//------------------------------// // Anniversary // Story: Arrived at Dusk // by aliengirlguy //------------------------------// Chapter 16: Anniversary. During and after the events from episode "Lesson Zero" same night… Big Macintosh was in a bind. It was exactly one year ago today that Dusk had first arrived in town. To his surprise, no other pony seemed to be aware of the date, and at first, he thought perhaps ponies didn't celebrate such things, but then after he asked Granny that morning if one year anniversaries were something important, she had told him that they plum were, and anypony with a lick of sense should remember (then she went off into a ramble about Grandpappy Apple which he ignored). He figured that maybe the other ponies had just forgot. He probably only remembered because the events that lead to their meeting, and the subsequent secret the two of them shared because of it; perhaps just made it more significant for him then it did for other ponies? This conclusion had not reassured him any, but since Granny said it was important, he better figure something out. Granny had informed him, after her ramble, that one year anniversaries were celebrated with things like good food, a gift, and sometimes a party. Big Macintosh did not think that the last option would be appreciated, considering how much Dusk tried to avoid such things as parties, unless he was forced to attend out of politeness, kidnapping, or it was good for business. In fact, the only party he had ever seen him willingly attend was a friends' birthday, like his own last month. Big Macintosh looked down at the simple, but sturdy chain which held a pocket watch magicked to be near indestructible so he could wear it while he worked. It even had his cutie mark engraved on the cover. His present from Dusk, he remembered how the other had awkwardly blushed and hoped that he would like it. Big Macintosh had not taken it off since. Big Macintosh and Pinky Pie, much to Dusk's annoyance, had tried to find out when the pony's birthday was some time ago, but the pony had primly told them that he didn't celebrate his birthday. Macintosh had not pushed the matter, though Pinky Pie's efforts were most likely still ongoing. The Anniversary, the first one, was important, and thus he couldn't just let it pass without something memorable, even if it wasn't a party; so he thought that it might be a good idea to work with the first two items: a cake and a present. Granny graciously offered to make him one of her patented Apple Strudel cakes for his "young stallion friend" though how she knew he meant Dusk in particular, he was uncertain, maybe she remembered it was the anniversary of his first year in Ponyville to? So food was taken care of, and he decided that hosting it at his place was important, as it was the place the two of them were properly introduced, and it was quieter and more private, which he knew Dusk would appreciate, so he spent the morning cleaning his rooms up and even freshening himself up. When he was done, he grabbed a bucket that was lying nearby and went in search of the second and most important item on his list. The present. That was where the trouble lay. No matter where he went, he couldn't seem to find anything right. Things like a new quill, books, and other practical things he associated with Dusk was something he already had. He wanted it to be something special, something unique to commemorate the occasion. Apples didn't cut it, he could already get tea ingredients for himself, and things like cloths and jewelry were not in Dusk's tastes as all he did was wear that creepy shawl of his. He was disconsolately wandering through the park when he saw the most amazing thing in the world while trying to help a rather frazzled Twilight Sparkle with his younger sister and her two friends who were fighting. The thing they were fighting over was the most beautiful, the most holy thing he had ever seen! It was perfect, and it was all his! His! The following period of time was rather foggy, and when he and the rest of the townsfolk came too, everyone was understandably a little confused and some, including Macintosh, unable to remember what had happened. He was also alarmed to note that his time was nearly up, having been spent doing…who knows what, and without a clue what to do he was close to giving up and perhaps sticking with just the cake after all when he spotted something lying on the ground. It was old and worn and not exactly…well, it wasn't fancy or nothing, but…he was desperate, and desperate stallions were want to do strange things as his pappy once told him when he was just a foal. He picked it up in his muzzle and galloped away excitedly. When he returned home, he found that Dusk had already arrived and was busy having tea with Granny, who winked at him as he snuck past the window. Macintosh quickly looked around and spotted a bright red tool box that his sister used for repair work. He unceremoniously dumped out the tools, dropped the present inside and tied a bit of rope around it in a sloppy bow. He stored it in his room, relieved to see the cake waiting on the table, and galloped back down to the main house and panting, he sauntered into the kitchen as casually as he could. Dusk paused in his conversation with Granny as he looked up and blinked when he got a look at Mac. "Are you alright Mac?" he asked in concern, noting the scuffled looking stallion who looked like he had been in a brawl all day long. "Oh, um, 'm fine…gopher," he said vaguely, making Dusk raise his brows in disbelief and Granny groan and slap her face with a hoof. 'Well, if the youngin' wasn't going to move things along…' Granny mentally sighed; being the matriarch of the clan was a full-time job at times. "Dusk dear, perhaps you should take my grandson back to his room, it looks like that…gopher, popped him a good one in the eye," Indeed Macintosh did have a sizable shiner over his right eye. "Of course!" Dusk said concernedly and patting Big Macintosh on the flank in sympathy, guided the other pony back to his rooms. When Dusk entered, he was startled by the sight of a simple but rather lovely and tasty looking cake with a single candle in the middle, though it was unlit. "Oh no! I forgot to light the candle!" Mac groaned as he tried to do just that, but as he was lightening the match, he tripped over the hidden present and accidentally set fire to the curtains... ...It escalated from that point. Ooo ooo ooo 1 hour later… The Apple family watched as Rainbow Dash busked the last raincloud over what had once been a burning barn, putting out the last of the flames. "What in tarnation happened?" Applejack yelled when she came galloping into the yard staring at the ruins of what had once been a mighty fine barn. Big Macintosh hung his head miserably. Rainbow Dash flew down with something clutched in her teeth. "Sorry big guy, I was only able to find one thing that wasn't completely ruined by the fire." Big Macintosh looked down and realized it was a slightly singed red tool box. "I…" his voice trailed off, and his lip actually wobbled about, much to his sister's horror, "I just wanted to celebrate m' friend's anniversary…but I ended up makin' things worse an' burned our barn down to boot!" "Oh Mac…" Dusk sighed, "you didn't have to..." "But Granny said that anniversaries were important, an…an' I thought it was important." "Anniversary? What anniversary?" Rainbow Dash asked; only to be smacked upside the head by Granny. "You youngin's! Always so busy you forget the important things like the anniversary of your friend's arrival into town!" Macintosh sighed and reached down and nudged the box towards Dusk, "Here, I didn't know what to get ya…but I can't let it pass without given' ya somethin'" Dusk levitated the box and opened it, staring inside. "Oh Mac, its perfect" he said softly, and then he turned and surprised Macintosh with a hug. The other ponies gathered around the box, peeked inside. "What! But that's- mph!" Dash's exclamation was quickly silenced by Applejack's hoof. In the box, one loose button eye of a plushie seemed to wink in the moonlight.