Chapter 4
Big Mac ran. He ran hard and relentless, until his lungs felt like burning charcoal. And still, he kept running. Don’t look back. Don’t look back. Do anything ‘cept look back. His legs were tired, but Mac ignored them. If ah can just make it back to the house, he told himself, ah can.... HIs thought was interrupted by a loud grinding noise. He turned his head involuntarily to face whatever made the sound. Mac tripped, falling down and sliding into his front porch.
The ground shook under the massive feet of his attacker. Each impending step spelled doom, as Big Mac trembled in place. As his attacker broke the horizon, the sky bled a deep maroon. Try as he might, Mac couldn’t stand up. As his assailant drew closer and closer, the shadows around it disappeared, showing its ghastly figure.
Mother of Celestia....is that a, boiler? The mechanical monstrosity stopped at Mac’s hooves, roaring through it’s fire grate while emitting flaming coals. It reached out, grabbing Macintosh with it’s water hose and started constricting him. The boiler welled up, glowing a orange-red hue and started to crack at the seams.
Big Mac jolted up sweating buckets. Breathing hard, he laid back down and watched his ceiling. He’d been having this nightmare for the last few days. He wasn’t particularly scared of another explosion. The family had to buy a new boiler, so that was not a worry anymore. And he didn’t feel traumatized because of it either. Hassled would be a better word. It was weird, that was true. And he hated the fact that this was done without his consent. But the actual mechanics of it all, well, he just tried not to think about them. Why does this keep happening?
In twenty minutes, a ray of sunlight shined through Mac’s bed-side window. Illuminating the room, this was a sign that it was time for Mac to get up. He was used to early rising, having done it his entire life. But this day, he wished he’d have a little more time to sleep. Ah’m gonna need all the strength ah can muster, if miss Dash is really the athlete she says she is.
Finally out of bed, Mac walked downstairs and into the kitchen. It had a rustic look, like the rest of the house, but because of the most recent zap apple season and it's financial returns, it sported more modern equipment. He made his way to the fridge, grabbing a glass of apple juice and some leftover oatmeal from the night before. Mac sat down at the table, wondering what challenges his new training partner would throw at him. Applejack walked around the corner soon after. Most mornings, AJ was up later than Mac. He usually prepared the day’s work, liking to get a head start. With AJ being involved in so many adventures as the Elements of Honesty, Mac let her sleep in more and more recently.
AJ sat, staring at Mac intently. She watched him at he slowly eat, trying to find the right words to ask him. Mac wasn’t touchy about most things, that was for sure. But AJ needed to make sure that Mac knew what to expect when training with Rainbow Dash.
“Um, Big Mac, Can ah talk to ya?”
“Course, AJ. What’d ya’ll wanna talk about?”
“Well, today’s your first day working with Rainbow, right?”
“Eeyup.”
“Ah want ya’ll to know what you’re gettin‘ in to.”
Mac leaned forward, interested in what she had to say. Mac knew a little about Applejack’s friend. Mostly that she was a hothead who couldn’t be humble if her wings depended on it. She’s good friends with AJ, so she’s gotta have some good qualities as well. AJ don’t always agree with everypony, so if she can get along with somepony like miss Dash, than ah think ah can handle it.
“Rainbow’s prolly the most competitive pony ah’ve ever met. She’ll go full bore on ya till you’re ready ta past out. An‘ that’s when she makes it harder. This ain’t gonna be some picnic” said Applejack. “No matter how much ya’ll want it to be” she muttered under her breath.
“Whut exactly is that supposed to mean?” Mac asked his sister. She always acted weird whenever her friends were around him.
“Ohhh ah saw ya’ll on the porch” AJ smirked.
“What are ya blabberin’ on ‘bout? She crashed, and then we talked.”
AJ kept eyeing Big Mac, refusing to let up on her implications. “Sure Mac, an’ it just so happens that you’ll be practicing wit’ her almost ever day.” AJ’s smirk continued to grow. “You sly devil. If’n ya’ll were so interested...”
Mac stopped AJ right there. “AJ, first off, you know ah’m a gentlecolt an’ that ah’d never do anythin’ like that. Secondly, Ah’m not interested in Dash. Ah barely know her. She’s the one who asked to be mah coach in the first place.”
Applejack was truly stunned by this development. She really did trust her brother, but he always seemed to be so suave when it came to mares, she’d just assumed this was Mac pulling the same tricks again. “Come on, Mac. You didn’t do anything? You bein‘ such a ladiescolt an’ all.”
Mac gave his sister a bewildered look and laughed. “Ladiescolt...AJ, ya’ll know somethin‘ ah don’t?”
“Well, it jus‘ seems that any time ya’ll converse with a mare, you could sell ‘em the whole orchard.”
“Maybe ah’m just a good salespony.”
AJ gave Big Mac a deadpan look. “Please, Mac. You barely say anything!”
Mac rubbed the back of his neck knowing he couldn’t worm his way out of this conversation. He couldn’t help it if mares gave him funny looks. It;s not like he asked for it. Seems to be a whole lot of trouble to me, he thought. Funny thing to be bothered by, though. Mac chuckled.
“AJ, ah know you’re jus‘ lookin’ out for your friend, but you wont get any trouble from me. All ah’m focused on is gettin‘ used to.....all this.” Big Mac looked down at his hooves. “What do ya’ll think we’re actually gettin‘ into?” His voice took a somber tone. “If the princesses are involved, it’s gotta be somethin‘ big, right?”
AJ thought about what Forrester had said the day they left. “Gotta figure that doctor friend of his is involved somehow. Ponies don’t just disappear, especially when under Celestia’s watch.” AJ shook her head. “Ah don’t rightly know, Mac.”
Big Mac nodded, putting on a small smile. He could see how worried AJ was, even though she tried to hide it. “I wouldn’t worry to much. Ah don’t think the princess would send me an‘ Soarin‘ inta a situation without some kinda backup.”
This seemed to cheer Applejack up. The rest of their breakfast was eaten in silence. Mostly. Just before Mac left to start his daly chores, one certain blue-haired pegasus stumbled into the kitchen from his guest room down the hall. “Sorry I’m late” he sputtered. “I was just having the most wonderful dream.” He stared off into some unknown void, hoping to recapture only a moment of the bliss he experienced in that dream.
“Awww, that’s sweet, Soarin’. But if ya’ll the genuine article, you know ah’m right down the hall.” AJ said with a seductive tone. Mac glared at AJ. She smiled back, winking at him. Realizing Applejack’s true intentions, Mac laughed under his breath and headed out the door, ready to start the day’s work.
Meanwhile, Soarin‘ was trying to retrieve his lower jaw from the floor of Sweet Apple Acres‘ kitchen. He just looked at AJ, his eyes wide with shock,also showing a little bit of hope. “W-w-what was that?” His cheeks were more red than a fully bloomed empire apple. “Are you serious?” His shock turned to excitement, his wings involuntarily flaring.
AJ couldn’t contain herself any longer. She fell out of her chair, laughing so hard her sides hurt. “Hahaha.....ah, Soarin’......you’re...just...too easy” AJ managed while trying to breath.
Soarin’s grin dropped quickly. “Let’s just get started.”
AJ got up and walked outside with Soarin’. “Quit yer moping” said Applejack. “I was only teasing ya’ll.”
“I know” said Soarin’. That’s exactly the problem. AJ trotted ahead, getting ready to start chores with Soarin’. She had been using daily farmwork as a means of strengthening Soarin’s new legs. AJ decided that today was going to be slightly different.
“Okay, today we’re gonna have us a little race.”
Soarin’s ears perked up at the word. “A race, you say? You sure you want to do this? I mean, it’s not like it’s my job or anything.” Soarin’s words were laced with sarcasm. It’s been awhile since I’d faced any kinda competition, he thought. Hay, I haven’t even talked to any wonderbolts since I woke up. Can’t tell if that’s good or bad yet...
“Yup, Ah think a race could do you some good” said Applejack. She trotted into the barn, pulling two carts filled with assorted farming equipment behind her. Attaching one to herself and one to Soarin’, she lined up with him.
“I thought you said we were having a race?” he said.
“Ohhh we are. This equipment is all broke, an‘ we hafta take it into town. The first one to Flank’s and Plank’s wins!”. With that, AJ put hoof to dirt and sped off in direction of ponyville. Soarin’, left in the dust, raced after her, a mile-wide grin across his face.
Big Mac inspected his yolk, which was dusty from non-use. By his figures, it was about time his old accessory was put back into rotation. As he put it on, he heard a screeching sound outside of the barn. “Huh, wonder who that might be” he muttered with a smirk. Mac grabbed his saddlebags and walked outside, where an unusually excited Rainbow Dash awaited him.
“So, you ready?” The look of contest was strewn across Dash’s face.
“Ah suppose” Mac drawled in his usual demeanor.
“Oh, come on! Give me some emotion. This is gonna be fun!”
Mac stared at her. He was excited to finally have something to do, but his was a quiet enthusiasm. Mac tended to show it differently than most other ponies.
“Eeyup.”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “Just follow me, Big.” Dash slowly flew to the edge of Sweet Apple Acres with Big Mac in tow. As they neared the Everfree forest, Mac grew increasingly suspicious.
“Where exactly are ya’ll taking me? We’re, a...gettin‘ a bit close to the forest.”
“What are you, scared?” Dash laughed at the thought of the giant stallion trembled because of a bit of wilderness.
“Ah ain’t scared! Ah jus‘ don’t like bein‘ led somewhere without mah knowledge.”
“Surrre, Big.” Dash put on her best baritone. “Ah don’t like adventure. Only apples and apple accessories.” She looked back at Big Mac. “You need to get out more.”
Mac laughed. “Well, ah can‘t argue wit‘ ya on that one.” The duo traveled for another 15 minutes through the forest.
“So, where are ya’ll actually taking me?” Mac was getting impatient.
Dash was weaving in and out of Everfree’s flora, whereas Mac seemed to be having a harder time, breaking branches and causing general dismay for the plants around him. “I’m taking you.....riiight......here.” Rainbow pulled back the bushes in front of her, revealing a small canyon. It held a lake nearest to them, with a cave opposite them. Mac looked down into the canyon. He could see dirt path that ran down into the valley, as well as slalom pegs, a dirt track, and various other training equipment.
Big Mac sat and placed his bags down, surveying the wonder before his eyes. Ta think, there’s been such a beautiful place in the middle of all this wilderness. Rainbow Dash strutted up next to him, giggling at the ridiculous face he making.
“So, I take it your impressed?” Dash had a hint of arrogance in her voice which Big Mac promptly ignored. “I found this place when I first started seriously training for the Wonderbolts. Me and Fluttershy just got out of flight school.” Mac turned to watch Rainbow recall the memory with great candor. “I was trying to re-create my first sonic rainboom.” Dash leapt into the air, shooting her hooves straight forward, emulating her traditional flight position.
“I started my descent, and at that time I, a...didn’t quite have it down.” Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck; she normally didn’t talk easily about her failures. “I crashed into the lake down there. When I surfaced, I...guess I found this place.” She scanned the area, and a proud smile grew on her face. She hovered back to earth, landing next to Mac. “I’ve been adding pieces to it ever since.”
Big Mac smiled at Rainbow. The pride she had over this place reminded him of his sister, and the pride she had over the farm. Yes, it was technically Granny Smith’s, and she split most of the farmwork with Mac. But Applejack was the passion behind their small homestead. She had the drive, the hunger for success behind their farm. Mac was... content with it. He loved his family, and he loved farmwork. But Mac never developed the same passion that Applejack did.
“Ah gotta hand it to ya miss Dash. This place looks a mighty fine place to train.”
“Exactly my point, Big.”
“Ok, Ah gotta ask. What’s with ‘Big’? Not that I ain’t one fer nicknames...”
“Well, in flight school, most students got nicknames, so I figured you might as well get one too.”
“What was yours, miss Dash?”
Rainbow tensed up at Mac’s question. Chants of “Rainbow Crash” echoed through her mind. “That’s not important” she responded curtly.
Touchy subject, thought Big Mac. “Sorry ah asked, miss Dash.”
“Don’t worry about it, Big.” Rainbow composed herself quickly. “Okay, lesson one: Stop with the ‘miss’ stuff. Do I look like Rarity to you?”
“Eenope.”
“Didn’t think so...”
“Rarity’s MUCH prettier...”
Dash checks flared as she scowled Mac. Dash wasn’t one to care about things as trivial as beauty, but for some reason unknown to her, Mac’s comment struck a chord in her. “Pppsssshhh! .....are you kidding me? Rarity’s so frou-frou, she probably can’t even handle a REAL stallion. Granted, she’s got a nice coat, not to mention her mane, but....”
Rainbow broke away from her tirade long enough to notice Big Mac laughing under his breath. Tying to suppress it, Mac peeked over at Rainbow, noticing the crimson her face was displaying. He broke into a deep laugh.“You’re...really....too easy, Rainbow.”
Rainbow’s scowl quickly faded into a devilish grin as a plan unfolded in her mind. “Ohhh, so I see I’ve got a wise-flank on my hooves. I think it’s time for lesson two.” Rainbow slid behind Macintosh, who until now hadn’t noticed how close he was to the edge of the canyon. He peered down, seeing only water below him. He lost himself in the depth of the canyon, becoming oblivious to the plan of revenge Rainbow Dash was laying out.
“Gee, that sure is one heck of a faAAAAAhhhhh.....” It was too late. Rainbow kicked Mac directly on his cutie mark, hitting a leg nerve, jumping Mac out of his daydream, and propelling him forward into the canyon. Macintosh fell like a hammer to an anvil, climaxing with a splash Pinkie would be proud of. Dash grabbed Mac’s saddlebags and glided down to the water edge, laughing all the way. This only intensified when Big Mac surfaced with a fish atop his head.
“Damn it, Rainbow! That’s a 30 foot drop!” Mac shouted.
“Good. Shouting is good.” Dash said with a smile. “Now, ask yourself something. Did that drop scare you?”
Mac paused in the middle of his thoughts. Huh. Wasn’t quite ready fer that one. “Ah...ah suppose it did” he said sheepishly.
“If I brought you up there and pushed you again, would you still be scared?”
“Most likely, no. Ah mean, ah already did it once an’ turned out fine.”
“Exactly. Lesson two: No fear. If I’m gonna prepare you for whatever he princesses have in store, you have to be able to get over any kind of barrier, physical or psychological. Also, why the hay are you looking at me like that?”
Mac was stared at Rainbow Dash with the kind of face Applebloom would give to a calculus problem. Mac shook himself from his stupor after he realized what he was doing. “Sorry, just thought ah was training with Rainbow Dash. Not miss Sparkle.”
Rainbow scoffed at Mac’s joke. “Just get out of the water. Shows what I get for tryin’ to be helpful.”
Mac trotted out, carefully placing the fish occupying his mane before he exited. He followed Rainbow, who stopped in front of Mac’s first hurdle. Which turned out to actually be a hurdle. She adjusted it to sit at the height of Mac’s shoulders.
“So, mah first challenge is gonna be...jumping? Seems a bit easy, don’t ya think?”
Rainbow looked at Mac, her smiled growing with each word. Mac suddenly realized what a mistake he had just made. She walked up to Mac, placing his saddlebags back into his back. Mac shifted his legs, redistributing the weight on his back. “Is that all, Rainbow?” said Mac with a smirk.
Dash matched his grin with one of her own. “Ohhh, big shot, huh?” Rainbow leapt onto Mac’s back, grabbing his yoke like a pair of reigns. Mac grumbled. “What do ya’ll think you’re doin’?”
“Adding weight.”
“C’mon, Rainbow. This is just degradin’.”
“Less talky. More jumpy.” With that, Dash jammed her rear hooves into Mac’s ribs. He instinctively reared back and ran at the hurdle. Mac leaped, hoping he wouldn’t regret opening his mouth.
Mac felt his head hit something soft, though he didn’t open his eyes to see what. The texture felt slightly moist with an organic smell, so he could only assume it was grass. He sprawled on the ground, panting heavily. Rainbow Dash had him at this hurdle for hours. Every time Mac passed one, she would raise the bar slightly higher. After he crashed the fifth time in a row, she decided to give him a slight boost. Rainbow would grab ahold of Mac’s chest, thrusting downward with her wings. Right now, she was attempting to get Mac back on his hooves.
“Jeez, Mac! Heavy, much? You really gotta lay off the apple pie” Dash commented as she jammed her shoulder under Mac’s, trying to prop him back onto his feet.
“Buut....Ah make the pie. Ah gotta make sure it’s edible.”
“Mac, that was a joke.”
“Oh, right. Well, buckin’ apples ain’t for the faint o’ heart or body. Anyways, It‘s not like Ah was actually meant to fly.”
Dash jumped off Mac. He looked up, seeing that she was giving him a stern look. Mac sat up, as straining as it was on his back. He looked back into Dash’s eyes, noticing a slight bit of concern.
“Big...you’ve been given something thousands of ponies dream of. You get to see how the other side lives. Why are you so against this?”
Mac sighed, and inhaled deeply. He didn’t like explanations, but when they were necessary, Mac could articulate one well enough. “Dash.....” He tried to think of a way to explain his situation.
“Ya’ll are the the fastest flier in Equestria, accordin’ to ma sis. You live by your wings. Try to image wakin’ up one day with a horn instead of them.” Mac gestured at Rainbow’s wings.
“Mac, that’s totally different. You didn’t lose anything!”
“The principle’s the same. Ah jus’....woke up with these things. They didn’t even really explain ‘em to me!” Mac looked at his back, slightly fearing the tech under it. “Ah don’t even know what they do.”
“Mac, they’re wings. They fly.”
“Ya’ll know what ah mean.”
Rainbow put a hoof on Mac’s shoulder, making him swivel around to face her. She had a sincere look on her face. “Mac, that’s what I’m here for” she said, smiling. Big Mac smiled back. He was still a bit nervous about it all, but Dash’s genuine want to help him made Mac feel a little bit better.
“C’mon, it’s getting late. We should probably head back.” Dash headed off in front of Mac, trotting up the path leading back to Sweet Apple Acres. Mac gladly followed her, ready for a good night’s sleep.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
No...NO. Git back!
Mac tossed and turned, jutting his legs through his bottom bedpost. His eyes shot open. He’d had that dream again. Damn it, can‘t Ah get a decent amoun’ a sleep, ONCE!. He stared into his pillow, hoping to regain some peace of mind, and maybe drift back off into Luna’s greatest creation. As he lay, Mac thought about the past week. Everyday, after his chores were finished, Dash would stop by the farm, and the two would venture through Everfree to Rainbow’s training area. She dubbed it the “Danger Chasm”, because it sounded cool. Mac thought it sounded silly, like something out of one of his old adventure books, but who was he to judge.
Mac turned around, staring up at the ceiling. Ah’m gonna hafta fix that...thinking about his newly damaged bed. Although his didn’t fully agree with Dash’s coaching method, he had to admit, she got results. Dash would work him into the ground, dust him off, and then do it again. It was a routine that Mac greatly disliked at first. That changed when he shattered the first tree he bucked since he started training. With a little work, he was able to tame his new found strength. Mac figured he was lucky he didn’t take the entire wall out with his bed. Damn metal legs, hope I never gotta tighten a rivet or somethin’.
Damn, Ah wish Ah coulda started working out with Rainbow early. Ah reckon we could finish harvest in half the time now. Mac sat up, his wandering mind not allowing for sleep. He trotted into the kitchen, wanting to grab small meal for himself. He walked into the kitchen to find a light blue pegasus sitting at the table.
“Howdy, Soarin’.”
“Hey, Mac. Early riser, huh?” he asked.
“Comes wit’ being on a farm. How ‘bout yourself? If ya’ll go by miss Dash’s standard’s, you’d think pegasi sleep 18 hours a day.”
Soarin’ shrugged. “Same reason you’ve got, really. Wonderbolt practices start early. Spitfire says the cold air is good for our wings.”
Mac raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Spitfire?”
“Oh, she’s our captain. Old friend.” Soarin‘ sad quickly. If Mac noticed the awkward look Soarin’ had after talking about Spitfire, he didn’t show it.
“Ya’ll hungry?”
“Starved” answered Soarin’.
Mac grabbed some leftover apple oatmeal, serving himself and Soarin’. The two sat there quietly, both revealing in the small break their days seemed to be missing of late. Soarin’ looked up from his food at Mac.
“So, you started working with Rainbow Dash?” Soarin’ asked.
“Eeyup.”
“I, uh, bet she runs ya pretty hard, huh?” Soarin’ grinned.
“Eeyup.”
“Must be pretty rough; you two working your tails off. In the woods. Alone.” Soarin winked, adding to his already obvious implications. Well, obvious to everypony but Big Mac.”
“Huh?” Mac looked at Soarin’, utterly confused on what was going on.
“Oh, I see. Not one to kiss and tell?”
“Ah literally have no idea what ya’ll are talking ‘bout.”
“All I’m saying is, she’s an amazing flier. And flying takes a lot of energy. That energy can be spent in more than one way, know what I’m sayin’?”
“No. Ah really, really don’t”.
There one sided conversation was ended by a knock at the door. Mac opened it to reveal a royal guard, with a sky carriage parking in front of the rustic house. Two other guards stood attached to the carriage.
“Mr. Apple? Mr. Soarin’?” The two nodded their heads in recognition.
“There appears to be an...incident. I am to take you to her majesty’s palace at once.”
Soarin’s eyes widened at the news. “Do you know what happened?” he asked.
“I’m not at liberty to say. Regardless, I would appreciate it if you would process with haste.”
Mac looked at the guard. “Ah just wanna let mah family know Ah’m leaving.”
The guard gave him a look of understanding. Mac ran upstairs, letting Applejack know where he and Soarin‘ where headed, and giving Granny Smith and Applebloom a quick kiss. Mac headed downstairs, where Soarin’ seemed to be tried his best to make the royal guard break his stoic character.
“So...there’s a donkey, a dragon, and a pony. The three walk into a barn...no, wait is was a bakery....anyway, the punchline is that the dragon....”
“Soarin’.” Mac was not going to deal with this the entire ride to Canterlot.
“Yes, Mac?”
“Don’t ya’ll think this is a time to serious the buck up?”
“R-right. Sorry, Mac.”
“Don’t mention it.” With that, the two entered the sky carriage, and the royal guards took off towards Canterlot. Soarin‘ and Mac stood there, anxious of the possibilities that lay ahead of them.
A/N: Hey, everyone. Just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful feedback. You guys are awesome! Next chapter is going to contain some action. Finally, right? So enjoy, and prepare for a beatdown next time!