantom on his trail again. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see her a distance away. She wasn't as close as before, but with her speed it wouldn't take long for her to catch up. With that in mind Dean knew he needed his full concentration if he was going to pull this off. Therefore, to give him that extra brain power, Dean ceased his false accent, speaking in his natural western tongue. "Alright filly, here we go!"

Dean hastened his gallop, evading trees while the phantom slowly shortened the gap. Following in a blind rage, Dean could almost hear her growling. Paying her no mind, he focused simply on avoiding on coming trees as he formulated a new plan. 






The Doctor






"Doctor!" Aster shouted, entering into the room.

The main room of the basement had two door to the left, the thick one at the end and the thin one closest to the stairs. When Aster reentered the central room he found the thin door open, with someone rummaging inside. Sure enough when he checked, Aster found the Doctor behind a desk.

The room behind the thin door looked to be a decent sized office space. Metal filing cabinets on the far left corner, a large oak desk with drawers in the center, a single wooden chair behind the desk, a metal bin beside it, and a red rug beneath, splattered and stained in black. The room was coated in dust and cobwebs laid sprawled along the corners and cracks of the room. And with the stains, it appeared that the rug had odd lumps of fuzz growing on it. Closer inspection told Aster it was mold, and he reeled back in disgust.  Unlike the rest of the basement, this office was lit in normal candles. Illuminating the room in an eerie, yet pleasant white light, an odd change to the shroud rest of the house.

The Doctor seemed undisturbed at the state of the room, as he quickly pulled drawers out from their hinges, dumping their contents upon the desk before chucking it away in an empty corner. Files, scrolls, books, and an assortment of paper now piled on the desk, spilling over.

In his hurry the Doctor threw one of the desk drawers too hard, accidently smashing it to pieces against the wall and startling Aster. "Woah! What are you doing?"

With the last drawer out, the Doctor shuffled through the various papers and files laid out, responding grumpily, "he told you I'd be fine with it? Dean being the distraction?"

"Um, well-"

The Doctor found a thick text book on pony anatomy, and he threw it to the wall on his right in a huff. Leaning against the desk, he gave Aster an angry look. "Because I wouldn't! I would never be okay with that. If anything I should have been the distraction! He could have been looking through these papers for me and that would have been fine!"

"B- But what are you looking for?" Aster stuttered, cowering slightly under the Doctor's glare.

A small paused followed, and the Doctor gave a tired sigh. Having Aster look afraid of him, he knew he shouldn't be upset with the stallion. He was just being an old, grumpy stallion, who was worried about his friend. Of course that thought didn't help him feel justified for being angry at Aster, it wasn't his plan for Dean to be the distraction after all. 

Feeling a tinge sorry, the Doctor simmered down and said calmly, "Anything that could tell us what happened here. And why those ponies are unconscious like that."

His tone helped him relax, but Aster was still a tad unnerved under the Doctor's presence, "b- but would Dean have known what to look for?"

"I guess not. He's a smart kid so I think he might figure out where to start. But piecing everything together, he may find that to be a bit tricky."

That reminded Aster, "oh! Dean wanted me to tell you! In case he didn't have the chance to tell you himself. We found a clue upstairs!"

Looking curiously to Aster, the Doctor asked, "a clue? What'd you find?"

Aster explained everything that happened after he had found Dean, leaving out the bit about Dean wanting to pay the Doctor back, feeling that Dean should be the one to tell him that himself. Meanwhile, unaware of his presence, Aster told the Doctor of the label on the candy jar, while a third pony watched.

Afterwards, the Doctor rubbed a hoof to his chin, his brow furrowed in his puzzlement. "Hmmm, candy from Mane City? Now that is interesting."

"You think that'll help?" asked Aster.

"Its definitely a big piece to the puzzle, but where does it fit?" Continuing his search through the pile on the desk, the Doctor opened a folder, finding what he thought was interesting inside. "Henry's Homemade Baked Goods? That's not it".

He tossed the folder aside and reached for another while Aster watched, "what are you looking for?"

"This is clearly an office so I'm looking for anything with history in it. Paperwork, logs, a journal, something with info on what happened here. Hopefully, info that happened recently."

"What about a diary?" asked Aster.

"Perfect! That would have something". Just before searching another file, the Doctor stopped as he looked to Aster. "Why do you say that?"

"Because there's one sticking out of there", said Aster, pointing to the desk.

In his search, the Doctor had shuffled around the papers on the desk, exposing the top left corner of a diary beneath the pile without realizing it. He gasped and pulled the diary out, holding it high to see better in the light. "That's it!" he said excitedly, before taking a second glimpse at the folder he held. "A recipe on monkey bread. Good god, who do you think was fond of baking?" he asked, tossing it aside.

Aster shrugged, and the Doctor read the cover aloud.

It was a somewhat small pink book, with black bindings and letters written in cursive. 
"Henry Desban Macaroon's Diary"


Aster quickly stood next to the Doctor, as he showed Aster what the diary had to offer. "Is this a mare's diary?" asked Aster.

"Could be, but a name like that does give the benefit of the doubt", said the Doctor, flipping open the first page.

Diary Log One:

My wife bought me that dairy I wanted for my birthday. And with the kids in bed I thought now would be a good time to write my thoughts. I've been awfully stressed with my job at the castle, and Maya said writing out my thoughts would help so, here I am. I don't really know what to write, however. I guess I should start with what has me stressed.

I'm a medical scientist at the Mane City lab. The alchemist there experiment with various ingredients to create new and, sometimes, better potions. My job is to further study those potions and determine which would be suited best as medicine. The job pays very well, and I enjoy my studies in medical science, so I really do like my job. However, there's been a mishap recently that has my whole floor in disarray.

I never saw him myself, never knew what had happened until after the fact. But, we had a break in recently on my floor. Some tan stallion named, "Charlie Brown", I think. This incident was brought to the higher ups so all I know is what I've heard from rumors. And from small hints by the investigators. I guess that's for the best, I think this might be one of those cases where "knowing less" is better. Still, I can't help but ponder why it was only our floor that was breached. Floor D is a level down, which isn't far beneath the castle by no means, but there are still guards posted by stairways and floor entrances. And rumor has it that this "Charlie Brown" had been here for awhile unnoticed. Again, I never saw him myself so whatever he did to break in he must have known what he was doing and how to do it. Because one does not simply breach Mane City Castle without dire consequences. But that's only part of my curiosity. The other half I'm curious about is, if this intruder managed to breach the castle and do so for an extended period of time, than why not breach the lower levels? Floor D is the medical lab, medicine. Granted the lower floor you reach the more heavily guarded it becomes. Even still, why breach a medical lab when there are scientist researching "things" of far more interest down below. And I say "things" because I dare not write what research takes place on those lower floors. Even if this diary is meant to be private.

That was five days ago, and though I do feel this situation is best left out of my hooves, I still can't help but feel anxious on the whole ordeal. Everyday there are guards patrolling more prevalently on our floor, and it never fails to remind me that that intruder was here, in my vicinity, just a mere week ago. And I never saw him. 

To make matters worse the intruder blew up the alchemy lab in his escape, and to this day no pony has found him. Thank Celestia I was off that day. Reports state that over a dozen were injured, one of which was in critical condition. They have me working longer days trying to clean up that mess, which I won't complain. It just makes me feel uneasy, seeing that level of destruction. It couldn't have been caused by any of the potions we had on that floor, so that meant that he must have come prepared, just in case he had to make an escape. At least, so I've heard from the rumors.

But Mara said I shouldn't dwell too much into it. Give it another few days and I'm sure this whole fiasco will die down. Hopefully someone finds that "Charlie Brown."

Any who, that's primarily why I am stressed, and I guess it does help to express this on paper. Aside from work life at home has been great! I baked a delicious mud pie for my family, and I got to spend time today with Mara and the twins. We watched Silly and Putty play their favorite game, "Queen of the Forest"-

The Doctor stopped there, as he and Aster shared the same look, their eyes wide from the revelation before them.

"Do you think?" Aster was first to ask.

"I think it just might!" the Doctor said, showing an excited grin.

"But, why would a game have the same name as the ghost?"

"Don't know, but that's another piece to our puzzle", the Doctor flipped through the following pages, skimming though in search for logs of importance. "Wow, Henry's last name makes a lot more sense now. He still talks about his job every here and there, not sure if that's important but you never know. But he seems to really like baking! Talks about it in almost every log! "Today I baked a cake with my family", "testing out my new cookies", "my wife will love what I've done with this coconut cream pie", oh! Here's one on monkey bread! "Can't wait to try this new recipe on monkey bread!" Oh wow! I should try that."

"Have you found anything important?" asked Aster, grinning at the Doctor's excitement for monkey bread.

"No, not yet, just the usual "diary" stuff. He talks about his job, he knows a lot about baking, he has two kids, a son and daughter who are twins, and he talks about his wife a lot. He's definatly a family stallion."

"Is his wife a scientist too?"

"No, she's a school teacher. Oh! Actually, she's a professor! At Mane City University! Mrs. Macaroon? Hmm, I wonder if Dean knew her. Let's see . . . Henry doesn't say much about her job. He brings it up occasionally but-" the Doctor stopped suddenly as he flipped the page. His face fell serious, telling Aster that he found something.

"Doctor? What is it?" Aster asked.

" . . . I think I just found a diary log that happened the day Discord attacked."

"What!?"

Aster's eyes went wide, and the Doctor read aloud.

Diary Log Ninety One

First off, do not forget! We are out of carrots. I won't be able to make carrot cake for Lulu's birthday unless I make grocery shopping a priority! 

Now, that aside I actually have something important to say. I am very concerned with the activity around Mane City. Or, specifically, the lack of activity.

First it was the scientist. Everything was fine until last week, when many of the scientist stopped coming in. Normally one or two may stay home for their own reason but dozens from several floors? Alchemist, wizards, scientist, experimentalists, many had stop coming to the lab, and it brought attention to the higher ups. From what I've heard they sent guards to locate them, but they are yet to be found. Shortly after we found out it wasn't just in the labs. Most staff throughout the castle had stopped coming to work, and they haven't been located either. Neither in their homes or in the city. They've all just vanished.

And it doesn't end there. Lately I've noticed several things that do not seem right to me. There have been strange plants growing throughout the city, inanimate objects have been coming to life and are acting like animals, and there's an overcast of pink clouds swirling above the castle, it feels rather unsettling to see. And what makes it stranger is that I don't believe any of this happened yesterday. The pink clouds, the strange plants, those just . . . appeared. I am unsure what any of th-"

By the looks of it, Henry had, apparently, stopped writing mid sentence. He continues again at the bottom, several lines down. And the Doctor took notice of his sudden messy handwriting.

Every page, up until then, was written neat and in cursive. With curves and round, bubbly lines that were, if the Doctor was being honest, actually rather cute. However, the hand writing at the bottom was plain, scratchy, practically scribbled as if someone was writing in a hurry.

"Diary Log Ninety One [Continued]

Something is wrong! Something is very wrong! I was just attacked by Sherman Ollywood, an alchemist in my department. Only, he's not acting right. He knocked down my front door and had this- crazy look in his eyes. His fur was all colorful and he, well, he looked like a clown. I don't think it was a prank either, he actually attacked me! I mean, actually assaulting me in my own home! I managed to get away, but I'm still shaken.

I'm writing this in my panic cellar. I'm trying to calm down, but hiding with him up there doesn't help. Hopefully a guard comes by and stops him. I hope Mara and the kids don't come home soon."

There was another pause in the log, and Henry continues writing on the following page. His words even messier now, evidently written by a panic stricken pony.

"Something is happening above!!! I can hear ponies screaming out there! Things are crashing and I think I hear something on fire! And I hear somepony laughing out there. Its so loud! It hurts my head!

The trap door is locked so I think I'm safe, but I'm starting to panic! I hear ponies running through my house now! It sounds like chaos out there! I can't even describe it! There's so much screaming, and that laughing! It won't stop!

I don't think its safe to leave anytime soon. Could this be related to the missing staff at the castle? Is that why we were ordered to stay home today? Is that why Sherman attacked me? Is he related to what's happening out there!?! And, what even is happening!?! It won't stop the noise is getting louder and louder! Their screaming and laughing! Its killing my head! Where are the guards!?!

I'm scared! I know I'm safe here but I'm afraid of someone finding my trap door and breaking in. I know its hidden but I can't help but think someone might find me! No one knows where the trap door is hidden. No one except-

The writing on the page had stopped. Confused, the Doctor flipped the page, only to find a single sentence written.


"They're still out there."


"W- What does he mean by that?" asked Aster.

"His family", said the Doctor, casting a worried look to Aster. "He said they sent him home, meaning he wasn't at work that day. But he says that "he" is in the cellar, he doesn't mention his family being there. He also says he hopes they don't come home soon, because Sherman was in their house. I think they were outside somewhere when Discord first attacked."

"But, where were they?"

Wondering that himself, the Doctor quickly flipped through the diary, finding the next entry posted after several empty pages. The writing was sloppy, and he noticed these pages were considerably dirty in comparison to the previous pages. Granted the diary was somewhat filthy, with dirt smears and splatters of black milk and what the Doctor figured was smeared spots of fuzzy mold. Even still, the beginning pages of Henry's diary seemed rather clean, and well kept. After Discord's take over, not so much.

And when the Doctor read on, he felt his heart sink at the time span between the two logs.

"Diary Log Ninety Two

Its been two weeks since Discord defeated the princesses. I've lost my faith in the alicorns and truly believe we are on our own. I've lost my home, my job, Mane City, but worst of all, I lost Mara. I lost my wife-"

Aster gasped, "oh no!"

The Doctor kept reading, "-despite all, however, I still have my children, and thank goodness I managed to get them out safely.

With my loss I feel myself grieving, but I cannot allow that to cloud my thoughts. I need to stay strong, for Silly and Putty. 

Along with a few boxes of supplies we managed to bring out of Mane City: food, water, clothes, a few other necessities, and a crate we found at a toy shop (I think Silly and Putty will love what's inside), I have kept with me the diary Mara gave me. This diary, it is all I have left to remind me of her. This and the twins of course. I write in it now so that it may give me hope. That, and for its original purpose. I am very stressed these days.

I guess I should recap. I can feel my mind wander lately so doing that helps remind me of why we are here.

After I left the cellar to search for my family I found all of Mane City in disarray. Ponies were fleeing from the infected, and those cotton candy clouds above the castle rained a storm of chocolate milk. I couldn't see clear enough to see what else was happening at the time, there was too much chaos to take it all in. And speaking of chaos, that laughing I heard turned out to come from the one responsible for this, for everything. A spirit of chaos named Discord.

The infected, I should mention, are ponies that Discord has manipulated. I don't know how it works exactly, but it seems his chaos magic is able to control the ponies he possesses, making them do things they otherwise wouldn't. Primarily, he uses these ponies to brain wash more ponies into becoming his slave. They spread like a disease, so I've come to terms in accepting this as an infection. I honestly don't know what else it could be. It seems all of the slaves objectives is to make more slaves. I wouldn't necessarily call it "puppeteering", he doesn't control them. He does influence them in a way, so they act out without control. I saw it first hoof at the children's school. That's where I found my family, and it is also where they took Mara from me.

I had found others who hadn't been taken by the chaos magic, and they helped me search for my family. I am ever so grateful for them. And if they were still here, I would be in their debts. Chimi, Noodles, Adrian, Connor, Whisp, I don't know if you are dead or if Discord keeps you alive. But whatever the case, thank you. Thank you so much. 

Chispy and Monika were the only ones who made it out of Mane City, aside from my children and I. The last I saw them they were mourning over their fallen friends, a few miles outside the city. I asked if they wanted to join us, but they thought it would be best if we left our separate ways. I didn't argue, I know how they felt, losing someone so close to you. They said they would travel north to the Crystal Empire, said they had family there. I hope they made it safe. As for us, we traveled south. 

No pony but the researchers at the lab know of this place. A house pass the borders of Equestria, hidden by a lake in the unclaimed territory. It is a house used for research, mainly environmental research. Its new and wasn't meant to be used until next spring, so no pony should be there. It has a few bedrooms from what I recall. A kitchen, bathrooms, and a basement. From what I heard the basement has cages for securing dangerous creatures. The researchers were going to study and release the creatures, but I doubt those cages are going to be of much use now. There's also a small lab in there, installed with damage control security. Not sure why that was built, makes me wonder what research they had in mind for that lab. But with a door like that we could still use that lab as a safe room-"

"Damage control?" asked Aster.

"The room next to us with the steel door. That room is the lab Henry is talking about, and its sealed with a door strong enough to shield ponies against danger. Explosions, spells, or animals, as he mentioned the use with those cages."

"But what happened? Why are those ponies in there now?"

"Only one way to find out", the Doctor said, tapping on the diary.

He continued reading, "Putty and Silly are asleep now, so I'm taking this time to write in my diary. Not just because it helps keep me focused, but, I haven't slept very well these past few days. In fact, if I'm being honest, I think I am growing ill.

My mind has been clouded ever since Mane City, and its getting worse. I can feel myself drifting at times, spacing out more and more frequently. Even my children have noticed. And not just that but that laughing, Discord's phycotic laughter at Mane City, I can still hear it. Its like a migraine that won't go away!

I was attacked back at Mane City, and one of the infected forced their magic into me. I remember it vaguely. It was hot, and felt like a gel or a liquid, flowing inside my body. The more magic that penetrated me, the hotter I became. Until it turns cold, them my body started to feel numb, and I almost lost consciousness. I believe this is what it feels like to become infected.

Luckily, I was saved by Noodles, bless her soul. She kicked the phantom slave off me and I felt released from the magic. And I felt fine, shaken, but fine, for awhile. Soon after we left Mane City did I feel this fogginess in my brain. And I could be wrong, I hope I'm wrong, it frightens me to think I'm not. But, I fear that something happened to me when I was attacked. When he forced his magic into me, I think some of it lingered inside me.

I cannot write any longer, I must try and sleep. We need to awake early if we are to make it to the lake house tomorrow.

Mara, if you can hear me, I love you."

"Sniff!"

The Doctor looked to Aster, who was wiping his teary eyes. "T- That's so sad!" said Aster.

The gears in the Doctor's mind were turning. Everything he had read, comparing it to everything he had discovered tonight. Putting in the pieces, he exclaimed, "oh! That makes sense!"

"Sniff! W- What does?" asked Aster.

"Hang on", said the Doctor, flipping through the pages. He wanted to find out more before he could summarize. Finding a page he found important, the Doctor read aloud.

"Diary Log One Hundred One Two

Putty and Silly have grown worse, and I have yet to figure out why. Meanwhile the preparations for the lab are complete. I hope I do not have to resort to that, but if I fail, I fear I have no other choice.

I have not yet found the cure for Silly and Putty. No matter how hard I try I cannot find ways to fight back against this "infection". I still do not know how Putty and Silly came to be infected in the first place.

They began showing signs of the infection later than I did. I am unsure why, but in the time they have shown these signs it is obvious that their conditions are worsening quicker than my own.

The infection, it seems, affects the mind and psyche, before altering the body physically. During certain episodes of the infection I have noticed that Putty and Silly's bodies can alter. Its subtle and easy to miss at times. However, the more sever episodes do leave the changes permanent, whereas the weaker ones revert the body to its original form. Both of the twins are loosing fur, and I think Silly is starting to turn blue. I've also noticed their saliva has turned black, something I cannot even fathom what it means.

As for their psyche, Putty and Silly are starting to falter. With each passing day Silly is becoming more and more energetic, and often I find it difficult to so much as ask her to settle down. She's shouting and jumping, which seems normal for a child. Only, she never appears to grow tired. Its as if the infection is providing endless amounts of energy to her cardiovascular system. Perhaps it has healing abilities? Restoring the lost energy in her lungs and heart that prevent her from ever feeling fatigue? That would explain her lack of pain sensitivity. As with her increase in energy she tends to play rough. And in these pass few days I have seen her fall from trees taller than this house, and walk away only feeling angry. On a side note I have noticed she has become increasingly faster. Whether by infection or not I can't help but feel somewhat proud at her speed. Though when she runs through the walls it does tend to get difficult repairing it with what little we have.

And Putty, he seems to be turning the opposite route. His demeanor has shifted from his "go lucky" happy personality, to this stoic, rock face, emotionless colt. He finds little excitement in anything. Or, so it seems to me. He claims he's still enjoying himself, but I never see it. He hardly does his own thing anymore. Every time I check on them I see Putty playing along with his sister, seeming more invested in keeping his sister happy than giving himself a good time. I guess that ties in with his original personality. Putty was always caring for his sister, but I remember that he still found time to keep himself happy. Now, that doesn't seem to be the case. And those two are always playing that same game of theirs, that "Queen of the Forest" game. They pretend to be a King and Queen of the Forest, and they search for ponies in their forest to make them "princesses". Its rather adorable, though distracting whenever they try to get Mike involved-"

"Mike? Who's Mike?" asked Aster.

Quickly, the Doctor skimmed through previous pages to find out. "Uh, oh! It says here he's a traveler. He came to this house one night and asked for food. Henry instead offered him to stay and help him with his experiments. So he did, and he basically became his lab assistant after, to help Henry find the cure for the chaos magic. Only, there's this bit here."

"I have told Mike to cut his hair a hundred times now but he refuses. I don't know why he keeps it that way, those curls are going to get us both killed. I swear if I catch his hair dipping in my potions again I will lose it!"

Aster seemed confused, "w- what was important about that?"

"Henry said Mike had curls, curly hair."

"And?" 

"Back in the cages, that orange stallion. I think that's Mike", the Doctor explained.

Aster gasped, "w- what!? B- But Mike was helping Henry, wasn't he?"

"From what it says here, yeah."

"B- But why would he be in there?"

"Don't know, let's find out", said the Doctor, flipping back to his page and skipping a few paragraphs.

"None of the tests have worked. Each potion after the next have failed in curing us from the chaos infection. I fear it is only a matter of time before it consumes us.

But I mustn't give up, my children's conditions are worse than mine. If I cannot succeed in finding a cure I will lose them soon, as I did Mara. And then, I will soon lose myself.

I am scared, Mara. I am so scared of losing my children. I cannot lose them too. I have not stopped thinking of you ever since Mane City. I wish you were here, to help me-

I can't think right now, I'm losing my focus again. 

I will write again later. Its becoming difficult to update my diary. But I feel that it helps."

The Doctor flipped through a few pages, skimming the following entries. "Henry doesn't write very much after that. Each entry is smaller than the last. And his hoofwriting is worsening."

"That's bad, right?" asked Aster.

"Yes, because it means the chaos magic is taking over him. He's losing his mind and- oh. Look at this-" The Doctor showed Aster the next diary log.

The handwriting was a mess, several words were misspelled, and the following pages appeared blotted with small, black, droplets.

"Didary Log Fortee Wone Fortee Fortee Forforo

Mara    Mara    Mara  M ara     Mara-

The potions aren't working Mara, they are all not Mara their not working Mara not working.

I cont breath i don't think im- i don't know where i am im- i cant i c- 

Office- the office, I nead focUS!! i am in the office. Mara, oh Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara Mara- Putyyyy is gone. AND SILLLS IS GONE TOO!!! I doent no wher they ar. I cont find them. I cont help any more. I cont brath i cant sleeeep i cant think i cantbreath i can slepp i cant- i cant- i cants



Laughing, all I hear is laughing. He won't stop laughing at me. And by thy right I speaketh to the heavens




GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!



Mike is all i have left, hes promise to watch our childrin. He knows where they are. I trust him. 

MaraMaraMaraMaraMaraMaramARAmaramaramaramaramaramaramaramaramaramara-

Mara, Mara, Mara

I cannot give up. I must save them."

The Doctor flipped the page, finding the following pages scribbles with random words.

"He's in my head". "Mara, Mara, Mara, Mara". "He will cure them now". "Endless laughter". Another failure". "Heal them, cure them, heal them, cure them". "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!". "DON'T GIVE UP!!!" "FAILURE, FAILURE, FAILURE, FAILURE!!!" "DON'T GIVE UP!!!"

The Doctor flipped to the final page, with a single message scrawled in the center.


Save Them
0174
 

The Doctor played it through in his head, from start to finish. The events that transpired during Discord's take over, to the time Henry spent here in the forest. The ponies in the cages, the two ghosts, the Queen of the Forest.

"The doctor has fallen, the children have fallen. Long live the king, long live the queen", the Doctor thought aloud. He looked to Aster, who returned an uneasy expression. "It all makes sense now!"

"What? W- Why the ghosts are foulnapping ponies?" asked Aster.

"No, well yes, but not just that! Its not just why those ponies have been foalnapped, but also who they were foalnapped by!"

"You mean the ghosts? But the diary didn't say anything about them-"

"No, Aster! Those ghosts are not ghosts! Weren't you paying attention to the dairy?"

"I did, but nothing made sense at the end! It was nothing but a bunch of scribbles."

"But that's were the answers are! Those "scribbles" explain what happened at the end, when Henry lost to the chaos magic!

"Look, we know Henry is a family stallion from the beginning of his dairy. The family consists of him, his wife, and his twin children, a colt and a filly. Now, all night we have been attacked by two ghosts. A mare and a stallion. Now, if we truly are under attack by "ghosts", than why only two? Where's the rest of the family?"

"Dean did mention something similar", Aster stated.

"And for a good reason. The mother isn't here! Henry says he lost her back in Mane City, so she might still be there as we speak. But that's just one family member. If we can assume those two ghosts are part of the family, than that leaves one missing. So, where is he?"

"Oh, I, um, I'm not sure. M- Maybe in one of those cages?" Aster guessed.

"Good guess, but nope. In those cages we have Larkspur, Mike, and two strangers. Mike was the first to be captured and Larkspur was most recent. The other two happened sometime in between. And I believe, if were putting the pieces in properly, Mike was captured shortly after Henry lost himself."

"I don't understand. Henry and his twins all had chaos magic. It said in the diary that the children were being affected by the chaos magic quicker than he was. From what your saying, does that mean that Putty and Silly foalnapped Mike?"

"Yes, that's exactly what that means."

"B- But that would mean Putty and Silly are the ghosts!"

"Yes, yes it does."

"B- But why would they do that after Henry lost himself? Why didn't they do anything beforehoof?" asked Aster.

The Doctor thought for a moment, piecing it together, before it made sense. "Because he's their father."

"What?"

"Starting from the beginning, Henry and his family were in Mane City during Discord's attack. They escaped but were attacked by, as he describes them, "the infected", during their time in Mane City. After they escaped they made their way here, to this lake house. However, along the way Henry notices his children exhibiting odd and strange behavior that is similar to the effects that he has. And soon after confirms that he and his children are "infected" by chaos magic. After arriving at the here, Henry uses the lab in the basement to find a cure for the chaos magic. Soon Mike comes along and is offered a place to stay and shortly after the children lose themselves to chaos magic. Mike isn't taken prisoner until after Henry loses himself to the chaos magic. An unknown time later those other ponies come along and are foalnapped, and even more unknown time later you and Larkspur come along and he is foalnapped. Now, does that sound about right?"

"I- I think so-"

"Wrong!" the Doctor said loudly, startling Aster. "One detail, one crucial, incredibly important detail is wrong with that. And I'll tell you exactly what that is!"

The Doctor pointed to the diary, explaining with a grin. "As Henry says in his diary, he offers Mike shelter in this very house! Mike is described as a wonderer, not a beggar or homeless pony, but a wonderer! And I can tell you from experience, wonderers travel with no destination in mind. If he did, Henry would have described him as a "traveler". And I know that because, well, obviously the two must've talked. And describing Mike as a wanderer is quite specific. With that in mind, wanderers, well, wander with no destination. So, most of the time we travel without knowing exactly where we are going. Therefor, we have no idea when the next stop for food or shelter will be. And if Mike was wondering these forests hungry, and he came across this place, well he must've considered himself lucky. However, it says he only asked for food and instead is offered shelter. And reading on, Mike takes up the offer and stays for awhile. Mike only wanted food, and is offered more than that. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Mike and Henry develops a friendship from this. Because if I were in Mikes shoes I know that I would feel gratitude towards Henry. And perhaps, maybe he wanted to return the favor in a way."

"Return the favor? How so?" asked Aster.

"Henry says it one time, in one sentence". The Doctor flipped to the page and read aloud, "Mike is all i have left, hes promise to watch our childrin. He knows where they are. I trust him". He closed the diary, "Mike is all I have left". Mike was the last one standing without chaos magic. He, out of the four of them, was the only one who wasn't "infected". And Henry says that Mike, "promises to watch our children", and, "he knows where they are", that's because Mike truly does know where the children are! They never left! Henry says he lost his children and that he doesn't know where they are, but that's not exactly it! You see, the children are losing themselves to chaos magic the same time Henry is. So, once the children have lost themselves entirely, Henry must have been not too far behind. And at that point, Henry must have not been able to recognize his own children anymore. The chaos magic had altered them too much, and with his own mind dwindling away he must have thought his children were gone. But they weren't, they were still here in this house! Because Mike, the only one not infected, knew who those children were despite their changes. And he promised to watch over them while he was gone."

"So, why is Mike in the cage than?" asked Aster.

"Because after Henry was gone, the kids no longer had a father holding them back. And of course, Mike was a new friend. Despite his promise the children could hardly consider him family. So, treating a stranger as a stranger, they foalnapped Mike and locked him in the cage. Because their father was no longer there to stop them."

"But why foalnap him?"

"To make him a princess of course."

"W- What?"

"Discord's magic changes ponies, corrupts them and misshapens them. Altering their minds, their bodies, but their souls are still in there. And altered or not, those children are still children. They're simply playing a game! That's what all of this is! A game! The same game Henry mentions in his dairy! The King and Queen of the Forest, searching for travelers to turn into princesses!" 

The Doctor points to the ceiling, "those ghosts up their are Putty and Silly! And their playing a game! And they don't know that its wrong! Because the chaos magic has corrupted their minds! And they truly believe that everypony that comes into this forest is part of their game! Mike was the first one to become a princess! And since the diary stops without mentioning the others, I think it safe to assume the others were just as unfortunate as you and Larkspur. Whether they were camping like you two or wandering like Mike, the results were the same. Silly or Putty discovers them, foulnaps them, then makes them "princesses". Infecting them with chaos magic as well."

Aster gasped, "so- so Larkspur is infected!"

"No, no he's not."

"B- but you said-"

"No, what I said was right! Its what Henry said in his diary that's wrong!"

"W- What is it?"

"W- What is it? Come now Aster, don't you know how magic works?"

"I- I don't understand-"

"Its the infection! The infection, Aster! Henry has been trying to cure a "chaos infection" this whole time! Making potions and treating this like some sort of plague! But that's the problem! The one crucial, important detail that Henry had wrong! That is why Henry was never able to find a cure! There's no such thing as a "chaos infection!"






Dean






"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" the phantom screamed furiously. Galloping and plowing through bushes, stomping as she ran and digging up bits of the ground, splattering dirt in her wake. 

Dean made a hop over a bush and a turn left, and the phantom followed. The bush was crushed and ripped from its roots, pushed aside as she ran through, following Dean's turn, and another as Dean turned right. He ran in a zigzag for a moment, before glancing over his shoulder. The gap was around eight feet, he reckoned. He had maintained a good distance so far, but it was becoming overwhelming. His body, not used to physical tasks, had become tired quickly. His lungs were heaving and sore, his heart was pounding, and the strenuous running for this long had made him dizzy. Yet he remained level headed, maintaining a level of tolerance to withstand his fatigue as he focused solely on a plan. 

He was tired and he couldn't run for much longer, so a chance to rest would be good now. How he would find that chance, he needed an opportunity where the phantom would lose sight of him. He will hide and she will find him, and he surely wouldn't have long before she did, but he figured a small breather would be better than to continue running. How exactly would he lose her trail on him? He had an idea, involving a somewhat advance whip maneuver. One that ponies older than him have had trouble doing, but being the child of two master whip wielders he had managed to be adept at the maneuver at a surprisingly young age. Adept, not a master, like his parents. 

That, and he hadn't so much as held a whip in a little over a year. Out of practice and less experienced, it was concerning to Dean if he could even manage it. Than again, he figured he wouldn't know unless he tried. And with his rising fatigue he found it to be a struggle thinking of an alternative option. He needed to rest, he needed that breather, or he would collapse soon from exhaustion. 

Deciding it was his best option, he took a deep breath, muttering, "now or never." 

Quickly, Dean searched the ground several feet ahead for two things: a large bush and the largest objects possible; rocks, sticks, anything. Luckily, it didn't take long to find both. Coming up close by a bush, Dean spotted what was either a large stick or a small branch. He didn't know and he didn't care, it was perfect. Bringing his right leg back and galloping on three's, Dean positioned the whip and struck it forth. Throwing his leg in a downward motion and striking the whip towards the branch. Cracking loudly, the whip latched around the branch perfectly. He then pulled the whip back hard, swinging it behind him while bringing the branch with it, held in the whips grasp. Dean took a glimpse to better aim at the phantom, and he was spot on. Altering his angle just slightly to allow the whip, and the branch, to swerve to his left.

The phantom wasn't dead center, she chased him inches on his left side. With the proper angle, the whip swerved back, and like a swinging punch, the branch hit the phantom above her left eye. Enough so to deter her off course, and left her dazed for a moment. 

A second after, looking back to the bush, Dean hopped over, pulling back and retracting his whip mid-leap. He landed as hard as he could, dragging slightly and bringing up as much dirt as he could, then he continued running. The phantom, swerving around the bush, returned to her course behind Dean.

Dean's attack lingered with her cheek stinging, and she had to shake her head to focus her dizzied sight. It infuriated her, a pony like this attacking a queen such as her. It was barbaric, it was a crime, it was not how to play tag. Hurting, angry, the phantom bellowed an ear splitting screech. One Dean had heard several times tonight, and it never ceased to make his ears sore.

The echoes of her scream lasted a good while, as Dean swerved around a thick tree.

The phantom followed, chasing around the tree. However, in her anger and the size of the tree, she hadn't notice where Dean had actually ran to. 

Dean, since the chase began, had made zig-zag patterns; making a turn, running forth, making the opposite turn, and repeating. She had expected this to be no different. But all of a sudden, the phantom followed with Dean's turn, only to find him not there.

Stomping hooves deep into dirt, dragging to stop herself, the phantom search frantically for Dean. It took her a second to realize that, instead of continuing forward, Dean had actually swerved around the tree in a complete one eighty. Now, Dean was galloping back in the direction they had come from, returning to the bush he just hopped over. Having missed him by only a second increased the gap exponentially, extending well over two dozen yards. It angered her, Dean passing her like that, but it was little compared to what Dean did next.

He ran to the bush, in the very spot he land, and stopped. Heaving hard, Dean started digging, bringing up the soft dirt into a pile beside him. And she notice Dean glancing up to her as he dug, keeping check on her. His brows furrowed and jaw clenched, appearing like he was waiting for her to come. 

She hadn't the faintest idea what Dean was doing, but with him looking at her that way, she saw it as a taunt. A taunt and a threat. In her mind Dean was asking for her to approach, he was going to do something. To humiliate the queen and make her night worse. She wasn't going to have it.

She was absolutely boiling when she galloped, charging forward hard enough to blast two bucket loads of dirt in her wake. 

This colt, this stupid colt, he had made her angry all night. And the longer she chased him the angrier she became. She wanted the chase to end right this very moment. Angry, impatient, and blinded because of it, and little did she know that's just what Dean wanted.

Hitting her with that branch was only part of his plan. He knew it wouldn't do much, remembering those explosions earlier that she was able to walk off. But he had to upset her more than she already was. She was angry, but that wasn't enough. He needed her boiling, blinded in rage. And with the tamper she has shown tonight, Dean knew it wouldn't take much to manage that. He knew that stress or anger could affect ones concentration, and he had seen a blind rage first hand before, back at Mane City.

It was a funny memory, walking along the sidewalk to the bakery. It was warm and bright, and on a Sunday, the day Mr. and Mrs. Lemon baked fresh batches of lemon meringue. Dean was on his way to buy one when he heard a dispute between two ponies, loud enough to draw a crowd.

He didn't know what the dispute was about nor how it started, but he arrived just in time to see how it ended.

Two stallion, one yellow with neat green hair and a swirly tail; the other gray, a balding brown mane, wearing a green tie. And he looked quite tired, evident by the bags under his eyes. 

Dean never heard much from the yellow stallion, but the gray stallion, in a blind rage, shouted something obscene to the yellow stallion. A vulgar and inappropriate insult, alluring a simultaneous gasp from the crowd and Dean himself. And he had to keep himself from laughing. Not at the insult, but at the two Mane City guards who stood next to him, hearing everything the gray stallion had said.  

From where they stood, they were clearly in the gray stallion's point of view. And if he hadn't been in a rage, he would have noticed them. The guards detained him for public disturbance and Dean left happy that the gray stallion received his comeuppance.    

And Dean figured if that stallion didn't notice guards standing in plain sight because he was too angry, what if the ghost could possibly lose him because she was too angry?

He took a chance, and it worked. With her enraged he was able to avoid her around the tree and return to the spot of dirt he had landed in. Extending the gap far enough to allow him the time to do what he had planned. He needed to return here, it was the reason he had to hop over a bush.

The forest was humid and practically dripping with moister. Having galloped all this time Dean noticed that the majority, if not all of the dirt, had felt quite damp. He could feel the ground push in with each step he took, and digging it up was all to easy. Which is why he had to hop, landing on the ground with all his might and intentionally dragging to dig out as much dirt as possible. He didn't know how much time he had to return and continue digging, so he want to dig out the most he could in one hop. 

With a growing pile of wet dirt beside him, the whip in his hoof, and the charging, enraged phantom, Dean was ready for his maneuver. And as expected, she was charging blindly, most likely too angry to care what Dean is up too. She was charging, and he only had seconds to stand on two and do it.


The Rusty Cyclone


Dean twirled the whip horizontally in a fast circular motion, looping it around the pile of dirt. As Dean increased the whips acceleration, bits of dirt had begun to lift, carried by the air formed from the whips speed. As it lifted, it whirled about counter clockwise, forming what looked like a tiny tornado. The faster and longer he spun, the larger it grew, picking up more and more of that pile of dirt. And as he expected, it was difficult. This maneuver required precise balance, a perfect repeat in movements, as well as a hint of his own earth pony magic, allowing the dirt to follow more smoothly along his whip. 

The phantom, not caring about the dirt, had galloped and lunged forward, jumping sprawled in the air like a tiger pouncing on its pray.

And the timing couldn't be more perfect. With the phantom in mid-leap, and the dirt devil big enough, Dean gave the whip a quick and small flick, careful to not over or under do it. Too hard and the dirt would splatter, too weak and he would lose his hold. He managed it, and the whip followed the maneuver, just the way he remembered it to.

With a small flick, Dean was able to adjust the direction of his swirl without losing his motion. The whip initially facing the ground, around the pile, now darted upwards, facing the swirling dirt spiral directly at the phantom. 

And there it was, the Rusty Cyclone. A maneuver that allowed an earth pony to pick up loose dirt using only the air that spiraled within the boundaries of a whirling whip. But the maneuver wouldn't be finished unless the wielder successfully lifted the dirt and spiraled the cyclone in a direction of their choosing, as Dean managed to now. 

This maneuver, he never imagined he had to use it for self defense. When he was taught he remembered this maneuver being used in shows and rodeos, and generally, it was used for fun. Watching ponies created their own vertical tornadoes using their whips, it was a magical experience. He didn't know it could be used for self defense until his father told him at a fair when he was six. 

If done successfully, the cyclone of dirt would surround the pony that has been caught. The wind speed would spiral the dirt fast enough to harm the pony inside the cyclone, slowing them down and even potentially pushing them back. Not only that, but the spiraling dirt would also irritate the enemy's eyes and would make the air unbreathable. The cyclone wouldn't last long because the pony inside would disrupt the air flow, canceling the wind speed seconds after they entered and releasing all of the dirt within the wielder's hold. But that was perfectly fine.

As Dean remembered from his lessons, this maneuver isn't for offense, its for defense. A maneuver that would allow the defender to subdue the attacker long enough for the defender to either escape, or detain. Solely a defensive maneuver, not intended for lasting harm or serious injuries. Perhaps that's why Dean was able to remember this particular maneuver. Thinking back, he was never interested in the maneuvers that kill. It felt wrong to use those, even if he was taught how to.

The phantom was caught, entering dead center into the spiral in her leap. The sudden assault of dirt blinded and choked her, disrupting her attack and deterring her center of balance. Covering her eyes and screaming, the phantom fell on her belly hard, dragging face first into the bush behind Dean. 

Dean had to step out of the way as she landed, which made him lose his concentration, thus canceling the Rusty Cyclone. The dirt fell and the whip's wind eradicated instantaneously the moment the cyclone was canceled. Dean looked to the phantom, writhing, screaming, and coughing with her head in the bush, before he turned away and galloped off.

Now was his chance and he didn't want to ruin it. First he ran just to make a distance, then he zigzagged again, keeping his path as complex as possible to make it difficult for her to find him. Finally, he ran in search of a good place to hide. However, there was a small problem.

He knew that with the ground as soft as it was he was leaving hoof prints behind. His complex path would help, but not if he left a trail right towards him. He was hoping to find a dry spot of land. Even a little dryer than the majority of the land, so that he could find a place to hide while leaving as little marks as possible. 

But shortly, he had a better idea. It came to him as he made a glance up to the trees. He had to take a glance every few seconds, to make sure he didn't collide into any trees. As he did a thought came to him suddenly. Running through the forest reminded Dean of the swamp that he and the Doctor galloped through just two days ago, and he was reminded of the vines that attacked him. The vines that wrapped the trees and slithered through the swamp like snakes. But this thought brought on another memory, an older one. 

He remembered about a book his parents read to him in bed when he was five. A book with monkeys swinging on vines. He liked the monkeys and remembered pretending to be one the days that followed. His parents found it adorable and played along. 

One day his father, pretending to be a monkey as well, took out his whip and brought Dean to the woods, over the mountain miles from Dodge Junction. His father climbed a tall tree, bringing Dean along with him as he held onto his back. And at the top, with Dean holding tightly to his father, his father latched his whip to the closet tree, wrapping it around the branch. Once he had a firm grip, he counted to three, before he jumped off the branch, bringing Dean along with him.

Dean screamed, and then he laughed, as he and his father swung like monkeys. His skillful father swung the two of them downwards and up. And as the two rose high enough, Dean's father would release his hold on the branch and crack his whip to another tree, one that was further away. He would catch a new branch and they would swing from there. And his father would repeat the process. Like monkeys in a jungle swinging from one vine to the next.

It wasn't until he was ten that his father taught him how to Whip Swing properly. And luckily for him this maneuver was easier. All it required was precision, experience in latching, a good whip, and sheer upper body strength. Though he lacked strength, and he was sure this toy whip could hardly hold his weight, his precision and latching whips was no issue for him.

Making his plan, Dean ran in a straight line for awhile, finding a path clear of tree for the next three dozen yards. He stomped as he ran, wanting his marks to really show at this part. Then, six yards away before the next tree, where he would need to swerve to avoid it, Dean spotted a nice, strong tree to his left, five feet away. He wanted a further tree, but this toy whip was made for the size of a child, and extended six feet max. 

It was humorous how small it was, in comparison to his father's whip at home, ranging a solid thirty feet. Then again, whips that size are usually only made for whip wielders, he couldn't imagine those types of whips being made for common barnyard chores. Not to mention how incredibly heavy they were. The longer the whip the heavier it was, and was generally made of thicker, stronger material, instead of the usual wool, rope, and wood mix strings. So a puny, rubber whip this size wasn't actually that bad for a child. He had made do with it so far.

He found the tree, and made his shot. Cracking the whip towards the targeted branch and latching it perfectly. He had to make quite the jump to reach it, but he managed. A slight tug told him he had it locked, and he managed to swing along the tree. Struggling as the whip carried him from the path, and around to the back of the tree. 

Just before he was going to land, he heard something "snap" and felt the latch on the branch suddenly give way. He fell to the ground hard and braced himself, thinking that his weight was too much for the branch and it broke, and was about to fall. Only it didn't, and a moment later Dean looked up and gasped. 

It wasn't the branch that couldn't withstand his weight, it was the whip. A toy rubber whip wasn't made for maneuvers such as this, and of course it broke. Snapped about half way, with the top half still latched around the tree, hanging there like the vines in that swamp.

Breath heavily, Dean laid down, resting behind the tree and catching his breath. As he did, Dean looked to how much whip he had left. 

The thicker, bottom half was still there, but it was badly damaged. There was only two feet of whip, scratched, dented, and torn through the rubber. He assumed it must have become like this after the Rusty Cyclone. Worst of all, part of the whip was bent, and stretching out of the handle. A small block of wood three inches thick and four inches long held the whip and the handle together. One half of the block inside the whip, and the other half inside the handle. That was to keep the base straight, the outer rim of the whip was held by four pairs of twin strings. Now, after the maneuvers, the strings had become loose, and some were ripped or missing entirely. A few strings remained, barely keeping the handle and whip together. And the whip had been pulled out slightly, exposing the block within a small sliver.

He closed his eyes to rest and listened for the phantom. He wasn't sure what he would do without the whip, but he knew it wouldn't last much longer. One more attack, he reckoned, that's all it would take. After that, maybe haul tail back to the house beside the lake? That is, if he could even find it. He was too tired to even guess where he was at the moment.

It lasted longer than he had expected. A good five minutes he had rested, before he heard heavy hoof steps appearing from the distance. They stomped louder, becoming more apparent the closer she was. Dean hushed his breathing to keep silent, not daring to take a peek at her. 

She approached from Dean's previous path, following his hoofsteps. And as she stopped at the end of his trail, Dean knew his plan had worked.

The phantom looked puzzled, searching about before stomping her hoof, hard enough for Dean to feel the ground rumble. "Nnnnooooo!!!" the phantom growled. She stomped her hooves repetitively with each consecutive shouted, "no, no, no, no, no, noooo!!!" 

There was a pause as Dean waited in anticipation, hearing only the phantom breathing furiously. After a moment, the phantom "huffed" loudly, and walked away stomping her hooves. Reminiscent of the tempered child that she was.

Dean waited and listened as the phantom's hard steppes faded. Once she was gone, Dean took a sigh of relief. His plan had worked better than he thought. By now she was searching for him, and he had his hooves crossed, hoping that his hiding place wouldn't be the first spot she looked. Luckily it wasn't, and Dean was relieved, now that he had a few extra minutes to rest, and to figure what his next plan was.

He had been out for a while. Long enough, he figured, for the Doctor to have rescued the foalnapped ponies. The second phantom was probably already there, so he was sure they were already dealing with him. If he returned now and found that this was the case, he could help them escape from the second phantom and bring the foalnapped ponies back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Either that, or they had already left to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, and he would have to find it himself. But that shouldn't be the case, the Doctor should know that he doesn't know where it is. The Doctor wouldn't leave him without him knowing where to go, right? Dean assumed so, still, with the second phantom attacking them they might not have the option of waiting for him. 

He knew the Doctor could handle the second phantom, so it was only a matter of getting back in time before they left without him. Thankfully, Dean made sure to keep a general idea on how to return.

With his break Dean found it easier to think properly, and figure how to retrace his path. Following his hoofsteps, he figured he might be able to return to the bush where he performed the Rusty Cyclone. That would be a good place to use for a checkpoint. From there, if he had left hoof prints prior to the Rusty Cyclone, it would only be a matter of following those prints as far back as possible. If he was lucky it would lead him all the way back to the lake house. If not, and he found himself lost, he could always try to find the river. As he remembered, following the river would lead to the lake, thus returning him to the lake house. And if that were the case, he could only hope that he doesn't follow the wrong direction and end up at the wrong lake.

Dean took a deep breath before standing to his hooves. Peering around the tree, he checked for the phantom. When she was nowhere in sight, Dean hopped out of his hiding spot, back onto the path he ran on, and followed his hoof prints backwards. He walked quickly, but kept his pace to not burn the energy he just recovered.

Five minutes later, Dean returned to an area that was familiar, and was happy to see a bush with a smile pile of dirt in front of it. He guessed his cyclone didn't pick up all of the dirt, he wasn't surprised. Master wielders can pick up entire piles ten times the size he used, and he was only adept. Still, he was quite impressed with himself. Whatever dirt he did manage to pick up and blast at the phantom had splattered about all over the ground, spreading out ten feet in front of the pile. Dean noticed the loose dirt that was spread from his cyclone, simply because he was the one who spread it. Had any other pony stumbled here, with the darkness, the fog, and that it was just loose dirt on a ground of grass and dirt, they wouldn't have known that something transpired here. Not that he expected anyone to be out here at all. He could hardly believe that even he was out here, and yet, here he was.

Tired, hungry, fatigued, sore muscles, hungry, his lungs hurt, hungry, and the adrenaline was wearing off, so his ailments felt worse, and he was beginning to feel just how cold it was outside. And with his fur plastered in sweat and dirt, the gentle, humid breeze shivered Dean, giving him goosebumps. Also, he was hungry. Really, really, hungry. 

Cinnamon and apple oatmeal sounded brilliant, with a side of hot cider and gram crackers. Or, perhaps a fresh banana and cashew loaf, drizzled in cinnamon honey, served with a side of buttermilk and spiced mango slices. Or, caramelized oven roasted apple skins, with sweet potato muffins and lemon pudding. Oh! No, cereal! That's what he wanted. A nice big bowl of Sun Flakes. Wheat flakes mixed with raisins and clusters of oats, washed down with milk, sweetened by the cereal and fruit. Yes, that sounded delicious. So, so delicious.

Dean shook his head, popping the images of food out of his mind. He had gotten distracted and noticed how far he had walked. Four dozen yards past the bush, as he looked down and saw two sets of hoofprints that he was following. He realized he must have been following the trail subconsciously, while in his short day dream of food.

The hoof prints were visible enough for Dean to follow for awhile, he was glad that was the case. Now he didn't need to puzzle his way back to the house.

It didn't take too long for Dean to walk a good distance from there. It certainly felt that way, with him peering over his shoulder frequently, fearing the phantom may just pop out at anytime. To Dean it felt like an hour, when it actually took him ten minutes to travel this far. 

At this point his eyes had grown heavy, and he allowed his head to droop every so often. He kept his focus on the trail, but he also allowed his eyes to rest here and there as well. He knew he shouldn't, that he needed to focus on the trail and the phantom. But he was tired and desperately wanted to rest. So he allowed himself short spans of seconds to allow his eyes to, at the very least, close and shield themselves from the brisk breeze. 

He had abused his body enough today, straining it through perilous tasks that his body had never done before. Back at Mane City, before Discord, before the Doctor, Dean would have been asleep right now. Sleeping until six to awake for another day of school, or over sleeping from studying too late at night and scrambling to arrive at the university on time the following morning. He would learn from class to class, and eat his meals, then go home to study, and study, and get a snack, then study, eat dinner, study, go to bed, debate whether he should rest or continue studying, then most likely study some more.   

A routine he never thought twice about. Not because he enjoyed this way of living, and he didn't dislike it either. He just never thought of any other way to live before. Grow up, go to college, get a job, live your life, so on and so forth. He never imagined any alternative style of living other than studying in the safety of Mane City. He wanted to be an astronomer after all, how else could he achieve that without frequent study?

Three square meals a day, guards always on patrol to protect, a rich and prosperous city practically void of crime, it was a wonderful place to live. He never felt threatened, he was always fed, and the most exercise he had to do was on those days where he was running late, galloping from home to class. The most stress he ever really felt was the posh rich ponies insulting him for his accent, or that he wasn't as wealthy as the majority of the city. School was never an issue. It wasn't the best, but he found studying to be quite enjoyable. In short, up until now, Dean's life had been relaxing, aside from the bullies from his adolescent years. He never had to flee and fight for his life. He wouldn't be shivering and tired in a forest, or risking his life for other ponies. Yet here he was, doing just that. Which brought up the question he had been asking himself more and more recently. What had changed? What made him want to do this, knowing he had never done it before? Of course, part of him already knew why. The Doctor.

Dean opened his eyes to check on the trail. They were still there, and he was still on track. So he looked up from the path, hoping to see how much further he had. 

He had done this a few times already. Hoping to see through the trees and see the house by the lake. Each time he looked he would only see trees, spread thick across the distance, blocking his destination from view. He hadn't expected to see it, and his eyes shot open when he did.

It was still a distance away but there it was, like looking through a crack in the wall, the house was slightly visible through the thick of trees. He squinted but didn't see the Doctor or Aster, or the second phantom. So, that must mean they either left, or are still inside.

Either way, he hadn't any more time to lose. Picking up his pace Dean jogged towards the house, feeling a surge of excitement and success.

CRACK!!!

Dean turned to a sound and was pushed off his hooves. He found himself in the air, his hat fell off, and the next thing he knew it he slammed into the ground. He tumbled and hit his side against a tree hard, winded as the collision left a nasty bruise. He grabbed his side with one hoof and lifted himself with his armed leg, choking for air. Looked over, Dean felt his heart drop.

The phantom filly, had spotted him, and she had rushed from no where, pushing Dean with all her might, slamming him into the tree.

Her tendril hair hovered about, aimed to Dean like a squad of pythons ready to strike. The phantom giggled as she stepped towards Dean, glaring and smiling maliciously. "Pretty, pretty, PRINCESS!!! You can't run anymore!!! Let the Queen of the Forest make you HERS!!!" 

Dean rose to his hooves coughing. He felt pain surge through his right ribs, and it made him strain to stand. But he managed and glared at the phantom, feeling an unfamiliar emotion. He had been angry before, but this, something about this phantom made him furious. 

He had done so much tonight, and reminding himself of that empowered him with a surge of energy. A will to fight back and win against this phantom. Mixed with a sudden mass of hate. 

The persistent phantom, chasing him and attacking over and over. She hurt the Doctor, she hurt Aster, and she wouldn't stop attacking him. He was so close to the lake house, yet here she was again to stop him. He wanted her to stop, he wanted her to be gone. She just wouldn't leave him alone, and that made him boil. 

And Dean did something he had never done before: he snapped.

His will to fight, his anger to the phantom, it made him stand to his hind hooves. Breathing heavily, Dean roared at the phantom, "I've had about enough of you, your highness!" Dean attacked with his whip, shouting, "you will not take me!!!"

Dean had become overzealous, and forgot that his whip had broke. With only two feet to use, the whip cracked between he and the phantom, missing the four feet it needed to reach the phantom. 

The whip returned to Dean, and Dean, having realized his situation, froze. He looked to his whip with a dropped jaw, and the phantom looked to Dean with a smug smile. He looked to the phantom, back to his whip, the phantom, his whip. Then suddenly, in a moment of panic, he tried to attack again without thinking. He had managed to keep a level head so far, but after being chased for this long, and fighting against what seemed like an unstoppable entity, Dean was loosing his confidence. He acted without thinking, and it cost him. 

The phantom was ready for Dean's attack and thrust one of her hairs forth. It was easy this time, now that she knew what Dean was going to do; and Dean had become slower, with even the phantom noticing how tired he looked. She caught his whip before it cracked and ripped it from his grip. Dean had no chance to pull it back as it was slipped from his hoof.

The phantom took away his whip and laughed like a victorious psycho, before her hair, whip in grasp, extended to the sky. It rose above the trees and threw the whip away in a powerful thrust, far into the forest, so that Dean could never find it. Her hair then retracted, returning to its original state. She gave Dean a smile that practically asked, "what are you going to do now?"

Dean was stiff and wide eyed, his only defense ripped from his grasp and thrown away. Now, he was vulnerable. No plan, no weapon, and no place to hide. Just he and the phantom, face to face in this forest.

Dean gulped and chuckled, as he reverted his accent back to British. "T- Than again, being a princess doesn't sound all that bad, heh, heh."

The phantom filly laughed and charged forth to attack, and Dean screamed.






The Doctor






"I- W- What?" Aster stuttered.

"I mean, I can understand. He worked as an experimental scientist for alchemy, he probably looked at this whole issue from a physical view point and not a spiritual, magicka one. And you can't cure someone who isn't sick so of course all of his medicines didn't work."

"W- W- Wait a minute! What do you mean there's no such thing as a chaos infection?" asked Aster.

"Well tell me, how do you feel right now?" 

"Um, fine, I guess."

"Alright, so if being attacked by a "chaos slave" is enough to "infect" someone with this "chaos infection", than why don't you feel any of the effects that Henry felt?"

"I- I don't know. I wasn't attacked that long ago- wait, does that mean I'm infected!" Aster yelled.

"No! Aster, keep up will you! No ones infected and neither are you!" 

"But Henry-"

"Henry wasn't infected! There is no infection! Chaos magic doesn't work that way!"

"B- But how are they infected than?"

"Well first off, no one is "infected", they're all corrupted."

"Corrupted?" asked Aster.

"You see, chaos magic is extremely rare, Discord seems to be the only one who can control it. If anyone else tried using it they'd lose their minds or most certainly would be killed. But Discord can, and he's figured out how to use it harmlessly."

"If its rare than how come you know about it?" Aster asked.

The Doctor shrugged, "adventure gives knowledge to those who seek it."

" . . . What?"

"Never mind, that's not important. Discord, he doesn't kill anyone but he doesn't necessarily let them go either. Discord has two abilities, one is an altercation ability and the other is a potential one. You know what those are?"

Aster shook his head.

"Altercation. Or, Altering for short. And potential, they're both self explanatory. His potential ability has the potential of altering a persons personality without changing them physically. Except for some color loss, but that's besides the point. This ones stronger but not as common, for those who are actually taken over by this do so by choice."

"By choice?"

"Yeah, they, they allow Discord to change them for, whatever reason. Maybe because they've been lied to or do something they usually don't, its hard to explain. Heck, sometimes it happens simply because they aren't dominant enough. Its complicated, even for Discord. Because despite being strong, it just takes willpower and determination to overcome being "Discorded". That, and sometime just a reminder of who you really are. Which is why his altercation ability is more common.

"Altercation magic alters the pony's mind and body. Those "infected" that Henry described are actually "corrupted ponies". By putting a little bit of his magic into them, ponies minds and bodies change. And unlike Discorded ponies, who are corrupted but work differently, corrupted ponies can spread chaos without Discord having to do it himself. 

"There is no pattern or specific way that they change, it wouldn't be chaotic enough if they did. There bodies change at random, once someone changes you never know what they'll change into."

"So those ghosts, that's what Putty and Silly changed into?" asked Aster.

"Exactly! However, Discord did leave something in his magic that copies itself into everypony it possesses."

"What would that be?"

"An objective: corrupt as many ponies as you can. That's one way how Discord spreads his chaos. Corrupting ponies, than having those corrupted ponies corrupt more ponies. Possessing them with his chaos magic.

"Now, does that sound like an "infection" to you?"

"Um, kind of?" Aster replied.

"Yes, well, a little bit, if chaos magic spread like an illness, but it isn't. When they grab hold of you they force chaos magic into you, allowing it to control your very will power. Now, magic, if removed entirely, will normally leave no lasting effect on you. Where as illnesses like flus or colds, those can hide in your body without you knowing, until, eventually, you get sick. Even if your cured you may get sick again, but magic, that has to be put inside you one way or the other for it to corrupt you. And once removed that magic may never affect you again unless someone or something places it inside you. And I say may because, well, with magic it varies. Now, while Illnesses do not affect you the way the corrupted have been altered, I'll tell you what does do this: Curses."

Aster gasped, "so, Larkspur's cursed!"

"Afraid so, he and everyone else here are cursed. Corrupted by chaos."

"B- But he still has a chance, doesn't he? L- Larkspur was just caught today, uh, yesterday, I think. H- Henry lasted so long and he didn't change. So Larkspur should have the same chance, right?" asked Aster.

"I'm afraid not, I did say that it was one way that Discord spreads his chaos magic. Corrupting ponies with his army of corrupted ponies. But theirs another way he spreads it."

"W- What would that be?" asked Aster.

"Have you been near an area taken over by Discord? Like the land surrounding Mane City, for example?"

"No, I've never been anywhere close."

"That's good, you may not have made it if you were. You see, Discord doesn't just spread his magic from pony to pony. Discord can also spreadshis magic by releasing his own magicka into the air. Anything his magicka touches it alters, changing land, buildings, and ponies. 

"Chaos magic doesn't just spread from being in contact with a corrupted pony. It also spreads just by standing in an area with flowing chaos magic in the air. That's why Henry and his children had chaos magic. Mane City had the strongest density of chaos magic in the air, so of course they were corrupted by the time they left. But chaos magic in the air is still not as strong as direct contact with the corrupted. So it took some time before they lost themselves to the chaos. Which is also why you aren't corrupted."

"But, I thought Henry said he was corrupted by a pony?" asked Aster.

"He doesn't know how chaos magic works, so he made an assumption that made the most sense. Yes he was attacked by a corrupted, but in his diary he mentions that he was saved before the chaos could corrupt him. Once the process of corruption has been interrupted, any left over magic within the non-corrupted pony will either return to the corrupted pony or dissipate entirely. That's not just restricted to chaos magic, that a general appliance to most magic in this case.

But Henry, he was doomed from the start. If your caught in an area with chaos magic you'll want to leave as quickly as possible. Because that chaos magic enters into you each time you breath. But as I've said, its weaker than if you were taken over by a corrupted. So you would have to be in a corrupted area long enough for the build up of chaos to become strong enough to corrupt you. If you leave soon enough than there will not be enough chaos magicka to corrupt the pony, and it will dissipate. 

But again, Henry was in an area with the most dense chaos magic in all of Equestria. No matter how quickly he escaped Mane City, he, his children, and the ponies Henry mentioned escape with them, they were all corrupted from the start. And since this form of corruption is weaker than it was only a matter of time before they changed."

"But, why is it like that?" asked Aster.

"Who knows, maybe that's just how it is. Maybe one just happens to be weaker than the other. But, maybe Discord wanted it to be that way. The ponies that escape from a corrupted area think their safe, and they most likely join other ponies who have escaped. But than, one day, of the blue, they change. Think about it, imagine a camp full of one hundred ponies, all who have escaped. Discord is going to lose those ponies, but not if one out of that hundred happened to have been corrupted by a chaos zone, not by a corrupted. So they appear safe, and everypony lowers their guard around this pony. Than, when the timings right, they change, and the camp becomes corrupted. So Discord, no matter who escapes, will get those ponies in the end. Sort of like a plan B to deal with survivors."

"You think that's what he's doing!?" Aster asked, shivering.

"Its just a guess, but Discord, I wouldn't put something like that by him."

"B- B- But if we're being attacked by corrupted, does that mean this is a corrupted area?" Aster gasped, "do I have chaos magic inside me!"

"No, Aster, your fine. Dean saved you earlier before the chaos magic had the chance to penetrate you entirely. And this area doesn't seem like its been effected by chaos. So its safe to say that Silly, Putty, and anyone else corrupted are the only ones with chaos magic in them right now", the Doctor explained.

"But, what about you? Didn't Silly- or Putty- w- whoever that ghost was. They captured you, didn't they? Doesn't that mean you have chaos magic inside you?" asked Aster.

The Doctor paused, that thought had crossed his mind. Silly and Putty were corrupted, and if he had been captured by a corrupted pony, it was only common sense. 

He remembered the moment it happened, when he was captured. He felt the chaos magic penetrate him. It was hot, then cold, and then nothing. He felt his body go limb before losing conscious. He wasn't saved, so he should be corrupted as well.

But he felt fine, for the most part. His old body was aching, he was hungry, tired, sore from lying on the cement floor, but other than that, brilliant. Completely in his right mind.

It stumped him, he should be corrupted. Not that he complained, but from a logical stand point it really made no sense. Perhaps it did not affect him? But how so? How would he not be affected by chaos magic? 

From what he remembered, chaos magic is rare, almost non existent in fact. So rare that sources for learning on the subject is not only limited, it is also forbidden and punishable. Therefor, with the most he was able to learn, the Doctor had never heard of anyone being "immune" to chaos magic. Nor had he ever thought of anyway to fight back or repel against it, as Discord is the first time he had ever encountered it. There were ways to help someone already corrupted by chaos, but nothing more.

Ancient books and texts about chaos magic long before time has given the Doctor small tid bits of information, most indescribable. But none of it could surmount to anything thinkable, let alone usable. So that begs the question, why wasn't he corrupted?

The Doctor chuckled and shrugged, "guess I got lucky. I don't feel corrupted and I haven't changed physically. So . . . yeah, just lucky."

"B- But how?" asked Aster.

"No idea. The chaos magic wasn't able to take hold of me completely and dissipated before or after I woke up. At least, that's what I think happened. I honestly don't know. What I do know is that I got very lucky. Or maybe its just a coincidence, which, oddly enough has been happening a lot lately. Either way, I'm fine so I don't think we have anything to worry about."

"What do you mean by that!?! Larkspur and three other ponies are still corrupted! And so is Silly and Putty!"

"Yes, they are corrupted, corrupted by chaos magic! Corrupted because they have Discords chaos magicka inside them!" The Doctor slapped the book shut, making Aster choke in the dust it emitted as he slammed it to the desk enthusiastically. He then made his way to the doorway before turning back to Aster. "Magicka that I can remove!" He stated, leaving the office with Aster confused.

After processing what the Doctor said, Aster rushed out, following behind a second later. "W- What!?! Wait a second! What do you- AAAAAGH!!!" Aster screamed.
> Lullabies: Part Five (S1C5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aster exited the office, and upon so found himself face to face with the stallion phantom, hovering at the foot of the stairs. Aster reeled back, squealing as he ran to the Doctor. The Doctor stood a few feet in front of the phantom, centered in the central room, giving the phantom an odd look as if he had been expecting him. 

Hiding behind the Doctor as if he were a shield, Aster said through chattering teeth, pointing at the phantom, "D- D- D- Doctor! H- H- He's here!!!"

The Doctor gave the phantom a friendly grin, "oh I know. He's been here for while."

"W- What!?!"

"He came while we were reading Henry's diary."

Aster repeated, "w- w- what!?! W- W- When did- why didn't you tell me!?!"

"Because I was reading."

Aster frowned, "b- b- but, I- I didn't see him! How'd you know he was here?"

The Doctor looked to Aster, giving him a serious look as he said with utmost assertion, "psychic powers."

Aster gasped, "r- really!?!"

The Doctor chuckled, "just kidding, his hair was waving around the corner sometimes."

"Oh", said Aster, bearing an irritated expression. 

Smiling, the Doctor addressed the ghost, "so its just you, huh? Dean still out there with your sister?"

The ghost stayed silent, floating in his place as he stared, unblinking.

The Doctor shook his head, "I didn't expect a school boy like him to take this kind of risk. A solid head, a good heart, and a brave soul, he's going to become quite the pony when he's older". He pointed to the ghost, "but what about you? What do you want to be when you grow up?"

He waited for a response. After a moment of silence the Doctor continued, "and how old are you by the way? Because that diary your father wrote, and I apologize for snooping, it didn't seem to mention yours and your sister's age. Or maybe it did and I just didn't find it, I was busy trying to find the important stuff. Again, sorry for snooping."

The Doctor hadn't expected it, and was surprised that Putty had something to ask. He was further surprised on what he had asked, "you are the Doctor?"

A fragment of a second the Doctor lost his composer, before he chuckled, "did Silly tell you about me?"

". . . . We know you . . ."

The Doctor cocked a brow at that, "sorry? What?"

" . . . . We know you . . . Doctor who. We know you . . ."

The Doctor became concerned, but he didn't show it, "really now? Your sister said the same thing when we first met her. Now that I think about it, this is the first time you and I are talking as well, isn't it?"

" . . . Phoenix Adventure . . . Ashen blood . . ."

"Yeah, your sister called me those too-"

"Defender of the Keep, Destroyer of Draconequus, The Almighty Shield, the Oncoming Storm, the Doctor of War"

" . . . Okay . . . those are new", the Doctor said, feeling a pit in his stomach. "You and your sister certainly know something I don't. You mind explaining?" There was a moment of silence, and the Doctor scoffed, "fine, be that way! You and your sister can keep your secrets!"

"You keep saying his sister", Aster piped in.

"Yeah, and?"

"Does that mean . . . is- is that Putty?" asked Aster.

The Doctor sighed and said to Putty, "alright, we'll move past that. But don't think I won't forget what you said."

He then explained to Aster, "Isn't it obvious? Of course that's Putty. For the clear fact that he's a stallion and the other ghosts a mare. That's the obvious, but! Its also your personality, Putty."

The Doctor took a step forward, abandoning his spot as Aster's shield as Aster stumbled to quickly keep close. The Doctor stepped close enough to touch Putty, making Aster shiver in discomfort. "Your father is a good stallion, Putty. He really cares for you, your sister and . . . your mother. And I'm sorry, about what happened that day. But your father, he cared for you so much that he wrote down so much information about you in his diary. His love and passion and care for you and your sister, he never stopped writing about you. Even in his last days, when the chaos was corrupting him, just like it did to you and your sister."

There was a pause, as if the Doctor expected Putty to reply. Of course he didn't, so the Doctor continued. "You probably don't understand how it works so I'll simplify it for you. A big, mean creature came and put a bad spell on you, your sister, and your father. It changes you to turn into what you are now, but your father felt the changes first. And he had fought it off for so long before he lost. You want to know how he was able to last so long?"

The Doctor bent close to sincerely explain, "it was the diary."

Suddenly, the Doctor turned around and walked to the second locked door to the left, with Aster, again, stumbling to keep close. He stopped in front of the door and turned to Putty, "you see, Discord places his magic into you and it changes you. When it happens it feels like your falling asleep. Your body goes numb, everything goes black, and then you feel nothing, but! Actually, that's just his magic consuming you. And once its done you don't even realize what its done to you. Your body transforms and you act different but from your perspective, it all feels like a dream. This very conversation feels like a dream, while you stand there looking and acting like the ghost of the Unnamed Forest. You act this way, you look this way but its alright, it doesn't bother you, because its all just a dream. That's how it feels when your corrupted.

Now your father; you, your sister, and your father all had chaos inside you after Mane City fell. Aster and I know what it feels like to have the chaos consume you, or, try to consume you in our cases. So we felt all the effects of "falling asleep" in an instant. We got it the easy way, having it forcefully pushed inside you. You, your sister, and your father, the magic was inside you, but it hadn't consumed you yet. You had it the hard way, slowly consuming your body day after day. It must of felt like torture to you and your sister, that is, until you had "fallen asleep". After that the final stages of the chaos changed you without you even feeling it. Day after day you grow more and more tired until eventually you just give up and sleep. So, how did your father manage to last so long? As I said, its his diary.

Because, Putty, you may feel this to be all a dream. You may feel like you are just asleep and you aren't bothered by what's happening but deep down you are still there! The chaos, its just like a box. An old, disgusting, wooden box, on top of an apple. From the outside you are scary. You look like a ghost and you want to foulnap ponies. But on the inside Putty is still there, and he is still helping his sister, the "Queen of the Forest", turn ponies into princesses. A game that Putty and Silly played together. He helps, but he is not the one to actually capture them. He saves that fun for his sister because, as Henry explained, Putty cares more for his sister's enjoyment than his own. That's why you haven't done anything to Aster and I and you won't either, you need to wait for the Queen to return."

"The Queen is the ruler of this land. All who enter will submit and become princesses of her order", Putty said, remaining fixed, floating.

"Yes because that's how your game works, Putty! You are still in there! You and your sister! You are still being a good brother and helping your sister have fun! The chaos changed you but it cannot remove you! It doesn't work that way, and had you kept a self connection to yourself you may have been able to last a little longer, like your father did.

The diary, as I said he cared deeply for you, and he never, ever stopped writing about you, your sister, and your mother, even in his last days. And that's what kept him going for so long. He worked so hard to find a cure for you and Silly, and he wrote each passing day in his diary. It helped to keep a mental connection to who he truly was and to what he was working for. Because he knew that if he lost himself, than he would lose you and your sister as well. But what kept him going so long isn't just writing in the diary, it was the diary itself. The only item he was able to bring with him outside of Mane City. A gift from his wife that he had loved so much.

You never gave up, you fought the chaos for so long to help your children. And in your last days you knew it was the end, but even so you still manage to do one last thing. One last attempt to save your children."

Aster looked to the Doctor, confused, "Doctor? What are you saying to Putty?"

"I'm not talking to Putty". The Doctor turned, facing the solid steel door. Resting his head to the cold steel, he closed his eyes and asked, "Aster, after everything we've learned, let's do a role count. Putty is here, Silly is chasing Dean, Mike is in a cage with two others. Now, who do you think is missing?"

Aster knew immediately, "Henry!"

"And where do you think he is?"

"I- I don't know, he's not in the house."

"Oh yes he is, he's been here the whole time", said the Doctor, smiling.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why do you think the twins didn't go after Mike after they were corrupted? They probably tried to, wanted to, but they couldn't, not while their dad told them not to."

"Their- you mean Henry?" asked Aster.

"Deep down Putty and Silly are still there, so despite being corrupted they still cannot disobey their father. They couldn't do it then, and I'm sure they won't be able to now".

The Doctor opened his eyes as he spoke towards the door, "I know you can hear me. This steel door is strong but it isn't sound proof. And it wasn't made to keep ponies out, its here to keep you in. You had to lock yourself, roaming free would allow the chaos to go about as it pleases. And if it did that it would have a proper latch on you. Locking yourself in a small space with no one to capture and nothing to do, that's smart. You probably didn't even realize how smart it was at the time, you were probably just trying to prevent yourself from foulnapping other ponies. But being a father you couldn't find it in your heart to lock up your kids, that I can understand. But, spells like this, being locked in a small place with nothing to do would put it into stand by. Hibernating to maintain its power until your free, and can actually weaken the latch. Not enough to save you, but a little to, perhaps, bring you back. Even for a little bit, before it realizes its free and regains its hold on you.

And I'm not sure how long you've had to think in there, but I know your still there, and so are your memories. Your job, your home, your friends, your family. You remember Mara, your wife. You loved her so much, you always wrote about her. And your kids, from what I've read your kids are absolutely brilliant! You have a good daughter who loves to play, and a kind son who loves the smiles of others, especially his sister's. And you remember that pain, that pain you felt that day, in Mane City. The day he came and defeated the princesses, the day he made Mane City fall, the day that you lost your wife, the day you lost Mara."

There was a sudden muffled, hallow groan from the other side of the door. Loud, and in agony, like a ghost of sorrow in mourning. Echoing the basement and startling Aster as he shook. Even Putty looked to the door, simply turning his neck. Aster hadn't noticed Putty, but the Doctor did, and he was glad to hear this reply. "You feel it, that pain?"

There was a second grown, louder and evermore full of pain.

"I want you to know that I am sorry. I am so, so sorry for what had happened to your wife. There was nothing you could have done, nothing that anyone could have done to prevent that day. Your wife and thousands of others were lost in that city and I am sorry, I am so sorry. But your children, your beautiful children are here, the ones you worked so hard to save. You tried to cure them with potions and medicine, but that wasn't the right approach! Because they aren't sick, and neither are you! But that does not mean that you have failed! In fact, you've done it. They are still here and you have succeeded!"

The Doctor became louder, speaking almost excitedly. "You want to know how you succeeded!? Because of everything you wrote in your diary! Each day you fought off the chaos and wrote in your diary you gave me more and more information to work with. You probably didn't know it but each day you wrote in that dairy you made it easier to fight back against this chaos and save your children! But! Most of all, what you did to save your children, the last thing you did with what you had left! You . . . you asked for help."

The Doctor held the door's large padlock in his hoof and felt around. Finding a small switch on the back, he flipped it. The padlock "clicked", revealing a small compartment on the front center of the padlock. Inside was a small, white row of four swivel dials with red numbers, all lined in "zero". "Bingo", the Doctor whispered, finding the key to unlocking the combination lock. 

"Help is here. And with everything that you have given me I can confirm that your children will be saved! Because I know how to save them! I know how to remove the chaos inside of you and Silly and Mike and everyone else here! I can save them! I can save them all!!!" 

The Doctor's tone turned soft, and became concerned. "Henry, I can save you and your children. But I need your help, Putty and Silly will not let me save them because of the chaos magic. If you are still there, if you want your children to be saved than please, please Henry! Help me save your children!"

There was a pause as the Doctor waited for a response. After a moment, someone knocked the door hard four times, giving the Doctor the sign he was looking for.

He smiled, "brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" He looked over his shoulder to Aster, "Aster! We will only have a few minutes so follow me, keep close, and do not fall behind! Understand!?"

"W- W- Wait a minute! W- W- What's going on!?!" asked Aster, having been somewhat lost near the end of the conversation.

"You and I are going to make a run for it through the forest and we are going to save everypony here from the chaos including Larkspur!"

"You will not escape. You shall remain here until the Queen returns", said Putty, now looking back to the Doctor.

"Oh yeah? And who's going to keep us here? You?" said the Doctor, with a challenge granting tone as he pointed to Putty. "Well you can try, and we won't fight back, don't need to. Because there is one pony who can stop you!" Quickly, the Doctor set the dials on the lock to: zero, one, seven, and four. The lock "clicked", indicating that it was open. The Doctor then removed the lock, removed the metal bar, and gripped the handle. 

Before opening the door, he looked to Putty and grinned slyly, "oh, and one more thing. Whoever said anything about escaping? This isn't an escape, its a rescue!" The Doctor pulled the door with all his might.

It had been closed for so long that the metal screeched along the ground loudly, scratching the cement as it opened. The door bumped with a hallow "bang" against the wall to the left, the border between this room and the office several feet to the left. 

The lab inside was far too dark to see, and the red candles illuminating the primary room wasn't nearly strong enough to allow even a little view inside. The Doctor, Aster, and Putty, all three were looking into the darkness of the lab, as they heard a faint moan inside. 

A sickly groan, like fleeting lungs clinging desperately for air. In and out slowly, struggling with each breath as he stepped through the door. His hooves clacking along the cement as he approached. From the dark he left his prison, standing in the doorway, in the light of the red candles where everyone could see.

Aster stepped back, afraid of the pony who was Henry. The Doctor gave him a smile as he too stepped back, only to give him more room to enter. Putty, however, appeared as emotionless as ever. He hovered in his same spot, staring to the pony who entered. However, despite nothing appearing different, the Doctor couldn't help but feel a slight drift appear in the atmosphere. Subtle, hidden, but it was there. Putty was put off by Henry's appearance, the Doctor could tell.  

The pony who was Henry was somewhat shorter than the two had expected, though the Doctor could assume why. The chaos had affected his height, as it did to every other part of his body. Standing at the size of a teen pony, Henry was bright green with teal spots around his body, everywhere but his back. Which, was covered and shielded with a solid, thick, dark green shell. His hair was gone and instead was replaced by two straight, cream orange goat horns. His tail was slim with a spikey purple ball at the end, and his hooves were large and resembled turtle feet. His jaw had transformed to that of a turtles as well as his teeth, with his molars poking out, too large to fit in his mouth. His eyes were pink, void of sclera, and his cutie mark was no longer there. He reeked of algae and moth balls, and each breath he took blasted Aster and the Doctor with rancid sardines and tuna. In a sense, Henry resembled a pony sized turtle to the others.

Henry looked to the Doctor with lopsided eyes, as the Doctor greeted him like a friend, "glad your still with us."

Aster looked to the Doctor, then to Henry, as he listened cautiously.

Henry breathed heavily for a moment, concentrating, before answering slowly in a deep voice. "I . . . d- not . . . have . . . long."

"I understand, buy us some time?" the Doctor asked.

"You . . . will . . . save them?" Henry asked, shaking, his knees and neck popping.

The Doctor replied sincerely, "absolutely!"

Henry looked to the ground, then to the Doctor as he cringed, holding back the awakening chaos. True to the Doctor's word, the chaos had always been present to Henry. And after an extended time in the prison he had felt it weaken. His body had become weak, and the energy pounding in his body had suddenly disappeared. With the chaos on stand by, he no longer felt the motive to so much as move, as all life in him felt to have fleeted away. 

Now that he was free, the chaos felt the relief of freedom, and was awakening inside Henry once again. It was almost immediate, the sudden pulsating energy, throbbing his head and attacking his heart. It hurt, and he held back, making him dizzy and weaker than he already was. But he held it off and took a breath before looking to Putty.

Stepping forth, Henry approached Putty, his knees popping with each step, like a skeleton with weathered bones. He stared equally dead eyed towards Putty as Putty did to Henry, the two staring into each other. A foot away, Henry spoke up to Putty, forcing his weak voice to withstand his authority. "Putty . . . is that really you?"

Physically, Putty remained emotionless, but it was clear that something inside him recognized Henry. Both the Doctor and Aster noticed something changed. It was small, almost unnoticeable, but they caught it. Not in his tone or the way he spoke, it was how he spoke. Putty replied to Henry, and he did it stuttering.

"Y- You are n- not in command. I only assist the queen-"

"Putty!" Henry suddenly yelled, silencing Putty as he fell into a coughing fit. It took a moment for him to catch his breath before he was able continue. "I . . . am your father! And you . . . will listen to me!"

Putty was silent for a moment, and for the first time, the Doctor and Aster actually saw Putty afraid. Not by his features, his face hadn't changed. Instead, when Henry shouted, Putty had backed away, as if out of defense or being startled. Afterwards, Putty tried to look Henry in the eye once more, but it was obvious he couldn't. The ghost that had tried to capture the three ponies all night was now avoiding looking into Henry's eyes, as he looked to the stairway wall to his right instead. 

"I- I . . . I o- obey . . . t- the q- q- queen!!!" Putty had yelled, struggling to merely get the words out.

Putty was returning and the chaos didn't want that, it was fighting back, trying to keep Putty from complying with his father. The Doctor knew that, and from what Aster had learned tonight, he somewhat knew what was happening as well.

Henry, keeping his sights locked into Putty's, glaring as he yelled with authority, "Putty! I! Am! Your father! And you will listen to me, right! Now!"

"Grrrrrnnnnnaaaaaaaaagh!!!" Putty gripped his head, falling to the stairs as the chaos magic depleted. His ability to float gone, as the chaos reserved its energy into keeping its control on Putty. His father spoke to him, he needed to respect his father, but the chaos assaulted his mind. Forcing away any thoughts of his father, and blocking memories of his family, as well as his past life.

"Putty!" said Henry.

Putty groaned once more, looking from the stairs up to his father. Each time his father spoke, a flood of lost memories returned to him. His mind, his body, he could almost feel himself again. The numbness from chaos magic was weakening, and Putty could feel himself awakening. And with each returning memory, the chaos struck back, plunging Putty's memories back into the deepest reaches of his mind, where he couldn't see them.

But the chaos was losing. Each time it pushed the memories down Henry would shout, bringing the memories back up and making it more and more difficult to return them.

"Putty!" Henry shouted.

"GAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" Putty screamed. The chaos, suddenly, lost its hold on him, allowing the colt to see with his own mind again. The basement, the Doctor, Aster, and his father. He no longer saw them as a dream, he saw them as Putty. 

He went still for a moment, the fight with chaos making him weak. The three waited in anticipation as Putty caught his breath.

"D- D- Daddy?" Putty struggled, his voice an uncanny sound to that of a child demon.

"Putty!" Henry rushed forward to Putty, wrapping a hoof around his boy. "Putty! Its me! Its your father!"

"D- D- Daddy. I- I- aaaaaagh!" Putty writhed, his head pounding by the chaos's strength.

"He won't last long, its now or never!" said the Doctor.

Henry agreed as he held to his son tighter, gripping him in a strong hug, as if this would be the last chance he would ever be able to hold his son. He felt Putty struggle for a moment, before he went still, gasping and breathing hard, fighting mentally while his body rested in his father's legs.

Henry spoke softly to his son, "Putty, please, call your sister for me."

Putty stuttered, struggling to respond to his father, "I- I- I- c- can't."

"Putty . . . please . . . I want you to come back to me . . . please call her back."

Putty felt another wave of pain pass through his head, and he screamed. Simultaneously, Henry cringed, feeling a similar pain rush through him, with a strength ten fold to that of Putty's. Only holding his son kept him sane. And as the pain faded he knew he didn't have long.

"Putty . . . I . . . love you."

And that was it. With that the chaos felt Putty's heart throb, and his mind rushed with memories of his family. His love for his father emanating, pulsing, an energy too strong to withstand. The chaos retreated, waiting to build its strength to fight Putty's love for his father. In the mean time, however, Putty felt his senses return to him. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Putty had control of himself again. And he felt awake, returned to the real world.

Exhausted and breathing heavily, Putty looked into his father's eyes, smiling a ghostly beam, "Daddy!"

"Putty!" Henry said happily as he felt Putty hugging him back.

The Doctor smiled, and Aster stood slack jawed, amazed and dumbfounded at the spectacle before them. Despite being happy for them, the Doctor knew it wasn't time for celebration. They weren't finished yet. "Henry!" he called, "let's do it!"

Henry looked to the Doctor, nodded, then said to his son. "Putty, I need you to call your sister. Can you do that for me? Please?" 

Putty nodded and Henry helped him to his hooves. Henry stood back, allowing his son the room he needed to focus. But, little did he know that it was unnecessary. For, Putty remembered the times he had spent as the phantom, and the times the chaos, controlling his body, called upon Silly. He had technically already done it many times and, at this point, it was shear muscle memory to repeat the call.

Stepping away from the staircase, Putty opened his jaw wide, outstretching twice the normal length of any pony. Then, he screamed a piercing shriek, bellowing like a deep voiced banshee up to the ceiling, screaming to the heavens.

The call rung painfully through the basement as the Doctor and Aster covered their ears in discomfort. Henry, however, seemed unfazed as he watched his son call his daughter.

Ten seconds later, Putty stopped. He jaw shut, very robotic like, as he smiled to his father. "Here she comes."

"Good . . . good". Henry looked to the Doctor, "now you can save them?"

The two released their ears as the Doctor responded, "absolutely!"

Henry looked to the ground as he said, "if . . . if you cannot save me . . . that is fine. Just . . . please . . . save them."

The Doctor frowned and approached Henry, placing a hoof to his shoulder. Henry lifted his head, and their eyes met. Henry, weary and tired, and the Doctor, a fire blazing in his eyes. He said with confidence and determination, "no, you will not be left behind! They need a father more than ever, and I will not allow you to go!"

Henry felt the Doctor's words pierce him. His kindness, his assertive demeanor that he can, in fact, save them all. It struck a soft spot he hadn't felt in so long. This stranger, doing so much to help, it was too much to bare. Had he been able to move his face he would have certainly cried. But in his state, the most Henry was able to muster was an emotionless nod, letting the Doctor know he understood.

The Doctor nodded to Henry before looking to Aster. "Let's go!" he turned suddenly, rushing up the stairs.

"W- Wait!" Aster shouted. He gave Henry and Putty one last glance before running to catch up with the Doctor.

Up the stairs, through the living room, out the front door. The two were once again running through the forest. The cold, dark morning air clinging to their skin as Aster caught up, trailing behind a few feet. "What about Dean!?!" Aster called.

"Don't worry! We'll find him!"

"How?" asked Aster.






Dean






"Sweet Celesti- AAAAAAAGH!!!" Dean screamed, his pitch reaching to that of a little filly's.

The phantom attacked with one of her tendril hairs at Dean, making a swipe towards his head. Dean managed to duck in time, as her tendril smacked a tree behind him. Wood chips spewed about as the phantom's attack cut through the tree, splitting it in half. The top half of the tree fell back, crashing against the ground, wafting up a cloud of dust and pollen as its fall echoed through the area.

Another tendril darted forth, and Dean leapt to dodge. He summersaulted clumsily, avoiding the attack while falling to  his back, as he noticed a third tendril coming his way. He had to roll left to avoid it, as it hit the ground inches from him, blasting dirt about and leaving behind a melon sized hole.

Dean lifted to his hooves to run, but wasn't quick enough for the forth attack. Another tendril darted, striking Dean's back as he turned to run. He felt the air taken from him, as what felt like a minotaur pounding a brick to his back push him off his hooves. He flew several feet into the air and soared over a dozen yards, before crashing to the ground. He tumbled, rolled, and stopped, laying in a small cloud of dirt.

Coughing, Dean tried to move, but he too hurt. At this point the phantom had made many attacks, a few of which were actually successful. His left cheek was swollen from a powerful slap, his shoulder was bleeding from colliding into a tree, there were bruises on his right abdomen from her first attack, several cuts and scratches covered the majority of his body. Last of course was the attack on his back. He wasn't sure how bad the damage was, but it was painful enough that he couldn't move. If he could see it, he would have seen a black and blue bruise swelling in a thick line, horizontal on the center of his back, shaped like the phantom's tendril.  

He made another attempt to stand as his legs shook to support him, only to fall, succumbing to the pain. He heard the phantom laugh behind him, and could only crank his neck to see her.

She walked slowly, menacingly towards Dean, as she laughed happily. "Aaaaawwww!!! Can the little princess not run anymore!?!" 

Panicked, his heart beating like drums, Dean tried to stand. Yet, he fell again, and in desperation tried to crawl away with his forelegs, escaping at a rather fast turtles pace.

Seeing Dean's futile escape made her laugh. She came to Dean and stomped on his back, leaving a black bruised hoof print on his right shoulder blade. Dean screamed, but was cut off as he choked, the air vanishing from him suddenly. The phantom had kicked his left abdomen, doing so to turn him on his back. Once Dean was laid back, facing up towards her, the phantom stepped on his chest and pressed down hard. Struggling to breath, Dean felt the pressure of the phantom's hoof welling in his chest. While she looked down on Dean like he was her dinner, giggling psychotically, drooling and splattering him in chocolate milk. 

She leaned down and spoke in a soft, threatening way. "Looks like your mine little princess! HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!"

"G- Ge- off!!!" Dean sputtered, grabbing meekly at the phantom's ankle.

She laughed and lowered her tendril hair slowly, encircling Dean's vision with black, hanging snakes. The tendrils extended to the ground and atop Dean, covering all around him and his body. A few of the tendrils slithered up his neck to reach his face. 

"S- S- op!" Dean begged.

She laughed, "nighty night PRINCESS!!!"

The chaos flowed inside her, exerting the magicka from her core, through her head, and passing it through the tendrils. The tendrils, like tubes full of fluid, poured the magic out and forced it into Dean. It penetrated him, passing the flowing magicka into Dean's core and exposing him to chaos. Dean felt the chaos enter him, like boiling oil, flowing through and welling a painful heat into his chest. Simultaneously, the tendrils covering his face transferred chaos directly into his head, blurring his vision as a fire blasted through his mind. Swirling thoughts flashed, and a psychotic laugh rang in his ears, a laugh that belonged to neither he nor the phantom. From his head and chest, flowing downwards to the rest of his body, feeling like he was being dipped head first into boiling oil. 

Suddenly, Dean felt the heat eradicate. It was like sucking water through a straw. The boiling chaos retreated and was suctioned through the phantom's tendrils, returning all of the chaos to her core. It exited his body so quickly that, to Dean, it felt like his insides were being ripped out from him. The chaos returned and the boiling hotness faded, and the phantom stepped off of Dean.

Choking, coughing as the cold air flushed back into him, Dean rolled to his side and gripped his legs around his body, hugging himself. It took a moment before his vision returned and the laughing faded. Once gone Dean began to hear a banshee like shriek echoing in the distance. Looking towards the sound, Dean found that it was coming from the house by the lake. He hadn't traveled far from when the phantom first attacked. In fact, her first attack was a mere dozen yards away, and he had traveled closer to the house, seeing it easier through the trees. 

Dean didn't have time to register the sound before the phantom suddenly ran from him, galloping to the house. Confused, Dean assumed that sound, whatever it was, was calling her to return to the house. He didn't know why, but he guessed the Doctor might be involved.

Dean suddenly grew concerned. In his struggle he had forgotten about the Doctor and realized that he may still be inside the lake house. 

Perhaps it was the second phantom calling her? He thought to earlier when the first phantom had screamed a similar screech, after he used the Doctor's trap on her. The second phantom probably screams the same way, and that was how he was calling her. If the second phantom was in there calling her, and she returns, that means the Doctor and Aster have to fight against them both.

"Shoot!!!" Dean spat, forcing himself to rise to his hooves. It took a moment, his shaky legs picking his injured body up. Every muscle was screaming at him to quit; sore, cut, and bruised from attack after attack. But he refused and picked himself up, steadying himself, before taking a deep breath and charging forth.

Ahead of him, the phantom plowed through a bush, ripping it from its roots as she galloped through it. Dean followed her path and trampled the soft dirt, brought up from the pulled bush.

Suddenly, Dean heard a high pitch scream, and was met by the Doctor and a terrified looking Aster, standing several feet away.

The Doctor and Aster watched as the phantom plowed through the bush and galloped pass them both. Ignoring them as she made her way back to the house. Dean followed behind and came to a dead stop, his injured leg nearly collapsing as he looked to the two, genuinely surprised to see them. Breathing heavily, Dean stuttered, "w- w- what! Doctor!?! Aster!?!"

Though Aster too was caught surprised by Dean's appearance, the Doctor had known he would show up. If Dean was captured by Silly she would have returned by now with Dean, most likely unconscious. The two never returned, so he knew Dean was never captured. With that in mind he figured that, with Silly returning to the house, Dean would most likely follow or return to the house as well. It was only a matter of keeping their eyes out for Silly galloping back to the house, then they would find Dean.  

And true to his theory he had found Dean not too far behind Silly. And he stared to Dean as Aster did, both evidently shocked. Not because he hadn't expected Dean, but because he hadn't expected Dean to appear so heavily injured. He head nearly smiled to Dean before seeing him in his state. Looking concern, the Doctor said loudly, "Dean! What happened to you!?!"

Not questioning how the two managed to find him, or why Silly was retreating, Dean shook his head and asked what he felt to be more important, "never mind that! I thought you two were in the house! What happened to saving the foalnapped ponies!?! Where are they!?!"

Not that he didn't care about the foalnapped ponies, Dean's safety mattered just a bit more, and the Doctor pressed on,"later! What happened to your face!?!"

Aster was confused, with Dean appearing out of the blue looking like a mess, and the Doctor prior acting as if he was expecting this, but not expecting him to look like a mess? He looked to Dean, then to the Doctor, and back again. "Wait, but how did- where did he- why is-" he stuttered, puzzled.

"That's not important! Where are the ponies!?!" Dean pressed on as well, refusing to tell the Doctor his prior events until he found out the situation at hand.

Likewise to the Doctor, he was too concerned for Dean and wanted to know what had happened. "Dean! Your hurt! What happened!?!"

"Doctor! The foalnapped ponies!" Dean yelled.

The two went silent, only hearing Dean's heavy breathing, and distant birds chirping. Slowly, the two realized that they were equally concerned with each others situations. They wanted to know what happened with the other but felt they didn't have the time to explain their own side.

The Doctor, despite being concerned for his hurt friend, saw that Dean was still standing. Hurt, but at least he was on his own four hooves. And he remembered that, adventures like this, not everyone leaves unscathed. Anyone is bound for some injuries, and Dean was no exception, despite how much he cared about him. Remembering that, the Doctor calmed himself and sighed as he came to a compromise. "The ghost did it, didn't she?"

Dean, who also realized their equal concern, saw the Doctor's compromise. He nodded, "yeah. And your still saving them, aren't you?"

The Doctor smiled, "just about saved actually. Want to tell me how you got hurt later?" 

Dean chuckled, "as long as you tell me what happened in that house."

"You got it, can you run?"

Dean nodded, "probably not as fast. But for the most part, yeah."

"Great, than let's go. Were going back to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T."

He didn't know how the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T would help, but at this point he chose not to questioned it. He felt the Doctor knew what he was doing anyway. "Got it!"

"Wait! But how did Dean- how did you know that-"

"Come on!" said the Doctor, as he and Dean were already galloping off.

"Ah! Wait! How did you know where to find Dean! What just happened!?!" Aster yelled, following behind.






The Unnamed Forest, 6:55 A.M






"So those ghosts are actually two children playing a game?" asked Dean.

"Yeah, I know it seems strange, believe me it is. But that's really all they are, two children playing a game", the Doctor explained.

The three had ran for awhile with neither Dean nor Aster recognizing the area they were in. They followed behind the Doctor closely, as he was the only one who knew how to return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. 

The fog had thinned during Dean's fight with Silly, and they hadn't realized it until after making their return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. By now the fog was gone entirely, and the forest was much easier to see through now. No longer was the forest a black and blue tint covered in white. Now, the white was gone, and they noticed the black was gone as well, and the blue tint was brightening with orange. Curious, the Doctor looked to the sky and found a point at which the trees didn't block his view. Based off the lighting and the moon no longer poised in the sky, the Doctor figured it must have been around seven o clock. The point which neither the sun nor the moon showed. But with the sun making its way over the horizon it brought the first rays of light with it, brightening the environment, only slightly.

Early birds were chirping, pollen had begun to sparkle, and the humid air begun to smell like morning dew. The very forest around them felt to awaken, with the breeze ceased and the still branches, the oak and maple trees seemed to signal the end of that terrifying night. A calm, soothing, relaxing forest morning was to begin, as if to reward them for their efforts. If only their quest was complete. And of course the night in a forest has its beauty as well. But for that night, it went almost unnoticed. 

The three were tired, plastered in dirt and sweat that chilled them. Each bearing their own sets of cuts, bruises, and injuries. Dean at the moment bearing the most of the three. It had been a long night, and with the light brightening did Aster and Dean realize that they had in fact stayed up through the entire night without rest. Fighting, running, planning; mentally and physically, they were weary. The Doctor, in his age, was just as physically tired, if not more so, than Dean. Mentally, he could keep going for days if he had too. But with the others in their current state, the Doctor knew he needed this to end quickly. For their sake and for the ones corrupted by Discord's chaos.

Thirty minutes had passed since they found Dean, and the three galloped to return to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Knowing this forest as the Doctor did, he knew the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was only a few minutes away.

"And their dad has them at the house keeping them, what, occupied?" asked Dean.

"More or less."

"And you found out that this is all because of Discord?"

"In a manner of speaking. Its his fault but he didn't caused this intentionally."

"How is he involved but not involved?"

"He didn't do this himself, but he is the one who made the chaos corrupt ponies just by breathing the air around it. Its all in Henry's diary. How he and his kids were possessed by chaos."

"Diary? What diary?"

"I'll tell you that part later. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's not too far from here. Once we get there I need you two to do exactly what I say! And we need to move quick!"

"What exactly are we going to do?" asked Dean, with Aster just about to ask the same thing.

"The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T is science based tech like most Phoenix Pony technology. But like most of our tech it runs off of magical energy because its not only more abundant, but also because its the cleanest form of energy."

"Yeah, you've already told me that."

"Yes! But what I haven't told you is how the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T is charged with its energy!" Looking over his shoulder, the Doctor smiled to Dean, "the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T can't run forever, it runs out of energy eventually. And you wanna know how to charge a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T?" He looked ahead and saw in the distance a large blue box. Through the trees, there sat the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, sitting waiting for them, only an eye shot away.

The Doctor, seeing his beloved M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, smiled happily as he explained. "To charge a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, all you need is some Phoenix Magic!"






Miles Away






"And then Mrs. Bubblegum said, "good night my princess". She kissed Little Gum's forehead goodnight and went to leave.

"Mommy", said Little Gum. "Do you think I'll be a real queen when I grow up?"

Mrs. Bubblegum smiled to her daughter and said gently, "you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up. Just believe in yourself, and never give up on your dreams. Goodnight my love."

"Goodnight mommy", said Little Gum.

Little Gum closed her eyes as her mom left her room, keeping her door cracked just in case. Little Gum was excited to play in the forest the next day and found that it was hard to fall asleep. But eventually, she did fall asleep. And when she did, she dreamed that she was a queen. She had a big castle in a beautiful forest, with a big swimming pool. And all of the ponies who visited her were enchanted with a magic spell that turned them into the most beautiful princesses. All of the ponies loved her, and all of her princesses loved her.

Little Bubblegum's dream made her so happy that she smiled in her sleep. 

Little Bubblegum, or as she liked to be called, Queen of the Forest, slept soundly. Dreaming of her fun for the day to come." Henry, looking down upon his children, smiled as he caressed Silly and Putty's manes. "What did you think of that? Putty? Silly?" Henry asked. The two didn't answer, as they had become unresponsive.

Silly and Putty's eyes were vacant. They held to their father, hugging him close, the last thing they did while they still had control. They weren't as strong as their father, it was inebidabtle. Their father told them a story to help keep them occupied, and because he wanted to. But midway through the story Putty and Silly had stopped listening. The chaos crept and eventually took over, returning them to their ghost like, psychotic state. However, as long as their father continued talking and kept them close, they were able to feel their father's love through the chaos. It kept them at bay, his love strong enough to prevent the chaos from controlling their bodies physically. He knew the chaos had returned during the story, but chose to continue telling it anyway. He couldn't tell if they even heard him anymore, but that didn't matter. If this was the last thing he was going to do, than so be it.

It was odd, Henry felt himself crying, but his deformed body couldn't produce tears. It hurt him, his eyes welling despite being dry. Like smooth crystal balls in hot sand.

"I know I've told you . . . that story before . . . but it was always your favorite . . ." Neither responded, so Henry continued. "I hope that . . . you can hear me . . . that doctor . . . said he could help us."

His head drooped, and he had to force himself to look up. Actually having to exert energy to keep himself awake, as he felt himself growing dizzy and more tired by the moment. The chaos was returning, and it was just nearly finished consuming Henry. He had held on for as long as he could, surprised that he even managed to for this long. Perhaps it was because of his children, or that a stranger had appeared to help in his time of need. It could of been both, or neither, in fact, he couldn't remember anymore. He was losing himself, and was forgetting even the most recent events. Someone came to help, he knew that much, but he couldn't remember anything else.

Mike was probably his name, or was it Assistant? Assertive? Associate? Ast . . . something with an "A". But he was a doctor, he remembered that. But if they were reliable, he couldn't remember. They said they would help, but he had no idea if they were telling the truth or if they were actually capable of helping them. He hardly knew anything at all at this point, as he was spiraling down towards the darkest parts of his mind. The last of himself held by two single threads, that he held in his legs.

Putty and Silly, his children, his family, that which he could remember. He held them tight, determined to keep his final thoughts on them, as he felt everything grow black. His body went numb, and he felt himself falling asleep.

Henry whispered to his children, "I . . . love you both . . ."

For a moment, a single moment, Henry could feel his children's hold tightened. Startled, he calmly lifted his head slightly, enough to see his children properly. 

He didn't know how, but the sun was shinning beautifully upon his beautiful children. An almost blinding light entering into the basement. Putty, a purple colt with dark blue hair and sky blue eyes, was smiling to his father. As was Silly, tilting her head. The filly's bubblegum pink hair and eyes sparkling in the light, and her creamy white fur glowing. 

Henry blinked, feeling a lump in his throat as his eyes watered. A hoof grasped to his left and Henry turned his neck, as his reality seemed to crumble by the pony smiling to him. An impossible pony in an impossible place.

Her fur was purple like Putty's, and her eyes were pink like Silly's. She was tall, her flowing dark blue mane sparkling in the light, shinning like a starry night sky. She had a strong chiseled body, and a gentle heart. And she was crying through her smile, something Henry hadn't seen since the day they were married.

Tears fell as Henry said softly, ". . . Mara?"

Mara simply nodded in response, wrapping her legs around her family. She was tall enough to hug them all, from behind Henry to around Putty and Silly.

In his disbelief, Henry dropped his head, almost certain he couldn't feel the warmth of his family. But it felt too real, so it had to be, it must be. Looking down at his children, Henry noticed that his own body had returned to normal. He was much shorter than his wife, and only two thirds a foot taller than his children. His fur was creamy white, just like Silly's, as was his pink mane, only slightly darker than hers.

Held in Mara's legs, with Putty and Silly held in his, Henry smiled, feeling the happiest he ever had in his life. Resting his head close to his children, with Mara resting hers against Henry, Henry cried, knowing that his family would never leave him again.

That is what he saw, and that is how he felt. In his mind, the last feeling his body could manage: family love.

That wasn't the case of course. In reality, Henry was gone. His head dropped, and the life in his eyes faded. He released his children, allowing his legs to fall limp, as he appeared dead. For only a moment, before the chaos took control. Once it did, Henry looked about curiously, as if the dark basement held something he needed. He stood from the chair and walked to the exit, leaving Silly and Putty behind. The two fell to the ground limp, as the chaos felt their father's love fade. While the chaos went to retake control, Henry walked up the stairs, sniffing about like a dog. Henry shot his sights to the front door and walked out slowly. Slowly to a pony, but quite quick if he were a turtle. He wasn't, but the chaos sure made him that way.

Meanwhile, Silly blinked and rubbed her head, before gasping. She jumped to her hooves and shouted at Putty, "King!!! KING!!!!"

Putty lifted his head and rose. Rising up and floating a foot off the ground. He rose almost motionless, dead like, as if he truly were a corpse. He stared to Silly and spoke, the sound coming out without Putty needing to move his mouth. "My Queen", Putty said, his demonic voice having returned.

"WHAT HAPPENED!?! WHERE ARE THE PRINCESS!?! WHERE DID THEY GO!?!"

"My Queen, they have escaped the castle."

"WHAT!!!" Silly roared, absolutely fuming. Her mane writhing in the air like a swarm of furious snakes.

"My Queen, they have merely escaped the castle. The night has been long, they are tired and weak. We can catch them if we leave now."

"But how are we supposed to FIND THEM!?!" 

"We will need help."

Silly gasped, smiling with uncanny malice, as she knew exactly what he meant. "You don't mean- I- I CAN PLAY WITH THEM!?!"

"Yes", said Putty.

Silly cheered, and was so happy that she grabbed the chair her father sat in with her mane and chucked it across the room, smashing it to pieces against the wall. She danced in place singing to herself, "I GET TO PLAY WITH MY PRINCESSES!!! I GET TO PLAY WITH MY PRINCESSES!!!"

Meanwhile, Putty floated away from Silly and entered the basement hallway. He hovered into the dungeon with the cages, observing Silly's princesses for a moment. They were just as he had left them: resting. Resting, conserving them for when he needed them. Silly always complained about Putty leaving them in the cages. She always wants to play with them. But he couldn't allow that, not until they had enough princesses. After all, the Queen of the Forest wouldn't be complete without her princesses. They had four and were about to lose the opportunity for three more. Seven princesses for his beloved queen, it was perfect. Drastic times call for drastic measures, and now was that time to awaken his Queen's princesses.

Floating close to the bars, Putty commanded, "rise princesses. Rise now and obey your new queen. Rise! Rise! RISE!!!"

Immediately, all but Larkspur sprung to life. The conserved chaos magic awoken with great power, commencing the chaos transformation before Putty. 

The black pony's eyes sprung open and he hopped to his hooves. As he did, his legs stretched by ten feet, making him crouch to fit in his cage. His eyes turned bright blue, his teeth grew twice in size, his mane suddenly shot upwards into spikes, as if the pony had used a barrel of glue on his hair. He growled as brown, foaming chocolate milk spilled from his jowls, like he was a rabid dog.

The pink mare gasped as she awoke, before smiling, laughing manically. Her body floated upwards, allowing her to stand on her hind hooves without needing to move her body. As she stood, her hooves morphed, transforming like she was made of clay. Five stubs popped out of her hooves and grew, forming fingers. The rest of her hoof morphed into palms, and a second after she had hands. Her hind and forelegs grew, and the muscle mass of her upper half suddenly grew, enlarging to that of an adult minotaur's muscles. Simultaneously, the skin on the mares ears changed to bone and grew into sharp cone like horns. Her mane changed like a porcupine, becoming sharp, orange twines along her head and back,

Mike awoke with his jaw stretching wide. A trail of steam spewed from his mouth as a train whistle blew from his throat. His nose grew from its base but shrunk at the tip, making his muzzle appear like a pyramid with a flat top. His eyes lost all moisture and appeared like glass balls. His hind legs turned to wood and spiraled into carriage wheels, while his forelegs transformed into raven claws.

Putty watched the transformation, lasting only five seconds, before looking down to Larkspur. Larkspur was still unconscious and didn't change like the others. Leaning down to Larkspur, Putty commanded him, "you are new, but you must awaken. Awaken for your Queen. Take his body as your own and serve your Queen!"

Putty waited for moment, before he got what he wanted.

Larkspur twitched and opened his eyes slowly. Rising to his hooves, he laughed in a deep, psychotic voice, as he transformed into his own chaotic state.
> Lullabies: Part Six (S1C5)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T






The Doctor flipped a lever and swerved around his console as he explained quickly, "phoenix ponies control the temperature of the planet's core using their magic. The planet's core holds its own magic that keeps this planet alive. They don't place their magic into the core, they simply encase it. They store their magic through a volcano on Alburnia that digs deep enough for their magic to reach the core. From there it encases the core, like a shield or a shell, and that protects the core and controls its temperature to where it needs to be."

He pressed a few buttons, activating a series of code to pop onto the console monitor. Glancing at the monitor, the Doctor typed on a keyboard as he continued, "hundreds of years storing magic not only increases the magicka density, thus making it stronger, but it also leaves a surplus of excess magicka to be used for other things, so long as your a phoenix pony. Phoenix magic has almost no use to common ponies and most other species. Its also why you'd never find M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's used anywhere else other than Alburnia. Its the only place on the planet where a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T can use the excess magicka from the volcano to recharge. The only known place in the world that vents the proper phoenix magic. So its impossible for anyone else to use these off Alburnia."

The Doctor looked smugly to Dean, "unless your me of course". He pressed a particular key that made the monitor "beep", before he swerved around his console, flipping a lever and turning to Dean, who was watching the Doctor by the entrance next to Aster. "There are places that exist all over this planet. Cracks and holes that reach deep enough for me to absorb the phoenix magic. They are little to none and the ones I do find don't charge my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T as well as it would to charge directly on Alburnia; too small or fractured to allow proper ventilation. But they do exist and I, as far as I know, am the only one who have found these spots!" The Doctor shrugged, "you'd have to be a phoenix pony to find these spots anyway. Even the other elementals can't sense our magicka through these cracks, too weak for them to. Heck, even I had a hard time finding them. I've only found three.

That aside, we can use that to save the ponies who have been corrupted by chaos!"

The Doctor had explained so much information in such a short amount of time, it made Dean temporarily freeze with his jaw hanging. His eyes were wide and watering, as he didn't blink the whole time. Which was normal to him; past practice from a fast talking professor he had at the university made it easier for him to listen to large lectures that were given quickly. Had he had to write this down it would have been a bit challenging, but he still would have managed. And with his intellect, Dean heard and understood every word the Doctor said. Despite having never learned much about phoenix ponies before the Doctor, Dean still managed to follow along.

The same, however, could not be said for Aster. The information the Doctor gave at that speed was enough for Aster's mind to go blank. That is, if he were even listening. At the moment, he was currently stiff as a board. His eyes wide and jaw dropped as he stared around the console room, his astonishment blocking out anything the Doctor said.

Dean shook his head, awakening from his student stupor as he blinked his stinging eyes. "Wait, wait, how would that help our situation? So you can charge this with phoenix magic, and you can do it off of Alburnia. What's good with that?"

"Dean, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T absorbs surplus magicka. Meaning it won't absorb primary magicka, but secondary, excess, or external magicka it will absorb!"

It took him a moment to think about that, and Dean gasped as he figured it out. "Discord's chaos! It isn't the corrupted pony's magicka, its his! External magicka!"

"Precisely! Discord's magic isn't the original magic stored within those corrupted ponies! Its an external magicka that is controlling them! And we can use my M.E.I.D..P.H.A.T to absorb and remove it from them!"

Pressing a series of buttons and turning a knob, the Doctor prepared his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T as a thought occurred to Dean. "Hang on, if you can absorb chaos magicka from the corrupted, than that would mean your M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T can run off of any type of magicka. If that were true, than why charge it on those spots you mentioned? In fact, if it runs off of phoenix magic than why don't you just charge it yourself since your body produces that type of magic."

"Ah, remember what I said. It needs the "proper" phoenix magic. The magic stored in the core is strong enough to power one of these. If I tried transferring my own magicka into it nothing would happened. A phoenix pony's own personal magicka isn't nearly dense enough to power a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. You'd need an army just to manage that. Even than it probably wouldn't work for longer than a minute. As for why I don't charge it with other magicka, well . . . eh, I'm not really supposed to."

"Beg pardon?" asked Dean.

"Well you can't pop wood into a train that runs on coal. You can if you wanted to, but it won't end well. Same situation here. I can absorb chaos magic into the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, but that doesn't mean I should. Putting the wrong energy into the wrong thing would be bad! It could break, it could disrupt what your using. A train may just blow up if you use the wrong energy for too long. But trains are made tough, you'd have to abuse it for a long time before it got to that point!"

"Okay, so you can absorb the chaos magic this one time as long as you don't do it again?"

" . . . Eh . . . no, using the wrong energy on a M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T might just blow it up instantly."

"WHAT!!!"

"But don't worry! I won't let that happen! I've just recalibrated the core pulsars to reroute any sub pulsars that have absorbed energy away from the battery. It will extricate the corrupted while diverting the energy away from the important parts of my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. It will then release the chaos magic out into the sky and the corrupted will be saved!"

"That doesn't sound safe, releasing chaos magic into the sky. And, sorry, pulsars?" asked Dean. He was intelligent, but that sounded like phoenix tech, something far beyond him. 

"The primary piece of the converter that transfigures the raw magicka to a stable wavelength before calibrating the density to that of- eh- you know what, just picture that vacuum used in the woods a while ago", the Doctor said, seeing Dean having trouble keeping along.

"The one used for stealing forest animals?" 

"Yeah, that one! Just picture those animals as the energy and the vacuum is the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T."

"Right", Dean said, seeing that vacuum vividly in his mind.

"As for releasing it into the sky, yes it would absolutely be dangerous. Which is why we are going to transport away from the corrupted after we extricate them. We'll release it into the least populated area that has chaos magic. That way it won't harm anyone else and when the chaos is dealt with it will dissipate with the rest of the chaos magic without leaving any loose ends! Don't want to transport to the other side of the planet to release it, it might stay around even after Discords gone."

Dean scoffed, "you say that like you know for a fact Discords going to be defeated."

"Hey, have a little faith will you. I know the princesses will take care of him."

"How can you be so sure?"

The Doctor smiled as he reassured Dean, "trust me, everything will be alright."

The Doctor spoke with a tone Dean recognized. It was at the tip of his tongue, and took a second for him to remember. This tone the Doctor had, it bothered him, because he was aware the Doctor knew something he didn't. It didn't bother him negatively, like he had to know what the Doctor was hiding. It bothered him in a concerning way, in a way that made him wonder, "what does the Doctor know that is relevant?" Or, more importantly, "how does he know what is relevant?" That tone of his, he used it then and he's using it now. It wasn't a tone of someone simply knowing a thing that someone else did not. It was a tone that someone had when they knew something important that someone else did not. Almost like someone keeping a secret they wanted to tell. Only, the Doctor express this with confidence, rather than anxiety. Something crucial, something relevant to the matter at hand. Dean's a clever colt, and he knew he didn't really need to, but he couldn't help but ponder what the Doctor's tone was for.

Then he remembered. That tone he used, he said it verbatim, the first time they met. "Let's just say, a mare who's going to make a lot of ponies smile someday", Dean played that memory in his head. That's right, he never did figure out what the Doctor meant by that. At the time he didn't care, he just wanted to go home. Now, he was too curious not to care. There was a link and he knew it. "A mare who's going to make a lot of ponies smile someday? His confidence that Discord will be defeated? He even mentioned Discord turning into stone that one time. It's as if he knows its going to happen. That's what that tone is, not just certainty, he talks like he knows for a fact it'll happen."

Before Dean could think further, the Doctor said to the two with the final push of a button. "And there! Preparations are ready! Any questions before we begin?"

Now didn't seem like the time to question the Doctor on something that didn't seem important, so Dean shook his head no. Aster didn't respond, he was still frozen, fixed onto staring at the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

The Doctor and Dean noticed, looking to him. "Aster? Any questions?" the Doctor asked.

"Uuuuuuugh", Aster squeaked without moving.

"Aster? You alright there?" asked Dean, becoming concerned.

Aster gulped, "i- i- i- its . . . bigger."

"Bigger?" asked Dean.

"On the inside."

The Doctor nodded, understanding what he meant. "Ah, right. Yeah, yeah its bigger on the inside. Any other day I'd actually really enjoy hearing that. Are you going to be all right? I know its a lot to take in."

" . . . Is it magic?" Aster asked.

"Nnnno."

"Are we smaller?"

"No, we're not."

"Do you have a bucket?"

"No- eh, bucket?"

Aster placed a hoof to his mouth as his stomach churned suddenly, "I think I'm going to be sick!" Aster "ulped" as he felt something rise in his throat, and he quickly turned and ran out the exit.

"Wait! Aster!" the Doctor called.

"Aster! Hey!" Dean yelled, following him out.

Exiting the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, Dean found Aster hunched over, using his right leg to prop himself against the side of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. He was breathing heavy, expecting himself to get sick at any second. And he was certainly close, his body practically begging for its unpleasant release. But it wouldn't come, and all he managed was a single dry heave before covering his mouth. 

Dean approached and patted Aster's back gently. "You alright mate?"

Aster nodded and glanced to Dean, before gasping suddenly, looking past him.

Startled, Dean turned and looked to what Aster saw, and what he saw made him step back defensively as he called into the open M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. "Doctor! Doctor get out here!"

"What! What happened!?!" the Doctor shouted, galloping out. He stopped in his tracks close to Dean, feeling a foreboding sense of dread appear in his chest suddenly as he looked to who had appeared.

Dozens of meters away, from within an opening view of the scattered trees, stood Larkspur.

He was smiling and clean, practically shinning in the early most morning light. Not a scratch, not a bruise, and not the way the Doctor remembered him; unconscious back in that cage.

"L- Larkspur?" Aster stuttered, his eyes welling.

Larkspur simply tilted his head in response, smiling devilishly to his colt friend, before waving a hoof, beckoning him to approach.

All sense of rationality left him as Aster cried, darting towards his colt friend, "Larkspur!"

The Doctor and Dean both reacted too late, as they reached to stop Aster. "Wait!" Dean yelled, "Aster! Don't!!!" the Doctor yelled. The Doctor stepped forward, but Aster was already long gone. And Dean made an attempt to grab him, but swiped at air as Aster was out of reach.

His wet hooves dashing along the moist grass, Aster plunged himself into Larkspur's chest, wrapping his legs around him weeping. "L- Larkspur!!! I m- missed you so much!!!"

Caught in his emotions and refusing to let Larkspur go, Aster was unaware that the Doctor and Dean were calling to him. He didn't hear them shout his name, and he didn't hear them when they saw Larkspur change. Aster wasn't even aware of the change, he didn't feel it. 

The touch of his beloved coltfriend made his mind wonder. He imagined that they would need to rest of course, tonight would certainly take a toll on them. Afterwards, they were heading out of country without questions. And after that, they would simply relax with each other. Laying on warm grass on a cloudless summer day, resting in the shade of an apple tree, just like they did back in Equestria. Aster could practically feel that warm grass now, and the taste of those juicy apples. Most importantly, he was going to enjoy it all with his beloved Larkspur.

"ASTER!!!"

Aster heard the Doctor that time, and heard Dean shout immediately after, "Aster get away from him!!!"

Aster looked over his shoulder, confused. Before he could call out, and ask them what they were saying, the Doctor shouted, "he's corrupted, Aster! He's corrupted!"

At that, Aster felt his heart stop, as the comforting touch of his coltfriend suddenly turned dark. It felt as if he had just blindly stuck his leg into a snake hole. Frightening him enough to keep him from looking back to Larkspur. "W- W- What?" Aster said, hoping he had misheard them.

"That isn't Larkspur! That isn't your coltfriend!!!" Dean shouted.

His mind went blank, before the reality of the situation crashed into him. Slowly, forcefully, Aster mustered the courage to look to Larkspur eye to eye. 

What he saw terrified him, and he wanted to scream. But it was caught in his throat as he was scared stiff. He could feel his heart beating out of his chest, and his mind turned fuzzy, turned stone cold in terror.

What Aster saw was indeed Larkspur, just not the Larkspur he had expected, nor the one he saw just a second ago. Larkspur stared back into Aster with yellow eyes, his irises changed into a piercing red. He sprouted a hetero pair of horns; one a light blue, twisted goat horn, and the other an antler. His eyebrows turned white and enlarged, growing bushy and hanging off his face. He also sprouted a long chin beard to match, just as white and bushy as his brows. A single tooth enlarged as well, big enough to poke out from the top of his mouth. It was only his face that changed, everything else about Larkspur remained the same. 

Though Aster was frightened for the obvious, the Doctor and Dean were afraid for a different reason. The two having recognized that face, Larkspur's face, the day that Mane City fell.

"Is that?" Dean was about to ask.

The Doctor answered sternly, perturbed through gritted teeth, "Discord!"

Larkspur cackled as he grabbed Aster by the fur on his chest suddenly. Aster gasped before feeling all his breath leave him, as Larkspur lifted him a foot off the ground. In one swift motion, Larkspur turned right by the waist, swinging around and chucking Aster like a bag of trash. Aster collapsed and rolled, stopping a foot from the Doctor and Dean.

"Aster!" Dean yelled, rushing to Aster's aid. 

Dean knelt to Aster and check on him as Aster rubbed his chest, where his fur was pulled by Larkspur. Meanwhile, the Doctor remained fixed on Larkspur, the two glaring each other in the eye. The Doctor looking focused, concentrated, preparing himself for anything. And Larkspur, smiling maliciously, enjoying the sight of the Doctor in this state of unease.

Standing on his hind hooves, Larkspur howled in laughter, echoing through the forest. The three noticed it wasn't just his face that had changed, but his voice as well, but only the Doctor and Dean recognized it. It was far deeper and had a cynical tone to it. Of course, to the Doctor it made sense. His face changed to appear as Discord, and he had his voice to match as well. 

That, however, did leave the Doctor with a question. He called out to Larkspur, "chaos magic. Random, unpredictable, chaotic! Everypony with it inside them changes, and it differs from pony to pony. Brother and sister into ghosts, a father turned into a turtle. But you, your surely unpredictable with your change, I'll give you that. But you know what doesn't fit the bill as "chaos": copycat!" The Doctor took a step forth, pointing to Larkspur. "Discord doesn't like "copycats"! He's the only spirit of chaos in this world and he'll be sure to let you know that! Now, I have seen hundreds of corrupted but you are the first to appear as Discord. So, what makes you so special?"

The Doctor paused a moment, waiting for an answer. Larkspur glared back, snickering beneath his breath. But he didn't answer, and it only served to irritate the Doctor. "Come on! Answer! Discords crazy, but not "clone other ponies into myself" crazy! Because honestly, when you think about it, that's not crazy enough. An army of Discords? No, no, no, that's too organized. Not to mention that the original Discord wouldn't have the spotlight to himself, so! I'll ask you again! What makes you special? What makes you worth looking like Discord?"

"AHHHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!" a shrill laugh startled them, appearing suddenly.

From behind a tree came the filly phantom: Silly. Her mane waving about excitedly, as she stepped into view from the thickens. A foot to her left, the stallion phantom appeared as well. Floating from behind a tree, as emotionless as ever, was Putty.

"Oh no", Dean muttered.

"I- Its them!!!" Aster yelled, clutching to Dean's leg fearfully.

The Doctor took a step to Aster and Dean protectively, keeping an eye on the twins and Larkspur at the same time.

Silly's neck twitched, her front completely wet and sticky in dark chocolate milk, drooling like a fountain from her open, smiling mouth. "Silly, silly, PRINCESSES!!!" she roared, stomping her hoof. "Did you think you could escape from my kingdom? AHHHH HA HA HA HA!!! NO!!!" Suddenly, her tone turned sharp as she shouted aggressively. "NO PONY IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE MY KINGDOM!!! NO PONY!!! THIS FOREST IS MINE!!! AND ALL WHO ENTER WILL BE MY PRINCESSES!!!"

"Silly", the Doctor said, trying to reason with her. "I know your mad but listen. Something bigger is happening here and I don't know what it is! It could be dangerous for all I know so I need you to let us go-"

"Let you- PFFFFTTTAAAAAAHHHHHH HA HA HA HA HA!!! LET YOU GO!!! NO PONY!!! LEAVES!!! MY!!! FOREST!!!"

"Silly I promise we aren't trying to escape! If you just let us go than we can help-"

"ENOUGH!!!" Silly roared. "I've had enough of you! Princesses! Take them!" Silly commanded, pointing to the three.

Suddenly, sporadic sounds blasted around. From each direction, one of the three other corrupted ponies appeared, stepping out from behind trees. The one with wheels stood behind them, the black one with long legs stood to their right, and the mare with hands stood close to Larkspur, a dozen feet to his left. From each direction the Doctor, Dean, and Aster, were surrounded.

Dean could feel Aster shaking, as they both looked to the corrupted around them. The Doctor spun once, looking around to each of them, before looking back to Silly quizzically. "You . . . you can control them?"

Silly laughed, mistaking the Doctor's concern for fear, "awww!!! Are you scared!?!"

The Doctor pressed on, taken off so by the other corrupted that he nearly lost his words. "No . . . that's . . . that's not right. These corrupted, they're . . . following your commands? How?"

Silly tilted her head, giving the Doctor a look, as if the answer was obvious. "How? I'm the Queen of the Forest!!! And they are my princesses!!! That's why!!!"

The Doctor shook his head, "no . . . no, no, no, there's only one creature who can control the corrupted. This is impossible!" He glanced to the corrupted, all of them cackling like the maniacs they were, as he pondered. No one should be able to control the corrupted. No one, except for the spirit of chaos. The Doctor found it odd that Silly and Putty were the only corrupted attacking tonight, but he didn't complain. At the time it seemed fortunate he had less corrupted to deal with, give him a better chance at figuring out what was happening. Had he known the reason they weren't attacking was because they were under Silly and Putty's control, he would have looked further into why those corrupted were in the cages.

Glaring to Silly, the Doctor felt his time to ponder was limited, so he tried a different approach to calm her down. "Silly please listen, we want to help you! We can save all of you from the chaos Discord has planted inside you!"

"I don't want your help!!!" Silly roared, stomping the ground hard. "I want you and your friends to be my princesses!!!"

"But why? Why do you want everypony to be princesses?"

Silly tilted her head, "why? Why!?! Because I'm the Queen of the Forest, that's what I do! I turn ponies into princesses!"

"But what if we don't want to be princesses?"

Silly laughed, "everypony wants to be princesses!"

"No, not this pony, not me or Dean or Aster."

Silly frowned and paused a moment, before replying softly. "You . . . don't want to be a princess?"

"No Silly, I don't, none of us do. Aster wants his friend back, and Dean and I just want to leave so we can find my friend". The Doctor took a step towards Silly, "my friend is a lot like you. Your queen of the forest and she's . . . a ruler in her own sense. She cares for others and wants the best for ponies. If she were a queen like you, she wouldn't force ponies to change into the way she wants them to, because that's wrong. A true queen accepts a pony for who they are. They don't force them into something else just because they want to. Just because they see fit.

Silly, listen to me, stop this please! You can be a true queen, you just have to show your subjects kindness. Please Silly?" the Doctor asked, waiting a moment, hoping that Silly would listen.

It was possible that she had listened. Silly was still in there deep down, and the Doctor had hoped that that part of her would hear his message. To reach out and help them, so that the Doctor could save them. He had hoped this would be the case. But than again the Doctor knew that, in terms of making a connection to Putty and Silly, they weren't nearly as strong as their father. He had taken a chance, a blind swing in the dark, but it didn't work.

Silly ignored everything he said. She placed a hoof to her chin, acting as if she was thinking, genuinely pondering if she should listen to the Doctor. A moment later, however, she immediately denied him. "Mmmmmm, no, I already am a true queen! Princesses! Get them!!!"

The corrupted slowly marched forth, taking there time walking towards them. Purposely, to scare them, as Silly was amused by their expressions of fear.

Aster stood up and ran into the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, limping as he felt the impact of being thrown earlier strike through his leg. Dean followed behind, and turned back to the Doctor, half of his body standing on the inside of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. "Doctor! Come on!"

"Sorry, but hiding in there won't protect us", said the Doctor, keeping his eyes on as many of the corrupted as possible. Which was difficult, as he had to spin around every so often to do so.

"But the shields-"

"They won't work! I used them once against Silver's vines and that consumed a lot of power! We don't have enough!"

"But the M.I.E.DP.H.A.T can absorb-"

"Chaos magic won't power the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T! Even than it takes time to do that! And it won't be able to while its under attack!"

The Doctor spun again, looking to each approaching corrupted. He knew they approached slowly to induce fear, but he couldn't deny it was working. The strain of formulating a plan while surrounded; seconds most he assumed he had to figure out something. 

The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T couldn't protect them, not while it was low on power from Silver's vines back in the swamp. He couldn't transport away, he still needed to save the corrupted. And of course, there was Larkspur. All the questions the Doctor had answered tonight, and yet Larkspur's appearance only brought a dozen more to him.

Everything about this was wrong, and not just Larkspur. It didn't make sense, why he would appear as Discord. But, what was equally puzzling, was the corrupted. There's only one leader to the corrupted, and that's Discord. Yet, right now, they weren't following his orders.

"How long will it take!?!" Dean yelled.

"About a minute", the Doctor replied.

"Wha- but they'll attack-!"

"I know!"

"How did you expect to save them knowing they would attack us!?!"

"I knew the twins would but not the others!"

"Why would you think that!?!"

"Because it doesn't make sense! If corrupted were going to attack us than they would! But only now they do under Silly's command!? That's not how it works! Discord's supposed to be the leader! Why can Silly and Putty control their own corrupted? Only Discord should-" the Doctor stopped. It hit him suddenly; that's right, only Discord could control his corrupted. He had never heard of the corrupted controlling their own corrupted. 

That suddenly brought several things to mind. Everything that had transpired last night and this morning didn't make sense. Discord uses chaos magic to corrupt ponies. The corrupted spread chaos magic from pony to pony, a curse that works like a plague. But these corrupted, Silly and Putty, they do not spread the chaos as the other corrupted do. They corrupt and imprison their corrupted, locking them in cages. And only now the Doctor figured out why, to keep them at bay in their cages until the time comes when Silly and Putty see fit to use them. That's not the mission Discord implemented.  

This curse, this mission, imprinted by Discord himself. He implemented this command, only he can alter or change it as the bearer of the curse's origin. The Doctor can remove it, but nothing more. A talk with the pony held deep down within the chaos, also possible. But to place a secondary command that would allow the corrupted to capture their own corrupted? He had seen the chaos work in action from afar, but this, this was new to him . . . unless.

A thought came to mind. A coincidence? Perhaps not. Because if Discord could implement a command into his chaos curse, than why couldn't he place a secondary one? Perhaps that had something to do with what Silly said earlier.


"Doctor who, I knoooow yoooouuu!"


And he remembered Putty saying something similar.


" . . . We know you . . . Doctor who. We know you . . ."


As he said to Putty, he wouldn't forget about that. He pondered at lightning speed. Why do Putty and Silly know who he is? There are a lot who know who he is or have at least heard the stories. But he found it hard to believe that two young children know about him. His parents could have told him, but he couldn't imagine a parent telling their children a story involving him. He found himself involved in treacherous life or death adventures, adventures that would surely give children nightmares. Their parents could clean the stories a bit, make them child friendly. Even so, stories about him have never really traveled to Mane City, as far as he knew. But that wasn't it, Putty and Silly couldn't know who he was. So why say they knew him than? 

The Doctor assumed they wouldn't know him, they were too young. But he did know of someone who was far from young. Someone who had lived for over a hundred years. That someone, was all around him.

It struck him, as he realized what Putty and Silly meant. The Doctor went wide eyed and turned, looking to each of the corrupted approaching closer. They were near, with only fifteen feet left before closing in on he and those in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

He looked to Larkspur and knew what this meant. He knew why Larkspur had changed to appear as Discord, and he knew why Silly and Putty knew who he was, and why they have been capturing ponies for themselves instead of Discord. Partly, it was a theory, partly, he knew it had to be right, and mostly, looking at his situation, he didn't have much of a choice but to act now.

The Doctor pointed to Larkspur and shouted, "you never answered! What makes you so special that you made yourself look like Discord!" He glanced to the others, he only had twelve feet left. He noticed that Dean had ran inside, watching alongside Aster within the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. They stood by the console, standing at, what they felt as, a safe distance away from the danger outside while being able to see what happens.

The Doctor licked his lips before continuing. "But maybe I should ask! What makes us so special!?! Why of all the ponies that Discord has corrupted, why have you changed to appear as him for us?"

Larkspur smiled and stopped suddenly, remaining fixed at ten feet while the others marched on.

Putty and Silly noticed, the two now looking to Larkspur. Both were confused, but only Silly expressed it as she shouted, "what are you doing!?! GET THEM!!!"

It was obvious Larkspur heard, but he ignored her command, a sign the Doctor was hoping for. He continued, speaking quickly, "Putty and Silly knew who I am. How is it possible that two children know who I am? Well its obvious: they don't. But last night I was able to talk to someone who broke free from the chaos you know why that is? Because deep down that pony is still in there. A box over an apple, chaos that covers and traps the true pony inside- but! That begs the question: what exactly is the box?" the Doctor took another glance.

Eight feet, before they close in on him. They were screaming and laughing, and at this distance the Doctor could feel bits and splatters of chocolate milk spray on him. He didn't have time, but he knew how to stop them. He needed to bring out this group's true leader.

Six feet left, the Doctor spoke quicker, "the ponies are the apple, the box is chaos and chaos is Discord!" Larkspur laughed aloud, stretching his forelegs out wide, as if he was enjoying what the Doctor had to say. "These ponies are still there deep down but chaos traps them therefore Discord traps them. This curse is created with his magicka therefore a little bit of Discord is inside you all!"

Three feet left, the corrupted giggle, laughed, chuckled, shook and spewed chocolate milk about, as they reached out to grab the Doctor. "It wasn't them who know who I am, its you! But you couldn't remember at the time! You force magic into them, pieces of magic, with bits of you- AAAAAAAGH!!!"

"Doctor!" Dean and Aster screamed.

Each corrupted pony grabbed the Doctor at once. And from each of the three corrupted, the Doctor felt chaos magic pierce into him from all directions. His front, back, and side, attacked by that familiar boiling oil feeling, as chaos magic flowed forcefully into him.

He screamed in agony and fell to his hind knees. His vision blurred, and his peripherals faded black. But he refused to fall, forcing himself to stay awake, as he shouted to Larkspur with all his might. "Ggggrrrraaaaagh!!! Bits of you!!! Bits of you carrying bits of your memory! But there's plenty of you now so you remember! You remember me- you know who I am- you know my name! I! AM! THE DOCTOR!!!"

Instantaneously, the Doctor felt the chaos forcefully suctioned out of him, flowing and returning to the three corrupted ponies. The Doctor experienced the same feeling Dean had, like his inside were being ripped from him, with the incredible speed the chaos had leaving his body. He gasped and fell on his front, laying there as his breath returned up to him.

The three corrupted ponies froze suddenly and walked backwards. Almost robotic like, they stepped away from the Doctor, unnaturally emotionless, as if they suddenly went brain dead.

Silly looked to her corrupted, baffled. Both twins were taken off guard, enough so that even Putty reacted. His eyes narrowed, glaring to his queens corrupted, confused. Silly jumped up and down angrily, shouting at her princesses, "what are you doing!?! I said GET THEM!!!" The corrupted didn't respond, remaining fixed like statues as they looked to the ground, staring at nothing. Putty floated forth a few feet and spoke, commanding the corrupted, "obey your queen!" Still, the corrupted did not respond.

Shaking her head, Silly shouted, "why! Aren't! they! LISTENING!!!"

"Silly, silly, Silly- Ah Ha Ha! What a perfect name for a silly little filly!"

The twins turned their focus to Larkspur, and the Doctor took this opportunity to jump to his hooves and trot backwards away from the corrupted, close enough to his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T to let his left leg stand inches on the inside. 

The Doctor glared cautiously to Larkspur, Dean looked at him past the Doctor, afraid, Aster stared at his coltfriend, confused and concerned for Larkspur's well being, and with their attention on him Putty's eyes were narrow as he glared, and Silly stared while absolutely fuming.

With all eyes on him, Larkspur beamed a satisfied smile to each of them before laughing aloud. He then stared them down with psychotic eyes. Yet, psychotic as they were he did not appear out of his mind. Absolutely mad perhaps, and yet, the look he gave, it was as if he was aware that he was the most clever one here. He looked crazy, yet masterful. He was in control, he had the power, and he was more than happy to show it off. 

Larkspur spoke to them all in what was clearly Discord's voice, "oh my, weren't expecting this now were you?"

" . . . Discord?" the Doctor asked, breathing anxiously.

Larkspur walked calmly to the corrupted as he said to the Doctor, smirking, "Wrong- o Doc! Im only here in spirit! But you already figured that out, didn't you?"

" . . . Still had to check."

"YOU!!!" Silly roared, pointing at Larkspur, who was admiring the corrupted mare like an artist would with his work. "YOU DID THIS!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY PRINCESSES!!!"

Larkspur looked over to Silly and sighed sarcastically, "tsk, tsk, tsk. My beloved Queen, I had such a fun time making you! But had I known you would have had such a temper, I might have made you into a wicked witch!"

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!!!"

"Now, now, silly filly, you don't want me to put you in time out, do you?" Larkspur said, smiling in a way that practically begged for Silly to attack.

She responded as Larkspur hoped she would: growling and charging at him with her hair thrashing madly. "YOU WILL OBEY ME!!!"

Larkspur stood to his hind legs, practically shaking with excitement, as he pointed his right leg to Silly. The moment he did, Silly stopped in her tracks. Like a wizard brandishing his wand, she was under his spell, frozen four feet from Larkspur. Under his command, he had Silly sit on her rear, frozen in a blank state like the other corrupted.

Larkspur saw what was coming and pointing to Putty as well, who floated fast to come to his queen's aid. Foreseeing Putty's attack, Larkspur stopped him before he had the chance to get close and he too was frozen, falling to the ground and laying on his front in a blank state, several feet behind his queen.

Larkspur blew to his hoof as if he were blowing smoke out the barrel of a gun, before standing on all fours and looking back to the Doctor. "Well that was fun! So! Where were we?"

"Doctor, what just happened?" Dean asked. Inside the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, Dean and Aster had only seen part of the display. They saw Larkspur and the corrupted just fine, but they missed the twins fall under Larkspur's spell.

"Larkspur stopped Putty and Silly, they won't try to harm us anymore", the Doctor explained.

"What!?" said Aster.

"How'd he do that!?" Dean asked.

"Like I said, bits and pieces of Discord inside of them all."

" . . . . Sorry, what!?" Aster repeated, he and Dean not following at all.

"Oooooh! Is this the part where you explain to your friends what's happening?" Larkspur said excitedly, as he zoomed in front of his corrupted so they wouldn't get in the way of his show. "Oh I love this part! The other ponies don't understand what's happening so your going to have to tell them! But we both know why you really have to do this". Larkspur lifted his hoof and waited a moment, as if something was going to happen. When nothing did, he looked to his hoof confused before sighing. "Oh right, no fingers. Oh well, guess I can enjoy the show without popcorn". Larkspur sat on his rear, watching excitedly for the Doctor to begin.

Neither of the two inside noticed how uneasy the Doctor looked, who didn't bother to hide it. Just like the others, the replicate Discord before him had put him off, but far worse than the others could imagine, and not for the reason they could ever fathom. Not out of fear, but concern. And not for safety either, as the Doctor knew they were safe. But that did nothing to put him at ease. Despite setting the pieces straight, everything that was happening now, it was all wrong.

He spoke seriously, and carefully, "right . . . right, okay". He explained to the others over his shoulders, not daring to look away from Larkspur. "As you know, Discord uses his chaos magic to control others. And as you know Discord does this by placing his own magicka into the ponies he corrupts.

Magicka is categorized depending on its origin: phoenix pony magicka, tribal pony magicka, alicorn magicka, etcetera, etcetera. But even so, magicka, categorized or not, is still unique in its own way if it is inside of someone. I'm a phoenix pony, so I use phoenix pony magic with my phoenix fire, A.K.A, phoenix magicka. However, this magicka has been inside of me since I was born, and throughout life your magicka evolves into a uniqueness that defines you. If you were, say, a pony that steals other ponies magicka, you would most likely see remnants of their life or would have episodes having their personality or their thoughts or their emotions. My magicka is phoenix pony magic, but my magicka is also me!"

"So when Discord placed his magicka into all of the corrupted ponies, he's also putting a little bit of himself inside them too?" asked Dean.

"Exactly!" said the Doctor.

"And than he's going to ask-" Larkspur predicted.

"But, that means that Discord . . . he knows who you are?"

"And there it is!" Larkspur cheered, predicting correctly.

The Doctor almost fell into a ponder, but kept his unbearable puzzlement at bay as he said with half certainty, "I . . . so it seems". He stop himself from hesitating as he asked Larkspur, "how do you know me?"

Larkspur tilted his head, looking innocent. "Oh Doc, if I tell you that it would spoil the story."

"Story? What story?" asked Dean.

"Don't worry about it, that's just his way of saying he won't tell us", the Doctor said quickly.

Dean shook his head, confused. "Wha- but wha- eh- alright. He knows you and now Discord is, what, talking to us through Larkspur?"

"In a way."

"But why?"

"Bits of him were placed into everyone he corrupts and that is a lot of ponies! One or two he could probably project himself properly but hundreds of thousands? The most he could most likely manage is to slip small fragments of himself to each pony. It would take several of them to be grouped together, like they are now, in order for Discord to project himself properly. That's what he meant that he's "only here in spirit". With enough of his corrupted, Discord can use his magicka to mimic himself. He's not truly here, but his magicka acts in the same way he would as if he truly was here. A perfect replica"

"Well, I wouldn't say that", said Larkspur, frowning at his lack of fingers.

"Yes but why now? Why change Larkspur into him? Why . . . just, why? Why is he here at all!?!"

"Well, the obvious is because he didn't have enough corrupted grouped together to project himself properly. His corrupted knew who I was because of those fragments of him, but none were able to create anything more than that, bits and pieces of his memory, without bringing together more corrupted to piece those fragments together. But, I guess that's not what you meant. Why he's here, why he's actually here, well, its because of me of course."

"Because- what! How are you involved!?!"

Larkspur laughed, "and here it is! The part that everyone wants to know!"

"Part?" asked Dean.

"The part everyone wants to know of course! Why oh why would I humble you of all ponies with my presence! Why would Discord appear before the Doctor of all ponies! What does the Doctor and Discord have in common? Hmmmm?" Larkspur waited for the Doctor to respond.

There was a pause, and the Doctor asked slowly, "I assume . . . your not going to tell me?

Larkspur scoffed, "and ruin the fun! Pah- lease! This is great! The Doctor! Defender of the Keep! Young and clueless like a baby! Hahahaha!"

"Defender of the Keep?"

Larkspur stopped laughing abruptly, and looked serious for a moment. "Wait, you don't know?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" the Doctor asked, becoming short in his frustration, and with being completely lost.

"Defender of the Keep? You honestly don't know?" There was a second of pause, and Larkspur continued asking, "what about the Almighty Shield? Or the Oncoming Storm? Hmmm?" Again he waited for a response, only for the Doctor to answer with an expression of utter bewilderment. So, Larkspur asked, "what about: the Doctor of War."

Clearly, the Doctor was still lost, so Larkspur frowned as realization dawned on him. "You . . . you don't know . . . you really have no idea what I'm talking about, do you!" His frowned turned to a smirk as he asked, "now I have to know! How old are you doc? Two hundred? One fifty? Mmmmm, with those wrinkles I'm gonna say your reaching your expiration date so . . . . two hundred and fourteen! Is that it!? Am I close!?"

With everything Larkspur said, the Doctor felt himself trapped. Placed somewhere he deeply feared, and it made him hesitate to answer. He didn't know if he should tell Larkspur his age because he feared of the response he might receive. So, he attempted to change the topic back to what he truly wanted to know. "Everything that happened tonight, the twins capturing these ponies in the forest, locking them in cages, is this all because Discord knows me? Why!?!"

Larkspur frowned, "oh you are such a spoil sport! Fine! I'm just going to say Two hundred and leave it at that!" His smile returned as he answered, "yes yes its because I know who you are! There, happy?"

"So . . . Discord really does know me?"

"I just- didn't you hear!?" Larkspur cupped his hooves, shouting, "I know you Doctor Who!"

"But how!?! How do you know who I am!?! And how did you know I would be here for you to get to me!"

Larkspur laughed, "please doc! My ideas are good but no one is that good! I have small groups of my corrupted scattered all throughout Equestria in the hopes that you'd find yourself coming across one. And for awhile I was concerned you wouldn't show but, as luck would have it, here you are! Appearing out of the blue in a group I had placed in a forest! Outside of Equestria! Ha! Of all the places I could have found you its in a forest in the dead of night!"

Larkspur laughed, "oh and what a night it was! I can see everything that happened in here!" Larkspur said, pointing to his head. "Oh, boy! What a night you three had! Running through the forest, fireworks, a spooky house! Fearing for your lives! Trying to solve a mystery! Oh! I'd give all the bits in the world to see more of these adventures! It'd be like watching a show!"

"But why!?! Why go through all of this just to find me!?!" the Doctor asked, practically shouting.

"Why? So I can see you of course!" 

"See- you . . . you wanted to see me?" the Doctor asked, feeling his heart sink.

Larkspur noticed how uneasy that made the Doctor feel, and based on the smile he gave it was clear that filled him with satisfaction. "Yes doc, because I wanted to see you."

"But . . . why? We've never met, we don't have anything to do with- what- what's so funny?"

Larkspur suddenly burst into a laughing fit, and it took a full minute before he could catch his breath. Wiping away a tear, Larkspur said through chuckles. "We- we- we've never- never met! BWAHAHAHAHAAA!!! Ohhh my goodness! I knew you were young, but I had no idea you were this young!" Larkspur smiled deviously to the Doctor, which felt threatening to him. "No wonder you don't know anything, your just a baby! You really aren't like the Doctor I knew."

The Doctor went wide eyed, as this information practically shot him in the face. "Wha- Doctor!?! What do you mean "the Doctor you knew!?!"

Larkspur waved his hoof, "no, no, no more teasing. If you want to find out more, your just going to have to come talk to me. Face, to, face. Oh! Would you look at that!"

Larkspur pointed to the sky and the Doctor looked to see. Unexpectedly, what Larkspur was pointing to was the sun.

The Doctor suddenly realized what time it was. After arriving at the forest seven forty the other day, it was now eight o clock in the morning, over twelve hours of being in this forest.

The clouds had blown away, leaving the sky clear. The forest was already warming up in the summer sun. Drops of dew and precipitation from the night before scented the forest in a moist, early morning grass and bark. The forest returning to its warm and welcoming atmosphere still made the Doctor feel uneasy. The forest may be beautiful, but standing here before a projection of Discord, hearing the things he's heard, this place felt awfully eerie. Like a dark foreshadowing, taking away the pleasure that this nature would have otherwise given.

"Sun butts brought the sun up. Guess that means you should go now", said Larkspur.

Surprised, the Doctor said to Larkspur, "wait a minute, I've still got questions-"

"I'll only hold them for another minute. Better leave now before I let them give you some of my chaos!" Larkspur said, grinning mischievously.

"Wait! I need to know-"

"Three, four, five, six", Larkspur started to count.

"Son of a!" the Doctor growled, stomping his hoof and galloping into his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

"Watch your language Doc! You wanna keep your story at least a little age appropriate, don't you!?"

Flipping levers and turning knobs, the Doctor activated his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, hearing the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T respond in its signature, metallic groan.

"Wait! What's-"

"No time!" the Doctor cut Dean off. 

"But what did-"

The Doctor took a moment to stop and look to Dean, "Dean! I don't even know what's happening! Believe me I'll figure it out later! For now I need to remove the chaos from them!"

Hearing that, Aster gasped and ran passed them to the exit. The other two saw him last minute and shouted: "Wait!" "stop!" Too late, Aster pounced into Larkspur's chest, shouting, "Larkspur!"

Even Discord's projection didn't expect that, and nearly lost his balance when Aster leapt into him. He chuckled, "well well! Guess I've got me a date to the gala!"

"Aster get back here!" the Doctor shouted.

"No!" 

"Aster-"

"Get rid of the chaos!" Aster shouted, tears welling in his eyes.

The Doctor hesitated, before groaning loudly and returning to typing on his monitor key board.

"What about-"

"I'll get rid of the chaos and Aster will have Larkspur anyway! In or out makes no difference! Besides, its his choice!" the Doctor explained, cutting Dean off.

With a final flip of a switch, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was ready. Groaning and screeching, the interior shook while the outside made an electric "hummm". From outside, Larkspur and Aster watched as the guard box levitated, floating high above the trees. It then tilted slightly, positioning its bottom to point to the corrupted, aimed like a crossbow. The Doctor had adjusted the interior gravity so that, when the box tilted, he and Dean would remain leveled with the ground and not feel it tilt. 

"Here we go!" the Doctor shouted, pressing a button. Wirring and groaning, the bottom humming louder and louder, a small hole opened from the bottom of the box, revealing a large, metal sphere inside. The sphere projected a violet, purple light that illuminated a beam on Aster and the corrupted. Aster didn't feel it, but the others did. A moment later, the beam felt cold to the corrupted. They felt it grip to them, like hands made of ice. The chaos flowed through their cores, up to their hearts, and out of their chest. Like dark, shadow like steam, the chaos magic exited their bodies and flowed along the beam, wiggling like tadpoles through a stream. The chaos flowed to the box and entered the metallic sphere, sucked into the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's systems. The beam continued its suction for a minute, before the steam of chaos stopped. The last bits left the corrupts, and as soon as it did they each fell one by one, unconscious. Except for Larkspur.

Larkspur felt the magic leave his body, and he fell limp into Aster's body. Smiling to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, the projection felt itself reduce to nothing. With only seconds left, Larkspur shouted loud enough for the Doctor to hear, "see you in Mane City, DOCTOR!" He laughed loudly, which faded to a chuckle, then faded to a weak giggle, before Larkspur's eyes closed, and he too fell unconscious.

Hearing Larkspur, the Doctor frowned, before he heard his monitor "beep!" He glanced to the monitor and flipped a switch before looking to Dean, "that's all of it! Now we need to transport somewhere to release the chaos!"

The Doctor pressed some buttons, returning the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T exterior to float upright again, before running to the other side of his console. A few knobs turned, buttons pressed, a lever flipped, the Doctor worked fast and checked his monitor frequently, making sure to transport his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T to a good spot. He pointed to the exit and said to Dean, "close the door!"

Dean nodded and ran to the open exit.

From the outside Aster watched as the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T disappeared. It groaned and faded, disappearing in and out of existence, before it was gone entirely. Even after, Aster heard a few echoing groans before even the sound faded.

It took a minute before Aster registered that it was over, that the night was done and that they were safe. Aster took a deep breath and noticed his ears were ringing. A whole night of shouting, screaming, running, and now, all of a sudden, a quiet, calm, sunny forest. No more screaming, no more running, everything was calm. Even the birds were awakening and chirping throughout the forest.

His body noticed as well that everything was suddenly winding down, and it made Aster realize how sore he was. His back hurt where Silly had almost captured him last night, and his leg felt sprained when Larkspur threw him. That reminded him, looking down, Aster tapped Larkspur's cheek gently. "Larkspur! Hey Larkspur!"

Suddenly, as quickly as he had changed, Aster saw Larkspur return to his normal self before his very eyes. It was uncomfortable to watch, Larkspur's horns shrinking and popping off his head like old scabs, his excess hair on his eyebrows shriveling before falling off, his beard practically plummeted like a prop without glue, and his hair transitioned to its original color. 

As soon as Larkspur was returned to normal, Aster looked around and noticed that everyone else was changing as well. The pony with wheels had his legs return, the mare with hands had hooves again, and the dark pony shifted back to his normal size. Looking to the twins, Aster saw as Silly and Putty returned to their normal bodies as well. The two twins shrunk down, their fur grew back, their eye colors returned, and eventually, the two looked like normal children again. As with the others, as Aster looked to everyone, they all had returned back to normal ponies again.

As unsettling as it was to watch it did make him feel happy enough to want to cry, and he placed a hoof to his mouth, stifling a small sob as his eyes welled. "He did it . . . he really, actually did it!"

"Uuuugh, wha- huh?" Larkspur groaned, stirring.

Aster gasped and wrapped Larkspur in a tight grip, hugging him around his chest. "Larkspur! Your awake!"

Aster's tight hug made him lose his breath, and Larkspur choked slightly, "A- Aster!"

"Oops! Sorry", said Aster, loosening his hug.

Larkspur returned his hug, holding Aster around his body, as he smiled to his coltfriend. He frowned suddenly as he noticed the cuts and bruises Aster had. "What happened to you! You look like you've gone through tarterus!"

Aster giggled, "something like that."

Larkspur took a moment to look around and noticed all of the unconscious ponies. "W- What happened!" He looked to Aster, "where are we? H- How did we get here?"

Aster pecked his coltfriend's lips, both silencing and calming him. Smiling, Aster assured him, "its a long story! But I think I'll have time to tell you when were in Marzipan."

"Um, okay?" said Larkspur, clearly confused.

Aster looked over to the other ponies. The chaos was gone, they had turned back to normal, they were all safe. He, his colt friend, and those that were corrupted. That's when he remembered about the twins. He gasped, "oh dear!" as it struck him. With everything that happened he realized that Henry was not here. Therefore, Henry did not have his chaos released from him like everyone else did. 

"What? What's the matter?" Larkspur asked, worried.

Aster thought for a moment, before he sighed. "After all that, we still couldn't save him."

"Um, sorry?" Larkspur asked, not following.

Distracted in his ponder, Aster didn't respond as he thought aloud. "But . . . we saved his children . . . and that's what he wanted . . . what he fought so long for". Remembering last nights events, Henry's struggle through chaos and his research in the forest lab to save his children, only to fall into chaos himself in the end, it put a lot of weight onto Aster's heart. And it only worsened as he knew Henry was out there somewhere, and he was still a turtle. As was his wife, probably in Mane City at this moment, corrupted herself. The children were saved, but now parentless, and Larkspur felt Aster's tears fall on him. In response, Larkspur hugged Aster, comforting him. 

Clearly Aster had been through something, but whatever it was he felt that now was, perhaps, not the right time to ask about it. So he spoke soothingly while stroking Aster's mane, "everything's alright Aster . . . whatever it is that's bothering you, I'll help you, okay?"

On the brink of crying, his tears fell, but Aster held it in. He sighed contently and relaxed in his coltfriend's embrace, still thinking in his ponder. A moment later, Aster asked softly, "you'll . . . you'll help me?"

"Of course! Whatever's bothering you I'll help you!" Larkspur responded.

Aster thought for a moment more before he decided what he thought was best. Wiping away his tears, Aster leaned back, looking Larkspur in his eyes and smiling. "You said you liked kids, right? When we were baking for your younger cousin's birthday?"

"Um, yeah, I did. Why do you ask?"

Aster pointed to the twins, both of who remained unconscious, "how do you feel about babysitting for awhile?"

That's what he decided to. He would care for them until he could return them to their father. Explaining to them about the whole ordeal may be a challenge, but despite everything, he was sure they would have fun in Marzipan with them otherwise. At least, he would do his best to help them have fun. Or, to help them from not thinking about everything they've been through.

He'll bring the twins with him to Marzipan. When Equestria is safe, he and Larkspur will bring them back and find their father. In the meantime, the Doctor and Dean will dispense the chaos somewhere and will be on their way. He wasn't sure where they were going to go exactly, and realized suddenly that he wasn't even sure he would see them again. It would be nice to, with how great of ponies they are. But if he doesn't, at least they were able to accomplish something amazing during the time they were here. 

Larkspur looked over to the unconcscious children, before giving his coltfriend a bewildered look, " . . . . come again?"

His look and tone made Aster giggle, and he couldn't feel any better. His coltfriend was safe, the children were safe, and most of the corrupted ponies were safe. They couldn't save Henry, but they sure did their best, including Aster.

That thought lingered, and for a moment it repeated in his head. "I helped saved them. I did my best, and I helped save them!"

It was a beautiful feeling he didn't realize he could ever have. Ponies were in danger, and he did his best and helped save their lives. 

His eyes welled again, and for a moment he was sure that no feeling could ever compare to this, before thoughts of sleeping in bed with Larkspur popped into mind, resting the night's pains away. 

He looked to the sky where the M.I.E.DP.H.A.T had once been and sighed contently. "Thank you Doctor and Dean", Aster said, feeling his tears fall along his cheeks once more. "Thank you."

He had his coltfriend, they were safe, and the Doctor and Dean were off to wherever. Things couldn't have gone any better. 


Little did Aster know of the danger the Doctor and Dean were in at this moment.







The Doctor and Dean






"Close the door!"

Dean nodded and ran to the exit.

However, the moment Dean grabbed the door the two were nearly taken off their hoofs. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T suddenly bounced, and shook violently. Something in the console went "bang!" as sparks spewed from the machine. The Doctor gripped the console so he wouldn't fall, and Dean fell towards the exit. He managed to grip the door and hold on to the edge of the exit so he wouldn't fall outside the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Simultaneously, Dean witnessed as the outside world had changed. From outside the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, it seemed like they were flying through a portal. Red and orange swirls flowing past them, with sparks of lightening flashing every here and there. A vortex of fire, taking the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T away from the forest.

"Doctor!" Dean shouted, worriedly.

"Dean get away from there!"

"What is that!" Dean asked.

"Its the teleportation stream the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T creates to travel! Its composed of powerful phoenix magic that can kill you if you fall in! Get away from there!"

Dean nodded and went to step away, before another shake caught him off balance. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T tilted suddenly, poising the machine at an angle that faced the door downwards. 

The Doctor, already holding to his console, was safe. Dean, however, dropped out of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. He managed to grab hold of the open exit doorway, hanging out with his body flowing straight; the power of the vortex pulling him out now that he wasn't shielded with the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T force field. "DOCTOR!!!" Dean screamed.

Pulling himself at waist level with the console, the Doctor reached over to the monitor and pulled it closer to him. He pressed a few buttons quickly and felt his heart drop as he read what was on the screen. "The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's internal gravity is shut off! Somethings controlling it!"

Suddenly, the lights in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T turned red. Flashing on and off as an alarm went off, the Doctor saw a warning sign pop on the screen and an image display. The image appeared to be what looked like several black worms wiggling their way through pipes, reaching a large, important machine.

The Doctor knew what it meant and gasped. "The chaos broke through-"

Suddenly, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T shook hard. Something metal within the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T crashed and broke, and several sparks spewed from the console. The console itself lost some of its power, and the monitor shut off. Dean lost his grip on one hoof and was now hanging only by his right hoof. "DOCTOR!!!" Dean screamed, feeling the vortex become stronger suddenly.

Thinking quickly, the Doctor managed to reach across the console and press a few buttons. It took him a moment to reach the right ones, as he attempted an emergency stop. He pressed a button and flipped a switch on his side of the console, and the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T came to a dead halt.

The vortex vanished, and the world suddenly reappeared. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T had popped back, appearing out of thin air, flouting hundreds of feet above a country side. Mountains in the distance, and wet tall grass on a rocky terrain scattered all across the land. That was the most Dean saw out of his glance, before the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T jerked.

The emergency stop made the machine jerk hard, and Dean was thrown off. The Doctor tried to reactivate his console command, so that he could fly manually and catch Dean. But he was unable to seal the chaos in his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, and it was disrupting it from functioning. In order to fly the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, he needed to release the chaos from the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T first. But he couldn't release it here, he didn't know if this was a safe place to release it. Releasing it anywhere that didn't have chaos magic made it very likely that the chaos would not eradicate with the rest of the chaos after Discord is defeated. Maybe it would, but he didn't know, and the Doctor wouldn't take that chance. Therefore, with no other option, if he couldn't fly his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, the Doctor chose to drop out and catch Dean himself.

He flipped a switch to place his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T in standby mode. However, the moment he did, the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T jerked, and a large serge of power suddenly blasted through the console. Sparks flew, and a large chunk of metal exploded, shooting into the wall behind the Doctor, by the entry door. The console turned back on, revealing an image of a dark shadow, standing in front of a dark red back ground. The shadow was laughing maniacally, and the Doctor knew exactly who was on screen: Discord.

The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T groaned and suddenly, the Doctor saw the vortex outside reappear. The outside world faded away, with Dean plummeting with it. 

He tried to stop it, but it was no use. The chaos wouldn't allow the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T to listen, and the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T transported away. "NO! NO! NO!" the Doctor shouted, pounding against the console. In a desperate attempt, the Doctor pushed away from the console and darted to the door.

From the outside, Dean fell sprawled with his back facing the ground below. Facing upwards to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, Dean just barely saw the Doctor inside jump from the console and fall to the door. The Doctor reached out and arched his wings back, making himself sleek to reach Dean quicker. "DEAN!!!" the Doctor shouted.

However, that was the last Dean saw, before the door closed suddenly. He saw the Doctor reach to him, he jumped and tried to save him, but the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T door closed for some reason, making the Doctor on the other side crash face first into it.

"DOCTOR!!!" The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T faded in and out, and was gone within seconds, leaving Dean to fall outside.

It took him a second to register what had happened. And when he realized where he was, that he was in the sky falling, Dean screamed, flapping his legs about, as if he could grab something and save himself. He screamed all the way down in this unknown place, all the way down, close to a large, brick building below.


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"







( ( ( NEXT TIME ) ) )






His fur was fire red, and his tail was sharp and black. He had no mane, instead replaced with a pair of swirling goat horns, razor sharp at the tips. His mouth hung open, drooling, as if he were hungry, exposing rows of shark like teeth. He was three times taller than the average pony, and his muscles and veins were bulging, practically ripping through his fur, both literally and metaphorically. Every here and there, Dean could actually see small cracks of exposed muscle, with pulsating veins beneath. His mouth stretched wide, and he spoke without needing to move his lips.


"I want your mortal souls!"


[Transition]

The large, muscular pony pointed to the map, speaking in a deep voice that made him sound stupid. "This is where they produced shields for soldiers during the expansion. You see this spot here?" he asked, circling a small indication with his hoof. "This used to be a doorway, before it was shut off by brick."

[Transition]

"So the wall is weaker there. Smash it down and we can get out of here!" Dean exclaimed.

The armed pony scoffed, "yeah, dats if we can get there first."

[Transition]

Dean noticed his shadow hovering above him, as the demon lingered just beyond his hiding place. His deep gravel like breathing, like an evil bull about to kill, Dean heard every breath. And he hoped his own breathing was softer in comparison. The adrenaline pounding through him, the anxiety as the demon searched for them, standing right there, he could only stifle his breathing so much as his heart beat like a drum, begging for oxygen.

[Transition]

"Hold dat door shut!!!" the armed pony shouted, helping Dean and his partner with pushing the cart aside.

"I- I'm trying!!!" the Large pony felt the door push against him, as the demon on the other side banged against it. 

"GIVE ME YOUR SOULS!!!"  

[Transition]

Dean fell to his knees as he continued beating against the locked door. It was futile, his wounds were too great, his strength had left him, and he was ready to succumb, and allow himself to fall.

As quickly as he fell, he heard that deep, gravel breathing behind him. He turned, seeing who he had been expecting.

The demon hovered above him, staring him down like meat, ready to devour him.

Dean closed his eyes, laid himself to the ground, and covered his head. "Doctor . . . I chose to come with you . . . this isn't your fault."

The demon growled, and he pounced.
> One, Two, Five Steps: Part One (S1C6)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When he awoke, the first thing Dean noticed was the intense headache he had, absolutely pounding. As his senses returned to him slowly, he became aware of how badly his body hurt. Top to bottom he was sore, and he felt as if his very bones were made of lead. He was also excruciatingly tired, and was groggy as tarterus when he awoke. His head slumped over, rolling a bit, as he groaned. He heard someone speak, but was too sore and tired to care. 

His mind went numb and Dean fell unconscious for a moment, at least, to him it was. When he awoke again, he was unware of the hours that passed.

Same as before, he started to awake and his senses returned to him. First he felt his head pound, then his body ache, and was aware of how tired he was. Except, in his body's own way of self defense, to awaken him, he saw something flash before his mind. 

Images of a forest. It was dark and foggy, and he was running. A filly was laughing, only, it didn't sound entirely like a filly. He wanted to say it was, except, as he could only describe it, this filly sounded like a demon. He was panting, galloping through this forest. His heart was beating hard, and he felt himself in a state of life or death. He held a whip in his right hoof, and wore a hat, though, he couldn't remember what kind. 

He stopped running and turned, and the moment he did he was attacked. Thrown off his hooves against a tree, landing to the ground holding his side. Looking to his attacker, he gasped.

She was a ghost, a phantom filly, smiling a wide, toothy smile that spilled a dark black liquid. It was then Dean remembered. He remembered arriving at the forest, and meeting Aster, and running through the forest, and entering that house by the lake, and fighting a phantom with a toy whip. He remembered being surrounded by corrupted ponies, and he remembered Discord, and the Doctor using his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T to excavate the chaos. He remembered it all, everything, except what happened last.

It took him a moment; they were inside the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, the Doctor and he. The Doctor was at his console, flipping switches and pressing buttons. While Dean stood by the open door. But . . . why would he do that?


"Close the door!"


That memory flashed suddenly. He remembered, the Doctor asked him to close the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T door. Something went wrong, he couldn't remember what. Whatever happened caused the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T to malfunction. It jerked, and Dean fell out the door. He remembered hanging there, calling for help, before the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T jerked again. He lost his grip and fell. Plummeting a hundred feet to the ground. The rocky ground approached and-

"HUUUGH!!!" Dean gasped. His body forced him awake in a cold sweat. His heart was beating, and he was panting. His bearings returned slowly, and the first thing Dean noticed was a pony speaking. Only, he didn't sound like anyone he knew, and the way he spoke, it wasn't towards him. So, Dean realized that he wasn't alone, there were more than one, and they were all strangers. That and, for some reason, they sounded upset. 

The way they spoke, it sounded concerned or afraid, and one sounded out of breath; but they were all clearly upset. Dean didn't ask though, he was still waking up.

"He's awake!" one shouted. His voice was rather gravely, and sounded full of mucus, like he needed to clear his throat.

A second pony shouted. His was slightly lighter than the first and, curious to Dean, sounded somewhat eastern. A coastland pony perhaps? It had a hint of that classic mafia like accent, but predominantly held something from the east, Dean was sure of it. Maybe Philadelphian? "Keep your eye on- em! If he tries anyding funny, knock- em!"

"Why don't we just give him to the demon!?" the third pony shouted. That was the pony who sounded tired. Like the second pony, the third had that accent as well, only, his was far deeper. He sounded more like that dumb henchmen one would imagine in a stereotypical mafia, only, it was clear that only his voice expressed that. Unlike pony number two, pony number three annunciated properly, and didn't slur between words occasionally. Funny, a dumb voice on a smart pony, Dean found that odd.

Number one didn't have that accent, and number three was the only one who sounded tired, like he was struggling with something. But Dean was aware that all three must have been talking about him. And suddenly realized what number two had said about "knocking him". Knocking him with what?

Slowly, Dean lifted his head and blinked. His vision was blurry for a moment and slowly adjusted to the dark. He hadn't the foggiest where he was, and had no memory of coming here either. The best he could describe the room was a large metal box.

A perfect, ten by eight rectangle made of steel, its silver gray walls fading in color as rust was slowly taking over. Part of the metal were dented every here and there, enough so to open cracks that allowed tiny shimmers of light to enter. That was the only source of light the room had as, Dean noticed, the candles sprawled around the room were broken, smashed, or melted passed its use. 

From Dean's position, he was on the south end of the room facing forward to the north end, where a set of faded blue, metal twin doors were placed. There were filing cabinets in a row along the entirety of the east wall and a cracked window beside the cabinets and door, placed on the corner in the north east, the only window in the room. To the west was a dirty, old, wooden desk scattered full of files and useless old papers, and filling cabinets beside the desk; two had toppled over, one on the floor and another hanging off the desk slightly. In front of Dean were three ponies, standing on top of papers that were scattered all on the bare, metal floor.

Pony number one was close to Dean. His eyes were magenta and he had a punk styled, green mane and tail, and an orange coat. His cutie mark resembled three knives having been thrown into a target, all of which stuck out of the bulls eye. And, most noticeable between the three, was that they all wore a thin plate of steel body armor, collard but lacking shoulder plates. They all had saddle bags, pony three having a single while the others had a twin pair. Dean also takes notice the large flanged mace pony number one held, making Dean realize what pony number two meant by, "knock him."

Pony number two, who was pacing back and forth closer to pony number three, was a short mustard yellow pony, with a brown mane and tail that were greasy and unkempt. Dean couldn't see his cutie mark beneath what he wore. A pale gambeson that reached his hind quarters, layered beneath his body armor. He was the only one with gambeson, as the other two wore a thin white cloth beneath their armor.

Likewise to number two, Dean couldn't see his cutie mark either, but not because of clothes. Number three had a set of twin scabbards strapped to his sides, holding a twin pair of scimitars that hid his cutie mark. He was also the largest and bulkiest of the group, his armor straps stretching at the seams, trying to hold together on his incredible mass. He had his mane in a buzz cut, and his tail was short and out of the way, perfect for someone of combat. His coat was a dark blue and his mane and tail were pitch black. He was standing on his hind legs, keeping his forelegs propped against the door, pushing against it, to keep whatever was on the other side from entering.

A few questions ran through Dean's head; ranging from how their weapons didn't match their body types to, "Where the tarterus am I!!!" 

Dean gulped, looking cautiously to the one with the mace, who in turn glared fearfully back at him. "Um, excu-"

"SHUT UP!!!" he roared, flaring his mace towards Dean.

Dean was startled and instinctively flinched and tried to move. However, it was only then Dean realized that he was tied to a chair. His body and forelegs wrapped in roped and tied at the back, making only his hind legs free. Dean felt his heart beat quicker as he said shakily, "w- w- what! Why-"

"BE! QUIET!"

BANG!!! BANG!!!

Something pounded against the door, and the large pony yelped. He pushed back, fighting against whatever was on the other side. The other two looked to the door, and the second pony spoke, "keep dat door shut!"

"I'm trying!" the large one groaned, feeling a few more bangs.

BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!!

"Give it to me", something said from the other side of the door.

Dean felt his heart drop suddenly, hearing the appearance of a forth stranger. Only, it didn't sound like a pony. Whatever they were trying to keep out sounded as if it came from tarterus.

Its voice was hallow, void of a soul; speaking in a deep echo, groaning with a slight growl at the end, as if it was in constant agony. Yet, it also sounded determined, that despite its anguish it still had something to accomplish.

The banging stopped suddenly, and the large one, panting and sweating, looked over to his friends. "It . . . it stopped."

"You think its gone?" the one with the mace asked.

"Yeah! Y- Yeah its gone! Let's get out of here while we have the chance!" the second one yelled, shakily. It was obvious he was the most cowardice of the group, and his desperation to leave couldn't tell Dean enough.

But the third kept a solid head and said, "no, no I don't think it is."

"What makes you think that!?!" the second shouted.

The first pony gulped and pointed to the window, "I think that'll tell you!"

They all looked to the window and simultaneously felt their hearts sink. Previously, the outside of the window was pitch black, the outside being too dark for Dean to tell what was out there. Now, something was glowing red in a ball of fire like light. With its bright shimmer and dangerous color, Dean thought it might actually burn him if he stood too close.

"I want it . . . give it to me . . ."

"W- What is that?" Dean asked. No one answered, none could even if they wanted to. The first was vigilant, the second was shaking in his spot, and the third was preoccupied with the door.

"I want it . . . I want it . . ."

"What is that!?" Dean shouted whispered, again, receiving no response.

"I want . . . I want . . ."


BANG!!!


It slammed its body to the window, extending the cracks already laid on the glass. The first pony jumped back, the second screamed, and the third cursed and flinched. Dean's eyes went wide to the creature before him.

He was a demon. His eyes three times the size of a pony's: pitch black, void of life, like two eternal holes of torment. He had hooves, but his were more goat like than a pony's, and his fur didn't cover his hooves, exposing the burnt, black, chipped bone. His fur was fire red, and his tail was sharp and black. He had no mane, instead replaced with a pair of swirling goat horns, razor sharp at the tips. His mouth hung open, drooling, as if he were hungry, exposing rows of shark like teeth. He was three times taller than the average pony, and his muscles and veins were bulging, practically ripping through his fur, both literally and metaphorically. Every here and there, Dean could actually see small cracks of exposed muscle, with pulsating veins beneath. His mouth stretched wide, and he spoke without needing to move his lips.


"I want your mortal souls!"


The ponies screamed, and Dean cursed. "WHAT THE BUCK!!!"











~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Dean Do in:


One, Two, Five Steps


Chapter Six/Segment One


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






Dean tried to move, bobbing his chair back and forth. "What in Equestria is that thing!?!" he shouted.

The second pony turned to Dean, pointing to him accusingly. "This is your fault!"

"What!? What the tarterus are you talking about-"

"That demon appeared after Discord sent you! You are a demon of chaos just like that monster out there!"

Dean had to double take just to register that, and even then it was difficult to digest something as outlandish as that. "W-W-WHAT!?!" he shouted.

"We don't know that Redger! He's not like the demon outside!" the third pony said, glancing over to the second pony named Redger.

"Ponies don't just appear out of a box in the sky Barney! Only chaos magic would have something as random as that happen!" Redger shouted.

"Sorry? Did you say there was a box in the sky? Like a blue one?" Dean asked.

"Ah hah!" Redger exclaimed. "You see!? He knows what it looks like because he came from it!"

"We all know what the box looks like! We all saw it appear!" the one with the mace said.

"He still fell from it!"

"That doesn't mean he's a chaos demon!" said Barney.

BANG! The demon slammed its hoof against the window, growling at the ponies.

All of them looked to the demon fearfully as Redger said, "that demon still appeared after you caught this pony, Barney. They must be related to each other."

"I am not related to anyone! I don't even know what's going on!" Dean yelled.

BANG! The demon slammed against the window again, this time with enough force to further extend its cracks. It was clear that the window wouldn't last long and, soon, the demon would break through.

"Redger, we need to do something!" the one with the mace said.

Redger was sweating profusely and breathing heavily, as he looked about in a panic, searching for a way out. Looking around, Redger caught a glance at Dean and stopped. Desperate, he turned and marched to Dean, and grabbed the side of his chair, pulling him close, inches away from his face. "You are responsible for this! Make that demon go away right now!"

"How the bloody tarterus am I responsible for this!"

"Don't play stupid with me! You are responsible!"

He'd had it, these strangers holding him hostage, blaming him for something he didn't even have a clue about. He wasn't one to lose his temper, but at the moment, he just couldn't help himself. Glaring, he roared at Redger, not caring about the little bits of spittle he blasted at him, "I am not responsible you micro brained buffoon!!!"

Redger responded the best way his emotions wanted him to, by pushing Dean's chair and throwing him face first into the hard, cold floor. While Dean was still registering the bruising of his nose, Redger approached the pony with the mace and ripped the weapon from his hooves. Hovering over him, he held the mace above his own head and threatened, "you wanna call me that again you little piece of dragon dung!?!"

"BUCK YOU!!!" "Woah, were did that come from?" thought Dean.

Dean groaned as he received a blow to his gut. Redger kicked Dean and huffed angrily, waving the mace before Dean's face menacingly. "I will use this! I swear I will!"

BANG! The window cracked further, and the demon on the other side roared a hellish screech.

While Dean was catching his breath after that blow, the pony that had the mace approached Redger and shoved him away from Dean. "That's enough! He's clearly not a chaos demon!" He yanked the mace out of Redger's hooves, "and give that back!"

Redger reached for the mace, only for the armed pony to hold it away, keeping Redger from reclaiming the weapon. Redger shouted, "Hey! What d- you think yer doin!"

"Keeping you from doing something stupid! That's what!" the armed pony shouted back.

"What you think your so clever!? Your defending a demon for Celestia's sake!"

"He's just a kid! And your beating the snot out of him!"

"You ain't da boss Cleo! Give me the mace!"

"Last I checked neither were you! And I'm the one who uses a mace!"

"Both of you shut up and help me!!!" Barney shouted. The demon banged against the window, then slammed against the door. Barney was using all his might to keep the door shut, but it was clear he was struggling.

Meanwhile, Dean had been lying on his front, cranking his neck as far as possible to watch Redger, making sure he wouldn't try anything else to him. He took a moment to look elsewhere, relaxing the tension in his neck while Barney was shouting. When he did, a peculiar spot on the ground caught his eye.

Peering beneath the office desk, opposite side from the four, was a solid iron safe. This floor Dean and the others stood upon was made of metal, but from what Dean saw, it seemed the floor wasn't as thick as he had thought. 

The safe, wherever it used to be before this, office was it? This room, whatever its intentions were, had been destroyed and put in disarray. The safe seemed to have fallen, or thrown, either way had crashed into the floor. The safe was far stronger and more solid than the floor, for half of it was hanging out the bottom end. With the desk and cabinets having fallen or broken above and around the safe, that and the fact that these ponies didn't seem capable of controlling themselves in a situation like this, it made sense to Dean that they had missed this. With that in mind, Dean realized that there was another floor below them, and they had a way of escaping.

"Hey!" Dean shouted, trying to catch the others attentions. 

They paid no mind to Dean, bickering amongst one another. "I am helping! I'm trying to find a way to get us outta here!" shouted Redger.

"And your doing that by beating up a kid?" shouted Cleo.

"He's not a kid! He's a chaos demon!"

"Hey!" Dean shouted. His second attempt was ignored as well, meanwhile, the demon outside banged against the window, cracking it further. At this point, small chips of glass broke loose, and from the looks of it the window was ready to break.

"Kid or not, kicking his flank isn't helping anypony!" Cleo shouted.

"If kicking his flank gets him to get rid a dat demon than so help me I will make him swallow his teeth!" shouted Redger.

Cleo took an aggressive step closer to Redger, "do that and I'll bash your brains in!"

"Will you two stop fighting and just find a way out!" shouted Barney.

Dean rolled his eyes, "oh for the love of- HEY!!!" 

Dean roared, shouting at the top of his lungs. Managing to surpass the other's volumes, the three heard Dean that time and paused their bickering to give him attention. With all eyes on him, Dean had his opportunity to tell them, "the floor is broken behind the desk!"

The three looked to the desk curiously. "The floor?" asked Cleo.

"There's a safe back there that has broken through the floor. If you can remove that safe you should be able to escape through the hole it made!"

The three looked back to Dean. Redger appeared skeptical, and Barney seemed hopeful. Cleo still seemed curious and went to check if Dean was telling the truth. 

Propping his mace to the wall, Cleo grabbed the desk and, with one solid move and a heavy grunt, managed to push the desk and cabinets that had fallen atop aside. Looking over the mess of furniture, sure enough, Cleo saw the top half of the safe sticking out of the thin metal floor. 

Redger saw excitement wash over Cleo's face as Cleo turned to him. "He's right! There's a hole over here!"

"What!" Redger shouted. He looked to Dean, still appearing skeptical. He looked back to Cleo, then to Dean, thought for a moment, before the window was bashed again.

The three turned to the window and saw the demon outside, with part of its hoof poking through the thick glass. It had nearly broken through, and it roared excitedly.

Redger cursed under his breath, "if he says there's a hole than there's a hole! Let's go!"

Cleo nodded and reached for his mace. Walking over and standing above the safe, he poised his mace over his head, preparing himself to strike it down. Before hand, he looked over to Redger, "free the kid!"

"What!" 

"Free the kid or we're all going to die!"

BANG! another piece of glass broke, and the demon managed to slip his entire leg through, which was long enough that he was nearly able to reach Barney. Barney, looking fearfully to the leg just a foot from him, screamed.

"Aaaagh!!! Fine! Come here you!" Redger yelled. He reached to Dean with his right hoof and held to his chair, while he reached into his saddle bag with his left. Pulling out a large dagger, Redger quickly cut the ropes that held Dean prisoner.

Meanwhile, seeing Redger free Dean, Cleo yelled out, summoning his streangth as he struck the mace down with all his might. 

There was a loud metallic "bang!" as the steel mace met the iron safe. The safe was solid, but it was no match against the streangth of Cleo's mace. The steel weapon smashed the top of the iron safe, denting the iron innwards, collapsing the inner workings into itself. As it did, the force of Cleo's strike pushed the safe down, forcing it out of the floor. It fell through, opening the hole, and there was a second metallic "bang! that followed, as the safe crashed into the floor below. Which, from what Dean heard, was apparently made out of stone, and he couldn't help but wonder where the tarterus he was. 

"Let's go!" Cleo shouted, before hopping down the hole.

Dean heard the final piece of rope snap free as Redger cut him loose. He immediately felt relief in his legs, as the circulation returned and he could move freely again.

Redger clearly didn't like the idea of freeing Dean, and said angrily, "there, your loose! Do anything, and I shank you!" As soon as he said that, Redger was off. Dashing forth, hopping over the desk, and plunging head first down the hole.

Shakily, Dean lifted himself to his hooves. Which turned out to be a challenge in itself. His body was still sore from his fight with Silly, it was fatigued from no sleep, and his hunger was just starting to catch up to him, to the point where he actually felt nauseous. It was only that hell demon outside that made him force his body to move. Otherwise, he would have been more than happy to collapse and pass out for a few hours. Or, even a day, he didn't care.

Dean ran, quickly climbed over the desk, and stood above the hole, too dark below to see the bottom. He was just about to hop down before he remembered Barney. He turned to the stallion at the door, still keeping the door shut, and shouted at him. "Hey! Come on!"

Barney waved a leg at Dean, "you go! I'll go after you!"

"Either you go or we're both staying here!" Dean threatened.

Barney gave Dean a look that asked if he was serious, and Dean replied with a look of his own, declaring that he absolutely was. Barney nodded, "alright! You better drop down as soon as I jump!"

"Fine! Come on!"

Barney gave the demon a quick glance, flinching as the demon's leg made a swipe at Barney. Luckily he still wasn't close enough to reach, because its sharp hoof struck the ground instead, cutting through the thin metal. Seeing that made Barney "yipe!" and turned to Dean. "Here I come!" he shouted. Quickly, he released the door and charge to the desk, jumping over and nearly falling down the hole. He caught himself and looked to Dean, making sure the colt would follow, as he hopped down bottom first.

With Dean left, he took one last glance to the demon, really taking in its appearance. It roared, and Dean muttered, "what are you?"

"Kid!" Barney yelled below.

Dean looked down the hole and tried to find Barney, but it was still too dark to see. "Doctor, where are you?" he asked aloud, before dropping down the hole.

The demon roared, it slammed its hoof against the window. Then, the window shattered, and the demon finally broke through.






Many Hours Ago






WHOOOOZ VIRRRRR!!! WHOOOOZ VIRRRRR!!!

It was empty that day, as it usually was. The long expansion of rocks and boulders on the terrain, compromising most of the land, with grass and weeds sprouting in whatever little space it could find. The natural arrangement of the rocks, scattered everywhere with no care, as the wind blew hard, yet gentle. Passing through and between the rocks as if it were dodging them, making the wind whistle, and sound stronger than it actually was. 

Devoid of trees, this land was. Mountains aligned the horizon far to the north and east, but to the south and west the distance eventually curved into nothing. The horizon ends in those directions with nothing as far as the eyes could see. And if one tried hard enough they could see the largest of trees dot the mountains from the north and east. But here, in this particular place, there were no trees. No trees, no bushes, no flowers, only the grass and weeds between the rocks. That, and a single building made of brick. 

From the edge of the terrain lined a straight dirt road, appearing almost like a boarder than a road. A rough road, just as bumpy and full of rocks as the terrain. Hot to the touch on this cloudy summer day, with even the insects hiding to shade themselves.

As far as the eye could see was the rocky terrain, and here lined the road, stretching for miles north and south. Starting from the edge of unclaimed territory, passing Red Rock Mountains, and expanding across goat country until it reaches Mason, a town on the south coast of the country. Then to the east, opposite side of the road, was the brick building.

It was a building, though to anyone who didn't know better, this place looked either like a small castle or a large fortress. Made from red and white bricks that were old, weathered, and faded, this building was twenty thousand square feet and three stories tall. All the windows were either boarded, or cemented shut by brick. The front and only entrences was the one opening this place had, and even it appeared to have been sealed at one point.

A large, archway like entrances, connected to its own dirt path that led to the road, having once been large enough for ten ponies to enter and exit as they pleased, had been boarded with wood just like the windows. However, a small hole on the bottom right corner of the arch appeared smashed into the wood, with chunks of wood and bits of chips scattered around the open spot, large enough for only one pony at a time. The rocky terrain surrounded the building and continued off into the horizon, the same as the west side of the road.

It was obvious the building had been closed for a long time, evidently abandoned. Perhaps to some it looked inviting for adventure, to others it may seem scary. But to anyone looking to the building as it is, it was rather dull and boring. A building one would see along their travels and not give much thought to. Perhaps question how it came to be in its state. But to anyone who wasn't bored in need of shelter, no one really would come here for a purpose.

Except for one pony.

On the center of the road across from the building, a sound appeared from thin air. A grinding, metallic groan, fading in and out of existence. Quiet at first, growing louder and louder with each rhythmic beat. Soon followed was a ghost like blue box, labeled with a sign "Public Guard Call Box", fading in and out of existence, in synch with the groans it emitted.

It took a moment, each time it passed in and out of existence the box slowly became more and more solid. Then, it was ghostlike no more, and the blue box had fazed into the world. The box made a piston like "STOMP!", silencing the groans, and the box had ceased its fading and was solid to the touch. 

A second after it had appeared, the door to the guard box slammed open, and out came the Doctor.

Rushing from his M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, the Doctor, sweaty, dirty, covered in cuts and grime from the night before, looked about frantically. He cupped his hooves to his mouth and shouted, "DEAN!!! DEAN!!!" No one responded, and he turned to the brick building. Quickly, he darted forth, and a second after he found himself peering cautiously within the dark hole that was the make shift entrance to the building. 

From the entrance was a large arched hallway that lead to an old double wooden door. Harsh to the touch but, unlike most parts of the building, wasn't sealed shut, and could still function as a door should. Even its rusted chain lock, still hanging from the door's pull handles, had the key left inside the chamber, and could lock and unlock with only marginal issue. That was all this hall had to offer. It had windows lined across the top sides, but all had been sealed with wood, and the ground was covered in dirt, having layered for years, cobwebs, and old discarded cloths. The Doctor noticed that the walls had been painted at one point, but the designs had long faded and washed away, leaving only smears of brown, black, and green upon the dirty red and white bricks.

With the brick walls and wooden door in this hall, and not knowing the countless amounts of other places in this building that were sealed, the Doctor knew Dean wouldn't hear him from here. Carefully, the Doctor bent slightly and entered through the hole.

The air was stale and choked him in dust, but that was to be expected just from the sight alone, and he paid no mind to it. Approaching the door, the Doctor checked the lock, before removing the chain from the door handle and dropping it. The chain clanked on the stone ground, bringing up a small cloud of dust no higher than the Doctor's legs. The Doctor pushed gently on the left double door, its hinges squeaking subtly, and the Doctor peered inside.

From there the Doctor found the central room to the building. A massive room with a long arched desk, centered across from the Doctor. On each end of the desk was a pair of dark wood staircases, both twisting upwards and opposite from their respectable ends, and leading to a second floor balcony above, made from the same, old, weathered wood. The balcony was rimmed along the four sides of the room, leaving a square open space in the center were there was no ceiling. The twisting staircases continued their spiral past the first balcony and led to a second one on the third floor, exactly identical to the first balcony on the second floor. The stairs stopped at the second balcony, and this balcony too had an open square space in its center, the space it did not occupy, allowing the Doctor to see the ceiling high above.

The center of the building had a large chandelier fitted with several candelabrums, a beautiful piece that had once brought life into this room now was caked in webs and dust, so much so that it made it difficult to distinguish what metal it was made from. Perhaps silver? It could have been copper colored silver, but the Doctor couldn't tell.

Just like the hallway these walls appeared to have once been painted. But again these too were washed out and old to distinguish any of its original designs. 

Along the walls of each floor were rows of doors, each leading to another part of the building. Specifically where each one led to, the Doctor's guess was as good as any other.

He was probably going to regret this, but he was desperate to find Dean. Hours had passed since the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T had lost control to Discord's chaos, and with each passing minute he became more and more worried for Dean's well being. The last he saw him he had fallen out of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, hundreds of feet above ground. Ponies may be durable, some strong enough to withstand falls like that. Even so, that kind of fall, especially for someone who's never really adapted their body, is most likely at risk for serious injury. If Dean's durability is on the lower side, that kind of fall may even be fatal, and no form of healing can fix that.

The Doctor refused to believe that would be the case, and he felt his heart lift when his scanners didn't find anyone outside, but inside the building. However, when his scanners picked up three additional bodies, the Doctor felt a sense of danger whelm inside him. It told him that either Dean survived and those three were helping him, or, Dean had been taken prisoner.

Now, he knew one shouldn't jump to conclusions and assume the worst. But, than again, why take the risk and assume these ponies were safe?

So, instead of transporting inside the building, the Doctor chose to transport outside and make his way in subtly. The groans from the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, though not the loudest, would still put anyone off if there was the chance they heard it. He figured if he was going to make his presence known he would do it without spooking the strangers with a randomly appearing blue box.

He might regret it, alerting them to his presence. But the sooner he found Dean the better. So, entering the central room, he cupped his hooves together and shouted, echoing through to room, "DEEEEEAAAAAAAAN!!!"

He waited until his echo faded, before he tried again, "DEEEEAAAAAAAAAN!!!"

He waited once more. As his echo faded, closely, he listened for any sign that anyone heard him. BANG! A door slammed suddenly, startling him. The dull pound echoes the room, which was followed by the pitter patter of quick hoofsteps. 

PAT! PAT! PAT! PAT! PAT! A mustard yellow pony with brown hair and green eyes, slightly below average in height, swerved around the left corner of the balcony, running into the Doctor's sights. He wore collard steel armor chest piece, a thin pale gambeson that reached his hindquarters, hard pleather shin guards for each of his legs, and a twin saddle bag made from black pleather strapped on his back. 

Quickly, the pony turned to the Doctor, standing to his hind legs as he propped his left leg to the balcony, and held his right leg behind his back. He looked angrily to the Doctor, shouting at him, "get outta here, now!"

Taken by surprise, the Doctor went to ask, "what-?" But could only get a word in before he was cut off.

"I said get out you demon!"

"Demon? What are you talking-"

"Are you deaf? I said leave!" he shouted with a wave of his hoof.

Becoming frustrated, the Doctor kept his patience and asked in a calm, yet malice tone, "sir, I don't know why you want to me to leave so bad. But if you help me than I will leave immediately, and you will never see me again-"

The yellow pony scoffed, "don't try to fool me with your tricks! The moment I turn my back you'll turn me into a demon!"

"Turn you- w- what!?! You think I'm going to what now?"

"Don't play stupid! Your going to turn me into a demon! Just like all of those other demons out there!" he pointed past the Doctor, indicating to no where in particular.

Looking to the hall behind him, the Doctor took a moment to think about that, and it occurred to him. "Demons? Your talking about the corrupted, aren't you?"

"Corrupted, demons, their all the same. Their all evil, they all came from tarterus, and they won't stop until they've taken us all". The pony chuckled ecstatically as he pointed to the Doctor, "but the shoes on the other hoof now! We've got one of your stallions now! That's why your here, ain't it!?!"

The Doctor felt that familiar sense of dread envelop him, and he asked almost panic like, "one of my stallions!?! Is he a gray young stallion!?! With black hair!?!"

The pony scoffed, "HA! Knew it! We've got one of your stallions now! And your here to get 'im before we use 'im to fight back! Well you ain't getting 'im! Got that! He's ours now! And I won't be negotiating with no demons!"

The Doctor trotted forward a few feet, making the pony more uneasy as the Doctor chided him. "Listen! I don't know what made you think that Dean is a corrupted- eh- demon, but I assure you he is not what you think he is! He's just a colt! He is hurt and tired and needs to rest! And if you give him back I promise I'll give you anything you want! Just name it! Money, food, a home, eh, money?"

The pony huffed angrily, shaking his head, "after everything I've seen you really expect me to believe that? After all the things I've been through", the pony snapped, slamming his hoof against the balcony railing, hard enough to emit a dull pound that echoed through the room. He glared into the Doctor's eyes, speaking to him with only slight control of his temper. "There are ponies out there that are twisted monstrosities! Puking brown and black slop while they enslave innocents! And those ponies used to be my friends! There are nightmarish creatures that defy nature! They've turned into beasts and objects and things no one can describe! And they hunt ponies down! Turning them into nightmares just like them! And those ponies used to be my family!" 

The pony shouted louder, and even from the second floor the Doctor could see him clearly shaking. "You demons have taken everything from me . . . but now, heh, now I have one of yours!"

The pony chuckled victoriously, as he looked down on the Doctor as if he were his better. "We have one of your stallions now. We will use him to find a way to fight back. And then . . . we will win. And you demons will go back to tarterus where you belong!"

Losing his patience's, mixed with his fear for Dean's well being, the Doctor spoke sternly. "Young stallion, I know you are scared, but you are letting your fear take the best of you! You have not captured a demon you have captured an innocent! He has done nothing to you! As I've said if you release him now I will even give you a reward for your compliance! However, that pony you have taken is my friend, and if you so much as lay a hoof on a single hair on his head, so help me I will make you regret being born!"

The pony frowned, and the two stood glaring at each other for a moment. Placed in a stare match as each took the time to figure out their next course of action. A moment later the pony spoke quietly, clearly holding the anger in his voice, "are you threatening me?"

" . . . I am", the Doctor replied.

A second stare match ensued, which lasted longer than the first. A moment after, the pony on the balcony struck suddenly.

He growled, as the leg behind his back flashed suddenly. In a blur, his leg swept around, throwing something fast and fluidly. 

The object traveled at a blinding speed, and the Doctor had only a second to react. Luckily, being the perceptive pony that he was, he had noticed the pony keeping his leg behind his back from the start, and kept part of his focus on it. Therefore, it was easier for him to dodge the object.

He turned his body left, and the object missed his head by inches. It collided into the ground, the metal colliding into the stone, echoing its thud, as it snapped in two and clanged to the ground. The Doctor then saw that what the pony had thrown was a throwing knife, and with excellent precision.

Taking a second to catch his breath, the Doctor adapted himself, expecting more projectiles as he marched angrily towards the stairs.

The pony didn't like that at all, and sure enough he reached into his saddle bag for another knife. "You stupid demon! I said leave!!!" his leg flashed in a blur, and at that same incredible speed, another knife was thrown. 

But the Doctor was more than ready this time, and the Doctor tilted his upper body to the right, avoiding a blow to his torso as the knife darted past. Shattering to pieces as it left a crack in the stone behind him. The Doctor then proceeded onwards, marching in stoic determinations as he glared the pony down.

The pony felt a tinge of fear develop and he quickly reached for another knife. Just before the Doctor reached the long desk, passing the pony's point of view from the balcony, he threw another knife. Just as fast, if not faster then the first two, but with the same results. The Doctor expertly dodged once more, this time slanting forward and twisting his upper body slightly to the left. The knife darted past him and made another crack on the stone ground, as the knife itself shattered into pieces.

The Doctor passed the desk and stepped onto the stairs, calling up to the pony. "Don't say I didn't warn you! I even offered you a reward, but you wouldn't listen!"

That tinge of fear grew rapidly, and the pony ran to the left corner balcony, where he had ran from initially, and swerved the corner again. Gripping the corner railing, mostly for support than to prop himself, as he could feel his hoof practically vibrating in fear, the pony stared anxiously to the stairway as he awaited the Doctor, keeping a tight grasp to another knife in his saddle bag.

The moment he caught glimpse of the Doctor's head he took his chance and threw another knife, hoping the Doctor's lack of perception on him would deter his chance of another successful dodge. This however turned not to be the case, as he saw the Doctor's head drop suddenly, so quickly he almost didn't realize he had missed, until his knife penetrated the wood railing to the Doctor's right. Breaking through and leaving a chunk sized hole in the railing as the knife darted into the wooden desk on the floor below. The knife penetrated, with half poking out of the desk, and the Doctor's head popped up into view as he marched up and onto the second floor balcony.

The Doctor looked eye to eye with the yellow pony and ordered him, "show me where you are keeping Dean. Or else!"

Instinctively he reached for another knife, but the pony felt his heart stop as he realized how little he had left. Not wanting to waste anymore projectiles, and faced with a foe that might be too formidable for him, with no other option, he chose to run. 

The Doctor had prepared himself as he saw the pony reach into his saddlebag, expecting another throwing knife to come his way. The pony, however, turned around suddenly and galloped the opposite direction. "Hey!!!" the Doctor shouted. For a split second he considered using phoenix magic to stop him, but despite the building being made from brick this balcony was still wood. So he hesitated, and growled angrily as he galloped to catch the pony.

The pony, however, was much faster than the Doctor, and reached the door at the end of the balcony several seconds before the Doctor. He pushed his was through, slammed the door shut, and the Doctor arrived in time to hear something click! on the other side. Twisting the handle and pushing the door, the Doctor found the door to be locked, and he pounded his hoof against it angrily. "Open the door!" he shouted, waited a moment, received no response, then proceeded to bang the door some more, "I said open the door!!!"

With no response, the Doctor heaved an exasperated sigh, before turning around. Grunting, he bucked the door with his hind legs in an attempt to break the door down. It didn't budge, so the Doctor tried again. And again, and again, before he stopped to take a moment and breath.

Thinking aloud, the Doctor sat  on his rear and glared to the door, as if the pony were still here for him to glare at. "Darn . . . old or not these doors are strong. I can't brute force my way in, but with my phoenix fire I can burn my way through. If I'm careful I won't set anything on fire. But if they're in there, and they're keeping Dean hostage, they might do something to him to keep me from getting to him. So, how to get to Dean without them harming him?"

The walls from within the building groaned, awaking the Doctor from his thoughts as he looked around. "God this place is old. I'm surprised the bricks haven't just collapsed". While looking to the building the Doctor realized, "I guess it makes sense why that pony's paranoid. Equestria is full of corrupted ponies, and of all the places he chose to hide he chose one the looks like it came out of a horror film". The Doctor chuckled, "another scary building. You know, I'm starting to see a theme here, and I'm not sure I like it". He sighed, "anyway, big abandoned brick building, old and weathered, even the walls are making noises, every creak probably makes them jump out of their skin. Which means that Dean is even worse off than I thought. He's not just foalnapped but he's foalnapped by ponies who are scared, they may just jump on him if anything sets them off. That's not good, I need to find him as soon as possible. But that stills begs the question: how to get to him without them hurting him?"

The Doctor heard another groan from the walls, and he turned to the general area of the room. A thought occurred, and he placed his hoof to his chin, speaking his mind, "the scanners said that there were only four ponies inside this building. One of them is Dean, another was that pony, and there are two more. But chaos magic is finicky, and my scanners could easily miss it if there's a single corrupted. So . . ." The Doctor stopped. He heard another groan, and he looked back to the door with a worrisome thought.

"What if that pony's scared for a reason? Perhaps . . . what if there aren't actually four ponies here? Is a corrupted actually in here somewhere?"

The Doctor continued his ponder, figuring out what he should do next, while the pony who had ran regrouped with the others, they too figuring out what to do next.
> One, Two, Five Steps: Part Two (S1C6)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come on! Hurry!" Barney shouted ahead to Dean.

Dean glanced over his shoulder, hearing that demonic roar echo through the hall, as he saw a glimpse of red light not too far behind.

After dropping down the hole in the floor, Dean and the others found themselves in a long room with several tables. Most of which were either broken or tipped over, with the exception of a few. Old and broken quills littered the floor, along with scrolls, papers, empty ink cups, and an assortment of sewing tools; needles, fabric scissors and such. At the end of the room by the exit was a long chalk board, which made Dean assume this room might have been used for educational purposes at one point. But that still didn't explain why there was a solid metal room on the floor above. Perhaps all schools had a metal room? Did the Mane City University have one? Dean couldn't recall, and he didn't remember anyone bring anything of the sort up in conversation, so the shear thought of it existing seemed unlikely. Than perhaps the floor above was a secret room? Dean chose not to dwell on it, that question alone brought a hundred more questions to mind. And he was only curious about the room to have an idea of where he might be.

The four heard the demon break through the glass window above, and Redger was the first to run away. To the left of the chalk board he ripped the door open, galloping away. Cleo, at the very least told them to hurry, before he too galloped away. Barney on the other hand waited for Dean, and helped the colt to his hooves when he landed painfully. Dean, still sore from his adventure in the forest, felt his knees give in when he landed, making him topple over. Barney helped him up and gave him a shove, pushing him in the direction of the exit. It wasn't until Dean exited the room did he realize Barney had purposefully shoved him to the front, putting himself at risk by remaining closer to the demon. He could already tell Barney was the one he wanted to keep close to, especially to keep away from Redger.

Dean, exiting the room, now found himself in a long dark hall, made top to bottom in stone. Shielded from the summer heat, the hall was comfortably cool, but its cramped space and stuffy air negated that. Dean received another shove from behind, and he and Barney were dashing down the hall, following behind the other two by several feet. With practically no light available, Dean could only follow the sounds of Cleo's hoofsteps ahead to know where he was going.

A minute later the two caught sight of a wooden door to the right and had expected for them to hide in there, only to notice the other two ahead of them pass it. Momentarily, they were confused, but they pressed on. Only, they passed a hiding spot a second time. Another door approached, and again they passed it. Now they were really confused, and Barney shouted ahead, "what's going on! Shouldn't we hide!?!"

"We need to get to the end of the hall!" Cleo shouted.

"Why!?!" Barney shouted.

Cleo didn't hear him that time, but Dean answered for him. "The end of the hall! That should be the closest way to the exit!"

That made sense, and Barney followed without question. Soon, they made it to a corner of the hall that turned left. Rounding the corner, they ran for awhile, before Dean heard the demon behind them roar. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught glimpse of the demon's red glow giving light to the hall, back around the corner.

"I think its getting close!" Dean shouted.

"Than keep running kid!" Barney yelled, peeking a glance himself.

The four pressed onwards, running in what felt to be an endless cave. And if they stopped, even for a moment, each echoing roar from behind reminded them of their fate. 

Doors blurred past, leading elsewhere, just not to where they needed to be. And the hall itself felt to be shrinking, enclosing them, so they wouldn't have the space to run. Stifling them further and further, until they could no longer run, and the demon can finish his hunt. The hall, however, was no different from when they began, but their panicked minds shouted to them the illusion. To each, especially to Dean, the illusion felt true, and he could feel himself suffocating within the hall. Of course, pushing his already tired body was the obvious cause for that.

His vision grew hazy, and Dean felt the hall tilt. He was unaware, but Barney noticed as Dean began to swerve. No longer running straight, his mind and body giving in to his fatigue, Dean tilted as he ran. His right shoulder bumped into the wall, enough so to awaken him. Only slightly, as he adjusted himself, ran straight for a second, and almost immediately, his mind faded once more. Like slumber after being deprived of sleep, Dean felt himself drift, and it became increasingly difficult to distinguish between reality and what his mind wandered to. His body functioned on a secondary command, running away from the demon simply because that was the last thing he told his body to do. But as Dean faded further even his body began to shut down, and he slowed down to a trot.

Barney ran into Dean, shoved him to keep him running, then gave him a hardy slap on the back to wake him up. "Come on kid! You can't stop now!"

It was no use. For a moment it had worked. Dean awoke, feeling himself thrown back into reality, before he found himself falling back into the black hole that was his tired mind. The world became hazy and, suddenly, his body could fight no more. The shear adrenaline rushing through him wasn't enough to keep him going, as Dean's body slumped over. Unaware it was even happening, the world faded before Dean and, as quick as the snap of a finger, Dean fell unconscious.

There were shouts, and screams, and the pull and push and rush as he was thrown and grabbed, carried, and sometimes shoved. His mind fading in and out of reality every so often, only to fall back into darkness as time progressed without him. Soon, everything came to a halt. And when it did, Dean was able to rest comfortably, until his body was ready to awaken once more.

He stirred, the world returning as a haze. Groaning, Dean felt the pains in his body return again. Though, it wasn't as bad as the first time he awoke, tied to that chair. Now, he was laying down, his head resting on something soft and warm. Still aware of how sore he was, but at the same time most of the tension was release from him, and his muscles were finally resting as it should. 

Dean was almost tempted to allow himself to fall asleep, but remembering the demon brought him to his sense, and in a panic, Dean sat upright quickly. His tired mind did not appreciate that, and responded with flashes of stars that popped in his eyes. Dizzily, Dean propped his legs down, steadying himself as he tried to stand, before he felt a massive hoof press against his chest and lay him back down.

"Easy kid! Your gonna pass out again if you move too fast!"

Taking a breath, Dean looked up to the concerned pony as his vision focused properly. " . . . Barney?" he asked slowly, receiving a relieved grin.

"Are you alright kid?" Barney asked.

Dean groaned to the sore muscle on his back, "kind of. What happened?"

"You passed out back in the hall. I had to carry you here."

"You . . . carried me?" Barney nodded in response, and Dean took a moment to look around. Pass Barney, he spotted Cleo, who was resting his head on his hoof as he sat at a desk.

The room they were in now was similar to the room he had seen earlier, only smaller. Rectangular in shape, desks scattered around, some broken some not, a chalkboard on the wall and several tools for sewing littered the floor. Clothes, needles, string and fabrics scattered about, collecting dust. Like the other room, this room was made entirely out of stone as well. There was a single candle lit, thick and standing upright on the desk by Cleo, bare without a candelabrum. A single light source, making the area away from Cleo dim.

Thinking about it, Dean found that increasingly odd. This entire building seemed to be made entirely out of stone, and yet there was that one single metal room, why is that? What purpose did that room have? And, of a place made out of stone, where were all of the windows? 

He had been in three rooms and a long hallway. That metal room had a window, but he couldn't recall if it was a window that lead outside. Based on what he had seen, this building seems to be one that holds rooms within itself. Meaning that some rooms were built as part of the outer wall, the wall that boarders between outside and in here, and could thus have windows that lead outside. Whereas some rooms are built deeper within the building. Like a bathroom or a closet, small pockets of the building where a window would be pointless as, if these rooms were to have one, it would only lead to a hall or another room inside the building. Of course, inner rooms with windows weren't unheard of, so it could be possible that that metal room had one. If that room, however, was part of the outer wall and had a window because of it. That would mean that the demon had them trapped from the start, and that window it broke through was the way out.

But based on that it still left him to ponder, where in the world was he? A large building with long hallways, inner rooms with no windows, and a metal room that may or may not have been the way out. Dean thought of all the places in Equestria that had buildings such as this one and couldn't think of any place. He couldn't remember anywhere in Mane City with places like this, and certainly nowhere in the west. Perhaps he was in the north? Or, maybe the east? Redger had an eastern like accent, maybe it was because they actually were in Fillydelphia?

Thinking of that reminded him of Redger, and he looked around for him, but he appeared to not be present. "Where's Redger?" Dean asked. 

Barney frowned as he gestured to something behind Dean. "He's . . . tied up at the moment."

Checking what Barney meant, Dean saw that the room had a second door he hadn't notice. The first was by the chalkboard, like the room from earlier, the second was in the back. "What's he doing in there?"

"That's the closet", said Barney. Dean seemed confused, so Barney explained further, "I mean he's tied up right now, in there", he pointed to the door.

Dean understood and nodded, "oh . . . uh . . . w- why would that be-"

"Its because- HACK!!!" Cleo coughed suddenly. Clearing his throat, Cleo spat mucus on the ground before turning to Dean. His voice sounded much crisper now, with a slight muffle. Initially, Dean thought that was just how Cleo sounded. Now he realized he just needed to clear his throat. It made him curious if Cleo had a cold. The way he talked without breathing through his nose expressed that. Cleo wiped his mouth and turned to Dean, "its because "Captain Power Hungry" got too full of himself earlier and he needs to take a minute to release some of that hot air."

"I'm sorry I still don't follow", said Dean.

Barney was about to answer, but hearing Cleo sigh, he decided to just let him explain. "Listen, I'm sorry about what happened earlier. We were scared, alright. This worlds gone crazy, we're forced to hide here in this place, and all of a sudden we're attacked by a demon. Now, you showing up earlier really took us by surprise. When we saw that blue box appear from the sky we were ready to be attacked by chaos demons."

"Chaos demons?" Dean asked.

Cleo cocked a brow at that question, "you saying you've never seen one?"

The name sounded familiar, and thinking rationally, it sounded comparable to the corrupted. "You mean those creatures outside? The ones that turn ponies into chaos demons themselves?" Dean asked, making sure he understood what Cleo meant.

"So you have seen them", said Cleo.

"I have, sorry. I've heard others call them by a different name, that's why I was confused."

Cleo shrugged, "doesn't matter what you call them, they're all the same. Demons, monsters, all of them . . ." Cleo trailed off for a moment, appearing lost in thought. He shook his head, dismissing his horrific memories before pressing on. "Like I was saying. We saw you drop from the sky and after everything we've seen we thought we were under attack again."

"Again?" Dean asked.

Cleo chuckled, "oh we've been ambushed by demons at least half a dozen times before we got here. There used to be more of us but-" For a moment Dean caught a flash of emotion on Cleo's face. An expression of grief and sorrow, before it was erased quickly as he continued explaining. " . . . Anyway, we thought we were under attack so Redger and I went to take cover inside this building. Barney on the other hoof figured you weren't a demon, and he managed to catch you before you hit the ground."

"Barney caught me?" Dean asked, looking to Barney, who gave Dean a modest grin before looking away. 

Cleo chuckled at Barney's reaction and nodded, "that's right. Took a big risk catching you. For all we knew you could have really been a demon. And if you were, well, Barney probably wouldn't be here now."

"Wow . . . thank you Barney", said Dean.

"Ah, it was nothing kid", Barney said, still looking away modestly.

Cleo pipped in, "anyway, after he caught you we hid in here. At the time we didn't know if you were a demon or not, despite Barney telling us you weren't. Redger was convinced you were and me, well, I was on the fence. Out of the three of us I'd say I'm the most cautious". Cleo received a look from Barney at that, and Cleo responded, "oh don't give me that! Its true! Your one of the nicest ponies I know but you can't deny that that's also one of your biggest faults."

"Being too nice is a fault?" Barney asked skeptically.

"When your too nice you let things slide, things that are important. Like thinking we can trust someone who is clearly a demon", Cleo hinted, as if this statement was true.

Which seemed to be the case as Barney replied, flustered, "one time! That happened one time!" Cleo chuckled at Barney while Dean listened, intrigued. 

Cleo took a breath and continued, "and as for Redger, you saw how he was earlier. Yes I shouted at you and I threatened you with my mace, but to an extent. I stopped when it was clear you weren't a threat. Redger on the other hoof, he isn't cautious like me, peh! Quite the opposite really, his idea of caution is just downright paranoia! And while I'll admit its good to be at least a little on edge, especially in these hard times, there are times where you need to take a step back and think rationally. Redger, I don't think he's capable of doing that. Heck, from the moment we've started traveling together I don't think he's taken a single break to unwind. He's always looking over his shoulder, always thinking somethings out to get him, and I don't mean just the demons either. He thinks everypony is out to get him! Even when we were traveling with other ponies who weren't demons."

"Is that why he's tied in the closet? Dean asked.

"Uh, that and . . . what he wanted to do while you were out", said Cleo.

"Sorry, while I was out?"

"While you were passed out, Dean", Barney explained.

"I know that, but what did he want to do?"

Barney seemed too uncomfortable to explained, and while Cleo expressed a slight discomfort, he told Dean anyway. " . . . While you were unconscious we managed to get away from the demon. We couldn't make it to the end of the hall but we made it pretty close. Right now we're inside some room only about five rooms away from the end. Just a quick dash over there and we might just have a chance getting out of here. And its obvious you aren't a demon, so Barney and I decided to bring you along. Of course, earlier you were in no shape for running so we decided to rest for a little while. Redger didn't like the idea and was still convinced you were a demon. We argued for a little bit, but when it was clear Barney and I wouldn't leave you he . . . took a more aggressive approach."

"Meaning what exactly?" Dean asked, growing anxious. 

" . . . He . . . wanted to use you as bait for the demon, so that we could escape."

"What!?!"

"But we wouldn't let him! I swear we wouldn't!" Barney reassured.

Dean shook his head, "no, no, I believe you. I'm just . . . surprised". Dean said to Cleo, "you said he wanted to make me bait while I was unconscious?"

Cleo nodded, "and like Barney said we wouldn't let him. We argued a bit more before things turned physical. But luckily Redger's only good fighting with projectiles. The two of us together in this small room was a big disadvantage for him, so it was easy enough to tie him down. But after that he wouldn't stop shouting, and we didn't want him alerting the demon. Luckily there's plenty of loose cloth all over the place. So we tied his mouth shut, locked him in the closet, and here we are now."

"Okay, but if he was already tied than why lock him in the closet?" Dean asked.

"Eh, honestly we didn't really need to. He's getting on my nerves and I just didn't want too see him", Cleo explained with a smirk.

Dean decided not to press on with that as he sat up slowly. Rubbing his head, Dean noticed his aches diminishing slightly. Still present, but nonetheless less sore then earlier. Feeling his back, Dean grabbed the soft item he rested on, finding that it was a thick cloth bunched together, forming a makeshift pillow. Placing it aside, Dean asked Cleo, "so, what now?"

"Now, I say we'll rest a few more minutes. Personally I'm glad to finally have some peace and quiet. The moment we let him out I already now he's going to chew my ears out."

"Sounds like you don't like him very much."

Cleo shrugged, "eh, I wouldn't say we're friends persay, but I can't deny he's also been a great help to us. We wouldn't have gotten out of Equestria without him."

"I see . . . wait, what!?!" Dean exclaimed.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Cleo asked.

"Sorry, you said "out of Equestria?"

"Yes, and?"

Startled by that statement, it only occurred to Dean then that he could have asked Barney or Cleo where they were, instead of trying to figure it out himself. "You mean, we're not in Equestria anymore!?!"

Cocking a brow, Cleo looked quizzically to Dean, while Barney gave him an odd look. "Did you think we we're still in Equestria?" Cleo asked.

"Of course! I was just there, well not exactly there I was actually by the border- t- that doesn't matter! If this isn't Equestria than where are we?"

Cleo took a moment to think, creating a pause. Long enough to make Barney curious why he didn't respond, and for Dean to wonder if he had said something wrong. A moment after, Cleo explained, "there's this road that takes you all the way to the coast. It starts at this town called Mason and travels for miles across the country. It ends at the boarder between goat country and the unclaimed territory."

"So, I'm even further south than I already was", Dean summarized.

Another pause ensued as Cleo thought, before asking what was on his mind. "You know, you really do seem like a fish out of water to me. Where did you come from? And, how exactly did you get here?" 

Dean figured this conversation would lead to that, and he would have to explain. And the way Barney looked at him, he hadn't thought the same thing, but he too wanted to know. And neither had said it directly, but Dean was sure they wanted to know why he had appeared out of a blue box in the sky. He didn't mind telling them, but thinking about it, the explanation is going to sound quite outlandish, and he was concerned if they were going to believe to him or not.

He sighed, "I'll tell you, but first I want you to get Redger from the closet."

"Hmm? And why's that?" Cleo asked.

"Because what I'm about to tell you is going to sound crazy, but its all true. And it'll prove that I'm not a chaos demon."

"But we already know your not a chaos demon", said Barney.

"I know, I'm not trying to prove it to you", Dean explained.

They knew what he meant, and Cleo nodded and sighed, "dang, and I was really enjoying the peace and quiet. . . . Alright, Barney, you wanna go get the hot head?"

Barney nodded and trotted over to the closet behind Dean. Dean, not wanting to stand close to the one who wanted to use him as bait, took this moment to move away from the closet. As soon as tried to stand he felt his muscles cramp, and the aches welled up again, reminding him of his previous night's endeavors. That short bit of rest did replenish enough of his strength however, and he managed to walk over to Cleo, albeit a little tipsy. Cleo had a sense that Dean wanted to keep away from Redger, he'd want to as well if he were Dean, so he didn't mind at all that Dean was taking a seat by him. Of course, he wouldn't have mind either way.

Dean picked up a chair that laid on its side on the ground and propped it up along the table, opposite end from Cleo. Barney meanwhile opened the closet, and all three heard Redger inside. He was trying to shout, but the cloth bound around his mouth made him muffled. The light from the single candle couldn't reach the inside of the closet, and Dean couldn't see Redger until Barney dragged him out.

Still tied to the chair, the same way Dean was earlier, Redger was brought into the room and placed several feet away from the table that Cleo and Dean sat. Barney positioned him so he faced the two, and Redger glared daggers at Dean the moment he laid eyes on him. He started shouting at Dean, and he and the others were glad Redger was still muffled. If he hadn't they would have receive a barrage of obscenities fit for a sailor.

Barney trotted over and grabbed a chair from another table, bringing it to the desk and taking a seat by Dean. Barney seemed uncertain what to do next, and Dean waited anxiously, assuming either Barney or Cleo would make the next move. Cleo sighed again as he begrudgingly stood from his chair and walked over to Redger. With his shoulders slumped, it was obvious he was doing this because he knew he would have to eventually. Otherwise, he would have been happy with at least five more minutes of silence.

Cleo approached him, putting no thought to the hell bent glares Redger was giving him, and proceeded to untie the cloth that bound Redger's mouth. Just before he did, however, he said to Redger, "are you going to keep your voice down this time?" Redger didn't respond, and instead glared at Dean, breathing heavily. Cleo waited patiently, and a moment after asked again, "well? Are you?" There was a second small pause, before Redger complied with a nod. "Alright, I'm taking this off. But the moment you start shouting its coming back on, got that?" Redger growled in response, but Cleo accepted that answer and untied the cloth.

The moment the cloth fell from his lips Redger spat at Dean, "you chaos demon! You've got them wrapped right around your hooves! Don't- cha!"

"You still think I'm a chaos demon? We've all been in the same room for, um, how long was I unconscious?"

"Its been almost two hours", said Cleo.

"Eh- what! Really!?" Dean exclaimed, surprised.

"Not all of those bruises are from Redger, you were already pretty messed after Barney caught you. I'm surprised you didn't sleep longer after Redger's tantrum", Cleo smirked to Redger, giving him a cynical raise of his brow.

"Buck you!" Redger spat in response.

"Eh, right. Right, well, that's exactly the point! Two hours we've been here and I haven't done anything to them! If I was a chaos demon than don't you think I would have?" said Dean.

"Pfft! You take me for an idiot!?!" 

"One of us does", Cleo piped in his smirk.

Redger ignored him, though he did spare a growl. "Of course you've done something! You've gotten into their heads! Made them think your innocent! Then, when we're at our most vulnerable that's when you'll attack!"

"Really? That's what you think?" Dean asked.

"No I don't think that, I know that you will!"

"So, the kids going to attack when we're at our most vulnerable? Kind a like how you are right now?" Cleo asked, his smirk broadening to a contagious grin, causing even Barney to smile, amused.

"Exact-!" Redger paused and thought about that. Tied to the chair, he was indeed at his most vulnerable. Despite that, his stubbornness came up with a counter response quickly. Spouting whatever came to mind, he said to Cleo angrily, "he needs all of us to be vulnerable! Not just me you idiot!"

"Oh for Celestia's sake! Redger! He's not a chaos demon! Alright!" Cleo exclaimed.

"Oh he's not is he!? Well what about the blue box from earlier? It just appeared from the sky and he fell from it! Explain that!"

"He is going to explain that, Redger. That's why he asked us to get you from the closet", Barney explained.

"He- eh", Redger paused, needing a moment to think. His mind formulated his next counter response, and again he was just spewing the first thing that came to mind. "So, you've got something to say to make us think your not a demon, huh!?" 

"Holy cow, Redger! Just listen to the kid will ya!" said Cleo.

"I'm not listening to a word he has to say! He's got you two tricked-"

Cleo stood from his chair suddenly, screeching it back slightly. With one hoof he reached the mace strapped at his side, with the other he pointed angrily to Redger and spoke down on him with malice. His sudden turn in demeanor was powerful enough to make the room dead silent, and despite not being the ones under his glare, even Dean and Barney felt tense. "Another word and I swear I'll make you regret it! Capiche!" Cleo murmured with malice.

The two lock eyes on one another, staring daggers, before Redger looked away with a "humph!" 

Cleo breathed a tired sigh before saying to Dean, "alright kid, tell us how you got here."

Dean nodded, still feeling the effect of Cleo silencing Redger. "O- Okay, b- but like I said it's very . . . intense to say the least. I'm not sure how much of it you'll believe."

Cleo chuckled, "after everything we've seen. We'll believe just about anything at this point. Well, most of us", Cleo added, hearing Redger scoff.

Dean took a breath, recollecting everything that had transpired. "Okay, to understand about that blue box I have to explain it all from the beginning. And its a bit of a long story, so I'll summarize it for you.

You see, I used to be a college student at Mane City University. As you're probably already aware the princesses were defeated by Discord, and he took over Mane City. Almost everypony there didn't make it out, and I most likely wouldn't have too. But the day Mane City fell my professor asked me to collect something for him. A part he needed for his telescope. It was while I was outside Mane City that I heard the screams, and everypony running away.

I ran too and, after learning of what had happened, I decided it would be best to return home for a time. I stayed with others for a little bit to collect supplies. And afterwards, I traveled on my own. But I got lost in a forest miles south west from Mane City. I was having trouble reading my map and I threw- eh- dropped it by accident. While I was searching for it I was attacked by a hungry manticore! It chased me and I just managed to out run it, but it nearly caught me. However, just before he did I was saved by this mystery stallion. An old white pony with gray hair, dressed in a suit and tie.

It was here that I met the Doctor."






A Half Hour Later






Dean concluded his story. From the forest animals, to Dodge Junction, the swamp, the unknown territory, and finally, to recently, how he had fallen from the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T.

Dean knew these past three weeks had been eventful, but telling the story to them, Dean felt the impact that each of those adventures had on him. It made him realize how much he had grown, how wiser he had become, in a time that felt like months. Each minute he told his story he felt a welling sense of pride. Each life he fought for, every villain stopped, every step of the way. An indescribable feeling that no pony could understand. For, stories like this, the experience that he had, it was a sense most could only believe if they had been there for themselves. 

The three who listened, who had seen what the corrupted were capable of in person, even they could not fathom what it was like to be by the Doctor's side. Cleo could imagine that; standing alongside someone so skilled. A pony who was, somehow, always one step ahead of their opponent, and fought for the greater good of others. What he couldn't imagine, however, is how someone could fight for nothing but the greater good. For him, if he were to be with someone like the Doctor, he'd want to see some gold if he were to be involved. It only made sense too him. Someone this good cannot surely fight for nothing. What would be the point in all of that skill?

Barney from the start had been on the edge of his seat. He clanged to every word Dean said, imagining the incredible adventure of being with the Doctor. And when Dean concluded he sat in awe, stricken with wonder as a sudden thirst for adventure rose inside of him.

Redger, as expected by Dean, didn't seem to believe him. It was obvious by the look on his face, frowning like a stubborn child. Yet, Redger's expression said something that Dean didn't understand. It had changed while he described the Doctor, and though he appeared stubborn throughout his story that odd look still remained. Like the shading of a drawing, hardly even there, and yet held a great importance. He wasn't sure why he looked this way, but given his situation he chose not to question it. The best he could describe Redger's look, however, was contemplation. But he chose not to assume anything.

Dean waited for a response, any response, to know where he stood between the three. Of course he knew where he stood to Redger, that was obvious, but he still waited to see if he would say something as well. He was unaware that Redger was waiting too. Also wanting to see what the others had to say, before he told them what was on his mind.

Barney was still imagining Dean's adventure, putting himself in Dean's hooves as if he were there with the Doctor instead. It made feel giddy, having this childish like want for adventure. Just like a colt or filly would reading exploration tales at bedtime. 

Cleo, meanwhile, was in a deep thought. It all did sound a bit far fetch to him, Dean's story. But, than again, with everything he had seen with the corrupted, the magical possibilities the world had to offer, not to mention the alicorn princesses themselves who, as he and everyone else had thought, were suppose to be the strongest ponies in the world, were defeated by a creature who had appeared out of nowhere. At this point, he figured anything was possible. He especially found it difficult to believe that this "Doctor" was actually a pony from another species that are actually part phoenix. But this world was full of creatures he was sure he hadn't heard of yet, so like everything else he had heard, he was willing to give Dean the benefit of the doubt, and believe him for the most part.

Cleo exhaled, as if blowing off the steam the gears in his head were producing. "Wow, that's quite the adventure you've had, huh?"

"So you believe me?" Dean asked.

"Yes I believe you, and I think Barney does too", Cleo said, grinning at the excitement present on Barney.

"Did the Doctor really save an entire town with an arrow in his leg?" Barney asked.

Dean couldn't help but smile, thinking about the day the Doctor saved Dodge Junction made him almost as giddy as Barney. "He did, it was incredible! He knew that because of his age he wasn't as strong or as fast as Tumbleweed. So he let Tumbleweed fire first, but he had the duel take place at just the right time so that the wind would throw off Tumbleweed's arrow. And he knew what time of day the wind would come because of his elemental magic. He thought of every step of the way! From what time they should duel, to the Breezies magic, and taking account on his age and his own strength. Every variable and every angle the whole way through the Doctor just . . . he just seems to know what to do. Seeing the way he fights, how he fights, honestly I still have trouble believing it myself, and I was there! So you can see why I was afraid none of you would believe me."

"Well, it wasn't really us that needed convincing in the first place, was it?" said Cleo, casting a hinting glance over to Redger. Redger was still pouting, looking away from the three stubbornly while his face still remained in that gray area. An expression that was clearly angry but, as Dean could only describe it, also held that hint of contemplation to it. The other two noticed it as well, but Cleo was the first to say something about it. "You know, I'm surprised that all you did was scoff while Dean told his story. I was expecting at least a sarcastic remark or an insult. Something you wanna say?" Redger didn't respond, so Cleo added as a way to poke at him, "oh! Don't tell me you believe the kid, do you? And, you wanna admit that you were wrong and that you were just being a hot head this whole time?"

That did the trick. Redger glared at Cleo, saying through gritted teeth, "shut your stupid mouth!"

Cleo sneered as he pressed on, "you've clearly got something to say, Redger. Why don't you spit it out already?"

"I don't need to say anything!" Redger spat, loud enough to boarder a yell.

Cleo pointed to him like an angry boss, "ah! What did I say would happen if you shout!?"

Redger growled before turning away from Cleo. Which, being tied to a chair he only managed to swivel around about two inches.

Stubborn as he was Redger was clearly not going to say anything to Dean and Cleo. So, Barney being the friendliest of the bunch, thought he would try talking to him. Treading carefully, he spoke to Redger with respect. "Redger, we can all see that there's something on your mind. Is it about Dean's story? Or something else?"

Being angry at Dean was one thing, he didn't trust him. And Cleo, he just knew how to poke him the right way to set him off. But Barney, Redger was just stubborn enough to cast an angry look at him. However, he still couldn't help but give Barney a response. He couldn't help it, Barney was just one of those ponies that were too kind to be mad at, unless the opposing pony was too much of a jerk. He'll admit he was stubborn, but a jerk, he would punch anyone in the face who dared call him that. Set on this fact actually made him unaware of his own oxymoron.

The problem with answering Barney is that, despite how much he didn't want to, he would be forced to admit that Dean's story was true. He groaned pitifully before making himself speak, "alright! Alright! I'll say it! If it'll get you all to shut up already!"

Cleo was about to ask but Barney beat him to it, "say what, Redger?"

Redger struggled, going to speak before closing his mouth, repeating, groaning, squirming, then closing and opening his mouth again. It actually seemed kind of painful, how badly Redger did not want to admit his truth. It took a moment, but Redger managed to force the words out. "I- I admit it! Dean's telling the truth!"

Before Dean could register that he was startled by something slamming close to him. Cleo had stood up, having pounded his hoof to the table, as he looked in disbelief to Redger. As surprised as Dean and Barney were, Cleo was definently the most so. He chuckled before asking suspiciously, "really? Mr. Paranoia believes the kid he had just accused of being a chaos demon?"

"Shut up! I didn't want to say it!"

"But, why do you believe him?" Barney asked.

Cleo groaned, "you had a problem with me not believing him and now you have a problem that I do!? Seriously!?!"

"Just answer the question Redger!" Cleo said, growing frustrated.

Glaring to each of them, Redger sighed, "your just gonna make me- alright! I believe the kid because . . . because I met the Doctor."

The room went deathly silent suddenly. Eyes of disbelief all on Redger, making the tied stallion more unsecure than he already was, though his stubborn look did well to hide it. It was quite for an uncomfortably long time, passing seconds that felt like minutes to Redger. A moment after, the silence was broken first by Dean, "you've seen him?"

" . . . Yeah, I've seen him."

"H- How have- w- when did you see him!?! Where was he!?!" Dean asked frantically.

"And why didn't you say anything?" Cleo asked.

Redger scoffed, "tch! What? And let him get into my head too? The kids already convinced you two he isn't a demon I won't let him do the same to me! Yes I met the Doctor and he was looking for the kid. If he's friends with him than to me that means there both suspicious."

"He's was looking for Dean?" Cleo asked.

"But, Deans only been with us since this morning. Are you saying you met the Doctor earlier and didn't tell us?" Barney asked.

Redger scoffed, "it didn't matter at the time, alright!"

"I think it does actually-"

"Hold on a minute", said Cleo, cutting off Barney. "This morning when we heard that noise you left to go and check it. When you came running back you told us you were attacked by a demon. Were you talking about the demon that was chasing us down the hall?" Redger didn't respond immediately. He tried thinking of the best way to answer, but he hesitated, as, at this point, he was sure that if he tried to lie he might get caught in the act. So he tried thinking of an alternative answer, but took too long. With the sudden rise in tempers Cleo had become impatient, and he pressed on, basically commanding Redger to answer. "Well! Was it!?! Was that the same demon from earlier!?!"

Redger tried longer to think of something to say, but the way each of them looked at him told Redger he was out of time. So, he breathed a defeated sigh and told the truth. "No, the demon chasing us in the hall was not the same demon from this morning."

Listening, Dean was able to keep up, having a basic understanding of what had happened. Barney knew what Cleo was talking about, and Cleo, hearing this from Redger, grew angry. "There wasn't any demon this morning, was there!?!"

"Yes there was! He attacked me!" Redger yelled.

"Who did!? The Doctor!?" Cleo yelled back. Now Dean knew what Cleo was on about, and he felt himself become angry the further they got towards the truth.

"Yes it was the Doctor! I went to check and he attacked me-"

"You said it was a demon that attacked you!" Cleo chided, cutting Redger off.

"It was a demon-!"

"No it was not! You've been calling Dean a demon this whole time and you! You! This morning! UUGH!!!" Cleo slammed his hooves against the table before stressfully stroking a hoof through his hair. He took a moment to breath, calming himself just enough so he wouldn't yell, before he continued. "You and your paranoia. I always keep telling you its okay to be cautious so long as you don't let get into your head and what do you do!?" He turned, walked close to Redger, and spoke down to him, simmering. "A kid falls from the sky and for all we know he could have been a demon. Than an old stallion comes along looking for his kid and we give his kid back explaining what happened. We don't fight, no one gets hurt and that kid would be back with his friend now going their own separate ways while we go on ours! That's what could have happened! That's what should have happened! But you come galloping in like Death is after you claiming you were attacked by a demon! And we believe you! We- we believe-" 

Exasperated, Cleo took a step back. Sitting back in his chair, he took another breath. Resting his head in his hooves, covering his eyes, he allowed himself to take a moment. Once he settled himself down just enough, he looked over his hooves and continued, struggling to keep his voice down. "We believed you, and you made us tie this kid down and keep him quiet because, for a moment, you made us just as paranoid as you . . . do you not see how serious you've made this? Do you realize that the Doctor is still out there looking for Dean right now as we speak? Because you just chose to believe Dean was a demon!?"

Redger sneered, "oh I don't think he's looking for Dean anymore."

That response struck a soft spot in Dean, and before Cleo could press further, Dean said suddenly, "how do you know!"

"Dean I'll talk to him-"

"No! I want to know what he has to say!" Dean said angrily, cutting Cleo off. Taken aback, Cleo simply allowed Dean to take over. As he and Barney watched anxiously. 

Dean continued, glaring back at Redger. "Cleo's right you know. After everything I've gone through you have been nothing but trouble to me! I am thankful for your friends because they seem to be the only ones here who don't care just about themselves! They've been protecting me from a demon but most of all they've been protecting me from you!" 

Redger scoffed, only serving to anger Dean further as he pressed on. "You don't know what I've been through. I've told you my story but to actually be there, to feel that fear of you watch someone die, as you hide helplessly in bushes. Or to feel your heart break as you are told that your father is dead. Or to be blind in a swamp but still running for your life! Or fighting alone in a forest against a corrupted! And I mean a pony who is actually corrupted! Not some fear or thought that you might be in danger, no! You really are in danger, your life is on the line and you must fight to see another day! Do you have any idea what that is like!"

"I do-"

"Than you should know how scared I am! Everything I've faced, but you've survived the corrupted as well. You should know my fear and yet, and yet you don't care. Its almost like this isn't even about survival anymore, its about winning-"

"It isn't about that-"

"Than what's it about!" Dean shouted. "Survival isn't just staying alive! To survive is to trust in others! To survive is to never go at it alone! Because a sole survivor sounds like quite the hollow victory to me! Being the last pony alive with no one else! That's why you don't understand at all! You know my fear but you don't know what it means to survive with someone else!

I've been through a lot but the Doctor has always been there for me every step of the way! And this time is no different! That's why you can never understand! You don't understand the Doctor like I do because you only care about yourself!" Dean pointed towards the door, as if someone were there. "The Doctor is looking for me right now! And when he finds me he'll stop whatever that thing is that is chasing us! And than he'll help all of us get to safety! I'm sure of it!"

" . . . But that's where your wrong kid", Redger said grimly, an odd, sudden shift in his tone.

"Oh am I! How!?! How am I wrong!?!" Dean spat, growing angrier.

" . . . Because I saw-"

He didn't catch that. Cleo and Barney stood from there chairs, utterly taken aback at what Redger had said. But to Dean, it was on a whole different level of shock. He couldn't believe him, he didn't want to believe him. Perhaps that's why his mind had blocked out what Redger had said. His mouth had move, and words came out, but it was as if what he said was so horrible, so tainted, that they weren't allowed to be heard. It made his mind go blank for a moment, and somehow, those words did not exist.

Dean heard Cleo say something, followed by Barney, then Cleo shouting at Redger. But his mind hadn't recovered, and it all sounded muffled to him. It took a moment before his mind started working again. Slowly, hints of what Redger said processed, and Dean still refused to believe it was true. So, to confirm what he had said, Dean asked again slowly.

He swallowed and spoke, silencing Cleo as he did. "What . . . what did you just say." Redger repeated, just as grimly this time as the first. 


" . . . . . I said, its because I saw the Doctor die."







Hours Ago






Pacing back and forth, Redger kept a hoof in his saddle bag, expecting anything to appear at any moment. When it does, he was going to be ready, as he turned the throwing knife around in his hoof. Taking a moment to look up to the windows on the ceiling, Redger couldn't help but sigh anxiously.

He was pacing in the center of a large, auditorium like brick room. Rectangular in shape, reaching twice the size of a sports court, and without a second or third floor above. The ceiling was at the highest point possible, with rows of windows along there. It was a shame they were all earth ponies, or Redger would have gotten out of here as soon as he could. Instead, he was stuck on guard duty while the others watch the kid.

On one end of the large room was a wooden stair case. The top of the stairs held a double metal door, and upon entering lead to a room also entirely made from metal. The room was a mess with cabinets toppled over, a broken desk, and papers scattered about. That double door was the only entrance, for the room lead nowhere else. And beside the door, to the left, was a single, large, thick glass window. It was here that Cleo and Barney sat, watching Dean. Who, at this time, was still unconscious and tied to a chair.

The rest of the room held long, thin, disposable tables that were scattered everywhere. Most broken beyond repair with pieces of wood and splinters sprawled around. The ones not broken, or at least well enough to still use, were all knocked over, with the exception of one the Redger lifted upright in the center of the room. The majority of the old, wooden floor was littered with cloth, fabric, raw and processed cotton, wool, and various sewing supplies. Perhaps, at one point large numbers of ponies sewed in this room all at once. A process line perhaps? That's what Redger assumed, but he didn't put much thought into it. Even the fact that a metal room was built in a building of brick and stone didn't even occur to him. He was focused on the twin doors across the room.

On the other end of the room, opposite from the metal one, were a set of twin doors. With faded paint and a chipping rough surface, both were made from a dark brown wood. The only way in and out of the room, positioned on each end of the wall, one furthest left and one furthest right. Redger stared anxiously to both, pacing by the table he had intended to sit on, before the stress made it unbearable to remain still.

Because he was the most experienced of the three with ranged weapons, Cleo had asked if he could stay on guard here, while he and Barney stayed with Dean in the metal room. Tactically it made sense, if something threatening comes through either door Redger can throw a knife from where he stood, attacking the threat at this safe distance. If something happens to enter that he can't handle, he could always shout and call for help. And at this distance he would have more than enough time to run safely to the metal room. Even still, the anticipation of anything dangerous coming through either door, for he wouldn't know which until it happens, had him pacing in a jitter. It made it worse knowing that that demon he saw earlier was still here somewhere, and Redger was sure he was looking for them. 

Perhaps not them specifically, as that demon said it was looking for its partner. Of course, that demon had claimed he was looking for his "friend". But he knew better than to listen to that sham. The moment they give the kid back to him that demon would turn the rest of them into demons, Redger was sure of it.


Bang! Bang! Bang!


Redger practically jumped out of his skin, hearing someone knocking. He hopped backwards, nearly tumbling over the table, before he caught himself. He shift his balance, knocking the table aside, and returning fixed on both doors while the table toppled over, slamming to the ground with a dull "thud!"

He knew something would come but he hadn't expected whatever it would be to knock. So he was quite taken by surprise. Peeking a glance over his shoulder, Redger checked to see if Barney or Cleo had heard. Since neither were checking on him he assumed they hadn't. 

Slowly, Redger shifted towards the doors, darting his eyes from one to the other for the slightest movement. He wasn't sure which door he heard the knock come from, so either could open at any second, and he wanted to make sure where to throw his knife the moment he saw any door open. He was running low so he didn't want to waste any on false alarms. 

Luckily he didn't need to wait to know which door hid his threat. Behind the right end door came another round of knocks, bang! Bang! Bang!

Redger's breathing became erratic, and he could feel his heart pitter patter as he shifted towards the right end door. The rational side of him said that this was that demon from this morning, he was sure of it. This is the first demon he's seen since leaving Equestria, so most likely this was the same one waiting for him to open the door. Than again, the rest of him was afraid of the possibility that this might be something new. The way that demon acted this morning made him sure this might be the same demon. After all, who else would alert others of where they were by knocking? Of course, maybe there was a random demon out there who preferred to knock before entering rooms too? That thought felt a little ridiculous, but he wouldn't let the idea pass him by.

Shifting to the door, Redger carefully pressed his hoof to the wood, making sure he didn't feel it push open. A second of hesitation after, Redger struggled as he called out, "w- who's there!"

"Oh! So someone is in there! Finally! I think I've knocked on half the doors in this place!" the Doctor said, his voice muffled from speaking through the door.

Recognizing that voice, Redger yelled, "its you!"

The Doctor too recognized him and said quickly, "now, now! I know you and I got on the wrong hoof earlier but I just wanted to talk."

Redger scoffed, "oh! Is that all? You wanna come in 'er an have a chat? Why don't I just let you take us to Discord while we're at it! Save you the trouble!"

"No, no, I won't enter. We can talk as we are if that makes you more comfortable", the Doctor said calmly.

That in turn made Redger uneasy, and he asked, "what are you planning?"

"I promise you I'm not planning anything! I swear!" Redger heard the Doctor sigh, "listen, I'm sorry about this morning. My friend and I, Dean, the pony that you have right now. He and I have just been through . . . an ordeal, to say the least. Just like you we have also been running from corrupted, or as you call them, "chaos demons". And I know I shouldn't have threatened you, I'm sure your just as weary as we are. But with everything that has happened, and my friend being taken by strangers, I'm just stressed and afraid. And . . . I'm sorry."

The Doctor surely sounded genuine, and that made Redger feel somewhat of an impact. But he refused to let himself be persuaded, "what'll happen if I open this door?"

"Than I'll come and take my friend. I won't cause you any trouble and we will leave as quickly as we arrived. And if you want, I still have that reward if you help me. But if that makes you uncomfortable than I'll just grab Dean and we'll be on our way. You'll never see us again. Is that okay?" the Doctor asked.

Redger didn't like that, the way this pony spoke to him. He was being kind, patient, and he made it seem like Redger had the choice if he wanted to help or not. He had expected this pony to barge in and attack, not negotiate. He even apologized for that threat from earlier, and it only made Redger more and more anxious the longer the Doctor spoke.

"That's it, huh? You'll just grab the kid and leave?" Redger asked.

"Yes, that's it. I'll grab my friend and leave, you'll never see us again!"

"Okay . . . and what if I don't open the door?"

It was short, but Redger noticed the pause that followed. He was still calm, but Redger caught a hint of something serious in the Doctor's tone. "I would really like it if you opened the door, please? I just want my friend back."

Redger shook his head, "no, no, no, you, you think its that easy? Pretending to be all nice and friendly just so you can get in here?"

"Young stallion please listen-"

"No! You listen here demon! I will not let your sweet talk be the end of me! That's how my wife got taken! And I will not go down the same way! You hear!" Redger shouted, pounding a hoof to the door. It took a moment to register to realize how angry he had become, and Redger waited anxiously for a response.

It came longer than expected, and when it did the Doctor spoke in a tone unfamiliar to him. It wasn't sad, it was more . . . defeated? Redger couldn't tell, but that was his best guess. "You really won't listen to me? I really mean it, I am not a demon. Please sir, please reconsider. I just want my friend."

Redger scoffed again, shouting stubbornly, "yeah? Well I want my friends too. But there all demons! Taken by creatures like you!"

Another pause followed, long enough to make Redger wonder if the Doctor left. Suddenly, he heard a sigh, "Please sir, just . . . please reconsider. I know you are afraid, but I promise, I swear to you I mean no harm. If you could just-" the Doctor stopped suddenly.

Redger waited a moment, breathing anxiously, before calling out, "hello?" No response, so he calls again, "hey, you still there?"

Suddenly, Redger leapt back, feeling the Doctor bang! the door from his side. "Young stallion there's something out here! Please let me in!"

The Doctor sounded genuinely afraid, but Redger wouldn't buy it. He yelled towards the door, "what the tarterus are you saying!?!"

"There's something out here! Please! Open the door!"

"Fat chance! Your not fooling me! I ain't opening the door for-"

"AHGH!!!" the Doctor shouted. There was a hard bang! from the Doctor's side and Redger saw the door bend inwards towards him. Yet, the door remained locked, pushing its hinges past its limit, but still it held and remained shut. For a moment Redger thought the Doctor was going to force his way in, and he brought a throwing knife out from his saddle bag defensively. 

"H- Hello there. How are you?" said the Doctor.

"What was that?" Redger asked.

The Doctor spoke again, and Redger felt a chill run down his spine as he realized the Doctor was talking to someone else. "You don't look very happy. W- Why don't we just take a walk and talk for a little bit? Does that sound nice? No? Oh dear- WOAH!!!"

The door banged several times, the Doctor screamed, and the door was suddenly pulled inward. The hinges creaked and groaned, and Redger witnessed as the small metal plates keeping this door attached was bent beyond its limit. The lock broke, and the door broke free from its hinges. The Doctor, who had held onto the door handle for dear life, was pulled by the legs by something strong. Pulling the Doctor with enough force to bring he and the door, ripped from the wall, down the hall. 

Taking a step back, Redger watched helplessly through the doorway, now an open hole in the wall, as he saw the Doctor, still holding onto the door, dragged down to the end and around the corner. His screams echoing away until he was gone. 

For a moment he was frozen stiff, unsure of what to do. It occurred to him to run to the metal room and join the others, but it had all happened so quick, his mind was still registering. Then, suddenly, Redger heard a growl.

At the end of the narrow hall, around the corner, an eerily dark red light appeared. And with it came a low growl, humming louder as it approached. Redger subconsciously stepped backwards, slowly as he waited for the enigma to appear. He didn't have to wait long, within seconds a hoof crept from the corner. Gripping the wall as it shuffled around, its light coloring the gloomy hall with its presence.

Redger felt his heart stop as he saw it for the first time. A demon, but not like the chaos demons, this was the first true demon he had ever seen. The ones that really come from tarterus. Its red fur and talon like goat hooves, its sharp horns, its black soulless eyes. It shambled at first, appearing almost aimless like. Slowly, however, its head bent backwards, cracking as it swiveled its neck around. Then, it stared eye to eye with Redger from down the hall.

Like a deer caught in the headlights, Redger stopped in his tracks. Frozen under the demons glare, Redger found himself lost between thought. He could run to the metal room, but the demon would give chase. Yet, the demon would not stare at him forever, and he would surely attack if not soon. Under panic, his mind rushed for an answer. The most obvious being to run, yet he found that he was unable to move while under the demons glare. Not because of a special power, Redger was simply too scared. He remained still for a moment longer, before he ran out of time.

The demon roared suddenly, and Redger felt his body awaken. With a rush of adrenaline, Redger screamed as he turned to run towards the metal room. Redger heard the demons heavy hoofsteps chasing from behind, so, dropping his throwing knife, Redger hastened his pace to a gallop. From within the room Barney and Cleo heard the demon roar, and Cleo checked through the window just in time to see Redger running towards him, with the demon not too far behind.

"Sweet Celestia!" Cleo shouted. Before Barney could ask what was happening, Cleo rushed to the door and pushed it open. With the entrance wide open Cleo beckoned to Redger, "get inside! Hurry!"

Up the steps and into the room, Redger passed Cleo and collapsed in the corner, panting to catch his breath as Cleo slammed the door shut. Locking it, Cleo felt the door push inwards hard, and he was thrown off his hooves. Landing on his rump Cleo quickly got to his hooves. Rushing for his weapon, he yelled to Barney, "hold the door shut!"

Barney nodded and rushed forth, pushing with all his might to keep the demon outside from entering.

The three would struggle to come up with a plan, arguing amongst one another. Soon, taken in his state of panic, Redger would assume that Dean was the key to saving them from the demon. Barney would argue for Dean, standing in his his defense. While Cleo, unsure and just as panicked, held Dean at bay while keeping him somewhat safe.

The bickering lasted for a solid five minutes, before the demon would cease his attacks on the door and instead attack the window. And it was at this time that Dean had awoken.
> One, Two, Five Steps: Part Three (S1C6)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A heavy cloud of anxiousness enveloped all but Dean. As if breathing through a thick fog, a heavy weight sat upon them. Cleo and Barney were still, watching Dean, awaiting for the colt to respond. Redger too was waiting. Not so much out of concern for the colt, as was the case with the others. He was curious to how Dean would respond upon hearing of his friend's death. Who, at this moment, had a stoic gaze set away to nowhere. His head turned away so he wouldn't have to look at Redger.

Redger took a short breath. A sigh forming before he took in the rooms pungent scent of mothballs, and he choked. "Y- You see kid?" he coughed, clearing his windpipe. "Your friend isn't coming to save you. He's gone, just like all the others. In fact, I don't even think he's a chaos demon. I think he might just be dead-"

"Redger!" Barney exclaimed, astonished.

"You shut your mouth!" Cleo spat, slamming a hoof to the table, pointing at Redger threateningly. His mace rumbled on the table slightly, nearly rolling off the side, before stopping just along the edge.

"What!? Its true! We haven't seen a second chaos demon this whole time! So either the Doctor's dead or he somehow managed to survive and now he's outta here! I'll bet if he did survive than that's exactly what he did! Ran off! As far away from this place as possible."

"Why would you assume the Doctor would do that?" asked Barney.

"Because that's what I would have done", Redger said, plainly.

"Yeah? Well you don't have stones like the Doctor does", Cleo said cheekily.

Redger scoffed, "oh please. Even if this "Doctor" really is still alive, and even if he really is still here looking for the kid, do you honestly think the kid was telling the truth about how "amazing" this stallion really is? Foalnapping animals with a giant vacuum? A pony who can control vines? It all sounds like a bunch'a horseradish to me."

"That's where your wrong", Dean piped suddenly, cutting Cleo off before he could start. Drifting his gaze to Redger, Dean looked upon him not with anger, as the others had expected, but with confidence. "Your wrong, about everything you've said. The Doctor is alive, and he hasn't ran away. He's still here, somewhere. And he's looking for me as we speak."

"I know what I saw kid, your friend ain't coming for you-"

"Did you actually see him die?" Dean asked.

The absurdity in that question made Redger shake his head, "did I- were you not listening? I saw the Doctor get dragged down the hall by that demon! He's dead!"

"You saw him get taken around a corner. That's what you said, wasn't it?"

Scoffing, Redger responded irritably, "what difference does it make?"

"The difference is that the Doctor can handle situations you wouldn't believe! You, Cleo, and Barney have been through a lot, I understand. But so have we! And the Doctor, how he can manage to surpass even the toughest of situations is beyond me. But he can! If he can handle the things I've seen him do than he can handle this!

You say you saw him taken around a corner? And that's the last you saw him? Well in that case I say that he did something afterwards! He survived that attack and now he's out there looking for me!"

"Your being delusional kid! He. is. dead!"

"Say what you want but I know he's alive!" Dean yelled, growing angrier.

Dean froze, and the four suddenly became deathly still. A low, deep, hungry growl echoed from outside. Within the hall, its presence loud and clear, enough so to sound as if the creature was inside this very room. As they each turn to the only entrance to the room, the small open lining at the bottom of the door glowed an eerie red light. A sign they knew meant that the demon was right outside.

Dean nearly jumped as he felt a hoof touch his shoulder. He turned to see Barney silently shushing him, his opposite hoof placed to his lips. Soundlessly, he mouthed, "hide", and pointed to the open closet. Dean nodded and proceeded to the closet, tip toeing slowly. 

Meanwhile, in his panic Redger had started hyperventilating, and he struggled to free himself from his bounds. The cloths keeping him tied were too tight, and instead he shuffled the chair around, making the wooden legs screech as they dragged on the stone floor. Cleo jumped from his seat, quickly placing a firm hoof to Redger's shoulder and keeping him from moving. Redger went to curse at Cleo before he was silenced. The wrapping that had muffled him earlier now tied once more around Redger's mouth, Cleo's quick solution to the problem. Redger responded as expected, spitting a barrage of obscenities at Cleo. Cleo replied firmly, glaring angrily while hushing him. Redger went to say more but Cleo wouldn't have it, so he clamped onto Redger's shoulder hard, enough so to elicit a tiny squeal beneath his gag cloth. Cleo then motioned to Redger, asking him silently if he would continue to struggle. Redger shook his head in compliance, and Cleo released him. The tied pony breathing heavy as the pressure in his shoulder lingered, while Cleo stepped around the chair to untie him. All the while Barney was tip toeing to a nearby table that had been left on its side, seeking his own hiding place. 

Dean was midway to the closet, and Barney was mere steps away. Cleo and Redger remained at the table, all four were out in the open. Cleo untied the final cloth and Redger was freed. Bounding from the chair, Redger propped himself against the table to recover his balance. Over an hour he had been tied to that chair and the blood was just starting to circulate through his legs again. Taking a deep breath to pass the numbness, Redger turned to Cleo, who was motioning for Redger to follow. He hated following orders, especially from Cleo of all ponies, but this wouldn't be the first time he did. Begrudgingly, he nodded and turned to follow. 

It all happened in seconds. Cleo spotted it too late, and he stood helplessly, watching it fall. Dean and Barney practically jumped out of their skins, hearing a loud clang! as something solid and heavy collided onto the stone floor. The two turned back to the table closest to the door to see Cleo staring in disbelief towards a panic stricken Redger. A powerful mace rolling at his legs, bumping into a table leg and stopping. 

Cleo's mace, he had left it on the table. Placed by the edge earlier, and when Redger turned to Cleo his leg dragged along the edge, bumping into the mace by accident. It plummeted, the metal crashing onto stone, emanating loud enough for anyone to hear. Anyone.

Each felt their hearts stop, the blood pumping loudly through their ears, and they awaited for the worst. If they had fingers they'd be crossed, for even the slimmest chance that the demon hadn't heard that would be a miracle. Of course, how could it not have heard. The room shook under the power of the demon's roar, and the door bent inwards. The lock giving in as the door struggled to keep in its hinges, as the demon outside pounded hard, braking the door in. 

They all had the same thought to hide, and they darted forth to each their own place. Barney leapt over the side of the fallen table, crouching low behind it. Cleo did the same, galloping to a table on the opposite end of the room, right side from the closet. Dean nearly made it to the closet, but was shoved away just before entering.

Redger galloped fast, running to Dean's side and elbowing the colt in the ribs. Dean stumbled to the left as Redger entered the closet. Holding to his side, Dean shout whispered, "what are you doing!?!"

"Find somewhere else to hide!" Redger snapped, grabbing the door handle quickly.

"Wait!" Dean leapt forward, but was too late. Redger slammed the door shut, and Dean collided into it. He didn't have time to register what had happened, before the door behind him cracked loudly. Dean whipped around, the entrance door bending in the middle with a long crack, exposing wood shards in between, and he felt a sudden sense of panic rise in his chest. Quickly, he spotted the first desk fallen on its side and followed Cleo and Barney's lead. He darted forth, leapt, and skidded to a halt behind the desk, crouching just in time for the door to smash to pieces.

From Dean's perspective he spotted a cloud of shrapnel blow from above. Wooden shard spewing to the wall, raining down on and around Dean like hail. Somehow, the candle had not died, and what little light could illuminate from Dean's end of the room showed on the wall in front of him; the back, left corner of the room.

Heavy hooves pounded with each step, and Dean softened his breathing. Fighting his beating heart's want for oxygen in order to keep quiet. It was painful, but necessary. The hoofsteps grew louder, and Dean noticed his shadow hovering above him, as the demon lingered just beyond his hiding place. His deep gravel like breathing, like an evil bull about to kill, Dean heard every breath. And he hoped his own breathing was softer in comparison. The adrenaline pounding through him, the anxiety as the demon searched for them, standing right there, he could only stifle his breathing so much as his heart beat like a drum, begging for oxygen.

A sudden gust of hot air blew on him suddenly, tingling his skin as he shielded his eyes with his hoof. As he looked above once more, Dean felt the world come to a halt, as the giant demon was towering over him, glaring down on him. As if he were an ant, Dean felt tiny under his presence; vulnerable beneath the hell monster.

The demon roared and made a swipe at Dean with his razor sharp talon hooves. Dean screamed, and his adrenaline kicked in. He jumped backward, knocking his back painfully to the wall, but he managed to dodge the demon's talon. The demon roared angrily, reeling back and slamming his hoof down upon the desk. It smashed to pieces, the force of his strike creating a small cluster of splinters and chips that blew about. He plunged towards Dean, and Dean only had a second to react.

Quickly, Dean dashed left, narrowly avoiding the demon and running towards the closet. Missing Dean, the demon collided into the stone wall, slamming hard enough to break a large crater crack. He swiveled around fast, catching Dean making a sharp turn right, away from the closet. Dean galloped for the open exit, so close, but not enough so, as the demon was just too quick. The demon leapt over Dean, its sharp horns dragging along the stone ceiling, slicing through like it was made of bread. It landed in front of Dean, making the room rumble under its weight. Dean halted, realizing too late as the demon now blocked his path. He went to turn and run the opposite direction, but the demon made a grab for him.

Dean yelped as he felt a strong grip cling to his mane, the pull of his hair stretching his scalp as he was lifted off the ground. The demon, now with Dean in his grasp, roared victoriously at Dean; and Dean screamed, struggling helplessly to free himself, his face mere inches from the demon's as his ears rung beneath the power of its roar.


"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"


The demon roared once more, howling in pain as it released Dean from its grasp. Dean dropped like a dead weight, slamming painfully hard against the floor. He felt someone grabbing at his side, and it took a second of panic to realize it was Barney.

"Come on kid! Move!" Barney shouted, pulling Dean to his hooves. Dean could only follow Barney's command, as everything was happening so fast, his tired mind having trouble registering it all. 

While Barney assisted him, Dean caught sight of Cleo standing before the demon. He wore a fierce expression, his poise set in a battle stance as he held his mace at the ready. Dean realized then what had happened. Cleo ran for his mace while the demon was occupied with Dean, and he had attacked the demon from behind, releasing Dean from its grasp.

The demon roared and swiped, slashing his great talon, but Cleo was ready. Bringing the heavy weapon back with precise timing, he swung with all his might. Like swinging a bat to a ball, the mace collided with the demon's talon midway, the power of Cleo's counter swing knocking away demon's attack. The demon felt the impact of Cleo's parry and staggered, his attacking talon falling limp momentarily. Cleo took advantage of the moment to repost, dashing forth while allowing his upper body to turn under the momentum of his mace. It hit the demon's talon, and continued its path, swinging sideways, then upwards, until it reached its limit, than gravity takes over. It would fall, but Cleo gave it the extra power, bringing it downwards into its fall, and curving it into an upward swing. In a battle cry, Cleo drove his mace into the demon's gut, and an ear bleeding roar, croaking like a deep screech, came from the demons bowls, rising and exploding upwards from his throat. The power of his attack equivalent to a sledgehammer driving down upon a skull, wielded with the strength of ten oxen. The demon doubled over, taking a backhand swipe at Cleo, but Cleo ducked and avoided the attack. That was all it could muster, before the demon dropped to its knees to recover.

Now was their chance. Cleo shouted to Barney, "lets go!" turning to the door as he beckoned them to follow. With Dean on his hooves, Barney pulled him along to help him move quicker, then shoved him out the door before following out himself. Cleo in the lead, Dean in the middle, and Barney galloping from behind, the three dashed down the hall once again. In their second attempt to reach the end. 

An echoing roar pierced through the hall, rumbling the small interior around them, and for a moment they flinch, anticipating the worst. "Hurry! Its right behind us!" Cleo shouted.

Barney glanced over his shoulder, expecting the hall from behind to be illuminated with the demon's red glow, with the demon either close, or at the very lest, on their trail as pray to his hunt. It actually surprised him to see this wasn't the case, as the passing hall remained as dark as it ever was. "I don't see it!" Barney shouted to Cleo.

"Its coming! Just hurry!" Cleo responded.

It didn't take much longer. Their first attempt at their mad dash for the end was nearly successful, and they only had a few rooms left to pass before they made it. With the gaps between rooms being surprisingly long, the four had five dozen yards to cover before they reached the end. Their second dash, fueled in a pure fiery will of survival at their escape from death, was incredibly fast, and they progressed at thrice the speed than the first attempt. Thusly, the end of the hall came in sight rather quickly, and each of them felt their hearts beat in excitement. The aspect of escape within reach, right there, the last door set on the right, as the hall ended with a brick wall.

"There it is!" Cleo shouted. They had reached the end, and Cleo grasped at the door handle frantically. Ripping the door open, he shouted to the others, "come on! Hurry!" waving a hoof to beckon them inside. Dean and Barney galloped through the exit, and Cleo followed, slamming the door shut.

The three had found themselves back in the central room of the building. The long desk centered in the room, with the twin winding staircase leading to the second and third floor balconies above; Dean had been unconscious at the time they entered the building, so this room was new. To Barney and Cleo however, this room was all too familiar. And they couldn't be more than happy to see it again. Despite their relief, Cleo knew they weren't finished.

While Barney propped himself to the desk, and Dean flopped to the floor, both taking a moment to catch their breathes, Cleo made a dash behind the desk. With how strong the demon was he was sure this wouldn't even work, but if it could slow the demon down for even a moment than it was worth it. He grabbed a chair, carried it back to the door they came from, and propped it between the door handle. Kicking at the legs, Cleo made sure the chair was pressed firm between the floor and the handle. It may not lock the door, but it would make opening it a bit difficult. He made proper sure the chair would remain in place until he was satisfied. Afterwards, he took a step back, surveyed his work one last time, than trotted over to the others and joined them, taking a well needed break himself.

A second chair remained at the desk, and Cleo took it. Dropping down upon it as he rested his head into his hooves, breathing heavily. "We . . . we made it."

"Yeah . . . yeah we did", Barney replied, giving Cleo an unseen grin.

They rested for a minute, their area becoming eerily quiet in that time. The demon's roars where overbearing to their ears, and the lack of noise left an unsettling ringing sound, making the silence worse than it already was. For, the quiet room wasn't so because of safety, they knew they only had moments before their time was up. And each second spent in silence was a reminder of anticipation to what was to come. For the moment, however, they took in the silence gratefully. Despite the foreboding sense of danger, they needed the break. Though this room was just as dusty to breath in as the others, its grand space made it far more welcoming than the room they hid in, and especially that cramped hall. So, their breather was rather refreshing. Only, something wasn't quite right. Something was missing, and it took another minute before they realized what it was.

"Hey . . . . where's Redger?" Dean asked, standing shakily and leaning against the desk.

Barney's face dropped into unquestionable horror, and Cleo's head sprung from his hooves, an expression of equal horror present on him. He turned to Barney, as if expecting Redger to be there with him. Barney, however, had done the same, and the two realized that neither had Redger, nor did Dean. Cleo looked about, futilely searching for his ally, before realizing that Redger had not joined them in their escape.

He was still in the closet, back in the room with the demon, and that fact struck them all suddenly. Cleo, his expression shifting to terror in acceptance of that fact, stood slowly from his chair, and he could only say on thing. " . . . . . . Oh my Celestia."


A Few Minute Ago


The roars ceased, shouts had silenced, and the conflict beyond this door seemed to have finished. Redger sat in the corner of the closet, pushing his back against the wall as if he could, somehow, further himself from the danger. He waited, listening closely for any sign that someone, or something, was still out there. From what he heard it sounded as if the others had escaped. Or, escaped the room at least. They hadn't escaped the demon, for if they had left the room the demon would surely be right behind them. If that were the case, than that means Redger was alone. With the demon busy chasing the others, than for the moment, he was safe. 

The end of the hall wasn't too far from here. Five minutes, he estimated that would be all he needed to get out of the building. Without having to worry about the demon, now was his opportunity, and he couldn't find any issues with high tailing it out of here. Leaving Barney and Cleo seemed cruel, but he was sure the others would manage. Of course, thinking that was a good way to put himself at ease, and to soften the guilt that he selfishly pushed away.

"He-", he hesitated. Waiting a moment longer, Redger took a breath. The thought that the demon was still out there made him think twice to leave his hiding spot. But he didn't hear anyone screaming anymore, so thinking rationally, Redger was sure that everyone, the demon included, had left. That did little to set him at ease, but the thought of finally leaving this place was enough to convince him. So, he swallowed his fear and forced himself to shout, "hey! Is anypony out there!" He paused, listening, waiting for either a response or trouble. Neither came, and he started to feel braver. Standing to his hooves, Redger trotted to the door and called out once more, "hello! Anypony there! . . . . Hello!" He waited, and still heard nothing. Feeling confident that he was alone, Redger gripped the handle and opened the door slowly.

Looking around, Redger tried finding any sign of trouble. The room didn't look too different from before. With everything Redger had heard he wasn't surprised to find that one of the tables had been destroyed, and the door had been broken through. Aside from the damage, the only particular thing that caught Redger's attention was the candle. Somehow, it was still lit, and remained standing upright on the table everyone had sat at. Odd that it hadn't fallen during the mayhem, but Redger didn't care really. He didn't see anyone here, nor did he see anything that would suggest someone hiding behind a table or such. Taking a sigh of relief, Redger trotted over to the open doorway. His legs shaking, left over adrenaline still pumping through him, as his body was winding down past the danger.

He poked his head out the doorway, checking cautiously to the left and right. The hallway was dark, without a hint of red illuminating light, meaning the demon was nowhere near. He didn't notice his mouth curl into a grin, as the aspect of escape felt to have become a reality, and it excited him. Turning his sights right, down the hall, Redger charged, galloping for his freedom.

A single minute is all it took, not nearly as long as he had expected. He could feel an overwhelming surge of excitement course through him as he saw the end, the brick wall, with the last door to the left. His escape, his freedom, right there waiting for him. It shouldn't be said that he was a fast pony, more so than the average earth pony. He saw the final door and rushed for it. In his charge he was too quick, and he couldn't stop. He slammed his right body painfully against the brick wall, but he didn't care. Not while his hoof gripped the handle to freedom.

He turned the handle and pushed, but the door wouldn't open. He tried opening it again, only for the door to remain shut. Squinting through the dark, he wondered if the door might have been locked. He checked the handle, finding that this door didn't have a lock to it, and he felt that excitement in him drain suddenly. His heart was still beating, only now it was doing so anxiously, and a tinge of panic was developing within him. He was so close, his freedom just beyond this door, and he shook the door hard, trying to open it with brute force. "Come on! Come on! Open!"

It was no use, the door wasn't locked, but it felt as if something beyond the door was keeping it shut. Something hard, making it so he can only jiggle the door without opening it. Perhaps the door had been barricaded? He assumed that might be it, and if that were the case than all he needed to do was push his way through.

He took a few steps back, in what little space this hall had to offer, and he charged at the door, slamming his right shoulder into it. The door didn't budge, and Redger stepped back groaning, holding his right leg as he waited for the pain to subside. As it did he took another step back, preparing himself for a second attempt. He took a breath, readied himself, and was abut to charge. But something stopped him.

From the corner of his eye he noticed the hall seemed to brightened. It was dim and hardly noticeable, and he probably wouldn't have noticed it either, if not for the color. His heart sank, and he slowly turned down the hall, that panic rising strong inside him. From down the hall the demon stood tall, his horns just poking the ceiling, as his light was strong enough to just barely reach Redger. His eyes dead set on Redger, as his mouth foamed, and he growled with a powerful hunger. 

Redger didn't have time to so much as react, before the hall boomed beneath the force of the demon's roar. Redger flinched, and he screamed as the hall became brighter. The demon charged, and the hall turned red as he approached Redger. 

Redger darted for the door, pushing and slamming his hoof against it in panic. Before he looked back to the demon, finding that he was only mere feet away. He screamed, and pleaded a thought aloud, the last thought he had. A second before he was caught. "Celestia have mercy-"

The demon roared, and he captured his prey.






The Central Room






Beyond the door, the others stood behind the desk for cover. All watching the door intently, while Dean stood behind the others, bearing their arms. Cleo with his mace at the ready, and Barney stood poised with his twin scimitars, the first time Dean had seen him with his weapons. Cleo had a natural look of a leader to him but Barney, he may have had a large build, but he wasn't so in an intimidating way. On the contrary, combine his voice with his personality, Barney was more like a huggable stuffed toy. So to see him with his war face, standing to his hind hooves while dual wielding scimitars, it was rather unsettling to witness. 

Although, his weapons were, admittedly, rather beautiful. Dean never considered himself a connoisseur for weapons, he never thought much of them really, but he couldn't deny that there was something enchanting about his scimitars. Redger used throwing knives and daggers, so Dean never had a good look at those. Cleo's mace was so and so; this was the first time he noticed the detail of his weapon. A flanged mace with six curved sides and a pointed top, made from solid steel that had been stained gray, with a polished ebony wood handle, a large half cone, half sphere pummel at the bottom, finished with traces of copper that lined the blades and the rimming of the handle. Perhaps it would have looked better, had Cleo's recent use not given his mace scratches, and made it look dirty. Barney's weapons on the other hand were shinning brilliantly in the light. Silver steel from the tip down to the handle, its sleek curve sharp enough to cut skin like it was paper. A thin curvature separated from the tip, creating a secondary blade that was equally as sleek as the primary. It met at a point, four inches down, before dropping downward to the handle. It thickens beyond this point, making it useless to attack from this angle, but it wasn't made for that. It was there to give this sword its spine for strength. The handle was gold, forged in a spiral that gave the handle grip while appearing almost elegant like. Along with silver linings that swirled around the spirals, giving the handle its shiny finish. The handle was complete with a grip guard, made from steel painted gold, along with a small pummel attached at the bottom end. The weapons beauty actually made Dean enticed, and he wanted to know more about these scimitars.

A moment ago Dean had noticed the door jiggle, and he immediately warned the others. Barney and Cleo watched as the door jiggled a second time. For a moment they were about to run for the exit, but Cleo was concerned that the demon would break through before they could make it there. Unaware that Redger was the one trying to open the door, before they heard screaming within the hall.

Someone on the other side slammed against the door, there was a pause, then the demon roared. A scream followed after, and a moment of silence, before the demon banged against the door. Under the stress, none of them could put two and two together, and for all they knew the demon was the one banging against the door from the start. That scream may not have even been Redger, Redger was probably still hiding in the closet, they didn't know, and they didn't have time to figure it out either. Nor would they really have the chance.

The demon banged the door again, and the chair lodged between the ground and the door started to bend. The legs cracking slightly, ready to snap at any moment.

"What do we do!?!" Barney asked Cleo, a sense of distress present in his voice.

Wiping sweat off his brow with his foreleg, Cleo responded, "wait for an opportunity to run for the exit! If we go for it now it might break through before we make it! If that happens than we'll have no cover! And than we'll really be in trouble!"

"How are we supposed to "find" an opportunity to escape!?" Dean asked, half yelling in panic.

"Barney and I will fight it off for a little bit! That'll keep it distracted while you run for the door!"

"What!?! And leave you both behind!?!" Dean said, astonished.

Barney piped in, "kid, your a good colt, but your also hurt. Cleo and I can handle the demon ourselves for a little while but you won't last in a fight-"

"But I don't want you to sacrifice yourselves!"

Barney looked to Dean, giving him a reassuring grin. "Don't worry about us. We've fought chaos demons before. We'll be right behind you as soon as we get our chance. Okay?"

That didn't make Dean feel any better about leaving them, but the confidence and gentle tone Barney had helped to reassure him enough. He thought about it, before nodding, "a- alright. Alright I'll run for the door. Just please don't get caught."

Cleo chuckled sarcastically, "oh please, get caught now? After we just got out of Equestria? Ha! Talk about falling right before the finish line". He turned to Dean, giving the colt a cocky smirk. "Don't you worry about a thing kid. We'll take care of that demon!"

The courage from them was practically radiating, enough so that Dean himself felt braver. He nodded to Cleo, confident they knew exactly what they were doing.

The door banged suddenly, and their attention returned back to it. A second pound, and the chair creaked aloud, its legs bending dangerously far. Cleo noticed the chair weakening, and he yelled to Dean, "I'll let you know when its safe to run! As soon as it comes in we're going to keep it distracted! So get ready!"

"Got it!" Dean replied. He ran to the edge of the desk, doing as he was told and preparing himself, as he waited for the signal. 

The door banged a few times more, the chair legs creaking, part of it cackling as the wood appeared ready to split. Then, the demon stopped, and for a moment everything was silent. Dean's breaths were loud and heavy, waiting anxiously for the door to burst open. While Barney and Cleo maintained their composure, both well aware that they only had seconds before it comes.

It lasted uncomfortably long, the silence. It wasn't even a full minute, but under the stress, even seconds felt far longer than they actually were. Dean, the only one, for a second, felt the demon, perhaps, had left. He wasn't sure of it, but something in the back of his mind gave him that thought. A hopeful thought that the danger had gone away. It wasn't realistic, but it was pleasant to think about.

The settling sun drooped low enough to hover right above the windows that lined the ceiling. Floating dust became visible in the rays of light, and the central room had cooled to a comfortably warm temperature. Along with the yellow tint that twilight gave this room, it felt as if the season had suddenly turned autumn. An oddly soothing atmosphere that clashed with the situation, making it almost eerie. Barney's blades somehow shone brighter in the twilight rays, and even Cleo's dirty mace became more enchanting. For a second Dean heard the last birds of the day singing outside, something that was missed by the battle ready ponies. Chirping, fluttering about, a flock flying visibly past the window lining, as their shadows caressed the floor. The sun dropped further, the yellow tinge of the room turning orange, with a slight hint of blue, indicating the approaching night. Dean could have sworn he heard the earliest awakening owl "whoo" from outside, but he couldn't tell. 

There was an earsplitting roar, and the door exploded from its hinges suddenly. Wood chips and splinter debris spread like shrapnel, and the demon came bounding in suddenly. The entire central room turned red under the demon's light, as it charged for the desk. 

Dean was caught off guard at the abruptness of the demon, but luckily for him Barney and Cleo were ready for it. "Look out!" Barney shouted. Leaping to Dean, Barney wrapped him in his legs and tumbled, bringing he and Dean away from the desk and out of harms way. Cleo meanwhile brought his mace back, roaring his own battle cry the clashed with the demon's. The demon leapt, Cleo swung his mace, and the desk was no more.

The demon landed, smashing atop the desk. The force of combustion, as the desk was reduced to thousands of pieces, was strong enough to throw Cleo off his hooves before he could complete his counter attack. Legs sprawled, his back slammed against the wall behind the spiral stairs, and before he knew it he was face to face with the demon. He didn't have time to recover before the demon charged, making it to Cleo within seconds, but Cleo was quick. Readjusting his stance, Cleo shakily rebalanced himself and stepped into a defensive stance. The demon struck with his left talon hoof, and Cleo blocked it in time with his mace. Tilting the weapon at an angle, as the demon's talon struck the side of the metal, between the top mace and the grip. The demon retracted and attacked with his opposite hoof, but Cleo skillfully dodged. A quick side step to the right and the demon missed, swiping at empty air. Cleo used the sharp tip of his mace to make a fast thrust, stabbing the demon between the rib. The demon roared in pain and made a backhand swing at him, but Cleo was expecting a counter attack. So he retracted his mace and jumped, rolling away towards where the desk used to be and dodging the attack. 

Cleo turned to Dean, who laid on the floor, still wrapped in Barney's legs, and he shouted to him. "RUN DEAN! RUN!!!"

Barney got to his hooves fast, bringing Dean with him before giving him a shove towards the exit. "Now's your chance! Get out of here!"

Dean stumbled as he turned back to Barney, "your sure you can take it!?!"

The room rumbled under the demon's roar, and it charged at Cleo like a raging bull. Cleo turned away from the others just in time to react. Tossing himself sideways, he leapt out of the demon's path, towards the right side staircase. Rolling back to his hooves as the demon halted in Cleo's place, twisting around quickly, and roaring once more at Cleo.

With no time to waste Barney yelled to Dean, "we'll be fine! Just go! Hurry!"

He didn't want to argue, so Dean galloped to the exit; while Barney ran to Cleo, aiding his partner in the fight. With Barney at his side, Cleo repositioned his poise. Setting his mace at an angle on his right shoulder; that way, he could attack without accidently hitting Barney. Maces were heavier after all, and lacked the control that swords had, so Barney didn't need to worry about this as much. Despite so, he was still cautious of where he held his swords. "You ready?" Cleo asked, casting a glance to Barney, while keeping his eyes on the demon.

"You think we can do this without Redger?" Barney asked.

"We'll manage. Just fight like you always do!" Cleo said.

The demon charged, and they were ready for it. Moving in natural sync, formed in a bond devolved through strife and friendship, the two acted in unison. As if they knew what the other was going to do without saying it. The natural combat of warrior's friendship. The demon leapt, darting forth for Cleo, its fuming anger from the previous attacks leading it to attack the one who had hurt it the most. Cleo had expected that, and Barney simply followed in coordination. Of course, to the untrained, or those who have never fought in battle, this would be anything but simple. 

The two instinctively knew which target the demon aimed for in its midleap, and Barney followed with Cleo's movements. "Hah!" Cleo was quick to dodge, leaping to the right and rolling on his side as the demon crashed onto Cleo's empty spot. "AAAGH!!!" following his movements, Barney charged to where Cleo had stood, this spot now taken by the demon, and he slashed his scimitars the moment the demon landed. The floor rumbled under the demon's weight, but did nothing to deter Barney. The twin blades sliced across its back, and the demon roared, responding with a counter attack. He swiped at Barney with a talon hoof, and Barney back stepped, dodging the attack; and vice versa, Cleo followed with Barney's movements. With the demon now focused on Barney, Cleo brought his mace up high, smashing it down with great force upon the demon's back, dead center between the cuts made by Barney. Another roar came, and the demon whipped around. Swiping the back of its hoof to Cleo, and in doing so the two had put the demon in their trap. Strategically, they placed the demon between them both. One attacks and gains the demons attention, the demon attacks that pony and the pony backs off. Meanwhile, the other pony comes in and strikes, reversing the demon's attention to the other pony. The demon attacks the second pony, the second pony backs off, and the first pony come in for a strike. Their trap, a loop of attacks to weaken the opponent, done so without the need for planning at all; just their bond and natural intuition. Of course, nobody is stupid enough to fall for that for long. This trick was simply to weaken the demon, before it realized what they were doing.

It attacked Cleo, aiming a swipe at his head. Cleo ducked, avoiding the blow, and Barney charged. "RRRRAAAAAGH!!!" flipping the blades around, Barney stabbed downwards, successfully penetrating two swords between the demon's spine. The demon thrashed about, trying to throw Barney off as Barney held strongly to his sword grips, his hind legs waving back and forth in the air. Cleo took this moment to go on the offensive, bringing his mace back and smashing it hard against the demon's hind shin bone. Barney and Cleo could have sworn they heard something crack as the demon howled in anguish. It stumbled, before falling on its front. Barney fell with the demon, and he braced for impact as he felt the demon's back collide into him. Luckily he wasn't hurt, and using his upper back, and pushing with his hind legs, Barney pulled, managing to release the blades from the demon's back. There was a meaty slice as the swords cut free. Before Barney jumped off, landing on he ground and whipping back into the fight.

"GET HIM WHILE HE'S DOWN!!!" Cleo bellowed, charging at the grounded demon.

"AAAAAGH!!!" Barney roared, using his hind legs to jump high. Returning his hold to let the blades aim the floor, as he intended to stab downwards with all his might upon the demon.

But the demon was through with this fight. Jumping to its hooves, the demon bellowed a roar with enough force to implode the windows lining across the ceiling. Shards of glass erupted about, and the demon summoned an inner power that neither of them had witnessed. A trail of fire emerged from beneath his four hooves, spiraling around in a cyclone around his body with incredible speed. The cyclone grew stronger, and wider, covering over half of the demon's body. Barney was still in the air, roaring his battle cry midleap, and Cleo held his mace above his head, ready to strike the demon down. It was blindingly fast, and at this point, the fiery cyclone had built enough of its strength. Before Barney landed, before Cleo could bring his mace down, the demon released his power. And the cyclone exploded.

From every direction the flame expanded. The dense power pushing outwards, throwing all who stood close away from the demon. As if he was suddenly hit by a dragon, Barney felt himself stop abruptly in the air. And the next thing he knew it, he was flying backwards. Soaring in the air until he smashed his back into the right end wall across the room, over dozens of yards away. Standing on the other side of the demon, Cleo was blasted off his hooves, pushed back to the left end of the room. But at this direction, he instead felt himself forced upwards and backwards, towards the spiral staircase. And he collided against the middle steps painfully, halfway up to the balcony above. 

The room suddenly turned blazingly hot, as the demon's fire spiraled around, spreading across the area. Its heat and power an embodiment of the demon's fury. Even though the sun had gone, the light from the fire broke from the darkness, brightening far too strong for a pony's eye to withstand. The bright red room glowed beneath the flames, as the fire danced from the demon, and the demon turned to face its prey. Using its fire to flaunt its power, as if proving that they should give up.

Cleo groaned, taking a slow, deep breath, after the attack had left him winded. Struggling to do so as the indescribable pain, coursing through his side, made it difficult to breath. With one hoof he gripped his side, and the other he gripped the railing, using that to pull himself to his hooves. "Agh!" Cleo spat, swearing that he had broken a rib as he felt his muscle bruising. He squinted through the haze and witnessed the flames blazing at the demon's hooves, and immediately felt a tinge of panic develop. Maintaining his composure, Cleo searched for Barney from the steps and found him laying on his side, across the room at the wall he was slammed against. Concern overpowered his panic, and he shouted to him, "BARNEY!!!"

The demon roared and charged for the stairs, bringing its fire with it. The remaining parts of the desk and the wood chips scattered about were all engulfed in fire, bringing fuel to a flame within a building of stone. Turning this room into a literal oven, and Cleo realized it. The stairs and balcony from the floor beyond were all made from wood, and he was standing right on top of it. In a moment, he was about to become just like food in a brick oven, and be cooked.

His reaction time could not have been more perfect. Just before the demon leapt upon the stairs, Cleo gripped the side railing with both hooves, hopping over and dropping back to the ground floor. The demon landed where Cleo had stood, but the wood could not withstand the demon's weight, and the demon broke through. Crashing through, it fell back to the ground floor. And as it did its fire spewed about, igniting the wood from the stairs it caressed. The fire stuck to the steps and railing that remained, creeping its way upwards and expanding, until the entire balcony was enflamed. It didn't stop there, it continued its path, rising up until it reached the second balcony. And it would continue to creep until it reached the third.

Cleo stumbled, too injured to land properly, and he fell on his front. It took a moment for him to recover, groaning, as he propped himself up by his left hoof. Shakily lifting himself, he watched as the fire above quickly spread. "Oh no", Cleo realized he didn't have long, and it was then he noticed the demon was not on the stairs, but on the ground floor; having just pelted through the stairs. "Shoot!" he got to his hooves, ignoring the surge of pain that coursed his left rib, as he searched for his mace. Turning around, he found it laying against the wall, a couple dozen meters from him. He had lost his grip on it while being thrown off his hooves by the demon's fire. The mace flew away, banging the wall and falling to the ground. Quickly, he charged for it, and reclaimed his weapon. There were a few noticeable dents on one of the blades, but nonetheless, it was still usable. Turning the mace around, Cleo rolled the grip in his hoof, feeling the weapons familiar weight, before returning his strong, solid grip to his weapon.

The demon shook debris off his coat before turning to Cleo. He saw him at the wall with his mace, and he roared, returning Cleo's attention to him. The demon charged at an incredible speed, and Cleo summersaulted to the right, narrowly avoiding the attack as the demon crashed into the wall. Cleo rolled, returned to his hooves, and backed away as he thought of his next plan of attack. With its fire the demon had no doubt become stronger. As it crashed into the wall it created a small cluster of fire that seemed to combust. Leaving that part of the wall the demon crashed into cracked and seared black. The strength of the fire was enough for Cleo to feel the impact, even if he was not hit directly. Just being in close vicinity of the demon's attacks was enough to burn him. With that in mind, he was unsure of what to do next.

Meanwhile, Barney stirred, the pain in his back and head awakening as he felt the impact from the collision. Moaning, Barney lifted his head, and was taken off guard by the bright haze of the engulfed central room. The hellish horror of fire, emblazing the desk and balconies above. Flames so bright that he had to squint, and the developing smoke made it increasingly difficult to breath. Barney coughed, his heart beating like a drum, having come to his senses in this madness. Panic in his tone, and still not entirely aware what was happening, Barney shouted, "CLEO!!!"

Cleo turned to Barney, finding his friend awake and still laying on the ground, "Barney!"

His guard had dropped, so the demon took its advantage. Cleo had only turned for a split second, but that was just enough time. The demon charged forth, and before Cleo could react the demon slashed its talon hoof. Striking Cleo across his body and throwing him off his hooves. The force of the attack launched Cleo into the air, and he found himself across the central room. Dozens of yards away, landing painfully hard as he rolled, stopping a few feet by the exit. "CLEO!!!!" Barney shouted to Cleo, but Cleo didn't respond. His body motionless, tracked in soot and blood, an unseen cut on his torso from the sharpness of the demon's hoof, as Cleo laid on his front. He had once again lost his mace, the weapon laying idly inside the hallway. Thrown inside the entryway that lead to the exit.

Redger was gone, and Cleo's body lay injured, unmoving. The sight of Cleo sickened him, and Barney felt un unyielding rage develop in his heart. His sincerity and care for his friend, fallen for all he knew, gave him power. He stood to his hooves, clenching his grip to his twin scimitars, as he locked a death stare upon the demon. "How. Dare. YOU!!!" Barney roared, and the demon set his attention to Barney. The demon roared back, charging at Barney, but Barney charged as well. "DEEEMOOOOON!!!" Barney bellowed, leaping forth towards the demon.

The demon pounced at Barney, but Barney struck first. Slashing his twin scimitars, two streaks cut across the demon's face, as the two collided in the air. The demon wailed a blood curdling, gargle like shriek, and he masked his face with his hooves defensively. He had lost his balance from the attack, and the demon crashed to his side, skidding across the floor until his back met the wall, slamming against it hard. Barney bent forward, crouching in midair to avoid collision, as the demon flew over him. Crashing to his side while Barney landed to his hind hooves, summersaulting to rebalance himself, before whipping around back towards the demon. The demon growled, as it lifted itself back to its hooves, holding its face to cover his fresh wounds. Meanwhile, Barney charged, the demon still recovering while Barney took the opportunity to take an offensive stand.

Slashing rapid attacks, Barney dealt fast, fluid strikes at the demon. A cross strike, bringing his swords down at opposite, equal ends, cutting an "X" to the demon's side. The demon roared, striking at Barney, and Barney ducked, avoiding the attack. He then struck the lower part of the demon's foreleg, the one it used to attack. Twisting while he ducked, Barney used the motion to add force to his attack, turning around as he struck both swords against the demon's leg. Before the demon could react, Barney then pulled his swords back, lunging forward, and stabbing both tips into the demon's upper abdomen. He then pulled hard, retracting his blades from the demon, and back stepped in time before the demon could touch him. The demon turned, back hoof swiping at Barney, but missed. The blazing fire from its hoof just barely grazing Barney's face. Leaving no more than singed fur.

Barney rushed forward, striking with his right weapon, cutting across the demon's left shoulder. The demon struck back, swiping its talon at Barney. Barney leaned back, avoiding the attack, before making a quick jab with his left weapon at the demon's side. It growled as it felt Barney's scimitar pierce it, and it quickly became frustrated. As Barney retracted his blade the demon rose from its hind legs, towering over Barney, before it slammed down with both hooves. Bringing its power to its forehooves, the demon ignited a fire that combusted the moment it made contact with the floor. A blaze strong enough to knock Barney back. Thrown off his hooves, Barney toppled, rolling on his back, but he managed to recapture his balance. His great build made him a durable earth pony, and the attack felt no more than a solid push against his chest. If anything, the searing of his fur from the fire itself was the worst he received. Regaining his balance, Barney followed his rolling motion to stand back to his hind hooves. As he did, a loud crash from across the room caught his attention, and it was then he noticed how much smoke had filled the room.

The two balconies and spiral staircases were completely aflame, parts had weakened and had begun to collapse. Large structures of wood crashed to the stone floor, bringing clouds of ash and debris in its wake. The air was becoming unbreathable, and Barney felt the smoke he had inhaled thus far scratch his lungs. Coughing, he realized he wouldn't last here much longer. Glancing to the exit, Cleo was still motionless, and Barney knew he was going to have to carry him out, while somehow dealing with the demon.   

He casted a glare at the demon, figuring then that the best chance he had to get out safely, and bring Cleo with him, was to defeat this demon right here and now. He readied himself, his scimitars gripped tight. The demon's blazing fire enhanced, growing taller, brighter, and stronger. It roared, charging at Barney, and Barney yelled a battle cry as he charged too. "RRRRAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

The demon pounced to the air, and Barney leapt. Aiming for the ground instead of the demon, Barney skidded across his front, using his forelegs to turn himself around fast as he did. The demon, taken by surprise, soared over Barney and landed where Barney had stood previously. As the demon turned back, Barney quickly charged, attacking before the demon could react. His scimitars pointed forth, he galloped, using his shear speed to plunge his weapons into the demon's gut. Leaning into the attack, Barney used his weight to drive his weapons deeper. The demon howled in anguish, toppling onto its back. Barney followed the demon, climbing atop it as it fell. On its back, Barney used every ounce of strength he had to retract his blades, and drive it back down upon the demon. Again and again, he retracted, plunged his blades, retracted, and plunged his blades. Over and over, stabbing, until he felt the demon move no more. The demon growled in agony, and eventually, its head fell back. Its fires diminishing around its hooves, as they died along with their master.

The overwhelming adrenaline pumping through him made Barney continue to fight, even after the demon had gone limp. It wasn't until he became breathless that he ceased his attacks. Retracting his blades a final time, Barney panted, taking in large gulps of smoke that burnt his lungs. Coughing, Barney stumbled, bent over by the waist, and choked into his elbow. With little energy left, and no feasible way to recover in the smoke, Barney lost his strength and fell off the demon. Collapsing to the floor, Barney dropped his weapons as he struggled for breath. He was aware that as smoke rises the safest place to breath in a burning building is along the floor, so one should keep as low as possible if they should find themselves in this situation. So he didn't fight his fatigue to stand, and instead crawled for the door. He was sure that the demon was defeated, so not having worry about it he took his time. But not for long, as another crash from collapsing wood reminded him of the raging fire.

He coughed, breathing in and out slowly. Even if this was the safest place to breath it certainly didn't make the air clean. The age of this place had already clouded the air in dust and dirt, top that with the developing ash and smoke and it made it ever worse to breath. Still, it helped, and Barney found that he could at least crawl to the door with some ease. He reached for his weapons, having fallen to either side of him when he lost his grip, and quickly sheathed them. Another loud crash followed, making Barney flinch, and he stopped to witness the third floor balconies collapse. The floor and railings, and the spiraling staircases leading to it, all crumbling, weakening. The falling pieces of wood collapsing upon previous rubble, bringing up clouds of ash as it crashed to the growing pile below. The smoke became denser, and Barney found that the air this low didn't feel very safe anymore. He coughed as he squinted, struggling to see the door through the smoke. His eyes teared up, stinging by the smoke, and he continued to crawl.

"BARNEY!!!" someone shouted within the smoke, towards the door.

Barney couldn't see him, but he definitely recognized that voice. "Dean!?!"

"BARNEY!!! Hurry! Get over here!" Dean shouted, standing by Cleo's body.

"W- What are you doing here!?!" Barney shouted, having crawled close enough to the door to make out Dean through the smoke.

"I never left! I was watching from the doorway the whole time!"

"That was stupid! What if the demon saw you!" Barney chided.

"Never mind that! Cleo's hurt! He needs help!"

Barney had to admit Dean was right, and he was glad he was here to help carry Cleo out. At this point he wasn't sure he could manage doing it on his own. Groaning, Barney lifted himself to his hooves, finding the air to hurt more while he stood than on the ground crawling. Trotting over, Barney kneeled to Cleo as Dean stood by. Quickly, he checked his pulse, and was relieved to find that Cleo was still alive. He didn't bother to check his wounds. The sooner he got him out the sooner he could tend to it. So he looked over to Dean, "can you help me carry him out?"

Dean nodded, and bent to grab the bottom half of Cleo while Barney took the top.

A bright light suddenly appeared, catching Dean's attention to the right. Barney noticed it too, only a second after Dean. Reacting fast, Dean saw a cyclone of fire rushing for them, and he lunged at Barney. "Look out!!!" Dean pushed Barney, pushing himself backwards as he did so. Barney fell forwards, Dean backwards into the entryway, finding himself in the hall to the exit once more, and the spiraling cyclone of fire rushed between them. Igniting its path, and anyone that was in it. The blazing fire blew past, combusting against the left side wall with the strength of dynamite.

A second after the flame was gone, Dean, rubbing his head, quickly got to his hooves and trotted close to the entryway. Keeping hidden behind the door, Dean peeked into the room to find Barney laying several feet away. Barney groaned, rolling to his side as he turned back to the door. He saw Dean hiding, his head poking just into view, but neither of them saw Cleo.

The ground between them was scorched black, charred, as if the stone had turned to coal. A long line of smoldering black that reached to the other side of the room. The wall, just as burnt from where the fire had combusted, was hot to the touch; as was the line that extended between them. Dean pushed Barney and himself out of harms way, but Cleo was still laying as the fire came. And in his place, where he should have been laying, he was no longer there. Not even ash remained, his very existence seemed to have disintegrated on the spot; and Cleo was no more.

Dean realized what had happened before Barney, and he gasped, feeling a ping in his heart. Dawning on him slowly, as he stared at Cleo's smoldering spot, a rush of memories flooded Barney. The fall of Mane City when their group held twelve, passing hordes upon hordes of the corrupted, as their numbers diminished slowly. The fights, the strife's, the bonds, the ponies he lost, and the friends he made. Until they escaped Equestria, and there were only three of them. Now, there was one, and that was him. From a group that had escaped Mane City, until now. Redger wasn't here and Cleo was gone, and slowly, his breath left him. The world seemed to have crashed around him. Falling wood crumbled, reducing to ash, as the smoke built heavier in the air, and the fire roared ever strong. All of his friends were gone, the home he had known taken from him, and he was left in this stone coffin. An innocent soul to burn to dust.

He couldn't move, paralyzed beneath the weight of his abysmal reality. Dean shouted to him, but he didn't hear. Barney had no more fight in him, no energy left to continue. His mind and body seemed to have shut down, as everything around him turned blank. Only when he was knocked away did he awaken.

"OOOF!!!" the air left him as Barney felt something heavy rush into him. It pushed him several feet before stomping upon him, crushing his forelegs and pinning him down on his back. Barney gasped as he felt thick, hot breathes heave onto him, as the demon towered above hungrily. The demon hadn't fallen, it launched the attack that had taken Cleo, and it now pressed its weight against Barney, ready to finish the job. Roaring upon him, Barney flinched, embracing himself for the worst.

Dean gripped his mane tight, breathing in a panic as he thought of how to save Barney. Quickly, he looked around, hoping to find an answer in this old hallway. The hall was filling with smoke, but it hadn't nearly reached the level of density as the central room, so it was easier to see. Therefor, despite the darkness of night Dean still notice something glint. Something shine, just barely, from the light that came from the blazing fires.

The demon rose to its hind hooves, its talons high as it summoned its power. Fire ignited from the tips, and its hooves blazed as strongly as the flames that torched the balconies. The demon placed a hind hoof against Barney's lower body, crushing him. Barney felt something crack and he yipped. He struggled to free himself, but it was no use, the demon was too strong, and he had lost too much of his strength. He tried reaching for his scimitars, but in this position, his forelegs couldn't move the right way, and he couldn't reach his weapons. The demons roared, Barney, fearing for the end, shut his eyes. Turning his head away as the demon struck down; to pierce his flaming hooves into Barney.


"AAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"


Dean galloped forth, swinging the heavy weapon against the demon's hind leg. Cleo's mace, found in the hall, was wielded clumsily by Dean. Inexperienced, far too weak to wield such a mighty weapon, Dean had no control as the weapon swung. The mace collided against the demon, no more than bumping it off of Barney, before he stumbled, following the maces trajectory as it continued to swing. The demon growled and turned its attention to Dean. Dean, still struggling to catch himself, was unable to react as the demon made a back hoof swipe at him. He felt a powerful slap against his chest, equivalent to that of a large horse bucking his sternum. The tip of the demon's talon grazing Dean's color bone and cutting him, as he was thrown off his hooves. The mace fell out of his grip, lain on the ground far out of his reach, as Dean was slammed against his back. He fell forward, landed on his front, and dizzily, painfully and shaking, he lifted himself to his hooves. The demon was immediately charging after him, and in his panic Dean turned to run, finding himself facing an open doorway. Without thinking he ran through, finding himself back in the hall he and the others had escaped from earlier. He realized then that when the demon had struck him he was thrown against the wall which held the doorway to the hall. Now, he was back, and he had no choice but to proceed.

"DEAN!!!" Barney yelled from the central room, his voice just barley audible.

He couldn't stop with the demon on his trail. Cursing, he shouted over his shoulder as he galloped down the hall. Hoping that Barney would catch what he said, "get out of here! Don't worry about me! I'll be fine!!!" He galloped forth, running down the familiar hall. Unknowing to him that Barney didn't hear a single word.

The illuminated hall, once more clothed in a fire red, extended beyond even the light's reach. A wall, marking the end, on the opposite side of the building, was impossible to reach. Its distance so far, Dean considered that he might as well be galloping a mile in this hall. Even if he managed to outrun the demon, even if he could make it to the other exit, would the central room still be safe to pass through? Or will the flames have engulfed the room beyond passible? 

Doors blurred as he past them one by one, the illuminating light growing brighter with each passing room. Dean peeked a glance over his shoulder and spotted the demon not too far away. Heaving, growling, its mouth frothing and its hooves spewing fire. Galloping like some sort of Cerberus from tarterus. Another door approached, soon to pass Dean as the others had, when a thought occurred suddenly.

The first floor had a long row of doors that lead from the central room to somewhere else. The last doors from either end lead directly to the hall, but all these door that he passed, where did they lead to? Dean remembered the room they hid in earlier was placed on the left side from the direction he ran in. Therefor, he reentered the hall from a door placed on the right. If entering a door on the left lead to another room, than wouldn't entering a door on the right lead back into the hall? That made the long row of doors make sense. In fact, if that was the case, why didn't they run through one of these doors earlier? It made sense at the time, run to the end of the hall to reach the door closest to the building exit. But had they entered any of these doors to the right, would they have reached it sooner? It made too much sense, and Dean charged for the approaching door.

Entering fast, Dean found himself in another room similar to the one they hid in. The desks and miscellaneous items scattered around, practically identical to everything in the previous room. For a moment Dean panicked, expecting to have found himself back in the central room, before he noticed a second door at the far end of the room. It made sense, with how long this hall was this must have been a room that connects with the central room. After leaving the hall and entering this room, one would need to pass another door to enter back into the central room. That had to be it. Strange that no smoke was passing the cracks in the door; and this room was so dark, Dean had expected at least shimmers of light to illuminate from the fire. But he paid no mind and dashed for the door.

Deep, heavy growling grew louder, and Dean knew the demon was getting closer. Making sure not to accidently step on anything sharp, as some of the miscellaneous items consisted of sewing needles, Dean quickly grabbed the door handle and pulled. For a moment it was jammed, and in his distress Dean thought no more than to pull harder. So he did, struggling to open the door by force. A dim red light glowed from behind, and glancing over his shoulder, Dean saw the light become brighter quickly. He knew he only had seconds, so instead of pulling, he instead bashed against the door in utter panic. Taking a step back, Dean rushed forward, slamming with every ounce of what little strength he had left against the door. It didn't budge but Dean swore he heard something crack. So he took a step back and tried again, and the door gave way.

Dean lost his footing, stumbled and fell to his front, as he found himself in a closet. Just like the one back in the previous room. It took a moment to register, his utterly baffled mind incomprehensible to this impossible closet. "W- What!?!" Dean shouted, as soon as he realized he hadn't returned to the central room. Jumping to his hooves, he galloped to the end of the closet, slamming his hooves to the wall. Banging against it, as if there was some sort of barrier that kept him from the central room, blocking his way. 

It was impossible, this couldn't be, it made no sense. The central room had doors that lined the wall on the first, second, and third floor. Presumably, every floor had a hall just like this one, but that wasn't the point. The point is that those doors that line the central room walls must have lead to the hallway. There was no possible way that that single door, the one Dean had exited and entered, was the only way to enter this hall. If that were the case, than where did those other doors have lead to? And he had ran so far, how could a hall this long not have shorter paths back to the central room? 

Dean stopped, as it hit him suddenly. That's right, the length of the hall. This building had a long hall that felt endless. It didn't make sense that there would be no faster way to return to the central room. But thinking about it, it also made no sense for another door, other than the last one at the end of the hall, to reach the central hall. He had ran dozens of yards, so there would be too much space between he and the central room, making it unrealistic to return to the central room with any other door in the hall that wasn't at the end. So to enter a room placed between the hall and the central made most sense to hold a door that lead back to the central room, and it seemed possible. In fact, it was. These rooms did exist, the problem was that this hall lead to rooms that can lead to the central room, and rooms that did not. And Dean realized that as he recalled the window from the metal room.

A room that held a window, yet that window did not lead outside, it merely lead to another room. With how far Dean ran he figured there must still be a lot of space between he and the central room. There were rooms that lead back to the central room, but there were also rooms that were built too far to reach the central room. So, they were built as a dead end. Perhaps there were rooms that lead to other rooms, and those rooms lead to the central room. Room upon room that worked as exit after exit, until he reached the central room. That he wasn't sure of, but the possibility was certainly there. It was horrible that he only figured this out now. In his panic he couldn't think straight. He had already seen Cleo disappear from the fire, Redger must have been gone as well, Barney was just about to be taken, and he was fearing the end was near for him as well. So he came up with the quickest solution. One that, at the time, made most sense. But thinking back, thinking rationally, the original plan of running to the final door at the end of the hall was the smartest option. Sadly, he didn't choose it.

The dark closet illuminated suddenly, turning bright red under the light. Heart beating like a drum, his lungs and chest cramping, as if he wasn't getting enough oxygen, yet, he was breathing in a panic. Slowly, he turned around, and found the demon standing mere feet away, blocking the doorway with its massive size. The demon growled hungrily, victoriously, as its prey coward in the corner of the closet. Dean struggled to come up with something, anything, but found that he couldn't. There was nothing left he could do, and he collapsed in the corner.

He covered his head, tears streaking along his face, and he curled into a fetal position. Dean could feel the ground vibrate from the demon's heavy hoof steps, approaching closer until it looked down upon Dean. Staring contently, like a meal ready to eat. Dean whimpered, swallowed, and he braced himself.

"Y- Your going to blame yourself . . . I know you will . . . y- your just that kind of pony". He couldn't help but cry a little, sniffling, as he found that he wasn't ready for the inevitable. "This . . . isn't your fault Doctor . . . this isn't your fault . . ."

The demon howled, and it attacked.
> One, Two, Five Steps: Part Four (S1C6)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"That's enough."

There was a flash of white light. Everything disappeared, and he was blinded. As the light dispersed Dean found the hard ground shift suddenly. Somehow morphing beneath him, until it was soft. Dean covered his eyes, waited for a moment, before he blinked. Everything was a blur, and the bright light made him squint as his eyes adjusted. Slowly, the room became clear, and Dean's mind turned blank as all rationality seemed to have left him.

He found himself laying in a bed, the very same beds that the Doctor had in his medical room, back in the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. In fact, looking to his left, there was the same cabinets that held the mysterious chemicals. The walls were lined with a row of identical beds, each with their own bedside table between. And looking to his right made Dean confirm where he was.

To his right, opposite end from him, was Silver. Still resting, his eyes shut as he slept soundly. He looked better than he had before. Still covered in injuries, and his sunken gut exposing his ribs from malnourish. But as his chest bobbed up and down gently, he appeared pleasantly content. Recovering, as he slumbered upon beds that were far cozier than any hospital bed. That confirmed it, there was no where else Dean could have possibly been. How this was possible, Dean's brain seem to stop working just to comprehend it.

"Hey there". Startled, Dean gasped, before a gentle hoof rested on his shoulder to calm him. "Hey hey hey. Take it easy."

Dean relaxed, taking a breath as he saw the Doctor, smiling to him from beside the bed. "D- Doctor?"

"Hey, you alright?"

A thousand questions rushed through Dean's mind, and he could only sum them all into one word. "H- How?"

The Doctor was aware of Dean's confusion, but now wasn't the time to answer him. He reached to the bedside table, where a pill bottle and glass of water sat. Removing the cap, the Doctor jiggled the bottle, tilting it as a small white pill fell into his hoof. He sealed the bottle, placed it back onto the bedside table, then took the glass of water and held it to Dean. "Here, take this."

Left in his bewilderment, Dean pressed on, "Doctor. How am I here?"

"Don't worry about that now. Just take this and you'll feel better."

"What is it?" Dean asked, eyeing the pill with uncertainty.

"Just a sleeping pill. Your hurt, and tired, this'll put you into a deep sleep. You'll feel much better after a good nights rest". Dean remained uncertain, so the Doctor added with a grin, "and there's cereal once you wake up."

Dean chuckled weakly, "you know that's not the only thing I eat."

"Yeah, but I know you like cereal."

"I do, I do like cereal". He hesitated a moment, before slowly taking the pill and glass. He sat up, popping the pill into his mouth, then took a large swig until the glass was empty. The Doctor took the glass from him, placing it onto the table, before returning a gentle smile back to Dean. "Alright, just lay down and rest. I'll check on you every once in awhile. If you wake up and I'm not here I'll most likely be in the control room. Okay?"

Dean nodded, laying back as he yawned. The medicine kicked in almost immediately, and he felt his mind go blank. As slumber washed over his body, and he accepted it gratefully. He relaxed, and slowly, he fell into a deep sleep.

The Doctor waited until he was completely asleep. As soon as he was sure Dean was out, he sighed. "You've been through a lot for a colt who isn't used to adventure. But everything you have done, the choices you've made, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am."

The Doctor turned and walked to the door, flipping the light switch as he looked back to Dean. Checking one last time just to make sure he was asleep. That, and to confirm to himself that the colt was safe. He took a breath, reassuring himself that Dean would be fine. "I admit . . . that I am concerned for you. Your smart, your kind, but you are also courage's. No . . . no not just that. If you keep going the way you are, you may find yourself to becoming a hero." 

The Doctor sighed, thinking back to three weeks ago. When he and Dean rode in the carriage, pulled by Sticky Bun, as they returned from delivering Peter's body. " . . . A hero is the one who does an extraordinary act of courage . . . which will or may result in the conscious sacrifice of himself . . . to protect the good of others". The Doctor choked, rubbing tears out from his eyes. He sniffed, composing himself, as he took a good look at Dean through glistening eyes. "If you ever go down that path, I'll be rooting for you kid. But should you ever have to make that decision . . . well . . . its not going to happen. Never . . . not as long as I'm here".

The Doctor smiled proudly to Dean, and he couldn't stop the tear that fell as he did. "Your a daring kid, Dean Do. I think, in another time, you would have made quite the Element". The Doctor turned away, exiting the medical room. He closed the door quietly, leaving the two patients to their sleep, as Dean smiled soundly in his slumber.






The Control Room






The Doctor paced back and forth before the three ponies. Barney, Cleo, and Redger, all waiting anxiously for the Doctor to speak. Stripped of their weapons, but their armor and accessories remained. Barnies twin scabbards, Cleo's holster, their saddlebags and such. Yet, the contents were removed from their saddlebags. So they hung uselessly at their sides. 

Barney felt timid under the Doctor's scowl, and Cleo, holding a brave face, couldn't help but feel underpowered by the stallion before him. Redger was visibly shaking, as he sat to the far left of the three. With Cleo in the middle, and Barney to the right; the three waited a few feet in front of the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T exit, as the Doctor paced close to his console. Unlike the other two, Redger had been bound by a tight, thick brown rope. Wrapped around his body, keeping his upper legs strapped to his sides firmly, as he sat on his hunches.

Finally, the Doctor stopped. The three perking as the Doctor sighed, "I know that eighteen isn't exactly the age of a child. But as an adult, a very young adult, the first year of an adult in fact, most tend to still see ponies this age as a kid. A kid learning to be an adult, if you will". The Doctor turned to them, glaring each of them under his stern scowl. Barney gulped aloud, Cleo shifted in his spot uncomfortably, and Redger flinched as he shook. "Barney, age twenty six. Cleo, age twenty seven. And, Redger". The way the Doctor said Redger's name was filled with malice, and Cleo and Barney felt an icy chill run down their spines as they feared for Redger. Redger just about nearly froze at that. The Doctor continued, "you are the oldest, age thirty one. Thirty. One. Years. Old. And kicking a colt on the ground? Shouting at him? Threatening him with a mace? You were aware that he was of no threat to you. And yet, you still proceeded to hurt him?"

Redger gulped, "I- I- I t- thought-"

"Thought what, Redger?" the Doctor interrupted, speaking so short that he practically spat malice at Redger. "Thought he was demon? Just like how you thought I was a demon? Even after a tried talking to you, pleading with you, you still thought that we were demons!" The Doctor's voice rose, and Redger failed to find anything more to say. The Doctor didn't wait long for a response before he pressed on, "I have seen everything you have done tonight. Everything all three of you have done tonight!" the Doctor said, surveying each of them.

Each looked to the Doctor in bewilderment, and Cleo was the first one to ask, "you've been watching us?"

"Oh yes", the Doctor nodded. "I've seen everything you three have done. At least, from the moment I tried begging Redger to return Dean to me. Which. He didn't!" Redger winced, as the Doctor's scowl returned on him.

"B- But how? We never saw you at all. Redger was the only one who had seen you", said Barney, shivering as the Doctor turned to him.

"Yes you have. Of course you have". The Doctor paused a moment, letting them ponder what he had meant, before pressing on. "Two of you are brave, one of you is stubborn, we all know who that one is", Redger winced once more. "And none of you are so much as talking back to me? An old stallion, talking down on three strong ponies. Granted one of you is tied up, but that didn't stop your mouth when you were tied in that sewing room. So what's different now? Hmm?"

The Doctor waited for an answer, one that none of them could find. It confused them, the way they were acting, and they pondered. But the Doctor didn't need them to, he already knew why they were afraid. "Aside from waking up in a strange place. Confused, without your weapons. I've tended your wounds while you were unconscious so none of you should be afflicted by that anymore". It was then they noticed the lack of pain they felt. True to the Doctor's word, they checked their bodies, finding that the only damage that remained was left on their armor. Scratches, dents, burns, and covered in ash, but nothing more. They only looked for a split second, before the Doctor continued. "Aside from some sore bones and muscles, none of you should be held back. Your capable ponies, you don't need those weapons. So what's keeping you?" The Doctor didn't wait for a reply, "I'll tell you. Its because deep down you sense something, something you know that, if taken about the wrong way, you will be punished most severely."

Cleo gulped, "w- what's that supposed to mean?"

The Doctor turned to Cleo, smirking. "What? You haven't figured it out? Well, maybe this will give you some insight."

The Doctor turned away from the three, pulling a lever suddenly from his console. The moment he did the lights turned off, and the console screen turned to them on its own. A small light appeared at the top of the screen. It brightened slowly, before projecting several beams of light by the Doctor. The beams of light connected, creating a creature that towered above them. The demon, roaring upon the three as it had back in the stone building. The three screamed, and the Doctor flipped the switch back up. The lights turned on, the screen shut off, and the demon vanished.

Slowly, they realized the demon was no longer there, and one by one they caught their bearings. Redger was the first to speak, "w- what the tarterus was that!?!"

"That Redger is a hologram. Its similar to illusions casted by unicorns. Only, this isn't magic."

That revelation dawned on them, and they each looked to the Doctor in surprise. "S- So t- that means. The whole time, that demon-"

Cleo was cut off, as the Doctor confessed with a smirk. "Was me the whole time. Yes, I was the demon."

"B- But how!?!" Barney asked.

The Doctor took a breath, leaning his back against the console as he explained. "You see, this place your in right now, well I mean you should already know what it is. When you were talking to Dean back in that sewing room, he told you about our adventures. And he told you about the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T."

"So, everything he said-"

Barney was cut off, "is all true. Everything Dean told you, its all true. You three are inside my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Multipurpose, Expeditious, Inner, Dimensional, Phoenix, Home, And, Transporter. Its real, being inside it is proof that its real. Therefore, everything else that Dean told you is real as well."

"So, you really are a phoenix pony?" Cleo asked.

"That's right."

"But, that still doesn't explain how you were the demon the whole time", said Cleo.

"Doesn't it? Phoenix pony in a box that's bigger on the inside while adventuring the world; now if a sentence like that is real than anything would be possible right? So, how am I the big bad demon?" The Doctor paused, letting them soak in their bewilderment, before pressing on. "M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's have this device installed known as a chameleon circuit. It allows it to disguise itself into just about anything. That way it can blend in with the environment and go unnoticed. These beauties are incredible, so no doubt nearly anypony who finds out that these exist would want to steal one for themselves". The Doctor chuckled at that, leaving the others to wonder why he did. He coughed into his hoof, composing himself before continuing, "anyway. With that in mind my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T can also scan areas of up to fifty miles, as well as the infrastructure of buildings. So, that's what I did. Scanned the building, memorize the layout, than I transported my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T into the building. After that I tuned my setting to make my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T appear as a demon. Its a default appearance that nearly every M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T has. You never know when something big might try to eat your M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, so with the flip of a switch we can scare off whatever dangerous creatures are around with this."

"B- But you attacked us! Why!?!" Cleo asked.

The Doctor scoffed, "it didn't start that way you know. M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T's are designed with defense mechanisms that keep you safe but aren't really intended for attacking. I mean the headache I had trying to fly this while using my phoenix fire, ugh! Anyway, so when I trapped you in that metal room my intent was to scare you off. I figured you three to be nothing more than cowards, and I was hoping you'd toss Dean at me so that you could get away. But, than I saw you two speak up in his defense", the Doctor said, looking to Barney and Cleo.

"B- But you still attacked us", said Cleo.

"As I said, that wasn't the plan initially. Too many times on my travels have I seen ponies that appeared good on the surface, when deep down their intentions were bad. And vice versa; after seeing you two speak up after Redger hurt Dean I reconsidered frightening you away. Perhaps you didn't seem that great on the outside, but fear can give off the wrong impressions. I think you two were just scared at the time, which is why you helped Redger take Dean hostage before switching to Dean's aid."

"So, you attacked us because we helped Dean?" Barney asked.

"Precisely."

" . . . Sorry, what?" said Cleo.

"I wanted to test you, see who you three really were. That and, well, after seeing you take Dean captive in the first place I was rather crossed. I still am in fact, mostly at Redger. A little bit to you Cleo, but not so much Barney."

"What did I do!?" Cleo asked.

"You sided with Redger first-"

"I helped Dean after that!"

"I know, I know. Like I said, I'm not nearly as crossed with you. Let me explain", the Doctor said, Cleo becoming silent to listen once more.

"I pretended to be a demon after that to test you, to see what kind of ponies you were. Barney, you were always trying to help Dean. And as I discovered, you were the one who caught him in the first place, so you have my thanks", Barney couldn't help but blush a little, as he looked away modestly. "Cleo, though I don't like what you did to Dean in the first place, I was relieved to see you weren't as bad as I thought you were. In fact, seeing the way you worked through the situation, you've shown great leadership skills. Though you don't get along well with Redger, your friendship with Barney is clear. The way you two fought together, you were a perfect team", Cleo had mixed feelings for the Doctor. A moment ago he was angry, now he was giving him compliments. In turn, it made him anxious, yet proud. Then, the Doctor turned to Redger. The way he spoke, it was clear he was holding back his temper. "And you. Do I really need to say much?" Redger didn't respond, giving the Doctor a timid look. Like a child fearing punishment from an adult. "Not once did I see you do the right thing. Not once did I see you show kindness, or loyalty, or any form of friendship towards the ones who are supposed to be your friends!"

"T- They aren't really my . . . friends", Redger said, a weak attempt at arguing back.

"I thought I was your friend", Barney said, taking Redger by surprise as Barney frowned sadly at him. 

Redger looked over, seeing the hurt look on Barney, and he glanced back to the Doctor, who was scowling deeply at him. He stuttered meekly, "I- I- I, I- I mean, he- he is- is- um-"

"Redger", said Cleo.

"What?"

"Stop talkin."

" . . . Right", Redger said, drooping his head down.

The Doctor sighed, "you know what angers me the most. It isn't the things you did tonight, nor the kind of pony you are. Its that, after everything, I can't even punish you."

Redger's head perked at that, "what?"

The Doctor explained, "after watching you tonight I had hoped to find that you were a better pony. This turned out not to be the case, however, I did find something else. A reason behind why you are the way you are. Tell me, what did you tell Dean after he said I was coming to save him?"

Redger shook his head, "I- I don't know, what are you talking about?"

"Oh you know what I'm talking about! You were hiding in one of the sewing rooms! You were tied up and brought out of the closet. You told Dean I was dead! Why would you tell him that?"

"Why wou- because I saw you die of course! How are you even still alive anyway!?! And how did you even hear that conversation!?! You weren't there! Or, the demon wasn't there- whatever! You know what I mean!"

"I switched the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T to incognito mode and enhanced the sound perimeters to listen on the conversation without being detected."

" . . . I don't know what you just said."

"He said-"

The Doctor cut Barney off, "nevermind. The point is, is that I want to know why you told them that I died. Why I was dragged by my legs by the demon, the door ripped from its hinges when, in fact, that never happened."

"What!?! B- But that's what I saw! I swear!" said Redger.

"I don't like to agree with Redger, but I saw the demon- er- you I guess, chasing him to the metal room. I remember holding the door open for him and shutting it closed", said Cleo.

"Ah! That part actually happened. I did chase Redger to trap him in the metal room, but I never faked my own death", the Doctor explained.

"Than, what actually happened?" Barney asked.

"Nothing happened, after he refused to return Dean to me I walked away-"






Yesterday






"That's it, huh? You'll just grab the kid and leave?" Redger asked, his voice muffled through the door.

"Yes, that's it. I'll grab my friend and leave, you'll never see us again!"

"Okay . . . and what if I don't open the door?"

The Doctor sighed, hoping that Redger would reconsider. That he would show at least a shimmer of kindness, "I would really like it if you opened the door, please? I just want my friend back."

"No no no, you- you think its that easy? Pretending to be all nice and friendly just so you can get in here?"

"Young stallion please listen-"

"No! You listen here demon! I will not let your sweet talk be the end of me! That's how my wife got taken! And I will not go down the same way! You hear!" Redger shouted. The Doctor stepped back, as he felt Redger pound the door from the other side.

A pause followed, as he realized it was no use to talk with him. He tried once more, hoping in vein that Redger might still change his mind. But he knew it was no use, and his tone expressed that. "You really won't listen to me? I really mean it, I am not a demon. Please sir, please reconsider. I just want my friend."

Redger scoffed again, shouting stubbornly, "yeah? Well I want my friends too. But there all demons! Taken by creatures like you!"

That was it, he was done trying. Sighing aloud, the Doctor walked away without another word to Redger. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T was waiting for him around the corner. He rounded the corner, entered his machine, closed the door, and dropped his face into his hooves. He groaned, "I tried, I really did". The Doctor proceeded forth, approaching his console and pulling a lever. A whirring electronic sound emitted from around him, and the Doctor thought aloud. "He wants to do it the hard way. We'll do it the hard way."






Present






"After that I place my M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T into its demon form, used my phoenix fire to cut the lock on the door and broke in. Yes I chased Redger but I never ripped the door off or faked my own death", said the Doctor.

"So, Redger was lying to us?" said Cleo, frowning at Redger.

Redger replied defensively, "what! No no no! I never lied! I swear that's what I saw!"

"No no, Redgers telling the truth. He really did see that. Or, at least, that's what he believed he saw", said the Doctor.

"What do you mean by that", Cleo asked, the three looking curiously to the Doctor.

The Doctor removed his hat, scratching his mane. He couldn't suppress a yawn that came, as he remembered how tired he was. He couldn't recall the last time he slept, three days perhaps? Caressing his mane, the Doctor crossed that from his mind. Groaning softly, unnoticeably, as the shear thought alone made him dizzy, and he still needed to focus at the moment. Adjusting the fedora comfortably back on his head, the Doctor explained. "Redger, from what I hear you have shown severe signs of paranoia. You have shown that you see and believe things that differ from reality, and I also took the liberty in testing your brain while you were unconscious."

"What! What do you mean you-"

The Doctor cut Redger off, "you weren't going to give me permission anyways and at this point I quite frankly don't care". The Doctor took a step towards Redger, making Redger uneasy. He sat comfortably on his hunch, looking to Redger curiously, "tell me. Have you always been like this? Paranoid? Unnerved? Maybe you feel like someone's out to get you? Even when your safe, even when you are with friends? You said you had a wife, did she ever notice you showing any of these signs?"

Redger didn't respond, glaring at the Doctor with a mixture of hate and puzzlement. The Doctor sighed, he had hoped Redger would be cooperative. But that seemed not to be the case, so he took a step back and spoke bluntly. "Redger, I believe you have schizophrenia."

"What!?" Redger spat, astonished that the Doctor would make such a claim.

Barney and Cleo on the other hand appeared skeptical, for only a moment. Before the idea became rational, and it showed on them like a lightbulb turning on. Barney seemed confused, before he looked to Redger with sympathy. Cleo was the same, but he instead turned to the Doctor. His eyes wide in revelation, "that makes sense!"

"What!?!" Redger turned to Cleo, fuming.

"He's always been on edge, he always thought something was out to get him ever since we met."

"And when did you meet Redger?" the Doctor asked.

"Two years ago. Barney, Redger and I met at the same time. We were, eh, w- we were poor. Didn't have two coins to rub together, you know", said Cleo. "Yeah", the Doctor nodded, and Cleo continued. "Back than we were working a few different jobs. Barney was a blacksmith, Redger was, what was it? A circus performer?"

"I was an experienced sword specialist! Not a circus clown!" Redger growled.

"And yet I recall you performing under a circus tent", Cleo said with a smirk.

Redger shot back, "at least I didn't mug ponies to feed my greedy mouth!"

That retort seemed to hit a soft spot in Cleo, and Cleo was about to retort before the Doctor piped in. "Sorry, Cleo did what now?"

Cleo sighed, "I'm not proud of what I did back then. Me and a couple others, we would rob ponies along the road. We had to be fast so I never armed myself heavy. So I threatened them with knives, and I soon found out I was actually really good at throwing them to. But I didn't like that life style, none of us did. Money became scarce and we all wanted a change. And that change happened the day we met-"

"The day you tried to rob Barney", said Redger, smirking at his chance to say something bad about Cleo.

Cleo blushed, "in my defense I didn't know we were going to rob him. The crew leader we followed, gosh I don't even remember his name anymore, he said he knew of this place that might be a huge hit for us! I remember not caring so much and just going with it. Had I known at the time we were trying to rob a large blacksmith I . . . actually I probably would have still gone and robbed you."

"Oh", said Barney, chuckling.

The Doctor laughed, Redger groaned, and Cleo grinned to Barney. "Let's just say that this blacksmith certainly knows how to use the weapons he makes. Specifically with maces. Managed to take down everyone in my crew except for me, I still can't believe he didn't kill anyone outta that beating."

"So you managed to fight back or-", the Doctor asked.

"Fight back? Oh heck no. After seeing Barney thrash my crew I ran like a little filly out of there!" Cleo said, making Barney and the Doctor laugh. Redger rolled his eyes, growing frustrated at the retelling of their story. "Anyway, Redger's circus-"

"Performance!" Redger spat.

"Alright! His "performance" just so happen to take place at Trotingham, where Barney used to live. He chased me over to the circus tent- don't give me that look! It is what it is!" Cleo said to Redger, who was scowling. "Anyway, he chased me to the circus tent and our little feud kind of interrupted the show."

"Kind of?" Barney asked, cocking a cheeky brow.

Cleo chuckled sheepishly, "I knocked into one of the posts that held the tent up. Part of the tent came down, it startled the animals, some of the tigers escaped from their cages, ponies were fleeing for their lives, it all just went downhill from there.

But Redger, Barney and I manage to keep the ponies safe while the animals were taken care of and the performers got to safety. It was a wild night but that's how we met. Our lives only got wilder from there. I taught Redger how to wield knives, Redger taught Barney how to use swords, and Barney taught me how to carry a mace. I always like the heavier stuff anyway. After that we used our, ehem, "expertise". To build a career for ourselves as body guards", Cleo cleared his throat, and gestured sarcastic quotation signs as he phrased "expertise" to the Doctor.  "At least, we used to. Until the day Mane City fell."

"Were you there when it did?" the Doctor asked.

Cleo shook his head, "no we were staying at an inn a couple miles south. We had just finished a job and were staying the night. We were going to head off to Mane City as a matter of fact, but after Mane City fell an onslaught of chaos demons started attacking the rest of the country. Luckily someone warned us about them before they reached the inn, gave us enough time to gallop outta there."

"I see, and has Redger shown any signs of schizophrenia during the time you've known him?" the Doctor asked.

Redger piped in, "now wait just a minute! I may be a little too cautious but that doesn't mean I have schizophrenia!"

"Caution is one thing, Redger. But believing something, seeing something that didn't actually happen is another."

"So what if I thought I saw something different!? I was stressed! We're all stressed! My eyes can play tricks on me! What if that's all it is!?"

"Than you have anything to worry about. But I still want you to see professionals to help you". The Doctor turned to Barney and Cleo, "and I want you two to make sure he does receive help."

"Now wait! I didn't say-"

"We'll help him Doctor. Won't we, Cleo?" said Barney, giving Cleo a bold look.

Cleo sighed, shrugging, "I mean. I don't really want to, but, alright. I'll help too."

"Don't I get a say in this!?" Redger yelled, earning a glare from the Doctor that silenced him.

The Doctor took a step towards Redger, making the small pony gulp anxiously, as he spoke down on him threateningly. "No, no you do not! You're lucky I'm doing this much for you because so help me I had half the mind to transport you to the closest mass of chaos and drop you in it!" Teeth clenched and absolutely fuming, the Doctor's anger radiated enough so for the others to feel it, and it made Barney and Cleo almost feel timid. Redger could feel the Doctor's glare pierce him, and it made him feel at a loss of breath. "And you have no idea how much I wanted to. But I made a promise to never be cruel, to never be cowardly. Punishment is for the wicked, but help is for the sick and lost. And its a shame, it wouldn't be cruel or cowardly if you were just wicked. But I digress". The Doctor turned away, approaching his console while Redger soaked in everything that was said. Left in a puddle of regret, shame, anxiety, and a burning hatred for the Doctor. Barney and Cleo could only watch silently while Redger received his verbal backlash, and they were left stunned even after it was finished.

The Doctor flipped a switch, pressed a few buttons, turned a knob, and flipped a second switch. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T whirred to life with its metallic groan, the black square like rods bobbing up and down in the center, see through pillar of the console. A moment after the groans were halted by a sudden stomp. Like a piston slamming down on earth. The Doctor turned, walked to the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T exit, and stopped. He sighed, "I know I have seemed angry at you two. I really am happy you turned out to be a good pony, Cleo. And Barney, I know I already said it, but you have my thanks. Thank you for catching Dean, and thank you both for keeping him safe. I am just upset that I have to help the one who hurt Dean."

Barney and Cleo were taken aback, not by the Doctor, but by the sudden chuckle that came from Redger. Redger glared to the Doctor, spitting hate stubbornly. "You think this is going to make a difference? You think your justified just because you "think" your helping me! Your not better than me! Your an old, senile pony. Everything, everything you did last night was nothing but shear luck and fear tactics. If you and me fought right now you'd have to wipe the dirt off your face! Your not better you got that! You are just a crazy old goat!"

The Doctor swooped in, getting face to face with Redger. Huffing, holding back everything he had not to explode on the tied pony before him. In a hushed tone, the Doctor explained to Redger, mercifully maintaining himself. "You had better watch that mouth of yours, child. You have no idea what I can do."

For a moment Redger was afflicted, and he started shaking. But stubbornly, he mustered the slimmest bit of courage he could manage and threw it at the Doctor. "Than do it!"  

Barney winced, Cleo, for a second, thought to silence Redger before he goes too far, but the Doctor replied before he could. Shakily, he kept his composure. Mostly so the others needn't be involved, "I am ninety four years old. I have seen things, done things you could never imagine. This funny little thing that's happening, these "chaos" demons as you call them. This is probably the worst you will ever have to experience in your life! But me! Creatures of every kind have died in front of my eyes! Children have screamed while they were slaughtered and creatures wailed as they burned! I watched them die while I could do nothing to stop it!"

The Doctor's voice rose, and from his tone it became evident that the Doctor was talking about something personal. He wasn't just making a point, the emotion he had, this had actually happened. And they realized it, felt it even, his emotion. "You can go back to Equestria once its safe but me! I have no home! This M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T is my home! My only home! Because the one I had known kicked me out! And the one I had lived in is all but a memory now, too painful to ever return to! You have no idea how that feels, you may never even know how that feels! 

And do you want to know what that does to a pony! It changes them! Makes them stronger! Makes them scarier! I am better but I am also worse than I ever was before everything that happened! The things I can do because of the things I have lived through! Because I had to get better! I had no choice! While you got to learn things for fun or just because, I had to learn to be better because if I didn't than who would!? Who would be the better pony if not me! Who would be good enough to help them!?! The things I can do! And I'm only ninety four! That may seem old to you but believe me I am in my prime!"

The Doctor shifted uncomfortably close, inches away from Redger. Redger tried shuffling back, but couldn't move with his tied limbs. His menacing, dark tone was like a black cloak casted on Redger. Forcing him to listen to every word spoken, to take in everything whether he liked it or not. "That's scary to think about. The things I can do. The things I am capable of. And yet, I don't think I've even reached my peak yet. Not. Even. Close.

The Doctor inched back slightly, not enough so for Redger to breath easier. "Fear tactics you say? Luck? No no no, that's not what it is at all. I could have fought you, I could have fought all of you, but that would be too easy. Everything I did wasn't just out of mercy, its also because I'm the only one who could have managed it! I knew where you were at all times. I knew where you were going to gallop to next, which room you were hiding in, and the whole way through I was testing you! Testing you to see what kind of ponies you were. Now really, how many ponies, how many of any creature could have managed that?" Redger didn't respond, for he had no answer to that.

The Doctor continued, "because, Redger, what Dean told you was almost true but he's wrong about one thing. I'm not one step ahead of you, I wasn't even two steps ahead. Because with every pony I meet, every creature like you who only cares for themselves. To the ones that I have no choice but to show what I am capable of. One step, two steps, that isn't enough. I am always five steps ahead of you. I was the whole time. From the moment you and I met. I was one, two, five steps ahead of you.

The Doctor backed away from the shivering pony, stepping by the exit once more. Watching the Doctor speak that way to Redger it made more sense to what the Doctor had said earlier. For a moment, for a split second, they all saw the demon the Doctor had pretended to be. Redger, he felt his heart stop, and it didn't seem to start even after the Doctor backed away. His chest thumping hard as he breathed soundlessly, sporadically; his eyes locked wide, stunned as he shivered.

The Doctor opened the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T door, blinding them momentarily as the daylight flashed in. As they adjusted to the brightness, the Doctor pointed outside. "I've transported us about a mile away from the sewing productions building. So if you see smoke in the sky that's most likely all it is. There's a chest outside the door with all your belongings and some food and water. Keep traveling until you make it to Mason and just stay there until Equestria is safe, then bring Redger there. Find someone who can give him the help he needs". The Doctor added, "oh, and keep the chest if you want it. I'm not going to keep it."

"No. No no no I didn't agree to that!" Redger yelled. He yelped as he was suddenly forced to his hooves. Cleo grabbed him by the upper shoulder, lifting him hard and practically dragging him towards the exit. "Ah! Hey! Let go! Let go of me you piece of hairy garbage!"

The Doctor stepped aside, allowing Cleo the space to leave the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Just before he did, Cleo turned back to the Doctor, giving him a sheepish, yet solace grin. "Sorry for all the trouble we gave you."

"Don't worry about it. I'm not mad at you or Barney. In fact, just wait until Equestria is safe, I have a surprise for you."

Cleo was about to question that, before Redger pounded the back of his head to Cleo's gut. "Oof!" he felt the air leave him, before he aggressively pushed Redger outside. Sucking in through his teeth, Cleo shouted, "you little dung pie!"

Cleo left, and Barney took his place, he too stopping to talk to the Doctor. "Do you really think he has schizophrenia?"

The Doctor sighed, "if he's lucky than I'm wrong. But just to be sure you should take him to see a professional."

Barney hesitated, but anxiously extended his hoof to the Doctor. The Doctor could tell, Barney didn't really know how to feel right now. So he shook his hoof like he would a friend, "hey. Your a good stallion. You deserve more than what you've been through. I'm sorry about everything, and for scaring you. But I'm glad I put you through that test, and I'm glad you passed."

Releasing his hoof, Barney looked quizzically to the Doctor. "Passed?"

The Doctor nodded, "like I said, I had my own reason for testing you. But I don't want you to worry about it. For now, just keep an eye on Redger and get to Mason safely, alright."

"Yeah, okay". The Doctor reached into his inner vest pocket, pulling out a metallic circle. Silver, and as large as his hoof, there was nothing special about it, aside from a small, red, glassy orb attached to the center. He handed it to Barney, and Barney turned it around in his hoof, looking at it curiously. "What's this?" he asked.

"That is how you and I will keep in touch. Just hold onto it. If you see that little red ball start to blink it means I'm coming, so watch out for me."

"You want to see us again?" Barney asked.

"Of course, I have a surprise I think you and Cleo will like."

Barney smiled, placing the metal circle in his saddle bag. "Thank you."

"Your welcome, I'll be seeing you again."

Barney nodded and left the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T. Looking outside, the Doctor saw Barney and Cleo waving back at him, with Redger kicking his hind legs like a child having a tantrum. He was still tied, and Cleo had dropped him to the ground, so he couldn't move or run away. "Bye Doctor!" said Barney.

"See ya Doctor! You better not flake out on whatever that surprise is going to be!" said Cleo, smirking.

The Doctor chuckled, "don't worry. I'm a stallion of my word! You'll get your surprise! Just be sure of it!"

The Doctor reached for his door, closing it. But not before he heard Redger spout his last remarks at him. "You stupid old stallion! I am not sick! I know what I saw! Your all crazy! If it weren't for me you would have all died a long time ago! You hear me! You senile old stool! You stupid mother-" The Doctor closed the door, breathing a tired sigh.

Slowly, he shambled over to his console. Gingerly pressing a button, the monitor beside him beeped, and the Doctor smiled to what he read on the screen. "It took a little longer than I thought, but I finally know where you are."

He pressed a second button and the screen flickered. Turning blank, white for a moment, before a map of Equestria appeared. The map zoomed in passed the southern border, several miles outside of Equestria to a particular location. A small red dot appeared, flashing arithmetically on a pin pointed spot. The Doctor thought aloud, "really? we weren't that far off? Hah, I can't believe it. If those corrupted ponies hadn't been in the forest, than we would have found you by now."

Observing the flashing red dot, the Doctor tapped it, clanking his hoof to the screen. "So you think the Tree of Harmony is somewhere around here? Hmmm . . . well. Only one way to find out."

The Doctor turned from his monitor, running around to the opposite end of his console. The Doctor pulled a lever, flipped a switch, an the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T groaned to life. "WHOOZE, VIRRR, WHOOZE, VIRRR!!!" metallic groans roared, and the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T jutted, transporting away. The inner walls shook, and the Doctor moved quickly to the left. Pulling a switch, adjusting the knobs, a quick shift back to the right, another pull of a switch. Then, the Doctor ran to the opposite side, gripping one of his larger levers excitedly. "Its been a long time. Hopefully neither of you will be too mad. Popping in like this so suddenly. But I don't really have a choice. This has gone long enough."

The Doctor pulled the lever, followed by the familiar sound of a piston stomping to earth. The M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T stopped shaking, and the Doctor turned and trotted to the exit. Quickly, he wrapped his hoof around the handle, thrusting the door open. His sights were assaulted by the bright light outside, and it blinded him. He hadn't realized his eyes had readjusted back to the dim light within the M.E.I.D.P.H.A.T, and in his excitement it took him by surprise. Covering his eyes, waiting a moment to adjust, he took in a large breath of the fresh air outside. He could hear hundreds of birds chirping, and distant animals cooing to the forest.

It made him feel determined, and he sighed contently. "Alright, one more step to the end. After that, the road to the proper story begins."


"Celestia, Luna, its time to finish this."







( ( ( TO BE CONTINUED ) ) )