Episode 18: Dr. Whooves on the Daily Show

Since his arrival to Trixie’s room none of the hospital faculty came to talk to or interrupt them, with the exception of an Earthpony janitor who was tasked with cleaning up the food left behind on the floor by the blue Unicorn when she leapt from her bed. When this custodian entered the room, about a half hour after Jon’s arrival, he saw the two of them still resting on the bed in mid-conversation, his presence unbeknownst to them.

This simple brown coated Earthpony, with slicked back green hair, thought it was cute how both Jon and Trixie were sitting side by side in the bed with Trixie under the covers and Jon with one foot on the ground. This scenario closely resembled a father about to tell a story to his child just before bedtime, making the image of them together even more adorable.

Before cleaning up the food on the ground the Janitor accidently eavesdropped on them and could tell that they were discussing personal issues, so he decided to clean up the still present mess and leave as quickly as he could. Leaving the two alone once again.

“So... why didn’t you visit me sooner?” Trixie asked. Not out of spite but out of curiosity, even though she already had a good idea.

“Sweety I tried... God help me I tried,” Jon confessed as he arched his head back. “But whenever I asked to Celestia told me it wouldn't be a good idea... apparently you were either still unconscious or undergoing some kind of medical treatment.”

“Ah... that makes sense,” she admitted. “After what happened I never had any time to myself... they were always doing some kind tests on me... even after I was healed.”

“Wait... remind me again: how long after the uh... the incident did they... you know... run these tests?” Jon asked.

“Oh must have been... maybe a week or so,” she answered. “I felt fine but I was patching in and out for some time. I do remember Celestia as well as a gathering of high level Unicorns coming in to use healing magic on me... from there I was kept for observation... so yeah, even if you wanted to see me I doubt they’d find time to accommodate you... they wanted to make sure there was nothing else wrong with me.”

“Well... as long as it was for your best interest,” he begrudgingly admitted. “And trust me I did want to visit... every day Maggie and Nathan begged me to go see you in person.”

“How are the kids doing?” Trixie asked, as Jon idly scratched the back of her neck. “Please tell me they’re not too worried about me.”

“Oh they're doing great,” Jon answered. “They keep asking about you ya know... they really miss you.”

“I know, I miss them too,” she said as she squeezed Jon’s arm. “Why didn’t you bring them with you to see me?”

“Trust me if I could I would. But you know how Celestia is about limiting how many humans can come here,” he explained as Trixie nodded in agreement. “Plus when I got the call from her to come over here it was way past their bedtime... come to think about it, it’s still too early back in New York for them to be up.”

Jon could have checked his phone to be sure but he didn’t want to shift too much in his seat for fear of causing Trixie some discomfort.

“I’m... sorry you couldn't see them,” he added.

“No, no you made the right call,” Trixie urged. “I wouldn't want them to lose a good night’s rest on my account... I just... I just really hope I’ll get a chance to see them again.”

“HEY! Don’t talk like that!” he demanded. “Once Celestia discharges you from this place we’re going straight home where you belong and everything will be fine.”

Having a place to call home was indeed something that Trixie always wanted. Even now, having been back in Equestria for the first time in months, she felt really out of place without having someone twice her size looking down on her. Even the feminine colors of every exterior felt stranger to her as she yearned for the smoggy, air polluted environment that was Manhatten. She may’ve been born in the countryside and raised in an orphanage on a hill but her time in the human world had molded her into a straight city-girl.

And yet something told her that even though she wanted to go back something beyond her control was keeping her here for good.

“I hope you’re right,” Trixie sighed. “It just feels like...”

“Like what?” Jon asked.

“I don’t know... it just feels like there is something they’re not telling me,” she confessed as she nervously played with her hooves. “I mean I’ve spent more time here being observed and tested than actually healed... and Celestia hasn’t been around in a while. I feel like there is something going on here... like... I don’t know, I’m just a bit paranoid I suppose.”

Jon knew exactly how she felt. For a while now he had the same sense that perhaps he was being kept in the dark about something. At first he chalked it up to simple paranoia as well, but it wasn’t until Celestia was actively ignoring his calls and shutting herself out from the outside world did he suspect that something was going on.

But as he looked upon Trixie now, seemingly healthy, without any pains, and wide awake to the world he was certain that his suspicions were unjust... or at least he hoped so.

“I know it’s crazy... but when I was still being treated I thought that... that I’d never get to see you, Tracey, and the kids again,” Trixie continued after an awkward silence. “I guess I’m just... I’m just a little bit scared... scared that they’re not going to let me leave here or something.”

The more she struggled to speak the more her body trembled in fear. Instinctively Jon wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close for an embrace.

“Don’t worry honey. I won’t let them do that to you,” Jon comfortingly said as he leaned in to give her a peck on the head. “By this time tomorrow you’ll be back home in New York where you belong. Besides, why would Celestia keep you here any more than you need to... I mean it’s not like there’s anything else wrong with you... you’re as healthy as a horse now.”

Jon almost felt like laughing at his accidental pun but decided it wouldn’t be appropriate with Trixie still looking depressed. To help ease her suffering Jon reached over to scratch her head again but it didn’t seem to help much.

“What if... Jon, what if Celestia won’t let me leave?” Trixie asked. “What if she decides that I can’t go back or after this you can’t see me anymore?”

Suddenly Jon felt that now it was Trixie who was keeping something away from him.

“Well... again, I won’t let that happen,” Jon answered. “I’m going to make sure you come back home no matter what it takes. And as for Celestia you leave her to me... I mean I am bigger than she is.”

The attempted bout of levity didn’t help but instead caused Trixie to breathe a most depressed sigh of distress.

“Jon... I just want you to know... that I love you... and I really appreciate you taking me in when nopony else would,” she confessed. “You and Tracey have been like the parents I’ve always wanted but never had, which is why I just want to say how much you and your family mean to me... I say this just in case I never see you again.”

“HEY! I said don’t talk like that!” He barked. “What makes you think this will be the last time I ever see you!? Trust me any second now Celestia is going to come through that door with a clean bill of health and she’ll let me take you back home, which is why she asked me to be here in the first place!”

At this point Jon was slightly out of breath but nevertheless steadfast in his assertion that this was the reason why he was summoned here. Trixie on the other hand was shaking her head in unwanted disagreement.

“I don’t think that’s why she called you here,” she countered, as she turned away to look out the window.. “I think... I... I think there’s something wrong with me.”

“W-what do you mean?” Jon said.

“Jon... Jon ever since... ever since the attack I... I haven’t been able to use my magic,” she revealed sending a shock down Jon’s back, causing him to jolt back in surprise.

“WHAT!?” Jon roared as he looked down at his friend who just revealed that she was unable to do the one thing that made her who she was. Before she could answer his explosive question the door to her room swung open, revealing an entourage of ponies standing outside. One by one, each of them entered the room silently.

The first to enter was the pony nurse who first opened the door for Jon, followed by the practicing doctor on staff who was also white but had neon pink hair. Following behind them were two identical royal guards who were escorting Twilight of all ponies into the room, walking in side by side with the one pony that Jon wanted to speak with most of all; Celestia.

“Jon, I’m so glad you could make it,” Celestia said in her usual, though now mournful tone.

“Celestia... what’s the meaning of this!?” Jon exclaimed as he got up from his bed. “You finally allow me to visit and now I learn that Trixie... that she's disabled!?”

“Jon,” she continued. “There’s--”

“What the hell is going on around here!?” He demanded to know. “Answer me!”

His tone caused the royal guards to take notice since no one was allowed to talk to her like that, but a quick and simple hoof gesture from the royal princess made them stand back.

“Jon, the reason I brought you here is because there is something... terribly wrong with Trixie,” she revealed. “And I felt that it would only be right if you were here to hear this.”