How the Tables Turn

“Okay. I’ll need you to come back in three days so I can replace these bandages. Drink lots of fluid, get lots of rest, and don’t try to use that wing until I tell you to.”

Spitfire nodded after each point of advice, taking in every bit of advice Nurse Redheart had to offer.

“Do you feel like you’re ready to leave?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Nurse Redheart chuckled. “I’m a nurse, not your commanding officer.”

“I don’t have a commanding officer, unless you’re talking about in the Equestrian Air Force, not the Wonderbolts. But I call everypony sir or ma’am, whether they’re on the Wonderbolts, or Air Force troops, or even just some random mare I met on the sidewalk. And besides, you took care of me. You’ve earned my respect.”

Redheart smiled at this show of gratitude. “Well, anyway, you- wait a second. Equestria has an Air Force? I thought the Wonderbolts took care of that.”

“We do within the vicinity of Cloudsdale, but the Wonderbolts can’t exactly cover the entire nation. We’re just one team of flyers. Actually, technically, we’re a division of the Equestrian Air Force, but when I took command of it, I started letting in civilians. After all, why let a flyer’s talent go to waste just because they aren’t soldiers?”

“I don’t know. Doesn’t make much sense to me. Anyway, I need you to sign here, and you’ll be good to go.” Spitfire took hold of the clipboard Redheart had offered her, and when she found no quill in reach, Nurse Redheart took a glance around. “Oh, sorry, I’ll just-“

“No worries.” Spitfire extended her injured wing and plucked a feather from it, enticing a sympathetic wince from Nurse Redheart when she noticed the spot she pulled if from bleeding lightly. “Not like I’m using that wing soon anyway, huh?” She proceeded to sign the form using the blood that had remained on the feather. “Hmm. Kinda creepy, but you use what’s on hoof, right?”

“Yeah…” Redheart extended a hoof and began rubbing the back of her neck. “I guess, if that’s what you prefer.”

“Would you rather get ink and a quill?”

“…Yes, that seems more… sanitary.”

Spitfire chuckled. “Sorry.” She stepped aside for Nurse Redheart as she strode out of the room for a fresh copy of the release form, and returned with a quill and ink. Spitfire signed the second sheet, this time in black. When she finished, she took a moment to admire her hoofwriting, or mouthwriting if you want to get official. She had always liked her signature.

“Nice signature. Looks sharp. All the more reason for everypony to go about asking for your autograph, I guess.”

“Yeah. I wonder how the media’s taking this whole thing.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re having a field day with it. You getting injured doing Rainbow’s job? My guess is they’ll be saying that between the two of you, they don’t know who’s the better flyer.”

Spitfire continued the conversation as the two of them left and began to stroll down the halls. “Oh, I’m sure we both have our pros and cons. It’s one of the reasons I can’t wait for her to turn 18.”

Redheart blushed at this statement. “Umm… awkward…”

Spitfire looked confused. After a moment, she mirrored Redheart’s blush as the implications of what she just said sunk in. “No, not like that. It’s just… She’s got so much experience with flying, she’s been doing it all her life. I’m sure that when she’s old enough, the tryouts will be a breeze for her, and then she’ll be part of the team. Plus, the whole rainbow mane and tail, she’s just so… unique. I don’t think I want to teach her to make the storm cloud contrail, for two reasons. One, it shortens life span, and two, her rainbow contrail is just so unique. It’s truly something to consider, playing up that side of her in the air.”

“Could you imagine how ecstatic she would be if she were here, hearing you say that?”

“Umm, no. I know she admires me…” A thought swam to the front of her mind. Admires. “Just how big of a fan of me is she?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. She holds you in her highest respect. I’ve had many run-ins with her because of her accidents while she was ‘training for the Wonderbolts’ as she put it.”

“How long has she been doing this?”

“All her life. I remember when Flight for Life had to come get her. She was trying to pull off a Sonic Rainboom; she said she knew if she could do it again, it would be enough to get her a one-way ticket in. She was going straight towards the ground.” Just hearing that was enough to make Spitfire shake her head in disbelief. Going straight towards the ground was something pegasi were advised not to doo, because pulling out could mean overextending a wing, which could only result in injury. Going straight towards the ground at full speed meant you had a death wish. “She went to pull out, and her wing overextended and…umm… it kinda didn’t stop.” Spitfire’s eyes widened. A broken wing was the most painful thing that can happen to a pegasus. “She broke the bone, dislocated the pinion, even tore a ligament. How she didn’t pass out, I’ll never know. She hit the ground at full speed. She went hooves first, and all four of them splintered under the pressure. Her legs buckled and her chest hit the ground, and she broke three ribs. One of them punctured her lung.”

“Wait a minute. Besides the hooves, isn’t this exactly the same as the damage I took from the lightning strike?” All of that because she wanted to impress me.

“Hmm. I didn’t think about that. Yes, it is, but she only took one try.”

Spitfire suddenly stopped in the middle of the hall. “One try?”

Redheart inwardly cursed herself for that slip of the tongue.

“Umm… One try to pump the blood out of her lung. After that, the bleeding stopped. You took two tries, though.” It wasn’t entirely untruthful.

Spitfire rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to lie to me. You said there was something I didn’t need to know, and I’m not going to make you tell me what it is.”

“Okay. Sorry.” They resumed their casual trot. “I suppose I should tell you what happened, though. You deserve to know.”

“Nope. I don’t want to hear another word. It’s not important anymore, and I don’t need to know.”

“Well… Okay then. Whatever suits you.”

The two of them had reached the doorway. “Well, I guess I’ll see you in three days.”

“Stay close.”

“And thank you. For taking care of me.”

Nurse Redheart gave her a warm smile. “It’s not a problem, Spitfire. Enjoy your day.”

“You too.”