//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The 6 Million Bit Pony // by BaronVonStallion //------------------------------// Chapter 3 “What happened to Big Macintosh?” AJ sipped her coffee, hoping the strength of the brew would give her some resolve. “Mac’s damages were extensive, suffice to say. Explosions...they tend to do that. Most of his internal organs remained intact, although his gallbladder did give us a heap of trouble...” Forrester started to ramble about medical terms, almost all of which went straight over Applejack’s head. “Why don’t ya’ll start from the beginning?” asked Applejack. Forrester nodded his head in agreement. “Very well. It started about two months ago...” Dr. Forrester opened the double doors of Princess Celestia’s Research & Development lab. Few ponies knew of its existence, and fewer ponies knew what actually went on inside. He trotted past the reception desk and through a door that read “MEDICAL STAFF ONLY”. Through this door was the Biotech wing, where his office overlooked various medical and engineering ponies hard at work. Today was not an exciting day for him. He was getting a new assistant, his old one having left due to the stress and secrecy of the job. He knew very little of his new apprentice. Princess Celestia had given him a file all about her, and Forrester had intended to read it. At the same time, he had just developed a new composition of metal that incorporated hay. He had hoped it would be more malleable than standard steel, but that part of the equation was alluding him. Needless to say, he had forgotten to read up on his new student. Forrester entered the wing and walked over to her, who seemed to in the center of some commotion. “I’m telling you, it was working not two minutes ago!” Forrester could here his pupil arguing with somepony. He made his way through the small crowd and found a fully mechanical foreleg sitting on the desk in front of him. His assistant was a shorter earth mare, with a light yellow coat and short, curly red hair. She was wearing a large helmet which had wires running from the crown of it to the foreleg. “Oh! Hello, Dr. Forrester!” she said with a grin. “I think I’ve figured out a way to control these new prosthetics without using magic!” She pointed towards her helmet. “The concentration it takes is incredible, but when attached to an actual pony, and with practice, it should work fine.” She stared at the leg, focusing all her attention towards it. The ponies around her were skeptical at best, murmuring sounds of amusement or discontent. They started to retreat, when the sounds of grinding gears met their ears. They turned to see a metallic hoof sliding back and forth. “It worked! I knew it!” Forrester’s assistant was hopping in place, a smile stretched across her face. Forrester starred at her with a glint in his eye. First day here, and she already has control over mental animatronics. “Well, I must say that I’m impressed, miss....?” “Of course! My name is Rubygaze. I’m your newly appointed assistant!” “Well, Rubygaze, it seems to me that you have a lot of potential here.” Just then, Forrester saw his partner, Dr. Wildheart enter the room. Wildheart had been a good friend throughout the years. Not only that, he was brilliant, if not a bit eccentric. He was a tall unicorn with a brown coat. Describing his mane would be akin to explaining a tornado. Regardless, it was an amalgamation of various colors and styles. Today, he was bouncing around the room, unusually energetic for the night pony he was. Prancing up to Forrester, he levitated a file with him. “Looklooklook, we’ve got a new assignment!” Forrester read through the file. There were pictures of ponies, with prototypes of different limbs and augmentations. “What is all this?” Wildheart gave Forrester a deadpan look. “Duhhh, I just said it. It’s our newest assignment! We’ll be working right under the princess, on some top secret, government stuff!” Wildheart seemed like a newborn foal, hopping from table to table with glee. Forrester watched his companion with a smile, and turned towards Rubygaze. “Looks like we’re moving. Go clean up your desk.” Rubygaze hurried to her cubicle, throwing small knick knacks and files into a box on the floor. “For about a month after that, everything was fine” Forrester stated. “Wildheart and I started working on Project Murphy, the assignment which happened to save your brother. There were other ponies in a similar position to Mac’s.They were broken down, near death, and we managed to give them a renewed sense of freedom. But none of the ponies we worked on were in as bad condition as Soarin’ or Macintosh. Luckily for us, and for them, they were also in the prime of their lives. I doubt our procedures would have worked otherwise. ” Forrester sighed, not wanting to continue. AJ gave Forrester the doctor a sympathetic pat, seeing how stressed this subject was making him. “But some ponies took the project too far. Dr. Wildheart started having delusions about our limitations. Most of the ponies we fixed still had some slight memory loss. He believed that could be changed.” “But don’t you see how much good we can do? If this works, which I’m almost certain it will....” Wildheart pleaded. This was the third time he had tried to convince the princess that his “brain chip”, as he called it, could store memories and other vital functions, with out altering the subjects personality. Wildheart was getting desperate. He couldn’t stand to see one more pony who couldn’t remember their foals. “No. I will not have ponies under my rule be altered mentally. While I agree that your intentions are pure, there are far too many untested factors.” Celestia stone-faced any opposition from Wildheart, and he trotted back to the lab. Forrester, who was waiting on the sidelines of the main conference room, turned to leave as well. “Dr. Forrester, if you please...” Celestia motioned for him to stay behind. “I’ve noticed a...change, of sorts, in your friend.” Celestia’s tone spoke of concern for her scientist. Forrester nodded his head in agreement. “He has been more aggravated of late. He’s probably just working too hard.” He chuckled. Working too hard. For Wildheart, there’s no such thing. “I see.” Celestia started rubbing her forehand with her hoof. “Keep an eye on him, I have a feeling he won’t take this rejection well.” Forrester bowed, trotting out of the lab with a pit in his stomach. Wild knows our limits. Why would he bring this to the princess? He’s been too detached recently, and I don’t like it. He made it back to the lab, ready to question Wildheart, when his attention was immediately drawn to the two stallions brought towards the operating room. He followed the orderlies, after properly scrubbing down and changing, and paged Wildheart. The two doctors scanned the stallions as various assistants started delivering components and equipment. “The damage is quite extensive on the big one” mentioned Wildheart. “He’s lucky he got here fast enough.” Time to work, thought Forrester with a grin. He always enjoyed the dirty work. As he got ready to slide his welder’s mask down, he peeked over at his friend. His usual excitement was missing today, causing only more concern for Dr. Forrester. *fourteen hours and five coffee later* Dr. Forrester and Dr. Wildheart staggered out of the operating room. Wildheart was breathing heavily, while Forrester rested his head on the wall. The dual operation had proved exhausting for both of them, even with multiple assistants. Both patients needed several cybernetic parts, which were neither light or easy to install. Best of all, they weren’t even done operating. They still needed attachment materials and slight improvements, not to mention stress testing. The red stallion had most of his facial bones replaced, as well as his ribcage, and both hind legs. Almost all of his body had some augmentation to it. Luckily, the pegasus needed much less. “You wanna grab a bite at Pony Joe’s? It’s not far from here” Forrester asked his peer. “Nah, I, um, got some back work I need to fill out. I’ll...see you tomorrow.” Forrester shrugged, and headed off towards his desk. He grabbed his keys and left the building, walking in the direction of Canterlot’s premiere doughnut store. Meanwhile, Wildheart paced the halls in thought. Why? Why won’t she go through with this? I’ve taken all the necessary precautions, logically we’re ready for this. Celestia’s unwillingness to procede with his invention was eating away at Wildheart. “If she won’t go along, then so be it!” He cleared out the opposing operating room and paged his favorite, most trusting new assistant. Wildheart knew the risks of what he was about to attempt. Even, if the operation was successful, Celestia would not be happy. Rubygaze stood over him nervously. “Are you sure about this? We could get into a lot of trouble...” Ruby was holding Wildheart’s brain chip in her hoof. “Don’t fret, dear. I’ve triple-checked my studies, and all signs point to the conclusion that this will work.” “What is it actually do, again?” “With this, I should mentally be able to store memories and experiences. It will also increase my mental processes which, had I any of our wonderful prosthetics, would help my control them. Now, just follow my surgical instructions....” A few hours later, Rubygaze brought Wildheart out of his anesthetic sleep. He opened his eyes and scanned the room. “How do you feel?” she asked. “I....feel....strong” Wildheart replied. “Oh, umm...good.” Ruby wasn’t ready for that. Wildheart sat up quickly and walked to his desk with Ruby in tow. He ran through his files, looking through employee records. “Anyone in particular you were looking for?” said Ruby. Wildheart mumbled something about underperforming until he found the file he needed. He opened the folder to reveal seven workers. Four of them were lab technicians, three of whom worked on developing the metal responsible for cybernetics. There were two assistant as well. The last record was Ruby’s. “What’s this all about?” Rubygaze was concerned about her well-being, as well as Dr. Wildheart’s. “Don’t you see, Ruby?” Wildheart was a little too happy for Ruby’s liking. “If this worked for me, it’ll work for others. Stronger workers equals stronger results.” “But Celestia disallows this. If we present the facts to her now, she could approve us, we would have to sneak around and we can be safe from any backlash.” Wildheart scowled at the mention of the princess. “She won’t come around. She didn’t last time, why would she now!” He was visibly angry at this point, shocking Ruby with his sudden outburst. She started backing up slowly, regretting the rash decision to help her superior. “And where do you think your going?” Wildheart sneered. “I....was, just...checking for Mop Bucket. Yep, looking for the janitor and NOT preparing to run away screaming of your insanity” stammered Rubygaze. “Oh, well good. We have a lot of work to....Wait a minute! You WERE going to do all those things, weren’t you!” Wildheart quickly grabbed the cybernetic limbs sitting on the surrounding desks, the chip enhancing his unicorn magic. He squeezed Ruby until she couldn’t move, covering her mouth with one of the metal hooves. “Now” started Wildheart, looking through her with a sinister gaze, “I think it’s time we had a little chat." “He continued this for the next few weeks. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch on until last week.” Dr. Forrester rested his head on his hooves. This was not a story he enjoyed retelling. “Didn’t ya’ll think something was up when that assistant of yours never showed up?” “I should’ve, but I trusted Wildheart too much. He faked a reassignment form with Celestia’s sigil. It was reasonable, many of my assistant have left my care. I thought she made the same choice. Only after the fact did I learn the fate of Rubygaze.” AJ nodded her head in agreement. “Ah do have one question, if ya don’t mind...” Applejack was ready to ask the question on everyponies mind until Forrester raised his hoof. “Number one: Yes, Wildheart was responsible for the wings your brother currently sports. They were dangerous to remove after the fact, that addition was what tipped us off to Wildheart dementia, and frankly, I think he looks good with them. Number two: No. Neither Macintosh Apple or Soarin’ have Wildheart’s brain chip. I think he was saving that as his “Coup de grâce”.” AJ stared at the doctor, wondering how exactly he knew what she wanted to know. “It’s not important, anyways. What is important is that your brother is safe and, judging by the time, ready to wake up.” Applejack nodded, and the two walked to Mac’s room, hoping his second awakening would fair better than the first. “Mac, can ya’ll hear me in there? It’s time to wake up.” “Ugh, nah it ain’t. Harvest isn’t til...” Mac awoke to see his sister leaning over him, a light smile on her face. He looked up at her, glad to see a friendly face. That mood didn’t last long, remembering the horrors of the last time he was up. Mac shot up, clutching his stomach hard. When he didn’t feel cold steel underneath his hoof, Mac peeked under his bandages to see his chest was covering in fur. He reached behind his shoulder, and only felt his back. Mac breathed a sigh of relief, believing that maybe he’d only experienced a trauma-induced nightmare. “Applejack, where am I?” “Well, Ah’d say we’re just outside of Canterlot. This hospital is kinda..hidden around there.” Mac’s ears perked up at hidden. “What’d ya mean, hidden?” Applejack’s eyes started darting back and forth, and her nose scrunched up into her face. “Ah have no idea what ya mean by that, and it certainly has nothing to do with yer accident. The fact that’d you’d even imply that simply....” Applejack’s pitiful attempt at concealing the truth was brought to an end by Mac’s hoof on her shoulder. “AJ, you know you can’t lie ta me. Now tell me what’s goin‘ on?” “All in due time, Mr. Apple” said a voice from outside Big Mac’s room. Dr. Forrester slid around the edge of the door, and trotted to the foot of Mac’s bed. “All in due time.” Big Mac scanned the pony, put off by his seeming knowledge about Mac’s situation. Although this pony looked like a doctor, he had an air of arrogance to him, and the affection a doctor would display looked to be replaced by rationality. “An‘ who exactly would you be?” Mac asked. “I am Forest Rain, but you may call me Dr. Forrester. I’m the pony who put you together.” The last part hit Big Mac like a lead pipe. Put...Me...Together? It wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t a dream! His face contorted into a look of horror as Mac’s pupils shrank. He attempted to slide his legs onto the floor, only to feel them secured quite tightly to the bedpost. “Let me out of this thing!” Mac demanded of his perceived captor. “Macintosh, please calm down. I’m going to explain what happened to you, and I want to help you control your new gifts.” “Whadda ya mean new gifts, Doc?” Big Mac raised one brow, accenting his confusion. “Well, there’s a multitude of things, really. We’ve got strength, speed, enhanced vision,.....*cough*....flight.” “FLIGHT! WHY THE HAY DID YA’LL GIVE ME DAMN WINGS!” “It wasn’t my decision! It wasn’t any of ours....” Forrester drifted off, reminiscing on the day when all of this was set in motion. “What’s that suppose to mean” said Mac. “Well, one of our former doctors, Dr. Wildheart, sort of....went crazy. In that insanity, he happened to add some minor parts to your body.” “You call wings MINOR!” “Okay, major parts. But it’s not all that bad. Look!” Forrester moved to the right side of Big Mac’s body and grabbed his ear. “Feel that?” He pressed his hoof directly behind the base of Mac’s ear. “There’s a small button there. Just twitch your ears and...bam! Wings goes in, wings come out!” Forrester said with barely contained pride. “We found that removing the wings would be dangerous, if not unnecessary, so we hollowed out a small section of your body cavity, and made a housing unit for your wings! Eventually, you might not even need the button.” Mac’s facial expression was a combination of anger, disgust, and slightly impressed. He laid back into his pillow, trying to let it all sink in. “So, your tellin‘ me, that while I was out, some crazy pony tinkered around wit‘ mah body, an‘ you did almost nothing about it?” “Essentially......yes, that’s what I’m saying.” “How. In the hay. Did this happen?” Forrester pulled a chair up to the side of Mac’s bed and plopped into it. “Well, about two months ago, we here at Princess Celestia’s Research & Development lab started working with the concept of bionics. We were fascinated with the idea of combining pony biology with the clockwork of machinery. Unfortunately, some ponies were a tad overzealous. One of my colleagues, a friend I might add, Dr. Wildheart toyed with the boundaries we had laid down.” “An what, pray tell, were these boundaries?” “We decided on a few rules. No use of anypony who was not a volunteer. No self experimentation. And our cardinal rule: no modifications of the brain. He decided he would break all three.” Forrester’s voice dropped as he looked to the floor, trying to regain his composure. “He was experimenting with a chip that would increase brainpower and make controlling the mechanical prosthetics quicker and smoother. Unfortunately, that chip also seems to drive ponies mad. I wish we could’ve discovered that before he implanted it in himself.” Mac felt the sadness in his voice, thinking that he may have misjudged this doctor. “Because of the chip and his own ambition, he started ...testing. Lab technicians, assistants, anyone he could find. We didn’t catch on until it was too late. He had...well, transformed three assistants, four lab techs, and our janitor, Mop Bucket.” Mac’s realization that this man had worked on him finally hit like a bag of bricks. Mac became a ghostly pale and his hooves were shaking. “Did he, *gulp* have the chance....” Forrester waved an assuring hoof at Mac. “We caught onto his scheme before he could get to your’s or Soarin’s brain. That’s not to say he wasn’t involved in your recovery.” Big Macintosh felt like face-hoofing, but he rethought that decision after feeling the headache this exploits left him with. Damn, Ah forgot ‘bout that Soarin‘ fella. He didn’t even need to be there. Ah can’t imagine what he’s gotta be feeling about now. Forrester could see the look of concern on Mac’s face at the mention of Soarin’. “Ahh yes, Soarin’. I must say he took considerable injury from the explosion. But you shouldn’t worry yourself. Had you not intervened, he’d be dead.” “Yeah, an‘ being some kinda cybernetic freak is SOOO much better...” Mac would’ve kept talking, but a separated jaw is hard to talk with. Applejack held her hoof, not realizing that bucking metal would be more difficult than bucking a tree. He turning to Applejack, who was standing over him, holding her hoof. “Don’t you ever talk like tha‘ again, you hear me?” If looks could kill, Mac would be dead three times over. She sat back down next to him, placing her hoof over his, loosened up her jaw and gave Mac a tired smile. “Mac, you’re mah brother. When Ma and Pa left us, you were there. It don’t matter what ya got under your skin, sugarcube.” Mac looked up at her, grinning. Normally, he was the emotional rock for Applejack. Being on the other side was strange, to say the least. Big Mac turned his attention to Dr. Forrester. “So, is there any hope ya’ll just hand out cyberwhatssits fer free?” Mac’s eyes pleaded with Forrester, only to be shot down. “Unfortunately, no. The metal we used is specially made to bend with your body muscles. That alone cost us 2 million....” Forrester started to explain the financial debt Mac’s body, but Applejack stopped him before everypony’s head exploded. Forrester collected himself and continued. “Regardless of the cost, you have the best technology in Equestria inside you. You’re stronger, faster, more agile than any pony we’ve seen. You’re a ‘Mac of all trades’... so to say.” Mac chuckled at the poor attempt at comedy from the doctor. But something was still scratching at the back of his mind. “So, there’s gotta be some kinda catch, right? Ya’ll don’t give out life-saving, so what’d I gotta do to return the favor?” quizzed Macintosh. Dr. Forrester peered at Mac’s, rose his hoof and shook his head. “Now is not the time for that. I’d rather explain it when the princesses are present.” Mac raised his eyebrow isn disbelief. “It’ll best be explained when the time arrives” Forrester assured him. “But now, I think it’s time you returned home.” Mac’s eyes lit up like one of Luna’s legendary summer moons. Finally, Ah can get back to mah farm. There’s gotta be so much back work....”You’re saying Ah can leave today?” “That’s what I’m saying. I’ll just grab your manuel.” “Manuel?” “Yes, of course. We’re not going to throw you back into society all ‘willy nilly’. You need some direction on how to function with your new body.” Forrester retreated, leaving Mac and Applejack to prepare for the trip home. Applejack grabbed Mac’s things as an orderly brought in a wheelchair for Mac to use. Reluctantly, he slid into the chair, muttering something along the lines of being treated like an old mare. As Mac started to move himself towards the door, AJ trotted in front of him and stared into his eyes. Something was on her mind, and Big Mac knew that when AJ had something to say, you were most likely going to hear it. “AJ, what are ya thinkin’? “Well, it’s about Soarin’....” Mac had a gut feeling that he knew exactly where this was going. “It’s just that...he wont be able to fly for at least another few weeks...and...he lives in Cloudsdale. Kinda hard for him to go home when he’s incapable of flight.” Mac sighed. He was not one to leave a pony on their own, and he was partially to blame for what he happened to him. Still, Mac didn’t like the idea of having a stranger living in their home, especially one getting that cosy with his sister. “Have ya’ll talked to granny? “Yep, she said as long as he’s got his own room, that’d it be okay.” Applejack mustered up the best puppy-eyed expression she could, aiming it directly at Mac. She must be takin’ tips from Winona, Mac chuckled. “Alright, simmer down. He can stay...” AJ smiled “...but only if he helps on the farm. We’re not supportin’ no freeloaders, ya here?” “Ah wouldn’t have it any other way.” Applejack trotted out the door, and headed towards Soarin’s room. Forrester returned shortly after, carrying Mac’s manuel with him. The cover read Code OCP ‘Project Murphy’, which Mac found peculiar. He pondered asking Forrester about it but decided against it, not wanting to get the doctor talking. Forrester placed the book on Mac’s lap; it felt more like a small anvil than reading material. “So, what if Ah got questions?” Mac’s question was particularly valid. “You can contact me with this.” Forrester passed Mac a blue envelope, which was emitting a small yellow glow. “It’s shrouded by the magic of the princesses, so we don’t have to worry about anypony intercepting it.” Mac raised his brow, wondering why somepony would want a letter so badly. “Don’t worry your head about that yet. Just focus on healing and reading that manuel. I also suggest finding a training partner, preferably one whose not an earth pony. Get someone who can test your new abilities.“ Applejack returned to Mac’s room and wheeled him down the hall. Looking around, Mac noticed that most of the rooms near him were empty. His curiosity was peaked, but by that time, Mac just wanted to be home. The siblings arrived at the front doors, where Soarin‘ was waiting impatiently. “Are we ready to go?” he asked. “Ah reckon so. Are we Soarin?” Mac’s memory was still a little foggy. Soarin‘ feigned offense at Mac’s inability to recognize the Wonderbolt. “We are, and we’re very insulted” Soarin’ pouted. “I would’ve hoped that my uncanny wit and stunning good looks would’ve left an impression.” Mac grinned at Soarin’ unflappable glee. He had a reason to be happy as well. They were finally heading home. The next week was completely unbearable for Big Mac. As soon as they arrived home, the welcome party known as Pinkie Pie had prepared a “Get Well Soon /Thank Celestia You Didn’t Blow Up” party. Mac didn’t mind the energetic equestrian, but in his current state, he couldn’t sleep comfortable, let alone dance. He talked Pinkie into, reluctantly, postponing it for another day. Mac wasn’t used to being off his hooves, even if it was only for a bit. By the time the week had rolled around, Mac was itching to do something, anything. Soarin’ was already training with Applejack, since he needed work on his hoofwork. His flight would need touching up too, but wing mobility wasn’t really an option for him at the moment. Mac wandered the Apple farm compound, checking and double-checking his chore list. Everything had been done hours before, so he retired to sit on the porch and watch AJ and Soarin‘ train. They ran through the orchards as Soarin‘ was getting used to rigorous action in his cybernetic leg. AJ was grinning with Soarin‘ struggling to catch up. Mac sighed, staring up at the open blue sky. Horseapples! Ah’m home now. Not in a hospital. Not in bed. An’ Ah still got nothin’ ta do. Ah’ve had jus’ about enough of sittin’ around. As Mac watched the sky, he noticed a light blue speck in the distance. It seemed...odd to him. It seemed to be moving closer, too. Well, ain’t that the damnedest....wait a tic. Ohhh, no...not agaiAHHHHH! Before Big Mac could attempt any evasive action, that blue speck slammed straight into his chest. Surprisingly enough, the shockwave didn’t sent them through the wall of Mac’s home. Must be the new legs Mac thought. They feel...heavy. Mac looked down at the would be projectile, only to find a rainbow colored tail in his face. He brushed it aside, peering into a set of fuchsia eyes, belonging to Equestria’s fastest flier, Rainbow Dash. She looked back at Mac, about to chastise him for “getting in her way”, until she saw those green eyes of his. If there was one thing about Big Mac that stood out, other than the fact that he was the strongest and most physical stallion, it would be his eyes. Rainbow stared into them, losing her train of thought almost immediately. Huh....never realized how...cool Mac’s eyes were. Rainbow sat there, transfixed on Mac, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. It also hadn’t helped that she was on her back, on top of Big Mac, her flank directly in his face. Mac waited for the pegasus to snap back to reality. She really must’ve hurt herself, givin‘ me that weird stare an‘ all. Ah should see if she’s alright. He watched Dash as she stared back at him, her left ear twitching slightly as her tail involuntarily flicked him on the nose. Mac blinked at the gesture, mostly because he was unprepared for it. Rainbow quickly realized what a compromising position she was in. She jumped to her feet, brushing out her mane and losing her slight embarrassment in the process. Jeez, I really gotta start watching how I land. Lucky that was just Big Mac and not some creep. “Sorry about that” she spoke to Mac’s feet. I was testing a new trick, and....sorta...lost balance.” “Ah’d say it was a little more than balance ya’ll lost.” Mac never understood how such an athletic pony could risk hurting herself so much. “Hey, I would’ve landed it if there was a bit more space between your farm and the sky!” “Eeyup.” “Hmm, I can’t tell if your agreeing with me or patronizing me.” Mac opened his mouth to utter his trademark, but Rainbow shot him a glare that could’ve rivaled Fluttershy’s stare. “That’s what I thought” Dash grinned. “So, what exactly are you doing out here? You’re out working normally, right? She didn’t know much about her friends brother, but popular opinion was if he wasn’t working the field, he was performing some other type of . “It’s a long story.....wouldn’t ya’ll rather hear it from Soarin’?” Mac was still uncomfortable talking about his injury. He didn’t know what to make of it himself. With half the town calling him a hero, and the other half thinking he was now a farming robot, it was undoubtably a touchy subject. Maybe tellin’ Pinkie ‘bout the surgery was a bad idea. “Nahh” Rainbow responded. “I mean, I totally would, he’s super awesome and all, but he looks a bit tied up right now.” She pointed over towards Soarin’ and AJ, where Soarin’ seemed to be learning a thing or two about a bowline knot. “She seems ta be enjoyin’ herself.” Big Mac muttered. He was still getting used to the idea of a stranger staying at their home, but Applejack seemed to acclimate to Soarin‘ rather quickly. “Yeah, you know AJ and her rope..” Mac gave Rainbow Dash an inquisitive look which she promptly brushed off. “Don’t ask....anyways, back to my question?” “Well, Ah’m suppose’d ta be training or somethin’.” Dash’s interest was peeked. “Training? Like, for the Iron Pony or something?” Mac explained the situation to Rainbow. The explosion, the “repairs”, even the wings. “...An’ he said Ah should start training. For what, Ah haven’t a clue.” Dash stared at Mac, her mouth hanging open. For an awkward amount of time. Mac realized his mistake, and turned to walk inside the house. Guess Ah shoulda known laying all that on somepony else would weird ‘em out. “THAT’S SOOOOOO COOL!” Dash was squeeing with the force of a million cider-holding Cheerilees. “So, your like, a pegasus now? I’ve never seen one your size!” Dash’s rambling was ended by Mac. “Now hold on there miss Dash. Ah may have wings, but Ah’m no pegasus. Ah’m still jus’ a regular old earth pony.” “Screw that, Mac! We’re gonna make you the toughest, meanest, second-fastest pegasus Equestria have ever seen!” “Oh, it’s ‘we’ all of a sudden?” “Of course! I can’t let you squander those things. Plus, I’ve held a flight camp for the fillies and colt in cloudsdale every summer. I know what I’m doing.” “Ah suppose ya’ll got a point there.” “Damn straight I do!” “Okay. We’ll start tomorrow. Remember that Ah still gotta rehab mah legs, so Ah can’t go full bore yet. Ya’ll still better be ready.” Dash shot Mac a competitive glare, that he proceeded to reflect straight back at her. As Dash flew away, Mac watched her fade into the horizon. He looked over to AJ and Soarin’, who were now chasing each other around the orchard giggling. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all, Mac thought to himself. For the first time in a week, he was excited.