Family Matters
Chapter 7: A Series of Unfortunate Miscommunications
Big Macintosh thought of the lack of rhyme and reason to pony names after arriving home from the library. In farming families, like his own, it was generally common to share a single noun. The Apple family had started with his grandmother's mother, Apple Seed. Foals’ names often reflected their mothers’. A husband would occasionally take a part of his wife’s name, as in the case of Kingston Doo, who had formerly been Kingston Carrot. In contrast, pegasi tended to share similar names to their fathers. Unicorn naming traditions varied widely by region. In old cities such as Canterlot or Trottingham, customs dictated that a new bride or groom’s name should reflect the name of their higher ranking partner. In most other regions it simply came down to the couple’s mood.
He did not think Twilight Sparkle would insist on him changing his name to Macintosh Sparkle, though he wondered if she already had chosen names. He smiled warmly at the thought of the foal. He wondered how long it would be before he could feel the foal's first buck.
"Big Macintosh. Whatcha doin’?" Apple Bloom poked her brother in the leg for the sixth time in a row. She had discovered him standing, having what appeared to be a staring contest with the front door.
Big Macintosh cleared his mind with a shake of his head before speaking. "Ahhww nothin', sorry."
"Applejacks says you’re gonna fix Granny's old table. Can ah help?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Sorry Apple Bloom, but the wood’s splintered. It’s gonna take magic to do it right," Big Macintosh said. "But if we get it done right you can help me varnish it. We’ll make it real nice for Granny Smith."
"Sweet!"
"Where's Applejack?"
"Out by the pond with Fluttershy. The swans chased Winona up a tree again."
***
In the past, the Apples had kept geese on the farm to eat harmful insects in the orchards and provide fertilizer for the trees. The geese had proved to be explosive breeders, and the Apples had to cull the flocks every four to five years. Winona helped with herding the over breeding birds somewhat, but then the geese would stick exclusively to the farm's one pond and slowly poison it over time.
Twilight had suggested the swans as replacement for the geese. The farm's pair of swans would easily consume as many pests as a flock of geese. They would not tolerate their own offspring returning to the farm when they were grown, let alone other types of water fowl who might pollute the pond.
The only problem with the swans was Winona. The dog could not grasp that the swans were not herdable like the geese. Every so often Winona would attempt to herd the swans, and every time the dog's actions proved to be futile. Every time the swans ended up chasing the dog around the farm, honking furiously and nipping at her tail. Applejack was not fond of the swans, especially when they picked on Winonna, but it was them or the geese. Unfortunately for Winona, the swans worked better.
The swans had not quite chased Winona up a tree, but she was cowering in the branches of a fallen oak. Applejack tried to coax Winona out of the branches with soft whistles and encouraging words.One of the swans zigged and zagged back and forth in the pond as its mate complained bitterly to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, get those birds out of here. I can't calm Winona down with them so close," Applejack demanded.
"Please, Matilda," Fluttershy begged. The swan honked one final time before gesturing at the dog angrily. Fluttershy sighed heavily, shutting her eyes for a moment before releasing her full stare upon the irate swan. The bird stopped complaining and focused on her eyes before backing guardedly into the pond. The swans circled one another in a rhythmic pattern before departing for the reeds on the other side of the water. In defiance of Fluttershy's complete mastery over her, Matilda squawked once more before bobbing her head into the water to feed.
"Thanks for bein' on call to help with the birds," Big Macintosh thanked the pegasus.
"You're welcome," Fluttershy whispered behind a cascade of pink hair.
Big Macintosh did not roll his eyes as Applejack approached with the still-cowering Winona. "So, brother, how did the search for a spell to fix the table go?"
"We still need to discuss further details," he replied in his best Twilight voice. He forced a smile and came up with an excuse. Better to deflect for the moment. At least he would be able to see Twilight without raising anyone’s suspicions, even if he surprised her. "Twi needs more time. Ah’m gonna take the table over tomorrow so Twilight can give it a go after supper."
"Well that sounds good." Applejack rubbed Winona along her spine one more time before volunteering her brother for an assignment. "I promised Fluttershy she could use this tree for firewood. There’s enough here to warm her house for two winters. Do you think you could drag it to her house?"
"Of course," Big Macintosh resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His sister was always volunteering him for tasks to do for Fluttershy. It was always an awkward situation for the quiet stallion and shy pegasus. "Would you like me to do that now or later, Miss Fluttershy?"
"Right now will be good for her," Applejack answered for her friend. Big Macintosh's ear twitched, but he resisted any other sign of discontent.
***
With a final grunt, Big Macintosh rolled the log into the yard of Fluttershy's house. Cutting the branches took most of the afternoon, followed by an hour of actually moving it. "So who's the pony that volunteered to cut your wood?"
"I think Applejack was going to volunteer you," Fluttershy said as she placed a basket of sandwiches on the log.
"Thanks," Big Macintosh ate one sandwich, saving the rest for later.
"Somepony really has to tell her…" Fluttershy spoke quietly again.
"That we ain’t interested and this ain’t gonna happen." Big Macintosh gestured between the pair. He turned red as Fluttershy blushed behind her hair. "Sorry."
"It's alright, it's just awkward," Fluttershy said.
"You know that mare I’ve been talking to you about?” Big Macintosh admitted.
Fluttershy looked at him with trepidation. "The one you wont name?"
"It’s Twilight Sparkle and she's pregnant." Big Macintosh rubbed his mane but could not find the right words.
"Oh my. What?" Fluttershy's eyes grew wide in surprise.
“Ah said Twilight’s pregnant,” Big Macintosh repeated.
“Oh my... umm...” Fluttershy shuffled her hooves awkwardly and snapped her wings. “As in going to have a foal?”
“Yes!” Big Macintosh answered harshly
He regretted his own temper as Fluttershy cowered slightly. “I’m sorry.”
“You shouldn’t be apologizing. Ah shouldn’t be dumpin’ this information on you like,” Big Macintosh apologized.
Both waited in silence as Fluttershy let the information set in. It was unexpected and left her feeling empty. She continued forward tentatively. “Who knows?”
"Zecora, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash," Big Macintosh answered. "It ain’t that Twilight’s tryin’ to keep it from ya. We just were gonna keep it to ourselves for awhile... but everythin’s gotten shaken up and the others found out by chance."
"It is a surprised,” Fluttershy agreed as she tried to make sense of it all.
"You're ain’t mad?"
"In all honesty I’m not sure what to feel," Fluttershy answered diplomatically. “I can’t believe that you or Twilight of all ponies would let something like this happen accidently. You should have been more prepared. This is going to change everything.”
“You’re right,” Big Macintosh agreed.
“I’m sorry,” Fluttershy apologized again.
“There is no need to. You can be angry,” Big Macintosh said.
“I’m not angry just feeling empty or...” Fluttershy tried to find the words.
“Nervous because you're not sure what’s gonna happen?” Big Macintosh suggested.
“Yes,” Fluttershy agreed then made a face. “But this is about you and Twilight.”
“It’s okay to feel Fluttershy, bad or good,” Big Macintosh said.
“Right,” Fluttershy said.
A contemplative silence followed as Big Macintosh considered his next words. "Still, Ah am gonna need a favor. When Applejack finds out she's gonna be mad and she ain’t gonna speak to me for awhile. Ah need someone to keep the lines open."
"I don't know."
"Please, she's mah sister."
"If it happens, I'll try."
***
Twilight Sparkle woke to the gently rising sun, the distant chirping of birds, and the loud snores of Spike and the infant phoenix Peewee. The baby dragon insisted on dragging his basket into Twilight's bedroom and sleeping there that night. Twilight didn’t want to think how he would react to sharing any space with Big Macintosh.
She stretched, sighing happily under the warm summer sun. She left Spike to sleep in after deciding to prepare breakfast for herself, cereal topped with a cut up banana and a side of toasted peanut butter with a glass of orange juice. After finishing the main course, Twilight tried to decide if she wanted to double up on the toast.
A knock on the door disrupted her indecision. "Mornin'," Applejack entered after the knock, bearing a basket of apples.
Twilight froze as she fumbled for words. "Good morning, Applejack. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to say thanks for bein' there for mah brother. He told me about your plans." Applejack placed the apples on Twilight’s main table. "You're doin a really good thing for mah family, Twilight. If you don't mind me askin', could I go to dinner with you tonight? I really want to help as much as possible."
"Really?" Twilight blinked in surprise.
"Yeah, Mah brother really doesn't want my help, but this is a family thing and we Apples gotta stick together," Applejack said.
"That sounds fine," Twilight agreed as she tried to make sense of the situation.
"Mah brother's got deliveries to make all day. So where did you plan on doing to dinner?"
A romantic picnic in the park. Twilight thought, but said, "Here."
"Sounds great, I'll be here early to help cook. Its the least Ah can do." Applejack shook her friend's hoof before walking off and leaving the bewildered Twilight behind.
***
Twilight met with Rainbow Dash and Rarity for lunch, sending Spike off with a ridiculously long shopping list to keep him busy. A mention of a romantic dinner with Rarity that night did not lighten the dragon's mood like Twilight expected, but he still did what he was told. Three garden salads sat before a trio of friends, as well as a bowl of peanuts that Twilight frequently reached into and ate from.
"So Applejack is okay with what's going on?" Rarity asked, shocked at Twilight's revelation.
"She seemed fine with everything," Twilight explained. Rainbow Dash tried to grab a nut but Twilight kept reaching for them telekinetically, cracking them, and eating them faster than Rainbow Dash could react in between Twilight's snacking.
"That doesn't sound like Applejack," Rainbow Dash said as she grabbed the bowl and dumped some nuts into her salad.
Rarity glared at the pegasus, but Twilight did not seem to mind as she continued eating. "Applejack is always level headed and practical. I'm glad she's happy for us."
"There's a first time for everything," Rainbow Dash said.
"What are you talking about?" Twilight asked.
"Well…" Rarity tried to explain the situation tactfully but settled for asking a question. "Have you and Big Macintosh ever discussed your past relationships?"
"Well, not actually," Twilight realized.
"Big Mac would have to actually have past relationships if he wanted to talk about them," Rainbow Dash commented, though she regretted it when Rarity bucked her under the table.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
"This is really something you should discuss with Big Macintosh," Rarity tried to deflect
"If it's important..." Twilight pressed.
"Applejack is nuts and has chased off any mare interested in her brother," Rainbow Dash explained.
"Rainbow Dash." Rarity's glare rivaled Fluttershy's stare.
"Well somepony has to tell her. Big Mac obviously hasn't," Rainbow Dash protested.
"You're not mad, are you dear?" Rarity asked.
Twilight paused as she considered her answer. The words came out surprisingly clear. "When Big Macintosh and I are together it’s just been the two of us. We haven’t really thought of the consequences of our actions, just enjoying the moment. There isn’t any pony else who has been able to hold my attention like this, and I guess neither of us mentioned our friends or family because we didn’t want anything to change. We just lived in the moment.” Rainbow Dash yawned as Twilight explained herself. Rarity held a faraway expression as Twilight spoke. The purple mare finished. “I can’t hold it against Big Macintosh for not telling me this stuff. I haven’t told him everything, like my brother is kind of the same way."
"Shining Armor seems like such the gentlecolt," Rarity said.
"He's also been involved in social and royal affairs long before I was. It's easy for him to chase off suitors when he has the entire Royal Guard and palace staff spying for him," Twilight sighed. "Only two were able to make it through; it didn't end well for anypony."
"Let me apologize on behalf of your brother and Applejack. Who would imagine you would both have such defensive siblings?" Rarity said.
"I still don't buy Applejack not being angry," Rainbow Dash said.
"Are you sure she knows everything?" Rarity asked.
"She said Big Macintosh told her of our plans and that she was happy for us," Twilight summarized. "I can't imagine what else she was talking about."
***
Twilight did not have the time to question Applejack, who upon arrival proceeded to take over Twilight kitchen and make three course meal. Twilight spent most of the evening reassuring a distraught Spike that Applejack wasn’t going to destroy his kitchen as she temporarily rearranged for her convenience. Twilight could not get Applejack's attention over the chorus of clinking cookware, cooking food, and splashing of utensils as they were tossed into the sink to soak. The purple mare knew that dinner was happening, but she was far from sure about the circumstances behind the dinner, and she didn’t want to question Applejack without solid information.
The dinner preparation passed quickly despite the long hours. As supper time approached, Twilight and Spike could not help but salivate over Applejack's fruit salad, nut roast, and apple pie.
A knock on the library door disrupted the cooking. "Sounds like Big Macintosh is here. Ah just got a few finishing touches on the nut roast," Applejack explained as she removed the nut roast from the oven and seasoned it one final time as it cooled.
Big Macintosh choose to do something different that night. After a long day of deliveries, farm work, and dragging Granny Smith’s table from the farm to the library, he wanted a kiss from his marefriend. She wouldn’t be expecting it, but everything would be fine. Applejack was no where to be found, and he hoped Twilight would appreciate the surprise. He decided to live in the moment as the library door opened to reveal Twilight.
“Big Macintosh-” Twilight began.
"Ah've missed you," Big Macintosh took Twilight into his embrace and planted one on her lips. He did not see her darting eyes, though he did regret his decision a little when he saw Spike in the background pretending to stick one of his claws down his throat.
"I'm not hungry any more. I'm going to Rarity's," Spike left the couple to their business, losing his appetite.
"What's wrong?" Big Macintosh asked a hyperventilating Twilight. Applejack appeared in the kitchen doorway, her shocked, pale face quickly turning red with anger.