//------------------------------// // Chapter 34 - Same Song, Second Verse // Story: Married to Her Job, Single in Her Heart // by Revenant Wings //------------------------------// 34. A few days after the picnic, Redheart woke up early in the morning. She was excited and apprehensive about what was to happen that day, and the conflicting emotions had made her restless and unable to sleep for very long. She didn’t need to care about Twilight anymore; the young mare was back to taking care of herself, and even surprised Redheart the previous morning by making her breakfast in bed, her way of thanking her for taking care of her over the past three weeks and it being her final day. That was what made Redheart excited, she mused as she went about preparing breakfast again in the library’s kitchen. She was excited that today – she was almost one hundred percent sure – Doctor Stable’s checkup of Twilight’s condition would state that Twilight Sparkle was as healthy as she had been fifteen weeks ago. Redheart would be needed no longer to care for Twilight, and the mare would be able to continue her life as normal. But she was apprehensive as to what would happen afterwards. For the last fifteen weeks, her life had been centered almost entirely around Caramel and Twilight. Now, in just a few hours, both would be gone. Caramel had stopped bothering her long ago and she hadn’t seen him since that one day going to Sugarcube Corner. She had been at Twilight’s beck and call for nearly four whole months, but with Twilight recovered she wouldn’t be needed anymore. It seemed to her a dangerous prospect, having had two of what she considered the most important figures in her life being removed. But that was life, wasn’t it? A series of hellos and goodbyes. Once the time was over, it would be time to move on again. For a few months, Redheart’s and Twilight’s paths had intersected. Now, it would be time for them to split off on their separate paths. Redheart choked at the thought for a minute on something nonexistent in her throat. Redheart heard a set of hoofsteps coming behind her. She busied herself over the stove, stir-frying a mix of potatoes, peppers, and onions and buttering toast. The hoofsteps came into the room and sat down at the nearby table as Redheart got ready a fruit salad. After she was done cooking, Redheart set down the food on the table and sat down across from Twilight. Twilight seemed oblivious to Redheart’s conundrum. She appeared bright-eyed and wide awake and walked with something of a hop to her step. “Certainly have come a long way since a month ago, huh, Redheart?” “You certainly have, Twilight,” Redheart said, forcing what she hoped would seem to be a natural smile onto her face. It must have seemed natural, because Twilight didn’t comment on it. “I know I’ll probably have a few checkups after this to follow up on my status, but it’ll be great to be free again.” “What do you plan to do first?” Redheart asked, trying to sound supportive. Again, it must have come out sounding natural. “I don’t know. I certainly need to catch up on my studies and I’m pretty sure I’m behind in my readings. Princess Celestia will need a letter sent to her regarding my condition and how I’m released from hospital care—” “That part is already covered,” Redheart cut in. “Celestia herself told us to let us know of your progress. Her last communication told us that she was very pleased to hear you were walking on your own again.” “I would still like to tell her for myself. Just a thing, let her know my magic is running close to smoothly again and whatnot. She’ll probably have to keep Spike for another few weeks, but I’m sure he’ll understand.” Redheart watched as Twilight explained all these things. She wanted to feel happy for her, yet there was that pain still there. She ate in silence while Twilight continued talking, stopping only to take bites of her own breakfast. After things were finished, Redheart started collecting the dishes, but she felt a hoof reach out towards her own. She looked over and saw Twilight smiling warmly at her. “What time is our appointment at the hospital?” “Your appointment is at two o’clock,” Redheart told her. “It’s Doctor Stable’s first appointment after his lunch break.” Twilight nodded. “Why don’t you let me get the dishes?” she asked. “You look tired.” It hadn’t occurred to Redheart, but she certainly felt exhausted. “Yeah. That… that sounds like a good idea.” She trotted off to the room at the end of the corridor and closed the door behind her. For a brief moment, she became wide awake. She organized all her medical equipment and put it away. The things she had brought for herself she had put away in her saddlebags. Once she was sure everything she had gathered, she became tired again and laid down on the bed but found it impossible to fall asleep. It became further impossible to sleep once she heard a knocking at the door. “Redheart!” Twilight was calling to her. “It’s one thirty. Should we be heading over to the hospital now?” Redheart stretched and got up feeling as though she had merely blinked and it was time to go. She put her saddlebags over her back and carefully balanced the case with medical equipment before opening the door and walking out. “Yes, it’s probably a good idea,” she replied. The sky outside was sunny and clear. Golden Oaks Library had a warm glow to it in the afternoon sun of the final day of summer. Soon the leaves would be turning brilliant shades of gold and yellow and red and the grasses turning a light amber color. Cider season would be upon them again, in addition to Applebuck Season. Then there would be the running of the leaves. The trees would go dormant and hide away as winter’s first snow fell and covered the countryside in soft white sheets. Things would be as normal, as normal as they ever had been before, as if the last fifteen weeks had never happened except for records put on pieces of paper that would be filed away and perhaps never seen again. “Redheart…?” Twilight’s voice snapped Redheart out of her reverie. Redheart looked over to the purple mare. “You had a sort of faraway look in your eye,” Twilight commented. “What were you thinking about?” “It was nothing,” Redheart said quietly. “Just… thinking about how autumn officially starts tomorrow.” Twilight nodded. “The Summer Wrap-Up Festival is coming up, isn’t it?” Redheart nodded. “Are you going to be at the medical station again?” “I’ve been on-duty for the festival every year since I started working.” “Have you never experienced it for yourself?” “Never. Well, we get shifts, so I’ve been through it once or twice, but never really anything special since I would have to go back to work or work late.” “Maybe you could ask Doctor Stable for a day off.” “Maybe. He’s always considered me his best worker and is not fond of the idea of letting me go, especially for a time as busy as the Summer Wrap-Up Festival.” “I’m sure one day wouldn’t be too much to ask of him.” Redheart hmm’d thoughtfully. At the hospital, they checked in at the lobby and waited in the waiting room for Doctor Stable to be available. Redheart filled out some paperwork and had Twilight sign the papers where appropriate and they waited a little longer. Eventually, Doctor Stable came to the room himself and smiled at the two of them. “Miss Twilight Sparkle,” he said warmly. “It’s time for your checkup.” Twilight and Redheart got up and followed Doctor Stable back into the examination rooms and Nurse Redheart went through the usual procedures: checking her ears, checking her weight, checking her blood pressure, and taking her temperature. When that was all clear, Doctor Stable led them to his own office and sat them both down at his desk. “I have a few pieces of business to be discussed with the both of you,” he said, levitating a pair of glasses with a golden aura over to him and gently adjusting them on his face. “Firstly, towards Miss Twilight Sparkle. I am happy to say that your reports have all come back positive and as of this moment you are officially released from the care of Ponyville Hospital. Secondly, Princess Celestia has paid for all of the hospital bills and expenses, along with a sizeable bonus for helping to heal her student, and would like to inform you that the bill to be placed upon you and your family has been relieved.” “Oh, wow!” Twilight exclaimed. “I’ll have to include that in my progress letter to her.” “For now, Twilight, that is all the business that I have with you. However, I would like you to schedule a checkup for one month with the receptionists at the lobby just as one last follow-up on your condition. In the meantime, I will be speaking with Nurse Redheart.” Twilight nodded happily, then turned to Redheart. “I wanna ask you something once you’re done. I’ll be waiting outside in the lobby, okay?” She didn’t wait for Redheart to answer, but turned and walked out the door without waiting for a response, cheerfully greeting another nurse passing just outside before her hoofsteps faded into silence and the room went dreadfully quiet. Doctor Stable kept his warm look but his voice turned quite professional. “Our first order of business together will be your pay. For the time spent at Twilight’s house taking care of her, you shall be receiving not only your usual pay, but an added bonus. To make things a bit cheaper on taxes for us and perhaps a bit more advantageous for you, the bonus will be added onto the next four paychecks as overtime. You will also be getting a seven percent raise in pay.” “Thank you very much, sir. I promise I’ll continue working hard and up to your standards to make sure that raise is not regretted.” “It never has been,” Doctor Stable said warmly. “I was finishing the paperwork and getting it approved during the time you were Twilight’s live-in nurse.” An odd smirk appeared on his face as his voice became professional again. “To celebrate, I am going to give you a few days off, paid vacation, to relax.” Redheart’s gaze went from reverently polite to glaring at Doctor Stable. “And how long do you plan to have me away from my job that I was just about to go back to?” “Oh, just a week or so.” The stallion looked on the verge of laughing as though it was some sort of joke. “That ought to give you enough time to get some fresh air outside of the hospital and some time to relax. Go out with some friends to the lake, get some sunshine. Or take a few hikes in the hills around town. Even better, do both. Oh, and I won’t be needing you for the Summer Wrap-Up Festival this year, so enjoy your time off.” Redheart looked at him, irked and perplexed. “Well, go on,” Doctor Stable said. “I do believe Twilight had something she wanted to tell you.” Redheart was near fuming, but took a deep breath as she got up and left the room. Doctor Stable had obviously gone mad. She pushed the thoughts away as she entered the lobby, seeing Twilight standing and waiting towards the reception desk. She walked over to her. “Twilight?” Redheart asked as she approached. “You said you wanted to ask me something?” “Yes. I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go out to dinner two days from now. Maybe if you got off in time we could meet up at the hospital at about six-ish? It doesn’t have to be somewhere fancy.” “Oh,” Redheart said. “O-of course. Is there something you…?” “There’s something I wanted to talk with you about.” Redheart recognized that voice. It was like there was something bottled up inside her, something she had been suppressing. “Yes. As a matter of fact, Doctor Stable gave me a whole week off.” “Cool. So six o’clock works for you?” Redheart didn’t respond for a while. “…Redheart?” Twilight asked playfully. “Are you still there?” The silence from her own mouth was so deafening she had to break it somehow. “Yes, Twilight. Six o’clock works out perfectly.” “Great. I’ll come and pick you up from your place. Same apartment number still?” “Yep. Same number.” “I’ll see you then, Redheart.” “See you.” Something told Redheart as Twilight walked out the hospital doors that dinner wasn’t going to be the last time they would be seeing each other. As she watched Twilight walk away and eventually followed her into the warm sunlight, she smiled completely genuinely for the first time in months, perhaps years.