Big Mac looked down to those dreamy eyes that were drinking him in. "Take it slow?"

Kelly trailed her hands up and down his neck, petting and caressing his muscles and feeling his blood pumping vigorously through his veins underneath. "You may have won me over in the short game, but don't be thinking that your knight in shining armor act is gonna give you everything you want."

"Knight in shining armor act?" Suddenly he became worried that his intentions of protecting her might have been misinterpreted. "Kelly, I-"

His voice rose louder than the whisper she hoped to keep him at, and she silenced him again by cupping her hand over his lips. "Shh. Quiet down, baby," she seductively coed. "I know you didn't do it to win the heart of your damsel in distress."

Again those crafty fingers guided him down so she could kiss the tip of his muzzle. "I've been thinking that maybe I don't want to be the person I was from where I came from. And I don't know what to expect from letting myself get closer to you, I don't know how far I might want to let myself go. Maybe you won't even want to see how far it could go either." - She gently held tighter to his muzzle to stop him from speaking out of turn. "- but I think I would like to find out if who you've seen me as since I've been here can't be better than who I was."

Big Mac's expression of doubt and concern was washed away by her confession. His eyes softened, and a smile tickled the palm her hand, letting her release his lips so he could give his reply.

"I think that sounds like a mighty fine idea, Miss Kelly," He consented, accepting her proposition as it were. "But, uh. How do we start going about taking it slow?"

Kelly raised her good arm around the back of his neck and pulled his head down onto her chest. "I dunno, Big Guy. Let's start with some sleep. I'm still pretty tired and sore."

Resting between her breast, Big Mac breathed deep and took in her scent. Even if she needed a shower, it was still sweet and intoxicating. "Then let's just stay like this for now."

"That's what I was thinking," Kelly softly whispered, scrunching her fingers through his mane. "We can break the good news about me not being dead when we wake up, but let's keep you and me just between us for now."

Big Mac let his weariness retake ahold of him and his eyes closed for what would be a welcomed slumber. "Mmhmm," he mumbled, drifting back to sleep with the aroma of Kelly filling his senses with heavenly thoughts of all the possibilities that lay ahead with his new special someperson.

Kelly was feeling much the same. Big Mac carried his own scent that she couldn't ignore. It didn't excite her or tickle her fancy, but she now knew that was him. Somehow she enjoyed it for the comfort it brought.

Though, as she closed her eyes, her mind fought with itself. What was she thinking? Why did she want to pursue this? Why did she kiss him the way that she did? Why did she enjoy it? Why would she ever consider dating or agree to be romantic with a horse?

Part of her was ashamed of herself, even embarrassed, she feared what her friends or even the other ponies would say or accuse her of doing. Then the thought came to her that maybe she was just addicted to chasing down men and winning them over and enjoying the highlights of the affection that they gave her. Had she become so accustomed to her ways that she would stoop so low as to appease her needs for love and affection from an animal?

Was he really an animal, though? She faintly opened her eyes again to see him still nestled into her chest. The sensation wasn't so unfamiliar, as plenty had slept with her like that before. Men and women alike. But this was... she didn't know what it was.

Yet for all the reasons that struck her about what she was doing was wrong and disgusting, she still wanted it. Then again, many had thought that who she was and the life she lived before was disgusting. But it made her happy then, and the opinions of others never stopped her from wanting it. Although, that was also her sex life. She wasn't jumping into bed with... okay, technically she was already in bed with him, but not in the same way.

A sickening thought entered her mind; sex with Big Mac. Just the thought of some oversized horse cock... even just touching it.

"Oh my god, what am I doing?" She thought to herself. "Am I just emotionally exploiting him? God, I could never fuck an animal. Fuck. I screwed everything up. What am I doing? He's already attracted to me... but they're cartoons. They don't actually lust for pussy. No, they don't... they..."

Visions in her mind started to play themselves out. It began with her kissing Big Mac again, going hard at it and making out. She tried to imagine what his dick would look like. Images from online porn ads and popups came to mind — gag-worthy images from sites offering bestiality content.

Is that what she was getting herself into?

All these new found regrets and fears of what she had let herself say and do so far. Then to think of what it might lead to.

Heartache quickly took hold in her chest. She hated herself for who she was and what she thought it had turned her into. Either she was going to emotionally manipulate the one who risked his life to save hers and was for some reason infatuated with her, or she would potentially take things too far. That meant that either she would do something she would hate herself for or everyone else would turn against her for it. Hell, for all she knew maybe even offering physical intimacy with him would turn him away from her, and she would still be the one in the wrong. It was as if there was no right to the scenario that she had put the two of them into.

She opened her eyes again; Big Mac was still there. Sound asleep and peaceful, comforting her with just his presence. Even as he slept, he was still there to protect and watch over her.

Why... why couldn't he have been human? Why did he have to be everything that he was? He could have been some fat and ugly frat boy, or some poor and unkept creeper looking guy at a bar. Any of those bodies except the one he was born into. Why did she still want him despite the way that he was? Why was it that when looking at him there softly asleep on her, she didn't want to push him away or pursue him the same way she would have any other guy? What was making him and everything about this so much different?

It was all conflicting with the reality that having him close made her feel happy and content. "How messed up is my life that this is something I want. I don't even know what it is that I want," she thought to herself. "I don't want to hurt him or use him. I certainly don't want to fuck him... even though I did want to kiss him. But he deserved it for saving me."

She went back to the kiss in her mind. Everything she felt and could see was back. How he felt when she held him. How excited she was to reward him. How good his lips felt against hers. She remembered that he was gentle and reserved. He let her take control, never pulled away or resisted. The more he let her guide him, the more she wanted to-

"Oh my god," her mind fired up with a revelation. She was getting wet just thinking about it.

It was more than just a reward; she wanted it. There and then, alone in the middle of a crowded room, she wanted him as soon as she had woken up.

She looked down on the big red idiot still sleeping on her and thought to herself. "God damn you are one messed up cunt, Kelly."

She softly stroked her fingers through his mane, making his ear twitch. "Heh, why'd you have to go and be so cute and likable you fucking asshole," she silently shamed him, or maybe she was just projecting.

For the time being, she was lost and confused by her own thoughts and actions. Despite all of that, one thing was for sure. She liked Big Mac, far more than maybe she even should. But it didn't change the fact that she liked the way he made her feel. Maybe staying close to him would help her be the better person she didn't know she wanted to be? Besides, they agreed to take it slow.

What's the worst that could happen? Plus, with all the trauma and stress she was under, it's perfectly understandable that someone could act out in a way that isn't normal for them. This was just her acting out in reaction to crash landing in an alternate dimension and getting stabbed in the fucking chest while being rescued by a talking horse with a mallet. She had every right to do something a bit nutty to cope.

"Fuck, Big Mac," She quietly spoke to herself. "I really hope I know what I'm doing."

It took a few minutes, with many of her same thoughts rolling over in her head, but she eventually fell back to sleep. In the back of her mind, she still didn't fully understand why she was so happy to have Big Mac next to her.

Shortly after Kelly had drifted back to sleep and all but one of the candles had burnt themselves out, two figures silently entered the room.

Applejack slowly walked in teasing Lumberman who followed in alongside her.. "I know you like to get handsy in the bathtub, but don't be getting any funny ideas in here."

“Still… a little… more…” Twilight grunted, no longer loud enough for the others to hear.

Celestia slowly approached from behind, relaxing her mind and body, ready to pour out as much energy into the combined efforts of the Elements and Starlight. She stepped closer, feeling the familiar radiance of harmony she and her sister once wielded.

"Just one more time, old friends," she uttered as she pierced her horn into the stream of rainbow-colored magic.

As Celestia began to feed her magic in with the others, a voice spoke to her. Words that weren't very distinguishable by sound. They were more understood than actually heard.

"You'll have to guide me, old friend. For I am weak to this cause and blind to where you have summoned me."

Like a punch to the gut, the air in her lungs and power in her body had been knocked out of her. All of her reserves of magic she had made ready were taken. It felt familiar to being drained by Tirek, but it all happened within the flash of light that took out all the others. Only this time, she was far weaker then what Tirek had done to her. She fainted and lost consciousness before she hit the floor.

Dr. Horse and Nurse Redheart as well as all of the humans ran to their sides and checked on Kelly. Even the guards rushed in, ready to draw their weapons at the first sight of a hostile.

The room was flooded with calls of concern, crying out asking each one if they were okay, to stay with them or explain what was wrong. To no avail, none of them could avoid the exhaustion that cast them all into a deep sleep.

"Chris! What the fuck happened!" Cerb yelled out, demanding an answer.

"AJ! Kelly! They're not waking up!" Big Mac cried out.

"She's still bleeding!" Becky screamed.

"Doc! Say something! What happened?!" Lumberman fired into the fray.

"Team One, guard the back! Team Two, you got point in the front. Team Three, take to the sky and return to your patrols. Everypony else, protect the Princess, the Elements of Harmony, the civilians, and our new guest! Move! Move! Move!" Shouted an orange cream colored pegasus.

The remaining guards scattered about, taking their positions out of the house and up in the sky.

Cerb started to move to see where he could help with the downed ponies but was stopped by the orange colored pegasus. He glanced down to him, not sure what he was being stopped for.

"The Princess, both of them, they trust you. So I trust you to watch over them while we watch over you. Understood?" He said, which could have been either a threat or his way of giving a vote of confidence. His expression was so hard to read that it could have very well been both.

"Yeah," Cerb agreed, pulling away from the guards hold. "Just keep your weapons pointed in the right direction while you're doing it."

The guard didn't say anything back to address the snide remark. "Just ask for Flash if anything happens. I'm sure Princess Luna would keep your new favored status only as well as we all keep her sister."

This was sounding more and more like a threat, and Cerb wasn't taking kindly to it. "Are you-"

"My duty is to keep Celestia and all the others here safe. Including you and your injured friend. Failure to do so means that no one gets to go home with a happy ending. Not even me."

There was a lot there Cerb could understand. This was a soldier who seemed to be the first to take his job seriously. What he said was just as much as a threat as it was a warning that consequences would come if anything were to happen there tonight.

"Right, roger that, Captain," Cerb answered back, finally getting the message.

The guard nodded his approval. "Just call me Flash. Flash Sentry. I'm no captain either. I'm still one step bel-"

Another one of the more generic looking guards whispered something into his ear. Most of it couldn't be heard, but the name Spearhead was mentioned.

Flash gave the nod to his subordinate and stood there like the weight of the world was just dropped on his shoulders. "Nevermind. Given the removal of Spearhead and his incompetence, I've been promoted to Captain."

The newly promoted Captain looked around the room. All the ponies in armor were watching him. Even two of the guards outside were peering back inside through the open door.

"Don't get caught up in your rank or title. You're still in charge, so act like it, just like you did all of ten seconds ago," Cerb instructed.

Flash stood tall with steely determination. "Right," he spoke with a voice of confidence again.

He turned back to his Princess and those tending to her and the others. "Doc, I need an update. How is the Princess?"

The good doctor was leaning down and close to the face of royalty, monitoring her closely. He rose up from his examination to give his best diagnosis. "She's asleep. All of them are. It looks like magic exhaustion, but I..."

"But what, Doc?" Flash demanded impatiently.

"I... never would have imagined one with so much power as an alicorn could suffer from it. That's something that happens to unicorns, but even the other Elements of Harmony seem to be stricken just the same," the doctor trembled out his findings. "This just doesn't happen to earth ponies or pegasi."

Cerb looked back to Chris who was next to Kelly, trying to help Becky evaluate the damage after the seemingly failed magic cure. "Chris, any Brony knowledge you care to share with the rest of the class?"

"What?" Chris looked up, not sure what to do or say. He was mainly the reason all the ponies were down for the count after his bright idea was accepted.

"Ugh... I mean, yeah. It makes sense. Whenever they lose a lot of magic, they get really tired and weak. But if they all used the Elements together, that takes magic, so if they used too much then... yeah. It makes sense that they'd pass out. But I didn't know it had a name. That's new to me."

This all seemed well and good to at least have a clue as to what had just happened, but Cerb was more concerned to ensure the ponies were going to be safe. If not for all the help they'd given, for the safety and wellbeing of him and his friends.

"You know anything about this, Flash?" He asked, looking back to the new Captain.

"Not really. I've seen a few unicorns go down after overworking their magic training, but they were all rookies and still learning their limits. Even then, they were back up and moving after a few hours."

A concerned looking Lumberman spoke up from Applejack's side. "So this is normal then?"

"Kinda," Chris answered with a shrug. "-but if the fan theories are right, AJ and Pinkie will be up pretty quick."

"I beg your pardon?" Dr. Horse inquired.

Chris again took the spotlight of the discussion. "Well, earth ponies don't need or use a lot of magic. So what little they need to keep them moving will recover a lot faster than a pegasus or a unicorn. The alicorns will take a lot longer since they hold the most."

"What about your human friend?" Nurse Redheart asked.

She was working with Becky looking over the wound. "She was asleep before the magic was used on her. And it looks like the Elements stopped most of her bleeding, but if she has the same magic exhaustion from being exposed to it, could that have put her into an even deeper sleep?"

"She's just as unresponsive as she was before, I don't know if we can make that call, Redheart," Becky answered while cleaning up what little bit of blood still was around Kelly's wound. "But if they're just sleeping, I need to stitch this up. No offense, but I think Kelly takes priority over the others nap time."

Flash stepped up; his priorities were not the same as what Becky proposed. "No offense, but unless Celestia says otherwise, the Princesses will take priority."

Becky was quick to respond to this contention. "Okay, Cap. What should we do for them that we're not doing now that would stop us from closing up the hole in my friend's rib cage?"

His mouth opened, but no words came out. Flash had no idea what to do. This whole situation was beyond anything he had ever been trained to handle. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean any offense by where our priorities should be. But in my position, the Princesses and the Elements will take top priority. For the time being, we should tend to your friend first. Unless you know of anything else we can do for the others, Doc."

A weak shrug was Dr. Horse's first response. "Exhaustion is really only treated with rest. They're already asleep, so we just need to make them as comfortable as possible."

"Very well," he answered back. "Twilight's castle would be best suited for them to recover. I'll ready the guards to transport them back there for the night."

"What do you need to carry all nine of them back?" Cerb asked.

"Nine?" Flash responded, apparently not doing the same math as Cerb.

Dr. Horse stepped between Flash and his patients. "Two Princesses, the other five elements, Twilight's pupil, and the human. And before you try and tell me that we would should leave any my patients behind, I'm sorry, but that's not happening. Secondly, I don't believe any of them would agree to such a heartless proposition since all of them require observation. Thirdly, if your concern is keeping them safe under your watch, you'd be dividing your guards between two locations while transporting them while they're unconscious and at their most vulnerable, which means they'd be less safe. Lastly, as their care provider, I'm telling you, in all of their best interest and concern for their health, do not move them any more than they need to be moved."

"Flash," Cerb addressed the Captain. "I know you're calling the shots here, but I think it's best to take a knee and hunker down for the night. Plus, if they end up needing more than just a few hours of rest, all of the townsfolk are going to know that they're unable to defend themselves. Probably best to keep this as quiet as possible and get a message to your HQ, so they know what's going on. Not the locals."

This was a lot for Flash to process, with so many things to consider and the risks he had to weigh. He silently pondered what the best option was and what offered the most protection.

"Captain," again Cerb asserted himself. "A wise woman once told me that being a good leader isn't always having the best solutions, but using the best ones you're given."

"And who was this wise woman that told you that?" Flash enquired, trying to gauge the validity of such a statement.

Cerb smirked. "My First Lieutenant... after she tore my butt apart for failing a training exercise because I refused to listen to my subordinates."

It was all sound reasoning and rather comforting after considering that Flash himself didn't have to be the one to make the plans himself and could rely on those around him. "Sounds like she offered you some sound advice, Cerb. And Doc, carry on with the human as you see fit. I'll be calling back the other guards to secure the area until the Princess has recovered. Whatever bedding we can gather we'll use to ensure they rest comfortably for the night, or longer if needed."

He turned to another guard that was nearby; a white unicorn who was waiting for his orders. "Helix Ray."

The white unicorn guard approached and stood at attention. "Yes, sir."

Scribe a letter for Princess Luna, let her know what has happened here tonight and that we have the situation under control. Take it back to Princess Twilight's castle. Her apprentice, Spike, can send it to her. Do not let him read it. And if he asked any questions about the whereabouts of Twilight, just tell him that events after peaceful negotiations has left her exhausted, so she will be spending the night with the humans while accompanying Princess Celestia."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?" The unicorn asked.

"Yes," He prepared his last set of instructions. "Bring back two squads to finish the completion of the tents. I'm certain the Princess will desire their use when she wakes, as well as our new guest and the others. And assign at least one guard to stay near Spike in case Princess Luna writes back with any further instructions. Make sure the runners bring any replies back to me directly."

Helix Ray saluted. "Yes, sir. Moving out."

"I've never actually seen stitches being put in. You'll have to excuse my excitement." Nurse Redheart, apologized as she watched Becky prep the needle. "How long did you have to study to learn to do this?"

Becky chuckled a bit at the question, trigger a small cough. "I learned to do this well before I went to med school. Between the seven boys, I hung out with and all the accidents they had or fights they got into, I learned by patching them up."

In the short time that past, Becky walked Dr. Horse and Nurse Redheart through a crash course in stitching, the two squads returned to bolster the security and finish setting up the bathing tents, and the group managed to set up the sleeping area again with all the all the ponies resting comfortably.

"No, a pegasus would use less magic than an earth pony," Becky argued. "Earth ponies are stronger all the time and always have a connection to the earth. Pegasi are lighter and don't need that much magic to fly since they already have wings."

"And the earth ponies already have stronger muscle, so they wouldn't need as much magic as the pegasi need to overcome flight with a wingspan that doesn't compensate their mass, plus the power to control the clouds." Chris countered, trying to drive his point home.

"Okay, maybe I'm underestimating the magic needed for flight, but the clouds are sentient and can act on their own," Becky retorted.

Chris dismissed her claims. "Not all the clouds are like that. That's mostly just a gag, anyway. Besides, they can still create their own clouds and walk them. Any kind of pony can walk on the ground."

"Of course any pony can walk on the ground," came the weak voice of Applejack.

"Doc! AJ's up," Chris exclaimed before turning back to Becky. "Just like I said she would be."

Everyone started to gather around Applejack, forcing Dr. Horse to push his way through the crowd.

"Out of the way, all of you," The doctor ordered. "Miss Applejack, how are you feeling?" He asked, shining a light into her eyes, watching to see how they would respond.

She groaned as she tried to sit herself up. "I feel like I've been bucking tree's all bucking season without a days rest with a flashlight in muh eye's, get dat thing outta mah face, - " She tried to paw away the flashlight, but couldn't muster the strength to raise her hoof high enough.

"Sugar... need... mounds of sugar," Pinkie Pie was quick to request.

"Hey," Cerb announced to the group. "Pinkie's up."

Chris perked up away from Applejack. "Pinkie Pie? Awake? You don't say?"

Becky thought how lucky he was that she was too happy that any of the others were waking up to be mad enough to slap that smug smile off his face.

"Gollum... is that you?" Pinkie quietly called out.

Cerb bent down, gently holding her hoof. "Yeah, it's me. How you feeling?"

"Gollum... Gollum..." Pinkie pleaded out to him. "Gimme your rock candy..."

Her hoof fell back to the mattress, Cerb had dropped it and started walking away with his hands up in the air. "Troll, take 'er. She's all yours."

"Troll Guy," Pinkie called out for the number two on her list. "Where are you?"

Benny looked over to Dr. Horse who was moving from Applejack to check up on Pinkie — silently asking for permission to help her.

"Yes, yes. Help her up, would you," The doctor instructed.

Like a good friend, Benny reached down, helping Pinkie up. He knelt next to her, easing her up to lean against him. "Hey there, little lady. You had us worried there for a minute."

Pinkie somehow found the strength to reach her forehoof up behind Benny's neck, pulling his head down to star each other eye to eye. "Gimme some sugar, baby."

"Ha!" Shouted Cerb, excited to see some karma come back to bite Benny in the ass. "Eat it, Troll!"

Benny had to laugh at karma doing its thing, as well as the play on words with Pinkie. That was at least until a half-full box of Oreo's broke open after flopping down on his head. The chocolate and cream-filled goodies plopped out of their container, landing in his hair, shoulder, lap, and Pinkie's chest and belly.

Pinkie's eyes lit up with childlike wonder. "Are these cookies?!"

With renewed strength, she grabbed the first one she could off her belly and eyed it, taking in all of its unfamiliar designs and features. " It's sooooooo beautiful.

A greedy shove of her hooves forced the cookie deep in her mouth, and she munched it sloppily. Crumbs, both wet and dry cracked and crumbled from her mouth onto both her bedding and the man holding her.

"Okay, Cerb... We're even, right?" Benny questioned aloud.

"Oh, Troll Guy, you brought me cookies. You're my hero," Pinkie decreed before reaching both forehooves around Benny's neck and pulling herself up to his face to give him a big wet cookie crumb filled kiss on his check; dangerously close to his lips. She pressed in hard and pulled away with a loud smacking noise, leaving behind a mess of what could only be identified as pony cookie spit.

"Ha, ha! Yeah, we good." Cerb said, finally letting him off the hook.

"Oops, I left a mess, didn't I?" Pinkie apologized.

Benny didn't want to think about ortouch the slobber and moist chocolate crumbs on his face. "It's fine Pinkie. We're just glad-"

"I can clean that up for ya, Trollie," Pinkie offered, sticking out her tongue and licking his face. The lick ran up over his whole check and even brushed over the corner of his mouth.

"We're not even anymore," Benny announced.

Applejack began to get her bearings back in line and rose to all fours, again. "Why's everypony sleeping?" Where's Kelly?"

Big Mac pushed his way to cut his sister off from walking any farther. "Just hold on, now. Doc said it's best for you all to get yourself some sleep. You just worry about-"

"Is she okay or not, Macintosh?" Applejack put her hoof out to push her brother out the way but was still too weak to hold herself up and fell into him instead.

The impact was nothing past a slight jolt against him, and he caught his sister with ease. "AJ, now I told ya, you need your rest. As soon as Kelly wakes up, we can... AJ?"

His words fell short, looking down to his younger sister. The hurt was pouring through, the same kind he felt for Kelly, she now felt. Perhaps more.

"We didn't..."Applejack left the question go unspoken.

Pinkie was too lost in the creamy and chocolate wonder she had found in the Oreo's to pick up on what was going on around her. "We didn't what, AJ? Hey... Where's Kelly?”

"She's fine," Becky answered. "... she just hasn't woken up yet."

"What! No!" Pinkie shouted, jumping out of Benny's lap and discarding the cookies she had collected. "We did the thing!"

"Miss Pie, we need you calm down," Nurse Redheart ordered.

Applejack brought a hoof to the medallion around her neck, raising it to examine what it stood for. "Wake everypony up. We'll do it again, right now."

"Yeah! We're not giving up! We never give!" Pinkie proclaimed, marching off the mattress and tripping herself down to the floor. "Twilight! Rarity! Fluttershy! Everypony wake up! This is an emergency!"

Rarity was the closest to Pinkie as she tried to stand up again. "Rarity! Wake up!" She pressed her forelegs down on her unicorn friend and started to rock her back and forth. "Rarity! Get up! I'll bake you anything you want. Please! We need to help Kelly!"

All the ponies needed their rest, but Pinkie was doing everything she could to stop that from happening, and Dr. Horse wasn't going to allow that to happen. "Pinkie! You need to stop. They need to sleep or they could be seriously hurt trying to do any kind of magic so soon."

Applejack brushed passed the doctor. "No can do, Doc. We'll get it right this time."

Benny leaned forward and started to pull the feebly frantic pink pony off of Rarity. "Come on, Pinkie. Knock it off!"

"No! Let me go!" She pleaded.

Applejack tried to intervene. "Y'all need to let us do our thing-"

Lumberman picked up Applejack like an oversized dog and started hauling her away.

Both the earth ponies flailed and kicked, yelling and screaming to be put back down so they could try again. They were frantic in their struggle, jabbing and elbowing at their captors. But in their weakened state, all their attempts were as futile as those of a toddler.

They both were carried out to where the bathing tents had been set up, having their backs against the makeshift walls.

"What are you doing? We're trying to save her!" Applejack protest.

"Even if you did, you would all die trying," Came the voice of Dr. Horse from behind the two humans.

He pushed his way between the two, ready to lecture them on their poorly thought out efforts. "The patient Kelly is stable for the time being, but none of you mares are in any condition to make such an attempt anytime soon."

Pinkie didn't accept such a notion. "But we-"

"No!" The doctor shouted. "You're all far too exhausted. Magic exhaustion is no laughing matter. How two earth ponies could suffer such a condition is still a mystery to me, but I assure you both, that another attempt of using your Elements as you did would be your last."

The mares sat awe struck with fear, not expecting such a warning.

"It's rare to happen, even to the most unskilled of unicorns, but the fact that even two alicorns, with all of your help, could be so exhausted so easily is more than enough to cause concern. In case you didn't know, if a unicorn uses too much magic in a short period of time, and keeps forcing out more, it uses up their own life energy, for lack of a better term. If any of you were to try and pull that stunt again in the state you're in, your body would shut down. And there is no coming back from that. No matter how much magic somepony tried to pump into you. Is that what you want?"

Neither responded. Pinkie again deflated and her bright pink dulled in color. Applejack sulked deeply in remorse, again she was there, front and center, but was powerless to save Kelly.

"Now then," The doctor continued. "I need you both to calm yourselves down, get back to bed, and let your friends rest undisturbed. Are we clear?"

They both nodded, surrendering to his demands.

The good doctor looked over Applejack in her broken state, still a mess from tending to Kelly in the truck. "But Miss Applejack, it might be best for you to wash up first."

He turned and nodded in thanks to Lumberman and Benny, "Gentlecolts," and made his way back inside to check up on the still sleeping mares.

The two men watched him walk away before returning their attention to the troublesome mares. However, Applejack had started to limp away from them, walking further from the house.

"Hey, I'll grab her again, you take care of her, would ya?" Lumberman asked, already heading after the wayward apple pony.

Benny waived him off. "Do your thing man."

"What did I do wrong?" Pinkie whimpered.

"Pinkie... -" Benny moaned in a sympathetic tone as he moved to sit next to her. "Kelly is fine. You don't have any reason to be acting like this."

"I just used the most powerful magic in all of Equestria to save your friend and failed. Why do I even bother?"

"You saved her life."

"Did I?"

"Look, I know what you're feeling."

"Really? I thought magic didn't exist where you come from?"

"No, but..."

"But what? You got a fable to share where you nearly destroyed yourself trying to save a stranger with a bloody hole in their chest?"

A moment of silence past with no retort from Benny.

"I didn't think so." Pinkie coldly answered.

"You don't know how fucking lucky you are." Benny fired back, a hint of anger cutting through in his voice.

"Why because I-" Pinkie looked up to see Benny shaking next to her, his eyes starting to water.

"You did everything you could, and she got to live. Yeah, you're suffering for it now, but what I would have given to just have that chance." He trembled, answering the question she didn't finish asking.

"Ben, you can't use magic. It's not like-"

"I had to watch someone die with a bloody hole in her chest. And I did every fucking thing I could to save her. And she wasn't asleep through it. I had to listen to her cry and choke the whole time I tried to save her. Trying to calm her down and tell her that everything was going to be alright, that I was there to help, all in a language she couldn't understand."

He turned to stare down the degraded pink mare. "Do you know how hard it was for me to help work on Kelly? It was like I was back- back fucking..." He was choking up. Some untold part of his history coming back to haunt him.

Despite his best attempts, Benny couldn't even finish his rant. He rose to his feet and started to march off, abandoning the pony he was left to care for. But like earlier in the day before, he felt something wrap around his leg. Again, he looked down to see Pinkie holding on to him.

"I'm sorry. Don't be sad. I can't stand to see anypony to be sad or angry because of me," She begged through her sobs.

"Let go, Pinkie," Benny politely asked with a harsh tone.

"No! Let me make it better! I admit it. Kelly is okay. We saved her. She's fine. Everything is fine. You don't have to be angry at me. You don't need to be sad anymore. I'll sing you a happy song. I can make you a cupcake. Or a dozen cupcakes," She tried to bargain with him.

Benny didn't listen. Instead, he continued walking around the house, dragging her along with him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Benny, please stop. You're making it so much harder to apologize if you won't let me make it up to you," She continued to beg, but went unheard.

Finally, near the front of the house, he came to a stop. She looked up to see he was covering his ears and humming. Was he actually trying to block her out?

"Benny... please..."

She lay there in the grass, waiting and hoping for a response. To her dismay, none would come. He had entirely blocked her out.

With no hope to save the situation, she released him and gave herself to the ground. Taking more self-pity, her light pink faded to grey, and she surrendered to her emptiness. That was until she noticed a string of noises she hadn't noticed before. The noises were pleasant to her ears. Some kind of music was playing.

She followed the sound to Benny's hands. It was like his hands were muffling music that was playing out of his ears. She had to wonder if this was some kind of magic the humans had hid from her. What kind of wonder and mysterious powers could the humans- no... wait... a thin black cord was dangling from his hands. He was just wearing headphones.

She struggled to raise herself enough to sit upright, some of the pink returning to her coat. Gently she pawed at his side, trying to get his attention.

Benny opened his eyes, looking down at the sad sap that was the normally cheerful party pony. The sight of her was so unbecoming of her that it was pathetic. She also didn't know his pain or what caused it. He kept that to himself during Lumberman's ill-begotten sharing session.

"What are you listening to?" She carefully asked.

Against his better judgment, he again took a seat next to Pinkie. "I... I sometimes need to listen to music to not think about... bad things. Things I wish I didn't remember."

Pinkie starred up but had to avert her eyes to talk to him. "It sounds... kinda nice. From what I can hear, at least."

"I listen to a lot of music," Benny started to explain, pulling out one of the headphones and offering it to her. "-but my thera... someone I used to talk to said that music can help to distract myself from remembering all the bad thoughts I have."

With the headphones carefully held in her hoof, she leaned in closer to Benny and held it up to her ear to listen. The music stopped as soon as she could start to hear a male voice beginning to sing.

"I'll restart it for you," Benny explained to her the interruption.

She listened intently to this otherworldly music. What started was easy enough to recognize. It was a bass guitar. Nothing too out of the ordinary, though the melody didn't sound like other music she had heard or sang to before. Then the male voice started to sing again. It wasn't super deep, or some high tenor like many of the ponies would sing. Something truly not of the Equestrian world.

The voice was soft, yet mature, and accompanied by other male voices in the background that harmonized with him. He sang about a sad sad song that another human had and that he was telling them to sing it without him. He also at different points sang nonsensical noises instead of words.

The whole thing was upbeat and kind of goofy. That only made it all the more strange, since it seemed like he was singing the song to someone that used to be a friend and how he hated their guts. But it was still a happy sounding song.

Benny held up a small rectangular object, much like the one that Chris had before. It even had a bright light on the front that showed a picture of other humans and an orange dot that moved along a line that left an orange trail as it moved along.

Then she noticed more words on the top of the object he held. "Sad sad song" in black letters, and then a word she couldn't pronounce.

"Mixpex?" She asked aloud, trying to sound it out.

"Mxpx," Benny answered. "It's the name of the band."

The song wasn't long. Only two minutes and 44 seconds, or at least that was her best guess based on what she saw on the strange object. And there she thought it was over, but new words appeared and the picture changed as heavier guitar noises started to play.

"Sad Happy Cold?" She asked. "Is this a sad or happy song."

"A bit of both," He answered.

This song started out sounding kind of depressing, but early into it the vocals and music changed to sound more positive and encouraging. It was another male voice singing. This one sang about being strong, singing, and taking someone's pain away. It left her with a mix of emotions.

It sounded encouraging, yet couldn't avoid the fact that there was something very painful he was addressing. Even the sound of the song was something she couldn't relate to.

Astonishingly, yet another song started to play. She would have to find out more about these strange little magic (yet not magical) things the humans had.

She found herself entranced by the music and didn't care to look at the screen anymore. The next track had some of the same sounding guitars playing, but the sound of everything else and its female vocalist singing seemed very familiar to the music she knew.

The lady sang about still being into "you." Whatever that meant, and whoever it was she was talking about. The references to human hands were lost on her, but this was without a doubt a love song.

The human contraption lit up as Benny raised it up and pressed its side with his thumb. The bright colors made out an image of a crudely drawn blue colored cartoon character with a pink hat and shirt. She could see it just long enough to read the words "16BIT Magic" and something that started with a B under it.

"Are you feeling any better?" Benny asked.

Pinky thought about how she was feeling, and yes, she was feeling better. Even her bright pink shine had come back.

"Umm... maaaaaaaaybe just a little." She answered back, sounding like her cute normal self. " I might feel even better if you play some more music for me."

He smiled and nodded approvingly. "You know what, I might, too."

With a tap of his finger on the play button, the music instantly started.

"I still got a cookie, left," Benny spoke over the music, holding up another Oreo.

"Are you trying to spoil me, Benny, oh human friend of mine?" She asked in a coy voice, eyeing the tasty treat.

"Just trying to cheer you up a bit," He answered, bringing the cookie up to her lips.

She softly took it into her mouth, chewing it in a much more proper manner than earlier in the house.

"But no more cookie kisses, Balloon Butt. Okay?" He jokingly asked.

"Okie-dokie," She giggled with her answer. "No more cookie kisses you don’t deserve."

She leaned into his side, enjoying the music and finding some unexpected comfort while she laid herself against him. The two would stay like that for many more songs. Not even noticing the other guards or human friends who would every so often walk out to see what they were up to. For the time being, they were both lost in the music.

Lumberman's voice invaded her thought process. "Hold up a minute!"

"Awe crab-apples," she mumbled to herself. "Go away, Lumberman. Ya hear me?"

Lumberman jogged up, quickly closing the distance. "Do you even know where you're walking off to?"

Applejack tried to raise a hoof to point to the treeline but nearly fell in the process. Suddenly this situation felt ironically familiar.

"Yeah," She turned her head to properly mock the unwanted company. "I'm heading into the dark and scary pony woods. That a problem? That what you want to hear?" She angrily answered, almost perfectly recreating the events of yesterday with the roles reversed. At least until she tripped over the uneven ground and crumbled down in an undignified flop.

She didn't try to get up, she was in no condition to wander off as Lumberman had. On second thought, going into the Everfree would have been a terrible idea, if that was even going to be where she wandered off to.

"So," Lumberman asked, seeing how this whole situation was playing out. "-are you going to start spilling your guts to me, or should I just start carrying you back right now?"

The stubborn nature of the Apple family was coming on strong from Applejack. She looked off in the distance, holding her lips shut and crossing her legs in a final act of resistance. There was no way she was giving up or giving in to his pestering ways and humorous observations.

"Okay, looks like I'm carrying you back I guess," Lumberman announced.

"Wha?" Applejack started to complain, feeling Lumberman beginning to pick her up. "What in tarnation r’ you doing? Get yer gosh dern mits off 'a me."

Her orders went ignored as he hoisted her up, resting one arm under her rump and the rest of her upper body resting over his shoulder. "You ain't talking, so we're walking."

She didn't resist or flail about like before. Honestly, she was too tired to fight back. She also couldn't find the fortitude to talk down to him, not after everything he had been through tonight. Much of which she still blamed herself for.

Lumberman pressed his way through into the first bathing tent. "Okay, let's get you..."

Unfortunately, this tent was occupied by Big Mac, Cerb, and a handful of the guards. All of them undressed in sitting quietly in large wooden tubs of steaming bath water.

Cerb slid a bit lower into his tub with Big Mac. "I had a hard enough time stripping down with these guys. I don't think I'm down for letting the girls see if the humans are hung like horses, know what I'm saying?"

"Who's hanging what, now? What's going on? I can't see nothing?" The weary pony mumbled, still staring over Lumberman's shoulder.

"Nothing you need to see, Apple Hat. This tents already occupied is all." Lumberman quickly explained.

Being how that bathing tent was right next to the house, Lumberman peaked inside the house just long enough to grab a bottle of Cabo Wabo. "Don't mind me. Just need some fuel for a cleanup session."

All the humans gave a nodding approval, knowing that this wasn't the first time Lumberman had to give a bath to a lady friend who couldn't manage taking themselves to the shower.

"Don't worry, girl. We good," Lumberman said, trying to give some voice of confidence to the pony he carried in his arms.

Applejack only grumbled again in frustrations, not able to free herself from her situation.

Finally making his way to the second bathing tent, which was farther way for some odd reason, he let the apple-centric pony down. "Alright, let's not make this any harder than it needs to be." He said, sounding more sympathetic than he had before.

It took Lumberman a minute to figure out the workings of the water dispersion equipment. It looked like mini water towers with spouts that opened up into the tub next to it. It took turning a few valves, but he managed to start filling one of the tubs like the others in the first tent.

Begrudgingly, Applejack made her way to the tub but couldn't find the strength to lift herself over the edge. She would need help.

Lumberman took a quick drink from his tequila before setting it down to assist the hindered pony. "Come on, in you go."

Manhandling her like he did before, he lifted her rear end up to help her over the edge. Her entrance was far less than graceful. She fell into the tub face first, bubbling under the surface and unable to raise herself up to breeth.

"Jesus," Lumberman complained, picking her up again in the tub. "-you gonna make it?"

Applejack coughed and hacked, unfortunately inhaling in some of the bath water. "What are you trying to do me?" She asked, accusing him of foul play.

"I'm sorry," He apologized. "I didn't think you were that bad."

What should have been some display of anger and belligerence was instead a series of sobs and whimpers.

"Hey, I'm sorry. That was my fault," Lumberman tried to apologize again. "Come on. I didn't think you were gonna sink like that."

"I don't deserve to have this blood washed off my hooves," She cried out. "I keep letting her down. I'm no good."

"Awe fuck. Don't be saying stupid shit like that." He tried to motivate her in the bath water that was quickly turning red around her.

"It's true. I let her down twice now," She admitted out loud.

She again let herself collapse, falling under the quickly filling water levels.

Lumberman reached in, pulling her up to breeth again. "Gawd damn it, Apples. Would you just... Hold yourself up for a minute." He ordered.

She did her best to sit upright, though it was a struggle between the exhaustion she was feeling and the crippling depression that was taking hold of her. Through her own whimpering, she could faintly hear the sounds of clothing moving behind her. Then, the sound of something entering the water had splashed in.

In just his boxers, Lumberman joined in the tub of bloody water with the weeping pony. "I'm gonna catch hell for this, but come on.."

He put an arm around her and pulled a small cork that started to drain the water. "Okay, let's get it all out," He instructed her, letting her know it was okay to start the waterworks.

"I couldn't save Kelly. She. She..." Applejack sniffled and cracked up trying to explain her distress. "She was right there in front of me. But he hit me, and I couldn't push her out of the way. And now she won't wake up."

"Shh, shh, shh. I know. I know. It's okay. We all couldn't help her," He replied, trying to comfort her as he rocked her back and forth.

Applejack continued to break down. "I held her the whole way back. She wouldn't stop bleeding. I held her so tight, but it just wouldn't stop. Her blood is all over me. Why couldn't I save her? Why did it have to be like this?"

She was really falling apart, far more than Lumberman could have predicted. "No one could have-"

"We couldn't even save her with the Elements, -" She cried out, turning herself to hold tightly onto Lumberman. "I don't know what to do. I dun bumbled my way through this whole mess. I'm so sorry."

Lumberman held the whimpering mare against his chest, cradling her as all the strength and pride poured out from her eyes. "Hey, come on Apples. If you stop crying I'll let you sing again?"

The oddly placed joke actually got a chuckle out of her that mixed in between her sobs. "I thought you don't like my singing."

"Out of tune, slurring your words, plus mixing tweeny pop and country music? Yeah, that was terrible," Lumberman explained with a playful laugh.

Again she chuckled, though not as much as before. She actually felt a little embarrassed about it now.

Toning back the sarcasm, he tried again to help cheer her up. "But I'd rather listen to you sing your Apple family song all over again if it meant I didn't have to listen to you crying all night."

"Yeah," She answered back, trying to hold back the urge to cry again. "-don't think I feel much like singing tonight, buckaroo."

She relaxed a bit more and allowed herself to rest against the bare chest of this peculiar new friend she had made. They stayed that way for a good while. Letting the red water drain out while more warm water poured in.

Fearing they would run out of fresh water, Lumberman plugged the cork back in and cut off the water. Whatever type of reservoir of warm water they now had access to likely wasn't infinite, so they had to conserve.

Lumberman tried to reassure her, removing her hat as they held each other closer. "She's gonna be just fine. Just wait and see. But in the meantime, how about we get you washed up, so you're at least somewhat presentable when Kelly wakes up, huh?"

He reached over to grab a bottle of shampoo that was laid out next to the tub. "This won't be the first time I had to help one of my friends wash up. You're in good hands."

For the first short while, they didn't converse. It was just Applejack struggling to hold herself up while Lumberman worked up a lather to wash out all the red still stuck in her fur. His hands worked up the suds firmly, yet still with a gentle touch up and down her back and shoulders.

"You said this ain't yer first time?" She inquired sheepishly.

"Nah," He answered without a note of embarrassment. "Mostly Kelly or Becky too drunk to clean up their own vomit after they drank too much. Not so different from you the other night, actually."

She didn't respond to the joke if that was his attempt at trying to be humorous.

"I also had to help out old Sniffles when he got himself too messed up a time or two," He continued. "Hell, there were a few days even Justin couldn't take care of himself, and I had to take care of him."

"You really did this with your friends?" She asked, either impressed or questioning the claim itself.

He gave a soft sigh before answering. "Yeah, it's kinda crazy the things we do for those we care about."

"Why you helping me then?" She asked, sounding as if she wasn't worthy of such assistance.

Lumberman squirted a large mound of shampoo into his hand and stopped to think about his answer. "I dunno. I think we're all pretty good friends. And you've been helping us out since we got here. Just seems like the right thing to do, ya know."

He dropped the shampoo bottle into the water and started to lather up her mane. "I've always been the one to hold everybody up when they start falling apart, but I admit it's kinda weird with all of you."

"How so?" She asked, letting him work his magic with his fingers over her head and down the back of her neck.

The thick lather of suds didn't mask just how soft her hair was. The few times he was able to pet a horse as a kid, he remembered how coarse and rough a horse's hair was. Hers was almost human-like, perhaps even softer. Another anomaly he didn't expect.

"Well, we're all foreigners to your pony world. So we don't really have equal footing in your culture. Plus, you're not human. So... it just kind of throws me off trying to figure out how to treat you all, or even how to even talk to you."

To some degree, she could see where he was coming from. "Why is not being human a problem? We get along just fine with griffins and dragons. And we're all different from each other. What's so different between a pony like me and a human like you?"

This was going to be tricky for him to explain without sounding offensive or even a bit racist. "It's nothing bad. It's just that, well... where we come from, there's no one like you. We have horses, but they're all wild animals. They're kept as pets or used for work."

He couldn't see her expression, but there was a very clear vibe in the air that he already said something that didn't sit well with her. "I'm not saying I see you the same way I would look at a horse from my world. Our horses aren't intelligent. You all can talk and, well, you're just as human as we are. If that makes any sense. Maybe I should say that we're just as much pony as you are. Just... completely different species."

Applejack didn't really know how to take all of this. All of these ideas seemed more like a topic for Twilight to tackle. "So it's just the way we look, then? You don't look at us like we're some dumb pets, do ya?"

"Can I be real with you, Apple Hat? He asked calmly.

"Only if you stop calling me Apple Hat," She tried to joke, though she was a little worried of what his answer was going to be.

Lumberman reached down into the water to pull up her right forehoof. He used some of the suds still on her head to wash out more of the blood that still clung to her. "The truth is, that I don't know what to think. I don't know how to look at all of you like I would another person. And as terrible as that sounds, I can relate to it."

"And how's that?" She asked with a bit of justified snark and agitation in her voice.

Unlike before, he was going to touch a serious subject without using a joke to address it. "You know how earlier your brother asked you if you wanted me out of the field because I was black?"

She didn't see how that question was related, but she was going to hear him out. "Yeah..."

His gentle grooming continued as he tried to explain such a sensitive topic. "Well, that's because back on Earth, my people were treated less than human for hundreds of years. In fact, just because of the color of our skin, we were forced into being slaves. I make jokes about it, and I probably shouldn't since there are still a lot of racist people back on Earth."

He continued with trying to relate to his own disposition. "Being black still comes with a lot of roadblocks. So, yeah. I can relate if you think that makes me a shitty person."

It shouldn't have been a surprise to her that slavery wasn't a problem found in just Equestria's history. However, slavery based on the color of a ponies coat, or a humans skin seemed like a rather strange way to base if one was worthy of slavery. Ponies had been made slaves by warlords in the past, but it was forced on them because of being a different species. Not something so superficial as being the wrong color. Then again, if humans were the only intelligent species where they came from, maybe their standards were different for that reason. She couldn't really compare griffins and dragons, or some of the other creatures that captured ponies and took over kingdoms to what the human world might have gone through. Not to mention that jumping to conclusions about how humans act was a lesson she already learned the hard way.

Even still, she had to address the fact that he knew that thinking that way wasn't right. "If you know it's wrong, then why do you do it?"

He was feeling kind of lousy the more he thought about it. "It's not like I'm trying to or that I want to, -" He lowered her forehoof back into the water and picked up the next front hoof. "Your culture here is so different from ours. In a lot of ways, it's better. And I still can't get over the idea of talking animals and magic ponies. I mean, I'm now living in a world that as far as I knew two days ago, didn't even exist. So don't think I'm trying to be a shitty person on purpose."

Empathy may not have been her trademark Element, but she could sympathize with his disposition. Even she had her misgivings against griffins and dragons before getting to know them better.

However, there was something else she had to address before the conversation could continue. "You keep using that word. What does shitty mean?"

"Oh," Lumberman realized he was still cursing more than he should have been. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be cursing in front of y'all."

"Curse as in a bad word, not a bad magic spell I'm guessing?" She asked, remembering the lack of magic humans possessed.

"Yeah," He admitted. "I got a potty mouth. Sorry."

"So what's it mean?" She pressed him further.

"Uh... It can mean a lot of things. Lot's of our curse words do. It can be something good. Like, that's the shit. It can also just mean stuff. Usually, it means something more like garbage or poop." He snickered at how goofy it sounded to use such childish terms.

"So a shitty person is a person that's garbage or is made of poop?" She asked, not sounding as upset as before.

"Pretty much," He sighed.

Applejack snorted and chuckled at such a funny concept. "A person made of poop. That's funny right there."

They both shared a little laugh at just how silly it seemed if taken literally.

Her other hoof was lowered back into the water, and again it dawned on her just how weak and tired she still was. Not only that, but how embarrassing it was that she had to be bathed by another. It didn't make it better that she had to rely on a guest that she was supposed to be helping out. Not the other way around.

She sighed regretfully. "I'm sorry about everything that's happened since you got here. You shouldn't have to be the one taking care of me like this."

"Stop apologizing already. Here, tell ya what. I know what will help you relax," He responded to her before turning to reach and grabed something outside of the tub.

He returned to her with his bottle of tequila. A kind gesture, but one she wasn't in the mood for. "I thought I told you I wasn't in the mood for singing tonight," She half-joked.

"Just don't guzzle it like you did last time, Apple Hat," He instructed her while undoing the cap.

"Can you stop calling me that?" She grumbled.

"Nah, I think that's gonna stick," He answered with a grin after taking a drink for himself.

She glared as best she could through her tired eyes. "You're being real shitty, Woodman."

There was an eerie silence between the two. Of all things, was this the straw that broke the camel's back?

Her frown broke to a grin, and she snorted again.

"I can't believe I fell for that. You're totally messing with me," Lumberman laughed off her joke.

The smile on her face was a welcomed comfort. "Heh, yeah. Hold the bottle for me would ya?"

"What's going down, brother? Didn't want to shower with the big boys?" Cerb's voice broke out from just outside the tent.

The folds opened and Cerb walked in with Big Mac just behind him. Even a few guards curiously tried to sneak a peek inside.

"Nope. I think he's just trying to get sweet on my sister. You ain't fixing to set up a shotgun wedding are ya there, Lumberman?" Big Mac accused.

Lumbermen shot up from the tub, letting Applejack slip back under the water. "No! Nothing like that! Dude, Cerb. Tell him I-" He fumbled his words around a bit and noticed the sound of bubbles blowing next to his shins.

He dipped down to scoop up the confused and pissed off looking Applejack. It was an embarrassing site while he stood there, Applejack lying limp in his arms with a bottle of booze in his hands and his wet boxers clinging to his body. Thankfully he wasn't hard, but there was little left to the imagination.

"Yo, Mac. I swear I would never try and mess around with your sister," his explanation came to an abrupt end when he saw Cerb trying not to laugh. Even Big Mac was grinning like an idiot. Hell, even the guards outside the tent were laughing.

"Cerb, did you put him up to this?" He stupidly asked.

It was no use trying to fight it, Cerb was laughing his ass off. "Dude. You think a pony knows what a shotgun wedding is? Oh fuck. I'm dying, bro."

Lumberman stood there, feeling stupid for getting played like that. "You're a real asshole, man. Imma get you back. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I'll keep an eye out," Cerb replied, knowing full well he'd pay for it sooner or later. "And I'm sorry, man. I was just doing some bonding with the boys here, and I thought Mac Daddy could use some cheering up."

"You're still an asshole," Lumberman fired back, still feeling the panic of what Big Mac could have done to him if he actually thought he was getting fresh with his sister.

Cerb chuckled and eyed his buddies boxers. "So... you just gonna keep standing there, or are you trying to show off the goods?"

Lumberman looked down to see the hard shadows cast by his package. "Fuck, man!" He dropped back down behind the edge of the tub to hide himself.

"Egh, quit your fussing," Cerb joked to him. "The ponies don't give a shit about nudity. If you haven't noticed."

Wet and embarrassed, Lumberman countered as best as he could. "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure you had a wonderful time comparing sizes with your new friends. I hope you don't get tennis elbow."

"Awe, poor baby. You jealous?" Cerb mocked back.

Just enough time went by for Cerb to figure out that Lumberman wasn't going to carry on with this exchange. "Okay. I can see you're having a moment."

Lumberman raised his bottle up and rocket it back and forth. "Just living the dream."

Cerb was still just all too proud of himself. "Yeah, I'm sure you are. But would you want to have someone else take over bathing duty?"

Applejack had just about enough of the distractions. "For Luna's sake, can you all just take yer shit and get? It's bad enough I had to get washed up by one of you, and I don't need to be passed around like a sack of dirty laundry."

Such a reaction seemed to come out of left field from the apple mare, making Cerb move to offer some other solution. "Well, I'm just saying, your brother is right here. Plus the guards I'm sure could help."

The drenched mane of an ill-tempered mare rose up over the edge of the tub and was flung back to reveal a scowl to end any argument. "No offense to you Big Mac, or any of your boys out there Mr. Cerb. But I'd rather buck lemon trees."

Big Mac leaned over to Cerb and offered a word of caution. "That means no, and we should probably leave."

Cerb raised his hands in defense and slowly backed out. "Okay. We're leaving. Just holler if you need anything."

Even after the footsteps died off back to the house, Applejack was still looking a bit distraught. Lumberman wasn't sure what to say to fix the situation.

"You really okay with me finishing up? I'm sure I could get Becky or one of the other mares to take over if you'd be more comfortable with that. I didn't think you'd need this much help, honestly." He offered.

"Now looky here," She flopped against the side of the tub and slid down back against Lumberman's side. "I get the feeling that there's some kinda issue with you being here with me since I'm a lady and your a gentlecolt, but so long as you don't go poking and prodding in places you don't belong I'm just too plum tired to care right now. And besides..."

She raised a hoof up, but in her weakened state it mostly was drug up his leg, and came to a stop and rested in his lap. "You're the only one here with that bottle of funny water."

"Hold up," Lumberman thought that she had to be messing with him. "-you want to keep me here because I shared my Tequila with you?"

A shade of rose brightened upon her cheeks, and she started to softly rub up and down his thigh. "Well... I guess that isn't the only reason."

Lumberman froze. Her tone and hoof motions brought a wave of NO over his entire being. Although, part of that also seemed like something he felt flattered over. If he was honest with himself, there was a second that had a mix of excitement. Or maybe that was just a response to the physical stimulation that caused a flinch inside his boxers.

Applejack continued the slow strokes up and down his thigh. "I was feeling more than just a bit drop down beat up and rolled over. You helped me out more than the tequila ever could. You know, it's like... I don't like being pampered and groomed. That's just not the kind of pony I am. But you don't make it weird or all girly and such. And... I don't know how to deal with all this."

The conversation may have gone a different direction then what he initially feared it would, but he was still feeling like something was going on he wasn't going to want to deal with.

"Finding out that Kelly didn't wake up after using our Elements because they didn't fix everything and getting cracked upside the head. Heck, I barely managed to drag her out the house, and then having to hold her the whole way here and not really be able to help. Ah’ haven't felt so lost and hopeless since I lost my mom and dad. I don't know how you can manage to stay so strong."

She moved her foreleg in farther across his lap to wrap it around his waist, holding him in some kind of half hug. "I'm sorry if I'm putting you on the spot, but with all the other girls still knocked out or feeling just as low as I am... I need somepony with a little more strength than me to hold onto."

The prospect of a pony courtship seemed to be out of the cards, much to Lumberman's relief. "Yeah, it ain't easy. I mean, as much as it got me going, even Cerb coming in here and having your brother prank me like that, I'd probably be hurting a lot more, too. So, I can see where you're coming from on needing someone if your girls are still recovering or whatever."

"You don't mind, do ya? Letting me hold on a bit longer?" Applejack nervously asked.

"Nah, we're good. At least until the others wake up. I'm sure they'll be needing someone like you to help them out." He said, trying to console her.

"Otherwise, you still wanting a sip?" He asked, bringing the bottle back down to her lips.

She placed her lips around the mouth of the bottle and let her temporary source of strength tilt it for her. He held it in place, allowing her to slowly take only what she wanted.

She nodded, letting him know she had her fill for the moment. However, she still needed help in the tub. "Hey, can I ask you a big favor?"

"What 'cha need?"

Keeping a mellow tone, she asked him. "Can you wash my backside next? It's been kinda itchy since I woke up."

"What the fu..." What the hell was up with this mare? "I thought you said you didn't want me poking and prodding in places I didn't belong?"

Tired or not, Applejack sat up abruptly, blushing brightly. "I'm not asking you to go exploring under my tail, or fixing to have you rut me. You said you'd help me wash up. And... I don't want to touch Kelly's blood any more then I have to. So just please... wash it out for me."

This was crossing that uncomfortable line between human and animal Lumberman didn't want to deal with. "Listen, Applejack. I don't know how comfortable I am-"

"I'll let you call me Apple Hat," She offered as a bargaining tool since it was all she had.

Lumberman stared at her sitting next to him. Her mane was still wet and unkempt and did nothing to cover up her blush. She was even still somewhat shaky and wobbly in her legs. This couldn't have been easy for her to ask, seeing how embarrassed she was.

Not saying a word, he stood up and started to drain the tub.

Applejack worried she might have asked for too much and was making him leave. "Are you leaving me here?"

What could he do? She was so damn cute looking. If only he weren't a sucker for ladies with such a sweet face.

"No, I'm not leaving you here," And begrudgingly answered. "This water is gross and getting cold. I'm pouring us some clean, warm water.

"Oh," - She lowered her eyes to the dirty water they were both still bathing in. "Thanks."

Lumberman sighed in frustration. All he needed was Cerb or Big Mac to walk in once he got started again. That's just the kind of luck he expected.

"Just keep it between us, aight?" He kindly asked her. "Last thing I need is someone walking in to see me with a hand full of pony ass."

"Pony ass?" She asked out loud. "Wait? Does ass mean butt?"

Lumberman hung his head. He knew that teaching these ponies bad words were going to come back in and bite him in the... well... the ass. "Yes. Ass means butt."

Another explanation of human words let her to start chuckling again. "So earlier you pretty much called your buddy Cerb a walking, talking butt hole?"

He had to laugh at that. Now, at this point, even if it was going to bite him in the ass, it was going to provide a lot of entertainment to teach them how to curse. "Yeah. I guess I did."

Applejack wearily looked up, a broad grin on her face. "Hey. Lumberman?"

"Yeah?"

She could barely contain her laughter, letting little snorts break through. "Thanks for washing my ass."

"Oh shut up, Apple Hat." He playfully shot back, flipping her long hair over her face. "Don't make me regret this or you'll be singing your goofy Apple songs sober from here on out."

Next Chapter: 18. Better Than Hooves Estimated time remaining: 97 Hours, 39 Minutes