Fluffy Fever

by Eyeswirl the Weirded


Chapter 6: Will There Be Lollipops?

Sunset awoke to find herself nestled in the winter quilt, her body unmoved from where she'd fallen asleep. How Adagio had managed that little switcheroo without waking her, she wasn't sure. Glancing around, she was just the tiniest bit disappointed not to find her doting Dazzling doctor nearby this time, but she guessed that Adagio probably had better things to do than be a living pillow to a sick girl for the rest of the day.

Checking the time, Sunset found that it was about ten minutes after school let out for the day, so maybe Adagio had headed out to meet someone that would have been in classes until now? Rarity, maybe? There weren't a whole lot of other candidates that she knew of, which led to the thought that outside her, each other, and Sunset herself, the Dazzlings probably didn't have a lot of friends. While she pondered whether or not they'd ever shaved down that 'enemy list' of theirs, Sunset was startled by the sound of her front door flying open.

"HI, SUNSET!!"

"Pinkie Pie," came Rarity's stern voice, "don't raise your voice like that, she might still be resting!"

"Oop!" There were giggles. "Sorry!"

It sounded like Rainbow spoke next as they approached her room. "How do ya think she's holdi-WOAH!"

The next thing Sunset knew, Fluttershy had burst into her room and quickly began examining her as part of a practiced, slightly invasive Friend-Is-Sick-Have-To-Help check-up.

"Areyouokay?! Areyouwarmenough?! Doyouneedabucket?! Whataboutblankets?! Areyourestingwell?! Doyouneedanotherlullaby?!"

These frantic attentions continued until Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack joined them in the room, though it was just a little crowded.

Her smile equal parts amused and grateful, Sunset waved Fluttershy off with one arm. "I'm fine, I'm fine, thanks."

Pulling back, Fluttershy examined a thermometer in her hands. "Hmm... Temperature is a little high, but otherwise pretty healthy."

Sunset stared in quiet shock. Where did she put that?! And when?!

Smiling, Applejack adjusted her hat. "Better already, huh? Looks like sleep's the best medicine after all."

"Well, actually..." Some part of Sunset was hesitant to share this information, but she didn't want to lie to her friends about having spent a few hours in a small room with Adagio, then going to sleep in her hair again. "Adagio Dazzle took care of me."

This won a few looks of surprise, but Pinkie smiled. "Oh, was it because in addition to not having a whole lot of stuff to do on account of technically being unemployed, she felt like she owed you some kind of favor for everything you've done for her since the morning you two came to school together and rather than interpret your actions as caring and kind-hearted deeds for their own sake, she thinks it-" She was silenced when Rainbow slapped a hand to her mouth.

"Yeesh, we get it, you can save time by summarizing exposition to streamline the narrative." Everyone, Pinkie included, stared at her in shocked silence for a moment. She crossed her arms, raising her chin somewhat haughtily. "I read sometimes."

Following another short silence, Applejack tilted her hat a little. "Welp, reckon that's that."

Sunset blinked twice. "None of you are suspicious or worried? Not even a bit?"

"Nope."
"Nah."
"Nu-uh."
"W-well, no more worried than usual, I guess."
"Not at all, Darling."

Rainbow scratched her head. "They came to school all last week and nothing bad happened, right? Feels like they've all gone straight."

Huh, thought Sunset, my friends are all apparently cool with this. Sweet!

Well, part of her was disappointed. It wasn't that she wanted a conflict, but she'd gained so much experience relating to distrust-based drama! She let the thought pass as Fluttershy grinned brightly at her.

"I'm glad you're feeling better."

There were affirmative sounds from the others, though Rarity noticed an... interesting little detail.

My, my. Quite a few orange hairs on her bed, aren't there? Hope they weren't up to anything strenuous...

She didn't say anything out loud, but there would be time to interrogate ask Sunset, or perhaps Adagio herself, for all the juicy details later.

An arrangement was made for there to be a Congrats On Not Kicking The Bucket party for Sunset that weekend before some sharing of how school went that day, some small talk, a quick check if Sunset needed anything, and the others leaving her to rest for the remainder of the day.

---

The following morning, Sunset felt right as rain! The saying never made sense to her, but looking it up was yet another of those things she knew she wasn't going to remember to actually do any time soon. Regardless, she put her trusty jacket on, pausing for a moment when she noticed a slip of paper poking out of one of the pockets. On it was a phone number and a message.

You asked, so, here it is. Don't worry, I already got your number from your phone while you were out.

Get more sleep, silly girl!

It wasn't signed, but there was no doubt in Sunset's mind who wrote it as her eyebrows furrowed at the last line. She called the number, waiting through the rings before Adagio picked up.

"Sunset Shimm-"

"I'M NOT SILLY!!"

"Gah!!"

Realizing that she essentially just shouted into someone's ear, Sunset smiled sheepishly, even if it wasn't visible. "Oh, and, hi!"

"Erm... Y-yes, hello... Did you need something?"

"Huh?" Oh, right, you're supposed to have something to say when you call people! "Oh, n-nothing, just, y'know, testing the number." She winced at what sounded like either skepticism or hurt on the other line.

"You thought I would give you a fake number?"

"W-well, no, I, uh, just wanted to make sure you didn't give me a sex line's number as a prank or something."

"...Why would I know a sex line's number?"

It was entirely possible that Sunset's brain was mad at her for some reason. "I, er, y-you, well, uh, n-no, I just-"

There was an audible smirk in Adagio's voice. "Were you hoping to use my number as a sex line?"

She felt warmer now than at any point she had been sick. "That wasn't what I-"

"Because, I'm doing alright between what we get paid in the virtual reality project and what Rarity gives me to do, but if you're making suggestions on where I might find wor-"

"NO!! I just-" She heard coughing on the other end. "...Are you okay?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, I'm fine, but Aria and Sonata seem to have come down with something. Would you two like to say hello?"

"HIYA, SUNNY!" Sonata was cheerful for a sick person, but it was possible having a fever just made some people loopy.

Aria sounded a little more annoyed. And congested. "Yah. Tanks for gibbin' us yur bug, Shimmur."

"By the way," Adagio added, "you're on speaker."

Realizing that Adagio must have carried her infection after all, Sunset frowned a little. "Sorry you caught my cold, guys."

"Ahh, don' worry," replied Aria, "means we don' h-have, h-have t-t-ACHOO!!"

Aria's sniffle came at the same time as Sonata's giggling. "S'okay, Sunny-Dee, havin' The HackySneeze means we don't hafta go to work today!"

"But you do have to stay in bed," came Adagio's light reprimand, "now settle down."

"Yes, mummy."

Sunset wasn't sure if it was the two sickly sirens not being too bothered by their predicament or the quiet grumbles she heard from the third that made her smile. "Do what she says, girls, sleep is important for your immune system." She couldn't hear whether or not either of the two patients replied, but Adagio was probably smiling.

"Glad you learned something from that experience, Sunset Shimmer."

"Yes," Sunset said in the sweetest tones she could manage, "I had a very dedicated caretaker." Adagio didn't respond right away, but Sunset could tell by the sounds of Aria and Sonata snickering that she was turning red again, which drew a pleased smirk.

"I'll remind you two," came a low hiss, "that I'm taking care of you right now."

Sunset beamed, talking loudly enough that she was sure the others could hear. "Don't worry if she gives you a BIG SHOT, girls, she hurts you because she loves you!"

"SUNSET!!" Adagio groaned. "Great, Aria's curled up into a ball again."

Sonata's laughter made her a little hard to interpret. "H-help us, Sunny! She's g-gonna use the thermometer on us!"

"Go back to sleep, Sonata!"

"The one you have to pull your pants down f-"

Adagio sounded a little aggravated as she hastily ended the call. "I'lltalktoyouwhenIknowmoreaboutthenextjobgoodbye!"

Beep!

Snickering for several seconds, Sunset shook her head at herself even as she smiled.

Did it again. Right back where I started. But this time, I'm not gonna worry!

Adagio had shown that while not above seeking retribution if provoked, she had a pretty decent understanding of that whole Friendly Ribbing thing by now. Besides, even if she did get her back, the worst Adagio could come up with had to be better than freaking out about what she might do, right?