Keeping It Simple

by Ivory Piano

11. Family Recipes

Family Recipes

Something was wrong with his plow. The blade shone brilliantly in the few rays of sunlight filtering through the barn’s wooden structure. No red rust stained the plow blade’s surface, which shone a brighter silver than before. No chips or dents plagued its edge, now steel instead of iron. The same could be said of its wooden parts. No longer were they crooked and pitted, but smooth and polished. Everything was perfect and new. One thought crossed his mind as he chewed at the end of his stalk of wheat: He hated it.

Applejack walked into the barn, her lasso wound and hanging from her neck. Big Macintosh looked over at her and, when she noticed him, he gently tapped the plow blade with the edge of his hoof. The metal clanked from the impact as she approached him and gave him a confused stare. He did it again, harder this time, and she finally understood.

“Ah got ya a new one,” she said.

“What did ya do with the old one?” he asked.

“Put it out in the junk pile outside the farm ready ta get hauled and recycled.”

He grunted in annoyance. “We still coulda used it.”

“That’s why Ah threw it out.”

He looked at her, and she stared back. They held each others eyes for a few long seconds. Big Macintosh looked away with a sigh, his gaze returning to his plow. “If Ah use this one the fields’ll be done in a couple of hours. It usually takes me half the day.”

“Good, it’ll give ya some free time.”

“Ah don’t want free time,” he said simply.

Applejack placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Believe me, Mac, you do.” She didn’t say anything more before going to the other side of the barn, hanging up her lasso on a nail, and leaving him alone with his plow. He looked at it again until, with a shake of his head, he left the barn as well and headed for the junk pile just outside the farm, far away from the apple orchard, where it waited to be taken by garbage ponies.

Once there, Big Macintosh pushed aside several bags of trash until he finally found his old plow at the very bottom of the pile. He pulled it out and placed it, standing, far from the rest of the junk. He stared at the familiar sight, at its half broken handle and bent blade.

He didn’t know when Applejack found the opportunity to replace it without him noticing. They had gotten back from the camping trip two weeks ago. Big Macintosh had completely immersed himself with work since then, as soon as the doctor gave him the okay. Day and night he worked, more than usual even for him. Of course, Applejack’s friends came by to bother him every so often. He simply kept to short, curt responses, and soon enough they stopped trying and left him alone.

He had tried to go back to how things were, but now he realized that was impossible.

This plow deserved better, Macintosh knew that much. He grabbed its handle and dragged it back towards the farm. He didn’t stop until he was back at the barn and placed the old plow toward the back and covered it with a nearby tarp, away from sight.

Macintosh couldn’t think of anything to do with it, but decided to keep it until he could find a purpose for it. If Applejack saw him using it she would just chew him out. He sighed. Three months ago that wouldn’t seem like a reason to stop him, but now things were different. She was right to an extent. He had enough sense to admit that his life had been mostly work for the majority of his life, but he never thought it was that bad. Even so, he didn’t want to stop and make friends just yet. Soon, he would often tell himself, but there was something he needed to find first.

He grabbed the new blade and took it out to the fields for its first run. Just as he had said, the work went quickly and easily. The new blade cut through the dirt like a knife through water, and Big Macintosh didn’t even break a sweat as he pulled the plow behind him. How could anything easy be worthwhile? If Applejack wanted she could do this herself. What the hell did they need him for?

Big Macintosh headed for the farmstead, not even bothering to put the plow away. Hopefully a bit of time out in the open would make it age faster.

The smell of baked sweets filled the house and for a moment Big Macintosh completely forgot about finding something worthwhile to do. He entered the kitchen and found Granny Smith hurriedly taking a whole assortment of apple pastries out of the oven. Applejack, meanwhile, was putting each one into its own tiny pastry box and wrapping them in green tissue paper. In turn, she placed each wrapped box into her saddlebags.

“Hey Mac,” Applejack said once she noticed him. “Done with the fields?”

“Eeyup,” he said. “Anythin’ else Ah can do?”

“Nah, yer fine. Go and enjoy the rest of the day,” she said.

“You sure?” he asked. “Can’t Ah help with what yer doin’?”

Applejack shrugged. “If ya want. Can ya deliver these samples over to Lyra’s place? She’s got some sorta event with her musician buddies, and she’s lookin’ for a caterer. It’d be nice to have some business.”

Big Macintosh nodded with a smile. He grabbed the saddlebags and gently draped them across his back. He turned towards the exit but Applejack pressed a hoof against his chest before he got the chance.

“Listen Mac, the thing about Lyra is that she’s…” Applejack stopped for a moment to tap her hoof against her chin, “what’s the word…”

“Finicky?” Big Macintosh asked.

“No, the opposite of that,” she said.

“Indiscriminatin’?”

“No, that ain’t right either. Look, what ya gotta know is that there’s a lotta really great caterers in Ponyville. Lyra knows that, and she’s a damn busy mare these days, so what she does is call up a few caterers that she really likes and picks the first one that brings her a sample.”

“So Ah just gotta be the first an’ it’s a done deal?” he asked.

“Yeah, so hurry yer flank and get outta here already.”

Big Macintosh nodded and trotted out the door.

“And once yer done with that Ah want ya ta spend the rest of the day outta the farm,” Applejack called after him. He pretended not to hear.

He walked to Ponyville with a smile on his face. Sure the work wasn’t hard, but Applejack had asked him to do it and that’s what mattered. The walk to Ponyville was peaceful as the ponies walked to their business in the early afternoon sun. As Big Macintosh walked in front of Sugarcube Corner, he saw Mr. Cake exit the building with saddlebags on his back.

“Hey there, Big Macintosh,” he called out.

“Howdy,” Mac said with a small nod.

The two happened to go in the same direction, and they silently walked beside each other. Big Macintosh didn’t think anything of it at first, but soon he began to grow a bit suspicious. He would take a right, Mr. Cake would take a right. He took a left, Mr. Cake took a left. He began to wonder what exactly was in Mr. Cake’s saddlebags, and, judging by the confectioner’s looks at the farmpony, he was thinking the same thing.

“Nice day, isn’t it?” Mr. Cake said, picking up his hooves to a brisk trot.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said, matching the pace.

“So…you headin’ to Lyras’s?” he asked, speeding up to a slow gallop.

Big Macintosh smiled politely, though his muscles tensed. “Eeyup,” Mac said.

“Oh,” Mr. Cake said. Their eyes met for a split second, and in an instant they were off galloping down the streets of Ponyville. They were neck and neck, neither of them getting any lead. Truth be told, Mac never expected Mr. Cake to be so fast. Then again, Mac was never known for his speed. If Lyra’s house was farther away he might win on his endurance alone, too bad that wasn’t the case.

The race escalated as Mr. Cake pushed his side against Macintosh, trying to get him off balance. Macintosh couldn’t help but smirk. If that’s how he wanted to play it then that was okay by him. Mr. Cake stumbled to keep his balance after Mac pushed against him, but he managed to stay on his hooves, though not without losing a couple of yards.

Her house wasn’t far now, just a large curve in the road that doubled back and it would be the house at the end of the lane.

Mr. Cake quickly made up the lost distance. Macintosh tried to bump him again, but Mr. Cake quickly slowed down to dodge it and caused Mac to lose his balance this time. The farmpony managed to keep upright, but gritted his teeth as he realized Mr. Cake was ahead. He wasn’t sure if he could catch up. That was when he saw the active construction site on his right. It was risky, but if he pulled it off he could cut across the bend and save a lot of time.

Macintosh took a quick glance to Mr. Cake in front of him and, when he was sure he wouldn’t notice, took a quick turn into the dirt-filled field of steel beams and wood frames.

He heard ponies shout at him as he jumped over piles of drywall and pools of cement, sidestepped construction ponies and machinery, and dashed through clouds of dust and exhaust. Seeing the other side of the field made it all worth it though. Just a quick hop over a small pile of bricks onto the road, a quick turn, and he would be right at Lyra’s door.

With a giddy jump, Mac took to the air, but before his hooves touched ground he felt a bludgeoning force hit his side with enough power to send him rolling several feet down the road. Big Macintosh didn’t know whether he was still conscious until he heard a familiar voice in front of him.

“Thanks Bon Bon, these truffles are sure to shut up Octavia. Can ya do me a favor and make one extra big for that stuck up mare to choke on?”

“No problem. I’ll have that order done by tomorrow,” Bon Bon said as she stepped out of Lyra’s house. Big Macintosh managed to open an eye against the pain at his side to see the earth pony with the two-color mane. She spotted him and waved. “Morning, Mr. Apple,” she said with an unsubtle smirk.

“Mornin’, Miss Bon Bon,” Mac said.

She turned to look at a point behind him. “Morning, Mr. Cake,” she said.

“Bon Bon,” Mr. Cake said.

“Bye boys,” she said as she trotted happily away. Macintosh could only watch her go as he waited for the pain, both in his ribs and his pride, to fade away. Once it did he stood up and rubbed a hoof against the tender area. Nothing seemed broken, thank goodness, the last thing he needed was yet another injury.

He looked over to find Mr. Cake rubbing his head. “It’s like I ran into a brick wall,” he mumbled. The baker noticed Macintosh looking at him and gave him a weak smile. “Aw well, there’ll be others. Sorry about that crash.”

“No problem,” Big Macintosh said as he got up to his hooves.

“So what brings you out here? Usually it’s Applejack I’m racing to get a catering gig.”

“Thought Ah might help out a bit more,” Big Macintosh said, and in an effort to change the subject added, “so how’s Mrs. Cake an’ the twins?”

“They're doin’ good. She’s out shopping for ingredients with ‘em right now. You wanna get a drink? Least I could do after that crash.”

“Well Ah,” Big Macintosh paused to look in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. He wanted to say he had to get back in the farm, but that wasn’t exactly true. He wanted to, but knew that Applejack would yell at him again. He hated how much of a deterrent that had become. Though as bad as that was, there was something else that was holding him back. “Will Pinkie be there?” he asked.

Mr. Cake smiled. “Yeah, she is. She’ll be happy to see you.”

Macintosh highly doubted that. Pinkie Pie was one of the most persistent during the past two weeks. She always tried to talk to him and invite him to parties. He always remained silent and always refused. She still hadn’t given up, and the last time Macintosh saw her was a couple of days ago.

“Ah don’t think-”

“Let’s go,” Mr. Cake interrupted him. He started walking back the way they came, not even checking if Big Macintosh was following. He didn’t have to. Macintosh shook his head sadly before walking right behind.

-*-

“Hey Macky!” Macintosh barely had time to hang up his saddlebags before Pinkie had him in a hug. “I didn’t think you’d ever come out of the farm.”

“Ah’ve been busy,” Mac said as he gently pushed her away. He was a bit relieved that she didn’t resent him for rejecting her all those times, though he couldn’t help but wonder whether the pink pony was even capable of resentment.

“I invited him over for a drink, Pinkie,” Mr. Cake said. “Would you mind bringing me an orange soda, please?”

“Sure thing,” Pinkie Pie said with a bounce. “What would you like, Macky?”

Big Macintosh was a bit taken aback by Mr. Cake’s order, and so simply asked for water. She gave him a happy nod and disappeared through a door leading to the back of Sugarcube Corner. Meanwhile, Mr. Cake led him to the front of the store and behind the counter. The shop was empty, and Big Mac saw the hanging sign on the door (flipped to ‘closed’) responsible for the lull in business.

“You sure it’s fine to leave it like that?” Macintosh said with a nod towards the sign.

Mr. Cake took a quick look. “It’ll be fine. It’s good to take a break every now and then.”

Macintosh nodded, and quickly wished for Pinkie Pie to suddenly appear with drinks. At least then he’d have an excuse not to talk instead of trying to think up something to say during the lull in conversation.

As if answering his prayer Pinkie appeared beside the stallions, balancing a tray and three full glasses on her head. With a quick flick of her head the tray slid onto the counter with an added little spin. Not a drop spilled.

Macintosh looked at the glasses as the other two eagerly took their drinks—orange for Mr. Cake and a pink, strawberry probably, for Pinkie Pie. Big Macintosh took his glass of water and sipped at it quietly. He looked at the few ice cubes bobbing in the water before finally speaking.

“You know, when ya said a drink Ah didn’t think ya meant soda.”

“Bit early for that kind of drink,” Mr. Cake said with a smile. “Some of us still have to work.”

And some of them didn’t. “When did catering get so dang competitive?” Macintosh asked. He hoped that would get them talking for a while so he could simply listen.

“Aw well,” Mr. Cake began, “used to be that ponies went to Sweet Apple Acres for anything apple related, Sugarcube Corner for pies and cupcakes and such, and there’d be the specialty caterers like Bon Bon and her chocolates. Nowadays there are dozens of ponies doin’ some sorta catering. Hate to break it to ya, Mac, but Sweet Apple Acres doesn’t have a monopoly on apples anymore.”

“Ah know that,” Big Macintosh said with a smile. “We have a monopoly on good apples, if Ah do say so myself.”

“Wanna prove it?” Mr. Cake said with a smile. Big Macintosh quirked an eyebrow towards him, and he continued. “You do know that the National Dessert Competition is comin’ up the day after next, right?”

“Ya mean the one where ya had me carry that cake of yers?” Macintosh asked.

“That’d be the one. And if I remember right you had a bit of trouble carrying it,” Mr. Cake said, his smile growing wider.

“Ah wasn’t feelin’ well,” Macintosh said simply.

“Uh-huh. Well or not, you should enter. Might drum up some business. It does for Sugarcube Corner every year.”

“Oh oh! You totally should, Macky,” Pinkie interjected. “I’m sure you’re good at baking, right? I mean, don’t all Apples know how to bake? But I remember baking one time with Applebloom and Applejack and it not going so well. But that won’t happen a third time, right?” Pinkie said.

Macintosh looked into his glass for a few moments, his eyes going back to the ice cubes. “Ah should, but won’t Ah be competing against y’all? Ah wouldn’t want to get in yer way.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Mr. Cake said. “Ever since what happened the year we entered the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness they’ve decided to split the contest into categories: fruit-based, sweet breads, custards, and a few more I can’t remember. Pinkie’s representing Sugarcube Corner this year with her cupcakes, and I’m guessing you're gonna enter something with apples, so you’d be competing in a different category.”

Big Macintosh thought about it for a moment. Maybe attracting business to Sweet Apple Acres could finally be the job he was looking for. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do. Not to mention it could be a chance to spend some time with his sisters. Sure, Applejack had told him to get off the farm, but wasn’t that what he was doing by entering the competition? If practicing for the contest meant spending more time in the farmstead’s kitchen and, by extension, his sisters, then could Applejack really fault him for that?

“Oh! You can come by tomorrow and we can practice our recipes here in Sugarcube Corner, so we can help each other. That’d be super-duper fun,” Pinkie said with a huge grin.

“Ah don’t know about that, Pinkie,” Mac said, easily masking his unwillingness. “Ah’m sure Mr. Cake doesn’t want me gettin’ in everypony’s way while they’re tryin’ ta do business.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it,” Mr. Cake said. “You can just come by after business hours. Me and the missus are going out that night anyway, so as long as you don’t mind helping Pinkie watch the twins.”

“Uh…huh,” Mac said slowly. “So you’d, uh,” he paused to find the right words, “let me come here while you’re out.”

Mr. Cake didn’t hesitate in his answer, thankfully averting any awkwardness. “You’re both adults, and I trust Pinkie. Not to mention that I have a feeling that whatever I do to you won’t even compare to what your sister will do if you aren’t on your best behavior.”

Macintosh sighed at his failure to get out of the situation. He could simply refuse Pinkie’s offer, but if Applejack ever found out he had (which would be almost a certainty given how much those mares talked to each other) he’d be a dead stallion. He took another sip of his drink. If only he could go back to the days when Applejack’s yelling didn’t seem like a big deal.

“Macky?” Pinkie said, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“Ah guess that’d be alright then,” he said. Pinkie Pie cheered and gave him a quick hug, and again he pushed her away gently. He stood and headed for the door. “Ah’ll come by tomorrow, and get all the ingredients Ah need.”

“You already have a dish in mind?” Mr. Cake asked.

“Eeyup,” Mac said, already halfway out the door with his saddlebags on his back.

Only a couple of hours passed since Applejack sent him on his errand, surely not enough time to qualify as ‘enjoying the rest of the day’. All he could do now was find a way to waste some time, and what better way than by doing what he always did when he couldn’t work: lay beneath the shade of a tree and sleep. Of course, it couldn’t be an apple tree this time, so he decided to simply go to the park.

On his way there, however, he ran into Applejack walking about town. She saw him, gave him a wave, and trotted over to meet him. “Heya Mac, how’d that delivery go?” she asked.

“Bon Bon got there first,” he said as he turned away from the park and toward Sweet Apple Acres. “Mr. Cake invited me to Sugarcube Corner for a soda,” he added with the hope of grabbing attention away from his failure.

It seemed to work. “Hey, that’s great.” Macintosh couldn’t help but cringe. Her tone shared the same quality as a mother talking of her child’s scribbles before placing it on the fridge. Applejack didn’t notice his adverse reaction and continued, “Did ya see Pinkie while you were there? You know she’s entering the National Dessert Competition again?”

“Eeyup. Enterin’ myself, too.”

Applejack smiled the kind of wide and toothy grin he hadn’t seen for a while. It made him smile in turn. “Great! You thinkin’ of makin’ Granny Smith’s famous apple pie?”

“Eeyup,” he said, “an’, uh, Pinkie invited me over to Sugarcube Corner to bake together tomorrow.”

Applejack laughed and threw her forelegs around him in a hug. Once she released him he patted his shoulder for good measure. “Ah’m proud of you, Mac,” she said. “Ah gotta admit Ah thought you’d go back to workin’. Especially considering these past couple of weeks. Let’s go get yer ingredients together.” She trotted happily beside him, and Big Macintosh couldn’t help but feel better about the whole day. How could he pay himself any mind when Applejack smiled like that?

-*-

Big Macintosh arrived at Sugarcube Corner the next afternoon after completing all his chores. Applejack had forced him to use the new plow again and he had to spend the extra time slowly walking around Ponyville.

Though the sign in front of Sugarcube Corner read ‘closed’ the door was unlocked. Still, he knocked gently to avoid being rude. Pinkie Pie answered and, after an energetic hello consisting of an unwanted hug, invited him in. Looking around he found the place empty except for the two of them and a small crib standing by the entrance to the kitchen.

“The Cakes still here?” Macintosh asked as he made his way to the crib.

“Nah, they’re always in a rush when I’m babysitting,” Pinkie said as she entered the kitchen.

Big Macintosh peeked inside the crib to find the Cake twins sleeping soundly. He smiled. “Well ain’t y’all just the cutest little things Ah ever did see,” he said quietly so as to not wake them. He stepped away and entered the kitchen where Pinkie was already getting every single pot, pan, mixer, and every other appliance she could find. Much more than either of them would probably need. He carefully placed his saddlebag on the counter and unloaded the glass canisters holding his ingredients as well as a small silver thermos and four red apples.

“So what’re you making?” Pinkie asked as she poured some flour into a mixing bowl.

“The Apple Family’s World Famous Apple Pie,” Big Mac said with a hint of pride in his voice. He started on the crust, adding flour to a bowl and quickly mixing it in with some ice-cold butter and shortening.

“Sounds good,” Pinkie said. “Did Granny Smith teach it to you?”

“Eeyup,” he said, “but it’s been in the family for ages and every generation makes its own little changes to the recipe.”

“Changes? Like what?”

“Welp, take Applejack. She takes out the cinnamon and uses…allspice,” he said with a roll of his eyes, “while Ah use a bit of my secret ingredient.” He pushed the thermos towards her and she eyed it curiously. She popped open the top and smelled it’s contents. Her nose scrunched up and, slowly, she tipped the container toward her mouth and took a sip. She smiled and replaced the top.

“Oooo, sneaky,” she said with a giggle. “The heat’ll burn it away though, right?”

“Eeyup,” Mac said, “which is why Ah put some in the dough too. So what’re you makin’?” he asked as he started coring his apples.

“Remember those orange cinnamon cupcakes you tried?” she asked.

“Eeyup.”

“I’m making those with a cream cheese and zap apple jam frosting.”

He had to think about the strange combination. Honestly he could see it going either way from horrible to heavenly. Knowing Pinkie, however, made him bet on the latter. “Ah’m gonna have to try it,” Macintosh said.

“Definitely,” Pinkie said with a nod as she went over to the ovens on the other side of the kitchen. “How hot do you need it?” she asked.

“Four twenty-five,” he said.

“Okie dokie lokie.” She pressed a few buttons, turned a few knobs, and the ovens came to life.

The two then quietly went to work. Pinkie Pie would fill the silence every now and then with little tidbits of information. Past recipes she tried, how happy she was when the Cakes told her they would be entering her dessert, and how hectic babysitting the Cake twins could be. Big Macintosh didn’t mind so much, especially since there wasn’t much need for him to talk back.

Instead his mind could focus on his apple pie crust as he draped it over his tin mold. Then he simply seasoned his apples and added a few trickles of his secret ingredient, sneaking a sip from the thermos when he thought Pinkie wasn’t looking. From there he cut strips from his leftover crust and placed it on top of the pie, carefully crisscrossing them in a lattice pattern.

“You ready to bake?” Pinkie asked. Big Macintosh looked over at her side of the counter and saw a cupcake pan filled with an orange batter. He could smell the spicy sweet aroma from where he stood.

“Eeyup,” he said.

Pinkie smiled as she balanced her pan on the top of her head and bounced towards the ovens. Meanwhile, Macintosh was content with carrying his pie with a gentle bite. Both of them placed their desserts in their respective ovens, and Macintosh couldn’t help but smile as he closed the oven door.

A loud cry from outside the kitchen wiped that smile off his face, and he quickly turned his head towards the source.

“The twins are awake!” Pinkie said happily as she rushed towards the crib, Macintosh cautiously walking behind her. She grabbed a bag from the living room and started rummaging through it. “You can’t be hungry, your mommy just fed you half an hour ago,” she said as she began pulling out toy after toy to try and calm the twins down. When nothing worked she simply shook her head with a smile. “Okay, okay. Time to get the flour. Stay here, Macky,” she said as she entered the kitchen.

Mac’s eyes followed her, and he wondered what she could have possibly meant by that. Shaking his head, he looked at the crying foals. He wanted to play with them a bit, but something held him back. Some little fear that he would only make things worse. A feeling that wasn’t there when Applebloom was a baby. Would they like a piggyback ride, or would that just make them cry more? Maybe he could do what he always did with baby Applebloom and toss them in the air and catch them using nothing but his head, or maybe that was too dangerous. Then again, he had yet to drop a foal.

“Surprise!” Pinkie shouted. Macintosh tried to turn but before he could his eyesight was blurred by dust. He closed his eyes against it and when he opened them again he found himself covered, hoof to head, in flour.

“Pinkie!” Mac said, but she stopped him and pointed towards the crib. He looked and saw the Cake twins laughing and clapping their hooves.

Pinkie soon joined in their laughter as she caught sight of Big Macintosh after the flour had settled. She tried to stifle her giggles with her front hooves but to no avail. She fell on her back and kicked the air as she burst into dizzy laughter.

“You look like Rarity,” she managed to gasp out.

“You take that back,” Macintosh said. He was getting pretty annoyed by now. Pinkie Pie didn’t say anything and continued rolling on the ground. Irritated, he placed his hoof in a pile of flour and swiped it towards her, sending a shower of white to her.

Pinkie yelped in surprised and jumped to her hooves. “No fair,” she said with a laugh. She covered her hoof in flour and threw it at him. The two of them laughed despite the mess.

“Ah guess Ah should get the vacuum,” he said. “Where do the Cakes ke-“ he stopped as he felt a hoof rub against his side. “Uh, Pinkie?” he said to the pink mare as she moved her hoof across his side in straight lines and curves that all seemed completely random.

“Almost done,” she said, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth in concentration. Macintosh fought the urge to push her away or take a step back. It was Pinkie Pie, and she usually had a reason behind all her randomness…usually. Finally, with a punctuated tap, she stopped.

“What do you think?” she asked the Cake twins. They clapped their hooves and nodded in approval. Big Mac tried to take a look, but his perspective distorted whatever she did. Pinkie Pie noticed him craning his neck and darted out of the room. She came back seconds later holding a large mirror that she leaned against the wall.

Macintosh approached it and turned his side to it. He smiled. Leave it to Pinkie to figure out how to make a landscape of Sweet Apple Acres using nothing but flour and the color of his coat. She had wiped away some of the flour to varying degrees in order to get different shades of red. On the middle of his side she had drawn a sunset, towards his flank she drew the Apple homestead, and towards his shoulder she drew the apple orchard, heavy with big, red apples. Mac couldn’t help but admire it.

“Ya did one heck of a job,” he said.

Pinkie smiled. “Thanks, I practiced-“

Before the conversation could go further the pair heard the sound of rattling wood. They looked towards the crib and saw Pumpkin and Pound reaching their hooves out toward Big Macintosh. He didn’t quite understand what they wanted, and looked to Pinkie for help in translating.

“Oh, I think they want to draw on you too, Macky,” Pinkie said, with a questioning look toward him, silently asking if it was okay.

“Ah guess that’d be fine so long as they don’t muss up your drawing,” Mac said, turning around so that his untouched, floured side faced the crib. Pinkie Pie smiled, went to the Cake twins and carried them towards the farmpony. Macintosh rested on his stomach as she sat them beside him on the hardwood floor.

The twins went straight to work and started running their hooves through his floured coat. They didn’t make anything as elaborate as Pinkie’s drawing but that didn’t stop them from enjoying themselves. Pound was content with patting on him and punching up some dust while Pumpkin felt more of an urge to create something, even if that something was an assortment of curves or lines.

Pinkie smiled at him. “I should start cleaning up, I’ll get a broom and dustpan,” she said before trotting down a hallway, leaving Mac alone with the twins.

He couldn’t help but be a bit intimidated by the prospect of looking after twins by himself, even for the minute or so it would take Pinkie to fetch a broom. Again that tiny bit of uncertainty came to him. The feeling only grew as the twins got bored with their artistic pursuits and started looking for something else to do. Something that always meant trouble when dealing with young foals.

Looking around, he quickly spotted the bag of toys Pinkie tried to entertain them with earlier. He got up, grabbed the bag, and emptied its contents of plastic widgets out in front of the twins. They stared at the toys for a few seconds before rummaging through them. Probable crisis averted, Macintosh mentally patted himself on the back and went back to resting on his stomach and idly watched the twins at play.

Pumpkin had picked up and started to bite on a large plastic ring covered in little bumps and grooves. It squeaked whenever she bit down hard enough, and he wondered if perhaps the Cakes accidentally got her a dog toy. Pound, meanwhile, had grabbed a plastic hammer between his hooves and laughed at the dust flying away from Mac’s coat with every strike.

Mac smiled as he looked on, and in a few moments Pinkie reappeared with a broom, a dustpan, and a towel. The two older ponies exchanged smiles. Pinkie handed him the towel, and Macintosh used it to get as much of the flour off as he could, everything except for Pinkie’s art covering his side. He wanted to keep that, if only for a few minutes longer.

Afterwards, Big Macintosh got up and helped Pinkie clean. The two made quick work of the mess and once the floor was completely free of dust and flour Pinkie and Macintosh rejoined the twins in their little play area.

Pinkie played a bit with the foals: showing them toys and trying to gain their interest, or making funny faces at them. Sometimes they reacted, but mostly they did whatever they felt like. Macintosh just watched with a small smile all the while, until Pinkie suddenly turned to him.

“So did working make you feel better Macky?” she asked.

Macintosh was a bit surprised at the question, seemingly coming out of nowhere. He quickly recovered. “Eeyup,” he said with a genuine smile. His answer was honest...almost. While work did make him feel better in the past two weeks, it was simply because it was more a distraction, rather than a solution, from the feelings he had since coming back from the camping trip. He didn’t mind, it was all he could really ask for.

Pinkie Pie smiled back at him and turned back to the twins. “That’s good. It makes me happy when my friends smile.”

He looked down at the hardwood floor, feeling a pang of guilt. Though from what he wasn’t sure. All he knew is that if his smile made Pinkie happy then he would go on smiling. It was the least he could do. He wanted to tell her so, but his own hesitation and the sound of a door opening stopped him.

“The tasters are here,” Pinkie said. She raised a hoof in the air and waved. “We’re over here.” Macintosh nodded and silently wondered who Pinkie had asked to help.

He didn’t have long to wait as Rarity and Rainbow Dash entered the living room. He wondered if it wasn’t too late to run away. The last thing he wanted to do was explain why he ignored them for two whole weeks. He couldn’t distance himself physically, but he could still concentrate on playing with the twins and pretend he hadn’t seen them yet. It might be okay if they were the first to talk. That way he could gauge how mad they were at him.

“Hey guys,” Pinkie said, the first to get up and greet them, “the cupcakes should be ready. All I have to do is wait for them to cool and then whip up the icing. Oh! And Macky made an apple pie for the contest so we can taste that too.”

“Wait? Mac’s here?” Rainbow Dash asked, causing him to tense up.

“Yeah! Isn’t it great? Anyway, the apple pie should be ready soon too. Be right back.” When she finished her onrush of words she hopped happily into the kitchen and left Macintosh alone with the two mares and the twins.

He continued to avoid eye contact, and just watched as Pumpkin tried to use her hooves to grab the sprig of wheat hanging from his mouth.

“Hey Mac, haven’t talked to ya in, like, weeks,” Rainbow Dash said as she approached the stallion. For the first time Macintosh turned to her. She had an uncertain smile, lopsided and half-hearted. “Been busy?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said.

“I suppose you’ve been eager to get back to work since your injuries healed,” Rarity said timidly.

“Eeyup.”

“That’s very lovely artwork,” Rarity said as she pointed to his side.

“Eeyup, Pinkie made it.”

“It reminds me of a painting I once saw,” she said quietly.

The three shared an awkward silence between them, and Big Macintosh turned his focus back to the twins in order to escape some of the discomfort. Rarity did the same.

“Well aren’t you just precious!” Rarity said as she picked up Pumpkin. As soon as she was lifted off the ground the foal started to wail. The three older ponies flinched before Rarity gathered enough sense to quickly place her back on the rug. It didn’t do any good, and soon both of the Cake twins were bawling their little lungs out.

“Geez, Rarity,” Rainbow said over the sound of their crying.

“What?” Rarity said.

“You ain’t supposed to bother a foal when they’re bein’ quiet, especially when they ain’t doin’ anything harmful,” Macintosh said.

“Well I didn’t know that.”

“What about when Sweetie Belle was younger?” Macintosh asked.

“I moved out shortly after she was born.”

No sooner had Rarity spoken than Pinkie came rushing into the living room. “What happened?” she asked.

“Rarity happened.” Rainbow said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get the flour!” Pinkie said, but before she could turn around towards the kitchen, Big Macintosh raised a hoof to stop her. The last thing he wanted was to be covered in flour again, especially since he still had Pinkie’s art drawn on his side.

He stood up and looked at the crying foals. That fear came back, but he swallowed it down. Slowly, he brought his head toward Pound. In a single motion he lifted the little pegasus onto his snout. The sudden movement surprised the foal and momentarily stopped his crying. Before the baby pegasus could continue, Macintosh lifted his head high and gently but quickly brought it down as if it were falling. Pound’s wings reacted instantly and started flapping wildly in the air. Macintosh repeated the motion a couple of more times and by the fourth fall the foal stopped his crying and started laughing instead.

Satisfied, Macintosh lowered Pound into the crib and gave him the plastic hammer he was playing with earlier. The foal grabbed it and continued his play as if nothing ever happened.

Pumpkin proved a bit easier to deal with. All it took was taking the sprig of wheat out of his mouth, cleaning its end a bit on his foreleg and holding it out to her. She stopped her crying to look at the sprig for a few moments before grabbing it and biting its end. Not the most hygienic solution, Macintosh was willing to admit, but so long as it kept the peace. He carried her gently to the crib and sat her by her brother.

He turned around to see the three mares giving him looks of utter surprise. “Those cupcakes ready yet?” Macintosh asked, hoping to focus the rest’s attention away from him.

“Wow, where did you learn to do that, Macky?” Pinkie Pie asked with a grin.

“Beginner’s luck, Ah guess,” he said, walking into the kitchen. “Ah think the apple pie’s ready.”

“Yeah sure, beginner’s luck. You sure you don’t have a foal running around Ponyville somewhere?” Rainbow Dash asked with a snicker.

Big Macintosh tilted his head slightly in feigned thought. “Pretty sure,” he said. There was no sarcasm in his voice, only a touch of uncertainty.

It worked, and the smile vanished from Dash’s face. “Wait, what?”

“He’s obviously joking, Rainbow,” Rarity said. “Right, Macintosh?”

Mac only grunted noncommittally. Of course he was only joking, but Celestia knows teasing those two made him feel better. He looked around the kitchen until he found a thick cloth on the counter right beside a plate of Pinkie’s cupcakes, frosted and ready to be eaten. He bit at the cloth, opened the oven, and carefully took out his apple pie and placed it on the counter beside the cupcakes.

“Is it ready to taste?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Ah’d like ta wait for an hour or two before we cut into it,” Macintosh said.

“Okie dokie lokie,” she said. “We can try mine until then.” She balanced the platter with her cupcakes on her hooves and brought it in front of the other three. Each cupcake was frosted with icing that swirled with the colors of the rainbow. The paper cups continued the swirl design seamlessly. When viewed at the right angle the separation of the frosting and the cup could hardly be seen.

Macintosh took one along with the other ponies. He carefully peeled back the paper to reveal a light-orange pastry with tiny specks of red in it. Experience told him the orange cinnamon cake would taste delicious, but he wasn’t so sure when it was combined with zap apple jam and cream cheese. He caught sight of Pinkie giving him an expectant smile and, putting aside his trepidation, he took a bite.

He chewed slowly to get a good taste. He felt the familiar spice of cinnamon mellowed by the sweetness of the orange cake. Then came the tartness of the cream cheese, and finally the tangy sweetness of zap apple jam. He didn’t know how she pulled it off, but it was downright delicious. Each flavor added to the dessert without overshadowing any of the others. He finished the rest of the cupcake, and this time he closed his eyes to enjoy the flavor more.

“Wow Pinkie, you’re gonna win for sure,” Rainbow Dash said as she took another cupcake for herself.

“I have to agree. They’re simply incredible. I’m sorry to say Macintosh, but you have stiff competition,” Rarity said.

Pinkie Pie giggled. “Oh don’t worry. They separated the contest into different categories so me and Mackie could both win.”

“Really?” Rarity said. “So how is the judging conducted?”

“Oh that’s easy. Um…” Pinkie tapped her chin. “Wait here,” she said. She went over to the other side of the kitchen and opened a drawer absolutely filled with papers. She rummaged through it until she found a light blue brochure. She smiled and brought it to the others waiting nearby. She placed it on a table and opened it. “Here we go!” Pinkie said as she placed a hoof on one of the pages. “There are three different judges for each category and they judge desserts by Taste, Originality, and Presentation. Taste is worth ten points and the other two are worth five,” she said with a vigorous nod.

“Don’t change a thing,” Rainbow said, “you got this in the bag.”

“Thanks, Dashie,” Pinkie said with a giggle.

“Hey Mac, is your pie ready yet?” Dash asked.

“It’s hardly been ten minutes,” he said.

“Aw c’mon, is it that important to let it rest?”

Macintosh rolled his eyes and acquiesced. “Pinkie ya got a pie server?” he asked. She nodded and quickly rummaged through a nearby drawer. She found what he needed and gave him the triangular spatula. Mac thanked her and took it to cut the pie, the crisp sound of the crust almost echoed through the kitchen, though that might just have been his imagination.

He cut the first slice and carefully placed it on a plate that Pinkie had readied for him. The slice looked absolutely perfect. The apples were layered uniformly and the filling was not too thick or too thin. Not to mention the flaky crust. Two more slices followed and everyone except Macintosh had their own plate.

“Any ice cream or anything?” Dash asked.

Macintosh chuckled. “Why don’t ya taste it first and then decide if ya want anythin’ else on it.”

Dash only shrugged and took a bite, and Macintosh could only smile as her eyes widened. “Damn,” was all she could say before hurriedly shoving as much as she could fit in her mouth.

Spurred on by her reaction Rarity followed suit. She grabbed a fork with her magic and took her own bite. Her reaction was about the same, and her fork fell to the ground. Her cheeks turned a slight red as she levitated it again and placed it on the counter. “It’s very delicious, Macintosh,” she said.

To his surprise, Pinkie still had her entire slice intact. She looked at it with scrutinizing eyes, holding the plate as she stood on her hind legs. Finally she took a bite, closed her eyes and fell to her knees. She recovered quickly with a bounce. “Can I have the recipe?” she asked.

“Nnope.”

“Please please please please please please please!”

“Sorry, Pinkie, but it’s a secret family recipe. Ya gotta be an Apple ta know it.”

Pinkie rubbed her chin in thought for a moment before her eyes brightened with an idea. “Macky, will you-“

“No, Pinkie,” Macintosh interrupted.

“Aww…”

“Macintosh, if I may,” Rarity said as she helped herself to another slice, “while I think your apple pie is lovely, you may be able to improve on it.”

“Eeyup,” Mac said. “Ah ain’t so full of myself that Ah think it’s perfect. Heck, you should taste Granny Smith’s recipe.”

“No, I don’t mean that. The taste is fine, incredible in fact. I just think you need to…dress it up a little.” Big Macintosh only quirked an eyebrow at her, and she continued. “Well, two-thirds of the judging is for originality and presentation. It might give your dessert an edge if you were to do something unexpected with it.”

“I hate to say it,” Rainbow Dash said, “but Rarity’s got a point. You got a put on a show, you know? Yeah it tastes good, really good, but it’s kind of…boring.”

Macintosh ran a hoof through his mane. “Look, Ah don’t know whose bright idea it was for food to ta be some fancy occasion, but so long as it tastes good and doesn’t look like somethin’ Winona threw up then Ah think it’s fine the way it is.”

“But Macintosh,” Rarity said gently, “surely you don’t think taste alone will-“

“Ah do. Last Ah checked this is a dessert contest, not some beauty pageant.”

“Mac, don’t take it personally,” Dash said, “but a competition always has those rules you hate. It’s like the obstacle courses I run in Cloudsdale. Yeah it sucks when I get the fastest time and then get extra time added ‘cause of all the times I crashed, but what can you do?”

He thought about it for a moment, and then shook his head. “Ah guess, but if Ah lose Ah’d like ta lose because the judges didn’t like my pie rather than because Ah tried ta do somethin’ that Ah did just ta impress them.”

“Fair enough,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “Pass me another slice will ya?”

-*-

The first rays of sunlight saw Macintosh, wearing his saddlebags, busily baking in the farmhouse kitchen with Applebloom by his side hoping to get a baking cutie mark again. She happily kneaded dough as she stood on the stool that Mac had placed by the counter for her to reach.

Macintosh was a bit surprised when she offered to help, especially when it was so early in the morning—and in the middle of summer no less. Not that he minded, in fact he was a bit happy to have her help and company. Applebloom draped the flattened dough over a couple of ceramic pie dishes and Big Macintosh scooped in the apples as Applejack walked in.

“You excited?” she asked as she patted his shoulder and ruffled her little sister’s mane.

“Eeyup.”

Applebloom giggled as she fixed her bow. “Do ya think you’ll win, big brother?”

“Eeyup,” Mac said, weaving dough into a lattice pattern on top of the pie just as he did yesterday, “with a bit a luck.”

Applebloom hummed in thought. She smiled as she took off her bow and handed it to her brother. “Here you go. It’s lucky, so you’ll win for sure.”

Macintosh took her bow with a bit of skepticism. If it were really lucky then wouldn’t Applebloom have her cutie mark by now? Still, if she said it was lucky who was he to argue? “Thanks, sugarcube,” he said. He placed the pink bow in his saddlebag with a smile before taking the pies and carefully putting them in the oven.

“You ain’t gonna wear it?” Applebloom asked sadly.

Big Macintosh was a bit taken aback, but he recovered quickly. “Sorry, sugarcube, but my mane’s too short to wear it.” An idea came to him and he retrieved the ribbon from his bag. “Hey AJ, ya mind gettin’ somethin’ so Ah can pin it on my harness?”

Applejack smiled. “Ah’ll do ya one better.” She flicked her mane and in one, practiced motion took off the band that held it together. Macintosh had to hold in a laugh as her mane started to fly all around her. She didn’t seem to notice as she started stretching the elastic band as far as it could go, which, Macintosh was surprised to find, was actually very far.

Applejack took the pink bow, undid it, and started retying it around her now completely overextended band. Once done, it looked almost like a necklace with Applebloom’s ribbon perfectly centered. Without so much as asking, Applejack slipped Big Mac’s head through it, and brought it down until it lied just above his harness. The bow, as a result, rested comfortably on the front of the harness itself. The makeshift necklace fit a bit snug, but other than that it didn’t bother him much.

“There. Ya can hardly see the tie around yer neck since it matches yer coat,” his sister said. “Ah’m gonna go get another tie before my mane knots up.’

Macintosh smiled. “Yer startin’ ta sound like Rarity.”

“You take that back,” Applejack said as she headed out the doorway.

“Now you’ll win for sure,” Applebloom said excitedly, “you have my bow and one of Applejack’s hair thingies. That’s a lotta luck.”

“It sure is, sugarcube,” Macintosh said, tapping the end of his nose against hers. Applebloom giggled and rubbed her nose with a foreleg. “Got anythin’ planned with yer friends?” he asked.

Applebloom shook her head. “Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are spendin’ time with their parents, so Applejack’s gonna teach me how ta tell if a tree is sick.”

Macintosh didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Sounds like fun.” At that moment Applejack returned to the kitchen with a new tie holding together her mane.

“What sounds like fun?” Applejack asked.

“You teachin’ Applebloom how ta spot a sick tree,” Macintosh said. He lowered his head to take a peek at the pies. They were just about ready.

“Oh that? Yeah, Ah figured it’s about time she learn.”

“Need any help?” Macintosh asked.

“What about the contest?” Applebloom asked.

“Ah can cancel it if ya need me,” Mac said.

Applejack shook her head with a smile. “Nah, don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine without ya. You go an’ enjoy yourself.”

Macintosh nodded before grabbing a thick cloth and taking the pies out of the oven, one by one. He grabbed the matching ceramic lids and covered each pie with them, safely securing them. Afterwards Applejack helped him place each one in his saddlebags, careful to keep them standing right side up. The sudden heat on his sides made him a bit uncomfortable, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

“What time are ya meetin’ Pinkie at the train station?” Applejack asked.

“’bout an hour.”

“Ya better get goin’ then. The station’s clear on the other side of town,” she said. She reared up and gave him a hug. “Good luck, and don’t be afraid ta come back if ya don’t win.” She smiled softly, and Macintosh only gave her a quick nod.

“What about me,” Applebloom asked, holding out her forelegs towards her brother. Mac smiled and lowered his head so she could give him a hug of her own. He gently wrapped a foreleg of his own around her to return it. It didn’t last long enough for Big Mac, and when Applebloom let go he wanted to hold on for just a few moments longer. He knew he couldn’t, and so his foreleg dropped as well. With a sad smile he said a quick goodbye to each of his sisters and headed out the door.

“C’mon, Applejack, let’s go to the orchard,” he heard Applebloom say as he closed the front door. As he made his way into the morning sun and toward Ponyville and the station, a part of his heart twinged in pain, but he quickly forced it back.

The closer he came to the station the thicker the crowd of ponies became. There were so many—at least a hundred, if not more—and they were all bustling about the boarding platform. Everyone had saddlebags or boxes or wheeled carts with them, adding to the chaos of chatter, squeaking metal, and hoofclops.

Big Macintosh felt absolutely lost in the huge crowd, and he stood at its edge while taking a few steps away. Amongst the crowd, almost in the middle, he saw Pinkie Pie jumping high into the air, a large white box on her back, waving a hoof at him during her apex. He gulped as he realized he would have to make his way through the sea of ponies to get to her. Not an easy feat, as big as he was.

Hesitant steps into the crowd and repeated utterings of ‘pardon’ and ‘excuse me’ followed. He was careful not to bump into anyone, but he would always fail, and when he would turn his head to apologize to the pony he would inevitably bump into another. The process repeated itself until he was safely by Pinkie Pie’s side. Her smile and company made him feel better, an anchor amongst the bustling mass of ponies.

“Hey Macky,” she said, “nice bow. Did you bring two pies like I said?”

“Eeyup,” Mac said, “still can’t figure why, though.”

She grinned. “One for the judges and one for everypony else, silly. That way they won’t want to take a nibble from your entry.”

Well, he supposed that made sense. “Lotta ponies out here,” he said, looking around the platform.

“I know, right?” Pinkie said with a hop. “I guess they must have passed out that brochure to everypony in Ponyville. If we’re not all careful there could be a huge accident and have a giant dessert and pony pileup.”

A blaring horn and ringing bell overtook Mac’s laugh as the train pulled into the station and stopped with the sound of hissing air. He looked on as the train doors opened and ponies started filing out. Macintosh took a quiet step back as the crowd got even bigger and ponies tried to enter the train as others left it. He felt Pinkie tap his shoulder to get his attention, and it centered him a bit.

“Let’s go, Macky,” she said, walking towards one of the open doors. He followed close behind. They entered a train car near the caboose, and Macintosh wasn’t surprised to find it filled with ponies as well. There were no benches or even pillows for them to sit on. The only furniture were a few tables bolted to the floor.

Pinkie Pie placed her white box on one of the tables, and instantly called out to someone she recognized in the crowd. She started talking happily to a donkey he never met, leaving him alone. He couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of her love of large gatherings.

Macintosh chomped down on his spear of wheat and sat by a window slightly removed from everyone else. He stared out of it, hoping for a quick train ride. All the while, he wondered just what exactly he had got himself into.

-*-

That year the National Dessert Competition was being held in the royal castle’s courtyard. Several water fountains stood in the garden, each with the usual sculptures: a pegasus lifting off, a unicorn casting a spell, and an earth pony standing still. Surrounding each one were bushes and flowers of several colors. They filled the air with their sweet fragrance that mixed with the smell of freshly baked bread. The weather was perfect for an outdoor event, and not a cloud could be seen in the sky. Dozens of pavilions, gazebos, tents, awnings, and canopies stood throughout the garden to provide shade.

Amongst all this were ponies, griffons, donkeys, mules, and various others delicately setting up their desserts. Macintosh could have sworn that each one he passed was more elaborate than the last. Towers of cakes, fully scaled gelatin models of Equestrian cities, finely crafted flowers made of meringue, fondant covered pastry sculptures of royalty and great ponies of old; they were all present. Suddenly, Macintosh felt quite inadequate with his simple apple pie. He shook his head to get rid of the thought. This was the Apple Family World Famous Apple Pie. The contest hadn’t seen anything yet. Though the crowd made it difficult for him to get into the right state of mind.

Big Macintosh couldn’t remember the last time he was in a crowd this big. Sure, he didn’t have much of a problem with a group of ponies if he knew most of them, or they were a part of his family, but being around so many strangers was unnerving. He silently wanted to go back to his farm, where it was empty and quiet and he could be left alone with his own thoughts. Thoughts that were kept private simply because no one asked for them.

“Ooo, fancy,” Pinkie Pie said as she and Macintosh walked towards their assigned table, number three. He kept close to Pinkie’s side all the while. Finally they saw the table, a large sign with a number three hanging from its front, and began to set up.

The table already had the essentials, some dessert plates, a pile of napkins, and a pie server for Macintosh. So all he had to do was grab one of his pies from his saddlebag, uncover it, and place it on the tabletop. While Pinkie Pie’s set up was a bit more elaborate.

She gently lowered the container on her back to the ground, opened it up, and started rummaging through it. She took out a few pieces of plastic and started putting them together to create a stand for her cupcakes. It was pretty simple, only four tiers and in the rough shape of a cone since the circular platforms became smaller closer to the top. She started taking out cupcakes from the box and arranging them on her stand, carefully lining up the rainbow colors so the whole piece seemed to flow naturally from top to bottom.

“Get ready Macky,” Pinkie said with a large grin, “this is the part where everypony starts asking for something to eat. That’s why you can’t put all of your dessert out all at once.” With a sneaky gesture of her hoof she lead Macintosh’s gaze to the white box, “I still have twenty left.”

Macintosh only nodded and gave her a smile, mentally preparing himself to greet ponies looking for a tasty dessert. He grabbed the pie server and eagerly started cutting the pie into eighths. This was the moment he would shine. He knew, without a doubt, no one had a recipe as delicious as his.

Soon enough a large gathering of ponies formed around their table, just as Pinkie had said. Except…they all wanted a bite of her rainbow frosted cupcakes. Almost every pony, without fail, would give his apple pie a passing glance before moving on. Pinkie, sweetheart she was, tried to talk some ponies into trying a piece, but some politely refused or ignored her altogether or didn’t even hear her before moving on. All the while Macintosh just looked like an idiot, forcing himself to smile no matter how many ponies passed without giving him notice.

Within the hour Pinkie’s cupcakes had all been eaten while Macintosh still had his whole pie left. With the orange-cinnamon pastries gone, ponies stopped coming. He supposed he should have been expecting this. He was just some farmer who wandered off into the royal courtyard, only yards away from where the two most powerful ponies in all of Equestria lived, and into a contest he had no business being in.

“Pinkie,” he said, turning to her, “there any place out here that ain’t so crowded?”

Pinkie Pie looked at him, her smile gone, and her eyes fell to his dessert still sitting on the table. “I’m sorry no one tried your apple pie, Macky.”

He forced himself to chuckle and waved a hoof at her, as if dispelling the thought. “It ain’t that. What do Ah care if a few ponies missed out on the best thing they’ll ever eat. Ah just wanna get some fresh air.”

Pinkie Pie nodded though still didn’t smile. “Okie dokie lokie, and once we get there I could talk, or not talk…whichever makes you feel better.”

“Pinkie, Ah already told ya that wasn’t it.”

She ignored him and climbed onto the table. She placed a hoof on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun as she scanned the courtyard. Finally her eyes brightened and her smile returned as she spotted something off in the distance.

“Oh! Oh! C’mon Macky,” she said happily as she jumped off the table and started pulling on his hoof, “there’s a pony I want you to meet.”

Macintosh took a step back. “Ah don’t know, Pinkie, Ah just wanna get some fresh air.”

“Don’t worry, there’s plenty of fresh air over there, and I know you’ll like her. Let’s go!” she said as she pulled harder on his foreleg. Finally he gave in with a small groan and followed her through the crowd. As they pushed their way through, Macintosh noticed that the mass of ponies seemed to thin out the farther they walked, and he couldn’t help but feel a little better. The sound of music started to float through the air, and Macintosh could identify a few string instruments playing a calming tune. Macintosh smiled as he listened. Though it was countered by an extraordinarily pungent smell.

The crowd finally fell away completely and Macintosh was left with a view of a string quartet playing on a slightly raised platform. Nearby were a few portable bathrooms, and Macintosh realized why there weren’t many ponies around.

The music drifted to an end, and Pinkie clopped her hooves on the ground in applause. Big Macintosh joined her. The performers took a quick bow, and Pinkie went toward the little stage, gesturing for Mac to follow her. He did, reluctantly.

“Hey, Octavia!” Pinkie said while waving towards the cellist, a mare with a light black mane and a lighter coat somewhere between brown and gray. The musician lowered her bow and gave Pinkie a nod. “I’d like to introduce you to Mack-uh-Big Macintosh Apple,” Pinkie said as she pointed to Mac.

“Big Macintosh?” Octavia said with a small chuckled. “I could think of a few reasons they gave you that name.”

He smiled, despite himself. “Eeyup, an’ Ah’ve heard ‘em all. That was some beautiful music y’all were playin’.”

“Of course it was,” she said with a deft twirl of her cello, “though I always enjoy praise.”

“Hey Octavia,” Pinkie piped up, “do you have time to taste some of our desserts?”

“Have you seen where they so graciously placed my ensemble?” she said as she gestured to the portable bathrooms. “I honestly hope there are sinks in those things, or we’ll have ponies with brown on their teeth, and not from any chocolate icing.”

She turned to the other members of a string quartet. “I’m not wasting anymore time playing to a smell. Wrap it up.” The others muttered their agreement and started putting away their instruments, and Octavia did the same. She placed her cello in its case and placed it on her back, a strap going over her right shoulder and beneath her left foreleg kept it in place. “Show me the way,” she said as she hopped off the platform.

“Ya need any help with that?” Macintosh asked.

“Yes, but I rather hold onto it,” she said. Mac just nodded, and they both followed Pinkie back to their table.

“Big Macintosh,” Octavia said, “I suppose you’re part of the dessert contest, given your preferences.”

“My preferences?” Mac repeated, and Octavia pointed to the pink bow on his harness. He chuckled. “Oh that. That’s just a good luck charm from my little sister.”

“Is that so?” she said, giving him a curious little smirk.

“Eeyup,” Macintosh said, ignoring her smile.

They returned to their table to find everything just as they had left it. Pinkie bounced toward Mac’s apple pie and placed a slice on a plate, which she gave to the musician. “Here you go, Octavia. Mac made it.”

She eyed the slice of pie carefully. She shrugged and tried a taste. Immediately her eyes lit up and she smiled before taking another bite. “This is incredible. Big Macintosh would you mind baking two more, sometime next week? My friends and I gather for a bit of talk and drinks and there’s a little cyst of a lyrist that I would love to slap across the face with one of your pies. Figuratively, of course. Though perhaps a bit literally as well. Hmm, perhaps I should order three...”

“Well, sure, Ah’d be happy to,” Macintosh said. “Ah figure ya might want me ta pretty it up?”

“Unnecessary,” Octavia said. “It looks a bit plain, I won’t lie, but some of the most soul-stirring compositions are the most simplistic. I’m honestly surprised there’s still any left.”

Macintosh was about to respond, but before he could a new voice interrupted him. “Apple? Is that you?” A quiet groan escaped Mac. He recognized that voice. He turned to look at the prince, looking almost exactly the same as when he met him during the art viewing.

“It’s so nice to see you again,” Blueblood said with little sincerity. His eyes lowered to Mac’s harness. “Lovely bow,” he said dryly.

“Howdy, Blueblood,” Macintosh said, not bothering to try and sound enthusiastic.

“Oh! You’re Prince Blueblood?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Hi! I don’t think you know me but I-“

“I know exactly who you are,” the prince said. “You’re the one that caused all that havoc at the Grand Galloping Gala. Consider yourself lucky I didn’t have you arrested.”

Pinkie Pie giggled as if Blueblood had told a joke. “It sure was fun, though. Are you going to the next one? I know I am.”

“In that case I won’t be,” Blueblood said.

“So what the heck are ya doin’ here?” Macintosh asked.

“Don’t you know? Well, I expected as much from a backwoods hick,” Blueblood said with a sneer. “We’re competing in the same category, and judging by your sad excuse for a dessert, I would say you’re outmatched.”

Macintosh smirked. “Outmatched, huh? Ah can’t even think of what you would make for the contest. Ah kinda imagine a bowl of burnt orange slices ya painted so they look pretty.”

“Or perhaps nothing but eaten fruit and bread vomited into a trifle dish,” Octavia added.

“That’s quite enough,” Blueblood said with a small growl.

“Yes, it is,” Octavia said, “so please leave. I don’t have any time to bother with a maggot-filled blister.” Big Macintosh was actually impressed. Not so much with what she said but how she said it. There was absolutely no malice in her voice. In fact it was rather pleasant, as if she was having a delightful conversation over tea.

“What?” Blueblood said, glaring at the mare. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

“Why yes,” she said, “you’re the royal pain chewed out by a prissy fashion designer from Ponyville. Now please go away before you use up all of our air, and don’t come back until you’ve found a way to exhale oxygen and thus become an actual benefit to society.”

The prince didn’t have anything to say, and just stood mouth agape. He regained some of his composure and managed to stutter and spit as he tried to give a response. He finally gave up, and with a scoff walked off.

“That was mean!” Pinkie said as she watched the prince go.

“I’m well aware of that, Pinkie,” Octavia said. “That’s why I said it. Even if I were nice he would still be a sickly menstrual stain of a pony.”

“But if we’re only nice to ponies that are nice to us then mean ponies will always be mean, and they’ll even get meaner because no one’s nice to them. Maybe Prince Blueblood wouldn’t be so bad if someone tried to be nice to him. Maybe he’s so mean because he’s sad and doesn’t have a friend,” Pinkie said.

Octavia rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure that’s it. I’m sure Blueblood cries himself to sleep every night in his luxurious mansion with servants catering to his every whim. Your naivety is endearing.”

“Ya know Miss Octavia,” Mac said, hoping to divert the conversation, “Ah’d be more offended by ya if ya didn’t say all those mean things like you were tellin’ a pony ‘good morning’.”

“It’s simply Octavia, and it’s a quality brought over from my upbringing,” she said as she held out her empty plate towards him. “Another slice, please.”

“Yer upbringing?” Mac said. He grabbed his pie server and placed another piece on her plate.

“That’s right. Perhaps we can learn more about our upbringings while on a date,” she said before taking a bite of pie.

Macintosh chuckled. “Pretty straight forward, ain’t ya?”

“I dislike beating around the bush like a self-conscious school filly in the throes of puberty. Much easier to take a direct approach.”

“Ah gotta admire that,” Macintosh said. “Still, Ah’m catchin’ a train back ta Ponyville right after the contest. If yer ever in Ponyville, though, feel free ta look me up.”

“The same goes for me if you’re ever in Canterlot.”

“Why even wait?” Pinkie asked with a giggle. “You two could go around and try the different desserts. Judging doesn’t start for an hour or so.”

“Well, I think that would be all right,” Octavia said with a smile toward the farmpony.

Mac was a little less eager. “You sure, Pinkie? You’d be all alone.”

Pinkie smiled. “I’m not alone, silly, I have hundreds of ponies to talk to,” she said with a gesture towards the immense crowd. Macintosh couldn’t even fathom being so willing to immerse himself in a crowd and strike up conversation with a random pony. “So go, go, go!” Pinkie said, shooing them off.

“Ah’m goin’, Ah’m goin,” Mac said with a smile. “You comin’ Octavia?”

“Of course.”

-*-

The late afternoon sun hung lazily in the air as the pair of ponies looked at the dessert-lined tables that sprawled on for what felt like miles. The date was going well so far, they simply talked and tasted and enjoyed each other’s company.

“So how do ya know Pinkie?” Mac asked before eating a chocolate covered profiterole. The cream filling was a bit too sweet for his liking, almost like eating nothing but sugar.

“The same way Blueblood knows her, I was at the Gala when she struck. I was angry at first, but once I got to know her I found pleasant company, if not a bit…spastic. And you? It seems as if you two are close friends.”

“She’s more my sister’s friend. I sorta just got caught up with her, I suppose.”

“Were you not listening? I was ‘caught up with her’ as well, and I still consider her a friend. She set you up on a date with me, I would consider that worthy of friendship.”

“That depends on how this date goes,” Macintosh said with a smirk.

“Very true,” she said with a smile of her own. “So what is it that you do when you’re not entering dessert competitions?”

“My family owns an’ runs Sweet Apple Acres. I mostly do farmwork…mostly.”

“Sweet Apple Acres? I’ve heard of it. A friend of mine gave me a bottle of your cider once. It was almost as delicious as your apple pie.”

Macintosh smiled. “If yer ever around Ah’d be glad ta show you our other products. Not a lot of ponies from Canterlot have tried our apples, might be good for business if that changed,” he said as he continued along the path. “Why don’t ya tell me about that upbringin’ you were talkin’ about earlier?”

“Not much of a story,” Octavia said as they came upon a table giving out miniature Mont Blanc cakes. Octavia took one and tried a bit. She stared at the dessert for a few seconds before placing it back on the table and leading Macintosh to the next. “I found my first cello in a dumpster behind a music shop here in Canterlot. A cheap thing, plywood with only one string. I remember trying to ebb out every single note I could from that one string as a filly. I got the other three about a year later, worked my way through college, and here I am.”

“That can’t be all there is to it,” Mac said. They stopped in front of a table giving out what looked like a key lime pie, but stacked in much the same way as a layer cake.

She chuckled as she took a slice. “Well, I don’t want to give it all up on the first date.”

“Fair enough,” Mac said with a laugh. “So how’d ya come by insultin’ ponies so calmly?” he asked, taking a slice as well.

“The world of musical performance is highly competitive, and ponies will do anything to throw their rivals for a loop. I’ve found that slipping poison through a sweet voice does well to unnerve a pony.” Octavia smiled and took a bite of the key lime layer cake. “I’m going to get fat with all these desserts,” she said.

Macintosh was about to respond with a quip but was interrupted by a voice coming over the loudspeakers. “Contestants, judging will begin in fifteen minutes,” it said.

“Looks like we’ll have to cut our date short,” Octavia said. “I should get going as well, I have another event to play tomorrow and I’d like to start practicing.”

Macintosh nodded. “It was nice spendin’ time with ya.”

“Likewise,” she said with a smile. “My offer still stands.”

“Mine too.” The ease with which he said it surprised even him. Heck, his whole attitude toward Octavia surprised him. It took a while to build this rapport with any of Applejack’s friends, but maybe that was why it was so easy. For once he was talking to a mare that had minimal connection to Applejack or her friends, just a small friendship with Pinkie Pie. Octavia didn’t know what he went through in the past several weeks, she didn’t know his faults or his past, and, rightfully, didn’t care. For once he was just talking to a pretty mare without the worry of having her scrutinize his every move as if examining a clue that might decipher some code. Of course, she could very well be doing that, but he actually didn’t care. It wasn’t as if he would be seeing her again any time soon.

Octavia chuckled and waved a goodbye. She adjusted her cello case over her back and went on her way. Macintosh watched her go. He shook his head with a smile. High-class mares, he had to figure out whether it was the accent or the harness. Macintosh made his way through the crowd, that uneasiness from before slowly growing, until he heard a familiar voice that made him feel better.

“Hey Macky,” she said, waving him over to their table. “How’d your date go?” she asked with a wriggle of her eyebrows, which Macintosh promptly ignored.

“It went good…really good. We talked for a bit. She seems interestin’.”

Pinkie giggled. “See? I knew you’d like her. You two are a lot alike.”

“How so?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” she said.

Macintosh decided not to go any further, and instead started setting up the other pie for the judges to taste. Just as before, he started slicing it into eighths and placing each piece on a plate. He had put the last slice on the last plate when he heard a pony clear his throat.

Macintosh jerked his head up and saw a trio of ponies, a stallion and two mares, standing in front of his table. Each one looked prim and proper, and their expressions revealed nothing of their emotions. The judges, Mac supposed.

He didn’t say anything and gently pushed a plate forward to each of the judges. They each took a bite, and Macintosh was relieved to see the faintest glimmer of a smile grace their faces. Without another word or another taste, they set down their plates and went along their way. Macintosh sighed in relief as they left. Though he quickly realized something.

“How come they didn’t try any of yer cupcakes?” he asked.

“The judges for each category are different, silly. The ones for sweet breads already came and tasted mine.”

Mac nodded as he remembered. “So how are they gonna do the award ceremony?”

Pinkie tapped her chin in thought. “According to the brochure, each category has it’s own award ceremony and they all start at the same time. Oh look!” Pinkie said as she pointed toward a large banner with the word ‘Custard’ printed on it in elaborate cursive. “That must be where the award ceremony for the custard category is being held.” She continued to look around the courtyard, trying to find more banners. Her eyes brightened and she pointed a hoof towards one end of the garden. “There’s where I need to go. Oh! And there’s where you need to go,” she said, pointing to the other side. “We better hurry.”

Macintosh couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy when he realized that their respective ceremonies were being held on two opposite sides of the massive courtyard. Pinkie seemed to sense his discomfort and patted his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.

“You’ll be fine, Macky. Trust me.”

Macintosh did, and so he swallowed his fear and gave her a nod. Her smile widened and she gave him a hug, one that he quickly pushed away from. “Let’s get goin’ then,” Macintosh said quietly.

Pinkie Pie nodded and happily bounced toward her banner, while Macintosh slowly made his way to his own. His experience in the crowd went much the same way as the time at the train station, and Mac was relieved when he made it to his banner. He was content with standing at the outskirts of the crowd eagerly whispering amongst each other. A unicorn stallion, standing in front of a large rectangular object covered by a white sheet, called everyone to attention and started a speech welcoming those who participated.

Finally it came down to announcing the winners, and he started by announcing third place. A griffon Macintosh never heard of walked to the front of the crowd toward the speaker and took her yellow ribbon. Macintosh did, however, recognize the name called for second place. No other than Prince Blueblood himself.

When his name was called the prince swaggered with a smug smirk towards the front and took a red ribbon, giving the crowd a bow as he did. He stood next to the griffon, giving off an air of superiority so intense Mac had to wonder whether the prince realized there was still first place to be called.

The crowd waited silently for the speaker to announce first place, and Macintosh couldn’t help but stomp his hooves against the ground in excitement. The unicorn stallion finally took and a breath and said…a name that wasn’t Mac’s. An earth pony mare happily trotted up and took her blue ribbon before standing next to Blueblood.

The audience gave their polite applause. “To the rest,” the speaker said, “you may view your scores on the chalkboard behind me.” The white sheet was taken off by a couple of ponies and revealed the scores of everyone that had participated. Macintosh’s mood lightened a bit. Though he didn’t win a ribbon, perhaps he got a respectable place.

Macintosh scanned the names to look for his own. His heart sunk when his eyes started going lower and lower until he finally found his name. ‘Big Macintosh Apple’: dead last. He looked at his scores. Originality: zero. Presentation: zero. Taste: eleven.

Could they even do that? He supposed so, though he couldn’t help but think that if he didn’t come dead last they wouldn’t have done it, lest the judges deal with a few angry ponies crying for fairness. He looked at the name just above his, a name he didn’t know. They had twelve points: four in each. Then his eyes went to the very top. The winner had full points in presentation and originality and eight in taste. Macintosh then looked for Blueblood’s name. Before he could find it, the pony in question walked up beside him.

“Second place, not too bad if I do say so myself,” Blueblood said smugly. “I can’t help but notice that you came in dead last, with a pity point on top of that.”

Macintosh ignored him for a few seconds. He found the prince’s name and looked at the score. He had full points in presentation, four in originality, and seven in taste. Macintosh sighed and smiled softly, he knew when he’d been beat. He was kind of expecting it anyway. All he could do now was accept it gracefully, and perhaps take Pinkie Pie’s advice and be a bit nicer to the prince.

“Congratulations, Blueblood. What did ya make?” Mac asked.

“Ha! I thought you might-uh-excuse me?” Blueblood said, completely confused. “Oh, well, thank you. I made a tropical fruit tart with strawberries, kiwis, and mangos, topped off with a bit of mascarpone.”

“Sounds good,” Macintosh said with an honest smile. “Ah’d like ta try some if there’s any left.”

“You would?” Blueblood said, taking a small step back as he raised an inquisitive eyebrow toward the farmpony. “There is some left...and…perhaps I could try a bit of your apple pie.” His voice was quiet. “But only because you were lucky enough to have the highest score in taste for our category,” he quickly added.

“Great, lead the way,” Macintosh said.

Blueblood hesitated for a split second until he gave the red stallion a nod and led him to his table.

-*-

Big Macintosh had to admit Blueblood’s tart was pretty damn good. He didn’t know what mascarpone was but he liked it. Blueblood had even tried a slice of Mac’s apple pie and said it was...decent. Pinkie Pie had taken the blue ribbon, of course, and happily joined the two in finishing their desserts.

All in all, Pinkie and Macintosh left the competition in high spirits. Even so, as Macintosh boarded the train and got out of the warm night air he couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed at the results of the competition.

He and Pinkie boarded in a front train car this time since there was no more room in coach to fit them. The inside was compartmentalized for privacy. Not only for the comfort of the passengers but also because first class contained the roomettes, seats that could easily convert to bunk beds for those longer trips.

Mac didn’t mind one bit and closed the screen door at the first opportunity. He threw off his saddlebags, the ceramic clanging loudly as he did. Then he took off his harness and the good luck necklace and placed them on top of his saddlebags. With a sigh he sat down, leaned against the cushioned back, and stared out of the big picture window at the scenery passing by.

“What’s wrong, Macky?” Pinkie asked, sitting across from him.

“It’s nothin’,” he said quietly.

“Is it because you lost?” she asked.

“A little.”

Pinkie nodded before getting up and leaving the compartment, closing the screen door behind her.

Macintosh figured she was just fed up with dealing with him. He didn’t mind. Heck he would probably do the same thing if he had to put up with himself. He knew why he wasn’t feeling his best, he just couldn’t do anything to stop feeling that way. He hated not having any control over his emotions. He knew why he was depressed, so why couldn’t he do anything to stop it? Probably because what was making him so was out of his control. His eyes wandered away from the window and towards the pink bow. He stared at it for a few seconds until he refocused on the moving landscape outside.

The door slid open and Pinkie Pie stepped back into the roomette. She sat back down and held her blue ribbon to him. Macintosh stared at it, then looked up to Pinkie. She was smiling, but her eyes seemed so sad. He hated being the cause of that sadness.

Slowly he raised his hooves and took the ribbon. The number one embossed on the ribbon was crossed out with black ink. Right beneath it were the words ‘Best Tasting Ever’. He stared at the rushed writing for a few long moments, and he wiped his eyes with a foreleg. He dropped the ribbon, and pushed it back toward Pinkie.

“It ain’t that Ah lost, Pinkie. It’s how Ah lost,” he whispered.

“What do you mean?” Pinkie asked, matching his volume.

“Ah lost ‘cause Ah didn’t change anythin’ about my dessert. Yeah, Ah got points for taste, but Ah could’ve taken everythin’ if Ah had just listened to Rainbow Dash and Rarity and put a bit of flair inta it. Instead Ah just blew ‘em off. My way was the way it was always done so Ah thought that made it right.” He fought the urge to look back at Applebloom’s bow. “Ah’m just a stubborn good-fer-nothin’ that doesn’t know when ta let go of the past…and it cost me.”

“That isn’t true, Macky,” Pinkie said.

“It is.”

Pinkie Pie shook her head forcefully. “Remember what you said to Rainbow Dash? You said that if you were going to lose then you’d want to lose because of something you made, and not because you tried to do something just to make the judges like it. You weren’t being stubborn about not changing, you were being stubborn about who you were and you wanted to give the judges something that showed them you, and you is what they got.”

Pinkie Pie stood and took a few steps closer to Macintosh. When she spoke again, her voice was louder. “And if the judges didn’t like it, well boo on them. There are tons of ponies out there that’ll love your recipe even if it isn’t fancy. You know what? There are tons of ponies out there that’ll love it because it isn’t fancy. I know because I’m one of them.” She looked down at the blue ribbon on the floor and pushed it to him. “Take it, please. You deserve it.”

Macintosh smiled as he stared at the ribbon. He took it, and placed it beside the pink bow. His eyes never left them as he spoke. “Ah don’t deserve a friend like you, Pinkie.”

Quicker than he could blink, Macintosh felt a pair of forelegs wrap around his neck and a puffy mane press against the side of his head. He felt her nose nuzzle against him. “Ponies don’t have friends because they deserve them, Macky,” Pinkie said quietly, “they have them because they make everything better, the good and bad. A really, really great friend told me so.”

Macintosh was rendered speechless, and he could only stay still as Pinkie Pie embraced him. Finally some sense returned to him. Slowly he wrapped a foreleg around her and, Celestia help him, he hugged her back.

Comments

[Silent Storms]

Alright, read the chapter. It was really quite good, I enjoyed your portrayal of Octavia and how the competition was fleshed out in general. I hope we get to see more of Octavia in the future (as was hinted at) and that the story continues to be a great slice of life. Carry on good sir.

An error or two I found:
1)“Their doin’ good. She’s out shopping for ingredients with ‘em right now. You wanna get a drink? Least I could do after that crash.” - Just a mistake of their and they're.

2) guessing your gonna enter something with apples - your and you're

[Axel IV]

Once again, an incredible chapter

[Seether00]

Awesome. As some one who bakes, I understand Mac's sense, but I disagree with it. If you are in a competition, you have to give it you're all to win it. Not to do so is kind of an insult to your competition. I understand the point was for him to lose and maybe learn something. Unfortunately taste isn't the end all, that is the way the point system worked. Not sure how Mac thought he could win, even though he knew half the score was not taste. Stubborn, just stubborn.

[Crimson Dawn]

Wow that chapter was awesome. Heck it may not be the intent but Pinkie would be really cute with Big Mac but at the same time they also just work as friends. I love that Pinkie helped get him a "date" and does everything she can to make the situation better for him. I also like how you made him work well with the twins as I could see him being good with young kids.

Just gave the story a thumbs up and this chapter alone would gain it because it was that good.

Of course I now need to go back into the story and see if the Pinkie Big Mac Relationship looks like it is friends only, possibly more, or if it is a complete toss up. If it eventually turned into more I would say after this chapter I would be 100% OK with it because the writing made it work that well.

[yellow donut]

i like this
edit:
400th comment! wooo!!!

[OmniFox]

He's becoming open.

[The Unknown Alias]

You know, everytime I see a notice for a new chapter here, I smile knowing that I'm about to read another part of a solemn story that I'll love. There are few stories around here that strike me emotionally as this.

[zaptiftun]

UPDATE! YAAAAAAAAAAY!

Aww, that was a great ending; props to you, good author-type person!

[kagemao]

An explanation for Lyra and Bon-Bon always being spotted together that isn't overdone? Woo hoo! The only thing this is missing for me now is a real interaction between Mac and Spike.

I kinda got the feeling getting him to enter the contest was orchestrated, Though I had that feeling about other things in the story 'til they were debunked in the camping trip. It's weird to say I'm glad he didn't win, I'm more glad that he's doing a better job of accepting when he made a mistake and learning from it.

This chapter is putting thoughts in my head for Candy Apple... how far will Pinkie go to get the recipe?

I love the new picture but it gets all squished up when I use it for an ebook.

[Fyreside]

The Feels!!!!!! I laughed, I cried (sad), Laughed some more and cried (happy d'aw) again...
Love Mac teasin Rainbow and Rarity, Pinkie is so... Pinkie. a date with Octavia? is he gonna date every mare in the show? up next Luna next! Trixie! then Gilda! Everybody gets some Mac!!
Mac can you marry me so i can have the apple pie recipe!!!
nope

you can have Braeburn
.... Squee!
Together: whew close one
so Mac, Aj told me you have Smartypants... would you like to...
together: NOOOOO!!!!

[MGMT1]

Wonderful just wonderful

[mrjerrio]

Daww, gah, awww.

[ValorlordV5]

Finally!!! I've been waiting for a new chapter since I started reading this fic! I thought you left us to forever wonder if Big Mac will ever be a truly happy pony! Yay!

[Sound Wave]

It brought tears to my eyes~

I love this story so much~~ ~<3

[Rust]

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!

*dies*

[RealityCheck]

Good chapter, well written. Charming, and the ending was touching as well.
If I have a complaint, it's that there was just a wee bit too much potty humor in a chapter largely about FOOD.
Seriously, you got downright nasty a couple places.

[User name]

THIS TOOK SO LONG! IT'S SO GOOD
NNNGHHHH

[Zaku Pony]

...Man. I will be forever envious of the flow your chapters have. From start to finish, they're never a problem reading. Your choice of portrayal of Octavia was enjoyable too. Simplistic, but at the same time very...smooth (again).

[djthomp]

“Sorry, Pinkie, but it’s a secret family recipe. Ya gotta be an Apple ta know it.”
Pinkie rubbed her chin in thought for a moment before her eyes brightened with an idea. “Macky, will you-“
“No, Pinkie,” Macintosh interrupted.
“Aww…”

Very nice chapter and a great ending. I hope this means Mac is starting to get over his funk.

[Emil]

Ponies eating sweet breads...ponies eating sweetbreads...now that would be a mistake of an entry!

[LacionARG]

I can say that this is the best story that i've read in this site, and that ending! oh god, i wish i could comment more than this but im still just getting out of the awesomenes of the story ( because if i comment more now it would be some AOIDWPWJADIOJIOW OMG GREAT STORY and that is a really empty comment in some way), cant wait for the next update as always a great job.

[Carpetbagger]

There's so many incredible things to point out in this chapter. But the biggest was your portrayal of Octavia. That was by far the absolute best Octavia I've read in any fanfiction. It's like she's an overconfident wasp with a sharp tongue, but at the same time extremely charismatic. From the addition of the music ponies, I sincerely hope we see more of her in the future. Blueblood is already one of my favorites (because I love to hate him much like Diamond Tiara) but the way you brought out a sliver of redeeming qualities really stuck with me. It really worked with the contrast of Octavia's upbringing, which made it all the better. Then to top it off, Pinkie Pie at the end was so heartwarming I think I had to clutch my chest a few times. I wish she was more like that in canon. This whole chapter was more than worth the wait and you can see the effort that went into it. This entire story has a cinematic feel to it and literally reminds me of an award winning screenplay. Keep up the good work.

[Treilacl]

Well... I was certainly happy to find this in my update box thing!
And I have to say I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh a few times, and it made me smile that sad smile like thing at the very end. I also loved the Octavia and Big Mac thing. I def didn't see it coming but it fits and it's a wonderful addition. For one thing his reaction to being around her kinda helps solidify the idea of the mane 6 as his family and not really someone he's interested to much in for a relationship, and for another I've really come to like Octavia I am really hoping that he goes to Canterlot one day and meets Octavia and they have a little time together. I'm also looking forward to reading more about how Big Mac deals with some of this stuff... also I have to say I love this line: "Ponies don’t have friends because they deserve them, Macky,” Pinkie said quietly, “they have them because they make everything better, the good and bad. A really, really great friend told me so.”

You can bet your ponies that I'll be quoting that.

[Sallythemanatee]

I just love this story, and it just keeps getting better. Your portrayal of the characters is so spot on. This version of big mac is so fleshed out and realistic I cannot imagine him any other way.

[thefirewarde]

Out of nowhere, Ocintosh!
I do appreciate how you don't describe the food's taste in a particularly subjective way - it leaves more to my imagination.

[UseFistNotMouth]

Ah, the big lug. I want to beat him about the head with a cast iron frying pan. Both 'cause he's so frustrating and because I'm jealous.

The blade shined brilliantly in the few rays of sunlight

I think "shined" should be "shone".

Than again, he had yet to drop a foal.

"Than" should be "then".

[moguera]

I always get a little irritated by food contests like this one, especially when people make a big deal about presentation. I mean, I can understand turning something away because it looks like a pile of unappetizing mush or a complete mess. But it's food, you're supposed to eat it, not judge it like some sculpture. If I cared about that kind of stuff, I would go to an art show. If it looks appetizing, let the taste do the talking. Pardon my rant about the unfairness and irrationality of the world.

Also...

Big Mac gets all the mares.

[CoastalSarv]

As for Blueblood in the competition... every culture has ideas of what is proper for the upper classes to do, and it only stands to reason that Equestrian society should value baking sweets, just as much as old European nobility would value hawking. (It's the same with Twilight Sparkle's old babysitter being a Princess - in a society obsessed with friendlyness and cuteness, of course taking care of little children is a perfectly acceptable task for a high-born lady!)

I like to imagine that during the little moment when she thought it and then saw it, Pinkie Pie was perfectly sincere about marrying someone just so she could have a heavenly recipe.

[Verbose Soubriquet]

And once again, I feel like I should just give up writing entirely.
This was bloody fantastic. Bringing in background characters without seeming forced, the adorableness at the end... need I go on?

[Genesis1212]

alright a new chapter! :D ill read this abit later ^w^ btw i like the new story pic compliments to the artist :P

EDIT: wow loved this update! though im impressed by your ability to make me give blueblood another shot (always "disliked" him >w<) here he seems to be trying to be a nice guy and octavia oh lordy loved your interpretation of her ^w^ fantastic chapter overall kinda happy big mac didnt win next time mac!

[foolyourself]

Yes! best mac fic

[Undertone]

Every chapter makes me re-evaluate who is best pony. As it stands, Pinkie.

[Friday Knight]

this is a great chapter i must admit, but you made one huge mistake, Mr. Cake isn't a unicorn, so he couldn't have used magic to balance himself

[Rokas]

This was an excellent chapter, full of development. I love it. Please, more, when you get the chance.

[Blazer]

I didn't think it was possible for me to gather the willpower to smile at 5:30AM after an all-nighter.

Until now.

[MrNumbers]

Can... Can this be made into a spin-off series? Please? Hasbro?

Or at least a movie? Please?

I would give you money to which you would give to the author in royalties...

Please?

"Dear Princess Celestia

Today I learned that it's what's inside that counts, but it's not how others will judge you.
I also learned that, if I deliver this to you personally in Canterlot, I can meet up with Octavia again...

Howdy!

Big Macintosh

[BenRG]

I definately think I can see where this is going now. The PinkMac relationship/proto-romance is developing because Pinkie isn't trying too hard. She's approaching him on his terms and made it quite clear that she is interested in his happiness too; she's even shown she's willing to help him find happiness on his terms. That said, I'm pretty sure that Rarity and Rainbow Dash are interested in him; they're just coming on too hard for what is a very introverted and shy stallion. Friendship is developing over mutual understanding and, even if it doesn't turn romantic, I think that Mac has at least one firm friend now in Pinkie Pie.

The Octavia thing came out of the blue for me and I think tht she may be a dark horse (well... dark brown anyway) in this story. She... intregues Mac and I think that he intregues her too. Whether it goes any further, the two of them are going to be in each other's minds for a while yet. In the long-term, I think that she's too aggressive for his peace of mind; similar to Rarity and Rainbow Dash in that way. That said, I think that they will have at least one formal date that both will enjoy but agree should not be repeated.

I liked how Mac handled Blueblood; politeness completely disarmed him and it might make it harder for him to be rude to Mac in the future. It is also very in-character for Mac to acknowledge that his loss is, at least in part, due to his failure to understand the competition. "Best tasting" is a good victory for him, though.

[Iron Sides]

New Chapter!?

25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mad5flL8ZV1ruhpz2o1_400.gif 25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mad5flL8ZV1ruhpz2o3_250.gif 24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mad5flL8ZV1ruhpz2o10_r1_250.gif

[ttoby17]

I love this story. But now we have like what, four possible romances here?

Swagintosh.

[funkyferret]

1285091
Like this?

[Crimson Dawn]

Ok after reading more I REALLY like the Pinkie MAC whether or not it continues. I hope it does of course. The only issue is her biggest strength. Her biggest strength is how friendly she is with him and not being so blatant in her affections (potentially romantic ones I mean she is still Pinkie so she is quite obvious from a friend angle) but at the same time this is leading her to introducing more ponies to "compete" against like Octavia and that Pinkie and/or Big Mac may not realize the chemistry they have going. Yea I am not sure if Pinkie even gets it which is really cute. I do like that you often have Mac notice her scent before she arrives so much. It is a nice touch. Also his liking of her talking about anything is really cute and I think that is subtly brilliant from a writing perspective. So many people try to write out all of the funny lines that Pinkie may say but often what they write is less funny than the one line they write at the end. By mostly leaving what is said to the imagination you allow us to think of all the sorts of random things that could be said which is probably more random than what could be written. This is similar to how in movies like Jaws and Alien the movies worked so well because you could not see the monster and the viewers imagination was so powerful that it made the movie. I am not sure that is your intention but I think it works in a similar fashion. The fact that he often likes it and finds it calming is very heart warming as well. I am really looking forward to more of that character development between the two.

I am also interested in what Applejack thinks about this whole thing. For instance does she have a preference for any particular one of her friends to be dating him? Is she against the idea all together. Would she support it? We know she joked with Rarity about it but I don't know if she really thought about it being true or not. Granted looking at some subtle cues in this chapter perhaps she is saying something about it but I could just be reading too much into what AJ is doing in this chapter.

I would also mention I noticed that this story lacks the romance tag and so even if you are not planning any romance I still find the way you write them as being very fun and heart warming.

EDIT: Wait so Pinkie has been practicing drawing Sweet Apple Farm? And Rarity has seen a painting of it? Hmm even more questions abound about our Pink friend.

[Rocket To Insanity]

never figured you for writing prequels

[unclefester84]

"...there’s a little cyst of a lyrist that I would love to slap across the face with one of your pies..."
I C WAT U DID THERE PAL!

[DRKSEEKERS]

I love it.

[TheDoktor]

Octavia... I think I love her. Seriously, she's so delightfully aggressive, even... crass. It's beautiful. I have no idea if there are going to be any actual ships in this story, but you have like four that could totally work. That's rather amazing.

I love that you undercut the expected Aesop here, with Mac actually being upset that he placed so badly, even when sticking to principles, and the... Pinkie saves the day. We all need a Pinkie Pie in our life, for times like that. I could totally endorse shipping those two as well (I wonder if Mac sees how awesome he is. Probably not, but he'll learn.)

This little bit of sweetness was perfect following the drama of the last three chapters, and just goes to show that you're one of the most versatile writers in this fandom.

[kagemao]

1285835 I think Rarity may have been thinking about the art showing she took Mac to.

You make me wonder if the barn wall Mac busted had Pinkie's painting on it now.

[Bronyhood of steel]

Great chapter octi mac ftw

[Ivory Piano]

1262840
We mostly did backpacking, usually about an hour's hike from where we parked the cars. Downhill both ways, though, as my scoutmaster used to say.

I hated that joke.

1281716 1283506
Fixed!

1282427

Big Macintosh was about to take a bite from his slice, but Octavia's comment suddenly robbed him of his appetite. Disappointed, he slowly lowered his plate back onto the table.

—Deleted for reasons.
I know that doesn't excuse the overuse of potty humor but I thought it would be a nice tidbit to share.

1283873
Yeah, I know what that feels like. There's a lovely quote by Ira Glass that always makes me feel better:

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

Geez, I hope this doesn't make me come off as some d-bag for presuming too much.

1284617
Oh please, not a movie. Imagine cramming this behemoth into 2 hours? I'd hate to write the screenplay for that, and I'm the guy that wrote it in the first place!

1285084
i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy127/OliverKobs/24491556.jpg

1285754
Don't believe in yourself, believe in the Macintosh that believes in you!

1286189
I don't.

1285835 1284848 1281716 1282006 1287312 1283346
Hnnnng, want so much to discuss! There are no words to portray just how much I want to say. I can't, though, so I'll just busy myself with writing the next chapter.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and your thoughts on this story of mine. As you might have guessed from this comment I just figured out how to use the quote feature. It's glorious. Also, I have never wanted to preview a comment more in my life, and yet I can't...apparently. Ah well, let's hope all that 'code' works out.

[UseFistNotMouth]

1287871

A good way to preview stuff is to post it into an unpublished blog post and use the preview feature there.
At least you can edit these easily.

[Crowquill Symphony]

Thank you. Excellent story.