"So, you want me to go an' comfort Twilight?" Big Macintosh asked. Spike nodded. Applejack had given up trying to persuade him against enlisting her older brother, and had returned to applebucking. To say the red stallion was apprehensive was an understatement. Spike had never seen a pony so big act so skittish.
"Please, Big Mac." Spike pleaded, "Twilight is really upset. I can't stand to see her like this."
"Alright, alright. Ah'll talk to her on one condition; No romantic stuff. Ah ain't lookin for a special somepony right now."
The dragon happily agreed, "That's fine. I doubt Twilight is in the mood for romance right now. It's a, uh... what did AJ call it again? A code blue?"
Big Macintosh's eyes bulged at the mention of the term, "Nelly, that changes everything! Ah'll get goin over right away!" He scooped Spike up onto his back, and took off galloping toward town.
Spike held on tightly to Mac's mane. Despite his size, he was one of the faster earth ponies Spike had met. Even when Twilight ran hastily, it still took her almost twice as long to get from the library to Sweet Apple Acres as it did for Big Mac to traverse the same route. Many of the ponies on the street were observing the spectacle as it passed. It was a strange sight to see the quiet farmer look so determined. That he was carrying Twilight's faithful assistant only added to the spectacle.
"So, y'all got a plan?" Macintosh asked, "Ah may not be too smart with the ladies, but ah reckon she'll think it's a mite odd that I come down when she's feeling down. If y'all haven't noticed, ah don't visit the library much."
"Just say that you heard she was upset and wanted to see if you could cheer her up." Spike suggested. "Hey, I have an idea. Head over to Sugarcube corner."
Five minutes and a saddlebag loaded with creampuffs later, Big Mac and Spike had left the bakery and were back on their way to the library. Macintosh nervously knocked on the door. He was not good with women. He was unsure if he would be able to help Twilight, but if it really was a code blue...
He did not want to take the risk. Rarity's depression had proven catastrophic, and with Twilight being a princess, the potential for a disaster became even greater. An here Ah am, a farmer tryin to cheer up a princess. Macintosh allowed himself a chuckle.
His knock was dainty for his size, but still audible just the same. A weak voice, obviously one weak from crying, answered from within. "Come in." It feebly invited.
She sounds worse than Ah thought. The stallion pushed his timidity aside. Twilight was one of the nicest mares in town, and a friend of his sister's besides. The door creaked open. The library was unusually dark. No candles were lit, and all the blinds were drawn. Sitting in a pile of empty ice cream tubs was undoubtedly Twilight Sparkle, reveling in her misery.
"Uh, hi Twilight." He cautiously waved. "Ah heard you were feelin' down, so Ah thought Ah'd come check up on ya. I brought some cream puffs. Hope ya don't mind."
Twilight sniffled, "Thank you so much. I've just had the worst day today."
Spike only told him told him the gist of the situation, but Macintosh decided it was best to feign ignorance to what had happened altogether, "Somethin' the matter with Princess Celestia? Don't go worryin' about her Twi. Ah'm sure she's mighty proud of ya. You're as clever as a box of jackrabbits."
Twilight smiled, "Thanks, I think. But no, that isn't it. I had some relationship issues that I really would rather not talk about."
"That's fine by me. Ah don't know much bout any romantics, but Ah do know that a mare as pretty and smart as you deserves to be treated real nice." What are you doing? His conscious screamed. You don't want to go leading her on! The southern gentlecolt that so heavily formed his background had taken the reins away from his normal, shy self.
Twilight blushed, "Thank you so much. Um, if you aren't doing anything today, could you maybe stay here for a little while? I could really use somepony to keep me company."
"Uh, sure, Ah guess." He shot a glance to Spike, who was observing from the window. The message got across. Go an help mah sister while ah'm here. Spike dutifully ran off to help Applejack. He couldn't buck apples like Big Mac could, but maybe with Applebloom's help the two of them could clear out a few trees by claw or by hoof.
Twilight stood up and looked around the library, embarrassed by the mess. "Would you mind maybe moving somewhere more... clean?"
"Sure, where do ya have in mind?"
"Well, upstairs is good." Warning sirens went off in his head. Notgoodnotgoodnotgoodnotgood! He wasn't savvy with the mares, but he knew that Twilight's upstairs was her bedroom, and he also knew what an invitation to the bedroom meant. He allowed her to lead him anyway. Perhaps he felt pity for the heartbroken mare, or maybe he did feel just a tiny little itty bit of attraction toward her. He knew getting physically involved right now would only make matters worse. But he went anyway.
Twilight did not settle down in her bed, or wait for an advance from Macintosh. Nor did she did do anything sexual, or even make any off-color remarks. She nestled down onto her guest bed, a large pile of straw (Twilight never anticipated having guests for the night) and motioned for Big Mac to join her. The stallion settled down beside the smaller mare, who snuggled up to him the instant he stopped moving. She nuzzled his neck affectionately for awhile, occasionally accepting a cream puff from his saddlebag. After about half an hour of cuddling and cooing, she used her horn to pull a blanket out from a chest, covered them in it, and fell asleep. Eventually, without anything to entertain himself, Big Macintosh conceded allowed himself to drift off. He had been working particularly hard on the farm lately, and with the havoc of the day, he was all too happy to fall asleep at six PM.
Silently, so Twilight wouldn't wake up, Macintosh allowed himself a chuckle. "Ah doubt Granny ever thought today'd happen. Here Ah am, sleepin in the same bed as a mare." He had built up the confidence to call this a date. Everything had remained blissfully innocent, and he had to admit, he felt useful here. Twilight had needed a rock, and he had provided that bastion of confidence for her. "Ah guess Ah might know a few things about mares." He smiled. Twilight's breath was light and peaceful, her head still leaning against his. After planting a gentle kiss goodnight on her muzzle, Big Macintosh finally surrendered himself to sleep.
* * *
Spike returned well after dark. He, Applejack and Applebloom had put in a hard day in the fields. Sure, they had came nowhere close to the day's quota with Big Mac off with Twilight, but having Spike had at least helped pick up some of the slack. Granny Smith had insisted Spike come back in a week or so. The Apple family would be getting together for their annual reunion. Spike had initially refused, but he couldn't say no to Applebloom (partly because he loved foals, and partly because she promised her Apploosan relatives would love to play cards with them). The filly had even gone so far as to teach him a traditional Apple family square dance. Granny Smith had said that anypony who spends a day working hard in Apple family fields is as good as family.
The lights were still off in the library and the ice cream cartons still littered the floor. Spike had feared that Big Mac hadn't been able to help, until he went upstairs and found the two asleep in Twilight's spare hay pile. They looked pretty cute, he had to admit. Spike had no say in Twilight's love life, but he had always thought Big Mac might be a good stallion for her. He was very caring and very respectful to mares, even if he was a bit awkward around them. Spike giggled. If this goes anywhere, Applebloom and I might actually become family! He pushed the thought away. Now wasn't the time for anypony to consider Twilight getting married. He instead gave a sigh of relief, took up a pen and quill, and decided to inform the Princess that a crisis had been averted. After his letter was sent, he settled down in his basket, and went to sleep.