Pippi Longstocking could not remember waking up feeling much worse. Her head pounded, every blink seemed amplified into a thousand decibel noise, limbs heavy as lead, eyes sticky. "Oh, my head," she whispered to herself, lifting her head then dropping it back onto the pillow as though it was made of lead.
Typical. The one day Mash Buttons has gone back come to Canterlot City and Pippi can hardly move herself, let alone fetch a drink or some food, and add into that that she promised Applebloom they'd spend the day together and Pippi began to feel worse all over again.
Licking her lips, Pippi decided that she simply had to get herself up and get a drink. This flu bug was making her super dehydrated, and her magic couldn't produce her a bucket of water. That meant getting up. She focused on getting one hoof to the floor, then a second, followed by her back two hooves, struggling up until she was standing. She stumbled her way into the main part of the library, grabbing the rail with her cheek and letting it support her heavy head all the way down.
She ran a bucket of water and drank deeply, sitting down in the kitchen area heavily, completely exhausted just from that short journey. At least she felt like she could breathe now, she thought, resting her head against the counter edge, though getting back up to bed seemed near impossible.
She laid herself on the wooden floor, drifting into a fever-induced sleep.
*-*-*
Applebloom had had a productive morning. Three new sapling trees had been planted, she'd washed all the pie dishes they'd used the day before and she'd packed a picnic ready to take out on hers and Pippis date.
It wasn't an official date. They just liked to call them dates, but after so long being together, their dates were so frequent they stopped calling them that a while ago. Either way, Applebloom set off with her picnic in her packs to go and collect Pippi from the library. She'd found a quiet, secluded little glade, had enough food for all afternoon and a spring in her step.
As she pushed open the library door, Applebloom called, "Pippi?" There was no reply, so Applebloom walked in a little, her hoofbeats rebounding off of the walls. "Pippi?" she called again, now trotting slowly through the library, ears pricked for a single sign of the unicorn.
Trotting into the kitchen, Applebloom skidded to a halt, staring at Pippi asleep on the floor. She dropped the two panniers of picnic goodies onto the nearest counter and trotted to Pippi's side, nudging their cheeks together. "Pippi? Wake up girlie!"
Pippi peeled her eyes open groggily, blinking at Applebloom's worried face and trying to force it to focus. "Applebloom? I'm so sorry I'm late," she said, her voice so loud to her delicate ears. She groaned gently and closed her eyes, pinging them open when Applebloom said her name again.
"I think you need to get yourself back to bed," Applebloom said, nudging Pippi's head up gently. "C'mon, you can lean on me," she added, helping Pippi struggle to her hooves and start to stumble towards the staircase. Pippi was heavy against Applebloom, clearly beyond exhausted, and Applebloom felt a small pang of worry as she helped her girl into bed, tucking the blankets around her. "Now you just rest up here, I'll get a nice fire goin' and we'll get you right as rain in no time."
Pippi made a small sound of agreement, burrowing into the blankets so only the very tip of her horn was visible. Applebloom leant down and pressed a gentle kiss beside Pippi's ear, then set to work building up a good sized fire in the grate of Pippi's room. She kept glancing anxiously over at Pippi, worried her girl was more than just a little sick.
She brewed up some weak dandelion tea, leaving a large cupful beside Pippi's bed for her to drink when it was cold. Applebloom stood beside Pippi's bed, looking down on the unicorn with a worried expression. "I'm going to get the doctor, alright?" she said, nudging back a piece of mane which had fallen into Pippi's face.
Applebloom didn't wait for a reply, knowing that Pippi was already asleep, instead trotting out of the library and hunting for the doctor.
*-*-*
"And she can't get out of bed?" Applebloom shook her head, feeing more and more frustrated that she had repeated her story to a nurse, a receptionist and now the Ponyville doctor. "Then it's flu. Keep her fluids up and make sure she eats."
"How long could she had had flu?" Applebloom asked, raising an eyebrow.
The doctor frowned at the enquiry, obviously not used to being challenged. He answered, "Well, at least 2 days, possibly longer."
"Well then, it's not flu. Pippi was right as rain yesterday." Applebloom crossed her front legs as though that ended the conversation. The doctor merely looked at her over his glasses, dismissing her with a look. With a sigh, Applebloom conceded, "Okay, if she's no better, y'all better come and see her."
"Yes Applebloom," he replied, very close to sounding bored. Applebloom got up with a huff, stalking out of the little surgery without a backwards glance.
She walked back to the library via the little store, picking up some camomile to make a tea for Pippi. The whole time she spent out she found herself muttering about how rude the doctor had been, his manner really riling her up. She made a mental note to 'forget' to deliver his next order of fresh apple pies just as she returned to the library with her little shop goodies.
Applebloom trotted directly up to Pippi's room, settling on the edge of the bed and looking down at Pippi. She woke her gently, shaking her shoulder, and saying, "Hey, Pippi? Doctor says you've gotcha'self a flu. You'll be alright in a day or two."
"Thank you, Applebloom," Pippi replied, smiling. She curled herself up under the covers, wriggling a little to make some space for Applebloom, then invited her girl to sleep there with her.
Pippi slept so much better knowing Applebloom was there.
*-*-*
Over the next couple of days, Pippi spent the majority of her time tucked up safe and warm in bed, while Applebloom brought her teas, fruit, vegetables and soup, the pair curling up together when Pippi was tired to help her sleep better.
Mash Buttons returned on the fourth day of Pippi's flu, and joined in the efforts to cheer her up, bringing her books and keeping her company as she started to get stronger. Sweetie Belle dropped by a beautiful ribbon, stating that she always felt better when she had a new accessory to wear. Scootaloo gave Pippi an enthusiastic re-enactment of her daring leap to save a small bunny from injury after falling from a small cliff, bringing books crashing down around their ears but a delighted laugh from Pippi, who hadn't smiled in days.
Fluttershy visited and brought around a pair of baby ducks whose mother was also sick like Pippi. The little ducks padded around on Pippi's bed, quacking happily when Applebloom brought them a little basin of warm water to paddle in and entertaining all four of them by chasing each other around.
Pippi took ten days to begin to feel better, but had a dash of sadness mixed into her recovery. On her last day in bed, before she and Applebloom had agreed that she should try and go outside, she said to Applebloom, "I find it strange that Pinkie Pie hasn't been over."
Applebloom had wondered what was bothering her girl, and was surprised at what it was now that she knew. "I'm sure she'll be around tomorrow, making you laugh like old times."
Pippi smiled sadly; she was over-whelmed by a feeling like Pinkie Pie had forgotten her, that since she'd been sick maybe Pinkie had needed her. Pippi took a lot of her friend's feelings upon herself, despite other ponies warning her not to, and now she was worried that she'd somehow upset Pinkie Pie. "Can you go and see her?"
Applebloom rolled her eyes, smiling kindly at Pippi. "Oh, Sparkle, you just worry yourself too much. Now you finish up your tea, and we'll get some sleep.
*-*-*
The next day was warm and bright, everything feeling fresh and clean after a heavy rainstorm. Pippi woke up first, climbing out of bed around Applebloom who was peacefully sleeping away the morning, going down the stairs and fetching herself a drink. She was finally starting to feel more pony-like, less like she had died then been all warmed up.
Applebloom joined her shortly after, finding Pippi whiling away the time with a book of magic, containing mainly spells for creating things such as baskets and what not. Applebloom sat beside Pippi, who rested her head against Applebloom's shoulder and read the book to her, animatedly explaining how each spell worked and the technicalities behind developing new spells.
Once they'd finished the book chapter, Applebloom insisted they go out for a walk. They bathed and Pippi did their hair, being sure to include the beautiful white bow Sweetie Belle had brought her to ease her recovery in her mane. By the time lunch came, they were both beautifully turned out and trotting out of the door with heads held high.
Instantly as Pippi's front hooves crossed her threshold, a loud hooting noise nearly deafened her, followed swiftly by Pinkie Pie shouting "SURPRISE!" as loud as she could.
Many other ponies took up the shout too, a chorus of 'surprises' sounding from around the town square. "We heard you were better, and Pinkie Pie just couldn't resist throwing you a party," Sweetie Belle explained, adjusting the bow in Pippi's mane in a friendly way.
"So I threw you the biiiiggest party EVER!" Pinkie added, bounding up to Pippi, who grabbed the younger pony in a big hug.
"Thank you, Pinkie! I was worried I had upset you," Pippi admitted shyly, smiling at Pinkie Pie who laughed.
"Oh no! I was just too busy planning your party to visit! Look, there are presents," Pinkie replied, pointing at a large pile of gifts with Pippi's name on them.
There were many gifts, a lot of food and beautiful decorations for them all to enjoy. Applebloom stayed near to Pippi all day long, making sure she rested frequently and stayed hydrated, smiling kindly whenever someone would say how well Pippi looked or how happy ponies were to see her up and about.
As the afternoon turned into evening, Applebloom insisted that Pippi be rushed off to bed, though she wished she could have stayed longer. She felt happy, content that all in the world was as it should be, and as she curled up in bed that night, all wrapped up in Applebloom and duvets, she thought about her next letter to Tommy and Annika.
Dear Tommy and Annika,
Today, I learnt that no matter what, you can rely on your friends for anything. Just when I was worried about missing out on things with my friends. But Applebloom proved that everything can work out fine in the end.
Your faithful student,
Pippi Longstocking.