I think one of the most important things I've learnt since I've arrived in Equestria is that a lot of shit can happen in two years. Nothing really happened the first week I was in Ponyville. I just minded my own business and did my job. Speaking of job, the Ministry of Health decided that I was eligible to operate and sent me a certificate, but only if I spent a couple of months under doctor Stable and learn some of the local treatments. For example, bones and small injuries could heal faster if someone were to apply a special type of magic-infused gel. You could not imagine my relief hearing this because I honestly expected to be sent back to Medical school. They also gave me a job, which was nice.

Also, magic is one of the greatest things ever. It freaked the hell out of me at first, but it's applications are endless! It replaces basic pharmaceuticals and it can even heal small wounds instantly! It's too bad I can't use it myself. However, I do have access to magic supplies, and a lot of the technology from Earth is here too, luckily for me.

Anyway, I'm getting off topic. The first week was a bore, but then some mare named Twilight Sparkle came to town the week after. After that, a whole lot of shit just came out of nowhere. The latest bit of action was when everyone had the magic sucked out of them and the medical community exploded into panic. Ponies were getting into accidents because of their lack of magic and I was the one of the only people who could operate successfully. I had to operate for around 48 hours with thirty minute breaks here and there, and that got me a lot of prestige amongst the doctors here in Equestria. Luckily, the problem was resolved all of a sudden and this big-ass crystal tree came out of the ground.

But it wasn't only doctors that were interested in me. Shortly after Nightmare Moon, ponies started to find out that I existed. Everyone, and I mean everyone, came to express their interests in me, their concerns about me, why I was a savior, why I was an abomination, you name it. That, and all of the reporters were enough to drive a man insane. This continued for about half of a year, and while I appreciated Applejack and her friends trying to help me out, eventually I just snapped.

I was walking to the library when a sudden mob appeared and starts spouting mixed opinions about me and asking for an interview. Now, I consider myself a really laid back guy, but this pissed me off. I screamed at them, very loudly. I believe my words were, "I don't give a single fuck about what you think of me. Go and do something productive with you time for once in your life." I was lucky that it was an evening on the weekend and that most foals were in their houses.

Oh, and the mobs never came back. That was pretty nice. I asked someone later if I had over-reacted, and they said something about "invoking human wrath" or something? I dunno, and I really don't care anymore.

So, here I was two years later, with an Equestrian medical licence and proudly infamous. I was lying with my face down on my desk and my body still in my chair. Suddenly, someone slammed their hands down onto the desk, jolting me awake. I jerked up to see a white background with black lines on it. "What the...?" I felt something touch my forehead and then a pressure on my face was removed. The black and white were gone, and standing there in front of my desk was nurse Redheart with a sheet of paper in her hands. "Oh, thanks."

"What are you still doing here!?" she scolded. "Today's your day off! Go and do something outside for once!"

"Ugh... Do I have to?" I groaned. "It's so... sunny outside..."

"Yes! You do!" She turned and opened the door with a huff. "Oh, and a letter came for you today. It's on the front desk," she said turning her head slightly towards me.

I smiled. "I'll get it on my way out. Thanks, Red." With that, she left me alone.

I heaved myself up onto the branch of the tree with relative ease. I sat myself at the base of the branch with my back to the trunk. I moved my legs to a comfortable position: one leg on the branch and the other dangling freely in the air. When I was comfy, I took a bite out of the light blue popsicle in my right hand. I slowly diminished the tasty treat as I watched the sun descend carefully towards the horizon. Can you actually believe that a mare does that every day? Well, an all powerful mare, but a mare nonetheless.

After a few minutes, I accidentally bit into the wooden stick of the popsicle, breaking it. I sadly put the small and now broken stick into the pocket of my white coat, exchanging it for the letter that I had received that afternoon. It was from the Ministry of Health, which was weird because I never get letters from them, or anyone really. I tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Dear Mr. Bowman,

We from the ministry are pleased by your extraordinary amount of labor and passion in the field of medicine. Therefore, we would like offer you a position at Canterlot Central Hospital, one of the forefronts of modern medicine. Should you choose to accept this offer, furnished housing will be provided for your convenience. Please send us your response three days after receiving this letter.

-The Ministry of Health and Medicine

I put the letter down and sighed. It was a good offer, but could I really take it? I really liked Ponyville and all of my friends were here. However, at Canterlot there would be more people to help as well as more opportunities to learn. I was really torn between the two options.

"Hey there, Sugarcube!" called a familiar voice, tearing me from my problem. I looked to my right to find Applejack standing below me. I hopped off of the branch and landed in front of her. "Ah never got around ta thankin' ya for savin' my life two years ago," she started, "so here." The farmer thrust a pair of golden tickets into my hands. I opened my mouth to protest, but she raised a hand. "At least look at the darn things, Carter." Knowing I couldn't — and wouldn't — argue with her, I disappointingly looked down at the tickets. They read, Congratulations! You are cordially invited to this year's Grand Galloping Gala! Hosted at Princess Celestia's palace in Canterlot! ~Formal attire only~

I exhaled rather loudly. "Can I be bluntly honest with you AJ?" She nodded. "I hate formal gatherings. Frankly, if you give these to me, I'll just sell them."

"Well, do what ya want with 'em. Ah just thought ya might like to go with me and my friends..." She started to look dejected.

I leant my head back and sighed. I couldn't believe that she would guilt me into this. However, if I were to go, I could scout out the city and I also might run into the hospital's staff there. However, I would have to endure snobs for god knows how long. There was also the other ticket... I could bring Redheart with me to the gala, but she would just fuss over the way I looked the whole time. Actually, now that I think about it... "Okay, AJ. I accept on one condition. The condition is that I can exchange this other ticket to Rarity for a suit."

"Deal," she said. We shook hands and she left me on my own.

"Hey!" I shouted suddenly. "When is the gala!?"

"Tomorrow night!" Applejack responded.

"Of course..."

As the train slowly made it's way up the mountain, I fiddled with my bowtie for the fiftieth time. I really hated suits, just as much as I hated asking for the night off. Everybody at the hospital started to freak out when they found out that I was going to the gala. It really wasn't a big deal. I really didn't see the appeal. Being stuck in a big room with stuck up nobles? I wouldn't wish a fate like that upon anybody.

Yet, here I was preparing for the event. If anything, this was just my way of seeing how Canterlot was as a city. The fact that I was going to be around politicians and the rich didn't add to my limited excitement.

The train pulled up to the station and came to a lurching stop. AJ had told me that she would meet me inside with her friends. Making sure I had my golden ticket, I got off of the train into the cool night air and looked up at the city. It's lack of glamour took me by surprise. I had heard that it was practically shining from it's magnificence from various ponies. However, as I examined the several buildings I found it looked like a taller and more compacted version of Ponyville. However, the roofs of the buildings were made from something other than straw. Maybe stone, or some sort of coloured marble? I didn't know, nor did I care enough to see what it was. I was going somewhere, after all.

The only thing that seemed to match the description of the city was my destination: the castle. Other than the expensive looking towers, there didn't seem to be a main building from what I could see. All of the large towers seemed to integrate into one another. It was a fascinating design, to say the least. The golden roofs also had swirling patterns made from the different coloured shingles. All in all, it looked as if the owner had a lot of money to blow. Considering who lived there, I didn't doubt that fact.

Sighing, I walked up the mains street to the front gates of the castle where a few guards and civilians stood. Most of the ponies there were finely dressed and absorbed into their conversations. Still, some of them stared at me as I walked by, but I paid them no mind. They wouldn't gain anything by doing so, and I didn't care in the first place. As I reached the gate, a guard stepped into my path and stuck out his hand. "Ticket, sir." I pulled out the ticket and handed it to him. When I did, someone behind me actually gasped. I turned slowly and looked at the ponies behind me, who all went back to whatever they were doing. "Is something the matter, sir?" the guard asked.

I looked back forwards while shaking my head at the nobles as walked past him. "Feels like I'm being watched, you know?" I said sarcastically. An amused snort erupted behind me as I walked to the main doors of the castle.

I stuck my hands in my pockets as I came into a grand entrance, with white and purple checkered marble floors holding a red carpet which sat elegantly on it. The walls were mainly purple, which blended nicely with the yellow mahogany that was integrated into the design. The entrance hall was particularly crowded with ponies and classical music, mainly by the the grand stairs that stood before me. It looked as if they were lining up for something. What that was, I couldn't see, so I ignored it. I could go either left or right, which lead me down a hallway. I navigated my way over to the right hallway, but before I could move on, I was called out.

"Excuse me," a mare's gentle voice sounded, "but are you doctor Carter Bowman?" I turned around to find a white coated mare with a bright pink mane. Her hair flowed past her horn and pink eyes, down to her elegant pink dress. I guessed that pink was her favorite colour, no clue as to why I did, though.

"I am," I started, "But I'm afraid I don't know who you are."

"I am Fleur de Lis, but you can call me Fleur. You operated on a friend of mine. Does the name Violet Orchid ring any bells?" she asked.

My face lit up. I did remember her. She came in with a burst appendix, which lead to peritonitis, which lead us to do an appendectomy, and a several day stay at the hospital. If only people were to take care of their bodies better... "Yes, I do! She was an earth pony, right?"

"Yes! Please let me introduce you to my fiancée and my friends. They're right over here!" Fleur pulled me through the crowd over to a small group of four. Two were tall unicorn stallions, a unicorn mare, and the last was a female gryphon. The first stallion was an averaged sized, with silver fur, a brown mane, and a normal suit. The second was tall, white-coated, had a dark blue mane, an expensive looking tuxedo, and also a thin moustache. The mare was short and round, had a red coat, and a white mane, as well as a black suit on. Lastly, the gryphon was a mixture of brown and white feathers inside of a suit, but what really stood out was her bright yellow eyes.

The group looked at me was Fleur dragged me into the circle. The stallion with the moustache was the first to speak. "Fleur, is this Carter Bowman?"

I chuckled nervously. "Just Carter is fine." This was going to go down hill eventually.

"So you're the human who operated when Tirek stole everyponies' magic," the red mare stated sternly.

"Well, I was one of the limited doctors who could still operate. I had to pick up the slack for everyone who couldn't," I explained.

Now the gryphon shyly started to speak. "How could you operate for that long?"

"I dunno," I explained, "I just did. It's a doctor's duty so save lives, no matter how long it takes."

The red mare hummed in understanding. "I see why the Ministry offered you the position." I gave her a curious look and she caught on to my confusion. "I'm the senior surgeon at Canterlot Central. My name is White Cross, and this — " White pointed at the gryphon next to her " — is Sylvia, an intern doing her residency."

"It's nice to meet you both. May I ask who you two gentlecolts are?" I asked.

The brown one spoke up first. "I'm surprised that you did not recognize me. Nevertheless, I am Snowy Gambit, a leader in the mining industry."

"And I am — " the moustached unicorn put a hand on his chest suddenly and his face contorted in pain. "Sorry, My name is Fancy Pants."

"Are you okay?" I asked. Chest pains are never a good sign.

White cross sighed in annoyance. "He's been complaining about chest pains, but refuses to get an x-ray."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," Fancy explained as his arm lowered and Fleur came to his side, mirroring my worried expression.

"Anyway," Snowy started rudely, "as I was saying before our guest joined us. It is a good plan, is it not?"

Everyone rolled their eyes as I was left to wander the mist of confusion. "What plan?"

"Well," He said smugly, "you know about the recent diamond dog kidnappings and how they have been arrested?" I nodded. "I'm employing them to mine coal for a reduced sentence. The best part is that since everypony thinks poorly of them, I don't really need spend money on safety equipment since nopony would mind. It will save me thousands and make me millions for nothing at all!"

I blinked three times, my face contorting into further annoyance each time I did so. "Tsk, I don't think so," I stated arrogantly. "In fact, it's a rather stupid idea."

"Excuse me?!" the stallion said, flabbergasted. That really drew the eyes of the others in the room.

"I'll explain myself, and I'll be sure to use small words so that you can understand," I assured him. If this guy was really going to put other people's lives at risk, I was going to tell him what I really thought. "You see, if someone decent were to realize what you were doing and thought it was an absolutely terrible idea, like me, they would sue your ass on behalf of these diamond dogs for tonnes of money because you breached their rights. Oh, and before you tell me that diamond dogs shouldn't have rights, that's fucking racist." The crowd gasped at my vulgar vocabulary. "Oh grow up!" I said, turning to the crowd with disbelief.

Snowy straightened himself and pretended to be the better man. "My good sir, I thought you were a respected doctor. You should really act like it and mind your manners."

My jaw literally dropped. This guy couldn't be this stupid. Did he honestly think that my job had any affect on who I am and how I conversed with people? "What does that even have to do with —!?!" and then it hit me. This guy was a part of a minority that only existed in my mind. I've only met so many who are like him.

He was a elite, class S, moron. The S stands for stupid, by the way. This guy was so dumb, it shook reality itself. There was only one way to deal with someone of his stature.

I bit my tongue, shrugged, turned, and left through the hall I was originally going to go through. There was no point in arguing with his stupidity. It would only waste time. I passed a butler expertly carrying a tray of tall glasses filled of champagne in the hall, and I took one without him even noticing. Before I knew it, I was in the garden of the castle. I walked over to the stairs that lead up the castle wall and ascended up to the edge of the wall. Taking off my coat and resting it and my arms in a gap in between the stones at the top of the wall, I leant over the edge and peered out on to the darkened land. I slowly sipped at my drink as I waited for the inevitable.

There was no way I was working in this city. There was no way I could operate on ponies like that douche for just a better pay and an apartment. There would have to be something else to convince me. Everything I had that was of value was in Ponyville. I wouldn't just leave it behind.

Footsteps from what sounded like high-heels where walking up the wall's steps. I kept my eyes forwards as the steps came up besides me and joined me on the wall. There was silence for a while as we stood there, so I took a sip of my drink. I was going to need it if this conversation was going where I thought it was going.

"You managed to insult one of the richest ponies in that room, and made yourself look like a complete, but respectable, ass," a very feminine and mature voice sounded besides me. I sighed and shook my head. This was going where I thought it was going. "So, as a member of Canterlot's finest individuals, I would like to say to you these few choice words." I knew she was about to go off on a tangent, so I tuned her out. "Thank you."

I took me a while to figure out that she just thanked me. When I did, I turned to her with a shocked expression. "Excuse m..." I was absolutely taken away by what I saw. Beside me was a gorgeous white-coated mare with wings and a horn, wearing a marvelous rose and pink coloured gown and golden accessories. Her mane, which blew in a breeze that didn't exist, radiated with light blues, pinks, purples, and greens, like a sunrise. Her magenta eyes blinked, bringing me back to reality. "Sorry, I don't understand. I honestly thought by now you would be berating me."

The mare put a hand to her mouth as she giggled. "Oh, never! I've always wanted to do that! I'm rather jealous, actually!"

"So, I'm not crazy then? He really was the biggest moron ever?" I asked.

"Yes, he was," She confirmed.

I threw my hands up into the air dramatically. "Thank the lord! There's someone here who has a working brain!" I put my arms back on the wall again, however there was a smile on my face this time. "You look great, by the way."

The mare blushed lightly and sadly smiled at me. "You know, you're the only person to compliment me today."

"Really?" I asked in complete disbelief. "That's... rather sad."

"It is," she agreed while frowning. "Ponies see me as The Princess, like an object, and not like a mare with emotions and needs. I find that it's very degrading... and that I've actually started to act the part."

"Just to set things straight: you are a mare with emotions and needs, and not a robot, right? Because you could totally pass," I added jokingly, trying to cheer her up.

She sniggered at the question. "No, I'm an all powerful goddess and all should fear me!" she retorted sarcastically, raising her voice and in a triumphant tone.

"A giant, robot goddess that can breath fire and piss acid?" I laughed.

That made her cover her mouth to stop the stream laughter coming out. "T-that sounds about right!" I joined her in giggling at our childish and immature joke. However, sometimes you just need to be a child for a few minutes.

I stood up straight and sighed as ran my fingers through my hair. "You know, I find it rare that I meet women that can laugh at something like that."

"Women?" she asked curiously.

"Well, mares in this case... Let's just say females in general."

She hummed in understanding. "Yes, I would agree. I have to say though, I didn't expect someone with such a stressful job to be so laid-back."

"Pfff! Who'd you expect? Batman?" I asked.

"...Batman?"

I sighed and hung my head. "I've really got to stop using human jokes..."

"Well in all honesty, it's very refreshing to meet somepony — or should I say someone — who's... who's..." she struggled to find the right words.

"Not a complete douche?" She nodded enthusiastically at my suggestion. "Yea, I can relate to that."

The mare looked back at the party going on inside the castle and then back to me with a sad look. "Sorry, but I think it may be time for me to go back inside."

I shrugged and motioned to the stairs while grabbing my coat. "That's fine. Would you mind if I accompanied you, miss...?"

"I'm Celestia, but Tia is fine as well," she answered moving forwards, with me in pursuit.

Stopping dead in my tracks, I turned to Tia with a shocked expression. "Celestia? Like, as in the princess of the sun?"

The princess stopped and turned with a confused expression. "Yes. Didn't I mention that before?" she asked.

I opened my mouth to say no, but I stopped. She did, and I didn't even notice. "...yes, you did. I didn't really pick up on that until now." I let out a large breath. "Wow. If you were stuck up like the rest of the ponies in there, I would have made a terrible first impression. I guess I lucked out on you being awesome, huh?"

"Yes you did," she confirmed. "I know you as doctor Bowman, but I would like to call you by a different name."

"Oh, just Carter is fine," I said. "Also, that explains why this country so damn fine."

"Mmhm! Okay then, just Carter, shall we —"

A sudden shriek came from inside that castle, causing my to drop the glass in my hand. As it shattered on the ground, both of our heads snapped to the castle instantly and in a flash of light, we were back in the grand staircase. I regained my composure after the teleportation, and looked to where Celestia was staring at. There was a large crowd with worried faces huddled where I had had my confrontation with Snowy. Celestia ran quickly over to the crowd and I followed close behind. We pushed our way through the crowd to find a desperate situation.

It was Fancy Pants. He was on the ground clutching his abdomen with White Cross on one side and Sylvia on the other. His face was one of severe pain and he was drenched with sweat. I quickly joined doctor Cross on the ground, dropping my coat as i did. "What's his condition?" I asked quickly.

"Not good. He's starting to go into shock," she explained calmly. "It might be a heart attack."

I put index and middle finger on his carotid artery and felt his pulse. "Nope, he's beating properly. It's weak though," I stated. "Worst case scenario is that it's an abdominal aortic aneurysm, considering where he's grabbing."

Sylvia looked up with panic. "Then we need to get him to a hospital, now! He'll die of blood loss if we wait!"

"Here we go..." I said to myself. I shoved one arm underneath his legs and the other under his back and heaved him up into the air. I turned and faced Celestia as my fellow physicians got up. "Could —" I was interrupted by another flash of light. I found myself, Celestia, and the other two doctors in the middle of an ER. Everyone in the room turned in shock to see the princess and the rest of us.

I turned to the nurses' station quickly. "This ma — stallion might have a ruptured aortic aneurysm! We need to operate immediately!" One of the nurses, a mare, jumped up and motioned me to follow. Quickly running after her, I looked back down to my patient. "Hey, do you want to live?" I asked sternly.

"YES!" he yelled back in pain.

"I'll take that as your consent, then." The nurse led me into the OR, where I quickly placed Mr. Pants on to the operating table. "He needs to be given an IV, general anesthesia, a breathing tube, and a catheter into his bladder. Get someone to administer the anesthesia, and then we'll do an open AAA repair once the patient's been prepped," I explained as I went to prepare for the operation. The nurse left the room to follow my orders.

"The ministry was right about you. You seem calm about this," Cross complemented me as I grabbed a operating gown and threw it over my clothes.

I turned to the sink once I tore off my bowtie and I was done dressing. Cross met me at the sink equally prepared. "I don't need your compliments right now. We need to focus." We both put on masks and washed our hands thoroughly before sliding on our latex gloves. I heard the nurse come back with someone while explaining the situation to them.

Approaching the table, I saw that the nurse had begun working quickly and that a stallion — who was probably a anesthesiologist — had joined us. She managed to strip the top half of our patient and shave the incision area as we prepared the patient. I moved myself to the other side of the table and helped insert the catheter and the IV before looking down to the incision area: from the breast bone to below the navel. I looked back up to the others in the room, and noticed that someone was missing. "Hey, were's Sylvia?"

"I told her to stay behind. She's not ready for this yet," Cross said.

"Alright then..." It was probably for the best. The anesthesiologist then let us know that the anesthesia had taken affect. "Then, let's begin. Antiseptic solution." I was handed a doused cotton ball and started to sterilize the area with antiseptic solution.

When I was done, Cross made her move. "Scalpel," she ordered. She was handed the razor-sharp knife and started slowly started cutting through the skin and fatty tissue. However, she didn't stop there. She made another incision to cut the abdominal muscles, opening the abdominal cavity

"Retractor," I ordered. A retractor was handed to me and I used it to hold open the tissue that Cross had cut. When the Retractor was set, I moved the intestines and other organs around so that we could have access to the aorta. When it came into view, my suspicions were confirmed. "Yup, he's bleeding. Clamps, please." I was handed a few clamps and I clamped off the section of the aorta that had ruptured casing the blood to stop flowing to that particular area.

"Now that it's clamped, we need to drain it," Cross explained. She took the drain from the nurse and stuck it into the blood pool. While it was draining, I asked for the scalpel and forceps and got ready to open the aorta. After a few moments, the pool was gone and I made three incisions: one down the aorta and two across at either ends of the first cut. Using the forceps now, I carefully spread the aorta open.

Sitting there in the open tube was the cause of the aneurysm. Around the bottom of the incision was a dark red jelly like substance. "There it is... Drain please." I was handed the long tube and I placed the end of it into the blood clot. It was sucked up into the tube and I kept moving it around until I was sure that the blood clot was gone. "I don't see any other damaged blood vessels, so now we need to insert an aortic graft into the incision." The nurse handed me the graft and I placed it into the aorta. "Suture." Now using a needle and thread, I carefully and cautiously sewed the graft into the wall of the blood vessel. I sighed once I was done the top and continued the procedure on the bottom half.

A cloth dabbed itself on to my forehead as I finished suturing the graft in. "Need a break?" Cross asked. I nodded and handed her the sutures. She then sewed the aorta closed, wrapping the tissue around the graft and locking it in place. I carefully moved the organs from before back into place before leaning back and sighing. "Alright, let's close him up," Cross said as I started to remove the retractor.

"Alright. Stapler." The nurse handed me a medical stapler and I gave her the retractor in return. With the help of doctor Cross, I stapled the incision closed. "Disinfectant," I ordered. I was handed another doused cotton ball and with it I disinfected the incision. "Gauze and tape." I was handed the gauze and Cross was handed the tape. I aligned the gauze with the cut and Cross taped it down on all sides.

We all let out a breath and relaxed. "That was a great operation, doctors. Thank you," the nurse said. I walked away from the two towards the sink and stripped myself of my operation clothing. "We'll transfer the patient to intensive care right away."

"Thank you for your help, miss," I thanked the nurse and as she and the anesthesiologist took the patient away. "And you too, Cross."

"You don't need to thank me," said Cross walking over to join me, "I was doing my job."

After taking off everything and washing my hands with White Cross, I walked out of the waiting room with my things and my fellow physician. "I'll tell his fiancée and anyone else who is waiting for me in the ER about the operation. You can go do what you need to."

"Alright, suit yourself. I've got a mountain of paper to climb anyway," She explained as she walked away. Cross waved to me as she left. "See you later. And thanks for the help!"

I shrugged as I turned to go to the emergency room. "I'm just doing my job," I murmured sarcastically. I made my way back to the ER and I found Fleur, Tia, and AJ with her friends. They all were comforting Fleur when I came in to the room. It was quite an odd sight seeing the people in the room being repelled from them, but not being able to look away. I frowned, though. "Hey," I grumbled with fake disappointment. The group looked up with shock and anxiety. "I can't believe you guys. Frowning and sulking like Fancy's as good as dead. Do you honestly not believe in my surgical skill?"

"So, he's alright?!" Fleur asked desperately. They all stared at me, awaiting my answer.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Yes," I admitted with a smile. "Yes, he's fine. He's in intensive care now. He'll be out of here in five to ten days." Fleur jumped out of her seat and hugged me tightly.

"I can't thank you enough!" she exclaimed. This brought a smile to the group's faces.

"Look," I said while separating myself from her. "I didn't become a doctor to be thanked. The person who you should be directing those emotions to is in intensive care right now." Fleur looked up at me, and I pointed down the hall. "Go. Express your gratitude to Fancy or someone else, just not me."

After a few moments, Fleur followed my finger with haste, followed closely by AJ and her friends. However, Celestia stayed behind and put a hand on my shoulder. "It's not that she didn't believe in you, she just couldn't imagine a future without him."

"Pffff, I know that," I said, waving my hand at her as I did. "You must think me really dumb, almighty princess overlord."

She giggled and followed me as I made my way out of the hospital. "Not dumb, just not bright."

"Ouch," I said with obvious fake pain. "That one cut deep!"

"So where are you going now?" Celestia asked.

I pondered her question for a while as we made our way on to the street. "I dunno. I guess I'll just take a train home. It is really late out, though."

"I could arrange for you to stay at the castle for the night, if you want," she offered.

"I'd have to get up really early to make it to work on time... Eh, sure. I'm probably not going to get another chance to sleep in a place like a castle for a while, huh?" I accepted. We walked for a few more minuets under the night sky and as we reached the castle, Celestia turned her head to me.

"Say, Carter? You said that you didn't become a doctor to be thanked. So then, why did you become a doctor?" I stopped and stared up into the night sky, remembering the night I decided I was going to save lives. I remembered how my thought process was completely flipped on it's head. "You don't have to tell me if it's a sensitive topic. I won't pry," Celestia said with a bit of concern.

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it," I started slowly, "it's just a long story."

Tia hooked one of her arms around my own, gently pulling me from the past and into the castle in front of me. "Then maybe you could share it with me over tea?"

I looked at her and she looked right back at me. A smile crept up on to my face. "Yes, that would be lovely. But, I'm kinda busy, and if I had to guess, I'd say you are too being a princess and all."

Celestia let out a little melancholy laugh. "Yes, I am."

We walked and talked though out the night and castle until we reached a spare bedroom, where we had to say our goodbyes. "Say, Tia?" I asked as she was walking away. Celestia turned with a curious look on her face. "If I were to transfer to Canterlot, could we have tea then?"

The princess smiled. "Yes, it would make it easier for us to have tea."

"...alright then, thanks," I said, confirming my decision. With the newfound hope of meeting people who are decent, I could risk moving here. With that, she went to her room and I entered mine, resting for the days to come.

Author's Note

Alright, I did my best to take in the criticism from the last chapter and make sure this one was... at least decent. I hope you enjoyed this chapter better than the last one.

If you spot any spelling or grammatical mistakes, let me know because my editor is still working on his internet problem.

(Also, if you're an artist with nothing to do, could you consider doing a cover for this? If you do, PM me and we'll talk. Thanks!)