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Joined November 2011
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After Big Macintosh helps the Mane Six out of a jam, he finds his ordinary life of
peaceful routine thoroughly disrupted by the various misadventures those crazy
ponies always seem to get themselves into.
Artwork provided by the talented Zemious
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite stories... I love how you seem to be using each one of the Mane 6 to bring out a different side of Big Mac for us to see, and even for himself to see, I think (maybe Mac should be brushing up on his penmanship for a friendship report?) Everypony we've seen has been excellently in character (your Pinkie Pie might be the best I've read, and the same is true of Rarity.) One wonders if the girls are working together on this? Applejack certainly seems to be acting like she's in on something...
I'm very interested to see Twilight Sparkle's side of her talks with Macintosh. He seems to think little of his own perceptions and intellect, but I think she'd disagree with that. Clear-eyed observation and solid practicality are sometimes lost in academia, and I think she can appreciate that.
In short, tremendous work, and I anxiously await more!
I want to thank everybody for leaving such nice comments. Seriously guys you're making me blush.
Yeah I have to admit, I really revved up the tension in that relationship. Partly because I always imagined the two would have some natural physical attraction to each other and because I always pictured Rarity as being pretty good at using her natural cuteness to get things from unsuspecting males (e.g Spike's ruby in Secrets of my Excess)
Anyway, funny story, I actually don't have a clear idea of what Friendshipping is. Don't get me wrong, common sense and context gave me a feel for the concept. I tried tvtropes but didn't really find anything on the subject. Then I googled it, but apparently there's a religious concept about worshipping with your friends that shares the same term that really complicated my search. Anyway, if anyone could give me a concrete definition I'd be grateful. I just like to make sure when it comes to these things.
That's a pretty accurate observation, I'd say more but I don't want to risk giving anything away. And thanks for the compliment, I always try to make sure everyone reacts the same way they would in the show. Though I have to admit, there's a lot of gaps that need to be filled in with a bit of extrapolation. I'm just glad that I haven't made too great a leap with any of it.
Fixed it, thanks for pointing it out. There's always a few that manage to slip through the cracks.
Well I'm glad my story is receiving such positive reviews and I hope that the chapters to come will hold up to your expectations. Thanks everybody.
well i started to read this tonight and since the first moment i fell in love with the story its really good and i love how you make a story with each one of the mane 6 i see some trace fo shipping in the 3 chapters (in the 2 i was like YES because im a fluttermac fan lol) but i love how you develop the characters and especially Big mac ( swag master and bets pony lol) so im tracking cant wait to see more of this keep up the awesome work you are doing 
>>169796 Friendshipping is pretty much what common sense and context tell you it is: building a relationship between two characters, except the result is platonic and not romantic.
Anyways this is probably the first My Little Pony fanfic I've ever read that has mentioned Parmenides and Zeno and that is completely awesome.
Highly interesting. I especially enjoyed Pinkie Pie's segment. Its so nice to see her interacting with Mac. Applejack has grown up, and even little Apple Bloom is fiercely independent. I dont think he gets much chance to be that older brother anymore. But with Pinkie he sort of can be. Give Piggie-back rides, play games. That sort of thing.
That said, they've all been enjoyable so far. The only thing i would say is that i thought the Ursa was a tad silly. But even then i wouldnt call it bad - just unbelievable.
My one true hope is that you dont finish this once you've gone through all the characters once. I'd like to see this become a good long fic.
Simple logic..... Zeno was a dick. He deliberately left out factors in his arguments--- like time, distance, velocity, etc. AKA concrete realities.
His "paradox" would make sense if a pegasus was an infinitely small point traversing an infinite array of points. But both the pegasus and the distance between the two clouds have finite measures... at some point the length of the pony would be greater than the distance left to be crossed.
Registered with the site just to comment on this story. Very well written, I also applaud you managing to keep Big Mac out of romance for the moment and more of building relationships, most authors tend to put romance first. All in all, very well written and the characters are superbly brought to life.
So instead of a Sonic Rainnuke, we have a Sonic Moonblast? 
*files it under Wave Motion Gun*
Goodness I loved this chapter. I've always liked they're characters clashing in such a way, and I love that little rivalry they developed at the end. 
I wonder how this story will end. It reminds me of my own work Blue Days, and that's a good thing. In that aspect, I suspect it'll end with TwiMac or RariMac if no shipping comes of this. But either way you finish this is fine and entirely up to you. 
You'll have your stars when the story is finished. I always hold out until the end. 
I believe it was actually that Rainbow Dash went so fast that she broke the space-time continuum and caused the same moment to repeat itself over and over until it was corrected. Since all of ponyville was asleep he's the only one that really knows what happened. If anything it's a reference to the fact that anything that goes faster than the speed of light would be rendered invisible to the naked eye. Essentially RBD left the color of the world behind her and caused a rip which is the white that Macintosh kept finding himself in.
That's at least my take on it.
Finally registered so that I could make an opinion known.
I like how various elements tied together in this chapter. The way Mac is shown to enjoy seeing the forms of things in different lights and times of day, which helps him understand the point of the Haystack paintings. And which, Rarity herself notices, ties into how she is getting to see all angles of Big Macintosh where others dismiss him as boring, unimportant and hopelessly rustic... like the haystack.
Of course, it also ties into what seems to be the point of the story as a whole, showing off Bic Mac's various sides.
It even ties back to the first chapter, with Big Mac experiencing things other than work and finding them enjoyable. (And I haven't forgotten how the aspects of the last chapter worked together either.)
And yes, I'm fairly sure that Twilight appreciates their talks because he gets her to think about things she takes for granted, letting her clarify and clean up her own beliefs through debate and explanation.
Seems that way to me, Spiili, but timezones being what they are, a lot of people or critters in the world besides Big Mac would have been awake and wondering why they were repeating the same couple of minutes that day.
Of course, if Dash was really moving faster than light, Big Mac shouldn't have been able to see her at all. She'd already be past him by the time he looked.
I'd also expect the Princesses to notice something was up and attempt to find the cause.
On more mundane note, OUCH. Poor Big Mac; he was rounding the bend to recovery, and now he's worse off than he started. Some unicorn discover some healing magic, already. Or, "Paging, Witch-Doctor Zecora. Witch Doctor Zecora, please report to the Banged Up Hero ward." She might have something to help speed things along.
Hey guys, I notice a lot of conjecture into what exactly happened in the latest chapter. Unfortunately, I don't want to give too much away since the whole episode plays a role in a later chapter. I will say that you're all...kind of close, though none have really mentioned an important aspect of the whole thing.
Well anyway, I'll stop playing word of god and just say that I'm really liking the discussion this is bringing. And, as always, thanks for all the support.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy it. And I always enjoy reading people's insights to the story. Let's me delve deeper into a reader's reactions
Sorry, I wasn't disagreeing with your conclusion, I was just being persnickety about the apparent violation of physics.
Which does little to sour this nice story. I mean, it has to share space with magical unicorns, suns and moons that don't raise themselves, and Pinkie Pie.
Love how Rainbow Dash remains a self important dick throughout the chapter and Big Mac really just deals with it.
It is kind of weird how all the other chapters has Big Mac slowly developing with the help of a mane 6 character while this one the only thing that really happens is Big Mac gets injured again and extends his "out of commission" time. Then again, Rainbow Dash is just a self important dick so I didn't expect much out of her chapter in terms teaching Big Mac a lesson. I pretty much expecting her to annoy Big Mac with her bragging and injuring him more before reading the chapter and you delivered. Her chapter was probably the only one of out of mane 6. Not that it's a bad chapter mind you, it's just Rainbow Dash's character is so limited it's rather easy to call. I look forward to the next chapters
Something I'm really liking about this story... every chapter seems to be just a little different, genre and presentation-wise. I don't know if that's intentional, or just how the chemistry of the Mac and the Mane 6 subject at hand works out, but I really like it. This felt... well, the interaction between Mac and Dash was a lot of fun, as to be expected (particularly with her stalking him from the cloud-tops) and then there was an almost fantastical-element with her doing... whatever that was. She should really consult with Pinkie before warping time and space, though. Twilight's going to have a fun time sussing out just what happened, that's for sure.
The last chapter felt really almost like it could be "pre-shipping," which really works with Mac and Rarity, I think (I do think they'd be attracted to each other on some level, that's for certain.) This one didn't feel that way, seeming to focus on Mac and Dash finding friendship and bonding, and I like that. Not that I have anything against MacDash, per se (though I think it's one of the more difficult parings to make fly, no pun intended,) But switching it up like this keeps the story from feeling like some sort of "Harem Fic." But on the shipping front, it seems like Mac might have some options... PinkieMac could be fun (mostly because I've never seen it before, and Pinkie is my personal Best Pony,) and the aforementioned RariMac has potential. I can't tell if this is even going to be a shipping fic, at all- and that's really a good thing. Sometimes it's good to keep the readers wondering a bit!
The excellence continues, and I can't wait for more.
I've always pictured [insert ponified name for Sweeney Todd here] of the MLP universe as being awfully similar to Pinkie Pie of Cupcakes notoriety. You know, kills ponies and puts them into baked goods with a singing voice to match. Originally I had thought of the version they would see as based on the 1936 film (Tod Slaughter FTW) but eventually decided on the 1979 Broadway version (I'm a sucker for musicals.)
HOW THE HECK DOES THIS ONLY HAVE EIGHT COMMENTS?!
What a fantastic opening chapter! What an excellent handle you have on these characters! Firstly, your creative portrayal of Pinkie Pie was just... gosh, the phrase "Ragging waters run deep, too" is a phrase I'm going to have to use more. I love your take on her character, and you did it while still maintaining a good semblance of her show characterization, i.e., hyper and eccentric, unrelentingly cheerful and optimistic, but with the capacity for insecurity and uncertainty with deep concern for others happiness. She's my fav character so I love to see quality portrayals in fics.
And I am REALLY liking your Big Mac. Unique character, and very reasonable and believable dialogue. His behavior is annoyingly show accurate, that is to say, he barely speaks, is apparently rather shy, and isn't all that emotive. I have been desperately wishing, pleading with the powers that be, for Big Mac to get some better screen time in the show (Hearts and Hooves Day, while it was a fantastic episode, had me cringing every time Big Mac had opportunity to speak), just begging for a little character development of the only male pony that has a hope of being a reoccurring character.
So yeah, I really like the VERY well written and engaging story premise set-up of what appears to be the beginning of an elaborate Big Mac characterization and development story. Yay! I wonder if we'll ever found out exactly what he did to save everyone.
Gunna go read the rest now. Seriously, why to few comments?
Again, how on earth does this only have 7 comments? Only two chapters and I am beyond hooked! These first two have been fantastic! The choice to leave the initial heroic feet Big Mac performed unexplained was great, and the interactions with the Mane 6 thus far have been wonderful! I kinda question Fluttershy's composure when faced with the Major, but since she wasn't there for Boast Busters, it's not like it's canon breaking, and it has certainly been presented fantastically here!
Seriously, this is the best Big Mac fan characterization I have ever read, or at least is my personal favorite. It has depth, it's unique and all the while is very well developed by the events and actions taking place in the story all while keeping consistent with Big Mac's in show appearances. I think the most enjoyable aspect is that the interactions between the characters, particularly the Mane 6, have been wonderfully, for lack of a more specific term, rational. They're believable, realistic (despite certain context), and the dialogue exchanges flow naturally and never feel forced or obligatory for the sake of exposition.
I truly am hard pressed to find a single flaw worth mention. On to the next one.
This was tremendous.
Seriously, I'm only at the third chapter, and I can say with the utmost confidence that this story has firmly secured its place in at least my personal top 10 MLP fan fictions. If you knew how many fan fics I read, that compliment would seemingly carry the highest praise possible.
Honestly, I am blown away at the quality of this story. With a simple context, the most elaborate of subjects are explored and extrapolated on in a way that never fails to also build the character of your Big Macintosh portrayal.
You said in a previous comment, "Though I have to admit, there's a lot of gaps that need to be filled in with a bit of extrapolation." Ha! This is one of the most comprehensive, well written and creative stories (about ponies for heavens sake) I've had the pleasure to read. Not a SINGLE line of exposition or dialogue is written superfluously. You religiously adhere to Kurt Vonnegut's fourth law of writing fiction, which states "Every sentence must do one of two things: reveal character or advance the action."
I would be hard pressed to find a single example where you break that rule. Every description and every line of dialogue is expository, creatively so. From Big Mac's appreciation early morning walks admiring Ponyville and the minute and characteristic details beneath, to his aversion to the abundance and variety of sensory inputs at Rarity's (a creative parallel to Rarity's own character), and especially the events at the art exhibit! How on earth did you simultaneously provide a commentary on the arts while also simultaneously developing and providing connotations on Mac's character? You sir are a masterful devotee to the tired old "show don't tell" rule.
I may be superimposing some of my own interpretations of your intent here, but regardless, this is quality work. I'm going to stop gushing now and hope that this now overly long splurge of praise speaks for how much I enjoy this. On to the next one.
Ya know, under most other circumstances, I would have qualms with part of this chapter. But more on that in a second.
Firstly, let it be know that I still find it to be absolutely wonderful to read. You provided a FANTASTIC portrayal of Rainbow Dash in this chapter. Her actions and notably her dialogue fit so well with her show character. I have observed that, at least subjective to my interpretation, that you have portrayed the Mane 6 with such definitive clarity and quality that they don't feel like their cartoons selves anymore. They feel like people. Real people. All Dash's interaction with Big Mac were entertaining, creative, and frankly characteristic of a very touching bonding experience. I really enjoyed the idea of Rainbow coming by to tell stories to Mac. The term "friendshipping" doesn't do justice to what is exhibited here. Friendshipping, at least to my experience in the MLP fandom, is typically the reinforcement of an established friendship or a deeper exploration or expansion on that friendship.
What is being done here? This is building a relationship from the ground up, all made feasible by the unexplained context of the accident Big Mac apparently saved everyone during. And all the characters present feel so realistic, far more elaborate than their cartoon origins. Rainbow's motivations are clear throughout the text, without ever needed to be explained. Her values and standards when compared to Big Mac's provided fantastic juxtaposition for both their personalities, and damn if it isn't entertaining. They were so cute. I also liked the slight interactions between Mac and AJ expanding on their sibling relationship.
But those qualms I had... Straight to the point, what the heck was happening with Dash's "Sonic Moonbow"? That whole exchange was bordering the limits of suspension of disbelief, besides showing scant regard for how rainbows and their names work. That's not to say it wasn't a well written segment. To the contrary, it was wonderfully written, touchingly so when Big Mac tried to save his sisters and momentarily had to cope with their possible loss. But really, what the heck was happening? In a story primarily grounded in simple Slice of Life character interactions (Hence title 'Keeping It Simple', I imagine), this sudden pseudo-realist, almost surreal display of nondescript and incredible circumstance seems out of place and just... weird. Again, the quality writing prevented me from ever breaking from my immersion, but I still had to think "What is happening and why?", and not in the curious sense but the doubtful sense. It was similar to the feeling I had when the Ursa Major made an appearance. Disproportionate actions. And Mac took a pegasus going near mach speeds to the chest and walked away from it? I understand that this will likely be explained in later chapters, but again, it's pushing the limits of reasonable suspension of disbelief. Oh, and you may be beginning to make Macintosh sigh excessively. He does it a LOT. Surely he can show a different physical emotive response?
Damn it... look how long this freaking thing is! I need to practice being concise. Sorry, I just really like this story. I am so intensely sad that I got to the latest chapter and now must wait the agonizing time until the next. ETA on that?
Ah, and here's what I was waiting for. If I have one weakness as a writer it's writing action sequences, or rather, writing scenarios for actions to take place while being believable, or even more rather, making those unbelievable situations believable. But well, that's just something I have to work on. 
And as for your and >>253965 's point, I've been rereading the story and I gotta confess, he does sigh a lot. I'm going to fix that for coming chapters.
Speaking of which, the next chapter will be completed in around a week or so, and will feature...well, I hope it's obvious
“Ya know why Ah don’t wanna be smart? It’s ‘cause it seems like all smart ponies do is repeat things other smart ponies said so they sound smarter fer sayin’ it. Smart doesn’t pull a plow, smart doesn’t fix a barn roof, smart doesn’t fight off pests from apple trees.”
That line made me so mad.
Probably because I consider myself to be an intellectual. Yes, a smart person would quote others because progress and understanding in any field is made by taking the ideas of others and building off them, that's how we learn, that's how we improve. Also, smart invented the plow. Smart creates better barn roofs that break less easily. And who do you think invented the methods you use to fight those pests? A smart person.
*end pointless rant against fictional character*
Anyways, I love this chapter and this story in general. It has to be one of my favorite MLP fanfics.
Keep up the good work. 
I just love this story... This is easily my favorite chapter (that has nothing to do with Twi being my favorite, nope, not at all), and now that we've exhausted the Mane 6's individual interaction chapters (unless AJ gets her own) I can only imagine where this will go next.
I'm not going to lie, BIg Mac's fervent anti-intellectualism was wearing on me worse than it was Twilight near the end, but this chapter was, again, easily my favorite. I agree with >>288922 above, intellect and smarts is what fosters innovation to more efficiently get things done. I was hoping Mac would come to appreciate that aspect, but Twilight seemed set on forcing advanced abstract theory and query on the poor guy. May have been a missed opportunity for Mac's character development, as he didn't truly change much by the end of the chapter, even if his relationship with Twilight vastly grew. I think Mac would be really excited about the possibility of invention and engineering to better do more work more efficiently, especially since he's so disabled now that he can't accomplish tasks with brute strength, but would instead find a workaround or new method to do it indirectly. Regardless, the growth you can see between these characters is just wonderful, and every interaction truly feels genuine, not happening for the sake of the advancing plot but just naturally happening, and yet another chapter with such deep conceptual themes and ponies mixing seamlessly!
I just adored viewing Twi and Mac's time together. Favorite pair so far (albeit favorite among diamonds, and rarity and pinkie are stiff competition). It was just so endearing to view all the time they spent together, especially Twilight's little acknowledgement of how much she enjoyed their conversations. I don't need to elaborate more on how wonderful I feel this chapter is and why, it would take forever. I can't wait. ETA on the next chapter Ivory? I really have come to look forward to these.
Much like the previous chapters, marvelously done. I was especially gratified to see Twilight sticking to her guns defending the art and science of abstract thought, although showcasing the utility of critical thinking would have been a much easier sell.
Did Twilight realize that Macintosh was helping with the plow? I got the impression that she carried on without magic because she realized that Macintosh really wanted the exercise.
Heh, I have some milestones to celebrate. Let's see...fifty thousand words, that's significant. Three hundred trackers, simply amazing. Finished a chapter for each of the (non-related) Mane 6. Thanks to all my readers for making this fic as popular as it is. Anyway, enough self-congratulations, I have some questions to answer.
>>286894 No
>>287531 No
>>288314 No
>>288457 No
Please note that, in order to prevent spoilers, some of the above statements may be complete and utter lies 
>>288825 The line is actually "Do androids dream of electric sheep?"
>>288922 He said he was sorry 
>>289609 Thanks for the critique as always. As for an ETA on the next chapter, it's kind of hard to say. It's still in the brainstorming stage where I know what I want to do but not how to do it. But if I were forced a guess I would say anywhere from two to three weeks.
Good chapter.
I've always liked the debate of knowledge as practical application versus self fulfillment.
My only beef is the Rainbow Dash and color thing. She's a weather pegasus. I think she knows the color spectrum. In addition her mane and tail, not being MADE OF LIGHT, could easily be defined as EITHER violet OR purple. The more interesting thing is the absence of Indigo in the Equestrian spectrum.
Last night I thought to myself: "When will Keeping it Simple update?" Do you have ESP?
Alright: finished reading.
I REALLY loved this chapter. I personally believed Pinkie didn't get the same amount of time with Mac that the others did and I really wanted to see how you'd put Applejack back into spending time with Big Mac. This chapter also served as a great transitional gateway for him to spend more time with all of her friends while meeting the criteria I posted before. It gave both of them more face time that they needed.
The two Apples also had a great brother/sister vibe going on here that reminded me of what I was like with my sister. Overall this was a good chapter with a decent conflict and resolution.
I also like how he's spending time with all of them without it being a purely romantic experience. Much how it is with spending time with people of the opposite sex in real life. I wouldn't mind a bit of romance in the future, but keep it classy if you do. This fic has been great thus far.
So what's next? All of them as a group? (Hope you can also include some more Applejack here, because she is my favorite pony). Whatever you do, I can't wait to read it Ivory.
I was interested what the next chapter of this series would be about....
And it works, both as the "Mac and AJ" installment, and also possibly-maybe as a jumping off point for the next bit? I am very intrigued by the idea of Mac being in the middle of the girls' various sorts of fun and mischief, and how this new element changes the way they interact.
Also, by itself, this chapter was very, very touching. I've read where other writers joke about how ponies get a little crazy when they somehow fail to live up to the "calling" dictated by cutie marks... but this does that in a very real way. Working means a lot to Mac; clearly a pony of few words, and I think AJ's comment that he didn't care about the family hit hard with him. Doing all of that work, that was his way of showing how much he does care and love them. If you add this to the generally accepted canon that Mac n' AJ's parents are gone... heady stuff.
But in the end, Pinkie Pie fixes things, at least as much as they can be, and maybe learns a bit about herself too. That last image is just dying for some art, BTW... too bad I suck at that, or I'd oblige!
Can't wait to see what you do next!
Okey, lovely chapter.
i know how mac feels, im a big brother and big part of the responsabilities in my house ar mine... i like doing them and sometimes i get tired but i do them anyway because its my duty, and i like to see all my sisters and my brother resting when they get home, and i hate when they dont let me do what i want and got to do, and that rage in him, all the big brothers as me i suposse knows that we have that inside but it doesnt show up never because we are calmed down and realxed always focus on helping our littler brothers and sisters and once that everything its done and you are chillin that anger just dissapear and only trys to shows up when you are stressed but only is expressed when you are in some sort of crisis... well but going back to the story 
i loved this and i cant wait to see what kind of new adventures we will see so keep up your awesome work
Stupendous chapter! I really loved the sad and depressed Big Macintosh. I liked how you brought him out in this chapter. I kept imagining what I would do if I was in his position. And I kept thinking it would involve yelling, telling it like it is and just saying "If you don't need me then I'll go where I'd be appreciated, like Appaloosa with cousin Braeburn." But then again I love drama fanfics. I also liked how at the end they were all cuddling. It was kind of cute. But if you ask me Applejack is wrong abd Big Macintosh is right. Can't wait to see what happens in the next chapter...when might that be???
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