It had been about a month since Pinkie Pie had confessed her feelings for Big Macintosh to Applejack and in that time nothing had changed, Pinkie Pie was still uneasy about being in love and insisted that the secret between her and Applejack stay a secret.
The others never noticed anything unsual about the fact that Pinkie Pie and Applejack were spending more time together at the meetings, or that whenever Big Macintosh had time to spare he would always come down to Sugarcube Corner for a little bit because of some advice from Applejack.
But today was going to be different because Applejack had a plan, a plan to get Pinkie Pie to confess and to get Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity on board with a plan to help Pinkie Pie confess to Big Macintosh.
"Consarn it all Pinkie Pie!" Applejack said at another one of the meetings with her and other bearers of the Elements of Harmony, this one taking place at Sugarcube Corner again "The time has to come for ya'll to confess to the others, this whole secret keeping thing isn't doing ya any favors!"
"But Applejack I don't know if I'm ready yet." Pinkie Pie said in a less than enthusiastic tone of voice, something unusual for the pink party mare although her mane was still it's usual poofy self. "I mean what if the others laugh at me or think this is just another one of my many random pranks, I just don't know if they'll take me seriously and in all honesty I can't blame them. I mean LOOK at me, I can't even remember the last time I was serious about something!"
"Look sugarcube ya'll are acting just Twilight during that whole friendship report disaster, you know the one where she enchanted that old Smarty Pants doll. Ya need to stop worrying and fretting over the small stuff and just confess. They're your friends. I know they'll understand and if not you've got to me to back ya up." Applejack said "I may not exactly know everything about romance but I do know that keeping secrets, especially ones like these only makes things worse." The cowpony mare waited for a moment to let her words sink in but at the same time she was mentally giving herself a pat on the back on for a job well done.
Pinkie Pie said nothing for a moment and then still in her less than enthusiastic tone she said "Well I guess you're right, the time has come for me to confess but even if I tell them how am I going to be able to work up the nerve to confess to your brother, you said it yourself he attracts a lot of mares."
"Just leave that to me sugarcube." Applejack said with a grin "For now just focus on telling the others o.k.?"
"Okie dokie lokie." Pinkie Pie said her voice back to it's usual cheerful tone.
Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were just finishing up chatting about the latest news which as usual was nothing intresting or anything that gave even a hint of a problem when Applejack spoke up. "Could I get everypony's attention please?" she asked "Pinkie Pie has something to tell ya'll, it's very important!"
"Thanks Applejack." Pinkie Pie said "Now then I have an announcement to make." Then she froze as if though she wasn't sure what to say next.
"Well go on." Twilight said.
"We're all ears darling." Rarity said.
"Please continue um if that's o.k. with you I mean." Fluttershy said.
"Come on Pinkie Pie out with it already I haven't got all day you know!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Rainbow Dash calm down, you're going to scare her." Twilight said sternly.
"Eh sorry about." Rainbow Dash said apologetically "Anyways just get on with it o.k."
"Come on sugarcube you can do it, I know you can." Applejack said silently.
"Well o.k. heres go." Pinkie Pie said as she took a deep breath "Ihaveacrushonbigmacintosh!" she blurted out suddenly.
"Uh I'm sorry what was that?" Twilight asked.
"Could you um repeat that please?" Fluttershy asked.
"O.k." Pinkie Pie said.
"Slow down this time darling." Rarity said.
"Yeah Pinkie just relax, take your time." Rainbow Dash said.
"I-I-I" Pinkie Pie studdered.
"Yes?" Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash said all at once.
"I have a crush on Big Macintosh." Pinkie Pie said.
For a moment nopony said anything as Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity just stood there, their mouths wide open in shock. Finally after what seemed to Pinkie Pie like forever Twilight spoke up. "Let me get this straight YOU have a CRUSH on BIG MACINTOSH?"
"Um yes." Pinkie Pie "I thought I just said that."
"You did." Twilight said "I just wanted to make sure I heard that right, I'm glad to see that my ears didn't decieve me. Don't take this the wrong way, but I find it a little hard to believe. I'm still happy for you though Pinkie Pie. I'll be honest with you, I had given up on ever finding true love, but when I heard what you said it inspired me, and now I think I'm willing to give this whole romance thing another shot."
"I'm so glad to hear that Twilight." Pinkie Pie said.
"Thanks." Twilight replied "And if you ever want to come by the library and check out some books on romantic advice then I'd be happy to help."
"I'll keep that in mind Twilight." Pinkie Pie said.
Rarity was the next one to speak up. "Congratulations darling." Rarity said "I never thought YOU would be the first one of us to actually fall in love."
"But Rarity what about your 'Prince Charming'?" Pinkie Pie asked "Doesn't that count?"
"As much as it pains me to say this I'm afraid it doesn't. For you see although I may want to find my 'Prince Charming' and be married since I haven't actually met that lucky stallion yet it therefore does not count."
"Oh I see." Pinkie Pie said "But hey who knows maybe someday soon you'll fall in love too."
"I hope so Pinkie Pie." Rarity said "I hope so. And believe me when I say I can't express that enough. Oh and by the way if you ever need any romantic advice feel free to visit me. I actually DO have some good advice that doesn't involve anything over the top."
"Thanks Rarity." Pinkie Pie said "You know it's funny I actually thought you would try to force me and Big Macintosh to be together, but I guess that's what I get for reading your romance magazines."
"Oh I was wondering where those went to, but next time PLEASE ask me first." Rarity said. "Do make sure to drop by the Boutique sometime soon so you can return those."
"Will do Rarity." Pinkie Pie said.
Fluttershy spoke next "Well I'm happy for you and of course I can provide a little romantic advice if you ever need it."
"You didn't by any chance happen to have a crush on Big Macintosh did you?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Well no, when I first moved to Ponyvillie I was a little bit drawn to him, but I never really felt like he was the right choice for me. And I haven't much time to look for a coltfriend recently because I've been trying to practice my assertive lessons, and I've told myself I can start searching again once I know I can be assertive without being rude." Fluttershy said.
"Well I guess that's good to hear, at least I know now that I don't have any competition." Pinkie Pie said.
Rainbow Dash was the last one to say anything but before she could say anything she started laughing hysterically. "Oh man that was a good one Pinkie Pie you really had me going there for a while! But I mean COME ON, YOU and BIG MACINTOSH?! It's just too funny!" then Pinkie Pie did something nopony had ever seen her do before she shot Rainbow Dash a death glare, that silenced the rainbow mare very quickly. "N-No way! You-you're serious?!" Rainbow Dash said. Pinkie Pie shot her another death glare as a result. "I'll take that as a yes." Rainbow Dash said.
"Say Dashie aren't you going to offer me any sort of romantic advice?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Look Pinkie." Rainbow Dash said "I've never really been one for romance. That's mostly sissy stuff to me. But I guess if you really need some last minute advice I MIGHT be able to help you out. And if you need any sort of weather favor I might be able help you pick a day when I can keep the sky clear but otherwise I can't really do much. my boss isn't exactly fond of me messing with the clouds when it's not part of my job."
"But what about those lightning clouds you always use to prank other ponies?" Pinkie Pie asked "Isn't that the same as poking a hole in the clouds?"
"Well not exactly." Rainbow Dash said "You see those clouds are extras from the weather factory and my boss let's me use them for whatever I want as long as I make sure they never hurt anypony. And there was that one time last fall where the lightning hit a tree over by Sweet Apple Acres causing it to fall. I didn't actually go check and see if anypony got hurt, but my boss told me I needed to be more careful not to let that happen again."
Applejack made a mental note to pull Rainbow Dash aside to talk to her about that since that incident had occurred at around the same time that Big Macintosh had been injured.
Twilight spoke up again "I take it you haven't told Big Macintosh how you feel about him right Pinkie Pie."
"Yep." Pinkie Pie said. "And I don't know how to do that."
Now it was Applejack who spoke up "Like I said earlier Pinkie Pie just leave that to me."