Pilot Chapter - Ultrasonic Lullaby
"Eemm..." A pair of uncertain golden-yellow harlequin eyes peered up and down the long, white-washed waiting room. Its rows and rows of seats gaped empty like the maw of a Tatzlwurm. There was a little gulp as the bright mind behind those eyes quickly assessed its chances of survival. It quickly simulated all the possible scenarios, including one where a dragon dual-wielding timberwolves riding a hydra stormed Ponyville Infirmary. All projections inevitably led to one outcome - failure. "Em, proooobably should've gone with plan F; remove all the toilet paper in the Infirmary and coming to his rescue with the last roll." Fuzzy brows furrowed as she thought out loud to herself. "But he'd be in the stallion's washrooom! That'd be naughty!" She wailed, clutching her head in her hooves at the blindingly obvious flaw in the plan.
"Alright, plan X it is then." The young mare nodded to herself, reaching into her little nursing saddlebag and pulling out a folded sheet of paper. "Plan X, by Change'A Heart." She read out as she flattened out the blueprints to her friend's master plan on the floor with her hooves. "Change'A Heart lures Doc away from room. Night Shift sneaks into Doc's room. Drink blood pack supplied by Change'A Heart. Wait for Doc to return." She blinked, turning her head to one side, as if expecting more text to magically appear. "That's it? What happens next?" She asked the sheet of paper, as if expecting it to answer. She felt her hoof brush over something attached with a safety pin to the blueprints. It was a small square plastic wrapper the size of her nose containing something flat and circular. Somepony, presumably Change'A Heart, had scribbled something on it with a black marker. 'For luck' it said. She lowered her muzzle to it and gave it a light sniff. "Em, luck smells like mangos?" She blinked.
The young mare's train of thought was momentarily put on hold as something shiny distracted her, as shiny things often do. It was a mirror, a full length one, standing to one side of the lion's den she intended to brave. "Allow a mirror to show you balls, and your inner-self shall be balls itself." She read out to herself from a photographic mental copy of another self-help book. Whatever 'balls' were, they sounded better than the nothing she had at the time. Nevermind that the book was written by a certain Bulk Biceps.
Satisfied that the coast was clear four little fluffy hooves shuffled her over the worn linoleum flooring to the mirror. "Mirror balls moment!" She declared to herself determinedly as she reared up and placed her forehooves on the mirror. A very young thestral mare grimaced back at her, big fluffy ears pinned down low against her mane, crimson harlequin eyes filled with enough doubt to sink Cloudsdale, fur-tipped leathery bat wings fluttering with enough anxiety to propel entire storms of butterflies.
She settled onto her haunches before the mirror, a thoughtful look on her face. She turned her head this way and that, lifting a hoof to her soft velvety violet and pinkish-white mane, patting the poufy twintails she had fashioned them into. She wanted to believe the mane-style at least made her look, well, friendly. It was about as easy as believing Princess Celestia potties. The rest of her lent little more confidence. Not that she was trying, seeing as she had donned a full set of white nursing scrubs over her pale peach fur. Including the baggy white trousers, yes, the trousers. Frumpy as they were, least they kept her cutie mark hidden. That and they matched the little nursing cap nestled in between her fluffy ears. To her frustration, however, the picture before her most definitely lacked these 'balls' she sought.
"Eeem, maybe my inner balls are too afraid of me to come out?" She murmured hopefully, cocking her head to one side. "I am the night!" She suddenly declared in valiant attempt at drawing these elusive balls out. She reared back onto her rearhooves as she pulled her two-toned fuchsia and pink mane about herself like a big fluffy cape. She teetered there on her rearhooves in silence for the briefest moment. "But, em, a pleasant, breezy, well-lit summer-y entirely-not-dangerous kind of night! *Squee*" She quickly added with a sheepish squee, just in case her reflection was actually listening. Realizing to her horror that that was as unballsy as 'unballs' gets, she gave out another wail of despair before falling flat on her face on the floor. Growling quietly at herself she quickly jumped onto her hooves once more. "Balls!" She declared to herself, "Balls balls ballsy ballsing grand galloping balls!" She cried, hopping in place on all four hooves in a little balls summoning dance. Feeling no 'balls' forthcoming she threw her head back and wailed once more, "Fine, be that way, naughty balls!" She aimed a glare at her reflection. "We''ll have this discussion later."
Her eyes were drawn back to the plastic wrapper marked 'For Luck' on the floor. "If I can't get by with balls then I'll need all the luck I can get, really." She nodded to herself, picking the wrapper up in her forehooves before tearing it open with her fangs. She chomped the wrapper's contents whole. She tilted her head from one side to another as she chewed on the strange lucky substance that had all the consistency of a whoopee cushion. "Luck tastesh wike mangoesh." She murmured thoughtfully through the mouthful of mango-flavoured chewiness, frowning a little at the rather tangy aftertaste. "Very weird mangoesh." She gave a little cough as the rubbery surface tickled her throat. Her eyes widened as she felt it suddenly inflate against her tongue. She frowned before giving it another experimental puff of air. To her surprise it inflated like a little party balloon. Another blow and it expanded to poke out of her lips. A few more puffs and it was a veritable little party balloon, if a little transparent and colourless. "Luck ish fun!" She giggled. One razor sharp fang caught on the rubbery surface amidst her fit of giggles, causing a loud...
BAAAAANG!
The loud bang sent her leaping out to hug her reflection for safety. "Eeeeee-..." She gave a loud squeak of fright before it was cut off rather rudely by her reflection.
The familiar form of Nurse SweetHeart could only wince as the wet splat of Night Shift receiving a faceful of mirror filled the empty waiting room. "Oh, there you are, Shifty. Watcha' doin', reflecting on yourself?" The sourplum-candy-maned lavender nurse chuckled as she trotted over and reached up with her forehooves to peel her friend off the mirror with a loud plop.
"C-CandyHeart?" The dazed thestral wobbled a little as she struggled to find all 7 of her hooves.
"Nopes, it's SweetHeart at the moments, at least from 5 PM until we hit Berry Punch's pub laters." SweetHeart giggled. "Violet plot, on the trot, I'm SweetHeart." She said, turning her flank towards Night Shift to show off her violet cross-and-hearts cutie mark. "And red hot, lost my frock, I'm CandyHeart." The violet cross erupted in a brief green magical glow before turning a bright red. "But off the clock, I'm Change'A Heart." She gave Night Shift a wink, one lavender eye gleaming a bright emerald green for the briefest moment.
"Eeem, hot plot, candytrot, violet clock, sweetplot." Night Shift chanted to herself, tilting her head from side to side as if trying to clear up space for this new piece of information.
"Dont' think about it too hards. Your head might breaks. And Doc will have my cocoon for its." Change'A Heart chuckled, waving a hoof at her friend. "Don't want to upset the queen of the hive after alls."
"That bang already took care of that, really." Night Shift shook her head free of the last of the breezies floating about inside. "What was that...explody thing?" Night Shift asked, frowning.
"A human invention of some sorts from Doc's world." Change'A Heart grinned, pulling out a little plastic wrapper from her own nursing saddlebag and ripping it open with a fang, revealing a fresh specimen. "Some medical company pony came by earliers to talk to Docs about thems. They want us to start giving these outs to patients or somethings. Very generous ponies, left lots and lots of free samples. Managed to sneak ins and steal a fews." She giggled mischievously.
"They want us to give out party balloons, really?" Night Shift asked, suspiciously. "Really scary violent explody party balloons?" She shivered, backing away a little from the specimen in Change'A Heart's hooves. "W-why should we give our poor patients something so naughty?"
"They're called pon-bons? Con-tons? Bon-doms? Something like thats." Change'A Heart shrugged. "The medical company pony said they bring mares and stallions closer together. It's like a lucky charm that way."
"Em? How does it do that?" Night Shift asked, curious. "
"Well, maybe mares use it to distract stallions. You know how distractible they are. Like this." Change'A Heart took a deep breath before blowing into hers. It swelled up to ten times its original size. That was until it expanded up to Change'A Heart's prominent fangs and...
BAAAAAANG
"Reereereee..." Change'A Heart giggled impishly as the echoes died away in the deserted corridors. Suddenly the transparent party balloon was no more. So was Night Shift. "It's awesomes! And it explodes! Just like everything from Doc's world. Right, Shifty?" She giggled, looking around. There was a distinct lack of thestral in her immediate vicinity. "Shifty, where are yous, filly?" She asked, turning around in circles in search of her thestral friend.
"Eeeeeee...." Change'A Heart heard a soft squeak come from somewhere above. She looked up and found the thestral upside down, quivering body flat against the ceiling, her hooves pulling her fluffy ears down against her mane, eyes shut tight as if her life depended on it.
"What're you doing up theres, silly filly?" Change'A Heart trilled, "The awesome's all over heres."
"I-it can stay there then. A-And I can stay here." Night Shift squeaked from somewhere under her hooves.
"Well...uh..." Change'A Heart began, a quirky smile playing across her lips, "What about the plan? Doc's office is kinda down here though. Weren't you going in?" She asked, shrugging a shoulder towards the tall, foreboding portal in question.
"D-Down?" The thestral slowly peered out from between her hooves. Her big gold eyes only grew larger as she realized she was, in fact, stuck upside down to the ceiling. In her surprise she allowed gravity to catch up as well. "Eeeeeee!" She squeaked, suddenly loosing purchase on the ceiling as her hooves scrabbled helplessly at thin air.
"You have wings, Shifty." Change'A Heart pointed, lazily.
"Em! Wings, wings, em, more wings!" Night Shift squeaked, wings flaring out haphazardly in her panic.
Change'A Heart could only wince once more as the thestral swooped down to knock on the door with her face. "That's the spirit, Shifty. Now, just open the door." She said, giving the light fuchsia blob flattened against the door an encouraging flank bump.
"D-Door?" Night Shift's eyes slowly widened, as if struggling to take in the flaming dark aura of the gates of Tartarus looming before her. It was helpfully labeled 'Doctor', just to make sure nopony mistook just what monster lurked within. "Eeeee-..." She gave a long, soft squeak, fluffy ears flopping down onto her mane, as she peeled herself off the door with a plop and scrabbled backwards surprisingly deftly on her hindhooves.
"Come ons, filly. I went to all that trouble to send Doc off to that really chatty patient in Rosewither ward just so you can sneak ins. Are you really going to breezy out on mes?" Change'A Heart demanded. "Here, I even brought you a little liquid courage." She pulled something else out of her saddlebag before pressing something cool against Night Shift's chest.
"This is..." Night Shift's eyes suddenly gleamed as her hooves closed around the chilled little plastic sleeve containing a pint of thick, juicy red B-word. She quickly checked the expiry date. Yep, out of date, fair game. "O negative! My favourite! Thanks, Change." She squeed. The very sight of the little pack of liquid courage alone seemed to inspire newfound confidence in the young thestral.
Whether or not it was misplaced confidence remained to be seen. Change'A Heart was enjoying herself too much to care. "Keep the change." She grinned playfully. "Just go in there, sit up on his desk as we normally do, sort some paperwork, sip some of this and....err...chat. You know, like we planned. Talk it all out."
"Y-yes. We haven't talked in such a long time." Night Shift murmured, twiddling her hooves over the little packet of blood. "What sort of friends never talk, really?"
Change'A Heart could only stare, her expression one of open incredulity. "He's too busy walking around with his hooves in his mouth to talk. Really, he only opens his mouth to change hooves." She poked a hoof on Night Shift's chest, "And you, filly, can't even talk to your own reflection."
"I'm working hard at that." Night Shift said determinedly, "I'm on page 356, paragraph 2, line 3 of my latest self-help book."
Change'A Heart spied out the little book peeking out of the pocket of Night Shift's nursing scrubs. The top bit read 'The Assertive Me, by Fluttershy'. "I can see that." She deadpanned. "Okay, at least smile at him. Show me your smile, filly."
"Eeeee~" The thestral gave her a watery toothy smile that showed off her prominent fangs.
Change'A Heart stared for a few moments, trying her best to find some optimism in this somewhere. She finally gave up with a sigh, "Yes, that'll do. Good girl." She looked around. "Right, he'll be back any moment now. Come on, show us the product of all that bookwork. Knock him out with your talk." She said, giving the thestral a shove towards the door.
"Yes. Casual talk moment." Night Shift declared to herself with a determined nod before striding purposefully into the lion's den. "Thanks, Change, for all the help!" She said, before shutting the door with a click, a sound reminiscent of a sarcophagus snapping shut.
A slow smile played across Change'A Heart's face. It was a rather dangerous place for something as innocent as a smile. The smile quickly grew into a juvenile roguish grin as its owner trotted off.
"Rereereeree..." Change'A Heart giggled to herself as she trotted over towards a ventilation grating hidden away behind a potted mango bonsai. Her
"The overworked and tired Trixie saw you fooling around when Trixie's still stuck doing overtime at 9 PM in the evening, CandyHeart." The rather disgruntled azure form of the resident nursing student complained loudly. The unicorn untied the ponytail her silver white mane had been tied into with a burst of her magenta magic, tossing it free over her shoulder as she stepped up towards the senior nurse. "This had better be good." She muttered, her tone just a pitch short of a threat.
"Oh, trust me, Trixie." Change'A Heart said, waving her nursing student over. "Did you bring the popcorn?"
"With extra butter and salt." Trixie said wearily, lifting the extra large feeding bag brimming with popcorn. "Wasn't that blood you gave Night Shift?" She asked, raising an eyebrow slowly.
"Yep." Change'A Heart grinned her usual impish grin.
"What...kind?" Trixie asked, suspicion rising with her eyebrow.
"Just O negative." Change'A Heart shrugged innocently.
"It wouldn't happen to be human O negative, would it?" Trixie was already beginning to back away, as if afraid the madness was in some way contagious.
"Oh, come on, Trixie. It's not even whole blood, or fresh for that matter." Change'A Heart said, waving a hoof dismissively. "What's the worst that could happen?" She giggled the infamous last words of many a dead, well, dead people. Before Trixie could turn tail and dash for safety Change'A Heart had bitten down on Trixie's tail and pulled her along with her into the ventilation duct.
"Oh, nothing bad, Trixie's sure." Trixie shrugged, quite the impressive feat considering she had planted her hooves and body flat against the ventilation duct's sides. "Only Night Shift going bat-pony crazy!" She snapped, hooves kicking up sparks as she was dragged helplessly further and deeper into the darkness of the ducts. "Oh, Celestia, we are so bucked."
Night Shift couldn't help but feel odd whenever she entered Doc's office. There was the anxiety that most visitors always feel. Even she, the nurse, couldn't shake the feeling that she was being examined from mane to hoof from the moment she entered through the door. But there was also that familiar, soft, reassuring scent mixed in amongst the smell of clinical alcohol and cold metal. It was his scent, Doc's scent, the first scent she could ever remember. She took in a deep breath. Despite the anxiety that scent always steadied her, centered her universe. Yes, it was perhaps not a stretch to say this was where her universe revolved, from the moment she woke up for the first time a year ago.
The office of Ponyville's only doctor was a humble white-washed affair, devoid of any frills beyond the bleached curtain obscuring a row of wall-length windows along one side. Night Shift always marveled at how down-to-earth and simple Doc was, moreover at how well his office reflected that. Everything from the simple desk to the sparse but clean equipment benches spoke of an orderly, practical personality. The fact that the patient's chair was set just to one side of the desk close to the doctor's, how the little toybox containing toys and stickers for foals and humans alike sat just within reach, all spoke of a subtly kind and caring persona. That everything was hand-crafted and home-made spoke of something else entirely, of an institution barely keeping itself afloat on the good intentions of its own employees.
Her eyes were inescapably drawn to the simple patient gurney set to one corner. It was here that he, an unemployed human, hijacked the entire Ponyville Infirmary to treat one patient he had found on the street that fateful night. He not only saved that patient's life, he saved her wings. In the hands of any other pony doctor those wings would have been sacrificed in favour of the patient's life. But Night Shift knew she would rather have died than live the rest of her life without her wings. Yes, she was that patient, his first ever patient, the patient who landed him the job as Ponyville's doctor...after a night in the Ponyville lockup of course.
More shinies distracted Night Shift from her quiet contemplation. Her bright golden eyes were drawn to a corner of Doc's desk where a familiar little book sat open, contents awash with sparkle paper and glitter glue. "Eeeeem? What's this doing here?" She wondered out loud. She stumbled up the steps set against the side of the desk made to allow nurses to climb onto Doc's human-sized desk to help with the paperwork. She sat down to regard the book closely. There was no mistaking all the sparkly hearts and glittery rainbows; it was indeed her little newspaper scrapbook. It was open to an entry dated 4 years ago. The newspaper cutout's headlines read, 'Fancy Pants Appointed First Equestrian Ambassador To Earth. Immigration Opens.' This was followed by 'Human and Pony Doctors Exchange Knowledge. New Xenologists Able to Treat Humans and Equestrians Born.', 'Accelerated Xenology Training Program Offered to Human and Pony Students.', 'High demands for Xenologists as HRM Princess Celestia Promises Xenologists in Every Town.'
Night Shift placed a hoof on the black and white newspaper picture of the young human, still just a student back then, shaking the hoof of no other than princess Celestia herself, his compassionate smile as radiant as the sun herself. Night Shift's fond smile turned into a little frown as she flipped the page. the next entries read, 'Human Xenologist Implicated in Mysterious Death of A Noble. Court in Uproar.', 'Xenologists Discredited by Prince Blueblood.', 'Xenology Training Program Cancelled. Hundreds of Students Left Without Direction or Money.', 'Former Human Male Xenology Trainees Join Equestrian Male Escort Company, Gentlemen For Mares, In Desperation.' The last few entries had been smoothed out or stuck back together after evidently being crumpled or torn.
The next undamaged entry read, 'Young Human Appears Out of Nowhere. Appointed Doctor to Ponyville Infirmary.', followed by, 'Nobility Questions the Appointment of a Human Doctor, Drawing Attention to His Lack of Qualifications.'. Night Shift couldn't help but smile as she read on, 'Ponyville Infirmary Saved by Appointment of New Doctor. Citizens More Concerned About Lack Of Celebrations Than His Lack of Qualifications.', 'Rumours of Changelings in Disguise Running Ponyville Infirmary Quashed by New Doctor. Nobility Demand Further Investigations.', 'Human Doctor Under Attack for Defending Bat Pony Right To Work as Nurse. Vulnerable Patients at Risk Says Nobility.'. 'Nurse Bat Pony Found to Be Uncollared and Unlicensed. Ponyville Infirmary Once Again Under Guard Scrutiny.', '"Would You Collar A Unicorn, a Pegasus or an Earth Pony?!" Human Doctor Boldly Criticizes Bat Pony Licensing Law. Nobility Takes Offense at Human's Lack of Cultural Awareness.'
Night Shift's brows furrowed noticeably at the next few entries. 'First Death Under Controversial New Doctor. Veteran Lunar Guard Died of Causes Left Undisclosed by Royal Order.', 'Wife of Dead Lunar Guard, Local Schoolteacher, Distraught. Unconfirmed Rumours Say She is With Foal.', 'Nobility Demands Investigation Into Rumours, Raising Concerns Of The Possibility Of A Misborn Bat Pony.', 'Human Doctor Boldly Speaks Out Against Grievous Invasion of Patient's Privacy And Brash Racism. "It's 'Thestral', You B******s!". Nobility Reopens Investigations Into Doctor's Qualifications.'
Night Shift raised a hoof to gently caress the little gem-like orb set in the black collar strapped around her neck. Her name had been magically engraved into its glassy depths along with her license number. Inscribed on the back, pressed against her heart, was the name of her 'Responsible Handler', Doc's name. The day he had to put it around her neck Doc had promised to one day shove it down the throat of prince Blueblood himself. She had silently promised herself she wouldn't let him. It meant too much to her. She allowed herself a fond smile as she was reminded why exactly she wanted to not only be useful to this proud stallion but also be his close companion and friend. She gave herself a confident nod as she settled herself in front of a tall stack of patient notes, ready to attack it with renewed gusto.
"Oh, almost forgot." She gave a sudden nervous giggle as she reached into her nursing saddlebags and pulled out the little blood pack. "I should stick to plans more often." She said, sticking a straw through the IV port in the bag. "Plans are yummy." She smiled contentedly as she took a nice long slurp.
"Winter wrap-up, winter wrap-up," A mop of messy bed hair sang cheerfully. It was easily this tall creature's most defining feature, the rest of his plain lanky form completely hidden by a loose T-shirt, slacks and a pair of sandals. 4 years ago before first contact this predatory alien would have been accused of stalking menacingly in the dark. In this day and age however he was just shuffling in a bit of a slouch, one hand swinging a stethoscope idly, the other snapping his fingers to the beat of the catchy winter tune. "How can I help? I'm new you see. What does a human do? How do I fit in without hooves? I haven't got a clue."
He swung his stethoscope around his neck before reaching out to the portal to his lair. Contrary to popular belief, the label upon his door was not intended to scare ponies away, it was to avoid him walking into the mare's changing room next door. In fact he still bore the horseshoe-shaped souvenirs on his buttocks from the day he decided to label his door with his name.
"Winter wrap-up, winter wrap-up! Let's finish our holiday cheeeeer!" He sang out loud in a high pitched off-key aria that would have made eunuchs envious as he spun into his office, closing his door with a flourish. "Err..." He noticed the light pink thestral sitting on his desk. "You saw that." He grimaced.
"Sluuuuuuurp~<3" The thestral was entirely oblivious to his presence, seemingly settled on some higher plane of existence judging by the look of pure bliss on her face.
"Or...not." He deflated a little.
"Sodium 152, potassium 6.4, salty with a savoury touch~" The thestral sighed dreamily. "Blood sugar 14.2, likely diabetic, wonderfully sweet~"
"That's just the blood pack sitting too long in the fridge." Doc said, smiling a little at the adorable sight. He glanced at the blood pack in the little thestral's hooves. 'O negative.' 'Must be a coincidence' He thought to himself, quickly dismissing the fact that it was his own blood group. His heart suddenly froze. He did a double-take that would have left most vertebrates with spinal whiplash, stepping backwards to peer at the blood pack once more. 'HUMAN' it read in big capital lettering. O negative is a rare human blood group. In Ponyville there was only one source. Him. And RedHeart was insistent on there being at least one blood pack of O negative blood at all times.
Horror slowly dawned.
"Oh grand galloping balls." He muttered, lowering himself into a crouch behind his desk.
Doc found a cardboard box helpfully labeled 'Fragile' sitting behind his desk. He quickly ducked under it before slowly but surely maneuvering towards the door under its
The poor mare had lost her husband, a veteran of Luna's night guard, just a little over a year ago, around the time both Doc and Night Shift coincidentally began working in Ponyville.
"I'm going to need the cardiotocograph or the ultrasound machine at Canterlot General." Doc muttered, lowering his stethoscope. "At the very least I will need their ultrasound doppler."
"W-what does that mean?" Cherilee raised herself up on her forehooves, eyes wide with panic. "D-Did you hear her? Did you hear anything? What does that mean?"
"We don't have time-..." Doc felt his duster sleeve catch on something. He looked down and found that it was in fact the mouth of a rather stern-looking Night Shift.
"Calm down, Doctor."Night Shift said, releasing his sleeve before placing a hoof up on his hand, gently. "Please, please explain to Ms. Cherilee. She's scared. She needs you to explain things to her clearly." Her voice quivered with her lips but she just about managed to say her part.
"Y-yes, th-thank you, Nighty." Doc calmed down visibly, sighing a little as he took Night Shift's proferred hoof, giving it a squeeze for comfort, mostly his own. "Sorry, Ms. Cherilee, I didn't mean to startle you. Please stay calm. I couldn't hear anything with the stethoscope, but that doesn't mean anything. The stethoscope was not designed for this. The only way to be sure is to use special human machinery. Unfortunately the only units in Equestria at the moment are at Canterlot General. But we will get you there as quickly as we could."
"Canterlot?! By Celestia, by the time we get there she might....she might..." Cherilee's watery eyes widened visibly as she threw a hoof over her tummy protectively. "N-no...not my foalie." She whimpered, a sudden rush of tears
"Please? Stay calm? For your foalie's sake?" Night Shift suggested, wrapping her hooves around Cherilee's.
"Yes. Just stay and breathe, Ms. Cherilee. I'm going to the Princess' palace to ask her for the pegasus chariot. Stay with her, Night Shift." Doc said, preparing to leave.
"Wait!" Night Shift suddenly blurted out. "W-wait, Doc."She said, uncertainty creeping in.
"What is it, Night Shift?" Doc demanded impatiently, one hand on the door.
"I..." Night Shift gulped, closing her eyes tight before blurting the rest of her words out, "I-I can do it!"
"No, I need you to stay with Ms. Cherilee." Doc snapped, pressure visibly getting the better of him.
"No, I mean, I'll do the ultrasound!" Night Shift squeaked, voice strained with every ounce of courage she could muster.
"Night Shift." Doc's eyes narrowed. "No. You're not..." He began, his expression furrowed with intense concern.
"Please, Doctor!" Night Shift whimpered, eyes tearing up as she looked up pleadingly at the doctor. "Please, let me do this..." She whispered, voice finally cracking under the strain. "Please..."
"Nighty..." Doc knelt by the trembling threstral, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. He sighed, muttering something to himself, before looking at Night Shift hard and long. "Are you sure about this?"
Night Shift gave a silent little nod, putting on her bravest possible face, which on anypony else would have been an expression of watery gut-wrenching fear.
"Fine." Doc sighed, "But promise me one thing. If it becomes too much for you I want you to tell me so we can stop." He said, looking her sternly in the eye. Night Shift gave him a vigorous nod in reply. "Ms. Cherilee. Night Shift has kindly volunteered to do the Scan for us." Doc said to their patient.
"Wait? You have the machinery thing?" Cherilee asked.
Doc remained silent, instead looking over at Night Shift, as if quietly asking her for permission.
"Please, Doctor, tell her. She needs an explanation." Night Shift said, "But, um, just the essentials?" She added, meekly.
Doc gave Night Shift a smile and a nod. "Most thestrals can use high frequency sound waves to navigate in the dark, something we call echolocation." Doc explained, patiently, as he picked up Night Shift gently. Night Shift gave a little squeak but did not protest as the doctor gently carried her over and placed her on a trolley pushed up against Cherilee's gurney. "Now, Night Shift is special. Her hearing is many times more sensitive than the average thestral, allowing her to visualize sound the same way you and I see light. Combined with her echolocation she can 'see' through anything that sound can pass through. For example walls, your tummy, that sort of thing. But, more than that, her brain is many times faster, allowing her to process and compare that information millisecond to millisecond. What that means is she can not only visualize sound, she can perceive changes in it. That allows her to see any kind of movement, including heart beats, blood flow, everything an ultrasound machine can, but better."
"How is that....?" Cherilee's eyes widened.
"Ah, and that's where I'll stop." The doctor said, pressing a finger to his lips. "Just take it at face value and leave it at that. And once I turn off Night Shift's hearing aids, you need to stay as still and quiet as you can. The slightest excess sound will hurt her. If she shows any sign of pain we're stopping and taking you to Canterlot. I hope you understand."
"D-Doctor. There's no need for..." Night Shift began, fidgeting uncomfortably, before she felt the doctor's large, warm hand come to rest in between her ears, silencing her.
"If we're doing it, we're doing it my way, Nighty." Doc said, in his usual final tone. "Remember, when I built you your hearing aids, we did it on the condition that Iam the only one ever allowed to turn it off."
"Y-yes, d-doctor." Night Shift nodded meekly.
"Y-yes, of course." Cherilee nodded. "Please stop if you become uncomfortable, Night. I don't want to cause you any pain."
"It's no pain at all." Night Shift said with a watery smile.
"I'm turning your hearing aids off, Nighty." Doc whispered. "Do it quickly, nothing excessive. Just a quick cardiotocograph reading is all I want. No ultrasound scans, you understand me?"
"Yes, doctor. I-I'm ready." Night Shift nodded, perking up her ears to allow Doc to reach in and switch off the delicate little devices sitting inside her ears. There was a click. Suddenly every rustle of Doc's fingers, every brush against her ears, became painfully audible to her. Not just that, she became painfully aware of the room, a dim outline forming in her mind built off random deflections of background sound. She could hear, perhaps even feel, Doc holding his breath, so as to not hurt her with his breathing. His heart, however, betrayed his normally calm exterior. It was racing with the telltale pattern of concern, but not his usual cold, clinical urgency. It was emotional, unstable, almost pained. 'He's...he's worried for me' She felt butterflies flutter against her insides at the thought. She could feel his diaphragm quiver, straining with his held breath, reminding her she must hurry.
She turned her attention to Cherilee. The mare's body was, in comparison, a chaotic mass of activity. Her heart was beating with uncontrolled anxiety. But more distractingly painful to Night Shift was her ragged breathing, every sharp intake and expulsion of air like a hammer in the poor thestral's ears. Night Shift ignored it as best as she can and closed her eyes tight. She opened her mouth as she allowed her vocal chords to sing, "EeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-......." Her screech rapidly raised in pitch until it trailed off into silence for the other two in the room. For her, however, she had hit the ultrasonic range and it was hitting back with all the force of a jackhammer on her sensitive ear drums. Beads of perspiration broke out across her forehead as she felt her very brain rocked by the harsh feedback. But she persevered as she aimed her ultrasonic waves at the patient's tummy.
And for one brief, magical moment, the pain hammering against her brain simply melted away. She heard it, felt it, even saw it. Her mind took every little sound and wove it into a crystal clear three-dimensional image in her rapidly spinning mind. There, deep inside, was the little foalie, curled up in peaceful sleep. Its fluffy little ears, however, perked up, as if it heard her reaching out for it. Its stubby little wings fluttered awake, tiny leathery flight surfaces curling weakly at her. Then it opened its big, wide eyes and looked right up at her.
Its mouth curved into a mischievous little smile. It gave a weak little squeak back at her. "Eeeee..." It said.
Night Shift gave a gasp of surprise. She fell backwards from the shock and awe. Doc was ready, catching her swiftly and wrapping one arm around her eyes and ears protectively. He quickly righted her before reaching under the arm wrapped around her head and switching on the hearing aids with deft surgical precision.
"Easy, Nighty. Easy." Doc whispered softly, lowering her to the ground gently, arm still protectively wrapped about her eyes and ears. "Take your time."
"H-H-Heart rate...145, regular. Within n-n-normal limits f-for this stage of g-gestation." Night Shift wheezed in between panting for breath as if she had just run the Running of the Leaves competitively. "P-placental blood flow normal o-on maternal a-and f-fetal side. N-no evidence of abruption o-or displacement. Capitate-caudate length estimates f-fetus to be a-at 40 w-weeks gestation, n-no evidence of developmental a-abnormalities. S-she...she was just...just asleep." Night Shift rattled off an ultrasound report so perfectly textbook it would have made a certain bookish Princess envious.
"I-I f-feel her waking up." Cherilee gasped, raising one forehoof up to her mouth as she cradled another around her tummy. "She's kicking again!" She squeaked excitedly. "My little baby's awake!" She sighed in teary relief.
"I-I kind of woke her up. S-she heard me. Sorry." Night Shift said sheepishly. "But she's going to turn more and more nocturnal from here until delivery so, uh, I suppose t-that's alright, I hope?"
"N-no, that's fine! Thank you, thank you so much!" Cherilee said, her gratitude and relief spilling out. "Wait, she heard you? A-and nocturnal?"
"Yes. Doc, would you please fetch me a sheet of paper and a pen, if that's alright?" Night Shift asked.
"Nighty...I didn't ask for an ultrasound picture." Doc said tersely.
"Eeee..." Night Shift gave a little squeak as she tensed up at Doc's rebuke, her . But she felt a pen pushed up against her lips anyway. "Th-Thank you." She said before biting the pen.
"Paper's in front of you. I'm not releasing your eyes or ears for a bit longer though." Doc said stubbornly. "What is it?" He muttered a little irritably as he heard Cherilee give a little giggle.
"You're so very protective of Night." Cherilee giggled. "It's sweet, if you don't me saying so."
"Protective? Moi?" Doc gasped in mock indignation, "Look at her. Tell me you can't look at her without wanting to wrap her up in the sweetest softest blanket and take her home with you? I think I'm holding back quite well, thank you very much."
"There." Night Shift said, pausing to sign the little sheet of paper. "There she is." She announced as Doc offered the sheet of paper up to Cherilee.
Cherilee took the sheet. She gave a gasp, her eyes widening wider than saucers. Her hooves trembled, her very breath caught. She suddenly gave a little hiccup as earnest tears welled up in her eyes and coursed down her cheeks. "S-sweet Celestia..." She whispered hoarsely, one hoof up against her trembling lips. "M-my filly....m-my baby filly..." She looked up at Night Shift and Doc, eyes glimmering with mixed sorrow and happiness. "S-She looks j-just like h-h-him. S-she's beautiful." She sobbed, breaking down into earnest tears.
"She squeaked at me." Night Shift murmured. "When I woke her up, she didn't cry. Instead...she greeted me."
"S-she d-did?" Cherilee cracked a little smile. "Teehee...so like him." She chuckled through bittersweet tears. "I-I'm sure she likes you already, Night." She gave Night Shift a look of utmost gratitude. "M-my...no, our little filly." Cherilee whispered, "H-he would have been s-so proud of our little filly." She hugged the sheet of paper tightly, heaving heavily, but silently. "My baby, my little baby." She
"Eeee!" Night Shift's fluffy ears struggled to flutter against Doc's hands as he tried to wrap a bandage around her ears and eyes. "Doc, you don't have to..."
"I'm not taking any chances." Doc snapped. "Sit quiet and let me do this." Night Shift felt a hand gently guide her head until her fluffy mane thumped against the doctor's broad chest. She sighed, giving in as she settled into his lap, allowing him to do what he liked to her. She knew there was no arguing with the doctor when he was in his over-protective mode.
"Night?"
"When she's born..." Cherilee whispered, "Would you
"I've written a letter to Canterlot General. I'm using the case's, uh, uniqueness as an excuse to get you regular monitoring until the big day." Doc said.
"Ms. Cherilee. Don't bother." Doc said, waving Cherilee's purse away.
"But, Night did so much..."
"Yes, and she can expect a big bonus later. But I pay her salary. You, Ms. Cherilee, aren't paying anything." Doc said, crossing his arms. Night and Cherilee both knew that meant negotiations are over. "I will, however, ask you for a big favour in return."
"Oh?" Cherilee blinked. "Sure! Anything!"
"Please do not mention what happened today to anyone. Especially not Nighty's ability." Doc gave her a wink, a finger on his lips. His other hand rested upon a blushing Night Shift's mane. "I don't like to share, you see." Night Shift's explosion of red made her previous blush look like a mere flush. Steam struggled to escape in between Doc's fingers.
A little smile spread across Cherilee's face. "What do you mean? I'm at home grading papers right now."
"Now, I'd walk you home but I unfortunately have business to attend to. But I can do you better, Ms. Cherilee. Trixie, RedHeart, Aurelia, come in please." Doc called out towards the door.
"Wh-whoah!" The door opened, allowing three very surprised mares to collapse through the doorway. "H-how did you-..." Trixie opened her mouth, only to have RedHeart's hoof shoved in her mouth.
"W-We swear we weren't- meep!" RedHeart's other hoof quickly occupied Aurelia's mouth.
"Y-you called, doc?" RedHeart asked sweetly, somehow managing to balance herself with hooves stuck in two muffled mouths.
"Sorry, I know it's after hours, but I'd appreciate it if you three could please see Ms. Cherilee home on your way back? Consider it overtime." Doc said, hand still holding onto Night Shift's head steadily.
"Sure." RedHeart nodded, freeing her two colleagues' jaws.
"Good night, Ms. Cherilee. Don't stay up too late now. Plenty of rest and all that." Doc nodded at her as the three nurses escorted her out.
"Thank you, doctor, Night." Cherilee nodded back at them both. "Celestia bless you both."
After the door shut behind the school teacher Doc's hands quickly secured themselves about the swooning thestral's body. "Nighty!"
"I-I'm alright, Doc. I-I'm just a little....eeeee....no, not me. The naughty floor won't stay still." She whimpered shakily.
"I told you not to overdo it!" Doc hissed, keeping his voice low as he carefully adjusted Night Shift's hearing aids gently.
"Why did you do that?" Doc asked, "I thought we agreed we'd never try that ever again."
"U-uh...a-are you a-angry, Doctor?"
"No, just...confused, is all." Doc sighed.
"I-it's just that, if it were me..." Night Shift raised a hoof to her envious face. She suddenly paused as she realized what she was doing before breaking into a furious blush, "N-no, I-I d-d-don't mean I-I w-want a f-foalie! W-well, no, t-that's a lie. I-I do! I do want one! But not necessarily with you! N-no, I mean, I want it to be w-with you! N-no, w-what I mean is, I don't know what I mean!" Night Shift babbled as her logic devolved into a mindless puddle of overheated sickly sweet goo.
"Huh, don't you already have one?" Doc asked, only half-listening as usual.
"...but if I had one I'd name it....huh?" Night Shift looked up from where she was poking circles at the ground. "I have one?"
"Speak of the thestral..." Doc looked around. "INCOMING!"
A speeding pink bullet zoomed in through an open window, not bothering to slow down as it mashed itself against Night Shift's face. "Eeeeeeee!" She squeaked as the feral face-hugger took her down with it.
"Hewwo, Nighty!" A squeak
"Eeee...." A dazed Night Shift squeaked back. "Hello, Sonata." She murmured weakly, blowing a little raspberry into the excited little filly. The little thestral filly gave a loud squeak of laughter as the soft jet of air peeled her off Night Shift's face, sending her floating back a few inches.
"I take it you're hungry, Sonata?" Doc asked, knowingly. Sonata was largely independent for a filly, only ever rushing to Doc or Night Shift when she's either hungry or lonely. She didn't like being asked about the latter as Doc and Night Shift had quickly gathered.
"Uhuh!" Sonata nodded enthusiastically as she landed in her favourite nest, Doc's messy hair, before snuggling in comfortably.
"What do you want to eat?" Doc asked.
"Sona wants a mango!" The little filly squeaked excitedly.
"Sonata wants a mango, Nighty." Doc repeated with a grin as he helped Night Shift onto her hooves.
"Sona wants a really really big mango!" The filly added.
"Sonata wants a really really big mango, Nighty." Doc repeated with a mysterious calm he only ever exuded around Sonata, or so Night Shift thought. She didn't realize it often happened around her too. Doc placed a gentle hand around Night Shift's neck, using it to guide the blinded mare alongside him.
Night Shift sighed as she leaned into his side, letting his firm but gentle hand guide her along. Even without her sight, with her hearing muffled, she felt absolutely, completely safe in his hands. Here was trust, here was comfort, here was everything she ever needed. Here was where Night Shift belonged, home.
