//------------------------------// // Arriving // Story: The Other Route // by Silent Strider //------------------------------// Big Mac was pulling his cart again, the unicorn trotting besides him. “Are you telling me that… thing… had entranced me and wanted to have me for lunch?” “Eeyup.” “And that she has two sisters? I don’t think you could have saved me if they were together.” “Nnope.” “I guess I was lucky, then.” “Eeyup.” The unicorn looked at the red stallion’s face. “Aren’t you curious about me?” Big Mac looked back at her, never slowing. She had green eyes and a long golden mane like his sister’s, but the similarities ended there. Her mane was messier than a chicken’s nest, as if it hadn’t seen a comb in days; her coat, white with a slight green tint, was dusty and smeared in places. Her cutie mark was a large horseshoe with three green sparkles around it. “Well…” “I don’t mind telling, Big Mac, if that is what you are thinking.” Her mouth formed a smile as Big Mac looked at her eyes. “Not after you saved me and told me all about yourself.” In silence, his own eyes showing concern, Big Mac kept looking at her eyes. The unicorn cleared her throat. “My name is Emerald Wind, and I live in Mountain’s Star, a nearby unicorn village. It’s where you are going, isn’t it? I was going to visit a friend in Ponyville when I heard a song, and the last thing I remember is you striking me.” She brought a hoof to her still slightly red face, as Big Mac’s ears lowered. “And don’t tell me you are sorry. You did what you needed to save me.” Still talking, the two ponies came to the end of the path. Ahead of them was a stone bridge, large enough for two carts side by side, built in the unicorn style that reminded Big Mac of Canterlot. On the other side a narrower path, also overlooking a cliff on the left side and with a stone wall on the right, about the same width as the bridge. Big Mac came to the edge of the cliff and looked down. To the left he could see a huge mass of sad trees — the swamp — as it gave way to solid ground; to the right, in the distance, a group of green and gray houses at the edge of a small lake, the village his sister was going to. Emerald joined him in observing the passage below. “Looking for something? That sister of yours you told was coming this way?” “Eeyup.” His ears perked as Applejack was mentioned. “Don’t worry, I’m sure she is fine.” “Eeyup.” Big Mac backed from the cliff and made for the bridge, Emerald following closely. A few paces past the middle Big Mac looked back at the unicorn, ears lowered, sadness in his eyes. Emerald looked down and to the side, her own ears lowering. “You really can’t keep a secret, can you?” “Nnope.” “How did you know I was lying?” Big Mac stopped, removing the harness. “Rumors ‘bout bandits. That creature’s words. Your coat.” He turned towards her and gently lifted her face. “Your eyes.” Emerald pushed aside Big Mac’s hoof, her head lowering again. “You knew that before you even saved me, then. Why did you still save me?” “Had to. Nopony deserves that, not even a pony that is helping bandits.” “Why not leave me behind after saving me, then? You sure know how bandits employ a gal like me.” Big Mac lifted her head again, looking deep into her eyes. “Your eyes. I don’t think you can hurt another pony. Ya ain’t bad, just misguided. Everypony’s like that once ‘n a while.” Emerald left his hoof stay this time. “You’re too trusting, you know that?” “Eeyup.” “I’m gonna regret this,” said Emerald as her horn started glowing. A bright green aura flashed in front of Big Mac. Turning, he saw the unicorn appear on the far end of the bridge, towards the village. Emerald looked up, where a narrow trail could be seen, her ears down and her eyes pleading. “The game’s off, guys. Let him pass.” “Can’t do, sweetie.” A tan earth pony stepped from behind a stone and started down the trail. “You have to, he saved my life.” A blue earth pony rounded a corner down the path. “Your fault for not being careful.” On the other side of the bridge a green earth pony stepped from behind a boulder. “Yeah, as if we would let a little runaway thief give orders to us.” The tan pony advanced to the edge of the bridge, ignoring Emerald. “Now you, Red. Step away from your cart and drop anything else you are carrying.” Big Mac turned sideways, his eyes going from one end of the bridge to the other. “Nnope.” “Don’t be a fool, Red. We will hurt you to get the cart.” Turning to the tan pony, Big Mac narrowed his eyes and started pawing the ground in front of him. “I reckon you ain’t let me go either way.” “Boss, look out!” The blue pony was pointing up, where a dozen small rocks were floating in a green aura. The tan pony — Big Mac guessed he was the boss — turned to Emerald, lowered his head and charged. Taken by surprise, the mare was thrown at the stone wall, grunting with the impact. The magic holding the stones up died, showering Big Mac. He took a hoof to his head, nursing a spot that was hit. The boss laughed, turning to the still dizzy mare. “You helping us now, sweetie?” “Nnope.” Big Mac threw one stone up and kicked it behind the legs of the green pony; it exploded in the wall behind. Picking another stone Big Mac turned sideways again, watching both sides of the bridge. “Get him, now!” The boss lowered his head and charged, followed by the blue pony. The green pony started galloping a second later, jumping to the side as a second stone came flying towards him. “No!” Emerald got up and ran after the boss, slowly gaining on him. One green flash later she was on top of him. “Stop!” With one buck the tan pony threw the unicorn to the ground and continued to gallop. Big Mac lowered himself, eyeing the approaching ponies. The three ponies jumped upon Big Mac, piling on top of him. Emerald got up and rushed to the fray, biting a random tail and pulling. From below the other ponies, Big Mac looked at Emerald. “Step back.” She let go of the tail and took a step back. “What —” With a mighty heave Big Mac stood, throwing the three ponies around. The green and blue ponies were sent back the way they came, while the tan pony… Eyes going wide, Big Mac leaped to the bridge’s side, desperately nipping at the pony’s tail. He bit empty air, looking helplessly as the pony sailed above the bridge’s railing. A green glow enveloped the pony’s tail, pulling it down to the railing and holding it there. With a yelp the pony stopped, hanging over the empty space. Big Mac turned to Emerald. Her horn was glowing brightly, her eyes narrowed in concentration. “Nopony deserves that, right?” With a low, relieved voice, Big Mac answered, “Eeyup.” He turned back to the hanging pony, taking his tail in his mouth and starting to pull. “Big Mac, wait. Don’t pull him yet.” Emerald, trembling, turned to the other two ponies, who were slinking towards them. Noticing her glare, they stopped. She gulped and closed her eyes. As she opened, her trembling was gone, her voice firm. “This is how we will do this. You will hold your boss while Big Mac takes his cart and leaves the bridge, then you can start pulling. I will stay here to make sure you don’t start pulling before Big Mac is safe, and“ — she turned to Big Mac and winked, strain visible in her face — “to make sure he doesn’t fall. Everypony okay with that?” A whimpering voice came from the railing. “Do what she says, do what she says!” The two bandits nodded, walking towards Big Mac. They each took hold of one of the boss’ hind legs, while Emerald’s magic enveloped his tail once again, allowing Big Mac to release it. As Big Mac took the harness of his cart he looked back at the unicorn. “You’re sure?” She smiled weakly, a slight trembling visible again, but her eyes were set. “Don’t worry, big guy. My special talent is speed, I will be gone before those goons can do anything. Now go, before they get ideas.” Big Mac nodded and ran, cantering towards the nearby village as fast as he dared. The village gate was just beyond a last bend in the path when Big Mac stopped, looking around. He sat, ears dropping, and stood there a few moments glancing at the Sun; it was already touching the horizon. He had to get to the village now… “Hi, big guy.” Emerald, smiling, stepped out of her green magic glow. “I told you that I would get away.” Big Mac smiled seeing her,but his face soon became one of concern. “What will you do now?” Emerald turned to face the last bend in the path, her ears dropping. “I can’t go there. You heard those bandits; I’m a runaway thief. I fled the village and was trying to live outside when they found me.” She shot a longing glance at where the gate would be. “I miss all the things I had there. Even the simple ones. Taking warm baths, eating good food…” Her stomach growled. She looked at Big Mac, embarrassment in her eyes, as her cheeks matched the color of the setting Sun. Big Mac nodded and stood, taking a pie from the cart. “For helping me.” It was quickly surrounded by a green aura.As she looked between the pie and Big Mac, Emerald’s eyes were sparkling as much as her horn. “Thank you. You already did so much for me.” Big Mac looked her in the eyes. “I can help still. You ain’t bad, ya can still start over. But…” he turned his eyes to the hidden gate. “You have to own up to your errors.” A tear rolled from Emerald’s eyes. “I… I can’t.” She was gone in a flash of green. Big Mac sighed and took the harness. He went through the village gate and set his cart in the village’s only street. On a hidden ledge in the stone wall, above the gate, the unicorn watched everything, tears of joy and sadness mixing and falling onto an still uneaten pie. Big Mac had left the village as soon as the Sun rose, walking in silence. The way back should be easier now; as soon as he got to the village Big Mac warned about the dangers of the road. Thanking Big Mac for the warning, the village elder sent a message to the guard asking for help, and a team of pegasi guards had been patrolling the path since early morning. He was almost at the bridge, thinking about his sister, when a flash of green and a familiar voice brought him back to the outside world. “Yo, bug guy!” Big Mac lifted his head and looked at the bridge. Emerald was in the middle of the bridge, faintly smiling. Her eyes, though, gave away her uncertainty. Smiling, Big Mac went to the back of the cart and opened a panel. Taking an apple, he tossed it to the unicorn. “Breakfast.” A green glow engulfed the apple. “Thank you…” Emerald’s hoof was slowly drawing circles on the bridge floor. “About yesterday, I was thinking… would you still help me? Do you think I could start over in Ponyville?” “Eeyup. But —” Trembling, Emerald looked up, at Big Mac’s eyes. “I have to pay for what I did. I know.” She turned around, looking over the bridge’s railing. “Do you think ponies there will accept me? Do you think they will let me stay, knowing that I was a thief before?” Big Mac put a hoof over her shoulder. “Eeyup.” His voice was soft, but carried the certainty of those that put honesty above all. The two ponies stood like that for a few minutes, while Emerald silently sobbed her worries away. Her trembling gone, she was turning around when she suddenly looked down and gasped; pointing to the ground below the bridge she said, “Isn’t that your sister? Who is that red maned filly with her?” Big Mac looked over the railing. It was her sister’s cart, all right, with Applejack pulling. And besides her… “Apple Bloom.” “What, your filly sister? Didn’t you tell me that the other route was as dangerous as this one?” “Eeyup.” Emerald turned back to Big Mac, drying her previous tears. “I guess we better get going. I’m sensing somepony will have a lot to explain back at home.” Finally noticing the apple still in her green aura, she took a bite. “Eeyup!”