An Apple's Anxiety

by StarSpangler50

Rating: everyone
Tags: Big Macintosh, Slice of Life, Anthro, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 6057

MacIntosh Apple goes through the motions of his day-to-day life, suddenly forced to confront his anxieties and fears far sooner than he ever expected.

The life of MacIntosh Apple was a simple one: Wake up, do his chores, work the farm, and go to sleep. It was a comfortable life. One he grew familiar with. He and his father tended to the heavy lifting while his sister and his mother handled the public side of the farm.

Life was good.

However, life is a mountain. At the top, the only place to go is down. Through a great tragedy, great responsibility was thrust onto MacIntosh. Grief and stress spiraled into depression. Depression spiraled into anger and anxieties.

Life was no longer good.

But through faith, his family, and a counselor, MacIntosh overcame depression. He approached the place his life once was.

Only one thing was missing.

As time continued, so grew a void. Despite the anxiety and introverted shell, MacIntosh longed for life before the accident. But how could he ever return to such a life? He had spent too long away from it all. But if he wanted it back, the time would come when he would need to face this fear head on.

Until then, MacIntosh is more than happy to take it at his own pace.

Published 2021-08-10 17:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-08-10 17:30:00 UTC

The Fault of Solitude

5th of Nature’s Harvest, Year 2364

MacIntosh opened his eyes at the sound of the farm’s rooster crowing. With a groan, he sat up and rubbed the end of his muzzle.

“What a night,” he mumbled, releasing a yawn. He rose, scratching an itch and cracking his back. “I don’t have a clue how they manage to do that on a weekly basis.”

If anything of value was to be taken from last night: it would be too much alcohol will turn anyone into a fool. And never trust the word of a Nen’yos.

Poor Timber, he got played. Honestly, I can’t believe he fell for it.

The young Ere’du Kiin must have already been intoxicated. Magnia Gambol’s words had not been sly, nor did they hide his true intentions. But, Timber had been prideful in the moment.

MacIntosh rose, looking out his window. The sun had only just begun to show signs of its existence, turning the black, star-filled night into a dark blue. He walked to his closet and pulled out a fresh, olive-green shirt.

Superior drinking might or not, he had no chance. Magnia might have one eye, but his accuracy is still stronger than ever.

The match had been a highlight of the night, making the struggling decision of attending worth it in the end. Despite the lack of any conversation nor meeting anyone new, it had gone better than expected.

I’m glad I decided to go.

However, it would be best to not bring it up to anyone in the family. Applejack especially would not be too keen to know his whereabouts, ignoring the fact that she had been the one to suggest he go ahead with it.

I can’t be too mad at her, though.

MacIntosh fiddled with his overall straps.

The wrongful perceptions had caught her in its web, as it had the rest of Kinstown. Alcohol in any form was a drink from Tartarus; a plague set upon Utaios. It would not be tolerated in such a humble town.

“Even though we ship hard cider to other cities,” MacIntosh mumbled.

Perhaps a grievance against all alcohol was an exaggeration. The town’s problem was with locations that served it, however. An utter shame. Outlawing establishments from serving alcohol only created problems and forced anthow to create their own solutions. Like the black-market taverns.

The ‘Hidden Pride Tavern.’ What a name.

Despite the backlash he would receive if ever discovered, taking Applejack’s advice had been the right choice to make. The time spent with Magnia and Timber at the tavern had been a pleasurable experience. It had taken him far from his comfort zone, but in hindsight it had been worth it.

I’ll get there someday. One step at a time.

MacIntosh left his room, pulling a brown coat from a hanger upon his door as he exited. A light shone from downstairs, casting the hall with long shadows. He passed through, pausing at Apple Bloom’s door. A soft snoring drifted from the darkness.

He smiled, closing her door and continuing down the stairs to the kitchen. Applejack sat at the table, wearing her typical attire of a plaid, collared shirt, blue denim trousers, and their father’s Stetson. She held a half-folded newspaper in one hand and a steaming mug in the other.

“Mornin,’ Mac,” She said, keeping her eyes upon the page.

“Mornin,’” MacIntosh replied. He meandered over to the coffee pot, pulling a mug from the overhead cupboard and filling it with the thick brew of black coffee. He added two sugar cubes and grabbed a wheat bagel, joining Applejack at the table.

“Anything interestin’ in the news today?” He asked.

“Eh. Nothin’ outta the ordinary so far,” Applejack said. “Of course, there’s the Gala comin’ up in the next few weeks. Lotta talk of it as usual.”

MacIntosh took a bite of his bagel. “Mm.”

“Oh. Oh boy, here’s somethin’ fascinatin.’ Looks like Her Majesty’s protégé wrecked a military gunship around Whitewash,” Applejack chuckled. “Oh, I’m gonna remember this for a while.”

“What caused the crash?”

“Uh, she apparently was workin’ on a thesis involving Harmonic Generation and Transformation. Looks like she was tryin’ to make it easier to perform such Spells by studying… Changelings. That explains it.”

“Seems like she got what she deserved, messin’ with them sentient insects.”

“And good riddance. Last thing we need are those bugs getting’ riled up and botherin’ us Kinstown folk.”

“They got revenge. I doubt they’ll be more active. If anything, they’ll want to lie low.”

Applejack set the paper down upon the table. “I surely hope so.”

She stood, stretching. “Darn this shoulder…”

MacIntosh stood as well, finishing the rest of his mug. “Just giving you a heads-up,” he said as he walked to the door. “I’m gonna do my morning chores later today. I’d rather get the rest of the north orchard harvested before the heat arrives.”

“I don’t have any issue with it. Just don’t make a habit of it.”

MacIntosh nodded. He snatched the quad bike’s keys from their spot, leaving the homestead. The crisp, early morning air greeted him, providing a pleasant smell of dew and plant life.

The house door creaked. A quick glanced proved it to be Applejack. She took to his side, both walking across the yard over to the barn.

“Oh yeah,” Applejack said as they pulled open the bay doors. “I nearly forgot. Could you do somethin’ for me?”

“Uh, sure?”

“Could you take Apple Bloom to the school this morning?’”

MacIntosh’s stomach took a swift drop.

“You can’t?”

“I need to be in town before that time.”

“Well, if you’re gonna be in town, why not take her anyway?”

Applejack paused inside the barn, turning to face MacIntosh. “Mac! I ain’t leavin’ her alone at the school an hour before she needs to be there! Come on. It’s one quick trip!”

“…You know I avoid takin’ trips into town unless it’s necessary.”

“You were fine takin’ a trip into town last night…”

MacIntosh glared at Applejack. “Don’t even…”

“Alright, fine,” Applejack held up her hands. “Think of it then as a chance to spend some time with Apple Bloom. She already thinks this’ll be more fun than when I take her. Besides, I can’t recall the last time you two spent time together beyond supper.”

Guilt dug itself into MacIntosh's gut. He brought a hand to the back of his neck, running his fingers through his mane.

It has been some time…

“I’m not askin’ you to start a conversation with every soul you pass by,” Applejack continued. “Just take her to the school, say goodbye, then return home. That’s it.”

MacIntosh released a heavy sigh. “Fine…”

“You’ll be just fine, Mac. I know you don’t think yourself that good at dealing with others, but I have yet to hear a bad thing about you from anyone.”

“That’s 'cause you’re my sister…”

Applejack chuckled. “See it that way if you like. But it ain’t the truth.”

“Other’s opinions of me ain’t why I dislike it so much.”

Applejack sighed, shaking her head. “I’m tellin’ you, Mac, speak to your counselor about this. See if he can help you with this ‘anxiety.’ Accordin’ to Dash, they do well with more than anger.”

“Well, accordin’ to me, Rainbow Dash needs a different counselor if her current self is the result…”

“Not for her, for Scootaloo.”

Why would… Oh, never mind…

“Fine, I’ll think about it.”

No, I won’t.

“Good. Finally, last order of business: Make sure Apple Bloom leaves by 10:30 at the latest. I won’t stand having her late this early in the year.”

“I know when she needs to leave,” MacIntosh grumbled. “You act like I don’t know my own sister.”

“Well…” Applejack words faded.

She walked to the tractor. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get the wagons out to the fields before the hires arrive. Creator knows they can’t work efficiently without me babysittin’ them…”

“Good luck.”

MacIntosh’s words lacked any energy.

As Applejack climbed her way into the tractor, he dragged over the flatbed trailer to the ORV. He fiddled with the hitch, unable to give complete focus on the task at hand.

‘Talk to my counselor.’ How would talkin’ about it help? It ain’t something that a conversation would clear. This isn’t like anger. It’s… different.

MacIntosh jostled the hitch with more force.

She just doesn’t understand how draining it all is. How stressful it becomes. The amount of willpower it takes not to mess up. To not make myself… a fool… in their eyes…

…

Okay, maybe other’s opinion of him was part of it. It alone made the anxiety squeeze at his chest like a crushing force, draining his energy at every interaction and leeching his ability to mingle for days after.

The trailer finally latched into place. MacIntosh stood, finding the bushel baskets off to the side.

Agh, why am I whinin’ about this? I’m a grown stallus afraid of some conversation…

If Applejack could handle it, so could he.

Although… Applejack’s spent plenty of time in such social circumstances… And it ain’t just conversation I dislike so much.

In all honesty, it all would not be so bad if not for the overbearing, extroverted nature that had overtaken Kinstown in the past decades. It seemed every soul who lived within shared a friendly attitude, to the point it became unnerving.

It all started when Pinkie Pie came to town.

An absolute nightmare for those on the introverted side.

So much for a pep talk.

The tractor groaned to life behind him, drawing his attention. He watched the beast of steel sputter and groan as Applejack willed it forth.

That thing needs a tune-up for sure, more than what any of us could do. Perhaps I can convince Granny to spare some bits after this harvest.

He sighed. It was unlikely. According to her, the tractor will be in tip-top shape until the wheels fall off. Or the engine explodes.

If only she would take all those funds and expand the business. We can’t keep up the demand with just Sweet Apple Acres.

The equipment’s state certainly didn’t help. It would be immensely cheaper to fix what they had rather than get brand-new gear once the current stuff fell apart.

I love her to death, but she isn’t fit to lead the farm anymore.

Such a comment would earn a fiery smack.

MacIntosh loaded the baskets onto the flatbed, tying them down and double-checking the cables. Haphazardly, he threw a lump of extra cables onto the trailer.

Hmm. Good enough.

He climbed onto the off-roading vehicle, twisting the ignition key. Unlike the decade-old tractor, the newer vehicle purred to life. It took little effort to get it moving.

While Applejack took the main road from the house out to the west fields, MacIntosh took a sharp right to the north. He followed the access road, climbing a faint hill into the first section of orchard. The road turned right again, following another hillside. Upon a straight section MacIntosh glanced at his wristwatch.

9:21 already?! Consarn it! Barely more than an hour left and I haven’t even started!

The sky had already brightened since first leaving the house. He mentally slapped himself, twisting the OR-Vs handle further. It revved, traversing faster down the road. Passing through another part of the orchard and crossing a flat area of plain in record time, MacIntosh reached the final stretch of unharvested apple trees.

He slowed the ORV, a trail of dust flooding around him. He grumbled, unbuckling the baskets.

“Wait,” he said, pausing. He peered across the flatbed, looking in between the baskets. “Aw farek!”

The cables… I didn’t set them in a basket again!

Heat washed across MacIntosh’s face. His breathing grew rapid. The irritation warped into anger.

“Fareking Applejack! Why’d she do this, thinking she knows best?! Farek!” He struck a stack of baskets, punching a hole through the lowest one.

The heat building in his head threatened to overtake his mind. MacIntosh pressed his hands onto the side of the trailer, leaning onto them.

‘When your anger rises, the best step is to do nothing and let patience clear it up.’

He closed his eyes and slowly drew in a breath.

One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven… Eight…

MacIntosh held the breath, restarting the count.

One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven… Eight…

He released the breath again over another eight seconds. Several more times he repeated it, each time drained more of the heat.

It ain’t Applejack’s fault.

He closed his eyes, resting his arms on the trailer and his head on his arms.

Let it go. Focus on work.

Another deep breath. He undid the tied baskets, separating them and setting them under the nearest, full apple tree.

“Still, Applejack should know better,” MacIntosh paused. He sighed, pressing a palm to his head.

Alright, fine. I’ll bring this up to Dr. Snickers at our next meetin.’

He stepped back, shaking his head to scramble his thoughts. “Come on, focus…”

Okay, tree. Tree is… small. Smaller than the rest, at least those nearby it.

He glanced over the green crown, squinting to find the apples hidden by the darkness of the day.

I’ll bet the yield is… 800. No, more like 500.

Walking to the tree, he set his hand upon its bark.

Let’s see how close I am.

He closed his eyes, enveloping his sight in darkness. A deep breath in and out, MacIntosh focused solely on the tree. No Applejack, no future tasks. Just the tree. He pushed harder against it, gritting his teeth in concentration.

A spark flickered, giving the faintest sensation. It fluttered from within his body, traveling to his mind. A flash of green pulsed from the darkness—a basic thread curling to the perceived location of the tree. He waited.

The thread pulsed again. MacIntosh mentally attached to it, sending a jolt through his outstretched arm. The darkness of closed eyes faded. In his mind, he saw green shoots of energy flowing in the shape of the tree he touched. It was more than a mental image; the Harmonic Essence of the life form. He could feel the roots stretch in the dirt, the leaves soaking in the first rays of light, the wind rustling through the branches. Pushing deeper, more information reached his mind. He understood the tree’s age’ a ripe 57 years.

Younger than most.

He understood the fruit, the 513 ripe apples from a total crop of 552. He understood each location of the harvest, distinguishing those of poor health and those of perfection.

MacIntosh broke contact. The flowing energy of the tree fell away from his sight, leaving only a tingling upon his fingertips. He sighed, relief upon his heart.

Nothing like the therapy of a well-cared for tree.

The peacefulness brought forth was like a drug. Utilizing the raw experience of connecting with life itself always could soothe any mental hurdle. Only an Ere’du like himself could experience such a sensation.

I may not have wings or a Harmonic Affinity, but I wouldn’t trade this for either.

He watched the tree.

Although, flyin’ would be something fun to experience. And walkin’ amongst a cloud city would be a wonder of its own. Wait. I’m losing focus again…

MacIntosh stepped back, planting his feet in a sturdy position. He breathed deeply, holding out his hands. After a moment, he clenched his arms and drew a circle in front of him. As the shape formed, a hallucinatory droning came to fruition in his mind, reaching a steady tone as he finished the circle.

Holding the stance, MacIntosh cleared his mind.

Focus on the frequency… Find the frequency…

The humming in his mind shifted. He closed his eyes, focusing harder on the noises. The sounds altered their pitch and tone. Through mental memory, he continued the adjustments, finding the perfect consistency for Kinetic Dispersion.

A jolt of energy cruised from his chest, through his arms, and to his open hand. MacIntosh clenched his fist and grit his teeth. He pulled back his left arm, aiming for the center of the tree’s trunk.

Apple stems.

With all his might, he shot his fist forward into the tree trunk. A dense crack resonated out. From the impact, the bark did not falter. Rather, his fist simply knocked against the wood. The Harmonic energy built in his clenched hand bled into the tree.

The sound of an apple stem snapping—multiplied by 500—made itself heard. MacIntosh stepped back, looking up into the tree’s crown. The hundreds of apples dropped to the ground, roughly falling into the baskets below.

A satisfied smile came upon MacIntosh’s face. He grabbed the closest basket, hoisting it into the air.

I love casting spells like that. How hard would it be for me to learn to properly harness my Essence like a Monok’ehpos? Hmm. It can’t be too complicated. I might have to look into that.

He lowered his load onto the trailer.

“Ah, who am I kiddin.’ I’ve got no time for such fantasies. Leave the castin’ to those who can do it already.”

He looked around the area. An orange glow cut through the trees, illuminating the ground with a brilliant light.

Farek. I’m runnin’ out of time.

Not just for the task at hand, but to figure out how to handle his problem.

What in tarnation am I gonna do?

MacIntosh twisted the key to the ORV, silencing the engine. In a swift motion, he dismounted and moved to the trailer, disconnecting the hitch between both transports.

“Hey, Mac!”

MacIntosh stepped away from the hitch. The source of the call was none other than the youngest of the Apple family, little Apple Bloom. She skipped her way up to MacIntosh, dressed in a simple light teal dress and an orangebackpack.

I don’t care what advice Applejack’s friend gives her about ‘color theory.’ Red, yellow, teal, and orange don’t work together at all.

“Mornin,’ ‘Bloom,” He greeted his sister with a smile. “Ready for school?”

“Yep! I got everything I need too!”

“Wow, I didn’t even need to ask. You must be a mind-reader!”

Apple Bloom giggled. “Can we take the off-roader today?! Please?”

“Hmm,” MacIntosh exaggerated a hum as he rubbed his muzzle. “Well…”

“Pleeeease?”

“Alright, you convinced me.”

“Yaaay!”

Apple Bloom ran to the ORV. She climbed onto the seat and shot MacIntosh an impatient look.

“Come on!!” Apple Bloom bounced in her seat.

“Alright, cool your jets.”

MacIntosh took the seat behind her, revving up the ORV once again. She let out a loud whoop as the pair started on their journey towards Kinstown.

He turned left instead of right this time, taking the driveway over to the south fields. After reaching the fields, the road took a right, going around the outcropping of wheat until it trailed off. Once clear of the farm, MacIntosh pressed the gas and sped along the road.

The drive fell into a steady silence, with the rumbling of the ORV and the whipping winds overtaking all other sounds. MacIntosh caught glances of Apple Bloom watching the trees and flat grasslands fly by, pointing out the occasional critter. It brought a faint warmth to his heart.

The road peeled east, lining itself up with the property fence line. Several birds fluttered off at their approach. It took a lazy turn back to the south, leaving the fence behind in exchange for the dark forests of the Everfree. The morning sunlight fell away under faint darkness as the pair rode several meters past the edge.

It was unnatural for the sun to fade so much, but the Everfree had never been natural. The place always filled MacIntosh with an uneasy sensation; this time seemed to be no different.

Why did Granny not try to convince her parents to settle further away…

He could only hope that Apple Bloom would stay away. The tragedy that took their parents was not something he wanted to experience a second time. MacIntosh glanced down at his sister, speeding up the ORV.

Thankfully, the road emerged from the depths of the Everfree, returning the sun to its rightful glow. The pair rounded a final bend, coming upon the one-way bridge over the Pr’aar River. MacIntosh pulled the ORV to the side of the road just before they reached it.

“Alright, ‘Bloom,” MacIntosh said as he shut down the vehicle. “Let’s go.”

“Aww man…” Apple Bloom whined. “Why we parkin’ so far away… I hate walkin.’”

MacIntosh started walking across the bridge. “Walkin’s good for ya. Besides, you know that the ORV isn’t the quietest vehicle to drive through town. It would be rude.”

That and I would rather not draw more attention to myself than I already will.

“And the school ain’t that far anyway. You’ll survive.”

“I thought you said you’d be funner than Applejack…”

MacIntosh hid the smile upon his face at the sight of Apple Bloom’s pouting.

“I’ll make you a deal: Tell me something you learned in one of your classes, and I’ll let ya ride on my shoulders.”

Apple Bloom lit up at the offer, running to catch up with MacIntosh where he stood at the center of the bridge.

“Hmm…” the young maren thought aloud.

MacIntosh watched her, amusement building up. She glanced through the bridge rail guards, peering at the river flowing underneath.

Her face lit up.

“Ask me where all water goes.”

“Alright, where does all water go?”

“It goes to the ocean,” Apple Bloom stated, a satisfactory grin on her face.

“Why does it go to the ocean?”

She paused.

“Because… the ocean is the lowest point on the planet that water can reach?”

“Wow. With all that knowledge, I don’t know why we’re even sendin’ you to school.”

Apple Bloom’s face gained a wide grin. “Does that mean I can—”

“No, it doesn’t. Nice try,” MacIntosh chuckled. “Now come ‘ere.”

Apple Bloom stepped up, giggling with delight when MacIntosh lifted her onto his shoulders. He held on to her legs as she grasped his ears.

Here we go.

He started the walk into Kinstown. The small city still sat quietly, even more-so in this residential area. However, in the near distance, the faint sounds of a waking city crept into the clear morning air.

The walk become silent, at least on MacIntosh’s part. Apple Bloom gladly filled the void with her previous days’ experiences. She talked about her closest friend – an Ere’du by the name of Twist – and about the lessons she was learning the past weeks. The perfect setup. He got to listen and learn of his sister’s life without the need to respond much.

The walk ended faster than MacIntosh would have liked. The residential suburb rapidly transformed into the retail zone of Kinstown. On one side of the crossroad stood the ever-popular Sugarcube Corner bakery, remaining in a stand-off with the open market just half-a-block down.

Further beyond the sweet bakery sat MacIntosh’s destination. He turned right at the crossroad containing the bakery, following it all the way down until the Stage I Primary school came into view.

Unlike the rest of the town, the school swarmed with activity. Parents were bringing their young ones and the children were playing loudly in front of the school. MacIntosh let Apple Bloom off his shoulders and watched her rushed to the primary teacher, Ms. Cheerlie.

“Why, good morning, Apple Bloom!” The chipper teacher exclaimed.

“Hi, Ms. Cheerlie! Bye, Mac!” Apple Bloom said, waving to MacIntosh before darting off into the throng of children.

“Well, Big Mac! How unexpected!”

Of course, she still uses that nickname.

“Hey, Cheers,” MacIntosh greeted in return. “It’s been a while.”

“It has. Goodness, in fact, the last time I saw you was graduation!”

“Yeah…”

The pair shared a chuckle. Internally, MacIntosh released a scream.

Change the subject!

“So, uh, how goes the teachin?’”

“It’s going wonderfully, thank you for asking! This truly is my calling, despite what my parents claimed.”

Cheerlie paused.

“If I may, is Applejack well? I was not expecting to see you instead. Not that it’s a bad thing, of course! It is a wonderful surprise after all these years!”

Wow, that cut a bit.

MacIntosh shriveled inside. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“She’s doin’ just fine. Had some errands to run, that’s all. Since she wasn’t able to get Apple Bloom here herself, I came in her stead.”

“I’m glad you’re willing to take her responsibilities when she can’t! Oh, if you excuse me, I need to get this group rounded up! It was lovely to speak with you again! I wish I had more time.”

MacIntosh nodded.

“I know!” Cheerlie exclaimed. “Would you like to continue catching up over some coffee? This Syndas perhaps at Sugarcube Corner?”

“I could do that.”

His stomach dropped.

Wait, what did I just do.

“Actually—”

A sudden uproar behind Cheerlie cut off his words. She spun around, releasing a quick gasp.

“Oh dear, not again! I’m sorry, Mac, please excuse me! I’ll see you Syndas!”

She pushed into the crowd of children.

“Snips! Snails! I told both of you—”

MacIntosh took the opportunity to step away. He sighed, walking off from the school.

Gosh. I forgot she became a teacher. Thirty years and I never once thought to say a brief greeting. I’m surprised she wasn’t more upset after our prior conversation… Ugh. I can’t believe how far I’ve fallen since my graduate year.

MacIntosh continued straight at the crossroads.

And here I went, accepting her offer on a whim like that! Consarn it! Of all the times to not think something over!

He took a deep breath.

This is gonna be a disaster! If only I could reverse time and change it all! Redoin’ these past three decades would be nice.

Ah, the wonders of youth. That time when he was carefree and inexperienced in the ways of the world. No serious obligations, no focus upon the future, just fun and excitement.

Then came the sudden death of his parents, forcing him to whip into shape and become the head stallus of the farm. Heck, not just the farm, but also the guardian of his sisters and grandmother.

I can remember when I fell away from all my old friends. Right after the news…

He swallowed back an involuntary lump in his throat.

It happened ten years ago already. Gosh.

That had been the single spark that changed everything.

I had no choice. The farm needed me. My family needed me. It was an unfortunate sacrifice.

…

I could’ve kept in contact at least.

Another mistake on his part. The yearning remained in his heart despite the years of repeating the same excuses. No matter how much he denied it, he wanted to have friends again.

Perhaps even a relationship and a family of his own someday.

First things first, though.

Friends were top priority. Even if he hadn’t been actively seeking it out, the task was already going well. Thanks to last night, he had two acquaintances that could become friends with some work.

Magnia. Quite an interesting individual.

The Nen’yos was the opposite of MacIntosh. Energetic, extroverted, and loved by everyone.

How he’s so cheerful after his war injuries is beyond me. I doubt I could be happy after suffering as he has.

Had Magnia never stopped by the farm that one time, MacIntosh would never have given him a second glance.

Guess I can thank Rainbow Dash for something.

The newest acquaintance, Timber Tilt, seemed to be more of MacIntosh’s speed. Granted, he knew next to nothing of his fellow Ere’du Kiin beyond the fact that Timber had been quieter than even MacIntosh.

Unless he’s been drinkin’. Then he becomes a blabbermouth.

Unfortunately, the daily whereabouts of both were a mystery. The Hidden Pride bar is the only spot all three shared at any time. Which was rarer so for MacIntosh.

I need to find some way to see them outside that bar. With how Applejack acted, I should be careful how often I go there.

“Oh ho! I thought it was you!”

He looked up towards the booming voice.

None other than Magnia himself made a rather clumsy landing in front of MacIntosh.

“Another rare sighting of the elusive Mac Apple!” The gray, red, and blue Nen’yos bared a cheeky grin across his scarred face.

“Hey,” MacIntosh could only mutter.

“Magnia! What the heck?!” Another Nen’yos – one of prismatic colors and attitude – called from a close rooftop. “What in the farak are you doing?! We’re gonna be late!”

“Can it, Dash! Give me a minute!!” Magnia flared his wings at Rainbow Dash.

A moment later, Magnia returned his attention to MacIntosh, grumbling under his breath.

“Anyway, I was hoping to speak with you at some point this week. I know this is out of the blue, but me and a few others are gonna be heading into the Everfall Range in two weeks for a couple of days and one of them can’t go, so I’m offering the spot to you.”

Magnia’s face twisted into a lopsided grin.

MacIntosh blinked. “Oh, that sounds, interestin.’ Who’s goin’ with you?”

“Rainbow Dash, Timber Tilt, and me.”

How convenient.

“Hmm,” MacIntosh looked away from Magnia, rubbing the bottom of his jaw.

“You don’t need to answer right now. I know how busy your life is. Will I be seeing you at…” Magnia leaned close to MacIntosh. “…the Hidden Pride, sometime this Syndas?”

“Ah, I can’t do it then. My sister’s getting’ suspicious of last night already.”

Plus, I’m not sure if I can spend another evening there so soon.

“Then don’t worry about it! I’ll stop by the farm before we go!”

“Magnia!!” Rainbow Dash yelled from the rooftop.

“I’m coming!!” Magnia flared out his wings. “See ya around, Mac!”

Magnia saluted, leaping into the air to follow Rainbow Dash. MacIntosh watched the pair disappear over the town skyline.

Well then.

MacIntosh continued his walk towards the ORV, the past minutes of excitement drawing all his thoughts.

First a meetin’ with Cheerlie and now Magnia and his trip…

This is why he avoided going into town.

Okay, that’s a bit dramatic.

Again, such offers were not the end of the world.

That was not what I thought Magnia would offer. A trip up in the mountains could be quite relaxing.

While the Everfall Range sat in the center of the Everfree Forest, the spires themselves did not seem to be affected by the cursed woods and the denizens that lied within.

There was only the slight predicament of other anthow going along that tainted the idea.

I can’t complain. How lucky am I to have both of my recently made acquaintances going along with this?

Then came Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash. I can’t really say much of her. She seems… extreme. Dare I say the worst of her kind I’ve met so far.

She had every key trait of her race to a tee: Boisterous. Prideful. Arrogant. She also was the type that could not take a hint, no matter how obvious it was made out to be.

Well, if it ever got too bad, I could spend my time wanderin’ the wilderness.

No one could fault him for doing that on a camping trip. It only left the evenings and mornings for draining social interactions.

And knowing me, I’ll get put on the spot at some point and make a complete fool of myself…

The thought alone returned the knot in his gut. MacIntosh paused his walking.

Aw, shoot. I have the perfect opportunity laid out in front of me, and I’m too nervous to take it up. Magnia and Timber know me. I know them. It’ll be just fine.

The knot remained strong. He continued.

What is the worst that can happen?

So much could go wrong.

And Cheerlie… I have a meetin’ with Cheerlie this weekend. Oh dear…

MacIntosh took another deep breath, straightening his shoulders. Never had he felt so nervous. It pierced his chest and dug into his heart. But, what good things in life came without trials and suffering? This was his chance to revisit old friendships and make new ones. It would be hard and hectic, but worth it.

If only he could be rid of this unavoidable anxiety. He sighed.

“Better do it now…”

MacIntosh pulled out his holo-device, finding the saved frequency for Dr. Snickers office.

Author's Note

Hello to all you newcomers and greetings to the loyal few that wait for more! The day has come. 10,000 years after vanishing, I return with something new.

Is it what I expected to produce after such a long time?

Not in the slightest. However, the experience was exactly what I needed. Writing this short story helped me figure out my writing process, which will hopefully increase productivity of my other, larger stories.

And yes. I have been working extensively on the Outcast rework that I spoke of in my singular blog post from over a year ago.

Unfortunately, regarding Outcast, it is deep within the construction phase and far from actual completion (More so due to procrastination and a brief obsession with homebrew DnD). I try to work on it as much as I can, although as of late I have been burned out from it.

Which is where this story came from. It served as a nice break from Outcast and allowed me to experiment with many different aspects.

And – fingers crossed – it can allow me to start building an audience. That way, I can utilize feedback and obtain criticism from people other than my brotherly editor-in-chief.

First and foremost, I will use them to practice my own writing and mold it to be even better than it has become from the start. The criticism is a secondary bonus, and I do hope I obtain it. Whether it is good, bad, hard, or easy to take, any criticism is welcome.

The third-most aspect of these short stories is a way for me to bring forth the massive alternate universe I have made. Much has been changed and altered from the base world of MLP: FIM (It is even different from the current Outcast).

Hopefully, they will soften the blow and reduce what exposition will be needed in the primary stories I have planned.

This is not the last short story I will create during Outcast’s rebirth, oh no.

Again, I graciously thank those that held on, and I welcome those who give me a chance to introduce my world to you all.

Looking forward to the future!

Appendix

Utaios –– The true name of the earth which all creatures live. No matter the language, it is spoken the same way.

Alheere –– The name of the continent that Equestria – and most other civilized nations – resides.

Anthow –– The shortened, scientific name of the Equestrian race. It is derived from Anthow’pi-ena, which means ‘Split from One’ in the Aligonic language.

Ere’du Kiin –– The Aligonic word referring to the strongest and most common subrace of Anthow, translating to ‘Earth Kin’ in Ponish.

Nen’yos –– The Aligonic word referring to the rarest and winged subrace of Anthow, translating to ‘Winged’ or ‘The Winged’ in Ponish.

Monok’ehpos –– The Aligonic word referring to the spellcasting subrace of Anthow, translating to ‘Magic-keeper’ in Ponish (While the Monok’ehpos are not mentioned in the story I thought it wise to include this definition regardless).

Maren –– The Ponish word referring to the female sex of the Anthow.

Stallus –– The Ponish word referring to the male sex of the Anthow.

ORV –– An abbreviation of Off-Road Vehicle. It is a small, one-anthow transport similarly driven to a motorized bike. Instead of two wheels in contains four, along with greater engine power and amazing stability.

Farek/Fareking –– A strong profanity generally used as an exclamation towards misfortune. Over time it has taken a more common use by newer generations as an expletive towards any potential situation (Basically, its equivalent in our world is F*ck).

Syndas –– A Ponish name for one of the eight days of the week, specifically for the last day.