Samuel gave a look of confusion to his son's outburst, he looked to his wife hoping to find some form of answer but he was just met with Antonia's equally shocked expression. Samuel tried to get up from the large sofa in his office only to lose balance and tumble into side of his desk with a resounding thud and causing the piles of paper work on the desk to fall on top of him.

“Erm...Honey are you alright?” Antonia asked worried as she gazed at the heap of paper work concealing a good portion of her husbands body.

“...” Samuel set himself upright on all fours trying to muster what dignity he had remaining, “Well...you always did say paper work might be the death of me.” Samuel stated matter of factly trying to pretend that the incident never happened.

Samuel was about to say something else but his reflection the mirror caught his attention, in the mirror stood a white earth pony stallion, upon closer inspection he realised his mane and tail colour matched his normally blonde hair, he realised his eyes were a blueish shade of silver compared to his normally greyish blue eyes. He looked upon his flank for a cutie mark and found his was a red medical cross inside a stethoscope which formed a heart like shape around it.

“Interesting...” He muttered to himself, upon coming to the realisation of his new found form had also caused his glasses to adjust themselves to better fit his new body. “...this confirms the possibility of a clearly unnatural force, was this what Dr Narcissa was referring to or was it part of the process?” Bearing...recent discoveries in mind he tried to recall past memories and found he clearly remembered being human, “It would seem my memories have not been affected...yet.”

Scott gave his father a confused look, but Samuel reassured him that nothing was wrong, looking toward Antonia who seemed just as confused as he was but was at the same time was relieved that her husband was alright ponification aside.

“Now Mrs Geary, I'm sure you know why I've called you here.” Samantha inquired politely, Lynn or to be more precise Mark's mother sat at Dr Rio's desk, naturally when Samantha asked her to come by her office to discuss recent events regarding her...daughter she was worried as any other mother should be.

“...W-What's wrong with Mark? Did something happen?” Worry was rampant in her voice, “Is he okay?” Samantha had to reassure her that she was doing fine.

“Marcia has been experiencing...altered memories, much like every pony here in this hospital and most likely every pony across the globe.” Samantha explained, “On one side of things she remembers who she is, who her parents are and for all intents her personality has been unaffected...but.” She hesitated, “She remembers always being a pony...” Samantha let that sink in for a moment.

“...What's causing all this?” Lynn said concerned, “H-How bad is it?”

“It would seem that Marcia's memories aren't being forgotten, but rather overwritten. We don't know what is causing this at this moment in time but I can assure you Dr Weiss is doing all he can to figure out the cause.” Samantha continued, “As for Marcia's memories in question and from what Marcia herself has told me, she recently had a large argument with Shane. Apparently he had said something regarding her adopted daughter to which she took offence to.” Lynn remained silent wondering exactly how Shane of all people could have upset her daughter. “I won't divulge into what Marcia told me, due to patient confidentiality I can't say anything further unless Marcia gives me her consent to...”

“Of all the...” Lynn swore under her breath. “Can you at least tell me how she was when she saw you?” Samantha nodded in confirmation.

“Marcia...for a lack of a better term was heartbroken that Shane had said such a thing.” Samantha explained, “Given the rumour going around the hospital since Shane had arrived her...”

“What rumours?” Lynn said hotly, her anger rising at any sort of negative gossip regarding her...daughter.

“The rumour is that a lot of ponies and people here seem to be under the impression that Marcia and Shane are romantically involved.” Samantha explained.

“W-WHAT!?” Lynn exclaimed, “B-But they're nothing more than friends?”

“Well these are just rumours of course, but given the circumstances it is safe to assume such a thing given how they act and support each other.” Samantha continued, “I admit that this is indeed unusual...given their situation but I'm sure it's nothing like that.” She said to reassure Lynn, silently hoping that wouldn't be any truth to the rumours.

Lynn for lack of a better term looked distraught. She was fearful for her son's well being, it was hard enough to accept the fact her son was now her daughter but her memories were slowly being altered along with everyone else's.

“What am I going to do?” Lynn said concerned, “Surely there's a way to undo all this?” Samantha shook her head.

“The physical changes can't be undone, you know that as well as I do.” Samantha explained, “The memories we aren't so sure of, as we aren't sure of what is causing them to change.” Lynn just looked up at Samantha, “It'll be hard I know, but I assure you we are doing everything we can to solve this problem.”

“...But my son...” Lynn said sadly, “...it feels like I never got to know him...he was always so secretive, he never talked to me about his problems but he would always listen to mine...” Lynn just let out a bitter laugh, “I remember from time to time he would come home and ask me how my day was, but when I asked him he would always say 'nothing much' or 'the usual'. He would even come home injured on some occasions though he would do his best to hide it and say it was nothing to worry about. He tried to so hard to hide it from me, he would hide it so I wouldn't worry or be upset with him.” Samantha just sighed. “It got to the point that he came home one day from school completely exhausted, limping and nursing his left side, trying not to wince in pain. As he got through the front door he just looked at me and said he was sorry before passing out.”

“Yes I remember him telling me about that, he said he got into a fight with his cousin Peter.” Samantha recalled, “Maybe you should see this.” She said simply as she turned the thin PC screen to face Lynn.

“What is it?” Lynn asked curious and somewhat worried.

“This is what I'm legally allowed to show you regarding her medical and psychological profile.” Samantha explained, “It's become mandatory for us to record all this so we have some idea of how the transformation might affect them in the future.” Lynn just watched the screen with interest.

“Good morning Marcia, I appreciate you agreeing to take part in these videos.” The woman's voice which Lynn recognised as Dr Rio's greeted warmly.

“So how is this going to work then?” Marcia asked, her left ear twitched upon noticing the camera, “Is this being recorded?” Marcia's tail wrapped itself around her defensively, “...oh boy.” She said shyly.

“It's mandatory that this has to be recorded, I'm afraid.” Dr Rio explained, “It's nothing to worry about it's just a few questions.” Marcia's perked up a bit losing some of her shyness.

“O-Oh okay then, ask away.” Marcia replied nervous.

“Alright then first question how are you coping with your change in gender?” Marcia gave Dr Rio a confused look, and just shook her head.

“...I've always been like this.” Marcia answered, “I've been like this since I was born, why would my gender change?” Marcia looked thoughtful for a moment, “...I guess Shane and Matt must have been onto something then...” Marcia looked rather upset for a moment, her ears drooping slightly was a clear indication of her mood.

“It would appear so...” Dr Rio replied, “Does this upset you?” Marcia just nodded not bothering to give a verbal answer. “Is there anything further you wish to add?”

“No...let's just continue...” Marcia said simply.

“Alright then how have you been since I last saw you?” Dr Rio asked.

“I've been doing fine, Sunshine has been keeping me busy big time....” Marcia just let out happy laugh, “...it's weird spending a lot of time at the hospital though.”

“How so?” Dr Rio asked.

“Well some of the other people at the hospital have been giving every pony weird looks.” Marcia explained, “And to be honest it's creeping me out a bit.”

“...” Dr Rio said nothing but continued to write her notes. “Is your daughter worried about all this, I understand the great concern of her being here?”

“...” Marcia again said nothing, but her mood darkened considerably. “Next question if you don't mind...” Again Dr Rio took note of Marcia's reaction, and decided not to press the issue further.

“How do you think the others are taking the whole issue of the memory alteration?” Dr Rio asked, hoping to get a positive reaction. “I understand that this is becoming a concern amongst other ponies.”

“...I don't know what to make of it.” Marcia answered, her ears drooping once again, “...It's scary that something like this is happening...” Marcia seemed to be on the verge of crying.

“...Are you alright?” Dr Rio asked concerned, “Would you like a moment to calm down?”

“...N-no...I'm fine...” Marcia said simply, “It's just something my ex-boyfriend said...” This caught Lynn's interest but she said nothing and continued watching.

“What did he say?” Dr Rio asked.

“...” Marcia took a moment to calm herself before answering, “...H-He said that I adopted Sunshine...a-and he said we were never together at all...” Dr Rio said nothing, “...I-I mean how could he say such a thing, Sunshine is our daughter and I clearly remember giving birth to her...it should say so in my medical record.” Marcia once again was on the verge of tears. “...I-I'm sorry...I can't answer any more questions...”

“...It's all right Marcia, that's enough.” Dr Rio said her voice full of concern.

The video finished there, Lynn sat back clearly concerned. An ex-boyfriend? Is that how bad her memories have been affected? She asked herself.

“Did she mention anything further about the ex-boyfriend?” Lynn asked, hoping to get some further information.

“I overheard her talking with Antonia regarding getting together with someone but she never stated who.” Samantha said simply, “She sounded happy to be with him, whoever it is.”

“...” Lynn said nothing, this news was...unsettling for her. “I have to go, I'm going to see my son.” She stated simply, “This is a lot to take in...my son never expressed any interest in other men.” Samantha gave Lynn a stern look.

“I can understand your concern as her mother, but I assure it's nothing unnatural giving her situation now.” Samantha explained firmly, “Even if this wasn't the case due to the memory alteration who she wants to be with is her business and her business alone. She isn't the only person who has found herself as the opposite gender when she changed or found herself romantically involved with another pony because of it either.”

“...I see your point.” Lynn sighed, “She's an adult now, and she's capable of her own choices of who she wants to be with...” Samantha got up and put a reassuring hand on Lynn's shoulder.

“Like I said before we've had people looking into this memory alteration around the clock and Dr Weiss is looking into this personally.” Samantha reassured, “If there is anyone who can solve this problem I would bet good money it would be him and the staff working with him.” Samantha gave Lynn a small smile.

“I shouldn't keep you further from your work.” Lynn said simply, “I'll go see how my son is doing.” Lynn left Samantha alone in her office.

“...I hope Samuel finds something soon.” Samantha muttered to herself, picking up the phone, “Would you mind sending in Ms Jessica Anderson please, I'll see her now.”

Author's Note

And so the second part of Side by Side is done, I was thinking of writing a side story to Reignite written as the notes and interviews done by Samantha Rio and Samuel Weiss. I would imagine it would expand the story a bit considering it focuses on Mark, Shane and Matt mainly.

Tell me what you think of the idea.

-SPassion