Macintosh

by TotalOverflow


Chapter 13

Macintosh
By TotalOverflow, '11

Chapter 13

        The town was buzzing with activity.  News that the 'Summer Sun Celebration' had switched locales at the last second spread like wildfire, as ponies ran to and fro, hurrying to get their businesses in order for the festivities.  This year was going to be a big deal, Mac overheard somepony say, since this is the first time in a thousand years that both princesses will be present.  Certainly there would be a lot of royal guests and visitors from Canterlot, and it may even turn into a bigger event than the Grand Galloping Gala was.  The tremendous amount of excitement overwhelmed Macintosh, so he headed for home, where he hoped he could find some peace and quiet, and maybe even spend some quality time with the family.  

Not so, he was rudely reminded, when he arrived and found Applejack organizing the massive tree-bucking harvest, at least a dozen hired hooves all standing at attention with a paycheck and a good meal to look forward to.  Macintosh, shoulders sagging, let himself into the house where Granny Smith was busy cooking up a massive dinner and mentioned something about Apple Bloom's friends spending the evening again.  Looks like my family will have to wait, he sighed, plodding up the stairs and into his room.  Flumping down onto the bed he dozed, trying to recover from the hectic morning and resting up for what would surely be a very busy afternoon.

***

I kept running.  I was almost home.  

It stopped raining.  My legs were tired.

I saw home.  I saw the farm.

The farm I was free from.

I ran to the door.  It opened before I got there.  Two stallions came out.  I didn't know them.  They looked sad.

I stepped inside the house.  I heard something.  Something I didn't like.

Crying.  

Grandmother, Applejack and Apple Bloom were crying.  

I walked into the living room.  They were on the couch.  Grandmother cried a lot.  She held Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom was so small.  She cried really loud.

Applejack cried too.  She was quiet, but she was crying.

They didn't see me.  They were looking at the table.

I looked too.

It was wet.  The three things on the table were wet.  I stepped closer, and I saw what they were.

Father's harness.  Father's hat.  And Mother's bow.

They were wet.

***

        "Macintosh!"

        "Huh?  Wha?"

        "Are ya jes' goin' ta sleep all day, or are ya goin' ta come out an' help?"

        Macintosh looked up from the bed to see his sister standing in the doorframe, glistening with sweat.  Groaning, he sat up and threw on his harness.

        "All right, all right, Ah'm comin'," he said, "how's the work goin'?"

        Applejack and her brother started downstairs.  "Not bad, I've got eight ponies harvestin' the east orchards fer them appetizer thingies, an' the other seven are buckin' all the red delicious an' spartan trees fer Pinkie's order.  We should be able ta finish up t'night, if we work hard."

        They stepped out the front door.  Macintosh winced at the bright sunlight.  "An'?  No disasters yet?"

        "Not yet," she chuckled, "Caramel's doin' pretty good so far."

        "Let's hope it keeps up," Mac said, his deep voice rumbling.  The early afternoon sun beat down on the ponies, and Macintosh grabbed a quick drink from the makeshift drink stand Granny Smith set up.  "So where'd ya want me ta go?"  He asked.

        "Ah was hopin' ya'd overlook the east orchard harvest.  I'll go keep an eye on Caramel, since y'all can't seem ta manage it," she added with a snort.

        "Ah only looked away fer a second.  Ah dun' know how he managed ta lose an entire wagon."

        "Anyways, let's get ta work.  I'm only payin' them ponies till supper, and that's in five hours, so make 'em count!"  She tipped her hat and trotted off.  Macintosh strolled towards the east field, grabbing a stalk of hay on the way to chew.  As he crested the hill he saw all the hired hooves working diligently to buck the apple trees and haul the wagons off; he recognized many of the ponies as regulars from last year's harvest and Winter Wrap Up.  Macintosh assisted where needed, and bucked a few trees himself when the opportunity arose, but work went slowly and Mac found himself with a lot of time to think.

        So much for a quiet afternoon.  Now I've gone and brought a honking big festival to town.  Great.  And here I was hoping to take a peaceful walk with the family.  But no, it's just work, work, work.  Mac's reasons for wanting to spend time with his family was partly selfish, as he really enjoyed being around them, but it was also out of a desire to prove to them that he loved and cared for them.  He knew his father cared about the family too, but...well, like his mother said, he was really bad at showing it.  Macintosh didn't want that problem.  He wanted his immediate family to know he loved them.  If he ever got married and had a family of his own, he wanted them to know, too.  The last thing he wanted was to become like his father.  I will not let that happen.

        After an hour or two of solid work, Macintosh left his team on their own.  They're a capable bunch, he reasoned, they can handle it on their own for a few minutes, so he sauntered down the hill towards the farmhouse.  The smell of a slow-roasting meal wafted from within, and he let himself into the house.

        "Gramma?" he called.  

        "Macintosh!  Jes' in time!  Come give yer gran’mother a hoof!"

        Macintosh stepped around into the kitchen where he saw Granny Smith busily working in the large kitchen, at least ten pots all boiling on the long stove.  

        "Macintosh, ken ya stir them carrots fer me?  Ah've got ta keep an eye on these here 'taters else they'll go all soggy again!"

        Big Mac gladly did as asked and together they got all the various meals simmering peacefully.

        "Wow, Gramma," Mac said, "Ah haven't seen ya cook up a meal like this since the last family reunion!"

        "Well it ain't every day somepony ups an' gives ya a big fat stinkin' check!" she wheezed, wiping the sweat from her wrinkly, smiling face and slowly taking a seat at the table so as not to hurt herself, "ya'll shoulda seen Applejack when she ran in showin' off that li'l slip o' paper like it were her baby!  Ah ain't seen her so giddy in years!"

        "Well, Ah guess now we'll finally be able ta get yer hip fixed up!" Macintosh chuckled as he sat down beside her.

        "Yeah, Ah guess so!  'Bout time, too!" she laughed.  "Back in mah day, b'fore mah hip started actin' up, Ah used ta run in the races, y'know!"

        "Really?" Mac pretended to be surprised; he heard the incoming story lots before and loved it every time, even if his grandmother took many liberties with its truthfulness.  In fact, every time she told it it was a little bit different.

        "Darn tootin'!  Ah was in a race against the Princess Celestia fer the crown of Equestria once, y'know!  'Course, back then, Celestia was jes' a li'l filly in school!  Stop yer laughin' there, Macintosh!  Ah'm older'n Ah look an' doin' jes fine fer mahself if Ah say so!"

        Macintosh sat with his grandmother, happily listening to her near nonsensical ramblings about how she decided to let Celestia win the race and become the princess.  Macintosh loved Granny Smith.  She and his grandfather often came to visit when he was younger (always slipping him a shining bit or two), but once the two came to live with him after the accident, he found himself loving them even more.  By then Granny Smith already had a bad hip that only got worse, and his grandfather had already taken a turn for the worse, so although they doted on him like a son, he found himself usually taking care of them.  Once grandfather passed away, Granny Smith became even worse off, but she wouldn't let herself kick the bucket, even if she couldn't make a flight of stairs by herself anymore.

        "...An' that's how Equestria was made!  Now, c'mon boy!  Help yer granny up!  Ah reckon them zucchini patties are jes' 'bout ready ta be flipped!"  Grinning, Macintosh assisted his grandmother over to the stove.  "Fetch me mah walker, boy!  I need ta make a trip ta the pantry fer some seasonin'!"

        "Ah could jes' get it if ya want, Gramma."

        "Shush yer face!  Ah'm still alive!" she laughingly scolded him, "now go get me mah walker else ya'll be needin' it more'n me!"

        Macintosh did as asked and was subsequently shooed out of the house so she could get back to work.  Smiling contentedly, Macintosh breathed in the tasty air, quickly trotting over to his team to check up on their progress.  Once satisfied that they were doing a good job, he decided to stroll to the other side of the orchard near the northern acre where he found his sister shouting orders for her team.

        "AJ?" he said, sidling up to her.

        "Oh, hey Big Brother," she looked up at him, "what's goin' on?"

        "Nuthin', Ah jes' wanted ta see how it's all goin' fer ya over here."

        "Not bad, everythin's goin' steady.  Heh, I guess the harvest came a little early this year, huh?  After all's said an' done, half the orchard'll be gone."

        "Eeyup."

        He watched a couple colts buck a tree together (their technique lacking, he noted) and haul away the apples that fell.

        "So," he said after a minute or two, "how was yer day?"

        She raised an eyebrow.  "Fine, I suppose.  I got some good business in town.  'Course, nothin' as good as when that Caesar pony showed up, I tell you what!" she chuckled, "land sakes, if Pa were here, he'd be prouder than a mother griffon watchin' her cubs first take flight!"

        Macintosh just stared ahead.  "Eeyup."

        For a few minutes, they watched the work in silence.

        "Hey, listen," Applejack began after a while, "I know you an' Pa didn't always get along."

        Mac snorted.

        "But," she continued, "he was a good stallion.  He cared about us.  Y'know, that harness yer wearin' was the only one he ever needed.  It's good an' strong, jes' like Pa."  She touched her hat.  "Jes' like you."

        "Ah dun' know."

        "You an' Pa cared more for yer family than anypony Ah've ever known."

        "He sure weren't good at showin' it."

        They were quiet.  Somepony bucked a tree; the apples fell with soft 'plops.'

        "Well, Macintosh, y'all have done a whole lot fer this family.  If it weren't fer you, well, I don't know where we'd be.  I mean, after t'day, the farm'll be golden!" Applejack elbowed the red stallion, "I swear, we'll have enough money left over ta do a heap of fixin'-Hey hey hey!  Caramel!  Watch what yer doin'!"  

        Macintosh shook his head as he watched Caramel upright his apple cart and reload the apples with some help from a friend.

        "Dang Caramel..." Applejack muttered.

        "AJ, he ain't such a bad colt.  He tries."

        "I know.  Jes'...He an' Clover together seem ta be a recipe fer disaster."

        "They got yer carriage ta the Grand Galloping Gala in one piece, didn't they?"

        Applejack chuckled.  "Yeah, I s'pose.  I guess yer right.  As long as they don't-HEY!  CARAMEL!  THAT SHED AIN'T FER APPLES!!  STOP!!"

        Macintosh watched in horror as Caramel and Clover kicked open the doors to the wood shed he stowed the felled trees in...the unsecured felled trees, he realized as his heart skipped several beats.  He heard the rumble of tumbling logs but he didn't stay around to just watch them roll out.  Caramel and Clover scattered as Macintosh charged towards the shed.  Glancing down the hill Macintosh saw the young trees that would be easily torn apart by the small mountain of twenty-foot wide logs, the cow ranch and chicken coop beyond that were just waiting to be crushed, and if they didn't stop them (which they wouldn't, Mac bitterly realized) they would reach the steep downwards slope leading to Ponyville...And Celestia help anypony in their path.  Idiot!  Why didn't I just clean the stupid shed and tie down those logs when I had the chance!?  Mentally berating himself he turned to glare at the incoming avalanche.  The first logs smashed their way through the double doors, and Macintosh gritted his teeth.  This is going to hurt.  Widening his stance he dug his back hooves into the dirt, then his front ones.  He stiffened himself, pulled his head back, threw out his chest and closed his eyes.

        "AAAARRGH!" he cried as the first log slammed into him; his harness absorbed most of the blow, but Mac could already feel one heck of a bruise forming from the two foot thick tree trunk.  Once it hit him he bent forward a little, bending his front legs to hold it in place against his chest.  He dug his hooves deeper into the ground as the following logs all rammed into him one after the other, forcing him back several feet, forming small trenches in the grass.  Eyes glued shut and watery from pain, each log that joined the pile sent a tremor of pain through his chest.  Using his strong neck he kept the logs in place, ensuring none of them rolled past him, although he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it up.  Cracking open one eye he watched the last log - and also, the largest by far - making a beeline for the pile.  A burst of adrenaline surged through him as he clenched his teeth and closed his eyes...

        WHAM  

        CRUNCH

        The pain was incredible; burning knives seared through his chest.  He did all he could to keep from biting his tongue in pain: if the first log bruised a rib or two then this one had broken them with a sickening 'snap.’  It knocked a smaller log lose which swung up and smashed him in the jaw.  The force of the woodpile pushing him back slowly let up, until finally, all the timber stopped rolling, held in place by the red stallion.

        "SOMEPONY WANT TA GIVE ME A HOOF, HERE!?" he bellowed; the action sent a jolt of pain through his body, but he held firm.  Finally, snapping back to reality, the other ponies all rushed to his side, one-by-one rolling the massive logs back up the hill and into the shed, where, under Applejack's direction, they fastened and locked them down, ensuring this would never happen again.  As the last log was pushed away, Macintosh felt himself stumble and allowed himself the sweet relief of unconsciousness.

***

She was leaving.

Why was she leaving?

How could she go?  Did she even care?

It was only a week later.  Only one week.  

She smiled.  She was happy.

But I wasn't.

Why was she leaving?

Grandmother was beside me.  She was crying.  We watched her leave.

Grandfather cried when she told him, but he stayed inside with Apple Bloom.

I didn't like this.  I cried too.

Why would she do this to us?

I looked down.  I was wearing Father's harness.  It was still too big, but I had to wear it.

I was in charge now.

I had to run the farm.  I had to protect the family.

I had no choice.  My perfect score didn't matter.  

This was where I had to be.

Sister...Why would you leave us?

***

        There was sound.  It sounded like voices, but from underwater.  Muffled.  Macintosh tried to open his eyes, but couldn't.  He couldn't feel anything either.  Slowly, the voices became clearer.

        "...Be...okay?..."

        "...Ribs.........lucky..."

        "...Mac...osh....save...Pon..."

        "..."

        As feeling slowly returned to Macintosh he felt the pain jolt through his body, silencing the voices and knocking him into the darkness again.


        When Macintosh finally awoke, he found himself in a white bed in a large tent; ponies with white hats stood around him, and he saw Applejack, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom all sitting near the foot of his bed.  Hospital, he figured.

        "...Buh?" he managed to say, his mouth dry and sticky and jaw sore.  Every head in the room spun to face him, his sisters and Grandmother rushing up to his side.

        "Macintosh!  Macintosh!" Apple Bloom squealed, trying to hug her brother but being held back by one of the nurses.

        "He's in a very delicate condition!" snapped the nurse, "he can't afford to be jostled right now!"  Apple Bloom pouted, and looked at Big Mac with large, watery eyes.

        "Macintosh!" Applejack began, her own eyes red, "are y'all all right?"

        "Ah...dunno," Mac croaked, "am Ah?"

        "You broke two ribs and bruised three others, cracked your clavicle and suffered a mild concussion," the nurse rattled off, looking at a clipboard, "really, considering the beating you took, you're lucky that's all.  Your harness took the brunt of the damage," she motioned to a table where his harness rested, looking worse for wear but still in one piece.  He chuckled, which turned into coughing.  I guess it'll take more than that to break you.

        "You seem to be doing well," the nurse continued, "but you'll still need to wear these bandages for at least two months, probably longer, and you'll need to stay in bed tonight and all day tomorrow."

        Macintosh looked down at the thick bandages around his neck and chest.  "Now...Doc..." Mac coughed, "could...water..."

        A nearby nurse brought him a cool glass of water which he downed in a flash.  Clearing his throat, he continued.

        "Doc, Ah've been worse off than this b'fore an' healed up quicker."

        "Macintosh, listen ta the nice lady," Granny Smith chided, "y'all took quite a beatin' an' need yer rest!"

        "But there's still work ta do..." Big Mac tried to sit up but collapsed back to the bed in pain.

        "Don't even think about it!" the nurse scolded, laying his head on the pillow, "this isn't like that kidney injury from that silly bet you made with Applejack!"  Mac's sister blushed and hung her head.  "You need your rest!" resumed the nurse, "now, just get some sleep.  Later tonight, we'll see about moving you back to your home."

        "Ugh.  Fine."

        "Dun' worry Big Brother," Applejack said strongly, "we'll get all the rest of the apples bucked an' ready fer the celebration!"  His family turned for the exit (Granny Smith had to pry Apple Bloom away), but Mac called out after Applejack.

        "AJ!  Tell Caramel and Clover that it weren't their fault, okay?"

        Applejack looked thoughtful for a moment, then smiled and tipped her hat.  "All right Big Macintosh," she said, "I'll let 'em know.  At least we finally got that shed sorted now," she added with a wink.

        Big Mac groaned as they left the tent.  The nurse pulled the curtain and passed him another glass of water.

        "Now, just try to get some sleep.  You are a strong stallion, and you're right, you'll heal up quickly, but for now, just try to rest."

        Macintosh found it very easy to oblige all of a sudden, and within a few minutes fell soundly asleep.


        Later in the afternoon, he was helped out of his bed and back to the farm, tired and bleary eyed.  He wasn't really aware of the trip and soon found himself in his own bed again, his chest and head pounding slightly.  Applejack came in the room and woke him up every couple of hours like the doctors said to give him water, and he was pretty sure that Cheerilee, Lightning Bolt and a few other ponies came to visit, but he was too tired to remember anything they said.  He slept until late in the evening, when the family gathered in his room to eat their dinner, the leftovers from the meal Granny Smith cooked up.  Apple Bloom sat herself right at his side as they ate, nuzzling up to her big brother affectionately, which he appreciated.  The whole meal passed by in a blur, and he couldn't remember any details with the throbbing in his head.  Before long, though, Macintosh found himself alone and drowsy, propped against his pillows and slowly falling asleep again.


        "Macintosh?"

        Mac pried one eye open.

        "Macintosh?  You awake?"

        "Ah am now."

        "Oh, good."  Apple Bloom sat on his bed, her eyes wide with concern.  "Feelin' any better?"

        "Yeah, a bit," he said, sitting a little straighter.  It hurt a bit to do, but he didn't let it show.

        "I was so worried when I heard!" she squeaked, nuzzling into his large arm, "I was so scared!"

        "Well, Ah'm still here."

        She sighed happily and curled up at his side.  

        "I love you, Big Brother," she said quietly.

        Mac smiled and ran a hoof through her mane, ruffling her pink bow.  "Ah love ya too."

        "Wanna play a game?" she asked after a couple minutes.

        "Sure," he replied, "what did ya have in mind?"

        "We could play castle!  I could be the knight an' you can be the dragon!"

        "An' Applejack's the princess?" Mac said.  The two looked at each other as the mental picture formed and they exploded into laughter.  Macintosh stopped abruptly in pain.  "Maybe that ain't such a good idea."

        "You okay?" Apple Bloom asked.

        "Eeyup.  Ah guess laughter ain't always the best medicine."

        She giggled.  "We could play a board game!"

        "Ah like board games."

        "Cool!  I’ll go grab one!” Apple Bloom grinned and hopped off the bed (which made Macintosh wince in pain) and returned in a moment with a game.  

"Hang on a sec," Mac said as his sister opened the box and began setting it up on his bed, "weren't yer friends goin' ta stay the night?"

        "Yeah, but after what happened we didn't want ta bother you.  B'sides, I needed ta take care of you tonight," she said matter-of-factly.

        "Well, thank ya, Apple Bloom," he smiled, "Ah sure do appreciate it."

        "I know.  Okay, here, you can go first..."