//------------------------------//
// Sickness - Jonesly - Jan. 10, 2015 
// Story: The Sun and Stars: Lightning Round 
// by JKinsley 
//------------------------------//



By Jonesly



**AAAAAH-CHOOO** The sneeze went off in the quiet library like a bomb. Twilight Sparkle, unicorn, was sick. She'd spent the last day and a half running about the Everfree Forest in the dead of winter looking for... well, she wouldn't tell anyone what she was looking for, only that it was of the utmost importance and she had to find it soon. She'd achieved her goal, but in the process caught a cold that doomed her to bed rest and plenty of liquids.

She groaned in her bed, wrapped head to hooves in her blankets. “Spike? Spike?” She called, “Where are you? I need more tissues.”

A racking cough started deep in her chest. The hoarse barks as she coughed covered the sound of her door opening and closing.

“Here you go Twilight.” A melodious voice came.

Fuzzily Twilight looked up, trying to focus bloodshot eyes. “You're not Spike.”

Celestia laughed. “I'm glad you noticed. Spike sent me a letter telling me you were sick. I came as fast as I could. I, um, I brought soup?”

Twilight perked up a little. Soup sounded good. Nice warm soup. She gratefully accepted the bowl from Celestia and carefully managed to spoon up some of the broth.

“This is delicious,” She sniffled. “So good, and warming... did you bring this from Canterlot?”

Celestia smiled. “I made it Twilight. It's a special recipe. My mother used to make it for me when I was sick. Now I make it for my loved ones when they are sick”

Twilight choked on her soup. Coughing she sputtered a little. Celestia patted her on the back and rubbed her hoof in a small circle.

“Now can you tell me why you were out in the snow for so long?”

Twilight pointed towards her dresser. There on top, in a small pot was a flower. It had a thick stem, but the flower bud was delicate. A sparkling white, it had a bright yellow core that shone like the sun. It gave off a warmth that brightened the room. The flower was the only source of heat, but it had the room feeling cozy and wonderful.

“Helleborus Thaumaturgis. It only grows in the Everfree and only blooms in the middle of the winter. I... I really wanted you to have it.”

“It's beautiful Twilight. But you didn't have to catch a cold just to get me a pretty flower.”

“I just wanted you to have something to make you happy. Something to tell you how much I...” Twilight broke out into another long series of coughs.

“I have you, that's more then enough.” Celestia moved in close to Twilight.

“Don't come close! I'm contagious.”

“I don't care, now come here,” Celestia drew Twilight in close to her and planted a kiss on her lips. “I love you too, Twilight.” She then settled into the bed beside Twilight and wrapped her in a warm wing. The two settled back, relaxed and warm. Twilight drifting off into sleep while Celestia hummed a song.

Three days later Twilight was feeling miles better. She checked the temperature of the soup on the stove. Using her magic to ladle it into a bowl, she carefully carried it up to her bedroom. Pushing the door open, she looked inside, “Celestia? Are you feeling better? I brought you soup.”