The downpour broke heavily over the little town. Everyone had retreated to their homes, eventually taking their businesses inside if they had any. Not like they had to resign too much of their schedule, though. It wouldn't have been a couple of hours until closing time either way. If anything, it was just an early leave. Everypony was announced regarding the scheduled storm, not like they would wait till late to make their groceries if they could help it.

There was, however, the issue of some of the older trees around town. They presented the risk of having some rather large sections of their crowns broken off, endangering the town and its locals. To that end, a few ponies had volunteered to clean them up. Now, the locals could only wait and see how well they worked.

Dinky arrived home some time ago, long before any of the hustle and bustle broke out. As usual, she just helped herself with a snack. A couple apples and a hay sandwich. Not like she wouldn't be able to find her way around the kitchen on her own. What with both mares of the house usually away at work when she arrived home from school.

Then again, they did still keep the knives on the top shelves. Knives specifically designed to be better used with the mouth.

Eventually her aunt came home as well. Only, after the rain had set in. She decided to take a bath, leaving the filly to her own devices a while longer.

Dinky was at the window in her room. An apple and some homework at her side, waiting intently for the first flash of lightning. She heard her classmates talk about it throughout the entirety of the last course: finally, a storm was forecasted! An amazing, very fun, very new experience for her to bewilder upon. They didn't get storms all too often, since the weather department only ever needed to resort to this system very rarely, as a last means of keeping the weather under balance. They didn't need to use it for quite a while.

The last time they did resort to using this system was well before she could remember. She could barely recall a thing from that night. Ever since, all she got to go around were but a few summer showers. But now, well, now this was definitely not a summer shower. Now, it was the real deal. Sure, it was a little scary, but through the eyes of the young and ignorantly innocent, wonder tilts the balance way off.

It was like a circus performance, with flashes of light in the sky accompanied by brilliant, deafening drums. The otherwise cream-white clouds, now grave and washed-out, were blanketing the sky like a tent. The only light she received was from the occasional flashes of lightning and the thinned-out rays cast by the now setting reflector-like sun. It was an early evening dark, if only a damper and dejected version in comparison to what would've been now a late daytime. No progressive conversion from azure blue to starry obsidian. No fiery red from any pollution. No twilight hours. Just either azure daylight or cold night.

Despite the dim atmosphere, the excitement in the young foal's heart was beaming. That is to say, until the spectacle started full-throttle.

With the increasing volume of the approaching thunder, she started worrying about whoever might be caught out in such harsh weather. She decided to go join her aunt.

"Auntie! The storm is getting pretty strong! Do you think mom and the Doctor are going to be alright?"

"In here, sweetie." Dotes' voice shot out in response from the bathroom. "I'm sure they've found shelter by now.”

Doseydotes was in the tub, working foam in her mane, trying not to get any in her eyes. Still, she opened one of them to meet the filly coming in. She looked worried.

“They should be back once the weather calms down. Don’t worry too much, okay?"

"Okay... I guess you're right. But it does look kinda scary..."

"Yeah, they do always tend to be that way. I guess you were too little the last time we had one, huh?" She nodded to confirm. She was just an infant back then, after all. Dotes was wondering if she wasn't still too young even now. The fact that there were those two bright bulbs missing somewhere didn't bode well with them either.

Even the Doctor, who would always tell tales of dangerous excursions and how he'd defeat malefic creatures... Who was he kidding? Besides Dinky, that is...

Wanting to uplift the atmosphere, the mare blurted out a little wild idea, "Tell ya what. When the Doctor comes back, we can ask him why he went missing all day. I bet it was because he had to go off and save the town from whoever started the storm."

"I thought the weather department started it."

"Yeah, that's what they said. But do you know why they started it?"

The filly sat on her haunches, a hoof to her mouth in thought. "Huh. Good point."

The older mare only smiled sweetly at her gullible niece. She started again, no small amount of criticism in her tone, "He's probably tracking the bad guys down right now. I'd expect no less, after all the bragging he keeps doing."

"If that's the case... then I think it would explain a few things. Like, why he left without telling anyone this morning... Maybe he needed to get a head start on the bad guys!"

She's very creative. Very bright for her age.

Besides the fact that she's a little naive foal that would believe anything her adult caretakers would tell her as truth, there's also the fact that this is the first time she witnessed a storm. Maybe she wasn't really all that scared, but things were all a little out of the ordinary for her. A little strange. And technically, Dotes would lie if she were to say that nopony had ever been hurt by lightning from a storm. It was always a little dangerous for the weather ponies. A storm cloud was, understandably, a lot more dangerous than a white cloud... Maybe the mare was more worried than she wanted to let on.

"Who knows what adventures he'll have to tell once he gets back? But until then, I doubt either him or your mother wanted you to worry about them. They're both big ponies, they can take care of themselves, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Alright. Now, would you mind helping your aunt finish up here? Then you can decide what we're having for dinner tonight."

Just the two of them again, it seemed. Dotes didn't really know where the Doctor was, but she was at least somewhat relieved that she didn't spot him with Ditzy when she met her in town square today. Or when she saw Dinky during her lunch break, apparently. Where was he, anyway?... No matter. He could take care of himself.

Things certainly have been a bit more hectic ever since he moved here. Not in an explicitly bad way, mind, but not too far from it. Sure, it wasn't all so bad in the beginning. It was actually pretty fun having a new face around, even if she felt a bit unnerved when she saw him awake for the first time, as opposed to the time when Ditzy brought him in(2)... But after that first encounter, she found out pretty soon that the stallion was harmless. A little off the wall, maybe. But certainly not dangerous. He actually got along wondrously with her niece.

That, and there was also the not-so-minor fact that he finally fixed the creaking floor in the dining room... aside from most of the house. Crack in the wall? He re-sapped it. Creaky door? He oiled it to Fel. Loose closet shelf? He leveled it by micrometer. Wherever there was something to fix, he tracked it down and dispatched it ruthlessly and efficiently. He showed no mercy to either uneven floorboards or failing window sealing. He didn't stop!... Literally. He did not stop. Not even when there was nothing left to fix, he somehow kept finding something else to do.

All jokes aside, he was a very decent pony, if a bit creepy when he'd occasionally drift off into one of his mile-away stares. And she was willing to overlook his avoiding her questions, or almost setting the kitchen on fire, even if it ticked her off a bit. Not wanting to talk about what he used to do for a living before he arrived in Ponyville? Okay, fair enough. Avoid talking about his family and friends? Fine, maybe he had issues. Making up all of that crazy stuff, telling Dinky about murderous beasts and ungodly monsters?... stretching it, but okay. He wasn't hurting anyone. But not even giving his name? That raised a few questions. And what had happened yesterday did not bode well with her either.

And then there was Ditzy's behavior this morning. Gee, it was not like she was her sister or anything. It wasn't like they've been there for each other since, well, ever. It was obvious that Ditzy was holding back on details, but she couldn't bring herself to judge her own sister. What in Celestia's name could it have been that she couldn't tell her?

Dotes couldn't believe that her sister could ever be this irresponsible. It was like she was dating someone behind their parents' backs. She has too much respect for her older sister to consider this possibility anything else but infuriating.

She was upset with herself for thinking about this, and at Ditzy for causing this headache, AND at the Doctor... It was like he mesmerized her or something.

She would worry about these things later, though. Right now, there was a foal that needed cheering up, which would require a few splashes around and soap in the eyes. And the need for a mop later on.

Meanwhile, unknown to anyone in town, trouble was brewing. Shadows that no one could see were shifting in the heavens. Shadows that didn't quite belong.
Nothing life threatening, mind you. Just events that need to take place.

Back at Fluttershy's cottage, we left Ditzy with her mouth hanging.

It seemed she was taken aback by the Doctor's presence here. Aside from her, Fluttershy was just enjoying another cup of tea, spectating as the Doctor was looking around the room.

"Huh... Nice and cozy in here. I really like the fireplace."

No kidding. The hearth in the middle of the room seemed to be spreading more than just warmth throughout the chamber. It felt like it was pulsing a sense of security. Quite veritably the heart of the house.

He soon continued, "...What with all the smaller platforms to help the smaller guys move around... Hey, Ditzy! Fancy finding you here. You have any idea how I got here?"

"...Seriously? You're asking me?" the mailmare managed out through her inability to comprehend what was happening.

"Well, I remember falling asleep in the park, not here. Then again, it would seem that the weather outside wasn't all that good to sleep through. Thanks for the roof over my head, Fluttershy. I suppose you dragged me inside?"

"...Actually, you can thank Mister Bear for that." the canary pegasus gestured towards behind him.

He turned around to face the massive beast, only to find a thick wall of fur. "Huh..." He lifted his gaze and regarded the bear in the eye nonplussed. He lifted a hoof, gesturing a short greeting. Managing his surprise well, through a few nervous chortles.

His attention was then caught by the tentative looks from all of the animals beside said bear. They wanted to talk to him, which reminded him:
"...Your rabbit friend had something he wished to tell me?"

They nodded understandingly as well as slightly annoyingly, sort of a "tell me about it" look on their faces before they looked behind me curiously, then warningly at him.

Before he could react, he felt a sharp pain take hold of his ear, then a pulling at it that dragged him relentlessly along Ditzy's figure, back up the stairs.

"Ow! Ow, what did I do?"

Her answer which, by the way was surprisingly coherent through her mouthful of Horsey Time Lord ear, wasn't directed at him, but at the hostess which they were leaving behind.

"Please excuse us for a few minutes."

...Did they have a choice?

He managed a decent look at her. She was cross. Crosser than that one night he punched a hole in his bedroom wall in a fit of anger, boredom and anxiety. Not fun being blind to the universe around him. He just wanted to make sure his senses were still accurate.
He could determine the chemical consistency of the wall, so his test of its physical resilience was accurate. But he still couldn't figure out why everything was so colorful.

He didn't take long to figure out what she was so worked up about. A shiver ran down his spine.

"About last night..." he started before being interrupted.

"DON'T... worry about it." the mailmare barely managed to regain hold of her composure.

She wasn't looking at him, only in the direction of his bottom left with her one good eye. She was not comfortable with the situation, but continued nonetheless. "It was just a long day and I should've thought better. I was just worried about you, actually. With the way you left and all, I thought that maybe I've upset you."

The fact that she found him here, of all places, also made her worry that he might've decided to live here from now on instead. But that was silly! Why did she think that? She needed to get her thoughts straight already.

"I went too far last night." she continued. "I... just thought that you could use a hug, after what you showed me and then I..." 'might've gotten a little carried away.'

Yeah... Casaneighva. Dotes got her right all along.

"I'm really sorry if I offended you!" she blurted out, trying really hard to look him straight in the eye.

The Doctor regarded her sheepishly, talking quickly once she was done. "Don't worry about that. I wasn't offended, really, I was just... startled. I might've acted before thinking. Really didn't mean to put you to sleep that way."

"I... wait. You put me to sleep?" she asked surprised.

"...Yeah. Sorry. You didn't know that?"

"I really couldn't remember what happened next. I didn't really give it much thought... Just assumed I fell asleep on my own. You put me to sleep? Why'd you do that for?" She wasn't upset, just confused.

"I said, I was startled. There were a lot of emotions going on, I wasn't expecting you to... feel that way."

"Really?" she deadpanned.

"...Well... maybe I did consider it. I just didn't give it much thought."

"Uh huh... And, ugh... what do you say?" Ditzy let the words out gradually, nervously. She really wanted to know. (3)

What does he say? He looked at her wide-eyed for a few seconds, speechless. What does he say... He looked around the room in a panic, trying to find something. Anything. Fortunately for him, however, he didn't need to suffer for very long.

"You know what? Just... forget it. Sorry to force the issue. I just thought that... never mind."

After they joined back downstairs, Ditzy was trying to entertain a conversation with her friend. Something about how Flutters is taking care of her animals similarly to how she takes care of her own foal.

"Is everything alright?" the caretaker asked her friend concernedly.

"Oh? Well of course, why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, you kind of phased out for a few seconds earlier. And quite frankly, I really do think you look a little worse for wear."

"No really, I'm fine! I’m just a little under the weather. I guess I might just be coming down with something."

"What? Oh no, that's terrible! Let me go heat up some more lavender tea! It would be just dreadful if you caught a cold... Now, in which jug did I store it..."

She wasn't really feeling that bad. But, as long as she was given a break... maybe some more tea would make her feel better.

On the other side of the room, the Doctor was entertaining the animals. Him and Ditzy were facing away from each other.

He really didn't want to end the conversation like that. He was just... not looking to complicate things. He was capable to think about her like that, but at his age and after everything he'd gone through, he'd rather not.(4)

He addressed the animals. "...I kept you waiting, haven't I? I believe there was something you lot wanted me for?"

One of the badgers started shrieking and whatnot in his native language. The language of the forest, which transcends mostly all speech impediments and species differences by means of, you guessed it, the magic of harmony, friendship and all that good stuff.

I'm just going to go ahead and start translating.

"You're a doctor, right? Well, my throat hurts!" goes the badger.

The bear then chimed in, "I have a tummy ache!"

Then one of the birds, "I'm tired!"

One of the mice, "I'm not sure how much help I can be..."

And so on, and so on. The woodland creatures kept trying to talk over each other until they managed nothing more than to create a racket.

"Alright, alright, that's enough!" went the Doctor, somehow actually managing to bring order. Much to the sleep-denying rabbit's apparent surprise, as well as that of the two mares over to the other side of the room. He went on, "You know you're not fooling anyone, right?"

He looked the group of animals over nonplussed. They just shrank away a bit in guilt. He sighed. "Mind filling me in on what you guys are trying to excuse yourselves out of?"

They gave him a look, as if they couldn't believe he didn't know. The rabbit kicked him to gain his attention, then gestured for him to lower his head. One the stallion humored him, he then rose to whisper something in his ear, "There's a predator nearby."

The Time Lord eyed the little rodent, still nonplussed. "And that's supposed to be a secret, why?"

The rabbit lightly pointed to the canary-colored pegasus with his head, which was currently busy speaking to her wally-eyed friend. The Doctor understood and smiled. "You don't want to worry her? That's pretty selfless of you."

"Don't patronize me." went the rabbit, staring at him unimpressed.

The Doctor scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Alright..." He looked over to the hazardous line-up. "So, you were preparing for, what? A preventive strike? A last stand? Do you even know what you're up against?"

They looked around to each other for guidance, only managing to find the same doubt in their peers. Even the previously brash rabbit was now faltering.

"Do you even know how you know there's a predator nearby?"

"How can you not feel it?" the rabbit burst out indignantly. "That killing intent! There's something nearby that's thirsting for blood! A mad beast, a monster that's been stalking the area for a week! We don't know where, but it's way too close! How can none of you ponies not sense it?!"

The Doctor was about to question the little guy when he was interrupted by the sound of thunder.

Ditzy did not seem too lively, so her friend tried to cheer her up. Or, to at least figure out what the matter was.

"Did you two have a fight?"

"...We're not together."

"...Really? I just thought that, well, it just seemed like you two were close..."

"He's my tenant. He only lives with us, that's all." The mailmare noticed she inadvertently let through a hint of bitterness in her tone.

"Oh..." was the caretaker's singular acknowledgement, giving way for her friend to go on. If she wanted, of course.

"I know, it sounds like a stupid idea. I only accepted because he didn't have anywhere else to stay. His arrival here was unexpected and he needed a place to get started..."

"I didn't think it was a bad idea, I was just a little surprised. I'm... just glad he had a place to stay after all." The canary coated mare sounded out, seemingly a bit disappointed, which drew her friend's attention.

"...Tell me, how exactly did he wind up in your bedroom?"

"Oh my, I... we didn't do anything, I swear!" she broke out erratically, a wild blush forming.

"Calm down, Flutters. I didn't think that."

"Okay... "

She did seem a little panick-y when the idea occurred though. As if...

'...Fluttershy, old friend. Don't tell me you had a crush on him?'

"We just met at the edge of town. He... kind of fell asleep while we were talking. And, ugh... I might've thought he didn't have anywhere else to stay, so I asked Mr. Bear to carry him here."

"...You too?"

Confusion, then laughter.

It all seemed so ridiculous now. No man was worth all this grief...

That... was a bad choice of thought. 'Quickly! Change of subject!' thought the mailmare.

"So, what have you been up to this past week? Been on any more adventures with your new friends, or was the Nightmare Moon incident just a one-time thing?"

They settled into idle chatter. Fluttershy went on to talk about the new friends she'd made, and what shenanigans they'd roped her into. Nothing big, just a few outings from time to time. Turned out Rarity frequented the spa as well.

Outside, the storm seemed to have settled as well. There had been a lull in lightning for a while, until a thunder decided to break the calm. Without waiting for any lightning first, though it wasn't likely anyone noticed that. It was still distant, no pony or critter gave the menacing crack much attention... except for the Doctor. Then there was another thunder, this time closer. This one seemed to have garnered the fleeting attention of the inhabitants of the cottage. Then finally, a third and final, foreboding rumble, coming from straight above.

“Well, that was a little unnerving… It’s not even raining anymore.” went Ditzy, noticing there wasn't any more water hitting the windows anymore.

Luckily it was too dark outside for them to notice. The rain wasn't hitting the windows, but it didn't stop.

The Doctor quickly whispered to the critters "Keep them busy, I'll handle this..." as he then ran off before they could oppose in any way. "I'm going out for a bit... Which way's the privy?... Never mind, I'll find it."

"...On this weather?" the mailmare objected.

"Nature calls! Don't wait for me..."

Outside, he looked around anxiously, apparently expecting someone. Or something. Most likely the bloodthirsty beast he'd just been told of.

"I got your message. Now show yourself!"

No answer. He took a few more steps forward, making sure he was seeing properly. He wasn’t expecting this…

“Not every day you find yourself in the eye of the storm. Is it a thing around these parts?…”

All around, the rain poured in the night. But not here. A small area around the cottage was spared. Like a stage for what was to come.

“I'm right under your eye, apparently. Well, I like being the star of the show as much as the next guy, but I’d rather be able to see the public I’m to entertain.”

Nothing. Not even thunder.

“Great. Are you just going to be like that now? Kind of disappointing!”

At that, a flash of lightning erupted, only with no thunder to accompany it. Instead of thunder, they arrived. Shadowy figures, surrounding the Doc. Eyes and manes glowing ever-so-faintly, coldly, all facing him either more menacingly or wearily. The air was static, both figuratively and literally. His mane was standing on end, and for a few moments he couldn't move in shock.

Eventually, though, he came to his senses. As a wide, wild grin grew on his face.

"Well, this is more like it."

Author's Notes:

(2) And by a little, she means a lot. She only needed a passing glance at him as Ditzy walked him to his room to feel how completely messed up he was.

(3) This is a femtocracy. Get over it.

She might or might not have reacted a bit emotionally.

Remember when I said this little bit last chapter?
In all seriousness, Ditzy is kind of going through an emotional rollercoaster. She's not needy, she's not defying the unwritten law that all women abide by which states that only guys should ask the girls out. The only reason she stands a chance with the Doctor is if she mans up, ironically.

(4) Remember Jenny? She's just the tip of the iceberg.