//------------------------------// // Chapter I - Ponyville Hospital // Story: Stay With Me // by Fabella //------------------------------// Spring Ponyville Hospital was the busiest hospital and medical ward throughout Ponyville as it was the sole hospital throughout the town. While pharmacies were present for those who needed to pick up medicine and get small vaccinations all other health needs had to be completed at the small yet humble and well received place. The building stood on the outskirts of the town and was getting too small to accommodate the ever growing and expanding town which was now beginning to be like a small city. While the hospital did end up getting an expansion it ended being outrun by the immigration and growing population that was being born and moving into the town. Today however, was one of those few days where it remained tamed. Lights beamed in from outside the windows as it reflected off of the blue painted walls of the break room. One of the mares who were present breathed out a sigh and looked out the window. White fur blending in against the white tiles and a strain of pink hair hanging over her head. "It's so nice outside and here I am, cooped up in this forsaken building." she mumbled. A saddened look present upon her face. Nurse Redheart was one of the most respected nurses present in the hospital. Earning the adoration of those who were new to the field of medicine and were sent to be trained under her. While she immensely enjoyed her job, she did wish at times that she could shut the place down and do as she pleased for a day. "When duty calls one must answer...I guess." "Talking to yourself again Redheart?" Nurse Redheart looked over towards the door and saw none other than her very assistant. A white and bright blue maned unicorn pony with eye shadow of equal color, she was one of the newest ponies to work here at the hospital having completed her training over six months ago. Her quiet and soft nature allowed her to be approachable to the young ones in the pediatric unit despite the rambunctious and sometimes rude behavior that some of the young colts and fillies all to often showed. Redheart wished she had her temper for she would be all too ready to strangle one of the poor souls. Despite her gentle and soft outspokenness, her young looks made it seem as though she was one who could easily be taken advantage of but her tongue was known for changing from a harmless dove to a viper when bitter. "Nurse Joy. What are you doing in here?" "I'm on break of course but the head nurse wanted me to let you know that the creature we took in yesterday has woken up. She checked on it today." Redheart shot up. "Its-its awake?" Joy nodded her head. "Yes. Sluggish, but awake." "But Ms. Neightingale stated that she herself would work with the creature one on one when it woke up." Joy grabbed a chair and sat down in front of Redheart. Opening up her lunch. "Unfortunately, Ms. Neightingale has a meeting to attend too so she doesn't have a chance to approach it. So she asked if you could do so in her stead." "B-but my break..." "She said that she'll compensate you for your time so no worries." Joy said chewing. Mouth filled with the contents of her veggie burger. "Ugh." Redheart flopped her head back down onto the table. "And here I was, having looked forward to my break." "Duty is like pee Ms. Redheart. You gotta answer when it calls." The older nurse simply narrowed her eyes at her assistant who simply stood blankly at her. The things she say with a straight face? "Fine, I guess I'll go. Not like I have a choice it seems. Maybe I can finally have a good look at this creature while I have the chance." "Maybe it'll talk to you. It seems like its intelligent. At least I would think so, since it came in here wearing clothes." "I would hope so, makes my job a lot easier." Redheart opened the door and gave a small wave to her assistant before walking out. "I'll see you later Joy. Enjoy the lunch." "Same to-wait!" Redheart turned her head to see Joy levitate a small index card size note over to her. "I forgot to give you this. Its a permission slip by Ms. Neightingale to enter the room." "A 'permission slip'? Since when did nurses need a permission slip to enter a room?" "Ever since Ms. Neightingale took office." she chuckled. "It's just too ensure that not anyone will enter the room. Show it to the guards by the room and they'll let you in." "She even has guards stationed by the room?" "That's the head nurse for you." "Talk about extreme..." she sighed. "I better be going. I'll see you later Joy." "You too Redheart." she smiled at her as she watched the door close. Nurse Redheart made her way through the winding halls lined with green paint. As her hooves stepped against the marble floor her eyes squinted at the paper upon the clipboard she was given. "It says that they've been moved to room....two twenty-eight?" She let out a slight gasp as mild shock struck her. Those rooms were mostly saved for those who were deemed a tad bit to risky to board with another. Often times it was simply saved for those who were causing too much trouble for the hospital's liking. As she approached the door she was greeted by two stallions. "Good afternoon Ms. Redheart." "Good afternoon..." she said with a hint of confusion. "Why the defense?" "Ms. Neightingale asked that we watch over the room as too prevent just anyone from going in and out of it. There are quite a few curious ponies around here that I'm sure wouldn't mind taking a peek inside. She's also asked us to ensure that all unauthorized personnel be kept from going inside the room at all times. Regardless of intent." She's taking quite the precaution isn't she? "Is there any particular reason your here right now? Your break is usually around this time isn't it?" So many questions. "Yes, but Ms. Neightingale wanted me to check up on the creature that arrived here last week." "Oh, really? You have any proof that she did?" "I do in fact. Nurse Joy took the small slip she had clipped on top of the pile of papers from under the clip and showed it to the stallions who looked at it closely. Seeing if it was signed with the head nurse's signature. "Now if you will excuse me..." Before she could take another step, she was stopped. "Excuse me?" "I'm sorry Ms. Redheart but we need to see an ID." "A-an ID? What in the-" "Please don't take it to heart Ms. Redheart! We were asked to do this by the head nurse!" The other guard spoke up who was younger than the stallion who stopped her. She frowned. "Fine." She begrudgingly unclipped the ID from her chest and showed it to them both who nodded their head approvingly and stood aside to let her through. "We thank you for cooperating Ms. Redheart." "Yeah, if you say so." she said slightly annoyed. Shutting the door she turned around to see the creature sitting upon it's bed. It's head hanging low as a leg dangled over the bed. It had two large bandages on its cheek and forehead and others littered across its left arm and legs while its right arm rested in a cast. Nurse Redheart's eyes became soft as she gazed upon what appeared to be a male of some kind. She had never seen such a creature before the poor thing was rolled in speedily to the ER for surgery on the night Fluttershy desperately called them for help. Being one of the nurses who helped in his surgery. Only now was she able to get a clean look at the creature. His brownish golden hair was unkempt and messy and his light skin was damaged and heavily bruised. WIth the largest wound located on his abdomen. A deep gash that took many gauzes to stop bleeding before being able to be stitiched closed. Despite that, he was a beauty to look at. His body stood upright and his figure was well proportioned. His long legs and arms had the body of a stallion who worked. The epithet of 'hairless ape' certainly did him no justice. The man turned his head to her. His face carrying an unwelcoming look. She gave him a small bow of the head. "My name is Ms. Redheart and I am a nurse here at Ponyville Hospital." The man simply stares exquisitely at her with wide eyes, unsure how to respond to the sight before him. He expected a creature that was one of his own but instead was caught in the midst of unbelief. Redheart simply stares back with a nervous smile. Unable to break the awkward silence between them as she herself tries to hide her curiosity of the creature staring at her with brown eyes. She clears her throat. "My assistant reported to me that you were awoke and so I decided to check on you." She sits down the clipboard on the stand beside his bed and ruffles through the papers in the drawer. Unconsciously the man reaches out a hand towards her causing the middle aged mare to jump. Ms. Redheart snaps her head around and is frozen at the closeness of this large unknown creature violating her space. She looks to the left of the wall and notices the help button not far out of her reach. What is it going to do? She remains stiff and frozen. Unsure of how to properly respond to such a large and unknown creature in front of her. The man remains unphased as he ignores his injured state and runs his long and thick fingers through her mane and slides his hand down her face, stroking the right side of her cheek as he does so. "You...you spoke." Ms. Redheart didn't respond for some time as the words processed through her mind. The man removes his hand as clear unbelief mixed in with confusion is expressed in his gaze. "Is it...magic? How are you able to speak?" The familiar word snapped her out of her trance. "Magic?" she shook her head. "Oh no! Not...magic. We ponies can speak just like...you." The man's eyes narrowed. Creating an even more annoyed and frustrated expression. "Impossible. Since when can animals talk?" Ms. Redheart simply tilts her head in confusion at him as he gazes around the room with a wary look. "This has to be a dream." The man gazes down at the floor but then speaks up again." Where am I and who runs this hospital? And why is that you can speak?" With each question his voice raises. "Who owns you? Are you a chimera?" The plethora of different questions confuses the young mare. "I explained to you that all ponies can speak and that you are at Ponyville hos-" "This is preposterous. You are not a product of magic or a chimera so now you tell me that ponies can speak?" Anger and stress seeps through his words. He turns up from his bed and places a hoof down upon the floor. "The explanations you give me makes no sense." Redheart steps back as the man threatens to come even closer than before. Fear beginning to be the expression of her eyes. "I...I..." "I demand an answer. Who is your master? What is this place? I have never heard of some place called Ponyville." "I don't have a master but there is a head nurse. Please, if you would but stay-" "I can't stay here." The man knocks the bed covers off of him showing his equine lower half. "I must find my way back. This can't be happening. Am I'm finally going insane?" Redheart watches as the man fights with the IV drop and the bandages on his arm. "Please! You are not well! You must stay in bed!" She pleas. Uncertain on how to approach. He is clearly disoriented. He shouldn't be moving like this. He'll open up his wounds... She watches as the man's hands tremble as he snatches the needles of out of his arm and casts them upon the floor Causing blood to splatter upon the once clean white floor. The sight of blood triggered Ms. Redheart and caused her to ignore the potential danger in her patient and jump in next to him. Using her hooves to try and restrain his aggression. "Please! You must stop this! You'll reopen your wounds! They have just been stitched together!" "Get off of me!" He shoved her with the base of his arm causing her to be pushed back. She caught herself and gritted her teeth at him. This is no good. He isn't listening to me. I'll go and get help! Just as she was about to turn and leave, the room is stormed by the three unicorns. All wearing reflective vests. "Restrain him! Ensure that he doesn't cause anymore damage!" They unleash their magic upon the centaur. Creating from their horns magic rope like bindings that encircle around his wrists and ankles. "Wait! Stop! It will only make things worse!" She calls out but her plea falls upon deaf ears once more. The stallions struggle to restrain such a muscular individual and barely manages to dodge a quick buck from his back legs as he fights with them. This is just great, just great! I have to get the head nurse! She runs out the room and dashes down the hall. As she does, she bumps into a cart carrying a patient causing a few glares from the doctors and nurses to be thrown her way. "Sorry!" she yells as she continues down the hall. Being sure to dodge any incoming traffic. Just as she was about to turn a corner, she notices a pony with blue curly hair and white fur. "Nurse Redheart?" "Joy!" she ran over to her, chest heaving with anxiety. "Nurse Redheart are you okay? I heard commotion when I was passing the room. I peeked inside and saw that the patient we took in was tearing his IV's and bandages and shoved you so I went to get security since the guards weren't there. They must have stepped away for the time to handle something." "No Joy! Security is only making matters worse! He's disoriented but he wouldn't listen to me." "I didn't know what to do. You looked like you were in danger." Nurse Redheart sighed and grabbed her assistant causing her to yelp. "I need you to go and get the head nurse. Tell her that its an emergency concerning the creature we received from Fluttershy." "Um, okay..." "Now!" Joy yelped and made a dash towards the head nurse's office. Redheart made her return to the room and heard a loud thud that rattled the room. She barged in and saw her patient writhing on the floor. Clearly having fallen off of his balance. The man winces and touches his side feeling a wetness seeping through the bandages as some of it pours out onto the floor. Mixing in with the crimson stains left by the thrown needles. "Oh no." Redheart rushed over to the man's side. "Move!" she pushes the stallions out of the way and surveys the damage he had caused to himself and that no doubt security surely exacerbated. "Out! I will not have you ruin my patient any more!" "But Nurse Redheart-" "Do as she says." A voice like venom pierces the room and causing all to fall silent. All eyes turn towards door as before them laid none other the head nurse Neightingale. Ignoring the following eyes of her subordinates, she makes her way through the crowd. Her curled red hair bouncing in the soft glare of the window as her beige fur reflects the shadows of the individuals who stood before her. Her long navy blue cape gently grazed across the floor as she made careful attempts to not touch the crimson stains that laid right underneath her hooves. She held her head up and her posture was straight and tight as though nothing could make her budge from focus. She was known as one of the best nurses in Ponyville and wore her title upon her hoof. Ensuring that everypony knew whoshe was and what she was about. She was harsh with her words and a stern critic in every way but her virulent personality was tolerated due to the fact that everything said by her on the job was to either better the pony involved or ensure a smooth running of the clinic. One thing was certain however, she cared deeply about her patients and took her job ever seriously and passionately. Almost too seriously as far as Redheart was concerned but perhaps it was the stern, no nonsense nature that made her so adept at doing her job as she had successfully kept her position as head of Ponyville Hospital for over twenty-years. She stopped with eyebrows furrowed as she gazed upon the restrained patient who was in no position to continue fighting. "This is the patient causing all of that commotion?" "Yes ma'am." "I see..." She picked up her head and looked towards the stallions. "Your services are no longer needed here. You all are dismissed." One of the younger stallions spoke up. "Are you sure Ms.Neighting-" Before he could finish, the head nurse hissed through her teeth. "Dismissed." The young stallion swallowed and followed after the others as the head stallion motioned for them to depart. As they exited, the young stallion was stopped by an older one as a hoof rested upon his shoulder. "When the old lady tell you you gotta go...you gotta go. Don't question her a'ight?" The younger stallion shook his head. "Y-yeah. Glad to know." He swallowed. She's scary. Neightingale watched as the door shut closed behind them. Not speaking until she was sure that they was out of view and ear. Leaving her and the other two nurses, completely alone with their fallen patient. She took her hoof and moved the man's face for a better look and waved in front of it. Watching as his eyes blinked only slowly. "He's not very responsive but he's alive. As for the wound on the side, its reopened no doubt but not as much as the blood will have you believe. It will have to be stitched closed again. Nurse Joy, go get some gauze and medical tape from the first aid kit and patch his wound. Once your finish, send word of to his surgeons that his wound has reopened and will need to be stitched closed again." "Understood." Doing as told, the blue haired pony immediately makes her way over to the first aid kit hanging upon the wall of the room and pulls it down. Bringing it over to the site of the injured man. She squats down next to him and removes the dirtied gauge and bandages and replaces them diligently with cleaner, newer ones. Redheart simply stares on with her head hung low and ears pulled back as she watches Joy work with what was no doubt her responsibility. Neightingale's eyes falls upon her and she senses her distress knowing that Redheart was just as passionate when it came to her job as she was. "Don't beat yourself up. Things happen Redheart. You did the best you could do." "I-I know. I felt it could have been handled better had somepony not gotten security." Joy shuttered as she felt daggers pierce through her, refusing to look up. "Leave her be. She did what she believed was truly best in this situation. Agreed that security made it work but I don't think there was any other way to secure a violent patient." "I...suppose that your right." Joy stuck her tongue out at the pink maned nurse earning a wrinkle of the nose. "Everyone did what they were suppose too but do tell, just how did things escalate so quickly?" "Well...I suppose..." Redheart hung her head down low and sighed. Rubbing her face with her hoof. "I-I don't know." She let out an exasperated breath. "Too many questions...too many things going on..." Neightingale looked at her with pitying eyes and rested a reassuring hoof upon her shoulder. "I understand but I'm going to need to get to the bottom of how things suddenly ended up the way they were here. Perhaps I can also gain a better understanding of exactly what creature was dropped off in front of out doorstep since he's awake now." Neightingale made her way towards the door but not before looking back towards Redheart. "Help Joy straighten him up and stay with her until the surgeons arrive. You don't have to tell them anything but only what they need to know. I will handle the rest. Once you two are finish, you both can take an hour break since you both sacrificed it dealing with this mess. Afterwards, be sure you both come to my office so we can talk about where to go from here understood?" "Understood." They answered in unison. "Good. I look forward to it." The door closed tightly behind her as she made her way back to her office. Redheart let out a deep breath and looked back down at the man who had all but fallen asleep. The morphine from one of his torn out needles finally putting him at ease. She watches silently as Nurse Joy finishes up patching up the injured man and then gazes out the window. Watching as the sky has shifted from the blue to a reddish orange. The sun lingering just behind the horizon.