Chapter Six:
I Shall Not Walk Alone
A few days later Big Mac was lying awake in his bed just before sunrise. He was thinking about Rarity's story. He was also thinking about how much she'd lost in the fire. She never talked about it, but he knew how much her boutique had meant to her.
Finally, he was thinking that it had been too long since he'd seen the sun rise. He was normally the first pony in the household to get up in the morning, and he'd retained the habit while injured, even with no reason for it.
Big Mac abruptly reached down and, using his teeth, undid the splints and bandages on his front legs. The ones on his back legs were harder to reach, but he finally managed. He swung his front legs off the bed and placed some of his weight on them. He then moved his back legs off the bed, and carefully stood. He was as shaky as a newborn foal, but he managed to stay upright. Big Mac took a tentative step towards the door, and his legs nearly buckled beneath him. For moment he almost climbed back into bed, but instead he determinedly took another step towards the door.
*****
Rarity was dreaming.
She had been having breakfast with everyone around the Apple family kitchen table, as Sweetie Belle talked about how she'd got in trouble at school for trying to build a flying machine out of desks and wallpaper.
Smoke started to seep in from the ceiling and roll down the walls.
Rarity wanted to scream, to tell everyone to get out of the house. Instead she just sat and said "That's nice dear," while Sweetie Belle described her latest Cutie Mark Crusaders adventure.
The black smoke started to pour out of the coffee cups, and in from the floorboards. Rarity tried to grab Sweetie Belle, but none of her muscles would respond, forcing her to watch helplessly while a red glow filled the room.
Rarity woke up with a start, her heart racing. She frantically scrambled out of bed, and looked around wide-eyed.
Sweetie Belle sat up bleary eyed from the bed she shared with Rarity.
"What's going on?" she asked, still half asleep.
Rarity forced herself to calm down.
"Nothing, dear," she replied. "Go back to sleep."
Sweetie Belle laid back down, and her eyes immediately closed in sleep.
Rarity watched Sweetie Belle for a short while, then opened the door and stepped out into the hall, being as quiet as she could, so as not to wake anyone. She heard the sound of someone grunting from by the kitchen. It sounded like…Big Mac? Curious, she made her way towards the noise.
Peeking around the corner she saw Big Mac making his way towards the front door. He was sweating, and breathing hard, each step clearly taking a great deal of effort.
She watched silently as he made his way down the hall. At one point his legs seemed to give out beneath him, and he slowly collapsed to the ground. Rarity nearly went over, she wanted to help him to his hooves, help him the rest of the way. But some internal voice stopped her, told her that he should do it on his own.
He rested for a moment, panting, and then with a deep snort he forced himself back on to his hooves. He made his way to the front door, which he opened with his mouth. He staggered out onto the porch, and gently lowered himself to the ground.
The sun had just crested the horizon, giving the clouds a soft golden tint. He heard the sound of hooves approaching from within the house. He glanced over to see Rarity set down a bowl of water next to him. She smiled at him.
He smiled back, and said, "Ah'm gonna rebuild your boutique."
Author's Notes:
The chapter title, "I Shall Not Walk Alone," is the name of a Blind Boys of Alabama song.