Throughout the morning Doctor Strong Heart stayed at Sweet Apple Acres in my Equestria dreamscape. The unicorn’s area of expertise was in blood toxicology and identification and that morning he took several samples of Applebloom’s blood along with her salvia, hair, and even a urine sample.

The stallion conducted several tests there at the farmhouse but they came up mostly negative. He kept some of the samples and decided to run them over to Ponyville General Hospital and have the lab run a more extensive battery of chemical, alchemical and even magical test on the remaining examples.
Around noon the black unicorn gathered the other members of the Apple family for a briefing. Although he was not family Stone Mane was permitted to join them at the dining room table. The doctor consulted his notes one more time before speaking.
“Okay first the good news. Applebloom does not appear to be in a life-threatening situation, and her condition continues to improve as we speak. Her fever is subsiding and she appears to be able to remain lucid for longer and longer periods of time. That’s the good new.”
He levitated up another sheet of paper with his hastily horn-written writing all over it. “Now the bad news. I have no explanation for what brought on her current condition. Her blood pH is bit off, but that’s not unexpected since she’s obviously had a reaction to something. I could detect no unusual toxins or pathogens in her blood, and her white cell blood count is within acceptable tolerances. So at this moment I have no immediate explanation for her condition.”
Applejack pushed the brim of her Stetson back and looked at the doctor. “Doc. Do ya think Little Bloom is perhaps succumbing again ta–” The doctor finished her sentence.
“No Applejack. I don’t believe she succumbing to…” He paused and glanced over at Stone Mane and then looked at AJ. The mare seemed to know what the doctor was thinking.
“It’s okay doc. Stone Mane knows more or less the score when it comes ta my little sis and what she’s has gone through.”
The stallion nodded his head and resumed speaking. “To the Deception again.” He held up a front hoof when AJ started to speak. “Now yes AJ. Last time the Deception succeeded in disguising its presence from everypony until the very end, but this feel different this time. Your little sister is not being evasive in her answers to my questions. Call it a hunch but this just doesn’t feel like a few months ago. However I am still legal obligated to file a report to the Royal Court in Canterlot.”
The face on the nutmeg brown colt scrunched up as he processed this last bit of information. “Why do you have to legally file a report to Canterlot?” AJ answered the colt’s question.
“The reason Stone is becuz my little sister is often in very close proximity ta all of us Elements of Harmony and Princess Luna. That disgusting Deception vermin went and possessed my little sister so it could git close ta one of Royal Sisters and either kill or possess one of them! And all of us Elements r’ considered….oh what’s the words Twilight said. Ah! Right! Strategic assets of the realm!”
The mare turned and looked direct at the colt. Suddenly the amicable farmpony mannerism changed. She leaned forward and locked eyes with the colt. “And Stone. I hope ya understand. Don’t want ya telling everypony about what’s gone on here in the last day. We don’t need ta be dealin’ with gossip or nonsense. So as an Agent of the Crown I want ya ta promise you’ll keep yer pie hole shut about this. If anypony asks ya what happened just tell them my little sis came down with a tummy ache. Do ya understand what I am sayin’ ta ya?”
The colt’s froze in his chair. AJ was acting like how his father had been when addressing his troops, or when some of the colt’s teachers we’re unhappy with his behavior in school. Suddenly the earth pony felt he understood how this pony and her friends could’ve defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, and the Deception last year. He slowly nodded his head.
“Yes ma’am.” He said softly.
The doctor started stowing his notes back into his valise. “Well I’ll check in one more time with the patient. Then I’ll be heading out. I’ll drop these samples off at the hospital. With any luck we’ll the lab results by this time tomorrow.”
After one last check of the filly the doctor departed. The colt watched as Applejack went to family desk and pulled out a piece of paper. Picking up a fountain pen with her teeth she started writing.
The mare didn’t looked up from the letter for another minute or so. Finally she set the pen down. “Well just like the doc I’m gonna send this here letter ta Princess Luna letting her know what the hay is goin’ on my little sis.”
Stone Mane nodded his head. “Did you remember to mention that serpent Ladon?”
The mare suddenly exclaimed. “Oh shoot! Fergot ta mention that in the letter! Thanks fer the reminder!” She picked up the pen again and quickly added a PS to bottom of the letter.
Then she folded it up. From a locking drawer in the desk she retrieved an official Royal wax seal and a stick of deep blue wax. Using the oil lamp on the desk AJ ignited the wax and then dripped a little puddle of the wax on the folded seam of the letter. Carefully with both hooves she impressed the seal into the wax. Satisfied with results she slipped the letter into a modest satchel and then put it around her neck. Then she looked over at the colt.
I’m gonna run this over ta Golden Oak library. With any luck Twilight will also know sumthin about this Ladon feller. If nuthin else I’ll git Spike ta magically send this here letter. Then she trotted out the front door.
Unfortunately for the farm pony she discovered that Twilight had made a day trip to Canterlot for research so AJ was resigned to just having Spike send the letter on to Princess Luna.
By the afternoon Applebloom was definitely recovering, but was still in no shape to do her afternoon chores, so Stone Mane had to step up and do them along with his already assigned chores. This made for a very long afternoon for the colt, and he definitely was looking forward to dinner. However he was not looking forward to having to help with the dishes afterwards.
A couple hours later dinner had consumed and the colt and Applejack were in the middle of cleaning up the evening dishes when there was the sound of a magical event outside the farmhouse followed a few seconds later by a series emphatic knocking on the front door. Being the closest to the door AJ trotted over and opened it. She found an obviously alarmed Prussian Blue alicorn standing in front of her. Before AJ could say a word the Luna spoke.
“How do you know of the being known as Ladon?”

To be continued.