That day was perfect. The beginning of Summer marked the end of another school year, and countless fillies and colts ran across the town cheering for their freedom from the tedium and monotony of school. The freedom from academic responsibilities was the most uplifting and joyous sensation a young pony could ever hope to express.
As Celestia's Sun smiled brightly down at her new graduates, many of the adults shared mixed feelings about the new season. While they were apprehensive to have so many youngsters rampage through their town, they were certainly pleased that the warm and fertile season that had finally arrived. They're would been plenty of long and tiring days for the large farming community, but the sun would be bringing its full force to them. They would be fools not to capitalize upon it.
It was truly a wonderful time, except for Rumble and Scootaloo.
The two poor pegasi have come down with a most troubling disease. Their symptoms had shown up almost overnight, and almost simultaneously. It was a simple flu, but a very tenacious and infectious one. The Feather Flu.
If it weren't for the presence of Blossomforth, the two of them may have very well gotten their entire class ill. Luckily, she caught them in time, before quickly becoming their nurse. She informed Scootaloo's mother and Thunderlane that the foals were sick, and she suspected the worst. Both Blossomforth and Thunderlane were lucky enough to suffer this same illness once before, and were now all but immune to it.
Blossomforth became their own personal doctor. She wrapped them up to keep them warm from the imitative chills they would feel. Soup was quickly made, and their temperatures taken, as the mare willingly dashed from room to room, trying her absolute best to make the filly and colt comfortable for their irritating illness.
Rumble watched the familiar mare run to and fro throughout the house, rather amused at her pace. Scootaloo took notice of Rumble's silly smile, and decided to question him.
“Do you know her?” She asked, her voice much more rasped than normal.
Rumble nodded, before sniffling. His nose was growing uncharacteristically red from all this. “She's been dating my brother for at least a month now.” He turned to her. “She's pretty cool.”
“Aww, thank you, Rumble. That's so sweet of you,” She said, squeezing the sickly child in a hug. She squeezed too tight, as she accidentally elicited another coughing fit from the colt.
After apologizing profusely, she quickly returned to her duties as Nurse Blossomforth. Resting a hoof upon Scootaloo's forehead, she shook her head in disappointment. “It looks like you guys are gonna be stuck in bed for a few days. Just at the beginning of summer too.”
“Is it really that bad?” Scootaloo asked, hoping Blossomforth was exaggerating.
The pegasus nodded. “You probably haven't had the Feather Flu. It hurts pretty bad, but it's only for a few days. After that you two will be just fine.”
“Didn't you and Thunderlane have it not too long ago?” Rumble asked her.
Blossomforth giggled nervously. “Yeah, just before Tornado Day too. I kinda got a lot of ponies sick. That's why I'm keeping you two here.”
Scootaloo groaned. “Is my mom coming to get me?”
“Rainbow Dash is. She'll take you home,” Blossomforth answered.
Scootaloo mood brightened immensely, before a certain dread washed over her. “Won't I get her sick too?”
Blossomforth simply smiled. “I don't think so. She was around Thunderlane and I when we had it, and she came out just fine. Rainbow Dash will be alright, otherwise she wouldn't be coming to get you.”
Scootaloo let out a sigh of relief, before the scratch of air caused another coughing fit. She groaned in pain and discomfort, ready to spend the next few days in her bed. She wouldn't be able to go out and crusade with her friends, but in her current state, she didn't want to do anything at all.
“Hey Scootaloo,” Rumble started, prompting the filly to perk up her ears. “Sorry I got you sick like this. I didn't think it was anything bad.”
Scootaloo weakly punched Rumble in the shoulder. “Ahh, it was gonna happen anyway. I forgive you. But, I'll be expecting you to pay me back.”
“Uhh, how?” Rumble looked, uncertain and slightly worried.
A knock came at the door, as the mare outside almost pounded it off its hinges. Blossomforth raced over to let her in before she destroyed it. Rainbow Dash raced inside, taking a second to survey the scene. Her eyes locked on Scootaloo, and the rather uncomfortable state she was in.
“Oh, that looks bad,” Rainbow cantered over to her. “How you holdin' up, squirt?”
Scootaloo sneezed, and rubbing her muzzle. “Been better...”
“I'll bet. C'mon, I gotta get you home. Your mother's worried more sick than you are.” Rainbow unwrapped the filly, before Scootaloo climbed onto her back. Shivering slightly, Scootaloo hugged the mare tight. Rainbow turned to Blossomforth, a slight look of relief on her face. “Thanks for taking care of them, Bloss. If you didn't catch them when you did, we may have had another outbreak on our hooves.”
“That's kinda what I was thinking. I don't think these poor ponies have had it this young either,” Blossomforth mentioned.
“Alright, well we gotta head out. Thanks again, Blossomforth. Hope you get better soon, Rumble!” Rainbow shouted as she made her way out the door.
“Remember! You owe me, Rumble!” Scootaloo shouted back, hoping to get her message across.
The door had closed behind them, leaving both Rumble and Blossomforth, to wait for Thunderlane's arrival. She noticed the colt rather saddened expression with Scootaloo's departure. The mare sat down next to the colt, hugging him gently in a motherly fashion.
“You'll be just fine, Rumble. Nurse Redheart taught Thunderlane and I some tricks on getting through it,” She reassured.
“Oh, I'm not worried about that. I just feel kinda bad for getting Scootaloo sick.”
“I know how you feel. I was the one who got your brother sick. But hey! That turned out for the better! Now your brother and I like each other.” She smiled.
“I wonder if that will happen to us,” Rumble pondered wistfully.
“You like Scootaloo?” Blossomforth instinctively asked.
The young colt's muzzle was beginning to burn even more. “Y-Yeah... Kinda...”
Blossomforth squeezed her charge harder, as she gently shook him in glee. “Oh, Rumble! That's so cute! My little brother has a crush!”
“But you're not my sister,” Rumble stated, confused.
“If we're lucky, I soon will be.”
Author's Note
I'm still sick, and I hate it. SO HAVE SOME OF THIS DAWW
