Patients

Doctor Harvest woke up to the usual sounds of screaming and sobbing. The new day had come, already promising to be long and exhausting, “By Goddesses above, I need a drink…”

The unicorn got up slowly, his eyes adjusting to the darkness in his tiny room. All he had was a slightly chewed-up bed and a pile of clothes in the corner. With a loud groan, he got dressed and headed for the cafeteria.

This was a Followers Enclave, a hospital in the middle of nowhere dedicated to healing the sick and helping the less fortunate. It was a good idea in theory, and one that Harvest could get behind. But the lack of supplies, the overabundance of needy ponies, and the constant threat of attack pushed the weary doctors to their limit.

He walked out into the courtyard, looking at the fake trees and plants as ponies tried to relax outside. Harvest had to admit, he had his doubts the raiders would attack. It didn’t matter how many medical supplies there were to steal, even they had to be smart enough to avoid a nest of unstable alicorns.

“Harvest!” Speaking of alicorns, a purple one ran up to him wearing a white coat several sizes too small for her, “We were hoping to see you this morning!”

“Good morning…” He waved a hoof, “Which one are you?”

She blinked, “Oh, sorry. We are Amethyst, assistant doctor.”

He nodded slowly, “Right, right… What did you want?”

“We were hoping for your assistance in treating one of our patients,” She explained, “We’re afraid that this patient might be… beyond us.”

“Goody,” He sighed, “Let me guess. An alicorn with multiple personalities? A pegasus that’s trying to chew his own wings off? A ghoul who thinks you’re Luna?”

She tilted her head slightly, “Well, no.”

“Spit it out, girl,” He sighed, “I don’t have all day.”

“Sorry!” She swallowed, “In our western ward, one of our patients is being unresponsive. We have tried everything we know, but he doesn’t seem to like our kind.”

“Doctors or alicorns?” He snorted. Though for this guy, he was surrounded by both. The courtyard alone had about a dozen alicorns, mostly admiring the outside or talking to the other patients.

“Alicorns,” She sighed, “We want to help him, but-“

“Can’t help a pony that doesn’t want to be helped,” He frowned, “Best to use your resources and time on the next pony in line.”

Amethyst looked downward, “We suppose… But we feel that we have a duty to help.”

Harvest shrugged, “Look, I haven’t even had breakfast yet, and I got a lot of things to do. I just don’t have the time, sorry.”

“Oh!” She went into her pocket, holding out a small can of 200-year-old processed apple, “We were going to eat this, but we’d be happy to give it to you in exchange for your help!”

Harvest stared at the measly snack, then up at the alicorn’s hopeful gaze. There was no getting out of this one.

“Fine… Just show me where he is.”

* * *

The walk to the room was filled with various happy versions of “Thank you!” as he went past drugged out unicorns and earth ponies in wheelchairs. The walls were colored in simplistic paintings done by recovering victims, which added a bit of life to the darkness. Finally he arrived at a simple wooden doorway.

“He is in here,” She explained, “Would you like us to accompany you?”

“If he doesn’t like alicorns, that won’t help,” He sighed, “Just… wait here until I need you,” He took a bite of his apple.

She nodded, “As you wish.”

He sighed again, and opened the door.

The room was quiet and lit with only a single lantern in the center of the room. A bed was against the corner, where a pony mostly covered in blankets lay unmoving.

Stepping closer, Harvest could understand why he was here. The pony was covered in painful burns and scars, making him look similar to a ghoul. His ears were gone, his face was melted, and he was attached to multiple machines surrounding his bed.

Harvest stepped closer, surprised when the earth pony focused on him.

“You’re new…” He spoke in a raspy tone, suggesting vocal damage.

“You’ve been giving Amethyst a hard time,” Harvest noted, “You know we’re only trying to help.”

He rose a singed eyebrow, “Do you think I want to be helped? Does it look like I’m ever getting out of this bed?”

“You’d be surprised,” Harvest said, taking another bite of his breakfast.

The burned pony frowned slowly, grunting as he did so, “I know my fate. To be looked over by ponies like that alicorn, getting nothing but pity for the rest of my miserable life.”

Harvest sighed, “Why did you even come here if you didn’t want help?”

“It wasn’t by choice…” The pony coughed a bit, “My brothers and sisters brought me here.”

The doctor frowned, “But didn’t stay?”

“They’re Applejack Rangers…” The pony rolled his eyes, grunting in pain as he did so, “They have a duty.”

“So let me guess…” Harvest trotted around him, “You were in your armor, being a good little colt. Fighting the big fight with your family…”

The pony glared, “We were fighting to-"

“Protect somepony or some place, yada yada yada,” Harvest leaned in, “It would appear that an incendiary weapon got to you though. Lit you up right inside your armor.”

“How do you get off-"

“And after the battle,” Harvest interrupted, “You were carried off here. Left in our care while they went off to keep fighting. Am I right?”

The patient coldly gazed at him, “How fucking dare you treat me that way?”

“If maybe you treated the other doctors better, we’d treat you better,” Harvest spoke harshly, “You’re wasting Amethyst’s time, and mine. This is what you’ve been dealt. If you want to whine and pout, go ahead. I frankly don’t give a shit.”

The burn victim began moving, trying to painfully sit up in bed. He didn’t move more than a couple inches, “I’m not whining.”

“Whatever,” Harvest snorted, “Just don’t bother Amethyst again. She’s doing her best to help you, and I don’t even know why.”

“I don’t want her help.”

“But you don’t want to die either,” He summarized, “If you wanted to, you’d make a big commotion until you were too much trouble to keep her. Or maybe you have some secret military skill to off yourself. But you’re not taking it. I think deep down you do want our help.”

He swallowed, falling back into bed weakly, “I don’t want their help. Alicorns can’t be trusted…” He whispered quietly.

“They’re freaky, I’ll give you that,” Harvest nodded, “And I really don’t like how they can’t refer to themselves in the singular. But they’re trying to make things better, just like you Rangers are. If we’re gonna survive out here, we got to start working together.”

The pony was silent, turning to face the wall. Harvest took this as his cue to leave.

Outside the door, Amethyst was pacing impatiently, “How is Apple Fritter? Is he okay?”

“I think he’ll be quiet for a few days,” The doctor shrugged, “If you want to keep trying with him, just be patient. Maybe let him outside for a bit if you can.”

“We will take your advice,” She bowed, “Thank you, doctor. We appreciate anything you have done to help him.”

He finished his can of apples, walking away, “Just remember something, Amethyst. There are plenty of patients that you'll meet that don't want what's best for them. Sometimes what you need is a little tough love.”

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. This was an original story, but I'd like to remind any readers that missed it that they can suggest story prompts or ideas, and maybe I'll turn it into a short story. Hope you enjoyed today's story, and another will be on tomorrow.