Apple Bloom just wanted the school day to end. Celestia's Sun was shining and it was too nice of a day to be cooped up in a tiny school house. She had also been antsy to see if Mac's mystery mare received his letter. Was it Marble Pie? Fluttershy? Rarity? Maybe even Princess Twilight! I can't take this suspense! She'd been watching Miss Cheerilee all day for any signs or changes in her behavior. Whoever it is, I bet they'll be so happy! Maybe they'll even ask me to be their Mare of Honor!
Finally, the school bell rang. All the colts and fillies gave a cheer as they rushed out the doors eager to enjoy this beautiful day. Apple Bloom remained behind to question her teacher. "So, Miss Cheerilee..."
"Yes Apple Bloom, what is it?" Her violet-colored teacher replied.
"Have you, uh, gotten any interestin' letters lately? In the mail, Ah mean," she inquired with a forced smile.
"No, although I haven't checked today. Why do you ask?"
"Ohhhh, no reason," Apple Bloom seemed somewhat disappointed. She had always liked Miss Cheerilee and would love it if, maybe one day, they could be sisters-in-law. "Ah gotta get goin' now.... important.... farmin' business!" With that, she too dashed out the doors of the school. Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo were waiting just outside.
"Hey, Apple Bloom!" called Scootaloo "wanna-"
"CAN'T!" interrupted Apple Bloom. "Important farmin' business!" She didn't really have any farming business. She just wanted to search around town to see which pony received Mac's secret love letter. Maybe even the Mailmare was still delivering it so she could just follow her. She had originally seemed disinterested, but in the last few days this romantic mystery seemed to grow on her. Passing by the first few ponies she found, she indeed saw a change in their attitudes. Most were smiling and giggling. Some even appeared to be singing. Confused, she asked the first pony why she was so happy.
"Oh, I'm just excited for the Ponyville Anniversary Party!" responded Sea Swirl.
"The Anniversary?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yeah, I have a feeling it's going to be the most magical, romantic night!" Sea Swirl trailed off with a sigh, lost in her thoughts.
Apple Bloom let her be and started walking away. It wasn't long before she started noticing other ponies behaving in very much the same way. Something funny is going on here... she thought. There's no way I'm going to find Mac's mystery mare with every pony making googly-eyes. It was no use, she might as well go home and see if her friends were doing anything interesting.
Arriving back at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom saw the gray mailmare just delivering today's letters. She too seemed unusually happy. She tried puckering her lips together in a failed attempt to whistle a joyful tune. Instead, she spit and sounded like she was trying to blow out a bunch of candles. Completed with her current task, she took the air and flew away.
"WAIT!" Apple Bloom yelled, hoping the mailmare could tell her to whom she had delivered the letter. She was too far away however, the mailmare took off to finish her rounds. "Shucks! Now Ah'll never know!"
Apple Bloom walked toward the mailbox to inspect today's mail. She noticed that each member of her family received their own letter. "These must be Pinkie's party invitations," she assumed correctly. She opened her letter, only to have streamers and confetti explode into her face. "Yep..." She took out the invitation and inspected it for the details. "Next week....outside Town Hall....starts mid-morning", everything seemed normal.
A second letter fell out of the envelope. Confused, Apple Bloom bent down to pick it up. "Huh? What's this?" She unfolded it and inspected the words.
To the sweetest, most beautiful Pony I know,
"Uhhh.....?" It was Big Mac's letter, and it was still not addressed to anypony specifically! "Why did I get this unless...uh oh.....WAIT!" She started to put the pieces together. "THIS WAS IN WITH PINKIE'S INVITATION! AND PINKIE'S INVITATION WAS SENT TO THE ENTIRE TOWN! EVEN THE PRINCESSES ARE GETTING THIS! EVERYPONY IS GOING TO THINK BIG MAC IS SENDING THEM A LOVE LETTER!"
Apple Bloom felt as if she was going to faint. She was in SO much trouble when Big Mac found out; worse, when APPLEJACK found out. Poor Mac would probably never be able to show his face again! "What am I going to do?!"
Sweetie Belle approached the farm with an adorable skip in her step and a note in her mouth. Like most young fillies, she had an innocent crush on Apple Bloom's large but gentle big brother. She came to Sweet Apple Acres to see if Big Mac was home before noticing Apple Bloom sitting forlorn on the ground. "Hiiiii Apple Blooooom!" She greeted melodically. "Is Big Mac ho- , what's wrong? While are you sitting on the ground?"
"Sweetie Belle, it's horrible! Remember that letter Ah sent to the post office the other day?"
"Yeah..." answered Sweetie Belle.
"Well it seems the mailmare mixed it in with Pinkie's party invitation and now everypony's gonna think Big Mac wrote them a love letter and it's all mah fault and he's never gonna forgive me and go into hidin' , never to show his face AGAIN!" She started to cry. Sweetie Belle started to approach her friend to console her when Apple Bloom noticed the letter. "SWEETIE BELLE! NOT YOU TOO!"
Sweetie Belle tried in vain to hide the letter. "O-o-o-o-f course not! This... is for something else entirely!" she gave a false grin, though inside was very much disappointed that the love letter was not intended for her. "Come on," she helped Apple Bloom up, "let's see if we can stop any more letters or at least warn Big Mac." Apple Bloom nodded. As they turned around they noticed Scootaloo gleefully skating toward them performing effortless spins and tricks while holding her copy of the note in her mouth.
"Hey Sweetie Belle! Hey, Apple Blooooom!" she greeted with a wink. "What's up!"
"Don't ask!" Sweetie Belle said plainly.
---
Big Macintosh trotted through the streets of Ponyville with a very pleasant disposition. He had a skip in his step despite pulling a wagon full of supplies needed back at the farm. Ever since he got his feelings out, he attacked each day with a fierce determination. He could not remember one day where he wasn't happy to live his life. Applejack's advice actually seemed to work! That letter really did the trick, even though he never had to send it. In fact, all of Ponyville seemed to share in his exuberance. Everywhere he looked, ponies were smiling and waving at him; some even seemed to be giggling. It was a great day to be alive and a great day to be a citizen of Ponyville!
Trotting by a bench, he heard a familiar whistle. Looking around, he identified it as belonging to Twinkleshine. Upon seeing Mac, she would occasionally whistle her approval at the sight of him, to which Big Mac always took as a sign of just being friendly. Close by, he saw Bon Bon staring at him and biting her lip. Sitting next to her was her inseparable friend Lyra, sitting in her awkward position like some strange bipedal ape. She too winked at Mac as he passed by. Those two always seemed to be up to something when he was around, however today it seemed much more overt.
"We gonna see you at the Ponyville Anniversary celebration, Big Mac?" both asked in unison.
"Eeyup!"
Both giggled to each other as Big Mac continued on his way. Must be some celebration they have planned. Everypony keeps on talking to me about it. Continuing his stroll through town, he noticed the stares and smiles from Berry Punch, Flitter and Cloudchaser, the Flower Ponies, even Octavia and DJ Pon-3 noticed him walking by their house and changed the tune they were rehearsing to a romantic serenade. Oblivious as usual, Big Mac assumed everypony was just having a terrific day as well and continued on his merry way.
Coming close to the end of the market area, Big Mac caught the scent one of his favorite snacks. Turning his head he located exactly what he was looking for. Off to the side of the road there happened to be a small cart with an extremely large, white Pegasus with a Mohawk and comically tiny wings. It was Bulk Biceps and today he was making a little extra money by selling freshly roasted peanuts! He even had the costume, complete with an apron, an incredibly tight shirt with red vertical stripes and the sleeves ripped off, and a paper hat that was much too small for his oversized cranium. Mac approached the cart excited to obtain this delicious treat.
"I'll take a pound of nuts." Mac requested.
"THAT'S A LOT OF NUTS!!!" Biceps screamed back.
Mac flinched back. As often as Bulk Biceps screams, Mac will never get use to it. He recovered as Biceps took a bag and filled it with delicious, freshly roasted peanuts.
"THAT'LL BE FOUR BITS BABY!! YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT?!!!
"Nope!" Mac shook his head as he just wanted the peanuts. He paid Biceps the four bits (and an extra one as a tip) and grabbed his snack to munch on his way home. Now that he had to use one of his front legs to hold the peanuts, it made it that much more impressive to see him pull the fully loaded cart with only three legs, all while still making it look effortless. This display did not go unnoticed by the ponies staring longingly at him while he enjoyed his tasty snack, oblivious to the extra attention.
Apple Bloom sprinted through the market area, frantically trying to find her big brother. She split from the other Cutie Mark Crusaders so they could cover more ground. Finally, she came across Bulk Biceps at his peanut cart. "Bulk Biceps! Have you seen mah brother?! It's an emergency!"
"HE JUST LEFT!!! WITH NUTS!!!"
---
When Big Mac returned to Sweet Apple Acres he saw Applejack standing at the mailbox with an expression of disbelief. He smiled to greet his little sister and maybe even share the events of his wonderful day. She returned his pleasant grin with a stern sneer as she marched right over to him.
"BIG MACINTOSH!"
Uh oh, my full name! What did I do now? he thought.
"What in tarnation is the meanin' of this!" she berated, holding a letter.
Big Mac looked confused. He tried to examine the strange letter while Applejack waved it in front of his face. Unfortunately, it was upside-down and he couldn't make any of it out.
"IT'S NOT HIS FAULT!" Apple Bloom came running up the road, finally catching up to her big brother.
"What did you say, Apple Bloom?" questioned her sister.
Apple Bloom still tried to catch her breath as she explained. "It's not his fault. I took the note! I took it 'cause Ah heard you two talkin' 'bout it the other day. Then Ah saw it in his drawer and I thought he'd be too shy to send it. So I did! Then there was a mix-up at the post office and now everypony who's gettin' an invitation to the anniversary party is also gettin' a copy of that letter!"
All the color seemed to disappear from Big Mac's face. He didn't move. His eyes were open as wide as possible at this realization and his body stiffened into a complete catatonic state. The immobility was so complete that it was as if he were directly connected with the ground like a great stone monolith. Applejack tried to stir him.
"You all right there, Big Mac?" but to no avail.
Unbeknownst to them, Granny Smith stealthily dragged herself up to the mailbox. "Oh, lookie here! I got my invitation to the Ponyville Anniversary celebration!"
"NO!" both sisters shouted in unison.