Forgotten Children

The room thundered with applause, as each pony sitting at their assigned table looked up from their food and drinks and turned to the stage where a tall stallion took the podium and cleared his throat. His cream coat shone brightly under the spotlight, and he nervously adjusted his tie. As the applause died down, he spoke, “Well, this has been a wonderful evening, but let us all remember that this is a bittersweet occasion. We are here to both celebrate and say goodbye to own own special ‘Doc’ Alles.

“I remember his very early years with us here. I had spotted him on a sabbatical I had taken from the hospital. He was hauling a very rickety cart with ‘Medicine’ stenciled on either side. Bottles clinked and the cart squeaked and groaned as if it was to fall over at any moment.”

The stallion shot a sideways glance at Alles, who responded with a wry smile as the audience laughed. “But! He seemed well welcomed and there was no shortage of business for him. I admit it freely; I followed him like a spy to try and find out what his secret was. I thought it was a scam. Heal without magic? Unheard of!

“But lo and behold, he surprised me with his humility, his calm and gentle demeanor, and his rather impressive talent. We spoke on a few occasions, and I stayed longer than anticipated in that small town just to hear more from him.

“I think I’ll let him tell you more about himself, but I will say he was rightfully skeptical when I took the risk and offered him a full-time position at our hospital. He correctly guessed that very few ponies would put their faith in herbs and brews, but I saw the potential in what he had. Magic as a health remedy, as I’m sure you’re all aware, is taxing on on the caster. It requires great skill in many cases and often requires the subject to lie perfectly still. Not so easy when your patient is in pain, or worse, a scared foal in pain.”

The crowd nodded knowingly and started to chat amongst themselves. “But!” he continued, raising his hooves to quiet the crowd, “Alles’ holistic treatments were in fact quite effective and I knew that we’d have something no-pony else in Equestria could lay claim to. So with some coercion, I convinced him to come back with me.

“I found him a small home, and I introduced him to the hospital staff. Granted, I think some of you thought I went off the deep end. But I think we can all agree that what has transpired in the years since has been a great boon to us all, doubly so for all the foals and fillies he has treated with such care.”

The thunderous applause resumed, and try as he might, the stallion had to wait for it to die down on its own. “So with that, I will invite Doc to come up here…”

The elderly stallion at the far end of the stage slowly lifted himself out of his chair and moved up to the podium. Ponies cheered and applauded, but Alles kept calm as he carefully made his way to his colleague. Upon reaching the podium, the two embraced in a gentle hug, and Alles looked at the banner put up on the wall behind them with his name and picture.

“I must remark Dr. Life Light,” started Alles, “That you have yet again spelled my name incorrectly.” Life Light made a show of looking at the banner and acting surprised. “You spelled it as it sounds. Ales. But you’re missing an ‘l’.”

“Oh but Doc, how could I let this last chance to do so slip by? Don’t tell me you would rather retire in peace and dignity.”

“I had some hope before this evening started,” replied Alles wearily, hearing laughter from the crowd. Life Light took his seat nearby, and Alles addressed the crowd. “Many of you have been with me since I first began working here, but I doubt many of you know much from before that. I will regale you with a brief history of my life.

“My family has for many generations lived at the forest edge of the Smoky Mountains. We have lived a simple life of gardening, farming, and for me, venturing out into the wild forests to look for new plants. My dear sister remains there still, and I shall be visiting her to spend my final days.

“I found my skill in converting oft-useless and sometimes poisonous plants into useful brews and poultices. Fate can be kind of funny at times, and my cutie mark did not behoove me. If you have not seen it-” Alles moved to the side and lifted his coat to reveal a rather sickly-looking skull and crossbones. Some of the crowd nodded, others gasped. It was quite a shock against the brown coat and cream-turning-grey hair color of the retiring doctor. “I know how it looks, which is why many of you have not seen it. I didn’t believe it then, nor do I now, that it would instill calm and trust in my patients. So I keep it hidden.

“But apart from my love of the things that grow in the wilds, I also have always loved children. Their smiles when they are happy fill me with great joy. And so I wanted to spread my talent with the world, so that more children could be happy. It was not well accepted at first, but the pains I went through to spread my medicine were worth it each time a sickly child smiled as he or she began to feel better.”

The crowd ‘aww’d’ and some clapped, as Alles continued, “But I do agree with Dr. Life Light, that his trust in me had been for the best. And while I did not see to raise my own family, I consider my life to have been happily lived. I have taught what I can and left my knowledge in the hands of some brilliant ponies, but I sometimes fear my gift will be gone with me. But sadly, I am no longer fit to stay. My body grows old and frail, my strength leaves, and there is no remedy, magical or holistic, that will cure what ails me.”

The crowd sat in silence, the grim reminder of their own mortality a sobering thought. Alles picked up on that cue and said more brightly, “But I do not wish sadness on you all. As I said, I am happy. I will leave here happy tonight as I hope all of you do, and when I leave this world I shall also be at peace.” Alles stepped down and was met by Life Light’s arms, and applause so loud it seemed as if the convention hall itself might come crashing down. The two old friends clung tightly to one another, finally letting go when Alles almost lost his balance.

“I apologize my friend,” said Alles, “But I fear I have stayed too long. I must take my leave to return home. My sister has waited many years for me to come, and I do not want to disappoint her.”

Life Light nodded and helped Alles off the stage and out the back to his awaiting carriage. Bundling his friend into the back, he thought how much they both had grown since they first met. He closed the door with one last goodbye, and watched his friend leave one final time.

...

The carriage sped swiftly through the night, arriving at his family’s home amongst the trees just after daylight the next morning. The cabbie helped Alles out, but found the elder pony to be insistent that he make his own way to the door. The cabbie advised Alles that his bags would arrive the next day. Alles smiled, and bid the cabbie a safe return journey. He turned as the cabbie left, and stared at his childhood home.

The small home was built of wood and stone, and the thatched roof had seen better days. But it was still standing, surrounded by the trees which covered the small garden he knew was just around the back. Alles slowly made his way up the stone path he had trodden a million times before, his hooves making small noises against the aged stone. He stepped onto the porch and pushed the door open. It squeaked and groaned as if it, too, had reached the end of its days.

Sitting in a tattered rocking chair in the den was an equally old and frail mare. Her gardening smock hung neatly on the coat rack behind her, and she smiled as she rocked slowly back and forth. “I see you’ve finally come back to me Malt.”

Alles hung his coat on the empty hook that had always been his. “Yes, dear sister, I have returned. And I suppose you know that I shall only leave one more time. But I promised you that I would see you again, and here I am.”

Alles made his way into the den. He carefully looked his only sibling over, and smiled. “Your beautiful green coat grows as green and thick as the grass, as mother always said it would.”

“Yes, but my beautiful mane is as grey as yours.”

Alles looked at her as he sat, and she returned his gaze with a warm smile. “I have always worried over you Malt, going into the wide world, and not knowing what may have become of you. But you have brought peace and love to many, and I cannot fault you for leaving home to do so.”

“Green, your smile is as tender and loving as I day I left. Even if you hated me, I could never hate you. But I have to admit something to you. The next time I leave it will not be because I have passed.” Green looked inquisitively at her brother, who continued, “I have always planned to make one last trip to the Smoky Mountains, and be among the wild things as I have always enjoyed.”

Green’s smile faded. “Malt, you can’t be serious. there’s no guarantee that you’ll even make it. And I know you don’t intend to return. Please...stay here with me.” Green sighed, suddenly tired.

Malt Alles smiled back, but this was a knowing grin. “Sister, you look very tired. Before it is too late to do so, let me ask you something important. Do you remember when I was but a little foal of about five, and got lost in the woods?”

Green nodded slowly, her eyes struggling to stay open. “You...you got lost and father went to find you. He was gone for two days but both of you returned home alive. Why that...that never stopped you...from going back…” she trailed off, her breathing becoming shallow.

Alles stood from his chair and walked with the confidence of a young stallion to his fading sister. His eyes, blue and crisp as never before, locked to hers and she found she could no longer move. “Sister, I will return to the forest that is and always has been my true my home. On that day...Malt never did return.” The soft brown of his coat faded, and his eyes took on a deep emerald hue and Green watched in what horror she could muster as her brother - faithful, loved, humble and brilliant - shed his skin and the shiny black carapace of a changeling sprouted from underneath.

“I have kept all my promises,” Alles said, his voice cracking with guilt, “And while I cannot truly say that I ever loved you, you are correct that I brought love to many. And they in turn shared their love with me. Their love has kept me young beyond many years, and now the last of your love shall send me on my way. Just do one thing for me, sister.” The changeling’s eyes softened and it leaned in close as Green Alles struggled; her heart breaking, her mind spinning, and her life slipping away. She could feel cold growing inside of her heart as it passed all of her fond memories and her love to this creature.

Softly it whispered to her, “Go in peace…”

As the world faded and stars shone in her head, she passed from this world into the next.

...

“Malt” gently eased his sister’s limp body back into her chair. He folded her arms and closed her eyes. He made her look as peaceful as possible, and finishing that, took his coat from the hook along with the magical coat he had shed and tossed them into the glowing embers of the hearth. “Sister…” he said sullenly, “My bags will arrive tomorrow. But I will already be gone and you will not be telling of what transpired here. Your mother and father have passed long ago, but my Mother has not. I must see her for the first time I can recall. I have much to discuss and now seems the appropriate time. This phase of my life has passed and so too does the story of Malt ‘Doc’ Alles.”

He walked toward the back door, his eyes shimmering green and his carapace growing rough. The door opened in a slight magical aura and one by one four thorny feet stepped out. His green eyes glowed under the leaves, and the timberwolf stepped quietly through the garden, being careful not to step on a single plant, and into the dark forest as the door closed.