Sweeter than caramel

And so you went out, a neat buffet was the destination of this drive after promptly changing your jacket, thanks to someone setting it on fire.

"Ah think that jacket looks nice on ya sugar."

"I miss the old one."

"It couldn't be helped hon."

"You set it on fire!"

"And Ah apologized for that remember?"

"I don't think you understand sentimental value."

"Ah understand it perfectly."

You sighed knowing that this conversation was pointless. "You know what, I'll get over it. Just do me a favor and don't magically set my stuff on fire any more, cool? … AJ?" You looked over to see what trapped her attention, thinking that maybe she was texting the Rainbooms or something. Upon noticing it, you couldn't help but feel a little concerned. She was almost completely spaced out, her eyes were halfway closed and she was staring out into the night. "AJ?…AJ?"

Suddenly she shook her head and looked at you, that glazed expression returning to normal. "Yeah, what's up?"

"You ok? You were a little out of it."

"Yeah Ah'm fine."

"You sure? You're not sleepy, are you?"

"Of course not, why are you so worried all of a sudden?"

"You looked like you were about to faint."

"Ah'm fine, trust me."

"Alright, if you feel anything at all, let me know.”

The drive took a solid twenty minutes, every single minute spent alternating your eyes from the road to Applejack. Finally you arrived, a wide smile on both of your faces as you stepped out of the car. "Ooowee, lookin’ forward to that full feelin’."

"Hell, I've been craving a buffet all week so the faster we get in there, the better." You began walking only to notice no one walking beside you. You turned back to see applejack catching her breath. "Applejack, what's wrong?"

"Nothin’, just got a lil’ pain in my thigh."

"Alright, I'm taking you to a hospital."

"Ain't that serious hon. Ah work on a farm so this ain't too uncommon."

Finally she stood up and walked your way, joining you to the front doors of the restaurant until she stopped again. This time, she stopped cold in her tracks, staring off in whatever direction she was facing. "AJ? Hey, AJ?" you said as you were waving a hand in front of her face. No response. You stared into her eyes trying to get her attention until something creepy enough made you jump back in terror : One of her eyes suddenly changed to a venomous green, her pupil suddenly becoming long and slim like a snake’s. "AJ?! What the hell is going on?!"

Green liquid began to slither its way down her cheek in the form of a tear, then without warning, she dropped to the ground. Like a bullet, you were there trying to get anything out of her to no avail. Quick thinking led you and her unconscious person to the car and to the hospital. Within minutes of your arrival, they had her on a stretcher and you waiting and hoping for her safety. About an hour had passed so far and still no word from the doctor nor anyone in general. You did however call her friends and tell them what was up. They, of course, wasted no time getting there and were just as worried as you, Rarity the most out of all them. "I just don't understand darling."

"I told you already Rarity, something was off about her."

"It would help if we could actually get some details please." Twilight added.

As much as you didn't want to talk about it, you knew that you really had no choice in the matter. You were already afraid for Applejack's being, but the actual events that transpired were more disturbing than fearful. "She…spaced out a lot in the car, she wasn't herself. After we got to the buffet, she felt pain in her leg, then she just stopped."

Rarity had that look of confusion on her face. "Just…stopped?"

"Ceased to function, dropped like a rock to the concrete."

Twilight held her chin in thought. "Sounds like she may have been easily dehydrated, or maybe she was sick."

"That's what I thought too…until..." You shook at the very thought of the memory. "Her…eye..."

"What about her eyes?" Twilight quickly asked.

"It changed… like completely… green… small slits like a snake and green tears."

"If that's not magical then I don't know what it is." Rainbow Dash added with a concerned tone.

"I just don't understand what type of magic could cause this. Your magic is supposed to help people, right?"

'Well..." Twilight began. "No one said that we were the only ones that had magic. Do you, by any chance, know anyone else who might have any type of magical abilities?"

"Hmm? Well there's you guys. Possibly me and the rest of the guys, you know, Toshiro and Scarlet."

"Don't forget Emerald." Pinkie said, her hair having only slightly deflated.

"Right, aside from anyone you guys have met, that's it." Just as you said that, running approached from down the hall drawing your attention. "Oh Toshiro, Maud, there you guys are."

Maud quickly spoke up as she reached you leaving Toshiro to catch his breath. "We heard about Applejack, is she ok?"

"We don't know, she's been in there for the last hour. I got worried so I called everyone and asked them to come here."

"You guys didn't really have to run you know!" called a voice from down the hall.

"Wait a minute, I know that voice." And know it you did, the last person you expected to see after everything that happened. "O-Orion?"

"Yo Luma. Been a while hasn't it?"

"Wait, what are you doing here?"

"Toshiro picked me up on the way here. I heard about Applejack, she ok?"

"No clue, she's been in there for about an hour."

"Shit man, I'm sorry. Might as well wait until we get the ok."

"That's the plan."

Like the world was listening in, a young lady exited from the medical wing and silently made her way over to the group. "Excuse me, is there a Mr. Luma here?"

You anxiously raised your hand in response soliciting a smile from her. "That's me ma’m."

"Ah, thank you for being calm and patient during this time. Ms. Applejack has awoken and wishes to see you."

“Is she ok?"

"We actually stabilized her condition half an hour ago. It is only now that she has actually come back to us."

"Well come on guys, let's go see her."

"Pardon me sir but she asked for you specifically."

"I suppose that's ok. You guys cool to stay out here?"

They all nodded and returned to any position they were sitting down in. "Please make your way over here sir. She is in the third room on the right. Oh, and if you need anything please don't hesitate to call for Nurse Redheart."

"Is there a reason you're the one I should call first?"

"Well it seems her issue is heavily magic based. I've learned to deal with such things very effectively thanks to two frequent patients." she said casting a glare at Twilight and Rainbow Dash.

"Right, uh…thanks." You quickly made your way through the doors and towards the third room on the right, as indicated. Inside Applejack sat, awake, staring off into the night sky. "Hon?"

She whipped her head around and literally jumped into your arms. "Luma!"

"Easy there cowgirl. How are you feeling?"

"A lil’ weak."

"Well how weak we talking here?"

"It's a lil’ hard to move. Ah'm actually surprised Ah was able to move like that."

"And your eye is still green."

"Don't remind me."

"What did Nurse Redheart say about it?"

"She ain't got a clue. No disease or magic she knows of gives you all the symptoms I had."

"We could ask Twilight or Sunset."

"Well…um…if ya could call Sunset and ask her to meet us back here, Ah really don't want the others to know ‘bout this.

"Well they kinda already do…"

"Really? Gosh darnit."

"Sorry, I felt like they should know. What's the issue?"

"Ah thought they would freak out. They did, didn't they?"

"No actually, they took it pretty well.

"Oh… Ah guess it's fine then."

"Right. Let me just get Sunset on the phone."

A moment later, Sunset showed up through the door, alone. "You guys wanted to see me? Dear Celestia, what happened to your eye?"

"Well…" AJ began. "Ya know more ‘bout this magical mumbo jumbo than Ah do right?"

"I am from Equestria, so yeah."

"Do this gal a favor and tell her what's goin’ on here."

"Well I just got here so if you could fill me in."

"So here's the deal," you continued, "AJ had some strange symptoms going on when this all happened. First she was spacing out, then she cried green tears and fainted, now her right eye is green and her body is really weak.

"Green eyes huh?" Sunset made her way over to AJ, taking one close look at her eyes. "Yep, it's definitely magic, just can't tell what kind. Twilight from across the portal would know more. What other symptoms do you have?"

"Nothin’ else, really…except…" she said as she picked up glasses from the table next to her. "Ah do have a slight bit of vision loss so Ah need glasses."

"So fainting, weak muscles, green tears, a green eye and loss of vision. It sounds a little familiar to me but I can't put my finger on it. I guess I'll have to ask Twilight first but it sounds like someone poisoned you."

You gasped in terror, your body moving on its own to grab Sunset by the shoulders. "Well how do we get it out?!"

"Calm down, It's a suggestion. I'm not saying she actually has poison in her system."

You took a deep breath and let it out releasing Sunset from your grip. "Don't scare me like that." You sat down next to AJ, comforting her as you massaged her hand. "So How much time will they keep you here for?"

"They said another day to see if my strength or sight comes back. If not, they'll hand me a wheelchair and send me on my way for ‘bout a week."

"Sounds like I'm doing an overnight stay at the hospital."

"Ya know they'll just kick ya out sugar."

"I know…"

Slowly she wrapped her arms around one of yours and nuzzled gently into it. "Ah'll be fine Luma. Pretty darn tired now that Ah think about it."

"No." you say in a childish tone.

"Come on Luma."

"I don't wanna."

"They'll just kick ya out."

"They can try."

"Would ya get outta here ya big baby?"

"...fine."

"Before ya head home though, tell Big Mac Ah'm alright."

"Got it." you said as you and Sunset began to exit the room.

As you were about to exit the room, you turned back slowly to look back at her with concern. She noticed this and sighed. "Just give me a kiss

already."

With no hesitation, you slid back and planted a few kisses on her sweet lips. Of course, this turned into an instant make out session until she pushed you off. "Sorry AJ, got carried away."

"Ya just wait until Ah'm all better."

You nervously laughed and left the room joining everyone back in the waiting area. Before you could speak, Rarity jumped up and grabbed you by your collar. "Is my darling alright?!"

"She's fine, didn't Sunset tell you?"

"She…did, but I just wanted to make sure."

"You two got like a…you know, a thing going on here?"

"Whatever do you mean…hehe..."

"O…K. Going to enjoy exploring that later."

Suddenly Rarity's expression took the form of embarrassment then anger, directed mainly at you. "There is nothing to explore Luma!"

"I know, you're right, I'm sorry. I beg to differ."

"What was that?"

"Um… nothing." That's when suddenly you felt a slap to your face then another to the top of your head as you tried to protect yourself. "Wait

Rarity, I'm sorry, seriously!"

"How dare you question my sexuality!"

"I didn't I swear, I'm sure being bisexual is great!" Harder and harder she slapped until you were forced to take off with her clinging on to you like monkey. "Guys, aren't you going to help m-Ow!"

You're response was everyone laughing, Rainbow the hardest. "No way dude, this is so going online!"

"For the love of…help me! Ow, she's biting!"

Everyone eventually made it out to the parking lot, Rarity still clinging onto you like a tiger with an anger issue. Finally they were able to pull her off and calm her down but not without threatening her precious jeweled phone case. "Sorry darling, I got a little… carried away."

"Tell that to my everything."

"I am truly sorry. It's just that it's…"

"Got it, sensitive topic, dropping it. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home to shower and cry myself to sleep." They all waved goodbye as you hopped in your car and pulled out into the street. "Gonna have to declaw her one day." You made your way through town and back into the residential area where the farm was as well as your house. Upon pulling up to the front gate, you realized that it was closed and locked, blocking your car from entering. "Big Mac must be asleep."

You got out and proceeded to jump the gate, walking your way up the dirt path. Upon reaching the front door, you knocked with a bit of force to wake Big Mac up, just in case. Indeed it did as he groggily came down the stairs and opened up. "Hey there partner. Whatcha doin’ up so early in the mornin’?"

"It's only 11:30 PM Big Mac."

"Oh really? Well anyway what d’ya need?"

"No one told you? Applejack's in the hospital."

"What?! What happened?!"

"Calm down, she's fine."

"Mah baby sister needs me Luma!" he said, quickly turning around only to crash over the couch.

"Sorry Mac, they're not accepting any more visitors. Trust me though, she's ok, I saw her myself. I came to let you know to get there as early as you can tomorrow. She wanted to see you."

"Wait why didn't ya call me earlier?"

"Uh…I kinda forgot about you…just a little." He glared at that response. "But don't worry, visiting hours start back up at around 7:00 tomorrow morning. I'll let you get some rest."

"You better hope she's OK. ‘Night Partner."

“‘Night Mac." The door closed and Mac made his way back up the stairs. "Probably could've handled that better, but at least I can get some sleep now." You started to walk off the porch until the shadow of something caught your eye over by the barn. Anyone would assume it was a pig or a cow but the moonlight distinctly painted that shadow as humanoid. "Who the hell is that?" You slowly and fearfully made your way to the barn doors, the shadow still in plain sight. You hid behind the door that was closed adjacent to the one that was wide open. Upon peaking in, you took in the obvious observations. Whoever it was was wearing a black suit that hugged their body like a freaking goddess. Dear lord the ass the person had. She also had black fedora and forest green hair, right to the core…oh shit I know who that is. Like an animalistic instinct, you ducked down as something gold pierced through the barn door. As whatever it was slid back in, it pierced through lower down making you roll out of harm's way right into the doorway of the open barn door. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Oh hey there Luma. Long time no see." Buck my life… Buck it all the way. "I missed you, thought i'd never see you again, not since that day back in school. You know who's missed you more? My little boy here. Why don't you go say hi, my little darling? And don't forget to finish all your food."

"Yessssss…" the golden serpent slithered out.

*Sigh*... Fucking Mazi…