//------------------------------//
// The Sweet Apple Talk 
// Story: A Shining Armour & Big Mac Love Story 
// by JoeTheBrony 
//------------------------------//

Flash Sentry flew down to Sweet Apple Acres. He hesitantly knocked on the barn door.



*Knock Knock*



Big Mac opened the door. Flash glared at him.

“Heya Flash...”

“Hello Big Mac.”

“What’re ya doin’ here?”

“I’m here to ask you a few things...”

Big Mac gulped nervously.

“O-o’ course...”

Big Mac moved aside to let Flash in.

Flash gave Big Mac a soft look and spoke. 

“What’s going on?”

Big Mac looked confused.

“What do ya mean?”

“Shining Armour is really upset because you yelled at him.” 

Big Mac suddenly became very angry.

“WHAT DID HE TELL YOU!? WHAT DID HE-what did he…”?

Big Mac teared up, right then and there. He fell on his haunches as he sobbed uncontrollably. Flash Sentry looked at the red stallion with a look of sympathy. Flash rested a hoof gently on Big Mac’s withers. The emotional sobs from the red stallion quietened as he looked up at the orange stallion looking softly down at him. Big Mac wiped his tear streaked face, as Flash kneeled and hugged Big Mac tightly. Flash stroked Big Mac’s mane gently, all the while hushing the emotionally conflicted Earth Pony. As Big Mac’s tension in his body lessened, Flash gently moved back, and asked him softly,

“Do you wanna talk about what’s bothering you?”

Big Mac sighed.

“O-okay...”

Sensing the hesitation in Big Mac’s voice, Flash said comfortingly,

“You can trust me.”

“And no-one has to know?”

“Of course not. It’s all in Crystal Empire Confidentiality.”

Big Mac sighed again.

“Ok. I’ll tell ya.”

“Take your time. There’s no need to rush.”

“Well... okay.

Granny Smith doesn’t want me around anypony who really, really likes me... because she’s worried I’ll turn... but she doesn’t know I’ve turned already… she doesn’t know Shining is ma coltfriend! And I don’t want her to know, seeing as I’ll be disowned if she ever finds out…”

Big Mac’s lip was quivering as he finished.

Flash looked at him, concerned.

“I think I get it. You were brought up in the south, so it’s hard for families to accept choices like that if they don’t believe it’s right...

Am I right?”

Big Mac nodded weakly, then spoke.

“I just don’t want Shining Armour to know about this, in case he doesn’t want to see me anymore...”

Flash sighed then, hesitating, rested a hoof on Big Mac’s withers.

“Hey... it’s okay. Applejack and Apple Bloom will defend you against Granny Smith, I’m sure of it.”

Big Mac looked at the orange Pegasus, a look of fear in his eyes.

“Y-you’re sure?”

Flash Sentry looked at the red stallion softly, and the look of fear was instantly replaced by a look of hope in his eyes. The orange Pegasus smiled at him.

“Yes, I am. It’ll be okay.”

Big Mac breathed out slowly.

“Well… I should probably tell Shining why I lost my nerve earlier, huh…?

Flash nodded his head in agreement.

“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”

“Do ya know where he’d be…?”

Flash nodded.

“Yes, I do. I’ll take you to him. Follow me.”

Flash exited the barn. Big Mac followed.