//------------------------------// // A Man To Cure // Story: Stallions of Equestria: Adam's Apple // by mr lovecolt //------------------------------// Chapter Nine: A Man To Cure The doors of Ponyville General Hospital flashed a brilliant purple before slamming open. Rarity charged into the lobby, her eyes darting back and forth for the nearest nurse. “Where is Adam!” she shrieked as she galloped across the room. “Rarity, please calm down,” Nurse Redheart said. “It’s midnight. Other patients are trying to—” “I will not calm down!” Rarity replied, her voice reaching an even higher octave. “I am woken up in the middle of the night by Applejack, who tells me that Adam had an accident.” Rarity leaned in and glared at Nurse Redheart. The nurse simply raised her hooves and set them on Rarity’s shoulders. “Rarity,” Nurse Redheart said, this time in a stern tone, “Mister Garnet just got out of surgery.” Rarity started to shake violently and Nurse Redheart responded by clutching even tighter to her. The unicorn’s eyes grew even larger. “Just got out?’ she asked as the doors near the reception desk opened. “Applejack told me that Mister Macintosh brought him here hours ago.” She slammed a hoof on the counter. “Why in Equestria would it take so long?” “Because my treating a case of severe sepsis in humans has to be treated the same way an earth pony doctor would treat him,” Doctor Stable replied as he walked into the lobby. “I was in there for four hours, using my own hooves since I couldn’t perform a cleansing spell. Miss Rarity, I am going to have to ask you to control yourself. I have other patients who need their rest.” His eyes narrowed. “If you disturb them, I will have no choice but to—” “Please,” Rarity said after taking a deep breath. “Just tell me where he is.” Doctor Stable hesitated for a moment before turning his attention to Nurse Redheart. Nurse Redheart nodded and retreated into the hallway. When she was gone, Doctor Stable’s horn glowed and the door closed behind her as she trotted away. Rarity looked around the room—it was empty now except for the two of them. Neither pony said a word. As they stood there in silence, the only sound was that of a wall clock, ticking past the seconds. Rarity stared into Doctor Stable’s eyes but was unable to determine any emotion behind them. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” she asked, her voice now lowered. Doctor Stable sighed as he levitated a manilla folder from behind the receptionist’s desk. He opened it and began to read Adam’s file to her. “Did you know how Mister Garnet came to know about MantiCure?” Rarity held her breath and blinked. Finally, she fell to her haunches in the middle of the room. Doctor Stable didn’t continue through the file, but instead pulled a small vial from his coat pocket. “I asked Mister Apple to return to his home so that he could look through Mister Garnet’s things.” Rarity’s horn glowed, and the vial of MantiCure levitated through the air delicately in her telekinetic grasp. “I figured he would have misused the product,” Doctor Stable continued. “It isn’t like the warning label is particularly small.” “What warning label?” Rarity replied, genuinely confused. Doctor Stable closed his eyes and sighed as he pointed to the bottom of the vial that hung in midair. Rarity narrowed her eyes and pulled the vial closer. She glanced at Doctor Stable and blushed as she squinted her eyes even further and craned her neck until the vial was inches from her muzzle. “Miss Rarity,” Doctor Stable asked, “is there a reason you aren’t using your glasses?” “I do not need to wear them all of the time!” she shouted. Doctor Stable jerked back. Rarity’s horn stopped glowing and the vial fell to the floor, where it clattered against the tiles. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Her horn glowed a moment later, and a familiar pair of red cat eye framed glasses materialized in front of her. As they settled onto the bridge of her muzzle, she turned back to the doctor. “I simply use them to discern the… finer details of my work,” she added as she retrieved the vial, her muscles tightening as she read the tiny print. “He used this on an open wound, I presume?” “Miss Rarity, would you come sit with me, please?” Doctor Stable pointed to a bench in the corner of the lobby. Rarity nodded and followed the stallion. When they settled onto the bench, Rarity finally noticed that the vial was empty. “Wait,” she said. “I gave this to Adam less than a week ago.” She turned to Doctor Stable. “Why is it empty?” “You gave it to him?” Doctor Stable asked as he placed a hoof under his chin. “And only a week ago? That explains that, I suppose.” “Explains what?” Rarity asked as she leaned forward. “Miss Rarity, when you gave this to Mister Garnet, how did you present it to him?” “I… I told him it relieves muscle pain.” “And?” “And that it helps one retain a youthful appearance,” Rarity finished with a huff as she removed her glasses. “Miss Rarity,” Doctor Stable said as gently as possible. “Where is Adam?” Rarity asked. Doctor Stable paused. As Rarity’s gaze grew colder, he closed his eyes and shook his head. “Mister Garnet is asleep in room thirteen,” he replied. “He is going to be asleep for a while as he heals.” The stallion reached up and rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. “His muscles show a large amount of… stress. With what you just told me, I assume that he has been applying the MantiCure daily.” “I shall discuss the issue with him once he awakens.” Rarity stood up and walked towards the door leading to the patients’ rooms without waiting for Doctor Stable to follow behind her. As Rarity passed by each door, she kept her posture as dignified as she could muster. But as the number count on the doors grew higher, she felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier. Adam, she thought, what have you done? Rarity turned the corner just as the door to room thirteen opened. She saw Nurse Redheart emerge from Adam’s room. When they locked gazes with one another, both mares froze. Nurse Redheart was the first to break as she gave Rarity a soft smile. “He’s going to be fine, Miss Rarity,” Nurse Redheart said. “Doctor Stable was able to remove the venom, even though he had to use earth pony methods.” Rarity nodded but didn’t say anything. Even if she could think of something to say, she was unsure if she would even be able to force any words out. Nurse Redheart pointed to a set of benches down the other side of the hall. Rarity turned and saw Big Macintosh sitting quietly in the corner with his haunches on the bench and his forelegs on the floor, staring at the space in between his hooves. Behind her, she could hear the sound of approaching hoofsteps. “It also helped that Mister Apple brought him in so quickly,” Nurse Redheart added, hoping that she could say something to shake Rarity out of her stupor. When Rarity still didn’t budge, Nurse Redheart placed a hoof on the mare’s shoulder. “When he gets up, we can discuss further treatment.” Rarity shook her head. “What do you mean, further treatment?” Rarity asked, finally managing to speak. “It’s nothing too serious, Miss Rarity,” Doctor Stable replied as he joined the mares. “Just some ointment for his face. The venom did cause some burns and the open wounds needed stitches, but in time, the scars should be very minimal.” “Did you use any restorative methods?” Rarity asked. “Miss Rarity, need I remind you that humans don’t respond to anything that is magically enhanced?” Doctor Stable asked. “No, these are regular stitches. I know that in your field, appearances mean a great deal…” The stallion adjusted his glasses. Rarity shook her head and turned towards the door. “But what is important to remember is that Mister Garnet is safe now.” Doctor Stable turned towards the bench in the corner. “We have Mister Apple to thank for that.” Rarity turned to Big Macintosh once more. Even at the mention of his name, however, the stallion didn’t move. “Can we see him?” Rarity asked. “Not tonight,” Doctor Stable replied. “But tomorrow afternoon after the sedatives wear off, he should be awake. I want him here until Friday, however, to make sure that he doesn’t continue to overexert his shoulders or legs.” A nearby door opened, and another nurse poked her head through. “Doctor Stable, Nurse Redheart,” she said. “The patient is ready.” “Of course, Nurse Tenderheart,” Doctor Stable replied. “We’ll be right there.” “Go home, Miss Rarity. Try to get some rest,” Nurse Redheart said. She then turned to Big Macintosh. “You, too, Mister Apple. You have done what you can. I’m sure he will thank you for it when he wakes up.” The pair nodded their heads and retreated into the other room. The door swung back and forth for a few moments before finally closing. Rarity finally turned to Big Macintosh, who still hadn’t moved since she first came in. “Mister Macintosh?” she asked, trying to get his attention. “What exactly happened?” Big Macintosh stared at the floor of the hospital. Rarity saw his eyes dart back and forth as though he were watching a film reel play on the white tiles. “Big Mac?” “I’m…” It was the last thing Big Macintosh heard Adam say. The stallion watched in horror as Adam’s mouth fell open. The human’s eyes glazed over just as the cuts on his face opened and turned into abrasions. Big Macintosh jumped out of his chair at the same time Adam’s arms fell limp at his sides. He tried to reach Adam in time, but wasn’t quite fast enough to stop him from falling to the floor. Now that Big Macintosh was inches away from Adam’s face, he could see the human’s veins become noticeable; first on his face, then his neck, then on his arms just past his sleeves. “Adam,” Big Macintosh shouted, “What’s wrong? Adam?” His shouting turned into pleading as he felt Adam’s shoulder become cold, then his arm, and then his hand. Big Macintosh rubbed his muzzle on the human’s skin, but nothing could stop the iciness from spreading through Adam’s body until it finally reached the end of his fingertips. Big Macintosh lifted his head towards the second floor. “Applejack!” he cried. Big Macintosh grabbed Adam’s shirt with his teeth and tossed him as hard as he could into the air, moving his body so that the human fell onto his back. Ain’t right for him to be so small, he thought as he barely registered the human’s weight. “What in the name of Discord’s chessboard is happenin’ down here?” Applejack asked as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Ain’t no time!” Big Macintosh shouted. “Get Miss Rarity! She’s closest!” Big Macintosh galloped to the door, ignoring his sister’s shouts as he charged through the screen and ran to the cart. He slid the human down as gently as he could and then hitched himself to the cart. Mister Macintosh? Big Macintosh wasn’t sure who spoke his name, but he shook his head and galloped away from the farmhouse to the road leading to Ponyville. Even in the moonlight, the trees on either side were so dark that their branches became little black tendrils that threatened to snuff out the stars. He thundered down the road, his hooves hammering the dirt so heavily that the nearby pebbles rumbled. He wasn’t sure how he made it to Ponyville General Hospital so quickly, but as he reached the front doors, he could see a nurse with white fur and a pink mane open her mouth and point to the cart that he dragged inside. What exactly happened? “He needs help!” Big Macintosh shouted as he unhitched himself from the cart and lifted the human onto his back. He heard the sound of approaching hooves. Big Macintosh felt Adam being lifted off of his back. Adam was lowered onto a gurney and pushed through the doors. Big Macintosh tried to follow, but was stopped by a nurse. Big Mac. “Is he gonna be all right?” Big Macintosh shouted as he watched the gurney roll further away. Big Mac. The doors swung shut, but Big Macintosh kept trying to push through. “What’s wrong with him?” “Big Mac?” The stallion blinked and found himself staring at the floor. He looked up and saw Rarity standing in front of him, her hoof inches away from his muzzle. His gaze shot around the hall until they came to rest at the door to Adam’s room. As soon as he shook the images out of his, he leaped up and bolted towards the door, only to find himself covered in purple light and frozen in place. “Doctor Stable said to let him rest, Mister Macintosh,” Rarity said. “Weren’t you listening?” Big Macintosh heaved a sigh and lowered his head. When Rarity was satisfied that the stallion wouldn’t try to burst through the door to Adam’s room, she released him and slowly sank onto the bench. Big Macintosh watched her levitate the empty vial in the air, where the mare stared at it for a moment before she closed her eyes in concentration. The vial disappeared with a pop. “This is all my fault,” Rarity muttered as she shook her head. “I nearly killed him.” She paused before levitating her glasses into the air, huffing to herself as she stared at them. Another pop, and the glasses disappeared, as well. “I hate that I didn’t notice this.” Big Macintosh wanted to say something to Rarity to make her feel better. I should have noticed, he thought, I should have wondered how he kept on going. Big Macintosh thought back to all of the times Adam had seemed injured, only to reappear moments later, ready to go. “Eeyup,” he said. Rarity shuffled in her seat and turned to Big Macintosh, a question clearly on the tip of her tongue. Big Macintosh stood and waited patiently for her to ask. “Were the injuries very bad?” The image of Adam’s darkened eyes and agape mouth burned in Big Macintosh’s memory. As the abrasions appeared on Adam’s face, the only thing Big Macintosh could see was his fear before he went numb. He walked slowly to the bench and took a seat next to Rarity. “Eeyup,” he repeated. There was another moment of silence. From behind the nearby doors, they could hear the sound of ponies talking to one another; though most of the conversation was muffled, they both heard the word hoof, followed by the whirring of a machine. Both Big Macintosh and Rarity instinctively cradled one hoof in the other as they listened to the sound. A few moments later, after the noise stopped, Rarity finally turned once again to Big Macintosh. “If I may ask, Mister Macintosh,” Rarity asked hesitantly as she lowered her hoof back to the floor. “How bad is the scarring?” Big Macintosh shot Rarity an angry glare, and the mare shrunk back from his gaze. Big Macintosh sighed and hunched his shoulders over. Good job, he thought, now you got Rarity scared. However, there was something about how she asked the question that didn’t sit right with him. Only matters that he’s safe, Big Macintosh thought. “Miss Rarity, it don’t—” The two heard the sound of hooves thunder down the hallway. A moment later, Applejack appeared beside them, huffing and wheezing as she tried to catch her breath. “You… coulda used… the teleportin’…” Applejack held out a hoof and took a deep breath. “On me, too… you know?” “Well, I’m sorry I didn’t think of that at the time, Miss Applejack,” Rarity blurted out. “I guess I simply can’t do anything right, can I?” Rarity leaped off of the bench and started to pace around the room. Applejack and Big Macintosh shared a worried glance as they watched the unicorn walked around in circles. “And here I was, thinking I was simply hiring a human assistant, and I end up isolating Adam from Ponyville, making him terrified of everypony.” She shook her head. “I give him medicine to help him with a shoulder ache, and I end up nearly killing him because I didn’t notice the warning label,” Rarity continued on. “I try to make him happy by setting him up with—” Rarity turned to Big Macintosh and her eyes watered. She heaved a sigh and fell back onto the bench. Her shoulders trembled and her gaze fell. “Rarity,” Applejack said as she tried to comfort her friend, “don’t go beatin’ yourself up over this.” “Mister Macintosh, please tell me,” Rarity said, ignoring Applejack. “How bad are the scars?” “The scars ain’t important, Miss Rarity,” Big Macintosh replied. “That’s easy for you to say, Mister Macintosh,” Rarity said as she tossed back her mane. “You aren’t the one who has to—oh, Celestia, how are other ponies going to react?” “Rarity,” Applejack warned, “you’re tired. You ain’t thinkin’ straight. You need to calm down ‘fore you say somethin’ you’ll regret.” “Oh please,” Rarity said as she pushed the two ponies away. “Appearances are everything, especially in Adam’s… situation.” Rarity turned to Applejack, unaware that Big Macintosh’s eyes drifted lower and lower to the floor with each word that left the mare’s lips. “You can’t imagine what it is like for him to have ponies scared of him just because of how he looks. It took an entire year for him to gain the self confidence to even go on one date.” Big Macintosh tried to say something, but the doors next to him opened, and Nurse Tenderheart trotted into the hall and gave the ponies a stern glare. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Visiting hours are over.” She turned to Rarity. “You are disturbing the other patients. I’m going to have to ask you all to leave.” Nurse Tenderheart turned back to the doors. “You can come back when Mister Garnet is awake.” The three nodded their heads and made their way to the entrance. As the front doors opened, they were greeted by a flurry of leaves blowing in the wind. Big Macintosh hitched himself up to the cart but kept his gaze forward, unwilling to look at Rarity again. “Get some rest, Rarity,” Applejack said as she pulled the mare in for a hug. “We can sort this out in the mornin’.” “I-I’m sorry,” Rarity whispered while in Applejack’s embrace. “I didn’t mean to have such an outburst.” Rarity reached out to touch Big Macintosh. The stallion almost flinched at how cold her hoof felt. “Eeyup,” he replied much softer than usual before walking away. Big Macintosh heard the mares exchange goodbyes, followed by the sound of Applejack’s hooves as she caught up to him. Her pace slowed to match his, and together they made their way back home. Big Macintosh looked around at the buildings, noting how empty they appeared. Ponyville sure looks different without any ponies in it. “Hate when Rarity gets like that,” Applejack sighed. “She blows everythin’ outta proportion.” Big Macintosh refused to speak, choosing instead to focus on the road ahead of him. As they left Ponyville proper, the buildings gave way to trees. They walked over a bridge, the sound of water beneath their hooves echoing in the night, and turned down the path to Sweet Apple Acres. “You all right, there?” she asked. You can’t imagine what it is like for him, Big Macintosh thought as he remembered the way Adam cowered in front of him the first time they were alone in Carousel Boutique. “Eeyup.” “But I admit when I saw Adam in the cart, the way his face was all red.” Applejack shuddered. “Could even see the veins on him. Maybe Rarity has some makeup for him or somethin’.” To have ponies scared of him, Rarity’s words repeated themselves in the stallion’s mind as images of his fellow ponies flinching away from his own towering figure flashed before his eyes. “Eeyup.” The rest of the trip went by in silence, Applejack’s hooves trailing lightly on the ground while Big Macintosh’s thundered on even though he tried to walk as quietly as possible. When they reached the gate, Applejack began to walk towards the house while Big Macintosh unhitched himself for the final time of the evening. “You comin’ in?” Applejack asked as she stepped onto the porch. Big Macintosh stared at the rocking chairs. The wind pushed them back and forth, the creaking of wood barely registering in his ears. The screen door opened and Applejack retreated into the darkness. Just because of how he looks. “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said to himself as he followed his sister inside. A machine next to Adam beeped. He didn’t quite have the energy to move around yet, so he kept his eyes closed and listened to the beeping as it continued to fill the room. Oh my God, he thought as the noise continued, turn it off. He started to reach up to rub his temples. A shooting pain ran up his arms, but he had to do something to drown out the noise. As he reached his face, however, he gasped when he felt a series of bumps on the left side of his face. As he trailed his fingers down, he felt the bumps continue down his cheek until they stopped around his neck. He felt something prick at his fingers. He saw a small piece of black thread out of the corner of his eye. Stitches, he wondered as his hand started to tremble, something’s not right. He lowered his hand back down to the side of the bed, trying not to wince in pain. Everything hurt—his face itched in the sunlight, his shoulders burned like they were on fire, and his legs tingled as as though they were being stabbed by hundreds of tiny pins. He glanced around the room, noticing how blank the walls were and how plain the furniture was. A hospital, he thought, turning his attention to the door just as it opened. Something on the unicorn’s jacket caught the light and reflected into Adam’s eyes, and when he refocused on the stallion, he noticed it was a nametag. Doctor… Horse. Seriously? “Ah, good, you are awake, Mister Garnet,” Doctor Horse said as he walked into the room. “One in the afternoon. Excellent, we had hoped that using a colt’s dosage wouldn’t keep you out as long.” “Where—” Adam started to ask, but stopped when he heard how gravelly his voice was. “Easy there, Mister Garnet,” he said as he rushed to Adam’s side. “I don’t want you moving too much. With how much stress you have been placing on your arms and legs, I’m surprised that you’re able to move at all.” Adam hissed as he raised his arms again. Doctor Horse moved to stop him, but a glare from the human stopped him in his tracks. Adam rest his hand on his face again. “It seems that Doctor Stable was able to do good work.” Doctor Horse smiled gently. “Especially considering he had only his hooves to work with.” “Can I have a mirror, please?” he asked. “Mister Garnet,” Doctor Horse replied flatly, “that is not in your best interest at this time.” Adam lowered his hand once more. He tried to flex his legs, but they refused to listen to him. He then tried to lift himself up into a sitting position, but he only managed to lift himself a few inches before his abdomen began to burn. Finally, he fell back onto the pillow with a defeated huff and simply stared at the ceiling. “What happened?” he asked quietly. Doctor Horse shook his head and sighed. His horn glowed, and a nearby chair scooted across the room. When it landed next to the bed, the stallion took a seat and rest a hoof on Adam’s hand. “Mister Garnet, when you acquired this MantiCure, did you have any idea about the potential hazards?” Rarity levitated a compact mirror in front of her and powdered her muzzle as she sat in the waiting room. When she was satisfied with her work, she clamped the compact shut and lowered it into her saddlebags, which she adjusted as she waited for Doctor Horse to return from his rounds. She looked up at the clock on the wall. He said he wouldn’t take too long, she thought, it’s already two o’clock. Nurse Tenderheart said that Adam should be awake by now. Rarity heard the sound of a crying colt in the corner of the room, and glanced over just as a small unicorn turned to his parents, holding his hoof up for them to see. “Mommy,” she heard the colt whimper, “it hurts.” Rarity’s lip quivered as she watched the mare place her hooves on her son’s withers and hold him close. She reached into her saddlebags and pulled out the empty vial that she had been given the night before. As thoughts of Adam ran through her mind, she clasped the vial tighter and tighter. “Miss Rarity?” Rarity looked up. Nurse Tenderheart stood in front of her and held the door open. “Doctor Horse is finishing up with Mister Garnet,” she said. “He just wanted to perform a follow up and see how his colleague’s work went.” Rarity nodded and stood up to follow Nurse Tenderheart down the hall. As they walked together, the nurse continued on about the surgery. “It is actually very promising,” Nurse Tenderheart said. “Doctor Stable’s hoof work can help ponies learn how to deal with numerous magic-resistant species.” The mares turned the corner. Rarity kept her gaze forward, but with every word that Nurse Tenderheart said, Rarity grit her teeth even harder. Adam is not a test subject, she thought, though she managed to keep her composure all the way up to the door to room thirteen. She placed her hoof on the handle and tried to ignore the other mare’s swooning over the doctor. “Griffons, minotaurs, even diamond dogs,” Nurse Tenderheart listed. “All of these species could benefit from his work. Doctor Stable has been very curious about working with the human body for some time now.” Rarity paused. “Curious?” she spat, unable to turn away from the handle. “Oh yes,” Nurse Tenderheart replied, not noticing how tight Rarity’s grasp had become. “Humans are such fascinating creatures, and the fact that they don’t respond to any magical treatment at all was just the challenge Doctor Stable was hoping for. He just wants to help them so much that—” “Isn’t that wonderful?” Rarity asked, finally turning towards the nurse. “I will be sure to let Mister Garnet know that he has been instrumental to ponykind’s understanding of non-magical creatures!” “I didn’t mean to say it like that,” Nurse Tenderheart replied, noticing Rarity’s anger. “I just—” “Mister Garnet is not a lab rat!” she shouted. “He’s—” As Rarity spoke, her voice grew louder and louder until Nurse Tenderheart began to back away from the agitated mare. Just as Rarity was about to continue her tirade, however, the door to Adam’s room swung open and Doctor Horse trotted into the hall, smiling the moment he saw the unicorn. “Ah, Miss Rarity,” Doctor Horse said. “You came just in time. Mister Garnet’s surgery was a success, though I’m sure Nurse Tenderheart has spoken all about it to you.” Doctor Horse droned on, unaware that Nurse Tenderheart was waving her hooves furiously in the air to get his attention and swiping her hoof in front of her neck to signal for him to stop talking. Rarity’s eye started to twitch. “Of course, since humans have absolutely no reaction to our magic fields, it only makes sense that the work would appear a bit primitive. But after a few weeks, the stitches will come off and then we can find out what herbal remedies humans respond to.” Doctor Horse’s gaze drifted into the distance. “We can use it as a catalyst, perhaps… to finally bridge the gap between Zebrican herbalism and Equestrian medicine.” He glanced back over to Rarity, whose fur had managed to turn a bright shade of red. “Isn’t that wonderful?” “Doctor Horse,” Nurse Tenderheart said in a panic, “You’re needed in the lobby.” “Oh drat,” Doctor Horse replied before turning back to Rarity with a smile. “You can go in and see him now.” Rarity watched the two turn and leave, though she could hear Nurse Redheart chide Doctor Horse about bedside manners as they trotted away. She took a calming breath and reached out to grab the handle once more. “Can I come in, too?” Rarity squeaked and jumped back. Her gaze darted around the room until the saw Big Macintosh sitting quietly in the corner. “For the love of Luna’s night, Mister Macintosh,” Rarity said as she tried to slow her heartbeat. “I still cannot fathom how you manage to stay so quiet.” She sighed when the stallion’s ears folded over. “I-I’m sorry, darling. You just startled me, is all.” Rarity glanced back and forth between the door and the stallion, and finally walked over to Big Macintosh and took a seat next to him. Big Macintosh rubbed a hoof against his foreleg and stared down at the floor. “How long have you been here?” she asked. “Few hours,” he replied quietly. “Doc said you had to be here ‘fore I was allowed in. Somethin’ ‘bout you bein’ his caretaker and all.” Big Macintosh looked into Rarity’s eyes hopefully. “So can I?” he asked again. Rarity looked down at the vial and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mister Macintosh,” she replied, “but there are a few things I must discuss with Mister Garnet first.” Big Macintosh’s shoulders hunched over. “Besides,” she continued, “I-I’m worried about what I shall see on the other side of that door.” Big Macintosh’s eyes turned dark as he furrowed his brow. “You’ll see Adam.” “Oh, Mister Macintosh,” Rarity said as her lip quivered as she hugged the stallion. “You… wonderful lug.” Rarity got up and made her way to the door, turning back to the stallion when she reached for the handle again. “I just need a few minutes with him first, then I’ll try to see if you can come in. However, he may be hesitant.” She sighed as she stared at the door. “I regret to say that if there is one thing he has learned from me, it is the importance of appearance.” She closed her eyes and bit her lip. “Miss Rarity—” “I’ll be just a few moments!” she interrupted without turning back. The door opened, and Rarity entered Adam’s room without another word, leaving Big Macintosh on the bench. He tried to look into the room while the door was open, but all he could see was Rarity’s mane blocking Adam from view. As the door clicked shut, Big Macintosh saw Nurse Tenderheart wheel a colt in a wheelchair through the hall. A mare trotted beside them, nuzzling the colt every few steps as they turned the corner and disappeared behind another hall. Adam waited for Doctor Horse to close the door before he turned to stare out the window. Outside, he could see a few clouds dotting the sky. A few moments later, he watched Rainbow Dash soar down from above and kick a cloud into oblivion, only to stop mid-air and begin to pull another one a few feet over. One of these days, he thought with a snicker, though doing so made his chest hurt, I will help Rarity put that pegasus into a proper dress. As the sun continued to descend, the light started to burn Adam’s face. He slowly reached over and pulled the blinds closed. He shook his head as his skin started to cool once more. Adam heard a scuffle outside his room, and he turned his head towards the door just as it opened. When he saw who was at the door, he immediately turned away. Still, he heard Rarity trot through the room until she was at his side. The closer she got to Adam, however, the further he pressed the scarred side of his face into the pillow. Rarity offered him a gentle smile as she placed a hoof on the bed. “Good afternoon, darling,” she whispered. Rarity’s restraint cracked the moment she spoke, and the mare immediately leaned forward and wrapped her hooves around Adam’s torso. As she sobbed into his chest, Adam reached out and stroked her mane “Oh, Adam,” Rarity said through her tears. “I’m sorry. I never should have given you that awful stuff.” “Rarity,” Adam replied, his head still turned away, “of all that has happened, the only thing that hurts is knowing that you blame yourself for this.” Rarity released Adam and sniffled. “How bad is it?” she asked. “I don’t know yet,” he answered. “The doctor wouldn’t give me a mirror.” Rarity’s horn glowed and the compact levitated out of her saddlebags and floated into Adam’s palm. “Do you feel ready to look at it?” “Come to the other side.” Rarity walked to the other side of the bed. Adam sighed and slowly turned so that he was looking straight ahead. Rarity grimaced, but then immediately resumed a stoic gaze. As Adam opened the compact, he finally got to look at his reflection. “I suppose this classifies as a Code Red?” he asked. “Second-degree burns,” Rarity mumbled to herself as she observed Adam’s face. “Nurse Tenderheart was right, though—they’ll heal without scarring, for the most part.” “But look at the abrasions on my cheek and next to my eye,” Adam replied. “I haven’t seen a hoof stitch that bad since Sweetie Belle showed us that dress she made.” Rarity snorted and then blushed. Adam chuckled. “It may look bad now, Mister Garnet, but most of this shall be cleared up in a few weeks.” “Oh good, so I only need to hide in your attic for a month.” Adam stared at his reflection, his smile slowly fading. After another moment, he turned to Rarity. “Do I… do I look frightening?” “Mister Garnet, we need to have a discussion,” Rarity said, making sure Adam was staring directly at her. “You are not a monster. Nopony in their right mind would ever think you are frightening.” Adam turned away, but Rarity placed a hoof on his cheek and turned him back towards her. “In Ponyville, we have faced changelings, Ursa Minors, and a crazed centaur. For Celestia’s sake, Adam, Fluttershy is best friends with Discord. If we can consider a draconequus a friend without recoiling in terror, surely you have to see that a few scratches on your face isn’t the end of the world.” Rarity waited. As Adam’s lips curved into a smile, her muzzle did the same. Adam gave Rarity a hug. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You’re welcome,” Rarity replied a she wiped another tear from her eye. “Now Mister Macintosh is outside. He’s been very concerned about you. Shall I call him in?” Adam flinched and covered the side of his face with his hand. Rarity raised an eyebrow, and Adam slowly lowered his hand and nodded his head. Rarity’s horn glowed, and the door opened. Big Macintosh’s peeked into the room and glanced around, his gaze finally meeting Adam’s. The moment Big Macintosh saw him, the stallion galloped to the foot of the bed. “You feelin’ better?” Big Macintosh asked. “A little,” Adam said, sighing in relief when he noticed that Big Macintosh didn’t flinch when he saw him. “Though you all must think I’m an idiot for what I did.” “Eeyup.” “I see that the Element of Brutal Honesty runs in the family,” Rarity replied. “He’s right, though,” Adam said. “You did tell me that MantiCure uses venom.” Adam frowned and swallowed the lump in his throat. “It just… hurt so much. I wasn’t thinking.” Adam looked at his reflection once more. “At least it will be an interesting story for Mister Pierce to hear, right?” he asked without looking up. Rarity and Big Macintosh exchanged looks. Rarity motioned her head towards Adam. Her smile grew wider when Big Macintosh took a deep breath to speak. “‘Course, sugarcube,” Big Macintosh replied. “He ain’t gonna see you any different. He likes you for what’s on the inside.” Rarity threw a hoof to her face, closed her eyes, and shook her head. When she regained her composure, she took the compact from Adam’s hand and placed it back into her saddlebag. “Now, Mister Garnet,” Rarity said. “You need to get some rest. Doctor Stable says that you should be fine to leave tomorrow afternoon. I shall go ahead and help Mister Macintosh pack your things. Everything will be back to normal before you know it.” Rarity gave Adam one last hug. “Hook to my eye,” she whispered. “Glider to my zipper chain,” Adam whispered back. The two ponies turned to leave, but when they reached the door, Adam called out to the stallion. “Big Mac?” Big Macintosh’s ears perked. “Eeyup?” “Thank you for saving me,” Adam said. “I guess one could say you were my knight in shining armor.” “Mister Macintosh does share some qualities with Twilight’s brother, doesn’t he?” Rarity said. Adam groaned while the ponies shared a laugh. “I shall never cease to be amused at how humans react to our names.” “Eeyup.” Big Macintosh chuckled. The door closed a few moments later. Adam gently caressed his cheek, trailing his fingers against the stitches. Big Macintosh didn’t flinch, he thought as his smile reappeared. He yawned, surprised that just a small amount of movement managed to tire him out again. As he rest his head against the pillow, he snickered to himself. Big Mac’s leg was nicer, he thought as he closed his eyes and snuggled up to the pillow. The moment the thought ran through Adam’s head, his eyes shot open. “Doctor Horse, could I get you to sign off on this?” Nurse Tenderheart asked. “Of course,” Doctor Stable replied as he levitated a cup of tea, “What is—” “What is wrong with me!” Adam’s scream echoed through the hall. Doctor Stable jerked back, sending the hot tea across the room, where it splashed all over Nurse Tenderheart’s muzzle and onto her outfit. The two looked at one another and galloped to Adam’s room. When they burst through the door, they saw Adam staring at the pillow. “Mister Garnet?” Doctor Horse asked, unsure of what to make of the situation. “Are you all right?” Adam glanced up at the two ponies. He coughed gently and tried to regain his composure. “Oh, I was just… imagining things.” Adam leaned back and tucked the pillow behind him once more. “I’ll just… go back to sleep.” “You do that,” Nurse Redheart replied as she trotted over and adjusted Adam’s sheets. Once they made sure everything was in order, Doctor Horse and Nurse Redheart left Adam’s room. The moment they shut the door, Doctor Horse turned to the mare. “What medications have you been giving him?” he asked. “Foal’s dosage of standard pain medication, doctor.” “Hmm…” Doctor Horse replied, scratching his head. “Fascinating creatures.” Doctor Horse trotted off as Nurse Redheart simply looked down at her stained outfit. “Yeah…” she replied flatly. “Fascinating.”