Macintosh
By TotalOverflow, '11
Chapter 9
After the performance the group met up with and congratulated Lyra on a great show, her hyperactive and cheerful demeanor restored. Afterwards, they milled around the snack bar for a bit and later gathered outside the theatre, Macintosh's head still a little cloudy from the music. Bell chimes in the distance confirmed it to be nine in the evening.
"That was pretty cool!" Lily stretched, yawning a little, "not really my kinda music, but not bad. It wasn't loud enough."
"It was nice," Rose smiled, "you don't get to hear that sort of music very often."
"Certainly not live," said Daisy, a little dreamily. Macintosh simply nodded his head, taking in the sight of the setting sun, its deep red sky broken only by a streak of rainbow heading in their direction.
"Yo! Macintosh!" it yelled, slowing down and becoming recognizable as Rainbow Dash, "there you are!"
"Hello, Ms. Dash," Lily said pleasantly.
Rainbow blinked. "Wha...Ms.? Why'd you call me that?"
"Oh, sorry! What's the lucky colt's name?"
"Bu...huh? Who?"
"Oh no! How long have you been a widow?"
"Lily, stop it!" Daisy snapped, rolling her eyes. Macintosh, chuckling, turned back to the blue pegasus who was biting her lip.
"What's goin' on, Rainbow?"
"Oh, right! I wanted to say thanks for earlier today! Cirro taught me some awesome tricks! He said he might even get me a private audition with the WonderBolts!"
"WOW!" Lily jumped, "That's so cool!"
"I hope you get in!" Rose smiled.
"Glad ta have helped," grinned the red stallion, "Ah hope it goes well fer ya."
"Thanks! I'll see ya later!" and with that, she flew off, doing a quick loop in the air on her way.
"Oh yeah, you mentioned your brunch earlier," Rose chuckled, "I'm sure she'll get in the WonderBolts. She's a really great flyer."
"Eeyup," smiled Macintosh, "so what now?"
Rose tussled her crimson and pink mane. "Actually, I should probably get to bed. I've got a large order tomorrow and need to get up early. I'll see you guys tomorrow!" she waved as she left the group; they wished her a good night.
"I'ma go and see if Pinkie's got any left over snacks!" Lily grinned, her deep pink coat glistening in the faint twilight, "wanna come?"
"No thanks," Daisy replied daintily, "I had enough snacks back there." Lily looked to Big Macintosh.
"Uh, yeah, me too," he said brilliantly, "go an' have fun."
"All right, goodnight!" Lily hopped down the road towards the bakery.
Macintosh and Daisy heaved a simultaneous sigh of relief; the pair looked at each other awkwardly.
"Lily's a bit eccentric for my tastes," Daisy smiled nervously.
"Uh, yeah, Pinkie Pie fer me."
"Heh, bad party experience?"
"Eeyup..."
Daisy nodded. The pair slowly ambled down the road. "Yeah, me too," she said, running her hoof through her emerald mane, "my hair wasn't always this color, you know." Macintosh stared at her, eyes wide. She chuckled. "But, actually, I think it suits me. I like it. Besides, I couldn't stay mad at poor Pinkie. She was so upset that she ruined my party, and there's nothing worse than seeing Pinkie Pie upset."
Macintosh looked down to the road, sighing deeply.
"Anyway," Daisy began, "like we were talking about earlier, what size planter do you think would be best to sell saplings in? I've only done a little gardening of my own, but nothing larger than a tomato plant. Well, if you don't count sunflowers."
"Sunflowers?"
"Yeah, they can get pretty big. I grow a few in my garden. Anyway, how would you grow an apple tree?"
“Well..." Macintosh scratched his chin and went into detail on the early life of an apple tree. Still, throughout the conversation, a question kept tugging at Big Macintosh's lips, and halfway through a chat about fertilizers it suddenly came out.
"What happened between you an' Cheerilee?"
She stopped in her tracks, looking at him with large eyes which made their way to the ground. She shuffled a hoof for a bit, opening and closing her mouth several times. "Nothing," she finally said, walking again, "well, I'd like to talk some more about the, uh, apple things," she stammered, her eyes unfocused, "but, um, I guess I should get to bed...I'll...see you tomorrow." She tossed him a brief, sad smile before trotting away, her body stiff.
Macintosh hit a sore spot, that much was obvious, but he didn't really regret it. Whatever it was, it seemed like something she wanted to talk about. I know I shouldn't go poking my nose where it doesn't belong, but...well, I hope she doesn't let whatever it is eat her up from the inside. He began his own trip home, musing to himself as he cantered along the nearly empty streets.
A quiet journey later Big Mac once again found himself at the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres, its legion of apple trees sleeping peacefully under the night sky, the tip of the pearly moon just showing between the distant mountains. He silently let himself inside and made his way to his room, stopping momentarily to smile at the excited whispers coming from his youngest sister's room. Sweet little Apple Bloom. That little filly's got a great life ahead of her. I can't wait to see what her cutie mark will be. Breathing deeply he stepped into his room, quietly shook off his harness (which he'd forgotten to take off after supper) and slid into bed. More exhausted than he expected from a full day of activity, it didn't take long for sleep to scurry its way to him.
***
"I hope we have a little sister! Then I'll have a brother an' a sister!"
Applejack was happy. That made me happy.
A little.
"Oh, look! Grampa even made a drawer fer toys! Lookit, Macintosh!"
I stared out the window.
"Macintosh? What's wrong?"
"Pa hates me."
Applejack was quiet for a bit.
"No he don't."
"He does too."
I could feel Applejack looking at me.
Father told me he loved me.
Once.
"He hates me."
Applejack walked away.
"Maybe I should get all my toys an' bring 'em out here! Yeah! I'll be right back!"
Sister left. I watched her run between the trees.
Father was nearby. He scooped her up in his arms.
He put his hat on her.
They laughed.
He loved her.
I heard my tear hit the floor.
"Ah want ya ta love me too."
***
Macintosh awoke with a jump at the sound of a short yelp from the fields. Bleary eyed, he looked out the window. Another shout followed shortly after, coming from the direction of his old treehouse. Too confused to yawn properly he scampered downstairs and outside, cautiously trotting towards the old building. There, it came into sight, looking better than ever. Apple Bloom did quite a number on it, fixing it up to look even better than when it was new. Macintosh located the source of the noise as it fell with a thud: the young, orange pegasus filly picked herself off the grass, mumbling quietly. For at least the fourth time she climbed partway up the ramp to the treehouse, unfurled her little wings and jumped, falling and crumpling on the ground in a pile of hooves and feathers. Swallowing heavily, Macintosh stepped over.
"Scootaloo?" he said quietly. The filly, startled, spun to face him, wings outstretched. "What're y'all doin' out here so late?" he asked, knowing the answer full well.
"Um, nothin'," she sputtered, fixing her mane, "just, um...tryin' a new trick..." Their eyes locked for a few moments, hers saying more than she probably wanted. Macintosh, with a sigh, sat down on the grass.
"So, Scootaloo," he finally said, "did the Cutie Mark Crusaders have any luck t'night?" Her ears perked up a little.
"Well, I thought I was pretty good at cow tipping, but the cows didn't think so..."
Macintosh laughed lightly. "Ya really think that's yer special talent?"
She giggled. "I guess not. That'd be kinda weird." She nestled into the grass, not too far away.
"So, Scootaloo," he began, "what's yer family like? Any brother or sisters?"
"My dad's a weather pony, and my mom doesn't work outside the home," she said plainly, "and I don't have any brothers or sisters."
"Ah see."
"I wish I did..." she sighed, "both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle have awesome big sisters who run their own businesses and stuff..." she trailed off. Macintosh breathed slowly.
"So tell me," he said softly after a few seconds, "if ya could have any cutie mark you want, what'd it be?"
"Anything?" she thought for a second, twitching her tail, "I know I want to become a great flyer, so maybe-" she looked at him suddenly, eyes large, "I mean, not that I'm not a great flyer already. I just meant...I wanna become even better..." she trailed off again.
Macintosh sighed. He didn't want to address the issue head on, so he tried a different angle. "Did ya hear that Rainbow Dash is gettin' a private audition with the WonderBolts?"
"Really!?" she gasped. He looked down to her, her eyes wide with...fear?
"Eeyup, an' there's a good chance she'll get in."
"Oh..." Scootaloo sighed.
"What's wrong?" Mac asked, "ain't ya happy fer her?"
"Of...course I am!" She forced a smile, "I hope she gets in...I just...hope that she'll come visit...and stuff..."
Macintosh sighed. "Well, she ain't leavin' yet. B'sides, Ah'm sure she'd love ta show ya what moves she's gun' do fer 'em. Why dun' ya ask her t'morrow?"
Scootaloo perked up a little at this. "Yeah, that'd be cool, I guess."
They sat together in silence for a bit.
"Ya said ya were practicin' a new trick?" he said after a moment, looking up to the moon, now high in the sky.
"Um, yeah."
"Well, Ah think y'all should come in fer t'night. It's awful late. But t'morrow, keep practicin'." He met her eyes, indigo and glistening in the moonlight, "Ah know that y'all can do it. Jes' keep tryin' an' don't give up. Ya'll fly someday."
She gasped, eyes widening.
"Why," Mac continued, "Ah bet y'all will become the greatest flyer in Equestria. Even better'n Rainbow Dash."
"You really think so?"
"Eeyup. If that's what ya really want, then go fer it. Shoot fer the stars. An' make a pit stop on the moon on yer way," he chuckled, standing up. "Y'know, when Ah was a li'l colt, Ah used ta make wishes on the stars. An' ya know Princess Luna?"
Scootaloo nodded.
"She heard 'em all. Don't hurt ta talk ta her every now an' again." She turned to look at the moon, eyes large and longing. "Dun' stay out too late, okay?" Macintosh smiled, stepping through the moist grass and stifling a yawn.
"Did she ever grant your wishes?" the pegasus asked, eyes still locked on the moon and wings outstretched, looking a little longer than usual.
A smile pulled on Mac's lips.
"Ah think she jes' may."
The dreamless sleep of that night refreshed Big Macintosh, granting him a bright-eyed, cheerful Thursday morning. Slipping somewhat into his normal routine he got up just before the crack of dawn and, after a quick combing and breakfast, threw on his old harness and began working the fields. I want to get this done bright and early today, he murmured to himself, excited to go back into town and see his friends. Funny how just two days can cause such a change in a pony's life. There was a lot more to life than apple farming; spending time in town was a lot of fun, Macintosh discovered, and he couldn't wait to get back to it.
With a smile on his face his work went quickly and smoothly. He tilled the eastern field, harvested and planted a new row of potatoes, and even caught himself whistling at one point. Strapping on his old, trusty hoof-axe and fastening a long cart to his harness, he strolled through the fields to the northern acre, where there was a small group of apple trees that just couldn't keep up with the high expectations of the farm, hardly yielding more than a dozen apples in the past year. With a few swift strikes and a strong buck he felled them, and after stripping them bare he hoisted them onto his cart, pulling them away towards the woodpile shed by the old smokehouse. They used to dry apples in the smokehouse, but dried and smoked apple chips didn't sell very well anymore, so it was rarely used, and the woodshed was pretty much just a storage area for wood until he could take it to the woodshed near home. He reminded himself again that he needed to organize this shed, as it had at least a dozen or two unsecured logs inside that he never got around to dealing with. If someone careless were to fling open the doors those logs wouldn't stay inside the shed for long. I'll get around to it.
On his way he walked past a nearby field, where apple trees he'd felled a few months ago were replaced with small apple tree sprouts. A chuckle escaping his lips he carefully dropped off the logs at the shed and went to find a planter, a spring in his step.
A while later he found himself in Ponyville, the apple tree sapling held in place with a strap between the two knobs of his harness. A large, goofy grin stretched across his face and he had to stop himself from skipping down the road. After what felt like a longer walk than normal he finally found the flower stand, a single pony standing in front, her cream coat shining in the sunrise.
"Howdy Rose," he said, cantering up to her. She looked at him, eyes a little hazy but wrinkled with an honest smile.
"Good morning Macintosh," she said pleasantly, "you're here early."
"You too," he replied, "have any trouble settin' up?"
"A little. I'm not used to running the stand by myself."
"Where're Daisy and Lily?"
"Probably still asleep," she yawned, "I got that order finished, but I haven't had any customers yet. Oh! That reminds me: could you give me any advice on how to figure out shipping and postage charges? I kinda had to just hope the mail-ponies knew what they were doing this morning. I think I've got all my multiplication tables memorized now, so I'd like to try something new."
"Sure thing," Macintosh grinned, "but y'all need ta do me a favor."
"Oh?" her mouth made a crooked smile, "and what's that?"
"Can ya give this here planter ta Daisy when ya see her?"
"Of course!" she chuckled, "you had me worried there for a second, heh."
With Rose's help he slid the pot off his back and set it down on the cart so he could begin teaching Rose a little more complex math. After tackling percentages and shipping charges, he moved on to simple accounting, giving her tips on how to spot any potential financial issues before they arrived by recognizing trends and patterns. They made good progress in a short amount of time, and Rose was becoming much more confident with every successful lesson.
"...Once ya got that figured out, then ya'll notice right away if there's goin' ta be any problems.”
"Oh, wow! Thank you so much, Macintosh!" Rose beamed, tucking away her notes, "this will make running the stand so much easier!"
Macintosh swallowed and looked at her sideways. "If'n ya dun' mind mah askin', how did y'all lose the shop?" Rose sighed, fiddling absentmindedly with a bunch of tulips.
"We didn't grow or order enough flowers from the hothouses for winter. We ran out only a couple weeks into winter, and then there was a small...accident with the heater for the shop." She paused, breathing slowly and looking to the morning sky. "We couldn't afford to keep the store and had to sell it just a week or two before Winter Wrap Up. Daisy took it really hard. And it sure didn’t help when she and Blues br-" she glanced at Macintosh suddenly, "well, she took it hard. She really liked the shop."
"Ah see," Big Mac said, watching Rose as she straightened up a few flowers a little skittishly. She and Blues?
"Ugh, where are those two?" she groaned suddenly, "Macintosh, could you help me find Lily and Daisy?"
"Sure thing," he said, before adding: "don'tchya need somepony ta watch the stand?" Rose pulled the rope and the closed signs rattled down.
"It's fine, I never have any customers this early anyway." She pointed down the road, towards the East. "Daisy lives down that way, green mailbox, can't miss it. Could you go find her while I go find Lily?" Macintosh nodded and began his canter down the road.
A few minutes later he found the right place, the green mailbox resting peacefully in front of a small, modest home, its frames and windowpanes decorated with numerous flower blossoms. A shoulder high hedge wrapped around the house, roses growing in a few spots. Walking to the front door he knocked three times, but no answer came. He stepped back, looked up to the windows and called for her.
"Daisy? Y'all home?"
"Back here!"
Macintosh stepped between the hedge and the house around back past the open gate where he was greeted by the sight of a massive garden of sunflowers; three rows extended back several dozen yards, yielding at least a hundred of the large flowers - probably more, their golden petals shining in the morning sun. The smallest of the flowers were taller than him, their blossoms the size of his head. Wearing a sunhat and gripping a watering can in her teeth Daisy skipped out between the rows, politely smiling and depositing her watering can near a faucet. She cantered over to the large stallion, whose eyes were filled with wonder.
"Good morning Macintosh," she said cheerfully, "can I help you?"
"This is amazin'!" he forced out, "Ah ain't never seen so many sunflowers! Y'all said ya jes' grew a few!"
She grinned and flipped off her hat. "Heh, this is just a few. Once I managed to fit nearly three hundred of them back here."
"That's...this is really a sight."
"Thanks. I'm really good with them, despite my name and cutie mark," she said, chuckling. "Sorry, was there something you needed?"
"Oh! Uh, Rose was wonderin' where ya were."
"Oh right," she sighed, plucking an out of place petal from a flower, "I got a little caught up with my garden. I'll come right now." Trotting over to the gate she held it open for the stallion, who had to tear his eyes off the small forest.
"Ah've never seen ya sell any sunflowers at the stand," he said, bowing as he passed her to the front of the house. She sighed and followed him.
"Sunflowers don't really sell," she said, the smile fading from her face as they left, "ponies say they're just too big, or lose seeds or attract squirrels, whatever." She sighed, cantering slowly down the road. Macintosh followed.
"Now that's a darn shame," he said, "they're really somethin' else."
"I'd love to sell some," she pined, "I just grow them as a hobby, right? But it'd be great if I could make a little money out of it."
They walked in silence for a bit. Macintosh turned a few things over in his head. Should I bring up Cheerilee again? And what was that that Rose said? That Daisy and Blues-
"Well, I need to run a few errands before I start work," Daisy said suddenly and flatly, "I'll see you later."
"Uh, yeah, goodbah."
Daisy looked back to him, smiling as she trotted away. "Come by later though, won't you?"
"You bet," he grinned, nodding his head. She strolled away down the road and Big Mac, taking a deep breath, turned to look down another friendly street of Ponyville. Humming a little, Macintosh slowly sauntered down the road which was just barely coming to life, mares, stallions and foals wiping away the sleep from their eyes. The clock tower chimed in the distance and rounding a corner Mac's nose was assaulted with the warm, tasty smell of the bakery. He found himself dreamily drifting in that direction until the outline of a pink pony bouncing inside snapped him out of his reverie. Pinkie...He grumbled, I forgot she was a baker. Well, I guess I'm not getting any bakery items today. Dang pony, why does she always have to show up?
"Is that all ya care about? Yer pride?"
He slapped himself, head low and eyes narrowed. No, It's just...That filly. I just know she'll make a foal out of me.
"Is that all ya care about?..."
No! I'm entitled to be mad at her! She made everypony laugh at me!
"...Yer pride?"
"Ah am NOT becomin' mah father!!" Macintosh bellowed, oblivious to the confused and frightened glances he earned from nearby ponies.
"Then prove it."
Macintosh stiffened. There he stood for at least a minute, eyes fixed on the bakery until he finally made his decision.
The bell in the doorway chimed gleefully.
"Helloooooooo!! Welcome to SugarCube Corner!" Pinkie Pie shouted, rummaging around beneath the counter. She poked her head up, a plate of cupcakes balanced on her hooves. "I've got a fresh batch of super-duper extra special-" the plate fell with a clatter when she saw the red stallion standing in the doorway, his ears flattened and eyes wet. "Oh, um, hi, Macintosh," she said. Looking through half-opened eyes, he could have sworn she looked a little darker in color, her mane a little flatter than the last time he'd seen her.
"Hi, Pinkie Pie," he said slowly, taking drawn-out, deliberate steps into the bakery.
"Um, Mrs. Cake is just about to wake up," Pinkie said, trying her best to plaster a smile on her face, "and I was just about to head out anyways, so she'll be happy...uh, wappy to help you." Her voice barely had any of its bubblegum and sugar left, although she did her best to hide it. Her mane falling in front of her blue eyes she skittishly turned for the kitchen.
"Uh, Pinkie Pie, hang on a sec."
She stopped, but didn't look back to him. Taking a deep breath he closed the distance between them.
"Pinkie, Ah, um..." he shuffled his hoof on the floor through scattered pieces of confetti, "well, Ah wanted ta say that...that Ah'm sorry. Fer what Ah said ta ya the other night." He stepped a little closer to try to look in her eyes, but she just turned away again. "Ah mean...you...Ah'm sorry."
She still kept her eyes away from his. After a few moments of silence, Big Mac sighed and headed for the door. Hardly half a step away he was tackled to the floor in a bear hug by a fluffy, glowing pink pony.
"Oh Macky!" she shouted, her eyes squeezed so tight in delight it was a wonder she didn't strain something, "I forgive you!" As Macintosh looked up to her she suddenly made an instantaneous 180, her eyes apprehensive and concerned. "And I haven't forgotten about your party way back then. I want to say I'm sorry too. I wanted to say sorry that day but you locked yourself in your room and the few times you came into town afterwards you avoided me and whenever I did talk to you I wanted to be friendly and never actually said sorry and I'm sorry for that too and-"
"Pinkie," he interrupted. Her bright blue eyes gazed deeply into his.
I will not become my father.
"Ah forgive ya."
The following squeal of joy must have woken any ponies still asleep throughout the whole town as Pinkie Pie nuzzled herself into Mac's thick neck.
"Oh thank you thank you thankyouthankyouthankyou! I've wanted to hear you say that for so long! I was still just a itty-bitty little-little twinkie-Pinkie way back then and I still didn't really know much about how to party and I was still learning and you were kind of my test subject and I learned a lot of things never to do at a party like ever invite a clown ever again and and and and-"
"Pinkie!" Macintosh wheezed, "Ah can't breathe!"
"Oh! Sorry!" she bounded to her hooves, her blue eyes enormous and practically overflowing with life and giddiness, "AAAHHH!!" she jumped, "you know what this means, don't you!?" she floated in the air for a moment longer than should have been possible. Macintosh, getting to his hooves, shook his head dumbly.
"It means," she grinned, "that we just HAVE to have a party to celebrate! A Forgiveness Festival! A Sorry Soirée! An I-don't-hate-you-anymore-and-I-wanna-be-your-friend...Party! Ooh! And I have the perfect party treat!" she pulled a plate of cupcakes out from nowhere and held it out in front of the stallion. "Here! Try one! Confetti Cakes version two!"
"Um, all right," he chuckled. Not smiling would have been a scientific impossibility at this point, so he took the little treat and bit in.
BLAM!
Confetti rained down, the cupcake blown open and spread across Macintosh's stunned face.
"Don't let any touch the floor!" Pinkie gleefully shouted, catching the falling bits of paper with her tongue and swallowing them, "Oh yeah! Much better when it's edible!"