//------------------------------// // First Encounters // Story: Doctor Horse: Adventures in Patience // by CarmenColor //------------------------------// "Is she going to be okay?" "What happened to her?" "She fell into the gorge." "Didn't someone try to help her!?" "Of course they did! Dare Devil had a mattress, but she bounced off and landed in the water..." "Will you all stand back?" A loud voice cut through the worried chatter, making you wince. "She doesn't need you all crowding around her." With a soft groan, your eyes fluttered open, revealing a small crowd of ponies and Princess Twilight, who stood at your bedside. Wait...bedside? You were currently laying in a bed at the Ponyville hospital, swathed in bandages. Your entire body ached, and even small movements made you groan. "Wh...what happened...?" you asked, looking around at everyone and hoping for an explanation. A unicorn stallion with a brown mane and a white doctor's coat stepped forward. "You had quite an accident. Apparently, you fell into the gorge outside Ponyville." The doctor walked around to the side of your bed and studied the bandages and casts you were in. Most of the crowd of ponies made for the door, until only the doctor, the princess, and a pegasus remained in the room. Based on his unruly mane and flaming skateboard cutie mark, you could only assume it was Dare Devil, the pony who had tried to save you. He eyed you uncertainly. "She gonna be okay, Doc?" you heard him ask. The doctor, turned to him and smiled. "Yes, Dare. Broken bones can heal. You don't have to hang around here all day, you know." The unicorn used his magic to readjust some of your bedding and bandages. The pegasus stallion nodded and trotted out the door, glancing back at you once. "[name]," Princess Twilight said, "I'm really sorry this happened to you. This wasn't supposed to be a dangerous visit or anything, and I'm afraid being stuck in here will make it hard for you to do your assignment." "I-it's okay, Princess," you said, trying to shrug but managing only to groan again, "I'll get it done somehow." "I hope 'somehow' means after you've healed," the doctor said, glancing down at you, "You've got several broken bones... [name], was it? Well, you won't be going anywhere anytime soon." You bit your lip. "How long am I going to be in here?" you asked uncertainly. "Well, broken bones don't heal overnight," he said, shrugging, "It'll depend on how much you try to move around, because that may end up exacerbating your condition." "But I can't just lay here." "I'm afraid you have to, [name]. But don't worry, the rest of the staff and I will try to make your stay as comfortable as possible." The doctor looked over at Princess Twilight. "I'm very sorry about this, Twilight, but visiting hours are over." "Oh! Sorry. I'll just be going then." She waved at me and headed for the door. "Bye, [name]. I'll try to visit you again if I can." You smiled a bit as she left, shutting the door behind her. Then you looked over at the doctor, who was still at your side. "Well, [name]. I'm Dr. Horse. Your case is...particularly severe by Ponyville standards, so I'll be making sure to check in with you several times a day. Nurse Redheart will probably check in every so often as well." He frowned down at you. "Im afraid there isn't much we ca do at this point but wait for the bones to heal." "Alright, Doctor..." you said. "I heard you were very valiant today though. The train conductor was here earlier, and he told me how you stopped the train, and then held up that bridge for every pony to cross." An almost cross expression appeared on his face. "I'm a bit surprised that a student of Celestia would be so reckless with her own magical stamina." An embarrassed blush rushed to your face. "I-I was just trying to help..." you stammered. "I understand that. It doesn't make it any less reckless," Dr. Horse said, "Now, I expect you to be a good patient and stay in bed. Don't try to move, and don't use your magic." He tapped your horn, making you wince. "You magic completely faded out. It's going to take a little while for you to get to the point where you can use it again." The doctor levitated the clipboard up off the end of my bed and looked over it absently. "I think that's all I need to tell you right now. Just...take it easy, alright? I'd hate for you to get worse or end up causing yourself to catch some sort of infection from straining yourself." He put the clipboard back and offered you a kind smile. "If you can do that for me, you're going to be just fine, [name]." You smiled back at him as he turned toward the door. "I'll do my best," you said softly. "Well, good. Now, I have to check up with some other patients, but I'll be back, okay? Nurse Redheart will probably be by with your dinner sometime soon." You stuck your tongue out at that, though the doctor couldn't see it. You weren't exactly looking forward to eating hospital food. As the door swung shut, you sighed at the ceiling. You couldn't move or use your magic, and there wasn't even anyone else in this room to talk to. This was going to be the most boring thing you'd ever experienced.