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// Part Two: Big Mac 
// Story: Big Mac's Big Story 
// by Brony_Jay_1983 
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PART TWO: Big Mac


“The tears come streaming down your face, when you lose something you can’t replace”


“When you love someone but it goes to waste, could it be worse?”

The day had come when I had to interview Big Macintosh. It was quite the unusual day, to be honest. The morning was quite calm, with not much going on other than a few ponies moping about. In the time I’ve spent here in ponyville, I’ve never seen any group of ponies mope around like these ponies were. It was as if they could just sense the sadness that was about to come. It was quite unusual, really. In the afternoon everypony was just……happy again. It honestly bothered me to tell the truth. Just seeing everypony so upset and feeling the wetness in the air of the sadness about everypony in the morning, then seeing this! It was quite bothersome. As I crawled out of my cozy cot in the morning, I was quite bothered by what Ms. Applejack had said to me the previous day. All this time and she had never told Big Mac how she felt? Maybe she just didn’t want to provide him with false hopes on the pretenses she could possibly be wrong. 
Aside from this feeling, I managed to drag myself out of bed and prepare for this interview. I started my morning off as usual: coffee and cinnamon sugar toast. Quite the delicious combination, I might add. I then gathered my things, but something out of place caught my eye. I noticed a green envelope sealed with a very fragrant wintergreen sap. The envelope appeared to have been made out of leaves. Upon further investigation of this envelope, it turned out it was composed of Sourwood leaves. I had never seen such a thing! I figured the letter could wait until after the interview, so I decided I would put it in the fridge in a small baggy with a wet napkin, so the leaves wouldn’t dry out. Sourwood leaves make a tasty snack! 
I had arrived at the barn on Sweet Apple Acres, where Big Mac had been waiting. He was very silent at first, knowing what I was about to interview him about. There was a somewhat comforting sense in the air; I couldn’t really specify what it was.
“So, Mr. Macintosh, shall we begin?”
“Please, call me Big Mac. Or Mac fer short”
“Alright then, Big Mac. Well, how about we start at the incident in school that made everypony treat you so badly? Is that a good starting place for you?”
“Eeeeeyup” There was quite the long moment of silence before he broke it. “Well, ah had Miss Sugarcube for mah teacher then. She asked us one day, ‘What makes you the most happiest in life’ after everypony’d gone, ah stood up n said ‘Apples’ then everypony started laughin’ at me. I got called country bumkin, big dumb-mac, an all sorts a names! The name callin’ never stopped” He took in a deep breath, obviously having hit a nerve. “Then there was Ivy. He stepped in while ah was gettin’ my plot handed to me. I wasn’t the most vi’lent colt, so ah didn’t fight back. He scared ‘em off n we was friends since” He took a sip of his own coffee, obviously being unsettled somehow. “We was the best a pals. Couldn’t keep us apart. Every day he’d come home with me n we’d play in the orchards. He was the only pony who could take a likin’ to me. Ah wasn’t always quiet, ya know?” He chuckled deeply, trying to relieve the thought from his mind
I chuckled along with him “So I’ve heard, Big Mac”
“Right. Well, ah was quite the chatterbox. Ponies could hardly ever get me ta shut mah trap. Ah was always goin’ on ‘bout apples, the family n the orchard. Ivy was the only pony who found it interestin’. After that fight, I knew we was gonna be best pals.” He swallowed what seemed to me to be the biggest lump in anypony’s throat I’ve ever metaphorically seen “Till that one fateful day in winter time.” He started choking up, trying hard to fight the tears. Sad to see such a gentle giant hurt so much after all these years
“Big Mac, it’s alright. You don’t have to discuss this with me if you’re uncomfortable”
“Nah. I gotta get it off mah chest some time, right Mr. Nib?”
“Please, call me Feather. And yes, you’re right”
“Well, ah remember it as if it were yesterday. In fact, his birthday is next Friday.” He sighed deeply, as if he had the world on his shoulders at this very moment “We was at the pond in the back of the orchard. If ya’ve ever seen it, the Everfree ain’t too far from the pond, so we usually stay away. Back then ah was pretty dern bull-headed, so ah wasn’t thankin. Me n him went back there ta test the ice on the pond.” He looked me dead in the eyes and sighed “But the pond wasn’t what killed him. It was a manticore.” He sat back down on his haunches “Ah was walkin’ off ‘cause nature was callin’, ya know? Ah remember only bein’ gone for a couple seconds before ah heard the bone chillin’ scream of Ivy. Ah don’t think ah’ve ever ran so fast before. When ah got there, the Manticore saw me n tossed Ivy on the pond, instantly crackin’ the ice. I knew I didn’t have much time. So I ran around him n bucked his knees in, sendin’ him to the ground. After a few swipes, he managed to hit me. That only made me angrier, so I lost control. Ah can only member the first few hits. The crunchin’ a that bastard’s teeth. Ah member feelin’ his skull crackin. After that, ah only member comin’ to n seein’ a dead manticore n Ivy in the pond.”
“So that would explain all the blood on you?”
“Ah guess so. Good thing ah was so scrawny back then.” He choked up again “Ah slowly made mah way out to the hole where Ivy crashed through. Luckily I got him out ‘fore the cold got him. He was banged up purdy bad. Ah member pullin him out, seein how bad he was mangled…….it….it made me break down…..” He started sobbing deeply “He was fadin’ fast, ah just knew it. Ah member him sayin’ ‘Big Mac……please…..it….it hurts…..’ Ah’ve never cried so hard in mah life….
’Ivy, ah….ah know……hang in ‘ere….please don’t leave me…..’ 
‘Big Mac…..I…I can see…..a light….’
‘IVY DON’T!! Don’t go to the light!’
‘Big Mac, I can see my mommy…..she’s calling me….I…..feel…..happy…..’
‘Ivy no……please don’t go! Ah….’
‘Big Mac……..I’m scared……I don’t want to go…….mommy…..Big Mac….’
‘Ivy………please stay! Ah’ll take ya to the hospital…..don’t go!’
‘Big…..Mac…..’ He hugged me then n there……” This point in time, he broke down. I’ve never seen anypony so upset before. It was like watching somepony die right there…….
“.....ah ran even faster back to the house……ah knew it was pointless….he died in mah arms…..”
“Big Mac, have you ever gotten the feeling he’s still out there?”
“No sir, ah can’t say ah have……..ah ain’t never said much since then. The funeral did me in……the only joy ah’ve felt since then was from Applebloom bein’ born n mah sister Applejack……”
“Your sister told me she felt he was still out there. That she knew his spirit was out in the world still.”
“She tried ta tell me, but ah know he’s gone…..with his momma” He shed a single tear and walked out of the barn. 
Needless to say, I hate to have caused him such pain.
I’ll continue with the report some other time.
I think I know who that letter was from now.