Failure has Its Own Price

by BigMacAttack

Rating: teen
Tags: Zecora, Sad, Applejack, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Winona, Tragedy, Twilight Sparkle, Big Macintosh
Length: 13795

Flutter x Mac not Dash x Mac as the name suggests. =P

Rainbow Dash's signature move doesn't work so well when she tries it amongst the Apple Family's orchard and hurts herself badly, with Applejack and Applebloom away in Appleoosa and the town Nurse away at a convention who will Big Mac turn to to help him care for the wounded pegasus?

Ah am looking for anyone with experience to review this and point out any obvious flaws with the spelling. grammar or story! So help me if y'all can!

Cover pic was graciously provided by the wonderful 0r0ch1, who can be found on his furaffinity site here:http://www.furaffinity.net/user/shin0r0z/

Published 2011-09-25 08:22:40 UTC
Last updated 2011-12-23 23:45:30 UTC

Chap 1: The Crash

The dawn rose beautifully that day, peeking out from behind the hills in the distance to gently touch the curtains of Big Mac’s bedroom as the roosters started their usual morning chorus. Not that they really had much of an effect as the only remaining member of the Apple family had already risen a good hour beforehand.

Big Mac stood outside the door of the house surveying the beauty of dawn’s first light and the receding of the night as Princess Celestia provided them again with the promise of a beautiful morning. He looked back at the house and felt a pang of loneliness, he missed Applejack and Applebloom. He sighed and looked back towards the hills, he knew they would be back soon, but that didn’t make the pain any easier to bear. Heaven knows he loved them and he sure as hay wanted them to come back. He knew that they would be having a good time visiting cousin Braeburn up in Appleloosa, but all he felt was an empty feeling of sadness. He missed the friendly banter with his sister, and dang it if he didn’t miss Applebloom’s huge puppy dog eyes that could make her do anything the cunning little filly wanted.

“Aw hay, I guess ah gotta start on tha day...sure don’t feel like it tho...” he muttered to himself as he surveyed the new day that was breaking over his family’s orchard. “Hmm? What’s that?” a slight whistling sound had started off in the distance above the rising sun at the far end of the orchard. Bigmac squinted against the brightness of the sun and saw a blue streak diving straight towards the ground from a great height. The blue streak sped towards the ground as a thin white cone started to surround the diving Pegasus pony. “Ah guess Rainbow must be practicing early today” Mac mused, watching as Dash built up speed as she dived towards the ground, the white cone around her stretching and threatening to snap her back into the orange rays of the sunrise she was diving into. The cone of air rippled and exploded outwards shimmering as it caught the rays of the sunrise and bursting into a myriad of rainbow colours as the cyan Pegasus suddenly accelerated towards the ground, her mane a rainbow trail billowing out behind her as she sped downwards. Seconds before she hits the ground she pulls out of her dive and speeds between the trees of the orchard, the trees bending in the direction of her path from the draft of her flight.

“Ah wonder how the hay she pulls that off ev’ry time?” Big Mac chuckles as the rainbow weaves its way through the paths of the orchard, “At least she stays away from the un-harvested trees, Celestia knows what she do ta those apples!” he laughs turning back towards the house to make a start on the day.

*CRACK* *CRASH* *SNAP* a series of sickening sounds rang out over the orchard shattering the peaceful mood instantly.

“Wha the hay?” Big Mac span around at the sound of the sickening crunch from the east orchard, and was confused as he saw...nothing? “Ah must be imagining thangs again”

Wait...didn’t Miss Dash’s Rainbooms leave rainbow trails? Why wasn’t there one past the east orchard? He didn’t need a degree in fancy mathematics to figure that one out.

“Aw Horsefeathers!” he poured all of his energy into his muscled legs praying it was enough to propel him to the eastern orchard in time!

As he bolted towards the orchard he could feel his heart thumping as his mind raced, taking in the scene of destruction all around his as he neared the crash site. a tree had fallen along Dash's flight path and the poor filly had collided with it at full speed, the ground directly in front had been gouged out as she had collided with the ground and bounced into the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree.

"Celestia help me." he breathed, his flanks shaking from the exertion of his all out sprint, she looked like death.

Her hind legs were clearly broken and one of her wings was hanging limp from her side, blood poured from several lacerations to her body and head and tainted the light blue fur that coated her beautiful frame, her eyes were open and her pupils were tiny as the shock and pain nearly broken her mind. Her chest moved only slightly, struggling to keep herself conscious Big Mac could see the raw animal panic that was racing through her eyes as he rapidly cleared the distance between himself and her.

"Miss Dash! Now don't ya go fainting on me!" but he was too late, her eyes closed and her head dropped as her body slid from the tree branch. he leapt forward catching her broken body before it landed upon the soil once more.

"MISS DASH!" He bellowed trying to awake her, but she was out cold, "AW HAY WHAT DO AH DO NOW!" his mind raced as he thought of the only options left to him, he needed to get help, he could fix cuts and scrapes, but nothing of this magnitude. If he didn't get help soon she would die, of that he was certain.

"SOMEPONY HELP ME! HELP HER!" he roared to the sky praying that his outburst would be heard by someone...anyone...

And somepony did.

"Umm... excuse me?", Big Mac snapped around at the sound of the tiny voice in the glade behind him, "I heard you yell...and i started running...but then i heard you cry for help" the small voice almost brought tears to Big Mac's eyes as he observed the tiny yellow pegasus before him. he had never seen her before but whoever she was she could help.

"Ah need your help, she's hurt real bad. Ah can't fix anything like this." he moved aside as he said so and the yellow pegasus was able to finally see what it was he had been yelling about.

"RAINBOW!"

Unnamed

"RAINBOW!" the yellow pegasus screamed as she gazed on the broken body of her closest childhood friend. Tears pouring down her face as she saw the blood and the odd angles of Rainbow's hind legs as she lay in the bloody dirt. Her head turned to Big Mac and he felt true fear at the anger he saw in her eyes. "Who did this!"

"N-n-no-pony, she crashed during on oh her tricks just now." Why was he afraid of this tiny pegasus? Her eyes threatened a greater pain than anything he could imagine, but that quickly faded as she saw how upset she had made him.

"Oh...i'm so sorry..." She withdrew within herself as she cried over the bloodied body of her closest childhood friend.Huge sobs racked her frame as Big Macintosh Shook his head to clear the fear that had spiked from the pegasus's fearsome eyes to his own.

"We need ta get her ta tha nurse, ah can carry her but ah need ya ta fly ahead oh me ta tell them ah am coming. Can ya do that? Miss..." he paused as he realised he had no-idea who this pegasus was.

"Um...i'm fluttershy..." She immediately clammed up as she seemed to collapse within herself. Falling to the ground beside Rainbow Dash. Placing her hoof gently on Dash's Stomach as the tears fell to form rivers down her friends side. "A-and i'm afraid...the nurse..the nurse i-isn't here..."

"WHA?! HOW ARE WE GUNNA SAVE HER!" The explosion of noise from Big Macintosh caused Fluttershy to recoil in fear from the sound. She looked towards her friend and something seemed to click in her head.

"Ummm...i think that m-maybe...I-i...could do it...N-no...I can do it!" she straightened herself up from her friend's side turning to stare Big Mac dead in the eyes. "Um...do you have anything like a first aid kit? Bandages and salves?

"Now tha ah can get ya, but ah think it would be better if'n we can move her back ta tha homestead, we always need things like tha' on tha farm." His expression brightened considerably as he realise that she just might have a chance. "But, ahhh...pardon ma askin'. But how da ya know all tha? Are ya a nurse or somethang?"

"N-no...I care for my animal friends back home...and I needed to know how to heal them when they were hurt...so I learnt to heal others..." At this her chest swelled with pride, her friend had always helped her in the past and now she would be able to save her! "We need to get her to the house right now! But we have to be careful..." Fluttershy gently nosed Rainbow Dash to roll her onto her stomach, her legs were bent out at odd angles and the broken filly didn't respond to the touch. It was worst then Fluttershy had originally thought...

"Ah don't think ya can carry her...ya ah too small, no offense Miss Flutershy." Fluttershy cast her eyes up at the Massive stallion, his large broad back would be much better and safer for transporting the injured Pegasus...

"Ah'm gonna need ya help ta get ma harness off. Ah can do it by maself, but it would take too long. ah just need ya ta undo tha clip under tha front" he reared his head back to give Fluttershy a clear view of the clip. as she lent forwards to undo the clasp, she noticed just how powerfully build the stallion was. As it was he didn't really need to lean back, he was already much larger than she was, undoing the clasp she took a step back as the stallion shook off the harness with a significant crash.

With a little effort from Fluttershy they placed the injured Pegasus onto Big Macintosh's back, his broad expanse of a back easily held the Pegasus and he turned towards his home, eager to return to help the injured Dash. "Lets get going, ah don't think she's gonna make it if we wait around much longer." he stated casting a worried glance up at the unconscious, broken bundle on his back.

"Umm, what about your harness?" Fluttershy's voice was more certain now, for the presence of the massive stallion had calmed her nerves and she was slowly getting into her element. For now she had to focus on tending to an injured animal and friend.

"Don't worry about it, ah come an pick it up afta we finish with miss Dash, beside ah think it might be a bit heavy for ya ta carry miss Shy." He started towards the house, this focus remaining of providing a stable transport for the injure patient. As he looked back he saw the pale yellow Pegasus attempting to lift the heavy harness, and succeeding. Big Macintosh was quite impressed by this display, Miss Shy was going out of her way to carry something so heavy even though she had no reason to. It seemed she was stronger then he had given her credit for.

They completed the journey back the house without incident, however there was no time for a break, as Rainbow's breathing had become shallower. The two ponies worked in tandem, Fluttershy quickly got to work, binding and dressing the wounds on Dash's body, while Big Macintosh acted as a assistant nurse and provide all the materials necessary for the healing.

At the end of the day both ponies were run ragged and Rainbow Dash's condition had only stabilised minutely, it would all depend if she lasted the night, but Fluttershy had faith in her friends strength. But that didn't stop the panic that settled itself in both the ponies hearts.

As they sat at the Apple family table eating a simple hay and apple sandwich that Big Mac had whipped up, the both were practically drooping over their plates, the day had taken a huge toll on both of them. Realising that she was probably too tired to make it back home by herself, Big Macintosh suggested that Fluttershy stay the night. "Ah don't know rightly where ya live but the lease ah can do is offer ya a berth for tha night, plus ah'm ashamed ta admit tha ah don't know tha first thing about caring for a sick pony." this had always been a sore point with Big Mac as it was Granny smith who had always dispensed the right information about caring for each other, and with her no-longer living on the farm and the girls away for the next week, there was zero medical talent left on the farm.

"Umm...i-if you...i-i mean...yes, I would love that thank you." the thought of spending the night away from her house was a little frightening for Fluttershy, but for some reason she couldn't be afraid around Big Macintosh, even when she had started to doubt herself during the operation his steady presence had helped her though it. plus she was still worried about her friend, it was still too soon to say she would be alright. "But umm...where will you sleep? There is only two beds..."

"Now don't'cha worry about tha miss Shy, ah will sleep down here on tha couch, y'all can take ma bed. It's not tha most comfy and it may be a tad too big for ya, but ah'm sure you will be alright." Fluttershy found herself too tired to put up much of a resistance, and indeed Big Macintosh almost carried her up to his room. She didn't even remember falling asleep.

As he returned to to couch to sleep for the night Big Mac's thoughts began to wander, he had never met this yellow Pegasus before. But her hidden strength had impressed him, the anguish she must have undergone to operate on her best friend would have been astounding and her kindness astonished even him. She had voluntarily carried his harness even thought it was much too heavy for her so that he wouldn't have to collect it the next day. Her medical talent had also impressed him by a large margin, he would ask her for a few tips over the next few days provided that miss Dash made it through the night.

The worry began to gnaw at his mind and he struggled to push himself up from the couch. he trotted up the stairs to check on the patient one last time, her breathing had gotten deeper and more regular. He kept watch over the Pegasus until the moon had risen to the highest peak in the sky until sleep finally overcame him.

The morning would reveal the fruits of their labours, or the sadness of a great loss.

Chapter 4 (Nothing funny to say this time I'm afraid)

If he could have traded his entire farm for the moment of peace to last a little longer, he would have seriously considered it. That brief moment of peace that they shared during the walk to town was a welcome respite from the hectic events of the past day. Fluttershy slept all the way into town on Big Macintosh's back as he trotted gently into town, the sight of the two gathering a few surprised glances from the local ponies of the town.

"Now where am ah gonna go to get some medical supplies? Usually we just send Applejack to the town for supplies..." he cast his eyes around the town looking for the best place to start his enquiries. But something pink blurred right past his line of sight and zipped right past him. "Now what the hay was that?" he cocked his head in the direction that the pink streak vanished off to.

"OHMYGOSHANEWPONYI'VENEVERSEENYOUAROUNDHEREBEFORE! *Inhale* HII'MPINKIEWHATSYOURNAME!" A bouncing pink pony was proceeding to circle him at astonishing speed while bouncing higher than his head.

"Ah...excuse me? Who are you?" The look of puzzlement on his face set Pinkie Pie off laughing and rolling on the ground.

"AHAHAHAHA! Sorry, you just looked so...BWAHAHAHAHA! Hahahahaaa...sorry about that, my name is Pinkie Pie! Ponyville's Resident Party Pony! Are you new here? I've never seen you around the town before! OHMYGOSH! I need to make you a party! Hang on a sec-" with that Pinkie Pie began to dash off again, straight into another pony that was walking down the main road of Ponyville.

"OHMYGOSHIAMSOSORRY!" the torrent of words was stopped by a prompt hoof being shoved into Pinkie Pie's mouth.

*Sigh* "First Pinkie, this is Applejack's brother Big Macintosh. Second, you gave him a party on his birthday last season. Third, you are meant to be helping with the search party for Rainbow Dash. Fourth, you missed the fact that Fluttershy is clearly sound asleep on his back. Why is that by the way?" the purple unicorn turned to Big Macintosh and pursed her lips in a manner that Big Mac found more adorable than frightening. Meanwhile Pinkie, seemingly satisfied with the unicorn's explanation, proceeded to bounce in the same spot while she too turned her attention back to Big Macintosh.

"Ah...I think ah can help you with the last two points there, but ah'm afraid ah have no idea how ya know my name. Cause ah have no idea who y'all are." The look of continued puzzlement on his face sent Pinkie Pie into another fit of giggles, which was promptly silenced by a stern look from the purple unicorn.

"Well as it seems that you may be of some assistance at the moment. I am Twilight Sparkle, Resident Librarian of Ponyville's Public Library." At this Twilight proceeded to place her hoof on her chest and exuded a look of complete pride.

"Well now, ah right glad to meet you Miss Sparkle. I will attempt to make this as clear as possible. First, miss Rainbow Dash is back at the farm. Second, Miss Shy here is dead tired from taking care of Miss Dash for the past day. Third, we need medical supplies or somepony with extensive medical knowledge. Was ah clear enough miss Twilight?" he inclined his head at Twilight as her jaw promptly dropped from his succinct description.

"BAHAHAHAHAHA! Twilight! You look like he did a second ago! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Twilight shook her head as Pinkie Pie's explosion of laughter nearly rocked her off her hooves.

"Ok, give me a second here to understand all that. So, Rainbow is at the Apple Farm? Why? Is something wrong?" she inclined her head at Big Macintosh.

"Ah...she...isn't doing too well. She hit one o tha biggest and hardest trees on ma farm. At top speed..." His face fell as he described Rainbow's predicament to Twilight.

"Wait, her top speed is about mach 10 when she performs the sonic-rainboo... Oh no! At that speed the forces on her would have reached-" at this twilight drew a piece of paper out of her saddlebag and proceeded to start a series of complex formulas all over the sheet.

"Silly Twilight!" Pinkie Pie grabbed and tore up Twilight's calculations while she proceed to question Big Macintosh. "How bad is the injury? Will she be alright?"

"Pinkie! You pick now of all times to start making sense!?" Twilight was busily trying to gather up her torn sheets with her magic. *Sigh* "Well the nurse would be the best place to go to if Rainbow is injured, but she is away for the next two weeks on a convention at Canterlot. Guess that leaves...Zecora!"

"Uhhh...would that be that Zebra from the Everfree Forest?" Big Macintosh started to shift his weight from hoof to hoof; a look of anxiousness began to pass across his face.

"Oh Celestia! Don't tell me you still believe those evil enchantress rumours!" Twilight began to look exasperated

"NO! Ah never believed those rumours in tha first place! Ah, just...don't like that forest..." Big Macintosh clammed up and his head lowered to the ground. Twilight wisely decided not to question the matter further.

*Yawn* "Oh! Good morning Twilight...Eep!" Fluttershy leapt into the air off Big Macintosh's back, a huge blush spreading across her face as she realised what she had just been doing.

"Morning Fluttershy, sleep well?" Twilight grinned, "Big Macintosh has filled us in on the details of Rainbow's accident. What do you need to heal her?"

"Umm...I need some more herbs, bandages, painkillers and I need somepony to mind the animals at my house for me for the next few days." Her voice was muffled from behind her mane as she hid behind it, her embarrassment still clearly showing through.

"Hmm, I suggested it to Macintosh, but I think we might need Zecora's help in this. Can you and he make it to her hut by yourselves? I can perform a few magic touch-ups on Rainbow while you two can gain her help. She should also have a large supply of bandages and herbs as well!" Twilight began to get that glint in her eye, the same one she got whenever she began to take charge of the group.

"Umm...I don't know if I really know the way there..." Fluttershy seemed to withdraw further into herself as the prospect of venturing into the forest brought her fear levels to new heights.

"Oh don't worry silly! I know the way there! I will show you the way! Come-on!" Pinkie pie leapt behind Fluttershy and started pushing her from behind; Fluttershy had meanwhile locked up her limbs and was forming a small dirt pile in front of each hoof as they dug into the ground.

"Umm...Pinkie! No! Wait! Oh..."

*Sigh* "PINKIE! THE FOREST IS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!" Twilight bellowed at the retreating figures. Pinkie stopped, looked around and started giggling.

"Oh, right! Whoops! Teehee!" She promptly turned around, grabbed Fluttershy's tail and began dragging her in the opposite direction, towards the forest. Big Macintosh made to follow then when a purple hoof prodded him in the side

"Mr Macintosh. May I have a word with you first?" Twilight was beginning to smile and dang if it didn't look creepy. The smile only got creepier when she put her hoof around his neck.

"Uhh...sure? Ah guess?" He was beginning to sweat now. Twilight's horn began to glow and the air about the two visibly darkened.

"If. You. Ever, EVER. Do anything to hurt her. I WILL find you. And neither you, Applejack or Celestia will stop me. Understand?" The look in her eyes was promise enough of the results of her threats should he come ever harm Fluttershy.

*Gulp* "Ah understand perfectly ma'am. Ah'll just be going now. Bye!" With that he turned tail and bolted towards the retreating figures of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Putting on a turn of speed that would have shamed Rainbow Dash on a good day.

*Sigh* The air around Twilight lightened and her expression returned to normal. "I guess the Grin has a little way to go till it's as powerful as the Stare. Hahahaaa...She chose well. Spike!" Her purple dragon assistant promptly appeared at her side, she had never figured out how he always managed to do that. Maybe he had been taking lessons from Pinkie?

"You called Twi? What do you need?" The Small dragon already had his paper and quill at the ready, he knew her too well.

"I need you to take care of Fluttershy’s animals for the next few days and two letters to be sent out, one to the Princesses and one to Applejack in Appleloosa. Now let’s begin with the one to the princesses..."

_____________________________________________________________________________

As the trio of Ponies approached the forest, only one of them seemed eager to enter the forsaken dark depths of the Everfree Forest.

"Come on! Let’s go!" Pinkie was practically bouncing off the trees as she speed into the forest, quickly outpacing the other two.

"PINKIE! WAIT!" Fluttershy cried out as Pinkie appeared to disappear into the forest ahead of them. "Oh no! Which way do we go? She quickly flicked her eyes side to side searching for the right road to take. "Macintosh, where do you-?" She suddenly stopped as she noticed just how frightened Big Macintosh was.

"A-a-ah have n-n-no idea Shy." he was visibly shaking and his head was only a few centimetres off the ground.

"Hey, I just noticed something!" Fluttershy beginning to smile a little, "That's the first time you have actually used my Nickname."

"Oh! Ah'm sorry miss Fluttershy! Ah shouldn't have called ya that!" He brought his head up and stared into Fluttershy's eyes. The fear in her eyes gave him strength, after all, he had promised Miss Sparkle. "Ah'm sorry, I just...have a few bad memories of this place."

"Oh! I didn't realise! And we forced you to come here! I am so sor-" her apology was stopped by a gentle hoof on her lips.

"No don'tcha apologise fer nothing miss Fluttershy. Ah'm tha one who should be sorry for not being the strong one here. now let’s go, miss Pie shouldn't be too far ahead...I think." At this he lowered his hoof and took his place at Fluttershy's side, moving forward into the undergrowth in the direction that Pinkie had disappeared.

As he began to walk forward he felt a nudge on his side. "Umm...if you could just do something for me? C-could you just c-call me Fluttershy o-or Shy? I don't w-want to be a s-s-stranger to y-you." Her smile broke straight through Big Macintosh's defences.

"O-f course miss Shy, I-I Mean Shy." An awkward smile graced his face as the two ponies smiled at each other. "But y'all can't keep calling me by ma full name then. Ya cal call me Mac if'n ya like."

"I-I would like that very much Mac." She smiled the sweetest smile that he had ever seen. "Thank you by the way, for supporting me and helping both me and Dash."

"B-but ah didn't do that much...I-I couldn't!" he stammered as he tripped over a small vine on the path.

"Nonsense, you provided us with shelter, food and assistance, without your help on the first night I would never have been able to help rainbow. You helped more than you could ever know." They locked eyes and smiled at each other as they broke through to a large clearing, the trees had formed a large circle and the bright light of the sky was visible as the trees parted.

"Uhhh...Ah don't see any hut. Maybe we went tha wrong way?"

"Umm...Let’s see if we can find Pinkie. Pinkie! Pinkie!" her voice was way too soft to attract any sort of attention so Big Mac decided to lend a small hand.

"MISS PIE WHERE ARE YA!" his bellow resounded through-out the forest as Fluttershy leapt bolt upright.

"Eek!" She bolted into a nearby bush as Big Mac stared at the dust after-image of her.

"Uhhh...Too loud? Sorry about tha." he rubbed the back of his head with a hoof.

*Gulp* "That was...um... loud." Fluttershy was shakily climbing out of the bush. Her embarrassed blush was way too cute Big Mac decided, and those pretty eyes of her that were shining with...Fear?

"LOOK OUT MAC!" Big Macintosh was still rubbing the back of his head when he was smashed by a huge paw, the force was enough to send him flying over the clearing into the truck of a massive tree. Three huge claw gashes were now on his side and blood ran freely down his face.

*ROAR* The source of the claw smashed through the tree as a emerald green dragon broke into the clearing. The beast stood up and towered over the trees and the two ponies. "GRAAAHHHHH" his roar was accompanied by a great gout of flame that caused the tree's behind Fluttershy to burst into flames.

Fluttershy stood petrified, pure fear had locked her legs as the dragon glare down at her. "Who DARES wake me?! I was having a nice little NAP! And someone dares to waken me with some stupid babble about PIES!"

Fluttershy tried to say something but her jaw had locked rigid and her tears freely poured down her face.

"Well it HAS been a while since I last tasted ponymeat. You aren’t very big, but your friend here will make a fine meal. Maybe you could be the appetiser? HAHAHAHAHA!" He brought his snout close to the trembling mass that was Fluttershy and looked directly into her eyes. "Now how should I have you? Raw? Fried? Or extra crispy? HAHAHAHA!" He open his maw and Fluttershy saw her death painted all over those long fangs as his head darted forward.

*Crack* *CRASH* "GRAAAAHHH! THAT HURT!" A tree trunk half as thick as a house had fallen and pinned the dragon's neck. "WHO DARES HURT ME?!" He struggled against the trunk but he couldn't lift it off himself.

"I will never let you hurt her." The dragon snapped his eyes to the massive pony limping towards him. A look of pure hatred glinting in the stallion’s eyes. "You...ah remember you dragon. You took something from me once; Ah will never let tha happen again."

"You. I recognise you now. The little colt that couldn't do a thing as I slaughtered his parents in front of him. HAHAHA! you may have grown a little, but nothing has changed from then till now. You are still WEAK! As was that stupid pony who sacrificed himself for his dead wife and his snivelling BRAT!" The dragon slashed his claws at Big Mac and cut three new gashes along his chest. The blood flowed freely down Big Mac’s chest but he never flinched or moved.

"You are so right. Ah am weak, Ma parents were weak too. But both me and my father had something that makes made us much stronger than y'all could ever have been." Big Mac grinned as he moved closer to the dragons head.

"And pray tell me my little morsel, what is that?" the dragon began to inhale. "Before I turn you and your little fillyfriend there into ashes?"

"Something ta protect." Big Mac dashed forward onto the dragon's nose and pivoted, lifting his back hooves as he balanced on his front hooves. And bucked the dragon straight between the eyes. He put the full force of his body behind the blow, shattering his cracked ribs and causing him to cough up a muzzle-full of blood. He fell to his knees as the pain racked his body.

But the dragon had fared worse.

When he turned towards the dragon he saw a gruesome sight, his kick had caved in the skull of the dragon. A quick, painless death. “Sorry, ah guess ah couldn’t hold back after all.”

The limped towards Fluttershy who just stood and stared, tears streaming down her face at the death of the Dragon and the injuries on Big Mac. "You killed him..."

"Ah did and ah'm sorry. But ah promised your friends ah wouldn't let anything bad happen ta you. Ah'm sorry, ah truly am. Taking a life is something no-pony should ever have ta do or see." He stopped in front of her and placed his head on top of hers. "Never forget that kindness of yours. It is the true source of who ya are. And it's what ah think made me fall for ya."

"Wha? F-fall for me?"

*Cough* "Eeyup. Now can ya do me a favour?" His vision was beginning to darken and he knew he didn't have very long before he passed out. He probably wouldn't be coming back from this one.

"S-sure."

*Cough* *Cough* His blood now flowed down Fluttershy's face, mixing with her tears."Tell AJ and Applebloom...that ah love them... and ah'm sorry that ah...couldn't meet them...at tha...station..." He slumped forwards and slipped off of Fluttershy as he fell to the ground.

He could hardly hear her screams as he began to lose consciousness. As the darkness descended he wondered if this was how his Father had felt as he had died, bringing his son and dead wife back from the forest. It felt good he decided, at least she was safe. It was a shame but at least he had kept his promise.

As he turned his eyes towards her, his last thought was that her colour looked a little off. Wasn't she yellow? Not black and white? But the darkness overcame him and he fell down, into the black void of unconsciousness.

Chapter 5: Revive

When he awoke, his entire chest and flank were on fire, the pain lanced through his side and sent him screaming back into unconsciousness. The second waking was slightly more peaceful, his chest still hurt but his ribs no longer felt like they were red hot irons under his skin. He tried to shift but a black and white striped hoof pushed him back into the bed.

"Injured you were quite severely today, for you to move yet there is no way. Lie still and rest your head, and stay put within that bed." The sing-song voice belonged to the Zebra Zecora. Big Macintosh had never personally met the Zebra, but Applejack's description of her had been adequate enough. He rested his head back into the bed as she lifted her hoof off of his chest.

"How tha hay am ah still alive? Where is Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie? How long was ah out?" His questions were stopped by a gentle hoof upon his head.

"It's true that you lost a lot of blood, me and Pinkie found you face down in the mud. I am a healer and by trade, so Miss Fluttershy requested my aide. Though you defeated a dragon it is true, it was very nearly the end of you." With this she turned a stern eye his way. "If I had not chanced upon Pinkie amongst the trees, you would have been in quite a squeeze. Though in Fluttershy you should take some pride, not once has she left your side."

Big Macintosh looked beside the bed and he saw that Zecora had indeed told the truth. Fluttershy was asleep with her head on the bed. But something wasn't quite right with the scene around them. Then it hit him, it was night time outside. "Aww Hay! What time is it?"

"Worry not my large red friend, for it is only just the day's end. In truth I believed you would sleep till dawn, but it appears a wrong conclusion I have drawn. Your body is fit and strong, and that has helped your healing along." She began to mix a series of ingredients that he couldn't place in a large pot in the middle of the hut.

"Did Fluttershy tell you tha reason we came to tha forest? We were looking for you in particular." He lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. How the hay had he come back from death in the space of one day?

"Of your friends plight I have been told, by our friend so pink and bold. Help has already been discussed, but we decided that your healing was a must."

"Now how did you come to that conclusion? Ah though ah was dead. How did you heal me so fast? Ah was pretty sure I broke most of ma ribs when ah bucked that dragon." He looked at his side where the bandages were clean and crisp and he no longer felt any pain from the wounds.

"A unicorn is not the only one, through who magic can be done. My magic comes from plants and roots, leaves, nuts, buds and shoots. The magic of the earth is pure, and often the better cure." she finished with the cauldron and ladled a small amount of the potion into a small bowl.

"Let me guess, ah have ta drink that...Looks kind of...green..."

"Oh my goodness this is not for thee, have you never heard of 'Tea'?"

"...Well I guess ah need to be a little more open minded then! Hahaha...oww." He grimaced, it hurt to laugh.

"Well my magic can do many a thing, but I cannot fix everything. You must now rest and heal, and for it the better you will feel." she sipped the tea and leaned against the wall of her house.

Big Macintosh looked at the sleeping pony next to him and a blush spread across his face. Had he really confessed to her after all that, he chuckled and immediately regretted it. "Ah guess losing that much blood can do some strange things to a pony. But ah'm glad ah said it at least, cause ah meant every word." he lay his head down next to hers and let sleep overtake him once again.

"Spirits of love, peace and rest, make sure that their love is blessed. Watch over them from now till the end, as an offering of peace I send." the rest of the potion in her bowl evaporated into a cloud of green mist and resolved itself into a symbol of a heart.

"Perfect." She placed the bowl on her table and eased herself onto the ground; she would need her rest, and tomorrow would be a big day.
________________________________________________________________________________

The Next day Big Macintosh woke feeling much better, he still couldn't believe that yesterday he had been dying. He rubbed his chest experimentally but there was no pain, only three pink scars running down his chest and side. He cast his eyes over to a mirror he saw in the corner of the hut. A Red scar ran over his left eye and halfway down his muzzle. It didn't look all that bad.

"Umm...it kinda suits you..." The voice startled him; he still wasn't used to Fluttershy's quiet movement. "It makes you look...strong."

"Ah'm not that strong, ah just had something ta protect. Ah pony can do a great number of things when something they love is threatened. From what ah heard from ma sister, you're no weakling yerself. Ah pretty sure ah couldn't stare down one ah those things if ah tried. Hehe."

"Oh you mean...the Stare...it’s not that useful, I can't control it very well and I can't use it if I'm scared..." A small tear began to roll down her face. "Which is most of the time...I couldn't do anything when it attacked you...I just stood t-there l-l-like a-a s-statue...*Sniff* I almost let you die. You nearly died! And I couldn't do a thing!" She slithered to the floor and began to cry her eyes out, two small rivers forming down her cheeks and dripping to the floor.

"It's alright, ah didn't die and you're alright, besides if ah get hurt. You can just fix me up again, right?" He lifted her chin with his hoof, catching her eyes as he brushed her pink mane out of her eyes. "And you know what? Ah don't mind sacrificing myself for ya. Ah don't care if a dragon, a Ursa Major or Celestia herself was after ya. That wouldn't stop me throwing maself in front of ya to protect ya."

*Sniff* "R-r-really? You'd d-do t-t-that for m-me?" She looked him dead in the eyes and he saw disbelief in her eyes and...Hope?

"What did I tell you before ah fell?" he moved his nose closer to her and stared into her eyes.

"Y-you told m-me that...you had fallen for me..."

"And have any of tha Apple family ever lied to ya?"

"W-well, there was one time..."

"That doesn't count...Point is ah told the truth then and ah'm telling ya the truth now. Ah love ya Fluttershy." He gently moved forwards and planted a kiss right on the end of her nose. She immediately recoiled and he pulled his head back. "A-ah'm sorry...ah shouldn't have done tha-"

She silenced him by locking her lips with his and kissing him full on. He leant into the kiss and broke the kiss with a short breath.

*Cough* "While I am glad for you both of you, I find your flanks blocking my view."

"O-oh! I'm sorry Zecora! Did you need to need the mirror?"

"My mane is not always is like this, sometimes a new style is bliss." She walked to the mirror and began to brush her mane styling it into a different look.

"Ah’m Miss Zecora? Will these scars be permanent? Or will they fade?" he placed his head next to hers in the mirror and blew his mane off the scar running down his face.

"If your head you do not remove, upon it I will improve." She whacked him on the snout with the hairbrush and he recoiled sharply.

"OWW! Ah guess ah can live with them. Kinda make me look dangerous, huh?" he rubbed his snout as Fluttershy began to giggle. Big Macintosh couldn't help but join in and even Zecora began to titter a little.

"HAhahaha! Guess you shouldn't come between a Filly and her looks Mac! Teheehee." They both began to laugh until they were both on the ground gasping for air.

"Oh, sweet Celestia ah needed that. Guess we should head out soon tho. Miss Rainbow might not be doing so well." This notion sobered up the mood somewhat.

"Well all the things I need to cure, are prepared for sure. We can leave as soon as both of you are done, and finished with your 'fun'." she smirked at this because she had enticed blushes from the pair that would have heated her cauldron for days.

"W-well ah think ah'm ready ta go. Ah wonder how tha townsponies are gonna go seeing these?" He looked at the scars running down his chest.

"I think they are going to think that you are one of the bravest p-p-ponies a-a-around. *Yawn* Oh my goodness I am sorry, how rude of me *Yawn*." She looked smashed, she must have stayed up the majority of the night.

"Would ya like a lift back to the town Shy? Ah can take ya on my back again if ya wish?"

"*Yawn* B-but aren’t you still injured?"

"You're a Pegasus Shy. You don't weight a thing, besides you are tired and ah am fully rested, let me take tha weight for a bit." he crouched next to her and she beat her wings and settled on his back. "Now ya get some sleep miss, ah don't want ta hear a peep out of ya till we hit the edge of tha forest, ok?"

*Giggle* "Yes dad." She snuggled into his mane and closed her eyes, meanwhile Zecora came out of the huts carrying two saddlebags full of herbs.

"You heal faster than should be normal, your health is quite abnormal." she tilted her head at the pair and shrugged.

"Ah keep ma body in top condition working on ma farm. Now let’s go back to tha town. We have a friend to save.

As they set off through the forest Big Macintosh felt a small whisper in his ear.

"Thanks, Mac." Fluttershy moved her head forward and gave him a peck on his cheek.

"Ya welcome shy." He smiled and continued down the path after the Zebra.
____________________________________________________________________________________

As they neared the town whispers and cheers rang out, it appeared that Pinkie Pie had already informed the whole town of the event. Everypony knew the danger surrounding dragons and the story had been a hard one to swallow. But when everypony saw the scars running down Big Mac's body they knew there was solid truth behind the stories and they cheered for the brave stallion and his Fillyfriend.

The two were blushing and grinning from ear to ear as they trotted through the crowd, Fluttershy stayed on Big Mac's back to avoid the majority of the crowd and Big Mac was paused by more than a few ponies wanting to see the scars or hear the story from him, but he waved most of them away. It was only when he had pushed his way through the crowd that they realised that Zecora had disappeared.

"Now where did she go? Did we lose her?"

"No, I just think she is worse with crowds than I am...She's probably watching us from the distance."

"Well ya sure seemed to be ok with them up there. Speaking of which are ya getting comfortable up there miss?" he smirked and nudged he with his snout.

"I think I am Mr Macintosh." She poked her tongue out at him and put her head down in his mane again as he continued towards the Apple Family Farm.

As he turned down the road towards the farm he was stopped by four mares standing in the middle of the road. He recognised two of them as Pinkie and Twilight and he raised a hoof in greeting.

The four mares immediately surrounded and welcomed the pair. "Fluttershy darling! What happened to your Hair!" A white unicorn was fussing about Fluttershy trying to fix Fluttershy's mane.

"Oh! I haven't brushed it for a while, so much has happened that I just forgot about it Rarity." Fluttershy flapped her wings and jumped off of Big Mac's back onto the ground and was immediately seized in a massive group hug.

"I have some good news you two, while you two were being paraded through the town I met up with Zecora, she is tending to Rainbow Dash right now. She says that thanks to your Intervention and my magic. She should be just fine." The two breathed a visible sigh of relief at this news. It was then that Big Mac noticed that the fourth mare was actually Applejack.

"When did ya get back sis? Ah thought ya weren’t due till next week at tha earliest." Big Mac trotted up to his sister and nuzzled her on the cheek.

"Now don't you start any of that mushy stuff on me big brother! Save that for your Marefriend over there." She spluttered and pushed him away.

"Now that sounds like an invitation to me sis, what do ya all think girls?"

"Totally darling"

"Sorta?"

"Yep"

"Ah think we should get her girls, Tickle time?" With that the five ponies leap on Applejack and began to tickle her mercilessly, with Big Macintosh causing the most damage by far. You didn't live with someone that long without knowing a few tricks.

'AH Hahaha SWEAR Heehee AH'M *Gasp* GONNA GET YA FOR THIS! Hahahaha!" She was totally helpless before the five before everyone collapsed into one big laughing group.

"Ahahaha, Now what’s the real reason ya came back sis. Would it have anything with Miss Dash being in danger and all." Big Macintosh smirked when he saw the slight blush spreading across her face.

"N-no, I was just worried that you would forget about the farm! And N-nothing else." He eyes started to wander and the blush became more pronounced.

"See what ah told ya about my family and lying Shy? Just plain can't do it." Everypony cracked up laughing again.

"Now how's about you tell us how ya got those fancy scars there. Ah reckon that's gonna be a story and a half."

"Oh yes dear! They suit you quite well might I add! Gives you an air of...Danger I suppose? Gives me an idea for a new fashion line."

"Well why don't we return to the Library and you can tell us the story. I have more than enough food for dinner for everypony, why don't we turn it into a sleepover? It would give Zecora the time she needs to heal Rainbow Dash and You two can get some rest for once." She turned and the rest followed her towards the Library.

"All I want to hear about is how you two got together."

"Rarity!"

"Hahahaha! Ya have ta ask Shy for that one Miss Rarity. Ah'm not at liberty ta say. Nor do I want repeat the lead-up any-time soon." *Shudders*

"Now I really want to hear about that part!" Rarity was practically skipping with joy, "Oh I can imagine it now..." As she continued with her wild fantasy Big Mac and Fluttershy laughed and walked down the road to the Library side-by-side.

The Start of Something New

"And that pretty much the whole story right up till ah fainted, not much else ta say really. Ah woke up at Miss Zecora's house and we travelled back to town after that." Big Mac put down his drink and cast his eyes around the room. The other ponies all had varied emotions written over their faces.

"So ya telling me ya killed a dragon, brother? Ah would find tha hard ta believe but ah reckon the scars tell tha whole tale. Wow, ah knew we didn't let ya do any applebucking because tha trees couldn't take it, but ah didn't know ya had that kind of strength!" Applejack shook her head and continued drinking as Rarity piped up.

"So what happened after that? I mean you look like you nearly lost your life there dear. Those are some very impressive scars." She gently poked them with her hoof, eliciting a slight wince from Big Mac. "Oops." she smiled gingerly while Big Mac had a weird sense of Déjà-vu.

"Ah don't rightly know. Tha whole dying thing made it kinda hard to remember." He chuckled as the rest of the group cautiously smiled; he noticed their discomfort and chuckled again. "Ah...Poor taste?"

"How can you be so...so blasé? You died! D-do ya h-have any idea..." she sniffled "...how m-m-miserable poor Ap-Aplebloom a-and ah would have b-been?" At this Applejack pulled her hat down so that the others wouldn't see the tears running down her face.

Big Mac raised himself to his feet then limped over to his sister, lifting her face so he could gaze at her directly. "Dry ya tears sis, ah wasn't dead then and ah ain't gonna die while ah have ma family and friends ta protect." He wrapped her in a massive hug and he let her cry her tears out.

"A-ah'm sorry Mac, I just keep feeling like yer gonna slip away, when ah arrived after hearing about rainbow, all we heard was that you were lost in tha forest. T-then when we heard about the dragon attack, ah nearly lost it right there and then. Please don't ever do anything that stupid again...P-please?" She raised her head and looked him in the eyes and his heart nearly broke. How could he have been such a stupid idiot?

"Ah'm afraid ah can't do that sis, as long as ah have you, Applebloom and Fluttershy close to my heart ah will never stop protecting you three." he kissed his sister on the nose and went back to his cushion and nuzzled Fluttershy. She smiled and cuddled close to his side.

"D'awwww! You two are so CUTE together!" Pinkie's massive cry sent Fluttershy cowering behind Big Mac in surprise. He turned his head to look at her as she gave him a slightly rattled smile.

"Pinkie! You know you shouldn't use that volume around Fluttershy!" Twilight magically rolled up the scroll she was writing and smacked Pinkie Pie across the rump.

"Hehe, Oops?" And small orange object flew out of the shadows of the doorway and hit Pinkie. "Owww! A carrot?" Pinkie bent her head down and picked up the half-eaten carrot that had slammed into her head.

"Yer getting better at launching those, Little Buddy." Big Mac chuckled, remembering the force which the bunny could put behind the shots.

"Angel!" Fluttershy scooped angel into her arms and cuddled him to her face, he joined in until he realised what he was doing and began to struggle against her grip, in an attempt to save face. Which just made everypony in the room roar with laugher.

"Good it is to see, the laughter of so many." Zecora had entered the room unseen and proceeded to wearily trot towards the circle of ponies. There were some heavy bags under her eyes but she had a radiant smile adorning her face.

"Zecora! Is Rainbow ok? Where is she?!" Applejack had leapt to her hooves and was practically yelling at Zecora.

"Quieten your voice my dear, you have no reason to fear. Your friend is sound asleep; her life is now hers to keep." Zecora trotted to a free cushion in the circle and was given a mug of hot chocolate by Twilight. "Thank you Twilight my dear, but I have some news that everypony must hear. Healed her I have indeed, but a final cure she will need. Her body is as healed as I can, but on her wings I have not began."

"Why not? Is there something wrong with them?" Twilight looked up from her scroll and waved her quill at Zecora. "Do you need my help with some medical research?"

"Not to discourage you my dear, but with this you cannot help, I fear. More ingredients I need; Cloud Root, Filly Feathers and Sky Seed. From here I cannot make a cure, but with those her healing I can assure." Zecora paused to take a sip of her drink as Spike grabbed a few books from the shelves. He flicked through a couple of pages until he found what he was looking for.

"Look at this, girls! We can find the first and second ingredient in the same place! They both grow in Cloudsdale!" He showed them two pictures of the two plants. One was a root that had a distinct cloud shape and the other was a tiny seed that was the colour of the rainbow. "But the second one? What did you say it was? Filly feathers?”

"From a time in her past, in those feathers the memory of flight should last. Correct me if I err, but don't Pegasi keep every feather?" Zecora turned her head to look at Fluttershy who had taken up residence at Big Mac's side once again.

"Oh indeed, it’s a sort of tradition. We Pegasi only loose our feathers when we grow up so our parents often keep them for us. My mother still has them back at Cloudsdale." She squeaked.

"Then fetch me a few of Rainbow's you must, you know the location of her parents I trust?"

"Unfortunately, we don't, Rainbow hasn't spoken much about her life in Cloudsdale before she came here to Ponyville. We might need to ask her herself about their location. Either way an expedition to Cloudsdale is a must for now. Spike can you send this letter for me?" Twilight rolled up the letter she had been writing and passed to spike who breathed an emerald green flame on it and it disappeared.

"What was that Twilight? Did you send a letter to Princess Celestia again?” Spike questioned Twilight.

"Not quite, you will see later on. Now who can we send to Cloudsdale? Unfortunately the only one who can fly here is Fluttershy. Rarity, you have been discouraged from visiting Cloudsdale after that last fiasco." Twilight grinned at Rarity.

"I thought we said that we would not be discussing that ever again, Twilight dear?" Rarity began to smile while the shadows around her began to grow and her horn started glowing.

Twilight grinned again and continued "As I was saying, Applejack, you can't go because you have to take care of your farm and we need someone at the farm for Rainbow. She won't be able to go home with her wings injured."

"Ah there is ah slight problem, we don't have enough beds back at tha farms for Applebloom, Mac, Rainbow and maself." Applejack placed her hoof under her chin as she thought about other alternatives.

"Is there any way for me to go up to Cloudsdale? Ah always did want to have a go at flying." Big Mac lazily took a drink from his cup and finding it empty placed it beside him.

"Not with you as you are now, it would be impossible. You are too heavy for both the Walking on Clouds spell and the Faux Wings spell. You would need to literally become a Pegasus to even consid..." Twilight stopped mid-sentence and brought her hoof up to her chin.

"What is it Twilight? Oh is this a guessing game?! I pick muffins! Was I right? Huh? Huh?" Another hit with the scroll. "Oww! Why is it always the head with you ponies?!"

"PINKIE! BE QUIET!” Twilight sighed, unrolled the scroll and continued writing. “I did just think of something, but it’s going to be rather dangerous." Twilight looked at Big Mac and he felt a tingle of apprehension.

"What did y'all think of Twilight? And just what did you mean by 'dangerous'?" AJ prodded Twilight in the side.

"Well it's not really dangerous per-se...Just I will need some help and a major part of it depends on how much you value your status as an Earth Pony, Macintosh." She stared at Mac and he felt that sense of apprehension double inside his gut.

"What do ya mean Twilight? Are ya talking about making me a Pegasus? Ya can do that?" His jaw fell open at the pure audacity of the idea and in awe at the idea that this unicorn could wield that much power.

"Yes, the idea is simple in essence. But the amount of power required would be extraordinary. It might be easier if only Fluttershy goes by herself."

"Um. B-by myself? But I haven't flown there by myself before. I-I-I just couldn't..." She looked like she would burst into tears again and this set Big Mac's mind in stone. Macintosh hugged her close until she stopped and began to settle down.

Big Mac turned towards the purple unicorn and looked her straight in the eyes. "Twilight?"

She gulped, he was frightening, his stare actually unsettled her to the point where she was tempted to look away. "Yes?"

"Ah'll do it. Make the preparations for the spell. “He turned back to Fluttershy to find her staring into his eyes. He smiled and kissed her nose, causing her to squeak and smile from ear to ear.

"A-are you sure? Once you become a Pegasus, there is a high chance you won't be able to return to your original appearance. And I cannot confirm whether the spell will alter anything else besides your physical makeup. But if you are still sure I will enlist the help of the pony I just summoned to Ponyville and we can begin at first light with the spell. Think long and hard today and tonight about your decision and make up your mind before tomorrow morning." Twilight placed her hooves together under her chin and presented Big Mac with a stare that would have made him think twice about this, if he hadn't made his mind so resolute.

"Ah, will. And thank you Twilight. Ah know you can do it." He smiled and Twilight began to smile as well.

"Your plan is daring I am sure, I will prepare drawings of the plants to take on this tour. Your friend Rainbow dash should awaken soon, shall we visit her in her room?" Zecora broke the silence and immediately the whole atmosphere changed completely.

Almost in unison the other six cried out "Yes!"

They cleaned up the cushions and everypony bolted for the farm, eager to see their dear friend.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The Farm was quiet and they all crept up the stairs as quietly as possible, following the zebra who lead them into the darkened bedroom. The closed curtains blocked out the last rays of the sun and a heavy scent of herbs and potions lingered in the air. Twilight used her magic to ignite the candles and lamps around the room and the ponies got their first good look at their friend. She looked peaceful as she lay there, the bandages around her face and body were no-longer the colour of seeping blood.

"How? How is this even possible? She looks like she was never even hurt!" Big Mac's exclamation caused Rainbow Dash to stir but not wake and he immediately lowered his voice. "Did you do the same thing ta me? How?"

"As I told you once before, my natural cures are simply more. Medical treatments are often diluted and weak; healing sometimes needs something not quite as meek." Zecora nudged Rainbow Dash in an attempt to wake her and she simply grunted before rolling over, muttering something about 'Wonderbolts' and a giant trophy.

Twilight began to giggle and she moved towards the front of the bed and braced her hooves against the ground. "She's back to normal alright. Let me see if I can wake her." Twilight's horn glowed and she levitated the bed slightly and rocked it side-to-side...nothing. If anything Rainbow began to snore. "Well that didn't work..." She lowered the bed to the ground and stepped back.

"Hmm, Oh I know! How about we do this!" With that Pinkie grabbed the back of Applejack's head and forced her to kiss Rainbow Dash. Applejack recoiled and threw Pinkie Pie across the room, but not before locking lips with the pegasus for a few seconds.

She spluttered and pretended to wipe her mouth with her hooves. “PINKIE PIE! AH SWEAR AH'M GONNA BUCK YOU THROUGH THAT WINDOW!" She grabbed Pinkie Pie and was about to make good on her promise but a small sound from behind her made her slowly turn around.

"A-AJ? W-wha?" Applejack threw Pinkie out the window and turned back to the bed, a huge grin plastered over her face as sounds of crashing came from outside the window. "W-was that Pinkie?"

"Oh sugarcube! You're all right!" Applejack leapt onto the bed and wrapped her arms around Rainbow and hugged her close, tears falling from her eyes as she squeezed the rainbow pegasus so tight she nearly crushed poor Dash in the process.
"OWCH! AJ! I'm alright! You’re killing me!" Applejack loosed her grip and stepped back from the bed, everypony chuckling at the sudden display of affection from the normally stoic pony. "How am I still alive? I thought I hit that thing dead on?"

"You must thank your friends Macintosh and Fluttershy for your life; they removed you from the worst of your strife. I simply finished what they began, and now I must leave once again." Zecora turned to the door and was about to leave when Fluttershy stepped in her way and barred her exit.

"P-please stay Zecora! You of all ponies deserve the credit for this! I couldn't really heal her...I'm not good enough at that sort of thing. You shoul-"

She was silenced by a striped hoof on her nose. Zecora leaned in close and whispered in her ear. Zecora dropped her rhyming tone and spoke with the full force of her voice. "I did only minor things to her condition; YOU did most of the work. Stay strong and I will teach you all that I know when you return from this trip. Now go and receive the praise you deserve my dear. When this is over and done, return to me and I will pass on to you the secrets of my craft. Till that time you are needed by their side."

"Y-yes...thank you Zecora. For making me feel better." Fluttershy allowed her to pass and trotted back to her friends as they were explaining the past few days’ events to Rainbow. Zecora looked at Fluttershy's retreating figure and chuckled to herself.

"She will see that I am quite honest indeed, for me to lie there was no need." Zecora smiled and turned towards the door, vanishing into the hallway as the others wrapped up the story of the past few days.

"Ok so let me get this straight...You killed a freaking DRAGON?! And now you and Fluttershy? Go Flutters!" Rainbow winked at Fluttershy and the timid pony blushed from ear to ear and shyly smiled.

"Hehe, yeah the scars still hurt but yes ah did kill a dragon. I guess ah got a little too mad. Ah'm surprised that ya taking the whole wings thing so well." He tilted his head towards her side where her wings were still tightly bound.

"Well duh! I mean if they can't be healed I can't fly at full speed! Besides they can be healed...right?"

"Well, yes. But there is a small problem, we need some ingredients from Cloudsdale and Fluttershy has never flown there by herself before. So we will be performing a Class Alteration Spell on Macintosh here and he will be accompanying her along with a guide for the visit. However, we need to contact your parents. We need some of your old feathers from your youth. Something about the soul or memory of flight stored in them can be used to restore your wings." Twilight's explanation left Rainbow Dash with a bored expression on her face.

"Sooo, basically you are going to get something from Cloudsdale and you need my Dad's address? And did you say something about making Macintosh a Pegasus? Is that even possible?" She gave Twilight a look that the unicorn knew all too well

Twilight sighed and placed her hoof on her face, rubbing her eyes. "Yes Rainbow, that is the general gist of it all. And yes it’s possible, just not entirely reversible. There is a huge chance he will be stuck as a Pegasus forever."

"Eh? That's a bad thing? Being a Pegasus is awesome! I mean come on! We can FLY! How could you not want to be a Pegasus?!" Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders, as if the very idea of someone passing up this chance was ludicrous.

"Well ah have pretty much made up ma mind right now. If'n this needs ta be done, so be it." Big Mac shrugged and turned towards the doorway. "Ah'm going outside fer a bit. Rest up and we will bring ya back tha things ya need to heal. Count on it." Leaving his words to linger in the air, Big Mac stepped outside, and continued down the stairs to the kitchen. He was starving, so he grabbed an apple and was about to go outside when he noticed a small white form following him.

"Now what are ya doing following me? Why don't you go say hi ta your friend up there?" Then Big Mac remembered that he had promised something to Angel before they had left earlier. "Wait a dang minute, ah forgot ya present! Can ya follow me fer a sec little guy?" Angel nodded and leapt up onto Big Mac's back.

"Or ya can hitch a lift if ya want" he chuckled and trotted out the door and into the barn. They wandered over to a small sack next to an old broken dog-basket. Angel hoped off and sniffed at the basket. He knew who it had belonged to and the story of its current state. No pet had lived at Sweet Apple Acres for a while now. Winona lived now with Granny Smith at the Retirement Villa in Canterlot after a falling tree branch had crippled her. The toll had been hard on the family and while Winona lived; she couldn’t stay on the farm in her current condition. So Granny Smith had taken the chance to retire to Canterlot and had taken the poor dog with her. AJ and Big Mac had never had the heart to get another pet as it hadn’t felt right replacing such a critical member of the family. Angel looked as Big Mac brought out a simple piece of slate set into a wooden frame with a small bag that could be slung over the shoulder.

"Applebloom made this for when Winona was first injured, as a way fer her to communicate without moving too much. But her paws were too damaged to use tha chalk properly. Ah reckon y'all have more luck with it." Big Mac passed it and it fitted the little rabbit almost perfectly. "Now ah'm guessing ya down know how ta write, huh? Ah can show ya a thing or two when ah get back, but until then see if'n Twilight and Spike can teach ya anything. She strikes me as a very smart pony. Now go, visit your friends in the house and leave me alone fer a bit, ok?"

Angel just nodded and left Big Mac alone in the barn. Big Mac sighed and left the barn, trotting to his favourite spot under the apple trees. "Ah'm ah doing tha right thing? If ah go through with this ah'll be able ta help everypony. But ah'm an Earth Pony...Ah was born one and ah was supposed ta stay one..." He glanced up at the stars that were beginning to shine in the dark night sky. He looked to the moon that was beginning to rise over the Saddleback Mountains and he thought of the Princess of the night. He had always wondered what their new princess was like as they had never really met before. He had fortunately avoided the fiasco of Nightmare Night those few years ago.

He figured it was worth a shot anyway. "Dear Princess Luna, ah sorry that ah missed the past few days of talking to yer. Things got a little crazy around here and ah haven't had tha time to sit and make ma prayers of tha night. But ah have no idea what ah'm supposed ta do...Could ya give me any sort of hint? Anything at all?" He sighed, Mac knew that the princesses couldn't actually hear his prayers, or if they could, how many other ponies needed help more than he?

"Well if thou want'st our opinion, we would do that which need'th to be done. Thy friends are surely worth more to thee than something as unimportant as thy class?" Big Mac leapt to his feet and was greeted by a large pony wearing a hooded cloak that hid her face.

"Who tha hay are you? And what are ya doing on my farm?!" He turned to face the attacker and stood at his full height, but even then the figure was only a touch smaller than himself.

"Peace. We mean thee no harm. We merely heard thy prayer to the Princess of the Night. Remember, thy prayers are all heard and thou art as important as all her subjects. We shall take our leave as we have our own agenda this evening, but remember what it is that we have said. The morning will hold many changes for thee and thy friends will have need of thee. How thou may help them is entire up to thyself. Fare thee well, Macintosh." With that the figure turned and vanished into the night with a swirl of black magic. Leaving a very confused pony alone under the trees.

"Oookay...Not the weirdest thing ta happen ta me... But, defiantly up there with cheating death and that incident with the doll." He shook his head and settled back under the tree. "Guess ya did answer my question in a way Princess, Thanks. Ah think ah know what ah'm meant to do now." He lay his head down and slept under the trees. Tomorrow would be a morning of many changes. And he needed his rest.

Chapter 3 (Yeah I know I forgot the name for the last one... so sue me)

Big Macintosh was woken by the stream of sunlight cascading through the open window in his sister's bedroom, and the series of heavy thumps on the door of the house. Panic set in as he snapped his attention to the bed, expecting the worst.

She was still laying there, her eyes were closed to the world and so was her mind. She just lay there, barely breathing, barely holding onto her own life. But she was still alive, she had survived the night at least.

The massive thumps on the door to the house persisted. With a groan Big Macintosh heaved himself off the floor and set off down the stair to find the source of the commotion. "Give me ah sec, will ya!" he muttered, stumbling down the rest of the stairs. he passed the couch he had told Fluttershy he would be sleeping on for that night, so much for that idea. "Ah wouldn't have properly fit on the blooming thing anyway" he chuckled as he opened the front door to greet his persistent guest. "Now what can ah-"

He was interrupted mid-sentence by a carrot to his left eye. "OW! WHAT IN TARNATION!" Another carrot hit him in the muzzle and a small white form streaked by his field of vision. "COME BACK HERE YA LITTLE-" snapping a hoof out he pinned the small white blur to the wall. Snapping his head around, he focused his remaining eye on the creature he had now trapped.

"Now care ta tell me why yah almost cost me ma left eye, ya tiny varmint?!" he had trapped a small, enraged and adorably cute white rabbit. the rabbit responded by biting him on the hoof, hard. "Now what tha hay do you expect that to do? Big Macintosh was huge, the rabbit couldn't reach past the hardened hoof to bite anything that would have cause the massive stallion any pain. While his left eye still smarted, and his nose did hurt a little, Big Macintosh wasn't the type to get angry without any good reason. The rabbit sighed, he couldn't win in this instance, so he resorted to a comical attempt at sign language.

"Hmm, lets see. Seeing? Looking? ah you are looking fer something? Oh...Ya wouldn't be looking for Miss Fluttershy would ya? The rabbit's jaw hit the floor, no-pony had ever understood his hand signs on the first attempt. Big Macintosh just chuckled, he had spent his whole life listening rather than talking. A simple game of Charades was nothing for him. " Ah, guess ya tracked her scent here,huh?" A nod confirming his suspicions. "And ah'm guessing ya smelt tha blood too?" Another nod. "Well ah can't blame ya for acting like that now can I? Truth be told ah probably would have done tha same." Big Macintosh chuckled as he let the rabbit drop to the floor.

"Now miss Shy is still asleep upstairs, one o our friends was mighty hurt yesterday so we had to taker her back here and fix her up. She isn't doing so well right now, so ah reckon that Miss Shy is gonna need all tha help she can get. And her sleep. So ah can make ya a bite to eat if'n ya want till she wakes up. What do ya say, partner?" he held his hoof out to the small rabbit. The rabbit leant back a little, still shaken from the previous encounter, but he placed his tiny paw in the massive stallion's hoof. Big Macintosh just smiled.

"Now lets get some breakfast inter ya, ya know ya really did give me a solid hit back there." Big Macintosh chuckled, rubbing his swollen eye. "Ah never knew that rabbits could throw that hard." At this the Rabbit's chest swelled with pride. "Ah guess ya might just be strong enough ta protect her when that time comes, right? Oh take a seat on that stool by tha table." Big Macintosh pointed with his nose at the stool that Applebloom used to reach the high table, while he busied himself around the kitchen, making breakfast for the two of them.

After a nice breakfast of apple pancakes, the two creatures stared at one another across the table. Big Macintosh broke the silence just before it started getting to the awkward stage. "Ah was thinking, ya use sign language ta talk right?" the little rabbit nodded. "Why don't ya try talking or writing down ya thoughts?" the rabbit's ears drooped at this remark, and he sadly pointed to his own throat. "Something wrong with ya throat?" The rabbit pulled up the fur around his chin and Big Macintosh almost fell off of his chair. There was a massive pink scar running the length of the rabbits neck, his thick fur had hidden the majority of it but it was clearly an old scar. the size and shape had indicated theat the rabbit's neck had been slit at one time or another by a ragged implement.

Big Macinstosh just shook his head. "Ahm guessing that Miss Shy found ya like that and healed ya? Make sense that ya care for her so much then." the rabbit then made the gestures for drawing and made the thumbs-up sign. "So ya can write then at least?" The rabbit nodded, "Well wait right here then, ah have something ya might be able ta use" Big Macintosh headed out towards the living room and left the rabbit by himself.

Angel still couldn't believe that all this had happened. After Fluttershy hadn't returned that night or the following morning he had begun to worry and had decide to track her down, he had followed her scent all the way to the farm and had come across the wreckage of what looked to be a major struggle. He had followed the trail of blood in a panic, fearing the worst. And now all this had happened. he tilted his head downwards and stroked his scar, why had he let this strange pony know about his scar? why did he believe him when he said that Fluttershy was just asleep upstairs? The smell of blood was so strong about the house, but he could make out the smells of three distinct ponies, one was the smell of the huge pony, another was the smell of Fluttershy, but the third smell was so familiar. The smell of sweat and a distinct lack of bathing.

His curiosity got the better of him and he jumped down off the stool and followed the scent up the stairs and into the bedroom. Seeing a form inside ht ebed he hopped up onto the stool next to the bed and got a good look at the pony in the bed. And promptly fell off the stool, he had recognised the hair colour and the slight bits of fur visible through all the blood-soaked bandages. He leapt back onto the stool and stared at the broken Pegasus.

This pony was Fluttershy's closest friend! He had met the Pony often when she had visited Fluttershy in her cottage, and Angle had begrudgedly taken a liking to her. Tears started forming in the corners of his eyes, the horror of what he saw before him shook him the the very core of his tiny body.

"She is doing well ta be alive at the moment, she hit a tree at her maximum speed. We did all we could, but the nurse is away for the next two weeks. Fluttershy fixed her up as best she could, but in the end there is little we can do. It's up to her right now." Tears had formed in the eyes of the stallion that had silently snuck up behind Angel. "And the worst thing is, ah'm buckin' useless ta them both right now. Ah can't heal others and ah can't do ah thing!" the stallion's head was almost touching the floor as tears fell freely from his face. The feeling of uselessness was completely overwhelming him to his very soul. The knowledge that he could do nothing was painful.

*Cough* *Splat* Big Macintsoh felt something warm and liquid splash against his chest, at first he couldn't see anything because of the tears in his eyes and the fact that the liquid blended right into his bright, red coat. The body of Rainbow Dash was convulsing and coughing as blood began to trickle down the corner of her mouth.

"NO!" Big Macintosh screamed. He rushed to the bed as Dash began to whimper and her eyes slowly cracked open. "Wha-?" she muttered as her eye rolled back into her head and she passed out, the continuing to ooze out of the corner of her mouth. Big Macintosh couldn't do a thing, he just stood there as his mind registered the fact that she was dying...

"NO! NOT NOW!" He snatched the towel next to the bed and began to wipe away the blood from her mouth. "FLUTTERSHY! HELP! YA CAN'T DIE YET MISS DASH!" but no matter what he did the blood wouldn't stop. Fear gripped his heart as the cloth in his hoof stained the bed-sheets red.

"Move aside" the voice was small but it commanded the force of a thousand orders, Fluttershy stepped up to the convulsing Pegasus and placed a small herb bundle in Dash's mouth. Fluttershy massaged Dash's throat and force the Pegasus to swallow the bundle. almost immediately the herbs began to take effect and the convulsing stopped. "Get me a cloth and a bowl of water. Quickly." Big Macintosh sprang to attention, bolting down the hallways to the bathroom and procuring the required items.

Her returned and Fluttershy took the items from him and set to work. it was a tense few minutes but finally Dash's body eased it's tension and she relaxed once again. they descended the staircase and made their way outside, leaving Angel as a capable guard at Rainbow Dash's bedside. "She is fine now, until the next time. We need better equipment. Or somepony with more medical talent then myself." Fluttershy was still talking to Macintosh in that quiet soothing voice that she had used earlier.

"Ah'm so sorry...A-ah guess a am u-useless after all." Big Macintosh's normally stoic demeanour had shattered completely. and he openly wept in front of the yellow Pegasus. He was surprise when he felt her forelegs wrap softly around his head, her wings beating a gently tempo behind him as she hovered above his head and rested her head on top of his.

"Shhhh. It's ok, not everypony is meant to tend to others. But everypony should care for others, and as far as I can see, you are one of the most caring ponies I have ever met Mr Macintosh." Her voice broke through his depression and warmed his heart. Soothing the raging emotions inside his body.

*Sniff* "Ah'm sorry about tha Miss Shy, ah guess we need ta take a time inter town ta get some medicine?" he wiped the tears from his eyes and straightened himself up, Fluttershy still on his back. "The least ah can do is carry ya down to the town." He fortified himself and drew strength from her weight on his back.

"Thank you Mister Macintosh, I would like that greatly." she blushed as she relaxed into his back and closed her eyes, exhaustion claiming her as she slept the whole way into town.