A daily routine
"It's Sunday..." I grumbled when I heard the sound of my alarm clock which woke up me from a vivid dream. I immediately got up and looked at the calendar and, yet again, it was monday. Instead of opening the door in my bedroom, I accidentally crashed into it. I groaned and rubbed my face with a hoof, thinking that today would be a very long day. After managing to avoid slamming into the door again, I took a shower, ate breakfast and went to work.
I work as a surgeon at the Ponyville clinic, and over the course of my two year career I've seen all sort of cases. Cases that range from accidentally sticking a fishhook though one's hoof to more serious ones like getting skewered with a harpoon or a very unfortunate stallion who got pieced on a spiked gate belonging to his ex-wife. I also saw a bunch of wild-west style shootouts that almost always ended in a dozen wounded and a few who were dead right away. It's not secret that Mr. Colt's and Hooveson's inventions were used the way neither of them intended - but they also brought a revolutionary innovation into the military.
Just like every day, I put on my labcoat, signed myself for duty, and waited for patients to arrive. Much to my surprise, two patients were already in the waiting room. Judging by their clothing and insignias, I immediately recognised them to be members of the army. One of them was an army general while the other was a private.
"Sir, you're wounded, you need medical attention," said the private, taking a long look at the injuries on the general’s back..
"I'm fine, private,” the injured one stated definitively, coughing slightly into his hoof and wincing.
"You are lucky that you survived being shot with a shotgun in the back, and since you've saved my life on a few missions, I'll repay the favor."
"Good morning, what's the problem?" I said as I approached them.
"The general was shot with a buckshot during one of the missions and refuses medical care." The private cracked his neck slightly and glanced at me with a worried look. He shuffled his hooves on the ground, but his attention returned to the wounded one when he spoke.
"You can go home private, I'll change his mind." The private glanced back at me with a strange look, saluted, and walked down the hallway. I lost sight of him when he turned a corner.
"This way please, I'll take care of the wound." I gestured towards the operation room, ready to start the procedure.
"Whoa, so you found a way to get rid of my annoying friend,” he said, refusing to stand. “For that, thanks. However, it was a waste of your time and I'm not coming with you." I turned around again and glared, adjusting my lab coat.
"You probably don't feel anything right now, but when the lead from the pellets gets into your bloodstream, you'll die from lead poisoning.” Deciding to play one final card, I added, “and believe me, dying from lead poisoning is very painful. If you're looking for a way to prove heroism, this isn't the right way."
"You got a point there, doc.” He stood and nearly fell over, however he managed to keep his legs relatively stable. “I'm quite sure I'll be of more use to the army alive than dead. Now,” he coughed again, “where do I have to go to get rid of pellets?"
"This way, please" I said and led him to the operation hall. After we got there, I instructed him to lay down on the operation table.
"Why do you need me on the operation table?" I sighed.
"It's a part of the standard procedure when taking out projectiles. The next part involves anaesthetics"
"Doctors and their silly procedures...." The General laid down on the operation table and I gave him a dose of anaesthetics. I then started preparing medical equipment and much to my surprise, when I looked at General, he was still awake.
"What the-"
"Something wrong, doc?" asked the general.
"The anaesthetics were supposed to work."
"Try a stronger dose."
"A stronger dose would kill you. I'll have to operate without them."
"WHAT?!" He started to stand back up but I forced him back onto the table, making sure not to touch the wounds on his back.
"Even though this is against the strict rules of the clinic, there's no other way."
"Will it hurt?"
"Possibly." I moved back over to my tool stand and selected a pair of forceps that would do the trick nicely. The general had fidgeted slightly and he was out of place on the table. I gently nudged him back onto the middle and raised the forceps, locking it around the first pellet. I pulled.
The general screamed in agony and thrashed about some on the table. I placed the forceps back on the table and placed a bandage over the spot I had removed the projectile from.
"Only three to go. I'll give you something for the pain." I opened a small cabinet near the door. Taking a small bottle from it, I checked the label and decided that it was indeed what I was looking for, and returned to the general.
"Is that-?" asked the general before I cut him off, unscrewing the top.
"Yep, it's whisky. I have stashes all over the place in case of an alcohol emergency.” I looked around and glanced down the hall, seeing that it was clear of ponies, then whispered, “it'll be best if you didn't tell this to anyone." I hoofed it over to him and he drank half of it, wiping his lips and giving it back. I raised an eyebrow but he ruffled his, indicating that he has experience in drinking. I shrugged and raised the bottle to my lips, but put it down again. While he has experienced with drinking, I have experience with drinking on the job. Needless to say it didn’t end on a high note.
"If you're asking why we have alcohol at the clinic,” I said without turning around, “it's because this building was used as a rehabilitation center for those who were addicted to alcohol. Also, I know this may not be the best moment for talking but it relieves pain, something I have no doubt you are quite accustomed to."
"Proven by who?" he asked, rolling over slightly to face me. I prepared the forceps again.
"A bunch of scientist who tested it on a bunch of mice."
"They talked to mice?"
"Yep." The general burst into laughter.
"Alright, I'll start talking. My name is Shadow Flamehoof. I'm a member of Royal Army's 1st Division." I took out another pellet, but this time the general didn't make a single sound.
"Is this your first injury?" I asked, surprised at the lack of reaction.
"Nah, I've been injured a lot of times, but this is the first time I got shot in the back with a shotgun. I should have brought in a vest." I took out the penultimate pellet.
"What kind of mission were you on?"
"A very complicated hostage rescue. A terrorist with a shotgun caught me off guard."
"The hostages. Why were they kidnapped?"
"Dunno. It was probably something important since the Admiral himself came to our barracks and gave us a very quick briefing." I checked his wounds again and found that they weren’t very deeply imbedded into his flesh.
"You're lucky that none of the pellets got deeper than just a couple of centimeters. Otherwise you might be laying somewhere altogether different." I removed the last pellet. "Well, that was the last one."
"Thanks, doc. I owe you a beer."
"I don't drink beer, sorry." I bandaged Flamehoof's back.
"More refined tastes, huh doc?”
"Please, call me-"
"Random. I read the tag on your coat. If you don't drink beer, can you at least have a bet with me?"
"I suppose I could."
"See that nurse over there?" Flamehoof pointed his hoof to a nurse that was on the other side of the room.
"Yes, I do, why?"
"I bet fifty bits that'll I'll get her into bed before the end of the day." I snorted.
"You can't be serious!"
"I'm dead serious..."
"Fine..." I hesitated, then shook hooves with the general.
"Meet me at the pub tonight" said Flamehoof. He hopped off the table with renewed vigor and started flirting with the nurse. After a couple of minutes, both of them left the clinic.
Unlikely visitor
After a long and tiring shift, I went to the pub the general asked me to meet him at. Flamehoof had a bunch of empty shot glasses next to him, which assured me that he was quite drunk.
"You celebrating?" I asked him as I sat down on the barstool, leaning forward.
"Yep." I grinned and put a coin purse on the table and Flamehoof took it.
"Well, how did it go?"
"She threw me out of her house after I told her I won a bet. Also , she hit me with a pan."
"Was it worth it?"
"Totally worth it. Kinda sad that such a mare like her is wasting her time as a nurse. She would earn a lot more as a model."
"Well, I have to admit that her beauty did catch my eye. However, I'm afraid to talk to her.”
"Afraid of what ? Dude, she's like an instrument waiting for a sonata, or progressive metal without a singer. Barman, roll another for my friend."
"No, thanks. I got to go."
"You just arrived. Come on, just one beer."
"No thanks, I really need to go." I stood up hurriedly and walked towards the door. The general shrugged and turned back to the barman.
"Goodbye, doc,” he said. I rolled my eyes as the door slammed behind me.
I then left the pub and decided to go on a walk. I was on the edge of the Evertree Forest when I saw a small camp. I moved closer to it and noticed a torn tent along with a small amount of blood. There was also a huge pile of leaves near one of trees. I was about to leave when I saw the pile move weakly. I moved closer to it and it rustled again. I started raking off the leaves with my hooves and was accompanied with mixed feelings. What if it was a wounded wolf that was set up as a trap ? It could also be a victim of some fight, bandits or someone who collected debts from debtors this way. I stopped when I saw a face of a mare under the leaves. Her face was beaten and had a lot of small bruises. She was also unconscius. I quickly dug her out of the leaves and noticed a deep wound on her chest. I immediately took the ruined tent and used it as a makeshift bandage and carried her to my house. After I got there, I put her on my bed and started looking for my medical kit. Just like always, I forgot where I put it.
"Where the hell is it?" I thought when I couldn't find it anywhere. Then I remembered that I take my work home and I automatically knew where to look. I finally found it in my coat and ran to the wounded mare. I don't usually have a problem with seeing blood, but seeing more than half of my bed covered in it is quite disturbing.
"Shall I take her to the hospital? No, she lost too much blood.... " I said. I then carefully took off the tent and started bandaging her wounds. After a while, she finally stopped bleeding. I threw the bloodstained tent into the washing machine and took a chair from the kitchen. I sat next to her and didn't take my eyes off her the whole night, hoping that she would surive the night. On the following day, I stood up and decided to replace her bandages but she suddenly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was me, standing above her like a guardian angel. Unfortunately, the blood on my doctor's coat ruined the impression.
"Where am I?" she asked.
"That's not important. What's important is that you're safe now" I said.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Random, I found you covered up with leaves near a small camp in the Evetree Forest."
She jumped from her bed and started looking for an exit.
"Please, stay in your bed, you're very weak now."
"Why should ? It could have been you who beaten me ! I didn't see their faces !" she said and fell to the floor.
"Use logic. If I wanted you to do die, why would I bother with tending your wounds? Just like I said, I'm a doctor, not a killer." I said and looked sadly into her eyes.
"You... You care about me?"
"Well, since I'm a doctor, It's duty to care for the well-being of my patients." She hugged me and started crying. I wasn't sure if from sadness or joy.
"A simple thanks would have been enough" I said.
"You don't like hugs?"
"Of course I do, it's just unusual to get a hug from someone I don't even know."
"I'm the Great and... just call me Trixie."
Suddenly I remembered who she was. She had ruined the town for a few days, making everything about her and nopony else. I couldn’t stand the thought of that egotistical mare staying in my house, tarnishing my reputation if anypony found out. She was not welcome here, and she had to get lost. I walked over to the dresser and pushed a couple garments out of the way, revealing my polished .22 revolver. I turned around and pointed at her head.
“Oh, so you’re the Trixie all the fuss was about?” I said, still aiming at her. “Well, you’re not wanted here. Not now, not ever again after what you did. That Ursa Minor could have seriously injured or killed somepony, and that would be on me. I’m a doctor after all.”
“But Trixie also needs shelter!” she squealed, trying to push the revolver out of her face. “The Everfree Forest is no place for Trixie!”
“If you weren’t so selfish, you would still have your home in one piece.” I replied. “Now, I want you to leave. Immediately.”
“No.” she said. “Trixie will not leave.” Without hesitation I aimed the gun above her head and pulled the trigger. A shot erupted out of the chamber and slammed into the drywall behind her, causing her to squeal and cower down. Now she knew I meant business.
“Next shot won’t miss.” I said. “Leave. Now.”
“I… I can’t.” she replied. Judging by her not speaking in third person, I figured out she really meant it.
“Why?” I asked. “What’s so hard about leaving?”
“I… Trixie… have nowhere to go.” she answered. “The home I had was my only one. You're the only one who cares about me in the last half year." Suddenly my mind clicked and I lowered the revolver, throwing it to the side. I ran a hoof through my mane and sighed, turning back to Trixie.
"You'll have to stay here for a couple of days until your wounds heal. I'm not saying this as a doctor, but as someone who doesn't want you to die." When Trixie heard this, she blushed slightly. I left the room and went to the kitchen.
"Where'd you go?"
"You're probably hungry" I said and returned to the room with an apple.
"Thanks, do you want some of it too?"
"Nah, I'll have to leave for a while."
"Why?"
"I need to get off work for the next couple of weeks to see to you."
"Will they let you?" she asked, a little bit of confusion creeping into her voice. I sighed.
“Probably, I haven’t taken time off in a couple years.” Trixie started to get off the bed and winced in pain. I pushed her back down. "You're wounded, It'll be better if you stayed here. Don't worry, I have the most secure door in whole of Equestria so no one will break in."
"Alright..." said Trixie, sadly. I then smiled and left the house. Of course, I didn't have the the most secure door in whole of Equestria, but I had to say something so that she wouldn't be worried. I arrived at the clinic and was greeted by my boss.
"Why are you late?" he said, crossing his arms in front of him and raising an eyebrow.
"My alarm clock broke and I overslept," I said with a fake smile.
"Come on Random, tell me the truth. Do you want to take some time off?"
"Yes." He sighed and dropped his arms to his side.
"Finally. You're working whole day and night for two years and you never took a break. How many days?"
"Two weeks."
"All right. Enjoy your vacation." The head doctor shook my hoof and I went home.
"I'm back" I said when I came to the hall.
"Hi," the mare said. I went inside the bedroom and Trixie was holding a book called Myths and Legends, but the cover was torn.
"What happened to the book?"
"I couldn't open it and when I did , I ruined the cover."
"It's alright, it wasn't the only copy and even if it was it would be okay" I said and took the book. A small note was sticking out of the torn cover. I took a knife for opening letters, cut up the cover and took out the note.
"What's that?"
"I dunno" I said and started reading.
“There , in the highest mountains, search. But on the very peak it is not.”
"Who would put a poem pointing to the highest mountains inside a book about myths and legends?"
"Someone who wanted to lure someone into a trap."
"A trap? I think it leads to some sort of treasure. Maybe we should go after it."
"Even if we wanted to find the treasure, you would have to stay here."
"Why?"
"You're still wounded, you have to stay for at least two days."
"Fine, two days won't kill me..." The two days passed very fast but I'll never forget them. I learned something new about her every day. However, when I asked her what exactly happened to her in the Evertree Forest, she started crying and so I promised to never ask her about that ever again. She was also the first and only one who actually laughted at my jokes. Even though she was ashamed of her laugh, I liked it. When I played chess with her, she told me to play nice since she's a beginner and I believed her. She then beated me seven times in a row. Really caught me off guard with that. I also finally got an opporturnity to dust off a bunch of my favourite cooperative games. I learned from my previous experience with chess and didn't spare her this time. Much to my suprise, she always got a higher score or found better weapons. What kind of sorcery is this? Nevertheless it was good to finally have someone to spent time with. She also looked prettier without all those scars and bruises.
