A burning passion has grown on my red heart.

by Cadances Paladin

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Sad, Romance
Length: 5608

When Braeburn loses his memory, it's up to the help of a loving nurse to help him.

Braeburn comes to Ponyville, and brings Applejack a thank you present, but when he gets hurt, it's up to one mare to help him back to complete recovery.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-27 11:50:16 UTC

Brae... who?

It was another hard working day for the apple family. Granny Smith was napping(as if that was new for Applejack), Big Mac was bucking the apple trees as per usual, and Applebloom was at school.

After an hour of waiting, Applejack went to go work on her chores for the day. "Hey Big Mac, how many more trees need buckin'!?" Applejack shouted to her Brother.

"Just that one over there!" Big Mac replied, pointing towards a shaking apple tree.

"What in the hay? Did Applebloom come home from school early again?" Applejack said heading towards the tree.

"HELLOOOOOO COUSIN'!" Applejack's cousin Braeburn said coming into view, pulling an apple tree that was sitting in a cart. Braeburn stopped in front of Applejack with the cart's wheels pulling dirt from the ground beneath it.

"Braeburn, what in th' hay are ya doing here?!" Applejack asked, with a demanding sounding tone.

Braeburn looked confused for a moment "OH! I came to give ya this apple tree here as a thank ya for Bloom berg!" Braeburn looked behind Applejack "Is Granny Smith still sleepin' inside?"

Applejack gave Braeburn a stern look at that question "Yes, she is. Now why else did ya come here?" she asked whispering.

"Sorry... Well, I also came to help on the fields, to help ya get some extra inventory from the trees!" Braeburn said smiling, trying to get Applejack out of a bad mood.

"Well Ah appreciate the thought Braeburn, but we got enough hooves here already." Applejack insisted.

"Look Applejack, the next train to Appleloosa isn't gonna leave for the next couple of months, so I'm staying." Braeburn said.

"Uggghh... fine, y'all can stay here at Sweet Apple Acres until the next train to Appleloosa comes. But you're workin' everyday now, ya hear?" Applejack said, questioning her cousin's reliability at this point.

"Gotcha Cuz!" Braeburn said, going to start bucking apples down from trees nearby.

A couple of days went by, and the weather was normal, but on today's working day, Ponyville was due for some lightning and rain. "Braeburn, remember, this is the last tree fer the day!" Applejack shouted in the wind and rain, hoping her cousin would hear her.

"Gotcha Cuz!" Braeburn shouted back. At the same time, they bucked the apple tree to get all the apples down. Little to his knowledge, Braeburn was standing underneath a cluster of apples, and got repeatedly pelted with the hard red fruit.

Braeburn shook his head, trying to wake himself up a bit from the blunt fruit hitting him so many times. "Braeburn, are you alright?!" Applejack shouted, though Braeburn barely understood anything he heard from her.

"Uh.. Cuz... I think I feel like how you felt when Apple buck season came from when Big Mac had that injury. Remember when you told me 'bout that?" Braeburn said, shaking his head some more. But before Applejack could reply to Braeburn, lightning stuck the branch above Braeburn, and fell on top of him!

"BRAEBURN!" Applejack shouted. Applejack pushed the branch off of her now bleeding cousin, who had a gash on his head, and several medium sized cuts on his back. She picked him up as best as she could, and brought him to the house.

"Big Mac, I need yer help!" Applejack shouted throughout the entire house. Big Mac came into the living room...

"Eeyup?" he asked, like nothing was the matter.

Applejack looked to where her brother's deep voice had come from "We need to get Braeburn over t' th' hospital, he's got cuts and a gash, a tree branch fell on him and cut him up badly!" Applejack explained as best she could whilst trying not to begin crying. Big Mac looked startled at this, and he looked behind Applejack to see a Braeburn bleeding on the floor. Big Mac ran towards Braeburn, and picked up Braeburn.

"Let's go, he needs help now." Big Mac said, leading Applejack out the door.

2 hours later....

"It's a good thing you got him here while you could, and did ma'am." The hospital's mainly known doctor said "Had you not, he might've died from his blood loss." he continued, looking at the blood transfer unit next to Braeburn's bed.

"Will 'e be alright doc?" Applejack asked, worried that she might lose another family member.

"Yes he'll be alright but.... there's something else." the doctor said, giving a worried look.

"What is it then?" Applejack pleaded, wanting to know everything about Braeburn's condition.

"Well you see ma'am, apparently he lost some of his memory from the branch hitting his head. The report from Nurse Bray wave says that he won't remember his name, who he is, what he's done, and some family members as well. Also, he'll suffer migraines when he fully recovers as well." The Doctor informed Applejack, worried about her feelings for her hurt relative.

"Well that's just terrible!" Applejack began "How could Braeburn forget those things?!"Applejack asked the doctor.

  The doctor walked towards the blood transfer unit, and said "Well you see, he's going to suffer a small case of amnesia, or in more specific terms, memory loss. Now like I said, it's small, but he's forgotten a lot of important things. Who he is, his name, family members, and don't forget, he will suffer migraines from time to time after he fully recovers." The room door opened, and a nurse came in "Ah, here's the nurse that'll be taking care of your cousin while he's here, and when he's ready to go. Applejack, this is Nurse Redheart."

The white mare with a pink mane and tail, and red cross for a cutie mark walked towards Applejack, and said "Yes, as Doctor Heartbeat said, I'll be helping your cousin return back to normal in not time, and I truly am sorry to say, but the visitation time has ended." Nurse Redheart tried to put on a smile, hoping not to upset Applejack.

"Well fine, but Ah'll be back everyday from now on, so be prepared for me showin' up every afternoon." Applejack said, looking displeased from what Redheart told her "C'mon Big Mac, we gotta let Granny Smith know what's happened." Applejack began walking out the door, with Big Mac following.

After Applejack and Big Mac left, Nurse Redheart went to get Braeburn another bag of blood, as the already attached one ran out of the needed liquid. When she returned, Braeburn began moaning from the pain he was still feeling. Though he was in pain, Redheart began to think how cute Braeburn looked when he was sleeping, even if she just now saw this stallion for the first time. Braeburn woke up, but was still weak from his little amount of blood in him...

"W-Where am I?" Braeburn asked the nurse, who was now sitting on his bed, next to him.

"Oh!" Redheart said, getting off the bed, so to be more professional around the patient "You're in Ponyville's hospital, and you're in emergency care. As you can see, you need some more blood, as you've lost quite an amount of it."

Braeburn looked confused at what the nurse was saying "Who am I, and who are you?" Braeburn asked, still with many questions on his mind.

"Your name is Braeburn, and I'm Nurse Redheart. If there's anything you need, let me know, as I'm going to be staying in the room with you until you recover from the blood loss, and I'll be helping you regain the lost bits of your memory as well." Redheart said, holding his hoof gingerly, so as to not cause him any pain in any area where he had been hurt by the tree branch.

"Wait... I remember the tree branch hitting me, and an orange mare trying to say something to me, but not much after that... Who's my family again?" Braeburn said, still with many unasked questions, in which he wanted answers to.

"Oh, your cousin Applejack will be coming by tomorrow, and every day after that to check up on you." Redheart said "She's really worried for you, you know."

I'm starting to remember some.

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.

Braeburn, you remember everything again?!

Braeburn woke up early the next morning, and snuck back to Redheart's house. It took him an hour to get to town, and another hour and a half to find Redheart's house. When he finally arrived, he knocked on the door saying "Hey Redheart, you home? I'm sorry fer showing up so early in the morning!" After he announced his return, he was greeted with a warming embracing hug from Redheart, who's hair was messed up, while she looked sleep deprived, which she was. She couldn't sleep while the stallion she secretly loved was in jail.

"Oh sweet Celestia you're still ok, I was so mother buckin' worried!" Redheart said, on the verge of crying. "Why weren't you at the station" Redheart asked.

"Well apparently, they let ya go home early, if family pics you up. Applejack came to get me Redheart." Braeburn said, wearing a worried look on his face, for what he was about to say "And also, there's something I wanna tell ya Redheart." Redheart broke the hug, and looked at Braeburn.

"You wanna continue this inside?" Redheart asked, while pointing a hoof at the couch behind them. Braeburn nodded 'Yes', as a way of signaling that it was a bit private. "Ok, let's go inside, I'll make you something to drink." Redheart said, as they went inside.

Redheart brought Braeburn some coffee, and made herself some tea. "Thanks Redheart..." Braeburn said, drinking some of his coffee.

"It's not a problem, I'll do anything to keep you happy." Redheart said smiling, then realized what she just said. "Oh no n-n-n-no no, I didn't mean like that!" She said, trying to make it obvious on what she meant to say. Braeburn laughed a bit. "I know Redheart, you're a nice mare, and you deserve a great stallion."

"Braeburn, did you really mean what you said last night, both things?" Redheart asked, wanting the answers to the question she was thinking about since she was told everything that happened last night at the police station. "Whadda ya mean 'both things'?" Braeburn asked, confused at what Redheart meant. "Do you really think I'm lovely, and are you really in love with me?" Redheart asked, blushing a bit.

"Well of course I mean those things Redheart!" Braeburn said, much to Redheart's surprise. "You're the first pony who helped me after I awoke in the hospital, and have been helping me get back to normal ever since! I love you Nurse Redheart!" Braeburn said, looking sad at the fact that Redheart had to question his love for her.

"Oh Braeburn, you have no idea how happy you just made m-" Redheart said, before being cut off by Braeburn's lips pressing against her's. They held their kiss for several minutes, though for them it felt like an eternity. "Now I've a question for you." Braeburn said "Do you love me?"

Redheart threw herself on top of Braeburn, hugging him saying "Of course. Why shouldn't I? You saved me from...." but she stopped herself there. "I know I saved you from Thunderlane, but he was drunk, and now, from what I know, he's in jail for sexual harassment." Braeburn said "But a real hero doesn't brag about his victories, or his accomplishments. A hero stands p for what's right, and protects the ones he loves. I protected you, cause I love you Redheart."

This made Redheart begin to cry on top of Braeburn's shoulder. "C'mon now, don't cry!" Braeburn said, hoping he could cheer her up "Hey, why don't we go that bakery you told me about out in town, Sugar Cube Corner?" Braeburn suggested, knowing that sweets would always help. Redheart stopped crying for a minute, and looked at Braeburn and said "Yeah, I'd like that. Let's go..."

When they made it to Sugar Cube Corner, they just opened the store. "Wow, what great timing to arrive." Braeburn said "C'mon, I wanna get a slice of apple pie in me." he said laughing on the way inside. "Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner!" A pink mare said, taking a pen out of her mane, while getting a pen ready to place down the stallion and mare's order "I'm Pinkie Pie and- Wait a second, you're Braeburn right, Applejack's cousin?" Pinkie asked, her eyes sparkling with a new idea for a welcome party. "Yeah, how'd ya know that?" Braeburn asked, wondering how she knew about him.

"I'm one of Applejack's best friends!" The optimistic pink mare said, as she realized her tail was shaking. "HUUUHHH, GET DOWN!" She shouted, ducking underneath the table, with Redheart following. Braeburn got up from his seat, and looked at the two worried mares. "What're y'all doin'?" Braeburn asked. "Oh well you see, whenever a part of me does something random, something is bound to happen. Like when my tail twitches, it means something is about to-" but Pinkie was cut off by a wooden plank falling on top of Braeburn, with a heavy box following to the same area.

"Braeburn!" Redheart shouted, as she tried to go help him, but this time, and entire section of floor fell on top of Braeburn, burying him in rubble. "Braeburn, no!" Redheart shouted, now forcing herself to help get him out. When she finally dug him completely out of the rubble, she noticed the bumps and small cuts on his head. "Oh no... Braeburn can you hear me?" Redheart asked.

"Huh... who are you, where's Applejack, and why am I hurt so badly, and how do you know my name?" Braeburn began asking. "Sweet Celestia... the force of the rubble must've been enough to get you your memory back. Quick, what's my name?" Redheart asked. "To be honest, I don't know ma'am." Braeburn said, rubbing his head. "Well, I need to take you to Sweet Apple Acres now." Redheart said, then took him to the apple orchid outside of town.

I need to head to Appleloosa!

"And that's what happened, and that's why I brought him here Applejack." Redheart told Applejack, finishing the story of what happened this morning. Applejack looked outside the window, watching Braeburn buck some apple trees, gathering the apple harvest.

"Well what in the hay made him forget ya?" Applejack asked Redheart. "Well, in his slight state of amnesia, he couldn't remember who he was, where he came from, some family members, and what he did. He would remember everything he did after that, and the ponies he met, and the things he did. But, if the same blunt force connected onto his head, the same force that made him forget those things, it could make him remember who he is, family members, where he's from, and what he's done in the past, but everything he did until he got hit on the head, he won't remember anything that he did in his amnesia state." Redheart thoroughly explained.

Outside, when Big Mac and Braeburn were finished with their work, and were about to head inside for the day. "Hey, cousin Macintosh, can I tell ya something?" Braeburn asked. "Eeyup." Braeburn was happy to here his cousin's answer. "Well, the white mare inside, I think she's kinda beautiful... Should I ask her out?" Braeburn asked, only to realize why he couldn't. "OH what's the use, I need to head to Appleloosa anyways, they need me on our apple farm there." Braeburn said, sitting down and burying his face into his hooves. "Oh, why can't I tell her I just love her?" Braeburn asked himself.

Applejack and Redheart came outside, to seeing a saddened Braeburn, and Big Mac. "What's wrong Braeburn, you get some bad news?" Redheart asked, worried bout the stallion she loved. "Uhh... Well ma'am, did I ever tell you anything... uh.. romantic?" Braeburn asked, still not remembering anything that happened earlier that morning. "Not that I can recall." Redheart teased "You did admit to me being lovely, and that you love me though." she said blushing and smiling. Braeburn couldn't believe he told her those things, and he only met her this morning from what he remembered.

"Uhh, Cousin Applejack, did what's today?" Braeburn asked Applejack, still worried about Appleloosa's apple orchid. "It's Wednesday, June 7th. Why?" Applejack announced to her cousin. 'Sweet Celestia I need to get to my train to Appleloosa, it leaves in an hour!' Braeburn thought, before he ran off with no explanation.

"Braeburn where are ya headin'?!" Applejack shouted, but Braeburn was out of ear shot. Redheart became worried "W-Was it something I might've said?" Redheart asked. It took ten minutes before any of them realized where Braeburn was heading. "Big Mac, head to the train station, Braeburn's headin' fer Appleloosa!" Applejack said. Big Mac got serious, and a bit angry at his cousin for leaving without and explanation "Eeyup!" Big mac said, then took off after Braeburn.

Braeburn was sitting on the train, catching his breath and just being happy that he made it before the train could leave. "whoo, I'm glad I made it but..." Braeburn said. "But you're sad because you left without explaining your true feelings to Redheart, and telling us where it was you were heading?" Big Mac said, which surprised Braeburn cause he didn't see Big Mac get on the train. "AAHH! Oh, Cousin Macintosh... Huhh, you're right, but if I get off the train now, I'll miss my chance on getting home for another three months. What should I do?" Braeburn said to his now silent cousin.

Applejack and Redheart got to the train station, but they were too late, the train began to depart. "No! Stop the train!" Redheart shouted, but the conductor didn't hear her. The train had left, leaving behind a trail of smoke, and a big group of smoke at the train station. "No... we were to late....." Redheart said, then began to cry, unable to hold her tears back, from the fear of never seeing Braeburn again. She felt a hoof lay itself upon her right shoulder. "Thanks Applejack, but nothing can change this, not now, not anymore." Redheart said, still saddened from the train leaving. "Well, Ah'm over here. But look behind yerself." Applejack said.

Redheart couldn't believe who she saw. It was Braeburn who had put his hoof on Redheart's shoulder! "Braeburn, you didn't leave!" Redheart said, throwing herself onto the stallion she loved very much, hugging him and not letting him go was her romantic intention. "Well, it took me a while to realize something Nurse Redheart." Braeburn said. "And that'd be Braeburn?" Applejack asked. Braeburn smiled. "I realized that I wanna be with you, forever.  So, I'm staying here in Ponyville, with you. I'll find a job at the farmer's market." Braeburn said, hugging the nurse back.

Later that night....

"Hey Redheart, what made you fall in love with me?" Braeburn asked his marefriend before they went to bed. "Oh..." Redheart began "I guess a burning passion had grown on my red heart." She said lovingly, then kissed her stallionfriend, holding the kiss for several minutes, before falling asleep.

Epilogue.

Braeburn and Redheart left the train station, both happy to be with one another. They spent the next couple of months going to Redheart's favorite places together. The watering hole, the carnival, everywhere!

However, one day in October, Granny Smith had fallen really ill. When the Apple family brought her to the hospital, the doctor gave them some bad news. "Ms. Applejack, I'm afraid Granny Smith isn't going to make it through to the end of the week. I'm sorry." Doctor Heartbeat told them. Applejack began to cry on her brother's shoulder. Braeburn left the room, and when he did he saw Redheart, and Redheart saw him sitting on the floor, burying his face into his hooves.

"Why do Ah feel like this is mah fault?" Braeburn asked. "Ah feel like Ah had something to do with this." He explained. "I'm sorry Braeburn, but there's nothing that can be done. How did Big Mac and Applejack take the news." Redheart said to her stallionfriend. "They were both upset, really upset." Braeburn said, lifting his face from his hooves to see Redheart. "And Applebloom?" Redheart asked, smiling so to try to cheer up Braeburn. Braeburn sat there for a minute, then stood up and said "She doesn't know. We left her at home, in fear that she might've made things worse then they needed to be." Braeburn explained. "Ah know we shouldn't of done that, but we had no choice."  Braeburn covered his face with his hooves once more, wanting to get away from the nightmare before him.

A couple days later, and Granny Smith had died. The Apple family, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Nurse Redheart came to the funeral. No pony said a word, in fact, no pony could say a word. They were all to upset to say a single thing. Braeburn had learned something that day though. Applejack would hate hearing about this.