The Swarm

Sunset stared at her ceiling, her blinds closed tightly to let no light in from outside. The only light was the lamp she had in the corner and even that was starting annoy her.

“Ugh,” Sunset tossed a bouncy ball up at the ceiling, watching it with her hooves before tossing it up again. To say she was bored out of her mind was an understatement. And her head hurt like hell. The only time Sunset had left her cocoon of blankets was to use the bathroom and make toast, which she promptly threw up thirty minutes later.

Sunset tossed the ball back up and flailed a foreleg, trying to catch it as it bounced off her hoof and went rolling across the room.

“Damn,” Sunset sighed and flopped back on her bed, wincing slightly. She glanced at some of the cards she had gotten and picked up one from Button Mash, idly reading it. “You’d think I’m dying with how many cards and flowers Derpy dropped off. It’s just a simple flu.”

Sunset did have to admit, she was a bit surprised by the gesture. She didn’t really think Ponyville liked her that much as a whole. She was a grateful to be proven otherwise. Even Rainbow and Rarity had sent her a card each.

Sunset had personally thought Rainbow and Rarity hated her. She and those two didn’t necessarily get along well. Sunset rolled her eyes to glare at the door as a pony knocked.

“Enter!” Sunset called out and she winced at how raspy her voice sounded. The knocking continued and Sunset growled. “Oh for the love of-”

Sunset coughed as she flung her blankets off and wrapped a bath robe around herself, trotting downstairs and opened her front door with a scowl, covering her eyes with a hoof.

“I said enter,” Sunset grumbled and raised an eyebrow at Redheart on her doorstep with a bag on her back.

“Sorry. Not allowed to break into houses unless it’s life threatening emergencies,” Redheart answered with a nonchalant shrug and Sunset gave a tired sigh. She supposed that made sense.

“Fine. Follow me. Derpy put you up to this?” Sunset guessed as she led Redheart up to her room and the white pony shut the door behind her before nodding. “Figured.”

Redheart sniffed around as she watched Sunset climbed back into bed and started cocooning herself in blankets.

“Firstly, we need some light in here,” Redheart commented as she set down her bag and opened a set of blinds. Sunset hissed at her and buried her face in her pile of pillows. “You’re not a vampony. You won’t feel better unless you have light and besides, I need to see to do my check up. We can have them half closed if you prefer.”

“Closed. I have a bad migraine,” Sunset rolled over and Redheart opened her bag. “There’s no needles in there, right?”

“Nope. What, one of the saviors of Equestria, element of harmony and Princess’ Celestia’s personal daughter scared of needles?” Redheart smiled at her and it faded as Sunset looked away. “Oh. Well, to be honest with you, yes there is a needle. It’ll only be a brief pain. Won’t even feel it.”

Sunset squeezed her eyes shot before nodding.

“Fine.”

“Perfect. Alright, now let me take your temperature.”

Sunset sighed and opened her mouth. She was getting pretty damn tired of thermometers and cold objects being shoved into her mouth.

"One hundred and seven,” Redheart read out and frowned at her. “That’s not good. How long have you been sick?”

“First noticed symptoms about a week ago. Broke a hundred the other day when Trixie tested my temperature. Started vomiting a few days before. And the migraine is the fucking worst. Can’t even use my magic because-”

“Because using your magic will make your migraine worse,” Redheart finished for her and Sunset gave her an surprised look. “I’m a nurse. I’ve studied all three tribes and species that aren’t Equestrian. Don’t be surprised that I know all about unicorns.”

Sunset gave a nod and sipped her water.

“I hate this. I look so fucking weak and my voice,” Sunset sighed and shook her head as Redheart watched her. “It sounds so weak. This isn’t the commanding presence I like to have. My voice and appearance is the most important thing I have.”

“Well, don’t worry. I don’t have a camera and laws prevent me from talking about my patients other than with Dr. Stable. Now let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” Redheart asked and pulled out a small needle. “I’ll be leaving you some medicine to help with the pain. Between the two of us, it’s just Tylenol. But it works quicker.”

Sunset’s eyes widened slightly before inhaling and holding out her foreleg.

Derpy yawned as she stood in front of her stove, idly flipping pancakes as she glanced at the two ponies next to her wearing matching chef hats and Derpy bit back a snicker.

“Alright, chef Dinky. What do you want with your pancakes?” Derpy asked and Dinky pointed at some blueberries. “That works for me. Chef Sparkler?”

“Chocolate syrup for me. Please and thank you,” Sparkler answered and Derpy nodded. “Thanks mom.”

“Anytime dears.”

Derpy flicked her tail and nudged the two into the dining room with her head before examining the rest of her kitchen.

She didn’t necessarily have much trouble compared to the rest of the elements. According to some unconfirmed rumors, everypony except Derpy, Roseluck and naturally Sunset had problems buying produce yesterday.

Derpy planned on visiting Shoeshine, Silverspeed, Trixie and Roseluck once she dropped off Dinky at school and walked with Sparkler to Rarity’s.

“Have either of you heard anything about ponies having trouble getting stuff in at the market?” Derpy called out and Sparkler frowned at the table.

“I’ve heard somethings,” Dinky answered after a moment. “Angel said her Mom was angry at some ponies. Said she and some others had a plan to deal with them.”

“Roma?” Derpy asked and Dinky nodded. “Weird. I heard she was out of her tomatoes all day yesterday.”

“No she wasn’t,” Sparkler answered and Derpy paused, turning her stove off and moving the pan off the stove. “Yesterday, Rarity and I saw her sell some to Hazel Green. Right after Shoeshine left, if I remember right.”

Derpy’s frown grew and she glanced outside.

“Shoeshine looked pretty down about something. Not like her to be honest. And Roma seemed pretty torn up about something too,” Sparkler continued and rolled a hoof in the air. “It’s a weird atmosphere going out there right now. What did you mean, deal with them Dinks?”

“Refuse to sell to them. It’s not just Roma either. It’s all of the earth ponies excluding a certain few. Berry Punch and the Apples are the few who refused to go along both it. From what I heard, Roseluck knew about this.”

Derpy and Sparkler both shared a frown as Dinky rested her head on the table.