Lost and Blind
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Chapter 3: Prognosis.
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Getting Jonathan out of the cart proved to be far simpler than getting him into it. Back on the road, she had to shift her belongings around so that he could have a spot to sit. It had been interesting to see something that tall almost curl up into a ball. Thankfully all he needed to get out of the cart was just an assurance that nothing was in his way.
The hospital ponies were not sure what to make of her hew-min friend. Some seemed concerned, others frightened though Pinkie wasn’t sure why. She could have sworn that she heard somepony mention that the vet was down the street, but she didn’t see how that was connected.
With the hew-min’s hand on her back, Pinkie slowly guided him through the sliding doors to the reception desk.
“Um… can I help you?” Said the elderly mare who seemed to shrink back away from the large creature beside Pinkie.
“My friend Janathin hurt his eyes and he says he can’t see.” Pinkie blurted out, “Which way to the doctor’s office?”
In truth Pinkie had never been to a hospital, but she had been to a library once. She figured they operated with similar rules. If she asked politely she’d be directed toward the doctor that saw all the the patients in this hospital.
The gray haired mare looked at Pinkie, “Um, well, the optometrist is on the second floor. But miss I don’t know if he’ll accept your… uh...”
“Janathin’s a hew-min. You probably know all about them.” Pinkie said casually, “I know he’s a little dirty but don’t worry. I’ll sweep up if any of that dry mud comes off. Thanks for everything!”
With their destination known, Pinkie left the confused receptionist with Jonathan barely able to keep up as she led him down the hall toward the stairway.
“Pinkie, is everyone around me a pony too?” Jonathan asked.
“Yupperoni.” Pinkie answered, “I don’t see any hew-mins but maybe ponies get hurt more often here than hew-mins.”
Jonathan let out a tired groan, “I have no idea what’s going on…”
“That’s just silly,” Pinkie playfully scoffed, “We’re in a hospital and you’re going to get your eyes fixed. You know that!”
Jonathan sighed, “That’s not what I-”
“Whoop, careful, steps ahoy.” Pinkie warned as she took the first step.
Jonathan paused, then let out a sigh of resignation as he felt along the wall, taking hold of the safety rail that ran along the steps. He frowned, though Pinkie didn’t understand why.
She watched as he raised his foot, almost standing on one leg as he promptly brought it down and lost his balance. He would have fallen face first on the steps if Pinkie hadn’t rushed forward and caught him.
“Oh my Celestia, are you okay? What happened?” Pinkie asked, not sure what could have caused him to fall over like that since she had seen him walk so confidently on two legs before.
Jonathan brushed off her question and stood back up, then began to trace the height and length of the step with his not-hoof. Pinkie hadn’t gotten a good look at it before, but it looked almost nothing like the ones on his forelegs.
Once he was done with his examination he said, “The steps, they’re so… short.”
Pinkie looked at the steps. They looked about the same as they had back on the farm.
“Are stairs different in Coal-bumpus?” Pinkie asked, a little confused by his statement.
He sighed and shook his head, brushing off her question as he slowly began to feel his way up the stairs with Pinkie by his side. The entire trip to the second floor Pinkie shadowed him closely, fearful that her friend may fall again.
It was slow, but soon the pair were on the second floor. With his hand back on her withers, Pinkie began to lead him around the hospital, but despite her best efforts she could not find the door marked ‘eye doctor.’ When Jonathan told her that the weird word the receptionist used actually meant a doctor who specializes in eyes, Pinkie quietly tried to claim that she knew that and was testing him.
After that, it was easy to find the right office. Again, Pinkie watched as ponies gave Jonathan strange looks as she sat with him, waiting their turn. She couldn’t blame them, he was quite tall, and he did look kinda funny. Maybe they were impressed at how he could walk so far on his hind-legs too. He had walked up all those stairs on them, that’s something even Pinkie couldn’t do.
The door next to the receptionist opened, dragging everypony’s attention away from the tall, filthy creature in the room. The doctor quickly zeroed in on Pinkie and her friend, losing the bored look he had worn upon entering.
“Um, ‘Jana-thin?” He announced after re-reading the name on his clipboard.
Jonathan rose, and Pinkie helped to lead him over to the doctor who seemed to recoil a little at his approach.
The doctor glanced at Pinkie, “Um, ma’am, you’re going to have to wait out here.”
Pinkie winced, “But… he needs somepony to help him get around.”
“I’ll be okay Pinkie,” Jonathan said, causing the doctor to flinch in surprise, “... Thanks for getting me here.”
Even though he couldn’t see it, Pinkie grinned brightly up at him. “No problem, I’ll be right out here. When your eyes are all better we’ll go to Sugar Cube Corner and see about getting you home!”
He raised an eyebrow but raised a hand to begin following the wall and the sound of the doctor’s hooves. Pinkie noted how the doctor was keeping his distance from the hew-min before the door closed.
She tilted her head in confusion, why wouldn’t the doctor lead him like she did? Was it because he didn’t want to get mud on his white coat? It was the nicest reason Pinkie could think of, and Pinkie didn’t like it.
Now alone, Pinkie resigned herself to the waiting room chair with only the ticking clock for company.
Time passed slowly for Pinkie. She quickly flipped through every outdated magazine in the rack, learned the receptionist’s name was Sticky Note, and counted the ceiling tiles and the clock had only moved a few scant minutes.
Pinkie sank into her chair, feeling like this was going to take forever.
Her wait in this endless purgatory took a drastic change when the door to the office burst open, and a short, pudgy mare with a soft, twisty mane stepped inside, looking quite out of breath. The receptionist eyed her with concern, but the mare quickly her attention to Pinkie.
“Pinkie?” The mare sputtered in between gulps of air, “What’s… how’d you hurt yourself?”
Pinkie blinked, suddenly realizing this was her older cousin, Cup Cake. The co-owner of the bakery she was going to be apprenticing under. It looked like Derpy had delivered her note, but she didn’t have to rush all this way…
“I’m not hurt,” Pinke stood from her chair and rose on her hind legs and waggled her everything, “See? I’m perfectly fine.”
Cup Cake’s eyes narrowed, “Pinkie, your note only said it was an emergency and that you had to go directly to Ponyville general, and you’d come to the bakery as soon as you could.”
Pinkie sank back to all fours, lowering her head a little as Mrs. Cake continued to stare disapprovingly. Ironically, even like this Pinkie was still about eye-level with the short mare.
But despite all her bluster, Cup Cake’s anger slowly gave way to relief, “I thought you had managed to hurt yourself on the way to Ponyville. Next time, please think ahead of how others may take a message like that.”
Pinkie nodded, “You’re right, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“Apology accepted, now, who did you meet that needed to come here of all places?” Cup Cake asked, glancing back at the door which was clearly marked ‘optometrist.’
“Oh, that’s my new friend Janathin,” Pinkie said, “He hurt his eyes somehow and I brought him here to get him all fixed up.”
Cup Cake smiled, “Well, maybe getting somepony who needed medical attention is enough of an excuse for scaring me and Carrot half to death.”
Now it was Pinkie’s turn to feel relieved, since it seemed like she was off the hook for writing that poorly planned note
“Can’t say I’ve met anypony with that name before, though.” Cup Cake said, “He’s not from Ponyville, I take it?”
Pinkie shook her head, “Nope, he’s from Coal-bumpus.”
Cup Cake raised an eyebrow, “That…doesn’t sound like anyplace I’ve ever heard of.”
Pinkie shrugged, “I haven’t either, but it doesn’t matter. I’m sure somepony knows. When he gets out I’m gonna help him find out where it is and help him find a train that goes there.”
Cup Cake smiled, “You’re a good filly, Pinkie. How long ago has your friend-”
The doorknob jerked, halting Cup Cake’s question as the door slowly swung open. The sight of the tall creature caused Cup Cake’s mouth to fall open. With a name like ‘Janathin’ she had expected a Gryphon or perhaps a Minotuar but what she saw didn’t fit any normal creature she was familiar with.
Pinkie however wasn’t focusing on that. She was more focused on the bandages wrapped around Jonathan’s face, covering his eyes. Maybe the doctor had some sort of special medicine in his eyes… but if he was all better, why was the doctor patting him on the leg and looking so… forlorn?
“Ms. Pie?” The optometrist pony asked, beckoning her to come closer.
After a quick glance at Mrs. Cake, Pinkie did as asked.
“He… wanted me to tell you what we found out.” The doctor said somberly.
Pinkie however, refused to give up hope, “That… he’s going to be better in a few days?”
The doctor gave her an awkward look.
“Weeks?” Pinkie asked.
The doctor shook his head.
“A month?” Pinkie begged.
“Ms. Pie,” The doctor said, seeking to end this sad display now, “I’m afraid he’ll never regain his sight.”
Pinkie stood there. She blinked her eyes, then rubbed her ears. She made a few sounds with her mouth that had the adults in the room question her maturity before looking back at the doctor.
“Um… I may have had something in my ear. Could you repeat that?” Pinkie asked.
The doctor sighed, being an optometrist didn’t normally give him problem patients or emotional moments like this, but he supposed every medical professional would have a few times like this throughout their career.
“Ms. Pie, it’s admirable you’re trying to be so positive but his sight is not going to return.” The doctor said, “His corneas have suffered trauma like I’ve never seen before. The damage is near total, and without some kind of miracle there’s nothing that can be done. I’m sorry.”
For Pinkie, it was like somepony had kicked her right in the gut. Doctors were supposed to cure ponies, they always could. That’s what she had believed wholeheartedly ever since she saw them mend her sister’s leg and hoof. Yet here… there was something that they couldn’t fix?
“Dear, why don’t we take your friend to Sugar Cube Corner?” Cup Cake offered, “You can tell me what happened along the way.”
Pinkie nodded, trotting over to touch Jonathan’s leg with hers.
“Are you okay?” She asked, afraid he may say no.
“Let’s… just go.” He whispered.
Pinkie’s ears folded back, and quietly began to lead him to the door. As they left the optometrist Pinkie vowed that once they got the Sugar Cube Corner she would let him hug her for as long as he wanted.
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To be continued…
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