//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Backstage Flirtation // Story: Ponyville Bachelor Auction // by Captain Unstoppable //------------------------------// Chapter 5: Backstage Flirtation Rainbow Dash watched as Time Turner gave a bit of a bow as the audience cheered for him. Some mare in the crowd let loose a shrill wolf whistle that only seemed to make the brown stallion blush more. Blushing furiously, he made his way over to the other stallions and the lone dragon. All of them were smiling, still trying make themselves look as amazing as they could. Except for Blueblood, who still had a few tears rolling down his face. “Can’t say Ah’ve ever seen a group of stallions trying so hard to impress a group of mares,” Applejack laughed, looking at all of them with a delighted smile. “Well, I must say AJ, I am quite impressed,” Rarity laughed, her eyes dancing over the crowd of gathered stallions. “There are quite a few I already feel like bidding on, but the best is yet to come. Isn’t it, Rainbow?” Rainbow’s wings twitched as she looked over at Rarity, who was wearing a smug grin. “Shut up,” she growled back as the sound of Mr. Cake’s voice boomed over the speakers again. “Now then, it’s time to reveal our last stallion,” he announced, and a raucous cheer erupted from the amassed ponies. Mr. Cake looked over the crowd a bit, giving them a few extra seconds to cheer than he had allowed for the other stallions. It was the moment most of them had been waiting for: the grand reveal of the big red work pony they had all came to see and bid on. “Describing himself as ‘a simple Apple, just doing this as a favor to his sisters and friends,’ I give to you Big Macintosh Apple!” Mr. Cake voice was drowned out as the crowd almost went into a frenzy as Big Mac walked on to stage. It was obvious, from almost any distance, that the amount of cheers he got startled the stallion as he took an involuntary step backwards in surprise. As Dash looked up at the stage—totally and completely not blushing and fighting to keep her wings at her side, thank you very much—she, for the first time since this whole thing started, thought about her and Mac. Was she really considering bidding on him? Dating him? Up on stage, Mac was blushing so hard that it was visible even under his apple-red fur, one massive forehoof scuffing against the stage. This did nothing to silence the constant cheers and wolf-whistles from nearly every mare in the audience, which had the unfortunate effect of making Mac fidget just that much more. Look at him, Dash mused. He's scared stiff up there! She knew he was shy, but come on! If it was her up there, she would have been soaking in the adoration, preening and strutting her stuff for the world. The thought brought a slight crease to her brow. This was just one of the many ways they were so... opposite. She was a brash glory-hound; he was shy and reserved. She lived a mile a minute; he lived the slowest pace imaginable. She was loud and proud; he was known for only saying two words, like, ever! So... did she really, really like Mac? Or was she just like all these other mares: blinded by the muscular frame and good looks. The howl of the crowd was finally dying out. When an awkward silence replaced it, Mac cleared his throat and out on the winningest grin he could. "Uh... howdy, Ponyville!" The crowd roared again for several moments. "Ah, Ah-Ah wanna thank y'all fer comin' down to this here, uh..." "Event?" Mister Cake offered. "Eeyup!" A wave of tittering laughter followed his trademark phrase. "Well, ah'll admit, I weren't too keen on this whole thing to begin with." The entire crowd was glued to him; this was the most they had ever heard him say at one time. "But this here's fer the foals, an' the town, an' my pappy told me that any stallion who wouldn't chip in fer his neighbors weren't no stallion at all. So, uh... um…” Mac started to look around nervously. Even at the distance Dash was at, it was obvious that he was sweating like no other, as the bright lights shone on him, and every eye in the audience was fixed on him. A slight tremor could be seen in his legs, as they started to shake out of pure nervousness. His bright green eyes were darting back and forth, as if they were looking for something or somepony to save him. Oh Celestia, he looks like he is going to faint, Dash thought, shaking her head at the sight and averting her eyes from the struggling stallion and looking down at the ground. He might look good, but if he’s this nervous about something like this, there is no way a date with him wouldn't be pure tor- “So Ah’m gonna put ma best hoof forward, and try to do all Ah can to help this town,” Mac said, his voice loud and clear. Rainbow looked up at Mac, and felt her heart begin to race. He had straightened himself out, no longer hunched over like a beaten dog, but like the full grown strong stallion he was. His broad chest stuck out proudly, and the lights of the stage outlined the muscles under his coat, sculpted from years of farm work. Every mare looked up at him and started to applaud and cheer all at once, seeing him in all the glory they so often associated him with. Rainbow Dash saw something else entirely. In a span of a few seconds, he had changed his whole appearance from one of pure nervousness, to one of pure determination. His expression had changed back to stoic, but she saw the determination in those green eyes, one that she only saw in athletes or herself before a competition. -- “Well, then, that concludes the introductions! Now if you lovely mares will wait a few minutes, we’ll come back with the talent segment of the show!” Mr. Cake announced, as the curtains started to fall to conceal the stage from the mares. “If those who have been chosen for judge duties please report to the front of the stage for your assignments, we can get this done a bit faster,” Mr Cake added as he started to make his way backstage as well. There was still a bit of clapping and cheering going on for a few moments before the excitement started to die down, and the chatting of mares. “Well, this is shaping into quite a show,” Rarity said with a laugh, standing up and giving a light stretch. “Hopefully this talent segment will narrow down my choices.” Rarity said as she started to make her way towards the stage. “Where you goin’ Rarity?” Applejack asked as Pinkie Pie also got up and started to bounce in the same direction as Rarity. “Oh? Did I not I tell you girls? Pinkie and I are judges for the talent competition,” Rarity said with a chuckle, as Pinkie nodded happily as she kept bouncing towards the stage. Soon the pair disappeared into the crowd leaving the rest sitting where they were. That was until Applejack got up and started to head towards the stage as well. “Where are you going?” Twilight asked, sitting up. Rainbow and Fluttershy followed suit as Applejack turned back towards them. “Ah’m gonna go check on ma brother,” Applejack said matter-of-factly. “After that much attention, Ah just know he’s in a bit of shock and probably needs his sister’s encouragement to keep on goin,” she said as she kept going through the crowd. She took a few more steps forward before looking back at her friends with a grin. “Ah’m sure if ya’ll tag along, you can get a backstage pass to see those stallions y’all are so interested in.” She laughed, loving how red each one of their face’s got at the comment. “A-are you sure th-they would even allow us b-back there?” Fluttershy asked, looking down at the ground instead at any of her friends. Applejack looked back with a shrug. “Don’t know. But Ah reckon bein’ related to two of em’ stallions is enough to get me back there. If that don’t work, we got a Princess with us, so they might bend the rules fer us,” Applejack looked right to Twilight’s, whose face turned a shade deeper red, as her wings twitched. “Applejack! I am not going to abuse my title to just get backstage,” Twilight hissed, looking at Applejack with such a look that one might have believed Applejack might have been caught acting treason against all of Equestria. “Aw, come on now Twilight,” Applejack laughed, walking back to Twilight and putting a hoof around her. “We’re not goin’ to ‘abuse yer title!’ We’re just... not hiding the fact yer a Princess,” Applejack said with a grin. “Now don’t tell me ya don’t want to go talk to that Flash Sentry feller,” Applejack whispered, looking over Twilight to see Shining Armor standing a few feet away, talking to his wife. Twilight’s face seemed to turn another shade redder as she looked at her brother, before looking back at her friends. “Well...I guess it wouldn't hurt to go say hi to Big Mac and wish him luck,” Twilight said with a sigh. Applejack grinned, then turned to Rainbow.“Ah’m sure you want to wish ma brother luck, or maybe somethin a bit more.” “Pfft! Don’t pretend this is all for your brother,” Rainbow said with a smirk of her own. “You just want to go back there and meet up with Soarin. It’s so obvious he’s all slobbering over you now,” Rainbow laughed, taking a step forward towards Applejack, challenging her to prove her wrong. Applejack didn’t give the reaction Rainbow had wanted, for she simply shrugged and started to lead the way to the back entrance. “That stallion is always tryin to find a way under ma skin!” “Or trying to find a way into your bed,” Rainbow laughed, making Applejack turn around sharply and send a chilling glare at her. “Say that again, feather brain. You won’t be able to bid on ma big brother with two broken wings.”  The threat only made Rainbow grin wider. “Or trying to-” “Stallions, please! No more fighting! What is in the past is past, just concentrate on what you are going to do for your next segment! If I catch you two trying to come to blows again I will personally see you kicked out of this auction!” The four mares turned their attention to the large tent that was set up behind stage for the stallions. It seemed that Mr. Cake was still trying to keep the stallion calm by any means possible. The tent looked like it was meant to be used for a circus with how large it was. It was a dark blue color with no flaps for windows and only one entrance. The entrance had two grey stallions by it, both wearing sunglasses, dark suits, and had a earpiece in both of their ears.  Though Rainbow Dash and the others could not see their eyes, it was obvious that they were looking right at them. Applejack approached the entrance, not seeming discouraged by their appearances. Before she could get any further the two stallions stepped closer together to block her path. “Nopony except contestants allowed,” the one on the right growled, his voice low and harsh. This didn’t seem to phase Applejack, who looked up at the pony with an almost amused look, at all. “Ah’m sure you can make an exception seein’ that ma brother is one of em’ contestants, along with ma cousin,” Applejack said. She was smiling as she did, but the two ponies didn’t seem to care. “If you're not a contestant, no entry,” the other pony said, neither one of them budging from where they stood. Applejack took a step back and shook her head. “Well, sorry, Princess Twilight, looks like were not gettin in to see ma brother to wish him luck,” Both ponies seemed to straighten as they looked from Applejack to Twilight, who was looking to Applejack in surprise, but then gave a weak smile to both ponies when she noticed them looking. The two looked at one another for a moment before back at Twilight.   “Uh...I guess, if it’s a Princess,” one said, looking a the other for support. “They never said anything about Royalty...and usually guests of Royalty are supposed to be treated as such as well...right?” the two ponies seemed to be confused about what to do, obviously not expecting this kind of situation to arise. After a few more moments of debate, the two ponies stepped apart allowing access for the party to continue. “Sorry for delaying you, your highness,” both of them said in unison, bowing as Twilight walked by. She gave a sheepish grin to both of them as she followed Applejack and Rainbow Dash inside, followed by Fluttershy. As soon as they entered the tent, they were greeted by either one of the most humorous, or alluring, sights they had ever seen. Each stallion in the tent seemed to be trying to make himself look more presentable, showing off to one another, and preparing for whatever their talent was going to be. Braeburn had cleared an area around himself and was practicing with a rope. He had it clenched in his teeth as he spun it above him for a few minutes before bringing it almost to the ground, spinning it all the way and having it almost hovering above the ground. A few feet away from him was Thunderlane, who was jogging in place it seemed as he flapped his wings every so often. It wasn’t a strong enough flap to get him airborne, but enough to demonstrate his wingspan and power. Around the room it was familiar sight, every stallion was preparing for the next part of the auction. -- The stallions in the tent were preparing themselves and looking forward to the event, all except one large red pony, who was standing in the corner and looking out of place. Rainbow looked Mac over. He was just sitting there, head lowered, and his eyes looking up every once in awhile to look at the other stallions. He looked like a dog who had been caught being bad, and was now sulking in a corner trying to look as sorry as it could be. Applejack didn’t waste anytime as she headed over to her brother. Mac didn’t see her approach, for when she threw her forelegs around his large neck, the large pony’s eyes went wide in surprise as he looked down to see that it was his sister that was hugging him. “Why you lookin’ so glum, Mac? Ya did great out there!” Applejack said with a large smile, patting his large head. “Not one pony got as much of applause as you did Mac. If you don’t fetch the highest price by the end of this here night, Ah’m gonna let Rarity give me a makeover,” she said with a confident laugh, as the other approached him. “Evenin, Princess Twilight, Miss Fluttershy, and Miss Dash,” Mac said, noticing the appearance of his sister’s friends. “Pl-please, Mac, you don’t have to call me Princess,” Twilight said with a wave of her hoof, a light blush on her face. Rainbow knew that she was not used to the title of Princess yet, and many ponies in town still just called her Twilight, but Mac, being the gentlecolt he was, always referred to her as her title. “A-and y-you don’t have to call me Miss,” Fluttershy said with a slight squeak, she was looking around the room taking notice of the other stallions, who were noticing the presence of four mares in the room with them now. Rainbow couldn't look Mac directly in the eyes, not after admitting to all her friends she had a crush on him. Being around him was awkward at best now, and the worst part was, Mac didn’t even seem to notice the change in her attitude, and how she hadn’t said anything yet. “You getting a makeover? Now I would pay a fortune to see that!” all heads turned to see none other than Soarin approaching the group. He had a wide toothy grin spread across his face, as he made a direct path for Applejack.   “Calm yerself, playcolt,” Applejack laughed, as she pressed her hoof against the advancing Soarin’s chest and pushed him back. “Ah got no pies to sell ya, so keep all that sweet talk to yerself,” she took a step towards Big Mac with a confident grin on her face. “Besides, ya keep comin at me with them advances, Ah might have Big Mac here teach ya a lesson,” Big Mac and Soarin locked eyes for a moment, before Soarin threw his foreleg around Mac’s neck. “What? Big Mac and I are friends, there is no way he would lay a hoof on his best friend in the whole wide world,” Soarin joked as he looked up at Mac’s face. Mac was still facing forward, his stoic expression coming over his face again. “Really?” Applejack asked, looking at Mac’s stoic expression. “Ah might be inclined to believe yer just tryin’ to get closer to me so ya can get nice and cozy with Mac here, like yer doing right now,”. At once, Soarin took his hoof back as Applejack laughed. “Heard a rumor the other day that you might be more into stallions that you are mares.” “Just because Thunderlane and I accidently kissed when we crashed into one another doesn’t means I’m gay!” Soarin practically shouted, making Thunderlane turn a shade of red that not even his dark coat could hide. “Spitfire just had to spread that rumor because the two of us skipped the practice after that. I freakin broke my nose!” Everypony in the tent had turn their attention now to Soarin, their eyes moving from him to Thunderlane, who was trying hard to shield his face. “Wow...Ah didn’t even know there was a rumor. Ah was just makin it up,” Applejack laughed. “But Ah got to say, you and Thunderlane might make a cute little couple.” Soarin just gave a growl of discomfort when a loud booming voice got all their attention. “If that’s the case, how about the two of ya go on a little date and let the rest of us stallions fill in for ya, raise our prices up some,” Braeburn made his way over to them, the rope snugged tightly around his broad chest as he laughed. “Great seein’ yall again!” Braeburn said, smiling at each of his cousins friends, but his eyes lingering on Fluttershy. “And mind Ah say it’s a great pleasure seein’ you again, Miss Fluttershy,” Braeburn said with a tilt of his hat. He then reached for her foreleg with his own and lifted it into the air, then bent forward and kissed it lightly. “Ah’m sorry Ah havn’t been able to respond to yer letters faster, hard to match yer news with mine most of the time,” he laughed, as Fluttershy’s face turned a shade of red that nopony there had ever seen before. At the jest, Applejack walked over to the pair and pushed Braeburn back a little. “Don’t you go playin’ with ma friend’s feelings,” she said with a growl, “Don’t you dare think Ah haven’t heard stories about you and some mares back in Appleossa.” Braeburn took a step back, a more than obvious fake look of shock crossing his face, as he placed a hoof to chest. “Now don’t tell me yer like the rest now A.J; thinkin that them awful rumors are true,” he took a step forward and sat down, taking off his hat and placing it over his heart. “Ah’m an honest, good will, and law abiding stallion that never take advantage of any mare,” his eyes looked over all Applejack’s friends and gave them a warm smile. “Just mares that didn’t catch ma fancy spreading dirty rumors about me. Ah wouldn't believe a single one of em.” “Oh really? Ah remember you tellin’ Big Mac here a very descriptive story about a show mare and-” “So! Miss Fluttershy, how is that bunny of yours? The last you told me here he was now afraid of baths or somethin’ like that,” Braeburn quickly asked. He took a few steps towards Fluttershy and started to guide her to another part of the tent away from Applejack.   While this was happening, Twilight had made her way over to the far corner of the room. Flash Sentry sat before a hastily set up mirror, frowning as he fussed with his wild mane. Twilight took a steadying breath, then spoke. "I never took you for the vain type." His mane instantly forgotten, Flash leapt to his hooves only to bow deeply. "Good evening, your—" "Ugh, don't you start that, too!" Twilight's hoof shot to her mouth to cover her embarrassed smirk. "Heh, sorry. It's just... I'm not quite used to the whole bowing thing. And you're not on duty right now, so please just call me Twilight, okay?" Hesitantly, Flash rose back to his hooves. "Of course, er, Twilight." He smiled that easy-going—and yes, dreamy, though she would never admit such things to Rarity ever again—smile of his, and Twilight felt a little flutter in her gut. "And no, I'm not usually so prim, I guess, but it's a special occasion, so I kinda want to look my best." "Oh?" Twilight said with a sly grin. "Trying to impress an entire town of mares, so you better clean up?" "Well, not 'the entire town.’ In fact," Flash gulped, mustering his confidence, and looked up from the floor to lock eyes with her, "maybe just—" A flicker of movement behind her. Flash glanced over her right shoulder and his heart about stopped. There, on the other side of the tent, was Tweak. Staring right at him. Smiling. "Uh, Flash?" Twilight smiled awkwardly. Flash's bright orange coat had all but turned ghostly white. "Uh, I... I-I-I..." There was no malice in the former Drill Sergeant's grin. It seemed almost like he was genuinely... happy. "Is everything okay?" Twilight turned her gaze to whatever it was that spooked the pegasus. "Oh, hello Sergeant Tweak!" "Ma'am," he said brightly, nodding his head. Flash gulped. Drill Sergeant never smiles. Drill Sergeant never smiles! Twilight waved back then turned to Flash. "Is something—" "I gotta go okay princess I mean Twilight I mean I'm gonna go bye!" Flash was gone in a flash, his mind screaming with the horrors of the past. Twilight blinked. "Um... o-okay." -- Mac watched as Soarin led his sister, Braeburn, and Fluttershy away, just leaving him and Rainbow Dash. He would have thought the claimed ‘Future Wonderbolt’ would have gone like the rest of them, but instead she stood there with him in the tent. She did seem off her game, however. The normally confident, brash, and no nonsense flyer Applejack always described seemed to be uneasy about the situation. Mac thought that she wanted to leave, but might have found it rude just to leave him alone. “So Mac…” she said, not looking up at him but rather focussing on the ground. “Uh...you're really big you know?” she looked up at him now, the uneasiness showing in her face. “Eeyup. That’s why they call me Big Mac,” he responded. He found it a bit strange that she was commenting on something like that, but he didn’t mind. It was nice to have somepony to talk to that wasn’t obsessed with this auction. “Ya...duh,” she grumbled to herself, Mac raised an eyebrow at this. She looked around the tent a bit more before setting her eyes back on him. She looked determined about something, the flux in her attitude shifting surprised Mac a bit. “Well, you also have some really green eyes! Like super green eyes!” she practically shouted, making Mac take a step back in surprise. She seemed to notice, and at once slammed a hoof against her head. “I mean, they are green...you know?” “Eeyup,” Mac replied, looking down at the mare in a mix of confusion and surprise. So far, this had been the longest conversation he had with this mare, and he wasn’t even sure this should count as a conversation due to her odd behavior. She just kept looking up at him, her eyes focused on him for some reasons like she had some unknown thought about him. Then , Mac noticed something strange going on with her eyes. Was she winking at him? No, both her eyes were doing it but they didn’t seem to be closing at the same time, or when they did she was opening and closing them at a rapid pace that it almost was a blue blur. “You okay, Miss Dash? Got something stuck in yer eyes?” “What?! Something stuck in my-no! I was try to-oh forget it!” Rainbow Dash huffed, sitting down and blowing some of her mane out of her face. Mac just looked down at her as she grumbled. He was now even more confused than he was before. She was grumbling something incoherently, her face down and not looking at him. “Ah’m sorry, Miss Dash, Ah didn’t mean ta hurt yer feelin’s if Ah did,” he said, lowering his head in apology. Rainbow just snorted as she looked up at him. “You didn’t hurt my feelings; I’m Rainbow Dash!” she exclaimed, pounding her chest and spreading her wings. “It’s impossible to hurt my feelings, you big lug,” she said, giving his shoulder a hard punch, which made the large stallion laugh. “That’s good,” Mac laughed as he looked down at Rainbow, before looking up at Soarin and all the others. “Wonder what they're all talkin’ about,” he asked, as he watched Braeburn say something that just made the yellow Pegasus turn a shade darker red, as Applejack smacked the back of her cousins head. Before Rainbow could give a reply, Mr. Cake’s voice cut over all the noise in the tent. “Okay, stallions! Five minutes till show time! Get your talents and skills ready, for you only have two more attempts to make those mares fall for you!” Mr. Cake laughed, as all the stallions in the room got to their hooves and started to line up again. “Well, Ah gotta get goin’ Miss Dash,” Mac said, getting up a look of dread coming over his face. “Hey, don’t worry! You're going to kill it, Mac!” Rainbow laughed, giving him another bump on the shoulder. “You already got this competition in the bag!” she said, as Applejack, Twilight, and Fluttershy came over to the pair. “Come on, Sugarcube, we gotta get goin’ to get our spot back,” Applejack said, as she turned towards her brother and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Show em’ all what a real Apple Stallion can do, brother!” “Eeyup” Mac responded as he gave a nod to both Twilight and Fluttershy as they left as well, both of their faces still a bit red. As Mac turned towards the line, a foreleg found it’s way around his neck and pulled him into a hug of sorts. “Woohee, Mac! Those girls are sure somethin’!” Braeburn laughed as he held Mac close, “That Fluttershy is cuter than Ah remembered! Nearly fainted when Ah saw em’ eyes again,” he laughed, as he letting  Mac go as he started to trot towards the front of the line, obviously energetic to the maximum about his encounter with Fluttershy. “And flycolt over here seems to have an eye on your sister,” Braeburn laughed passing Soarin. Soarin just shrugged and laugh as he looked over at Mac. “Hey now, don’t take everything this guy says seriously, I have only known him for a few minutes but he seems to love to over exaggerate everything,” Soarin said, not getting much of a response from Mac. “Well, don’t go judging me or anything Mr. Mare-killer, you and Rainbow seemed to be getting quite comfortable over there,” to this Mac gave a short snort. “She just felt bad fer me, that’s all,” Mac grunted, “Now get yer mind out of the gutters,” Mac said, as he took his place at the end of the line. He still had no idea what he was going to do for his talent, he never gave it too much thought, and now, he only had a few minutes to come up with something.