//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Starry Skies over the Apple Orchard // by anotheraccount //------------------------------// Starry Skies over the Apple Orchard Chapter 2         Big Macintosh walked through Ponyville towards the Hospital, carrying a disguised Luna on his back.  It was still early morning, so there weren’t many ponies out and about yet.  After ten minutes of walking, Big Macintosh turned his head to the side to be able to look at the unicorn he had run into.  “You doin’ ok back there?”         Luna smiled and replied, “We’re doing fine back here.”  It had been a while...a long while...since she had last ridden like this.  Aside from the occasional odd or curious glance she received from a pony on the street, she realized that this was rather quite pleasant.  She could feel Big Macintosh’s strong muscles in motion underneath of her, and combined with the rocking and swaying of his stepping, it was very soothing.  This was a very different experience than riding in a cold, unfeeling chariot.  Luna turned her head to the side and lazily watched as they passed various houses.  This….this is quite wonderful.  I could ride this stallion all day, she thought to herself.  A few moments passed, and then suddenly Luna’s eyes opened wide as a furious blush spread across her face.  Dear me, I’m glad we didn’t say that out loud!  Luna rubbed her face with hoof and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.         Further thought on this matter was cut short as Big Macintosh stopped in front of the Hospital.  He carefully opened the door and stepped inside, allowing the door to shut behind him.  The front desk was currently staffed by a unicorn mare wearing a white hat.  She looked up when she heard the door closing and blinked when she saw Big Macintosh carrying the unicorn on his back.  “Good gracious, what happened?” she said as she quickly levitated a clipboard and quill.         Luna looked at the worried unicorn and smiled as she waived her hoof.  “I’m ok, it’s just a sprain.  We bumped into each other a bit roughly, that’s all.”         The unicorn behind the desk visibly relaxed.  “Oh, well that’s a relief.  The way he was carrying you, it looked much worse.  Go on back to room 4 and Nurse Redheart will see you shortly.”         Big Macintosh nodded and replied, “Eeyup.”         Big Macintosh continued down the hall and opened the door to room 4.  He walked in and headed over to the examination table.  “Careful, now.  Ah’m gonna lean over so you can slide onto the table.”         Luna rolled her eyes and looked at Big Macintosh’s turned head.  “That’s really not necessary, I can climb up onto that myself if you put me down onto the floor.”  Big Macintosh kept standing still after Luna said this.  “But, you’re probably not going to let me, are you?”         “Eenope,” Big Macintosh replied as he shook his head.  “It’s my fault that you’re hurt...Ah’ll help you to see the doctor, and then afterwards y’all can take over.”  He then slowly began to lower himself to the level of the examination table and gently tilted towards it so that the unicorn on his back could easily slide onto the table.         Luna slid onto the examination table without any trouble.  She watched as Big Macintosh sat on one of the nearby chairs.  She opened her mouth to say something, but the door opened as she was about to speak.  Nurse Redheart entered the room and closed the door behind her.  Walking towards the examination table, she looked at Luna and then over to Big Macintosh.  “So, you two bumped into each other?”         Big Macintosh nodded and said, “Eeyup, but it was more along the lines of me running her over.”         “It wasn’t all your fault,” Luna said as she looked over at Big Macintosh.  “I also was not looking where I was going.”  Big Macintosh opened his mouth to reply, but Luna continued.  “I forgive you...it was an accident.”         “But…” Big Macintosh started to argue, but closed his mouth upon hearing somepony clearing their throat.  He looked over to see Nurse Redheart becoming impatient.         “How about we take a look at that leg, shall we?” Nurse Redheart walked over to the examination table and looked at the unicorn sitting upon it.  “I’m going to examine your leg - let me know if anything hurts.”  Gently taking hold of Luna’s foreleg, she began to look it over for visible signs of injury.  Next, she began to slowly move the leg to test movement and stopped when she heard a small intake of breath.  Nurse Redheart then released the leg from her grasp and looked at the unicorn on the table.  “Well, Starry Skies, the good news is that your leg isn’t broken.  You do have a minor sprain, though, which may hurt for a while.  You may walk on it,” she briefly looked over at Big Macintosh with a look that clearly said you got that? and then looked back at her patient after receiving a nod from the stallion.  “Just take it easy when you can.  If possible, don’t run for the next two days.”  Nurse Redheart then smiled and left the room to go see her next patient.         Luna slid off of the examination table and onto the floor and watched as Big Macintosh stood up from the chair.  Luna could tell that he was relieved after hearing that it was indeed just a minor sprain.         “Ah’m mighty sorry about your leg,” Big Macintosh started to say.         “We’ve already forgiven you,” Luna smiled at the stallion.  “Let’s just put this behind us.”         Big Macintosh nodded and smiled.  “And also for your breakfast.”         “Breakfast?” Luna blinked twice, and then her stomach growled loudly.  “Oh, yes...my donuts seemed to have gone missing.”         “If it’s ok with you,” Big Macintosh mentioned as they walked out of the hospital,  “Ah can take ya to a place that makes a great breakfast.”         “That would be lovely,” replied Luna as she walked out into the street.  Her stomach growled to voice its approval.