Medic smiled as he cradled Fluttershy in his hands. "Tell me, Fraulein, are we ready to study medicine?" He chuckled at Fluttershy's eager nod. "Well, the first thing we need to know to practice medicine is anatomy, so let's begin the lesson. I've prepared a study area, so just poke around and I'll tell you what's what. How'd that sound?" Fluttershy squee'd, her wings bussing. "Just be careful with your wings, don't want to make a mess." As Fluttershy smiled, folding her wings flat to her sides, he set her down in the prepared study area.
Looking around, Fluttershy poked a small, bulbous thing off to one side.
Medic smiled. "That is the appendix. Not sure what it does, but it's fragile, so don't poke it too much. No, Fluttershy, it is not a chew toy!"
Giggling, Fluttershy turned around, glancing at the sticky stuff getting in her mane and coat.
"That is blood, Fluttershy. Everyone has it inside them. It's often fun finding new and exciting ways to get it out of them, though." At Fluttershy's giggle, he added a caution. "Be careful of the intestines, though. Those are the loops and thick cord like things getting tangled around your hooves. If one of them breaks, then you'll have bowel fluids in the mix, and that's not nearly as fun. Stinks something awful, too." Medic then groaned. "Fluttershy, intestines are not for making necklaces. As cute as that looks, put them back."
Fluttershy giggled, disentangling herself as she poked at another large, bulbous thing.
"That is the liver," Medic explained. "It cleans the blood and recycles the dead blood cells." At Fluttershy's confused noise, he elaborated. "It takes things out of the blood that shouldn't be there, like alcohol." Fluttershy spread her hooves wide, and Medic laughed. "No, Demoman does not have an extra large one. However, I did improve its efficiency during his last physical."
As Fluttershy giggled, she glanced over at two other strange shapes, poking at them with a hoof.
"Those are kidneys. They filter out the blood." When Fluttershy pointed back at the liver, Medic laughed, pleased to see she was absorbing the lesson. "They filter out anything in the bloodstream that's no longer needed, including those things the body puts there as a natural function. It is called ultrafiltration."
Fluttershy nodded, turning to another large sack that sloshed.
"That is the stomach. It's where food goes after it's eaten, and where digestion begins." He reached in and tickled her tummy. "Right about here," he said as she squirmed. "Careful you don't break it, though."
Nodding, Fluttershy turned her eyes further into the study area, poking what looked like a pair of balloons.
"Those are the lungs. That's where air goes when you breathe."
"She learning good, Doctor?" Heavy asked.
"It seems like she is absorbing the lesson," Medic replied. "Children under the age of five do absorb new things far more rapidly than those who are older. Thanks again for helping me with the lesson."
"Is no problem, Doctor," Heavy replied happily. "Anything for Fluttershy-ooph!"
"Careful, Fluttershy," Medic cautioned. "That is the heart, which keeps us alive by pumping blood. And the metal thing is the interface for my Medi-gun, for both standard and overcharge healing. It's not good for it to be poked."
Fluttershy squeaked curiously, turning her eyes up to the large size medi-gun that hung down from the ceiling.
Laughing, Medic lifted Fluttershy out. "Want to see it in action?" Fluttershy nodded. "Finished studying anatomy?" Another nod. He set her down on a slab. "Alright, watch carefully." Swinging the medi-gun around, he switched it on.
Before long, Heavy's torso was completely sealed up. Even his uniform showed no signs of a hole. Heavy sat up. "That was fun, Doctor!" he said happily.
Medic grinned. "Glad you had fun." He turned to a happily clapping Fluttershy. "Glad you enjoyed the demonstration, too, Fluttershy. But now you need a bath." As she smiled up at him, waiting for him to pick her up, Medic turned to Heavy. "Aren't little ones supposed to hate bathing?"
"Only if it's not made to be fun, Doctor. You make it fun."
Nodding, Medic scooped up Fluttershy before carrying her over to a tub with a shower head suspended over it. He proceeded to use the comfortably warm water to scrub the blood and other fluids out of Fluttershy's coat, mane, and tail. She sat there in the tub, plainly enjoying the process. Once all the fluids were cleansed, Medic grabbed the shampoo that he'd mixed up for her coat and mane, proceeding to scrub that in. He couldn't help but smile at how luxuriant both looked once he was finished, and how soft they became. Once he'd washed the soap out, he grabbed the next bottle. "Spread your wings, please."
Smiling, Fluttershy spread her wings. Medic uncorked the bottle of feather soap he, Pyro, Engineer, Demoman, and Sniper had managed to formulate for the feathers of Fluttershy's wings. He carefully worked it into her small, downy feathers, gently working free any that had come loose and needed to be removed. Fluttershy, for her part, sighed happily at the ministration, needing Heavy to hold her up with one hand as she became completely relaxed from the gentle cleaning and preening.
Heavy suddenly belched, a small yellow feather coming out of his mouth. Catching it, he glance at Medic. "Perhaps we should have done preening before anatomy lesson, Doctor."
Medic glanced at the feather. "How did it get into your throat?" he wondered, continuing the preening. He glanced back at Fluttershy, seeing she'd almost dozed off. Shaking his head, he rinsed away the last of the soap before filling the tub with warm water. The added water woke her up as she began to splash a bit. Smiling, Medic lowered in a rubber ducky, which she hugged with a happy squee that was drowned out by the duck's noise.
Heavy shrugged. "She really likes animals," Heavy commented. "She need pet!"
"I don't think she's ready for the responsibility," Medic pointed out. "She isn't even old enough to take care of herself yet."
Heavy nodded. "I suppose. Though I think she might tame giant angry bear easy."
Medic raised an eyebrow. "And how do you arrive at that conclusion?"
"She tame us."
Medic paused, turning back to the happily splashing Fluttershy. "Perhaps," he murmured, smiling softly as Fluttershy ducked her head under the water to blow bubbles. "Perhaps."
lol first veiw
Wow, that's actually a touching line. Bravo.
fluttershy is so adorable, even when you see her play happily in your insides
Daww......
4604947
Patient Name: Ltmajordude
Diagnosis: A clinical case of D'aww.
Treatment: Read Hard Reset
Not only was this chapter as cute as the previous ones, I get a crash course in anatomy
Funny how the Medic was doing surgery on Heavy at the time, too
4604892 Indeed it is...
Fluttershy IS MEM
4604967
Result: I'm cool thank you.
Fluttershy seems to really like blood... That's kinda unsettling...
We're gonna need more blood...
I am a bit disturbed at the method of instruction, but I suppose when you have a wonderful invention that can (in Mann vs Machine) bring back the dead zapping you with regenerative energy it's not really a big deal.
And that.. is exactly how the medic would teach anatomy.
Also, the appendix stores colonies of helpful bacteria. They're a back up in case the ones in your intestines are wiped out. Though given how frequently people interact(and exchange germs), the appendix is basically in quasi retirement. You can get an entirely new colony of colony of intestinal flora by eating at McDonald's.
4605097
None of this was known in the late 1960's.
4605107
True enough. I just rolled high on my Trivia skill and wanted to share.
4604983 Sh... don't let her here you say that.
This is the cutest gore I've ever seen.
4605147 Agreed.
>Ecocat<
4605294
I wanna see fanart of this chapter.
Omg she was poking the insides of heavy, at least she was a bit more formal than arquimides XD
4605294 I never thought cute gore to be possible until today. but the internet has proven me wrong once again
4605552
AND THUS THE INTERNET HATH SPOKEN
Fluttershy enjoying a lesson in anatomy? Using Heavy as a not-quite-cadaver-yet model? This has piqued my interest, and has jumpstarted my imagination again. There's just one thing missing...
A cupcake.
If it turns out that she has enough anatomical knowledge by the time she grows up...
While I continue to enjoy this little almost episodic story, (and admiring the way you have subtly set us the readers up as an analog to the viewer supposedly watching the "show"), this chapter did knock me out of the story a bit. Since Fluttershy dislikes meat and refuses to eat it, I find it very odd that she would not only have no problem watching one of her friends get torn open to serve as a biology lesson, but that she would chew and play with his insides as well. It is a small problem, but still something that should be considered when refining and improving your story.
4605744 actually pinkies with BLU team.
Wow. Congratulations on the cutest gore scene I've ever read. How did they get Fluttershy over the natural reaction to the smell of blood?
4604106
"Didn't I just tell you that? To Heavy's house in Russia."
*We interrupt this program for an important newsflash. Some kind of biological weapon is destroying Russia's grain supply. They are lead by a monster straight out of a Japanese monster movie so it's probably them. Russia will now respond in kind and has deployed the Arm Slaves.*
4605815
What natural reaction? She's young enough that her reaction is still "new scent", which she finds interesting.
4605774
As for her not eating meat having anything to do with this, the idea behind this was Medic was giving Heavy a check up anyway, and Fluttershy showed interest. The fact that neither Medic nor Heavy freaked out about opening him up - in fact, both greeted it with enthusiasm - means there's nothing about it for Fluttershy to connect it to anything other than 'family fun time'.
4605909
Doesn't she have the natural instincts of a herbivore? I heard horses get nervous around blood.
On the other hand there is also historical evidence that horses have been eating meat for centuries. The only thing a horse can't do is digest fat. As long as the meat is "dry" there is no problem.
4605109
Ah, perhaps you are the person to ask then: Would a horse have a natural phobia of blood? And while their digestiv system can handle poor (dry) meat, can it digest fat?
Any help would be appreciated.
My reaction throughout the chapter:
Heh. Medic getting Flutters excited about science.
Oh my God... That image...
Oh geez... I only just realize that she's seeing the inside of Heavy.
Wait... if that's what she's seeing... how did he get so injured if the base isn't under attack?
(Quick! Distraction!) Ooh! Bathtime cuteness!
4604892
^ What he said.
4605945
Fluttershy comes from a race of civilized ponies. Civilization tends to cause instincts to atrophy.
4605965
He wasn't injured. Medic opened him up to give his modifications a visual once over to make sure they were functioning properly.
4606007
Ah. It's always unclear in the show how sensitive their nose is. Carry on then, and thank you for explaining.
4606007 Yeah, that does make sense in hindsight, but I did say that I was writing my first impressions of the chapter.
WRONG!
Digestion begins at the mouth first where the various carbohydrases (enzymes that break down sugars e.g. Amylase ) are produced as well as the mechanical break down of the food from using your teeth.
However this is a common mistake people make about digestion beginning at the stomach
Hmm, a living examination table, eh? Wonderful idea! It's always fun to Heavy by your side, that shaved bear with his Russian accent is quite humorous.
Anyway, I liked this chapter, as it seems Flutters is a very quick learner.
She is ready for boot camp, Soldier will be happy! :D
-Zeph
4606183
That was deliberate. Medic was giving soft science for a foal who hasn't even started talking beyond baby babble. Can you really expect accurate science information alongside telling her not to make necklaces out of intestine?
I bet Fluttershy is going to grow up and help the team isn't she? Eh?
I thought Fluttershy was poking around in Medic's fridge with the BLU Spy head. Learning she was poking around in Heavy makes it all SO much more entertaining. INTESTINE NECKLACES FTW!!!!!
4604892 Heavy not deep often, but when it happens, is most profound.
Another chapter of grown men fawning over a little butter-colored filly. And I loved it.
That's a grotesquely squee-ably cute image
Why isn't there fanart for this yet?
The entire chapter I was just D: but on the inside I squeed a bit.
4606264 fair enough
Why do I hear many shattering noises coming from my chest? Hmm... Probably going to need to check that out... *FWUMP*
My heart... It broken...
With medic being german I would think his dialect would be different
Ze healing is more rewarding than za hurting
Vs
The healing is more rewarding than the hurting.
Sometimes sepllcheck isnt your friend
4608006
It's more "I have no idea how to write accents, so I'm hoping the characters are well known enough to my audience that they can fill in the blanks".
I love intestine necklaces!
HeHe love the last bit there