Sweat glistened across Macintosh’s brow in the morning chill. Crack of dawn was the best time to get work done, but the nature of Macintosh’s labour entailed exhaustion at any and all times of day, be it dawn or twilight. For a short time, Macintosh had thought that perhaps being a local celebrity would afford him some respite, but of course it wouldn’t. Being an Element of Harmony didn’t magically drag his farm out of debt nor pull in a healthy crop. It just meant that, now and then, Miss Rarity would come by to try and get him to put on ties.
Work was a constant of Macintosh’s life. Being connected to the spirit of Harmony meant… what, exactly?
He grunted and pulled the seemingly endless string of carts up the slope, their wheels digging into the soft autumn soil, rendered weak and pliable by the rain and made slippery by the layer of dew-covered leaves that carpeted the landscape.
“Howdy there, Big Mac’.”
Macintosh wheezed as he made sure the carts were secure. He wouldn’t see them slide back down to the bottom, not because his younger sister had distracted him. To his relief he felt his load lessen, as Applejack helped him push the cart up the steep incline.
“Y’don’t have to do it all on your lonesome, there,” Applejack told him with a wry grin.
Macintosh adjusted his hat as he straightened up, panting slightly. He didn’t reply. He was a stallion of few words. Perhaps that was why the Element of Honesty had resonated with him that night, that especially long night. It was easy to be honest when you didn’t say much of anything.
Applejack grunted and limped towards the trees, shaking her head. “You always gotta’ start without me. You’ll work yoursel’ to death if you keep this up.”
Macintosh huffed. He didn’t really expect Applejack to understand. A long time ago, Applejack and he had competed in order to see who would be in charge of their parent’s farm, but Applejack had long since abdicated that claim to responsibility. Meeting a girl would do that to a pony’s priorities, and his sister was no exception.
Applejack snorted at Macintosh’s characteristic lack of response, and leaned against the carts, her hoof moving up to her side. She winced, her expression twisting in stifled pain. She was bandaged up around the barrel. “We’re good for the harvest, yeah?” she asked, after putting her hoof back down to the ground.
“Yup,” Macintosh replied, and stretched his forehoof. An endless army of apple trees stretched before him. It was more than a single pony could count, but Macintosh knew exactly how many there were. Six-thousand-and-seventy-eight trees spread over six acres of land. An average sized orchard. Not the massive sprawling farm many pictured from their reputation, but in the Apples’ defence, there were more than one apple farm in the wide land of Equestria. Appaloosa was one that was currently setting itself up.
This one was his. His to keep, his to watch over, and his to protect. His responsibility, nopony else’s.
He glanced at Applejack’s bandages. He knew she wouldn’t be able to help out with the harvest this time around. That meant that it was just him.
“Uh, brother?” Applejack asked.
“Yup?”
Applejack looked at ease, or at least tried to. Macintosh was keen enough to know when she was nervous or hesitant.
“I ain’t gonna’ be much help this time ‘round…” she began.
Macintosh sighed. He knew well what was coming next.
“Fine,” he said.
Applejack held her hooves up. “Hey, I didn’t say nothin’...”
“I said, fine!” Macintosh replied. He sounded gruff, but he really wasn’t. Not really. He just knew how this one played out.
“I just didn’t want to leave you on your own durin’ harvestin’ season…”
Big Macintosh sighed. This was just like his sister. She wasn’t exactly always invested in the farm… at least, not like he was. She’d feel all upset if she thought she was letting her big brother down, though.
Macintosh used his forehoof to knock the side of the nearest tree. The bark under his hoof crumpled and bent, and the trunk of the tree shook and vibrated… the shockwave spread all the way up to the branches, the twigs, and then the leaves… and the apples, which fell down all in a coordinated fashion, down to the carts below.
Applejack smiled. “Okay, then. I’ll tell RD’ you said hi.”
Big Macintosh groaned. Out of all the Elements of Harmony his destiny had been saddled with, Rainbow Dash was the one that frustrated him the most. She was everything he didn’t like… head in the clouds (sometimes literally), unreliable, lazy, and worst of all, loud. He hadn’t really liked her even before she had become an element, when she had just been some layabout his sister hung out with.
Applejack caught his unhappy look. “Don’t be like that. She’s a good pony, really.”
Macintosh rolled his eyes. He had a bad feeling about Rainbow Dash, but he had to admit… she had, at least, pulled through when it counted.
“Sure,” he muttered. He paused, summoning all his patience and tolerance. “Sure,” he repeated, this time more honestly.
Applejack trotted down the hill. “Let me know if this harvest proves too much for you to handle! We’ll hire some farmhooves or… somethin’.”
Applejack broke out into an excited canter, a little skip in her step. Macintosh shook his head. Applejack wouldn’t know, because she didn’t keep an eye on the finances, but hiring farmhooves was out of the question.
Macintosh glanced back at the Acres. Thousands of trees, literally… and barely enough time to harvest them all. No… not enough time. Macintosh had done the maths. He didn’t like maths, but he valued how useful they were. He knew in advance that he’d be lucky to get through half of these without Applejack’s help… but with her injury, that wasn’t going to happen. He wouldn't tell her, though. Keeping a secret was hard when you were honest, but Macintosh, well... It was easy to be honest when you didn't talk much.
Big Macintosh stifled a grumble, and trotted to the next tree. He struck it, bucking the apples from the branches with one practised kick. He’d have lots more of that to do before the end of the day…
He’d make it work. Somehow. Keeping the farm, his family, together was his responsibility after all.
It was noon. What benefits the early dawn had brought him were long since expended as the cool, refreshing humidity of morning gave way into a dull, unbearable heat. Coupled with the struggle of bucking trees and dragging the harvest up and down the many hills and dips of the Acres, he could feel his considerable muscles starting to ache.
“Sure I can’t help?” Apple bloom, the youngest in the family, asked him, looking up with wide and curious eyes.
Macintosh bucked another tree, his last for the time being as he was in dire need of a break, food, and reviewing the family stocks. “Nope,” he replied. Apple bloom was simply too small to buck a full tree properly at this age. If the harvest had been even a few months later, she’d probably have the technique down, but as it was, he was too busy himself to double-check each tree she had worked on.
“You look mighty tired, though.”
Big Macintosh groaned. One thing he wished he could do at least would be relax on his own for a bit. That was something he missed. When he was younger and Applejack was still trying to run things, he would be able to sit on a hill by himself, take in the silence, the breeze, the sound of the leaves rustling against one another…
“Big Mac’?”
Macintosh groaned, and straightened his aching back. He was tired.
“You alright there?”
Macintosh groaned. “Yup.”
He just needed something to eat.
He was sat in the shade, underneath a large tree by the barn. In his hooves was a large sandwich Granny had made for him. She might be old and in desperate need of a replacement hip, or three, but she still made sure he got fed. That was one less thing to worry about.
Of course, if there was one less thing to worry about, that only meant that there’d be at least two more to take its place…
“Um, hello there, Macintosh!”
Macintosh stifled a sigh. Truly, he could never be left in peace. Not truly. Not when he was joined at the hip to five other ponies by some sort of fancy magic…
He glanced up at Twilight. She was the reason. She was… nice enough, Macintosh knew. Cute, too, and friendly, and probably one of the smartest ponies he had ever met… But right now, he was tired.
“I was wondering if you wanted… to hang out!” Twilight levitated a book into view, flicking through the pages with the speed of a million frantic researchers. “I feel like you’re the friend I have that I know the least… what with you being so… um, well, you’re not quiet exactly, it’s just that you don’t talk much, and…”
Macintosh rested his head against the trunk of the tree he was resting under. “Uh-huh.”
“So, um… I was hoping you’d tell me about yourself!”
Macintosh took a bite out of his sandwich. It tasted of daisies, probably because that was what was in there. “Okay.”
“So, where would you like to start? I’ve brought my notepad and my favourite quill! Spare no detail!”
What was Macintosh supposed to say? That he had inherited a farm from his parents, ran it since he had been a teen, felt tired all the time, and just wanted to be left alone?
No, he couldn’t do that. He might not be sociable, but he knew that would scare Twilight off, and despite her… eccentric demeanour, he didn’t think she deserved that. She was like him, after all. A pony with a massive future weighing heavy on them. He could tell. He wondered if anypony else could.
“Well, I’m Macintosh,” he said.
“Ooh, I know that one!” Twilight exclaimed, scribbling away regardless. “Um. Right. Were you… born here?”
“Yup.”
“Do you like it here?”
Macintosh tilted his head. “Yup.”
“Do you like your sister much?”
“Which?”
“Both.”
“Yup.”
Twilight scribbled away. “This doesn’t feel as personal as I expected.” She frowned. “Am I doing this wrong?”
Macintosh chuckled. “Nope.” He shrugged.
Twilight hesitated, then put the notepad away. “I suppose I just get the impression you don’t like us very much.”
“Us?”
“The other elements. You know, me, Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow and Fluttershy.” Twilight tilted her head. “You don’t talk to them much. At all, actually. Except Rarity. I think she likes you, but even she thinks you’re a bit, um…”
“I like you just fine,” Macintosh replied. “‘Cept’ Rainbow, maybe.”
“She is a bit loud, isn’t she?”
Macintosh hummed to himself. Perhaps it wasn’t that she was loud, exactly. Applejack had made lots of ‘friends’ in town. Friends that didn’t always work out. Or ever work out, for that matter. There was something intimidating about Rainbow bucking that trend, and actually sticking by Applejack despite, well… despite not really being the sort to do so. It put Macintosh on edge.
“Applejack really likes her,” Twilight said.
Macintosh didn’t frown or glower out of sheer willpower alone. He loved his sister. He was happy that she got to live a more carefree life. He was happy that she got to run around Ponyville whilst he was busy worrying about Apple bloom and Granny Smith and the finances and everything else.
But he didn’t like that every time she hung around a new friend, things always blew up in her face.
Macintosh tried to enjoy the silence of the small office in the farmhouse. Silence was a strong word, of course. He could hear Apple bloom and Granny gabbing amongst themselves, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash in the kitchen apparently being put on washing-up duty.
Outside, the orchard had become pitch-black. The farm was too far from Ponyville to enjoy any light from the houses, and so all that engulfed the remote farm was darkness and the pale glare of the moon, which this evening had been hardly visible due to clouds.
He looked down at the papers strewn before him. He was a pragmatic pony, and kept his desk tidy and organised. He imagined that anypony in his position would, or at least should. He groaned as he flicked through bill after bill after bill. His head lowered as fatigue overcame him. He needed a good harvest. At least one. It felt like he hadn’t seen a good harvest, a truly great yield since his parents had left him the farm. Left them, he supposed… himself, Applejack, and Granny, but Granny was old and somepony had to make the big decisions. The real choices.
It was him. It couldn’t not be him. Maybe if things had been different, he’d be… Macintosh didn’t know. Happier, maybe?
He adjusted his hat, and got back to work. He needed to make the numbers add up… somehow. They wouldn’t, though…
“Howdy there.”
Macintosh sat up with a start, nearly knocking over a stack of bills as tall as he was. He breathed in, calming himself, and turned.
Applejack stood in the hallway. “Sorry again I wasn't able to help much,” she said.
Macintosh smiled. He didn’t mind. At least, he didn’t think he did. It was good that he was in charge, so that Apple bloom and Applejack could enjoy themselves with their friends. Apple bloom had Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and Applejack had Rainbow Dash.
“It’s fine,” he said.
“If you say so,” Applejack said, and glanced at the papers on his desk. They cast a dominating shadow over Macintosh. “Whew. Looks pretty rough in there.”
“We’ll be fine,” Macintosh told Applejack.
An air of calm came over Applejack. Macintosh nearly winced. Applejack smiled. “Sure thing, brother. I’ll let you get back to it. Just holler if you need help.”
Macintosh turned back to his work, stifling a groan. He didn’t like this life right now. He wasn’t… lying, exactly. Usually he just didn’t say much of anything. He did think they were going to be fine.
It’s just he didn’t think he was.
He rubbed the sides of his head. Maybe it’d be better if Applejack had taken over. Macintosh didn’t feel cut out for this. Not today, after sixteen hours of gruelling work in the orchard.
“Hey hey hey!”
Macintosh bristled. He knew that voice.
“Just coming to check on the best Element of Honesty we got,” Rainbow Dash declared smarmily. She trotted up to Macintosh. “That is… a lot of numbers.”
“Yup.” Macintosh felt almost relieved. It was the most honest he had been all day.
“You, uh, sure you’re going okay, buddy?” Rainbow asked. “You know, Applejack’s been kinda, like… not awkward or anything, but she’s mentioned you were super busy. You could ask Twilight or Rarity or somepony to help out…”
Macintosh grunted. “Nope.” Maintaining the farm was his responsibility. It had been his parents farm. He would keep it together.
Rainbow held her hooves up. “Okay, pal. Just letting you know you’ve got friends, now.”
Macintosh had never really had friends. Yeah, he had maybe had a few once. A long time ago. He remembered being close to Cheerilee, once, before he got… distracted with all the work on the farm.
“I was, uh… going to ask you something.”
Macintosh turned to Rainbow Dash. He had never liked her much, but the recent weeks had shown a side to her that he had perhaps overlooked… a loyal, well-meaning side that hid a vulnerability he had missed. Still, she was… well, a nuisance. She had been ever since she arrived in Ponyville a year ago. Applejack had taken a shine to her, of course… she liked the playful, noncommittal sort… that was what had gotten her a reputation around town, after all. Macintosh didn’t care about that. It wasn’t his business. His biggest secret, though... was that her ability to do whatever she wanted, without feeling all that weight... was something he wanted.
“So… a while back, I kinda just thought that I wouldn’t be sticking around in Ponyville that long. You know, what with me trying to join the ‘Bolts and everything…”
“Yup.”
“Well, I’m an Element of Harmony now. I don’t think I’m really ever going to leave Ponyville anymore, even if I do get to join the Wonderbolts. It just makes more sense for me to be with you, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, and I can’t imagine you, at least, ever leaving here.”
It was true enough.
Applejack peered into the room. “Oh, there you are.” She opened the door wider and stood in the doorway. “Wondered where you’d gone.”
“Just saying hi,” Rainbow said. “Trying to, anyway.”
“Don’t be mad,” Applejack told Rainbow Dash. “Big Mac’s always been a lil’ surly ‘n quiet. Don’t mean he don’t like you, though.”
“I know that. We’re friends after all.” Rainbow grinned at Macintosh. “Kinda. Sorta. Maybe? It’s hard to tell.”
Macintosh groaned. “Yup.”
“Yes! I knew it.” Rainbow punched the air. “See? He vouches for me.”
“So he does,” Applejack replied. “Ain’t it a little late for you to be chattin’, though?”
Rainbow glanced outside at the dark. “Oh, shoot. Yeah, I’ve got… weather to do. Clouds and fog and stuff. Tomorrow. Early. I should definitely go.” She backed away out the room, past Applejack. “Horseshoes tomorrow?”
“Sure. Though it’d be easier if I just moved in with you at this point.”
Macintosh huffed. Ah, yes. That was why he struggled with Rainbow Dash. She was the only friend of Applejack’s that stuck. As in, she was the only one that might dismantle his family… permanently.
“Make my life easier…” Macintosh lied.
It was the lie that was caught by Applejack. There was a lot she didn’t know, sure. A lot that she didn’t need to know. That never made anypony stupid, though. Not when they were, by nature, quick and smart.
As Rainbow left, the door to the house closing shut behind her, the entire farm felt colder. Applejack turned on Macintosh.
“Make your life easier, huh?”
Macintosh knew instantly that he had made a mistake.
“I’m just tired,” he said.
It was true. He was tired.
“Big Mac’, there somethin’ you ain’t tellin’ me?”
Macintosh turned around in his chair, the legs of it scraping the wooden floorboards. He sighed. “I’m… real tired, Applejack.”
Applejack pulled up a chair of her own, smaller and less comfortable than the one at the desk. She sat down regardless, looking at her brother with a worried expression. “We really doin’ fine, brother?”
Macintosh glanced at the bills.
“Nope.”
Applejack sucked the air in through her teeth. “You upset that I spent today with Rainbow, then?”
That wasn’t fair. Macintosh wasn’t upset that other ponies were having fun. He was upset that he wasn’t.
He had asked to take over the farm, not also get saddled with the Element of Honesty. For what? For being responsible? Was this what responsibility got him? Endless amounts of stress, fatigue, pressure and fear?
He wasn’t upset that Applejack was spending time with other ponies. That wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair for Applejack to think that just because he was tired.
“No.”
“I need you to speak up properly for once, brother. I know you don’t like it, but you knew that if you were gonna’ be in charge, you were gonna’ have to talk like you were.”
Macintosh ran his hoof through his mane, lifting his hat off as he did so. “I know. Look… I’m just tryin’ to keep the family together. I ain’t good at all this… balancin’ between the farm an’ friends and stuff.” He slackened. “I’m also mighty jealous that you are. I've been trying to keep it secret, but... I ain't very good at it.”
Applejack’s brow furrowed. “I’m only balancin’ work an’ play ‘cause you’re not tellin’ me we have all this work you can’t do alone.”
Macintosh rubbed his forehead. “Sorry. I just don’t know how to say that… well, I asked for this responsibility and I’m strugglin’ to make it work. That’s all.” He breathed in, and swallowed.
Applejack ran her hoof through her mane. “Well, I can’t say I really blame you there. There was a time when I wanted to run the farm… truth is that seein’ you do it, well… made me feel pretty glad I didn’t try as hard as I could’ve.” She stared at Macintosh, her eyes steely. “I would’ve tried harder, harder than the hardest I could’ve, though, if I thought you were goin’ to be unhappy bein’ in that chair wearin’ that hat. Even if it means not bein’ able to play horseshoes with Rainbow as much, or hangin’ ‘round town that much, or enjoyin’... well, much of anythin’.” She straightened. “I don’t want to be this happy if it means you bein’ miserable. Y’hear?”
Macintosh nodded. “Yup.”
“Right.” Applejack scratched the back of her neck. “So, how bad is it, exactly?”
Macintosh glanced over at the bills.
“Well…”
Twilight’s horn flared to life, and hundreds of apples all levitated at once from the tree, snapping at the stalks. Beneath the canopy of leaves and fruit, Macintosh slaved away with the carts, but this time he was assisted by Rainbow Dash. The lithe pegasus was not as well built for heavy labour as she was for flying and agility, but she was certainly strong enough to lighten the load enough for Macintosh to have an easier time of it.
Rarity was near the farm, sorting through apples along with Fluttershy. Pinkie was… somewhere, serving cool drinks at exactly the time when Macintosh and Rainbow needed it most.
Applejack was with Apple bloom, going through homework. Applejack’s brow was in knots. Mathematics was not her strongest of suits.
Macintosh wiped his forehead. By the looks of things, they might get the harvest done on time. That meant sales, which meant profits, which meant… well, that they wouldn’t be quite as much in debt as they were before.
It was a start.
Applejack gave him a small smile from the farm. Macintosh smiled back in response.
It was a start…
Responsibility could be shared, perhaps.
Author's Note
Howdy folks. Hope you enjoyed the story! Bit of a quick one-shot whilst waiting for the results from the Right Back At It Again contest.
Thanks again to Red Parade for editing help!
Good luck folks. See you around.
