Blood on the floor pt.3

It was not a good morning at Sweet Apple Acres in my Equestria dreamscape. Big Mac and Applejack had found the body of the one of the family pigs brutally killed in their barn fav.me/d5ghfqs . Applebloom had come face to face with results of her Close Friends labors, and the realization that he was doing things without her knowledge or consent. Then she vomited a stomach full of blood all over the kitchen floor and blacked out fav.me/d5gknsh .

It is a testament to the hardiness of Granny Smith that she handled Applebloom's bloody vomiting as well as she did. Of course she had not been informed yet about Short Curl's death, so when she saw the blood and the little filly collapse she jumped to her own conclusion. Racing to the front door as fast as her geriatric body would allow, she threw open the door and yelled out to Applejack and Big Mac.

" You two get in here right now! Applebloom is a hemorrhaging all over the floor! Hurry!"

Galloping into the house Big Mac and Applejack were now confronted the sight of their little sister lying unconscious in a large puddle of blood. Winona who had followed them from the barnyard, stopped took a sniff yelped and bolted back out into the barnyard. For several seconds brother and sister stood there stunned as they once again fought back the urge to vomit. First to snap out of it was AJ who went over to her fallen little sister. She fought off another wave nausea as she had to step into the blood to reach her. Much to her relief the little filly was breathing. However she was afraid to touch her little sister after a recent experience with her fav.me/d5eyk1f .

" Big Mac! Snap out of it and come over here and get your little sister out of this stuff!

Pausing for a moment the big stallion came over and gingerly lifted the his little sister off the floor. She was covered in blood and bile from her vomiting. Big Mac tried to ignore the taste in his mouth as he clenched her mane in his teeth and lifted her off the floor. Applejack had raced into the bathroom and returned with some towels and a wash clothes. Granny Smith had filled a pot with water, and in relatively short time they had the worst of the blood and mess cleaned off the little filly. Applebloom's breathing and pulse seemed steady, but she was still unconscious and appeared to running a fever. Using a spare blanket they were able jury rig a hammock sling and transported her to the sofa in the living room.

Applejack knew she needed to get medical attention for the little filly fast.

" I'm going to go and get help! Big Mac stay with her in case she wakes up. Granny, I hate to ask but can you clean up that mess on the floor?"

" But sis, the road to the hospital still buried under the snow, and the countryside isn't any better! It'll take you all day just to get there and back."

" I know of source closer by! You just stay here with her okay." Without saying another word she bolted out the front door.

When he decided to take a residency at Ponyville Hospital many of Strong Heart's colleagues in Canterlot thought he was making a big mistake. Why give up a chance to practice medicine in the very prestigious and lucrative Canterlot area for some little farming community. He would come to regret his decision. Strong Heart was so happy he had decided not to heed their advice.

Ponyville was a wonderful community and the surrounding countryside was positively breathtaking certain times of the years. Being a unicorn stallion Strong Heart didn't possess the earth pony magic for growing things, but he was still very proud of the gardens he had planted and nurtured all over his property. Even if his job sometimes kept him away from them more than he thought was best for them.

He was still a relatively young and handsome stallion, but he did not miss the bustle or night life of a large city. Instead he found a profound sense of peace and contentment in this valley with its farms, rolling hills, and deep forests. In fact he had purchased his cottage specifically because of the view out the kitchen window. He felt his soul rejuvenated every time he looked out. Yes, it was a bit further away from the hospital but he did not mind the trot to and from work. Although the snows of the last few days had basically left somewhat stranded at his place. But that was a small price to pay in such a wonderful place!

And his neighbors were great. Especially the Apple Family just down the road. Real down to earth ponies who were always willing to help another pony in need. And the young mare who more or less ran the farm was easy on the eyes too. Yes, Ponyville was so much more enjoyable; unlike Canterlot where too many ponies were only worried with climbing up the ladder of social hierarchy. No, here in Ponyville neighbors were always dropping by to visit and say hi.

However, they usually didn't start hammering on your door at six in the morning. Strong Heart made his way slowly down the darkened hallway toward the front door, and the source of the racket that had abruptly waken him. At this time of the year the sky was just starting lighten but he hadn't taken the time to light a lamp or candle. Shaking his head from side to side he tried to dislodge the cobwebs from his mind, and forlornly hoped that it made his mane look more presentable.

" By Celestia's forever flawless flanks! " He wondered. "Who is trying to wake me at this hour? This better be good!"

He slowly opened the door stared at Applejack's face. Just one look at her eyes and he knew why she'd come to him. More than a cup of coffee or splash of cold water in the face, her eyes woke him up.

"Let me get my bag. I'll be right out." as he immediately turned and went back inside.

Applebloom was just coming around when AJ and Strong Heart arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. On the way over AJ had given him a basic telling of what had happened to her little sister this morning. As part of the staff at Ponyville Hospital he was aware of her little sister's visits and medical problems fav.me/d5c4o0x fav.me/d5c7qr9 even though he was not directly involved in her treatment. However it sounded like she had take turn for the worst. In fact based on what AJ had said he was uncertain how much he would be able to do save her without immediate transport to Ponyville Hospital.

Therefore he was very relieved if not a bit confused to find the little filly in much better condition that he'd feared. From Applejack's description it had sounded like her little sister had suffered some type massive internal hemorrhaging and was bleeding to death. What he found was a semi-conscious filly who was feverish but not apparently in immediate threat of perishing. Although he found the scar on her forehead very, very odd and disturbing.

Rising from Applebloom's side he went over to where Granny Smith was cleaning up the remnants of the little filly's bloody mess. He could see how large of an area the pool had been but it made no sense. If Applebloom had vomited this much blood she should have been suffering from some form of massive internal bleeding? Strong Heart decided to test a theory.

Strong Heart had a natural and a magical talent for medicine in general. However he was particularly adept and identifying blood type and toxicology work. His horn glowed gently and celadon green and some of blood on the floor glowed in kind for second. The black Unicorn Stallion stared at results and shook his head. He must not be as awake as he thought. He tried the spell again on the different spot on the floor. His expression grew more confused. He turned back to Applejack.

"This blood is not from your little sister. "

"What do mean not her blood? She vomited it up! If it is not her blood then where did…….." Applejack suddenly got horrified expression on her face. " Doc if it is not her blood can you determine if it is another animals blood instead?"

Strong Heart closed his eyes and thought for moment before replying.

"Yes in theory. However my accuracy for exact details is greatly diminished. Why do you ask?"

AJ was pacing on the floor and Big Mac was starting to look angry.

"Hey sis! What are you thinking? You don't think our little sis is the one who…."

"I'm not certain about anything anymore!" Said AJ stabbing her big brother with an icy stare. " But certain facts are pointing to something. Doc come with me."

Applejack, with Big Mac grumpily in tow and very the confused doctor bringing up the rear out the front door around to barn entrance. The body of Short Curl was still in one corner awaiting cremation. The black unicorn recoiled in horror at the pig corpse.

"Ah! What has been going on her at your farm?! Why did you want to show this to me?"

Applejack seemed to be carefully selecting her words when she replied.

"Doc, I want you to cast the same spell on the pig's body that you did in our kitchen. I have to know if it is the same blood."

Strong Heart stared at AJ for a second and then his horn glowed a soft green light, for several seconds he said nothing then he replied cautiously.

"There are several exact details that I can not confirm, but general structure and pattern are similar to the blood that…."

"My little sis puked up." Said AJ. "Aren't they doc?" Applejack has an expression of one desperately wishing this was all some horrible dream that she could wake from.

Strong Heart slowly nodded is head.

"Yes, it appears to be so." He looked at Applejack and over at her big brother who was standing absolutely still except for a slight quiver in his legs. Then back to the her. " What is going on here Applejack?"

Applejack slowly sat down on her haunches and stared off into some dark corner of the barn with a broken look on her face. Somewhere in the barn an old shutter creaked back and forth in the morning breeze. After a couple seconds she spoke slowly.

"Big Mac I want you to take Applebloom up her room and the lock the door and make certain her windows are locked and shuttered. She is not to come out unless she is escorted by someone. Doc I need you to stay here and help Granny and my big brother with this and to make certain there is always some awake in the house. If at all possible try not to be alone with her for very long." She looked at the two stallions. "Do you understand?"

Big Mac nodded his head. "And where are you going to be doing during all this sis?" There was a mixture of dread and anger in the big red stallions voice.

AJ stood up slowly. "I'm going to head into the town. The trains should start running again soon and Twilight should be coming back. If that doesn't work out I'll find some pegasus pony to deliver a message to the Royal Guard and have them contact her. If they can't find her then I'll have them forward my message directly to the Royal Sisters and ask for their intervention. I need to get ready."

Strong Heart, coughed once and then addressed the mare. "Applejack, if your sister is in any kind of danger we should transport her to the hospital. There she can kept under better observation. She'll be safer there, and why does this involve the Royal Guard and the Royal Sisters? I want some answers before I agree to anything."

The mare shook her head and closed her eyes as if holding back some painful thought.

"Doc, I don't think you understand. Applebloom is not endangered by anything. She is the danger! I don't want to put any other ponies at risk if I can avoid it. Concerning the further information I am not at liberty to discuss that with you at this time. As an agent of the crown I have been sworn to an oath of secrecy. That is all"

Strong Heart stared at Applejack incredulously for second, then he remembered. This young mare was not just a local farmer. She was one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. In less than two years she had along with the other bearers saved Equestria from two ancient foes. Nightmare Moon and Discord. Yet she obviously was scared about something concerning her little sister. The doctor had no desire now to know what could be such a danger. He would carry out her request though. Silently he nodded.

Without another word AJ left them and went back into the house. She quickly put on a heavy sweater, scarf and waterproof leggings. On her way out again she stopped and looked in on her little sister who was sleeping fitfully in her bed. A flood of conflicting emotions raced through her mind. Then she turned relocked Applebloom's bedroom door and headed down the stairs, out the front door and into the winter morning. As she slogged through the heavy snow silent tears trickled down and froze on her cheeks. To be continued.