This story is a sequel to What needs to be done

Now eighteen and finally old enough to inherit the family farm Big Mac's life was just getting started, but a message from his late father turns Mac's life in a new direction. Monsters are invading from Equestria and it's up to Mac and his new partners, the Dazzlings to hunt them down, but living a double life takes it's toll and Mac's family and friends might have to pay the price. Can Mac keep them save? More importantly will he survive? Or will he go the path of his father and die for those he loves?

Artwork by me

Luna had spent a long, lonely millennium on the moon. Now back on Equestria, she is appalled to find out that Celestia has disbanded the royal harem. To reestablish this venerated tradition, Luna must choose a head concubine. However, her first choice might need a bit more convincing than she would have first thought.

Hearts and Hooves Day was a whirlwind, especially for Cheerilee and Big Macintosh. They remained friends in wake of the fiasco that almost ended in hasty marriage, and Cheerilee never gave their friendship any further thought. They were just friends, nothing more.

However, when she learns of Big Mac and Marble Pie's fling over the Hearth's Warming holiday, Cheerilee begins to dwell upon her friendship with Big Mac. Could there have been something more to their relationship that she hadn't realized before?

After all, hindsight is 20/20.

Edited by Lord-Commander and Kestrel

Pre-reading by FamousLastWords

Cover art made by the talented Coffee Munch

Takes place in the same universe as Learning Curve. Familiarity with that story is not required, but I do recommend it!

Reviews!
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PaulAsaran
PCaRG

A day in the life, and a glimpse into the mind, of Ponyville's favorite mail carrier and single mom. But if she had the choice of any one day for everyone to read about, it probably wouldn't be this one...

Princess Celestia always thought she knew how her kingdom worked. The Unicorns used magic specialized to their jobs. Pegasi flew in the sky and handled the weather. And Earth ponies... Earth ponies... uhhmmm...
Huh. Maybe Princess Celestia didn't know everything about her ponies after all.
Princess Celestia realized this after Applejack came to speak with her about a tax unfair to Earth pony farmers. It was during their conversation that Celestia realized she needed help.
Huh, isn't that odd Princess Celestia has had to leave on emergency business, leaving Luna to raise and set the sun? And hey, is that a new pony living and working at Sweet Apple Acres? I think her name is Sunshine Meadow. Surely, it's just a coincidence. Surely.

Click the <♪♬♪> links for musical accompaniment!

Octavia Philharmonica was one of the most skilled classically-trained cellists of her generation. She could book entire concert halls chock full of mares and stallions from across the land to hear the somber anthems of her instrument of choice: the cello.

After the complete disaster that was the 1000th Annual Grand Galloping Gala, she found herself banned from doing that which was her life's only calling. Alone and with nopony to turn to, she finds unexpected companionship in the current patron of the Apple Family, a certain red stallion by the name of Big Macintosh.

Mad props to Scootareader for having the patience to pre-read this as I wrote it as well. In my previous fics, I had never used pre-readers. Yeah, I know. Nooooot smart.

Vectors used in the cover art were created by Scrimpeh and Esipode. Background by BronyB34r.

In a matriarchal society such as Equestria, sometimes the social position of a stallion can be difficult.

Big Macintosh has things going fairly well for himself. He does his share of the work at Sweet Apple Acres and helps to support his family along with his sister.

But Granny Smith has been talking lately. She thinks an eligible stallion such as himself should find a well-to-do mare and get married before he's too old. And now she's gotten an idea: why doesn't Applejack introduce him to her friends?

When Dash discovers her feelings for Big Mac, she realizes that no pony knows why he is so quiet. She sets out to learn where he is from and why he doesn't talk. Will the answers give her the courage to ask him out to Hearts and Hooves day?

Proofread by: Gage of Grandiloquence, Midnight Spark
Rated teen for suggestive themes.
Inspired by The Many Secret Origins of Scootaloo

Unbiased Reviews:
TheWaffler: I wasn't expecting Final Destination, Of Mice and Men, CSI Miami and Superman all in one chapter.
Loeden: Oh man, dat RP scene.. I couldn't breathe, from laughing so much.
TheWaffler: Twilight takes the phrase "knowledge is power" to whole new level.
kingtiger666: SONIC RAINGASM!

The challenge? Daunting. The reward? Worthy. Failure? Not an option. For Big Macintosh has accepted the bet, and thus begins A Ballad of Eeyup and Nope - in which he isn't allowed to say either.

After a date with his Marefriend, Big Macintosh returns to Sweet Apple Acres to find a group of fillies claiming to be his children.
As time goes on, Big Macintosh must find out the truth and how to send them back to their respective alternate universes.

Now With Sequel!

Cover art from ArthurPearson