A work horse's beating heart

Big Macintosh woke up to the sound of rooster's crowing. Pulling himself up, the stallion slid on his iconic yoke and groggily, still waking up, walked into the kitchen. He looked around; no one was in. Seeing this, he sat down on a small Oak chair and had a hearty breakfast of Apple foods. During eating, Macintosh saw a hastily scribbled note on the table.

When we woyk up you were asleep.

Weve already started bucking without you

Mac's eyes slammed open. That was right! He needed to hurry, AppleJack won't be able to clear the orchard by herself. Stuffing away his leftovers, Macintosh hurried out the door towards the west field. Slowing from his breakneck speed, Mac walked in to the small forest of trees, and began searching for his younger sisters. Soon, he started hearing a distinct thump!and headed towards where it was coming from. After pushing through a few bushes, he found AppleJack and AppleBloom picking up and then putting down apples in a wooden cart. Applejack noticed her brother, and put down the apples she was carrying.

"Hey Big Mac"

She wiped her brow with her hoof. Mac noticed they both looked very tired. Concerned, he walked up to both ponies.

"I can take the cart"

Applejack looked at her older brother as if he was her savior

"That would be nice"

Hooking the cart to his harness, Macintosh left the two ponies to their Apple-bucking and set off down a path that led back to the barn. Halfway down the path, Mac realized he could here the pounding of an apple tree being bucked again. Weird, he thought to himself. I must be hearing things. But as Macintosh started down the dirt path again, it started to become louder. Mac knew there was no way his sisters had gotten this far already. Unhinging himself from the cart, Mac decided to check what the noise was. It took a few minutes, but when he was just about to see what it was, he heard a voice.

"Hey! That's not yours!"

Big Macintoshes ears flattened. There was no denying it, that was Ditzy's voice. A second or two later, a voice responded

"So? What are you going to do about it, Derpy?"

This comment was followed by a few mean laughs. Mac took a tentative step forward, and pushed aside some plants that we're blocking his view. Walking in to the scene, Mac saw Ditzy hovering in the air, looking like she was going to cry. On the ground next to her we're two other Pegasi. One of them was brown,  with a white mane and a dumbbell for his cutie mark. The other pony was a caramel colour and had brown hair. Another thing that made Mac angry was the two new ponies we're eating apples. stealing apples. Of course, once or twice a month somepony would use the cheap-albeit, illegal-way of getting food. Macintosh stamped a hoof down, and than the brown pony noticed Mac. Instead of being scared, as most intruders on Sweet Apple Acres were, he just gave an evil grin.

"Oh look, it's her coltfriend"

This got a couple of snorts from the bullies. then Dumb-Bell approached even closer towards Mac. Macintosh got a small glimpse of Ditzy, who looked like she was even closer to crying, and then Mac's view was blocked by the brown Pegasus.

"Awww, we're going to have a little love fest over here"

The Stallion continued mock Mac. Speaking over the bully's voice Macintosh threatened him

"Leave now"

The brown pretended to be scared

"Oh no, he's going to hurt me"

Then both bullies doubled over with laughter. A moment later, Mac charged Dumbbell, only to nearly fall has the Pegasus shot up in the air. Then he just sat down on top of one of the apple tree's (can't get me now!)

The thing was, Mac could. With a forceful kick to the tree's base, the Pegasus came crashing down on his head. Surprised by what had just happened, the  other bully didn't even attempt to dodge the powerful pony knocking into him.

"Mac! Behi-"

Macintosh didn't hear the rest of what Ditzy was saying before he got the air knocked out of him. Panting, was a very angry faced on top of him.

"You're going to die, you little foal!"

With that, Dumbbell launched his hind legs into Mac's stomach. Soon, both ponies we're rolling on the ground fighting. Nearby, Ditzy was crying and screaming "stop!", but her efforts we're futile. Eventually, the wait on top of Mac was thrown off, and standing there was AppleJack. Next to her AppleBloom was trying to calm Ditzy down. Getting up, he saw the trespassers must have fled. AppleJack had a disbelieving face on, still not completely sure what was happening. Macintosh eventually came over to Ditzy, and put her in a tight hug. Soon her heartbeat had returned to normal, and managed to give Mac a thanks before he was poked in the side. Turning his head, he saw his younger sister, AppleJack, before she asked him angrily

"What was that?!"

He huffed a little sigh, but made a small gesture towards Ditzy first. AJ looked at her, an awkward look on her face.

"Well, you can stay at our home, uh, if you need to"

Ditzy made a small nod

"Thanks"

Even though the grey mare was basically in shock, AppleJack seemed a little hesitant

"It's just we're a bit busy, but i g-"

Macintosh spoke up,

"I can take her home"

AppleJack looked at them both, but eventually just nodded a "yes" and started back towards the west field, with AppleBloom trailing behind her. Staying right beside Macintosh, Ditzy spoke up

"Thanks you for helping me"

Trying not to be rude, Mac made a nodding motion. But still had a question on his mind.

"Why we're you here anyways?"

Blushing furiously, gave a quiet response.

"Uh, I was actually here to watching you, and then they showed up"

Inwardly, Macintosh smiled at this, then pressed on a bit more.

"Who we're those two, anyway?"

Looking a bit angry, she explained Dumbbell and Hoops, who basically bullied everyone.

"-But iv'e never seen him fight anypony, like he did with you."

Arriving back at home, Macintosh led them in. With a concerning face, he asked

"Don't you need to get Dinky?"

Ditzy looked up from the chair she was sitting on.

"No"

She said with a sad face

"She's camping with her friends"

With an apologetic response, Mac wen't to make dinner for their guest.

Managing to avoid AppleJack (and everyone else in the family) when they got back-right after Ditzy and Mac had eaten-Macintosh looked at Ditzy.

"You'll have to sleep in my bed, it's the only big-enough for two ponies we have"

She looked back at Macintosh.

"Okay," she responded with.

Managing to comfortably lay in bed with Ditzy, Mac nearly instantly fell asleep against her warm fur. Enjoying these last few moments of consciousness, he let

himself go under.