Applejack and Big Macintosh were both exhausted. Mostly Big Mac. The "potion" as the Crusaders had called it had drained so much out of him. Well, mostly he had drained himself. Pulling a house halfway across town was not something he did every day.
He had to admit, it had been a very interesting day. Cheerilee was a very old friend from his school days. While she was an attractive mare, he just wasn't sure he had the time of day to offer her, not that they'd spent a lot of time getting to know one another in that way. The day long spent, the two ponies had parted ways on mostly good terms. Those last few minutes before saying goodbye had been more than a little awkward.
Finally ready to call it a day, he was puzzled by the hoof suddenly on his chest to stop him. He looked down at his sister, who was staring at something in the distance. He turned his head to the place she was staring and immediately froze up. His blood ran a little cold, and for the first time in many years, he felt a little fear.
There, on the hilltop with the single tree, stood Spark Storm. His dark face was obscured a bit by the evening sunlight, but anypony who knew anything about Spark Storm knew that he was just a little pissed. Of course, that was totally understandable.
Not just anypony was allowed to so much as look at Cheerliee in any more intent than to simply say hello and goodbye. His older sister was very precious to him, and although she still wouldn't talk to him, that didn't mean he wasn't protective of her. A bit overprotective. Maybe.
Big Mac swallowed hard, and he felt a little sweat fall from his mane. Applejack had much the same reaction, but not from fear. She worried for her brother. Finally, she glanced up at him. She almost looked amused. "Welp. Looks like he heard about what happened today."
Big Mac gave his sister a subtle glare. "Ya think? Well...Ah guess Ah better get Applebloom so's she can 'splain what happened...-" He had turned to head back to the farm, when he felt his tail snagged. He frowned back at Applejack, his orange tail of course in her teeth. She spat it out and pointed back in Spark Storm's direction. "You're sure as shootin' not lettin' Applebloom take the blame for all this. Now get up there and tell him what happened!"
Big Mac frowned and shifted nervously from hoof to hoof. It wasn't like him to hesitate to talk to Spark Storm, but the Pegasus was downright scary when he was mad. He'd seen Spark lay waste to entire hordes of monsters by himself, and he was always counting his blessings that he was on their side.
Heaving a heavy sigh, Big Mac started up the hill. He glanced back at Applejack, his lazy gaze having finally returned. "Welp, you let the family know what happened to me. Don't let 'em mourn me too long, there's work to be done."
Applejack snorted at her brother's humor. At least he was going in with a level head. "Eeeyup." She answered, and headed back to the farmhouse. Tonight was going to be interesting.