7. Spa Day
Spa Day
Big Macintosh couldn’t really say why, but the next day found him in a much lighter mood. It might've been because of the cathartic night he, his sister, and Pinkie Pie had last night. It had felt good to get a few things off his shoulders. And when Pinkie had finally fallen asleep the two Apples carried her home to Sugarcube Corner. Well, he carried her home while Applejack just walked beside him telling him to be careful for the sake of both the colt and the pink filly on his back. It had felt good to have his sister actually trust him with a bit of work for the first time in a long while.
As he made his way downstairs for breakfast, his harness back where it belonged, his mind wandered to the conversation he and Applejack had that night. Truth be told he thought the idea of ‘switching jobs’ was merely a way to placate the underworked stallion. After all, what exactly was he supposed to do? He’d pick a bone with her if not for the fact that it actually worked. Honestly he really thought it would have taken more than just a fancy job title to trick him. But he had to admit that, even as he walked into the kitchen to fetch an apple from the basket on the kitchen table, he couldn’t help but feel…needed. As if he really did have a job to do.
He shrugged. Whether he was imagining his importance or not it was a great improvement to how he’d been feeling the past few days. He could at least be thankful for that. But as he polished his apple on his chest the question still gnawed at the back of his mind: what was he supposed to do? Well, Applejack had said to help her friends—their friends, Pinkie had said—whenever they might need a level-headed farmpony. So he supposed that if he was needed someone would get him. Until then it looked like he was just going to spend the day lying under the trees as usual. A hated activity, to be sure, but the promise of helping someone at sometime (vague as it may be) helped a bit.
“Hey big brother,” Applejack called as she entered the kitchen. She took the apple from his hoof and bit into it, claiming it for herself. He was about to say something but decided against it and just grabbed another apple. Secretly he enjoyed her sass. He couldn’t remember the last time she actually acted like his little sister instead of his caregiver. For the first time since his injury she wasn’t worrying constantly about him, and it was a load off his back.
“Just thought ya might wanna know that Rarity’s comin’ over ta pick up some apples in a few hours,” she finished the rest of her fruit and tossed the core into the wastebasket reserved for anything on its way to the compost heap.
“Why is she comin’ over when we’re just gonna deliver the apples tomorrow?” he asked.
“That’s what Ah said, but she insisted. Seemed pretty interested ‘bout whether you’d be here though,” she said with a slight smirk. Big Mac just ignored her teasing. “If ya need me Ah’ll be over weedin’ out the north field. Thanks for the apple, big brother.”
“You sure ya don’t need any help?” He knew it was a pointless question. After all, anyone could see Applejack’s response from a mile away.
“No way, Mac. You just focus on gettin’ better,” she said as she walked through the doorway.
He gave her an annoyed grunt as she walked out and threw his apple core into the trash.
“Hey big brother.” Macintosh’s ears perked up as he heard the voice of his baby sister. He turned his head to see Applebloom trying her hardest to grab an apple from the basket just out of her reach. Without a word, he brought the basket closer to her.
“Thanks,” she said as she grabbed an apple. She took a seat at the table and bit into her snack as she held it between her hooves. The sight made him smile.
“Got anythin’ planned today, sugarcube,” Big Macintosh asked.
Applebloom nodded her head. “You bet! Today the CMC are gonna try ta get our cutie marks in avi- abia-“
“Aviation?” Big Mac said with a quirked eyebrow. “That a fancy way of sayin' ya’ll are gonna try ta make Scootaloo fly?”
“Pretty much,” she said before taking another bite.
“Well, do ya need any help? Maybe an extra somepony ta play with?” The eldest Apple asked hopefully.
“Nah, that’s okay big brother. Like Applejack says, you just worry ‘bout gettin’ better. Besides, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle’ll be there.” she said with a smile though her big brother couldn’t share her enthusiasm. Applebloom held out her unfinished apple towards her brother, who took it within his mouth to finish it off.
“A’right then,” he said as he tossed yet another core into the trash. He stepped towards his sister and helped her off the chair before bringing his foreleg around her and bringing her in for a quick hug. “Y’all be careful now, ya hear?”
“Ah know, Ah know,” Applebloom said as she struggled against her brother. She finally freed herself and headed the way of Applejack before her. “See ya later, big brother.”
“Bye, baby sis” he said, even though she had already left the house. “Be safe.”
He took a few moments to gaze at the empty kitchen before heading outside to meet a calming breeze and the faint sound of rustling leaves.
He would have gone and thought about why Rarity would come to the farm or about his little sisters, but he’d done enough thinking to last him the rest of the day what with contemplating his new job. So he simply lied down under the shade of his usual apple tree and ignored the déjà vu. It didn’t take long for the warm air of very late spring and the gentle wind to lull him to a light sleep.
He didn’t know how long he was in that strange in-between of awake and asleep. All he knew was that one minute he was feeling incredibly warm and cozy, as if he was back in bed underneath a plush comforter, and then some indeterminate amount of time later he felt very, very cold. The cold slowly woke him up with a groan, but when he heard the loud snickering his eyes shot open.
He found Rainbow Dash sitting in front of his head with a hoof over her mouth, trying her hardest not to explode in a fit of laughter. He narrowed his eyes at her and wondered what in the heck she was laughing at. With grogginess still weighing him down, he struggled to sit up. Once he finally managed to, Rainbow Dash couldn’t contain herself any longer and fell into rambunctious laughter. Before he could ask what was so funny, a yawn forced itself out of him and he quickly raised a hoof to cover his mouth. That’s when he got the joke.
His foreleg was covered with a fluffy white substance that he could only guess was cloud. He looked up his leg and found that it wasn’t the only part of him covered: his chest, barrel, the rest of his legs and even…his flank? A small smile passed over his face as an opportunity to have a bit of fun presented itself. Quickly, he hid it behind his usual stoic expression.
Rainbow Dash didn’t seem to notice. “You,“ she managed to gasp between fits of giggles, “you look like a giant sheep!” She lost what was left of her composure and started rolling on the grass as she clutched her side.
Big Macintosh didn’t really mind her laughter, knowing that soon the tables would be turned. “Eeyup, ya got me good, Dash,” he said as he looked down his body. He tried to scrape the cloud off of him with a hoof, but it passed through the fluff as if nothing was there.
“Yeah, I sure did,” she said through her laughter. Finally she got back up and wiped the tears from her eyes. She settled down enough to face him with a straight face, though every now and then a giggle managed to escape. “Best part is that you can’t even take it off. Only pegasi can touch clouds.”
He nodded silently, as if it was a long forgotten fact freshly remembered. “Ya did a pretty thorough job of it, too,” he said as he rubbed a hoof on his stomach, as if trying vainly to get the cloud off of him. Giving up, he stood and turned to the side so his profile faced Rainbow Dash.
“That’s what you call commitment to the prank,” she said proudly.
“Eeyup, ya even got my backside,” he said with a slight shake of his fluff-covered cutie mark to emphasis his point. The joy he felt when he saw the realization dawn on the blushing face of the pegasus was indescribable.
“Uh,” she stammered, “yeah like I said, commitment.”
“Ya sure?” he asked with a small smile. “If Ah didn’t know any better Ah’d say this was all just an excuse ta touch my flank,” he teased, causing the pegasus’ face to deepen to a shade almost as red as his own. It wasn’t until the color faded that she finally managed to speak.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said, forcing a dismissive laugh. “It was just a prank.”
He smiled. “Ah believe ya. But now that the prank’s over mind gettin’ this stuff offa me?”
Rainbow looked at him with a sly grin, and he knew exactly where her mind was going. “What’s in it for me?” she asked, and Mac was ready with a response.
“How ‘bout a mug of cider?”
Her eyes lit up, but she quickly brought her expression back to a poker face. “Keep talkin’.”
Big Macintosh hummed in thought for a moment. “Two mugs of cider, an’ Ah don’t use ya like a towel ta get this cloud off me.”
Rainbow’s cheeks flushed once again before she tried to hide them behind a hoof, playing it off as if she was seriously considering his proposition. “Deal. But,” she paused, her bravado failing her, “we can’t make eye contact while I take the cloud off.”
He nodded. “Deal.” The red stallion looked straight ahead as Rainbow Dash approached him and started her work. Her hooves gently glided across his back with long, full motions. He couldn’t feel whether the cloud was coming off or not, and so he risked a look behind him. Rainbow Dash’s hooves were indeed taking off the fluff, and after each sweep she shook her hooves and broke the cloud to its component parts of water and air. Soon her hooves were soaking wet and he could feel the water sink into his coat as she went on. It didn’t take long for her to remove the fluff from his neck, sides, and back. But when she reached farther back her hooves hesitated.
“Takin’ yer time back there, ain’t ya,” he teased.
“Shut up,” she said, though he could hear the fluster in her voice. Her hooves no longer paused and slid across his lower, lower back. After a few minutes the last of the cloud had been removed from his flank, stomach, barrel, and chest. Rainbow gave a relieved sigh as she shook her hooves free of the last bit of fluff. “There. Done. Now where’s that cider you promised? My throats dying after my flight from Cloudsdale.”
Big Macintosh smiled as he examined his body, glad that he was no longer fluffy and white. His gaze rose to the sky to check the sun’s position. An hour after noon.
“Follow me,” he said as he walked down the rows of trees, deeper into the orchard. All the while Rainbow Dash talked of her many exploits in Cloudsdale, having spent most of her time there fixing the de-colored rainbow pools and investigating what could possibly have broken them. Big Macintosh restrained himself from asking the obvious question of whether Rainbow Dash herself had broken the pools.
Soon the pair stopped at a rather older apple tree. Its roots dug into the ground though lifted above ground level, creating a small cavity just beneath the trunk. With a tiny smirk at the rainbow pegasus, Big Macintosh lowered his head into the hollow and recovered a large jug of cider from its hiding place. He gently placed it on the grass before going back to produce two mugs from the hole. He blew into them idly, sending a swirl of dust into the air.
“Sneaky,” Rainbow commented with a laugh. The red colt only smiled as he sat the mugs upright on the grass, undid the jug’s cap and filled the cups almost to overflowing. He offered her one of the mugs, and she took it greedily.
She took a hefty gulp. “That’s the stuff,” Rainbow said with a contented sigh. “So how do you still have some? Cider season was months ago and I thought you guys always sold out.”
He had to smile. “Me an’ Applejack pay ourselves a barrel of cider each fer our trouble durin’ the season. That is, if we made enough money ta cover the winter expenses. Otherwise, we sell those too. But it was a good season last year so…” he trailed off with a shrug before taking a sip from his mug.
Rainbow Dash nodded as her gaze fell on the little grotto beneath the tree. “So how many hiding places do you have around here?”
Big Macintosh hummed and rubbed his chin in thought. “Quite a few, Ah’d say. Had to find a lot more this year since Ah won AJ’s barrel in a bet.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought as he finished his cider.
“So, what, you put the cider in jugs and hide them around the farm?” Rainbow asked as she emptied her mug and poured herself another.
“Eeyup, plus Ah use a bit ta make Applejack.”
She paused, her mug midway to her mouth. She looked at the colt with a quirked eyebrow. “You…make Applejack?”
Big Mac instantly realized the source of her confusion. “Not my sister. What she’s named after.”
“Oh,” she said. “Wait, she’s named after something?”
“Eeyup.”
“Huh, didn’t know that,” Rainbow mumbled as she took another gulp of cider. “So what’s applejack?”
“It’s what ya get when ya distill cider,” he said as he placed his empty mug back within the hole beneath the tree.
“So it’s potent cider?” she asked, not bothering to hide her interest. She finished her own mug and tossed the empty cup back into its place, and soon after Big Macintosh placed the jar in the hiding place as well.
“Eeyup…sort of.”
“Can I try some?”
Big Macintosh took a moment to look at the pegasus, as if sizing her up. He hummed for a minute as he idly tapped his chin, milking the moment for all it was worth. “If it was anypony else, Ah’d say it’d be too strong for a mare. But seein’ how it’s you,” he paused for a moment as Rainbow Dash grinned at him. “Nnope.”
Her face fell before quickly coming back to life with a fire behind her eyes. “Hey! Don’t you know who you’re talking to? I’m the fastest pegasus in Ponyville, heck in all of Equestria, and I can handle a little-“
Big Mac’s low laughter cut her off. “Calm down, sugarcube, Ah’m just playin’.”
“Oh,” Rainbow said, chuckling sheepishly. “Good one.”
“C’mon, Ah got it hidden behind the barn,” he said as he started walking. Rainbow Dash nodded eagerly and followed him. All along the way she couldn’t stop asking him questions like where he made the drink and what it tasted like, but Big Mac just dismissed them all with a neutral grunt each time.
They circled around the barn until they were at its back where a grass field waited for them. Big Macintosh looked around for a bit before finally finding the square wooden plank on the ground that acted as a makeshift table. He lifted the plank to reveal a remarkably large hole beneath it. He reached down and grabbed the neck of a much smaller bottle of a much darker amber liquid in his teeth. Placing it aside, he reached back down and grabbed two squat glasses. He lowered the plank and placed all three on top of it.
“So let’s drink, already,” Rainbow Dash said, doing little to hide her excitement. Big Mac just shushed her gently as he undid the bottle’s cap.
The rustling of leaves filled the air as Mac poured a generous amount of the brown liquid in each glass, careful to not lose a drop to the wind. Meanwhile, Rainbow helped herself to a seat besides the plank with her back leaning against the barn wall. When he was done pouring the drink, she took her glass and cautiously sniffed its contents. Slowly she tipped it to her mouth and took a quick sip. Straightaway her eyes widened and she thrust the glass a forleg’s length away from her.
“Woah, that’s strong. Your telling me Applejack’s named after this stuff?”
“Eeyup. Call it a family favorite,” Mac said with a smile as he sat down on the other side of the plank with a muted, pained grunt.
“You okay?” Rainbow asked.
“Eeyup, just got a twinge in my back is all,” he said as he grabbed his own glass between his hooves. He took a sip and allowed the liquid to burn his mouth and throat on its way to his stomach. Beside him, Rainbow took another sip from her glass. In front of the two lay rows and rows of apple trees in full bloom. And the sight made him relax into his drink.
“Yeah, I know what that’s like." Rainbow Dash's voice interrupted his thoughts. "It sucks being injured. You should see how crazy I get when I’m grounded for longer than a few days. I can’t imagine not being able to fly for, what’s it been, a couple of months?”
Big Macintosh nodded as he gazed into his drink. “Eeyup.”
“How’re you holding up?” she asked before taking another sip.
“Better than yesterday, that’s for dang sure,” he said.
“Yeah, Pinkie told me you and Applejack got into a huge fight last night,” she said with a bit of a chuckle.
“Eeyup. We patched it up though. But Ah gotta admit, little sisters can be a might pain even if they do mean well.” Despite what he said, a small smile began to appear on Big Mac’s face.
Rainbow took another sip. “Yeah I bet. I mean, I don’t have any brothers or sisters but I can kinda imagine what its like.”
“Well sure but it’s the same no matter who worries about ya. Ah mean someone in yer family must…” he stopped talking when he saw the glassy look she was giving her glass.
“I…” she trailed off. He wanted to say something, but quickly decided against it. Instead, the two just drank in silence until finally, after several minutes, they picked up conversation once again.
“Got this soreness at the base of my wings. Been bugging me for a while.”
“Eeyup, Ah got a knot between my shoulders that won’t go away.”
“You ever get a crick in your neck when you wake up, like you slept wrong?”
“Eeyup, all the time. This harness don’t help none either.”
“I swear the way you two talk it’s like a couple of old ponies reminiscing of lost youth.”
The two drinking ponies looked up and around for the source of the new voice, but they saw nothing. It wasn’t until the white unicorn rounded the corner of the barn did they realize where the voice came from.
“How long were you there?” Rainbow said as she snapped to her hooves, spilling her drink as she got up.
“Since you two were talking about your poor, achy bodies,” Rarity said with a chuckle. “If I may be so bold, I’d recommend a trip to the spa. It does wonders, just look at me.” She flicked her curled mane and struck a dignified pose.
“Yeah, like I’d go to a spa. I wouldn’t be caught dead in there,” Rainbow Dash said with a roll of her eyes. She started walking away from the unicorn, motioning with her head for Big Macintosh to follow.
Rarity gave the blue pegasus a smile that made a timberwolf look like an ordinary puppy. “Well in that case, I’m afraid I have no choice but to bring up our bet.”
Rainbow froze mid-step and turned her head to look at the unicorn. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would. You owe me a trip to the spa,” Rarity said, the grin never leaving her. “Or do you want me to tell everypony in town how Rainbow Dash is afraid of a little pampering.”
“Alright, alright,” Rainbow said with a sigh as she turned around and walked towards Rarity. “Stupid violet not being purple,” she mumbled along the way.
Big Macintosh, meanwhile, just made sure to have his focus glued to his half-full glass of applejack, hoping that the two mares wouldn’t notice him. His red coat and larger-than-average size didn’t help much.
“You’re welcome to come along, Macintosh,” Rarity said.
“Thanks, Miss Rarity, but Ah’m just fine right here,” he said with a smile.
“Oh c’mon, Mac,” Rainbow said. “It might not be so bad with you there.”
Big Mac didn’t say anything, and just finished his drink with slow sips. Truth be told, a spa seemed like one of those things that he knew he had no business being in.
“You know,” Rarity said, “a trip to the spa might help you heal faster.”
His mind was made up right then and there. But still he acted hesitant, if only because he didn’t want Rarity to know that she had swayed him so much. Slowly, he rose up and faced them. “A’right, let’s go.”
“Wonderful,” Rarity said. “But leave your harness here, sweetie. You’re not going to need it.”
He nodded and as soon as the mares turned to walk towards town he quickly lifted the plank again. With one quick motion he placed the bottle, empty glasses, and his harness within the hole and moved the plank back in place.
-*-
Big Macintosh couldn’t see a thing as his body lay suspended within a recessed tub of very warm mud. The cucumber slices covering his eyes were a small compromise with Rarity that allowed him to go without a clay mask over his face. Sure it might have tightened his pores, but was there really any point when his coat covered them anyway?
In the tub next to his, Rainbow Dash had taken the opposite offer and wore the clay mask while omitting the cucumbers. Her reasoning being that she didn’t trust having her vision impaired while in the same tub with Rarity, the spa having only two for mud baths. She had wanted to share a tub with Mac, but Rarity stopped her with a quick comment on how it wasn’t ‘proper’.
While Big Macintosh certainly didn’t mind having a tub of his own, he didn’t quite understand Rarity’s concern. Sure, a stallion and a mare could get into plenty of trouble with their bodies immersed in an opaque muck. But honestly, a stallion and mare could get into that kind of trouble anywhere if they wanted to.
“So ponies actually pay to wallow in mud?” Rainbow asked.
“We are not wallowing in mud, we are relaxing in a mixture of volcanic ash, peat moss, and mineral-enriched natural spring water,” Rarity said, a slight hint of annoyance coloring her voice.
“Might as well grab my hose, soak a field, an’ charge ponies ten bits ta lay in it,” Big Mac said.
To his surprise Rarity actually chuckled. “And what would you call such a high-profile resort?”
He smiled. “Somethin’ obvious like ‘Big Mac’s Big Spa’, biggest mud bath around.”
“Well that would certainly get the crowd passed your doors, but what other amenities would Big Mac’s Big Spa offer?”
“Welp,” Big Mac said, taking his time to think of an answer. “Ah guess we’d offer the whole farmin’ experience. Ya get ta plow yer own field, deliver yer own apples, and heck even buck yer own apple tree.”
Rarity chuckled again. “So basically your customers would be employees paying you for the privilege of being employed. Quite a clever business model, but will it work?”
“Rarity, if ponies’ll pay ta wal-uh-relax in ash an’ water, they’ll pay ta work a farm,” he said with a small laugh of his own.
“You should be a business consultant,” the unicorn giggled.
Before Mac could ask what a business consultant did, he realized how quiet Rainbow Dash had been. Perhaps a bit too quiet. He lifted up his left hoof and removed one of the cucumber slices from his eyes just in time to see Rainbow Dash, her lower half covered in mud, standing on her hind hooves at the edge of his tub. She had her right foreleg raised above her head, a large clump of mud dripping from her hoof.
“Any last words?” she asked through her predatory grin.
“Eeyup.” Before she could do anything else, Big Mac flicked his still-submerged right hoof and sent a clump of mud straight into her face. Rainbow recoiled with a yelp and hastily rubbed her eyes as she fell on her three free legs.
“If yer gonna sling mud, sling mud. Don’t talk,” Big Mac said with a smirk.
“Why you…” she growled as she removed the last of the mud from her eyes. She crouched down and sprung into an attack. Big Mac was caught off guard as the pegasus collided with his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs as she sent them both whirling into the mud.
“Now wait you two,” Rarity called to them as she removed the cucumbers from her eyes, but she was ignored.
They wrestled with each other, each one trying to hold the other’s head below the surface. Though Big Mac couldn’t help but go easy on her and spent the most time immersed. The viscous sludge made their movements slow and exhaustive, wrestling blind didn’t help matters much either.
“Stop it this instant!” Rarity cried, and this time they listened. Rainbow Dash had him in an ineffective headlock as both raised their heads out of the muck. Big Mac’s breathing was labored as he went to the edge of the tub and stretched out his forelegs to the floor, allowing him to hang from the side. Rainbow slid off of him and joined him at the tub’s edge, just as tired as he was.
“Honestly Big Macintosh, I expected a bit more civility from you. As for you Rainbow Dash well…”
Mac and Dash looked at each other, and as emerald green met rosy pink (the only parts of their bodies not covered in mud) they knew they were thinking the same thing. Slowly, they each took a foreleg and submerged it within the murky depths and raised them up moments later.
Rarity noticed their movements. “Don’t even think about-“ She was interrupted by the barrage of mud hitting her. She swiftly lifted her forelegs to protect her face, but it proved futile. The attack didn’t let up for a second until finally she couldn’t take anymore. “Oh that is it!” she exclaimed. Her horn glowed blue as did the mud in her tub. In one great wave the entire contents of her bath flew through the air and splashed onto the two slack-jawed ponies.
The white unicorn laughed triumphantly in her empty tub. “Ha! I win!” But her victory gloat was cut short when neither Rainbow Dash nor Big Macintosh rose to the surface.
“Rainbow? Macintosh?” she called as she removed herself from the recessed tub. She received no answer and so approached closer. “Oh no. Be okay, please be okay,” she pleaded as she approached the muddied edge of their bath. Two sets of forelegs instantly rose up and grabbed her. With a surprised scream, she was tossed into the muddy depths.
“Gotcha!” Rainbow Dash said through her laughter as Rarity’s head emerged above mud-level. Even with her face completely covered in muck, it wasn’t hard to see the anger on her face. “That was classic,” Rainbow said with a grin.
“Eeyup,” came Big Mac’s agreement as he tried his hardest not to burst into chuckles himself. Though it didn’t matter as Rarity still stared daggers into both of them, quickly silencing their laughter.
“Let’s get out, shall we?” the unicorn said through gritted teeth. The other two just nodded, not daring to say anything else as they lifted themselves from the thick mud. Rarity tried to get out, but couldn’t muster the strength to free herself. She tried again and again but each time slipped off the edge and landed backwards in.
“Do ya need any help?” Big Macintosh asked as he came up to the edge of the tub.
“No no,” Rarity said quickly as she lifted a foreleg to halt his approach. “I’m just fine.”
He ignored her and lowered his head just past her own, his neck just touching her head. “Would it help if Ah said Ah’m sorry?” he asked softly.
Rarity didn’t do anything at first. “A little,” she finally said. She wrapped her forelegs around his neck, taking a few moments to get a good grip through the slippery mud covering both their bodies. Without a word, Big Mac lifted his head and lifted her out of the mud bath and onto solid ground.
“Thank you,” she said quietly as she let go of him. “Now then, let’s go to the showers and prepare for our mineral bath.” As the unicorn led the way, the earth pony and the pegasus looked at each other and simultaneously rolled their eyes.
Thankfully, the spa had enough shower stalls for the three of them to each have their own. Big Macintosh took his time, closing his eyes as he allowed the hot water to wash away the mud as he let his mind run blank. His peace, however, was soon interrupted by a sudden weight on his back followed by a lack of water hitting him. He opened his eyes and craned his neck to find Rainbow Dash standing on him, her head catching the falling water.
She looked down and gave him a grin while ignoring his glare. “All that mudslinging was pretty awesome wasn’t it,” she said.
“Eeyup,” he answered, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
“We should totally do it again, but bigger this time. I’m thinking we let it rain on that dirt field on your farm, let it get nice and wet and muddy. Then get like thirty ponies and just have an all out royale,” she said, her voice getting more excited as she went on.
He nodded, but before he could say anything there came a call from outside the stall.
“Macintosh sweetie, are you done yet? Aloe and Lotus have our bath ready, but I can’t find Rainbow Dash anywhere,” Rarity said.
“I’m in here,” Rainbow Dash called out.
“What! Why?” Rarity exclaimed.
Big Macintosh turned off the water with a twist of the handle before moving towards the exit. His sudden movement caused the pegasus on his back to lie down on him to keep her balance.
“I wanted to talk to Mac,” Rainbow said casually as the pair exited the stall.
The unicorn just stood there with her mouth agape. She soon recovered enough to speak. “Rainbow Dash, it’s very inappropriate for a grown mare and stallion to share a single shower,” her voice was a harsh whisper, as if she was afraid she might be overheard.
“Why?” came Rainbow’s simple response.
Rarity raised a hoof to her forehead. With a roll of her eyes she gave up trying to explain. “Let’s just…head to the bath,” she said, utterly exasperated.
"Wait, so it's okay to share a bath but not a shower?" Rainbow Dash asked, but the white mare just ignored her.
There was only one tub this time, but what a tub it was. Its size was so great that it actually had a slanted bottom to allow for different depths. Big Mac submerged himself up to his chin in the deep end while Dash and Rarity shared the shallower end. He hated to admit it, but his body practically melted within the hot water. And judging by Rainbow’s contented sigh and goofy grin, the salt water had the same effect on her.
“This is not salt water, this is mineral water,” Rarity corrected him when he called it that out loud.
He lazily submerged his snout in the water and idly blew a few bubbles, all the while giving Rarity his usual half-lidded stare.
She had no trouble interpreting his gaze. “Yes, there is a difference.”
Macintosh lowered his eyelids even more.
Rarity sighed. “I suppose Big Mac’s Big Spa now offers mineral baths?”
He raised his head above the water to answer her. “Eeyup.”
“Wouldn’t it be kinda hard to run a spa and an apple farm, though?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Not really,” Big Mac said, his tongue loosening up as it talked of a subject his mind knew so well. “Heck, the Apple family does more than jus’ farm. We got pies, jams, cider, and things like that. Then we make a few extra bits renting out land and hostin’ events. Someponies even get married at the apple orchard.”
“Really?” Rarity said. “Anypony I know?”
He just shrugged. “Maybe. We get a few ponies from Canterlot. They’re easy enough to spot. Always wearin’ fancy clothes when they come ta reserve the orchard and always usin’ the same words for describin’ the place.”
There was a minute of silence before Rarity asked the obvious. “What words?”
“Ya know. Words like ‘quaint’, ‘rustic’, ‘old world charm’.” He said each one with a butchered Manehattan accent nowhere near as good as his sister’s.
“Tell me about it,” Rainbow chimed in. “Most of those rich ponies have their heads up their-“
“Now Rainbow,” Rarity interrupted, “that’s just a minority. There are several rich ponies who are genuinely nice.”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac added, remembering his own experience in Canterlot. “Some might be a bit snobby, but most are a’right.”
“Whatever,” Rainbow Dash said. “All I know is that I’d rather be here than over there.”
“Eeyup.”
The three remained silent after that, and Big Macintosh closed his eyes to better enjoy the feeling of weightlessness within the hot mineral water. The steam from the bath caused a few beads of sweat to collect on his forehead but he didn't mind. It wasn’t long before the silence was broken by a small splash, and soon after Mac felt water hit his face. He opened his eyes to see Rainbow Dash with a grin. She splashed him again with a slap of her hoof on the water.
“Now don’t you two start,” Rarity warned them.
“Wouldn’t think of it,” Dash said innocently.
“Nnope.”
Again the three were silent. For about two minutes. It was the exact amount of time for Mac and Dash to make eye contact. Then, all at once, they declared war and splashed each other close to senseless. Rarity, to her credit, just watched from the sidelines with a sigh and a calm smile. It didn’t take long for the two to tire out, though it was really more because of the heat coming from the water than them actually running out of energy. It became so hot, in fact, that they hurried out of the tub and onto the cool tile floor.
“I suppose you’re ready for a massage?” Rarity said. With her tone she might as well have said ‘I told you so’.
“Yeah,” Dash said, barely able to keep her eyelids open.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac managed to say between weary breaths.
“Perfect,” Rarity said as she removed herself from the tub. She levitated a few towels towards them, and the three began to dry themselves off. Once properly dried, Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash followed Rarity to yet another room within the spa.
-*-
“So, do you want to start more trouble now?” Rarity asked slyly as she lied on a plush pillow getting her horn filed. She had on a robe embroidered with a fancily written 'R'. While nearby Macintosh and Rainbow were lying face down as they received their massages.
“Quiet, I’m trying to relax,” Dash managed to say as the pink-coated masseuse worked her magic on her client’s back.
“What about you, Macintosh?”
The workpony could only grunt as Lotus’ hooves managed to work themselves deep into his musculature and rub away aches he didn’t even know he had. He tried to keep himself awake, but every so often he would close his eyes to blink only to open them minutes later. Rainbow Dash had little more luck if her snores were to be believed, interrupted every so often by a sudden burst of consciousness.
“I bet that twinge in your back is gone, Macintosh. I told you a spa would help,” Rarity said smugly.
Big Mac let out a yawn. “An’ ya also said ya only listened to us when we started talkin’ about the aches in our bodies.”
The unicorn quirked an eyebrow, “I did.”
“Ah only mentioned the twinge in my back when Ah sat down. Long time before ya said you started listening,” Big Mac said. He’d feel a bit more annoyed if he weren’t so damn relaxed.
“Hey that’s right!” Rainbow exclaimed with a quick raise of her head. But it slowly lowered again as Aloe started rubbing the base of her wings. “So not…cool,” she managed to say before her head fell to lie in her forelegs once again. “Did you hear the part about…” she trailed off, though Big Mac didn’t know if it was from the massage or the subject the unicorn might have overheard.
“I’m sorry,” Rarity said. “I just thought you would be uncomfortable if I said I had listened since the beginning of your conversation.”
“Then why didn’t ya just come out before we even started talkin’?” Big Mac asked.
“Yeah,” Rainbow added weakly.
“Well I wanted to hear what you two were going to say,” Rarity said, her voice falling as she realized how weak of an excuse it really was.
“So you could gossip about it, right?” Rainbow accused.
“Of course not! You know full well I would never gossip about my friends,” the unicorn said quickly.
“Uh-huh,” Rainbow said, unconvinced.
Rarity just rolled her eyes and that was the end of it. The effort to continue an argument while being rubbed and pampered just proved too great. Soon, Rainbow Dash was snoring up a storm and Big Mac wasn’t faring any better as the pink-maned mare’s hooves traveled down his back.
“Goin’ a little low there Lotus,” he said. The masseuse apologized through her thick accent and instantly focused her kneading on his shoulders. Big Macintosh tried to calm the blush forming on his cheeks, but the small giggle from Rarity wasn’t helping. Still, he had to admit she was right when it came to the spa. He felt like a million bits.
It all came to end much too soon, and Big Macintosh’s legs wobbled beneath him as he stood. Rarity came up next to him with a smug smile. As for Rainbow Dash, she was out cold on the table. Aloe started to shake her awake when Big Mac quickly stopped her.
“Ah’ll get ‘er,” he said as he lowered himself so that his back was level to the massage table. “Rarity, can ya-“
“Of course,” she said as she walked up to him. Carefully she took hold of Rainbow’s legs and slid her onto the red colt’s back. All the while Rainbow Dash remained in blissful sleep, her legs hanging off his sides and her head resting between his shoulders.
With a final goodbye and thank you to the spa ponies Rarity, Macintosh and a sleeping Rainbow Dash made their leave. Outside the sun was beginning its descent and the sky glowed with a deep orange. The warm wind still blew through the town, gently picking up stray leaves and flowers. The town wasn’t empty, but it was a long ways away from the bustling hub that was the norm during the day.
“Ya know, Rarity, ya got a way of makin’ me like things Ah think Ah wouldn’t,” Big Macintosh said as he looked up at the setting sun.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Rarity said with a chuckle. “Are you going to take Rainbow Dash home?”
“Eeyup. Ah s’ppose you’ll be headin’ home yerself.”
“Actually I was hoping to go with you and enjoy the pleasant company and conversation,” Rarity said sweetly, a tone of voice Big Mac tried his best to ignore.
“You sure? Ain’t yer place a lot closer?” he asked.
“I’m sure,” she said as she started walking towards Rainbow’s house. Big Mac would have shrugged if there wasn’t a mare on his back, so instead he just walked beside the white unicorn. Having Rainbow on his back brought old memories of a younger Applejack, exhausted from her first applebucking season, back to mind. It made him smile.
“I have to say, I’ve never seen you so,” she paused for a moment as if to find the right word, “animated before.” She looked around as if looking for any potential eavesdroppers. “You and Rainbow Dash aren’t together, are you?” she asked in a whisper.
The stallion’s cheeks burned red hot. “Nnope, of course not,” he said quickly.
Rarity gave him a not-so-innocent smile. “Come now, Macintosh, you can tell me. It’s the only explanation for why you’ve been acting like a young colt around her, not to mention sharing a shower stall. You two weren’t…you know.”
Big Mac shook his head vigorously. “That ain’t it at all, Rarity. Ya got it all wrong.”
“Then enlighten me,” she said.
Big Macintosh rolled his eyes. He was about to speak when he felt the pegasus on his back shuffle and move on top of him. Turning his head, he tried to check on her but only saw her rainbow-colored mane. “She still asleep?” he asked Rarity in a whisper.
Rarity looked for several seconds before turning to Big Mac. “She is.”
He nodded. “Miss Rarity, Ah’m gonna tell ya somethin’ really personal. Ah’d appreciate it if it stayed between us.”
Rarity’s eyes brightened for a moment. “You have my word that what you say will not leave our little group.”
She sounded sincere, and so Big Mac spoke. “Dash sorta reminds me of Applejack when she was younger. A lot less sense an’ a lot more ego.” He ignored Rarity’s giggle and continued. “Back when me an’ AJ were younger, we used ta wrestle around like me and Dash did today. And as we got older, well, we played less an’ less an’ worked more an’ more. Ah ain’t complainin’, we all gotta grow up sometime. But Ah gotta admit, Ah miss those days.” He chuckled as the memories came rushing back. “Then Applebloom was born, and Ah was so dang excited ta get another sister ta play with and ta teach and ta look after. And Ah did for a while, but soon she found friends her own age and she didn’t need me anymore. But again, Ah ain’t complainin’, Ah’m glad she’s found some good friends for her to have some fun away from the farm.”
Big Macintosh fell to silence with a small smile while Rarity allowed him a bit of peace. After a few minutes he spoke again. “Ya know, Applejack’s always told me how the more time she spends with Dash the more it feels like she’s her sister. An’ now, the more time Ah spend with her the more Ah can’t help but feel the same. And it feels like those days ain’t lost after all.”
Rarity smiled as she walked a bit closer to his side. “That’s a very sweet sentiment. But, why didn’t you tell her that behind the barn when you brought up her family.”
He sighed. “Ah didn’t want her ta think Ah was only saying it ‘cause Ah felt sorry for her. Besides Ah think, deep down, she already knows.”
They stopped as Rainbow Dash’s floating house came into view above them. With a gentle nudge Rarity managed to wake up Rainbow, who got up without so much as an annoyed grunt. The pegasus yawned as she stood in front of the other two to say her goodbyes.
“G’night Rarity.”
“Goodnight Rainbow Dash.”
Big Mac could have sworn that the rainbow mare’s cheeks were tinged with red as she approached him. But before he could fathom why, Rainbow stood up and wrapped her forelegs around his neck. The tight hug only lasted a second but it was enough to leave Macintosh stunned, while Rainbow’s cheeks turned a deeper crimson.
“G’night Mac,” she said with a small smile, unable to look him in the eyes.
“ ’night Dash,” he said back. Before things could get any more awkward, the pegasus flew off to her house and left Rarity and Mac alone.
“You don’t think she…” Big Mac started, but as he looked at Rarity and saw her staring intently at her hooves he instantly knew. “She was awake, wasn’t she.”
“I’m sorry Macintosh, but…well you have to admit maybe it was good for her to hear it from you. Especially since you didn’t know she was listening, so she could be sure you weren’t just saying it for her benefit.”
All he could do was shake his head as he started walking back towards Ponyville. “That’s all well an’ good an’ psychological, Rarity, but Ah…” his voice lost force and he went silent as his mind failed to think of the right words to say what he wanted to say.
Rarity caught up beside him and pressed her side against his. “I know. You opened yourself up and Rainbow Dash and I took advantage of it. And for that I’m sorry. Forgive me?” she said with a flutter of her eyelids. Big Mac tried to direct his gaze anywhere but her eyes. Truth be told he would have forgiven her even without the eyelash trick she was so inclined to use on the soft-hearted stallion.
“Eeyup,” he mumbled. Rarity smiled and nuzzled his neck in thanks, while Big Macintosh just tried to ignore his burning cheeks.
“Now that the air is all cleared up, can I ask you a favor,” Rarity said.
“What’s that?” he asked, bracing himself for whatever she might ask of him.
“Well you see there’s an event that I’ve been invited to in Canterlot and-“
“Nnope,” Big Macintosh said, not even letting Rarity finish.
“Hold on, it’s not like last time. This event is an outdoor picnic, something more for families and young couples,” Rarity said as she sped up to block his way forward.
“Then why do ya wanna go?” he asked her.
“Well to be honest, your suit really caused a stir at the museum and I thought the picnic would be the perfect place to show off more of my designs,” she said with a smile.
“Oh,” he said. “For a minute Ah thought ya wanted me there for my company. C’mon Miss Rarity, there must be hundreds of stallions out there beggin’ for a chance ta take ya out. An’ Ah’m sure ya can show off yer suits on any one of ‘em.”
“You know full well that’s not why I asked you. While it may be true that there are quite a few stallions interested in me,” she said with a flick of her curled mane, “the fact remains that I want to go with you. Simple as that.” The farmpony just responded with a roll of his eyes, prodding Rarity to speak further. “It’s not for a few weeks so we’ll have plenty of time to prepare.” Still the red stallion remained unresponsive. “Please,” she implored, batting his eyelashes at him.
Big Macintosh shut his eyes and turned his head away, not daring to look at her. Rarity, however, would not quit that easily. He felt a sudden weight on his shoulder and felt his head being turned. Slowly, his eyes opened to find Rarity leaning against him while balanced on her hind legs. Her face was so intimately close that their noses touched and her sapphire eyes commanded most of his vision as they gazed, heavy-lidded, into his own.
“Please,” she whispered. And he could feel her soft breath caress his quickly heating face. It took a few moments for his mind to calm down enough to form any sort of coherent words.
“A'right,” he whispered. “Now holster those royal blues before ya make my heart give out.”
“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” she said playfully before giving him a small peck on the cheek. She got off of him and stood beside him, and together the two continued on their way to Rarity’s boutique.
"Ah hate it when ya do that,” Big Macintosh said.
“Really? Because I rather enjoy it.”
He thought for a moment. “How much would ya enjoy it if it were done to you?”
She laughed. “No offense, Macintosh, but I hardly see you as the type to be flirtatious.”
He smiled. “Probably not. So Ah guess ya only stopped by the farm ta ask me that?"
"Guilty as charged," she said.
The two quietly walked the rest of the way to Rarity’s boutique. With a final goodbye and a swish of her tail that Big Macintosh knew was no accident, she went inside leaving the farmpony alone to walk back to his own home.
The sun had descended below the horizon a few moments ago, and all that was left was the soft glow on the horizon. He turned to the opposite part of the sky to see the first remnants of starlight appear as the moon rose above the land. There was something mystical about this time of day and night. The time when the sky was divided between the two.
As Big Macintosh headed for Sweet Apple Acres he couldn’t help but feel a bit happy at a job well done. Even if, perhaps, Applejack would have done things a bit differently.
Stats
Page generated in 0.029 seconds
Total duration
737 users online
677,736 hits today, 2,004,447 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Another update to one of my favorite stories? Should be working on Psychology project, BUT ALAS, there is pony fanfiction to be read!
Finished the chapter: Really enjoyed it Ivory, you always do a great job writing subtle feelings! I also love how you're exploring different aspects of M/F relationships that aren't strictly romantic. It's nice to have a good solid story about a male character lead that does not always drive directly to the romantic side of things. That being said, I could see Mac getting together with someone in the future as long as it doesn't become the main drive of the story.
Quality work, can't wait for next chapter.
why u so good at writing?
i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/089/665/tumblr_l96b01l36p1qdhmifo1_500.jpg
385776 I know the feeling. I got an English paper I told myself I would do today, and I still will. But when some of the stories I track get updates it's all "Ooh, more ponies! Drop everything and read!" Good luck with the project btw.
So no MacnDash it seems, ah well. RariMac is almost as good!
This story is one of my favorites, top notch writing.
385842
Best of luck on your paper as well!
Uh... too many feels. Can't hold them all... You write subtle emotion too well. That's the kind I like. Lets you feel with the characters instead of just for them.
I still want to know how Rainbow Dash almost ended the world, but I can't complain about a single thing along the way.
With a lack of backstory I have formed my own headcanon for RD's family life based on her personality, attitudes and motivations. Some things in this chapter almost hint toward the same theory.
385890 Thx, I say we call for a brohoof of success on our work! Brohoof! /)
Wonderful story. Looking forward to more.
Awwwww!! The Big Mac and Dash stuff was really sweet! I loved it!
Rainbow Mac! Woo!
Aww yeah, thought I had another week until the next installment. I can't help but read rarity's lines with shipping goggles. Looking forward to any more info we get on the sonic moonboom.
Am liking how Rarity is tryin to get Mac out more,
also Big Mac+Rainbow Dash, so much yes right now
385776 385842
Heh, if you guys think it's tough putting off homework to read a chapter, you should see what it's like for me putting off homework to write a chapter.
"Alright, I finished 3 single-space pages of Chapter 7. Now to get to work on that two-page (double space) paper on Kant's catagorical imperative....
after one more page of Chapter 7."
so wait is rarity in love with big macintosh now
Great chapter. I especially like the fact that you make Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash perfect for each other. As well as Big Macintosh and Rarity too. So looking forward to future chapters.
And in this story here, we see the many levels of shipping.
We are pleased! The commenter and his conscience call for more!
So it's Rarimac then. I'll play your game you rogue.
I love how you place the characters in a more mature world while they stay in character.
If ever just a little too thorough on details. But you've clearly worked on that for this chapter.
This chapter gets 7/5 Macs
It seems like every time you update you up your game just a little bit, and show us something new... We had a bit of everything this time around (drama, humor, and the teasing maybe-kinda-sorta-almost shipping that you do so very well.) I think Mac's going to settle into his "honorary mane 6" roll very nicely, indeed. Just in interacting with Dash and Rarity here, we could see how he brings out different things from what we're used to from them. Although Rarity might have a bit of an agenda of her own. But I really, really loved the tender bit you gave Dash here... you don't see that much from her, so when you do, it's incredibly affecting.
You know, most times if a commenter were to say they had no idea where a story was going, exactly, it could be taken as a bad thing... but in this case, I can say I don't know where this is going, and I positively love it. It's a pleasure being along for the ride.
Hmm... All I have to explain the mares lovin Big Mac is this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQ01X-1AlI&ob=av3e
It makes sense don't it?
Great job on the chapter man!
386516 Kant? You poor bastard. I had to deal with that foolishness for my Engineering Ethics class, and that small dose was bad enough.
So event Rarity wants to take him to is in "a few weeks?" So... that's our climax, then? That's what I'm assuming at least, since the sense I'm getting is that Big Mac would be pretty close all healed up at that point.
Also, I really love this fic! Definitely my favorite.
Such an excellent story, sir. I am enjoying every minute of it.
This was a very fun chapter and I loved the character development between Mac, Rare, and RD. Keep up the good work.
fantastic
390866
Thats pretty much the conclusion I came to.
I'm liking how well the assumptions on how characters would respond are matching up with episodes that air after the chapter. Maybe I'm looking for similarities though.
And now Rarity is almost constantly referred to as Sparkler... dear me... did Dash rip apart the Ponyverse that badly?
391226 *looks at his comments...* Lul whut?
Wait a tic... let me try something.
Rarity... Pinkie Pie... Rainbow Dash...
Now let me try this.
Raraty... Punkie Pie... Rainbow Dhas...
Now to add the comment and see the results!
Oh I get it, April Fools Day.
391226
Someone should really write that fic...
i need to stop reading into things, that or get higher quality goggles.
A few things to point out here:
"Straightaway her eyes widened and she thrusted the glass a foreleg's lengths away from her."
"In front of the two lied rows and rows of apple trees in full bloom."
These should be "thrust" and "lay", respectively; to be fair, though, they're a pair of verbs which don't exactly follow the rules.
In addition, you wrote, "In one great wave the entire contents of her bath practically flew through the air and splashed onto the two slack-jawed ponies." The use of an adverb here is counterproductive, as the contents actually did fly though the air by way of Rarity's magic.
Some grammatical nitpitcking from me--I really like this story overall, and I look forward to the next chapter.
391258 I was actually talking about names of the Mane 6 going to Gen 1 pony names for April Fools Day: Sparkler, Surprise, etc. Though, I would imagine April Fools Day would be a terrifying 'holiday' for the poor ponies, for it would be one created by Discord, the trollingest troll of all! D:
Unless Trollestia did it.
WTF, you made RariMac work? They're both in character? There wasn't some big huge tragedy that thrust them together(ok technically there was)?
The interactions in this fic are unparalleled
About the story: It's amazing!
About shipping: I can see Macintosh blushing as Rarity flits with him, but I don't think he'd ever really go for her. FlutterMac is my favorite, but I really enjoy Mac'nDash a lot. :] I heard this song on the radio yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJSiMl4IInA Alter the lyrics slightly for the pony-verse and you have a FlutterMac song. :3
If anyone cares to know, I'm gonna be cosplaying human Macintosh with my sister as human Applejack eventually~
Eeyup.
Macintosh is best pony.
i love this, i really do. and right now i dont really care who he ends up with... i eman i lvoe rarimac and all, but still....
just please, keep writing this good.
Can totally see Rarity & mac ending up together here. Damn flirty pony!
While I do enjoy these stories, I wish Big Mac wasn't so passive about essentially being used and manipulated repeatedly. There must be some limit where fluttering eyelashes just won't cut it anymore. Like that chapter with Twilight, she really gave him a low blow in the library and he just shrugs it off by the next day. He may be a fairly passive character in the show but there have been times where he does stand up for himself as well. Like never backing down when Applejack insists on bucking the whole orchard, or the "No sale!" with Flim and Flam.
As you progress you're adding more character to him, but it basically amounts to a big red punching bag. Or a big red yup machine. Don't be afraid of writing one of the mane 6 as simply wrong about something, and Big Mac not following along by default. Rarity lies and deceives him several times this chapter and without any real repercussions, just a flutter of the eyelashes and all is well again. Do you see where I'm going? Mac's becoming an automaton, one who does whatever he's told and forms no opinions of his own. And whenever we see a flash a personality from him, one of the girls does something and it's all over with, things are done her way, he was wrong to fight it, fade to black.
I get the concept of being introduced to new ideas and self discovery, but does everything have to boil down to the girls are right and Mac is just being stubborn? I know this comes across as nothing but criticism, that's not my intent. I'm glad to be reading a good long series with Big Macintosh as the main protagonist and your technical writing is well put together and easy to read. I like a good, long chapter with depth without it becoming overly-flowerly. I guess I'm just hoping for a bit more character from the main character and a bit less rolling over.
420798 but i thought women were always right?
You have a fantastic fan-fiction going on here, (there are some spelling and grammar errors that I've found, but they're forgivable) and I love how natural Big Mac's dialogue is. The story was incredibly gripping (thank Celestia for Nook's and the ePub file format), and I read the seven chapters that you have up in one day, and I loved every minute of it. I really like your Pinkie Pie as well, I think some writers make her too ditzy, but you have her just perfect. Keep up the good work!
Hi, just started the story today, finished up to where it is, loving it. Have to say though, I'm rather disappointed that it seems like you're heading more towards a RariMac ship. The Big Rainbow ship seemed really good, and they had a great dynamic going on, I'd have loved to see you explore that side of it further, rather than rule her out.
Though that might be because I don't like Rarity much.
Hm... now that I think about it, you've written it so he seems to have a chance with pretty much anyone other than Fluttershy, as he's not seen her since the first meeting and there wasn't much chemistry between them then. And you have a very convenient time-rewinding device...
I know it's probably not your intention, but I'm enjoying every one of your characterisations*, and I would love to see how you'd write each of them getting together (if you do have any intention of writing a ship in the overall story that is). Would you consider using the Sonic Moonwave as a way to splinter the storyline so that it reverted to the beginning of this chapter, with him having a myriad of choices and ultimately ending up with a different mare in each? I know how much work that would be, and I understand if you say no, hell, I normally wouldn't bother asking because of how much work it would be. Take that as an indication of how much I love the very thought of continuing to read this work, as well as not wanting to see it end anytime soon (and I've read almost every fic published to EQD except for the Grimdark. I stopped reading as much about a month ago, but considering how many I've read, the praise I have for your work should say something. Well, as much as it says coming from a nobody
)
* I put your Twilight tied in #1 with Butterscotch Sundae, your Rarity in #2 (simply because you write her in a way that doesn't make me want to throttle her, which happens very little), your Pinkie Pie in #2 right behind Nines Tempest, your Rainbow Dash in #4 (sorry, as much as I say I love the way you've written her, and I do, I adore it, I've seen others that I enjoyed reading more, though they were only in Dash centric fics) and your Macintosh is far and away my favourite version).
386036>>386432 There's a group for MacDashes.
I'm enjoying this gentle Rarity/Mac ship you have going here. The last sequence of this chapter was very sweet.
The one thing that confuses me is Mac's emotions towards Rarity. Is he accepting the relationship or not?
“If yer gonna sling mud, sling mud. Don’t talk,” Big Mac said with a smirk.
See what you did there!
every time i finish a chapter i get a little grin...damnit such good writing
Ha! Classic Rarity! Of course, it is in the nature of Generosity to take risks for someone's own good and, yes, Rainbow Dash did need to hear those words. She is a remarkably youthful personality really and the more mature personalities of the group really are important in stabilising her.
I've been reading this in my spare time now for the past week, And I'm sorry but in my opinion there far too many scenes where you can just insert/or produce a -and then they fucked- scene XD (I'm no clopper) ... That's probably just my brain's fault. Been reading too much -Mature- rated fan-fics (for the story of course)
- Also, the slight romantic tension between characters are just that level of being both a bother and awesome
- a bother because i kinda want it to go all the way
- awesome because the way Mr/Ms. Author wrote this and the way the story progresses is just so dang awesome
This chapter was great
Pinkie, RD and Flutters are all solidly in the friend zone.
Rarity has an obvious crush on Mac. Twilight has a quiet crush on Mac.
Still I am getting more of a TwilyMac feel from the fic, more tender moments, more shared interests, Both of them completely loose track of time when they are are alone together. Twilight and dawn are his favorite times of the day. Even if they do not ship the boat and dock have been built pretty solidly.
“If yer gonna sling mud, sling mud. Don’t talk,”
Your GBU reference earns you a favorite.