Big Mac must save the CMC before they belong to Carnival Cat.
"COME MY DEAR LITTLE PONY FRIENDS AND WELCOME TO MY CARNIVAL!!"
Big Mac, brother to Apple Jack, the Element of Honesty and to Apple Bloom, a founding member of the famous CMC. He's infamous for usual "Eeyup" "Nnope", a pony of a few words. For years he kept to himself, only to speak when it's needed to, no pony knows why.
All but Big Mac...
Many years ago, when he was just a young colt, him, his father Bright Mac and his mother Pear Butter - Buttercup everyone calls her, traveled through the Everfree Forest to collect a herb that would keep the parasprites from eating the farm when Mac came across a carnival. Run by Carnival Catherine, a strange mare with strange abilities. Cat nearly lead Big Mac to his doom before his parents stopped her, costing their lives in the process and Cat and her Carnival of Doom vanished.
Now, Carnival Cat has returned to Ponyville to finish the job, her newest victims, CMC in her grasp, Big Mac will have to revisit the past to stop Cat and save the girls.
This is my take on Carnival Cat, based on a song created by Sand Josieph who gave me the A-OKAY to do this. I just heard this the other day and I need to write a story that goes with this, if ya'll haven't heard of it, the link is down here.
Night had fallen over Equestria as Bright Mac and his young son, Big Mac were traveling down the Everfree Forest. The two carrying lanterns in their hooves as they made their way down the trail.
Big Mac, barely in his early teens looked up at his father, teeth nearly chattering from the cold. "Eh Pops, why are we out here this time of the night?" The colt asked his father as they walked along the woods. "Ain't there 'em Timber Wolves running amuck?"
"Ah told ya this before, Macintosh," Bright Mac said, adjusting his stetson with a hoof. "It be parasprite season soon. Last time 'em vermin came 'ere ta Ponyville, they darn near destroy the orchard. Ah know your mother drove 'em out with her music but we need to get something to prevent 'em fer ever comin' back."
"But still doesn' explain why we are wonderin' through the Everfree in da first place."
The father looked at his son, looking down with chuckle. "There's a special herb down here in these woods, a herb that is told that can repeal dem varmints away from our home."
"Well, what does it look like?" Big Mac asked then.
"The herb has orange and green pokeadotted petals, yellow stem, that's what Golden Delicious told me." The mare he was talking about was their great great aunt that lived near the cave of fears with a thousand cats.
"But what about dem Timber Wolves?" Big Mac asked, his short orange tail folded over his green apple cutie mark out of fear. He heard the wolves howl from his bedroom. There was no telling how many times Mac had nightmares just thinking of those wolves running about chasing him down the woods and eating him.
Bright Mac smiled before stopping. He put the lantern down and digging through his saddle bag before pulling out a revolver, fully loaded. There were magical crystals inside the weapon, it mimics a unicorn's blast. Bright Mac had aleast fifty tiny of those powerful crystals. Big Mac eyed the piece with awe. "If those creatures show their ugly faces-" He took a shot at a tree, a pink beam shot out of the barrel and splintered the tree in half. It even sounded like a blast from a unicorn "-nothing like a few blasts from this puppy will take care of dem Timbers."
Big Mac looked at his father's weapon like it was the most amazing thing in the world. He knew his father and Granny Smith kept the others locked up in a cabinet near the dining room. He would sit in front of it looking at the guns they had, imagining him holding it in his hooves. He'd play with wooden toys but nothing compares to an actual thing.
"Say, Pops, can Ah hold it?" Big Mac asked, looking up at him with big puppy eyes.
Bright Mac spun the gun in his hoof before putting it back in the saddle bag. "Ooh, no." He chuckled. "If yer Mama and Granny heard Ah let ya even hold it, they're gonna skin mah hide and leave me out here. Ah ain't taking that chance."
The colt sighed, his ears droop. He really wanted to hold it.
The father caught the sadness and sighed, bending down to his height. "Yer about to be thirteen soon right?"
Big Mac nodded.
"How about this, Ah take ya to the shootin' range in town. We try out all the guns and whatnots. Just you and me."
Big Mac gasped and smiled big. "Really Pops?"
Bright Mac nodded. "Yes ser, Macintosh." He matched his son's smile and ruffled his son's mane. "Mah son's growin' up. Pretty soon ya'll run the farm all on yer own, with yer sister and brother of course. That's why Ah have ya out 'ere with meh. To teach ya all ya need to run the farm." He boops his nose with his hoof.
The colt giggled before hearing a branch snap, followed by deep, gutteral growls and howls. Big Mac jumped before hiding behind the elder Stallion. He knows those growls all too well.
Stepping out of the bushes, a lone Timber Wolf stood in front of the ponies. The wooden monstrosity snarled at them, sharp jagged wooden teeth flashed them, deep glowing yellow eyes filled with hunger.
"Don't move, son." Bright Mac told his son as he slowly reached for his saddle bag to grab his gun. To only find out that the strap to the bag was stuck.
The Timber snarled at the two as it slowly stalked the two. Big Mac gulped, his knees buckled and his little heart beating out of his chest. Bright Mac struggled to get the strap unstuck, tugging it with his hooves and teeth. He just had the friggin' thing out! Why do things like this happen when he needed them the most?!
"Pops," Big Mac whimpered, clinging to his father's bright red tail that matched his red fur.
"Gimme a sec, Mac," Bright Mac told him, hastingly struggling to get the strap undone.
The wolf snapped at them with it's teeth, circling around them, it's wooden ears flung back. Body crouching down, the moon shining over the clearing of the trees made the wolf even more terrifying than it already looked.
"Dad..."
"I say give me a se-"
The timber wolf took a pounce at the two.
This bright yellow beam shot out of nowhere, reducing the wolf into splinters. A purple blast shot Bright Mac's stetson off his head, scaring the crap out of both father and son. But Bright Mac quickly calmed down when he heard a familiar giggle.
"I think you have my saddle bag, love," It was the lovely Buttercup, coming into the light. Holding a twin barrel shot gun in her hooves smoking. Bright Mac's heart fluttered everytime he sees her, as if it was the first time all those years ago when their families were having that ridiculous feud. Her curly orange mane up in a ponytail, her coat prestine and carrying their third child.
Though happy to see his momma, Big Mac couldn't stop shaking. He was really scare, thought that wolf was gonna eat them both.
"Thank ya, baby," Bright Mac smiled at his wife before trotting up to her and giving her a kiss. "Why ya out here? It's too dangerous for a pregnant filly such as yerself to be out here."
"I could say the same thing to you," Buttercup said, poking him in the chest. "Are you crazy taking our son out here? You two are lucky that I came along."
"And we appreciated," Bright Mac sighed, looking at her with love and compassion to her. "But serious though, yer with child. And leaving AJ back home?"
"Honey, Granny Smith has her. But If I stay in that house for one more moment, I'll go stirr crazy."
"Not as crazy I am with you."
That was so cheesy to Big Mac, he could actually smell it. He stuck his tongue out, pointed down his throat and made a puking sound.
"Now, let's get that herb. It only grows when the moon is out." Buttercup said, replacing the crystals in her gun before treking down the trail.
Bright Mac went off for a second to grab his hat, knocked some dirt off it it before placing it back on his head, grabbing his lantern and walked towards his son with a chuckle, watching his wife swinging her hips as she walked. He turned to Big Mac and grinned. "Son, when ya get old enough, find yerself a filly like yer mother. Ya be set for life."
"Just don't make her mad?" His son asked.
Bright Mac ruffled his mane once more. "Especially if she's pregnant and can shoot like there's no tomorrow." Then follows his wife.
Big Mac hung back for a second, he could hear his parents discussing if their kid was a boy or girl, if they should call them Apple Buck or Apple Bloom. When he feels as if he wasn't in danger, he goes to take a step before the sound of music stopped him dead at his tracks.
It... It sounded like carnival music. Big Mac looked to where his parents had gone off to, seeing them disappearing from view before going at another direction, following the music.
The early morning sun rose over Ponyville. The rooster cawed loudly to wake every pony in Sweet Apple Acres before going into a coughing fit, hacking up some ball of feathers from his beak. The sound of a bell rang outside.
"BREAKFAST YA'LL!!" AppleJack called out as she rung the bell with her hoof.
Sun peaked from the apple curtains, shining in Big Mac's face, he grunted, hearing the bell and the sun in his face. he moved Smarty Pants Doll to cover his eyes and tried to drift back to Luna's dream world.
But that won't be the case.
Sounds of hooves galloping down the hall, a swift kick at the door before a doing a grand leap on his bed. "Get up, Bro!" Apple Bloom jumped up and down. "It's Pancake day!"
Big Mac slowly moved Smarty Pants out of his face and opened his eyes, he smiled when seeing his baby sister. The little filly had the same color scheme as their father, to the yellow fur and red mane and tail. A giant pink bow in her hair and the biggest smile he'd ever seen in a little filly.
"Come on, Mac, we won't eat without you." Apple Bloom giggled, continuing to bounce before Mac sat up and she leaped off of the bed with grace and runs off.
He caught a glimpse of her cutie mark and sighed. Remembering how proud he was when she and the other girls, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, got them at the same exact day. He was in tears when he saw her get it.
"If mom and dad were here, they would've been so proud." Apple Jack had told her on that day. They would've been proud of her. Oh how she worked hard to earn such thing. They would've been proud, he was, is, proud of her.
With a sigh, Big Mac pulled the covers completely off of him before climbing off of bed, pulled the covers right and made sure Smarty Pants was comfortable, giving the raggity doll a kiss on the muzzle before trotting downstairs to the kitchen.
His little sister Apple Jack was just putting a jar of pear jam on the table.
"Mornin' Mac." Apple Jack greeted him. He replied with a nod before walking to the table and climbing on the chair.
"Granny Smith is gonna beh sleepin' in this mornin'," The element of honesty said as she took her spot at the table along with Apple Bloom. "She an' GrandPear been up playin' cards most of the night and she be worn out."
Big Mac chuckled softly at that. He was glad those two were able to get along after so many years of the feud between the Apples and the Pears. What he didn't think of was the two playing late night card games in the barn. He played a few times before realizing Grandpear was gonna clean him of his bits so he quit.
"Say, Big Mac, isn't Sugar Belle coming over from Starlight Glimmer's old village this weekend?" Apple Bloom asked him as she poured some of the jam onto the pancakes.
Big Mac grinned at the thought of his marefriend coming to Ponyville. Usually he would be making deliveries, even making unnecessary ones just to see the beautiful unicorn baker. Now that she had free time, Suger Belle was coming over to spend the whole weekend with him. "Heh, Eeyup." He then replied to his baby sister with a smile before applying jam to his pancakes and began eating.
"Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and I had helped Ganache get her cutie mark and as a result her parents, who owns one of the fanciest restaurants in town, said that we can eat there for free for one day. The girls and I think you two should have that reservation."
Big Mac was touched by her offer. He'll have to think of something to repay her and the girls later.
"Aw, shucks, Bloom, that was mighty fine kind of ya to do that." AJ commented, reaching over and ruffled her red mane. Big Mac nodded in the same response.
"Hey, it's the least we could do. We did almost cause you two not to be together." Apple bloom giggled.
That was the understatement of the century Big Mac's inner voice spoke with an actual chuckle. At least you girls didn't use a love poison on us
"At least ya three didn't use that potion on them like ya'll did with Cheerilee." Apple Jack chuckled.
Mac looked at his sis and smirked. I just said that sis He said before eating dem delicious pancakes.
After getting his early morning chores done, Big Mac went to the market, sold a half of dozen bushels of apples, went a walk around town, grabbed himself a cupcake from Sugarcube Corner.
Upon going to the town square, he spots a rather familiar stallion fixing up an old wagon. Mac grinned and trotted up to him. "Morn' Burnt Oak, sir." Mac presented himself.
Burnt Oak turned his head and saw large stallion and smiled. "Morning there, Macintosh. I haven't see ya around lately, how's everything going with you and your Grandpear?"
"Doin' mighty fine, thank you." Big Mac said. "Grandpear is stayin' with us until he can get back on his hooves with the pear biz.", then looking over to the wagon. Seeing what damage was on it. The right wheel was completely broken and rotten out, reminded him of a rotten apple. A tarp covering various items were leaning to the right side
Burnt Oak followed his look to his wheel and sighed heavy. "Yeah this old gal is about give out. Mind helping me get her up right? I have a delivery for Zecora."
"Eeyup." Big Mac said. Going over to the tools and began helping Burnt Oak fixed up the wagon. It didn't take too long for it to get in tip top shape. and as an added bonus, Big Mac put on the harness on his beck and offered to drag the stuff for him.
"Why thank you Big Mac." Burnt Oak tips his hat to the red stallion and the two set off down the Everfree.
The two didn't talk for a bit till they were half way there when Burnt Oak started chuckling. "I remember Bright Mac and I dared each other to explore the forest when we were young. We both took our pistols with us as we ventured here. Spent the night to see if were brave enough to fight off the dangers."
Big Mac looked at him if to asked what happened.
"At first sound of the Timber Wolves, both of us ran off scared." Burnt Oak laughed. "Running through a patch of poison joke too. Oh boy it was a funniest sight. Bright Mac sounded as if he sucked down on helium and I was turned into a mare!"
Big Mac laughed. He can't imagine him looking like a mare.
"Your old stallion called me Crispy Spruce for weeks." Burnt Oak chuckled in memory. "Luckly my mother had a cure for the poison...after a week of staying like we were as punishment."
Mah older sis had herself shrunk to the size of an apple, Big Mac thought with a chuckle. Remembering waking up to the shrieking sound of AJ finding herself small.
As they talked, well Big Mac listening to the older stallion, they came to a stop when they noticed something in a pile of leaves.
Burnt Oak approached it, wiped the leaves away and made a noise. "Huh, now that's odd."
Big Mac tilts his head slightly, wondering what it was.
Burnt Oak turned, holding what seemed to be an old piece in his hoof. It was rusted as it all could be. time and nature took a toll on the gun. "This looks like someting Bright Mac would carry."
Big Mac approached him and grabbed it with his hoof and examed it closely. He remembers this gun, but it's been so long...so long.
"It must've been dropped the last time he came here." Burnt Oak mentioned.
A lump got stuck in Mac's throat, his hoof shaking. Last time Bright Mac was here... Voices from multiples echoed in his mind, along with a high pitching sound. His breathing heightened and his whole body shook, his fur turning white.
Burnt Oak shook the red stallion. "Mac, you okay, boy?" He asked, worried when he saw Mac.
Big Mac looked at Burnt Oak, taking a gulp of air. "E-eeyup." He said softly, taking the piece and putting it in his saddle bag and hastily trotted off to Zecora's hut. After making the delivery, Big Mac made a run for it out of the everfree. He ran and ran till he ran out of the forest, collapsing to the ground on his stomach. His head buried in the dirt and taking deep shallow breaths.
"Don't you touch our boy!" Bright Mac's voice echoed loudly in Big Mac's ears.
My baby! Don't hurt him please?!?" Buttercup's voice echoed as well.
What overlaps the two screaming voices was that laugh. That loud, cruel, maniacal laugh. More chaotic that Discord himself.
He hasn't seen this gun in years, it disappeared when they... He searched every inch of the forest to find it and he didn't. It shows up now...
"Big Mac! Sweet Celestia, boy, what's gotten into you?" Burnt Oak shouted at Big Mac, causing the red stallion to jump. looking up at older sweaty stallion, dragging an empty cart behind him. "I am too dang old to be chasing after you."
Big Mac gulped again, giving him an apology look before sitting on his haunched, breathing heavily still.
"What's wrong? why are you freaking out?" he asked him. "You can tell me."
Big Mac shook his head, rubbing his eyes with his hooves.
The dark stallion sighed softly. "If you don't tell me, don't. I'll be in the Dancing Pony Inn in town for the rest of the week. If you need to talk, I'll be there."
Big Mac nodded before seeing Burnt Oak off.
If Ah tell ya...ya'll hate me forever.... everypony would. Big Mac thought. He looked back at the forest, shuddered before getting on his four hooves and trotted off.
Big Mac ran back to his bedroom and slams the door closed. His heart pumped violently in his chest. The rush of fear and anxiety filling his body. Taking his saddle bag off, he threw it across the room.
That gun, there was no mistaking it, it was his father's. That gun had been missing for many years and yet here it is. Now in his room.
Why did it suddenly shown up, why now?
"Big Mac?" Apple Bloom then calls out from the otherside of the door. "Are you alright?"
No, I'm no alright, Big Mac thought, shaking his head.
"You do realize that I can't see if you are or not okay through the door?" Apple bloom said. "Okay, knock once for yes, twice for no. Are you okay?" She asked again.
Tap tap.
"Can you talk about it?" Apple Bloom then asked.
Tap tap, he knocks on the door.
"Oh..okay." Apple Bloom said. "If there's anything you need, anything you want to talk about, I'm right here." She says before trotting away.
Big Mac slunk to the floor with a shudder. He can't tell any pony, especially to his baby sister.
I can't tell anyone sis... No pony can't know of this. Especially to you. I'm so sorry, Bloom. Big Mac choked up on his mental words and his mind goes back to that night.
Young Big Mac stray from his parents and followed the sound of carnaval music. Though against his better judgement and be with his folks, this music was hypnotic. Eagerly wanting to explore, the young colt followed the music.
The music grew louder and louder with each feet Mac makes. Tracking the music till he found the source.
It wasn't what he was expected. It was a carnival, but it was abandoned. The shacks and booths were covered in vines, nature had taken it's place back, interwining with the large iron bars. Roots and tiny trees engulfing the rides this place had. It was super creepy. Big Mac wanted to turn back but the music was still playing. The child was curious.
"Why is music still playing in this dump?" He asked himself as he stood at the gate.
Something inside of him was telling him to turn tail and run the other direction. Find his ma and pa and go back home. He knows what happened to the cat who got too curious for their own good. Though, if were to turn around and his little sister finds out, he'll never hear the end of it. Mustering up the courage, the colt ventures through the iron arch and takes off down the desolate carnival.
When he got pass a ticket booth on the way in, that's when the growling starts. Big Mac froze in place when the disembodied growl rang in his ears. Daring to look, Mac looked over his shoulders. At first glance, it was just a rundown booth. the shingles broken wooden splinter and the open window made it look like a mouth with jagged teeth. The torn holes above the window looked like hollowed out eyes.
Mac chuckles nervously. "It's just a booth Big Mac," he told himself. "Don't let yer..." Two tiny yellow lights emerged from the holes. "...imagination..." The window slowly closed like an actual mouth and the creature growled again. Mac's ears drooped down as the roots broke off from the ground on either side and support itself and pushed the booth up like hands.
It let out a monsterous roar. Mac screams and runs off down the path way. The booth starts chasing him, chomping at his tail each time it got close enough.
"Nnope, nnope, nnope, nnope!" Big Mac shouts repeatedly over and over as his hooves kicked the dirt.
The beast's claws made a swipe towards the colt. Snipping off mere inches from Mac's mane. "Hiegah!" Mac made a strange cry but kept on running.
Hurling over a fallen debris, the booth creature bust through it; hopping through some stands and out the back door through a gap, the creature runs through the walls like nothing was there. Without failing, the creature chased Mac.
Mac was running out of ideas. He didn't want to get eaten but he has no idea how to get out of this mess. His limbs were getting tired, running out of breath, adrenilin faulting. He was in a pickle, he hates pickles.
"Whew! this is a work out love!" Mac let out a shout and turned his head as he ran and saw this newcomer running beside him. A mare with strange red eyes. Her accent was strange to him. "You better keep up or else you gonna get eaten! Yippy!" She cackled. Sounded like nails going along a chalkboard.
Mac hauls ass. Wanting to get the heck out of the crazy place.
"Run, run, run little pony, don't stop!" The crazy mare laughs as she followed right beside him, running literally backwards. "It's gonna getcha!"
What was with this mare?! Big Mac didn't want to stop and ask her when the creature nipped on his tush. Mac cried and ran faster.
He ran and ran until his hoof tripped on a root, sending him rolling across the ground till he stopped against a tree. Seeing stars for a second till he saw the booth beast running towards him, looking much scarier upside down than upright.
Mac moved himself right up but he was cornered. This was it, he was gonna get eatened!
"Throw it a bit!" Looking up, Mac saw the crazy mare sprawled out on a treebranch above him. "Hurry up now, quickly!"
Bit? Why would he do that? That's insane! She's insane!
"Don't look so crazy, kid, throw it a bit and you won't get eaten! Hurry up!" She shouts at him.
It was worth a shot.
Big Mac dug into his saddle bag, picking up a bit with his hoof before throwing it right in front of the creature.
The booth made a screeching hault at the bit. With it's curtain-like tongue, it licks the bit, as if it was checking for realisum before licking it up, taking the bit inside of itself before it turned turned around and walks off at the other direction.
"Big Mac, supper's ready!" Granny's voice broke through Mac's ride down to memory town.
Mac shuddered, rubbing his face with his hooves and groan. She's not here... she's gone...that place isn't back... it's not he told himself before collecting himself, taking a deep breath, Mac opens the door and walked out of his room and met up with the rest of his family.
“Come on! Zecora’s not that far from here!” Diamond Tiara shouted at Silver Spoon as they trek through the Everfree forest.
Well, carried by their servants, riding on their carriage through the thick forest.
“Ugh, why are we in the creepy forest?” Silver Spoon groaned as she waved a fan in her hoof to cool herself off in this humid day. “It better be important.”
Diamond swatted a bug out of her face before turning towards her friend. “Since I’ll be taking over my father’s business, I have to oversee trades from foreign ponies. He told me that our families done trade with the Zebras.”
“But she’s one zebra.”
“But she’s a special one with potions and brews that daddy uses for his stores. When I take over, i’ll have to work with her. So I’m dipping my hoof in so to speak.”
“Well, why do I have to come? I got studying to do. Manehatten Tech isn’t gonna enroll me on my own.” Silver said, adjusting her glasses.
Diamond stuck her tongue out at her. “Silver, as my best friend, you’re going to enroll that school. Daddy says so.”
Silver rolled her eyes as the carriage rolled further in.
After several hours, night descended upon the forest.Losing their way into the darkness.
“Ugh! We should’ve been there. What happened?!” Diamond snapped at the carriage ponies.
“We don’t know, m’lady,” one of them huffed in exhaustion.
“Ooh, you two are gonna be in big trouble with my daddy!” DT threatened them. “How hard is it to follow a marked trail!?”
“M’lady, the markers were moved,” the other told her.
“WELL FIND THEM!”
“DT, I think I wanna go home now,” Silver Spoon mentioned. “This place is giving me the creeps.”
Dt huffed, not even listening to her. She was more focused with the two in front of them, giving them hell on how they are doing a poor job and whatnot.
“Diamond? Did you hear me?”
“Yeah, yeah, just give us a moment and we’ll be there soon.” Diamond said briskly. “Well guys! Break time’s over, MOVE IT!”
The stallions looked at each other, both not believing that they were taking orders from a little filly before they moved forward.
They haven’t even gotten five feet when one of the wheels of the carriage was shattered to splinters, causing the fillies to fall off with a scream in the mud.
“DIAMOND!” Silver shouted.
“Augh! My mane! Oh you two are so gonna be fired for this!”
“That’s it, THAT’S IT!” Silver spoon stood up, grabbing her glasses from the mud,wiping the mud off and putting them back on her and glared at DT. “It’s late, I’m tired, I’m going home!”
“You can’t find your way back.” DT huffed, trying to find her tiara… which was now missing.
“I can find my way,” she said as she went over to the stallions who were frantically trying to repair the carriage. She told one of the to accompany her back “I’ll see you tomorrow, DT.”
“So, you are just going to leave me?” Diamond asked her as she tried to look for her crown. It should be here with her. She was wearing it on her head! “Out here? Alone?!”
“You’re not alone, you got Blazy there. I’ll take Hazy.” She waved at DT before Silver Spoon and Hazy left the others.
“I’m sorry, Lady Tiara,” Blazy said as he was unable to repair the wheel. “But the wheel is unrepairable.”
“I don’t care about the wheel, I’m looking for my tiara,” Diamond said as she frantically searched for it. “If mother finds out that I lost it again, she’s going to kill me, LITERALLY! Find it!”
The two searched for the tiara through the mud and thicket, through where they had stopped previously, still no where for it to be found.
“This can’t be happening!!” Diamond Tiara screamed in anger. She lost her tiara, her mother would more likely kill her.
“Lady Diamond, I think we should make camp for the night, it’s dark out here. Timber wolves stalk this place.” Blazy said.
Diamond threw her hoof at his face. “We are not doing anything till I get my -”
The two froze in place when an eerie sound of music echoed in the forest.