Flatlining
"Spike? Are you in here?" Nurse Redheart called for him eager to find the purple and green dragon.
It had been a month since Spike started working at PonyVille hospital, he was getting tired of the whole library scene and Twilight didn't really need his assistance anymore now that she was a princess. He had also found that Rarity was not interested him in the romantic sense and wished for them to be just 'friends'. He had taken it pretty hard at first, but he couldn't hold Rarity responsible for why. He was too young for her, one. Two they had barely shared any of the same interests apart from gems, but eating them and using them were entirely different things. But in the end, their friendship had grown stronger and they always went to each when they needed a shoulder to cry on, or gain advice.
The more difficult part in Spike gaining the job at the hospital, was Twilight not wanting to let him go. Keeping him around for frivolous and repetitive tasks. At first he had sympathy and continued to work for Twilight, but that sympathy turned to irritation having reshelved the entire library 4 times a week. Eventually he had enough and quit working for Twilight.
It started of as him doing odd jobs around PonyVille but even those started to dwindle down to almost nothing.
It was then the young dragon had found a application for an assistant in the hospital. Starting our small love story today
As Nurse Redheart entered the break room she couldn't help but reminisce all the moments they shared. The lame jokes he had always used. His ego always swelling with pride when he shared good things...about himself. But, to her disappointment he wasn't in there. Sorrow invaded her normally chipper mood...again. He was disappearing more and more showing his face at the hospital less and less. She was starting to think that he had found a better job, perhaps one that paid better?
No, he would've told me if something happened, Right? Redheart thought solemnly.
Despite being a certified nurse, her heart was swelling and would beat faster every time she was near him, and she couldn't make sense of any of it!, but after a week the symptoms painted a clearer picture. Light headedness, illusions, burning cheeks, muzzle, and ears, and lastly stammering incoherent sentences whenever he was talking to her. Diagnosis? Love. And boy was she deep into it. Though she won't admit it, (Not if I can help it.) it seemed to unprofessional with them being co-workers.
I mean we are friends. I can even consider him one of my closest friends if that. I can't believe I used to just work all day and not...socialize. With anyone at that! and it was true she didn't have many friends due to her work taking up most of her time. She would work from the wee hours of the mourning till the dark hours of Luna's embrace.
Now though, with Spike here, it makes me want to come to work to know that he can brighten up my day with a simple yet dopey smile. giggles contently Well, used too.
*sigh* "Where are you Spike?" Redheart mumbles to herself.
The sound of hoovesteps clopping behind makes her ears twitch in alertness.
"Nurse!" A stallion yells approaching her. "Twilight Sparkle, has arrived with...uh...patient. And you are needed in the E.R. Immediately!
"Well, don't just stand there lets get a move on, shall we?" Redheart asks galloping down the hall towards the E.R. "So, who is this patient? I need a diagnosis."
The stallion stops and looks his head down avoiding her gaze.
"Why did you stop? I need to know the patients name!" Redheart yelled a little impatient.
The stallion mumbles incoherently
"What?"
"Spike" the stallion whispers.
"W-who?" Redheart asks unsure if she heard him right, Please n-not him, not now.
Her hopes were crushed as the stallion whispered that one name. "Spike."
She ran
Ran faster
Ran so fast that her speed would impress Rainbow Dash.
Tears had already started welling up in her eyes. The memory of how her crush on Spike started played through her mind.
Flashback
"Ugh, what I wouldn't give to be a unicorn right now." Redheart says to herself.
"But you don't need to be a unicorn. You're perfect the way you are, besides that's why I'm here!"
"Thanks, Spike, but flattery won't get you anywhere in he medical business." Redheart stated
"A guy can dream, right?" Spike asks a little to enthusiastic for her taste.
ALARM, ALARM, ALARM
Sirens blazed throughout the hospital.
"Redheart what's going on?!" Spike asked worry etched on his face.
"I fires been started on level C of the hospital!" Redheart yelled.
"What level are we on?!" Spike asked worriedly.
"Level C..." Redheart says, before she snaps out and yells as loud as she can. "Everyone we need to evacuate all the patients first before the fire gets out of hand!"
The surrounding doctors and nurses nearby rush to spread the news and carry out her orders.
20 minutes later
The fire was at its climax and showed no signs of slowing down but thankfully the last of the patients had been evacuated, all that remained were a small purple drake and a white earth pony to make sure that everyone got out. But before they could take the first step towards the exit the fire cut off their escape.
A tear escaped Redheart's eye as she silently began to cry. "This is it, I guess...I just never thought it be so soon. I want to thank you Spike, for everything you've done."
No response.
The dragons mind thinking of an escape plan rather than accepting defeat. I can make it through the fire, but she can't..... gasp I got!
Redheart looked up at the sound of the gasp and saw Spike with a smile. She let out a "Eep" as he picked her up.
"S-spike? W-wha-t are you doing?" Redheart asks
"Getting You out of here." Spike replies rather simply.
With that he carried bridal style out of the building and away from the fire.
"Thank you." Was all she managed to say before she passed, the adrenaline no longer pumping her blood to keep her going.
She slept with pleasant and rather...suggestive dreams about a certain purple and green drake.
The doors to the emergency room burst open as doctors, guards, and ALL 4 princesses whom were surrounding a ill looking drake turned to see the disruption.
"Nurse Redheart?" Twilight asks unsure if she had the correct pony.
"Where. Is. He" Redheart asked defensively a low growl emitting while saying so.
Twilight took an instinctive step back while Celestia too a step forward.
"Do not worry...Redheart?" Celestia asks receiving a small nod for confirmation from her. "Spike is fine as of now but he is in critical condition and I don't think you'd want to see what has happened to him in his current state." Celestia tried to keep up a stoic face but even if she was a master at showing nothing but neutrality tears we're rolling down her face as she said this.
"I. Want. To see him Now!" Redheart yelled
Ponies around the room all gasped that she just yelled at their benevolent princess, ruler of the Bucking SUN, diarch of Equestria. Surely she would be...smiling? The princess of the sun and Equestria was smiling that she got yelled at.
"Then by all means," Celestia said softly "go to him." She stepped aside.
Love truly does conquer all. Celestia thought as she stepped aside for Redheart to see Spike.
Redheart gasped at how Spike looked.
Spike had multiple stab wounds in the chest and stomach are along with numerous bruises, a black eye, a mouthful of blood, and an arm that shouldn't be bent the way it should.
Tears now flowed freely from her as she choked out one response. "W-who d-did...this?"
All princess's in the room frowned at the thought of whom caused but each princess had a different reason.
Celestia frowned in disappointment because she wanted Spike to be safe and a pony, did...this under her rule. She would've gone as far as saying Spike was her...her...son, and she failed him.
Luna frowned in anger as one of her first few friends were harmed and under her beautiful night no less. She would have that stallion hang from the gallows for what he did.
Cadence frowned in sadness as she had wanted to tell something to Spike but being the ruler of an empire made it hard for her to have some quality time with Spike.
Twilight frown was one that could make a ponies heartbreak at the sight. She blamed herself entirely having been his guardian. He was like a little brother to her and one of her oldest friends.
Cadence was about to step forward but was stopped by the doors of the E.R. Bursting open...again standing there was the rest of the main six and Spikes best friends Big Mac, Derpy Whooves, Donut Joe, and Soarin the Wonderbolt.
Each all cried in unison as they looked upon Spike's figure.
"SPIKE!!!"
Author's Note
I just wanted to shout out that his story is dedicated to FamousLastWords, with his story Heart Invasion 101 the first story I ever read on fimfiction.
As the rest of the mane six surround Spike tears well in their eyes at the sight of him. Fluttershy fainted due to the pool of blood gathered on the floor. AppleJack tipped her hat to hide the vast amount of tears crawling down her face but it was a fight she was losing. Pinkies mane and tail instantly deflated, her lip quivering, as she looked upon the little dragons form. Rainbow looked away to hide the tears but couldn't stop the choked sobs from echoing out through the room. And then there was Rarity, having become better friends with Spike since his crush disbanded, they were always on good terms. Keyword "We're" reality hit her like the friendship Express as she realized she could lose her Spikey-Wikey forever. She collapsed right there and started stroking Spikes spines whispering encouraging words to herself all the while letting the tears flow. A truly heartbreaking scene to behold.
Doctor Stable came in and asked to borrow Twilight.
Muffled shouts were heard outside the door and it put everypony on edge.
Nurse Redheart stepped closer hearing the rest of the conversation.
"What do you mean there's Nothing you can do! He may be a dragon but we have the best healing techniques in the world, and magic! Twilight yelled
Doctor Stable winced and replied "We don't know if the magic will react negatively to him we'll be taking a big risk to furthering the damage more than improving it." he sighed and finished "If he doesn't start improving in the next couple weeks I...I think it means his time his up."
"What do you mean his ti-" realization hit Twilight that if he doesn't improve they would have to pull the plug.
Redheart couldn't take it anymore. Spike her Spike could be dying and all they could do was watch.
Is he slowly backed up not believing that this was true. Something bumped into her back hoof, she looked behind her, and there was Spike breathing ever so slowly. His body disfigured by someone unknown as of yet, and she was losing him.
I'm never going to get to tell him that...that I L-love him.
She broke down there and cried, cried until she could cry no more, her coat streaked with tears and eyes bloodshot. Doctor Stable had given her the day off to mourn. What was she going to do? She slowly trudged back contemplating on what to do.
_____________________________________________________________________
Spikes other friends (No I didn't forget them) watched the slow irregular breaths the drake was taking in silence mouth agape at the sight of him.
Surprisingly Big Mac was the first to speak up out of all of them.
"Who did this?" Anger clear in his voice, but sadness in his eyes. It was the second time that question was asked. All heads turned to the four princesses in the middle of the room.
Cadence took a step forward again, "the stallion that did...this, is named Buckshot Smiles. A notorious unicorn with a deep hatred for anyone or thing that is not a pony, his first attack was in Applalousa against a lone buffalo almost killing him in the process. Unfortunately we don't know what he looks like, his victims usually don't wake up..."
That did for a few more ponies as gasps and more choked sobs echoed from the room.
Soarin and Joe grit their teeth in anger that the bastard who did this is still out there.
Derpy however remained silent as the others talked. She knew she wouldn't be much help in the search against the pony who did this, she was only a mail pony what cou-
An idea popped and she bolted out of the room. If I can't help Spike at least I can spread the word. knowing the fastest mail route in PonyVille and Cloudsdale would certainly help...
Or will it?
