//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Her Life, In a Pan // by ThatGirl2147 //------------------------------// The hallway was still: quiet, with nary a pony in sight. Pan Sear drew a sigh of relief as he trotted to his apartment door. He had bandages covering most of his chest, and was told to keep them on for several more days. He produced a key from his saddlebag and unlocked his door. He opened the wooden door slowly with a creak, and was caught completely off guard by the inside. “Surprise! Welcome home, Pan!” shouted four ponies in unison as the green stallion opened the door. Pan drew back quickly in shock. After a second, he regained his composure and entered his apartment with a smile. “Hey, Everypony,” said he joyously. “Isn’t just visiting me enough?” Everypony shook their heads. “Nope,” said Berry, “what fun would that be?” “Plus,” added Citrus Sweet, the only other stallion in the room, “I wouldn’t have gotten to make all these treats if there was no party.” He motioned with a hoof to Pan’s dinner table, which was filled with all manner of dessert and pastry made by the yellow confectioner. “And I wouldn’t get to do this!” Midnight Blue slid a record from it’s cardboard case into Pan’s turntable, and dropped the needle on it. “Fillies and Gentlecolt,” announced she with gusto, “may I present the opening act of CanterRock!” With that, “Start Me Up,” a Classic Rock anthem, began to play. Everypony danced to the music, and then sat down to have some of Sweet’s pastries. “Allow me.” The yellow stallion took the liberty of slicing everypony a piece of orange torte. “Thanks, Sweetie,” said Daisy as she brushed the yellow stallion’s face with a hoof. She then took her place beside him. Midnight rolled her eyes. “Oh, quit beating about the bush and marry each other already!” Everypony shared a laugh at the remark, and then they began to gather about the table. The ponies savoured the delicacy with each bite. “Ow!” exclaimed Daisy as she felt herself bite what she thought was a piece of metal. Her horn began to glow, as did the foreign object in the torte’s orange filling. She licked off the jam and gasped at what she saw. She beheld an intricately crafted white golden ring adorned with a diamond flanked by two deep blue sapphire stones. “Well, look at that,” remarked Sweet, feign surprise in his tone. “Isn’t that convenient? I was just about to ask you something, Daisy.” The lavender mare’s face grew a deep crimson blush as she covered her mouth with a hoof. “Ci.. Citrus,” stammered she, at a loss for words, “of course I will!” The three other ponies applauded the scene, and a giggle emanated from Midnight’s blue muzzle. “I knew it!” exclaimed she once the applause ceased. “I called it right here and right now.” Sweet nodded. “That you did, Blue,” agreed he, genuinely impressed by the prediction. As the ponies enjoyed more of Citrus Sweet’s desserts and listened to music, a knock at the door interrupted the festivities. “Hmm, who could that be?” mused Pan as he trotted to his door and opened it. In the entrance to Pan’s apartment stood a white Pegasus Stallion. He wore shining golden armour and his ice blue eyes were expressionless. “I’ve been sent here for the one they call Pan Sear,” said he in an authoritative monotone. “Umm,” stammered Pan, “that’s me, Sir.” “Don’t call me ‘Sir;’ I’m a sergeant,” ordered the stallion, the line sounding rehearsed. Pan nodded nervously. “Right,” agreed he. “So, Sergeant, what do you want with me?” “Yeah,” added Midnight as she stepped to her friend’s side, “is there a problem?” The mare stood as tall as she could before the guard, but he didn’t flinch or falter. The sergeant blinked. “I mean your friend no harm, Miss; stand down.” At the guard’s order, Midnight relaxed, but still stood firm. “Fine; but, why are you here, anyway?” Without missing a beat, the Royal Guard explained, “I was sent here by Her Highness, Princess Celestia, to fetch your green friend and escort him to Canterlot.” “Well what for?” asked the blue mare, not satisfied with the answer. “Sorry, Ma’am,” replied the white guard, “Need to Know Basis only.” Pan put a hoof on his friend’s shoulder. “Relax, Blue,” urged he, sincerity in his tone as he assured her, “I’ll be fine.” With that, he trotted to the stallion’s side. As he closed the door, the stallion said to the four ponies, “Pan will return in exactly four weeks’ time; you will be able to visit in three. We’ve sent word to his employer, and the absence will be a paid vacation.” The pair trotted through the apartment building in silence. They exited the building where the guard led Pan to Fillydelphia’s Central Train Station, where an intricately deigned train waited. The interior of the car the pair entered was just as brilliant as the exterior, complete with a couple tables and sofas. They sat down and rode in silence, until Pan spoke after about an hour. “So,” began he nervously, “why is it that I’m wanted in Canterlot, Sergeant?” The guard shrugged. “I said ‘Need to Know Basis’ because I myself am not sure.” He sounded to have abandoned his official tone, and spoke laxly. “All I was told was to scoop you up and get you on this train.” “I see.” The green stallion felt uncomfortable at the uncertainty, but shrugged it off as he sparked a conversation with the guard. “So, began he, “what’s it like, being a Royal Guard.” A few hours later, the train came to a stop in Canterlot’s Train Station. The two stallions stepped out into the station, and were greeted by two more Royal Guards: one a unicorn and the other and Earth Stallion. “We’ll take him from here, Sergeant,” said the Unicorn Stallion as he and his comrade trotted towards Pan. The pegasus nodded. “Thank you, Lieutenant,” replied he as he was dismissed. The trio then walked casually out of the station and through the lush capital city. “Where exactly is it you two are taking me?” asked Pan impatiently. “The sergeant didn’t know; do either of you?” The unicorn nodded. “We’re escorting you to Canterlot’s International Hospital,” answered he nonchalantly. “There, the Princess will be waiting.” Pan’s eyes widened at the mention of the Princess. “Umm,” stammered he, “why is she waiting for me? What does she want?” “I don’t know,” replied the guard, honesty leaking in his monotone. “She said it’s a matter to be discussed with you and you alone.” After nearly an hour, the trio arrived at Canterlot’s massive hospital. The building’s inside and outside shone with pearly brilliance for which the city is renowned. At the reception desk of the lobby stood a pink Unicorn Mare with a faded green mane, tied in a bun and covered by a nurse’s tiara. “Good day, Sirs,” greeted she cheerfully. “I take it you know where to go?” Both guards nodded, and led the green stallion through the winding corridors of the building. They were greeted happily by every passerby, staff and patient alike. They then boarded a lift to the top floor, where they bade Pan go into a room marked by a golden sun motif. Pan rubbed his eyes with a hoof to confirm what he saw: Princess Celestia herself stood before him, flanked by three Unicorns in white lab coats. He bowed respectfully when he was certain of what he saw. “Rise, My Little Pony,” ordered the Princess, her tone firm but calming. “Now, I’m sure you are wondering why you’re here, right?” As Pan rose, he replied, “that’s an understatement, Your Highness. Nopony told me anything useful. Might I ask just why I’m here?” The Princess nodded. “Of course you may ask. You are here because you suffer from a very rare psychological condition.” The green stallion raised an inquisitive brow. “How did you know about that, Your Highness?” With a giggle, the Princess answered, “your Princess has her ways, Pan Sear. Now, you’re here before these, the three most skilled doctors in Equestria, because of a recent breakthrough in the field of Transgender Medicine. Do explain, Doctor Stitch.” With that, she stepped back to make way for the aforementioned stallion. “Thank you, Your Highness,” said the doctor humbly as he stepped forward. “You see, our greatest medical researchers work hoof-in-hoof with Equestria’s greatest mages. Up until recently, the reshaping of a pony’s physical form and anatomy was but a theory. Until, that is, the mages concocted a long-forgotten spell to do just that. We’ve tested it on various accident victims with tremendous results. Last month, a psychologist theorised that use of the spell could be extended to psychological issues, namely Transgenderism.” Pan nodded at the lecture of an explanation, having understood most of it. “So,” wondered he aloud, “why did you find me?” “We didn’t have to,” answered the Princess. “Yesterday, a doctor gave a small presentation about general medicine in this very hospital. I was observing when the topic was discussed, and so after the presentation, I asked the doctor if he knew of anypony suffering from that condition.” “Well who told them?” Pan grew more and more confused at each word. “It is unknown, even to me,” replied the Princess honestly. “Now, this procedure has only been on paper until today. It will reshape every bone and particle in your body into that of a female.” “You will have to be unconscious for several days while the spell slowly works,” added Doctor Stitch. “if we did it any quicker, each and every bone in your body would shatter from the rapid morphing, and certainly be fatal.” When Pan nervously swallowed a bit of air, the doctor continued, “but not to worry; the process will be slow enough so as not to do that.” The Princess nodded. “And, it can thus far only be conceivably done on Earth Ponies. If you had the hollow, thin bones of a Pegasus, we couldn’t do this; if you had the arcane resistance of a Unicorn, the slow reshaping of your body would reverse itself and we couldn’t do this. Your thick, strong bones and lack of magical resistance make you perfect to undergo this process. Will you accept our offer in the name of Medicine and Magic?” Pan began to feel lightheaded. “I can’t believe this,” thought he to himself, “this can’t actually be happening.” He then looked to the Princess and said, “this sounds too good to be true, Your Highness.” “Maybe it is,” replied she. “If you do not wish to subject yourself to the experimental procedure, we will not force you.” “I never said that, Your Highness,” said the green stallion, “I just have to think some more. On one hoof, my Transgenderism could be solved; but on the other hoof, there’s a risk I could die in the process.” The Princess craned her neck so her head was mere centimetres from Pan’s. “Is that a risk you’re willing to take, My Little Pony?” Her tone was soft, and she was genuinely concerned for the green stallion. Pan took a deep breath and, as he exhaled, said only one word. “Yes.” The three doctors and the Princess nodded. “Very well, then,” said Stitch. “Now, if you would, please lie down on the bed, and we can begin.” The stallion nodded and complied. He saw a faint magenta shadow encase his form, and he felt drowsy. Then, his vision faded to inky blackness.