“Spike! Close the windows!” a purple unicorn cried as she perused the Equestrian Farmer’s Almanac, a book she’d borrowed from her best friend Applejack for this very purpose. “If I’m reading this almanac correctly, tonight is supposed to be the peak of Equestria’s autumn storm season! I hope nopony gets stuck outside in this weather…” she sighed.

“So do I!” the purple dragon said as a thunderclap shook the sky. “WHOA!” he yelped, rushing to the windows, closing and latching them without hesitation.

Twilight Sparkle closed her balcony door as lightning crackled and thunder resounded outside, but as one sound rang out above the rest, she froze. It definitely wasn’t a storm noise. She reopened the door and stepped out onto the balcony, immediately exposing herself to nature’s fury.

“Spike! Grab my binoculars and get up here, quick!’ she shouted over the storm. Spike grabbed the visual enhancement device from a drawer and raced up the stairs to the balcony.

“What is it, Twilight? Why are you outside in the rain?” he asked worriedly.

“I’m not sure,” she said quizzically, “but I think I just heard somepony scream.” Using her magical aura, she lifted the binoculars to her eyes and scanned the horizon. Only when she heard the mismatched sound again could she pinpoint its source. She adjusted the focus on her binoculars. “OH NO!” she shouted in terror.

“What’s going on?”

“See for yourself, Spike.”

He jumped onto her back as she passed him the binoculars, gazed in the direction she pointed, and saw the unthinkable. Out in the distance, a pony was screaming for help. He didn’t recognize her face, but he did recognize that she was trapped in a brown puddle…and she was sinking. Fast.

“I think she’s stuck!” he cried, “We have to help her!”

“So why are we still standing here?” she replied, “Let’s go!”

As Spike clung tightly to her back, Twilight raced downstairs and out the door, only to collide into an orange pony with a blonde mane. A red stallion came galloping up the path behind her, a coil of rope draped around his neck.

“Applejack!? Big Macintosh!?” Twilight said in shock.

“What are you two doing here?” Spike finished.

“Ah heard somepony scream, but Ah can’t figure out where it came from!” the orange pony said impatiently.

“Nope.” the stallion replied, shaking his head.

“There’s a pony on the edge of town that got stuck in quicksand!” Spike rambled frantically.

“Ain’t no quicksand ‘round Ponyville, sugarcube!” Applejack said fearfully. “We got mud holes, and they ain’t like tha ones Aloe and Lotus got down at tha spa. They’re crazy dangerous. Got tha ropes, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.” he replied.

“She’s about a mile and a half this way!” Twilight said, pointing a hoof in the direction of the stranded pony.

“She’s got a wagon with her, too.” Spike added.

“Horseapples!” she grumbled. “That’ll only pull her down faster! Lead tha way, Twi’!”

Another scream pierced the night, and the three ponies, with Spike clinging to Twilight’s mane, galloped off towards the noise, praying to Celestia that they weren’t too late.

“Haul apples, everypony!” Applejack shouted, spurring her friends to gallop faster. “Lives are at stake!”

“Hello!” Twilight called as they approached the area she saw in her binoculars.

“Is anypony out there?” Applejack hollered hopefully.

“OVER HERE!!!” echoed a desperate response. “SOMEPONY HELP ME!!!”

Twilight, Big Mac, and Applejack raced toward the sound and saw the true nature of the crisis. The pony in peril, now easily identifiable as a unicorn, was submerged up to her chest in the sinkhole. The wheels of her wagon were almost halfway submerged in the slimy brown muck.

“Is somepony there?” she asked, looking desperately in all directions, “I can’t see!”

Big Macintosh took a careful step toward the sinkhole and saw the thick clumps of mud covering her eyes.

“Eeyup.” the stallion said loudly above the sounds of the storm.

The trapped pony turned towards the deep masculine voice. Twilight’s horn started to glow purple as she magically lifted the mud from the unicorn’s face. She blinked, revealing irises as red as blood.

“Oh, thank Celestia you found me!” she shouted thankfully.

“Rest easy, sugarcube.” Applejack said calmly. “Ya couldn’t have asked fer more capable hooves if ya tried. What happened here?”

“I got…spooked by a falling tree…then my wagon started rolling…and I lost control!” She struggled to catch her breath. “Please help me!” she begged, “I’m sinking fast!”

“Everything is alright.” Twilight called. “Just stay calm. We’ll get you out of this mess. My name is Twilight-”

“Save the introductions for later, Twilight!” Spike interjected, “Knowing our names won’t be very useful if she’s dead! We’ve got to get her out of there!”

“Right…” she said, blushing in embarrassment. “Can you unhitch yourself?” she called to the victim.

“No!” the anonymous pony replied. “When I landed, this gunk splattered into my eyes. I couldn’t see anything!”

“Well, that’s a snag…” Applejack said, “Anypony got any other ideas?”

“Eeyup.” the red stallion agreed as he passed her a rope. Her eyes lit up and she tied one end of it to her tail.

“Alright, sugarcube. Ah’m gonna try ta lasso tha back end of yer wagon. If we pull just right, it should pop right out and drag ya with it! Do ya understand?”

The unknown unicorn nodded. Applejack carefully darted around to the opposite side of the mud hole as Twilight and Big Mac followed close behind. She twirled her lasso into a massive loop and let it fly, where it landed squarely around the cabin of the wagon. She gave it a firm yank, cinching it tight.

“Gotcha!” Applejack cried. “Now everypony grab on and pull!”

The four friends pulled with all their strength, and the wagon began to slowly slide back, bringing the stranded unicorn up and out with it. Eventually, the wagon emerged from the sinkhole with a slimy squelch. Four wet hoofsteps signaled the unicorn’s return to terra firma. Her body was shrouded with a dark blue traveling cloak. Stained from the flanks down with icky brown mud, the loose, flowing garment covered her body completely from neck to tail and nearly scraped the ground with its length. Her striped mane was dark blue and black, flowing like water down the right side of her head with an angled-cut style, long in front and shortening toward the back. Her tail was similarly colored and styled, but nopony could tell at that instant because most of it was coated with dark brown mud. Her coat had a metallic silver color, albeit slightly tarnished with mud. Finally, her crimson eyes were wet with tears, both from the joy of being rescued and the irritating grit of the dirt.

“Thank you all so much!” she gasped in exasperation, blinking the excess dirt away as she unhitched herself from her wagon, “I thought I was a goner!”

“Aw, shucks!” Applejack blushed, “It was nothin’. Yer safe now, and that’s what matters.”

“So…” she asked breathlessly, “Who do I have to thank for saving me? I still have some mud in my eyes, so everything’s kinda blurry.”

“Name’s Applejack. The red one’s mah brother, Big Macintosh, but everypony just calls him Big Mac.”

“Eeyup.”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle, and this is my dragon assistant, Spike.”

“Hi! What’s your name?”

“Impact Hammer.” she replied with a shudder. She tried to take a few steps, but stumbled and collapsed. “Sorry. My legs are…numb from the cold.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Impact Hammer!” Twilight said as she looked up at the sky. “This storm can only get worse. Do you have a place to get out of this storm?” she asked.

“No, I don’t.” Impact said sadly, hanging her head.

“Oh…” Twilight sighed. “In that case,” she said with a grin, “you’re more than welcome to spend the night with me and Spike in the library.”

“You don’t have to do that!” she replied, slightly overwhelmed, “Wait. Did you say library?” She regained her composure. “No! I couldn’t! I wouldn’t want to impose on you! I don’t want to be any more of a burden than I’ve already been…”

“Nonsense!” the purple unicorn declared firmly. “You’re soaked to the bone and shivering like mad! You need to get inside before you get any worse, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Maybe you’re right…but how can I get inside when I can’t move?” Impact asked, still shivering on the ground. “I need my wagon, too! I can’t just leave all of my supplies behind!”

“Hmm… Wait! I’ve got an idea! Applejack, can you pull her wagon?”

“Sure can, sugarcube!”

“Big Macintosh, do you think you can carry her back to the library for me?”

“Eeyup.” he said with a determined look in his eye.

“Good.” Twilight said, lifting the shivering unicorn onto his back with her magic.

“Sorry about the mud…” Impact replied with a blush.

“Nope.” the red stallion replied, shaking his head.

“What?” she replied, slightly puzzled.

“Big Mac’s a stallion of few words,” Applejack enlightened, “but he purdy much meant ‘Don’t mention it.’ We Apples ain’t afraid ta get a little dirty.”

“Eeyup.”

“So I see...” Impact said with a smile. “Thank—”

Lightning streaked across the sky with a FLASH and a BOOM of thunder echoed over Ponyville.

“OK!” Spike said, thoroughly scared, “I think we should go home now!”

“Yeah…” the purple unicorn whimpered.

“I reckon so.” the orange pony agreed.

“Eeyup.” the red stallion added.

Twilight turned tail and led the way back to Ponyville, with Spike seated on her back. Big Macintosh was behind her, hauling the shivering silver unicorn to safety. Applejack brought up the rear, pulling Impact’s wagon.

Safely balanced on the red stallion’s back, she could feel her rescuer’s lungs expanding and contracting as they drew vital oxygen into his body. She could hear his heartbeat, the rhythm of life, driving his life force forward in an endless cycle. As Big Mac’s involuntary vibrations left his body and diffused into her own, Impact Hammer closed her eyes to rest, her lips curling into a subtle smile. Although today was the first day somepony actually assisted her in her time of need, today was not the first day she had cheated death.

The five quickly retreated to the library to escape the brutal weather. Applejack parked the wagon outside and raced inside the open door, her entire body soaking wet. She had a set of dark blue saddlebags draped over her back, which Impact had asked her to retrieve from the wagon before she fell asleep on Big Macintosh’s back.

“Whoo! Some weather we’re havin’, huh?”

“You could say that…” Twilight said enthusiastically as she trotted to the bathroom to grab some towels. “Just set her down anywhere, Big Mac.” she called. “Don’t worry about the mud. I’ve been meaning to mop the floors anyway.”

“Are we there yet?” Impact groaned sleepily as she roused from her nap.

“Eeyup.” he said, lowering his body to the ground.

“Need any help sugarcube?” Applejack asked as she slipped the saddlebags off her back.

“No thank you.” she said as she stepped down, “Besides, I think I’ve warmed up enough to stand again.” She took a couple practice steps around Big Macintosh, then smiled and rewarded him with a light kiss on the cheek. “My hero…”

“Well, well, big brother!” Applejack said with a knowing chuckle, “Looks like yer new friend has ‘warmed up’ ta ya quite nicely!”

He didn’t say anything. He just gave his little sister a threatening look.

“You’re both welcome to stay, too.” Twilight mentioned invitingly, “I don’t want you getting stuck in this weather like our silver friend here...”

“Nope.” Big Mac said defiantly, shaking his head.

“Thanks fer lookin’ out fer us, Twi’,” the orange pony replied, “But we gotta head back ta tha farm. Y’know, make sure Granny Smith and Apple Bloom are safe and all.”

“I guess that’s a good reason.” Twilight said, using her magical aura to open the door. The two elder Apple siblings galloped off into the rain. “Get home safely!” she called.

“Will do!” Applejack hollered back.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac hollered back.

“Spike, could you run a bath for our guest?” Twilight asked as she closed the door. “I think she still needs to warm up a bit.”

“Sure, Twilight.” the dragon replied as he walked to the bathroom.

“Now, let’s get that cloak off of you.” she said as her horn started glowing purple. Surrounded by a purple aura, the cloak started to rise.

Impact’s eyes widened.

“NO!” she shouted suddenly, her silver horn glowing white. The aura permeating the fabric changed colors, shifting from purple to white as she nullified Twilight’s magic and forced her cloak back down…until it suddenly ripped down her right flank. “Oh no!” she cried, “My favorite cloak! It’s ruined!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t mean to sound rude, Twilight, but do you have something else I could wear by any chance? Something that covers me as completely as possible?” Impact asked anxiously, “My cloak is the only outfit I brought with me.”

“I think I might, but why so concealing?”

“It just has to be!” Impact responded, heaving a heavy sigh, “I-I just can't let them see..." Her voice lowered to a horrified whisper. "My cloak is the only shield I have, and now it’s broken.”

“I understand completely,” Twilight said reassuringly, tenderly placing a hoof on her shoulder, “but at least let me wash it for you.”

“Sure. I’d like that.”

“We can head down to Carousel Boutique in the morning. My friend Rarity is the best seamstress in Ponyville, and if anypony can fix that rip, she can.”

“All set!” Spike called from down the hall. “Down here, Impact.”

“On my way, Spike.” she replied humbly, “Thank you again, Twilight Sparkle. You really didn’t have to do all this for me. You’re a true friend.”

“You’re welcome, Impact Hammer, and I insist!” she assured, smiling warmly. “Towels are on the towel rack, washcloths are in the drawer, and I think there’s a spare bathrobe in the cabinet. Take as much time as you need. I’ll get dinner started while you wash up. Is there anything specific that you wanted to eat tonight?”

“Could I trouble you for a cup of tea? Otherwise, I’ll just have whatever you’re having.”

“Would Rose-Mint Rhapsody be alright?” the purple unicorn asked. “It’s all I have left at the moment.”

“It’s my favorite blend!” she cheered gleefully, “Yes, please!”

“You got it!” Twilight said with a wink and a smile.