Knight in Not-So Shining Armor
Neither a Squire, nor a Knight.
Applejack stepped into the kitchen, fanning herself with her stetson. Her entire body ached from bucking apples, and it finally felt good to stop for the day. Taking notice of a brown paper package sitting on the kitchen table- approaching it, she noticed Big Mac's name stamped on it. It wasn't too unusual, the farm had gone to Big Mac's name after she'd left for Manehattan. Made sense, after all- Granny, bless her heart, couldn't keep up with the farmwork, much less the taxes, without her there. Thus, Big Mac had had to grow up pretty darn fast to keep their livelihood.
Applejack winced, and picked up the package, inspecting it curiously.
"Mac? Y'all got a package." Applejack called, hoping her brother would hear her "Ah suppose it wouldn't hurt ta look..."
Removing the string with her teeth, Applejack then proceeded to unwrap the package. Inside, there was an assortment of brass and copper plates, as well as three small bolts of fabric.
'What'n the hoof could these be for?' she wondered to herself 'An' why would they be sent to Big Mac?'
"A.J., I got the cider press out a' the basement." MacIntosh rumbled, walking into the kitchen.
'Buck!' she swore.
"Is that mine?" Big MacIntosh asked, his voice just slightly raised.
'Buck, he's pissed...' Applejack groaned inwardly.
"Y-Yeah...I just thought I'd-"
"What? Look through mah mail?" Mac interrupted.
Applejack's ears slapped against her head, as she casted a downward glance.
"Big Mac-"
The red stallion passed her, collected the metal and cloth, and left the kitchen. She really hated it when MacIntosh got angry, he never really showed it. She wished at least he'd scream at her, at least then it'd be over and done with.
"Mac? Mac, come on! I'm sorry!" Applejack called, following him out to the east orchard.
"If y'all were really sorry, ya wouldn't a' gone through mah mail!" BIg Mac shot back.
'Oh thank Celestia...'
"Mac, y'all know I was just curious, can y'all really blame me fer that?"
Big Mac stopped, then gave a backwards glance.
"No, 'suppose I can't."
He then turned, and continued trotting further into the field.
"Wait a minute...where in Equestria d' ya think you're going now?" she called after him.
"Personal business," he called back "I'll be back before supper."
"Damn it, Mac!" she screamed after him "How can y'all expect me ta walk away from this? Ya barely say a full sentence!"
"Ah ain't a colt, A.J., I can tend ta mah business how I please."
Applejack grit her teeth, refusing to say something she might regret. Fair enough, MacIntosh was old enough to take care of himself, but he'd been closing himself off, recently.
"Mac..." she said, stopping.
"What?" he asked.
"How come we never...do anything anymore?"
Big Mac stopped, then once again, gave a backwards glance to his sister.
"What in hell are you talkin' about?"
"Well...it just seems like...we never talk- you, Applebloom, and I never get ta spend any real quality time together anymore..."
"The road trip?"
"Well...yeah, but that was last year- what about now? If y'all ain't workin', yer off doing Celestia-knows-what. Applebloom asks about you, y'know."
"..."
"I just...I don't know anymore..." Applejack said, her ears splaying back as she turned around, starting to trot back to the farmhouse.
"Sis..." Mac said after a moment.
"Yeah?" A.J. asked, turning back around.
"...I think it's about time I showed y'alll somethin'."
Curious, Applejack followed MacIntosh, the both of them delving further into the orchard.
"Mac- you feelin' alright? Y'all look like all the Zap Apple Jam went and disappeared."
"Fit as a fiddle, little sis." he sighed.
Applejack didn't believe him, but didn't question it, wanting to see what Mac was going to show her.
A medium-sized shed soon came into view, just past where the trees broke into a scattered mess. She knew this part of the orchard, Cheerilee often asked if unicorns-in-training could practice out here, since most all of the soil wasn't recycled, meaning it couldn't be used for farming. Applejack mentally added the chore to her list, glancing around the empty lot.
"Ah don't remember this bein' out here." Applejack stated, pointing to the small barn.
"It wasn't," Mac replied "I built in mah spare time..."
"All by yerself?" Applejack whistled "Damn, Mac! I knew you were strong, but...wow!"
"Sometimes ah come out here in mah spare time."
"So...this is where ya run off to?"
"Yeah..."
"Why?"
Big Mac let out a deep breath.
"Come on in, y'all already seen the outside."
"Mac, y'all don't have ta show me if ya don't want..." Applejack said, unsure if her brother actually wanted her to see what was inside the barn.
"Ah want to, an' ah have to." he replied simply, removing a key from beneath his wooden yolk.
Unlocking the door to the shed, he slowly pushed it open, and trotted inside.
Applejack followed, hesitantly stepping in.
Big Mac set the metal and cloth on a workbench sitting to the right of the doorway, flicking the lightswitch up.
Applejack gasped as she took notice of a dirtied suit of armor, all copper and brass. The head of the armor was built for a stag, clearly indicated by the antlers.
"What the hell is that?" Applejack asked, staring slack-jawed at the armor.
"It's...it's..." Mac fumbled "it's a Big Stag costume..."
"What in the hay is a Big Stag?" Applejack asked, staring at the suit, befuddled.
"It's a pony inside a suit like this, it's from...PsychoShock..."
"I've heard a' that, is that one of them new arcade machines?"
"Yeah, it's got a bit of a fanbase..." Big Mac stated "I just fashioned this one out of the scrap metal lyin' around the farm."
"It sure is somethin' Mac," Applejack said "but...is what ya spend yer time doin'? Makin' fancy costumes?"
"AJ, I don't get any time to myself, I need somethin' ta do." Big Mac stated flatly.
"I don't have anythin' against it!" Applejack shouted, tired of her brother's attitude.
"Well that's just fine an' dandy then, AIN'T IT?!" Big Mac shouted "I wanted somethin' ta make me feel like I'm actually worth a damn around here!"
"What the...have you been snorting Poison Joke, Mac?" Applejack asked "Where the hell did you get the idea yer not needed?"
"Ah...Ah just...there ain't nothin' for me to do 'round here anymore, 'sides the farmwork. You, AB, and ah never spend time together- half th' time yer off gallivantin' with you're friends to save all a' Equestria...an' that just leaves me here on th' farm."
"Well...what about Granny?" Applejack asked, wincing at the lame excuse.
Mac shot her a flat look, showing his disagreement with her statement.
"AJ...I knew this was a bad idea..." he stated, his eyes pointed to the floor "I knew y'all wouldn't understand..."
"I understand, Mac!"
"Then why don't ya ever SHOW IT?!"
"I DON'T KNOW- MAYBE BECAUSE YOU'RE SHYER 'N FLUTTERSHY AT THE GALA!!"
"MAYBE I WOULDN'T BE THIS WAY IF YOU HADN'T LEFT US!!!"
That was it, the horseshoe had dropped- MacIntosh covered his muzzle with a hoof, regretting what he'd just said.
Applejack turned, and stormed out the door.
"I LOVE YOU, YOU STUBBORN BASTARD!" she screamed, rampaging toward the farmhouse.
"I LOVE YOU TOO, YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS MULE!" he shouted back, slamming the door to his sanctuary.
'Damn, I love our family...' the siblings thought at once.
Author's Note
I wanted to do this to get back into writing, finals have been killing me- and...I wanted to give you something to pass the time. This started out as a good idea, then I went and wrote it, so- enjoy!