Somerset tossed and turned many times in their sleep, the hot sweat from the sickness making it impossible to get comfortable. Soon enough, they had no choice but to wake up.
 
When they did, they saw the figures of two mares above them. For a second they thought they were dead.
 
“Oh fuck…Grandma Butter? Great Granny Smith? I-I know I have a lot of explaining to do but-”
 
Before they could finish, they heard the familiar laugh of their older sister.
 
“It’s jus’ me, Som. Ya ain’t dead yet.” She held out a spoon to their mouth. “Drink this, okay? It’s the cure. Ya got awful sick back there.”
 
A heavy cascade of blush covered Somerset’s face as they quickly took the cure into their mouth. As soon as the magical taste slid down their throat, their expression changed into a grateful one. Taking a big gulp, Somerset leaned their head back to take it all in.
 
Honey smiled warmly. “How was that? Feelin’ better?”
 
“Yuh huh,” Somerset was barely able to make out the words as the cure was the consistency of slime and tasted like poison joke flowers. Their face tightened like they had just bit into a lemon. Soon, the third figure, Zecora, came into view.
 
“The cure does not incite a rave review, but without it you would be in the grave, that’s true.”
 
“Exactly,” Honey agreed. “I know it tastes bad but it’s savin’ yer life. We’re lucky we got here on time, Som. I darn near lost you.”
 
“Not like it’d be that bad if you did. Sure Ma and Pa would be upset for awhile and so would Dis, but not you or Sol, surely.” Somerset’s voice was almost somber in the way they said this, their eyes darting around the room.
 
Suddenly, they heard a clank as the spoon fell to the floor. They looked up to see Honey covering her face and shaking.
 
“Oh Celestia, you really think I hate you that much, don’t you?”
 
“Why wouldn’t you?” Somerset smirked, but in an almost reluctant way. “Ah’m kind of a dick you know? It’s just what Ah do.”
 
Suddenly they did something no one could have ever expected; they placed a hoof on Honey’s shoulder.
 
Honey lifted her gaze in surprise at this, her eyes wet with tears.
 
“But why? I’ve tried so hard to be a good big sister, ever since you were born. And you’ve done nothing but piss on ME, more than anypony else. Why me, out of all ponies? Do you hate me?”
 
Somerset sighed and leaned back into the bed, shrugging softly.
 
“Ah know you can handle it sis, Ah don’t hate you. You’re just different. You’re like like Auntie AJ only Ah know she’d beat my ass. Too prideful. You’re a lot less trusting, and Ah wanted to see you stay that way. For yer own sake.”
 
“Really? Because I’m different?” Honey asked. “And what do ya mean ‘for my own sake?’”
 
“Of course really, I’m not an idiot and neither are you. Like Ah said, Ah don’t want you becoming soft and gullible.”
 
“Well that ain’t gonna happen, thanks ta you. But it’d still be nice if ya didn’t treat me like hooey at every turn. And if ya’d stop lyin’ to everyone else. You may be my lil’ sibling but I still ain’t givin’ you a free pass.” Honey glared at them while saying this, but not without a hint of good-natured mischief.
 
Somerset chuckled and rested their head on Honey’s shoulder. “Fine fine, I’ll…lay off, I suppose.”