I stare up at the stars as l lay against a tree. It is the closest I can get to complete and utter peace. I just don’t see how one could possibly have created such a vast work of art. Not to mention the fact that I live in a small town far away from the city lights, so the night sky is purple, and I can almost see the rainbow of gases that float endlessly across the universe. I come here quite often, usually when there’s a problem with work. Sometimes I wish I’d never been a surgeon. I mean don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it. But it involves a ton of stress. I never get a vacation because if I try, someone would fall off a ladder or something, and there’s only one hospital in the entire town. Sometimes I wonder if I was actually meant for something else. For something not necessarily better, because doctors are pretty highly respected in this town, as there aren’t very many of them, but something…different. Perhaps a bit more fulfilling. I wish it were that simple though. I always loved reading stories about some crazy adventure an awesome hero would have. Perhaps because deep inside, I yearn for something more than just a nice safe life inside this bubble of a town. Oh well. Maybe one day it’ll become more than just a past hobby.
*RING* *RING* My heavy eyes open, and I’m back on my bed. If only I’d stayed in dreamland a little longer, I may have been able to finish it. I was in a jungle, and I was being chased by...something…I recall knowing what it was, but it was gone when my alarm rang. With more effort than normal, I pull myself out of my bed, and groggily fix a bowl of cereal, which I then proceed to guzzle down. Following breakfast is a rhythmic tooth brushing and hair-doing. The door creaks as I push it open and closed, and I am on my way. Only five minutes pass before I am standing in front of the hospital. However, I usually amble, since I am in no hurry.
“Doctor Stable, early as usual!” says Nurse Stweetheart.
“Good morning, Ms. Sweetheart. Are there any new patients?”
“Why yes, there is one, rather unusual patient today. He’s a Pegasus. Fell off a cloud, the poor thing.”
I pull out a file of x-rays that I presume would be this clumsy patient, and observe the breaks. There are multiple cracks in both wings and all four legs, not to mention a few ribs. “These look horrid! He’ll be here for at least a few months with these breaks!” I suppose aloud. Then I remember an important part of healing bones. “Has anyone realigned them yet?”
“Well, you are the most qualified to do things like that, most of us here are just nurses.”
I sigh heavily. It doesn’t take a difficult diploma to fix somepony’s broken wing. “You don’t need a qualification to align bones.” I say, still observing the x-rays. If I’d been looking at Sweetheart, I would’ve seen large, guilty eyes with a mix of skepticism. She fails to reply, so I ask her to lead me to the patient.
I make sure to put on a friendly smile before entering. “Well good morning, Mister…why is his profile blank?” I say turning to Sweetheart.
“Well, his bandages cover his mouth, so I couldn’t think of how to ask him anything.” she replies.
I have to do everything myself don’t I? I turn to the filly, “well then, since you can’t speak or sign, one blink is yes, and two blinks is no. How does that sound? Or rather, Do you like that idea?” One blink. Probably because it’s the only possible form of communication for him. “Excellent! Now, let’s find out your name, shall we? Uhh, A?” two blinks. “B?” two blinks. “C?” two blinks. “D?” we continue for around an hour or so, before everything is filled out. I start to get better at it, guessing the word he’s trying to say before we finish.
"Nurse! His name is Fracture, this is his address." I explain, handing her the completed profile. "Could you find somepony to tell his parents that he's here?"
"Oh, yes of course!" she replies, taking the profile. She begins to read through it as she trots away.
"Thank you so much for taking my little Fracky in, and dressing his boo boos! I was worried sick all night, I'll make sure nopony ever takes their eyes off him again!" Exclaims the mother of Fracture.
"Don't you think that's a little overboard, ___?"
"What do you mean, overboard? Our son could have died, and you just want him to play on those clouds all alone again?"
"Well no, but I just think there's a way to fix this without treating him like a filly."
"He IS a filly!"
Fracture exaggeratedly rolls his eyes as his parents argue. He's probably upset that he can't dispute his mother for insisting that he's younger than he thinks he is. I allow them to attempt to agree with each other for a small while longer before I grow impatient, and ask "What exactly happened to make him fall off a cloud?"
the filly's parents turn away from their debate, and the mom explains, "well, we sent him to a flying camp so that he could improve his flight skills, and I suppose the leaders weren't watching him when he fell."
"I see. Well, he should be fine after a month or two." I notice his eyes shrink to small dots on his face.
"Oh thank you, Doctor"
"Dr. Stable, there's a problem in room 105!" I hear Nurse Sweetheart say as she enters the room we are currently in.
"Oh dear, has Mr. ____ run off again?" That man loves to get himself into trouble. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. and Mrs. _____, I must go. Feel free to talk with your son as long as you wish, one blink is yes, two blinks is no. Uhh, visiting hours end at 8:00, but if you want to stay longer, just tell anyone that asks you to leave that Dr. Stable allowed you to. Good day!" And with that, I shut the door, and begin the pursuit for old Mr. ____, whom I eventually find in the cafeteria attempting to steal ponies' food off their plate. By the time I get him back on his hospital bed, I’m late for the removing of somepony's tonsils, and a small wing surgery. By the time I complete both of those, I'm nearly on time for the daily checkups with the numerous sick patients, but I decide I would finish the list of patients tomorrow.
*RING* *RING* I got less sleep today than yesterday. Maybe I could call in sick. That would be ironic wouldn't it? A sick Doctor. No, I have an appointment with Fracture today. I have to make sure he's healing correctly.
A mechanic obedience of my daily routine later, I am trotting to the Ponyville Hospital for yet another day of fixing and checking.
"Good morning Ms. Sweetheart!"
"Good morning, Doctor." she hardly looks away from her schedule. I stand in the same spot for perhaps a bit longer than one should. She's been acting less enthusiastic than usual. I haven't seen her like this since Ace's tennis playing hoof healed.
I decide an apology is in order. "Ms. Sweetheart," I begin, taking a step forward, "I'm sorry I've been treating you poorly recently. I've been a bit down these past few weeks, but that is no reason for me to take it out on you. I was planning on taking a day off tomorrow so that I can rest from the stress that sometimes becomes a bit too much for meto handle. And I promise I will never treat you as unkindly as I have these past few weeks.” With that, she looks up from her papers, smiled, and I know she’s returned to her normal exuberant self. “Is that a new patient?”
She nods her head. “Another pegasus with a flying accident. I put her in the same room as Fracture.”
I smile, "How ironic! May I see her file?" She hands me a large bundle of papers, and on the header reads: Rainbow Dash. I read on and find that she’s been hospitalized for various injuries in the past. "looks like this isn’t her first time here. What has she done this time?" I flip her profile to the back of the papers revealing x-rays of an injured wing. I begin to trot toward the room.
“I took the liberty of dressing her wound for you.”
I stop and turn to her. “Thank you.” Is all I say. For years she’s been my number one helper with all of the small tasks that just need doing in order to have a smooth day, and we've been great friends. And I’ve been taking such advantage of her recently. I've been taking advantage of everyone recently. But I can't just say all that.
“Oh my, I have a cart of books to sort!” says Nurse Sweetheart, and she is off busying herself with her side job of being the self appointed vice secretary.
When I enter the hospital room, it is full of young, unicorns, ponies, and pegasi gathered around Rainbow’s bed, a very different site compared to Fracture’s check-in. Speaking of which, “Are you doing well, Fracture?” I ask as I pass his section. One blink. Great. Could I get away with counting that as my appointment? Probably not. “Good morning mares, I’m Doctor Stable, and I'll just be checking on Rainbow dash here.” I announce as I lift her x-rays into the air to get better lighting.
“Is she gonna be okay?” says the apple pony.
“Oh, I'm so worried” says the yellow pony with the butterfly cutie mark.
“Is her face gonna stay that way?” exclaims the pink pony as Rainbow Dash stirs, and opens her eyes, which leads to a loud groan. She must hate hospitals.
The purple unicorn with the star like cutie mark decides that once asked isn't enough, “How is she, doctor?”
“She’s going to be fine. Luckily, she has friends like you, who got her over here in a jiffy!” I answer, as kindly as possible.
“How long do I need to lie here? I've got things I need to do!” Asks Rainbow, a very antsy Pegasus from what I'm gathering.
“Well, that all depends on your recovery, but I'd say a few days minimum.”
“You guys have gotta get me out of here, I’m gonna climb the walls!” she must really hate hospitals.
“Oooo! Just like a spider! Did the crash somehow give her super dooper spider powers?” the pink pony blurts.
Does this one have a screw loose, or something? “No. Nor did it give her amazing healing powers, she needs to stay in bed for a few days.” I answer patiently.
“Few days? It might as well be a few months, of a few years!” I keep my eyes from rolling. Then again, I hated hospital stays as a filly.
“It’s not so bad, Rainbow Dash.” Comforts the quiet pegasus.
I decide that they can have their visiting time alone now. But as I leave, the purple unicorn stops me. “Thank you, Doctor.” I smile. Nice to know they’re a mannered group of friends. “You’re quite welcome…”
“Twilight Sparkle”
“You’re quite welcome, Twilight Sparkle. You know, when I was in the hospital, I would read to pass the time. I loved reading.” That last part seemed more for myself than for her.
“That’s funny, me too. I live in the library, maybe you could check out a book or two sometime.”
I chuckle. I wish I could. “I’d love to, if I ever have enough time. Good day!” Before I close the door behind me, I hear that pink pony say “and look, you have a roommate!” the curtain between Rainbow and Fracture is pulled, and the poor Pegasus rolls his eyes at them, probably considering them a nuisance to his peace, or something. The door closes, and the rest my day is filled with catching up on my daily checkups, and more operations. I decide to stay a little extra late since I was planning on taking a day off tomorrow, and actually finish my checkup list. The appointment with Fracture was almost as fast as what I hoped to pass off as his appointment, and just as useless, apart from me redressing his bandages.
“Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Daaaash!” I sing. She’s buried under her sheets with a firefly lamp, and by the looks of it, she’s been reading a book all night! Looks like Twilight took my advice. The hospital sheets bounce around as Rainbow digs her way out from inside.
“Oh! Uh- good evening-” she starts.
“Morning,” I correct. I know how she feels, losing track of time.
“Morning, Doc!” something must’ve clicked after she said that because she then rushes to the window to see proof that I’m correct, and indeed the sun is high in the air, and rising.
“Have you been up all night?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Uhh-of course not!” She answers, blowing out the lamp, and with it the fireflies. I’ll have to remember to let them out before the next patient comes.
“Well, I’ll be quick. Congratulations Rainbow Dash, we’re checking you out of the hospital!” She’ll get to finish her book in the comfort of her own home.
“WHAT? Later today?” She looks somewhat nervous, but I can’t imagine why. She was so upset to be here in the first place.
“No," I answer with a cackle, "right now!” I thought I would let her out a little early, since she seemed so depressed being in here.
“Right now!? right now right now?” exclaims Rainbow, in a nervous, stunned state.
“Right now, right now!” I confirm as I hold the door for Nurse Sweetheart and Coldheart.
“But I don’t feel better!” Why would she say that? Why does she suddenly want to stay in the hospital? Nevertheless, she is wrestled into a wheelchair, and Nurse Sweetheart begins to wheel her out.
“Now, take it easy Rainbow Dash, remember to stay off that wing for a week.” I inform her. It’s not quite healed, and if she starts flying too soon, we might have to patch it again. She looks back with large, longing eyes, but I don’t know what she’s looking at. I drop it pretty fast, what with all these patients I’ve got to think about.
About an hour later, I hear Rainbow Dash burst through the lobby doors, melodramatically complaining about her wing.
“Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here, anything wrong?" I wonder.
"Well, uhh…my wing! Its still hurting,doc!"
I trot closer, and examine the wing, and she exaggerates a flinch. “Ohh, ouch! Right there!”
Figures. “I was touching your good wing.” I say, narrowing my eyes.
“uhh, right. Well, I think that ones hurting now too!”
I chuckle. I like this one, she reminds me a bit of myself at her age. A very small bit. “I think I know what the trouble is. A severe case of lazy-itis!” everyone gets it once in a while. Why, I think I've got a case of it, myself!
“B-bu, you’ve got me all wrong doc, I’m not being lazy!” She protests as I push her out of the lobby.
“Your fine, Rainbow Dash. Give it some time, and you’ll be right back in the swing of things.” I reassure her.
Now, back to my patients. I trot inside, but before I go to my first checkup, I decide to make the bed that Rainbow was in, just to help out the nurses a little. As I do so, I discover something peculiar underneath the sheets. I float it out, and everything makes sense now! It’s her book! The one she’d been reading all night! She wasn't being lazy, she just wanted her book! She must’ve misjudged our understanding, and thought we wouldn’t let her just go in and get it. Oh well, nothing I can do now. I’ll just go put it back in the hospital library. What book is it anyway? I flip it over to the front facing me. Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stones!? I remember these! I read them as a filly, back when it was a brand new series.
I cautiously look behind me. Fracture’s asleep, and no one’s trotting though the halls. I’m completely alone in here. No harm in reaing a page or two, just for old time’s sake, is there? I open the hard cover book, and suddenly a wave of nostalgia wipes over he. And I yearn for a time when I was younger, and life was simpler. When I could just open up a book to escape the sometimes melancholy feeling of reality. Chapter One. As daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle…
“Doctor Stable!” snaps me back to reality. The door is open, and there are numerous ponies and unicorns galloping about. Oh no! how long have I been reading? My eyes trail downward to the page number. 77? Great, I hope nothing too bad has happened while I was gone! I snap the novel shut, and float it under the bed, leaping off of it, and falling in the process.
“Nurse Sweetheart! I was…just-” I begin, pulling myself up.
“Oh, you don’t need to explain yourself, everypony finds themselves goofing off at work sometime or another!” she explains, nudging my shoulder. “But, while you were gone, Lather Law had another mopping accident, and I need you to check and make sure he didn’t break anything…again…” she sighs.
“Oh, yes of course!” I reply, clearing my throat.
“Also, Mr. ___ went missing again, and you always seem to know where he is.”
“Fantastic.” I say, slouching. That Stallion is more trouble than he's worth! Still, he is a patient, and we couldn't just kick him out. Or could we?
“Also...” they were busy without me. So busy in fact, that a list of things to do piled up so high, I had to start writing it all down, and it ended up taking 18 inches of my scroll paper. Its gonna be a late night tonight.
Countless hours later, I am still in the hospital even though it just closed a few moments ago, near the end of this never ending to do list. Is that an open window? Ugh, the nerve of some ponies. You know how sometimes you’re so bored that you wish something dangerous would happen, just to make your life more interesting? Well, guess what? Suddenly, I hear a yelp from across the hall, and my heart skips two beats.
“Burglar, burglar! Someone’s trying to steal my slippers!” I dart toward the noise. Whoever it was couldn’t have timed it any more perfectly. I’m at the point where anything out of the ordinary is worth my full attention. Nurses Sweetheart and Coldheart are already on the scene, but for defensive reasons, unlike me. The thief looks oddly familiar, but the lighting, and black suit that she is wearing prevents me from making her out. She won’t get away with thievery in this hospital! I declare inside my head, trying to trick myself into multiple motives. I stand in front of the hallway to block her from getting through, with my chest out to intimidate her. Of course, she decides to fly over poor little Cotton Ball who hardly reaches off the floor. Suddenly, the masked robber crashes into a shelf of books from causes unknown, for it is too dark to tell.
“Come on, while she’s down!” I suggest, and gallop after the thief right behind security.
“We need flashlights!” The security pony whips out three flashlights from his pocket on our way to the window. I am the first one to jump, even though I can’t fly. It is possibly the most exhilarating feeling I’ve had on years! Who knew leaping out a window to one’s imminent death could be so exciting! I land safely on the ground, and I don’t even lose my balance, making me appear as if I’d done this before.
The nurses decide to exit through the lobby, but the security guards, who are much faster than I, followed my hoof in pursuit.
We chase the Pegasus all the way down the large hill that our hospital stands on top of, and straight into the heart of Ponyville. On my way through the town square, I hear many complaining voices behind me, and see many shadows cast in front of me by building lights. But I am not about to stop and apologize for chasing a thief, they can see clear and well what we are up to. Despite the blur that this chase has cast in my vision, I notice that the burglar’s tail boasts all the colors of the rainbow. Its Rainbow Dash! It can’t be that serious if it’s her. She leads us past the town square, and around numerous homes in hopes to lose us, which indeed fails.
We finally catch up to her at the library, of all places. “Rainbow Dash! What in the world is going on? Why are you stealing slippers?” I demand. Suddenly, the group of friends that visited her in the hospital all appear out of nowhere. Or maybe they joined in the chase, I wouldn’t know; I was near the front the whole time.
“What’s all the ruckus?” wonders the orange pony.
“I’d say it’s more of a fracas than a ruckus.” Declares the crazed pink pony.
“What’s going on, Rainbow Dash?” asks Twilight Sparkle.
Rainbow Dash is trembling, and a sweat breaks down her forehead before she announces with a sigh, “I’m an egghead.”
“Pardon?” replies the white unicorn, as baffled as the rest of us.
Rainbow begins to explain, “See, I was trying to in the hospital to finish the last chapter of-”
“Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue!” finishes Twilight.
“You got me.” says Rainbow, slumping down in a defeated manner.
“Wow, I knew the book was good, but I didn’t know it could drive a pony to petty theft!” she exclaims.
“Good? Try awesome-ly amazing! That book is undeniably, unquestionably, un-put-downable!” replies Rainbow.
“But, then I had to put it down, I was sent home before I could finish it”
“Well, I’m glad that’s all this is about.” Announces Twilight.
The apple pony trots toward Rainbow,“There’s no reason to go around casuin’ a ruckus-”
“Fracas!” corrects the pink one.
“-causin’ a fracas, just because you like to read!”
“That…was…GREAT! Let’s do it again!” I shout in between breaths. I never realized how invigorating a chase was, or just an adrenaline rush in general. I should schedule a weekly burglar just so I can chase them down again. Then I realize what I’ve just announced, and notice all the large, confused eyes on me, and sink down a little.
“Oh, Doctor, I think you need some rest.” Smiles Nurse Sweetheart. I sigh. I suppose that could work as well.
