//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: A Little Smarty Problem // by Sparknanator //------------------------------// A Little Smarty Problem By Sparknanator *** Twilight sat on the couch, letting out an exasperated sigh as she ran her hoof through her mane; getting rid of the ribbons that had been placed in it in between all of the games she had been roped into, “It seems this is the first time somepony has hosted a slumber party.” Twilight cracked an eye open and saw Ditzy trying to hold back her laughter, “Don’t worry Twilight,” She said with a grin “It get’s easier after the first time.” “Just as long as Smarty is happy I don’t mind it.” She partially lied, she did want Smarty to be happy but why did they have to have so much energy? She stood up to stretch when she heard a knock on the door, “I’ll get it.” Twilight walked over to the door and opened it with her magic. When she did, she could only stare in shock and a bit of annoyance “Hey Twilight,” Big Mac said “Mind if ah come in?” He asked only for Twilight to move out of the way slightly. She wasn’t sure if he had come over on his own accord or if somepony had put him up to it but either way she wasn’t happy about it. “Oh good you made it!” Ditzy chirped, hovering next to them. When she looked at Twilight the purple mare was giving her a stare that could nearly compete with Fluttershy’s. “Listen I know you two are angry with each other,” She began, “But I had Applejack get Big Mac over here.” Twilight continued to glare at Ditzy, “And just why would you do that?!” She asked, this wasn’t the first time she had been a annoyed at something that Ditzy had done but this one, to her at least, was by far the worst of it. Soon she landed and stood in front of them “Because you two need to work this out.” She said ignoring the angry looks “As much as you two hate it this is for Smarty’s benefit and like it or not it’s better if she sees her parents getting along.” Ditzy said firmly “Now I can keep the girls busy and you two go into the kitchen.” *** Both Twilight and Big Mac sat at the kitchens table in utter silence, neither of them sure where to begin “Twilight,” Big Mac said attempting to break the ice. He knew the mare well, sometimes he knew her better than she knew herself “Listen ah don’t want us ta’ start treatin’ each other like an’ old divorced couple.” He said while Twilight continued to look at him. She soon got up from her seat “Come on Twilight we need ta’ work somethin’ out.” He tried to keep the mare from leaving the room. He had always wondered why Granny Smith had said he was wise beyond his years and it was situations like the one he was in that made him understand what she meant ‘She’s bein’ bout’ as stubborn as Applejack’ He thought when he saw a glass being set in front of him. And soon Twilight sat another glass down “Here,” She said pouring some tea into his cup and then her own “Do you want some sugar? Or milk in it?” She asked in a, to Big Mac at least, surprisingly calm voice. “Ah’ll just drink it plain.” Big Mac said. Twilight sat back down and continued to stare at the stallion, as much as she didn’t want to admit it she did want to attempt to work something out but before she could speak Big Mac had begun, “Listen Twilight ah respect ya’ ah really do,” He sipped his tea “An’ no offence when ah say this but ah jus’ don’t see ya’ as the parent type. As far as ah know ya’ don’t have any experience.” She felt her blood boiling at the minor accusation she had plenty of experience “And how do I know you have any experience as a parent?” Twilight asked feeling slightly ashamed that she had said basically the same thing to him. Big Mac gave the purple mare a deadpanned look “Ah’ve helped raise both Applejack an’ Applebloom not ta’ mention that ah’ve helped on tha’ farm fer’ as long as ah can remember.” He stated “An’ as far as ah know yer’ only siblin’ is Shining Armor so unless ya’ have another siblin’ that is younger then ya’ ah hold my doubts that ya’ have any parental experience.” She could almost feel the blood rushing to her face “Spike.” Twilight said simply. “Ah don’t follow” Big Mac blinked all she had said was the dragons name “That is why I know for a fact I’ve helped raise a child.” Twilight motioned to the fridge “Look at all those drawings,” She pointed at a random one “That is the one he made me for mothers day,” She pointed to another one “And that was one he made me on my birthday a few years ago.” Twilight closed her eyes attempting to keep calm “I don’t want to hear you say anything about me not knowing what it’s like to be a parent because I sure as hell know what its like!” Twilight seethed. “I might not have had friends myself when growing up but I always made sure he had somepony in his age group to play with,” Twilight pounded a hoof on the table “And I always made sure he got something for his birthday and for Hearths Warming.” She took a deep shaky breath, still trying to keep her tone a calm one but for the most part failing. “Do you remember last year? The day after his birthday the...incident.” Twilight asked receiving a nod from Big mac “That day I had a doctors appointment but it is my duty to make sure he is happy and healthy! This is one of the reasons I love Ponyville.” Twilight almost felt like she was going to cry “Do you know how many ponies used to talk behind my back in Canterlot?” She wiped her eyes “Because I do and I hate remembering it and ever since we’ve moved to Ponyville nopony talks behind my back and nopony ever judges Spike or myself! They just see him as a happy little colt.” Twilight could barely control her emotions by that point, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes as memories of fillies and colts conversations she had overheard. Big Mac could only stare “A-ah didn’t know...” He stuttered out Applejack had never told him that but then again it wasn’t her place to tell him that “Twilight ah jus’ want things ta’ be good between us fer’ Smarty’s benefit.” Soon an awkward silence joined the pair until they both heard a high pitched scream causing them to both run upstairs as fast as possible. *** Upon arrival Twilight saw Ditzy with a pair of tweezers in her mouth and Spike sitting on her bed “Just hold still I’ve almost got it.” Ditzy said through the tweezers. Twilight felt her heart nearly stop “And” The grey mare pulled them away from Spike’s foot “Got it!” “Spike,” Twilight quickly rushed over to him “Are you alright?” She began checking his feet. “I’m fine” Spike said “I just stepped on some glass.” Twilight’s eyes widened “But Ditzy got it out!” Looking over at her Twilight saw Ditzy giving her a smile, “When you’ve been a parent as long as I have you learn a few tricks and what some screams mean.” She beamed “And that one was clearly a scream of pain.” Ditzy went to put a bandaid on Spike’s foot while Twilight kissed the baby dragon on his head and wiped the few remaining tears from his eyes. Spike blushed and tried to push Twilight away as much as he pretended to hate it he really loved all the attention he got even though he wouldn’t tell anypony that but they all had known it already anyway. “Well it’s good to know you're alright.” *** A few hours had passed when Twilight and Ditzy had agreed it was time to get the fillies to bed. Ditzy had made sure to tuck them in and Twilight had assured to be in there to read them all a little story, but first she had to take care of Spike for the first time in what had seemed like forever she had gotten him to agree to sleep in his room. “Alright Spike,” She gave him a little on his forehead “Are you comfortable?” She asked getting a small nod from Spike her horn began glowing as she levitated something over to him “And I’m sure you want this.” She said placing a teddy bear next to Spike and watched as he snuggled it.