A Shadow in the Night

Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Flurry Heart appeared at the library’s doorstep. The eldest alicorn mare knocked on the door.

A red-eyed Applejack opened it, sniffling. “Y-yes, Princesses?”

“We wanted to see Twilight… is something the matter, Applejack?”

The orange mare began to bawl as Shattered Heart walked her back inside. The gray mare looked at the four alicorns and mouthed, “Come in.”

Celestia and Luna sat down beside Rarity. Cadance prepared a bouncy seat for the baby, put her in the special seat, and sat by Twilight.

Twilight cleared her throat. “As you may know, Rainbow Dash was found mangled in Sweet Apple Acres last night.”

“Oh, dear,” the alicorn sisters replied in unison.

“And that same night, Applejack received a nick on her shoulder. She doesn’t know how she got it, but she went to the doctor about it… and… I’m sad to say that she has Equine Infectious Anemia. She’s dying, and… and we need all the support we can get.” Twilight finished, wiping a tear from her eye.

Applejack buried her head in her hooves and sobbed. Shattered Heart held her marefriend’s hoof and exchanged a worried look with her.

Flurry Heart flapped her wings and flew over to the crying mare. Her big eyes swam with concern. “Apajak?”

The orange pony looked up at the baby. Sniffling, she held her hooves out. The foal gently landed in her arms and cooed. Applejack smiled weakly and let another tear fall to the floor. “You’re so precious…”

“Apajak otay?”

“N-no… no, sugar cube, I-I’m sick.”

Flurry stuck her lip out and began to whimper as her eyes welled up. Everypony braced for a booming wail. The baby blinked twice and began to cry.

Applejack gently bounced the baby in her hooves. “Shh… shh… it’ll be okay after a while, I promise… Applejack promises we can play together soon… won’t that be fun?”

The foal began to quiet down, yawning softly and nuzzling the crook of her neck.

Cadance levitated the sleepy baby over to the bouncy seat and looked worriedly at the mares in the room. "S-so, is Equine Infectious Anemia contagious?"

"It's transmitted through bloodsucking insects, but EIA can also be contracted through contact with infected blood, milk, and body secretions," Twilight replied, "I'm sure that we'll be fine so long as we don't come into contact with Applejack's fluids."

"That's good," the pink alicorn sighed, "I just don't want my baby getting sick, is all."

"We should all do something to raise enough bits for her medical expenses."