Spike returned, flanked by Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all carrying groceries. Twilight couldn't help but smile at the sight. She had great friends.
“We’re not expecting Grocery Bagger Cutie Marks, but we thought that helping Applebloom’s big brother was just the right thing to do,” Scootaloo explained, with Rainbow Dash picking up the bags out of Scootaloo’s saddle and putting them on the counter. Spike and Owlicious started putting the food away in record speed. Big Macintosh was apologizing to his siblings, who felt no offense about his actions, since he was almost literally not himself. Applebloom noted (out loud) that he sure did smell better.
With a fully stocked pantry and refrigerator, Twilight Sparkle was ready to tackle this problem head-on now. She had her normal duties, of course, but now she had a bit of a roommate. Twilight insisted that her friends stay for dinner, and the Apples were more than happy to help with the cooking. With all the food they’d prepared, they had enough leftovers for the rest of the week, already prepared, and for that, Twilight found herself more grateful than she thought she would: That eliminated a good deal of cooking. Of course, since Big Macintosh was an Apple, he knew how to cook to no less skill than Applejack, so Twilight knew what one of his chores were going to be.
When everypony left, Twilight knew it was time for bed, and really didn’t like the idea of sealing Big Macintosh in his room…Every night…But she also knew that she couldn't risk him wandering off in search for magic, especially when he could get all the magic he needed right here in the library.
“Now, I’m going to have to seal you in,” she explained to him, “If you try passing through the door or window, you’ll encounter a forcefield, and if you touch it, it will wake me up, so I’ll know if you try something. I’m really sorry, but I’m afraid that’s how it will have to be for a while. If you need anything, though, just touch the field. I’ll come and check up on you. Tomorrow we’ll go and get your books from your room.”
“Ah don’t like the idea of bein’ locked up…” he admitted.
“Well, it’s only for the night, and is it any worse than what you did to yourself?” she asked him, and he shook his head.
“Ah ‘spose not…Mind if Ah find mahself a book t’read from your library?”
“No, not at all, go right ahead!”
Big Macintosh went through the books for at least an hour before picking one, and headed to bed with it. Twilight Sparkle concentrated on the imprisonment spell, and let it go, sealing Big Macintosh in his bedroom. She and Spike could go in and out, but Big Macintosh was stuck there until it was dispelled.
“Again, I am so sorry about all of this. We’ll get you feeling better soon, I promise,” she re-iterated.
“G’night, Twilight,” he told her with a half-smile.
“Good night, Big Macintosh.”
Her dreams were a lot more pleasant that night. She dreamed of chocolates…
At sometime in the middle of the night, Twilight was alerted to the forcefield being touched, and she dragged herself out of bed to see what it was. Big Macintosh had gotten out of bed, and was sleeping against the door, leaning against the forcefield. Twilight tapped him on the shoulder.
“Big Macintosh…”
He stirred, and gave her a sleepy look.
“You’re sleeping on the forcefield. It woke me up. Get off of it,” she instructed, and he re-adjusted himself. Now he was just next to it. Good enough. She doubted that Big Macintosh would even remember getting out of bed. At least he was getting more magic exposure this way. She figured that it might be a good idea to move his bed closer to the door, so that he didn’t have to get up to get the effects. Twilight yawned, and went back to bed, where her dreams took a darker turn. She imagined herself having to look after Big Macintosh for the rest of their lives…
Despite the bad dream, she still was fairly well rested. She was going to bring Big Macintosh to get his things from his home, and have him do some of his chores. She also decided that it would be a good idea to try and talk to Lyra, and then see what was happening with the Mayor. She walked down the stairs, and dispelled the forcefield. Big Macintosh had gotten up and was sleeping in his bed again. The removal of the forcefield woke him up.
“It’s morning,” she told him, “I’m going to make breakfast.”
Breakfast was some oats, fruit, and a few flowers, more for Big Macintosh since he had a big day ahead of him. She made sure to put a simple magic enchantment into the food that would help with his digestion, as well as give him additional magic. Twilight was sure that with how much magic she was going to expose him to, he was going to build up that resistance in no time at all. Big Macintosh seemed to genuinely enjoy the meal, and was quite relaxed. Spike had a list of chores to do, and she left him with that. If he finished them all, he was welcome to take the rest of the day off, but they did have a lot to do. Twilight quietly wondered if she was going to end up overworking the poor dragon…
Big Macintosh was walking with the pillow on his back again, doing his best to resist checking out every little magical thing he passed by. Twilight gave the pillow an extra boost, and that really helped. It seemed that big Macintosh’s willpower was slowly returning ever so slightly. He seemed conscious that he had a problem now, in comparison to just the day before, where he was coddling Smartypants-Which Twilight realized she still needed to get back…She was going to put a concentrated dispel, and lock it away. She didn’t want to see that doll for quite some time.
Twilight realized that she was getting strange looks from everypony they passed, and she remembered the day before. Oh, no, not this again…
Big Macintosh noticed her discomfort, and nudged her.
“Stand tall,” he told her, “Y’ain’t got nothin’ t’ be ashamed of.”
Twilight took his advice, and raised her head. He was right. She would only encourage the gossip if she was acting like something happened she didn’t want anypony to know. Before going to Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight stopped by the Mayor’s office, and knocked on the door.
“Wh-Who is it?” she heard.
“It’s Twilight Sparkle, Miss Mayor. I’d like to talk to you about something,” she said.
The door opened. The mayor’s mouth was covered in chocolate.
“Yes?”
“Um, how have you been feeling? I’ve gotten some reports of some rather unusual behavior lately, and somepony was concerned about you.”
“Oh, uh, well, I, uh, I’m fine,” the Mayor replied nervously, “No need to worry about me! Hehehe. Nothing wrong at all. Everything’s fine!”
“Y’know, I’ve been cravin’ some chocolate,” Big Macintosh chimed in.
“NNNO! It’s MINE, you can’t HAVE any!” the Mayor snarled, and Big Macintosh smiled.
“Well, chocolate DOES have magical properties, so that would explain your sudden craving…” Twilight sighed, “Mayor, I really must insist that you let us in. We’re worried about you. We’re not going to take your chocolate, I promise.”
“That pillow looks REALLY comfortable…” the Mayor muttered, and Twilight Sparkle groaned. She could take care of Big Macintosh, but not her AND the mayor.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners?” the Mayor shook her mane, and she stepped aside, letting them in. To Twilight’s surprise, the Mayor’s home wasn’t a complete wreck. There were boxes of chocolate everywhere, but other than that, it was completely normal.
“Mayor, I think I know why you’ve got this incredible craving for chocolate,” Twilight said, and began to explain the situation.
“I’m going to try to get an expert on this subject as soon as possible. In the meantime, why don’t you bring me something that you’re always wearing or using? Something you carry with you all the time.”
“Well, what about my collar? I always wear my collar,” she suggested, taking it off.
“That ought to do it. Big Macintosh has it bad, so I’ve got to keep him under surveillance, but you look like you’re okay. Still, I advise that you come over to the library at least once a day. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us, Mayor.”
“Thank you so much, Twilight, I do appreciate this, as well as your discretion. This sort of embarrassment could cost me an election. I’ll make sure nopony stands in your way of doing what you need to do, Twilight. And if you make a mistake, I’ll make sure that you’re not punished, you’re only doing what you believe is best. I have no reason to believe you’re being negligent. I haven’t been feeling myself lately.”
With that, Twilight led Big Macintosh back to the farm, where they loaded up a wagon full of his things. As promised, Twilight put a powerful lifting spell on Big Macintosh’s harness, so that the magic would satiate his cravings, and made it easier for him to haul the baskets around. The physical exertion seemed to really focus his mind. By the end of the day, they had almost caught up with where they needed to be on the Apple Orchards. Applejack treated them to dinner (leftovers) and sent them on their way again.
It wasn’t nearly close to bedtime, and by the time they’d returned with all of Big Macintosh’s things, Spike had finished all of his chores, and had spent the rest of the day playing with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, helping them, well, crusade. Big Macintosh and Twilight started putting his books away, when there was a knock on the door. Twilight answered, and it was Lyra and Bon Bon. Bon Bon was rubbing her head against Lyra’s horn, draped over the unicorn’s back.
“You know what’s going on. Do something,” Lyra demanded, and Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
“Big Macintosh, would you please bring me your other pillow?” she asked, and he obeyed, but hesitated in turning it over. Twilight snatched it from Big Macintosh. It was enchanted, just like the other, and Twilight placed it on Bon Bon’s back. Nothing happened. In fact, Bon Bon shrugged it off.
“Huh…That usually works…All right, Lyra, do you know how to perform a magic infusion?”
“Well, yeah…I use it to be able to pluck the strings on my instruments. It’s real simple stuff.”
“Well, try enchanting the pillow,” Twilight dispelled the pillow of her enchantment, so as not to cause it to explode.
Lyra’s horn glowed, and she zapped the pillow with the spell. Bon Bon seemed to become enthralled when Lyra’s magic started up, yelling, ‘Oh yes! Yes!’ as the spell was cast. When it was finished, Bon Bon finally stepped down from Lyra’s back, and she started studying the pillow.
“Finally,” Lyra groaned. She stood on her hind legs and stretched her back, “She’s been smothering me ever since the doll incident…”
“Yeah, you’re not the only one. Big Macintosh might have seriously hurt himself if we hadn’t caught him when we did.”
Bon Bon was rolling on the pillow.
“Okay, Bon Bon, I love you and all, you’re my best friend, but wow, that is creepy. I thought it was weird when you were obsessing over my horn…Twilight, what is going on?”
Twilight once again explained Magic addiction, and how it was already affecting Big Macintosh.
“What I find strange is why Bon Bon has a need for YOUR magic…I mean, it was MY spell that caused this…”
“Well, I did sort of his her with a powerful blast when we were fighting over the doll…” Lyra admitted, “And we live together, so that might be it…”
“That’s kind of weird,” Twilight scowled, and she opened the book she’d first read about the condition, and read that there was a section on victims being addicted to a specific kind or origin of magic.
“Well, what other kinds of symptoms has she had?”
“Well, other than rubbing herself against my horn all the time? That’s it. At the expense of everything else. She won’t even make her chocolates! She just keeps following me around, it’s driving me CRAZY! I want my friend back!”
“Well, she seems to have been pretty heavily afflicted, but I think we can all help each other, Lyra. I’ve got another patient who’s become obsessed with chocolate. Once Bon Bon has had her fill of pillow, we’ll put her to work making lots of chocolates for all those who have been affected. You enchant a box for Bon Bon, and she’ll be fine. I’m going to call in a specialist for proper consultation. But I would suggest that you keep her in your company at all times, and keep enchanted items around her for her to be exposed to. When you’re playing, make sure she’s nearby. Any kind of exposure to your magic will do wonders.”
Bon Bon, who was on her back, lying on the pillow, looked around, coherently for the first time. She gave a sheepish smile.
“I overdid it, didn’t I?”
“A little,” Twilight admitted, “Don’t worry, we’ll get you fixed up. Listen, Bon Bon, I need a favor…”