Brave New World

Nayomi hadn’t gotten out of bed for three days, the migraines still persisted but were getting better as the lump on her head grew. She had plenty of time to think while she was laying there. This was no illness from her world but she wanted to make sure.

She picked up the phone that Pendleton had given her. On it was a single contact with the simple name ‘Pen’.

She needed to see a doctor but needed a local to get her an appointment. She sent Pen a message that read, “Pen, I think I’m sick. Could you get me an appointment with a doctor or something along those lines?” She groaned, hitting send dropping the smart phone to the floor. She was to tired to stay awake any longer.

Her eyes closed and refused to open. Her mind slowly slipped into unconsciousness … Everything went black. Another full day went by.

After sixteen hours, she finally opened her eyes. She felt a damp cloth on her head. She was running a mild fever and someone was nursing her.

When she looked around she saw that her room door was wide open. The maid that spoke to her days ago was sitting asleep on a chair next to her bed.

“H-hey? You awake?” She choked out in a strained voice.

The green Earthpony mare stired in the chair. “H-huh? W-hat?” She yawned and stretched. “Oh you're awake! Good,” the mare smiled warmly. “I tried to get you to answer the door. When I didn’t hear from you for a few days I got worried. I borrowed the front desk master key. When I came in and found you in a bad way.” The odd mare stood, walking over to the bed “My name is Eclipse. Mrs Nayomi, may I ask why a unicorn would want to stay in a place like this?” Eclipse asked, a curious smile on her face.

“U-ni…” a hoof reached up to her forehead and her eyes went wide. A sharp, full sized horn sat dead in the middle of her head. She didn’t answer the mare out of shock and confusion. What was she supposed to say?

Eclipse sighed, “Sorry you’re still sick so I shouldn’t be questioning. Just call if you need something,” Eclipse said as she exited the room.

Nayomi picked up her phone, which Eclipse must have put up on the table for her. Pen had sent a concerned reply. He gave her a time and an address for an appointment with… with a Changeling doctor?! She was just warned about them a few days ago.

Her appointment was today, in a few hours. She had to get up and get ready…

Easier said than done.

Even getting out of her bed was a challenge.

She rolled on her side, the damp cloth slipping onto the bed. She used her left hind hoof to push herself up. That’s when she heard an almighty crack. Her leg didn’t break but it did hurt right down in the bone. Whenever she moved her legs or neck, her bones would crack and ache severely.

She eventually made it onto her shaky hooves.

She grabbed her pistols and her jacket. She flipped the hood over her head and painfully made her way out of the hotel. Every step she took, every move of her head made her wince with crippling pain. She had been through worse before. She wasn’t about to give into her physical pain now.

The address that Pen gave her led her to an abandoned warehouse at the edge of town.

She entered cautiously through a side door.

She was surprised at what she found inside. There were at least two dozen or more Changeling nurses inside rushing around to the five pony doctors. Most of the nurses were changed but some were in their natural form. Nayomi looked around, still wincing as she did so.

A Changeling nurse in her natural state landed in front of her. Nayomi admired the bug pony’s form. She found it rather… comforting.

“Hello Mrs. How may I be of assistance?” the nurse smiled. Nayomi couldn’t pick it out but there was something was strange about the way the nurse approached her.

“I, uh, I had an appointment for Hataki,” Nayomi said with a frown. “It&s not for another half hour though,” she said sadly.

The nurse smiled. “Oh I think we can fit you in right now!” the nurse said as she trotted away, signaling Nayomi to follow her.

Nayomi shrugged but smiled a little as she walked behind the Changeling. She was lead to a doctor’s station inside of many of one of the many white tents inside the warehouse.

The changeling whispered to the doctor a moment and he nodded. “Take a seat Miss Nayomi,” the doctor said, pointing to the bed at the back of the room. “What can we help you with, dear?” the stalion asked with a smile.

"Well, I’ve been having these headaches lately and… well, I was an Earthpony when I came here. That, and I got out of bed with horrid cracking noises frome my bones and pain in my legs and neck,” Nayomi explained. As she did, the doctor and especially the nurse listened intently.

The stallion took down a few notes before turning back to her. “I’m going to need you to consent to a blood test to help determine whats wrong,” the doctor said, pulling needle out of packet on his desk. He attached a small vial to it and looked at her.

Nayomi just nodded and rolled up her sleeve. It only took a second or so and he was done. The Changeling used her magic to heal the small wound.

The doctor put the vial of blood on his desk. “We’ll get this examined and contact you with the results in about a week. I’ll give you something for the pain and send you on your way,” the stalion said. His printer started making a grinding sound and burnt out. “Cel’ damn it! Wait here I have to go find a printer somewhere else!” the stallion said as he slipped out of the tent.

The nurse jumped off the crate she was sitting on and walked over. “I have something better than any drugs he can give you.” She smiled handing Nayomi a large green bowl that looked to be made of some kind of resin. Inside the bowl was a gelatinous lime green liquid that sparked under the surface for a second.

Nayomi raised a brow at the gesture. “Eat up! Its Changeling royal jelly. It’ll kill the pain and give you energy!” the nurse smiled in an almost motherly way.

Nayomi took a hoof full and sucked it up. Her face lit up and she started to drink it down straight from the bowl. It was so sweet that she couldn’t get enough. When she finished, her headache had faded somewhat. She felt so energitic. She jumped off the bed a did a giddy little hop in place. “That stuff really works a treat!” she said, with a big smile on her face.

The Changeling only smiled and walked out of the tent. Nayomi peeked out just in time to see the nurse fly outside and into the distance. Right at that moment the doctor showed up, trotting fast. “Here, take these twice a day, every day for a week,” the out of breath stallion said.

“Thanks, Doc,” Nayomi said. She ran out of the tent and out of the warehouse.

She had enough energy to run all the way back to her hotel.