Tale of the Everfree Curse

Desert Rose laid in her hospital bed staring out the window. Her view overlooked the outskirts of Ponyville which wasn’t much to look at when it's the only thing you can look at for four days. Off in the distance she could see the top of town hall and if she really tired she could see a portion of Sugar Cube Corners roof. At this point she had all but drowned out the beeping of the machines around to where she no longer paid any attention to them. She kept her self busy by counting the clouds, and how many pegasi she saw flying by. This wasn’t her first time cooped up in a hospital and it probably wouldn’t be the last. She had learned how to pass time with nothing to do but lay in bed. Normally she had a book with her, but she had been unprepared this time.

Desert Rose scoffed at that thought, how sad it must be that she has a hospital ready bag. How many times as she ended up in one of these places that she had put together as ‘bug out’ bag for when the trip would come up. Yes, she deals in a line of work where one would get hurt eventually, no matter how much you tried to be safe. But hey shit just happens while in construction. Desert Rose rolled over onto her side slowly, and slightly painfully. Was she truly happy with her life? This was a thought that came up a lot when she had nothing to do but think.

Every now and then she would listen in on a nearby conversation. Not that she was trying to be nosy, but it was entertainment and another thing that passed the time which didn’t require much effort on her end. It also distracted her mind from her own thoughts she didn’t wish to think about. The light coming in through the window started to shine right in her eyes, it was that time of day that you couldn’t escape the onslaught of light of the sun no matter how hard one tried to do so. The sun was starting to go down on the horizon and Luna’s moon was creeping up on the opposite side of the town to signal the start of night. She reached out and pulled the curtain down before she rolled back over on her back, it was the only position her thigh didn’t throb and shoot sharp pink pricks up her side.

Normally night was Desert Rose’s favorite time of the day. She would find a field out of town and just stare up at the sky Princess Luna herself had painted with the stars. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned her gaze back to the bare ceiling above before she closed her eyes and let her mind wonder. She wasn’t trying to think of anything in particular, but it fascinated her just where her train of thought would wonder to if she let it be, most of the time. The thought came back to her mind, and she frowned. She didn’t want to face reality at the moment. She didn’t want to think about how lonely she really was. The yearning to have a pony in her life she could come home to at the end of the day was always on her mind whether she wanted to admit it or not. It was there, and it taunted her. But she didn’t have time for that commitment, especially now. Right? Although she didn’t get very far down that rabbit hole as the sound of hoof steps coming into her room pull her focus from within her thoughts.

She didn’t bother with opening her eye’s as it was just probably one of the nurse’s checking in on her. She didn’t want to be bothered with small talk either. It was pointless, boring and in fact annoying to her. If one was going to talk to her, at least could it be a meaningful conversation that stimulated the mind. Desert Rose pushed this prudish thought to the back of her mind as she felt the sheets being lifted up and exposing her thigh that had been slashed open. Her thoughts shifted to her injury. She had gotten lucky, somehow, and it had not gotten infected. Nor did any major damage happen to the muscles. Her skin didn’t fair too well, but that didn’t really bother her, as long as she could still have full mobility of her leg she’d be happy. Something still bothered her about it though. Was she being reckless? She dealt with it before though. Desert Rose shook her head, no, she was sure of it. All the signs pointed to it. But did she have to be so careless. It wouldn’t help anypony if she got herself killed in the process.

What was she even doing here? The rumors maybe true, but she could very well be wasting her time as well. There is nothing for her here, but yet here she is. It even put her in the hospital. No matter what town, or city she goes to investigate a lead, she always ends up hurt. Maybe she was wasting her time. Maybe once she gets better she should just head home. It was always changing.

“You know, I’m more surprised by you everyday Miss Rose.” Desert Rose knew that lovely voice, it belonged to Nurse Redheart. But joy was soon pushed aside by annoyance. More for the title then anything else.

“Why is that Miss Redheart? And I thought I told you to stop calling me that. I am no foal’s mother. ” Desert Rose kept her eyes closed as she talked with the nurse.

“Well it’s only been four days and your wound is looking lovely, at this rate we might able to take the stitches out in a few more days. Which normally take at least a few weeks, at least for this size of a wound.” Nurse Redheart ran a hoof over the stitches lightly to feel for any signs of inflammation. Desert Rose let out a soft coo. Partly because the area was still sore, but at the same time a shiver went up her spin as a tingling sensation took over her nerves. “Besides, with how thick your fur grows, I doubt this scar will be very noticeable to those who don’t know about it. But knowing how you are, you don’t really give a damn do you, Miss Rose.”

Desert Rose shot open her eyes and glared down the nurse. Nurse Redheart was the one pony she didn’t mind having meaningless small talk with, and this annoyed Desert Rose more than actual small talk, well bugged her is more like it. The nurse had a smirk on her face and seemed to not care about the look she was getting. She went about her examination without giving the look Desert had been giving her any other thought.

“That’s not very professional of you. I mean you are not wrong, I wouldn’t give a timberwolf’s ass what ponies would think. I’m not trying impress anyone with my looks. Not that ponies give me a second look anyway. I have more important things to worry about.” Desert Rose gave out a sigh as she tried to get comfortable. Her brow furrowed as she chastised herself mentally. She wasn’t lying, completely, she really did feel that way. But a part of her deep down also wanted to be looked upon with wondering eyes. But she settled at a young age that she had more import things to worry about. More important than what others thought of her appearance.

Right?

“Pssh, stop it. I’m sure you turn the stallons heads when you are out and about. You are not a bad looking mare. I mean seriously I wish I had your muscle tone, so firm, yet soft on the eyes.” Nurse Redheart pulled out her clipboard while turning to face the medical equipment that was standing next to Desert Roses bed and started to record down what the medical equipment was reading at the moment.

“Well the stallions can look all they want, they aren’t going to get anywhere with me.” Desert Rose turned her head and tried to sneak a peek at Nurse Redheart’s flank, which was very well toned for a nurse.

“You know what the best part of having ponies hooked up to heart monitors is Desert Rose?” Nurse Redheart paused for a moment. A devilish smile came across her face, unbeknownst to Desert Rose.

“What’s that?” Desert Rose flicked her eyes up for a moment to see if she had be caught gawking at the nurse.

“I can always tell when they try to sneak a peak.” Nurse Redheart chuckled to herself before turning around. “It's even funnier when I have the occasional colt in this wing. Poor things, I feel bad at times. Really, I do.” She sat down in the chair next to Desert Rose’s bed and set her clipboard down. She glanced up at the clock that was hanging up on the wall before returning her focus back towards Desert Rose. “I had this one colt, who had broken one of his rear legs trying to climb a tree to impress his friends. Well anyways, every time I walked into his room his heart rate would jump up by ten beats per minute. About three days after her was emitted, the alarm went off for an irregular high heart rate one night. So all the nurses on staff, including me, all rushed to his room. The look on that poor colts face when five females bursted into his room while he was, uh, taking care of business, was funny and heart breaking at the same time.”

Desert Rose caught herself chuckling at the story, she felt bad to laugh at an embarrassing moment in that colt's life, but it was a funny story. “The dumbass didn’t notice the beeping?”

“Haha, no. He wasn’t too bright. He did break his leg climbing a tree after all.” Nurse Redheart paused a moment letting her chuckling die down as Desert Rose opened her mouth. But Nurse Redheart figured what she was about to say and decided to cut her off before she could form any words. “I figured you could use the laugh. And a pony to talk too. You are either staring out that window, or laying there with your eyes closed. And besides, having a friend with you helps ease the pain more than any painkiller.” Nurse Redheart gave a warm smile to Desert Rose before leaning back into the chair removing her nurse's cap and letting out a sigh.

“Not that I don’t appreciate the thought, but you don’t need to waste your break on me.” Desert Rose could feel her cheeks start to burn as she thought about Nurse Redheart deciding on spending time with her on her break.

“Who says I’m wasting my time? I can’t get to know my patients? Besides, a girl’s gotta have fun sometimes, right?” Nurse Redheart had a twinkle in her eye as she raised an eyebrow at Desert Rose before getting up and walking towards the door. “I’ll be right back, do you want anything to snack on while I’m at the cafeteria?”

Desert Rose looked at Nurse Redheart dumbfounded. “Uhhh.” She felt flustered and couldn’t get a coherent thought out.

Nurse Redheart chuckled before answering. “I don’t know if they carry that, but I’ll check.” She retired from the room before Desert Rose could reply. Desert Rose looked over to the chair where Nurse Redheart had just been sitting, her chart and nurses cap still resting on the side table.

Desert Rose laid there in confusion. Did she really hear Redheart correctly? No she couldn’t have, Nurse Redheart is just being friendly and trying to make her comfortable, nothing more. It is her job after all. Still Desert Rose couldn’t help but feel her cheeks were on fire after that comment. She let her mind start to wonder once more now that she was alone again. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. A memory from her foal hood came to mind, one she hadn’t thought about in a long time. She thought it was normal to like another filly. Nopony else seemed to have a problem with it. Come to think of it, she never noticed two fillys being together. She told her mom about it and noticed the how odd she reacted. She was very supportive, but she didn’t even seem surprised. She just chuckled and pulled her in for a tighter hug. Then everything shifted and Nurse Redheart came to the focal point of her thoughts. The annoying beeping from the Heart monitor came back to her ears. Her eyes shot open in annoyance once more as she turned her head and scowled at the machine.

“Oh fuck off asshole. Damn traitor.”

Desert Rose winced as Nurse Redheart slowly pulled out one of the many stitches that littered her body. Some sets stopped after two or three sets but others kept going in haphazard lines. She felt like a living pincushion as the stitches pulled on her delicate flesh. Nurse Redheart looked up at Desert Rose.

"Oh stop it. I know for a fact that this is mildly uncomfortable at worse, let alone pain inducing as you are trying to convince me of." Nurse Redheart tried her best to be a gentle as she could, but there was only so much she could do. Besides, she felt mischievous. She came to Desert Rose’s flank and paused for a moment, she looked up and made eye contact with her.

“This is my favorite part of the job.” Nurse Redheart kept focus as she pulled more stitches out.

Desert Rose gave Nurse Redheart a blank look. “Why? Is it because they finally leave?”

“No, well in some cases yes, but because I get to fix up cute lil bottoms like yours.” Nurse Redheart chuckled to herself as she pulled out the stitches with speed and precision matched only by a royal seamstress on the eve of a crystalline. Sometimes Desert Rose would feel the tugging and pulling of her skin. She felt uneasy about her skin moving in places it didn’t before. It didn’t hurt but sure felt unnatural. Like a sleeve moving against your skin, except this sleeve is your skin and under that is your muscle. Desert Rose was amazed how Nurse Redheart could work so flawlessly without disturbing the sensitive tissues underneath.

Nurse Redheart pulled the last of the stitches out and discarded them. She looked over her work once more to make sure nothing seemed out of place. She turned to face Desert Rose before reciting a phrase she must of said at least a thousand times before. “Now, it is quite common for there to be some strange sensations in the scar, including itching or twinges of pain. Generally speaking, these are not symptoms that you need to worry about too much, and you should expect them to go away gradually. We are going to keep you for just a few more days to make sure no complications arise. But you are pretty much in the clear.”

“Oooo, big fancy doctor words.” Desert Rose made a mocking face as she said that. Nurse Redheart leaned over and booped Desert Rose on the nose which froze her place.

“Those big fancy doctor words shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anyway get out of this room and go for a walk. I think it’ll do you good. Besides you need to work the muscles.” Nurse Redheart gave Desert Rose a warm smile that even appeared in her eyes. Those captivating ice blue eyes that demanded your attention and burn through your heart and soul without trying.

Desert Rose found herself floating in a long sea as she made eye contact with the nurse. Everything else seemed to faze out of existence. She was no longer in a Hospital, nor was she laying in a very uncomfortable hospital bed. She found herself swimming in the ever expanding sea of those Icy Blues. It took her a few moment before she had even realized that Nurse Redheart was talking to her.

“Desert! Hello? Can you hear me?” Nurse Redheart was waving a hoof in front of her face as she came back to reality.

“Huh, um yeah I can hear you.” Desert Rose turned her head trying to hid her embarrassment.

“Are you ok? You started to space out and then got this goofy grin on your face.”

“Um, yeah I’m fine. I was just-.” Desert Rose turned back to face Nurse Redheart. “You know, you have breathtaking beautiful eyes. Did you know that?” Desert Rose started to lean in closer to the nurse as she watched her fur turn bright red on her cheeks.

“Yes, I’ve been told on a few occasions.” Nurse Redheart turned her head to the side and brought her hoof up to brush a part of her mane aside that was not hanging down to hide her blushing. “I don’t see what’s so special about them though. I mean, they’re just eyes. You got the corneas, suspensory ligaments, iris, and...”

Desert Rose leaned in even more closer and took her hoof and turned Nurse Redheart’s face back to hers and stared into her eyes. “Do you ever shut up?.” She closed the gap and went for the kill as she locked lips with the nurse. She waited. Waited to see what the mare would do. Would she get slapped? Shoved back, or embraced? Her dad once told her, that sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. After the shock and surprise settled in on Nurse Redheart’s face she relaxed and joined Desert Rose. Returning the kiss in kind, even if hers was just a tad bit more hungry then Deserts.

Desert Rose pulled back and chuckled before looking over the flustered Nurse. “That was very unprofessional, Miss Redheart. Do you do this to all your patients?”

Nurse Redheart raised one of her brows as a smug look come over her face. “No, you are the first pony with the balls to pull that stunt.”

A confused and concerned look appeared on Deserts face. “Wait, WHAT! BALLS?” She frantically ripped off the covers, exposing herself and all of her glory to the nurse as she looked. “I was just supposed to have stitches, and a blood transplant. Not a sex change!”

“I can assure you sweetie, your pony bits are still there.” Nurse Redheart shook her head as she watched the silly mare snicker and then break into laughter.

“Gottcha.” Desert Rose chuckled to herself.

Nurse Redheart sighed and got up and started to make her way to the door. “The only thing I got was wet, a tease and Dinner Date now.” She walked out of the room without saying another word, leaving Desert Rose to stare at the empty door way dumbfounded. Desert Rose stumbled to get off the bed and made her way to the door shouting down the hall after the Nurse.

“Hey! W-wait. I think I got a fever or somethin. Can’t you take my temperature at least? How about a cervical exam? Can’t be too careful right?”

Nurse Redheart didn’t flinch nor stop walking. All she did was smirk and swish her tail before turning the corner.

Desert Rose stomped her hoof in agitation, wincing as she had forgotten about her freshly healed wound. “Fucking tease.” She muttered under breath as she turned and limped back into her room.