//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two 
// Story: A Squire's Tail 
// by BBkat 
//------------------------------//

	Chase groaned as he lay on his side in the infirmary bed, his head throbbing in pain. The sharp stabbing pain had since dulled into a pounding ache, but it hurt nonetheless. After lying on the ground in pain for a few minutes he was led off the training field to the palace infirmary, not that he remembered much of the walk, for a check up. 
The doctor sat him down and ran several tests; the only one Chase remembered with any clarity was when the stallion touched his horn. The light, ginger touch sent a spear of pain racing through his head and he was once again doubled over and howling in pain. He was given something for the pain and shown to a bed so he could lie down and rest.
The infirmary was a part of the palace, an on-site hospital as it were. Having one on the castle grounds meant that, should someone sustain an injury of any kind there were staff right there trained and ready to treat them, as opposed to having to send them to the general hospital in the city, something that could make the difference between life and death. This was where Chase now found himself, lying on a bed in one of the rooms of the infirmary.
The room was small, consisting of only a single bed, where Chase now lay. The walls and ceiling were plain white, adorned by only a window on one side and a door on the other.
He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the pain in his head, how in Equestria could something hurt so badly?
There was a soft knock on the door before the doctor entered, carrying a clipboard in a telekinetic grip. “Ah, Mr. Sun Chaser, feeling any better?” The doctor was a richly coloured brown unicorn with a much lighter mane and tail. The name tag pinned to his white jacket read ‘Dr. Warmheart’. 
“My head still hurts,” he said. “But at least it doesn’t feel like someone’s trying to drive a rod through my skull.”
“That’s not to surprising,” he said with a nod as he set the clipboard down. “How much do you remember of what happened?”
“Most of it I think. I was gathering up the remaining balls so I could go offensive, I turned my head and bam, something hit me, and hard too. And then I was brought here, I don’t really remember much of that though.”
The unicorn nodded, “It seems one of your comrades overfilled the training device and it went wild and, unfortunately, struck you in the head. You were in so much pain it took a team to bring you here without causing you any more pain or injury.”
Chase was quiet as he listened, a stray spell, that would certainly explain why his head hurt. “So, am I fit to go then?” he asked. 
The stallion sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m afraid it’s not quite that simple. You’re not suffering from a simple headache Mr. Sun Chaser. When you were struck, the force and angle of the blow cracked your horn. You have a hairline crack running from the base on an angle right into the core.”
Chase felt his blood run cold at the news; his horn was cracked! That actually explained so much after a moment of thinking.
While a unicorn’s horn was made of bone, which meant it had no nerves endings, it did have one central nerve that ran from the base to the tip. This nerve, generally called the core, helped, along with the grooves along the slope of the horn, in channelling magic from the reserve located at the base of the horn to the tip. Much like a tooth, exposing this nerve could cause great pain to the unicorn in question. A crack in the horn could expose this nerve, but generally it took great force to do that sort of damage to a horn for like bones, they were very strong and durable. Unicorn foals were known to be rambunctious, what with running around and tripping over their hooves and crashing into things, horn durability was the only thing that kept there from being more cases of cracked or broken horns.
“A crack?” asked Chase in a small voice. 
“Yes, but please, do not be alarmed. I know it sounds bad but like any bone it can be repaired and you’ll be back to casting spells in no time. However, until you’re healed I cannot allow you to cast any spells. That would only serve to aggravate the injury even more, and quite possibly cause irreparable damage.” He levitated something out of a pocket in the coat as he walked towards Chase. “For the time being, I need you to wear this.”
Chase looked at the small object the doctor was holding. It was small and conical and seemed to be adjustable in size. “What, what is that?” he asked. 
“It’s a magic limiter, I’m afraid we can’t risk you using any magic until you’re healed up,” he explained. “A cracked horn we can heal good as new, but a broken horn is nearly impossible to repair. That and using magic while you’re recovering will only make it hurt worse.” Carefully he levitated it up and onto Chase’s horn, fastening it snugly around the base so he couldn’t just tug it off.
“How long am I going to have to wear it?” he asked, gingerly raising a hoof to touch the strange object. The moment it wrapped around his horn he lost all connection to his magic. It was a strange sensation, no longer being able to feel the warm pulse of magic that was always there. 
“It depends on how well you heal. I would like you to come back in a week though so I can check your progress.”
Chase gulped, a week, he would have to go an entire week without using magic at all? “But wait, how am I going to train if I can’t use my magic?” he asked. 
The doctor sighed, “I’ve spoken with your superior about that. For the time being you’ll have to work on the more physical aspects of your training and study up on the magic until such time you can use it again.”
His ears drooped and his shoulders slumped, a whole week without any magic or magic practice, and he’d only just started. “I can’t practice any magic, not even a simple spell?”
The doctor shook his head; “I’m afraid not, not if you wish to continue training as a guard at least.” He picked up the clipboard, flipping through some papers quickly, “Now, I can give you medication to help with the pain. It’s nothing you can’t pick up at the pharmacy though; one or two a day should do the trick. No fiddling with the limiter,” he looked up and Chase quickly withdrew his hoof, having been prodding it slightly in an attempt to try and figure out how it fit. “However if it starts to feel to snug or the pain worsens then come back and see me.”
Chase sighed; this was going to suck so bad, a whole week without magic. Sure he could do things without magic, it was just going to be very difficult. He raised a hoof up again to gingerly touch the ring on his horn; it felt so strange to have something clamped around his horn like that especially something that cut off his magic.
“So, aside from that, I am allowed to leave right?” he asked as he climbed off the bed. 
The doctor nodded, “Yes, as you are in perfect health in every other regard you are free to leave. I suggest you go get some rest and take it easy, horn injuries are no laughing matter. Come with me first and I can write you a prescription for some pain killers.” He tucked the clipboard under one arm and gestured for Chase to follow him out of the room. “Let’s finish up so you can be on your way, I’m sure you don’t want to spend all day here.” 
As Chase exited the room he was surprised to see ponies waiting outside for him. He recognized Lance and the Captain, but he didn’t recognize the other colt sitting there, staring dumbly at his hooves. He was a dark blue unicorn with a sort silver-blue mane, the end of which seemed to curl around his horn. As he stepped out the colt’s head snapped up and he turned his attention to Chase. 
“Are you going to be alright? I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.” The words all tumbled out at once in an almost pleading manner, the colt shaking nervously. 
“At ease soldier,” said the Captain, laying a hoof across his back. The colt sighed heavily and dropped to his haunches.
“S-sorry I just, I’m really sorry!”
Chase winced slightly at the volume of his voice, rubbing the side of his head. “It’s alright really. I’ll live. I’m not mad at you or anything.”
“Ah, are you going to be ok?” he asked timidly.
“Just a small crack in my horn, but like I said I’ll live. It’ll heal up as long as I don’t use any magic for a bit.”
The colt’s eyes widened, “I cracked your horn? Ohmygosh I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it was that bad, a concussion maybe but a crack? Oh sweet Celestia what did I do?”
“Please take it easy, I told you I’ll heal,” said Chase quickly, trying to calm the panicked colt before he did something reckless. “It was an accident.”
“I still feel bad, is there anything I can do to help?”
“Please accompany Sun Chaser back to his barracks,” ordered Bronze Shield. “He needs to rest.” The large stallion turned to Chase. “And you, since you will be unable to train properly for the next week I would like you to study up on basic shielding spells during practice instead. You should be able to find some books in the library. Understood?”
Chase nodded, “Yessir, understood.”
After getting his medication and a run down of what not to do while his horn was healing, Chase started back to the barracks, the new colt trotting along beside him as they walked through the palace halls.
“So what is your name?” he asked finally. “I don’t think I caught it before.”
“It’s Smart Set.”
“Well, thank you Smart Set, for helping me out. I have a feeling my week just got a whole lot more difficult now that I can’t use any magic.”
“Yeah, I can’t even imagine what that must be like.” He shook his head, “Again, I’m really sorry about blasting you. I got a bit carried away and I lost focus and poured too much magic into my spell and I guess it went haywire.”
Chase snorted, “Will you stop apologizing already? I already told you it’s ok. No lasting harm, as long as I don’t use any magic. It’s just a minor setback for the time being.” He paused and looked around before looking at Smart Set. “Speaking of magic, shouldn’t you still be at practices?”
Smart Set shook his head, “No, Captain gave us all a short break while they took you to the infirmary, he didn’t want anyone else to get injured while he was gone. I’m glad you’re going to be ok, I’d hate to have been responsible for ending someone’s career like that.”
“This’ll certainly be interesting to write about, when I can write,” mumbled Chase under his breath. Smart Set gave him a curious look, wondering what he was talking about but Chase just shook his head, it didn’t matter.
They continued on in relative silence, Chase taking in the vastness of the palace halls. He’d never been in the actual palace before, just the areas sectioned for guards and guards in training. While those halls were a decent size, wide enough for several ponies to walk abreast comfortably, these halls were massive, both in width and height. The arching ceilings stretched quite far up and Chase found himself wondering what it would be like to fly among the rafters and spy on ponies, if he weren’t so scared of heights. 
Smart Set however seemed to be the opposite, there was no awe or wonder in his eyes, as if he’d walked these halls before and wasn’t intimidated or wowed by their size. He also seemed to know which way to go, something Chase didn’t, so he was quite content to follow so he didn’t get lost. That would just be bad.
They came to a rather large foyer, much too large in Chase’s mind, and after a moment of glancing around Smart Set led him down a much smaller hallway. It didn’t take long for Chase recognize where they were going as the hall became familiar.
“Well, thank you for walking me back,” said Chase, extending his hoof to shake Smart Set’s as they came to a stop in the dorm hallway, “But I should probably let you get back to the training grounds, I’m sure your break will be over soon. I’m just going to lie down for a bit so I should be fine on my own.”
Smart Set returned the hoof shake before nodding, “Yeah, I should probably let you go. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime?” With a final nod he trotted off down the hall, leaving Chase to find his room on his own. 
It wasn’t till Chase got back to his room that he realized he’d forgotten to ask how to find the library. He needed to stop there later to pick up books but he had no idea where in the palace it was. Smart Set seemed to know his way around, so chances were good he’d have known how to find it. He sighed as he flopped onto the bed, he’d just have to ask someone else, or find a map to help him. 
Chase lay on the bed for some time, tossing, turning and constantly adjusting his position to try and get comfortable and relax, but he just couldn’t. No matter what he did he just couldn’t make himself comfortable nor banish the thoughts that were plaguing his mind. 
They were supposed to be practicing blocking spells to keep form getting hurt, something that would need fast reflexes, and he’d blown it completely. He’d seen the bright light flying his way but did nothing to stop it. He hadn’t erected any kind of barrier to protect himself; he just froze up and didn’t react. 
“They must think I’m a failure,” he thought.
Finally, with a heavy sigh he climbed off the bed, no sense trying to nap if he couldn’t even get comfortable. His head may still have been sore but he couldn’t make himself comfortable enough to relax.
“Maybe I should try and find that library,” he thought. Surely it couldn’t be that hard. 
He pulled his bag out from under the bed; digging out a small saddlebag so he would have a way to carry the books he found, as well as his library card and a few bits, just incase. Staring at the bag he frowned, how on earth was he supposed to get this on? Ordinarily he’d just using his magic to put it on and tighten it, but since he couldn’t use magic he had to find another way to do that. Picking it up with his teeth he tossed it on the bed. Sure he could toss it on his back, but how was he going to do up the strap so it didn’t fall off, he doubted he could balance on his front legs long enough to tighten it.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully before an idea struck him, he could do it up, then slip into it. As best as he could he set about doing up the belly strap. Then, with the strap done up he poked his forelegs through, slowly wiggling it up his legs. He tucked his head down, trying to fit the entire ensemble up and over his head. It didn’t quite work, the straps were too snug and it kept getting stuck and trying to push would only ruin the bag, or get him stuck, neither were good options in his mind. 
Wiggling his way out he sighed; if he couldn’t climb in he’d have to find another way to get it on. Perhaps stepping into it and pulling it up might work.
Chase tossed the saddlebags to the floor and after positioning them right, placed both hind legs into the middle so the belt faced the front of his hooves and the bags were on either side, pointed towards the front. He stopped as a thought hit him, how in Equestria was he supposed to pull it up? He couldn’t reach quite that far around with his front hooves or his mouth to grab it. He looked around the room, he was going to need to something to help him do this, the question was, what? 
After several unsuccessful minutes of trying and failing to get his saddlebag on, Chase found himself facing an empty spot on the wall, bag around his hooves. He had one last thing to try. With the bags hanging off his front hooves he carefully lifted them up and placed them on the wall, sliding them up till they rest above his head. His back legs shook; balancing like this wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world. He then lowered his head between his forelegs; slowly letting the bags slip down. He twisted and wiggled and moved about, slowly but surely easing the bags up past his head and down his neck till it reached his middle. 
Exhaling heavily he dropped onto all fours again, shaking himself as he adjusted the bag around his barrel so it sat more comfortably. 
“I am so glad no one saw me doing all that,” he thought. “That would be embarrassing.” With one last look around the room to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything, Chase stepped out, off to find the library.