//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Mac's Tale II: The Blood of Apples // by Sir Barton //------------------------------// Epilogue The first thing he became aware of was the pain. Distant and clouded, like it wasn’t really his. But as he slowly opened his eyes to the muted white of the room, he knew very much it was his. His jaw throbbed dully, though the pain in his left shoulder and arm seemed to sink deep into the bones. Every breath he took sent a small rush of fire down his left side, and his guts felt like he’d had them yanked from his belly, torn to pieces, stitched randomly back together, and crudely stuffed back into place. The pain sucked… but the view was amazing. Sassaflash’s eyes went wide as he opened his, her wings springing to prominence as the world came back into focus for the first time in … just how long had it been? The last thing that he remembered was a blur; a big painful blur. “Doctor! Doctor!” Caramel heard Sass calling out as she rushed out into the hall in a flurry of blue feathers and blonde hair, leaving him (for a time) alone with his pain. A shallow breath burned its way into his barrel as he tried to get some kind of moisture back into his mouth. He was as dry as a month old sea biscuit and his body seemed about as stiff as he tried to shift slightly in the hospital bed. “Easy there, fella, let’s not go thrashing about like some ruffian there. You’ve had quite the adventure to recover from, it seems,” the caramel unicorn in the doctor’s coat chided wryly as he followed Sass back into the room. “Mmphf?” Caramel found it hard to form words as he tried to reply. The doctor, Stable if Caramel read the physician’s name tag correctly, gave a bemused snort at Caramel’s attempted reply. “Eleven separate breaks, my boy. As well as a punctured lung, torn muscles, and a first rate concussion for good measure. You’re very lucky to even be alive. You’re even luckier to have such loyal, quick thinking, and caring marefriend like her. If it wasn’t for her having slipped you a cloud walking potion and actually having a cloud handy, you probably wouldn’t be with us right now.” Caramel smiled through the pain at Sass as she moved around to the right side of the hospital bed. The doctor’s horn took on a bluish glow as a trio of pens floated up from his pocket. “How many pens do you see here?” “Thurr-ee,” Caramel slurred out, only to be abruptly blinded as Dr. Stable flashed a pocket light in his eyes. “Nnnnnh,” Caramel groaned as the light induced a blinking fit, leaving floating blue-green spots hanging in front of his eyes. “Pupil reaction normal; concussion seems to be abating nicely,” Stable commented aloud. “So what’s the last thing you remember, my good colt?” Caramel tried to think back as Sass gently placed her hoof on his right front one, the one that didn’t hurt. There had been dinner, he remembered, and the race to the grove, then Sass flitting off to … something about a cloud … and then … him. “Bheg Mek. In duh grovbh. I rermumber,” Caramel tried to get the words out right, but had little success. Even with the highly articulate lips ponies had, it was still hard to speak clearly. “It wasn’t Big Mac, Caramel!” Sassaflash blurted out before quickly turning away, her ears drooping in shame for some reason Caramel couldn't put a hoof on. He curled his pastern into hers and held onto her hoof with all the strength he could muster. “Just go easy there, I’m sure it’s not easy to talk with your jaw wired up like that.” “Mm sur it wes Bheg Mek.” Caramel turned back to Dr. Stable. “Duh voice, und …” Caramel paused as fractured shards of memory started fitting themselves back together. He recalled the fight, a very one sided affair if it could even be called a fight. He recalled the voice, turning around into that first brutal punch, staggering back, the grove spinning, and … “He wuz white, why wuz Mek white?” “It wasn’t Mac.” Sassaflash sniffled into her shoulder. “I see,” Dr. Stable said. “It seems that you were a victim of the same mysterious rogue stallion that attacked the Apple farm south of town the night after your own encounter.” “Uttacked Ahpull furm?” Caramel mumbled, astonished. “Yes. It seems the unidentified stallion was attracted to the Apple estate by the scent of a young mare in season. Probably not unlike your own encounter, I’d guess.” “Wus unnypuny hurt?” Caramel could feel his heart hesitate as he asked the question. “Unfortunately so, I’m afraid. The two young mares made it through, and the rogue was ultimately put down… permanently. But at a considerable loss of life.” Sass’s sobbing grew louder as the doctor finished, and Caramel could feel her hoof grip tightening on his as his mind slowly drifted back, and his heart sank. He remembered attending the funeral services for Applejack’s parents years back. What had fate cost her now?... * * * * * “I’m not going to remember him for what he did at the end, but remember him for the pony I knew him as. He was an energetic, inquisitive colt who loved his family and was loved by them.” Her piece said, Twilight watched as Granny Smith stepped forward and placed a bouquet of flowers on the fresh turned earth of the grave, joining those laid there by her grandfoals. It was as good a day for a funeral. If there could be such a thing, Twilight thought to herself as she looked up the length of the grave past the small gray stone marker to where the two wooden stake crosses stood sentry behind it. Each wooden cross was topped with the helm of one of the fallen Royal Guards, their horseshoes and peytrals hung from the crossarms. The loss of the two valiant stallions had been a shock to the Royal Guard, and the Princesses had taken great efforts to assist the families in the memorials, especially Luna for some reason. Even Shining Armor had returned from the Crystal Empire to attend the services. Khartoum’s remains had been sealed in crystal and placed in his mother’s family’s crypt in the catacombs beneath Canterlot. The memorial for Eyrie’s Honor, by contrast, had seen his body burned on a funeral pyre—as was the Pegasi tradition—so that the fire of his soul would rise into the heavens to join with his ancestors. Twilight had been too young to remember when her last grandparent had passed. She had also never seen a Pegasus funeral pyre before that point, and now she was present at an Earth Pony burial at Sweet Apple Acres. The weight of the recent events draped itself over her like a heavy winter blanket. Yet there was something else too. Something that if she calmed herself, and payed close attention, she could still hear and feel: It was the great phantom heart that she had first noticed the night of the storm. The night the stallion had died. A flicker of motion called her attention to the orchard trees beyond the low white rail fence of Sweet Apple Acre’s ‘Family Grove’. Dimly, in the shade between the trees, she could just make out the forms of a light brown stallion flanked by two mares: One a light dusty orange, the other a dark varnished brown standing in the orchard. As Twilight watched the spectres standing there, from behind the forelegs of the darker mare a small white foal peeked cautiously out at Twilight. His soft, pink and red eyes sparkling and warm as he gave a shy wave accompanied by a faint smile. Twilight smiled at the white colt as she raised her own hoof and returned his wave as he ducked out of sight behind the forelegs of the darker mare. “Uh, Twilight?” Spike’s voice broke the serenity of the moment causing Twilight to blink as she gave her head a shivering shake. Twilight turned her head. “What is it Spike?” “You were just staring out at the trees while everyone else was heading back to the yard for lunch. Is something wrong?” “No. No Spike, nothing is wrong,” Twilight assured her young dragon aide. She looked over towards the work-barn where the Apple Family and funeral guests had gathered near the funeral lunch being overseen by Mr. and Mrs. Cake. “Actually Spike, could you get us a couple of plates of food and a seat near Princess Celestia? There’s something I need to talk to her about.” As Spike scampered off to fulfill his requested task, Twilight turned her attention back to the trees of the apple orchard, but the spectral figures were gone. Relaxing herself, Twilight let herself feel the beating of the great phantom heart, hoping it might guide her to what she sought as a tall shadow moved up from behind her. “You saw them, didn’t you?” came the voice. A heavy morose baritone that caused Twilight to lose her concentration again. Turning about, she found herself nose to chest with Big McIntosh. He was dressed most atypically to Twilight’s normal expectations of him. A white collar shirt and green apple bolo tie replaced his normal work yoke. A long black duster and complimenting black stetson completed the somber yet oddly menacing makeover of the big stallion. It was still something of a miracle, as far as Twilight was concerned, that Mac was even alive. At that time it had seemed impossible to have gotten the severely injured stallion to Ponyville General in time. All hope had been lost for saving him, but that was before the massive wave of magic that had unexpectedly come radiating off Apple Bloom that had allowed Twilight to teleport herself, the injured McIntosh, and all those present to the medical center’s emergency facility. Needless to say, the group’s sudden arrival, along with several clumps of dirt, a section of fence rail, and the formerly overhanging limb of an apple tree took the the hospital staff by surprise. Thankfully their prompt professional attentions had been able to save McIntosh’s life. With McIntosh safely in the care of the hospital staff and his prognosis good, Twilight had found herself on the receiving end of a deceptively powerful hug of thanks from Apple Bloom, the little filly sputtering out her gratitude over sobs of joy. Twilight had been about to inform the youngest Apple that she had something else to be thankful for: her new cutie mark. But to Twilight’s amazement, the little filly’s flank was as blank as it had been earlier that morning; the silver tree and rainbow arch of apples gone. In the end Twilight said nothing of it as her friends had closed in to form a group hug around Twilight and Apple Bloom. “I … ah …” Twilight fumbled with her response as her mind tried to fit together what, or how, he had known what she had seen. “My family. You saw them, didn’t you? I saw you wave to somepony in the orchard just after Granny finished speaking.” “I saw some ponies standing out among the trees,” Twilight confessed. “A stallion and two mares, and …” “... And him …” McIntosh finished, the gaze of his great emerald eyes weighing on Twilight to confirm it back to him. “And him,” Twilight gave a nod as she answered. The big stallion gave a deep sullen sigh as he seated himself before his late half-brother’s grave. Twilight could see the edge of the bandages wrapped around McIntosh’s pastern joint as he reached out with one hoof to barely touch the edge of the newly turned earth, a prominent tear running down his muzzle. Help him. Please, a soft voice whispered from among the trees caught Twilight’s ear, but she could feel the great heart beating stronger as the words came through. He can’t hear us. He’s shutting us out. Going away. Please... help him. “All I ever wanted was to be with my family,” Mac began calmly. “To grow with them, care for them, be happy, and make them proud of me. He … he took that from me. And I hated him for it, for all these years... but it was the same thing he had wanted too; to be with his family. Just like me.” I’m sorry. Twilight could hear the small voice of a foal echo in the grove even as she sat down beside the red Apple stallion. “Oh Mac,” Twilight offered as she leaned in, resting her head against Mac’s shoulder as she swept her long tail around behind him. McIntosh shifted away. “I don’t deserve to comforted for what I’ve done.” Twilight was taken aback for a moment. She could hear the specters in the orchard gasp as the phantom heart kicked hard in her chest. “No, of course you do. You protected your home. Saved your sisters from a killer. You even saved him.” “I killed him,” Mac’s voice grew dark and distant. “I became him. Became the monster he was. At the end of the fight, as he lay there, his back broken, he screamed … for his mother... and I killed him. I couldn’t stop myself. I’m not worthy of anypony’s sympathy. I’m not worthy of my family. I’m nothing but a ...” “Hero.” Twilight’s ears pricked and swiveled in the direction of the easily recognized voice. She turned along with McIntosh to see the tall regal white form and flowing mane of Princess Celestia step quietly through the gate into the burial grove. The grand alicorn approached where Twilight and McIntosh sat in front of Lightning’s grave, stopping short before turning slightly and dipping her head slightly towards the graves of each of McIntosh’s parents. “Nope,” Mac answered as Princess Celestia turned from the graves to Twilight and Big Mac. “I’m no hero, your Highness.” “I’m afraid you are, my little pony. Though you may not like it, you are.” “I’m not,” Mac deflected with melancholy resignation. “I’m a monster. A kinslayer... I’m anything but a hero.” “I understand how you feel, my little pony... more than you know.” Princess Celestia made a gesture with her one hoof Twilight recognized and stepped aside, allowing the Princess to step closer and address Mac more directly. Mac just tilted his head quizzically as the Princess continued. “Nearly a thousand and one years ago, I was lauded a hero by all of Equestria for a choice that I wished for a thousand years afterward I hadn’t had to make. Hero can be a hollow, lonely word sometimes for those who wear it. It can seemingly bear upon us with more weight than we think our souls can bear alone. But know you have friends and family around you to help you shoulder that burden. When that burden seems the most heavy, don’t push them away. You are far better with them than without. You are a far stronger pony than you know, McIntosh.” Twilight watched as Big Mac seemed to drink in the wisdom of Princess Celestia’s words before standing and bowing in thanks to her. “Regretfully though,” Princess Celestia turned to Twilight as she spoke, “my sister and I must be returning to Canterlot shortly. But I believe, Twilight, you have something you wish to speak to me about first? Come, walk with me back to the royal carriage, my most faithful student.” Twilight began to follow, only to halt after a few steps and look back to where Big Mac was once more seated in front of his brother’s grave, his eyes closed as if lost in thought. Thank you, Princess, came the soft words from among the trees. We can take things from here. Twilight fell into step with her much taller mentor as they made their way to where the royal carriage was waiting. “Princess Celestia, I …” Twilight began once they were far enough away from Mac. There was something she wanted to ask her mentor; too many things actually. Twilight looked away a moment trying to single out a lone question from the swirling mass in her head when she spotted Apple Bloom and her friends seated with their lunch already plotting their next ‘cutie mark crusade’. “I… felt something the other day, when I teleported Big Mac to the hospital. Actually, I felt it before that, during the storm, and I can still feel it now.” “Go on, Twilight,” Princess Celestia encouraged as the pair stopped beside the royal carriage. Princess Luna was already aboard and the team of four Pegasus guard stallions stood ready to depart on command. “It’s like a giant heart beating around me, somewhere I can’t see.” Princess Celestia smiled kindly, as was her manner, and laid the tip of one snowy white wing across Twilight’s withers. “I think that may be too big a question for me to answer completely here right now, but I have a book back in Canterlot I can send you that might help you figure it out. It’s one of Starswirl’s journals.” Twilight was initially disappointed she wouldn’t fully get her answer here, but the chance to read one of Starswirl’s journals that Princess Celestia had kept was more than enough to bring a huge smile to her muzzle. “Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia! Thank you!” “He was theorizing on Earth Pony magic and how it’s more than just what most ponies call ‘strength’. That it was a deeper connection to some form of living magic, a ‘Great Heart’ I believe he called it.” Princess Celestia smiled and drew her wingtip across Twilight’s shoulders as she stepped aboard the flat-decked carriage. “I’ll see to it that you have the journal in your hooves by nightfall, Twilight. You’ve come a long way in your studies, and this is just the next step on that path, I believe.” At that, Princess Luna signaled the team and the carriage lifted off back towards Canterlot. Twilight stood there and watched the carriage fly off for a bit. The next step? Twilight mused as she turned back towards her friends gathered in the farmyard. Out in the orchard, echos of curious knowing laughter whispered from among the trees.