Big Macintosh and Spike were walking past Rarity's Carousel Boutique on the way to Sweet Apple Acres. The ground was muddy from last night's rain. Spike noticed Rarity standing a few paces from the entrance to her shop, wearing a fancy gown.
"Hay, Mac," said Spike, pointing out Rarity. The mare appeared nervous to cross a patch of mud, lest it ruin her dress. She stood on tiphoof, eyeing the mud carefully as though pondering a jump.
Spike watched as his large friend walked over to Rarity and kneeled before her. Rarity carefully climbed atop his withers, and then Mac walked her through the mud and dropped her off on the stoop in front of her store. Rarity thanked him and entered her shop.
Spike burned with envy as Big Mac returned to his side. The pair continued walking, and as Spike's mind obsessed over his crush, the muscles in his back and shoulders tensed up. His normally brisk walking speed slowed. Mac slowed down with him to be polite. After a short while, Spike sighed dejectedly.
"You okay?" asked Big Macintosh.
"I'm fine... I just wish I were big and strong like you," he said. "You carried Rarity on your back like she was a pair of empty saddlebags! How do you handle such large burdens?" he asked.
Big Mac stopped in his tracks. "Well, it wasn't hard," he said, looking down to his friend. "I only had to carry her a few steps, which ain't much at all. But you managed to carry her all the way here." He pointed to the tension in Spike's shoulders and smiled, prompting a blush from the little dragon.
Spike cleared his mind of the obsessive thoughts and the weight suddenly lifted from him. He quickly picked up his pace and the pair continued their journey.