//------------------------------// // 2. Prologue Part 2 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Midnight marveled at the sights around him as he walked alongside Big Mac through Ponyville. The homely abodes with straw rooftops, the simple architecture, he saw stores here and there, and a nearby marketplace. But everywhere he looked, he saw ponies of all kinds, including some he recognized. He saw Caramel talking with Lucky Clover, Ditzy Doo as she flew overhead with a couple saddlebags full of mail, there was Lyra and her best friend Bon Bon walking towards Sugarcube Corner! Uh-oh! Midnight thought as he realized he was looking at Sugarcube Corner! It was a two-and-a-half story building, built to look like a gingerbread house, covered with decorative frosting and goodies, and topped with a cupcake. He knew who owned it, but more importantly, who worked there! Deciding to keep a look-out for anything pink, he suddenly realized that the ponies were all looking busy, going to and fro with this and that and so and so. “Say, uh, Mr. Macintosh?” Midnight asked, wanting to be respectful. “None o’ them formalities,” Big Mac replied with a smile. “Just call me Big Mac, or Macintosh.” “Okay, well then, Big Mac,” Midnight obliged before asking, “what’s everyone all in a jitter about? Is something going on?” “Actually, Midnight, ya just arrived in town before sumpin’ special,” Big Mac explained with a chuckle. “Ya see, the day after tomorrow, is th’ Summer Sun Celebration, an’ it’s bein’ held here in Ponyville. Been a real long while since th’ last time it was here.” Summer Sun Celebreation? Midnight thought to himself. Then Big Mac’s words struck a chord as he realized something. And it’s being held here in Ponyville?! That couldn’t be right – As far as Midnight knew, the story had already completed its fourth season! So not only have I become a pony and arrived in Equestria, but I’ve also gone back to before the beginning of the story! …What could this mean? Suddenly, Midnight heard a loud GASP to his left and looked just in time to see something pink streak off. Wait a minute… Something pink?! He just managed to keep his composure as he asked, “Did you see who that was?” Big Mac chuckled and said, “That there was Miss Pinkie Pie. Y’all can expect a party in yer honor real soon.” Perfect, just perfect. This was exactly what he’d hoped to avoid. But… it is Pinkie Pie. But suddenly, a realization reared its ugly head as he gasped, “Wait a minute, a party?! Mac, everyone will see I have a blank flank and I don’t even know why!” “Everypony can already see,” Big Mac informed him. Discreetly, Midnight looked around and realized some ponies were giving him odd looks, like they were trying to figure him out. He realized, They’re looking at my blank flank! All of a sudden, Midnight felt naked. Granted he was walking around without clothes but that wasn’t the point. Now that he knew everypony was looking at him, he had the desire to be invisible. Big Mac noticed how uncomfortable Midnight looked and said, “Would’ja like my saddlebags? They’ll cover yer flank up, if it really bothers ya.” “Please!” Midnight whispered as he sat down, his back to the cart to hide his blank flank. Before long, the two stallions were carrying on, Midnight now sporting a couple saddlebags that did the job. While the knowledge was still in some of the locals’ minds, the rest were none the wiser to the blue unicorn’s blank flank. “Thanks, Mac,” Midnight whispered, his ears drooping. “I felt like some kind of sideshow attraction.” “Aw, don’t let it bother ya much,” Big Mac assured, “Th’ locals `round here r’ pretty friendly, and a lotta them are good n’ honest folk. They won’t care about yer flank, once they get ta’ know ya.” “So, where are we going?” Midnight asked. “Home,” Big Mac simply said, and Midnight understood. I’m going to Sweet Apple Acres! The trip brought the two to the outskirts of town and Midnight could both see and smell the vast acres covered with apple trees. As they came around a corner of the road, he smiled to see the homestead of Sweet Apple Acres! The barn was nice and red, there was the house nearby, along with a field of corn. There was a pigsty, a chicken coop, a water well, and a fair amount of the land was surrounded by a white picket fence. “This is a nice place,” Midnight said as he and Big Mac stepped through the gate. “Eeyup, mah Granny Smith helped get this place started back when she was our age,” the big red pony explained. They walked right up to the barn where Big Mac unhitched himself. “She worked it, mah daddy worked it, now mah sisters an’ Ah work it.” “Yee-haw!” Midnight looked towards the orchard as Big Mac chuckled, “Speak of th’ devil.” They saw an orange-coated earth pony mare with a blond mane and tail tied at the ends, wearing a stetson hat, her eyes green like Mac’s while her cutie-mark was a trio of apples. Midnight watched as she galloped right up to a big apple tree and gave it a good buck in the trunk! The tree quivered as its apples were shaken off, falling into some pre-set baskets in an orderly fashion. She shook her mane from the excitement before she noticed Big Mac was back. “Howdy big brother, Ah see ya brought a guest!” “Eeyup,” Big Mac said while waving her over. As she approached, her brother said, “AJ, Ah’d like ya to meet mah new friend, Midnight Blaze. Midnight, this is mah younger sister, Applejack.” “Uh, hi?” Midnight said sheepishly, but Applejack just smiled and grasped his hoof in a rough shake. “Well howdy-doo Mr. Midnight,” she said in a hearty manner, “a pleasure makin’ yer acquaintance! Can’t say Ah’ve ever seen y’all around here before!” “Well, uh…” Midnight tried to think of what to say when Big Mac came to his rescue. “Ah met him on the way back, and AJ? Midnight here’s got himself a real problem.” “Well, whattsamatter, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, sounding like she wanted to help. Midnight looked at Macintosh, who nodded. Sighing, Midnight took off the saddlebags so Applejack could see, her eyes widening in bewilderment. “I woke up in a field of flowers and ran into Big Mac. And when I woke up, I could only remember a few things, like my name, the name of this town, your farm… and like my flank, my memory is a blank.” “Well, Midnight Ah sure as sugar can say Ah’ve never seen a pony yer age without a cutie-mark,” she replied as she circled Midnight, giving him a better look, before she stopped in front of him. “And ya cain’t remember a thing? Not where ya come from, or yer fam’ly?” Midnight realized he was gonna have to fabricate more to his backstory. “Well… I think I have a sister, but no. I can’t remember anything. I don’t even know why I don’t have a cutie-mark.” “Well do ya remember what yer cutie-mark was?” Applejack pushed, “Maybe that’ll give ya a clue!” Midnight hoped Applejak wouldn’t pick up on him as he said, “No, I don’t remember what my cutie-mark was, or whatever talent I had.” “Ah offered t' help `im out, AJ,” Big Mac cut in. “So Ah was thinkin’ he could stay with us awhile.” “Well, Ah don’t see a problem,” Applejack said with a smile but gave Midnight a sly look. “But yer gonna have t’ work some chores `round here!” “Oh sure! I’ll be glad to help out,” Midnight replied. “What should we do first?” “Welp, Ah think we cin’ hold off before we get into that,” Applejack conceded before turning to Big Mac, “considerin’ what’s tomorrow!” “I thought the Summer Sun Celebration was the day after tomorrow,” Midnight brought up. “Oh it is, Midnight,” Applejack answered, “But tomorrow jus’ happens ta’ be the Apple Fam’ly Reunion!” Now Midnight was certain – He had arrived at the point of the story just before a certain somepony arrives in Ponyville. “Why don’t we get’cha settled in?” Big Mac suggested, and he led the two to the house. Inside, Midnight smelled something delicious, and a sudden growl alerted them all to Midnight’s stomach. He chuckled sheepishly as he asked, “I don’t suppose I could have a bite please?” Big Mac and Applejack both chuckled as they heard a clutter and Applejack shouted, “Granny Smith, y’alright in there?” “Eh, don’t you fret,” answered an elderly voice and Applejack led Midnight into the kitchen. There they found the owner of the voice in the form of an elderly earth pony mare, with a light green coat, orange eyes, a mane long turned white pulled into a matronly bun, and her cutie-mark was an old-fashioned apple pie, and she wore an orange shawl patterned with apples. On the floor was an old tin cup, and she was slowly bending over to pick it up. Midnight hurried over and picked up the cup for her, and placed it on the counter. “Well, aren’t you a gentlecolt?” “My pleasure, ma’am,” Midnight replied as he noticed the various apple-based goods in the kitchen. On the counter, he saw loads of delicious looking apple fritters, the table had a couple trays of caramel apples next to a bowl of the stuff and as luck would’ve had it, there was an apple pie set on the window, cooling off. “Wow, lots of good-looking treats here!” He reached for a fritter, only to get his hoof smacked by a wooden spoon. He yelped as he pulled his hoof back and found Granny Smith giving him the stink-eye, somehow making a wooden spoon look like a lethal instrument. “Now where in Equestria didja learn manners, young stallion? Cuz it don’t look like ya have any, just reachin’ for food without askin’, all willy-nilly..." “Granny Smith, tha’ ain’t no way to greet a guest,” Applejack scolded, but Midnight held up his other hoof. “No, Applejack, she’s right,” he didn’t want a fight to break out, especially amongst the Apple Clan. “I really should’ve asked first. My apologies, Miss Smith.” “Well, tha’s mighty kind’a ya,” Granny Smith said with a smile, “and Ah did overreact a lil’ bit. Help yerself, young’un. Also none’a that ‘miss’ business. Just call me Granny Smith, like everypony else.” Midnight smiled and took a fritter, but before taking a bite he realized he had yet to meet all the Apples under this roof. “So, anyone else live here?” “Our little sister, Apple Bloom,” Applejack replied as she led them all into the living room. “She’s prob’ly off playin’ somewhere.” As they all had a snack, they explained the situation to Granny Smith, and the old mare, “Well a’course he’s welcome ta’ stay! Tha’s what Apples do after all. If’n somepony’s in need of a helpin’ hoof…” “We lend ours,” Applejack and Big Mac said at the same time, almost tiresomely but with smiles. “So… if you’re having your family reunion tomorrow,” Midnight brought up, “what about the Summer Sun Celebration? You’re not gonna partake?” “We’re darn tootin’ gonna partake,” Applejack corrected, “In fact, we’ve been asked to take care’a th’ grub! And when the Apple Family members get here, they’re gonna bring along their own good eatin’s ta’ help out!” No wonder they had so much food in that first episode, Midnight thought as he nodded in understanding. “Why don’t Ah take ya fer a tour in town?” Big Mac proposed. “Since yer gonna be stayin’ wit’ us, y’all should know how ta’ find yer way `round here.” As much as that made sense, Midnight was hesitant to go back into town, not only because of how self-conscious he was about his lack of a cutie-mark but also he didn’t want to take a chance of running into a Pinkie Pie-patented surprise party. He knew well enough those could strike at any given moment, even in the most unlikely places. “I don’t know…” “Y’all can wear the saddlebags again ifn’ ya want.” Knowing it would be rude to say no, Midnight nodded. In no time at all, Big Mac and Midnight, his flanks covered by the saddlebags, had made their way to the town square. Big Mac had pointed out several points of interest, like town hall, the train station, the clock tower, the theater, the day spa, but what got Midnight’s interest was the library. “Can we go in?” he asked as they passed it by. "I think I'd like to get something to read." Golden Oak Library did not disappoint – It was built within a large tree, a the door was red, there were windows and a couple balconies among the branches, and a sign pictured with an open book was set right next to the entrance. “`Fraid yer gonna hav' t' look elsewhere,” Big Mac replied as he kept going, Midnight in reluctant tow. “Right now, nopony lives there, but Ah think someone’s s’posed to come soon and be th’ new librarian.” “Hmm, and I was kinda looking forward to a good book.” “Rumble, wait up!” They looked ahead and saw a little gray pegasus colt with a swept back dark gray mane and purple eyes running towards them as he yelled, “Can’t catch me, big brother!” Not far behind him was a dark gray Pegasus stallion, his mane in a mohawk-like style, colored silvery blue, his cutie-mark a stormcloud with lightning, his eyes a light gold and furrowed as he pursued the colt. The colt, Rumble, ran right to Big Mac and hid behind forelegs, laughing as his brother caught up. “Sorry if we’re bothering you, Big Mac. A certain somepony decided to play tag.” “No harm done,” Big Mac assured as he gently pushed Rumble towards his brother. “Oh, Ah have somepony Ah’d like y’all ta’ meet.” He turned to the unicorn and said, “Midnight, these are Thunderlane and his lil’ brother, Rumble. Thunder’s on the Ponyville Weather Team.” “Nice to meet you,” Thunderlane said, holding out a hoof when Rumble popped u in front of him, looking up at Midnight. “We saw you earlier today, how come you don’t have a cutie-mark?” Midnight’s ears drooped as he looked away self-consciously, Thunderlane saying, “Rumble, don’t be rude!” “It’s okay,” Midnight said but sighed while doing it. “My name is Midnight Blaze, and believe it or not, I don’t remember much my life before yesterday. I don’t even know why I don’t have a cutie-mark.” “Ah ran into him outside Ponyville an’ decided to help `im out,” Big Mac added. “Sorry to hear that, bud,” Thunderlane said before giving an encouraging smile, “but you’re in good hooves with Big Mac.” “Big brother, aren’t we gonna go to the-” Rumble was saying but instantly found Thunderlane’s hoof covering the colt’s mouth. “Uh, ignore my little brother,” he said with a sheepish smile as he then grabbed Rumble and said, “We gotta go, talk to ya later Midnight!” And with his brother secured in his arms, Thunderlane flew off. “Wonder what that was about,” Midnight said aloud. “Probably has somewhere ta’ be,” Big Mac replied, a knowing glint in his eyes Midnight failed to see. For the rest of the day, Big Mac introduced Midnight to a few friends and acquaintances, sometimes sharing Midnight’s story of not remembering who he was or why he didn’t have a cutie-mark. Before long it began to grow tiresome, and Midnight asked if they could go back to the farm. Upon arriving, Big Mac, having a distinct feeling, said, “Say Midnight, think y’all could do me a favor?” “Sure, what is it?” Midnight asked. “Go in th’ barn an’ get mah hoe?” he asked. “Ah want it on hoof fer tomorrow.” “Sure thing,” Midnight replied as he started towards the barn, not seeing the smirk on the farmer’s face. 3 – 2 – 1… Big Mac thought as Midnight went in, and all of a sudden, the barn came to life with light and confetti as there was a shout of “Surprise!” “MACINTOSH!!!” Midnight yelled from the barn, realizing he’d been had.