Doctor Whooves: Series One

Chapter Four: Body Snatched Part Three

Canterlot Castle

Outside gates

6th of Summer C.R., 2:21 p.m.

“Ok. Ok. Let me get this straight...” The Doctor said in a low yet excited tone, because despite how absurd it sounded, he was actually intrigued. Both he and Fleur made their way to the steps of Canterlot, the mare leading the way as the Doctor trotted behind her. After getting the cliff-note version of how some of Equestria works the Doctor could not help but question every bit of logic that she threw his way. “You have two ponies that can not only rule over all of this…Equestria…not only that but they can raise and lower the sun and the moon at will?” He raised a hoof to stop her from answering right away. “Hang on…not done.” He cleared his throat as he continued. “You also say the pegasi can manipulated the weather at will…causing it to rain or snow or even summon a bloody well tornado? All of this on a whim or request?” He raised an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe that?”

Fleur gave the Doctor a sideways glance. “All of this coming from a pony who’s expecting me to believe that he is not a pony at all.”

“Oy! That’s…well…” He thought for a moment. “Ok, you got me there Miss Fleur. Still I would love to look into it more after this. Oh! I should visit a Library! I’m sure to find so many places to go to in this world! So many new and exciting things and none of it have been explored yet. Not every day I get to see new things! Oh this will be exciting!”

“Doctor! I think we should worry about the situation at hoof.” Fleur said with an aspirating sigh. Oh how his rambling could wear on her nerves, and she’s only spent less than twelve hours in his company. For some reason though, him acting like it was a casual day at the park set her mind at ease. She couldn’t explain it. It just felt…relaxing. Scary but relaxing. It calmed her to know that she was by his side. That he said that he would be there to protect her. How could he have such an effect on her?

She shook her head of the thoughts. Maybe it was just her imagination.

She was brought out of her inner self by the stallion’s voice. “Oh! I do think we are here Miss Fleur!” He smiled as he pointed a hoof toward the royal gates leading to the castle's courtyard. Two guards stood by with spears in hoof, not moving an inch. Turning to the mare he smiled and winked. “Alright! Time to gain an audience with two princesses. Oh this will be too easy.” With a cocky step the Time lord made his way to the two guards. As soon as he got within three feet of them they crossed their spears together blocking his entrance.

“Halt!”

“Who goes there?”

The Doctor looked between the two of them and smiled widely. “Good evening chaps.” He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out his Psychic Paper, showing it off to the two guards. “Inspector Timepony! I’m here at the Princesses’ request.”

“Sorry. All business with the princesses is currently being put on hold for the moment due to personal reasons. Come back tomorrow.”

“What? But…but…the invitation…”

The guards did not say another word as they stood rigidly blocking the gateway. The Doctor looked at them dejectedly before turning to go back to Fleur. “Well…guess you can’t win them all eh? Ok…new plan. With the TARDIS still fixing up the damages done to it I won’t be able to use the tracking system, which, as you could have properly guessed, would have been quite useful in our current situation since it might be able to track him despite him being in a stolen body.  We need to either come up with a plan to lure it out, or wait until night for it to strike its next prey.”

“I don’t like either of those plans Doctor.” Fleur shook her head. “Either one will put a ponies life in danger.”

“Right you are Miss Fleur…right you are…” He began to pace back and forth, tapping a hoof to his chin as he thought to himself. “Planplanplan…thinkthinkthink…Come on Doctor you’re not that old yet, only a thousand years or so. You can still do this Doctor…” He jumped a bit as a loud whirl began to go off in his jacket. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver and smiled broadly. “Ha! Haha! He’s out! The body must have deteriorated.” His joy was short lived as another thought popped into his mind. “Or…”

Fleur inched closer as he left the word hanging. “Or…?

He turned to face her. “Or he’s hunting another victim…” Slipping the device into his mouth he began to gallop back to the depths of the City.

Fleur’s eyes darted back and forth as if contemplating something before she made up her mind to start running after him. She caught up with the stallion just as he turned a corner, the Sonic Screwdriver hanging in his mouth. When she was right beside him she looked at her and then toward the road and then back at her, his eyes wide. He skidded to a halt prompting her to do the same. When she turned to face him the stallion had closed the distance on them, his face right up on hers and his device was in his hoof.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked in an accusing tone.

She looked away and then back at him. “I…ah…”

“Do you know where I’m going?

She looked with wavering determination. “I-I’m following you…”

“Oh?” The Doctor raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Well I’m going to confront a monster. A monster that has killed. A monster that has killed more times then you could even count. A monster that will not hesitate to kill you.” Each time he spoke he poked her on her chest to emphasize the point.  As he did so she scrunched her muzzle in a way that he more than likely would have found adorable if not for what was happening right now. “Is that where you’re going?”

“I…I just…”

“Let me tell you right now Miss. Fleur, it’s not going to be pretty and it’s not going to be safe. Whatever its doing you won’t like it one bit. So I’ll ask again; where are you going?”

She closed her eyes and pondered that very question. She had followed him without really meaning too all this time. In that short time she had known him she had already seen things that were seemingly impossible. Even after encountering what that…that monster could do, she stayed by his side. Why had she? She didn’t know him, but…he had an aura about him. Call it mare’s intuition but she couldn’t help but feel…safe…

That alone made her decision much easier.

“I’m…going with you.”

The Doctor smirked as she patted her on the shoulder. “Good girl. Right then! Geronimo!”

~

Canterlot

Lowtown

6th of Summer C.R., 6:52 p.m.

Canterlot Lowtown

A place deep within the mountain that Canterlot Castle resides in. A place that revels in the dark. Many ponies however make their home here, finding work digging for gems and other odd assortment of jobs. It is here that we find two familiar ponies galloping, making their way their way through lower Canterlot, the soft whirl of the Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver leading the way. Shady looking buildings littered the area cause Fleur to make sure that she did not leave the Doctor’s side one bit. The Doctor had ignored most of her questions except the ones where he wanted to answer. When he finally spoke and when he actually did it was in the form of a question.

A question to which she was not prepared for. Not in the long run…

“Do you think that catchphrase is played out?”

“Huh?” To say that the mare gave him an inquisitive look would be an understatement. “What do you mean? What catchphrase?”

“Geronimo. I think it’s played out. Used it too many times in my last regeneration. I need a new one.”

“Should you really be worried about some catchphrase at a time like this? That monster is still out there!” The mare complained in irritation. She then relented when she processed the last bit of information. “I think you mentioned regeneration before. What do you mean by that?”

The Doctor cut his eyes over to her before looking back forward. “I mentioned before to you that I am a Time Lord. It the name of my race you see. We Time Lords, we have the ability to regenerate after we…well…bite the dust so to speak. When we do so we gain a new body. A new face. A new everything really.”

“Even when you die of old age?”

“Never really thought about it, honestly. Never got a chance to die of old age really.”

“But you have died though?” The mare questioned.

The Doctor was silent.

“I…I’m sorry.” The mare stuttered. “I guess that might be private.” The mare thought for a moment. “So it is like you are born anew though? That is amazing Doctor. It’s like you're immortal, just like the Princesses.”

“Immortal...” The Doctor parroted as he looked away. “Well yes I guess…in a fashion…”

The mare had to ask. “So…How old are you then?”

The Doctor was silent for a moment before he answered her, when he did his voice as distant, distracted even. “Over one thousand one hundred and three I would happen to guess. Though I could be more. I am getting old. Forgetting things.”

“Oh my. That makes you at least older than both of the princesses…You must have met so many wonderful ponies.”

The Doctor’s ears folded back against his head. “Heh…Yeah. I have…”

Fleur tilted her head, finding the stallion tone a little disheartening. His eyes seemed to glaze over somewhat, as if he was deep in thought. “Doctor? Is there something wrong?”

The Doctor shook his head, snapping himself out of his dejected dreamlike state. Turning to face the mare he gave her an enigmatic smile, showing off his pearly white teeth. “No! Nothing at all! Now then, let’s focus Miss Fleur. We have a killer alien to catch and what not!”

She however was not convinced in the slightest. He seemed whatever it was that he was thinking about seemed too important the just let go but before she could question him further, a scream could be heard in the distance.

The Doctor’s eyes blanched. “No…NononononoNONONO!” He picked up his speed, galloping full tilt towards an open alleyway following the directing the Sonic Screwdriver pointed him in. Once inside the mare and the Time Lord was greeted to a sight that neither one of them had wanted to see.

A unicorn pony, her fur was bright dark green, and her mane, the color of the sun, stood rigid as black ooze slipped into her body through her mouth, ears, eyes. Anywhere where there was a small opening. Beside her was a crying filly shaking the older ponies leg. A unicorn just like the other one, her mane was a light yellow and her fur was faded lavender.

“Get her away from there!” The Doctor snapped, his voice gaining an edge Fleur had yet to hear from him. It was frightening…dangerous even. Despite her frighten look, it took her less than a few moments for the mare to collect her thoughts and use her magic to pry the filly off of the green mare that seemed to be seething in pain. The filly reached out crying loudly as she floated towards the Doctor and Fleur.

“Momma! Momma!” The filly struggled in the magical hold. “Let me go! Momma’s hurt!”

When Fleur had the filly near them the Doctor quickly went up to her and, after gripping the back of her head, placed his forehead upon her own. “Shhh…quiet…everything will be fine…” His voice was low, sweet even. The complete opposite of how he was just moments before. The filly’s eyelids began to droop as he spoke soothingly to her, and soon she was hanging limp as she fell into a deep sleep, the only thing keeping her upright being Fleur’s magic. Releasing the filly the Doctor turned to face the green pony, which was done with whatever it was doing and was now stretching and popping its new body’s bones.

“Ah…that feels much better.” The green pony spoke with an evil smirk. “Getting a new body is always a pleasant experience. You know what I’m saying, right Doctor?” the possessed mare smirked as the Doctor glared. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

The Doctor’s eyes grew cold as he stared at the possessed mare. “Blorven Skimore I presume. The most notorious outlaw that sailed across the galaxies.” The Doctor gave him cold smile. “You know I’ve been looking for you for some time.” He took a step towards the monster, putting himself in front of the mare and the filly. “Even among your own kind you are considered ruthless.”

“Well that is true Doctor.” Skimore gave him a dark glare of his own. “It’s especially true since you nearly wiped out my entire race oh so long ago!”

The Doctor shook his head sadly. “That was so long ago…I had tried to stop it but it was too late. If your ancestors had not been so…”

“Save your excuses Doctor!” Skimore began to back pedal away from the Doctor. “Heh…No matter what you say Doctor it was your fault. All that matters to me now is your death Doctor!”

The Doctor stomped his hoof upon the ground. “Then come after me! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT put others in the way between the hate you have for me!”

“You know as well as I do, it’s never really that simple. And It will never be quite that simple…Doctor! Besides, I do so love that look of pain that crosses onto your face each time you're too late to save the day.” The monster turned to a sewer cover and wrapped it with the mares magic.  As it did the Doctor shined his Sonic Screwdriver towards it as it lifted the top of the covering before dropping in, escaping underground.

The Doctor tried to go after him, but the cover was once again covering the hole. “No! NononononoNONONO!”  The Doctor stomped onto the ground. Another pony died! Not just any pony a mother. And now the child was left alone in the world. The Doctor could see Fleur’s magic gripping the sewer hole cover lifting it up as Skimore had done.  He shook his head however. “I’m sure it knows where it’s going. Properly even planned for this.”

The mare looked down at the child she held now held in her hooves. “It…it killed her mother…”

“Yes…yes it did…” The Doctor lowered his head. Breathing hard the stallion closed his eyes and trotted towards the mare.

“What do we do Doctor? How can we stop it?”

“What do we do? Heh…so glad you asked Fleur.” The Doctor opened his eyes once more, a steely cold edge forming into them. “I have a plan of my own.”