//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: A Lesson In Love // by Gmoney24 //------------------------------// *Author’s Notes*: One chapter after a whole week of waiting! I know how small that seems but like I said before Organic chemistry has been keeping me busy. As for a brief note about this chapter remember how I promised a plot twist soon? Well this is the beginning of it. But the real twist will come soon. Oh and a Pegasus- Unicorn is called an Alicorn as a FYI! :) Chapter 10: Fluttershy awoke to a beautiful crisp morning. A light breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees and the sun shone brightly bringing warmth to the morning. She gathered her supplies to check up on her animal friends and hummed happily. Since the previous night’s performance by Twilight the song was stuck in her head. You don’t know you’re beautiful either Twilight. Fluttershy thought but her humming and thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a ghastly scene right before her eyes. There was a beautiful white swan with an arrow completely piercing its middle. At first look she was perplexed as to why a swan would be laying on its side but as she got closer she could see a deeply embedded arrow and a pool of crimson liquid it which the creature laid. This was a serious injury even for Fluttershy’s vast knowledge of animal wound care. She quickly made a bandage and applied it to the edges of the wound to help stop the bleeding. She spoke soothingly to the injured swan which honked back weakly. “It’s going to be ok little buddy.” She said as she picked up the injured animal and quickly flew into town. There was only one pony in town who knew more about animals than Fluttershy and that was Dr. VonHoof, Ponyville’s resident Veterinarian. Fluttershy burst through the front doors of the clinic with the injured swan and rang the buzzer at the Front desk urgently. It was still too early in the morning for regular patients but Fluttershy knew this was an emergency and that the good doctor lived behind the clinic. She rang the buzzer again and called out. “Dr. VonHoof! Please sir help me this is an emergency!” “Well I’m not who you are looking for but I think I can help you in this case.” Said a deep calm voice that came from the side of the clinic. Fluttershy turned towards the unfamiliar voice and gasped for a second. A midnight blue Alicorn with a sleek black mane wearing a lab coat and stethoscope that matched his coat extended out a hoof. “May I see your injured friend?” he asked gently. Fluttershy handed him the injured swan still unable to speak as she stared in awe at the Veterinarian. “Hmm quite a predicament you’re in aren’t you?” He asked the Swan which was looking quite pale. “Come this way Miss.” He said quickly leading Fluttershy into an examination room. “I’m Dr. Gibran Castlehoof from Canterlot. I’m just filling in for Dr. VonHoof while she’s on vacation. The Alicorn explained. “Now our friend here is going to need surgery right away to help him out. But due to the sensitive nature of this surgery I must warn you that the surgery is quite dangerous and he could die. Still he needs it so I’m asking you May I perform this surgery? Fluttershy looked into the deep cerulean eyes of the doctor and said “Y-Y-Yes.” with a nervous grimace. “Honeysuckle!” the Doctor called. A brown earth pony in green scrubs appeared. “Yes doctor?” “I need you to prep the patient in exam room two for immediate surgery stat while I have a few words with the owner.” He said kindly. “You got it Dr. C!” Honeysuckle replied and rushed off into the room. “Now I didn’t get your name with all the commotion of your injured friend.” He said turning to Fluttershy. She nervously pawed at the ground an almost whispered. “I’m F-Fluttershy.” The Veterinarian leaned in to hear her better and smiled warmly. “I promise you Fluttershy I will do my best to save your friend.” Since he was so close Fluttershy could detail the Alicorn. He was younger than Dr. Von Hoof and had a calming aura around him. She also noticed on his flank a mark which was unusual it was a V with a winged caduceus behind it and a snake climbing the caduceus on either side of this symbol were what looked like cat paws on either side. “If you need anything Dr. VonHoof’s secretary should be in soon and she will find me. She will also probably have you fill out some paperwork for the surgery.” He said then rushed back through the double doors into the back. “Ok.” Fluttershy muttered as he left. She sat a moment in the waiting room when the secretary, a much older mare with a grey body and a blonde mane, walked out the same doors that the doctor had disappeared behind. She smiled warmly at Fluttershy and after having her sign some papers asked “Can I get you anything hun?” Fluttershy nodded no and sat worried about the swan for a bit. Her thoughts were in multiple places at once. Who was this strange new Doctor? Was the swan going to be ok in is hoofs? And where was Dr. VonHoof? An hour of pondering passed when the doctor came out of the double doors and called out “Fluttershy!” She followed as he led her to Dr. VonHoof’s office. “I wanted to talk to you first before I let you see your friend.” He said kindly offering her a seat as he sat behind the oak desk. “Is he ok?” Fluttershy asked fearing the worst. The Vet smiled gently and said “He is going to be just fine. However I don’t think he will be ready to go back in the wild just yet. I was wondering if you had a place where he could stay and rest for a few days?” the blue Alicorn asked clicking a pen. “Well I take care of a few animals at my cottage I could keep him where I keep my injured birds till they are ready to go back into the wild.” Fluttershy explained. The vet scribbled down some notes and replied “Excellent! After about 4 days he should be strong enough. Now would you like to see him?” He asked grinning. “Sure!” Fluttershy answered happy that this strange new vet had helped her friend. He led her to an aviary recovery area where several birds with bandages slept in their cages. In a larger cage was the swan the arrow gone and a bandage wrapped around its midsection. The blue Veterinarian smiled and motioned for Fluttershy to come closer. Fluttershy got closer and he opened the cage and removed the bandage. Fluttershy stared in amazement. The deep penetrating wound that had traversed the swan was completely healed. “It’s healed up quite nicely don’t you think?” The veterinarian asked the stunned Pegasus. “How did you do that?” She asked still staring dumbstruck. “Well my magic helped but it wasn’t easy because he lost a lot of blood. He isn’t completely healed though he needs to rest for 4 days for the full recovery to take place.” Dr. Castlehoof explained. “Still that’s impressive.” Fluttershy noted. “Well thank you. You are too kind Fluttershy. He isn’t ready to go home just yet as I need to run a few more tests on him. He should be ready by sometime after 2:00pm if you want to pick him up. The doctor said. “Well Ok.” Fluttershy replied. “Or if you’d like I can bring him to your place when I finish in here sometime after 4:00pm. He added with a wide grin. “Oh no! I couldn’t impose on you like that!” Fluttershy rebutted. “No really Fluttershy. I love making sure that my patients are taken care of. I insist and that way if you need to make any preparations for his coming home then you can do so. The Alicorn replied smiling. “Oh Ok. Dr. Castlehoof if it’s not a bother to you then fine.” She said returning the grin. “See you after four!” The Vet replied. “Will do. Goodbye for now.” Fluttershy said leaving. Hmm that Doctor sure awfully powerful for a Veterinarian. She thought. I wonder if Twilight knows anything about him as he did say he was from Canterlot. Well this gives me a reason to see my amazing mare friend! She thought a little happier and headed off towards the Library to see what her love knew about this amazing Veterinarian. *Author’s Notes*: A new character is introduced! Any comments on him? I will see if you can guess whom he is based on! The plot twist hasn’t come yet but it is coming! Stay tuned and keep reviewing my story! Should have next chapter out soon barring any assorted homework! :)