Jungle Fever

The truck bounced down the road. Its springs groaned with every pothole on the dusty trail. Mac casually rocked with every bounce, his hand laying lazily on the gear shift, and the other at the base of the wheel. Zecora swallowed nervously in the passenger seat, her hands grasping tightly against the door and armrest as she sat. Her eyes were wide and panicked at the vehicle’s motions. Just the idea of what could go wrong...

“Macintosh, I’m not sure if I can abide, what with this thing you call a ‘ride!’” Zecora said, her tone louder than normal to be heard over the engine.

“Jus’ a bit longer ta town–it ain’t gonna–”

They hit another deep pothole. Zecora let an uncharacteristic “Eep!” escape from her lips.

“–kill ya,” Mac finished. He stared at the tribal woman. “Surprised ya never rode in somethin’ like this, though.”

“My dear, I simply hate to goad, but please keep your eyes upon the road!” she quickly said, gesturing to the front.

“Alright, alright,” he rumbled out. He smiled. “Hard not ta look at ya. I mean, ya look great in yer normal clothes, but…”

Zecora glanced down at her wardrobe, a simple button-up plaid shirt and worn, hole-ridden jeans. The rural attire clashed with her jungle forged skin and tattoos. “It’s good that Applejack had spare clothes… though as for her choice in attire, your influence shows.”

“More-a my pa’s influence, I reckon.” He smiled wistfully. “Fella did jus’ ‘bout everythin’ in plaid an’ jeans. ‘Practical,’ he’d always tell me.”

Zecora’s eyes flitted from the road briefly. She ran an ebony hand over Mac’s brown one. “He’d be proud of you, I’m sure. You’ve taken the leader’s mantle and still endure.”

“I try ta take care of ‘em as best I can. Family’s important.”

She nodded in agreement. “From death and from birth, it’s the most important thing on this earth.” The tribal seemed to want to add something, but, after a moment, shut her mouth, instead gazing out the passenger window. “I’m anxious to see your sister Bloom. She’ll be at the school, I presume?”

“Yeah, she just got off ‘bout now. Usually she’d take the bus back home, but she wanted me to pick ‘er up specially this afternoon. Dunno why, but it’s my kid sister, so why not?” Mac gave a shrug of his shoulders.

Zecora smiled kindly over at the giant man. She gave his shoulder a playful peck with a finger. “She just has to give her finger a twirl, and you’d do anything for that girl.”

“Damn straight,” Mac said with a smile, leaning across the dashboard to peer in the distance. “And looks like school’s right up ahead. Care to see some of the kiddies when I pick up Bloom?”

“That would be quite fine.” Zecora then paused, putting a considering hand to her chin. “Unless, of course, you think they’d mind.”

“Nah, they’re just kids. Big whoop if they find out we’re dating. Besides, as adults, we have the right to ignore and not give a damn ‘bout their opinions.”

The woman smiled once more over to her companion. “You’re so strong, Macintosh… I’m glad you’re keeping me along.”

Mac grinned playfully at her before returning his attention to the road. “Ah, ya flatter me too much fer my own good. But don’tcha worry ‘bout nuthin’. These kiddies have Cheerilee as their teacher, so there’s probably not one bad apple in the basket.”

“If Apple Bloom is anything to go by, I suppose she hasn’t lead them awry.” Zecora chuckled, then let out a surprised gasp as the truck ran over another pothole.

“Ponyville, frickin’ pothole capital of Equestria,” Mac muttered under his breath, sighing in relief at the sight of the school drop off lane. “For a place that’s famous fer breeding ponies, they shoulda made better roads. Regular horse would cripple themselves goin’ down these things.”

The truck pulled up into the side road leading to the school. Positioning the truck tactfully, Mac squeezed it in between two other cars in a parking space. Unlocking the vehicle and hopping right out, Mac hurried to Zecora’s side and opened the door for her, making a grand sweep of his arm in a gentlemanly manner.

“After you, m’lady.”

“Thank you, my chauffeur.” She took his hand and stood. “You’re a very considerate, monsieur.”

“Ah, didn’t know ya knew some fancy language like that,” Mac chuckled, easing her down to the ground from the truck. “Never really bothered much with learnin’ stuff like that when I was in school.”

“I learned many tongues when I traveled the land. Though years of not speaking it leaves a full use beyond my command.” Zecora trailed a finger up to his lips, tapping them. “Though I’m not one to preach, I’m quite fond of your simple speech.”

“Well, thank ya kindly,” he replied with a chuckle, hooking his arm with hers as they made their way to the school grounds. Leaning close to her ear, he said, “Now, Bloom will probably be out here somewhere with her friends. Pretty sure school just ended, so we’ll catch up to her eventually.”

Zecora nodded, glancing left and right as they approached the schoolyard. She smiled, pointing toward the front entrance, where a deluge of kids poured out of. “I think the odds are pretty fair, that I see Apple Bloom over there.”

Sure enough, the red headed girl came bouncing down the steps of the school house, a backpack on her shoulders as she ran towards the pair. “Mac, Mac, yer here!” Apple Bloom shouted joyously, jumping in her big brother’s arms.

Grunting, Big Mac lifted her up in a hug. “Dang Bloom, yer gonna break my back one of these days if ya get any bigger.”

“How lovely it is to see you, Bloom!” Zecora exclaimed. She was beaming at the child. “Had a good day, I presume?”

“You betcha, Zecora!” Bloom said. She glanced over her shoulder fearfully for a moment, but quickly looked back. “I’m really lookin’ forward to spendin’ the rest of the day with you two, so let’s get goin’, already!” She kicked her legs in excitement.

“Hey now, no need to skedaddle already,” Mac said, setting Apple Bloom on the ground and looking over the other school children running out of the schoolhouse. “Was thinkin’ of droppin’ a hello to Cheerilee and meetin’ yer other classmates while I was here.”

Zecora nodded, brushing back a bang of hair behind her ear, then crossed her hands in front of her torso. “It’d be nice to meet them, I believe. Unless there’s a reason you want us to leave.”

“Oh, I, um… have a lot of homework to finish and I really wanna get it done right away.”

Mac scowled down at Apple Bloom. “Now don’tcha be lyin’ to me, Bloom. Ya never cared fer homework before. Now spill it, what’s the deal?”

Apple Bloom glanced towards the school doors, biting at her lip. “W-well, it’s… uh…”

“Apple Bloom!” a woman’s voice called out; The trio glanced over. A woman wearing a deep purple dress suit and short skirt stood at the top of the steps, standing tall over the sea of children. She strove forward confidently on her heels, her wavy rose-and-grey striped hair bouncing with every step. She adjusted the tie she wore under the suit with one flick of her hand, then pushed her narrow-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Don’t forget, you have detention tomorrow.”

“What the hell?” Mac blurted out, glaring at Apple Bloom. “What in tarnation did ya pull to get detention, Bloom?”

The woman crossed her arms under her sizable breasts and glanced over at the giant of a man. “She got into a fight with Diamond Tiara. And do try not to swear on school grounds, Macintosh.”

Gripping his hands hard into fists, Mac gritted his teeth. As his burst of anger faded, he nodded to the woman. “Sorry fer that, Miss Cheerilee. Won’t happen again.” Glancing back down at the fear filled Apple Bloom, he said, “Bloom, get in the truck. Yer grounded ‘til I say so, understand?”

“But she started it!” Apple Bloom whined, looking up at Mac and stomping a foot. “This ain’t fair!”

“That’s life, so ya better get used to it. Ya know troublemakin’ ain’t tolerated under my roof. I don’t care who started what, cause yer grounded regardless. Got it?”

“Ya know what? Fine!” she shouted back with a scowl, stomping towards the truck. Zecora seemed ready to call out to her, but stopped, glancing down at the ground and resting a hand on her stomach.

Cheerilee sighed, nodding towards Apple bloom. “I know you’re trying your best, Mac, but you do need to keep her a bit more in-check. You know how often she starts things with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara.” She put a hand to her temple. “Not that she’s a bad girl, by any means. You and I know that. She’s just a bit… opinionated.” The teacher gave a small, sideways smile as she brushed off one of her leggings. “Like someone I grew up with.”

Zecora picked up on who she meant. “That seems to me like such an odd claim. Macintosh is the definition of tame,” she replied, rubbing at her overshirt’s rolled-up sleeve.

“Well, now. He used to have a bit of a fire in him, back when we were dating,” Cheerilee explained. She glanced towards the farmer.

Big Mac gulped at a suddenly dry throat. “That was a long time ago, back when we were kids. Besides, I wasn’t that bad, was I?”

“Could have been worse,” Cheerilee agreed with a shrug. “It was fun, though, back when we were both kind of crazy.”

“You had you wild seeds in the past, it’s alright to say.” Zecora smiled. “But you know what? I like you better this way.” She gave a shrug of her own. “Any towering buffon can act like a ham…” She took his arm and entwined their fingers together. “But it’s amazing finding a giant with the heart of a lamb.”

“Aw shucks, yer spoilin’ me,” Mac chuckled, giving her a supportive squeeze with his hand as he blushed slightly. Glancing back at Cheerilee, he remembered why he was there and looked back at the truck that Apple Bloom was surely in by now. “Still, just cause I was wild in my young don’t mean Bloom has to either. My past ain’t gonna excuse her actions, so her goin’ without desserts a few nights will hopefully set her straight.”

“I’m sure it will. Say hi to your granny for me. I need to start detention.” Cheerilee gave a small wave to the two and turned, walking up the steps and into the school.

Zecora nodded towards the doors. “She’s pretty, and quite supportive of you. I’m surprised you didn’t see that relationship through.”

“Things got… rocky,” Mac muttered, shrugging his wide shoulders. “Just didn’t work out. But that don’t matter, now that I got ya.”

“Say no more, I don’t mean to pry. We can let this topic die.” She walked alongside him, towards the truck. “Though what you say is true: It doesn’t matter to me, since I have you.”

“Yeah, well, now we got a pissed off Bloom in the truck. Didn’t really mean to yell at her like that back there, but usually she’s better behaved than to pull off somethin’ as asinine as this. Got any ideas why she would?”

Zecora frowned, glancing at their entwined hands. “There is one idea that leaves my stomach in knots. But we’ll ask her–perhaps I worry for naught.”

“Girl can be just like her sister sometimes. More stubborn than a mule. So don’t be surprised if she ain’t gonna answer.”

Big Mac and Zecora made their way back to the truck, Mac seating himself in the front while Zecora helped position Apple Bloom on her lap. Turning the ignition on, Mac backed out of the schoolhouse and drove down the road back home.

It was Zecora who broke the silence of the truck. She glanced out the window, bit at her lip in thought, then spoke gently to the girl. “I know talking about it will be no fun, the fight is over, your deed is done. One thing that I’d like to make clear is why you fought with that girl, my dear?”

Bloom crossed her arms and huffed under her breath. “Cause she’s annoyin’, that’s why.”

Mac glanced at Apple Bloom in the corner of his eye as the truck rocked from another pothole.“Dammit, Bloom, if I fought with everyone that annoyed me I’d have half the town in a headlock already. Now just tell us why you were so peeved with Diamond to get detention over it.”

Zecora brushed a strand of hair behind Bloom’s ear. “I promise we will not attack. Answer for me, if not Mac.”

“She… she’s just a bully, okay?” Apple Bloom ran a hand across her cheek, sniffling under her breath. “I really don’t wanna talk ‘bout it…”

The tribal said nothing, instead attempting to comfort the girl before she started crying; she stroked Apple Bloom’s hair and held her tightly against her bosom, briefly sparing a concerned glance towards Macintosh.

Mac sighed, rubbing his forehead while still keeping one hand on the wheel. “Listen, Bloom, I’m yer brother. Even if I grounded ya, you still gotta remember I love ya and only want the best. Now, if there’s really a problem with this girl, tell me and I can probably hash it out with her parents or somethin’.”

Apple Bloom frowned. She looked down at the floor of the truck and mumbled something quietly under her breath.

“What was that? Gotta speak up now, Bloom.”

“She said you were datin’ a spear-chucker!” Apple Bloom shouted, clenching her wet eyes shut and gritting her teeth. “But Zecora’s not! She’s nice!”

A tense silence befell the truck, only broken by the vehicle’s loud engines. Mac’s hand clenched the wheel in a white knuckled grip as he stared at the road with a hardened expression. “Bloom, I’m comin’ to detention with ya tomorrow. And you bring me to Diamond Tiara, understand?” he said to her.

“Mac…” Zecora trailed off, looking towards him. She swallowed, resting a palm on his flexed shoulder. “T-there’s no need for an attack. I am a tribal–it’s simple fact. Though maybe the girl has manners that slack, you don’t have to do this for a lack of tact.”

“No… no, I ain’t gonna take this bullshit lying down!” Pointing a finger at Apple Bloom, he quickly said, “Don’t tell Jack or Granny ya heard that word from me, got it?”

“O-Okay,” the child agreed, wincing a little at his obvious anger.

“Also, I changed my mind. yer not grounded. Just don’t say a peep to Granny or Jack. Don’t need those two pokin’ into unwanted business.”

“So… it was alright fightin’ with her?” the child asked, tilting her head.

“No, that was still stupid, and I’ll ground you for real if you start pickin’ battles like a brute,” Mac replied. “Fightin’ ain’t gonna solve nothin’ in a situation like that. Callin’ yer big brother to handle it is. So just remember that next time.”

“Okay, Mac.”

Zecora bit again at her lip, seeming to want to add something, but quickly brushed it away with a sigh. She leaned her head against the passenger window and stared at the moving countryside.