Sun Rise: A new dawn

“Alright, let’s try this again,” said the blue pegasus as she cracked her neck and loosened her shoulders. It’s going to work this time, she thought to herself. I’ve just got to remain firm, awesome, confident, cool, strong and above all awesome. “You ready, goofball?”

The stallion gulped feeling a little nervous, but was fired up with great determination. “Hai. Dozo (Go ahead).”

She closed her eyes and took a long deep breath, holding it in for a moment before letting the air escape slowly through her lips. She slowly raised head until her eyes meet his. Her attention focused solely on the stallion before her as though they were alone. Despite the intensity in her eyes and the fear creeping in his, the stallion remained calm.

“I’ll say it again! Are you ready?”

“Hai,” he repeated.

“You better be,” warned Rainbow Dash as she steadied herself. Clearing her throat, she said in a deep, stern voice, “Rainbow Dash. My name is Rainbow Dash.”

“Hai, Rainbow Dashsu.”

“No, not Dashsu. Just Dash. Rainbow Dash.”

“Rainbow Dashsu.”

“Dash.”

“Dashsu.”

“DasH. DASH. DA-SSSHH.”

“Dashsu.”

“No, no, no. Dash. Rainbow Dash! My name is Rainbow Dash.”

“Dash~su.”

“ARRRGHHH!” she screamed.

“G-G-G-Gomenasai (I’m sorry), Rainbow Dashsu.”

“IT’S RAINBOW DASH!”

“Oh for Pete Sake, Rainbow,” groaned Applejack. “Will you give it a rest, already.”

“Why the poor thing is absolutely terrified,” commented Rarity. “Has he not been subjugated enough?”

“He is trying really hard,” said Fluttershy in a sympathetic tone. “I too ummm think that you should give it a rest.”

“Yeah, Dashie, this is getting boring,” said Pinkie Pie.

“That’s easy for all of you to say,” growled Rainbow Dash at the shivering stallion before turning to face her friends. “Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie. Rarity. He can say all of your names without any problems!”

“That’s not true,” retorted Pinkie Pie. “He hasn’t tried saying Applejack’s name yet.”

Applejack’s ears stood at attention. This didn’t sound good.

“My gosh, Pinkie, you’re right,” exclaimed Rarity, “how thoughtless of us. Applejack, dear, isn’t it time you introduced yourself to our young stallion friend too?”

Applejack glanced at the clock on the wall, and decided it was time to make her exit. “Whoo-wee would you look at the time,” exclaimed Applejack. “I was meant to help Apple Bloom out with some chores hours ago. Hope she and Granny don’t get too upset. Sorry all but I really need to get.”

An evil smile formed on Rainbow Dash’s face as she noticed Applejack’s hesitation. Applejack wasn’t exactly known for her calm temperament, and watching her own attempts to make the stallion pronounce her name correctly would have made the earth pony wary. Rainbow Dash couldn’t let this opportunity slide.

“Oh but my dear, Applejack,” she began in a mock southern accent, “you don’t want to be rude to our new friend now do you? Why, I thought Granny Smith taught you better manners than that.”

Applejack’s ear twitched. “Rainbow, what exactly are you on about?”

“Well, he has learnt all our names now, hasn’t he? Isn’t it only polite to introduce yourself too?” goaded Rainbow Dash. “Or are you afraid he’ll get your name wrong too?”

“Me. Afraid? Why I never,” huffed Applejack. “Of all the -”

“I believe Rainbow Dash is right,” interjected Rarity. “It would be impolite and improper not to introduce yourself especially after we all have.”

“Impolite!?”

“Come on, Applejack, don’t be a party pooper,” said Pinkie Pie. “It’s just your name.”

“But I-”

“I’m sure he’ll get it right,” added Fluttershy encouragingly. “You just need to give him a chance. Please, will you let him try?”

The pressure mounted as her friends gathered around, and forced the poor mare into a figurative corner. Their various glances and stares bore into her resolve, as her stubbornness began to fold. “Well, of course I was going to tell him my name,” she shouted defiantly. “I just thought that it would have been better to wait for Twilight. That’s all.”

“Pfft, yeah right,” smirked Rainbow Dash.

Ignoring Rainbow’s remark, Applejack stamped over to the bewildered stallion. Two two looked at each other awkwardly; one wondering what the heck was going on whilst the other wondered how she got herself roped up in this farce.

“May as well get this over with them,” muttered Applejack. She then cleared her throat, pulled down her stetson hat and gave her most polite courtesy. “Howdy there, I’m Applejack.”

Caught off guard, the stallion suddenly understood what this mare wanted. He quickly stood to attention and sputtered, “Appuruu-jacku”, earning a giggle from all the girls.

Applejack ignored them and focused her attentions back to the stallion once more. “Let’s try that again, Sugarcube. Applejack. App-le. Jack.”

He returned her gaze, this time ready and with greater confidence. “Appel-jacku.”

“One more time.”

“Appel-jacku.”

Rainbow Dash smirked as the country earth pony was visibly beginning to lose her patience. Not wanting to let Dash win however, Applejack sighed and politely smiled. “That’s good enough, Sugarcube.”

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped as the stallion’s lips pulled into a triumphant smile. “Oh come on, that wasn’t even close!” she contested.

“He tried his hardest, and that’s all that really matters,” said Applejack dismissively, much to Rainbow Dash’s dismay.

“That’s not the point!”

“Rainbow, if I said it’s good enough, then it’s good enough,” rebuked Applejack.

“But-

“Rainbow Dash! That is enough,” chastised Fluttershy, shaking Rainbow Dash’s resolve.

Rainbow searched between her group of friends for support, but they all shared the same disapproving stare. Rainbow Dash had lost. Applejack had won.

“Pfft, whatever!” sulked Rainbow Dash.

“Arigatou, Appeljacku,” said the stallion gratefully.

“Don’t mention it, Sugarcube,” winked Applejack.

Knock, knock

“The door is open,” Rarity called out, “Oh hello, Nurse Snowheart.”

“Hello everypony,” said Nurse Snowheart as she stepped into the room.

“What can we do for you?” asked Applejack with a welcoming smile.

“I’m just making the rounds. I also wanted to thank you all personally. You have all been an amazing help with our stallion friend over there,” she said before giving attention to one particular mare, “especially, Rainbow Dash.”

Alone and sulking in the corner, Rainbow Dash sat having paid no attention to the nurse or the calls to her name. “Busted my wing. Saved his life. And he can’t even say my name right,” she grumbled to herself out loud. “I mean how hard is it to say Dash?”

Usually Rainbow Dash would relish at the mention of her name, particularly when held in such high praise, which got Applejack wondering. “Rainbow? Really?” she asked in a whisper. “The mare who is about as sour as curdled milk?”

“Yes,” replied Nurse Snowheart who looked as though she was about to share some forbidden, dark secret. “Who else would I be talking about?”

“I’m sorry dear,” asked Rarity who was equally curious, “would you please care to elaborate?”

“Well nothing that significant really,” Nurse Snowheart answered. “She comes to visit when he’s alone eating. She even comes when she’s not meant to, you know, outside visiting hours or during a doctor’s examination. Actually it’s been annoying Nurse Redheart to no end, but the doctors don’t seem to mind. They think he could use the company.”

“Really?” smirked Applejack as she and Rarity slowly turned to glance at Rainbow Dash.

Noticing the extra attention, but still feeling quite salty, Rainbow Dash returns their curious glances with a venomous stare. “What are you looking at?” she snapped.

“Oh nothing,” said Rarity dismissively.

“Nurse Snowheart!”

“Uh yes! Nurse Redheart!” answered the startled mare.

“Why have these ponies left yet?” Nurse Redheart said with a disapproving stare. “Visiting hours finished half an hour ago.”

“Oh, it just-”

“The patients need their rest, and they need to go home,” interrupted Nurse Redheart in a firm undertone. “They can come back tomorrow.”

“Yes ma’am,” said Nurse Snowheart dejectedly, having conceded defeat. “Alright everypony, you heard Nurse Redheart.”

“But we can’t leave yet!” protested Pinkie Pie. “Twilight said she would be coming back.”

“That was over three hours ago,” snapped Rainbow Dash, who rejoined her friends.

“Yes, it’s getting mighty, awfully late, Pinkie,” said Applejack as she looked out the window.

“But-

“Yes, whilst I do believe Twilight would earnestly try to keep her word, it is truly evident that we have outstayed your welcome,” asserted Rarity.

“But-

“We don’t want to get Nurse Snowheart into any more trouble now, do we?” asked Rarity, ending Pinkie Pie’s protests. “Thank you, Nurse Snowheart and Nurse Redheart.”

Nurse Snowheart nodded and smiled gratefully. As two nurses were about to leave, Nurse Redheart quickly added, “And that means you too, Rainbow Dash.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there in like two seconds flat!”

“Not with that busted wing you won’t,” Nurse Redheart warned as she closed the door behind her.

Rainbow Dash poked her tongue out in protest. “It’d still take me two and a half seconds,” she muttered indignantly.

“You know,” began Fluttershy, “it might be a good idea to try to teach him other words or phrases.”

“Hey, that sounds like a great idea,” replied Applejack.

“Yeah! We can teach him words like party. Oh! Oh! Or how about chocolate, or cake or better yet chocolate cake with ice cream and cherries on top,” sang Pinkie Pie, who was becoming quite excited at the prospect.

“Really, Pinkie Pie, we should teach him sensible things,” said Rarity. “For example: ‘My fair maiden, your evening gown is looking absolutely divine’, ‘the seams on my trousers need to be cross-stitched’ and ‘pardon me good sir but where is the nearest spa?’.”

“Rarity is your scarf on too tight?” asked Applejack, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Rarity was about to rebuke Applejack’s comments, when suddenly a loud commotion outside just the door diverted her attention. “What in Equestria is going on out there?” wondered Rarity.

“I JUST NEED FIVE MINUTES,” screamed Twilight as she burst into the room, startling everypony in the room.

“Twilight,” they shouted.

“Twilight-san!” greeted the stallion.

“Princess Twilight,” huffed Nurse Redheart. She stamped into the room, snarling at the royal intruder. Her mane and uniform dishevelled from her earlier attempts to prevent Twilight from coming in. “Princess Twilight, this is most-

“I’m sorry, Nurse Redheart, but please we need just another 5 minutes. 10 minutes tops,” she begged.

“No,” said Nurse Redheart as she straightened her uniform. “It’ll have to wait until tomorrow”

“You don’t understand, I have a spell,” she said with a mixture of desperation and excitement.

“It’ll have to wait,” Nurse Redheart said stubbornly. “The patients need their rest, and they need to go home.”

“If you would just listen.”

“No.”

“What is going on?” demanded Doctor Horse, wondering what was causing such ruckus.

“Doctor, Princess Twilight-

“Has just found a spell that could finally allow us to communicate with the stallion,” interrupted a tall white alicorn. She stood proud and firm defending her former pupil and surprising everypony.

“Princess Celestia!” the room shouted.

“Uwa,” uttered the stallion in astonishment as he gazed at the stunningly beautiful, regal horse before him. She dwarfed the other by comparison, and her hair sparkled and waved as though defying gravity. Her coat outshone the whitest pearl and her radiance matched only by the intensity of the sun.

“Why are you here?” asked Twilight, as she looked perplexed at her former mentor.

“I got Spike’s message,” she whispered into Twilight’s ear, before giving a quick wink to the smiling dragon. “I came as quickly as I could.”

Princess Celestia then gazed at the hospital staff who were stunned by her presence.

“Nurse Redheart,” said Princess Celestia sternly.

“Yes,” stammered Nurse Redheart.

After gaining her attention (and every other pony in the room), Princess Celestia’s facial expression softens, revealing a gentler side.

“Nurse Redheart,” she repeated, a warm smile replaced the stern gaze, and her tone of voice changed to match. “I understand the care you have for your patients and I commend that you act only with their best interests at heart. But the circumstances relating to this young stallion are most peculiar and I’m afraid we are all in desperate search of answers.”

“Ah huh,” agreed the stupefied mare.

“I could command you to give Twilight and her friends time to cast the spell against your wishes or to remove this stallion from your care, but that would not be within his best interest. So instead I ask for your permission.”

“Huh?” she responded, her vocal chords raised by several bars.

“I ask you, ever so kindly, that you would allow this transgression to pass just this once?” she said before bowing her head to the nurse. “I would forever be in your debt.”

Her actions caused the mare to blush. “Princess, there really isn't a need to-

Following her mentor’s lead, Twilight bowed. “And so would I.”

“Me too,” said Spike.

“Oh don’t forget about me,” said Pinkie Pie.

“It’d be mighty helpful if you did,” said Applejack as she lowered her hat.

“We would certainly be most ever so grateful,” added Rarity.

“And me,” smiled Fluttershy.

“And me too,” bowed Rainbow Dash though reluctantly. She stole a quick glance at the stallion who, like the others, bowed before the bewildered nurse looking slightly bewildered himself. “I guess,” she muttered underneath her breath.

The hospital staff stood in a stupor as nearly everypony in the room was now bowing to Nurse Redheart whose face burned a bright red. Never had the mare garnished such attention, and from royalty to boot. When the pressure became too much for her, she sighed defeatedly. “I guess we can make this one exception,” she grumbled.

“And what say you, Doctor?” asked Celestia with one eye laid upon him as though challenging his authority.

“Fine by me. We all know Nurse Redheart runs this place,” he joked.

“Indeed,” giggled Princess Celestia as she raised her head and looked kindly at the nurse. “Nurse Redheart is a very kind pony.”

“I better make my rounds,” said Nurse Redheart as she stumbled into the hallway. It was more than her heart could bear. “Come on, everypony let’s get back to work.”

“Thank you,” smiled Princess Celestia as the rest of the hospital staff made their leave.

“Whoo-wee! What a night,” stated Applejack.

“Indeed it has been, Applejack,” smiled Princess Celestia.

“I can’t believe that worked!” said Pinkie Pie. “You moved the unmovable Nurse Redheart. She wouldn’t even let me give Dashie a blueberry and banana chocolate cream pie yesterday.”

“Ah, yeah. No she wouldn’t,” chuckled Rainbow Dash nervously.

“I’ll have to remember to use that technique next time,” noted Pinkie Pie.

“It only worked, because we were all being sincere. Nurse Redheart’s intentions may not always be well understood by everypony, but she does care very much about everypony’s well being. Much like a certain other pony I know,” Princess Celestia added, winking at a certain mare.

“Now on that note,” Princess Celestia smiled before speaking in a slight accusatory tone. “Twilight, isn’t there somepony else that you have brought here this evening?”

“Huh? Who?” she uttered as she stared back at Princess Celestia with utter bewilderment. She paused for several seconds until she suddenly realised who the Princess was referring to. “Spike! Where’s Sunset!?!”