Several thoughts flashed through Big Mac’s head at once: Who is that? What is she doing here? Why does she look like me? Wait a minute that’s the mirror!
Big Mac turned his head. The mare did the same. He lifted a hoof. She repeated the action. He started laughing nervously.
“Oh, okay, Ah get it. This is still a dream. Ah’m gonna wake up and realize that this was all because of some cider gone bad.”
With that he turned and, somewhat shakily walked back to his room. Laying down in his bed, Big Mac closed his eyes, certain that when he opened them everything would be back to normal.
As it turned out, he was right. When he awoke just before dawn, Big Mac found that, indeed, last night’s events had passed and his body was back to its usual appearance. In addition, his stomach felt much better.
Heading downstairs for breakfast, Big Mac found a note addressed to his on the kitchen table.
“Hey Big Mac,
We left early to make sure we caught the train to Appaloosa. Ya seemed real tired last night so we decided not ta wake ya. See ya in a week!
-Applejack, Applebloom, Granny”
“Forgot about that,” He said to himself. His family were visiting family in Appaloosa and he’d been chosen to stay behind and tend to the farm.
But something about the note bothered him. He’d seemed tired last night? Big mac thought back. Try as he might, he couldn’t remember coming home yesterday. Come to think of it he couldn’t remember much of anything from yesterday except for… the Everfree. But that had been a dream, hadn’t it?
Shaking off that thought, Big Mac quickly ate breakfast and headed out to start his chores. The day passed in a blur. Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his thoughts off of that dream and the missing time he seemed to have experienced.
It was about two in the afternoon when Big Mac’s ears were assaulted by a horrific sound from the direction of Ponyville. It was like metal scraping metal mixed with the roar of an impossibly huge bear. Seconds later it was followed by the sound of ponies shrieking for help.
“What in the name of Cele-” Big Mac’s words were cut off by a shock of pain coursing through his entire body. He collapsed to the ground as his insides contorted and his body compressed itself. He could hear the crunch as his legs snapped and reformed with new bones and muscles.
The whole process felt like hours but in reality only took a few seconds. When it was over Big make just lay there on the ground covered in sweat and breathing raggedly.
“Get up,” said a voice. Big Mac didn’t respond.
“Get up!” it repeated with a note of impatience. This time Big Mac looked up to see a black cat staring back at him.
“I don’t want to have to move you again. It takes a lot out of me,"
"Wha-, what's goin' on?" Big Mac paused upon hearing how high pitched his voice had become.
"No time for that!"
"But-"
"No time for that either! The Shade is going to kill everyone. You've got to get into town before it's too late!"
Big Mac wanted to ask more questions but it seemed like he didn't have much of a choice. As the sounds of destruction grew louder he stumbled to his feet, only to realize that he suddenly felt much better.
"Now go!" Commanded the cat, a hint of desperation in her voice.
Big Mac took off toward Ponyville, stumbling once or twice on unfamiliar legs. He had a million questions that he needed answered.
Why was there a talking cat?
What was a Shade?
What exactly had happened to him?
Well, that last one he had a feeling he knew the answer to already. A very unsettling feeling. The answer would only confirm it.
A few short minutes later he'd arrived. Ponies scattered about screaming for help while rubble flew through the air. Big Mac followed the sounds of destruction to Sugarcube Corner. There he saw it.
A pitch black creature the size of a house. It looked almost like an emaciated ape but whenever it moved tendrils would sprout from its back and separate like drops of black liquid.
"A Shade," he whispered to himself.
"Stay back Miss!" a familiar voice called out. Princess Twilight Sparkle swooped down and began firing a beam of magic at the creature, making it cry out but not causing any visible damage. It was tough but maybe she could handle- wait did she just say…"
Big Mac turned his eyes to one of the few unbroken windows and there it was. Staring back at him was the same young mare he'd seen in the mirror last night.
What is happening?
What is happening?
What is happening?
What is happening?
What is happening?
"What are you waiting for?" Big Mac was pulled from his stupor by the sudden appearance of the cat beside him.
"Do you think sent you out here to sit there staring at nothing?"
"Ah…Ah don't… Ah don't even know what's happenin'," Big Mac refused to allow himself to cry in public but he was pretty close to snapping.
The cat sighed.
"Look, I realize that this is sudden, but I promise I'll explain everything later. Right now I need you to just say the magic words."
"…?"
"You don't know them?" Big Mac could only shrug in response.
"How could you not-? Whatever! Repeat after me," Big Mac nodded and she continued,
"By the Power of the Moon.
By the Strength of the Sun.
I vow to defend all life,
From the shadow of evil,
And the monsters that hide in the dark."
As Big Mac repeated the words, felt an unfamiliar energy flowing through his body. It was strange, but also welcoming in a way, like a fire on a cold night. He closed his eyes as it enveloped him.
When his eyes opened he found that he was wearing some kind of green costume. Before he could say anything the cat spoke again.
"Hold out your right hoof."
He did so and a wooden mallet nearly as big as his body appeared there.
"Unconventional but sure," The cat pointed to where twilight was still trying and failing to drive off the Shade, “Now go smash that thing before it kills the princess!”
Big Mac reared up on his (or perhaps her now) hind legs and charged at the monster. Despite her now smaller frame the muscles in her legs somehow seemed even stronger than before, and Big Macintosh wasn’t exactly a weakling. She leapt in the air, lifted the mallet over her head, and called out.
“Twilight! Get outta there!”
Twilight turned to see a strange mare in a green and gold dress flying through the air straight toward her. She reflexively dodged just before the impact, and was momentarily blinded by a sudden flash of light.
As Big Mac brought down the hammer she could feel the creature’s bizarre, semi-corporeal flesh disintegrate. It began to glow with the same power that she’d felt before. The blow landed, and with a flash of light one of the Shade’s arms was torn clean off.
The Shade shrieked in pain and stumbled back, attempting to regain its balance.
“Get outta my town!” Big Mac shouted defiantly. Inside however her thoughts were quite different.
Oh sweet Celestia, what the hay was that?! Did I just do that?!
“Keep going!” She heard the Cat cry out, “You need to hit its heart!”
“Heart, got it,” Big Mac considered her situation. It was an animal right? And it was injured, which meant it was more likely to lash out, but it wouldn’t want to expose its weakness.
Wait. That was it. Big Macintosh had a plan.
By then the Shade had regained it bearings and was charging back. All the while it was sure to keep its injured side away from its foe. As it got closer Big Mac turned away from it and held the wooden mallet in her mouth. The uneven footsteps got closer.
“What are you doing?!” The Cat called out.
“Apple Buckin’!” replied Big Mac before kicking out with her hind legs. The monster’s jaws, mere instants away from their target were slammed backwards with the force of a cannon blast. At the same moment Big Mac spun around and released the hammer, flinging it directly toward the Shade’s chest.
The Shade was silent as it fell, a gaping, pony sized hole in its chest. The edges glowed like embers that spread to the rest of its body. With one final gurgling hiss its body disintegrated before it even hit the ground.
Big Mac flopped to the ground in a sitting position. The Cat walked up to him.
“How did you know that would work?”
“Well, Ah needed it to give me an opening. And Ah knew that since it was hurt it wouldn’t be thinkin’ straight and it- Wait why the hay am Ah explainin’ mahself to you? You promised Me answers!”
"I know, I know. Just one last thing, I swear," The Cat gestured to keep calm, "You need to hold your weapon in the air and repeat the magic words"
"Fine," Big Mac held up the hammer and repeated the oath from earlier,
"By the Power of the Moon.
By the Strength of the Sun.
I vow to defend all life,
From the shadow of evil,
And the monsters that hide in the dark."
A wave of gold blasted out from the hammer, covering the town of Ponyville. In an instant the damaged buildings had been repaired and all signs of the battle were gone. Twilight and the few ponies remaining in the area sat frozen in place with a dazed expression.
"Excellent. Now quickly, before they wake up," The Cat took off back toward Sweet Apple Acres before Big Mac could argue.
"Now will ya finally tell me what the hay is goin' on?" A short run later Big Mac finally got the Cat to stop, "Who are ya? What was that thing? And WHAT. HAPPENED. TO. ME?!!!" Each word was emphasized with a hoof jab to the Cat's chest.
Thoroughly unimpressed, the Cat looked Big Mac dead in the eye.
"I am Ardent Fire, guide and companion to the wielders of the undying light. And you, Big Macintosh Apple, are a magical filly."