Author's Note

Short chapter, but nothing much happens. Just trying to fill in some space before the next chapter. There's a bit of a time gap between this and the next chapter. How much of one? It'll say.

Chapter 4: Recovery

“Ugh…” I groaned slowly. I opened my eyes. Bad idea. “Ahgg!” Light. Too much light. Ah, darkness. Not trying to burn my eyes out.

I heard a click, then a door opening. “Hey, sleepy. Rise and shine.” Jackie’s voice came from off to my left.

My voice decided to stay groaning. “Ugh, what if I want to glower?”

I heard a chuckle. Footsteps went over to my right. A hoof gently rested on my right shoulder.

“Feelin’ ok?”

“Should aches and the light hurts, but otherwise I’m good.”

“Great!” Jackie visibly brightened.

“How… How long was I-“

“Just a few hours. The doc got the bullets out.”

“Bullets? Plural?”

“Um, yeah. Ya got hit like four times, Star.”

I pointed my head towards her voice, confused. “I only remember the one.”

“It’s called adrenaline rush, hotshot. Ya didn’t even feel ‘em. Ya only felt tha’ one cuz it hit a part of a nerve cluster.”

“Huh…. Also, you got a little accented, there.” I smiled.

“I heard a mock indignant huff, and a nobility accent replied, “And is that a problem, kind sir?”

I laughed “Now where did you pick that up?”

A chuckle sounded, and then a reply in her farmer’s drawl. “Ah served, Firestar. Ah’ve talked to a spoiled brat or two in mah time.”

I chuckled. Then I noticed I could see a little. My eyes had opened just enough to see through the eyelashes. I opened them a little more. All the way was still uncomfortable, but at least I could see.

We chatted for a while. Eventually a nurse came in and said that I was good to go.

“Just don’t hurt that shoulder again! It’ll be weak for a couple months, while the inside recovers. That bullet tore at just about everything in there, and it’s gonna be a while before that fully heals. Two months, minimum. No strenuous activity on it. Miss, don’t tempt him.”

Jackie flushed. “I’m-I’m not his…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed, since you stayed with him…”

“No, no. He’s just a good friend, and I happened to be there when he got hurt. I was just making sure he was feeling okay.”

“Very kind of you, ma’am. As I said before, you’re free to go, but keep that shoulder rested for a couple months. Don’t neglect it, but definitely do not overuse it. If it starts feeling tired, stop right then and there.”

I made a mental note to myself to tease Jackie sometime, for blushing. I got wheeled out - standard procedure for the hospital - and then me and Jackie walked off.

We went to the train station, got on the train, and went back to Appleloosa.

Everyone but Allen and Jackson had already gotten back to base. Apparently they were discussing payment with Celestia. This was probably a one-time deal. She’d have to go through underground undercover operatives to get things to us now, and in fact, most of the payment would have to, as well. But she could give us a sizable amount of it under the pretense of extreme aid to the city (fighting off pretty much a whole sector of Crimson Justice members). Allen was also updating her on everything that had happened.

I followed the doctor’s orders. I only practiced a large amount with my right arm. My left only got a small amount. The doc was right. My left arm was really weak for a few days. It got better quickly, though. I visited her after a couple weeks, and she cleared me for complete control again. I was officially 100% recovered.

…I only hoped it would last.