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Doctor Whooves In: The Discordant Effect, Part 1

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Morning in Ponyville shimmered. The mayor was en route to her office, the sofa clerk was selling some quills, and Ditzy Doo was off to the post office to start her day. Several ponies waved at the bespectacled mare, and she contently smiled back at them with both eyes focused on them. Her coat shone with a glowing bluish-grey, and long, golden locks to complement it. The long, multicoloured scarf that an old friend gave her billowed against her neck, tickling her as she trotted to work.

 

Ditzy felt happier than she had in a long time. Could things ever go wrong? She didn’t think that they would, not today. She knew for absolute certain that everything was certainly fi-

 

Vroooooop, Vrooooooop, Vroooooop, vroooooooooooo-K-thunk!

 

Her ears pricked up at that all-too familiar sound. That sound that haunted her for the longest time, plaguing her nightmares and leading to that up-to-no-good face…

 

“Hello, Ditzy! I’m back!” The Doctor shouted with glee.

 


BULLHORN STUDIOS PRESENTS

BASED OFF OF THE CHARACTERS FROM HASBRO AND BBC


ONCOMING STORM

DITZY DOO

AND DISCORD AS HIMSELF

 

DOCTOR WHOOVES IN:

THE DISCORDANT EFFECT

 

WRITTEN BY FOSH E.


 

 

“Doctor?!” Ditzy Doo exclaimed with disbelief. “You came back?”

 

“Of course I came back. I always come back. Something wrong with that?”

 

“W-well no, just-but…How in the name of Celestia did you know where I was?”

 

The Doctor chuckled awkwardly. “Well, I didn’t.  In fact, the first ten ponies I did that to were more surprised than you were. But don’t worry, they’re all being taken care of. Come this time tomorrow, they’d think it was all a dream!”

 

He then got a good look at his old assistant. “Say, Ditzy, you look different. Did you get a haircut?”

 

“No, Doctor,” she deadpanned. “In fact, I let it grow out. And I got myself these glasses to correct my vision problem. I’m now working a steady pay at the Ponyville Post office. All in all, my life has become much better.”

 

The Doctor pouted. “But I liked your eyes like they were,” he said sadly. “And how long could you grow your hair in just a few weeks?”

 

Ditzy laughed, then ceased as she saw the chestnut pegasus raise an eyebrow. “Ahem, weeks, Doctor? It’s been about a year since I last saw you.”

 

A…year? The words echoed in the Doctor’s head, reality sinking in. “Oh, dear, h-has it really been that long?” He trotted over to a bench and slumped down into it. “Ditzy, I am so, very sorry…”

 

She clicked her tongue and sat down next to him. “Well, can’t you just hop in your box and go back a few months? Spare yourself the guilt-trip?” The Doctor sighed. “It’s not that easy, Ditzy. I can’t just ‘go back’ now. It would mess up this timeline, ruin the ‘perfect life’ you’ve made here.”

 

The Doctor stared down at the ground. “And I’ve already done enough damage to your life, I think it’d be best to just  leave well ‘nuff alone.”

 

He laid his head in his hooves on the bench. Ditzy felt bad for her old friend, and thought about all the pain the poor Time Horse goes through. She unwrapped the scarf around her neck, and waved it in front of his face. The Doctor looked up at it, and then at the smiling face he so recognized. “I kept it from back when we fought the Cyberponies. It’s kept me warm the past autumn. Heh, if only I could stop tripping over this long thing.”

 

The two shared a laugh, one that they missed sharing. Ditzy rested her head on the Doctor’s, and they sat staring at Ponyville life passing them by.  It seemed like forever had gone by, even though it was just a few hours, when Ditzy finally spoke up.

 

“Say, Doctor?” He lifted his head at his name. “I do still miss the adventure, the thrill of travelling space and time. So… what say we have one more ride?”

 

The Doctor’s eyes sparkled, his smile stretched across his face. “Definitely! Let’s get going!” He hopped up and ran to the TARDIS. Ditzy was not far behind, laughing with a reinvigorated glee.

 

When they reached the blue police box, the Doctor stopped Ditzy from entering. “Wait out here for a moment, I need to clean up the place.”

 

The door closed behind him, and Ditzy heard a cacophony of crashing and banging, with a loud cat’s screech tossed in there, followed by a splash. The TARDIS’s door then unlocked and creaked open a fraction of an inch. She pushed it open more, and gasped as she looked around.

 

The walls were a gleaming white, inlayed with blue flashing orbs. The ceiling was tiered in large discs that spun slowly, inscribed with Gallopfreyan symbols. The centre console had a large, aqua-blue crystal piston that gently thumped up and down. And standing in front of her, hoof outstretched, was the pony she had travelled with for so long, wearing a long, purple trenchcoat, with a black vest and plaid purple bowtie.

 

“So, Ditzy,” the Doctor ushered her inside. “We’ve got all of time and space to explore. Everywhere and anywhere. Every star that ever was.”

 

He pulled the main switch, and smiled wide at her.

 

“Where do you want to start?”

 


 

“So, Ditzy,” the Doctor said vigorously. “Where do you want to go for this trip?” He fluttered about the control room, landing in front of her, hooves on her shoulders to accentuate his words. “We could go to the Fifth Moon of Zacros Nine, or the Fields of Dreams in the Danube Nebula! Or how about the 50’s?! I love that time in Equestria! Nice sense of fashion!”

 

“Doctor!” Ditzy shouted, stopping him from rambling more. “How about someplace that’s more calm and not so… alien-y.” The Doctor furrowed his brows. “Well, where, then?”

 

She pondered it for a moment, then came to a conclusion. “How about Equestria in its golden years? Like, before the Night of the Moon?”

 

With a clack of his hooves and a hearty laugh, the Doctor jumped to the controls and began twisting knobs and turning levers. His hoof on the main switch, he hesitated a moment to look at his old companion. They smiled wide at each other, and he pulled the switch. The TARDIS shook with that familiar tremble of travelling the Time Vortex, great bells chiming in tune with the thump of the piston in the chamber. Raucous laughter challenged the intensity of the wild symphony of the TARDIS.

 

As quickly as it started, the noise died down and the shaking settled. They had landed. The two ran for the door, stopping in front of it to glance at each other.

 

“Miss Doo, right outside that door is a whole other time period, long ago, when Equestria was in its prime.”

 

She chuckled. “Doctor, I know the drill. Let’s just go!”

 

And with that, the blue doors creaked inward to reveal the landscape they had landed in. However, instead of rolling hills of green and grand architecture, a much different view beheld them.

 

“This is not Equestria’s prime age…” The Doctor trailed. “In fact, it looks like the direct opposite.”

 


 

What was expected to be seen was a shining landscape, with cities of marble and roads of gold, with a mighty castle overlooking the entire kingdom. Instead, it was a dark landscape, with small, ramshackle huts and no signs of high civilization anywhere. The moon was hanging overhead, large and full. This was a time that they had been in before.

 

“Ditzy, we are in a very dangerous time,” The Doctor said. “This is the time of Nightmare Moon’s reign.”

 

“Well, good job, Doctor! You’ve gotten us stuck in what has to be the worst time in Equestria’s history!” The Doctor was taken aback by her sudden resentment toward him. “Why are you blaming me for all this? How was I supposed to know that this timeline would mess with my TARDIS? Besides, it’s the TARDIS’s fault anyway! She never takes us where we want!”

 

Despite the sudden outburst, he tried to stay calm. He turned around, heading back the way they came. “Come on. Let’s go back to the TARDIS, this place isn’t saf-“

 

Just then, a large bat-pony swooped down and grabbed the TARDIS within its claws. The Doctor gasped, and started running after it down the hill they landed on. “No, wait! Come back! Please!” Ditzy tapped his shoulder, pointing to her wings. He realized his own stupidity, and flew up after it.

 

The TARDIS was just out of reach, the bat-pony always flying higher when the Doctor’s hoof was near. He gritted his teeth and thrust upward to grab the edge of the blue box. The bat-pony shrieked, trying to shake the Doctor off of it. He managed to pull his other hoof onto the TARDIS, and pulled out his sonic screwdriver to open the doors. They swung open, and the Doctor tumbled inside. Ditzy saw the lights from inside it, and flew in after him.

 

“That…that was fun,” the Doctor huffed. “Let’s never do that again.”

 

Ditzy groaned, blowing stray hairs out of her face. “This is why I didn’t want to travel with you again. I was afraid that exactly this would happen, Doctor.”

 

She turned away from him, the Doctor hurt and confused. “I was having a life, Doctor. After you dropped me off at Ponyville, I rested for a week or so and waited for you to come back. And then I waited two months for you. Then I fixed my eyes and waited three months. Eventually, I gave up waiting.

 

“I got back to work, and… lived my life. No monsters, no aliens, no near-death experiences. Just leading a normal life in Ponyville. And then, just when everything was going fine, your… crazy blue box shows up, like something out of a bad dream.”

 

The Doctor was almost in tears. He’d never been talked to like that before. “B-but, Ditzy… I never realized, I just thought… I don’t want to be lonely…”

 

“Well, why drag others down for your own selfishness?!” Ditzy snapped at him, turning to face him with tearful eyes as well. “You don’t go around to random ponies asking them to risk their lives just so you won’t ‘be lonely!’ You just… don’t do that!”

 

“I…I didn’t… mean to-“

 

No Doctor. You never mean to. But you do. Everyone you know, eventually they get killed. Sparkler, Minuette, Roseluck! I’m surprised I’m not dead yet!”

 

That was it. That tore him. The Doctor broke down then and there, that reminder of his old companions that have died, all because of his actions. His closest companion, the one he always tried to save, had crushed him.

 

“Just take me back home so I can go back to my normal life. So I can forget you once again, so that when ponies ask about you, I’ll just say, ‘Doctor who?’”

 

Without speaking, and with tears in his eyes, the Doctor flipped the main lever and the TARDIS landed back in Ponyville. The doors swung inward, with Ditzy slowly walking out. She stopped at the threshold, giving him one last pitiful look. “Goodbye, Doctor.”

 

With those two simple words, Ditzy turned and left the Time Lord to his own. He fell to the floor, sobbing in his hooves.

 

“Well, I must say, Doctor, grown ponies shouldn’t cry,” A cold, chaotic voice remarked. The Doctor looked back at the doors to reveal a certain draconequus of disharmony.

 

The Doctor’s eyes shrunk at the smug look on his face. “Discord…”

 


 

“So, you do know me, oh Time Horse,” the draconequus said. He swirled around the centre ring, teleporting into one of the couches next to the console. “Then I don’t need to waste time with a long, totally not-pre-prepared monologue introduction that may or may not have contained a musical number.”

 

The Doctor wiped his tears away, confidence returning to his voice. “What in Equestria are you doing in here?” Discord materialized a glass of chocolate milk in his claw. “I saw your time machine land a few minutes ago, decided ‘what the hay’, and snuck in to commence shenanigans. I haven’t commenced shenanigans in a long while, you must understand.”

 

He jumped up and proceeded to flip switches and levers. “Ooh, what does this one do? What’s this one? What’s this do?” He said in a whiny, high-pitched voice. The TARDIS was shaking and making noises it was never meant to make. The Doctor ordered Discord to stop multiple times in multiple ways, to no avail. He finally stopped from sheer boredom of breaking the TARDIS.

 

“Anyway, good Doctor, I overheard that little debacle with your friend back there. Care to elaborate?” The Doctor rubbed his shoulder, not sure if he could trust the God of Chaos. “Please, Doc! Didn’t somepony tell you I’m no longer malevolent?” He summoned a bouquet of roses and placed it on the TARDIS console. “I’ve turned a new leaf! You can trust me with anything!”

 

Though still unsure, the Doctor decided to tell the chaotic entity. “Well, we had a bit of a… falling out, I suppose. I, uh, I have put her life in great danger many times, and she just got tired of it. Now she just wants to forget all about me…” his voice cracked at those words, ready to cry again.

 

Discord summoned a box of tissues, holding it on standby for the Doctor, who didn’t know whether to accept it as a kind offer or take it as a mean joke.

 

“Oh, poor Doctor,” Discord cooed. “All alone in this universe of a telephone box. No one to travel with, no one to care for. And the only one who did wants to do nothing more than forget you.”

 

He coiled himself around the central console, and wormed his way to rest on the Doctor’s shoulder. He leaned in next to his ear, whispering hypnotically.

 

I can helpyouforget, good Doctor… With just a snap of my fingers, all of your problems will cease to exist.

 


 

Ditzy trotted angrily back to her house in Ponyville. She ignored other ponies as they waved to her, looking straight forward. When she reached her house, she went inside and tossed her scarf on the ground. Ditzy headed for her room, but stopped in the hall. A door was slightly ajar, leading into a room she hadn’t been in for a long time.

 

It was Dinky’s room. Still slightly messy from when they last travelled. A layer of dust covered the toys scattered on the ground; the bed sheets half on the mattress. Ditzy walked over and picked up a certain toy that was on Dinky’s bed: a crochet doll that resembled the Doctor. Its green button eyes seemed to look back at her, the same look of adventure even in a worn doll.

 

With tearful eyes, she tossed the doll back on Dinky’s bed, and slammed the door behind her. She laid down on her bed and began crying. Whether out of hatred, sadness, or both, Ditzy didn’t know. She just let her emotions go.

 

It felt like hours had passed until a loud knock came from downstairs, followed by a familiar voice. “Hey, Ditzy,” Lyra called from outside. “Is everything alright? Bon Bon said she saw you all mad and stuff…”

 

Ditzy trotted downstairs and greeted the unicorn. “N-no, everything’s alright. I was just a bit…I got mad at the Doctor, and told him to leave. He tried to put my life in danger again, and-“

“Doctor?” Lyra inquired. “Doctor, who?”

 


 

“So…you’re sure that this will help me?” The Doctor asked, lying down on a couch in the control room. Discord, wearing the Doctor’s purple blazer and a pair of square glasses, was sitting next to the couch, with a clipboard in his hand.

 

“For the last time, yes,” he huffed, and put on a faux Germane accent. “Talkinkh about your emotions vill help vith zhe healinkh process.”

 

The Doctor sighed, but complied with the draconequus. “Well, I suppose I still have pain from the Time War,” he began. “It’s practically my fault that it ended the way it did… not to mention how many companions I’ve lost to alternate universes, or physical databases, or even… even the Heart of the TARDIS… My old companion, Roseluck… she… and Ditzy… almost ended up the same way…”

 

His eyes were starting to water yet again. Discord scribbled away on his notepad, clicked the pen, and rubbed his beard. “Mm-hmm…” he vocalized. “Well, Doctor, I think the best way to deal with something like this is to think of something else. An old pet, a favourite television show, or-Oh!”

 

He dropped the notepad-which had nothing but a doodle of a banana- and slithered over to the Doctor. “Do you like rhymes? I love rhymes! They’re perfect for forgetting any sorrow!”

 

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. “Y-you’re serious?” he questioned. “Why of course, my Good Doctor! Now, repeat after me:

 

You don’t need friends, don’t worry or fret; Of pain and sorrow, you need just forget…

The Doctor let out a sigh and repeated Discord’s rhyme. “You don’t need friends, don’t worry or fret; Of pain and sorrow, you need just forget…”

 

Discord locked eyes with the Doctor, staring straight into his entire being. There was something hypnotizing about them.  He felt as if he couldn’t move his gaze from Discord’s hypnotic, almost swirling eyes.

 

Tick, tock, goes the clock, to live happily ever after; tick, tock, goes the clock, now for sad old Doctor…

 


 

“Lyra, don’t you remember?” Ditzy asked, confused at the unicorn’s forgetfulness. “The Doctor? The stallion who travelled around in that big blue box? The one who ruined our lives?”

 

Lyra just stared blankly at Ditzy for a moment or two. “Well, the only stallion who has some ‘big blue box’ is the Valeyard. You… do remember Him, right? Have you hit your head or something?”

 

Ditzy couldn’t answer. She was frozen in shock, trying to comprehend what she had heard. Lyra gasped. “Ditzy, your nose is bleeding! Are you alright?” The pegasus touched a hoof to her nose, noticing small blood splatters on the tip. Wiping and sniffling, she took off running, leaving the confused and worried unicorn behind.

 

She galloped to town square, which was now looking much different than this afternoon. Instead of bright colours and a market, there were gray, faded buildings and ponies, with a large altar in the middle of town. Atop it stood a statuette; not of Princess Celestia, but of Discord and the Doctor. Discord had a large crown and cloak on, and the Doctor stood straight with a sombre look on his face. He wore a cloak as well, similar to old Gallifreyan High Order garb.

 

A small plaque was attached to the front. Ditzy, with shaking hooves, walked over and read it. “’Emperor Discord and The Valeyard: Your Generous and Kind Rulers of Equestria’? Doctor, what’s happened?”

 


 

Discord inched back away from the Doctor. He observed his handiwork, smiling slyly. The pegasus was thoroughly gray, all colour muted from his coat and mane. Only two dark green spheres that were his eyes served as a contrast to his now monochrome complexion.

 

“Now, Good Doctor, how do you feel?” He asked. The Doctor’s face grew solemn, and he sighed. “Cursed, sorrowful, hated, contempt for all of existence.”

 

Discord laughed evilly. “Good, good. Now, come along, we have work to do.”

 

The Doctor and Discord began flipping switches and hitting buttons in the TARDIS controls. They travelled backwards in time, heading to a pinpoint time in Equestria’s history.

 


 

Ditzy galloped all the way to Canterlot, or what used to be it. The shining marble buildings were no more. Instead, houses of cards stood high, with rolling hills of pink-and-purple checkerboard. Ponies walked back and forth, trying to avoid flying pies and staying dry from the chocolate rain.

 

This is Discord’s place, alright, she thought to herself. Canterlot Castle was different too, reflecting the Chaos Incarnate’s twisted view of a castle. There were no guards about, so she trudged her way up to the throne room, as that’s most likely where he was.

 

As she trotted through the darkened halls, she noticed how all of the stained glass windows were not images of the Princesses, but depictions of Discord and the “Valeyard”. They all were made over centuries of Equestria’s history. What kind of twisted nightmare had she fallen into?

 

Finally, she reached the gilded doors of the throne room. Of course, a large image of Discord was carved into the doors. A small sign was adorned to one: “Knock Before Entering.” With a huff, Ditzy knocked on the door. They slowly opened, revealing the Lord of Chaos himself.

 

The image was incredibly disturbing. Discord was covered in a white robe, with a gray crown with red jewels . He wore matching gauntlets, and clutched a staff with his own head on it. On either side stood a statue of the princesses, with horrified looks on their faces.

 

“Welcome, my little pony,” Discord said blithely. “What brings you to the humble abode of Lord Emperor Discord?”

 

“Discord!” Ditzy yelled. “What in the name of Celestia did you do to Equestria?!”

 

“Why, whatever do you mean, dear pony?” He inquired. “First of all, Celestia is right here-“ he patted one statue on the head. “And secondly, Equestria is exactly how it’s always been: Under my legion. So, little one, why do you come in here, disrupting my peace, bumbling nonsense?”

 

She stomped her hoof angrily. “You know darn well why! You changed Equestria somehow! You betrayed the princesses after promising that you were good! This happened a few months ago, how could everyone forget?!”

 

Discord slowly sat up from his seat. He squinted his eyes, studying Ditzy intently. “How do you remember all of this?” He asked slowly. Then it hit him. “You. You’re the Doctor’s old companion, aren’t you? Hm, or should I call him by his new mantle, ‘The Lord Valeyard’?”

 

Ditzy’s ears perked up hearing the name. “Where is he? Take me to him!” she demanded. Discord lifted one claw to point at a doorway leading to a set of stairs. She took a running start towards them. Discord snapped his fingers and the door shifted many yards to the left. Ditzy ran for that door, but Discord snapped again and the door moved to the opposite wall. With an angry huff, she picked up a piece of rubble from the floor and tossed it at the Chaos Emperor. While he was rubbing his face, she bolted for the door. Running as fast as she could, Ditzy climbed the stairs, numerous thoughts racing through her head as she got closer to the ‘Valeyard.’

 

Doctor, is this what happens when you’re left alone for too long?

 


 

The Valeyard sat upon his cloud above the castle, watching the ponies of Equestria go about their abnormal lives with great disdain. Why do I hang around here, he asked himself. I can leave whenever I want, wherever I want. But these ponies need someone to be scorned by. I’m the only one around who would fit the bill, as it were.

 

He turned and grabbed a pebble the was on his robe, and with impeccable accuracy, threw it at a pony walking below him. The Valeyard laughed with mirth at the poor passer-by’s pain. His schadenfreude was interrupted by the sound of a door opening below him.

 

Ditzy looked around the roof of the castle, seeing nothing. “That nasty Discord lied to me,” she huffed. “There’s no ‘Valeyard’ here!”

 

“That ‘Nasty Discord’ is your Emperor, and should be treated with respect,” a cold, familiar voice said from above. She looked up to see a familiar face, but not familiar enough. “And he didn’t lie. I’m right here, little pony.” He spat the last words out as if they were poison.

 

“Doctor, is that you?” Ditzy said with hope. Her hope was slowly draining, however, as she saw that he wasn’t himself. She flew up to him, the full, unnerving image coming into view. The Doctor was completely gray, black hair falling manically over his face. A black and green Gallifreyan robe was wrapped around him. His eyes were a dull but glowing green colour, staring angrily at her.

 

“How dare you come up to my level, peasant?” He snapped at her. She walked on the cloud over to him, looking into his eyes. “Doctor, it’s me. It’s Ditzy Doo, remember? I got mad at you just a few hours ago…”

 

He seemed to search for her name in her face, and then remembered. “Ditzy…my old companion… you…” he almost smiled, but then scowled. “You did get mad at me, but it wasn’t a few hours ago. You were always so dense…”

 

The Valeyard rose and trotted towards the TARDIS behind him, rotting from lack of use. “It’s been a few millennia since then. I’ve grown to despise pony kind, especially you.” He turned to her, with saddened eyes. “You broke my heart, Ditzy. You broke me more than anything I’d ever faced before.”

 

She was on the verge of crying at his words. “Doctor, I’m…I-I’m so…Sorr-“

 

Sorry?” The Doctor snapped. “Foolish pony, it’s far too late for sorry. And another thing-“ he rushed for her, clutching her neck between his hooves. “Stop calling me Doctor.” He released her, the mare gasping for air.  “That name died a long time ago, when I died at your hands. Discord gave me new life, a new chance. I am the Valeyard!”

 

Ditzy coughed, rubbing her neck. She turned and entered the TARDIS, slamming the doors shut. The Valeyard pounded on the doors. “Ditzy! Open up you stupid pony! Open these doors right now!” She couldn’t bear to hear the voice of somepony she knew be abused by whoever this Valeyard was. She locked the latch to the door, and hurried to the control console.

 

“Okay, Ditzy, you can do this,” she assured herself, fully knowing that she has very little knowledge in flying a TARDIS. “You’ve seen the Doctor do it, so you can to. It’s just a flip of this switch-“ She began flipping switches and pushing buttons, glad she had a photographic memory.

 

The pounding sound stopped abruptly. The Valeyard gritted his teeth, thinking of ways to get in. He then came up with one, and pulled a little cylindrical device from out of his robe. Knocking on the door with it playfully, he smiled big. “Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in!” He said in a sing-song voice. Ditzy grew panicked and set the coordinates she was going for.

 

“…Not by the hair on your chinny-chin-chin?” the Valeyard pouted mockingly. With a wicked grin, he continued his botched rhyme. “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in!” He then began to melt the doors’ locks with his laser screwdriver. 

 

A million things racing through her head, Ditzy punched in the final set of time coordinates and pulled the main lever. That familiar whooshing sound filled the air, drowning out the buzz of the laser outside. The Valeyard roared with anger as he saw the TARDIS disappear in front of him. “No! Get back here, you stupid pony! Get back here!”

 

As the blue box faded into nothing, he collapsed to the ground. His eyes filled with tears, as a small gleam of colour returned to him for a fraction of a second.

 

“…Don’t leave me again…”

 

Part 1 to the Season Finale of Doctor Whooves! Part 2 coming later today! Stay tuned!
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BowserJr830's avatar
? THAT WAS AWSOME!!!!