"Big Mac."
The red pony snorted in his dream.
"Mac."
His hooves twitched.
"Big Macintosh!"
"Huh?! Woah!" Mac awoke from his dreamless sleep and fell back in surprise. He looked up to find Applejack looming over him.
" And what did ya think you were doin' up 'ere in Fluttershy's room?" Aj spoke angrily.
"How's Fluttershy?" Mac started to get up but was pushed back to the ground by Applejack's orange hoof.
"Fluttershy is fine, unlike somepony's big brother when I'm done wit him. You've got some explainin' ta do, Mac."
"What is your problem, Aj?" Mac spoke softly and knocked his sisters hoof away from him. The pony got up from the ground and walked to the opposite side of Fluttershy's bed.
Aj shook her head.
"Well, you can tell your big brother."
"Mac, last night, Applebloom woke with a nightmare and her racket woke Granny. I-I tried to help, but you know how the filly is- if she's frightened, there is no consoling her. Applebloom needed you Mac, but you weren't there."
Applejack's eyes were filled with hurt. " You know its the first time she's seen any pony in this condition."
Mac felt terrible, his green eyes fell to his hooves then over to Fluttershy. He scolded himself for caring about his own hearts worries instead of making sure that his kin was alright.
"I'm sorry, Aj. I just....I just wanted to check on her." He placed a hoof on his beloved's sheet and looked over to Applejack.
"Please forgive me."
Applejack's eyes softened as she walked over to her brother. "Okay, Mac. We forgive ya." The orange pony put a hoof around her brother's neck. Big Mac pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry."
"I know, Mac. I know."
The two hugged in silence until Aj spoke.
"Why don't we go to Sugarcube Corner and ask Pinkie to rustle us up a little somethin'?"
Mac nodded and after resetting Fluttershy's blanket, he left with Applejack to get some food.
The brother and sister duo entered the bakery and stepped up to the counter where Pinkie Pie was organizing cupcakes on a platter.
"Hey, Apple folk!" The party pony called in he usual cheerfulness.
" Hey there, Pinkie Pie. You mind fetchin' a little somethin' for Mac and I?"
" How about one of these! Right out of the oven!" A pink hoof held up an orange cupcake with teal frosting. "Its a special one! Pinkie Pie's Perfected Pumpkin Patch Pastry!" Pinkie shoved one cupcake into Mac's mouth, the sweet taste filling his tongue.
"How is it, brother?" Aj asked.
"Is it good?" Pinkie followed.
Macintosh nodded his head and swallowed. "Eeyup."
Pinkie whooped and pulled out a tray of the cakes. Each of the three ponies took a cupcake and stood talking.
"Have either of you been over to see Fluttershy yet?" Pinkie asked.
"Yep." Applejack replied.
"How's she doing?"
"I talked the doc before goin' ta see her. Kind fella, anyway, he said that she'd slept peacefully most of the night." Applejack glanced at Big Macintosh then back at Pinkie. " He said she can leave when she wakes. But they don't know when she'll come around."
"Oh." Pinkie looked a bit saddened but she gasped with an idea. "Let's go get some of her favorite things! I have a skeleton key!"
Applejack looked confused and spoke. "Eh, Pinkie where did-" Then she stopped.
"Where did what, Applejack?"
"Eh, never mind. Let's go."
The ponies boxed up a few of Pinkie's cupcakes and headed to Fluttershy's house.
Pinkie Pie opened the door with her key and the trio stepped inside. Fluttershy's house looked pretty much the same except that Angel wasn't eating and looked saddened. Mac looked at the rabbit and got an idea. The apple pony picked up a small basket from beside the sofa and tucked a blanket inside.
"Ere ya go." Mac nudged Angel into the basket and covered him with another blanket of the same color.
"Um, Big Mac, they don't allow bunnies at the hospital." Pinkie Pie said while picking a couple of books for Fluttershy.
"That ain't no bunny, that there is a bouquet of flowers." The apple pony tucked in just enough flowers to hide Angel.
"Ohh, I get it." Aj replied through a mouth full of napkins.
"I don't, but let's go see our friend!" Pinkie Pie bounded out the door with Aj and Mac in tow. After locking the door behind them, they started off to the hospital.