Chapter 8: Take It Easy
Ash wakes up a few hours later and sees Sweetie reading a book in the chair next to him. “Bored?”
Sweetie places a bookmark in the book and places in on the table before looking at him. “Not any more.”
“What were you reading?”
“It’s a book on the basics of magic, I’m still learning what all I can do with it.”
Ash chuckles, “I probably need to read it when your done, I’m still not sure how I’ve been moving stuff with my magic.”
“It’s a type of procedural memory,” Redheart explains. “Sorry for interrupting, but I knew the potion would be wearing off soon so I figured I should check on you.”
“What you mean procedural memory?” Ash asks.
“Procedural memory is unconscious memory, it’s the type of things you would do every day. The fact that you can talk, and use your magic proves that your procedural memory is fine. You should be able to walk fine, aside from the broken leg.”
“I see, I guess that just means that I lost the part of my memory that tell me who I am huh?”
“We call that declarative memory, now there’s a chance that your memory will come back, but we don't’ know for sure.”
“I understand.”
“Good, now Sweetie Belle’s sister is here to sign the release papers for you. She’s agreed to let you stay with them at Carousel Boutique.”
“Wait, you’re already releasing him?” Sweetie asks shocked.
“There’s nothing more we can do, he’s going to need some help getting around, and such, I assume that since you’re his fillyfriend…”
Sweetie interrupts her. “I’ll take care of him, don’t worry, just tell me what I have to do.”
“You’ll need to change his bandage everyday, come on, it’s time to change the one on him. I’ll teach you how, then I’ll send supplies home with you that should last until the cuts are healed.”
Sweetie helps Nurse Redheart change Ash’s bandage. “That wasn’t too bad.” Sweetie admits.
“The rest is basically if he needs any kind of help you need to be able to give it to him. Now his leg is in a sling so he doesn’t hurt himself, but given where the break is and everything you can remove it from the sling so he could lean on you to walk, but he couldn’t use a crouch.”
“That’s fine,” Sweetie says. “I don’t plan on going too many places without him.”
“Too many places?” Redheart asks.
“Well, the little fillies room for one,” Sweetie admits blushing slightly.
“You might want to get over that, cause he’s going to need your help to get him to the little colt’s room.” Redheart says, trying not to chuckle.
Sweetie blushes heavier, “I.. I didn’t think about that.”
“Also he can’t bathe himself, cause he can’t get the bandages wet, so you’ll have to bathe him too.” Redheart says only to see Sweetie practically turn red. “Let me get those supplies for you.” She walks off.
“You okay Sweetie?” Ash asks.
“I’ve never bathed another pony before,” Sweetie admits.
“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Ash says.
“Thanks,” Sweetie says.
Redheart comes back in the room with some supplies. “You’re already to go.”
Sweetie takes the supplies with her magic and levitates them into her saddlebags, then uses her magic to lift her saddlebags and place them on her. “So I can take the sling off him so that he can lean on me better right?”
“That’s right, just put it back on him any time he’s not leaning on you, okay?”
Sweetie nods, “And don’t get the bandage wet, right?”
“Right, I’d advise against rinsing out the cut, just use the antibiotic ointment that I gave you for now. The cuts should be healed up in about a week. Bring him back to see us then, and we’ll look at his leg, that unfortunately may take awhile to heal.”
“I’m sure we’ll work it out.” Sweetie says then looks at Ash. “Ready?”
Ash nods in the bed. “I’m ready.”
Sweetie takes his leg out of the sling, and carefully gets him to the edge of the bed, he gets out of the bed standing on his 3 good legs, is broken leg across Sweetie’s back. “You okay?”
Ash grimaces slightly. “Hurts, but nothing I can’t handle.” He chuckles slightly. “At least I get to be close to you.”’
Sweetie chuckles slightly. “You’re a charmer I see.”
Ash smiles as the two of them slowly head out of the hospital. “I’m trying to be positive.”
“Thank you.” Sweetie says as they walk out of the hospital and find Rarity there.
“Oh good, there you two are, I was wondering how long that would take.” Rarity says.
“Nurse Redheart had to teach me how to change Ash’s bandage and get my some supplies to do that.” Sweetie explains.
“I see,” Rarity explains. “There’s a few ponies that want to see you.” She nods to one side.
Sweetie and Ash turn together and sees Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Sweetie smiles. “Hey girls, come meet my coltfriend Ash Fall. Ash these are my friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.”
“Hi,” Ash says.
“I brought y’all something.” Apple Bloom says. Scootaloo goes to the side of the hospital and pushes a wheelchair out. “Applejack said it belonged to gran-papy before he passed. It had just been sittin’ in barn. I fix’d it up for ya.”
“Thanks Bloom,” Sweetie says as Scootaloo pushes the chair over to them.
Then Sweetie gets Ash in the chair. “You can still lean on me, just not all the time, okay?”
“No problem, getting anywhere would’ve been real slow the way we were.” Ash says. “This way you get to push me around.”
“How’d I know you were going to say that?” Sweetie asks as she puts the sling back on him.
“So it’s true,” Apple Bloom says as Sweetie walks around the back of the chair. “Ya got yer cutie mark?”
Sweetie nods, “Apparently I got it when I sang Ash to sleep earlier.”
“I’ve already arranged a small cute-cenera this evening for you Sweetie, I trust you’re friends will be coming?”
“You bet!” Scootaloo yells.
“I need to tell Applejack.” Bloom says.
“No need, I explained it to her myself,” Rarity says. “You both can stay the night, I’ve moved all my projects out of the main area of the Boutique, and you can have it all to yourselves.”
“You did that for me?” Sweetie asks.
“Of course,” Rarity says. “Now, why don’t you four head on to the Boutique. I agreed to take over at the Cake’s place so Pinkie can throw you a smashing party.”
Sweetie runs over and hugs Rarity. “Thank you Rarity.”
“Don’t mention it,” Rarity says and then heads off toward the bakery.
“Come on Sweetie, let’s go to the Boutique.” Scootaloo says as she grabs her helmet and hops on her scooter.
“Wait for me!” Apple Bloom says as she hops in the wagon attached to the scooter.
“We’ll meet you there,” Sweetie chuckles. “Something tells me you girls will beat us there.”
Apple Bloom looks at Scootaloo before getting back out of the wagon. “I’ll walk with ya.”
Scootaloo gets off her scooter. “Me too, after all it’s your party.”
“All right,” Sweetie says and they head toward Carousel Boutique.
“What exactly does your sister do here?” Ash asks as they arrive at the Boutique.
“She makes dresses.” Sweetie answers.
Ash looks over at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Um, I hate to ask this, but who would want a dress when we’re all walking around naked?”
“There are some ponies that wear clothes all the time, some wear them for special occasions. There are even some places that won’t let you in unless you’re wearing clothes.” Sweetie explains.
“Does your sister make any clothes for colts?” Ash asks.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Sweetie admits. “But if you asked I’m sure she’d be willing to try.”
“Good cause I’m sure I’ll need them if we’re going to go on that date.” Ash says
“If she won’t there are other clothing places, I’m sure we can find you something.”
“Good to know.”
They enter the Boutique and find it cleared out. 4 sleeping bags unrolled on the floor. “You want to get out of the chair and lay on one of the sleeping bags?” Sweetie asks Ash.
“Yeah, that’d be great.” Ash answers and Sweetie helps him out of the chair and onto the sleeping bag.
“Now tell me if you need anything at all, okay?” Sweetie asks.
“Um, actually, I just realized I need to use the little colt’s room.” Ash admits blushing slightly.
“It’s not too far off,” Sweetie says as she removes his sling. “Lean on me and I’ll help you.”
Scootaloo goes and opens the door for them. “Here you go.”
“Thanks Scoots.” Sweetie says as Ash gets up and leans on her, then the two of them walk into the room, Scootaloo closes the door behind them.
“I’m not sure I could help my brother like she’s helping Ash, and I’ve known him my whole life.” Bloom says.
“I know,” Scootaloo says. “Feels so weird after that class we had just before summer.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. Estrus and you, what a joke. I live on a farm, I know where foals come from.”
“I didn’t know that much, never really thought about it until then.” Scootaloo admits as she looks at the door. “You don’t think?”
“Ya think Sweetie would be that irresponsible?” Bloom asks then quickly adds. “Dont’ answer that.”
The door opens back up. Scootaloo quickly grabs it and holds it. Sweetie and Ash walk back to the sleeping bag and both sit down. “Well, that was a learning experience.”
“How do you think I felt?” Ash asks obviously embarrassed.
“You two alright?” Bloom asks.
“Yeah,” Sweetie answers and blushes. “I, um, just had to help him more than I expected.”
“Well, he is ya coltfriend right?” Bloom asks and Sweetie nods. “Then nuttin’ to be embarrassed about.”
“I suppose you’re right Apple Bloom.” Sweetie says right as Pinkie burst into the room.
“Did I hear that one of my favorite fillies finally got her cutie mark?” Pinkie asks.
"I certainly did Pinkie."
"Well, then let's get this party started."