Big Macintosh gazed thoughtfully out onto the horizon as he relaxed on the soil beneath the great oak, a little sanctuary of his own that grew on the eastern hills of the ranch. His back was propped up against the trunk while his hands rested behind his head, slightly ruffling his orange hair. The sun was starting to set over the orchard, kissing the trees with her golden rays and making the leaves glitter like silver emeralds. The sight put a satisfied smile on the farm boy's lips as he contemplated the work yet to be done. It was one of those warm summer evenings that only seemed to grace the earth on Tuesdays, after a full day’s work in the orchards.
Big Mac had thought that they should hire some help this season, once he saw that the apples were more plentiful this harvest than they had ever been before when he checked in the morning. But, once he found his sister’s friends helping out with the picking, he knew that his input was unneeded: seven able girls and himself were quite capable of doing the work, and the only payment they accepted was a few free apples. Which they were always welcome to anyways.
It was usually like that for him, as he often found that he didn’t need to speak up. But he wasn’t the type to find talking all that necessary anyways. Besides, he found that having a sort of sense for what was to come to be quite calming, as he never needed to worry about a change in plans that he didn’t see coming.
Now, with the day’s chores done, he was able to come back to his little sanctuary on the hill. The tree he decided to name Big Oak. It wasn’t exactly a secret place by any stretch, as Applejack and Granny knew full well where to find him, and often sent people here when they were looking for help and he wasn’t already around. Not that he minded word spreading of his spot on the hill, since they still left it to him most times anyways. Plus, he thought more people should learn to appreciate the serenity of just sitting quietly on a hill, and watching the sunset. With that thought, he hoped someone else might find there way up to his hill before the sunset was over.
He tilted his head slightly when he heard a weed crunch underfoot behind him, as if on cue, and saw the figure of Canterlot High’s local soccer captain approach from around the right side of the tree, appearing in his peripheral. That piqued his interest, so to speak, as she never ventured this far from the farmhouse without AJ by her side. He didn’t object to her being there, as he always looked forward to seeing her whenever AJ’s friends came over, but something seemed odd about her. Even without looking directly at her, he could tell that she was a little tense as she slowly sat down beside him. It looked as if she was uncomfortable being there.
When he first met her, he could already see how she put on that tough, competitive mask that fooled most people. She was definitely tougher and more competitive than most, yet he found it remarkably easy to read what was really going on with her, or what her opinions really were whenever the situation arose. Sometimes, he found her easier to read than his own sister, Applebloom. He never actually directly addressed most of the matters, since they seemed to solve themselves in time, but he could always see what was beneath that sporty exterior.
Casually, he glanced over to her, and saw her relax slightly as she stared out across the orchard. The slight breeze made her prismatic hair flow subtly, and the sunlight gave her magenta eyes a rather beautiful glint, as they seemed to shimmer like a brook of fine wine babbling gently at noon. He had always found her attractive, and liked to watch her practice when he cleaned the bleachers, but the moments where she was quiet were always his favourites.
After around a minute of silence, Rainbow Dash shifted her attention from the scenery to him, and noticed that he was staring. He noted that her cheeks took on an ever-so-slight shade of pink as she smirked, and waved.
“Hi,”
Big Mac’s eyebrows rose slightly at that greeting. Normally, the overactive athlete would give a calm ‘Wassup?’ or a smug ‘Yeah?’, he never heard her give such a meek greeting as that. Not even when she tried to strike up a conversation with that football player she used to like, Soarin Skies, or something. Hell, the last time he saw her this nervous was when she was dared to hug Principal Celestia for five bucks, which was quite the interesting display to watch as he was in the office at the time.
“Howdy,” he offered with a nod, returning his gaze to the skies as the base of the sun started to touch the fields beyond. When she continued to stare at him without making a sound, he looked back at her in slight concern. “How can Ah help ya, RD?” He inquired, hoping she wasn’t intending to be as quiet with her conversations as he usually was. He liked it when she talked, he found her rough tones oddly relaxing to hear.
“O-oh! Uh, AJ wanted me to fetch you,” she stammered, which was another interesting shift. “Dinner’s almost ready down at the house.”
“Almost?” Big Mac asked, tilting his head a little to the left. “How close is ‘almost’?”
Rainbow scratched her shoulder, and glanced back towards the large house. “I dunno, five… ten minutes?”
Big Mac blinked. She came to get him that early? It barely took him two minutes to run to the house, and he thought she knew that. “Then we can wait.” He stated bluntly, hardly oblivious to the way her muscles tensed once he looked back to the orchards.
“‘We’?” She asked, a slight crack in her tone.
“‘Course, ‘we’,” Big Mac chuckled, “no sense in you running all the way back t’ the house, only t’ race right back ‘n’ fetch me when supper’s ready.”
She quirked her brow at him. “You suddenly got chatty,” she chided, “how much cider did you get at lunch?”
He gave a quick laugh at that, and closed his eyes as he rested again. “Heh, I s’pose I just don’t want to end up carryin’ ya back t’ the house if ya get tuckered out.” He shot back, expecting to get the usual witty response from the test of her ego. Instead, all he heard was a light giggling.
“Yeah, good point.”
With a confused blink, Big Mac glanced over at Rainbow, and was mildly surprised to see her smiling as she, too, relaxed against the great oak’s trunk. She must have worked harder than he thought, if she was too tired to even snap at him. He had to give her credit, her determination and loyalty were bound to get her a good job one of these days, unless she wanted to be one of those stay-at-home mothers. He chuckled at that thought. He could see Rainbow Dash dating, as she’d done so once before, but he couldn’t really picture her settling down with anyone permanently.
“You know, you really should talk more.” Rainbow stated bluntly, jolting Big Mac from his thoughts. He gave her a look that displayed his lack of expectation for such a statement clearly.
“Beg pardon?”
That provoked a small fit of laughs from her. “That’s exactly what I mean! Whenever someone tries to start a conversation with you, are you always either adorably monosyllabic, or obviously unprepared for one?”
Big Mac tilted his head at her again. She usually didn’t use such an extensive vocabulary, especially not when she knew other people were around. He once caught her reading Shakespeare when he was carrying some Cider to the high school cafeteria, but she insisted was homework, so he didn’t pursue the matter. Not that he would have anyways, since it’s none of his business.
After a couple blinks, he shrugged his shoulders. “Eeyup?” He offered, before a particular word she had used clicked in his mind. “Wait, what was that about me being one-worded?”
Rainbow’s eyes went wide as if in a panic for just a moment, before returning to a mischievous squint as she gave him a smug smirk. “I said you’re annoyingly monosyllabic, why?”
“Huh,” he scoffed, feeling oddly disappointed. He’s not sure why he was expecting her to have said what it sounded like, as he doubted that a girl like her would find him… ‘cute’, as they liked to say these days. His mouth set in a firm line as he processed that word again, ‘cute’. It didn’t sound right to him, at least not when they used it for a man. Rainbow, yes, she was cute, but--
“Well, I think we’d better go back to the house now.” Rainbow blurted, slapping her knees as she stood up abruptly.
Big Mac followed suit, and took a final glance at the sun before she disappeared until tomorrow. He took a deep breath of air, and stretched with a tired “Eeyup,” before a mischievous twinkle lit in his eyes. With a speed that might be surprising for a boy of his size, he darted towards the farmhouse.
“Race ya!” He shouted over his shoulder, hearing a cry of protest from back on top of the hill. He was already halfway to his home when Rainbow had caught up to him, glaring daggers at her challenger while keeping her trademark cocky smirk on her lips.
“A little warning might be nice!” She scolded, passing him just enough to get a good look at his face.
Big Mac gave her a quick smile, which she would have missed if she blinked. “Ah think Ah gave ya all the warnin’ you needed, RD.” He panted, before watching with a proud glint in his eye as she effortlessly overtook him, and had the front door opened by the time he arrived at the house.
Grinning with well-earned pride, she gave him a quick pat on the back. “Seriously, talk more. Don’t keep all that personality to yourself!” She laughed. He knew it was more of a suggestion than a command, but he had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time she’d try.
Panting, and in no mood to argue chivalry with the plucky girl, he entered the house with a tired ‘Thank ya’, and rested a hand on the hallway wall just as Granny Smith poked her head in from the dining room.
“Oh, so ye decided to come at last, eh?” She chuckled lightly, before she tilted her head in confusion. “What took ye so long to get back here, and why in the dickens are ye all sweaty?”
Big Mac heard a startled snort echo out from the room, and Applebloom gave a mild shriek.
“Eww, Applejack! Why’d ya spit your water on mah shirt?”
Big Mac walked into the dining room. “Just had a little race back to the house, Granny.” He affirmed, snagging some paper towels and handing them to his little sisters.
Granny knitted her brow. “Then why’s it take ya so long to…” she began, before shrugging it off, “eh, fiddlesticks, just sit down so we can eat. Been a minute later and yer food would be cold.”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The dinner, like most when it came to the Apple Family, was filled with jokes and stories and laughter. Though Big Mac would definitely have to say that he enjoyed their meals more whenever guests came over, seeing their reactions to hearing an over-told story for the first time added another level of fun to bearing it again. Though Rainbow always seemed to have the most fun sharing her stories, and the way she narrated added a certain energy to even the most unimpressive feats, and made the stories just plain fun.
Sadly, like all good things, her visit with the family had to end. The girls were all having a sleepover at Twilight’s place, so her and Applejack wanted to leave before it got too late. When it was time to say goodbye: Rainbow gave him a silent pat on the back, and a wink, before the two girls clambered into her car.
Big Mac turned to walk into the house as they drove out, and held the door for Granny and Applebloom, who was asking Granny if she could invite her two friends over for a sleepover sometime. Once they were inside, he relaxed on the living room couch, but nearly jumped when he heard the crinkle of paper.
‘I swear, if I sat on Applebloom’s homework again...’ he scolded himself, before standing up and checking the seat. Finding nothing, he started to sit again when the crinkling returned, and he felt a slight pinch on the back of his right shoulder. Reaching back, he retrieved a small sticky-paper that was stuck on his shirt, and read the note:
Talk more.
And if you can’t think of anyone to talk to, text me,
I like to get to know my friends.
228-0217
He smiled as he read the brief explanation, and stuck the paper on the back of his phone. He had always considered AJ’s friends to be his friends as well, as any friend of one member of the family quickly becomes friends with everyone in the family, but now one of them was actually trying to talk with him: and that thought made his day.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The next evening, Applejack had returned from the sleepover, and Big Mac was once again resting on his favourite hill. But this time he decided to try something, and found a surprisingly comfortable spot to lay down on, consisting of a particularly thick branch. As soon as he was relaxed, he drew out his cellphone, and typed a quick message to the most recent number.
Alright, RD. You said you wanted to talk, so I’m talking. What did you want to talk about?
Turning up the volume on the ringtone, he leaned back into the tree as he waited for a response. He closed his eyes with a satisfied sigh as the cool breeze tickled his ears, and shook the leaves with a soothing crackling. The scent of crisp apples and wood smoke wafted into his nostrils, startling him slightly. Looking to the east, his nerves were calmed when he spotted a small wisp of campfire smoke rise from amidst the orchards.
Visitors often used the orchards for camping grounds, and as long as they didn’t get in the way of chores, the Apple family were pleased to accommodate them. Satisfied, he started to lean back again when his pocket chose that moment to buzz. In a flash, his phone was on, and the message was open.
hey you actually replied! nice. well as for chatter, does the word pills mean antyhing to you?
Big Mac beamed at the sight of the message, but his joy quickly turned into curious confusion once he read the whole of it. His reply was short, but he felt it left room for conversation.
Not really, why?
It was barely a minute before the answer came.
huh.. i was hopping you would know, because pinkie kept asking your sister to say pills, and nobody knows why
Macintosh rolled his eyes, and chuckled as his thumbs swept across the keypad.
That’s just Pinkie being Pinkie, I don’t think anyone can fully understand her motives.
yeah your right. so hows the harvest been?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Two months, and Big Mac had exchanged more texts with Rainbow Dash than he ever had with anyone else in his entire life. He still remained silent most of the time, but he found it refreshing to have someone to chatter and discuss with while he rested underneath his tree. It had only been two months, but he felt like he was slowly growing fonder of Rainbow with each passing day. Every time his phone buzzed, his heart leapt like a cricket. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear this is what love was like.
It was a particularly slow afternoon when Macintosh was relaxing on the family couch, and the phone vibrated once again:
hey big boy, wassup?
Big Mac smiled at the greeting.
Eh, not much more than the usual, how about yourself?
well my parents are away for the weekend, and gave me permission to invite my friends over for the weekend. i was hoping you’d like to hang out with us.
His face took on a deeper shade of red than normal as his mind wandered to unwelcome places.
Uh, I’m not too sure about sleeping over with a bunch of girls, to be completely honest.
There was an uncomfortably long pause before the reply came.
omigosh you dork, you won’t be sleeping over. unless of course you want too lol
Oh, okay. I was a little confused for a second. Sure, when would you like us to come over?
With an ashamed groan, Macintosh rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, mumbling “Mind outta the gutter, Mac, mind outta the gutter...” before the phone dinged again.
you can come over around 6, i’ll ask the rest to come down by 7
He quirked his brow, and glanced at the clock. 5:10
You want me to come over an hour early?
Another long pause, and he was able to notice the sun setting outside over the still leaves of the trees.
yeah dude its pretty windy over here and i want some help setting stuff up for the sleepover, moving furniture and stuff.
Wait, since when do you need help moving furniture?
i said i want it not that i need it. plus i was hoping for a rematch on that racing game, the last one wasnt fair
He chuckled at that. The last time he was invited to hang out with the girls, they had their own little racing tournament on one of Pinkie’s favourite games, Nightmare Guild III. It ended up with the final round being a match between him and RD, and since she hated it when people went easy on her, he unceremoniously left her glorified paint job with wheels in his dust. Her jaw dropped so low it might as well have hit the floor before she silently glared at him. The death stare only lasted a second before she gave him a look that showed she was impressed, and stuck out her hand with a chuckle of ‘Good game’.
Okay, you’re on.
great! see u then
Just then, a small detail from the conversation started to bug him.
Is it really that windy over there?
yeah dude. the house is creaking like crazy and the leaves are scratching the window. it almost sounds like screaming out there
Macintosh frowned, and looked back out the window: even the grass was as still as naturally possible, not a breath of wind to be seen. His gut started to sink.
Weird, it’s only a thirty minute walk from the farm to your place, and it’s perfectly calm over here.
dude i think i just heard a cat outside my window
His brow furrowed in concern at the sudden change in conversation, and that sinking feeling in his gut only grew.
Is that weird?
i live on the second floor and there are no ledges or anything wide enough for even a cat to stand on
Big Mac suddenly felt his spine shiver, and he slowly sat up, and started typing ‘Maybe you should go check’ when another message appeared.
holy shit i just looked out the window and someones out there
His eyes widened.
What are they doing?
i dont know there just standing there outside the fence staring at the house
Immediately, Macintosh bolted to his feet and snagged his jacket as he went out the door, his fingers becoming desperate blurs as he typed like lightning.
I’m on my way, Dash. What do they look like?
im not sure man, hes not in the light
He started speedwalking as sweat began to bead on his brow, a chill starting to nip at his stomach, and he began to feel like he was being watched.
*buzz*
DUDE THIS ISNT FUNNY
What are you talking about?
Nervously, Mac glanced over his shoulder before sending his reply. He gloomily took note of how far he was even from the end of his family’s driveway. Of course Applejack chose this afternoon of all opportunities this week to take the truck to get checked.
*buzz*
you just stepped under the streetlamp you jerk, i can see that stupid flannel shirt you never take off. same patch on the elbow and everything
A cold shock ran through his body as he froze in his tracks, and left him with a feeling of pure dread. How could she be seeing him outside her house?
With newfound strength, he started running: pausing only to send his assurance.
I’m not even there yet!
dude seriously how are you messaging me without taking your arms out of your pockets and how did you open the gate with no hands and why did you dye your hair black
He kept his pace steady as the sun set, he knew that if he went any faster he’d tire out long before he got to her house. But her insistence on him already being there only frayed his nerves as sweat began to pour from every pore. Night began to fall as the sunlight vanished, and the cold night air seemed even icier than ever.
Rainbow, call the police, NOW.
There was an unnerving two-minute pause, followed by a comforting buzz.
i called them, theyll be here in half an hour
I’ll be there in twenty minutes, RD.
i just hope they can get here before it gets in the house
’It’? Don’t you mean he?
no man, IT. i looked out the window to describe it to the police and it finally looked up at me.
ive seen sirens from another dimension and two demons, but that things face was the most putrid sight ive ever seen. no human can look like that
Don’t worry Rainbow, I’m on my way there now: I should be there in ten minutes.
It soon became a routine for him. Run, glance ahead, read, glance, type, glance, type, run, wait, read, glance ahead. But he never slowed down, news of this new evil that was terrorizing his friend had him moving twice as fast as he thought he could. He needed to get there, and he needed to be there now. Holy fire burned in his eyes as his pace steadily increased until he was practically a blur on the sidewalks.
oh my god its trying to break in help please
Lay low, Rainbow, I’m almost there.
IT BROKE A WINDOW ITS IN THE HOUSE
I’m almost there, I won’t let that thing hurt you.
im hiding in my closet its in the hallway
its calling my name how does it know my name
Calling your name? What is it saying?
its saying ‘dash dash come and play dash i only want to show you something’ over and over
I’m only a few blocks away, I can see your house! Don’t give in!
go home mac there’s no fighting this thing
i can feel its presence
its not in the room yet and i feel cold
Rainbow, don’t give up yet.
so cold
so cold
its going to kill me mac, forget about me im already dead
Macintosh’s pace slowed for only a split second before he was dashing at full speed again, and typing with a fury.
I won’t give up on you, Dash. You’re too important to me.
mac its in my room i dont know if it sees me through the doors or not
Big Macintosh was starting to sweat blood as he looked ahead, and saw a familiar red house just up the walk. Tears of fear and determination began to trickle down his cheeks, and a horrible cold started to grip his very heart as he neared the house.
I’m on your block, Rainbow, don’t give up yet. Hold your breath or something, I’ll be there for you, I promise.
mac
Don’t give up on this, Rainbow.
i love you too
Time froze for the farmer as he stood in front of her house, and read that last message. The gate was wide open, broken off one of its hinges, and the porchlight was shattered. It barely took him a second to get to the door, and start trying to break it in. He didn't even give a second thought to the lack of wind.
But then…
*buzz*
Nearly passing out from relief, he checked his phone again.
It’s… It’s gone.
Even though something was gnawing at the back of his mind, the sheer amount of confused jubilation he was feeling blotted it out.
What do you mean?
It just disappeared, Biggie! I was staring right at it when I sent the last message, and it just faded like smoke.
The gnawing in his mind only grew greater, and he finally figured out why.
Rainbow?
Yes?
Hesitating slightly, he typed out his question:
Just to be sure this is really you: what game were we supposed to play tonight?
He prepared his foot for another kick on the door when he heard sirens approaching fast, and a final buzz came from his phone:
Error: connection lost
Suddenly, the fire in his blood froze into ice, and he felt as if all his energy was drained in an instant. With one final kick to the door, he fell to his knees as police cars pulled up behind him, and several officers ran out.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to put your hands behind you back, and--”
“Check inside the house, she’s still in there.” Macintosh pleaded.
“We will sir, we just need you to calm down.”
For Big Mac, the rest of the event was a blur. One minute, he was being cuffed. The next, officers were coming out of the house, reporting nothing. Nobody was inside the house, and all they found in her closet was her phone.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The next few weeks were a living hell for anyone and everyone. Big Mac was the original suspect in Rainbow’s disappearance, but their conversation over the phone being proven legitimate, combined with Granny’s testimony of his sudden flight from the house around the same time the first few messages were sent was proof enough to clear his name of any resemblance of guilt.
To Big Mac though, the entire thing was his fault, and his guilt dragged him down to the point where his family was worried sick. He spent all day working in the orchards, and he only came in the house to sleep. When he wasn’t working or sleeping, he was often found sitting underneath the great oak and crying. It was hard for anyone to talk to him, and even his own sisters couldn’t get the smallest ‘Eeyup’ out of him. He never talked to anyone, he never even left the farm for those three weeks.
It was in the middle of the night, while Macintosh was passed out after another crying fit in the oak tree that he was stirred by a firm rumble in his pocket.
Weakly, he opened the message, and his eyes shot open at what he saw:
find me. please.