Rainbow Dash was used to injuries. As Equestria's fastest flier, it was part of the job description to have the occasional bump or scrape. Of course, she never liked anything that kept her from flying for any period longer than a couple of hours, but it was at least tolerable if the injury occurred during some daring stunt or trick, because of the cool stories that came with it.
But she hated being sick.
Applejack frowned as Dash once again tried to convince her that she was fine. "Trust me AJ, I'm not sick at all! It's just...dusty! It's dusty, that's why I'm coughing!"
"Dash, we're outdoors, in an apple orchard. Ain't no more dust here than anywhere else."
Dash had spent the morning out in the fields with Applejack, being moderately helpful as well as eating a portion the apples she was trying to collect, something Applejack had grown used to. However, Dash's constant coughing and sneezing, despite her best efforts to hide it, had begun to worry Applejack and, certain that Dash had caught something, she was now drawing the line.
"You don't know that for sure!" Rainbow retorted, "This place could've gotten dustier!"
She tried to prove her point by pawing at the ground, only to cause a small amount of gravel and grass to be displaced.
Applejack deadpanned.
"Look, AJ" Rainbow sighed, "just because I'm coughing a bit doesn't mean I'm sick. Ponies cough all the time! It's probably nothing."
"Dash, ya'll have been coughin' and sneezin' all mornin'! Ah'm no nurse, but that certainly ain't 'nothin''. Ah don't care what ya say, you're sick, and Ah'm going to Zecora's and gettin' somethin' for ya. Meanwhile, you are gonna go inside and stay in bed, ya hear?" AJ said, indicating towards the Apple residence, "And Ah don't want ya flying! You're in no state to be doin' anythin' like that."
"But AJ-"
"No buts! Go." Applejack interjected firmly.
Rainbow drooped her head and slowly made her way over to the house.
"I hate being sick."
_________
After making a hasty journey through the Everfree Forest, Applejack arrived at Zecora's tribal-styled hut. She rapped her hoof against the door, and was met moments later by the smiling face of the mare herself. "To you, Applejack, I say 'welcome', what brings you here, to my home?"
"Dash's been coughing mighty fierce all morning, and Ah hate ta see her in such a state" Applejack said as she walked into the hut, "And Ah was wonderin' if perhaps ya had somethin' ta get her fixed up?"
Zecora nodded and brought Applejack over to a cupboard, from which she produced a small brown root. "This root here will do the trick, to heal the pony that is sick."
Applejack took the root from her and placed it in her saddlebag. "Thanks, Zecora" she said.
"With this root, there are some side effects - it will make the user eager for-"
"It's no matter, Zecora. The side effects shouldn't be any problem at all, just as long as mah mare's okay" Applejack said, making her way towards the exit. "Ah'd stay longer, but ah wanna get back as soon as possible, make sure Dash ain't gone out or anything. Thanks again!"
Zecora opened her mouth to finish her comment about the side effects, but then reconsidered, a small smile playing on her face. "You are welcome, Applejack. I hope that Dash enjoys her snack."
AJ smiled and waved goodbye to Zecora before shutting the door and making her way back to Ponyville. And as she left, Zecora let out a small chuckle.
"'Shouldn't be a problem', that is true. It will be good for both of you."
______
Applejack returned to Sweet Apple Acres, panting slightly after making a speedy return journey. Cause I wanna get this to Dash. Not cause ah'm scared of the Everfree forest or anything, she told herself as she made her way up the stairs to her room. She opened the door, half expecting Dash not to be there. She was, however, and Applejack mentally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey sugarcube, Ah'm back."
Dash sat up at the sound of her marefriend's voice, secretly ecstatic to be called 'sugarcube'. "Hey, AJ" she replied, before unsuccessfully trying to stifle a cough.
Applejack removed the root from her saddlebag and passed it to Dash, before sitting down next to the blue mare on the bed. "Got this for ya. Zecora said it'll get ya back in fightin' form."
Rainbow eyed the root suspiciously. "It looks kinda gross."
Applejack rolled her eyes and asked "Do ya wanna get better or not?"
Rainbow contemplated this briefly, before placing the root in her mouth and beginning to eat it. "Tastes kinda gross too", she said, making a face.
"Well, Ah guess not everythin' can taste as good as apples" she replied with a sly smile.
A few moments passed as Dash chewed and swallowed the root, a plain look on her face, until she started staring at Applejack, a smile growing on her face.
"Well?" Applejack asked hopefully, "Feel any better?"
"Much better!" Dash exclaimed, the grin on her face expanding. "In fact, I feel amazing! I feel like I could fly a marathon! I feel like I could take on the world! I feel like...I feel like I could lick you like a lollipop"
Applejack's eyes widened at hearing the last statement, a look of pure shock on her face. Before she could react however, Dash had pinned her down to the bed, a sultry expression on her face. "I'm going to make you be gasping for air and screaming my name" she said in an exceptionally seductive voice, before beginning to plant kisses down Applejack's body.
Applejack just lay there, as Dash's mouth moved along her body, still trying to process how Rainbow had gone from 'very sick' to 'very horny' in a matter of seconds.
"Ah should've listened to the side effects"