> A constant work load > by Msande > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The old farm house was closed up for the night only a few lights still on eliminating the field and apple trees surrounding the house hold. The shadows the few lights cast showed that the brightly colored house was pealing a bit near the edges of the wood working but they could only be seen if one squinted and stared at it. The one of the lights flickered dimming before being snuffed out as the youngest member of the family start the quick decent into dream land, despite the low chirping in the distance trying to keep the red mane pony awake. It wasn’t long before the soft squeaking of granny’s rocking chair subsided and was soon replaced by the soft sound of footsteps heading up the squeaky steps. Applejack moved peaked out of her room down the hall with only one other light left on the house. Sighing as she moved into the hall ready for another night of trying to get him to go to bed before Luna’s moon was on its way down. She glanced up looking at the detailed wood work, old grandpa Citrus shade hadn’t been to handy on the field but in his free time he had carved careful and detailed wood work into the support beams. She could almost see the stories he was telling as she saw different pattern’s and designs. Granny Always talked about how much she hated what he did since his stories didn’t even taking away the symmetry the house once had after he got a hoof his tools. But despite her complaints outliving the man she never once bother them. She passed a small vase with some beautiful summer daises as she closed in on her older brothers room. The door was opened just a crack as the light bleed into the almost darken hall way. Not even a bit open and she could already see a few papers slipping out. She caught sight of a date about two seasons ago useless information but Big Macintosh kept everything, ever recite ever interaction every single paper pushing the door open with a single hoof the door stopped as the sound of a metal drum echoed in the quiet house. Sighing she pulled the door back glancing around to see one of Macintosh’s filing cabinets. Rubbing her eyes she looked at him standing in front of his desk as he seemed to look over a mess of papers on his desk. “I keep telling you to get a chair,” She frowned as she pushed her way in careful not to pump into filing cabinet a second time. Big Mac glanced over at the wooden clock hanging from the door before giving a small smirk as his eyes looked at her. “So how long is it going to take to night?” AppleJack asked as she leveled and uncaused glance looked at him. He shrugged before picking up a quill in his hoof scribbling on it before pinning it next to a unsorted mess of tapped up notes on the wall behind his desk. The wall was placed with all kinds off documents and even a massive map of all of Sweet Apple Acres . notes adorned the map of the three separate fields. Applejack stood in the door way as he leaned over the desk crossing something of on his calendar which was now hanging at an odd angle. Applejack frowned at him tapping her hoof on the wood floor as he continued to ignore her as he worked. But she caught his occasional glances. “Okay fine, I’ll ask how are the finances going,” she sighed as he was clearly trying to get her attention on what he was working on else he would have given in by now. She walked over trying not to crumple up any of the loose papers littering his floor. “Anything bad?” she asked a little worried. “Nope,” he smiled confidently as she looked over seeing a plus next to his estimations. “Looks like the Zap apple brought in more this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if the attention my friend twilight has brought to ponyville may have boosted are sales a bit. “Maybe,” he replied as he looked over the paper work. “I want to go over it again,” He replied as Applejack leveled a glare at him. He snorted blowing his blond mane back as he smirked. “I know you can’t be to careful but it’s the first time we have haven’t broke even. For once we can afford a mistake,” Applejack replied. “Eenope, not wanting one even if we can afford it,” Big Macintosh replied with a slight remark as he pushed the documents into a pile. Staking them on another pile before quickly dating them. “You really need to get this place cleaned up maybe then you could move a dang chair in here,” Applejack replied as she looked at him. "Everything is fine I know were everything is, besides a chair would take up to much room,” He replied. “Really, then?” Applejack said sensing a challenge. “I want wages for are helping hand Carmel for last apple bucking season,” She requested with a sly smile as Big Mac moved back to his desk and after a minute he pulled out a small stack of paper paperclip-ed together with a shot of Carmel’s mug on it as well. “You win this round,” She replied her eyes half open as she looked up at him. “Yeap,” he smiled agreeing with her comment as she moved for the door. “Well then since we are bit ahead of schedule you could take the day off.” Applejack replied. Big Macintosh quickly shook his head. “Come on you already got the fields plowed up the apples aren’t even nearly ready to be collected we are in the middle off everything so take the day off,” She pressured. “Always something to do,” he replied as shook her head at the work horse. Applejack only half listened as he started going over every little detail around the house to the leaking pipes to the holes in the chicken coop. “Look Apple Bloom is pretty handy with a hammer and she will need to learn this anyway. So me and her can handle the chicken coop and that sink pipe has been leaking only a few drops I bet my hat it’s just condensation. Nothing to worry about,” Applejack replied. Big Mac released a sigh as he looked at her for a long moment. “Not going to relent are you lil sis?” he asked her. “Eenope,” She replied giving him a curt smile. He returned it with a half smirk of his own. She exited the room as Big Macintosh moved back to his desk. He napped out his calculator as he cleared pulled out the receipt paper tossing it over his shoulder as he got ready to go back to work. The door squeaked as it closed as he allowed himself a small smile as he picked up his quill. He started writing when a slight tapping sound reached his ears. Twitching them back he started to re calculate the bits they had used and earned. “Ahem,” Applejack replied leveling a glance at him. Big Mac sighed as he flicked the light off along the darkness to finally move into the last room in the house. Applejack gave a curt node before pulling her hat over her eyes leaving the room. She slowly moved down the hall way doing her best not to hit anything when she stopped the silent sound of scratching reached her ears. “This is going to be a long night an’t it sugar cube,” she said to herself as glanced back at her brothers room. Au: Not sure what to think it’s one of the few stories I have put together in a world that doesn’t have a lot of conflict. I may put more into this maybe have Mac take a day of turn it into a shipping story but for now it will stay a one shot.