Chapter Three

The first thing you do the next morning is stop at a small shop and buy flowers on your way to the hospital; a bunch of bright red roses for Nurse Redheart, as well as a very large box of chocolates that you planned to give to the other nurses that had saved you. Upon entering the building and making your way back to the ward, the matron informs you that Nurse Redheart was actually on an off day today, so she wouldn't be in at all. You leave the hospital still with the roses tucked safely beneath your wing, and decide to try and track the mare down.

You knew that she was from Ponyville, and you could remember that the town wasn't exactly huge, so maybe somepony there would be able to tell you where the nurse lives?

Shaking your head, you realise that tracking her down would make you seem like some sort of crazy stalker - definitely not the look you wanted to give. Instead, you decide to simply spend time about town, spending your next few weeks sick leave learning more about Ponyville, travelling there each day and enjoying the sights in a restful environment whilst hoping to accidentally catch the dedicated and enthralling mare.

You spend the next few days visiting a small cafe in the town, ordering a croissant each lunchtime and watching Ponyville during every day life. One of the first things you notice is a member of the weather team, an incredibly fast rainbow blur bouncing between clouds, shifting them from one place to another. Something about the flier felt familiar, and you realise that the mare was a fan, the one who had saved Spitfire and Soarin at the young fliers competition a year or two back. You frown slightly, wondering if she ever applied to join the ‘bolts, amazed by her technical ability fuelled by her pure, un-tainted talent.

“She crashes just as often as she succeeds, you know.” says a familiar voice from behind you. Your heart leaps as you turn to see nurse Redheart stood, carrying a fresh and wonderful-smelling baguette in her saddlebag. She looked slightly different outside of work, missing her hat and with her mane out of it’s bun and hanging around her face, you’re suddenly aware of how young and beautiful she looks when not burdened with the stresses of working a busy emergency ward.

“Hmm. I remember being like that. I miss the old days.” you sigh,

“Sounds like somepony wishes he’d done things differently? Are you alright?” she asks, sitting across from you, you turning around to face her on your chair.

“I’m okay, just miss being young.”

Redheart smiles, “I’ve seen you here pretty much every day, were you watching her?”

Your brain kicks you for paying so much attention to the younger mare in the sky; panicking, you tell the truth.

“No, actually, I’ve been hoping to run into you, I didn’t have the courage to find out where you live.”

“Matron should have offered to take a message, I’m sorry you’ve been given the run around because of me...”

“Well, how about that dinner I offered?” you reply, smiling. She looks at you, evidently thinking it over, before finally speaking up.

“Alright, I don’t think I’d be able to get out of this,” she says, laughing gently, “although I still don’t understand what you see in me....”

You blush, and figure that you have nothing to lose in being honest with Redheart, “You cared. I’ve never had that before. Every mare to ever take an interest in me, has always adored the uniform more than the stallion under it.”

“How do you know I wasn’t just doing my job?” she asks, her voice becoming warmer as she plays with you a little.

“You didn’t have to sit with me, you didn’t have to talk to me whilst I was barely conscious and unable to reply,”

She blushes again, and gazes at you for slightly longer, her eyes almost able to read your innermost thoughts before you finally decide to speak up, asking if she’d be willing to come to Cloudsdale with you to a five-star restaurant. She agrees, suggesting tomorrow night, and your heart leaps once more, making you feel like a teenager again. Trotting around the town with her for a little while, she tells you more about Ponyville than you had been able to work out during your visits there over the last few weeks. Redheart also explains local customs, including Winter Wrap-Up and the Running of the Leaves, as well as pointing out small “unique” businesses that contribute to the wonderful small-town feel of Ponyville, such as the Quill and Sofa Store, Sugar Cube Corner or Mr Breezy’s fan shop.

As the sun begins to set, the two of you suddenly realise how quickly the time has gone, having spent the whole day together without even realising it. Being a gentlecolt, you walk her home as the moon rises, and watch the weather team bring in a series of rain clouds on schedule.

Stood on her doorstep, she brings her nose to your cheek and gently kisses you, her breath flowing through your coat, bringing back emotions that you hadn’t properly felt in years.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” you ask, voice quivering slightly as she pulls away.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll track me down if I don’t show,” she says with playful smile, “I’ll meet you outside the hospital. I’ll need to get the cloud-walking spell, but I have a friend who can give it me, and take me up there in her balloon.”

“Sure, I’ve got to go and clear some stuff up with the ‘bolts tomorrow, and that’s about it, so I can meet you at about five tomorrow evening?”

Redheart smiles again, a gentle blush appearing on her cheeks, a hoof awkwardly bringing a loose strand of her mane out of her eyes,

“I’ll be there. Goodnight, Thunder.” she says, kissing your cheek again.

“Goodnight, Redheart.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 4 Estimated time remaining: 19 Minutes