The Blessing: A Second Chance

The Blessing: A Second Chance Chapter 5: Company

Applejack paced back and forth in the waiting room in the Ponyville General Hospital.  They hadn’t been able to fetch a doctor.  It had taken both Rainbow and Applejack to get the being out of the metal… thing, and by the time they got him to the house, he had started to cough up blood.  Granny Smith had done her best to fix what she could, but most of his injuries were internal or underneath his armor.

The journey to the hospital hadn’t been any easier.  It took Rainbow, Applejack, and Big Mac to get the creature into one of the apple carts.  It wasn’t that he was heavy, but they didn’t want to bend him too much.  It was as the apple cart stopped in front of the hospital that Applejack saw the creature’s breathing stop.  And from there the hospital staff had gone into a frenzy.

It had been several hours since the trio of ponies had brought the creature to the hospital.  The staff had immediately taken him into one of the operating rooms, and they hadn’t really answered any of Applejack’s questions.  Big Mac and Rainbow Dash had left an hour ago, and Applejack had stayed behind in case there were any developments.  She was beginning to fear the worst when a unicorn dressed in bloody operating scrubs walked through the double doors.  He had a tired but pleased smile on his face.

“Miss Applejack?”  He asked as he came near.

“Yes?”

“I’m pleased to tell you that the operation was a success.  We were able to revive the creature and stabilize his major injuries.”

Applejack gave a sigh of relief.  She didn’t know this creature at all, but she didn’t want him to die either.  There was something about what she saw in his eyes that intrigued Applejack, and she wanted to find out what it was.

“So, can I go back and see him?  Will he be awake soon?” she asked hopefully.

The doctor shook his head.

“I’m sorry Miss Applejack, but the creature has gone into a coma.  I’m afraid he won’t be awake for several days.”

Applejack was uneasy with the word “coma”.  Sensing this, the doctor continued.

“Don’t worry, the coma appears to be from from the concussion that he sustained, but it's minor.  There shouldn’t be any major damage to his brain and, as I said before, he should be awake in a few days.”

The information seemed to have the desired effect, as Applejack seemed to cheer up a bit.

“If you want, you can go back and see him.  He won’t respond, but at least you can keep him company.”

Applejack nodded and the doctor led her through the double doors into the recovery ward.  Applejack peered into a few rooms as she walked by.  Most of the patients were reading or sleeping.  A few were talking to each other.  Apart from a few casts or bandages, many of the ponies looked fine.

When they reached the creatures room, Applejack almost gasped.

The creature was covered in bandages, one around his head and several large ones around his chest.  He had a cast on his left arm and one on his right leg.  Many of the patients that Applejack had seen on her way to this room had an IV in them, but none of them had had so many bags connected to it.

Applejack stalled in the doorway as she stared at this creature’s condition.  The doctor turned just as Applejack began to speak.

“What in the hay was wrong with him?”

The doctor’s horn glowed as he pulled up two chairs with his magic.  He gestured Applejack to take one of the seats as he took the other.  When they were both settled, he ran down the list of injuries.

“This creature is suffering from eight broken and three cracked ribs.  His left radius and ulna have been broken.  His right femur has been fractured.  And his right shoulder was dislocated.”

Applejack cringed as she thought of what that must have felt like.  She was about to ask a question about whether or not the creature was on pain medications when the doctor continued.

“Also, we had to repair a tear in his right femoral artery and his spleen has been removed.  The coughing up of blood that you mentioned to us was caused by a punctured lung, which we have patched.  Those injuries are where the major blood-loss came from.  I couldn’t give this creature any transfusions because it would have probably killed him due to the fact that we don't have any blood from his species.  So I had to do something a little risky, but not unwarranted given the situation.”

“What did you do?” Applejack asked.

“All unicorn doctors are taught a technique in med-school about how to replenish a creatures blood when there isn’t any suitable blood available.  During the operation, I placed my horn above the creature’s heart and began to replicate his blood inside it using additive magic.  I had to be careful so as not to increase his blood pressure to dangerous levels in the heart.  However, as you can see, the procedure was a success.”

Applejack looked at the creature on the bed again.  His breathing seemed to be more normal now.  It didn’t look like it was strained or as pained as the last time she saw him.

“How long until he’s back to normal, whatever that is?” asked AJ.

“I can’t be sure,” replied the doctor, “but if I was forced to guess, I’d say that his skeletal injuries will be healed in about eight to twelve weeks save for his ribs, those are going to take a while.  But as for the other injuries, I really have no clue.  I don’t have any idea whether or not He'll be able to heal quickly.  All I can do now is simply monitor his status and make sure he doesn't have any complications.”

Applejack simply nodded at this and looked about the room.  As she did this, her eyes settled upon a corner where the creature’s belongings were.  She shuddered as she saw his clothes and armor, both were splattered with blood.  His belt with its many pouches was also in this corner, as well as a pack, his helmet,  and the wood and metal stick that Applejack had seen before.

“All I have to do now is check a few things off on his medical chart, and then I have to go check up on my other patients.”

Applejack just nodded as she moved her seat to the creature’s bedside.

“Also, I’ve admitted this creature into the hospitals logs with the name that was on his armor, John Makins.”

A few minutes later, the doctor made his final scribbles on the clipboard and left the room.  Applejack and the creature were left in quiet.  After a few minutes of the awkward atmosphere, Applejack broke the silence.

“So…” she started, “Your name is John.  Nice ta meet ya, my names Applejack.”