The Horse Collar

Big Macintosh groaned deeply, thrusting himself forward. Sweat trickled down his brow as he loosed a roaring moan. He put all his bucking strength into each thrust, hammering his weight forward mercilessly. He was out of breath and sore, but he couldn't stop now. He was so close to finishing. With a final volley he thrusted again and again, plowing harder and harder. Until finally... finally... he reached the end of the field.

Applejack smiled at her brother, "Hoo-wee, that's some mighty fine plowin' Big Mac. That new horse collar sure is doin' ya right."

Big Macintosh looked back at his perfectly straight trench with satisfaction, nodded sagely, and replied, "Yeeup."

Applejack smirked, "Naw whaddid ah tell ya? I told ya Zecora would have a horse collar. You said there was no way but ah knew better. Let this be a lesson always to trust yer little sis when she tells ye what's what. Ain't that right?"

Applejack sure was milking this one. He still thought it was pretty absurd that a medicine zebra from deep in the forest would have horse collars, but he couldn't argue with results, and it saved him from having to make a trip down to the Barnyard Bargains on the other side of town.

Big Mac wasn't one for fussin' over a little friendly gloating He had been known to do it himself when the tables were turned, so he nodded sagely once again, and replied, "Yeeup."

Big Mac reached back to start untying himself from the plow, letting his haunches drop to the ground while he worked at the knots in the thick brown rope.

Applejack wasn't quite done teasing Big Mac. She slipped up next to him with a smug smirk. "And it's black too, and covered with markin's. It's quite a fashion statement ah'll tell ya. Ah bet Fluttershy's gonna notice it don't you?" She sang the last sentence like a playground taunt.

One thing that was surprising about big mac was that, despite his vibrant red coat, you could still see him blush; quite easily in fact. He flushed right up as Applejack started teasing him over his crush. He wondered why he ever confided in her. He must have known this was coming.

Applejack gave Big Mac a soft little punch on the shoulder to drive her point home. It sure was fun to torment her big brother. He was a good sport after all.

Big Mac finally removed his ropes, and turned to make his way toward the orchard. He turned back to Applejack, "Apples need buckin' Ye comin?"

Applejack was staring off into space next to the abandoned plow.

Big Mac furrowed his brow. "Applejack?"

Applejack seemed incredibly distracted, but she heard Big Mac just fine. "Sure. Yeah," she replied with hushed distraction, and started walking off toward the orchard, past the dumbfounded Big Mac.

He hummed softly. Something seemed to have gotten under her fur. Perhaps she was worried that she went too far with the teasing? Perhaps it was something he said or did?

In the end he decided he should just count his blessings and be happy that she's not mocking him unmercifully anymore.

Big Mac caught up with Applejack, and sauntered casually toward the field, before blinking as Applejack suddenly doubled back. She trotted straight back over toward the plow, and assumed the same position she was standing in when she first spaced out. She started wiggling her hips and rolling her shoulders, reaching out an arm and squirming.

Big Mac was certain now. Her sister had lost her marbles.

"Watchy'all doin?"

Applejack was overtaken by a sudden and furious blush at the question. "Ain't nothin'!" she cried out. She developed a very perturbed and embarrassed expression at being asked.

Big Mac was worried now. He marched over to applejack, leaned in, and pushed his head into her rump, forcing her forward. "Comeon' It's atime for buckin'"

Applejack gasped sharply, and jammed her hooves into the dirt. Big Mac was astonished. Applejack had never resisted this hard before! She would always just get a move on after a gentle nudge. What had gotten into her? He jammed his head forward again with little success, and then pulled back with a sigh.

There it was again. That spaced out expression. This time her brow was furrowed hard and she was heaving heavy breaths, and Big Mac was getting frustrated.

"Fine. Stay here." he said grumpily, and he moved off to take care of his chores.

Big Mac set about his daily apple bucking. He was quite content about it. There was something about taking care of the farm that filled him with contentment. Perhaps it was the simplicity of it all. There wasn't anything complicated or stressful about his job. He had the ability to seek a zen like peace while he was on the field. The sweet art of repetition was food for his soul.

His routine, however, was interrupted by Applejack, carrying a picnic basket in her mouth. She ran up to him excitedly, brandishing the picnic basket containing a fresh squeezed lemonade. He blinked at it. Applejack was getting stranger by the moment. "Now you tell me what's goin' on sis." he said critically, squinting at her.

Applejack set down the lemonade and gasped a feigned gasp that would put Rarity to shame. "Why, now ah needs an excuse to do somethin' nice for mah big brother?

Big Mac squinted suspiciously. He took the lemonade and sipped on it. It didn't taste like it was spiked with poison joke. What was the deal?

Applejack fidgeted. "Ain't ... Ain't you gonna sit down? Relax?"

Big Mac's squint was getting paper thin now, but he walked over to the shade of a tree, and sat down, leaning up against it.

Applejack bounded in, and sat beside Big Mac, nestling up tight, cuddling him cheek to chest.

Big Mac's fur all stood on end, he nearly coughed lemonade out his nose.

"Naw what ye doin'?" he cried.

Applejack seemed a little distracted, but after a moment she said, "What? Ahm not allowed ta sit next tah my big brother?"

"Ye know dern well what ahm talkin' bout, sis."

Applejack didn't respond. She just kept cuddling in close. She was taking sharp breaths now, and closing her eyes tightly. Before long they started getting really sharp, and trembling.

"What ye doin' Applejack? Yer scarin' me."

Applejack's body suddenly twitched and curled. She broke into a stiff, arching stretch, and at the tip of her stretch, convulsed, releasing a sharp, sultry, "Hahh!!" with each twitch.

Big Mac jumped away from her like she was on fire. There was a scent in the air. It was a scent he didn't believe and didn't want to acknowledge. He stared at his little sister with his jaw slack. "Ahm tellin ye, yer sick and yer scarin' me! Now we're gonna get you inside right naw!"

Applejack looked up. Her cheeks were very flushed and her lips and ears seemed a little redder. Her eyes were half lidded and she was trembling. She released a very satisfied sounding sigh, then furrowed her brow. She looked aside, then up at Big Mac, then aside. Her expression was filled with shame. "Ah.. heh. 'Twas a joke. Ye shoulda seen yer face!"

Big Mac couldn't have been any less convinced.

Still, he was going take any opportunity to end this awkward situation right now. "Good one Applejack. Ye really had me going."

Applejack couldn't have been any less convinced.

Still, she wasn't going to belabor the conversation. "Well. Good luck with the apple buckin'."

Big Mac backed away slowly, leaving his bushels behind and heading to another tree. "Right."

Applejack agreed, getting up and heading toward the farm house. "Right."

Big Mac reiterated, "Right," before finally getting out of earshot.

The lemonade rested peacefully in its basket in the shade.