Episode 2 : Wondercolts Forever . Part 4 : Cruel Truths .
The Anniversary wish... wasn't just an act of kindness. But meant to give the child the tools to care for themselves... 8 boons... which most used to give themselves super powers, skills, knowledge, resources, and (more often then not) their ideal life.
Where Jorgen started at 10 years old, with the final wish at 18. Luna believed she should reach out to her descendants earlier. Starting at 8, and granting their final wish at 16.
On the night of his final wish. Luna went to Smartholomew, and made the offer. An Offer Susan already knew was coming, from his own Gallifreyian education.
Either let her feed off their dreams, and become one of many champions, to fight in her army, across the multiverse. Or forget all interactions with the fae.
He would still keep the boons he gained, from his anniversary wishes. But he would forget how he gained them... forget his fairy godparent... forget Luna herself.
All fae descendants, of every royal fae, are given this choice... and is in fact where odd manifestations of magic come from... mortal fae, that forgot their fae family. That the mortal fae's own descendants, either inherited the powers and talents their own Pran Parent, asked for... or inherited fae magic of their own. None gaining both.
Like how the Doctor had enhanced magical power, faster learning abilities, enhanced durability, temporal powers, permanent conjuration powers, an endless wonder, and superior luck. but Smartholomew didn't have any of that.
The Doctor's human ancestor, used his Anniversary wishes for those boons... Along with wishing his parents letting him get a dog. And so all parents, in this family line, let their children get a dog.
The other royal fae, seeing how overpowered Smartholomew was, with all his boons, were beginning to grow fearful, at the very idea Susan would choose not to serve them. Which is why Luna was talking to him now.
He had until his next Anniversary, a year away, to decide if he wanted to live in service to Luna... or forget everything about fae-kind... including forgetting the people.
Once the deal was made, he couldn't back out... either option was a permanent, unchangeable, Choice.
Smartholomew Mouthitcus, The Susan, chose to trust his fae Pran-Mother. Trust she had his best interest at heart... for he had seen her kindness, was aware of how she used the mortals she collected... she was a true General... a defender of the cosmos. Even without the ultimatum... he would have gladly been made a part of that.
"I don't need to think it over," Susan informed the god. "I've known what I'd do, the second you chose me. Even known you'd need me to have mortal children, to pass down your fae genes. Which is the point of my Meta Crisis wish.
"I think we've both known, what my choice would be, the moment we made our first deal." Smartholomew smiled. "I will gladly fight by your side... just... please don't tell my Grandfather... or Pran-Father Rassillion."
Luna smiled, "You think they didn't suspect this would happen, the second you regenerated into a fae?"
Susan sighed, "I'd still like to be the one to tell them, myself."
"Very well," Luna reached out her hand, "Do we have a deal?"
This time, there was no hesitation, as Susan shook the hand, sealing the bargain.
• Back with Rose.
It been three weeks, and Rose was finally coming face to face with the warrior god.
Luna was as tall as Celestia, but with blue skin, and hair of the night's sky. Stars shimmering in her flowing hair of Cosmic energy. She was dressed in armor, with a sword at her Hip. A sword so sharp, Rose cut herself just by staring at it too long... from the other side of the lab. Even with the bloody blade still in its hilt!... Rose wanted one.
"ROSE!!!" A... satyr, ran over to her. The hooved leg teenager, giving her a crushing hug. "It's me!!! Susan!!! I've regenerated, since last we met."
Rose gaped. "SUSAN!!!" She yelped, breaking the hug to stare at the... former girl.
Only to receive a head but for her trouble. With Susan uploading a basic overview of both versions of her life. It only seemed fair. With how powerful a telepath, her last face was, Susan already knew everything about Rose... River had been better at hiding her thoughts. But Rose was an open book.
Rose stumbled back, rubbing her head. "What the bloody hell was that!? Oh I have a killer headache."
"Basic mental transfer," Susan smiled, rubbing his own head. It stung a bit, but Gallifreyian's durability, increased with every regeneration.
It's why A.C. had to wield his wand like a cane, whenever Smartholomew had acted up. His skin was just tougher, then a human child. At least, after he regenerated, and this new timeline began.
Rose's eyes suddenly widened, "You erased what I did for the shadows!!!" she assimilated.
Susan waved off, "Don't worry, the details might have changed. But the timelines still unfolded the exact same way. That's just how it is, when Time Lords interfere with history. Everything we change, becomes a fixed point. Even if we erase the events leading up to it.
"The story of 'The Yellow Girl and the Medical Student', is now ancient mythology, but what was changed still happened, even if the details are different then the myth.
"It's hard to explain to 3 dimensional lifeforms..." Susan expressed, at Rose's lost look.
Rose sighed, exacerbated. "You're definitely the Doctor's child."
Luna, didn't seem to understand it was rude to ignore her. She merely began to walk forward.
Rose shuddered, feeling the temperature plummet at the god's approach... but as Luna got closer... first it was cold, but then a pleasant warmth washed over Rose. Giving her goosebumps.
Rose diverted her attention to the fae. Knowing why she brought Susan here.
"So you aren't TOTALLY evil," Rose acknowledged. "Or at all, actually."
Rose had been able to see Luna, through Susan's eyes. Knowing all the good the Fairy Princess did, for the main universe... seeing the worlds she saved, and just what being her champion really entailed. It was all as glorious, and even liberating, as Pinkie insisted... still...
"Doesn't mean I'm willing to join you." Rose informed.
Luna disregarded this, "You are... beautiful..." She spoke in awe. As if seeing a racing horse for the first time. "I can see why my sister thought I'd want you. The dreams around you, are filled with such majesty... what a remarkable creature."
Susan snorted, seeing how offended Rose was. "Try to keep in mind. Both of us are as far from her, on the evolutionary scale, as humans are from dogs.
"That analogy is actually more fitting then you realize. As Royal Fae have a symbiotic relationship with Sapient lifeforms. Not really THAT different, then humans have with puppers. You're just not used to being the dog." Then Susan winked, "It's a different morality."
That, strangely, calmed Rose's outrage. She wasn't even upset the... former girl, had reached into her memories. The Doctor would often do that. Rose had gotten used to the idea, of having her mind toyed with, by Time Lords... As the Doctor often had to remind her, "It's a different morality."
Not all species had the same cultural norms, or even definitions of "Morality", but that didn't mean they couldn't create a new "common ground" between them.
Rose eyed Luna again, "So you want me to be your attack dog. While Celestia's students are purse pooches."
Luna smiled widely. However she gave a single, dignified, nod. "That is essentially how we approach things. My sister prefers to keep her mortals pampered and spoiled. Where I would treat you more like a military dog.
"I would never view you as an equal, but I would rely on you for protection, and depend on you to fight by my side. Just as I would do everything in my power, to insure you survive."
"Like Pinkie?" Rose studied the god of champions.
"Exactly," Luna gave another proud nod. "Pinkie is not my only retired pet, Celestia looks after. Although it doesn't happen often, as my champions are as immortal as myself.
"Out of my millions of mortals, Celestia only needed to take in 42, whom were beyond my means to restore.
"Unlike Pinkie, they have chosen to let Celestia cloud their minds. As I can no longer protect them from nightmares. It is their choice, and I do not grudge them for choosing to forget our time together. As they still remember me, they are old war dogs, and it's their turn to be pampered."
"But none of that matters right now," Luna insisted. "Unlike a dog, you must be the one to choose me. And I can tell, by the taste of your dreams, you won't."
Rose's eyebrows shot up.
"Your brightest dream," Luna explained. "Is finding the Doctor. I cannot hope to compete with such a Master... though I can warn you, his dreams don't match."
Rose felt the floor move, "How would you know!?" She stomped up to the god of an entire dimension.
"I have seen the dreams of all lives you touched," Luna must have lied... she must have. Despite Susan's upload telling her, fae don't even know how to lie... she must have!!! "The Doctor dreams of you having a peaceful life, in retirement from your adventures... he has sent you out to pasture, in the hopes you'll have a better life then he can provide. You might agree that isn't the life you want, but its the one he's given you."
"YOU'RE WRONG!!!" Rose raged.
Luna looked at her with pity... like a puppy abandoned on the side of the road. One that refused to leave, in case her master returned for her.
Rose refused to be that puppy! She'd prove Luna wrong! The Doctor would accept her back. They would travel together again... she wasn't just some dog to him.
"I'll prove you wrong!" Rose insisted.
"I have no doubt you'll find him. So I will follow your progress. I will come once he tells you, himself, he doesn't want you... and I will make you my offer then. I promise to take care of you, to fight by you, and to never so cruelly cast you aside.
"To prove this. I give you a boon," She gently laid a massive hand on Rose's head. Ignoring the tears her words caused. "From this moment onwards, merely will yourself to an event, in your own history, you wish to change. You will merge with your past self, and can try to change it. I give you Infinite chances, to change the Doctor's mind... and ask you consider my words. The Doctor will never accept you back, no matter what you do. See for yourself, then call my name. When your ready, I will accept you."
Rose felt something inside her unlock... and knew the god was truthful. For this at least.
"I promise you," Luna assured. "If you accept me, I shall give you 8 more boons. Anything you want can be yours, even the Doctor, himself."
Luna then turned and began to walk away. "We will talk more, later. As I will remain in my sister's Domain."
Susan hesitated to follow her, as Rose sunk to the floor, in a weep. "I know she seems cruel, but she means well. You'll get used to how intense she can be. You have 5 whole months to deal with her, after all."
Luna called, "Come Smartholomew, the girl has much to consider. She does not desire either of us present as she does so."
Susan sighed, "We'll still be here, when you're ready to talk. Luna will know, and we'll come running." she, errrr "he" promised. Before leaving with his Pran-mother
