"There you are!" Grey exclaimed as the other four ponies came into sight. "I couldn't find her, but I think we need to find someplace a little warmer to stay. I heard somepony tell me I'd 'catch my death of cold' if I stayed out here to long, whatever that means. I think it might already be happening to me." She sniffled. "Don't any of you guys have a...'runny snout' I believe it's called."
"Yes, Grey. We all do. It's just from being outside. That farmpony, Applejack, says it'll go away once we get inside someplace warm. We need a place to stay." Laze said, shivering from the cool winds.
"We'll, I'm sure those Apples have a place we can stay," Loner said, her teeth chattering, "We were hoping to find Backfire, but I really think we need to get someplace warm." They all agreed and set off at a fast gallop for Sweet Apple Acres.
- - - - -
"So y'all don't have any place to stay?" Applejack inquired. They nodded. "Well, why didn't ya come here earlier? We have plenty of room here at Sweet Apple Acres." She gave the group a wide smile. "Now come on in before y'all catch..."
"Ah-choo!" Loner sneezed rather loudly, her hair poofing out for a second before falling flat again.
"...a cold," Applejack finished with a frown, "Y'all best come out of those cold winds quick." They did as instructed, filing one by one into the house. They stood in the kitchen, shivering and sniffling for a minute before Loner sneezed again. Applejack looked concerned. "Come on, Miss...uh..."
"Loner."
"Loner. Alright, come on Miss Loner. I'd rather we got you warmed up nice and quick so I don't have a sick pony to take care of." She turned to the others. "Y'all can have the rooms on the third floor if'n ya wish. I'll be up in a little bit to tell ya how Miss Loner's doin'." The four other ponies embodying the Elements of Chaos started the walk up the stairs.
"Poor Loner," Muddy said, "I can't imagine how ghastly that sneezing thing must be. It sounds awful." The others nodded.
"At least the Applejack pony seemed nice," Laze said. The others gasped. "What? She is."
"Thing of what she could do to get information out of Loner! Think of the lies she could feed her!" Soar Brash exclaimed. Laze snorted.
"Actually, I'm the one that would tell lies, being the Element of Lies after all, and Applejack is the Element of Honesty." They reached the third floor and found six rooms, which reminded them of their missing pony. They each picked a room and went inside.
Laze hopped up onto the bed. "I wasn't lying that time," she whispered, "She is nice. I wish I was nice like her." Suddenly, an itchy feeling came to her snout and she barely had time to stuff her head in the blankets before she sneezed. She sniffled and looked over at the bedside table. There was a box of tissues on it. She grabbed one out and blew her nose just as Applejack came in.
"I'm sorry. I think your friend has a...aw, shucks, Sugarcube. Don't tell me you're sick too." Applejack approached her slowly.
"What? No, I'm not sick. It's just dusty in here." Even Laze's most perfect lie could be seen through by Applejack, though it took her a moment longer than usual.
"Now, don't you lie to me, Sugarcube. I can tell when your lying." She was right in front of Laze now, looking at her with the same concern she had for Loner. Laze cringed slightly under her gaze before another sneeze forced its way out of her. Applejack cocked an eyebrow. "Come with me, missy, and no more lies, okay?" Laze nodded and followed Applejack down the stairs. "What's yer name, Sugarcube?"
"Laze," she answered. It was odd for them to have a conversation together when their voices were exactly the same.
"Laze, huh? You ponies sure seem to have very different names from the folks 'round here. Where're y'all from, anyway?"
"Canterlot."
"Oh, I see."
"We, uh...ah... Ah-CHOO!" Laze sneezed loudly. A soft moan escaped her. This 'sick' thing was no fun at all. She hoped it would be over soon, and she wondered briefly if the others were feeling sick too.
"Bless you, Miss Laze," Applejack said as they came to a room where Loner was lying in front of a fireplace. Applejack beckoned for Laze to join the rather glum pony on the floor.
"You too?" Loner asked. Laze nodded, laying down in front of the warm fire. She snuggled in for a long day as several odd noises from upstairs caught her attention.
"Uh, oh. That doesn't sound good," Applejack said, heading back up the stairs, "Looks like Sweet Apple Acres is going to be a sick bay fer a while. Y'all get comfy. I expect your friends will be joining ya."
- - - - -
"Ah-chew! Ah-ah-chew!" Backfire had been sneezing all morning. Spike had tried everything he knew to keep her comfortable, but it didn't seem to be doing much good. She just couldn't stop sneezing, and the explosions were a bit difficult to work around. The door opened and closed, revealing that Twilight was back, and she had brought Fluttershy with her. "Ah-chheew!" The resulting explosion was smaller than normal, but still sent everyone else in the room back against the wall.
"Oh, dear," Fluttershy gasped, "You don't sound at all well, and those explosions can't be very helpful to anyone trying to help you."
"Backfire, this is Fluttershy. She's really good at caring for animals and such, so I though maybe she could help you." Twilight cast a spell on herself, Spike, and Fluttershy. "This spell should keep the explosions from bothering us too much." She approached Backfire, levitating a box of tissues. "You're going to need these."
"I can make something to help you feel better, but it will take a while to make. Twilight, is there a kitchen here?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes, it's through there," Twilight pointed to a doorway, "Thanks for your help." Fluttershy disappeared through it.
"Did you see any of my...friends while you were out?" It felt odd to call them that, but Backfire figured it would be a good thing to do for now. To call them anything else could rouse suspicion. "I'm a little worried about them. What if they're sick too?" She sneezed, delaying Twilight's answer.
"I'm sure they're fine..." Twilight started, "Hmm...I wonder. Do you know if any of them have been sick before either?"
"I'm sure that they haven't," Backfire said, "Why?" Twilight turned to her, looking slightly concerned and an uneasy feeling settled in Backfire's gut. "What is it, Twilight?"
Twilight started pacing as she spoke. "Well, from what I can tell, your body has little to no resistance against this cold virus. If what you say is true, and your friends are as susceptible as you are to the virus, then there is a good chance that they will fall ill as well. I know that the Cake twins have had colds recently. Have you been around them or the Cakes? They live in Sugar Cube corner."
"We weren't around any of them. The only pony besides you that we've come across is the Pinkie Pie pony." Twilight stopped pacing.
"Pinkie Pie is a Cake too, kinda. She lives with them. She probably was carrying the virus from the twins. The cold weather we've been having recently is probably what set off your symptoms." Backfire sneezed again. "Bless you." Twilight magicked the tissue box back over to Backfire. "Here."
"I'm sorry to be such a bother, Twilight, but do you think you could go ask if anyone's seen them? I'm worried that they won't take care of themselves if they're sick." Backfire really was worried, but more about having the Elements of Chaos all in healthy condition for when they had to fight the Elements of Harmony. Something else in her gut made her feel more worried for them, but she wasn't sure exactly what it was.
"I understand, Backfire. I'll go ask Applejack. She knows a lot about what goes on around here, despite the fact that she lives on the edge of town." Twilight looked around the room. "Spike?" The baby dragon was there in an instant. "Stay here with Backfire and help Fluttershy if she needs it. Okay?"
The dragon gave a little salute. "Yes, ma'am!" Twilight giggled at his antics, but stopped when she saw the look he was giving Backfire. Suddenly, she understood that her baby dragon liked Backfire! It seemed that he even liked her more than Rarity.
"I'll be back soon," Twilight said, walking out into the winds, which were absolutely freezing. "Brrr! Backfire and her friends won't be the only sick ponies soon. I think winter is coming early," she muttered to herself as she started off to Applejack's.
Sorry about all the sick ponies. I have a cold right now and I can't think of anything else. Hopefully this will end sometime in the next chapter or two. Sorry, again.