An Apple Sleep Experiment

Applejack stared unblinking at the ceiling of the hospital room. She’d grown irritated rather quickly by the staff who both marveled and chastised her for making her way to the hospital without assistance. When she attempted to explain the situation she found it difficult to recall detail. All she could remember was the fury she felt for Filthy Rich and then the senseless beating she gave him afterwards. She continually demanded to see him, to make sure he was alright. She must have really done a number on him to break her legs like that… he was a lot stronger than most stallions she knew. In fact, she thought the only other pony who might be able to withstand a beating of that caliber was her older brother. Wasn’t he in this hospital too?

Applejack’s thoughts were louder than she remembered them being. Sometimes she couldn’t hear the doctor or nurse ponies over their frantic buzz. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been in that hospital bed. She recalled having somepony tell her she needed rest, but sleep wouldn’t come. It had been over 24 hours, hadn’t it? Wasn’t Twilight’s potion supposed to wear off by then? That Filthy Rich pony must be in a lot of trouble... she wondered how much of a beating he had taken. You know what.. she should try and see him. Maybe when the nurse comes in again she’ll ask. She forgot to mention that he might still be in the orchard in pain somewhere. He deserved it though, especially for his insatiable greed. For some reason she thought Apple Bloom was there… but that can’t be right; what would she be doing there? Oh and she REALLY can’t forget to tell somepony about Filthy Rich. She just remembered that she had given him quite the beating… no, not Filthy Rich… maybe it was her brother? He was in the hospital after all… did she break her legs hurting her big brother? That’d be awful! He can take it though; he’s tougher than dried leather. She wondered why her legs were bandaged up. She felt fine; maybe she wasn’t supposed to be here. Applejack attempted to get up but found she had been restrained to the bed.

“What in tarnation?” Applejack whispered angrily to herself, pulling on the straps that held her down. What was this, some kind of joke? And who in the hoof bandaged her legs like that, was something wrong with ‘em?

“Havin’ a little trouble there?” Somepony asked.

“Who’s there?” Applejack snapped, looking around the empty room in confusion.

“Maybe she needs a little assistance brother of mine.” A second voice said.

“Flim and Flam.” Applejack hissed under her breath. “What are you two spineless, no-good, fast-talking hooligans doin’ here?”

“Woah there little missy.” Flim said.

“Is that any way to talk to the ponies who can get you out?” Flam added.

“Git me out? Outta what? Hey… what’s goin’ on here, Why can’t ah move?” Applejack asked, thrashing about. “If you’ve gone and done something, Ah swear…”

“You’ll what, buck us to death?” Flam taunted.

“Now now, brother, I wouldn’t go taunting the crazy mare. She’s killed a pony that way you know.” Flim said with a sly grin.

“Killed a pony?” Applejack snapped angrily.

“Her own brother too. Such a shame.” Flim said.

“You leave my brother alone!” Applejack screamed. She turned to the restraints on her right hoof and pulled as hard as she could trying to get it free.

“I always knew you were pathetic.” Came a different voice.

“Trixie? What in the hay is goin’ on here?!” Applejack asked.

“I had to see for myself. Poor little Applejack, beating the tar outta her own kin. Hrmph.” Trixie added.

“Ah’ve done no such thing!”

“Then how do you explain the broken legs, hmm?” Trixie asked, indicating to her bandaged hooves.

Applejack looked down at her legs in confusion; why were they bandaged? Did she get hurt? Why couldn’t she remember?

“I’m sure a taste of our famous tonic will cure what ails ya.” Flim said, holding out a bottle.

“Guaranteed to put you back on your hooves or your money back.” Flam added.

“Maybe she deserves to be like this.” Trixie said.

Applejack growled and pulled again at the restraint on her hoof. When she couldn’t make any progress she decided it was time for the last resort. She bit down on the restraint and tugged at it with her teeth, gnawing at it as best she could.

Applejack was feeling frantic. The room was becoming more and more overcrowded by the minute and all these unfriendly faces were staring down at her as she struggled.

“Git away, ya hear? GIT AWAY!” Applejack screamed. She thrashed wildly, biting down harder on the restraint, pulling as hard as she was able.

“Try some tonic!” Flim and Flam offered.

“STAY BACK!” Applejack warned.

“Come on now, Applejack. It can’t hurt to try. We’ll show you… it’s easy!” Flim said. He poured the contents of the tonic over the restraint and her hoof. She felt the warm liquid pouring down her leg and turned up her nose at the scent. It reminded her of a rusted coin. She pulled again at the restraint and her hoof finally came free.

“See that?” Flam said with a smirk.

“Ah don’t need yer tonic and Ah don’t need YOU!” Applejack said. Now that she had one hoof free she could easily unlatch the other. She pulled the IVs from her legs and leapt out of the bed.

“Eiw don’t get that tonic on my perfect mane!” Trixie whined, standing back from Applejack. Applejack looked down at herself and noticed that Flim and Flam’s tonic had somehow gotten all over her fur and was continuing to drip freely from her hoof.

“What’s in this stuff anyway?” Applejack asked. “What’d you do to me?”

“Why I didn’t do a thing young filly, I’m only a business pony after all.” Filthy Rich said.

Applejack turned to him and her eyes narrowed.

“You…” she growled. “I remember YOU.” She charged for him but he was somehow able to dodge her advances.

“It’s just good business.” He said, unphased by Applejack’s anger.

“You were gonna take the farm!” Applejack said, finally able to get some of her thoughts in order.

“Nothing you can do about it now little lady.” Filthy Rich said with a smirk.

“Wanna bet?” Applejack growled.