//------------------------------// // Winter Wrap Up Concludes With Big Dash Apples // Story: Mac's Daring Dash // by SparityLoveisForever //------------------------------// The entirety of the room fell silent at the unexpected awakening of the the Apple family matron. She stared around at all the ponies who were still in the living room giving each of them a hard gaze before she spoke again, “Well! Tha cat git yer tongues?” The group was still quite silent despite the demand for a response. Big Mac had caused a row with his sister over his choice of mare, Rainbow Dash had been trying to allay the concerns of her friends that she had stolen him from Twilight, Twilight had been depressed about realizing that she had missed her opportunity for a relationship with a really strong and smart stallion, and Applejack had been trying to make Big Mac apologize for being a playboy with the hearts of her friends, still none of them could speak. Just as Granny Smith was about to speak up again demanding an answer, it was Big Macintosh who broke the silence. “Ah'm sorry we woke ya, Granny. Ah was trying ta explain ta mah sister and her unicorn friend. That Ah think Ah've found somepony special to be in mah life. Who likes me for who Ah am and not just what Ah am.” He finished his statements with slowly moving a hoof around Rainbow's neck. Applejack looked at her brother with murderous intent, but still was unable to say anything as Granny Smith spoke up first again as she brought her spectacles to her face and re-examined the mare who her boy had fancied. “Hmph, Ya'll that loudmouth pegasus who helps ‘round here sometimes?” “Yes, ma'am. I could help out a lot more, my weather duties leave me a lot of free time,” Rainbow Dash said in a confident tone. “We'll see come Applebuck season. Macintosh, careful wit' her sometimes pegasi can be trouble. Now why don’t ya and her go get some rest.” Granny said with a smile at her grandson. Applejack couldn't believe the words coming out of Granny Smith's mouth.“Wait a minute, Granny. That ain't fair. He's gone and brought her into our house, after pledging his love for Twah here.” “Applejack Apple, Ah'm an old pony. Ah also kno' the difference between being twitterpated, and when a stallion really loves a mare. Iffen yer friend there is any kind of a good mare, she can pick herself up and continue on. Macintosh never once complained about sleeping on the couch, but it won't do him no favors come time we need him most. So you're going to tell him yer sorry, and yer friend is gonna go on home for now.” Granny Smith looked at her eldest granddaughter with a look that would make a timberwolf turn back into twigs. “Ah'm s-o-r-r-y, big brother,” Applejack said, glancing over to her best friend. “ Twah, ya’ll best go on home. I'll talk to ya tomorrow. I'm sure Spike's waiting for ya.” Applejack lowered her head with a shake, disgruntled and downcast as if nothing made sense anymore. Rainbow Dash and Big Macintosh were already half way up the stairs as Twilight turned her head looking up at him one last time. She had already been forgotten as he was keeping his eyes focused on Rainbow Dash. Twilight had missed her chance with Big Macintosh. She walked home alone to the Golden Oaks Library that night, and no matter how much she didn't want to think about it, one question kept coming back to her: Would anypony ever care for her? The happy pair of Earth and Pegasus Pony were on the way to Big Mac’s room. Closing the door behind him, Big Mac approached his bed and allowed Rainbow to slide off onto it. Turning back to the door Big Mac locked it, he turned around to climb into the bed, wrapping his hooves around Rainbow. Placing his lips tenderly against hers, Big Mac slid the covers over the dup as they enjoyed the other’s company. Applejack was tired of lovesick ponies. First Pinkie Pie and now, her brother and Rainbow Dash. After Applejack helped Granny Smith back up to bed, her mind started to wander, keeping her awake in bed. 'Why don't anypony ever seem to like me. Ah'm at least twice if not more hardworking as Rarity. Ah'm just as good if not better looking as Twi. Ah'm at least twice as strong as Rainbow Dash. Ah can out bake Pinkie Pie. Why doesn't some stallion want to spend their life with me?' While Applejack was brooding on her bed of broken dreams, Twilight Sparkle was walking home in the marginally crisp cool air. The sky was a mix of blues, purples, and blacks with simple stars littering the sky and a waning crescent moon. The road to the library was long and lonely; she let out a deep sigh as she recounted the night. 'Granny Smith had certainly cleared the fog in the room. I'm a proper stand up mare, am I not? I should be after being taught by Princess Celestia. I made my choice and it was foolish to try to take him back after he was so clearly over me.’ Twilight glanced up at the stars, a subtle grin on her face as she found a resolve. ‘I'm going to find the stallion who's just right for me, and I know he'll be the one I want to be with.' Picking up her pace Twilight was back to the library before she knew it. (#)(#)(#)(#)(#) The whole of Ponyville seemed to sleep well that night, all except one perturbed orange hued apple farmer who fell asleep to have placid dreams of broken hearts of every mare and every stallion in town at her beck and call. Whereas a red hued apple farmer arose in a foggy dreamland. Standing on a field of white clouds, across the way from him was a light blue Pegasus Pony. Upon noticing her the red earth pony ran across the clouds in her direction. The blue Pegasus ran back to him they came together in a hug and rolled around in the white clouds, looking into the other’s eyes, peppering the other with kisses. As the two held each other in the dream, the serenity suddenly broken. A large bulge appeared in the abdomen of the mare’s stomach. Immediately after the red stallion felt his footing vanish as he plummeted through the clouds. As he fell, he started to call for help. The same blue Pegasus, known as the fastest flier in all of Equestria, attempted to respond. She failed, always a hoof length away. A wail of denial sounded out through the farmland the next morning and the first thing Big Mac realized was that he was on the floor, groaning. The duo had a unison of dreams and upon composing themselves, they attempted to explain the dream to no avail. “It was just a dream. We made it through that storm last night, Ah know we can make it through this.” Big Mac notice Rainbow’s flickering eyes, twitching as tears threatened to spill over her cheeks. He leaned in nuzzling her cheek to reassure her. The words and motion managed to breach her sorrow allowing her return the nuzzle, and attempt to smile. Shortly after making the bed, Big Mac once again propped Rainbow up on his back as they went downstairs just as breakfast was finished. Upon entering the kitchen, all eyes were on them in regards to the shouts earlier. “One bad dream,” was all he could muster. After a moment he decided to add on. “Time to finish Winter Wrap Up.” With that everypony there shrugged it off just like the stallion had, save for Applejack who had a subtle grin on her face. The rest of the day went off without a single hitch: The birds had come back to several waiting and ready bird-nests; The lakes and ponds all around Ponyville were no longer icy; The woodland critters who had been hibernating were now all well rested and fed ready begin their own search for food; The planting had gone swimmingly with the readdition of Big Mac. Upon conclusion, Mayor Mare declared the Winter in Ponyville wrapped up on time. “Winter's wrapped up on time party, everypony!” shouted a very happy Pinkie Pie as she started to bounce her way back to Sugarcube Corner. Everypony at the assembly seemed to follow everypony's favorite party mare in the hopes of some relaxation after a hard day's work. Only one pony failed to attend the ensuing antics and her absence was only noted by Pinkie Pie who wondered why for a moment before getting a pink pie to the face. The rest of the party went on for the better part of that evening everpony seemed to enjoy themselves: Spike had managed to get a dance from Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Soarin were ever the happy couple playing party games all night long, and Fluttershy and Twilight entertained themselves discussing proper care of owls. In their own private booth Big Mac and Rainbow Dash had been discussing books; it turned out that they both enjoyed the Daring Do series, and several other adventure/fantasy selections. Rainbow's list was significantly shorter yet Big Mac had managed to encourage her to read some of the other books he liked from the genre. The pair couldn't stop talking or taking a moment here and there for a kiss. As it got later into the night, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash left Sugarcube Corner together. Before she parted, Rainbow Dash and Big Mac shared a passionate kiss. She hovered off the ground briefly, smiling down at him. “See ya tomorrow, Mac,” Big Mac smiled in response, waving goodbye. “You too, Dash.” His heart soared along with her as he cantered towards his home. Stepping into the old building quietly, Big Mac didn’t so much as step on a creaky floorboard as he entered his room, locking the door behind him. The click of the tumblers the only noise he had made. Turning the lights on, he surveyed the room to see that nothing was out of place and his sister wasn't secretly hiding under the covers. He unlocked a secret compartment of his desk, pulling out a diary. The book was expertly bound and the pages were made from apple tree paper, the binding worn with age yet still holding together. The front of the diary was on display showing a message in paint: “To our first little Apple; dream big. Love Ma & Pa.” Big Macintosh took out a pencil, turning the book to a blank page. Although an Earth Pony, he managed to master penmanship. “Dear Diary, Ma, and Pa, I'm very lucky to be with the athletic cyan pegasus who soars throughout my heart and mind. Right now the future is foggy for both of us. Both of us have big dreams, and I hope they wont keep us apart. I get the feeling everything will be alright as long as we're together though. Always, Macintosh Apple.”