Exuviate

by Aiden

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Comedy, Random, Adventure
Length: 6371

A mystery where finding the truth isn't better than forgetting it.

Having lost all memories of who he used to be a colt begins his search for what he lost. During his dig into his own past he finds he made friends as who he is now. Uncertain that he wants to leave this life to go back to the fog that is his past, he wavers, and his friends find themselves conflicted. Should they continue to help him look into his past, or should they just leave well enough alone?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-02-19 18:57:00 UTC

Wake up

Many story tellers have great stories to tell, this may or may not be one of them, that is for you the reader to decide. I the narrator an over used and un-imaginative writing tool shall start you through this journey, but fear not this story like many others will take shape and a life of it’s own shortly.  I suppose I should start this story at the beginning, but not the beginning you or I know, but the beginning for a young colt, his story starts here.

Off in the distance the chirping of birds can be heard and the blowing of wind, it‘s a biting cold wind. I-I can feel the wind flow over me and the ground beneath me… where am I?  A bright light engulfs everything, then colors come into being, as those colors take shape they form a familiar sight, lush greenery and an engulfing white.  A wooded area filled with many manner of flora covered partially in snow, oddly everything is sideways.  Is this… the forest?  A hoof floats into existence in front of the many plants, and in front of that clouds of vapor burst into existence only to dissipate moments later, and this hoof is blocking the view. That’s… mine?… I can move…  The hoof disappears and the world rights it’s self as it shrinks slightly.  How did I get here?

Over in the corner there exists a small pond frozen over,  as it gets closer a pony appears under the ice.  This pony has a tan coat with a green beard and mustache that looked out other details were fuzzy, his hair had the same green color but with yellow highlights, but all those details were drawn away by the colts eyes, the teal orbs looked like blobs in the iced over pond.  They look like kind eyes, I guess?  The pony thought as he stared into his own distorted reflection.

Breaking eye contact with his image the pony took in his surroundings.  He knew this was a forest but not what forest, or where he was in it.  Hmm where am I… might as well pick a direction and start walking.  That seemed as good a plan as any.

The colt started to trot around the pond and stopped, peering around he allowed his head to stop in a direction. That way!  And with that he was off picking up a steady stride, after about an hour the colt could here growling, quickly he hid in some bushes.

He waited for what ever had made the noise to leave, but there it was again.  It sounded faint but close, like it was right on top of him, the colt looked around in a panic leaving the safety of his bush.  Where is it!?! Why can’t I see it!?! The pony thought in a panic, trying his hardest to find his stalker.  The growling came a third time and with it pain.  It wasn’t sharp or tearing, but a dull rumbling sensation located in his… oh I’m hungry…

After shaking off that embarrassment, the colt went to look for food.  He didn’t have to scout far for he was surround by grass after all.

With a bit of digging he was able to uncover a few long strands of grass enough to keep his hunger at bay, but he felt his diet needed more ‘substance‘, and went looking for something else to snake on, hopefully with a better flavor than the bland grass.  Glancing around he found a patch of blue flowers that looked like dandelions.  Those look good but, too pretty to eat.  Turning his attention to a patch of wiled daffodils that had stubbornly sprouted out of the snow, he happily munched on the treat that the earth had so generously provided for him, epically considering the weather.  With his hunger satiated the colt went out again in his chosen direction.

Again he heard something this time it was not a growl but a rustling in the bushes,  the bushes weren’t very big, what ever was in there was smaller then the colt, well what ever it is, it’s probably more afraid of me then I am of it…  He thought as he walked passed the bush.  But two steps latter a blur had jumped out in front of him.  The colt could only make out a feathered head and a pair of glowing red eyes staring right back at him, what ever it was it didn’t want the colt out of it’s sight.

The colt tried to back away from this strange forest dweller but found his back legs refused to move, they became stiff and numb… a feeling of terror creped up the colt’s spine but was gradually replaced with numbness, He wanted to run but couldn’t, panic over took the young pony and did the only thing he could think of, he shut his eyes tight to scared to look out at the world, but just as he did the crawling numbness stopped.

The creature sounded like an angry chicken and proceeded to act like one, as it pecked at the colt relentlessly.

All the young colt could do was bury his head in his front hooves to guard against the barrage of pecks.

Suddenly just as quickly as the attack started it ended.  The colt could hear the sounds of a scared chicken running away; he also regained feeling in his back half.  The good news was coming to an end when he heard a growling right behind him.  I just ate… the pony wanted to look back, Just RUN!  and with that he bolted, his four legs propelling him faster then he thought they could.

The choice to run was a good one for whatever was behind him had begun the pursuit, it’s powerful body breaking limbs off trees in it’s chase for it’s next meal.

If I’m smaller maybe I can loose it by weaving between trees.  The pony looked back to find a huge lion with wings and a scorpions tail bounding after him, Yep! DEFINITELY bigger than me!

Evading this thing was harder than the colt had anticipated; it just shoved the trees out of it’s way, uprooting them like weeds.  He did make ground on the creature, It must be running out of stamina, lucky me. With a final burst of speed the pony drastically increased the distance between him and the creature,  the colt was right it had gotten tired; it just stopped at the futility of capturing the faster pray.

The colt kept that speed for a while, running was somehow exhilarating, not only did it bring his body temperature up but he felt like he could run for hours, he felt like a foal again.  Upon catching his breath he could see that not only was he out of the forest but it was night out, looking around him he noticed a rocky landscape in the center was a small mountain, about ten stories high, it would be a decent hike up that, he thought to himself.

The night sky was magnificent, the stars twinkled in and out of existence seemingly winking to the inhabitants of the land, witch thanks to the shining of the moon and a few scattered shinny rocks peaking out of the snow the twinkles were returned.  At this time the pony thought I am lost? None of this looks familiar… I think I’d remember a place this beautiful.  But where do I go from here?  Looking around he didn’t find anything that looked like a sign or trail leading to civilization.  Maybe I can get a better idea where I am if I had a better perspective?

With that though in his head he begins climbing up a sturdy pile of rocks.  In the distance there were some more rocks, a few holes, lots more of those shiny stones… but nopony else.  Well this is disheartening… he thought as his face melted into a gloomy expression.

He climbed down nearly slipping on one of the loose ice covered boulders; hopping down the rest of the way like an uncoordinated billy-goat.  Looking back at the forest the colt thought I’m getting some distance from you, your dangerous woods!  And so he trotted off in the opposite direction hoping to find somepony else.

Trotting about for a half an hour the colt spotted a shining light in the middle of a field.  He strained his eyes to make out what it could be, he could make out what appeared to be another pony… a purple one or is that lavender, ahh who cares!… aaaand… two NO, three little ones… I think?  They all surrounded what looked like a… bird feeder?  A water bottle?  It’s hard to tell form here, but there was definitely a fire, and that‘s what the colt wanted the most with his fur feeling like every follicle was frozen.

In the middle of the field Twilight Sparkle was teaching the Cutie Mark Crusaders about astrology. They were dressed for the cold winter night bundled up in wool caps and scarves

“Now this one girls is the big dipper, this constellation is made up of the seven brightest stars of the Ursa Major,  you may realize that that name sounds like the large bear whose fur resembles princes Luna’s mane, it is also the larger version of the bear that attacked our town a while back some say that same bear was named after this large cluster of stars, quite appropriately too if I might add.” She continued her lecture not noticing her students weren’t nearly as interested in what she was about the talking about.

“Uuuugg…” Scootaloo groaned. “This is so brooooing, why did you ask Twilight if she would teach us this boring stuff Apple Bloom?” the orange pegasus complained as she fidgeted on her back tucking her wings in and kicking at the air in frustration.

“Twasn’t me, Sweetie Bell were tah one who said it’d be ah good idea” the farm filly retorted pointing a hoof at the snow white unicorn.

With the eyes of other two crusaders looking accusingly upon her; Sweetie Bell said the first thing that came to her head.  “I really liked her… telescope?”  the other two looked at each other, they shared the same look of disappointment, both of them heard that line one to many times, Sweetie bell knew that that line was getting old too.  “Fine; it wasn’t one of my best ideas, okay?  She offered and I-I just panicked.”

They all knew how ‘persuasive’ Twilight could be, they all simultaneously shivered at the memory the last time she ‘helped’ them.  Giving each other simultaneous looks they all started laughing.

Twilight had continued the lecture unaware of the three fillies conversation, until they all started laughing, she had just finished explaining the process of matter being pulled into a black hole, she figured that they were laughing at the name.  “Yes girls spaghettification is a funny word, but it’s a real scientific term.” She said in a proud and studious manner.

Having been interrupted by the strangest and funniest part of the lecture the crusaders stopped laughing; only to start again even louder than before, the ridiculous word amused them that much at that time; especially something like that coming out of the mouth Twilight Sparkle.

Back on the other side of meadow the colt could hear the laughter, and thought to himself; foals laughing; that’s a good sign.  Although he was still hesitant; he had woken up in a strange place; sore all over, nearly pecked to death by a chicken and chased by a monstrous cat thing.  He was tired of taking chances, he thought it be best to lay low and observe for a little while longer, in case this was just a trick of some sort.  … or maybe I’m just being paranoid…  Ether way he sat there, just watching behind some boulders. I’m not doing any harm by just sitting here… but I guess it is kinda creepy… maybe I should go over to them… he motioned to get up. But then again a strange pony just waltzing to a group of foals and there caretaker in the middle of an empty field at night; he sits back down. Yeh that doesn’t sound like a psychopath at all… his mind changing again he gets back up, they do have a fire though… and maybe some food to share… putting sarcasm aside I should look around they may have come form a nearby town that way I can go to the town and seek help form them without seeming like a creep.

The colt had a back and forth like that for a while, long enough for three particular foals to come up with a plan.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders had huddled up to talk while Twilight was distracted lecturing while at the same time adjusting her telescope trying to find a new celestial body to observe. “Listen girls were not going to get our cutie marks just staring at the sky, I say we try to get our marks in snow boarding.”  Scootaloo suggested to the other two.

Apple bloom was excited at the prospect of getting a snowboarding cutie mark, but Sweetie Bell voiced her concerns of doing that at this time of night, “we won’t be able to see where were going, and we might get hurt.”

“If we get our cutie marks in snow boarding that will be the one were suppose to do and be just fine.“ Scootaloo remarked; putting out any doubt in Sweetie Bells mind.

Twilight was about to begin her lesson on Taurus, but stories of such a 'romantic' bull would be unfit for the young fillies, this seemed to snap her back to reality.  She was so entranced by her own lessons she failed to noticed before now that the three young girls are gone.  Twilight began to panic “Girls!” she shouted, she waited but with no answer, looking around she quickly picked up their fresh tracks in the snow, and began the chase doing her best to catchup with the three little ponies.

Out in the distance just as the colt was about to sneak off he shouting from the the direction of the group he was observing, looking in that direction he noticed the lavender one running off, almost in his direction.  Ahead of her were the three smaller ones making there way towards that ten story mountain thing he passed by earlier.

Finally having the Cutie Mark Crusaders in her sights twilight teleported in-front of the trio in a bright purple flash catching Sweetie Bell off guard.  Twilight nabbed her with one of her forehoves, the other two split off and around the unicorn.  Apple Bloom was the next to be captured as a purple aura engulfed her and levitated her to Twilight.  Even with all of twilight’s efforts she could not catch the orange pegasus, as Scootaloo grabbed a large piece of bark with her teeth and used her wings to propel herself over the snow.

Witnessing the magick with his own eyes had astonished the colt.  What the heck was that!?!  he asked himself in amazement.  His awestruck would take a back seat when he realized what was going on.  The lavender pony was trying to keep the orange one form that mountain... she might get hurt! That thought ran through his head as he almost instinctively chased after the little foal.  But she was too fast, and he was too tired, by the time he made it to the base of the mountain she was already almost to the top.

Twilight Watched in horror as a strange colt came out of nowhere and started chasing Scootaloo.  Was he going to help or hurt her?  Her concerns were dubbed when she saw that Scoot had finally reached the top.

Taking her makeshift snowboard in her right forehove, she threw it in-front of her and began to ride down, yelling “WAAAAHOOOOOOO” at the top of her lungs.  Unfortunately this was enough to cause a much dreaded avalanche, both Twilight and The colt looked at the growing wave of snow in horror, Twilight could do nothing for Scoot, she had her hooves full with the other two foals squirming and doing there best to get away, they required too much of her focus for her to use any of her spells.

The Colt on the other hand reached down deep and found the strength to continue up the mountain. Scootaloo having the time of her life trying to outrun the avalanche didn't notice the colt midway between the base and the middle of the mountain as she passed by he grabbed her in his teeth by the back of the neck, and in the same fluid motion tucked her his chest and formed a barrier between her and the snow as it all came crashing down on top of them. The colt tumbled with the snow for a few meters but came to a stop as the rest of the avalanche buried him and the foal under the snow.

“SCOOOT!!!” Twilight shouted, barely comprehending what had just happened, as she saw two ponies get buried beneath at least a ton of snow.  She and now two scared fillies came rushing over fearful they would never see Scootaloo again, or at least alive.

Under the snow the colt had protected the young filly quite well, she was scared and shaking but unharmed.  He on the other hove could feel he had broken some of his ribs, they were throbbing almost pulsing, and his left hind leg wouldn't move at all.  He was getting even sleepy, this is bad...  can't even feel the cold anymore.  He knew that hypothermia would set in and he would go into shock.  Using the last of his strength he used his muzzle to dig up using his front paws to push himself up and his right hind leg to cradle the little filly.  Digging is such a manner made the cold feel like it was slicing it's way past his eyeballs and into his brain, the pain was intense  to say the least.  After about a meter of digging he could breath again, the fresh open air flowing into his nostrils, using his head he widened the hole enough to push the little filly through and out of the hole.  Then the world went dark, he could feel himself slipping away as he slid back into the hole.

Twilight had rushed up to the now unburied pegasus relived that she was breathing and now safe.  But the colt that had come to her rescue was still buried in the snow.  Using a large amount of her magic she instantly cleared away the snow from the colt in what seemed like an explosion.  She used her levitation magic to gently lift him out of the hole and onto flatter ground.  To her horror she did not see his chest rise,  “He's not BREATHNG!” she shouted.

Alive

Everything was dark warmth flowing into your body.  I don't remember it being warm out?  Colors appeared again, this time warm hews of yellow orange and browns, the crackling of a fire and the chirping of birds were dominate sounds in this world everything smelled rustic, and with a slight feminine quality to it, it was all very welcoming.

Listening more carefully the colt could hear soft breathing, and he felt a weight on his chest.  Looking down he could see to his surprise a little orange angel laying on his chest, asleep.  Have I died and gone to heaven? he thought to himself in disbelief at what he was seeing.  He tried to get up but was interrupted by a shooting pain running throughout his body, an audible deep grunt escaped his through his gritting teeth.

Having her world shaken a little bit Scootaloo awoke, a yawn escaped from her mouth as she rubbed the sleep form her eyes.  Scanning the room for a moment her eyes met the colt that had saved her from that avalanche.  Excited that he's finally awoken after that tough night, she jumped up and fluttered about for a moment.  The colt's shock raised even further when she actually started to flap those wings,  floating about in a spastic manor. Those wings ARE real.  His eyes widened trying to take in this information. A REAL angel!

Scootaloo wanted to speak to him, but the words would not come out, it felt like they swelled up in her throat, her face felt flush every time she looked into his eyes.  She gathered the courage and let out an uncharacteristic “t-thank you...” she said with a squeak as she ran off downstairs yelling “Fluttershy! Fluttershy! He's awake!”

The pink maned pegasus turned her head toward and away form a pot soup she was tending to to see a frantic orange and purple blur race down skid to a halt right at her feet.  “Now Scootaloo, keep your voice down, he may be awake but he still needs his rest, he went thought a lot.”  Fluttershy cautioned  in a motherly tone to the little filly.  “I'm finished warming up this soup, would you be a dear and help me bring it up stares?” Fluttershy asked as she pored some soup into a wooden bowl.

“Sur hing.” Scootaloo mumbles as she grasped the saucer in her teeth, the little filly cantered up the stares at a snails pace compared to the speed at witch she went down, being ever careful not to spill the tasty smelling broth.  Fluttershy was about to follow when the whistle of the teapot caught her attention.  She pored out a cup of steaming tea through a strainer into a modest teacup, it was adorned with a simple red flower who’s stem warped around the base of the cup.  She was extra careful for this was her favorite teacup, the last of it's set... she looked down at the water vapors coming up and wafting into her nostrils, she had done this a million times before but each time was a wonderful memory... shaking away the feeling of nostalgia Fluttershy placed a drop of honey and mix it with a spoon until it was mixed in properly.

Meanwhile in the bedroom Scootaloo had just arrived with the hot soup.  The colt watched her intently as she entered the room and placed bowl on the table next to the bed, he wasn't dreaming before she did indeed have wings... bewildered he couldn't say a word, he was even oblivious to the world around him.  He finally snapped back to reality after the little filly yelled for the fifth time.

“Haay!” Her face only inches away form his her front hooves resting on the bed.  Having finally gotten that stunned look off his face Scootaloo went on with what she was saying. “Like I said we made you some soup.” she said with an annoyed tone in her voice, immediately realizing this was the guy who saved her life, she let out a sigh. “I guess I shouldn't be surprised your still out of it... you did take the full brunt of a mountain for me...” stating in her best apologetic tone.

Apparently it was enough, because the colt smiled and tried to sit up, but was immediately brought back down by the rush of pain pulsating though his body, gritting his teeth in response nothing but a few groans escaping.

Scootaloo felt helpless, “You shouldn't move! You could hurt yourself more...” she felt embarrassed stating the obvious like that, but her options were limited.  “Somepony is coming soon to look over your wounds, and patch you up.” her tone shifted from concern to nurturing “So relax and try to eat some soup get your strength back. Okay?”

The colt tilted his head toward the little filly and nodded.  She took a spoonful of the soup gently blowing on it to cool it off before putting it to his lips.  The colt sucked up the broth, it was simple vegetable soup but the flavor was rich like the vegetables were just picked today and the grain like noodles floating in the broth were fresh out of the press, everything in the soup was soup, each ingredient had masterfully absorbed the flavor of the others.  This has to be the best soup I've had in ages!  Thought the colt as he instantly slurped up the broth leaving the spoon bare and burning his tongue.

“Careful your gonna burn yourself...” Scootaloo said out of concern for the pony that had saved her life not more than a few hours ago.  “My names Scootaloo. Thanks again...”

The colt wanted to give his name but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak it felt like the words had turned into thousands of needles erupting out of his larynx.  Out of reflex he put his front hooves to his throat like he was choking, he was unable to make another sound the pain was so intense.  He felt like he was going to die but as quickly as the pain came it subsidized.

There were two vary worried ponies in the room now, one who's afraid that the others going to choke to death on soup, and one that can't utter a word without agonizing pain.  Scootaloo spoke up first ”Are you Okay?”

The colt opened his mouth to talk again, but the pain fresh in his mind stopped him form making the attempt, I wish I could tell you I'm okay...what to do? What to do?  Then the idea popped into his head.  Motioning with his hooves for something to write with towards the the little filly hoping for some alternative means of communication.  Scootaloo got the hint and went rushing downstairs.

Fluttershy was on her way up the steps the tea cup balancing precariously on a dish in her mouth when Scootaloo swooshed passed her and then dubbed back having zoomed past Fluttershy in her rush almost causing Fluttershy to drop the tea.  “Fluttershy do you have a pen and paper?”  Scootaloo asked somewhat panicked.

Fluttering in the air with the teacup and dish now placed in her front hooves Fluttershy asked “is everything okay with our guest?” her voice containing the same kind genital tone it usually has.

Scootaloo took in a deep breath

“Hecan'ttalkIaskedhimhisnameandheopenhismouthandnothingcameouthelookedlikehewaschokingthenhestartedbreathingagainthenhewantedsomethingsoIcamelookingforyou-”

“Calm down little one” Fluttershy interrupted, but she did get the gist of what Scootaloo was saying, so she decided to see for her self what she could do. “Now let's go check on our guest.” the young mare said reassuring the little Filly as the both made there way into the guest bedroom.

The first to enter was Scootaloo, the colt was happy to see her return so quickly, but sad she was empty hooved.  That sadness would be short lived when the next pony to enter the room met his eyes.  She literally glided across the floor. Her main flowed eloquently around her body bouncing ever so slightly, her eyes were so inviting they seemed to steal the attention straight from the colt, everything about her didn't screamed beauty and grace but it was more of a gentle whisper forcing you to listen, and to top it all off she too was an angel.  For the first time in a while the colt's mind was blank he didn't know what to think, all he could was stare and breath.

Placing the tea cup on the table next to the bed she looked over the colt with a quizzical look, like he were some sort of puzzle. She drew her attention to his face nothing but concern for his health on her mind.  “Could you open your mouth please? That is, if you don't mind...”  something about this colt intimidated her, even though he could barley move, this thought persisted in the back of Fluttershy's mind.  Why do I get this feeling form him?

A feeling that seemed to get pushed aside when she looked into his kind eyes, a new feeling seemed to overcome the feeling of fear that she felt before, something like a warm blanket that a foal would use to keep safe form the monsters at night.  The colt noticed that there eyes had been locked for quite some time and in a panic looked away. Crap! I was staring, she must think I'm some sort of weirdo...  His eyes searched frantically for something else in the room to look at, anything, but nothing was quite as interesting as the filly in front of him.

As if sent to alleviate the tension there was a knock at the door, this broke the awkward silence and allowed Fluttershy to leave the room.  “Sorry, um... but that must be the medical profecional... here to help you...” she clumsy left his side knowing she was going to get him better care.  “Keep an eye on him, would you sweaty?” Fluttershy ask/told Scootaloo to do, who nodded in response.

Making her way over to her front entrance passing through her living room Fluttershy began talking through the door, “Thank you for getting here so quick, we could really use your help.” upon opening the door Fluttershy stopped dead in her tracks and froze up.  In the doorway was Patch Work, her old coltfriend.

Patch Work was a gray unicorn pony with a navy blue mane, but if somepony who didn't know him or hear him talk they would swear he was a filly, his figure was misleading, his face was pretty instead of handsome, and it didn't help that he never cut his mane, if it weren't for tucking it under his hat it would flow past his knees and his cutie mark was of a large square bandage.

He was perspiring, the sweat dripping off his chin, he made an attempt to hide the fact that he was out of breath by forcefully slowing his breaths, but he just made himself sound like he was in pain.

They both were locked onto each others eyes, unable to utter a single word, there breakup wasn't bad or awkward, it was mutual, they cared for one another even now, other wise Patch Work wouldn't have rushed here to help her and nearly giving himself a heart attack in the process, but it was his job that caused them to breakup, he felt it wasn't fare to her for him to be gone so often, she deserved to be free not tethered to some colt that was never there for her, or so he felt.

Fluttershy was the first to break the silence, “um, good to see you again...”

“Good to see you too...” He replied.

Silence befell them again.

Patch Work was the first to speak this time, “Yes, so where's the patient?” his EMT training finally kicking in, he surveyed his surroundings for any dangers to keep himself and those around him safe.

“Oh, right up here” she said as he led him up the stares to the guest bedroom, seeing him again reminded her how much she actually missed him.

He did the same routine entering this room inspecting it for any danger, when he spied the teacup on the night table. so she kept it? Can't blame her it is a nice teacup... that was actually an anniversary gift from him, he gave her a set because she knew how much she enjoyed tea with Rarity.  That's in the past now he thought with a heavy heart as he got back to work.

Form his perspective a new mare had entered the room, a medical professional from the uniform.  All that aside what really caught his attention was the horn coming out of her head.  He had no idea what she was, what could cause a pony to grow a horn? On that subject what could cause a pony to grow wings? Were they born with them or am I really dead?  He had so many questions running around in his head but with no way to ask them, frustration built up in him he had one release, What's going oooooooooon!?! He screamed inside his mind.

The others were able to sense his unease, and Patch job was going to do his best to help, he made his way over to the other colt and introduced himself, “Hello I'm Patch Job, I'm the Paramedic sent here to help, what seems to be the problem today?” he said in a calm compassionate manner.

holy crap that's a guy?!? The colt was too shocked to answer even if he could.  He just stared at the misleading colt.

Scootaloo spoke for him.  “he can't talk, I think it hurts him...”

“Oh okay, can you tell me how he got like this?” his question directed towards Scootaloo, he was going down the list to get an idea of what to treat this colt for. “I had heard there was an injury?”

The little orange filly bowed her head down in shame as she answered his question.”H-he...he got this way...saving me...”

Patch leaned down to her level, “Mind telling me the story?”

She regaled him with the tale of the snowboarding, the avalanche, and him catching her and keeping her safe.

“I see...” his  he reached into his saddle bag and pulled out two neck braces, an adult and a child size.  ”I'm gonna need to put this on you, okay?” he knelt down to Scootaloo's level, and levitated the neck brace in his gray aura right in front of her head.

“W-what? Why?” the filly asked as she nervously backed away.

“It's just a precaution, if you hurt your neck too you could have problems when you grow up.” Patch looked towards Fluttershy pleading with his eyes for some encouragement.

She took the hint and with a small sigh she put her hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder, “It's okay little one I've know Patch for a long time, he just want's to make sure your safe.  Please allow him to help you.”

Reluctantly Scootaloo agreed. “Fine.”  She stood still to so he could put the uncomfortable looking collar on her.

He used his magick to adjust her head so her face was in the right position. He hovered the collar around her neck, adjusted it to her size, locked it in place and placed it snugly on her.  “Is that okay, can you still breath fine?” he asked, his aura still holding her head still.

“Just dandy...” she replied somewhat sarcasticly, the creation of a magickal aura had surprised the colt, instinctively he wanted to ask what was going on, instead the same thing as before happened and he recoiled to the choking position.

Whispering in Fluttershy's ear “Could you watch her make sure she doesn’t move her neck? I have another patient to attend to.”  She nodded and tended to Scootaloo.

Interrupting Scootaloo nervously told Patch Job “This happened before... He doesn’t seem to be able to talk, but he want's to...” she tried her best but this situation was scaring her.

“Okay let's see what we can do.” he held the colt's head in place with his magick as well, “Open your mouth please.” requested Patch.  The colt complied opening his mouth as wide as he could. Patch took a peek in side, “no swelling, no discoloration... everything looks normal.”  Somethings causing him pain... but what? Patch pondered the question for a moment and came to a frightening conclusion.  Could it be magick?

The colt was dumbstruck by the powers this pony with the horn had.  Is he some sort of mutant psychic?  No the angles are acting like this is normal... but angles aren’t normal ether... Aaahg!  What's going on!?!

“Let me try something.”  Sugested Patch, as he lowered his horn around the injured colt's neck, making him very nervous in the process.

crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap! POINTY object headed right for my NECK!  The colt froze his pupils dilated and focused on the location of the horn.

Patches horn glowed and he was able to pick up some faint magical aura around the colt's neck.  It was spell, well hidden within the background energy all ponies have, but it was there.  Let me try a standard break enchantment first.  luckily first times a charm as the spell began to dissipate.  “That should help, but wait a little while before trying your voice out.”

The colt nodded.

“Okay let's get to the rest of through the rest of this, then we can get you to the hospital.”  Going through the motions Patch continued hold the colt's head still with his magick then began the examination.

Patch checked the blood pressure “123/76, pulse 24, BPM 20, breathing is normal.” Patch took out a canister of O2 from his saddle bag with a non re-breather mask adjusted placed it around the patient's muzzle and set it to 16 liters, he then created a focused low-intensity beam of light and shined it into the colt's eyes.  “Pupils are bilateral and equal.”

Scootaloo's curiosity was piked, she did her best to see what was going on but Fluttershy interfered with every attempt the foal made, keeping her surprisingly still.  ”Come on, I wanna see.” she protested.

“No! You need to keep still Scoot.” Fluttershy demanded.

His patient was in good health so Patch went into a focused physical exam. He removed the bed sheets off the colt with his teeth, he began his examination at the top.  The colt was positioned on his side now, ya know once you get used to this unseen force, it's actually kinda relaxing. thought the colt with a serene look on his face.

Patch made his way to the ribs lots of contusions, but no flailing chest, the abdomen was a bit tender but fine, his back seemed like one big bruise it was purple but not too much swelling, the right leg was littered with contusions and a few abrasions thankfully nothing was broken, the left leg on the other hand something was definitely broken and tended to. Patch looked at Futtershy who looked back giving a smile looking for approval, he returned the smile knowing she knew what she was doing.  “I see you haven't forgotten when we used to study together.”

“Well... I... It's just that... how could I forget any of that?” she said a blush spreading across her face.

Patch just gave a nervous laugh rubbing the back of his head with a hoof, a blush spreading across his face as wall.  “It's a useful skill to have...”  crap dose she still...  He quickly shook that thought out of his head when he realized he had overlooked something, because it wasn't there.  He had no cutie mark. At his age? How is this possible?  “W-who are you?” Patch asked with a dumbfounded look on his face.

The colt opened his mouth as if to answer the question immediately but froze, his face then contorted as it pondered the question.  His heart felt like it would stop because he was unable to answer that question with anything but “I...don't know...”