//------------------------------// // Interlude : Exhausted Introspection Under The Apple Tree // Story: Away From The Acres // by Machiniman20 //------------------------------// Sorry for not getting this up sooner. I really wanted to write, but I've been having some trouble with it considering the way I wrote Pinkie's intro chapter. I feel like I'm rushing the story, as I'd really like to make some long term character advancements in all of the Mane 6, as well as Big Mac himself. Due to this, I've made a change in Pinkie's chapter. Instead of fainting, he runs out of Sugarcube corner, and that's where we start off here. Again, I don't feel so sure about this chapter, so, as usual, criticism is welcome! Midnight had now settled, the rain had stopped, and the darkness did not impede Big Mac's speed as he continued to gallop through the streets of Ponyville, ignoring his body's cries of resistance. It had been a long day, and though the bag around his neck wasn't ridiculously heavy by any means, he'd been carrying it all day, and he only had one goal. Big Mac wanted to get somewhere where nopony could find him in the morning. He needed time to think about all that had happened. It would be too much to say that there was any sort of love between him and the various mares he'd met throughout the day, but there was definitely a connection. What kind of connection, he didn't know... but he needed to think, away from the town, away from the farm, even. He wasn't good at keeping secrets, and AJ was really good at finding the truth. If she learned what had happened, she would be more than just mad. Big Mac needed somewhere to hide. With this in mind, he slowed his pace, and began to check his surroundings. Fortunately, his frantic sprint had led him down the road to Sweet Apple Acres. He knew from experience he could get lost in the acres of farmland without anypony noticing, and lay low for a while. After passing the farmhouse, he headed into the massive expanse of apple trees. Before too long, he had reached the lake near the border of the Everfree Forest. He followed the border until he reached the very corner of Sweet Apple Acres. Upon seeing that the town of Ponyville was a relative speck from this vantage point, he began to relax. He wandered along the border of the farm some more, a little way away from the forest, and found an apple tree that was large enough to shade him from the morning sun. Big Macintosh sat down under the large tree, beginning to relax, though he did not expect to sleep. Suddenly, a very audible "POP!" was heard, a flash of blue light lit up the scenery around him briefly, and a prominent voice came to him over the quiet of night, shocking him into full awareness once more. "Big Macintosh, why do you wander so far from Ponyville? We do not usually disturb those who We see during the night, but We must inquire why you have such a... troubled countenance about you." Big Mac nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard and saw who was addressing him. "Oh! P-Princess Luna, your majesty." He bowed, but rose again, curiously "Were... were you watchin' me? No offense, of course. I'm just feelin' mighty paranoid, all that's happened to me today. Also, it ain't everyday that a princess just teleports in to say hello." Princess Luna looked at him for a moment, analytically. "We take no offense to your- Oh, that's right, my apologies. I take no offense to your statement." Her voice quieted greatly, much to Big Mac's relief. "My apologies, I've been trying to stop using such antiquated forms of speech. It's... slightly difficult. Regardless. I was not watching you, but it is my duty to oversee all that occurs during my night, and I observed your meeting with Miss Pinkamena Pie. I could not help but notice your... frantic exit. I teleported here, as I wanted to ask why you are so troubled, and if I may be of any assistance. I get quite bored during the night, as I do not usually interact with the common ponyfolk, considering they sleep while I am awake. Would you be willing to talk with me of your problems?" Big Mac was slightly uneasy about her sudden change in mood, but he felt that if he could trust anyone, it would be Celestia or Luna. He had never met either of them directly until now, but he knew that they were regarded for their passion in helping the citizens of Equestria. Maybe Luna was just the pony he needed to see. He relaxed again, slumping down on his haunches and leaning heavily against the tree. His muscles still ached from the panicked sprint out of Sugarcube Corner, and though he could deal with a little pain, his mental state seemed to magnify the pain in his body. "You know what, Miss Luna, I think I would be happy to talk to ya for awhile. Got a lot on my mind, see. Now, goin' by what you said, you watch the night. Now, you must've noticed that I don't sleep too much. I normally just work the farm from before sunrise to late at night." Luna nodded, and looked at him with an expression of empathy. "Yes, I have noticed that. Are you certain it is not best that you, like other ponies, get sleep during the night? It is important to rest. Not that I mind the concept of somepony being awake during my night." Big Macintosh looked at her again, and nodded. Luna sat down in front of Big Mac, listening intently as he began his story. "Yeah, I should be sleepin' more. I figured that out recently. I went to take a nap a couple days ago, and I ended up asleep for a whole day. My sis, AJ told me that I needed a day off, y'see? So I laid myself down for the rest of the day, and I woke up today, and hit the town, meanin' to meet Applejack's friends, and thank them for helpin' out durin' last year's Applebuck Season, since I was out with an injury, and my sis was so tired she was just fallin' asleep while she was workin' out on the fields. And so, I went on down to Twilight Sparkle's house..." He recounted the entire day's events to Luna, and he went to high amounts of detail with the emotions he had felt, hoping it was possible that Luna could help him understand what was going on in his mind. He felt a little bad, leaning on a Princess as though she were his personal psychologist. She remained there, though, listening to every detail he pointed out, and nodding. Her facial expression remained empathetic, if not becoming even more so. "And then I ran into you, Princess. More stressful than any workday. I don't mean to push all my problems on you, but do you know at all what's wrong with me? I'm more frightened for my own sanity than anything." Luna looked at him for a moment, and then responded, in a very knowing tone. "Well, I believe I do, but... It's strange, you show the main symptoms of being lovestruck, in all of these cases. I mean you no offense in this, but the circumstances regarding your day are, to be honest, extremely odd. I am very knowledgeable in the area of romance, but I have no idea how one can be lovestruck so easily. I mean you no offense, of course, but I would like to meet you again to discuss this, as I find your situation very... interesting. If you wish to meet me again, I will be watching over the night, and all you need to do is come to this tree, as I can tell you would prefer your mental state to be private to others. I need some time to think about your predicament, as well as some time to discuss things with my sister, if that is all right with you." Big Mac nodded, before responding in a cautious tone. "That's fine, but keep it between you two, if you could. I don't want anypony knowin' about this, though I think I made that clear. Thank you very much. I'm gonna rest here, though I don't think I'll be able to sleep. I'll need to lay low around here for a while. There's plenty of food to eat nearby, and I can drink from the lake over there." Luna's expression changed to a slightly more concerned one. "Are you certain? That seems to be a rather rash decision. I promise I will keep these meetings between me and Celestia, should they continue. And if you truly want to remain here for a time, I won't argue with you... However, I may be able to help you sleep. I learned a relaxation spell recently, it's very similar to healing, and you still seem to be in quite the state. Would you like me to help you to sleep?" Big Macintosh looked at her for a moment, skeptically, but he decided that she had not said or done anything to break his trust in her up to this point, so he agreed. "I really appreciate it, Princess. Thank you for bein' so helpful. It feels good to get all of that off of my back." Luna smiled at him. "I watch the night, and those who live through it. You are under my protection during the night, and I cannot allow you to remain in such a stressful state. To do so would greatly displease my sister, and it would disturb me as well. We have the utmost respect for our subjects. Now simply relax, this should feel numbing." Her horn glowed a moonlit blue, and Big Mac could feel his muscles relax, from his forelegs all the way to his hindquarters. He slumped down as his muscles relaxed, and he could feel his mind slipping away to sleep, and though the occurrences of the day remained in his mind, the headache he had accumulated began to fade. "Good night, Big Macintosh." Luna said, and she flew away towards the castle. Big Mac felt his conscious thoughts slip away, happily letting sleep overtake him as he sat alone, underneath the apple tree.