Chapter 7: An Unanswered Question

Viewing Hall 11, The Queen Philippine, Esther Space Station, Space, Winter, 4376 C.E.

The Queen Philippine came to a smooth stop as it docked at the Esther Space Station. The silver-clouded planet known as Esther was suspended in space a little ways away from the space station. Passengers of all sorts were beginning to disembark and board the ship. The Doctor and his fellow companions had enjoyed their time on the Queen Philippine following what was starting to be known as the Denum-Philippine Incident. Applejack had made a full recovery and now spent most of her time hanging out with Rainbow Dash in the viewing halls, watching the stars move by the ship. Now with the ship finally docked in a station, the Doctor and his companions figured that it was time to hit the time stream once again.

"Those had to be some of the most relaxing five hours of my life," Derpy sighed as she made her way towards the TARDIS.

"I think I've had enough of luxury spaceships for a while," said Fluttershy.

"I'm with you on that one, sugarcube!" laughed Applejack.

"I wish they had some rubies in the mess halls," Spike groaned. The viewing hall was empty aside from the Doctor, the Mane 6, Derpy, Spike, and John.

"I can't tell you how happy I am that I was able to meet all of you," John said with a smile. "This is almost like a story come true."

"This will probably end up in one of the stories about us," Twilight said with a laugh.

"Maybe," the Doctor chuckled. The Doctor and John shook hooves one last time.

"So where are you all off to now?" John asked.

"Wherever," Twilight replied.

"Whenever!" Derpy replied.

"Whenever and wherever they pull me," the Doctor whispered to John with a smile.

"Before you go, Doctor. There's one thing that's still on my mind," said John.

"And what's that?" the Doctor questioned.

"The dimensional rift. Where did it come from exactly?"

"At first I thought it was just a side effect caused by Monstrume's excessive psychic influences over the ship but now I'm not so sure."

"Are you saying that the rift just appeared at random?"

"Rifts are unpredictable but something about this one told me that something caused it to be here. Maybe it was here at random but it was no fluke in space and time. Something somewhere was creating it."

"Any ideas?"

"At the moment...I'm just as stumped as you."

"I bet you'll figure out the answer eventually."

"As long as I have my friends with me, no question will go unanswered."

Twilight and Derpy exchanged awkward glances. The refusal to answer each other's questions about their feelings for the Doctor left both of them in an awkward state of friendship at the moment.

"So I guess this is goodbye," said Rainbow Dash.

"I guess it is. Good luck with the Gailenean 1000, Rainbow Dash," said John.

"What's the Gailenean 1000?"

"Oops! Spoilers!"

"Would you mind sharing some of those spoilers with me?"

"Come on! Into the TARDIS, sugarcube!" Applejack chuckled as she pulled a disappointed Rainbow through the blue doors. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie went in close behind them.

"Enjoy your ship, John. It's a real masterpiece," said Twilight.

"Thank you. Thank you all for saving it," John replied. Twilight smiled as she and Spike walked into the TARDIS.

"So where to now, Doctor?" Derpy asked.

"Why don't we set it on random this time and see where it takes us?" the Doctor suggested.

"Sounds like a plan! I hope they have muffins where we're going! I can't believe that on a ship for two million passengers there wasn't one mess hall that sold muffins!"

"Then let's pray that there's muffins at our next location."

The Doctor and Derpy chuckled as they walked into the TARDIS and shut the doors behind them. John smiled and watched as the TARDIS slowly flickered back into the time stream.

"Wait until Judy hears about who I met on my maiden voyage," he said to himself. He was about to leave the hallway when he noticed something lying on the ground. It was a piece of metal. He walked towards the metal and examined it. Two words were welded into one of the sides: Cybus Industries. "I wonder where this came from."

To be continued...