Episode 18: Dr. Whooves on the Daily Show

When Celestia first decided to bring Jon to Equestria, for the sake of his show, she did so with the knowledge that both he and her people would benefit from the arrangement. She knew exactly what she was doing and believed to be in complete control of the situation. The attack on Jon’s world via Queen Chrysalis was something she didn’t foresee and as such she felt like she lost control of something that she shouldn’t have.

So when it came to Trixie she wanted to make sure she got the best treatment her castle could offer as an act of penance on her part, but her being infected with an incurable disease was something which, again, she didn’t see coming. She was saddened by the sudden realization that perhaps she wasn’t as in control as she would like to be.

When she made the decision to have Jon with Trixie together as she revealed what her fate would be, she knew that Jon would be mad and made it a point for her to be there so his anger would be directed on her. But even she couldn't have predicted the reaction of Trixie, who accepted her fate and all that came with it.

Everyone present in the room watched as Jon was on his knees trying to make sense of the situation.

“W-what are you saying Trixie?” Jon muttered.

“I’m sorry Jon but... it’s time.” Trixie sighed as a faint smile crept on her face. “I’ve lived a good life and had the chance to experience what most ponies never will in their lifetime... but now it’s coming to end... and I can live with that... or rather I guess I can’t for very long.”

Out of nervous habit she chuckled; Jon found nothing humorous about this.

“Trixie I... no... NO, NO, NO it’s not going to end this way!” he said. “You... you don’t even know what you're saying! I’m sure you’re still shaken from all this, but trust me when I say this isn’t the Trixie I know!”

“Jon... i-it’s me,” she countered. “I know who I am... I’m Trixie... and I’m going to die here in this hospital.”

“NO you’re wrong!” Jon exclaimed. “You’re The Great and Powerful Trixie and you’re coming home with me where you’ll live for many more years to come!” Tilting her head to the side Trixie locked eyes with Celestia, who mostly had her gaze set on Jon.

“Your majesty?” she called out, which made Jon quickly turn to look behind him. “How long do I have to live?” The room filled with the sound of those inhabiting it shifting in place to look upon Celestia. Not at all surprised by her sudden new gained attention, she took a quick breath before answering.

“The life expectancy of Clausus victims depends on how severe the invading surge of magic is,” she answered. “Though in your case... since Chrysalis’ magic is so potent... a week, maybe two.”

“No,” Jon whimpered. He had gotten it into his head that at the very least the disease was manageable enough that she could live for a few more years, years that could be spent trying to find a cure, but this new revelation shattered that notion.

“C-can’t we do something to stall the virus!?” Jon announced, hoping that anyone would have an answer. “Couldn't any of you use some kind of treatment or... or your magic to... I don’t know, halt the virus or just heal her whenever she gets sick?”

“We’ve tried using our magic to repel the invading dark energy,” the doctor said. “But Chrysalis’ dark magic is too strong... it just keeps finding new ways to adapt and spread.”

“And as for simply curing any resulting ailments that arise... it would just be delaying the inevitable,” the white haired nurse added. “If anything... she’d just live longer through constant suffering.”

“B-but, but... AAAAAARGH!!!” Jon roared in frustration. “There’s gotta be something we can do!”

Before anyone could try to talk some more sense into him he felt a tug on his arm, it was Trixie once again trying to get his attention.

“Jon... I know this is difficult but you need to come to the realization that this is it,” she said as she motioned for him to come closer. “I know this is hard for you... it’s hard on me too.”

“Then why?” Jon asked. “Why are you just going to lie back and accept this?” His question was both simple and yet too complicated for Trixie to answer.

“It’s because... because I’ll die knowing I lived a good life... with you and your wonderful family,” she explained as she placed both her hooves over Jon’s hands. “Back when I first was admitted here, before they discovered this virus, the doctors thought I might not make it but then I got better... but for a while I honestly thought I wasn’t going to live... and during that window of doubt... I came to the realization that if I were to die right there and then... I would leave this world without regrets.”

“Trixie,” Jon sniffed.

“It’s a shame I won’t spend my final days with you and Tracey and the kids but the fact that I lived long enough to finally find a home and a family is good enough for me,” she added,  as she began to stroke his hand. “So it’s okay. It’s okay that I’ll--”

“NO IT’S NOT OKAY!!!” Jon yelled as he jumped back and took back his arm in a single full motion, lightly yanking Trixie forward in the process. He stumbled back with so much force he almost fell to the ground.

The way it was broken down to Jon he was beginning to think that he had no options here, either way he was going to lose a friend and at this point the only one who hadn’t come to terms with it was Jon himself. This meant that he began to become desperate.

“Please Celestia you have to do something!” Jon turned around to beg. “If there’s anything I can do just... please, I’ll do anything just don’t let Trixie go through with this!”

“Jon... I’m sorry but there’s nothing any of us can do at this point,” she sighed. “We’ve thought of every possible treatment, but I’m afraid there’s nothing more that can be done.”

“B-but, but... there’s... there's got to be something!” he challenged. “Isn’t there anything we could try!?”

After an inhale, Celestia looked as if she was about to just repeat herself when she was cut off.

“Actually,” Twilight interjected. “I think... I might’ve found a possible treatment.”

All eyes were now on the purple Unicorn, though instead of addressing their shocked expressions right away she quickly used her magic to fish out a book from her saddle bag. This book was quite thick with weathered pages and a bent spine, it’d definitely been used multiple times. The cover was a drawing of a ponies face; had Jon been more knowledgeable on the subject he’d realize that it was of Startswirl the Bearded.

“I was looking in one of my magic tomes and I found something very interesting,” Twilight said as she used her magic to hover the book to Celestia. “See? Right here in chapter 24 it talks about the three levels by which a pony is considered to be sentient.”

“W-what is she talking about?” Jon asked.

“She’s speaking of how a pony’s existence is categorized by levels; mind, body, and spirit,” Celestia answered as the nurse and doctor rounded her to get a better view of what she was looking at.

“Exactly, but look... on the next page it has this.” She demonstrated by turning the page for her. “This spell demonstrates how a core group of ponies are able to use magic to separate each and alter them.”

The somewhat confused look on Celestia’s face was now long gone; the more she looked at what Twilight was showing her the more she seemed not to like it.

“Ah yes, the Entropy spell,” Celestia concluded as she closed the book with her magic and gently sent it back to Twilight. “I’ve already considered this approach and dismissed it.”

For a brief moment there was new hope within Jon, but as if closing that spell book was the trigger Celestia had once again obliterated it.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa what!?” Jon blurted. “You knew about a treatment this entire time but won’t do it!?”

“Jon let me explain,” Celestia offered, which caused Jon to take a step back.

“You know what, no! You seem to be hell bent on not wanting to help so I want Twilight to explain this spell to me,” he sneered. Celestia completely understood Jon’s actions but it still hurt her to be in this situation. “Go ahead Twilight... what’s this spell all about?”

Turning to her assistant, Celestia gave her the right to continue. Feeling like she was between a rock and a hard place, Twilight took her time to open the book as she glanced around the room and cleared her throat.

“Well... this spell is a high level incantation known as the ‘Trimuto’ spell,” she explained as she read from her book. “It says here that this spell, when done correctly, has the power to separate a being into three forms of energy. One representing the host’s body, one representing the host’s mind, and of course one to represent the spirit of the host. From there the pony, or group of ponies, are able to use their magic to add, remove, or alter certain aspects of the applicant.”

There was still some confusion on Jon’s part which was both assumed and noticeable to Twilight.

“Here, let me give an example. Let’s say a pony has a fear of heights... by using this spell I could help him overcome his Acrophobia by countless methods. I could simply remove the fear from their mind and be done with it, or I could alter them spiritually so that they no longer are affected by the concept of fear,” she added. “A more roundabout method would be to change them physically so they would have wings... and could overcome their fear by flying, gradually getting used to this.”

Jon’s mind was boggled at what he was hearing. If what he understood was true there was a spell in Twilight’s possession that could alter the very genetic building blocks of life and beyond. With this spell not only could someone genetically alter the mind and body of any given person, but their spirit, the very thing that gave life, could be toyed with as if it was a lego set. Moral dilemmas aside, Jon only cared about one thing.

“Could... could we use this to cure Trixie?” he asked. It was already decided by Celestia that this wasn’t going to happen, though Twilight still felt compelled to answer him...

“If done correctly, yes, easily,” she answered. “Once Trixie’s body is transformed to kneadable energy all that would need to be done would simply be to remove the poison... from there it would be like it never existed.”

There was a slight pause, everyone in the room, including Trixie, were going over this new information, running the possibilities in their heads.

“T-that’s... that’s great!” Jon belted at the top of his lungs, his smile disappeared as suddenly as it arrived once he turned his attention back on Celestia. “Why the hell didn’t you tell us about this sooner!?”

“Because it doesn’t work,” Celestia answered in a firm though understanding tone.

“What?” Jon wimpered.

“I know of this spell... it’s a very ancient and dangerous technique that has been around for almost as long as I have, and never once has it been done properly,” she explained. “It’s been used before: Ancient pony druids would use this spell as a spiritual tool to exorcise demons and those very same demons would use it to make themselves stronger... and every time it’s ended up the same way... with the host dieing as a result.”

Historically speaking, Celesia had made this spell impossible to obtain and illegal to use. This made it so its historical background was lost to anyone but a small handful of ponies... suffice it to say no one in the room knew of its deadly properties.

“You see... in order for this spell to work... it requires a great deal of concentration and understanding of magic on the part of whoever uses it. For somepony to tamper with the mind, body, and spirit of a pony they themselves need to also be in control of their own,” she continued. “And the reason this always fails is because those who have attempted it hadn't been strong enough, or knowledgeable enough to see it through properly. When done incorrectly the pony host will die and even if we do manage to extract the poison, there is no guarantee she’ll come out of it unscathed. Let’s say we do cure her but incorrectly synch her spirit back up with her mind and body, then she’ll be without life anyway... or if we don’t fuse her mind and body back properly and she lives a mindless husk... this is a fate worse than death which is why we cannot risk it.”

Confident that this was enough to get through to him, Celestia walked up to her friend and placed a hoof on his shoulder for comfort.

“I’m sorry, Jon,” she added. “But I’ve thought of everything... there’s nothing more any of us can do for her.” And then silence, a silence she took to mean Jon had finally given up. She underestimated his persistence.

“Have you ever done this spell before?” Jon asked.

“E-excuse me?” she said after a short pause.

“Have you... ever done this spell before?” he repeated himself. Celestia couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“... No... no I have not,” she answered.

“Then... then how do you know it won’t work?” he challenged.

“Jon,” she sighed in a disappointed tone.

“No I’m serious!” he continued as he took a step back like he was being hunted. “You’ve never done it so you can’t know if it won’t work now!”

Before anyone could rebuttal the sound of Trixie adjusting herself in her bed caught everyone's attention.

“Jon, please be reasonable,” Trixie offered. “The Princess is only speaking realistically here... I wouldn't want to inconvenience her majesty for somepony like me.”

The way she idly just dismissed her own well being like she wasn’t anyone important made Jon sick to his stomach. He lurched forward and covered his mouth as he slightly gagged. Ironically, instead of any of the medical ponies going to see if he was alright it was Celestia who came up to him and placed a hoof on his back.

“I think it’s time that you took a seat or--” she said before being interrupted.

“Celestia please I know you can do it!” Jon exclaimed. “You even said it yourself, the problem with all previous attempts was the person doing it wasn’t skilled enough... but they weren’t you! I bet you and Twilight here could do it with your eyes closed!”

“Jon, that’s not the point,” Celestia challenged.

“Then what is the point!?” Jon yelled as he slapped her hoof away, causing the two guards to get in between the two. “Because from where I stand you’re not even willing to entertain the notion of her having a chance.”

“Jon... I just want what’s best for her... truly I do,” she continued. “And this magic spell... is not the answer.”

“Then what is!” Jon bellowed as he began to pace back and forth while grabbing his hair like he was literally going to pull it out. “Celestia please! Please you have to do something! She shouldn't have to suffer because of me!”

“Jon, no, you can’t start thinking like that!” Twilight said. “You’re not responsible for--”

“Oh, aren’t I!” he interrupted as he looked back at Trixie, who looked away as she didn’t know what to say. In a state of panic, it looked as if he was going to rush over to her, but instead he began to hyperventilate as he struggled to stand, while looking in all directions like a rat lost in a maze. Disregarding the two armed guards, Jon bolted his way past them where he grabbed Celestia by her shoulders in desperation.

“Celestia please! I’m begging you!” Jon yelled. “You have to save Trixie, please!”

“I’m... I’m sorry,” she said, as she backed away from him. “I can’t.”

“But why!?” Jon continued to yell. “Why won’t you help her!?”

“Jon, you don’t understand!” she argued back. “This spell requires a great deal of power, concentration, and stamina the likes of which--”

“OH I GET IT!” Jon sneered. “Too much of an effort right! Don’t want to have to dirty up those pretty hooves over someone like Trixie!”

“That’s not what I meant,” Celestia said, slightly hurt by Jon’s banter.

“NO! No, I get it now. You won’t do it because Trixie isn’t worth it to you, huh!” he continued. “You don’t think Trixie’s worth trying to save do you!? You know no one here in this world ever gave a damn about her! That’s why she came to me, but I never thought you’d be the same! I bet if she was someone more important you’d do it.”

Keeping her composure, Celestia just stood and took his anger in full, without showing any signs of hostility. Which is more than could be said for her assistant.

“Jon! How could you say that!?” Twilight said in a hostile voice. “You have no right to be saying such... Princess Celestia would never act in such a way! She--

“Twilight! You of all people have no right to be talking here!” Jon yelled as he pointed a finger at her. “Why I bet if it was YOU in that bed instead of Trixie she’d do the operation spell! Hell! If you were the one sick I bet she’d pull all her resources and just find a cure in one afternoon!”

“That is not true!” Twilight challenged. “She loves and cares for her subjects equally and would never play favorites... right Princess?”

Since her arrival into Trixie’s room Celestia had been put on the spot multiple times, and every time she knew exactly what to say, that is, until now. For the first time Celestia was rendered silent, unable to give an honest answer. All eyes were on her but with a heavy heart she turned away to avoid facing them.

“P-princess?” Twilight asked, shocked at her misplaced judgement. Celestia’s mouth opened but when she locked eyes with Jon she didn't say anything. She had given her answer.

“Oh, so it’s like that, is it?” Jon sneered. “I fucking knew it.”

Turning around, Jon rushed to Trixie’s side where he got down on his knees to match eye level with her.

“Trixie, don’t you worry, I’ll find a way to help you!” he said, before giving her a kiss on the forehead. “Don’t worry baby girl, I’ll save you somehow! I promise.”

“J-Jon?” Trixie said as he got up and rushed to the door, accidently knocking over the nurse in the process. “JON! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?”

“I’m going to find someone other than myself who actually gives a damn!” he called back.

“Wait Jon!” Twilight called out as he made his way for the door. “You don’t need--”

She was cut off by Celestia placing her hoof on her shoulder in an attempt to keep her from interacting with him, like a dog on a leash.

“Twilight, don’t,” she said. “It’s best we leave him alone for now.” Unsure if that was the right decision Twilight nevertheless obeyed. It was at this point that Jon stopped at the doorway and turned to face those who were still left in the room.

“Don’t worry Trixie! I’ll make everything better!” he called out in her direction. “If these incompetent ponies won’t perform the operation on you then I’ll... I’ll... I’ll find a doctor who will!”