The Bubbly Mare

3, 9
"Reflections"

It had been a quiet morning. Aside from a mild headache, Derpy felt almost normal... provided she stay laying down. She could at least sit up somewhat comfortably, and hadn't thrown up since last night.

As promised, Applejack had brought her food. It wasn't a lot -- a large glass of water, and a big bowl of oatmeal, with a small amount of diced apples in it. Not even half an apple: "in case the acids upset yer stomach."

The farm pony also had removed certain... things Derpy needed to change out of after she woke up. At least she could do it herself and they were only wet this time, but instead of being pale yellow, like usual, it was a lot darker than normal... though maybe it was just the light. The water Applejack had given her would help with that if it wasn't.

Derpy lie there, in bed... not sleeping, but still wearing the diapers Applejack had given her just in case. They were still very funny-looking, covered in foalish prints which made them look a lot different than her briefs at home, but they still worked well enough. Since she woke up she noticed they felt hotter and stiffer, but maybe that was only because she wasn't feeling well.

For the time being Derpy focused squarely on the decorative molding between the ceiling and the wall, not quite spacing... but still very relaxed. She had drank her water, the bowl was empty along side it on the nightstand. Applejack said all she needed was rest, and that's just what she felt she needed.

* * *

Derpy heard voices well before she heard the hoof steps coming down the hall. She knew who it was from the sound of his voice. There was a gentle knock at the door.

"Yeah?" she said, loud enough to be heard through the shut door, while pulling the covers over her body. "You can come in."

The door opened, a brown muzzle peeking in.

"Hello, Miss Hooves," Doctor Stable said, entering slowly with a bag. "Though it's not typical of us to do house calls anymore, I'm told you're not feeling well and may have a few questions for me. I'll be happy to answer anything you'd like to ask of me, after we run a few basic tests, to see if anything is amiss."

She sat up. The doctor was in the room, looking directly at her, setting his bag by the side of the bed.

"Um, okee."

Doctor Stable immediately pulled a thermometer from his bag. Derpy opened her mouth without even needing to be told to, and he gently placed it inside.

"Applejack and Granny Smith both told me they suspected you were sick," he said, placing a hoof against her head. "But neither thought to take your temperature. I'm told you had quite the night last night, which may explain why it was forgotten."

"Rainbow Dash said that I-"

"Hold that thought for one more moment, please... we'll get a more accurate reading." Derpy did as she was told, and in just a moment, Doctor Stable removed both the thermometer and his hoof.

Derpy watched silently as he looked it over. It was one of those glass thermometers with the silvery stuff inside and black lines. Derpy knew she couldn't read that if her life depended on it. He looked up, over his glasses.

"You feel slightly warm and have a mild temperature of 100.2. I'm told you've been vomiting. Is that correct?"

"Uh-huh."

"Diarrhea?"

Looking away, Derpy nodded.

"You perhaps also feel weak, dizzy and achy throughout your body? Headache?"

"Uh-huh. Mostly when I stand."

"Miss Hooves," the Doctor said. "Applejack, Granny Smith and I were talking and I am also told that you were drinking last night, and you are not accustomed to it. Is this correct?"

"Yeah."

He approached, motioning towards her hoof. She stuck it out and he gently placed the tip of his hoof on her foreleg. She felt a beat that he seemed to nod in time with.

"Your pulse is a bit strong, but nothing to be concerned about. Might exacerbate the headache. Miss Hooves, it's in my opinion that you likely have a mild case of the flu mixed with a hangover. In that case a couple days of bed rest and plenty of water is all you need to feel yourself again."

"Oh, um... okee."

"By the way, what was that you were saying about Rainbow Dash?"

"Um... she said I'd be sick."

"Why do you think that was?"

"'cause Thunderlane was sick and she knew we were, um... Special Someponies."

"I see." The doctor put away his thermometer, rearranging a few items in his bag Derpy couldn't see. "I can imagine you must feel safe knowing your boss cares enough to notice these things."

Derpy nodded, the doctor looking up from his satchel.

"She came to tell me you were here, you know, and that you needed my help."

Derpy smiled.

"So, Thunderlane is sick and you may have caught his bug. My guess is the two of you were out drinking last night?"

Derpy laid back in bed, facing the wall, away from him. She sighed.

"Nope."

She heard Doctor Stable approach the side of the bed again. He set a small box on the nightstand, opening it up. Craning her neck it took her eyes a moment to focus on it, but when he pulled upwards it made it easy to identify. It was a box of tissues.

"It's in my records that you wanted to come see me... are you perhaps worried about pregnancy?"

Inhaling sharply, Derpy bit her lip. She hadn't been worried about it, until he brought it up. The world went blurry, as she exhaled... shivering, she nodded.

"I see." He patted on the nightstand. "Take a tissue if you need it. Take as many as you like."

Turning over to reach out, Derpy did just that... drying off her eyes and blowing her nose.

"Um, thanks."

"Don't mention it." The doctor took a breath. "This can be a very emotional conversation to have with ponies, both mare and stallion alike. Provided intercourse was under forty eight hours ago, there is a way to keep a pregnancy from happening that is effective in most cases."

Derpy inhaled a second time, holding it.

"Make the baby die?"

"No... this method will merely keep the baby from even forming."

She exhaled, feeling tears well up in her eyes again.

"Okee. That sounds better."

Smiling, Doctor stable looked up at her again, past his glasses.

"Unfortunately I don't have it on me, but I'll be glad to have it delivered here once I return, post haste. Is that all you wanted to discuss with me?"

Sitting up, Derpy shook her head.

"No, but... it doesn't really matter anymore."

Doctor Stable looked at her past his glasses. "Are you sure?"

"Um... no. Not really."

Closing his bag, Doctor Stable stood up, approaching the bed. He sat down on the edge, looking at her eyes. He looked so blurry.

"Feel free to help yourself to another tissue, Miss Hooves. You seem to be quite troubled. Please know that you can tell me anything. I won't judge you."

Reaching out, Derpy took a tissue... again, blowing her nose. She reached out once more after she was done, to find Doctor Stable was already holding one out for her.

"Um... Thunderlane broke up with me last night and he was really, really nasty. I got mad... I went to all this trouble for him. I made an appointment with you and got him his favorite drink, and he told me he already had broken up with me, because I, um..."

Lowering her head, Derpy turned away. She felt the bed shaking under her as she cried. She also felt a gentle hoof on her shoulder.

"It's perfectly okay, Miss Hooves. You don't have to say anything you don't want to."

She looked back at him.

"Um... you're my doctor. You know that problem I've had since foalhood?"

"I know there a few conditions you've had that have been lifelong, but I believe I know the one you are referring to... the one at night time, correct?"

Derpy nodded.

"While we were, um... 'doing things' I had a tiny accident, and thinking about it... I think he might've gotten really angry with me afterwards." Derpy pulled the covers back for a moment, showing a bit of what she was wearing under the blanket. "I showed him, um... this, and it seemed at first like everything was going to be okay, but then that happened and he left. I thought I'd make everything okay, let him know that I really wanted everything to be like it used to be afterwards, but then he just... went away. I don't know why."

Derpy couldn't say for sure but for some reason she wasn't crying anymore. If anything... talking about this with Doctor Stable actually felt good. She let the blanket fall, looking up at the Doctor. His expression hadn't changed, but he nodded.

"You felt that I might be able to help you with that problem?"

She nodded back.

"I see." He scooted back a tiny bit on the bed. "Miss Hooves, I normally don't see patients under these circumstances, but I still believe I can help you. Face me, please, and, if you can, sit up so that we can see each other properly. What I'm about to tell you is extremely important."

Derpy did as she was told, facing the doctor. He was smiling, gently.

"There are a lot of words I could use, medical terms that sound harsh and sterile, words with -ism and syndrome at their end, to describe your various conditions. These are terms I'm sure you've heard a couple times throughout your life already."

Derpy nodded.

"I'm not going to use those terms today, Derpy. While they may be helpful on a diagnostic level it makes sense a pony in your place might eventually find them alienating."

"I, um... okay. I don't know what you mean by alienating, but thanks."

"That ponies might not see you for you, especially if they knew about those terms."

"I don't, um... usually feel that way, but I'm really glad you're talking to me like Applejack and Granny Smith do. It feels nice."

"What I think you need more than anything right now is to know that there are ponies out there who care a lot about you. You've got Rainbow Dash, all the Apples, Amethyst Star, and Dinky..."

"And Mommy?"

"And your mother, too. Every one of these ponies knows you're doing the best that you can possibly do. They're all happy to hear of your accomplishments." Derpy found herself smiling. "From what you're describing of Thunderlane, though, unfortunately... that's reality. Ponies sometimes hurt each other, and we could spend eons talking about why and still not have an answer. What's important though is that you've learned something from it, and you're not going to allow yourself to be put in that same position again. Is there anything you can think of that might help you feel more safe if you decide to date another pony?"

"Um..." Derpy bit her lip, thinking. "I think last night Applejack said she wants to have dinner with the next stallion I date. I'm not really sure if I was dreaming or not."

"Even if you were dreaming, that sounds like a wonderful idea. It would give you a chance to show them the pony who's making you so happy. They are your friends, after all."

Again, Derpy found herself smiling.

"Yeah."

The Doctor smiled, getting up.

"I'm glad we had this talk, Derpy." He turned towards his medical bag. "I'll have the morning-after pill sent here within a few hours. You are under no obligation to take it."

"The morning-after pill is the pill that's, um..."

"You're asking if it's the pill that's going to keep a baby from forming, correct?"

"Yeah."

"That's exactly what it is."

Derpy laid back in bed.

"I kinda want it, and I kinda don't."

"I can understand that, Miss Hooves. I must ask, when did you have intercourse, and were there any other instances with Thunderlane?"

"Um... two nights ago. It was the only time."

"Then there isn't much time to decide. Compared to other creatures, ponies bodies tend to absorb things fairly quickly. Outside of that period an abortive pill would be required... that would make you extremely ill, more so than you are now, and your body would reject the developing fetus. While it would likely be too small to be seen, you've made it clear you're not comfortable with that procedure."

Derpy nodded.

"I can see why Mommy was so much... like she knew what she was doing. She knew."

"It's scary. Isn't it?"

"Yeah."

The doctor nodded in agreement. Derpy's eyes suddenly went wide.

"Um, Doctor Stable?"

"Yes?"

"Before you go... can I ask you something else?"

"Certainly."

"Mommy... um, told me when I was a filly she worked as a cook. I kinda talked to a pony last night who told me she was a dish washer. Was he just being mean, like Thunderlane, or... did she lie?"

Rubbing his temples, the doctor sighed.

"Honestly, Derpy, I don't know what your mother did for a living, but I do know that she provided for you and would have done anything in Equestria to keep you safe and happy. If ponies ever say cruel things to you about her again, just remember that."

"Okee."

Docter Stable picked up his bag.

"Unless you have other questions for me, Miss Hooves, I believe we are set."

She nodded.

"For the time being please rest up and restore your strength. The pill will arrive soon. Is there any particular pony you want it given to? It will just be called medicine and they'll be told it's imperative you get it right away, that you take it in private if you feel you need to."

"Um... I guess Granny Smith or Applejack is okay."

"Very well." Doctor Stable opened up the door. "Have a good day, Miss Hooves. Hopefully the next time I see you will just be for your annual checkup. "

"Take care, Doctor Stable."

With that he shut the door and was gone, leaving Derpy alone as his hoof steps drifted further and further away. She looked up again at the molding, sighing. Even though she still felt achy, she felt kind of nice. She could drift away for a while feeling like this.