Applejack trotted down the path leading to Ponyville Elementary, greeting Sweetie Belle and Rarity with a pleasant “howdy” as they passed.
“Apple Bloom,” she called out, “Let’s get back to the farm so we can get started on –”
Applejack stopped suddenly as Big Macintosh stepped out of the schoolhouse, with Apple Bloom trailing a few steps behind him.
Applejack raised an eyebrow at her brother. “Hey now, didn’t you do this yesterday?”
“Eeyup.”
“Sure you don’t mind takin’ care of Apple Bloom this afternoon, too?" Applejack said. "It’ll be an awful lot of work, teaching her how to fix up the–"
“Nope.”
The pair trotted off down the path without another word.
“Alright, so I’ll head on to the apple stand and take over for Granny Smith in just a minute,” she called out.
Applejack heard the “eeyup” fading in the distance as she entered the schoolhouse. Cheerilee was alone inside, cleaning some math off the chalkboard.
“Oh, good afternoon Applejack,” she said, beaming. “Big Macintosh has –”
Applejack interrupted, “Picked up Apple Bloom for the last four school days in a row.”
“I know! He’s such a hard-working, upstanding, young gentlecolt, looking after his family like that.”
“Yeah, but I worry about him sometimes,” Applejack said. “He works so much that he never has the chance to meet anypony.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” replied Cheerilee. “On the days he runs the apple stand he talks to ponies all the time.”
“No, I mean meet anypony.” Applejack sighed. “I worry that he’ll spend his whole life all alone, with nopony special to share it with.”
“Aww, he’s just a little shy. It’s sweet that you care about him, but don’t worry so much. He’ll take things at his own pace, and figure something out on his own,” Cheerilee responded confidently.
“I dunno about that,” Applejack said. She frowned, pausing to think. Cheerilee was about to speak up, when Applejack simply said, “I gotta get to the apple stand.”
She left without another word.
That evening, Applejack sat in the library, explaining her problem to Twilight Sparkle. Twilight listened attentively, nodding while slowly sipping herbal tea.
“And when he does leave the farm, he’s always on family business. Either he’s bringing barrels of apples to the stand, or he’s meeting Apple Bloom after school.”
Applejack paused briefly to swipe a teacup off the table, upending it and draining it all at once. Twilight Sparkle used this break to get a word in edgewise.
“You can’t force this kind of thing, Applejack. It can be tough for someone like Big Macintosh to make friends, let alone try dating. He meets and talks to ponies all the time; I’m sure he’ll warm up to one of them,” she lectured calmly.
“Yes, but he just doesn’t make friends like I do. Just look, I have all you good friends. Big Mac’s talked to y’all plenty of times, but he doesn’t really know any of you.” On saying this, Applejack paused for thought.
Twilight delicately levitated the teapot to pour more tea into Applejack’s cup.
“Thanks, Twi,” said Applejack, picking up the cup to gulp it all down.
Twilight hesitantly said, “So, you’re thinking one of your friends should …”
“Yes! That’s it!” blurted out Applejack, splattering a few drops of tea on Twilight’s saucer, teapot, and mane. “I’ve got all these good friends, and I’m sure my brother’ll love to, y’know, get to know y’all and have fun!”
“And you think I can help with that?” Twilight asked with a frown.
“Well sure! Isn’t there a book about setting up dates in here somewhere?” Applejack asked.
Twilight’s eyes lit up and her frown quickly faded. “Of course there is!” she exclaimed.
She cheerfully scanned the top shelf, and levitated down a colorful soft cover book. Humming to herself, she set it down on the table and flipped through the pages, forwards and backwards, before letting it settle closed. A happy mare and stallion, both with heart-shaped cutie marks decorated the cover, underneath the title 44 Fabulous First Dates.
“We just got it,” said Twilight proudly. “It’s from the editors of Cosmarepolitan magazine, so you know it’ll be full of really great stuff.”
Twilight’s eyes twinkled as she quickly read the first few pages. Applejack scooted up next to her.
“So, ummm,” Applejack said.
“According to Cosmare, a good first date should allow for plenty of conversation, be in a non-crowded place where there are nonetheless other ponies nearby. Hmm …”
“So, should we set him up with?” Applejack asked. “I reckon we could try tomorrow afternoon.”
A purple glow engulfed the pages, causing them to fly by as Twilight spoke. “Tomorrow afternoon? Rarity has big order of hats to work on, so she’ll be busy,” said Twilight, her eyes glued to 44 Fabulous First Dates. “Ooh, you can do it in a gazebo; that’s a smart idea. There’s a storm tomorrow night, and Rainbow Dash is heading to Cloudsdale to pick up some cumulonimbus clouds from the factory. Ooh, isn’t that outfit adorable? I think Pinkie Pie has tomorrow afternoon off. Ooh, I could never do that in public, no matter how handsome the stallion is!” Twilight blushed a little as she continued. “Here’s a good idea, a picnic!”
“Well, there is a nice park near Apple Bloom’s school,” Applejack ventured. “There’s a pond there where ducks like to swim around.”
“That’s perfect! Feeding the ducks is the perfect conversation starter, see?” said Twilight, pointing a hoof at an illustration of a laughing couple tossing crumbs to ducks. “So, I’ll just brew up tea for two –”
“Y’know that I really love your tea, but Big Mac isn’t much of a tea drinker,” said Applejack, punctuating her statement by picking up the tea pot and pouring the last couple swallows of tea directly into her mouth.
Twilight Sparkle’s mouth was wide open as she stared at Applejack, temporarily distracted from her book. 44 Fabulous First Dates flew shut and remained shut until Applejack put down the pot, licked her lips, and sighed contentedly.
Silence filled the room.
At last, Twilight broke the silence, saying “Okay, just bring a bottle of …”
“Apple juice,” suggested Applejack.
“Sure, and I’ll talk to Pinkie Pie in the morning. I’m sure she’ll pick out some great snacks from Sugar Cube Corner,” said Twilight.
“Okay, we’re all set. My brother and Pinkie Pie will have a first date that will be truly special,” Applejack proclaimed.
“I think you mean pleasant and relaxing,” corrected Twilight.
Applejack looked at Twilight quizzically.
Twilight Sparkle held up the book and continued. “The picnic in the park is one of the pleasant and relaxing dates, numbers 1 to 14. The truly special first date ideas are numbers 37 to 44.”
“Um, sure,” said Applejack tentatively. “I’m sure Pinkie Pie will show my brother a pleasant and relaxing afternoon.”
This looks promising.
Pleasant and relaxing and....Pinkie...Pie this will end in tears for somepony
Pleasant and relaxing? Pinkie Pie?
This can not possibly end well
I don't read ship-fics much but this looks fun and disastrous. I'll give it a try.
So Applejack went to, out of all the ponies in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle who had to be ordered at pretty much horn point to make friends for relationship advice... this ain't going to end well. Good start and I'm already going to take a guess at who Big Mac ends up with, and it ain't going to be Pinkie Pie that's for damn sure.
This is going to be interesting for sure.
In the Name of Her Serene Majesty,
Celestia's Paladin: For Honor and Duty, For the Sun and Moon
This looks to have promise. Tracking.
Big Mac + Pinkie Pie will not end in
Not particularly great, in terms of the writing itself that is, but the story seems interesting enough, so I will be tracking to see where this is going.
Big mac and pinkie pie? He won't even have time to say eeyup!
Big Mac x pinkie pie
.............
E'yup
Hey,
Prediction: Big Mac's five dates with each of the Mane Six he is not related to will all end in various forms of disaster.
Edit: Made some other part of that prediction stuff vanish because I made lazyd3vil sad (sorry).
JMH
well, to quote a certain pink pony, I'm hooked.
255124 okay, thanks. You ruined it for me. Although I guess I would've figured it out eventually myself... Meh, still gonna read it
254504
images.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw3041_small.png
255280
Sorry. Recall that I could easily be wrong (and past evidence of my wrong or rightness in many other arenas would suggest that is likely). Also, I deleted my prediction so it doesn't make anyone else sad.
JMH
ooooooooooo looks like a good one
Definitely looks promising. Added to Track.
Also, Cosmarepolitan magazine made me laugh
Pleasant and relaxing....and Fluttershy likes kicking bunnies into brick walls.
This may turn out well but relaxing it won't be.
this is promising but pinkie with relaxed and pleasant that doesnt mix right to me. lets see how this ends
Am I gonna track this one?
Eeyup.
Great stuff so far. This date however will end in tears and blood.
awesome stuff here cant wait for your next update
This looks promising. Tracked.
Oh yes, what could POSSIBLY go wrong...
Good one, tracking and waiting for more!
+ =
255301 SHE LOOKS PLEASANT AND RELAXED
Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
I rest my case.
255712 Anything that involves any kind of sure law (look for the case Physics vs Pie) is screw because of pinkie
the defense rest
255727 You sound like a Nazi to me.
Also, Godwin's Law.
This will not end well. The chaos shall be GLORIOUS.
255741 Lawyer, genius. Not nazi.
Finally a straight version of the ApplePie shipping pair.
prepare for diabetes.
3.bp.blogspot.com/-beVhQA8D17I/TzmXUZL69TI/AAAAAAAAe7I/KldsOt7N27g/s1600/family_stroll_by_iraecoal-d4pkbv1.jpg
This is my favorite odd shipping pair.
255301 I'll take that as "This will end very, very,very, VERY badly"
This story will end up one of 4 ways:
He falls in love with Cheerilee.
He falls in love with Fluttershy.
He falls in love with Twilight.
He was gay the whole time.
I'ma take a wild guess and say Big Mac likes Cherilee
Oh poor Big Macintosh. Pinky is not the right candidate at all. But I would love to see it work! I'm not a fan of Cherille, I say no to Big Macintosh X Cherille and Fluttershy.
255891 lol he is talking about the Godwin's law
its always a good fun been in the brony side of the internet
Big Mac X Pinkie Pie? Okay, I'm game.
Oh this is going to be a disaster... Pinkie Pie on a RELAXING date? Seriously?
anabolicminds.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=51505&d=1327199456
Setting up quiet, timid Big Mac with Pinkie Pie...
My first thought: What are Applejack and Twilight thinking?
My second thought: I can't wait Bwhaha.
So, it's a redux of Hearts and Hooves day, only with different characters and no love potion?
Interesting.
*tracks*
I dont know what the rest of you are thinking, but Big Mac and Pinkie would be perfect together. I mean Pinkie has got to be the most relaxed out of all the Mane 6.
This shows promise!
more plz :>
Hmm... I LIKE it!
I'm really liking this story. And I'm so looking forward to the next part!
"Pleasant" and Pinkie Pie do go together, but "relaxing"? Not so much!
... Oh dear.
I smell blood
Tracking.
OH god..................
I don't normally beg but PLEASE PPPLLEEEEEASSSSSSSEEEEEEEE
Have this be A Pinkie x Big mac
This would probably be the first of its kind (If I'm Wrong PLEASE show me)
we need new ships
especially crack ones
Celestia's about to get her favorite letter yet.