The rain poured hard on Sweet Apple Achers, causing the normally dry dirt path to turn into a wet slosh of mud. Apple Bloom however didn't seem to care as she walked towards the large barn that was briefly light by a quick flash of lightning followed by the booming sound of thunder. The small lantern she held in her mouth gave an ominous glow that pierced the darkness that surrounded her.
After a few seconds of walking she arrived at the large red and white door. With a small grunt of effort she pushed the door open and entered the dark dry interior. After closing the door shut and gently placing the lantern down on the ground, the small yellow earthpony shook herself dry the best she could from the excess rainwater that had gathered on her coat and mane.
"That's the last time Applejack sends me into the rain to grab a stupid rench," the filly said grabbing the lantern once more and went farther into the dark barn. Stopping for a moment to look around she couldn't help but marvel at the large barrels of apples that were neatly stacked to her left. To her right was a dark green tractor that they had never used or even planned to in the near future.
Sighing she made her way towards the back of the barn where she could clearly see the wooden latter that lead up to the loft, where she knew the tools were placed. Getting to her hindlegs she slowly and carefully made her way up the latter, making sure not to put any extream pressure on the old wood.
When she got to the loft, she headed to the front of the barn. The lantern lighting her surroundings as she walked. When she reached the wooden table that held all the tools she placed the lantern onto the table and began to rummage through the many drawers trying to find a single tool. After about two minutes of searching the young filly paused in her searching.
For reasons she couldn't explain she felt as if she was being watched. Raising her head from the drawer she was looking through she gave a quick look around her surroundings. To her left were a few stacks of heybails, to her right were a few old pieces of clothing and blankets. Apple Bloom looked carefully at the pile of cloth and thought she saw something underneath a large blanket. Grabbing the lantern once again she slowly made her way towards it.
When she got closer to the blanket, Apple Bloom could clearly catch sight of something shifting beneath. She paused, not wanting who or whatever lay beneath to know she was there. Then, Apple Bloom heard a wet sounding cough that shook the blanket. Taking in a deep breath, Apple Bloom mustered every ounce of courage she had and putting the lantern to her hooves and grabbed the edge of the blanket in her mouth, and with a firm tug the blanket was pulled off to reveal what lay beneath.
Apple Bloom could only gasp in shock at what she saw. Laying there and curled in a small ball, was a man dressed in a thick dark brown trenchcoat and thick black boots. He wore a black hat that covered his long grey hair. Apple Bloom could only stare at the man for a few seconds, then he raised his head and turned to face the young filly.
"Please," he said in a raspy voice. "Leave me be."
Apple Bloom placed a hoof on the mans shoulder and noticed that his clothes were still wet from the poring rain. The man turned on his back and Apple Bloom's eyes went wide at the sight of the blood that trickling down his mouth.
"Sir, are you alright?" sShe asked the man. The man didn't answer, instead he got up and began to slowly limp towards the latter. Apple Bloom ran to stop him from climbing down the latter, too afraid of him getting hurt.
"Wait", she began, but stopped to see the man fall onto his side clutching his chest in pain. Apple Bloom ran to see if he was alright.
"Ah need to get ya to AJ," she muttered to herself. Walking over to the edge of the loft she looked down to see a very large pile of hey . Gulping she looked back t the man, who was trying to get back up to his feet, unsuccessfully she noted.
Apple Bloom ggrabbed the mans jacket sleeve with her teeth and slowly began to drag him towards the edge. Although she was an earthpony, Apple Bloom didn't have near enough strength to lift a fully grown man, let alone drag one five feet across to an edge that lead to a pile of hey. Slowly, with each passing grunt she made pushing the man she began to notice the burn in her legs. Finally after what felt like an eternity her hindlegs brushed the edge of the loft.
"Please, leave me be," the man said as the little filly went to the other side of the man and began to push him.
"No can do Partnor", Apple Bloom grunted as the man rolled off the edge and landed of the hey pile. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Apple Bloom looked down at the man to see him slowly crawling out of the hey. With no time to loose Apple Bloom slid down the latter and rushed to catch the man who barely passed the trakter by the time she got to him.
"Woah there, where do y'all think y'all are goin?" she asked stopping him with a hoof. The man groaned, but didn't make a move to bypass the filly. Looking around, Apple Bloom caught sight of a large red wagon tucked between two barrels of apples.
She rolled the wagon towards the man who sighed and weakly got in. With a sigh, Apple Bloom began to roll the waggon out of the barn and into the poring rain.
"AJ's gonna love this."
***
"Mac, where's that rench Apple Bloom said she was gonna get?" Applejack asked from under the kitchen sink. The burly red stallion shrugged and continued to look out of the window and into the pitch darkness of the night. "Damn it, y'all think she'd be here by now helpin us fix this gosh darn sink."
Suddenly the two jumped as something bursted through the front door of the house. Without a word the two earthponies ran out from the kitchen and into the living room, where they saw little Apple Bloom struggling to drag a man through the front door.
"Apple Bloom, what in tarnation."
"Applejack he's hurt," the filly said cutting off the orange mare. Applejacks eyes went wide and she and Big Mac carried the man into the living room and set him down near the fireplace.
"Please, leave me be," he groaned. A sliver of blood running down the side of his mouth. Applejack began to take the mans wet jacket off, trying to get the man to warm up.
"Apple Bloom, where did yah find him?" Apple Bloom looked from the man to her sister.
"Ah found him hidin in the barn." The man gave a wet sounding cough that produced small globs of blood to fall onto the wooden floor.
"Child," he panted looking over to Apple Bloom a trail of crimson running down his nostrolls and mouth. He made a gesture with his hand and the filly nervously walked towards him.
The man gave a few coughs and grabbed his jacket. Pulling out what looked like a small gold ring from the pockets he presented the piece of jewelry to the young filly.
"Take it," he said with a weak shaky voice. Apple Bloom gently took the ring and she saw the man give a small smile. Taking in a deep breath, he reached up and removed his hat, Apple Bloom gasped in shock at what she and her older siblings saw, on the mans forehead was a single red circle with a dot in the center.
The man took in a final breath and gently closed his eyes.
"I, am, free..."
Half an hour had passed after the mans passing. The body was already taken away and the police came in to ask a few questions. Apple Bloom however, kept silent throughout the entire thing. She still held the gold ring the strange man had given her. On it were a set of words that were carved into the gold that she read over and over again.
Et signa thau super eum
Author's Note
Not gonna lie, I actually liked writing this.