He is Us!
“Doctor Hoofson. What in Equestria do you mean by that?! How can this be?” Celestia asked.
“I must concur with my colleague.” Doctor Trotter agreed stepping forward.
“It is as I have said your highness. He is us, but down a different evolutionary path, if you will. Although he is a meat eater, his body shares many of the same traits us ponies do. His dietary needs may differ somewhat from us only slightly, but most of what we can eat, he can eat as well. He has some semblance of fur on his body. His skin is not as tough as pony hide yet his skin is more pliable than ours and seems to heal up much faster. His blood type is very similar to ours otherwise the blood transfusion more than likely would not have worked. His thinking and reasoning skills, communication abilities, bone density, and even the hard surfaces on the end of his snakey like hooves / claws is similar in composition and make up as our hooves are.” The doctor said.
“But he doesn’t have magic.” Celestia said. “He never showed any signs of magical skill when he was around us. Even earth ponies have their magical ties to the land. It is a well-known fact that life cannot exist here without magic.”
“Very true your highness, very true, but that scientific fact now seems to be in error given the irrefutable fact of his mere existence! His kind are extremely adaptable and remember, he is not from here, and his kind apparently dont need magic.” Doctor Hoofson said. “The appendages at the end of his forelegs are very dexterous and he is able to manipulate tools and materials to build whatever it is his kind need. We need magic to survive. We can’t build or manipulate anything, really, without magic as an aid. Without magic we are little more than common dumb animals." Then turning, he asked Princess Luna, “When you talked to him at your old castle did you see him holding anything in his unusual fore hooves?”
“Yes doctor. He fought off several Diamond Dogs holding a sword in them. I witnessed it with my own eyes! He was even using the sword in defense against me.” Luna said.
“It is as I suspected.” Doctor Hoofson said.
Celestia then spoke aloud in thought. “That would explain the detail he put in those drawings he drew when he first faked his death.”
Luna frowned at the thought of what he had drawn about her.
“This human is absolutely amazing! We could make a career out of him for the rest of our lives and beyond! Just think of what he might be able to teach us!” the doctor said excitedly. His world must be absolutely incredible!"
“I now see why you wanted to consult with us before revealing his existence.” Celestia spoke. “A discovery such as this could start a panic amongst out subjects. Some would accept him, some would try to exploit him for gain…”
“Mostly the nobles.” Luna mumbled under her breath.
“What was that sister?” Celestia asked.
“Nothing sister.” Luna did however notice the smirk on Celestias muzzle and knew that she had heard her retort and more than likely agreed with her.
“And there may be more zealous ones that see him as some kind of abomination and as an offence to their gods and thus needs to be done away with before he can corrupt anypony.”
“There is one other thing I must bring up your majesties.” Doctor Hoofson said.
“What is that doctor?” Luna asked with concern in her voice.
“I do not wish to overstep my bounds, but given what I have just suggested, I fear that once the other races of Equestria find out about his existence, provided word hasn’t already gotten out, that he may be a prime target for potential pony nappings from outside forces. Possibly even used as a hostage or bargaining chip against your majesties.”
“Your insight serves you well doctor. You do have a very valid point there.” Celestia said as she put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Luna, what do you say to posting guards outside his door until he awakens?”
“I agree sister. I will even assign a detatchment from my Lunar Guards to watch over him by night. Also the spells and wards of protection I cast around him from when he was living in our old castle are still in effect. I will know if there is any sort of danger to him should they be breached.” Luna answered.
“A wise precaution your highness’.” The doctor spoke. If there is nothing more to be discussed, I think we should look in on our patient again.”
All present walked out of the office door with Doctor Hoofson leaving last and closing the door behind him. It was just a short trot down the hall back to Alexs room.
Quietly they walked into the room to look one last time at his sleeping form before returning to the castle. Doctor Hoofson stepped back and let the princesses say their farewells. Celestia and Luna whispered once again their heartfelt apologies for his mistreatment by them as each caressed his face and torso with a soft wing. Luna lingered a bit longer and whispered in his ear “Please come back to us Alex, you no longer need to fear us. Sarah is here for you and will always be.” She placed a soft kiss on his forehead and stepped away, turning and looking one last time over her shoulder as she did so, and walked out the door where her sister and the good doctor were patiently waiting. As she turned away, she failed to notice that a smile formed on his face as he let out a deep sigh of contentment. “Doctor Hoofson, would you please continue to monitor his recovery and notify us of any changes in his status?” “Yes your highnesses I will.” Was the doctors reply.
Nurse Redheart only remained. She would watch over the human as if he was her own foal. If any intruders were able to get past the guards that would shortly be stationed outside his door, they would have to deal with her and Celestia and Luna help any of them if any dared try!
-*-
As Luna and Celestia flew home, neither spoke. Both were deep in thought about what had been revealed to them by both Doctors Hoofson and Trotter concerning Alex and the possible outside dangers he might be in should his existence be revealed before they were ready to officially present him to their subjects and consequently the whole of Equestria.
One set of gold and one set of silver shod hooves lightly set down on the balcony leading to Canterlot Castles throne room. Ebon and ivory wings folded as the two ruling sisters crossed the threshold into the throne room proper.
Luna was first to break the silence between them. “Celestia, sister, I feel it is necessary to prepare and provide a room for Alex and bring him here to the castle and as close to one of us if not both to keep him as safe as soon as possible. He is a truly unique pony and I fear the good doctors words of warning may be more accurate that we may realize.”
“I too, feel that way as well Luna. He has gone through way too much at our hooves. He didn’t deserve what we did to him and what he has gone through with his battle with the diamond dogs nearly cost him his life.
“He won’t have to worry about them any more if anything,” Luna responded rather darkly. “I fear that he will be more afraid of us and our world than ever before.” As the two sisters ascended the stairs to their respective thrones.
Before Celestia could say anything Luna turned towards the doors at the other end of the room and called out, “GUARDS!”
Within a moment, the two solar guards standing outside the big double doors entered and bowed.
Celestia then spoke. “Please send for the captain of the guard.”
“Yes your highnesses. Right away.”
One of the guards ran off while the other remained and within moments again, there was a flash in the throne room proper and there stood Shining Armor who bowed and then rose to an upright position asking “Your highnesses sent for me?”
“Yes, Shining Armor. We have a special assignment we need your assistance on.” Luna said. Celestia continued…”We need two of your best guards to go to Canterlot Hospital, along with two of Lunas Lunar guards, to protect the pony in room 710 day and night. He is a very rare creature and the only one of his kind. There is the possibility there may attempted foalnappings of him…. Or worse. As of this moment he is under the crowns protection!” Celestia summoned a blank parchment and an ink well. She quickly wrote down her decree and signed it passing the parchment to Princes Luna who also signed the royal document.
Luna then spoke. “See that nothing happens to him. Notify us of any change in his condition and do not interfere with the hospital staff in their duties of his care.”
“I understand your highnesses. It will be done within the hour.” Was his reply with another quick bow he turned and went out the throne room doors.
-*-
12:04 am. Nurse Redheart stepped quietly into room 710 to make sure her charge was doing ok. Alexs vitals had remained stable for some time now and it was looking like he was out of any medical danger. Doctor Hoofson quietly walked into the room and in hushed whispers talked to Readheart about Alexs current condition.
“….Good. That is indeed good to hear. I think we can safely move him into recovery now. Shall we see to it nurse?” “Yes Doctor.” Redheart replied with a smile.
Carefully and professionally they disconnected Alex from the medical machinery and wheeled him out the door to his room and down to his new room in the recovery ward. Room number 25. Nurse Redheart was happy about this because it was much nearer to her work station. It would be much easier for her to keep an eye on Alex and respond should anything arise. After a quick check of all the medical equipment to make sure it was functioning properly, she drew the partition curtain across separating him from the recovering pegasus stallion in the same room. Once complete, she looked at the slow rising and falling of his chest as he continued his breathing then turned quietly and walked out of the door and to her work station just a few rooms down the hall.
No sooner was she at her desk than two solar guards ponies arrived and presented their orders to Nurse Redheart.
“Ah yes. We were told of your coming. He is no longer in room 710. He is in recovery room 25. It’s just down the hall there on your right.” She said pointing a hoof in the direction of his new location. I was just penning a message to their highnesses about his new location and current status.
“Thank you nurse. Also two of Princess Lunas Lunar Guard will be here during the night. Their orders are the same.” They said with a short bow and went down the hallway to their assigned post.