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// Chapter 3 
// Story: Shot Down to Earth 
// by Ruuis 
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Big Macintosh slept surprisingly well that night. Normally something as peculiar and strange as a friend asking you to sleep in his bed filled him entirely with trepidation, but it didn’t seem to affect him that night. It was as if you were going to be shot by somepony, but instead of feeling immense amount of pain, you enjoyed the experience. That part of it scared Big Macintosh the most.
As it so happened, Big Macintosh woke up first. The storm had completely subsided, leaving behind it a glorious sunlight, enveloping the day in its light. Looking towards his “friend”, he could see that, given the sunlights’ rays, it displayed beautifully onto him. His facial features were superbly magnified by the light of the dawn, and he looked almost serene. He almost looked... attractive.
This intrusive thought was quickly and forcibly removed from his mind, and replaced with thoughts about the day. The thoughts quickly intruded back, and he looked back at Hoity; he was possibly the most peaceful he had ever seen a pony, and was still holding tight onto Big Macintosh’s hoof. 
He looked outside again, and, approximating the time, he estimated it to be about 11:00. Work time. This, however, proved to be problematic; his hoof happened to be in the possession of a certain stallion. He considered gentle easing his hoof out, but this would be equally as problematic: Hoity would wake up. While his was considering this, he noted that time had passed; forcing his hoof. 
“Hoity?” He said, trying to be as gentle as he could.
“Yes, darling?” The “darling” part of that was entirely new to Big Macintosh, and it worried him. Hoity also appeared to be wide-awake, and had been laid with Big Macintosh for a great portion of time.
“Can Ah move mah hoof now? Ah need to work.” He asked of Hoity, and he delivered. This, was, without problems. Hoity decided to do something radical, and,  as he turned to face Big Macintosh, he said:
“Thanks for staying the night;  I slept fabulously.” This didn’t worry Big Macintosh, but the event that occurred after that did. He put a hoof on Big Macintosh’s waist, pulled him towards him, and give him a kiss on the cheek. After that, he moved away from Big Macintosh and announced: “Now, go. I’m sure you’ve got work to do, my darling.”

Big Macintosh’s brain was a-whirl with thoughts of that event: What just happened? Why was Hoity taking such a shining to the term “darling”? Why did he find another male attractive? How in the name of Celestia did he sleep in the same bed as him, and let Hoity kiss him? (His psyche seemed to omit the fact that Hoity Toity only kissed him on his check). His brain was so focused upon those issues that his duties almost got neglected; only with the assistance of Applejack’s sharp eyes, urging him onwards, did he manage to do some productive work. Big Macintosh was confused; having never felt this way before towards anypony. He was scared, and wanted answers. Unfortunately, Big Macintosh felt the desire to not seek aid from another family member, scared that they would replace his duty as carer for Hoity. He was secure in the knowledge that he could find the answers, independent from anypony else. 

Needless to say, breakfast came around, and Big Macintosh had to go into Hoity’s room and feed him. This was met with an awkward silence between the two ponies, and neither of them could seem to break it. This scenario played itself again at lunch, when, once again, neither of them wanted to say anything. Dinner was almost a repeat, but Big Macintosh’s brain wouldn’t let him walk out of the room with a free conscience. He had to ask.

“Hoity, can Ah ask yer something?” Big Macintosh, immediately regretted this, and wanted to jump out of the window. He knew he now had to ride the lightning. 
“Yes, darling?” Hoity innocently said. He already had formulated ideas and came to a conclusion as to what was happening, but he wanted to know for sure. The “darling” part was also on purpose. He knew how much it affected Big Macintosh. He wanted Big Macintosh to know his feelings. 
“Well, Ah... Ah...” he couldn’t speak. The words kept failing him. His tongue started to dry up, and the butterflies in his stomach were once again forming their vicious storm.
“Hmmm... is this about me? Or is this about you?”
“Me...” He said, already feeling downtrodden. He didn’t want to say anything. He wished Hoity hadn’t fallen from the sky, like he did. He would have remained as oblivious to himself as ever.
“Let me guess. You’re developing abnormal feelings for me after last night.”
“Eeyup.” He replied, only this wasn’t his normal, powerful “Eeyup”, it was a saddened one, with all of the owner’s strength having sept out of him. Realizing what he said, Big Macintosh quickly said “Ah mean... Ah don’t know!”
“Just tell me the circumstances; I wish to know everything.” Big Macintosh complied. He told him everything: about how he found Hoity attractive when he woke up; how he couldn’t concentrate; and how he slept brilliantly that night. He felt horrible whilst telling Hoity Toity all of this, but he could do nothing else. He felt physically sick, his brain not wanting to tell Hoity any of this.
“Well, my darling, from what you’ve told me... I would say you have a crush on me.” This was the last thing Big Macintosh wanted to hear. He couldn’t take it, he began to buck from his standing position, and started to cry on the floor. Hoity Toity didn’t want to see him in distress, but his advice and words of comfort fell upon deaf ears. After Big Macintosh had finished his session of denial, he bolted out the room, trying not to think about what Hoity Toity had just said. 

Big Macintosh ran to his room. His few animal comforts were there, as he expected. He picked up his Smarty Pants doll (which Twilight Sparkle had so generously donated), and began to sob openly. He hoped that his crying would go unnoticed, but this failed when Applejack passed by and noticed his despair. 
“Big Macintosh? You alright, sugarcube?” Applejack kindly asked, but was ignored. She then tried walking into his room, and consoling him there. This time, Big Macintosh said “Ah’m fine.” In a stern voice.
“Big Macintosh, the last time Ah’ve seen you this upset is when Ah left. Now, tell me what’s wrong!”. Applejack wasn’t the kind to mess about, especially not now. 
“You won’t laugh?” Big Macintosh hopefully asked. He wanted to tell someone,  even his  own sister.
“Ah promise” Applejack responded, with the same voice of kindness.
“Well... Ah...Yer know Hoity?” He said, his voice through with despair.
“Did he hurt you? If he laid even so much as a hoof on you, Ah’ll-” Applejack started to get angry, before Big Macintosh interposed
“No! He... Ah developed a crush... on him.” He said, his voice just as broken and downtrodden as before.
“So?” Applejack asked, without emotion
“He’s a colt!” He replied
“Sugarcube, you know yer doing exactly what Ah did, right?” Applejack calmly said.
“Come again?” Big Macintosh was now confused. He had no clue what the hay Applejack was on about.
“Back when Ah had a crush on Fluttershy, Ah told nopony. Not even her. Skip to today, well, Ah plan to settle down with her.” Applejack said, showing her pride in her statement. “So, stop yer cryin’; Ah’m sure nopony gives half a buck.”
These words had great effect on Big Macintosh, and, instead of going to sleep by himself that night, he decided to go to Hoity’s room.

Upon entering Hoity Toity’s room, Big Macintosh felt nervous. Not terrified, and bewildered, just nervous.
“Hoity?” Big Macintosh began to ask him, without fear in his voice.
“You’ve come back? I’ve must’ve made some impression.” Hoity Toity replied, his voice brimming with the confidence that he normally sports.
“About that... do yah mind if Ah sleep with you tonight?” Big Macintosh asked, he felt silly and stupid, but it was too late to stop.
“Of course, my darling.” He said, calmly. “I take it that you’ve brought lubricant?.” He said, with an element of humour attached to his tone.
Big Macintosh, requiring no more invitation than that, climbed into Hoity Toity’s bed, began to cuddle with him and quickly fell asleep.