“… and, that’s the story.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “In an ironic way, I’m only here because of Silicon. I’m not sure I ever would’ve recovered without the mirror’s power. She was… my world.”
Pinkie groaned. “What is it with us and the whole, ‘tragic backstories’ thing, huh?”
Fluttershy, who had cleaned herself up since last night, shrugged. “I-It’s a theme, I guess.” She smiled for the first time since I’d been invited here. “C-can’t be a superhero unless y-you’re edgy, I s-suppose.”
Brightness blew a raspberry. “Bullshit. This guy ain’t a hero, he’s just a coward. Never owned up to the murders, could’ve said something about Silicon all this time and never did. If ya ask me, he uses his brother’s kids as a crutch to avoid doing anything. If you do put on a cape, Blood, I hope you call yourself Sloth.”
Slowly, I moved my hooves to cover my face. It’s possible she could hurt me worse if she attacked me physically; provided she wasn't a frail, blind pegasus less than half my weight.
“That was totally not cool! What the fuck is wrong with you?” Rainbow reprimanded.
A cripple defending me from the blind. Could I be any more pathetic? “No, it’s the truth. I ran and hid, and they were my excuse to never come clean.” I took a deep breath. “I buried myself in work, put everything I earned toward their futures, it was all… a way out. Now that they’re all self-sufficient, they… they don’t need me anymore. I can finally pay for everything.”
A wing draped over my back. “Um… I-If it’s any consolation, I’ve p-probably killed more ponies than you did.”
What is this? Why would she tell me that? This is that mare that looked back at me while I was watching her consciousness last month, isn’t she? I pulled my hooves away to get a good look at her again with my powers.
Despite missing a foreleg now, she seems somehow more… complete. That thing inside is gone. I can’t honestly tell if she’s just that out of touch, or if she actually believes what she said might make me feel better. Either way, she was showing sincerity.
“Thanks?”
“And, hey, at least you were being used, right? I killed my sister in cold blood. …when I was eight.” Pinkie brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her forelegs around them. “It’s not… that… bad.” Her gaze fell away and off into the distance, and I think we might’ve just lost her for a little while.
Eight? Eight years old and she committed fratricide? Good Goddess, who are these ponies? My ears shot up when I realized somepony was looking at my consciousness.
“Misfits, outcasts, sinners. Everypony here is somepony who carries a weight with them they can never get rid of.” From behind Twilight’s chair, Princess Celestia herself spoke up. I always thought that if I ever ran into her, it’d be because they finally found out that I wasn’t from this world.
They’d try to question me, try to understand how I got here or if I was different somehow. That clearly isn’t the case; but the stories of the government making ponies disappear always floated around the gang. This was not that.
She put a hoof on Twilight’s head. “Even ponies burdened with weights since birth.” Princess Celestia set her eyes on me. “I must thank you for doing this. I know how hard it is to tell somepony you love about something like this.” She paused, letting her eyes probe me, dig deeper into my soul. “But, what I don’t understand is… what is it you plan to do going forward. Do you realize just what exactly you’ve paid to save your niece?”
Forward. The future. When was the last time I ever thought about something like that for myself? See the kids through school; that was my only goal back then. Citrus never got a chance to go, that’s what he wanted for them. Once I fulfilled that wish, what was I…? I wanted to die with this secret. I was going to try and make it that way. Finally pay my dues with the only thing I truly have. I never had a future, not since I took his away.
This was all just another means to an end.
I swallowed. “I’ve only got one thing I can use to pay anypony. I’d… planned on giving that up anyways, so this doesn’t change much, I suppose.” I met her stare and held it there for a while. Stone, unreadable, a consciousness so fortified that I doubt anypony could read it.
After an uncomfortable silence, she eventually closed her eyes and nodded. “Very well. Every tool has a few uses, so I’m sure I’ll find something to do with you. That said, I believe it would be in your best interest to get your affairs in order.”
My affairs in order, huh? I own no land, I barely have any possessions, and my next of kin… still don’t know the truth. Only so much to say about that, right? Just… do it again. Tell them to their faces, look in their eyes when I say it. Macintosh is a bit more level headed than Applejack.
So, maybe it’ll set him off and he’ll make me pay for it? No, I know better. I raised him for half his life. If anything, his reaction will be similar to hers. Oh, Applebloom. I never wanted to…
After a moment of introspection, I shook my head. “Yes…” I stood up. “They have a right to know. And I should be the one to tell them.”
The Princess nodded. “Good. Goose, if you—” she caught herself mid-sentence. Frozen with her mouth open in complete shock that she would even say something like that, Princess Celestia clammed up. Horror struck all the faces around me, save Brightness, but even she knew something wrong had been said. The Princess’s lips quivered for a moment, then she brought a hoof to her mouth and coughed into it. “Allow me to… to send you home directly.”
There was a deathly quiet cast over the living room table. If it weren’t for the golden flash, I thought it might’ve lasted forever.
She’d left me outside of the building, just in front of the lobby. My car, however, was not in its place.
I wonder if Macintosh went to work? Or maybe he’s just out for food or something. Either way, that’s unfortunate. Maybe this is divine retribution. I don’t get to just confess once to all the ponies I hurt; I have to confess to each of them individually. Look them in the eyes one at a time and tell them I killed their father. Maybe it’ll get easier the more I say it.
I shook my head, slapped my cheeks, and stepped into the lobby. One way or another, it has to be done. A clock on the wall told me it was only about nine AM, so it’s possible that they’re both out getting breakfast together. Macintosh wouldn’t leave Applebloom alone. Perhaps I’ve lucked out, and they won’t be back for a while? I could write a letter detailing it all, and I won’t have to… to… to be there when they…
I fell to my haunches and pressed the button in the elevator for our floor. Blood Orange, you are a coward! How pathetic am I that I would think of running away and never facing them? Everything Brightness said was true. Surely, I couldn’t have let them end up in an orphanage, but I could have done something to draw attention to Silicon! Stannum hired me to keep an eye on me and his accounts clean, I was close enough to do something for years, and I just… sat there and did as I was told. All to… try and keep them happy.
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open, and somepony else was waiting to go down. I picked myself up, nodded and passed them quickly. I’m probably quite the sight right now. Haven’t bathed in a few days, haven’t shaved in a few days, out running about Manehattan telling the most important ponies in my life my darkest secrets. What a mess you are.
I dragged myself to the door of our apartment and stared at the number for a while. 1003. Floor ten, room three, yes, but in actuality, a date. The day that I committed fratricide. A reminder that I am the reason their lives are like this. Twelve years and eleven days ago.
I stood in front of the door to notice no light coming from inside. Either of them would be in the living room if they were here, so I guess that’s it then. I can wait in agonizing anticipation over their return. I chuckled and let out a breath. Perhaps I’ll take a nap? It’s not like I slept much last night anyways.
I took out my key and went to unlock the doorknob when… it wouldn’t turn. Did they forget to lock up before they left? I’ve told them a thousand times to lock up before they leave, they know better! Irritated, I threw the key back in my shirt pocket and flung the door open.
“I cannot believe they didn’t lock the door! Don’t they know that all these things we have are expensive!? Just because you all have jobs now doesn’t mean you can fix every mistake with money! Some mistakes are—”
“Permanent, right?”
My ears shot up and my body locked in place. “A-applejack?” I looked all around the living room, but she was nowhere to be found. I rushed in to check behind the corner, and sure enough, there she was, standing in front of the fridge. I had to rub my eyes; I just couldn’t believe it.
“Do ya…” She caught my eyes once, but quickly looked away. “Do ya want a beer?” she asked.
All I did was blink. She wasn’t coming after me, she didn’t put off anything hostile, it was like she’d gone back in time and… things were the way they used to be. How? Why? Aren’t you… don’t you…?
She tilted her head. “Ah’ll… go ahead and get ya one. Why don’t we sit down, huh?”
Rather than answer, I nodded and limped my way over to my recliner. My circuitry was just about fried. Why did she grab two? Isn’t she underage? I suppose she was married to an older stallion. And she is military, so… What are you even thinking about right now? She ran off crying covered in dark magic energy last night! Say something!
I hadn’t realized I’d made it to my chair, but when I looked up, she was giving me an open bottle. “Here. Ah doubt Mac’ll mind,” she chuckled. “He’ll probably want one too when he gets back.”
I took the cold beverage in hoof and let my eyes fall again. What do I say? How do I respond? A million words and all of them out of reach. “R-right.”
Applejack sat down on the couch next to my chair like she always does. She brought her hindlegs up on the seat with her, set her elbow on the arm and flicked the cap off her beer. She raised it next to me and said, “Ta Goose, and ta Pa.”
Lost, I simply followed suit. “To Goose and Citrus.”
Glass clinked, and immediately, she chugged the whole thing. “Bah! Ah’ll never understand why he likes these nasty things. Who in their right mind would drink a damn artichoke? Heh, me Ah guess. Too fuckin’ bitter, Ah tell ya what. Have ta get somethin’ sweeter next time. He… always did like ciders.”
I don’t understand what this is. I don’t understand what’s going on anymore. “Applejack?”
She raised a brow. “Hmm? Come on, Uncle Blood. If ya don’t take a drink, then what’s the point of sendin’ it ta ‘em?”
Why bother fighting? I’m at her mercy as it is. I let out a sigh and put the bottle to my lips. Bubbly, bitter, popping and foaming as it goes down. I don’t like these any more than she does but here I am tossing it back anyway. Finally done, I threw the bottle down and gaped for air. “Why?”
Her lips pulled to the side in a frown. “Because… that’s what ya do. Or, so Ah hear, anyways. Ya… drink in their memory. So ya… don’t forget.”
I rubbed at my temples. “Applejack! You know—”
“Too damn much, that’s what Ah know!” She met my gaze and fought back. “Ah could’ve lived my whole life thinkin’ somepony out there did it, and ya know what? Ah would’ve rather had it that way! It would’ve been so much easier if Ah could think some random evil incarnate did it and leave it at that! A sweet lie is a hell of a lot easier ta swallow than a hard truth!” she pointed a hoof at me. “But you had ta stick yer damn nose in my business and bring me even lower when Ah was at my lowest point. Ya know what Ah don’t have, Uncle?”
I let out a sigh. “No, Applejack, I don’t. What don’t you have?”
“Time fer this shit.” She motioned to us. “Ain’t got time ta cry over my husband, ain’t got time ta cry over Pa, and Ah damn sure don’t have time ta cry over you. Ah need time fer all of it, and Ah just don’t have it. By the looks of yer tongue, you ain’t got time fer it either. So, don’t tell me you’re sorry, don’t tell me ya regret it, don’t tell me why ya did it, and don’t’cha fuckin’ dare tell me you’re gonna pay fer it. Because we don’t have time fer that.”
I shook my head. “Applejack, you can’t mean that.”
She turned away and put her hoof in front of my face. “Ah can, and Ah do.” Her eyes fell and she took hold of something around her neck. I hadn’t noticed before, but she’d been wearing not one, but two pendants. A gold chain I’d seen on her wedding day, and… a silver one I didn’t recognize. “Grief… is a luxury Ah’ve forsaken. Ta be like him, like Pa.” She let out a breath and turned her eyes on me. “When this is all over, Ah’ll take all the time in the world ta scream and yell and cry at ya just like ya want. Ah’ll beat ya ta a bloody pulp, Ah’ll ask why over and over again while Ah punch ya till you’re dead, and then Ah’ll… Ah’ll regret it all, knowin’ that Ah fell victim ta the same hate and anger and sorrow and grief that started all this in the first place.”
What a… horrible sense of déjà vu that brought me.
She sat up straight, crossed her hind and forelegs and shook her head. “Goose’ll come back from the grave and whip my ass fer it, Pa’ll tell me what a disappointment Ah am, Ma’ll tell me Ah knew better than ta give inta this, and Ah’ll find a reason ta die in some fight somewhere in some alley where nopony can find me. Ah’ll die and get up there and they’ll shun me because we all knew Ah could’ve been better than that, and Ah’ll grieve fer eternity knowin’ how bad Ah fucked up.”
What a… horrible sense of dread that brought me.
She set her elbow on her knee, then her cheek on her hoof, finally turning those green eyes on me. Just like her father, just like my father. “Because Ah know how this goes, Ah’ve decided that Ah’m just not gonna do it. Ah may never forgive ya. Ya ruined my life. Ya ruined Mac and Bloom’s lives too. Ya ended Pa’s.”
The words hit me like a sledgehammer. Repeated blows against my skull, threatening to crack it.
“But…” She looked away. “Ah can… understand where ya were comin’ from. How ya felt.” She got up from the couch and moved the curtains away from the window behind the TV. It was bright and clear, warm and sunny this morning.
“Ah don’t know how the future is gonna go. Ah don’t know how things are gonna be goin’ forward. Ah don’t know how long Ah can keep up this act and pretend Ah’m okay. But those bridges can be crossed when we get ta ‘em. And Ah’m just… so tired of losin’ family, alright? So… be there ta cross the bridges with me, won't ya?”
Like a sweeping wave in a typhoon, every emotion I could feel all at once overcame me. How could I have ever thought that this mare would be the one to take her vengeance on me? I should know better. He raised her better. I… raised her better. I leapt out of my chair and wrapped myself around her. “Applejack, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
Begrudgingly, she reciprocated the embrace. “Did ya listen ta a damn word?”
I hugged tighter and nuzzled her neck. My beloved niece, my precious family, my brother’s successor, the hero. “I’m sorry I took him away from you. I’m sorry I couldn’t be him. I’m sorry that you can understand what I’ve felt. I’m sorry for everything. You’re all so much more than I deserve…”
She sighed and relaxed. “Ah know, Uncle. Ah know.”
Mac swallowed. “W-what are ya sayin’, Uncle?”
Uncle Blood turned away. Maybe he had some extra courage because Ah was in danger when he told me, but now he had ta face us all and repeat the story. Ponies escaped from a dyin’ world, kids that survived in a gangster’s pocket, runaways that lucked out, stallions that lost their loved ones, brothers turned against each other. A story as old as time with a twist.
“I-it was me, Macintosh. I did it. I… murdered my brother.”
Mac was takin’ this a lot harder than Applebloom was, but maybe that’s because she hardly knew Pa. Ah was careful ta watch Mac because Ah knew he could react like Ah did, with deadly force.
He stood out of his chair, knockin’ it over. “Ya didn’t! T-this is all some kinda sick joke, ain’t it? Why would ya say that now?” Mac looked ta me, “Ain’t there a funeral ta prepare fer? G-goose is… Goose is…” He shook his head. “Ah don’t understand, why…?”
Ah curled my hoof and took a sharp breath. “As much as Ah would like it ta, the world ain’t gonna just stop fer me.” Ah swallowed and looked Mac in the eyes. “We don’t have time fer a funeral right now, Mac. It’s not over yet.” Mac stood silent, starin’ at me as his breathin’ steadily increased and tears welled up in his eyes.
Speaking up fer the first time, Applebloom asked, “Y’all… wouldn’t be sayin’ anythin’ if… if Uncle Blood wasn’t involved in whatever happens next, right?”
That hadn’t occurred ta me. He… he came home ta tell them. Why would he do that? Sure they need ta know, but now wouldn’t be a good time fer that if… if… if he thought he had time…
We all looked ta Uncle Blood, who sighed. “I was called yesterday by the leader of Applejack’s group because… they needed me to free her from whatever spell she was under. In doing so, however, I… signed my life away, I suppose. We are under government authority, and now they know everything. One way or another, it’s over for me.”
Mac brought a hoof ta his mane. “B-but… but… but it was just one pony! They can’t—”
Uncle Blood slammed a hoof on the table. “It wasn’t just one, it was sixty-one, Mac! I was the Mirror!” He put his elbows on the table and cradled his head. “Teenagers, young parents, poor ponies, rich ponies, it didn’t matter who they were, just that they could bring me closer to Red Hoof so I could finally exact my vengeance for Dew and my son! I was a serial killer! A terrorist! I destroyed one of the largest buildings in the city, that’s nothing to say of the aftermath either! They could execute me if they saw fit, don’t you understand!? They should! It’s what I deserve… I… I should be grateful that they let me see you two again at all.”
“No! C—” Searin’ pain flooded my tongue like a match on a puddle of gas. Ah slapped my hooves over my mouth as fast as Ah could. The fire faded just a bit after Ah stopped talkin’ and Ah started over. “… they wouldn’t do that ta ya.” Ah took a shudderin’ breath and the pain subsided. “They would never do… do somethin’ like that ta… ta somepony with a use. They wouldn’t.” She wouldn’t.
Everypony was starin’ at me like my mane was on fire. Sure, that hard stop was probably weird, but not that weird, right? Eventually, Applebloom asked, “Ah know we’re havin’ a serious discussion and all, but… is it just me, or does Applejack have a glowin’ black outline?”
Mac rubbed his eyes, then tilted his head at me. “What in the world…?”
Uncle Blood blinked. “I… thought you’d recovered when I found you here, but I suppose things aren’t quite back to normal yet, are they?”
Ah held out my hoof, and sure enough, even Ah could see it. Ah could feel it. Like all the magic in my body had expanded outward and grown beyond me. As if Ah’d turned trump card on, but didn’t so much as try ta hold it in. Without thinkin’ too hard about it, Ah relaxed all my muscles like Ah would with trump card ta let it go, and the outline went away with the tension.
Ah ran my tongue across my teeth. “Well. That’s inconvenient.”
Mac let out a breath. “Ah need a drink.”
Instead of continuin’ the conversation, Mac made the executive decision ta turn on the TV and slump on the couch. Both Uncle Blood and Ah tried ta get things back on track, but he wouldn’t have it. Thus, the movies played on. Maybe it feels like all this has been goin’ on longer than Ah thought, but somethin’ about it was nostalgic. The four of us, here, in the same room, in our places, watchin’ one screen together. When was the last time we did somethin’ like this? Has it been months? Weeks? Years?
In the last three months: Ah’ve met the princesses, learned some of the darkest secrets the government keeps, joined the military, made friends fer the first time in years, loved and lost… It’s not as if Ah was doin’ nothin’ before all this, Ah had a reputation as a hero. But it feels like Ah wasn’t really even alive back then. It seems so far away, so distant… Maybe there’s a little truth in that.
As the credits ta the second film rolled, Mac finally spoke up. “So… what exactly is it that ya want me ta say about all this, Uncle Blood?”
Tenuously, he looked over ta Uncle Blood, who frowned. He brought a hoof ta his chin and rubbed at the light green five-o-clock shadow growin’ on it. “Um… that Applewood is creatively bankrupt, the ponies that made this shlock don’t have the craftmanship or courage to make something new, and that this sequel movie was nothing but a cash grab with a recognizable brand name. Honestly,” he crossed his forelegs and huffed. “A good movie hasn’t been made in twenty years. These hacks couldn’t write a worthwhile story if their lives depended on it.”
Ah giggled, Applebloom giggled, Mac let out an irritated sigh. “Come on now, ya know that’s not what Ah was talkin’ about.”
Uncle Blood shrugged. “So, maybe I do.”
Mac rolled his eyes. “Then why not answer the question?”
Uncle Blood raised his hooves in defeat. “How am I to tell you your feelings, Mac?”
“Ugh.” Mac dug a hoof inta his mane and scratched at it violently. “Easy! Ah know ya can! Ya always know! Ya know better than Ah ever do!”
Uncle blood leaned back in his chair and put his hooves in his lap. “All my powers do is let me know what your powers do and read your emotions, not your mind. How and what you feel are things that I can’t just decide for you.”
Mac put his hooves ta his snout and took a deep, loud breath. “This kinda shit right here is exactly— ya just!” quickly he turned ta me and said, “Applejack, catch,” and reeled his foreleg back.
Uh-oh. Magic summoned itself ta the forefront and Ah crossed my forelegs ta wait fer the blow. His foreleg muscles bulged and tightened under his skin. Not unlike a bullet, his hoof shot square fer my crossed legs, but uh… didn’t quite make it there? Ah felt the force vibrate through and past me, the wind he created mussed my mane and shook the room, but in the heat of the moment, it almost felt like he never made contact with me at all. When Ah opened my eyes ta check the aftermath, it didn’t look like he made contact either. As with before, the black outline returned, but this time, it shielded me from the impact.
Mac pulled his hoof back and shook it, tryin’ ta take a bit of the sting off. “Goddess damn it. What even is that? It’s like hittin’ a bank safe. Ow.”
Applebloom chuckled. “Maybe ya weren’t payin’ attention, but she did go toe ta toe with the Princess of Equestria yesterday.”
Nusrin’ his hoof, Mac rolled his eyes. “Ah wouldn’t’ve thrown if Ah didn’t think she could catch it. Ah just… expected somethin’ more like pony when it landed.” He must’ve hurt himself pretty good because next he started ta lick it like a wound. “What’s wrong with ya? What is that? Ah don’t remember ‘force field’ bein’ part of the list of things my powers did.”
Ah shrugged. “Hell if Ah know. An educated guess says is has ta do with that thing Ah can’t talk about, but not even my boss knows how they work. They didn’t say anythin’ ta ya about it did they, Uncle Blood?”
Uncle Blood pursed his lips and chose his words carefully. “… Not much, by any standard. I was simply told that something unprecedented had happened here. The words were, ‘negative resonance as initiated by’ that thing we can’t talk about. I’m no scholar, but my educated guess would say that you’re still synchronized with that thing. Whether or not that’s a bad thing is yet to be determined. Nopony feels… sickly around her while we can see the outline, do we?”
Mac scoffed. “She makes me feel sickly when she’s around, but that ain’t nothin’ new.”
Ah clicked my tongue. “Wow. First ya try a punch me, then ya insult me.”
Applebloom snorted. “It sure sounds like nopony feels sick.”
Invadin’ my personal space, Mac shifted and leaned himself on me. “Oh, no, lemme tell ya, Ah feel sick alright. Do y’all know what a fuckin’ rollercoaster it is tryin’ ta be family with you ponies?”
Ah shoved him off me, then off the couch. “Get off of me! Just ‘cause you’re mad don’t mean Ah have ta be yer emotional support couch.”
Mac stood up and then assumed and irritated upright pose against the wall. Forelegs crossed, hind hoof tappin’ the floor, eyebrow raised in the family tradition. “Well, ya should be, because ya owe it ta me. Especially you, Jaqueline Apple.” He threw his hooves up. “Oh, wait, ya got fuckin’ married a week ago! Should Ah call ya Mrs. Carcharodon? Or does that even matter anymore!?”
Furiously, he rubbed at his temples. “You’re some kinda former supervillain, you’re the heroine of Manehattan, and you ran off and joined some kinda junior military branch! Ah can’t catch a break!
“In just under two months, Ah’ve had my world turned upside down at least twice, and that was just before today! A friend Ah thought was dead came back ta tell me he’s marryin’ my sister, my sister turned out ta be Marevelous Red confirmin’ all my worst suspicions about her, everypony confirms Pa was Red Hoof, you tell me just what happened ta him, and then Goose goes off and…” Mac sucked in air through his teeth. He sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. “Were it not fer Applejack’s very friendly friend, Ah think my mane would’ve turned white from all the stress.”
Ah frowned. Damn, Rarity. Can’t keep her fuckin’ hooves ta herself.
Mac clapped his hooves. “Ya know what? She gave me her number too. Y’all are stressin’ me the fuck out, and Ah’m damn tired of it. So let’s all agree ta put a hold on…” he motioned ta the ponies in the room with a hoof, “this, and pretend things are normal fer a while. When y’all are done with whatever mess ya’ve gotten yerselves inta, then we can come back together, give Goose the… the ceremony he deserves and…” Mac seemed ta run outta air. He put a hoof on his forehead and rubbed it slowly. “Figure out what comes next, Ah suppose.”
Next, Mac found his phone and made a call. “Hello? Hi. Ah was wonderin’ if… Oh? Well. Ah’ll be right there. See ya soon.” A smile on his face, Mac turned ta us and waved. “Ah’ll see y’all later.” And with that, he was out the door.
Silence took over the apartment living room. Direct or indirect, Ah believe that was Mac’s best way of tellin’ everypony ta fuck off fer the time bein’.
Finally, Uncle Blood asked, “Well? How about you, Applebloom?”
My little sister went inta her thinkin’ pose like she does. “Ah guess… Ah don’t really have an opinion either way. It’ll take some time ta sort out whatever conclusion Ah come ta. Ah have a hard time believein’ Ah watched Goose die, and Ah have a hard time believein’ ya killed anypony, let alone Pa. But… if anythin’, this year has been stranger than fiction, so what does it even matter what Ah think? Whoever ya were back then ain’t the Uncle Blood who raised me, so Ah don’t think it matters much. My only real question is…”
She shifted her hoof ta her cheek and tilted her head. “Whose field do ya think Mac’s about ta go plow?”
“Rarity,” Ah answered immediately.
Uncle Blood failed to smother some laughter. “Goddess, girls. That’s an awful way to talk about your brother, or your friend.”
Ah shrugged. “Based on how we found out about his last job, clearly, he’s her type.”
Uncle Blood snorted again and Applebloom shivered. “Oh, Goddess, don’t remind me! Ya know what? Mac’s got the right idea, Ah’m puttin’ the TV back on. Screw talkin’ things out.”
Ah laughed and… felt a little lighter than before. Nothin’s okay. Nothin’s gonna be okay fer a while. A long time, even. But fer now… this is fine.
Ah just hope she can walk tomorrow.