Mootilda was a tan and white Guernsey who lived in the common area for milkers. Her stall was spartan except for a strange white circle mounted on the wall. She smiled as Applejack and Twilight approached.

"Hay, Mootilda! Brought a friend with me," said Applejack.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle! Such an honor," Mootilda said, bowing.

Twilight blushed. "I'm not that big of a deal," she said, "but a cannulated cow? Now that's something special! I've never seen one before. I hope it's okay if I watch?"

Mootilda smiled broadly. "Of course it is," she said.

"We ain't got a need for your rumen right now, but Twilight really wanted to see you in action," said Applejack.

"My pleasure," said Mootilda. She turned to the side, and there it was: a large plastic ring set into her pelt around a black stopper, embedded just aft of her shoulder. The stopper was about twice the width of Applejack's hoof.

Applejack took a plastic sheath from a small box beside the wall and covered her right front leg with it. She pulled the stopper out of Mootilda's side, which made a soft popping sound.

"We like to be hygienic, but it don't get infected," she explained. "Rumen's got so much probiotic there ain't no risk. Kind of the point."

Twilight watched as her friend reached her sheathed arm deep into Mootilda's body. The cow winced slightly.

"Doesn't that hurt?" asked Twilight.

"Oh, no, dearie, I'm fine! Just a little shy, that's all," said Mootilda.

The farmpony pulled out her hoof. A small amount of liquid trailed her arm and spilled out the opening. In Applejack's hoof was a large green wad of partially-digested grass. She squeezed the wad out over a bucket, and a translucent greenish liquid squirted out.

"That's all there is to it," said Applejack, and she tossed the grass to the floor. She cleaned the area under the hole with a sponge and replaced the stopper.

"Incredible," said Twilight. Mootilda blushed.

"I gotta get some chores done Twilight, but feel free to chat up Mootilda all you like. She prolly knows more about her condition than me," said Applejack. With a tip of her hat, the farmpony trotted off.

"Oh, I don't know much, but I'm happy to answer any questions I can," Mootilda said cheerfully.

Twilight looked up at the wall at the white circle. "That's your hide, isn't it?" she realized.

"Why, yes! They let me keep it after the procedure," said Mootilda. "Sometimes, cattle who needed my rumen will stop by and leave marks to say thank you." There were numerous little symbols etched into the hide. Mootilda had helped many cattle survive illness.

"You know, something has always bugged me," said Twilight. "Everything I know about bovine anatomy tells me use of the cannula should hurt, but no cannulated cow or bull has ever complained of pain. Hold on a moment..."

Twilight's horn glowed, and the area around the stopper glowed. Mootilda looked nervous. The magic stopped, and Twilight's jaw dropped.

"Is everything alright, Princess?" Mootilda asked.

"Mootilda, you're in severe pain!" gasped Twilight.

Mootilda grimaced. "Shh! Please don't tell anypony!" she whispered. "Yes, it hurts, but it's nothing I can't tolerate."

"Why haven't you said anything?" asked Twilight, stunned. "We could give you something to block the pain when somepony needs to use the cannula!"

"To be honest, dearie, it hurts all the time. But as I said, it's fine. I can handle the pain," Mootilda insisted.

"You don't deserve to suffer like this," said Twilight.

"To numb the pain for just one of us would require a steady supply of poppies," Mootilda pointed out.

"It's worth the cost, Mootilda! This is crazy," said Twilight.

"Princess, forgive my bluntness, but perhaps you don't understand because you aren't cattle," she explained. "We're people, yes, but we're not good with our hooves or with animals. You ponies provide us with food, shelter, and everything we could ever need. You ask so little in return."

"But historically, every cannulated cow and bull has said the procedure doesn't hurt," said Twilight. "Why would every cow and bull lie about the pain? Surely one of you would have said something by now."

Mootilda paused. "Princess, have you ever wondered why there isn't a singular word for cattle?" she asked.

"At least three times during this conversation alone," admitted Twilight. "It's weird to have to say 'cow or bull' every time. Why is that?"

Mootilda smiled. "It's because there's no such thing."