PART I: Shared Dreams
Chapter 5: Back at the Farm
Big Mac walked up the steps to the front porch of the farm house. He felt tired. After Princess Luna left, Big Mac continued to work the fields. Big Mac was the strongest pony around, but the old plow made the work extremely difficult. The family had wanted to replace that saggy old plow for sometime. Applejack even attempted selling the family’s fares at the Grand Galloping Gala in order to earn enough money for the new plow along with a whole heaping of other improvements to the farm. Yes, that would be a night Applejack, along with the other Elements of Harmony, would never forget. Perhaps Big Mac should have taken the princess up on her offer of a new plow. Nnope. He could not take advantage of her like that. She didn’t owe him anything.
Big Mac opened the front door and stepped inside, heading towards the stairs. He heard rattles in the kitchen and a familiar voice. “Is that you Big Mac?” called Applejack.
“Eeyup.”
“Did you get the fields plowed?”
“Eeyup.”
Applejack poked her head out from the kitchen. “Granny Smith and ah are makin’ yer favorite fer supper. We'll be ready to eat soon, ya'hear?"
“Nnope.”
“No? Did ya just say ‘no’?” asked Applejack. She trotted over to Big Mac who was at the bottom of the stairs.
“Eeyup.”
“Ya feelin’ al’right Big Mac?” Applejack put a hoof up to Big Mac’s forehead.
“Eeyup.”
“Well ya don’t have a fever” puzzled Applejack. “Ain’t ya hungry?”
“Eeyup.”
“Well what’s wrong Big Mac?”
Darn. Everyone knew Big Mac preferred yes/no, or in his case, eeyup/nnope questions. Now he had to start talking, and he knew that it would only lead to further questions. When she learned of his dinner plans, Applejack would start an interrogation. “Ah got plans for dinner.”
Surprise smacked Applejack. “Ya got plans for dinner?”
“Eeyup," replied Big Mac as he started to climb the stairs, the boards creaking under his weight.
“The Ponytones dinner tonight?” asked a confused Applejack. She could have sworn Rarity scheduled it for next week.
“Nnope.”
Applejack thought for a moment. Big Mac was a very shy pony. He didn't rank as timid as Fluttershy, but he didn't rank as sociable as Rarity either, to say nothing about cousin Pinkie Pie. Who else could he be meeting? “Well who ya meetin’?” called Applejack as Big Mac reached the top of the stairs.
“Luna.”
“Luna? Which Luna?” Applejack thought she had met everypony in town, but the only Luna she knew was Princess Luna of Canterlot.
“Princess Luna.”
“Princess Luna!?” Applejack shouted, shock punching her in the gut. Her response was so loud she was sure Granny Smith would have heard and, if she wasn’t out with the Crusaders, so would have Applebloom. “What in tarnation are ya doin’ havin’ dinner with Princess Luna!?” She bounded up the steps after her brother.
“She came by today as I was plowin’ the fields. Wanted to thank me for savin’ her life.”
“And when were ya goin’ to tell me all this?”
“It’s no big deal, just wanted to show her ’preciation. Said it was the least she could do after I turned down the ten thousand bits.” Damn. Next thing Big Mac knew Applejack was muzzle to muzzle with him staring straight into his eyes.
“SHE OFFERED YA TEN THOUSAND BITS!?”
Timidly Big Mac replied “Er-yup?”
Big Mac felt the fire in Applejack’s eyes. “Ya know what we could have done with ten thousand bits!?”
“Er-yup?”
“Well?”
Big Mac chose his words carefully. “It wasn’t right, takin’ her money, Applejack. She was hurt somethin’ awful and ah couldn’t just leave her there to die. Ma and Pa raised us to help ponies in need cause it’s the right thing to do, not because we expect somethin’ in return.”
Applejack stepped back and rubbed her head with her hoof. Big Mac was right, and she felt ashamed. She humbly removed her stetson and took a breath. “Ah’m sorry big brother. Ah understand why ya turned the money down.”
“That’s al’right. Luna had a hard time understandin’ why ah didn’t want the reward.”
“Well, where’ya goin’?” Applejack asked, moving the converation away from the lost money and her shame.
“Don’t know. Said she’d meet me at the Town Square at seven.”
“Well ya better start hoofin’ it. That’s in an hour.”
“Eeyup.”
“Ya look like a mess. Ya been out in the fields all day workin.” Applejack hurriedly looked over her brother.
“Ah don’t recall ya frettin’ when ya meet Twilight or when ya met the other princesses.”
“Yeah, but ah knew Twilight before she became a princess. And everytime ah met the other princesses ah was always with the gang. Ah ain’t never had a dinner alone with a princess.”
“Ah don’t think we’ll be alone. We’re gonna try fer one of the restaurants in town.”
“Well, ya should still look respectable” Applejack said as she hastily began figuring out how to get her brother ready for his dinner with Princess Luna.