Diary of an Apothecary

Chapters

Date: 5/11, Year of the Sun 1004
Date: 5/25, Year of the Sun 1004
Date 5/26, Year of the Sun 1004
Date: 6/30, Year of the Sun 1004
Date: 8/30, Year of the Sun, 1004
Date: 10/30, Year of the Sun, 1004
Date: 5/30, Year of the Sun 1004

Date: 5/11, Year of the Sun 1004

5/11, Canterlot University, 11:13 PM

Well, I certainly do not know what can be gained from this. I suppose, though, by the insistence of my colleague, that this certainly cannot hurt me. If you are wondering, my readers, after the final exams of the Canterlot Medical Examination, or CME's as we called them, they claimed that I was going to be "Equestria's next great Apothecary." I smiled at the absurdity of the thought and reminded them of the severe disadvantage embedded in my coat. It began with my roommate asking of my thoughts on my examination, and how I felt it didn't really seem to matter, given the circumstances. Here was the dialogue we had:

"Aw, c'mon, Xath! You've got more brains in that skull than this whole class!! I bet you're even going to make it to Valedictorian!"

"Again, doubtful. Do you know what some of the University's biggest sponsors would do if they saw me take the stand? Besides Sept, it's simply a title. Why should I be concerned?"

"Because you deserve it, dude! You know you do, and everypony in the class does too!!"

"... Perhaps. However, my good Septic Cleanse, history is won by the victors. I am a simple zebra apothecary. Nopony would know my story."

He paused, looked out the window of his dorm, and stared down at the campus for several long minutes. He turned back to me. "Then write your story down. Make history remember you."

"What do you mean?"

"Keep a journal detailing your adventures so when you become great, everypony will know how you did it!"

"Sep, you know I'm no writer. I can't make some sort of lavish story of my life."

"No, but I do know that you have a knack for remembering the most minute details. If anypony can write the words of history, it can be you."

I thought about it. I remember thinking he did have a point to it. My memory was very structured, and my documents detailing my experiments were often the most complimented part of the reports I had given. After stirring it in my mind for several moments, I finally turned and nodded to Sep.

"Alright, my friend. I'll accept the idea."

We shook hooves.

"However, I doubt anything good may come of this."

He gave me the same coy grin he always gave me when he felt he was right. "Just you wait, Xathan. You're gonna be thanking me soon."

That was five hours ago. My roommate is asleep now, after I told him he needed to rest after the stressful week he had gone through. After some coercion involving some Somnambular Bloom powder in his tea, he can now finally do his job of snoring to break my concentration. But, anyways, if you've managed to read this far in my... ~~Diary~~... ~~Journal~~... ~~Book~~... Personal record of my life, I'll officially begin by telling you about myself and my history.

My name is Xathan Boticar. I am a 23 year old zebra, born in a far off tribe in Zebrica, but officially raised here in Canterlot. I am (hopefully) going to be graduating soon in my study of Equestrian medicine at the MeadowBrook University's School of Medicine. However, my biggest goal is to be accepted into the Celestial-Lunar Research and Development Program, a special educational program in which a select few are given grants used for the purposes of researching new types of medicinal practices and recipes. Of course, there needs to be a screening for that, which is not only done by researchers, but also several influential ponies who, well... Don't seem too keen on letting "outside help" in on their program. Regardless, if you met anypony that knew my history, they would possibly say I had to struggle a lot to get where I am today. It's a long, painful story, but I am planning on cutting most of the fluff to save book space. Let's begin with the day I was found.

I don't remember too much from there. After all, I was just a foal. However, there were some things that I could distinctly remember. I smelt an acidic burning in the air. Smoke that could only be produced the burning of huts and hair. The iron stench of blood that mixed with other scents. I remember seeing very blurry shapes, followed by very bright flashes. That part is especially hazy, but one part I can remember was a flash of sickly green, followed by a descent downward and then a rise. I think I was being rushed away from the scene. However, if there was one thing I could remember clearly, something I could never forget even if I tried...

It was the screaming.

Yes, there was shouting in many directions in a language that today I wouldn't be able to understand, but there was also the bloodcurdling screams coming from all directions. Soon, it all bled together and I was silenced by it, my supposed crying not able to be heard.

Soon, it was very dark. I did not know for how long it was dark, but soon, after a while, there was a bright light, and the rising feeling was back.

As I grew up, I would learn that the darkness followed by light was actually due to me being hidden inside a wooden chest and eventually being found by an Equestrian military scouting group. Apparently, I was the (reportedly) sole survivor of the attack, and was taken back to Equestria, where they had placed me in the Willow Street Orphanage. For the next 7 years of my life, I was simply known as 'Stripes' as I was a zebra, and nopony knew my actual name. Of course, that wasn't the only name I was called. My fellow orphans were especially hostile to me and gave me a plethora of names.

Witch Doctor.

Half-half.

Darkey horse.

Voodoo freak.

And the list goes on.

The only pony that didn't see just my coat and treated me like I was an actual pony was a little filly named Petal Breeze. She was a pegasus, lost her father to a skirmish defending the southern borders, and her mother, a unicorn, committed suicide just after, leaving her there like me. Her hair was long, smooth and matched the colors of when a cherry tree blooms. Her coat was snow white, making her look like a symbol of pure innocence, and constantly she defended me from the bullies and stood by my side. I remember telling her she didn't have to often, and she would simply smile at me and say, "You're my friend. Of course I had to. Friends always help each other, no matter what." For a while, it was just the two of us, learning together, playing together, and watching each other's backs.

However, everything would suddenly change for us once he had entered the picture.

I remember it was a day like any other, everypony was wandering around and playing with each other. Petal and I were outside, playing on the willow tree, when suddenly our caretaker, Ms. Helpinhoof called us inside. We were both curious and a tad nervous, but once we entered, we noticed all the foals standing in a straight horizontal line, facing this rather old looking pony. He was an Earth pony, with whitening grey hair on his head and tail, a sandy colored coat, and a navy blue suit coat and brown dress shirt underneath. He had round glasses on his face, a raggedy mustache, and around his hoof was a black binder of some kind. He took a step forward and spoke these words in a deep yet jolly voice.

"Fillies and colts, I am Professor Anti Biotic. I am here to conduct a little test. Do not worry, it does not hurt. It is simply a little test of memory."

He opened the binder and took out a stack of flash card and handed everypony a single card face down. "You have ten seconds to memorize what is on the other side of that card."

We all looked back up at him, confused.

"Begin!"

Suddenly, everypony flipped their cards over in a panic. I looked at what was on my card, and to this day, I still remember what it was: a purple flower that spread forward like a trumpet ls and a darkening interior. I saw the name. A bunch of letters that made a word that I didn't understand. Before I could sound it out, I heard "Time's up! Turn your cards over!!"

I did almost immediately. I heard him tell a couple of the orphans to take steps back, but I was just staring down at my facedown card. I closed my eyes, trying to remember what the letters were. I panicked, taking fast breaths. I remember thinking 'What were they and was tempted on running out of the room in tears.

Then, I stopped. I took a deep breath and focused. There was an A...

Aco...
Aconi...
Aconitum...
or...
Wolf's B...
Ban...
Bane...

I mouthed the word slowly to myself, hoping that the Equestrian language wasn't lost on me. Suddenly, he was standing in front of me, my card in his hoof. I looked at the line once more. Everypony, even Petal Breeze, had stepped back. I looked up at him with nervous eyes.

"Now..." He said, sounding rather disinterested. "Tell me the name of the flower and what the flower looked like."

I blinked. That was it?, I thought to myself. I was kind of surprised because I thought there would be something different. Then again, I was sometimes a very naive colt. I took a deep breath and spoke these words rather slowly:

"The name of the flower is... Aconi... Tum... Or... Wolf's Bane... It is a purplish flower that looks like the end of a trumpet, and gets darker the closer you look in the inside."

Mr. Anti was surprised, along with all of the other ponies there. Anti looked closer and asked me what I meant by purplish. I told him it looked too dark to be blue but too light to be purple. I thought about the colors of the rainbow until I remembered and shouted, "Indigo! It's indigo!!"

And soon afterwards, Mr. Anti adopted me as his son. I said goodbye to Petal and told her that I would come visit her whenever I can. We shared a hug and I soon got on the carriage with the little belongings I had: a tooth necklace that I had since I was a foal, a couple bits I had found on the streets by sheer luck, and a homemade teddy bear made by Petal from the rags that were around the orphanage. I saw myself clutching the bear promising myself that I would visit Petal as soon as possible.

Little did I know, "soon as possible" was going to mean "In a long time." As soon as I got to my new home, I marveled at the immense collection of liquids, herbs, beakers, and papers that filled the place, leaving it in such a chaotic state, it would make Discord look organized. It was like some mad scientist's dream. However, I only had a few moments to take in the scenery before I was thrust into a room with some books and Mr. Anti told me to read and take notes, and that he'd prepare a meal. I obliged, and for many years I preyed upon book after book. At first, it was simple, the basic reading, writing, and arithmetic that (I assume) most foals had gone through. Then the books became specifically about science.

Then about general chemistry.

Then about herbology.

And then about medicine.

Now, despite what many ponies thought Dr. Anti was like (and what he lacked) as a father, he was actually a very nice stallion. He was nice enough to actually help me pick a name so I didn't have to go by Stripes anymore. I eventually picked 'Xathan Boticar,' names that are abbreviations to certain forms of foreign medicine I was interested in. He was devoted, caring, and was always up for answering any question I had on anything, even current events, which we both found to be rather helpful. Some things I learned not to ask, though, such as his past, his family, and the strange scar on his left-front hoof. Aside from those moments, we were happy.

Eventually, Dr. Anti trusted me enough to let me leave the house, and the first place I ran to was the orphanage. Now, this had been 5 years afterwards, so I had my doubts that she was actually still there. After all, why would anypony turn down such an adorable filly for this long. And of course, after consulting Ms. Helpinhoof, she had been adopted three years after me. I sighed, then asked her where exactly she moved. She told me she couldn't release that information, but then smiled to me and said that since she knows how close I am to her, she'd take a look back. After looking, she pointed me to a rather posh center of the district, and of course, I was met with wavering eyes. I placed a pre-made letter in the address Ms. Helpinhoof provided me, and left, hoping to get a response from her soon.

I never received a letter back.

Eventually, I had moved on, and decided to make my education official at a University. I (of course) was met with hostility, one stallion in particular saying he didn't want to see our medicine become corrupted by my "voodoo garbage", but once shown that I was the prodigy and son of Dr. Anti, they gave me a chance, to which I blew away the competition. I gave them no opportunities for them to kick me out, though a few tried their damnedest. I had soon become popular amongst both much of the staff and students, as I had not only provided help to anypony, but I was also one of the few ponies not trying to use cheat sheets to remember entire recipes. I was given the nickname, "The Witch Doctor of Canterlot," a name which I didn't even oppose.

And, now you're caught up with most of the events of my life. Now, it is getting pretty late. I should probably be getting to bed myself. That is, if I can sleep through Septic's snoring. You know, perhaps this won't be such a bad idea.

Goodnight, everypony.

Praise the Princesses.

-Xathan Boticar

Date: 5/25, Year of the Sun 1004

5/25, Biotic Estate, 10:28 PM

Well, things have certainly been interesting these past few weeks. I will go into detail later, but first, I would like to share an article that came in the paper a few days ago. I found it amusing, but also a bit concerning.

Canterlot Research Association's Most Recent Applicant Creates Controversy Amongst Members

Canterlot's prestigious organization, the Canterlot Research Association, Equestria's top society for doctors, surgeons, and apothecaries, has recently become the center of discussion as Xathan Boticar, a recent graduate of the MeadowBrook University's School of Medicine has made attempts to enter the Association's Celestial-Lunar Research and Development Program. The program provides government-backed funding for members to experiment and create new, better versions of the drugs and medication ponies take every day. The program selects its members based on certain qualifications, including education, training, and associations with other members of the organization, and each member is selected by not only its greatest and most powerful members but also the largest financial backers as well. The board has come to a stalemate, with each half split on whether this orphaned zebra deserves a chance in one of the most influential medical positions in the country. Fancy Pants, the second largest backer of the program, has been leading to include Xathan. When asked why he had chosen this stance, he said to reporters: "I believe that everypony has a chance of greatness, no matter where they have been, or what they are. To see a pony, who had been taken under the wing of one of our most productive members, Dr. Anti Biotic, be denied such a request is like losing the rarest of gems found in a mine."

The other half, however, led by medical professional Doctor Heart Rate, has been making several debates on the matter, claiming that Xathan's education had been tampered with and he should not be able to qualify due to both having spent only four years in university and still acquiring a Master's Degree and evidence that he had been participating in "questionable activities" during his time in university. "I will not allow riff-raff into this program to muddy up the good name of this program!" he declared during the rather heated meeting. "The Medicinal Branch of the Celestial-Lunar Research and Development Program has pride itself in finding and developing new forms of medicine to help bring Equestria to health and prosperity. To have a pony who has no consideration for following rules and regulations should not be welcome in this program!"

The debates have been estimated to continue for up to three days to determine the verdict. If a conclusion cannot be reached until Saturday of 9:00 PM, then the final verdict must be reached by a consensus between the four Princesses. Only time will tell if this underdog medical student will be able to achieve the ultimate honor.

Heh. It's funny, isn't it? I a simple greatness, to be somepony who would help everyone by offering an aid, medicine and the like. In turn, I become one of the biggest things in the paper and the next "hot scoop." I hope that nopony intends to follow me for news...

It is true that I only had about four years of proper education in university. This is because, thanks to a placement exam, I had moved ahead a couple of years. However, due to my rather impressive score, many of the more disgruntled and envious classmates of mine had attempted to try and disprove my scores, with no degrees of success. They even had the nerve to compose some false evidence towards the claim. When it had come up during the debate, it took only half an hour to debunk it without losing credibility.

However, their other evidence they had proved to be more problematic.

During the debate, one of the opposers of my admission had pointed out my assistance with other students' medical assignments, although they made it seem as though I was setting up some sort of underground racket for answers. This, of course, got the other members into a heated debate on whether or not that counted against me as assisted academic dishonesty. The debate went on for up to 3 hours, but thanks to the assistance of my colleagues refused to speak, the theories were placed on hold. The final debate in regards to my questionable academics, however, was the point that almost made me smile for once.

The graduation ceremony started as any other. The ponies in my class had just sat down, adorned in their jet black gowns and graduation caps. I sat between Septic Cleanse and another close colleague of mine, Epi Pence, who was a rather healthy looking unicorn with who always had a big grin on his face. He was the happiest stallion I had known in class, to be honest. Anyways, As the crowd that had come to see us sat down, the head of the School of Medicine, Professor Herbal Brew, approached the podium and spoke in his dry, deep voice.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, the time has come for the Mage Meadowbrooke's School of Medicine to see if another class of brilliant minds into the medical field, hoping that each one will make a difference somewhere in the world. This prestigious University has strived to take the best and make them greater. To be able to tackle any of the challenges that the world may throw at them. And it has clearly shown, on this day, that we have achieved a truly marvelous class of ponies, as not one of the students entering the Class of 1004 has managed to have a dropout rate of zero percent!!"

The audience stomped with power and controlled enthusiasm, clearly impressed at this achievement that had not been seen since the college's conception (at least to their knowledge, there were rumors that the third class of the college had managed it, but I'm not entirely sure). Professor Brew smiled and shushed everypony with a single hoof.

"Now, before we read out our graduating class, I would like to present the awards for our valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 1004."

Sept nudged me with his hoof, his cheeky grin spread across his face. I simply rolled my eyes and continued watching the professor. Sept had complete confidence that I would make valedictorian. However, I knew inside... I wasn't going to be valedictorian. The school's hidden reputation wouldn't allow it. You see, Dr. Biotic explained to me that Equestria's elite has this pull on who goes where in much of society. Whatever happens here affects the rest of Equestria, and only the richest can decide. This made sense since many businesses pooled in the bits for anything to function.

However, despite this, inside I was angered.

This was the same discrimination that I had to put up with my entire life. This was the discrimination that made me feel like I was meant to work in a gem mine. This was the discrimination that gave Dr. Biotic so much trouble when he had tried to get into the field himself since, before me, Earth Ponies were the lowest race in the field of science.

Professor Brew smiled as he continued to speak. "These two students had shown exemplary talent right off the bat and continued to amaze us with their knowledge of Equestrian medicine and chemistry. They not only displayed excellent knowledge in the field, but they had also exceeded many of the expectations of our class and went above and beyond the call of duty. First, the Salutatorian..."

The aging stallion used his magic to move the card closer to his eyes, a trick he used to drum up dramatic tension (Honestly, the old bag of bile needs it since his speeches are as dry as tea leaves.), before anouncing in a firm, booming voice: "Ms. Licorice Root!"

A young unicorn mare quickly moved up to the podium as a wave of thunderous hoof stomps poured in from the seats, accompanied by her fellow classmates' joining in. I myself contended to a simple clop since Spriggan had an... episode that nearly led to me being chucked into a wall. It was an event involving a final project that, thankfully, I was able to dispel before anypony else got hurt. Looking up at the mare, her rose-red locks pulled back in a bun as she adjusted her glasses, spoke slightly shakily, "T-Thank you, Doctor Brew. Honestly, I..."

She chuckled nervously before clearing her throat. "Honestly, I am sort of surprised I received this. I know that many of these students are brilliant in the field and none of them were slothful when it came to their work, so to receive this title, it..."

I saw a tear well up in her eye, to which she quickly wiped it with her hoof. "It is truly an honor. I give my thanks to my professors and everypony who believed in me!" With that, she bowed her head as she stepped back and returned to her seat, the applause returning for a brief moment as Professor Brew returned to the podium.

"Very good. And now for the Valedictorian..."

I sat there, gazing at the graying stallion with a mixture of apathy and frustration. I really just wanted to get the ceremonies over with so that I could go home and start my planning. He went into a long-winded explanation that the student was an exemplary student who managed outpace everypony in the class and whose future would be the brightest. Already, I felt the eyes of the classmates I tutored bore into my head from multiple directions. Outside, my face did its best to maintain its typical stoic expression, but inside, I was both ashamed and anxious. Part of me was holding out hope that perhaps I did well enough for them to consider me. However, that more realistic and constantly increasing part of me knew that it would go to somepony else. Scanning the graduate's seats, I quickly identified a well-groomed stallion with silver-grey coat curling blonde hair that was pulled back into a small ponytail. Quick Silver. A serious flank kisser and the logical candidate for valedictorian in a Canterlot university. A capable, good-looking unicorn with that winning smile every head of the class should have. To not pick that stallion would simply be the wrong answer, and yet... As I sat there, looking down at my slender hooves, I secretly hoped, maybe, I would be recognized for the work I had done and would reap the fruits of my labor. It wasn't flashy, it was a simple gum that was used to administer more advanced medications normally requiring a needle, and had an immunity boosting effect to it. I didn't have much time to truly perfect it, and it definitely hadn't turned heads.

Professor Brew opened the scroll using magic and unraveled it, seemingly reading over the name in his mind before declaring, "The Valedictorian for Mage Meadowbrooke's School of Medicine, Class of 1004... Is Mr. Quick Silver!!"

I watched as the cocky young stallion rose and trotted to the stand and collect his "prize." My stoic expression never changed as I watched him approach our professor. I had expected this. I had expected that I would be shoved aside for somepony who was more... Correct to them. Inside, however, I had felt robbed. I felt like all of that toiling away was not to thrive in this prestigious college, but to survive. I closed my eyes in contempt. It had been done.

However, in those brief seconds I stared at that scene before me, I failed to notice one thing: The applause had been quieter around me. Ponies were still giving their dignified clops, but as I gazed around, I saw most of my colleagues had just gazed around, confused and honestly frustrated. However, once I saw Sep, I saw him at his least calm. He had normally been a pretty "chilled out" kind of stallion, as he put it, and never blew his fuse or really even got that mad, even when his experiment caused noxious smoke clouds for the fifth time that week. Here, though, I could see steam rising inside him, his... Aura, to put it bluntly, had become very bubbly as he simply glared at the unicorn, who had just begun his speech.

"Oh man... I mean, what can I say? I mean, I had some stiff competition here, I'm not gonna lie, but I know I've put as much effort as I could in gaining this title."

"Horse apples!!"

I froze, my eyes locking onto Sep as he rose and pointed his hoof accusingly at Quick Silver.

"You know damn well that title doesn't belong to you!!"

I immediately knew what he was planning. Sep had a reputation for brash and reckless actions that had a 50% chance of landing anypony involved in hot water. I swiftly covered my face and pulled at his gown to sit down, but he wouldn't budge. Nothing I could do could seat my friend down.

Quick himself gave a confident chuckle, turning to Sep and replying with an air of smugness about him. "Oh, Cleanse. Don't get so upset. I know you think your..." He cleared his throat. "Simple cleaning agent was quite ingenious, but I do believe that my invigorating tonics prove my capability and worthiness of Valedictorian."

The crowd seemed to let out a collective guffaw, Sep's face contorted in anger as if he were about to explode. I too remember those tonics Quick had made. Three in total, each one was like a super-vitamin, tailor-made for Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth Pony, said to have a unique boosts of each one: Crystalline Mind was to boost Unicorn's mental capacity, allowing for greater power to spells, Swift Gust gave energy to Pegasi's wing and back muscles thus providing greater speeds, and Mountain Tread, which strengthens an Earth Pony's physical strength. They were the highlight of the final projects the class had presented to the Canterlot elite as well as the highest physicians across Equestria at the Equestrian Medical Convention's Apothecaries of Tomorrow exhibit*. I was impressed with them myself but wasn't sure what Sep was trying to imply.

"Oh yeah?? Well, did you tell everypony that you didn't do this on your own?? That you had help because your tonics kept making ponies ill??"

As soon as I heard that, the pieces started to fall together. I recalled the several classmates coming to me to assist them with their homework as I tried to work on mine, as I had no issue with helping another pony. Equestria was built on a sense of oneness, and I was happy to help with keeping ponies alive, I found no reason not to assist, since advancing medicine was my goal. However, one of the ponies that came in asking for assistance was...

"Quick Silver! The real reason you had managed to have a functional presentation for the exhibit was that of my friend..." He pointed directly at me. "Xathan Boticar!"

A loud murmuring could be heard from the crowd. The other graduates looked around, some looking at me. All I could do was shift in my seat as attention had been brought to me. Silver seemed especially nervous, hidden behind his boastful bravado.

"P-Preposterous! How can you prove that that zebra could have aided me in the slightest??"

A slight tinge of annoyance hit my forehead. It wasn't the worst I had been called, but I was not a fan of his ingratitude. Sep's look shifted into one of malevolence. "Easy..." He pulled out a set of papers, covered in dirt and grime. "Recognize these?" I could only hide my face in embarrassment for my friend and mutter, "Oh sweet Celestia, he dug in our garbage..." Dr. Brew inspected the papers with a slight adjustment of his papers.

"By Luna's mane..." He grumbled as he looked through the original recipe as well as my handwritten critiques on it. He turned to Quick with a shocked expression. "Mr. Silver... Is this true?"

"What?? No, I-!"

"It is! Every night, I'd see him slave away at other projects because he cared about helping other ponies!" He turned to the crowd of graduates. "You know the work he put in for us!! Are you going to let him have his hooves stepped on by a pony who simply takes the credit for a miracle-??"

"Cleanse, enough!!"

I remember the sensation. I remember the frustration I felt for this supposed happy occasion foiled because Sep wanted to throw a fit on my behalf. I stood and looked at him with more anger than anyone had seen me. Even Quick Silver wavered as I approached him, spilling my words.

"I understand your frustration, but you should not be trying to rally our classmates into attempting an uprising in the middle of our graduation! I helped many, yes, but it wasn't so that I could receive recognition!! I do not care if I never get the recognition for any of my work!! As long as it has brought aid to those that need it, I will be satisfied!!"

Everything went quiet. Sep looked at me, first angry, then calming to apologetic. He nodded as I shook hooves with him and motioned him back to his seat. He complied without another word. Not even half an hour into the ceremony and already done with it, I turned to my professor and spoke quietly, "I would like to receive my degree and leave, Dr. Brew."

He complied, and I was the first to leave the stage that day. Within the next couple of, I applied to be a part of Celestial-Lunar Research and Development Program's medical field.

Dr. Biotic said that he could pull strings with the program to see if I could receive a position, but I refused the help. If I could not do this myself, it simply was not meant to be.

The final verdict is scheduled for tomorrow. I will remember to write an update tomorrow.

Rest well, everypony.

Author's Note

*The Equestrian Medical Association's Convention is a weekend-long event where every day, ponies would display their contributions to the medical field, discuss new issues such as disease, breakthroughs, theories etc., and displaying the future of Equestria's medics in the Apothecaries of Tomorrow exhibit.

Date 5/26, Year of the Sun 1004

5/26, Four Princesses Hotel, 9:56 PM

Forgive the sloppy format, I suppose I'm a bit more excited than I should be. Today, the verdict had come in: I have been accepted as a member of the Canterlot Research Association. The vote had finally come in, with only 2 votes making the cut. However, instead of being one of the Program's researchers, they elected to put me as a Contagion Analyst, or as some have named them, "The Plague Guard". According to Dr. Biotic, my task is to establish a footing in one of the major populations in an attempt to locate potential contagions for a plague under the guise of a pharmacy. Many ponies that go into the field often suffer due to working with so many sick patients and many in the Association saw Plague Guards as being on the lower rung, but I was more than happy to accept it. The risk of infection was worth helping ponies in need.

After filling out more paperwork (a task that was so mundane, the doctor had to keep me from falling asleep using a ruler and a cup full of ice), I was told that I was to pick a major city and look for a building to set up my office. Apparently, this program would cover the building and the set-up, but once everything was set up, I had to provide monthly reports of the water, soil, and air's contagion levels. On top of this, I was tasked with preventing ponies with illnesses from spreading to others, hence the pharmacy guise. Any profit acquired would be divided 40-60 going to the Association, who would, in turn, pay for the utilities.

It didn't seem like much but a simple routine, but I was more than willing to put up with a little monotony. When it came time to decide my city of operation, I recalled a memory of my time in the orphanage. Petal and I were hanging out on the roof of the orphanage, something we often did when nopony was around. We talked.

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"Hey Stripes, if you got adopted, where do you wanna go?" I shrugged.

"I dunno. Anywhere with nice ponies, I guess." I looked over at her. "What about you?"

She giggled and stood on her hind hooves, spinning on it. "I wanna go to Manehatten! I'd be the best actress in all of Equestria, and then I could travel all over and make everypony smile!!"

I laughed as I saw her gracefully spin, her presence warming me. Then the thought came. "Will you... Will you try and visit me?"

She turned over to me, surprised at first, then smiling brightly and hugging me tightly. "Of course! You're my best friend, Stripes!"

Her grip was tight. I sputter out a bit as I hugged her back. "Y-You're my best friend too... P-Petal... Can't breathe..."

"Oops! Eheheh..." She loosened her grip and chuckled, a bit embarrassed. "Sorry..."

"It's okay..." I didn't let go. The moon was bright that day, shining on us like the brightest of spotlights.

"You'll always be my best friend Stripesy... I promise..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote down Manehatten. Aside from the fond memory, I know its dense population meant that a contagion could spread much faster. Anything I could do there would at least help the Plague Guard already stationed. They told me that I could pick where I wanted to be set up, so Dr. Biotic and I looked over the Manehatten map to see where we could set up. Unfortunately, the upper middle-class areas had been occupied already by a few members of the Guard, so trying to go there and look for Petal was out of the question. Doctor reminded me however that I had to focus on my job, not just pursue a memory at the moment. He was right. This was my job. In the end, we both agree setting up in the lower income area was the best option. While it is true that it had more violence and thefts, it was also where most contagions were more likely to spread in the past. This would be a trying time, no doubt, but it was also the most fruitful.

While we prepared for the trip to Manehatten to pick a building, I had decided to make a few stops. First, I stopped by the Willow Street Orphanage to say hello to Ms. Helpinhoof. She had seemed a tad peeved at me for the incidents that had occurred, but before I could explain myself to her in a flustered manner, she let out a loud giggle and hugged me tightly.

"Oh Xathan, honey, don't worry! I'm not mad in the slightest." She moved back to look at me, her motherly face still bright with cheer. "You made everypony proud standing on your own four hooves and making it this far. No matter what happens, I'll always be proud of you."

I couldn't help but go teary-eyed as I pulled her into another hug. She had been the sweetest mare for not just me, but everypony else, that I had no hesitation when I uttered into her ear.

"Thank you... Mother."

She gave out a gasp as I could tell her face was frozen in shock. Then she returned my affections with an equally tight hug. I held onto her tightly, like a young man being sent to war and saying goodbye to his mother one more time. I had no idea what lay ahead of me, so I wanted to the pony who took care of me all those years ago. As we released our embrace, she spoke to me about my career path. I informed her about my new position within the CRA.

"Contagion Analyst...? That sounds quite dangerous, Xathan..." I nodded in confirmation.

"But the job could save lives. I can't refuse regardless of the prestige or the safety. If a plague is about to occur, I'll be the first to know and might be able to stop it from happening altogether."

This did not seem to quell her worries. "It also means you're more likely to get infected."

I hugged her once more for reassurance. "I promise I'll be safe. You'll have my words on that."

She chuckled a bit and returned the hug. "You just be safe now, promise me that."

"I promise..." After letting go, I prepared to make my leave when a question popped into my mind. Turning back to my ~~mother~~ caretaker, I asked. "Would you..." I hesitated. "Happen to remember what happened to Petal Breeze?"

She smiled at me in a way seemed to ask 'Is that why you came here?' and nodded. "I do, actually. I can't give the details for legal reasons, but I can tell you she's in Canterlot."

I bowed my head low to show my appreciation. "Thank you. I appreciate the information." Inside I was kicking myself for a moment. It seemed like it would not be my fate to find her in her dream city. All I could do now was act as one of the city's many defenses against disease. I was all to happy to comply.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After saying goodbye to ~~Mom~~ Ms. Helpinhoof, I ran into Septic Cleanse once more in an attempt to say goodbye to the first friend I had met outside of the orphanage. At first, it had seemed that he resented me over the graduation incident, in a way that seemed to indicate I had caused him humiliation. However, I offered to buy him lunch, and he almost immediately jumped on the offer. I chuckled as we stopped at a small curry place. He never was a pony who could refuse a good meal, especially if it was free.

We sat in silence for a while, occasionally making idle small talk as we waited for our food to arrive. It turns out he was part of a team that was responsible for developing gastroenterological medications, something he was especially good at. I cracked a joke to ease the tension, and he seemed to loosen up. As our food arrived and we chowed down, he paused, looking up at me.

"Listen, Xath..." He muttered. "I'm... Sorry for kicking up dust like that. It was bullheaded of me and I should've thought better. It's just... You've done a lot for ponies, and you always seem to suffer for it. Remember when you stayed up helping ponies study for the midterm? You were like a zombie the next day, you almost slept through the test!"

I nodded as I recalled the memory. The ponies in question needed to pass the midterm or they'd lose their scholarships. When I offered to help, they didn't give it a second look. Despite my exhaustion, I did well enough on the exam, and the ponies in question managed to stay in the program long enough to pull their grades back up.

"I just... I still think you deserve that award."

I smiled at him and placed my hoof on his, patting it. "I understand, Sep. I'm not a fan of it either, but I learn to deal with it. Truth is, I think he deserves is simply because he created an amazing tool that could help everypony. I can see many uses for it, in my opinion."

Sep simply blew his mane out of his head. "I will never understand what goes through that brain of yours, Xath."

"Let's pray you never will cause at that point, I'm getting brain surgery!"

We had a long laugh, Sep accidentally shooting curry out his nose as we desperately tried to stop the burning pain he was feeling. Eventually, we started talking about work.

"So, Plague Guard, huh?It feels like they're selling you short, ya know?"

"Hey, I'm not complaining. I wanted a job that can let me help ponies, and this fits right up my alley."

He shrugged as he gulped down his meal, sighing in satisfaction. "Well, promise me you won't die of botulism, or else I'm going to have Celestia resurrect you just so I can beat you with a rubber glove."

"Sure, as long as you don't end up too far inside a pony's digestive tract and choke on horseapples."

The quiet diner filled with our laughter, a moment that I'll never forget as I said goodbye to my colleague, roommate, and friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once I returned home, I finished packing all of the necessary items for a few nights stay, Dr. Biotic and I made our way onto the train and straight to Manehatten. The trip itself was a quiet one, with the only thing I could really say is some members of Canterlot's newsponies bugging the two of us on the way there for questions. It seemed I had developed a small reputation before I could even do anything. I sighed as I helped my aging mentor pack up our bags. I must have had a face matching my mood at the time since Dr. Biotic placed his hoof on my shoulder and smiled at me.

"Heheh, it's not easy living in the limelight, is it? You want to pity anypony, pity celebrities that have to deal with that on a daily basis."

I smiled a bit. "Did you ever have to deal with that, Doctor?"

"No, not really," He mused with a shake of his head. "When I was young, we were allowed to smack reporters. Ponies knew better than to mess with us!" He let out a slightly wheezy laugh as he shook my shoulder a bit, ending his chortle with a little sigh. "Now, I knew a mare that had to deal with the whole nine yards, an actress. She used to write to me saying they were driving her nuts and she had no privacy." He adjusted himself in his seat. "She said that her husband and I were her two pillars to keep her steady."

I was almost afraid to ask, but I grew morbidly curious. "What happened to her?"

Dr. Biotic grew quiet, clenching his cane a bit as he recalled the memory. "Some... Real goon of a reporter... Had a bit of a hatred of the poor filly. Don't know why, but anyway... He intercepted one of her letters to me. He made the whole thing seem like we were... Intimate. Things got heated with her husband, and he came to me to try and knock my teeth out. We fought for a bit before I knocked some sense into the stallion and told him that I had no intention of taking her away from him. By the time we figured it out..." He looked down a bit and shaking his head. "Well, no medicine I could brew could help her."

I fell quiet, feeling pangs of guilt. In my mind, I opened up a wound that closed long ago, and I didn't want him to go into the details for his sake. Instead, he looked at me with an old, wise smile. "Xathan... Cherish the ponies in your life. You never know when you'll see them again, and you never know what might happen to yourself. Just... Be good to everyone. There's no reason you gotta be poisoned with hate."

Looking back, I nodded and hugged him tightly. It felt so nice to hug my father, even if I knew he did help create me. Once we arrived, we took a cab to the hotel just outside the area I had agreed to choose. To make the decision and finally move in would take a bit more time than usual, so when I update this may be a few days or weeks. Until then, I'll bid you all a good night.

Date: 6/30, Year of the Sun 1004

Apologies for taking so long to tend to you, but as it turns out, setting things up around the apothecary took quite a while. Even at the end of the month, I still haven't finished setting things up. As soon as I could, I began my work in calculating the diseases present in my district. After all, if I could not give a good enough picture of the health of the Slums, I could kiss the aid that the Association will send me goodbye. They're giving me a month free to establish myself and get a few patients in to start calculating data. Other than that, I've pretty much been told to work on my own. I suppose this is fine, it gives me more room to operate as I see fit, but I have the feeling that this isn't out of respect for me. I've gotten letters from my colleagues that the Association wants results relatively quickly. So, as a result, I planned to not delay for very long.

Unpacking things from home was relatively simple, all I needed to do was set up the supplies as well as my equipment and then finally, put in the desk and bed. I don't really need a lot in order to do my job, but I would need plenty of ink, paper, and quills, which I stocked myself in before coming here with the aid of Dr. Anti*. He also had given me a full supply of ingredients for me to use, something I felt rather averse to until he insisted that he take care of me a bit more before I was on my own. I still don't know if it was right for him to allow that without some form of reimbursement, but I didn't have much of an option until I had a steady income.

However, as I was cleaning the area, waiting for a customer for the first week, I discovered a few books lying around. It turns out that the previous occupant, the friend of Dr. Thread and Dr. Biotic, had left a number of medical journals and recipe books behind after his departure. There was no way that I could get through them all within a month, so during the spare time I had, I would comb through the books and take in the knowledge. It turns out that there were a number of undocumented cases of diseases in this city that very few ponies had taken note of. In fact, I recalled the statistics of the Slums and came to the realization that they were inaccurate. I wondered why this was the case, but in order to find out more, I would need to consult the doctors in charge of keeping the records.

There were two main clinics in the Snidwater Slums, one belonging to Dr. Thread, and another run by a Dr. Silver Pill. I decided to test my luck with Dr. Thread first, but upon entering, I discovered he was quite busy with a number of surgeries, mainly for injuries acquired just by living in the area. He took the time to talk to me, telling me that he was responsible for keeping track of injuries and non-disease related deaths and that if I wanted more information, I would need to talk with him. So I did. And it was... Eventful.

I arrived at the clinic, located a ways away from my house. The building was a bit cracked, but it certainly looked a bit better than most buildings around, which had broken windows, crumbling conditions, and boarded up doors. I took a deep breath and entered the establishment. The place was filled with ponies, sick as dogs as they waited to be checked on. I approached the desk where a nurse was chewing on gum and reading a magazine.

"Ummm, excuse me..."

"Yes, how can I help you today...?" she replied in a bored tone.

"Ummm, yes. I was wondering if I could speak with the doctor about-."

"Sir, if you want a check-up, you'll need to sign the form on THIS..." She held up a clipboard with a form attached to it."And wait in line like the rest of the ponies. He's a very busy stallion and can't see just anyone."

"Ma'am, you misunderstand. I'm not here for a checkup. I'm here to discuss some information that I discovered."

The mare looked up at me with her crystal blue eyes with a gaze of judgment. "Sir, do ya think I was born yesterday? You think that someone like you can trick me into just letting you walk in?"

I sighed, moving my coat to reveal my Association badge to the nurse, who quickly silenced as she looked in shock. "I'm with the Association."

She tried stuttering some excuses a bit before she finally sighed and pressed a button to call Dr. Pill to the front. I waited with book in hoof ready to discuss with a fellow colleague the information that I'd found. What came out of the clinic's double doors was a stallion that looked more like a used cart salespony instead of an actual medical practitioner, with his shiny, slicked-back mane, golden necklace, and a weasely look in his eyes. As soon as he looked at me, his eyes widened.

"Woah, Peach, ya didn't tell me the guy was uh..." He eyed me up and down and I raised an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, you sure this is the right guy? That he didn't steal the badge."

"I assure you, sir, that this is mine," I spoke with a rather serious tone. "And I would assure you that I am Dr. Boticar."

"Uhuh, and I'm just supposed to believe a zeeb like you?" He glared at me before poking my chest. "How do I know you aren't planning some kinda heist where you an' your friends are gonna come in an' steal my medicine?"

"Sir, all I want to do is discuss these findings and-"

"And what? Your little goon squad is going to sneak into the back and rob me blind? Nice try." He rolled his eyes and turned around, walking back to the double doors. "If you really are who you say you are, come back with an official letter from the Association, magic stamped** and everything!" With that, he walked through the doors, leaving me standing there with everyone's eyes fixed on me as I turned and left myself.

Needless to say, I didn't get what I wanted out of that, and I returned home with nothing but more questions than answers. I decided to write to the Association for a letter of recognition, proving that I was who I said I was to the doctor. They told me that they would be putting me on a waitlist. Excellent, I thought as I read the letter. I get to wait for the bureaucratic process to eventually allow me the privilege of talking to an honest jerk... I sighed as I prepared myself a small breakfast of toast and milk. I didn't have much of a budget for food thanks to the lack of customers...

I thought that it would be relatively easy to get customers in here given the number of patients Dr. Pill had received on that night alone. However, I quickly realized that I might have a bit of a challenge ahead of me. Many ponies passed by my shop, and none of them even gave it a second glance, even after I had taken the time to have it renovated and make it look somewhat presentable. But for my first month, I was simply out of luck. My first customer walked in, saw my face, and before I could even greet him, said "Oh great, a damn zeeb," before walking out. Every so often, this would repeat, somepony walking in, seeing me, and leaving, usually to the sound of a slur or two. This wasn't just affecting my business, but it was also giving me trouble in my research. Because I couldn't gather documents from Dr. Pill and I couldn't get any customers, I realized that I was struggling to find enough data to send to the Association. All of it should have bothered me, but I just felt... Nothing. Maybe it was remembering what my friends would say to me during those times, or maybe I was so used to being called things all my life that I couldn't bring myself to be angry. Either way, I knew that my bits wouldn't last if something didn't get changed.

Then, I was blessed with a little miracle. On the last week, I heard the door's bell ring and I looked up from my book, bracing for the impact of another foul word aimed at me. What I saw was an old pegasus mare toddling into the shop, approaching the counter with a pained expression and a bad cough. She told me her name was Snow Cyclone and that she was looking for some medicine due to the fact that her medical expenses got a bit too big thanks to a persistent illness as well as her pained body. I asked her a few questions to gather details and came to the following conclusion:

Repeated trauma to the body due to racing accidents has resulted in joint pain and several torn wing muscles that were not properly treated in time, likely due to the patient's persistence in continuing a race even after sustaining serious injuries.
Accidental lightning strike during youth has resulted in some minor nerve damage in the spine and hooves.
Patient is suffering from a high fever, a persistent cough, fatigue, and sore throat. Symptoms point to the flu.

Conclusion: Mrs. Snow Cyclone's body is in need of major surgery to repair the damage done, but upon discussing the impossibility of this due to lack of financial means, it's recommended that a strong painkiller and a muscle relaxant would help. A two-week prescription of Flu Brew is also required in order to combat flu symptoms.

After discussing the treatment required, she expressed her worry over the price. As it turns out, Dr. Pill has had quite an expensive operation going. Medication that would typically help Mrs. Cyclone would range in the hundreds of bits without any insurance. I didn't quite know his situation, but I felt that it was still too high. Perhaps his ingredients or even his supplier paid higher wages? I can't say for sure. Either way, I offered a flat rate of 100 bits for two weeks worth of the medicine. She looked at me, stunned, and took a step back. She had a look on her face like she was expecting there to be a catch. I turned back and started preparing the medicine. I quickly filled two cauldrons with water and looked through my assortment of herbal jars, taking the necessary ingredients and getting to work.

The thing about herbal remedies is that, while many of the recipes are old fashioned and now most have been proven to be less effective than synthesized drugs, the truth of the matter is that those drugs are very much the same, just the herbal substances have been refined over and over to increase potency. It's something that I discovered when I deconstructed some medication in college and then refined some of my ingredients. Granted, when refining, you lose a chunk of the more useless components, so you get far less of it, but with some trickery, I can make more with less. A few beakers and test tubes, a burner to heat things up, and within a couple of hours, I had all of the components needed to create the medicine. I mixed the correct ingredients into the cauldrons according to my notes, and in no time at all, I had two weeks worth of medicine for my patient.

Snow seemed hesitant with the medications that I slipped into her saddlebag, holding her bag of bits tightly with a conflicted look on her face. I sighed and motioned to her. "Listen, I understand it might not be easy to trust someone like me who just moved into the neighborhood, but if you really want my word that my potions work, then I'll let you have the two weeks for free. If they work, then you can pay me 175 bits when you return. If not, then we can forget the payment and you don't need to come back."

She looked down and nodded. "Th-Thank you... I... I don't know what to say..."

I simply smiled at her. "Don't say anything. Just get better. It's all I ask."

With a smile in return, Snow hobbled out of the store, and my smile dropped. I sighed and looked at the clock. It was just about closing time. I turned the sign and prepared a dinner of steamed oats that day with more water from the tap. It had a foul taste to it, but it was all I could afford. My check from the Association was supposed to arrive within the next week, so hopefully, I can buy some cheap groceries for the next month and pray to Celestia that I can make it.

Perhaps tonight, I'll send a letter to Licorice and Septic and see how things are faring with them.

Good night, everypony.

Praise the Princesses.

Author's Note

* Something I probably should have mentioned sooner is that Anti was rather averse to calling me his father. He told me it's because he felt that because he never had a partner, he could never see himself as a parent, and more of a guardian and a master of knowledge. I still think of him as my father.

**Magic stamps are an expensive form of document approval. Any piece of notoriety that has a magic stamp on it cannot be forged and display full authenticity.

Date: 8/30, Year of the Sun, 1004

I am starting to perceive what Licorice had been saying when she said that the Association wanted to dump me here in hopes that I fail. The past couple of months have been a failure in attracting customers and gathering data. It appears that many people in the Slums would rather risk illness than put their faith in me. However, it's not that I can't blame them. The tension between zebras and ponies has been growing recently, and I'm guessing that many ponies have been reading the news lately.

Tensions Rise as Negotiations Rage on within Zebrika

Zebrika and Equestria continue to draw out their negotiations within neutral grounds regarding the settlements on the Equestrian-Zebrikan border. The Zebrikans have insisted to push the settlements back into Equestrian space while the Equestrian government has insisted that they cannot move back without entering Deer territory. Ambassador Ren d'vous had the following statement: "We have insisted that we have no intentions of invading Zebrika, but they have continued to insist that we move back. If they cannot be persuaded, then we will likely continue construction without the consent of the nation." Princess Twilight Sparkle has insisted that a more peaceful solution is present. "There's no need to escalate tensions over some construction. If needed, the Council of Friendship will intervene and look to see if a more appropriate solution is possible." Zebrikcan ambassadors have declined to speak. According to a poll, 90% of Canterlot residents have agreed to continue the construction; 5% of Ponyville residents have agreed to continuing the construction; 75% of Manehatten residents have agreed to continuing the construction; Trottingham residents are at 62%; Las Pegasus residents are at 59%...

It continues like that for a while, but there's a very high consensus that zebras are being unreasonable, and thus, I'm suffering as a result. According to a few sources back from the Association, the Zebrikans have had trust issues ever since the Changeling attacks all those years ago. The fact that the Changelings are now a part of the unifying nations probably made everyone suspicious and unwelcoming, despite Princess Twilight's efforts.

As for my work, I'm afraid that things are still a challenge as ever. Besides the lack of trust, trying to determine the symptoms of the patient from a distance proved to be a fruitless endeavor. I could see the obvious symptoms, coughing, sneezing, noticeable discolorations that indicated irritated skin, but I couldn't as easily determine whether or not they have internal issues, such as digestive or circulatory issues. Even if I could gather that data, without the names of patients, it would look as if I were simply making up things as I went along.

The only things that were the highlight of the past couple of months have been the letters from my ~~colleagues~~ friends. It brought a smile to my face to hear how the others are doing. I keep the letters hidden in the loose floorboards so I don't lose them.

Septic has been working well as Las Pegasus's premiere practitioner. While I expected him to get right into the Las Pegasus lifestyle, I was instead shocked to find that instead, he was going on long rants about the cleanliness of the city, or more specifically, the lack of cleanliness. He apparently ranted so much, he got to speak with the mayor in person and he's being appointed as head of the Las Pegasus Disinfectant Committee, responsible for wiping out the disease spreading hot zones with tourist money backing him.

Dyspne ended up in Cloudsdale, I suppose because the Association assumed a pegasus was fit to work in a city of clouds. He began work on the physical fitness of the various residents, specifically, their breathing capacity. In doing so, he found that there was actually an increase in respiratory issues in the cloud factory workers due to poor factory conditions leaving quite a few of them with cloud lung. He immediately checked with the Wonderbolts to ensure that they were doing adequately, and as they were impressed with his skill, he was put to work in monitoring Wonderbolt breathing capacity and whether they can find ways to prevent exhaustion through lack of breath at high altitudes.

Dear Licorice is managing quite well in Trottingham. She told me that the constant gloomy weather and high moisture in the air was not the best way to improve the health of the residents. However, they wouldn't listen to her when she suggested fewer cloudy days. A "swift negotiation" later, and Trottingham was seeing sunnier days more and more. Many were grateful, and with the help of a few worker ponies, they had built her her own private clinic so she wouldn't have to work in the hospital. She's being hailed as Robin Root, Doctor of Trottingham. She said that it made her feel quite embarrassed, but I know she was milking it for all it was worth.

Everypony seems to be doing quite a bit better, and that's really all I can ask for. I haven't told them much information as fears not to worry them. Although, things have started to improve for me, even if it's by increments. Snow Cyclone did return, apologetic for the way she acted, and handing over 200 bits, well above the asking price. She said that she felt horrid for even thinking that somepony like me would try and harm her and explained that things in the city have just been a lot harder and way less trusting. She hardly knows anyone in her apartment, save for her bridge group and her grandson who lived with her. I told her there was nothing to worry about, and that she was the friendliest face that he'd seen. Since she'd received her medicine, she looked quite a bit sprier, tossing her snow-white hair back like she was in her 20's again. She would chat with me, offering me some baked muffins every now and then, a welcome inclusion after the consistent diet of boiled oats with the occasional carrot. She said that if she could, she'd convince her friends to come and take care of themselves there. She tried this month, but they were still unwilling to trust me. I told her to take all the time she needed and to come visit whenever she needed the company. She smiled brightly at me and nodded, and thus, I made my first regular customer.

Despite the way that things turned out, I think that I'm starting to make things work here. Regardless of what happens,, I feel that I can at least push farther and maybe, just maybe, make something out of this place. Sure, the Association has been riding me to finish my reports and it's put me on a lower and lower priority as a result, and people are quite shifty-eyed at me, but I feel like, if I hold steady, I can make it.

Good night, everypony.

Praise Celestia.

Author's Note

P.S.

Still haven't finished exploring the house. Quite a few papers and books still left unread. Sorted them all and moved them into the storage room for later uses.

Date: 10/30, Year of the Sun, 1004

I was robbed during a Nightmare Night raid.

The Following Items were stolen:

2 Jars of Noctveil
3 Jars of Percival Lashes
2 Jars of Horned Lilies
4 Jars of Luna's Kiss
3 Jars of Starswirl's Beard
3 Jars of Hemlock
1 Jar of Wolfsbane
2 Jars of Meadowbrooke's Wart
2 Jars of Moon Flowers
4 Large Bottles of Healing Waters
5 Bags of Stardust Powder
All Bits on the premises

I cannot afford to replace these items, even with the next payment coming. I should have seen this place as a trap.

I'm going to talk with Licorice and see if I can be transferred to Trottingham with her. If not, I'll be moving to study in Dr. Biotic's lab again.

I'm sorry I failed you all.

Praise...

Date: 5/30, Year of the Sun 1004

5/30, Boticar Pharmacy, 9:45 PM

It turns out many things can happen when you leave for a few days. For now, I'll cover everything in chronological order, starting with the night I had placed my last entry. I had an experience that I was quite unfamiliar with.

I dreamed.

Ever since my time in the orphanage, my dreams had been plagued with nightmares; visions of the time before Equestria, of a point where I had lost everything before I could really understand what that everything even was. So I was quite shocked when I laid my head down and found myself not in the same memory trapped on a consistent loop, but outside a theater, a full crowd of ponies dressed in masquerade masks and formal attire. The lights and sounds filled my surroundings, making me wonder if I was even asleep. I looked up at the marquee:

Showing Tonight!! Call of the Breeze

Starring: Petal Breeze

My eyes widened. I pushed through the crowd despite the jeers. I could hear their muffled voices as I drove deeper into the crowd, them talking about rumors of Petal.

"I hear she's having an affair..."

"I heard that her mane isn't real..."

"Is it true that she had an accident...?"

I ignored them. I couldn't let them get to me. Wherever I was, it felt like I had gotten closer to Petal. Is saw as members of the crowd began to move into the building, following a familiar pink-white mane that was quickly being buried in the sea of ponies. I yelled out to her.

"Petaaal! It's Stripes!! Petaaaal!"

It was no good. The sounds of the fans endless chatter drowned out my voice as I eventually reached the theater door, and was stopped but a guard in the door. He wore a lion mask and stood like a tree.

"Where do you think you're going? No ticket, no entry."

"Listen, she's my friend! I need to talk with her!"

"Yeah, your friend. Just like everypony else has been saying. Like I said, if you ain't got a ticket, you can't get in!!"

I was suddenly pushed into the crowd, enveloped by their haunting chatter and the flashes of cameras. It was too much. Too many ponies... I couldn't think... I could only watch helplessly as the pony I once knew suddenly vanished into the crowd. And that's when I came to reality, in a much larger state of shock as before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While it was certainly not the way I wanted to spend my last night in Canterlot, I can't say that it was necessarily worse than my usual night terrors. It kept me distracted as I nibbled on my breakfast. Doctor Biotic looked at me with a kindly smile.

"Looks like someone had a different kind of dream last night..." He handed over a cup of tea which I gulped down. Lavender, chai, and chamomile. One teaspoon of honey. A personal combination I found to be effective for combating exhaustion and an unfocused mind. I nodded as I let out a quiet sigh. "It wasn't like any normal dream. It felt so... Alien to me. And yet I still felt afraid..."

He chuckled and took a sip of his own cup of tea. "You know, it's said that Princess Luna grants certain ponies she likes in particular with some prophetic dreams... I don't know quite what you saw, but I'd suggest remembering it. You never know if it might help you out, young stallion."

I nodded in respect. "I understand sir, but why has Luna allowed me to have such dreams when the only dreams that I ever seem to experience are the same vague memory time after time...?"

This caused the doctor to let out a wheezy laugh, rubbing his eye a bit. A sign that he was dealing with a touchy subject. "Well, this is where the realms of science and magic are sort of intertwined... Are you familiar with the Theory of Magic-Genetic Frequencies within Species?*"

I nodded, prompting him to run his hoof through his balding white mane. "Well, when ol' Vision went to collect his research, he also studied other species as well. He found that an average number of zebras he studied actually have a propensity for recollection and a resistance to mental penetration via magic, among other things."

I contemplated this data, but Dr. Biotic waved his hoof dismissively. "Of course, if you want the truth, I'd suggest studying yourself when you have the time."

"But when will I find the time? The Guard will want me to have the results of my findings every month, I don't know if I-" He suddenly put his hand up. I looked at it, and closed my eyes, taking a soft breath. Slowly, my jumbled mind once again calmed down as I took another cup of tea.

"I'm simply telling you that you need to find out who Xathan Boticar is, my apprentice. Now that you have true independence with this career, it will be your time to gain a true feel for the one that lies within."

I simply watched as he stoically finished his meal before giving me a toothy grin. "Well, we've been dawdling long enough! Time for go house huntin'! Eheheheh!" And with that, he wandered into the bathroom, whistling a jaunty tune. I blinked for a moment and sighed, for even when I pick out his social cues, he always seems to catch me off guard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

According to the Program's guidelines, a member of the city's Plague Guard was supposed to guide us through the area's available lots. I was provided a name, a Mr. Needlin Thread. I hadn't noticed but given the events that occurred, I should have figured that he had a wide grin on his face.

As we reached my assigned district, he tapped my shoulder and pointed to a nearby bench. "Why don't you ask that pony over there? I'll ask around the area as well." In retrospect, that should have been my warning sign that ~~Dad~~ Doctor knew something that I hadn't. Nevertheless, I approached the pony and spoke in my quiet tone. "Excuse me, sir. I was wondering if you could tell me if a pony named Needlin Thread is around?..."

"Nope. No idea."

I nodded and bowed my head in respect, despite the man's lack of visibility to me. "Okay sir, thank you for your time-" Suddenly, I was cut off by the voice of Doctor Biotic quickly approaching the two of us, shouting, "Like hay you aren't, ya stinkin' liar!! Get that rag away from your face!!"

I recalled my intense confusion as I heard the pony on the bench stayed silent for several moments before finally moving the copy of Manehatten Times, revealing a pony around the age of the Doctor, give or take a few years. His long, auburn mane was thinning atop, and the steel-colored fur across his body was laced with dots. He wore a black, button-up suit with matching pants, and had a bowler hat atop his head. His demeanor just from appearance seemed to contrast with my mentor's: a quiet, cynical stallion with not much to say.

After a solid hour of the two seemingly arguing over what seemed to be inane history between them, we had finally begun the trek through District M-27, nicknamed the Snidewater Slums** by locals, and it was truly something else. Far from my old home of Canterlot, it was, in the kindest words I can muster, a squalor. Some buildings were boarded up, holes in the windows and structure themselves. Others had bars on the windows, with warning signs held up for any would-be criminals. Ponies that walked the streets seemed to have a permanent, untrusting look in their eyes whenever they looked in our direction. At first, I wasn't fully sure if it was because of me, or because of the appearance of our party in general. Then a pony in a dirty beanie and coat approached Needlin.

"H-Hey, Doc! Who're yer friends?" He spoke with a sickly rasp in his voice.

"Hmph... I'm simply guiding my colleagues here through Manehatten. This young one wishes to open a pharmacy in close proximity."

"Ahhh, he's one of yer doctor buddies, huh?" He looked at me with slightly crazed eyes, making me double back a moment. "What'cher name, kid??"

Feeling a wave of anxiety run through me at the sudden focus on, I stuttered. "U-Uhh.. Um... X-Xathan Boticar, sir."

He tilted his head and scrunched, something I could barely tell with his scraggly beard. "Z... Zathand Bootycar? The heck kinda name is that??"

Needlin's hoof met his face as he groaned in frustration. "He is a zebra, Rusty. Please, we need to go and look for buildings."

"Ah! My bad, Doc!" He bowed his head in apology before turning to me with a crooked, yet friendly grin. "If ya decide to come here an' ever need that there advice, jus' look for ollll' Rusty! See ya around, Zathand!!" With that, he ran across the street and hopped into a box, my mind still reeling from what just occurred. Even as I write this, I can quite grasp what happened.

Nevertheless, we continued to trek through the streets, looking at other buildings that were on sale. While we looked at available housing, I decided to ask Dr. Thread a few questions.

"Dr. Thread... Where is it that you work?"

He breathed softly, his eyes closing a bit. "I occupy a separate part of the Slums as you will be, Mr. Boticar. Despite the words of our... Coworkers, one pony cannot go through an entire district to get the full data required to determine a possible disease. Therefore, we at the Guard prefer to divide the more populated areas into subsections, and in turn, get a more accurate understanding of the contagion and its origins."

"I see..." I nodded. "So by increasing the number of doctors, you can easily reduce the strain of the workload that comes with pinpointing the source of one disease and combat it more efficiently."

"Indeed," he said with a nod to Dr. Biotic. "You raised quite a smart apprentice, Anti."

"Heheheh..." Dr. Biotic rustled my dreadlocks as I blushed slightly. "Well, I wouldn't call him an apprentice anymore. Think it's time we call him a doctor."

I wanted to undo my hair tie to hide my face from the compliment I received, but all I ended up doing was smiling bashfully. However, another question popped into my head.

"Doctor... I was curious..." He looked at me with those piercing jade eyes, making me gulp in fear of asking. "N-Nevermind, sir."

He nodded to me as we stopped at a corner, a sign in the shape of a cauldron half-secured. Both the doctors bowed their heads in sync, while I, though hesitant for a moment, followed their actions. Once finished, I asked, "I'm sorry to bother you both, but who's building is this?"

Needlin glared at me first, causing me to flinch back into Dr. Biotic, who simply caught me from falling. His eyes were like daggers that stabbed at my being, something I could not understand. Biotic motioned to the building. "This building belonged to a good doctor. He worked with Needlin to keep the population healthy as an apothecary."

"Apothecary? So, he worked in old-style medicine***?"

"Yes, but he enjoyed using herbal remedies, much like you're fond of. He had a finesse with finding the right ingredients to mix for any ailment. Nice stallion as well." He sighed softly and rubbed his head as Needlin commented, "Maybe that's what did him in... That or just being unlucky."

I looked up at the sign. I could barely read out the faded green paint after squinting through my glasses, believing it to read "The Boiling Garden." I stared at it for a long time, thinking about how I went about medicine, and how I would continue from this point forward. I knew many ways to heal a pony, but somehow, it always came back to plants. Even with the new synthetic drugs, I found more ease and effectiveness in the natural method. And so did this stallion...

With a new air of confidence about me, I turned to the two and pointed upwards. "Here. This is where my pharmacy shall reside. The Boiling Garden will reopen for business!!" I had no idea what had come over me, but it was exhilarating. The feeling of inspiration seemed to swell within me, making my request feel like a demand, and judging by the expressions of my elders, they seemed just as surprised. Dr. Biotic recovered quickly, however, and grinned like a fool, hugging me tightly with one hoof. "There's my boy!" He exclaimed as he hugged me properly. "I know you can take on the task!!"

Needlin huffed. He seemed like he wished to protest my problems, but it seemed as though his arguments were quelled, moving his head down as he sighed. "Very well. I shall hand you the paperwork to fill out, and then you will have to wait a few days to ensure the building is hospitable. We shall inform you of the completion and expect you to move in within the next 2 days to sign the..." He looked around and muttered under his breath. "Guard's Contract..." He cleared his throat. "To properly establish it as well as the general rules we have. Understood?"

I saluted Needlin with the bravado I felt deep within myself. "Yes, sir!" From there, he took me into his office, an only slightly shabby doctor's office with a sign that read, "Dr. Thread, M.D., Licensed Acupuncturist."

I see, I muttered to myself as one of my questions had been answered. He guided me to his office, where a stack of papers sat next to a small, clear box of acupuncture needles rested beside them. I felt a chill down my spine just from the sight of them. I never enjoyed the concept of needles or needle-based medicine. It's one of the reasons I made the Vaccination chewing gum during the Apothecaries of Tomorrow. I wasted no time attempting to fill in the paperwork. Anything to not have to see the numerous needles, all lying uniform in the box with shimmering tips sharp enough to pierce the flesh.

I was asked to step out for a moment, letting two stallions catch up, I presumed. As I waited, I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a rather tall pony in a blood red hoodie. They seemed to tilt their head in my direction before continuing down the sidewalk, an act which, like many others, refused to leave my mind. The only thing I did of note that night was spending the night wandering the streets of Bridleway, looking up at the billboards... With no name I recognized. Truly, it was a hopeful night wasted, but little did I know what was to come for me in the final days of my home in Canterlot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It began with a simple errand: I was tasked to run to the usual suppliers of my herbs and bases, and inform them of the transfer of my shipments. The owner, Mrs. Allspice, was heartbroken at my departure, but when I told her of my new career, her face lit up with glee, and congratulated me. The transfer paperwork (Aaaaaaaaaagh...) took a while but after so much paperwork to get to this point, I could handle a little more paperwork. Then, I returned home...

"Surprise!!"

"AAAAAAA!!" As soon as I opened the door, the shouts of several ponies from inside the house led to me lying on my back, staring at the clear sky. Bringing myself back to my hooves, I saw what caused my fright: In the living area were Doctor Biotic, my roommate Septic Cleanse, my lab Partner from mt Preventative Practice course Dyspne Drag, and, strangest of all, Licorice Root, the Saluditorian of our class, and the mare who managed to put me through a wall on more than one occasion. Unlike the others, she seemed reserved, hiding behind her pigtail braids as she secretly glared into my being. I chuckled nervously and turned to the Doctor.

"Dr. Biotic, what is going on...?"

"Oh, I didn't inform you?" He snickered playfully. "As Needlin and I caught up, I asked for a simple request: to send a letter to your roommate Mr. Cleanse here, informing him of your departure as well as your new job position."

"And when I found out, I tried to get a hold of everypony I could that would want to help. Thing is..." He motioned to the two. "Well, these two readily agreed. The others... I dunno. They seemed kinda preoccupied or didn't quite know what to do, given the-"

I stopped him. I didn't want him to go on and make simple assumptions about our former classmates. "Sep, it's fine. I know that some still have hangups with me, and I accept that. Regardless of what they think, I'm not forcing them to help. Likewise, I'm grateful that all of you are here to see me off on my last day."

"Ah geez, I can't stand it anymore!!" Licorice's grumbles finally became audible as she moved her braids from her face. She stomped over to me and pointed her hoof at my face. "This is what I don't get about you!! Why don't you stand up for yourself?? You always do what everypony asks of you, and you don't think about yourself! You could have gotten a better place than the Slums if you just ARGUED about it!!"

I watched her rambled until she paused, likewise for a breath, and made my rebuttal. "And likewise I could have lost my job if I tried to push when I had to fight to get in this program, to begin with." Before she could retort, I cut her off. "Besides that fact, the Slums are where help is needed the most. If I don't stop a disease, or keep an infection at bay there, how long before we all end up sick? Even if other ponies carried on my job, the ones sick may triple, and death would most certainly occur. And furthermore-!"

"Uhhh, Xath, I think she got it."

Xathan looked over at Sep, who pointed at Root who had looked away with a soft blush of embarrassment (I'm assuming.). It was enough of a sign to indicate the point had been made, but suddenly, Sep opened his mouth again.

"Although, I'm sure it's just cause Lil Licorice wants you in Trottingham with her-." Suddenly, a new hole had been added to the wall that was the perfect shape of m friend's head, a feat accomplished by a now furiously blushing Licorice. Drag was quick to break up the fight, and before long, we began to drink and party. Even the good Doctor couldn't help but get loose as they formed a conga line. It was a night of tomfoolery that ended with stargazing alone. When I was last upstairs, I could hear the three stallions singing shanties like a group of sailors. Even intoxicated, I couldn't bring myself like that, so I retreated upstairs, and onto my balcony, looking up at the soft, glowing moon for what felt like forever.

"It's a beautiful night, huh?..."

I snap out of my daydream(nightdream?) and turn my head back around. Licorice stood in the doorway to the balcony, carefully stepping closer to me as I nodded. "Ya know... Daddy always told me that nopony is ever alone, cause they have the sun and the moon." I smiled. "Your father's a smart man." She just stays quiet for a while, looking down at the city streets. You know, I... I never really had a family. They tell me that my village was wiped in a Changeling raid, and I was the only survivor cause a scouting party found me in a basket. The only closest members of my family were Mrs. Allspice and Dr. Biotic."

She nodded and looked down with me at the ponies below us. "I ain't gonna sugar coat it, Xathan... Your chance of survival in the Slums is slim. A-Are you sure you wanna go through with this and go somewhere else?"

I shook my head. "Snidewater Slums need a doctor. I'll give it to them." She sighed, clearly defeated in her attempt to dissuade me from my choice, which prompted me to hug her close and kiss her on her forehead as a means of comforting her. I small red sparks flying from her and smiled brightly as she returned one and clung to my coat. I didn't let her go, and she never did either

"... Did you really want me to come with you to Trottingham?..."

"Don't ruin this moment..."

Smiling, I asked her to make herself comfortable while I prepared my journal for an entry before I rest. As I close out this entry, even though I still hold myself for whoever may be in my future as a special somepony, I still am happy to share my bed with her.

Have a good night, everypony.

Author's Note

*The Theory of Magic-Genetic Frequencies within Species: A theory proposed by Dr. Vision Arcanus which proposed the concept that aside with a ponies' independent skill they acquired (which leads to the acquisition of one's Cutie Mark), certain species contained a gene that made their talent more likely to be associated with certain species (Pegasi with weather control/flight, unicorns with magic/precision, earth ponies with agriculture/strength) . While it made several points within the data that many continue to study, it was rejected by the Celestial-Lunar Research Program for insufficient data. Many are still debating the legitimacy of its findings to this day.

**Believed to be the area of Manehatten where the infamous con artist and thief Slick Snidewater was from, and where he had a last stand against authorities for the theft of a large number of bits from the Bank of Equestria. The area is known for constant reports of break-ins and thefts, lower standards of living, and small, semi-organized criminal groups, or "gangs" dotting the area.

***In modern day Equestria, the term Apothecary is now more or less used to describe a practitioner of older medicines, such as herbal potions, ancient rituals, strange spells, etc. In the instance of the Apothecaries of Tomorrow, it was carried on from the beginning of the Convention's founding and has not changed since. It is a personal gripe that bugs me, but I suppose I am just being a tad nitpicky.