Let the Silence Sing
Part 6: Ambience
Princess Luna, Ambassador Doppleganger, Celestia, and a few choice other ponies sat around the royal dinner table. There was chit chat all around about the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration. It was the day in which the sun was to shine the brightest for the entire year, and it was the one day of the year in which ponies were allowed to watch Princess Celestia raise the sun before their eyes. Where was the festival being held this year? Ponyville, of course. Why? Er… er… location of convenience! Yeah! Straying too far from Canterlot could put a hiccup in the due process of the governmental yadda-yadda-yadda. Don’t you know it? Celestia made sure they did.
Of course, this was also the perfect time to poke fun at Luna for her ‘romping’ with the Changeling Ambassador. While his voice was low and a little raspy, it did have a certain purr to it. Changelings didn’t speak the pony tongue very effectively, but the droning little sounds he used to form words were very charming. Luna stared very carefully into her fruit salad while Celestia giggled playfully. The older of the two alicorns wanted to hear alllll about how the, ahem, ‘negotiations’, were going. Very well, according to the Ambassador. Reparations and exchanges between their two cultures would surely be swift, deep and thoroughhh-ho-ho-hohhhhh! Celestia lifted her goblet right away, for she could not keep a straight face and had to hide behind it. Luna was red in the face. Clearing her throat a bit and agreeing, Celestia continued her meal in relative silence to save face with her little sister.
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Featherweight and the crusaders had turned the clubhouse into a verifiable crime lab. I mean yeah, Featherweight was a COLT and all, but he didn’t seem to have much in the way of cooties, so it was safe. Their recent run-in with ghost-loch-ness-monster in the barn had yielded some amazing new photographs. Who knew that a camera could see through invisibility, huh?
Taped to the wall, all four foals stared in wonder. While defending the ladder Featherweight had taken three or four pictures at random around the loft. All of them had yielded the same result. There was a tall, winged figure in the frame. It was very, very blurry and hard to make out, but it definitely had four long legs and very large hooves. Comparing the hooves with tracings of the hoofprints they’d found… yeah, that looked like they might match. The whispy, smoky-looking shape was definitely much taller than the average pony as well. Featherweight pointed to the beams and rafters in the background so they could judge the height correctly. If they were right, this mysterious figure was taller than even an adult pony! Almost twice as tall! Whoa… there was hush between them. Who did they tell about this? What would they tell them? Camera’s didn’t lie, after all. It couldn’t photograph something that wasn’t there. While Big Macintosh had clearly scared the ghost off, there was no telling when it might return to haunt them again. What if it decided to move into the house? Or worse, followed them to the clubhouse? That was scary.
Featherweight knew it was a little too convenient that his camera kept catching things in and around the barn area. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to see around Sweet Apple Acres that needed explaining.
=-----=-----=-----=-----=
The night after the Summer Sun Celebration, Celestia was expected to have the evening off. After all, performing god-like magic in front of a crowd of hundreds was sure to be exhausting on her poor slender body, right? Well, no. Not really. She did it every day. Twice, actually. Just up, then back down again. Sure, she did it with flair for the crowds of ponies that came to the festival, but really it was a nice excuse to relax that night. It was tradition to have lots and lots of fireworks in her honor that night every year, but she always spent it in solitude for ‘meditation and reconnection with the sun.’ Which, yes, she talked with the sun all the time. But, the ancient spirit of the sun rarely had anything fascinating to say. Much in the same way that you could talk to an ant, or a sandwich. You could force it with magic, sure, but the results wouldn’t be mind-blowing.
But, this night she had a date. Sort of. She’d playfully called it that before, then quickly didn’t after that. Sweet Apple Acres had a little fireworks show every year, hosted by the locals. Swooping back and forth, she found that the loft of the barn was already wide open and there was somepony waiting for her inside. She knew the shape of his sillouette after so many visits, and landing daintily inside she saw him smile. The Princess stopped a moment to peer around.
The hay had been changed, the floor swept, and some of the cob-webs knocked down. Big Macintosh was waiting in the nest, smiling broadly and sitting on his haunches. To one side of him, a picnic basket. They greeted each other with the usual silent wave and nod, and she sat next to him. The red stallion gestured to the sky for a bit. Luna’s stars were meek that night, knowing that this particular day was meant for the sun. A burst of light--- Krck-boom! A flower of molten light exploded into the sky. There were loud and awed cries from below. Fireworks, neato!
They sat together, watching the occasional bottle rocket soar into the sky with a crack of thunder. Blues and yellows and reds lit up the night in brief flashes of merriment. Now and then Big Mac would hunch forward to see the ponies below. There was a hooffull of ponies down there, plus his family, plus the ponies coordinating the show as they did every year. It was a small community event, so it was always a joy each year.
When the show was well under way, the red stallion leaned over into his picnic basket for snacks. Producing celery, peanut butter, juice boxes, a pair of apples and a bunch of grapes he set them out nice and neat. Celestia marveled, smiling at the little feast. He offered her whatever she might like, and they crunched quietly on the celery for a bit. Big Mac was a big fan of dipping his own in peanut butter, since the plain green taste was no good to him. The cool summer night made them sit close together, and their eyes lit up with every fiery explosion as it went off. Ohhh, that one had changed color! Wow, that one had made a star shape! Oh gosh, that one sounded like a cannon shot!
Big Mac suddenly realized that he and Celestia were leaning into each other. Not romantically, but supporting each other’s weight as they craned their necks to look skyward and stay hidden. He looked over at her, blinking a little. He could see the fireworks in the light of her eyes, and delighted at the little flinches she made when each explosion went off. The multicolored lights doused her white coat in lots of brilliant little colors. Then he looked at her “that” way. His eyes bulged and he quickly looked back up at the sky. He could feel the heat in his face. Nope. Nope that weren’t right. She was a Princess and maybe an ageless goddess and nope nope nope. He swallowed.
Celestia turned to look at him, eyes lidding when she smiled. Shuddering a little at the cool summer night, she sidled to be closer to him and extended a wing about his shoulders. Oh horseapples. She levitated and then crunched her celery. Ooooh, that one had made an apple shape! Neat! Fireworks never ceased to amaze her. It was like magic, made by earth ponies. Their endless inventions were awe-inspiring, sometimes even greater than magic. Her hoof pawed around after a while, searching for an apple. She just couldn’t take her eyes off the sky, it was enchanting.
Big Mac glanced at her again, unsure what to do. Their friendship had been innocent and graceful thus far. He couldn’t just… y’know, ‘make a move’ all of a sudden. And if he did, suppose she suddenly left and never returned? She was an alicorn after all. And he was just an apple farmer. Those weren’t things that went together, nope. But it was too late. He’d already looked at her that way, and now he couldn’t turn it off. It was chewing at his mind like a mean ol’ apple worm.
Princess Celestia’s hoof found the apple at last and she brought it to her lips, watching the fireworks as she took the first bite. The spritz of juice went right down her chin, how embarrassing! Tilting her head back and biting into something juicy was something a foal would do. Giggling at herself a bit, she reached to wipe her chin. The drip of juice went down the slender curve of her neck like a glistening golden bead.
Big Mac kissed the droplet of juice away, suddenly and without warning.
The stallion left his lips there, trembling a bit. The warmth and sudden closeness made panic rise in his heart. Why in tarnation had he done that?! It was so quick, so instinctive, rushing right to the softest part of the alicorn’s neck. The sweetness of the juice on his tongue was replaced by the smooth warmth of the touch of her skin and fur. His pupils turned into pinpricks and he waited for her to slap him away or something.
Celestia’s pale face was twinged with pink. The velvety warmth of his lips on the underside of her jawline had been unexpected, but not unpleasant. She could feel him shaking. His face was hidden from her, she couldn’t read his expression. Smiling with some affection, she leaned and pressed a piece of celery up his nose to break the tension. Big Mac sneezed, snorted, sneezed again. She chuckled behind her hoof, watching his mane flap back and forth.
The fireworks made Big Mac a blue, then green, then purple stallion. He took a long time to meet her eyes. He expected disappointment, maybe revulsion or shock. How dare he do such a thing to a Princess?! Redder than red in the cheeks, their eyes finally met. Celestia was smiling quietly, eyes soft. So… so she wasn’t gonna buck him to the moon or somethin’? Chuckling softly, she opened a massive wing and laid it over his shoulder. Being much taller than he, she pulled him over in front of herself. Leaning forward some with her stature fitting overtop his, she set her chin atop his head. There, perfect! Then she simply went back to watching the fireworks. Big Mac smiled bashfully, not daring to move. He was a big stallion, rare be it that he be the little spoon!
End of Part 6
i just refreshed my page and this popped up =D
D'aaaaw
Muhahahaha!
Oh, he gon' sex her in da butt.
YOU GO BIG MAC!!!!
Very sweet. Not quite a kiss but it is getting there.
I was just done with part 5 when i checked there was 6 and i thought that wasn't there just a minute ago.
brilliant! nice Love story you got going on hear. love the fact that you can pull if off without dialog.
This is the cutest ship in written history.
Dawwww seizure activate...
2282198 we can dream
Best chapter so far
Big Macs getting the idea now
Hnnng... diabeetus!
You keep writing and it keeps being awesome.
I don't know. I mean, those really are viewpoints that you never stop to really consider, you know? Maybe...
Maybe we could all learn a thing or two from sandwiches...
D'aaaawwww!! So fluffy
I'm sorry, this just bugged me. Perhaps along the lines of
Other than that, this chapter was totally d'aww.
2282198
This comment made my night.
that moment when this appears while you are rereading. :D
... Wow... Come on, silly Celes, dun you know anything?! You're supposed to be a full head shorter than Big Mac so he can tuck HIS chin on top of your head, not the other way around! (Then again, considering the ratio is backwards there, and she's a princess, you just don't argue. XD )
2282305 Drunk up! You're shut!
Commence read.
Celestia be big spoon.
: Now where were you all night!?!
: Romancing an immortal goddess.
: You lie worse then me.
I don't even like shipping and I like this story. I really think it's cool how you're doing with virtually no real dialogue either.
What brought me here:
Well, the premise of the story was an intriguing venture and I hadn't the pleasure of reading such a tale of this particular genre in ages. Why, I'd say it's a refreshing take on the "Princess and the Peasant" archety-
Why I still read it:
BIG
FREAKIN'
MACINTOSH
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I'm gonna get diabeetus and it's all your fault
Just what I suspected from Big Macintosh. Although a bit surprising he did it so early in the story.
Praise the Nine. We get two into paragraphs, and saucy ones at that.
Luna you adorable little charmer you.
*gasp* D'awww... Celestia is just too cute.
2282198 Classy.
I dunno Aegis, the silence between Mac and Celestia just doesn't seem realistic.
at first I was like
then I was like
2282408 Wait'll she finds out Mac didn't lie.
2282760 it does when you consider the vastness of her age and the wight he has had to carry.
How to put this.
Remember the applebucking episode?
How much of that orchard does he buck?
He carries the wight of the family for...years.
That much time alone shapes people err ponies.
Celestia uses words all the time. She has done it so long I would not be supriced if most of her conversations are just autopilot. So there is solitude there. Silence is the natural state of those who are alone.
Ahhhhh.....to be a headrest must be Heaven
2282476 I get it! And, I completely agree with your statement.
Came expecting cute romance story
Left satisfied.
This very visual, which I like. It has an old feel to it. In my mind's eye, I see this story in black and white.
Is the silence "natural"?
No. But, it is part of the framing of the story. This narrative reminds me of the feel of a Akira Kurosawa film.
Dude! Big mac really knows how to make a move.
Even the princess has a hard time resisting him.
2282198
A demonstration of class and tact if I ever saw one. Aaaaanyway...
I'm liking this fic a whole bunch. Especially that the buildup to this point didn't feel rushed, but wasn't taking forever and just spinning its wheels either. Also, a story with no dialogue is interesting.
Celestia is going to return to Canterlot one day and find that Luna has married Ambassador Doppleganger and or that she is pregnant with his pony changeling child, thus uniting their kingdoms in unholy adorable matrimony, isn't she? Celestia's secret relationship with the country farm pony will hardly cause a blip on the radar after that.
I am totally on board for that.
(Conspiracy theory: Luna knows what Celestia is doing {because Celestia dreams of Big Mac and Luna is voyeuristic that way} and the whole thing with Doppleganger is a rouse designed to distract the nobles from Celestia's poor attempts at secret romancing. Too bad Luna did not anticipate the Cutie Mark Crusaders being adorably nosy, clever little girls. Also, Featherweight and his devil's camera.)
Also, this chapter was adorable and hilarious as usual. I love how deep you've made the emotions and how well their personalities come across with no dialogue. That can't be easy.
Big Mac reacted to his feelings running away with him just as I thought he would, and Celestia's reaction to the kiss was both adorable (the blushing) and heartwarming (she is totally okay with what's happening, and somewhat aggressive about it). The mental image of her pulling Big Mac in front of her and resting her head on his is just ... I really want fanart of that. It's just .
Well done.
Keep calm and pony on.
P.S.: I have visions in my head of Luna finding out about what Big Mac was thinking during this scene and calling Celestia "Princess BIg Spoon." It would catch on, of course.
2282409
'tis the mark of a true story, methinks. Kind of like Wall-E. Little dialogue, but amazing story nonetheless.
2282305 We can all learn a thing or two from sandwiches
Featherweight! I swear to pete little guy, I like you and everything, but this is one case you need to just forget about and back away from. Go on, shoo! Leave me with my happy and trouble free story dangit!!
flipping dawws
wow this... this chapter just got the story 20% more amazing
I have only one thing to say.
D'awwwwww
Spotted only a single error this time around. Oh, and this story? Favorited. Favorited so hard.
"Cameras didn’t lie, after all."
Remove the apostrophe.
2282859
Dear,
lots of us older Bronies have found ourselves to be loners at one point on our lives. That's just how geeky people usually are.
And I promise you, I have a huge problem shutting up when the opportunity to speak presents itself lol.
2283427 haha there I'm 'alone' a lot as well but that does not meant I am lonely.
2282447I feel that it's more along the lines of "Princess and the Butler"....The Apples Family is by no means poor...they aren't RICH...but they're definitely not poor.