//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Poor Little Rich Pony // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// When the girls found Mac some of the wolves were nearly upon his unconscious body. "Hey get away from my brother, you demons!" Applejack cried jumping off Nutmeg and waving Granny's beating stick around scaring them away. "Ok 'Shy lets do this quick before they come back." she said crouching down next to her brother turning him over. "Ok" Fluttershy said getting down with a bit of difficulty and joining Applejack by Mac's side. Fluttershy started wrapping bandages around his bitten wrist while Applejack was just staring at her brother, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Oh Ma, Pa," she sniffed holding Mac's hand. "I know Mac can be hard to live with but don't call him yet, please..." Fluttershy was now tending to the bite and scratch marks gently applying disinfectant to them. "The family's already lost one member in these wood due to those mutts," Applejack said tightening her grip with Mac's. "Ok," Fluttershy said putting her stuff away. "I've done all I can do." she said. "Now we need to get him back to the farm." "Right," Applejack said wiping her eyes a bit, and placing Mac's arm over herself to hoist him up and placed him over Appleseed's back, and getting up herself. "You'll be ok on Nutmeg?" she asked. "I... I think so," Fluttershy said getting on top of Nutmeg. And together they quickly, but carefully made it back to the house. When Mac woke up, he saw he was in his bed back home. "Look's like Seed did what I told him to do then," he said grinning and looking at himself. As far as he knew, apart from his right wrist, the one the wolf had bitten, and a few scratches, he was alright. Then he looked around his room, and saw Fluttershy in a sleeping-bag on the floor at the foot of his bed. Seeing Fluttershy sleeping there made his ears turn pink, but he was proud and thankful that she was there. Halfway though thinking up an idea to thank her, the door opened and reveled Applejack coming in with a bed tray and some breakfast for him. "Whats the stats then sis?" Mac said wincing a bit as he sat up in bed. "Well one, if you weren't so hurt already, I'll be punching you so your arm would be broken," she said placing the tray over him. "That's not a nice way to say 'Good morning I hope you feel better today,' sis," Mac said helping himself to the pancakes she had bought him. "Two, Scootaloo came back last night on Appleseed saying that you were possibly attacked by wolves," "Wait she was on Seed?" Mac asked pausing bringing the fork to his mouth. "Unless my eyes were lying to me," Applejack said. "Why?" "No reason," Mac said keeping his promise. "Well then third, Honey was with her so you don't have to go out looking for her today," Mac nodded in understanding to this. "Fourth, Fluttershy fixed you up the best she could in the forest, we brought you back, she asked to stay with you for the night, and here we are." Applejack finished leaning against the wall. "When did you tell them you were afraid of the forest at night anyway Mac?" Applejack asked motioning to Fluttershy. Mac swallowed and then answered. "Fluttershy was when she invited me in the tea for walking her home. And Scoots was yesterday when I brought her back to the house to talk to her." he explained. "Wait..." he said thinking. "Where's Scoots now?" he asked. "She called her mum and asked if she could stay the night," Applejack said. "But they're all at school at the moment." she said pointing to a clock, 10:15. Fluttershy started moving, waking up. She looked around and saw AJ and Mac who was thankfully awake. Blushing she said "Good morning Mac, I hope you feel better today." "You see that's how you say it sis, you should take some lessons from Fluttershy," Mac said wincing as Applejack pulled on his hair looking annoyed. "Did... Did I do something wrong?" Fluttershy asked looking between the two. "I'm sorry." "It's nothing 'Shy," Applejack said looking towards her. "So what's the verdict on Mac then." she asked. Fluttershy got out of the sleeping-bag and yawned. "I did all I could last night," she said "If you want a second opinion on the things I did, that's fine by me," now she was coming closer to them Mac more than AJ. ""But the best thing for anything when their in this state, is just some bed-rest and some tender, love and care." she said kissing Mac on the cheek then leaving the room. "You sure nothing else happened sis?" Mac asked after a few seconds rubbing his cheek. "Not that I know of Mac," Applejack said as surprised as he was. "Well not between you two. Mr Rich came back after breakfast saying they've got power back. So they'll go home later today." "Ok," Mac said not really listening putting the tray to one side and pulling the covers off. "Wait a mo, bro." Applejack stuck her hand out. "Just where exactly do you think you're going?" "Er... to see Appleseed..." Mac answered. "You heard what 'Shy said. Bed-rest." she said taking the tray away and heading for the door. "All the horses are fine." she said shutting the door. And with that Mac followed Fluttershy's orders and went back to sleep.