//------------------------------// // Ocellus and Smolder's Ambulance Tour // Story: Six Discoveries // by Wiz Ahmad //------------------------------// “What kind of a tangle did you get yourself into?” Nurse Redheart asked as she pulled the twentieth wood shard and leaf litter fragment out of Silverstream’s soft feathery fur. “I was trying to balance on Spinner, my bike,” Silverstream replied flatly. “My wings… I tried using them to assist my central position but once I got moving well it was so much fun! Getting around corners was a bit of a challenge, but with my wings I was able to balance while turning fairly well. But I forgot about those big trees that often grow on trail corners and… whack! Hit ‘em hard. It’s one of those moments where you’re so caught up in having fun that you only feel the pain afterwards.” Nurse Redheart nodded and applied some antiseptic, then pulled out a roll of gauze with some padding. With some careful looping she wrapped it around the hippogriff’s right wing and secured it with an applicator liquid. Finally, she handed her some pills and a glass of water. “These will help with the soreness, as well as help you relax. You may feel a little drowsy, but it’ll be worth it.” Silverstream sighed and popped them into her mouth, swirling them down with a few swigs of water. As she let the pills slide down her throat, a little smile played across her lips. “Would you like to come to watch Ocellus? I’m sure you’d be interested in what she found.” In front of the school’s front path, Twilight Sparkle and her friends stood in awe at the tall, light-covered machine that towered before them, while Ocellus and Smolder took the stage together. “Thanks for taking the time to come out here,” Ocellus thanked everyone, morphing into a dragon similar to Smolder. “Sorry about the sudden physical change, I need hands and fingers to operate practically everything.” Pinkie bit back a snigger. It was rather awkward hearing the soft, upbeat voice of a young changeling through the mouth of a bipedal dragon. Having left her skateboard just inside the front entrance, Smolder began first, now able to use both hands to gesture. “For a long time, ponies have had to be exposed on a flat-top cart when they get hurt. But those days are over. Meet Ocellus’s find. This is a Ford E-450 Horton Type Three Ambulance. Complicated name, I know. Its features are literally endless, though Ocellus and I will walk you through some of the major components.” Holding the key in her hand, Ocellus unlocked the driver door and pulled it open. “This is where the driver sits. Like on a parade float, there’s a steering wheel and also some gauges that read out several bits of information. A passenger can also sit on the other side.” “Cool!” Twilight Sparkle beamed, standing up to look inside. “And so many buttons and switches!” “Indeed, Twilight. Even I do not know all of their functions, but I know some.  This one turns on the sirens, this one the horns, and several others control the lights you saw on the exterior. You can set the lights to be on, or make them flash and control how fast and how long they flash.” “This is amazing! Can I sit on the other side?” “Sure, Twilight!” Ocellus smiled down at Twilight, who was looking more like an eager filly than a formal school headmare. Stepping out, she tossed another set of keys to Smolder, who perfectly caught it in mid-air. Walking around to the other side, Ocellus unlocked the passenger door. Twilight eagerly opened it and hopped into the seat, her eyes all tense with joy and excitement as Ocellus returned to the driver’s side. While the two chatted, Smolder showcased the exterior of the ambulance to the others, who also were showing keen interest - especially Fluttershy and Nurse Redheart  (who had come out to join the group on Silverstream’s suggestion). “This is where you store extra items - like refills or grab bags,” she explained, opening up a side compartment. “All the lights are clear - get out of the way!” “Coming around the back, we have a set of double doors, which open straight away, though for now they’re locked.” Smolder turned a key and pulled them open. “And voila! Tucked in the back is a little miniature hospital, with everything you need to assist a seriously injured patient. The stretcher folds out, and there’s also a heart monitor and an IV stand. You’ve got benches with straps to hold everyone down and there’s straps on the stretcher too. All the cabinets you need for storing medicines, and there’s even a blood pressure monitor and a quick-access defibrillator.” Smolder pointed to the ceiling. “And don’t forget the bright LED lights so you can clearly see everything!” “I… I just don’t know what to say,” Fluttershy smiled, almost in tears. “This would be perfect for all the animals at Dr. Fauna’s clinic!” “And the ponies that need attention before they arrive at the Ponyville hospital,” Nurse Redheart added, also beaming with joy. “So that’s the gist of it, fillies and gentlecolts,” Smolder casually shrugged, smiling. “Has Ocellus found the best foreign object in Equestria or what?” Just then a loud chugging sound could be heard and a metal pipe under the chassis shook a little, causing many to jump back a little in shock. “What was that?” Rarity shrieked. “Oh calm your nerves, Rares,” Smolder chuckled. “That’s the engine that powers this thing. It’s a turbo diesel - no idea what that means, but it does run on refined vegetable oil, according to what  Ocellus said she read. So yeah, when it runs low, we have plenty of that available around here.” “All those restaurants in Canterlot - imagine how much they could save from all that oil they throw away!” Rarity gasped, realizing what the little dragon meant. “How fast does it go?” Rainbow Dash inquired. “Ocellus said it can go about 85 miles per hour, but typically is driven around 50,” Smolder replied, sitting down on the back bumper step. She caught Fluttershy’s eye, then Rarity’s and Nurse Redheart’s. “Why don’t you three come up inside here and explore? I’ll see if I can coax those two eggheads out of their seats so we can have a quick formal discussion about what to do with this ambulance and how to use it, ‘cause we all know it has great benefits for everyone.” Fluttershy and Nurse Redheart stepped up into the back of the ambulance and began investigating the various items, while Smolder flew around to the front and glared through the windscreen. “Hello? You done in there yet?” she hollered, tapping on the windscreen with her claw. Twilight’s head jolted up from looking at a book. “Oh, yes, Smolder. We’ll be out in a minute to talk.” Smolder nodded and sat down to let the two finish. A good ten minutes later, Twilight teleported out, and returned from her office with a paper and Gallus’s pen. Ocellus stepped out of the ambulance and morphed back into her changeling form. The others gathered around and all sat down before Twilight. “It is very clear that Ocellus has found the largest and most valuable object out of all of you students. Given its abilities and purpose, it should not remain at the school but rather be used by other ponies across Equestria. I will be developing a systematic method of rotational usage, so that Ponyville can use it, as well as Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, Baltimare, and so on. However, Ocellus remains its original owner. If she wishes to, she can be an ambulance driver on the weekends, and also during important events.” “Like if a threat were to attack Canterlot and members of the Royal Guard were to be severely injured, she’d be there with nurses in ten seconds flat!” Gallus remarked. “Exactly,” Twilight replied, handing over the paper to Ocellus, who wrote up a quick signature, then handed back the paper. “By the law of Equestria, the ambulance now officially and legally belongs to Ocellus!” Twilight’s friends, Nurse Redheart, and the students all cheered. “If yah wish, I can get a barn built by the school here to store it in,” Applejack offered. “Thanks, Applejack,” Ocellus replied, giving her a comforting hug. “I really appreciate it.”