More Conversation

[multaekappae]

 Previously

It was amazing that one could actually get bored inside of the bluebox. Riptide, having ceased her constant questioning of the Doctor in order to let him work, had quickly found herself out of things to do. As with many, boredom lead to risk taking and this lead to the kelpie finally deciding to risk transforming into an alicorn, the one pony type that kelpies couldn't take without great risk. It worked! Riptide found herself wearing the face and body of the dark blue alicorn Princess Foghorn Luna.

She was still gliding from box stack to box stack in her gleeful triumph when a door opened revealing the wayward travelers...and two new ponies. Her surprise at seeing the new arrivals was enough for her to misjudge the next jump and crashland in a pile of boxes.
 

 

 

     The unicorn started at the noise, peering at the curious figure– "Riptide!?" the time mare cried, seemingly surprised and delighted in equal measure.
 

The kelpie started, her name was not the first thing she was expecting to hear from the new ponies. Righting herself through the shredded packaging, a small part of her noting her initial surprise had stripped her of the princess's form.

"Oh, hello! Do I know you?" she asked.
 

Ako had accepted the glass of water and pills from Ramona, but from being more focused on not embarrassing herself further had not bothered to look at it until the party seemed to arrive at their destination. By that time she had taken a sip of the water and only then noticed something else in her hand. Dropping the pills carefully into her other hand, she peered at them suspiciously.

She opened her beak to ask the unicorn what they were, but when the gryphon looked up she saw the pony in question was already starting a conversation with Riptide. Making a face and wincing as the motion made her forehead throb, Ako instead flicked her tail against Sharpwit's side. Without looking over at him and taking her eyes off the room at large, she held the pills out a bit towards him to examine.

"What is this? What am I supposed to do with these?"

Her eyes narrowed, glaring at the kelpie and trying to catch how this unicorn knew her.

Sharp felt Ako's tail brush up against him as they  walked through the hallway. Glancing at his griffon companion, he found that she was holding the glass of water and aspirin that Romana had offered her. "What is this?" she mumbled under her breath. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

The Inspector, realizing how she was trying to save face, restrained a chuckle. Making sure to stare anywhere but Ako's direction, he muttered "It's aspirin. It's supposed to reduce the pain in your head." Realizing she probably would still be suspicious, he added, "I believe the folk-medicine equivalent would be willow bark?"

Noticing where Ako was looking, Sharp pondered a little as well. "I suppose you're wondering how the Doctor's old companion knows our dear kelpie..."
 

"Doctor!" Scribble spied his Doctor across the cargo area, messing with something as always. The guy was more confused than say.... a piece of popcorn in a popcorn shrimp basket, but at least he and Primeval had gotten a sort-of explanation from Isop. If he kept being helpful like that, Scribble would have to apologize for punching him out that one time.

"Reunited and it feels so good. Or does it? Just what is he not telling you all..."

"Doctor!" he shouted again, making his way across the room and ignoring the text that appeared at his hooves and vanished. Primeval trailing behind him, having nothing else to do and with almost as many questions. "Whatever mess we've ended up in now... I would have to say it's almost as confusing as the Discord thing. Are you aware that there's another you on the TARDIS?"
 

     The unicorn stopped, confused. "I... thought you – oh." Romana put a hoof over her muzzle. "Ohhh. Ah, that is to say, if I'm understanding this correctly, we will meet in your future, which will be in my personal past. Part of the complications of being a time traveler, I'm afraid." She shrugged.

     "There's a bit of a misunderstanding at first..." her brow furrowed and she looked at her Doctor, "Mostly his fault, but it mostly works out in the end. I'd like to think we parted on fairly good terms and no, before you ask," She grinned, "I can't tell you anything about your future self... other than obviously in at least one timeline you live long enough to meet me again for the first time."

     "Still, I'm glad to see a friendly face around here." The time mare frowned, "Not that I'm saying anything about your friends mind. But... ah, who are they?"

 

---

 

     The Doctor ... that is to say, the time pony known as the Doctor, currently in an incarnation with a penchant for wearing a jaunty green tie and somewhat spiky short mane, that fellow, regarded the blue earth pony. "Ah, weren't you here for... oh, no, you were out."

     Scribble didn't deign to give the babble a response.

     "Err, I wasn't aware he was here already, but I expected to meet a previous regeneration of myself. For you see, this isn't the incarnation of the TARDIS that–

     "Yeah, we all got on the wrong TARDIS, Isop already told me that part." It wasn't exactly an act of love and tolerance, but being able to steal a march on the time pony was simply too delicious to pass up.

     The Gallopfreyan stallion blinked several times in rapid succession. "Right. Well..."

     The pony who had been under discussion approached, after pointedly not noticing the presence of a kelpie with a horn in the room. He approached his quarry, his supposed future self. "So, are you going to explain why you felt it necessary to steal the TARDIS from yourself?"

     The later Doctor sighed, hanging his head. "Look I'm sorry, I really and truly am. So. Sorry. Just show me where you've parked my TARDIS and we'll see ourselves out, yeah?"

     The earlier incarnation frowned in a rather vague manner. "Oh, that is going to be ... err." He made an effort to laugh jovially. "You see, funny story really, it's been stolen. Romana and I barely escaped. Some sort of deuced hybrid magic/technology resonance system. Specifically targeted to my flight-pattern."

     "Wot?" The lighter colored brown stallion managed.

     "Oh, speaking of which, I suspect you ended up here because you didn't bother to re-calibrate the system before taking off. Tell me, when exactly do I become so sloppy?" The curly maned one frowned.

     "You... you lost the TARDIS, and you're criticizing me?"

     "You're saying slamming into temporal immersion without checking your parameters isn't a mistake?"

     "Of course I'm not saying that. It's bloody stupid – but I was fleeing a destructive harmonic feedback–

     "Oh yes, because we're not constantly in danger of being unmade or rewritten. And they call me sloppy."
 

Riptide tapped Scarfy Doctor on the shoulder with a hoof to get his attention. "If it helps, I was the one who pulled the lever...though for all I know all this could have been Discord's fault. Thank Dagon, we're still alive."

"And if this really is your TARDIS, then I guess you know we unintentionally installed a pool!"
 

     ... Tie Doctor cleared his throat. "Riptide, while I do appreciate your trying to share in the blame, it really wasn't your fault. And the one compensation for all of this madness is that I can be certain Discord never saw it coming." a hint of a smile that didnot speak of beneficence threatened on his muzzle.

     The 'Scarfy' Doctor frowned, "What do you–

     "Excuse me," Primeval interjected, "I don't know your customs, although the more I hear of you, the less I worry about offending you..." she took a deep breath,"But I would very much like to have the relevant question answered: Where is the TARDIS that belongs to our Doctor?"

     "Well, based on the interference I encountered, it has to be somewhere within a few kilometers of here." The Doctor who had been questioned answered, adjusting his hat.

     "Wait... somewhere around here? In pitch black darkness, near the very depths of the ocean?" Riptide asked, "Awfully convenient that I'm here, able to at least have a chance of finding it without–

     "I rather doubt your... particular talents will be needed." the curly maned pony remarked, "I the TARDIS was stolen, which means foreign agency, which implies a base of operation, which implies..."

     Several individuals shouted some variation of "The light in the darkness" at effectively the same time.
 

Next

Putting it all together

[multaekappae]

Previously

The Inspector's eyes were widened in a mixture of horror at Ako's violent reaction and slight arousal at Ako's violent reaction (it was the latter that was being added the growing list of feelings he was uncomfortable with). However, upon seeing her murderous look falter a little, the Inspector let out a sigh of relief. For a second, I thought she was going to kill the both of us... Hearing K-9 state that it was going to meet a mistress, however, replaced the feeling of relief (as well as any lingering concern over his apparent sexual deviation) with one of curiosity. "What did it mean, 'Mistress'?" he asked Ako, who's temper was dying down a bit. "I thought the Doctor was K-9's master... That must mean that someone else is on the TARDIS that has control! Come on, let's see if we can follow the little beast!"

Just as he was about to fly after the tin dog, however, he gave Ako a grin. "Oh, and by the way, you look absolutely gorgeous when your about to kill someone," he crooned before flying off. Ooh, I bet she's going to slaughter me for that one, he thought gleefully as he zoomed through the hallways in pursuit of the robot.

Ako sheathed her sword as Sharpwit was talking, not making after K-9. She thought for a moment, hand still on the sword's hilt and drumming on it slightly.

"What did it mean, 'Mistress'? I thought the Doctor was K-9's master... That must mean that someone else is on the TARDIS that has control! Come on, let's see if we can follow the little beast!" The Inspector was saying, and after blinking the gryphon nodded slowly.

"Yeah... we don't know much about that damned thing do we?" She muttered half to herself

She started off, eyes intent on watching the retreating mutt so when Sharpwit's next bombshell dropped Ako was already a few steps into a run.

"Oh, and by the way, you look absolutely gorgeous when you're about to kill someone..." He crooned before taking flying off ahead of her.

The gryphon blushed furiously, not sure whether to be upset or not about the comment. That was sarcastic... but he said I looked gorgeous! Yet, he said I right when I'm about to kill someone-...

 

WHAM

 

Her mind was so distracted at this point, when Ako tried to turn a corner after Sharpwit and K-9 her feet slipped out from underneath her. The gryphon only made it halfway around the corner, having her upper body get into the other hallway but her hindquarters continuing in the direction they had been going moments before. This cracked her head quite hard on the wall before spinning her down one of the connecting hallways, leaving her stunned and disoriented on her side.

"Ow..." she groaned, curling up a little to hold her head in her hands. Feebly she tried to get up, but as the hall seemed to spin around her the gryphon froze in place trying to center herself.

---

Cain was busy dressing and the Doctor was hard at work on modifying Cain's suit. Unfortunately it seemed he was having a hard time estimating the Inspectors general size.

Finally done with her stretching, Riptide looked around for the pegasus only finding him to be completely absent. "I guess I should go find him" The sea pony groaned. Before she took more than two steps a new thought came to mind: Leaders don't do everything on their own, they get help(minions) to help ease the load.

"Isop, please locate the Inspector and bring him back her so we can get on with the exploration. He and the gryphon can spawn later after we know where we are." She commanded. Thankfully the xenoling spring to attention from his spot atop some crates. Snapping a sharp salute, the alien hybrid jumped onto another stack of crates and then another until he was but a shadow in the darkness.

Happy with his response, the kelpie wandered over to watch the Doctor work, leaning over his shoulder to do so.

"So...what's this thingie?" She asked, prodding the item in the Doctor's mouth with a hoof. It was but the first of many questions to follow.

***

Bounding down the hallways, the xenoling followed the faint scent of the inspector. Sensing he was getting closer, he sped up. Before long he heard the sounds of ponies speaking. Hearing earth pony Scribble's voice he figured that the Inspector had simply followed the gryphon to check on the wounded ponies.. Instinctively, the changeling side of Isop urged him to take a new form as to infiltrate better. Even if he no longer worked as a gatherer of emotions, he didn't wish to get rusty.

Green flames leaped around him temporarily as he assumed the form of the last being who's brains he had eaten. As the fire faded, a deep red coat of fur covered the xenoling. This form also sported a dark gray mane, tail, and beard. Skidding around one corner he found himself behind two ponies he'd never seen before. A blue unicorn mare with a mane and tail consisting of dark and light blue and a brown earth pony wearing a hat and a ridiculously long scarf.

Spying Scribble and Primeval in front of the two, Isop waved a hoof in recognition, letting the tip of his horn flare green before putting out the magical fire.

---

The exact order of events wasn't clear, later, but everypony generally agreed that it started when the tine dog arrived at the infirmary. "Unit has arrived, //Mistress." the robot announced in a squeaky synthesized voice, continuing to hover.

The unicorn nodded, "Good dog. Now get down, we have guests."

"Affirmative, guest status noted. Good day, miss and mister, I am K-9, what desingations do you-

"Hah... you're a fast little tin box, aren't... oh, hello..." The Inspector's voice trailed off as he took in the two unfamilliar ponies in the room. However, 'unfamiliar' in this case simply meant that he had never personally met the curly maned dark brown pony. Grainy photographs and even a few fiber samples of that outrageous knitwork adorning the pony's neck were part of Sharp's ... collection.

For his part, the 'Doctor' seemed not to know what to make of the new arrival. He was about to speak when interruption and confusion fell.

The charcoal pegasus frowned, something was missing some- "Ako?" he called, more curious than worried, although the absence of any response was leaning him toward the latter...

At roughly the same time, the gray over red space stallion (longer/thinner legs, nearly day-glo fur, and slight iridescence or plastic sheen to the coat) waved at Scribble and Primeval from over the Inspector's shoulder, a lick of green flame describing the tip of a sharp horn that wasn't visible on his forehead. "Hello ... uh, everypony? That's right, isn't it?"

In the growing confusion as four ponies tried to all talk at once, over each other, Primeval gently placed a foot on the blue pony's shoulder to catch his attention. Rather than trying to speak over the others, she mouthed her words slowly, "I forgive you."

However, when he tried to respond, the proto-pony shook her head and started trotting toward the verbal melee.

"...telling you I want to go that way because..."

"...got my orders, you need to ..."

"...how many random companions are ..."

"...-veryone just stop talking for..."

"PFWEEEEET!" The airhorn retracted back into K-9's main compartment.

The Doctor shook his head, wincing slightly, "Right, thank you K-9. OK, you," he pointed at the Inspector, "look the most nervous, what is it?"

"I lost Ako somewhere in the hall- why am I even talking right now?" So saying the pegasus turned and headed back down the hallway, trailed by the odd red pony.

Primeval looked back and nodded at Scribble, who also looked concerned. The duo followed the previous duo.

The perpelexed time stallion frowned, "And all without so much as a how do you do?"

Romana rolled her eyes, "You really can't think of any reason he'd be so concerned, can you?"

The Doctor's eyes lit up, "Oh, that was... ? Right, well, shall we follow them?"

"You're going to insist on it, so we might as well."

 

---

 

 

Cargo Area

 

"...can't just say 'it's sonic' and expect that to make sense." Riptide huffed.

"It's... all very, er, technical. Vibrations and suchlike, I imagine."

"So it's like sonar?"

"It is almost but not entirely unlike sonar."

The kelpie's eyebrows fell flat, "you can't stand to admit when you don't know something, can you?"

"Is that what I'm doing? Sorry, I've been feeling a bit beside myself since we crashed here..."
 

---

The Inspector flew through the halls at breakneck speeds, searching for Ako with growing panic. Come on, Warbird, where are you...

Suddenly, he heard a low moan in the hall. He nearly crashed trying to turn around in the narrow hallway, but he managed to make it back to the griffon. "Ako, are you alright?!" he asked breathlessly upon seeing her holding her head as if in deep pain. "How'd you get hurt, is there someone else here?" He propped her up on his back, trying to help her get steady. "She's in here!" he called out to the rest of the group, who were probably not far away.
 

     Isop trotted to a halt, peering at the gryphon and pegasus. "Yeah, that's her. I don't even smell any blood, so hooray." The shifter remembered his task, "Um, no offense, I just mean you're kinda' freaking out a lot about someone smacking into a wall." This did not seem to mollify the pony.

     The xenomorph sighed, "Right, sorry. Look, can we chalk that up to different cultures? I'm supposed to get you to come back to the cargo area. I'll carry the bird if you want, but we've kinda got a schedule to keep."

     The sound of hoofbeats was quite apparent as the others caught up. Isop groaned inwardly, expecting further delays as everyone insisted on offering an opinion.

 

---

 

     The Doctor gingerly slid the control with just the tip of his hoof, so that his action was visible, "...and that will cause the vibrations to oscilate... er, to change in a specific way, and make the target rotate, like so." With a gently whirring hum, the screwdriver hummed as a can a few strides away began to rotate around it's axis.

     The kelpie nodded, "OK, but what about the other four parts there?"

     The brown pony shrugged, "hwell, see, there's a lot of things what can be described as vibration, including temperature–

     "Hmm? That makes no sense, something can be hot even if it's sitting still."

     The time pony winced, "err, I don't suppose the word 'atom' means much to you?"
 

"Guys!" Scribble and Primeval had finally caught up with the others and came to a stop behind Isop, both freezing when they saw Ako. "Uh oh. Is she alright?"

"My scanners indicate a minor concussion." Primeval stated as data streamed through her armor, concerned for her friends state as much as anypony. "No internal bleeding though."

"She's fine." The pony that sounded much like Isop groaned. He was clearly getting annoyed by all these ponies showing up. "Now can we get going please? We're supposed to be in the cargo bay."

"Cargo bay... C-can we stop for a second please?" Scribble asked, earning another, outraged groan from the red pony. "Uh, Me and Primeval were both unconscious. We're kind of out of the loop right now. What's going on exactly? And why is there another pony here that calls himself the Doctor?"
 

Ako crawled over to the wall, sliding herself upright while heavily leaning on it. With a few shaky breaths she shook her head, trying to calm herself to get rid of the blush.

"N.. no... I'm alright. I just, just didn't catch that corner and hit my head on the wall...."

The gryphon gulped, gently letting herself step away from the wall. She wobbled, grimacing as her wings flapped a few times for balance. Dammit... she cursed, stumbling a little as she tried to start walking in the direction she thought they were going to go, but instead ending up heading in the wrong direction.
 

The Inspector gingerly extended his wing, gently guiding her to the proper location. "Not so fast, Warbird, you heard Primeval," he said reprovingly. "You've got a concussion. It's best you not push it until we're convinced you won't need help."
 

Turning to the rest of the group, he scrutinized them very carefully, especially the red pony. That's probably Riptide's little pet, he thought carefully. Where he got that form is beyond me... He looked at the brown, curly maned stallion and his unicorn companion. "So, you must be the Doctor," he said, a hint of a smile coming on his face upon seeing Scribble's growing face of confusion. "Fourth regeneration, if my sources are correct. That means you," he added, glancing at the light-tan unicorn mare, "must be Romana! How very interesting..."
 

Noticing the look of confusion on everyone's face, the Inspector couldn't help but give a grin. "Sorry, how rude of me not to introduce myself! I am Inspector Sharp Wit," he said, bowing theatrically. "I see you've already met Scribble and Primeval..."
 

Isop very much regretted he didn't have the mutative abilities of his adopted queen otherwise he would have grabbed the infuriatingly slow ponies with tentacles or claws and forced them back. As much as he wasn't looking forward to his little swim, the longer they stayed here the more likely something bad would happen.

"Ok, no!" He lowered his head, his horn sparking with green fire. "Discuss on the way or when we get there, but move!"

Looking at Primeval and Scribble, he added "In case the good inspector or the warrior forgot to tell you we're 4000 fathoms (whatever those are) under an ocean. If it helps to motivate you, we may be near my queen's home. And you're delaying her return."

Unless your character is some kind of mutant whose legs and mouth are animated by a single muscle and thus can only talk or walk, this discussion can happen on the move.

The Inspector scowled at the impatient whelp but saw the point of his complaint. Looking back to check if Ako was alright to walk, he began to trot at a slow pace towards the cargo bay. "So, I assume this is your TARDIS?" he asked the Doctor (or rather, the former Doctor).

Ako scoffed, but leaned on him for a few more feet as her vision cleared. After that the swordsbird walked on her own, shooting a glare at the unfamiliar stallion. Recognizing the green fire around his horn, gritted her beak in disgust. Featherbrained git... prancing around like he's the one in control...

"Oh, I wouldn't want to keep Her Majesty waiting..." she scowled quietly, following after the group and sulking near the back.
 

     The Doctor's head bobbed as he took in all the elements of the conversation. One could almost hear the gears spinning as he tabulated and sorted details. The only thing more disturbing than his arrogance was the possibility that he was right. Scribble actually found himself disappointed there wasn't a small 'ding' when the time pony began to act.

     "Ah, Inspector, was it? Always nice to meet someone who is well informed. That accent can only be from Canterlot, and since I do not find my first instinct is to dump a bucket of water on your head I'm assuming your previous work was as a peace officer and neither military nor intelligence branches." Grin.

    Isop watched the proceedings with a mixture of irritation and interest. On the good side, everyone was moving, however glacially, in the direction of the cargo area. This Doctor was fascinating – not for his overbearing personality and witticisms – but for the way that he seemed to have the same characteristics as Riptide's Doctor, but used them in completely different ways. 'Regenerations' seemed to be much like the iterations that hive guards had gone through, characteristics that had been effective in the previous generation being preserved in the ever-changing next generation's design... except it the claims were to be taken seriously, this multi-generational collective claimed to be a single being with continuous memory – genetic memory of events being something his people had never mastered.

     "This is very much my TARDIS, although personally I prefer to occupy the control room with air, rather than highly pressurized seawater. You, sir, however, are an enigma truly fascinating. Space ponies didn't even come into existence for another few millennia, and there are no more free changeling hives by that point, and certainly none that made it off-world as you would have to have done to pick up that form. Which makes me quite interested to meet this 'Queen' of yours."

     Romana trotted over to the gryphon, "He's going to be at this for a while, sorry. As your friend said, my name is Romana." the behorned pony glanced at the bird's head, frowning. "K-9, two asprin and a glass of water would be in order, please."

     "Yes, //Mistress." A tray rose from the opening in the mechanical dog's back, holding a small plastic cup and a small tray with two white lozenges on it. Using a bit of magic that seemed to consist of crackling black and white squares in an ever-changing pattern of randomness, Romana levitated the pills and water near Ako.

     Scribble rolled his eyes, eventually following the rest of the group. 'Ignored again. I am sick and tired of – FACE!'

     "Sorry, sorry." the pony who was obviously Isop winced, offering a hoof to help the earth pony back up. "You mentioned not knowing what was going on... and I can't exactly get the rest of them to move, so..."

    "So, what?" the writer asked, still not entirely sure what he thought about the xenoling, but more familiar with him than the others.

     The red pony drew in a deep breath. "This... uh, TARDIS? Whatever the blue box-thing is called, this is the same vessel, but from an earlier time... sort-of. Anyway, it's [contemporaneous] with that guy." Isop pointed at the new (old?) Doctor, nattering away with the others. "Who is, um, like an earlier stage of development of ... mmmm, 'our' Doctor."

     "What, like a reincarnation?"

     "Oh, that's good, I like that! Yeah, that totally works for you mammals... he's like an earlier incarnation of the Doctor."

     "So what is he doing here?"

     "Actually, it's more like, what are we doing here. When we fled from that Disco-guy, I guess for some reason several ... incarnations of the Doctor had all ended up in the same place, for some reason. And the Doctor sent us off before he followed. I forget who, but someone just opened the doors of the first TABRIS we saw–

     "That's TARDIS." Scribble corrected.

     "Right, the box-thing. We got into the first one we saw... and ... well, turns out that wasn't the right blue box-thingy TARDIS. It was his." The shape-shifter once again pointed at the Doctor with the scarf.

     "Hold on, you're saying we're in the same time-machine, but earlier in the TARDIS's history? That is really hard to wrap my head around." 'On the other hoof, you're at least capable of getting it. Don't discredit your mind, after all, you made Me up.' ... 'Ugh, don't remind me.'

     Isop continued his story, seemingly unaware of the strange messages that had momentarily scratched themselves upon the walls, only to fade from view before anypony else could see them. "...managed to re-seal the bulkheads with us on the right side this time. You missed out on all of that because we set you and Primeval in the infirmary before anyone even thought about messing with the controls, so you guys never got wet to begin with."

     "What about the four thousand leagues thing? I'm pretty sure that's dangerously deep underwater."

     Isop shrugged, "For you, probably, without protection. The Doctor... um, 'our' Doctor, was able to turn on some sort of an external camera. But he couldn't see anything because it's too dark out there. Except... off in the distance there's a single point of light that's glowing steadily."

     "OK, that's neat, I guess, but I don't see what it has to do with us. If the previous Doctor has found us, that means he's got the current version of the TARDIS with him." Scribble tried to heavily imply that under the circumstances he couldn't see any good reason to go swimming around in water so many miles below the surface that sunlight never made it this far.

     "Ah yes, about that..." Scribble felt some small compensation from seeing the xenoling was just as startled by the curly brown interloper. "I may have managed to lose that TARDIS trying to find mine." His smile seemed less confident and more brittle as he admitted this.

     Isop ignored the bad news, for they had – finally! – made it to the doors of the cargo area.

Next

TARDIS: Interior (various)

[multaekappae]

Previously

Sharp, as if in a trance, closed his eyes, simply accepting the course of events. He began to feel the griffon's warm breath on his face-

"INTRUDER ALERT!" a small robotic voice blared loudly, causing the pair to nearly hit the ceiling. "YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO BE HERE!"

The Inspector looked down to see a small tin dog was the source of the noise. Feeling his face turn red with embarrassment, he turned to Ako with a nervous smile. "Well, that killed the moment, didn't it?" he chuckled wryly.

---

"...Scribble." He answered slowly. "My name is Scribble." He gestured to the armored pony on the bed. "This is Primeval. We're both traveling with the Doctor, along with a few others."

Now there was another companion on the ship? Just what was going on around here?

"Look, "Doctor"? I think there's been some sort of problem." He tried to explain. "I don't think you two are supposed to be here. Or maybe we're not supposed to be here. Either or."

The proto-pony stirred at mention of her name. "Mrrh. Ugh... where..." she very slowly sat up. She took in all three of the other inhabitants of the room with apprehension, eventually settling on Scribble, even though his stomach turned at her hesitance. "S-Scribble? Who are these ponies?"

Leaping into the narrow gap in coversation, the pony identified as Romana spoke. "My name is Romana, I am not from your world, I am a traveler from the planet Gallopfrey, and recently I have been traveling with this fellow here, whom insists upon being called 'The Doctor'."

Primeval nodded slowly. "I ... hmm..." megabits of information flittered through her mind. "I see. Then you are the second time pony I have met." Before Romana could ask, the purple proto-pony pursued her point, "For Scribble and I, along with several others, have been traveling with another ... regeneration? Hm, yes, another regeneration of the Doctor."

The probable Doctor's eyes lit up as his smile widened to almost terrifying proportions. "I knew it! Do you know what this means, Romana!?"

She sighed, "That the TARDIS we 'lost' truly was yours?"

The Doctor frowned, "Well, yes, that's true as well; but–

"That these are future companions of yours?"

"Oh don't be dull, that's obvious. What I mean is–

"That this eohippus is obviously the evolutionary we weren't able to find last time?"

The time stallion paused, "you know, I hadn't considered that. Fascinating..." he trailed off in consideration.

The time mare waited several seconds as dead silence filled the room. Eventually she sighed, "You're going to be pouty until I apologize for interrupting you, aren't you? Very well, I am sorry I didn't allow you to–

The bescarfed pony spoke as though he hadn't heard his companion, "But what I was getting at before is that I do in fact make it past my eighth regeneration! I mean, I've spent so much time dealing with the other seven, and none of us ever met any later regenerations. Perhaps now I can learn why."

"Um, e-excuse me– Scribble began.

Romana had already begun speaking and didn't seem to notice the earth pony's interjection. "But number five did say that one time he met a spiky haired brown version for a very short time, didn't he?"

The Doctor waved this away. "Oh nopony takes anything he says seriously. Could easily have been one of us on a bad day," he sniffed and quietly added, "besides, he said that rogue regeneration thought number five was his favorite, which is impossible."

"Hold it!" Scribble cried, nearly drowning is a sea of exposition. "Everpony here has questions, and it seems like a lot of them center on the... um, 'my'... no, on the Doctor we," he gestured between himself and Primeval, "came here with... at least I really hope he's here..." the blue stallion trailed off, realizing he had no real evidence that the Doctor of his time... let alone any of the others, were even on this TARDIS... what if he was stuck here? What if he had to travel with this obnoxious hat-wearing Doctor until they just happened to hit a time period relatively close to his own....

"No, no no! He's got to be here, this isn't how a story ends... I won't let it, we can write a better ending." He realized both that he was speaking aloud, and that he was staring at the pen which was somehow back in his hoof. "I..." he couldn't even bring himself to look at Primeval, he didn't want to know what she was thinking.

"Well I certainly like the sentiment, write our own ending indeed." The time stallion chuckled. "But we have a very easy way of resolving this." He trotted over to the door panel and banged on it a few times. "K-9, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I Can Hear You //Master. Your contact is fortuitous, I have discovered two unregistered passengers in hallway intersection 23b."

"Really?" the dark brown pony's eyes twinkled with amusement. "What do they look like?"

"Subjects are a dark gray pegasus, equestrian, male, and a gryphon, pumas falconis, also equestrian, scans indicate female."

Romana looked up from her quiet converation with the lavender eohippus, "hold on a tick, those are the snoggers I saw earlier!"

"Wait, what's a 'snogger'?" Scribble asked.

"Really? I don't remember you mentioning it." the Doctor replied to the time mare.

"Well I certainly did. It was the first thing I said when I entered the room. I knew you weren't listening!"

The brown stallion waved a hoof, "In any case, I think we should all go and see these snoggers."

The blue pony groaned, "really? Nopony is going to tell me what the hay a 'snog' is?"

Primeval paused, probably getting more information from her suit's computer, and blushed, deeply. "I... I think it means Ako and the Inspector are... getting along better."

Ako jumped at the dog's voice, stumbling back a few steps from Sharpwit as he looked down at it. Once she herself had realized it was K-9 that had interrupted them, the gryphon's face darkened. A few quick steps brought her next to the robotic dog, which she loomed over with a menacing glare. One of her hands found the hilt of a sword, half drawing it in preparation.

"K-9..." She hissed quietly. "I highly suggest..."

A small smile crossed her face moments before she finished her sentence, as Ako cranked up the volume on her voice box. Her next words echoed around the inside of the TARDIS, and made her own wings unintentionally shiver as she raised then up behind her.

"That. You. Run."

Now her smile widened and eyes narrowed, and as she slowly began to close the remaining gap between herself and K-9 draw her newer sword and flipping it dangerously around. Careful with it... she thought to herself, glancing at the Inspector for a moment as her intentionally scary look faltered. Don't want to hit him by mistake...

The immobile metal box managed to look confused, somehow. "Negative, this unit is not equipped with legs. Pausing... new orders received from //Mistress, evacuation procedure engaged."

With a low hum and a static crackle, the trapezoidal construct rose into the air and began to hover along the hallway, soon passing out of sight.

The Doctor frowned at his companion, "Really, Romana, you indulge these fancies of yours far too often."

The time mare snickered, "well, Mr. Pot, I'll certainly remember that on our next excursion."
 

---

 

A blank expression spread across the earth pony's face, his jaw slowly dropping. Both Primeval and Scribble seemed to share the same thoughts.

"Getting along bett-....... I-I... uh, well.... at least they're not arguing anymore." Scribble cleared his throat and picked his jaw back up. "That's... good for them..."

The moment of silence that washed over the med bay was broken when the "Doctor" chose to open his big mouth once again. "Excuse me, I believe we should all be going to meet these snoggers, wouldn't you say? No sense in leaving anyone behind."

"Uh, yeah." Scribble half-nodded, his attention not on the time pony at the moment. "Give us a second."

Scribble turned to Primeval, finding himself unable to look her in the eye now. He simply turned his gaze to the floor and let it stay there. The feeling in the pit of his stomach left him feeling horrible. What was it? "Listen, I.... I'm sorry. Really sorry. Incredibly sorry. I only wanted to help you and... I think I nearly killed you with my stupidity." he shuddered, almost sobbing. "You have every reason to hate me for it, and I wouldn't object if you did."
 

Next

TARDIS: Medical Bay

[multaekappae]

 Previously

 

 

 

"What a stupid pen." Scribble muttered, staring down at said item in his hooves. He had contemplated just throwing it out into space the next moment he could but... he sort of didn't want to. "Not even sure why I'm keeping you. Accidently killed your previous owner to get you, and I hurt my friend because of my poor choice of words."

He glared at the item and sighed. "Well, I did help the Doctor, so I guess you aren't completely evil. I guess I just need to work on my creative writing."

What else was new? Without much else left to do, Scribble pulled out another scroll and started jotting a descriptive sentence down. If he was actually going to use this thing, he was going to use it right.

"Lets see.... The rose was brand new, freshly picked. Its stem was still a healthy green and the thorns had been removed. The flower looked as though it had been picked mid-bloom; all of the soft petals reaching out to their fullest, the bright, crimson colors still vibrant..."

     The paper rippled slightly, then sat still. Scribble was aware of movement from the top of his field of vision. A single perfect blood red rose slowly lowered in from of him, blossom end first. He stared in amazement as–

     "Well are you going to take it or just stare at it? I was going to have it for a snack, later, but you seem to need it more." The voice sounded amused for all that the content was impatient.

     The writer scrambled off the bed, turning to look at the madly grinning pony. 'That is the most ridiculously long scarf I have ever seen.' The thought popped into Scribble's head almost against his will. "Wh-who are–

     "You may call me a genius, but when addressing me directly, I prefer 'The Doctor'." The grin widened.

"....Doctor?" Scribble gasped, staring mouth-agape at the mysterious pony. Well, maybe mysterious was too strong a word. Strange seemed more appropriate. The dark brown pony was very strange. He wore a crumpled looking fedora atop his curly mane, and a scarf that looked way to long for anypony reasonably minded to wear.

"The one and only." The pony's grin seemed to reach from ear to ear. "And the best, in my honest opinion."

Scribble shook his head to clear his thoughts, the rose on the bed forgotten at the moment. "Uh, no you're not. You can't be the Doctor. The Doctor has a tie, and a different mane, and he talks differently, and.... other stuff." Wow, he didn't know anything about the Doctor.

Nevertheless, "How'd you get into the TARDIS? And who are you really?"
 

     The hat wearing scarf pony tilted his head, frowning while still giving the impression of a grin. "How can I not be who I am? Hold on a tick..." the smile went away. "A tie you say... oh no." He put a hoof over his face, "that'd be either Five or Six... and I'm not sure which would be more useless right now."

     The ... time pony?... directed his attention at the blue stallion. "I most certainly am the Doctor, unequivocally and forevermore. Sometimes I was someone else, and eventually I will be somepony else. But throughout out all of my regenerations I am always the Doctor. Look, I don't expect someone with a limited imagination to understand, but this much should be clear: your friend have stollen my TARDS, that's Time and Relative–

     "Dimension In Space, it's bigger on the inside. Yeah, I've got a key," Scribble jangled the almost forgotten trinket around his neck.

     "Oh, wonderful, we're having another one of those vortex-awful reunions then. Tell me, his coat, does it look like rancid butter or like it was sewn from a crazy-quilt?" the Curly-maned Stallion moaned.
 

Limited imagination. A string of stuttered sounds flew from Scribble's mouth before he could turn them into proper words.

"Excuse me, I happen to be a writer, and I created that rose with a magic pen that I got from an evil deer-" He stopped, letting out a small cry of annoyance. He really didn't want to go over any of that. "Nevermind. Sorry "Doctor", but nopony has stolen your TARDIS. And I don't think we're in any sort of danger." he glanced back at Primeval, "We were a moment ago, but now we're okay. Most of us."

"His coat?" Scribble looked back at the... possible time pony. It was pretty confusing. "He uh... doesn't wear one? Just the green tie. His fur is lighter brown than yours if that means anything."

     A mare with a very light tan coat and butterscotch mane ducked her head into the infirmary. "Doctor, are you aware you have Equestrians snogging in the hallway?" The pony sounded amused but her expression contained a hint of suspicion as she spoke to the bescarfed scofflaw.

     "Hmm? Oh, as long as they don't damage the furniture." The probably time pony replied, not really paying any attention. "You say he doesn't–

     "Also I'm considering programming K-9 to assault anything with only one x-chromosome that enters his vicinity." The pony in the door muttered, her frown becoming a glare.

     "Oh, yes, that..." the stallion paused, "wait, wouldn't that include me?"

     "You are being boorish." The mare entered the room, her hooves hitting the ground with perhaps more force than was necessary.

     "I whot? I am never boorish, I am clever, charming, and occasionally acerbic." He turned to the earth pony, "tell her... oh, you haven't met have you? This is Romana." turning, the stallion claiming to be the Doctor addressed the mare, "and this is..." his eyes widened, and he spoke out of his teeth in the world's worst stage whisper. "huh, you never told me your name..."

Next

TARDIS: Hallway

[multaekappae]

 Previously

The gryphon barely heard the Inspector's remarks as she left, too lost in her thoughts to realize he was following her. When she reached a crossroads of hallways, Ako stopped, sitting back on her haunches in the middle of the connecting halls. With a few nimble twists of a clawed hand, she removed the All-Seer from her swordbelt and let it rest in her palm.

"Such a pain..." she murmured softly, thinking aloud. Her claws trembled around the alien locket, eyes searching its surface for anything to distract her musings. Not finding anything, the swordsgryphon clenched it tight in her grip and raised it above her head in preparation to send it smashing it into the floor panels. Shakily holding her arm into the air Ako tried to find the strength to send it flying, but a few moments afterwards lowered it back down.

"Damned thing..." She cursed, holding it gently beside her. The bird's body slumped, shoulders and wings spreading out to lay against the floor. She put her empty hand over her face, still unaware that Sharpwit was coming up behind her as the swordsbird's body shook slightly. "Why won't you just... just go away..."
 

As the Inspector watched Ako clench his trinket in her claw, he couldn't help but feel an impulse to fly up to her and snatch away the gold medallion. However, he forced that particular impulse back down into whatever crevice of his mind it came from, and approached her with a determined look. "So, now that I have you here, I'd like to know why you want me off the ship so bad," he asked bluntly. "Seeing as I pretty much have to go anyways, I feel like I at least deserve an explanation."
 

Noticing the icy tone to his voice, he sighed and let his expression soften. "Look, I know that may have come off a little harsh, but I'm not exactly fond of the water..." A memory of his grandfather gently prodding him into the water brought a small smile to his face. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he returned a stern gaze back to Ako. "So yes, I'd like to know your reason for calling me out back there."
 

Ako jumped, fumbling with the All-Seer and almost dropping it before clutching it to her breast. Breathlessly she turned around, but the movement was jarring and uncertain, her legs shaking a little as she faced him. Her eyes narrowed for a moment but as she focused on Sharpwit's face they went wide instead.

"I just... I d.. didn't tell you to f.. follow..." She stammered, taking a fearful step backwards away from him. "I... I thought..."

The gryphon blushed, and turned to try to hide it with a wing. With an unsteady hand, Ako extended the All-Seer out towards him, swinging gently on its chain. She had turned her head aways from him, unable to answer for what she'd done.
 

The Inspector suppressed a chuckle at seeing how flustered she was. "Oh, no need to hide the All-Seer," he smiled. "You aren't exactly a master of subtlety when it comes to hiding things. Besides, I could kind of sense it under your wing..." he trailed off a bit, watching his beloved trinket dangle there. Helplessly. Tantalizingly. It was practically calling for him, with it's golden shine and it's promise of infinite knowledge... Shaking his head, he looked back at Ako with a worried glance. "Besides, I'd rather you keep it," he said quickly, as if it were a band-aid he needed to rip off his fur. "I can't trust myself with it just yet..."
 

Realizing he had gone off topic, he returned to his former stern facade. "So, why'd you put me on the spot like that?"
 

Ako shuffled her feet as she sat down on her haunches, pulling her forelegs up to her breast. She put her wing down,but as she started talking softly the gryphon couldn't quite meet his eyes.

"I... I don't know..." She grimaced, fingers playing with the All-Seer's chain. "I... I'm..."

Not finding the words, Ako instead leaned forwards into an awkward bow, her forehead touching the floor panels. She was still shaking, swords clattering a bit against the metal her body was resting on.

"I'm sorry if I dishonored you..." She said quietly, barely audible. It sounded almost like she was admitting defeat rather than apologizing. Ako was still fighting herself inside, trying to figure out what she wanted. Who cares if he messes with his mind? It's not like it has anything to do with me. That doesn't worry me in the least... does it?

The Inspector sighed in a way much too dramatic to be taken seriously. "Well, I suppose they'd be lost without me," he said with a wry smirk. He leaned against the wall in a relaxed manner. "Oh come now, Warbird, now's not the time for you to get all stiff with me. Relax a bit, I want to discuss something with you."

It took almost too long to sit up from the bow, as the gryphon blankly stared at the floor between her forelegs. She was much too quiet, looking almost sad. Inside was a different story, two pieces of her fighting over what should be done.

He's awful to us! One piece argued, mentally gesturing at the pegasus. Why should we care what happens to him?!

But he trusts us! We shouldn't betray that trust! Another piece blurted. Besides, where would he be without us?!

"Eaten in a giant slime monster..." Ako said softly, answering the question aloud unintentionally.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" he asked, his ears pricked in confusion at the griffon's comment.

Ako jumped a little, looking up at him for a moment before quickly looking away again.

"N.. nothing... I was just talking to myself..."

She gulped, letting her wings droop down and body slump.

"I... I'm sorry Sharpwit, I.. I'm messed up right now..."

Gritting her beak for a moment, the gryphon grimaced, shivering and pulling the remaining towels over her around her still slightly wet body.

Noticing how tired and wet she looked, the Inspector sighed and walked over to her. With slight hesitation, he draped his wing over her shoulders. He shivered a little at the cold touch of her fur and feathers, but pressed her firmly to himself. Great... Now my coat's going to get even more soaked, he grumbled to himself. However, he glanced at Ako with concern, both for her well being and slight anticipation of her actions. "Listen, I'm not sure if this is the most tactful thing to say right now, but I think you could use a preen," he said softly.

A small laugh escaped from Ako before she could stop it, still shaking a little even with the embrace. Why do I like this? She thought, mentally cursing herself. Not that it stopped her from sitting contently in his grasp.

"Th.. thanks... I guess I do need some time to myself, n... not that..." She gulped, shivering involuntarily. "Not that there is much time to...."

The gryphon testing putting a little bit of weight on the Inspector, seeing if he'd hold her up. Part of her was wishing he did, but another was screaming at him to let go of her.

He suppressed a smile as he felt her lean on him. "You know, back when I was a foal, my father used to preen me all the time," he smiled softly. "Whenever I'd get upset, he'd just sit right next to me and help me relax... It took me years to find out that it's normally the mother that does that for her children," he chuckled. "Funny, the more I think about it, the more I see how much my father did for my brother and I..."

The bird heaved a sigh, letting Sharpwit support her. She was still quivering a little, but it seemed to fade as he held her.

"I know what you mean..." Ako sighed. "Before I left home last, I had this huge fight with my mother. But all I can remember of her is like that, just being there for me..."

She hung her head, closing her eyes.

"That was the last I saw her... I don't even know if she survived the week, much less the years following."

Ako groaned, her happy look of barely minutes before fading to a sad grimace.

Sharp stayed silent for a while, not knowing what to say. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he nervously turned to Ako, and with an almost foalish look of shyness, pecked her on the forehead. "I almost wish I could say that I left my father," he said softly, pulling her even closer to him. "Instead, I practically had him killed..."

Ako let up on leaning on the Inspector, looking up at his face.

"W.. well, I guess we have a bit more in common than we thought?" she chuckled, pulling the towels more securely around herself. Her swords clattered against the deck from the movement, breaking her out of the peaceful moment. Taking a step back, Ako gulped as her face turned a little red.

"Um... sorry about th.. that..." She shivered, then bolted away, trying to escape down one of the hallways.

Realizing what was happening, Sharp got up suddenly, his eyes wide with worry. "Was that too forward?" he asked in nervous, concerned tone that completely broke character. "I'm sorry, it's just that the timing seemed right, and..." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Sighing deeply, he looked back at Ako with a pleading look. "Please don't go yet," he said softly. "Just stay for a little bit, before I go out there..."
 

Ako took a few more steps before slowing to a stop. She hesitantly looked back, not wanting him to misinterpret her actions but not understanding them herself. Why do I feel this way? She inwardly groaned as she slowly took a few steps back to him.

"N... no... it wasn't too forwards... I just..."

The gryphon gulped, coming to a stop just a few steps away from Sharpwit.

"I don't know h... how I feel about it..."

She tried to stay looking away from him, but glanced into his eyes several times.
 

Deciding that it was still safe, the Inspector approached the griffon cautiously. "I realize that this is all happening rather suddenly," he said slowly, "but would it really hurt to try?" He offered her a small smile, waiting for her response.
 

Ako sat there motionless for the longest time, eyes darting from his face and away. As another series of shivers shook her body, the gryphon closed her eyes and sighed.

"Oh... why the buck not..."

She stepped forwards, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. Her face was bright red when she pulled her neck back, but Ako didn't run away like before.

Sharp, surprised by her sudden action, blushed like a school foal upon realizing what happened. "Well... That happened," he said softly, never taking his eyes off of her. Slowly, he leaned in closer to her...

Ako's heart started beating faster, and her eyes widened slightly. Is.. Is he?
 

Next

TARDIS: Cargo Area

[multaekappae]

Previously

Ako jumped a little as she stepped into the doorway out into the hall of this different TARDIS. She gulped for a moment, thinking she'd lost it in the rush of water. However, a quick check confirmed it was still there, looped around her sword belt. He mustn't have noticed it... I guess it's second nature to hide things under my wings, what with everyone at home being so against swordswomen. The gryphon gulped, hiding the All-Seer from the view of those behind her in the control room. She was far enough into the hallway that all anypony would see was her back, but Ako wanted to be sure no one would see the artifact.Should I give it back to him...?

For a few moments she sat there, before slipping back under a wing. Ako turned and gave Sharpwit a stern look. Taking a deep breath, she brushed the thought of the Seer from her mind.

"No, go with them you coward." The gryphon huffed, trying her best to make it sound like he was backing out of something completely reasonable. "Neither Scribble or Prim are going to be going, and they need someone to watch over them in case anything comes here."

She raised a still mostly wet wing, notably not the wing holding the All-Seer. It drooped pathetically, even fully extended.

"You'll be more useful than me, if I get wet I'm not going to be able to move at all. You at least can think your way out of things, instead of always having to use force like myself."

Ako turned around, not caring about his answer, and started into the ship to find the med bay. As she was walking, she shifted her wing to allow herself a glimpse of the All-Seer there. You are more trouble than you were worth... The bird glared at it. I'll hold onto you for the time being.

    The Inspector looked at the griffon, shocked and offended at her insult, but growled at the reason behind her decision. "You know, it really is quite annoying to constantly have to give in to your demands, Warbird," he said resentfully. However, as he looked into her eyes, he thought he saw something else, something he hadn't quite anticipated. He shifted his gaze down to her wings, particularly to the one pressed closely against her body that seemed to be hiding something. The All-Seer... With an internal sigh of relief, he maintained the facade of having his pride wounded. "Alright, I'll go," he sighed dramatically. "But first, Warbird and I must have a little chat." He indicated to an empty hallway with his hoof. "After you, madame."

     Cain watched everyone moving with purpose... even if Riptide's only purpose was to limber up her swimming limbs. Only he and the xenomorphic changeling were – the diamond dog promptly stood up.

     The Doctor glanced over, one eyebrow raised, "Something up, as it were?"

     Feeling foolish for having bolted upright, Cain began removing his vest... feeling remarkably naked without the utility, even with his hazard suit still on. He had to think of something so he didn't feel like an idiot. "Ah, Cain was wondering if it would not be more efficacious for pony Sharp Wit to wear the environment field generator. I ... could wear one of the diving suits and not lose as much movement?"

     The time pony looked the technician over, chewing on his words long enough for Cain to feel uncomfortable before the stallion broke into a wide grin. "That's downright clever, that is. Very generous as well. Here, hand it over and I'll fix it up right away. You can get the suit out of that box," the Doctor tossed his head at a seemingly identical box–

     'Fourth from end, second row, first depth...' the diamond dog's mind rattled off by rote.

     "...whenever you're ready." the brown pony concluded, taking the offered vest in one hoof and jamming the screwdriver in his mouth. He'd long since mastered using it by hoof, but there was a certain sentimental value to using his mouth occasionally.

     The technician, for his part, was actually grateful to have something to put on... even if it was hundreds of years older, an excursion suit was an excursion suit... mostly.

Next