My parents had been somewhat famous medical legends. My mother was a doctor and my father was a medical researcher. Both had been instrumental in curing lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. The research, which paved the way to breakthroughs in many different types of blood cancer treatments, was instrumental in securing humanity’s medical future.
Of course back then I was aimless. My parents had encouraged me to pursue the sciences and particularly in medicine but I held back. I didn’t want the pressure. Their expectations and those of others would just weigh me down. I didn’t want to deal with it, so I just… drifted, not really caring where I went.
I think my parents were extremely glad when I decided to revolutionise Synch. Quantum engineering was a growing field and there were many promising achievements to be earned. I knew that they were mostly looking out for me but I couldn’t help but feel that they expected me to be something amazing, a prodigal son, as it were.
Too bad I couldn’t be the prodigal son for long.
-----
Stuck in the bed as I was, I really didn’t have much to do. I had been contemplating my recent musing on how limited I was in this equine world. The knife really drove the point home (ha ha) and I was seriously considering what I could contribute to getting myself home. I knew I wasn’t an expert at any stretch of the imagination but maybe I could shed some insight with the intelligence I possessed.
I decided to approach Twilight about the issue. Out of all the ponies I had encountered, Twilight seemed to be the most level-headed and, well to put it bluntly, most intelligent pony. The only drawback, which was minor, was that her mind was untempered by the sheer depth of wisdom I had sensed from the royal pony sisters.
It wasn’t that Twilight possessed a lack of wisdom it was far from that. She was a capable well-rounded person-pony-being. I felt she could share my sentiments at the very least.
So I asked for her.
She came, rather quickly. I thought it rather sweet that she cared.
“Hey Twilight”, I mumbled weakly. I couldn’t help it. My lung was still sore. Actually, my general chest area was pretty sore. A backstabbing will do that to you.
Twilight looked to be near tears.
“Aww Twilight, don’t look like that, I’m still here”, I consoled, keeping my voice casual.
She smiled back at me unsteadily.
“We were so worried, I’m so glad you are all right”, she gushed, wrapping her hooves around me for a hug.
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Not that I appreciate the gesture but it still hurts like heck”, I exclaimed, but put a hand on her hoof as she tried to jump back.
“I’m so sorry!” she apologised sheepishly. I nodded. She glanced at the hand holding her hoof and I snatched it back.
“Okay, to the topic then”, I snapped out, eagerly bringing up the subject before anything weird went on.
“I need to learn all of magic, nercomancers and inter-dimensional travel in a week.”
Twilight looked at me with a tilt to her head, as if to assess if I had brain damage in addition to a stab wound. Now, I didn’t really know if I had jumped dimensions, or just to another world, but I sure knew I wasn’t on my world.
She looked at me quizzically.
“While I admire your desire to learn about magic, necromancers and such, but seeing as you aren’t able to perform magic, will that pursuit be that beneficial?” she asked me, I considered her words, mulling over the problem in my head.
“Hmm, you’re assuming I can’t actually do magic”, I replied, scratching my chin in thought. I had a few ideas buzzing around in my mind.
Twilight looked at me in surprise. Her mane whipped around as she put a hoof to her head, trying to put things together. She tapped her chin, giving me the impression that she was not completely discounting my idea.
“From what you told me, you mentioned there was no magic on your world”, she spoke with a measured pace, careful to get her facts right. I nodded, confirming her suspicions.
“But you think it might be possible here?” she probed. She looked at me blankly, waiting for an explanation.
I paused to gather my thoughts.
I knew of the old mythical stories. Fantasy had been a keen element in human imagination and even though I was not normally exposed to that kind of literature I knew the basics.
“I just need to know a bit more about how magic works here. Who knows, maybe I could shed some insight? I don’t think I’ll be able to wield magic, null being and all”, I replied slowly, scratching my head. I beat the hospital covers with a soft open palm.
“It’s just frustrating, knowing that I cannot do anything to assist. I know I can help and even if I don’t, at least I can rest easy that I’ve tried everything”, I continued, I could feel sadness welling up.
“There are people who depend on me, family who has not seen me, friends who I have not seen for a decent time… They might think I’m dead or lost or…”
I choked up, mind reeling with the implications of my death. I focused harder, trying to concentrate on the memory of last moments on Earth before I arrived in Equestria. It still remained out of focus.
Twilight laid a hoof on shoulder.
“Buck up”, she said, giving me a dose of my own encouraging medicine.
“I’ll get you those study materials, maybe we can both figure something out”, she offered, I gratefully accepted with a nod from my head.
-----
From that point on, the days spent in the hospital bed flew by. From time to time I’d see glimpses of guards patrolling outside my window and doors and I realised that Luna or Shining or Cadance must have assigned them to prevent any more attackers. I shuddered. I didn’t want to go through another stabbing again. I appreciated the extra security and it was comforting to know they cared.
Most of the time I spent reading and cross-referencing with Twilight. Luna dropped in from time to time to check up on me but every time she did so, she seemed antsy. When I asked her what was wrong she always averted her gaze and evasively dodged my inquiries. Her agitation became more and more apparent until one day, as she entered the door; I put down my book in frustration and got straight to the point.
“Luna”, I spoke flatly, giving her a stern gaze.
“Come, sit”, I practically ordered gesturing to the chair arranged at the side of my bed.
Luna sat down nervously and I noticed her tail flicking every so often, as if sympathetically displaying her agitation. It was strange. I was beginning to learn pony body language. I don’t think it would be similar to horse behaviour on Earth, but then again I never really studied it.
Luna’s ears flicked as well, forward and backwards as she tried to phrase her problem. She seemed to be internally debating whether to tell me something. I patiently waited.
What came out next from Luna surprised me.
“Scratch my ears!” she blurted out. Even she appeared to share my surprise.
“I’m sorry, I must have misheard you, what did you say?” I replied in a daze.
Luna looked incredibly embarrassed. Her cheeks mantled and I saw a red blush spread across her features. Wait, how does that work? No matter.
She got up abruptly, sending the small stool she was sitting on toppling over. She hastily corrected the stool with her telekinesis.
“Actually, forget I said anything, I have to leave, goodbye”, she shot out in a rush, turning to leave.
“Luna, wait”, I called out.
She paused mid hoof-step. She turned her head jerkily until she made eye contact with me.
I sighed.
“What was that all about?” I demanded, my tone leaving no room for evasive answers.
Luna’s ears sagged as she hesitantly approached my bed.
“I haven’t raised the moon in a while”, she began despondently, I didn’t follow but I waved her on.
“When I don’t raise the moon for a short period of time the symptoms of withdrawal are negligible”, she explained, but I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
Hang on. Raise the moon? Probably a religious thing, I dismissed it.
“After some time I get an itch behind my ears which builds and builds until it gets quite unbearable”, Luna continued, flicking her ears irritably.
“Why don’t you just scratch it?” I asked, still confused. She waved a hoof at me.
“Even though I can reach it, scratching with a hoof is very difficult”, she clarified, putting her hoof back down. I nodded. It made sense.
“Yeah, I see. I can help you with that”, I replied nonchalantly, reaching over to her head. She shied away.
“The thing is…” she mewled, her hoof hiding her face in embarrassment.
“My sister usually does this, because the practice is somewhat intimate.”
I understood the situation.
“Is there anyone else who could help you with that?” I asked hopefully. Luna shook her head.
“I would ask Twilight but she would not hesitate to report this to ‘Tia- I mean Celestia and I would never hear the end of it. Add to the fact that she tends to overdramatise the little things, she’ll think I am coming down with an illness and possibly spend a few nights trying to study alicorn illnesses. Perhaps, her curiosity will get the best of her and she’ll try and find out why not raising the moon gives me itches”, Luna shrugged.
“Servant ponies?” I offered. I had seen a few.
Again, Luna shook her head.
“They are Princess Cadance’s, I can’t simply ask them to do something so intimate without even knowing them first”, she said.
I was struck by a thought.
“What about Princess Cadance herself? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind”, I proposed but again I got that shake of the head.
Luna stomped her hoof softly in frustration.
“Every time I try and see Cadance I would always spot Shining with her in the middle of a romantic gesture, it’s infuriatingly adorable! I can’t interrupt their recent wedding glow”, Luna explained regretfully.
I looked at my hands.
“Okay, but one last question. Why me?” I asked, tilting my head.
Luna swallowed before answering with sometime incomprehensible.
“I’m sorry Luna, I didn’t catch that”, I said.
Luna mumbled something a bit louder.
“Still not getting it”, I pressed, straining to hear her voice. She must be taking advantage of the fact that I’m in a bed.
“BECAUSE YOU’RE THE FIRST TRUE FRIEND I HAVE!” she yelled in confession, her cheeks blooming in red. I gaped at her.
Then I smiled.
“Well said, Luna”, I said warmly, patting the covers above my lap. “Alright come here and let me rub your head.”
She looked at me strangely.
Probably not the best words to use to a princess…
“Oh, just come here and let me scratch your ears out”, I muttered irritably as Luna finally put her head atop of my lap and I got to scratching her ears. She moaned in pleasure.
“Oooh that feels good!” Luna groaned in pleasure. Her tail was wagging, like a dog.
It was in that beautiful moment… that Twilight walked in.
She froze for a full ten seconds, before slowly backing out the way she came.
My hand was frozen, still lying atop Luna’s head.
Luna and I made eye contact.
“Twilight, wait!” we both yelled, myself scrambling out of bed, following the lightning-quick motions of Luna slowly.
“Stupid knife wound, stupid misunderstandings, stupid, stupid, stupid!” I cursed, stumbling to the door.
I heard a crash.
Oh what now?! I thought in exasperation.