A RACE AGAINST TIME

Minutes passed and while everypony in the waiting room seemed calm, it was more than obvious that Henry was fidgeting in his seat the entire time.

About ten minutes later however, Applebloom came trotting into the waiting room with a solemn expression on her face while missing a very defining accessory.

“Applebloom? How's Babs?” Applejack asked as warmly as she could.

“She's fine... in a matter of speakin'. Let's just go home.” Applebloom replied her voice sounding hollow and saddened as she spoke.

“Go home? But Babs is in the hospital! How can ya be wantin to go home at a time like this?” Applejack asked with a concerned expression now.

“Ya heard em' they said she only needed a few days to recover. She'll be fine. Sides, Granny Smith is probably worried bout' us.” Applebloom replied as she walked past her older sister towards the door.

“Um, Applebloom, where's your ribbon?” Scootaloo asked curiously as he looked at the filly. Everypony had noticed this no sooner she walked into the waiting room though Scootaloo was the first to ask.

“Ah gave it to Babs. That ain't a problem is it?” Applebloom replied flashing a slight glare at Henry who knew she was talking directly to him with this answer even though Scootaloo was the one who had asked the question.

“N-No. It's fine.” Henry replied finally after a brief moment's silence though stood up and walked up to the filly. “L-Listen. I know it must have been hard on you to break it off with my daughter but you'll be able to see her at the next reunion, how's that sound?” he said giving the best warm smile he could muster.

Applebloom looked at the stallion for a moment before she turned her back to him. “Don't bother.” She said simply as she pushed the door to the hospital open and looked at her older sister. “Are we goin or what?” She asked impatiently.

“I-If you're sure surgarcube.” Applejack replied as she stood up from the chair. “Come on y'all, lets head back to Ponyville.” Applejack said at which point Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Silverspoon began to follow the farm pony to the door.

Though Applejack didn't want to leave her cousin in the hospital, she knew Applebloom was right in saying that Granny Smith was probably worried sick about them. That and due to what she had seen earlier, she knew Applebloom couldn't bare to be here much longer because she was being forced to leave Babs and she sympathized with the filly due to this fact.

“Applejack...” Henry started which caused the farm pony to stop and turn to look at him. “Please understand, I'm only doing what I think is best for my daughter. I'm not heartless you know.” he said sympathetically.

Applejack's expression became a mixture of disapproving and sadness as she looked at Henry. “This ain't right and you know it Henry but Ah'm not bout' to argue this any farther. If ya do show up at our next reunion, Ah think it might be best if ya left Babs in Manehattan with somepony to look after her. For both their sakes.” Applejack replied before she left the hospital.

Henry stood stationary for a moment seemingly frozen in place for a short time until he abruptly and without warning cried out in anger as he bucked one of the waiting room chairs a crossed the room.

“Henry! What in Luna's name-”

“Don't say anything Marry! Just- Just don't...” Henry replied his voice shaking as he walked out of the waiting room, down the hall, and to his daughter's hospital room. He then sat down in one of the chairs and looked at his daughter's puffy red eyes as she slept soundly with Applebloom's ribbon firmly grasped in one hoof...

Applejack, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Silverspoon and Sweetie Belle sat silently for a time as they rode the train back to Ponyville.

“Applebloom, I just want to thank you for helping me see Diamond Tiara again. It really meant a lot me.” Silverspoon said softly as she placed a hoof on the farm filly's shoulder.

“No problem.” Applebloom replied though her voice sounded hollow as she looked out the train-car's window towards Fillydephia as it slowly shrunk from sight.

“Is there anything we can do for her? She looks really upset.” Sweetie Belle whispered to Applejack whom looked at Applebloom, sighed, and then looked at Sweetie Belle.

“Ah think it would be best if we just gave her some space for now, surgarcube. It takes time for a broken heart to heal.” Applejack replied in a whisper.

A TRAIN RIDE LATER...

“Applebloom! Hey Big Macintosh, they're back!” Granny Smith shouted joyfully as she saw the two walking towards the house and rushed out to greet them only for her joy to turn to worry about seeing her granddaughter's facial expressions.

“What happened?” Granny Smith asked curiously as Applebloom trotted past her into the house without so much as a hello.

“It's a long story Granny... come inside, Ah'll explain it the best Ah can.” Applejack replied as she walked past the elder mare and inside.

“That poor thing... Why Ah outta hitch a train up thar and give that Henry a piece of mah mind!” Granny Smith said as she waved a threatening hoof in no particular direction.

“It won't do any good Granny. Sides, he might be right. After all, was there any real chance of the two makin it to begin with?” Applejack replied as she took a drink of apple juice.

“Of course thar was! Don't be underestimatin' the power of love youngin'!” Granny Smith countered with a glare.

“Ah wish Ah had your optimistic attitude Granny but even if that was true, there's no way it's happenin' now.” Applejack replied as the rose into the skies. “Wow, its mornin already? Hope ya don't mind Granny but Ah'm gonna get some rest.” Applejack remarked with a yawn and walked upstairs.

As she passed Applebloom's room, she stopped, and looked at her little sister for a moment. The filly was holding a picture taken of her and Babs a few months ago firmly in one hoof as she slept soundly...

ONE DAY LATER...

Henry awoke with a start and looked at his daughter. The ribbon she held had slipped an inch from her grasp as she slept for some reason. As he went to replace the ribbon firmly in his daughter's grasp however, he noticed something was very wrong with Babs which caused him to stop and look at her. She had become pale overnight and looked as if she was in some kind of pain judging by the expression on her face.

“Doctor!” The stallion shouted suddenly as he rushed out to get the nearest medical pony he could find....

Applejack walked past Applebloom's room and stopped to notice the filly had not gotten up yet. “Applebloom, time to wake up surgarcube, ya got school in a few hours. Ah gave ya all day yesterday as a respect to ya but yer schoolin' is important too ya know.” Applejack said with a smile as she walked into the bedroom only for said smile to break into worry as she got a clear look at her little sister.

Applebloom looked as if she was in some kind of pain and the fur color had drained from her face.

“Granny! Somethin's wrong with Applebloom!” Applejack shouted as she rushed out of the farm filly's bedroom without taking notice that the photograph that Applebloom had held firmly in her hoof the day before had slipped from her grasp by a few meters...

Henry and Marry paced back and forth in the hospital room as the doctor looked over Babs. He checked her blood-pressure, took her temperature, yet his expression seemed to become more worrisome with each type of examination he performed on the city filly. Finally he turned to face Babs' parents.

“What's wrong with her?” Marry asked worriedly.

“I... I don't know. Her vitals check out fine considering she had only suffered moderate blood-loss.” He stuttered at the two.

“Horseapples she's fine! Look at her!” Henry roared pointing a shaking hoof at his daughter.

“I know she isn't fine Mr. Seed! Her life was far from in any kind of danger less than a day ago and my diagnostics all point to saying she's in a prime state of health but for some reason her condition seems to have gotten worse. It's as if her body's simply given up but that makes no sense. This is baffling indeed.” The doctor replied and sighed.

Henry stared at his daughter for a little while longer, taking note of the ribbon she held seemed to be very slowly slipping from her grasp. If he hadn't been looking at her for as long as he had while the doctor continued to talk with Mary, he wouldn't have noticed it before. “It can't be...” he said aloud in a stunned tone.

“Mr. Seed?” The doctor asked curiously.

“It's impossible...” he said aloud as he continued to stare at the ribbon seemingly ignoring the doctor's question.

“What's impossible Mr. Seed?” The doctor asked only to receive no reply at which point he rubbed the side of his head and sighed. “Listen, we'll do our very best to find out what is wrong with your daughter. Until then, please try to remain calm.” The doctor replied turned around, took note of the fact that the ribbon was hanging of the side of the bed, and reached out to put it back when Henry's hoof slapped it away abrubtly. “Mr. Seed! What in equestria-?”

“Don't... touch... the... ribbon!” Henry said his voice sounding breathless as he spoke.

“Mr. Seed? Are sure you're feeling alright?” The doctor asked curiously only for Henry to abruptly leave the hospital room to which Mary ran out into the hallway after her husband.

“Henry, what is going on?!” Marry asked in a slightly panicked tone.

No reply.

“Answer me consarn it!” Marry shrieked, her country accent slipping through once again at which point henry halted in his tracks, turned to face her, walked up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Listen to me, whatever they do, don't let them touch that ribbon!” Henry replied, turned around, and began to walk away again.

“But why and where are you going?” Marry asked looking worried and confused.

“To Ponyville.” Henry replied and without another word disappeared from sight.

A FEW HOURS LATER...

“I'm sorry Applejack, I don't know what's wrong with her. Everything checks out just fine.” Nurse Redheart remarked with a worried expression as she looked at Granny Smith, Applejack, and Big Macintosh.

“Ya can't be serious... look at her for pony's sake! Somethin' clearly is wrong with her!” Applejack exclaimed pointing a hoof at Applebloom.

“I know this and believe me when I say I'm going to find out what. I just need time.” Nurse Redheart replied and left the bedroom.

“Time is somethin that's not on our side.” Granny Smith remarked and sighed.

A sudden sound of a door being bucked off its hinges however caused all three ponies to rush down stairs to see Henry in their living room. “What in tarnation?!” Applejack exclaimed only for Henry to run up to Applejack and lift up by the scruff of her chest fur.

“Where is she?!” He seethed as he looked around.

“What in tarnation are ya goin' on about? And what the hay are doin' here for?! Shouldn't ya be with Babs?” Applejack asked as Henry seemingly ignored her and walked upstairs to which all three ponies followed him.

“Hey wait a minute thar! Applebloom's not feelin well!” Granny Smith exclaimed as they chased the stallion to Applebloom's room where he stood staring at her.

“What the... both of them?!” Henry exclaimed in shock and disbelief.

“Would ya kindly explain why ya bucked our door off its hinges and galloped to mah little sister's- Wait a second, what do ya mean, both of em'?” Applejack began to say only to cut herself off once the stallion's words caught up with her brain and ask her second question.

“Babs is in the same condition as she is.” Henry replied as he fell to his rump.

It was at this point Big Macintosh noticed the photograph Applebloom held was slipping from her grasp and went to move it back.

“Don't touch it!” Henry shouted suddenly which caused Big Macintosh to halt his hoof a mere inch away from the photograph and stare at Henry in confusion.

“Henry, do ya know what's wrong with Applebloom?” Granny Smith asked curiously as she walked up to the stallion and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

“I... I think so but I'm not sure. I saw this happen once before when I was but a foal. My father left my mother and then she ended up just like this holding the pocket-watch my father had given her for their last anniversary by the chain. Each day it would slip from her grasp by an inch and with every inch that slipped from her grasp, her condition would get worse and worse until...” Henry replied trailing off.

“Until what?” Applejack asked looking more confused than ever.
“Until it slipped completely from her grasp and then... she died.” He finished finally and sighed.

Upon hearing this Granny Smith gave a stiffed gasp as she placed a hoof on her mouth while Big Macintosh blinked twice at Henry in disbelief.

“I know it sounds crazy but...” Henry replied trailing off.

“It does sound crazy but at this particular moment, Ah'm inclined to believe ya. The doctor's can't find anythin' wrong with Applebloom and ya said that Babs in the same condition as her so it's more than just mere coincidence here.” Applejack replied, turned about face, and began to walk down the hallway towards the stairs only to find Henry following her.

“Where are you going?” He asked as he walked behind her.

“To Twilight's, she's a close friend of mine and if there's anypony in Equestria who's well read on the freaky weird stuff goin on here, it's her.” Applejack replied.

Books could be seen being tossed over Henry and Applejack's heads over and over as the lavender unicorn hunted through her bookshelves. “I know I read something about this a few weeks ago, oh come, please be here!” Twilight pleaded as she continued to toss books behind herself and over the two pony's heads until the stream of books came to an abrupt halt.

Twilight could be seen levitating a large blue book entitled “Unnatural Creatures And Ailments. Know The Secrets Of Equestria!” placed it on her reading desk, and flipped through the pages.

“Lets see here... Ah-Ha! Here it is! The Heartbroken Slumber. A rare condition that occurs when a pony is forced to part with their soul-mate with the knowledge they shall never return to them. This condition is often overlooked but a key symptom of this condition is that the mare or stallion suffering from this condition will be holding an item of great significance to them that they had received from their soul-mate at any point in their time with them. The item in question can be anything as long as it was given to them by their soul-mate. The item the mare or stallion holds will slowly slip from their grasp as she or he sleeps and acts as a countdown timer to their death...” Twilight finished reading aloud and looked at Henry and Applejack with a worried expression.

“Th-That's ridiculous! There's no way that Applebloom could be my daughter's soul-mate! Their cousins for pony's sake!” Henry exclaimed incredulously.

“A pony's soul-mate can be anypony Mr. Seed. It's been debated by philologist mares and stallions since the discovery was made over one thousand years ago but one thing is confirmed for sure, It doesn't matter if they know each other, are related, or even the same gender, everypony has one from the day they are born but few ever meet their soul-mate.” Twilight replied calmly.

“S-So what's the cure?!” Henry flustered as he stared at the lavender unicorn.

Twilight then turned to read from the book again and then turned to look at the two. “There isn't one...”

This response was met with horrified expressions from Applejack and Henry.

“Come on Twi, there's gotta be somethin' we can do!” Applejack replied, her expression becoming pale as she spoke.

“Well, the book does state that one mare managed to recover from the condition but they don't know how. The only clue they have is that the stallion returned to the mare's side and that mare said she could hear him calling out to her until she awoke.” Twilight replied and closed the book.

“So all we need to do is have Applebloom go back to Babs then!” Applejack exclaimed with a big smile.

“There's just one problem with that.” Henry started as he looked at Applejack. “Applebloom's suffering from the same condition.” he finished.

“Then its hopeless, Babs and Applebloom are gonna...” Applejack began to say only to trail off as if she couldn't bring herself to say the words.

“Not yet it's not! It's a shot in the dark but maybe if we bring Applebloom back to Fillydephia and lay her next to Babs, maybe the two will cure each other.” Twilight replied as she put the book she was just reading into a saddle-pack, placed the saddle-pack on her back, and began to trot towards her library door.

“Are you sure this will work?” Henry asked as he and Applejack followed Twilight a crossed town to Apple Acres.

“No, but it's better than doing nothing isn't it?” Twilight replied as she looked behind herself at the stallion who did not reply to this...

Author's Note

While I'm confident in my plot direction, I've got this nagging feeling I'm doing something a little cliche, maybe it's just me.