***Day 6, just after noon***
Well nothing really exciting so far today, only thing really notable so far is that I finished the book I brought to the clinic for when we get down time so I had some time to talk a little more to Manila about the overall business aspect of the clinic. I talked to her about it due to a little idea that’s been nagging at the back of my mind but I’m still working out the details. Still find it funny how she’s Dr. Goodall’s sister, though the more I think about it they are fairly similar in color and speech, Manila’s a bit perkier though… Mane and Manila Goodall… never knew why some parents decide to stick their children with the same last name while some don’t give last names at all; maybe they think it promotes family ties or something. Ah well, time to start wrapping up here I guess.
I start grabbing all my belongings with the addition of a stethoscope Manila gave me.
Still not sure why Manila gave this to me, though I would guess it’s an inside joke or initiation judging by how much giggling she and Mane did when I mentioned it. The only thing I’ve noticed about it is that this is one of those scopes that seems to ALWAYS be cold when you use it. Maybe it has some kind of cooling spell on it… probably not seeing as both Mane and Manila are earth ponies but if it is true… I wonder if I could use this as some sort of cold version of a joy buzzer… I should run this by Pinkie when I see her next, she’ll probably love this idea! Probably test it on Hydro first.
While I ramble on in my head, I finish packing up and head out front to pick up Specter and say my goodbyes to the mares. I find Specter on the desk sleeping with his fedora over his eyes; it doesn’t take up much space so I just keep it in my bag so he can get it when he wants it. I wake him up and wave to Manila and Mane as I walk out the door while Specs glides onto my back and crawls up to his usual spot. As I walk out the door, today I am hailed by a familiar yellow pegasus conversing to another one I don’t know yet who is grey with a blonde mane and golden eyes.
First unicorns yesterday then pegasi today, wonder if tomorrow I’ll meet earth ponies after work…
The grey mare's wings keep shuffling as if eager to take off, “Well, thanks for finding it for me Fluttershy, I gotta get it delivered ASAP!”
The shy mare smiles, “It was no trouble, I’m just glad I was able to help.”
The blonde maned pegasus nods happily and flies off as I walk up to Fluttershy.
“So who was that?” I say as I look up after the flying pegasus.
Fluttershy continues watching the grey mare depart, “Oh that was Ditzy Doo, the mailmare, she accidentally mixed in a letter for some other pony in my mail this morning, so I brought it with me so I could return it.”
I nod understandingly, “That was very nice of you, and this little incident does explain why I haven’t seen the mailpony yet, not used to having to look up for them. So why did you wave me over, not that I’m complaining, just curious.”
“Oh, well,” she looks down for a moment, “I was on my way over to Applejack’s to see about her dog Winona and I was wondering if… maybe…” she trails off after this.
I think I see where she’s going with this… maybe just a little teasing though, the blush is too cute to pass up sometimes.
I raise an eyebrow at her, “Fluttershy, where you going to asking me to come with you?”
She blushes and looks down, “Well, I mean… if that’s alright.”
Cute, alright, enough teasing.
I smile, “Of course it’s alright." I gesture forward with a hoof, "Shall we then?”
She nods and we head out, her blush still a little present but slowly fading. We walk by Sugarcube Corner and through the plaza on our way out of town, not saying much just walking along. It’s only as we cross the bridge to head along the path past the acres that Fluttershy actually breaks the silence.
Her quiet voice not so much breaks the silence as gently coaxes it away, “So, umm, how’s Specter been doing?”
“Hmm, Specter how would you say you’re doing?” I ask as I look up at him.
Fluttershy smiles a bit as Specs jumps over and rubs against the back of her neck then jumps back to me. She gets a confused look on her face as after a moment. “Umm, what’s that on his head?”
I look back to see he has his hat on again. “Oh that’s a little something Rarity made for him, she originally made one for me then once she met him she made him one to match.”
She giggles, “Hmm, I wonder if I could convince Rarity to make more pet clothes…” She looks up thoughtfully for a moment as she says this.
I know she means well, but I got a little bit of a shiver when she said that. I foresee a sailor suit Angel.
Fluttershy and I continue down the long path past the seemingly endless sea of apple trees. I’m fairly certain I’m going to dream of apples tonight if this continues. We eventually see a large farmhouse/barn in the distance. We arrive at the door and Fluttershy knocks… after a few minutes I knock for her then step back since her knocks barely register if you’re not listening for them. A few moments later a familiar Stetson wearing mare answers the door.
Applejack smiles at her friend, “Howdy Fluttershy! Oh, ya brought Rhino too?”
The shy pegasus nods, “Yes, I thought he might be able to help. Umm, if that's okay.”
I try to explain my presence, “I’m just here as a second opinion, Fluttershy is the one you called so she’ll be takin’ the lead.”
Accent kicking in again, fine by me, ahm interested in seein what Fluttershy can do.
The cowpony walks back into the house and beckons us to follow, “Ya’ll come on in, Ah’ve got Winona in the main room here.”
Applejack escorts us through the house to the “main room” where I see a collie I assume is Winona laying down in the middle of the floor with a small yellow filly with a red mane and pink bow petting her. Frankly the dog seems fine to me but looks can be deceiving. I stay back as Fluttershy approaches the dog who continues to wag her tail through the checkup. As Fluttershy works she also asks a few questions.
The animal pony continues to work as she asks, “Has she been acting different lately?”
Applejack shakes her head, “Not much but a few things here n' there, she’s eatin’ less, gets tired mighty quick now too. It’s nothin’ too bad, just seems a might odd.”
Fluttershy gets up from Winona and Applejack approaches her, “So? Is there something wrong with her?”
“Well, I think I know what is going on with her but umm…” Fluttershy looks over to me, “I would like a second opinion.” She smiles a bit.
Ah can already tell Ah am going to be hard pressed to ever resist that smile.
I walk over to Winona and she just wags her tail a little faster as I pet her a moment while I cast the nerve scanning spell and do an all over scan.
Hmm… nothin' seems wrong- hello what do we have here? Well, didn’t expect that but at least I definitely know what’s up now.
I have a smile on my face as I walk over to Fluttershy and Applejack, the latter of whom seems to be getting a bit impatient as she asks, “Well, are ya gonna tell me what’s wrong with her?”
I try to calm the farm pony, “Sorry Applejack, ah believe Fluttershy deserves the honor of deliverin’ this news.” I look over at Fluttershy who hasn’t stopped smiling yet.
She takes a breath, “Applejack you’ll be happy to know there’s nothing wrong with Winona… she’s pregnant.” Fluttershy is positively beaming at the end of that sentence.
The entire room goes silent while that news sinks in.
Applejack seems a little stunned. “Wha..how..er… how far along is she?”
Fluttershy gives her opinion, “Oh not long, these symptoms start fairly early.”
I put in my two bits, “Judgin’ by the puppies heart development, ah figure it happened round a week ago.”
Applejack just stood there a moment when the little filly decides to speak for the first time since we arrived here, “Applejack can I talk now?”
The still stunned stetson pony nods absentmindedly, “Go ahead Applebloom.”
This is going to be bad isn’t it?
The little one takes a deep breath and… “Puppies! Winona’s gonna have puppies! Do you think they’ll be here soon? How many do you think she’ll have? We’re gonna have puppies runnin’ all over the farm! Oh Applejack can we keep one, please please please please please, pleeeeeeaaaaaase?”
Pinkie would be proud.
Fluttershy and I had stepped back a bit when Applebloom had taken her breath before that little… rant. Good thing too.
The filly starts up again, a little less this time, but still more than I would think somepony her size could, “Hey mister what’s your name, what was that spell you cast on Winona, how are you almost as tall as Big Macintosh, why do you talk like us, are you Fluttershy’s coltfriend?”
“Applebloom!” Applejack seems to be getting riled up by the constant flow of words, at least it gives me a second to breathe.
Fluttershy and I are pretty much beat red at that last question as I try to stutter an answer, “Umm, it … we… er.”
I don’t know how to answer that last question! I mean it’s not like I haven’t thought about it but we’re not there yet but if I say the wrong thing I might be screwing myself over for the future but I don’t want to lie and say we are – GAH!
*knock knock knock*
Thank Celestia! A distraction! Quick grab onto it and hang on for dear life!
“Oh, that must be the rest of the Crusaders!” Applebloom says as she walks to answer the door.
Who are the Crusaders? And why does Applejack look really worried all of the sudden?