Sick Situation

Sandbar was walking to his friend's dorm. "Hey, Yona," he said, "Are you ready to head to Sweet Apple Acres?"

"Yaks were always ready," Yona stated. The yak and earth pony walked down the hall. They arrived in the courtyard where Applejack and several other students were waiting.

"There you are," Applejack said. "I'm glad y'all decide to help out with me and my family with the apple harvest. Extra credit will be given to you, but it's nice for y'all helpin' anyways." The apple farmer and her class headed towards the farm as Yona saw Ocellus.

"Friend want to come along?"

"Thanks, Yona," Ocellus answered, "But I'm good."

"Suit yourself," Sandbar said as he, Yona, and the rest of the class walked off.

"Ocellus," Fluttershy said, "Can you help me with something?" The pegasus was carrying some bottles, which was a little much for her to handle. The changeling caught the bottles nearly smashing on the ground. They set them on the ground so Fluttershy could catch her breath.

"Professor Fluttershy, why are you carrying all these bottles?"

"I'm sorry, but we have a special teacher coming over to help us with potion making. Mage Meadowbrook."

"You mean one of the pillar ponies? Like Rockhoof?"

"Yes. I also asked Zecora if she wanted to come, but I couldn't find her. She was probably looking for herbs."

"So, we'll be learning potions?"

"Yes. As soon as she arrives we'll get things set up."

"I can't wait to try that,"

"Good to know." The two picked up the bottle and carried them towards the classroom.

Elsewhere, Applejack's class had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. The farm pony was confused to see a rain cloud hovering over the orchard. "I thought I told Rainbow Dash I only needed rain for one day," Applejack groaned.

"Is this going to be a problem?" Sandbar asked.

"As long as it doesn't..." Applejack didn't finish as raindrops started coming down from the cloud. "Rain." One of the students, who was a pegasus, flew up to the cloud and tried to kick it, but he only moved it closer to his classmates. Many of the students got out of the way, but poor Yona got soaked.

"Gah," the yak cried. "Rain freezing."

"Sorry, Yona," the pegasus apologized.

"It's alright, Sugar Maple," Applejack said. "Come on, Yona. Let's get you some towels." After getting the yak dried off, the two rejoined with the class.

"You feel better?" Sandbar asked his friend.

"Yona much better," Yona confirmed.

"Alright," Applejack said, "Now that we've taken care of that, let's get apple buckin'." She led her class down into the orchard with Sandbar having a questioned.

"Why couldn't one of your family members help you out?" he asked.

"Well, Big Mac's busy with a delivery, Applebloom is tutoring some other students, and Granny is busy with Filthy Rich. I was hesitant of having the students help, but Dash said it would be a good exercise. Then again, she forgot to get rid of the cloud."

"So, what we do?" Yona asked.

"Just take some baskets, place them under the tree, and kick it like this." Applejack bucked a tree and the apples fell into the basket. "Once you do that, just carry them over to the barn."

"Sounds easy enough," Sandbar said.

It didn't take long for the ponies and Yona to get to work. While their teacher did most of the work, everyone else pulled out their weight. Yona, however, might've pulled too much. Her idea of collecting apples was to ram into the trees. This did make some apples fall down, but she got smashy happy and caused one of the trees to fall over.

"Whoops," Yona said regretting what she did. Most of the ponies were shocked at what happened.

"It's okay, Yona," Sandbar said. "Nopony is hurt." The two then heard some squishing beneath their hooves. The ground was very muddy and their weight made them sink in partly.

"Yona not liking farm work."

"It's alright. How about you help me take these apple's to the barn?" Yona smiled and carried the loaded baskets with her friend.

The yak couldn't help herself and she ate one of the apples she was carrying. "Sandbar want apple?"

The earth pony was hesitant but his stomach growled and made him change his mind. He bit off a bit of an apple, but he chewed it pretty slow before swallowing it. "Uh. Yona, these apples taste weird."

Yona ate a second apple and found he was right. "Apples don't taste right. Yona and Sandbar should tell professor."

"Tell me what?" Applejack asked as she saw the two heading towards the barn.

"These apples taste funny," Sandbar said. "And not in a haha funny way."

The farm teacher ate one of the apples they brought and promptly spat it out. "You must've gotten a rotten set. Just put them in the compost heap." Sandbar just shrugged and threw his load onto the heap, so did Yona. They carried on helping the rest of the ponies with the apple harvesting.

"What will happen to apples?" Yona asked.

"Well, many of them will be shipped to around Ponyville. Pinkie did say apples for cafeteria snacks."

"Professor Applejack!" cried one of the students. Applejack, Yona, and Sandbar ran over to see some of the students stuck in some mud.

"What in tarnation is goin' on?"

"We tried to get some apples," said one of the students as she slowly stepped out of the mud. The ground wasn't firm enough to keep the trees upright, and a couple of them fell down.

"I swear if this is Discord's doin'." The farm pony saw the orchard was easy to mistake for a bog and many of the ponies were struggling just to walk. "We're not gonna be able to work in these conditions. Looks like we're gonna have to head back to the school."

"So much for extra credit," Sandbar sighed.

"Don't feel too sad. You still did a good job."

"Yona's apples all rotten," Yona sighed.

"Maybe you'll get it next time. I'm gonna get a cart to carry the apples."

"Yak can pull cart."

"If you say so. Gonna have long talk with Discord."

After a quick trip back to the school, Pinkie was surprised to see Applejack's class back so early. "Wow, that was fast," the pink pony said.

"Or we were cut short," Applejack sighed. "M'ah entire orchard is now a pig's spa. The mud's makin' the tree fall o'er."

"That's not good."

"Tell me 'bout it. We did brin' enough for you to make snacks." She pointed over to the cart of apples being pulled by a happy Yona.

"Thanks. Follow me, Yona." The yak followed the pink pony towards the kitchen while Applejack went to look for Fluttershy so she could talk to a certain draconequus.

"How can a farm end up like that?" Sandbar asked Yona as he walked with her.

"Maybe it was Discord," Yona suggest.

"Ugh, don't remind me of him. I still get scared when Ocellus turns into a bugbear."

"What pink pony going to bake?"

"I'm glad you asked," Pinkie said as they entered the cafeteria. "Apple appetizers and apple pie. I'm going to have AJ help me with it later. Hopefully, it'll get her mind off the farm thing. I'll take it from here, Yona." The yak unhitched herself from the cart and left with the green earth pony.

"I wonder what we're going to do now," Sandbar said.

"Maybe find friends," Yona suggested.

"I think Silverstream said she was going to be in drawing in the library." Sandbar stopped walking to scratch at his neck but only for two seconds.

"Is Sandbar okay?"

"I'm fine. Let's find out friends." The pony and yak continued to walk down the hall. Sure enough, Silverstream was in the library along with Ocellus, who looked rather excited.

"Oh, there you are," Silverstream cooed. "I didn't know you could harvest apples that quick."

"Yona and ponies come back early," Yona explained. "Farm too soggy to work safely. Plus, yak knock down tree."

"One tree," Sandbar said trying to make his friend feel better. "Besides, the ground was weak."

Yona felt better but she noticed their changeling friend shaking with excitement. "Why Ocellus shaking?"

"We're going to be making potions tomorrow," the changeling cooed. "With a pillar."

"Rockhoof coming back?"

"No, Meadowbrook is coming here." The yak's excitement dissipated.

"Making potions does sound cool," Sandbar commented.

"I wonder if we could make one that can let me talk to fish," Silverstream said. She noticed Sandbar itching at his neck. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just an itch. Could you help me scratch it?" The hippogriff nodded and started scratching her friend's neck. "Aah, that feels nice."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Ocellus asked.

"It's fine. I probably just got a bug bite."

A little while later, Pinkie and AJ had gotten some apple pie ready for any students that wanted a snack, along with some ice cream. "So, what's with the treats?" Gallus asked.

"Well, the cakes miscalculating with the amount of ice cream they needed," Pinkie explained. "So, I thought I would help out and use this ice cream to go along with this apple pie."

"Nice." The griffon picked up a plate of pie and ice cream and flew over to a table where his friends were sitting.

"Yak like pink pony problem solving," Yona said.

"It's one way of getting rid of something," Ocellus said.

Sandbar wasn't liking his slice. He took only one bite and just shoved it away. The scoop of ice cream, however, he had no trouble gobbling up. "Why Sandbar no want pie?"

"I didn't want it," Sandbar said.

"Why not?"

"I don't want it and I don't want to talk about it."

"If that's the case," Silverstream said, "Could I have it?" The pony just scraped the slice onto his friend's plate which delighted her. He scratched his neck again which made Ocellus get worried.

"Sandbar, I think we should get you a check-up," she said.

"It's just an itch," Sandbar replied.

"Itch should've gone away," Yona stated. "Maybe Sandbar sick."

"But I feel fine."

"So stop scratching," Gallus said.

"I can't help it." Sandbar couldn't stop scratching at his neck.

"Hey, has anyone seen Smolder?" Silverstream asked.

"I'm here," the dragon cried flying into the cafeteria. "I had to finish a project."

"Want some pie?"

"Ah, sweet. Still streamy fresh." Silverstream scraped Sandbar's pie slice onto another plate and the dragon dug it. Once she finished, Smolder let out a burp which also shot out some fire. "Man, that was good."

"There's still more being served," Ocellus stated.

"Sweet. You guys want anymore."

"I'll take a slice," Silverstream said.

"I'll just have another scoop," Sandbar said.

"No slice?" Yona asked. The pony just groaned as Smolder flew off to get seconds.

"What is wrong with you?" Gallus questioned.

"It's this itchy neck," Sandbar replied as he scratched it again. Without warning, Yona picked the pony up with her horns and carried her down the hall. "Yona put me down."

"Sandbar not well," Yona said. "Sandbar need help." The earth pony tried to break free but the yak kept him in place.

Starlight Glimmer was in her office as Yona carried in Sandbar. "What are you doing?" Starlight asked.

"Sandbar sick. Need find problem."

"Yona, I'm a guidance counselor, not a nurse."

"School has no nurse. Star pony next best thing." The yak placed her friend on the sofa as he kept scratching his neck.

"...Maybe Yona has a point."

"I'm fine," Sandbar said but he could stop scratching.

"Medical problems aren't really my thing. I'll try and find somepony who could help. Just have him stay in his room." Before Sandbar could say anything, Yona picked up and carried him away.

"Yona, I can walk." The yak didn't reply as she placed her friend down on his bed.

"Sandbar need rest," Yona said. "Maybe he feel better in morning."

The earth pony looked out the window. "It's like eight o'clock."

"Yona only doing this for Sandbar. Yona don't want friend's sickness to get worse."

Sandbar sighed. "I understand." The two shared a hug and the yak left the room.

She walked back into the cafeteria where she was surprised to see how much pie was still left. "Hi, Yona," Pinkie said, "You want another slice. Not many students are having some, but they love the ice cream."

"Why no pie?" Yona asked.

"Don't know. Maybe they're full from the leftover apples I left out for other snacks." Yona shrugged and took her pie slice over to her friends.

"Okay," Smolder said as she and Gallus had two apples, "Loser has to do the other's schoolwork." The dragon used her claws to cut the skin off the apple while the griffon used his beak.

"What friends doing?" Yona asked.

"Smolder and Gallus are trying to figure out who can get all the skin off their apple first," Silverstream said.

"I don't really understand the prize," Ocellus said. "They're not going to learn anything if the other does their work."

"Don't care," Smolder said as she kept cutting.

"So, how's Sandbar?"

"Lying on bed," Yona explained. "Are students acting strange?"

"What do you mean?" Silverstream asked.

"All ice cream gone but there still pie."

"That's weird," Ocellus said.

"Maybe they're more a fan of ice cream," Silverstream suggested.

"Hope Smolder's a fan of extra work," Gallus said, "Because I win." He showed off his skinless apple while Smolder's was only two-thirds done.

"Um... Best out of three?" Smolder asked with a nervous grin.

"I beat you fair and square. Now, I needed help in making a dress design for Professor Rarity." Smolder groaned as she apple her apple. "Come on, you like cute things." The griffon gave a smug look as he ate his skinless apple.

"Hey, Smolder," asked a mare, "Could you scratch my neck. It itches really bad." The shrugged and helped her classmate with her itch.

"That's the same problem Sandbar was having," Ocellus commented a bit confused.

"It's probably just some bug bites," Smolder said as she kept scratching. Ocellus and Yona looked at each other and felt a bit worried about how the student was having the same itch in the same place as Sandbar.

Speaking of which, the earth pony had fallen asleep pretty quickly. His neck still itches but since he was asleep he couldn't scratch it. Sandbar kept tossing and turned until his blanket fell off which seemed to make him calm down. Still, he kept groaning as his throat was causing him some pain. Sandbar started sweating as he felt as if he was overheating even without his blanket.

The next day, the students woke up and headed towards the cafeteria. "So, Smolder," Gallus said, "I've worked on the design of the dress." He showed a ball gown dress which Smolder didn't want to look at. "It's a prototype, I haven't even chosen the color."

"I like it," Silverstream commented. "Where's Sandbar?"

"Yak will go and check," Yona said. She walked towards her friend's dorm and based down the door to make sure he woke up. "Sandbar, you missing breakfast."

"Ugh..." Sandbar groaned as he fell out of bed. Yona helped him up but noticed that his eyes were only half open. Not only that but as he walked out of his dorm Sandbar limped.

"Is Sandbar okay?"

"I'm just tired."

"But Sandbar went to bed early."

"Just please stay quiet until I eat." Yona did so but she also noticed other students were having similar problems that Sandbar was having. They were half asleep and also limping.

Their friends could see the colt limping towards them. "Sandbar, are you okay?" Ocellus asked.

"I'm just need something to eat." Silverstream decided to get Sandbar a tray of food so he didn't have to walk around so much. When she gave him his food, he didn't seem to be interested in the ones that were still warm like the pancakes.

"Is something wrong?" the hippogriff asked.

"No, it's just... My stomach isn't liking things that are warm right now. Maybe I'll just have some cereal." He let out a yawn and Gallus seemed to be surprised by something.

"Sandbar can I see your tongue?" Gallus asked.

"Say what?"

"Open your mouth so I can see your tongue." Sandbar didn't understand but he opened wide so the griffon could take a look, and he was pretty shocked.

"What is it?"

"There's some... Moss on your tongue."

"What?" Gallus held up a plate so Sandbar could see his reflection. He closed his mouth not knowing what to say. "How did that get there?"

"That's what I wanna know."

"Me too," Ocellus said. "Maybe we should get you to the hospital." Without hesitation, Yona picked Sandbar up and started running to the school exit.

"Yona, I haven't even eaten yet."

"Sandbar not well," Yona said. "Need doctor now." Once Yona got outside, she was surprised to see Applejack being carried on a cart being pulled by Big Mac. "What happen to Professor Applejack?"

"Don't know," Big Mac replied. Yona was shocked to see the stallion limping as he pulled the cart. She was also shocked to see Granny Smith and Applebloom riding with Applejack.

"May Yona help?"

Big Mac was hesitant but his sister had something to say. "Go ahead and take a break," she said. "She's alot stronger than she looks." Mac shrugged as he got in the back of the cart. Sandbar got on board and Yona hitched herself up and took them for a ride.

Even though she needed to be told which way to go, Yona got the ponies to the hospital in record time. The nurses were pretty surprised to see five ponies riding in. "What's going on?" she asked.

"We can't walk straight and our necks are itching like mad," Granny Smith said as she got off the cart. They got Sandbar and the Apple family to a room. The doctor checked them over as Yona waited outside.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said checking Applebloom's tongue, which just like Sandbar's was covered in moss. "Did you do anything out of the ordinary?"

"No," Applebloom replied. "I was just helping out the school and did what we always did at home."

"I think I might know some weird," Applejack spoke up. "Our orchard is all muddy to the point where the trees just fall down."

"I see. Did you harvest any of the apples?"

"The ones from the muddy orchard we brought to the school of friendship. The rest are in our cellar."

"Right. Nurse, tell Ms. Yak she will have to leave."

"Why?" Sandbar asked.

"This is worse than you can realize. Nurse, make sure to contact the emergency medics." The nurse nodded and walked out of the room.

"Can I at least go back to the school with Yona?"

"Sorry, kid. We don't have the gear to do that yet."

Sandbar was left in the dark at what was going on and so was Yona, who had been forced to leave.

"But Yak want to see friend," Yona cried.

"I'm sorry, ms.," the nurse said, "But you need to head back to school." The yak sighed and walked away. The nurse walked inside with a worried expression on her face.

By the time Yona got back to school, the first classes were already over. Twilight Sparkle was waiting outside of the school waiting for her. "Where have you been?" she asked.

"Yona was taking Sandbar to hospital," the yak explained.

The princess/principal's angry dissipated. "What happened to him?"

"Sandbar sick. Tounge has moss on it."

"A mossy tongue? Yona, what are you talking about?"

"It's much more serious than you think," said a voice. The Alicorn and yak saw a stallion walking towards them in a hazmat suit.

"Who are you?"

"Doctor Dose. I've gotten word of a virus that has infected five ponies. A few of them helping around this school."

"Sandbar student," Yona stated.

"Whatever he is, until we figure out what the virus is and how to cure it, this school is under quarantine."

"Quarantine?" Twilight gasped. Some unicorns levitated Twilight and Yona inside.

"This is nothing personal princess. We don't want this virus to spread." While Twilight was trying to take in what was happening, Yona could only think about Sandbar. If they were forced to stay in the school, how serious could her friend's sickness be?