{"id":33686,"date":"2023-03-02T16:20:04","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T22:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/?p=33686"},"modified":"2023-03-02T16:20:04","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T22:20:04","slug":"chapter-27-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/2023\/03\/02\/chapter-27-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 27: Magic"},"content":{"rendered":"

An uneventful Saturday was winding down. Thomas was at home reading medical journals when the phone rang.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, it\u2019s Cazador with animal control,\u201d the voice identified itself brusquely. \u201cWe got a situation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Dr. Fairfax,\u201d said Thomas, perking up at the potential for action. \u201cIs there a medical issue?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was, uh, trying to reach Tabby, if you know where she is,\u201d Cazador hedged. \u201cThis is more her area of expertise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don’t you tell me what the problem is, seeing as I actually am a doctor, not a… freelancer,\u201d Thomas said, frowning. Convincing the locals that he was at least as qualified as his assistant was still proving to be a challenge in certain sectors. Old loyalties ran deep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Cazador hesitated, then went ahead in a rush: \u201cWe\u2019ve got a water panther down at Riverbend Park, pretty beat up, was in some kind of fight. If it was a raccoon or something I\u2019d just put it down; but it\u2019s a protected species, and it\u2019d be a shame to resort to that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This was something different from the domestic pets Thomas saw on a day-to-day basis, and it presented a welcome challenge. \u201cAlright. I can come out and assess the situation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cazador gave some further instructions on how to get to the scene. \u201cI\u2019ll just try Tabby\u2019s number again,\u201d he concluded, \u201cand see if I can get her out here, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine. Give me ten minutes.\u201d Thomas wouldn\u2019t mind having Tabby on hoof, but would Cazador defer to her? Though Thomas didn\u2019t hold her reputation as a magic healer against her, it would still be nice to be respected as competent himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby had been in her home office, engrossed in listing some artifacts for sale on eCove, and forgot her cell phone in her bedroom. By the time she took a break and realized she didn\u2019t have the device at hoof, there were a number of messages piling up, and she got to work getting caught-up.<\/span><\/p>\n

She frowned at Cazador\u2019s summons. Tabby didn\u2019t know how this was going to play out; Thomas would follow the letter of the law regarding magic. Her best bet would be getting there before him; and since she could teleport, she had a chance. It was too bad she\u2019d ignored Cazador\u2019s initial call, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that decision had cost valuable time. When she arrived at the park, Thomas was already there, consulting with Cazador and a police officer as another officer roped off the area against curious onlookers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo no one saw this happen?\u201d Thomas was inquiring, crouched by the body of the blue-green scaly feline.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, residents reported hearing screeching to wake the dead, and this is what we found,\u201d Officer Granite explained. \u201cApprised animal control of the situation, and they called you. Evenin\u2019, Ms. Fershund,\u201d he said respectfully as Tabby pushed through the cluster of bystanders and knelt down by the creature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDarn coyotes are at it again,\u201d a gray stallion behind the police tape was overheard to grumble, shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it were coyotes, there wouldn\u2019t be anything left,\u201d another one, orange, disagreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot necessarily!\u201d the green mare at his side argued. \u201cMy brother works for the DNR, and he says–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I bet it was crows,\u201d a yellow mare interrupted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>What<\/span><\/i>?\u201d The others all stared at her incredulously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCrows are scavengers. They\u2019re not going to take down a big cat like that,\u201d scoffed the gray stallion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I beg to differ,\u201d the yellow mare argued. \u201cI’ve seen firsthoof what crows do to baby bunnies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWas it exsanguinated?\u201d the green mare asked. \u201cBecause it could be chupacabras. They\u2019re not usually this far north, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProbably just a hodag,\u201d the orange stallion said. \u201cYou know how <\/span>they<\/span><\/i> are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As if a hodag would act so inelegantly, <\/span><\/i>Tabby thought to herself, surveying the magnificent beast effectively split longitudinally down the side. None of the bystanders knew what they were talking about. But\u2026 feeling uneasy, she considered what <\/span>could<\/span><\/i> have felled such a creature. The conversation of the townsponies faded into the background as Tabby studied the extensive damage. Even for one accustomed to blood and gore, there was a rising sense of nausea in her stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe’s in very bad shape,\u201d Thomas said quietly, lightly touching Tabby\u2019s hoof. Of course he knew she would protest his decision, and was trying to let her down gently, she realized with a rising sense of indignation. \u201cThere’s too much damage–broken bones, blood loss, multiple internal organs ruptured; the kindest thing is to just put her down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabby, what do you think?\u201d Cazador asked, looking at her speculatively.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we ought to do whatever we can, especially for a protected species,\u201d Tabby said with a sharp look at her boss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s virtually no chance of survival,\u201d Thomas protested. \u201cThis leg bone is shattered. Even if we patched things up and she survived infections, there would be lasting motility issues that would lead to her demise in the wild, anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI could do it,\u201d Tabby said, lifting her chin challengingly. \u201cWith magic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is far too advanced for an amateur,\u201d Thomas maintained. \u201cA single misstep and you\u2019d be looking at–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know what I can do,\u201d Tabby insisted. \u201cYou don\u2019t <\/span>want<\/span><\/i> to know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s good,\u201d Cazador said, siding with the mare.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever done anything of this magnitude?\u201d Thomas asked, looking at Tabby piercingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlenty of times. I healed a shunka warak\u2019in with similar injuries after falling down a ravine,\u201d Tabby recounted. \u201cThere was also a thunderbird that had been pretty well mauled–probably by a water panther–and a horned serpent with a shattered spine. And they\u2019re all doing quite well.\u201d Tabby crossed her forelegs stubbornly. He probably didn\u2019t even know what those creatures were.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas frowned, but didn\u2019t outright shoot her down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou assume, since I didn\u2019t have the correct schooling, that I only have the most basic skills,\u201d Tabby forged ahead. \u201cBut this is what Tiny trained me to do.\u201d Seeing the disbelieving look on Thomas\u2019 face, she pressed on, \u201cTrust me! Please! We can\u2019t lose a water panther, not like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can really fix this?\u201d Thomas asked after a significant pause.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she said simply, meeting his gaze unwaveringly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas came to his decision. \u201cWhat do you need me to do?\u201d he asked briskly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust be quiet!\u201d Tabby ordered, not exactly nervous, but knowing a lot was riding on her performance. She\u2019d been going back to Tiny on the occasional weekend to help him in his work, and had kept in practice with magic that way. It had been awhile since she had done such a serious operation, but she was confident in her ability. She extended her hooves and closed her eyes, entering a trance-like state. Then her work really began, as she psychically linked with the creature, felt its pain, and augmented its own biology with her magic.<\/span><\/p>\n

A peaceful calm overtook her.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas looked on in silence as bones shifted into place, blood regenerated, and tissues healed. It was magnificent, breath-taking. <\/span>She<\/span><\/i> was magnificent.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was true that from the very beginning, he had told her to keep quiet about magic (not wanting her to get ideas above what the clinic was licensed for), and she had done so (one of the few instructions she had ever taken seriously). Thomas had only made assumptions. This was far beyond the superficial wound repair that unicorns usually referred to as healing magic. More advanced techniques were taught, but the level of skill he saw here was only obtained after rigorous studies at an accredited learning institution\u2026 so Thomas had thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

So caught up in watching the healing process, Thomas didn\u2019t notice the passage of time; but at some point, the panther lifted her head, took her bearings, and cautiously stood up, testing her limbs and finding them in working order. Baring her fangs and showing no gratitude, she bound off over the river in a flash and was swallowed up by the enveloping forest.<\/span><\/p>\n

It had been spectacular to watch, but then Thomas turned his attention back to Tabby. There was a foggy glaze over her eyes; she was staring straight ahead, focused on something unseen. Waves of unseen ethereal energy blew her mane upwards. Her horn was glowing. She did not appear to be conscious of her surroundings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas hadn\u2019t considered the effect the healing would have on <\/span>her<\/span><\/i>. \u201cIs this normal?\u201d he quietly asked Cazador.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Cazador looked uncertain. \u201cI mean, sorta; it usually doesn\u2019t last this long…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabby!\u201d Thomas said, touching her shoulder cautiously. \u201cIt\u2019s done. You did it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cQuiet!\u201d she replied. But it wasn\u2019t her voice, not really–it was deep, expansive, echoing. She raised her hoof as if to swat him aside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas felt a rising sense of fear. What was happening to her?<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly the spell seemed to break; Tabby\u2019s eyes closed, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabby!\u201d Thomas cried, scrambling to her side, genuinely concerned, the wonder of the healed panther overshadowed by this. Some heart-pounding moments followed as he attempted to coax a response from her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her eyes finally fluttered open. \u201cThe\u2026 the panther?\u201d Tabby breathlessly asked, trying to sit up; but Thomas stalled her progress.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s fine. Everything\u2019s fine. You did great,\u201d Thomas assured her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Officer Granite ambled over. \u201cThought you said there was nothing you could do,\u201d he said, looking at the veterinarian suspiciously. \u201cThere\u2019d better not be any havey-cavey magic business going on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t as bad as the original assessment indicated,\u201d Thomas said briskly, keeping a close eye on Tabby.<\/span><\/p>\n

The officer guffawed. \u201cAw, I\u2019m just messing with you,\u201d he chortled. \u201cWe all know what she can do. I\u2019m sure you have skills and all, but there\u2019s nothing like magic.\u201d He looked carefully at Tabby. \u201cShe\u2019s okay, ain\u2019t she?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas was annoyed to see that Cazador had edged in on Tabby\u2019s other side while the veterinarian had been talking to Granite. \u201cShe\u2019s exhausted, but she\u2019ll be okay. I\u2019ll see that she gets home,\u201d Thomas acknowledged, frowning at Cazador before turning back to the officer. \u201cDo you need anything more from me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Granite shrugged. \u201cNah, I\u2019m good if you are. Evenin\u2019, doctor.\u201d Turning to the crowd, he shouted, \u201cNothin\u2019 to see here, ponies. Move along!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In a few minutes, Tabby felt well enough to stand, though she was still drained, and resorted to leaning against Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure you don\u2019t need me?\u201d Cazador asked, still hovering about.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Thomas shortly, and Cazador took the hint, scurrying off.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

The two unicorns walked slowly and silently to Tabby\u2019s house. Thomas was still feeling a sense of awe, not sure what to say. Tabby opened her door; he followed her inside to the living room, and saw that she was seated comfortably. Then he went in search of a glass of water. When he returned, her eyes were closed and he thought she\u2019d fallen asleep; but as he set the glass on the table next to her, she spoke.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said faintly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat for?\u201d Thomas looked at her curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI upstaged you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay. It was worth it.\u201d Without thinking, Thomas reached out to push a strand of hair out of her face. \u201cThat was really incredible, what you did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what did you think I could do?\u201d Tabby said with a bemused look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve never seen magic used for more than minor scrapes,\u201d Thomas admitted. \u201cYou\u2019ve had advanced training.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust the things Tiny showed me,\u201d Tabby said, dismissing the accolade with a wave of her hoof. \u201cI can\u2019t do everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was dawning on Thomas just then how dull this job at the clinic must be for her. \u201cI\u2019m holding you back,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s not so bad\u2026 I\u2019m just exercising different skills.\u201d She looked at him, biting her lip. \u201cAre you going to report me?\u201d she asked in a rush.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course not,\u201d Thomas said quickly. Is that what she really thought of him\u2026 well, he hadn\u2019t given her any reason to think otherwise, he supposed. Not knowing what to say, Thomas maintained his silence for a moment. They\u2019d never talked about this matter in depth, but something was driving him to be open with her. \u201cI <\/span>was<\/span><\/i> pursuing magical healing when I started college, you know,\u201d he confessed at length.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 what happened?\u201d Tabby asked, her expression inscrutable.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had taken on a lot of responsibilities–extra projects, conferences, committee work–along with the normal classwork,\u201d Thomas explained. \u201cI was stretched thin and wasn\u2019t thinking clearly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Tabby said, sipping her water.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone offered me an easy fix–so they said–and, fool that I was, I believed them.\u201d Thomas sighed. \u201cIt was a contraband magic injection that initially stimulates energy, but only as an intermediary step to siphon off magical power. Some unscrupulous magic user was orchestrating it to steal magical energy from users. I was just like everyone else, thinking I could stop before it reached that point. Of course, I was wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was strangely liberating to have shared this deeply personal facet of his life with her, and he forged ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey never did find the pony–or ponies–behind it,\u201d Thomas mused. \u201cIt’s hard to fathom that someone could stoop that low to take something so vital. How many lives could have potentially been saved with those essences of magic? The culprit is still out there, profiting off what they took.\u201d He shook his head disbelievingly, and Tabby succumbed to a coughing fit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cY-yes, that\u2019s terrible,\u201d she whispered shakily when she was able to speak again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn a way, what happened felt like justice. My parents always said magic was more trouble than it was worth. Perhaps they were right all along,\u201d Thomas said, surprised she wasn\u2019t berating him for being stupid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait,\u201d Tabby said, leaning forward. \u201cYou mean you wouldn’t take your magic back if you could?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve come to terms with it,\u201d Thomas said after a pause, wondering if it was worth mentioning the unexpected magic surge he had experienced months ago when defending Chlory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut you could have had a career in magical healing,\u201d Tabby argued. \u201cWouldn\u2019t that be a more satisfying and fulfilling life than\u2026\u201d She trailed off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it would have been better than what I have here,\u201d Thomas was emboldened to say and looked up, but she wouldn\u2019t meet his gaze. Thomas\u2019 heart sank. Had his personal confession been unwelcome? Had he misread the depth of friendship between them?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor that matter, what do you really know about the effect of magic on <\/span>you<\/span><\/i>?\u201d Thomas hastily changed the course of the conversation. \u201cYou were\u2026 <\/span>shaken<\/span><\/i> after the healing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s not that bad,\u201d Tabby said quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what if you go too far\u2026\u201d Thomas didn\u2019t finish the thought. Seeing her as she had been after the healing, distant and inaccessible–then seeing her collapse–had rattled him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just then the front door opened, and Strawberry came bustling in. \u201cTabby, I made cookies and–oh!\u201d She drew herself up, seeing that she had walked in on something. \u201cWhat happened? Is Tabby okay?\u201d She set the plate of baked goods down and hurried to Tabby\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, it\u2019s nothing,\u201d Tabby spoke up for herself. \u201cThere was an emergency case we were called to. Thomas just walked me home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re very pale. Are you sure nothing\u2019s wrong?\u201d Strawberry fussed. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Thomas related an account of the adventure, and Strawberry expressed the appropriate reactions. \u201cWhat an exciting time!\u201d she enthused. \u201cGood job, both of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I <\/span>am<\/span><\/i> feeling wiped,\u201d Tabby said with a yawn, \u201cand maybe I\u2019ll just take a nap\u2026\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Strawberry said. \u201cWe\u2019ll get out of your way. I\u2019ll just leave these cookies on the counter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas pressed Tabby\u2019s hoof reassuringly before Strawberry ushered him out, but she was so close to sleep, he wasn\u2019t sure she noticed.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

It was later that night at the Misty Hollow police station when Detective Candy Cane intercepted Granite, who was turning in a report on the evening\u2019s events.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHeard there was some kind of wildlife situation out at Riverbend,\u201d Cane said, stalling the younger officer and taking the report from his hoof.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, an animal-on-animal attack, got the residents riled up,\u201d Granite said, shrugging. \u201cThe vets came out and handled the injured critter. We were just there to keep bystanders back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Vets<\/span><\/i>?\u201d Cane raised an eyebrow. \u201cWe only have one veterinarian in town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you know–I don’t know their titles exactly–just using the term generic-like,\u201d Granite said, shuffling uncomfortably.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm,\u201d said Cane, skimming the report. \u201cSays here Dr. Fairfax originally planned to put the creature down. But, in the end, it got up and walked off of its own accord?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Granite said, meeting Cane\u2019s gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s a bit unexpected, don’t you think?\u201d Cane asked with a piercing glance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not a doctor; I couldn’t say,\u201d Granite stubbornly maintained his story. \u201cBut that’s what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m just going to review this,\u201d Cane murmured, turning away and whipping out a pair of sunglasses. \u201cLooks like this cat is out of the bag.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An uneventful Saturday was winding down. Thomas was at home reading medical journals when the phone rang. \u201cHey, it\u2019s Cazador with animal control,\u201d…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1071],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33686"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33687,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33686\/revisions\/33687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}