//------------------------------//
// ==Part Seventeen:  A Heart That Blooms== 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"Lunar spices?!"  Noir's fangs showed in an incredulous gasp.  "Miss Zecora, surely you jest!"

The zebra chuckled from where she squatted, stirring a bubbling cauldron of brew.  "Still, dear friend, History suggests that you and your kind would have use for the incense!"

The stallion adjusted his hood, snorting indignantly.  "Of all the ridiculous generalities!"  He pivoted about, glaring into the corner.  "Just because I'm a member of the Lunar Code does not mean that I'd give into such ancient frailities!"

"Is that absolutely so?"  Zecora winked.  "I heard that lunar spices gave off a most delightful glow!"

"Hmmmf!  I'll have you know that no sarosians have harvested lunar spices in several eons!"  His slitted eyes peered angrily across the hut's hazy interior.  "The last time it was ever used was to satiate the anxious denizens of the Lunar Empire, and we have long evolved well beyond such primitive and blind barbarism!"

"But surely you don't need Nightmare Moon to scoop such a powerful ingredient with your spoon!"

Noir groaned, face hoofing.

With a chuckle, Zecora said, "I'm quite serious, my friend!  Lunar spices could put thousands of ponies on the mend!  Why not consider turning a vice from the past into a medicine that can last?"

"We no longer possess the resources to fly ourselves to the moon on our own," Noir said in a groaning tone.  "We'd need the Elements of Harmony to even consider such a venture."

"Well, I am on good terms with Twilight and her kin.  Perhaps we can arrange some teleportation?"

"Unnngh..."

Zecora chuckled again, returning to her brew.

"I'm beginning to think that our good friend Rainbow Dash has rubbed off on you to quite a degree," Noir droned.

Just then, a light series of hooves landed just outside the hut's door.

"Well..."  Noir smirked.  "Speak of the devil."

"Do come in, Rainbow," Zecora threw her voice.  "Let's commune while we're all a'glow—"

WHUD!  Rainbow Dash unceremoniously bucked the door open.  She stood in the frame, sweaty and wheezing.  "Zecora!"  Her gaze flickered across the hut.  "Noir!  Friggin' score!  I need you guys super super badly!"

"Is that a fact...?" Noir's midnight muzzle scrunched in curiosity.

Rainbow took a bold step in, wide-eyed and gasping:  "It's Apple Bloom!  She's dying!"

Th-Thunk!  Zecora instantly dropped her ladle.  Spinning about, she gaped at the pegasus.  "By the shadows—little Apple Bloom!"  She stumbled forward, hoof raised.  "She has befallen some doom?!"

"I came as quickly as I could!  You g-guys have gotta come see!"  Rainbow pointed out the hut with a shaky hoof.  "Sweet Apple Acres!  Pronto!  Bring your mystic zebra and bat pony wizardry... n'stuff!"

"Rainbow... do calm down..."  Noir trotted forward, his leafy ears spilling out from underneath the hood.  "Take a deep breath.  Now..."  He leaned forward, slitted eyes narrowing.  "...this Apple Bloom.  She is...?"

"Applejack's little s-sister!" Rainbow's voice cracked.

"Yes.  Never mind that.  Tell us."  Noir's fangs glinted.  "What kind of trouble is she in?"

"She... her..." Rainbow shuddered.  "A snake bite!"

"What kind of snake?" Noir asked.

"I... I-I didn't see it!"  Rainbow gulped.  "The Apples described it as 'glowing' and 'colored like timberwolves!'  Please, guys!  You gotta come!  Apple Bloom's foaming this nasty gunk from her mouth!  You gotta fix her up!  You just gotta!"

Noir and Zecora exchanged swift glances.

"'Glowing...?'" Noir mouthed.  "'Colored like timberwolves?'  A green luminescence?  Sounds Tartarusian."

"Tartarunan adflavi?"  Zecora tapped her chin.  "It can't possibly..."

"Perhaps then Occidan reptilicus?"

"No, it is not even remotely native to this land."  Zecora gulped.  "Still, we mustn't allow our speculation to get out of hand."

"Right."  Noir nodded swiftly, trotting across the hut.  "I'll grab my satchel.  You gather your things and join us as soon as you can."  He turned and looked at Rainbow.  "I'm guessing Apple Bloom's at her family's farm?"

"Er... yes!  Yes she is!"  Rainbow blinked wide.  "Aren't you both coming?!"

"I'll need every tool in my possession if I'm to achieve true venom extraction," Zecora explained.  "You and Noir must make like the wind; on your swiftness I depend."

"You heard the shaman," Noir said, shoving Rainbow out of the hut.  Once outside, he flapped his wings and lifted off.  "We must prepare Apple Bloom for Zecora's work."

"Right!  Sure thing!"  Rainbow soared after Noir.  She turned and hollered down at the distant hut.  "Applejack's farm house, Zecora!  Right beside her red barn!  You can't miss it!"

"Rainbow Dash—" Noir's voice growled, ahead of them.

Rainbow flapped her wings to catch up.  The started clearing the trees.

"You said the filly was foaming at the mouth..."

"Yes!  Yes she was!" Rainbow squeaked.

"Any particular color?" Noir asked.

"Uhm..." Rainbow gulped.  "A nasty pale pink color.  Like salmon froth."

Noir's slitted eyes shrank instantly.

Rainbow saw it.  "What... what is it, dude?!"

"Blessed Luna..." Noir's fangs glinted as he broke the tree line and sped towards the distant orchards.  "This is most dire."

Rainbow blinked.  A misty haze formed between them, accompanied by a hissing noise.  It took her eyes a bit of darting around before she realized that ashen smoke was rising from the sarosian's exposed wings and neck.  "Luna Poop!"  She pointed in mid-flight.  "Noir, your... your c-coat!"

"Keep flying, Rainbow," the pained stallion grunted, flapping his wings harder as he braved the torturous sunlight.  "We must make haste!  For Apple Bloom's sake!"

Rainbow clenched her jaw shut, nodding.  Silent as a stone, she darted ahead, leading her companion to where the Apple Family ponies were huddled.






Part Seventeen:  A Heart That Blooms
(Where Rainbow Dash set off on her wildest quest yet)