My Life as a Teenage Changeling

Two Ponies, a Changeling and a Mental Breakdown

Room 3-24, Ponyville Hospital

As the Changeling was passed out on the bed, Dr. Tenderheart collected her thoughts while she analyzed these recent set of events. With a heavy sigh, Tenderheart held a hoof to the changeling's forehead as she checked her temperature.

"She doesn't seem to have a fever, that's good but..." Tenderheart hummed bitterly, reminded of the changeling's reaction towards her. "She was just so... shocked at the sight of me I..." Standing above her, a thud rang out from nearby as Tenderheart was startled by the sudden sound.

Looking towards the source of the commotion, Tenderheart then spotted Caduceus cradled halfway through the open window. Walking closer, she could see his face turning green as the stallion held a dented pizza box clumsily in his hooves before lifting him through the open window. Getting back up, Caduceus groans as he spots her panting heavily.

"H-hey, Tenderheart. You didn't happen to see anything embarrassing, did you?" Caduceus chuckled nervously.

"If... If you mean anything other than you crashing into an open window, then no." Coughing into her hoof, Tenderheart glanced towards the bed to spot the changeling leaned over before turning back to the pegasus. "What happened to you by the way, I know you're a much better flier than this so what gives?"

Caduceus lets out a grunt as he creaks his neck. "I dunno, one minute I'm just minding my own business and the next a big purple blur just whooshed past me as I was on my way here." Growling angrily, he stamps a hoof on the floor. "Must've been some clutzy pegasus or something..." Clearing his throat, Caduceus turns his head towards her putting on a stoic face. "So, did I miss anything?"

"Well, actually there was..." Before she could finish speaking, the room door swung open as Dr. Open Heart had returned with a small plate of celery sticks in her aura, eating one as she spotted them glancing at her. Trying to ignore their stares, she striked up a conversation.

"Hey guys, are you two busy with something?"

"Well, actually..." Tenderheart started to speak before being interrupted.

"I just came back with the pizza, but it's a little banged up from the landing..." Caduceus said, looking towards the pizza box frowning. Flying over to it, Caduceus opened the box to see the pizza was fine. "Orrrr... Maybe not."

Tenderheart glared at the stallion before turning back to her sister. "As I was trying to say, there actually was something that happened while you two were out." Their eyes widened as they turned towards her curiously. "The- The patient she- she..."

Realizing what she was about to say, Open Heart interjected before shaking her frantically. "She woke up? She... she actually woke up?!"

Trying to calm her down, Tenderheart stuttered in response. "Yesss, sheee di-i-iid... nowww putttt meee do-o-own."

Blinking her eyes, Open Heart levitated them down gently as her sister shook her head. After regaining her senses, Tenderheart turned towards the bed to spot Caduceus standing over it, flicking the changeling with a hoof as she whined in her slumber. Seeing her fidgeting to the other end of the bed, Caduceus speaks up. "I thought you said she's awake?"

"That's because she was awake, Caduceus." Dr. Heart scoffed. "Also don't do that..." Turning her head towards her sibling, Open Heart continued. "Why is she asleep?"

Tenderheart sighed, turning her head towards them clearing her throat. "You remember what Horse said about possible brain damage, right?" They nodded. "W-well, that's what I believe happened according to her reaction towards me."

The two doctors gasped before mumbling to themselves, after a moment had passed Open Heart spoke up. "But wait, what was it you said about her 'reaction' towards you? I don't think you explained that part, sis."

Caduceus hummed in agreement as the earth pony whimpered. "She... She was so startled, it... it was like she didn't even know what I was. And... and then she p-passed out." Tenderheart frowned, her eyes stained with tears. "I- I just..."

Walking over to her sibling, Heart reached her foreleg over her shoulders, hugging her tightly. "Sis, listen to me. None of us could've predicted any of this would happen, this isn't your fault or anypony else's." Increasing her grip, Heart continues. "Do you understand?"

Shakily breathing, Tenderheart contemplates for a moment before responding. "I... I....... Y-yes.... I do."

Releasing her hug, Open Heart sighs as she looks at her sisters' face. "Do you want to leave sis? It's fine with me if you're not feeling too well."

"N-NO!" Tenderheart reacted tensely. "I-I mean, I just wouldn't want you to go out of your way for me t-that's all." Glancing next to Caduceus, she saw the pizza box, reminded of earlier. "A-and I wouldn't want to let a perfectly good pizza go to waste now that I think about it."

"Hm?" Looking down at the floor, Caduceus spotted the pizza box turning his body to grab it. "Oh yeah, I guess we did forget about this pizza 'til now." Walking over to the two mares, Caduceus opened up the box as he grabbed a slice before taking a bite. "Doc really wasn't kidding about the crust, this is pretty good."

"Ahrm," Turning towards the sound, Caduceus saw Open Heart had a grimace on her face as he chuckled nervously. "anyways..." Turning back towards her sibling, Heart gave a sincere smile. "you just go relax and have some pizza in the break room, Caduceus and I will take it from here."

"Me? Why should I...?" Heart growled at him before he relented, "Fine, fine. I'll do it..."

Tenderheart looked towards them with a look of concern. "Are- are you sure, w-what if something happens o-or she wakes up again?"

"Then... we'll take care of it." Levitating the pizza box out of Caduceus' hooves, Heart pulls up her sisters' hoof before pushing the box onto it. "You don't need to worry about a thing, we have it all under control."

Opening her mouth to object, Tenderheart looks at her sisters' expression before sighing. "If- If you say so..." Walking towards the door, she hums briefly before turning her head. "B-but if anything happens, you let somepony know ok?"

"Don't worry, we will." Staring at the box, she was reminded of earlier. "Oh, and don't forget to save some for Doc, ok? He did ask for pizza too ya know."

Tenderheart chuckled. "I remember, sis." Opening the door, the mare hummed a small tune. "See you later!"

"See ya!" The unicorn said as her sibling left the room, after the sound of hoofsteps faded out Dr. Heart turned towards the Changeling.

'What's the worst that could happen?'

Business District, Eastern Ponyville

Continuing their trek towards the hospital, Sandbar and Coral were glancing about, eyeing the various food carts, toy stalls and watching the many ponies walking to and fro. As Sandbar continued his pace, Coral ran over to one of the stalls as she called him over. "Babar, Babar! Come here!"

"Wha?" Turning his head leftwards, Sandbar spots Coral jumping up and down as he walks towards her. "Coral, we don't have time to goof around. We have somewhere to-"

"I know, I know. But look Babar, look!" As Sandbar approached the stall, he spotted various toys from teddy bears to dolls as well as a stuffed dragon plush. But the one toy that stood out to him was an action figure of the Princess of Friendship wearing a golden tiara.

Grabbing it in his hoof, Sandbar inspected it for any sign of inaccuracies or damage but found nothing of the sort. Part-way through his inspection, the shop pony chuckled as she greeted him. "Oye lad, like what ye see? Ah made it meself."

"You made this, ma'am?" Sandbar asked.

"Ah certainly did," The chestnut mare smirked. "took me least a month ta finish et."

Taking the figure out of his hoof, Coral was realigning one of the figures' forelegs as it made a clean bent along the two joints, forming into a smooth 'n' shape. Looking back up at the mare, Coral let out a small laugh as she complimented her. "This is really good, you're very talented ma'am."

"Thank ye kindly, little one. It makes me glad ta see ponies appreciate me hard work, would ye like ta see me other- hm?" Feeling a hoof prod her shoulder, she turns her head around to spot a chestnut stallion with a white muzzle standing behind her with a bemused look on his face. Knowing who he was, she chuckled nervously. "A-aye, Stuffer. What are ye doin' here?"

"Ah was just makin' shore ye don't go showboatin' 'bout yer accomplishments again." Stuffer snorted. "It's not just yer toys that be doin' us a profit, ye know."

"Ah know that ya daft twat," Her expression turned into a bitter scorn. "ah was just thanking the wee lassie, give meh a break fer Luna's sake. Why can't ye jus'-"

"Don't ya be givin' me dis now, Bev." Stuffer said, raising his voice. "Ah knew what ye were doin' the moment ye went into yer little spiel."

"Little spiel? Little... spiel?" Bevel was fuming at her brother's response. "I'll show you spiel when ah shove mah hoof straight up your-"

"TWILIGHT!" A familiar voice cried out as the four ponies looked up to spot a small purple dragon holding onto Twilight's tail as she flew past. "S-lo-o-ow down!"

"Was that Spike?" Sandbar spoke, dumbfounded by the situation.

Bevel turned her head towards him. "The Princess' little assistant?"

"Y-yeah..." Looking down towards his sister, Sandbar gave a stern look. "C'mon Coral, let's go."

"Go?" Coral said unsurely, "To the hospital, right?"

Sandbar shook his head. "Change of plans, sis. Looks like something big is about to happen," Grabbing Coral in his mouth, Sandbar put her on his back as he rushed to follow Twilight. "let's go!"

(Oscar's View)

"Hey Heart, you did inform somepony to contact her parents, right?"

"I did mention it to Doc while I was on break but he was already on it," I heard a faint voice say as she sighed heavily. "he says it may take a while due to them being off the hospital record."

"That doesn't surprise me," A masculine voice spoke, laughing briefly. "it's not everyday we get a case as serious as this, ya know?"

'Case? What the f-' Before I could finish my thought, a familiar tingle prodded my brain as I groaned in discomfort. Holding onto my throbbing head, a nearby voice spoke up as I shuddered.

"Heart, did you hear something?"

'Heart...?' I pondered at his response. 'What kind of name i-' As the tingling continued to grow in tone, I overheard a feminine voice before letting out a soft moan.

"I didn't hear anyth- wait..." She paused before the whole room went silent, after what felt like several minutes had passed, a sweet scent had entered my nose as she spoke again. "Hello, are you awake?" Noticing how close her voice was, I tried being quiet as possible as I whimpered under my breath. Unfortunately for me however, she had apparently heard me before she leaned in closer. "You don't need to be scared, we're here to help you."

My throat tensed upon hearing this as I choked back a sob, my chest feeling tight before I belted into a coughing fit. As I was coughing, one of the doctors made a quick yelp before rummaging through a nearby cabinet. Running over to her, the doctor handed her a bottle of cough medicine before it was levitated down beside me ......wait wut?

'Wh... what the fu...!?' Trying to process what the hell I just witnessed, I was cut off as I spotted something walk right in front of me.

Looking up, my heart sank inside me as I spotted her, a creature that I would've only thought to exist in fairytales standing above me. Her coat a cream yellow as her mane a rose pink, still in shock by what I saw, my mouth held agape as the unicorn started to speak.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be just fine."

And just like that, I screamed.