//------------------------------// // 7 - End of Volume one // Story: I like Big Mac // by andrizzi //------------------------------// Big Mac arrived in front of Rainbow’s home at seven o’clock sharp. Immediately, the girl that he was going to take out approached his truck and got up. “Hi. Kept you waiting?” “Nope.” Big Mac restarted the engine as soon as Rainbow wore her seatbelt. In a perfect silence, they were driving down the road as the sun started to set down on the horizon. It was a peaceful and quiet trip, filled with unclear but powerful and beautiful emotions hidden inside the two youth. Until Rainbow Dash grew bored of it and decided to talk. “So, you said that the place is named ‘Medieval Times’, right?’” “Eyup.” “Any idea of how it is?” “Nope.” “Of course, you invited me just to check it out after all.” Another silence came, much to Rainbow Dash’s annoyance. Apparently, she was up to keep alive the conversation. “So, everything good at the farm?” “Eyup.” “Good, good.” Big Mac slowed down in order to stop in front of a traffic light. “Honestly, with you and Aj working there I don’t see what could go wrong. I mean, you’re the best farmers I’ve ever met.” She could taste all the skepticism of Big Mac just by his cocked eyebrow. “Fine, you got me. You’re kinda the only farmers I’ve ever met.” Big Mac giggled. “Oh, you think I’m funny,” grumbled she. Rainbow Dash leaned closer with the face of someone ready to argue hardly. “Well, look at this,” said she with menace. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash squeezed her cheeks between both her hands as she crossed her eyes and made the tongue. A single laugh escaped from Big Mac as Rainbow Dash was snickering. After they calmed down, they spent the rest of the trip by chatting of this and that. Well, she chatted. He was just happy to listen. “Are we close already?” asked she after a short while. “Eyup.” Finally, they arrived at their destination, there was a big parking field in front of a large building. It was adorned with tapestries and resembled a little castle. They left the truck at the parking and went straight in. Rainbow Dash walked a little slowly, though, taking a good look at the appearance of his escort. She surely liked what she was seeing. As they entered, they noticed that the tables were disposed of as the stands of an arena, complete with the arena. As they sat a maid came near and asked if they wanted chicken, beef or pork. “Who are you, Santa Claus?” asked jokingly Rainbow Dash. Big Mac was relieved by hearing that. He had started to fear that this place was way too filled with testosterone for her, but apparently she wasn’t bothered. Before they could start eating, they heard an announcement. “AND NOW, MESSERE AND MESSERI, WE ANNOUNCE YOU THAT THE ARENA OF THE PEOPLE IS OPEN. BRACE YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE COURAGE, FEEL FREE TO ENTER AND GRAB A WEAPON! FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT! FOR YOUR FEAST! FOR HONOR!” Big Mac spun his head towards Rainbow Dash and felt his heart miss a beat, twice. She was now looking at him like it really was Christmas this time, with glowing eyes and a big radiant smile. ‘She’s so wonderful,’ he thought, ‘but so scary too...’ “That was so awesome!” Rainbow Dash and Big Mac were leaving Medieval Times, heading for the truck. The former was giving voice to her excitement. “I knew that there were places where you could eat and watch people fighting, but a place where you eat and actually fight in the arena? That’s amazing!” Rainbow Dash had managed the awesomeness once again, she had won the crown of the ‘Toughest champion’ by being the last warrior standing in the arena after the fight. Of course, in order to win that she had to beat all the other participants. In particular, the second placed, who she didn’t recognize as defeated until she wasn’t satisfied. Guess who the poor fella was. Big Mac climbed onto the vehicle barely holding back a whimper. Despite the weapons were made out of rubber, Rainbow Dash managed to deliver some heavy blows to him. “We totally have to come back sometime. Hey, we could bring Applejack too.” For a moment, the image of both Rainbow Dash and Applejack wielding big weapons towards him flashed in Big Mac’s mind. He felt a shiver running through his spine. ‘Enope,’ he thought. “Hey, look at that,” said Rainbow Dash while pointing at a billboard. “The new Daring Do movie is coming out soon.” She turned towards him with a radiant smile. “Do you want to see it?” “Eyup.” “Neat.” As she realized what she had just done, Rainbow Dash lost her ability of speak for a couple of seconds. She had just asked him out. For a second time. And she was thrilled about it too. ‘Meh, who cares,’ she considered, ‘it’s fine. I’m totally ok with go out with him.’ Feeling reassured, Dash broke the silence. “What time is it?” “It’s past ten.” “Woah, time runs when you’re having a good time.” Big Mac drove her back at her home, while she continued to talk to him. It was pleasant for both of them, she felt like she was free to tell him everything and he absorbed whatever she wanted to share. He couldn’t understand everything, but he listened anyway. In the end, they arrived at the mansion and Big Mac parked the truck. He went down in order to stay by her side just for a little more. As they approached the front door, a sense of anxiety built inside Rainbow Dash. She knew that there was something that she had to face immediately. “Mac,” she muttered, “was... this supposed to be a date?” Big Mac stopped his pacing, while Rainbow Dash took another couple of steps before turning to him. They stared at each other in silence for a while. “I mean, like a boy and girl date?” Big Mac thought about how to answer. After an entire night of fun, she was suddenly looking worried. It was clear that his two favorite answers were not enough this time. It was his turn to talk. “It’s up to you. “If you want to think about this night as a dinner between friends it’s fine. Ah didn’t ask you to come as a formal date, Ah just wanted to spend some time with you. Ah wasn’t sure before, and Ah might be wrong now, but Ah like you. Ah like your look, Ah like your smile, Ah like your laugh. Most of all, Ah like when you talk to me. Ah’ve always liked the silence, it’s calm and peaceful, but you fill a void that Ah didn’t even know about before. “You may not want a relationship, but there’s something I have to ask you, Rainbow Dash. Ah want to be closer to you. Ah want to spend time with you and know you better. Ah want the two of us to share laughs and burdens. Ah want to be behind you when you cheer, and Ah want to be by your side when you need a shoulder.” Big Mac bit his lips, ready to say it simply. “Reckon Ah want to be your boyfriend, Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash was speechless. It was up to her now. She had to give an answer that had the potential to change her life forever. With fear, she discovered that she wasn't sure what to say. "You don't have to answer now," said he, noticing her discomfort. "Take your time to think about it." She silently nodded and the two of them departed for a good sleep. The next day Rainbow Dash woke up, left home and walked to school like any other day. She attended classes, ate lunch, slept on the desks, chilled out with pals. She did all of that, without being there. Her mind was focused somewhere else. On somebody else. After the last bell ringed, she went to the soccer field for her practice. She lined down several balloons in order to practice some different attacks. While she was performing one of them, Big Mac came for her. He waited on the center of the field in order to not interrupt her. “Ah reckon that Rainbow Dash was off today.” “You say, darling?” “She’s totally right, Rarity,” said Pinkie Pie, hugging Applejack. “Something was bugging Dashie more than a mosquito, but she wasn’t sad or something. I would have noticed if she was cranky. Anyhow, we should go to the soccer field.” “And why the soccer field, now?” “First, because Dash is going to be there, duh. Second, my Pinkie sense tells me that something blowing is just about to happen there.” “Something blowing?” asked Rarity, “maybe we should ask Sunset not to come then.” “Could you all please stop that? I’m not inflammable!” yelled an angry Sunset Shimmer. Pinkie tapped her chin in thought. “I’m not sure it is exactly blowing, but at least is something similar to that.” Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy arrived at the field a bit later Big Mac. All of them stopped at the corner of the field when they saw who was keeping company to Rainbow Dash. Nobody from the first group dared to do anything, it was Applejack the first to speak. “Well, do you think… they may be having something over there?” “Maybe… he followed my advice and went for it,” muttered quietly Fluttershy. “What was that, sugarcube?” Fluttershy didn’t respond, instead, she blushed madly and covered her face with her hairs. Applejack watched her with a raised eyebrow, thinking, ‘She’s been like this since yesterday.’ Her thoughts were stopped when she felt somebody poking her from behind. “Hi sis, have you saw Mac?” asked Apple Bloom. “Hey there, what are the three of you’ll doing here?” asked Applejack to the CMC. “I still have to show Rainbow Dash that I got my ball back,” said Scootaloo, showing proudly her soccer ball. “Ah wanted to ask you if you’ve seen Macintosh. He went on a date last night and he has to tell me all about it.” “Oooo,” echoed all the big girls, as they were putting the pieces together. “And Ah don’t suppose that he did tell you who his date was?” “There was no need to,” replied AB with a knowing look and a snicker. “Cheerilee should be grateful that Ah helped him dressing up for the night.” All the big girls stared at her dumbfounded for a moment. They all had that face that you make when you’re about to facepalm. And facepalm they did. Rainbow Dash had only one more ball to throw, she tapped her foot on it and focused on the net. She performed her best tricks for this one, and at least, on the right momentum, she gave her shot. She scored, of course, and she could almost hear the cheer of her countless fan as she stood up to gather some air. Then, she came back to reality. It was time to face him and she was ready. Rainbow Dash stood in front of him and looked Big Mac straight in the eyes. “I thought about it...” She exhaled. “I thought about it and I asked myself if this is what I want. Firstly I would have said no, but...” She scratched her arm. “But I’m not sure, I’m not really used to this stuff. The truth is that maybe, maybe… I like you, Big Mac.” She blushed. “So, I think we can try this out. I… perhaps, I want you to be my boyfriend.” Big Mac gave her a warm smile “Eyup.” The two youths smiled at each other, doing nothing but looking at on other in the eyes. Then their mouths went flat, as they heads got slightly closer... “Oh goodness, they’re about to kiss!” enounced Rarity. “My PinKie sEnSes ArE tICkliNg,” said a trembling Pinkie. “Yes, yes, yes, yes,” chirped excitedly Applejack. Fluttershy blushed. “Eww, straights,” said Twilight with a smirk. “Wait, what?” asked a bewildered Sunset, turned to the former speaker. Holding the hands of the other, Rainbow Dash and Big Mac’s lips were just a couple of inches away. Both of them were blushing madly, sweating and trembling a little. ‘Come on, Dash,’ thought she, ‘He’s right there, go for it!’ ‘Come on, Mac,’ thought he, ‘She’s right there! Geez, you have a beautiful girl right in front of you, she wants to kiss you, she’s waiting for it, you’re so nervous you could throw up and this will officially start your relationship. Where’s the problem?!’ Just for a moment, his eyes went up. ‘Wow, Was that sarcasm?’ Then he re-focused on Rainbow Dash. ‘Augh, I’m such a wimp,’ thought she, ‘If someone can hear me, please give me a push!’ Right in that moment, she felt something familiar and gummy hitting her nape. That final push was what she needed to collide her lips on Big Mac’s mouth. Eyes opened wide, they went over the initial pain due the collision and started to enjoy the kiss. They didn’t even notice the soccer ball bouncing near them. “Well, Scootaloo,” said Apple Bloom while watching the new couple, “Ah’ll say, that kiss was a ballown.” As soon as she said that, Pinkie stopped to tremble. “Ooh, so that was it,” she said convincingly. Then she questioned Sweetie Belle. “What’s a ballown?” Scootaloo chirped, “Now you have to allow it in our dictionary!” Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, sighing, “Anyhow, couldn’t you be more careful with your ball? Your aim has been terrible lately.” Scootaloo gave her a confused look. “What are you talking about?” Then she turned to watch smugly at Rainbow and Mac. “I just made a perfect center.” Every girl, big and little, watched at the proud Scootaloo with widely open eyes. Lastly, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash broke apart. They didn’t even dare to breathe, they just stared at each other again in a beautifully awkward moment. Until Rainbow Dash grew bored of it. “No way I’m counting that as my first kiss.” Then, she grabbed him by his shoulders and kissed him.