//------------------------------// // Chapter 22: The Fight for Life // Story: Get Him 3 // by Lord Blackraven //------------------------------// The Fight for Life “Heart rate?” “Fourty-four beats per minute.” Dr. Hoofson noted that on the clipboard. “Blood pressure?” “One-fifteen over eighty-two.” “Noted.” He put down the chart. Four thick lacerations running down his back. The princess did magical first aid but they will need to be attended to with some stitches. And sever bite marks from a Diamond Dog on its left front foreleg. Possible bone fractured from the bite too. He has lost a lot of blood so we need to start an IV pronto!” “But Doctor, We don’t know his blood type or even if it is compatible with pony blood!” A nurse said. For all we know, it could kill him!” “I am aware of that nurse, we need to at least know what blood type it is. Maybe we can magically synthesize something that will be compatible with his system.” Dr. Hoofson said. “Is he stable enough to operate on?” He then asked. “Impossible to say doctor,” Another nurse said. “We are unfamiliar with his kind so it’s impossible to say.” “Best guess then nurse.” The nurse let out a deep nervous sigh. “I think so Dr. Hoofson. I think so.” Blood was drawn from Alex’s unconscious form carefully so as not to make his situation any worse than it already was, and sent to the lab. “Everypony, we have something of a unique situation here.” Dr. Hoofson declared. “We are dealing with an injured member of a previously unencountered species. This means that diagnosis and treatment are both going to be somewhat difficult.” He glanced around at the various ponies in the room. “Thankfully, we have somepony with us today. Miss Lyra Heartstrings seems to be a mare with extensive knowledge in this particular subject. Miss Heartstrings, what insights can you provide us?” He watched as the mint green unicorn strode forward to take a close look at the tall creature. “Mares and Gentle Stallions...What we have before us is the revelation of a previously thought of mythical creature known as a human. A male of the species to be more precise.” Everyone in the room gasped in shock. “I'm seeing a somewhat severe laceration to his shoulder and back, some damage to nasal cartilage, and numerous impact contusions as well as severe bite marks on his left forelimb possible fracture of the forelimb bone too....” She lowered the sheet to examine more of his torso. “Hmm, this is strange... do you see this bruising here along the sides?” “Could be from previous injuries or the fight he just suffered through,” said another doctor. “But... it looks rather old.” “Hmm, yes.” She frowned. “He must have spent a lot of time in the wild....” She trailed off for a moment. “This is strange. There's pale blotching on his skin. It's not uniform, so what could have caused it? Anypony have any ideas?” “There's a number of potential causes for that,” answered Dr. Trotter. “Although we would need more symptoms to work with.” Lyra nodded slowly, gently running a hoof down one side of the creature's torso and up the other at the same time as her horn was lit up. “There's... possibly cracked ribs; he'll need bandaging to bind them so that they can heal properly. The abdomen feels softer than it should, considering he has so little... body fat....” She paused again. “Oh goodness. Does anypony actually know what his nutritional needs might be? Does anypony know what he was eating while he was on his own?” A bunch of confused and uncertain looks was her reply. “We... really couldn't tell you, Miss,” one of the nurses spoke up. “I was briefed by Princess Twilight,” Trotter said, “but only in vague detail. All we can surmise is that he lived with access to a nearby water supply. Possibly a river?” “There is a creek near the old castle ruins where he was found, but it flows pretty fast....” The unicorn seemed to be in deep thought. “And if he'd been fishing at the lake near Ponyville, one of the residents of Ponyville definitely would've spotted him, even at night....” She looked up at the assembled medical professionals. “I think he may be suffering from malnutrition,” she said, leaning over and gently pulled the creature's lower lip down to reveal a line of squared-off but sharp incisors. “He's an omnivore, which means he probably doesn't have a cecum like we ponies do. If he's been getting his food from what ponies throw away or leave out and occasionally fish from the river, there's no way he could have been getting nearly as much protein as he needs to stay healthy.” “Essentially, he has been living off of garbage?!” one of the nurses said with a gasp. “Protein deficiency? He is a meat eater?” Dr. Hoofson trotted up to the bed and gently ran his hoof through the mane the creature had on its head. “There are signs of color change at the mane roots here,” he said. “Miss Heartstrings, you may be on to something. What do you suggest to remedy this?” “Once he's conscious, and can tolerate solid foods again, he needs to be fed a high-protein diet. Peanuts, rice, eggs, fish, meat etc. The nurses and some of the doctors in the room suddenly became a bit nervous. “Do you think he might try to eat ponies when he is conscious?” one of the nurses said with a little fear. “No, I do not think he will nurse.” Lyra said. Yes he is a meat eater but if you recall, he has been out on his own in the Everfree Forest for Celestia knows how long and during that time there were no reports of missing ponies. Also if you recall, He saved and protected the little colt that was foalnapped just recently by Diamond Dogs before returning him back to us unharmed. He could have just as easily had that little colt for dinner but he didn’t.” “But Miss Heartstrings, how can you be so sure he won’t?” “Because I was there!” Lyra stated. “I was there when he took out those Diamond Dogs after they had trapped myself and two others. One of them being the Element of Honesty!” Lyra continued. “I was there when he took little Pipsqueak and I was there when he brought him back! No nurse, I don’t think we have anything to fear from him. Twilight mentioned that she's been talking to the Griffin ambassador about their diet; I'll see if I can get recommendations from him.” “I think that's an excellent idea, Miss Heartstrings. I for one am glad we have your expertise.” “Thank you doctor,” she murmured, before her expression became serious once again. “But right now we need to start treatment. Is he okay with our medications?” “We're running blood tests now. The results should be forthcoming at any time.” “We'd better let Twilight know about that. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna should also be informed. Okay, in the meantime, we should get fluids into his body and keep his wounds bandaged and clean....” At this time Luna appeared outside the hospital and hurried through the double doors and up to the pony receptionist. “Nurse! Where is he?” Luna all but commanded. “Where is who your highness?” the nurse asked. The creature, the human, that was just brought in injured!” “Oh him, He is in emergency operation and after he will be in Room 107, princess…” Luna was off like a shot before the nurse could finish her sentence to Alex’s location. Princess Luna joined her sister Celestia at the operating facilities who was already staring through the window above the operating room, watching intently as the surgeon and nurses went about their work trying to help a still unconscious Alex. Her mind was deeply worried as she mentally willed those working on the human to go faster and praying to Faust that he might be ok. “How is he sister?” Luna asked with much concern in her voice as she walked up to the white alicorn. “Still unconscious. The doctors are doing all they can but we know practically nothing about his species. They’re flying blind.” Celestia replied. “He has lost a lot of blood and they won’t know if pony blood will work on him or not until the blood test comes back.” “Soon a nurse came running back into the operating room and appeared to be talking very fast. The doctor looked surprised and then turned to the two princesses up in the observation window and then all but galloped out of the operating room and into the adjacent hallway as the others present looked up at the leaving doctor and nurse briefly whereupon they returned to their various tasks concerning Alex. “…Yes doctor. I believe that pony blood might work as a transfusion.” “You are certain of this nurse? His blood type too?” “Yes doctor. I know he isn’t a pony, but it’s the best we have to work with. The last test should be concluded within the next few minutes.” "Very well Nurse Redheart. Notify me the moment the test is done." "Understood Doctor Hoofson." And with that Nurse Redheart left. “Doctor? Is Alex going to be ok? What have you discovered?” Celestia asked as she and Luna approached the doctor. “Princesses. We have been able to stabilize him just barely. By all means, he should have passed on with how bad his wounds are, but he seems to have a stubborn will to live. He is truly an amazing creature! I just don’t know how long he will last. We are flying blind here.” “Yes he is doctor, but what do you plan to do to help him?” Luna asked worriedly. “He needs blood your highness. That’s it in the nutshell. He lost a lot of blood in whatever fight he was in. He needs blood. The problem is that his human blood type is hard to come by. The problem is that human blood doesn’t exist here anywhere so you can see what we are up against.” “Doctor, what is his blood type?” Luna asked. “O Negative princess. Given that he is a completely different species altogether and not indigenous to our world, it is the closest pony equivalent.” “I am O Negative doctor.” Luna said. “I will donate what you need. What HE needs.” “Your highness! Are you sure about this? I mean no disrespect but there is the added risk of your alicorn blood having some adverse side effects on his physical well-being. We just don’t know if it will work or not. It could very well kill him!” " I am willing to take on that responsibility Doctor Hoofson. He is in my charge and I will do whatever it takes to help and protect him." "Yes your highness." The doctor replied with a bow. At this time the nurse came running back up to the three of them, her eyes opened wide in surprise. “Doctor Hoofson! I am glad you are still here! The patients blood work is done. You have to see this!” As she hoofed over a clipboard with paperwork on it. Dr. Hoofson took the clipboard from the nurse and started to read what was on the paperwork. His eyebrows went up and his eyes went wide in surprise and shock! “ This cant be!" He said shaking his head. "Nurse Redheart. Are you sure about this?” The nurse replied, “Yes doctor. I triple checked the tests myself!” “If this is true, this would be the most incredible discovery of our time! Amazing! Simply amazing!” The doctor replied. Celestia and Luna both looked at each other and then back at the doctor and nurse, Celestia then asked. Doctor Hoofson. Nurse Redheart. What is it that you have discovered?