My Little Pony - Feather Flu Rises

Applejack

"Here ya go, Mrs Cake! The ingredients ya needed?" I waited at the door after knocking, laying the wicker basket on the porch.

"Why thank you!" Mrs Cake says, smiling. "Take care!", she added, grabbing the basket and shutting the door as I left, bidding her goodbye. I scanned the market, looking curiously at the rows of colourful stalls. I turn away from them, heading back to the farm. I watched the ponies strolling by, before spotting Pinkie Pie.

"Hey Pinkie!" I waved. She bounced over, smiling. She started to say hello, but paused, as a slightly worried expression washed over her face.

"Applejack!" She said, grabbing my attention. Half-whispering, she said, "My pinkie sense says something scary is going to happen."

"Nothing will happen, sugar cube," I reassured her, in a calm tone.

Pinkie looked at me sceptically. "Well, stay safe out there." she started to walk, looked back at me, slowing down, before wandering back towards the bakery. "Stay safe..."

"You too!" I said, slightly concerned, but ignoring the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I looked towards the ground as I headed towards Sweet Apple Acres, deep in thought. After a while, I looked up, walking through the gate and to the barn. I need to feed the chickens again, I thought to myself silently, as I grabbed the feed and poured it into their feeder. "Ow!" I winced, realising I had just been bitten in the leg. "Oh my, better clean that." I grabbed the first aid kit and snatched the bandages from it, wrapping it around my wound. The chickens clucked, as if they were laughing at me. "Hey that's... It's not nice to laugh at ponies, ya know?" I said, feeling slightly awkward, considering I was trying to have a conversation with a chicken. I'm probably just being paranoid...

I headed back to the house, half-limping from my injured leg, when I stopped, feeling my throat closing slightly. I choked out, a warm liquid suddenly running from my mouth, so I wiped it away with my hoof. It came out red.

Cough.

Cough.

I had began to panic.

Why was I coughing blood? Maybe I was sick? Thinking hurriedly, I decided to myself that I needed to keep away from everypony. If I were sick, I could hurt my friends. I ran inside the house with my head down, to grab my things before leaving. I realised I needed to write something for my friends and family. Sitting down, I wrote notes to Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and my friends. The letters, encased in yellowing envelopes with stamps, lay on the table, awaiting opening. The sun began to fall, and the moon rose, enveloping the sky in a dim, welcoming moonlight and embracing the stars in its arms. It made me question my decision; but still, I knew I needed to leave. So, taking one last, sad look at the place I had called home, I left.