RainbowMacintosh:Big Mac Tastes the Rainbow

The Price Of Love:The Cost of Loss

Rainbow Dash trotted back down the sterilized hallway behind the white mane unicorn. His bleach white lab coat draped off his flanks, halfway covering the red cross he had for a cutie mark. The hallways held the lingering smell of antiseptic and the memory of critical condition ponies that had been rushed down it in the past. Posters and medical diagrams littered the walls at regular intervals seemingly more taunting in the bright fluorescent light of the hospital. Walking past several rooms which held resting injured ponies Rainbow Dash had never been more upset. Each room sent flashbacks of Big Macintosh laying in the dusty Appleoosa street.

Rainbow Dash followed behind the doctor pony as he entered double doors leading into a brightly lit room where Big Macintosh lay bandaged on a bed. A web of electronic components enveloped his body, snaking out toward machines monitoring the red earth pony’s vital signs.

The red stallion sat nearly mummified in the bland décor of the hospital. Light from the setting Appleoosian sun spilled in through the large windows that adorned the far wall. The red pony peered out the window. He sat lost in his thoughts on the white hospital bed that across from the windows. He was surrounded by complex machines that whirred out data with beeps and faint hums. Some machines spat out long streams of papers, recording the stallion’s bodily functions. As the massive metal doors swung open with a light creak, Big Macintosh turned to greet his visitors. The injured red pony’s head swiveled coming to a rest when his eyes met Rainbow Dash’s. The machines monitoring his heart rate slightly peaked when Big Macintosh’s gaze fell lower examining the beautiful pegasus' body. The doctor pony casually turned to walk out the door.

“I’ll give you some privacy.” He said as his white flanks disappeared through the twin metal rectangles.

Rainbow Dash approached the bedside of Big Macintosh. Gently she placed a hoof where the gaping holes had been ripped in her lover’s body. Clean bandages now covered Big Macintosh’s battered figure. The doctors here had done the best they could with limited equipment, he was alive but Rainbow Dash hoped Canterlot could do more. The strong earth pony lightly winced as Rainbow Dash touched his chest. Tears welled in Rainbow Dash’s eyes waiting for the moment they would break free, gushing down her cheeks. Big Macintosh looked up into the demoralized pegasus’ eyes, comforting her with a smile.

"It's..... Not as bad as it looks." He lied.

“Why?!” She demanded, with tears now flowing out. “Why did they do this to you?”

Big Macintosh was silent. He looked as if his thought process was running full blast. A moment later he looked away from Rainbow Dash, closing his eyes.

“I…….I Can’t Tell you Dash.” The red earth pony said with shame to his voice.

“CANT TELL ME?” Rainbow Dash said. Sadness quickly turned into a half rage toward the world.

“I thought you would die! I watched you dying!” She screamed, fighting through the tears draining from her eyes harder now than ever.

“If it hadn’t been for me getting Braeburn then…….” She stopped, unable to finish.

Big Macintosh wore an expression of sadness now also. Looking back toward the blue pegasus, he knew how the truth would affect her. He knew Rainbow Dash’s personality, the prideful blue pegasus would never let it go but he simply could not bring himself to voice the truth. Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh sat quietly, holding each other close. The beeps and hums of medical machines drowned the silence, their monitors constantly flashed out streams of data. Soon the doctor pony stepped back into the two lovers’ presence.

“Miss?” The doctor pony said. “The sky chariot has arrived to transport Mr. Big Macintosh to Canterlot Medical. If you don’t mind, he needs to get some rest now. He is very lucky, but without rest the experience could be very traumatic”

Rainbow Dash looked into Big Macintosh’s loving eyes. She leaned in close to give him a kiss.

Five PonyMedic unicorns now gathered in the room, waiting to take the red stallion away. A dark blue coated unicorn stepped forward, enveloping Big Macintosh in a light green aura before lifting him off his bed and into a stretcher. Two of the other unicorns held it steady with their magic as the body of the heavy pony garnished it. The last two ponies wrapped medical equipment in shimmering lights that carefully floated the expensive machines alongside Big Macintosh. The red stallion looked at the blue pegasus that had been pushed to the back of the crowd during the commotion.

“Just a little something to help you relax.” The doctor said injecting medication into an IV bag that had been slowly dripping into Big Macintosh’s blood stream.

Big Macintosh glanced at his blue lover, Her eyes were pinkly tinted and puffy from crying. Feeling himself drift into a slumber the red pony said the only thing he could think of.

“I will always love you Dash, Remember. “All of what I do is for Us” he said smiling before slipping into a well needed rest.

That was the second time Big Mac had said that. Rainbow Dash knew what it meant the first time but what did he mean now? Why had those buffalo called Big Macintosh an outsider in Appleoosa? Thoughts raced through Rainbow Dash’s mind as she trotted behind the convoy of PonyMedics transporting Big Macintosh. She almost didn’t realize Braeburn trotting next to her.

“Is Big Mac….. Okay?” Braeburn asked

“Who were those buffalo?” Rainbow Dash demanded

“Gold Horns Gang” Braeburn said sourly

“They been causin nothin but trouble for the new folk in Appleoosa for a while now”

“But everypony knows Big Macintosh in Appleoosa…..” Rainbow Dash said confused

Braeburn looked at the blue pegasus with a saddened expression, it was the same expression Big Mac had given her when she asked why he had been attacked. For the rest of the trot Braeburn was silent. The elevator had been too small for Rainbow Dash to ride with them to the top, instead she flew up arriving even before they did. Waiting on the roof of the hospital the white sky chariot looked majestic, a red cross had been painted on top. Canterlot Medical was a prestigious establishment with all the proper funding and more healing options than anywhere else in all of Equestria. Rainbow Dash had not had to wait long before the Ponymedics burst open the door quickly pulling Big Macintosh in tow behind them. Loading the sleeping earth pony into the back of the chariot with medical equipment of its own. one of the pegasus ponies pulling the chariot quickly spoke.

“Are you riding too?” He said. "Room for one more"

Looking back at Braeburn he had a dim expression on his face. Big Macintosh and Braeburn had always gotten along well. Playing in the early summers when they were colts drew them close to each other. The duo spent their teenage years getting in fights, and usually coming out on top but always having a good time. Continuing to work together as they both grew into strong work ponies the two were not just family but also very close friends. It pained Rainbow Dash to see Braeburn get left behind.

“No” she said “I’ll Meet you at Canterlot Medical”