Hello again. Time for some more Darkness of Love... I have to warn you. This is the chapter where the infamous ‘self harm’ part happens. I felt it was a good idea to warn you ahead of time. It’s hard to make jokes when stuff like this happens. Honestly, even the thought of riffing this made me very uncomfortable. I think I did the best I could considering the circumstances. Also, this story made me a lot angrier than I thought it would. Anyway, on with the fic!

If you have a fanfic recommendation, comments, or criticisms please leave a comment or PM me at my fimfiction account or my blog on Tumblr. Please NO clop or fanfiction with extreme violence. I am not going to do those. I want to do a more family friendly series and it is going to be relatively clean. Besides everyone else does them. Okay, I might do one for a special occasion. But otherwise no clop or extreme gore fics. Ok, enough rambling. On with the fic!

Special thanks to Grimm Reaper for letting me do his story. You are awesome!

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Doctor and Ditzy’s Science Theater

by Rixizu

Episode 7 - Part 1

        “I’m sorry guys, but I’m just far too busy to join the Crusaders.” The gray violet unicorn filly with a golden mane still without her cutie mark said to a disappointed Cutie Mark Crusaders.

                   “Awww.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders moaned in unison.

                   “Busy? With what?” Asked a rather perplexed Applebloom.

                   “Yeah Dinky. It’s like whenever we ask you to do anything with us you're always just too busy.” Said Scootaloo with slight suspicion in her voice.

                   “Um. Well…I…” Dinky froze. It would bad it the Crusaders got curious about her after school activities. She would have to think of the perfect lie to make them throw away any suspicions they might have. The Crusaders looked at her expectantly. “It’s..um..my parents. They are always so busy with work, so they need me to do chores around the house.”

                   “Every night?” Ask Sweetie Belle. “You don’t any time for fun at all?”

                   “Yes! And I’m running late right now!” Dinky said quickly before running off in the direction opposite of the Crusaders. “Bye!”

                   The Crusaders looked at each other baffled. Applebloom then notice something particular about the direction Dinky ran off to.

                   “Where she going? Nothin’ that way cept Sweet Apple Acres.”

                   “Something is weird about her.” Said Scootaloo in an accusatory tone.

                   Sweetie paused to think only to come to a conclusion that made the situation even more confusing. “Doesn’t she have a sister? I remember seeing her around with Dinky sometimes.”

                   “That’s right! And she came to the Parent-Teacher Conference last week!” Remembered Scootaloo. She thought it was strange at the time that Dinky’s sister went instead of her parents.

                   “How could she be so busy at home with chores that she and her sister don’t have any time fer fun?” Asked Applebloom. Even with how busy she and her siblings got at farm, they always had some time to play and have fun with their friends.

                   “That settles it! She’s hiding something!” Proclaimed Scootaloo while stomping a hoof.

                   “Yeah! They something darn suspicious about that pony.” Applebloom replied. “Think about. How much do we really know about her?”

                   “You’re right! She always clams up whenever she’s asked something about herself.” Scootaloo gave a conspiratorial look. “Like she’s got something to hide!”

                   “I don’t know guys. Maybe she’s just really shy.” Piped in Sweetie Belle wanting to be the voice of reason before things goes out of control.

                   “What if she’s a spy? Doing spy stuff after school!” Proclaimed Scootaloo confident that she’s solved this mystery.

                   “I think you’re right Scootaloo!” Applebloom said in stark realization. It all fit. The secretly, the mysterious sister, the lack of parents and home.

                   “I don’t know…” Said Sweetie Belle reluctantly. But the situation did seem mighty suspicious.

        “What if she’s an alien sent to help take over Equestria!?” Scootaloo said in alarm.

        “Or a changeling!” Pipped in Applebloom. Queen Chrysalis was still at large and no doubt wanted revenge on their sisters and friends.

                   “Then it’s our jobs as the Crusaders to get to the bottom of this!” Proclaimed Scootaloo. The other Crusaders agreed. Sweetie Belle thought they were making something out of nothing, but went along in part to clear Dinky’s name. Plus the Crusader knew this would be the perfect opportunity to finally get their Cutie Marks.

                   “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS INVESTIGATORS! YAY!”

                   “Phew. That was a close one.” Dinky thought to herself as she left the Crusaders.  She couldn’t afford anypony catching on to her. Not when she was this close. She trotted up to a fence and pushed herself though it. She looked both ways. She had to be very careful not to be seen by any bystanders. She walked up to a hill that was made of rocks of various sizes and trotted up to one of its sides. She put her hoof in between two large rocks searching for a certain rock. Even though it was almost out of her reach, she found what she was look for and push it in. Dinky heard a slight rumbling sound. A small door opened in the ground next to her just small enough for a filly and she sneaked in.

                   Dinky walked down several plain grey corridors before coming to a door marked ‘Control Center’. She entered and was greeted by a computerized voice. “Greetings Mistress Dinky.”

                   “Hey Xander.” Dinky said walking up a chair perfect for the size of a filly like her and sat in it. The room was full of monitors with each one showing a different room of the facility.  In front of Dinky’s chair was a large computer full of buttons and dials. “Status report.”

                   “No changes have been recorded since you have left.” Xander replied.

                   Dinky looked around at the many monitors that covered the main computer looking for her future parents. She found them on the monitor that displayed their room. They were playing cards again. The Doctor was trying to beat Ditzy at poker again… and failing. The Doctor was trying to keep a straight face but agitation was noticeable on his face. Dinky smiled at their antics.

                   “Have they been good?” Dinky asked while continuing to watch the monitor.

                   “They have not left their room all day Mistress Dinky.” Xander said.

                   Dinky was glad her parents were behaving themselves. Her father could be quite the troublemaker. Dinky remember that her mom scolded the Doctor severally for thing or another all the time. Like the time he accidentally almost burned down the house with one of his experiments.

                   Dinky frowned and felt a tinge of heartache. She missed her parents dearly. How long has it been since she felt her mother’s embrace? Her mom loved to give her hugs every day despite the embarrassment it often caused. Dinky sighed. She would give anything to be hugged again by her mother.  He father may have been stern, but he had eyes of so much love and kindness. If you looked into those deep blue eyes of his, you could tell just how much he cared for her.  It hurt so much to be so near to her parents yet so far away. They were her parents, yet they were not. Dinky felt like crying sometimes.

                   Dinky steeled her resolve. They might not be the parents she remembered, but they will be. All they needed was the right push. The biggest obstacle was her mother’s affection for Twilight’s assistant Spike.  Where they feeling came from, Dinky had no clue. Dinky was certain if she got rid of these feelings, everything would go on the path it should be on. This fic would be the perfect tool to remove any feelings she had for the baby dragon. It turned Spike into everything her mom hated, and would taint her image of Spike. Xander predicted there would be a 98.592 percent chance of success.

                   “Five minutes until next experiment.” Xander reminded Dinky pulling her out of her thoughts.

                   She watched her parents leave their room for the main meeting room. “Showtime.” Dinky thought to herself.  She moved herself to a microphone that was sticking out of a part of the console and waited for her parents to get to the main meeting room before speaking.

                   “Hello my little test subjects.” Dinky said in the microphone. “How are you today?”

                   She watched her father wave his hoof in the air vaguely before speaking. “Fine, considering the circumstances.” He said flatly.

                   “Just fine thank you.” Her mother said happily.

                   “That’s good. Today’s experiment is ‘The Darkness of Love’ by Grimm Reaper chapters four to six.”

                   “At least we’ll get the story done quickly.” Her father grumbled. Her mom nodded also not looking too happy.

                   “Enjoy.” Dinky gave her best evil laugh. This was her favorite part. It was such fun. If you are going to play the part of a villain, you might as well go all the way. She also thought it made her sound really fearsome and terrifying.

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After having accepted a job with Rainbow Dash, Spike realised what he had done.

Ditzy: That he has a job he can’t really do anything in?

Doctor: That Rainbow Dash can boss him around as much as she wants now?

He’d done exactly what he said he wouldn’t do and became friends again with Rainbow Dash.

All: Dear Celestia the horror!

“Shit!” he said to himself as he wandered around the old town.

Ditzy: (Spike) What?! They closed down Saddlebags and Sandwiches? They was my favorite restaurant!

He passed by the Apple family farm and noticed that everything had recently been repaired.

“Looks like the boss has been trying stunts again.” he mused.

Doctor: (Spike) I thought she would have given up on that Wonderbolt fantasy years ago!

Looking beyond the housing, he noticed the enlarged yard, where more apple trees grew, some smaller than the others. They’ve expanded. He thought, walking on before Applejack, Big Mac or worst of all, Applebloom showed up. Thinking he’d heard the familiar sounds of the Crusaders,

Doctor: Something about Cutie Mark Crusaders Astronauts.

Spike hurried his pace, finding himself going toward Fluttershy’s home.

Doctor: (Spike) Maybe I can make her cry. That should be fun!

“Damn it!” he muttered as he realised this too late.

Doctor: If you want to avoid seeing your old friends, it might be a good idea to not go where they live.

Fluttershy had just stepped out of her front door. She took one look at the dragon, yipped in fear and shot back inside with the slamming of the door. Spike sighed.

“She hasn’t changed.”

Ditzy: (Spike) Why can’t she be more like me!?

he was about to proceed away from the area before the familiar voice called out from behind the door.

Ditzy: (Spike) Iron Will? What are you doing here?

“Spike? I-is that you?” Fluttershy’s voice was so timid, it was unmistakably her that had spoken. Spike felt trapped. He couldn’t just push Fluttershy away given her gentle nature,

Doctor: Really? That hasn’t really been a problem before.

Ditzy: Really Spike? You actually considered using your charm on her too?

Doctor: At least he has...some standards?

but he didn’t want her to become attached to him again. So he did the only thing he could think of.

Doctor: He punched her in face and laughed at her!

He walked on, pretending not to have heard her.

To Spike’s surprise, Pinkie was nowhere in sight. He half expected her to bounce out of his bowl of gems that morning, or appear out of the shower head, being as weird as she was.

Doctor: It didn’t happened because you expected it.

Perhaps she mellowed?

Doctor; (Spike) Maybe she’s taking medication now?

he thought as he stopped in front of Sugarcube Corner once more. He could feel his stomach rumbling as he’d interrupted his own breakfast that Twilight had made. As he thought back, he realised that he’d made a mistake.

Doctor: Again? Are you sure you don’t want to see your old friends again?

But it was no use looking back. He had to keep looking forward; focus on the here and now, and right now, he was hungry. He stepped through the doorway into the shop.

Ditzy: You could just go to the cafe next door…

Doctor: Spike isn’t exactly good at using his head.

To his surprise, Pinkie was nowhere to be seen. He first saw Pound and Pumpkin Cake, chasing each other through the room. Mrs Cake quickly put a stop to their play as she entered the room.

Ditzy: Any sign of joy or happiness might set Spike off.

“Oh… Spike? Is that you? My, you’ve grown. We thought you’d left Ponyville. Pinkie was pretty upset about it. She thought she’d done something to upset you. Her exact words were indecipherable, but we could tell she blamed herself.” Spike huffed with amusement.

Ditzy: (Spike) Pinkie’s pain amuses me!

“I got back last night. It’s only a temporary stay.

Doctor: So you keep saying.

Thought I’d come and visit for old time’s sake.” he lied. Although he had wandered around the town for nostalgic reasons.

Ditzy: So...you weren’t lying then?

“What can I get for you today, love?” Mrs Cake asked. Spike took out a small handful of bits he’d taken from the pile of treasure his group had formed in a pit beneath the wooden chair he sat upon.

Ditzy: They did have treasure?

Doctor: Not much it seems.

“I think I’ll try… one of Pinkie’s cupcakes. The flavours have always agreed with me.” he replied.

Doctor: To each your own, I can’t stand them myself.

Ditzy: Really?

Doctor: Yes. If I wanted to eat something that sweet, I might as well just dump a bag of sugar in my mouth.

Mrs Cake smiled and grabbed a cupcake from the tray. She placed it on top of a napkin and handed it to the young dragon who in turn gave her the bits it cost.

Ditzy: (Mrs Cake) Hey! These are counterfeit!

With a single motion, he tossed the cupcake in his mouth, closed it, mashed it up with his tongue and swallowed the lot. A smile made its way onto his lips.

Doctor: It’s a sign of the end times!

Ditzy: Tartarus is freezing over!

“They’re just as good as I remember. Where is Pinkie, anyway?” Mrs Cake smiled and pointed to Twilight’s Library.

“She said she was going to talk to Twilight about something important. She said something about her ‘Pinkie Senses’ tingling.” Spike looked out to the Library and frowned.

Doctor: A piano could fall on him at any minute.

Ditzy: That was only one time! One time!

“Perhaps I should check it out. Much as it would pain me.”

Ditzy: (Spike) Who are I kidding? I’m enjoying every minute of their suffering!

“Why dearie?” Spike hesitated. He knew that the Cakes could keep a secret, but was it worth telling her?

“Okay, I’m gonna level with you. I made a big mistake leaving in the first place, but I can’t just go back and pretend like nothing’s happened.

Doctor: As we all know, Twilight and her friends have never been that forgiving.

I left to sort some things out in my head, but it was too late to come back.

Doctor: (Spike) Through some wacky misadventures I gained a crew a misfit dragons.

I’d made some friends and the whole thing got complicated.”

Ditzy: (Spike) My dragon allies felt a strong sense of loyalty towards me despite my tendency to kill one them whenever I got annoyed.

“What did you have to sort through?” Spike looked away. He’d decided to tell her a partial truth behind his leaving, but what the truth was still eluded her.

Ditzy: (Spike) All I can tell you is that it involved a gorilla suit.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all in the past. I have plans for the future, and they’re not a part of it, much as I might wish they were.” Mrs Cake didn’t press any further than that. She could see in his eyes that she wouldn’t get anything more from him. Whatever his secret was, he was determined to keep it. She believed for a moment that he’d break a Pinkie Promise to keep that very secret, and take it to his grave.

Ditzy: ...That’s not a good idea Spike.

Doctor: Like he has had one this entire story.

“Why don’t you go and see what’s up, dear? You may discover something that will help you decide once and for all what you should do.” She left the room, taking her foals with her. Spike remained where he was, staring out at the tree that was once his home, his sanctuary and refuge.

All: Sanctuary!

“The least I can do is to make sure that my problems don’t get them hurt.” he whispered and he made for the door.

Ditzy: Wait...You don’t want to hurt them!?

Doctor: I guess emotionally traumatizing them isn’t that big of a deal.

“Gosh, Twi. That doesn’t sound at all like the Spike we all used to know an’ love. You sure the dark magic ain’t fried his brain or somethin’?” Applejack removed her hat to rub the top of her head.

Ditzy: That’s my best guess.

Doctor: It makes the most sense.

“I’m sure, AJ. Spike’s just… he’s outgrown us. Prolonged exposure to his kind’s ways have left him… distant toward ponies. He gave Rarity the cold shoulder, and we all know how he used to feel about her. She was right, that isn’t the same Spike we all knew.”

Ditzy: He could just be robot duplicate. It makes a lot more sense.

All six ponies were sitting around in a circle,

Doctor: Pinkie decided they should play Duck, Duck, Goose to cheer everyone up.

having heard the news from Rainbow Dash about his return.

“I dunno, he seemed fine to me.” said Pegasus replied.

All: (Facehoofs)

“And the poll isn’t in your favour, Dash.” Spike opened the door, having overheard the conversation.

Doctor: You need to campaign more. Visiting people across the country usually helps.

“Twilight’s right. I’m done playing pony.

Ditzy: (Spike) I want to be a donkey now!

My stay here is only temporary after all, which I’m sure I’ve repeated to at least three of you more than once.

Doctor: (Groans) And I’m sure we are going to hear it again at least 50 more times.

On weekends, I’ll be searching for a new place to stay. Maybe somewhere up North. No, the Crystal Empire is there. West then, beyond Canterlot or Neighagra Falls.” The six ponies looked at the dragon as he walked in. Spike noticed immediately that Twilight’s eyes were puffy, indicating she’d been crying.

Ditzy: Poor Twilight.

Doctor: No doubt it won’t stop Spike spitting in her face.

“Been chopping onions, have you?” he asked. Twilight rose to her hooves and ran straight into her room, locking the door behind her.

Doctor: Remember folks, he’s looking out for her.

Ditzy: Buck you Spike! You don’t deserve wonder friends like them!

“How can you be so cruel to her?” Applejack demanded.

“Buck you, that’s how.” The purple dragon smiled as the orange farm pony rose to her hooves, ready to charge.

All: Fight! Fight! Fight!

“Why you ungrateful little…” Fluttershy quickly went to Applejack’s side and began to persuade her out of fighting him.

Ditzy: Buck his face in!

“Please, don’t fight, guys. We’re all friends here.” she replied.

“Yes, you all are. However, I’ve severed my link to you five. We’re not friends, Rainbow Dash knows this.” The rainbow Pegasus  avoided eye contact with everypony in the room.

“Yeah…” she replied, sheepishly.

Ah can’t believe you hired this jerk. Ah’m goin’ home.” Applejack stormed out of the Library, dragging Fluttershy along the wooden floor. Spike grinned at the display and called out to the farm pony.

Ditzy: (Spike) I didn’t know you to were a couple now.

“Eat me, don’t forget to write.” he shut the door just as Applejack was about to charge him. The thud could be heard from inside, followed by the pained cursing of one of his oldest and dearest friends, now just one less pony to care about.

Doctor: Looking out for his friends’ well being!

“Now that was very rude, Spike.” Rarity spoke up.

Ditzy: (Rarity) You’re nothing but a brute now!

“Quite the keen eye you have there, for such a drama queen. But I wouldn’t expect less from a filly who plays dress-up with live ponies.” He began a sadistic chuckle as he opened the door for Rarity to run crying out of the Library. That just Left Pinkie and Rainbow Dash.

Ditzy: (Spike) Should I set their hair on fire? That would be hilarious!

“So, who you gonna attack next, Spike?” Dash asked. The dragon gave the matter some thought.

Doctor: (Rainbow) I’m starting to question the way you are treating my friends!

“Well I can’t very well insult my boss, and Pinkie’s pretty much faultless, aside from the creepy ability she possesses of popping up wherever and whenever she wants…” As Spike searched for a fault Pinkie possessed that he could assault her with, she’d already begun crying and left the Library through the closet door.

Ditzy: Is it possible for Spike to sink any lower?

Doctor: Aside from killing them? I don’t think so.

“I didn’t even think of anything that would cause her to cry.” he said, holding out his arms in disbelief. Rainbow Dash rose to her hooves and walked right up to Spike, showing no aggression, despite her history and personality.

Ditzy: Even the story is pointing out how OOC this is!

“I don’t know what’s causing you to forcibly lose your friends, Spike, but I suggest you get over it. You may just end up an addition to the Princesses’ garden right next to Discord.” Spike grinned as she walked past him to the door.

Doctor: (Spike) Do you think I could get my own personal spot in the garden?

“Are you sure the elements will work with hatred in their hearts?” Rainbow Dash paused and looked back to him. The truth behind his words surprised her.

Ditzy: Um, didn’t they have hatred in their hearts when they fought Discord? Especially considering what he did to them.

“More to the point, are you sure Twilight would allow that to happen?” Rainbow Dash closed the door and faced him once again.

Doctor: (Rainbow) Given the way you have been acting lately, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did!

“Why wouldn’t she?” she demanded.

“Think, Dash. Use that brain of yours. It needs exercise just as much as the rest of you does.

Ditzy: (Rainbow) Uh, Spike. I’m a straight ‘A’ student. At fight camp I was valedictorian.

Twilight and I have a history that transcends all the years you girls have known her. Our bond is stronger than the Princesses’ bond with each other. She made me.

Doctor: (Spike) And that is why I’m perfectly fine with abusing Twilight to push her away.

And while Twilight’s will is unbreakable when it comes to protecting Equestria from danger, if I’m no threat to it or its inhabitants, then Twilight will not be able to go through with sealing me away like Discord. She can’t do that to Family; she doesn’t have that kind of resolve.

Ditzy: She will if you keep pushing her.

The worst she can do is send me away, which isn’t that big a deal for me.” Rainbow Dash was speechless. She thought it through and she knew he was right. Either way, he won. The Elements of Harmony were useless against an opponent who isn’t a threat to Equestria.

Ditzy: You are overlooking one thing Spike, Fluttershy. When she finally gets fed up with you, you will be in a corner crying!

“But don’t worry. I’ll be out of your manes soon enough.” He then proceeded to grab Rainbow Dash by the head and kiss her forehead. She drew back into the door, shocked by his action. Spike just laughed at her and turned to go and do his own thing.

Ditzy: (Spike) She totally wants me now. Mares love badboys!

Twilight heard the whole thing. She herself played Spike’s reasoning out in her head, and judged him correct in every aspect. She couldn’t banish him to a stone prison like Discord.

Ditzy: Really? I would do it in a heartbeat!

Doctor: (Nods)

Their bond was deeper than that. Or at least, it was on one side of the bond. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes were red and her mane was out of place yet again.

Doctor: She came up with a wonderful plan. If Spike isn’t willing to stay, then she will just have to change that.

She looked how Spike seemed to act: insane. She began to go over her journal entries, mainly the ones involving Spike. She used to write about him a lot when they first met. He was the latest thing when she was a filly.

Ditzy: Ponies spent hour and hour in line just to get one.

As she read through every journal entry she’d made regarding Spike, she found herself reading under the moonlight. She looked up at the night sky, wondering where the day went. It felt like only a few hours ago since shed entered the room.

Doctor: Much like any study night.

“A night as black as his heart and a moon as empty as mine. I wonder if our bond allows him to feel what I feel? I guess not. I can’t feel what he’s feeling. I feel so… alone.”

Doctor: That is some terrible poetry.

Twilight zoned out. Her body moved on its own to the bedside table. It took hold of the mug from last night and threw it on the floor.

Ditzy: (Twilight) Take that Spike’s favorite mug!

The smashing sound was loud and it caught the ear of the thing that pained her the most.

Ditzy: Since a piece of mug hit him there.

“Twilight?” he called out. She didn’t respond. No, it was more like she couldn’t respond. She wanted to, but her body didn’t do what she wanted it to. She watched as she took hold of a broken bit of the mug and began to press it against the area just above the back of her hoof. She could feel the pain, but her body kept forcing the ceramic shard to go in further, further, further. Blood trickled out of her like a pinprick in a plastic bag full of water.

Ditzy: ...Oh no…

Doctor: Please tell me she’s not...

She couldn’t stand the pain, but her body refused to give her control. She heard the casual steps of her dragon and saw the bright light from the fully lit Library as he opened the door.

“HOLY HELL! WHAT IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA ARE YOU DOING?!” he shouted at her, running to her side. He forced her down. Her body squirmed under him as he gently pulled the ceramic shard out of her hoof with his teeth. He activated his dark magic and growled at the roll of bandages that were in the emergency medical box in the drawer beside his bed. The roll came over, covered in a dark aura that flashed purple lightning and bubbled green. He forced it to wrap around her hoof and sealed it with a pin.

“What are you trying to do? Have you gone mad? What the hell was that?”

Doctor: See Spike, this is what happens when you treat other like toys. You can’t just treat others like trash and expect no consequences, especially when they love and care about you. Even being mildly rude to someone can ruin their day. People are more fragile than you realize. Sometimes it only takes a small push, a bad day to break someone. I hope you're happy Spike. This is all your fault!

Ditzy: (Sniffs) Poor Twilight.

Spike released her from his grip, but she just sat up and crawled into his arms, shaking like a scared little filly. Despite his wariness of the position he had been placed in, he held her. His mind raced with possibilities as to why she’d done this.

Ditzy: Whose fault do you think it is you bucking piece of scum!?

“Twilight… are you suicidal?” she didn’t reply, but just let out a whimper. She squeezed him tightly and buried her face into his chest. The poor mare was shivering, just as confused by her actions and her inability to stop herself as he was.

“Don’t tell me I caused this? This is the last thing I want.”

All: Really?!

Doctor: So driving your friends to the pit of despair wasn’t your intention?

He looked down at Twilight, remembering all the times she had smiled at him, all the times shed played the role of big sister. Now it was his turn to play the role of big brother.

Doctor: (Coldly) I think you have done enough Spike.

Ditzy: You are the worse big brother ever!

Damn, I’m stuck here now. I can’t leave when she’s like this.

Doctor: It’s about time you show some conscience!

Ditzy: You’re still thinking about leaving!? After all of this!? Next Chapter: Episode 7 - Part 2 - Darkness of Love - Chapter 5 Estimated time remaining: 26 Hours, 16 Minutes