A hoof pounded against the hardwood door of the manor, trying to catch the attention of those who dwelled inside. Macintosh stared patiently at the door, waiting for a response. A few seconds passed that he thought nothing of, but after a minute or two, he knocked again, certain somepony simply didn't hear him. When he knocked a third time, he began to become curious. Had Twilight actually left the house? Maybe their conversation the night before put some sense into her, and she had decided to travel Ponyville?
He paused and considered it once more. Certainly if that was the case, Spike would answer right? Could he go with her anywhere? Dragons were a rare enough species as it was, especially after most of them were hunted into endangerment, so he wasn't sure how safe the little drake could be moving around in public. Then he remembered the night before when that strange mare visited the house and left that note. 'I wonder if this has anything to do with that note?'
Suddenly, a loud clatter brought Macintosh's attention towards the balcony of the tower.
"Macintosh!? What are you doing!?"
Macintosh looked up to see Twilight peaking over the balcony, her mane a mess and her hat sloppily fixed on her head. "Checkin' on you."
"Get out of here!" Twilight winced at the sound of her voice. "Go away! You shouldn't be here!"
Macintosh raised a brow. "What? Why shouldn't I be here?"
Twilight groaned and hurried inside, the doors slamming shut behind her. Almost immediately, the door in front of him burst open and she yanked the stallion into the building, closing the doors behind him. He fumbled a bit, evidently confused as Twilight locked and bolted her door shut. "How'd you get there so fast?"
"No questions, just listen!" Twilight peaked out the window, which Macintosh noted was now partially covered by an armoire, with a crack just big enough to peak through. "I have bad news! Very, very very bad news! I was given a letter that told me that the ponies who robbed me before intend to attack again today, and that I should leave the house and get as far away as I possibly can!"
Macintosh felt his chest tighten up. "What? Really?"
"Yes!" Twilight waved her hooves around frantically. "This note said.... it said...." She stopped, staring at Macintosh a few moments. The stallion wasn't sure why she was staring, but Twilight seemed to sigh and shake her head. "... Well... the note said I was deemed 'too dangerous to leave to my own devices' and that somepony would come after me."
Macintosh balked a bit in confusion at the proclamation. "What? Too dangerous to...?"
"Somepony knows what we've been doing!" Twilight stomped a hoof, her eyes pleading and desperate. "I'm not sure how, but our quest hasn't gone unnoticed! Somepony out there knows what we're doing, knows what we're looking for, and they're coming to get me today!"
"Why are you still here then?"
"Where would I go!?" Twilight threw her hooves on his shoulders, staring him in the eyes. "Macintosh, the note said that whoever is watching us knows about what happened in the castle, what happened in Rocktown! It had details! Somepony knows where I live, who I hang around, and what I've been doing! Anywhere I go I'd be endangering others!"
Macintosh was silent. They knew that much? Did that mean his family was in danger too? He felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle as he took a moment to consider the situation. "Okay... okay, so, do you have a plan?"
Twilight was silent, looking at her hooves. "Yes," she said, at length, nodding slowly, "I have a plan, and though it's not a spectacular one, it's all I've got." She looked to Macintosh, her eyes locked to his. Her mind went from fear to uncertainty and, from the look on Macintosh's face, he was watching her and trying to figure out what she was thinking. Could she tell him her plan? That her plan was to run away? To continue her journey alone, in some new town, under a new name? She had so few friends in the world.
'He blamed himself.'
Twilight closed her eyes.
"No... I lied, I really, really don't have a plan," she lied, taking a deep breath and letting it out. "I-I really have no idea what I'm going to do, and... and that scares me." Macintosh stared at his hooves a moment, trying to think, to come up with some answer.
"Uhhh, Twilight," the two ponies heard Spike call from upstairs, "you might want to look outside! Off the cliff!"
Both ponies rushed towards a nearby window that, like the others, was covered by furniture to make entry difficult. Twilight peaked through the corner, and her ears folded back. "Oh no... oh no...! Oh no no no no no!"
"What is it?"
Twilight didn't answer, she hurried away from the window, panicking. "No no no no! No, this is too much!" Macintosh felt a grim curiosity settle over him, so he turned to the window and peaked out the small corner as best he could.
He was greeted by the sight of an airship slowing itself, sidling up next to the mountain.
"Spike! Get away from the windows," shouted Twilight, panic evident in her voice, "Come downstairs!" Not long after the order was given, the house shook with a rattling boom. Macintosh stumbled and fell from the sheer shock as the entire building shook, the sound of Spike shouting reaching his ears. He picked himself up and turned to look to where Twilight was just a moment ago, but she was gone. He could only imagine what kind of adrenaline rush would carry her off so quickly, but he decided it wise to follow, so Macintosh rushed out of the room, towards the stairs, when suddenly a loud explosion knocked the double doors off their hinges, throwing them inward. A pegasus and a griffon stepped into the room, both wearing rather casual looking outfits and armed with daggers. The moment they caught sight of Big Macintosh, however, they paused.
"Who the hell are you!?"
'I could ask you the same question,' thought Macintosh, though he knew better than verbalize it. "Look fellas," said Macintosh, as calmly as he could, "there's no need to get violent here, jus' turn around and walk away..." The two stallions exchanged glances, then laughed, turning their attention to Macintosh.
"We've got orders to get the mare an' take 'er alive" said the gryphon in a thick (Russian) accent as he looked towards his companion, "did the boss say anything about a stallion?"
"Nope," said the pegasus, shaking his head with a dark grin on his features, "nothin'!"
"Well," said the gryphon, looking towards Macintosh with an arrogant smile, popping his neck, "Unfortunate for you friend, you're gonna get carved up!"
The two winged foes dashed towards Macintosh, both drawing their blades. As one dagger swung at him, Macintosh jumped back, only to find another heading his way, so he allowed himself to fall to the side and roll away, before righting himself on his hooves. He was almost awestruck at his own nimbleness for a brief moment, though the realization that he was still in conflict with two armed foes allowed him no time to relish in it.
The gryphon charged again and thrust his dagger at Macintosh, who quickly swung his hoof up the side of the bird's limb, forcing his motion past Macintosh without so much as a scratch. Quickly, he wrapped his foreleg around the limb tightly and pulled the surprised gryphon forward, headbutting him and forcing him to drop his weapon. The bird stumbled backwards, putting his claws on his head and groaning. "Holy hell, his skull is thick!"
The pegasus stallion rushed him next, and to Macintosh's surprised he seemed more focused on slashing than stabbing. He ducked and whirled around frantic swings, trying to avoid getting cut. A single slash caught his shoulder, eliciting a hiss of pain from Macintosh that seemed to urge the pegasus on. As he swung again, Macintosh decided to fall backwards to miss the swing.
'I don't normally play dirty but you don't seem to give me much choice.'
As he fell, Macintosh wasted no time in raising his left hind and swinging it upwards with his motion, connecting with something soft and tender as he had planned. The now distraught pegasus let out a loud squeal, enough that Macintosh almost hurt sympathetically, before dropping his blade and falling to the floor with his forelegs between his hindlegs, cupping his injured pride. As the apple stallion climbed back to his hooves, staring down at his opponent, he couldn't help but wince at the pathetic sight before him. "I'm honestly sorry about that."
"You're going to be!"
Macintosh turned just in time to see the gryphon rushing him, claws bared and ready to swipe. He slashed at his face, the stallion yelping as he felt the bird's claws tear his flesh and stumbled backwards. The other claw came towards him, balled into a fist, and struck him in the face, knocking Macintosh off his hooves and sending him rolling. The gryphon growled and waved his pained talon around. "Clucking Hell, even your jaw is made of stone!"
Big Mac stood up, shaking off his dizziness and growled at the gryphon, deciding to go on the offensive. He charged forward, bringing a hoof towards the bird's face. The gryphon was surprised, and held up a claw to block the blow, though Macintosh responded by grabbing the claw and yanking him forward and headbutting him once more. The gryphon cawed and stumbled back, his claw over his face once more. "Son of a bitch, stop doing that!" As he opened his eyes, he saw Macintosh's rear pointed towards him. Confusion dominated him until he realized the stallion was standing on his forelegs. A swift motion brought Big Mac's aimed hooves towards the gryphon's head, sending the bird flying backwards and rolling across the floor, until he slammed into a table. Macintosh lowered his legs and slowly approached the bird, ready to defend himself. When he saw that the gryphon was unconscious, he let out a sight of relief.
Big Mac, however, remembered he wasn't alone, and turned to see the other stallion, still cupping his bruised masculinity, looking at him with wide eyes. The apple farmer nodded his head gently. "You want a second round?" The stallion looked down and winced at his aching loins, shaking his head without looking at Big Mac, who simply nodded in response. He made his way towards the stairs, but stopped and looked back to the stallion. "Once again, really sorry about that. If you hadn't had a knife, I'da never done it."
The stallion winced as he raised a single hoof and waved it weakly. "It's cool," he said, in a higher pitch than he had been speaking earlier, though Macintosh suspected he wasn't sincere in that declaration. Still, he had other things to tend to, so he hurried up the stairs. Another loud explosion rocked the house, almost sending Big Mac tumbling back down the stairs, but he steadied himself and hurried up the stairs. Along the way, he ran into a gryphon. The two steadied themselves and made eye contact momentarily.
"Oh shi--"
Macintosh didn't hesitate, he grabbed the bird's head and slammed it against a wall. The gryphon fell to the floor, unconscious, and the stallion resumed his mad rush up the stairs. He was on the final floor when he heard a loud crack fill the air, followed by a pained shout. His eyes widened, and the world seemed to slow down and all sound faded. His body seemed to move on its own, taking him to Twilight's door. He reared up, and slammed his hooves hard, bringing it from its hinges and to the ground. With all due haste, he rushed into Twilight's tower, and stopped at the sight before him.
Twilight lay on the floor, her left hoof over her right shoulder, both covered in crimson, the mare wincing and whimpering as tears filled her eyes. Spike hurried to her side, and Macintosh found himself turning to look towards the other occupant in the room - a gryphon male turned as Macintosh made his entrance, a flintlock pistol in his claw, and his eyes remorseless and cruel.
All at once, the apple farmer's world turned black, until all he saw was that gryphon painted in red.
The gryphon turned his pistol on Macintosh as the stallion lunged forward and knocked the bird's claw upwards, a loud crack hurting the stallion's ears from close proximity, though no injury sustained besides an annoying ring that he was able to ignore. Macintosh quickly placed his other hoof on top of the gryphon's arm, and brought it down with a sickening crack and the horrid scream of the gryphon signaling the breaking of bone, forcing him to drop his weapon and stumble backwards, clutching his broken arm. But Macintosh wasn't done yet, as he rushed forward again, delivering a back-hoof against the bird's face, sending him across the room and slamming into a wall. The gryphon flapped his wings and, favoring his injured foreleg, used his undamaged claw to withdraw a sword and lunge at Macintosh. The stallion dove past it, feeling it slice through his cheek, but the pain seemed so far away. The gryphon's eyes widened once more as Macintosh's foreleg was thrown at his face. The bird was launched backwards, slamming into the wall, and slumping onto the ground.
Macintosh stared at the unconscious gryphon for a minute, and slowly, his heart rate calmed and the world began to reassert itself around him, though he continued to pant and heave as the frustration and stress of his adrenaline rush had yet to ebb away completely. He turned his attention then to Twilight, who stared at him with wide, terrified eyes while Spike clutched tightly, protectively to her, seeming to stand almost between the two, but not quite. Macintosh found himself unable to move or speak for a moment as he saw those eyes so filled with fear locked onto him. Were they scared of him? Did he terrify them? What did they think of him? A thousand thoughts ran through his head in a second, and in another, they were gone. The answer lay before him.
Calmly, the stallion made his way towards Twilight and Spike, who seemed to tense more as he approached. He stopped only for one moment to reach down, picking up a hat that was laying on the floor. He resumed his trek towards the two, and gently sat the cap on Twilight's head.
As he did so, he was careful to mind the horn on her brow.
Twilight's mouth moved wordlessly for a moment as panic seemed to grow in her. "M-Macintosh.... I--"
"No time for words," said the stallion as he leaned down and looked Twilight over. "How bad are you hurt?" From what he saw, all that was wrong was the gunshot wound, but that was no small thing.
Twilight was quiet a moment, looking away from Macintosh. "... He... shot me..."
The stallion nodded, looking towards the window as he tried to formulate some sort of plan in his head, knowing that more could be nearby. "Can you stand?"
The unicorn mare bit her lip. Slowly, she picked herself up, careful not to stress her injured leg, until she was on three, wobbly legs. Macintosh stepped to her side and gently pressed against her. "Lean on me for support. If you don't feel like walkin', you can climb on my back. We gotta get out of here."
"Ah, but I just got here."
Macintosh froze, and he felt Twilight tense up next to him. That voice was familiar. There was certainty to it, culture, a sort of calm that did not belong in this setting. 'It can't be,' he thought to himself. He didn't want to, but he had to. Slowly, Macintosh turned, careful to not let Twilight stumble. When he saw it, he felt his heart sink, as his mind flooded with new-found questions. Questions that never reached his mouth as it moved slowly, but voicelessly, and for once his voice was not stolen by any physical pain.
"Macintosh... always such the gentlecolt... helping an injured mare in need? I could expect nothing less."
Big Mac closed his mouth and gulped. "... R.... Rich...?"
The stallion stood at the entry of the room, dressed in his usual fine attire as if he were going for an evening stroll rather than walking into a decimated manor. Filthy Rich stood before him, and the kindly smile on his face seemed to only serve to make his presence more sinister than it should be, and it wasn't aided by the company he kept; on his right side was a female gryphon, wearing a black coat and a red scarf around her neck, holding a pistol in her claw, trained on Macintosh, and on his left, a familiar pegasus with a rainbow mane and an uncertain expression.
Rich pursed his lips a bit, his eyes on Macintosh, examining him, though for what the farmpony could not tell. "I have to be honest, when I was told that Twilight's mysterious accomplice was a large, red pony, I thought to myself 'surely it's just coincidence. Macintosh has no business with her likes.' But, here you are, before my very eyes. Remarkable isn't it?"
So many questions boiled in his mind. Macintosh felt his chest tighten for a moment, and he shook his head, trying to straighten his thoughts out. He had questions, but for now there was only one that needed answering. "What... is going on here, Rich?"
Filthy sighed, placing a hoof on the bridge of his nose. "I'm afraid you got in the middle of a situation between me and Miss Sparkle here. I am so dreadfully sorry for the inconvenience, but I assure you this is none of your concern."
"None of my concern?" Macintosh furrowed his brow. "None of my concern!? One of yer thugs shot Twilight!"
Rich rose a brow and looked at Twilight, as if examining her. At that moment, he seemed to notice her injury. "I assure you, my friends were ordered to retrieve you unharmed. I can cover the cost of medical treatment."
"Stop playing around," said Twilight, gritting her teeth and wincing as the pain in her shoulder ebbed, "What do you want? What do you want so badly that you destroyed my house?"
Rich seemed (less than genuinely) surprised by the comment. "Why Twilight, I suspect you should know. In our last few conversations, I've asked you for the Elements of Harmony, or their locations, but you kept refusing to tell me, so I had to resort to drastic measures."
"And I keep telling you that all I've found are rocks!" The mare winced at her own yelling. Macintosh felt her slipping a bit against him, so he pushed a bit more firmly to her, careful not to tip her. "My research keeps leading me to dead ends, and I have nothing to show for it! Maybe if my book hadn't been stolen!" Twilight gestured towards Rich's companions, and the stallion sighed.
"Twilight," tutted Rich, "you think I'm a fool? I know you well enough to know you likely have a copy of all the details you know somewhere, possibly even coded so that the lay pony can't figure out what you're saying, maybe encrypted as a cook book recipe or something silly like that, but I know for a fact that you have it." Rich stepped closer, and Macintosh found himself stepping forward a bit, moving himself to be more defensive of Twilight, much to Rich's surprise, though the stallion smiled. "Of course. I could expect nothing less of you, Macintosh."
Macintosh felt himself trembling. Fearful, anxious, worried. He knew he was considerably stronger than Rich. He knew he could beat him with very little effort.
But he also remembered. Remembered being small enough to stare Rich in the knees. Remembered a stallion who took care of his family when he lost his parents.
Macintosh's mouth trembled as he shakily spoke the words he never thought he'd have to say.
"Rich... don't come any closer."
Rich seemed surprised, and for a moment, even hurt, but he recovered quickly. "Macintosh, I assure you I wish no harm to--"
"You say that, but she's hurt because of you." Macintosh leveled his glare on Rich. "You talk to her from a safe distance."
Macintosh wasn't sure what to feel as he saw Rich consider his words, as if he had a choice. He sighed and waved a hoof. "Fair enough. I am simply here for what is mine, and what is mine is all the research Twilight has done on the Elements of Harmony and anything she may have recovered in their search."
"For the last time," shouted Twilight, "I don't have them!"
"Then give me what you do have." Rich looked towards Macintosh, his expression shifting to a face Macintosh knew to be 'business pony' mode. "Twilight is currently under my employ as a researcher and scholar on magical studies. Our understanding was that all the research she does, all information gathered would be shared with me." Rich turned to Twilight. "I have asked her to live up to this, and she has failed for the past few months, so I am taking what is mine and officially cancelling our partnership."
Twilight seemed to pale. "W-what!? You can't do that! I need that money!"
"Relax," said Rich, waving a hoof, "if you hand over the remaining materials and any artifacts uncovered, you will receive a generous severence package as well as a dazzling recommendation on future employment opportunities you might receive." Rich laughed and shook his head, waving a hoof, "I suspect I needn't even concern myself with you honoring the secrecy of our association, what with your own secrets?"
Twilight stared at the stallion, her gaze tired. Macintosh worried she might be losing too much blood. "Rich, can we do this another time?"
"I'm afraid not. While I feel sorry for Twilight's injury, I'm afraid I've waited too long and she's proven I cannot trust her to do as I ask, so I either get the answer here or assume her answer is no."
Macintosh found himself worried to ask. "... And what if it is no?"
The seriousness that took over Rich's features in that moment was more than a little unnerving. "Well, then I alert the authorities and let them sort this out." He turned to Twilight. "I have no idea what they would do, arresting a pony that they don't think really exists and, legally, doesn't. It is not an appealing prospect for me, but I have very little recourse."
Twilight winced a bit. "... They.... they'd kill me..."
Rich shrugged. "Once more. Not an appealing prospect... but..."
"But you'd do it anyway..."
Rich turned to Macintosh, who stared at the wealthy pony with nothing short of hurt. Big Mac had known this stallion his entire life and had always looked up to him as a model citizen. "You'd send her to her death... because you didn't get your way..."
Rich seemed to sour at this. "Come now Macintosh, it isn't like that-"
"It's exactly like that..." Big Mac grimaced. "You're threatening her to get your way, and it could very well lead to her death... but that doesn't matter to you."
"Macintosh, of course it matters, I said I'd rather not!"
"But you would!" Macintosh stomped his hoof, cracking the floor beneath it, making Rich flinch. The older stallion looked to Macintosh and spoke quietly and calmly. "Macintosh... I believe you're getting emotional... please, calm down--"
"Step aside."
"Macintosh, I can't--"
"If you don't step aside," said Big Mac, glaring at Rich with eyes full of anger, but glistening from wetness, "I will push you out of our way."
Rich stared at Big Mac in shock for a moment, who returned his gaze. The room was silent as the two ponies stared each other down, before Rich finally sighed and bowed his head. "Very well. I will. I will leave" The stallion raised his head, looking towards Big Mac, and much to the farm pony's surprise, his eyes seemed truly apologetic, hurt even. "Macintosh... I.... I know it might not be much consolation... but I'm sorry that things had to be this way."
Rich and his escorts turned and made their way out of the room. As they left, he saw the rainbow-maned pegasus look back at them, her expression seeming uncertain, maybe even a little worried. Once they were out of sight, Big Mac lowered his head and sighed. "Okay... first thing's first..." Macintosh reached up with a hoof and gently pulled his bandanna from his neck until it came undone, quickly grabbing it with his teeth. Using skill he had developed over the years of this practice, he placed it around Twilight's wounded leg and tied it tight, trying to stop the bleeding. She didn't seem to care for it much, but it was for her own good.
"Thanks..." said Twilight quietly as she leaned against Big Mac.
"You're welcome," he said, his voice scratching a bit.
Gently, he eased his side back to Twilight's. The two ponies began to make their way towards the door, Spike riding on Big Mac's back, keeping his eye on Twilight. "Now, take it easy...."
Then, the rainbow maned pegasus burst into the room.
"GET DOWN!"
She tackled both, knocking them over. Not a second later, a nearby wall exploded as a cannonball tore through it, shaking the entire house. Macintosh's heart raced as he quickly pulled everypony close, Spike shouting in terror, Twilight huddling close, and the pegasus trying to help Big Mac shield everypony from debris. As Macintosh looked up, he could see much of the house was coming down. "What in the hay!?"
"He's going to destroy the house and everything in it!" The pegasus climbed to her hooves, looking everypony over. "Everything and everypony! We have to get out of here, and now!"
"But how?" Spike looked around the room. "If we jump out the balcony he'll definitely see us!"
"We have to sneak out!" Rainbow Dash hefted Twilight up onto Macintosh's back. "Everypony stay close and follow me!"
The ponies (and dragon) fled the tower, into the hallway. More holes in the walls that Macintosh hadn't seen before, and another being shattered as an iron orb fell through showing that they had ammo to spare. 'He's trying to kill us,' was all he could think in this moment in time. 'He's really trying to kill us.' The group sped down the stairs, careful to avoid gaps, until they reached the second floor where their progress was halted by one such hole. The rainbow pegasus took hold of Twilight and lowered her down safely, while Big Mac stared down fearfully.
"Come on down!" shouted the pegasus.
"I-I can't!"
"Why not!?"
Macintosh gulped, looking around. "I... I'm afraid of heights!"
The pegasus groaned and slapped a hoof to her head. "Look, if you don't come down the roof will fall on your head! Just jump, don't think about it!" Macintosh gulped, sweat beading around his brow as he seemed to dig at the floor in preparation for his jump. 'Come on Big Mac, it's not that high, you've fallen from higher! Remember? That time you almost... almost...' Big Mac turned pale.
"I can't do it!"
The world left him. His hooves drifted from the ground and he waved them around helplessly, trying to find purchase. He found himself drifting away, over the ledge, and slowly making his way down, much to his confusion, until he was mere inches above the ground, where he suddenly hit the floor with a thud. Quickly, he jumped to his hooves and spun around, confused, scared, and so much more. "What the hay!?"
"I-I'm sorry," panted Twilight, sweating as a slight glow left her horn, "you... you were taking too long..."
The pegasus stared at the unicorn. "Holy hell... that.... that seems useful..."
"It is when I can get away with doing it," said Twilight, nodding, "can we please leave now?"
"What? Oh! Right!"
Without further delay, the pegasus placed Twilight on Big Mac's back once more, and the group fled into the part of the house furthest from Rich's airship. The house continued to rock and shake as it was ravaged by cannonballs, and Macintosh was certain it would come tumbling down any moment. As they hurried, they eventually made it to a window near the corner of the house, which had already been shattered. "There's our exit, now, let's--"
Another explosion. Macintosh looked up just in time to see debris fall down over him, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
And waited.
And waited.
Slowly, he opened an eye to peak, unsure of what to expect. The debris held above them, encapsulated in a magenta glow. Big Mac looked back to Twilight Sparkle, who was whimpering, her horn sparking.
"Please," she whispered as she tensed up, "move..."
Quickly, the pegasus grabbed Macintosh and yanked him away, and the debris came tumbling down. "Jump! Go!" Macintosh's wits returning to him, he obeyed, leaping out the window with Twilight and Spike in tow, landing on his hooves. For a moment, he feared his momentum would act against him, sending him rolling and his cargo as well, and he stumbled for but a moment, but righted himself in time to avoid catastrophe. As he felt his hooves become more firm in their control, Macintosh slowed himself until he could turn to look back.
The house was collapsing in on itself in various points. Sections of it were burning. Several blasts seemed to be coming from inside as if bombs had been planted. He turned his attention back to Twilight, who grimaced at the sight, before closing her eyes and turning her head away from the sight. "Let's.... let's go hide before somepony notices us..." Macintosh frowned and looked back to the sight.
"Come on big guy, you heard her!" The pegasus mare trotted next to him and gave him a swat. "If we stick near trees and foliage, we should be able to get off the mountain without them seeing us."
Macintosh stared at the destruction for a moment longer, before turning back to the mare and following her as she made her way along the mountainside. The group stuck near bushes and trees, avoiding the direct sight of the ship as they made their stealthy descent down the mountain.
Cup Cake was surprised when she heard somepony knock at the back door of Sugarcube Corner. Every once in a while she knew she'd get somepony who couldn't read or had too much to drink at the Salt Lick Saloon and she would have to direct them to the front or elsewhere, but it didn't make it any less irritating. She grumbled as she stepped away from her oven towards the door and pulled it open.
"The front of the store is--"
Her words died on her breath at the sight of Big Macintosh staring at her with pleading eyes, carrying a prone pony form on his back covered in a black cloak. A lavender hoof hung from the side. The side of his neck was stained a darker crimson than the rest of him.
"She needs help."