Gathering the Elements

Some ponies looked good drenched in sweat. But not just any sweat. The hard-won sweat that came from a singular desire to surpass their body's limits. The kind of sweat that came with gritted teeth and tense muscles. The kind that only came when a pony teetered on the edge of collapse. As Rainbow Dash peered down from her cloud a few feet above Sweet Apple Acres, hand over her eyes to block the light of the rising sun, she decided that Macintosh was one of those ponies.

Steam rose off his body into the cold morning air, and more came from every exhale. A leather harness wrapped around Mac's chest, and a heavy chain attached the harness to a sled built of steel beams and rebar that was as long as he was tall and half as wide. Several thick pieces of corded rope strapped dozens of heavy sheets of iron to the sled. Mac dragged the sled up one of the many hills on the farm, his posture low, the sled leaving deep furrows wherever he dragged it.

Who knew his eyes could look so intense? It was a welcome change from Mac's usual stoic, half-lidded eyes. Sure, Rainbow Dash had seen him get serious before, but she never saw him look so...hungry. It was the same look Spitfire had when she spotted the finish line a few dozen feet away. An intense stare that welled with primal desire.

And it looked like Rainbow Dash wasn't the only one enjoying the show. On the Apple family's porch, Rarity look on, her elbow on the railing as her hand supported her chin. Yeah, Rainbow Dash recognized that look too. That bit lip and that glazed over, fifty-yard gaze she always had when she was having one of those romantic daydreams about another pony. Of course, they never did turn out well, did they? The Grand Galloping Gala incident came to the forefront of Rainbow Dash's mind, and a snicker sneaked past her lips.

Well then, she couldn't just leave this perfect opportunity for a bit of teasing go to waste, now could she? With a lazy roll, Rainbow Dash fell from her cloud and unfurled her wings to float down to earth right beside the farmstead stairs. Rarity, so engrossed in her daydream, didn't even notice her. Not even when Dash walked up those steps and leaned on the railing right beside Rarity, did the unicorn give Dash so much as a glance.

Now, while sharing Rarity's vantage point, there was no mistaking who her eyes followed. The view looked even nicer from the railing. In junior speedsters they would always tell Dash and the other students to fall on their butt in order to cushion a fall. If Macintosh did that, he would probably break the ground into a million little pieces.

"Pretty unfair how his jeans are so low you can see the top of his cutie mark," Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh, don't get me star–" Rarity stopped midsentence, acutely aware of her surroundings all of a sudden. She whipped her head to Rainbow Dash with a scowl and hot cheeks. "Dash! Just what are you doing here?"

"Hangin' out," Rainbow Dash said with a lazy shrug, her eyes never leaving the drops of sweat collecting and then dripping from Macintosh's chin. "Gotta hand it to ya, Rarity, I never thought you'd be the kind to have sexy thoughts about Mac. Thought you went more for those," Rainbow Dash fanned the air as she thought of the right words, "wealthy, pretty-boy, romantic types."

The red on Rarity's cheeks deepened. "I was not fantasizing about Big Macintosh." Then, in a whisper, "And if we must talk about him can we please lower our voices? The last thing I want is for Applejack to hear us and get angry."

"Angry? What, for thinking about Big Macintosh naked?"

"Eeyup."

Rainbow Dash and Rarity inched their heads to look over their shoulders. Applejack stood in the front doorway, a large basket of crumpled laundry in her arms.

"You’re policing our thoughts now?" Rainbow Dash asked. She turned fully around so her back now leaned against the railway.

"Ain't no strand off my tail what you think about," Applejack said. "Heck, if you wanna start something romantic with Mac, then I'd actually be pretty happy. But if you go behind my back Ah'll–"

"I know, I know," Dash said. "You'll dropkick me to the moon."

"Right, so why don't you go ogle someone else's brother?" Applejack said, heading down the stairs. "Like Twilight's."

"Shining Armor?" Rainbow Dash said with a smirk. "No way, he's way too much of a goody-two-shoes."

Applejack stared at Rainbow Dash with half-lidded eyes. "Ya do realize you're an Element of Harmony, right? Yer way more of a goody-two-shoes than he is."

"I think what Rainbow Dash means is that he's much too...'by the book'," Rarity offered. "His physique is top notch but he seems a bit uptight."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Well then what about Flu–"

"It's too bad no one else in our group has a brother," Rainbow Dash said.

"But Flutt–"

"Yes, quite a shame. Such a shame," Rarity agreed with a solemn nod.

"Why're you so hung up on your brother's love life anyway?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning the brunt of the conversation against Applejack. "You, uh, got some taboo desires to share with us or something?"

Applejack frowned. "The only 'taboo desire' I got is the desire to slug ya across the face. Now if yer done lookin' at my brother like a starving dog at a bone, you can just fly along home."

Rainbow Dash clicked her tongue and crossed her arms. "Jeez, Mac isn't even my type." She looked over at Macintosh again. Still, if she had never met Mac before today, and him pulling that sled was the first time she saw him. She'd probably say he was pretty...cool, or something like that. "What's he doing anyway?"

"Training for the draft races," Applejack said.

"Huh, really?" Rainbow Dash looked over at Mac again. He certainly had the strength to do the sled races, but she never really thought of him as the competitive type. With that said, however, she couldn't help but notice how slowly he pulled the sled. Could he really win a race, even a race of strength, with that sorry speed?

An idea started to form in Dash's head. An idea shaped by her competitive spirit and made solid by a strange curiosity. What was going through that big lug's mind when he pulled that sled behind him? What made his face go all intense like that?

"He looks like he's having a bit of trouble," Rainbow Dash said. "You know, since I'm such an awesome friend and athlete, maybe I should help him out a little. Give him a little coaching or something."

Rarity and Applejack stared at her. Seconds passed without a word, and the awkward silence made even Rainbow Dash feel a little bit uncomfortable. She looked back and forth between her two friends.

"What?"

Rather than answer her, Rarity and Applejack exchanged a look. Rainbow Dash didn't really understand what the look meant, she only knew that she didn't like it one bit.

"Ah ain't so sure whether he'll want your help," Applejack said.

"Of course he will," Rainbow Dash said. "Everyone knows he has a huge crush on me."

"Beg pardon?" Applejack said.

"He'll probably say 'yes' just to be around me," Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to ask," Rarity said. After a quick jump down the porch steps, Rarity was beside Applejack and hurriedly picked up the basket of dirty laundry. "Here Applejack, let me help you with that." They headed off toward the barn where the washing machine waited. As their boots kicked up dust, Rainbow Dash could swear she heard Applejack say something about 'brown-nosing' and 'competition'.

Dash shrugged off the pair's strange behavior. Honestly, it wasn't as if this was the first time Rarity or Applejack did something weird. Usually it was for some silly reason anyway, so why sweat? After that bit of self-assurance, Rainbow Dash leapt over the railing and took to the air. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right. She flew over to him, alighting on the sled.

Despite the added weight, Macintosh didn't stop pulling. He hardly even noticed his new passenger. Rainbow Dash tapped her foot hard against the sled, hard enough to make a distinct ring on the metal, but neither the sound nor vibration of iron and steel was enough to distract Macintosh. Okay, now she was getting a little ticked. Here she was willing to give the guy a sure shot at winning and in return he was ruining her super cool entrance. Looks like she would have to use a direct approach.

"Hey Big Mac, turn around!" Dash called out, but still he kept his focus straight ahead. Okay, then a more direct approach. With a great flap of her wings Rainbow Dash jumped onto Mac's shoulders, balancing precariously on his muscles like a hawk on the face of a cliff.

Macintosh froze, and Dash kept perfect balance as he rose to stand tall and straight. His hand rose up to shield his eyes from the sun as he tilted his head up. The look in his eyes had relaxed back to their usual half-lidded state.

"Today's your lucky day, Mac," Dash said with a grin as she pointed to his face. "Because I'm so cool and nice, I decided to help you out with your racing thing. There's no way you'll lose with me training you." She hopped off and landed next to Mac, her back to him, her eyes focused on the horizon obscured by apple trees. "First thing we do is a hundred push-ups, a hundred squats, a hundred sit-ups, and a five mile run. After that warm up, we can start on the real training and work on building up your strength."

No response came from the draft pony, not even his usual vocabulary. Confused, Rainbow Dash turned around. Macintosh's face was rapt in befuddlement and tilted slightly to one side. Dash's body posture deflated. Her shoulders sunk and she hung her head. This would be so much cooler if she didn't have to explain it.

"I was watching you pull the sled, and I think I can help you win the draft races. Train you, give you tips, that kind of stuff. You know, like a coach."

"Nope."

"What? What do you mean 'nope'?" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Don't you wanna win?"

"Eeyup," he said.

"Then you need me!"

"Nope," Big Macintosh said and he pulled the sled past her, continuing up the hill.

Dash clenched her fists. "Yeah you do! If you really think you can win pulling that sled at that speed, then you're even dumber than you look."

Macintosh stopped and looked over his shoulder. His eyes remained completely stoic. His calm demeanor only made Rainbow Dash angrier. Damn it, couldn't that stupid stallion show some emotion? If he sneered, or scowled, or yelled, at least she could read him. At least she could have the satisfaction of knowing she got under his skin. When he remained calm like that, even when faced with the coolest, angriest pegasus in Equestria, it made her feel like her anger wasn't even worth a damn thing.

Macintosh undid his harness and bundled it into his right hand. Without so much as a grunt he hauled the sled toward the barn with much more speed than Rainbow Dash ever saw him reach with the harness around his chest. In fact, his face and posture made it seem like he was pulling at a feather on a string.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash yelled at him. "What's the big idea? I thought you were having trouble pulling that thing."

Macintosh stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I was."

"Then why's it so easy for you now?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Macintosh continued dragging the sled. "I ain't pullin' it."

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth. "Are you kidding me? That doesn't make any sense." She crossed her arms over her chest and spat. "You really do need me to coach you."

Macintosh opened his mouth to say something, but at the last moment decided against it. He continued on his way to the barn.

"Hey! I know you were gonna say something, so say it," Rainbow Dash called out. "I can take it."

He ignored her. Rainbow Dash stomped the ground and twisted her foot back and forth as if squishing a small bug. With a huff and ruffled feathers, Rainbow Dash headed back the way she came. She was glad that she didn't have to suffer through Applejack's 'I told you so' smirk.

"Oh my goodness, they're so adorable," Rarity squealed as she looked at the dozen or so suckling piglets. Their mother lay on her side in a section of the pen partitioned by horizontal steel bars. While there was plenty of room for the piglets to reach their mother's teats, the little things couldn't slip through. Rarity leaned against the gate along with Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. Fluttershy unlocked the gate to get inside the pen, but Rarity quickly stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Oh wait, sweetie," Rarity said. "Do you think perhaps I could pick up the piglets?"

Fluttershy lowered her head, unsure (as she usually was). She looked over at Macintosh, and he gave her a nod.

"Okay," Fluttershy said, "just be careful. You need to approach them slowly and pick them up gently."

"Of course, of course!" Rarity said with a grin. She handed her the notebook and stepped inside. The piglets had finished eating and, like all babies, once full they cuddled together for a nap. Those beady black eyes and the way they buried their little noses under each other made Rarity's heart melt. She tiptoed to the pile of hay where they made their bed, reached down with both hands, and grabbed one of the bigger ones.

It screamed bloody murder at Rarity's touch and thrashed violently in her hands. With a yelp, Rarity dropped the piglet and jumped back. Awoken by the distressed screaming, the other piglets ran about in a panic. The entire pig pen soon filled with snorts, grunts, and screams, and Rarity had to cover her ears. Thankfully, with a little help from Fluttershy, the noise died down, and the piglets slept once again.

"What happened?" Rarity asked. "I was as gentle as I could be."

"Um, I think you scared them," Fluttershy said. "Try nudging them awake first."

Rarity nodded and tried again. This time she made sure the piglet was well aware of her before picking it up. While it still struggled to get free, there were no high pitched squeals. Once she handed the piglet to Fluttershy, it relaxed completely. Rarity supposed some ponies were just naturally better with animals.

Fluttershy placed the piglet on a mechanical scale, and Macintosh wrote down its weight and defining features. Once done, Fluttershy placed the piglet back inside the pen, and the cycle continued all over again. Rarity was quite happy with her position, despite the occasional squeal. It gave her a chance to take notice of Fluttershy and Big Macintosh as they weighed the piglets together.

Of all the Elements of Harmony (sans Applejack, of course), Fluttershy knew Macintosh the best. They had been acquaintances before the Elements of Harmony were even a daily fact of life. Not to mention that they made such an attractive couple. Both had physiques that many would find very...enviable, including Rarity on one of her not-so-fabulous days. And both were quite averse to speaking, though their aversion stemmed from two very different places. Not to mention they had a shared interest in animals. Even now, they both looked over the piglet with an exacting eye, looking for any sign of ill health. Rarity could just imagine them running a little farm out in the country. Fluttershy would feed and care for the animals while Macintosh did the heavy labor, and at night, well...

"Um, Rarity, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.

Rarity blinked and came back into the moment. "What?"

"You've been staring off into space for a whole minute," Fluttershy said.

"Silly me," Rarity said with a forced chuckle, "I must have been daydreaming. How many more piglets are left?"

Fluttershy pointed to the smallest piglet set a little apart from the others, and Rarity's heart leapt into her throat. It was just so incredibly tiny and delicate and cute and it's hooves were absolutely minuscule. Rarity didn't hesitate to scoop it up in her hand, and to her absolute delight it didn't squirm or scream. All it did was nuzzle and bury its nose in her curled palm where it fit quite easily.

"Oh my goodness, she's so precious!" Rarity said in an excited whisper. "Look at her, she actually likes me. I know! I'll give her a name." She held up the piglet and gazed into its eyes. "I'll call you Cotton. Isn't that a wonderful name? Well, of course it is. It came from me, didn't it?"

"Rarity...can I see her?" Fluttershy asked as she held out her arms. Rarity wondered why she looked so worried. With great care she gave Fluttershy the piglet, and Fluttershy cradled it in her arms. She placed a hand against its chest, and felt around its stomach. Fluttershy's face fell as she examined the piglet. "Rarity I...don't think Cotton is doing well."

"What?" Rarity quickly went to get a closer look. She gingerly traced a finger down the piglet back and for the first time realized how cold it felt to the touch. "What's wrong, is she sick?"

"I don't think so," Fluttershy said, "but I can't really tell what's wrong with the poor dear."

"Ain't nothing wrong," Macintosh said. He shut his notebook and stood up. "Just a runt is all. Born weak, probably didn't get enough milk for whatever reason, got rejected by its mama. Best to just put it out of its misery and be done with it."

"Absolutely not," Rarity said. She took the piglet from Fluttershy and held it close to her chest. "Macintosh, how can you be so cruel? We should at least try to care it back to health. It deserves that much."

Macintosh sighed and ran a hand through his mane. "If you want to help it so bad, then make sure to keep it warm while I go get the milk replacer."

Macintosh left the pens, and Rarity kept the piglet close to her in order to give it much needed heat.

"Can you believe him?" Rarity grumbled half to Cotton and half to Fluttershy. "I never expected him to think so little of animals."

Fluttershy stared at the door where Macintosh took his exit. "He's probably seen this a lot, I think," she said. "Maybe he just doesn't want to get attached?"

"Well honestly your guess is as good as mine," Rarity said. “All I know is that there’s no way I’m ever leaving Cotton alone with him. The last thing I need is for Cotton to become an unlucky Wilbur.”

It didn't take long at all for Macintosh to come back with a bottle of warm milk. He gave the bottle to Rarity, and Cotton drank the formula greedily.

"Oh good, it still has an appetite," Fluttershy said.

"See?" Rarity told Macintosh. "It still has an appetite, and you wanted to kill it."

Macintosh didn't say anything and only gave Fluttershy a large tin can with a picture of a cartoon pig on it. "Make sure you feed it every three hours." He gave Rarity one last, unreadable look before taking leave once again. Probably to finish the rest of his chores.

Rarity smiled and looked down at Cotton as she drank, but her face quickly fell as she realized that she was completely unprepared to care for a little piglet. Where would she even find time to feed her every three hours? Rarity had a mountain of chores to do, and where would she even keep a piglet between feedings? In a cold pen? Would the Apple family allow pigs in the house?

"It's okay, Rarity. I'll help you take care of it," Fluttershy said, reading the panic in Rarity's face.

"Oh thank you, thank you," Rarity said with a grateful hug that squeezed the piglet between them. Cotton finished her bottle just as Rarity released Fluttershy. "If you could just take care of her for the day, I would be so grateful. Bring her back around sunset, I'll have all my chores done by then and be able to take her off your hands." Without waiting for Fluttershy's reply, she handed the piglet to her.

"Oh, um, okay," Fluttershy said, shuffling to cradle the piglet while holding the large can in her dainty hands. "I'll, uh...do that."

"Wonderful, I'll see you then," Rarity waved goodbye as she exited the pens to start her chores. Thank goodness for friends like Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash grumbled at the counter in Sugarcube Corner as if it had rejected her and not Macintosh, but it only made her angrier. Even a stupid laminate countertop would know well enough to take her up on free training. She tried not to think about it too much, heck, that was the reason she was in Sugarcube Corner to begin with, but not even a tasty jelly-filled donut could lift her spirits. Her motivation had grown from simple curiosity. Now, Dash wanted to coach that idiot because of curiosity, pride, and spite.

Dash stared at the back wall while Mrs. Cake busied herself with mixing batter, giving Dash all the space and silence she needed. Unfortunately, Pinkie had the day off today and was busy planning a birthday party, as usual.

The batter became a frosted cake by the time Mrs. Cake's maternal disposition no longer allowed her to stand idly by while Dash sulked. She hurried through the back door and into the kitchen. When she returned, it was with a plate of chocolate covered eclairs that she swept down in front of Rainbow Dash.

"Is there something the matter dear?" Mrs. Cake asked.

The plate of eclairs easily tempted Rainbow Dash. "Well..." She stuffed an eclair into her mouth, but her agitation made the chocolate stale in her mouth. She scowled at the inconvenience that stupid red stallion put her through. "It's just this thing with Big Macintosh. He's doing this draft race or something, but he's really bad at it. I offered to help, but he didn't want it." Rainbow Dash blew a tuft of rainbow hair away from her eyes. "Usually I’d just call him an idiot and forget about it, but I got this feeling that he thinks me coaching him will make him lose. I gotta prove him wrong, you know?"

"The draft horse races?" Mrs. Cake gave Dash a quizzical look. "I'm sorry, dearie, but aren't you a stunt pony? That's a little different than a draft pony, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but I know all about the training pro athletes do to get stronger. A lot more than a lot of ponies, I bet. Plus, the ponies that do know all about that stuff usually charge a hundred bits an hour or more, and I'm doing it for free. Besides, it's literally nothing but pulling a sled uphill, how hard can it be?"

Mrs. Cake chuckled. "Oh, that's not the first time I've heard that. Did you know that I was a draft pony once upon a time?"

"You were a draft pony?" Rainbow Dash gawked, mouth open. She quickly caught herself and shook her head to regain composure. "But you're, I mean, I can't really imagine..." Rainbow Dash trailed off, unwilling to dig her grave any deeper. She wanted to be as close to the sky as possible.

"It was a long time ago," Mrs. Cake said with a gentle smile. She went to a shelf of cookbooks against the wall, and took out a photo album hidden there. She set it on the counter and flipped through until she was a little toward the back. There, spread amongst the two pages, were several pictures of a very muscular Mrs. Cake.

Rainbow Dash's jaw went slack once again as she saw what looked like Mrs. Cake's face slapped onto Big Macintosh's build. Dash raised her head to look at the Mrs. Cake of the here and now, and at her more motherly frame.

"I...what happened?"

Mrs. Cake shrugged as she flipped through the book to look at more pictures. She smiled softly in nostalgia. "Nothing exciting. I retired, met a cute baker who made the best coffee cake I ever tasted, got married, and had children. Draft racing is for younger ponies really. Any older ponies that want to stay with the sport usually go into coaching or organizing local races." Mrs. Cake closed the book and tenderly put it back amidst the cookbooks.

"I'm surprised Big Macintosh is racing again," Mrs. Cake continued. "Especially after what happened in his last race."

"What happened?" Dash asked.

"He quit."

"He quit!?"

Mrs. Cake nodded. "He was eligible for the half-ton race while he was still in the junior division, first pony to ever do it, but he quit right after the race started. I still remember it. The starting gates opened, Macintosh pulled his sled right up to the start of the first hill, he looked up at it, and then dropped his chains and left the course. He didn't say a word, he didn't even look upset."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure," Mrs. Cake said as she sifted flour into a new bowl. "It's still a pretty big mystery in the draft race circles. Gosh, you should hear some of the rumors."

Rainbow Dash tapped the counter in thought. "Maybe if I find out why he quit, I could use it to convince him to let me train him," Rainbow Dash mused more to herself than to Mrs. Cake. "That’s it! I’ll confront him about it." She stood up fully intending to fly to Sweet Apple Acres, but Mrs. Cake's voice stopped her.

"Actually dear, knowing Macintosh, I think you’d have better luck being honest with him,” she said.

“Honest?” Rainbow Dash repeated.

“Yes, just explain to him why you would make a good coach.”

Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin. Well, that certainly would be much easier to do than talk to Mac about why he quit.

“And maybe you should wait until tomorrow?" Mrs, Cake added. "It's a bit late for visits, isn't it?"

Rainbow Dash looked out the window at the sleepy town drenched in red and orange light. Mrs. Cake had a point. Big Macintosh and Applejack would be exhausted at the end of the day, and their patience would surely be wearing thin. Okay, first thing tomorrow morning she would talk to Mac again, and this time she’ll really sell him on the idea.

Yeah, she’d show him just what he was missing out on.

Fluttershy's humble cabin stood only a short walk away from Sweet Apple Acres, nestled amongst the edge of the woods. There beneath the boughs of the forest, Fluttershy could count on seeing hundreds of little critters in their natural home. Every so often she would find an animal in need of care, but that was a rather rare occurrence. At least, rarer than many ponies would think.

Fluttershy wasn't a vet, she didn't have the schooling nor the certification. She more closely resembled something between a biologist and ecologist. A pony that specialized in the local fauna and flora, their behavior, their interactions with the environment, and (what ponies knew her most for) their care. Knowing all this, ponies such as her friends and the Apples often trusted her with their animals, a trust that Fluttershy did not take lightly.

The first thing Fluttershy did upon entering her home was make a small nest of blankets for the piglet (pegasi were good at building nests, after all). She wrote down the appropriate feeding times on her day's schedule pinned on the wall, and finally started making a small salad for her lunch. She ate it in peace with the only disturbance a squeak or oink from the piglet every few minutes or so. Luckily, she didn't have any other animals in her care that day, so she could focus all her attention on little Cotton.

The day passed by in quiet, just as Fluttershy preferred. She read, and when reading became too passive even for her liking, she wrote in a notebook a story she had busied herself with for the last few years. And between all this, she made sure to feed the piglet on time. During the second feeding she stared at it, thinking. She didn't know if it would live. It's appetite seemed healthy enough, but the most deciding factor over its life was whether it drank colostrum, a mother's first milk that strengthened a baby's immune system enough to ward off infection. Without that...well...

The thought of the piglet's death brought up painful memories. It wasn't as if she hadn't seen death before. Even when Angel died, she managed to only cry during her long bout of isolation in her room during the grieving period. But it still hurt, even now, to think about his death, or the death of any animal. It didn't matter whether they lived a long life like Angel, or were a newborn on the brink of death.

Fluttershy yawned as Cotton finished the last drops of milk. The sunbeams filtering through the window became duller and redder as the day wore on. Almost time, already. Two feedings and not one drop wasted, not bad at all. Cotton seemed more alert too, actually keeping her eyes open to look around for a few minutes. She squirmed out of the nest of blankets and explored the couch cushions, burying her nose between them like she was digging for truffles. She explored for several more minutes before she retreated to the warm nest. Fluttershy smiled, rolled her shoulders, and bundled up Cotton in a small yet thick blanket.

Cradled in her arms, Cotton didn't fidget at all as Fluttershy picked her up along with a tote bag carrying the milk replacer. The sun had already set by the time she headed to Sweet Apple Acres to drop her off. Fluttershy had spent too long watching Cotton play. On the way, she wondered whether Rarity was prepared to take care of Cotton's feedings through the night. Fluttershy looked at the bag hanging off her shoulder, at the can of formula inside. She shook her head to dispel the forming doubts. Of course Rarity would be fine. She had experience taking care of Sweetie Belle and her cat Opalescence, plus she had a very deep sense of responsibility. Cotton would be in good hands.

Fluttershy knocked on the door before entering the homestead. Years ago she had received an open invitation to come in whenever she pleased, and it was only a few months ago that Fluttershy finally built up the courage to do just that.

The Apple family were famous among the ponies of Ponyville for their weekend dinners, and every pony in town hoped to receive one of the coveted invites. However, it was only because the Apple family took Sunday off that the meal was so extravagant. The dinners during the week were a different story altogether. Each member started and ended their chores at different times, and so it was much harder for them to coordinate a meal where they all sat down. Perhaps the only other time they put in the effort was when they had guests.

So when Fluttershy entered the kitchen, a large meal with rambunctious ponies didn't greet her. Rather, Fluttershy happened upon the much quieter scene of Macintosh eating a sandwich. The rest of the family was nowhere to be found, not in the living room enjoying the fireplace, nor in the den reading or playing board games.

"Where is everyone?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sleeping," Macintosh said. "Applejack's got market duty tomorrow, Granny Smith always goes to bed this early, Applebloom's at a sleepover. Last time I saw Rarity she was out cold."

"Oh," Fluttershy said, her eyes going back to the sandwich, eaten down to one more bite's worth. "You two didn't...uh..."

Macintosh laughed, his hand quickly going to his mouth to cover the sandwich inside. He swallowed before speaking. "Rarity wishes," he said with a smirk. He polished off the last bit, and stood to take his dish to the sink. "Ain't really my type. Besides," Macintosh stepped up to her, hands on his hips and gave her a teasing grin, "wouldn't want to make ya jealous."

Fluttershy sighed and reached out to flick his snout. It only managed to make his grin wider. Some things never changed.

"Rarity must be working very hard on the farm," Fluttershy said, holding back another sigh. "I guess I'll take care of Cotton tonight. Goodnight, Macintosh." Fluttershy turned and headed back to the front door, but a tug on her tail stopped her.

"Just leave her here," Macintosh said, releasing her tail. "I'll take care of her."

Fluttershy tilted her head. "I thought you didn't want anything to do with Cotton."

"I ain't gonna let you take care of it all by yourself. Go get some sleep. Ain't like it's the first time I've done this, you know," Mac said.

"I know," Fluttershy said, "but you don't have to worry about me, really. I took a nap at home, so it really isn't a bother for me to stay up all night." It was a lie, something that Fluttershy wasn't proud of, but she often found them useful when it came to minimizing how much her friends worried about her.

Macintosh chuckled. "Ain't no point lying to me. I already know your tell."

Fluttershy frowned. She had forgotten how easily he could see right through her. It wasn't too annoying, however. She could do the same to him. She knew, deep down, that Macintosh would do everything in his power to care for the piglet, which was why she couldn't allow him to do it by himself. He already had a full schedule of labor tomorrow, there was no sense in letting him stay up all night.

"Why don't we take shifts?" Fluttershy said, a plan, fully-formed, springing into her mind. "I'll take the first shift, so go sleep and I'll wake you up when it's your turn."

"We both know you ain't gonna wake me up," Macintosh said with a smirk. "So why don't we stay up together, first one to fall asleep loses. I'll start up the fireplace."

Fluttershy sighed as Macintosh headed to the living room. The thought of picking him up and throwing him into his room crossed her mind, but he would probably enjoy it. Plus she didn't think she could handle the awkwardness of being semi-alone with Big Macintosh in his room so late at night. So instead, she slinked into the living room.

A fire already roared in the fireplace by the time she entered, and Macintosh had his back to her as he looked through the Apple family's bookshelves. He picked out a rather thin book, and sat down on the couch. Winona slept in front of the fireplace, and the old dog gave no notice to either ponies.

"Make yourself comfortable," he told her, patting the seat beside him. Fluttershy nodded and sat next to him. She set her bag down on the floor, and cradled Cotton in both hands. The warmth of the fireplace, as well as the heat coming from Macintosh himself, made her feel quite cozy, especially after coming in from the chilly air outside.

"Mind if I hold 'er?" Macintosh asked, holding out his arms. Fluttershy didn't hesitate handing the piglet over, and Big Macintosh cradled Cotton with a gentleness that belied his large form. Fluttershy smiled at the sight; a sight she hadn't seen for many years.

"I remember when you would bring me a runt every spring and fall," Fluttershy said. "You always looked so worried."

Macintosh didn't say anything for a long while. He stared down at Cotton and gently rubbed her cheek with his finger. "Guess you could say I got an affinity for 'em."

“I was surprised when Applejack told me you were doing the draft races again,” Fluttershy said. “Have you...gotten better?”

“I honestly thought I did,” Macintosh said with a sigh. “But it’s the same. Soon as I put on that harness, my strength’s just gone.” Macintosh stared at his free hand and clenched it into a fist. “It’s like nothing’s changed in twelve years. I don’t know what to do.”

“Applejack also told me that Rainbow Dash wanted to coach you, but you said no.” Fluttershy drummed her fingers on her knees nervously. “I think...I think you should reconsider.” Macintosh tilted his head, quietly urging her to explain her reasoning. Fluttershy took a deep breath and continued. “I think she could help you, in her own Rainbow Dash way.”

Macintosh hummed in thought. “I’m willin’ to bet the farm she’s gonna come back to ask me again. If she does, and she comes back humble and honest, then I’ll consider it. But right now, I don’t think she cares about me or the sport. It’s like she thinks it’s just another way for her to show off.”

“That’s fair,” Fluttershy said. “But I don’t think Rainbow Dash means to give you that impression.”

Macintosh nodded, and the two fell into silence for a long time. Fluttershy didn't mind, she was used to long bouts of quiet, and she knew Macintosh felt the same. Instead of speaking, they focused on the little piglet. The night wore on and soon it came time to feed Cotton. Fluttershy prepared the milk, and Macintosh handled the feeding. Fluttershy leaned against his shoulder and watched Cotton drink up.

"Gettin' sleepy?" Macintosh asked with a teasing smile.

Fluttershy frowned. "No." It was another lie. By now she would usually be in bed, and she had to admit that leaning against Macintosh felt incredibly comfortable. She resisted, however, and pushed against his arm and sat up straight. Of course, her movement didn't go unnoticed. Once Cotton finished drinking, Macintosh placed the bottle on the coffee table. The little piglet looked up at Macintosh, and their eyes met. The corner of Big Mac's mouth twitched upwards in a faint smile.

"Still awake, huh?" Macintosh said. Though he never took his eyes off the piglet, Fluttershy couldn't help but feel that his words were meant for her. "Maybe a lullaby'll help."

Most ponies forgot that Macintosh was a trained singer, and had obtained a bit of local fame from his work in the Pony Tones. For one fatal moment, Fluttershy was one of those ponies, and so she didn't have the good sense to stop his lullaby. In the morning, she would come to regret her lapse in judgement, but right now, as Macintosh sang the opening verses of 'Sweet Lullaby Acres', Fluttershy couldn't help but let the smooth, sweet tones weigh down her eyelids.

Rarity snapped her eyes open in a panic. She shot up to sit, and took a moment to take in the familiar sight of her temporary bedroom in Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity bolted out of bed. What time was it? Only the slightest glow at the horizon hinted at morning. When did she fall asleep? The last thing she remembered was waiting for Fluttershy while laying on the couch. Her legs had turned to jelly after a day of carting around and shoveling manure onto freshly tilled fields, and not even a hot shower could help ease the soreness.

She had only closed her eyes for a few seconds. When did she fall asleep? What happened to Fluttershy? Was Cotton alright? Rarity burst through her bedroom door only to find Fluttershy leaving Big Macintosh’s room, hair disheveled and clothes askew.

Rarity’s face flushed. “Did you and Macintosh, uh…”

Fluttershy glared at her, and Rarity could tell Fluttershy wanted utterly to say something sarcastic or snippy, but, held back by her kind heart, Fluttershy only managed a shake of her head. “Macintosh and I were taking care of Cotton during the night, and I fell asleep. He must have put me in his room since you were in the guest bedroom.”

“Where is Cotton, by the way?”

Fluttershy covered her mouth and spoke through a large yawn. “Still with Macintosh, I guess.”

“With Macintosh!?” Rarity cried. “How could you leave my precious Cotton with him?”

“Rarity, I’m absolutely sure Macintosh is taking good care of her,” Fluttershy said.

“All the same I’d be happier if Cotton was safely in my arms,” Rarity said. “I need to go find Macintosh.” She hurried down the stairs in search of the red stallion, Fluttershy following closely behind. Only Applejack could be found on the first floor, doing her morning stretches in the living room before she had to haul a cart full of goods to the Ponyville farmer’s market.

Rarity approached and waved at Applejack to get her attention. “Excuse me Applejack, do you know where--”

The front door slammed open, and Rainbow Dash stampeded in like a dozen bulls into half a dozen china shops. Dash stomped toward Applejack and slammed her hand onto the wooden coffee table.

“Hey AJ, where’s you’re dumbass brother?”

Applejack continued her stretches for a few seconds without a response. Once finished, she bent her neck, sending several pops and cracks into the air. “C’mon Dash, you still mad about Macintosh rejecting ya?”

Rarity turned to Fluttershy. “As a coach,” she clarified.

“I know,” Fluttershy said, clearly ungrateful.

“I’m mad that he was stupid enough to,” Rainbow Dash said. “So where is he?”

“Doing his morning training, Ah reckon,” Applejack said. “Probably just finishing up and putting his sled into the barn.”

Rainbow Dash wasted no time and bolted out the front door, and Rarity ran after her, eager to know exactly what Macintosh had done with her precious piglet while he busied himself with pulling that silly sled of his. Fluttershy followed along, perhaps because she had no idea what to do otherwise, though more likely that she also wanted to see Cotton’s condition.

Just as Applejack predicted, Big Macintosh sat on his sled just outside the barn, shirtless with his red coat damp with sweat. Rarity scanned the area, but found no sign of her piglet anywhere. The most terrible thoughts jumped into Rarity’s head. Thoughts of Macintosh having her little Cotton fried up and served with a side of eggs. She stepped up her pace and sprinted so fast that she even passed by Rainbow Dash (the pegasus would later insist that she wasn’t running at full speed, not even ten percent).

“Big Macintosh Apple!” Rarity stabbed her finger onto his chest. “I demand to know where Cotton is this instant.”

Big Macintosh looked up at her, and Rarity softened at the deep, dark bags beneath his eyes. It really did look as if he stayed up all night. His gaze fell at the grass that surrounded them. Bringing two fingers to his lips, he unleashed a sharp whistle into the air. Nothing happened for a moment, but soon Rarity noticed a shiver in the grass that came closer and closer. A trail of hoarse grunts and oinks followed, and little Cotton came up to Macintosh’s feet. He scooped her up, and if Cotton seemed small in Rarity’s hand then she looked absolutely minuscule in Macintosh’s. Rarity gasped at the rejuvenated piglet and took her in her arms.

“Damn thing pissed all over me,” Macintosh huffed. “Had to put my shirt in the laundry. She’s a lucky one, though, despite all. Wouldn’t be surprised if she became ‘Big Cotton’ in a year or two.”

Rarity held Cotton against her chest, and the little piglet squirmed to escape and run free on the grass once again. “Oh Macintosh, thank you. And don’t worry about your shirt, I’ll make you a dozen more.”

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and stepped forward. She lifted a foot and rested it on the sled and leaned over to look Macintosh in the eye. “Yeah, the piglet’s cute, it’s great, but I came here to talk to you about draft racing.” Dash inhaled as much air as she could for what she was about to say next. “Listen, I’m going to be honest with you. I think you’re the stupidest damn pony in Ponyville for rejecting coaching from one of the greatest living athletes in Equestria.”

Fluttershy slapped her forehead.

“Not only am I current member and rising star of the Wonderbolts, I--”

“Rainbow Dash,” Macintosh said, and his voice came out so tense, quiet, and measured that even Dash fell silent to listen. Macintosh pressed his palms together and brought them to touch his forehead, eyes closed almost in prayer. Rarity had no doubt he was praying for patience; it wasn’t as if he needed to pray for strength.

“You wanna coach so bad, then coach yourself to pull this sled up that hill.” He pointed to a hill a few dozen yards away, the same one he had attempted to climb yesterday morning. “Then we’ll talk.” Macintosh stood and ambled to the apple orchard, leaving Dash to stare at him as he left.

“What? You don’t think I can do it?” Dash yelled at him. “Oh, I’ll do it! You just watch! Then you’ll be begging me to coach you, but by then this pegasus’ll be long gone, buddy!” Rainbow Dash threw on the harness, leather straps and chains all tangled together across her chest, but she didn’t care. Despite her best efforts, however, the sled stayed stone still. No matter how hard she pulled, flew, or even pushed, she couldn’t get it to move, but she would not quit.

Rarity looked back and forth between Rainbow Dash and her futile efforts, and Big Macintosh as he disappeared beneath the apple trees. “Shouldn’t we do something about this?” she asked Fluttershy. “I don’t think I’ve seen either of them quite this angry before. Especially not at each other.”

“I...don’t think we could do anything to help,” Fluttershy sighed. She narrowed her eyes in thought. “But I think we know someone who can.”

“Pinkie Pie?”

“Pinkie Pie.”