Dylan awoke to aches and pains all over his body. "Oh god... I feel horrible... A-Applejack... H-Help," he attempted to yell, but his throat had felt extremely sore, and he could barely let out more than a strained whisper. Today was going to be difficult.

"Ma'am, I don't know how to tell you this, but he's got all the symptoms of equine flu." A light amber pony stood in Dylan's room with Applejack and Applebloom. He held his stethoscope against Dylan's chest, listening to his heartbeat. "This heart is beating faster than any normal pony's heartbeat. In fact, I don't think any heart should beat this fast. What is he?"

"He's a human," chimed Applebloom. She stood at Dylan's bedside and looked at him with a worried look on her face. "Is he gonna be ok, Doctor Horse?"

"I don't know what his species is like biologically," Doctor Horse explained, "so I don't really know if he'll recover. If this disease is new to him, he might be fighting for his life."

"Is there anything we can do?" Applejack placed a hoof on Dylan's head, checking his temperature. It was hot to the touch.

"He'll need plenty of fluids and bed rest," The doctor replied. "I can't give him anything because I don't know how he'll react to pony medicine, so you're going to have to keep an eye on him. I'm sorry, but that's all I can recommend."

"Are you sure, doc? Can't we give him SOMETHING?" Applejack wasn't about to stand by and watch Dylan suffer. He had been through enough in his life.

The doctor looked at Dylan. The boy was unconscious, and his body was burning up. "Well, I'd normally hate to recommend another doctor, but there IS Zecora. Exotic medicines are her thing. She'd probably know the safest and most natural remedy, and for free, too."

"Of course! Zecora!" Applejack said with joy. "Thanks for the advice!"

After the doctor left, Applejack turned to Applebloom. "Think y'all can look after Dylan while I'm gone?"

"Sure thing!" Applebloom proudly responded. The responsibility was hers now to watch Dylan. Applejack placed a hoof on Applebloom's head and ruffled up her hair playfully before leaving.

A knock on the door arose Dylan from his deep slumber. He slowly attempted to get out of bed. Planting his hooves firmly on the floor, he began to walk despite the pain. He looked at Applebloom as she slept in a chair in the corner. She had been watching him, he thought, and must have fallen asleep.

He made his way downstairs before heading to the front door at a slow pace. His entire body ached with each move he made, begging him to get back into bed and rest. He couldn't do that, though. He had already woken up, and someone was at the door. It might even be important.

He turned the handle and opened the door to see a familiar face. It was the greasy haired pony who had called him an ape earlier, Filthy Rich.

It had become an awkward stare, made even more awkward by the fact that Filthy was holding a bouquet of flowers. Neither attempted to speak until Dylan sneezed.

"Bless you," Filthy said automatically, starting the conversation. "Umm... I was walking around in Ponyville when I ran into Applejack. She told me you were sick and I thought I'd come by and make amends by bringing you these flowers. I'm sorry for calling you an ape, and I hope we ca--"

Filthy Rich was immediately cut off by a large sneeze from Dylan. "Hhhhhnnnggghhh...."

"I um... I hope we ca--"

"ACHOO!"

"That we can--"

"ACHOO!!!"

".......Tha--"

"ACHOO!!!!!"

Dylan began to sneeze uncontrollably. It was like his nose had been set to rapid-fire. He quickly deduced that it was the bouquet and backed up before falling onto his butt.

Filthy Rich looked at Dylan, a bit concerned. "Are you oka--"

"ACHOO!"

Applejack eventually returned home with a clear glass bottle of green liquid in her hoof. Trotting into Dylan's room, she spotted Applebloom asleep in a chair while Dylan was resting in his bed. So much for watchin' him, she thought.

She walked up to the bedside and lifted the bottle to Dylan's lips. He opened his eyes and drank hesitantly, not wanting to offend. After he had finished, Applejack took the bottle and exited the room to let him rest.

Author's Note

Sorry for yet another short chapter. I promise the next chapter will be longer this time. If you're still looking for punishment for Filthy Rich, don't worry. It'll come up soon in a later chapter. But for now, he's made up with Dylan, even if it wasn't at the best of times.