The First Ever Brotherhooves Social

by Starwind Dood

Part 1

The sun rose on Sweet Apple Acres. In a room with a window pointed to the west a large, built, red stallion felt the beginning of the morning. Big Macintosh trained himself to be sensitive to that morning light. His eyes opened up. His body rose. The day was beginning.

Downstairs, Big Macintosh examined a couple boxes with small print instructions. Behind him, at a table, Granny Smith rocked back and forth, humming an 'old song' as she would call it. Big Macintosh shook one of the boxes and out popped a pill. He shook the other to pop out two pills. He placed the medicine on a plate next to some leftover applesauce and set the plat by Granny Smith. "Thank you, Macintosh." Granny Smith smiled.

"It's no problem, granny."

"Always so dutiful," Granny Smith commented.

"You’re my granny. It's the least I can do." Big Mac smiled at her, giving her a sense of ease.

"Darn eyes of mine gave out too long ago," Granny Smith sighed.

"The bull horn the other day couldn't have helped," Big Macintosh chuckeled.

"Darn new fangled contraptions. Who are they making these things for?"

Big Macintosh left Granny Smith to her rant as he returned to the kitchen. His own body demanded nourishment, and applesauce doesn't cut it for a pony of his size. He needed carbs, so Big Macintosh grabbed a bag of flour and began working on some pancakes. His favorite thing about pancakes is how fast they cook. Before long he had a plate stacked five high and laced with syrup. He placed the plate on the table right next to a stack of papers about Sweet Apple Acres' finances. Granny Smith had fallen asleep at the other end of the table.

For hours Big Mac worked on the papers. The Sisterhooves Social had just happened the other day and he had to make sure they recuperated every bit and then some. Of course, due to the female heavy size of Ponyville's population, and the rather strong community they had, he was sure the Sisterhooves Social had brought back every bit and more with a wealthy profit, but that didn't change any of the paperwork involved. To his surprise though, this year's social was so successful they had made double what they had made last year. Most of the bits would go into repairing the farm though and the fortune would dry up in a matter of days, but that was all the better for their farm equipment.

A broom flew by Big Macintosh's face. He turned to the assailant. "I could use some help cleanin' up," Applejack smiled.

Big Macintosh turned to the broom. "On my way."

---

Big Macintosh surveyed the land in front of him. Cleaning up the Sisterhooves Social was going to be a nightmare. Beside him, Applejack spat out a broom she brought with her so she could talk. "Good turn out, huh? With all the bits we made we can fix up the barn good as new."

"It's always a good turn out," Big Macintosh chuckled, "plenty of sisters all 'round town."

"Well, yeah," Applejack shrugged, "but that just means more bits into the farm." Applejack smiled as she grabbed the broom she spat out earlier with her mouth and began the clean up process.

Big Macintosh turned back to the mess, and then his mind turned back to the profit. "You know," Big Macintosh started, "what do you think about hosting a Brotherhooves Social?"

Applejack turned to her big brother and spat out the broom again. "Sounds like a great idea but Ponyville doesn't have a whole lot of brothers." Ponyville doesn't have a whole lot of colts either.

"Doesn't mean there aren’t any."

"I suppose you're right about that, but these things cost a lot of bits to host."

"If we stick to a budget and reuse some of the props we could make a small profit," Big Macintosh explained.

Applejack thought it over for a moment. She looked over at Big Macintosh. "Well all right then!" She finally hollered. "Who am I to argue with bits to be had."

---

"Brotherhooves Social?" The grey pony read with confusion? His spiky ice blue mane swished from side to side as he inspected the poster. "This a typo, Big Macintosh?"

"Nope. This year, Sweet Apple Acres will host the first ever Brotherhooves Social, Northstar," Big Macintosh answered with a smile. He was rather excited to get the chance to host such an event.

"Well, I guess I can't ignore a chance to show off in front of Cosmic," Northstar laughed. "Sounds like a blast, though. You apple pony go all out with the Sisterhooves Social."

"Well," Big Macintosh turned his eyed away, "we probably can't afford to go all out, even though we're reusing a lot of props, but we'll still have something."

"Status quo is still god, huh? Still, makes sense. Count me in, though." Northstar let a grin spread across his face. "And I suppose Applejack will be there too?"

Big Macintosh sighed. "You still pinin' after her?"

"Applejack is just such a beautiful mare!" Northstar's eyes drifted off to some faraway place that will never happen. "Those emerald green eyes, the cute little freckles, the smell of her hair, those toned legs."

"All apple family members have toned legs." Big Macintosh eyed the stallion.

"But hers." Northstar sighed contently. "See you later, Big Mac."

"Don't call me that," Big Macintosh sighed. He didn't like that nickname very much.

Big Macintosh picked up the pile of posters and continued along his way around Ponyville, handing them out to the few stallion that passed him along his way. A strong gust of wind, however, picked up the pile of posters off his back and discarded them around Ponyville square. "Dangit," Big Macintosh cursed.

"Help! I'm being gobbled! I'm being gobbled!" Called out a voice from under a poster.

Big Macintosh heard the plea and turned his attention to a pipsqueak of a colt who had gotten wrapped in one of his posters. It was Pipsqueak. "Pipsqueak..." Big Macintosh rolled his eyes, "it's just paper."

"Oh." Pipsqueak stopped struggling and found he could easily slip away from the hungry poster. "Thanks, ugh?"

"Big Macintosh," Big Macintosh answered.

"Thank you, Big Macintosh," Pipsqueak properly answered. He turned his attention back to the poster. "Brotherhooves Social?" He read aloud.

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh answered. "Have any brothers, Pipsqueak?"

"Oh no. I have four older sisters," Pipsqueak answered, the fear of god on his face. "It's horrible. They always pick me up and dress me up and mess with my mane! You know what they wanted me to be for nightmare night!? A princess! It was baby blue and pink! With frills. So… much… frills…"

Big Macintosh could tell the tiny colt had been traumatized for quite a few lifetimes. "Ugh, well, buck up." Big Macintosh patted Pipsqueak with a single hoof as big as the pinto colt himself.

"Oh, thank you," Pipsqueak snapped out of his frilly nightmare and turned back to Big Macintosh. "Can I come to the social anyway? It sounds like fun."

"Well, sure," Big Macintosh drolled. He needed to drum up some extra business if he wanted to make a profit and, possibly, make this an actual annual event.

"Oh boy! I can't wait!" Pipsqueak smiled as he skipped off, causing Big Macintosh to worry for the poor colt.

---

"Pass that sign over here, Apple Bloom," Applejack called out.

"All right, Applejack," Apple Bloom called back, dragging over the Sisterhooves Social sign. "What are you going to do with it?"

"'We're going to repaint it for the Brotherhooves Social."

"Brotherhooves Social?"

"It was Big Macintosh's idea," Applejack informed her, "it's the like the Sisterhooves Social but for the brothers around Ponyville."

"Wow, that's a great idea!" Apple Bloom jumped. "Wonder what gave Big Macintosh the idea?"

"Well, he's hardly the first one in the family to pitch the idea," Applejack started to explain, "but, since Big Macintosh does most of the finance stuff on the farm he figured out we could make some extra bits if we plan it right. One of those things is reusing props, so let's get paintin'."

"All right!" Apple Bloom yelled out excitedly. The two grabbed a couple cans of paint and some rollers and started to paint over the sign with some red paint. "This is fun, Applejack."

"Glad to hear it," Applejack smiled back.

"What are we doing, Big Mac?"

"We need to paint over a new sign for Sweet Apple Acres 'cause the other one fell."

"Sounds boring."

"Eeyup. That’s why I dragged you out here."

"Meanie."

"Just grab this roller and start painting."

"Fine. Hey, Big Mac!"

"What?"

"You got some paint on you."

"Where?"

"There!"

Applejack couldn't help but recall that old memory. Way back when Big Macintosh wasn't busy all the time with farm work and paper work, but now she gets to make these memories with Apple Bloom. "Enjoying yourself?" Applejack asked.

"You bet!" Apple Bloom replied.

---

"Brotherhooves Social!" Snips piped at the top of his lungs. "That sounds awesome!"

"Do you have any brothers?" Big Macintosh asked.

"Only the best kind of brother," Snips replied, his face turned up in pride. "Snails!"

"Yep!" Snails replied, affirming his best friend. "We're spit brothers."

"Spit brothers?" Big Macintosh asked. In response, Snips and Snails spit on their own hoof and shook them together.

"And that makes us spit brothers," Snips answered.

"Right," Big Macintosh answered, "well then c'mon down to the Brotherhooves Social tomorrow if you're up to some real brotherly challenges." Big Macintosh began to feel like a carriage salespony.

"We'll be there once we're done at Twilight's place," Snips replied.

---

Apple Bloom sat next to a newly pitched tent. Applejack had asked her to set up one of the more gender-neutral colored tents and for a filly her size it was quite a bit of work. "Why they gotta make tents so big?" Apple Bloom complained aloud, legs and mouth sore.

"Well, it's gotta fit a lot of ponies," Applejack answered in the distance, freshly baked lunch on her back. "Hope you're hungry!"

"Thanks, big sis!" Apple Bloom cried out, the smell of food reenergizing her.

"T'aint a problem, and you earned it," Applejack patted her little sister.

The two sat under a tree, enjoying the shade and the warm baked apple goods. Applejack cherished moments like this. The fatigue of hard work in her legs, the smell of apples in the air, and good company. She could think of few ponies she would like to share this moment with more than her sister.

"These are great, Applejack! Your best batch yet!"

"These are great, Big Mac! Your best batch yet!"

"It's the same thing I cook every time."

"If you didn't have an apple on your bum I would bet you would have a stack of pancakes."

"They're just easy to make is all."

"That doesn't change that they're really good. What's the occasion?"

"Well, you've just been working really hard lately. Ever since you came back from Manehatten. I figured you earned some lunch."

"Thanks."

"Say, what was Manehatten like?"

"Terrible!"

"Really?"

"Eeyup! You know why?"

"Why?"

"I missed everyone. The farm. Granny Smith. You."

"I missed you too."

"You did?"

"O'course."

"Yeah, I did make some really good fritters today, huh…" Applejack stared at the confection. There was just so much nostalgia in that single moment, like a wave. "Glad you enjoy 'em."

"I always enjoy 'em! You’re the best big sister a little sister could ask for! I enjoy everything you make."

"Glad to hear it," Applejack smiled.

---

"You got your work cut out for you, big guy," Spike told Big Macintosh while seated on his back. "Not a whole lot of colts here in Ponyville."

"I've been told that," Big Macintosh ignored the statement, "and when did I give you permission to ride me?"

"All right all right." Spike jumped off Big Macintosh. "Brothers huh? Can't say I have any of those… I think."

"You think?" Big Macintosh questioned.

"I don't really know if I have brothers or sisters. I don't even know who my parents are for that matter."

"You seem rather well-adjusted about that," Big Macintosh replied.

"I guess it's because Twilight did such a good job raising me," Spike stared off in the distance of the library.

"Cherish that bond, Spike."

"What do I do what do I do!?"

"Get her some warm apple juice."

"Right. Darn it she's still crying."

"She's just a baby."

"I'm just not that good at handling babies."

"Well mom and dad aren’t here. We got to do something."

"Poor Apple Bloom."

"She'll be all right."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Because she's got you for a big brother and me for a big sister. Between the two of us, come rain or shine, she'll be just fine."

"You know, you're right."

Spike looked back and up at Big Macintosh. Both had a warm, nostalgic smile. "I always do," Spike told him, looked back at the poster. "I may not have any brothers but you don't mind if I show up anyway, right?"

"No problem, Spike."

"Thanks." Spike went on his way, somewhat lighter than when he had arrived. It seemed like the Brotherhooves Social would play host to a number of different kinds of 'brothers.' Big Macintosh smiled to himself. Tomorrow seemed like it was going to be a good day. Still, he had posters to put up and hand out. Bits are, always, an issue.

---

"And done!" Apple Bloom proudly proclaimed. "The field is clean!"

"Hoo-wee that was a lot of work," Applejack wiped her brow, "now to start set up for the Brotherhoof."

"Looks great," Big Macintosh commented as he arrived.

"You expected less?" Applejack sarcastically teased. "Brother, I am offended," Applejack said with a grin. "How'd advertisin' go?"

"Not bad. I got some ponies interested."

"Well that's good. All we got left here to do is some heavy labor stuff."

"I guess that’s my queue," Big Macintosh amusingly replied.

"Well we got some time first. Hungry?" Applejack offered her brother some hospitality. "If you don't mind that they're cold I got some leftover apple fritters from earlier."

"I could do for a bite." Big Macintosh placed himself under a familiar tree. His hooves a little sore, but nothing that would stop a pony of his physical and mental fortitude.

"Say, Apple Bloom, why don't you go fetch them leftover fritters?"

"Right away!" Apple Bloom saluted and took off like a bullet.

Applejack set herself down under the familiar tree. She looked over at her brother who was merely content to close his eyes and fiddle with his sprig. It felt a little too quiet between the two. "Apple Bloom sure is growing," Applejack started, "hard to remember she was once a little baby we had to nurse to sleep with stove top apple juice."

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh answered back.

"Oh c'mon. Don't you have more to say?"

"Nnnope." Applejack gave her brother a playful kick. "Fine fine. She's a bundle and a half of energy."

"Try two bundles. Maybe we put too much sugar in that juice." The two shared a good laugh.

"T'was your idea."

"And it was a great idea. As Twilight would say, I think, the experiment was a success."

"Applejack talking science?" Big Macintosh drolled. "That’s new."

"Hush you. 'Sides, once she's a little older she'll be able to take on more chores, and you'll have more time to handle the finances and paperwork."

The sprig in Big Macintosh's mouth dropped a little. "Eeyup…"

"Little filly surprises me every day!" Applejack almost hollered with over-exuberance.

"Does she?" Big Macintosh looked off to the side.

"Yep, always tryin' and sometimes even provin'. Surprised she still doesn't have her cutie mark. You need to see her at work, Big Macintosh."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right."

Apple Bloom came speeding back with the tray of cold apple fritters balanced on her back. "I'm back!" She announced. She placed the tray in front of Big Macintosh and turned over to Applejack. "What'd I miss?" She asked, as if expecting something.

"Oh nothin'. Just talkin'," Applejack smiled.

Big Macintosh dug into the plate of cold fritters. Despite their now slimy texture the taste was quite pleasant. Applejack sure has gotten better at cooking.

"Check 'em out brother!"

"You made apple fritters?"

"For you!"

"Oh, thanks."

"How are they?"

"Terrible! I need water! Water!"

"Oh don't be like that!"

"My throats on fire."

"Well golly, these are terrible. Water!

"You've improved," Big Macintosh told Applejack.

"O'course! No apple pony worth her or his salt would be caught dead with a burnt fritter," Applejack replied.

Big Macintosh grinned, picked himself up and walked over to the large wooden sign that would need to be hung over the gate. What was once a pink sign with purple letters is now a red sign with orange letters. Big Macintosh couldn't help but feel a little flattered that the sign carried his own color scheme. He tied some rope around his yolk and the sign and got started on hauling the heavy thing into the air and over the sign pole.

"Glad to see your muscles haven't gone to mush yet," Applejack called back to him. "I was beginning to be fear you was made of pancakes, Big Macintosh!"

Big Macintosh hauled the sign into place. "Now would be the part where you hammer the dang thing," Big Macintosh groaned under the weight.

"You heard him sis," Applejack turned to Apple Bloom. "let's get started."

"I 'ear 'uh!" Apple Bloom talked with a hammer in her mouth.

"Right, I'll go fetch the ladder. Why don't you keep Big Macintosh company," Applejack didn't really ask so much as told her. She galloped off to the far off shed where the ladder had been deposited.

Apple Bloom turned over to Big Macintosh. His face started to turn red from the strain of the sign. "You okay, Big Macintosh?"

"I'm fine," Big Macintosh said in-between breaths. Next time he would have to make sure the ladder was close by before hauling up a heavy sign post.

"Okay." Apple Bloom turned to the horizon, waiting for Applejack to return with a ladder in tow.

It would be a few more minutes before she would return, though. Big Macintosh looked down at the filly he once struggled to calm down, but since that time Apple Bloom had grown up while his back was turned, and now her back had was turned towards him as she waited for Applejack to return. He took a deep breath to steel himself against the physics that transpired against him. The sign is heavy.

"I'm back!" Applejack finally announced, dragging along a ladder. "Glad to see that sign hasn't gotten the better of you."

"Just hammer the darn thing," Big Macintosh strained to say.

"Right." Applejack sheepishly grinned. She placed the ladder in front of one of the wooden beams that would support the sign. "You're up Apple Bloom."

"Leave it to me!" Apple Bloom was up the ladder in a matter of seconds and expertly placed the nail into the wood before she began to hammer away like a mad mare. At the base of the ladder Applejack struggled to keep the thing steady as each hammer reverberated down into her body.

"Apple Bloom."

Hammer hammer hammer.

"Apple Bloom…"

Hammer hammer hammer.

"Apple Bloom!"

"Yeah, sis?" Apple Bloom looked down at her now wall eyed sister.

"I think it's done."

"Oh? My bad." Apple Bloom grinned, finding the sight amusing.

"S'all right." Applejack shook her head to dislodge her eyes from their, hopefully not permanent, positions. "On to the next beam," She announced, her eyes in proper place.

The ladder was repositioned at the second beam and Apple Bloom had once again shot up the thing in seconds. This time Apple Bloom was careful not to overdue the hammering. One, two, three, four, five hits and the nail was securely in place. Big Macintosh could feel the weight lifting from his shoulders as the sign hung in place, supported by a couple of nails somehow.

"Looks good," Applejack commented.

"It does." Big Macintosh looked over at the family effort. It took the three of them to hang it.

"We do good work," Applejack commented.

"We sure do, Applejack!" Apple Bloom commented. Applejack patted her little sister on the head. Big Macintosh returned to the tree. His shoulders were killing him.

---

Setup had gone smoothly for the most part. The festivities that were prepared for the event weren’t as extravagant as the Sisterhooves Social since, as stated, they couldn't afford to go all out and buy a lot of new decorations. The set up was even smaller, but it was something. Tomorrow would be a celebration of male bonds between brothers, an event that Big Macintosh felt bitter irony in not being fully able to compete in.

"Wha'cha thinkin' about?" Applejack interrupted his train of thought.

"Nothing in particular," He lied.

"Don't lie to me," Applejack asserted, "I know your tells."

"It's nothing, Applejack. You don't got to know every thought in my head, do you?"

"I guess." Applejack shrugged. "It's just you've been kinda… down lately."

"What do you mean?"

"Like, down. Big Macintosh, you've just been kinda unhappy looking lately. When I saw you propose the Brotherhooves Social you looked so darn eager about it, well, how could I say no?"

"I'm fine," Big Macintosh tried to brush Applejack's worries off. "I ain't unhappy."

"Now I know that's a lie."

"Applejack, just drop it."

"Drop it? Have I ever been a pony that dropped things?"

Big Macintosh began to feel annoyed. His sister's bull headedness was not one of the easiest things for him to deal with. "How I feel ain't your business," he proclaimed, turning around, and heading back to the main house.

"And where do you think you're going?" Applejack yelled back.

"To the house. I still got paperwork to do."

"Hidin' behind your papers now, huh!"

"I wish I didn't have to…" he muttered.

---

Numbers are not Big Macintosh's favorite subject, but the duty had fallen on him to handle the finances of Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith taught him everything he knew back when his shoulder span was actually smaller than his head and Granny Smith still had some spring left. He was eternally grateful to Granny Smith for the lessons, though. He'll keep the farm going, no matter what. He always told himself that every time he found himself at the table, crunching numbers and chewing erasures. He hated the work, but the farm meant too much.

Applejack appeared soon enough. She looked at him, turned her nose up, and left to her room. Big Macintosh sighed and turned back to the papers. Bills, expenses, and paperwork. He let his head fall to the desk. All for the farm. All for the farm.

Midnight. He had fallen asleep. "Dang it," She cursed aloud. "Now I'm behind."

"Behind what?"

Big Macintosh jumped out of his chair. "Who's there!" He questioned to the darkness, afraid for his sanity.

"It's just me." Apple Bloom appeared in his field of vision. "What are you doin' staying up so late."

"I… I was just doing paper work and I passed out."

"Paper work?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, bills and stuff, gotta do them to keep the farm running."

"Sounds borin'."

"Sure is." Big Macintosh chuckled as he picked himself up. "What are you doing up so late, Apple Bloom?"

"Well, I was having a hard time getting to sleep so I thought I would raid the pantry," Apple Bloom unashamedly admitted.

"You know, I think I got something to do the trick."

The kettle started to steam. Inside it apple juice was beginning to boil. Big Macintosh, a pinky frilly mitten in his mouth, carried the kettle over to a couple of empty cups and poured the out the juice. "Warm apple juice," he stated.

"This will help me get to sleep?" Apple Bloom asked inquisitively.

"Eeyup. Apple family secret, so don't share it with anypony."

The idea of keeping a secret got Apple Bloom's attention. "You can count on me," she saluted.

Big Macintosh smiled. "Oh, wait here." Big Macintosh ran back to the pantry. He was looking for his own secret ingredient. A small jar of cinnamon. He smiled as he picked it up with his teeth and returned to Apple Bloom. "My personal secret ingredient," he joked.

Two secrets in one day. Perhaps she would get a secret keeping cutie mark. "You can count on me, big bro."

Big bro. Two words he hadn't heard in such a long time. He pushed off the top of the jar and began to sprinkle the spice into the juices. "Here you go, little sis." Two words he hadn't said in such a long time. The two smiled at each other as they drank deep of the warm juice. Whoever found out about this miracle elixir was a genius of the highest caliber. Big Macintosh could feel his eye lids getting heavier. He wasn't going to get any work done, and he didn't care. "Ready for bed now?" He asked.

"Sure am," Apple Bloom replied, eyes already closed and head nodding off. Soon enough she had fallen completely asleep.

Big Macintosh took the two cups and placed them on the dining room table, right next to the incomplete forms and papers. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He couldn't care less about the papers right now and come what may he will make sure the farm stays up. For his family. For himself. For Apple Bloom. For now, he returned to the fireplace and fell asleep.

Applejack had watched the whole thing. She heard the patter of hoof steps and came to check on everything when she heard Big Macintosh's heavy form hit the ground. She watched as Big Macintosh lit a fire, filled the kettle, and helped Apple Bloom finally get some sleep.

Quietly, Applejack stepped over to the table. It was covered in half filled papers and sheets of numbers. Nothing made sense to her and she feel guilty that she had no idea how to handle. She turned back to Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom, and she sighed.