Apples and Cinnamon

The sound of crickets fills the cool air Applejack stands just outside of the cutie mark crusader's clubhouse. She could hear the crying coming from the clubhouse making her heart clinch. Applejack takes a deep breath and slowly enters the clubhouse and sure enough there was Sugarcane in the center of the room a small pool of tears laid under hear head. Tremors could easily be seen on her body after all she has been crying all day. Applejack places a tender hoof on Sugarcane's shoulder making the young filly look up at her. Looking up at the loving expression on Applejack's face Suagarcane turns around and embraces her crying into her bosom. Caressing Suagarcane's mane Applejack starts singing a comforting lullaby which sooths the turbulent little filly.

"There there sugarcube your uncle is going to be fine just needs sum rest is all."

Sugarcane smiles hearing this" Re...really? That's good I thought I had killed him...(sniffles)but I lost the flowers that were going to heal him."

"Your safety is more important to your uncle than some flower. Ya should a seen how he charged into the Everfree forest the way he did. I ain't seen not'n like that before like a force of enraged nature!"

"Yeah and ya should of seen the way he fought that big O' meanie it was scary like a waking nightmare. I wasn't even sure that is was uncle Cinno not until it was over and he came to check on us. When I saw his injuries I threw up all over SweetieBelle's mane she was not amused at that."

Applejack laughs "Yeah can't imagine she would be. It looked like she had a rough night all covered in various liquids the way she was." A small moment of silence ensues. " So ready to come back to the farm? I know your uncle is worried sick about you." Sugarcane nods.

The two girls walk towards the farmhouse Applejack holding a hoof of Sugarcane as they do. Applebloom welcomes them as they enter the living room Sugarcane smiles back at her but her mind is on her uncle as she walks upstairs to the guest room. Much to her dismay Cinno was already fast asleep she looks at his bandaged legs a look of concern crosses her face but remembers what Applejack told her. She places a gentle and loving kiss on his leg and leaves the room. Applebloom was there waiting for her with a plate of food. Sugarcane accepts the food and heads down to the kitchen. She eats the cold food cleans the plates and heads back to Applebloom's bedroom and off to sleep she goes.

The is a large group of ponies in outside the room as nurse RedHeart undoes the bandages. "Oh wow!" exclaims the nurse

"What?! What?!" Asks Twilight Sparkle who is helping her.

"The infection is gone and look at those stitches! They are almost perfect." answers nurse RedHeart. The flesh was no longer a sickly green but more of a reddish pink and the stitches were holding up just fine.

"Oh really? She I told you Applejack that I was good with a needle." proclaims Twilight Sparkle.

"Well actually your highness I redid them when you left. They were too poorly done to be effective. Sorry if this hurts your feelings princess but I'd rather keep my leg." retorts Cinno making every other pony laugh as Twilight Sparkle makes a sour face.

"Well it looks like you did a masterful job sir. Were you in the guard? All I need to do is change the thread to the right kind. It will take but a moment." RedHeart inquires as she examines the stitching.

"Yes ma'am as a matter of fact I was in the guard; so being able to treat the wound was of little consequence once I was awake." Cinno answers while looking at nurse RedHeart do her thing. She quickly applies better thread and injects some antibiotics into his thigh. The speed at which she was going was remarkable Cinno didn't even have time to flinch from the sterile needle piecing his extremely tender flesh. Before any pony could bat an eyelash nurse RedHeart puts some fresh bandages on and puts up her instruments that she brought with her.

"Well that about does it just keep the wound clean and make sure you change the bandages often ok." states nurse RedHeart as she gives Cinno a folded piece of paper. Cinno opens it up and the only thing that is on it is a local phone number and an address.

"Ah ma'am what's with this number? If ya don't mind my asking."

"Oh that's my home phone number call me some time. I would love to talk medical procedures with you some time." nurse RedHeart answers as she gives Cinno a playfull wink then walks out the door.

"Oooooo some pony's got a crush on ya uncle." chortles Sugarcane the others chime in with haughty laughter.

"Sugarcane!" Cinno says in an authoritative voice.

Sugarcane recognizes the tone and stands at attention "Sir!"

"While I appreciate your candor you still have to make up for your blunder the other day. So as of now you are to assist the Apple family with their farm work until my business here in Ponyville is concluded. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y...yes sir." Sugarcane answers

"You are dismissed soldier." with that Sugarcane turns on her heels and walks out of the room. The other ponies look at Cinno in confusion.

"I know what you are thinking but this is the only way she will truly forgive herself. She wants to be a great soldier when she gets older so by treating her like one she will learn. However since she is still a filly I'm not going to lash her for knowingly endangering the lives of civilians. So really the only thing I can really do is make her do manual labor. Please don't coddle her any more otherwise she wont learn."

The group looks at him with bewilderment but one by one they begrudgingly agree all accept the cutie mark crusaders and Applejack who just stood there. Eventually the group disperses returning to their lives. Applejack staring deeply into Cinno's eyes; a few timeless seconds pass by before she eventually concedes and closes the door behind her. She heads straight to her bedroom and looks out the window to see Sugarcane vigorously working around the farm. Applejack could just barely see a smile on the filly's straining body she in turns smiles grabs her hat and gets to work.