"Wow, time travel? For real?" Sunset exclaimed, impressed. "Now that's an accomplishment!"
The two girls were sitting on the curb side-by-side, watching the hospital keenly as the staff inside were closing down for the night. Their plan was to wait until the doctor came out so they could ask for their help directly. It wasn't the best plan, but it was all they had left.
Sunset had her arm wrapped around Starlight's shoulders. She hadn't really thought much of it; it was getting chilly out now, and she knew how frustrating that could be without a fur coat to keep you warm.
Starlight however, definitely noticed Sunset's closeness. Definitely. And it made her oddly nervous, in a strange, good sort of way. It was like her stomach was constantly full of… butterflies? Was that it?
And now, when Starlight looked at her... she realized that she thought Sunset was quite beautiful. It was a little odd that the realization came now, when Sunset was in such an unfamiliar form... but Sunset was still very, very pretty, with her fiery streaked wavy hair and her big, cyan eyes... her expressive face. Even her voice was attractive.
Catching herself, Starlight swallowed. "Uh— yeah, it wasn't too hard to alter Starswirl's spell…" Starlight finally replied with a soft little chuckle. "A little re-wording here, a tweak there…"
Starlight then rested her hand on Sunset's knee, and this… Sunset did think about. A lot. Did Starlight… realize that…—
— well, it wasn't any problem. Sunset was truthfully enjoying the touch, and the closeness with Starlight. It was… comforting.
"Y-Yeah…" Sunset murmured. Her thoughts were interrupted as she spotted movement out of the corner of her eye. Her head jerked up and she squinted in the dark. "Starlight, look!"
Out of the hospital's back door stepped a tall man, dressed in scrubs and a long white jacket and tie. A stethoscope hung around his neck.
Nurse Redheart stepped out behind him, and he waved to her as she left. He then bent to lock the door behind him.
"He sure looks like a doctor." Starlight commented in a hushed whisper.
Sunset nodded. "Let's go."
The two girls leapt up, jogging towards the man. He turned his head as he heard them approaching , regarding them with surprise until they stopped in front of him, between him and his car.
"Oh… hello." The man offered the girls a small smile. "We're closed, I'm sorry–"
Sunset nodded, panting. "Yes, we know, Doctor…?"
"Doctor Horse."
Doctor Horse? Seriously..? The parallels to Equestria are really starting to get ridiculous…
"I do realize it's a silly name. I actually prefer Doctor Ryder." The doctor smiled again patiently, adjusting his glasses. "Now what, um… what can I do for you? Do you have a question..?"
"We know someone that needs a doctor's help. Your help. Right now."
Dr. Ryder frowned and cleared his throat. Were these the girls Redheart had told him about a few minutes ago? The girls with — he'd quoted — severe cases of 'lazy-itis?'
Regardless, this was such a bad time… he just wanted to go home after his long day. When he responded, he attempted to keep his tone serious, but not unkind.
"... I don't know if you girls realize this, but this isn't how it's done I'm afraid. If someone needs medical help, they can call and make an appointment themselves, or have someone take them to my office during operating hours. Tell them that, and I'll look forward to seeing them."
Sunset's face grew red, and her fists began to clench in frustration. Starlight noticed this, and she stepped in between the two.
"No, listen to us, Dr. Ryder. There is no way Princess Celestia can call you. There is no way anybody can call you in that world."
"Did you say… Princess Celestia? Did you mean the Principal of Canterlot High?" The doctor squinted. "What world…?"
"There's another Celestia. You see, there's this alternate world — it's where I come from— and it's full of magic and ponies. I'm a pony." Starlight placed a hand on her chest as she spoke. "And the Celestia of that world is, too, and a princess. She's a ruler of Equestria, and she's very sick. Nopony knows what she's sick with, and that's why we need you to come with us through the portal so you can treat her."
"But you have to promise not to tell anybody about the portal." Sunset added, intensely and grimly. "It could put both our worlds off-balance at best, and it would be catastrophic at worst, if a bunch of people decided to try it out."
Dr. Ryder's wide eyes darted back and forth between the two girls, his lips parting.
"Oh… You think we're crazy.. Don't you?"
Dr. Ryder Horse straightened out his jacket, regaining composure. "It would be unprofessional to insult my patients directly… but yes. Or, I think you're pulling some ridiculous prank. If that's the case, you should leave these premises right now."
"It's not a prank! I know it sounds nuts, but can't you just trust us for a second?" Sunset hissed defiantly. "Helping people is your job!"
The tall man bent to Sunset Shimmer's level. His blue eyes flashed dangerously behind his spectacles, his patience at its end.
"Miss. I know my name may be deceiving, but I'm not a vet. If your (oddly-named) equine is sick, you call someone else. And if you're having delusions about some magical world, I can put you in touch with a psychiatrist… otherwise, I can't help you. Now if you'll excuse me…"
Dr. Ryder shouldered past them, fumbling with his keys so he could get into his car and escape this uncomfortable and frankly bizarre situation…
Sunset looked like she was about to blow her top. Starlight began to panic; Sunset's plan was falling apart. Starlight shut her eyes tightly, focusing to cast a spell on him to make him help them…
Oh, right. No horn…
Despite this, when her eyes opened again, her expression hardened with a surge of determination. If she couldn't use magic, she'd use her other talents…
Starlight Glimmer suddenly charged forward, swooping in between the car and the doctor, staring up at the tall man fiercely.
"You listen to me, 'Doc'." Starlight addressed him sternly, shaking a finger in his face. "Your job, your calling, is to treat people in need. How are you going to sleep tonight, knowing you didn't do everything you could to treat someone who was in dire need of your help?"
The doctor jerked away, stuttering, his glasses falling crooked on his face. "I-I…"
Starlight grasped the shivering doctor's tie in her fist, and reached her other hand to gently push his glasses back in place, grinning darkly. Sunset watched this, her jaw nearly dropping to the pavement.
"Are you going to wake up, right now, and do what you know is right? You have a special talent. You're going to cooperate, come with us through the portal, and use it… or you'll know you don't deserve this talent, or the title that comes with it at all. Got it?"
Panting, Dr. Ryder nodded his head after a moment, fear flickering in his eyes.
"So it's a yes, then?" Starlight asked, raising her eyebrow as she stared intensely into the doctor's soul.
"Y-...Yes…" He replied, slowly.
"Great!" Starlight grinned, suddenly peppy and cheerful, gently prying the car keys out of his stunned, frozen fingers. "Let's get started then. I'll unlock the hospital for you so you can grab everything you need, and then we'll head out! You can have these back…" She jingled the keys in the air, smiling more. "... when you're done."
Sunset stared at Starlight as she unlocked the back door to the hospital and Dr. Ryder disappeared inside hurriedly.
"Whoa, Starlight…" Sunset whispered incredulously as she approached her friend. "That was… incredible. He was a complete mess when you were done with him!"
"I was pretty great, huh?" Starlight grinned with smug pride, tossing the keys up into the air and catching them.
"Yeah. You… really have a way with words."
"Well, in order to convince a whole town to give up their cutie marks and adopt my philosophy… I kinda had to." Starlight admitted, as she walked behind Sunset to drop the doctor's keys in her backpack. "Spells aren't everything."
"I'm really glad you came." Sunset said, softly and genuinely. "I don't think I would have handled that as well as you did. I probably would have just… blown up on him. So… thank you."
Starlight's heart skipped a beat, and she was glad she was behind Sunset or she would have seen her blush. "I'm glad to be here," Starlight replied just as softly. "Really."
The band of three walked for a long time from the hospital to Canterlot High… about twenty minutes. They probably should have let Dr. Ryder take his car to the school, but what if he'd driven them straight to the police station? At least they had their doctor now, a lot sooner than Monday. They were making good time.
They were all tired once they'd finally arrived, but Dr. Ryder had it the worst. He was lugging with him a heavy, wheeled case packed full of battery-powered medical equipment and medicines.
I wonder what my wife is going to think of all this… The doctor wondered miserably, as he strained to drag the case, then stopped with Sunset and Starlight in front of the Wondercolts statue.
"You ready?" Sunset asked him with a half-smile.
Dr. Ryder wiped sweat from his brow, and groaned out his answer. "I'm really not…"
"Great, you can go first!" Starlight gestured to the Wondercolts statue with an encouraging smile.
Dr. Ryder sighed comically loudly, as he stared at the polished marble. "What, I'm supposed to walk into that?"
Sunset came up beside him and placed a hand on the exasperated man's shoulder. "You're doing the right thing. We'll be right behind you. And we'll help you any way you need."
"Yeah, you've got this." Starlight asserted.
Dr. Ryder sighed again, and nodded. He had no idea what to expect; he still didn't really believe any of this was real. But he sucked in a breath and straightened his posture, and took brave, charging steps to the portal as the girls cheered him on.
Once he'd completely passed through, Sunset turned to Starlight and took her hand.
"Together this time?"
Starlight smiled softly at Sunset, hyper-aware of this touch, the feeling of their fingers warmly intertwining.
"Together."