Chapter 12: Origins

Mac stared up at the off white ceiling above him. His mind still not quite sure what had happened.

Last night had been something he thought he would never experience, before and after becoming the Ghost Rider. It was as if a whole new world had been opened to him, one that was not formed from darkness and evil. He didn’t feel anger, hatred, lowliness, or the emotions he had been accustomed to feeling for so many years. There was something new. He could only express the experience with one word.

“Wow…”

“It was good for me too,” Mac look down his chest at the mare who had caused this new feeling. She was pressed up against him, her head resting on his chest so his vision was blinded by the vibrant colors of her mane. His foreleg was wrapped around her still, keeping her close to him, almost afraid that if he was to let go this would all disappear.

Adjusting herself, Dash turned her face towards Mac, a smile spread across her lips. Her mane was disheveled and matted, but Mac could not think of a more beautiful sight in all the world.

“That was pretty good for your first time, big guy,” she laughed, giving him a light kiss on the nose. “Still, there is a lot of room for improvement, but I can help you with that.” The sudden kiss, the way she said it, and just the presence of a mare on top of him made Mac blush a shade of red that was impossible to hide. This just made Rainbow laugh looking into his worried eyes. “Sheesh, for being a demon, you sure are easy to tease.”

Mac just rolled his eyes as he looked to his side. A small picture was on the desk showed a field of flowers, but in the reflection he saw the Rider laughing. Not wishing to have that demon ruin such a moment, Mac shut his eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, pulling Dash in a bit tighter, making sure she was there when he woke up.

“Come on, don’t go back to sleep, I want to talk,” Dash huffed, as she raised a hoof and poked Mac in the side of the head. When he didn’t open his eyes, she started to poke him again, harder this time. After a few hard pokes, Mac’s eyes shot open, to look up at the victorious mare’s smile.

“What do ya want ta talk about?” He grumbled, pushing himself up so he facing Rainbow. She leaned up against his chest, nuzzling the space between his shoulder blade and neck. The feel of her rubbing her soft fur slowly against his own was a thrill that shot bolts of electricity throughout his entire body. He was putty in her hooves, and for some reason he didn’t mind one bit.

“What is it like being a demon?” The question rolled off her tongue as if she was simply asking about the weather, or who won the latest hoofball game.

“Ah ain’t a demon,” Mac growled, looking in the down at Dash.

“Fine,” she huffed, her cheeks inflating slightly with the escape of air. “What it like being part demon?” Mac slightly chuckled at her expression. She looked cute when she was annoyed.

“It ain’t an easy life, Ah’ll tell ya that. Constantly moving from town ta town, making sure not ta make any connections of any kind. Got ta take dangerous jobs for a day just fer a bit of eatting money. Then havin’ this thing coming out of ya every night wanting to hunt for dark souls. Not a life Ah would wish onto others,” Mac said in a deep sigh. As much as he hated thinking about his cursed life, it felt good to let somepony in for once instead of pushing them away.

“But you get to be a superhero. That pretty cool,” Rainbow Dash commented, pushing herself closer to Mac, while also using one of her wings to pull the covers over them. “Taking out mobsters, rapists, and serial killers. Sounds kind of like fun.”

“Fun? Trust me, it ain’t fun when ya got ponies like Bentgrass coming after ya. Then there are the demons and angels trying ta make a name fer themselves.” The second Mac felt those words pass his lips he regretted it, being so open for once made him a little loose with details.

“Angels?! Demons?! What the hell did you do?” Rainbow shouted, pushing herself off of Mac and looking at him as if he had another head growing out of him.

“Ain’t nothin Ah did, except existing,” Mac rolled over so he was facing Rainbow Dash. “Ya see, Ah’m on nobody’s favorite list. Demon don’t like me because the Rider and Ah can feel em, and a Demon Souls are very tasty to the Ghost Rider, so he goes after them for a rare treat. So it takes no genius that if a demon was able to take the Rider out they’d be a hero.” As Mac talked, Rainbow was slowly nodding her head though her lips were pursed together and one eyebrow was raised higher than the other.

“Okaayy… that explains demons… but why are angels trying to get you?”

“To them. Ah’m still a demon walking the Earth. Doesn’t matter that the Rider is doin’ good, they still see him as an abomination so they try ta smite him."

“That doesn’t make sense,” Rainbow rolled onto her stomach and turning her head to Mac. “So you're saying that there are other demons walking around doing bad things that you stop. Then the angels are trying to smite you because you're a demon? Why are the angels not taking care of the demons?”

Mac gave a low grunt as he rolled back onto his back to look back up at the ceiling. “It ain’t that easy ta explain. Hell, Ah don’t even know much about it and Ah’m caught up in the middle. The thing Ah reckon is that their is some unspoken agreement between demons and angels about what happens here. As long as the demons don’t do nothin’ too bad the angels won’t come down to smite them. Ghost Rider seems not ta care about any treaty and goes around doin’ what he wants ta do,"

“Sounds kind of badass,” Rainbow mused, pushing up against Mac. “Taking justice into his own hooves, finding all of those who did wrong and punish them. It’s kind of sexy.”

“Sexy? Last time Ah checked, yer the one who wanted ta get Wild Blaze arrested fer being the Rider.”

“I just didn’t like Wild Blaze, what can I say?” Rainbow Dash asked with a shrug, before winding her hoof back and punching Mac in the shoulder. The demon-possesed pony gave a yelp of pain, as he scooted away from Rainbow Dash and rubbed his shoulder.

“What was that fer?!” Mac growled, as he kept on rubbing his shoulder.

“I don’t like Wild Blaze, he’s a jerk,” Rainbow said dismissively, as she placed her hooves behind her head. “You need to make him nicer, more like you,”

“That point is fer him ta be a jerk,” Mac hissed, “Ponies normally don’t want ta get ta know a jerk.”

“Well he could still be nicer; you did interrupt my stunt,”

“Are ya still goin’ on about that?” Mac groaned, propping his head up. “You were gonna fly right into that buildin’, Ah actually saved ya,”

“Maybe,” Rainbow said, but there was no hint of emotion in her voice. “It was going to be a awesome trick.” Mac just bit his tongue, there was no use in arguing this point. After a few seconds of silence, Mac let his eyes close again as he reached over to wrap Rainbow with his foreleg. He wanted the moment to continue, to keep this sense of peace.

This was not to be, for before he could fully close his eyes, Rainbow rolled over on top of him, straddling him. She placed her hooves on either side of his head so that he had no choice but to look up at her.

“Tell me what happened that night,” she demanded. He knew what night she was talking about, the night he and the Rider became one. Mac turned away from her, trying to look anywhere besides those magenta eyes.

“It’s not a night Ah like ta remember,” he said slowly.

“Well that’s too bad,” she growled, pushing his head so he had to look at her. “For the last five years we all thought you were dead. Now I want some answers about what happened, or I am going to go tell Applejack who you are,” Once again, the pairs’ eyes locked in combat trying to get dominance over the other in some way. “And, if you don’t tell me, we won’t do what we did last night ever again,” she added menacingly.

Mac gave a deep sigh. It was just like dealing with his sister, there was no way to get out of this without some sort of problem, so it was just better to come clean. “Well… if ya really want ta know it all started six years ago…”

***

Thunder roared outside the Sweet Apple Acres barn, as lightning danced in the sky and the rain poured onto the ground as if trying to wash everything away. The storm raged on outside like a battle in the sky.

As the storm passed over the farm, Mac was making his way to the kitchen, musing about how good day had been. It had been normal day for the Apples. Applejack went back to the house after she and Mac had gotten their chores done to start helping Granny with supper, while Mac went to pick up Apple Bloom from school. When Mac returned with his youngest sister, he would start helping her with her homework as Granny and Applejack put the final touches on supper. They would then eat as a family as they listened to Apple Bloom about her school day, or one of Applejack’s adventures with her friends. When they finished, Mac and Bloom would do the dishes as Granny retired to her rocker to knit, as Applejack showered. Finally, Mac would help Apple Bloom with any other homework she still had before he would send her to bed so Applejack could read her a bedtime story.

Everything just seemed right in the world when the Apples could eat together in peace, at least Mac felt like that. As Applejack read to Bloom, Mac decided to have a nip of cider to help relax him for the upcoming apple bucking season. Walking to the kitchen the sudden thought of Granny might want to join him for a drink dawned upon him. At this, Mac turned from the kitchen to the living room to find his grandmother.

Upon entering the room, he had to refrain himself from speaking. Granny Smith was sagging to the right, lightly snoring as she slept in her favorite chair.

Smiling at his grandmother, Mac moved towards her to carry her off to bed. He knew if he let her slept there she would wake up confused, and sore for the rest of the day. Positioning himself, he slowly slid his grandmother onto his back, trying to stay as steady as possible as to not to disturb her. As hefted her help, a manila envelope slid from under her knitting and onto the floor. As it fell, a few sheets of paper fell out around his hooves.

Mac looked down at the papers momentarily before resuming the task at hand. He knew if his grandmother was to wake now, he would get a tanning for treating her like a napping foal. Not wanting to suffer that fate, Mac proceed with his original intent and coming back later to organize the papers.

A few minutes later Mac returned for the papers, happy that he was able to put Granny in bed without incident. He started to slide the papers back into the envelope intending to put in on Granny’s nightstand for her when something caught his eye. On top right of one of the papers was the Ponyville Hospital logo.

That’s funny. Don’t remember Granny havin’ a doctor’s appointment. Mac thought, slowly pulling out the piece of paper. Nope! Not my place to read this without her permission. With a snort of conviction Mac started to push the papers back into the folder, until the devil on his shoulder started to talk.

What if its somethin’ bad? Ah should know about it, shouldn't Ah? Mac looked down at the envelope uncertain of what to do. It would be a breach in Granny’s trust of him if he read somethin’ that she didn’t give him permission to read. But on the other hoof, if it was something bad he had the right to know.

With his mind entangled in a struggle of morals, Mac decided to let a third party decide what to do.

Luck.

Lifting the folder into the air, Mac let it drop back to the ground, letting Mare Luck take control of his fate. If the paper came out, he would read it, and if it didn’t, he would seal the envelope and place it on Granny’s nightstand.

The envelope swayed back and forth in the air, as it fell ever so slowly to the ground. Mac’s eyes were locked on it, following every move it made, secretly hoping that the paper would come flying out so he could read it. As the envelope came to a rest on the ground below, the paper had not moved an inch out of its confines, leaving Mac feeling a bit defeated. As much as he would have wanted to read the paper, he had to keep the promise to himself if he could ever hope to keep promises to others.

As Mac reached out for the folder, however, the piece of paper seemed to take on a life of its own, for with no help from him or a source Mac could see, the piece of paper slid out of the folder just enough for Mac to see the first few lines of the mysterious paper.

Dear Granny Smith,

It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that the test have come back positive, and your condition is far worse than we had originally believed. We would like you to come in for additional testing, but so far the diagnosis does not look good.

Mac felt his blood run cold as he read those few lines. His hooves began to tremble as sweat started to form on his brow. It had to be a nightmare; a horrid nightmare he was going to wake up from any moment now. As horrifying as it all was, Mac felt his body move pulling the rest of the letter out.

From what we have been able to tell from your symptoms and blood test you have contracted cancer of the blood, known as leukemia. The treatment options for a mare of your age are more dangerous than the disease itself.

We will do all we can for you, but as painful as it is for me to say, you might want to consider creating or updating your Last Will and Testament. I also suggest that you break the news to your family sooner than later. We have a grief counselor here that might be able to help break the news better than telling them by yourself.

Again, I am so sorry I had to be the one to break the news. I will see you in the morning for your appointment.

Sincerly,

Doctor Stables

Mac felt the tears starting to form in his eyes. Granny had done her best to raise him and his sister the best she could. She was more of a mother to him than a grandmother. The thought of a world without her was just too much for him.

Not caring for the other papers, Mac placed the letter back inside of the envelope and proceed to Granny’s room. As he walked he fought back the tears that were threatening to burst out, trying to keep his composure till he knew he was alone. He was the stallion of the family; he could not show weakness, not at times like this.

Pushing the door to Granny’s room open with his hoof, Mac peered in making sure she was asleep.

She was right where he left her, her gray mane resting on the pillow as she was wrapped safely in the blankets. Mac stared at her for a few seconds, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. The fear of the idea that she would not sleep in that bed again, but laid to rest outside away from her family overcame him. Again, he felt his tears wanting to break through but he needed to stay strong.

Walking as quietly as he could over to the nightstand, he placed the envelope there trying to show no indication he read from it. Turning to Granny again, Mac’s lower lip started to tremble.

“Ah love ya, Granny,” Mac whispered, bending over and kissing her forehead. She moved ever so slightly, but kept on sleeping as Mac left her bedroom. He needed to get out of the house, he needed to be somewhere he could collect his thoughts.

“Takein’ Granny’s asleep?” Mac nearly jumped as Applejack came down the stairs. “Bloom just fell asleep, care ta join me fer a nip of cider?”

“Can’t. Goin’ to the barn,” Mac said, trying not to let his sister see his face.

“What for? Looks likes the storm is getting worse, ya don’t want ta be stuck out their do ya?” Mac nearly bulldozed her over as he made his way to the front door.

“Got ta make sure its ready fer it. Ya take care of Bloom in case it gets bad.”Without giving her time to respond, Mac headed out the door and towards the barn.

Big Mac sat alone in the barn as the rain came down in force upon the barn roof. There was only the single light of a lantern illuminating the barn, shaking with every boom of thunder outside. With weather so bad Mac should be either inside the home looking over Apple Bloom, who was terrified of storms, or out in the orchard trying to keep the trees safe. As much as he loved his sister and the farm, the battle in his head took precedence over everything.

How hard it was to believe that a few short hours ago his life was perfect. A loving family, a growing business, and a sense of knowing who one was and what they wanted from the world. Now, it seemed like everything he once thought and believed in dissolved around him in a puddle of defeat and sorrow. It was a cruel reminder that everything could be taken away in one foul swoop, a lesson Mac should have remembered from when he lost his parents.

He damned himself for poking his nose where it didn’t belong. He had been taught better, he knew better; but still he went ahead and did it. Another flash of lightning flooded the barn, seeming to add to the battle within Mac’s mind.

He didn’t want to lose his Grandmother. His Granny. She was everything to him. Granny had always been there for him before and after his parents died. Whenever he had a bad day at school, she baked him cookies to feel better. If he go a good grade, she was always the first one he told. And every Hearth’s Warming Eve, she knitted a sweater for him to keep warm during those cold, cold days.

With her gone, who is going to be there when he needed somepony to talk to? That one pony he could always confined in when his mind was troubled? Where was he going to get that warm gentle hug that made everything better, and whisper to him that it was okay for big stallions to cry?

Mac choked back a sob as he continued to fight back the tears. He couldn't cry. He could not show weakness, not even to himself. He had to stay strong for the family during this difficult time, but how was he going to stay strong when the source of his strength was gone?

Thunder boomed in the sky above, shaking the entire building again. This time when the lightning flashed, the light flooded the entire barn as the barn door was pushed open.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” A high voice asked, pushing open the barn door till his silhouette was visible in the fading light. “I am sorry to intrude, I saw your light from the road. I was caught off guard by the storm and need a place wait it out. I mean no harm and I can pay,"

Mac quickly got to his hooves making his way to the stranger, giving his head a slight shake trying to clear his head. “Yer welcome ta stay here, friend. Ah ain’t in the business of letting ponies get soaked to the bone,” Mac replied, trying to sound as chipper as he could.

“Oh thank you, kind sir! You are a welcome relief from the harshness of the outdoors!” the stranger replied, closing the door behind him and making his way into the light. He was a shorter and a bit pudgy white Earth Pony. He had light blue eyes that match his mane and a cutie mark of a golden caduceus with a red heart tucked into it, wearing a light blue saddle bag.

“Ain’t nothin’ special friend. Just being the best pony Ah can be,” Mac replied, extending his hoof towards his guest. “Macintosh Apple, but call me Big Mac. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Bleeding Heart,” the stallion replied, bumping his hoof against Mac’s. “It is a pleasure to meet you Big Mac,”

“Likewise, now what were ya doin’ out in that storm?” Mac asked, looking out the window to the raging storm. “Pegasus were warnin’ everypony about the storm.” Bleeding Heart just laughed as he sat down.

“Oh how I wish I had that warning. I was in Canterlot attending to a patient. Afraid I did not check the weather on my way back home,” Mac’s eyes widened when he heard that Bleeding Heart was attending to a patient in Canterlot, where only the best of the best doctors lived. “A bit of a tricky case, but I have yet to find a illness that I could not cure,” Bleeding Heart said, a hint of pride in his voice.

“Really? Not one?” Mac asked, a surge of hope filling his chest, as if the sun’s light was breaking through the storm.

“Oh yes. I tend to use methods that normal medical ponies don’t think of. Call me a out of the box thinker. Are you suffering from a alment my good sir?”

“Not me. My Granny, she has somethin’ called the ‘cancer of the blood’. Ah don’t rightly know how ta say the name of it, but if you could—”

“Leukemia. Your grandmother is suffering from leukemia,” Bleeding Heart interrupted, a slight grin on his face.

“Uh… ya… that. The doctor here in Ponyville doesn't give her long ta live. Ya think you could look at her?”

“Leukemia… thats a very tricky disease to cure. I take it your grandmother is very old right? That might complicate things…” Bleeding Heart mused, rubbing his chin in thought.

“Please, you gotta help her. She’s too important to ma family to be taken from us like this. We don’t have much, but Ah would be glad to work off any debt. Ah’ll do anythin." At this final word, a smile crept across Bleeding Heart’s face, sending a chill down Mac’s spine. For a moment he looked as if he had fangs, and his eyes flashed black for a second.

“Anything Mister Apple? I can work with that.” At that, Bleeding Heart started to take off his saddle bag and began to reach into one of the large bags. “Well, today must be your lucky day, for I do not deal in money. Where I am from, money means very little,” Mac looked down at the pudgy stallion, his forehead scrunched together, as Bleeding pulled out a dark green scroll.

“Then what do you want?” Mac asked, as Bleeding lifted the scroll up to him.

“Oh nothing of importance. per se. This little contract will just guarantee you will work off your debt to me. A trade, you might say. I do this favor for you, and you will give me something in return,” Bleeding Heart said with a unsettling smile. Mac looked down at the scroll, and felt this skin crawl and his stomach churn.

“Ah don’t know. Ah will have to think it over.”

“Oh yes, do think it over. But just remember, every second you spend thinking about it is another second your grandmother is closer to death.” At those words, Mac felt his body react before his mind mind could catch up to it.

Grabbing the scroll, Mac pulled it open to read when something sharp dug into his hoof. With a grimace of pain Mac pulled his hoof back as drops of blood fell from it. The drops of dark crimson fell onto the scroll, right where Mac was to sign his name.

“Oh that will do fine,” Bleeding Heart laughed, taking the scroll away from Mac and rolling it up. “By tomorrow morning, your grandmother will be cured of her cancer,” he said, his voice seeming to get lower and darker.

“Now hold on now, Ah don’t know what I signed,” Mac protested, trying to reach for the scroll. “And blood is not a legal way to—” Before Mac could say another word, Bleeding Heart seemed to grow to the same height Mac was, his eyes completely black as if the pupil of his eye was a balloon of ink that had exploded. A feeling of dread, fear, and remorse came over Mac as he looked into those dark eyes.

“Sleep,” Bleeding Heart commanded, and without another thought, the world around Big Mac went dark as he fell to his side.

That night, Mac’s dreams were plagued with nightmares he could not wake up from. He was running for his life in a world of darkness and fire. Everywhere he looked there were images of horror as creatures of all walks of life were tortured by horrific demons. Somewhere being boiled alive, being forced into a great pot by demons, and if they tried to escape were stabbed by pitchforks.

Others were being skinned alive, their flesh being devoured by demons, but no matter how many times they skinned them, their skin grew back for the demons to feast upon. Their blood-curdling screams echoing through this world, but it was just joined by the chorus of screams there.

Still, others were being chased by what seemed to be a horde of wasps, that would engulf their victims, stinging every part of flesh they could find or crawl into. Those who were not captured by the wasps were not as lucky. Some of them would be grabbed by demons that would either use them for their most base desires, consume them, or torture in some horrific way.

Everywhere Mac turned to tried to hide, there was another horror ready to greet his eyes. The demons did not seem to be interested in Mac, besides pointing at him and laughing. This only fueled Mac’s fear as he ran through what could only be called Hell. He wanted to find safety somewhere, a place where he could collect his thoughts and pray for help.

As if sensing Mac’s hopes of help, something burning wrapped around his neck, and pulled him into the sky. Whatever wrapped around his chest was burning, as if taken freshly out of the fire and just getting hotter. He tried to scream, but the object just tightened around his neck and burned even hotter.

“Macintosh Apple!” A voice shouted, seeming to come from inside of Mac’s mind threatening to tear it apart. Once again mac tried to scream, but nothing came out as the pain continued and the chain dragged him across the sky. Then, he was slammed him into the ground below, knocking the wind out of him breaking several of his bones. The object then released itself from his neck, and slithered away like a serpent. Opening his eyes, he saw it was a chain that was slithering from him and up a dark grey hoof.

As he looked up the hoof, it slammed into his face and forced it to the ground. Mac struggled to push the hoof off of him, but they were stronger than him, much stronger as they kept pushing his face into the ground below.

“Macintosh Apple!” The voice shouted again, this time it was not just coming from his head, but above him as well. “Look into my Eyes!” The voice commanded. He tried to resist the command, shutting his eyes as tight as possible, but no matter how much he tried, it felt like somepony else was controlling his eyes, for they opened without him wanting to and looked right into the eyes of his attacker.

They were blood red and seemed to be dragging him in. As if they were looking right into his soul, and ripping it from his body.

“Welcome to Hell… Mac-Mac.” Then, all at once, Mac felt his body being set on fire. Being burned alive, as every fiber of his being was being burned alive. That was not all, for he could feel his flesh being melted away becoming a skeleton as something painful was trying to push its way out of his skull, something dark and powerful that it made Mac feel like if it were to emerge, his life was to end.

He could not beg for his help, his voice seeming to go mute and his body limp as he could just stare there and looking into those horrible red eyes, ripping out his soul and burning his remains. He needed help, the help of one pony that would always save him when times got rough, when the load became too much for him to bear.

GRANNY!!!

Something cold and wet splashed over Mac, making him jump to his hooves, only to trip over them and falling on his back kicking and twisting in surprise. Rolling back onto his hooves, Mac backed up so fast that he tripped over a bale of hay and fell right on his back again.

Pushing himself back to his hooves, he could hear the sound of his heartbeat in his ear, his heavy breathing, and the hysterical laughter of Applejack.

“By the stars above, Mac, that was too funny!” Applejack laughed, dropping the bucket of water at her hooves as she laughed so hard tears were rolling down her cheeks. As she laughed Mac pushed himself up and glared at her.

“That ain’t funny,” Mac growled, as he gave a light shake, trying to get the water off his coat.

“Yer right, Mac,” Applejack wheezed, trying to calm herself down. “What was funny was when Ah came in here and you were suckin’ yer hoof like a foal,” Looking up at his sister, Mac noticed that a camera was sitting next to her and a photograph was in her hooves.

“AJ… yer gonna give that to me right—” Before Mac could finish, Applejack bolted out of the barn and into the orchard laughing as she did.

“Applejack, ya get yer flank back here!” Mac shouted, jumping over the bale of hay and running for the barn door. But before he could go through it, he stopped. Looking around the barn he looked for any trace of Bleeding Heart, but the stallion was no where to be seen. He then looked down at his hoof, the one that was stabbed by that scroll, but there was no mark to indicate that it had happened.

Did he dream the entire thing? Including the part of Granny having cancer? It seemed too real to just a dream, especially those parts about Hell. But it didn’t seem like he had gone anywhere or met anypony.

“Come on now, Mac! If ya don’t catch up, Ah’m gonna post this picture all over town! Them mares will go crazy fer this!” Applejack yelled from the orchard. Banishing those dark thoughts from his head, Mac took off after his little sister. There was no way he was going to let her make copies of that picture, Celestia knew how those mares will act if they saw that picture of him!

After chasing his sister for the better part of the morning, the two siblings came out of the orchard, leaning on one another laughing. Mac had finally gotten the picture from her, after taking her hat hostage. Some ponies might have said taking such a cherished item hostage was cruel, but those ponies didn’t have a town of mares after them.

“That was a dirty trick ya played there,” Applejack laughed, leaning on her brother for support. All that constant sprinting and laughing had taken a lot of energy from the two of them.

“Eeyup,” Mac replied, as he kept the picture hidden under his yoke, waiting to burn it. “Call us even fer takin’ that picture.”

“Aw hush, ya would have done the same thing. Besides, it would have been a sin not ta take that picture,” Applejack said with another laugh, shoving her shoulder into Mac’s ribs. Mac just rolled his eyes as he chewed on his sprig of straw.

“No you stop messin’ around, Mac. We’re behind on our chores because of yer lazy flank,” she declared, steering them towards the barn.

“Eeyup,” Mac replied, knowing far too well that arguing that point might cause another chase. “What am Ah doin’ today?”

“Well, Rarity came over this morning, that storm did a number on her shop. So Ah need ya ta go over and fix it. Ah told her Ah would do it, but she insisted on you. So ya might want ta watch yerself she might be tryin’ ta get—”

“Big Mac! Applejack!” Both siblings turned to the shouting voice of their youngest sister who was running towards them.

“What’s wrong, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked, walking towards the excited filly.

“Granny wants you two ta come inside right away! She said its super important!” She shouted, almost bouncing up and down, bursting with energy.

“Calm yerself,” Applejack said, placing a hoof on her sister’s head, trying to keep her still. “Tell Granny we’re on our way.” The filly nodded before running back to the house. “It should be a sin ta have that much energy in the mornin’.”

“Noon,” Mac quipped.

“What’d ya say?”

“It’s noon,” Mac said again, “Ah was chasin’ ya fer a few good hours,” Mac pointed to the shadows of the trees near by. “Looks like yer goin’ win the Iron Pony competition this year, that is unless yer one Wonderbolt friend beats ya again.”

“No, she won't!” Applejack shouted, as she began to follow Mac back to the house. “Ah’ve been trainin’ extra hard this year, and their ain’t no way Ah’m losing. Ah’ve added twenty more push ups into ma routine along with…” Mac knew bringing up Applejack’s main rival would have her going on a tangent. His mind was beginning to race again, as thoughts of last night started to creep back into his mind.

Was she going to tell them about her cancer? Did she even have cancer? All of last night felt like one long nightmare, an unreal hell. He had to brace himself for the news, he had to be the one to be strong for the family, to be the one they can lean against. All at once, the dark thoughts of what was going to happen filled Mac with dread, unable to fathom a life without Granny.

“... and why does everypony seem ta forget she cheated the first time! Ah’m gonna win it fair and square just like a Apple ought… do you smell that?” Mac snapped out of his thoughts, finding them on the steps of the porch. Taking a deep inhale, Mac’s nose was instantly filled with heavenly smell.

The aruma was intoxicating and a rare smell on the Apple’s farm. The scent of butter, sugar, and just a bit of lemon.

Mac’s mouth began to water as he looked over at his sister, who had just a bit of drool hanging from her open mouth as realization came over the two of them.

“It couldn't be… she only makes them on our birthdays,” Mac licked his lips as he took another deep inhale.

“What else could it be Mac?” Applejack asked, as she started to trot in place. “She’s baking—”

“Gooey Butter Cookies!” Apple Bloom shouted, from inside the house.

“Dibs on the spoon!” Mac shouted soon after, using his massive hoof to push Applejack back as he tried to get inside first.

“The hell you are!” Applejack shouted, jumping onto Mac’s back and putting him in a headlock. “Ya got it last time! Besides, its yer fault we're behind on chores!” Mac didn’t listen to her argument, as he pushed himself through the door, not seeming to notice his sister on top of him. There was almost nothing better than Gooey Butter Cookies, other than Gooey Butter Cookie dough!

Turning into the kitchen, both Mac’s and Applejack’s faces fell as they saw Apple Bloom sitting on a stool, happily licking the spoon covered in yellow dough as Granny just stood their chuckling.

“Looks like she beat ya two to it,” Granny laughed, as she patted the puffy red mane of her youngest grandfoal.

“Aww… that’s the best part!” Applejack complained as she slid off Mac’s back, who looked equally downtrodden. Granny just chuckled at the pair as she turned away from them,
“Ah know how much ya youngin’s love that spoon so…” Granny turned around with a spoon in one hoof and a bowl in the other. “Ahd saved some fer ya,” she laughed handing the spoon to Applejack and slid the bowl to Mac.

“Granny, yer the best!” Applejack cheered, as she licked the spoon, while Mac started to lick the contents of the bowl. Both gave a moan as they tasted the rare treat, and began to savor every bit of the delight.

It did not take long for the three Apple siblings to devour every last bit of dough that they could get their hooves on. They ate the gooey goodness as if they had been starved for weeks. Giving her spoon one final lick, Applejack turned to their grandmother, her muzzle wrinkled in confusion.

“Granny, ya never make these cookies unless its one of our birthdays. Not even when we begged, and promised ta clean the entire house and barn did ya make these. Why are ya makin’ them taday?” Granny shuffled nervously, her golden eyes looking anywhere but at her grandfoal’s eyes.

“Well… Ah felt Ah needed ta apologize to you youngins,” Granny began, walking over to her favorite chair in the kitchen and sitting down. “Now, Ah’ve raised all of you to trust family above all else, even in times of self-doubt, or how much trouble ya might be in. Ah always believed this, but a few weeks ago Ah started ta keep a secret from all of ya. You see, yer Granny has been sick.”

“Like with the flu?” Apple Bloom asked, tilting her head to the side. Granny merely laughed and shook her head.

“No sweetie, the doctors called it leukemia, a cancer of the blood. It’s difficult ta treat by itself, but with how old Ah am its almost impossible. The doctors didn’t give me long ta live, with or without the treatment.”

“A-are you s-saying your gonna… gonna…” Tears were threatening to spill out of Appebloom’s eyes as she looked at Granny. Applejack pulled the brim of her hat over her eyes, as she fought back her own tears. Mac stood still, however, keeping how own emotions bottled up to be strong.

“Shh… shh… yer Granny ain’t gonna go anywhere anytime soon,” Granny whispered, moving over to Apple Bloom. “Ah wouldn't had made these cookies fer bad news, they’re for a time of celebratin’,” Granny laughed, as she hugged Apple Bloom, a few tears escaping her old eyes. “Ah went to the doctor taday, and oh did Ah confuse him. He ran so many tests on me, but he couldn't find a trace of the cancer. Celestia must of blessed me, because Ah’m cancer free! You're not gonna lose me anytime soon!”

“Of course yer not gonna anywhere Granny, yer just too stubborn ta die!” Applejack shouted, dropping her spoon on the ground and wrapping Granny in the tightest hug she could. The three mares held each other tight, as silent tears of joy fell from their faces.

Mac would have liked nothing more than to join in, but the sight to him was too wonderful to interrupt. His prayers had been answered, his Granny was not going to die. Whether last night had happened or if all dream he did not care. Let Bleeding Heart have whatever he wanted, he had his family back and nothing was ever going to separate them again.

For the rest of that year, it seemed like everything was going right for Mac and his family. The harvest had been extremely good that year, providing more than enough apples for the town and beyond; and with such a great harvest the cider that year they were able to make twice the amount of cider than normal.

Granny seemed to be more alive than she had in recent months. She had started to cook more than she had, finding the energy to cook meals that the Apple siblings had not had in years. She was even going into town more to help with the apple sales, or to pick Apple Bloom up from school. It filled Mac’s heart with joy seeing that Granny seemed to have new life breathed into her, and we enjoying each day as if it was her last.

Seeing her so happy made Mac even more confident if that deal he might have made a year ago. The family was stronger than ever and for once they were not in fear of not having enough bits to pay the bills. Life just didn’t seem to get any better.

It was for this Mac was thankful for as he said his prayers before bed. He didn’t want his life to change, not one bit of it. Yawning, Mac started to pull back the covers of his bed when a light knocking echoed through his room. Turning to the door, he saw Granny pushing the door flooding the room with light.

“Ya alright, Granny?” Mac asked, walking towards his grandmother. “Ya ain’t supposed ta be doing stairs no more,”

“Aw you hush now,” Granny laughed, extending her hoof to rub Mac’s thick shoulder. She used to pat him on the head whenever he worried about her, but he was now too tall for that. “Ah got a surprise fer ya,” she said, grinning.

A surprise? Mac thought, trying to think of a reason why. His birthday was in a few months, and there was no other holiday for a long time, unless he forgot about one. Then usually when he got gifts it wasn’t necessarily for him, but for the farm.

“Did ya get a new yoke?” Mac asked, knowing that his signature piece of apparel was showing its age. Granny just smiled at him, before turning towards the steps.

“Nope, its much more special than that. Now follow me child, and grab a lantern,” Granny said, opening the front door. “Its out in the barn,”

As Granny stepped outside, Mac took one of the lanterns off of the hallway table, and lit a match to light it. He could not think of what Granny could be wanting to give him at such a late hour, or the fact she was still up. Both Apple Bloom and Applejack had turned in for the evening, while Mac went over the finances. Granny would have turned in at the same time as his sisters, so whatever this was it had to be for him alone.

Mac followed close behind Granny, holding the lantern in his mouth to light the way; as the sky was getting darker as the golden rays of the sun set in the distance. The only other light on the farm was the lantern that was hanging above the barn door, that Granny was in the process of opening, at least trying to.

“An Apple Mare, she’s a gettin old when she’s not strong enough to open a barn door,” Granny said, in a bittersweet tone, as Mac came up behind her and opened the door with ease.

“Yer still plenty strong,” Mac laughed, as he followed her inside. “Ah’m still afraid of gettin’ ma hide tanned by ya.” Granny didn’t say anything as she walked through the barn, the sound of their hooves thumping against the old floor boards as they passed the bales of dry hay.

Granny lead them to the back of the barn where many of the tools were, as well as a few cardboard boxes that were stacked up against the wall. Many of them had been taped up years ago and a layer of dust on them, or imprints of where Mac might have placed a tool when he was not using it just yet. There was writing on the boxes as well, but most of the ink had faded with the years.

“Help me move them,” Granny said, as she slid a box away from the wall.

“Is it in one of them boxes?” Mac asked, setting the lantern down, and picking up a stack of five. He had never touched the boxes, never having any reason to move them or looked inside of them, seeing as it was none of his business.

“No, its behind em’,” Granny said, sliding another box out of the way. It did not take long for all the boxes to be removed, revealing a bare wall behind them. Mac looked down at Granny, who just kept on smiling as she took a few steps towards it.

“Had ta go through a bit of trouble ta make sure this was rebuilt during the last Apple Family Reunion,” Granny remarked, as she tapped her hoof against different parts of the wall. Mac grimaced slightly at the memory, of watching the barn fall apart. “Only a few Apples know about this, and every year the group gets smaller,” Granny sighed as she tapped on another part. When she tapped, the sound was much different than the other places she had knocked; sounding hollow instead.

“There she is,” the old mare said, getting on her hind legs and feeling up and down the wall. Mac watched with intense curiosity as Granny felt around, till finally there was a small click of metallics sliding into place, and the door jerking to the right slightly. Getting back down on to all four hooves, Granny turned to Mac and smiled. “Open it dear,”

Granny took a few steps back, while Mac stepped toward the wall. In all his time, he would have never of guessed of a false wall in the barn, not since the Apple’s days of running Speakeasies. Slowly, Mac raised one hoof up to where the small gap was, and with a deep breath slid the door open.

Inside, there was a black leather jacket hanging inside, with a green fireball sewn onto the back of it. Around it was a few small boxes, with old black and white pictures setting on top of them or one the walls around it. Mac didn’t know what to say, as he took it all in, not even noticing that Granny had walked up beside him.

“Never suspected that yer Grandpa was once part of a motorcycle gang did ya?” She laughed, reaching for one of the picture frames and bringing it into the light. Mac looked down at the old photo showing his Grandpa, Bonza Apple, sitting on a motorcycle; wearing a leather jacket, a bandana around his neck, and a Diamond Dog on either side of him. They all seemed to be laughing as they sat on their bikes.

Looking back inside of the false wall, Mac saw other pictures of his long departed grandfather in his younger years. One was of him at a bar surrounded by a strange assortment of creatures from dogs, ponies of all races, a minotaur or two, and a griffin with a eye patch. Then there was a picture right next to that one with the bar in shambles and most of the occupants of the picture bandaged up but grinning even wider.

There was then another picture of Bonza Apple doing a wheelie, wearing a black Royal Guard helmet and a pair of goggles that looked like Mac’s own pair. One hoof was in the air as he seemed to be cheering. Then, like the picture before, the picture next to it showed Bonza Apple in a hospital bed with a bandage wrapped around the side of his face. He was still smiling as a young Granny Smith kissed him on the cheek.

“Most of the family remembers yer Grandpa as the wild child of the Apple Family,” Granny laughed, as she followed Mac’s eyes. “He didn’t want ta be a ‘lowly farmer with nothin’ going fer him’ as he put it, and set out to explore Equestria on a motorcycle. For years he rode around doin’ nothin’ more than the bare minimum ta get by. Said he was livn’ life to the fullest.”

“Why did he come back then?” Mac asked, his eyes still wonder from picture to picture. It was hard to believe that this was the same stallion that would fix his toys and take him fishing on Sundays.

“Ah might of had somethin’ ta do with that,” Granny said, taking out another picture to show Mac. The picture was of Bonza and Granny sitting under a apple tree, holding one another as the sun set. “Told him that if he didn’t come on back ta Ponyville and marry me, Ah was goin’ ta find maself a nice Unicorn ta marry,” Granny started to laugh as she held the picture. “Not two days later he was back in Ponyville and popping the question.’ A tear fell from Granny’s face and onto the picture. “Ah miss that wild stallion so much.”

Mac wrapped his foreleg around Granny to comfort her, but before he could pull her in, she pushed him away and stared up at him. “What are we doin’ here cryin’ fer? Don’t ya want yer surprise?” Granny asked, as she turned back to the closet and started to pull the leather jacket from the hanger. “Now if Ah remember right, Wild Blaze an ya were the same size,” Granny mumbled, walking over to Mac and forcing his yoke off and replacing it with the jacket.

“Who’s Wild Blaze?” Mac asked, as Granny slipped one of his forelegs into the jacket’s sleeve.

“Hmm? Oh! That was yer Grandpa’s nickname when he rode with the ‘Equestrian Devils’. Ah always thought it was a silly name, but he loved it,” Granny said, as she took a step back to admire her grandson. She gave a light sniff as she looked at him.

The jacket was the perfect size for Mac, fitting his large form perfectly as if the jacket had been made just for him. Mac trotted around in a large circle, making sure it was not too tight for his shoulders. Even then it still fit him perfectly, giving him an almost roguish look.

“You look just like him, except for the scar across his eye. That stupid bet about pulling a wheelie,” Granny said, mumbling the last part as she looked him over. “Yer Grandpa would be so proud of you.”

“Ah’m sure he would. Wish Ah could of gotten the bike as well,” Mac laughed. Granny just gave a grunt, as her eyes squeezed such and spat on the ground.

“Yer Grandpa left that bike ta ya in his will, but yer mother wanted that thing gone. Always hated that thing. She had it sent ta his brother in the south. Ah bet that idiot lost it in a bet,” Granny growled as she shook her head. “But what can ya expect from a city mare? Oh don’t give me that look Mac, Ah loved yer mother like a daughter, and she eventually got good at being a farmer. But ya can’t control everything yer foals do, gotta give em freedom ta explore.”

“Ah’ll remember that the next time ya don’t allow Apple Bloom ta go over to that colt, Pip's, house when he invites her over fer a playdate.” Granny just gave Mac a glare, making the stallion laugh.

“Watch yer tongue, Ah wouldn't have ta say anythin’ if ya did yer job as her big brother. Supposed ta be chassin’ them off the farm, not inviting them fer sleepovers,” Granny huffed, as she started to gather pictures.

“There just foals, besides if Ah learned anythin’ from Applejack its never ta get involved in a mare’s love life, even if their yer sister, unless ya want ta get bucked in the face,” Mac laughed as he looked at himself in the mirror. He saw Granny in the reflection, a smile forming on her lips as she looked at him, remembering her husband.

“Stop strutting around like yer a show pony and help me gather up these pictures.” Mac just shook his head as he leaned over to pick up one of the pictures. Before he could full lean over, however, there was a sound of a crash outside the barn door. The two ponies looked at one another for a brief second, before a roar of crackling and popping filled the air.

“The lantern!” Mac shouted, as he galloped towards the door at full speed. He didn’t have much time to get Granny and himself out of the barn before it fully engulfed in flame. The weather had been try for the last two weeks, making the barn and the hay inside the perfect combination for an inferno.

Mustering up all his strength and speed he had to bear, Mac slammed through the barn door, sending splinters of wood through the air. The fire was already crawling up the sides of the barn, looking for any way to get into the barn where the hay was. The heat was already intense, making Mac’s eyes feel like they were about to be engulfed in flames themselves.

“Applejack! Applejack wake up!” Mac shouted as loud as he could, “The barn is on fire! Go get—”

“Mac!” Mac turned around, and a cold horror came over him. The fire had somehow already spread inside of the barn, and the bails of hay were already engulfed in flames as the walls and floorboards burned. In the middle of it all Granny stood there, trying to grab as many of the photos as she could before escaping.

“Granny!” Mac shouted, charging back into the burning barn to rescue her. The heat inside of the barn and outside was like the difference between night and day; as soon as Mac reentered the blaze, he was hit by a wave of heat that seemed to push him out. The smoke burned his throat and made his eyes water, as the heat made it hard to breathe. But this fire, no matter how intense it was would not stop him from saving his grandmother.

The floorboards cracked due to the intense flames, as the glass of the windows exploded. Parts of the barn started to fall apart as the fire kept burning, consuming everything it could use to fuel itself. As much as his eyes hurt, Mac never lost sight of Granny, as she tried to walk through the inferno, trying to get to him and safety, holding the treasures so close to her heart.

There was a large crack above them, pulling Mac’s attention towards the ceiling. The flames had completely engulfed one of the largest beams in the barn. Mac looked back down at Granny, and for a split second their eyes locked.

Gold eyes locked with green as everything seemed to slow down. The beam above them gave one last large crack, before it began falling to the ground completely engulfed in flames. It slammed with great crash, right between Mac and Granny, shaking the entire barn and causing bails of hay fall over spreading the fire even more.

“Granny!” Mac shouted, running towards the burning beam. Fear and dread came over him as he tried to get close to the beam, but the heat was pushing him back. Stepping back, Mac looked around for another way around it, a safer route to take. His search was cut short when he heard the most horrific sound ever.

Screaming.

The screaming of his grandmother in pain, as the fire surrounded her and consumed her. Adrenalin filled Mac as he charged at the beam again trying to push it out of the way. But as hard as he tried, the fires burned him, pushing him away as the pain became too much. All the while the screams of Granny Smith filled the air, louder than the burning fire. Screaming for help, for safety, for him.

Mac tried again, and again slamming his body into the beam of fire, burning himself as he did. Where was all his strength now? The strength he had to buck trees and move full barrels of cider all day without being tired. Where was that strength now when the mare that raised him was burning to death.

“You seem to be in a bit of a bind, Mister Macintosh Apple,” Mac whipped around towards the entrance the barn. Though his vision was blurry, and his body was weakening he saw a figure standing right behind him.

Bleeding Heart.

“Ah never been so happy ta see another pony!” Mac shouted, turning to the beam. “Ah need yer help, ma Granny is stuck behind that beam burning ta death! If the two of us charge it Ah’m sure we could—”

“Oh, I'm afraid that won't be possible, Mister Apple." Bleeding Heart looked around, at the flames engulfing the barn, like he was evaluating a painting.

“What? She’s dyin! We need ta—”

“We can’t do anything,” Bleeding Heart laughed, as he pulled out a familiar looking scroll. “It’s all stated in this contract you signed. You remember doing that, right?” As he talked, Bleeding Heart opened the contract, admiring its contents, all the while Granny screamed in pain.

“The hell are you saying?!” Mac shouted, turning back to the beam, where his grandmother was burning to death behind, still screaming for his help. “Are you insane? What kind of contract would—”

“Oh that’s right, you mortals never read them do you?” Bleeding laughed again, as he walked towards Mac. “Well let me put this as simply as possible Mister Apple. The contract states that I would cure your grandmother, Granny Smith, of her leukemia, it never stated I would save her from death.” As he advanced, the fire around him seemed to be drawn towards him and wrapping around him, but never burned him.

“Wh-what are ya talkin about?” Mac’s voice cracked in fear, something about Bleeding Heart was beginning to terrify him. Something about this pony made the situation around him right now seem like a mild inconvenience.

“What am I talking about?” Bleeding Heart stopped in his tracks. He lifted a hoof up to his chin and tapped it slightly, looking up at the burning ceiling. “Well Mister Apple, I guess I am talking about…”

The fire around the two suddenly started to converge on Bleeding Heart, engulfing him. Inside the blazing inferno, Mac could see a shadowy figure within the fire in the shape of a pony, standing there looking at calm as possible, before it whipped its head back and laughed. A deep, bellowing, dark laugh.

The laugh seemed to be coming from the walls, the floor, and even the fire. As the figure laughed, it seemed to grow bigger as wings sprouted from its back as it grew taller. A horn also started to form, pushing out of the figures head as it kept on laughing, joining in the scream of Granny Smith.

“You made a deal with the Devil!” A large white hoof came shooting out of the fire and slammed Mac against the burning beam, forcing him to endure the burning pain. Mac’s eyes shot wide, but not in pain of the burning, or the hoof choking him, but in fear. Fear of what stood behind him.

The light blue chubby Earth Pony was gone. Replacing him was a bright white Alicorn. He had a golden mane that seemed to glow all by itself, with fangs protruding from his lips. His wings look broken and bat like, having holes in them that looked as if they were burned through. His horn was bent, jagged, and at the point was sharp like a knife. But this was not the most terrifying aspect of this creatures.

It was his eyes.

They were cold, emotionless, void of all good and decency. Detached and indifferent to life. Windows to a soul as dark and bottomless as an ocean trench where none dare to venture.

“You think miracles are free, Mister Apple?” The Devil laughed, holding Mac against the burning beam. “That good things will come if you just pray? That if you are just good enough, that good things will happen? You mortals make me laugh. How easy it is to deceive you all,” the Devil laughed, hoisting Mac into the air.

“Your grandmother was marked for death, mortal, and there was nothing you could have done to save her from that. By making a deal with me, you robbed her of a peaceful death. Oh yes, I saw how she would have died. Peacefully, surrounded by her loving family and slowly fading into a final sleep. But you robbed her of that!” The Devil broke out into another fit of laughter, as fire leaped up into the air, burning Mac his screams of pain joining Granny’s.

“Your selfishness left her death up to me! A burning inferno! She is marked for Elysian Fields but I get to let her taste Hell, the Hell you provided for her!” As the Devil broke into another fit of laughter, there was one last blood curdling scream of Granny Smith, one last cry for help from her grandson, before being cut off forever.

“You bastard! Ah’ll kill you!” Mac shouted, trying to reach for the Devil, rage consuming his body as he tried to reach for the master of all evil. Tears of rage falling freely. The Devil just laughed at his attempts, before throwing him into the ground.

“I like your spirit, Mister Apple,” the Devil laughed, hovering in the air. “But you can’t hurt me. Did you ever wonder what you traded that night for your grandmother’s health?” The Devil looked around the barn, and a demonic grin spread across lips. With a wave of his hoof chains, that had been growing hotter in the flames, started to come to life slithering towards Mac.

“It was your soul,” the Devil laughed, as the white hot chains started to slithering across wrapping him a metal cocoon going over his cutie mark first. Mac screamed in agonizing pain as the chains wrapped around him, feeling as though it was melting his body away.

“But do not worry I am not taking you to Hell, Mister Apple; I am bringing Hell to you. For in selling your soul to me, you become my soldier, my person bounty hunter, my slave. My Ghost Rider!” Mac gave another yell of pure pain, as the chains enclosed upon him. His final sight being of the burning barn, as the screams of his sisters came through the burning walls, and the last thought of his grandmother’s brutal death was on his hooves.

The Devil watched as the chains fully engulfed Mac. A wide demonic grin was plastered across his face as he looked at the chains.

“Rise, my Ghost Rider,” the Devil commanded, raising his hoof. The chains started to shift back and forth, as the chains started to turn orange as something inside fought to get out. The chains whined and creaked, as the metal started to give way from the creature inside. Finally, the chains could not fight back any longer and exploded.

Shrapnel flew in all directions, decimating anything in its path. The pieces of metal that went towards the Devil just flew through him, as if he were not there at all. All the while, the Devil just watched in delight as his weapon was reborn.

Standing where Mac had once stood, was the skeleton of a pony with a flaming skull, leather jacket, and a metal horn protruding from it’s head. The creature slowly cracked it’s neck, as lengths of chains around him started to mend themselves and wrapped around his body. The skeleton then turned around and saw the Devil floating there.

“Guilty!” It shouted, as the lengths of chains shot from his body to ensnare the Devil. The Devil just chuckled, not even raising a hoof as the chains stopped in midair, before falling lifelessly to the ground.

“Oh my Ghost Rider, how it wounds me to know you still wish to attack your master.” That last word carried a strength that nopony would be able to stand against. The Rider gave a roar of anger, as a unknown power forced him to bow. Struggle against the power he tried, but eventually he bowed to the Ruler of Hell, his master.

“Now was that so hard, my Rider?” The Devil asked, landing in front of him. “Why must you resent me so much? Without me, you would never get a host.” The Devil just shook his head, a grin giving away his enjoyment. “Well don’t look so down my favorite slave, for I have no work as of yet for you. So you are free to roam this world when evil is at it’s strongest, to feed upon the souls of the damned and wicked. But remember, I will one day have a job for you, and you will do it,” the Devil said, his words carrying a venom to them.

The Rider kept bowing, growling the entire time, wanting nothing more than to feast on the darkest of all souls. How he yearned to feed upon the Devil’s soul, and to free himself from his control.

“Oh? You're still not happy are you? Well maybe this will change your mind,” The Devil extended his hooves in front of him, as a crimson red aura surrounded them and his horn. With a sudden jerking movement, he raised his hooves into the air as the round in front of him split open.

A loud roar of power emanated from the ground. Fire shot into the air as an engine was revved louder into the burning barn. Slowly emerging was a black motorcycle, charred by the flames of Hell and wrapped in the chains of the damned. A blood red light came from it’s headlights as it came up from the pits of Hell, as the ground closed behind it. It was the Night Hog, the motorcycle of the Rider.

“Will this make you forgive my sins?” The Devil couldn't keep a straight face, as he burst into another fit of laughter, releasing his hold on the Rider.

The Ghost Rider slowly made his way over to the motorcycle, and ran his hoof across it, leaving a trail of fire adding to the charred appearance. He slowly climbed on to it, and placed his hooves on the handles, and revved the engines.

“Nice bike,” The Rider said, as he revved the engine again.

“Then what are you waiting for?” The Rider looked back at the Devil, who was turning into fire. “Enjoy the mortal world, I will find you when I need you,” and with that the Devil burst into flames, causing the rest of the barn to explode in his demonic fire. At the same time, the Rider revved the engine and shot into the night sky, covered by the explosion.

***

Author's Notes:

Thank you to all who looked over this such as Jake The Army Guy, KarmaDash, and Capt. Brony

Hope you enjoyed, and makes sure to review! I love reviews!