//------------------------------// // Chapter 28 - The Examination (Edited by JBL 11.22.2017) // Story: The Last Descendant // by Cup of Coffee //------------------------------// Two days passed, during which Celestia and Luna discussed the conference and shared their ideas with Magnus. Eventually, a date was set. In two days’ time, Magnus’ existence was to be revealed to Equestria and the world, with the preparations already underway, from the janitors to the kitchen staff to the highest officers, in order to ensure proceedings went smoothly. In the largest meeting room in the castle, Celestia and Twilight would reveal to the world that the inhabitants of Equus were not alone in the vastness of space, news that was sure to spread far and wide. Press conferences like this had rarely happened in the past, though two had taken place within the last year: when Princess Luna had returned, and when Twilight had ascended to alicornhood and became the newest princess of Equestria. Both times, the Royal Guard had blanketed Canterlot with enhanced security. Now they were planning for an event they’d never expected, and thus had to cater for numerous scenarios. While this was all happening, Magnus was left with very little to do. He spent his days either by reading about Equestria and its ponies, practicing his awful penmanship, or learning how their system of mathematics worked. It wasn't that dissimilar from how he had learned it back on Earth, other than the different symbols and a few extra ones. He also made an effort to memorize their various measurements systems. For instance, one day and one year on Equus was approximately the same as on Earth. None of the countries on Equus had names for specific days, but there were still seven days in a week divided into five work days and two rest days. There was even a word for the last two days of the week, which translated perfectly to ‘week’s end’, or simplified as weekend. They measured temperature the same way as on Earth, but quantifying distances came in the form of hooves, the pony equivalent of feet. From what information his books gave him, Magnus estimated one hoof to be somewhere around half a foot. All the while, the upcoming interview constantly played on his mind. He was certain there would be numerous strange questions asked of him, and he did his best trying to come up with answers that would be informative and straight to the point. In doing so, he hoped to avoid dragging on the interview for longer than necessary. Whether it would work or not, he was still uncertain. Throughout the current day, his level of anxiety increased, and though he attempted to conceal it from Celestia and Luna during breakfast, they still managed to perceive it and queried the source of his worry. “I’m meeting with Silverheart this morning,” he answered thoughtfully while picking at his food with his fork. “I’m afraid that they’ll find something, something that…” His voice slowly trailed off. Celestia’s usual smile faded, replaced by a sympathetic expression. “You’re still worried about what you told us about hybrids, aren’t you?” Magnus nodded while chewing on his lip. “It hasn’t happened before with any human that I know of. Conception shouldn’t even be possible.” “Yet somehow, it still happens every few hundred years,” Luna said encouragingly. “And as far as I can remember, the hybrids I know of lived to an advanced age.” “Have there been that many?” Magnus shot the sisters a curious glance. “A few.” Celestia wiped her mouth delicately with a napkin. “The last one lived four hundred years ago, a hippogriff who was the child of a pegasus stallion and a griffon hen. I met him once, as a matter of fact. His name was Trueflight, and he lived in a small village on the border between Equestria and the city state called Griffonstone. He had the hind legs of a pony, his forelegs like a griffon’s. His head resembled a pony’s, but he had a beak instead of a snout. His body was similar to that of a griffon, but his tail was like a pony. He was an accomplished archer and hunter, having been taught by his mother. He frequently participated in the Equestrian Games archery competition and won several trophies. He was very old when he died.” Magnus allowed himself a slight smile. “Sounds like he led an interesting and impressive life. How famous do you have to be to even get a special name like ‘hippogriff’?” “The griffons themselves created that term, a combination of the ancient Griffonese names for ponies and griffons.” With one hoof placed thoughtfully under her chin, Luna continued, “I do believe there are at least four known hippogriffs to have existed. The first was said to have been born roughly two and a half thousand years ago.” Celestia nodded. “Ponies and griffons are not the only ones known to create viable offspring. There are stories and legends dating back centuries, even millennia, that speak of children born of minotaurs pairing with diamond dogs, cows, and Saddle Arabians.” “There is even one legend dating back to centuries before the pre-unification era that speak of an earth pony stallion and a dragoness conceiving a child.” Luna shook her head slightly. “However, as time goes by, details can be twisted and turned until the truth is hard to discern. Still, all legends tend to carry with them a modicum of truth, no matter how much time passes by.” “Wow…” Magnus mumbled, awestruck, while smearing jam onto his toast. A pony and a dragon? That brought to mind a rather vivid image, which he quickly tried to dispel. Luna smiled. “Yes, it is quite interesting, is it not? You should not worry so much; should the doctors discover anything harmful to your health, I am sure that they, and we, will find a way to help you, no matter what.” Magnus nodded absently. He had no doubt they were willing to help. His addiction treatment was a testament to their medical abilities. He had no idea how good their surgery techniques were, though, or if they could treat genetic flaws that threatened his well-being. With magic being such a huge part of their lives, he had no doubt that some sort of magic could be used as well. He was attempting to be positive, but there was still that sliver of fear in the back of his mind. Hopefully, it would soon be silenced. *** With a simple push, Magnus opened the double doors that led into the infirmary and walked through, Cloverfield and Cumulus Star in tow. Immediately, he was assaulted by the white walls and sterile scent that had plagued him during his first few days in Equestria. He recalled there was a reception desk further in, and after a few moments of brisk walking, he came upon the waiting area. A mare donned in the guard’s uniform already sat on one of the seats, seemingly waiting her turn whilst cradling her foreleg. To the right was the reception desk, and a bespectacled mare sat there, looking down at something. Judging by the sound, she was making use of a typewriter. He walked over to the desk, crouched, and tapped the bell to gain her attention. “Just a seeecooond,” the caramel-coloured mare replied in a cheery singsong. She finished typing her sentence then turned to her left, only to stare at a belt buckle. “Up here, Miss,” Magnus said with a chuckle. The mare looked up, spotted Magnus, then smiled. “Oh, hey, it’s the alien.” Her eyes suddenly widened and her hoof immediately found its way over her mouth. Slowly, she moved it away. “I-I shouldn’t have said that! Oooh, I shouldn’t have said that! I’m so, so, so sorry!” she wailed. The last thing Magnus expected was for the mare to start crying because of a slip of the tongue. He crouched down until he was eye level with her. “Miss, I’m not angry with you. Technically, you’re correct in that I’m an alien, and you shouldn’t cry because of that.” The mare sniffled loudly, and looked at him with teary eyes. “I-I shouldn’t? But I insulted you!” He waved a dismissive hand at her. “Nah, alien isn’t an insult; it just describes someone born in another country, or someone from outer space, both of which I’m sure applies to me.” “...Oh…” The mare removed her glasses and wiped her eyes. “So… you’re not mad?” she asked hopefully. Magnus smiled at her. “Not at all.” The mare exhaled in relief, then smiled back at him. “Now, maybe you can help me.” “Oh, of course! what do you need?” she asked as she put her glasses back on her muzzle, sounding as though she hadn’t been wailing moments ago. “I have an appointment with Doctor Silverheart, but I’m not sure what time it was. He told me to be here early.” “Doctor Silverheart and appointment,” she mumbled as rifled through a few papers. She quickly found the correct one. “Here it is! Let’s see… Magnus Powell?” “That’s me.” “Right. Let’s see, extended physical examination… Your appointment is for ten past nine.” She pointed to the chairs. “Just take a seat and the doctor will come for you when he’s ready.” “Thank you, Miss.” Magnus stood up to his full height and was about to walk away when he spotted the typewriter she had been using. It looked like a fairly normal mechanical desk typewriter, and maybe not the newest model, but what drew his attention was the fact that there was only three keys on it: two large slabs and one that resembled a spacebar. How could they use a device containing three keys for an alphabet containing over forty letters, ten numbers, and a wide array of symbols? “Excuse me, Miss,” he called out to the mare and pointed to the typewriter. “How can the entire alphabet fit onto three keys?” The mare looked to her typewriter, then burst into giggles. “You’re really not from around here.” Picking up the typewriter, she placed it on the desk so that Magnus could get a closer look. The two large keys were slightly smaller than a hoof, and on the surface of each key were squares engraved onto it. On each square was a distinct character. “It’s not a Griffonian or Minoan typewriter that you just press one key for a letter or number. Equestrian ones are all about where on the key to press.” She tapped the tip of her hoof onto a key, making sure to touch only a square that contained a letter, and in response, a metal arm came up and stamped the corresponding letter onto paper. “See?” Magnus shook his head slowly, amazed at how they managed to create such a compact typewriter considering the size of their alphabet. Fitting all those tiny moving parts in such a small casing was something of an engineering feat. Then again, if each key had only one letter and was big enough for a single hoof, the end result would have been a typewriter overly large and difficult to move. He walked over to the chairs and sat down, taking a moment to relax before the show started. He had spent enough time in waiting rooms to draw parallels to Earth. There were the standard magazines on end tables for patients to read, calming works of art on the walls, and a few plants here and there. Cloverfield and Cumulus had chosen to stand by the entrance, looking as stoic as ever. Waiting did little to quell Magnus’ conflicting emotions, which resulted in him tapping his hoof rapidly against the marble floor. There was anxiety that came from the fear that the doctors would find something detrimental to his health. Some excitement was mixed in as well, however, that something positive could be discovered. He wasn’t expecting superpowers or anything like that, but he maintained a faint flicker of hope that maybe he was even more unique now than anyone could guess just by looking at him. In an attempt to calm himself, he reached into his pocket and found his red practice pebble. A few days after the dream, he had tried levitating it and found that feeling his magic course through his body helped him relax. After that, he had begun carrying it around all the time so that he could practice his magic. Staring at it, it didn’t take long before his horn began to glow and his magic aura surrounded the pebble. By chance, Magnus had discovered just how extensive his magic could act. By concentrating deeply, he could feel his magic wrap around and cover the stone. He could also feel the worn texture of the pebble, though it had a couple of jagged edges that he could use to magically grip, instead of focusing on grabbing the entire pebble. Gradually, the pebble began to move from his palm towards his fingertips, then made its way back again. The stone didn’t feel as heavy now as it once did, but that was all a matter of training his magic until it was strong enough. At least, that was what the magic book for foals taught him. Magnus was so deeply embedded in his thoughts that he didn’t notice Silverheart calling out his name twice. Only when the doctor’s shadow fell over him did he react. “What? Oh, good morning, Doctor Silverheart. I didn’t hear you.” “Good morning. Are you okay? You seem a bit out of it.” Magnus shrugged. “Nervous. Found out my magic can help me relax.” He held out his hand and moved the pebble around in his palm. “Don’t know why.” Silverheart looked at the tiny pebble. “Well, whatever helps you. Are you ready for your examination?” Magnus nodded. “Then let’s go.” “We will wait for you here,” Cloverfield told Magnus as he stood up and went with the doctor. Magnus nodded back at the earth pony guard. Silverheart led the way through some corridors, with Magnus close behind. The human didn’t say anything at all, which Silverheart quickly picked up on. He glanced at the human and spotted the anxiety clearly written on his face. “You said you were nervous. About the examination?” the unicorn prodded. Magnus exhaled heavily. “I’m afraid that you’ll find something wrong with me, something that’ll shorten my life or outright kill me. Something… incurable.” “Hmm, I can understand your anxiety. It isn’t every day we get someone as unique as you as a patient. We can’t know for sure if there are any complications borne from your unique physiology until we’ve examined you.” He stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to Magnus, regarding him with a serious expression. “I won’t lie—we can cure many illnesses, either through antibiotics for nasty infections, magical potions for magic-related illness and spells, or via surgery for broken bones, wings, and horns. If there is something wrong and none of these procedures help, know that there are many good doctors in the world, not only in Equestria.” Magnus looked at Silverheart for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Thanks, Doc, it means a lot to me.” “It’s my pleasure. Now then, we have a team waiting for us.” With that, Silverheart turned around and began walking again. It took five minutes to reach the examination room Silverheart had prepared. Pushing open the doors, they stepped into a room that appeared to have been prepared for surgery. There was a large examination table in the middle of the room, a dazzling light shining down from the ceiling, and a multitude of tables close to the wall with various medical instruments on them. There was also two other doors that led into other rooms, as well as also several other machines that Magnus did not recognize. A trio of ponies in lab coats deep in discussion immediately turned to face them once they entered the room. “Here we are,” Silverheart said as he stepped into the room and looked around. “Magnus, I’d like for you to meet the other experts that will examine you. This gentlecolt here is Doctor Crimson.” A light red pegasus with black hair stepped forward. Magnus crouched down to shake his hoof. “Good morning, Mr Powell. Crimson Cloth is my name. I can’t say how exciting it is to be allowed to examine you!” he exclaimed eagerly, almost bouncing on the tip of his hooves. “Pleasure to meet you.” Magnus smiled faintly. “And this lovely mare here is Doctor Sparkling Star.” The bespectacled unicorn mare stepped forward and eagerly shook Magnus’ hand. She had a violet coat with a long light pink mane and tail, both in a ponytail. She seemed rather young compared to her colleagues. “Hiya, just call me Sparkle. I specialize in all things magic, which means your horn and your body’s internal magical system.” “And finally we have Doctor Sanguis Moon,” Silverheart concluded. He was an elderly bat pony, judging by the two long fangs protruding from his upper lip. His coat and mane no doubt had once been a dark sheen, though they now had a few grey stripes interspersed within them. With round monocles set on his muzzle, he had the appearance of an old-fashioned, no-nonsense type of guy. He casually stepped forward and shook Magnus’ hand, seeming quite disinterested in meeting him. “Only Doctor Sanguis, Mr Powell. I am an experienced doctor, and how you are here, and not in quarantine due to the risk of hazardous diseases you present, is beyond me. Nevertheless, welcome to Equestria,” he bluntly said, revealing a rather thick foreign-sounding accent. Though somewhat taken back by the rough greeting, Magnus tried to take it in stride. “I’m sure the princesses had it all under control, Doctor Sanguis,” he said as pleasantly as he could, not that it helped the sour mood the bat pony possessed. Silverheart picked up a clipboard and a quill. “Great, now that you’ve met my colleagues, maybe we can get started with the examination. We have a lot of tests to perform.” “Sounds good to me. Where should we start?” Silverheart flicked through the papers on his clipboard, his quill dangling from his mouth. “I thought we could talk about the areas of interest first, namely your transformed body parts. Remind me, what were they?” “Well, it’s my hands and lower arms; they’re larger and thicker than before, and my lower arms have also grown thicker. There’s also the fur.” “Hands, lower arms, and fur…” Silverheart mumbled as he wrote it down. “Then there’s my horn, obviously. My ears weren’t pointy before. I also had feet instead of hooves, and my lower legs weren’t this thick. I did have some body hair before, but most of it is now fur.” Sanguis stood next to Magnus, staring at him with mild interest. Sparkle and Crimson, in comparison, looked like a pair of kids that were locked inside a candy store for the night. “That should be all. Oh, I discovered that I’ve begun growing a mane; a wide stripe of hair running down my neck,” Magnus added and leaned forward, showing off his newly discovered hair. The four doctors leaned in closer to stare as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Silverheart also jotted this down. “Right. Okay. Was there anything else?” Magnus shook his head. “Anything else you’ve felt since you underwent these changes? Pain of any kind? Have you experienced any involuntary muscle movements in your body? Also, have you had any thoughts that you ordinarily would not have?” Magnus mulled over the questions. For the most part, it was only emotional pain that he had encountered, which didn’t need any explanation. He relayed as such to Silverheart, who nodded slightly. There was also that thought he had entertained when he had learned he would never return to Earth, but he didn’t feel comfortable broaching that to the doctors. “Good, good, I’m just trying to cover all my bases here. We might run into things as we move along.” Silverheart returned to his clipboard, flipped through several pages, and mumbled to himself. Crimson and Sparkle seemed ready to dive into action, almost shivering with anticipation. Doctor Sanguis was the only one who kept his calm, seemingly finding the entire examination terribly boring. “Hmm, I need some background info first. While I ask you questions, perhaps Doctor Sanguis can start off with blood samples. Doctors Crimson and Sparkle can listen to your lungs and heart.” “Sounds good to me.” “Good, please remove your clothes and take a seat on the stool.” Magnus began undressing, as it was necessary for the examination, and placed his clothes on an available table until the only article of cloth left was his boxer shorts. He was about to sit on the short stool when Sparkle spoke up. “That one too.” She pointed at the boxers. Magnus looked down at his black boxers, then up at the mare. The only mare in the room. “I, uh, I’d rather keep my shorts on.” She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Why?” Magnus nervously rubbed his newly acquired, itchy mane, unsure of how to broach the subject. “Well… I am… different from stallions... down there,” he began meekly. “See, these guys, they have the… uh, the… They can sort of… hoist it up… and in.” He nodded towards the stallions. “I can’t, it’s all just… dangles there.” The three stallions’ attention turned completely to Magnus at this little titbit of biological information and its stuttering description. Sparkle, however, remained unimpressed. “Mr Powell, you have nothing down there that I haven’t seen before. I’ve heard of your ‘need’ to wear clothes all the time, and frankly, I find it silly. We rarely wear clothes, only when it's needed for work, or social gatherings, or winter. We are all doctors here and bound to the Ponycrathic Oath, which means we will never talk about your health or anything else concerning your body to anyone. That includes your penis, which you are so afraid of even mentioning.” She giggled. “Trust me, you will not surprise me or my colleagues.” Magnus looked from doctor to doctor, hoping to find at least one that would back him up. None did. Reluctantly, he removed his boxers and quickly sat down on the stool with his legs crossed. The ponies never even glanced below his waist, which gave him some relief. Since ponies rarely wore clothing, he figured nudity wasn’t even a taboo. He hadn’t even seen a stallion or mare sneak a peek at a pony of the opposite gender. Either they never did, or they were taught from childhood that it was frowned upon. “See, isn’t it nice to feel some air on your skin?” a smiling Sparkle said. Magnus’ response was to mumble about how cold the room was. Doctor Sanguis fastened a strap around Magnus’ right arm, tightened it, and began looking for a vein, while Doctor Crimson placed a stethoscope on his back and ordered him to take a deep breath. “Now, Magnus, I’ll ask you some questions concerning your medical history. We already have some knowledge due to the time you spent here earlier, though it’s not enough to create a complete medical history. Due to our limited knowledge on humans, we will establish your current physical shape as the baseline for all future examinations. Some of my questions might be a bit intrusive or intimate, but they are necessary.” “That’s okay, Silverheart. Go ahead.” “Good. Let’s see… We already know your name. Your age?” “Twenty-seven. Ouch!” Doctor Sanguis had inserted a syringe into his arm, and biting onto the plunger, he drew blood from Magnus’ arm. “I have taken blood samples from foals. Many never complained at all,” Doctor Sanguis chided. ‘What are the chances that a bat pony, who looks like Count Dracula in pony form, is the one to take blood from me?’ “Twenty-seven… Do you know your blood type?” “I heard it about ten years ago, but I’ve forgotten.” Doctor Sanguis completely filled the syringe and deftly removed it from Magnus’ arm. After placing a cork on the needle, he grabbed another syringe, inserted it into Magnus’ arm, and proceeded to draw more blood. “Unknown…” Silverheart mumbled to himself as he jotted it down. “Have you suffered any injuries that required treatment or hospitalization? Aside from your aforementioned migraines.” “Well, I broke my left arm when I was twelve years old. Wore a cast for four weeks.” “Oh, how did that happen?” “I thought I knew how to skateboard.” Magnus’ response elicited a round of light chuckles. “I also broke my right collarbone once playing football in school. It was a hairline fracture—only needed to carry my arm around in a sling for two weeks.” “Right. Any allergies?” “None that I know of.” Silverheart flipped to the next page. “Any diseases that runs in the family?” “Nope.” “Quite a healthy individual, aren’t you?” Silverheart smiled before asking the next question. “How would you describe your body and current physical condition? Are you perhaps underweight or overweight? How would you consider your stamina and muscle mass. Are they normal?” He thought about the questions for a moment. “I’d say my weight is normal for a man of my age and height, with perhaps some extra muscle, though not much. I’ve done some physical labour in the past. My muscles are normal, but I noticed some time ago that I’ve lost some stamina, like I’m carrying extra weight.” Magnus scratched his chin. “I think I noticed it when I was walking up some stairs in one of the towers.” “Loss of stamina? Extra weight? That in itself does not sound worrying, but we’ll figure it out.” Silverheart frowned slightly at his clipboard. “Speaking of stamina and weight, do you exercise regularly?” Magnus shook his head. “Nah, most of my exercise comes from a lot of walking, camping in the woods, stuff like that.” “Ah yes, I believe you mentioned that to me during your treatment. You like to hike and fish, right?” Magnus nodded. “It’s nice going for a walk. My wives always want to go hiking in the Unicorn Range.” ‘Wives? It feels like I’ve heard that mentioned before, as in plural.’ Before Magnus could question Silverheart on his odd statement, the doctor had already moved on. “What of your sexual history?” Magnus paused before smirking. “The stuff of legends.” *** After the doctors got the laughter out of their system, they got to work examining Magnus, but first they had to know where all of his internal organs were located. Silverheart provided an accurate outline drawing of his body, and with it, Magnus filled in and drew where his lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and other internal organs were located, with as much information on human anatomy as he could remember. The four doctors turned from doctors to eager students as they listened to Magnus’ explanation. Even Doctor Sanguis Moon allowed his sour mood to fade for a while. Even with Magnus’ transformation, certain things hadn’t changed, such as his body temperature. His heartbeat was also a solid sixty-five beats per minute. This, however, caused some consternation amongst the medical professionals since the average heartbeat of a pony was thirty-five to forty-five beats per minute. Despite that, Magnus assured them that his heart was healthy and normal. As the examination continued, Magnus had to take several X-rays that covered his body in its entirety since the doctors wanted a complete image of his skeleton. They also focused heavily on the parts of his body that had changed. Afterwards, he was taken into a different room with other medically trained ponies. Two unicorns performed what they referred to as a ‘magical scan’, which allowed the unicorns to somehow ‘see’ deep within his body. When pressed, they explained that it consisted of sending pulses of magic that would echo if any part of his organs didn’t work as normal. Much to Magnus’ relief, the scan back with a clean bill of health for his organs, aside from them shifting around to accommodate his larger body. After noon, they took a break to have lunch. The infirmary had a cosy cafeteria that provided a wide variety of meals and juices for free. Upon entering the cafeteria, every single pony, both staff and patients, turned to look at Magnus. Of course, Magnus had already donned his clothing, so nudity wasn’t a problem, though there was still a twinge of self-consciousness from the eyes fixated on him. He tried his best to take it in stride, allowing the ponies to stare as much as they wanted. Princess Luna’s words were still fresh in his mind; ‘let them stare until their eyes bleed’. One day, they wouldn’t even notice him anymore, he told himself. While the food was plentiful and appeared delicious, it was unfortunately all vegetarian. Magnus couldn’t help but sulk somewhat since he missed meat. The doctors picked up on his mood, and when pressed, he told them how he missed salami, bologna, steak, and pork chops. The last two he whispered quietly enough so that only the doctors could hear him. He also told them that meat was important to his diet, information they also considered essential. After lunch was consumed, the examinations continued. This time, it was Doctor Sparkle that went to work, and she was nothing but thorough. She was going to check out his magic, his horn, and how it all affected his body. Since Princess Celestia had assured him that his magic was normal, he wasn’t worried when the overly eager Doctor Sparkle went to work on him. That only lasted until he was ordered to sit in a chair. She strapped down his hands, placed some sort of metallic helmet that looked like a colander covered with wires and bulbs onto his head, and plugged it into a strange machine. She then took what seemed like a rubber sock with wires attached to it and forced it down on his horn, then plugged the wires into the machine. He didn’t even have time to object before the giggling unicorn pulled a lever on the machine. Magnus wasn’t sure what to expect when he saw the lever being pulled, and he instinctively closed his eyes. However, absolutely nothing happened. There was no pain, shock, heat, or cold. The machine, however, released numerous whirring sounds, along with a wide assortment of beeps and boops, all while a steady stream of linked paper poured out of it with what like seismograph lines on them. In addition, the coloured bulbs attached onto the colander and the machine lit up like a Christmas tree, making the entire examination room resemble a disco in the late seventies. Magnus inhaled deeply a few times and assured himself that everything was fine. After a few moments, Doctor Sparkle asked him to power up his magic so that she could get a reading. Later on, he was asked to do different things with his magic, such as attempt to levitate a book, which he was unable to do, though she quickly reassured him that it wasn’t a problem. When he asked for a bathroom break, they gave him two cups in order to procure samples. Seeing no reason to object, Magnus obliged their request. After all, he was just curious as they were. Even though some of their procedures made him rather uncomfortable, he kept in mind that this was all for his own well-being, and was reassured by their professionalism. *** It had taken a full day, but the last test was finally over and the last sample finally collected. Now they had a mountain of data on their hooves. Doctor Sparkle seemed overjoyed, repeatedly exulting over how much precious medical data they had to work on while clutching several clipboards to her chest. Doctor Sanguis had maintained his reserved attitude towards Magnus, though Crimson was liable to chat away amiably to the human. Silverheart, the leader of the team, rubbed a spot just under his horn while grunting. “Never had to write so much in years; almost reminds me of medical school.” He winced slightly. Magnus slipped on his shirt and smoothened it over, then rolled his head around to work out a few kinks. “Guess you had a lot of books to read through?” he asked, having a faint idea how many books a medical student had to study before being allowed to even touch a patient. “Oh, a few.” Silverheart laughed. “Sixteen books in four years, numerous written papers, tests, and late hours spent studying with nothing but coffee and chocolate fuelling me. I have no idea how many times my classmates found me sleeping outside or at the local hayburger shops.” “Made little time for student parties, huh?” “I managed to get into a few here and there. I actually met my first wife at one. She later found me sleeping at the coffee shop she worked at.” The group shared a short laugh before returning to whatever they were doing. Magnus, however, had a question that had only burned brighter as the day progressed. “How long will it take before the results of the tests are available?” Doctor Crimson was the one to speak up. “I’d say at least a week. We’ll have to send some of the data to Canterlot General for analysis; the infirmary is well-equipped, but Canterlot General has a better laboratory.” Magnus paused for a moment; he was still a secret, but now ponies on the outside were going to handle his tests? “They’ll see those tests and wonder who they came from.” “They will know in two days’ time.” Silverheart shrugged. “After the conference, you’ll be public knowledge. I doubt there’ll be a need for secrecy much longer.” Magnus nodded; he had grown so accustomed to being a State secret that any mention of outside ponies triggered red flags. That wouldn’t last for much longer, anyway. Soon he could walk wherever he wanted: go outside the castle, browse stores, go to a public park, and do pretty much anything else a normal pony could. Terror and excitement both battled within him, with no clear winner. “In any case,” Silverheart continued, “we’ll compile everything into one single presentation and inform you when we have an answer. Should we find something that doesn’t add up or we suspect is dangerous, we’ll inform you.” “Thank you, all of you. I really appreciate the time you spent on me today,” Magnus said respectfully. “I’ve gotten some answers today, but I’ve also had some of my fears laid to rest. Thank you.” Their reactions were varied; Sparkle looked like she wasn’t used to such praise, blushing and idly kicking at the floor with her hoof. The stallions nodded to him, Crimson and Silverheart adding a slight smile. “Thank you for placing your trust in us. We may not be human doctors, but I’d say that we did our best with the knowledge and skills we possess,” Crimson stated. “I’ll bet that you are the most interesting patient we’ve ever had.” They chatted for a few more minutes before he departed, hungry and in search of a meal. Silverheart followed him to the exit, where his two guards were waiting. Thanking the doctor once again, they parted ways. Once alone, his guards relayed a dinner invitation from the princesses. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse; the vegan meal he had eaten earlier in the day was pony-portioned, and his stomach was still bitter about the fact. The mention of a royal meal was all it needed for Magnus to pick up the pace, though their longer legs meant his guards were able to keep pace with him. When he arrived at the dinner room, Celestia and Luna was already seated, their meals and several others being carried in by waiters. Celestia had a scroll in her magical grasp, while a quill scratched away at it. Luna was the first one to notice Magnus. “Good evening, Magnus.” Celestia tore her attention away from the scroll at that and greeted him as well. “Good evening, Luna, Celestia.” He hurried to his seat as servants placed a plate with a covered lid before him. He removed the lid, revealing fried fish with fresh vegetables covered in a spicy sauce. The aroma alone made his mouth water. He began digging in, not even noticing what Celestia and Luna was served. Celestia finished her letter, rolled it up, and instantly reduced it to smoke which swiftly dispersed, though not with the wind. To Magnus’ eyes, it looked like the smoke had a destination in mind, the notion reinforced when it flew through an open window. Swallowing his first mouthful, he turned to Celestia. “Can I ask why you burned the letter?” Celestia poured herself a glass of water before setting her cutlery above her plate. The dish was unfamiliar to Magnus, but it looked like steamed vegetables with a side of freshly cut hay, and sprinkled with rose petals. “I sent a message to Spike. When he was very young, I enchanted his fiery breath so that I can send letters to him. He is Twilight’s assistant and performs a variety of tasks, such as delivering letters to her. He can also send letters to me simply by breathing fire onto them.” Magnus chuckled. “Small Dragon Messaging System, huh? That’s pretty clever.” “I thought so too." Celestia laughed lightly. "It was difficult to teach Spike to differentiate between his normal draconic breath and his messaging breath. It took many months, and more than one singed mane, before he learned to control his fire." For a brief moment, the image of Celestia with her mane on fire appeared in Magnus' mind, and he managed to choke back his laughter. "How did the examination go?" Luna asked. Her smile faded, replaced by concern. "They did not find anything malignant, did they?" "No, everything is fine." Magnus drummed his fingers on the table. "My heart is strong and my lungs are okay; everything else was normal. They still have a few things to analyse, though. In a week or two, I'll find out everything else." "Splendid!” Luna exclaimed. "You have not come this far only to perish." "I agree with Luna," Celestia added. "After all you've gone through, I doubt fate would be so cruel to mistreat you again." Luna nodded. "Yes. Although there are questions left unanswered, I remain firm in my belief that you will live a long and prosperous life." Magnus couldn't help but smile at the sheer optimism emanating from the two alicorns. They believed so much, and wanted so dearly for him to be okay that their infectious good mood rubbed off on him. While they ate and chatted with each other, a puff of smoke suddenly appeared before Celestia. The smoke materialized into a scroll, which Celestia opened and read, her features brightening. “Twilight is coming tomorrow morning, and she will bring Spike and her friends too.” She rolled up the scroll and teleported it away. “The Element ponies, right?” Magnus asked. He knew they were important ponies, but he could not, for the life of him, remember their names. “Yes. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy,” Luna said their names with reverence. “Our heroes, the Elements of Harmony, my saviours. We owe them much, for it was they who cleansed me of my darkness, saved us from Discord, befriended him, banished King Sombra to the frozen north, and utterly defeated Lord Tirek.” Heroines. Saviours. Wielders of some strange friendship weapon. It was somewhat unsettling that he would be meeting and spending time with such esteemed ponies. “What are they like?” he finally asked. Celestia merely smiled at his question. “They are good ponies, representing our highest values. I think you will like them.” Magnus nodded, trusting Celestia's word. ‘Well, if I have to spend time with them in Ponyville, I really hope we’ll get along. Celestia and Luna’s won’t be able to bail me out of trouble when I’m gone. And that Pinkie Pie... Wasn't she the one who knew I was watching her?’ *** Earlier in Ponyville… Spike had been lounging in his room in Twilight’s castle. Ever since the castle had appeared and they had gotten familiar with it, Spike had picked his own room and had decorated it to his own taste. There were comic book posters on the walls, comics on his own bookshelf, a chest for his private belongings, along with a cabinet for the few articles of clothing he owned. He also had a bed, a real bed for adult ponies, though he rarely used it. His old basket was still in Twilight’s bedroom, and he preferred sleeping in her room, close to her. Some habits died hard. He also had a comfy chair that was perfect for his size, a gift from Shining Armor, his big brother, after he had saved the Crystal Empire. That was where he was sitting with the latest issue of Power Ponies when he felt his stomach bubbling. He quickly flung aside his comic book, saving it from a fiery end, and belched loudly. With green flames, a scroll appeared and landed in his lap. He instantly noticed the golden seal of Celestia on the scroll. He scooped up the scroll and scurried out of his room to find Twilight. He remembered seeing her in the library earlier, and knowing her, she would still be there. The library was on the ground floor. Even though most of the books at Golden Oaks had been destroyed, Twilight had done her best to procure new ones. Tall bookshelves covered every wall, from floor to ceiling. At a table in the middle of the room, Twilight sat with several open books before her, deeply engrossed with whatever words they held. “Twilight, a letter for you,” Spike said as he reached the table. Twilight didn’t respond. He was used to that since she had a tendency to tune out the world when reading. Out of curiosity, he took a peek at the spine of the book. The Noble Houses of Equestria was the title. It was an odd subject, but Spike had seen Twilight read about far stranger things. He had once caught her reading about the invention of paint. Seeing that Twilight didn’t respond, Spike simply placed the scroll in the middle of the book, forcing her to notice it. “Hm? Spike?” Twilight finally asked when the precious letters were obstructed. Spike merely pointed to the scroll. “Letter from Princess Celestia.” “Oh, thank you. Sorry I didn’t hear you; this book about the noble families is actually quite interesting. Did you know that Starswirl the Bearded's family still exists? That means Magnus also has family here. I wonder if he’ll want to meet them?” Twilight opened the scroll and began reading the flourished lines from Celestia’s impeccable magical writing. Altogether, they informed Twilight of news she had been awaiting for a while now. She grinned as she stood up and turned to Spike. “Spike, we’re going to Canterlot!” “Now?” Spike glanced towards the nearest window, the darkening orange-red sky signalling the lateness of the hour, which meant a distinct lack of trains. “We’ll take the first train tomorrow morning,” Twilight declared as she cantered towards the exit. “I’ll go tell the girls and make sure they’ll be able to come. Can you start packing our bags in the meantime?” “Sure.” “Great! I’ll be back later!” Twilight yelled as she ran out of the castle and took flight, heading towards Sweet Apple Acres. While flying, a thousand thoughts ran through Twilight's head. The discovery of the century, a new race, untold secrets of another world. Science, mathematics, history, physics, inventions, and thousands upon thousands of other things. There was so much to do, and so much to learn! However, first on her list of priorities came Magnus and his integration into the population of Equestria. The next few weeks were about to become very interesting.