Dave drove back to the house, as James and his dad were putting the buggy in the garage, James was a little concerned about the strange irritation on his face. It was mostly around his cheeks and chin but his dad hadn’t said anything, that could be accounted for because James was wearing his hat. James went to the front door and saw the Crusaders all trying to scrape off their skin. James saw that Apple Bloom’s back was bright red, it was the same for Sweetie Bell’s arms and Scootaloo’s feet.
“Why does it hurt and itch at the same time?” Scootaloo asked.
“Because it’s sunburn,” said James.
“I remember you telling us about that,” said Apple Bloom, “Is this what it is?”
“Yes, and it isn’t pleasant,” said James.
“James, it hurts,” Sweetie Bell said.
“It’s okay, there’s some stuff that can help,” James said.
The door to his house was opened earlier by Katherine, James went inside first and kicked off his shoes, sending sand over the floor. He muttered in irritation then tossed his hat into the basket behind him and looked at his face in the mirror.
“WHOA!” he yelled with shock and jumped backwards.
“What? What is it?” Apple Bloom said.
“I got sunburn as well,” said James, “Look at me!”
Scootaloo got a glimpse of his face.
“He looks like a beetroot,” she giggled.
“Lemme see! Lemme see!” Apple Bloom said as she pushed her way to look at James.
“Very funny,” James said turning to the Crusaders, “You lot have your laughs and get showers.”
Sweetie Bell cracked up and went upstairs, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo then followed. James went to the medical cabinet and looked for the sunburn ointment. He found some strange looking blue slime in a bottle that, once he put on his face, stopped the burning sensation. James sighed in relief and rubbed the goop on his burns. James looked at the bottle and saw it was a rather new brand of sunburn ointment, but the name was rather hard to pronounce.
“Don’t know what it’s called and I don’t care,” he said, “The girls will be begging me for this.”
James sat downstairs in the den until he heard the Crusaders thunder down the stairs, he then stood up and went to the stairs so he could shower off the dirt and sand he picked up.
“James, where’s the sunburn stuff?” Apple Bloom asked.
“You’ll get it in a bit,” said James, “I’m going to have to help you with this, I don’t want you going mad with it.”
“How long will you be?” asked Sweetie Bell.
“Just a few minutes,” James replied.
James had his shower and halfway through getting dressed, there was pounding on the door, it was Scootaloo.
“James,” she said, “When will you be down?”
“Give me time Scootaloo,” James replied.
“Okay, but Dart kept standing on my foot and it really hurt,” Scootaloo said.
“Just let him up on the couch and he’ll fall asleep,” James said as he pulled on a shirt. He heard Scootaloo leave, James sighed and slapped more ointment on his face. It stung for a second then a cooling sensation ran over his cheeks. James then went downstairs to give some to the Crusaders.
“Okay, who had it worst?” he said.
Apple Bloom showed his her upper back, it was entirely red and when James put his hand on the burn, Apple Bloom yelped and got away. Sweetie Bell’s arms were red as well, and some heat was radiating off of her burns, Scootaloo had sunburn on the tops of her feet, James could just see the what caused the sunscreen to fail, it was the sand that had rubbed it off. James decided to help Apple Bloom first, he gave some of the ointment to Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo so they could apply it themselves.
“Okay then Apple Bloom,” he said, “Keep still and you’ll clear up.”
“Does this stuff work?” Sweetie Bell asked as she prodded the goo with her finger.
Scootaloo had rubbed some of the ointment on her foot and she gave a relieved sigh.
“Yeah, it works,” she said.
Sweetie Bell shrugged and rubbed it on her arm and smiled when the burning sensation stopped. James had rubbed some of the ointment on Apple Bloom and she thanked him for helping her.
“Hey James,” Sweetie Bell said, “You have sunburn on your neck.”
“I do?” James replied.
“Here, let me help you,” Sweetie Bell said. She got some ointment and rubbed it on James’ neck, James sighed and gave Sweetie Bell a one armed hug as a thanks. He was glad that he helped the Crusaders out and they did the same for him. But it also made him sad in a way, for the Crusaders would soon be back home where they belong and James might never see them again. All James could do now was make the days last.