//------------------------------// // Brotherly Love // Story: Big Mac's Vacation: Canterlot. // by MoltenXKid //------------------------------// “Last call for mail! Last call for mail!!” bellowed the Pegasus mail courier “Wait! I have a letter to be delivered to Sweet Apple Acres!” Yelled back Mac. “Good timing, I was just about to leave.” The sun was about to set as Big Macintosh handed the letter to the courier. The courier gladly took the letter, and then took his leave. Soon his letter would be in his sister’s hooves and he couldn't wait for a reply. No, he couldn't wait for the vacation to be over. It wasn't that he didn't like where he was or he hated being an agent. It was the fact he missed the farm. It was only day three of his vacation and he already was suffering from withdrawal form lack of farm work. Mac walked from the postal office alone. He dwelled on his thoughts until a brown unicorn bumped into him. Mac didn't fall, but the lanky unicorn hit the ground spilling the belongings of his satchel. Being polite, Mac offered his hoof out to the unicorn, and then began picking up the spilt cargo. “Sorry about that.” Mac apologized. He picked up a folder “Here let me give ya a hand.” “Yeah yeah…justhandmeeverythingquickly!” rushed the unicorn in his croaky voice as he snatched the folder away. “Oh…” “Thank you.” The unicorn said as he hurriedly walked away. “No problem…and keep the bits.” “Huh? What do you mean?” “Ah know ya took three bits from ma satchel when we collided. Ah’ see em shining in your hooves. I don’t need em, so keep em.” The unicorn just stared Mac in the eyes before running off. Mac waved then continued to walk. Once again, he became lost in his thoughts.Being in Canterlot was the furthest he had been from home. While his younger sister had been all over Equestria.He was proud of her for traveling and saving the world multiple times, but to him, Sweet Apple Acres felt like home. He wasn't designed to be able to survive anywhere else besides a farm. He breathed the farm, lived the farm…He was the farm and likewise. He honestly didn't know what else was out in the world unless in was in the confines of Ponyville and the farm. It wasn't the fact that he was afraid of the world…it was more along the lines of he didn't want to know.. Macintosh was content with the world he knew and grew up in. “Watch where you’re going you big oaf!” someone yelled. “Eeyup...” The Equestrian Intelligence Agency…was it really for him? A regular farm pony. He had seen more, and done more in the past three days than he had done in the rest of his life and he sort of didn't like it. Yes, he was doing it for the better good, yet what about the better good of his family? Applejack said her friends were helping with the farm in his absence, but what would happen if he never came back? What would have happened if Azure had really finished the job or another mission sends Mac to the grave? Applejack’s friends had lives of their own and couldn't help with chores for long before having to return to their personal affairs. Of course, more Apple family would come to help, but they also have to return to their own lives. Mac didn't want to elevate his importance, but without him, the farm would fail…actually…without any of the Apple family the farm would fail. Mac thought and remembered something. He was being paid a stipend. It was enough to hold his family indefinitely, yet he knew for a fact they wouldn't like it. Ever since the beginning of his heritage, it had been instilled into the blood of his family to never accept something unless you worked for it. Even if the bits would help, his family would simply return them. They would rather let the farm die out than to accept charity. Mac couldn't help but smirk. The truth was…he would too. Mac continued walking only looking up every so often to make sure he was walking in the right direction to…to…he didn't really know where he was going. He simply was walking until a firm tap caught his attention. “Hey…uh Mac? Remember me?” "You’re Shining Armor, right? Miss. Twilight’s brother?” Mac asked. “Yeah…” “So..uh…what are ya doing out?” “Well, Princess Cadence forced me to come to vacation here and Celestia won’t let me perform any of my old duties. She was pissed when I arrived at the bank and rescued you. Anyway I'm just wandering around town bored.” “I didn't need rescuing. I had the entire situation under control.” “You were lying on the bank floor with paralysis, and Azure was charging his attack. It would have been game over if I hadn't heroically saved your flank.” Mac just snorted at the response. But he knew what Shining was saying was all true. Mac accepted his defeat and started to say farewell to Shining only to be interrupted by him. “Hey dude. Wanna hang out some? I’m not trying to sound needy or anything, but I’m bored.” Shining stated. “Hmm…” It only took a second for Mac to decide, “Alright, so where were you headed?” “Uhh I was just wandering around then I saw you. Where were you headed?” “I was just wandering around until you came to talk to me.” “Well let’s wander together!” And wander they did. Two stallions went around Canterlot with no specific destination in mind. The conversations ranged from food to mares that passed them both by. The conversations about mares would quickly cease when Shining remembered he was married. A weird event happened to each as stallion. A government official, which neither could name, burst through the middle of them while holding a folder. After the event, each stallion talked about home and work: Macintosh with the farm and his family’s closeness and Shining with the military and his wife. They were getting to become pretty good friends when Shining brought up a serious topic. “Hey Mac…can I ask you something?” Shining asked in voice low. “Yeah. Ask away.” Mac said. He went to purchase a box of donuts from a nearby store. He offered one to Shining who refused and sat on a nearby bench. Mac followed suite. “Uh…I’m not sure how to ask this, but how do you deal with the fact that your younger sister constantly saves the world while you sit a home?” “Not sure I understand.” Shining looked at the donuts and took a chocolate one. “It’s like…I’m the older brother. I’m supposed to protect Twilight when bad things happen. Now, after many years of being apart, she has saved the world numerous times while I just married her baby sitter.” Mac thought a while before responding. He sat contemplating while Shining waited for a response. “You’re thinking about it the wrong way.” Mac explained, “I once felt the same about my sister, Applejack. When we found out she was the Element of Honesty, Oh, we always knew there was something special about her. Anyway, I always protected her even though she never needed it. From fruit bats that chased her to bullies who made fun of her accent, I was there. Then one day, Nightmare Moon appeared. To be honest, I didn't even know; I was sleep. When I woke up, Princess Luna was back and Applejack was one of the heroes of Equestria.” Shining looked up from his slouched position; a confused look plastered on his face. Mac caught on to this look and decided to get to the point. “After that, Applejack started to become the one to save me instead of the other way around. Of course, I felt how you do, but then I started to feel better.” “Why? Tell me!” “Because I started to see my little sister mature. Broke out of that young filly I used to protect and became her own mare. She no longer needed me and I could accept that. You should too.” “Ehh…but it's the fact that I always protected her and now the tables have turned. It's hard to accept it.” “Look, Shining. It doesn't matter who’s protecting who. You guys are family. That’s all that matters…or you could start a “who saved who” the most contest which I say she is in the lead by a landslide.” “Wait! I protected her from the monster in her closet!”Shining said with pride. Mac just deadpanned and stated the obvious,“Yep…and she defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Chrysalis…need I go on?” “Nah…” The conversation ended with that. Each stallion was silence as they sat in one another’s company. Time passed slowly and the donuts disappeared along with it. Stars started appearing and the moon began to replace the sun. Shining stayed in his slouched position and Mac could only hope his words made a difference. After a while, Shining rose and stretched. “It was nice hanging out with a cool stallion for once. In my opinion all the royal guards are boring and share the same opinion. Hopefully, I’ll see you around.” Shining put out his hoof for a hoof shake. Mac firmly grabbed Shining’s hoof and shook. “I’m pretty sure our paths will cross again. And you’re pretty cool yourself.” With that, the stallions went there different ways: Mac to the castle and Shining to wherever. While walking, Mac heard something hit the ground and trot to him. He had a fairly good Idea who it was, so he didn't turn around. Simply, let her have her fun. “Ugh! You still haven’t noticed I’m walking beside you!” Hushed yelled, “You really suck as an agent!” “AH!!” The poor red stallion jumped into the air and landed on his haunches. A good deal of theatrics placed into the moves, “When did you get her, Hush?” “I've been beside you awhile. You have to improve.” she sighed, “So what were you and Shining talking about?” “Brotherly stuff.” He decided not to question how she knew about Shining. “Is that so? Anyway, it’s getting late and we need to get back the castle. Give me a doughnut.” Hush commanded as she snatched the doughnut box away. “We?” “Yes. WE. Now move before I knock you back to Ponyville…ugh…these donuts suck.”