At the end of the day, Big Mac got out of the hospital, having been taken with great care by his sister in the wagon with Cherry and Apple Bloom coming behind. When they got to the farm, Granny Smith told them that she had arranged Big Mac's room. So Cherry Blossom, using her magic, she made Big Mac levitate up the stairs, with Applejack helping if Cherry could not bear to keep the magic. Fortunately, she was able to get it successfully and then put him in the bed, settling him so he wouldn't feel pain when moving. But when Cherry and Applejack were about to leave the room to let him rest, Big Mac called:
"Cherry, can Ah have a talk with ya?
She looked to Applejack who nodded to her.
"Yes, of course" she replied.
Applejack then smiled and left. Cherry then approached to Big Mac who asked:
"Can Ah ask ya somethin'? But Ah want ya answer me truthfully."
"Sure, Big Mac."
"Why did ya left after we... Well, ya know."
Cherry Blossom already suspected he would asked that. But the truth is she had prepared an answer for that question, but when she had it, she couldn't be happy with it.
"It's... complicated, Big Mac."
"Ya didn't lik'd it, right?" Big Mac asked.
"No, Big Mac, is not that" Cherry Blossom said. "In fact, I liked it."
"Really?" Big Mac asked, smiling.
"Yes, I did, but... I don't know."
"Cherry, Ah like ya" Big Mac said, putting his good foreleg's hoof over hers. "Ah love you since the day Ah met ya. That kiss was like a love declaration."
"Big Mac, I like you too" she said, passing her other hoof over his face, making he smile even more. "But I still don't feel ready for a relationship."
"But why?" Big McIntosh asked.
"I still love my old coltfriend, you know?" Cherry said. "Our love was too big, and despite the affection I feel for you, Big Mac, I don't think I can move on to something more with you. At least, for now."
Big McIntosh was disappointed to hear that, but then he said:
"Ah understand. But we can still be friends, right?"
"But of course" Cherry replied. "Do you think I'd be here if we weren't?"
That made the two laugh.
"No hard feelings?" Cherry asked, extending her hoof.
"Eeyup" Big Mac answered, tapping his hoof on hers.
Outside, Applejack, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith could hear Big Mac and Cherry Blossom laughing.
"It seems these two are back tah being friends again" Granny Smith noted.
"Ya can said it, Granny Smith" said Applejack.
"Yeah, but maybe they can become more than tha," Apple Bloom said, making a mischievous smile.
Time was passing. During that time, Cherry Blossom had returned to her old room in the farmhouse to be as much available to Big Mac as possible. She took him meals to bed, she changed his torso and escapula bandages, doing the necessary treatments and used her magic a little to heal gradually his broken bones. The relationship between the two had improved considerably. Although there was still a loving tension between the two, but they always managed to keep their friendship above all.
Apple Bloom, meanwhile, had not given up trying to join her brother and Cherry Blossom. Of course she had the full support of her best friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They, after all, decided to wait for Big Mac's recover to put their plans into action.
After a month since Big Mac's accident, it seemed Cherry was ready to cure him completely.
"Are you ready?" she asked, as she removed his bandages with her magic.
" Eeyup" he said. "Ah'm wishful to be rid of it. Do ya think you can do it?"
"I think so" she replied. "I have tried in every two-day interval, and two days ago I almost got it, so I'm pretty sure I can do it."
"Ah trust ya" Big Mac said, placing a hoof on hers.
That gesture made her blush and she hurried to collect her hoof, making Big Mac being embarrassed. Cherry regained her composure and then prepared herself. She focused her magic on her horn which started glowing. Then Big Mac's torso also began to shine. She began to feel that she was getting it. Big Mac started moaning while his broken ribs were been repaired and joined together. He stopped moaning and then Cherry stopped. Gasping, she asked:
"So how are you feeling?" she asked.
Big Mac moved his torso to see if there was some pain, but he felt good.
"Very well" he said. "Ah have no pain."
"Are you sure?" Cherry asked.
"Eeyup" he said. "And the rest?"
Cherry then used her magic to take the spatula bandage. Then she tried to heal it and apparently got to cure it as Big Mac no longer complained about the pain and then took the plaster on Big Mac's leg and healed it. As soon she did it, Big Mac get up from his bed almost immediately.
"Big Mac, remember that my magic is unstable" Cherry Blossom warned. "If you don't give the proper rest to your body, the magic vanishes and your bones will break again.
"Ah've been lying fer too long" he said, tapping his leg, before hurt, on the ground to verify its robustness.
There's nothing I can do or say to make you change your mind?" she asked.
"Nnope" he said, pausing to slam the leg. "Wow, Cherry, this is still better than when it wuz good. Thank you very much."
In an act of euphoria, Big Mac hugged Cherry Blossom. She was taken aback, but then she ended up responding to the hug, hugging Big Mac too. The two, after realizing what they were doing, separated immediately, giggling nervously and blushing.
"Well, Big Mac, don't forget to go to Dr. Stable tomorrow so he could see if everything is fine" Cherry said.
"Eeyup" he replied nervously.
There was a pause and then Cherry said:
"Now, I just have to watch you today and tomorrow and, if all goes well, I will return to my house."
"Ya know, it's a shame ya have tah go" Big Mac confessed. "We were already accustomed to have you here. Ya're family now. I mean, respectfully, of course."
That did Cherry drop a laugh and then she suggested:
"What do you say about we go get breakfast in the kitchen and show to your sisters and Granny Smith that you are already fully recovered?"
"Sounds good tah me" he replied.
They then left the room and started down the stairs. Cherry went ahead and when she descend into the kitchen, where Applejack, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith sat taking breakfast, she said, causing them to look at her.
"I ask your attention, please. I have something to communicate."
"Ya and Big Mac started..." Apple Bloom began, and only to be stopped by Applejack who covered her mouth with her hoof.
"What was it you were going to say, dear?" Cherry asked, confused.
Apple Bloom took Applejack's hoof and looked to her who shook her head. The young filly sighed and replied:
"Nothing."
"Well, as I was saying, I've got news for all of you" Cherry said. "Good news. It is with great pleasure that I say we'll take company to breakfast with us at the table."
And then Big Mac appeared smiling.
"Big Mac, ya're healed! " Apple Bloom said, getting up and going to hug his brother.
"Well, but what a surprise!" Applejack exclaimed.
When Apple Bloom approached Big Mac, she hesitated because she was afraid of hurting him again.
"So where's mah hug?" Big Mac asked.
"Are ya sure Ah not gonna hurt ya?" she asked.
"Noope" Big Mac said, shaking his head.
"Apple Bloom, don't worry" Cherry said. "I'm sure my magic can handle a big hug of yours."
"Are ya sure?" Apple Bloom asked, still uncertain.
"Apple Bloom, if this lovely filly says yes, so it's 'cause ya can do it" Granny Smith said, approaching.
"Cherry is a nurse... and our friend" Applejack said, approaching too. "Don't ya trust her?"
Apple Bloom looked to Cherry and told her:
"Of course Ah trust ya, Cherry."
Then she turned to Big Mac who smiled and held out his forelegs. Apple Bloom grinned from ear to ear and hugged his brother who returned the hug, while the others watched, happy. When the two brothers ended the hug, Cherry said:
"Well, if Big Mac is as good as I think he is, then tomorrow morning I go back to my house."
"Ya what?!" Apple Bloom asked.
"Well, Apple Bloom, I just stayed here to treat your brother" Cherry said. "But he is good now."
"But ya can't go, you can't " Apple Bloom said.
"What Apple Bloom means, is that you live with us fer so long for we consider you family" said Applejack.
"Really?" Cherry asked.
"But 'course, mah dear" Granny Smith said, approaching her and stroking her mane. "Ya're like a granddaughter tah me. Ya made me a lot of company when ya could and Ah lov'd tah tell ya my stories of mah life as a young mare."
Cherry Blossom was very moved to see the bond that she has done with the Apple family. It made tears come to her eyes.
"What did Ah tell ya?" Big Mac asked. "Ya're one of us."
"Well... I don't know what to say" she said, wiping her tears with the hoof. "It will cost me a lot to have to go back to my home, but..."
"Are ya still goin'? " Apple Bloom asked.
"Well, yes, Apple Bloom" she said. "But, look, Ah'll still live in Ponyville. We will see each other every day, while I still be here."
"Do ya promise?" Apple Bloom asked.
"No, I Pinkie promissed" Cherry swore, making the gestures.
That made Apple Bloom smile and hug her. She returned the hug.
Later, in school, Apple Bloom told to her friends the news.
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Cherry Blossom will back to her house tomorrow?"
"You bet" Apple Bloom replied.
"But what about our plans," said Scootaloo. "We don't have everything ready."
"So we have to rush things" Apple Bloom said. "Today we launch the final thrust. Big Mac and Cherry Blossom will start dating tonight."
Nightfall. The three little fillies prepared a picnic in a clearing of one orchards field. They knew that the night would be clear and full of stars and with the moon round and shiny, because they had asked before to Twilight about that. They extended the towel and put all the food there, placing them in order to give a more romantic climate as possible. Now, it was just missing the most important and difficult thing of all: the arrival of the romantic couple.
They secretly handed tickets to the two, making them think that the one had asked the other to meet up. They then just arranged the things for the picnic.
"Okay, we're finished" Scootaloo said.
They admired their work.
"Wow, it's fabulous" Sweetie Belle admired. "And quite romantic."
"If you say so..." Scootaloo said.
"Sweetie Belle is right" said Apple Bloom. "It's perfect fer what we want."
They then began to hear hoofsteps approaching.
"Someone's coming" Apple Bloom said. " Hide."
They then jumped into a bush and watched. They saw Big Mac coming, bringing the ticket the fillies had delivered secretly in the mouth. When he arrived, Big McIntosh put the ticket on the floor and looked confused to the picnic.
"One down, one to go" Scootaloo whispered.
"Schhh" the other two said to her.
"Sorry" Scootaloo apologized.
It was not long for Cherry Blossom to appear, bringing her ticket levitating by her side. Seeing Big Mac, she said, as she approached:
"I got your message, Big Mac, and I wanted to know...
But she noticed the picnic.
"You're the one who prepared this?" she asked, with the same look of confusion as Big Mac.
"Nnope" he said.
"But do you know who did it?" Cherry asked.
"Nnope" he said again.
Cherry Blossom then noticed Big Mac's ticket on the floor.
"Don't tell me. You too received a ticket saying for you to meet me here, right?"
"Eeyup."
They then heard movement coming from the bushes and then little voices whispering to each other.
"Do you think..." Cherry Blossom began.
"Eeyup" Big Mac said, nodding. "We fell in that small cupids' trap."
Cherry gave a slight chuckle and said, blushing slightly:
"They really want to see us together."
"Eeyup" Big Mac replied, blushing too.
The two exchanged a look, but quickly looked away, with Cherry leading a hoof to her face and Big Mac scratching his head's back.
"Look at that" Sweetie Belle whispered. "It seems that our plan is working."
"Yes, I just hope it stays that way" Scootaloo said.
"Girls, shut up, or I won't be able to hear what they are saying" Apple Bloom said.
"So what do we do now?" Cherry asked. "Do you know?"
Big Mac shook his head, instead of saying his distinctive "Nnope". There was then rumbling stomachs.
"Well, the truth is I still haven't dined with all the work I had to check up your bones" Cherry Blossom confessed. "What about you?"
"Nnope" he said.
"So I think we could serve ourselves, don't you think?" Cherry asked. "We could have a friendly picnic."
"Eeyup" Big Mac nodded.
They then began dinner the picnic. The fillies watched, excited, hoping that there wouldn't be late until they kiss or do anything to indicate the beginning of a courtship. But as time passed, they were becoming increasingly frustrated. The two, instead of trying to start dating, were chatting and swapping stories. Apple Bloom, personally, had never seen his brother talking a lot to someone without being their family, but she just wanted to see action, not foreplay.
As time went on, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo eventually left because it was getting too late, leaving her alone to watch the picnic. She tried not to fall asleep, but it was getting harder and harder to resist sleep in every passing minute.
Cherry Blossom was listening Big Mac with great attention and pleasure. Being there in a moment of fun with him made her feel very well, clearing her mind of all problems. He made her laugh and everything else.
"No, really?" she asked, after hearing a Big Mac's story, where he told how his sister and her friends had tried to join him with Cheerilee, ending put the two under the effect of a love poison. "You and Cheerilee ended up in the bottom of a pit with her with a veil on her head?"
"It's fer ya see tha troubles that mah sister and her friends create" Big Mac replied.
"You know, personally, I think it's very cute from them" Cherry said. "At least, this last attempt of them didn't end in the bottom of a pit."
That made Big Mac laugh, which made Cherry laugh too. They stopped laughing and then they looked in their eyes, smiling. Each of the two began to lose in the other's eyes, looking as if there was nothing else. Cherry was the first to break free of the gaze, before turning to the sky.
"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" she asked. "The stars are beautiful and the moon is wonderful."
Seeing how Cherry was amazed with the stars and the moon, Big Mac had an idea.
"Would you like to stargaze with me?" he asked.
Cherry gave a smile and nodded. The two then lay down on his back and began to observe the night sky. That got the attention of Apple Bloom that was practically asleep and suddenly became very attentive.
The young unicorn loved watching the starry sky, as they were the same as the ones in her old world: the same individual stars, the same constellations... She could feel herself at home. She looked to Big McIntosh who was beside her and he looked to her. The two exchanged a smile. Seeing him smile caused in Cherry Blossom an overwhelming sense of happiness. Her heart raced with his presence and her stomach gave huge rounds. It was then she realized a thing. She was completely in love with Big Mac and that passion was so intense that eventually supplanted the love she felt for Sky. She knew she could not continue keeping these feelings repressed.
"Big Mac, I have to tell you something" she said, sitting.
"What is it? " Big Mac asked, sitting too.
Then, without warning, Cherry gave a kiss on Big Mac's lips who froze when she finished it. A huge smile appeared on Apple Bloom's face and her eyes widened, expectant.
Big Mac took his hoof to his lips, still atonic with what just happened.
"What the hay..." he began.
"I love you, Big Mac, seriously" she confessed. "Now, I'm pretty sure about that. You're the stallion of my dreams and I hope to go further in time to come into your heart."
Big Mac had no reaction to those words. It was everything he didn't expect to hear at that moment. But even so, he couldn't help but smile and then say:
"You don't know the time I waited to hear that."
The two exchanged a warm smile, and then Big Mac took Cherry Blossom's hoof and said:
"Cherry, Ah know it's old fashion'd tah ask a question like this, but I have to do. Do ya want tah date me?"
Upon hearing that question, Cherry cheeks turned pink, while she was smiling shyly and then she said:
"Yes, Big Mac, I want to date you."
And having said that, the two nuzzled each other.
Seeing that, Apple Bloom could not contain her enthusiasm and shouted, leaping into the air, coming out of her hiding:
"YES!"
That made the newest couple look to her, still in the air, and then the little filly fell asleep on the floor, completely exhausted.
Big Mac and Cherry Blossom exchanged a laugh and then approached the little Apple Bloom.
"Poor thing, I'd forgotten she was watching us" Cherry said. "She must have stayed awake until she was sure we were dating."
"Eeyup" Big Mac said
"I think it's better we get back to the farmhouse" Cherry suggested. "It's already too late and Apple Bloom needs to sleep in a real bed."
Big Mac nodded in agreement and then he took Apple Bloom with his mouth and placed her on the top of his back. Then he and Cherry headed to the farmhouse, both smiling to each other and exchanging nuzzles.
They arrived, climbed the stairs and Big Mac put Apple Bloom on her bed and when he left her room, he and Cherry Blossom exchanged passionate glances. She then said:
"This was a wonderful night."
"Eeyup" Big McIntosh agreed .
"Do I see you tomorrow?" Cherry asked.
Big Mac nodded and then they exchanged a goodbye kiss and Cherry went to her room. Upon entering, she and Big Mac exchanged a last glance before she shut the door. He then sighed and started walking to his room .
Then, while passing through Applejack's room, who was beside his, the door opened and Applejack appeared with a smile.
"Ah see everythin' is going smoothly" she commented.
Big Mac blushed and then said:
"Eeyup."
"Well, big bro, Ah jest have to wish ya lots of luck" Applejack said. "Ah hope she makes ya very happy. Ya deserve it more than anypony else."
Big Mac smiled with her sister's support and then replied :
"Thank ya, AJ."
She winked her eye and then closed the door of her room.
Big McIntosh entered in his room and sighed again, leaning against the door. He jumped up to his bed and stared the ceiling with his hooves behind his head. He couldn't stop smiling. After all, he now had a marefriend, his first marefriend who was the mare he was sure to be the perfect one for him.
"My life could not be more perfect!" he exclaimed in his mind.