> I like Big Mac
>  by andrizzi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - And I cannot lie!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a sunny day at Canterlot High School. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming. In days like that kids were used to enjoy life, their bigger concerns were the bad grades or the firsts heart aches.





With his face aching, Big Mac massaged gently his nose with one hand, while using the other to pull himself up from the ground.

When he reached a sitting position, he dared to open his eyes and look at the source of his pain.

In front of him, there were a soccer ball and the three most adorable and terrible cause of troubles in his (and many other’s) life. His little sister and her friends.

From the group, Scootaloo talked with a guilty face, “I’m sorry Big Mac, I didn’t see you there...”

“Are you hurt, Big bro’?”

“Enope.”

“You sure?”

“Eyup.”

“Awww,” somehow the three kids weren’t so happy about not having hurt a poor innocent.

Sweetie Belle pulled out a white box with the letters ‘CMC’ on it, “I was hoping to finally use the medkit of Canterlot’s Most Cuties. We’ve even put our brand on it!”

“Didn’t we agree for Cuties Must Crusade?” asked Scoot.

“Ah thought it was Most Cute Crusaders?” interfered AB.

“No, that would be MCC.”

Big Mac just kept staring in silence at the little group, then he left out a sigh and reached his left knee, pretending to be in pain. He couldn’t let down such a display of blessed innocence.

Apple Bloom noticed.

“Big Mac, you are hurt!”

The big, strong, stoic, thought red farmer nodded, narrowing his lips with pleading eyes.

“Yeeeeee!” shouted the three friends. “Crusaders Must Care on duty!” 

“Nurse Sweetie Belle, gimme the staff!”

“It’s called the stick, surgeon Apple Bloom.”

Big Mac chuckled and let the little girls accomplish their important duty. He just hoped it would be over soon, he had a long travel to Appleloosa waiting for him that evening...





“All right girls, you had enough fun now.”

“But sis’, this is important!”

“Yeah,” added Scootaloo, “we’re saving the use of the leg of patient Macintosh after he took a very serious ballown in the face,” then she shrugged apologetically, “I shot the ball by the way.”

Sweetie Belle gave to the friend an inquisitor look. “Ballown?”

“Yeah, at first I wanted to say blow but then I wanted to say balloon, so ballown,” Scoot responded to the inquisitor look with a hopeful one, “do you like it?”

Without softening her expression, Sweetie replied bluntly, “I’m not going to allow it in our dictionary.”

“So, ya’ll hit Big Mac in the face, and then you medicate his knee?” asked AJ wit a raised eyebrow.

“That doesn’t make any sense!” added Pinkie Pie, leaning forward from AJ’s back.

The CMC gazed forward in confusion as if the two elder girls in front of them had just said something that escaped the human understanding.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie magically popped out from nothing between them, hugging them and whispering, “Anyhow, I’ve heard that at Sugarcube corner, just waiting for three little caretakers, there could be three. Free. CUPCAKES!”

“Can I have a milkshake?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“I would like some of your cookies more,” said Scootaloo.

“Of course you can!” replied Pinkie, with her happy smile.

“Yeeeeee!” shouted the CMC.

“Cupcake!”

“Milkshake!”

“Cookies!”.

AJ shook his head gazing the sky, she couldn’t help but have a smile on her face. Then she turned to her brother. “You good?”

Big Mac stood up googly, his left leg was completely stuffed and rigid. “Eyup.”

Hobbling, he tried to move toward his truck. Just to fell on his face after a couple of steps.

“Need help?”, asked Applejack without too much concern.

“Nope.”

AJ waited in silence for a couple of seconds.

“...Yup...” he admitted lastly.

“Don’t you worry big bro, Ah’ll free you in jus’ a moment.”

She tried her best not to giggle while cutting off the bandages from his big bro. Neither somebody as strong as him could nothing against the three terrible troublemakers. And they didn’t even get their driving license yet. Who knows what they would be able to do once they reached those days.

Pinkie Pie interrupted her thoughts. “We’re going to be late for the ‘Rainbow Rocks’ meeting!” she shouted.

All of her dearest friends, except Rainbow Dash, were there waiting for her. Knowing her tomboy, she would found her in the music room waiting for them. Better hurry up then.





Rainbow Dash had just finished soccer practice and was now listening to some music with the headphones in the music room of the school. She was waiting for her friends so to rock some awesome music between the walls of the school, but since she came earlier than usual nobody was there yet. With some time at disposal, she thought about listening some tunes and writing down new lyrics, enjoying the beats and moving her head at rhythm.

After barely ten minutes her head was flying with no worries. There were only the music, herself, and her song. Wanting to try her new piece of genius, RD stood up and restarted the song over.

As soon as she caught the beat, she started moving her body with perfect timing while singing out loud.





“Ah thought you were supposed to wait for me!” protested AppleJack as soon as she reached her group of friends, who were standing in front of the music room.

Strangely enough, nobody cared to respond her or to do nothing at all. They were just gazing inside the room almost motionless.

Fluttershy was in the back, covering her blushing face while muttering something unhearable.

Sunset Shimmer was forcing herself not to laugh for some reason while holding her stomach with one hand and her mouth with the other.

Rarity was standing perfectly still, mouth agape. There were a sparkling in her that didn’t promise anything good…

At last, in front of all, Pinkie Pie was giggling with her phone pointed inside the room, recording whatever was causing such hilarity and embarrassment.

Applejack pulled herself between her friends, moving towards the doors, “Girls, what in tarnation…?”.





Rainbow Dash stopped abruptly her dancing to stare at five girls who were standing at the doors of the room giggling, blushing or mouth agape. In front of them, there was a grinning Pinkie Pie with a cell phone.

There was a pregnant silent pause, one of the awkward kind. 

Then Rainbow Dash recollected herself and threw the headphones away.

“Heeeeyyy girls, whatcha doing?” she shouted, “I’ve been waiting for you for ages! ”

“Rainbow Dash.” Applejack stepped forward with a confused expression. “What was that?”

“What was what?”

Pinkie Pie simply turned her phone in a way that Rainbow Dash could see the display and started a video. It showed the tomboy dancing and singing:


I like Big Mac and I can not lie
You other sisters can't deny
That when a guy walks in with an itty-bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get spru…


Pinkie was merciful enough to stop the video, while Rainbow Dash was trying to hide her blush with both her hands.

“Pinkie please delete that.” pleaded RD.

“Awww, but you’re so good at dancing and singing!”

“Hold on a sec’!” yelled AJ, “You like mah brother?”

“NO!” Dash widened her eyes toward her friend. “I don’t!”

AJ stepped forward. “You ain’t fussing me miss!”

RD frowned. “Come on, that’s just insane.”

“You don’t sing about loving someone who you don’t like!”

“Who said anything about ‘love’? I just think he’s hot!”

Rainbow instantly slapped her mouth shut with her hands.

“So you DO like him.”

“Geez, what’s about the ‘like’ thing? All I like is his body...”

Rainbow’s excuses were stopped by one high squeal and a white blur. 
Suddenly, she found herself supported from falling back by a couple of white arms.

“THIS. IS. A. Miracle!” enounced Rarity.

“O darling, I was losing every hope for you! I could already see myself desperate and hopeless, a disenchanted, young, beautiful and stylish girl that wasn’t able to believe in true love anymore.”, Rarity took a pause to sniff, then she made cheek contact with her friend, “I was afraid you would never ever allow us to see your real you! That side of you that you never allow emerging, your most feminine side that you desperately hide from the crude world under a rind of rudeness and bravery, for fear of rejection and mockery surely, but that indeed only longs some affection and understanding.”

Rainbow Dash stared at her friend like she had just grown a second head. After several seconds of silence, she gave the best response she could think of, “huh?”

Rarity put a finger on the blue lips to hush her friend, “Don't say anything, my dear, I’m here with you now”, she smiled with her eyes wet and full of emotions, “and I swear to you now in this room, you will never have to hide yourself anymore! I'm going to make you shine like the, hmm,” she allowed herself to think a moment in order to find the perfect metaphor, then she resumed expediently, “like the rainbow you are, and you will shine so brightly that no apple farmer will be able to resist you!”, finally, Rarity started to loose the grip on her new assisted, “Don't worry, I'll take care of everything.”

There came another silence, such a deep one that you could hear the sound of a nail falling on the ground, during which everyone inside the room stared with fear at the dreaming fashionista. 

Then Rainbow freed herself and took a step back. “What the heck are you talking about?”

She just had no idea why her friend had just vented like that, but she knew that Rarity was all going along with some evil plan to get her into her fru-fru stuff. After that outburst, she had almost forgot all her embarrassment. Almost.

Luckily, everybody attention were caught by a timid cough and Fluttershy used that moment to step forward.

'Finally, someone who won't overreact about this craziness,' thought Dash.

“I think that the two of you would look cute together.”

Rainbow watched her older friend with a face that was showing all the feeling of betrayal she was going through.

“Why, Fluttershy?! Why?!”

“Sorry” whispered Fluttershy, “but it would be so nice to see you in love. Also, Big Macintosh looks like a good match for you.”

'She's been corrupted by Rare while I wasn't watching!'

Sunset Shimmer let escape some snickers loud, catching Rainbow’s attention.

“Something you want to add?” said the latter.

“I’m just surprised that the doors of your barn open that way.”

“What?”

“I took the line from AppleJack, it means…”

“I know what it means, but did you really think that I…” Rainbow paused when she noticed that nobody was watching directly at her. Instead, they were all really interested into the ceiling or the floor. “All of you? Why?!”

“Your hairs”

“The way you dress.”

“The way you talk.”

“Your attitude.”

While Rainbow Dash was fuming, all the girls waited in silence for a fifth line that would have at least given the misunderstanding some kind of common bond. Instead, there came nothing but silence.

Everyone turned their head towards Pinkie, even Rainbow Dash was worried despite her annoyance.

Like her friends, Pinkie was clearly feeling uncomfortable. Unlikely the others, her gaze was still and firm on her phone. Come to think about it, she had been strangely quiet for awhile.  Now Rainbow Dash was worried enough to forget to be annoyed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” came a suspiciously fast answer. Even for Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, what did you do?” asked Sunset Shimmer.

“Rabinow Dash, we’re duper-dearest friends right?” she asked.

“Pinkie, what did you do?” asked Fluttershy.

“Well, you know when you do something and then you do it again and againandagainandagainandagainandagain...”

“Pinkie, what did you do?” asked Rarity.

“And then it becomes an old habit that you keep on doing without thinking, even when you shouldn’t?”

“Pinkie, what did you do?” asked Applejack.

“Well, I was just about to delete the video, I really was… do you know that I love you really-really much?”

“Pinkie!” snapped Rainbow Dash, “what did you do?”

“Iii kiiindaa soortaa of pressedthe’share’button.”

There was so much silence in the room that you could hear the sound of a nail fall on the ground. From the other side of the town.

And then everybody’s cell played a ringtone.

“That’s probably me...”

“And you shared this with who?”

“With my friends.”

“Well then, it isn’t too bad. Just us and...”

“With all my friends.”

Rainbow needed a moment to fully understand the meaning of that phrase.

“How long is your Social Network friends list?”

“Well… there are: Aabraham, Aada, Aaminah, Aaren, Aaròn, Abbàn, Abbes, Abbi, Abd Al-Hamind, Abd Al-Wali, Abe, Abbey, Abele, Abelone...”

“A number?”

“There are two who name themselves as ‘007’ and ‘47’ but I think they’re fake...”

“PINKIE, HOW MANY?!”

On the verge of tears, Pinkie gulped and answered the question.

“Over nine thousand?”

Peachy, so now she was public laughing stock.

“One last question...”

“Yes?”

“You befriended every single student of the school, right?”

“Yes...”





Big Mac was driving his truck down to Appleloosa, his mind and eyes were focused on the street in front of him when from his cellphone came a sound.

Since he was in the open desert, he took a moment to give a quick glance to the phone.

There was a notification from Pinkie Pie, apparently, she just shared a video. Hopefully something funny. 

Big Mac chuckled and put the phone on the passenger seat.

He would have watched it later.

> 2 - We can work it out.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The day couldn't have been worse.

At first, since her awakening, Rainbow Dash had been constantly under an assault of messages from all of her virtual friends, some were asking if the video was a fake, others just had to show the world how they could be such great comedians by making terrible jokes about it.

On the bright side, a lot of them were complimenting about her dancing and singing skills. Too bad she didn't feel too bright sided that day.

She left home wearing a sewer with a hood, which wasn't cool, just in order to keep a low profile. As the last touch, she was walking around with sunglasses, in the middle of a rainy and dark morning.

The irony.

Even more ironic, she hadn't taken an umbrella and the rain stopped five minutes after her arrival at school.

That's why, right after she reached her locker, Rarity dragged her into an empty room and changed her wet clothes with one of the ‘emergency suits’ that, unfortunately, were the perfect copy of her usual outfit.

If you're wondering about what is an ‘emergency suits’, know that Rarity is so obsessed with fashion that she has prepared an entire stock of dresses for any occasion, including a change for every model. She rarely left home without it, and of course she had thought to provide assistance for her friends too. But we digress.

Moving forward with the morning of Rainbow Dash, she escaped from Rarity’s clutches and walked through the halls, getting a couple of jokes from few random students. She was pretty peeved.

‘Why is this happening to me?’ though Rainbow Dash.

A pinky blur at the end of the hall quickly reminded her.

‘Oh, right.’

“Raaaiinboooww Daaashh” called the incoming pink meteor, “look at this!”

In front of her, Dash could see her on-trial friend, carrying a big ribbon with the words ‘I’m super duper sorry’ wrote on it. There was even a nice draw of the two friends hugging and sharing a cake.

“Soooo” murmured Pinkie, “what do you think?”

Rainbow Dash turned the ribbon into ashes with a flamethrower.

“Where did you get a flamethrower?”

“From your locker.”

“Why there was a flamethrower in my locker?”

Rainbow Dash skipped the part where she would be dumbfounded and moved away. She didn't make few steps when Pinkie called her back.

“Wait!”

In annoyance, she turned back to her friend. Just in time to catch her on jump between her arms.

Pinkie Pie had just thrown herself on Dash, and now was starting to sing aloud in her cheery style while some music started to play itself.


“
There’s no time - for fussing and fighting my friend
Please allow me - to put our quarrel to an end.

I’m super duper sorry and you kno-ow
Can’t we follow the forgiveness flo-ow?

It can be a wonderful day for two happy pals
And we still have to show educational morals.

So what if you smile now, and say ‘it’s all forgot’
Or do I have to keep talking till I can’t go on?
”


While she was singing, a pink aura started to glow around Pinkie. Then a couple of pony-ears peered from the really-fast growing hairs.

That stopped neither the music nor the singer, who was now singing and swinging in a tight embrace. 


“
I know that you’re really mad at me…
And you may have any right to beee.

I made a bad mistake, and you’re feeling down
But I can cheer you up and flip that frown.

So please - listen what this song is about
Because I think we can work it ou uu ut.

Yes, I think we can work it out!
”


The song ended on a strong note and a big happybutpleading smile from Pinkie Pie, who was still holding on Rainbow Dash.

“Pinkie…”

“Pleaspleaseplease I’m reallysuperduper sorry! I beseech your forgiveness, Rainbow-chan...”

“Listen, Pinkie, I just need some time to chill because I’m pretty peeved right now and I could be seeing red at some point of the day. But I promise you that we’re still friends” ‘on-trial’ “and we can talk later at the cafeteria if you want to.”

Pinkie kept looking up at her friend with worry and a hint of sorrow like she wasn’t sure if to believe the words she was hearing or not.

“Pinkie promise?”

Rainbow shrugged and rolled her eyes.

“Sure, stick a cupcake in my eye etcetera.”

Pinkie tightened her hug and squealed, making Rainbow lose her balance and breath.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”

At last, Pinkie jumped up and came back on her feet.

“See you at lu-unch,” she sang softly. As fast as she arrived, she bounced her way back through the halls humming the notes of her song.

After catching her breath, Rainbow growled and stood up too. She watched her half-pony friend for a few seconds, then she quickly went to the classroom.

She sat next to Clear Skies, who smirked as soon as she noticed her desk-mate.

“So, do you really like big boys?”

Rainbow’s face fell on the desk.





“Hi girls.”

“Hi, darling.”

“Hello, Rainbow.”

“Hey, Rai.”

“Hi, Dash.”

“Uhm, hi.”

Rainbow sat at the table of the cafeteria with her friends: Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Sunset, and Twilight; who greeted her back (in this order, in case you’re wondering).

The latter started doing conversation, “So, Sunset told me what happened yesterday...”

“Yeah, forget that. Why are you wearing that thing?”

“You mean the lab coat?” asked Twilight, lifting her arms in order to take a better look at her outfit.

“Yeah, we don’t have to go to the lab today, right?”

“I’m just going to spend some time with Sunset doing experiments.”

“What about?”

Twilight’s face beamed with pure joy. “Science and magic!” she managed to squeak out.

Alongside with Twi, Sunset lifted her focus from her lunch to give Rainbow a proper answer.

“I told her that my tests on you and the girls didn’t accomplish anything good, but she insisted on performing them anyway.” Sunset talked with a knowing smirk on her face, holding back some laugh. “This is going to be fun.”

“Yes it is!” exclaimed Twilight, far too excited to notice the malice in Sunset’s voice.

‘Beware Twilight, that girl is going to take your innocence,’ thought Rainbow Dash, giggling a little.

From there, Applejack made a call with her cell phone, but the others were too hungry for talking. Every girl at the table ate the food in silence until a set of two pink arms hugged Rainbow and Fluttershy from behind.

“Hello everybody!”

Pinkie pulled out a cupcake from her hairs and gave it to Dash.

“A little gift to remind you that I’ll make up to you somehow.”

“Pinkie, it’s ok,” responded Rainbow Dash. “Honestly, I don’t even care anymore.”

“Really? Because I remember a certain act from yesterday that makes me seriously doubt about that” pointed out Rarity.

“Oh, oh” started Pinkie Pie, “You mean when right after our meeting at the music room ended Rainbow was so infuriated that she threw herself on my chase while I was running through the school’s halls...”

“How you manage to outrun me is still a mystery,” muttered Rainbow Dash.

“...and it was like super scary because, hehe, I mean have you ever seen angry Dashie? Every time I dared to watch back the blurred colors of her hairs were chasing me. I had no idea that a rainbow coming straight at you could be that scary.”

“I had,” countered flatly Sunset.

“Oopsie, sorry. I forgot about that...” said apologetically Pinkie in an attempt to cheer up Sunset.

“I don’t blame you, but I really doubt I will ever forget about that.” Sunset’s eyes were looking at the empty space.

A confused Twilight interjected in, “Sorry but I don’t quite understand... what are you talking about?”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “You should have been here, but long story short? I got blasted by a magic rainbow once.”

“A lovely story, really,” said Rarity sarcastically. “But let’s go back to the point here. I would like to know if everything is ok with you, Rainbow dear.”

The girls went silent and turned all their attention to their friend in the corner, who snorted before giving an answer.

“Ok, maybe I still care a little about that. It kinda stings when other teases me about it, but mostly is just some jerk who wants to take an easy laugh. No big deal.”

Like any other time which Rainbow was talking about herself, the girls took with skepticism everything she said. Anyway, no one dared to push on her.

Instead, Applejack made a proposal.

“Well, Y'all know that gossip ain’t my field, but Ah know what’s the first step for gettin’ you out from this big mess of your’s.”

Rainbow was really skeptical about it. “Really?”

“Don’t you worry, by the end of it everything will be as clear as a river in spring.”

As she finished to say those words, Applejack stood up and looked down to the hall. Then she waved her hand, catching the attention of… Big Macintosh.

While an oblivious Big Mac was coming closer to greet his sister, Rainbow opened her eyes wide and felt her heart stop. With her expression of disbelief, she turned towards Applejack, who was smiling with her eyes closed. 

She couldn’t have… she didn’t...

“Ah called Big Macintosh earlier and Ah asked him to come here, so now the two of you can have a little chat about...”

Applejack stopped her talking the same moment she opened her eyes. She was expecting to find Rainbow Dash right in front of her but, instead, she realized that she was talking to no one.

“But where...”

Her question was interrupted by a ringtone from her phone. She turned the display on and saw that she just received a skimpy message from her missing friend: ‘Sry gtgo by.’

“Consarnit!”





Phone in hand, Rainbow Dash was sitting beneath the school canteen’s windows, sitting in the garden outside. She had dashed through the window right before Big Mac could see her, at least she hoped so, now she only had to go around the campus and reach her next class without being seen.

‘Easy, just duck, move slowly and stay quiet.’

The blatant sound of shattering glass right behind her abruptly stopped her line of thought and her stealthy going.

“Watch out, Scootaloo!” yelled an angry Sweetie Belle. “You just ballowned the window!”

Scootaloo stared motionless at her friend for a moment. Then chirped happily, “So did you like it!”

“Ah think you're losing the point here?” piped AppleBloom.

From inside the canteen came the angry voice of an old but strong lady, loud enough to make the earth tremble. “WHERE ‘RE THE VERMINS THAT BROKE OUR WINDOWS?! COME HERE AND SHOW YOURSELF YOU LITTLE PUNKS!”

In front of such a weighted and legitimate request, the CMC members unanimously and instantly decided to smoothly decline in favor of a fast and graceless escape.

After some meters, they noticed that even Rainbow Dash had added herself to the group.

“Hey, watcha doing squirt?” asked her, sounding as calm as possible.

“Meh, just running away from my misdeeds,” replied her little fan, imitating the master of awesomeness.

“Cool.”

“What about you?”

“Uhm, running away from boys I guess?”

“Why, do they want to hit you?”

“Maybe they want to hit on me.”

“Ooh, that makes more sense.”

Continuing to run, the girls arrived at the front doors of the school. They instantly checked the surroundings looking for witnesses and entered the building. Thankfully, nobody had seen them flee from the crime scene.

“All right, good run brats.”

“Yeah, that was really awesome, Rainbow Dash!” said an excited Scootaloo before turning to leave with her pals. “No one can catch us!”

Rainbow Dash was about to turn and leave alone the three younger, but after hearing those words something started bugging her from the inside.

‘O yeah, my conscience.’

After a good exhaling from the nose, Rainbow put on a smirk. “Scootaloo!”

“Yes, Rainbow Dash?”

“You know what’s even cooler and braver than running and get away from your mistakes?”

“What is?” asked Scootaloo with a query look.

“Stand up for yourself and face your responsibilities.”

The answer has come straight, without malice or menace in its tone.

In response to the look of disbelief on Scootaloo’s face, Rainbow simply watched her with an encouraging smile but severe eyes.

“Just saying,” she added in the end.

Then she left her little sis to think about that.





“Sheesh, Ah can’t believe how she made such a fool outta me!”

Applejack was fuming, not only her best friend had dumped her like a big bag of rotten apples but she also did it in front of her family. Just to avoid a simple confrontation with her brother about their feelings.

“Ah swear, sometimes that girl keeps her thoughts to come out more than a rattlesnake keeps his head under the sand.”

“Eyup.”

“But don’t you worry Mac, she won’t skip next class just in order to avoid us.”

Next hour Applejack and Dash would have attended math class, furthermore, they used to sit next to the other during math. It was an old tradition recently restarted in honor of how they met and known each other.

Funny story, maybe for another time.

Anyway, the two eldest Apple siblings arrived at the right door and Applejack immediately leaned over searching for Rainbow Dash. Unfortunately, she wasn’t in sight.

Applejack let escape a groan. “Ah suppose it’s for the best if you go to your class.”

Big Mac got the message clear and gave her sister a nod before leaving.

Applejack entered and went directly for her chair. As soon as she sat, she spoke looking in front of her.

“You can come out now.”

A rainbow hair sprang up from under the desk on her left side.

“Oh, hum… hey, hehe. What’s up? I was just, you know, something fell and… yeah.”

Applejack just turned her eyes towards Rainbow Dash, who was smiling sheepishly.

“Sure, sugarcube,” she replied. Then she looked in the other direction.

Rainbow noticed that her friend had spoken with a rather bitter tone.

“Hey, you’re not mad at me, right?” asked Rainbow with a little concern.

Applejack re-established the eye contact with her friend, and her face gradually softened until it became a genuine smile.

“Of course not, sugarcube,” she replied, this time with a much more gentle voice.

A lot more confident, Rainbow smirked at her friend. “So, we’re cool?”

“Mhmm, thought Ah still think mah way of solving this kind of things is the right way.” Applejack turned completely to her left side, with her arms crossed, while Rainbow cockiness was trembling a little. “But Ah reckon it’s up to you to sort this mess as you think is for the best.”

That was enough for Rainbow Dash to feel a lot less weight on her shoulders. She chose to change the subject of the conversation.

“Thanks, dork,” she whispered to her friend.

“Will you ever stop to call me like that?”

“Mmm,” Rainbow pretended to look like she was thinking about it. “Sorry, not gonna happen.” Then she leaned closer to her friend and quickly added, “dork.”

Applejack pretended to be annoyed, but that nickname was an integral part of their ritual during math class and she grew the love for it in a way.

...

You should have been there to understand.





As the bell rang, Rainbow left her classroom eagerly, not just because her time as a slave was finally over, but also to escape all the jokes and the serious quiz about the video. 

So, in order to avoid as many students as possible, she entered the hall that any student feared. The one in front of vice-principal Luna’s office.

As any of the plans that she tried to pull off that day, it failed.

To her surprise, in the middle of the hall were standing Scootaloo. She was still but her knees were shaking a little, her fist was raised just above Luna’s door.

All of Scootaloo's attention was focused on the wood in front of her. Looked like she had to face some terrifying mythical monster right on the other side of it.

Rainbow Dash got closer and tapped the kiddo shoulder, causing her to jump and yelp.

Scoots turned with eyes wide open, only to put on the bravest face she could master when she saw who just touched her.

“Hi Dash, I’m just… I want to get my ball back.”

Rainbow giggled, “Way to go, squirt. Do you really have the stomach to walk into Luna’s office?”

“Well, apparently she took my ball, so…” Scootaloo pointed her eyes down. “I mean, not a big deal, right?”

“Yeah, she’ll just give you a small lecture.” Rainbow winked down at the kid.

“I guess I should get in and hear it.” Scootaloo scratched her head watching at her feet. Then she added, “that’s what you would do.”

Those six words confused Rainbow Dash. “Huh?”

“Yeah, you said it too. We have to face our responsibilities to look cool, even when we don’t want to.”

“Oh, yeah,” murmured RD, “I said that.”

“And I know you would never let somebody down, or refuse a challenge just because you’re a little scared.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Rainbow was lost in thought, barely listening to her little fan anymore.

Scootaloo thought that she was embarrassing her idol. “Not that I’m trying to be like you, just… looking at the guidelines.”

Rainbow simply smiled at her. “Thank you, sister.”

In that moment, a couple of voices interrupted their talk.

“Here you are, Scoots.”

“We’ve been looking for you all over the school.”

Scootaloo turned apologetically to her two best friends.

“Sorry girls, I have to apologize for breaking the windows.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo in silence for a couple of seconds. Then they gave her a big smile with eyes closed.

“Good!”

“We go in with you.”

Now Scootaloo was surprised. “Really? There’s no need to...”

“Silly Scoots, we’re a team!”

“Blame for one, blame for all!”

Rainbow walked away, leaving the kids having their moment. She took a minute to think about what Scootaloo had just said, trying and failing to deny the obvious conclusion.

In the end, she knew what she had to do.





Big Mac was still at his locker, preparing himself to leave for home. He would have left sooner, but somehow all his pals wanted to congratulate him for having such a success with girls.

He just let them say what they wanted, but now he had stayed behind .

Not that he minded, he was used to be alone with his thoughts. It was quiet and peaceful.

Then a raspy (but cute) voice interrupted his solitude.

“Hi, Mac.”

Turning his head, Big Macintosh saw the captain of every sports team in the school, leader of Rainbow Rocks and occasionally-winged daredevil.

And she was looking really embarrassed.

“I-I wanted to see you.”

Rainbow Dash took a big breath, trying to look calm and confident. It couldn’t be more different from how she was feeling, of course.

It was time for a serious talk.

> 3 - Mostly serious talk.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Well, here we are…’ Thought Rainbow Dash while shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

She was right in front of Big Mac, the one whom she has accidentally declared her attraction for. So he probably was pretty confused and scared right now, like a box of sappy emotions ready to explode in her face, easy peasy. Time to disarm the bomb and save the face.

“Soooo, have you seen the… ugh.” Rainbow facepalmed, just say the word ‘video’ had a sickening and embarrassing effect.

Big Mac, on the other hand, was just standing there, focusing on Rainbow Dash with a neutral look. The poor fella was just too lost to say anything. Might as well be direct.

“Have you seen it?” she asked bluntly.

“Eyup.”

“Of course you have,” even more bluntly.

It would have been just too good to be otherwise. Now she had to restrict the damage and try her best to help Mac to come out from his pit of insecurity and despair.

‘Come on Dash, be Awesome!’

“T-that’s why I’m here, you see, I, hmm, I didn’t want you to misunderstand that thing for… well, you know. It’s just something stupid that came out,” ‘Way to go Dash, point out how good you are to act like an idiot!’ “I know, totally uncool from me. I hope you didn’t give it too much weight.”

“Enope.”

“You didn’t?”

Big Mac chuckled and shook his head. He gave her a pat on the shoulder that meant 'Don’t worry', then he got over her and started moving through the halls of the school.

Rainbow Dash was shocked, the guy here had seen her little performance and now he was simply moving on like nothing had happened?

She turned towards him. “Wait! Is it ok? Just like that? We're cool?”

“Eyup,” Big Mac matched his answer with a nod. 

“But-but I sang out loud how…” she paused and blushed.  “How hot you are. A-and now it’s on the web, so everybody can see it.”

There was a little pause, during which Rainbow thought hard how to apologize about that.

“I mean, it wasn’t my fault. That thing shouldn’t exist in the first place.”

Big Mac talked calmly, “Ah figured.” Then he left waving his hand happily.

Rainbow Dash barely returned the gesture, her expression was showing her disbelief. She had come there to confront him, prepared for anything: a rejection, awkwardness, teasing, even a declaration.

Instead, nothing.

He didn’t care at all.

Rainbow Dash lowered her head, ‘Well, that’s just how much I mean for him as well I guess,’ she thought. Which was cool, totally cool, just what she was hoping for. She had faced him just to restore their ‘sibling’s-friends’ relationship, and didn’t it work out just great? A problem of the best kind: the one that solved itself. Neat. Great. Cool. Awesome even!

Then why was she feeling that miserable?

Rainbow Dash suddenly stood up and coughed a little in her fist, then she put on the best proud smile she had. She was just concerned about the video, of course. Who cares if Big Mac doesn’t take her feelings seriously, she didn’t even want him to know about them anyway. Not like she had such feelings, that was a mushy thing for little girls… or Rarity. Maybe he would have cared more if she was more like Rarity. 

Who cares anyway. She didn’t need a boyfriend, everybody knew that, that’s why nobody ever tried to hit on her. Except Zephyr, but he was an idiot.

However, her point stood, she was just too awesome for a sappy thing like ‘romance’ or ‘boyfriends’ and that was great, even if that meant she would have never ever got a date with Big freaking hot Mac!

Rainbow Dash checked the time. Usually, at that time of the day, she would go to practice soccer alone at the school field, probably with the audience of her friends.

That day, she only wanted to go directly home and lay on the bed. She felt like she had some liquid awesomeness to spread out.





Big Mac finally reached his truck. He was looking as calm and stoic as ever, but he actually was a little concerned about something and he wanted to sit in the driving seat and think about it.

As soon as he heard the door clicking closed, Big Mac crossed his arms on the wheel and laid his chin on them.

Just yesterday, on the same spot, he had checked his notifications by cellphone and had found the video that Pinkie sent to everybody…


***


He was quite astonished while watching it.

He didn’t instantly call back Pinkie, Applejack or Rainbow Dash just because Braeburn had met him while he was still in shock.

He had come to Appleloosa for a delivery, and the job turned out to be a good distraction from the intrusive song. It only came back to his mind when he was already driving back to Canterlot, and by then he was much calmer already.

On second thought, it would have been better for everyone to have a proper conversation face to face, instead of some distant texting. But what would have he said?

Big Mac started to seriously think about what he had seen. It was embarrassing, of course, and probably Rainbow Dash wasn’t aware of the recording until the end. On the other hand, if that was true, then she really was attracted to him.

It wasn’t that surprising, even if he didn’t have time to care for his appearance he knew that he had quite a breathtaking body. He was actually very proud of that, more of his strength than his appearance, yet he never complained about the latter neither.

He was a boy too, ultimately. Lifting heavy weights when cute girls were around was something that, secretly, rewarded him like nothing else. 

Still, he never had a relationship with any maid. He lacked in time in order to find a woman to court, and no one had ever declared any will to have a romantic story with him. His daily routine was so simple, full and satisfying that he didn’t have any hurry to find a special somebody who would eventually become his sweet half.

Yet, now somebody actually declared to him.

Ok, it wasn’t a proper declaration but, still, a nice lady confessed her attraction for him. And as a little thing as it was, that was driving him to paint a scene with him and somebody to hold between his arms.

Yes, he was looking way too forward and he knew it. But he liked to dream about that picture, even if it wasn’t real. Maybe he was liking it too much, to the point that he had to ask himself about his true feelings for that girl.

She was cute, really cute, no doubt about that. And she had a strong attitude, she wanted to be independent, yet she was one of Applejack’s best friends, maybe the best. She was cocky, loyal and confident. On the negative part, she was stubborn and lacking in modesty, which to be honest were common traits between Apples.

Big Mac focused harder about what he liked about her: she had that way to move, to talk, to smile… but he liked more what she was keeping for herself.

Clearly Rainbow Dash didn’t want to trust anyone to talk about her softer side, you didn’t need to know her in order to know that. Also, Applejack lamented to him about that, like a lot of times.

Anyway, Big Mac was intrigued by that mystery. He felt like he would have found a raw gem if he had gone deep in a relationship with her.

It was a good thing that he was thinking away from home because he was blushing madly. He was going quite too far with his fantasies. Such a silliness from him.

But he knew how to respond now. If Rainbow’s intention were serious, and she really had some feelings for him that she wanted to explore, he wouldn’t say nope.


***


Too bad it didn’t turn out to be that case. Big Mac wasn’t really disappointed, he already knew which one was the most likely scenario.

She didn’t want to face him at all and when she finally did, she was only embarrassed. Just as she said, all she wished was that he had never seen the video. Which was understandable.

So he pleased her as well as he could. That’s how he had been thought to act in order to be a respectable person.

With that little final consolation, Big Mac pulled himself up straight and, with a hint of melancholy, turned on the engine of his truck. It was time to get home.





Applejack and Fluttershy were at the soccer field, they were waiting for Rainbow Dash to show up in order to hang out or just cheer for her while she practiced her play.

Since the superstar was late, the two bored girls started to play with the ball on their own.

“What Ah’m saying is, sometimes Ah just want ta strangle her.”

“You don’t mean literally, right?”

Applejack moved forward with the ball, in attack.

“Don’t you worry, sugarcube. Ah love her too much to actually hurt her. But ya’ll know how much annoying she can be.”

“Rainbow Dash can be a little, hmm, rough sometimes. But you know she does that for her image.”

“Come on now, try to build a relationship with somebody ain’t something you should be ashamed for.”

Applejack finished her sentence with a little too much anger, trying to dribble the ball. But Fluttershy stomped heavily on it, stealing it from her friend.

“You should know her better than this.”

After a moment of silence, Fluttershy took a step back and started to move the ball around.

“Do you remember that day when we all went to the SPA?”

“Uh-hu?”

“And I guess you also remember that Rainbow Dash spent all our time there sitting alone, waiting for us.”

“Yeah. And that proves Ah stand correct. She’s only hurting herself with that crazy attitude.”

“That day, I left you and the others just to provide Dash some company. While we were there, Spitfire happened to enter in the SPA demanding a manicure. I had to hold my breath after seeing the face of disbelief that Rainbow was wearing, or I would have laughed right at her.

“However, right after that, Rainbow Dash stood up saying that she would have gone to grab some magazines at the desk. When she thought I wasn’t paying attention, she reserved a full treatment for the next week.”

Applejack was incredulous. “You don’t say!”

“Yes. Also, last time I went at the SPA, Lotus told me that Dash is a golden member now.”

“HA!” Applejack guffawed, “‘ur strong and cool Rainbow Dash.”

But there was something that bothered her, so she asked, “But why doesn’t she come with us? Rarity would love to go with all her friends. Heck, Ah would love it too.”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes, “She’s just too stubborn to admit that in front of us.”

Fluttershy resumed to attack with the ball, gaining ground.

“Shoot, That’s a good story. But Ah don’t quite get the point...”

“The point is, Applejack, that Rainbow Dash knows her own potential and wants to bloom it. And in order to prove her worth she has to become a strong, bright, awesome champion. Like Spitfire is.

“Spitfire is the coolest girl around from Rainbow’s perspective, that’s how she decides if something is cool or not. She has never seen Spitfire date a boy, therefore she thinks that dating boys is lame. Besides, knowing her I don’t think that what she’s feeling now is shame.”

“Then what is?” Applejack kept running around Fluttershy, trying to defend.

“Probably terror, she’s afraid of anything that could make her look a ‘softie’.”

“Whait, yah mean… she’s scared of Big Mac?”

“As a potential boyfriend, Yes.”

Fluttershy feinted to move to her left, getting rid of Applejack for a moment. Then, with one kick, she tossed the ball inside the net.

Applejack, for her part, was speechless.

“What?” asked Fluttershy.

“Yah now yah’re scary sometimes, sugarcube?”

“Oh.” Fluttershy reached her chin with both her hands. “Sorry.”

Exactly in that moment a strong wave of light came from inside the school building, then a column of smoke started to come out from one of the windows.

“Ah have the feeling that that’s the room where Sunset and Twilight are studying Pinkie and Rarity.”

Fluttershy gasped. “Do you think they’re in danger?”

Before she could respond, Applejack got a message from Pinkie Pie.

‘LOL! It just happened the craziest thing.’

‘Is anyone hurt?’

‘Of course not… kinda.’

‘Need help?’

‘Of course not, silly, why would we need help?’

Applejack gave another worried look at the smoking window, but she trusted Pinkie enough to not interfere.

While Applejack and Fluttershy were still there, a little trio of friends with strong hearts came to greet them.

“Hi sis’. Hi Fluttershy!”

Applejack embraced her little sis. “Hello there, Ya’ll. What brings you here?”

Scootaloo, who was holding her ball between her hands, replied, “We came here to see Rainbow Dash. Did she go already?”

“Aw shucks, she didn’t came at all today.”

Applebloom made a disappointed pout. “Consarnit, Ah knew we should have gone home with Big Mac.”

“Is he still here?”

“We saw him leaving with his truck just a minute ago.” Applebloom gave her sister a quizzical look. “Why? Is important?”

The gears inside the heads of Applejack and Fluttershy started to spin. Rainbow was nowhere to be seen and Big Mac had stayed late for school? The two girls didn’t take long before making two plus two.

“Aw shucks.”





Finally Rainbow Dash got home, without bothering to announce her presence to the world she went straight to her bedroom. She was so quiet that her father didn’t even notice the return of his loud and eccentric daughter. Not that he was waiting for her to come home so early.

As soon as the moment she closed the door of her room, Rainbow Dash let fall her backpack and started staring at her bed.

It looked big, comfy, warm, and tempting. Heh, funny, just like Big…

Tears finally climbed up to the eyes. Before they could come down, Rainbow Dash threw herself on the bed, sinking her face in the pillow.

> 4 - No woman no cry.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash was lying prone on the bed. She was trying her best to remain still, using all her strength to not move by a single inch. Yet her back kept jumping up and down under her periodicals hiccups.

She has been crying there for a while now, holding tight her pillows and blankets. Despite her attempt at some comfort, she just felt more hurt. And she couldn’t understand why, or how to stop it.

‘Get over it!’ she thought to herself, ‘It went just as you wanted it, and this is just uselessly painful.’

But her emotions had taken over. She was completely harmless against that tearing pain inside her chest.

‘Please, stop it.’

Rainbow punched herself in the abdomen, trying to stop her hiccups.

‘Please, stop.’

‘Please...’

‘Stop...’





Applejack and Fluttershy, quite in a hurry and bustling with their cells, were walking towards the parking lot while discussing the best route of action. 

“Big Mac ain’t answering his phone, he never does while he’s drivin’.” Applejack turned towards Fluttershy. “What about you, better luck?”

“I’m sorry,” replied Fluttershy, putting down her phone. “But I think Rainbow’s phone is switched off.”

“Well then, Ah suppose we’ll have to go and talk with them in this case. Ah’ll take Big Mac while you handle miss ego there.”

Applejack noticed Fluttershy frowning a little while she was talking.

“What’s in your mind, sugarcube?” 

“I, I just think we should flip roles.”

“Sorry, but why should you take care of my brother? Besides you seem to know Rainbow Dash better than me.”

“Believe me, I think she would be more direct with you.”

Applejack suspected that there was something hidden under that statement, but she would have waited for that.

In front of them there were the CMCs, getting on Applejack’s truck for a ride.

“All right then, but could you take my sis’ with you?”

“Of course, can I have your keys please?”

“Ah beg your perdon?”

Fluttershy took her keys, offering them in exchange to Applejack.

“See, there’s no space in my minivan, so we’ll have to use your car.”

“Uh, sure.” Applejack wasn’t sure about it. “But will you be fine? My truck ain’t exactly a minivan...”

“O please, Applejack. You know I’m a very cautious driver. ”

She was right, actually. Applejack had never seen a more careful, patient and slow driver than her friend. Slowly, she extended her keys to Fluttershy, who took them and walked confidently towards the truck. 

“Besides, how much different can it be,” she muttered to herself.

Fluttershy entered the truck on the driving seat and started her routine of preparation, while the three girls in the back were playing some new game on their phone.

“I’ll pick Squirtle,” said Sweetie.

“Ah pick Bulbasaur,” said Bloom.

“I’m picking Charmander,” said Scootaloo, “this thing grows wings when it evolves.”

“All right little things,” said Fluttershy, giving a reassuring smile. “I’m picking you up now.”

She got three bemused looks and zero laughs.

“Was that a joke?”

Fluttershy scoffed. “I can be funny too,” she said while turning on the motor.

Or at least she tried to, since it went off instantly.

“You didn’t pull enough gas in it,” pointed Apple Bloom

Fluttershy spinned the key again, “Oh, sorr...”

She was abruptly interrupted by the raging cry of the engine that was now pushing the truck backwards. Fluttershy immediately hit the brakes, but their movement stopped with the sound of a crash between the rear bumper and the front of another car.

All the girls just stared forward in awe.

“I hope Applejack didn’t see it,” muttered Fluttershy with wide open eyes.

“Ah’ll just pretend Ah didn’t see it,” muttered Applejack while passing by the street beyond.





Rainbow Blitz was riding a power bike when he heard the doorbell ringing. 

Wondering who could be, he opened the front door and found Applejack.

“Howdy, mister Blitz.”

“Hi, Applejack. What are you doing here?”

“Ah was hoping to see Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Blitz scratched his head. “I don’t think she's here.”

“Are you sure?” asked she, slightly disappointed.

“I’ll check.”





Rainbow Dash was on her bed, crouched on the side. She had stopped crying but her face was still moist and her mood was just as low as before. She didn't want either to see anyone nor to do anything.

She heard a muffled voice from downstairs, “Little rainbow! Are you home?”

‘No, I'm not,’ thought her, ‘and I hate being called like that.’

Dash simply remained motionless, hugging tight her pillow. After a few seconds, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Rainbow Dash quickly wiped herself and flipped the pillow, hiding the wet stains under it just a moment before the door started to shriek open.

Sitting up without looking at the door, she bitterly said, “Listen ‘daddy’, I want to stay alone.”

Despite her request, the footsteps continued their way inside the room. Then a voice with a southern accent spoke. “You sure, my little rainbow?”

Rainbow’s head darted up surprised, then turned towards the grinning face of Applejack. She had made her way inside the room and now was taking a seat on the bed beside Rainbow Dash, who clearly was expecting someone else according to her confused look.

“Your ‘daddy’ told me Ah could wait for you in your room.”

Rainbow Dash blushed for the embarrassment. ‘Of course there was somebody else,’ she thought, ‘Dad calls me like that only to tease me in front of others.

“Aww, ain't you just so cute?”

Noticing how quickly Rainbow’s face went from embarrassed to annoyed, Applejack decided that she had broken the ice and could be more direct. She leaned closer to her friend and spoke with a more caring voice.

“Now, what's itching you?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on now, don't be like that.” Applejack grabbed her by the shoulders. “You can trust me.”

Rainbow knew that. She trusted Applejack like anyone else, except maybe their common friends and her father. Besides, it was useless to even try lying to her. Even so, she was reluctant to just blab it all out.

“I’m just off.”

“Why so?”

“Because,” ‘him’ “reasons.”

“Ah see, and may Ah assume that a talk with my brother is involved?”

That question surprised Rainbow Dash once again, and a look at Applejack convinced her that she wasn’t questioning anything.

For some reason, that caused a little wave of anger to flow inside Rainbow.

“Thanks for the stupid advice, by the way.”

Fast as it came, her rage flowed away, replaced with a tip of guilt.

“Sorry.”

“Worry none, sugarcube.” AJ waited for a moment, allowing her friend to add something. Seeing that she was ok with staying quiet (for once) she continued. “But what the hay did he say in order to pull you off like this?”

Rainbow Dash lowered her tone, sounding more sad than angry now. “Not much actually, something like ‘it’s ok.’”

“That doesn’t seem so bad to me, actually,” said AJ without thinking. A little doubt came to her mind after pondering about that for a couple of seconds. “What did you say?”

“What I had to say,” said an even sadder Rainbow Dash, who was looking away from her friend. “That it was a prank from Pinkie that… that it was never supposed to be uploaded, that it was just a stupid thing...”

“But did you tell him that you weren’t lying?”

Just as she understood what AJ was referring to, Rainbow’s anger raised high once again. She turned towards Applejack and shouted.

“Are you still on that?! How do I have to say it so that you can understand?! I. Don’t. Like. Him.”

“Then why are you so upset?” Applejack asked her, without retreating of an inch.

“Because...”

Rainbow Dash paused, uncertain, and got even more angry from it. It should have been clear why she was upset.

“Because I’m a teen, the puberty is doing this to me. I’m confused, I don’t know what to think. Plus everybody is laughing at my back right now.”

“You had an entire day for that, and Ah didn’t see you fall in self-loathin’ until now.”

A snort was well enough to express how ridiculous that statement was. “Please, I’m too awesome to be loathed, even by myself.” She raised her chin with her eyes closed and crossed her arms over her chest.

Applejack didn’t say a thing, she just kept her glare on Rainbow. If she wanted to praise herself as usual then fine, but she wouldn’t have avoided the topic.

Finally, Rainbow reopened her eyes and watched her friend. Then, she leaned her elbows on her knees and supported her head on her palms.

“Why do you even care?”

“Because you’re hurtin’, and Ah care about both you and my brother.”

“Geez, whatever it could have been it’s over anyway. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

Applejack bit her cheek, mastering the courage to prove her friend wrong. What she said next trembled some of Rainbow’s convictions.

“Ah don’t want that.”

An incredulous Rainbow Dash turned her head towards Applejack.

“What do you mean?”

“Ah mean… Ah don’t want it to be already over.”

Rainbow Dash breathed, then breathed, then breathed again, then she dared to ask.

“You… want me to be with your brother?”

Applejack couldn’t hide her excitement. “Have you thought about it? That would make you officially part of the family, we would be sisters! And Mac would finally have a girlfriend!”

Eyes bulging, mouth agape and speechless. That’s how Rainbow Dash was looking at her friend after hearing those words.

Noticing her reaction, Applejack coughed a little in her fist. Nevertheless, the shock endured. “Aw come on! It wouldn’t be so bad.”

Rainbow Dash recollected herself and shook her head. “But I thought you were angry about it. Don’t you think I will spoil him or something?”

“Well, Ah admit that Ah didn’t take it well at the moment. But Ah thought about it, and Ah reckon that...” Applejack blushed a little. “Ah reckon that it would be good if he was a little more like you.”

Rainbow Dash blushed a little too, before giggling. “Hehe, of course, it would.” Then she turned serious again. “But why?”

Applejack straddled on the bed before starting to explain.

“Ah figured that all my best choices fall on one of our pals, which includes you.

"My first pick would be Fluttershy, she’s just the girl that fits perfectly the role of a wife with the three C: caring, kind and cute.”

“I think that ‘kind’ starts with...”

“Anyway, she’s too much like Big Mac. While two loving birds in a nest are usually similar, Ah can’t see any of them come out from their shell of silence. Heavens know if that fella needs to use that mouth of his a little more.

"Then we have our Twilight, she’s smart and her heart is in the right place, but Ah don’t think that someone as simple as Big Macintosh is her type. Ah’m not even sure she’s into boys.

"Rarity would be a perfect maid, you know how much feminine she is, but Ah doubt she would actually bear our lifestyle. Ah wouldn’t bear her, for sure.

"Lastly we have Sunset. She is a beautiful, smart, strong and a lot better person than she was once. However Ah can tell she’s still adjustin’ herself to be a good friend, wouldn’t try to understand how to adjust for a special somebody at the same time if Ah was her.”

“What about Pinkie?”

“Yeah, no.”

Rainbow gave AJ a disappointed look.

“Don’t get me wrong, Ah love Pinkie but she may already be related to us. ‘sides, Ah can’t picture it.”

“Fine, fine. Now, what about me?”

“You would give him a hard time.”

After saying that, Applejack kept on a smile her eyes closed for a little pause. Rainbow Dash, instead, was just bemused.

“Sorry, but shouldn’t you say the good stuff about me first?”

“Ah just did.”

“Huh?”

“Ah know my brother, he would never settle with a woman that doesn’t need anything. He is satisfied with the hard work, and he would be pleased to apply hard for his beloved.”

Rainbow Dash blushed again. “Now you’re advertising for him.”

Applejack giggled. “Ah’m not, cross my heart.”

Then they both stayed quiet for a while. Despite everything, Applejack didn’t manage to achieve a confession from Rainbow Dash, but there was no need to rush things. While waiting, Applejack got a message from Fluttershy. 

While she was reading it, Rainbow Dash spoke, “Well, I’ll think about all this, but it’s probably too late already.”

Applejack didn’t respond, instead she stood up and went for the door.

“Hey, where are you going now?” asked Rainbow Dash, without leaving her bed.

“Could you stay here, sugarcube?”

“Yeah, but why?”

Applejack’s eyes darted right and left, then she blurted a quick “Sorry” before leaving the room.

Unsure about what just happened, Rainbow Dash reached the window and stared down. She saw Fluttershy in front of her house, then she could see Applejack approaching her. Both of her friends noticed that she was looking at them by the window, so they waved at her.

‘That’s odd,’ thought Rainbow Dash. She didn’t have time to think about it, though, because she heard somebody coughing behind her.

Right beyond the door, waiting to be invited in, stood Big Mac.

Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a deadpanned look, with one last thought.

‘I’ll get you for this.’





Applejack gave a final wave at Rainbow Dash before turning towards Fluttershy.

“So, how was your day, sugarcube?”

“I brought your sister and her friends at home, then I had a talk with your brother.” Fluttershy paused a little. “And… I crushed in your front gate with the truck.”

Applejack gaze up while shaking her head. “It ain’t a big deal. But will you tell me now why you wanted precisely me to speak with Rainbow Dash?”

Fluttershy took a moment to gather a little courage.

“The truth is that, at the soccer field, I was a little, umm, peeved.”

“Wow, do you kiss your mom with that mouth?” said Applejack with a chuckle.

“Sorry, anyway I was feeling so because I...”

“Ah know, Ah shouldn't just assume things about my friends.”

“No. I mean, yes. But it's not just that.”

Fluttershy paused, she thought very well of Applejack and was very happy to call her friend. But she had to say something that could have ruined that forever.

“To be honest, I, well, I…”

“Pull it out.”

Fluttershy took a big amount of air, then she blurted out quietly, “I always envied you.”

They had a little pregnant pause while Applejack was taking that news with a big amount of surprise. That she barely showed, being Applejack.

“Wow, for real?”

“I… envy you for your friendship with Rainbow Dash.”

“What are you talking about? Ah always thought that you two were the closest in our circle. She's always nice to you like she never is with anybody else.”

“That's it. She always feels like she has to be considerate with me. And she's right, I am not brave or bold like you and the others. She often stands up for me when I’m in trouble and… sometimes I just feel that I’m holding her back.”

“That’s nonsense!”

“I do my best to make up with her, to be a good friend as she is. Then you step in and the two of you instantly get along. You don’t have to worry to be enough for her because you can so easily understand each other. You two argue sometimes, but then you only come back to be even better friends.” Fluttershy paused, a single tear was running down her cheek. “I can’t do what you do, and you’re not even trying.”

Fluttershy felt a couple of strong arms wrap around her, then a hand wiped the tear away.

“Sugarcube, you’re a great friend too. And it ain’t true that Ah don’t try to be one, ‘cause Ah know that my friendship with you and the others is the most precious thing that Ah have. Well, except my family Ah’d say, but it’s not a competition. Ah just want my friend to love me for who Ah am, so Ah try to be as honest as Ah can be with them. This way Ah can show them the part that they deserve, the best part of me.

"That’s what so good about you actually. You don’t have to be afraid Rainbow ‘couse who you are, we all love any trait of yours. You’re the kindest, purest of heart and the nicest girl that we ever met, and Ah bet that Rainbow likes to act nice with you. All of us like to go soft once in awhile.”

Applejack got so carried on her monologue that she had kept her eyes closed the entire time. When she opened them she saw Fluttershy, still in her arms, looking at her with wide eyes and a face redder than a tomato.

“Ah’m… invading your personal space?”

Fluttershy silently nodded.

Applejack released her grip with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that.”

Fluttershy didn’t respond at all, she just kept staring at her, with a red face, for several seconds while Applejack was thinking about something to make the situation less weird. Unfortunately, Fluttershy’s face didn’t want to change back to normal at all.

Lastly, Fluttershy slowly and quietly reached her minivan, she sat on and she drove away.

When she entered her home, she was still having the same face.

“Mom!” she called with a deadpanned tone.

“What is it, dear?” asked a calm and motherly voice.

“If a gorgeous girl holds me and says a lot of beautiful things to me and I don’t know how to feel about it, what does it mean?”

Silence fell on the living room until a quick series of footsteps approached from upstairs. Then a breathless Zephyr Breeze appeared to question his big sister.

“It's not Rainbow Dash, right?”

Maybe she should have told him about Big Mac, but she couldn’t care less at the moment.

“No.”

“Aw, thanks goodness.”





Rainbow Dash was standing in front of Big Mac, who had entered in her room.

They had been stayed quiet for awhile, just looking at the different items of the room in slight embarrassment. Knowing that Big Mac would have never started speaking on his own, she opened her mouth…

...only to shut it up when she saw that he was keeping his palm open in front of her. 

“Ah owe an apology,” said him. “Earlier at school, Ah thought you didn’t want to speak with me more than it was necessary, so Ah just reassured you and moved on. But Fluttershy told me that Ah should have been more careful about your feelings. Ah’m sorry for that, Ah didn’t want you to think that Ah don’t care about what you’re goin’ through. And… Ah also care about your feelings.”

Rainbow Dash finally closed her mouth, but her eyelids were as open as never.

Big Mac chuckled and continued. “Ah should have said it before, but Ah’ll do it now. If there’s something that you wanna say… you can tell me.”

Rainbow Dash blinked a couple of times. That was unexpected, she wasn’t sure what to feel in that situation, but it felt… good?

She made a quick check up of her state: sadness? Gone. Anger? Disappeared. Confusion? Just a slight.

Final verdict: she was good. Really good, actually. She felt like she was back, awesome as ever. And she was holding Big Mac waiting on his haunches. Time to fix that.

She put on a confident smirk and gave her answer.





Big Mac came out from the mansion, looking as calm and stoic as ever. He found his sister waiting for him near his truck.

“So,” said she eagerly, “have you got yourself a girlfriend, maybe?”

Big Mac chuckled in his usual way.

“Enope.”

> 5 - When a men loves a woman
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“WHAT?!”

Big Macintosh covered his ears with both hands while gritting his teeth in pain. That yell had pierced his eardrums.

In front of him, Applejack had stayed quiet for several second since he responded her. An amount of time long enough to worry him, but now she had broken her cathartic state. And she had completely lost it.

“Wadda you mean ‘Enope’?! What in tarnation did you do in order to waste such a good chance?!”

Applejack continued to snort steam from her nostrils while clenching her teeth. Big mac wasn’t talking to a sister, he was facing a running locomotive. Luckily, he was used to it.

And he knew that he had no way to slink off without telling what happened first.


***


Big Mac was standing perfectly still in front of Rainbow Dash. He had just finished his little speech and now was waiting silently for her to reply. She was taking her time, though, hiding intermittently her beautiful magenta irises under her eyelids for ten seconds flat. Finally, she seemed to reach a conclusion and she recollected herself.

Rainbow Dash smirked with confidence and answered, “Nice speech, big guy. But actually, I’m afraid that you kinda wasted it. Don’t take me wrong, I really appreciated it. More than you think. It’s just that you took it too much seriously. Like I would get overwhelmed so easily by a little misunderstanding.” 

Big Mac was still upright as usual, frowning his eyebrows in thought. Rainbow continued, scratching her nape with one hand. “Seriously, though, you pulled off something touchy but… you were worried about nothing. Really, I’m fine. Not hiding anything here. Thank you for passing by, though, that made me happy.”

Big Mac smiled politely at her, allowing the silence in the room until Rainbow “So, you have to go or can I offer you something...” 

“Enope.” 

“Cool,” she said. “See you soon then.”


***


“That’s all?” asked a disbelieved Applejack.

“”Eyup.”

Applejack tossed herself for the front door of the mansion, her anger had taken over and she wasn't going to hold back.

“Ah’m goin' to strangle her," she said. Then she disappeared inside.

Big Mac reentered in the mansion a little after his sister. He had been waiting either for her to come back or to hear the fight of the decade. Since nothing of that happened, he decided to anticipate his plans.

He had schemed to come back the next day but, since he had to wait for Applejack, he reckoned he could make his first move immediately.





Faith paused a moment in order to catch her breath. She had just climbed on the roof of the building and now was standing right near the edge. About five meters beneath her there were two guards who were searching around, their mission was to take her down. 

She wasn’t inclined to allow them.

Bravery, Faith jumped off the edge and landed over one of the enemies, stomping with both feet on his chest. The other pal quickly turned over and saw Faith already standing up, ready to attack him.

With no hesitation, they ran furiously against each other. The guard rose his weapon in order to deliver it heavily onto her head, but Faith deflected the blow with awesome skill, stunning him. She used that window of opportunity to deliver some kicks to his sorry butt.

“Aww yeah! This chick is almost as cool as me!” said Rainbow Dash. She was in her room,  sitting on her lap while holding the joypad in front of the TV. After the talk with Big Mac she thought she deserved some relax time for herself, so she had turned on her console and started to play a videogame.

Unfortunately, a cowgirl boot kicking her door marked the end of the relax time.

Applejack entered the room looking absolutely livid. All her fury was focused on the puzzled cyan girl sat between the bed and TV. “WHAT IN TARNATION IS WRONG WITH YOU!?”

Rainbow Dash just stared at her friend, unimpressed. “Woah, AJ. Not cool.”

“Ah... you…” Applejack was too angry to speak properly. “Shucks, why can’t you be rightly honest for once?!”

“Just to be sure, this is about Big Mac right?”

“Yes! This is about you lying to him about your feelings!”

“Woah, woah, woah, AJ. I don’t remember doing anything like that.”

“It happened five minutes ago!”

“Listen, AJ, I know that you’re somehow trying to help but I don’t need a boyfriend. More important, I don’t even want one. Whenever I’ll wish to find somebody, since you look to care so much about it, I promise to consider your brother.” Once she finished dealing with her angry friend, Rainbow Dash resumed playing videogames with a smug face.

Applejack was just speechless. From her view, her best friend had a crush that was just as bright as the sun over the trees, yet Rainbow Dash was responding to her effort of helping her out as they were some sort of desperate pairing attempt. Only because she had to be a mule and deny all the uncomfortable truth.

Feeling another push of rage from behind her, Applejack leaned forward ready to deliver ten fingers over that blue neck. Maybe she could have lectured her about spitting out your true interests in the meanwhile. It was Fluttershy that saved the oblivious Rainbow Dash from choking that day.

Not that she was actually there, she was having a really embarrassing conversation about birds and bees at that precise moment, but her image in Applejack’s mind was enough to make her reconsider her actions.

Fluttershy would have never forgiven the display of violence that Applejack wanted to show, and that was enough alone, but mostly what hold her was the conversation the two of them had shared at the field. Reconsidering that, Applejack tried to see the events from Rainbow’s point of view.

What would have done Rainbow Dash if the boy which in she was interested suddenly appeared in front of her offering to be something more? Rightly after she had spent all the afternoon in self-loathing because she was convinced that something like that would have never happened?

If it had been herself, Applejack would have jumped right over him shouting all the things that he represented for her, without a second thought. Because that was she, direct and honest. And she knew better than acting cool just to keep an appearance.

But Rainbow Dash didn’t, she couldn’t allow herself to be drafted by a girlish sentiment and confess how badly she could be hurt by it. And that would have been telling all the honest truth, so it was either that or putting on the usual bravado.

She was just being Rainbow Dash.

Well, it was time for Applejack to use her knowledge about Rainbow Dash to drive her towards a beautiful and healthy love story. She only had to be smooth and use what Fluttershy had taught her.

Finally perfectly calm, Applejack made her move. “You know, Ah think that Spitfire might have a boyfriend.”

“Really, who?”

‘Dangit!’ she thought. “Ehm, not sure. But she might have one.”

She wasn’t very good at this, but that would have never worked so she had to keep trying. Maybe they had to use the same dictionary in order to be on the same wavelength.

“And, you know, romantic relations are totally cool.”

Rainbow Dash spun her head towards Applejack with a wry look.

“Subtle, AJ.”

Ok, she was bad at this. Applejack tried to think about any possible reply to save her attempts, moving up and down her hands in frustration, but no sound came from her mouth. Lastly, she grunted admitting her defeat.

The battle was lost, but Applejack promised to herself that the war wouldn’t have stopped so easily. She instantly checked around the room looking for any possible source of overthrow. Of any kind.

“Ain’t that game the old one we used to play a while ago?” she said in the end, watching the TV’s screen. “‘Couse Ah reckon it wasn’t this good looking.”

“Nope. This one is the sequel.”

“The sequel came out?”

“Yup. And it is twenty percent cooler.”

“Bet Ah can rightly beat all your best times.”

“You wish. No one is faster than me.”





Rainbow Blitz was a lot like his daughter, Rainbow Dash, under many aspects, starting from their look. Of course, they had the different traits of opposite genders and his skin was a little darker shade than hers. Yet you could easily tell they were father and child just by looking at them.

Also, they weren’t good at showing their softer side. Not even between them. Rainbow Blitz had always loved his little Rainbow from the core. Since she was born, he vowed to raise her and protect her at the best of his possibilities.

Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash’s birth happened when her parents were very young.

Dash wasn’t an expected child, Rainbow Blitz and his beloved weren’t even married when she turned out to be pregnant. They were just a young couple that had forged ahead with their relationship, turning what should have been a joyful goal into a premature accident. 

Nevertheless, just like his future daughter, Blitz had never been a quitter. Instead, he had a strongly instilled sense of loyalty inside that he wasn’t able to ignore.

Following his sense of right, he proposed to his future wife and accepted to sustain her and their future child. In order to do that, he applied instantly into jobs and multiplied his efforts for becoming an athlete.

He would have never reached his goal of becoming a sportive champion, but a company of models noticed him a little before that her daughter was born.

This company was looking for a new face that could trend the sports products merchandise, and he got a good offer thanks to his handsome appearance and his assets. Even if it wasn’t exactly what he was dreaming for, the contract was good and would have solved some of his problems without forcing him to change his lifestyle.

With the first jobs, some help from the family and a mortgage banking he was able to give his family the big mansion they would have called home for the time being.

He probably went too far with his purchase, the house was way bigger than what they needed, but Blitz wasn’t somebody who just would have settled for less than he thought to deserve. And that was even more true for his new family.

Even so, he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the outgoings after his contract as a sports model. That until his TV spot became a trend for some reason and caught the attention of a career manager. With his advice and some smart investments, Rainbow Blitz was able to fulfill his efforts and give her daughter a safe environment where to grow.

All in all, he was lucky.

At least, on that front.

But when life gives you solutions, it usually takes something.

And Blitz had to raise his daughter alone since his wife passed away.

It happened suddenly, and Rainbow Blitz didn’t like to think about it. However, the consequences remained, he was a single father of a little girl. And he continued to do what he was used to doing. 

His best.

Yet, you may see now some of the results in Rainbow Dash’s attitude after growing like she did. Nothing bad of course, just how she can be masculine sometimes. Or the fact that she never trusted anyone to open up with, since not even Rainbow Blitz was used to open up with her. Luckily he didn’t need to. He had always provided to be by her side when she needed him, and being so similar established a connection between them that had made words almost useless. They weren’t comfortable to talk about mushy things anyway, so they went used to just assume the love that bound them each other.

Their relationship had become even more detached when Rainbow Dash reached the ‘rebellious age’. Blitz knew that she wanted to be more independent and respected that, so he wasn’t bothered by it. Even if she did spend more time with her friends than him, he made sure they still had their father-daughter moments.

For the rest of the time, he was just happy to focus on his body, his relaxation or how to continue his career.





Big Mac entered in the livingroom, looking for Rainbow Blitz. He found him running on a treadmill in his little gym. 

The large room was split in two half, the first half was the actual living room and the second had been turned into a private gym by Blitz, in order for him to spend more time at home.

Anyway, as Big Mac was approaching the little gym, Blitz finished his ten-mile jogging and removed the earphones. Just then he noticed the young boy near him.

“Oh, hi there. You’re Applejack’s brother, Big Mac right?”

“Eyup.”

“Be my guest. Can I offer you something? I’m thirsty for sure.”

Rainbow Blitz walked to the kitchen and opened his minibar, pulling out two little bottles of energy drink. By reflex, he tossed one of the bottles in the air making it spin a couple times, then he caught it and handed it to Big Mac with a wink.

“Rainbow water, an energy blitz after your hard work.”

They both stayed firm for a moment, after which Blitz scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry, it’s... and old habit.”

Mac didn’t question anything, he just accepted his drink politely while Blitz was refreshing himself.

“So, you’re here to pick up your sister?”

“Enope.”

“If you want to see Rainbow Dash, she’s upstairs.”

Blitz wasn’t an obsessive parent, he knew that her daughter had a large circle of friends and that she hanged out even with boys. Furthermore, he trusted her enough to not pry in what she considered her private life.

Rainbow Blitz grew suspicious only when Big Mac kept looking at him, instead of moving away. On a more careful look, Blitz noticed that the apparently stoic and calm farm boy was showing to be a little nervous.

The two men watched each other firmly and in silence once again, while a precise scenario formed himself inside the head of the older one. Blitz knew that one day he would have faced this, but he also knew that her daughter despised romance of every sort. Which was giving him the tiny hope of never actually face this.

In the end, with his silence, Rainbow Blitz thought of all the possible questions that he wanted but was hesitant to ask. 

As if he was able to read minds, Big Mac slightly nodded.

There was another silence, with no motion, during which every doubt was swept away.

“And you want to ask my permission,” concluded Rainbow Blitz.

“Eyup.”

Now, I said that Rainbow Blitz doesn’t pry in his daughter's life and that he let her be, he respects her independence and doesn’t do anything to bother her. He can do that because she is pretty similar to him and he can understand her very well. Because he knows that until she does what he can understand she will be safe. A suitor wasn’t something he had ever experienced.

That kicked in all his protective-parental instincts. “Sit,” he demanded with a resolute tone.





Applejack and Rainbow Dash were playing video games upstairs. Time had passed by while the two friends were having a funny time together, leaving behind every grudge.

At least until Applejack watched out the window. “Shucks, ain't it late already? Should have gotten to do my chores a while ago.” She left her controller on the ground and stood up for the door.

“Aww come on, AJ! I was going to win!”

“And now you know how that feels like.”

Rainbow Dash childly pouted.

‘And that’s the girl that Ah wish to become my sis-in-law,’ thought Applejack with a chuckle. Before she could open the door, Applejack felt a familiar hand on her shoulder.

“Come on, I’ll escort you downstairs,” said Rainbow Dash.

They reached the first floor, sharing silly stories and some giggles here and there when they noticed Big Mac and Rainbow Blitz talking friendly on the couch.

“And that is why, kid, even as a farmer you should keep your musculature under check. A lot of people with a job of fatigue gets a lot of aches in their elder days because they just overload some muscles and completely ignore others. Also, I think you should put more proteins in your body. You’re big already, but with just a little work you would become a real stallion.”

Big Mac was just nodding in silence, letting Rainbow Blitz babble about whatever he wanted to. The conversation had started differently, with Rainbow Blitz treating him with all the skepticism and severity he could muster. But soon enough the simplicity and purity in Big Mac attitude destabilized the not-mastered role of stern parent, dragging Blitz back in his usual friendly character.

Since then, their chat became always more casual until Blitz had started to talk to Big Mac like a mentor of life. Big Mac was fine with that, he liked to listen anyway.

However they had to stop when they noticed the two girls looking over them.

Rainbow Blitz checked his clock. “Well, look at the time. I guess the two of you have to go now.”

Big mac nodded and reached the side of his sister, who spoke to him. “Shucks, you didn’t have to wait for me.”

The two Apples went for the door as Rainbow Dash escorted them. Once outside, Big Mac turned towards Dash and stopped moving.

He stared at her eyes, thinking about what he was going to do.

He gulped nervously.

Both of them just looked each other for a moment, before Big Mac took a breath and opened his mouth to talk.

“Woff...” was all he managed to say when Applejack grabbed him by his collar.

“Come on, no more time to waste for today. And we still have to repair our front gate.”

Mac could only wave at Rainbow as he was dragged by her sister, causing hilarity for Blitz and Dash.





“I’m sure they won't notice.”

“I’m pretty much sure that they will.”

“Come on, you don't look that bad. Besides Rarity pulled off a little miracle with the makeup.”

“Indeed, darling. Just try not to frown so much.”

“I’m not frowning.”

Sunset, Twilight, and Rarity were sitting in the cafeteria for the lunch break. Consuming their meals, they all had a different mood. Sunset was looking a little guilty and embarrassed, while Rarity was only concerned for her two friends. In the middle, Twilight was showing all his annoyance with a stern scowl.

“Darling, you almost have more wrinkles than Granny Smith.”

Behind her glasses, Twilight rolled her eyes. “Now that’s exaggerated.”

“Uhm, girls? Incoming,” whispered Sunset.

Sunset and Rarity wore their fakest smiles as Applejack and Rainbow Dash were approaching with their trays full of food. Both of them looked to have a better mood than the day before and were chit-chatting airily. Until they arrived at the table and Rainbow Dash focused on their other friends.

“Hey Twi, what’s the horse face for?” asked Rainbow. Then she turned towards Sunset “Uhh, no offense?”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Come on. It’s just a figure of speech,” she replied.

“And there is nothing wrong with my face,” grumbled Twilight.

Applejack narrowed her eyes, focusing on Twilight. “You sure? Because there’s something that doesn’t look quite right if you ask me...”

Scared by the perceptive skills of her friend, Twilight grabbed her bag and opened it in front of her. “Look! A talking dog.”

Spike came out from the bag, panting happily “Bark!”

“Spike!”

“What? Can’t I say ‘bark’ anymore? Just because I can talk doesn’t mean that everything I say must make sense.”

“He’s totally right you know,” said Pinkie Pie. She and Fluttershy had just arrived at the table too. “By the way, Rarity did a really good job at drawing those fake eyebrows in order to hide the accident of yesterday.”

Rarity, Twilight, and Sunset just stared at her in silence after she said that. Then Pinkie Pie opened her eyes wide as if she had just remembered something important.

Pinkie watched warily around her and leaned over Rainbow, Applejack, and Fluttershy. “Pssst, it’s a secret,” she whispered.

“Pinkie!” scoffed an angry Rarity. “I used to believe that you were good at keeping secrets.”

“I am. In fact, I didn’t tell them what happened yesterday, as I Pinkie promised to.”

“What happened yesterday anyway?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Sorry, can’t tell.” Pinkie turned back to Rarity with a smug smile. “See?”

Rarity didn’t answer, instead, she just made some angry sounds with her mouth until Applejack interrupted her.

“Has this something to do with the ‘craziest thing’ happened in the research lab?”

Rarity, Twilight, and Sunset watched at her astonished for a second. Then they all sent an angry glare to Pinkie Pie.

“That text was before the Pinkie promise,” she said in defense.

Sunset let come out a resigned sigh. “Well, guess it’s no use trying to hide it now,” she admitted. She turned towards the three oblivious girls. “Yesterday...”

Pinkie Pie stomped heavily on the table. “Don’t you dare to break a Pinkie promise!”

Sunset was aghast, but Twilight interjected. “I declare that the Pinkie promise at issue is no more effective.”

Pinkie took a scroll and a feather from her hairs. “Put in the deed,” she said happily.

Twilight watched dumbfounded at Pinkie. “Do you always go around with… no, I don’t want to know. I just want to get over this. Please proceed, Sunset”

Sunset scratched her arm while looking away uncomfortably, then she managed to look straight at her friends. “Well, all of you remember what happened the last time that I tried to understand magic with the use of science, right?”

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy nodded.

“Then you remember how badly it went. Despite that, when I showed her my notes about my futile and painful attempts, Twilight insisted on going through them again. For science.” Sunset charged the last two words with a tip of bitterness, making Twilight blush. “So I offered myself to help her, at least to have a good laugh and take my satisfaction by saying ‘I told you’.

“It went as I planned for the tests with Pinkie and Rarity, and I was already preparing myself for a long evening of teasing in spite of our new friend, but then Twilight pointed out a negligence in my experiments. I’ve never tried any sort of test on myself.”

Sunset paused, she clearly didn’t want to tell the next part, but she managed to continue. “In the end, I accepted to be examined. I admit I was a little curious, so Twilight plugged me with a lot of types of machinery and asked me to pony up.”

When she paused again, Applejack pressed her. “What happened then?”

“I should have figured sooner, your results seemed to be related to your cutie mar.... scratch that, let’s just say that your different outcomes were somehow an extension of you: balloons for Pinkie, rainbows for Dash, apples for Applejack, butterflies for Fluttershy. As for me...”

Sunset sighed again, the three girls in front of her were completely taken by now. Unable to speak, she just pointed at the big sun drawn on her T-shirt.

Applejack’s gears started to spin: the flash, the smoke, the missing eyebrows. “No way...” she muttered.

“What? What?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“You… took fire?”

Sunset’s face turned crimson while she was looking at the ceiling.

Applejack snorted.

Fluttershy snickered.

Rainbow Dash burst out laughing.

“Wait... let me get this straight,” she managed to say between her laughs. “You’re saying that you burned down the research room just by singing.”

“And playing guitar,” concluded Sunset flatly.

“That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard,” yelled Rainbow Dash, still laughing.
“Seriously, that must have been one hell of rock solo.”

Her hilarity infected Pinkie and Rarity as well, who were trying her best to hold back. It wasn’t a battle they could sustain for long.

“Ahah, I mean we all knew that you were insanely hot but DAAAMN!”

Pinkie Pie chirped in, “Really Sunset, you were brightly gorgeous before but now? You could melt anybody’s heart.”

Rainbow Dash pointed a finger at Sunset “Oooh, burn!”

“Be careful,” said Fluttershy, “she could actually do it.”

At this point, everybody was laughing out loud, minus Sunset and Twilight who were just gazing flatly at nothing.

Applejack somehow recollected herself. “Now girls, Ah’m slightly disappointed by all of you.”

Finally, everybody at the table went quiet for a moment. They all looked in confusion at their most wise and stern member.

“Thank you,” said Sunset gratefully.

Applejack smirked at her. “Worry none, Ah just think they should know better than playing with fire.”

No one did anything for a couple of seconds until Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a high five. That restarted the laughs.

Much to her surprise, Sunset heard a tiny giggle from her near left. She spun her head and saw Twilight Sparkle holding her mouth with one hand. “You too?”

“Sorry, but in retrospect, it is kinda funny.”

Sunset glowered at all the girls around her, then decided to say something. “Well, it’s not entirely my fault.” She pointed at Twilight. “She’s the one that turned me on.”

Just then she allowed herself to chuckle.

“Nice, Sunset,” approved Rainbow Dash in tears.

“O my, you pulled that off with such a straight face!” burst Pinkie.

“I want to try,” said Twilight. She cleared her throat before telling her joke. “I thought I was measuring in Kelvins, not in Celsius!” Then she looked at her friends expectantly.

After a while, Sunset gave a polite laugh. Seeing that nobody else was enjoying it, she also tried to explain it. “It was funny in a way. You see because Celsius and Kelvin has a very different scale.”

Everybody just focused on their lunch.

“It was funny!” protested Twilight, “there was a common knowledge, the puzzling part, the solution, it was even scientifically accurate!”

“You just picked the wrong audience, Twi,” said Spike with a reassuring tone.

Slightly offended, Twilight stood up on her chair and spoke aloud. “Hey, everybody! I thought I was measuring Sunset’s body temperature in Kelvins, instead, it was in Celsius!”

All the cafeteria fell silent, almost every student turned towards her with a puzzled look.

“Because she’s really hot!” finished her in frustration.

She didn’t notice, but all of her friends facepalmed as collective misunderstanding hit everybody. Cheers and laughs finally rose for her. She even heard somebody congratulate with her for ‘coming out’ or something like that.

Twilight came back down to her seat with a smug face. “Told you it was funny.”

“Not even Princess Twilight was this dense,” muttered Sunset behind her hand.





Rainbow Dash walked through the halls with a lot more lightly pace than the day before. After what happened at the cafeteria, Twilight and Sunset were the new hot topic of the school, making her almost disappear from the attention radar. Besides, the day so far had been incredibly funny.

When she arrived at her locker, she found Big Mac leaning over it.

“Hi, big guy. Were you waiting for me?” asked Rainbow Dash, slightly excited.

“Eyup.”

“Cool,” chirped she happily. Then she calmed down. “I mean, ok. What do you want?”

Big Mac cleared his throat, then he inflated his chest trying to hide his nervousness. “Would you like to go out with me for dinner?”

Rainbow’s eyes widened as her cheeks turned a little red.

> 6 - The day before the end
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The wheel of the truck was rolling over the dirt road that led to Sweet Apple Acres, the sound of the engine barely covered the beautiful sounds of the surroundings. It was a sunny day with a clear sky. Birds were singing happily, searching for other chirps to match their own. It was one of those days that made look spring as the most beautiful season of the year.

Big Mac was gathering the apples of the Orchard. He had started to work as soon as he arrived at the farm, without fooling around. He just yearned for something in order to keep his mind busy and his forehead covered in sweat. 

And suddenly he heard the sound of something big crashing.

At the ingress of the farm, Applejack’s truck had stopped over the now unhinged front gate. Clearly, the driver had started to arrest the vehicle too late, underestimating the weight and the power of the engine.

Worried for his sister, Big Mac run to the driver seat of the truck. Instead of Applejack, he found an ashamed Fluttershy with eyes full of tears. It took him almost fifteen minute and a hot chamomile in order to calm her down.

After muttering dozens of apologies for breaking the gate, that Mac politely accepted, she finally remembered the reason of her visit. Fluttershy gathered herself on the couch, then she spoke. “Hm, Big Mac? About Rainbow Dash...”

Surprisingly, Big Mac winced at hearing the name. he felt like he missed a beat of his own heart, nevertheless, he allowed Fluttershy to continue.

"I think that the two of you met right after school. And… she hasn't called any of us," she said. Then she wobbled a little on her seat, trying to get a little more comfortable. "I don't mean to pry but I'm worried about her. Could you please tell me what happened?"

Mac could tell that Fluttershy was truly concerned, so he thought nothing bad about telling her. He summarized what he and Dash told each other inside the halls of the school. It was rather what Rainbow said, actually, and him doing his best to spare the dignity of the girl.

While he talked, Fluttershy nodded several times. Her gaze was firm on him, thinking about what he was saying.

“So you… Just walked away?”

“Eee...yup.”

"Here's what I think. Rainbow Dash never skips her time at the soccer field, unless she doesn't have a good reason to. If she didn't show up today it must have been because…" Fluttershy hesitated for a moment as if she was about to say something mean that he didn't truly deserve. "You hurt her."

Mac stood his head up. His mouth was still flat, but now his eyes were open wide.

"I know you were trying to avoid that, but she may have seen your hurry as inconsideration in her regards," said Fluttershy to reassure him. "There is something else I need to know. Tell me, would you like to date Rainbow Dash?"

That question made him blush. He had never seriously thought about dating anyone, and now suddenly everybody cared about his loving life. Now, of all the times, it was a real mess.

Seeing his uncertain, Fluttershy spoke, “I’ll try to make it more simple. If she was to ask you out, how would you respond?”

“Yup.”

"Then listen carefully..." said Fluttershy with a smile forming on her face, "...because I want that too."





Inside Rainbow Dash’s room, Big Mac was focusing on the girl in front of him. He had just offered himself to her, just to stay there, listening and accepting everything she wanted to say. 

And she was giving her answer. Her words were saying that she was ok, that he didn’t have to worry. She was doing her best to look strong, confident and cool. As if she wasn’t already.

But Mac didn’t take what she said for granted, he made his best to read between the lines. He had always assumed to be good at reading people, partly thanks to his practice while dealing with customers at the apple stand. He wished reading this girl was that easy.


***


"Firstly, always remember that, even if she liked you, she would never admit it. She may don't want to accept it either. So don't expect any kind of confession from her. Still, you have to go and show her that you care about her. This will at least comfort her, I hope, but you mustn't move forward on your own."


***


Though the girl in front of him was still a mystery for him, Big Mac was now sure that he wanted to know her better. Maybe it was just the curiosity, but he felt the urge of establishing a connection. Even if the feelings of Rainbow Dash were still uncertain, he decided that he wanted to earn all her affections.

He would have courted her, so he was going to meet her father in order to follow his own gentleman’s code.





Rainbow Dash blinked for the fifth time, at least. She didn’t show any other sign of cerebral activity since Big Mac had asked her out.

Her mind had stopped abruptly, unable to fully understand what was going on. All she knew was that this situation was turning out to be terrifying.

‘HE ASKED ME OUT!’ she thought, ‘Oh my gosh he asked me to go out with him. Why now? Why didn’t he ask me yesterday? I was ready to say no yesterday! I had the excuse ready! This is not fair. I can’t go out as a… as a...’

Finally, Rainbow realized that she had missed one important detail in order to panic. She needed more info before freaking out.

“You want to go out,” she said factly.

“Eyup.”

“Just the two of us.”

“Eyup.”

“And you want to go like...”

Big Mac shrugged with a reassuring smile.


***


"Also, keep in mind that Rainbow Dash repels everything girly such as flowers, makeup, fancy dresses, girl's talks, deep feelings and first of all boys.

“So don’t be a cavalier in shining armor, because that’s not what she wants. You have to show her that you are funny and cool before she even considers you as something more than a friend. If you want to act like something more than a friend that’s good, but don’t let her know.”


***


“There is a new place, it’s called ‘Medieval times’ and Ah wanted to check it out. Ah’ll like to not go alone.”

“So, it’s just an easy thing.”

“Eyup.”

“Sounds… nice.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes in thought. ‘Oh crap, I don’t have any reason to say no to that.’

While she was looking at her shoulder, Mac noticed a little blush on her cheeks. He said nothing, though, since he was feeling his throat tighten.

In the end, Rainbow Dash looked at him with a smile. “Yeah, sounds cool. Uhm, see you at seven?”

As Big Mac nodded happily, she walked backward until the corner waving at him.

Once she was out of sight, she turned progressed rapidly to her classroom. She aimed directly for her seat, holding out everything and everyone from her thoughts. However, she couldn’t ignore the voice of one of her best friends.

“Hey there, looks like you just saw a ghost,” said AJ.

“I wish I was that lucky,” replied Dash with a whimper.





Dash had to go through few other hours of lessons before being able to go home, but her mind had already left her head since a long time. She stayed quiet and did her best to get through the day without talking to anybody. Only once she arrived inside her room she allowed herself to react to how she felt.

It… took her a while actually. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it, no matter how hard she brooded.

‘Come on, Big Mac invited you to have a dinner together. So?’

Following an instinct, Rainbow Dash dashed on her bed bouncing up and down several times. “Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” chirped she excitedly.

As soon as she realized what she was doing, Rainbow Dash stopped it and stared at nothing. Then she yelled at no one. "Where did this come from?!"

She slid over the edge of the bed on sat on its side. "Chill out, Dash. It's just a dinner between friends. At least, I think he wants to be just a friend, right? I mean, he would have declared or done something yesterday otherwise. Why would he wait one day to make a move on me?"

But Rainbow Dash wasn't convinced. No matter how she couldn't just accept the idea that it was an exit between simple friends. ‘I know, I’ll friendzone him! So he’ll have to friendzone me too and he’ll never try anything of the sort with me.’ Dash stood up proud as she was thinking about her brilliant plan, despite the slight feeling of something stinging her heart. ‘It’s not like I really want to friendzone him, he’s kinda the guy that you don’t want to keep in there I guess. He’s strong, polite, appealing, honest and who knows what else and I bet that the ‘big’ refers even to OMYGOSH STOP IT!’

Rainbow Dash felt a wave of unbearable heat riding her face as she was thinking about the good qualities of Big Mac. She couldn’t manage a night out, she couldn’t even manage to think about him let alone stand near him an entire night. ‘This was a bad idea,’ she thought, ‘I should just call him and cancel our date NOT DATE, our friendly meeting. Between friends.’

As she was groaning, Rainbow Dash pulled out her phone and opened her contact list. She had named Big Mac as ‘AJbro’ so he was almost on top of the list. ‘It’s for the best,’ she reasoned, ‘better end this now before giving him false hopes.’

Finally, she spotted the right name on the list. She raised her finger over it, right under AJ's number. Just to leave it hanging, as just the name of her friend dragged her memories back to the previous day.

It was a quick recalling, after which Rainbow Dash bit her cheek and looked down ashamed. Then she turned off the phone with a sigh.

‘Just because I promised, AJ.’





At the Apple’s farm, inside the second floor’s bathroom to be precise, Big Mac was preparing himself for the night out. He was standing in front of a big mirror, near the sink, trying to figure out how to look at best.


***


"You'll perhaps think that this is cliche, but always remember to be yourself when you're in conflict. I know for sure that Rainbow Dash would never get interested into an easygoing pander."

Big Mac simply raised an eyebrow.

"But, umm, also try to look a little cooler? If that's ok with you?" said Fluttershy, who was clearly hesitant. 

After a couple of seconds spent in awkward silence, she frowned. “Not everything I say is gospel truth.”


***



‘Well,’ he thought, ‘Ah’ll show up as Ah’m proud to be, means as myself.’

Big Mac smiled at his reflection, he had always found his own appearance pretty nice. He expanded his chest and tried to capture a good profile. ‘Reckon Ah should at least wear a more elegant plaid shirt.’

Two minutes of research in his closet later, Mac checked his figure again and admitted that he could look better with just a little touch of fru-fru fashion. Curious about how much he could improve, he turned back to his room and took all the fashion dresses and accessories, willing to try them for the first time since he received them as several presents from friends and family.

Firstly, he tried to put on a set of rings. Then he added a couple of bracelets, guessing that it was well fitted. Completely absorbed in his experiment, he put on a clip-on earring and a kerchief. Still not satisfied with the final result, he headed to his room once again to wear a couple of old jeans with studs. While on his way back to the bathroom, he walked into Apple Bloom. She was heading to the bathroom too, carrying a basket filled with dirty laundry.

Apple Bloom stopped right in front of his brother with a surprised expression. After she finally recognized him, Apple Bloom looked at Big Mac from head to toe with very critical eyes. Then she made eye contact with him. Barely holding a snicker, Apple Bloom said, “Are you goin’ out for a date?”

Big Mac nodded embarrassed.

Apple Bloom tossed the laundry away and grabbed Macintosh for his hand, dragging him into the bathroom. Once there, she removed the all the accessories and fitted properly the plaid shirt. "As you were, Ah'll say the sink stood more chances than you had. The kerchief is ok, but it's a neck kerchief so pull it off from that hay head of yours." 

Imparted the instruction, Apple Bloom went to his room and took one other pair of blue jeans. They weren't a fashion dress, but they were in a good shape and, most important, good looking. Satisfied with the choice, she came back to the bathroom and tossed the trousers at Bit Mac. "Here, put this on and forget about whatever that is," she said while pointing at the studded jeans. Before leaving her brother with some privacy to change trousers, she tapped h chin with an analyzing face. Then she licked her palm and climbed on Mac's knees to reach his head. She combed his hair a little, just in order to not let them fall on his face, and lastly she went out the bathroom closing the door.

Big Mac changed as his sister recommended to do and stared at himself from the mirror. He was looking nice, actually. He felt like himself, just… a little cooler. He left the bathroom and struck a pose for his sister.

Apple Bloom, who had been waiting outside for him, stared him with a smile before giving her approval. “Look good now,” she said proudly, “Ah bet you’ll have a good luck tonight.”

Big Mac blushed a bit, then he reached down his youngest sister and snuggled her a little.





Rainbow Dash continued to tap her foot as she was watching the clock. Her absolutely not date with Big Mac would have started soon. Once again she felt so nervous that she considered to just avoid him and cancel the dinner and, once again, she pressed herself to go on.

‘Come on, it’s no big deal. You go out, grab something, eat, and then straight home. Easy peasy. You don’t even have to prepare or dress up.’

Rainbow Dash opened wide her eyes as a worries struck in her mind. “Wait, should I dress up or not? What about makeup? Should I comb my hair?” She shook her head to wipe out her anxiety. “Snap it out Dash, this is ridiculous. As if you would put up nicely for a boy. I’ll just go and be myself. Everybody knows that being yourself is the fastest way to get dumped.”

She closed her eyes in self-praising for a couple of seconds, after which she felt her confident smile falter a little. She couldn't feel perfectly smooth with that decision. In the end, she groaned and turned towards the bathroom.

‘Fine, just a tip of lipstick.’





When the clock reached ten minutes to seven, Rainbow Dash went down from the stairs heading to the front door. Rainbow Blitz was in the living room, reading the leaflet of a new takeaway restaurant until he heard her daughter approaching the door.

“I’m going out for tonight!” she announced.

“Wait!”

Rainbow Dash turned back in surprise, her father had stood up and was quickly reaching her.

“Are you… going out with Mac?”

She opened her eyes wide and blushed, impressed both by the fact that he was looking so worried and that he had guessed right so easily. “Uhm, yeah?”

Rainbow Blitz scratched his head uncertain. He didn't know what to say, when was the last time he had to face a situation this troublesome? How did he respond to such terror?


***


“Daddy! Me and my friends from the kindergarten wanted to build a two feet slide with the metal and wood scraps.”

“Two feet tall?” yelled Rainbow Blitz. “I bet we can make it three feet at least.”

“Yeeeah,” shouted Rainbow Dash with her fists straight in the air. “Best daddy ever.”


***


“Daddy! I and the others kids from the elementary wanted to run our bikes under the abandoned and shabby construction site.”

“Are you wearing your helmet and other bike stuff?”

“Yes.”

“You’re free to go and crash as hard as you can.”

“Oh Yeeeah!”


***


"Hey, Dad!" shouted Rainbow, "where are my boxing gloves?"

“Why?”

“I challenged Hoops into a boxing match with me tomorrow since he was picking on Fluttershy.”

“Are you sure you can beat him? Otherwise...”

“Please, I could beat him and his two friends at once.”

“Fine, tell me how it went after.”

“He’ll get a sonic punchboom,” muttered Rainbow, lost in her thought.


***


"Hey, Dad!" shouted Rainbow while holding a new guitar. "Check this out!"

Rainbow Dash started to play a rock solo until she started to glow. As a cyan aura surrounded her, a couple of wings grew on her back. Then her hairs grew longer and a two big pony ears appeared too.

After all the glowing, Rainbow Dash jumped and flapped her wings. Hovering in the air, she watched her father with a smirk. "So, what do you think?"

For all that time, Rainbow Blitz had stayed completely still in front of her, without even blinking. He had watched without making any sound, thinking about who knows what. 

Finally, he gave his response. 

“Cool.” Father and daughter fist bumped. “Gotta go, there’s some pizza in the fridge.”


***


“Daaad!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “Huston to Blitz, do you hear me?”

Rainbow Blitz came back to the present, a little dumbfounded for his own caring methods. ‘How comes I’ve never felt this worried? I’m starting to question my own priorities.’

"Are you ok?" asked she a little concerned. "You zoomed out for a half minute there."

"Sorry, it's just..." Rainbow Blitz couldn't find the words. Geez, he couldn't even sort his thoughts on the matter. Why was he so scared about this? The fella gave him a good impression and he trusted Rainbow Dash enough to let her have her adventures. He had always been sure that every time she had to face a challenge it would end goodly, so why was he hesitant now?

Maybe he was scared that the story would turn out to have a good ending, that he will just be left behind and forgotten by her. But this wasn’t about him, it was her future that mattered now. It has always been her future that mattered the most. And he was starting to worry way too soon for that, anyway.

Of course, Blitz handled this struggle internally. The only thing explicit about it were his eyes, too much emotion prevented them from stay focused on anything for more than one second.

Seeing that Dash was starting to get worried, he said reassuringly, “Nevermind.” Then he caressed gently but playfully her head. “Enjoy your exit.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and opened the door, but in a moment of hesitation, she turned her head back to his father. She gave him a cocky smile and wink. "I'll tell you about it tomorrow."

As her daughter closed the door, Rainbow Blitz went back to the living room and sat on the couch. Without noticing, he started to rub the base of his left annular. He stared down at it and watched thoughtfully at his wedding ring. He chuckled as he realized what he was doing. ‘Maybe I’m just making confusion between the two girls that defined my life,’ he thought.





Outside the mansion, right on the other side of the front door, Rainbow Dash had kept herself thinking about what just happened. She was trying to understand what Rainbow Blitz was facing right now, it wasn’t like him to act so mushy, but it wasn’t a situation she could easily refer too. “Folks,” she muttered shaking her head, “they get so emotional sometimes.”

> 7 - End of Volume one
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Big Mac arrived in front of Rainbow’s home at seven o’clock sharp. Immediately, the girl that he was going to take out approached his truck and got up. 

“Hi. Kept you waiting?”

“Nope.”

Big Mac restarted the engine as soon as Rainbow wore her seatbelt. In a perfect silence, they were driving down the road as the sun started to set down on the horizon. It was a peaceful and quiet trip, filled with unclear but powerful and beautiful emotions hidden inside the two youth. 

Until Rainbow Dash grew bored of it and decided to talk.

“So, you said that the place is named ‘Medieval Times’, right?’”

“Eyup.”

“Any idea of how it is?”

“Nope.”

“Of course, you invited me just to check it out after all.”

Another silence came, much to Rainbow Dash’s annoyance. Apparently, she was up to keep alive the conversation.

“So, everything good at the farm?”

“Eyup.”

“Good, good.”

Big Mac slowed down in order to stop in front of a traffic light.

“Honestly, with you and Aj working there I don’t see what could go wrong. I mean, you’re the best farmers I’ve ever met.”

She could taste all the skepticism of Big Mac just by his cocked eyebrow.

“Fine, you got me. You’re kinda the only farmers I’ve ever met.”

Big Mac giggled.

“Oh, you think I’m funny,” grumbled she.

Rainbow Dash leaned closer with the face of someone ready to argue hardly.

“Well, look at this,” said she with menace.

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash squeezed her cheeks between both her hands as she crossed her eyes and made the tongue.

A single laugh escaped from Big Mac as Rainbow Dash was snickering. After they calmed down, they spent the rest of the trip by chatting of this and that. Well, she chatted. He was just happy to listen.

“Are we close already?” asked she after a short while.

“Eyup.”

Finally, they arrived at their destination, there was a big parking field in front of a large building. It was adorned with tapestries and resembled a little castle.

They left the truck at the parking and went straight in. Rainbow Dash walked a little slowly, though, taking a good look at the appearance of his escort. She surely liked what she was seeing.

As they entered, they noticed that the tables were disposed of as the stands of an arena, complete with the arena. As they sat a maid came near and asked if they wanted chicken, beef or pork.

“Who are you, Santa Claus?” asked jokingly Rainbow Dash.

Big Mac was relieved by hearing that. He had started to fear that this place was way too filled with testosterone for her, but apparently she wasn’t bothered.

Before they could start eating, they heard an announcement.

“AND NOW, MESSERE AND MESSERI, WE ANNOUNCE YOU THAT THE ARENA OF THE PEOPLE IS OPEN. BRACE YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE COURAGE, FEEL FREE TO ENTER AND GRAB A WEAPON! FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT! FOR YOUR FEAST! FOR HONOR!”

Big Mac spun his head towards Rainbow Dash and felt his heart miss a beat, twice. She was now looking at him like it really was Christmas this time, with glowing eyes and a big radiant smile. ‘She’s so wonderful,’ he thought, ‘but so scary too...’





“That was so awesome!”

Rainbow Dash and Big Mac were leaving Medieval Times, heading for the truck. The former was giving voice to her excitement.

“I knew that there were places where you could eat and watch people fighting, but a place where you eat and actually fight in the arena? That’s amazing!”

Rainbow Dash had managed the awesomeness once again, she had won the crown of the ‘Toughest champion’ by being the last warrior standing in the arena after the fight. Of course, in order to win that she had to beat all the other participants. In particular, the second placed, who she didn’t recognize as defeated until she wasn’t satisfied. Guess who the poor fella was.

Big Mac climbed onto the vehicle barely holding back a whimper. Despite the weapons were made out of rubber, Rainbow Dash managed to deliver some heavy blows to him.

“We totally have to come back sometime. Hey, we could bring Applejack too.”

For a moment, the image of both Rainbow Dash and Applejack wielding big weapons towards him flashed in Big Mac’s mind.

He felt a shiver running through his spine. ‘Enope,’ he thought.

“Hey, look at that,” said Rainbow Dash while pointing at a billboard. “The new Daring Do movie is coming out soon.” She turned towards him with a radiant smile. “Do you want to see it?”

“Eyup.”

“Neat.”

As she realized what she had just done, Rainbow Dash lost her ability of speak for a couple of seconds. She had just asked him out. For a second time. And she was thrilled about it too.

‘Meh, who cares,’ she considered, ‘it’s fine. I’m totally ok with go out with him.’

Feeling reassured, Dash broke the silence. “What time is it?”

“It’s past ten.”

“Woah, time runs when you’re having a good time.”

Big Mac drove her back at her home, while she continued to talk to him. It was pleasant for both of them, she felt like she was free to tell him everything and he absorbed whatever she wanted to share. He couldn’t understand everything, but he listened anyway.

In the end, they arrived at the mansion and Big Mac parked the truck. He went down in order to stay by her side just for a little more.

As they approached the front door, a sense of anxiety built inside Rainbow Dash. She knew that there was something that she had to face immediately. “Mac,” she muttered, “was... this supposed to be a date?”

Big Mac stopped his pacing, while Rainbow Dash took another couple of steps before turning to him. They stared at each other in silence for a while. “I mean, like a boy and girl date?”

Big Mac thought about how to answer. After an entire night of fun, she was suddenly looking worried. It was clear that his two favorite answers were not enough this time. It was his turn to talk.

“It’s up to you.

“If you want to think about this night as a dinner between friends it’s fine. Ah didn’t ask you to come as a formal date, Ah just wanted to spend some time with you. Ah wasn’t sure before, and Ah might be wrong now, but Ah like you. Ah like your look, Ah like your smile, Ah like your laugh. Most of all, Ah like when you talk to me. Ah’ve always liked the silence, it’s calm and peaceful, but you fill a void that Ah didn’t even know about before.

“You may not want a relationship, but there’s something I have to ask you, Rainbow Dash. Ah want to be closer to you. Ah want to spend time with you and know you better. Ah want the two of us to share laughs and burdens. Ah want to be behind you when you cheer, and Ah want to be by your side when you need a shoulder.”

Big Mac bit his lips, ready to say it simply. “Reckon Ah want to be your boyfriend, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash was speechless. It was up to her now.  She had to give an answer that had the potential to change her life forever. With fear, she discovered that she wasn't sure what to say.

"You don't have to answer now," said he, noticing her discomfort. "Take your time to think about it."

She silently nodded and the two of them departed for a good sleep.





The next day Rainbow Dash woke up, left home and walked to school like any other day. She attended classes, ate lunch, slept on the desks, chilled out with pals. She did all of that, without being there. Her mind was focused somewhere else. On somebody else.

After the last bell ringed, she went to the soccer field for her practice. She lined down several balloons in order to practice some different attacks. While she was performing one of them, Big Mac came for her. He waited on the center of the field in order to not interrupt her.





“Ah reckon that Rainbow Dash was off today.”

“You say, darling?”

“She’s totally right, Rarity,” said Pinkie Pie, hugging Applejack. “Something was bugging Dashie more than a mosquito, but she wasn’t sad or something. I would have noticed if she was cranky. Anyhow, we should go to the soccer field.”

“And why the soccer field, now?”

“First, because Dash is going to be there, duh. Second, my Pinkie sense tells me that something blowing is just about to happen there.” 

“Something blowing?” asked Rarity, “maybe we should ask Sunset not to come then.”

“Could you all please stop that? I’m not inflammable!” yelled an angry Sunset Shimmer.

Pinkie tapped her chin in thought. “I’m not sure it is exactly blowing, but at least is something similar to that.”





Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy arrived at the field a bit later Big Mac. All of them stopped at the corner of the field when they saw who was keeping company to Rainbow Dash.

Nobody from the first group dared to do anything, it was Applejack the first to speak. “Well, do you think… they may be having something over there?”

“Maybe… he followed my advice and went for it,” muttered quietly Fluttershy.

“What was that, sugarcube?”

Fluttershy didn’t respond, instead, she blushed madly and covered her face with her hairs.

Applejack watched her with a raised eyebrow, thinking, ‘She’s been like this since yesterday.’ Her thoughts were stopped when she felt somebody poking her from behind.

“Hi sis, have you saw Mac?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Hey there, what are the three of you’ll doing here?” asked Applejack to the CMC.

“I still have to show Rainbow Dash that I got my ball back,” said Scootaloo, showing proudly her soccer ball.

“Ah wanted to ask you if you’ve seen Macintosh. He went on a date last night and he has to tell me all about it.”

“Oooo,” echoed all the big girls, as they were putting the pieces together. “And Ah don’t suppose that he did tell you who his date was?”

“There was no need to,” replied AB with a knowing look and a snicker. “Cheerilee should be grateful that Ah helped him dressing up for the night.”

All the big girls stared at her dumbfounded for a moment. They all had that face that you make when you’re about to facepalm. And facepalm they did.





Rainbow Dash had only one more ball to throw, she tapped her foot on it and focused on the net. She performed her best tricks for this one, and at least, on the right momentum, she gave her shot.

She scored, of course, and she could almost hear the cheer of her countless fan as she stood up to gather some air. Then, she came back to reality. It was time to face him and she was ready.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of him and looked Big Mac straight in the eyes.

“I thought about it...” She exhaled. “I thought about it and I asked myself if this is what I want. Firstly I would have said no, but...” She scratched her arm. “But I’m not sure, I’m not really used to this stuff. The truth is that maybe, maybe… I like you, Big Mac.” She blushed. “So, I think we can try this out. I… perhaps, I want you to be my boyfriend.”

Big Mac gave her a warm smile “Eyup.”

The two youths smiled at each other, doing nothing but looking at on other in the eyes. Then their mouths went flat, as they heads got slightly closer... 





“Oh goodness, they’re about to kiss!” enounced Rarity.

“My PinKie sEnSes ArE tICkliNg,” said a trembling Pinkie.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes,” chirped excitedly Applejack.

Fluttershy blushed.

“Eww, straights,” said Twilight with a smirk.

“Wait, what?” asked a bewildered Sunset, turned to the former speaker.





Holding the hands of the other, Rainbow Dash and Big Mac’s lips were just a couple of inches away. Both of them were blushing madly, sweating and trembling a little.

‘Come on, Dash,’ thought she, ‘He’s right there, go for it!’

‘Come on, Mac,’ thought he, ‘She’s right there! Geez, you have a beautiful girl right in front of you, she wants to kiss you, she’s waiting for it, you’re so nervous you could throw up and this will officially start your relationship. Where’s the problem?!’

Just for a moment, his eyes went up. ‘Wow, Was that sarcasm?’ Then he re-focused on Rainbow Dash.

‘Augh, I’m such a wimp,’ thought she, ‘If someone can hear me, please give me a push!’

Right in that moment, she felt something familiar and gummy hitting her nape. That final push was what she needed to collide her lips on Big Mac’s mouth. Eyes opened wide, they went over the initial pain due the collision and started to enjoy the kiss.

They didn’t even notice the soccer ball bouncing near them.





“Well, Scootaloo,” said Apple Bloom while watching the new couple, “Ah’ll say, that kiss was a ballown.”

As soon as she said that, Pinkie stopped to tremble. “Ooh, so that was it,” she said convincingly. Then she questioned Sweetie Belle. “What’s a ballown?”

Scootaloo chirped, “Now you have to allow it in our dictionary!”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, sighing, “Anyhow, couldn’t you be more careful with your ball? Your aim has been terrible lately.”

Scootaloo gave her a confused look. “What are you talking about?” Then she turned to watch smugly at Rainbow and Mac. “I just made a perfect center.”

Every girl, big and little, watched at the proud Scootaloo with widely open eyes.





Lastly, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash broke apart. They didn’t even dare to breathe, they just stared at each other again in a beautifully awkward moment.

Until Rainbow Dash grew bored of it.

“No way I’m counting that as my first kiss.”

Then, she grabbed him by his shoulders and kissed him.