Chapter 6: Supper with the Apples

Mac followed Applejack, a few paces behind her, as she talked about the farm and sites around Ponyville. She was almost giving him a tour of the small town, and explaining how the Apple Family were the ones to first establish Ponyville as a town, and how their apples supply most of the town’s food needs. Everything she said Mac already knew; he had lived there a long time ago and all the stories and buildings she pointed out he already knew all too well.

The only thing he wanted to know revolved around that earring on her right ear. He was too far away to see any defining characteristics about the earring; he could barely make out the three red apples in it that was part of her cutie mark. Normally a earring was a combination between the couples’ cutie marks, and without seeing the rest of it he couldn't tell who the husband was.

What he also wanted to know was how one of the most important days of his sister’s life went without him being there. He wondered who gave her away at the wedding. Braeburn seemed to be the only real choice of the family. Mac could only imagine how beautiful his sister could have been in her white gown, walking down the aisle to meet the pony she would be spending the rest of her life with. She probably was wearing her hat with the dress as well. Some ponies might have given her a bit of hell for it, but Mac knew that hat was special to her, and that on that day it must have been even more special.

“And if ya look over yonder, ya can see the apple tree’s makin up ma family’s farm. We got the best apples in all of Equestria Ah say, along with some of the best cider as well!” Applejack said, pride evident in her voice as she talked.

Mac looked over at the orchard and felt a twinge of old forgotten pride swell up in his chest. It was a sea of green as far as the eye could see. The tree’s were lined up perfectly, all ready to start growing the apples for late summer into fall. How he missed seeing the red apples appear in the trees, the feeling of his hooves making contact with the bark of the tree as he bucked the apples out of it, and most of all, he missed the look on his family's face after a long day of harvesting apples.

“Pretty impressive,” Mac said, trying to keep his voice low as he walked behind her.

“You bet it is!” she laughed, “And once them trees start to bear apples, it’s going to look even more impressive,” she said, the pride still notable in her voice as they walked down the dirt path. Time after time, he would try to look at he bobbing earing, trying to make out any details in it that he could, but it was bouncing around so much he could not make it out. All he could see was those three little red dots on it; everything else just kept getting blurred by the hat.

“And here we are, home sweet home!” she called to him, as she pushed open the gate that led up to the Apple Family home. Looking down the dirt path, Mac recognized almost every detail of the pathway to the house. Seeing all of it after so many years away just made his heart break; how much of his life that had been stolen from him by that curse.

“Over there is the barn. That’s where you’ll be meetin us every mornin’ fer work,” Applejack said, pointing to the bright red barn. Mac’s eyes instantly fixed on the structure. The last time he had saw that barn, it was burning down to the ground.

It was obvious that the barn was a new one, there was not much wear on it like the old one, and he could not see any of the patches in the roof he had fixed with his own two hooves years ago. Above the farm door, there was a new painting over it; it was a painting of a apple pie that looked like Granny’s cutie mark.

May all that enter this home feel the love etched into every fiber of it. And let that love fill your own heart when you walk inside. was written underneath it. He remember Granny having a plaque saying that hanging in the hallway of their home. She always believed in treating anypony that walked through that door like family, so that they will always want to return.

“Nice quote, ain’t it?” Applejack asked, looking up at the words Mac had just read it. “Ma Granny used to tell us that, stranger or friend, to always treat them like family. It’s the only way a pony can make it through this world,” she said, her eyes moistening as she looked at the wording.

“Sounds nice,” Mac said flatly. In his old life he might have believed that, but after years of living alone and seeing the true face of the world, he just couldn't imagine that some love was going to change any of it. It seemed that Applejack noticed the disbelief in his voice as she turned around to glare at him.

“And it’s true. Never met ya before in ma life, but already Ah’m offering ya some work and a good meal. Treating you like family almost, so ya better believe it,” she said with a slight huff. Mac didn’t look at her as he kept looking up at the words and the picture of the pie. It was a good memorial for Granny, how he missed that old mare almost every day.

“Well, don’t ya got somethin to say?” she asked, Mac could see that she was still glaring at him out of the corner of his eye. How she ever got married was beyond him at that point. Being her brother made him able to cope with those glares and her stubbornness, but it was hard to picture a stallion that would be able to put up with it.

Before Mac could say anything to her, the sound of a screen door slamming shut cut the air like a knife. Both turned to see a yellow mare with a red puffy mane coming towards them. Mac instantly recognized her, even though she was more lanky now and had finally earned her cutie mark, another important event that Mac missed due to the Rider.

“Bout time ya finally got home,” Apple Bloom said with an almost growl, “Leavin’ me to finish up all the laundry and to start fixin supper,” she moaned, as Applejack turned to face her.

“You mean how ya ditch me when you want to go hang with yer friends,” Applejack shot back, making the other mare just roll her eyes.

“Oh, don’t get me started on ditchin to hang with friends, seeing that you always seem to be-” Apple Bloom stopped mid sentence as she looked over at Mac. The look that she gave him was not a look that a brother ever wanted to see from his sister, not in a million years. “Who’s this handsome stallion you brought back with you?” she asked, walking towards them, her eyes never leaving Mac.

“This here is Wild Blaze, Wild Blaze meet ma younger sister Apple Bloom,” she stressed the word younger as much as she could, obviously noting the change in Apple Bloom’s behavior. “Apple Bloom this is Wild Blaze, now don’t ya go and start thinkin’ anything,” she growled, looking to Apple Bloom, than to Mac. Apple Bloom just giggled as she walked past Applejack towards the barn.

“Oh, Ah’m not thinking of nothin,” she said with another light giggle, her tail brushing slightly against Mac’s side, making him blush hard. If there was a moment where he ever wanted to fall over dead, this was the moment. She opened the door to the barn, but before going inside, she gave Mac a wink before closing the door behind her.

“Celestia Almighty, she’s at that age where she has to hit on any stallion that comes her way,” Applejack groaned, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “Now don’t you get any ideas now, ya hear?” she said suddenly, taking Mac by surprise.

“Never crossed my mind,” he said, looking away from the barn door and back at Applejack. She stared right into his golden eyes, as if scanning him for honesty. After a few moments she gave a nod before letting out a sigh.

“Sorry, Ah’m just protective of her, she is my younger sister after all and one of the prettiest mares in town,”

“I understand,”

“You got younger siblings Ah take it?”

“Used to,” Applejack looked up at Mac for a second. It was obvious that she wanted to ask him about what that meant, but before she could, the sound of loud gasping and grunts filled the air. Mac turned around to see what was making the noise. Coming around the side of the barn was a blue Pegasus who was covered in dirt and sweat, had a plow attached to him, and a wide grinned was plastered across his face.

“I did it! I finally did it!” he shouted, as he unhooked the plow from the yoke around his neck, and taking that off as well. “After three years, I have finally plowed the west and east fields in one day!” he laughed as he spread his wings and shook his entire body.

“Congratulations, hun,” Applejack laughed, walking over to the blue Pegasus. As she neared she gave him a light kiss on the cheek before nuzzling the side of his neck. “Ya finally beat Apple Bloom’s record. Now ya can start workin’ on beating mine of plowing the east, west, and north fields in one day,” she laughed, as the blue stallion’s face fell.

“What?! The north field is like the size of the east and west ones combined! How the hay would you be able to plow that?!”

“Aw hush, if yer somehow able to beat that, ya got to beat ma brother’s record of dorin’ all four fields in one day and going back and chekin if he did them all right,” Applejack laughed, “Not even Braeburn is able to do that,” she gave the stallion a grin as she turned back to Mac. “Wild Blaze, Ah want ya ta meet ma husband, Soarin Nimbus,” she said taking a step back so the two stallions could see each other fully.

Mac had heard the name once or twice before while listening to others conversations. He was supposed to have been a Wonderbolt a few years back that retired suddenly, but that was all he ever heard about him. Soarin just smiled at Mac as he walked towards him.

“Nice to meet you, Wild Blaze,” Soarin said, extending his hoof. Mac looked down at it, before extending his own and bumping Soarin’s, maybe a bit too hard, but he had to get a good feel of this stallion. Even though it was too late, he just wanted to make sure he was a good fit for his sister.

“Good to meet you, as well,” Mac said, as Soarin just grinned. Mac noted that he did give a good hoof bump, and good hoof bump was always a good first impression.

“Well then, now that those introductions are out of the way, do you know where Little-”

“Dive bomb!” Mac looked around for the sudden voice, but before he could turn around more than two inches, a red blur shot down from above and tackled Soarin to the ground, laughing as it did. Mac looked down at Soarin, his eyes wide in confusion to see the blue stallion laughing as well as he hugged a small red Pegasus.

“What did Ah tell you about doing that?!” Applejack shouted, walking over to the pair, who were still laughing. “That is not somethin’ ya should be doin, you could hurt yerself and yer pa!”

Pa? Mac thought, looking up at Applejack, who was advancing on the pair.

“But, Mommy! Aunt Pinky says surprising the ponies you love is the best way to make sure they know you love them!” the small red Pegasus said, getting off of Soarin and walking over to Applejack, where he nuzzled his head against her leg.

Mommy? Mac’s mind was racing, trying to connect the dots. It should have been obvious from just the first words Applejack said, but for some reason the idea of it was too much, that it wasn’t possible at all.

Applejack just shook her head as she kissed the top of the Pegasus’ head. “Well, Ah better talk to yer Aunt about that, now Ah want ya to meet somepony,” she said, as she placed her hoof on the side of the colt’s cheek and pushed his head to look at Mac. “This here is Wild Blaze; he’s gonna help out around the farm startin tomorrow, and will be joinin’ us fer supper tonight,” she said as she looked at Mac. “Wild Blaze, this here is our son Macintosh Junior, or as we like to call him, Little Macky.”

Mac looked down at the colt, trying to keep his face as emotionless as possible. As if dealing with the shock of his second youngest sister being married and his youngest hitting on him were not enough, this was almost too much. He was the same shade of red Mac was when he was still alive, white freckles on his cheek just like his mother's, green eyes that he got from his mother and father, and a blue mane like his dad.

As Mac was looking at Little Macky, Little Macky was looking up at the large stallion, his green eyes wide as looked at him. The two of them locked eyes for a second, green eyes looking into gold. “You look super cool!” he finally blurted out, making Mac take a step back in surprise at the sudden outburst as Little Macky started to run around him.

“Oh wow! Your cutie mark is also super cool! How did you get that?! Did it involve fireworks? Can you show me how? I have never seen a pony as big as you are!” Little Macky kept running around in circles around Mac, to the point where the latter was starting to get dizzy.

“Will ya stop all yer questions Macky? Didn’t Ah tell ya that’s impolite?” Applejack said, stepping forward and catching the colt as he was getting ready to run another lap around Mac. The colt looked up at his mom before looking for at Mac.

“Ah’m sorry, Mr. Blaze,” Little Macky said, looking down at the dirt.

“No problem,” Mac said, still trying to wrap his head around the whole situation. His sister had not only gotten married, she had also had a foal, a foal that she named after him! Mac could feel almost every emotion in his body starting to build up inside of him. Most all he felt anger, anger with himself for what he had done all those years ago. If Applejack knew what he had done, she would have never named her first son after him.

“Well, Ah’m goin to go help Apple Bloom finish supper. Macky, you start setting the table fer six. Ah’m sure yer other aunt is going to stop by fer supper again. Soarin, how about ya show Blaze around the property, should be time to eat when yall get back” Applejack laughed as she started to lead Little Macky away.

“Okay! Oh, can Wild Blaze sit next to me during supper?” the colt asked excitedly, as the two entered the house the screen door slamming shut again. Soarin just laughed, as he started to walk down the dirt path towards the orchard to which Mac started to follow, his mind still racing with everything that had just happened.

“Looks like Macky has taken to you,” Soarin laughed, as Mac just kept looking on ahead, trying to organize his thoughts about what he had just witnessed. It just didn’t seem possible, his sister married and had a foal. The prospect of the idea just didn’t seem possible.

“That colt, just has more energy in him than he knows what to do with. That’s why I know he is going to be a future Wonderbolt!” Soarin announced, as he turned to look down at the rows of apple trees of the orchard. “Well, this is obviously the orchard. We won’t do as much work in there just yet, mostly just picking up a few fallen twigs here and there and just keeping it neat,”

Mac remembered collecting all the fallen twigs and branches that the storms would cause. He remembered how Applejack would always make it a competition, just to show him up from time to time.

“Mostly you will be helping us get ready for the upcoming harvest. With the end of winter, the farm is going to need a few repairs here and there. I know the fence is in need of mending, and that chicken coop, pig pin, and cattle pin are also in need of repairs. Besides that, it should be some easy work, though with your size I am sure every job is easy work,” Soarin laughed nervously, looking back at Mac trying to make conversation.

“How long have the two of you been married?” Mac asked, he didn’t need reminding of how to do farm work, he knew that better than the back of his hoof. All he wanted to know what had happen in his sisters’ lives.

“Hmm? Well it will be about four years in just a few weeks,” Soarin said, leading the pair down the path that went around the farm. “Trust me, if you ever get married, remember the anniversary dates, otherwise you're going to be sleeping on the couch,” Soarin said, nudging Mac with his wing, to which Mac gave no reaction to. “Well, it was the best decision of my life,” Soarin added, unsure of what to say around the quiet pony.

“And how old is your son? Take it he is named after his grandfather,” Mac knew where the colt got his name, but he felt it odd if he didn’t ask the question, seeing that he knew that he was not named after Soarin.

“Going to be four at the end of spring, and no I did not get her pregnant before we were marred,” Soarin said, turning to Mac who gave him a questioning eye. “Just turned out that way, and it’s all the better, I say. As for his name sake, he is named after my wife’s brother,”

“Take it he’s not around anymore.”

“Ya...died five years ago in a barn fire with their grandmother. It was a horrible tragedy, a freak accident,” Soarin sighed, looking down at the grown instead. “Losing two family members like that? I can’t even begin to fathom what kind of pain that is like,”

It was no accident. Mac thought, a spark of anger rising in his chest.

“Once I saw Little Macky for the first time, I just knew what we had to name him,” Soarin continued, “Her brother was known as 'Big Mac' and from the pictures I have seen of him, he lived up to the name. He was about the same size as you, maybe a bit bigger. He was a bright red Earth Pony with green eyes. If Macky had a hay colored mane, some ponies might have thought we cloned him!” Soarin chuckled at this, as they reach a bend in the path. Mac knew the bend well, it was the last turn before you would start to return to the farmhouse, and where the gate to the family grave site was.

Looking out over the site, it was not hard to find where his and Granny’s graves must have been. There were two graves in the yard that looked newer than the rest.

“He’s right out there,” Soarin said, looking out. “Buried right next to his grandma. All they could find of him though was his yoke, experts say he might have been completely consumed somehow. Needless to say, it was a closed casket funeral for both. I was there to help a friend through a tough time when I saw Applejack. We met once before then at the Royal Gala. Can’t say it was the best time to reconnect but,” Soarin stopped talking, his eyes fixed on the gravesite. He seemed to be finishing the rest of his statement to himself, pain obvious on his face. “Let’s not talk about it anymore, and don’t bring it up to Applejack or Apple Bloom. They say they are over it but I know they are still hurting from that loss. Let’s talk about something happier. What about you? Got any family?”

“Did,” the statement was so flat and uncaring that an uncomfortable silence filled the air, at least it seemed that way to Soarin. Mac just kept looking over at the gravesite. He didn’t want to imagine that funeral, or what it must have been like for his family to think he had died.

“Tell me more about your son, seems like he can be a handful at times,” Mac said, turning to head back to the farm house.

“Oh you would not believe it! Having aunts like his, it would be hard for any colt not to be always so energetic! Well, they’re not really his aunts, but just really close friends to my wife, they are practically all sisters. Though, I was very close with the head of the Wonderbolts, Spitfire, and she comes around time to time to give him flying lessons. That colt is going to give me a run for my money in just a few years, practically learned how to fly before he could even crawl!” For the rest of the walk home, all it seemed that Soarin was able to talk about was his son, and how he was already his pride and joy in every way.

--

“About time the two of ya got back,” Applejack called out, as she watched the pair approaching the farm house. “Ah was just about to go out lookin’ fer ya,”

“Sorry hun!” Soarin shouted back, “But you know I am never far away when you bake an apple pie!”

“You and them pies, Ah swear the only reason you married me was so you’d get them pies fer free,” Applejack laughed, as she watched them come closer to the house.

“What do you mean free? You work me like a slave!” Soarin took to the air at this, and glided over to her before coming to a landing next to her. “But I still love you,” he said kissing her on the cheek.

“Such a sweet talker,” she replied, nuzzling against his neck. The older, and overprotective, brother in Mac wanted to punch Soarin in the side of the head for being so forward with his sister, but he had to remember he had no say in the situation. They were married, and he was dead.

“So how’d ya like the tour of the farm?” Applejack asked, turning towards Mac.

“It’s a farm,” both Soarin and Applejack looked back at Mac, giving him a mixture of odd and offended looks. Mac watched as Applejack’s face started to turn red, she was about to go off on him and probably ask him to leave. That would be for the best at least, and he would not have to keep putting on this charade.

“Give him some time A.J.” Soarin said, nuzzling the side of her head. “He doesn’t understand how much this farm means to us,” he said, talking to Applejack in the voice of a lover as he tried to calm her down. To Mac’s surprise, Applejack let out a slow breath and went back into the house without saying a single word. Never did he ever see her calm down that fast, normally she would just do what she wanted to do, due to her stubbornness.

“You are going to really want to complement her cooking,” Soarin laughed, looking over at Mac with a weak grin. “Otherwise you might find yourself in a world of hurt tomorrow,” he said with a grin, as he entered the house after his wife.

Mac gave the darkening landscape another look over. Like the town, it seemed that a spell had been cast on the farm to keep it looking almost the same as it has when he had left that night, except that the barn was on fire. Looking at it made waves of unpleasant memories flood his mind. Why he ever agree to come back here was beyond him. With a groan, he walked up the familiar creaky steps to the porch, and enter what used to be his home.

--

“Well Celestia be blessed, Ah’d never seen a stallion put it away like you, Wild Blaze,” Applejack laughed, as Mac reached for another helping of apple dumplings, the food on his plate disappearing faster than the first ciders of the season. He was already on his fourth helping of food, while everypony else was still working on their first. “By how fast yer eattin’ Ah’ think you've haven’t eaten in days,” she laughed again.

“Two days,” Mac replied, as he shoved another dumpling in his mouth, Little Macky watching him eat, eyes wide in some sort of admiration. “But I have not had a home cooked meal in years,” he added, as he reached for the glass of cider in front of him and downed in.

“Well, eat all you like then,” Soarin said “We got plenty of food, and there is plenty of work for you to do to pay us back,” he grinned as he sipped his cider as he looked across the table at Applejack. Applejack was at the head of the table with Little Macky to her right, while Apple Bloom was sitting a chair away from her next to Soarin and across from Mac.

“I will keep that in mind,” Mac said, as he reached for a roll next. Looking up, he saw that there was a plate across from Little Macy with a glass of water and cider set in front of it. “Is there somepony we should be waiting for?” he asked, as he took a large bite out of the roll. Everything tasted amazing, his sister had always been amazing cook, and as time went on, it seemed that she had only gotten better.

“Might be,” Apple Bloom said, looking back at the plate. “Though, she isn’t all that predictable,” Apple Bloom turned back to Mac, and gave him flirtatious look that made Mac’s face turn red as a chill of pure awkwardness ran down his spine. “So Wild Blaze, you have a marefriend?” she asked, as she batted her eyes. What really got Mac, was when he felt a hoof running up his hind leg.

“N-no,” Mac stuttered as he used his hoof to push hers down and away. She just kept looking at him, giving him a wink. “And not really looking for one,” he said, looking over at Applejack who was giving the pair a glare, to which Apple Bloom completely ignored.

“Oh? But Ah’m sure a stallion such as yerself would have no trouble getting a marefriend. That special somepony to warm lonely nights?” If this has been any other stallion, and if Mac was still alive, he would have ended this conversation as fast as possible for his sister to be talking to any unknown pony like this.

“No way! Wild Blaze is way too cool for a icky marefriend!” Little Macky exclaimed, as he looked over at his aunt, “Especially one with cooties like you!” he laughed, sticking his tongue out at Apple Bloom.

“You dork! Just stop talkin’ about things ya don’t know! Ah’m sure Wild Blaze would love to know about a pony wettin’ their bed almost every-”

“Apple Bloom! Macintosh Junior! That is no way to behave at dinner, especially when we got guest! Apologize to one another right now!” Applejack shouted, getting to her hooves.

“But, A.J.”

“But, Mommy,” the pair whined in unison.

“No buts! If Ah don’t hear an apology neither one of ya is getting yer dessert tonight. And what are you giggling about over there, chucklehead?!” Applejack growled, now turning her attention towards her husband. Soarin was trying to hold back his laughter as he bit his bottom lip, and had his eyes tightly closed.

“I’m sorry hun, but you always look so cute when your angry,” he said, almost bursting out in laughter as said this. Applejack’s face went red, as he looked at him, more out of embarrassment than out of anger.

“Sh-shut up, you love sick puppy. And Ah haven’t heard an apology from ya two yet,” Applejack turned her attention back to her sister and son who were now making gagging noises.

“We’re sorry,” they said in unison, as they went back to eating. Applejack just rolled her eyes as she sat back down and looked at the two.

“Ah swear, yer more like siblings than aunt and nephew,” she sighed, as she looked back Wild Blaze who was still eating. “So, where are ya from, Wild Blaze?” Applejack asked, turning the conversation back towards their guest. “Where do you call home?”

“Stalliongrad, before that Manehatten, and before that Prairieville. I’m a drifter, I don’t have a home,” Mac replied. In all honesty, that was the last three places he and the Rider had been, and it was true, he didn’t have a home anymore.

“Now that can’t be true,” Applejack laughed, “All ponies got a home, where their family is waiting for them to come back to one day,” Mac looked up at her, it was obvious she was talking from personal experience, when she had left to find her cutie mark.

“I don’t have a family anymore, they're all gone,” he replied flatly, as he started to drink water in front of him. The room went silent for a moment, no pony knowing what to say at the sudden announcement.

“Like they moved?” all eyes found their way to Little Macky, who was looking up at Wild Blaze in confusion. “Like, they went somewhere else?”

“No, not like that, hayseed,” Applejack said, looking towards her son. “What Wild Blaze is trying to say is, well, he is trying to say-”

“They’re dead,” once again, a silence fell over the table as Mac kept eating.

“Ah’m sorry, Wild Blaze, we know how ya feel. If ya need to-”

“There is no reason to be sorry. I had made my peace with it a long time ago,” Mac said, never looking at one of them. He knew their pain all too well, but it would be impossible for them to understand his.

“But all the same we-” to either Mac’s fortune or dismay, the sound of the screen door slamming shut cut Applejack off mid sentence. Mac looked up, a bit alarmed by the sudden noise, but it seemed like everypony else was quite used to the sudden noise.

“Late as usual,” Soarin laughed, standing up to head to the kitchen to grab some more food, “Be back in just a few,” he said as Little Macky jumped out of his seat and flew around the table and out the doorway towards the noise. Applejack and Apple Bloom looked at one another and laughed, while Mac looked around in confusion.

“It’s his favorite aunt,” Applejack laughed as she took a sip of cider. “The one Ah have ta thank fer all his bad habits.” At that, the sound of laughter could be heard echoing from the hallway as two ponies bumped into one another. Then, walking around the corner, with a red colt on her head, came Rainbow Dash.

“Hey ya A.J! What’s for dinner? I’m so hungry I could eat a-” Rainbow Dash’s eyes were scanning across the room when her magenta eyes locked on the dark maroon pony from earlier that day. Mac looked up for just a second, already feeling a battle coming on. He looked down instead, trying to avoid the battle for as long as possible.

“Why the buck is he here? And why the buck is he sitting in my chair?” Rainbow growled, as Little Macky flew off her head and went back to his seat next to Mac.

“This is Wild Blaze! Isn’t he super cool?!” Little Macky exclaimed, adding fuel to the fire that was Rainbow’s rage. “Ah asked Mommy if he could sit next to me tonight! He’s gonna be workin’ on the farm starting tomorrow!” he said happily, that only made Dash’s glare become colder as she stared at Mac.

“Hey there, Rookie!” Soarin laughed, using his wings to carry in another two baskets full of rolls and dumplings, unaware that he was walking in on a tense situation. “Late as always, but have plenty of food still, so just pull up a chair and...uh...Apple Pie, did I miss something?” Soarin walked in as Dash glared at Mac, with a glare that might even rival that of Fluttershy’s stare. Applejack was at a lost for words as well as she looked between the two ponies. She had never seen Rainbow Dash so angry at a pony before.

“Rainbow Dash, what in tarnation is yer deal?” Applejack finally asked, looking at her long time friend and practically her sister.

“My deal?” She asked, looking over at Applejack. “My deal, is this pony here crashed into me earlier today, and just totally blew me off!”

“If I remember correctly, if you didn’t crash into me you would have crashed into a wall. So you're welcome,” Mac said, looking up for once, gold eyes glaring back into magenta ones. Rainbow Dash just growled as Little Macky’s green eyes seemed to light up.

“Wild Blaze saved Aunt Dashie?! That is so cool and awesome!” Little Macky exclaimed, making all the ponies in the room turn to him again, this time Dash’s glare was upon him, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Save me?! I was the Element of Loyalty, helped save Equestria and Ponyville more times than I can count, and former member of the Wonderbolts! There is no way I would ever need to be saved,” she said, turning her glare back to Mac. “You just interrupted one of my greatest stunts ever,” Mac just rolled his eyes, to which Dash gave a snort of aggravation.

“Ya forgot modest on that list,” Mac replied, as he took another roll. As he went to take a bite of it, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

Hungry… the Rider was beginning to wake up. Turning his attention to the window, he saw that the sun was nearly gone and the Rider's reflection starting to take form. He had stayed too long, and the Rider was wanting to come out soon to feed. So, very, hungry…

“Look, I’m sorry Miss Dash, if I interrupted your stunts. I will try not to get into your way,” he said standing up, “I’m guessing if you want me to be here early right? After such a large meal, I better get going so I can be fully rested,” he said, as he started to make his way towards the door. “Thank you for the meal.”

“Oh don’t go yet, Wild Blaze,” Applejack said, getting up and walking towards him. “We still got dessert coming out; you don’t want to miss that,” she said, trying to give him a welcoming smile.

“That sounds great, but I walked all the way here today and I am very tired, so I will take you up on that for supper tomorrow night,” he said, trying to make it to the door as fast as possible. He could feel the familiar burning under his skin coming over him.

“Well, Ah guess that is okay,” she said, sounding somewhat hurt, “But Ah guess it might be the best idea; Dash gets a bit competitive in everythin’ she does, that includes getting the most attention from her nephew,” she laughed, halfheartedly patting him on the back. Mac nodded to her and made his way out the front door.

He walked down the pathway as calmly as possible. He was sure Rainbow Dash was looking out the window, watching him go, as if she was expecting to see him run off like he wanted to do. The burning was becoming more intense with every step. He would have found a secluded spot before the sun went down so he would not have to fight the transformation like he was now. As soon as he far down the path where he was out of sight, he sprinted, he ran as fast as he could for the forest.

Hungy! I want out! I want out! The Rider roared, as Mac felt the Rider’s flame grow hotter and hotter.

“Just wait a few, we just need to get out of sight,” Mac pleaded with the Rider. The transformations were always bright due to him bursting into flames, so being so close to the farm would only drive suspicion. Running a few more feet, he dove into the Everfree forest and ran deep within the darkness that it provided him.

After feeling he was safe, Mac came to a stop and stood perfectly still, his eyes closed as he took a few deep breaths. For a few moments, nothing happened, as he just stood there breathing deeply as if he was trying to calm his mind. But all at once, he gave out a yell of pain, as his eyes flew open but instead of golden eyes, his eyes were on fire.

He swayed back and forth as he tried to suppress the screams of pain as his body lit on fire from the inside out. Sparks flew out of his mouth as he yelled, as his nostrils started to shoot fire. As bad as all that pain was, the worst was yet to come. A sudden pain came to Mac’s head, as he started to roll around on the ground, the pain becoming too much for him.

With a final blood curdling scream of pure agony a metal spike burst from Mac’s head in a baptism of blood and and fire. As soon as the horn emerged, Mac’s body went limp as flames danced across Mac’s body, burning away what was left of his flesh and coat. The ground around Mac was charred and smoke was rising from the area, as a skeleton stood up from the ground, his entire body on fire.

At once the Rider gave out a high pitch whistle that echoed off the trees. Then, the all so familiar roar of Night Rod’s engine broke the silence of the forest as it pulled out of the shadows, the blood red light glowing brightly, the chains around it rattling sensing the hunt that was to be had.

Walking over to the Night Rod, the Rider reached into the saddle bag and pulled out the black leather jacket. Putting it on, the flames, that were dancing across his body, now went out, leaving the skull the only thing aflame.
“Hungry,” The Rider said, getting onto the Night Rod and revving the engine. “So very hungry,” he laughed in a sadistic glee as he revved the engine. The engine roared with the fury of a demon as the bike sped forward. He was ready to find the Demon Soul, he was ready to feed.

Author's Notes:

Thank you all for reading this! Thanks as always to jszellmer for editing this, and dealing with my madness.

I have been waiting to write this chapter and I hope you all enjoy it! Please do tell me what you all thin of Little Macky. I love him, but that may be just me.