When Apple Bloom stirred awake, the room was bathed in soft morning light. She stretched weakly, her limbs still feeling heavy from days of illness. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed Spike slumped in a chair beside her bed, snoring lightly.

“Spike? What are you still doin’ here? Have ya been here all night?” she asked, her voice raspy but filled with surprise.

Spike jolted awake, blinking at her groggily. “Huh? Oh, Apple Bloom! You’re awake! Yeah, I’ve been here... well, actually, it’s been a little longer than just one night.”

Apple Bloom frowned, her brow furrowing. “Longer? How much longer, exactly?”

Spike hesitated before scratching the back of his neck. “Uh, more like three nights. You’ve been out cold since I got here.”

Apple Bloom’s jaw dropped. “Three days? Oh gosh, oh no! Is Applejack okay? She’s been workin’ herself to the bone while I’ve been lazin’ around sleepin’!”

Spike waved his claws in an attempt to calm her. “She’s okay... I think. She managed to finish all the chores, but this morning she said something about meeting Rainbow Dash to make plans. Twilight told me to keep an eye on you until she gets back, so don’t you worry.”

Apple Bloom tried to sit up, but her muscles ached, and a wave of dizziness washed over her.

“Whoa there,” Spike said, gently pushing her back against the pillow. “You’re still recovering. Stay put, and I’ll find out how Applejack’s doing, okay? I’ll bring you an update soon.”

Apple Bloom sighed, nodding reluctantly. As Spike left the room, she stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with worry.

Applejack trudged along the path leading to Ponyville’s park, where she was set to meet Rainbow Dash. Her legs felt heavy, her hooves dragging through the dirt. Three nights of sleepless work had left her a shadow of her usual self, but she was determined to push through.

Spike’s got Apple Bloom covered, she thought, reassuring herself. This is just a couple hours to catch up with Rainbow. Nothin’ I can’t handle.

When she reached the park, she spotted Rainbow Dash lounging on a bench, her signature sunglasses perched on her nose. The pegasus looked completely at ease, her wings draped lazily over the backrest as she dozed in the warm afternoon sun.

Applejack couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Rainbow Dash always had a way of looking so carefree, like the weight of the world couldn’t touch her. It was... refreshing. Applejack approached quietly and sat down beside her, leaning her head against Rainbow’s shoulder. The warmth and steady rhythm of Rainbow’s breathing were comforting, and Applejack felt her eyes grow heavy.

“Woah, you okay, AJ?” Rainbow’s voice jolted her awake. Applejack blinked, realizing she had nearly fallen asleep.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine,” she said quickly, stifling a yawn. “Just... just a little tired, is all.”

Rainbow pushed her sunglasses up, giving Applejack a skeptical look. “A little tired? You look like you’re about to keel over. Maybe we should reschedule this whole thing. You need rest.”

Applejack shot upright, her voice firm despite her fatigue. “No! I mean... no, we ain’t rescheduling. I’ve been lookin’ forward to spendin’ time with ya all week. I’ll be fine, Dash, I promise.”

Rainbow frowned, studying her friend carefully. “Applejack, you work harder than anypony I know, but sometimes you gotta take a break. Seriously, what’s the point of hanging out if you’re just gonna collapse halfway through?”

“I ain’t gonna collapse,” Applejack insisted, though her wobbling posture said otherwise. She managed a weak smile. “I just... really wanted to see ya today.”

Rainbow blinked, her cheeks tinting a faint pink. She leaned back, her gaze softening. “Alright, alright. But if you’re not up for our usual plans, maybe we should just... I dunno, chill here for a bit. No big adventures or competitions. Just us.”

Applejack nodded, her exhaustion finally catching up with her. Without even thinking, she leaned against Rainbow again, her head resting on the pegasus’s shoulder.

“Sounds good to me,” she murmured, her voice barely audible as sleep began to claim her.

Rainbow Dash glanced down at the earth pony beside her, her heart skipping a beat. Applejack looked so vulnerable, so unlike her usual strong and stubborn self. It was a side of her that Rainbow rarely got to see, and for some reason, it made her chest feel tight.

“Hey, uh, AJ?” Rainbow whispered, her voice softer than usual.

There was no response. Applejack had already fallen asleep, her breath steady and peaceful.

Rainbow chuckled quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips. “You really are something else, y’know that?” She adjusted her wing, draping it lightly over Applejack’s back to shield her from the sun.

As they sat there, Rainbow felt her own blush deepen. There was something about this moment—something simple yet intimate—that made her heart race in a way she wasn’t quite ready to admit.

“Guess we’re takin’ a nap,” she muttered, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. “Could be worse, right?”

The two of them sat together in silence, the sounds of the park fading into the background. For now, the world could wait.

Author's Note

Edit 1: Changed Chapter title to Losing Sight