//------------------------------// // Sick Day // Story: Mane Mothers // by MASTERMIND360 //------------------------------// The strong rain this afternoon pours down on CHS and the home team is battling with their arch-rivals; Crystal Prep Academy. It was the last minutes of full-time, but neither boh sides score a single goal. If it carries on like this, the game will be decided by extra, and if the results are the same as of now, then the game will be decided by penalties. Gilda chases down Indigo but the captain cross the ball high to Lemon Zest on the left wing. She kicks the ball high and goes past Fire Flare and Spitfire. She gets the ball back. And then kicks the ball to the box. Both Indigo and Sunny Flare have their eyes on the ball. But before Indigo attempts to headbutted it to the goal, Ember does that first, and the ball falls in Gilda's direction. The midfielder looks to Derpy on the left, so taps the ball to the muffin lover. Derpy dribbled past Sugarcoat and kicks the ball high to the forwards. Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash are marking both Fleur de Lis and Sour Sweet. Sunset has some room to score. "All yours Sunset!" Rainbow tells her. Sunset nodded with a confident smile on her face. Her attention is on the ball falling from the sky. Twist your body to the fullest. If you practice every day and night, you can get it right. Sunset catches the ball and here comes her signature move; The Shimmer Spinner! Despite the cold of the rain, she continues spinning in a form of a mini tornado. After like ten seconds, Sunset stops and kicks the ball hard while in mid-air. The goalie was way too late to react and CHS finally breaks the deadlock. Full-time whistle blows just as CHS takes the lead in the dying seconds. The school and their team cheered so loud as Sunset and the team celebrates their nerve wrecking earned victory. They circle around Sunset as they celebrate, complimenting her for her winning shot to end the deadlock. "The Shimmer Spinner is the always the winner!" Rainbow exclaims and rubs Sunset's hair. "Wouldn't be easier if you just do it more often?" Strawberry Sunrise asks her dryly. "I thought we already discussed this," Rainbow told her. "Only Sunset can use her special as a last resort, or if she needs to. But she can't use it more than frequently. We can't let her get injured again, are we?" "Oh indeed, not." Ember agreed as the others nodded. Fleetfoot yawns. "I am bored with the entire game." She said tiredly. "Almost none of the Crystal Prep forwards tried to shoot past me." "That's because our defense is impenetrable as usual," Ember replied arrogantly as she lays her around Smolder and Strawberry Sunrise's shoulders. "The Defenda Girlz!!" The three girls shouted as if the atmosphere around was more of a Rockstar theme. The team chuckles at the defenders' signature celebration. However, they need to get warm soon since the raindrops are getting harder and harder. So the defenders immediately stopped their celebration and follows the rest of the team back into the school building. About an hour later, the girls were gathered in the band room. Both Sunset and Dash are wearing warm hoodies with their cutie marks on the torso part. They're resting before their next class, and after class, it's detention time. Just one more week and their detention is served. "Another tough game," Rainbow finally says. "But we did. All thanks to you, Sunset." Sunset smiles in return. "Well, it was a team effort, after all. It's no wonder Fleetfoot got bored during the duration of the game. Just standing by the goalpost. She could sneak to the nurse's office for a nap for all we know." Rainbow chuckles at that. "She's gonna be in big trouble once they discover her, but can we blame her for getting bored as a goalkeeper? Sometimes, she's bored with that." "Yes, but she was expecting a challenge." Sunset reminded her. "And she only preferred to be a goalie, nothing more, nothing else." "Good point." Rainbow agreed. "Well, at least both of yah had a good game today." Applejack chimes in. "It is tough, but thanks to Sunset, we pulled through." Rainbow replied to her. Sunset can't help but feel cold and she shivers. "I was glad I don't have to be out in the rain for any longer!" Rarity exclaimed dramatically. "I look like a mess out there!" She soon calms down. "But I watched with you both until the game ends. Seeing the both of you playing well makes me forget about my worries of my looks." Rainbow rolls her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. It works this way, Rarity. We play the game no matter what weather it was." And next thing Sunset knew, she coughs. Enough to get the girls' attention towards her. Sunset shivers again as she sneezed as well. Rainbow Dash puts her hand on Sunset's forehead and, much to her surprise, her friend is burning up. "Wow, Sunset, you're getting hot." Rainbow said worriedly. And then she wrap her arms around Sunset for an embrace to help her warm. She immediately turns back to the girls. "This is not what it looks like!" Rainbow denied and her face blushed. Sunset coughs a little and looks up at her friends. "Girls, I think I got colds..." she said silently. "I think the cold from the rain got me. Now I'm sick." Twilight puts her hand on Sunset's neck, and yes, she is burning up. "You are burning up!" Twilight cried worriedly and then she helps her up. "Now come on, let's get you to Nurse Redheart." They escort Sunset to the infirmary. Sunset is shivering again, and she hugs her arms to get warm. Applejack's grip on her shoulders should be enough to keep Sunset warm a little. The girls enter the infirmary and finds Nurse Redheart tucking Fleetfoot in. Yep, Sunset's right, Fleetfoot would definitely sleep in here. "Oh hello, girls," Nurse Redheart warmly greeted them. "Hello, Nurse Redheart," Twilight greeted. "Our friend here just got sick. Not too long after the game." Redheart's smile drops. "Oh, I see." She comes forward and touch Sunset by her forehead. "Oh dear! You're burning up. Come here and rest. I have a lot of beds here." Redheart led Sunset to one bed. She sits down on one, removes her boots and lays her back on the soft, warm bed. Fleetfoot is sleeping on the other side of the room. Redheart tucks Sunset in so she will get warm. She turns back to the girls. "Don't worry, I will monitor your friend until the day is done," Redheart informs them. "I just need to call her parents and-" She stopped when she realize that Sunset is not from this world. "Oh, I forgot. Miss Shimmer is not born here." "We'll take care of her ourselves," Fluttershy said. "But how can we be sure nothing happens to Sunset while we are gone?" Rainbow hesitantly questions her. "Rainbow Dash, we talked about this with our counterparts the other day," Twilight reminded her. "We're trying not to go crazy over this. It's time we can count on someone we can trust to look after her while we are not around." She turns back to the nurse. "Thank you again, Nurse Redheart. Although we have detention after the last class for the day." "Just one more week and our detention shall be lifted," Rainbow groans. "Oh, don't worry." Nurse Redheart replied. "Sunset Shimmer will be comfortable here. She just needs some sleep to pass the time. You can check on her before you leave." The girls check on Sunset who is on the verge to fall asleep. But before she goes to sleep, her friends check up on her. "Sunset, before we leave, is there anything you need?" Fluttershy asks her softly. Sunset slowly gazes to Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie... I need something... to sleep with." She's getting exhausted at this point to say anything. Then it click her head, knowing what Sunset wants. She digs her hair for the Princess Twilight Sparkle plushie and lays it next to Sunset's face. "Will this do?" Sunset smiles, grabbing the plushie with her hand underneath the warm blankets. "Yes, this always do..." And with that, she fell into a peaceful slumber. The girls watch as Sunset fell asleep with the plush toy beside her. She was so cute, no lie. However, though, their attention to Sunset was interrupted when they hear snoring. They turned to their right to see Fleetfoot snoring in her sleep. "What about Fleetfoot?" Rainbow Dash pointed at the goalkeeper. "Oh, she will have a serious word with Principal Celestia for sneaking in here for a nap," Redheart answered. "But I was kind enough to let her have her nap. But it doesn't mean I should ignore this. But anyway, it's best for you girls to get going and come back later, okay? Your friend is safe here with me." "We trust yah, Nurse Redheart," Applejack said thankfully. "Come on, girls. Let's go." The girls turned to leave the infirmary. Hoping to take care of Sunset once they get her home. Few hours later, the girls are now in Sunset's home. All of them are in their pajamas with Sunset being wrapped in a warm blanket on her bed. The smell of a nice hot soup makes her stomach growling. After several minutes, Twilight scale upstairs with a bowl of soup in her hands. And when she sits next to her, she realizes the problem; Sunset can't help herself with the soup and two; spoonfeeding her might have embarrassed her. "Twilight," The girls snaps herself out of it when Sunset calls her. "Look, I can see you're having a bit of trouble wanting how you do this. Yes, I'm so cold and wrapped in a blanket, but if anything to make me feel better, spoonfeed me will do." Twilight sighs in relief. She thought there is no way to keep Sunset warm with this soup. So with that, she spoonfeed her friend as Sunset suggested. Normally, Sunset should be embarrassed by this, especially that other day where Applejack spoonfed her on purpose. But it doesn't matter now when her friends are babying her for getting kidnapped for the 55th time, that time with Princess Twilight and her friends really helped them ease their paranoia a little. Minutes passed, and Sunset is loving the taste of the soup every time Twilight spoonfeeds her. Added with small pieces of vegetables in her soup only makes it even better. "Delicious, right?" Twilight asks her. Sunset eagerly nodded. "More than that," she answers back with a smile on her face. "I'm getting better already." Twilight smiled as well. "That's good to hear." She then continues to spoonfeed her. After a while. It was time for bed. It was a good thing Principal Celestia is kind enough to let them off from detention for tomorrow morning this weekend. Of course, any of them would love to sleep with Sunset, but since she is sick, she doesn't want anyone to catch her sickness, so they understand and rather sleep in their own sleeping bags instead. While Twilight is sleeping on the couch. But there is one tiny problem; Sunset can't sleep. She's been sleeping a lot back in the school infirmary and now she can't sleep for the night. As much as she is comfortable underneath this warm blanket, she can't sleep. So she stood up and look down to see her friends sleeping in their own sleeping bags. She knew them for so long. Rainbow Dash is not a heavy sleeper than Applejack was. Maybe she can help. "Pssst, Rainbow Dash." Sunset whispers to her friend down below. She keeps whispering for her name until her friend moans when her peaceful slumber is interrupted. She slowly sits up with a half tired look on her face. She gazes up to see Sunset calling her name. Her face turns into genuine concern. "What? What is it?" She asks quietly and fly towards to the owner's bed. "I...I can't sleep." Sunset said quietly as Rainbow sits next to her. "You can't sleep?" Rainbow asks her concern, and she gets the nod in return. "I've been sleeping a lot in the infirmary," Sunset told her. "And because of that, I can't sleep." "And I get that it's something you want me to help you with?" Rainbow asks her, and again, she gets a nod in return. "You're not the heavy sleeper than any of us, and so does Applejack," Sunset said and Rainbow just rolls her eyes. "But anyway, let's talk about this from your experience. How do you get Scootalo asleep?" Rainbow looks back into the past of getting Scootalo asleep. "Well, I'm not so good at storytellings but I came up with the awesome story as possible that she even loved it, and wanted to hear more from it until she eventually got tired." "Hmm, if that works, will you do the same for me?" Sunset asks her. Rainbow smiles. "If it helps you go to sleep, I will do what I can, sweetie. Now, just lie down," she lays Sunset on her back and tucking her in. "And listen to this awesome story you ever heard in youe whole life." She clears her throat and begin; "Once a upon a time..." ...... "Wow," Sunset was awed but tries not to be so loud to disturb the other girls. "Really?" Rainbow eagerly nodded. "Yep, and Daring Doo resorts to..." ..... ".....and they finally live an awesome ever after." Rainbow finished. She checks the time on her phone and it's already 1:00 A.M. "I've been telling you this story for almost two hours. It should work." And yes, she's right, Sunset is yawning. "Yeah. It worked, alright." Her eyelids are finally getting tired and that's what she needs. Rainbow Dash picks up the plush toy of her pony self and places it next to Sunset. "Am I the best mom?" she whispers to her. Sunset smirks. "No. You're just my second favorite." She replied playfully. "Whoever is your number one mom needs to stop being better than me," Rainbow playfully complained. "But anyway, goodnight, sweetie." "Night, mommy Dash." So then Rainbow planted a kiss on her forehead, making Sunset fell into a deep sleep.