Appledashery

by Just Essay

The Broth

There was movement on the bottom floor of the Apple Family household.

Busier movement than usual...

Rainbow Dash heard it several minutes into her aerial pacing. She dipped down low, craning an ear towards the front open window.

"Is that it, Mr. Noir?"

"This broth should do the trick, Ms. Sparkle."

"Are you certain of that? Trixie could add more samples of the lavender."

"No. No, we mustn't overdo it. There's only so little material that we can work with, and I do believe yours and Ms. Sparkle's enchantment should magnify the flower's effect."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Has Ms. Applejack been alerted?"

"She's waiting upstairs, Mr. Noir, along with Zecora."

"Here. Trixie will help you carry the medicine up there."

"Much appreciated, Ms. Lulamoon. Let us be calm. Don't spill the broth."

Several ponies' hooves clamored up the stairs.

Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth. Wings flapping, she ascended, then hovered over towards the opposite end of the house's second level. She lingered just above the window, craning her neck to peer in slightly.

An orange figure knelt next to Apple Bloom's bed, alongside the tell-tale signs of Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Zecora and Stu Leaves. When Noir, Twilight Sparkle, and Trixie entered, the ponies turned to look.

"Is that it...?" Applejack asked, her voice heavy... breath shuddering. "Is that what's going to fix my little sister?"

"That remains to be seen, Ms. Applejack," Noir's voice said. "Zecora? If you could help me in administering the broth?"

"Please step aside, Applejack, as we try to bring your sister back."

Sniffling. "You do your best. I-I believe in you..."

"Where in Celestia's name did you get the ingredients from?" Stu's voice asked.

"They... uh... appeared on the window sill," Twilight remarked.

"They what?! Then just who's responsible for—?"

"Will y'all kindly stop yer yappin'?" Granny Smith growled. "Zecora's given our little one her vittles!"

"Shhhhh..." Zecora's voice breathily said, "Drink up, Apple Bloom, our dearest friend. This soup is guaranteed to put you on the mend."

Silence.

"Did... did she drink all of it?"

"Shhhhh!"

More dead silence.

Rainbow Dash leaned in. She bit her lip... trembled... shook...

And then...

"Crkkk! Kaff! Kaff! Mmmmm..." A tiny voice mewled, whimpered, then wheezed. "Guhhh... Apple... Applejack? Why are... why're there so many ponies in my room...?"

"Apple Bloom...?"

"Oh gosh. Did... did I sleep in through school? Miss Cheerilee's going to kill me..."

"Oh Apple Bloom!" That drawling voice wept melodically. Bed covers shuffled. Apple Bloom yelped as she was swept up into a dear, dear hug. "Oh darlin'... I-I lurve you so much. Praise Celestia... Praise Celestia Almighty...!"

"Applejack? What's...what's wrong? Guh... You're squishing me..."

"Nothin's wrong, sugarcube..." A chuckle, then more sniffling... weeping. "Everythang's just heavenly. Oh praise Celestia... m-my little sister is back, everypony!"

"Woohooo!"

"Hot diggety!"

"Eeeyup!"

"Boundless elation! A cause for celebration!"

"Okay... did y'all enter me in a pageant or somethin'? This is startin' to get weird..."

"Heheheh..."

"Yer so precious to me, Apple Bloom. Oh... what a miracle." Applejack giggled and sobbed all at once. "What a fine miracle indeed...!"

By this time, Rainbow Dash was melting. She hugged herself, teetering over, weighed down by the lump in her throat. Sniffling, the mare clenched her eyes shut before they moistened. After several shuddering breaths, she lifted up, tilted about, and shot her way towards town on a blue streak.

She may have done a couple of twirls and backflips along the way.

Comments

[RoboRed]

*COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF*!!!!

[WhitewolfStormrunner]

Oh, thank goodness! Apple Bloom is healed and awake!

Well done, Rainbow. Well done, indeed!

One thing that's been bugging me for awhile, though: what happened to that letter that she wrote to AJ?
(And if you let it fall into the hooves of a couple of rich little brats, I'll find a way to personally track you down and physically hurt you!)
All that work shouldn't go for nothing. AJ needs to find out how Dash really feels about her.

On another note, the Psycho Twins are still among the missing. I wouldn't put it past them to show up at some point before this is all over.

Anyway, I was just waiting for this new chapter to show up so I could read it, then call it a night. And you have made it well worth the wait, m' dear JE.
Catch you all tomorrow, my loves.
Good night.

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5oqqkdgHH1qg26zfo8_250.gif

[Phoenix Kitten]

Wow.. that worked really fast.
Iced Lavender is some potent stuff.

After several shuddering breaths, she lifted up, tilted about, and shot her way towards down on a blue streak.

Wow. Dash is so happy she figured out how to go both up and down at the same time.

[Phoenix Kitten]

6595590
What if Stu found it and gave it to AJ since it was addressed to her?

[MidnightReflection]

She may have done a couple of twirls and backflips along the way.

We all did twirls and backflips. We all did...

[Leftover of Saikano]

But now, where does the story go?

[zaponator]

For a while there, I thought I was all done with saying 'back to square one', but...
Well, things are starting to look that way, again.

[Hestia]

Well, that's a load off my mind.

[Autumn Rush]

Well done, Rainbow.

Well done.

[Dash32]

I have something I wish to tell the author. Well done. This chapter was so damn close to making me burst into tears. But I rarely cry. Continue

[DrEggnog]

Aww, I got misty eyed. It's so rewarding to see all that hard work, craziness, and annoyance pay off. This story has a habit of dragging itself deep into the stupid mud and then soaring out smelling like roses. Nothing else quite like it.

[Boop-Happy Lass]

Well done... :D