BaronEngel
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Not in control
🕑 Added 2019-06-04 00:33:17 +0000 UTCPrincess Celestia closed her eyes and slowly took a breath and held it as she counted to 10 in my Equestria dreamscape. Then with equal care she slowly let it out. She then opened her eyes and looked at the 3 ponies sitting in front of her desk.
"Okay. What happened to her?"
Captain Firewing spoke up first. "You're Highness. Yesterday at around 10:22 while train 573 was refueling at the Ponyville station the prisoner Prophecy had a severe bout of seizures and then went into cardiac arrest. Chance Meeting This appears to have resulted from having some form of psychotic break. Fortunately the train was already stopped at the station when the attack occurred."
The pegasus stallion consulted his notes and then continued. "There was an army medic assigned to the train as a precaution. The medic was able to help her until staff from the Ponyville General hospital were able to arrive and take control of her. Her condition was severe enough that they were required to perform an emergency procedure at the station itself before they could move her to the hospital." He glanced over at the elderly unicorn stallion and younger unicorn mare who were sitting next to him. "For a more detailed medical report I think ponies with a more extensive medical background should speak."
Celestia's personal physician Steady Pulse spoke up. "As of 09:30 this morning the staff at Ponyville General had been able to stabilize Prophecy enough to consider transferring to the Palace infirmary. However she hasn't regained consciousness so we are uncertain what caused this attack. Normally she'd be sent to Canterlot Central which is better equipped to deal with this. However in light of the prisoner's unique medical, legal, and magical nature it has been decided to treat her here in the palace where we have the security network already in place."
The stallion tilted his head toward a much younger unicorn mare seated next him. "Canterlot Central has graciously transferred Skip Beat here to help oversee Prophecy's case when she arrives later today."
The alicorn used her levitation to slowly swirl the content of her hibiscus tea several times before taking a sip. She rolled her shoulders and then looked at Skip Beat. "Thank you for assisting us in this matter. Especially on such short notice. What in the way of equipment, materials, and staff will you need?"
Skip Beat nervously flipped open a dark green, silk-covered notebook and consulted it briefly. She was already one of Canterlot Central Hospital's best cardiologists but she was a bit in nervous to be suddenly sitting in the co-ruler of Equestria's office for the first time. Finally the pastel green mare spoke up.
"Um, well your Highness. Your infirmary has fairly extensive surgery unit and has a staff capable of handling intensive care patients. I'm, uh having what materials I will need to transferred from Canterlot Central and Gleaming Heights General. It should all be here by the time the patient has arrived. At that time I will able to determine whether any invasive procedures will be required."
Her horn flared and she quickly flipped forward in her notebook. "However with your permission your Highness I would also like to consult with Dr. Breeze and her staff at Healing Light Hospital in Fillydelphia. She's one of the best cardiologists in Equestria. Based on initial reports I've seen we may have to perform some reconstructive procedures on the patient's heart. I'd like her advice before proceeding."
Celestia glanced at Firewing. "Any security issues Captain?"
The red pegasus's nostrils flared as he abruptly exhaled. "I would prefer if we kept the number of ponies in the loop to minimum Princess. However, if Skip Beat needs to consult with outside experts that should be okay." He turned and looked at the mare. "One reason you've been chosen is because you've already been vetted for a security clearance by the Crown.
This startled the mare a little. "I. I wasn't required to go through one when I was hired by Canterlot Central? When, and why did the Crown feel compelled to do this?"
The princess smiled. "It is standard procedure of the court dear to do a preliminary security checks of all upper echelon hospital staff in the Canterlot area for cases exactly like this. Sometimes we have to deal with medical problems that need to be discreetly handled for security or diplomatic reasons. If a case like this comes up we want know to which ponies we can call upon immediately to assist the court when an emergency arises."
Firewing interjected. "The thing I am worried about Skip Beat is that when you consult these other doctors that you be as discreet as possible when talking to them since they've not gone through the same security checks. Fortunately Ponyville General's staff has already been vetted."
The young doctor looked at the captain. "Well it's standard procedure not to discuss confidential patient information with other members of medical community or the general public."
The captain grunted. "Yeah, but also don't mention any specific locations, or where the patient is being kept or that she's been through Ponyville in the last 24 hours. We've very politely asked the local press withhold publishing anything about the matter for the next 72 hours."
"Um, okay." Skip Beat said.
Celestia rose from her desk and slowly approached the young mare. "Now doctor. I have a couple of other things to discuss with these two ponies. Let me take you to my secretary True Note who'll make arrangements for a room here in the palace for you while you're treating the patient. Until our staff can take over the matter I must insist that you remain on the palace grounds. If you have any personal needs during your stay just let True Note know and the Crown will acquire them and pay for them."
Then with a grace that came from centuries of practice, the Princess of the Sun personally escorted the mare out of her office and then returned. She closed the door and returned to her desk. She finished her tea in one gulp as scowl slowly formed on her face.
"Okay my gentleponies. What's your take on this situation? Do you think this was a natural event or do you think it was orchestrated?"
The captain leaned back in his chair. "Your Highness. At first glance it appears to be a true, natural medical emergency." He his ears flicked back and forth several times. "However. I find it a bit too suspicious that this happened during the transfer."
"So you believe this was deliberate. premeditated attempt to kill her?" The princess pulled a bottle of bourbon from her task and poured herself and the two stallions a drink.
Firewing accepted the tumbler of bourbon from the alicorn. "Yes. But my default mode of thinking is to assume the worse case scenario."
Steady Pulse took a sip of his bourbon. "I will agree with the captain m'am. I have reviewed what medical records that have been found for the patient, and while she has a long list medical problems, seizures and cardio issues are not something that I have noted in her records."
A hard look formed on the princess's face. "Okay if this was deliberate act then how was it carried out? Magic spell, potion, poison and if so when and how? Why in Ponyville? Talk to me. We need answers. Now."
The red pegasus stared up at the ceiling. "The train car she was on was warded to prevent spells from be cast into its interior from outside. There were additional wards on the interior that were specifically designed to alert the occupants of any use of magic within the car. All those wards have been checked and they were in perfect working order. There was two unicorns assigned to that car that are experts in detection and neither of them reported sensing anything out of the ordinary."
Firewing took a drink then continued. "As to why Ponyville I have no answer at this time your Highness." He glanced over at the doctor. "Have you received any new test results doc?"
"Fraid not. I had Ponyville General run a comprehensive battery of tests to detect any potions, poisons, and residual magical traces as a result of spell casting. They came back negative on all counts. Her blood chemistry has some irregularities, but they are consistent with known, pre-existing conditions with her. All of her regular meals were carefully screened before serving. She did have some cookies that were randomly purchased at a station before Ponyville, but samples of them have also come back negative in tests."
Steady Pulse removed his pince-nez from his muzzle and cleaned them with a handkerchief before returning the glasses to their home. "The thing that bothers me is that I am seeing some similarities between Last Thing's condition and Prophecy's. They both experienced that uncontrolled time slip during the op in Manehattan. The Gatekeeper Many of the symptoms they've experienced appear to be similar, and the onset of those symptoms were quite sudden and violent in both cases." The Secret
"Of which your highness I am happy to he able to report some good news. Last Thing has stabilized enough that we've been able to take her out of the magical coma we'd put her in. She's got a long ways to good but she's improving."
"That is very good!" A smile appeared on the princess's face. "Perhaps she'll be able to provide some insight to Prophecy's case."
Then the smile faded from her face. "However we're still confronted with the how, what, where, and why did these events happen in the first place. I agree with you two. I don't think these two incidents are just random events. It feels like there's one or more currently unknown parties at work here, and they're calling the shots. We're not in control. Let's do something about that."
To be continued.
Comments
Baron Engel
There will be various ponies who will start asking more questions as they begin to grapple with the problem of who's responsible for all this.
ColdSilverD
Oh yeah, I have no doubt the 'similarities' will come up. In the same way. In the worst possible way. At the worst possible time.
