Ever since the night where she'd kicked him in the head, Redheart had felt nothing but grief.
"I know that I had the right to be angry, Taylor even admitted that, but why did I have to take it that far? I know that Tartarus has no fury like a mare scorned, but did it really have to escalate that far? Plus, Taylor even came to me directly and told me, and he was extremely sorry when he did it. Now, I've probably lost him forever. Maybe the first mare to ever be with a human, and I blew it."
Redheart's sadness even went so far as to have her leave Canterlot earlier in the morning than Taylor did. She returned to the Ponyville General Hospital in time for the morning shift, and for a good while, everything seemed to be ok. Ok that is, until a fire-pony came in, saying that there had been a terrible accident, and telling the staff to be prepared. When the wounded here carried in, and Redheart heard that Taylor was among them, she couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't bring herself to go and see Taylor, but she did sit outside of his room, crying to herself for a long time.
"Why?" She cried, "Why did this have to happen to him? He doesn't deserve to die!"
A while later, she was confronted by James and Starlight, although instead of talking to them, she ran off crying. Eventually, Redheart did return to work, but later that night, she was confronted again by Starlight.
"You, um, you doing any better Redheart?"
Redheart turned to her friend. "Not really Starlight. Everything seemed great, then one thing led to another, and now everything just seems to have gone from bad to worse."
Starlight nodded. "Maybe, but at least Mr. Taylor's even still here at all. With the kind of injuries that he had, he could have easily died."
Redheart then turned towards Starlight. "So, tell me. How bad off is Taylor?"
Starlight sighed deeply. "Do you want an overview, or do you want the full truth?"
Redheart covered her mouth with a hoof. "Is, is it really that bad?"
Starlight nodded sadly. "I'm afraid that it is pretty serious. Aside from a broken arm and heavy bruising on his back, Mr. Taylor has also suffered from severe burns to his face, head, upper torso, and left arm."
Redheart was speechless. "Severe burns? How severe?"
"Severe enough that at one point in time, they were life-threatening. And very easily still could be. Unfortunately though, this isn't the worst of it."
"Um, what, do you mean Starlight?"
Starlight sighed. "I mean that, because of the flames, Mr. Taylor has also been blinded. Fortunately, this blindness is only due to severe flash-burn, and is treatable. One day soon, Mr. Taylor will regain his eyesight."
When Redheart heard that, all she could do was break down crying. Starlight held her close to comfort her. Because she was a nurse, Redheart felt Taylor's pain greatly, and she wanted to help him, but she didn't know how.
The next morning, after Taylor and James had woken up, Dr. Stables came to talk to Taylor.
"Um, Mr. Taylor, can I talk to you about something?"
Taylor nodded. "Yeah, sure Doc. Before you tell me though, I sure hope that it's something that could help my burns. I feel like I'm starting to fall apart at the seams where I've been burned."
The doctor nodded gravely. "Yes, Mr. Taylor, that's why I'm here. We need to figure this out. First of all, I'm just going to say this; in my entire career as a doctor, I have never seen a patient with burns like yours survive Mr. Taylor."
Taylor was surprised. "Um, well, thanks I guess? I don't know what to say to that."
The doctor paused before he continued. "However, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to be blunt with this Mr. Taylor. The truth is, you're broken, and I don't know how to fix you."
James looked over at the Doctor. "What do you mean by that, Dr. Stables? However, if you mean what I think that you mean, you're saying that you don't know how to heal Taylor's burns."
"Quite correct Mr. James. Also, I was going to ask you if the Humans knew how to treat burns like this."
James shook his head. "I'm afraid not doctor", he whispered, "When humans are burned like Taylor, it's always permanent. There's little to nothing that we can do for them. Long term, there are solutions, but they're not always effective, and even when they are, the patient is still always scarred for life."
Taylor suddenly sounded scared. "S-so what you're saying doctor, is t-that I'm g-going to d-die?"
The doctor sighed again. "I'm not sure Mr. Taylor. However, if we cannot keep your burns stabilized, then they will become severely infected, and then yes, death will be the result."
Taylor put his right hand over his face gently, and began to cry.
James wasn't far behind. "Gosh", he muttered, "It's really too bad that we can't just make this all better magically. But, this is reality, so who am I kidding."
The doctor turned to him. "What did you just say James?"
"Huh? Oh, I just said that it's really too bad that we can't just make this all better magically. But, this is reality, so who are we kidding?"
The doctor's eyes suddenly got very wide. "Mr. James, you're a genius!" He then grabbed some parchment and a pen, and began to furiously scribble a note.
James was very confused. "I don't get it doctor, how am I a genius?"
"Because! You suggested something that's so obvious, I don't know how I overlooked it!"
"Um, which is what? Magic? And if so, how can that help us? I mean sure, you unicorns can use it, I guess. But if you're a Head Doctor, and even you don't know how to heal Taylor, then how does magic help us?"
"Because, while maybe I don't know how to do it, I think I know somepony who can!"
"And who's that?"
"Princess Celestia! She's been around for centuries, with some of the most gifted unicorns of all time! If anypony would know something about healing wounds like what Mr. Taylor has, I know that she would."
The doctor then finished his note, sealed it up, and gave it to a messenger, who immediately left to go give it to Celestia.
"So, now what do we do doctor?" Taylor asked.
"Now, we wait Mr. Taylor. We wait for Princess Celestia's reply."
About an hour or so later, there came a knock on Taylor's door. James was reading a book on mechanical engineering that he had been provided, Nurse Freckles was assisting Dr. Stables with checking Taylor's vital signs, while Taylor himself was sleeping. Everypony and James looked up when the knock came.
"Come in", the doctor said quietly.
The door then opened, and sure enough, there stood Celestia. "I tried to come as soon as I got your message Dr. Stables, but I had to take the time to look through the Canterlot Archives, as well as the Castle Library, to see what I could find on this."
The doctor nodded. "I completely understand Princess. And what did you find in your search? Anything that could help us?"
Celestia reached behind herself with her magic, and from her saddlebags, she pulled out several manuscripts. "Yes, at least, I think that I did. My search for medical knowledge led me to these works written by Theodosian."
"Theodosian? As in, 'Theodosian the Healer'? Believed to be the most gifted unicorn in medicine in the modern age?"
Celestia nodded. "Yes, the very same one. And from what I have been reading, he encountered patients that had battles against dragons with burns and injuries not too much unlike what Mr. Taylor has suffered."
"And do the manuscripts say what the results were?"
"Yes, they do. According to them, Theodosian's healing method made his patients almost like new again. Aside from what he describes as 'A few minor scars, no thicker than three hairs from a Pony's mane, there is no trace of the injuries anymore.'"
"It all sounds so amazing", the doctor mused, "But how do we know if the spell really works? Or is it even a spell? What is the healing method in question?"
"It's actually a combination of a spell, as well as several potions and ointments. I brought as many of the ingredients that I could find, however, some of them seemingly can only be found in a hospital."
The doctor was curious. "Like what Princess?"
Celestia handed him a list. The items needed were circled in red.
"Hmm, yes, these should be easy enough to find. Nurse Freckles?"
"Yes doctor?"
"Could you go and get these 9 items for me?" He handed her the list.
She nodded. "Sure thing Dr. Stables." Freckles then took flight, and flew out of the room, and off to get the requested supplies.
When she returned a few minutes later, she handed the supplies to Dr. Stables.
"Oh, thank you Nurse Freckles."
"You're welcome doctor."
The doctor then turned back to Celestia. "I think that when we perform this spell, that we should have another unicorn who is strong with this kind of magic present, just as a precaution, as I'm not sure if the two of us can handle it safely."
Celestia nodded. "Yes, I do believe that you're right doctor. Now the question remains; who do we get to help us?"
The doctor thought for a moment. "Well", he said at last, "I think that we should get Nurse Cotton. She's in charge of the Trauma Ward, and knows as much about this, as I do."
Celestia nodded in approval. "Yes, I do believe that you've made a good choice doctor."
The doctor then summoned Nurse Cotton. Once she arrived a few moments later, she was debriefed by the doctor and Celestia."
Ok, I think that I've got this, but just to be sure, you basically want me to help you use a combination of a magic spell, and potions to help heal Mr. Taylor's burns?"
"Yes, that is correct. We need you, as a precaution, as I'm not sure that the Princess and myself can fully handle this. I would have asked Nurse Freckles, but as I'm sure you know, she's a Pegasus, not a Unicorn."
Nurse Cotton nodded. "Yes, I understand doctor."
As the three of them began to get everything ready, James suddenly had a thought. "Um, I just thought of something."
The doctor turned to him. "And what's that Mr. James?"
"Um, are you guys just going to try this on Taylor directly? Because I don't think that that's such a good idea. As you said before, you weren't sure if this spell would even work. Shouldn't you maybe try it on a test subject first?"
The trio looked at each other, and then back at James. Finally, Celestia said "Yes, I do believe that you are right Mr. James. We do need a test subject. Most likely somepony who has been wounded recently, but yet, not with too serious of wounds."
James began to rub his face a bit. "Yeah, where would we ever find somepony like that?" Suddenly, James stopped rubbing. "Wait, I think I know who could be the test subject!"
The doctor was surprised. "Who Mr. James?"
James pointed to himself. "Me. I could be the test subject!"
"What?! Why you Mr. James?"
James pointed to the spots on his head that still had visible stitches on them. "Because, I still have stitches that haven't healed. Plus, I also have three cracked ribs. Basically, I'm wounded, but not seriously. Wouldn't that make me a good candidate for the test subject?"
The three talked among themselves. After a few minutes, they turned back to James.Dr. Stables did the talking. "Well Mr. James, we talked it over, and we decided that yes, we would be willing to run the risk of testing this spell on you. However, before we do, I have to ask you, why would you want to do this to yourself?"
James sighed. "I'm not doing it for me, I'm doing it for Taylor. This procedure, if it works, would save his life. However, first we need to make sure that it works. I'm willing to put everything on the line to test this."
The doctor nodded. "Very well then Mr. James, we'll prep you for the procedure."
A few minutes later, James was sitting in the armchair in the corner of the room. His left arm was attached to various health monitors, and he was leaning his head back on the chair. On another table in the room, Dr. Stables and Nurse Cotton were readying the potions. To his left, Celestia was preparing the spell. In front of him, stood Nurse Freckles.
"Remember, you don't have to do this Mr. James. They can find somepony else to be the test subject." She was genuinely worried for his well-being.
James looked at her. "I have to do this Miss Freckles. Taylor's life depends on it. However, since I am rather nervous, would it be alright if I.....um....." James was blushing a bit, ".....um, h-held your hoof?"
Nurse Freckles giggled a bit. "Sure, if that would make you feel better!" She then took James's right hand, and held it gently with her hoof.
A few minutes later, everything was ready. Dr. Stables was holding a vial of blue liquid, as well as a vial of red liquid with his magic, while Nurse Cotton held a vial of purple liquid with hers. Princess Celestia was holding the manuscript with her magic.
"Are you ready Mr. James?" the doctor asked.
James sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Before the procedure began, James was also asked to remove his stallion-robe, so as to allow access to the bandages that were covering his cracked ribs. Once these were removed, it was time to begin.
"Ok Everypony", Celestia was very nervous herself. "This is it. The first trial of the methods of Theodosian the Healer, in well over 1,000 years. Let us begin."
First, the vials of liquid were mixed together, and the contents was gently poured first onto the stitches on James's face and head, and then onto where his cracked ribs were.
"How are you doing Mr. James?" Nurse Freckles asked.
"So far, it feels like somepony placed a lot of ice on my wounds. They feel extremely cold."
"Fascinating." Nurse Cotton remarked. She was also taking notes during this procedure, so that accurate reports could be made later.
Celestia nodded. "Ok, and now comes the extremely critical part. We must now perform the spell. Celestia then charged up her magic, while Dr. Stables and Nurse Cotton did likewise. They all repeated the spell together, (which sounded like almost complete gibberish to James and Nurse Freckles), and as they did so, a ball of white light began to form.
"What now Princess?" The doctor asked.
"Now we allow the ball of light to be absorbed by Mr. James's body, and that should complete the spell."
When they were all ready, the trio gently took hold of the ball with their magic, and after putting it on James's chest, his body absorbed it completely.
"Well, did anything happen?" Nurse Cotton asked.
James shook his head. "No, nothing seems to be happening. Are you sure that you....." James didn't get a chance to finish that thought. Before he could, the parts of his face and chest that had injuries on them began to glow white.
"Oh, oh, oh gosh!!!!"
"What is it Mr. James?" Nurse Cotton asked.
"Now it feels like my wounds are on fire! It feels like a mixture of burning, and my skin pulling itself tighter together!"
"How badly does it hurt?" Dr. Stables asked.
"It feels bad, but I've felt much worse pain than this."
A minute or so later, the white glow dissipated.
"Ok, now the pain is all gone. In fact, I can't feel any pain at all. Not from my cuts, stitches, or ribs! I feel like I did back on Earth!"
The doctor examined his wounds. Sure enough, aside from a few minute lines to show where his stitches had been, there was nothing there! And when the doctor checked his rib-cage, James said that he felt no pain. A quick X-ray also revealed that the cracks in the three ribs had completely healed.
"Fascinating." The doctor muttered while he examined James, "Whatever that spell was, it's seems to have caused cellular reproduction on a massive scale. Everything has now pieced itself back together to such an extent so as to be back to the condition that it was in before."
"So, would you call this spell a success doctor?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes Princess, I would call this a success. Now the question is, can we use this same process for Mr. Taylor?"
They all looked over at Taylor, who still seemed to be sleeping in his bed.
"I certainly hope so doctor", James said quietly. "For his sake, I would certainly hope so."
The doctor nodded. "Yes, I hope so too Mr. James. So now do we wake him up?"
"That won't be necessary doctor, I'm already awake."
They all turned to look at Taylor.
"How long have you been awake Mr. Taylor?" Nurse Freckles asked him.
"Long enough to know that James was used as a test subject for my treatment. It seemed to be a great success, am I right?"
Celestia nodded. "Yes, you are correct Mr. Taylor. Now, all of Mr. James's wounds are healed, and we're now preparing to do the same for you."
Taylor nodded. "Yes, but if you do, could you please use some kind of anesthesia? My condition seems to be worsening all of the time, and when my wounds don't feel like they're on fire, they feel like they're getting infected, or that I'm about to fall apart at the seams."
"And how badly do they hurt right now Mr. Taylor?"
"Very. It's a mixture of burning, and falling apart."
The doctor nodded gravely. "Yes, this means that we'll have to do this procedure right away. Your life depends on it Taylor."
Taylor nodded. "Just do whatever you have to do to save my life."
The doctor nodded. "Yes, we'll get to work right away."
While the doctor, Nurse Cotton, and Princess Celestia began to prepare everything for Taylor, Nurse Freckles helped James remove all of the health monitors from his arm. They then sat back to watch what was happening.
A few minutes later, everything was once again ready, but this time, because Taylor's wounds were much more severe than James's, larger doses of the potions were required. However, before they could get started, there remained the delicate task of removing Taylor's bandages. Unfortunately, this would prove easier said than done. While the exterior bandages came off ok, the ones closest to his skin got stuck to his burns.
"Oh goodness!"
It was difficult for everypony to look at Taylor without throwing up. Most of his burned skin had turned a horrible black color, and the parts that hadn't were an angry red color. Most of Taylor's hair was also burned off, and what was left was all blackened.
Finally, once Taylor had been put to sleep with anesthesia, using special scissors, the doctor finished removing the last of Taylor's bandages. Due to the nature of his flash-burns, the black gauze covering Taylor's eyes remained, as did the cast on his left arm.
Celestia looked Taylor over. "Hopefully, when the healing begins, Taylor's broken arm, as well as the heavy bruising on his back will also heal."
"It's highly possible Princess, However", the doctor warned, "We need to get this procedure going right now, as every moment that Taylor's burns are fully exposed, increases the likelihood on severe infections, which I don't think that our miracle spell can handle."
Celestia knew that the doctor was right. "Yes, so let's get this going right now."
Then, repeating the process that they had done with James, the doctor and Nurse Cotton mixed their potions together, and then spread them all over Taylor's wounds, including his broken arm, and bruising on his back. Then, with Nurse Freckles watching Taylor's health monitors for any anomalies, and Nurse Cotton taking more notes, the three of them once again pooled their magic together to create another ball of white light. This time though, the ball was much larger, and glowed much brighter.
"Wow, this is so much brighter than the last one!" Nurse Cotton pointed out.
"No kidding!" Celestia added. "Most likely this is because Taylor's wounds are much more serious than James's were. Ok, hold it steady, we're going to let Taylor's body absorb the energy."
Then, as carefully as they could, the trio lowered the ball of energy onto Taylor's chest, and let it be absorbed. Just like with James, for a few moments, nothing seemed to happen. Suddenly though, all hell broke loose. Unlike James, Taylor's body suddenly seemed to become demonically possessed. His limbs were flailing about, and his face kept contorting, but oddly, he never made a single sound.
"It was like watching a silent film", James said later, "Only with the added creepiness of Taylor's body putting itself back together."
Sure enough, James's statement couldn't have been more true. From what could be seen through the bright white light, Taylor's burns seemed to be getting closer and closer together, as well as getting smaller. New hair also seemed to be growing on Taylor's head, and the cast on his left arm also seemed to be forming dozens of cracks as well. Soon, tan flesh seemed to replace the burns entirely.
After a few minutes of this, the white light began to dissipate, and Taylor settled back down onto his bed, and lay still. He seemed to be resting comfortably, and all eyes were on his health monitors. Was he stable? When was he going to wake up. Most importantly though, were all of his wounds healed?