Eventually the thunderstorms came to an end in my Equestria dreamscape. As Celestia’s Orb rose in the East one was presented with just random clusters of cumulus clouds floating over the valley floor. The early morning light turning them various shades of pale yellow, pink, and light violet. The reflections of these clouds could be seen in the numerous great puddles around Sweet Apple Acres. Even with the knowledge that it would be very muggy today it was beautiful to behold.
Applebloom was still in bed with a fever and was in no shape to do her morning chores.

So it fell to Stone Mane to pick hers up while Big Macintosh took care of his usual list of chores he also checked to see if any of the buildings had sustained damage from the evening’s storms. It was during these inspections the stallion came across a the blasted remnants of the main gate to the farmstead. The wooden structure was now blasted, collection of charred and shattered timbers. Splintered pieces of wood were scattered over a 20ft area. The gate must’ve taken a direct hit from a bolt of lightning. In all his years the red stallion had never seen the likes of this. He sighed and shook his head. Looked like he had one more thing to add to his to-do list for the day.
Applejack as usual helped Granny Smith with making breakfast. Normally the elderly matriarch was the first to get up, but AJ had spent a good part of the early morning keeping an eye on Applebloom. The filly was still not lucid and her fever had not broken. Like Big Mac the mare couldn’t help and feel a bit of deja vu. Less than a year ago they’d dealt with Applebloom’s return from the Kingdom of Shadows and her possession by the Deception. This wasn’t that…AJ hoped, but there were still enough similarities to put the mare on edge. The mare regularly checked on her little sister and replaced her ice pack.
Finally breakfast was ready the mare called the household to the table. Eventually everypony arrived and via the mud room they washed their hooves before entering. Nopony had gotten a good night’s sleep so there was much yawning around the table as breakfast was consumed. Granny kept it simple this morning. Scrambled eggs, buttermilk biscuits, assorted fresh fruit, a tub of honey and butter along with some jars of jams and jellies for ponies to slather on the biscuits. As they ate AJ gave the Stone Mane and Big Mac her latest update on Little Bloom.
“She’s still out like a light, and she’s still got a fever, so once I’ve finished my grub I’m gonna trot over and see if Doctor Strong Heart can do a house call this mornin’. Also I’ll write a letter ta let Princess Luna telling her what’s goin’ on.”
Stone Mane finished another biscuit and wiped his face with a linen napkin before speaking. “Won’t it take forever for a letter to get to her Highness? She must get a ton of mail everyday.”
AJ finished chewing her mouthful of scrambled eggs before answering. “Nope! Both of the princesses gave all of us Elements of Harmony seals that we can put on any letters we send them. Besides I’ll drop by the library and have Spike send it. That and the seal doohickey will kick it ta the front of line.”
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Doctor Strong Heart smiled and levitated the coffee carafe over and poured himself another cup of coffee. He needed it since last night’s storms had kept him up much of the evening. Still the view from the front veranda of his cottage was glorious. He had the day off and after breakfast he planned to see how his garden had weathered the storms. He really, really hoped the cucumbers had pulled through because the latest issue of the Happy Mare’s Home Journal had some excellent recipes for pickles that he wanted to try.
The black stallion was in the process of stirring some more sugar into his cup when spotted trotting up his walk one of his closest neighbor. The morning sun made Applejack’s mane and coat positively glow. Strong Heart had tons of respect for the Elements of Honesty and it was the stallion’s intent to ask her soon if she wanted to go to Ponyville County Fair together this year. In fact he was thinking about how he might bring up the topic with her when he saw the look in her leaf green eyes.
Romantic thoughts vanished as the mare came to stop in front of him. “Mornin’ Doc. How ya doin’ did yer cottage make it thru the storm last night alright?”
“Um. Yes, yes it did. Thank you for asking. So Applejack what brings you here today? Everything alright at Sweet Apple Acres?”
AJ shook her head. “Most of us r’ fit as a fiddle, but….Well. Doc it’s Applebloom! Last night out of the blue she came down with a nasty old fever and she hasn’t woken up from it!”
Strong Heart suddenly felt his own heart start beating faster. Last winter he’d been at ground zero when the final battle of the Deception had taken place

and while he hadn’t been in the line of fire and the Princesses had thanked for his services it had been traumatic experience.

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Even months later he still had nightmares about those 24 hours. Carefully he levitated the cup back to the small table next him.
“Applejack. Please tell me your little sister hasn’t become possessed again, and has started murdering pigs again and sucking them dry.”
The mare shook her head. Oh no, no, no! She hasn’t….I think. No. I’m certain this ain’t that! But she’s got a fever and won’t wake up. Could ya perhaps come over take a gander at her?”
The stallion sighed. “Let me go get my bags.”
It was a short trip back to the Apple Family farmstead. Although the doctor was happy he’d taken the time to put some slip overshoes and some gaiters on because the macadamed road was a soggy mess. As they trotted up to the farm the unicorn noticed the demolished gate. Big Mac was dragging away the largest remain pieces of it as they passed through entrance. AJ noticed the curious expression on the doctor’s face.
“That happened last night. By looks of it we reckon some big old bolt of lightnin’ blew that gate ta smithereens. Now it’s only good fer kindlin’.”
Applejack found her little sister more or less the way she’d left her. Although the filly seemed to stirring and was making various nonverbal noises. Quietly the stallion set the bag on the floor next to the bed and in his best bedside manners he addressed the filly.
“Applebloom. Applebloom. Can you hear me dear?”
The filly’s eyes slowly opened and for a few seconds she just stared at the doctor. Finally in a weak voice she spoke. “D,d,d,doc Strong Heart. Is that yu? What happened ta me? I feel really, really bad.”
Removing the gaiters and overshoes from his front hooves he gently reached out and patted the side of the filly’s head. “That’s why I am here! Now! Lets see what we can do about making you feel better!” Then he started removing instruments from his bag.
Applejack who was standing alongside the doctor spoke up. “Little Bloom. Do ya know when ya started feeling sick?”
The filly’s face scrunched up. “No not really. I woke up like this… after I had a really weird dream.”
AJ cocked her head to one side. “Can ya remember any of it?”
The buttercream yellow filly stared up at the ceiling. “I, I, think I was with some other pony…I think. They took me ta meet this big glowin serpent-like being.”
AJ’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Um sugar cube. Did this big serpent thing happen ta have a name?”
The filly was unable to answer for a minute or so as the doctor stuck a thermometer in her mouth and took her pulse. Finally the instrument floated out of her mouth. “Um, uh, it, it was sumthin like London…no, no. Ladon I think.”
The color drained a little from AJ’s face. “Oh, um Ladon. So what did ya and the serpent do? I hope it wasn’t mean ta ya? Remember anythin’ else?”
The filly shook her head slowly. “No. It’s all really blurry ta me. I wonder Princess Luna know anythin’ about it?”
“I’ll make sure ta ask her when I writer her a letter!” AJ said.

To be continued.