//------------------------------// // Slow Cure // Story: FlitterCC-Mod's 30 Minute Ponies Stories // by FlitterCCmod //------------------------------// Part four of a series. Read "The Last Party", "The Speed of Light", and "Kindness Never Dies" first. A mature Spike and Sweetie Belle stood together beside an ornate bed. On the other side of the bed were Apple Bloom and two elderly figures: Applejack and Twilight Sparkle. Lying on the bed between them was Rarity, fast asleep and her breathing shallow. The three holders of the Elements of Harmony all had their Elements on. "Can you save her?" Sweetie Belle asked Twilight, her voice pleading. Her eyes held all the signs of recent tears. "I'll do what I can, but she's very sick," Twilight answered. "Spike, help us. We'll need fresh blankets and pillows, and most importantly, medicine. We'll need it quickly." "Right away!" Spike said dutifully. "Wait, Spi-" Twilight was cut off by a coughing fit, and by the time she recovered, her dragon was gone. Spike ran out of the Boutique as quickly as he could. His short wings were unsuited for flying, so he was stuck running to the marketplace. He took almost no time getting the pillows and blankets, but he froze when he realized he had no idea what medicine to buy. He walked into the pharmacist's shop slowly, finding a large selection of remedies both mundane and magical lining the chelves. He pored over them, frowning. The zebra who ran the store (actually, half-zebra) watched him closely. "May I help you?" she asked. "Yes. I need a cure for Rarity. She's very sick. I need it to work, and it needs to work fast," Spike answered. "The speed of the cures depends upon the affliction, I'm afraid. What is she ill with?" she asked, walking out from behind the counter. "I don't know. She's weak, and she was coughing badly earlier today. Her breathing is slow and hard," Spike said. "That sounds like a bad cold," she pointed out. "It's not," came a voice at the door. Spike recognized it instantly as Sweetie Belle, even before he turned around. The singer walked up to the shelves, pointing to a deep blue potion. "We'll take that, please." "Ah, I see... Yes, this should help her. It will work overnight, I promise you," the zebra said, pulling down the bottle. Sweetie Belle gave her a few bits in exchange for the potion. She then ran out along with Spike, returning to the Boutique as quickly as they could. Sweetie Belle threw open the door to Rarity's bedroom, gasping for breath and setting the bottle down on the nightstand. She then looked up, losing her smile when she found Rarity's face covered by the blanket. Applejack had her hoof on Twilight's back. Twilight had tears running down her face, which were soon joined by Spike's. Applebloom was nowhere to be seen. Sweetie Belle looked between the two, then slowly pulled the cover off of Rarity's face. She uncorked the potion, and with her magic levitated the bottle over to Rarity's open lips. the liquid trickled into her sister's mouth, and onto her lips, though she did not swallow it. "Rarity... Rarity, come on, swallow it..." Sweetie Belle begged, as new tears began to stream down her face. "D-don't... don't die... please... y-you're my only family..." She couldn't help it. She laid her head on the bed, and began to cry harder than anypony else in the room. She felt a light but strong hoof on her back. She didn't need to be told that Applebloom had returned, and was trying to be comforting. "Sweetie... Please look at me," Applebloom said. "F-first my parents... then Scootaloo... now m-my sister..." Sweetie said, her words divided by uncontrollable sobs. "When does it stop, Applebloom?" "Ah don't know. But ya' have to look at me, please," Applebloom replied. Sweetie Belle slowly picked her head up, and turned to look at her friend. Applebloom had a cloth in her hand, which she slowly touched to Sweetie Belle's face to wipe the tears that kept flowing. Applebloom then wrapped Sweetie Belle in a gentle hug, letting her cry into the bright red mane. "It'll be ok, Sweetie. Ah promise," Applebloom said reassuringly. "Come on, let's cover her back up and get out of here. Spike, could you... well, you know." Spike nodded, wiping his own tears away with his claws. He brought the sheets back over Rarity's face, then guided the mares out of the room. He closed the door behind them.