Big Mac Reads Something Purple

by Bad Horse

Alternate ending

Sometime later, Twilight returned and found the lavender-colored book still lying on the table. She read the title. "Hmm! I didn't think there was anypony else in this town who'd be interested in neuroponynomic theory."

She wondered what story Big Mac had decided to read to the fillies. She wasn't worried—he was such a gentle and respectful soul that he wouldn't read anything himself that was inappropriate for the girls. And he was so sensitive, and so attentive to the little fillies, he would figure out quickly enough what they liked and didn't like. He could probably be a good storyteller if somepony could get him to talk.

She realized she had no idea what sort of stories he liked. It was just one more mystery about the quiet giant.

She sighed as she returned Theoretical Research in Neuroponynomic Decision-Making to its proper place on the shelf. She could understand almost all of the equations in it, but that wouldn't impress a practical pony like Big Mac. He probably wouldn't even remember her name if she weren't a friend of his sister.

Honestly, she didn't understand why any of her friends liked her. All she had to offer was facts and insights about things that didn't interest them. Nopony had really liked her in Canterlot. Now they did. Which meant she might stop being likeable at any moment. So she studied harder, because that was all she knew how to do.

That was best—to keep doing what she was doing, and not take any chances. She just wasn't good at personal relationships. She bit her lip, and tried to focus on the task at hand, pushing some of the books on the shelf, and pulling on others, until they were all flush with each other again.

Comments

[Sneaks]

Umm....What?

[Ninjuto]

What does "Flushed with each other" mean?

[lowercaseM]

831042
It means that they all lined up so that the bindings where they have the title would all be smooth rather than some being further in than others.

[TheLastHeroOfInsertHere]

Doesn't really add anything the original ending didn't already have, so it feels sorta..... empty I guess

[Bad Horse]

829067
3.bp.blogspot.com/-58nLEGZFFq8/TtP-flVi14I/AAAAAAAAV5U/9fHCN-xBHYg/

[Bad Horse]

825406
827402
828048
830284
Thanks for realizing this is a sad story.

For those who are still confused:
- Big Mac can't read. So he makes up a story about what's on his mind, which is Twilight.
- He was happy to sit and watch, and was disappointed that Twilight is leaving, and chooses a lavender-colored book, and tells a story about Twilight and calls her the smartest mare in the world, because he's in love with her.
- He doesn't talk much because he's afraid of sounding stupid, and the CMC twice tell him, basically, that he sounds stupid. He admires Twilight for being able to talk in front of crowds because he can't.
- He doesn't think Twilight would be interested in an uneducated farmer like him, and the CMC, without realizing it, ridicule him for even thinking that he has a chance with Twilight. When he says, "Ah'm, ah'm sorry it was such a silly story," that slight stutter for Big Mac is supposed to be the equivalent of any other pony breaking down and bawling their eyes out.
- Ending 1: And he doesn't have a chance with Twilight.
- Ending 2: Twilight likes him too; and each of them thinks the other couldn't possibly be interested in them, and will never risk letting the other pony know.

Was that too subtle? It seems like a lot of readers didn't get it.

830284
Equestria doesn't have compulsory education. Ponyville has a private school, which is too expensive for most ponies, because Cheerilee's coke habit isn't cheap. (Pinkie Pie has the local market cornered, thanks to Shining Armor's protection racket.) That's why the CMC are picked on mercilessly by the rich kids, who resent having poor people in their school. Spike can't afford to go, Applejack had to take out a second mortgage on the farm - and let's just not talk about how Rarity pays for it.

831099
What? It has MOAR SADNESS! Isn't that great? Hmm. Maybe not. I see your point. I had these two ways of ending the story, and didn't know which was better, so I eventually posted both. But I never came up with a happy ending.

Which ending do people like better? There's not a big difference, but I care about little differences. One is hopeless for Big Mac. The second is sad for both Big Mac and Twilight, and has some extra sadness from knowing how close they are to happiness; but isn't completely hopeless.

[Harwick]

I liked this alternate, yet still bittersweet ending. It actually makes sense to me that Twilight would be unaware as to why people in Ponyville liked her when she never used to have any friends. It's a sad little window into her lack of self-confidence when it comes to such things. It was also tragic yet touching how she devalued her knowledge, knowing nobody around her cared much about such things, and how she suspected Mac would find it pointless.

Thanks for sharing this alternate take!

[jack_fraust]

832046
no, it is not to subtle.

I enjoyed the additional ending.

[unph]

First thing, I'd just suggest taking out some of the "X said"'s. Normally, it's no big deal, but try not to have too many in a row. I saw like, three of them consecutively, so yeah. You could also do with removing the "Ah's" because readers already know the Apple Family accent. Using apostrophe's is more subtle, and easier to read.

Anyway, great stuff. I liked both endings, the second one a bit more. I love the way Big Mac makes up his story, especially with the "plow teeth" and "bigger plow teeth" part. You did a good job with the characterizations of all the ponies included, so that's also a plus. It was a good read!

[Bad Horse]

832415
Usually I tell people they're wrong when they say that, because they usually are. But you're right. Too many "saids" in this case. I took some out.

Ah don't know about the "ah's". I feel like if I start taking them out, I have to take them all out. Then people would complain that he doesn't sound like an Apple.

Thanks!

[Frizzy]

If he asked Twilight to teach him how to read, maybe their relationship would grow.

[Bad Horse]

833742
That's a pretty good idea.

[nemryn]

832046
None of the endings are hopeless, really. Sweetie blabs about it to Rarity, who's suspected it for a while but never had any proof until now, and then she can't resist meddling.

[Admiral Biscuit]

Neurponynomic

Neuroponynomic?

(Did I ever mention that I borrowed this title [with attribution] in one of my fics?)

[Bad Horse]

11236816
DERP!
It took 10 years for someone to catch that typo. (Which you duplicated in "Celestia Sleeps In". Yes, I know. There's just no point in suing you until you make some money off it.)

Also... epithymurgy?