//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Arrival of Song // Story: Doctor Song M.D.: Pony Surgeon // by Doctor Song MD //------------------------------// Finally, the day that Doctor Song is able to move to a quiet town like Ponyville. There are just too many patients in the Canterlot ER, and too many surgeons who wish to practice there. It seems like years have gone by since she has been able to get a good night's sleep. Being an emergency room doctor is a stressful job. Doctor Song speculates that if she stays in Canterlot any longer, her mane will start turning grey. As a doctor, she knows full well the complications of stress and sleep deprivation. At last, she will be able to go to the countryside and enjoy some fresh air. Song grew up in Canterlot, and her parents never really liked to take her on vacation. They put her education as a top priority over anything even vaguely enjoyable. She didn't have many companions because of her strict parents. She doesn't have any friends now, because she will be leaving her colleagues behind to move to Ponyville. In most cases, it's not a smart move to settle down in a new town when one is a social outcast. But before she could worry about anything else, she had to get her rump out of bed. Song groans as her eyelids creak open. The sun is out. Yes, it is morning. She hasn't seen the rising sun since she had finished college. Wearily, she rolls out of bed onto her stomach. Shouldn't she be excited to get out of this boring city? She springs up on to her hooves and walks to her suitcase that she had packed yesterday evening. "Hmm, let's see. Clothing? Check. Reading glasses? Check. Extremely boring medical text describing every disease, condition, and syndrome known to marekind? Unfortunately, check." Song has a tendency to talk to herself out loud often. She doesn't think it strange, but sometimes the other ER doctors and patients give her funny looks. She tries to boost her self esteem by telling herself she is perfectly healthy, both mentally and physically. Song smiles at her reflection in her bedroom mirror. "Cutie Mark, check." Stamped on her red mane, her mark is a scalpel with musical notes to accompany it. She is one of the rare few ponies who has a dual cutie mark. She can't help that she's so special. She grabs her luggage and trots out of her apartment, forgetting about breakfast entirely. She is unable to remember such simple things as meal times, but when it comes to learning, there isn't a detail that she misses. Cheerfully, she waves farewell to her old apartment, and to Canterlot. As she walks to the train station, she takes in her last glances at the city. All the buildings, and shops, and the gorgeous castle that towers over all of Equestria. With her head held high, she boards the train heading to Ponyville. Just a few hours after Song's departure, she arrives at Ponyville. The first thing she does when she steps off the train is stretch out her legs. Being a surgeon, she isn't used to being seated so long. The sun looks so beautiful above Ponyville. It makes the landscape come to life. Song can't see how anything could possibly go wrong in a peaceful town such as this one. But she is here to help heal those little flaws that occur in nature, the internal wounds that are inflicted upon a pony by mistake, or by heredity. Her sole reason for existence is to operate on ponies who are affected by some life altering illness that can only be cured through the use of a scalpel. No words powerful enough exist to describe the feeling that Song has when she has a patient on the operating table, that euphoria she feels when she has her hooves inside of the patient, freely cutting and suturing the internal organs of the patient's body. The warmth, the blood all over her hooves is truly fascinating. She knew many ponies back in Canterlot who would faint and the mere sight of blood. When Song is in the OR, she feels almost omnipotent, like the two princesses of Equestria surely feel when they control the rise and fall of the moon and sun. Like the princesses, Song has a job fundamental to the health of marekind. It took a lot of education to get a license to practice medicine, but for Song, it is worth it. While Song is walking into town lost in her own thoughts, a bright pink pony walks up to her and greets her excitedly. "Hello, there! Are you new to town? Of course you are! I know every pony in town! I'm going to have to throw you a surprise party. Whoops, it's not a surprise anymore, now is it? Oh, silly me, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Pinkie Pie! Nice to meet you! And you are?" Song confusedly stares at the pink mare. "The where in the what in the who now?" Song is surprised that anypony can say so much at once without talking a breath. This mare must have an abnormally large lung capacity she thinks to herself. "Hello?" Pinkie says, waving her hoof violently in front of Song's face. "Are you listening to me?!" "Ah, sorry," says Song, embarrassed from being caught of guard. "My name is Song. I'm the new doctor in town." "Song, huh? That's a nice name. I'm Pinkie Pie. They call me that because I'm pink. And I like pie!" Song thinks this pony is a bit obnoxious, but somehow interesting at the same time. Is that even possible? "So yeah, the party's going to be this evening, at six o'clock sharp. So don't be late!" Pinkie waves good-bye and trots off merrily. Song rolls her eyes. She probably keeps up the entire town at night. Great, just great. Song looks around, and remembers that she needs to meet up with the hospital staff. But where is the hospital? She doesn't see it from here. She'll just have to ask one of the friendly townsponies. She walks up to a purple unicorn, who is accompanied by what appears to be a baby dragon, but could be easily mistaken for a large, ugly lizard. "Excuse me, miss, could you point me in the direction of the hospital?" The pony smiles gently. "Of course. Just follow that bend," she motions with her hoof, "and keep following it until you see a big white building. You can't miss it." "Why, thank you," Song says. "By the way, my name is Song, what's yours?" "I'm Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you. I'll see you around town!" "Thanks again, have a good afternoon." Song follows the road and comes to the hospital. She walks inside slowly, trying to remember the position of all the buildings she just went by. She has a bad sense of direction that really needs working on. She goes up to the front desk and asks the staff there to meet with head doctor. They walk into a small conference room, where Song assumes that the interview is going to take place. The pony who showed her to the room promptly leaves. As she takes a seat inside, she notices a large stain on the floor. Oh, probably just a coffee spill. It's not like this town has enough bits to fund a carpet replacement anyhow. The head doctor walks into the interview room. "Ah, and I assume you are the esteemed Doctor Song that we've been expecting?" the doctor greets her with a warm smile. "Yes, sir. That would be me." "We're glad to have a talented young surgeon join the team. Welcome aboard to Ponyville Hospital." Song tilts her head. "You mean, I don't have to be interviewed?" The doctor shakes his head. "No, young mare, that will not be necessary. We are so desperate around here for surgeons, that you'll pass inspection with only a medical license." "Ahaha, thank you sir." Song smiles uncomfortably. Licensed to operate at a new hospital without a proper interview? A bit unconventional, but maybe they really are just that desperate. "When will I be able to begin my first day at work, sir?" Song questions. "As soon as you turn in this small amount of paperwork. I'll give you a few days to settle into town and find a place to stay. Sound good?" "Yes, I'll be on my way. Thank you very much!" The doctor simply nods and walk out the door. He seems nice enough. Song leaves the room, ignoring the suspicious brown stain on the carpet, and thinking nothing more of it. Song begins to search for an apartment in Ponyville. She finds a small pink building at the out skirts of town near the hospital to stay in. She goes into the bedroom, sets down her suitcase, and begins unpacking. "I didn't forget about you, little guy," she mumbles to a dulled, gold plated scalpel that was awarded to her for being surgeon of the year at the previous hospital she worked at. "It shouldn't be long until we can start working day shifts at the hospital." She grins at the cute, harmless scalpel. "I feel complete now. Ah, my life is wonderful." Little did she know what had taken place the previous day.