Big Mac studied the door. Really it looked like pretty much every door he had ever seen. Ordinary wood and knob.

Fluttershy shifted awkwardly behind him, and Ivan watched silently nearby, leaning idly against a wall. Once he heard something had happened concerning his sister, he considered himself at least somewhat involved, given that he was one of three ponies in the entire world who could properly handle her.

Mac raised a hoof and knocked on the door.

“What?” He heard Salad say. She sounded normal enough, though that didn’t say much. In Big Mac’s limited experience, her mood swung more often then the pendulum of a grandfather clock.

He glanced at Ivan, who hadn’t visibly reacted. Smooth sailing so far, the draft pony supposed.

“It’s Big Mac.”

“Sup?” Even he could tell she only asked because she didn’t know what else to say. He pressed on.

“Ah’m worried about ya. Ivan said ya’ve been shut up in there since the, ah… incident.”

“Yeah? Maybe I just don’t feel like leaving.” Big Mac sighed.

“Could Ah come in then?”

“What is it with you and inappropriate questions lately?” Ivan’s eyebrow raised, but he said nothing.

“Ya know what Ah mean. Ah’m sure ya like talkin’ through a door as much as Ah do.”

“I thought I was the only one who loved it this much. Great to know I’m not alone here.”

“Salad.” Big Mac said, tone sharpening a bit. “We need ta talk.”

“We’ve been talking for a good few minutes now.”

“Are ya gonna be difficult?”

Ivan winced. Big Mac guessed that meant he misstepped.

“Maybe you could tell me what you want? Might be a good place to start.” The door said. “Or are you going to tell me I did something wrong? Do I need to apologise for something? Is that rainbow idiot trying for a rematch? How about that yellow witch?”

“…Witch?” Big Mac asked. Of all the words he expected Salad to use, he hadn’t expected that.

“Yeah, witch. I can’t think of anything else that’d have eyes like that.” The eyes in question widened, and Fluttershy’s expression betrayed her racing thoughts. Big Mac opened his mouth to stop Salad, but the damage was already being done.

“Did she ever do that to you? Look you in the eye?”

“No, but-“

“I can’t be the first. She strutted right up to me and did some… thing, and suddenly all I could think about was sitting there and hoping to the bucking sun that it would stop. It’s like mind control. I can’t remember ever feeling anything like that and…” Big Mac could almost feel the shudder in her voice.

“It’s not natural…”

Hooffalls sounded loudly as Fluttershy turned and bolted, tears running nearly as fast as she was.

“Who was that?” Salad asked as Big Mac’s teeth grit. Just another thing on the pile of stuff to sort through, and he was the only one who could play mediator. Perfect.

He took a deep breath.

“Salad, why are ya angry?”

“I’m angry because today, some yellow freak of nature set a colourful guard dog on me, and when that didn’t work, she came up to me with some evil voodoo and tried to break my mind, and I only barely got away before she forced me to do whatever she wanted. And now you’re here probably getting ready to tell me that somewhere here, I bucked up, and I need to make it all better. Nevermind that I got attacked by two strangers. Nevermind that anything I did was in self defense. Never-horsefeathering-mind that all I wanted today was to go somewhere where nopony stares at my back and wonders if all my probably rock bottom self esteem needs is a compliment or two to get me in bucking bed!”

Big Mac, taken aback, glanced at big brother. Ivan seemed to be contemplating some form of painful murder. Normal for him, he supposed.

Salad, recovering from the outburst, didn’t say anything else. Big Mac decided it was his turn.

“Ya told me earlier that ya don’t start fights. Right?”

“Yeah.”

“And Ah believed ya. Ah still do.”

“…and?”

“All Ah want is ta talk Salad. Ah’ve got their sides of the story, and Ah need yers so we can get this buried behind us. Ah’m not gonna make ya say sorry, not gonna tell ya that anything ya did was just plain wrong, and Ah’m not gonna tell ya that yer the bad pony here. Do ya believe me?”

Salad said nothing. Then Big Mac heard hoofsteps approaching the door.

A light click told him it was now unlocked.

“Get in here before I change my mind.”

He sighed in relief and nearly obeyed. Then he paused.

“Ivan?”

“Mm?”

“Keep a lookout for Rainbow Dash, would ya? And anypony else?” A crying Fluttershy would probably attract a lynch mob. He decided to cover his bases this time around.

“Mm.” The green pony nodded, turning and heading towards the front door.

Satisfied that the situation would finally start improving for a change, Big Mac entered Salad’s room.

Salad hadn’t lived in it for long, and it showed. A bookshelf stood against the wall, mostly empty except for a set of textbooks that Cheerilee had presumably set aside. Nothing else really stood out except for a pair of green saddlebags on the desk, and a black leather photo album on the bedside table.

The mare herself was settled on the bed, polishing her wingblade. Big Mac approached, tugged out the chair from the desk, and seated himself nearby.

Salad hadn’t looked at him when he entered. He would almost say she was ignoring him if she hadn’t invited him herself.

“Are ya alright?” Big Mac found himself asking. Her responding glare spoke volumes.

“Weren’t you listening when I-“

“Ah was.” He cut her off. “Ya’ve been through a lot today. Fight with Rainbow Dash, the Stare-“

“Oh, is that what it’s called?”

“Stop bitin’ at me Salad.” Big Mac said, eyes locked on hers. Seconds passed before she broke eye contact first, huffing. She set aside the wingblade, so he supposed he had her attention now.

“Ah’m not here for ya ta vent on.” He continued. “Ah’m here because if this don’t get sorted, more trouble’s probably gonna come yer way. Ah wanna help.”

“…Yeah?”

“Ah wanna know if yer alright. Ah’ve been where ya are now before. Misunderstandings all over the place, and yer caught in the middle? Feels like nopony’s takin’ yer side?”

“Is this the part where you offer me a hug?”

“Do ya want one?”

“No.” She said. “So… I’m alright. Aside from wanting to stab somepony, I’m pretty alright now.”

“Ah thought that was normal.”

“You’re learning.” She said. She didn’t smirk, but he could hear the ghost of one in her tone. Mood successfully lifted, Big Mac pressed on.

“Now… could ya tell me what happened? Don’t leave anythin’ out.”

“Fine… I guess it started Tuesday. That yellow pegasus bumped into me and…”

--

The only reason Angel wasn’t out there putting to motion one of the many plans he had for this mystery mare’s demise was because he had to hold down the fort. He also had to be there for when mother came back to remind her to do the shopping. His stash was now empty and he hadn’t had a carrot in over an hour. And that was terrible.

…off in the distance, he could just barely make out a shade of yellow he was quite familiar with. Well great, something could actually get done around the house for a change.

Also mother totally owed him a salad sundae for cleaning up that blood. He was patient though, he didn’t mind at all waiting until mother got the shopping done before coll-

“I’m a monster!” cried Fluttershy as she flew in through the open window and buried herself in blankets, sobbing.

Angel watched her quivering form under the covers for a moment before making his way downstairs and to a small chest with his belongings in it.

He extracted a rainbow flag and hopped to the window.

“See how easy that was?” Said Rainbow Dash a few minutes later.

Angel didn’t even bother glaring. He thrust the shopping list at the pegasus.

“…so I guess Flutters isn’t back yet?” Angel shook his head no, pokerface up and deflecting suspicion.

“Well I guess everypony around here’s getting hungry? Fine, I can do this. Might take a bit though, some of those salesponies are pretty stubborn. Tell Shy she can pay me back later.”

Angel nodded his acceptance, and Dash was off.

He hopped his way back up the stairs, made sure there was nobody watching…

And he crawled into the blankets and hugged his crying mother. Before long, she’d calm down, and tell him what on Equestria convinced her that she of all ponies was a monster.

Then he could wave the flag again (or throw a carrot, as he would have those by then) and see about correcting a mistake or two.

--

“Did Dash come at all?” Big Mac asked when he exited the house. Ivan, like he usually was, had been resting under a tree nearby.

“No.” He replied, not looking away from the sky. “She alright?”

“I’m fine bro.” She said from behind the farmpony.

“Good.” He said. “Needed?”

“We’ll take it from here.” Big Mac said.

Ivan nodded, took a look at the sun’s position, got up, and started walking.

“Where’s he going?”

“School’s out soon. He’s probably gonna go see Cheerilee.”

“Huh. Well whatever. Where does the witch live?”

“Salad…”

“I’ll decide if she’s a witch or not after we talk to her.” Big Mac sighed, as he began to suspect he had found a mare even more stubborn than his sister.

Sisters save them all.

“So, where’s she live?” She asked as they started walking.

“Just on the edge of Everfree. Over there.”

“…the edge of Everfree?”

“Eeyup.”

“You mean that crazy killer forest that nearly got my brother turned to stone?”

“Eeyup.”

“…and… you’re saying she’s not a witch?”

“She talks to animals.”

“So she’s crazy.”

“It’s her talent.” Salad groaned.

“What is it with this town and cool talents? Hey, what’s yours? Can you bench-press a barn?”

“Ah can pull a house 'cross town.”

“…that’s your special talent?” She said, naked surprise written all over her face. Big Mac committed it to memory and smirked.

“Pullin’ a house is just a thing Ah can do.”

“…Well then.”

“Just like a thing you do is jumpin’ like some sorta hero outta Applebloom’s comic books.”

“Well that makes me feel better.”

Big Mac raised an eyebrow at her.

“Seriously, it does. So, what, does she tell everything in the killer forest not to eat her?”

“…Ah… don’t know.” The stallion said, with a bemused look on his face. “Ta be honest, Ah don’t think anypony’s ever questioned her ‘bout this.”

“…really? You’re all talking about her like she’s some prissy little princess waiting to get kidnapped and locked in a tower, hits like a summer breeze, delicate and pretty butterfly… And she’s living next to a killer forest? And none of you are questioning this?”

“Well if she can scare you, Ah think she can take care of herself.”

“…Touche. Also you’re a jackass.”

“Ah learned from the best.” Salad snorted a laugh to herself, and Big Mac started feeling like everything was going to be alright.

--

“…really? A dragon?”

“That’s what mah sister told me.”

“…this town is bucking nuts. That the place?”

“That’s the place.”

“…That… looks like an awesome place to live.” Salad said as she laid eyes on Fluttershy’s cottage. The large house nestled in a corner of the forest’s edge granted what was undoubtedly a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside from the balcony.

“Sure does.” Big Mac agreed as they got closer.

“So… she’s not mad about any of that from before?”

“Nnnope.”

“She won’t do that thing again?”

“Nnnope.”

“…so how do I handle her?”

“Just walk up there, knock on the door, and do what ya normally do.”

“…what’s that?”

“Don’t stop till ya get what ya want.”

“Oh har har.” The mare droned as she stepped forward.

She hesitated, something that made Mac raise an eyebrow, before raising a hoof to the door.

“Don’t you even think about it.” Big Mac turned to see Rainbow Dash making sure a rather large set of packages (they looked like Dash would normally need a wagon to carry them all) stayed where they were, before turning towards the pink mare.

“’Sup Stiches?” Salad quipped, looking over the other mare.

“What are you even here for?” Rainbow asked. “I thought this was over with.”

“Apparently it isn’t.” Salad said. “We fighting again? Because I’m not starting it. And I’ve got a bayonet I’ll go get that says you starting it is a bad idea.”

“Don’t think you can win without it?”

“…You know what?” Salad asked, eye twitching. “Just go away.”

“…huh?.”

“I’m not here to start a fight. If I was, do you think Red would be here with me?”

“…why are you here?”

“Because she did something earlier that I didn’t like. And apparently I said something that she didn’t like. Red says I have to deal with it before more idiots like you come out of nowhere to defend her honor.”

“…alright, fair enough.” Dash said.

“…really?”

“Yeah. If you’re not gonna step over the line again-“

“I didn’t step over it at all.” Salad cut off. “Now go away.”

“Nah. I’ve got a delivery to make. Tell ya what, I’ll go in there and send her out. She’s gotta make sure everything’s there anyway. Then you can talk to her, settle everything, and go back to doing whatever unlikable jerks do.”

“…Sounds good.” Salad said, leaning against a fencepost. “After you.”

Dash walked up to knock on the door as Big Mac thanked the sisters that the two weren’t currently brawling in Fluttershy’s front yard.

Both of Salad’s eyebrows rose as a little bunny rabbit answered the door.

“Hey Angel. Got the supplies right over there. Also could you get Fluttershy out here?”

Angel cocked his head to the side.

“That pink mare over there’s the one all the fuss is about. Apparently she’s here to settle things.”

The door slammed shut.

“…so should I just jump to the window then?” Asked Salad.

“…you know, come to think of it, I think I might’ve phrased that wrong.” Said Dash. “I think I might’ve made it sound like you were here to-“

The growl of a vicious beast silenced any attempt of conversation. Then from behind the cottage, out stomped a very angry grizzly bear.

Angel was on its head.

“…what.” Said Salad. “What.”

Angel jabbed a paw at Salad and the bear started charging. Salad stood there shaking.

Big Mac was about to intervene when a wooshCRACK again caused silence in the area. The bear was knocked onto its back.

Salad landed a few meters away, cracking her neck.

“I am sick of these motherbucking friends in this motherbucking town. Ever since that yellow witch happened, all I’ve had is trouble. It ends here.” Salad pointed her hoof at the grizzly, which was now picking itself up off the ground and growling angrily.

“You just cut to the front of the line, teddybear. Let’s get dangerous.”

--

Fluttershy awoke from her afternoon nap (since she didn’t leave the bed, sleeping seemed like the only option) and decided perhaps sleeping on her current problem was a good idea.

She was calmer now, and could think things through.

She could work on her apology, make sure Rainbow Dash didn’t pick any more fights, go out and do the shopping…

She could get her life back on track now. And after some more thought, maybe she could write a letter to Celestia about proper Stare usage. Or something.

Her thoughts paused when she heard a roar from the front of her house. She wondered if Mr. Grizzles’ back was out again. First thing was first, she supposed.

She opened her front door tooh my Celestia.

Big Mac and Rainbow Dash stood on the sidelines, the mare’s mouth opening and closing in disbelief. Big Mac was more composed, but looked like he was at a loss as to what he should do.

Salad, deep gashes littering her body, stood on the fallen form of Mr. Grizzles, screaming victory to the heavens.

And Fluttershy recognized the look on Angel’s face. That was the look of him trying to come up with a plan b.

She flew into action.

“Angel.” The bunny turned and suddenly looked quite terrified at the mare suddenly standing behind him. “You are grounded.”

Fluttershy turned, slowly, at the now silent Salad. “And you. You.” The yellow pegasus’ eyes started to widen, and Salad stumbled backwards in her attempts to get as far away as she could.

She landed at Big Mac’s hooves. And she looked up at the stallion, pleading for help.

“Ah’ve got ya.” He said, before looking up at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy met his gaze, and he was taken aback at how angry the mare looked.

She took deep breaths, and Big Mac could see her counting to ten in her head.

“…Are you alright?” She asked, turning away and kneeling down by the bear’s head. A rumble in the bear’s throat sounded like he was ready to get up and hurt something, but evidently, Fluttershy knew better.

“We’ll talk about what happened later.” The pegasus said. “You don’t look too bad. You just need a rest. I’ll be by later with something for the pain.”

Fluttershy turned and whistled sharply in the direction of the cottage. Several animals poked their heads out from hiding places all around them.

“May I please have some help getting Mr. Grizzles to his bed?”

The other ponies watched as dear came out and supported the bear under his arms, birds tried to haul him up by the shoulders, a raccoon used it’s tail to sweep clean the path before them of sharp rocks.

Fluttershy walked with them, comforting the groaning bear.

She turned back.

“Please wait inside.”

Nopony argued.

--

Big Mac and Dash seated themselves, but Salad couldn’t relax, pacing nervously and twitching her feathers.

Neither of the other two told her to stop, even if she was dripping blood all over the place.

There was a light click from the back door, and Salad’s head whipped up and in the direction of the noise. They heard some clutter from the back, and Fluttershy emerged balancing a first aid kit on her back.

“Would you please sit over here?” She asked.

“…why?” the pink mare asked cautiously.

“You need those wounds looked at.”

Salad slowly made her way to the chair Fluttershy pulled out. And tried to control her breathing as the other mare set to work.

“Rainbow, could you please go get some water and a cloth from the kitchen?”

“Sure.”

Fluttershy opened the kit and started taking things out. Gauze, bandages, a needle, some thread… Salad wondered how bad she was messed up. She supposed it was the adrenaline that was dulling the pain.

“I’m sorry.” Fluttershy finally said. The water and cloth was set next to her and Dash returned to her chair, saying nothing.

“…yeah?”

“I… haven’t been very nice to you.”

“…kay.”

“Why did you hurt Mr. Grizzles?”

“I did what I always do when something attacks me.” Salad replied. “Ask Skittles over there.”

“You were attacked?”

“There was a bunny on his head.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care anymore.” Said Salad. “If you’re going to fix me up, that’s great. After that, I’ll do you all a favor and just keep my distance.”

Fluttershy fell silent after that, wringing out the cloth and grabbing disinfectant.

“…I don’t have my cleats. They’re still at Red’s.” Salad said, after a while. “And my bayonet’s at home. So I didn’t hit the bear with any of that. He’ll have a headache, but that’s it, really.”

“That’s good. I didn’t have a chance to take a close look at him.”

“No?”

“You looked worse off.” Said Fluttershy as she threaded the needle.

“Even if I might’ve hurt your friend?”

“None of this is about what I want. You need my help more than him.”

Minutes later, nothing else was said, Salad was stitched and bandaged, and the three left the cottage as the sun was starting to hang low over the horizon.

Rainbow Dash awkwardly scratched behind her head with a hoof, before giving Salad and Big Mac a nod and taking off toward home.

Mac walked Salad to her door, wished her goodnight, and headed back to the farm to eat and sleep the entire ordeal behind him.

Salad, deciding that ‘Red’ had the right idea, cooked the biggest meal she had ever made, comprised entirely of comfort food, and ate herself almost sick.

And she bedded down, content that she would never have to deal with any of them ever again.

--

Salad awoke the next morning, called in sick to work, and spent the morning relaxing.

A knock sounded at the door and since Cheerilee and Ivan were out, it fell on her to answer.

“Hi Salad!” said Ditzy. “How’s your day going?”

“It goes.” She replied. “Got something for the teacher?”

“Something for you!” She said.

“Huh, I guess mom and dad finally got around- wait there’s no return address.”

“It was a favor. I got a muffin for it!”

“I’m sure you did. So wh-“

“Sorry, but I’ve gotta fly! Enjoy your gift!”

Salad watched her go, wobbling in the air, before looking down at the package. It was warm.

Soon it was unwrapped on the table, revealing a sealed envelope and a freshly baked vegetable pie.

Ignoring how appetizing it smelled for the moment, she turned her attention to the letter. Cutting the envelope with her nearby blade, she looked over the page.

I talked to Angel and found out everything that happened. I’m making sure he knows better from now on.

Mr. Grizzles doesn’t hold anything against you and won’t be angry with you if you ever find yourself in the area.

I’m sorry. I hope this helps make it up to you.

-Fluttershy.

Salad set the letter down, wondering if she should just ignore it altogether. She was quite convinced that interacting with that mare might be bad luck.

…In the end though, the pie smelled too good to resist. She served herself up a slice and took a bite.

…Yams. Her favorite.

Salad groaned.