//------------------------------// // Hidden Talents // Story: Lets Talk // by odeeyou //------------------------------// It was late morning and chores were done. Applejack was off saving the world again no doubt. Applebloom was off somewhere with her friends getting into mischief and Granny was napping back at the house, not that it matters since she could sleep through anything that wasn’t the howl of a timberwolf. It was a perfect time for his hobby. Big Mac liked to sing. More specifically he liked to sing opera. (It was his biggest and greatest secret.) He’d once heard the music flowing from the Ponyville Performing Arts Studio when he was a young colt and he’d been hooked to it ever since. So he pulled Granny’s old Gramophone out of the attic and made a few special orders using an alias of his… “Are you the one they call… Large Apple?” Big Mac jerked to attention and looked around to see Ditzy Do standing in the orchard with a package held under her wing. He leapt behind a tree, only to step out a moment later wearing a dark hooded cloak. “Eeyup… I mean- yes.” The corners of Ditzy’s mouth twitched upwards for a moment before her face settled back into a resolved expression. Sometimes he wondered if she was onto him… Nah. With a couple of cautious glances around him, he stepped forward and accepted the package labeled in large bold lettering, GRAMOPHONE RECORDS INC. Transaction complete, they both gave respectful nods to each other. Large Apple carefully tucked the package into his robe and tippy hooved back behind the tree stealthily. He ignored the loud guffaws behind him. No doubt Ditzy just remembered a joke or something. Big Mac stepped out from behind the tree with a small record carefully held in his mouth and ran quickly to the barn. An old large toolbox sat just outside the doors labeled ‘Big Mac’s stuff’ next to a sign he’d written to remind himself. “Don’t tell nopony.” Pulling out the Gramophone, he quickly set the record, gave it a good wind, cleared his throat… and sang. “Nessun Dorma! Nessun Dorma! Tu pure, o, principessa-“ “GOBOLOBOLOBOBLE!” Big Mac spun around to see a wild turkey. It probably wandered into the orchard from the Everfree. Turning his attention back to the music, he leapt back into verse. “Nella tau fredd-“ “GOBOLOBOLOBOBLE!” He turned around and glared at the turkey, only to find two of them now. “Stupid Turkeys.” He mumbled to himself. No turkey was going to stop him from enjoying of his talents. “Che tremano d’amo-“ “GOBOLOBOLOBOBLE!” Dag nabbit! Now there were four of them! Big Mac gave the turkeys a level stare and took a deep breath… Meanwhile, just outside the acre… Rarity, Toe-Tapper and Torch Song walked down the road with near defeated expressions. “We still need a bass.” Toe-Tapper mumbled. “And we’ve walked all across town looking.” Torch Song dipped her head in defeat. “This quartet may end without ever having formed.” “There must be somepony we have yet to talk to.” Rarity marched forward unwilling to yet give up on this. “Wait.” Torch Song stopped and stood still, turning her head and listening for something. “Do you hear that?” Soft music flowed from Apple acres alongside a smooth deep baritone voice… Rarity’s face lit up with a smile of realization Toe-Tapper turned his head to try. “It sounds like…” “GOBOLOBOLOBOBLE!” A horrifying country accented rendition of a turkey gobble filled the air and a dozen turkeys were seen flying out of the orchard like their tails were on fire. “Aaggh!” The three ponies collided with one another in fright, collapsing in a tangled mess in the road. “That’s it” Rarity exclaimed and ran toward where the music had suddenly stopped. Torch Song ran forward to catch up with Rarity. “You know who that singing was?” “I do.” Rarity slowed as they approached the gate property. “Just let me do the talking.” They strolled through the trees until they approached a barn where Big Mac was quickly tossing a gramophone into a toolbox. Toe Tapper caught up to the other two of his party and spied Big Mac, quickly putting three and one together. “Good stallion! That music!” He praised the uncomfortable looking stallion and missing the shushing motions from the other two. “That-“ “TURKEY WARBLE!” Rarity interrupted. Applejack had told her how embarrassed Big Mac was about his supposed secret talent. While she was an incurable gossip, she would never be so rude as to gossip about a pony right in front of them. “Yes! That turkey warble is just what we need for out quartet.” She shot a ‘look’ at the other two ponies with her. And that’s the story of how Big Mac attended the Turkey Call Competition.