“Doctor who?”

“Ha! haven´t heard that one in a long while.”

Twilight levitated a glass and a bottle of booze. She didn´t even asked the Doctor or BonBon if they wanted some, she just gulped it down and gave herself another shot.

“Twilight Sparkle. Or should I say the Great and Powerful Twilight?” the Doctor asked.

“Not funny, Doctor.”

“You two know each other?” BonBon asked.

“I think the right question will be if you know who she is. Ever heard of her, BonBon?”

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. She was Celestia´s student, I think.”

“And have you ever met her before?” the Doctor insisted.

“No, this is our first time meeting. I think...I´m not sure. I have this feeling, like we already had this conversation before or something.”

“That´s due to the overlapping memories. Your brain is trying to reconcile two different sets of memories. It will go away, eventually…” Twilight stop in the mid of her explanation when she noticed the Doctor grinning. “You did something to her.”

“Nothing that could actually change things but at least now she won´t bother me with anymore questions,” the Doctor explained.

“That was selfish of you, Doctor.”

“You´re one to talk…”

“Stop that!” BonBon yelled. “Stop doing that.”

The Doctor and Twilight looked at each other, wondering what they have done wrong.

“Talk like I wasn´t in the room. The way you talk, it´s like you two know something I don´t and I don´t like it.”

“...I´m sorry, BonBon. But to be honest, I do know something but I can´t say it. Twilight here has to say it.”

“If you already know the answer what´s the point asking?” Twilight say, walking back to the store with the glass floating next to her.

“Oh no no no, that´s not how it works. No spoilers, Twilight. I hate those. The second it´s say what happened, it´s the second this will end. And it´s up to you to say it, Twilight Sparkle.”

BonBon had no idea what the Doctor was talking about. He seemed to be threatening Twilight somehow but if he was, the mare wasn´t giving in. She finished her drink and turned around, ignoring the Doctor.

The stallion growled out loud, prancing around the room.

“I don´t get it. If you know what happened, why don´t you jsut say it?” BonBon asked.

“It doesn´t work like that! If I say it, I´ll give it power, I´ll make it happen! It will become a fixed point in time!”

“What´s that?”

“It´s something that happened and it can´t be changed. Like a checkpoint, a point in the time stream that can´t be altered. Right now, that moment is not still settled, it can be changed. But if we acknowledge it then it will happen and it will become fixed. Do you understand?”

“Not at all!” BonBon yelled.

“A blue phoenix? What a curious creature. It doesn´t exist in Equestria and yet, there are several myths about them,” Twilight said, caressing the little blue bird.

“Yes, a lovely creature. Even when it doesn´t like any of my name suggestions. Now Twilight, we need to talk about something. Your wings.”

“What about them?”

“You don´t have them anymore!”

“She had them?” BonBon asked. She never consider the pony in front of them was supposed to be an alicorn.

“Yes, she had them. And they shouldn't be gone. I remember you had them which means that the thing that we will not get into details, happened after you got them.”

“And your point is, Doctor?” Twilight asked.

“Now Trixie has them. And that means something went wrong.”

“Nothing went wrong, Doctor. Trixie figured the spell to fix swapped Cutie Marks. She created a new type of magic, one that can protect other ponies destinies. She earned those wings,” Twilight explained in a somber tone.

“Then how do you explain BonBon?” the Doctor asked, making Twilight look at the earth mare. “You can accept your changed destiny, Twilight. But let me ask you this, is it fair her destiny changed as well?”

*****

The way Octavia talked about this night scene of independent musicians, Lyra supposed it was something hip and lively. Instead they seemed more like beggars who formed a band.

Lyra looked at all the musicians, all scattered on the plaza, looking like they have lost all their creative impulse. They toyed with their instruments, not really playing them.

“Well, this is a bummer,” Vinyl summarized the situation.

“This is wrong, Vinyl.”

“I agree, these poor fellas look like they need a little cheer up. Maybe we should call Pinkie Pie. You know her?”

“Do you?”

“What? Of course I do. She is an old friend. I think…” Vinyl scratched her head. “Weird. I  know we´re friends but I can´t remember when we wet. Why can´t I remember.”

“I don´t know but the same thing is happening to me. I remember stuff but they seem wrong. Ever since the Doctor told me that I wasn´t her assistant, I have this feeling. Like something out of the corner of my eye. Maybe the Doctor is right, maybe this isn´t how things are supposed to be.”

“Then how are they supposed to be? I´m confused Lyra, but this is the only life that I know. I´m a candy maker, that´s what my Cutie Mark tells me. If that isn´t right, then what is?” Vinyl asked.

Lyra however had no answers to give.

“Girls!”

Lyra looked at Octavia waving at them. She was as confused as Vinyl, even more because she had memories of the Doctor showing her the mysteries of the universe. What if nothing of that happened? What if her life of adventure was nothing but a dream? Lyra didn´t want, she didn´t want to lose those memories but at the same thing, she felt like those memories didn´t belong to her. And maybe she needed to give it back to their rightful owner.

“Come on Vinyl, let´s met Derpy Hooves.”

Derpy Hooves. During the trip to Canterlot the Doctor spent hours describing her. She was clumsy and loud. She made mistakes and got confused. She got scared easily and made monsters chase them all the time. She loved muffins and dancing. She laughed at the sillies jokes. She was loyal and struggled to get better. She was always at his side, no matter how big and scary was the monster. She listened to him. She saved him almost as often as she put him in danger. She made him smile everytime.

She was his companion.

Octavia shook hooves but a musician pony and he pointed at a corner of the plaza. Octavia told Lyra and Vinyl to follow her and they turned right on a statue. While they walked, they heard the sound of double bass. A sad, melancholic tune.

Lyra took a deep breath and made the final turn, coming face to face with the musician.

“Derpy Hooves?” Octavia asked.

The mare stop playing her instrument. She was a blond pegasus with a grey coat and a musical note Cutie Mark. She was wearing purple shades that hid her golden eyes. She was everything the Doctor had described.

With just one look Lyra knew it.

This was the mare with the bubbles Cutie Mark.

*****

“So you´re saying that you changed your Cutie Mark?” Twilight asked, lifting BonBon´s tail while taking a good look at her flank.

“No! This is the only mark i remember having, but the Doctor keeps saying this isn´t my mark,” BonBon explained, slapping Twilight´s hoof off and blushing.

“That´s weird. That was not supposed to happen,” Twilight murmured.

“So you admit it!” the Doctor shouted.

“I´m not admitting anything, Doctor.”

The Doctor growled once more, holding his head in frustration.

“I still have no idea what you´re talking about,” BonBon said in a deadpan tone.

“The Doctor is convinced that I did something in the past and that´s why I´m the only pony who remembered him,” Twilight said.

“And you do?” BonBon asked.

Twilight nodded. “That´s why I keep moving from place to place.”

“Why?”

“Because Twilight is the trigger. Her memories of me can cause others to remember me. That´s why she can´t talk to anypony who has been in contact with me or heard of me. Poor thing, no wonder you moved into such a slum. My fame dates as back as the times of Starswirl the Bearded! Unbearable fellow, he was as sour as lemon. Although he had a good singing voice,” the Doctor ranted, circling around.

“You were not supposed to return,” Twilight said.

“Well, it´s a good thing that I did! Who knows what else has changed?”

“Nothing was supposed to change. What should have chang-”

“But it did! Everything changed,” The Doctor interrupted her. “This is what happen when you play with time like a foal does with her toys, Twilight Sparkle! There are consequences! Time is fragile. Time is a house of cards, a play of jenga. If you change one piece, you have to be extremely careful and know exactly where that piece will go. Otherwise, everything crumbles!”

Twilight kept quiet, taking in the angry stallion´s reclaims.

“Twilight, you made this? You changed everything?” BonBon asked.

“No. And that´s what the Doctor got wrong. I´m not the one responsible.”

“Oh please! It has to be you! You´re the only one with a reason to do this! The only one who is willing to take the risk. I mean, look at you. You willing let go off all your friends, just to keep me away!” the Doctor shouted. “Who else will have any reasons to do this?”

“Who else indeed,” Twilight said.

This made the Doctor stop and blink. He fell down on his haunches, like if the answer to his questions was a heavy rock that fell on his head.

“Oh…”

That was all he said. He lowered his head and ignored the two mares in the room.

BonBon was completely lost. She had no idea what was going on but was afraid to make anymore questions. The answers only made things even more confusing. One thing she was sure of was that Jay-Jay chirping and flapping its wings was not a good sign.

But before she could say anything, the store door burst open and Princess Trixie Lulamoon stormed in with a few guards.

BonBon panicked and looked at the Doctor but he was still looking at the floor, ignoring everything else.

“Arrest them,” Trixie coldy ordered.

The guards walked and grab BonBon and the Doctor. She tried to fight but the stallions were too strong for her. The Doctor didn´t offer any resistance, he just let the guards drag him outside. Say guards ignored Twilight who stayed in the middle of the room, watching the whole thing unfold.

Trixie gave Twilight an icey glare and then turned around, leaving the unicorn alone with her memories, the only company she had.

*****

Derpy sat on her double bass case and crossed her hind legs.

“So, that´s the story. Crazy, uh?” Vinyl said.

The past twenty minutes she had been retelling today´s adventure to both Derpy and Octavia, who wasn´t quite up to date. Both grey mares didn't seemed too sure about the veracity of the tale. Vinyl poked Lyra, trying to get her to add more details but since she set eyes on Derpy, Lyra had kept her mouth tight shut.

“So, if this Doctor fella is right, we need to get our right Cutie Marks,” Vinyl said to Derpy.

“And how is he exactly going to do that?” Octavia asked.

“Well, we need to take Derpy with him first. Haven´t you been paying attention?” Vinyl retorted, a little offended since she thought she had explained things properly.

“No, I mean after we bring Derpy yo him. What would he do then?”

“Well, he...umh there this thing called the TARDIS...Lyra, say something!”

Lyra ignored her, still staring at Derpy.

“If you ask me, this story makes absolutely no sense,” Cotavia said.

“Nopony asked you, Octi.”

“Can I ask a question?” Derpy suddenly said. She wasn't talking to Vinyl thought, she was matching Lyra´s stare.

“Only if I can ask you a question too,” Lyra said.

Derpy shrugged and let Lyra made her question.

“Why aren´t your eyes unbalanced?”

“Why would they?”

“He said your eyes never got quite straight. But that´s not true,” Lyra said, looking through the purple shades at those golden eyes.

“I have no idea. Now it´s my turn. This Doctor...how do you feel about him? And be honest.”

Lyra kept quiet, letting the questions sink. Vinyl leaned closer to her, curious to know the answer. Much to her chagrin, Octavia was doing the same. Derpy was the only one completely serious.

“The Doctor...is a hero. He saved me from some crazy mannequins ponies. He held my hoof and told me to run. And we never stop running since then.”

Vinyl and Octavia looked at each other, equally confused but Derpy kept listening.

“He is loud and babbles all the time. He keeps talking about things that I don't understand and gets mad when I ask him to explain. He is always running, even when he doesn´t know where he is supposed to go. He is constantly breaking things or looking goofy when he tries to pick things with his hooves. He is smart, the smartest pony I've ever know. He is never afraid, not of any monster or any pony. He never lets anypony behind, always coming back for even the meanest of creatures. He always listens to me, even when he look like he´s ignoring me. He always asks my opinion on things. He looks at me like I´m the most fascinating thing in the universe. He is the Doctor but I´m not his companion.”

Lyra finished her rant with a sad smile.

However, before anypony could make any comment they heard the whistle of a pegasus guard.

“Oh no,” Vinyl said.

“I suppose this has to do with the part when you break into Palace,” Octavia said.

“We need to get out of here! Let´s run!”

“No,” Derpy said, getting up.

“What?!”

“If we run we´ll get their attention,” Derpy explained, picking up a pair of saddlebags from the floor. “Follow me and act like we´re a band.”

Lyra and Octavia obeyed her commands, taking the double bass case. Vinyl however was panicking, she had nothing to carry and didn't know how to keep a straight face.

“Just act natural,” Derpy said, handing her the pair of shades.

The four mares walked down the plaza in a straight line. It actually looked a little suspicion but crazier stuff had happened in Canterlot. Vinyl hoped none of the guards noticed the four mares walking in perfect formation. They passed next to a pegasus handling a flier to one of the musicians. Vinyl wished to Celestia he wouldn't turn right.

“Hey, you. Wait.”

Not such luck.

“Everypony run!” Vinyl shouted and trot off.

“Honestly, I think she would make a better companion for that Doctor guy that any of you,” Octavia said.

Lyra and Derpy said nothing and followed after VInyl. The guard was now chasing after them and he soon got tired of running, preferring to take flight.

“He is getting closer, “ Octavia mentioned.

“Then keep running!” VInyl shouted.

“I doubt we´ll oturun a Royal guard. They´re the second fastest pegasus after the Wonderbolts.”

“Don't say that!”

“Stop right there!” the guard shouted above their heads.

“We didn´t do anything!” Vinyl shouted but the guard wasn´t listening to reasons.

“Can I say something?” Octavia asked.

“Now? You want to ask a question now?” Vinyl shouted.

“I didn´t want to upset you anymore. that´s why I´m asking.”

“Just say it already!”

“He´s getting backups.”

And they looked behind them to see more pegasus joining the first guard.

“What are we going to do now?” Vinyl asked.

“I have an idea,” Lyra said.

“Are you sure it will work?” Octavia asked.

“I´m not sure.”

“Just do it already!” Vinyl shouted.

Lyra put her hoof on her mouth and whistled. At first nothing happened and Vinyl was about to yell at the other unicorn but then, a roaring sound came with a gust of wind. In front of them, a blue box slowly started to materialize.

“What´s that?” Vinyl asked.

“The TARDIS. Ha, this old trick does work! Quick, get inside!” Lyra ordered.

“A box? You want us to get inside a box?” Vinyl shouted.

“Just do it already!” Octavia shouted back.

Vinyl struggled to get the door open but it didn´t until Derpy pushed it. The four mares got inside, failing to realize they getting inside a large room that physically shouldn't be there. They rested against the door and Lyra made sure to put the lock.

“Are you sure this will keep them away?” octavia asked.

“Don´t  worry. The Doctor says that not even the entire army of Genghis Khan could get through that door. I have no idea who that is but with a name like that, I trust the Doctor, “ Lyra explained.

“Woah…” Vinyl said, finally realizing how big the room was.

Octavia was similarly impressed while Lyra sighed, already used to it. Or so she should eel but she soon felt like her memories of the room were fading away. She looked around, unable to recognize certain elements. A chair that wasn´t there, a monitor that seemed out of place. This was the TARDIS, no doubt about it. But Lyra felt like it wasn't the same TARDIS she knew, if she actually knew the TARDIS in the first place.

“It´s..it´s…” Vinyl struggled with the words.

“Bigger on the inside?” Octavia finished.

Derpy was suspiciously quiet, ignoring the other mares. Lyra was about to ask her if she had any memories of this place when the room turned red and a ominous bell rang.

“Is that normal?” VInyl asked.

“No. This is bad. Really bad,” Lyra answered.

*******

Meanwhile, the Doctor and BonBon where in the worst place possible. A prison cell. Or so BonBon through since she had never been even in detention at school. She was panicking, shaking her chain while the Doctor was still quiet and not moving.

BonBon looked at him, wondering where the dashing stallion that rushed to save the day was. She wondered if the memories he gave them were real. Maybe he was secretly a magician, an unicorn that hid his horn with magic or something. considering how crazy the day has been so far, she wouldn't be so surprised. BonBon sighed, ready to admit defeat.

“Well, enough with this!” the Doctor suddenly shouted.

“What are you doing?” aq defeated BonBon asked.

“Trying to...get..these damn pockets...gah! I still missing having fingers. I never got sued to these hooves and having to use my mouth to pick things..:” the Doctor complained, rolling over his head to get something out. “Aha! My trusty Screwdriver! Why don't they ever search through my pockets?”

BonBon still had no idea what he was doing or saying so she just watched as the Doctor used some wand or something to break the chains and then moved to free her.

“Now, I could just break the lock but I doubt the guards at the other side will be too happy. If I could find just one loose bar I could push it with the Sonic. Now, where is it?” the Doctor said, prancing around the room and looking at every barred window.

“I give up,” BonBon said, falling to her haunches.

“Oh come on, BonBon! Don´t be like that! You know they always let a loose bar for emergencies. No wait, that was a cartoon I watched…”

“No, I give up trying to understand any of this. Nothing makes sense. Like, how did Trixie knew where we were? She said she had no idea who Twilight was.”

“Oh that's easy. She lied.”

“But you said she was telling the truth.”

“I lied.”

“Have you lied about something else?”

“No.”

“Was that a lie?”

The Doctor didn´t answered her.

BonBon sighed, figuring she won't get a straight answer from the crazy stallion. Her mood perk up a little when she heard the familiar chirping of a blue bird.

They looked up and saw the blue phoenix picking at one bar.

“Good job, Jay Jay!” the Doctor said and used his Screwdriver to lose the bar. “Excellent work, my child! I still believe the name doesn't suit you but I´m not one to complain.”

The Doctor climbed through the window, escaping the cell. BonBon remained seated and the frustrated Doctor had to peek to tell her to follow him.

“I´m afraid to ask but, now what?” BonBon asked as their rushed through the jail yard.

“Now, we find an exit from this site. Then, we met with Lyra and the other girls. And then...well, to be honest I haven´t thought that far away but something will come out. It always doeAHHH!”

“What´s wrong, Dcotor?”

“The...TARDIS...it´s...it´s...AH!”

And the Doctor fall unconscious. BonBon rushed to pick him up and soon they found surrender by a dozen armed guards and a very angry alicorn Princess.

“Oh no…”