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.

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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.

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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.