//------------------------------// // Pressin' On // Story: Stallions of Equestria: Adam's Apple // by mr lovecolt //------------------------------// Chapter Eight: Pressin' On The sun peeked over the horizon, revealing a line of ponies that wound all the way from the gate of Sweet Apple Acres to a point on a faraway hill. A pink tent stood at the front of the line, and as the door flap unzipped, a series of balloon animals popped out. Once they floated into the air, two manes followed suit—one pink and one rainbow-colored. “I-I can’t believe it,” Rainbow Dash said in awe. “I’m finally first in line.” Rainbow Dash rushed out of the tent and embraced the cider stand. Pinkie Pie hopped over to join her. “I know, right?” she replied. “Too bad that we’ll be too busy helping Applejack making the cider to get first dibs.” “I just can’t wait to taste that sweet, sweet—” Rainbow Dash shot Pinkie Pie an angry glare. “What did you say?” “Don’t you remember when the Flim Flam brothers came?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Applejack’s family broke records with their sales by making the cider on the same day they sold it.” Pinkie Pie drooled as she remembered the taste of the freshly made cider, not realizing that Rainbow Dash’s lips were quivering and her eyes were tearing as she stared at the empty stall. “And we all became honorary Apple Family members so we could help them keep up with the numbers,” Pinkie Pie continued, ignoring the sound of Rainbow Dash’s head as it banged against the wood. “So now, they make it on the same day so it is the freshest, and we all get to help them again. Isn’t that great?” “But…” Rainbow Dash whimpered as she trailed her hoof on the counter. “I was here first…” “And just think,” Pinkie Pie said as she reached over to give her friend a hug. “Now we get to help them every year!” Pinkie Pie hummed to herself as she pulled Rainbow Dash away from the stall by her tail. Rainbow Dash tried but failed to cling to the posts of the cider stand, and she watched in horror as the next pony in line smiled and moved ahead to the space she was standing in only moments ago. Pinkie Pie reached the front steps of the farmhouse, where she dropped Rainbow Dash on the ground with a thud. The front door opened and the Apple Family, both related and honorary, emerged. “Today’s the day,” Applejack said as she tipped her stetson. “Y’all ready?” “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Twilight Sparkle grinned and her horn glowed. A scroll appeared from the ether and unfurled. “Granny Smith and Rarity run last minute quality control.” “Darn tootin’.” “Of course, dear.” “Pinkie,” Twilight Sparkle continued, “You and Fluttershy run the stall.” The two mares nodded as Twilight Sparkle turned to the others. “I’m going to be moving the barrels from the barn to the treadmills. You don’t have a problem with that, do you Applejack?” “I suppose not since it ain't usin’ magic to grow the apples,” Applejack replied. “Sure was a good idea to invest in more treadmills. So we got me, Rainbow, and Big Mac runnin’.” “Sure thing,” Rainbow Dash replied as she turned to the stallion, who stood near the edge of the porch. “You ready, big guy?” Big Macintosh nodded before lumbering off of the porch and disappearing around the corner. Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a confused look. “Where’s he going?” she asked. “Goin’ out back to stretch,” Applejack replied. “He don’t like doin’ it in front of a crowd.” “Okay girls, let’s do this.” Twilight Sparkle furled the scroll and sent it back into the ether with a pop. She smiled at her friends and held out a hoof. One by one, the mares placed one hoof on top of the other. Rainbow Dash was the last one left, and they all turned to her. “Can we at least save some cider for me—I mean us?” “Rainbow, I’m surprised at you,” Granny Smith replied as she narrowed her eyes at the mare. Rainbow Dash’s ears drooped and she turned to look at the treadmills. “You should know by now that we have an entire barrel with your name on it in the barn,” she added. Rainbow Dash’s squeal was so loud that even some of the ponies in line took notice. She flipped through the air and thrust her hoof on top of the other mares’. “Well what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash yelled. “The faster we made cider for everypony, the faster I get to that barrel!” “Glad to know you got your priorities in order,” Applejack said with a roll of her eyes. “Let’s go get Big Mac!” Rainbow Dash darted into the air and sped behind the house, leaving a rainbow streak in her wake. “At least she ain’t addicted to the hard cider,” Applejack muttered to herself as the girls headed off to their designated places. Gotta get that leg… ahh. Big Macintosh sighed and gave a satisfied grin when he felt a pop in his hind leg. He peeked out from behind the house and glanced at the line of ponies. When a group of mares noticed him, he blushed and took a few more steps back before continuing with his stretches. Still feel pretty good from yesterday, though, he thought as he bent his legs at the fetlock. “How are you doing down there?” Adam asked Big Macintosh leaped back and looked around, finally seeing the human when he looked up towards the window. Adam leaned out and crossed his arms over the windowsill, his face shining in the morning light. He glanced towards the east and narrowed his eyes. “I can still see ponies lining up,” Adam added. “Why ain’t you restin’?” Big Macintosh asked as he instinctively covered his flank with his tail. “I just wanted to see how it happens,” Adam replied as he pointed to the line of treadmills. “I have a good view of almost everything from up here.” He motioned towards a pair of tables. “Is that where Miss Rarity and Granny Smith are doing quality control?” “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied. The stallion’s neck was still craned upwards to look at Adam, and he felt a pang of guilt when he noticed that the human was frowning. “Are you sure you don’t need any more help?” Adam asked as he wrung his hands together. “Sugarcube, you need to get it through that skull of yours that you’re hurt.” Big Macintosh stomped a hoof on the ground. “Ah know you like bein’ independent but just listen to me.” Big Macintosh cocked his head when he heard Adam snicker. “And what’s so funny?” “Did… did you just call me sugarcube?” he asked. “That ain’t the point,” Big Macintosh replied as he felt his cheeks flush. “Just let yourself rest, okay? Don’t none of us wanna be worryin’ ‘bout you.” Adam smiled softly and turned away, but then he narrowed his eyes and pointed off into the distance. “Big Mac,” he said, “why are those two stallions just standing there?” Big Macintosh turned to the direction that Adam pointed in and growled when he saw the pair of stallions standing off in the distance beneath an old apple tree. “What are the Cherry brothers doin’ here?” “The who?” Adam asked. “Nothin’ for you to worry yourself over,” Big Macintosh replied. The stallion began to trot towards the pair, but was cut off by a blast of wind as Rainbow Dash barrelled around the corner. The mare pointed a hoof at Big Macintosh. “Hey, big guy,” she shouted, “come on, we got cider to make.” Rainbow Dash looked up and her eyes locked on Adam’s. “And what are you doing up there? Aren’t you helping, too?” Big Macintosh looked back up to the window just in time to see the smile fall from Adam’s face. He saw the human’s eyes dart back and forth, but when he edged away from the window, Big Macintosh held a hoof up at him. “No you don’t, mister,” the stallion commanded. “You’re hurt. Somethin’ happens, then we’ll send Miss Fluttershy to come get you.” Adam stuck his tongue out before resting his head on the windowsill. “Fine,” he huffed. Big Macintosh turned back to where he had seen the stallions, but when he found that they were gone, he stamped a hoof on the ground and huffed. He made his way back to the porch, where he grabbed one of the pairs of goggles that Granny Smith had set out. He tossed a pair to Rainbow Dash and then affixed one over his eyes before trotting to the treadmills. Rainbow Dash took her place to the one next to him, and then he nodded in her direction as Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy took their seats at the stall. “All right, ponies!” Pinkie Pie shouted as the ponies started to cheer. “Who wants some cider?” The treadmills started. Out of the corner of his eye, Big Macintosh watched as the first barrels of apples landed in front of Rarity and Granny Smith, laughing to himself every time either of the mares made a funny face as they inspected the apples. The stallion could still see clearly through his goggles. In the distance, he saw Adam peer through the window and wave in his direction before letting the curtain fall back in front of him. Big Macintosh took a deep breath and then started to run. Cider pressing day had officially begun. “But the cider was only one bit last year,” Noteworthy said as he stared at the single bit on the table. “Well,” Fluttershy replied as she pulled her mane away from her eyes, “Granny Smith told me that Adam suggested making it two bits, since it uses two types of apples.” “Did he, now?” the stallion asked as Fluttershy’s head lowered so that only her eyes peeked out over the table. “Yes?” she squeaked. “Hey Notey,” Pinkie Pie said as the pointed to a sign using her mane, “we even put up a sign for it.” “MP tax, one bit.” Noteworthy furrowed his brow. “What’s that?” “That’s the meanie pants tax, mister.” Noteworthy gulped and tossed another bit on the table. Pinkie Pie smiled and dropped them in the bit box and gave the stallion a hearty mug of cider. The stallion grabbed the mug and slowly back away from the table. Pinkie Pie placed a hoof on Fluttershy’s withers. “Come on, Fluttershy,” she said gently. “Remember when we tried to help you stand up for yourself?” “You’re right,” Fluttershy replied as she lifted herself up. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry, silly. Be assertive.” Another stallion approached the stand. When Pinkie Pie looked up, she gave the stallion a glare. “I suppose you are going to make me pay the meanie pants tax, aren’t you?” Tall Order asked as he set two bits on the table. “That depends.” Pinkie Pie stroked her chin as though she had a beard. “Are you going to be a meanie pants to Adam?” “I actually would like to speak with him,” Tall Order replied as he glanced over to the porch. “I fear we may have gotten off on the wrong hoof.” “Tell you what,” Pinkie Pie said as she took the bits and gave a mug of cider to the stallion. “If you go over there and make him smile, I’ll pay you back for the cider.” Tall Order smiled and nodded. He took the cider and slowly walked towards the farmhouse. Pinkie Pie turned back to the line of ponies. “Next!” “Good’n… good’n…” Granny Smith muttered as she examined an apple from the barrel that landed next to her. “Lovely, lovely, lo—Ah! A worm!” Rarity hurled the offending apple as far away from her as possible. “I’m gonna miss seein’ Adam,” Granny Smith said as she readjusted her glasses. “Easy to get used to havin’ humans ‘round, I guess.” “As much as I would like to see the Apple Family happy, I cannot wait for Adam to return.” She squinted at an apple and smiled. “So, this will be his last night here?” “I reckon so—good’n—but y’all are good ponies. Ain’t nopony ever got Big Mac to spend much time in town—bad’n—and the first thing he does is go to a spa.” Rarity chuckled. She turned to the farmhouse and saw Adam, who was now sitting on the front porch in Granny Smith’s rocking chair. He smiled and waved at her. “Well,” Rarity said, “it was Adam’s idea. It is good to have a stallion role model in his life—lovely.” She sighed. “I fear I may have been a hindrance to him getting comfortable around other ponies.” “Nope,” Granny Smith replied. “Adam’s a lot like Big Mac that way. Both of ‘em would forge a river just to avoid steppin’ on a bug in the middle of a bridge.” A purple aura surrounded the barrels and they floated over to Big Macintosh. Another pair of barrels came to rest next to them. “You treat him like he’s your own colt sometimes, Miss Rarity.” “In a way, he is.” Rarity blushed. “I just want what is best for him.” “I hope Adam keeps comin’ by,” Granny Smith said. “He’s been good for Big Mac.” “I agree.” Rarity smiled. “Hey,” Granny Smith chuckled. “Did you know our glasses almost match?” Rarity’s lip quivered for a moment before she chuckled uncomfortably. “Oh, ha,” she laughed weakly. “That is funny, Missus Smith.” “This is fascinating,” Twilight Sparkle mumbled to herself as she levitated a barrel of Gala’s and Katy’s out of the barn and set them down next to the quality control table. “A classification scheme that is neither enumerative, hierarchical, or faceted.” “Come again?” Spike asked, groaning when he saw a scroll and quill pop into existence. “Take a note, Spike,” Twilight said as she looked across the yard and noticed how quickly the line moved. “In the field of taxonomy, organizational methods have typically been separated into three categories. Enumerative classification organizes objects by name, hierarchical classification organizes by specificity, and—” “Um, could you spell specificity?” Spike asked. “While you’re at it, could you spell taxonomy, enumerative, and hierarchical?” Twilight Sparkle groaned as she levitated the inspected barrels and set them down next to Big Macintosh’s treadmill. As soon as she made sure that Applejack wasn’t in need of a replacement barrel, she turned around and glared at the drake. “I’m buying you a dictionary.” As she trotted away, Spike’s spines wilted. “No, I can do it, I promise!” Spike begged. “Hierarchical… H...I...G...H—” Big Macintosh set the new barrel and resumed running on the treadmill. He glanced at the porch, and when he saw Adam waving back at him, he felt the need to run even faster. “You doin’ okay there, big guy?” Rainbow Dash shouted from his right side. “Eeyup.” Big Macintosh replied loud enough to be heard over the sound of trampling hooves. “You don’t gotta keep runnin’ so hard there, Big Mac,” Applejack shouted from his left. “Eeyup,” he replied, though a little more gruff. “We’re pulling ahead, you know,” Rainbow Dash huffed. “You could always take a break.” “Nope!” Big Macintosh threw a glare at the mare. “Hey Rainbow!” Applejack shouted. “Pretty sure I’m at ten barrels. Ain’t you at seven?” Big Macintosh tried to ignore the new conversation as the two mares shouted over him. Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Oh yeah?” she asked. “I’m at nine!” She screeched to a halt and set a new barrel as fast as she could before returning to her sprint. “Ten!” “If I beat you, you gotta wear one of Rarity’s dresses on your next date!” Applejack shouted. “And when I win, you’re wearing it!” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Excuse me?” The three runners turned to the quality control table and saw a clearly angry unicorn staring back at them. Big Macintosh chuckled to himself and kept his pace, ignoring the loud huff that Rarity gave her friends before returning to her work. “So why isn’t Adam doing any work?” Rainbow Dash yelled. Big Macintosh stared straight ahead. “He’s been doin’ a lotta work here,” Applejack replied. “Just hurt himself is all.” “I’m not surprised,” Rainbow Dash said. “Working with Rarity doesn’t sound like the hardest job.” Big Macintosh narrowed his eyes and ran faster, refusing to let the conversation get to him. “Don’t be like that. Adam’s a real hard worker.” “I’m sure he’s doing well, for a human of his size.” Big Macintosh screeched to a halt as another barrel floated down next to him. He quickly replaced the barrel and smirked at the two mares. “Thirteen.” I can see why Granny Smith is always on this thing, Adam thought to himself as he rocked back and forth, it’s so peaceful. He let out a contented sigh and opened his eyes, but when he saw the stallion in front of him, Adam felt himself tense up immediately. “Mister Order,” Adam said, “is something wrong?” Tall Order shook his head and took a sip of cider. Adam could tell from the way his eyes darted back and forth that the stallion wanted to say something. Rather than point it out, however, he simply continued to rock back and forth as everything played out in front of him. Tall Order finally turned away and looked out towards the crowd of ponies. “It really is something, isn’t it?” Tall Order said. Adam glanced at the ponies, as well. He looked at Twilight Sparkle and Spike, trying not to laugh when he saw the drake begging on his knees. His gaze trailed on to the table where Granny Smith and Rarity sat. Finally, he looked out at the treadmills at the same time that Big Macintosh glanced up. Their eyes met, but Adam could see that the stallion didn’t look pleased with how close Tall Order was to him. Adam waved halfheartedly at Big Macintosh, and the stallion nodded his head and continued to run. “Yes,” Adam said. “They are something.” “You and Miss Garnet—I mean Missus Delicious—have both found something in the Apple family, haven’t you?” Adam gave the stallion a confused look, unsure of whether or not to answer the question. “This cider season seems to be running quite smoothly," Tall Order continued. "I heard your sister had a great deal to do with the organizing of it this year.” “...she did.” “And to top it all off, you managed to convince Granny Smith to double the price of the cider.” Tall Order laughed to himself, but when he saw that Adam still looked confused, he stopped and hunched his shoulders. The stallion looked out across the yard and let out a sigh. “I do hope they raise the money, Mister Garnet. Truly, I do.” “Why is it so important this year?” Adam asked as he leaned forward. “From what I heard, this has been an ongoing issue.” “Please, try to understand, Mister Garnet,” Tall Order said before taking another swig. “You humans were simply the catalyst for what has been happening, not the cause.” “So, we’re like the straw that broke the camel’s back?” Adam asked, receiving a glare from the stallion. “That is a terrible expression, Mister Garnet.” “Right… those idioms.” Adam flinched. “Images aside, however, you would be correct.” Tall Order pointed to the other rocking chair. “May I?” “Be my guest.” The two rocked back and forth for a moment and watched another barrel float across the yard, engulfed in Twilight Sparkle’s aura. “It was the mayor of Dodge Junction, Cherry Jubilee, who was most adamant about the issue.” “Why are you telling me this?” Adam asked. “A few reasons, actually,” Tall Order replied. “One, everypony related to the Apple Family has taken on a human. One of the more recent transfers has been placed under Mayor Braeburn’s care. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of you humans don’t hear about the Cherry Family at some point. In fact, I’m quite shocked that you haven’t met any of them, yet.” “Are there a pair of brothers, by chance?” “How did you know that?” Tall Order asked. “I saw them earlier this morning,” Adam replied as he pointed towards the tree. “Am I correct in assuming that the Apple’s and the Cherry’s don’t get along?” “That’s putting it mildly,” the stallion replied. “But that is neither here nor there. I just wanted you to know why certain ponies have become strident about these issues so that you understand that I am simply doing my job.” Tall Order snorted and shook his head as finished off the last of his cider. “It’s funny. You double the price of cider and I’m sure the Apples will thank you.” The stallion turned away and laughed derisively. Adam followed the stallion’s gaze and noticed Apple Bloom as she approached the gates. It’s already afternoon, he thought, times flies. He noticed Apple bloom talking with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and then they all ran off in different directions. “I simply try to do my job and everypony thinks I run around in a cape, twirling some invisible moustache,” Tall Order continued. “And the way the Apples act around me, I’m certain that Apple Bloom is going to have a terrible image of bureaucrats.” “If I may, Mister Order,” Adam suggested, “I don’t think you are a bad pony at all. You just seem a bit… aggressive.” Tall Order’s jaw fell open and his eyes widened. “Oh, the irony of being told by a human that I’m aggressive.” “Hey now—” “Sorry,” Tall Order cut him off. “I keep forgetting that you aren’t like a lot of the other human males that have appeared.” The stallion appraised Adam for a moment. “In a way, you being more docile is a bit… off-putting.” “That’s not what Mister Pierce thinks,” Adam mumbled. “What?” “Nothing.” Adam clicked his tongue. “Anyway, I do agree. I’m sure had it not been for this whole…” Adam waved his hand in front of him, pointing to all of the ponies. “…thing with taxes, you’d be a good pony to know.” “I just want things to go back to how they were, Mister Garnet,” Tall Order said. “I’m a bureaucrat. I want a place for everything, and everything to have a place.” “Well, sometimes things just aren’t that easy.” Adam paused as a smirk slowly grew. “Trying to make everything go right all the time is a rather… tall order… don’t you think?” Adam started to laugh. The stallion, for his part, simply turned his head in the direction of the human and squinted. He tried to speak, but instead settled for rolling his eyes. “No, Mister Garnet,” Tall Order finally replied. “Just… no.” “Hey, Uncle Adam!” Apple Bloom leaped onto the porch and then took another leap onto Adam’s lap. Adam grunted from the sudden weight, but he still reached up and scratched the filly behind her ears. When Tall Order gave the human a quizzical look, Adam reached out with his other hand and scratched behind the stallion’s ears, as well. “What do you think you’re doing, Mister—” Tall Order’s head shook involuntarily and he back away before narrowing his eyes at Adam once more. “So that is how you humans try to get on the good side of us ponies.” “You better believe it,” Adam replied as he returned his attention to the filly. “Well, I best be on my way,” Tall Order said as he got up from the chair. “Give the Apples my regards. I will try to work on some emergency extension, just in case.” “I’ll be sure to let them know,” Adam replied, not looking up. “As difficult as it may be to believe, Mister Garnet, I am from the government, and I am here to help.” Tall Order left the porch. “Oh, and Mister Garnet?” “Yes?” “Everything we do must be done for the sake of Harmony.” He scratched a hoof on the ground. “That is why I wanted to speak with you.” Adam smiled. Tall Order nodded his head in recognition towards Adam and then made his way down the road to the gate. As the hoofsteps faded, Adam poked Apple Bloom on the side. “Hey,” he said, “should I be worried about that little scene I saw with you and the other crusaders?” Apple Bloom’s eyes shot open and she leaped away from Adam’s lap. “What?” she asked. “Shoot no, we ain’t doin’ nothin’ out of the ordinary.” She immediately ran inside and slammed the door shut behind her. Adam shook his head. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” The older Apple family members and the Elements of Harmony sat around the table and stared at the pile of bits. Rarity’s horn glowed, and another bag of bits floated through the air and came to rest next to the bits. “Are you sure you counted that right?” Applejack asked. “I triple checked, Applejack,” Twilight Sparkle confirmed to her friend. “Twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and fifty bits.” “Well paint me in stripes and call me a zebra,” Granny Smith muttered. “Granny!” Applejack shouted. “And you still have sixteen Porter barrels and three-hundred Gala blends to ship off to restaurants across Equestria,” Rarity added. “Minus the five Porters for hard cider,” Big Macintosh interjected. The front door crashed open, and Rainbow Dash flew in carrying a barrel of cider in her hooves. “Make that four Porters,” he muttered as his ears flapped down. “Oh my,” Fluttershy whispered. “Simply charging two bits for the Gala ciders did all of this? I feel so bad.” “It makes perfect sense!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she poured herself another mug from the barrel she had purchased. “It looks like a lot, but for each pony, it was only a little. Just like drops in a bucket, it fills up in time.” “How eloquently stated,” Rarity said. “Thanks!” Pinkie Pie replied before chugging down another mug. “With how efficiently we were able to move the barrels, and the additional treadmills…” Twilight Sparkle levitated a scroll to her muzzle before turning to Applejack. “…you increased output literally one-hundred percent from last year.” “Efficiently,” Spike shouted from his spot in the corner. “E...F...I...S...H—” “You’re definitely getting the dictionary,” Twilight Sparkle said, cutting him off. “Applejack, do you realize what a windfall this is?” Rarity asked. “By doubling the price of those Gala blend barrels.” Her eyes widened and she covered her muzzle to suppress a giggle. “Well, I shall say this much—you shan’t be having Mister Order hovering over your shoulders anymore.” “Girls,” Twilight Sparkle said as she glanced around the room. “We did it!” All of the mares gathered in for a hug while Granny Smith leaned back in her chair. Big Macintosh sighed in relief as a steady quietness filled the room. From outside, the stallion heard a rocking chair squeak, and he looked out the window. Adam was sitting down, slowly rocking back and forth and staring up at the sky. Big Macintosh silently rose to his hooves, walked to the entrance, and pushed open the screen door. As he approached Adam, the human glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Big Macintosh shut the door behind him. “Guess you overheard,” Big Macintosh said. Adam smiled and nodded, though when Big Macintosh looked into his eyes, he could immediately tell that there was something on his mind. “I did,” he replied. “You guys did it.” Big Macintosh reached out a hoof and set it on Adam’s forearm. “Nope,” he said. “We did it. We wouldn’t have done near as much if you hadn’t figured out what your sister did.” He paused and waited for Adam to glance over at him. When Adam didn’t move, Big Macintosh grew concerned. “Somethin’ wrong?” “You really shouldn’t be crediting me with anything, Big Macintosh…” Adam whispered. The stallion had gotten used to Adam calling him Big Mac or Mister Macintosh, but for some reason, hearing the human called him that made the pony flinch. Adam resumed his rocking, but the movements were weak. “Do you remember the day of Amy’s wedding, when you had your… wardrobe malfunction?” Adam asked. Big Macintosh blushed. “E-eeyup.” “I’m the one who threw away Amy’s instructions,” Adam admitted without looking at Big Macintosh. “You…you keep telling me how I helped, but the fact of the matter is that I was the cause of the problem in the first place.” The rocking stopped again. Adam leaned forward and cradled his head in his hands. “Instead of looking at the papers to see if they were important, I simply threw them away like trash. All of the stress that I caused you and Miss Applejack…” Adam sniffled. “The whole family, actually… was my fault.” Big Macintosh looked on as Adam’s shoulders started to tremble. He felt a lump in his throat, but no matter how many times he swallowed, it just wouldn’t go away. He glanced up towards the moon just as a shooting star sliced through the night sky, and then another—two white knives made of light. Without saying a word, he walked over to the chair next to Adam and took a seat. Big Macintosh took a deep breath before turning his head towards Adam. “For the longest time after my parents died,” Big Macintosh finally said, “I blamed myself for it.” Adam’s head snapped in Big Macintosh’s direction, but still the stallion continued. “I was playin’ in the Everfree Forest. They told me not to, but I was curious ‘bout it.” Big Macintosh shook his head. “Next thing I knew, a pack of timberwolves appeared. My parents heard me yellin’ and they both came. I ran to get help… but when I got back…” The lump in Big Macintosh’s throat finally grew so large that he couldn’t squeeze any more words through. His head grew heavy, and soon, he had no choice but to lower his head onto his waiting hooves. “I… I don’t like seein’ you like this, Adam,” Big Macintosh forced the words through. Big Macintosh heard the rocking chair next to him creak, and the next thing he knew, he felt Adam’s hand settle on his wither. He looked up and saw that Adam had knelt down next to him. Adam wrapped his free arm around the stallion and pulled him close. As Big Macintosh’s head came to rest in Adam’s chest, he could feel the human’s heartbeat in his ear. It’s racing, he thought as Adam’s fingers gently scratched his fur. “That’s not fair, Big Mac,” Adam replied, and the stallion’s ears folded over. “You were a kid—a foal. I was just stupid.” “Don’t matter,” Big Macintosh replied as he pulled back. “I made a mistake, but I stayed and learned to work the farm.” He sniffled. “I wanted Pa to look down from Elysium and know that I did good in his stead and made him proud, just like you stayed for Amy. For all of us.” Adam wiped his eyes and nodded. Big Macintosh smiled. When Adam turned back towards Big Macintosh, he saw that the stallion’s eyes were red. Adam instinctively inched forward, but when the stallion’s eyes started to close, he shook his head. Images flashed through his mind—of Rarity glowering at him from atop the staircase of Carousel Boutique and levitating the newspaper in the air, of a trio of colts pushing one of their own towards him to retrieve a lost ball, of Pokey Pierce smiling when he mentioned how submissive Adam was, and of Tall Order staring at him as he advised him how he wasn’t like other human males. Adam blinked a few times, his body frozen in place. He finally stepped back and settled into the chair once more, glad that it was too dark for Big Macintosh to see that his cheeks matched the color of the stallion’s fur. “That’s what family does, right?” Adam asked. The front door swung open, revealing Granny Smith standing in the doorway. “You boys need to get in here,” Granny Smith said. “Still got chores in the mornin’ you know?” Big Macintosh sighed and got out of the chair. As he headed for the door, he turned back to Adam when he realized the human hadn’t moved. “You go in,” Adam said. “I just want to look at the sky some more.” Big Macintosh nodded and opened the door. When Adam was alone again, he looked up at the moon. He stared for a moment until his eyes narrowed into a glare. “You know,” he mumbled as he stared at the moon, “I heard that you give foals nightmares to teach them lessons. I heard you travel through their minds.” He chuckled bitterly. “Thank God you can’t do that to us humans, right?” Adam gazed out into the yard, but when he saw a trio of shadows moving through the orchard, he shook his head and stood up. “Great, what are those three up to?” he muttered as he headed into the fields, his shadow stretching along the grass in the light of the moon. Three fillies wandered through the orchards. Apple Bloom managed to remain silent as she darted from tree to tree while carrying a coil of rope on her back. Scootaloo took off in short bursts, the buzzing of her wings covered by the sound of the wind through the leaves. However, no amount of wind could cover the sound of Sweetie Belle’s complaints. “Ouch,” Sweetie Belle grumbled as she tripped over another stump. “Why are there so many things to stumble over out here?” “All right, girls,” Apple Bloom said, ignoring the unicorn. “I know I seen ‘em again, today. I always see ‘em ‘round here.” Sweetie Belle grumbled once again. Her horn glowed, and a nearby tree branch was bathed in green light. She closed her eyes in concentration, and the branch began to bend. Scootaloo’s wings buzzed, and the pegasus hovered through the air and tied a knot around the bent branch. She lowered herself to the ground and wrapped the rope around the tree trunk. Apple Bloom got behind Scootaloo and helped her hold onto the rope as Sweetie Belle opened her eyes. The green light faded, and the three fillies pulled the rope across the row of trees to the other side, where Scootaloo quickly tied it to another tree. “Saw who?” Scootaloo asked as she spat the rope of out her mouth. “Wait, you don’t mean those two stallions you’ve been telling us about, do you?” Sweetie Belle asked. Apple Bloom nodded. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at one another before backing away. “Wait, you guys!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Y’all said you were gonna help me!” “When you said we would get our cutie marks in trapping, we didn’t think you meant trapping other ponies!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. Come on, Sweetie Belle, it’s already really late,” Scootaloo said with a huff. “Apple Bloom, think about it.” Sweetie Belle interrupted. “If those stallions you talked about really are here, wouldn’t it be a better idea to just get your brother to scare them off?” “But girls—” Apple Bloom tried to convince the two to stay, but Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo simply shook their heads and began to wander off towards Ponyville. “Wait! I know we could get Big Mac to do it, but…” The other fillies simply shook their heads. Apple Bloom tried to think of something. When she heard the buzzing of Scootaloo’s wings, she smiled. “Think of how impressed Rainbow Dash’ll be when she sees we caught the bad guys all on our own!” The buzzing stopped. Even though the shadows shrouded them in darkness, Apple Bloom knew the defeated sigh came from Sweetie Belle. The pegasus darted back to where she once stood, a smile across her muzzle. A few moments later, a clearly frustrated unicorn filly trudged out of the shadows and rejoined the group. “…Fine,” Sweetie Belle said. “What are we going to do?” “Shh,” Apple Bloom whispered and she pulled the fillies into a nearby bush. “I think I hear somepony.” I know I saw them out here somewhere, Adam thought as he made his way through the orchard, stumbling on the occasional stump. As he pushed forward, the moon shone through the opening that came from barren tree limbs. Adam looked down and could just make out a trio of hoof prints in the dirt. At least I know they’re nearby, he thought. In the distance, Adam saw a sudden burst of green light. Bingo. As Adam made his way towards the flash, he got caught on a pair of low-hanging branches, which he batted away as they scratched at his face. Adam cursed silently to himself, worried that the fillies may overhear him. “Girls!” Adam finally called out. “I know you’re out here!” “Uh oh.” Adam turned his head just in time to see Apple Bloom leap out of a nearby bush. As the filly jumped onto him and pushed him back, he heard the sound of rope whirring past him. He looked up and saw a tree branch swing by him, missing him by mere inches. Adam saw the other fillies leap out of the bush a moment later and turned his gaze in their direction just as he slammed against the ground. “Mother f—mmm!” Adam muffled his screams as Apple Bloom scrambled off of him. He struggled to his feet and placed a hand on his face, his eye twitching when he felt something wet. He glared at the fillies, who took a look at him and shrunk back. “I want to know…” Adam said as he continued to put pressure on his cheek. “Girls, tell me what you are doing out here.” He waited for a moment. “Now!” he growled. The fillies cowered next to the tree. Adam saw the fear in their eyes, and it was only then that he realized that he was baring his teeth. He used his other hand to cover his mouth. Girls…” Adam whispered as he tried as best he could to make himself look small. “Please don’t look at me like that. I’m just… hurt.” He rubbed his face. “It just hurts… a lot.” “I’m so sorry, Mister Garnet,” Sweetie Belle cried. “P-please don’t tell my brother!” Apple Bloom begged. “Or Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo added. “I… I promise,” Adam whispered as he kneeled on the ground. “Just please do me one favor, okay?” he asked. The fillies stopped crying and looked at Adam. Adam took a deep breath and looked down at the ground. “Please, don’t ever look at me like that again,” Adam continued. “I don’t want you to be scared of me.” Adam’s breathing hitched. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sweetie Belle sniffle as she rubbed her hoof against her muzzle. “Mister Garnet,” Sweetie Belle replied. “I’m not scared of you.” Adam looked up, his head twisted in confusion. “I’m just worried ‘bout how much trouble we’re gonna be in,” Apple Bloom said. “Me, too,” Sweetie Belle said as she wrapped her forelegs around Adam’s ankle. “Please don’t tell my sister!” Adam turned to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, who both reached out and grabbed his other ankle. As they continued to beg him not to tell their guardians, Adam simply stared ahead with a blank expression. “I’ll make you a deal,” Adam suggested while still rubbing his injured face. “If you can get back to the house without the others finding out, I won’t say anything.” “Pinkie Promise?” The fillies asked in unison. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick cupcake in my eye,” Adam replied as he shook his head. “All right, girls,” Apple Bloom said as she pulled her friends in. “Cutie Mark Crusader… uh…” “…Ninjas?” Adam finished for them, unimpressed. “Yeah!” The fillies darted off in the direction of the farmhouse before Adam had a chance to ask them what they were doing out there in the first place. What on earth could they have possibly been doing, he thought as he glanced at the rope and then turned his attention to the branch. He shook his head and made his way back, though now with a noticeable limp. Just let yourself heal, Adam, he thought, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard, but now you can rest. Finally, Adam reached the porch of the farmhouse, where he was met by an angry Big Macintosh standing in the doorway. “Where were you?” the stallion asked. “I… I just went for a walk,” Adam replied. His eyes darted back and forth, and when he saw the look of disbelief in Big Macintosh’s eyes, he mentally kicked himself. Wait, he thought, does the Element of Honesty apply to all the Apples? Fortunately, Big Macintosh’s disbelief morphed into concern when he saw Adam’s face. “What happened?” “I tripped,” Adam blurted out. “You know, sort of a hazard of being bipedal.” Big Macintosh’s eyes narrowed, but Adam simply looked down as he passed through the doorway. He looked into the kitchen, grateful that the other ponies had all gone. He heard the door slam behind him and hooves stomping on the floor. “You’re lucky Miss Twilight teleported everypony home so that Miss Rarity ain’t here to see you like this,” Big Macintosh said as he reached his hoof out. “Now let me see—” “They’re just scratches, Big Mac,” Adam replied. “I’ll be fine.” Adam backed away and headed upstairs. When he reached his bedroom, he immediately reached into his satchel and pulled out a familiar vial. It’s not like I’m putting it on my arms again or anything, he thought as he squeezed the last of the MantiCure onto his hand. As soon as his hand touched his face, he immediately sighed in relief when he felt the refreshing coolness of the salve numb his face. He quickly tossed the empty vial into his satchel and left the room. As Adam descended the stairs, he saw Big Macintosh still sitting at the table. The stallion turned to him. “So what happened?” Big Macintosh asked. “I’m…” Adam tried to speak, but no words came out. He tried to move his jaw, but when he did, he felt an icy chill run through his face. The icy feeling ran down his neck to his chest. Adam’s vision tunneled, and the last thing he saw as he fell to the floor was Big Macintosh’s eyes widen in total fear. As everything went dark, he felt the stallion’s warm muzzle on his arm, then his hands, and then finally his fingers until they, too, went numb.