Drawback
Macintosh sat grumbling to himself as he waited for the next train to Ponyville to come.
He couldn't believe Sin had actually left here with out him, what the buck? Yea, he'd been known to go off on his own from time to time, but this was freaking abandonment! He made a mental note to give a verbal flank chewing when he got back.
Sighing, the stallion looked at the far off clock tower than back at the train scheduled. He'd have to wait for the express to return after it had stopped at it's destination, which was a two hour trip both ways, but he didn't want to go back to the castle, and he didn't have much money at the moment, so entertainment in the city was out as well. Not much fur off his muzzle though, he didn't like the loudness or the constant pushing through the streets.
Mac preferred the quiet and peaceful lifestyle, his short time in Canterlot was enough to last him years. Why anypony would actually want to live in a place where the noise never stopped and ponies rudely pushed past you was beyond him. Differences of opinion and lifestyle choice was all he could chalk it up to.
As he sat in wait, his mind began to wander away from Sin and back to what he would do when he was home. Things hadn't really changed in his mind: Granny was still angry with him, his sister's would probably be nicer and the farm was still standing tall.
'You're really still thinking about going back, aren't you?'
Just for a while.
'Do we really need to have this conversation again?'
No, but I've decided that I don't want bad blood between me and my family.
'And what of-'
If Annebell doesn't want me around, then what? I'll have nothing at all. Besides, I've abandon them long enough. If they need me, I'm going to be there. End of conversation.
The voice didn't respond and Mac nodded his head in victory. Wait, what was that voice anyway? Wasn't it a sign of mental illness to talk to yourself? Or did that have to be out loud in order to count?
Still though, he'd thought long and hard about it. As much as he resented his grandmother's words, he couldn't say she was wrong. What right did he have to sit in his father's chair after leaving? His pa was a stallion of hard work, loyalty, and discipline, not overly so, but he'd never been accused of being lazy.
While Mac selfishly left and abandoned his family for his own pursuits and desires...
As his mind drew more to his past, the current events grew irrelevant.
The few times Macintosh thought on his childhood, he always remembered his parents fondly. Unlike most where one was the strict and threatening enforcer while the other was the approachable empathetic soother, his were a bit of both when need be.
His mother was a listener. No matter how farfetched an idea or how bad a day, she was there to lend a compassionate ear and kind words. Her voice was a soft and melodious song that only served to be complimented by the accent the family uniformed, as well as her sunset orange eyes that would melt the heart of an old cynic if looked into.
For all of that, she was anything but lenient though. Those blazing orbs of compassion and courage could quickly turn into raging infernos capable of sending the same cynic running home in tears. One of her more mixed qualities was the mare's inability to stay out of the business of those in her family.
With her around, problems never stayed buried long, and neither did secrets.
His father was a bit more apathetic most of the time, kinda like Macintosh was. Always had a somber look and feel to him that most would mistake for simple minded. That was the male part of the families biggest offset, the ability to surprise others due to their own underestimations. His Pa handled most of the more scholarly inclined works: Finances, books, product inventory and so on.
His own methods of child raising were a great deal different than Macintosh's mother. He believed in Team Unit or group punishment and reward rather than individual. Let the peers work out the problems they were having amongst themselves instead of butting in at every chance. His reasoning was always the same: "The farm'll only do 's good 's tha slowes' pony on it."
The apple stallion had always thought it unfair, being punished for his sister's mistakes and vice versa, but now with his parents gone, the lessons really helped he and his sister work a great deal better together.
Put the two of them together in a situation, heads would roll. It was the only time he remembered being legitimately afraid of them. Whenever he or Applejack would get in trouble his mother had a tendency to play Nicey-nice while his father would just stare with indifference. In the beginning, it would be serine words of comfort and understanding so long as admission of guilt and cooperation were given. If it wasn't... Things happened, bad things.
Oh boy, he'll never forget the time he'd had the great idea to put the family pig into Applejack's bed while she slept. Or the woopin he got for acting so proud of it. Side note, totally worth it.
His nostalgic daze was broken by a voice calling his name. He looked over and silently groaned as Princess Luna approached him on the platform, the few ponies present already on their knees to her royal appearance.
"Macintosh, we demand an explanation as to your unannounced departure." She said firmly.
Reluctantly, the stallion explained how some orange mare had found him in the dinning hall and told him that Sin had returned to Ponyville with out him.
She never told him why he left, but Mac would find out soon enough.
"Well, that's all well and good, however..." Luna stopped in her words, her face loosing it's authority for a mask of nervousness and self doubt. "We- I would like to apologize, for what happened at dinner last night." She sighed. "I had no right to go behind your back as we did."
Mac frowned. It was something he'd been trying to bury into the back of his mind, considering what all was going on.
'Aww, how cute. After trying to use you for her sexual means, she's come to apologize. Ten bits says she wants you to come back to the palace.'
"Not gonna lie, I don' like feelin' used." The stallion replied.
He wasn't sure if he was going to forgive her. While it was a fact he was being used, it's not like he even offered protection in the first place; it wasn't even on his mind. What right would he have to be upset if he did end up having a foal with her? After all, it took two to tango.
"I hope you shall consider accepting our apologies."
Before he could decide one way or another, a loud scream blared through teh air, causing the two ponies to look. to the other side of the platform. A group of ponies were looking down from the walls that surrounded the capital to the lower hillsides. "MOMMY! DADDY!" A mare called.
As the two approached to investigate, they caught small murmurs laced with fear and uncertainty. When the two finally got a view over the stone balcony of the tram station, Mac's heart skipped a bet. Ponyville was close enough to be seen from where they were, not in great detail, but enough to make out the individual buildings. However, there was something there. Something big, purple and very very angry.
What ever it was, it roared loud enough for the entire train station to hear it.
"What in my sister name?" Luna gasped.
Macintosh squinted his eyes, there was something that seemed a bit familiar about the creature.
His green eyes shot wide with an audible gasp. "Spike!"
"Spike?" The moon goddess repeated, "oh my, that is Spike!" Suddenly, her horn began to glow, releasing a star filled dark blue aura that began to expand until she and Macintosh were consumed, then in a flash of bright light, they were gone.
In a flash, the two reappeared in Ponyville's market district..
Getting over the disorientation and nausea, Mac took in the town. It didn't look too bad. Most of the buildings were still intact and the noise was limited. However, the over half the stands in the market lay in ruin piles of wood, tarp and product.
Another roar broke his observation and he looked to west bluff to find the purple monstrosity pick a pony up in it's massive claws. The apple farmer's eyes constricted. "Sin!" he breathed before bolting off to help his friend. Luna had said something, but the adrenaline and fear pumping through his being pushed him to run regardless.
When he'd gotten closer, he found his sister and her friends gathered about debating amongst each other. "Macintosh!" His sister yelled.
"Wha' in tarnation 'r ya doin' Spike?!" Mac yelled walking past the mares.
Spike's attention never shifted to the stallion, it was to fixated on the pony in it's massive claws. That is, until a dark, ethereal blue alicorn placed itself directly in front of his face. The dragon looked down at her, perplexed to the beings sudden appearance.
"SPIKE!" Luna bellowed in the Royal Canterlot voice. "We demand you cease this rampage immediately. And release the pony within thine grasp!"
Spike's eyes went from confused to fearful in an instant. His grip on Sin loosened and the pony fell limply to the ground.
The grounded ponies ran over to check on Sin's condition. There were small bits of blood scattered along his cloak where the drakes claws had pierced flesh. His cross bows lay broken in splinters, some of which had been forced into his body and cloak. Luckily, small raises from his ribs indicated that he was still alive.
"Is he alright?" Twilight asked in concern.
"Sin?" Mac shook him fruitlessly. The Federalist was out cold.
Mac clenched his jaw, how could Spike do this? He almost killed a pony who'd been nothing helpful to him. Confusion, pain, anger over betrayal, the emotions were endless. But all that had to wait, Sin was hurt, Spike was on a rampage and Shade... wait, where was the night pony in all of this?
Luna had herded Spike away from the injured pony, but couldn't control him when he turned around and began running away.
"Get back here!" Luna bellowed giving chase.
A sudden slamming into her side caused the princess of the night to lose her balance for a moment, though quickly recover to find a pegasus flying above her. "How dare you!?"
The black batpony smirked down at her. "I dare in revenge, beast."