Chapter Eighty-Eight: Diagnosis

The doctor reeled himself in from his initial shock at the fact that he had been summoned to treat a dragon-an adult dragon to be precise; one that potentially wasn't harmless like Spike. Clearing his throat, he directed his attention to the resident princess.

"Erm, pardon me, but… ah… he's-"

"A dragon. We know," Twilight Sparkle affirmed, nodding once. "He's also a very good friend of ours, and I promise you, Doctor, I will pay you VERY handsomely if you can help him. Please."

The medic, seemingly convinced, stepped forward to proceed with the examination. Scooping up Chenoa in her foreleg, Fluttershy removed herself from the draconian's torso to make way for the doctor. Wings fluttering, she positioned herself near Smokey's head in order to remain close to him.

"Ever since you left… the night you went with Pendulum… and when we thought you were going to be taken away and… That's when I realized. I wanted to tell you the next morning, before they came to take you away…

"But I woke up… and you were gone," Fluttershy lamented. "I… lost my chance to tell you then. Later, Chenoa started asking for you. It was the first time I had ever heard her say 'Dada'. For three days she looked around for you-even though I tried to tell her you were gone…"

The mare gave pause as her eyes birthed fresh tears.

"I didn't want to think that was true. I didn't want to consider that. I didn't… I couldn't accept it. Then when we found out that the blood on Pendulum's handkerchief wasn't his… I had to get you back. I couldn't let you remain in his power as some… some prisoner. So we set out to find you, and we did!

"And I thought to myself, I had you back… but I didn't think to tell you then, either. I was so glad to have you back that I thought I'd tell you when we were alone. Together. Just the two of us, once we were back here and comfortable… but, then… we came across those other dragons and… and…

"I nearly lost you a second time." A shiver shook the pegasus. "I didn't tell you the night before you left. I didn't tell you the night I DID get you back. I… I can't take the risk of not telling you again. Smokey, I love you. Deeply. More than just a friend. I-"

"Miss?" the doctor butted in patiently.

"Hmm?" Eyes swiveling to the doctor, she offered him a questioning expression. "Yes?"

"As heartwarming and lovely as this romantic tale is." He lifted his stethoscope in emphasis. "I really need to be able to listen for his heartbeat. If you don't mind?"

"Oh!" Planting herself upon her haunches, she brought her other forehoof to her mouth in embarrassment, whispering, "… Sorry."

The reptilian could hardly believe what he was hearing. The fact that Chenoa had looked for him after he left tore at his heart, but he was also elated beyond words knowing that Fluttershy actually shared his feelings. Holding a purr back, he remained quiet so that the doctor could listen to his fluttering heart. As he did so, he nuzzled the pegasus' cheek tenderly.

"Well, the heartbeat is pretty fast-though, whether it's from the trauma or the romantic admission I'm not entirely sure." The medic removed the stethoscope from the dragon's chest and carefully began to unravel the bandages from Smokey's wings, resulting in pained groans. "What happened to him, anyway? You mentioned other dragons? Was he in a fight?"

"Yeh-tryin' ta protect us!" Applejack relayed. "They really did a major number on him."

"I can see it. These injuries look very severe… Very severe indeed," he said, eyeballing the torn fringes. "Still, let me continue to examine him."

The stallion unwrapped the rest of his bandages to look over his lacerations, lips tightening into a deep frown and brows compressing against his eyes at the sight of inflamed skin and fluid. Horn glowing, he concentrated a beam of magical energy to scan him-inspecting his eyes, inside of his ears and through his scales in order to detect internal injuries. He hummed and nodded, marking down mental notes, and stepped away once he was finished.

"How is he?" Fluttershy prodded worriedly.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush. He's sick. Very, very sick. Viral and bacterial infection; looks pretty nasty. Good news is, it IS something that… can be treated. It's something many ponies had before, it IS something that can be overcome."

"And the bad news?" Twilight Sparkle prompted.

"Well, quite frankly… he's a dragon. I'm only knowledgeable on equine biology, Your Highness, not draconian. I have no idea what medicine he can take, which would be effective, what wouldn't be effective, and what would actually make it worse. Even if I knew what medicine WOULD work, I don't know what dosage a creature his size would need.

"That's not even covering the other injuries he received," he continued. "Though, thankfully, those… don't look as bad. Outside of those wings, really. He's got lacerations, contusions, and several bruised ribs… but nothing broken. Except for his wings…

"Fortunately, I can guesstimate how long those will heal since they're similar in structure to a bat pony's. Possibly within a few weeks."

"So… you don't know if… I'll ever fly again?" Smokey asked, still in the process of nuzzling Fluttershy.

"No." The medic shook his head. "You could end up in the sky within several weeks. You could be in a few months. You could be grounded for well over a year… It's possible you might remain earthbound for the rest of your life."

An upset expression splashed over Fluttershy's face, her nuzzles becoming more tender as if she were attempting to comfort her dragon. While she had been a poor flyer and firmly preferred to be on the ground, she didn't want Smokey's own ability to fly to be taken away. After all, Chenoa would need to learn how to do so, and she would rather her be shown by her father than to be sent to flight camp like she had.

Even Terra Cotta looked upset over the issue, as if SHE were the one told she would possibly never fly again-despite clearly being an earth pony.

"Oh… I… always did prefer to stay on the ground, but… I hope my wings will be able to fully recover…" He dropped an upset smile to the chick in Fluttershy's hold, at least pleased with how patient she was being. "I need to teach Chenoa how to fly."

"If… worse comes to worse, I can teach her," Fluttershy said, brushing her nose over the baby's downy cranium.

"As could I," Twilight Sparkle offered. "If I were a little more practically experienced, anyway. You and Rainbow Dash have been flying for far longer than I have.

… Now there was an idea. Would Rainbow Dash be adverse to teaching Chenoa in a few years, if it came down to it?

"I heard somepony mention me," came the unmistakable voice of the cyan pegasus. The mare glided into the cottage, forelegs occupied with full paper bags of supplies that completely obscured her face. How she was able to traverse through town and into the room without bumping into anything or anyone was a mystery that would never be solved. "I guess I can work in a few lessons after my training."

"I-we appreciate it." Smokey offered both winged equines a grateful smile, then situated his attention back upon the doctor. "What about my infections? If you don't know what kind of medicine to give me… what should we expect if I'm not given the right thing?"

"Depending on the medication, several things," the doctor replied. "You could have an allergic reaction, or make your condition even worse. You might sprout new symptoms, turn you comatose, or even result in… well… y'know."

"Well, there's a cheery thought," Rarity stated in a deadpan note.

"How can you say that?!" Pinkie Pie gasped, aghast. "That's not cheery at all! That's horrible!"

"That's called sarcasm, darling."

Smokey's mouth hung agape and his eyes went round as his brain gradually processed the concept of succumbing to death.

"I… I could… die?"

"You are not going to die," Fluttershy stated in a tone that, had she spoken it several days beforehand, would've caused Pinkie Pie and Rarity to suspect she was taking lessons from Iron Will again.

"I'm sorry," the doctor apologized. "I really can't give any more information outside of that. Just, keep in mind it's a possibility, not a definite." He gave a brief pause. "Well, we're ALL definitely going to die one day, I mean, but, you get what I'm saying."

"Thank you for your time, Doctor," Twilight Sparkle graciously said.

"It was a pleasure, Your Highness. Always willing to serve the crown and friends of the royal family… I'm just sorry there's not much else I can do."

"Don't worry about it. I think I know somepony who can."

"Thank you, Doctor…" Smokey exhumed a sigh as the stallion departed, his vision falling upon Chenoa once Fluttershy placed her back on his chest. Allowing this, he watched the baby curl up into a ball and release a squeaky yawn. "So… who is this friend, Miss Twilight?"

A knowing grin tipped the young alicorn's lips, meeting the gazes of each of her friends.

"Girls, who do we know that would likely have the best knowledge on any sort of medicine for any creature large or small; any herbs that could combat any infliction? If conventional cures won't do the trick, who do we call?"

"Zecora!" came the shared response-with the exception of Pinkie Pie, who spouted her own inane reply.

"Ghostbusters!" the pink-furred mare squealed, completely ignoring the collective expressions of incredulity.

---

"I agree the situation's certainly bleak," the zebra herbalist spoke, having been informed of the situation and had decided to examine Smokey herself to see what she could do for him. "However, I don't have the cure you seek."

"… Well, dang." Applejack sighed, turning to the alicorn at her side. "NOW what do we do?"

"Is there anyplace we can find such a cure?" Rarity worriedly inquired.

With a smile conveying resolve, she opened her mouth to answer when Pinkie Pie inserted herself between them.

"Ooooh! Ooooh! Let me guess, it's on top of a huuuuuge mountain, surrounded by polar grizzly bears and spear-wielding snow-ponies! And spear-wielding snow-ponies RIDING polar grizzly bears!"

The striped equine said nothing, merely glaring at the hyperactive mare as if to non-verbally question her on where she got that deduction from. Of course, asking such a thing would not have a rational answer.

"The answer to your question is simple and plain," she said to Rarity. "A common herb you can obtain."

"Awww." Pinkie Pie's face fell in disappointment. "You mean no grand epic quest fighting against fascist ninja sky-pirates?"

As much as Rainbow Dash liked the idea of going on a dangerous mission, they simply couldn't afford the time for it.

"Pinkie, we don't have the time! Didn't you hear the doc say how sick Smokey is?"

An upset expression fell over Pinkie Pie's face as the reality of the predicament sank in. To show she understood, she nodded once.

"The herb you seek can be found in yonder glen, past twilight wood in morning dew through the misty fen," Zecora relayed. "An hour's walk to the west, a minute less or more, but I suggest you do it soon…" She cast a quick glance at the dragon. "Considering what's in store."

"A herb in the glen. Got it! Is everypony ready?" asked the prism-maned pegasus, receiving a responding squawk from the macaw on her back.

"Mm-hm!" Pinkie Pie cheerfully hummed, immediately perking up.

"Ah'm in!" Applejack followed.

"Of course!" Twilight Sparkle nodded, turning her gaze over her shoulder and at the two remaining mares in their party. "Rarity? Fluttershy?"

"I'm coming," the alabaster unicorn confirmed, too turning to the pale yellow pony. "Fluttershy?"

"… I'll stay here," she decided, curling her pastern around Smokey's clawed hand. "Somepony needs to stay behind and keep an eye on Smokey."

"And the children," Smokey added, issuing the pegasus beside him a lovesick grin. "Besides… I want her to be with me…"

The mare nodded in agreement, smiling down at Chenoa snoozing away on the draconian's chest, then over at the newly adopted filly who was in the middle of petting Angel along the back of his head.

"Well, all right. We'll be back as soon as we can." Twilight Sparkle turned to Zecora, her eyes displaying a gracious shimmer. "Thank you very much for your help, Zecora."

"You are most welcome, my pony friends. Go now, your swiftness is what his health depends!"

"Right! Let's go, girls!"