//------------------------------// // 151. Big Mac's Big Dilemma - Part 1 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Today was important for Big Macintosh, and it was perfect that the girls, particularly his `Shy, had all left to get started on restoring the Castle of the Two Sisters. Blueblood was attending a meeting in Canterlot, Soarin had been called away on Wonderbolts business, Thunderlane was overseeing the weather office, it would be just Big Mac, his brothers and little sister, and his grandmother at the farm. However, even they were unaware of Big Mac’s plans. Midnight was off teaching Twinken a new spell, Apple Bloom was spending time with her friends, and Granny Smith was trying a new recipe. He’d have all the privacy he needed. His wedding wasn’t far off and he had to get started on the preparations. Finding the place to set up shop had been easy, but now came the hard part. He had his tools, he’d gathered the necessary supplies, all he needed to do was put it all together and… “Oh ponyfeathers,” Macintosh facehooved as he realized he was missing that special piece for his project. A little something he’d asked the local glass-worker to make for him a few weeks ago. Welp, may as well get it `afore Ah get started on this, Big Mac shrugged and walked off to town. As he walked through Ponyville, minding his own business, Big Mac noticed some of the local romantics, like Noteworthy and his girlfriends Lyra and BonBon, Cup Cake & Carrot Cake, and the thought that soon his `Shy would be his wife gave him a pep in his step. Arriving at the glassworker’s shop, Big Mac entered, a bell ringing to announce his presence, and he took in the various glassworks – Glass statuettes, sculptures, vases, glass tiles, glass lamps, chandeliers, and more. Approaching the counter he noticed the shopkeeper absent and so rang the bell a couple times. “Be right with you!” called a voice from the back, and not but a few moments later approaching hoofsteps preceded the shopkeeper stepping out from a door behind the counter, revealing an earth pony stallion wearing a faux-leather apron, protective goggles above his eyes, his coat was glass bottle-green while his copper mane was tied back. “Ah! Big Macintosh, I take it you’re here for your order?” “Eeyup,” Big Mac nodded, his eyes looking hopeful. “Ha-ha!” the shopkeeper stepped into the back and brought out a case almost three hooves long and wide. Setting it on the counter, he opened it for his customer to see and Big Mac was more than satisfied at the results. “Is it what you wanted?” “It’s perfect,” Big Mac reached for his work-collar and pulled out a baggy of bits, “ya’ve earned ev’ry cent!” “Ho-hold your horses, Big Mac,” the shopkeeper chuckled, “I imagine this has something to do with an upcoming wedding?” Big Mac whistled innocently but couldn’t hide the smirk on his face that it made the shopkeeper laugh. “Well, I’m giving you a forty-percent discount!” “Forty-percent?! But-” Big Mac was about to protest but the shopkeeper held up his hoof firmly. “I won’t hear otherwise! So… That’ll come down to…twenty-nine Bits and six cents.” “Well thank ya most kindly!” Big Mac was really touched by what could only be a steal as he paid the bits. The shopkeeper then pushed the case to Mac, and he put a hoof on it, smiling. “This really means a lot.” “I’m sure she’ll love it,” the shopkeeper assured, “Now get outta here, lover-colt!” Strapping the case to his barrel, Big Mac stepped out and took in a deep breath of late-morning before he began the walk home. However, as Big Mac passed through town square… “Big Macintosh! Yoo-hoo! Could I speak with you please?” He turned to see the Mayor and her assistant walk up to him, the Mayor saying, “Big Macintosh, just the stallion I need. Would you be a dear and help me with something in my office? I just received a new podium and the old one’s too heavy for us.” “Sure thing, Ms. Mayor,” Big Mac followed them into the building, where he saw a podium standing in the middle of the foyer. “Big Mac, I just got a new podium and must get started on some paperwork but this old one has to go,” Mayor Mare explained. “Would you be a gentlecolt and take it to the dump please? It’s just me and my assistant today in the office, and neither of us is strong enough to carry that thing all the way to the dump!” “Eeyup,” Big Mac made sure the case holding his order was strapped to the side of his barrel before maneuvering the old podium onto his back. “Thank you so very much, Big Mac,” Mayor Mare thanked but then abruptly went into her office without another word. Her assistant looked to Big Mac and shrugged apologetically. Big Mac didn’t mind this little side-trip, as the dump was on the way back to the farm, and the podium on his back wasn’t that heavy. Leaving town hall, he started down Stirrup Street, saying howdy and that he was fine to the passerby when… “Big Macintosh! Wait right there, son!” He stopped and turned to see Filthy Rich come up to him, “Big Mac, I could really use your help! A shipment I have coming to my store by wagon got one o’ its wheels busted and I need somepony to help change it for the spare!” “Well Ah kinda got a few things t’-” Big Mac hesitated but Filthy Rich insisted. “Oh it shouldn’t take long! Just a wheel that needs replacing, c’mon!” Big Mac found himself getting pushed towards a different way and ahead he saw a wagon full of crates, a troubled stallion standing by it, and the left rear wheel was broken beyond repair. “Lemme just get that off your back,” Filthy Rich removed the old podium from Big Mac and set it aside. Still a little hesitant to deviate from his goal, Big Mac ultimately allowed himself to be shuffled over to the cart. The damage wasn't immense and would only require a new wheel, but with the cart weighed down by so much stock, a jack wouldn't likely hold it long. This meant that he'd have to unload at decent portion of the cart before he could even begin the repair. "Ah'm afraid Mr. Rich tha’ this here might take a while and Ah..." however before he could finish his sentence, Filthy Rich had grabbed a hold of his face and was now staring at him intensely. "Please Big Mac, I really need this cart fixed and quickly or I stand to lose a lot of money! I really need your help right now! We've been business partners for years now, please help me!" Big Mac stared at him in surprise for a second before giving and annoyed sigh and a classic ’Eeyup' before turning back to the cart. Quickly he turned back to the cart, and with the assistance of the other stallion, he moved several of the crates from the cart. They certainly weren't light and the contents appeared loose, as more than once he had to regain his balance after getting a hold of one. Filthy Rich seemed grateful for the help, but every few seconds or so he kept glancing back at the town clock and shifting back and forth on the tips of his hooves in impatience. After moving the final crate out, Big Mac moved towards the damaged wheel before noticing a fatal flaw in his plan. "Uh, Mr. Rich, do ya have a spare wheel?" The blank look that Filthy Rich gave him made the answer rather obvious. "My. Rich, Ah can't exactly get th’ cart fixed without a new wheel. Th’ current one’s far too damaged t’ be repaired and Ah'm not Eris, Ah cain't jus’ poof a new one into existence for ya." Filthy Rich gave annoyed grunt of agreement before he looked around, hoping to find some sort of alternative. Finally he glanced back at the cart and at Mac. "Well I guess I only see one course of action. Thanks for your efforts so far, Big Mac..." Big Mac gave a friendly nod and a sigh of happiness. He hadn't managed to fix the cart, but it seemed Filthy Rich had found an alternative. He could finish his delivery to the dump and finally complete his present for his Fluttershy. Now he just had grab the podium and... "But it seems I'm going to need you to deliver the crates to my store without the aid of the cart. I'll rush ahead and let the buyers know that there has been a delay and stall them a little. Thanks for the help here Big Mac, I really appreciate it." then before Big Mac could offer a single objection, he bolted off into town, leaving Big Mac with a broken old podium, a broken cart and now a dozen heavy crates to be carried into town. His eye twitched and a series of curses filtered through his head hoping to be shouted out in anger, but Big Mac had far more control then that. So with light kick of frustration to the broken cart (which then promptly broke into piles of timber. Had he kicked it hard, somepony's house may have suddenly had a pile of debris smash into their house) he began loading up crates onto his back, readying himself for what would likely be several painfully heavy trips back and forth into town. One thought slipped out of his lips in a grumble as he set off. "Ah should'a just said Nnope..."