I took a drink of my coffee and sighed as I sat the empty cup back down before crossing my arms on the table in front of me. I really wish I had gotten more sleep…

I glanced around the room, my eyes finally landing on the clock that hung on the far wall, behind the coffee shop's counter. “Hurry up already...” I grumbled, dropping my forehead onto my arms. I wonder what Redheart’s been up to lately. Is her job so busy that she can't send me a letter once in awhile?

“Hey there, Tenderheart.” came a voice accompanied by the scratching of a chair being pulled out.

I looked up to see Cheerilee and Roseluck, standing in front of me. Berry Punch had already taken a seat. “Finally, I've been here for an hour,” I grumbled as the other two sat down.

Cheerilee’s eyes closed and she crossed her hooves across her chest. “No need to be so harsh about it.”

“Yeah, but we are sorry we’re late. You can blame Berry Punch,” Roseluck said giving Berry Punch a playful dirty look.

Berry Punch just smiled in response. “Hey! I’m sorry I forgot to set an alarm and slept through you two pounding on my front door.”

Cheerilee laughed. “Shouldn't stay out all night partying, then.”

Berry’s nose scrunched up. “Fine, you win. Just be glad I hadn’t gone home with Filthy Rich last night.”

“Wait, what?” asked Roseluck with eagerness shining in her eyes.

“Yeah, he and I met last night at a bar and we talked quite a bit. We chatted about everything from raising a foal to how to make money. I had fun, and I could tell he was hoping I’d want to go to his place.”

“Do you like him?” I asked curiously.

Berry gave me a shrug. “I don’t know. We were both drinking and while I did enjoy having a conversation with him, I’d give it more time first.”

I nodded and looked into my empty cup. “Would you girls like some coffee? I’ll pay.”

All three of them nodded and we waved down a waiter who took our orders and returned with a fresh pot of coffee and enough creamers for everyone. As he left Berry Punch watched him carefully. “He’s got a nice ass, doesn't he?”

“Only you would think that about a stallion barely old enough to be considered a stallion,” Cheerilee said with a sly smirk plastered across her face.

Berry quickly focused her gaze on Cheerilee. “I think anypony old enough to be legal is fair game.” Her steady gaze and stern voice drove home her point.

I laughed and looked at Roseluck who just shrugged in response. “So… Rose, haven't you been working with the other flower girls on some big project?”

Roseluck immediately perked up as if finally having a chance to shine in a spotlight. “Actually yes! We’ve all been working so hard on getting new flowers planted in the Ponyville Park ever since Tirek blasted the place to smithereens.”

I smiled and blew on my coffee. Why can't you cool off faster! “I’m glad to hear that. Are you girls also going to be planting new trees? I heard the construction crew was working on fixing the paths that pass through there.” I paused for a moment. “I’m just happy I finally got a chance to not be working for once.”

Roseluck nodded enthusiastically but a questionable look spread across Cheerilee’s face as she also blew on her drink. “When was your last actual day off?”

I shrugged. “I don't really remember. At least three weeks or so.”

“Three weeks!?” Roseluck shrieked. “No. I will not stand for this!”

Cheerilee slapped her forehead with a hoof.“Rose. You’re sitting…”

Roseluck blew her a raspberry before standing up. “There. Now I’m standing.”

Cheerilee chuckled. “Rose, will you just sit down?” She blew on her coffee before she attempted to drink it. When she was successful with her coffee, I tested my own, finding that it had cooled just enough not to scald my mouth.

Roseluck sat back down with a huff but didn't argue. Berry Punch, on the other hoof, gave Cheerilee a dirty look, then looked over at me instead. “So Tenderheart, how’s your sister been? I haven't heard from her since she moved…”

“Me either. Last I heard, she walked out of the Ponyville Clinic mid-shift,” Cheerilee added hesitantly.

I sighed and stared aimlessly into my coffee cup.

“Damnit, this is why we can’t have nice things. We finally get a chance to spend some time with her and you guys gotta go and bring this up. Good job.” Berry just crossed her legs and drank her coffee as if to punctuate her distaste for the topic.

My eyes burned a little and my chest tightened. I looked up at my friends. “To be truthful, I haven't heard anything from her since she moved. I’d be lying if I said I wasn't a bit worried about her.”

Berry Punch sat her coffee down. “I would be too if she were my little sister.”

Cheerilee took a drink of her coffee. Setting the cup down gently, she gave me a sorrow filled look. “I’m sorry that we brought it up. Redheart didn't say a word to any of us before leaving town. We figured if she had spoken to anyone recently, it’d be you. We are all just worried about her.”

Roseluck gave a slow nod while Berry Punch just played with her cup. “I didn't know her that well, outside of the clinic…” Her voice trailed off as if unable to find the words she needed.

In a futile attempt to stop myself from crying, I looked away from my friends and took a few deep breaths. I wiped my eyes clear before looking back at them. “Look… can we change the topic? At least for now?”

Roseluck smiled. “Well, I have an idea then.” She gave me a wink.

After a moment of silence settled over the table, I propped my chin on my hooves. “Go on…”

“Let’s go to the spa!” she blurted out with excitement. “I’ll pay,” she added, quickly taking a drink.

Cheerilee immediately pounced on the idea. “Oh my Goddess, That’s a fantastic idea! Tenderheart, when was the last time you went and got pampered?”

I shifted in my seat. “Uh…” I honestly don't remember, I thought as I drank the last of my coffee.

Berry Punch laughed, “No worries. I’ve never been, just don't have the bits for it.”

“Well, if we want to spend the day at the Spa, we need to get there as soon as we can. It’ll take the Spa Girls awhile to take good care of us all,” Cheerilee explained, finishing off her cup of coffee with a satisfied sigh.

Berry Punch fidgeted with her near-empty cup of coffee. I looked over at her. “You okay, Berry?”

She glanced up at me before returning to her coffee, finally picking up the cup and finishing off its contents. “You know me. I don't like having ponies touching me. Unless I'm touching them first, that is.”

Roseluck and I both got a good laugh out of that. Cheerilee instead opted to finish off her coffee with a big gulp. “Well, I’m ready when you girls are.”

Roseluck and I quickly finished off our coffee and waved down a waiter for the bill before leaving.

***

When we finally got to the Spa and got our appointments scheduled, we sat down in the chairs that lined the walls of the main lobby. “So what all did you get us, Cheerilee?” I asked curiously.

Cheerilee leaned forward and looked at me passed Berry Punch and Roseluck. “I got you and I a full coat, mane, and tail wash, a massage, and a day in the sauna!” She leaned back into her chair before leaning forwards again, “Oh! I also got us each a hoof cleaning! I’m so excited, it's been too long since I was last here.”

Roseluck laughed and nudged Berry with her elbow. Berry Punch just shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I got us the same treatment. Don't worry so much! You’ll be fine.”

Berry Pinch stopped fidgeting and looked at Roseluck. “I know that, Rose. I just don’t know if I’m looking forward to this or not.”

I looked at her with an eyebrow raised. “What’s got you so worked up, Berry?”

“I’m not going to explain it to you!” she barked before breaking into a blush.

Cheerilee laughed. “Okay, I understand now. Well, try not to think about it that way and you’ll be fine. Just relax and try to think about something else while enjoying the attention.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush like this, Berry. Normally you’re always rattling on about some stallion or something. Always full of all sorts of confidence,” I said, trying to sound comforting without laughing.

Berry growled at me. “Normally, I would have had a different kind of creamer in my coffee.” After a very loud sigh and a moment of awkward silence, she added, “I’m sorry, I’m just… over-thinking all this.”

Roseluck was about to say something but was interrupted by the mare at the desk calling them forward. “Here we go…” Berry grumbled as we all stood and walked up to the desk.

The mare behind the desk directed us to our masseuse’s rooms. “I hope Rose and Berry enjoy their stay here,” I said, following Cheerilee into the room.

Lotus, one of the Spa Girls, met us at the door. “Come in, Come in. We’re going to start you two off with a brushing!” She led them both to the massage tables and had us lie down. She began brushing my coat while her assistant took care of Cheerilee.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the comforting feeling of the brush running through my fur. “Hey, Cheerilee. Why was Berry so antsy earlier in the lobby?”

Cheerilee made a muffled noise before sighing. “Honestly, I’m not too sure. Though I’m pretty sure it has to do with being touched by a mare. She’s always chased after stallions like they’re toys. Though, I think she has a different perspective when it comes to mares. Get what I mean?”

“I think so…” I mumbled. I felt my limbs start to tingle with tiredness as Lotus continued to brush my coat.

Cheerilee’s quiet voice broke the silence. “Hey, Tenderheart. I want to ask you something, but I really don't want to upset you. Is that okay?”

I cracked an eye open and glanced over at her. She also had one eye cracked open and its gaze met mine. I closed my eye and took a deep breath, preparing myself. “Okay, what would you like to know?”

A moment of silence passed between us before she spoke again. “Why did your little sister leave Ponyville in such a hurry? I know she had a job opportunity in Fillydelphia, but I didn't think she would just up and leave like that.”

“Yeah, neither did I.” I bit my tongue, hearing the bitterness in my voice. “It was my fault she left in such a hurry.”

“Really? How so?”

Feeling an uncomfortable sweat grip my body, I took a deep breath and let it go slowly. “The day she stormed out of the clinic, she already wasn't having a good day, pulling a double shift as well as running on no sleep from a night of being sick. Normally even on a bad day, she can handle most every patient that comes through. Unfortunately, she got an elderly pegasus stallion who wanted nothing to do with her because she isn't a pegasus. He wouldn't listen to her and wouldn’t stop yelling. Eventually, she gave up on trying to help him.” I paused for a moment as a lump formed in my throat. Swallowing it back, I continued. “Naturally, she came to me, hoping I could take care of the stallion. I told her I couldn’t. I already had patients of my own to deal with. She asked two or three other nurses to help her and they all responded the same way I did.”

“Doesn't sound like it's your fault,” Cheerilee cooed.

“When no one would help her she found me again. She practically begged me to take care of the stallion for her. I just had a mare flatline and I really wasn't wanting to deal with it, so I told her no. That's when she stormed out of the clinic. She was really upset, specifically with me for not helping her. She yelled about how I never helped her like a big sister should.” I bit my tongue trying and hoping not to break down again.

Cheerilee didn't respond, allowing an eerie silence to blanket the room. Lotus and her assistant had finished our backs, necks, and sides. They had both switched brushes and were now working on our tails and manes.

I could feel tears dripping slowly down my cheeks as I silently wept. My breathing was normal, but my eyes burned.

Finally, Cheerilee’s voice broke the silence, it was soft but stern. “You know, blaming yourself for something like this only makes it harder to move forward. Try not to dwell on the past, because you can’t change it. Why not control your future by making some changes to the present?”

“So should I just go visit her? I’ve tried writing letters, she didn't reply to any of them.”

Cheerilee groaned. “Well, it's an idea, but do you have the time for a trip like that anytime soon?”

I sighed, “Unfortunately not. For the past five or six months, since Redheart left, every nurse at the clinic has been working more shifts to fill the void she left. Finding medical ponies isn't easy. Especially in Ponyville.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. Well, all I can suggest is to wait and see if she sends you a letter. Because frankly, if you were to go to Fillydelphia, would you even know where to find her? That place is pretty big.”

“I suppose you have a point,” I whispered, more to myself than to Cheerilee.

“Okay, ladies! Would you like your massages now, or after we have done your hooves?” Lotus asked out of the blue.

Opening my eyes and wiping them clear, I met Cheerilee’s gaze. “You paid, you choose.”

Cheerilee nodded and looked at Lotus. “Hooves, please. After the massage, I’d like to spend some time in the sauna.”

I gave her the best smile I could muster up. “That sounds nice.”

“Alright, please step over here and take a seat. We will begin momentarily. I just have to step out real quick.” Lotus gave us both a sweet smile before quickly leaving the room.

Cheerilee and I took seats and the assistant prepared the equipment. “Being on my hooves all day long every day… I really needed today. Thank you, Cheerilee.”

“Not a problem, Tenderheart.” Her eyes were already closed as she relaxed into the chair.

Why am I still so tense? Calm down, Tenderheart, just relax. I shifted in my seat, trying to find the most comfortable position. “How stressful is it being a teacher?”

Cheerilee shrugged. “Not really all that stressful, to be honest. The only time it does get stressful is around the holidays when work conflicts with my holiday plans. Though normally that's only because I have to grade all their projects before I can go on my holiday vacation. All in all, though, the students really aren't that unruly or disturbing so it isn't that bad.”

“Okay, that's good to hear.” A devious grin spread across my face and I watched her closely. “So how about you and Big Macintosh? Are the two of you going to try for a foal soon?”

Cheerilee instantly tensed and scowled as she turned so red that she redefined the color spectrum. After a moment, she looked away and with a defeated huff she finally answered. “We’ve been trying ever since the wedding, but we haven't had any luck… it… it's starting to really worry me.”

Well, Shit.

She looked up at me, her eyes glittering as if about to cry. “Is there something that would hinder me from becoming a mother?” Her voice beginning to shake.

I thought about the possibilities, “You two only got married, what? Ten months ago? Look, Cheerilee, I doubt there is anything wrong with either of you. The foal will come when it's the right time. Until then, don't worry about it. Okay?”

Cheerilee took a deep breath to help calm herself. “Yeah… I guess… but-”

Just then the door opened and both of us watched as Lotus walked in, followed by a dark blue pegasus. He wore a brown coat and had his mane cut short. Around his neck was a small letter courier bag. He walked past Lotus, who waited near the door. “Ms. Tenderheart?” he asked in a calm voice.

I smiled kindly. “Yes sir, that's my name.”

He nodded. “I have an important message for you from Fillydelphia,” he said, pulling a scroll with a black ribbon tied tightly around it.

“What’s this?” I asked calmly, as I took it from him. I looked at him, then at the letter. What could a Royal Courier possibly have for me?

“May we have the room to ourselves?” Cheerilee asked politely.

“My condolences,” he said before leaving the room left without another word. Lotus followed him out.

Condolences? I wondered, looking down at the letter in my hooves. “What could it be about?” I asked her curiously, my eyes not straying from the letter.

“From what I’ve always heard, the Royal Couriers are a specialized group of pegasi tasked with important document transportation.” Pausing briefly, she placed a hoof to her chin. “They normally transport urgent messages between city guards and amongst the Princesses. That's the first time I’ve ever seen one.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Wait, did he say this was from Fillydelphia?” I looked up at her, feeling anxious. I couldn't think of what to say.

Cheerilee spoke in a hushed and soothing tone. “W-Would you like me to read it first?”

I absently nodded and passed her the letter. She opened it and my heart stopped as I held my breath, watching her expression. My heart dropped like a rock into my stomach as she took on a horrified look. Tears flooded her eyes, and her jaw clenched tight.

Cheerilee rolled the letter closed and tried to look at me, but as soon as our eyes met she looked away. “I’m sorry… I…” she said quietly, losing her will to speak. Instead, she placed the scroll on the cart with the hoof tools, before stepped towards me. Cheerilee wrapped her hooves tight around my neck. I could feel the sorrow pulsing off of her with every sharp breath she took as she cried. I weakly wrapped my hooves around her sides. Oh Goddess… What’s happening... I could feel my body shiver with fear at the thought of what that letter contained.

“I’m here for you, Tenderheart,” she whispered into my ear before letting me go. Cheerilee retrieved the letter and held it out to me. I took it from her and opened it, feeling my heart stop as soon as I started reading.

From: 7/21/1228
Penny Saved,
Senior Nursing Staff Administrator,
Fillydelphia General Hospital,

Hello, Ms. Tenderheart.

I am writing to you because at seven forty-five this morning, Nurse Redheart was found dead in an alleyway with multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen. She was found by a passing pedestrian who upon finding her immediately hailed a cab and asked for help. The unicorn and the cab driver brought her straight back to the hospital and we sent notice to the city guard. She had been dead for quite a few hours and upon inspecting our logs we have concluded that she had been killed on her way home from work.

I am deeply troubled by this turn of events and send my condolences. Nurse Redheart was a hard working mare, dedicated to saving the lives of so many ponies. She will be remembered by everyone here at the General Hospital of Fillydelphia as a hero to the staff and to those she has saved. The staff here is holding a vigil tonight in her honor. I am sincerely sorry. This should never have happened to anypony.

I have also sent a letter to Mayor Mare of Ponyville, notifying her of this tragedy. She will be expecting you to meet with her about your younger sister's will. She will also be able to answer any questions you have. Again, I am very sorry for your loss and I hope you can pull through this dark time.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It felt unreal, as if it were a prank. My eyes scanned the letter again and again and again, but my heart just didn’t want to accept it. Tears poured from my eyes as I felt the urge to just scream until my voice gave out. “W-Why…” I whispered, feeling a cold chill harden inside of me.

Author's Note

I very much hope you are enjoying this story. There will be more to come! :)