NOTE: This is my first attempt at writing a romance fiction. If you've seen my other fics you realize I usually focus on war and tragedy. Just trying to focus on something else. Also, since this is my first crack at this, please bear with me when you read this. Thank you.

The Doctor's In Town

The grey stallion waited nervously in the office. What did he want? thought the stallion to himself, I wonder if it had something to do with that fight Tranoverix and I got into... His thoughts were interrupted as a sleek, blue figure walked into the room. "Mr. Stitch?" asked the Aerisan, like most Medical Corps personnel, she was a female. "Yes?" replied the nervous pony. "General Maverix would like to see you now." said the creature. The stallion nodded and walked into a large office, sitting behind a large, walnut desk was a burly Aerisan, on his vest was a black triangle with a red cross inside.

"Ah yes...Corporal Stitch...I have a matter I need to discuss with you, you se-" he was cut off as the stallion, Silverstar, began saying "It's not my fault I got into a fight with Tranoverix...the bloody idiot kicked me in the chest!" Stitch was quickly silenced as the soldier behind the desk rose his hand in the air, telling him to quiet down.

       Maverix sighed, then gave a frown as he said "Look...that's not the issue...Corporal, it pains me to say this..but...you are officially discharged from the Union Medical Corps." Stitch's jaw dropped. "D-discharged sir? But why?" asked the stallion, the soldier shook his head, and said "The Union has declared war on Equestria. I'm sorry, but any ponies, mares and stallions alike, are forced to receive an honorable discharge. You are allowed to report to your barrack and get what you need, but I'm afraid you have to leave." The shocked stallion lowered his head down, and with a quiet "Yes sir," walked out of the room.

He walked through the large camp until he reached a small wooden building, he walked inside and using his magic, opened a footlocker, he then took out several books, manuals, a maroon bag, and a picture with two grey ponies on it, and placed it in a grey saddlebag. Stitch let out a sigh, I finally have something that gives me purpose... thought the stallion, he looked at his cutie mark, the same black triangle-and-red cross that was on his saddlebag. 20 bloody years it took me to get my cutie mark. Now I brandish a symbol everypony will despise...lovely...

He slung his saddlebag around his back, then trotted to the entrance of the base. The mechanical arm lifted and he trotted out.

After about an hour of continuous walking, he had reached the Canterlot train station. Luckily the train was about to depart, and he had bought a ticket in time to get onboard.

As he sat down, however, several ponies backed away and glared at him. The occasional hoof pointing at his cutie mark. He sighed, a tear welling up in his eye and flowing down his cheek. He sighed once more, his sadness had made several ponies on the car upset, but still kept their distance. He sat there, feeling miserable until the train had finally reached Ponyville. He got up, out of his seat, then walked onto the deck of the station. Even more ponies just stared at him as he walked with his head hung low.

He had eventually reached the heart of the city. Countless ponies pointing, he looked up for a mere second, then hung his head down again. He had eventually reached Sugarcube Corner, he walked into the small bakery, then went to the glass-topped counter where a hyperactive pink mare stood. "Hey there! What can I get ya?" asked the gleeful pony. "I...I'll just get a cupcake...thanks..." said Stitch. Pinkie Pie immediately noticed how upset the stallion was and asked "What's the problem? Let's turn that frown upside down!" Stitch glared at her furiously, and said "I just want a cupcake...thank you..." Pinkie Pie immediately frowned, then opened up a glass panel and pulled out a small treat smothered in yellow frosting.

The second the plate was put down on the table, the stallion dug lifted the velvet bag out of his saddlebag with his magic, then placed a small golden coin. The cupcake was immediately surrounded by a grey aura, and Stitch began walking out, then pink-maned pony noticed the issue. "GET OUT!" Yelled the pink mare, "GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" The stallion was then shoved out the door, he noticed the cupcake was no longer in front of him, but he looked back, and saw it splattered on the ground. He scoffed at the filly's prejudice before turning around and walking down the street.

He was then stopped as he saw a large building, but it wasn't a normal building. A tree? thought the stallion Now who the bloody hell lives in a tree? Without even knocking, he nudged the door open and saw that it was a library. He walked in quietly before finding a small table to sit at, a large horse-head sculpture sitting in the middle. He sighed in relief, then sat in the small chair. He pulled a small picture from the saddlebag and looked at it with content.

"I'm sorry mum...I'm sorry dad..." said the stallion under his breath before crying. His eyes shot open in terror as he heard a loud thumping noise, he wasn't the only pony there. "Who goes there?" asked a child-like voice. Before Silverstar even knew what was going on, he saw a purple and green figure holding a broom as if it was a rifle. "Oh...I'm terribly sorry...I just needed to rest after-" All of the sudden a second thumping was heard, down the stairs came a lavender unicorn, she frowned at the baby dragon, then said "Spike, what are you doing? Just leave him alone." the dragon sighed, he took the broom and walked back upstairs.

"I'm sorry...he's just trying to 'protect' me...if you know what I'm saying." said the filly with an affectionate smile. Silverstar chuckled, but stopped as the lavender mare opened her mouth again. "But...who are you...anyways?" asked the lavender pony. Stitch looked at her with content, and said "I'm Corporal Stitch...or...used to be...and you?" "Twilight Sparkle" replied the mare. Stitch nodded and said "Charmed." before grabbing her hoof and shaking it. Twilight looked at him, and asked "But...what do you mean by...used to...?" Stitch's smile faded into a sad, sullen frown. "I used to be a combat medic in the Union Medical Corps," he turned to his right, showing Twilight Sparkle his flank and his cutie mark. "However...I was discharged due to the Union declaring war on Equestria, and...well...now I'm here."

The lavender filly giggled, then asked "But why here exactly? Isn't there several other places you could live?" the grey stallion faced his head towards the ground, letting part of his short, black mane falling over his forehead. "I wish I could...but knowing that everyone hates me for..." he looked at his mark "...this...I couldn't find anywhere pleasant to stay. Even this pink mare shoved me out of her bakery when she saw my cutie mark...It's just one, big, bloody nightmare, you know?"

Twilight then looked at him with an upset expression. "That's my friend, Pinkie Pie, she's usually very friendly. But the whole war situation has caused her to get paranoid...her...of all people...paranoid...It doesn't make sense..." Stitch nodded, then said "Yes...but what makes me curious. How are you so friendly?" Twilight looked at him with a smile. "Because I give everypony a chance, no matter what their reputation is." the grey stallion nodded, then said "Thank you..."

Twilight then faced him in the eyes, and asked sweetly "Well...why don't you stay here? For now, I mean, until you can get back on your feet, you know?" Stitch looked at her with a large grin, then said "R-really? That would be lovely!" Twilight returned the smile, and said "Follow me, I'll show you where you could stay." The stallion followed the mare up the wooden stairs until they reached a room, inside it was a small bed, a dresser, a closet, and a large framed portrait of Star Swirl the Bearded hanging over the bed. It was neatly kept and the stallion smiled as he walked over and lied down on the bed.

Stitch looked at the filly standing in the doorway, and said "This is...lovely...but you didn't need to do this Twilight Sparkle." she replied quickly "Call me Twilight...all my friends do, and yes I did, you seemed so helpless...you needed some care." That stallion stood up, tears rolled down his cheeks as he locked her in a tight embrace "Thank you, Twilight." The purple unicorn smiled, and they stood their hugging for a couple of minutes.

Eventually, they separated and Stitch looked out the window and noticed the sun was going down. He saw that Twilight had walked out of the room, and to the balcony at the top of the house. When he got there he stood behind her, he noted that she was admiring the sunset. "It's beautiful..." said the stallion, Twilight Sparkle was startled and immediately as a very calm Stitch stood behind her. "O-oh, yeah...it is..." sighed the mare. The stallion walked next to her, and said "You know...it was a rare occasion to see this...only once have I actually seen a beautiful sunset like this. Only problem is that we were in a bloody firefight." they both giggled. "Well, it's getting late...I think you should get some rest for a while..." said the lavender unicorn. Stitch nodded, and walked down from the balcony to his small guest room.

Twilight went to the lower floor of the library where she levitated a piece of parchment, a quill pen, and a small bottle of ink towards her. She then began writing.

Dear Princess Celestia,

These past couple of hours have been absolutely wonderful for me! I learned that no matter what their reputation is, you should always show somepony a bit of courtesy. I met this stallion, Stitch, he was a combat medic in the Union Medical Corps, and he's very friendly, almost...flirtatious. He said that he had been laughed at, pointed at, and even shunned by several ponies because of what he used to do for a living, but, it seems he's just as normal as you and me...well...except for the fact you're a princess.

He's going to be staying at the library for a couple of days until he can get back on his feet. I feel we could become great friends, thank you for blessing me with such a handsome and nice pony.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

She looked at the sun and noticed it was starting to get late, she gave the piece of parchment to Spike, who then blew his fire at it, sending it to Princess Celestia. She then went upstairs to her bedroom, pulled the covers over her head, and went to sleep.

Several hours later, the sun was raised, and beams of light shot through the window and hit the filly's eyes. She woke up with a yawn, and got out of bed to stretch her limbs, she then walked to her kitchen to cook up some breakfast for her guest. Stitch was laying quietly, he had been tossing and turning all night, his dreams weren't dreams, but nightmares of his countless times in combat, seeing his friend's head get taken off by a bolt of magic. He kept on dreaming of seeing almost his entire platoon getting taken out before him, how many countless times he had to sew on limbs, or even give emergency blood transfusions.

He woke up with a scream, immediately the door was thrown open, light invading the small room and hitting the stallion's eyes before he covered them with his hoof. Twilight looked at him worryingly, he was panting, his body drenched with sweat. "Is everything alright, Stitch?" asked the worried mare. Stitch looked at her, and said "Y-yes...everything's fine...just had another...dream..." The unicorn's worry doubled. "Like...what kind of dream...?" she asked, he looked at her with content and sadness "Memories...seeing my mates die in combat...the countless times I had soldiers die in my own hooves...nightmares...if you will..."

Twilight's worried frown turned into a teary-eyed expression of sadness. "Well...is there anything I can do about it?" asked the lavender filly. He just stared at her, then felt his stomach rumble, Twilight's sadness melted slightly and she let out a small giggle. "Something to eat would be lovely." replied the stallion. Twilight looked at him with a smile, and said "Follow me, then...I made some breakfast."

The dusty-grey stallion followed the unicorn to a small room. A large floor-to-ceiling window was on one side of the room, giving them a majestic view of Ponyville. Moments later, the librarian came back from a small room, levitating in front of her were two plates, a stack of pancakes on each one. She set one down in front of Stitch, who began eating almost savagely. Twilight smiled with content, then set down her plate and began eating herself.

After a couple of minutes, the studious filly broke the silence "Oh...so I forgot to mention, there's gonna be a big celebration at town hall." The black-maned stallion stopped eating, he looked up to her, and asked "For?" "It's the 80th birthday of Ponyville! I was thinking maybe you could come with me" Stitch nodded light-heartily, then asked "When is it?" the lavender unicorn quickly responded "Tomorrow!" the stallion's smile immediately faded.

"I don't think I can come...not with everyone shunning me for my bloody cutie mark." sighed Stitch. Twilight immediately frowned, and said "Don't worry...it'll be fine!"  He shook his head, and said "I'll think it over..." With that, he walked out of the room, leaving a half a plate of pancakes left.

A half hour later, Stitch walked into the lower level, where Twilight was reading a book. "Well...I gave it some thought...and...I'll go." said the nervous stallion. The mare immediately shot up, "Oh wonderful!" she exclaimed, "You'll have so much fun! I assure you!" Stitch gave out a small chuckle, then went back upstairs, a few minutes later, he came back downstairs with a small white book levitating in front of him.

Twilight was having a hard time seeing what the cover said, so she asked "Stitch....what is that?" pointing at the white book.

"It's a journal. Whenever I had to heal someone, be it pony or Aerisan, I would open this up to the page about them and write down what there problem was. Everything from Gangrene to broken limbs." replied the stallion. The librarian gave a nod of approval, but then asked "So...why do you have it out now?"

The stallion showed a subtle smile, then said "Because I wanted to check what I have recorded...and to see what I did to heal it."

"Well...has anything ever gone wrong?" Asked Twilight, he frowned, then said "Yes...yes things have gone horribly wrong...one time a soldier had lost two pints of blood and died in my hooves...one time a piece of shrapnel got lodged in a friends skull...and I had to pull it out...The world of medical science is helpful...but sometimes things just can't be fixed..." Twilight felt awful.