Chronicles Of A Timelord - Volume 1 - An Unequestrian Stallion

"Total retrograde amnesia."

Lyra blinked at Doctor Horse. She had taken the opportunity to slip away and talk to him about her findings regarding the patient she'd volunteered to interact with, who was currently taking a brief nap. She tilted her head and frowned at him in an attempt to inform him in a subtle manner that he wasn't being clear. He was swift to notice her expression and nodded in understanding before continuing.

"It's a type of amnesia, typified by being incapable to remember anything that occurred before the event that caused the amnesia. In essence, he would be able to create new memories like anypony else, however he'd never be able to recall anything before until he recovers." He explained. "That is IF he recovers."

Frowning, Lyra looked down at the floor, imagining how horrible it would be if she forgot everything. Who she was, who her friends were, such a fate seemed more frightening than being swarmed by changelings.

"However!" He interjected to break her train of depressing thought. "In my experience, it's uncommon to have amnesia that effects so much. After all, amnesia can either prevent you recalling information before the event, prevent you creating memories after the event, and even affect what kind of information you forget or remember."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the most common form of information we think of when it comes to talking about amnesia is declarative or narrative. This is things like what you ate for breakfast this morning, when your birthday is or who is Princess Celestia. The other type is non-declarative, which is how to walk, how to talk or how to fly." He stated quietly while tapping his chin in thought. "Still, we've yet to find out what may have caused his memory problem."

"You don't know what's wrong yet?"

Doctor Horse shook his head in resignation. Sighing, Lyra paced the room, desperate to figure out how she could help the poor stallion regain his memories. After all, she had agreed to provide assistance and it just didn't feel right to abandon him just because the task might be difficult. Moments turned into minutes of silent contemplation, which was suddenly cut short by Lyra stamping her left hoof in frustration.

"We must do something, Doctor!" She declared. "He can't go around without his memories! What if he has a family? They would be worried sick right now!"

"Calm down, Lyra!" Doctor Horse soothed while giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "I wish I could tell you something to help you, but these kinds of problems are ones we can't give a medicine for. We'll just have to take care of him until he's physically well, his memories will return when they're ready."

"But, they might not return at all, right?"

Doctor Horse opened his mouth to disagree, but thought better of it. He closed his eyes and nodded solemnly, causing Lyra to sigh deeply before heading towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check on him." She murmured. "There's nothing else to do right now."

"These hooves." The Doctor thought as he continued to practice walking. "They're so awkward."

"How's the practicing?"

He looked up to see Lyra in the doorway, watching him with a smile. The Doctor smiled back and nodded in greeting.

"They're... Strange." He replied. "I think I've already mentioned that, haven't I?"

Lyra giggled softly and nodded back. Trotting over to him, she bent down to readjust the positioning of his legs. Once that was done, she stood in front of him and cleared her throat.

"Okay, watch me." She told him. Once his gaze was fixed upon her, she began to slowly walk forward.

"See how I move?" She asked, gaining a nod from The Doctor. "Copy the same motion, one hoof in front of the other."

After another nod of understanding, The Doctor attempted to copy Lyra. One hoof began to move after the other, each gingerly landing on the ground with a soft clop. A few wobbles occurred, but he was slowly managing to travel short distances without any assistance. His tail flicked as he smiled with joy similar to a child receiving birthday presents.

"I can walk!" He proclaimed and clapped his fore-hooves together. "Thank you, Miss...?"

"Oh!" Lyra exclaimed in surprise. "How rude of me. My name is Lyra Heartstrings, and I'm guessing you're not aware of your name just yet?"

"Yes, I am rather fuzzy on everything at the moment." He replied with a sheepish grin. "Still, it's a pleasure to have had your assistance, my dear. Thank you once again."

"Not a problem! I'm just glad to have met another person with my... Um... Quirks."

"Oh, you mean the sitting thing." The Doctor interjected. "I wouldn't call it a quirk. I have the strangest feeling that it's actually the normal thing to do. However, you said it wasn't, which makes quite a dilemma, doesn't it?"

"I don't see how. Maybe you're just mistaken?"

"Maybe, but something as simple as sitting and walking. Are those abilities not practically part of the sub-conscious? Two incontrovertible facts colliding into a paradox. No, it must mean something more, Lyra."

Lyra looked on in confusion and slight shock. The Doctor's musings were completely alien to her and it appeared that he was beginning to rave almost maniacally. Her fear was soon dispelled when he whirled round to face her.

"I think a spot of food is in order." He stated and offered a hoof to Lyra. "Care to join me?"

Mouth agape, Lyra merely stared back at him in surprise at the sudden change of attitude. After a brief moment to recollect herself, she nodded subserviently and reached out to grasp his hoof.

"Wonderful!" The Doctor replied and gave Lyra a gentle tug towards him as a hint that he wanted her to follow him. He then released her and walked out of the room, Lyra blindly following him.

"You know, I hope the menu is good here." He remarked thoughtfully. "I feel truly famished. What about you?"

"Well, I... I guess I'm a little hungry." Lyra replied quietly. "Do you even know where to go for food?"

"Well, this is a hospital." The Doctor reasoned. "Hospitals need to feed their staff and their patients. Ergo, there must be a kitchen or cafeteria or somewhere that allows many the ability to eat."

"I meant where the cafeteria is."

"Oh." He replied passively, the realisation that knowing something exists and where it exists are two different matters finally dawning upon him. Lyra laughed and, while stood beside him, bumped her flank against his to rouse him from his musings regarding how to find their destination. His gaze looked up to meet hers and she smiled back to comfort him.

"Don't you worry though." She soothed. "I know where it is."

"Well, it seems that I am once more in your debt, Lyra, thank you."

"Don't mention it."

"Are you certain that this is even real food?"

Lyra rolled her eyes at The Doctor. They'd arrived at the cafeteria and she'd ordered him a light meal of a salad burger and hay fries. Her efforts were swiftly frustrated once he'd taken a bite of the fries and spat it out unceremoniously, clearly disgusted by the cuisine.

"Yes, Doctor." She reassured him. "This is perfectly good food!"

A solitary eyebrow raised as The Doctor looked back at her incredulously. His gaze then turned towards the burger and gave that an experimental nibble. After a few moments to chew, he satisfied himself that this, unlike the fries, was palatable and began to eat. Lyra was quick to join as she chewed on a mouthful of fries.

"Is it common for everyone to stare?" The Doctor asked, causing Lyra to look around her. The pair were sat in their unique manner, while the rest of the equines in the canteen glanced over at them occasionally, clearly curious about their choice of stance.

"You get used to it." She replied with a hint of sadness. "I know I did."

"I see." The Doctor said cautiously while meeting a couple of the glances he was getting with a dismissive-aggressive glare. The response he received was everyone swiftly looking away. Smirking, The Doctor then focused on eating his meal. However, the peace he'd acquired for himself and Lyra was swiftly broken by another pony joining them.

"Ah, nice to see you up and about." Doctor Horse remarked while setting a tray down beside them. "How are you feeling?"

"I do believe I'm feeling rather well, thank you." The Doctor replied. "Admittedly, my memory and basic life skills are lacking, but my physical health seems to be just fine."

"Yes, we didn't find anything physically wrong, which raises the question on how we are actually meant to help."

"Hmmmm... Mental health has always been a bit of a strange area of expertise." The Doctor mused in response. Silence fell, causing him to look up at Lyra and Horse. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just..." Doctor Horse replied in surprise. "I didn't expect you to know."

"Well, I know some things. Not important things like my name, but some things. Like sitting, words, sentence structure and such."

"Do you think that you'll remember everything soon?"

"Well, if I don't I can always learn, can't I?" The Doctor said with a grin. "Just because I've forgotten everything once means I can have the adventure of learning it all again."

"I wish I had your optimism." Doctor Horse replied gravely. "I'm not sure how I'd feel if I was to lose every memory I've ever had."

"Well, be glad that you're not experiencing it." The Doctor replied comfortingly. "I'm sure losing your memory is rare and you'll probably never have to experience it."

Doctor Horse nodded thoughtfully, the logic being presented seemed reasonable to him. The trio settled down to eat their respective meals. Once they'd finished, The Doctor was first to speak.

"Where am I?"

Doctor Horse and Lyra looked up at him in surprise and disbelief, but they were quick to remember that they were speaking to an amnesiac and their gaze softened.

"Well, this is Ponyville Hospital in Equestria." Lyra explained.

"I see. You mentioned unicorns." The Doctor interjected while touching his forehead. "Yet I am not in possession of a horn and a number of the staff don't have one either. I assume there's more than one species?"

"That's correct. We are split into three distinct types. You're an earth pony, Lyra and I are unicorns and there are also pegasai, blessed with wings so they can fly. Our princesses are a mixture of all three." Doctor Horse replied. The Doctor nodded slowly as he absorbed the information and considered it.

"And when you say princesses. Do you mean that you are ruled by a king and queen?"

"We don't have a king or queen." Lyra countered. "We have two princesses that protect us; Princess Celestia and Cadance."

"Intriguing, fascinating even." The Doctor mused, hoof rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "A monarchy with no king or queen. A dual partnership of royal duty."

Doctor Horse tilted his head as he watched his patient think. A dilemma was presenting itself to him and he was unaware how he was meant to inform this stallion and Lyra of it. Knowing that they'd have to know eventually, it was better he told them now.

"There is something that the pair of you should know about." He began gravely. "Since there's nothing physically wrong with you and there's no practical treatment for your amnesia, we'll have no choice, but to discharge you."

"If you do that, you'll be kicking him out onto the streets!" Lyra protested. "He doesn't know where he lives or who he is. How are we meant to find his family, friends or partner if we know nothing about him!?"

"Sadly, the hospital can't help there and we need the beds for more urgent cases in need of treatment."

Lyra opened her mouth to protest further, but was stopped when The Doctor raised his hoof to silence her.

"I understand and I'll just have to find some accommodation elsewhere."

"But that's not fair! Where will you go!?" Lyra replied angrily. The Doctor merely shrugged, causing her jaw to drop. "How can you be so relaxed about this?"

"Well, what do you suggest I do?" He countered calmly. "Continue to occupy a bed which could be used by someone who has a serious illness?"

Lyra glared at him, her mind ticking over in an attempt to argue, but her mental search proved fruitless. She bashed her hoof against the table in frustration.

"Well, you can come and stay with me then!" She ranted, her nostrils flaring as she breathed heavily. "My roommate is away on a trip, you should be alright."

The Doctor smiled and patted her hoof to calm her. Lyra was briefly startled by the sudden contact, but blushed slightly after realising her outburst was hardly becoming of an adult. Coughing, her gaze fell to the floor in embarrassment.

"Calm yourself, Lyra." The Doctor soothed. "I appreciate the gesture, but you don't have to."

"No, I am sure of myself." She replied firmly. "You can stay with me. I'd be delighted to have someone's company while Bonbon is away."

"Well, if you're all agreed, then it solves that problem." Doctor Horse interjected. "I'm grateful that you're being so helpful, Lyra."

"It's no problem for me, I'm happy to help." Lyra replied.

"Doctor!"

"Yes?" The Doctor and Doctor Horse replied simultaneously to the nurse that had called out. Lyra and Horse then looked at The Doctor in surprise. The Doctor shared the same expression, clearly confused regarding why he'd responded instinctively to the call of doctor.

"I'm sorry." He apologised and looked down sadly. "I don't know why I did that."

"It's quite alright." Doctor Horse explained. "No harm's been done. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's clear someone needs me."

Lyra and The Doctor watched the physician vacate his seat and leave with the nurse. With the pair now alone, Lyra tapped The Doctor's shoulder to grab his attention.

"Now, before we head home." Lyra began. "I have a few rules to lay down."