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// An Apple A Day 
// Story: Apples Don't Fall Far From The Tree 
// by No Pony 
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	Big Mac's face contorted into one of absolute displeasure. It wasn't from the slight jolts of pain caused by Nurse Redheart prodding him to assess the damage done to his body. It wasn't from the scowl affixed to his sister's face as she verbally berated him for doing something that went and got himself hurt, even though he knew that under the words of concern at her brother's health, she was proud of him for saving her best friend from dying. No, it was from the nasty chemical smell he hated so terribly from hospital. It was so artificial and sterile, the complete opposite of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Dang it Big Mac, are ya even listenin' ta me!?" Applejack snapped, nearly pushing Nurse Redheart to the floor as she got in his face. Her green eyes angrily bored into his, but he could see the slight bit of excess liquid in them, the tears she fought back as she thought of what could have happened if his rescue of Rainbow Dash had ended poorly.

"Aaaaah, leave the boy alone!" Granny Smith shouted, grabbing Applejack by the tail and giving it a tug. For an old mare, she still had that good ol' Apple family strength that was able to pull the Element of Honesty into a seat. "He did good by that friend of yours and ah think ya should be proud of him. Ain't seen chivalry like that since ah met your pappy." the green mare announced, leaning back into her seat as she started to reminisce about her late husband. "Aaaah, your pappy, such a sweet colt he was. Why, ah remember-"

"Ya're like a superhero!" Applebloom interrupted as she popped up in front of Big Mac, drawing the attention of those that didn't want to listen to Granny Smith's story. "Ah mean, ya don't have any super powers, but ya took a Sonic Rainboom ta the chest and ain't got no broken bones or nothin'! Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo are gonna be so jealous when ah tell them what ya can do!"

Snorting through her nose as she tried to dispel the raw mixture of emotions she felt, Applejack quickly responded "Ah wouldn't do that, sugarcube. Big Mac may be a hero." She took a quick moment to glance at her older brother, trying to convey that she was still angry with him despite the compliment. "But remember that Scootaloo idolizes Rainbow Dash, an' she'd be more freaked out than anythin' that she needed a big red lumox of a pony to shield her from any real damage."

Big Mac couldn't help but smirk slightly at the verbal jab, knowing that as ticked as his little sister was, she was already starting to turn over to the fact she was proud of him and was simply using it as some way to keep the dying anger alive. She had a temper on her, he'd known that for years, but he also knew how sweet she was behind it all. Reminded him how how she was named after the drink, applejack. Sweet taste, but had a kick to it. Also made him wonder how ponies always seemed to know just the perfect name for their foals.

"Speaking of your friend." Nurse Redheart interjected, grasping the attention of all but Granny Smith, still rambling on about some time their grandfather had fought a pack of Timberwolves or something. "I'm heading over to check on Rainbow Dash next. Seeing as you are the ones that brought her in, I figured you'd like to see how she's doing as well."

Big Mac was surprised to hear this, more so over the fact that Rainbow Dash would already be available to check up on in the short time they've been there as opposed to the family being asked if they would like to see her. Regardless, the stallion didn't need any further invitation to check in on the mare he saved, hopping off the chair/table/gurney/whatever it was they had him sitting on and onto his hooves. Despite a slight surge of pain from his sore hooves, he didn't show any external signs that he was uncomfortable... but that didn't stop Applejack from spying it somehow.

"Hold on there Big Mac, ya just got looked over yarself, maybe ya need ta sit back for a bit longer. Heck, we haven't even heard what's wrong with ya yet." Applejack stated, earning a raised brow from Big Mac as she moved to block his path. He had a few scrapes, some sore hooves, and a bruise forming on his chest for sure, but nothing was wrong with him.

"Nothing's wrong with him. He has a few scrapes, some sore hooves, and a bruise forming on his chest, but that's it." Nurse Redheart explained, bringing a smile to the stallion's face. Either he was developing some sort of psychic power to read minds or should consider a career in medical practice. "I mean, I shouldn't even be the one saying it, but you Apples know how to grow them. We couldn't even find a hairline fracture in his ribs. Celestia knows my job would be a lot easier if all ponies were as durable."

Big Mac wanted to give a cocky grin at his sister, but instead made his way for the door. He heard a huff behind him as the Apple family followed Nurse Redheart out of the room and to an adjacent one. All in all, it looked about the same as the previous room, but while Big Mac's had one of those examination tables, this had a full bed upon which Rainbow Dash was laying. She looked to be fairly well, minus the bandages covering the various cuts she had, but her left wing was in a cast and being supported.

Glancing over at the visitors, the deep frown that had situated on itself on Rainbow Dash's face disappeared, waving an eager hoof at them. "AJ! Nice of you to drop by" she said, although she quickly ended up wincing as she strained herself a bit.

"Funny ya should say that, cause ah heard it was ya who was droppin' in." Applejack retorted, giving her friend a knowing smile, even as her eyes showed that same thinly veiled concern that indicated she was more concerned about her friend then busting her chops over the incident.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and turned away, crossing her forelegs before her. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure I'll be getting a lot of that from you, the doctors, the weather team, the Wonderbolts, and anyone else you can imagine wanting to take a shot at me."

Striding up to the bed, Applejack gave a more knowing, caring smile to the Pegasus and said "Shoot Dash, ya know ah'm just ribbin' ya. Or would ya rather ah lay inta ya like ah did Big Mac over here?"

Rainbow Dash cast a glance over to the only colt in the room, who gave her a silent shake of his head that indicated he had received quite the earful and wanted to spare the Wonderbolt hopeful from the same fate. "I, uh, think I'll avoid that part of it." Rainbow Dash replied, wondering why she'd get off lucky when she was the one at fault as opposed to Big Mac, but she wasn't about to open a can of worms if she could help it.

"Well if you two don't mind, I'm going to do my job. Try not to get too active." Nurse Redheart stated, walking over to do a few quick examinations on the injured pony, casting the two Elements of Harmony a look that told them not to make her job any harder than it already was. It made Big Mac wonder why she had invited them to check on Rainbow Dash with her, but figured that despite her desire to do her job with as little issue as possible, she really did care about letting friends and family look out for each other.

Nodding to Nurse Redheart, Applejack turned back to Rainbow Dash and continued. "So mind tellin' me what in tarnation ya were doin' over our farm by the way? Cause from what Big Mac told me, ya seemed ta be doin' a Sonic Rainboom with a wonky wing."

Looking down almost sheepishly, Rainbow Dash replied "I... sorta was." Looking back to the Apples, she knew from their deadpan look that wasn't going to cut it. "It wasn't like I hadn't done it before or anything. I've practiced over your farm before and all that. The only difference here was... well, it's stupid, but I got a wing cramp."

"A wing cramp... A wing cramp is why ya gosh darn smashed inta my brother hard enough ta break through our fence and a tree." Applejack asked, an incredulous brow raised at her best friend. Big Mac could only think back to looking up from Rainbow Dash after he made sure she was alright, seeing that they had indeed smashed through the fence bordering Sweet Apple Acres and the Everfree Forest, then a few trees. To be fair, they were older trees that were already in the process of decaying, but it still showed how hard Rainbow Dash had hit Big Mac. It was a miracle neither of them were hurt worse.

Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash continued "No... I mean yes, but not exactly. Haven't you ever listened when I told you how important it is to do everything perfectly when I do my tricks? That cramp caused my wing to change angles so that it worked against the wind pressure. I couldn't correct it at that high a speed. From there it just... kept going downhill from there. Especially when my wing broke."

"Hm... well, ah can't say ah'm surprised. Ain't the first time ya ended up in here cause of all that showboatin' ya do." Applejack acknowledged, although the way she put it had Rainbow Dash huffing, earning a quick glare from Redheart as she moved in a manner unsatisfactory to a wing check.

"Yeah, maybe you could do with, I don't know, cutting back on the stunts? Between you Elements of Harmony and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, we've got enough going on in here." the nurse stated, looking over to Applebloom and Applejack, wondering if it was in their blood to cause trouble for the hospital's staff.

Giving a chuckle, Rainbow Dash replied "Well from the looks of it, I won't be doing any flying for a while. Gonna have to kick back and read some Daring Do books like last time." The Pegasus reclined into her bed, crossing her hooves behind her head, only to put pressure on her injured wing and wince, also earning a look from Redheart.

"Well you'll have to do it at home this time. You can't stay here." Nurse Redheart stated in an almost casual tone that it took a moment for the other ponies to register what she said.

"Wh-what? But why!?" Rainbow Dash shouted, almost unusual considering how much she hated hospitals, but the prospect of reading a bunch of Daring Dos probably had her more relaxed than her previous visits.

"The hospital's going under some renovations for the next week or so. Doctors and nurses will still treat patients, but we'll be doing house calls... although... in your case, we don't have any Pegasi on our staff, so we won't be able to make it to your house. Although with that broken wing, I doubt you'll be able to either." Redheart explained, giving the wing another once over before walking over to a clipboard and writing something down.

"But... but what am I supposed to do? I mean, I guess I could get somepony to help me back to my house, but I wouldn't be able to go anywhere without help or anything. That'll be so boooooring!" Rainbow Dash groaned, throwing her head back, only to jerk forward when she realized that wasn't good for her wing. Redheart could only roll her eyes and shake her head at the fidgeting Pegasus.

"Why don't ya stay with us?" Apple Bloom offered up, drawing all eyes to her. "Ya're Applejack's best friend an' hurt, wouldn't feel right leavin' ya on your own. An' ah'm sure Scootaloo would love bein' able ta come over an' hang out with ya."

Giving a slight, yet oddly apologetic smile, Rainbow Dash answered "I don't know kid. I mean, I really appreciate the offer, but I've already caused you guys enough trouble. Making you look after me would feel like too much."

Cocking a brow, Applejack meandered up to the bedside and stared her friend in the eye. "Shoot, since when have ya ever cared about stuff like that? Don't seem like ya should back down from stayin' with us if ya feel like ya owe us. Heck, ya can even work ta pay us back for the room an' board, not ta mention the fence an' Big Mac's injuries."

Rainbow Dash frowned and gave a snort, earning a further curious look from the Element of Honesty, only for her to smile, crossing her forelegs and turning away from the Apples with an exaggerated huff. "I guess if you're begging me, I'll up the cool factor of your farm by at least twenty percent till my wing heals." Applejack laughed and gave Rainbow Dash a slight punch to her foreleg, who then returned it with a punch of her own, earning the two a sharp look from Nurse Redheart that made them shrink back.

Coughing awkwardly, Applejack started moving back to rejoin her family and said "Ah'll go ahead an' start settin' up the guest room at home. We'll be back ta pick ya up once the docs say ya're free ta go."

"Well ask Fluttershy to swing by so I can get her to pick up a few things from my house." Rainbow Dash requested, turning back to face the Apples once more.

"Sure thing, Sugarcube. Anythin' else ya need before we head out?" Applejack asked.

The reply she got was a chuckle and a shake of the head. "You're letting me live with you while my wing heals, I think I'm good. Now go on, get out of here."

Shooting her another smile, Applejack turned on her hoof and led her family out the door. Glancing to the departing Apples, Redheart said "You've got a real nice friend there, willing to look after you while you recover."

Rainbow Dash chuckled once more, nodding her head as she held the sheets of the bed against herself. "Yeah, and I'm supposed to be the Element of Loyalty. Makes me feel bad that I'm being so much of a burden on one of my friends." Rainbow Dash admitted.

Nurse Redheart looked at Dash for a good moment, but returned to her work. She wasn't an old mare, but she considered herself experienced enough. She knew how tough it was for a pony to feel like they were just dragging others down because of something they couldn't control, it happened all the time when ponies ended up in the hospital. She just hoped that Rainbow Dash didn't let it bring her down too much. Although she'd never tell her because of how she behaves, Redheart had a respect for that undying flame the Elements of Harmony and Cutie Mark Crusaders had that made them keep on going, even if it caused other ponies a lot of trouble.