A Family Recipe [Anon/Dash SoL]

>You hand over two bits for the small paper sack of apples to a smiling Apple Bloom.
>You swear AJ capitalizes on her younger sister’s cuteness to boost sales.
>”We hope ta see y'all soon! It's been a little rough after the spring storms damaged the barn. Got ta sell all we can!”
>Her massive eyes reflect your scruffy face as you break into an uneasy smile.
>”The doors are hangin’ off the hinges an’ the cows are talkin’ about a strike. We need ta work extra hard to make bits these days.”
>You sigh heavily.
“Three more, please.”
>You slide another bit across the rough wooden counter.
>”Thanks! Have a nice one, Anon!”
>The twang of her happy voice lifts your spirits even though you know you're being played.
>You reach out and ruffle her mane, sending her bow askew.
“You too, Applebloom.”
>”Hey!”
>You hide a smirk as you quickly turn from the stall and walk through the market square.
>It's another truly gorgeous day.
>You rummage through your bulging bag of apples and take one out to munch as you exchange greetings with the townsfolk.
>Mayor Mare, Thunderlane and his brother, Ditzy flitting around, and Rainbo-
“Rainbow Dash?”
>The young mare looks like she's been run through a washing machine.
>The normally bright and energetic flier who rarely has her hooves on the ground is instead plodding forward slowly looking haggard and tired.
>She turns her dark ringed eyes to you and gives a half hearted smile.
>”Hey, An...Anon. What's up?”
>Her words come out in a raspy croak.
>You move swiftly up to her.
“What's up? Dash! You look…”
>You try to quickly think of a nice way of putting it and just as quickly give up.
“...you look like you fought a tornado. And lost.”
>A glint of fire shines in her eyes as she stands a little straighter.
>”Who'd lose a fight with a tornado? I’m fine! Just…!
>She’d flung open her wings as if to take off, but then gingerly folded them back and slumped a bit as she brought a hoof to her forehead and swayed.
>”Just...don't worry...I'm oka-whoa!”
“Dash!”
>She had tried to take a shaky step and ended up sprawling.
>You jumped forward and just managed to catch her fall.
>She looks away from your eyes and tries to push you back.
>”Ugh! Thanks, but I totally had that. I'll be f-”
>You simply pick her up and start walking.
>”What are you doing? Hey! Lemme go!”
“I'm taking you home, Dash. You're obviously exhausted and it looks like you're dizzy. You need rest.”
>”No! Stop! I don't want anypony to see…!”
>Her struggling brings you up short.
>Not because she'd managed to stop you, but because you were floored by how weak she seemed.
>Hell, she may be really sick!
“Rainbow Dash, I think I'd better take you to the hospital. I'm serious, you seem-”
>”NOT THERE!”
>Her ears lay back and she looks suddenly queasy, holding her head from her shout.
>Her voice comes out in a whisper.
>”Look. Just...let me down. I'm not sick. I'll tell you what happened. Just put me down, okay?”
>You nod as she fixes you with those magenta orbs, and carefully set her on her hooves.
>She wobbles a bit, but stays standing.
“What happened to you, Dash?”
>She grimaces and slowly shakes her head.
>”Not just me. I think the others may have gotten it even worse. But if I tell you, you can't tell anypony else. Got it?”
>You make the required motions in silence, though the idea of a cupcake in your eye still makes you wince.
>She sits heavily on the ground with a sigh, and you join her cross legged.
>”It was Starlight.”
>Your face instantly registers fury.
>Did that mare fool everypony? Did she betray your friends after everything-
>Rainbow waves a hoof tiredly.
>”It was an accident. Mostly. Well, kinda. You see…”
>You calm down a bit and settle as the details spill quietly from your friend.
>”...and then we told her never to do anything like that again, so we're cool now. I'm just still feeling the whammy she put on us.”
>You quietly ponder everything she'd said.
>On the one hand you're happy that Glimmer only made what amounts to an honest mistake. For a reformed brutal dictator anyway.
>But you're still pretty peeved.
>A thought occurs to you and you lean in to study Rainbow closely as you mull things over.
>Her expression goes from curious, to discomfort, to awkward anxiety as you lean in and stare.
>She starts nudging away from you.
>”You okay, Anon? You don't have to stare at me like that.”
>You stand up quickly and fold one arm across your chest before putting the other thoughtfully under your chin.
“You're hung over.”
>Rainbow’s eyes bulge as she stares back at you.
>”What?”
“Hung over. Dark rings, light and sound sensitive headaches, loss of equilibrium, muscle fatigue. You're hung over, Dash.”
>She actually manages to get airborne as she swiftly closes to jam a hoof into your chest.
>”Didn't you hear a word I said? I haven't been drinking! And I never drink like that anyway! So you can take your conclusions and go jump-”
>Her tired, angry spiel cuts short as you begin to chuckle.
>
“Sorry, Rainbow. I didn't mean really hung over. Just that the spell’s symptoms are the same.”
>”Oh. Okay.”
>She lands with a thump and looks up at you.
>”So?”
>You grin at her and only manage to keep MOST of the evil out of it.
“Weeeeell. I've got an old family recipe to cure a hangover. It'll fix you right up in no time flat.”
>She may be tired, but she didn't miss that smile.
>”Waaaaait wait wait. What's the catch? Hey!”
“No catch! And we can get all the ingredients right around here! Let's go!”
>She protests a little as you shoo her ahead of you back into the market square.
>You run around for most of an hour, letting Dash rest as often as possible.
>It takes some doing, but after visiting several stalls, asking a few questions, exchanging a few bits here and there around town, and a final stop at Zecora’s you gather all the necessary materials.
>You stand in front of Zecora’s pot, stirring a horrible looking goop with a spoon as she looks on curiously.
>Dash sits on a stool across the room making gagging noises at the smell.
>”A tincture such as this, I feel, may do that mare more hurt, than heal.”
>You snort and give Zecora a wink.
>The only reason you're both still here is because she insisted after hearing what you were doing.
>And, dammit, you needed fresh cracked white peppercorns!
“Worry not, my Zebra friend. This potion’s sure to cure and mend.”
>Zecora grins as Dash rolls her eyes and gags harder.
>You ladle a steaming cup of glop and bring it over to the table next to Rainbow Dash.
>She looks at it warily, and then back at you with a question in her eyes.
“Drink it.”
>Her wings snap open in alarm.
>”You're serious!? No way! I'm not drinking that! I knew there was a catch! That's the nastiest stuff I've ever seen!”
>Her nose scrunches.
>”Or smelled!”
>Zecora walks up beside you with a smirk.
>”Many medicines would waste, if all ponies feared their taste!”
>You nod fervently.
“C’mon Rainbow! I wouldn't give it to you if it was bad for you! You're not gonna let a little drink beat you are ya? Here.”
>You march back to the cauldron and gently pull up the ladle.
>You take a “sip” and pull an aggrieved face before smiling at Rainbow.
“See? Not so bad. Just drink it all in one go.”
>Zecoras eyes widen and sparkle with mischief giving the only sign she'd noticed your sham.
>Rainbow eyes the cup warily.
>”Ugh! Fine! Down the hatch!”
>She clinches her eyes closed, clamps a hoof over her nose, and then snatches the cup and drains it down.
>You stare at her as her eyes widen and her pupils shrink to pinpricks.
>She jets across the room to an empty cauldron and heaves into it violently making all sorts of groaning, splashy noises.
>You avoid the aggrieved look from Zecora as you cross the room to pat her back.
>At your touch she spins around and leaps into the air, hooking a hoof into your shirt and pulling you nose to nose.
>”WHAT IN THE WHOLE FLYING SKY IS THE BIG IDEA GIVING ME THAT!? I’M GONNA MAKE YOU WISH-”
>Again her tirade is cut short by your laughter.
>”WHAT THE HAY IS SO FUNNY!”
“Look at yourself, Dash! You're flying! You're eyes look better and you're yelling so I guess the headache is gone!”
>She drops your shirt and looks at her hooves and back at her flapping wings.
>She flies over to Zecora’s stand mirror and looks at herself.
>”Hey! You're right! I feel great!”
>She does a quick lap around the room and a few tiny loop de loops.
“I've never seen it work that fast before. Must be Equestrian ingredients. But it always does the trick!”
>She flies over quick and nearly tackles you with a hug.
>”This is perfect! You're awesome, Anon! I better get this to the others quick. And a funnel for Rarity. See ya! And thanks again!”
>She rockets around the room filling four bottles and gives a jaunty wave before zooming out the window.
>You sigh happily with a little blush still staining your face.
“Element of Loyalty. Gotta go help her friends.”
>You shake your head and put your hands in your pockets basking in your happiness for a moment.
>A soft nudge makes you turn to see Zecora offering you a bucket of sudsy water with a rag and brush inside.
>”Your sickly friend you made to retch, so her mess is yours to catch.”
>You sigh and roll up your sleeves.
>”Dash really owes me for this one.”
[End]