A Shadow in the Night

The phone rang the next morning. Night Gem got up and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hello,” sniffled a mare’s voice. She had a Southern accent.

“I-is everything okay, AJ?”

“N-no. RD was… brutally murdered last night… and I went to the doctor about a mysterious cut… I-I got some weird disease that messes with a pony’s immune system,” Applejack cried, “I’m dyin’ and ain’t nopony else gonna help me with the health expenses if I tell ‘em.”

“That’s terrible,” Night Gem replied, “but I’m sure your friends will understand if we all just sit down and tell them. I’ll call them up for an emergency meeting. Meet me at the Golden Oaks Library in 20 minutes, okay?”

“O-okay,” the orange mare sniffed, hanging up.

The calls were made, and soon, the remaining Mane Six and Night Gem were seated in Twilight’s library.

Twilight Sparkle spoke up, “You said you had something to tell us?”

Applejack wrung her Stetson in her hooves and began, “I-I got some bad news… I went to the doctor about a cut on my shoulder… a-and…”

Pinkie interrupted, “They were out of lollipops?!”

“N-no… I got some disease that messes with a pony’s immune system. I-I think it's called Equine Infectious Anemia or something," the country mare sniffed, her eyes welling up, "I'm dyin' from a disease I don't remember gettin'... and I need help with medical expenses."

"Poor dear," Rarity cooed, rubbing AJ's back.

"Oh, my," Fluttershy cried softly, "I'm so sorry."

"Well, all we can do is monitor your disease," Twilight answered, "but I'll help if I can."