The first thing Sol Do felt upon regaining consciousness was the lovely touch of silky smooth bed sheets under her person. The pleasant sensation brought a smile to her lips and she shifted a little to the left, feeling the unmistakable fluffiness of a pillow under her head, and settled deeper into what she recognized as Rarity’s guest bed.
She slowly lifted her eyelids open, revealing a white roof and a hint of purple in her eye’s right corner. Turning in that direction, she saw a set of purple curtains with tri-diamond marks draped over a window, confirming this to be Rarity’s guest room.
Rares might be a Prissy Pete, but she sure knows real hospitality. Sol Do snuggled deeper into the bed. “... Wait a second!” She bolted upright, only to wince as a sharp lance of pain shot through her head, sending her sprawling backward onto the bed. She let loose a loud whinny of agony as the pain churned in her head, leaving Sol Do a shuddering pile under the sheets. “Ooooh,” she groaned, clutching her head.
A flurry of hoofsteps sounded out in the hall before stopping at the guest room’s door, followed by a series of light knocks and a familiar voice filled with concern. “Sol Do! Darling, are you okay!?”
Sol Do just moaned and shifted in the bed again, unable to form a coherent response through the pain.
“I’m coming in then!” Rarity called.
The door opened, and Sol Do heard her cousin’s hoofsteps approach the bed. She felt a warm fetlock drape across her body and turn her so she was making eye contact with Rarity, whose lips were pursed.
“How are you feeling?’ Rarity asked.
Sol Do sat up extra carefully. “Like horseapples,” she replied, letting out another low moan while pressing a hoof to her forehead. “What happened ta me? Last thing Ah ‘member was drinkin’ with Big Mac an’...”
“You passed out drunk, darling,” Rarity answered. She got up on the bed and gently stroked her cousin through the sheets. “Not before you spilled the beans, however.”
Sol Do made a passable attempt at cocking her head to the side in confusion before her eyes widened like saucers in realization. “You don’t mean...?”
Rarity nodded once.
Sol Do let out something like a cross between a whimper and a squeal before collapsing back onto the bed, ignoring the new pain spike which shot through her head in response. Her lips trembled as she brought both hooves over her eyes, stalling any further responses for several seconds, all while Rarity never ceased stroking.
“I could just die now,” Sol Do finally said, letting her hooves drop a little, allowing Rarity to see how puffy and tear-ridden they’d become. “Really, just let me get struck by lightning so I don’t die of embarrassment first.”
“Yes, I know that feeling quite well,” Rarity soothed, “but the pegasi haven’t scheduled a thunderstorm today.” She stopped stroking and gave Sol Do a warm smile. “Besides, wouldn’t the better solution be to talk it over with Big Mac?”
Sol Do gave her cousin a pointedly deadpan stare. “Do you want me to die?” she asked, her tone only laced with a small hint of sarcasm.
“Oh come now, dear cousin, surely you can’t feel that humiliated!?” Rarity returned her cousin's deadpan stare with one of her own. “What happened to the rambunctious, free-spirited miner that’s always gung-ho on achieving her dreams? People make mistakes all the time, and Big Mac isn’t a stallion who’d give anypony the cold shoulder over even something as major as somepony saying they have a crush on him.” Her gaze softened as she continued. “He even said he’d be willing to talk it over when he brought you here last night, and if you really do ‘like like’ him then you’ll trust he won’t disrespect your feelings.”
Sol Do just sank further under her covers, her eyes downcast. “But… what if he doesn’t return my feelings?’
“Then you’ll have to stop chasing after his heart,” Rarity stated matter-of-factly. “That is what you agreed to do, remember?’
“But how’s it fair if he knows how Ah feel ‘bout him now?” Sol Do gave Rarity a worried glance. “My whole plan was ta let ‘im grow attracted to me over time so he’d eventually reciprocate my feelings. But now that he knows I have my heart set on him, he’s probably gonna tell me he ain’t interested, even if he might’a been if Ah didn’t screw up.”
Rarity pondered over her cousin’s words for a moment before smiling wistfully at her. “That may be the case, or it may not be; I can’t know.” She got up off the bed and headed for the door. “What I do know, however, is that avoiding Big Mac isn’t going to solve anything. Better to talk with him and get this weight off your chest, even if it means learning he can’t reciprocate your feelings for him.”
Sol Do sighed. “Yeah, I s’pose y’all are right.” She sheepishly scuffed a hoof across the bedspread, again looking downcast. “Doesn’t make it any easier, though…”
“I know you can do it, dear cousin,” Rarity assured. “Just as you can save Big Mac from a chimera, you can talk with him over this little… awkward situation, let’s call it.” She opened the door and stepped out into the hall. “But first, how about some breakfast, hmm?”
Sol Do made to get out of bed, only to be reminded of her hangover by another sudden pain spike. “I’ll be down when Ah’m feelin’ up ta snuff,” she said, and laid back down.
Rarity snickered. “You really drank yourself stupid, huh?” she teased, and closed the door.
Sol Do huffed. Mental note: avoid Zap Apple Cider from now on.
At Sweet Apple Acres, up in a two story window sat Apple Bloom, misery clearly present in her features as she looked at the surrounding countryside. It was a bright and beautiful day out, and she couldn’t enjoy it at all.
Being grounded sucks, she thought with a sigh.
Suddenly, a sliver of movement in the distance caught her attention. Looking toward it, she could make out a pony coming along the road towards the farm, one with a familiar straw hat and green mane.
Apple Bloom smiled and waved once Sol Do reached the front gate. “Heya Miss Do!” she called. “Up here!”
Sol Do turned to face Apple Bloom, allowing the filly a brief glimpse of her frown before it lifted into a small smile. “Hello Apple Bloom,” she replied with a small wave.
Apple Bloom pointed towards the orchard. “If y’all are here fer my brother, he told me ta tell you he’s out in the western fields.”
Sol Do’s eyes seemed to gain a distant look to them before settling into a downcast expression. Apple Bloom noticed this and frowned in confusion. “Everythin’ alright, Miss Do?” she asked.
Sol Do looked up. “It’s nothin’.” She turned halfway toward the orchard. “Thanks for tellin’ me where he is.” She started walking away, only to stop when Apple Bloom spoke up again.
“What happened last night, Miss Do?”
Sol Do did and said nothing for several seconds, just standing where she was like a statue, only her mane and tail moving in response to a light breeze. When she eventually turned around, Apple Bloom found herself surprised, and a little disturbed, by the hard stare Sol Do gave her.
“A word of advice, Apple Bloom,” she said in a stern tone, “when you get old enough to drink, make sure you never do so in the presence of friends or family, or else you’ll risk doing something you’ll heavily regret.”
Apple Bloom tilted her head in confusion. “Uh, sure thing. Thanks,” she said, and retreated back inside.
Sol Do let out a long winded sigh and resumed her trek into the orchard. It only took a few minutes of searching before she found Big Mac inspecting some trees that looked a little deader than the rest, their husks slightly shriveled and with fewer leaves along their branches. From what Sol Do could see, he didn’t look particularly annoyed or disgruntled or anything that indicated he was upset in any way over what happened the previous night. And yet, she found herself still hesitant to approach him.
C’mon, Sol Do, you can do this. Rarity’s right, you’re a courageous sort. Gotta get this over with.
Sol Do began approaching Big Mac. Her steps would seem normal at a distance, but closer inspection would reveal her legs to be trembling slightly. Her mouth set in an uncomfortable frown while her lips twitched every other step and a bead of sweat ran down her forehead. Over and over in her mind she kept telling herself to just keep walking forward, doing her absolute damnedest to silence the voice in her mind’s recesses telling her to book it.
Big Mac didn’t notice her until she was within a few meters’ distance away, but didn’t say anything until she’d reached him.
“Hello,” he said in a perfectly neutral voice.
“H-H-Hello,” Sol Do stuttered, then both mentally and physically slapped herself for it.
“Y’all feelin ‘kay?”
Sol Do nodded, rubbing the spot where she’d slapped herself. “I had quite a nasty hangover, but yes, I’m feeling fine now.”
Big Mac nodded himself and smiled. “Good ta hear.”
An awkward silence stretched between the two afterward. Sol Do looked sheepishly down at the ground, unable to bring herself to speak. She could feel Big Mac’s eyes boring into her skull like two critical drills, judging her resolve. She only relaxed when Big Mac gave a small cough and gestured with his head down the line of trees.
“Let’s walk an’ talk,” he said, neutrally.
Sol Do visibly relaxed and nodded. “Yes, of course,” she said, and stepped up to his side.
The two began walking deeper into the orchard. The trees on either side of them, Sol Do noticed, were visibly less lively than what she’d seen throughout most of the orchard. Fitting, actually, given how uncomfortable she was feeling. She managed to work up the courage to face Big Mac, but actually speaking with him about what happened was another issue entirely. She decided to stall for time until she could do so.
“So, what’s up with all these trees?” she asked, avoiding Big Mac’s gaze.
“They’re really old, and haven’t been gettin’ much water lately,” he replied, plainly. “Might have ta chop ‘em down iff’n they can’t grow some apples.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Sol Do said softly. She smiled and looked around them at all the greenery. “It’s such a lovely orchard.”
“Thank you,” came Big Mac’s reply.
“... I’m sorry.”
Big Mac stopped. He turned around to face Sol Do, who was looking down at the ground, straw hat covering her eyes. “Hmm, what’s that?” he asked.
Sol Do let out a heavy sigh and finally looked up to face him. Big Mac was surprised to see her eyes were threatening to burst with tears; a few trickled down her face and fell to the ground. Her legs visibly shook, almost enough that it looked like they were going to buckle.
Sol Do let out a slight scowl and wiped her eyes free of tears, silently cursing her waning constitution. “I’m sorry for what happened last night,” she repeated. “I cannot believe I let that cider get the better of my judgement and let loose such a paramount secret.”
“So…” Big Mac tilted his head, “...all that stuff y’all said was true, then?”
Sol Do sighed again and furrowed her brows, closing her eyes. “Yes, everything I said was one hundred percent true.” She returned his gaze, her own softening a little as she continued. “I was infatuated with you from the moment we first met. That infatuation grew into proper love as we spent more time together, until I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted your hoof in marriage.” She chuckled sheepishly. “Feels even weirder admitting all of this sober than drunk.”
Big Mac said nothing for a long while, retaining his curious gaze while a look of contemplation steadily crossed his face. Sol Do suddenly decided that the trees were more interesting than she’d initially believed and turned to look around at them all, and yet, much as she wanted it not to, her gaze kept returning to Big Mac.
Sol Do felt conflicted. On one hoof, she was glad that Big Mac wasn’t outright shunning her and actually seemed to be considerate of her feelings. On the other, not knowing what exactly he was thinking about, and whether he would still want to be at least friends afterwards, unnerved her.
At last, Big Mac returned his full attention to Sol Do. “What d’ya see in me?” he asked.
Sol Do turned to him with a small frown, her cheeks a slight shade of red. “Did I not say so last night during my little… confession?”
Big Mac shrugged. “Honestly, Ah was too caught up in my surprise ta really be listenin’.”
Sol Do let out a sheepish chuckle. “Yes, I suppose you would.” She straightened her posture and put on her best winning smile. “Big Mac, let me go on record as saying that I’m genuinely surprised you aren’t already hitched.” She chuckled again, more heartily, at Big Mac’s abashed expression, and continued. “You’re strong, kind, patient, very smart despite what those snobs up in Canterlot might say about a country pony like yourself, and not too bad on the eyes if you catch my meaning,” she finished with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
Big Mac smiled and rolled his eyes. “How flattering…”
“But really, there’s so many admirable things about you that it’s simply impossible to not want you.” Sol Do closed a bit of distance between them, hesitating for a second before firmly planting her hoof forward, brows furrowed in resolution. “I had hoped that, by spending lots of time together, eventually you’d return my feelings and we could actually become lovers.” She let out a sigh. “But now that plan’s shot.”
“But why me specifically?” Big Mac asked. “Ain’t there anypony back in Hiddenite y’all have an interest in?”
Sol Do shook her head. “No, sadly,” she said with a frown. “My coworkers are quite a dashing bunch, but their work ethic is rather lackluster. There’s times I feel I might as well be mining by my lonesome, because they’re just that lazy.”
“Sorry ta hear that,” Big Mac said, frowning himself.
“Oh, it’s nothing bad at all. Truth be told, I probably could run the mine all by my lonesome and nothing would change, but I digress.” She smiled earnestly and took a few more steps toward Big Mac, leaving little more than a meter or two between them, as she continued. “But I’m looking for a stallion who can help me shoulder the workload of living as both a lover and a partner. You’re the first stallion I’ve ever met that I can honestly envision adhering to that ideal. At least, I’d like to think you are. Maybe I’m being a bit too presumptuous?”
Big Mac laughed and shook his head. “Ah think it’s reasonable. Heck, Ah can’t imagine myself gettin’ hitched to a mare that’s anything but a hard worker. Them bein’ pretty would just be a nice bonus.”
Sol Do’s smile fell into a small frown and she glanced down at the ground. “I’m sure she would be.”
She scuffed the ground with a hoof, only to look back up when Big Mac closed the remaining distance between them. His face was wholly neutral, but the way he stared down at Sol Do ignited a very strong feeling of nervous excitement within her. A sliver of hope that maybe Big Mac wouldn’t turn her down after all filled her heart.
For a few seconds he just stood there, silently staring without so much as a whisper or a blink. Then he bent down towards her face, and Sol Do’s heart suddenly went into overdrive while her cheeks turned crimson. Small, ragged breaths escaped from her mouth as Big Mac’s lips closed in on her forehead, whereupon he laid a gentle kiss just underneath her horn.
The world seemed to go still as Sol Do’s mind locked up in that brief moment in which Big Mac had kissed her. A flurry of emotions and questions swelled up inside her, swirling throughout her head like a hurricane while fighting each other for dominance. Why is he kissing me!? Why on the forehead and not the mouth or cheek? Why no tongue action!? Could this mean he’ll agree to marry me? Oh Celestia there’d better be nopony watching!
But every single one of her questions was ignored and stowed away for later use as Sol Do closed her eyes and relished in the soft warmth coursing through her in response to Big Mac’s sudden advance. Never before had she experienced a real, full contact kiss from a stallion, and the way Big Mac expertly puckered his lips against her forehead in that brief second made her thirst for more, prolonged contact.
Eventually he broke the kiss, brought his gaze back down on her and smirked slightly at the blush adorning her cheeks. “Felt good, did it?” he asked, playfully.
Sol Do snapped from her shock and coughed into her hoof, trying, and failing, to appear unfazed. “Yes, I suppose it did,” she replied, looking aside slightly for a moment before returning his gaze. “I’m honestly surprised you had the gall to do that just now.”
Big Mac’s smirk grew twice as large. “Y’all wanted a kiss, an’ that’s what ya got.” He laughed at Sol Do’s abashed expression.
“To be fair, I wasn’t in my right state of mind when I asked for it,” she replied sheepishly, her blush returning a little.
“True, but y’all wouldn’t’ve had it on yer mind iff’n ya didn’t want it to begin with.”
Sol Do let out a defeated sigh and nodded once slightly. “I guess you’re right.” She looked down at the ground again, only to return her attention onto Big Mac when he laid a hoof on her withers and resumed speaking.
“Listen, Sol Do, lemme talk serious fer a moment ‘bout what happens from here on out. ‘Kay?”
She nodded.
“Good. Now, lemme start things off by sayin’ Ah think you’re a wonderful mare. Not many gals out there love bein’ covered in mud and workin’ up a good sweat, at least outside of my family. If Ah’d been told y’all were Rarity’s cousin after the fact, I would’ve told them ta pull the other one and quit screwin’ with me.”
Sol Do chuckled. “Sometimes I wonder that myself,” she said.
“Ah don’t doubt that we’d be a happy couple. You’re everythin’ Ah’d want in a potential wife, but Ah’m just not ready fer that kind’a commitment right now.” He frowned. “My family has it hard enough tryin’ ta provide fer just us; addin’ one more’d be too much, even if you’re a hard worker. Not ta mention, if foals come about…”
Sol Do tensed up as another blush crept across her cheeks. “Yes, that would be rather problematic, I suppose.”
Big Mac nodded. “But don’t think Ah’m sayin’ we’ll never be an item,” he continued, “just not right now. Maybe in a few years when Apple Bloom’s moved out an’ Granny’s laid to rest it’ll happen, but that’s still a big maybe.”
Sol Do nodded solemnly. “It depends on whether or not you can return my feelings, yes?” she asked.
“That’s right.”
Sol Do looked downcast. “What’re the chances of that happening?” she asked, more to herself than to Big Mac.
Big Mac smiled. “Well, iff’n y’all’re gonna be spendin’ more time in Ponyville from now on, maybe they’re greater than ya think?”
“... I suppose that’s true.” Sol Do looked to him with her own smile. “You wouldn’t mind if we spent more time together, then?’
“Not at all,” Big Mac replied with a shake of his head. “Truth be told, Ah was gonna suggest we do so ‘fore ya beat me to the punch.”
Sol Do giggled.
Big Mac gestured with his head around them. “So, wanna help me check out the rest of these ‘ere trees?’ he asked.
“Y’all better believe I will!” Sol Do said with a grin. “But only iff’n we can stay together the whole time?”
Big Mac smiled. “Fine by me.” He turned around and began heading for the nearest tree, beckoning Sol Do to follow.
She did so, with a smile on her face and spring in her step, her previous depression completely forgotten.
The platform was crowded with ponies and their baggage as they all waited for the train to arrive. The sun was high and many ponies took to fanning themselves with whatever suitable objects they had on person. Expressions ranging from impatient frustration to tired exhaustion adorned everypony’s faces as they waited for the train to arrive, now five minutes late from its expected arrival time of 1:00 p.m.
At the far end of the platform, Sol Do stood with her blue luggage bag at her side. Rarity and the other former Element Bearers, along with the Apple family, Sweetie Belle, and Spike all stood in a group with her.
“Ah swear that train needs a new firebox iff’n it’s gonna be slow as molasses,” Granny Smith groaned, lightly stamping the platform with her hoof. “Darn young’uns can’t keep ta schedules nowadays.”
“Oh, I assure you it’s perfectly alright, Granny Smith,” Sol Do replied with a casual flip of her mane, before flashing Big Macintosh a saucy grin. “A little delay ‘s a’ight with me.”
Big Mac snorted out a laugh and rolled his eyes.
“I do hope you enjoyed your stay, dear cousin,” Rarity said after flashing Sol Do and Big Mac a playful smirk. “Even aside from all the shenanigans we ended up partaking in.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised Ponyville was completely unaffected,” Spike said, only to earn a cross look from Twilight. “What?”
“It was awesome havin’ ya around Miss Do!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with a short hop. “Ah can’t wait fer you ta come back.”
“Me too,” Sweetie Belle agreed. “You’re the bestest cousin ever!”
“I might not have gotten to see you too much this time,” Fluttershy spoke up next, “but I enjoyed having you around very much.”
“I second that!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed from overhead. “When you get your second house here, I’ve gotta show you around Cloudsdale!”
“And I still need to introduce you to the Cakes and my own family!” Pinkie chirped.
Applejack nodded. “And y’all were a mighty big help ‘round the farm, so consider yourself welcome there anytime.”
“Golden Oaks too,” Twilight said with a smile.
Sol Do let out a hearty laugh. “Good to see y’all enjoyed my company.” She looked askance to Big Mac again, giving him a more genuine smile before saying, “An’ Ah enjoyed yours’ as well.”
Big Mac smiled back. “Eeyup.”
“Finally, it’s coming!” came a voice from the crowd.
Everypony turned first towards the voice, then down the line where, indeed, the Friendship Express was approaching the platform. Everypony immediately lifted their bags and waited.
“Well, looks like this is goodbye,” Sol Do said as she levitated her luggage up next to her. “I should be back within the next few months, after I’ve finalized the deal on my new house.”
“Have a safe trip, dear cousin,” Rarity said.
“Thanks cuz,” Sol Do replied as the train pulled into the station. “An’ y’all be safe too. With all the crazy stuff that happens here, y’all oughta have a contingency plan if things get ugly.”
“We’ll manage just fine,” Twilight said. “We always have.”
The train pulled into the station, slowing down until it stopped perfectly aligned with the platform. The doors opened, and ponies quickly began filing in, taking care not to drop their luggage in the crowd or lose sight of their loved ones.
“Well, see ya,” Sol Do said as she fell last into line, making way toward the last coach. Before she stepped hoof in the door, she turned around and said, “One last thing; Big Mac?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
Sol Do gave him a stern look, like a mother would give their child for swiping cookies from the jar. “Don’t you dare get hitched while I’m gone.”
Big Mac chuckled while everyone else stared wide-eyed in shock before he smiled and placed a hoof against his forehead in a mock salutation. “Sure thing.”
With a smile and a nod, Sol Do entered the coach, the doors closing behind her.
“Why’d she say that, big bro?” Apple Bloom asked Big Mac. “What’s ‘gettin’ hitched’ mean?”
“Ah’ll tell ya later, little sis,” he replied, and turned toward the coach that Sol Do had entered, quickly locating the country unicorn. He waved a hoof goodbye as the train started to move back along the track, everyone else following suit once they’d recomposed themselves.
Sol Do waved back as well in the few seconds she had before the train moved beyond the platform, even blowing Big Mac a kiss through the window. Once the platform was no longer in sight, she settled into her seat and began imagining what possible future she and Big Mac would end up sharing.
One day, we will be partners…