It didn’t take too long for news to spread about Applejack’s injury, and so Applejack was awoken from her nap by Rarity trampling into her room, with Twilight chasing behind her.
“Rarity, I told you, she’s sleeping!” Twilight called, but when she saw Applejack stir, she exhaled and rolled her eyes.
“Rarity, at the very least don’t smother her.”
“Applejack, darling!” Rarity cried, making no indication that she had heard Twilight. “I’m ever so sorry you’ve suffered such a physical malady. If there’s anything you need me to do, I will be at your hoof and willing to provide.”
“Rarity, there’s no need,” Applejack said. “Twilight’s already done more than enough.”
“Why didn’t you tell me right away?” Rarity asked. “There’s plenty of room at the boutique, and I could have pampered you with the utmost of care. Hot showers, delicious food, anything you could have asked for.”
“Rarity, I came to Twilight’s because I didn’t want all that,” Applejack said. “At least, I didn’t wanna take time out of your busy schedule to take care of me. To be honest, Twilight was freakin’ me out at first, but she and I have gotten settled, so I appreciate the offer but I will have to decline.”
“But what am I supposed to do?” Rarity asked. “I’ll be worried sick about you and have nothing to do to help.”
“Rarity, I’m already taking care of all that,” Twilight said, putting a hoof on her shoulder and smiling. “Applejack will be in good hooves. Although if something happens to Spike, I’m sure he’d be more than happy to have you help him recover.”
“Very funny, Twilight,” Rarity said with a laugh. “But of course I would be there for him and anypony else who needed me.”
“Applejack! Applejack!” came a soft voice from the stairs. In flew Fluttershy, who went to the bed and stroked Applejack’s head. “I heard you were at Twilight’s and had suffered a serious injury, and I just had to see you.”
“How’d you get into the library?” Twilight asked.
“Spike let me in.”
“Uh, Twi?” Applejack asked. “Could ya maybe ask Spike not to let anypony else in until Rarity and Fluttershy leave? It’s gettin’ a bit crowded in here.”
“APPLEJACK!” came a shrill voice, and they saw a pink blur zoom into the room and stop just short of the bed. Pinkie’s face was utterly distraught.
“Applejack what happened to you?” she asked. “Bon Bon and Lyra told me you got hit by a runaway cart and you were writhing on the ground screaming for help and nopony was there to hear your cries of pain!”
“Pinkie, that’s not what happened!” Applejack shouted, desperate to cut her off before she talked everypony’s ears off. “I bucked one too many apple trees yesterday and suffered some stress fractures on my hind legs. Nothin’ else happened, certainly not as terrifyin’ as whatever Bon Bon and Lyra told you.”
“Oh,” Pinkie said. “Well, to be honest, I kinda made it more dramatic than what they told me.”
“It’s a good story,” Rarity said with a smile, “perhaps for a novel. But the accident is horrific enough without embellishing whatever rumors you’ve heard.”
“Twilight, the door?”
“Right!” Twilight said, making her way out of the room. She was almost knocked over by Rainbow Dash as she rocketed into the room.
“So, got some battle scars, didn’t ya, AJ?” she exclaimed. “How’d it happen? Roseluck told me you got trampled by a stampede of cattle.”
“Where are all these rumors coming from?” Fluttershy asked.
“Nah, Rainbow, just bucked a tree too hard,” she said. “Nothin’ excitin’ about it.”
“Oh, but what didja get out of it? Break a leg? Dislocate your knee? Got paralyzed and can never walk again?”
“Stress fractures in my legs,” Applejack said curtly.
“Well, that’s boring,” Dash said, hovering above her and scrutinizing her legs. “You know how many injuries I got when I was in flight school? Pulled a few wing muscles, broke each of my hooves at least once, even dislocated a shoulder when I got into a fight with a griffon who was stalking Gilda.”
“That all true, Fluttershy?” Applejack asked.
“I don’t think he was stalking her,” Fluttershy offered, “but all the injuries are correct.”
“He was totally creeping her out, though,” Dash said. “Writing her letters and saying hi to her all weird-like. Had to beat the stuffing out of him so he’d leave her alone. Got me suspended for a few days. Worth it!”
“That’s great, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said nonchalantly. Dash exhaled through her nose and grimaced. “I think we’re making Applejack uncomfortable, though. It’s pretty crowded in here.”
“Oh my,” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t even think we’d be making Applejack feel uncomfortable. There’s so many of us here…”
“Yeah, and I’m feelin’ mighty tired right about now,” Applejack said. “I appreciate y’all for visitin’, but it’s probably better if we just stick to one-on-one visits from now on.”
“Okay, so who gets to stay?” Dash asked.
“I wanna stay! I wanna stay!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing up and down. “I want to find out all the gory details!”
“Pinkie, it really wasn’t that special—”
“I’ll stay and keep watch over her,” Rarity said. “Twilight needs a break, after all. Don’t you, Twilight?”
“I’m fine for now, Rarity, but thanks.”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind staying,” Fluttershy said, “but only if nopony else wanted to. But I guess Pinkie and Rarity already said so, so maybe I don’t need to stay after all.”
“You know what?” Applejack asked. “None of y’all are staying. I kinda just want Twilight here for now. Maybe she can schedule visitin’ hours for you so we’re not too crowded in here.”
“An excellent idea,” Twilight said. “Okay, you heard the patient. Everypony out.” She ushered them all towards the bedroom door with her outstretched wings. The rest of Applejack’s friends were grumbling but moving slowly towards the door. Once they were all out, Twilight shut the bedroom door and turned to Applejack with a smile.
“Thank ya kindly, Twilight,” Applejack said. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I kinda gotta go again.”
Twilight blushed, but she nodded and lifted Applejack with her magic and moved towards the bathroom.