Commutatus

by Xz Hacker

Chapter Two “The Road To Recovery”

Chapter Two “The Road To Recovery”

“Twilight,” Applebloom called as she bounded down the stairs.

“Yes Applebloom,” Twilight said as she raised her head from the book she had brought from home.

“Sis is awake, and she wants some food, said she's starvin, but wanted to come and get it herself, I told her I'd send you up to talk to her.”

“Alright, you go get her some food while I go up and check to see how she's doing.”

At that Twilight began up the stairs to check on her patient.

“OK Applejack, how are you doing,” she asked as she came into Applejack's room.

“A might bit better than last time I woke up, but hungrier than you'd believe.”

“Well, while Applebloom gets you some food, I need to ask you a few questions. First, how much pain would you say you are in?”

“Uh, well, it feels like I cracked my ribs, and I feel like there is a spike drivin into my head.”

“How do your muscles feel, do they feel tense, or sore in any way?”

“The first time I woke up, but now I just feel weak.”

“That will happen when you lay in bed for almost ten days straight.”

“Don't remind me,” Applejack groaned, thinking about how out of shape she was, and how much work she would need to put into getting back in the swing of things.

“It's going to be OK, I think you won't go back to sleep any more, you seem to have stabilized. In fact, the brain scans I've been doing on you predicted you would wake up tomorrow, but looks like you're a little early.”

“It's not that Twi, it's ma muscles. It's going to take a few weeks to get back in shape.”

“We'll work on some physical therapy later, don't worry Applejack, you'll be good as new in a week or two.”

Before Applejack had time to get annoyed at the estimate, Applebloom came in with a tray full of food.

“Oh good I'm starvin,” Applejack said forgetting all about her worries and turning her full concentration on the food.

In a matter of minutes she cleared the entire plate. Twilight and Applebloom stared wide eyed and open mouthed.

“That was good, can I have some more,” Applejack asked looking at Twilight.

After a moment Applebloom nudged Twilight. Realizing she was being asked, Twilight shook her head for a second and said, “yes of course, in fact,” she turned to Applebloom and said, “keep her well fed, it will speed up her recovery.”

“Right,” Applebloom said, and ran out the door and down the stairs to fetch her sister more food.

“Now,“ Twilight said turning back to Applejack, “About your physical therapy.”

The next morning Rainbow Dash was at Sweet Apple Acres to supervise the physical recovery of Applejack.

“OK Applejack, think your ready for a mild jog with me?”

“I don't know Rainbow, I'm feelin awfully weak still.”

“It'll be easy, I walk with you and we won't go any faster than you can handle. It's just like when I hurt my wing, and Twilight says your already looking pretty well, so you should have passed the worst, all you gotta do now is suck it up and get to moving!”

“Alright, alright.”

“Lets see how fast you can go, then set some goals from there.“ Rainbow Dash looked around for a moment then pointed and said, “OK lets see how fast you can get to that tree.”

“On three, ready?”

“Ready,” Applejack said as she hunkered down a bit, ready to give it her all, whatever that currently was.

“One, two,” Applejack tensed ready to go on the next count.

“THREE,” Rainbow Dash yelled and Applejack sprinted off at a incredible pace.

Applejack made it to the tree in near to no time and stopped and looked back at Rainbow Dash who stared dumbfounded.

“Well don't just hang there lookin stupid, how'd I do?”

After a moment more of staring Rainbow Dash slowly asked, “are you really sure you need my help, because that was pretty fast.”

“What, are you kiddin me? I feel so weak you gotta be pullin my leg.”

“No really AJ that was just about as fast as you have ever been, how do you feel? Do you feel tired at all?”

Applejack stopped and thought for a second, “No not really, and I gave it my all.”

“I noticed, alright lets see how far you can do that, test your endurance.”

“I don't know Rainbow, you sure I'm up to this?”

“I'll carry you back if you get that tired.”

“OK, so just start running?”

“Yeah, start heading that way,” Rainbow Dash motioned the direction of Ponyville, “I'll follow you from the sky, just stop if you feel like your getting tired, then we will walk back.“

“Alright,” Applejack said as she took off at the same speed.

Rainbow Dash followed her from the sky as promised, but all the way to Ponyville. Applejack never seemed to slow down. Once there Rainbow Dash flew in and landed next to Applejack.

“Wow AJ, you just went full sprint all the way to Ponyville, how did you manage that? Are you sure you feel weak.”

“Well I feel a little better after that, but I'm absolutely starving, can we grab some grub before we head on back home?”

“Eat whatever you like, you deserve it after that, heck I'll buy.”

“Thank you kindly Rainbow, seems I forgot to bring some money anyhow.”

They made there way to the market, where Rainbow Dash quickly began regretting her decision to buy, as Applejack ate everything in sight. After thirty minutes of near constant eating Applejack seemed satisfied.

“Well that was delicious.”

“I know I said eat anything you want, but how about next time you not eat everything you want.”

“What do you mean?”

“AJ, you do realize you just ate over two hundred bits worth of food.”

“WHAT?”

“Yeah that's kinda how I felt.”

“I'm sorry Rainbow, I'll make it up to you, I'll pay you back when we get back to Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Tell you what, it's on me if you can beat me in a foot race back.”

“You're crazy, I couldn’t if I wanted to being like this.”

“You sprinted all the way from Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville without being winded,“ Rainbow Dash said in a slightly annoyed tone.

“Well I s'pose your right, but I still don't think I can beat ya back home.”

“What happened to the pony who challenged me to the Iron Pony competition?”

“Rainbow, YOU challenged ME, remember?”

“Oh yeah, but YOU accepted.”

Applejack sighed, “so you won't fly?”

“I promise.”

“OK, OK, lets get this over with.”

“On your mark, get set, GO!”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack took off, they went neck and neck until half way when Rainbow Dash started getting tired and began to fall behind. When they arrived back at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash was a full five seconds behind Applejack and came panting, then fell over.

“How the hay are you moving that fast AJ, I just don't get it.”

“Rainbow stop pulling my leg, I know you ain’t outa breath.”

“I'm serious AJ, you were FASTER than you were the last time we raced.”

“I mean it Rainbow, I can feel how weak I am, you can stop humoring me.”

“I'm not, I'm being serious here, as a matter of fact I want to talk to Twilight, she needs to hear this.”

Applejack sighed, still believing Rainbow Dash was simply trying to motivate her into doing more in her recovery, which she didn't really need, she was fully capable of working out on her own, and didn't want anyone's pity.

“I'll see you tomorrow Rainbow, I'm getting tired.”

“Alright AJ, I'll go tell Twilight how good your doing, and I'll see you bright and early for some more running.”

Applejack slowly made her way upstairs to her bed thinking about the strange day. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that maybe Rainbow Dash was telling the truth, she didn't get out of breath at all, despite running as fast as she could. She decided to sleep on it a while.

She sat in her bed for hours trying to go to sleep, but she couldn't help but play the day over and over again in her mind. Finally she got hungry again and got up to get her something to eat.

As she finished a very large breakfast she noticed the sun rising.

“Dang it, I've been up all night, there's no way I can survive Rainbow's training, not after being up all night, and not the way she thinks I can move already.”

After another hour both Rainbow Dash and Twilight showed up at her front door.

“Hey guys, how are things.”

“Dash tells me that you are doing exceptional on the physical recovery, is that true?”

“Well, I do seem to be a bit quicker than I thought I'd be, but I think Rainbow mighta gone and oversold me a bit.”

“Quit being modest AJ, you're as quick as can be.”

“Well how about I watch you run for a bit myself and be the judge?”

“I don't know Twilight, I've been up all night, and I'm not sure I'm up to the same workout she put me through yesterday.”

“Please you didn't break a sweat,“ Rainbow Dash said almost angrily, “I got more of a workout than you did.”

“Hold on Dash, if she doesn't feel like it don't push her, however I would really like to see you run for just a bit if you would be up to it Applejack.”

“I reckon a quick jog couldn’t hurt.”

The girls all went outside to watch Applejack run once more. Again Rainbow had her run to the tree nearby. This time Applejack went about twice the speed she had the day before and ran into the tree.

“Applejack are you all right,” Twilight asked as both her and Rainbow Dash came running to Applejack's aid.

“I'm fine, I just got a little ahead of myself that's all.”

“Are you sure you're OK? You hit that tree pretty fast,” Dash said both concerned and trying to hold back enthusiasm for the speed she had just witnessed.

“Actually Applejack, Rainbow Dash is right, you were moving really fast, I mean look,” Twilight motioned to the tree Applejack had just ran into, and apparently caused a huge dent with a lot of splinters to form.

“I did that,” Applejack asked dumb founded.

“Let's go back inside, I want to examine you after a crash like that,” Twilight said as she helped Applejack to her feet.

“I'm tellin ya I feel fine.”

“Trust me AJ, doctors won't leave you alone until they're sure, just give her what she wants and if you're fine she'll let you go.”

“OK OK, lets go in.”