The Unsettling Suicide of Nurse Tenderheart

“Augh…” I groaned as I flipped the pillow over my head. What time is it? Better yet, when did I get home?

I took a deep breath and immediately noticed something was off. What’s that smell?

I sniffed the pillow curiously. Jasmine? Or maybe lavender. Huh. This isn't my pillow.

Sitting up, I found myself laying on a bed in a dark room, the shades drawn closed and a sliver of dawn light gleaming through the crack that separated them. Where am I?

Slowly, I crawled out from under the warm blankets and opened the door to find myself gazing out over a living room. Alcohol bottles and half-drank drinks were scattered across the coffee table and the island countertop in the open kitchen on the opposite side of living room. The overflowing trash can was brimming with more empty bottles.

“Whatever, I want coffee,” I mumbled as I shuffled through the room. Along my way I glanced over and saw Cheerilee passed out on the couch. She was laying on her stomach with one hoof hanging limp to the floor. She had, at some point, kicked the blanket off herself and a small puddle of drool had soaked into the pillow her head laid on.

I sighed, feeling a bit of a weight lift off my shoulders. Whatever else had happened last night, at least Cheerilee is still here. I walked into the kitchen and smiled. Thank goddess! This place has a coffee pot!

I quickly set about finding everything I needed and ten minutes later I was dropping small cubes of sugar into my medium roast coffee. Just as I turned around with my cup and sat it on the marble countered island, I heard a door open and close softly somewhere upstairs. A moment later a young filly came down the stairs rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes.

She looked up as I took a seat on one of the cushioned stools near the island table. She ignored me as she set about collecting the things she needed for a bowl of wheat puffs and finding a seat next to me. “You’re Ms. Tenderheart, right? Mom said you were having a bad day when you all came in last night. She wouldn't tell me why, though.”

I felt a bit guilty I looked over at her. “I’m sorry if we kept you awake last night.”

“No, no. I slept fine. How did you sleep?” the young filly asked, taking a bite of her cereal.

“Well, decent I guess. I don't even remember even coming over here. Wherever ‘here’ is.” I took a careful drink of my coffee.

“Well,” the filly said as she turned towards me, putting her elbow on the counter, “Let me enlighten you. I’m Berry Pinch, Berry Punch’s daughter. Mom and Roseluck are asleep in the guest room upstairs.”

“Oh? So what room was I in?” I asked curiously, pushing the more tantalizing questions aside. I'll ask Berry later.

Berry Pinch went back to eating her cereal, making sure every piece touched the soy milk. “My mom's room. Oh, look who’s waking up,” she said, pointing at the couch with her spoon.

A moment later Cheerilee sat up slowly with a yawn and a stretch. She stood and looked over at us. “Coffee?” she mumbled, just loud enough for us to hear.

I nodded and she smiled, walking into the kitchen. Her mane was sticking up in some areas and matted with sweat elsewhere.

“Good Morning,” she mumbled as she passed us, reaching for a cup out of the cabinet. After getting her coffee and dropping three sugar cubes into it, she sat next to me and began stirring her coffee.

Silence blanketed the room except for the occasional clink of metal on glass and the ticking of a clock somewhere in the house.

After Cheerilee finally took her first sip of her coffee I looked at her and, as if she predicted my question, she held up a hoof. “Shh... Coffee first,” she mumbled, before taking another drink.

I nodded and quietly drank my coffee, enjoying the silence. Eventually Berry Pinch stood with her empty bowl and rinsed it out before setting it in the sink and quietly returning to her room.

As I finished off the last of my coffee and I turned and refilled my cup, leaving enough for one more cup. After prepping it I took my seat once more, just as Cheerilee smiled and showed me that her cup was empty.

She stood and refilled her cup. “I hope you’re feeling better this morning,” she said quietly, but clearly.

“Feeling just fine, why?” I asked, blowing on my coffee gently.

“Well… don't you remember?”

I tried again to remember something, but nothing came to mind. “The last thing I remember was losing a few hands at drunken poker at the bar.”

“Wow.” she seemed genuinely surprised and decided now was a good time to drink from her fresh cup of coffee. “Okay, so after you lost those hands you proceeded to get extremely hammered. As did we all.”

“I only assumed,” I said passively. “So how did we end up here, and what in Celestia’s flank happened? What did I do that has everypony worried?”

“Well, we came back here after you threw up in the little fillies room. It was quite a mess… but you did clean up after yourself.” She paused as I took a drink of coffee, then continued. “We decided that we could move the party to one of our own homes - incase someone passed out.”

“Me, got it. Too drunk. Understood,” I mumbled.

“On our way here, you had a breakdown and bawled your eyes out in the middle of the road… you cried for your sister… then threw up in a trash can. Roseluck and I helped keep you steady on our way here. Berry tried to help but she could barely keep herself afloat, much less help you stay upright.”

“So did the whole night carry on with me throwing up and crying?” I asked curiously, and with a bitterness, I threw in, “‘kuz if so, I think I'm done with this forgotten night.”

“Well… not exactly. Actually, you didn't throw up again the rest of the night, but you did talk Berry Punch into talking to Roseluck about something. Whatever it was, the two really seemed to grow closer. So that's something… it happened shortly after Berry Punch tucked you into her bed.”

The realization hit me like a sack of bits. “Wait, they hooked up?” A devious smile crawled across my face, hidden behind my coffee cup.

“Dunno, I passed out while talking to them shortly after you passed out,” she said, before sipping at her coffee.

Just then the sound of running water came from upstairs. Sounds like a shower, I thought.

“Wanna bet Berry Punch is the first to come down?”

“Sure. Two bits,” Said Cheerilee. “I’m willing to bet she comes down with a hangover.” She tilted her head towards me. “You got one?”

“Nope!” I answered with a smirk, “You?”

She grimaced as her face sank into her hooves. “Perhaps…”

“Was it worth it?” I snickered.

She raised her head long enough to drink from her coffee. “Sure, why not…”

I frowned “What's up?”

“Well, remember when I told you about the fact that Big Mac and I have been trying to have a foal for almost a year now?”

Uh oh… not this. “Yes,” I said, tentatively.

“I had a nightmare that we did manage to get pregnant… but I miscarried and Macintosh left me because I couldn't provide an heir to the Apple Family legacy… it was horrifying.” She looked as though she could start crying any second.

I slipped my hooves around her shoulders and hugged her gently, then held her shoulders in my hooves. “I'll tell you this: I've known him for a long time and he would never leave you for such a petty reason. And like I said before, the foal will come when the time is right. I promise.”

She managed a small smile that wavered for a moment. “I'll even have the honor of delivering him to you when that time comes.”

Her smile grew with genuine hope. Just then, a pair of hooves heavily made their way down the stairs and turned the corner towards us. It was Berry Punch.

Rats. There goes two bits.

Cheerilee glanced my way, knowing she had won the little wager. “Got a hangover?” she asked curiously.

“Nope, just exhausted,” She answered.

I giggled. “Can't imagine why. Sorry for taking your room.”

“You’re fine. I put you to bed in there because I didn't wanna drag you all the way up the stairs.” She laughed as she rounded the island to find an empty coffee pot, then growled as she turned to glare at us. “Couldn't even start a new pot?”

“Didn't know when you'd make your way down here. Sorry,” Cheerilee answered sarcastically.

Cheerilee shot me a devilish eye before looking back to Berry as she prepared everything. “So was that you or Roseluck that woke me up last night? Shortly after I fell asleep on the couch.”

Berry Punch stopped everything, her hoof slipping as she accidentally turned the cold water all the way on and blasting the dishes at full power. She quickly turned it back down to a manageable level and continued preparing the coffee pot.

She ignored the question and began humming to herself, which quickly lost its rhythm as Cheerilee and I giggled.

I finished off my coffee just as Berry took a seat and began blowing on her coffee. I stood and rinsed out the cup before taking my seat again. “Hey, Berry… what happened last night? I only remember us all at the bar.”

She chuckled and sipped her coffee. Her mane was matted with dry sweat and she looked sleepy, but her eyes sparkled. “You threw up a bunch so we came here. Cheerilee decided to try and teach you and Roseluck how to create potions through the use of chemistry. All that lead to were some very tasty mixed drinks. Roseluck and I had a conversation after putting you to bed. You wouldn't shut your mouth. Oh, and Cheerilee passed out on the couch. Nothing too crazy.”

The shower stopped over head. “So what was I saying?” I asked, tilting my head to her.

“You were going on and on trying to tell me to talk to her. Needless to say, she had a few questions.” She shot me a look as a snicker escaped Cheerilee’s throat. “Coffee now.”

Cheerilee stood and rinsed out her cup just as a damp Roseluck appeared around the corner. As soon as she saw us her cheeks grew a soft pink hue, and a smile opened across her lips. A moment later she sniffed the air. “Do I smell coffee?”

As she padded into the kitchen area, Cheerilee tapped my shoulder and I looked up. Cheerilee tipped her head to the living room. “Let’s clean this mess up.”

Roseluck stopped as I stood up, a cup and spoon sitting in front of the coffee pot. “How are you two feeling this morning?” Her eyes were set on me, as if the question was specifically for me.

“I’m fine,” I huffed. “No hangover.”

Cheerilee grimaced. “A bit hung over… The coffee helped a bit, but I don't wanna see the sun today.” She turned and went about pulling the overfilled trash bag out and tying it closed. “Where’s the trash go?” She asked Berry.

Berry nodded towards the door leading to the back porch. “Thank you.”

Cheerilee nodded and took it out while I put a fresh bag into the can before setting about cleaning the rest of the house. Cheerilee joined me a moment later. “Hey, Tenderheart…"

I paused and glanced at her before I continued cleaning. I could hear Roseluck and Berry Punch quietly talking over their coffee.

“Would you like me to come with you to Mayor Mare’s office today? Or are you waiting until Monday, er… Wait, is today Saturday or Sunday?” she asked with a hint of confusion.

“Today’s Sunday. I was going to go over there after stopping at Hope to freshen up, kinda collect my thoughts and what not.” I shuttered as a cold chill danced along my spine. “I don't really want to go at all.”

“Well, I got nothing going on this afternoon. I do need to go out to Sweet Apple Acres, I told Macintosh that I’d join his family for lunch today.” She continued cleaning as she spoke. The mess from the previous night was pretty much gone.

Suddenly the sound of a pony rushing down the stairs caught our attention; Berry Pinch had a satchel thrown over her shoulder and she was galloping for the door. As soon as she opened it her mother cleared her throat and the door slowly closed. The filly turned to see Berry Punch glaring. “Not even going to ask?”

“Mom, when do I ever have to ask to hang out with Dinky and Button Mash? We're just going to hang out at his house and play video games. Plus Button’s Mom said she’d let me help her make cookies.” Berry Pinch waited for a moment and slowly opened the door again.

Punch smiled and rolled her eyes. “Have fun, Sweetheart.” She turned her attention to Cheerilee and I. “Looking great, girls. You know you didn't have to clean up, right?”

I shrugged. “I hate it when somepony trashes my place and doesn't clean it up.” Looking around I couldn't help but feel like I was forgetting something. “Where’s my letter?” I asked, and Cheerilee shrugged.

Roseluck piped up. “On the table next to Berry Punch’s bed. The room you slept in.”

I stepped back into the bedroom and felt of a rush of relief to spot the scroll. I grabbed it and went back into the living room. “I'm gonna head home now. I’ve got some business to prepare for…” I felt like I was ready to cry, but no tears would come. “Cheerilee, wanna meet me in front of Town Hall at 2:00pm?”

Everyone simply wished me safe travels and good luck as I left after Cheerilee nodded.

As the Town Hall came into view I could see Cheerilee standing outside in a simple dark red dress. I myself had chosen a dark purple dress, simple and elegant. I had a small satchel slung over my shoulder with the letter and a few other things in it. I hadn't opened the letter once since reading it yesterday.

Cheerilee trotted over to meet me, worry filled her eyes. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

I sighed, feeling a failure numbness cloud my senses. “Unfortunately yes, I'm as ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go.”

Cheerilee nodded and followed me through the doors. The receptionist looked up briefly and went back to work as we approached. “How may I help you this afternoon?” She asked without looking up at us.

“I’m here to speak with Mayor Mare,” I answered simply.

“Name? Mayor Mare doesn't have any meeting at this time.”

“Tenderheart. I'm here about my sister's will and funeral arrangements,” I said keeping my voice stern, feeling rather irritated with this mare so far.

Her quill stopped moving and she laid it down. “I’m sorry for your loss. Mayor Mare told me to immediately put you through when you showed up. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Ms. Tenderheart.” She waved a hoof at the door off to the right. “Through there, last door on the left.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

I knocked at the door and heard someone's sweet voice shout out, “Come in!”

I opened the door to see sunlight pouring in through a large window behind her. Countless little nicnacs were neatly organized on the window seal and her desk, which also had countless papers and folders covering it.

She glanced up and saw us, and she immediately went about cleaning her desk and reorganizing everything. After a few moments she pulled a thin folder out of a drawer and laid it on the wooden desktop. “Please, take a seat. It's nice to see you here, Ms. Tenderheart, Mrs. Cheerilee. I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances.”

I couldn't find any words to use, it felt as though my tongue had turned into cotton. Thankfully Cheerilee spoke for me upon noticing the anxiety in my eyes, and I looked over at her. Hesitantly she began, “I agreed to come with Tenderheart to help her through this. Perhaps we should start with Redheart's will and wishes."

The Mayor simply nodded, flipping the folder open and retrieving a brown envelope from the bottom. She opened it and pulled out a few papers. Clearing her throat, she began by turning them towards me. “As you can see, all of Ms. Redheart's possessions and property were left to you, her only surviving relative.” Noticing tears forming in my eyes at the mere mention of her name, Mayor Mare gave me a sad and empathetic look. “She had two bank accounts open.There was one in Fillydelphia, however, all funds within it were transferred to her bank account in Canterlot upon her death.”

She stopped to give me a moment to breath and calm myself, I gave her a small nod for her to continue. “Her last month of rent had been withdrawn prior to… the event. Fortunately, I have taken it upon myself to prepare a pegasus wagon for you, readied to give you a ride to her apartment at your leisure, so you may gather her belongings which were also left to you. Everything there except the furniture now belongs to you.” With a moment of silence, she flipped the second page so I may see it.

“Redheart was also paying off a large condominium on the outskirts of Upper Canterlot. Apparently, she had purchased it shortly after earning her Doctorate in medicine. It says here that she had intended it to be her retirement home. This is also left to you, however, it was still being paid off at a rate of seventy-five bits monthly. It has eight months remaining on its thirty-six month ownership plan.” She stopped and stared at me.

I couldn't help but be shocked by everything I was hearing. My sister, the same sister that lived in a tiny apartment in Ponyville with barely enough money to pay her own rent and worked from dawn till dusk every single day… the same sister that… that always put her patients before herself. The same sister I had always looked up to and wanted to be like. The same Redheart that had dedicated her entire life helping others so that no foals would suffer through the loss of one of their parents, grandparents, or their best friends like how we had suffered.

I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks. She was planning to have a settle down in Canterlot. She was going to have a family… a home where she could have raised her own foals… She always said that she was planning ahead… but… this wasn't what I imagined… this....

My train of thought fell apart and I leaned on the mayor's desk, hiding my face in my forehooves as I tried to collect myself. I felt Cheerilee gently put a hoof on my shoulder. “Take a slow breath,” she said in a hushed tone.

I did. Slowly drawing in a rattled breath, I held it for a moment and then slowly released it, feeling a little bit of my composure returning before I sat up straight again and drying my eyes. “Let’s continue.”

Mayor Mare nodded. “You can cancel the payments on the condo. Doing this won't refund the past investment, or you can finish paying it off and either move into it or sell it for full price—that being roughly 3,000 bits.” She stopped and smiled as Cheerilee’s jaw hung open for a moment. Her smile quickly vanished. “This can be all be handled at a later date and I will be here to help you if you require it. As for the bank account in Canterlot Central Bank, they hold the keys on the deposit box, but here is a letter from them to you.” She passed me a sealed envelope from the file. “It’s simply a request for you to come and claim it.”

She flipped the last paper of the will over. “There is one request your sister had left in her will, it's addressed to you. She asks to be buried next to your father.”

I held back tears as I nodded. “Let’s discuss her burial ceremony then. Will I be required to pay for it?”

“Yes,” she said with a saddened look. “I wish I were allowed to take care of the costs but the responsibility falls to the deceased's family.”

Crap, as if I weren't poor enough… “So how much am I looking at?”

“Well, depending on several variables. A well crafted coffin of any material will cost about eighty bits. The ceremony, with open casket visitation will be roughly sixty bits, as well as manual labor would be another twenty to forty bits… all in all, you’re looking at about 150 to 200 bits.”

I sighed, feeling a familiar numbness cloak my body as the realization hit. Great. Lost my sister and now I'll have to sell everything I own to cover burying her… “Okay. I'll pay for it. Set a date after speaking with the pegasi. I would prefer a light shower after the ceremony if possible…” I just don't want to cry alone once everybody else has left.

She simply nodded. “I will see what I can do. What kind of coffin should I order? Oak wood is the cheapest material."

Redheart always loved reading by the old maple tree on that hill outside town.

“Can we use maplewood?”

Mayor Mare simply nodded. “That can be taken care of. Normal ceremony?”

I nodded and looked at Cheerilee. She took a breath and spoke. “Make it open to whomever would like to pay their respects. Nurse Redheart helped a lot of ponies…”

“Alright,” the Mayor said as she scooped up the papers and put them back in the folder. Then withdrew a seperated folder. “Do you have any questions regarding your sister's death?”

It felt like my heart had turned to stone and sank into my stomach. What do I already know… she died from a mugging, multiple stab wounds and she bled out… slow and painful… and... My heart twisted in my gut. Alone.

I began bawling my eyes out again, unable to fathom even a shred of why such a horrific event ever had to take place… much less to my only sibling.

Cheerilee drew me into a hug and whispered an apology to the Mayor. I don't know how she answered—if at all, but my mind was void of thoughts, but full of memories.

Memories of Redheart and I as fillies on vacations filled my mind. Not a worry in the world, except what would be for dessert. “You always were one step ahead of me… weren't you, sis…” I whispered as I sat up straight again. My stomach still hurting and my heart still falling apart at its seams.

“What was that?” Mayor Mare asked in a gentle voice.

“Nothing, nothing. Can you tell me if they ever captured her murderer?”

“Unfortunately, not yet. They’re searching every inch of the city and have been extra vigilant in the early hours of the morning, when the crime had taken place. Unfortunately, all they have to go off of is the knife the criminal had dropped. Any other information had left with Redheart. There were no witnesses… I’m sorry, Tenderheart.”

My heart had turned from stone to ice. The bastard was still breathing… and free. Anger bloomed in my stomach warming and steadying my shaken stature. “I don't want to hear anymore about that right now. Anything else we should discuss at this time?"

Mayor Mare tapped her chin then shook her head. “The pegasus ride will be ready for you within twenty minutes of notifying me. They can also give you a ride to Canterlot when need be.”

I nodded and stood. “Thank you, ma’am. I will be ready within a few days. Be sure to let me know when the funeral will take place,” I said, tucking the bank’s letter into my bag before turning to leave. Cheerilee followed close behind.