//------------------------------// // 7. Twilight Tattles // Story: The Secret Story of Big Mac // by Kaidan //------------------------------// Big Mac thrust with all his might. “Good, just a little further,” Dash said. He pulled the rope another foot forward, raising the last wall frame of Town Hall. Dash flew up and began to hammer some nails in to keep it from falling over. The duo had rebuilt Sugarcube Corner, the inn, and Town Hall in record time. The Mayor had even offered them a job as Ponyville’s first dedicated construction crew. With Dash’s speed and Mac’s stamina, they were unstoppable in more ways than one. As soon as the wall was finished, Dash slumped down against it. It was a sunny day, at least a hundred degrees out. She felt ridiculous sitting in the shade in a rapidly growing puddle of sweat. The one thing that made it better was the fact Mac had spent the last six hours building alongside her. “Well, I suppose I should go clean up before we go to Twilight’s meeting,” Dash stated. “Eeyup. Unless ya want to go like this and drive her crazy,” Mac laughed. “That’s a great idea, I haven’t pranked her in awhile. Do you think we could weaponize sweat?” “Hmm. . .Nope.” “Drat, I guess that plan is out. I guess I’ll meet you there to see what this ‘big secret’ is.” “Eeyup.” “Hey, do you like your new town hall?” Shouted Dash to the oncoming Mayor. “Yes, it looks great, Dash,” she replied. “Great, ‘cuz we’re going home. Hey, why are you limping? It wouldn’t have anything to do with your date with Iron Will?” “Wha—no! I slipped. . . down some stairs.” “Onto Iron Will’s c—” "Stop!" the Mayor interrupted. “Get going you two.” Dash was relieved to have had a shower. Her sweat and blood had literally rebuilt three buildings in two days. Thankfully, Derpy was out of town so there were no mishaps with Town Hall. Mayor Mare had gone easy on her and Mac after Twilight revealed that a love spell had gone wrong. Most of the damage caused to the town by various couples was the result of something Luna had done. Dash wasn’t sure how Twilight came by that information, or why she felt like sharing it. She was just curious what this meant for everypony that got into trouble that night. It didn’t take her long to reach Twilight’s library. She flew up to the second story window she liked to sneak in through. After she flew in and closed the window, the current state of the room hit her. There was a net latched onto the wall that looked like it had been chewed through. The bed sheets were scattered all over the room and the mattress overturned. A variety of leather attire more appropriate for Applejack than Twilight was strewn about. The thing that still frightens Dash to this day, was a smarty pants doll costume. It lay, discarded, next to some hoofcuffs. She ran to the window and flew out, deciding to use the library’s front door for once. After entering through the front door Dash noticed several things. Rarity and Applejack were sitting far across the room from each other, avoiding eye contact. Pinkie and Braeburn were nuzzling in a corner. Fluttershy seemed to be off in her own little world, more so than usual. Twilight was sitting calmly on a cushion and Mac was chewing on a straw of hay. Mayor Mare was sipping tea at a nearby table. “Oh, good, everypony is here.” Twilight waited to get everyone’s attention. “We have a special guest today.” “Hello, my little ponies.” Celestia walked out of the kitchen. Everypony immediately started bowing. “As you were, please, there’s no need for that.” “Hey princess where’s your crown and shiny shoes?” Dash asked. “They’re at the cleaners. Anyway, I came to apol—” “But I thought rulers were supposed to wear them all the time as a symbol of their rule,” Pinkie gasped. “Did they get stolen? Was it a cat burgler? I have toy mice hidden all over Ponyville in ca—” “Pinkie!” everypony shouted. “Oh, sorry.” Pinkie pulled Braeburn in for a hug. “As I was saying,” Celestia began. “My sister and princess Cadance cast a spell on the moon last night to spread Cadance’s love throughout Equestria. Unfortunately, the spell was overloaded and amplified throughout Equestria..” “Wait, but that isn’t possible. The only way her love could have been overloaded was if she spent hours distracted and well. . . feeling a lot of love,” Twilight added. “Yes, I’m afraid her and Shining were at it for eight hours,” Celestia stated. Twilight’s mouth hung open. “Wha—not cool! My brother—eww!” Twilight began shaking the image out of her head and mumbling to herself. “Luna and Cadance are certainly busy apologizing to the nobles of Canterlot, so I came to check on Ponyville. Most of the nobles were at a cocktail party and. . . it ended poorly. Even Blueblood was affected by the spell. We found him at Donut Joe’s the morning after Hearts and Hooves day. There was not a single donut left. . .” Celestia faced the two ponies who had been single hoofidly rebuilding the town. “Dash, Mac, I heard you have already fixed a few of the ruined buildings in town, that’s very generous of you.” “Thanks, Princess,” Dash said. “They only fixed it because they set off a sonic rainboom inside them! It was really cool,” Pinkie cheered. “What?” Celestia asked. “How’d ya set off a rainboom inside a buildin’?” Applejack inquired. “You see, Applejack, when a stallion and a mare love each other very much, they like to show that love b—” Dash was cut off by Applejack. “No way! Mac you didn’t!” Applejack accused. “Eeyup,” Mac replied. “Great, ah’m never gonna get that image out of my head,” AJ whined. “Me either,” Dash smiled and nuzzled Mac. It had the intended effect on AJ who was shuddering. Dash stifled her laughter. “Girls! The princess was speaking,” Twilight interjected. “Anyway, Mayor, if there is any further restitution needed just let Twilight know. She’ll take care of everything. Now I must be going.” Celestia charged her horn and then vanished in a flash of light. “Okay then, I have to go take a nap. . . if that’s okay with you,” Fluttershy whispered. “Fluttershy, darling, what about our spa date?” Rarity asked. “Oh, well, I have to meet someone,” she whimpered. “While taking a nap?” “Also, yes,” Fluttershy muttered. She got up and quietly left. “One other thing to consider, Twilight. There has been a large increase in hospital admissions. Would you be able to lend them a hoof?” Mayor Mare asked. “What kind of injuries?” Twilight asked. “Well, Octavia and Vinyl seem to have ruptured their ear drums using something they called an ‘eight foot subwoofer bed’. Lyra and Bon Bon were carted over after somehow encasing themselves in three feet of solid chocolate. Cranky Doodle needs a hip replaceme—” “Okay, I get it,” Twilight interrupted. “ I’ll see what healing spells I have available and head over shortly.” Dash whispered to Big Mac. “Hey, you notice how Applejack and Rare haven’t said a word or looked at each other? You don’t think they. . . you know. Does AJ like mares?” Mac whispered back. “Ah can’t answer that.” “Aha!” Dash exclaimed. “What is it, Dash?” Twilight asked. “Oh nothing, I just thought Applejack can go to the spa with Rarity instead,” Dash coyly stated. “What?!” Rarity and Applejack exclaimed. “Yeah, no need to waste Fluttershy’s appointment. You two can go enjoy each other’s company.” Both Rarity and Applejack spent a minute opening and closing their mouths wordlessly. They were looking everywhere but at each other. Dash was barely containing the laughter, until finally AJ cracked. “How in tarnation did ya know? Applejack accused. “Easy, you just told me.” Dash smiled smugly and let out her laughter.. “Come on, Mac, we should let the love ponies have some quiet time.” AJ looked ready to burst a blood vessel in her forehead. Meanwhile, Rarity blushed and passed out onto a sofa cushion that appeared out of nowhere. A faint whirring sound emanated from upstairs. “Oh, it’s time!” Twilight exclaimed, quickly trotting upstairs. Dash shuddered visibly. “Ya’ll okay, Dash?” Mac asked. “Yeah, you don’t want to know,” Dash stated. “Let’s uh. . . talk. Someplace private.” Dash led Mac outside to the park and sat down on a bench. He joined her, wary at the fact she had stopped smiling. “Ya’ll alright?” Mac inquired. “Yeah, I was just thinking, about that whole love spell thing. You’re okay. . . I mean you’re great, and you are the only bachelor in town. . . gah I mean, if we hadn’t of—” Dash sighed, looking around uncomfortably. “Do ya realize how cute you are when you don’t know what ta say?” Mac complemented. “Thanks. What I wanna know is, would you have still liked me so much if Luna and Cadance hadn’t been screwing with everypony?” Dash continued to fix her gaze on the horizon. “Dash,” he calmly spoke. “Ah may be the only single stallion in town, but there’s a hundred o’ mares. And you know what?” “What.” “Not one o’ them’s as pretty as you. Don’t need no spells to tell me that.” Dash blushed at the unexpected compliment. “Thanks, I’m just no good at talking about feelings.” “An’ ah can hardly talk to strangers, but ah think that’s what is so great about ya. Beneath the element o’ loyalty and the stunt pony, is ah sweet mare. If ah’d a known that ah wouldn’t have waited for ya to ask me out, ah’d of asked you.” “Then where do we go from here? I never made it this far in a relationship. I usually leave before they wake up. . . I mean, not that I’m that kinda mare. I just uh, you know, only when I was at bars with Vinyl. . . ugh.” “Let’s go where ever you wanna, as fast or slow as ya feel,” Mac did his best to coo romantically. His deep voice was oddly soothing to listen to, making Dash wish he spoke more often. “Then let’s stay right here in the park until the sun sets.” Dash scooted over to Mac and looked him in the eye. She then laid her head down on his shoulder and held onto his hoof. The two stared towards the horizon where the sun would be setting. Dash noticed how warm he was. She was used to the higher altitudes where it was always cold, and he felt like her own personal heater. Dash continued to shift, suddenly feeling cold when she wasn’t snuggling with him. Mac noticed how soft she was. Her fur was like the softest hairs on Winona’s belly. Her mane smelled like the fresh air after a big thunderstorm. She pulled herself into his side and he put a leg around her shoulder. He could feel her heart beating, strong and fierce, against his side. “Y’all feel like ah’m snuggling a soft cloud and ya smell like fresh rain, Dash,” he said. “Thanks, and uh. . .you’re warm.” “Eeyup, there’s the Dash ah know.” The two giggled softly. They sat silhouetted against the setting sun with the town of Ponyville and it’s worries behind them.