Page was sitting at his desk, doodling a picture of his wife, Winter, and himself happily. They had been married for a month now, and couldn’t be happier. Still, Page felt Winter wanted something… and he knew he wasn’t able to give that something to her.

He glanced over to where his wife was reading. It was a small book about foals; how to take care of them and that sort of thing. He sighed inwardly, looking at how happy she was, thinking of having a foal.

She looked up at him. “Are you alright, sweetie?”

He smiled at her and walked over, curling up on the bed next to her. He kissed her lightly. “Just wondering what you were reading.”

She smiled and showed him the pictures of babies in the book. “Aren’t they adorable, Page?”

He nodded, thinking to himself. How to tell her? “Do you want anything from downstairs? I’m going to get some tea.”

She smiled at him. “Water is fine.” Nodding, he kissed her once more and walks downstairs.

When he reached the main lobby, he sighed, leaning against the wall. Diane glanced at him from the couch. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head sadly, walking to the kitchen and beginning to make tea. “I’m afraid that Winter wants a foal.”

Pinkie smiled brightly. “Afraid? Why would you be afraid of that? That sounds sweet.”

He sighed again. “That is just the problem, Diane. I’m a time lord. We can’t have foals with normal ponies.”

Diane’s eyes widened. “Oh… I didn’t know… have you told Winter?”

He shook his head, getting a bottle of water from the fridge. “I’m going to tell her when I go up.”

Pinkie thought for a moment. “I… may have a way for you to change.” He looked at her curiously. She continued, sipping her whiskey. “I once met a time lord. He linked his mind with mine, and… I learned of a machine that could change a time lord into a regular pony. It’s a painful process, but it is possible.”

His eyes shone with hope. “Do you have such a device?”

She nodded. “A version of it. There is a room in this inn that breaks reality. It can be filled with anything you can want. I could take you down there, but you should talk to Winter about it first.”

He nodded quickly, picking up the tea and the water. Quickly he trotted upstairs, walking back into their room. She smiled at him as he placed the tea and water on the nightstand. Lightly, he put his hoof on hers. “Winter… we need to have a bit of a talk.” She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I… have been thinking of having a foal with you.” She gasped slightly, smiling, and he could tell he was right in thinking she wanted a child. He looked at her seriously. “However… there is one main problem with this. As I am a time lord, I cannot have children.”

She gasped slightly, her face sorrowful. He smiled now. “Yet, there may be a way. Diane says there is a machine that can change me.”

“C-change,” she asked, confused.

His smile brightened. “I would become a normal pony, yet I should still look and sound the same. What do you say, Winter?”

She smiled at him. “If I still get to keep my Page, then yes.”

He kissed her lightly, then helped her up. Together they walked downstairs to where Diane stood, waiting. “I take it you both agreed?” They nodded and she smiled. “Follow me, then.” Together, the three ponies walked down to the basement and to a small door.

Putting her hoof on the knob, Diane concentrated on what she wanted to see inside. With a small sigh, she opened the door, revealing a room with a large machine in the middle. The machine looked complicated and altogether looked as though it was made to inflict pain.

Diane looked at Page and Winter’s mortified faces, glancing at this seeming torture device. “I know, it looks horrible, but that’s because… I’m not going to lie, Page, this will hurt like hell.”

Page swallowed once, nodding. “Alright…” Winter looked at him, worried.

Pinkie looked at him closely. “Do you still want to do this?”

Page nodded, glancing at his wife. “I will go though any amount of pain for my family.” She smiled and kissed him again.

Pinkie nodded. “Alright, Page, I’ll need you to sit here.” She gestured to where there seemed to be a chair on the machine. He nodded and walked over, sitting in the chair.

As she began to strap him into the machine, he glanced at her. “Diane, is this safe?”

She looked back at him. “Not in the slightest.”

He nodded. “…Oh.”

“Diane,” Winter said. “If he dies, you’re next.”

Page chuckled, and Diane turned to Winter. “Don’t worry, if he dies, he’ll just regenerate.”

There was a small period of silence as he was strapped in the rest of the way. “Alright,” Diane said. “Now, I suggest we leave him alone. This is a very painful process.” Winter nodded and walked out of the room. Pinkie walked to the switch, took one glance at Page, and said in a soft voice, “Good Luck.” With those words, she started the machine.

Quickly she walked out of the room and closed the door tightly, blocking the knob from Winter. “What are you doing?” Winter asked.

Pinkie sighed. “You’ll hear.”

Winter looked confused for a moment, and stood in silence. They heard the machine begin to power up, and a slight whirling as the machine began… that’s when the screams started.

Winters eyes widened with tears as her loved one screamed in sheer agony. His screams sounded as though someone had set his blood on fire, causing his mind and body to boil in the heat. “P-Pagey?!” Pinkie kept her body in front of the door, making sure Winter stayed out of the room where this horror was taking place.

The screams worsened as time went on. At one heart stopping moment, he screamed Winters name in anguish. Winter tried to push Pinkie out of the way, but Diane was strong. Then… silence.

The sudden silence was deafening. It was like snowfall, or fallen tears. Not a sound came from inside the door. Winter looked at Pinkie in fear. Pinkie began to move out of the way, her face grim, until Winter grabbed her and pushed her out of the way, nearly broke down the door and ran inside.

In the chair, Page was limp as a ragdoll, his eyes closed and the tracks of his tears still etched on his face. Winter grabbed his hoof, tears rolling down her face. “P-pagey, wake up… P-please…” She continued to shake his hoof, her voice cracking. “M-my Page Turner… W-wake up…”

And then she kissed him, hoping beyond hope that she would see her husband one last time.

With a gasp, he opened his eyes, now a stunning cold blue. He breathed out golden regeneration energy, the last he would ever see, and sighed, looking at his wife weakly. They stared into each other’s eyes for a period of time, before he weakly smiled. “Win…ter…”

She lightly put her head under his. “It’s alright, Page… I’m here now…”

He smiled and closed his eyes again, knowing his family would forever be by his side… and he no longer had need to fear in himself.

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