A Thousand Son in Equestria, part 33 (Lord of Time)

>You smile at the Doctor as he holds his screwdriver in his teeth.
"You know you can just hold that in your hoof, right?"
>He talks around it like a metal cigar.
>"Derpy, you and I both know I never quite figured out how to do that."
>You frown at him.
"My name is Dit-"
>"I'm not supposed to call you that anymore, remember?"
>You scowl at him as he gives a cold smile back.
>It had been like that between you two for a while now, ever since the, er, breakup.
>It had NOT gone well.
>But that was in the past.
"Fine, it's not important right now. What's important is helping Anon. Doctor, what do you know about changelings?"
>He trots out of the TARDIS, passing you as you hover behind him.
>He smiles back at you as he walks.
>"My dear Miss Hooves, I wrote the book on them."
"There's a book?"
>"More of a fairytale and a warning about the dangers of Love Poison, but yes, there's a book."
"O...kay then. What's the plan?"
>He starts trotting into Ponyville proper, and you land next to him to keep up on foot.
>"Well the plan is, we capture a changeling, of course."
"How are we going to even find a changeling?"
>"I have my ways, Miss Hooves, I have my ways. First though, I have a question for you."
>His voice gets cold, the way it does when he's serious about something.
>"Are you sure you actually want to save him? Knowing what you know?"

>You glare at him and fly in front of him, glaring.
"Are we going to have this conversation EVERY TIME I talk to you?"
>He shifts the screwdriver around in his mouth.
>"Well...yes. We both saw the same thing on that jaunt in the TARDIS. You know what he'll cause. You know what he is. He's a monster, Derpy. Where he's from, all humans are. It's why I gave up on them. And he's no different. In fact, he's worse than mos-"
>You shove a hoof in his mouth before he goes on a tangent.
"I don't care, Doctor. I love him anyway."
>"Mmmmfrgghl."
>You take your hoof out of his mouth and catch his screwdriver before he drops it.
>"I said, he's not even a pony."
"Wouldn't be the first time I cared for an alien."
>He sighs.
>"Can we NOT do this?"
"We're going to have to if you keep trying to tell me I should let the man I love die."
>The two of you glare at each other for a moment before the Doctor takes his screwdriver back.
>"Alright, fine. Argue later. Changeling finding, now."
"How are we going to do that, anyway?"
>"That's what the screwdriver's for, my dear! Can sniff out changelings a mile away?"
"So you're just going to..."
>"Poke ponies in the face with it until it makes the right beeping noise, yes."
>You facehoof while he trots off towards Ponyville's market.


>The Doctor wastes no time in sticking his screwdriver in other pony's faces.
>You have to make frequent apologies to bewildered ponies as you pass and the Doctor leaves them behind.
>You watch as he makes his way towards Applejack's apple stand, where her sister is advertising their produce.
>"Bah some apples!"
>The Doctor sticks his screwdriver into Applebloom's face, and it lets out a loud BEEP, much to the shock of everyp0ny present.
>The Doctor is even more surprised.
>"That's not...huh. She shouldn't be...is this thing broken?"
>Applebloom, for her part, looks up at the Doctor in shock.
>"Oh hey Mister, I remember you. Here for more apples?"
>The Doctor ignores her and looks at Applejack, who's still a bit in shock from the beep.
>"Excuse me, Miss, but are you aware your little sister is a class 5 supernatural entity as defined under Article 13 of the Shadow Proclamation?"
>Applejack blinks.
>"Err, whut now?"
>The Doctor sighs.
>"Did you know your sister is a monster?"
>"Eeeyuu-wait a minute, where do you git off callin mah sister a monster!?"
>Applejack puts both hooves down on the table, and you roll your good eye as you trot over.
"Sorry about this, AJ. The Doctor's a little...well, crazy. He's sorry, really."
>Applejack gives you a skeptical look, but the Doctor's already gone, so you sigh and follow him.
>A few more quiet beeps later, the Doctor freezes and motions you over.
>"I found one."
>Immediately, you tiptoe close to him as he points the blinking screwdriver over to a pony currently buying cherries.
>He's pointing at Bon-Bon.


>Bon Bon continues to haggle with the cherry seller over prices while you and the Doctor whisper to each other.
"Are you sure?"
>"Sure I'm sure. Her voice always changes when she talks, and the screwdriver's sure."
"So how are we going to do this?"
>"Don't worry, I have a plan."
"Ooh, ooh, I got it. I'll ask her to help me decide what kind of candy to buy. Say it's something for Dinky, and..."
>The Doctor's already darted off.
>You turn around in time to see him tackle Bon Bon away from the cherry seller, his sonic screwdriver pointed at her muzzle.
>"We mean you no harm! Take us to your leader!"
>You slowly, carefully cover your face with your hoof.
>Bon Bon stares up at the Doctor in confusion.
>"Wait. What?"
>"WE KNOW YOU ARE A CHANGELING. SURRENDER PEACEFULLY AND WE CAN ALL GO HOME!"
>Immediately, a pony in the crowd starts screaming.
>"Changeling!? The Horror, the Horror!"
>Immediately, panic ensues and ponies start stampeding through the market.
>You sigh to yourself and trot out from your hiding place.
>You should have expected this the moment you got the Doctor involved.
>He always started a panic.


>Bon Bon wriggles underneath the Doctor, panicking.
>"Will you stop! You don't know what you're doing!"
>Wow, her voice really DOES change all the time.
>You make your way over, staying quiet as you let the Doctor interrogate her.
>"I'm not stopping until you tell me where the REST of the changelings are, Bon-Bon! If that IS your real name!"
>Bon Bon glares up at the Doctor.
>"I AM Bon Bon. And I don't know what you're talking about!"
>The Doctor glances around at the panicking ponies and clicks his screwdriver with his teeth.
>It buzzes, and "Bon Bon" vanishes in a burst of green flame.
>Leaving behind a terrified changeling.
>"What the-what did you...how did you do that!? Why can't I change back!? WHY CAN'T I CHANGE BACK?"
>The Doctor smiles around the screwdriver.
>"Sonic screwdriver. Works every time. Now spill the beans, imposter Bon!"
>The changeling scowls.
>"I told you, I AM Bon Bon! I've been in deep cover for years. I just copied a pony from Fillydelphia! What do you care anyway? The Queen failed! Can't I just live my life in peace?"
>The Doctor's voice softens as your jaw drops.
>"She might have failed, but she hasn't given up. Now I really need to know where she could be hiding. Tell me, and I'll let you go."
>"The caves under Canterlot! It's where she relocated the Hive after the wedding! Now please, let me go!"
>The Doctor's screwdriver buzzes, and "Bon Bon" pops back into her pony shape before wriggling away from the Doctor and running.
>The Doctor turns to look at you.
>"And now we have our location! To the TARDIS!"


"Why did we cause a riot when we could have just gone with my plan and asked her."
>"Because, Miss Hooves, your plan was boring! Now let's get a move on!"
>You give a long suffering sigh as you follow the running Earth Pony back to his crazy time machine.
------------------------------------------
>You'd always liked the inside of the TARDIS.
>Bigger on the inside than the outside, the whirling machinery, the noises it made, and the crazy pony at the helm.
>That same pony who'd abandoned you and Dinky when you said you wanted to adopt her.
>You glare at him as he whirls and spins around the machinery, adjusting that, dialing that, or pressing his snout on that one red button.
>He hums to himself as he works, and it reminds you of old times.
>You struggle to come up with another topic to keep from going back there.
"Hey Doctor?"
>"Why yes, Miss Hooves?"
"What did you mean, about the book on changelings? The thing with the love potion?"
>He's quiet for a very long time as the TARDIS spins it's merry way through time and space.
>"A long, long time ago, here in Equestria, there was a princess."
>His hooves continue working the TARDIS as he talks.
>"She was quite unhappy, this princess, quite unhappy. And there I was, freshly arrived in Equestria, thinking I could make her happy. So I found a prince, and a recipe for a potion from a zebra, and I made a potion."
>You tense. You know where this is going. Another tale where the Doctor had meddled where he shouldn't.
>The TARDIS shudders as it comes to a halt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-SBNgu1hO4
>The Doctor brings the TARDIS' whirring to a stop before turning to look at you, a haunted look in his eyes.
>"And I gave them both the potion, Derpy. And they were happy, for a time. They couldn't stop looking in each other's eyes, even as their kingdom fell into ruin around them. Luna, Cadence, even Celestia tried to wake them up, but they failed. And so they stayed like that until their kingdom consumed itself. And then the prince died."
"Doctor, you did all that? Why didn't you fix it? Go back in time and stop it?"
>He continues as if you hadn't spoken.
>"It was old age. The Prince, you see, was mortal. But the Princess, she was an alicorn. And she went mad, consumed as she was by the love poison. It twisted her devotion to him, filling her with a hunger for love that could never be sated, never be filled while her prince lay dead. I'm not sure if it was the poison, or how it interacted with alicorn physiology, but it made her something, well, something different. She fled, deep into the Earth, chasing after what was left of her subjects."
>He pauses, for effect or for breath, you're not sure.
>"She changed them, Ditzy, as she was changed. Into monsters, into changelings. She and all her "subjects" feed on love, trying to fill a hunger they can never sate."
"What did you do?"
>"I ran, Derpy. I ran and I didn't stop running. It was the first time I had failed that spectacularly. I kept running, until I found Ponyville and hid from my failure. I knew they were still around, of course. The changeling. They weren't mad and rabid like they'd been so long ago, but they were still there, constant reminders of my failure. Reminders of how dangerous love can be."


>Your wings flare up as you glare at him.
>You know what he's trying to.
>He goes to open the TARDIS door and you fly to it, slamming it shut with a hoof.
>"Derpy, wha-"
"Don't try that."
>"Try what?"
"Your whole, 'learn from my mistakes and don't do that stupid thing I keep telling you not to do'. It's not going to work."
>His ears flatten.
>"That wasn't just for your benefit, Miss Hooves, but you're right. It WAS a warning. You know what we saw. You remember that little piece of prophecy. He'll bring the storm."
"Three knocks, three rings, three bindings, and the Sorcerer calls the Storm."
>You continue to glare at him as you recite.
"I didn't forget, Doctor. But I don't care about that. I love him anyway. He's kind, Doctor. And he's honest. He told me, you know."
>The Doctor goes very quiet.
>"Told you, what, praytell?"
"He told me about the Pariah gene. Told me why other ponies avoid me."
>"That sounds like cruelty to me, more than love."
"He's trying to fix it."
>"Fix what?"
"Whatever it is the Necrons did to make me a Pariah."
>"That isn't even possible, don't be silly."
"It's possible for him. Notice how I don't make your mane stand on end anymore? That's thanks to Anon."
>The Doctor falls silent, and you put your hooves on your hips.
"Now shut your mouth and get your flank out the door. We're saving him."
>The Doctor gives a sad little smile and salutes.
>"Yes, ma'am."
>He flings open the door, and you follow him out.
>Right into a pack of incoming changelings.


"Oh Celestia.
>"Oh bugger."
>The changelings descend on you like a wall of black chitin, and your world goes dark.
------------------------------------
>You wake up, your wings tied to your back as you dangle from the ceiling.
>Some sort of goo covers your hooves and wings as you slowly come back to wakefulness.
>There are gems...EVERYWHERE. A fortune in cut stones.
>All crawling with changelings.
>The Doctor wakes up next to you, his screwdriver already in his mouth.
>"Oh, welcome back to the world of the living, Derpy. Give me a minute, and we'll be out of h-"
>"Doctor."
>The Doctor's face goes pale, and you look down as the changelings part in a wave.
>Anonymous!
>He looks up at you, his eyelenses glowing green.
>He fails to recognize you, and that's when you notice the thing next to him.
>Chrysalis.
>"It has been far too long, Doctor. I've missed you."


>The Doctor whispers to himself.
>"Oh bugger."
>Chrysalis hisses up at him.
>"What's the matter Doctor? Afraid you can't run anymore? Scared, now that I've caught you? Don't worry, Doctor. I don't want to hurt you."
>She smiles.
>"My subjects and I just want your love."
"Hey! Bug-face!"
>Chrysalis twists around to glare at you with her freaky neck.
>"What did you call me, pegasus?"
"I didn't stutter! I do stutter sometimes but not that time the point is you heard me! Give me my honey muffin back!"
>"Why in the wide world would I do that?"
"Because I tried to help you when I found you, and you hit me in the head! And I love him! And, well...stop being a jerk!"
>Chrysalis laughs at you, leaning her head against Anonymous' unresponsive arm.
>"Oh, I know you love him, dear. And he loves you. It's delicious, really it is. But really, dear, why be so greedy? Share the love."
>She smiles, and two changelings flutter up to you, smiling.
>"My subjects are hungry."


>You glare at the ascending changelings, and they falter as they get close.
>You see their faces contort as they near you, and they glow a bit green as they struggle to change shape.
>And fail, quite spectacularly.
>You laugh as they fall on their flanks, while their Queen grimaces.
>"Alright...well, it seems that changing into...whatever Anonymous is remains beyond my subjects. So be it."
>Her horn and eyes start to glow.
>"I'll just have to drain you dry myself."
>The Doctor chooses that moment to sonic his way free.
>The goop around him dissolves as the screwdriver finishes buzzing, and the earth pony tumbles out of his trap onto Chrysalis' back.
>The Changeling Queen rears in surprise, hissing, as the Doctor points the screwdriver directly at her ear and turns up the volume.
>Then she starts screaming in your voice.
>"ANONYMOUS! HELP ME! THE DOCTOR'S TRYING TO KILL ME!"


>Anonymous moves, and you gasp as his fingers close around the Doctor's neck.
"Anon, no!"
>Anonymous pauses as the Doctor gasps, and Chrysalis whirls on you.
>"What the-what are you doing?"
"Put him down!"
>Anon's arm shakes, and he looks up at you.
>"D....Ditzy?"
>A green beam from Chrysalis' horn strikes him in his helmet, and he groans and kneels as the Queen pours magic into his mind.
"Fight her, Anon! Fight!"
>The Doctor grabs his screwdriver and runs, going for one of the green pods lining the crystals.
>He begins to search the pods, talking as he does so.
>"Well, Chrysalis, if we're about to be trapped down here as love slaves forever, why don't you tell me your plan? It'll keep things interesting, and I remember you LOVING to talk."
>She hisses in response, and changelings charge after the Doctor, who darts away among the pods.
>"I mean if you won't tell me I'm sure I can figure it out. Anon here would be the perfect assassin if you were going to take out Celestia and try to rule Equestria, especially if you captured....ah-hah!"
>The sonic screwdriver buzzes, and a purple glow fills the cavern.


>"Twilight Sparkle! Ah-hah! I've still got it!"
>Purple light flares again, and changelings go flying as a disheveled, angry looking Twilight bursts out of a sonic'd green pod.
>She spits up green goop before glaring at Chrysalis.
>"That. Is. BUCKING. Disgusting."
>Chrysalis mutters something as she continues to pour magic into Anon's head.
>Twilight takes advantage of her lack of attention to slam a bolt of magic into her flank, causing her to tumble away from your honey muffin.
>"That was a BAD idea, Twilight Sparkle. Anonymous' love for the pegasus is nearly as powerful as your idiot brother's love! I'm going to crush you with it!"
>"Bring it on, Cheeselegs!"
>Chrysalis growls, and you watch as the unicorn and changeling queen start a magical duel across the cavern.
>Leaving you, the Doctor, and a frozen, mind-controlled Anon.
>The Doctor points his screwdriver up at you and looses the jelly holding you in place.
>"Go to him, Ditzy. Wake him up."
>You bust out, charging for Anon's helmet.
"Aaaanoooonn! Wake the buck u-"
>A green bolt slams into your side, and you tumble and crash to the earth.
>"I'm not going to fall for that again!"


>Ow.
>Ow, ow, ow. Sweet Celestia that hurt.
>You curl over the burn on your stomach as Chrysalis approaches.
>"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice..."
>The Changeling Queen laughs as she looms over you.
>"Why fight us, dear? We'll give you everything you want. Your beloved will be all yours, forever. We just want in, as it were."
"Why?"
>"Hmmm?"
"Why is it so important that you try to steal our love, and replace us?"
>"Because we're hungry, pegasus. So very hungry. And we can't subsist on scraps forever. Why, we'd go mad."
>You uncurl and glare up at Chrysalis.
"You're already mad."
>She hisses and glares at you, her horn glowing.
>"You'll pay for that bit of insolence before we finish with you, pegasus."
>"Oh no she won't!"
>There is another purple flash as Twilight appears next to you.
>The Changeling Queen's eyes widen in shock as you are teleported again.
>Right on top of Anonymous.
>You flap your wings as you crash into him, wrapping both hooves around his neck.
>He stiffens, and then you nuzzle his helmet.
"Come on, Anonymous. Come back to me."
>Anonymous twitches.
>"D...Ditzy? What the....where the.."
>Then his eyes land on Chrysalis, and he stops speaking.
>The Changeling Queen's eyes widen.
>"Oh. Oh crap."


>Anon's fists clench, and he speaks to you very quietly.
>"Ditzy. I need you to let go of me."
"Why would I do that, honey muffin?"
>"Because I'm going to squash a bug, and I don't want you to get messy."
>You frown, and you tighten your hug.
"No."
>"No?"
>"No? Really?"
>"No? Whew."
>"No? Put me in a fez and call me Matt, I didn't see that coming."
>You ignore the expressions of shock behind you and focus on Anonymous.
"No, honey. No. You're not going to do that."
>"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because you don't need to anymore. You're safe, and I have you again. You don't need to kill anymore, Anonymous. You don't have to try and keep us safe all the time. Just be here for me. That's all I want you to do."
>Anonymous is silent for a long moment as you hold his neck.
>Then he returns the hug in a gesture that makes all the changelings pat their stomachs with contentment.
>"I....if that's what you wish, Ditzy."
"It's more than a wish, Anonymous. Think of it as an order."
>He laughs, and you laugh with him before nuzzling his helmet again.
"Let the changelings be. I'm sure they're sorry, right?"
>Chrysalis coughs.
>"Errhmmm. Yes, right. Sorry."
>Twilight just boggles at the whole thing.
>The Doctor is no where to be found.
"Now let's go home. Please."
>Anonymous chuckles again, and reaches out to Twilight before wrapping all three of you in the Warp and jumping out of there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC0NuBaliLs
>Chrysalis sighs, letting out a worried breath as the Sorcerer disappears.
>It would be alright.
>It would be okay.
>Plan C. She could go with plan C.
>She turns to issue orders to her changelings.
>And finds the Doctor staring at her.
>"You're going to try again, aren't you?"
"I have to, Doctor. I have to. I'm hungry. All of us are. All the time. The scraps that trickle from the crystals in these caves, they aren't enough. Never can be enough."
>He sighs.
>"And there's nothing I can do to change your mind? Convince you that co-existing is a better option? That you can live among ponies peacefully and still feed?"
>You scowl at him as something in you twists at the thought.
"Why should we try? They're nothing but prey, Doctor. One does not reason with a flower before one eats it. I won't stop until the ponies are in their rightful place. Beneath us."
>The Doctor sighs, and picks up his screwdriver.
>"I'm sorry, Chrysalis."
>He begins to walk away, leaving you wondering at his words as he makes his way back to his machine.
>The light of the crystals flickers, and you jump.
>The scraps.
>The love that was filtered down from the ponies above.
>It starts to die out.
>Crystals begin to crack free of the walls, from the ceiling, as a miniature quake begins, magical and physical, cutting off your food, cutting off the love.
>Crystals tumble into place over the exits from the cave, their remaining resonance keeping you from teleporting out.
>As you scrabble uselessly at the walls of your new prison, you hear him again.
>"I'm so very sorry."

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9iflvCwok
>You, Ditzy, and Twilight reappear in Twilight's library, the grey pegasus still in your arms.
>That lasted for about ten minutes until Twilight kicked you both out, sick of the kissing and the hugs.
>It doesn't matter. You have her in your arms again.
>And she was all you'd ever need.
>Your magic, the secrets of Chaos, the thrill of battle.
>All of it was naught but dust compared to the joy she brought you.
>She was all you would ever need.
>You kiss her again as the pair of you walk down Ponyville's streets, and you thank her silently for keeping you safe and sane.
>You would have killed every changeling in that cave, were it naught for her.
"Ditzy"
>"Yes, Anon?"
"I love you. I truly, truly do. I love you more than Celestia loves the sun, more than Luna her moon. You're my everything."
>She smiles at you before kissing you again.
>"Then why don't you prove it?"
>Your mind goes blank for a moment as you draw back from the kiss.
>"How about this. A date. Tomorrow night. You and me. Come by my house at seven."
>She giggles at your shocked expression before flying off.
>You'd just come free of changeling mind control, and she wanted to go on a DATE?
>You smile after her.
>You loved this Tzeentch-damned Mare.
>Only one problem.
>What in the name of the Dark Gods was a date?


>You shiver.
>The cave was cold.
>So very cold without love to keep it warm.
>You hiss to yourself and shiver again.
>You were going mad.
>You could feel it.
>The same as it had happened when...
>When he died in front of you.
>You can't keep it together this way.
>Your subjects were dying around you, starving without the constant little bits of love that floated down from above.
>You'd be nothing, soon. Nothing but a beast, hissing and roaring as she starved to death in the dark.
>You can't get out.
>Why can't you get out? Your magic wont' work, the stones, you can't dig past the stones, so cold...
>A green light fills the cave suddenly, as something forms in the darkness.
>Something, like a great snake, a chimera of animal parts, grins at you as you hiss at it.
>"Well, well, well. What DO we have here? Somep0ny in need of a little love? And with an army at her command?"
>The thing floats closer and holds out an eagle talon pointed at your head.
>"I do believe we are going to be very good friends."