Redheart helped me onto a chair as I gripped my burning leg, I let out a yelp of pain as I sat down, "I'll go get you something for the pain." she told me.
"No, please don't, I've seen enough marines lose a lot more than careers over addiction," I told her while grabbing her rear leg, "I can handle it, I've had worse, so please don't get me anything for the pain." I begged her, tears pulling at the corner of my eyes, she placed a hoof on my shoulder and climbed into an adjacent chair.
"Alright, will a friend by your side at least help ease the pain?" she asked putting a foreleg over my shoulder and pulling me in. I didn't answer I just leaned into her withers and closed my eyes, the adrenaline coursing through my veins finally started to filter out, forcing me to sleep.
I was stirred by Redheart jumping off the chair causing me to start falling, "Redheart what the hell?" I groggily asked rubbing my eyes, blinking I saw her bowing, I scanned the tall pony that was in front of us with a golden tiara and shoes, "I'd bow-" I said yawning, "-but my leg still hurts." I told her and received a scowl from one of her soldiers.
"Well, seeing as you saved the life of one of my guards I suppose we can overlook this," she affably told me while motioning for Redheary to stand up. "I am Princess Celestia and I'm told you are Dr. Anonymous, do you work at Ponyville General?" she asked watching as I stretched and started to stand up.
"No, I don't think I have the training to work on ponies," I told her, "I mostly work on humans and anything that isn't magical, except for that one bee." I said with a chuckle giving her a shallow curtsy.
"Well, why don't you work here?" she questioned, "you clearly know what you're doing," she told me flaring her wings and stamping her hoof.
"I would need to study first and get relicensed and I can't afford that since I don't have a job," I told her straightening my back and reaching for my cane, "Pretty sure I can't get a loan either; Oh, shit, my fucking cane, I left it at town hall." I complained sitting back down, Celestia had one of her unicorn soldiers float it over.
"We grabbed it from Pinkie Pie who mentioned you must've left it after the whole fiasco and was very worried said you had broken your leg recently," she said far calmer and more jovial than I would have been if a sexy-sounding woman had just taken over a celebration and nearly killed three soldiers, "Now, if you want in two months you can challenge licensing exam and practicals, I'm sure somepony here would be willing to let you borrow a few textbooks." she told me, and with a nod of her head she left.
"Redheart you got my back for a textbook or two, and a little heads up on the test right?" I asked she gave me a wide smile and wrapped a leg around me.
"You know it, buddy, follow me back to my place," she told me giving me a wink before strutting out the doors, chuckling I followed her. Redheart didn't live too far from the hospital, "I live so close since I usually take extra shifts," she told me opening the door and leading me to her room and grabbing a book off of one of her shelves, "And here is the general anatomy guide for ponies," she told me grabbing two more and handing them over, "and griffons, then dragons," she said before leading me to the living room, "Let's get studying, I got the whole week off so we can get you prepared!" she exclaimed and study we did.
I spent the weekends at Redhearts for the next couple of weekends and doing odd jobs for the ponies in the market for some food while I prepared for the exams. I also told Mayor Mare to put my citizenship application in. Thankfully pony organs were mainly in the same spot maybe an inch off or so, but mostly the same so diagnosis won't be too much of a problem outside of magic illness, I even stopped by the hospital a few times to talk about the trauma teams on-field diagnosis.
The day finally came for my exam Redheart took the day off to accompany me to Canterlot, my leg bounced as I sat on the train's bench, "Nervous?" she asked handing me a cup of cocoa.
"W-why would I be nervous, I only had a two m-month crash course on alien physiology and psychology before challenging an l-licensing exam," I stammered out before taking a deep breath and bringing my legs up to my chest, sipping on the cocoa, fuck I missed coffee.
"Don't be nervous, you did great while studying. I think you've got this in the bag," she told me wrapping a leg around my shoulder, "I'll pick you up after the tests, I have to visit my cousin," she said with a roll of her eyes, "but he did invite us to dinner so there's that," she said. I let out a breath I wasn't sure if I was holding and let my legs back to the floor.
"Thanks, Snow," I mumbled, having imposed my nickname from basic on her, "that actually helped, for some reason." I chuckled out while leaning against her.
"You know, why did they call you Snow White at basic training?" she asked giggling.
"I was white, I mean like scarily pale, and my family was a little rich," I told her, "and Snow White was a pale princess." I said as the train slowed to a stop. We quickly made our way to the university, well as quickly as a cripple can. Giving a wave to Redheart I took a deep breath and entered the classroom, handing over my bag to the proctor I sat down and waited for the rest of the students to arrive so we could take the test.
Redheart walked up to the university adjusting her dress, only to see a dejected Maus leaving, "How do you think you did?" she nervously asked.
Anna looked up and gave out a sigh, "There's no way I passed, I was completely FUBAR during that," stamping her cane into the floor, "Well, I did fine during the practicals, but the written exam, I just blacked out and turned something in, there's no way I'm getting my license." she complained.
"Well then let's just go get dinner then, and you were dressed nice for the exam, so you don't need to change, just put on a tie." Redheart said; leading Anna down the road.