"No! We're not goin' out there!" Applejack insisted, standing between Apple Bloom and the door. "Big Mac knows what ta do, he'll be in the barn right now takin' shelter from the storm."
At that inopportune moment, the red coated stallion opened the door and hurried in, kicking it shut behind him and glancing at his stunned sisters.
"An' what in tarnation are ya doin' here!?" Applejack demanded, being the first to find her voice. "Ah thought we agreed you were gon' hide in the barn if the storm caught ya! It's been rainin' fer hours!"
Her brother shrugged and simply provided a "Eyup." as he knelt to let his shivering passenger disembark, which she did with a rather graceless roll, landing on her back with a splash from her saturated fur and mane.
"Wha... Who's this?" AJ seemed to forget about the previous issue.
"Ah don't know." He replied.
"She didn't tell you?" Apple Bloom questioned.
Mac shrugged.
"Hey." The blonde mare's voice softened as she stooped to bring herself closer to the pegasus' level. "Can you look at me?"
Her attention was caught by her brother as he lifted a hoof to his head, lightly hitting himself and letting his eyes go a little off for a moment. AJ got the message. 'Concussion... Darn.'
Voices surrounded the mare as she tried to turn her gaze, a confusing mass of words echoing in her ears until one of the ponies spoke close enough to her that she could pick out what they said. She hesitated more due to disorientation than anything else, but slowly managed to turn her head towards the voice, her eyes settling on the tan face before her. This pony seemed worried, like Big Mac had been. It comforted the pegasus somewhat, as the freckled face slowly came into focus, that she was with ponies who cared about her.
"Can ya hear what ahm sayin'? Jus' nod if ya can." AJ was quickly answered with the nod she requested, so she smiled a little. The least she could do for the scared and confused mare was reassure her.
It was Apple Bloom who spoke next. "Do ya have any idea where ya are? Any words for it at all?"
The pegasus needed far too long to think, but eventually the word "Equestria" passed her trembling lips.
That was a start at least. "Good." AJ nodded, flashing her little sister a congratulatory little smile. "Do any other words come to mind?"
The blue mare thought long and hard on that one, finding herself briefly distracted by Granny Smith's condescending gaze as the old mare walked through the room.
"Sump'n don't smell right about this'n." She muttered as she passed, leaving the Apple siblings to watch her with confusion of their own.
Well, for the few people who may - however unlikely - have been waiting for it, here's the next chapter.