Blue Syringe
Well that sucked.

I sit down on my couch and turn on the lights with my magic, I can't really be bothered with my usual routines of doing it by hoof.

I'd describe that whole situation as determined by luck and that is worrying, I've spent a lot of bits and preparation time trying to prevent just this situation and then that damnedable letter just comes in.

Have I been that obvious? It's been less than a month since I'd heard anything about this investigation starting and now a pony manages to literally tie me up in a rope.

I'm glad I'd built some favour with the buffalo as they'd both recognised me, offered me lodging to sleep and managed to direct me to the closest town in which I could get a train back, I wanted to get a cart and felt nervous about taking a train but they'd know I took a cart into town and that'd be my preferred route of travel.

At least I actually made sure to take precautions in regards to travelling from a different location and while the disguise is now burned it did its job, I am still free and able to prepare further at least.

While I hate the idea, maybe I try to maintain a lower profile for a bit, not just wandering to the news of obituaries but wait for someone to message me. I've made enough contacts throughout the country that know my penchant for secrecy and can probably get me into the resurrections without a more public facing role, just in and out.

It's not as though they can spend that many resources to get me, I'm sure the mares will inevitably have to get back to work, they'll probably put a guard squad on the case, after a while the case will go cold and I can go round doing my business.

Patience is a good card to play when needed and it's not as though I'll be lacking for patients.

What I can start doing is trials for the nerve replacer as I'm wagering that they'll not be looking at that matter of research with much scrutiny at the moment and I wager I can try to bother some of the people I've helped if themselves or somepony they know would be in a situation that would require it.

I am actively starting to pack some away for all future patients now as it might prove to be useful but consent might be an issue, it's very much a singular issue of being a pony back from the the dead versus ripping out nerves to insert a experimental device comprised of the materials needed to convert a pony into a changeling, for some reason I can see that not going down well after they'd regained consciousness and ponies like to punch when they get angry.

I nurse the bruise that Pie Shell had left on the side of my head.

The problem with this method is it limits potential spread of the medicine for a while, sure I can give it to my patients but that's at most gong to be about 4 cases a year and is not enough for a medical study considering most likely I cannot even use their names, I need to be confident before I have it up put up any avenue to get it therefore studied and it's going to be a while before I can build up any measure of confidence in the treatment.

Shaking my head to brush off any comments, I turn my head towards the bedroom door as I try to remember the last time I'd managed to sleep in my own bed, the fact I am drawing a blank implies it's been long enough.

I walk over to the door, not bothering to turn the lights off, and collapse into my bed.

As I start drifting off, I look at my windowsill and notice the only picture I'd managed to get out as I left my home in a panic,it was of a picnic my family had taken us on after Feather had managed to place first in his class's fencing club, Mom had made some heyburgers and dad brought some strawberry soft drinks and a frisbee that was the type that had a hole in it that I was an utter disaster in catching to the level the three of them started to try using my horn as a ring toss of a kind.

It was a good day, though not that it ever can happen again.

I feel some tears welling in my eyes as I drift off to sleep.

I wake up with my head resting in a damp spot on my pillow and look around for the offending item that interrupted my needed slumber.

Hearing a familiar tone, I look at the wardrobe where I hide my communication book behind and notice the tone for a message incoming.

Debating whether or not I should just go back to sleep, I reluctantly pull myself out of the warm cocoon I've managed to wrap myself into, reach my hoof behind the cabinet and grab the leather-bound book.

Walking into the living room, I'm partially blinded by the lights I'd left on earlier and take a few moments for myself to recover.

Chucking the book on the coffee table, I stumble into the kitchen and prepare myself a particularly dark brew of tea and after placing it on the placemat next to the book, I snuggle myself into a couch cushion.

Flipping the book open I am shocked to see two separate pages are alerting in regards to new text and I flick to the first offender.

Hi Doc,
Ah'll keep it short as I am pretty sure there are some guards prowlin' around looking for us.
Managed to get everypony out of the morgue as the deputy had wandered off somewhere, and we're on the road at the moment till ah can get the family to stop freaking out.
Y'all mentioned being able to provide some assistance, it'd be much appreciated if possible.

Pie Shell

At least that trip wasn't a total waste then, at least the Pie family can have a happy future, if not a bit stressful.

I'm not exactly sure what happens if my patients are found to have been resurrected as the only case I'm pretty sure they'd ever worked out was my brother, and I have no clue what they've done with him.
I tried finding out, called in the few favours I had managed to accrue, but he seemingly fell off the face of the earth after his resurrection.

Returning my attention to the book, I write the address of a forgery artist that I'd solicited a few times over the years as she'd done some impeccable work and gave the relevant key/ code words needed to make the requests needed.

I read over my words to ensure no error and after finishing everything off, I switch pages to the other messenger.

Looking at the page where me and the client had previously corresponded, I see that the mare from Tailfrost had sent some subsequent messages.

Dear Dr Place Bo,

I think we might require your services again, Nightbloom is presenting some odd symptoms that the doctor is not sure about and I am worried it might be a return of her illness.
Please come quickly as I am not sure what is going to happen, if it makes it easier I can request for a chariot to pick you up, all expenses paid of course.

Starbloom

I blink at the formal message and give the whole page a re-read.

Okay she does have fairly formal elements in her prior chapters and maybe that's generally the way she writes but it feels odd in regards to the subject matter and the pegasus chariot offer is very generous considering how much the damn things cost.

I rest my head on my hoof for a few moments.

There's a real chance that the hoof writing these words isn't Starbloom though I would think that my contacts would have warned me about something like this.

Okay, I can't ignore this because if I am wrong then I might be leaving a filly to her death though but I don't think I can wear my Place Bo disguise, I probably go as something non-medical related and pretend to be a family friend visiting, though if there is something fishy then I can make for an early exit.

Scribbling a quick affirmation but with an assurance that I won't need a chariot, I then stand up from my spot of comfort and start my tired routine of packing my winter travel bag.

Half way through said routine, I find myself starting to put away my book behind the closet and stop myself. If the book is compromised as a delivery method then I am not sure what else is, I cannot destroy it as somepony might need to contact me but I cannot leave it here in case.

Hurriedly packing it into the bag, I grab a few other essentials in case they do manage to get in and I need to go on the run.

Looking around, I give myself a nod as I then give a glance at the sled resting on the wall mount, take it off its hooks and tie it to my back using some elastic rope through the straps in my saddlebag, honestly one thing I'm glad I'm a unicorn for as it such a faff otherwise.

Making it to the front door, I unlock it and after ensuring to lock the three individual locks I'd had mounted after leaving the porchway and then I start my exhausting journey to the mountain in the north.

Author's Note

I am not sure I am happy with the end of this particular chapter's writing but here is the chapter.
I will warn that the chapters time syncs aren't necessarily going to be in chronological order but there will be hints on when certain chapters are disjointed.