Let the Silence Sing
Part 2: Tip-Toe
Celestia swooped one way, then another, then back again in the sky. It had once again been all-too-easy to sneak out of Canterlot to her new napping spot. Wards and locks kept her room sealed, and nopony would ever be the wiser. Chuckling as she coasted a few thermals, invisible and achy in a few places, she adjusted her wings when she spotted the apple orchard.
Casting her gaze out over the many, many trees the Princess saw a big red stallion among them bucking trees. He’d approach, buck, collect the fallen apples in a bucket, then move on to the next. When a row was done, he’d put them in a wagon and move on to the next row. He was hot and sweaty, but seemed to be going at an even pace. How nice it was, seeing an honest and hard-working stallion. In Canterlot the Princess was always surrounded by scheming nobles, ulterior motives, and cloak-and-dagger verbal fencing. That pony down there had little more to worry about than making sure he bucked the trees hard enough to get all the apples out. She envied him, in a way. Ah well.
Tilting the alignment of her wings, she gently moved the sliding bolt lock on the loft door. Hovering in place and making sure nopony was looking, she glided inside and landed daintily. Checking around, she saw that the extending ladder was up and secure. When she was away from the threshold, she dropped her invisibility spell. Her long shadow threw itself on the floor and she streeeeetched rather lazily. Princesses liked their naps too, thank you very much. The straw was just how she’d left it, and a few of her feathers were still among them. Blushing a little embarrassedly, she collected the feathers with her teeth and hid them in a corner. She didn’t want anypony to think some white goose was nesting up here. Smiling, she returned to the big pile of hay. Setting her royal hiney in it, she relaxed down into a mooshy pile of relaxation.
She felt the hay dust settle over her fur, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t there to look prim and proper and be admired by dozens of strangers per day like she was at the palace. Closing her eyes for a moment, she stomped around a bit and rather cutely turned in a circle three times. Then she let herself settle down to rest. Stretching her wings to their full span, she let them settle again when the ache had been worked out of them. Heaving a soft sigh, she lifted the crown from her head and set it safely aside. If it got scuffed or got a hayseed in it, her royal trappings shiner would notice and start asking questions.
Celestia smiled softly, looking around herself. She’d not really observed her surroundings the first time she’d come. The wooden beams looked new, the hay smelled fresh, and it was certainly roomy in there. The crates hidden in the hay piqued her curiosity, so she leaned and lit her horn. Peeking into each one that touched her fancy she found shiny, unopened toolboxes, boxes of nails, new horse-shoes, and other supplies. The loft must’ve been for spare tools and replacement parts for the farm. She winced when she opened one box and found it full of shucking blades. Carefully tucking them away and resealing the twin clips on the side of the box, she pushed them back under the hay where they were.
It was exciting in a way, really. The palace was prim and proper and shiny and gold. The picture of proper and royal. This barn had personality, though. It smelled. Not of perfumes and precious metals, but of musk, work, wood and iron. The whole thing was refreshing. No ponies to wait on her, no ponies wanting her ear or her hoof to sign something. It was like a… secret clubhouse! Celestia giggled lightly, a hoof hovering over her mouth for a moment. Had it really been so long since the dark ages, when ponies lived outside or in caves? She missed it, in a way, living off the land and fearing the heavy rain season. It felt more natural. But, civilization meant progress, so houses had been born. Ah well.
Pausing in her musings over barn smells and such, she watched a daddy-long-leg spider wander by. Smiling broadly, she laid on her belly and watched it go. The tiny creature had pinpricks for legs, and a mouth so small it couldn’t bite a pony, bit it was still a living thing. Feeling like a filly hiding in an attic somewhere, she propped her chin on her steepled hooves to smile in amusement.
Perhaps this was what she needed. Not just naps, or a private place to have them. But a little hidey-hole where nopony could find her. Not that her royal apartments weren’t nice, but… well… this was nicer. It felt homier. Sighing in a content way, admiring the innocent simplicity of her surroundings, Celestia turned and laid on her back. Letting her pink belly worship the sun, she closed her eyes for a bit to relax. The sun warmed her pale belly.
=-----=-----=-----=-----=
Big Macintosh wandered by the barn, his cart full of apples. He flicked his gaze upward, and saw the loft door was wide open again. If that meant what he thought it did… he gulped a little, walking a bit faster. Tugging his load along, he put it in the apple-storing shed and emptied his cart there. Taking the cart to the barn, he decided to have a look ‘round. Checking over his shoulder to make sure neither of his loud sisters was lookin’, he entered the barn. He could hear movement above. Was that her? He’d bet his yoke it was. It hadn’t been two weeks since he’d seen her last, but he’d bet it was her.
The red stallion moved to one of the side stalls, to the barn fridge. Yes, the Apple family kept a fridge in their barn. You think Granny Smith would have muddy hooves in her kitchen if a pony just wanted a cold drink or somethin’? I thought not. Peering back and forth, he found a crisp red delicious apple and plucked it from the fridge shelf. It was chilled and ripe for the eatin’, filled with cold juice and sweetness.
Chancing to disturb the angelic creature above him, Big Mac pulled the extending ladder down. Checking again to make sure he was alone, he went up. He stuck his eyes up over the lip of the trap door, peering back and forth silently. The stem of the apple in his teeth, he heaved himself up into the loft. Cocking his head, he looked back and forth. All was quiet. Moving slowly so he didn’t make too much noise, he came to the loft door and the open space in front of it.
There she lay, in a big nest of straw, splayed out on her back once more. He had to make a very real effort not to snicker a little. Admiring her mane with curious eyes, he stopped a good distance away as not to frighten the beautiful creature away. The last thing a relaxing princess needed was a big sweaty stallion sneaking up on her. He scuffed the floorboards with his hoof a couple of times, drawing attention to himself.
Celestia startled a little, turning upright to look at him. Laying on her side she fixed him with her wide, intelligent eyes. A long silence passed. They stared at each other, neither saying a word. He was a handsome thing, she admitted. The barrel of his chest was lovely and that proud-looking forehead was certainly something he inherited from a powerful sire, no doubt. She blinked at him a few times, her curled eye-lashes butterflying the air a few times.
Big Mac suddenly remembered why he was there. Leaning forward, he bowed his thick neck down and set the chilled apple on the floorboards. Looking at her with his cool, stoic eyes, he gave it a hard nudge with the top of his muzzle. Both ponies watched the red fruit roll, tumble, bounce across the floor and stop at the edge of Celestia’s straw nest.
The alicorn smiled with her eyes, lighting her horn to pick it up with levitation. Bringing it to her breast to shine, she made a little sound when she found it was cold. Lifting it to her cheek, she pressed her face to its cold, red skin. She smiled wider, forgetting it was summer for just a moment. Closing her eyes to savor the stark feeling of cold on the hot day, Celestia finally split it in half with her magical grasp. Leaning and careful not to dribble juice on herself, she took a bite. The snap of apple flesh was crisp, sending a little cascade of apple juice spritzing into the air. She chewed for a bit, then had another bite.
Big Mac smiled at her. He’d grown that. It was kind’a amazing to see a princess eating it, to tell the truth. Smirking and shifting the sprig of grass from one side of his mouth to the other, he turned to let her be. She thanked him with her eyes, not daring to speak. Heaven knew if she uttered a word, somepony would be nearby to hear it and her secret would be given away. He gave her an honest smile and, nodding politely, left her there in the loft. Going carefully down the ladder and then putting it back up where it belonged, he was away.
Chancing being discovered for a few heart-pounding moments, Celestia went to the open loft door and peered out. She watched him hitch himself back up and head out to the orchard. She lifted the chilled apple treat to her lips again, dragging them over the smooth surface to savor the sweet flavor. She’d not asked his name. She wanted to know it.
End of Part 2
In Canterlot the Princess was always surrounded by scheming nobles, ulterior motifs, and cloak-and-dagger verbal fencing. I think you missed something there...
One problem, it's motives not motifs. I do have a concern though, I feel that the romance maybe happening too fast but since they haven't confessed their undieing love for each other yet I think you are good for now.
2257738 I see no romance yet, m'self. He gave her an apple, and she smiled at him. Not much, I don't think, haha.
2257759
That's why I said maybe... and to be honest I have never seen this ship done seriously before in fanfiction and I happen to like it so I am paranoid about it not being... well... done right. I do have to ask Aegis, what caused you to write for a ship that has never really been done before?
This is fantastic, i love Celestia romance.
2257768
Because rainbow dash always breaks her wings.
Because something always goes wrong with Twilight's new spell.
Because discord always returns.
Because writing shipping stories frightens me from a writer's perspective, and I've not tried to write one since my FIRST fim-fiction story over a year ago, "Watching Macintosh." I wanna make a serious go at this, and see if it can be done at all. I'm really very paranoid about it, so I'm approaching with caution. I don't really write clop, so there's no worries about it degenerating into that, but--- I worry that everyone will say "well that's a nice romance you've got there, Aegis, but what're you bringing to the table that's new, huh? Why read this and not the ten thousand other ship stories around here?" ...That sort of thing.
I think they have a growing affection, but that doesn't necessarily mean Eros.
2257799
1 and 2) Only happened once. 3) Twice... ok now that is done.
Well you don't have to worry about that from me, I want to see this paring done right and I know that you are good writer. I want to see more, I want to read this. I wish you luck, and I will be here to keep reading.
This story's one of those guilty pleasures that makes you smile. Sometimes friendship and / or romance doesn't need words to express it. Excellent.
I like this story the way its written makes it very interesting.
Hmm, I've never seen a Big Mac/Celestia ship. Interesting. Keep up the good work.
ill have you know you have me sitting here hitting the refresh button every so often to see if you are doing a chapter 3 or not
Mac/Celestia is an interesting one... as you write Celestia shes a down to earth, wants to get back to her roots, pony looking for a Prince Charming, which Big Mac certainly is...
As always keep up the good work and I eagerly await more from you. NAO!
This story is so refreshing compared to the others that fill this site.
This looks like it's going to be a very enjoyable read. I rarely find a romance story that moves as slowly as this looks like it's going to, and it's very refreshing. The wording of it all is rather beautiful. It put's a rather detailed and easy-to-imagine image into the readers mind without without using too many descriptive phrases and adjectives to do so. For your second attempt at a fic that's just a shipping fic this is quite good, but then again I expect no less from you, good sir.
- Alchemo Arrow
The thought of Celestia lying in a stranger's barn, exposing her belly to the sun.
It's so out of place and that's what makes it all that much more adorable.
Went off to read a chapter in another fic and BAM, update.
2257842
He means that in fanfiction, 1, 2 and 3 are all so overused it not even funny
The crates hidden in the hay piqued her curiosity
WHATS IN THE BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOX
2258037
I know, I just like to point out why those cliches are wrong in terms of canon. Of course he did forget about Pinkie being a psychopath, Celestia being a tyrant, and Trixie wuving Twilight.
2258033
It is adorable, and it shows something, she is very comfortable there. Animals don't normally expose their bellies unless they know that they are safe.
This chapter was noticeably better, Aegis. Defiantly improving in the Celestia aspect as you go, and the pacing is wonderful. Amazing job!
Smiling broadly, she laid on her belly and watched it go. The tiny creature had pinpricks for legs, and a mouth so small it couldn't bite a pony, but it was still a living thing.
That's all I noticed!
Those sneaky musicians...
Reminds me of this episode with the Buckingham Palace Marching Band and Saudi Arabia's king Abdullah.
In that first part you can almost feel how tired she is. It's nice to see someone write Celestia
as somepony who gets tired of the rat race, and just wants to let down for awhile. I can see the hot love
scene in this being the two of them setting on a hill watching butterflies. Each with a foreleg around
the other. I am a firm believer that sometimes less is more.
I'm really liking this story so far. I think my favorite thing so far is the lack of speaking, and I'd be perfectly content if it stayed that way, at least for the first bit.
The mental image of Celestia on her back, stretching and napping is really cute to me.
2258234 I'm trying, dammit! I'm trying hard! I've not written a straight-up ship story in over a year, gimmie a break!
i can see this going places. good places
YAY!!! Another update! Keep up the good work!
2258260 You can do it Aegis! We belive in you!
Apart from that, this story is turning out very good so far, the pacing is good, because all Celestia wants at the moment is to know his name. No immediate attraction, no right hooks from way out of left field, just a simple get away spot where she happens to meet a kind stallion and wants to know him. I'm following this one here.
2258260 People really need to lay off of you. I for one like this concept.
2258234Everyone, Lay off of him. I've no doubt that if he DOES reject it, it'll be because everyone was pulling crap like THIS.
Comment on what's IN the story, not what May/May Not happen.
I, for one, have faith that Shieldy will see this through to the end. Why? Because I happen to know that this particular ship is (one of) his favorite. Largely because he had it right on his profile. He passed on his last story, I am speculating, because it wasn't different enough from other, similar stories, at least for his liking. This one, though? I think this'll last for the following:
1) It's significantly different from the overwhelming majority of Celestia ship fits out there (which normally pair her with Twilight, or Discord)
2) It's sufficiently different from anything else he's already written (being completely unlike his other princess-y romance between Aegis Shield and Princess Luna, except for the "princess" bit)
I believe in Aegis Shield.
2258260
As an unrelated third party, the constant hazing they're giving you is kind of funny.
As a loving, tolerating fan of your work, it's actually kind of sad. Prove 'em wrong, Aegis. I believe you can.
Very nice. I enjoy the silence, as it were. It makes it harder to express what they are thinking about to each other, and I think it's a mark of good writing skills that you are pulling it off nicely. It would certainly be interesting for the first words they say to each other to be "I love you."
2258260 You know, it MIGHT be better if, instead of TELLING us you were tossing them, or tossing them in the first place, if you simply did what most fanfic writers do: let them sit around without any comment from the author until enough fans beg you to continue. (Such as Sqeak who has left 'Traveler' hanging for over a year)
By 'killing' the tales, you just keep making your readers angry and worried that you'll keep teasing us with stories that look great but will never get endings.
Are you sure this doesn't deserve the comedy tag? I kept cracking up reading this.
The writing style you are using here is just so lighthearted and non-serious, and I'm loving every bit of it. I haven't really seen anything like this in a long time.
Shipping or not, the way Celestia acts is hilarious, and believable considering what she has to to deal with in Canterlot.
Also, Pay no attention to the haters and whiners, write what you want, not what they want.
Hmmm. These chapters are short and sweet, but are progressively concrete buildup to your shipping. Most impressive, as always Mr. Shield.
Biglestia?
I'm so glad I follow you. Mac/Celestia may be my new OTP.
Nice pacing...if romance IS the eventual goal....
Hope Mac finds an anti-aging spell....(I dislike those....'but he died' stories....poor celestia.)
2258260
I'd be glad to offer my help, however I can.
I believe this is being done really well. I'm very much looking forward to more.
Suggestion: Maybe in a far later chapter we could get some "Witness"-like learning about hard work from Celestia.
I very, very rarely read shipping fics, but I find myself enjoying this one. Big Mac would be a good match for Celestia -- if he were any more down to Earth, he'd be Tom.
Old old old old old.... old.... ponies need their lovin' dontcha know.
Aegis Shield, maybe it is because I am a practicing Medieval Martial Artist, and I always ascribe Equestria to only just being out of their Middle Ages, albeit not a very dark time for ponies... Nevertheless, I just wanted to let you know that scene with Big Mac giving Celestia the apple made me
cryshed a little 'liquid pride'. In the Middle Ages, the highest honor most could hope to receive, was to have your craft/ faire acknowledged as 'Fit for Royalty'. What you did right there, that was pure beauty...even if it was all in my headcanon...In the immortal words of Latin, "Illegitimi non carborundum! "
Translated: Don't let the bastards grind you down!
Commence read.
The apple of acknowledgement.
Hm. CelestiaMac. I could get on board with this. *nodnod*
and NICE
I'm waiting for the barn to be destroyed while Celestia is napping in the loft...
Welp, I ain't reading this
At least, not until it's complete. I ain't even gonna try to get invested until I actually know that this is sticking around, so that I'm not disappointed.
It happened with Luna's Story 4, Spartan Shield 2, and Princess Nightmare Moon.
It happened with Seeing the Pattern 3
To an extent, it happened with What Princesses Need
I am not letting it happen to me again.
2259164 That information added a whole new meaning to that scene for me. Thank you for sharing it.