Rematch
A hoof smacks loudly against a tree under the warm sun. A stallion with a brilliant red coat with a heavy build not typical of a earth stallion, a brilliant orange mane matted down with sweat, a matching tail cropped short, a cutie mark consisted of half cut green apple, showing the inside. Around his thick neck is his signature brown yoke, resting comfortably. Big Macintosh is his name, Big Mac for short for those who know him locally. Typically doing the weekly work of bucking apples off the tress to harvest, a necessary chore for the livelihood of the farm. But also a time where thoughts and memories are processed and reviewed for the stallion.
With a chuckle as he moves to another tree, he looks back on what happened a few days ago during the Sisterhooves Social, and how ridiculous it was to think his plan would work to make sure Apple Bloom get that sweet, sweet taste of victory. They didn't win but he knows now that his sisters will always appreciate him and his efforts. Then he frowns as he kinda feels guilty on how he rudely treated the other contestants to get to the finish line during the race portion of the social. He can't help but blush a little bit and mentally shake his head at himself.
“Hey! Big Mac!” a rowdy feminine, but slightly raspy voice rang out above him.
His emerald eyes looks up at the source, as a familiar pegasus mare figure hovering above him. Prismatic mane flowing freely amongst the wind. A lithe and toned body of the athlete type with light cyan blue coat. A recognizable and unique cutie mark on her flank, a rainbow thunderbolt from a cloud.
“Afternoon Rainbow Dash.” he greeted the mare. She glided towards him then landing softly, not in a typical Dash style.
“Sorry, but if ya are lookin for Applejack, ya just missed her. She's over at the castle not sure doing wut. Didn't really explain it ta me.” he tries to recall.
Rainbow Dash waves off his words, and nonchalantly said, “It's cool, I was lookin' for you anyways.”
With that comment Mac could only raise an eyebrow at with interest. He can't believe what he just heard, as it wasn't just perfect coincidence. He tries to study her posture to get clues if it isn't on what he thinks why shes here looking for him. Her moderate cerise eyes slightly glaring at him eye to eye, a slight frown in her facial feature, posture stock straight as if sizing him up. But there was no hostility as her distance was quite far from him. He concluded that, yes, he knows exactly on why she's here.
“Ah look, I'm sorry about the Sisterhooves Social event if that's wut ya here for.” he slightly bows his head in conciliation.
“Your sorry? Uh... what are your sorry for?” Dash's eyebrows rose in surprise at the sudden apology as her posture slackened.
“That I knocked you and Scootaloo over during the Sisterhooves Social?” Big Mac is second guessing now that wasn't why she was here now.
She shakes her head and chuckles, “What? OH... yea that. Well you apologized to Scootaloo, right?”
He nodded in affirmation and mentally appreciates that she holds Scootaloo well being in high regard, “Eeyup.”
She nods back, “Then we're cool.”
“Okay... then, why ya here lookin for me then.” Mac asked as his curiosity growing by the second.
The slight glare came back in her eyes but shown with determination as a smirk graced her features as she goes back to her straight posture, “To challenge you to a race!”
Emerald eyes lidded and unfazed, “Do wut now?”
Her determination only grew stronger as Dash hovers in front of his face, “You heard me, I challenge you to a race. Right here, right now!” at each syllable she came closer to to Macintosh till she was butting heads against him, which he was trying to shrink away in return as his back is towards a tree.
With a nervous thought of trying to think of a way to not offend Dash as she looks like she may pop for no apparent reason, “Well, that's mighty thoughtful of you, but you do know that you can pretty much beat me in a race, since you're one of the fastest fliers out there.” Macintosh slowly exclaimed, buttering her up as he is trying to dissuade her with words he heard from Scootaloo.
It grants him some personal space as Rainbow Dash backs off. Though she's still hovering near him with a charming and smug smile as she crossed her forearms, “I know, I am pretty awesome. But I meant I wanna challenge you to a hoof race!”
He quietly mulls over her challenge and pulls out a sprig of wheat from the inside of his yoke. As he chews the stem, he narrows down to the one question he wants to ask, “Why?” A very honest question he likes to think.
She hovers over to the tree branch above him and lays her back on the trunk, “After that competition, it got me thinking...” in Big Mac's mind he can just hear the snide remark Applejack would have for her. “you're pretty fast. I remember the time with the Flam-Flum brothers fiasco and how you were able to keep up with me.” If he remembers correctly, he was ahead the whole time, but intelligently keeping his mouth shut. “And now, its gets my competitive side boiling. I know I'm even with Applejack, but you, I want to know how fast you are.”
Big Mac starts to chuckle, and then shakes his head no. Dash getting offended, swoops down in front of Macintosh and smacks her forehead against his and tries to be intimidating as possible.
“You think you can beat me easily punk?” She growls out. Mac, thrown off of how serious she got, tries to calm her down, but remembers from what Applejack says on how competitive she can get.
“Nnnope. I assure ya that's not the reason. Trust me when ah say that ya will win. Side's I'm busy getting ready with cider season, can't waste time like that.” Mac spits out the sprig of wheat and turned around to make the conversation final.
“How about a bet? Winner tells whatever the loser does.” He laughs inwardly and still kept trotting, thinking how foalish of Dash to try to turn it into a bet. Besides knowing what he heard from his sister, she'll probably going to weasel her way out if she lost. But the next words chilled him to the bone. “Pinkie Promise.”
The very well known vow made an appearance and he knows how sacred the Pinkie Promise is around here. He's seen what happens when its been broken and it can only put chills into his body as he remembers from that time. His cousin(?) is a sweet pony, but can be scary occasionally. He turns around only to see a smirking Rainbow Dash, only to return a smirk of his own. “You're serious. Those are some words your uttering Rainbow Dash. Bringing in that vow.”
Rainbow Dash lands and does that Tartarus sent vow's motions “I cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake, in my eye. That I, Rainbow Daring Dash, will Pinkie Promise to follow this bet. I expect you to do the same and both of us lay some ground rules along with a third party.” Curiosity grew for Mac as what he heard from Applejack is not matching up with what's he seeing right now. The older mare sibling mentioned Dash being competitive to the point where she would try to get a little of advantage to her side as she could. But now she's making it fair for the third party to decide on how the race goes.
But besides on what he see's right now, she's planning something he thinks. His mind sending him alarms and should just leave. But the challenge in her eyes, the vow, the curiosity; makes him return the promise with the motions of the Pinkie Promise, “Name your prize.”
Rainbow Dash smirks, “One barrel of cider secured for me.” And there it clicks. Cider. It was her aim, he remembers of how attached she is to the Apple Family Cider. To secure a whole barrel to herself, he could only mentally sigh as he knows he could get a earful from Applejack.
But he came up with a stake of his own that's he thinks is not only good in general but would help out the family. “You work with us during the cider season you'll get half a barrel to your name.” Not even a second went by as she uttered, “Pinkie Promise.” Rainbow Dash stuck out her hoof for a shake. He nods his head in affirmation and returns the shake.
“Its a race to the finish and no physical contact,” Rainbow Dash said, as she started stretching and warming up. Hearing nothing wrong with the notions he was about to agree then got quite an eyeful of the toned body of Rainbow Dash. Lithe and slender but curvy enough to show the contours of her frame. Mac being lost in his thoughts of looking over Rainbow Dash he got thrown off when he was tapped on the forehead by the pony he was viewing. “You ok there? Getting cold hooves already?” Dash said as she snickered.
Mac rolled his eyes but kept his good-nature smile as he took off his yoke and did his own warm up, “So who's this third party you spoke of?”
“Pinkie Pie.” Dash answered nonchalantly and pointed at the tree that he was sure just a few seconds ago was empty as Pinkie smiled being her Pinkie self.
“Hey guys! I'm glad you chose me to be your third party. OH! Speaking of party, lets have one after this!” she said excitedly as she bounced around them. He can agree with Pinkie as the third party, she's unbiased to both of them and she'll make sure that'll be fair and fun. And of course, enforcing the Pinkie Promise.
“How the race go?” Mac said as he got done with his warm up.
“Third party decision, you and me will give our two cents.” Dash shrugged and looked at Pinkie.
“OH OH! Here, is the starting point.” She said as she pull out paint and marked the ground with the line. Little bit away she pulls out a roll of confetti streamer and tied it between two trees. “Then you have to go Ponyville, go to Sugarcube corner and order a cupcake, jump in the fountain to hold your breath for 30 seconds, go to the Crystal Castle and give Spike that cupcake, then go to Carousel Boutique and order a suit to be tailored and then run all the way back here at the finish line.” She listed out all on one breath and smiled as if she made the greatest idea of all time.
Dash and Mach glanced at each other unamused and Mac decided, “Here, run around Ponyville fountain once, then back at the finish line?” Dash thought it over for a bit, seemingly to weigh out the pros and cons.
“Yea deal.” Both stuck out hooves for a shake. Pinkie not fazed at all for them not agreeing to here idea, pulled out her party cannon.
“YAY! Line up and lets GOOOO!” Pinkie the ever so excitable pony took her place as well as the contestants.
The racers sized each other up, and as Rainbow tried to look imposing but also staring at him waiting for something like a remark, Mac couldn't help but think it was kinda adorable, but confused on what she's waiting on. “Pardon?” Mac deciding not to tip-hoof the issue and just straight up asked her.
“What, not gonna ask me to tie up my wings?” Genuine curiosity was shown from Dash.
Mac genuinely laughed, “That requires to tie the rope around your barrel, so that restricts breathing. Then that leads to you won't be at one hundred percent. Wut I've seen so far is that I can trust you not use your wings, besides of wut Applejack told me of your competitive streak. Your loyalty to a good competition I can trust.” Dash instead of taking a compliment with a high ego, she bashfully smiles and just stays silent. A very out of character moment for her Big Mac noted.
Pinkie started, “You guys ready? On your mark... get set.... PARTY TIME!!” The shot rang out with streamers and confetti as the racers began.
True to her name, Rainbow Dash is a fast sprinter, using her speed to get ahead of him and growing the distance between them. Mac was not worried however. He knows the brash side of her, he has seen how fast she can be on hoof. But likes his sister, she lacks pacing. Since its about the same distance to cover as the Running of the Leaves event this has turned a race of endurance as well. As he's pondering his strategy, hes eyes drift towards his ever ahead opponent and noticed a interesting view on Dash. It was rhythmic, hypnotic almost. Back and forth Dash flank goes as she's galloping. Firm, well shaped, and very well toned, Mac couldn't help but be pulled towards it like gravity. The farther she goes the more effort he's putting to get close to get a very good look at it.
Getting out of his stupor as he noticed the slight strain in his legs and slowed down a bit to conserve energy, seeing as how they've already reached the entrance of the town. All ponies visually looked confused and curious as to why two ponies are galloping through town in such a rush.
As the fountain came to view for Big, he sees Dash did her round and as they met she taunted, “See ya in awhile!” and then laughed all the way out of view. Big Mac could only chuckle at her antics, but couldn't help but notice how she was a bit slower compared from the beginning. He smirks as he predicted right as how she would do.
It wasn't till after he left Ponyville that he sped up and was steadily approaching Dash. He had a good visual of Dash as her ears twitched and turned to look back, there he sees the slightly exhausted and surprised face of Dash. Alarmed, she picked up the pace, but he knows he's got her and became neck and neck with Dash. “Your faster then ya look, I'm impressed. Sucks thats not gonna be enough.” She panted and she full out galloped as the finish line came to view. Mac scoffed and went side by side again with Dash and both experienced a bright flash as they reached finish line. Dash laying down and breathing slightly harder then normal as well as Mac.
Both look towards the source of the flash as a smiling Pinkie had a instant camera on hoof and was already airing out the photo taken to show who took won. As they view the photo, Rainbow Dash shouted “It's a tie!?!?!” Mac could only mentally comment on how cliched this is. Pinkie stuffs the camera in her mane and starts pronking towards Ponyville, “Bye bye guys, parties can't plan themselves, well even if they could that wouldn't be fun at all.”
As Pinkie left Big Mac glanced at the cyan pegasus and can't help have a slight admiration towards her. He respects all ponies, no matter who or what they are, (unless you endanger or hurt his family) as such he held a general light towards her. But with the present actions, he sees her in a higher regard then before. "I'm impressed and quite surprised you made things the way they are. Not like what Applejack mentioned." Dash's ears twitched and her eyes narrowed at Mac, "Applejack talks about me?" Noticed he stepped on a land mine for Applejack, he tries to subdue the explosion as much as possible. "Not the point, the point is that I'm giving you that barrel."
Rainbow Dash looked apprehensive, "Serious?"
"Eeyup."
In a bound of gleeful energy she did a barrel roll and hugged Mac around the neck. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Macintosh feeling kinda awkward as the only mares he hugs are his family, but he would be lying if he said he didn't like it. So he awkwardly returns the hug with a back pat with a hoof. "Well you're welcome. Now if ya don't mind I gotta finish up the chores around here. I put my Apple family honor that you will get that barrel." Surprisingly the air becomes sour as her mood dips a bit. "Aw ponyfeathers, I know you will, but now you're making feel bad since I really didn't earn it."
The red stallion is shaking his head, "Nnnope, I assure ya that's not my intention."
"I got that, but hey I'll still help during the cider season and I'll help make the best cider in the world." Her enthusiasm is contagious and Mac could only laugh.
"Can only agree then, I'll give Applejack a heads up. Evening." He walks towards the barn. Then felt hooves around him again, but it wasn't the excited and happy hug he had from before. Mac would think comforting and thankful if words could describe this hug. He hears her whisper in his ear. "I really appreciate it Big Guy, you're a pretty cool pony." Then that feeling he felt on his cheek. A nuzzle. He turns about to question what that was about and Dash was already gone.
He looks to see if he can get a glimpse but alas, no. The warm sensation on his cheek, the fluttery feeling in his barrel. He wonders what in Tartarus was that about and if this subject's going to pop up in the near future. Big Mac could only shrug and gets back to the barn, a nervous but warm mood for the upcoming cider season.