//------------------------------//
// Hornbreaking Work 
// Story: Boss Macintosh and Just Twilight 
// by AcidGreen 
//------------------------------//

"Ya broke?" Applejack drastically raised her eyebrows. "Twilight, how could Princess run out of bits?"

"Would you be quiet, please!" Twilight blushed and hastily looked around to make sure nopony heard their conversation. Fortunately there was not a single soul to overhear her embarrassing shortcoming, for they were standing in the middle of Sweet Apple Acres. After several seconds Twilight let out a sigh and faced Applejack again.

"Yes, I have almost no money and it can happen to a princess... at least this princess. In my case it's just a honorary title. It's not like I collect tax." 

"Yeah, but... what happened?"

"My Golden Oak Library is blown up, remember?"

"Yup. Sorry about that."

"Everything I had in it was destroyed, and the castle didn't come up with things I need, you know, such as books, a bathtub, a table, bookshelves, utensils, quills, bookmarks, lamps, books,  a toothbrush, books, dishes, books, books..."

"I got the idea, Twi." 

Twilight took a deep breath. "So, anyway... I had some money left in my bank account to buy necessities, but before I know... I used them up and Spike and I have nothing to eat next week."

"Ah bet those 'necessities' includes a lotta books."

"Hey! Books ARE necessities! Without them life is pointless!"

"Serious?"

"...No. I got to eat first."

Seeing Twilight's sheepish smile, Applejack decided there's no point humiliating friend by asking details.

"Okay, Twilight. Ah can lend ya some. How much do ya need?"

"Huh? ...Oh no no!" Twilight giggled as she waved her hoof. "I didn't come here to ask you that, Applejack. I was trying to ask for a job, not a loan."

"Job ya say?" 

"Yes. I'd like to work in Sweet Apple Acres for a while. Can you do that? You don't have to pay me that much. I just need to feed myself and Spike for a while, like, two weeks."

Unlike Twilight expected, Applejack did not say "Yeah!" immediately with welcoming smile. Instead, she averted her eyes from Twilight and rubbed her chin, contemplating her next decision. 

"Well, Ah can't give ya an answer. It's mah brother's call."

"Oh." Twilight was slightly taken aback, realizing how she'd totally forgotten about Big Macintosh in this matter. Whenever she helped Applejack in Sweet Apple Acres, somehow he was always working far away from them. These experiences gave her such a wrong impression of Applejack running the farm alone.

"Okay, so... can I talk to him?"

"Sure ya can. Ah think he's bucking apples on the other side of Acres. Follow me."

They trotted across uneven terrain of the apple farm. Applejack easily located Big Mac, but before they approach, she stopped Twilight before he could notice them.

"Wait, Twi." Applejack's whispered nervously. "Ah forgot to warn ya."

"What's now?"

"Well, just... don't feel too bad if Mac turn ya down in one word."

"Ow..." Twilight cringed at the seriousness of the tone. "Don't you think he will hire me?"

"It's not about you. It was while since Acres had any paid workers, and Ah almost forgot what it was like..." Applejack shook heads as if she was trying to throw away "what it was like" from her brain.

"The thing is, Twi, Mac is very serious about this business, and probably doesn't care if yer mah best friend or a princess. So, just don't be shocked if he says 'nnope' one second after ya ask."

"O... kay... "

"Well, here we go. ...Hey, Bro!" 

Big Macintosh heard his sister and looked towards approaching two mares. Before Twilight and Big Macintosh get close enough to greet comfortably, Applejack dove into the business.

"Twilight lost all bits and wants to work here for two weeks. Does she get a job?" 

"Applejack! Can't you just be more... I mean, hello, Big Macintosh." 

"Howdy Twilight. And, eeyup."

"Ya heard it, Twi. Sorry but why don't ya just... wait, what did ya say Big Mac?"

"She's got a job."

"Wow that's quick. Thanks!" Twilight beamed a happy smile, but inversely Applejack's expression became more serious. She walked right in front of her big brother, and gave him a wary gaze.

"Ya sure Mac? This is not about usual help, but a paying job."

"Eeyup."

"Okay. But ya know Twilight is mah best friend. Ya don't have to pamper her, but if ya treat her like ya had—"

"Oh come on, Applejack." Twilight playfully interjected. "You don't have to protect me from anything, especially from your brother! We are fine!"

There was a strange silence remained for seconds, in which Big Macintosh was quiet as ever, looking at the thin air, and Applejack was worriedly looking back and forth between her friend and brother.

"Well, then, okay, Ah'm gonna back to mah work." Applejack suddenly said to nopony in particular, and without a moment waiting for any response, trotted back to where she came from.

Now new employer and employee looked each others eyes, not sure what to make Applejack's behavior.

"So... Twilight." Big Macintosh made a rare moment by initiating a conversation first. "Like Ah said, yer hired. Lemme tell ya how things goes."

Twilight nodded enthusiastically, but inwardly she was mentally preparing to hear something unpleasant. Obviously Applejack was not entirely excited about me working here. But she never had a problem when I helped her work. Wait, this time it's different. Big Macintosh is my boss. Is this what she's worried about? Does she think I will disappoint him? Or, does she think HE will disappoint ME?

"First, helping mah sis and working for bits are different. Ah really 'ppreciate how ya helped Sweet Apple Acres, but this time, it's gonna be much more intense. 'Kay with that?"

"Yes, I'm prepared for that." 

"Good. Most of that time Ah'll be the boss, not AJ. But don't worry, Ah'm not gonna boss ya 'round. Ya be yerself, Ah'll be just me. If ya think Ah'm being jerk or too hard or anythin', just talk."

"You are such a gentlecolt." Twilight beamed. "I know I don't have to worry about that."

"So, when can ya begin?"

"Tomorrow."

"Then meet me at 9 a.m., front of the barn. Work until the noon and Ya'll have a free lunch. Take a rest, start working again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Yer welcome to join us in the dinner too, if ya don't mind. That's how it's gonna go. Any questions?"

"Nothing! Wow, you are so nice, my boss. I'm sure I will enjoy my new job, so see you tomorrow!" 

Twilight waved her hoof to Big Macintosh and joyfully trotted to her castle. So far everything was going great and she worried nothing about the work.





Next day, at 8:55 a.m., Twilight reached the barn as she was told and found Big Macintosh waiting there. He was already little sweaty, indicating he'd already gone through his morning chores.

"Good morning, Big Macintosh!" Twilight merrily smiled. "I'm ready for my first day's work!"

"Mornin', Twilight. Follow me."

Big Macintosh led the new worker to the direction exactly opposite to the center of Ponyville. They walked over several hills, and reached the area of endless sight of big, withered trees. Twilight curiously looked over this unfamiliar sight.

"This is where ya start."

"Oh, I see. And... where are we?"

"We are standing on one of the oldest patch of our orchard." 

"Are these apple trees?" Twilight walked around in small circle, awestruck. "So impressive! I never knew  they can be this tall!" 

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh proudly raised his head, but his expression quickly changed into a sad one. "But ya can see, they're almost dead and it' time for them to go."

"I see. Land clearing."

"Plus, harvesting apple woods too. They'll make good furniture and smoke woods."

"Oh! I didn't realize wood itself can be merchandise." Twilight's bright smile shined as always when she gained new knowledge. Big Macintosh had no way to resist returning his smile back.

"Eeyup. Ah'll let Filthy Rich handle 'em and he'll make a mountain of bits. ...So, here's what Ah have in mah mind." Big Macintosh cleared his uncomfortable throat and weakly coughed several times, for he'd already spoken more than he would do in his average day. "Ah've heard from AJ that Rarity used magic to turn a wood into smaller pieces when they had a sleepover in yer... previous house. Sorry 'bout that."

"Oh, thanks, but I'm fine."

"Anyway, can ya do similar things? Like turning these trees into logs?"

Twilight tried her hardest not to grimace. This is the infamous moment every magic users must endure several times in their lifetime; getting requests for performing magic from somepony who has no idea how magic works. Luckily (or because of her poor social experience) Twilight never experienced it until now, but was firmly warned by Celestia herself on such a occasion. Don't get upset, it's totally reasonable for him to be absurd.

"Well... no, I cannot." Fearing any question from her boss, Twilight hastily continued. "What Rarity did was reshaping a wood piece. But these are trees, almost dead but still alive, and connected to the ground. Alternation on life form on this size is out of anypony's capacity."

Much to her relief, Big Macintosh seemed satisfied with her explanation. "Okay. So, we have to cut them down or root them up first, then ya can turn them into logs. Right?"

"Yes, I believe that's the case."

"Can ya pull them out with your magic?"

"Err..." This time, Twilight failed not to grimace. "... No."

"How so? Ah've heard ya could haul the Ursa Minor away from the town and fixed the broken dam."

Twilight's panic level instantly skyrocketed, as suddenly memory of the history lecture in School of Gifted Unicorns she found most frightening flooded her mind. The subject was pre-Equestria era, when Pegasi, Earth ponies and unicorns despised each other. The lecturer meticulously explained why unicorns were so hated by other races back then, and one of major cause was...

Exactly like what's happening right now.

There were many cases where non-unicorns asked unicorns to perform certain magic tasks, and unicorns had to decline because simply they cannot do it. Non-unicorns did not believe that. When they knew unicorns can rise the sun and the moon, they'd never imagined what they were asking was harder than that. Unicorns failed to explain how magic works. Pegasi and Earth ponies often assumed reason behind such denial was that unicorns thought they were just too good to be told what to do by their "inferiors". Thus unicorns were often regarded as condescending , lazy and dishonest. 

Is that how Big Macintosh sees me?

"No!" Twilight abruptly screamed. "I'm not lying, please! That's not how magic works! Trees have a will to stay on the ground and resist any spells which try to sever the connection! Unlike sleeping Ursa! I even had a difficulty moving Fluttershy when she resisted! And the dam! What I did was casting fixing spell! That's totally different from lifting! Even Princess Celestia herself could no way telekinetically grab all boulders and put back in the place and make it a functional dam and how in Equestria could I..." 

"Twilight!"

The ranting mare literally jumped at the sudden reprimand. Her eyes gradually became focused, but soon the pupils shrunk as realization hit her like a lightning.

Did Big Macintosh yell!? At Me!? Oh no no no no no, Celestia, what am I doing? This is just day one and I haven't even done anything yet, and he is already upset! He is going to fire me! How could I be so pathetic...

Twilight's self loathing came to a sudden halt as something warm touched her body. Right then she realized that Big Macintosh was standing right front of her, gently patting her shoulder with his absurdly large hoof. His green eyes kindly looked into hers. 

He somehow reminded Twilight of her big brother.

"Calm down." He tenderly told.

So she did.

After several awkward seconds, Twilight sheepishly giggled, blushing profusely. 

"... Sorry."

"Neh, Ah'm sorry if Ah sounded like doubting ya. Let's do this over."

Twilight suppressed a whimper as Big Macintosh's hoof left her. The stallion turned around and faced the woods as moments ago. 

"So... again, Ah'd like to clear out this patch of dead trees, and woods have to be harvested. Any suggestions?"

Now that's much better. Twilight inwardly sighed in relief.

"If I have to do it alone, I don't have any better idea than grabbing a hatchet and doing it in the old fashioned way, but... with somepony's help, maybe I can do it in much quicker way."

Big Macintosh did not say anything, he just looked at her. Knowing she had his attention, Twilight continued.

"My magic is not strong enough to pull a tree out completely, but probably enough to make it loose. If some force is applied at the right moment, the tree might give up."

"Like mah kick."

"Exactly. Care to test it out?"

"Eeyup."

Big Macintosh swiftly moved to the nearest tree and took a proper stance to give it a good bucking. Seeing this, Twilight narrowed her eyes in concentration to grab the giant near-dead apple tree. Her horn simmered and in an instance, the tree was engulfed by her pink magical grow.

Twilight closed her eyes tight and growled as she built up force to yank it upward, but as she expected, that was going nowhere near the intended effect. The tree was heavy, and its roots were deep, but real challenge was the tree's unwillingness to comply. Magic is most effective when it guides the nature, such as raising the sun as it is meant to. Disconnecting plants from Earth is the exact opposite of that. Twilight gave her best effort, but the tree claimed the soil as greedy as a dragon guarding his hoard.  

This is just too much. Maybe this doesn't work at all...

Literally earth-shaking blast echoed through Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight involuntarily jumped up and saw the tree she was trying to pull up was now laying down horizontally, with its root intact up in the air. 

She could see Big Mac's hoofprints on the trunk, made by his massive bucking.

"Wow... it worked."

"Eeyup."

They continued rooting up the trees with the combined effort of Ponyville's most powerful magic and strongest muscle. Twilight was so proud of the accomplishment.

However, such positive attitude quickly died down, because what Big Macintosh warned her about was true; the work was intense.

Never in her life did Twilight experience such amount of raw magic exertion, both in terms of magnitude and duration. The most rigorous training in back in her days in School of Gifted Unicorn was walk in the park compared to this toil. She was already tired. 

But Twilight was determined not to show it. Her boss had shown zero hint of weariness, and he began working hours before she started. Asking for a break was embarrassing.

That's right, I've learned from Celestia! I have a reputation to live up with! ...But how in Equestria can he keep doing that!? Twilight winced as another thunderous kick sent a poor tree across the field. That one kick must consume more energy than I spend in a day! Oh, I never understand Earth ponies, even I share their gift now as an alicorn... 

After the longest three hours Twilight could remember, Big Macintosh declared their morning choir was over. Twilight was almost sleepwalking when they reached Apple house. Smell of pancakes assaulted them as Big Macintosh opened the door. Twilight followed him to inside and saw Applejack skillfully handling a flying pan with her mouth.

"Hiya, Twi." Applejack mischievously grinned, obviously enjoying the view of her friend utterly burned out.  "Enjoying yer work?"

"Ugh... yeah..."

Applejack seemed satisfied by the answer. "Of course. Welcome to the farming life, princess!"

Twilight did her signature groan. Oh, how she hated to be addressed as such, especially when it connotes weakness! But before Twilight tried to move her energy-deprived brain to come up with any decent comeback, Big Macintosh beat to it.

"Be nice AJ. She's doing fine and we will clear that patch in no time." 

"Okay okay, if that's so ..."

The lunch went as usual as always for Apple family, even though there was Twilight as an addition. She was so tired that she did not participate in the conversation, and Apples understood that. 

Pancakes were delicious, but even chewing down and swallowing them was tedious in her state. Twilight secretly admired how her boss was consuming a mountain of food. 

After the lunch, Twilight took a nap in the barn, asking Big Macintosh to wake up when she is needed. There was no way she could wake up on her own in such condition. And 3 p.m. seemed to come right after a moment when she closed her eyes. 

The evening work was exactly the same as the morning one. Again Twilight lost her track on the time in endless removal of the oversized apple trees. 

Before she noticed, she was at the dinner table, hearing, but not listening to the story of Apple Bloom's epic quest on searching her cutie mark. 

The Dinner was over, and Big Macintosh stopped her to help cleaning up. "That's okay, you can go home now. Good working with you Twilight."

"Well good working with you too, Big Macintosh. See you tomorrow." Twilight sounded as if she was imitating Maud Pie. At this moment everything she cared was going back to her room and sleep like a log. Bath? It can wait.

"Wait." Big Macintosh halted her when she went to the outside. "Aren't ya forgetting something?"

"Huh?"

"Bits." Big Macintosh trotted to some room back in the house and quickly came back with a pouch.

"Oh! Oh yeah, haha, I totally forgot... wow." Twilight paused when the pouch was dropped in her saddlebag. It was heavy. "How much?"

"Ninety bits."

"Ninety!?" That was a way more than decent for usual pay for a day, let alone for the first day of an inexperienced pony. "That's... so generous, Big Macintosh. I'm flattered, really."

"To be honest, Ah'll pay less later. Now yer doing the hardest part of the job Ah have in mah mind." Big Macintosh warmly smiled, "Ya earned it, Twilight. See ya tomorrow."

"Yes... see you."

On the way back to the castle, Twilight was feeling unfamiliar warmth within her chest. She was unable to define the emotion. However, the source of the emotion was easy to figure out. Whenever she remember the rare time Big Macintosh gave her a positive and kind word with reassuring smile, she could feel it.

I think... I am proud, or feeling genuinely appreciated. I never thought I wasn't, but come to think of it... the Elements, alicornhood, princess and the castle... what ponies think the foundation of me... I didn't earn them. They were not things I actively sought to obtain. It just happened. Plus, all those "saving Equestria" business were done by combined force of ponies.  I'm just a part of it. I was perfectly fine being Celestia's student and nothing more. But... 

Twilight stopped, and stared one of her wings. 

I appear to be more than what I am. Ponies think I am more then what I think I am. Those bows, complements, fame, monuments... they felt so empty. Is this why I feel good about today? The work was tough and dull, I can't say I enjoyed it, but they were nothing to do with my "accomplishments" in the past, and Big Macintosh just appreciated who I am and what I have done. Come to think of it, he never mentioned my princesshood. He makes me feel like just Twilight Sparkle again. Yes this must be why I...

Twilight blushed.

... I like him.