I opened my heavy eyes to see the usual ceiling boards. I had a simple home, no husband, no kids, no family. I rolled over and pushed the blankets down with my hooves, wrapping the small puppy at the edge of my bed with them. Poppy kicked around in protest, finding her way out of the endless layers of sheets and blankets. My puppy, Poppy hopped down and greeted me with a slight wag of the tail, and the biggest puppy eyes she could manage.
“Alright, alright.” I groaned, slowly dragging each hoof across the floor, until I came across the kitchen. After I reached the kitchen, I opened the cupboard door and brought out a box that rattled with each movement. Poppy hopped around in glee, expecting many treats. As I poured a few treats into the bowl, Poppy began to eagerly snatch the treats. Another day, filled with the same events as the day before.
I trotted back to my bedroom, where I put up my hair, and graced my face with a bit of makeup, to hide the dark circles of another sleepless night. I finished preparing for work and headed out the door.
“Redheart! You’re late!” Time Turner said spinning an hourglass in a frame with a great push. “You are exactly 6 minutes late, and a lot can happen in 6 minutes! A patient could die, go into cardiac arrest, break a wing, horn, hoof, leg, neck, spine, fore-leg, hip, nose, skull—and don’t even get me started on all the diseases they could get! Look at this place, you’re 6 minutes late, which means the floor hasn’t been swept yet, and look! Look! LOOK! Are you listening, Redheart?—You don’t even have on your nurse’s hat! Nurse hats are an essential part of your uniform! Not only are they cool, but they provide distinct differences for everypony to see!” Time Turner darted around me shouting, “From this angle! You don’t even look like a nurse—“
“Timmy! Calm down. Everypony knows me here, they know I’m a nurse. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have quite a few patients to attend to.” I said in a calm, reassuring voice, as I often had to use here in the hospital.
Time Turner continued with his rant, then straitened his tie and walked down another hallway, my guess was to chew out another nurse or doctor.
“Rainbow Dash.” I called the name of a familiar mare, who was in here often, especially just before the Young Flyer’s Competition. She walked with a uniform limp of after-practice aches, into the office of one of the doctors. After I called a few more names, I began to sweep. Nopony has the sense to wipe their hooves on the giant rug provided for them, instead, they prefer to track in mud, dirt and Celestia knows what else!
My day was over as slowly as it began, and shortly after nightfall, I began my long journey(around the block) to my lonely cottage where my impatient puppy would wait by his food bowl, after a tiring day of being dogsat my the lovely mare, Scootaloo.
My schedule remained the exact same boring run through of each day, for weeks on end, until one day, I got a visit from miss Rarity, one late evening.
Rarity had pranced in, her prestige mane, bouncing with her every hoofstep. Her crystal eyes blinked at me fondly, as they settled upon my rats’ nest of a mane, and skin touched by every color in the rainbow. We nestled down in separate chairs by my fireplace, which Spike, her travelling companion, lit up with much glee. I told her about my long day, working with the Cloudsdale’s factory explosion.
“Well, the first thing I heard of it, was that the factory producing rainbows had a ‘rainbonic’ reaction and blew up. We had pegasi dropping from the sky like rain. Because of the fall, much of our trauma section was filled with groaning pegasi ponies. We had 4 deaths…” The words became sour on my tongue. I didn’t even understand what rainbonic was, but by the look in Rarity’s eyes, she did.
“Oh, I see. You poor darling. You must be absolutely devastated! Are you going on any extra shifts?”
“Well, I have thought about maybe—“
“Good! If you do happen to see a Green pony with darker green mane, give her this!” Rarity handed me a pendulum on a gold chain. “Her name is Medley, she’s simply exquisite!”
“She was in the explosion? Are you sure?” I quested her notion and put the necklace on the table.
“Yes, yes, she’s the one who designs rainbows, after all.” I made note of it and eyed the fire, which was an odd green hue.
Rarity went home and took baby Spike with her, leaving me utterly alone. I wandered through the house, killing time, in dead silence, minus the slight clunk of my hooves against the surface of the floor.
I climbed into the bath tub and filled it with water I could barely withstand, laying on my folded up legs, with my silent puppy laying on the towel outside of the tub, I kept thinking about the mare Rarity described to me. I’ve seen everypony in town, and in Cloudsdale and I’ve never seen a pony with light green body and dark green mane, not with the name Medley, at least. How odd, I knew all the Rainbow Designers… There was Firefly, and—I know Rainbow Dash had a few done up the same way her cutiemark was. Spitfire had designed a few before she joined the Wonderbolts, and even Soarin’. I knew them all, but not Medley. Something about it sounded… wrong.
* * *
I had fallen asleep on the floor with a towel draped over me. What a wonderful night’s sleep. On top of that I was late as usual—I wasn’t! I had 2 hours until I had to leave, but if I went back to sleep, I would only be later than normal… Sigh. I would get ready and go to Sugarcube Corner for a bit before work.
I went through the daily regime, and this time, did not forget my nurse’s hat. Trotting out of the house, I noticed something odd. Something was not right. I was… Happy? Usually I was just meh, but today, I was happy to go to work.
“Redheart! So lovely of you to join me! I knew you would come around, with being on time and even—you wore your nurse hat!” Time Turner jumped from his seat in glee. “Look at you, look at you!” He chimed, “All dressed up for work like a good mare.” He gave me a sincere grin, and I couldn’t help but to laugh a little at his optimism.
“Time Turner, I just came to eat.” I tried not to giggle, but it escaped.
“Well! Breakfast is a very important meal, so all is well.” He nodded at me and took another sip from his drink. I assume it was tea. Or at least, I hope it was. I cannot imagine Time Turner on the hype of coffee. Another giggle tickled my throat.
What the hay was wrong with me? I was as giddy as a school filly today.
“Something wrong, Redheart, you look confused?” He got close to my face and put his hoof on my head. “Must not have slept well—well—all is well!” He pushed a box to me, on the top of it, were decorate letters “Sugarcube Corner” in a fancy looking handwriting. “I don’t want anymore, so’ere! You take ‘em!” He grinned again like a little colt. But I happily accepted, after all, I probably wouldn’t have bought anything, what with my pay cut and all.
Time Turner burst suddenly, “Ha—well I’ll see you at work.” He was serious for the last line, in a sudden weird tone. I dismissed it, and continued to eat.
Later that day, I looked at every one of the pegasi patients. Spitfire had lost quite a few primary feathers and even a bit of skin. She was unable to fly; she lost so many. Soarin’ and Wave Chill had horrible concussions. Rapidfire is in a coma and Fleetfoot has internal bleeding and three broken ribs. Rainbow Dash though, was fine, she had saved 3 fillies that couldn’t fly and stopped Spitfire and Soarin’ from hitting the ground at full force. Scootaloo, who had been to Cloudsdale to learn to fly, rode on the back of Rainbow Dash but sustained burn injuries from the explosion. Blaze was completely fine and helped me with cataloging all of the injuries and Pegasus ponies.
At the end of the hallway full of patients who lie on cots Airheart, April Showers and Bon Voyage were crowding around one Pegasus pony and watching her. April Showers closely resembled the pony in front of her, but her colors were slightly off.
“Mother…?” April Showers nudged the pony in front of her with a worried hoof and tears in her eyes. Bon Voyage put a foreleg around April Showers endearingly. “Mommy, please, please, please, be okay!” April whispered under her breath and cried into the shoulder of Bon Voyage. Another pony, as elderly looking as the pony in front of them, slowly walked up and gave silent and early condolences to April.
“Medley, please be okay.” Brilliant Bloom said. She had the longest mane and tail I had seen. Both were longer than Fluttershy’s, even Celestia maybe—Medley! The pony I needed to find! Medley twitched as my hoofsteps grew closer to her.
“Miss Medley, I have something to give you from Rarity.” Her ear twitched in recognition.
“Nurse Redheart, is she okay? She hasn’t spoken. I think... she was working in the factory when it blew up.” April’s tears returned.
I affirmed her worries with a slight nod and nudged Medley’s wing that wasn’t split in half. I did a routine check of all bones that were broken—she had broken both front forelegs, her back-left hoof was shattered and most of her mane and tail had been singed to the point of no return. She had the worst of the injuries next to death and the worst of the injuries was her left eye that had been completely blown out by the explosion, her tongue had been singed as well, and was but a dry sponge now. I did my best to make her drink water, but it was futile. Why did Rarity know about this—did she?
I placed the necklace around her neck and gave each of the ponies nervous glances, then smiled at April to assure her that I would do my best. I had to.
“…Redheart, please, please, please save mommy.” April said a bit louder now. I stopped in my tracks and frowned. Could I? All of the doctors were busy with Wonderbolts and socialite ponies that had a massive amount of funds they could donate to the hospital, so they got the beds in the rooms by themselves.
“I’ll be back at lunch, and I’ll see how she is then. Hopefully we can get her to drink water. I think she’s very disoriented.” I nodded and smiled again. “Everything will be okay.” It was like telling her nothing would be alright and her mother was going to die, except, nicer.
Around lunchtime, I returned with food and with Rarity following close behind me. She had her saddlebags at her side and both filled to the brim with brushes and washcloths and such. Recently, Rarity has been making each of the ponies presentable and helping them wash down.
“Nurse Redheart!” I happy voice came from my left, I turned around to see who it was---Medley?!
“Aren’t you—your wing—your eye! How?” I looked to the injured Medley but she was still there. “What?” I looked back and forth.
Medley stared at the injured Medley and giggled a little. Bon Voyage was now accompanied by another Pegasus with minor injuries who had been helping out as well, they were so close it were as if they were attached at the hip.
“Skyra, be a dear and lift up Medley’s wing, could you?” Rarity levitated a weird brush looking thing. She gently ran it across the injured wing—Changling! That’s what it was! A changling! I ran up to the non-injured Medley.
“You’re a changling!” What had come over me, I would never know.
She stood there for a moment then giggled again. “You’re silly. I’m not a changling, I’m her sister!” I paused. I glanced at their cutie marks. One was green music notes and the other was a rain cloud.
“Oh… Oh…Then what’s your name?” I said a bit ashamed.
“My name’s Rain Drip!” She said. She was considerably younger than Medley, but looked almost the same.
“Ra…” A quiet syllable was heard from the injured Medley on the cot. “Rain…” She coughed.
“It’s okay, I’m right here, Medley, I wasn’t in the explosion.”
“Drip… Run, Drip, run.” She said under her breath. April looked at her mother in question. Medley screamed. “Run! Now! It’s going to explode! It was she! She messed up! Run! Drip, April! Run! Please!”
She opened her eyes quickly, and looked around, disoriented. I settled her down after a while and she quickly fell back to sleep. Her eyes were filled with tears.
Nothing much happened after that situation, so I went on with my day, bandaging, treating, cleaning, feeding and such. At the end of the day, I joined Time Turner for dinner with two of the patients to talk about the explosion. There were two stallions and Time Turner.
Serenity, an old childhood friend, smiled at Time Turner as he spoke.
“Long time, no see, you two. Not since medical school, right?” Serenity chuckled and let his goggles fall around his neck. He looked over to the stallion next to him. “This is Meadow Song. He’s River Dance’s husband, if that helps you to identify him any.” River Dance, a good mare.
“Ah,” Time Turner prolonged the noise. “I remember River Dance. She was the one who bust through the wall of the emergency room the other evening! Ahaha, what a great time—but had to be picked up quickly. Her, and her… gorgeous friend! What a blue mare—the bluest blue I’ve ever seen! Simply amazing, and her eyes, her eyes like the eyes of—you know!” I stopped him before he said something he would regret, or better yet, kept talking. The two stallions simply ignored this.
“I trust you know what this is about.” The atmosphere shifted from happy to serious in a millisecond. “I believe one of the mares here ignited one of the rainbonic pots.” What an odd word… Rainbonic? I had never heard it in my life. Serenity noticed my confusion.
“Rainbonic pots are the cauldrons that the grey matter settles and simmers in. Once it’s a bright grey, we dye it with, well…” He trailed off. I didn’t mean to speak, but I did.
“With what?”
“We use plants from the Everfree forest.”
I laughed a bit. “That’s impossible.”
“No it’s not. We send ponies in and they collect dyes.”
“Then explain the sonic rainboom Rainbow Dash made at the Young Flyers Competition.” I chuckled a little.
“That’s the only kind of natural rainbow. The last natural rainbow across the sky—without a sonic rainboom—vanished when Celestia and Luna first took control of Equestria, thousands of years ago.”
“What?” Time Turner said.
“Read up on it.” Serenity dismissed.
“Anyway, we need to search each pony for evidence of causing the explosion.” Time Turner nodded his consent. Meadow Song continued. “Nurse Redheart, since you’re head of the nursing staff, I will need you to give me a list of all Pegasus, and nurses. I’ll need it by tomorrow morning. Come in early.”
I hated going in early, always more work than what I’m paid for. I nodded and we dismissed the meeting. On the way out I saw Carmel, he was assisting Cheeriliee with attending to children. I also saw Rain Drip and Rarity tending to the “beauty-needs” of ponies.
I went home, slept and tried to forget something that lie silent in my subconscious. It was… It was… Something odd, but, normal. I knew exactly what it was.
Medley’s tongue; Medley’s tongue had been scorched. Even if her mouth was open during the explosion, it couldn’t have scorched her tongue to that degree. She also kept murmuring “run.” Over and over she would wake up screaming. From what I gathered, Medley was always emotionally stable and sane. Nopony else had this problem. What happened to Medley?
_________________________________________________
Any commentary, grammatical corrections, etc are always welcome. If you have any questions, fear not to ask.
Another morning, but I awoke early, ate, same old morning regime. However, once I arrived at work, I noted the fact, that there were a million books stacked on hundreds of carts in the lobby of the library. I knew the mare behind it all, Twilight Sparkle. I tapped her on the shoulder.
“What’s all this about?” I gestured to the books.
“I figured everypony needed something to do! It must be so~o boring just sitting there.”
“What about the library? Is this it?”
“Time Turner suggested if the library was that empty, we use it for another camp. I can always stay with Applejack, but these ponies’ homes were destroyed in the explosion… The farm is being used as refuge as well…” She trailed off sadly.
“You can stay with me, if you wish.” I smiled at her.
“Really?” Her ears perked up at the notion.
“Of course, anything you need.” I smiled.
“Oh my gosh! That would be perfect! I know Medley’s family is staying with Rarity and a few ponies with Applejack, Pinkie Pie has the baby cakes to worry about and Rainbow Dash’s house is… well, clouds. There’s always Fluttershy, but… her animals think I’m too pushy.” She laughed a little. “Oh wait! I forgot! Pinkie Pie desperately wants me to stay over with her. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. Where’s Spike?”
“Oh, he’s running around with Rarity.” I nodded and trotted towards the hallway with all of the patients. The number of ponies considerably decreased, since most of them were staying with other ponies.
I trotted down another hallway that led to rooms of rich ponies. I noticed blood pooling from underneath the door of a door—I ran quickly to the door, soon accompanied by Time Turner, Rarity and Spike. Spike stood there, a bit of a traumatized look on his face.
“Oh goodness! I was just in this room!” Rarity said after she shrieked. “I gave the unicorn a brush and then left—she was perfectly fine! S-Sh-She was happily humming and whistling—and not at all hurt!” Rarity raved on.
“—Pony Feathers—Redheart! Redheeeart!!” Time Turner yelled.
“Redheart! What happened! Why is there blood?” He continued to yell. My heart dropped and raced.
“I have no idea—I just got here!” I said, my voice as trembling as much as Rarity’s. I opened the door carefully opened the door, in case the patient might be behind it. The patient was passed out on the floor, with her leg tore open. I paused and looked back at Time Turner. “Get me this patient’s records.
Her eyes were fresh with tears and her leg bore no past stitch marks, or any other sign of harm. She was next to the doorway, sprawled out, which explains why the puddle was at and under the door. I looked back and Time Turner was already there, a file in his mouth.
“Good, now look for any records of leg injuries.” I commanded, and he did so. His rage had passed.
“No past records.” He interrupted my train of thought. What should I do? I could stitch it up, but we don’t have any numbing left. I would have to hope the patient doesn’t wake. I glanced back at Rarity; Spike had left her side.
“Rarity, get me a needle, a match, a tin bucket, warm cloth and surgical suture or thread! Now! Hurry!” I rushed the mare. She hurried to the search. I put both hooves and my nurses’ cap on the wound, the cap soaked up the blood and the pressure was slowly stopping it. It wasn’t nearly enough though.
Behind me, Time Turner impatiently paced with worry. He kept glancing then looking away quickly, every now and then, a glimpse, then a sickened look. I kept pressure on without stop, until Rarity returned with her favorite needle, a box of matches, a tin bucket, a warm cloth and her thread for clothing. I felt this would be very, very bad, but I had to do it. Either they bled to death or catch an infection—until the next shipment of supplies comes in
“Hurry!” Time Turner rushed. I set the needle on fire, to sterilize it best as possible. Then I threaded the string through it and wiped the dry and semi-dry blood from the wound. The patient stirred, but with no further reaction to the sudden lack of pressure. I made the first stitch, with a yelp from the patient…
After that entire situation, I returned to my normal work day schedule and tried to get the screams of pain out of my head. Time Turner had been caring for patients when something else happened.
A pony received a horrible concussion. This pony had shown no signs of concussion or any head trauma. In fact, this pony was a unicorn who had singed off her entire tail while preforming a spell. Her name was Galaxy, she had no cutie mark, she was a bright purple almost pink with a various colors of hair: the most prominent were red and orange. And on the back of her head, there is a cut, a minor one, but a cut. It was the only instance of this happening to a pony other than a Pegasus, after 3 months.
3 months later, pegasi were all receiving small cuts, and shortly, deeper cuts. They kept getting deeper until one Pegasus had a cut to the bone, then a few more of these. Eventually, pegasi had missing bones. It would be a new gory sight every day I came to work. Galaxy, also lacking a family, had been staying with me since the injuries began. She’s only a filly and a very ambitious one at that. I’ve been teaching her about medicine and healing every since.
One afternoon I came home from a day off—I had visited Rarity’s boutique and came home to see Galaxy gaping out the window with her eyes filled with terror.
“Galaxy, are you alright?” I questioned. She gave no reply. Not a twitch. She was scarcely breathing. She only stood. Stood still as stone. After a few moments, her eyes darted to me, then back out the window. She screamed and galloped faster than any pony I’ve ever seen, to the door, locked it, ran to the window, locked it, ran to the basement, locked the door. I stood there questioning her actions in my head.
“I lost it! I lost it!”
“I’ll say…”
“The—the—the—the dog! The dog is—the dog is—“ She stuttered, in a panic.
“What dog? Poppy?” She nodded
“The—diamond dog took her! The diamond dog TOOK HER!” She yelled and ran in circles
“What?”
“Diamond Dogs—they took Poppy—and they had a cart full of bones and—they had an entire WING on the top of the pile! Blaze’s wing! They cut it off!”
I didn’t want to believe her, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around any other explanation. Nah, it couldn’t be diamond dogs. That’s ridicules.—
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
“Royal Guards!” A booming voice from the door bellowed and tried to door handle. “Open this door or we shall do it for you, Redheart!” He threatened. How rude.
“What is it?” I opened the door, with a false smile.
“You are under arrest and will be taken to the Canterlot dungeons.” What? For—What did I do?
“What did I do?”
“You are responsible for the missing bones and wing of Blaze.” I caught a glimpse of an orange mane. Spitfire and Blaze were behind the royal guards, they both looked furious.
“You are the one who cut off Blaze’s wing! He can never fly now! It’s all your fault!” Spitfire yelled then joined by Soarin’ and Fleetfoot. Then by Wave Chill and Rapid Fire(who had woke up from the coma only days before) joined as well, and other pegasi behind them. Galaxy looked even more confused—
“No—it’s the diamond dogs!” She yelled.
“Arrest her too—she’s not in her right mind and is an accomplice.”
I didn’t resist arrest, though Galaxy did all she could to get away—it was utterly useless. Down the street was the carriage—where I could see Time Turner and Rarity, and in the front seat… my old childhood crush, Serenity sat with a grin on his face. Rarity kept her poise, but I could tell she was distraught—Time Turner was ranting about only Celestia knows what.
We were walked ever so slowly down the dirt road, everypony in town was on the sides of the roads, looking at us—at all four of us. I glanced to my left and saw something I could never forget. Scootaloo’s face, as she stood next to her mother—who lost an entire leg thanks to whoever was stealing bones from pegasi. She thought I was involved…she blames me…
The walk was not that far, but it felt like a century before we reached the carriage. Rainbow Dash shoved Galaxy into me and Fluttershy gave me the saddest look I could bare. Medley was there at the end of the street, standing on all fours, a patch over her eye, but one eye told me all I needed to know.
She glanced at Rarity, who now had a necklace just like hers. They nodded at each other and then—Medley smiled at me, the look in her eye told me everything was going to be fine—and I had nothing to worry about. April stood next to her mom—she stood tall and strong, with a necklace like her mother’s. I noticed a large group of Pegasus who all bared the same necklace.
Even a few Wonderbolts—who were without their uniform stood there, they stood tall and proud and strong like April. The Wonderbolts who were there were Silver Lining, High Winds, and the unidentical twins: Lighting Streak and Fire Streak. The other pegasi were Brilliant Bloom, Airheart, Blue Skies, Luke and Wildfire. —I was pushed up into the carriage and the trembling Galaxy was soon, after I.
“And lastly—these cuffs are not proper! I could break out of these any second if I so wished it! They are hardly taut!” Time Turner yelled then struggled around with his hooves, to get them out of the magically adhered cuffs. “I-I just don’t want to right now!”
One of the unicorn royal guards pulled the tarp over our heads so that we were not seen. I glanced to Rarity who was scooting closer. One of the accompanying unicorn guards had cursed Rarity, so that her magic was not of any use at all. She nudge a necklace onto mine and Timmy’s necks.
“Now what’s this?” He questioned.
“Welcome to the Underground.” Rarity said, out of her usual fashionista-like tone. Galaxy had felt left out, Rarity noticed then gave her one as well. “What we do,” Rarity began again, “is make sure what you could call ‘justice’ is carried out.” Time Turner tilted his head in inquisitiveness. “Like right now. Neither of you stole bones or injured patients, right?... Right?”
“Yes, we—we had to have been framed—I know it sounds fishy but it’s true.” I stuttered.
“Oh, I know, dear.”
“You do?”
“You wouldn’t do something like that.” What a relief…
“I have a feeling that Celestia has a better reason for summoning us—other than arresting us… or at least I hope so.” She said sadly. “It’s a bit of a long trip, get some rest.
The carriage was flown into Canterlot by the Royal Guards, it was a slow ride, Galaxy had slept on my forelegs the entire way. She had such admiration for me, such… love. I felt that I needed to protect her with each last molecule of my existence. So I would.
“We’re here. Stand up. Alert!—and bow for the princess!” The Royal Guards yelled and yanked the tarp down. One led us out, and all four of us immediately bowed, as a navy blue—tall mare approached us.
“Do not bow, stand, look me in the eye and tell us the truth.” Luna bellowed, her eyes had hatred in them—almost as if Nightmare Moon were resurfacing.
“We did not steal anypony’s bones, your highness!” We said in sudden alarm, our eyes burning holes in hers.
“Take them to the dungeons until that can be confirmed.” She said in a slightly softer tone. We were led down, down, down many flights of stairs until we reached the dungeon underneath the castle. It was dark, chilly, and terrifyingly lonely.
“Oh come on!” Time Turner yelled. “This isn’t any sort of place for a filly and two mares!” Anger reflected in his voice. “Hold them elsewhere! These stallions are a danger to them!” Galaxy stuck tightly between Time Turner and I, trying to hide from the other ponies. Rarity had been silent since she last spoke in the carriage; she held her head high and said nothing at all—barely even made a noise as her hooves clunked against the cold concrete floor. Galaxy, Rarity and I were led into one cell—Time Turner in another.
“Ah reckon ya’ll been blamed for somethin’ ya’ll didn’t do either?” A familiar voice said in a deep country accent.
“Applejack!” Rarity yelled happily and hugged her ruffian friend. “What in Equestria are you doing here?!”
“Ah been blamed for killing a Pegasus pony—Firefly and taken all her bones!” She yelled.
Ponies in other cells looked towards us with terror. They believed we killed ponies and took their bones, I suppose. If anyone outside of the dungeon asked—we didn’t, but if they ask… “sure.” Maybe that would keep Galaxy safe.
“We both been blamed!” A little voice squeaked.
“Eeyup…” A stallion said from the cell next to us.
“Why ah just c’ain’t believe nun’ them!” A shakey old mare said with disdain.
“The entire family from the farm was blamed?!” Time Turner jumped from his sitting position with surprise.
“Eeyup.”
“They said since we were covered in blood and had their bones in ahour hooves—that we did it!” Applebloom squeaked. “They also blamed us for Scootaloo’s mom!!”
“Applebloom?” Galaxy said in hope it was really her friend.
“Galaxy!” The filly jumped up and hugged her friend.
“Y’all two play nice and just forget about this little—“ Applejack was interrupted.
“You two forget about this entire ordeal and stay near us, darlings.” Rarity said. I noticed Applebloom’s slight limp.
“What happened?” Galaxy asked after she noticed it too.
“Ah must’a sprained it when them guards pushed me.”
“I’ll take a look!” She said with a huge, happy grin. “Redheart taught me stuff!” Despite being in a dark dungeon, surrounded by dangerous ponies, being blamed for something as horrible as this, I was filled with glee. Galaxy was proud that I taught her something—I made her smile.
It had been two weeks; I had spent my shower time protecting Applebloom and Galaxy from any… wandering eyes or hooves of other inmates, I had given my food to Granny Smith or the fillies—well, most of it at least, I had not slept since then as well, I was too paranoid something would happen to Galaxy.
Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor were standing outside the cell. He unlocked both cells.
“What’s this?” Time Turner questioned. “Oh, you finally found that we are innocent?” He said with triumph.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Twilight said, giving a certain look to Rarity and Applejack. They looked back at their friend, a bit confused. They just followed along and left without a word. Shining Armor guided the rest of us out. Applebloom and Galaxy hopped around, happy with a newfound friendship. Granny Smith and Big Mac had followed Applejack.
Time Turner watched Twilight as she left. “What a mare.” He said in that star struck voice he gets from time to time. “Intellegence and beauty, and quite the personality.—And what a collection of books!”
Shining Armor only gave him a short glare, then guided us out. Shining Armor personally escorted us home on a train. It was a silent trip. I was getting awfully sick of the silence hanging in the air like a dreadful storm the weather ponies created after not doing their work.
Everypony had returned to their normal lives. Scootaloo, Applebloom and Sweetiebelle were jumping around and frolicking like normal. Twilight was reading outside under the soft rays of the sun. Rarity was prancing about with bags of supplies levitating around her. Berry Punch was walking to Applejack’s farm(probably for cider). Lyra and Bonbon were sitting on a park bench, watching passers by. Same, old, Ponyville.
Doctor Stables pranced in---“Doctor! Stables!” I yelled and stormed over to him. “Where the HAY have you been for the past month?!” I couldn’t withhold my anger. He let the hospital practically fail. Time Turner was not far behind me before giving his part.
“I am not doctor.—And I have been quite busy doing most of your job—especially the paper work!” He said.
“Thank you, Time Turner. Ponies don’t do stuff like that.”
“Do I look like ponies to you?” He said “—OR better yet—a doctor?”
“No, I will not be returning to the hospital though.”
“Why not?!” Time Turner’s voice went up high. I couldn’t help but to laugh a bit.
“I am working in Canterlot now.” Someponies around us gave a quiet ‘ohhh’ or ‘ahh’ in admiration. “I am one of the princess’s favorite doctors!” He held up his chin. School fillies, for their article, took pictures.
“So you abandon us?” Galaxy said a bit to herself. No reply was given; he pranced off to his home. She looked up at me a bit sad. We went home—in again—silence.
“Why don’t you go over to Twilight’s and have her teach you a bit ore about magic.” I suggested to Galaxy.
“Okay! Then I’ll go to Sugar Cube Corner and learn a little about baking from Pinkie Pie!” She said with a smile. I smiled back.
“That sounds perfect. Dinner will be ready by the time you get back.” She ran out the door with her saddlebags already with her. I felt a bit of sadness in my chest. A twisting feeling that writhed with anticipation. Galaxy was such a smart filly—and growing up so quickly. When I first took her in she was scared of other ponies, now she’s best of friends with a filly named ‘Twist”, she takes lessons from other ponies and she always has fun, almost anywhere she goes. I am so proud of her…
But it felt as if something horrible were about to happen. I looked down at my necklace. Yes, something bad would surely happen soon. I know it—I always get this kind of knot in my chest when it’s about to happen.
I took off the necklace and filled my bathtub with hot water. The mirror was becoming foggier and foggier; my reflected image was slowly fading into the white veil. I stood there, staring back at myself. I took my mane from its bun and let the long locks flow past my shoulders and curl up a bit at the ends. It felt good to not have the constant pressure on the back of my head. The water was steaming from the surface. I slowly put my hoof in and let it get used to the heat… then slowly stepped in and folded my forelegs beneath me and laid. The water made my entire body warm and eventually—instead of feeling the pain of windburns on my cheeks, I felt the soothing warmth.
Galaxy wouldn’t be home for at least five hours. It would be dark, but that, she was not afraid of, she could handle herself. I looked back at my cutiemark. My body was covered in dirt and here and there—scratches. My tail was matted and my mane was a darker pink than what it normally was. I cleaned off and, very regrettably, got out of the tub then dried off and brushed my mane out. It naturally curled up a bit, and was shining with its renewed clean state. My tail was unmated and equally as curly. Nopony except for my… late mother, and Galaxy, had ever seen me without my hair up, but I intended to keep it that way.
I trotted into the kitchen and glanced to Poppy’s food bowl. Scootaloo had taken Poppy and had no idea I was even back. I began to prepare dinner: warm bread, honey-glazed hay, and daisies. After which, tea was set on the stove. I poured myself a cup and sat by the fire. The plush of the chair felt like clouds underneath a pegasus’s own tush, especially after only having the hard ground to sit and lay on.
Another knock at the door.
“Galaxy, you already have a key, don’t you?” I called.
“Redheart! It’s me!” Time Turner said. He knocked again. “It’s really, really, REALLY cold out here, could you let me in?” I sighed and got off my cloud-like chair and walked to the door. So much for the hair thing, but it was only Time Turner, I suppose. I opened it. He was accompanied by April Showers and Medley.
“Oh, hello.” I smiled a bit.
“Hello, Redheart.” Medley smiled.
“What can I help you with—“
“—Getting out of the cold!” Time Turner interrupted with a great shiver.
“Right, right.” I stepped out of the way, allowing Time Turner, Medley and April in. Behind them, Spitfire, she stood with an ashamed look on her face. Her mane was down, neatly combed and she was not in her usual Wonderbolts uniform.
“Redheart, I also came to… apologize about getting you and your daughter arrested.” I paused. My daughter? Did she mean Galaxy? “I really jumped to conclusions but um… they found who they were looking for. It turns out it was the other nurse… what was her name.. Oh! Screw Loose… The one that barks like a dog. Nurse Coldheart told me about her suspiciousness—and I told Serenity to investigate her and it turns out that she did it.” She stepped inside as well.
After a few hours of talking, the topic I feared the most came up.
“About your necklace.” Medley began. “That necklace is an amethyst, infused with the fire of a dragon—a fully grown dragon.” I stared at it. “For now, take it off. People are beginning to ask about them.” I took mine off. “Keep it safe, and when it’s time to wear it, we will find you.”
“Who’s ‘we’?” I asked.
“Brilliant Bloom and I will find you. Also, say ‘hello’ to Nurse Loveheart for me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her—and I was too delirious to see her while I was hospitalized.” Everyone who had come to visit was slowly walking out the door. “One more thing.” She waited until everyone was gone. “Keep it a secret.” I nodded. She pulled off her eye patch, I braced myself to see an infected, gory hole, but instead, was an eye, just like her other. No sign of injury. I stared in disbelief. She smiled and put it back on. “Remember. Shhhh.”
What was going on with Medley? Her eye was obliterated. And she certainly did not have a glass eye in place of it—it was a real one. I shook the vision from my head—but it wouldn’t leave.
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Any commentary, grammatical corrections, etc are always welcome. If you have any questions, fear not to ask.
