Like A Stone Ch. 1

"Like A Stone"
Written By Closer-To-The-Sun (Joseph Noblit)
Chapter 1: Cities In Dust

A blue box slowly faded into view on the surface of a new planet. The landscape was dirty, rocky, and bland. The sunlight shone down on the planet, making it very comfortable for any average organism to set out foot with no ill effects.

The door of the phone box opened. Poking his head out of the spaceship, a brown pony observed the surroundings. Giving a puzzled look, he looked up to see the massive temple towering before him.

"Hm, now that's not supposed to happen. How did we get here?" the Doctor asked himself taking a step out of the TARDIS.

Following closely behind him was a grey pegasus with a blonde mane, "What wasn't supposed to happen?"

"I was trying to take us to Shan Shen, but it seems the old girl doesn't want to cooperate with us," the Doctor trotted around the phone box, examining it as if he was looking for the slightest problem.

Hopping her way out of the TARDIS, a blonde maned and purple-coated unicorn filly stated her opinion, "Could it be that we are here for a reason, Mr. Doctor?"

"The Doctor is just fine when addressing me, Dinky, and I guess that is possible. I should double-check the wiring in the console to double-check my ship. Never hurts," the Doctor admitted.

"Where are we?" Derpy asked, staring straight at the large stone temple.

"We are on the planet Alfava Metraxis, home to the Aplans. Or, at least it was before a powerful force wiped them out. And that temple before you is an Aplan Moraria, better known as a 'maze of the dead'. The tombs are so extensive that getting lost is fairly easy," the Doctor reflected about previous experience he had in such a location, "and if my math is correct, I should be here in about a century or so with two great companions again, just like you two." The Doctor wrapped his front limb around Dinky and Derpy, giving them both a side hug to accompany his final statement.

"It's so cool looking….far different from that planet with the snow and those living trees," Dinky commented, her eyes fixated on the large rock that held the maze.

"Hey now, those trees have feelings you know!" the stallion slightly roughed up Dinky's mane, which she responded with a laugh. "Now then, I should double check on the TARDIS, making sure it's in tip-top traveling shape."

Dinky quickly turned to the Doctor, staring at him with her large saffron eyes, "Can I explore a little while you work? Please?"

Derpy was quick to voice her concern, "Dinky, dear, it's not safe. This isn't a place we know." As the mare spoke, her left eye began to drift slowly to the side, only to be corrected with her eyes blinking.

"But Mr. Doctor said that the Aplans aren't here anymore, right?" Dinky turned for support from the time stallion.

"True…." the Doctor thought. He then replied with a smile, "Alright, you can explore a bit, but promise me this: no picking up strange machines, and no going into the maze. Deal?"

"Deal!" Dinky's face was beaming. She was quick to trot off to explore.

"Please don't go too far, muffin!" Derpy called out as her daughter ran off.

The Doctor trotted over to the mare, "You really should accept she's turning from a curious, little filly into an adventurous mare. Can't stop her from growing up."

"I know, but I still worry."

Smiling, the Doctor planted a soft kiss on Derpy's cheek, "And that is why you are a great mother. Come along, we should check on the ship so we can go someplace more fun."

With her cheeks flushed, Derpy nodded and followed the Doctor inside of the TARDIS, leaving the door open for the little unicorn to return.

The small purple filly, however, was quick to break the promise she made to the Doctor. Her curiosity got the best of her as she made her way to the entrance of the colossal maze. The purple filly noticed four stone statues that decorated the entrance to the maze. She stopped to examine them. She found them to be odd.

"What kind of creature is this? It's like a pegasus, but only stands on two hooves," Dinky asked aloud, "And why are they covering their faces? Are they sad?"

With a smile, Dinky grew tired of looking at them and wanted to go into the labyrinth of tombs. As she entered, the unicorn failed to notice that the very statues she had just inspected were turning their heads to look at her. They watched her enter the massive network of catacombs.