It had been a week since the events in the desert. The Spirit had been moved to Ponyville General Hospital. Princess Celestia had ordered a celebration in honor of the heroism displayed by the Spirit to be held once he was well enough to attend.
“Will you please let me leave Doc?” The Spirit groaned to a unicorn colt wearing a stethoscope
“You will stay put until I’m satisfied” The doctor replied “And stop calling me Doc my name is Doctor Cure.”
The Spirit let out a long drawn out sigh as the Doctor began looking over his paperwork.
“Do you even know what to look for you’ve never treated my kind?”
“I don’t have to know anything about your kind to know that you were in very bad shape when you came in here.” The doctor said in a matter of fact tone.
“I keep telling you I’m fine see!” The Spirit began to get up out of his bed. Almost immediately a pain went through his side
“OW!” he exclaimed falling back into bed
“Hmph” the doctor began “I would say I told you so but that’s just too easy”
“He still being ornery toward you doc?” A voice in the doorway interrupted
“Ah Ms. Applejack” the doctor turned to speak to the Spirits visitor
“Still as stubborn as the day he was brought in. Wait oh no are you calling me doc too?”
“Sorry it’s kind of catchy” Apple Jack said with a smile
“Well I have to go check on my other patients I will see you later Ms. Apple Jack and as for you” the doctor turned to face
the Spirit “Stay off your hooves”
“Feet” The spirit replied
“OH just stay in bed!” The doctor said fuming as he left the room
Applejack laughed at the misery Spirit was putting his doctor through.
“So what brings you by?” the Spirit asked
“I promised Apple Bloom she could come by and see you before school. She hasn’t seen you since the desert and was starting to worry.” Apple Jack looked toward the doorway “Come on in Apple Bloom”
Apple Bloom hopped into the door way then dashed to the side of the Spirits hospital bed.
“Are you alright” Apple Bloom began rattling off questions “Are you getting enough food? Are the beds comfy? Want me to bring by some apples? When are you getting out…”
“Woah slow down Apple Bloom” The Spirit said as he patted her on the head
“First off I’m fine and I should be out of here soon. How have you been?”
“Me? I’m good I just want to help you get better it’s the least I could do since you helped me and all.”
“I appreciate it Apple Bloom but I’m in good hands err… I mean hooves just you stopping by is enough.”
“Come on Apple Bloom you’re going to be late for school.” Apple Jack said to the small filly “You go wait outside I want to talk the Spirit alone for a second.”
“All right.” Apple Bloom said sadly “You will come by the farm when you get better won’t you?” Apple Bloom asked the Spirit as she trotted to the door.
“Sure thing” The Spirit assured
Apple Jack watched her leave the room then turned back to face the Spirit.
“She’s really taken a shine to you”
“She’s a good kid”
Apple Jack looked around the room awkwardly “She uh told us about you and your friends”
“I see”
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry about what happened and I wanted to thank you for what you did for Apple Bloom. If you hadn’t been there I might of…” Apple Jack stopped as she began to think back to the outcome she feared “ahem I just wanted to say if there’s anything you need you can count on the Apple Family.”
“Thank You” The Spirit said humbled by the ponies words.
Three days had passed before the Spirit was well enough to leave the hospital. Applejack, Apple Bloom, Twilight, Rarity and Spike were all headed to the hospital to escort him to the celebration. When they entered the room they found Artie Fact questioning the Spirit on his life in the desert.
“Amazing” Arite exclaimed as he wrote furiously on his notepad
“If you follow those directions it will lead you straight to my cave inside there is a map of the entire desert along with safe travel routes and the locations of water. Oh and don’t touch anything else until I can go with you”
“This is extraordinary with that map the southern deserts will be a much safer place Thank you." Artie quickly bolted out the door pass the group.
“Well he is certainly in a hurry” Twilight laughed
“I think I just gave him the find of a lifetime.” The Spirit grinned at the group
“Are you ready go?” Spike asked
“I believe so. Rarity did you bring what I asked for?” The Spirit asked looking at the white pony
“Yes I did as best as I could from your description and what was left of your old pair.” Rarity pulled a tan colored set of
clothes from her bag.
“These are perfect” the Spirit replied “They look exactly like the originals great job Rarity”
“Why thank you” Rarity said “It was quite the challenge”
The Spirit, wearing an exact copy of his old clothes, began the walk into Ponyville with the others to attend the celebration in
his honor.
“So everyone knows I’m coming right they aren’t going to freak out or anything?” The Spirit asked nervously
“Relax” Twilight assured the Spirit “They know you are coming and besides you’re with us.”
As the group crossed a bridge into Ponyville the Spirit saw a large group of Ponies gathered around the town square all facing a stage.
“Ah here comes our hero now.” A gray maned pony announced from the stage.
The crowd all turned to face where the Mayor had gestured. The Spirit then realized how much he really did stick out
amongst the ponies with the exception of Celestia he was much taller than all the ponies. The group led him through the
middle of the silent crowd.
When the Spirit and group had reached the stage trumpets sounded. The trumpets were immediately followed by a golden chariot pulled by four colts dressed in golden armor. The crowed as well as the ponies on stage all bowed as Princess Celestia gracefully walked toward the stage.
“Hello again” she said as she walked up to the Spirit
“Hello” the Spirit managed to say as he awkwardly bowed
The Princess giggled “How are you feeling?”
“Compared to the last time we met…much better.”
“Good” Celestia beamed “Well then let’s get started”
Celestia faced the audience of anxious ponies and began to speak
“My loyal subjects we are here today to recognize the bravery and kindness of a visitor to our land. He has time and time again put himself at risk to save us ponies in the southern deserts. The most recent being one of Ponyvilles own. He has never asked for anything in return on the contrary he has kept his identity secret from those he rescues. It wasn’t until recently I was made aware that it was more than a myth that was behind the stories. I would like to take time today to personally thank him.”
Celestia then turned to face the already nervous Spirit. At the shock of the entire crowd the Princess bowed to the Spirit. The other ponies all followed the example of their princess.
“Thank you Princess it was my honor to help your people” the choked up Spirit managed to say.
The Princess then rose and began speaking again “I would like to bestow the honor of being the first non-pony as an
Honorary Knight of Equestria.”
The Spirit knelt on one knee “It would be my honor”
“For your service to the land of Equestria and her people I dub thee Sir Spirit.” Princess Celesita said in a loud booming
voice as she touched the tip of her horn on the Spirits shoulders.
The entire crowed erupted in cheers and began to trample their hooves on the ground.
“Well with the formalities out of the way let’s celebrate.”
The crowed broke up into smaller groups some ponies were setting off fireworks, others huddled around Sugarcube Corner
to eat various desserts. Most were trying to get closer to speak the the Spirit. As the Spirit was walking around the crowd a
mint green colored unicorn grabbed him by the hand and looked intently at his hand.
“Uh hello there” He said to her
The pony looked up at him in awe and ran away yelling “I KNEW IT BON-BON I TOLD YOU!”
“These ponies sure are strange” the Spirit said to himself
As the celebration was drawing to a close Twilight found Princess Celesita getting ready to depart.
“Princess” Twilight called out
“Ah hello my student” the Princess responded
“There something I’ve been meaning to ask you”
“And what is that?”
“When I wrote my letter to you on the train I never said anything about the Spirit. How did you know about him being what
was that you said…a human?”
“Ah caught that did you” The princess face turned serious “I cannot elaborate here and now but for now enjoy the party and
I will explain all to you soon.
“Thank You Princess…have a good night.” Twilight said as she bid farwell to her teacher.
The Princess was already in the air headed back to Ponyville. When a dark colored Alicorn flew beside the golden chariot.
“Everything go well sister?” the dark pony asked
“Yes it did Luna I’m sorry you couldn’t attend” Celesita stated
“It’s just as well” Luna said “I don’t have fond memories of the last human”
“This one is different I believe” the elder sister insisted “I believe he might have it with in him”
“I hope you are right sister, because if he doesn’t it will happen again and this time we may not be so lucky. You are going
to have to tell them soon”
“I know” Celestia said sadly “Not tonight this may be the happiest moment for them for a very long time”
“Where did they go?” Apple Jack asked
“I don’t know” Spike said with a lampshade on his head
Applejack walked around an empty Sugarcube Corner
“Now where in tarnation…” Apple Jack found what she was looking for.
A sleeping Spirit was leaning back in a chair with Apple Bloom curled in his lap.
Apple Jack smiled to herself as she placed a blanket on the sleeping duo.