A burning passion has grown on my red heart.

For the next couple of months, Braeburn had to stay in the hospital, due to his broken limbs from the branch falling on him in that same storm. But during his time in the hospital, two ponies grew to like each other's company more and more. The day was here for Braeburn's departure from the hospital.

"Are you sure that's the best thing to do Doctor Heartbeat," Nurse Redheart began asking, showing her worriedness on her face and in her tone "don't you think it's better that Braeburn goes back to Sweet Apple Acres, instead of living with me for the time being?"

The doctor ran his hooves through his hair, whilst looking down at all the paper work that was needed to be done. "No Nurse Redheart, he has to stay with you until he gets his memory back, he could suffer another accident at Sweet Apple Acres, and Celestia knows that he doesn't need that again." Doctor Heartbeat said, looking at his cutie mark, thinking of the worst possible out come. "Look, Nurse Redheart, what if he does get hurt again, and what if he needs to have a heart monitor, like the twin heart monitors on my flanks, to make sure he stays alive? We can't keep them running all night and day. It's best for you to take care of Braeburn right now."

Nurse Redheart had realized that there was no arguing with Doctor Heartbeat, what he says WILL go, unless he says otherwise. She went to Braeburn's room to let him know on what'll be happening...

Redheart opened the door, to a sleeping Braeburn. She couldn't help but giggle a bit, and blush some at his, in her opinion, cute snoring. She felt like a school filly again, having a crush on the new guy, hoping that she could be with him. "Braeburn, wake up." Redheart whispered, nudging him a couple of times with her hoof.

Braeburn woke up, smack his mouth a couple times, and when he saw the pony who was taking care of her, and said "HELLOOOOOO NURSE!" with the best smile he could muster up. "So Nurse, what's the plans for t'day?" Braeburn asked the loving nurse, who stayed by his side everyday and every night not only to make sure to he would still be alive, but to be with him in general.

"Congratulations Braeburn, you're free to leave the hospital today!" Nurse Redheart said, wearing a smile on her face. "But, you will need to come live with me until your wounds completely heal, and so that I can help you remember the other things you still need to remember." She lastly said, gingerly holding his hoof with two of hers.

"Well I thank ya for that nurse, but can you tell me what else I need to remember?" Braeburn asked, holding Redheart's hooves with his other, smiling all the while. Redheart couldn't help but smile and blush at Braeburn holding her hooves, while she held one of his.

"Yes, I can." Red heart began, then sadly (for her and Braeburn as well) had to walked over to get the chart they both had as a log for what Braeburn needed to remember "You still need to remember what you've done, and what you do for a living to make some bits to stay alive and well." She said as she walked back other to the now lying up Braeburn.

Braeburn got up from his bed and said "Thank ya Nurse, I appreciate all the help you've been giving me." He tried his best not to start crying. and to put on a smile. But he couldn't hold his tears back, so to hide them from Redheart, he threw his arms around Redheart and pulled her in for a hug. Redheart couldn't believe it. 'Does he really feel the same way about me?' She asked herself in her head.

"Ok, let's get you out of these hospital clothes, and into your vest and hat." Redheart said, not happy to get out of the hug. Redheart went and got Braeburn's hat and vest,, while Braeburn got out of the hospital robe. Redheart gave Braeburn his things, and after he got his vest and hat on, he was happier than he was when he hugged Redheart. Braeburn guessed he was really happy just to be out of those hospital clothes.

"Well Nurse, I'm ready to head out if you are!" Braeburn said, actually able to put a smile on.

"Well, I do need to take you to my place, but I'm sorry..." Redheart began, and got a wheelchair and forced Braeburn to sit in it, even though he could stand up perfectly fine on his own. "but due to hospital rules, you must leave in a wheelchair." Redheart tried her best to put on a smile, but couldn't hold it.

As they went to the front Braeburn got bored fast, from having to wait to get checked out of the hospital. After he was checked out, Redheart took him to the front doors, where Braeburn stood on all four of his legs once more, after months of lying down. Braeburn took a gulp of fresh air, happy to smell it once more.

"C'mon Braeburn," Redheart began, getting her saddle bag on, ready to go home "let's head to my place. You're gonna love it, trust me."

"Gotcha Nurse, I'm ready when you are." Braeburn said smiling at the nurse next to him.

Redheart giggled at what Braeburn kept calling her. "Please, you don't need to call me 'Nurse' any more, you can call me 'Redheart'." Redheart said smiling, hoping he'd take the offer.

For Braeburn, the offer was better than any other he had ever gotten in his life up to that point. His jaw dropped a bit, and he said "Eh... O-Okay... Redheart." Braeburn was on fire with love on the inside. He couldn't believe that she would be this nice to him.

As they went into town, ponies started recognizing Redheart, and said hello to her every time they passed her. "Uh.. Redheart, why are all these ponies recognizing ya, but not me?" Braeburn asked, worried that he may actually be hated by others for a reason he didn't know.

"Oh, well Braeburn, you're not from Ponyville. You live in Appleloosa, but from what your cousin Applejack said, you were here for a visit for a couple of months until the next train to Appleloosa left." Redheart said. "Oh, we're here!" She continued, looking at a small house. She opened the door, and the house's décor surprised Braeburn.

The living room was normal, it had couch. coffee table, a book shelf. When Braeburn went to the kitchen, it had everything he thought it would have, a stove, dishwasher, fridge. Needless to say, everything in the house had things that either surprised, or confused Braeburn a bit.

"Wow... your home is amazing!" Braeburn complimented, still amazed by almost everything in the house.

"Thanks, I tried my best to get all this stuff inside when I first moved here." Redheart said "I hope you don't mind, but I thought you could sleep on the couch. That is, if you don't mind really."

"It's no problem at all!" Braeburn said, trying to hide the sound of a lie in his voice. He was actually hoping that he could sleep in her bed, but he didn't wanna say anything about it. He believed that she would feel weird if he asked such a silly thing.

"C'mon, let's go out to dinner tonight, my treat!" Redheart said. Braeburn realized he couldn't say 'no', in any way, shape, or form of the word, so he accepted the offer.

Redheart and Braeburn went out to a small restaurant nearby, which served all kinds of foods Braeburn had never eaten before. "Wow, this stuff is amazing!" Braeburn said, eating the rose leaf sandwich he ordered.

"Yeah, I use to come here all the time with my Stallionfriend, before we..." Redheart said, before Braeburn could cut her off. He didn't need to say anything, Redheart saw what he wanted to say. 'Don't bring up bad memories, they're all in the past.' Is what he was implying from the look on his face. Redheart and Braeburn continued their meal, and when they left, it was late at night, so they headed home.

On their way home they saw a drunken Pegasus pony, who Redheart recognized as Thunderlane. "Hey Redheart, how *hic* are ya?" Thunderlane asked, oblivious to Braeburn.

"Look Thunderlane, I don't wanna see you anymore, not after you went and cheated on me with Rarity!" Redheart said, showing her anger growing in her voice, and on her face.

"C'mon baby..." Thunderlane said, probably still thinking they were going out "just give me some sugar." Thunderlane put a devious smile on his face. Redheart knew what he was implying and shouted "NO!" then tried to run, but Thunderlane flew in front of her, and pinned her to the ground. He got on top of Redheart, and both of them knew what was gonna happen.... and so did Braeburn!

Braeburn ran towards Thunderlane, who was now an inch from Redheart's lips, and tackled the drunken stallion. Braeburn got back up, as well as Thunderlane who now tried to attack Braeburn. Braeburn dodged or blocked each attack that Thunderlane gave him, and each time gave Thunderlane a punch of his own. With one last right hooking punch, Thunderlane went down. "No means NO buddy." Braeburn said, giving the drunken stallion a angered look "Now, unless you wanna do anything else to this lovely mare over here, which'll only get you hurt even more, I suggest you head home."

Thunderlane stood up, and bucked Braeburn over to the side, and then weakly waked over to Redheart. Braeburn got up, and once more tackled Thunderlane. The two stallion fought, but this time it was Braeburn receiving the most damage. Thunderlane decided he would now take Braeburn's head and hit it against the ground multiple times.

Thunderlane was able to get Braeburn's head against the ground once, until Braeburn lifted his head to Thunderlane's wing and bit on it as hard as he could.

Soon after that the police came, and arrested Braeburn and Thunderlane. "Wait officers, Braeburn did nothing wrong, he was trying to protect me, I swear!" Redheart shouted.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but we'll need to hold him until morning. He needs to answer the questions we've got for him." the officer said, then left with the other officers to the police station.

At the station, the hooked Braeburn up to a lie detector, and began the line of questions. "Now, what is your name son?" one officer asked.

"My name's Braeburn sir." Braeburn said.

"Why were you fighting that Pegasus in the room next to ours?" the officer asked, wanting answers.

"He was trying to make out with the mare I love, so I fought him to protect her." Braeburn answered.

The machine stayed the same, he was telling the truth.

"Where are you from?" The officer asked.

"Some place called Appleloosa." Braeburn said.

"Do you have family here in Ponyville?" the officer asked him.

"Yes, my cousins Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom over at Sweet Apple Acres, and my Granny Smith, also over at Sweet Apple Acres." Braeburn said. The officer left the room for what felt like ages.

"Your cousin Applejack is coming over to pick you up." The officer said.

an hour later.....

"Thank ya fer keepin' him alive officer, I hope 'e didn't cause ya any trouble." Applejack said, then left with Braeburn following behind her. They made it to Sweet Apple Acres after about an hour or so of walking.

"Braeburn, why were ya fightin' some random pony?!" Applejack demanded, want an answer for her cousin's "foolishness".

"I fought Thunderlane, cause he was drunk and trying to make out with Redheart after she said no!" Braeburn said.

"Well why in the hay do y'all care anyways?!" Applejack asked, still angery at her cousin who picked a fight after he got checked out of the hospital.

"Because I love Redheart, Applejack!" Braeburn shouted throughout the entire house. His shouting woke everypony inside, and Applebloom came down stairs.

"What's going on y'all?" Applebloom asked while yawning.

"Nothing Applebloom, y'all go on back t' bed now." Applejack said. "And you mister!" Applejack said, stopping Braeburn from leaving the house "We'll continue this in the mornin'. Ya hear?"

"Gotcha cuz." Braeburn said disappointed that he couldn't check on Redheart, who was probably worried about him.