He shifted on the bed, trying to adjust his senses to his body's strange distribution of weight. Sighing wouldn't do him any good, nor would trying to run out or stretch his new pony limbs, especially since he was missing one. Flexing the metal prosthetic that occupied his left foreleg, he reminisced on the few days he had spent before-
"Isaac Clarke."
Isaac turned his focus to the door, a blue-coated stallion with a red mane and thick rounded glasses entering.
"I'm sure you'd like nothing more than to get out that door and rejoin the world of the living," he said. "Thankfully, your physical therapy sessions have been quite fruitful, so much so that you're in a well enough condition for a full discharge."
"Good to hear, Doctor," Isaac said.
Even his voice felt wrong when he spoke, a hollowed drone of what was.
"Now, due to the... state of the world, as one would say, we've no way to ensure your necessary pain medication can be filled even with a prescription. However, we've been told that some of your colleagues are willing to pitch in to ensure your full recovery."
"Isaac?"
The former Engineer pushed his gaze behind the doctor to see a familiar face.
"Fluttershy," he said, "good to see you."
The pegasus mare's appearance, when Isaac first woke up, was a significant tell to how much time had passed since his initial passing. Her mane and tail had lost a notable volume and were slightly lighter in tone, her eyes carrying bags and her feathers looking thinner and brighter at the tips. Despite the toll time had taken on the mare, she still managed to carry that sweet look in her eyes that could soothe any anxiety he might have felt.
"I've helped fill out some of the paperwork and I've gotten a room at my cottage ready if you'd like to move in. Just to help you get back on your... hooves."
"Thanks, Fluttershy."
\\\//////
With the paperwork filled out and one last physical to ensure his health, the doctor had issued Isaac into the lobby, where they received the last few bits of information they needed.
"Now, that prosthetic is going to add a few things to your morning routine," the mare at the desk said. "First, you'll need to check it's stability with the latches on your limb. The grip at the edge can be adjusted to the left to loosen the hold and right to tighten it. Please make sure to clean off the tissue layer every day before and after use to lower the likelihood of infection. Any parts to fix or modify it must be bought at a licensed distributor and you'll need these credentials to make a purchase," she said, sliding a folder across the desk. "If you require any assistance or further information regarding the specifics of the prosthetic, please contact the manufacturer's number located beneath the tissue layer."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Have a nice day," Fluttershy said, sliding the folder into her saddlebag.
With that, the two walked the lobby to the exit. As Isaac stared up at the red sign, he took a deep breath to steady his heart.
'Seven years,' he thought. 'Whatever world I remember before I died might not be there anymore. Whatever's out there... is my fault.'
"ALL MY FAULT!"
Isaac's ears flicked and his eyes shuttered at the sudden burst of noise. Before he could react further, the doors parted and light flooded his vision. At first, he slowly opened one eye to adjust to the light, managing to open both to see the new world before him.
Canterlot once, Isaac recalled, looked like a medieval castle with gleaming white marble spires lined with gold on every edge they could fit. Now, the city was gleaming with glass and plastic panes, solar panels lining the prismatic skyscrapers that stood along the city's walls. Smooth chrome rolled like waves across the rooftops of Canterlot homes down the districts, with parts of the neighborhoods being renovated.
Fluttershy lead for Isaac to follow her, the stallion steadily keeping pace with a metal clunk every few steps. Behind the hospital stood Canterlot Castle, mostly unchanged save for a few new wings propped alongside the higher levels, shimmering with plates of platinum and massive, colorful window panes.
"Jesus," Isaac said, "this is Canterlot? Almost looks like an upstart colony."
Fluttershy's face scrunched up, as though she were struck, before she responded.
"Well... after you, um, died, they may have taken some stuff from you and... learned what they could."
"In seven years, though? This is... well, incredible! I thought the artificial limb was something special but this! I might have an easier time getting a fresh start than I thought."
"W-well, you could try Twilight's labs. They're always looking for peo-ponies, with skills in technology."
Isaac watched as an airship came speeding into the city, a small zeppelin with what looked like plasma thrusters, before it turned mid-air and descended beyond their view. He sped up his trot and caught up with Fluttershy. Though the transformation from Human to Pony had left Isaac much shorter than before, his Earth Pony form still managed to tower nearly a head over the mare.
"So, um... how have things been since... you know?"
"Oh! Well... I-I don't want to make you... I mean, I just... why don't we just focus on getting back to Ponyville?"
Isaac could see the stress and fear in Fluttershy's expression, her eyes pleading for a change in subject.
"Okay... okay, alright. How about... your friends? Twilight and... everyone else?"
"Well, after... y-you know what, happened, we kind of... started to drift apart for a few months. Rarity and Rainbow Dash cut us off so they could try and focus on their careers, but thankfully it was only a year or two before they got back in contact with the rest of us. Twilight might have taken it the hardest, since she became a new Princess after she turned into an Alicorn, and she's had to deal with all of the town's problems after so many homes were destroyed... Pinkie tried to keep everypony's spirits up, but she ended up almost dying since she didn't bother taking a break, and Applejack... Applejack's had a horrible time. She says... she says her parents wanted her to join them, and that... she blames you for them leaving again."
Isaac shook his head. He knew he'd have to deal with Applejack now, though he'd hoped he would be the only one to suffer delusions in the Marker's purge. Maybe he'd be able to convince her to see what had actually happened.
"Mommy!"
A small blur ran up to Fluttershy, the mare flexing her wings on instinct as the mass of fur and energy slammed into her. Fluttershy tried to catch her breath after being knocked back, but managed to openly giggle at the foal's assault.
"Mommy, you should have seen the race! Miss Dash was all, 'VROOM! ZOOM SCHWOOOO!' and flew through fire and it was so cool!" The small Earth pony colt blinked and looked up to examine Isaac, his purple eyes widening at the Engineer. "Mommy, who's this?"
