Redheart woke up to the heat of sun’s rays beaming through her windows, warming her face. Looking outside she saw the same boring town she sees every day. Sighing she got out of bed and started getting ready for the same monotonous work. Walking over to the same dull bathroom, she splashed a little bit of water into her face to wake up. Brushing her teeth she rinsed and showered. Work wasn’t bad, she worked as a nurse, it paid fairly well, and she was happy to help others… but it had become repetitious. Everyday somepony would come in sick, or with a broken arm or leg, she would help patch them up, and then they would be sent on their merry way. Literally the most exciting part of the day was waiting for Derpy to come in, as she often mixed up just about every address for the hospital. She put on the customary headpiece with the Red Cross, and she walked up to her drawer.
Reaching inside she pulled out a photo of her personal hero, Dr. Scalpel. He was a tan colored unicorn, with an inky black combed mane, in a white lab coat that had a bit of blood stained at the sleeves and at the tail (nopony knew why he walked around in it). Scalpel was one of the most famous Doctors in the world; working behind closed doors he would never let anypony see his work first hoof. All that was really known about him was that he had never lost a patient during his career; he wore a bloodstained lab coat wherever he would go, and he always kept a protégé around with him. However, said protégé was always changing, mainly because the old ones would quit for some reason or another. It had been his miracle work that had brought her to work as a nurse, and it was the mystery surrounding him that kept her pushing through the repetition of each day.
Putting the photo down she sighed and walked out of her home, luckily she lived right near the the hospital so she was able to walk to work every day. Entering she greeted the girl at the desk and turned down a hallway. She began walking to where she was needed to be before a friend stopped her, smiling about something she was hiding.
“Hey Redheart, did you hear?” she asked, it was obvious she was struggling to not come right out with it.
“No…” Redheart answered slowly, “what?”
“Oh… thought you would have heard…”
Slightly annoyed at the day already she wasn’t quite in the mood for this. “Cheryl, just tell me what it is, I don’t have time for this.”
Smirking at having successfully being an annoyance Cheryl finally came out with it. “Nothing… except for the fact that THE Doctor Scalpel is coming to work HERE, AND that he’s looking for another new protégé…” Having said this Cheryl sat back and watched the surprise light up Redheart’s face, and then they both joined in a loud squee.
“Really!?”
“Yes, really!”
“When is he supposed to get here?”
“Tomorrow Morning!”
The two friends talked for three minutes, chatting away faster than a speeding bullet. Nonstop before Redheart calmed down enough to remember she had a job to do. Saying a quick farewell she ran with renewed energy, rushing through the day as quickly as she could. The day went as usual today; Rainbow dash with a broken wing from a crash, Scootaloo with a broken leg from trying to replicate said crash, Derpy coming in looking for Sugarcube Corner, nothing too exciting. When the day ended she said her goodbyes and ran back home as quickly as she could.
‘I can’t believe it…’ Redheart thought, closing the door behind her. ‘He’s really… really coming here…’ Taking in a deep breath she calmed down and took her headpiece off, she just couldn’t wait for the next day. But then a thought came to her, what would happen if she didn’t even get to see him? If they did meet, what would she say to him?
‘He’s looking for a student, maybe I can ask… No, he would never pick me... But I have to try at least!’ Reassuring herself Redheart made dinner and went to bed early. By Celestia, Tomorrow was going to be perfect.
The next morning she once again woke up to the same warmth of the sun, got out of the same bed, and got ready as if today was going to be the same as any day… however she had a renewed look on her face. Smiling she put on her customary head piece and walked over to the drawer. Reaching inside she pulled out the photo yet again. Scalpel’s smile in the image gave her a bit of courage, today was the day she would become his assistant for sure! Almost bouncing to work she walked in to see the same receptionist as always, however she seemed a bit more depressed than before.
“Excuse me… Has Dr. Scal-”
“No, no he hasn’t, not yet anyway…” The receptionist cut her off, having obviously been asked that question at least 30 times.
“When would he be-” Redheart was interrupted once again, but this time by an unfamiliar voice that had a suspicious german accent.
“Right now... my dear Fräulein” Redheart pivoted around, coming face to face with the big name himself. He was dressed in a black suit and bow tie under his signature bloodstained lab coat. “Judging from your expression I assume you’re a big fan?” Wide eyed Nurse Redheart couldn’t even manage to stutter out a yes, so she simply nodded her head. “Oh, and by the headpiece is it safe to assume you vork here as well?”
“Y-yes, I work as a-a nurse!” shaking her head she takes a deep breath and calms down, she was sure she was shaking more than Pinkie Pie having a sugar rush during an earthquake. She had witnessed this mind bending event only once during her years… Pinkie’s friends were thinking she was going to tear through dimensions if she didn’t stop (the earthquake was a cruel act of chance). In the end Pinkie pie was injected with enough tranquilizers to kill an Ursa Major before she started moving at “Normal” speeds. “I’m… Redheart, it means so much to finally meet you.”
“Oh?”
“Well you’re the reason that I’m working in the field,…” Redheart suddenly became a bit nervous, quieting to near Fluttershy levels. “You’ve always been my hero…” She felt herself blush, and looked down in an attempt to hide her red cheeks.
Scalpel smiled as he walked around her, notifying the receptionist that he had arrived, and turned back to Redheart. Looking her over he looked deep in thought before his face lit up. “Vell Miss Redheart, as you probably know my last Protégé has abandoned me, and I’m currently looking for a new one. vould you give me ze honor and fill zat position?”
Astonished Redheart’s jaw dropped, she couldn’t move at all. She thought that she would have to fight, a dozen others to even have a chance to be selected… and then he walks up and gives asks her if she wanted to be. This had to be some kind of dream, or heaven, there was no way this was happening. “Vell venever you make up your mind they assigned me an office on ze top floor, room 34… Funny number really, but ve vill have time to talk about zat later, come meet me ven you’re ready. In ze meantime…” The doctor turned around and whistled. Two fillies entered the hospital, carrying several times their weight in luggage. “Excuse me, I believe ze elevators are having repairs, it would appear you need to take ze stairs.” The exasperated sigh of a two young fillies that were carrying his luggage filled the air.
Turning back to Redheart he winked and whispered “You can never find good help zese days” Before heading off, the fillies pacing at a snail’s rate behind him.
Redheart stood there for a five solid minutes (the girl at the desk timed it) without moving, and she still didn’t until the Cheryl walked in. Rushing into Cheryl’s face she tried to explain what had happened, but it mainly came out as indecipherable nonsense.
“Calm down Red, start from the beginning.” Her friend said as she put a hoof on Redheart’s shoulder. Cheryl listened intently, soon being overcome with the same ecstasy, as she hung on to every detail. After the nurse finished her story about the previous 60 seconds of her life they emitted yet another squee and hugged.
“And this is all true?”
“Yep, every last word of it.”
“Well don’t keep him waiting!”
“Right!”
While her friend ran off to join her hero at the top floor, Cheryl kept on smiling, but muttered through gritted teeth. “Why couldn’t it have been me?”
“Because you aren’t the main character of the story, and you have a job to do.” The receptionist answered, much to her surprise and confusion.
“Wha?”
“Oh don’t worry about it, I’ve been hanging out with Pinkie Pie recently, and we’re about to cut upstairs in a few seconds.”
“But what are you talking about?”
-----([Upstairs])
Nurse Redheart managed to reached the top of the final flight of stairs before falling onto the cold, hard, floor; she had rushed so quickly up them that she was completely out of breath. Taking a few minutes respite she got back up and entered the hallway. Looking to the nearest door numbers “43, 45, 46,” she turned to the right end of the hallway, towards where the numbers pointed to. Finding door she could hear a bit of ruckus from behind it. Putting her ear to the door she tried to listen in, right as a violent crash erupted from within. Wondering just what was going on she knocked three times and waited patiently. She heard a bit of scrambling before he finally cracked it open and poked his head out.
“Ah, Nurse, have you made your decision?”
“I have, the answer is yes!”
“wunderbar, now if you could just step in…” When he opened the door Nurse Redheart was shocked to see that the entire office had been changed from the normal office vector. He had painted the walls maroon, with a white molding. Along the sides of the wall several Tables held aloft exotic plants and works of art. Paintings and photographs of him and his many apprentices had been hung up around the room. Somehow he had managed to install several hanging lights, which lit up the room brighter than the sun would have from a window. Leading to his desk was a large carpet, the original desk having been swapped out for an impressive model made of mahogany. Behind his desk laid a queen sized bed that had some of the suitcases from before on them.
“I need your honest opinion,” He spoke up again “should ze desk be here…” using his magic he grabbed the large desk and moved it three inches to the left. “Or over zere?” Moving it back and forth for a couple moments before he stopped and scratched his chin as Redheart started voicing her questions.
“Firstly, may I ask when you had the time to do ALL of this? I had thought it was strange when you had the kids bring all of that luggage you were making them carry in, but It only took about ten minutes for me to get here.”
“Oh, vell magic is always helpful, I honestly have no idea how you live without it.”
Ignoring that he waved it off onto magic Red continued “Ok… and secondly, why is the bed in here, you don’t plan on… Living here, do you?”
“Sadly, I vouldn’t sleep in a hotel even if I could help it, all of ze houses had others nearby, really zis is ze only place zat is nice and peaceful.”
“Are you sure everypony is ok with this?”
“I brought it up with ze big boys in charge, zey vouldn’t argue with me.” That last lined worried Redheart a bit, but any other thoughts or doubts were immediately swept away by the fact that her hero was standing there… she was living the dream she always had. “Now back to ze important questions… here, or zere…” He had been continuously moving the table back and forth, constantly until he decided on a nice spot 6 inches to the right of where he began. “Perfect! Any other questions, miss Heart?”
“Uh, nope.” She lied through strained teeth; a thousand questions were circling in her head, most unprofessional fan banter. She did have a few legitimate questions though, like how he managed to work behind closed doors constantly, what was with the blood on the lab coat, was it true he had a Cerberus pup as a pet?
‘Oops, getting fangasm-y again…’ she thought, looking to her teacher who had moved onto a painting that he swore was off kilter by just the slightest.
“Vhy can’t zis just, be, STRAIGHT!?” In a fit of rage he swung the painting at the wall, but after looking at it again he smiled. “Ah, zat’s better, nice and symmetrical.”
‘Well… now I know why the others quit.’ Keeping this thought in the back of her mind she kept a hearty smile up. Unlike them she was going to stick by his side. All of the other students just didn’t have the conviction that she did, and she was going to prove it.
“Vell now zat we have the room perfect, we’re ready for venever zey call us in to do our thing.” He gleefully walked over to his desk and sat down in the chair, when a moment of realization came to his face. “OH vait! First couple days getting settled in, ja… vell luckily as I was coming here I ran into a delightful pink mare who taught me about ze magic of transition.”
The author, readers, and Redheart were all confused at the second breach of the fourth wall when he began searching through his desk, throwing pieces of paper and the occasional knife out of his way until he found what he was looking for.
“Now if zis works ve should jump to ze interesting part of ze story, just have to sketch zis right here, aaaand”
-----([Weeks later])
Nurse Redheart and Dr. Scalpel walked through the double doors into the surgery room, Scalpel making sure to lock the doors behind him. “Lately I have been getting some trying to peak in on my work, precautions, precautions.”
“But sir” Red began, a bit of a worried look on her face. “That seems very unprofessional, dangerous ev-”
“Shut up nurse!” He yelled, interrupting her “oops sorry, but I am ze doctor here, I know vat is best.”
A voice in the back of her mind was telling her that this wasn’t right… but suddenly it got quieter, other voices spoke over it, saying that she had been with him for some time now, and while he was a little unorthodox he always had that stroke of genius (and a little obsession) to him. She didn’t know what it was but he seemed oddly… compelling. Ever since they started she would never question what was asked of her, no matter how ludicrous. At first it was out of respect, but lately it had been something else. She didn’t’ know what it was… but something deep down was telling her to go along with this. Soon the voice spoke softer, and then it became a whisper, and then silence.
The two walked over to the operating table, one of the Canterlot royal guards was strapped down and had been put under, waiting for them. Looking over the tools around them she saw the standard equipment, but a few other tools were lying around as well, no doubt a request from Scalpel. An old-time bone saw was lying next to the normal scalpels, and next to it a power saw. On another table resided a hand drill, several screws, a bowl of cockroaches, a vat of glue, and a rubber chicken. On another table resided several syringes, most of which standard issue, but a few had strange labels on them. An orange one for example was labeled “Orange juice”, while a purple one next to it had “In case of emergency liver attack”. What really caught her eye was a black syringe, merely having “???” etched into the glass. On the final table rested a mini fridge and several small empty plates, also some mayonnaise.
“Ok Nurse, let us begin. Firstly I would like to say hello to Bob right here, ve vere great friends during ze war, although I doubt his name was Bob.” Patting the unconscious stallions face he placed a hoof to his chin while he began to pet it. “Hm, vas it Flash Sentry? No, zat vas that strange blue haired one zat never looked vere he vas going, strange bloke, kept bumping into me.”
“Doctor?”
“Maybeeeee it vas Iron Will… no, vait, it’s on ze tip of my tounge…”
“Doctor?!”
“I got it, it is-”
“DOCTOR!?!?!??!” Nurse Redheart screamed at the top of her lungs, breaking through to the ranting doctor.
Surprised by her sudden outburst, he replied, somewhat annoyed “Nurse, you made me forget!”
“We have a heart transplant going on, did you forget about that!?”
“Oh, ja, forgot about zat. Ve’ll just call him Bob zen, is zat ok vith you Bob?” Grabbing the patients head he tilted it up and down as if it was nodding. “wunderbar! Let us get started, shall ve?”
Pulling up a scalpel he squinted as he slowly lowered to the torso of the Victim Patient. “Now you vill finally see me at vork, vatch carefully nurse. I am now to making, ze first incision.”
Suddenly Losing all previous caution he violently stabbed through the flesh, pulling the small blade across the torso as blood began to leak out. Much to the horror of Nurse Redheart she watched as he carved a large square against the entire chest cavity. With surprising ease the scalpel cut through the skin and muscle, and without stopping levitated the square of cut meat out of the patient. Having revealed the ribcage he put down the scalpel and placed the flesh into the mini-fridge. Reaching for the Bone saw he stopped when he noticed the utter terror on his companions face, only being able to imagine what thoughts were going on inside her head... Only to be pulled back to the patient, who was losing blood quickly.
“ACH, NEIN!” Pulling up one of the syringes he rapidly began stabbing the patient “STOP LOSING ZAT STUFF, YOU NEED IT TO LIVE!” Eventually the stuff in the needle kicked in and the bleeding slowed down to a halt. “Ok, ve need to act quickly, let me get my…” And then he looked back to Redheart, who was still in a state of shock. “Oh, zat is ze first reaction from most, I don’t see vhy though, zis is all standard procedure.” Ignoring her he went back to work on the ribcage, cutting each on with expert precision using his power tool.
Nurse Redheart finally understood it all now, why he worked behind closed doors, why all of those before her quit; why he was so secretive… this Pony was, in all essences, not sane. She could see this clearly, and when the ugly truth showed itself to her, she had to think back on her life. She had been spending every minute of every day slaving to become better, all in the aspiring chance of working alongside her hero. This same pony however, still had the perfect history. How could somepony such as him who was so obviously deranged have such a past? Was her life chasing a big dream just that? A big dream? She could rush out those doors right now and show this madman off for whom he really was, but that would mean going back to her dull routine life.
“Drill” She heard him call while he held out a hoof, still intently working on a patient. “Come on Nurse, I don’t have time for any life changing decisions you might be having I need ze drill.” Looking to the tool she thought over it for a moment… and came to her decision.
‘Well this certainly isn’t boring’ she thought as she handed over the tool she watched him use it to quickly bore through the last rib. Removing the Sternum he revealed the slowly pulsating organs underneath, to which he began to frown.
“Hmmm, vell I think ve need much more zen a heart transplant. Don’t you?”
Nodding dumbly she wanted to see where he was going with this, and was surprised to see him reaching for his rubber chicken and another scalpel. Returning to caution he slowly nicked the left lung, freeing it he pulled it out of the body. Taking the removed organ he placed it on a plate and continued “Much to ze contradictory of most modern thinkers, ze left lung is unnecessary. In fact, it’s more hazardous than beneficial.” Pausing for a moment he set down the rubber chicken and reached into the mini fridge “Also it vas in ze way, so oh vell.”
Pulling out the good heart he handed it to Redheart, and went back to moving things out of the way. Redheart, just now realizing she was holding a real life pony heart, accidentally dropped the thing into the chest cavity.
“Nurse, I like vat you are thinking, a pony with two hearts… Ach, nein, ze old heart must come out, right Bob?” Making the still unconscious pony nod he smiled, but as Redheart began to speak he quickly shouted “SHUT UP NURSE!”
“Doctor, I didn-”
“I SAID SHUT UP! Honestly, vhy don’t you understand, vhen I need ze silence, ze silence is VAT I NEED.” Calming down somewhat he took her by the shoulder and pulled Red up close. “Listen, I am ze doctor, I know vat is best, I got ze degree… Albeit on ze same day I vas kicked from ze military for being too good, But never ze less I have it, do you think zey hand zem out to just anypony?” Turning her away he went back to his own work, the heart had been cut out and placed in the fridge, the new one had been placed in its place upside down, and the rubber chicken was put in its place very nicely… what was left?
“Ach!” He suddenly realized “How could I forget! Nurse, hand me ze sternum, verever zat ran off to, and ze glue.”
Nurse Redheart had completely stopped questioning what she was asked to do, and pushed the vat of glue over to him. She found the discarded sternum on the floor, being guarded by a bunch of rats. Quickly swatting them away she picked it up and handed it over, watching him dip it into the vat and placing it where in its original place.
“Ok Nurse, let us patch him up and call it a day.”
“Are you sure you want to leave him like that?”
“Oh ja, when he comes to he vill be feeling better than ever!” Taking the skin he took a few minutes to stitch everything back up and took a few steps back. “And vat’s done is do-… wait… something isn’t right…”
“You’re just figuring this out?”
“1, shut up, 2, hand me ze orange juice, I’m thirsty.” Rolling her eyes Redheart handed the Syringe over to the crazed doctor, who cheered with delight “To another successful procedure!”
==============================================
Later, after the patient had awoken, Redheart was surprised to see that he was still alive. In all honesty she had expected the events in the operating room to have offed the patient… but here he was, in bed chatting away with the doctor. Apparently they HAD been good friends in the military, and were catching up on old times.
“I can’t thank you enough doc, I knew you were the only one I could trust.”
“Ah, no problem at all B-” Stopping himself Doctor Scalpel looked at the notes at the foot of the bed “-omb shell, it was great to finally see you again. Now, are you feeling alright, anything hurting?”
“No, not at all… hell, I think I might be able to walk!”
“vell you are going to have to hold zat off for another time…” smirking he looked over to Redheart he continued “But it’s good to see you are doing vell, now try to get some rest, ve’ll see how you are doing in ze morning."
As Redheart and Scalpel walked out of the room and back towards the office there was silence, nothing but silence, until he whispered into her ear “Shut up nurse.”