The Freeblade and the Nurse

Chapter Five

-Canterlot City Hospital-

The yelling continued to get louder, to the point that it started to echo within the halls. They were all calling for him, wanting him to answer for the crime he has committed against each and every one of them. The situation outside was bad enough to get the entire medical staff to help the Royal Guard keep them out of the hospital. Marius could not believe that such valuable resources are being wasted on trying to stop irrational citizens from venting their rage, instead of helping those here or guarding the wall.

“Might as well end this foolishness.” Marius groaned, turning his wheelchair around. “Seriously, I’ve seen normal irrational actions and understand it completely… But going this far?" He wheeled up to the door, and opened it. “It is just insane.” Marius wheeled himself into the hospital’s hallway, heading towards the exit.

Majority of the staff were probably outside, because Marius only saw at least one or two of the nurses, and volunteers, caring for around twenty patients themselves. This caused him to become even more irritated, there were those in need and are not being taken care of properly because of all this. “Oh… My…” A meek voice spoke up, causing Marius to stop and notice a cream colored, pink haired, pegasi mare staring at him. She wore a volunteer nurse’s uniform, which told him that she is one of the medical professionals of some kind. “S-Sir, what are you doing outside of your room?... If that is ok for me to ask.” The mare, gently, flew over to him.

“Just going for a short stroll, ma’am.” Marius answered, stopping and looking at her. “And maybe help stop the foolishness outside, so that the other medical staff could get back to work.”

“Oh, but those ponies outside are going to hurt you.” She noted, as Marius started towards the exit again, with her walking next to him. “Maybe it would be better if you waited this out, in your room maybe?”

Marius had to stop, when she glided in front of him. “Ma’am, what is your name?” He asked, a deadpanned look presence on his face, as both hands rested on his lap.

“I-I’m… Uh… F-Fluttershy.” She answered, timidly.

“Fluttershy, my dear, I take it that you’re a soul who does whatever it takes to help others in need, correct?” He asked, the mare nodding. “Well, right now, those… Uh, ponies outside are preventing those here from getting the help they need. They have come for me, and if it means the patients in here can get help, then I’ll gladly face them.” Marius lifted his hands up and placed them back on to his chair’s wheels. “We have to get the staff back in here, so those patients can get help, by any means.” Fluttershy didn’t say anything, she only looked down with a timid expression. “Now… Best go back to those who really need you, dear… I’ll be fine.”

Fluttershy gave a nod, moving out of his way, allowing Marius to pass through. “Oh dear… Nurse Redheart is not going to be happy about this.” She thought, before a patient called out for a nurse to help them. “Oh! Don’t worry, I’m coming!” The mare rushed off.

-Canterlot Castle, Celestia’s Room-

“Are you sure about this, Princess? I mean, isn’t this a bit risky?” Twilight asked, going over a proposal that the older princess planned on giving to the Courts. “I mean, we have no idea how many are in Ponyville, nor if any looters have already taken advantage of the town being abandoned.”

“I know, but our supplies are running low, the Apple Family are having trouble opening areas for farms, and the doctors are reporting that their medical supplies are nearly gone. This city was not built to house so many of my little ponies.” Celestia laid down on to the couch, placing a hand on to her aching head. “We need to make a supply run, and soon.”

Twilight reread the proposal, frowning at what is there. “But, this plan relies heavily on Lord Corvain and Umbra Equitis.” She looked towards Celestia, laying the proposal on to her skirted lap. “I understood his reasoning, after you told me the details behind it… But I highly doubt the nobles are so open minded.”

“You leave them, to me.” The white alicorn leaned up, and smiled at the younger princess. “I can be very convincing to them.” The two laughed at her statement, Celestia being the first to stifle. “Speaking about Lord Corvain, and his ‘Imperial Knight’… I am no fool, in believing it has an unlimited supply of ammunition.” Twilight looked at her, placing both hand on to the proposal and her lap. “You’re the only one I can trust with this, and know you can figure of some way to keep him supplied.”

Twilight thought about it, trying to think of something. “I could try a duplication spell?” She looked up, with concern written all over her face. “But, to do that, I require samples from each of his Imperial Knight’s ammunition… And if we are going to mass produce them, there needs to be more unicorns involved or it will take forever for me to just fill up one of his weapons.”

Celestia gave a nod. “I see, we will gather what unicorns we can, to help you create enough for Umbra Equitis to be supplied.” Twilight nodded, before panicked knocking at had caught their attention. “Come in.”

The doors flung open, as Rarity stumbled into Celestia’s personal chambers. “Rarity!” Twilight shouted, both her and Celestia quickly running up to the tired mare, and helped her stand up. “Rarity, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“Danger… Angry mob… At hospital…” Rarity tried to catch her breath, both princesses wide eyed. “A-After Prince Corvain!”

“Prince Corvain!?” They both yelled, Rarity nodding as Celestia looked at Twilight. “Go, and gather the rest of your friends. I will go get Luna, and head straight to the hospital; I want you to meet us there.” Twilight nodded, as Celestia ran out into the hallway, meeting two of her personal Royal Pegasi Guard, standing guard outside. “You two, come with me. We need to stop this before anything terrible happens.”

“Yes, Princess!” The two acknowledged, following their princess towards the castle gates. Twilight, on the other hand, waited for Rarity to rest for a bit before they rushed out.

-Outside Canterlot City’s Hospital-

The mob kept yelling and shouting at the Royal Guards stationed outside of the hospital. The gold clad defenders had formed a defensive semi-circle around the entrance, shields interlocked and spears lowered to impale anyone foolish enough to approach. They weren’t allowing any of them through the formation’s ranks, those were their orders, and the medical staff helped by either bracing their formation or yelling for them to calm down. Though, with the torches and pitchforks being hoisted up in the air made it quite clear that this mob is not going to leave peacefully.

“Bring him out here, right now!” A white unicorn nobleman yelled, many of the others agreeing with him. “We demand that he be brought here to be-?”

“Guards, doctors, go back to your duties. I’ll handle things here.” A commanding voice ordered, causing everyone to look back at the doors, and see a fully uniformed Marius. His great-coat draping on his body, the bill of his peaked hat covering his left eye, and the power-saber dangling from his wheelchair. “Your duties are too important, to be wasting time dealing with this rabble.”

The head doctor gave a concerned look, before shaking his head. “I can’t allow this… You are my patient, and these ponies mean to harm you. I cannot allow this to happen.”

“Doctor, how many patients are being harmed with you, and the others, out here? How many could be dying right now, because of all this foolishness?” Marius asked, the head doctor hesitating and not replying.

“Doctor.” The Royal Guard lieutenant placed a hand on to the head doctor’s shoulder. “You need to take care of those inside, my men and I can handle things out here.”

“No, lieutenant, your men are needed at the walls.” Marius announced, causing the Royal Guard Officer to look at the wheelchair bound man. “Every warrior counts and are needed at the wall… In case that barrier falls. We will need to brace the gates and keep the ramparts clear.” He lifted both hands up, and pressed his fingers together. “I can handle things here, myself.”

The lieutenant looked at him, noticing all the ribbons and medals on his left breast, which proved this man could really handle himself quite well. “Y-Yes, sir…” The young officer nodded, withdrawing his men, and headed towards the wall.

Marius nodded, before looking at the crowd. “Well, I’m here. What do you all want?”

The white unicorn nobleman grinned, seeing the Royal Guards and medical staff withdrawing from Marius. “He is alone now, let’s get him-?”

“You must be Prince Blueblood.” Marius interrupted, leaning on to his right side. “Cannot say I am impressed with you. One with such a powerful title, should not look so frail.”

Prince Blueblood glared at him, pointing at Marius. “Who I am does not matter in all of this, you do, murderer! We are here to make sure that you answer for every death within the stadium!” His stance, hesitant, told the pilot everything he needed to know about this prince.

“I am a warrior, killing is my profession. I will never deny my sins. Only a coward would do such a thing.” His one visible eye staring dead at Prince Blueblood. “And unlike you, boy, I do what needs to be done, and not hide behind a crowd to handle things. I can tell, just from how you stand here, that you are the very type that’ll charm your way through everything in life and also have a subject executed… For accidently looking at you wrong.” His visible eye glared at the prince. “Your kind make me sick.”

The mob looked to Prince Blueblood, who glared at the man. “How dare you-?”

“Oh, I dare alright.” Marius snickered, with a slight chuckle. “I find you funny, too. From what I have been told and what I am seeing now? You do not even care for the lives lost in that stadium. You saw a way to help your own public image, and jumped on it like a scavenger beast. If I am wrong?” Marius removed the power-saber, and threw it towards Blueblood’s hooves. “Then here I am, open to your judgement. Be a real prince, and enact justice upon one you see as a criminal.” He opened both arms, allowing Blueblood the perfect shot at his heart. “Come at me, by all means.”

“I-uh-can-uh…” Blueblood stepped away from the power-saber, becoming nervous around the dangerous weapon. “It-you-see…”

“You’re not going to do it, are you?” Marius asked, placing both hands into his lap. “Did not think you would. Would you like to know why?” Blueblood glared at him, while the mob looked between them. “I will tell you. I fought for years upon battlefields that would make you frozen with sheer fear. Battles where Daemons, Super Soldier Demi-Gods, giant metal skeletons of death, and even ravenous monsters that would make your worst nightmares seem like wet dreams; were a common sight.” His glare intensified on Blueblood, making the nobleman freeze completely. “I have been forced to do unspeakable things to protect other innocent lives of entire worlds… I have even suffered plasma burns to protect them. So, giving those citizens the mercy yesterday was but a minor sin of mine, one I will never forget, and the last choice I had. While you?” Marius grinned, with a slight chuckle. “I know for a fact you would have allowed them to turn, and ravage this city from the inside out! All the while, you cower within your locked room back at the castle… Demanding that the Royal Guard protect his royal highness.”

No one said a word, Blueblood wide eyed and shocked that Marius has called him out in such a way. “And who are you to decide that they deserved to die!?” A mare yelled, causing Marius to look towards the right… Only to be met with a cyan fist straight to the face, and get punched out of his wheelchair.

Marius held on to his right eye, looking back at the cyan pegasus mare that had just punched him. Her rainbow mane covered her right eye, but the left flowed with tears, his words much have struck her harder than one would guess. Clutched in the fist that struck him, was a burnt green feather.

Before he could say anything to defend himself, the mare grabbed his under shirt’s collar, lifting him off of the ground, and punched him again. ‘Why!?” She punched a third time. “Why!” A forth punch. “Why did they have to die!?” A fifth punch hit the side of his head. “Why did Lighting Dust have to die!? She didn’t deserve it!”

Without thinking, the mare’s knee suddenly dropped down and slammed on to Marius leg! This earned a pain filled roar of agony, and the mare went back. “Umbra! Stand down! Stand down, now, damnit!”

She looked to her right, seeing the metal colossus aiming, and priming, his Heavy Stubberd Cannon right at her. Those within the crowd saw that there was a red dot directly on the mare’s forehead. “Gotcha!” An orange earth pony mare suddenly grabbed a hold of the pegasus mare, and pulled her off of Marius. “Ah think ya done enough, Rainbow!”

Rainbow Dash struggled to get free of the mare’s grip, but found that the earth pony is far stronger than she was. “D-Damnit, Applejack! Let go! Let. Me. Go! He has to pay!” She yelled.

“Not until ya calm down, sugarcube!” Applejack ordered, before she looked down at Marius. His peaked cap had been knocked clean off, revealing the scruffy high-fade haircut. “Now, ah want ya ta tell me the truth… Was there really no other way?” Her emerald locked on to him.

Despite the bone breaking, dull, burning; pain coursing throughout his entire body, Marius kept his hazel gaze locked on to Applejack. “There was no other way. Once you are infected, the survival rate is dropped to five minutes… And that is if you are bitten on an extremity.” He answered, giving a nod.

Applejack returned the nod, her Element and sense telling her that he was not lying, and actually telling the truth. “Alright, that’s good enough fer me, partner.” Marius nodded again, before a certain voice screamed and caused him to go wide eyed.

“Oh Celestia, Marius! Are you alright!?” Nurse Redheart sprinted over, pushing past the crowds of ponies, and kneeling next to him. The nurse had not changed out of her dress, nor put her pink air back up… Marius could not believe he would actually say this, never out loud, but he found her more attractive than any woman back home. “Marius! Are you ok!?”

Repeating herself caused Marius to snap out of his zoned trance, realizing that he had been staring at her. The mare’s sky blue eyes were filled with pure panic. “Y-Yeah… Just in a lot of pain right now.” He answered, holding the side of his throbbing head. “Back of my wheelchair, pain killer injector that can be detached.” Gently, he placed a hand where Rainbow Dash kneed his leg. “For my leg, of course.”

“On it!” Leaving her pocket book next to Marius, Nurse Redheart went over to the wheelchair. She had examined it before, and even learned about it further from Umbra Equitis’ dataslate. Quickly finding the pain killer injector piece, she hit the emergency eject button, and detached it from the wheelchair. “Got it!”

The nurse ran back over to Marius, as he unbuttoned his collar. “It has to be injected directly into the carotid artery… So it can have an immediate reaction.” He instructed, Nurse Redheart nodding as she pressed the injector’s cylinder into the ride side of his neck.

The injector hissed, allowing the pain killer to be injected straight into his bloodstream. Nurse Redheart let out a sigh of relief, when she saw his body quickly starting to relax. “Thank Celestia, you’re going to be alright.” She smiled at him, but the sounds of hooves rushing nonstop caught their attention.

The very moment Nurse Redheart looked, a decent sized rock struck the side of her head! The mob gasped, at the fact that Blueblood had thrown said rock and struck the mare. “How dare she assist that murderer! She should die like the-!”

FZZZZZZT!

“Ahhhh!!!” Blueblood screamed, as a red beam stabbed into his shoulder and sent him flying back on to the stone ground. “M-My shoulder!”

“You are l-lucky that’s all I hit!” Marius yelled, his hand shaking while holding the las-pistol. “But I’m still going to fill your cowardly husk with holes!” His thumb pulled the laser weapon’s hammer back, as it prepared to fire another round… But a white hand rested itself on to the las-pistol’s receiver.

“Marius, please, calm down.” He looked to the right, seeing Nurse Redheart’s newly panicked face. “I’m ok… I’m fine.” The mare had blood running down and covering her right eye. “Please, put your weapon down.”

Those pleading eyes, they begged that he stop this. Marius found himself unable to deny her request, and soon lowered his las-pistol. Smiling, he retrieved a handkerchief from his great-coat’s pocket and wiped the blood from her face. “Blood really should not stain such a lovely face… Hopefully, your injury can be mended.” Nurse Redheart could not help but to blush at his comment.

Blueblood pressed a hand on his wound, looking around at the mob…. And how they were not doing anything. “Well? Get him!”

“None of you dare move a muscle!” A thunderous voice boomed over their heads, before Celestia, Luna, and two Royal Pegasi Guard landed between the mob and Marius. She looked back at the man, and Nurse Redheart, before looking at Luna. “Sister, please handle them while I see to Prince Corvain.”

“Prince!?” The mob yelled, Blueblood going pale at the title he just heard, while Luna gave a nod. “Of course, dear sister.” Her attention went to the mob, while Celestia walked over to the two. “Every last one of you should be ashamed! Attacking Prince Corvain, when all he has done is protect you ungrateful ponies!” Her disapproving glare was on the cowering ponies. “The incident at the stadium was a mercy and a kindness to your friends, family, and loved ones… A resort that none of us came to lightly, and only used it because there was no other option open to us!” When she noticed Blueblood trying to slink away, she raised her voice. “Not so fast, Blueblood! Guards, take him to the castle! Our Sister, Twilight, and I; will deal with him later!”

The Royal Pegasi Guards walked up to the prince, picking him up off the ground. “B-But Auntie Luna… I… No, wait, please!” They started to fly away, the prince calling for their forgiveness.

During this, Celestia had walked over to the two. Her frown deepened, when she noticed all the bruising on Marius’ face and the gash on Nurse Redheart’s forehead. Silently, she sat down next to them. “I am so sorry, to the both of you.” Gently, and shockingly, Celestia had the two of them leaned against her, and embraced by the eldest princess. “If only I had gotten here sooner.” She gave them both a motherly feeling, which was increased further when she started to stroke the back of their heads.