Big Mac woke up rather suddenly the following day, and this time, he wasn't alone as he could feel another warm body next to him, along with long feathery wings over his body. He then looked over at Luna, lying over him with one of her wings drifting over his body. The stallion gulped, seeing this as rather embarrassing as he realized how this may look but seeing Luna sleeping so soundly, he didn't want to suddenly wake her up. He then lay there in her embrace, but eventually, the two both got up and went to get ready for work together, both too tired to talk as they prepared for the day. Afterward, they brushed their teeth together, took turns using the shower, and then two got dressed into boring old business suits. As the two were enjoying a light breakfast of toast, some scrambled eggs, and a few cups of coffee, Big Mac took out the amulet and stared at it. The wonder of what it was continued to nag at him, and seeing Luna was here; she might be the only one to say what it was and asked, "can you explain what this is exactly? I mean, it's a moon-shaped amulet."
"Oh, that? I'm not sure I've been meaning to ask you about that," Luna replied as she looked over at it and was rather curious.
The big red stallion blinked; seeing it was moon shaped and magical, he thought the amulet was most definitely Luna's as he then said, "wait….that doesn't belong to you?"
The alicorn chuckled as she shook her head and said, "no, I'm a natural-born alicorn; why would I need an amulet to transform for?"
Big Mac felt so stupid as he shoved a hoof into his face with a blush, realizing that everypony in Maretropolis had wondered who Moon Knight was for so long. Still, it turned out to be the only natural-born alicorn in the city. He should've figured it out sooner, as Big Mac felt so stupid not thinking about this. The stallion stowed the amulet away and said, "well, we can worry about this later. We need to take down the mayor and figure out why he unleashed a giant robot onto the city."
"Right, we can do that later tonight; we have to get to work," Luna whispered as she nuzzled into his chest.
Big Mac gave a nod and a hearty "Eyyup," and then the two trotted off to work together.
Later that evening, the two were ready for a Big Mac in his alicorn form, and Luna was in costume. Big Mac was still getting used to his alicorn form, but he turned to see Luna's sleek, stylish outfit with her long wavy mane. He couldn't help but admire her for a bit before she took notice and replied with a smirk, "you like what you see?"
Big Mac turned his head and gave an "eyyup." He then unfurled his wings, and the two flew off through the cover of night as they headed to a mysterious castle in the distance. It at first looked rather weird, mixed looking like a bright red like a barn, but it also had this dark fantasy look to the structure. It was the strangest building they had ever seen, with Luna whispered, "I looked around the place; it seems he doesn't have a lot of security."
Big Mac looked around the place, seeing no guards, security systems, or anything, as he chirped, "Eyup."
They smashed through the front doors to see a long hallway; inside, the castle was filled with bright green apples and silvery moons placed all over the floors and halls. Pictures of them with ones of Big Mac being a simple farmer in an apple orchard, while others had Luna inside a castle dressed in regal attire, looking like a Princess. Big Mac blinked, seeing that Luna was no longer wearing her costume; he then looked over his body, seeing he was back to a sturdy-looking stallion. It seemed that this place was enchanted, but there in the center of the room was the mayor, a fancy-looking earth pony stallion with a light green coat wearing a freshly pressed tuxedo while sitting down on a throne up at them with a smirk on his face and said, "Hello, Princess Luna, Big Macintosh."
Big Mac trotted over and asked, "wait … I've seen you before in a dream?"
The stallion rose with a smirk, "yes, you have, in a sense."
Big Mac slowly trotted over toward them while clopping his hooves on the ground. He said, "you both did an amazing job taking care of the city, and your relationship is so close now. But I guess this charade should come to an end."
He then lit his horn and sent waves of magic to the ponies as the two were given back their memories. Big Mac groaned as he slammed a hoof into his face. His memories of being a boring office worker seemed to reflect something about being an apple farmer his whole life. He then slowly got up, rubbed his head, and turned to see Luna staggering on her legs as she seemed to have a blast of memories enter her mind. He didn't know everything about her except that she used to be Nightmare Moon and was Princess Celestia's sister. But for the past month, they have had a relationship. He knew her favorite foods, how she would always second guess herself, and how much they seemed to want to be together. But all of that…was it really all just a dream? Big Mac then looked over at Poison Apple and growled, "you messed with our memories and forced us into a relationship!?"
The stallion chuckled as he explained, "I created this dream to trap you two. As I want something from both of you!"
Then without warning, the ground began to look liquefied as the two were trapped within the floor. The two squirmed and tried to break free, but nothing could help them escape. Big Mac started feeling frantic and looked over to see Poison Apple, who slowly trotted over and said, "listen, I'm not a monster, and there's no reason to fear me. If I wanted you gone, I could've easily dreamt you out of existence or had you trapped in a never-ending nightmare." He then stared right back at Big Mac and said, "but I didn't; I made you a hero to give you a sense of purpose and to show you what you're capable of."
Big Mac growled as he lowered his head and snapped, "no I…I made myself a hero."
Poison Apple pointed to the amulet; then, with a flash of light, the silvery moon turned to an emerald in the shape of an apple as the mayor continued, "no, your wrong. I made you a hero, and you only got a taste of what you can do. Imagine what we could accomplish together."
The stallion lowered his head at the realization that this was just a dream and that some dark version of himself was playing him.
Poison Apple then started to rise to what appeared to be right above them, holding out a hoof as he said, "Big Macintosh, you have to choose to stay here with Luna or come with me, and we can be a prince and become the most powerful pony in Equestria!"
The stallion saw Poison Apple would steal his body if he disagreed with him but looked over at Luna. She had given up trying to break free of the inky black substance covering her. The princess of the night looked up with tears in her eyes and whispered, "hey, it's ok; go save yourself. I'm not worth it."
Big Mac looked into the princess' eyes, despite the two having only known each other in a dream. The stallion wasn't going to abandon Princess Luna even if he was going to lose his body. He then shook his head as he held himself tightly into her hooves and said, "Eynope, we're in this together."
Poison Apple growled, slamming a hoof down, and shouted, "You seriously will drown her in your subconscious and allow me to take over your body!?"
Big Mac glared at this evil version of himself and snapped, "Eyyup!"
Poison Apple cursed under his breath, threw his wings out, and roared, "fine! Endure a prison of your creation; I'll take your body myself! One day you both will realize you're wrong!" He turned his gaze to the princess and said, "Luna, you will be my bride one day."
She just gave him a disgusted look and snarled, "I'd rather die first."
Poison laughed, "I expected you would say that, but I'll eventually have you."
With a cruel smile, he turned his attention to Big Mac and said, "As for you, you will learn to live with me, but I can wait; I'm patient."
Then with a flash of light, Poison Apple was gone leaving Princess Luna and Big Mac alone in the sea of black goo. As the two started to sink into the shadowy black substance, Luna looked away from Big Mac and cried, "why…why are you risking your life for me? I'm not worth it."
Despite all their heroic deeds being just in a dream and none of it really happened, Princess Luna showed how devoted she was to helping others, even at the risk of her own safety. How hardworking she was, running two jobs, being a hero, and doing a day job. How she was so much better than the show, she saw herself. But he didn't have the words and didn't know how to tell her how he felt. Big Mac then took one of her hooves and closed it around his as he said, "well, you're worthy to me."
Luna gave a nervous chuckle as she nuzzled into him; they sunk into the inky abyss and were again absorbed into the darkness together.
Applejack looked somewhat depressed as she slowly walked through a hospital heading toward Big Mac's hospital room. It's been about a month and a half since he's been in a coma for a month now. She worried about him, seeing he's been stuck only to an IV. Hence, she brought one of Granny Smith's apple pies daily, hoping that the aromas or his growling stomach would wake him up. But they've done everything to help him, even with Princess Luna having gone into his head. But that was over a month ago, and now she's in a coma. The farm mare then slowly opened the door and gasped upon seeing Big Mac. He was up but not just that; his coat was a silky green coat, and he had slick violet hair and dashing red eyes. The stallion threw out his wings and exclaimed, "hello, dear sister."
The orange-coated mare's mouth dropped, and she looked around the room, wondering who this was!? Did he break into the hospital, and where was her brother!? But then, looking at the stallion closely, she recognized her brother's physique. His broad shoulders, muscular frame, his square jaw, and despite the stallion being more articulate, she then recognized her brother's deep voice. She then stammered, "B...Big mac is that you?"
The stallion pointed a hoof at his chest and said, "call me Poison sis," He then slowly trotted over, picking up the pie and sniffing at it, then asked, "is that for me?"
Applejack stowed the pie away before shouting, "no, it ain't! It's for my brother now; what did you do to him!?"
Poison Apple smirked as he tapped a hoof to his head, then said, "oh, he's in here and is well, but that can easily change. At the moment, he's living in a perfect fantasy." He lowered his gaze and growled, "but I can easily make his life a living nightmare."
Applejack lowered her gaze and asked, "what about Princess Luna!? She's inside your head trying to help my brother."
The prince threw his head back as he chirped, "oh, she's there as well, so for now, you'll act as if I am your brother and tell nopony about who I really am, or I will destroy him. Do I make myself clear?"
The farm mare gnashed her teeth as she held a hoof with the pie out for him. "I believe you bought an apple pie for your dear old brother."
Applejack slowly gave him the pie, and he took out a slice delicately with a knife and fork as he placed it in his mouth, then dabbed his lips with a handkerchief.
The farm mare looked disgusted at how her simple apple pie was being eaten with utensils; seeing how he wasn't even acting like her brother, she said, "you know, you don't look or act like my brother."
He shrugged as he swallowed the pie, "I'll make up a lie to explain why I'm so different. All you need to do is go along with it and convince your friends and Princess Celestia not to get involved."
"What about Princess Luna? She's also in a coma with her mind stuck in my brother's head!?"
He then bent his head down next to her and said with a smirk, "oh, don't worry about her; she'll wake up soon, being much more willing to understand where I'm coming from and willing to marry me."
Applejack wanted to do nothing more than buck this imposter holding her brother's and Princess Luna's minds hostage. Also, she had to keep in mind he was using her brother's body, so if he did anything to hurt Poison, she'd end up hurting Big Mac. She got up, slowly threw a hoof, and growled, "come on then, brother."
"Of course, dear sister," Poison responded with a smirk as he trotted out of the room.
Applejack grumbled under her breath as he was forced to trot alongside this imposter holding her brother hostage. Poison Apple would flash a grin while ponies would stare at him in absolute disbelief.
Eventually, a crowd started to form, with ponies in absolute awe; at seeing a male alicorn walking around. Big Mac eventually made his way to the center of town, where he flew up in the air and proclaimed, "hello, everypony! My name is Big Macintosh!"
"No way, your Big Mac!?" Pinkie shouted as she jumped over.
She bounced over and said, "he's a big earth pony who says Eyyup and Eynope! You're an imposter!"
Everypony gasped as they turned towards the stallion, who then gazed downward at Pinkie as he took a hoof over his chest and said, "yes, you're right. I'm no longer the Big Mac you used to know."
Before Pinkie could retort, Apple Bloom burst from the crowd with tears filling her eyes; she rushed over to the alicorn prince and gassed at him for a minute. Applejack looked down at her sister with her heart in her throat, despite wanting to scream out that Pinkie Pie was proper and that this Poison Apple was really taking over her brother's body. But Apple Bloom has been the most shaken up by Big Mac being in a coma, and it would break her heart to know what she knew. So Applejack clenched her mouth shut as the little filly stammered, "B…Big Mac, is that really you?"
Big Mac turned towards his younger sister and ruffled her mane, "yes, it's true, your brother is now a prince."
"How? Weren't you just in a coma!?" Apple Bloom cried as she hugged him, Big Mac bent down and hugged her back, and they held each other as the crowd awed. Applejack just watched in silence, so disgusted and angry this Poison Apple was pretending to be Big Mac. The stallion then came close to Apple Bloom. He whispered, "Well, while in a coma, I was contacted by Princess Luna, who helped me unlock my full potential to become a prince."
"Really!? Does that mean we're going to live in a castle!?" Apple Bloom squealed.
"Eventually, we will!" The prince laughed as he then plopped the little filly onto his back. The stallion then unfurled his wings and flew above the astonished crowd. Poison Apple placed a hoof over his chest and proclaimed, "that's right! I, Big Macintosh, am now a prince. Fear not, for nothing in Ponyville will change due to my recent transformation. Please continue with your lives!"
Poison Apple's speech got a loud round of applause from ponies on the ground as he gave them a wink as he then flew off through the air as Apple Bloom squealed and laughed in delight, riding on his back. Meanwhile, everypony started to come over to Applejack, asking her questions like how was Big Macintosh awake from a coma? And how did he turn into an alicorn? Applejack stood there sweating as she gave a nervous answer, "I…I dunno how he turned into a prince or how he's awake…guess I just got a prince for a brother now. Gotta run!"
She then ran off the road heading towards Twilight's castle despite Poison Apple's warning that she needed help to save her brother and stop Poison Apple from stealing her brother's mind!
Later that evening, Applejack met with the rest of her friends back at Twilight's castle along with Princess Celestia. The farm mare explained everything she learned from Poison Apple as she lowered her head, "so that's everything this…thing has my brother hostage along with Princess Luna."
"So what do we do?" Twilight asked, "Can we dream walk with Princess Luna to help them?"
Princess Celestia lowered her gaze and shook her head as she said, "sadly, if this Poison Apple has trapped my sister and Big Macintosh's minds deep into his dream realm. If that's true, we can't get in without his permission."
"Exactly!" Poison Apple explained as he held his head high.
Twilight lit her horn, ready to blast him, but Poison Apple tapped his head and replied with a smirk, "now, we don't want to hurt Big Mac or Princess Luna, do we?"
The alicorn dimmed her horn and sat down, growling cursed under her breath as Applejack was wide-eyed as she turned towards him. "How di-"
Poison Apple rolled his eyes and blurted, "Oh please, I have all of that big oaf's memories; I knew you would gather your friends to save him."
He looked over at everypony in the room, giving him evil glares, and sighed of relief, "oh good; Applejack already explained everything. That makes this really easy."
He sat down on a chair and took out a cup of tea as he continued to explain. "Look, I'm not going to hurt any pony as long as I get what I want."
He then pointed at Applejack, "you will continue to call me Big Mac and assure everypony in Ponyville I'm the same pony but that I just changed."
Applejack grumbled, "Like I have much of a choice."
He turned towards Rarity and said, "I'll need a tuxedo. Big Mac hates clothes, but I'm quite the opposite."
"I would ra-!"
Poison Apple tapped a hoof to his head, "remember who is keeping your friend's brother hostage, my dear. Also, consider this payback having a hoof for ruining my plans."
Rarity screamed, then slammed a hoof to the ground, "fine."
Princess Celestia continued to glare at him, not leaving her eyes off him for a second, and asked, "how do we know my sister and Big Mac are still in there? For all we know, you disposed of them already."
Poison Apple continued to just lay back despite all the hostility as he continued to sip his tea. Applejack could tell Celestia was one step away from ripping him apart with her magic. Still, she knew like her that Poison Apple was holding all the cards right now. The stallion then gently placed his cup of tea and said, "Oh, you'll just have to trust me, but considering your sister is still breathing should be proof enough."
The princess' glare didn't change as she asked," So what are you going to do to take over Equestria?"
The stallion rolled his eyes as he brushed some dirt off his suit and replied rather casually, "Oh please, I may be evil, but I'm not cliche." He walked over to her until they were inches from each other and said, "Simply put, I may be an alicorn, but I don't have full access to all my power…But that will change when I have Princess Luna fall in love with me."
The anger boiling up the princess seemed to reach a tipping point as her face turned red as she snarled, "What did you just say!?"
Poison Apple waggled a hoof at her and, with a sinister sneer, said, "remember, your sister is in my hooves; do anything to me, and she's done."
Celestia was seething, and her horn was about to fire. Still, Applejack put a hoof onto her shoulder with tears in her eyes as she said, "Princess, please calm down…think of your sister, and my brother is in there as well."
The princess looked over at Applejack, and that's when the farm mare saw the tears welling up in her eyes as well, and she dimmed her horn and lowered her head in defeat. Poison Apple gave a triumphant laugh. He then glared at Twilight and added, "when that big oaf and Luna come to their senses and realize I've won. We'll become the rulers of Ponyville, so you'll step down as a princess, and I'll have you vacate the premises. I do need a castle, after all."
Twilight rolled her eyes as the stallion then turned around while whisking his tail at them. He then started to trot towards the massive doors. Still, before he left, Poison Apple looked over his shoulder, stared right at the group of ponies, and snarled, "and here's my final warning: I'm letting Applejack off the hook this once for the sake of keeping Big Mac alive because I need him."
The red-coated stallion paused as his voice became much darker as he finished, "But suppose any of you try to tell anypony else about me. In that case, I will destroy Big Mac and Princess Luna, and then I'll come after every one of you; that's a promise."
He then slammed the doors behind him as the ponies in the room looked at each other with depressed and scared looks. Applejack turned to Princess Celestia despite having only seen the princess a hoofful of times. She's never seen the regal proud, looking pony looking so defeated and downtrodden ask, "we really can't help our foalnapped siblings, can we?"
The princess had tears in her eyes as she shook her head and said, "I'm afraid not; we can't risk Poison Apple's wrath."
Everypony was silent as Applejack looked around the room, hoping somepony would say something. Still, even Rainbow Dash, the most confident of them all, looked downtrodden and worried. Pinkie Pie suddenly bounced over and shouted, "what about me!?"
Everypony turned to face her as Pinkie exclaimed, "you all forget! Princess Luna told me I'm the best dreamer among all of you!"
Twilight groaned as she replied, "yes, but that's why you shouldn't go into Poison apple's dream. Knowing you, he would recognize you in a heartbeat."
Princess Celestia tapped a hoof to her chin as she seemed to be forming a plan in her head, then whispered, "Pinkie might be our only hope to get them back."
The princess turned towards Twilight, "Twilight, can you speed read my sister's books on dream walking? We specifically need to know how to invade a dream without detection."
"Y…yes I could… but what's your plan exactly? I…I don't want to risk Poison Apple doing anything to your sister or Applejack's brother," Twilight stammered, unsure of what Princess Celestia was saying; she then turned towards Pinkie. "Well, considering what my sister told me about the tantabus, Pinkie Pie was the best at maintaining herself within a dream. But we're going to do some test runs and see if she can meld within a dream without disturbing the dreamer."
Pinkie Pie started to cheer, "yeah! I'll be discreet and then find Big Mac and Princess Luna and bust them out!"
Applejack started feeling a shred of hope, hoping they would devise a plan. Anything that could save her brother; she had already lost her parents she wasn't going to lose anypony else.